South Africa: Cabinet responds to State Capture Report recommendations The submission of Cabinets response to the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector is a firm and clear indication of the primacy of the rule of law and a demonstration of the democratic system at work. President Cyril Ramaphosa said the response constitutes an ethical, moral and institutional departure from the abuses revealed by the State Capture Commission. The actions we are taking and the implementation of the Commissions recommendations are designed to provide redress in respect of the events of the past and to advance the renewal of our society. Through the implementation of the actions contained in this response, we can start a new chapter in our struggle against corruption, the President said in his address to the nation in response to the State Capture Commission Report at the Union Buildings on Sunday. On Saturday, the President submitted to Parliament Cabinets response to the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector. He highlighted that the response to the recommendations of the State Capture Commission may therefore include the implementation of a recommendation as set out in the report, the implementation of part of a recommendation or, where there is good reason, a decision not to implement a recommendation. The Commission made over 350 recommendations. The Commission, which was led by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, was established as part of the remedial action contained in the report of the Public Protector released on 2 November 2016. Action against perpetrators The President highlighted that the Commissions report notes that state capture was facilitated by a deliberate effort to subvert and weaken law enforcement and intelligence agencies so as to shield and sustain illicit activities, avoid accountability and to disempower opponents. Since 2018, decisive steps have been taken to strengthen the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Hawks, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the South African Revenue Service (SARS), the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and other important agencies. New leadership was appointed at the Hawks, an institution that was targeted for weakening, which has, since then, secured 4,500 convictions for corruption and other priority crimes. A new National Director of Public Prosecutions was also appointed on the recommendations of an independent panel following a transparent public process. That is why even as the State Capture Commission was being appointed in 2018, this government was taking decisive steps to end state capture and rebuild our institutions. As a result of these efforts, several major state capture and other serious corruption cases have been brought to court, the President said. Since the start of the work of the Commission, significant resources have been made available to build and rebuild the capacity and capability of law enforcement agencies to respond effectively to the findings and recommendations of the Commission. As a result of this work, the Investigating Directorate that we established within the National Prosecuting Authority has to date enrolled 26 cases, declared 89 investigations and 165 accused persons have appeared in court for alleged state capture-related offences. Law enforcement agencies have, to date, been granted freezing or preservation orders to the value of R12.9 billion. A total of R2.9 billion has also been recovered and returned to the affected entities and SARS has collected R4.8 billion in unpaid taxes arising from the work of the Commission. In addition to recommending actions against the perpetrators of state capture, the Commission made 95 recommendations that would require constitutional, legislative, regulatory or operational changes. Strengthening law enforcement To address some of the abuses by private companies, the President said that amendments will be made to laws currently under review to, among other things, criminalise donations to political parties in expectation of state contracts, to bar suppliers who have engaged in dishonest or corrupt behaviour, and to make failure to prevent bribery an offence. The Commission investigated various allegations of illegal activities and abuse of state resources at the State Security Agency (SSA). The Commission found that weaknesses in our intelligence services regulatory framework made them particularly vulnerable to abuse for political and personal gain. We will implement all of the Commissions extensive recommendations on the intelligence services, together with the recommendations of the High-Level Review Panel on the SSA chaired by Dr Sydney Mufamadi. A new General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill will establish separate domestic and foreign intelligence services, improving oversight of intelligence agencies and giving practical effect to the principle that no member of the Executive responsible for intelligence may be involved in the operational matters of the SSA. To strengthen the independence of the NPA, legislation will be amended to introduce greater transparency and consultation in the appointment of the national Director of Prosecutions. To further strengthen anti-corruption capabilities, the Investigating Directorate will be established as a permanent entity within the NPA. Addressing corruption in procurement President Ramaphosa announced that the Public Procurement Bill will be submitted to parliament by March 2023 and will address many of the Commissions recommendations. The Commission made detailed recommendations about the establishment of an independent Public Procurement Anti-Corruption Agency. It also recommended the establishment of a Permanent Anti-Corruption Commission that would have oversight over both Parliament and the Executive. The Commissions recommendations underline the need for a coherent and integrated approach to combating corruption, fraud and maladministration. It is therefore appropriate that these recommendations form part of a fundamental redesign and review of the countrys anti-corruption architecture. Reforming state owned entities The President announced that State-owned entities (SOEs) board candidates will be recommended by the independent panels with appropriate technical expertise. No SOE board member will be allowed to be operationally involved in procurement processes beyond an oversight role. This after the Commission found that the appointment and removal of board members and senior executives in state-owned enterprises was one of the key causes of state capture. The lack of compliance, transparency and accountability in the appointment of board members not only enabled the capture of these companies, but also contributed to a decline in their operational and financial performance. That is why government accepts the Commissions recommendations on the need for a process for the appointment of boards of state-owned enterprises that is not open to manipulation. This would include the involvement of independent panels with appropriate technical expertise to recommend suitable candidates to the relevant Minister, the President said. He added that Ministers will be prohibited from playing any role in procurement within state-owned enterprises or departments. The report of the Commission, consisting of six parts, was handed to the President over a period of six months: the first part of the report was submitted on 4 January 2022 and the final part of the report on the 22nd of June 2022. The 77-page response to the recommendations can be accessed on: https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/assets/downloads/State%20Capture%20Commission%20Response.pdf . SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-10-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Australia supports Vietnam with additional 4.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine Australia has delivered a further 4.2 million Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine doses to Vietnam through an agreement with UNICEF and in partnership with Vietnams Ministry of Health. One of the five refrigerated trucks delivered to Vietnam Three million adult Pfizer vaccine doses arrived in September in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and a further 1.2 million pediatric doses arrived on 24 October in Hanoi. The latest batches have brought the total number of doses sent by Australia to Vietnam to over 26 million. Besides, five refrigerated trucks have also been delivered to Vietnam through Australias partnership with UNICEF. These trucks will be stationed at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi, Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang and the Central Highlands Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Dak Lak. 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. Prosecutors urged a jury Monday to convict three men for assisting the leaders of a plot to kidnap Michigan's governor, saying they provided land, paramilitary training and inspiration for domestic terrorism in the months ahead of the 2020 U.S. election. Joe Morrison, Pete Musico and Paul Bellar were not charged with trying to abduct Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. But their role was critical, according to authorities, who said the trio aligned themselves with key players and repeatedly endorsed the boogaloo, a term that became a code word for U.S. civil war. The plan was hatched, nurtured here in Jackson County, said state Assistant Attorney General Sunita Doddamani. It's really unmistakable what these men in this case did. They promoted terrorism. They sought out terrorists, and they found them and trained them. Defense lawyers, however, argued that the men had dropped away from the lead plotters long before the scheme was broken up by the FBI in October 2020. The trial in state court in Jackson, Michigan, was an offshoot of the main case handled in federal court, where Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. were convicted of a kidnapping conspiracy. Two other men pleaded guilty and two more were acquitted. The main charge is providing material support for a terrorist act, especially gun drills and ambush training with Fox at a rural property controlled by Morrison. Musico, Morrison's father-in-law, also lived there. For hours, prosecutors went over evidence from nine days of testimony, much of it captured from social media, text messages and secretly recorded conversations. The goal: to present the three men as dangerous extremists whose disgust with government reached a tipping point when Whitmer, like other governors, ordered restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since jury selection on Oct. 3, defense lawyers have acknowledged rough, profane talk and boasts about violence. But in closing arguments, they said Morrison, Musico and Bellar were protected by the First Amendment. Story continues In this country you are allowed to talk the talk, but you only get convicted if you walk the walk, Musico's attorney, Kareem Johnson, said. These individuals never did anything wrong, never committed any crime. Morrison's lawyer, Leonard Ballard, picked up on that theme, acknowledging that the men were loud, opinionated and eager to appear at Michigan Capitol protests while legally armed but broke no laws. We have taken the Constitution in this case and just basically shredded it," Ballard said of prosecutors. An Army veteran, Dan Chappel, was a star witness for prosecutors. He joined Morrison's paramilitary group, the Wolverine Watchmen, but was alarmed to hear about attacking police. He notified the FBI and agreed to stay in the group as an informant. No one disputes that Fox participated in gun drills with the Watchmen. Prosecutors said Bellar was in charge of medical training, even spending hundreds of dollars on supplies. The Wolverine Watchmen taught (Fox) how to attract, organize and train a group of operators, Doddamani said. Defense lawyers say the three men stopped associating with Fox by late summer when the kidnapping plot was accelerating. They also pointed out to jurors that the men didn The defense was barred from arguing that Morrison, Musico and Bellar were entrapped. But Bellar's attorney, Andrew Kirkpatrick, told jurors to recall that Chappel, under the direction of the FBI, was the common denominator at many key events. Bellar, facing financial problems, had moved to South Carolina to live with his father, two months before authorities broke up the plot with 14 arrests. Kirkpatrick said he could have stayed in Michigan under a freeze on evictions during the pandemic. He could have hung in that apartment like a tick and not paid a nickel if this is really what he wanted to do. ... He didn't," Kirkpatrick said of aiding the kidnapping scheme. Undercover FBI agents and informants were embedded in the group for months. Whitmer was never physically harmed. The jury will get the case Tuesday after a last round of arguments by prosecutors. ___ Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwritez (Bloomberg) -- US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas temporarily shielded Senator Lindsey Graham from having to testify before a Georgia grand jury investigating whether Donald Trump and his supporters illegally tried to undo the former presidents election loss. Most Read from Bloomberg Thomas on Monday issued an interim order that will protect Graham until the court decides whether to grant the South Carolina Republicans bid for a longer-term shield. Thomas gave no explanation. Graham turned to the Supreme Court last week after the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals refused to insulate him from a grand jury subpoena. Thomas is assigned to handle emergency matters from the 11th Circuit. Graham says he is protected by the Constitutions speech-or-debate clause, which limits probes into federal lawmakers official work. Thomas issued the administrative stay -- a step the Supreme Court often takes to buy itself time -- even though Graham isnt scheduled to testify until Nov. 17, according to a subpoena attached to his high court filing. Thomas previously asked Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, the prosecutor conducting the investigation, to respond to Grahams request by Thursday. The latest action blocks the subpoena pending further order of the undersigned or of the court. Ginni Thomas Thomas has drawn criticism for not recusing himself from cases involving Trumps push to overturn the election results. The justices wife, conservative activist Virginia Ginni Thomas, played a role in that effort and answered questions from the congressional panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. The 11th Circuit decision was issued without any published dissent by a three-judge panel that included two Trump appointees. Under the decision, which left a federal trial judges order in force, Graham must appear before the grand jury but can still try to refuse to answer particular questions. Story continues US District Judge Leigh Martin May said Graham could be asked about allegations that he encouraged Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to discard votes and about any coordination with the Trump campaign in its efforts to overturn President Joe Bidens narrow victory in the state. Graham says the speech-or-debate clause covers informal investigations by members of Congress. But May said it wasnt clear whether his calls with Georgia election officials were investigative and therefore entitled to constitutional protection. The Supreme Court case is Graham v. Fulton County Special Purpose Grand Jury, 22A337. --With assistance from Zoe Tillman. (Updates with excerpt from order in sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Kansas City police are asking for the publics help finding a 32-year-old woman who they said has suicidal ideations. Viviane Cerritos was last seen at about 3:11 a.m. Monday in the area of East 28th Street and Van Brunt Boulevard, police said. She was driving a gray four-door Chevrolet Impala with Missouri license plate LJ5B7H. She has shown signs of suicidal ideations, and it is possible she is in the area of Cameron, MO, KCPD said in a news release. She is 5-feet-7-inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds, police said. They are asking anyone who sees her to call 911. The feud between Kanye West and an Australian burger joint seems to be far from over. Wests frustrations explained: As AfroTech previously told you, College Dropout Burgers caught the attention of West for the wrong reasons. View this post on Instagram A post shared by College Dropout Burgers (@collegedropoutburgers) Whats on the menu? The restaurant had reportedly received a cease and desist letter that forced it to rebrand. However, Wests lawyers state the restaurant has failed to maintain its rebrand and has reverted to the Kanye-inspired menu items, The Age reports. The Australian burger restaurant, owned by Mark Elkhouri, had overtly used his likeliness for menu items that include the Golddigger fried chicken sandwich, Good Morning breakfast sandwich, and Cheezus burger. Legal action reportedly in the works: Due to this, a legal battle may be brewing. Already, a 43-page document has been filed at the Federal Court in hopes of holding Elkhouri accountable for the misleading advertising as the store and products have not received a stamp of approval from West. Ye has suffered, and will continue to suffer, loss and damage, the documents reads, according to The Age. Wests legal team claims that his influence and stature in music make it evident, that the business name and the goods being sold at the store cannot be mistaken for anyone other than West. Ye has sold more than 140 million records internationally and is one of the best-selling artists of all time, the statement read. Lawyers are pushing to erase trademark application of restaurant: Currently, the lawyers are hoping for a permanent injunction to ensure the company can no longer suggest West has endorsed, sponsored, or approved its fast-food products. In addition, they are seeking for Elkhouri to pull the plug on the trademark application for College Dropout Burgers and get rid of materials that allude to West. Statement from Elkhouri: I cant understand what would motivate a major artist to sue a small humble burger restaurant on the other side of the world, Elkhouri said on Monday, according to The Age. Pakistans prime minister Shehbaz Sharif wants Kenya to move fast and bring to book those responsible for the murder of award-winning investigative journalist Arshad Sharif. Sharif was killed on Oct.23 near Kiserian town, some 30 kms from the capital Nairobi. He was 50. Sharif, a critic of Pakistans military and government acts, left the country in August to avoid arrest, after his Powerplay TV talk show was discontinued by ARY Television for its unrelenting criticism of the current regime. Read more He initially went to Dubai, but was forced to flee due to alleged harassment by Pakistani officials. Why was Arshad Sharif murdered? Kenyan police say Sharif, who was being driven by his hosts brother Kurram Ahmed, was killed by police officers after his driver defied orders to stop at a roadblock. Sharif was shot at the back of his head with the force of the bullet being so powerful that it came out at the front. The car was shot at 17 times. Initial investigations are pointing to a case of mistaken identity with Kenyas Independent Policing Oversight Authority saying it is investigating the murder. Reportedly, the number plate on the car Sharif was traveling in, was similar to that of a car that was involved in a kidnapping. Just had a telephonic call with Kenyan President William Ruto about the tragic death of Arshad Sharif in . I requested him to ensure fair & transparent investigation into shocking incident. He promised all-out help including fast-tracking the process of return of the body to Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 24, 2022 On Twitter, Pakistanis are mounting pressure on president William Rutos new government to prosecute the killers. #ArshadSharif was a fearless journalist and softhearted person. The tragic incident must be investigated and truth be shared with the Nation.Arshad Sharif lived a short but unforgettable life. He always challenged the mighty powers.May Allah grant him the highest place in heaven Shahbaz Rana (@81ShahbazRana) October 24, 2022 Media in Kenya are calling for answers Media unions in Nairobi have also denounced the killing. In a statement, the Kenya Editors Guild wants the government to quickly and thoroughly investigate the case to determine the cause and reason for the killing. Story continues The Kenya Union of Journalists sent out a press release demanding the immediate arrest of the officers involved in this incident and charge them in court. We condemn the killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif in a shootout incident, which Kenya police have admitted was carried out by General Service Unit officers in an ambush following a signal over car theft/abduction. Full statement from @Oduorerick, SG @KUJ_Kenya pic.twitter.com/9lS2COyFVw KUJ Kenya (@KUJ_Kenya) October 24, 2022 Local investigative journalist John Allan Namu condemned the killing, saying that no journalist should ever have to pay this price for his work. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. king charles Geoff Robinson/SplashNews.com King Charles III is back in a poignant place. The King, 73, was seen at Sandringham on Sunday, his first time at the royal residence following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 8. The new monarch appeared in good spirits as he walked to St. Mary Magdalene Church for the 11 a.m. service. Charles and the rest of the royal family traditionally attend church on Christmas Day at St. Mary Magdalene, a short walk from Sandringham House in Norfolk. In years past, Queen Elizabeth typically stayed at the country estate 110 miles north of London from late December through the holidays until after Feb. 6 the anniversary of the day her father King George VI died and she became monarch, as King George VI died there. King Charles was at Sandringham without his wife, Queen Camilla. The Queen Consort, 75, is staying at a holistic health center in India, where she and some friends are reportedly taking in a bit of wellness therapy. RELATED: Queen Camilla in India for Holistic Therapy Vacation While King Charles Remains in the U.K.: Report "The parish church of St Mary Magdalene, Sandringham, is a country church of exceptional historic interest, with memorials to many members and relations of the Royal Family from Queen Victoria onwards. It is used regularly as a place of worship by the Royal Family and Estate staff. Getty On Sunday, the Times of India reported that the senior royal landed in Bangalore Friday with some friends and protection officers, bound for the Soukya center. Meditation, homeopathy, yoga, therapy and an ancient traditional system of medicine known as Ayurveda are available at the wellness facility, headed by Dr. Isaac Mathai. The residential medical institute bills itself as the world's first integrative health destination and focuses on "healing, prevention or rejuvenation," according to its website. Britain's King Charles III, wearing a kilt, and Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort wave as they walk to meet members of the public after leaving from Dunfermline Abbey in Dunfermline in south east Scotland on October 3, 2022. ANDREW MILLIGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty RELATED: King Charles Chooses Sweet Childhood Photo with Queen Elizabeth to Thank People for Condolences Camilla has been a regular attendee over the years, sometimes heading there en route to an overseas tour with King Charles. That is not the case this time, but she likely factored in the vacation a long time ago. Buckingham Palace had no comment when contacted about the trip. Story continues Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! King Charles III meets Prime Minister Liz Truss during their weekly audience at Buckingham Palace on October 12, 2022 in London, England. Kirsty O'Connor - WPA Pool/Getty Three years ago, Camilla arranged for her husband to visit Soukya with her to mark his 71st birthday. Today, the royal couple is pictured on the website, along with their actress friend Emma Thompson. Camilla is currently staying at the retreat for ten days, according to the Times of India. Meanwhile, Charles is expected to return to London early this week to formally appoint the new prime minister following the resignation of Liz Truss on Oct. 20. Harmony Montgomery has not been seen for more than two years (National Center for Missing Children/Manchester Police Department) Its been nine months since the name Harmony Montgomery first hit headlines across the US when a missing persons investigation was launched to find the seven-year-old girl. Since then, her father and stepmother have both been arrested and charged. A home where she used to live in Manchester, New Hampshire, has been searched for days on end. And a reward for information leading to her discovery has topped $150,000. But, despite the national attention and the painstaking efforts to find the missing child, who is blind in one eye, investigators made little headway. In a press conference in mid-January, Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg admitted he was a little discouraged. Though concerning, the lack of progress was perhaps unsurprising as whoever had information about what happened to the little girl had a more than two-year head start on investigators. Manchester Police said Harmony has not been seen since around October or November 2019 when she was five years old. Yet, a missing persons investigation was only launched in December 2021. However, on Monday a definitive move was finally made on the case, possibly bringing the years-long investigation closer to a close; Harmonys father, Adam Montgomery, was charged with murdering his daughter. When was Harmony Montgomery last seen? The last confirmed sighting of Harmony by law enforcement was on 11 September 2019 when Manchester police officers were called to the home on 77 Gilford Street in Manchester where she lived. Harmony was living with her father Adam Montgomery, who had been given custody of his daughter in February 2019, as well as his wife Kayla Montgomery and their children at the property at the time. The little girl had been in and out of foster care for much of her life. Then, in 2018, her mother Crystal Sorey lost custody of her due in part to substance abuse. Ms Sorey lived in Massachusetts so the child was moved to New Hampshire where Mr Montgomery lived. Chief Aldenberg previously said the last police callout to the property was in October 2019 but confirmed he had muddled the dates in a press briefing on 12 January. Story continues Despite the date change, the police chief said investigators are still working to the belief that Harmony was last seen in October or November of that year. This timeline appears to be based on police interviews and statements from various family members. Missing posters of missing seven-year-old Harmony Montgomery (AP) Ms Sorey told police she had not been able to contact her since they spoke on a video call in April 2019. After that, she said Mr Montgomery cut off all contact between her and her daughter. Mr Montgomery claimed to investigators he last saw his daughter around Thanksgiving 2019, claiming that Ms Sorey had picked her up from Manchester to take her to live with her. The criminal complaint says that Mr Montgomery claimed to believe his daughter was living with his ex and did not show much emotion or reaction when officers said they were concerned whether Harmony was alive when they contacted him in December. His story was also contradicted by Ms Montgomerys account, who said she last saw Harmony the day after Thanksgiving when her husband said he was driving her to see Ms Sorey. Mr Montgomerys uncle Kevin Montgomery told investigators he has not seen Harmony or his nephew since late 2019 when she was five years old. Who has been charged? On Monday, Harmonys father, Adam, was charged with murdering his daughter. Attorney General John Formella made the announcement Monday at the Manchester Police Department. Earlier this morning, Adam Montgomery was arrested for the murder of Harmony Montgomery in 2019 and other related charges, Mr Formella said. According to Mr Formella, Mr Montgomery is facing four new charges in addition to others brought against him in early 2022. Those charges are one count of second-degree murder for recklessly causing the death of Harmony; falsifying physical evidence for altering, destroying, concealing or removing the girls body; abuse of a corpse for unlawfully removing, concealing or destroying Harmonys body; and tampering with witnesses or informants, which he allegedly did by attempting to coerce his estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery, to lie to investigators. I do want to again express my deepest sympathies to Harmonys family, friends and loved ones, Mr Formella said at the news conference in Manchester. We understand that todays news, while significant for purposes of this investigation, is yet another difficult moment for those who loved Harmony and those who have followed this case. The charges accuse Mr Montgomery of repeatedly striking Harmony with his fist sometime around 7 December, 2021. His arraignment is scheduled for 25 October, according to the Department of Justice. In early January, Harmonys father and his wife were both arrested and charged on counts related to the missing child. Mr Montgomery was arrested on 4 January and charged with second-degree felony assault, two misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and one misdemeanor count of interference with custody. On the assault charge, he is accused of striking [Harmony] in the face sometime in July 2019, giving her a black eye, according to the criminal complaint. Police interviews with other family members revealed Mr Montgomery was allegedly abusive toward his daughter, including giving her a black eye, forcing her to clean the toilet with her own toothbrush and making her stand in a corner for hours as a punishment. Mr Montgomerys brother Michael Montgomery told investigators he had concerns that Adam was physically abusive to the child and was super short with her. Harmonys father Adam Montgomery in his booking photo (AP) Kevin Montgomery said he noticed Harmony had a black eye in July 2019, which his nephew confessed to causing by hitting her in the face, according to the criminal complaint. I bashed her around this house, he said his nephew told him. Kevin said he contacted DCYF that time and had also noticed Mr Montgomery subject Harmony to other forms of abusive discipline including scrubbing a toilet with her toothbrush and her being spanked hard on the butt. Officials said Mr Montgomery was not cooperating with the investigation into his daughters disappearance and has refused to say where she is. The day after her husbands arrest, Ms Montgomery was arrested on one felony charge of welfare fraud for allegedly fraudulently collecting welfare benefits for the missing child between December 2019 and June 2021. Ms Montgomery, who has three children with her husband, is accused of fraudulently obtaining $1,500 in food stamp benefits meant for Harmony between December 2019 and June 2021 even though the girl was not living with them. Prosecutors have now dropped that welfare fraud charge and added three new charges - one count of theft by deception and two misdemeanor charges of welfare fraud. The charges accuse Ms Montgomery of making intentional false statements about her stepdaughters whereabouts in February and March 2021 in order to claim benefits. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Mr Montgomery has a history of violence and a long criminal record including convictions for shooting a man in the head in a drug deal just six months before Harmony was born. He was also convicted in 2010 for attacking two women at gunpoint. It has also emerged that Mr Montgomery is a suspect in the cold case murder of a 28-year-old man in Lynn, New Hampshire, back in February 2008. Darlin Guzman was found shot in the chest in the parking lot of the former White Hen Convenience store in Lynns Austin Square on the night of 10 February 2008. He was pronounced dead in hospital. Kayla Montgomery is pictured in her mugshot following her arrest (Manchester NH Police) A law enforcement source told Boston 25 Newsthat Mr Montgomery, who was 18 at the time, and two members of his family, who were not named, have been the focus of the murder investigation since day one. The three family members had been in contact with the victim earlier that day and planned to meet with him at the convenience store, before the meeting culminated in gunfire, according to the source. The victims car was later found abandoned in the direction of Bedford, New Hampshire, where Mr Montgomery lived at the time. No one has ever been charged with the Mr Guzmans murder but the source said Mr Montgomery remains the focus of the investigation to this day. Almost 14 years on from that killing, Mr Montgomery and his wife are now charged on counts related to his missing daughter, including, in her fathers case, her murder. Why was she not reported missing for two years? Questions arose over how a little girl could not be seen for more than two years without any action being taken by authorities. Multiple family members have said they raised concerns for Harmonys safety with New Hampshires Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) over the last two years. Ms Sorey accused the authorities of failing her daughter. She said she made multiple attempts to report concerns to child services. On November 18 she contacted Manchester Police saying she believed her daughter was missing. Police officers contacted the New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) about the location of the missing child. Then, on 27 December, the DCYF reported that it was also unable to locate Harmony. Manchester Police announced a search was launched on 31 December. Harmony Montgomerys mother Crystal Sorey speaks out at a vigil for her daughter (NBC Boston) Ms Sorey was so conviced that her daughter was in trouble that she sent emails to the Manchester mayors office, begging for help in finding the girl. Please, Im begging for help in finding my daughter, she wrote on 29 December. Ms Sorey said Mr Montgomery had never enrolled their daughter in school and that she has missed important doctors appointments shes had since a baby due to a disability in her eye. The emails were sent just two days before police finally reported Harmony missing. As well as the repeated attempts to raise the alarm, the family was well-known to child services. Records released on 12 January showed that police officers were called to the Gilford Street home at least 10 times between February 2019 - when Mr Montgomery got custody of Harmony - and when she was last seen in the fall. Reports ranged from claims of domestic disturbances to animal welfare and concerns about the living conditions in the home. The DCYF was notified about some of the incidents. A neighbour told The Independent that it was a bad situation at the property, describing lots of people living there at different times, adults seen arguing in the street, junk left piled up in the yard, and the electricity being switched off at one point. We didnt intermingle with them as it was a bad situation, she said. There was lots of different people living there, piles of junk in the driveway, junk outside. The electricity was turned off and they ran the generator all summer with the wiring running through the window. The neighbour said the Montgomerys were basically squatting at the home when it had fallen into foreclosure and Mr and Ms Montgomery were refusing to leave. She said she went away for the Thanksgiving holidays in 2019 and returned to find the family had finally packed up and moved out. This coincides with when Mr and Ms Montgomery claimed they last saw the little girl. New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu announced on 12 January that the DCYF is carrying out an internal review of its handling of Harmonys case. However, the governor defended the states work saying: As soon as we found out that this child may not have been showing up for school for quite some time, it was reported up to us. The team got right on it. It wasnt a delay. It didnt sit in a file on somebodys desk. An independent investigation was also launched by the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate after Harmony was moved from Massachusetts into the custody of Mr Montgomery in New Hampshire in February 2019. Officials in New Hampshire and Massachusetts passed the blame between each other. The New Hampshire governor sent a letter to Massachusetts court officials slamming a judge for placing Harmony in the care of her monster father, given his violent past and long rap sheet. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker responded to the criticism saying he felt his pain but said he wants to wait to see the results of the independent review by the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate. The report, released in May, found placed the blame on state agencies failing to consider Harmonys needs above her parents rights to her custody. The central and most important finding in this investigation and report is that Harmonys individual needs, wellbeing, and safety were not prioritized or considered on an equal footing with the assertion of her parents rights to care for her in any aspect of the decision making by any state entity, Maria Mossaides, Director, Office of the Child Advocate, said in the report. When children are not at the center of every aspect of the child protection system, then the system cannot truly protect them. This report describes the ripple effect of miscalculations of risk and an unequal weight placed on parents rights versus a childs wellbeing. Mr Baker responded to the report a day later by saying everybody failed in this case, and pushed a bill that included $50 million to recruit, train and pay guardian ad litems within the Massachusetts court system. There are a lot of lawyers who are in the room on this case, and none of them at the end of the day had just Harmony Montgomerys interest as a primary concern, Mr Baker said. Where is Harmony? Investigators have revealed little detail about what they think may have happened to Harmony. The girls remains have still not been found. The Gilford Street property was the focus of much of the search with investigators seen in the home and the backyard for multiple days. However, Manchester Police said the search concluded there. It is not clear if anything of interest was uncovered and no other locations for searches have been identified. The search continues for Harmony Montgomery who has not been seen in two years (Manchester Police Department) Around 300 tips have been received from the public so far and the reward for information about Harmonys disappearance has topped $150,000. Anyone with information is asked to call or text 603-203-606 The largest private Hasidic Jewish school in New York admitted to stealing millions of dollars from government programs. Operators of the Central United Talmudical Academy in Brooklyn admitted in court Monday to the fraudulent wrongdoings. The all-boys school, which serves 2,000 youth in the area, admitted to illegally shifting funds from government programs. Instead, the funds were used on parties and miscellaneous expenses not approved by the respective programs. To avoid prosecution, the academy will pay $5 million in fines as well as another $3 million in restitution theyve already paid. Feds Watching Photo Courtesy of Kadima Dayschool. Federal investigators caught wind of the fraud happening at Central United Talmudical Academy after investigating two school officials, Elozer Porges and Joel Lowy. The pair pled guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government in March 2018. The case was a chain reaction into a greater scheme at COTA. Todays admission makes clear there was a pervasive culture of fraud and greed in place at CUTA, said Michael J. Driscoll, the assistant director of the FBIs New York office. We expect schools to be places where students are taught how to do things properly. The leaders of CUTA went out of their way to do the opposite, creating multiple systems of fraud in order to cheat the government. School officials admitted to taking funds acquired for school lunches, childcare, and new technology and using it for inappropriate expenses like adult parties. They also set up no-show jobs for employees and paid some staff members in cash and coupon so they could qualify for government assistance, according to a deferred prosecution agreement filed in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn. Big Money, Little Education Despite taking large amounts of money from the federal government since before the pandemic, investigators say the students at Central United Talmudical Academy have been receiving a subpar education. A New York Time investigation revealed the school received $10 million dollars in government funding in 2019. However, the academy gave 1000 students standardized tests that year and every student failed. According to that same investigation, Hasidic boys schools score lower on standardized tests than any other school in New York. Currently, there are more than 100 Hasidic boys schools in Brooklyn and the surrounding areas that have acquired more than 1 billion dollars in taxpayer money over the past four years. Former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalts (R) campaign is rolling out a new ad aimed at the Latino community as part of his final two-week sprint to the finish line to unseat Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.). Laxalts camp unveiled a new ad, shared first with The Hill, as part of its multimillion-dollar TV buy that features the GOP nominee speaking Spanish and discussing President Biden and Democrats perceived missteps in handling the economy and issues related to crime. Rising crime. Rising prices for groceries and gas. The progressive agenda of Joe Biden and Catherine Masto are bankrupting businesses, making it harder for families to make ends meet, the narrator says to open the ad, titled Fight For You. I will fight their progressive agenda. I fought for you as attorney general. Ill fight for you in Washington, Laxalt says in Spanish, who is not fluent, adding that he approves the ad because you deserve a safer, affordable Nevada with better schools. The 30-second spot will begin to air statewide on Tuesday. Laxalts latest ad comes amid a tug-of-war between the two candidates for the key bloc of voters. In 2020, Latino voters made up 20 percent of the states electorate, the sixth largest share nationwide. In addition, Latinos comprised 8 percent of the GOP vote in 2020, an uptick from 6 percent in 2016. The battle between Laxalt and Cortez Masto, the lone Latina senator, is also likely to help determine which party will take home the Senate majority. According to the latest RealClearPolitics average of polls, Laxalt leads by less than a single percentage point. The ad battle also comes at a key time as mail-in ballots reached voters in Clark County (Las Vegas) and Washoe County (Reno and Carson City) last week and early voting started on Saturday. The early voting stretch runs for two weeks and ends on Nov. 4. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. CAIRO (Reuters) - A delegation headed by Lebanon's deputy speaker of parliament, Elias Bou Saab, is due to visit Syria on Wednesday to discuss delineating their maritime border, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on Twitter on Monday. A dispute over their sea boundary emerged last year after Syria granted a licence to a Russian energy company to begin maritime exploration in an area Lebanon claimed. Several gas discoveries have been made in the eastern Mediterranean. (Reporting by Moataz Mohamed; Editing by Jon Boyle) Leslie Jordan, who made television audiences laugh in sitcoms including "Hearts Afire" and "Will & Grace," died Oct. 24 in a car accident. He was 67. A spokesperson for the actor confirmed Jordans death to NBC News. Jordan was driving in Hollywood and crashed his car into the side of a building at Cahuenga Blvd. and Romaine St., the spokesperson said. It is suspected Jordan suffered a medical emergency prior to the crash. "The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan. Not only was he a mega talent and joy to work with, but he provided an emotional sanctuary to the nation at one of its most difficult times," the spokesperson said in a statement. "What he lacked in height he made up for in generosity and greatness as a son, brother, artist, comedian, partner and human being," the statement continued. "Knowing that he has left the world at the height of both his professional and personal life is the only solace one can have today. Leslie Jordan (FOX / FOX Image Collection via Getty I) The Chattanooga, Tennessee-born actor found fame playing Lonnie Garr in CBSs 1990s sitcom Hearts Afire. He had a scene-stealing guest-starring role as Beverley Leslie on NBCs Will & Grace, which won him a Primetime Emmy in 2006, and also appeared in several seasons of Ryan Murphys creepy American Horror Story franchise on FX. In more recent years, Jordan starred opposite Mayim Bialik and Cheyenne Jackson in the Fox sitcom Call Me Kat. Leslie Jordan in the Call Me A Sporty Giant episode of CALL ME KAT (FOX) Jordan became an Instagram sensation during the coronavirus pandemic thanks to his hilarious selfie videos that found his reminiscing in a twangy drawl about his Southern childhood and colorful younger years. I didnt realize (I blew up) until last night when everybody started calling me telling me youve gone viral. I dont really even know what that means! Jordan told TODAY in 2020. Jordans fans on Instagram frequently commented to tell the actor that his storytelling and hilarious quips were a welcome balm during tough times. Story continues I had this friend right when the pandemic hit, he said, You know what, Leslie? Your thoughts are exactly what people need to hear right now. Its not like wagging your finger or saying Wear your mask or do this or do that. Youre just funny, Jordan explained. And so we started coming up with all kinds of little ideas. Mainly I do it for the response of the people. Jordan, who was also candid about his nearly quarter century of sobriety as well as his journey toward accepting himself as a gay man said that he hoped that his videos brought laughter to fans when they needed it most. What were learning especially during this is that each of us has a job. God bless the people on the front lines. Im not a nurse or a doctor or a teacher, but I can make people laugh. That is a gift and that is meant to be shared," he said. "There are a lot of lonely people right now. If I can make just one person feel a little less alone, then I have done my job in this," he added. Upon news of his death, his former "Will & Grace" co-stars and friends expressed their condolences. Will & Grace (Chris Haston / NBCUniversal via Getty Images) Additionally, production on "Call Me Kat" was paused, a spokesperson for Fox Entertainment confirmed to TODAY. Jordan, who starred at Phil, completed work on nine episodes of the show's third season. The Thursday, Oct. 27, episode will air as scheduled and include an in memoriam. We are shocked and devastated by todays tragic passing of Leslie Jordan. Leslie was far more than an Emmy Award winning comedic talent with whom weve laughed alongside for all these years. He was the kindest person you could ever imagine who simply lit up a room and brought pure joy and huge smiles to millions of people around the world," read a statement from Fox Entertainment. "The truest of Southern Gentlemen, Leslie carried an infectious exuberance, indelible sense of humor and, throughout, gifted us with countless fond memories that will last forever. As we grieve this sad news, we also wish to extend our most profound sympathies to Leslies family, friends and fans, whom he held so dear. Additionally, Warner Bros. Television also said in a statement to TODAY, Warner Bros. Television is devastated about the tragic and sudden loss of our dear friend Leslie Jordan. Leslie was an extraordinary person and talent. He brought joy to fans across the globe. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans at this time. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Thousands gathered at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus on Wednesday to rally and march during the first Ohio March for Life. The event was a show of support for ending abortion access in Ohio from the point of conception. Ohio's Republican lawmakers are poised to ban nearly all abortions when they return to Columbus after the November elections. Why are lawmakers involved? I read in the Oct. 18 article, "Lawmakers running out of time to pass ban," that Senate President Matt Huffman wants to codify the definition of what life of the mother means. More:Do 10-year-olds meet 'life of mother' abortion exemptions? Ohio lawmakers, doctors divided Are you kidding me? Does this imply that, if the expectation of the mother dying in or before childbirth is 80%, then she qualifies for medical intervention, but if the likelihood of disaster is less than 49%, she is out of luck? These recent proclamations typically include wording that, instead of working proactively with the obstetrician, the woman is required to wait until said life-threatening complication has actually begun before the doctor is allowed to intervene. I dont care what you think about abortion; we need to tell lawmakers to get their big noses out of the formerly sacred doctor-patient relationship. Ian J. Wilson M.D., Westerville 'Disillusioned Republicans, Independents, Democrats' stand up State Senate President Matt Huffman fears that there are not enough scheduled session days remaining in the current General Assembly legislative session to pass a total abortion ban (Oct. 18 article, "Lawmakers running out of time to pass ban"). Do not believe him. It ignores how the majority Republican legislature can and will act as he admits himself by finally saying, If we dont get it done now We will all be back here anyway, thanks to their continued gerrymandering of Ohio legislative districts. More:'This is a tiny amount of time': Will Ohio ban abortion at conception this year? Bills can be drafted without legislative sessions. All that is necessary is for one house to pass an acceptable bill and the other to concur in it and forward it to the governor for signature. Moreover, in the lame-duck session after the November elections, the passage of bills seems to fly with the speed of light on their own or tacked on to legislation that must be enacted before the close of the legislative session - even if the bill may violate Ohios constitutional requirement that no bill can contain more than one subject. Story continues GOP lawmakers who control, and will continue to control, the General Assembly - as well as apparently the governor -do not seem to be afraid of anything despite a bribery scandal or having passed legislation against the majority of Ohioans who support sensible gun safety, fair redistricting, and reasonable abortion access, among many other issues. But voters can still send them a message and achieve other results this November. Timeline:Selling out in the Statehouse Disillusioned Republicans, Independents, Democrats, and all others who may wish to opt out of any participation in their civic duty to vote have power even in gerrymandered districts. More:Election 2022: Ohio House, Senate and Congress districts have changed. What district are you in? Everyone fed up with the GOP power grabs and narrow interest legislation only need to vote Democratic in every statewide election race including governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer of state, secretary of state, attorney general, auditor of state, and the Supreme Court. This will have some impact on any member of or candidate for the House of Representatives who has to run again in two years. And there is at least practical effect, as this would change the membership of the Ohio Redistricting Commission with members more likely to follow the Ohio Constitution and decisions of the Ohio Supreme Court to comply with our constitution. Toba Feldman, Columbus Let's stop having nation most corrupt In America, no matter our political party, race or zip code, we believe government should be fair and honest. The FBI calls Ohios state legislature the most corrupt in the nation. Here are three cases that should concern you: (1) The Redistricting Commission (five Republicans and two Democrats) was to create fair voting districts based on the 2020 census. The groups shameful maps were declared unconstitutional SIX times by the Ohio Supreme court. This led to a $21 million second primary. Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder walks out of U.S. District Court in July 2020 after federal charges that he participated in a racketeering conspiracy. (2) In July 2020, former Ohio Speaker Larry Householder and allies were charged in a kickback scheme, taking $60 million from FirstEnergy for personal enrichment, political gain, and to pass legislation worth an estimated $1.3 billion to the company. Two allies have pleaded guilty to racketeering. Householder awaits trial. ECOT founder Bill Lager speaks during a rally staged by the now-closed online charter school outside the Statehouse in May 2017. (3) Remember ECOT? Major Republican donor William Lager opened a virtual charter school with money taken from funds earmarked for public schools. The charter school failed 12,000 students and cheated Ohioans out of $117 million. For decades, Ohio has had one-party rule caused by gerrymandering, and suffers higher costs and flawed reputation. Vote for candidates who respect the laws, the courts and the will of the people. Kathleen A. Tate, Howard 'The lesser of two extremes,' please Ohio voters are trying to decide which candidate, J.D. Vance or Tim Ryan, represents the lesser of two extremes. In their recent debate, Vance chided Ryan for supporting spending Vance claimed is driving up consumer prices and for not acknowledging that a 10-year-old Ohio girl forced to leave the state for an abortion was raped by an undocumented immigrant. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, and Trump-endorsed Republican and "Hillbilly Elegy" author J.D. Vance The truth is consumer prices have risen substantially worldwide largely because of the pandemic. Moreover, Republicans repeatedly have been absent despite Americans constantly urging leaders in the two political parties to come to the table and agree on immigration policy. More:I am pushing 'back against crazy extremists bent on smashing our republic.' You should too By contrast, a vote for Vance represents the kind of extremes Americans are resolute to loathe which Republicans, nonetheless, have tried to pass off as "the new normal." Included are Republicans attacks on Americas core values. Once elected, Republicans promise to inflict even greater harm than they already have on Americas democracy and the rights of Americans. They have no qualms about furthering their attacks on the rights of voters, the right for votes to count even if the Republican in the race loses, and the right of every woman in America to make her own childbearing decisions. Republicans extremes clearly should give voters in Ohio and everywhere in America great pause. John E. Reinier Sr., Columbus Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: Why does Ohio have the nation's most corrupt Statehouse? Li Qiang, the Communist Party chief of Shanghai, is set to become China's next premier after president Xi Jinping unveiled a new governing body packed with loyalists. Mr Li, who is a close ally of the newly reappointed Chinese leader, was elevated to the second most important position on the seven-man standing committee on Sunday. Current premier Li Keqiang will step down in March after the maximum two terms. Mr Li, 63, has been party secretary of Chinas largest city since 2017 and was parachuted into the politburo standing committee. According to analysts, he would be the first premier since 1976 not to be promoted from vice-premier. The Shanghai post, touted to be China's most important, was previously held by Mr Xi, former president Jiang Zemin and former premier Zhu Rongji. A native of Zhejiang province, Mr Li was Mr Xis chief of staff from 2004 to 2007 when Mr Xi was serving as the party chief of Zhejiang a centre for export-oriented manufacturing and private enterprise. He headed the provinces political and legal affairs department before being made deputy party secretary. Mr Li was promoted to the governor's role of Shanghai in 2013, the year Mr Xi became president, paving the way for him to be groomed for bigger roles. Mr Li, a loyal companion to the Chinese president, travelled to the US with Mr Xi in 2015 to meet then president Barack Obama. He was elevated to provincial party chief in 2016 when the president removed several officials in Jiangsu province as part of a corruption crackdown. His reputation was dented by a grinding two-month-long Covid-19 lockdown of Shanghai earlier this year that confined 25 million people to their homes, severely disrupting the economy and prompting scattered public protests. Mr Li oversaw the implementation of the presidents zero-Covid decree, while district-level officials were punished as a means of placating public anger. During the lockdown, he often appeared on state media visiting residential compounds and hospitals while reiterating the party line: We must resolutely implement the spirit of the important instructions by party secretary Xi Jinping and steadfastly persist in the dynamic-zero approach. Story continues Mr Li was also known for pushing greater economic integration of the Yangtze River Delta region as well as overseeing an expansion of Shanghai's free trade zone. However, his rapid elevation to power appears to indicate that loyalty to Mr Xi trumps public popularity and incompetence in governance. Tradition is that somebody who becomes premier must be vice-premier before this is totally against party convention, Willy Lam, a senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation, told Reuters, describing Mr Lis performance in Shanghai as mediocre. We have not seen Li Qiang introduce any market-oriented reforms, Mr Lam added. Lowes is partnering with Digibridge to provide 10,000 STEAM kits to six Title 1 schools in the Charlotte area. Lowes tech associates and many volunteers will be assembling the kits over two days at Lowes new Tech Hub in South End. Digi-Bridge, a nonprofit, will be working with over 600 Lowes employees to deliver the kits to Renaissance West STEAM Academy in east Charlotte. ALSO READ: Lowes gives inside look at new South End tech hub Digi-Bridge helped add creativity to the kits through the use of art, movement and music to connect technology, design and innovation. Each STEAM kit will have at least two projects, ranging from learning how an electronic circuit works using paper to choreographing a viral dance using computer science. Lowes first partnered with Digi-Bridge in 2019. In July, technology interns for Lowes joined volunteers in building 600 STEAM kits for students at Hidden Valley Elementary School in Charlotte. Through their partnership, Lowes and Digi-Bridge have created and donated 3,500 STEAM kits to Title 1 schools in the area. (WATCH BELOW: Bank of London to expand tech hub in Charlotte, creating 350 jobs) GOMA (Reuters) -Fighters from the M23 rebel group clashed with the army in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday in a fourth day of violence in which four civilians have been killed, the army said. About 500 people, some of them injured, sought shelter in a convent in Ntamugenga village near the borders of Uganda and Rwanda and need to be evacuated, the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres tweeted. The unrest in North Kivu province has broken months of relative calm in eastern Congo following clashes between the army and M23 militants at the end of March. The group declared a ceasefire in April, and the seven countries of the East African Community trade bloc set up a regional military force to try to stem decades of militant activity in Congo's mineral-rich east. But M23 rebels attacked military posts in Rutshuru territory near the border with Uganda and Rwanda on Thursday, national army spokesman Sylvain Ekenge said in a statement late on Sunday. Four civilians were killed and 40 injured, including children, he added. M23 spokesman Willy Ngoma and the group's president Bertrand Bisimwa both posted Twitter posts accusing the army of initiating the violence. HIGHWAY A civil society source did not wish to be named said the M23 had captured Ntamugenga, a strategic target close to a highway connecting the city of Butembo to provincial capital Goma. "Fighting continues around Ntamugenga this morning," Ekenge told Reuters on Monday. One Congolese official said the army had retreated from the village to protect civilians and was shooting at M23 rebels in surrounding bush land. The M23 is waging its most sustained offensive this year since a 2012-2013 insurrection that seized vast swathes of territory before fighters were chased out by Congolese and United Nations forces into Uganda and Rwanda. There have been regional efforts in recent years to have the M23 demobilize, but its leaders have complained about the slow implementation of a peace accord and accused the Congolese army of waging war against it. Story continues Congo accuses Rwanda and Uganda of backing the group, which they deny. More than 23,000 people have fled the latest bout of fighting since Oct. 20, including 2,500 that crossed the border to Uganda, according to the United Nations. (Reporting by Djaffar Sabiti, Fiston Mahamba, Stanys Bujakera and Erikas Mwisi Writing by Sofia Christensen) By Juliette Jabkhiro PARIS (Reuters) - A group of victims of sexual abuse says the Catholic church is reacting too slowly to a report revealing assaults by French clergy on more than 200,000 children, and is urging President Emmanuel Macron to raise the issue directly with Pope Francis on Monday. Macron is meeting the pontiff in the Vatican a year after a 2,500 page report by the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse detailed how the church repeatedly silenced victims and failed to discipline the clergy involved. Ahead of Macron's visit to the Vatican, the president's office said the subject had been addressed with the pope in the past, and that it was not likely to be brought up on Monday. "It's about protecting the most vulnerable, especially children," Olivier Savignac, a former abuse victim and co-founder of the Parler et Revivre association (Talk and Live Again) told Reuters. The church had shown "deep, total and even cruel indifference for years," protecting itself rather than the victims of systemic abuse, Jean-Marc Sauve, head of the independent commission that compiled the report, said at the time of publication. The French conference of bishops (CEF) described the report as a "bombshell". Its head said the church had been shamed, asked for forgiveness and promised to act. Savignac said that the creation of two bodies by the French Catholic Church to collect victims' testimonies and offer reparations was a good start, but that the process was too slow. "Some (victims) have contacted us because they have heard nothing since coming forward, and they're in great distress," he added. Many cases are covered by the statute of limitations, but state prosecutors have been alerted of more recent cases. The report sent shockwaves across the French catholic community. Francis at the time expressed gratitude towards victims for having the courage to come forward. But since then, the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse, established by the CEF in late 2018, has not been received by Francis, said Christophe Henning of the Catholic French newspaper La Croix. "Some feel like things are not moving fast enough," Henning said. (Reporting by Juliette Jabkhiro; Additional reporting by John Irish, editing by Richard Lough, William Maclean) By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron and Pope Francis held talks on Monday, with the crisis in Ukraine and prospects for peace there expected to have been their main topic of discussion. The Vatican said their private talks lasted 55 minutes but, as is customary, did not specify what they discussed. Prior to Macron's visit, victims of sexual abuse said the Catholic church was reacting too slowly to a report revealing assaults by French clergy on more than 200,000 children, and urged him to raise the issue directly with the pope. The Vatican said that Ukraine, particularly the humanitarian situation there, topped the agenda in later talks Macron had with the Vatican's two top diplomats. They also discussed the Caucasus, the Middle East, and Africa. Topics in such meetings often mirror what is discussed in leaders' private papal audiences. Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte and greeted with an honour guard of Swiss Guards, gave the pope a first edition of German philosopher Immanuel Kant's "Perpetual Peace," published in French in 1796. The pope gave Macron a medallion depicting an early plan for St. Peter's Basilica and some of his writings. From the Vatican, Macron went to an official lunch hosted by Italy's President Sergio Mattarella, having held talks with new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday. Macron is in Italy to attend an international conference organised by Italy's Sant'Egidio Community, a worldwide peace and charity group. He and the pope will jointly close the conference at Rome's Colosseum on Tuesday. Opening it on Sunday, Macron said he believed there was a chance for peace in Ukraine. He also said the Russian Orthodox Church was allowing itself to be manipulated by Moscow to justify the war in Ukraine, and urged it to resist such pressure. (Reporting by Philip PullellaEditing by Bernadette Baum and John Stonestreet) (NEXSTAR) Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients have reported dozens of different symptoms, ranging from cold and flu-like symptoms to more unique ones, including COVID tongue. But like all viruses, the primary symptoms associated with COVID have changed and can vary based on your vaccination status, according to a new list released last week. The ZOE Health Study a joint effort by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Kings College London, Stanford University School of Medicine and the health app ZOE shared an updated list of the top COVID symptoms currently being reported by its participants. NOAA releases winter weather outlook: How La Nina will impact your state Researchers have found that for participants in all three groups fully vaccinated, those who received just one dose, and unvaccinated four of the five most commonly reported symptoms are the same: sore throat, runny nose, persistent cough, and headache. Their prevalences across the groups, however, vary, as does the fifth symptom. For those who are vaccinated, a blocked nose is the third-most frequently reported symptom. Among the partially vaccinated, its sneezing, and the unvaccinated, fever. Below are the symptoms most commonly reported among the three groups, ranked in order of how often they are reported. Fully vaccinated Partially vaccinated Unvaccinated Sore throat Headache Headache Runny nose Runny nose Sore throat Blocked nose Sore throat Runny nose Persistent cough Sneezing Fever Headache Persistent cough Persistent cough Among fully vaccinated participants, symptoms frequently reported earlier on in the pandemic were less prevalent, like the loss of smell, fever, and shortness of breath. Loss of smell and shortness of breath have also been reported less often by unvaccinated patients who test positive for COVID. Those that have been vaccinated have also been reporting sneezing more often than those who havent received a dose. Sneezing and a runny nose, according to ZOE, werent previously thought to be a symptom of COVID infection. Story continues Other symptoms frequently reported seem to have become less prevalent as well, like chills or shivers; COVID toes or fingers; and stomach aches. Safety concerns shutter 20 Starbucks locations, including stores trying to unionize Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still list symptoms like fatigue, muscle or body aches, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea as possible COVID symptoms. These are the same symptoms listed in 2021 and 2020. Though ZOE didnt provide details on how severe these symptoms were or which COVID variant they are related to, researchers found the symptoms of omicron, currently the dominant variant in the world, seem to be milder than the once-dominant delta variant. A sore throat has been more commonly reported and the loss of smell less commonly by patients with the omicron variant than those with the delta variant. Those who have been vaccinated also face a shorter spell of COVID than those with delta. Earlier this year, when the BA.5 omicron subvariant became dominant in the U.S., younger patients began noting extreme fatigue, according to said Dr. Sergio Segarra, chief medical officer at Baptist Hospital in Miami. IRS announces tax inflation adjustments why your paycheck could see a bump BA.5 remains the most prominent strain in the U.S., CDC data shows, followed by BA.4.6, BQ.1.1, and BQ.1. Delta and earlier omicron variants like BA.1.1 and BA.2 are no longer being detected. Some medical experts are concerned that COVIDs top symptoms, all very cold and flu-like, closely resemble those of other viruses that are starting to appear as we approach winter. Right now, we have other competing viruses, Dr. Ilan Shapiro, Chief Medical Affairs Officer for Los Angeles-based AltaMed, told Nexstar. Were starting to see influenza, were starting to see rhinovirus, were starting to see a lot of other viruses. He stressed the importance of testing, because treatment for each virus can vary. Alix Martichoux contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A 65-year-old man who was taken to the Tarrant County Jail on a charge of criminal trespassing died two days later. Kenneth Ray Perry was taken to jail on Sept. 27. He was found unresponsive in his cell just before 6 a.m. on Sept. 29, according to a report that was recently filed with the Texas Attorney General. Perry was declared dead by a responding medic at 6:25 a.m. An autopsy is pending, and the Fort Worth Police Departments Major Case Unit will investigate. All in-custody deaths are investigated by third-party agencies. Perry is the ninth person to die in the jails custody this year. Alvie Johnson Jr., 74, was found by jailers on Jan. 1 with a head injury. Johnson was unconscious and taken to John Peter Smith Hospital, where he was placed on life support, according to the Attorney Generals Office. He died two days later. James Carrell New, 80, died on Feb. 19 after spending a month in the jail. He was transferred to JPS on Jan. 28 for hypothermia with chest pain. He tested positive for COVID-19 a week earlier. The medical examiner declined to perform an autopsy. Also in February, Edgar Villatoro-Alvarez, 40, of Austin, died in the ICU after being transferred from the jail. A cause of death is not yet listed on the medical examiners website. The Tarrant County Sheriffs Office has not released any information about Villatoro-Alvarezs death. Law enforcement agencies must provide information about in-custody deaths to the AGs office. The filed report only says Villatoro-Alvarez was taken to JPS after a medical emergency was called. The Fort Worth Police Department is investigating his death. On June 17, Oh Young Park, 54, died by suicide in the jail. Park is the fourth man to die by hanging while inside the jail since 2020. A week later, Thomas Simpkins, 70, died of heart failure. He had a previous diagnoses, according to the AGs office. Richard Marta, 50, was arrested in August and was taken to the hospital after he contracted COVID-19. He was treated for chest pains and hypertension, according to the attorney general. On Aug. 26, he had heart surgery was listed in critical condition after. His family made the decision to remove his ventilator, according to the report. In July, Trelynn Wormley, 23, was found unresponsive in his cell. Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn told KXAS-TV that he died of an apparent fentanyl overdose, the station reported. Fort Worth police are investigating his death. Lyonell Mitchell Jr., 72, died in John Peter Smith Hospitals ICU on Sept. 14, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office. A cause of death is not yet listed. [This article was first published in 2018] Beauty of all kinds really is in the eye of the beholder, and human uniqueness is what makes the search for the one all the more interesting (and difficult). That said, with scientists having spent decades trying to work out the key to why we fall in love, there are certain things you should look for in a potential suitor which suggest you may have found a keeper. With the advent of dating apps meaning another love interest is never more than a right swipe away, it can be hard to commit. So if you're wondering whether to settle down with your current partner, it might be worth taking a step back and asking yourself whether he ticks the boxes below. If he doesnt, that doesnt mean he isnt the one for you. But if he does, youve likely got a pretty good egg on your hands. The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships (Catana Chetwynd) (Catana Chetwynd) (Catana Chetwynd) (Catana Chetwynd) (Catana Chetwynd) (Catana Chetwynd) (Catana Chetwynd) (Catana Chetwynd) (Catana Chetwynd) (Catana Chetwynd) 1. Hes smart While some of us are naturally brainier than others, a new study from the Hanken School of Economics in Finland suggests that the smarter the man, the less likely he is to be unfaithful. According to the research, more intelligent men are more likely to get married and stay married. So if youre worried your boyfriend might be too brainy for you, a) dont be intimidated because intelligence isnt everything, and b) know that you may have a guy whos more likely to be faithful on your hands. 2. He makes you laugh Finding someone you can have a laugh with is crucial - even if everyone else rolls their eyes at his dad jokes, if they crack you up, thats all that matters. And a study has shown that men are more likely to have mating success if they have a GSOH. 3. He actively supports your career A study found that husbands were a deciding factor in two-thirds of womens decisions to quit their jobs, often because they thought it was their duty to bring up their children. Even when the women in the study described their husbands as supportive, they also revealed that the men refused to change their own work schedules or offer to help more with looking after children. Story continues 4. He makes as much effort with your friends and family as you do with his Its not uncommon for a woman to end up giving up her own social life to slot into her new mans. But its rare that a man does the same once entering a relationship. In fact, a recent study found that young men get more satisfaction out of their bromances than their romantic relationships with women. While this is clearly ludicrous, maintaining your friendships is important. So make sure youre with a man who not only wants you to make time to see your friends but also makes an effort to get to know them too. 5. Hes emotionally intelligent If stereotypes are to be believed, it is women who are always desperate to talk about feelings and never men who fall hard. Whilst this definitely isnt true, its important each person in a relationship has a certain level of emotional intelligence. Studies suggest that women are better at taking the opinions and views of their partner into consideration than men, which is essential for a healthy relationship. 6. He respects your opinions and listens to what you have to say Being closed-minded isnt a trait thats exclusive to a particular gender, but if a man is convinced hes always right and will never consider your argument, its not a good sign. If a man rejects his female partners influence, it may be a sign that he has power issues, according to Dr John Gottman, author of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. 7. Hes willing to put the work in A study from the University of Texas found that the most successful relationships werent down to compatibility, but rather making the relationship work. My research shows that there is no difference in the objective compatibility between those couples who are unhappy and those who are happy, study author Dr. Ted Hudson said. So if you or your partner is always looking for the next best thing rather than committing to make your relationship last, it may not bode well. 8. He celebrates your achievements Whether its deadlifting your bodyweight or learning enough German for a trip to Oktoberfest, its important to have a partner who celebrates your achievements. But this isnt just to make you feel great - a study published in The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that couples who did so were more satisfied with their relationships than those who reacted negatively or were indifferent. 9. He shares your values Having a similar outlook in life could be crucial to a successful relationship, according to a study. The more alike your personalities are, the more likely you are to approach problems in the same way. You and your partner will share similar approaches to everything from socialising to working if your priorities are the same, and this is likely to lead to a greater level of respect for one another. Of course, if your partner doesnt have all the above qualities that doesnt mean you should necessarily dump him immediately - we all look for different things in a partner and a relationship, after all. But if he does tick all these boxes, he could be one to hold on to. The Independent's Millennial Love group is the best place to discuss to the highs and lows of modern dating and relationships. Join the conversation here. A convicted felon is behind bars after police found drugs and a stolen gun following a road rage incident. On Oct. 20, at approximately 3:40 p.m., a woman reported that an unknown man in a Dodge Charger pointed a handgun at her and two juvenile passengers while she was driving on Shelby Drive near Mickey Road. According to an affidavit, the woman told police that man attempted to run her off the road when she blew her horn at him. The man then allegedly got out of his car on Shelby Drive and pointed the gun at them. Three days later, at approximately 9:30 a.m., officers with the Memphis Police Department (MPD) located the Dodge Charger in the 4800 block of Leonard Avenue. The vehicle was towed to a storage facility and held for investigation. When officers knocked on the door, a woman told them her son Shelton Pope drove the Charger, police said. The womans description of her son matched the description of the suspect that pointed the gun at the victims. Pope then came to the door and was detained by police. When officers patted him down, they found a pill bottle near his lower back area, and he was taken into custody. According to the affidavit, the woman at the home signed a Consent to Search form and police found a Taurus 9mm handgun with an extended magazine inside a bag of clothes in Popes bedroom. The gun had been reported stolen. Police also found a digital scale inside a drawer in the bed. During an interview, Pope confessed to pointing the gun from the bedroom at the victims, according to the affidavit. He previously pled guilty to Theft of Property $1,000 - $10,000 on Dec. 13, 2007, records show. The pills in the bottle were weighed and tested positive for fentanyl, cocaine and Diazepam. Shelton is charged with 3 counts of aggravated assault, convicted felon in possession of a handgun, theft of property $1,000 or less, 3 counts possession of controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Trending stories: A man who has had numerous brushes with the law this year was arrested yet again in Florida. This most recent offense marks the fourth time in 2022 that Stephen Joel Horton was arrested and ninth time since 2017, according to the Flagler County Sheriffs Office. An FCSO Facebook post about the newest incident says that a deputy on patrol around 8 p.m. Thursday in Palm Coast pulled over the 42-year-old on State Road 100 after he was tracked driving his Nissan 55 mph through a 35 mph construction zone. The driver also changed lanes directly in front of the unmarked patrol vehicle, forcing the deputy to brake to avoid a crash, the agency says. During the traffic stop, the deputy noticed the Nissan rocking back and forth as if someone was moving around rapidly inside the vehicle. Upon further investigation, the deputy spotted a large blade sheath tucked between the drivers seat and center console. Horton, who appeared nervous, was asked to step out of the car. As the drivers door opened, the deputy noticed a piece of burnt tin foil consistent with drug use in the map pocket as well as a large butcher knife on the floorboard. Horton claimed the weapon was used for cutting sod, the FB post says. During a search of the defendant, the deputy felt a solid object near Hortons groin area. A little metal tin with three clear small plastic bags was revealed to be inside his underwear. One of them contained less than a gram of methamphetamine; another had residue traces of fentanyl. A search of the vehicle turned up drug paraphernalia, including a red straw with burnt ends and a green tube containing white powder residue. READ MORE: A woman was pulled over for a traffic stop, but first needed to take a selfie, Florida cops say Bodycam footage shows the interaction between the officer and suspect, who are apparently familiar with one another. You again? the deputy asks Horton. Horton was arrested and booked at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility in Flagler County on a total of six charges, including felonies of evidence tampering, possession of fentanyl, possession of methamphetamine and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Story continues The Flagler Beach resident is being held on $11,000 bond. His arrest is the latest from FCSOs so-called PACE Unit, a team dedicated to deterring criminal behavior. READ MORE: It started as a simple traffic stop in Florida. See what cops hauled in From January through September, the PACE Unit has made 147 arrests, seizing $14,208 in cash, 1,190 grams of cannabis, 87.8 grams of fentanyl, 23.5 grams of methamphetamine and 16.8 grams of cocaine. This kind of effort is why Im proud of our PACE team, said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly. Were not just waiting around for people to commit crimes. They are a dedicated, proactive team that has a successful track record by focusing on crime trends... In this case, I hope this addict will decide to change his lifestyle before he dies of an overdose. The baby formula shortage is impacting many families nationwide. A recent Census Bureau survey shows nearly a third of households with an infant under the age of one had trouble finding formula. Some doctors say the issues arent only access or cost. One pediatrician explains theyre dealing with new recalls for some formula as well. Earlier this month, Abbott Nutrition proactively recalled certain lots of its Ready-to-Feed liquid products for infants and children. Tiffani Hays at the Johns Hopkins Health System said this particular formula is primarily used in hospitals. She said this latest recall put a major dent into their supplies. Pediatricians say without the proper formula, these patients can get dehydrated. Requiring emergent hospitalization and having to run food through iv if necessary, which poses a whole additional risk of infection and additional complications, said Hays, director of pediatric clinical nutrition education and practice at Johns Hopkins Health System. The Biden administration is taking steps to address the shortage. Through Operation Fly Formula, the U.S. has imported the equivalent of nearly one billion 8-ounce bottles of infant formula. Abbott nutrition said it is planning to invest a half-billion dollars in a new factory to manufacture specialty infant formulas. The company reports it is in the final stages of finding a site for its new facility. FILE - Mark Wahlberg working out at F45 Training in Jupiter, Florida on May 25, 2021. Wahlberg said on Instagram he tried to visit Workout Anytime in Aiken, SC, on Sunday, Oct. 23, for a workout but was unable to do so because no one was there to let him in. Aiken was paid a visit by one of the biggest stars in Hollywood over the weekend, though the visit didn't go perfectly. In an Instagram reel video he recorded at 3:05 a.m. Sunday, Oscar-nominated actor Mark Wahlberg stood outside the Workout Anytime Aiken at 614 Richland Ave. West and commented on how he was blocked from visiting the gym. "It's supposed to be 24/7. We called earlier to arrange to get a workout today. There's nobody," Wahlberg said. The gym's open 24/7 exclusively for members, but it's only staffed part of the day. There is no information on its website or on the sign outside as to when, if ever, the gym is staffed on Sundays. This was another point of annoyance for Wahlberg. Read more: Savannah filmmaker creates Project Blackbird to shine a light on mental health struggles Best foot forward: VA worker's magnetic invention helping veterans walk "This is not 'anytime fitness.' This is 'part-time, no-time,'" he said. In the post's description, the actor said he was able to find another gym, but did not indicate which gym it was or even if it was in the area. As of 2 p.m. Monday, the video had almost 120,000 likes. Owners at the gym could not immediately be reached for comment on Monday. No information has been released as to what brought Wahlberg to Aiken and his publicists could not be reached for comment. Wahlberg is known as a devoted athlete and one who trains very early in the morning, which is why he's a fan of 24/7 gyms. Wahlberg is also an investor in fitness brands like Municipal clothing, which he co-founded, and F45 Training, a chain of local gyms throughout the country which Wahlberg has been seen recently visiting. Workout Anytime is not one of these gyms. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Mark Wahlberg Instagrams bad experience at Workout Anytime Aiken gym Bitcoin rose in Monday evening trading in Asia in a mixed day across the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding stablecoins. Ether gained more than 2% and Polygon had a strong run up of more than 6%. XRP fell. Different picture for Hong Kong stocks, where the Hang Seng Index plunged to lows last seen 14 years ago in the financial crisis of 2008. See related article: South Koreas MIR4 maker Wemade launches stablecoin Fast facts Bitcoin gained 0.78% in the past 24 hours to trade at US$19,314 at 4 p.m. in Hong Kong, while Ether rose 2.15% to US$1,337, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Polygon was the biggest gainer among the top 10, jumping 6.43% to US$0.88 after the company announced last week it is now hosting 53,000 decentralized apps on the network, an eightfold increase since the beginning of the year. XRP was the biggest loser among the top 10 cryptos, falling 0.73% to US$0.46, though recovering from its seven day low on Friday of US$0.43. The drop followed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing a rebuttal to the motion by Ripple Labs Inc. for a summary judgment in their legal case. The Ripple payment network is powered by XRP. Asia equity markets were mixed after Wall Street posted the biggest gains since June on Friday. The Nikkei 225 rose 0.31%, while the Shanghai Composite Index fell 2.02%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index plunged 6.36% to reach levels last seen in the global financial crisis. Commentators attributed the drop in Hong Kong to a lack of clear measures for reviving the economy in China coming out of the 20th National Congress that ended in Beijing on Saturday. The Congress focused mostly on the politics of the event and President Xi Jinping solidifying his authority. However, China did release some delayed statistics that said GDP rose 3.9% on year in the third quarter of 2022 as well as a higher-than-expected balance of trade for September of US$84.74 billion. The unemployment rate for September was 5.5%, 0.3% higher than forecast. See related article: SEC asks court to deny Ripple motion for summary judgment in XRP lawsuit A couple in Maryland allege that strangers have moved into the home they just bought and now refuse to leave. They had just signed a contract with a bank when the wife drove by the home on Thursday and saw people moving in with a U-Haul truck parked in the driveway. On Friday, they were in the residence and refused to leave. Realtor Melea King told WUSA9 that the wife panicked a little and called me and said, What is happening here? It seems as though someone has totally tried to take possession of the property, she added. The local TV station reported that two men were in the home on Friday, with signs having been put up urging people to stay away. We have an agreed ... ratified contract with the bank, Ms King said, adding that the home was previously vacant and foreclosed on. She said that when the new owners spoke to the men moving in, they were shown what the men claimed was a lease for the home. The couple then alerted the police. Once the police [were] on site, they took a look at the lease and it was not accurate. It was not correct, Ms King told WUSA9. The outlet reported that they attempted to speak to the men in the house and that they said an uncle called Quinn had the lease for the residence. They claimed not to know his last name and refused to answer further questions. Right now my clients are highly upset and we just dont know what to do at this point, Ms King added. It should not be taking this long for this to be addressed. Prince Georges County Police told WUSA9 that an officer did go to the home on Thursday but that it appears to be a civil matter under the Sheriffs jurisdiction. Matthew Perry is opening up about the unusual lengths he went to in order to convince former girlfriend Julia Roberts to guest star on Friends. In his forthcoming memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry said Roberts agreed to appear on a 1996 episode of Friends titled The One After the Superbowl: Part 2 only if she could work alongside him. Getting her to fully commit to the role of Susie Moss the childhood classmate of Perrys character, Chandler Bing would require some extra persuasion on his behalf. Julia had been offered the post-Super Bowl episode in season 2 and she would only do the show if she could be in my story line, the actor recalls in the book, as seen in an excerpt that appeared this weekend in the U.K.s The Times. Let me say that again she would only do the show if she could be in my story line. (Was I having a good year or what?) But first, I had to woo her. As far as the wooing was concerned, Perry first sent Roberts three dozen roses along with a note that read: The only thing more exciting than the prospect of you doing the show is that I finally have an excuse to send you flowers. Still, the Pretty Woman star wasnt completely sold at least not yet. Her reply was that if I adequately explained quantum physics to her, shed agree to be on the show, Perry said. Wow. First of all, Im in an exchange with the woman for whom lipstick was invented, and now I have to hit the books. Matthew Perry (left) and Julia Roberts on the set of Matthew Perry (left) and Julia Roberts on the set of "Friends" in 1996. (Photo: Getty Images via Getty Images) So the actor gave himself a crash course, and fulfilled Roberts request by submitting a lengthy, expeditiously researched paper all about wave-particle duality and the uncertainty principle and entanglement. And the result? Not only did Julia agree to do the show, but she also sent me a gift: bagels lots and lots of bagels, he said. Sure, why not? It was Julia fucking Roberts. Story continues Roberts was apparently moved by the gesture, and the two actors struck up a friendship that involved a lot of correspondence via fax machine before shooting the episode. By the time they arrived on the Friends set to film The One After the Superbowl, Part 2, they were happily an item. In a Hollywood Reporter interview last year, Friends executive producer Kevin Bright and staff writer Alexa Junge both corroborated Perrys scientific paper claim. Junge also hinted that Roberts was already interested in Perry from afar long before they worked together. There was a lot of flirting over faxing, she explained. She was giving him these questionnaires like, Why should I go out with you? And everyone in the writers room helped him explain to her why. He could do pretty well without us, but there was no question we were on Team Matthew and trying to make it happen for him. Unfortunately for Perry and Roberts, their romance was short-lived. Elsewhere in Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry said his own insecurities about dating one of the worlds most revered stars turned out to be a major obstacle. I had been constantly certain that she was going to break up with me, he wrote, according to the Times. Why would she not? I was not enough; I could never be enough; I was broken, bent, unloveable. So instead of facing the inevitable agony of losing her, I broke up with the beautiful and brilliant Julia Roberts. Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing is due out Oct. 28. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... (Getty Images) Meta has threatened to shut down news content in Canada, following a new law proposed by the Canadian government. The parent company of Facebook and Instagram would be forced to share revenue with local news organisations according to the proposed Bill C-18 legislation, modelled after the controversial Australias News Media Bargaining Code which was passed in 2021. The law argues that digital platforms have a "bargaining imbalance" with news organisations, and must make deals that would then be assessed by a regulator. "All were asking the tech giants like Facebook to do is negotiate fair deals with news outlets when they profit from their work," Canadas Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez said in a statement, Reuters reports. However, Meta says it was surprised not to receive an invitation to participate in discussions about the law, and claims that it misrepresents the relationship between platforms and news publishers. Marc Dinsdale, the head of media partnerships for Meta Canada, wrote in a blog post: The framework of the current legislation presumes that Meta unfairly benefits from its relationship with publishers, when in fact the reverse is true. Meta does not scrape content or links to news content. Posts with links to news articles make up less than 3% of what people see in their Facebook Feed, and Canadians tell us they want to see less news and political content. Mr Dinsdale says that publishers and other businesses voluntarily post on Metas platforms, which in turn allows them to sell more subscriptions and advertising. Currently, Meta and Google, which this law also affects, as well as Amazon, together command more than 50 per cent of all advertising money in 2022. The battle between the Canadian government and Meta is like one it had with the Australian government. Australian publishers were banned from sharing or posting content on their Facebook pages, while international news organisations could publish news as normal - but those stories were not visible to users in Australia. Eventually, a consensus was reached between the Australian government and Meta which enabled Facebook and Google not to be subject to the code, in exchange for them striking deals with several Australian outlets. MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico will speak with U.S. climate envoy John Kerry about lithium, batteries and the automotive industry when Kerry visits the northwestern state of Sonora on Friday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Monday. Lopez Obrador said he would speak with Kerry on the so-called Sonora Plan, part of a push to turn the state into a green energy hub, focusing on solar farms and the production of lithium, a key component in batteries for electric vehicles. The president said the two would meet in the city of Hermosillo, ditching a previous suggestion to meet at a solar plant under construction in the coastal city of Puerto Penasco. The Sonora Plan also aims to develop the electric car industry in the agricultural state. The government hopes to boost electric car sales from 5% currently to 50% by 2030. While Mexico nationalized lithium reserves earlier this year, experts say it could take years for the newly created state firm to start production. Lithium batteries are not currently produced by any Latin American country at a commercial scale. (Reporting by Kylie Madry) Ethan Crumbley, the 16-year-old accused of gunning down four schoolmates last year in a Michigan suburb, pleaded guilty Monday to all charges against him. He was charged as an adult with the killings as well as wounding six other students and a teacher at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021. The news comes after prosecutors in Oakland County said last week he was expected to plead guilty to 24 charges against him, including terrorism, and the victims were notified. Crumbley appeared in court with long hair in an orange uniform and face mask. He kept his head down for much of the hearing. In the hearing Crumbley said the gun used in the shooting was purchased by his father. He said he asked his father to purchase the firearm and gave him his own money to make the purchase. He also said the gun was not locked. An Oakland County judge accepted the plea and set a Miller hearing date for Feb. 9, 2023. A Miller hearing is a type of pre-sentencing hearing specific to youth potentially facing life without parole. A sentencing date will be set after that hearing. He was charged with one count of terrorism causing death, four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of assault with intent to murder and 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. His lawyers had previously filed an insanity plea but they dropped that filing to go forward with the guilty plea. The Oxford High School shooting drew national attention, not just for the killings but also for the prosecution of Crumbley's parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley. Theyve been ordered to stand trial Jan. 17 after they were charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter. His parents are accused of ignoring warning signs that may have led to the deadly rampage. James and Jennifer Crumbley pleaded not guilty late last year. 'An important day' for the survivors and victims In a news conference Monday, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said the guilty plea marked an important day for our community, the survivors and especially those who lost children they loved. Story continues We are not aware of any other case anywhere in the country where a mass shooter has been convicted of terrorism on state charges, she said. McDonald said there were no plea negotiations, no plea offers, reductions or sentencing agreements prior to his plea. She said she met with victims who were in court Monday, and noted it was the first time they heard the shooter speak on how he obtained his weapon. McDonald said the Miller hearing will give the prosecution and defense a chance to present testimony and evidence about the shooting and hear details about the defendants background. At that hearing judge will decide whether life without parole is appropriate, she said. Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said he wants the shooter to get life in prison without the possibility of parole, calling him a truly twisted and evil person. He praised first responders for going into the school and stopping the shooter, who had 18 rounds left in his firearm. Its my belief that he would have fired every one of those had he not been interrupted by deputies going immediately in, and when you compare it against Parkland or Uvalde, you obviously see the difference, he said, drawing a comparison with the heavily criticized law enforcement responses to the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, and the May shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. Ven Johnson, an attorney representing victims of the shooting in a civil lawsuit against the shooter, his parents and several school officials, called the guilty plea one small step forward on a long path towards obtaining full justice for our clients. We will continue to fight until the truth is revealed about what went wrong leading up to this tragedy, and who, including Crumbleys parents and multiple Oxford Community Schools employees, could have and should have prevented it, Johnson said. NBC News has reached out to Crumbley's attorneys for comment. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement following the guilty plea: My thoughts are with the students, teachers, staff, and families of Oxford High. I hope this outcome offers them some peace after last years horrific shooting. As Michiganders, we must do more to protect each other from gun violence. Lets work together on background checks, secure storage, and red flag lawscommonsense gun violence prevention measures to keep our communities safe, she said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com By Josh Ye HONG KONG (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp is stocking up on Chinese video game content to emulate Sony Group Corp's success with "Genshin Impact", sources said, solidifying China's transition from a land only of players to a hub of blockbuster developers. The U.S. software giant and Japan's vanguard of technology have for some years been offering big money to small developers to nurture programmes and licence titles, but the impact of "Genshin Impact" has added a sense of urgency, sources said. The action role-playing game from budding Shanghai studio miHoYo has generated billions of dollars since its release two years ago, and raised the bar in multi-player, cross-platform games - the type sources said Microsoft and Sony seek in China for their Game Pass and PlayStation Plus subscription services. Growing Western interest in Chinese games reflects a maturing of China's game development industry, analysts said. Chinese games are now on a par with big-budget Western games, said Daniel Ahmad, senior analyst at researcher Niko Partners. "Chinese game developers are trying to standardise their development tools, create advanced production processes, invest in really large-scale teams," Ahmad said. "Ultimately, that helps provide them with the competitive edge to reach a broad audience both in terms of geography and platforms." Microsoft has been building a team to scout for Chinese games, two industry sources said. The Xbox maker mainly filled its subscription roster with big-brand titles but is now wooing even independent studios with big-money offers, they said. At the same time, filings showed Microsoft is expanding its subscription service to personal computers and handheld devices, increasing the appeal of Chinese developers such as miHoYo which have developed a reputation for multi-player, cross-platform compatibility - with "Genshin Impact" being a prime example. Story continues One executive, whose studio signed a licensing deal with Microsoft three years ago to feature its game on Game Pass, said the U.S. firm recently offered a licensing deal many times bigger for a sequel. "We are not signing it yet because we think that when we fully complete our game, it will get an even better offer," the executive said. Illustrating the money involved, filings showed Microsoft paid $2.5 million to feature action game "ARK: Survival Evolved" on Game Pass and $2.3 million for sequel ARK 2 - both from U.S. developer Studio Wildcard, owned by China's Snail Games. An executive at another developer, Recreate Games in Shanghai, said his company signed a deal with Microsoft last year for its upcoming multi-player title "Party Animals" to launch exclusively on Xbox. "Xbox contacted many projects in China and these projects primarily focus on developing console and PC games," said Chief Executive Luo Zixiong. Microsoft did not respond to emailed requests for comment. PLAYING CATCH-UP Microsoft was slower off the mark in China compared with Sony. The Japanese firm launched gaming accelerator programme "China Hero Project" in 2017 aimed at helping Chinese developers publish games on its PlayStation. It has supported 17 titles of which seven have reached the market. "We've been quiet for the past two years. But the programme is still very much humming along," Kuangyi Zhou, former manager of the China Hero Project, told Reuters in April. "We are proud of all the games which have successfully emerged from the programme... There is no doubt that a new batch will be coming." In 2019, Sony partnered miHoYo, a little-known studio which was developing "Genshin Impact". The game - a global hit when it was released a year later - is available for personal computers and handheld devices, but the console version is exclusively on PlayStation. Microsoft regretted missing out on "Genshin Impact", two people familiar with the matter said. It spoke to miHoYo early in the game's development but did not reach a deal, one of them said. The other person said the experience is the driving force behind Microsoft's more active pursuit of Chinese developers. "Picking up 'Genshin Impact' made Sony a lot of money," the second person said, declining to be identified because the information was not public. There is no public data on console revenue from "Genshin Impact", but data from Sensor Tower put the figure at $3 billion for mobile devices as of May. MARKET EVOLUTION For much of the 21st century, Chinese gamers mostly played imported titles as home-grown games were viewed as being poorer in production value. Even Chinese gaming leader Tencent Holdings Ltd started out publishing foreign games at home. As the market grew into the world's largest, local studios increasingly invested in developing better-quality games. The trend accelerated with regulatory restrictions on new games and limits on the number of imports, and benefited from the return of engineers who had worked at top-tier studios such as Ubisoft Entertainment SA and Activision Blizzard Inc. Gaming executives now point to "Genshin Impact" as a global industry milestone, lauding its production value and seamless cross-platform game play. Apple Inc even used the game to demonstrate the power of its premium devices including the new iPad Air equipped with its latest M1 processor chip. Another milestone was 2021's "Naraka: Bladepoint" from NetEase Inc, China's second-largest games firm. While most Chinese titles are free to play and profit from in-game sales, "Naraka: Bladepoint" sold over 10 million copies despite its $20 price, reflecting confidence in its production value. The game caught the attention of both Microsoft and Sony, two sources told Reuters. One of them said NetEase prioritised Microsoft which made the game a Game Pass exclusive in June. (Reporting by Josh Ye; Editing by Christopher Cushing) By Yuvraj Malik (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp (MSFT) is set to post its slowest quarterly revenue growth in over five years on Tuesday, with some analysts casting doubts whether the company can maintain its annual outlook in the face of a PC market slowdown and a strong dollar. A spike in inflation this year has fanned worries of a global economic slowdown and forced consumers and businesses to pull spending on computers and laptops, sapping sales of some of Microsoft's key products including Windows and the Office suite. Adding to the squeeze, the dollar has climbed more than 17%, weighing on the earnings of companies with big global operations. Microsoft earns more than 50% of its revenue outside the United States. "All eyes will be on Microsoft's ability to maintain FY23 guidance for reported double-digit revenue growth, which we believe is at risk," Guggenheim analysts said last week. UBS has said the stock seems to have largely priced in a potential walk back on the forecast. At least 15 brokerages have lowered their price targets on the software giant in October, and the company's shares have declined by more than a quarter in 2022. CONTEXT PC shipments declined 19.5% in the third quarter this year, according to data from research firm Gartner. Windows licenses form about 12% to 13% of Microsoft's revenue and the PC market downturn is expected to dent its sales by 100 basis points, Morningstar senior analyst Dan Romanoff said. The blow is expected to be slightly offset by Microsoft's cloud services unit Azure, which is set to grow 20% in the first quarter, according to Refinitiv data. "Our CIO survey work suggests that enterprise IT usage of Azure is likely to gain share vs. Amazon AWS," J.P. Morgan said in a recent note. But signs of a slowdown in cloud adoption have started emerging. An analysis by Piper Sandler showed total revenues at the top 100 software firms are estimated to grow 22% in 2022 and 20% in 2023, down from 33% in 2021. Story continues Software firms are the biggest customers of cloud platforms and their business growth is taken as proxy for the cloud services sector. FUNDAMENTALS ** Microsoft's first-quarter revenue is expected to rise 9.5% to $49.61 billion, the first sub-10% growth since the third quarter of fiscal 2017 - Refinitiv ** Earnings per share is estimated at $2.30 WALL STREET SENTIMENT * 48 of the 52 analysts covering the stock rate it "buy" or higher and four rate it "hold" * The median price target is $315, down from $336 at the start of 2022 * Microsoft trading at $246.64 on Monday (Reporting by Yuvraj Malik in Bengaluru; Editing by Aditya Soni and Sriraj Kalluvila) Above it, only skies. Inside, very few nonbelievers. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite The midterm elections are likely to return to Congress elected representatives who hold a range of religious beliefs. But while self-identified Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and Hindus currently rub shoulders in the corridors of power, one group is noticeably absent: atheists. And despite a growing number of openly nonreligious candidates running for office, it remains difficult for atheists to get a foothold in Congress. Of 531 members of Congress included in a 2021 survey (at the time, four seats were unfilled), 88% identified as Christian, with those of a Jewish faith second, with 6%. Indeed, according to that survey, only two people in Congress dont openly identify with any mainstream religion: Rep. Jared Huffman, a Californian Democrat, who identifies as a humanist, and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who describes herself as religiously unaffiliated. But neither has self-identified as being an atheist. A list compiled by the Freethought Equality Fund Political Action Committee indicates that atheists are running for a few seats in the U.S. Congress, and many more are doing so at the state level. But throughout history, only one self-identified atheist in the U.S. Congress comes to mind, the late California Democrat Peter Stark. In atheists, they dont trust This puts the country at odds with democracies the world over that have elected openly godless or at least openly skeptical leaders who went on to become revered national figures, such as Jawaharlal Nehru in India, Swedens Olof Palme, Jose Mujica in Uruguay and Israels Golda Meir. New Zealands Jacinda Ardern, the global leader who has arguably navigated the coronavirus crisis with the most credit, says she is agnostic. But in the United States, self-identified nonbelievers are at a distinct disadvantage. A 2019 poll asking Americans who they were willing to vote for in a hypothetical presidential election found that 96% would vote for a candidate who is Black, 94% for a woman, 95% for a Hispanic candidate, 93% for a Jew, 76% for a gay or lesbian candidate and 66% for a Muslim but atheists fall below all of these, down at 60%. That is a sizable chunk who would not vote for a candidate simply on the basis of their nonreligion. Story continues In fact, a 2014 survey found Americans would be more willing to vote for a presidential candidate who had never held office before, or who had extramarital affairs, than for an atheist. In a country that changed its original national motto in 1956 from the secular e pluribus unum out of many, one to the faithful in God we trust, it seems people dont trust someone who doesnt believe in God. As a scholar who studies atheism in the U.S., I have long sought to understand what is behind such antipathy toward nonbelievers seeking office. Branding issue? There appear to be two primary reasons atheism remains the kiss of death for aspiring politicians in the U.S. one is rooted in a reaction to historical and political events, while the other is rooted in baseless bigotry. Lets start with the first: atheisms prominence within communist regimes. Some of the most murderous dictatorships of the 20th century including Stalins Soviet Union and Pol Pots Cambodia were explicitly atheistic. Bulldozing human rights and persecuting religious believers were fundamental to their oppressive agendas. Talk about a branding problem for atheists. For those who considered themselves lovers of liberty, democracy and the First Amendment guarantee of the free exercise of religion, it made sense to develop fearful distrust of atheism, given its association with such brutal dictatorships. And even though such regimes have long since met their demise, the association of atheism with a lack of freedom lingered long after. The second reason atheists find it hard to get elected in America, however, is the result of an irrational linkage in many peoples minds between atheism and immorality. Some assume that because atheists dont believe in a deity watching and judging their every move, they must be more likely to murder, steal, lie and cheat. One recent study, for example, found that Americans even intuitively link atheism with necrobestiality and cannibalism. Such bigoted associations between atheism and immorality do not align with reality. There is simply no empirical evidence that most people who lack a belief in God are immoral. If anything, the evidence points in the other direction. Research has shown that atheists tend to be less racist, less homophobic and less misogynistic than those professing a belief in God. Most atheists subscribe to humanistic ethics based on compassion and a desire to alleviate suffering. This may help explain why atheists have been found to be more supportive of efforts to fight climate change, as well as more supportive of refugees and of the right to die. This may also explain why, according to my research, those states within the U.S. with the least religious populations as well as democratic nations with the most secular citizens tend to be the most humane, safe, peaceful and prosperous. Freethought Caucus Although the rivers of anti-atheism run deep throughout the American political landscape, they are starting to thin. More and more nonbelievers are openly expressing their godlessness, and swelling numbers of Americans are becoming secular: In the past 15 years, the percentage of Americans claiming no religious affiliation has risen from 16% to 26%. Meanwhile, some find the image of a Bible-wielding Trump troubling, opening up the possibility that suddenly Christianity may be contending with a branding problem of its own, especially in the skeptical eyes of younger Americans. In 2018, a new group emerged in Washington, D.C.: The Congressional Freethought Caucus. Although it has only 16 members, it portends a significant shift in which some elected members of Congress are no longer afraid of being identified as, at the very least, agnostic. Given this development, as well as the growing number of nonreligious Americans, it shouldnt be a surprise if one day a self-identified atheist makes it to the White House. Will that day come sooner rather than later? God only knows. Or rather, only time will tell. Editors note: This is an updated version of an article that was originally published on Oct. 5, 2020. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Phil Zuckerman, Pitzer College. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters. Read more: Phil Zuckerman 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. Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison and Republican challenger Jim Schultz attacked each other with increasing intensity on crime and abortion Sunday night in their final debate. Ellison said Schultz will "absolutely take your right to a legal, safe abortion away." Schultz disputed that claim, saying he disappointed conservatives earlier this year when he publicly said he would not leverage the attorney general's office to fight abortion access. On crime, Schultz criticized Ellison for supporting the failed ballot amendment to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a new public safety agency. Ellison responded that "defunding the police was never a good idea and it was even worse phrasing," but that reform was needed after Minneapolis cops killed George Floyd. The two candidates disagreed about the direction of the state's top legal office during the debate at St. Paul College broadcast on KSTP-TV without a live audience. Democratic Secretary of State Steve Simon and his Republican opponent, Kim Crockett, also debated. GOP gubernatorial nominee Scott Jensen got 30 minutes of airtime after the two debates because DFL incumbent Gov. Tim Walz declined the invitation. Recent polls show a tight race between Ellison and Schultz. Schultz has made crime the focus of his campaign, saying Ellison hasn't done enough to support police and quash crime. Ellison accuses Schultz of lacking understanding about the mission of the office. He repeated that the office can't initiate prosecutions and can only step in at the behest of county attorneys. Ellison portrayed himself as a seasoned, successful litigator, saying that Schultz spent the pandemic raising $2.6 billion for a hedge fund. He emphasized Schultz's lack of trial experience, slowing down for dramatic effect when he said, "Jim has never set foot in a courtroom in his life." Schultz refused to give Ellison credit for leading the team that prosecuted former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin and said he, too, would have "delivered justice for George Floyd." He said Ellison sat in the back and took notes. Story continues "How would you know?" Ellison shot back. "You have no idea what it takes to prosecute a complex criminal case." Ellison and Schultz have already debated multiple times and their familiarity showed in their sharpened responses. Speaking to reporters after the debate, Schultz suggested he might use a state statute that gives the Attorney General's Office prosecuting authority over racketeering cases to take cases from metro county attorneys he thinks aren't aggressive enough. "In the metro here, I've been very disappointed with two county attorneys in particular," Schultz said. "I would absolutely look at doing this much more aggressively in the event of the election of Mary Moriarty, to be candid with you, in Hennepin County." Moriarty is a former Hennepin County chief public defender running for county attorney against retired judge Martha Holton Dimick. Specifically, Schultz said he would seek to aggressively prosecute cases involving carjacking and drug-trafficking rings. In the Secretary of State debate, two-term DFL incumbent Simon described what he views as Crockett's "contempt" for elections and ballot access. "Minnesotans, don't hire an arsonist to be your fire chief," Simon said, alluding to Crockett's attempts to falsely describe the 2020 election as illegitimate. Crockett faulted Simon for supporting expanded mail-in voting and same-day voter registration. Simon called same-day registration the "crown jewel" in Minnesota's elections. The GOP challenger supports requiring voters to present photo identification with a current address when they vote, but Simon said that would exclude too many people. The two were asked whether they believe the 2020 election outcome is still in doubt. Simon said no, and said Crockett's gone down a "rabbit-hole" of "conspiracy theories" that are "fanning the flames" and "eating at the fabric of democracy." Of 3.3 million votes cast in 2020, Simon said there were only 17 convictions for voter fraud-related crimes. Crockett, contrary to her previous statements, said the last presidential election is "settled" and "there's no fanning of the flames." And she said she will accept her own election's outcome unless there's a recount. After the two debates, Jensen was alone for 30 minutes on the stage. He opened by saying that when he is governor, "We will have safer streets and we will have a sizzling economy." On abortion, he was asked whether he had shifted his position because a ban is no longer popular or whether he had an evolution in his thinking. Jensen, who used to support an abortion ban, said it was an "evolution" in his thinking after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Mira Mariah (@girlknewyork) believes that everyone deserves to feel beautiful! Thats why Mira became a tattoo artist, magazine publisher, and girl culture expert who has made it her mission to make sure women feel comfortable and glamorous in their own skin. Mira specializes in feminine tattoos inspired by fashion illustrations, and also publishes a magazine dedicated to celebrating different kinds of beauty! From a young age, Mira was interested in art and aesthetics. I wanted my room to be gorgeous, I wanted to be gorgeous, I wanted to make gorgeous arts and crafts, she tells In The Know. I started drawing when I was really young. It was my favorite thing to do. When I graduated high school, I went to The Fashion Institute of Technology and spent some time in fashion. While attending college, Mira became interested in tattoo art. However, she was disappointed in the limited range of options when it came to tattoo designs. I wanted these tattoos that were so feminine and so girly and I wasnt finding artists whose art was naturally what I was looking for, Mira recalls. After working as an illustrator in the fashion industry for several years, Mira decided to pivot and become a tattoo artist. Her goal was to create the kind feminine, girly tattoos she was struggling to find. I saw this void. I wanted these girly tattoos and didnt know where to get them, she explains. I realized maybe that was my calling. After apprenticing with a tattoo artist, Mira began working on her own uniquely feminine designs. My tattoos are recognizable by their continuous single line aesthetic, or the appearance that they kind of look like a fashion illustration, because I was a fashion illustrator for so long, she explains. A beauty treatment is anything that makes you feel more beautiful, so I definitely think a tattoo can fall into that. Mira believes that tattoos are more than just body decorations. They give women control over their own bodies and their own decisions. Tattoos, for Mira, represent freedom. So many things happen to a womans body that they dont necessarily make that decision for, Mira explains. Tattoos allow women to have agency and make a permanent decision about the way that their body is going to look and feel for the rest of their life, and I think thats really empowering. Story continues In addition to creating unique tattoo art, Mira also publishes a beauty magazine called Knew York Rag. Its purpose is to fill your mind with beauty and humor and inspiration and all my favorite things, she explains. Part of my inspiration for making the magazine was a little bit to make fun of the strict standards of beauty that the magazines I was reading were advertising. So in our magazine, theres fake advertisements for a kind of beauty that might come from within. Miras goal is to show women that there are many different ways to feel beautiful. She believes that feeling beautiful on the outside can help women feel beautiful on the inside as well. I really feel that it is my mission to find girls and help them feel more beautiful, she says. When were able to see ourselves in a more romantic and beautiful light, we can be more beautiful in our actions, in the way we speak to others, and we can be more welcoming to each other now that our heart is healed and happy. The post Mira Mariah is a fashion illustrator turned tattoo artist that is on a mission to help girls feel more beautiful appeared first on In The Know. Missouri State University is welcoming actor John Goodman and singer-songwriter Tori Kelly to campus for Homecoming this weekend. Homecoming celebrations begin the morning of Friday, Oct. 28 and continue through the evening of Saturday, Oct. 29. Goodman and Kelly will make appearances at The Celebration, the concluding event of the university's Onward, Upward campaign. The campaign began in 2019 with the goal to raise $250 million for capital projects, programming and student scholarships. Folks are invited to attend The Celebration at Great Southern Bank Arena on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. Goodman, Missouri State alumnus and campaign chair, will host the event. The Celebration will also feature performances from Kansas City-based band KC FLO, Missouri State grand chorus, Pride Band, color guard and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Tori Kelly. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the free event. Missouri State merchandise will be given away to the first 2,500 guests. Prior to The Celebration, students, alumni and family members are invited to enjoy a variety of other events throughout the weekend. More:Missouri State University Foundation sets new fundraising record, despite pandemic 1972 50th Class Reunion On Friday, Oct. 28, class of 1972 graduates are invited to enjoy a luncheon and campus tour. The reunion begins at 10:30 a.m. in Kentwood Hall. Registration is required by Friday, Oct. 21. The cost is $35 per person. Register online at bit.ly/3Sf7H3q. Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony In the evening of Friday, Oct. 28, the 2022 Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held in Plaster Student Union. The free event is 4-5 p.m. This year's honorees include Yohannan Abraham, Dana Carroll, Lynn Cline, Jerry Hoover, Stephanie Marinec and David Oatman. Missouri State's Wall of Fame is dedicated to former faculty and staff who have excelled at the university and contributed to its success and positive experience for students. More:In letter, actor John Goodman calls Missouri State 'one of my blessings' Story continues Band of Bears Homecoming Parade Kicking off the big day of Homecoming celebrations is the annual Band of Bears Homecoming Parade. The parade takes place on John Q. Hammons Parkway, starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29. Breakfast with Boomer at Foster Rec Following the parade is Breakfast with Boomer at the Foster Recreation Center from 10 -11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29. The family-friendly event includes breakfast and photo-ops with Boomer. The family-friendly event is $15 for adults and $10 for children. Register online at bit.ly/3eL9sYo. Golden Bear Reunion Luncheon The annual Golden Bear Reunion Luncheon is Saturday, Oct. 29, beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the Plaster Student Union Ballroom. The luncheon is free but reservations must be made by Friday, Oct. 21. Register online at bit.ly/3yTBF66. Golden Bears are alumni who graduated or last attended Missouri State 50 or more years ago. Football game, tailgate Kickoff is at 2 p.m. for the Bears football game against Western Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 29. Purchase tickets at the Missouri State Athletics Box Office, by calling 417-836-7678 or online at bit.ly/3CPJcEa. Bearfest Village opens before the game at 11 a.m., north of Plaster Stadium. Campus organizations and departments will have tents set up to visit. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State Homecoming to feature John Goodman, Tori Kelly PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti Its unbelievable. We say that all the time. These gas prices? Theyre unbelievable. This inflation? Its unbelievable. The divisiveness between political factions? Its unbelievable. The word itself suggests the situation has reached its furthest degree of insanity. It cant get any worse. But things can always get worse. Consider whats going on here in Haiti, where they dont use the word unbelievable, because every new day brings a previously unimagined degree of suffering. The government has cratered. Some 200 gangs have seized control. The nation has come to a near standstill. Theres no fuel. Food and water are hard to come by. Schools are closed. Businesses shuttered. An estimated million people are starving in the middle of Haitis biggest city. Doomed to failure: Russia failed to heed lessons from history before invading Ukraine As an American who comes here every month to operate an orphanage, I find myself at a loss for the word that would truly describe the current situation. We have had to close our school because teachers cant get there. We have to buy water in plastic bottles, if we can find them, just to let our kids drink. We are in the heat and dark much of the time, because we cannot operate generators without fuel. We have a child with tuberculosis who has been bounced from place to place, because the hospitals cant function. Demonstrators fill the streets during a protest to reject an international military force requested by the government and demand the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022. The United Nations Security Council is evaluating the request by the Haitian government for the immediate deployment of foreign troops to help free Haiti from the grip of gangs that has caused a scarcity of fuel, water, and other basic supplies. What adjective really suffices? Unbelievable just doesnt cut it. Lawlessness, despair reign supreme If it was unbelievable that a nation just 700 miles off the Florida coast was already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, then what do you say when its meager economy comes to a halt? If it was unbelievable that fuel had to be subsidized by the government just for citizens to be able to afford it, then what do you say when gangs overtake the fuel terminals and nobody gets any fuel at all? If it was unbelievable that, during shortages, you sometimes had to pay $10 a gallon for gas on the black market, what do you say when they now want $50 a gallon? Story continues If it was unbelievable that the gangs in Haiti became more powerful than the government, what do you say when the government uses those gangs to rough up their dissenters, which happens all the time? If it was unbelievable that you couldnt go out at night for fear of violence or kidnapping, then what do you say when you cant go out during the day? If it was unbelievable that hospital care in Haiti was limited, remote and out of reach for most citizens, what do you say when the hospitals must close down because their staffs cant get there and now cholera is spreading? Protesters walk past burning tires during a protest to reject an international military force requested by the government and demand the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022. The United Nations Security Council is evaluating the request by the Haitian government for the immediate deployment of foreign troops to help free Haiti from the grip of gangs that has caused a scarcity of fuel, water, and other basic supplies. If it was unbelievable that there is barely a paved road outside of the city of Port-au-Prince, then what do you say when those paved roads are blockaded by downed telephone lines, chopped trees or old cars, choking off any traffic and subjecting the rare brave driver to potential attacks? If it was unbelievable that gang members randomly shot their enemies in the street, then what do you say when those same gang members rape young girls atop the corpses of their dead relatives, which is being reported now throughout Haiti? If it was unbelievable that the Haitian president, Jovenel Moise, was assassinated in the middle of the night at his own home, then what do you say when that murder has still not been solved, more than a year later, and a chief suspect is the current prime minister? Can Haiti even be saved? You see where this going. The combination of disfunction, violence, poverty, starvation, disease, corruption and finger-pointing have driven Haiti to the brink of absurdity. You keep thinking something has to change. How long can a nation go on this way? The truth is: a long time, maybe forever, if nobody does anything about it. As Haiti has descended into hell, its closest big neighbors havent moved, perhaps because theyve seen the futility of previous efforts. The Biden administration, until this month, has had a mostly hands-off approach to Haiti. Flu season: Our sons died from the flu. It's time to take it seriously and get the vaccine. Finally, last week, several nations (including the U.S.) suggested a multinational rapid action force go into Haiti to at least free the fuel and essential supplies from the grip of the gangs. The U.N. took up the matter. But the initiative stalled when some nations, including Russia and China, balked at interference in another country. The irony of that stance for Russia and China would be rich if it werent so tragic. So meanwhile the U.N. suggested sanctions of certain influential Haitians (as if thats going to solve anything quickly) while it searches to drum up support for a more severe intervention. A bread vendor pushes his cart past a burning barricade during a protest against Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry calling for his resignation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Oct. 10, 2022. - Protests and looting have rocked the unstable country since Sept. 11, when Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced a fuel price hike. And while many Haitians cringe at the idea of yet another outside force coming in to oversee Haiti, others say what choice is there? If theres no food, no water, no fuel, no school, no business, no transportation, no safety what do you do? If women and children are being killed and burned, decent men are being terrorized, charities and orphanages are being attacked, and fresh-faced teenagers are being recruited to carry big guns what do you call that? Back home, we shake our heads and say its unbelievable. But here in Haiti, there are no words. Contact Mitch Albom: malbom@freepress.com. Check out the latest updates with his charities, books and events at MitchAlbom.com. Follow him on Twitter @mitchalbom. You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: The horrors of Haiti today are, sadly, very believable IRYNA BALACHUK MONDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2022, 17:05 The Russian government is unable to provide the new wave of conscripts with sufficient Russian-made ammunition, so it has started using equipment manufactured in Iran. Source: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Quote: "Due to its inability to provide the new wave of conscripts with the necessary ammunition of its own production, the Russian Federation is starting to use Iranian-made equipment. 3,000 pieces of body armour are shortly to be transferred - 1,500 bulletproof vests and 1,500 helmets manufactured by Milad." Details: According to the intelligence information, the Iranian equipment is currently in a warehouse at the 1061st Logistics Centre of the 3rd Motor Rifle Division (Soloti/Valuyki in Belgorod Oblast in Russia). Ukraines Defence Intelligence notes that the Iranian government is also planning to send a new group of advisors to Russia to help train Russian soldiers in the combat use of new Arash-2 UAVs, as well as Iranian surface-to-surface missiles. Deliveries of these are set to start in the near future. In addition, a group of advisors from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has departed from Iran for Dzhankoi [a town in temporarily occupied Crimea - ed.]; they will train and assist the occupiers in using Shahed-136 and Mohajer-6 UAVs. Background: The New York Times previously reported that Iran had sent instructors to occupied Crimea to help the Russians overcome problems with a fleet of drones they had purchased from Tehran. The Ukrainian resistance movement had previously reported that up to 20 instructors from Iran had been detected in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson Oblast. The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believes that the Shaded kamikaze drones will not affect the course of the war, because the Russians are using them hoping to generate nonlinear effects through terror. The National Resistance Center has reported that Iranian instructors have been brought to Belarus, where they are training the Russian military and coordinating UAV launches on infrastructure facilities in Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Crystal Springs Cemetery is pictured on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Two men were found dead at the cemetery on Sunday, March 6, 2022, police said. Twenty-five. That's how many times Demetrius Gibbs, 29, and Desmond Radford-Lee, 22, were shot at a cemetery in Northwest earlier this year, according to recently released autopsy reports. The two Brunswick County men were found dead at Crystal Springs Cemetery in early March. The cemetery is located down a gravel road roughly half a mile off Blue Banks Loop Road. According to their autopsies, Gibbs suffered 15 gunshot wounds to his neck, head, torso and extremities. Radford-Lee was struck by 10 bullets in his head, torso and extremities. Cause of death for each man was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds, according to reports released by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. At the time of the shooting, Scott Perez with the Northwest Police Department said officers responded after the men were located by family members who called police around 10:42 p.m. on March 6. Both men were dead when law enforcement arrived at the scene, he said. More:Brunswick graveyard double homicide: 2 people charged in connection 911 calls:Victim's family discovered bodies in Northwest double-homicide Earlier reporting:'He was so young': Neighbors react after 2 Brunswick County men shot, killed in cemetery Following the shooting, Perez confirmed the victims knew one another. Perez said the men were likely shot around 8:30 p.m., approximately two hours before they were found. It took over a month for suspects to be apprehended. Christopher Owen Brooks, 20, of Leland, was arrested on April 22 and faces two counts of murder in connection to the March 6 fatal shooting. A 17-year-old boy was arrested the same day and also charged in connection to the killings. Brooks was arrested in Greensboro and the juvenile was arrested in Charlotte. Police departments in those localities assisted in the arrests, according to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, which assisted in the investigation. Both suspects were charged with two counts of murder and one count of firing into an occupied vehicle inflicting serious injury. The two remain in custody in Brunswick County where they are facing prosecution. Jamey Cross is the public safety reporter at the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter @jameybcross. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Autopsy reports reveal details in Brunswick County double-homicide 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. Police are searching for a gunman who fired shots into the front of the Coca-Cola Roxy in the Battery Atlanta over the weekend. Officers responded to the theater at the Battery Atlanta around 10:28 a.m. Saturday. When they arrived, officers found several shattered windows at the front of the theater. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Channel 2s Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell spoke with someone who was working nearby when the shooting happened. Michael McFadden, the CEO of Power 108.9, located right next door to the Roxy, told Channel 2 Action News he has never experienced anything like this in this area before because its so safe here. McFadden said he didnt see the shooting or even hear it, but he knew something was wrong when he walked outside and saw the front doors covered in bullet holes. They shot up each side, each side of the doors, he said. There were no concerns going on at the time. For the most part I feel safe here. TRENDING STORIES: The Coca-Cola Roxy posted this message to Facebook before a scheduled show that same day. The post explains how the building is ready for the show and that Cobb County police increased security in the area. Surveillance cameras captured a black Toyota Highlander take off after shots were fired. Police told Channel 2 Action News the SUV headed toward Heritage Courts. This is the first incident of its kind to ever happen at The Battery Atlanta. Detectives are actively working with Battery Atlanta Security to figure out who the shooter is. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: ISTANBUL (Reuters) -A U.N spokesperson said on Monday that "urgent" steps are needed to relieve a backlog of more than 150 ships involved in a deal which allows Ukraine to export grain from ports in the Black Sea. The comments come as Kyiv accused Russia of blocking full implementation of the agreement, which was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July to ease a global food crisis and which comes up for renewal next month. Russia has threatened to pull out over its own complaints. Vessels carrying grains and other foodstuffs to and from Ukrainian ports must be inspected by teams organised by the four-party Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) at anchorages in Turkey. "There are currently over 150 vessels waiting around Istanbul to move and these delays have the potential to cause disruptions to the supply chain and port operations," said Ismini Palla, U.N. spokesperson for the Black Sea Grain Initiative. She said the four-party JCC recently increased to five the number of inspection teams. Reuters reported the backlog jumped last month, leaving anchored ships in the Marmara Sea stretching out beyond the horizon off Istanbul. The four parties to the deal - Russia, Ukraine and brokers Turkey and the U.N. - are currently negotiating a possible extension and expansion beyond its Nov. 19 deadline. "The U.N. convenes the parties daily and has urged full and good faith participation in the (deal) and the need for additional urgent measures to be taken so the supply chain does not get disrupted and the Initiative continues to deliver more and much needed food to the world," Palla added. The grains-export deal paved the way for Ukraine to resume grain exports from three ports that had been shut since the Russian invasion. Moscow also won guarantees for its own grain and fertiliser exports. Ukraine has so far exported 8.5 million metric tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs aboard 379 outbound voyages under the deal, the JCC said. Amir Abdulla, U.N. Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative, told Reuters this month he had asked Russia and other parties to end "full-blown" inspections of outgoing vessels to ease the backlog. (Reporting by Jonathan Spicer; Editing by Ece Toksabay) The man tried twice for the murder of Jessica Chambers will have to wait much longer than expected for a trial in Louisiana for the murder of another woman. Quinton Tellis is accused of stabbing Ming-Chen Hsiao, a college student in Louisiana, 30 times in 2016. Quinton Tellis, the man tried twice for the murder of Jessica Chambers will have to wait much longer than expected for a trial in Louisiana for the murder of another woman, Ming-Chen Hsiao. That trial was supposed to begin October 24, but the DAs office there said Tellis is back in a Mississippi prison to serve a five-year sentence for burglary. His Louisiana trial will depend on when that sentence ends. Tellis was tried twice for setting Chambers on fire in Panola County, Mississippi, in 2014. She later died at a hospital. Both trials ended with hung juries. There is no decision on if hell be tried a third time. Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Trending stories: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) have reached across the aisle to endorse each other, just two weeks ahead of the midterm elections. Murkowski reportedly praised Peltola, the first Alaska Native elected to Congress, at the states Federation of Natives convention Friday, saying she plans to rank the Democrat first on Alaskas ranked-choice ballot system. I know that bothers some people who want me to be that rigid, partisan person, and Im just not. I do not toe the party line just because party leaders have asked or because it may be expected, Murkowski said at the event, according to the Anchorage Daily News. Murkowski said that she and Peltola have been friends, despite their party differences, for over 25 years. Peltola beat out Republican candidate Sarah Palin in an August special election to win Alaskas only House seat, but is already up for reelection in this years midterms, again facing Palin, among others. Murkowski is also on the ballot for reelection and Peltola has in turn endorsed her. Im voting for her, so were even-steven, Peltola said of Murkowskis support, according to the The Washington Post. Despite hailing from different parties in a divided political landscape, Murkowski and Peltola have similar views on issues like abortion and both are focusing on Alaskas crucial Native vote. The Alaska Federation of Natives has endorsed both candidates, the Alaska Beacon reports, a rare move from Alaskas largest Indigenous organization. The Hill has reached out to the offices of Peltola and Murkowski for more. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Nathan Howard/Getty As the Donald Trump-backed, alt-right-cozy Washington State congressional candidate Joe Kent tells itin his public appearances and public filingshe made $122,110.36 last year as a project manager for a tech start-up called American Enterprise Solutions. One problem: Theres no record the company exists. The enigma of the former Green Berets income has prompted fevered conspiracy-mongering on fringes of the internet where his past work for the Central Intelligence Agency has marked him as a supposed puppet of the deep state. These suspicions have arisen despite Kents vaccine-bashing, endorsement from not just Trump but right-wing billionaire Peter Thiel, and his vanquishing in the August primary of Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), one of the few Republicans to support the ex-presidents impeachment. One website, JoeKentIsCIA.com has posted multiple videos in which audience members questioned the candidate about his employment situation. In one clip from May, Kent reiterated that the name of his employer is American Enterprise Solutions, and maintained that we do a wide variety of 5G conversion type of stuff. In another, Kent told an audience member that the firm is in Virginia, and added we have a lot of proprietary software. But American Enterprise Solutions holds no patents or trademarks, has no licenses, no website, no social media pages, and not a single publicly announced contract with a government agency or a private wireless provider. The Daily Beast phoned the owner of the only company ever formed under that name in the Commonwealth of Virginia, who said that the entitylisted as inactive in the State Corporation Commissionhas been defunct for the better part of a decade, did not work in the tech sector, and never employed Kent. When The Daily Beast reached out to the Kent campaign for an explanation, the response was terse. AES is a technology company registered in Delaware and operated out of Reston, VA, spokesman Ozzie Gonzalez wrote in an email to The Daily Beast. Story continues However, there is no American Enterprise Solutions registered in Delaware either as a corporate entity or as a fictitious business name, and public records show there is no business using the name in Reston or anywhere else in Virginia. Further, Fairfax County confirmed to The Daily Beast that it has no record of an American Enterprise Solutions holding a Business, Professional, and Occupational Licensenecessary for any private enterprise to operate in Reston or the surrounding area. Reached by phone, Gonzalez insisted thats the company where Joe works, and vowed to provide more information. He added that he believed that American Enterprise Solutions is a government contractor or subcontractor. But no American Enterprise Solutions has registered with the federal System for Award Management or the Commercial and Government Entity Code program, though this might not be necessary if the firm were not the primary vendor on a contract. Unfortunately, Gonzalez did not supply further details, and did not respond to repeated emails, texts, and voice messages from The Daily Beast requesting that the campaign provide documentation of Kents employment at American Enterprise Solutionsor that it share the name of so much as a single founder or executive from the firm. Joe Kent. Nathan Howard/Getty A search of the Data Universal Numbering Systema private portal used for credit reporting and some contracting opportunitiesdid turn up one American Enterprise Solutions in Florida and another in Georgia. When questioned, the Peach State entrepreneur told The Daily Beast I did not work with that person, in reference to Kent. Meanwhile, the co-owner of the Florida firm said that not only did they never employ Kent but attested that their company has no employees at all. Delaney Marsco, senior counsel for ethics at the nonprofit Campaign Legal Center, noted that House financial disclosure rules include carve outs for certain work performed for the U.S. government. However, she noted that if an exclusion applied, you would likely not report the income at all. Marsco stressed that she could not say whether Kents filings contained false information, and left open the possibility that American Enterprise Solutions might be a sole proprietorship that failed to acquire a business license or trade name, which Delaware law mandates. However, she highlighted the harsh penalties federal authorities may impose on dishonest filers: up to a quarter-million dollars in fines and as many as five years in prison. You are required by law to file accurate and complete documents. and it is a very big deal to lie on these documents, she said. You cannot, for example, lie and say this is my full time job, when in reality the company does not exist. Kent kicked off his House bid last March by loaning his campaign $205,000 out of his own pocket, and has since donated a further $44,866.89 in his effort to replace Beutler. Federal Election Commission records show he began identifying American Enterprise Solutions as his employer on donations he made to Trump-linked committees in May 2020. His LinkedIn page asserts he started work as a project manager at an unnamed technology start-up in August 2019. The page indicates he has concurrently run a sole proprietorship called Perpetual LLC, registered and since dissolved in his native state of Oregon, which Gonzalez told The Daily Beast was a security subcontractor for the Department of Defense. Kent will face Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in November. 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. Newly released national data has added more proof of the pandemic's heavy impact on America's students. Results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as NAEP, released Monday by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics revealed declines in math and reading scores for a majority of states, including Tennessee, since 2019 when NAEP was last administered. The test also called The Nation's Report Card is the largest "nationally representative and continuing assessment" of student knowledge and achievement in both public and private schools. This year's results, which represent only assessments administered to fourth- and eighth-grade students in public schools across the country, provide the first chance for state comparisons of student progress since the onset of COVID-19. But in a briefing Friday, National Center for Education Statistics Commissioner Peggy Carr said specific pandemic-era local decisions, like how long to keep a school or district shuttered, aren't solely the cause of these results. Exploring that deserves more research. A group of young students walk through the hall as they are distanced on the first day back to in-person learning at Crieve Hall Elementary School on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021 in Nashville, Tenn. "We have massive comprehensive declines everywhere," she said. "In some cases, (schools) were in remote learning longer or shorter than others... It's just too complex to draw the straight line in the way that I think that people kind of want to do it. "We're gonna study this more though, we're not through with this just yet." With just the numbers in hand though, this years scores have marked the steepest declines ever measured by the test in terms of national average scores in math for both fourth- and eighth-graders, according to NCES. In fact, no states experienced improvements in math. And students performing below NAEP basic, a level considered to be the least stringent of three achievement goals for students set by the National Assessment Governing Board, increased across both subjects and grades nationwide. In an interview with The Tennessean on Monday, Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn said that following statewide testing, NAEP results weren't surprising. While the scores help to measure a sampling of students in the aftermath of a public health crisis and to compare scores to surrounding states, it's just a sliver of the big picture. Story continues Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn and Gov. Bill Lee held a second news conference in a week on the state's efforts to revamp how it funds education on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022 at the Tennessee state Capitol in Nashville. "This measures really the impact of the pandemic, so it's not going to cover a lot of our bigger initiatives like Reading 360 and Tennessee All Corps," she said. "Those either covered grades that were not tested or they started right around this test. So, we expected to see declines because that matches what our spring of 2021 data looks like." Schwinn hopes that intervention efforts not captured by NAEP - those made between when NAEP was administered in Tennessee in January 2022 and the end of the school year - have made an impact. Regardless, the work to ensure all students recover continues, she said. In Tennessee, eighth-grade math had the sharpest decline, dropping by 8 points when compared to 2019 data. Overall, average scores were not significantly different from the nation as a whole. And in line with national trends, the percentage of students scoring at or below the NAEP basic level increased and those scoring at NAEP proficient and advanced levels decreased across the state. Schwinn pointed to a significant decline in math scores for Black students across the state in particular as one of NAEP's key findings for Tennessee. Between 2019 and 2022, average scores for Black students in fourth- and eighth-grade math, as well as fourth-grade reading, all declined by 10 or more points. "2019 told us how we were doing going into the pandemic," Schwinn said. "2022 told us how much the pandemic impacted our students, especially our Black students in the state and then 2024 and 2026 are going to tell us how effective our recovery efforts and interventions have been." The commissioner said alongside student recovery efforts, there's a need to elevate and lift the state's teachers to feel more "supported and energized." She also hopes people continue to ask and consider how students not only recover, get to a place where they're doing even better than before the pandemic, especially in Tennessee with a new education funding formula just around the corner. The NCES offered some district-specific results for several large districts across the United States, including for Memphis-Shelby County Public Schools. And while Tennessees declines were largely in line with the countrys, Memphis were larger. Elizabeth Edkin teaches 3rd grade English and language arts class at Sheffield Elementary School on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Eighth-grade math suffered the most in Memphis, dropping 14 points from 2019 results the largest drop seen among the list of schools. Overall, 2022 NAEP scores convey a different image than what looked to be progress toward recovery from the pandemic in Tennessee following the release of 2022 statewide testing results earlier this year. "As researchers, as educators, as analysts, will now take a second deeper dive into understand exactly what role it did play, along with all the other factors that were influencing students lives," Carr said. Interested in the raw scores for Tennessee and the nation? Weve got you covered below. By the numbers: Tennessee 4th Grade Reading Average Score: 2022: 219, 2019: 214 41% scored below NAEP Basic in 2022, 34% in 2019 8th Grade Reading Average Score: 2022: 258, 2019: 262 33% Scored below NAEP Basic in 2022, 27% in 2019 4th Grade Math Average Score: 2022: 236, 2019: 240 24% scored below NAEP Basic in 2022, 21% in 2019 8th Grade Math Average Score: 2022: 272, 2019: 280 40% scored below NAEP Basic in 2022, 32% in 2019 By the Numbers: The Nation 4th Grade Reading Average Score - 2022: 217, 2019: 220 37% socred below NAEP Basic in 2022, 24% in 2019 8th Grade Reading Average Score - 2022: 260, 2019: 263 30% scored below NAEP Basic in 2022, 27% in 2019 4th Grade Math Average Score: 2022: 236, 2019: 241 25% scored below NAEP Basic in 2022, 19% in 2019 8th Grade Math Average Score: 2022: 274, 2019: 282 38% scored below NAEP Basic in 2022, 31% in 2019 Laura Testino in Memphis contributed to this report. Anika Exum is a reporter for the Tennessean covering youth and education. Reach her at 615-347-7313, aexum@tennessean.com or on Twitter @aniexum. Stay up-to-date on Tennessee's top education news by signing up for our new weekly newsletter, School Zone. Sign up here. Want to read more stories like this? A subscription to one of our Tennessee publications gets you unlimited access to all the latest news throughout the entire USA TODAY Network. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nation's Report Card: Decline in math, reading across US, Tennessee An image showing three banners. One says "Honk If You Know," the other says "Kanye Is Right About the Jews." A third advertises GoyimTV. The antisemitic Goyim Defense League hung a banner over a busy highway in Los Angeles citing Kanye Wests hateful comments about Jews. Kanye Wests recent antisemitic ravings have inspired celebration and calls to action among white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and other extremist groups online, according to the Anti-Defamation League. Over the weekend, one group took its support of West and his hateful vitriol to new level, dropping a banner stating Kanye Is Right About the Jews over a highway in Los Angeles. After West promised to go death con 3 on Jewish people earlier this month, the ADLs Center on Extremism published a roundup of extremists groups response to the artist, legally known as Ye, all of which have delighted in having a high-profile ally amplify their antisemitic beliefs in the mainstream. Groups from the Proud Boys to the Nation of Islam, among many others, have praised Ye for speaking a lot of truth in their misguided fight against the invented specter of Jewish control. The antisemitic Goyim Defense League, which claimed responsibility for the Los Angeles banner, has also decided to use Yes comments to pit the Black community against Jewish people, declaring the latter a universal enemy. Read more Andrew Anglin, publisher of the neo-Nazi Daily Stormer website, hailed Ye as one of the greatest people to have lived since Jesus Christ, or at least since Adolf Hitler, the ADL reported. Ye is the single greatest person who ever lived in all of history since Christ, or at least since Adolf Hitler. Hes gone full on. Hes not backing down, and theyre gonna have to kill him, Anglin wrote in an article about the artist. Experts see danger in Wests rants. Oren Segal, who leads the ADLs Center on Extremism, told Gizmodo, Here [is] a person who has more followers on social media than there are Jews in the world echoing some of the statements and messages that [extremists] promote. Story continues Segal said that one way extremists try to amplify their hatred is to identify someone with a great following who might share their ideas. You never know whos going to respond to hatred violently, Segal added. The more that its out there, the more that its normalized, the greater the danger. Neo-Nazi Group Hangs Highway Banner in Los Angeles Meanwhile, in the real world, extremist groups also aimed to capitalize on Wests antisemitic comments. On Saturday, the antisemitic Goyim Defense LeagueGoyim is a disparaging word for non-Jews in Hebrew and Yiddish, often appropriated by online neo-Nazisdropped a series of banners over a busy overpass of the 405 Freeway overpass in Los Angeles. The banners read Honk If You Know and Kanye Is Right About the Jews, along with a banner advertising their video site and the American flag. The Goyim Defense League livestreamed the event and at one point performed a Nazi salute. Watching the video is chilling, and audible honks from cars can be heard at different points in the livestream. Besides the antisemitic banners, residents around Los Angeles have also received antisemitic flyers left at their homes and on their cars in recent days, the Los Angeles Times reported. Sam Yebri, a lawyer running for Los Angeles City Council, received an antisemitic flyer at home and posted pictures on Twitter. One of the flyers accused the covid-19 agenda of being driven by Jews. My neighbors and I woke up to this antisemitic flyer at our homes. This antisemitic banner was on the 405. Antisemitic flyers were left on cars last week at the Grove and in Pico Robertson. The silence of the press and our elected officials and other candidates is deafening. pic.twitter.com/7pEnZVU3GG Sam Yebri (@samyebri) October 23, 2022 Yebri told the Times that although the antisemitic ideas in the flyers are not new to Los Angeles, he believed that Yes recent remarks had given antisemites momentum. Kanyes remarks give added air and momentum to the hate that previously was limited to the dark corners of the internet, Yebri said, according to the outlet. Now its popping up in neighborhoods, at peoples homes and throughout Los Angeles. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre denounced the antisemitic events and actions in Los Angeles late Monday morning. .@POTUS ran to heal the soul of the nation after years of hate and division. As part of this healing, we need to call out antisemitism everywhere it rears its ugly head. These actions in LA are disgusting and should be condemned, Jean-Pierre tweeted. What Kanye Wests Support Means to Extremists The artist has created a firestorm with his racist and antisemitic behavior and comments in recent weeks. The controversies began with the unveiling of Yes racist White Lives Matter T-Shirts at Paris Fashion Week. Subsequently, Ye accused the artist Diddy of being controlled by Jews, a dangerous antisemitic trope, on Instagram and said he was going to go death con 3 on Jewish people on Twitter, prompting both platforms to limit his activity. Fashion label Balenciaga and agency CAA, both longtime collaborators of Wests, said they would no longer work with the rapper. Segal said that extremists saw Ye as someone who was taking their ideas to the mainstream. Ye fit that bill perfectly, Segal said. It legitimizes their hateful position in a way that is dangerous because no extremist movement, no matter what it is, should feel that they have a public figure that agrees with them and that amplifies their message, intentionally or not, Segal said. Hate in America: Yesterday, the head of an antisemitic and white supremacist group (and his supporters) dropped banners over the 405 in Los Angeles. One banner read, "Kanye is right about the Jews. pic.twitter.com/FQBFIm0WLX Oren Segal (@orensegal) October 23, 2022 Furthermore, Segal stressed that having extremists feel that their messages are real and that they have broad support encourages them to engage in activities that are dangerous to the groups they oppose. Violence against communities by extremists in the U.S. is not new, the ADL vice president stated, and has been happening for years. How the Public Can Counter Hate From Extremists Groups Given this panorama of hate online and out in the real world, what, if anything, can the public do to push back against the hateful messages and activities of these groups? Segal said one thing people can do is report hate and hate incidents, such as banners, stickers, or events, when they see them. The public can submit their reports to local law enforcement or the ADL. The more data people have on whats happening on the ground, the more we can drive policy to help protect communities, he stated. Another thing people can do is to be a voice of reason in the face of hate, Segal said, explaining that having individuals with high profiles condemn what someone like Ye or others are saying in the public sphere means a lot. Its a way of creating friction to the normalization of that hate by saying, No, this is wrong, according to Segal. On Monday afternoon, Yes ex-wife Kim Kardashian spoke about her former partners antisemitic behavior for the first time. While she did not name Ye, it seemed pretty obvious who she was talking about. Hate speech is never OK or excusable. I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end, Kardashian wrote on Twitter and Instagram stories. Hate speech is never OK or excusable. I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end. Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) October 24, 2022 Update 10/24/2022, 4:18 p.m. ET: This post has been updated to include Jean-Pierre and Kardashians tweets denouncing antisemitism. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Forensic experts from the Netherlands to work in places of mass graves in Ukraine The group will be led by Officer Angelo Waters, of the Royal Military Police. Read also: Izyums forest graves yield terrible evidence of Russian torture, war crimes They will visit mass grave sites in liberated Ukrainian territories. Experts will conduct DNA tests and study digital traffic that could help establish responsibility for war crimes committed during the Russian occupation. Findings will be submitted to the ICC for later use in court proceedings. ICC representatives and the UN International Commission are also working in Ukraine to assist in the investigation of apparent war crimes committed by invading Russian forces. On April 2, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan opened an investigation into the situation in Ukraine, following a corresponding appeal form 39 of the ICC members. Read also: 1,400 new graves appeared at Mariupol cemetery since mid-May On April 14, Khan visited Bucha in Kyiv Oblast, where Russian troops tortured and massacred civilians. Read also: Ukraine uncovers mass graves with murdered civilians in recently liberated Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A Nevada state lawmaker has said that her adopted son shot and wounded her nephew at her home when she was at an event. Pat Spearman, a Democratic state senator and candidate for mayor of North Las Vegas, spoke to the press outside the citys jail. My son, NaOnche, shot my nephew, she said, according to the Associated Press. NaOnche Tamar Osborne, 21, is jailed and set to appear in court for charges of felony attempted murder, battery with a weapon, and a firearm violation. Court records didnt state if Mr Osborne had retained a lawyer to speak on his behalf. Ms Spearman said her nephew was recovering at a hospital from non-life-threatening wounds. According to North Las Vegas police, officers were sent to the scene at 6.45pm on Thursday following a shooting being reported in the northwest of the city and a man in his 40s with a gunshot wound was transported to University Medical Center in Las Vegas. Ms Spearman said Mr Osborne surrendered to law enforcement. The three-term state senator failed to win a congressional seat in 2020 and shes now running against city councilwoman Pamela Goynes Brown to replace outgoing Mayor John Lee. Mr Lee didnt run for re-election to instead launch an unsuccessful bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. Ms Spearman has previously been a pastor and an Army lieutenant colonel. She said she was heartbroken after the shooting. She added that her commitment to continue my leadership role in our community was stronger than ever. Let me be clear. This is not about politics, she said. It is about a family that is struggling. Her campaign manager, Lisa Mayo DeRiso, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Ms Spearman was not leaving the race for mayor. Ms Spearman told the press that she adopted Mr Osborne when he was a teenager to show him a better life in a strong, loving and supportive home. NaOnche made a very poor decision and hell have to face the consequences, Ms Spearman said. As a mother, I support the justice system and my son. It is with a heavy heart that my family is impacted by gun violence. She said that when the shooting took place, she was attending a Halloween event at a school. WASHINGTON, D.C. --News Direct-- New Markets Tax Credit Coalition Today, the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Coalition, a national membership organization of Community Development Entities (CDEs) and investors organized to advocate on behalf of the NMTC, released a letter signed by 700 community development stakeholders to President Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy in support of enactment of a permananent extension to NMTC in end of the year tax legislation. Signatories on the letter include 344 community development organizations, including 10 native-affiliated organizations; 74 housing organizations, including 41 Habitat for Humanity affiliates; 109 nonprofits, shelters, schools, healthcare facilities, and community service providers; and 134 businesses and community development-focused investors. The Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation estimates the ten-year cost of a permanent extension of NMTC provisions at only $1.38 billion over ten years, while those funds will leverage an estimated $85 billion investment in economically distressed rural, urban, and tribal communities. These communities will benefit from improved services, increased private sector investment, and 700,000 new jobs at a federal cost of under $4,000 per job. We strongly support making the NMTC permanent, said Aisha Benson, President of the NMTC Coalition and President and CEO of Nonprofit Finance Fund. Recently, opinion pieces in support of making the NMTC permanent have appeared in publications in Little Rock and Cleveland. During this Congress, both the Senate and House introduced bills (S. 456 and H.R. 1321) with bipartisan support to make the NMTC extension permanent. Establishing permanence will provide certainty in delivering resources to low-income and marginalized communities, creating jobs, increasing economic opportunity, and improving lives at a time when underserved communities face significant challenges. Story continues Throughout its 20-year history, the NMTC has delivered more than $120 billion to rural and urban communities outside the economic mainstream, which has led to financing to more than 6,000 businesses and projects and over one million jobs. Establishing the NMTC as a permanent part of the tax code will provide certainty and further promote the in getting patient, flexible capital to low-income and marginalized communities, creating jobs, increasing economic opportunity, and improving lives at a time when the economic frailty of our underserved communities has never been more apparent. Established in 2000 in the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act (P.L.106-554), the New Markets Tax Credit is a bipartisan effort to stimulate investment and economic growth in low-income urban neighborhoods and rural communities. Since then, the New Markets Tax Credit has financed more than 6,500 projects and created over one million jobs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Following devastating impacts from COVID-19, the New Markets Tax Credit is absolutely vital for many of Americas urban neighborhoods and rural communities and will provide billions of dollars for high-impact, community revitalization projects, said Bob Rapoza, spokesperson for the NMTC Coalition. Over the years, the credit has been instrumental in financing plant and equipment for small manufacturing businesses and patient, flexible capital to other small businesses, hospitals, healthcare centers, homeless shelters and other transformative projects that improve communities, create jobs and economic opportunity. A permanent extension of NMTC will provide more certainty to private sector investors, which will result in better pricing and more subsidy to hard-to-finance, essential projects. For examples of how the NMTC is making an impact in each state, see the NMTC Coalitions newly released report, NMTC at Work in Communities Across America, featuring updated state statistics sheets on NMTC efficacy and more than 80 Tax Credit success stories. About New Markets Tax Credit Program The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) was enacted in 2000 in an effort to stimulate private investment and economic growth in low-income urban neighborhoods and rural communities that lack access to the patient capital needed to support and grow businesses, create jobs, and sustain healthy local economies. Since its inception, the NMTC has generated more than one million jobs. Today, due to the NMTC, nearly $120 billion is hard at work in underserved communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.NMTCCoalition.org. Contact Details Bob Rapoza +1 202-498-9921 bob@rapoza.org Company Website https://nmtccoalition.org/ View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/nmtc-coalition-urges-white-house-and-congressional-leadership-to-make-the-nmtc-permanent-951762701 PARIS (Reuters) - Hundreds of people paid their respect on Monday at the funeral of a 12-year-old girl whose battered body was found stuffed in a suitcase outside her Paris home. The case has divided France as the suspect is an illegal immigrant. Outside the church of Saint-Omer de Lillers, northern France, speakers had been set up for people to follow the mass, whuch was attended by Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. Neither the family nor Darmanin made public statements on Monday. Hundreds of people stood in silence as a hearse took the white coffin of the girl, who has been identfied only as Lola, to the cemetery for a private burial ceremony. Her murder became a source of political tension in France with opposition parties seizing on the profile of the suspect to call for tougher immigration policies and to criticise the the government for failing to deport immigrants whose application for asylum or residence has been rejected. The main suspect, a 24-year-old woman from Algeria, was arrested last week and put under formal investigation on accusations of murder, rape and acts of torture. She had been seen on CCTV carrying the trunk in which the victim was found. President Emmanuel Macron last week called Lola's murder an act of "extreme evil" and has met with the girl's parents. (Reporting by GV De Clercq, Editing by Angus MacSwan) Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business reports that 96% of its MBA Class of 2022 received and accepted job offers within three months of graduation. The South Bend, Indiana private school also released a class profile for its newest MBA class. University of Notre Dame photo In terms of employment outcomes for MBAs graduating from the top business schools in 2020, everyone suffered, but some schools suffered more than others. Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business was certainly in this unfortunate group. Just 79% of Mendozas Class of 2020 MBA grads had job offers within three months of graduation, down from 92% in 2019, and only 78% had accepted, down from 89.5%. Ancient history. Notre Dame released its Class of 2022 employment report this month showing a second straight year of record outcomes for full-time MBA graduates, including 96% of the class receiving and accepting offers within three months of graduation. The average starting base salary rose to $133,018, a 9% increase from 2021, and the mean signing bonus rose to $33,581, a 15% year-over-year increase. Most impressively, the schools combined salary and bonus average grew to $166,599, up 10.6% in a year and up 22% more than $30K from that dismal pandemic year of 2020. TECH-BOUND MENDOZA MBAs DECLINED BY 50% Notre Dame's John Rooney: "Business is a team sport at Notre Dame." We are very proud of our students and their career outcomes, says John Rooney, director of Graduate Business Career Development at the Mendoza College of Business. What is most gratifying is that our students obtained careers that align with their values, skills, and experiences. This alignment will empower these Notre Dame leaders to Grow the Good in business. The strong outcomes were driven by Mendoza grads success in consulting, financial services, and technology. The school reports that 30% pursued careers in consulting, up from 15.4%, with a median salary of $155,000, while 25% accepted jobs in financial services, up from 14.3%, with a median salary of $175,000. Another 18% went into technology with a median salary of $132,000. Notably, Notre Dames tech sector-bound grads declined by 50% from 36.3% of the Class of 2021. Story continues Business is a team sport at Notre Dame, Rooney says, noting that top employers of Mendoza MBAs included Deloitte, EY, PwC, Goldman Sachs, Guggenheim, JP Morgan, UBS, Citibank, IBM, Amazon, and Microsoft. These outcomes are a result of hard work from our students, support from our employer partners, dedication from the career development team, and the support of our legendary alumni network. Adds Mendoza Class of 2022 MBA Zach Silvestri, who accepted an associate position with McKinsey: The Notre Dame alumni network was an invaluable resource from the moment I stepped on campus. Navigating a career pivot coming out of Covid-19 created a lot of uncertainty and the willingness of alumni to lean in to help me prepare for and navigate the recruiting process was a huge difference maker. Their passion for the university and willingness to give back time and energy supporting current students really sets Mendoza apart. MENDOZA'S NEW MBA CLASS IS 24% URM & 30% WOMEN Notre Dame Mendoza also released a profile of its new MBA class, calling it "one of its most diverse in recent history." The Mendoza MBA Class of 2024 comprises 96 students, including 24% of U.S. underrepresented minorities, 30% women, and 31% international students. The class hails from 25 U.S. states and holds passports from 17 different countries. We are thrilled to welcome a diverse group of students from across the world who share our mission to use business as a force for good, says Joe Sweeney, academic director for the Notre Dame MBA program. We are excited to welcome a class that has a strong academic background, diverse work experience, a track record of service and an enthusiasm for the dynamism of business. The Class of 2024 has a median GMAT of 685 and an undergrad GPA of 3.3. Students "represent a variety of undergraduate majors, including business (49%), engineering (21%) and science (10%)," according to a school news release. The class has an average five years' work experience, with the top industries financial services (17%), consulting (14%), technology (10%), and education (8%). DON'T MISS MEET NOTRE DAME MENDOZA'S MBA CLASS OF 2023 and WHY NOTRE DAME MENDOZA IS 'SUNSETTING' ITS STEM DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM The post Notre Dame Reports Record Outcomes For 2022 MBA Class appeared first on Poets&Quants. London, United Kingdom --News Direct-- Net Savings Link, Inc. Net Savings Link, Inc. (OTC: NSAV), a cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital asset technology company, today announced that the Company has signed a Definitive Acquisition Agreement for AWC Centralized Cryptocurrency Exchange (AWC) https://awcexchange.com/. AWC currently has approximately $1,500,000,000 USDT Dollar Value On Deposit. The exchange can list both ERC-20 and BEP-20 tokens. AWC has over 2,000 active wallet traders. In addition, AWC management projects that once the exchange reaches 5,000 users, based on $100 average daily trading per user, the estimated monthly income will be $1,500,000. At 10,000 users, based on $250 average daily trading per user, the estimated monthly income will be $7,500,000. The existing AWC management will continue to operate the exchange to ensure both continuity and a high standard of service. The management of NSAV released the following statement, As our shareholders are aware, it has been a long-standing goal of the Company to acquire an operating CEX. We were thrilled to see the excitement among NSAV shareholders and the market in general, in the weeks leading up to the formal signing of this deal. NSAV's vision is the establishment of a fully integrated technology company, which provides turnkey technological solutions to the cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital asset industries. Over time, the Company plans to provide a wide range of services such as software solutions, e-commerce, financial services, advisory services and information technology. For further information please contact NSAV at; info@nsavholdinginc.com The NSAV Twitter account can be accessed at; https://twitter.com/nsav_tech The NSAV corporate website can be accessed at; http://nsavholdinginc.com The NSAV Centralized Cryptocurrency Exchange (CEX) website can be accessed at; https://ex.nsavexchange.com/main The NSAVDEX 1 Exchange website can be accessed at: https://nsavdex.org/#/home Story continues The NSAV NFT Marketplace website can be accessed at; https://nsavnft.com/ The NSAV Premium OTC Crypto Trading Desk website can be accessed at; https://nsavholdinginc.com/otc-desk/ The NSAV Hong Kong OTC Crypto Trading Desk website can be accessed at; https://hkotc.co/ The NSAVDEX Exchange Telegram account can be accessed at; https://t.me/NSAVDEXorg Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the ability of Net Savings Link, Inc. to accomplish its stated plan of business. Net Savings Link, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward- looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Net Savings Link, Inc. or any other person. Contact Details Net Savings Link, Inc. Net Savings Link, Inc. info@nsavholdinginc.com Company Website https://www.nsavholdingsinc.com View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/nsav-announces-a-definitive-acquisition-agreement-for-centralized-cryptocurrency-exchange-cex-572248740 Cops are asking the publics help tracking down a mugger in an Adidas bucket hat who stabbed and slashed a man on Staten Island before stealing his money. The 38-year-old victim was sitting in front of a discount store on Castleton Ave. near Elizabeth St. in West New Brighton when the crook slashed him in the face without warning about 2:45 p.m. Sept. 11, cops said. She then stabbed him in the chest without saying a word as she snatched his handbag, which contained $375. Medics took the victim to Richmond University Medical Center in stable condition. The robber ran off with the handbag and has not been caught. Cops released a surveillance image of the suspect Monday She is described as Black and thin and was wearing a black bucket hat with a white Adidas logo on the front, a black face mask, a black-and-white jacket, black-and-white Adidas pants and black sneakers. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential. Ryan McCune/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images A New York City real estate tycoon is suing his own nephew, accusing the younger man of scheming to dethrone him as head of the lucrative family business, according to a civil court filing obtained by The Daily Beast. The nephew sent an email on Sept. 9 attacking his uncle for alleged fraud and concealment in his management of the business, states the lawsuit, which blasted the malicious and unlawful [effort] to besmirch Albert Kalimians good name. Kalimian, 64, argues in the complaint that his sisters son has launched unjustified and bad faith efforts to disrupt and usurp Mr. Kalimians management of the highly successful family real estate business. The email was distributed to seven people, including two of Kalimians sisters, according to the lawsuit, which was filed on Oct. 21 in state Supreme Court in Manhattan. Kalimian, who was once accused of trying to take possession of an elderly widows home without her knowledge after she fell behind on her property taxes, is seeking compensatory and punitive damages from the nephew, 34-year-old Justin Amirian, whom he derided for a supposed lack of training or experience. Amirian, a lawyer turned real estate investor, told The Daily Beast on Monday that the lawsuit his uncle filed a few days earlier didnt ring a bell. He declined to comment further. Kalimian is the head of the familys namesake firm, which has interests in 10 commercial and multifamily properties in Manhattan, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In June, he received a $240 million loan for an office building on Fifth Avenuethe largest real estate loan in Manhattan that monthThe Real Deal reported. One of the participants in the deal, the outlet added, was Eagle Point Properties; Amirian is the principal of that firm. According to the lawsuit, the family business was founded by Kalimians father, Roy, a prominent member of the Persian Jewish community in New York City, who mentored his son in the real estate trade. Kalimian went on to manage the business on behalf of himself and his three sisters, Rita Sakhaie, Debbie Kalimian and Justins mother, Edna Amirian. Story continues The lawsuit alleges that Amirian is trying to oust Kalimian as managing partner. The filing also claims that Amirian has sent a flurry of emails and letters plainly designed to harass and make unreasonable and unjustified demands of his uncle. The Sept. 9 email, it continues, falsely and outrageously accused Kalimian of having a long history of failure to provide, or actively (and very likely fraudulently) concealing, information to members of LLCs and tenants in common, despite contractual obligations to the contrary. Reached by phone, Edna Amirian confirmed she is Kalimians sister and Justin Amirians mother, but declined to comment on the lawsuit, referring all inquiries to her son. In the suit, Kalimian contends that he, with the approval and cooperation of his sisters, Rita Sakhaie and Debbie Kalimian, has managed the real estate business with the utmost skill, integrity and success. But, the filing claims, Amirian, an attorney who should know better, has persisted with his harassment campaign. Accordingly, Mr. Kalimian brings this action to clear his good name and recover the damages he has suffered as a result of Justins defamation, it says. Kalimian, who declined to comment, has a history of litigation. According to court records, he is listed as the plaintiff in numerous actions in the state Supreme Court, on issues ranging from small claims disputes to foreclosure proceedings. Earlier this year, a tenant in one of Kalimians buildings accused him and other defendants of ignoring repeated complaints about harmful mold allegedly growing in their apartment. In 2014, Kalimian made news after an elderly widow in Long Island claimed she tried to sell her home, only to discover that the businessman had taken possession of it. She had failed to keep up with her tax obligations, leading to multiple liens. Kalimian allegedly took control of the deed by buying a $3,300 lien from the village of Oyster Bay Covewithout her knowledge. A lawyer for the woman said at the time that Kalimian had refused to broker a deal with her, until a lawsuit was filed and reporters started to investigate. "For him to be able to come in and take the house that my parents had paid off and lived [in] for 40 years for a few thousand dollars, that shouldn't happen, her son told NBC New York that year. An attorney for Kalimian argued at the time that his client didnt know the homeowner was a widow when he took possession of her home, adding that Kalimians activity was legal and had received sign-off from a lawyer for the village. He reportedly agreed to hash out a deal in which the owner would pay the liens back with interest and reimburse him for his legal fees. An employee in Kalimians office confirmed on Monday that the situation was settled, allowing the widow to keep her home. She chided The Daily Beast for asking questions about it, saying, Youre just trying to dig up dirt. 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. Pennsylvania Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman is expected to get a boost from President Biden and former President Obama just two weeks from the midterms. A senior Pennsylvania Democrat told The Hill Biden and Obama will stump for Fetterman and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro on Nov. 5. Axios was the first to report on the visits. Fetterman is competing against Republican nominee Mehmet Oz, a celebrity doctor, in a Senate race thats tightened recently and will play an influential role in the power balance of the upper chamber. How to watch: The local stations and websites that will show the Fetterman-Oz Pennsylvania Senate debate live A CNN poll released on Monday shows Fetterman, the states lieutenant governor, with the edge, earning 51 percent of support among likely voters surveyed to Ozs 45 percent. Updated at 6:34 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A judge has ruled that a Citra man charged with first-degree murder is not mentally competent to stand trial and has ordered him to go to a state hospital for treatment. The development came during an Oct. 21 hearing to determine Jose Ismael Florencio's competency. A report prepared by Dr. Valerie McClain and read by Circuit Judge Pete Brigham states the defendant was found incompetent in five of six categories. The doctor found that Florencio does not understand the charge he faces, could possibly harm others, and would not be able to participate in his defense at trial. Court news: Competency hearings held for two men sentenced to life in prison Not able to proceed to trial: Woman charged with murdering elderly man incompetent to stand trial Two cases resolved: Guilty verdict in grand theft case; probation for felony battery Appearing via Zoom from the Marion County Jail, Florencio, 24, rambled along whenever he was given a chance to speak. Circuit Judge Pete Brigham Sheriff's detectives arrested Florencio in connection with the the August death of 48-year-old Marvin Lee Pate. Authorities said Florencio stabbed and then severely beaten Pate to death. State v. Michael Jonathan Beach Michael Jonathan Beach was sentenced to a four-year prison term after pleading no contest to three counts of grand theft, burglary of a structure and principal to grand theft, according to court records. Court documents show that Beach has 681 days of credit for jail time already spent at the county jail. Beach was charged for incidents that occurred in 2019 and 2020. Arrest records show sheriff's deputies arrested the 34-year-old Ocklawaha man and accused him of breaking into businesses and stealing items worth thousands of dollars. The convicted felon also was arrested in a burglary case where more than a dozen firearms were taken from a residence. The State Attorney's Office declined to file the charges because the victims declined to cooperate. Story continues One of those victims, Jennifer Hill, has been accused of fatally shooting a man whom she thought was Beach. Hill, 43, of Silver Springs, is charged with murder and her case is ongoing. A second man arrested in the gun theft case, 23-year-old Beau Tyler Pulsifer of Ocklawaha, also had his charges dropped. State v. Jonathan Shaddix In a plea agreement, Jonathan Shaddix was sentenced to a three-year prison term for using a computer to solicit parent guardian for consent, court records indicate. Shaddix pleaded no contest. He must register as a sexual offender. He has 1,096 days of credit for time already spent at the county jail, according to court documents. Law enforcement officials arrested Shaddix, 37, in 2018 and accused him of attempting to entice a juvenile to have sex with him. The exchange occurred over the internet. The Apopka man wasn't aware that he was talking with an undercover law enforcement official as part of "Operation Cant Touch This. Multiple men were taken into custody by various law enforcement agencies in connection with the operation. Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala courts: Man sent to state hospital; murder charge still pending The father of once missing Harmony Montgomery is facing serious criminal charges in connection with the murder of his young daughter. Adam Montgomery, 31, of Manchester, New Hampshire, waived his arraignment Wednesday in Hillsborough County Superior Court on charges including second-degree murder, falsifying physical evidence, abuse of corpse, and tampering with witnesses. Hes an evil person: Harmony Montgomerys grandfather reacts to Adams arrest Evidence uncovered during the course of an investigation indicated that Adam repeatedly struck Harmony, 5, in the head with a closed first, recklessly causing her death, Attorney General John M. Formella and Manchester Police Chief Allen D. Aldenberg announced Monday. He then allegedly destroyed and disposed of Harmonys body sometime between Dec. 7, 2019, and March 4, 2020, in an effort to hide evidence of the crime from law enforcement officials. Credit: Manchester Police Department I know of no other way to respect and honor this innocent and defenseless child than to extend an act of kindness to another child in her memory, an emotional Aldenberg said. Just take a few moments out of your day to say something nice to a child, give him or her a hug...Just simply tell them that you love them and that you will protect them. Formella and Aldenberg did not say if Harmonys remains have been recovered. 25 Investigates: The pivotal decision that sent Harmony Montgomery to live with her father New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu made a vow to make sure Harmonys case is seen through until the end. New Hampshire is leaving no stone unturned to ensure justice for Harmony, said Sununu. A huge thank you to the tireless dedication of law enforcement and their unwavering efforts. We have full confidence they will ensure Adam Montgomery is held accountable for his evil actions. In August, the missing persons case shifted to a homicide investigation when authorities said they believed Harmony was killed in Manchester in early December 2019. Police say they first became aware that Harmony might be missing when they received a call from the girls mother in November. Story continues Harmonys father and stepmother both previously pleaded not guilty to charges related to her well-being. Adam was indicted in March on an assault charge alleging that he struck Harmony in the face in July 2019. He pleaded not guilty and has been behind bars since January. Kayla Montgomery, 32, was charged with theft by deception after police said she falsely claimed that her stepdaughter was living with her in order to collect welfare benefits. She has also pleaded not guilty. A judge revoked Kaylas bail back in September. Additional details on what led to Adams arrest are expected to be revealed during his arraignment. Anyone with information on the death of Harmony is urged to contact Manchester Police Department 603-203-6060. An investigation remains ongoing. Previous coverage on Harmonys disappearance: Mass. DCF failed case of missing NH girl Harmony Montgomery and the risk she faced at home Investigators remove evidence from apartment tied to Harmony Montgomery First glimpse inside the NH apartment searched in Harmony Montgomery investigation 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 Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Democratic challenger Nan Whaley don't agree on much, but they are both voting for constitutional amendments this fall. From gun control to abortion, Gov. Mike DeWine and his Democratic challenger Nan Whaley don't agree on much. But they are both voting "yes" on statewide ballot initiatives involving cash bail and noncitizens voting. Ohio Issue 1 would require judges to consider multiple factors when setting bail for individuals accused of a crime. Bail is money or conditions set to ensure the person accused of a crime appears for court proceedings. Those factors include public safety, criminal records, the seriousness of the offense and the likelihood that the person will show up for court. Ohio's GOP-controlled Legislature put the question on November's ballot in response to a divided Ohio Supreme Court decision, which limited what judges could consider when setting cash bail. Ohio election 2022: What to know about Ohio Issue 1 on November 2022 ballot Public safety, although of the utmost importance, is not a factor relevant to the calculation of the bail amount, the Ohio Supreme Court wrote in a 4-3 decision. A court may not impose excessive bail for the purpose of keeping an accused in jail. Whaley, a former Dayton mayor, disagrees with the Ohio Supreme Court's assessment and backs Issue 1. I think that judges should look into whether someones going to be unsafe for the community. That makes sense," Whaley told the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. The issue of community safety is something thats really important to me. Again, it goes back to gun safety, frankly, and you know DeWine wont do that. Whaley has criticized DeWine for signing bills to ax mandatory training for concealed guns, reduce training needed to arm teachers and eliminate a requirement that people attempt to flee before shooting another person. Those weren't the policies she envisioned when Dayton mourners begged DeWine to "do something" following a mass shooting there in August 2019. But Whaley is on the same side as DeWine on Issue 1. The incumbent governor backs the constitutional amendment. Story continues Mike DeWine, Nan Whaley agree noncitizens shouldn't vote in local elections DeWine and Whaley both support Ohio Issue 2, which would prevent people who are not U.S. citizens from voting in local elections. Noncitizens cannot vote in federal and statewide elections, but places like Yellow Springs proposed allowing them to vote in local races. GOP lawmakers wanted to nip that in the bud, putting the issue before voters this November. Several Democratic lawmakers opposed the measure, writing that the "unnecessary constitutional amendment is cloaked in fear and false patriotism." "This is a solution looking for a problem," Whaley said. "But yeah, U.S. citizens should be the people that should vote in elections." What is State Issue 2? What is State Issue 2? Ohioans to decide on noncitizens' voting rights Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Mike DeWine, Nan Whaley both voting 'yes' on Ohio Issue 1 and 2 Insiders were net buyers of Middle Island Resources Limited's (ASX:MDI ) stock during the past year. That is, insiders bought more stock than they sold. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. View our latest analysis for Middle Island Resources Middle Island Resources Insider Transactions Over The Last Year Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by insider Stephen Copulos for AU$447k worth of shares, at about AU$0.15 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of AU$0.063. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. It is encouraging to see an insider paid above the current price for shares, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. Stephen Copulos was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Does Middle Island Resources Boast High Insider Ownership? Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Middle Island Resources insiders own about AU$1.5m worth of shares. That equates to 20% of the company. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders. Story continues So What Does This Data Suggest About Middle Island Resources Insiders? There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Insiders own shares in Middle Island Resources and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Middle Island Resources you should know about. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. 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 military vehicle crash killed one soldier and injured three others over the weekend at a facility in Pennsylvania, according to officials. Spc Mackenzie L Shay, 20, of New Castle, died during what officials described to WHP-TV as a routine supply mission between ranges in Fort Indian Gap, where the state national guard has its headquarters. The exact circumstances of the crash have not been disclosed. Our priority right now is taking care of the family and soldiers, ensuring they have all the resources they need during this critical time, Army Maj Gen Mark Schindler told The Associated Press. This is a developing news story and will be updated with new information. UKRAINSKA PRAVDA MONDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2022, 06:07 Thirty percent of the Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by the Russians reach their targets. Source: Kyrylo Budanov, the Head of the Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda Details: Replying to a question about how many Iranian-made drones the Russians still have, Budanov said that Russia is constantly ordering them. The Russians ordered about 1,700 drones of all types, but, as he states, these still need to be manufactured. It is indicated that the one-time batch delivery is about 300 units. The second such batch is currently in use. As of 22 October, the Russians used about 330 Shaheds, 222 of which were shot down. According to Budanov, "others [drones], to one degree or another, reached their targets not always particularly their own, sometimes [they hit] somewhere close [to these], but 30% of drones reach their targets". Budanov said that "in general, the anti-aircraft defence is coping [with these threats], 70% [of drones] have been shot down", but "Shahed terror may actually last for a while". At the same time, the Russians' stockpile of missiles is almost exhausted. Quote by Budanov: "About 13% is left of the Iskanders [stocks], about 43% of the Kalibr-PL, Kalibr-NK missiles, and about 45% [is left of the] Kh-101 and Kh-555 missile [stock]s. To go below 30% in general is very dangerous, because this means they are already using their ER [emergency reserves ed.] Russia has long ago started using its emergency reserves of Iskanders, but they are still trying to stay within the limits for the Kalibrs and the Kh-101s and Kh-555s." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The disaster and inequity of pandemic policies is now in clear focus. The state NAEP scores released Monday underscore and quantify just how much of a catastrophe pandemic-era school policy and practice was for students especially the youngest and those already struggling in school. These data build on and confirm previous evidence we saw through the NAEP as well as results from the ACT and data from vendors such as NWEA and Curriculum Associates. This much converging data is hard to brush away. As the president himself might say, its a big ******* deal. No state improved since 2019, the last time the NAEP state assessment was given. Thats not surprising, given the past few years. What staggers is the scale of the declines especially in math. Multiple states saw drops of more than 10 points in math at the fourth- and eighth-grade levels. Reading results, too, were adversely impacted again, sometimes substantially. There is the occasional bright spot, yet overall its an across-the-board disaster for the United States. Our year-end campaign starts now! Please make a tax-exempt donation to The 74. Most worrisome for those concerned about equity: Students already furthest from success in school were most impacted. In fourth-grade math, the number of students at the below basic level jumped 6 points. It was 7 points higher in eighth-grade math. In plain terms, that means 38% of eighth-graders are at a level in mathematics that leaves them functionally unprepared to fend for themselves in the world, let alone pursue success in various college and career opportunities. And remember, these downward results were evident even before COVID cold-cocked schools. In 48 states, more students performed at below basic on eighth-grade math than did in 2019. In many states, the number of students at that bottom tier grew dramatically because of the past few years. Related: Nations Report Card Shows Largest Drops Ever Recorded in 4th and 8th Grade Math Story continues Its not an overstatement to say that a lot of progress made since the 1990s is being vaporized. Here are results for Virginia, where I am on the Board of Education, for instance. Many schools in the commonwealth were closed for in-person instruction longer than anywhere else, and the results are nothing short of devastating. But on the big political question red versus blue states NAEP offers a mixed verdict. The much-anticipated Florida results are not the boon to COVID-contrarian Gov. Ron DeSantis that his adherents had hoped, showing a more-or-less average impact. Catholic schools, which reopened sooner than most, saw positive results in fourth grade but negative impacts in eighth. Overall, charter schools were not immune. A few urban districts bucked the trend, raising the question of whether this was more about implementation than broad closure policies. The problem is, though, its almost 2023 and were still arguing about what happened in 2020 and 2021. Our politics are stuck in the past rather than looking forward. And as a result, too many leaders are still not mustering the political courage to level with parents about the future. Related: ACT Scores Fall to Lowest Level In 30 Years Schools have obfuscated about what learning loss even means. Insufficient attention to helping teachers communicate effectively with families means parents are left confused about reading and math achievement. Some professional development focuses on helping teachers distract attention from objective measures of reading and numeracy. Leading newspapers have misled readers about whether any of this even matters. States like New York and California have dragged their feet on releasing test score data, while in other places, school officials are minimizing the importance of standardized exams. The overall fecklessness, irresponsibility and almost total attention to politics and public relations rather than kids surprises even cynical observers of the sector. The noise-to-signal ratio is difficult for families who have a lot on their plate besides this to sort out. This is one reason parent sentiment is not proportional to the scale of the problem, as tracked in Bellwethers Parent Perception Barometer. Even though a variety of private resources are trying to help people come to grips with it the Edunomics Lab created a learning loss calculator, and researchers and analysts from the Center on Reinventing Public Education at Arizona State University, the Center of Education Policy Research at Harvard and elsewhere have sought to quantify the impacts too little is being done to make sure parents are aware of any of this information. State leaders must communicate directly with parents about the data what it means and what families should expect as a remedy. Not just now, with the new results, but as an ongoing communications and engagement strategy. For example, the National Center for Education Statistics provides snapshots of each states achievement in reading and math, updated with the new results and broken out by demographic category. Virginia fourth-grade reading scores States should do more to communicate the results, gaps and data for all demographic groups, including gender. And because parents, of course, care most about their own child, states must also make sure state assessment results are clearly communicated in a timely manner and that those results are an honest representation of whats going on. Education advocacy organizations have an enormous role to play here to help communicate this information and hold state policymakers accountable. Obviously, states and school districts should provide support to students and families such as tutoring, direct grants to parents, expanded choice options, longer school days and a longer school year for students. This is so obvious it should be unremarkable. The predicate for more support for parents and students, however, is a clear and honest sense of the problem something in the K-12 sector continues to fail to provide. This new round of NAEP data, with progress in some states rolled back to 1990s levels of performance, should end any hesitancy about leveling with parents about where things stand and what we collectively must do. This new data removes the last excuse for not providing an honest accounting now. UKRAINSKA PRAVDA MONDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2022, 15:30 Tamila Tasheva, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, has said that after Crimea is liberated, officials who facilitated the Russian occupation and anyone who violated human rights or committed war crimes will be prosecuted in Ukrainian courts. Source: Tamila Tasheva during a panel discussion on the Reintegration of Occupied Territories and Guarantees of Non-repetition of Russian Aggression during the First Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform in Zagreb on 24 October; Interfax-Ukraine Quote from Tasheva: "We understand that we will hold to account top officials and others who have facilitated the establishment of the occupation regime on the Crimean peninsula, committed international crimes and war crimes, and violated human rights there will be no amnesty for them." Details: Tasheva said that the majority of Crimeas residents have nothing to do with Russias extensive war crimes. "None of these people have anything to fear: they will not be held responsible for simply living under occupation," Tasheva explained. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! By Humphrey Malalo and Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam NAIROBI/KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - Well-known Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was shot dead in Nairobi when police hunting car thieves opened fire on the vehicle he was travelling in as it drove through their roadblock without stopping, according to a Kenyan police report on Monday. A Kenyan police watchdog has said it is investigating the incident, which happened at 10 p.m. (1900 GMT) on Sunday on the outskirts of the capital. A senior police officer told The Star newspaper that the shooting was being treated as a case of mistaken identity. The circumstances of Sharif's death sparked widespread outrage in Pakistan and calls for an investigation. Sharif worked for many years as a prime time television news show host for ARY News in Pakistan and had recently fled the country citing threats to his life. It was not immediately clear when he had arrived in Kenya. The police report said a relative of Sharif had been driving the car. It said police had formed a roadblock using small stones, but the car drove through without stopping, even after officers opened fire. Nine bullets hit the car, and one hit Sharif in the head. Kenya's Independent Police Oversight Authority, a civilian watchdog, has started an investigation into Sharif's killing, its chairwoman Ann Makori told journalists in a news conference on Monday. "There's an alleged police killing of a Pakistani national at Tinga market, Kajiado county, last evening. Our rapid response team has already been dispatched," she said. Pakistan's foreign ministry said its high commissioner in Kenya was in touch with local police and the foreign office and a police report is awaited. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Twitter that he had spoken by phone to Kenyan President William Ruto about the incident. "I requested him to ensure fair and transparent investigation into shocking incident. He promised all-out help including fast-tracking the process of return of the body," said the prime minister, who is not related to the victim. Story continues "I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist," Arshad Sharif's wife, Javeria Siddique, said on Twitter, asking for media to respect the family's privacy. Sharif's death sparked widespread reaction on social media in Pakistan from officials, journalists and others. Former prime minister Imran Khan condemned the death and said Sharif had been murdered for his journalistic work. He called for a judicial investigation into the incident. Washington also urged Kenya to investigate. We're deeply saddened by the death of Arshad Sharif. We encourage a full investigation by the government of Kenya into his death," U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters. (Reporting by Humphrey Malalo in Nairobi and Gibran Peshimam in Karachi; additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Washington; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Mike Harrison and Bill Berkrot) Multiple news reports over the past few weeks have claimed that fentanyl may be lurking in the Halloween candy that kids will pick up trick-or-treating this year. And while fentanyl a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine is dangerous, its a myth that you might find it in Halloween candy, experts and officials say. Some of the most recent reports were based on a drug bust in Los Angeles earlier this month: On Oct. 19, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department seized 12,000 presumed fentanyl pills at the airport, according to a release from the department. The suspect was trying to get through security and board a plane with the pills, stored in Skittles, Whoppers and Sweetarts boxes and bags. Thousands of presumed fentanyl pills stored in candy boxes and bags were seized at Los Angeles International Airport on Oct. 19. (Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department) In the release, the department urged parents to check their kids' candy before they eat it this Halloween and to alert law enforcement if they find anything resembling narcotics in candy packaging. The idea that the pills, which look like pharmaceuticals, could end up in trick-or-treat bags because they were being smuggled in candy bags and boxes is "illogical," Dr. Ryan Marino, a medical toxicologist and addiction medicine doctor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, told TODAY. "These drugs ... were hidden inside of something to try to avoid detection," he said. "The use of candy packaging does not signify that these are being passed off as candy, and certainly does not imply that the drugs someone is going to lengths to smuggle would then be given away for free rather than sold for profit." "Drugs have been smuggled in religious iconography without prompting calls to avoid churches," he added. Capt. Brandon Dean of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department also told TODAY he doesn't believe the pills were supposed to be given to kids on Halloween simply because they were in candy packaging. "We don't think anybody is planting stuff in candy," he said. Asked why the department urged parents to check Halloween candy if no one believes the pills were meant to end up in trick-or-treaters' hands, Dean said: "There's always that possibility ... that these pills get mixed in with other things. ... I don't think the message was we're worried about people planting stuff in kids' candy. It was still just be diligent checking your kid's stuff." Story continues Why are people worried about rainbow fentanyl in Halloween candy? Prior to the Los Angeles drug bust, there was already hubbub around fentanyl finding its way into Halloween candy in particular, a substance referred to as rainbow fentanyl, which is fentanyl pills or powder colored with bright dyes. In August, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration shared a press release warning that rainbow fentanyl was being seized across the nation in multiple forms. While the DEA said that their laboratory testing determined that the substance was not more potent than non-colorful fentanyl, the organization said they were concerned that the colorful versions of the drug were being used "to look like candy" and attract "children and young people." Multiple experts in the field of substance use and harm reduction told TODAY they were skeptical of the DEA's claims, noting that colorful, illicit pills have existed for years and include substances like ecstasy, not just fentanyl. The experts said there's no data to suggest drug dealers are targeting children but also stressed that fentanyl is a public health problem. Two-thirds of the 108,000 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2021 involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A press release from the Drug Enforcement Administration included photos of what's been dubbed "Multicolored pills are a thing in (legitimate) pharmaceuticals, and these probably emerged to mimic what are actual pills and how those look," said Marino. He noted that a publicity photo shared by the DEA appears to show fentanyl disguised as oxycodone pills. "They don't look like candy at all. ... Colored drugs have been a thing for years, if not decades." Where does the myth about drugs in Halloween candy come from? The myth that parents have to worry about finding drugs in their kids' Halloween candy goes back much further than the furor around fentanyl. According to Joel Best, Ph.D., a professor of sociology and criminal justice at the University of Delaware who has done decades of research on what he calls Halloween sadism, that myth is as old as modern Halloween celebrations. "I knew a folklorist ... who was born in the '30s, and she reported hearing stories about people who would keep pennies on a skillet, and then pour hot pennies into the outstretched hands of trick-or-treaters," Best explained. "The worry that somebody might be contaminating treats has been around for a while. It picked up speed in the 1960s, and by the late 1960s, it was pretty well-embedded." Best said that despite decades of fear, he has never found data that shows kids are being targeted with contaminated or dangerous Halloween treats. "I have data going back to 1958 ... and I cannot find a single case of a child killed or seriously injured by a contaminated treat picked up in the course of trick-or-treating," Best said. One exception is the 1974 case of Ronald Clark O'Bryan, who distributed potassium-cyanide laced candy to his children in an effort to collect life insurance money. His 8-year-old son died, and O'Bryan was found guilty and sentenced to death. Best said that he considers this case an exception, because "that's not what people are worried about when they ask whether it's safe to go trick-or-treating." "This is the boogeyman," Best said. "We've stopped believing in ghosts and goblins. We believe in criminals." Best said that he's not surprised that this year, the concern is about fentanyl, rainbow or otherwise, in Halloween candy: The urban legend of tainted treats seems to come after threats are reported in the news. "If there's a crime story in September, it will be linked to Halloween fears that year," Best said, noting that similar fears arose in 1982 after several people were killed via tainted Tylenol in September that year. There was another round of concern about drugs being distributed in 2014, Best said, after Colorado legalized retail sales of recreational marijuana. Are law enforcement authorities worried about rainbow fentanyl in Halloween candy? While the DEA has continued to warn about rainbow fentanyl and share press releases about seizures of the substance, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram told NBC News Kate Snow that the administration does not believe that children are at risk this Halloween. The DEA declined to speak to TODAY for this article, instead referencing the interview. "At this moment ... weve seen nothing that indicates that this is going to be related to Halloween or that drug traffickers are putting it into Halloween candy, Milgram said in the September interview. If we ever had that information, I would put it out right away because I want everyone to know what we know. How to keep kids safe on Halloween While there's nothing wrong with being cautious on Halloween, Marino said expending too much energy on fears of tainted treats can keep people from focusing on real ways to prevent fentanyl overdose deaths, including in kids. Drug overdose deaths almost doubled in 14 to 18-year-olds between 2019 and 2020, and they went up another 20% in the first half of 2021, NBC News reported. The increase was driven primarily by fentanyl, often packaged to look like prescription drugs. "Being scared of things that aren't real is problematic, and we've seen that with the fentanyl touch overdose phenomenon, and the disastrous outcomes that has for everyone," said Marino, referring to the concern that people can overdose on fentanyl just by touching it, which he said is not supported by research. The biggest, real threat to kids' health on Halloween? An injury from a car, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. So, make sure your child has reflective tape on their costume or bag, can see well through their costume, trick-or-treats in a group, sticks to well-lit roads and the sidewalk, only uses established crosswalks and never assumes they have the right of way when a car is coming. Related: This article was originally published on TODAY.com Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian officials during a summit in Croatia this week that is focused on Russias aggression against Ukraine. The First Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform is slated to take place in Zagreb, Croatia, on Oct. 25. Pelosi will take part in bilateral meetings with high-level officials from Ukraine and Croatia, according to the Speakers office. She is also scheduled to participate in a press conference with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and will deliver remarks at the summit on Tuesday focused on Americas unbreakable commitment to Ukraine. Ukraine created the International Crimea Platform last year with hopes that it would help repair the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, according to Pelosis office. This weeks summit, the first of its kind, will be centered on Russias aggressive behavior against Ukraine, including Moscows annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the countrys invasion of Ukraine, which has been ongoing since February. Conversations will center on the worlds attempts to assist Ukraine, efforts to hold Moscow accountable for suspected war crimes committed amid this years conflict and attempts at illegally annexing regions. As Speaker, it is my privilege to join our European allies and other partners from around the globe in Croatia to deliver an unmistakable statement of our solidarity with the Ukrainian people, Pelosi said in a statement. Vladimir Putin is waging an unprovoked, all-out assault on Ukraine: from the ongoing occupation of Crimea to his attempt to annex additional territories to his desperate and escalating targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure. This week, America joins our democratic partners to reaffirm our pledge to stand with the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom and to hold Russia accountable until victory is won, she added. The Speaker will be joined by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), the president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, on the trip to Croatia. He was invited to take part in the summit. Story continues The gathering comes more than eight months into Russias invasion of Ukraine. Moscows military has taken control of some regions of the country, and Kyiv has launched successful counteroffensives in others. Ukraine in recent weeks has been eyeing Kherson, the first major Ukrainian city that Russia took control of after the conflict broke out earlier this year. In a rare joint statement on Sunday, the foreign ministers of France, the United Kingdom and the United States rejected Russias claims that Ukraine was getting ready to use a dirty bomb within its country. The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation. We further reject any pretext for escalation by Russia, the leaders wrote. The visit to Croatia is the latest in a number of international trips Pelosi has taken in recent months. The Speaker has made stops in Ukraine, Taiwan and Armenia. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. South Carolinas first general election with in-person, early voting has resulted in thousands of area voters casting their ballots before election day. Between when polls opened on Monday and the most recent count on Thursday, 5,200 people voted in York County, about 3% of registered voters. Another 5,400, about 7% of registered voters, have already cast ballots in Lancaster County. RELATED: In-person early voting for general election kicks off in North Carolina Fort Mill teacher Karen Hood told Channel 9s Tina Terry she wasted no time to vote in the midterm election. Shes hoping to make her voice known on education issues and hopes others will do the same. This election is very big, especially for education, right now, Hood said. Please vote, theres a lot between school board and state education. With this being the first year of no excuse, early voting, the impact on voter turnout remains to be seen, but some experts think it could be substantial. I think its going to make a difference and more people will vote in person now than the 2018 election, said Scott Huffmon, a political science professor at Winthrop University. The two weeks of early voting ends on Saturday, Nov. 5. Election day is Nov. 8. More information on early voting locations in South Carolina can be found here. Changes to voting this year in South Carolina Rodney Dunlap is use to voting early. Im a truck driver. So, Im on the road, back and forth, he said. So, I try to get in early so I can exercise my rights. But in the past, he had to give a reason for wanting to cast his ballot before election day. ALSO READ: Know before you vote with Channel 9s General Election candidate guides They come in and asked me why I needed to vote and Ill tell them. They say OK, no problem, Dunlap said. Now, early voters in South Carolina dont have to give a reason. Its part of no excuse early voting, which is legislation that passed this year. Voters who Channel 9s Almiya White spoke with are all for it. Story continues Its better for everyone because its a win, Dunlap said. You know, those that want to get out and vote. Now, they dont have an excuse not to come. Sometimes its just convenience, or you just dont want to say why you cant come at the normal time, said Sally Dickson, another voter. So, to have this option, I think well have more people voting, which is what we want. ALSO READ: Battle for Congress could hinge on North Carolina district Voters are seeing another change this year: Voting more than once is now a felony in South Carolina. Todd Puhrmann oversees the Fort Mill Community Center voting precinct. He says violators could face $5,000 in fines up and up to five years in jail. If someone comes in here and votes early and then goes to their precinct on election day to vote a second time, the system already knows that they were issued an early ballot, Puhrmann said. If you requested an absentee ballot, you can drop your ballot off at any of the three voting sites. On election day, you can only drop your ballot off at the York County voting registration and elections office. (WATCH BELOW: The Black Political Caucus: Chair talks about mission, work in Charlotte-Mecklenburg) LIMA, Peru (AP) A court in Peru on Monday ordered the release of the sister-in-law of President Pedro Castillo almost two months after she was imprisoned while being investigated for her participation in an alleged money laundering scheme involving the president and first lady. The decision to release Yenifer Paredes, 26, was made by the judges of the criminal appeals chamber, Perus judiciary said on its website. The judges ordered that after release she must stay at her home, register her fingerprints with a court each month and attend the calls from prosecutors or judges. Paredes had been raised by Castillo and his spouse as their daughter after her mother died. It was the first time in Peru that a relative so close to a sitting president had been sent to prison. Paredes was arrested on Aug. 10 after surrendering to authorities, a day after the police failed in their attempt to arrest her in the presidential palace where they even searched for her under the presidents bed, according to a search report to which The Associated Pres had access. She was ordered held in prison for up to two and a half years while being investigated for criminal association and corruption. Castillo himself faces five investigations for alleged corruption. He has denied all the accusations against him. Prosecutors have accused Castillo, several of his relatives, former Transportation Minister Geiner Alvarado and a town mayor of being part of a criminal group that created front companies to launder money. The coordinator of the alleged group was the first lady and three relatives of the president, including Paredes, were figureheads. The prosecution said Paredes helped the owner of one front company obtain a public works project despite not having the economic capacity or experience to guarantee its completion. Despite being investigated, Castillo cannot be formally accused by a judge because Perus constitution says the president can only be accused of treason, dissolving congress without reason and for not allowing elections. Prosecutors must wait until Castillo leaves the presidency to formally present other charges against him. Castillo was a rural teacher before he shocked Perus political elite by winning election as president campaigning on promises to improve education, health care and other services. But the political neophytes first year has seen near constant turmoil, with Cabinet members changing multiple times and Castillo staving off two impeachment attempts. His term as president does not end until July 28, 2026. From the looks of UPMC Presbyterians campus Monday afternoon, youd never know that hours earlier, the company sent out a mass alert to employees, warning them about a bronze alert. A bronze alert is code for an active shooter. One nursing student woke up to her phone going off. My phone was blowing up, and Im a nursing student and my clinical instructor texted me that theres a bronze alert, which is what they use when there is an active shooter, said Ohemaa Boateng. The alert did not mention which building and floor were affected, but said all staff should steer clear. UPMC is the largest private employer in Allegheny County, with more than 40,000 employees. My friend told me they hid in the break room, and stuff like that. This is a large campus and you have so many people going to so many places, added Boateng. Not long after, another alert was sent, telling employees there wasnt an active shooter. A UPMC spokesperson said the alert was a false alarm. Before they send out messages, they need to know what they are talking about, because it creates a lot of chaos like it did this morning, said Boateng. Around the same time, Pitt Police sent out a tweet saying someone was near the facility with a gun, but then later said the situation was clear. We have reached out to UPMC to try to get answers on what exactly happened, but havent received a response. Pitt E.N.S. Alert: The incident at UPMC Presby is clear. It is now safe to return. Pitt Police (@PittPolice) October 24, 2022 TRENDING NOW: At least 2 people hospitalized after shooting in Pittsburghs South Side, 1 in critical condition 1 person hospitalized after vehicle crashes into diner 80-year-old woman dead, firefighter hospitalized after house fire in Armstrong County VIDEO: Pitt, CMU students react to possible reversal of plan to cancel student loan debt DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Sample HTML block A man and a woman died after their motorcycle was struck by a car Sunday evening in Melbourne, police said. Officers responded to the crash at Sarno and Croton roads shortly after 6 p.m. READ: 1 dead, 1 hurt after shooting inside Dennys in Orlando, police say At the scene, investigators said they determined that a Buick sedan had collided with the motorcycle. Police believe the car was traveling westbound on Sarno Road while the motorcycle was heading eastbound. Investigators said as both vehicles entered the intersection of Croton Road, the driver of the Buick attempted to turn south in front of the bike. READ: Remains of missing Florida man who dropped daughter off at college last year found Police said the driver of the motorcycle, Daniel Revels, 33, of Melbourne, died at the scene; his passenger, Courtney Hamilton, 30, of Malabar, was rushed to Melbourne Regional Medical Center but did not survive. The driver of the car, 77-year-old Donna Keen, of Melbourne, suffered minor injuries, according to Melbourne Police Department. Police said the crash investigation is ongoing but noted that drugs or alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the crash. READ: Community holds vigil for Orange County high school student killed in crash Stay with WFTV.com and watch Eyewitness News for updates on this story. The intersection of Sarno & Croton is now open in all directions. Melbourne Police (@MelbournePolice) October 24, 2022 Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Atlanta police say they have arrested a man behind burglaries at several businesses in northeast Atlanta. Officers say Demetrius Holt broke into the Brewhouse Cafe on Moreland Avenue and Neighbors Pub on N. Highland Avenue last month by breaking windows to get inside. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] They say that once he got inside both businesses, he stole several items. Investigators were able to find Holt on surveillance video. An officer who had interacted with Holt on a shoplifting incident saw the video and was able to identify him. TRENDING STORIES: Earlier this month, Holt was arrested and booked into the Fulton County Jail on two counts of burglary, two counts of property damage and three counts of theft by taking. He is being held on a $7,500 bond. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Police are continuing to search for a Raynham teenager who went missing last Tuesday. 16-year-old Colleen Weaver was last seen by a family member on October 18th around 1:00 a.m. near her home in the area of Orchard and King Streets, according to Raynham Police. Colleen is 5 feet tall and weighs 120 pounds with red/pink hair. She may also be wearing glasses. Hundreds of people showed up to a vigil held for her on Friday. Kristen Weaver, Colleens mom, told Boston 25 News that she just wants her daughter home. Just come home or call us, she said, well come get you no matter where you are, no questions asked. A GoFundMe page has been set up in support of the family. Shes been a spitfire since the day we brought her home, shes so kind, she always wants to help, said Kristen, choking back tears. There will be another candlelight vigil for Colleen on Thursday at the First Congregational Church of Raynham starting at 6:00 p.m. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact police. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office reported one person shot near the Florida Club at Deerwood Apartments Sunday Evening. JSO reports that around 7:00 p.m responded to a person shot at the 4800 block of Florida Club Circle. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue transported the victim to a local hospital to undergo surgery for his non-life-threatening injuries. JSO reported a dispute between family members and close friends in the parking lot of the apartment complex. During this dispute, a firearm was fired multiple times and struck the victim. One individual detained was the shooter who told police they were the one who fired the gun. There is no threat to the community as it is believed to be an isolated incident. JSO is asking anyone with any information regarding this incident to please contact JSO through the non-emergency number (904) 630-0500 or if you would like to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS This is an ongoing story and will be updated when details arrive. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Atherton police continue to investigate the discovery of a vehicle found buried in the yard of a home in the 300 block of Stockbridge Avenue in Atherton, Calif., Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. ATHERTON, Calif. Crews fully excavated a car that police said was buried 30 years ago in the backyard of a Northern California mansion linked to one of San Joaquin Countys largest-ever insurance fraud schemes and found no human remains, authorities said Monday. The convertible Mercedes Benz filled with bags of unused concrete was discovered last week by landscapers in the affluent town of Atherton in Silicon Valley. Cadaver dogs brought to the scene made "slight" notifications of possible human remains on three separate occasions, police said in a statement. The car was removed from the home by a tow truck and transported Saturday to the San Mateo County Crime Lab for further inspection and processing. On Sunday, ground penetrating radar was used to examine the scene, the department said. "This examination did not reveal anything unusual or suspicious at the scene and no human remains were located," it said. "This concluded our on-scene investigation," the department added. A mansion is under investigation by police after a car was found buried on the property the day before, in Atherton, Calif., Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. Three decades after a car was reported stolen in Northern California, police are digging the missing convertible out of the yard of a $15 million mansion built by a man with a history of arrests for murder, attempted murder and insurance fraud. What are 'ghost guns?': Prosecutors say an untraceable gun used in three Stockton serial killings Read more: Stockton Police sergeant accused of sexual misconduct no longer with Stockton Police Department Police have not said who owned the car, which was reported stolen in nearby Palo Alto in September 1992, or who might have buried it in the backyard of the sprawling mansion. Police said Monday they had no further comment. Investigators believe the car was buried 4 to 5 feet in the home's backyard sometime in the 1990s before the current owners bought the home. Atherton police said the possible owner of the car is believed to be deceased but officials were waiting for DMV records to confirm that. Authorities wouldn't say if investigators believe the vehicle was registered to Johnny Bocktune Lew, who built the home and lived there with his family in the 1990s. Lew had a history of arrests for murder, attempted murder and insurance fraud. Previous coverage: DA to prosecute huge insurance-fraud case Story continues Related: Buried car found on property of Silicon Valley home linked to massive SJ fraud case In 1999, Lew was accused of recruiting people from San Joaquin County to destroy his yacht, a sleek vessel more than 50 feet long, officials said. He paid undercover officers $30,000 in cash and gold watches valued at $20,000 to sink a $1.2 million yacht in part of an alleged insurance fraud scheme in what was at the time considered the largest single case of insurance fraud the state had seen, San Joaquin County authorities told The Record in 1999. KRON-TV reported Monday that the car has a personalized license plate that includes "Lew." Lew died in Washington state in 2015, a year after the family sold the house, his daughter, Jacq Searle, told the San Francisco Chronicle. In the 1960s, Lew was found guilty of murdering a 21-year-old woman in Los Angeles County. He was released from prison after the California Supreme Court reversed the conviction in 1968, citing hearsay evidence that should not have been allowed at trial. Records showed that in 1977 Lew was convicted of two counts of attempted murder, also in Los Angeles County, and spent three years in prison, the Chronicle reported, citing court records. The Associated Press contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on The Record: No body in buried car at California mansion linked to huge fraud case Cobb County police are searching for a shooter who opened fire into Coca-Cola Roxy Theater. Officers responded to the theater at the Battery Atlanta around 10:28 a.m. Saturday. When they arrived, officers found several shattered windows at the front of the theater. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police said they spoke with witnesses who saw a black Toyota Highlander that pulled in front of the theater. Witnesses saw someone fire shots at the front doors while Roxy employees were inside. Police said no one was shot or injured. TRENDING STORIES Police confirmed what happened by looking at the security cameras. After the shots were fired, the camera showed the SUV take off toward Heritage Court. Detectives are actively following leads and working with Battery Atlanta security to determine the identity of the perpetrator, police said. Anyone who has more information on the shots fired call is urged to contact Cobb County police. IN OTHER NEWS The Boston Police are asking the public for help in locating a suspect wanted in connection to an aggravated sexual assault and home invasion on Monday afternoon. The alleged assault and invasion happened at a residence on the Arborway in Jamaica Plain around 12 p.m., police said. The suspect, depicted below, is described as a black male in his 40s, over 6 feet in height, wearing dark-colored clothing and glasses, according to police. The Boston Police Sexual Assault Unit is actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with any information is asked to call detectives directly at (617) 343-4400. 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 State-owned power company Santee Cooper plans to build a natural gas plant in Hampton County to help replace the energy that will be lost when the utility closes an aging coal-fired power station later this decade in Georgetown. Santee Coopers board of directors discussed the proposal, unveiled at its meeting Monday, in the wake of a scuttled plan to build a larger natural gas plant in Georgetown. The new gas plant would be one-half to one-third the size of the combined cycle natural gas plant that would have been built in Georgetown, according to plans. The new, smaller plant would be in the range of 340 to 520 megawatts. It is not known how the plan would affect monthly power bills. Santee Cooper had planned to build a large natural gas plant to replace the approximately 1,100 megawatts of coal that would be lost when the Winyah plant closes in Georgetown. The coal plant is scheduled to close in 2029. But South Carolinas electric cooperatives, the utilitys major customers, declined to participate in construction of a large natural gas plant. Last week, they released their own plan that did not include construction of a new power plant. Collectively, the two plans are expected to add up to enough energy to replace the Georgetown facility. One Santee Cooper board member said natural gas is still the way to go. Were going to need more resources, Santee Cooper board member Stephen Mudge said. Its incumbent on us and the rest of the state to get the biggest, baddest gas plant we can get. It seems obvious to me. The Georgetown natural gas plant would have cost an estimated $1 billion. The cooperatives said they preferred to buy power from other utilities and store large amounts of energy in utility scale batteries to meet future energy demands. Utilities across the country have been shuttering coal-fired power plants in recent years because the plants release tons of greenhouses that contribute to global warming. Increasing restrictions on greenhouse gas pollution and contaminants, such as mercury, have made the plants more expensive to operate, particularly the older facilities, and many utilities have chosen to abandon them. Story continues South Carolina at one time had about a dozen coal-fired power plant sites, but that has dwindled. Today, coal stations remain in fewer than a dozen places. Natural gas, which became more affordable because of fracking, began filling in the gap to replace coal. But while many of these plants are cleaner than coal plants, they still release greenhouse gases. In recent years, utilities have also been looking at alternative energy sources, such as solar power, to handle some of the load. They also have been seeking to buy energy from other utilities that have excess capacity. This is a developing story. Check back for more information. The 74 In recent years, there has been a lot of focus on the problematic ways that many schools have been teaching reading. Specifically, as journalist Emily Hanford pointed out, many teachers were omitting phonics instruction, having never been trained or directed to deliver it. This oversight has led to reading difficulties in millions of kids. But [] Vyacheslav Boguslaev According to Ukrainian media outlet Susplne, Bohuslaev called treason charges against him a misunderstanding, denying that Motor Sich supplied aircraft engines to Russia. Read also: Motor Sich officials suspected of working for Russia, president detained, says SBU Other media reports said that another high-ranking Motor Sich manager Oleh Dzyuba was also arrested. Both are accused of treason and collaborating with Russia. Earlier, the SBU published recordings of Bohuslayev's phone conversations, allegedly confirming his cooperation with Moscow. The SBU stated that after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Motor Sich continued to supply Russia with engines and other parts for attack helicopters. Ukrainian media outlet Skhemy reported that Bohuslaev has held Russian citizenship since 2000. Read also: Motor Sich head Boguslayev charged with treason and working for Russia. Who is he? Based in Zaporizhzhia, Motor is one of the world's largest manufacturers of engines for airplanes and helicopters, as well as industrial gas turbines. Motor Sich has long been solely controlled by its honorary president, Vyacheslav Bohuslaev. In 2016, a lot of the companys shares were sold to foreign entities. In September 2017, the SBU investigated the sell-off, while a Kyiv court froze 41% of Motor Sich shares, owned by five shell companies. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine (Bloomberg) -- A group of progressive House Democrats urged President Joe Biden to pursue negotiations with Russia to bring about a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine, but within hours backpedaled with a statement affirming their support for the presidents strategy. Most Read from Bloomberg The 30 Democrats, led by Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal, said in a letter to Biden on Monday that it was in the interest of the US and Ukraine to avert an extended conflict that would increase the risk of a dangerous escalation. But hours later, after the letter drew criticism from other Democrats, Jayapal issued a statement clarifying that the group supported Bidens strategy. The progressives indicated that they were not backing away from support for Ukraine. In the follow-up statement, Jayapal, of Washington State, said the group wasnt backing away from support for Ukraine or from Bidens approach, calling diplomacy just one tool. Let me be clear, Jayapal said, we are united as Democrats in our unequivocal commitment to supporting Ukraine in their fight for their democracy and freedom in the face of the illegal and outrageous Russian invasion, and nothing in the letter advocates for a change in that support. With the conflict dragging on and European nations facing increasing hardship from the cutoff of Russian energy supplies, the Kremlin will be watching closely for any wavering in the US and among NATO members that have been supplying Ukraines military. The alternative to diplomacy is protracted war, with both its attendant certainties and catastrophic and unknowable risks, the group, which included Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Ro Khanna of California, wrote in the original letter. We urge you to pair the military and economic support the United States has provided to Ukraine with a proactive diplomatic push, redoubling efforts to seek a realistic framework for a cease-fire. Story continues The White House on Monday said that its position was that there would be no talks with Russia without a decision by Ukraine to pursue them. Its clear Mr. Putin is in no mood to negotiate, John Kirby, a spokesman for Bidens National Security Council, said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Were not going to have conversations with Russian leadership without the Ukrainians being represented. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy gets to determine when he thinks thats the right time for negotiations, Kirby said. Some Democrats took a dim view of the call for negotiations. Representative Ruben Gallego of Arizona tweeted in response to the progressives letter that the way to end a war is, Win it quickly. How is it won quickly? By giving Ukraine the weapons to defeat Russia. In the original letter, the representatives pointed out the continuing bipartisan support for aiding Ukraine in its campaign to repel the Russian invasion, but suggested that a negotiation process could include sanctions relief for Russia and security guarantees for Ukraine. Bidens approach to Ukraine will be tested if Republicans win control of the House in next months elections. Some conservative GOP House lawmakers such as Floridas Matt Gaetz have called for curtailing aid to Ukraine. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said last week that Republicans would demand tighter oversight of aid to Ukraine if they win the majority. Congress enacted $12 billion in new aid to Ukraine in September and the Biden administration is widely expected to request more aid for the country in a December spending bill. The letter combined with the statements from the GOP could signal such a request will face difficulties being met. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Thirty progressive House lawmakers wrote a letter to President Biden on Monday urging him to consider directly engaging with Russia and to become more assertive in negotiating a cease-fire in Ukraine. Led by Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the Democrats asked Biden to advocate harder for peace, noting Russian President Vladimir Putins threats of nuclear warfare and the billions of taxpayer dollars spent on the conflict. Given the destruction created by this war for Ukraine and the world, as well as the risk of catastrophic escalation, we also believe it is in the interests of Ukraine, the United States and the world to avoid a prolonged conflict, the lawmakers wrote. For this reason, we urge you to pair the military and economic support the United States has provided to Ukraine with a proactive diplomatic push, redoubling efforts to seek a realistic framework for a ceasefire, the letter continued. The signatories included progressives in the House Democratic Caucus such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Cori Bush (Mo.), Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.) and Mark Pocan (Wis.). All 30 signatories have voted for more than $50 billion in various forms of assistance to Ukraine since Russias invasion and in the letter expressed no regrets for doing so, tying the aid to Ukrainian military successes. But the letter, which is supported by a coalition of progressive and anti-war advocacy groups, urged a more aggressive U.S. role in ending the conflict after Russia moved to annex four Ukrainian regions and began to take aim at the countrys energy infrastructure. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday that she had not seen the letter, but she reiterated that Biden has vowed a principle of nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, meaning he will not pressure the Ukrainian government to make any concessions to Russia in a potential settlement. The lawmakers indicated they agree with that premise while arguing a U.S.-negotiated agreement should still be on the table, suggesting it would presumably include incentives to end the fighting, sanctions relief and security guarantees for Ukraine. Story continues We are under no illusions regarding the difficulties involved in engaging Russia given its outrageous and illegal invasion of Ukraine and its decision to make additional illegal annexations of Ukrainian territory, they wrote. However, if there is a way to end the war while preserving a free and independent Ukraine, it is Americas responsibility to pursue every diplomatic avenue to support such a solution that is acceptable to the people of Ukraine. Outside advocates have taken particular aim at Biden saying earlier this month that he has no intention of meeting with Putin at next months Group of 20 (G-20) summit, which will take place in Bali, Indonesia, saying he should sit down with the Russian leader face to face. Although he poured cold water on the idea of such an encounter, Biden did leave the door open to a meeting, however. For example, if he came to me at the G-20 and said, I want to talk about the release of Griner, Id meet with him. I mean, it would depend, Biden said, referencing WNBA star Brittney Griner, who has been imprisoned in Russia since February. While the Democrats noted Ukraines recent military successes, the letter illustrated growing pressure from lawmakers in both parties to see results after approving tens of billions of dollars in funding to boost Ukraine amid its defensive efforts. The letter did not, however, garner the support of the entire progressive caucus. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), one member of the caucus, distanced himself from the effort, tweeting , The way to end a war? Win it quickly. How is it won quickly? By giving Ukraine the weapons to defeat Russia. Meanwhile, House Republicans have signaled a desire to curb funding if they retake the majority in the November election, and Biden has acknowledged hes concerned about the fate of Ukraine aid if that happens. Updated at 4:24 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Wood County Sheriff Shawn Becker addresses the media on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020, outside the Wood County Courthouse. Becker announced that a suspect has been arrested in the 1984 stabbing death of Eleanore Roberts, 73, of Saratoga. WISCONSIN RAPIDS - Eleanore Roberts' son found her dead in her home almost 38 years ago, but it took until this week for anyone to face trial for killing her. John A. Sarver, 59, of Port Edwards, faces a charge of first-degree murder for the stabbing death of Roberts, who was 73 when she died at her Saratoga home. The trial, which is scheduled to last two weeks, begins Monday morning with jury selection at the Wood County Courthouse in Wisconsin Rapids. In late August 2020, Wood County Sheriff Shawn Becker announced the arrest and charging of Sarver in connection with Roberts' homicide. The next day Wood County Circuit Judge Nicholas Brazeau Jr. set a $1 million cash bail for Sarver, who has been in jail since. Roberts' body was discovered Nov. 27, 1984 after she failed to show up to meet her brother at an automobile dealership, where she was looking to buy a car. Her brother went to her home on South Hollywood Road in Saratoga, but when Roberts didn't answer the door, he called her son. Her son got the key from a hiding place and opened the door, and that's when he made a grisly discovery: His mother was lying on the floor in the bathroom with a bath mat over her head, and when he pulled back the mat he could see she was dead. The son tried to find her phone to call police, but the phone was missing. A kitchen knife and scissors also were missing. A forensic pathologist determined Roberts died from blows to her head and stab wounds to her body that punctured her lungs and an artery and broke her ribs. The doctor believed a scissors was responsible for the stab wounds, according to the criminal complaint. Missing evidence begins to turn up Deputy Thomas Reichert, who would go on to become sheriff, found the missing scissors near the intersection of Hillcrest and South Hollywood roads, near Wood County Z. A witness also told Reichert he found a knife sticking into the ground, straightened the bent blade and cleaned it off before giving it to the deputy. The knife matched the description of the one missing from Roberts' home. Story continues Former Nekoosa Police Chief Kenneth Ruder found a ski mask in the branch of a tree across the street from Roberts' home. On March 10, 1985, a man reported he was launching a boat into the Wisconsin River off of Wood County Z when he found Roberts' phone submerged in the water. The scissors, ski mask, knife and telephone all were found along a line that went from Roberts' home to Sarver's home at the time of the murder, according to the complaint. Palm prints found on the sink in Roberts' bathroom matched Sarver's palm prints, the complaint says. Investigators later learned that Roberts came into contact with Sarver when she bought a lawnmower from Competition Cycle, where he worked, during the summer of 1984. The lawnmower required repairs covered by warranty, and Sarver performed the repairs, according to the complaint. When investigators questioned Sarver, he said the last time he saw Roberts was in late summer when he worked on her lawnmower. Sarver said he never went into the house and never went into the bathroom where officers found his palm prints, according to the complaint. During various interviews, Sarver gave different explanations of where he was when someone killed Roberts, according to the complaint. Investigators were never able to confirm any of his explanations or alibis. Informant steps forward with 'karate chop' story, case stalls In 2005, a confidential informant told Wood County Sheriff's Department Investigator Mark Neuman that 17 years earlier, Sarver admitted to killing a woman and mentioned delivering "a karate chop" to her neck. The forensic pathologist confirmed some of Roberts' injuries were consistent with such a blow with a hand, according to the complaint. The murder charge is Sarver's first criminal charge. One witness told investigators that Sarver had financial problems at the time of Roberts' death and had borrowed $2,000 from the witness soon after the murder. Four small claims cases were filed against him since 2006 for nonpayment of bills and one similar case was filed three months after he was arrested. The witness also said they had heard from another person that Sarver admitted to entering Roberts' home through the back door to rob her then "accidentally" killed her when she surprised him, according to the complaint. After Sarver was arrested, retired Wood County Sheriff's Office Lt. Robert Levendoske, who was one of the first investigators in the case, said the case often stalled through the years. Former sheriff's investigator Jay Shroda spent hours organizing years' worth of information. There often were disagreements between investigators and prosecutors about whether the case was ready, Levendoske said. The department also continued to send materials for DNA testing from 1988 to 2020 as testing methods became more sophisticated, according to the criminal complaint. COVID-19 also delayed the case after charges were filed in 2020. If convicted, Sarver faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Contact Karen Madden at 715-345-2245 or kmadden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KMadden715, Instagram at @kmadden715 or Facebook at facebook.com/karen.madden.33. This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: Saratoga 1984 murder of Eleanor Roberts leads to trial of John Sarver The public is being warned of traffic disruptions as FBI dive teams conduct an underwater search of the Concord River in Billerica this week. Starting around 9 a.m. Monday, a New York-based Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team started assisting FBI Boston in a search of the river for specific evidence in an ongoing investigation, according to a spokesperson for the FBI Boston Division. One lane on the River Street Bridge will be closed to motorists during active search hours. We recognize the traffic disruptions this may cause and are working as expeditiously as possible to complete the operation, the spokesperson said in a statement. We appreciate the publics patience as we conduct this important law enforcement activity. The FBI noted that crews are not looking for human remains and there is no associated threat to public safety. There were no additional details immediately available. 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 This Sept. 7, 2020 file photo shows the "Oregon for Trump 2020 Labor Day Cruise Rally" at Clackamas Community College in Oregon City, Ore. Michael Arellano/Associated Press Gab founder Andrew Torba's book was a best seller on Amazon a week after it was released. The book outlines the authors' vision for a Christian nationalist society and how to get there. Christian nationalism has been increasingly embraced by conservative figures and GOP lawmakers. Gab founder Andrew Torba's new book serves as a guide to Christian nationalism, signaling a recent shift in which it's becoming more common for public figures to openly embrace the concept. "Christian Nationalism: A Biblical Guide For Taking Dominion And Discipling Nations" was written by Torba and Andrew Isker, a pastor from Minnesota. The brief book, which was independently published, was listed as the number 12 best seller in the non-fiction category on Amazon the week after it was released last month. At the time of this writing, it had a 4.7-star rating with 745 reviews. Christian nationalism can generally be boiled down to the belief that Christianity should have a privileged position in American society. Though it is not a new concept, prominent conservative figures have increasingly embraced it in recent years. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has openly identified as a Christian nationalist, even selling merch with the descriptor, while Rep. Lauren Boebert has embraced its tenets, saying "the church is supposed to direct the government." "Simply put, Christian nationalism is a cultural framework a collection of myths, traditions, symbols, narratives, and value systems that idealizes and advocates a fusion of Christianity with American civic life," sociologists Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry write in their 2020 book, "Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States." The book examines how Christian nationalism shapes Americans' views on society and politics. However, embrace of the ideology is not black and white but rather a spectrum, with some Americans believing aspects of the concept while rejecting others. Torba's book demonstrates this, as his description of Christian nationalism differs in some ways from academic understandings of it. Story continues But his central theme is consistent: American society and government should be guided by Christian principles and led by Christians. Building a parallel Christian society Torba's platform, Gab, was founded in 2016 and touts itself as a free-speech social network that does not moderate content like more mainstream sites. It's also been associated with the far-right, gaining notoriety in 2018 when the shooter at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh posted antisemitic rhetoric on the site prior to carrying out the attack. Many conservatives also flocked to the site in 2021 when former President Donald Trump was banned from Twitter. "Christian nationalism is a spiritual, political, and cultural movement comprised of Christians who are working to build a Christian society grounded in a Biblical worldview," Torba and Isker write, adding that Christian nationalists today "seek to reestablish states that recognize Jesus Christ as King, the general Christian faith as the foundation of state government, and state laws that reflect (in every way possible and reasonable) Christian morality and charity." Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican of Georgia, has said all Republicans should be Christian nationalists. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Such ideas are in step with common understandings of Christian nationalism. However, the book also states that Christian nationalists do not think the US has a special relationship with God, and instead emphasizes the Christian mandate to disciple, or convert, people of all nations to the religion. The book describes modern American society as one of moral decay, where God has been rejected and agents of Satan have invaded "every facet of our country and culture." The book says ours is a society in which there has been "half a century of legal infanticide" and a yearly "celebration of sodomy for an entire month," rejecting abortion rights and gay pride. The authors also defend traditional gender roles and reject transgender people in extreme terms. These themes resurface repeatedly throughout the book, which also instructs American Christians on how they should live, discuss their faith, and convert others. But rather than seek to transform society into a Christian one, the book advocates for forming a parallel Christian society that can take over when our current society fails, which the authors say is inevitable. "Our primary goal is to build a parallel Christian society, economy, and infrastructure which will fill the vacuum of the secular state when it falls," the authors write. The concept is not new for Torba, who often discusses his plans for a parallel Christian economy. Non-Christians are free to stay but not serve in leadership roles The ideal Christian nation described in the book may include some non-Christians, the authors write. But at another point they say "we are Christians and our worldview is in direct conflict and a threat to all other false worldviews. It's time to start acting like it." They also write that leaders and influential figures must be Christian, just as Christian principles must guide every aspect of society, government, and domestic life. Torba who has been accused of antisemitism, including by the Anti-Defamation League and his co-author devote an entire chapter to rejecting the idea of shared "Judeo-Christian" values, calling the term itself a problem. The chapter begins with a message to journalists who they anticipate will "CTRL+F" for "Jews" in order to find quotes to "take out of context," and is dedicated to ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt and conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, who are both Jewish. Torba has previously said that Shapiro just like anyone who is not Christian, including Jewish people, atheists, or agnostics is not welcome in the Christian movement. The authors go on to describe Christianity and Judaism as "incompatible" and "irreconcilable" religions, but write that Jewish people must and will be converted to Christianity along with the rest of the world. "Far from being 'antisemitic,' a proper understanding of this shows heartfelt concern for their souls!" they write, adding Christians "should pray often for the Jewish people to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior." Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican of Colorado, has not openly identified with Christian nationalism but has advocated for some of its key tenets. Phelan M. Ebenhack, File/Associated Press The public embrace of a somewhat taboo concept Scholars of Christian nationalism, and Christian nationalists themselves, are quick to point out these ideas are not new. However, the separation of church and state has long been a widely accepted and mainstream viewpoint in the US. Many ideals currently being espoused proudly by Christian nationalists were less common in mainstream politics than they have been in recent years, according to Amanda Tyler, the executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. "It was always present but the fact that they're openly embracing the label is different and troubling," Tyler, the lead organizer of the Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign, previously told Insider, adding: "Unfortunately I'm seeing this almost one-up game in some circles, who can be the bigger Christian nationalist." Perry, one of the authors of "Taking America Back for God," also noted that shift in a tweet that featured Torba's book, as well as another recently released pro-Christian nationalism title. "We're now definitely well past the 'Christian nationalism doesn't exist' and the 'Christian nationalism is fringe' arguments to full-on 'Christian nationalism is the only way forward.'" Read the original article on Business Insider Additional 546 new Covid-19 infections confirmed on Monday An additional 546 new Covid-19 infections were confirmed on Monday, raising the national tally to over 11.49 million, according to the Ministry of Health. Illustrative photo According to the ministry's report, the national caseload has so far increased to 11,497,533. On October 24, an additional 124 more patients recovered from the disease, raising the number of recoveries in the country to over 10.60 million. On Monday evening, two deaths from Covid-19 were recorded, raising the country's total fatalities to 43,161, accounting for 0.4 per cent of total infections. By October 24, the country had injected over 261 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines. According to the National Immunisation Programme, some 300,000 million doses of Moderna vaccines will be brought to the country this week and 1.20 million doses of Pfizer vaccines will arrive next week. These doses will be distributed to different localities that have run out of vaccines for children. Earlier in September, Vietnam also received three million Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine doses. The Ministry of Health is expected to allocate the vaccines shortly to localities to ensure the inoculation of booster doses is on the right track. It is also coordinating with donors and agencies to receive more vaccines for various age groups. Voters cast their ballots in the California primary in La Habra Heights on June 7. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) California voters looking to cast their ballots in the Nov. 8 midterm election have until 11:59 p.m. Monday to register online. Eligible voters can register at registervote.ca.gov. Voters will need to provide their legal name, address and political party preference. To be eligible, voters must be a U.S. citizen and resident of California, at least 18 years old on election day, and not currently serving a state or federal prison term for a felony conviction. As of 2020, the Voting Rights Restoration for Persons on Parole Amendment allows California residents on parole for felony convictions to register and cast a vote. Eligible Californians who miss the online registration deadline may still register or update their registration at polling locations or their local county election office up to and including election day and vote conditionally. Votes cast with a conditional registration ballot will be processed and counted once the county election office has verified that voters are eligible. Vote-by-mail ballots were sent to registered voters starting Oct. 10. Voters can return their marked ballots by mail or by dropping them off at county voting centers, election drop boxes or their local election office. Early in-person voting will begin in Los Angeles County on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents can find their closest early voting location at caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. With the 2022 Midterm Elections mere weeks away, mobilizing voters especially Black people and other voters of color remains key to determining the direction of the country for the next two years and beyond. Realizing the importance of Black and brown voters in this election and beyond, Rep Jamaal Bowman (DNY) has partnered with Community Change Action to lead a get out the vote campaign, Democracy on the Line: National Voter Engagement Tour. Rep Bowman and Community Change Action Chief of Programs Afua Atta-Mensah spoke exclusively with Blavity about their campaign. Voting and accountability on Election Day and beyond Rep Bowman, who spoke to Blavity on Friday prior to an appearance in Milwaukee, recounted his visits to several cities in important swing states this month, including Columbus and Atlanta, GA; Akron, OH; Detroit, MI; and Phoenix, AZ. In each of these locations, Bowman has appeared at rallies, community discussions and other events to get out the vote and to address voter concerns. As he explained to Blavity, for so many years, people have believed that their vote doesnt count because they havent seen the daily impact in their lives when they vote for a particular person. Bowman believes the solution to this problem of voter apathy is twofold: convincing voters especially voters of color to go to the polls but also to stay engaged and hold the people that they elect accountable through consistent engagement and relationship. As Bowman notes, members of Congress get calls from all kinds of lobbies and unions and groups with special interests. Through engaging communities of color, Bowman hopes for our office to also get calls from people of color, men of color on a consistent basis to hold me accountable for what I said I was going to do. A powerful Black male vote can turn a pivotal election Bowman believes that this is a crucial election, given the extremist turn of the Republican Party and its plans to retake control of Congress. Theyre becoming the MAGA party, Bowman warns, and we should all be terrified about where things might go if Republicans take over Congress. With such high states, Bowman holds that the Democratic Party has to do a better job of targeting voters of color, and particularly men of color, specifically, noting that women of color by and large engage in the political process more than men do. Story continues The New York Congressman hopes that the 20 million Black men in this country can be mobilized to vote and wants to use himself as a role model. I want us to realize our political power as Black men and I want to introduce myself as a Black man who won a historic election and now Im serving in Congress as the first person of color in US history to be in this seat. Through his position in Congress and the activities of this tour, Bowman sees himself as a living example of whats possible when we come out and vote. He also hopes that other members of his party will likewise engage voters throughout the county. Every elected Democrat who doesnt have a challenging general election or no general election race at all needs to be traveling the country, talking to voters and knocking on doors, he declares, because whats at stake now [is] our democracy. Accountability starts at the top Speaking on the need to hold Donald Trump and the January 6 insurrectionists responsible for attempting to overthrow democracy, Rep Bowman contrasted Trumps case to that of Kalief Browder, the New York teen who was detained on Rikers Island for three years without trial and subjected to beatings and torture during his detention; Browder later died by suicide. Contrast that to Donald Trump, Bowman argued, who has been accused of sexual assault 15 times, who has been subpoenaed by the January 6 Commission, [and] who has been accused of business dealings that are not kosher. If Trump does not faces consequence for these actions, Bowman warned, we show the entire nation that accountability doesnt matter. Such an outcome would contribute to a decrease in public safety, a rise in crime and violence and other manifestations of a population that did not trust the system. Black votes matter for everyones rights Community Change Action Chief of Programs Afua Atta-Mensah, who attended events at the Georgia stop of the Democracy on the Line tour, communicated with Blavity the importance of this campaign. We did this tour to make sure that our folksBlack and brown votersare heard, Atta-Mensah explained. We know as people of color, our votes matter. Thats why the GOP is hard at work to restrict our voting rights. She noted the host of issues at stake if Republicans retake Congress, including Black seniors access to healthcare, child tax credits that keep minority children out of poverty, and abortion access for Black and brown women. We have to enshrine our rights in legislation and vote for people who will protect our rights. Atta-Mensah also highlighted the work of other organizations such as Black Male Initiative Fund, which also participated in the Georgia portion of the get out the vote drive and provides services for vulnerable communities such as homeless people and youth in the state. Such work, she explained, is creating a space for Black men to be honest and vulnerable, and talk about the impact of local and national politics. Rep Bowman, before boarding a plane to Milwaukee, laid out the stakes for the campaign that he and people like Atta-Mensah have been waging.This is about reminding people, this is your country, all of this belong to you. Your vote caries incredible weight and decides the direction this country is going. Pointing to the importance of participation in our electoral system, he summed up: imagine how healthy our democracy would be, how much healthier it would be, if everyone voted. Rikers Island served as a backdrop to a campaign stop Monday as Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin touted the endorsement of the citys Correction Officers Benevolent Association. The Long Island congressman, who has gained on Democratic Gov. Hochul in recent polls, vowed to have the backs of union members who secure the citys problem-plagued jail and slammed a Dem-backed law limiting the use of solitary confinement in New York. Every elected official at every level should be doing everything in their power to make sure that these corrections officers have every tool with the law or financial support or whatever else is needed to be able to do their jobs, Zeldin said during a press conference held under a tent outside of the beleaguered institutions entrance in Queens. Zeldin blamed the Humane Alternatives to Long Term Solitary Confinement, or HALT Act, for an uptick in assaults against correction officers in jails and prisons across the state and he reiterated his demand for its full repeal and vowed to suspend the law if elected. The HALT Act, signed into law last year by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, took effect in April. It caps the amount of time a person can be held in segregated confinement housing to 15 days, or 20 days over a two-month period. A federal lawsuit filed by the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association challenging the law was dismissed over the summer. State data show assaults on correction officers has been on the rise for nearly a decade, and unions and Republican lawmakers say HALT has emboldened those behind bars. The reality is the HALT Act, trying to end punitive segregation, there are no viable consequences for inmate actions anymore, said New York City Correction Officers Benevolent Association president Benny Boscio, who joined Zeldin at the appearance. And that has led to an onslaught of officers being assaulted through the roof. And thats the reason why my members are out sick on the mend recovering from these injuries, he added, shouting: Youve emboldened the inmates because there are no consequences for crime in our city and there are no consequences on Rikers Island as well. Story continues Boscio grew agitated as he slammed the law and defended his members, who he said are under attack every day. If I punch any one of you in your face and break your orbital, youre not coming to work the next day, he shouted. Thats our reality every single day. The endorsement came two days after another death was recorded at the dysfunctional detention center. Erick Tavira, 28, became the 17th person to die this year in city custody or shortly after being released amid the looming possibility of a federal takeover of the notoriously troubled jail. Zeldin has the backing of a large number of law enforcement unions and has gained ground on Hochul in recent polls as he continues to focus on crime and public safety in the lead up to Election Day. The lawmaker has vowed to declare a state of emergency on crime in order to suspend criminal justice reforms, including HALT and New Yorks cashless bail system, if he wins on Nov. 8. He also slammed Hochul and accused her of not doing enough to combat crime and support police two days after the governor rolled out a joint plan with Mayor Adams to flood city subways with more officers. What Kathy Hochul should be saying is that what we need to do is increase the ranks of the NYPD, Zeldin said. We need to have more people in uniform, and we need more plain clothes people on the streets and subways as well. But instead she wants to half-ass it. Criminal justice advocates, who have argued in recent months that HALT is not being properly implemented at state jails and prisons, panned Zeldins plan to roll back reforms. After having experienced the trauma, torture and inhumanity of solitary confinement, it is urgent and necessary for the HALT Solitary Law to be fully and effectively implemented, Jerome Wright, co-director of the #HALTsolitary campaign, said in a statement. We have lost too many lives to solitary confinement and too many other people have been made into the walking dead as shells of their former selves because of this torture. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Some Israelis are calling for a boycott of clothing chain Zara, and even setting its garments alight, after the head of the retailer's local franchise hosted a campaign event for a prominent far-right election candidate. Some Israelis posted videos on Twitter showing themselves burning Zara apparel after a local TV station reported that Trimera Brands chairman Joey Schwebel had hosted a roundtable with ultranationalist politician Itamar Ben-Gvir at his home last week. Labor Party leader and Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli said that she will no longer shop at Zara in Israel due to the event, local media quoted her as saying. Polls predict a joint ticket of Ben-Gvir's party and other factional parties will win 12-14 of parliament's 120 seats in Israel's Nov. 1 election, turning the 46-year-old into a potential kingmaker of a future conservative coalition. That could inflame long-strained ties between Israeli Jews and the 21% Arab minority. Trimera holds the Israel franchise for Zara, which operates 24 stores in Israel and 1,800 globally. Zara is owned by Spain's Inditex, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Spokespeople for Schwebel and Zara described the event as private, declining further comment. While not confirming the campaign event, Ben-Gvir said Schwebel faced "a boycott based on his political background". "That's the real face of the left," the candidate told Israel's Ynet Radio. (Reporting by Emily Rose; Editing by Steven Scheer and Susan Fenton) David Hodge, 35, was fatally shot on Oct. 27, 2016 at a home on the 100 block of Columbian Avenue in Columbus' Hilltop neighborhood. Nearly six years ago, David Hodge was fatally shot inside a home in Columbus' Hilltop neighborhood. Columbus police homicide detectives have been unable to make an arrest in the case, and now Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to an arrest in the 2016 homicide of the 35-year-old Near East Side man. Police were called around 8:45 p.m. on Oct. 27, 2016 to a home on the 100 block of Columbian Avenue on a report of shots being fired. Responding officers found Hodge inside the home with multiple gunshot wounds. Previous coverage:Five years later, death of man shot at West Side home remains unsolved Hodge was taken to the former Mount Carmel West hospital, where he died from his injuries. Detectives determined that Hodge had been visiting friends at the home when unidentified suspects trying an apparent home invasion broke out windows of the home and then went upstairs. Hodge and another person inside the house confronted the intruders, detectives said, and that confrontation led to shots being fired. The suspects fled the scene in a vehicle, possibly a silver Nissan Rogue. Homicide database:Here's where homicides have occurred in Columbus since 2017 Detectives believe there is a possibility that Hodge may have known the intruders. Anyone with information should call Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS, use the free P3 Tips mobile application or submit information online at www.stopcrime.org. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and a special coding system is used to provide the reward. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Reward offered for info leading to arrest in 2016 home invasion homicide Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov Read also: First NASAMS systems to arrive soon, says Defense Minister Reznikov Reznikov spoke with the Minister of the Armed Forces of France, Sebastien Lecornu, the UK Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, and also with Hulusi Akar, the Minister of Defense of Turkey. Read also: Strengthening Ukraine's air defense high on the agenda, Reznikov says My colleagues informed me about their talks with the Ministry of Defense of Russia, Reznikov said. "I responded to all Russian fake allegations. This is an act of nuclear blackmail from Russia. Ukraine is open to any monitoring mission. Shoigu is said to have called his French, British and Turkish counterparts the previous day, on Oct. 23. He expressed concern to all three colleagues that Ukraine was allegedly preparing provocations with the use of a dirty bomb. Read also: Ukraines defense chief Reznikov skeptical about Moscows nuke threats Shoigu is also said to have discussed this issue with the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, however, the details of the conversation were not specified. The UK confirmed that Shoigu called Wallace and discussed the alleged dirty bomb, and said that Wallace pushed back against the allegations, and warned the Russian defense minister that such accusations should not be used as a pretext for further escalation. Read also: Ukrainian interior ministry advisor explains why Putin cannot remove Shoigu The governments of the United States, France and the United Kingdom on Oct. 23 released a joint statement about their intentions to continue supporting Ukraine, discarding Russias transparently false allegations that Ukraine is allegedly preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. The Ukrainian government has denied Russias smears. Ukraine neither possesses the capability to create a dirty bomb, nor the desire to do so. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine ISTANBUL (AP) Hundreds of Syrian men and boys were detained, beaten and forcibly returned to their country by Turkish authorities over a six-month period, a leading human rights group said Monday. The treatment of migrants living in Turkey under temporary protection is a breach of international law, New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a report. The Turkish government has in the past rejected accusations of forcibly returning refugees to Syria. Turkey houses the worlds largest refugee population, mostly 3.6 million Syrians who fled the decade-long war in their country. Human Rights Watch said deported Syrians told researchers that Turkish officials arrested them in their homes, workplaces and on the street. They were then detained in poor conditions, with most suffering beatings and abuse, and forced to sign documents agreeing to voluntarily return to Syria. After being driven in handcuffs to the Syrian border journeys sometimes lasting up to 21 hours they were forced across at gunpoint, the Syrians said. In violation of international law Turkish authorities have rounded up hundreds of Syrian refugees, even unaccompanied children, and forced them back to northern Syria, said Nadia Hardman, refugee and migrant rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. The legal principle of nonrefoulement, which Ankara is bound to by international treaty, prohibits the return of anyone to a place where they would face a real risk of persecution, torture or a threat to life. The U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Syria last month restated that Syria is not safe for returnees. Amid a dire economic crisis, sentiment toward refugees in Turkey has turned for the worse, with attacks on Syrian homes and businesses. Facing approaching elections, the government now aims to return increasing numbers of people to areas of northern Syria under the control of the Turkish military. Earlier this month a Turkish official said nearly 527,000 Syrians had returned voluntarily. Announcing a home-building project in Syrias northwest Idlib region in May, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it would facilitate the return of 1 million refugees from Turkey. Story continues Erdogan has recently signaled a change in policy toward Syria, suggesting the possibility of talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Ankara previously demanded Assads removal as it backed opposition groups. Many Syrians living in Turkey fear warming relations could led to greater pressure on them to return. Although Turkey provided temporary protection to 3.6 million Syrian refugees, it now looks like Turkey is trying to make northern Syria a refugee dumping ground, Hardman said. Human Rights Watch interviewed 37 Syrian men and two boys between February and August, as well as relatives of those deported to Syria. They all said they were deported together with dozens or hundreds of others and were forced to sign forms they understood to be voluntary repatriation agreements. One 26-year-old from the north Syrian city of Aleppo said a Turkish official told him that anyone who tried to re-enter Turkey would be shot. Hardman said the European Union should suspend its funding of migration detention and border controls until forced deportations end. Under a 2016 deal, the EU has provided 6 billion euros in aid to Turkey in return for reducing the flow of migrants to Europe. Rishi Sunak speaks in the House of Commons, London, February 3 2022. UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor Rishi Sunak is due to become the UK's next prime minister after the chaotic departure of Liz Truss. The former finance minister won a vote of MPs after Truss's economic plans left Britain in tumult. Sunak is the country's third prime minister in two months, and its first non-white leader. Rishi Sunak became the UK's presumptive prime minister on Monday after his only remaining rival, Penny Mordaunt, withdrew from the Conservative Party leadership race. Sunak, a 42-year-old former finance minister, won the race by being the only Conservative MP to secure the backing of at least 100 of his peers. He will become the UK's first non-white leader and its youngest in decades. His rival, the MP Penny Mordaunt, dropped out moments before the deadline to demonstrate her support, saying "Rishi has my full support." Her decision left Rishi the only candidate, establishing him as the next prime minister only four days after his predecessor Liz Truss quit He is due to formally take office after an audience with King Charles. As of Monday afternoon in London, a time for this had not been set. It was also barely two months since Sunak came second in a similar contest, losing out to Truss in the race to succeed Boris Johnson, who resigned over the summer after a string of scandals. Johnson toyed with running again, but ruled himself out late on Sunday. Sunak will be the fifth Conservative prime minister in a row. Changing leader in Britain does not automatically lead to an election. Sunak, 42, has been the MP for Richmond in North Yorkshire since 2015. He went to Winchester College, a training ground for Britain's rich elite, before graduating from Oxford University in 2001 and going on to study at Stanford in California. In 2009 he married Akshata Murthy, the daughter of Infosys billionaire Narayana Murthy. The couple have a combined wealth of around 730 million, making him one of the richest politicians in the UK. Sunak was chancellor of the exchequer in Johnson's government during the COVID-19 pandemic, setting out several emergency spending measures that were broadly popular with the public. He soon became tipped as a potential successor to Johnson. Story continues In April, he was fined after it emerged he attended a party along with Johnson, in breach of COVID-19 lockdown rules. In a major blow to Johnson amid the chaos of that scandal, Sunak quit as chancellor in April, saying the country should be governed "properly, competently and seriously." In July, Sunak entered the Tory leadership race after Johnson resigned, but lost to Liz Truss with 43% of the vote from Conservative Party members. On October 20, Truss stepped down as prime minister just six week into the role, after her mini budget spooked the markets and sent the value of the pound plummeting. Sunak now inherits one of the UK's greatest financial crises in decades. Read the original article on Business Insider Three armed men broke into a South End residence early Monday and stole designer purses estimated to be worth about $10,000, according to Tacoma Police Department. The break-in was reported at about 1:45 a.m. at a residence in the 6300 block of Fawcett Avenue, police said. No one was injured during the robbery, and no arrests have been made. Few details were available. Police said the men entered the home armed with firearms and stole multiple purses. The suspects fled in a vehicle. Police asked anyone with additional information about the robbery to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian Defence Minister Vasile Dincu resigned on Monday, saying he could not collaborate with the country's president, amid pressure weeks after he said Ukraine's only chance to end the war was to negotiate with Russia. European Union and NATO state Romania shares a 650-kilometre (400 mile) border with Ukraine, is host to a U.S. ballistic missile defense system and, as of this year, has had a permanent alliance battlegroup stationed on its territory. Some 2.65 million Ukrainians have fled to Europe through Romania in the eight months since the war started. "My gesture (resignation) comes as it is impossible to cooperate with the Romanian president, the army's commander-in-chief," Dincu said in a statement. "I think my withdrawal from the post is necessary so as to not harm decisions and programs which require fluid command chains and to not block a series of projects which are absolutely necessary for ... the ministry and the army." In early October, Dincu said Ukraine needed international allies to negotiate security guarantees and peace with Russia, sparking criticism from President Klaus Iohannis and leaders of the ruling governing coalition. He later said his comments were taken out of context. Iohannis said Ukrainians were paying with blood in the war and only they could decide what and when to negotiate, a position held by Romania and the EU. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Bernadette Baum) A man wearing a t-shirt supporting Senator Marco Rubio was brutally attacked in Hialeah, Fla., Sunday night because he was in the neighborhood canvassing on behalf of a Republican, the senator tweeted Monday. According to Rubios tweet, the man suffered internal bleeding as well as a broken jaw and will need reconstructive surgery. The unidentified man was also reportedly wearing a hat supportive of Florida governor Ron DeSantis. Rubio is up for reelection this November. Polling suggests he is a slight favorite. Last night one of our canvassers wearing my T-shirt and a Desantis hat was brutally attacked by 4 animals who told him Republicans werent allowed in their neighborhood in #Hialeah #Florida He suffered internal bleeding, a broken jaw & will need facial reconstructive surgery pic.twitter.com/36QpbySg58 Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) October 24, 2022 The local police department confirmed Monday afternoon that an unnamed 27-year-old victim was assaulted while handing out fliers but, according to police, there was only one attacker. The victim was told by his attacker not to distribute the flyers. When he tried to walk away, the attacker, Javier Lopez, 25, followed him, and began striking him repeatedly in the head and face, Hialeah Sgt. Jose Torres noted to the Miami Herald in an email. Rubio addressed the attack at a Monday rally held to mark the start of early voting in Florida. Sadly, we get the news and were still waiting for details. Its always important to have details. Were not like these other people that always jump to conclusions, but we know this: Someone wearing a Rubio T-Shirt and a DeSantis hat was walking in a neighborhood not far from here yesterday when four individuals assaulted him, broke his nose, broke his jaw, Rubio told the crowd. Story continues The comedienne Kathy Griffin responded to Rubios tweet by saying: You have lied too much over the years for us to believe you now. In 2017, Griffin participated in a photo shoot with a beheaded and bloodied mannequin of Trump. Since the Supreme Courts summer ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, conservative people and organizations across the country have been repeatedly targeted for vandalism, harassment, and outright assault. Despite nearly 50 incidents of vandalism, including firebombings, at pregnancy centers across the country since June, the FBI has not arrested a single perpetrator. The FBI announced it planned to treat such violence as acts of domestic violent terrorism following the spate of attacks and the urgings of over 124 Republican Members of Congress. More from National Review Russian president Vladimir Putin (left) with Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu (right). Contributor/Getty Images Russia's defense minister has accused Ukraine of preparing to use radioactive "dirty bombs" in the war. He made the claim in phone calls with his counterparts from the US, UK, France, and Turkey. The US, UK, France, and Ukraine rejected the claim amid concerns that the war is escalating. Russia's defense minister has accused Ukraine of preparing to use radioactive "dirty bombs" in the war a claim rejected by the US, the UK, France, and Ukraine itself. Russia's defense ministry said Sergei Shoigu expressed his concerns about "possible Ukrainian provocations involving a 'dirty bomb,'" per the Associated Press. A "dirty bomb" is made with conventional explosives and radioactive materials. Shoigu made the accusations in phone calls with his counterparts from the US, UK, France, and Turkey on Sunday, per AP. The US, the UK, and France dismissed Russia's claim about "dirty bombs" in a joint statement on Monday. "Our countries made clear that we all reject Russia's transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory," the foreign ministers of the US, UK, and France said in the statement. "The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also hit back at the allegation about "dirty bombs" in a video address on Sunday. "If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means one thing: Russia has already prepared all this," Zelenskyy said. There is growing concern that the war in Ukraine may be escalating. It follows previous nuclear threats made by Russian President Vladimir Putin since the conflict started. Read the original article on Business Insider Ukraine's military is getting better at shooting down Iranian-made Russian drones up to 85% of them are now being taken out, the British Defense Ministry reported, citing official sources. The ministry said in its latest war assessment that Russia is likely using the drones as a substitute for Russian-manufactured, long-range precision weapons that are becoming increasingly scarce. "Ukrainian efforts to defeat the Shahed-136 UAVs are increasingly successful," the ministry said Monday. "These UAVs are slow, noisy and fly at low altitudes" making them relatively easy targets, the ministry added. The head of Ukraines intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov, on Monday put the shoot-down rate for the estimated 330 Shahed drones that Russia had released through Saturday at about 70%. Budanov said Russia's military had ordered about 1,700 various types of drones, and a second batch of about 300 Shaheds is being rolled out. Terror with the use of Shaheds' can actually last for a long time, he told Ukraine Pravda. Air defense is basically coping." RUSSIAN FORCES COULD FACE 'ROUT':Russia could struggle to get frontline troops out of Kherson; US rejects Russian claim of Ukraine radioactive 'provocation' Other developments: WNBA star Brittney Griner is "very nervous'' about Tuesday's appeal seeking a reduction of her nine-year sentence from a drug conviction in Russia, her legal team said. Anton Krasovsky, a talk show host on state broadcaster Russia Today, was suspended after saying last week that Ukrainian children who call Russians occupiers should be drowned or burned alive. He apologized Monday. Residents of the southern city of Mykolaiv lined up for water and essential supplies as Ukrainian forces continued their advance on nearby Kherson. The war in Ukraine was a major topic of conversation Monday in a Vatican meeting between Pope Francis and French President Emmanuel Macron. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said rebuilding Ukraine will be a task for a generation that no country, donor, or international institution can manage alone. Story continues People queue up to wait for food from the World Central Kitchen organization in the center of Mykolaiv, Ukraine, on Monday. Zelenskyy hails triumphs at war's eight-month mark, calls Russia a 'beggar' While warning the upcoming winter will be the most difficult in history, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the country's successes as the war against invading Russia reached the eight-month mark Monday. Russian forces have destroyed 30% of Ukraine's energy infrastructure in a series of targeted attacks in recent weeks, Zelenskyy has said, prompting him to call for conservation efforts. But he also pointed out Monday his military's progress in reclaiming territory in the partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv and Kherson provinces, and said the plan is to retake the Zaporizhzhia region and the annexed Crimean peninsula. Ukraine is breaking the so-called second army of the world, Zelenskyy said. Now Russia can only be a beggar. It is begging for something in Iran, trying to squeeze something out of Western states, inventing various tales about Ukraine, intimidating, deceiving. 30 House Democrats urge a diplomatic end to the war A group of 30 progressive Democrats in the House urged President Joe Biden on Monday to seek a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine. In a letter to Biden, the members of Congress lauded his support of Ukraine while keeping the U.S. from getting directly involved militarily in the conflict, and they acknowledged the difficult of fulfilling their request considering Russia's "outrageous and illegal invasion'' and subsequent illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory. But they also emphasize the need to pursue a negotiated peace settlement that allows Ukraine to maintain its independence and grants Russia some concessions, such as relief from sanctions. "The alternative to diplomacy is protracted war,'' they said, "with both its attendant certainties and catastrophic and unknowable risks.'' White House spokesman John Kirby expressed appreciation for the "thoughtful concerns'' articulated in the letter and added that the administration stands behind Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been skeptical that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is ready to negotiate in good faith. "What we're going to stay focused on is making sure that he and his troops can succeed on the battlefield so that if and when it comes time to sit down at the table, Mr. Zelenskyy can succeed,'' Kirby said. Russians creating 'illusion' of leaving Kherson, but they are digging in The Russian military is creating the illusion that it is leaving Kherson by removing its officers and forcing the evacuation of the city, a top Ukrainian official said Monday. But Budanov, Ukraine's intelligence chief, told Ukrainian Pravda that the Kremlin is sending new military units to the region Russia claimed to annex just weeks ago. Budanov said Sergei Surovikin, who commands the Southern Group of Russian troops in the war, may be keeping up the appearance of an orderly withdrawal to mute the reaction of the Russian public in case of the surrender or loss of Kherson. "They create the illusion that everything is gone," Budanov said. "And at the same time, on the contrary, they bring in new military units there and prepare the streets of the city for defense." The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said in a weekend assessment that Russia appears to be relying on new recruits to stall the Ukraine military's recapture of the city. "Using such inexperienced forces to conduct a delaying action could prompt a Russian rout if Ukrainian forces choose to press the attack," the assessment says. Kremlin presses 'dirty bomb' claim The Kremlin, despite firm denials from Kyiv and the West, pressed its unsubstantiated claim Monday that Ukraine plans to explode a low-yield nuclear device and then blame Russia for using weapons of mass destruction. Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, chief of the Russian armys radiation, chemical and biological protection force, said his defense ministry "has evidence that the Kyiv regime is planning a provocation involving the detonation of a so-called dirty bomb." Those weapons are typically used more to sow terror than to kill. Kirillov did not reveal what evidence Russia may have. Kirillov said the provocation would be used to launch an anti-Russian campaign around the world aimed at undermining trust toward Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested Russia is setting the stage to deploy a radioactive device on Ukrainian soil. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke Sunday with his American, British and French counterparts, accusing Ukraine of planning the provocation to escalate the war. All soundly rejected the claim, and a senior U.S. military official who spoke on condition of anonymity told USA TODAY that the Ukrainians are not building a dirty bomb. "I spoke by phone today with Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoigu, who requested a follow-up call," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a Twitter post on Sunday. "I rejected any pretext for Russian escalation & reaffirmed the value of continued communication amid Russias unlawful & unjustified war against Ukraine." Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also dismissed Shoigu's claims, likely to play well in Russia, as "absurd" and dangerous. He said Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has accepted his request to send inspectors to Ukraine to prove the Kremlin's claim wrong. Grain deal threatened as warring countries raise complaints Ukrainian Black Sea ports are operating at less than one-third of their capacity because of Russian interference, according to the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry. The development endangers a fragile deal due to expire on Nov. 19. The agreement, reached in late July through mediation by the U.N. and Turkey, lifted a Russian blockade of the ports and allowed Ukraine to ship more than 8 million tons of grain to African, Asian and European countries, helping relieve a burgeoning food crisis. Russia believes the guarantees it received for its grain and fertilizer imports are not being met and has repeatedly complained about the deal's implementation, recently raising its concerns to the U.N., Reuters reported. Ukraine is seeking to renew the agreement but wants Russia to comply in full with its part. "Russia is deliberately delaying the full implementation of the 'Grain Initiative,''' its Infrastructure Ministry said on Telegram. "Due to this, ports have been operating in recent days only at 25-30% of their capacity.'' Pelosi: Iran making 'big mistake' by supplying Russia with drones Iran is "making the world a less safe place by providing Russia with drones for its war in Ukraine, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday. Speaking alongside Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic of Croatia, where she was attending a forum in Zagreb aimed at supporting Ukraines independence in the face of Russian aggression, Pelosi chastised Iran for making a big mistake by supplying the explosives-laden devices. Russia has rebranded the Shahed drones, which have terrorized the Ukrainian population and damaged power plants, and Iran denies being the source of them. But several of the distinctive triangle-shaped drones have been spotted in Ukraine. We have to be able to counter the drones, Pelosi said. It is a dangerous technology and it must be stopped. Contributing: Tom Vanden Brook, Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY; The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine war live updates: Up to 85% of Russia's drones shot down In Kherson, Russian-made goods disappeared from store shelves Read also: Russians in Kherson flee in civilian clothing According to the outlet, local residents have shared photos of these empty shelves, noting that the Russians arent only stealing the food in Kherson, but also other goods for sale. Russian occupation authorities in Kherson told civilians on Oct. 22 that they should immediately leave the city for the left bank of the Dnipro River due to the tense situation at the front. Read also: Russia has completed a barge bridge in Kherson region, says UK intelligence They said that all departments and ministries of the Russian-installed civil administration in Kherson should also leave. The invaders again repeated the claim that there was a danger of massive shelling of the city by the Ukrainian military. On Oct. 18, the Russian-appointed puppet administrator of the occupation, collaborator Volodymyr Saldo, said the residents of the Russian-occupied areas of Kherson Oblast should evacuate to the left bank of the Dnipro River, which is still under Russian control. Russian puppet authorities also decreed that entering the annexed areas is forbidden for civilians for seven days. Kherson governor Yaroslav Yanushevych has urged local residents to stay calm and not to react to the invaders provocations. He said they want to use civilians as a human shield. Read also: Artillery, tanks, and ordinary life in the combat zone of the Kherson Front - NV report Earlier, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian militarys Operational Command South, Natalia Humeniuk, said in an interview with Radio NV that the collaborators are trying to abduct the civilian population, to make it seem that they are afraid of the Ukrainian armed forces. However, Ukrainian civilians were instead proving the opposite, she stated. As of Oct. 21, Ukrainian troops had liberated 88 settlements in Kherson Oblast. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russian TV presenter Anton Krasovsky Read also: Russian propaganda researcher Peter Pomerantsev analyzes speech of evil and humiliated Putin The Chairman of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, said "one of the (social media) users asked him to check the scandalous video. Read also: Network of Russian propaganda agents busted in Lviv Still, Krasovsky's calls to "drown and burn down" Ukrainian children were called merely "sharp statements" in an investigative report into the incident. Krasovsky has made other violent threats before, in particular calling for the genocide of Ukrainians, but these propagandist's hateful views have never disturbed the Kremlin. Read also: Ukraine charges director of Russia Today Kremlin propaganda outlet over calls for genocide of Ukrainians This time, it seems that the Russian authorities were forced to address Krasovsky's provocation this time, because of the notoriety his words gained in global media. Krasovsky was also suspending from his job at the Russian propagandist Russia Today channel, forcing even head propagandist Margarita Simonyan to describe his statement as wild and disgusting despite having made similar statements of her own before. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russian Sukhoi SU-30 SM military aircraft perform during the MAKS-2017 International Aviation and Space Salon in Zhukovsky, Moscow Region, Russia, on July 19, 2017. Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images A Russian warplane crashed in Siberia on Sunday, killing both pilots. The crash was the second time in less than a week a Russian military aircraft slammed into a residential area, causing fatalities. The deadly crashes come as Russia's military also struggles abroad in its fight in Ukraine. A Russian fighter jet crashed into an apartment building on Sunday in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, killing both pilots, Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry said. It's the second time in less than a week that a Russian warplane crashed into a residential area, resulting in fatalities. "The Su-30 crashed into a private wooden apartment building during a test flight," the ministry said in a Sunday statement, adding that there were no civilian casualties. It said the crash caused a 2,150-square-foot-large fire, noting that "at the moment, open fire has been eliminated." Video footage that was published to Russian state media appears to show the warplane plummet in a nose dive before falling behind a row a trees, where it exploded in a massive fireball. A slightly longer video published to social media by a Ukrainian journalist also appears to capture the incident. Insider was unable to immediately verify the footage. The deadly crash occurred in southern Russia's Irkutsk, a city of just under 620,000 residents not far from the country's border with Mongolia. The Washington Post reported that local authorities declared a state of emergency in the district where the crash occurred, and Russia's state-owned aerospace company United Aircraft Corporation will investigate the incident. A picture taken late on October 23, 2022, shows emergency personnel working at the crash site of a military jet in a residential area in Irkutsk, Siberia, southeastern Russia. Photo by ALEKSANDER DANILOV/AFP via Getty Images A picture taken late on October 23, 2022, shows emergency personnel working at the crash site of a military jet in a residential area in Irkutsk, Siberia, southeastern Russia. Photo by ALEKSANDER DANILOV/AFP via Getty Images Sunday's crash in Russia is the second fatal incident involving a Russian warplane in less than a week. On October 17, a Russian Su-34 strike fighter caught fire during a training mission and crashed into a residential building in western Russia's port city of Yeysk. Story continues At least 13 people were killed in the accident, which led Russian authorities to say that the two pilots who managed to eject from the aircraft before it crashed could face criminal charges. Though military accidents happen regularly, crashes in residential areas are less common, as professional, modern militaries tend to have procedures in place to avoid this kind of incident. A view shows the site of a plane crash, after a Sukhoi Su-34 supersonic medium-range fighter-bomber plunged towards the residential building, in the southern city of Yeysk, Russia October 17, 2022. REUTERS/Stringer The deadly incidents seem to point to problems within Russian President Vladimir Putin's military at home, problems that come as his forces continue to face battlefield setbacks and suffer substantial losses abroad in Ukraine. Some casualty estimates for the Russian military in Ukraine are as high as 90,000. Ukrainian troops are advancing along the war's eastern front and also pushing toward the key southern city of Kherson, an early Russian win which has been under Russian occupation since the early days of the war. Russian officers and medics are reported to have evacuated, leaving many inexperienced and newly drafted soldiers who have complained that they are ill-equipped with the task of defending the city from the advancing Ukrainian forces. Last week, Russia began frantically started to move tens of thousands of civilians out of the city, signaling an expectation of intense urban warfare. In addition to high casualty counts and losses of territory, Russian forces have also lost a significant number of armored vehicles, including some of its modern tanks. Some Russian vehicles captured by Ukraine have actually been put back into service while the Russian army has at times had to pull old, obsolete vehicles out of storage. As Russian troops falter on the front lines, Putin's forces, which are running low on long-range precision guided munitions, have in recent weeks become increasingly reliant on the use of Iranian-made suicide drones identified as the Shahed-136 type for Blitz-style attacks on civilians and infrastructure targets across Ukraine. "Russia is likely expending a high number of Iranian Shahed-136 UAVs in order to penetrate increasingly effective Ukrainian air defences," Britain's defense ministry said in a Monday intelligence update. "It is likely using them as a substitute for Russian-manufactured long-range precision weapons which are becoming increasingly scarce." Read the original article on Business Insider Russian dictator Vladimir Putin surrounded by Russian military in the center for training of mobilized people in the Ryazan region of Russia Preobrazhensky first noted that Russian political elite remains broadly bellicose, differing merely in shades of their backing of Moscows invasion of Ukraine. Read also: The world must warn Russia of consequences of attacking decision-making centers in Ukraine Zelenskyy "Take (Moscow Mayor Sergey) Sobyanin: hes not against the war per se, but is probably ready to negotiate, because there is not much resources left to sustain active fighting, said Preobrazhensky. There is a party of propagandists, acting as hawks with nothing to lose. Their work is connected with the war. The worse off the country (Russia) is faring, the better off propagandists live, the higher their influence is. They increase their influence; they are even allowed to get a little out of control. This limited uncontrollability is supported by radicals such as First Deputy Head of Russias Presidential Administration, Aleksey Gromov. Preobrazhensky identified the Russian military-industrial complex as another war party, which at first sat quietly, because it was afraid that it would be reproached about the technically shambolic army, but when almost all the shortcomings were attributed to Deputy Prime Minister (Yuri) Borisov, the arms manufacturers also turned out to be those who benefit from the war getting dragged out for as long as possible. "They don't need defeats, they don't need retreats, they are against radical situations, but their goal is to pump out as many weapons as possible," Preobrazhensky described the position of Russian arms manufacturers. Read also: Russia remains unwilling to end the war, US says In August, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War reported that the Kremlin is trying to reboot Russian industry to sustain the ongoing war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Oct. 13 that Russian propagandists should be held accountable same as Kremlin war criminals. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Journalist Anton Krasovsky at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 16, 2022. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters Russia Today host Anton Krasovsky was suspended after calling for Ukrainian children to be killed. Krasovsky aimed his comments at Ukrainian children who saw the Soviet Union as occupiers in the 1980s. Ukraine's Foreign Minister called the remarks "aggressive genocide incitement." A top host on a Russian state-controlled media outlet has been suspended after he called for Ukrainian children who viewed Soviet Russia as an occupier to be drowned or burned in their homes, Reuters reported. Russia Today (RT) host Anton Krasovsky also said Ukraine is "not supposed to exist at all" and joked about Russian soldiers raping "grannies" on one of the network's shows last week, per translations by journalist Julia Davis, who runs the Russian Media Monitor. Krasosvky apologized in a social media post on Monday, saying he got "carried away" and is "really embarrassed," according to Reuters. Russia's investigative committee, which deals with serious crimes, has ordered a probe, the outlet reported. RT's director, Margarita Simonyan, said in a Telegram post on Sunday that the remarks were "wild and disgusting" and said that the network is severing ties with him "for now." Davis posted a clip of the conversation, with subtitles, to Twitter: In the conversation, Russian science fiction writer Sergei Lukyanenko spoke of having visited Ukraine during its membership of the Soviet Union in the 1980s, and said he recalled meeting children who believed that they were under Russian occupation, rather than part of the Soviet state. Krasovsky replied: "Just drown those children, drown them," before going on to describe Ukrainians as having "piece of shit little houses." "There are masses of awful, monstrous little houses, they shit all over the Carpathian Mountains," he went on. "Shove them right into those huts and burn them up." He went on to assert that Ukraine is "not supposed to exist at all." Story continues He also made crude remarks about a recent claim by a UN official that Russian soldiers being given viagra in order to commit rape as part of the current war in Ukraine. He spoke sarcastically about viagra being "handed out to our soldiers for them to rape Ukrainian grannies," per Davis' translation. "God, those grannies would spend their burial savings to get raped by Russian soldiers," he added. The remarks have provoked widespread outrage, with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba calling the words "aggressive genocide incitement" and calling for RT to be banned worldwide. Krasosvky, who hosted the show "The Antonym," is currently under EU sanctions as a propagandist. RT was banned in the EU in March over systematic disinformation about the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported. Read the original article on Business Insider Photo: The Canadian Press UPDATE 1 p.m. The Vancouver Police Board have confirmed the arresting officers will not attend the ceremony. More can be read on this story here. ORIGINAL 6:35 p.m. Members of the Vancouver Police Department are expected to take part in an apology ceremony today in an expression of regret for arresting and handcuffing an Indigenous man and his granddaughter when they tried to open a bank account. The apology is part of a settlement agreement arising from a human rights complaint against the Vancouver Police Board filed by Maxwell Johnson of the Heiltsuk Nation in Bella Bella, on B.C.'s central coast. A Bank of Montreal employee called police under the mistaken assumption that Johnson and his then-12-year-old granddaughter's Indian status cards were fake, setting off the public arrest in December 2019. The settlement included an undisclosed financial award to Johnson, $100,000 to fund the nations restorative justice department, and the development of a plan to improve police training on anti-Indigenous racism and "cultural humility." However, the Heiltsuk Nation issued a statement Sunday saying it is possible the two arresting officers won't be attending, and the traditional ceremony can't be carried out unless those who caused the harm are present. It says the absence of constables Canon Wong and Mitchel Tong would be another hurtful chapter in Johnson's long journey to address the discrimination he and his granddaughter faced. Johnson's granddaughter, Tori-Anne, told a news conference last month that she hoped the story of her arrest would encourage more people to stand up against injustice and discrimination. The nation says the ceremony is a prerequisite for true reconciliation and is intended to be an uplifting experience for everyone. "The apology ceremony is also to deliver a message of relationship rebuilding between police and First Nations, following a traumatic incident," the nation says. (Reuters) - A Russian TV presenter apologised on Monday for calling for Ukrainian children to be drowned, as Russia's state Investigative Committee said it was probing his remarks. In a show last week on state-controlled broadcaster RT, presenter Anton Krasovsky said Ukrainian children who saw Russians as occupiers under the Soviet Union should have been "thrown straight into a river with a strong current" and drowned. Ukraine said on Sunday that RT was an inciter of genocide and should be banned worldwide. Margarita Simonyan, the channel's editor-in-chief, said she had suspended Krasovsky because of his "disgusting" comments, adding that no one at RT shared his views. Krasovsky said in a social media post he was "really embarrassed". "Well, it happens: you're on air, you get carried away. And you can't stop. I ask for the forgiveness of everyone who was stunned by this," he said. 'SHARP STATEMENTS' State television, heavily controlled by the Kremlin, has been a vocal cheerleader of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, often calling on President Vladimir Putin to take an even more aggressive approach to the war. But Krasovsky's comments appeared to have crossed a line for the authorities. The Investigative Committee, which handles serious crimes, said it had been asked to look into his "sharp statements" and had ordered a report. Krasovsky is a pro-war commentator on Russian television who has been sanctioned by the European Union. In last week's show, he also talked about shoving children into huts and burning them, and joked about the rape of Ukrainian women. "Governments which have still not banned RT must watch this excerpt," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter, linking to a clip of the interview. He said Ukraine would put Krasovsky on trial for "aggressive genocide incitement". In a statement on RT's website, Simonyan said: "For the children of Ukraine, as well as the children of Donbas, and all other children, I wish that all this ends as soon as possible, and they can live and study in peace again in the language they consider native." (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Gareth Jones) (Reuters) - Russian military Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov and the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley spoke by phone on Monday and discussed the possibility raised by Moscow that Ukraine might use a "dirty bomb", RIA news agency reported. The call took place shortly after a similar conversation between Gerasimov and his British counterpart. The foreign ministers of France, Britain and the United States said earlier they all rejected "Russia's transparently false allegations". Ukraine said the Russian accusation was a sign that Moscow was planning such an attack itself and would blame Kyiv. (Reporting by Reuters) Sacheen Littlefeather, the late actress and activist who claimed to be of White Mountain Apache heritage and at the 1973 Academy Awards criticized Hollywoods treatment of Native Americans while refusing the best actor Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando after his win for The Godfather, in fact spent decades lying about her Native American ancestry, her sisters told The San Francisco Chronicle. Its a lie, sibling Trudy Orlandi told Native American writer and activist Jacqueline Keeler, explaining that their California-born fathers family was in fact Mexican and Littlefeathers real name was Maria Louise Cruz. It is a fraud, echoed sister Rosalind Cruz. Its disgusting to the heritage of the tribal people. And its just insulting to my parents. As far as Orlandi and Cruz are aware, the family has no tribal identity nor Native American or American Indian ancestry and describe their paternal side as Spanish. Regarding Littlefeathers potential motive, Orlandi said the The Trial of Billy Jack actress found it more prestigious to be an American Indian than it was to be Hispanic. She didnt like being Mexican. So, yes, it was better for her that way to play someone else, she explained. Littlefeather was on the list of Pretendians, those who falsely adopted or were suspected of having falsely adopted Native identities for personal gain Keeler began compiling early last year. In addition to her ancestry which she later claimed included Yaqui heritage Littlefeathers alleged lies also included those about her fathers abuse, the family living in poverty without so much as a toilet, and the Navajo Nation supposedly ascribing her Indian name. My father was deaf and he had lost his hearing at 9 years old through meningitis, Cruz said. He was born into poverty. His father, George Cruz, was an alcoholic who was violent and used to beat him. My sister Sacheen took what happened to him. Orlandi noted that the siblings grandfather indeed was the alcoholic. My dad never drank. My dad never smoked. Story continues The sisters believe Littlefeather, whom they called Deb, got her Indian name from the Sacheen Ribbon Co., which made the thread they used to make clothes as children. Littlefeather was 75 when she died in early October, just months after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences issued an apology for the treatment she received for refusing Brandos Oscar for him. She was roundly booed during her speech and claimed to have been blacklisted by Hollywood. A Salisbury woman was sentenced Monday to 17 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of an infant. Desiree Daigle, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 17 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. On June 24, 2022, Daigle pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a child. There are no words to adequately capture how truly reprehensible this conduct is. Ms. Daigle violated the trust placed in her by a friend and sexually abused a defenseless infant in her care. That she documented the abuse for the perverse gratification of herself and others is truly disgusting. Ms. Daigle is a danger to our communities and deserves every single day of this prison sentence, said U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. This case is a stark reminder that child predators come in all genders and that children of all ages can be victimized, Rollins said. While nothing will ever alleviate the pain and devastation Ms. Daigle inflicted upon the victim and their family, we hope todays sentence provides some measure of accountability. My office and our law enforcement partners will never stop working to ensure the safety of our children by identifying, prosecuting and removing predators like Ms. Daigle from our communities. The actions of Desiree Daigle were beyond heinous. She violated the trust placed in her by her friends and sexually exploited a baby in her care. No child should ever be subjected to this, and no sentence can erase the harm inflicted upon this child and her family, said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. Todays sentence keeps Daigle exactly where she belongs, behind bars, being held to account for her depraved actions. In November 2018, Daigle was identified in online chats exchanging various child pornography files with another individual, Rollins said. Some of the images depicted an infant in Daigles care, taken in Daigles home. During the chats, Daigle discussed plans for the other individual to meet the child in person so that they could sexually abuse the child together. That individual is also facing federal charges. Story continues Assisting with the investigation were the Amesbury, North Andover, Salisbury, Arlington, Billerica, Methuen and Haverhill Police Departments. The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Friends gather for a touch football game on a windy day at the Ralph M. Lewis Sports Complex in Fontana. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Large parts of Southern California were hit with Santa Ana winds Monday, prompting warnings of possible public safety power outages for tens of thousands of residents, but no shut-offs were required. National Weather Service wind advisories for portions of the Inland Empire and Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange counties expired in the afternoon. The strongest gusts in Los Angeles County, at 77 mph, were recorded by a station on Magic Mountain Truck Trail in the Angeles National Forest, said Kristan Lund, a meteorologist with the weather service in Oxnard. Gusts in Los Angeles County generally reached 50 mph. Winds had calmed down by midafternoon and conditions are expected to be calmer Tuesday, Lund said. Meteorologists are eyeing the possibility of another round of Santa Ana winds Thursday, though it's expected to be weaker than Monday's event, she said. In the San Diego office's forecast area, which also includes the Inland Empire and Orange County, "Santa Ana winds of moderate strength are prevailing this morning, strongest below the Cajon Pass and just below the Santa Ana Mountains," according to a 9:03 a.m. forecast discussion from the office. "Peak wind gusts in these areas are mostly around 45 mph. The strongest wind gust recorded was 65 mph at Fremont Canyon. The winds have peaked and will gradually lessen through this afternoon." A couple of big rigs flipped on their sides due to the wind, Caltrans reported. This seems to be the biggest [Santa Ana event] so far this year, said Casey Oswant, a meteorologist with the San Diego office. Conditions for Tuesday in the San Diego office's forecast area are expected to be sunny with highs in the 70s and light winds, said meteorologist Joe Dandrea. Mondays forecast had also called for relatively low humidity, creating elevated to briefly critical fire conditions in parts of Southern California and prompting one of the region's largest utilities to issue warnings of possible power outages. Story continues The driest and windiest conditions Monday morning stretched from L.A. County's mountains through the Santa Clarita Valley and the northern San Fernando Valley, and in eastern Ventura County through Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and down into the Oxnard plains, the National Weather Service tweeted. Southern California Edison said on its website that wildfire risks because of weather could lead to public safety power shut-offs for nearly 40,000 of its customers across Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. Weather monitoring for power shut-offs ended in the afternoon and no shut-offs were required, said Paul Griffo, an Edison spokesperson. The Santa Anas, which typically blow most aggressively during the fall months, are known to fuel some of Californias largest fires as strong, dry gusts blow against brush dried from the summer that act as tinder. The Woolsey fire, Los Angeles Countys most destructive blaze, fed off Santa Ana winds in the fall of 2018. Though Monday's winds and dry conditions prompted advisories, the event was not long enough for a red flag warning, said David Sweet, a meteorologist with the weather service in Oxnard. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Law enforcement and political leaders in South Carolina say they want tougher laws targeting the trafficking of fentanyl. Their statements came after last weeks seizure of the largest amount ever in the Rock Hill region. The amount of fentanyl seized was so large, and the public danger so great, that a news conference Monday featured U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, U.S. Rep Ralph Norman, and law enforcement officials from York and nearby counties. The more than 65 pounds of fentanyl recovered, equivalent to more than 30 kilograms, is enough to kill the entire population of South Carolina, officials said at the news conference at the York County Sheriffs Office. None of the officials said what would constitute a lethal dose of the drug. Fentanyl has created a new level of danger in the Charlotte region and is the most common illegal drug locally, police told the Charlotte Observer earlier this year. Illegal fentanyl is behind a local and national spike in overdoses because the pills are homemade, Sheriff Kevin Tolson said. This is not dealing drugs anymore, this is dealing death, Tolson said at the news conference. In York County in 2022, there have been 87 overdose deaths with almost all believed to be linked to fentanyl, Tolson said. No specific law aimed at fentanyl trafficking Six people from York County were charged last week when the fentanyl and other drugs, including cocaine, meth, were found at homes near Clover, Lake Wylie and Rock Hill. However, South Carolina does not have a fentanyl drug trafficking law, similar to trafficking laws regulating cocaine, meth and other narcotics, with sentences that can reach 30 years or longer. Under current law, fentanyl dealing can be prosecuted only as possession with intent to distribute. The maximum sentence for fenanyl is 15 years, officials said. Tolson and 16th Circuit Solicitor Kevin Brackett said at the news conference some South Carolina state legislators have continuously blocked efforts to enact a tougher law. Story continues We need to do something to get all this death off the streets, Brackett said. Lindsey Graham: We need a war on fentanyl Graham said the amount of fentanyl seized could kill all five million-plus residents of South Carolina -- twice over. We need a war on fentanyl, Graham said. Graham said problems at the Mexican border are allowing fentanyl from China to get in the United States. The news conference came two weeks before people vote in November, and crime has become an election issue. Graham is not up for election. Norman said issues such as needing stronger fentanyl laws and fixing the borders will be on the ballot. Norman, a Republican York County native who faces Democrat Evangeline Hundley of Newberry, blamed the fentanyl problem on the administration of President Joe Biden and the Democrat-controlled Congress. Graham and Norman said at the news conference that fentanyl is so dangerous that it is comparable with terrorism against Americans. The news conference featured several chiefs of police from area municipalities and other politicians. Several people, who said they had family members who died of a fatal fentanyl overdose, also were present. Some want laws enacted that would prosecute fentanyl dealers for murder if the drug is given or sold to someone and determined to have caused death. The drug and gun seizures Search warrants were executed Oct. 19 near Lake Wylie, Rock Hill, and Clover, according to officials. Officers found 30,531 grams of fentanyl, 2,869 grams of cocaine, 704 grams of meth, 454 grams of marijuana, four guns, steroids, and seven pill presses used to manufacture pills, officials said. Four of the people charged after the Oct. 19 raids face fentanyl-related charges, according to police. Fentanyl dangers Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The DEA says fentanyI is inexpensive, widely available, highly addictive and potentially lethal. Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered, said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram in a a news release statement issued Aug. 19 about the fentanyl problem nationwide. Drug traffickers are increasingly mixing fentanyl with other illicit drugs in powder and pill form to drive addiction and create repeat customers, the DEA said in the statement. A 6-month-old died and the infants biological father is in jail, the Newberry County Sheriffs Office said Monday. At about midnight, deputies responded to a 911 call about a domestic incident in the Prosperity area, the sheriffs office said in a news release. Responding deputies discovered that Colie Dawkins, the babys biological father, had been allowed to take the 6-month-old to Dawkins residence in the Greenville-Spartanburg area, the sheriffs office said. Sometime after leaving the Prosperity area, Dawkins called the infants mother and began to berate her and made threats to harm the child, according to the release. Deputies issued a lookout for Dawkins and his white Toyota Prius, and contacted the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for assistance, the sheriffs office said. At about 2 a.m., a deputy spotted the Prius at a convenience store on S.C. 34 at Interstate 26, and saw Dawkins in the drivers seat and an unrestrained infant in a child seat, according to the release. The infant was unresponsive, the sheriffs office said. Newberry County EMS was called and the infant was taken to Newberry County Memorial Hospital, where life saving methods were attempted but unsuccessful, according to the release. No cause of death has been released by the Newberry County Coroners Office, and an autopsy will be performed, the sheriffs office said. Dawkins, whose last known address is in Lyman, South Carolina, was arrested and is being held in the Newberry County Detention Center, according to the release. The 38-year-old was charged with unlawful conduct to a child, in addition to traffic crimes for violating the habitual offender act, a child passenger restraint violation, driving under suspension, transporting alcohol in a motor vehicle with seal broken, and hes also being held for another agency, jail records show. No bond has been set on the charges, according to jail records. Dawkins could face more charges, and the incident continues to be investigated by the sheriffs office, the coroners office and SLEDs Child Fatality Unit. This is a developing story, check back for updates. Days after a New York woman was reported missing following a visit to St. George Island State Park, multiple law enforcement agencies continue a large search along the beach, Apalachicola Bay and Gulf of Mexico. "We feel like she probably went for a swim on Thursday and didn't make it back out of the water," said Franklin County Sheriff A.J. Smith in a Facebook Live Monday morning. "We don't think any foul play is involved but until we make a recovery we're leaving no stone unturned." Staci Peterson, a 33-year-old Florida State University alumna, currently lives in Saratoga County in Upstate New York. Staci Peterson, 33, went missing Thursday after vising the St. George Island State Park Thursday morning. A large search began Sunday and continues into the week. Alone, she drove to the capital city recently on a road trip to scatter her dog's ashes in the Gulf of Mexico, Smith told the Democrat Monday. She was staying at a Tallahassee hotel. The search effort began Saturday after St. George Island State Park staff noticed her rented Jeep sitting in the parking lot for two days, Smith said. Peterson's phone, wallet, keys and hotel key card were also found on the beach. FCSO tracked the tag of her vehicle and found it coming through Franklin County around 9 a.m. Thursday from Tallahassee, Smith said. She then entered the state park about an hour later. Beach conditions Thursday were marked by a yellow flag, indicating a medium hazard because of the "surf and/or currents," according to the Franklin County Parks website. "From what we have found, I think she went in the water to go for a swim or maybe waded out to put her dog's ashes in," Smith said. "The water can be very treacherous here." On Sunday, multiple law enforcement agencies like Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Highway Patrol coordinated beach and air searches in conjunction with FCSO. "We have boats, helicopters, drones, four wheelers on the beach," Smith said. "We're searching in every way possible." Smith asked that anyone who may have seen Peterson or something suspicious on the beach, call FCSO at (850) 670-8500. Story continues "She seemed like a really nice young lady," Smith said. "It's just a sad deal." Contact Christopher Cann at ccann@tallahassee.com and follow @ChrisCannFL on Twitter. Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Missing New York woman, FSU grad search continues on St. George Island Photo: Rochelle Baker/Canada's National Observer First Nations fighting to get salmon farms out of the ocean are dismayed in the wake of federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murrays recent engagement tour on a plan to transition open-net pen operations in B.C. Murray spent much of last week visiting Vancouver Island aquaculture operations and meeting with First Nations, industry operators, wild salmon conservation groups and coastal community leaders in Campbell River and Port Hardy. The federal Liberals 2019 election platform promised to develop a responsible plan to transition from open-net pen salmon farming in coastal waters to closed containment systems by 2025, which sent the salmon farming industry into a flap. Murrays subsequent mandate from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is much the same, minus the reference to closed containment systems. And after the ministers visit, First Nations critical of salmon farms are convinced that what's in the works is a watered-down version of Ottawas promise. Rather than removing open-net pens by 2025, the minister is now talking about progressively minimizing interactions between farmed and wild fish, incentivizing innovations in aquaculture technology, tougher regulations for fish farm licences, and ensuring that area-based operations have First Nations partners. The BC Salmon Farmers Association said the aquaculture sector is heartened after its round of meetings with Murray. Operators are pleased Murray expressed interest in co-developing a transition plan, said Ruth Salmon, BCSFA interim executive director, in a statement. A suite of tools and options are necessary to meet the needs of diverse marine ecosystems and the priorities of partner First Nations in whose territories they operate, Salmon said. First Nations that want open-net pens out of the ocean feel the engagement process is flawed, and feel open-net pens arent going anywhere inside the next three years, said Bob Chamberlin, chair of the First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance. Its simply a go with the status quo. Theyre just putting new laces on those old shoes, said Chamberlin, who met with Murray along with chiefs from the Komoks and Homalco First Nations, both opposed to open-net fish farms. The intention of the meetings was to get input from a wide range of people, Murray told Canadas National Observer after her tour. It also provided the opportunity to clear up misunderstandings about the open-net pen transition process, she said. She is aiming to develop a pathway for existing aquaculture operations to adopt alternative production methods, Murray said. So they can actually accomplish the goal of progressively minimizing or eliminating interaction between farmed salmon and the wild salmon. The goal is to have the transition plan in place next year and a new licensing regime devised by June 2024, said Murray. She did not give a final deadline for the process. I think there was some misunderstanding that there would be sort of a dramatic change in just a very, very short time, she said. Prescribing closed containment production methods arent part of her mandate, Murray added, saying devising new farming methods would rely on the industrys creativity and investment in emerging technology. Large-scale aquaculture operators in B.C. have dismissed closed containment technology, arguing it isnt advanced enough, requires a bigger energy footprint and is less profitable. Instead, the sector is championing emerging semi-closed ocean systems aimed at reducing sea lice and physical interactions between farmed and wild salmon. Or growing salmon longer in their land-based hatcheries before transferring them to open-net pens in the ocean. Semi-closed systems, also in the development phase, are still semi-open, and do little to prevent waste, chemicals and diseases from impacting wild salmon, Chamberlin said. Murray said all First Nations she met with in the region made clear they wanted a greater stewardship role and involvement in decisions around salmon farming in their waters. There were some First Nations that were clear about how important the industry has been to them in terms of jobs, she added. But Murray also needs to respect the aboriginal rights of the100-plus First Nations in B.C. that rely on wild salmon and Ottawa needs to do what it promised, Chamberlain said. What about the value of food fish to all the nations in the Interior of British Columbia? Chamberlain asked. Because that has to weigh into the decision. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is also asking the public for online feedback on the transition plan until Oct. 27. Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff will be attending political events in North Carolina Monday afternoon. Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, said he will be joining Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison for events in Kannapolis, as well as Charlotte. The event in Charlotte is expected to begin at 1 p.m. It will be held on the 5800 block of East W.T. Harris Boulevard. READ MORE coverage from The Political Beat HERE In July, Harris visited Charlotte to talk about abortion rights and the Biden administrations efforts to broaden internet access. She toured a computer lab at the Carole Hoefener Center in uptown. For more information about candidates participating in the midterm elections, as well as a guide for voters, visit The Political Beat page here. (WATCH BELOW: Know before you vote with Channel 9s General Election candidate guides) Seminole health officials on Monday continued encouraging homeowners with private wells to test their drinking water following local flooding from Hurricane Ian. Of the total 216 water samples collected from private wells at 109 Seminole homes through this past weekend, 22% of those about 48 have tested positive for some form of harmful organisms, including the E. coli bacteria, said Donna Walsh, health officer for the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County. Its important to note that if you suspect your well may be contaminated that you want to take precautions such as drinking bottled water and boiling water from a private well for at least a minute, she said. Contaminated drinking water may contain harmful bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms that can make you sick hence the need for testing your private wells. Walsh also encouraged individuals working around hurricane debris to get a tetanus vaccine from the Seminole County Health Department. Tetanus is an infection that is caused by bacteria entering an open wound and releasing a toxin that causes painful muscle spasms and contractions. Any wounds can lead to a tetanus infection if youre not up-to-date on your vaccine, she said. Walsh noted that the Seminole office for the Florida Department of Health will continue testing private wells for contamination and offer tetanus vaccines. Residents can call 407-665-3700 for information on either of those services. Monday was the first day for Seminole residents impacted by Hurricane Ian to pre-register for assistance from the states Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as D-SNAP. To qualify, Seminole residents must have had damage to their homes or property of self-employment, a loss of food, a reduction or loss of income, or other expenses related to Hurricane Ian. Preregistration for D-SNAP assistance is open through Sunday by visiting myflfamilies.com/DSNAP/. Phone interviews will begin Thursday and continue through Sunday. Story continues County emergency officials reported that floodwaters in areas along the St. Johns River have been slowly receding, including in Sanford and near Lake Harney. As of Monday, most businesses in Marina Isle a peninsula that juts into Lake Monroe in Sanford have reopened. More than three dozen residents of the Marina Isle Waterfront Assisted Living returned to the facility last week after they were evacuated on Oct. 4 as floodwaters from Lake Monroe swelled and flowed into the peninsula. In the days after the storm, city crews used a backhoe and other heavy equipment to build a dirt road to Marina Isle from flooded East Seminole Boulevard. Seminole crews last week also removed a dam around HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital that was put in place after the storm as floodwaters flowed into the propertys north parking lot. It is important to note that the hospital remained in full operation during the storm, said Alan Harris, director of Seminoles office of emergency management. Harris noted that as of this past weekend, 85 families are still residing in temporary housing after their homes were damaged by the storm. The county has also seen more than 23,100 applications for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. So, as we can see, there is still a need for help here in Seminole County, Harris said. Harris asked residents for patience while waiting for their vegetative debris to be collected. As of Monday, 35% of the estimated more than 1 million cubic yards of debris enough to fill 11 Spaceship Earths at Disneys Epcot theme park has been picked up, he said. If youve been to Epcot, you know how large [Spaceship Earth] is, he said. There is still a lot of debris that needs to be picked up. Monday was the first day for early voting in Seminole. And officials with the Supervisor of Elections Office said the countys eight early voting sites will be open from 7 a.m. through 7 p.m. through Nov. 6, despite localized flooding at the East Branch, 310 Division St., in Oviedo; and at the North Branch, 150 N. Palmetto Ave., in Sanford. Even though those two branch libraries are closed, the meeting rooms where residents can cast early ballots remain open, said Chris Anderson, Seminoles supervisor of elections. mcomas@orlandosentinel.com Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu Read also: What are dirty bombs and what you should know Russian Defense Minister Shoigus calls with his U.S., French and British counterparts and false warnings alleging Ukraines possession of a dirty bomb and planning of its use are likely sought to slow or suspend Western military aid to Ukraine and possibly weaken the NATO, attempting to scare some of its members. Read also: Dirty nuclear blackmail is a reason for tough preventive steps The Governments of the United States, France and the United Kingdom on Oct. 23 already released a joint statement about their intentions to continue supporting Ukraine, discarding Russias transparently false allegations that Ukraine is allegedly preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. A dirty bomb is usually a conventional explosive laced with radioactive material that is not a nuclear weapon, the ISW explained. The Kremlin is unlikely to be preparing an imminent false-flag dirty bomb attack. Shoigus claims, widely supported by Russian propaganda, further a longstanding Russian information campaign. The Kremlin has repeatedly claimed that Western states will help Ukraine conduct a false-flag WMD attack since the earliest stages of its invasion of Ukraine in February, ISW analysts wrote. Read also: Kuleba and Grossi, in bomb shelter, discuss security zone around Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed it had information the US was preparing provocations to accuse the Russian Armed Forces of using chemical, biological, or tactical nuclear weapons in April. Putin claimed in his pre-invasion speech on Feb. 24 that Ukraine was preparing for a nuclear attack against Russia, and Russian state disinformation outlets repeatedly claimed Western states were supporting Ukraines development of nuclear weapons and planning false-flag attacks. Shoigus claims likely do not portend Russian preparations to use non-strategic nuclear weapons in Ukraine either, the ISW believes. Story continues They stated on Sept. 30 that ISW cannot forecast the point at which Putin would decide to use nuclear weapons. Such a decision would be inherently personal, but Putins stated red lines for nuclear weapon use have already been crossed in this war several times over without any Russian nuclear escalation. Read also: Reznikov talks with Turkish, French and British counterparts after Shoigus lies Under formal Russian nuclear doctrine, Russia does not need a further event to justify nuclear weapons use. Therefore, Shoigus false calls and threats, amplified by Russian state media, are likely intended to intimidate Western states into cutting or limiting support for Ukraine, concluded the ISW experts. The reason for this campaign may be Russia's continued military setbacks and the likely loss of western Kherson by the end of the year. Key inflections in ongoing military operations on Oct. 23: Russian authorities likely cut internet access in Kherson on Oct. 22 to limit local reporting of Russian evacuations to the east bank of the Dnipro River. Ukrainian and Russian sources reported fighting near Siversk, Soledar, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Mariinka in eastern Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian forces repelled Ukrainian ground attacks in western Donetsk Oblast and northwestern Kherson Oblast. Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces conducted counter-offensive operations in the direction of Kreminna and Svatove. Russian forces struck Zaporizhzhya City, Mykolaiv and surrounding areas with Shahed 136 drones and S-300 missiles. Ukrainian sources reported that Russian forces targeted Nikopol and Marhanets with multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) strikes. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force Command claimed that Ukrainian forces have shot down a total of 273 Iranian-provided Shahed-136 drones since Russia began using them in Ukraine on Sept. 13. A Ukrainian government source reported that Iranian instructors in Belarus (in addition to previously reported instructors in Crimea) aided Russian forces in the coordination of previous Shahed-136 drone strikes against Kyiv Oblast and northern and western oblasts in Ukraine. Russian media continued to set conditions to blame Ukraine for the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, which Russian forces will likely destroy to slow advancing Ukrainian forces. Russian sources widely discussed the construction of defensive positions in Russias Kursk Oblast. A Ukrainian source reported that Russian authorities in Krasnodar Krai have indefinitely extended the vacations (meaning forced abductions as part of an ethnic cleansing campaign) of children from Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhya Oblast. Russian sources reported that private businesses are offering to train mobilized men on privately owned military and medical equipment in exchange for money. Another Russian fighter aircraft crashed into a two-story building in Novo-Lenino, Irkutsk Oblast. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Kody Brown, Truely Brown, and Christine Brown. TLC; TLC; TLC Christine and Kody Brown's daughter Truely reacted to their split on Sunday's episode. She told her mom the news was "a little bit of a heartbreak" at first. She told cameras in an interview that the fact that her mom told her last felt like "a betrayal." Kody and Christine Brown's youngest daughter Truely had a surprising reaction to learning her parents had split up on Sunday's episode of TLC's "Sister Wives." "The realization that everybody knew before me... it did kind of feel like a betrayal," she told cameras in her first solo interview about her parents' breakup, noting that she was going to be "affected the most" by it. Speaking with her mother about the news, Truely, who is now 12 but was 11 years old at the time the scenes were filmed, admitted that it was easier to learn about the split after it had happened rather than at a more uncertain time. "But I kind of wish that you didn't keep it a secret from me for so long," she added. Kody, Christine, and Truely Brown in 2020. Christine Brown on Instagram Truely told Christine that "it was a bit of a heartbreak at first" when she learned her parents were splitting up but insisted she was "fine now." She even said that she "noticed the signs" that her mother might not be happy. Truely was also understandably upset that she only had a few months left in Arizona at the time the conversation was filmed. (Truely and Christine have since moved back to Utah.) Kody and Christine announced to the public that they were splitting up in November 2021 after over 25 years of "spiritual" marriage. Season 17 of "Sister Wives" has documented the complex nature of the split for viewers. One of the many points of contention for the exes involved when to tell Truely, their youngest of six kids together, that their union was over and that Truely and Christine would be moving from Arizona to Utah. Christine and Kody on the first episode of "Sister Wives." TLC On a previous episode, Christine wanted to tell Truely the news alongside Kody as soon as possible before it "accidentally" slipped out, since nearly everyone in the Brown family knew except for Truely. Story continues Kody was resistant, and Christine's fear eventually came true. She was talking on the phone about the move to Utah with her older daughter Mykelti, 26, and Truely overheard. Instead of only giving Truely bits of information about the upcoming changes in her life, Christine decided to tell Truely that they were moving because she and Kody were "already divorced." Since the former partners were never legally married, there were no papers to file to mark the end of their union. "Even though Truely's saying she's okay, she's just an 11-year-old kid," Christine told cameras in a solo interview in Sunday's episode. "Is she 100 percent okay? No! Gosh, no. How can she process the heartache and the frustration and the anger and the sadness? She can't process it all. That's gonna take time." Christine and Truely Brown. TLC;TLC In his own solo interview for Sunday's episode, Kody said Christine was being "unfair with me and to me" when it came to Truely. He said Christine was "leading Truely" to "blowing me off." Kody said that when he did get to talk to Truely about the split the day after she found out, she seemed to handle it "very well." "But maybe she just buried it emotionally," he added. "Sister Wives" airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC. Read the original article on Insider Two people were killed in a mass shooting at a high school in Missouri, police said. The violence took place shortly after 9am at Central VPA High School in St Louis, the St Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Lt Colonel Michael Sack said that police located the shooter, a 20-year-old male, minutes after shots were reported and that he was fatally shot by officers after engaging in gunfire. Eight victims who sustained injuries ranging from gunshot wounds to cardiac arrest were transported to a hospital. An adult woman and a female student, whose body is still inside the building, have been pronounced dead. Investigators on the scene have located the gunmans car and are searching it for evidence. A bomb squad is assisting the search. Mr Sack said that the school was locked, and seven security guards were at the scene at the time of the shooting. Law enforcement knows the shooters relationship with the school but that information is not being released yet, Mr Sack said. A student also told KMOV-TV that they were in a dance class when a male with a long gun stormed inside the room and asked, Are you ready to die? Another student, 16-year-old Taniya Gholston, recounted the moments of fear as she made eye contact with the gunman. (AP) All I heard was two shots and he came in there with a gun, Ms Gholston told the Post-Dispatch. And I was trying to run and I couldnt run. Me and him made eye contact but I made it out because his gun got jammed. But we saw blood on the floor. Having to be here is heartbreaking as a mother, St Louis Tishaura Jones said at the scene. My son [called and] said, Mommy, you sound stressed. Im stressed and Im heartbroken. Heartbroken for these families who send their children to school hoping they [are] safe. Disturbing videos and images from the scene show law enforcement helping students come out of the building and escape the violence. Several students told the Post-Dispatch they first thought it was a drill, but later heard the principal say the code word for a shooting. Once they realised the magnitude of the threat, students jumped out of windows or cornered inside their classrooms. Story continues Once you heard the boom, Michael De Filippo, a teacher at Central VPA told the Post-Dispatch. All the chuckling and laughing in the back of the room stopped. Teens are being transported in buses to a safe area in Gateway STEM High School, where they are being reunited with their parents. All the schools in the St Louis public school district were put on a hard lockdown. School officials said that counselors will be made available for teens in every school. The FBI and state authorities have joined the investigation. This is a developing story ... check again for updates. One of the first rioters to breach the Capitol on Jan. 6 has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for barging through a shattered window and helping chase a police officer near the Senate chamber. Hunter Seefried watched as another rioter Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola used a police shield to shatter a Capitol window, triggering the breach of the building. Seefried then helped clear glass from the window frame and entered the building. He was accompanied by his father, Kevin Seefried, who infamously wielded a Confederate flag inside the Capitol. The elder Seefried, who is due to be sentenced in January, was granted permission to attend his sons sentencing but didnt appear to be in the courtroom. Hunter Seefrieds mother, girlfriend, brother and two family friends were in attendance. U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden described Seefrieds conduct as a flagrant affront to our system of government that was made more appalling by his participation in the chase of U.S. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman through the Senate halls. The sentencing is the latest effort by judges in the U.S. District Court of Washington D.C. to figure out punishment for crimes that defy comparison to any others in U.S. history. The Justice Department has called its investigation of that days events as the largest investigation in U.S. history and have charged more than 850 people with crimes ranging from simple trespassing to seditious conspiracy. Judges have typically reserved their harshest penalties for rioters who pre-planned efforts to disrupt the transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden, sometimes as part of groups like the far right Proud Boys or Oath Keepers. Theyve also delivered the stiffest sentences to those who engaged in violence against police, 140 of whom were injured defending the Capitol. Hundreds of rioters have pleaded guilty to their roles in the events of Jan. 6, and dozens more have been convicted by juries, who have delivered guilty verdicts on every charge theyve received so far. McFadden has dealt the government its only Jan. 6 trial defeats, acquitting a small number of rioters on several charges in bench trials, in which the defendants waive their right to a jury. However, he has also found several rioters guilty of felony offenses and doled out significant terms of incarceration in some of those cases. Story continues McFadden found both Seefrieds guilty after a bench trial in June. Though prosecutors had asked that the younger Seefriend receive 64 months in prison, McFadden described their recommendation as overly harsh given that Seefriend is not charged with committing any violence. He also appeared swayed by Seefrieds tearful statement of remorse, in which he described Jan. 6 as a stain on his character and on the country. I believe you are a good man who messed up badly, McFadden said after describing Seefrieds actions as an element of the national embarrassment that the Jan. 6 attack represents. But McFadden also said that Seefried, who was 21 at the time of the Capitol breach, appeared to suffer from an impulsiveness that is in part attributable to your age. Seefried and his attorney also at times suggested that the younger Seefried had been heavily influenced by his father, who brought the family to Washington for Donald Trumps Jan. 6 rally and steered them toward the Capitol. Seefrieds mother, Stephanie, said that if her son hadnt gotten separated from her in the crowd, I would never have let this happen. Black Friday pricing: These Sony headphones are almost half-off on Amazon Canada (Photo via Amazon) We're still a few weeks out from Cyber Week, but that doesn't mean you can't already score a Black Friday-worthy deal on Amazon Canada. For a limited time, shoppers can save $150 on a pair of Sony noise-cancelling headphones and take them home for nearly 50 per cent off. To shop the deal and learn why reviewers say these multitasking headphones "excel at everything," check out the details below. Sony WH-XB910N Extra Bass Noise-Cancelling Headphones (Photo via Amazon) $198 $348 at Amazon The details These best-selling Sony headphones feature dual noise cancellation technology, allowing users to fully immerse themselves in their music, podcasts, videos and phone calls. They work simultaneously with up to two Bluetooth devices, effortlessly switching between phone calls, video chats, and more. The headphones are enabled with Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free use but also include an easy-to-use control panel if you prefer old-school control. The "Amazon's Choice" headphones offer up to 30 hours of battery life on a single charge. If you need to top up in a hurry, a quick 10-minute charge gives you an additional 4.5 hours of battery life. What people are saying The Sony headphones have racked up more than 4,200 reviews and a 4.4-star rating on Amazon a testament to their audio quality and comfort. According to one user, they "excel at everything." The noise cancellation is "amazing," they write. From the carrying case to the hands-free functions, everything is "very well thought out." The "audio quality makes me want to relax and take it all in," they add. Sony WH-XB910N Extra BASS Noise Cancelling Headphones (Photo via Amazon) $198 $348 at Amazon 'Probably the best I've ever owned' The Sony headphones are "probably the best I've ever owned," lauds another reviewer. "I use them daily," they're "very comfortable." Despite top marks for battery life, noise cancellation, and comfort, some Amazon shoppers weren't fans of the boosted bass feature. "One thing to remember" is that "these are extra bass headphones," writes one user. "It does not fit every music genre." The noise cancellation is "good," but the bass is "stupidly high," echoes another. The verdict If you're in the market for a new pair of headphones or want to beat the rush for the upcoming holiday season, these Sony noise-cancelling headphones have won the approval of thousands of Amazon shoppers. However, while some reviewers say they're the "best" headphones they've ever owned, some were unimpressed with the boosted bass feature something to keep in mind when placing your order. The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication. Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. (Bloomberg) -- An upcoming global summit on climate change is unlikely to result in more ambitious targets or additional financing for developing nations struggling to adapt, South Africas Environment Minister said. Most Read from Bloomberg Africa alone will need as much as $407 billion over the next 10 years to adapt to a warming planet, Barbara Creecy told a conference Monday. The issue is set to take center stage at next months COP27 gathering in Egypt but meetings held in the lead up indicate few fresh commitments are in the offing. We have seen devastating floods. We have also seen severe drought and of course we know that all of the small island states are facing rising sea levels, she said. We would like to see respect around the special needs and circumstances of our continent. Africa Heads for Climate Showdown With Rich Nations Over Oil Though Africa is the worlds least developed continent and produces just 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions responsible for heating the atmosphere, its due to suffer some of the worst consequences. Creecy is among the leading voices in Africa calling for more funds to help developing countries transition to renewable energy and buttress their infrastructure against increasingly extreme weather. Yet even getting rich nations to honor existing commitments is proving challenging, she said. For instance, last years COP26 climate talks in Glasgow yielded a pledge to double the financing available for adaptation by 2025 but gave few firm details. This has been rhetoric that weve heard over and over, she said. We need to understand how we are actually going to get to doubling this adaptation financing. Story continues Much of the adaptation financing made available so far has come in the form of loans, but Creecy said that wouldnt be enough to cover all of Africas needs and multilateral lenders would have to shift tack. We want to see a greater deployment of non-debt instruments, she said, some forms of transition have revenue streams but some dont. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. As deer mating season approaches, South Carolina drivers are urged to watch out for them. Due to an increase in population and commuters, the chances of a deer-vehicle collision are greater. Drivers in the state should watch for roaming white-tailed deer during the year, especially through their mating season from October to November. Approximately 45% of crashes happen during this time because deer increase their movement during mating. ALSO READ: Deer dilemma: SC city dealing with debate over intrusive neighbors Common times these accidents occur are at dawn and dusk. Unfortunately, this time is also a common commute time for many working adults or kids going to school. The South Carolina Department of Public Safety reports 2,500 to 3,000 deer-vehicle collisions in an average year. In 2021, the agency reported about 6,000 accidents. While deer season is already upon us, there are some simple common sense tips and tricks to drive safely. Read about them here. (WATCH BELOW: Residents express concerns after deer found severely injured in south Charlotte neighborhood) South Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC) intends to look into the proportion of stablecoins being used on crypto exchanges to prevent money laundering, local news agency News1 reported Monday. The FSC's "Risk Assessment Index Development, Improvement, and Application Methods Study for New Business Areas" report said that financial authorities consider stablecoins to be highly susceptible to money laundering. The regulator has therefore established a position that it should look into the proportion of stablecoins being used on exchanges as a means of addressing the threat of money laundering, according to News1's report. South Korean authorities have been proactive with regard to digital assets in recent years, with some 13 crypto-related bills awaiting debate in the country's parliament as of August. In June, the South Korean government set about forming a committee specifically to oversee the digital assets market, prompted by the collapse of the Terra network. Around 280,000 South Koreans were believed to have been victims of the plunge in the value of the Terra stablecoin UST and its sister token LUNA. Read more: S. Korean Watchdog Says $7.2B Transferred Overseas Mainly Through Crypto Exchanges: Report Photo: BIV Archives, submitted. The Catalyst pulp and paper mill in Crofton, along with two other Catalyst mills, was acquired by Paper Excellence in 2019. Paper Excellence, a Richmond-headquartered company that started in Canada with a single pulp mill in 2007, is now poised to become one of North Americas biggest pulp and paper companies. Last year, the company roughly doubled in size and international scope with the acquisition of Domtar for $3 billion and a Brazilian pulp and paper company for $2.9 billion. On October 31, shareholders with Montreal-based Resolute Forest Products (TSX:RFP) will vote on a proposal by Paper Excellence to acquire the company, through its new subsidiary Domtar and its affiliates (Karta Halten B.V. and Paper Excellence B.V., based in the Netherlands) for $2.7 billion. Should the deal be approved, Domtar, with headquarters in both Montreal and South Carolina, will become Resolutes parent company, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the U.S., with Paper Excellence the parent of Domtar. Based on the valuation of the deals, and the number of employees and assets that Paper Excellence will have acquired, it would put the company on par with Wester Fraser Timber (TSX:WFG), which has a market cap of $8.5 billion and is North Americas largest forestry company. Greenpeace and other environmental groups are raising concerns with the acquisition, however, with the release of a 70-page report in advance of the October 31 shareholder meeting a report that ties Paper Excellence to Indonesian conglomerate Sinar Mas and its affiliate, Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), and APPs questionable environmental and financial track record. The report says Paper Excellence is part of the same corporate group as APP and Sinar Mas. One Canadian pulp and paper industry insider who spoke to BIV News on background does not dispute the linkage, saying APP does appear to be a parent company of Paper Excellence, albeit distanced though a number of holding companies. It is increasingly important for stakeholders to ask: Who owns, controls, and benefits from Paper Excellence and its operating companies? says the report, Papering Over Corporate Control, by Greenpeace, the Environmental Paper Network, Rainforest Action Network and Woods and Wayside International. In conducting their due diligence, stakeholders will need to understand the connections between Paper Excellence and APP/Sinar Mas, and to assess the implications and potential risks of APP and Sinar Mas track records on environmental, social, and financial issues. The report adds the Competition Bureau of Canada and American Federal Trade Commissions Bureau of Competition may consider this analysis useful in assessing market concentration issues. It also says the report may be of interest to financing institutions. According to SEC filings, Domtar and its subsidiaries have secured debt financing commitments of up to US $1.5 billion from a number of lenders, including Barclays Bank PLC, Bank of Montreal, Wells Fargo Bank, and Royal Bank of Canada. The Greenpeace report also says Paper Excellence has an equity commitment of US$1.5 billion from an unidentified affiliate of Kata Halten B.V. APPs environmental and financial record In 2007, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) cited substantial, publicly available information that APP was involved in destructive forestry practices in Indonesia when it disassociated itself from APP. APP said in 2021 that it has been working to address issues with its forestry practices and become recertified, but to date the company remains disassociated with FSC. In 2001, APP, then publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange, called for a standstill of US$14 billion in loans and bonds in what the Wall Street Journal characterized as one of the largest defaults in Asian market history. APP was delisted from the NYSE, forced to restructure, and entered arrangements to repay some of its debts over a 13-year period. As for Paper Excellence, it is a private company owned by Jackson Widjaja (also sometimes listed as Jackson Widjaya Limantara), son of Teguh Ganda Widjaja, former president of Sinar Mas Group. Edwin Widjaja, Paper Excellences current vice president of pulp sales, was previously the fibre procurement manager for APP. The media-shy Jackson Widjaja has never granted an interview, and has no public profile. In its report, Greenpeace et al links Paper Excellence with Sinar Mas and APP through various family connections and holding companies. The report points out that, when Paper Excellence B.V., based in the Netherlands, bought its first mill in Saskatchewan in 2007 Meadow Lake Mechanical Pulp -- the company identified itself as a division of the Sinar Mas Group. In communications to the Saskatchewan Environmental Assessment Branch, Meadow Lake Mechanical Pulp described itself as a division of Sinarmas Group. A 2007 press release on the acquisition of Meadow Lake Mechanical Pulp said the purchaser is indirectly related to the Sinar Mas companies. More recently, the B.C. Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists details meetings with various cabinet ministers by former NDP MLA and cabinet minister Moe Sihota on issues of fibre security on behalf of Paper Excellence. The registry notes Sinar Mas Group as an affiliate with a direct interest in the outcome. Taken together, this nexus of family ties, overlapping management, and lobbyist filings indicate that Sinar Mas controls Paper Excellence, the report asserts. Paper Excellence has not yet responded to BIVs request for an interview. But in the report itself, officials with both Paper Excellence and APP disavow any connection with each other, apart from a family connection. Paper Excellence is entirely independent of APP/Sinar Mas, said Graham Kissak, vice president of corporate communications for Paper Excellence. Of course, it is well known that Jackson Wijaya (sic), the ultimate owner of PE, is the son of the current leader of APP/SMG. But Jackson continues to operate PE completely independently.There are no ownership or control links with APP/Sinar Mas or anybody else. Even if Paper Excellence is an affiliate of Sinar Mas and APP, it begs the question whether a parent companys environmental and financial history in Indonesia should refelct on Paper Excellences performance in Canada. The report is careful to note that it doesnt necessarily. In analyzing the linkages of Paper Excellence with APP and Sinar Mas, the authors of the report emphasize that APP and Sinar Mas respective performance and practices, either in the past or at present, may not be indicative of those of Paper Excellence and/or its affiliates, the report acknowledges. I think that is to be clear, that theres no formal allegations being made, Joshua Martin, director of Environmental Paper Network, told BIV News. The point of the report is that people need to do due diligence, and there are hidden risks that are not entirely clear to stakeholders because of the opaque structure (of the company). But they are risks because they have the same ultimate beneficiary. Financially, associations -- perceived or otherwise -- with APP could make it harder for Paper Excellence to borrow from Canadian or American lenders for its expansions. As for ESG issues, Paper Excellence operates very differently in Canada than APP operates in Indonesia, where APP sources 51% of its fibre for its pulp and paper mills from tree plantations and 44% from recycled paper, according to the companys sustainability reporting. Paper Excellence has five pulp mills in B.C., but no forestry tenure. The company buys sawmill waste and pulp logs from the open market, which is verified through chain of custody certifiers, including the Forest Stewardship Council. The company notes in its sustainability report that its use of pulp logs has increased since 2017, as the availability of sawmill waste has declined a B.C.-wide phenomenon resulting from a shrinking timber supply and the closure of several sawmills in recent years. Pulp and paper mills in B.C. are facing serious fibre supply challenges, which has resulted in or at least contributed to some pulp and paper mill curtailments, including by Paper Excellence, and could lead to more. Since 2020, Paper Excellence has permanently shuttered its Mackenzie pulp mill, indefinitely curtailed its paper mill in Powell River and plans to curtail its paper mill in Crofton by the end of this year, though its pulp mill there will remain in operation. As for the planned acquisition of Resolute Forest Products, Paper Excellence, through Domtar, is offering a 64% premium on Resolute stock, which jumped 10% July 6, from $16.59 to $26.72 per share when the planned acquisition was announced. Resolutes stock is currently trading above $28 per share. Resolutes market cap is $2.2 billion. Should the deal be approved by Resolute's shareholders, the report notes that Paper Excellence would rival West Fraser Timber for the title of largest North American forestry company. If the acquisition of Resolute Forest Products is approved by shareholders and regulators, Paper Excellence will own companies that employ more than 20,000 workers and that generated US$11 billion in revenue in 2021. The current largest wood products company based in Canada is West Fraser Timber, which had US$10.5 billion in revenue and 10,625 employees in 2021. Complex ownership Paper Excellence has a complex corporate structure involving a number of offshore holding companies. According to the Greenpeace report, Paper Excellence and Paper Excellence B.V. have been owned since 2012 by Elite Shine Investments Limited, incorporated in the Virgin Islands. It then traces Elite Shine to Capital Asset Holdings Bhd, then to Fortune Everrich Sdn Bhd and ultimately to Paper Excellence B.V. and Hervey Investments B.V. The Canadian assets are owned by Paper Excellence B.V. and Hervey Investments B.V., which also ultimately own Brazilian and French pulp mills. Domtar and its assets are now owned by Paper Excllence B.V., Karta Halten B.V. and Hervey Investments B.V. Responding to this complex ownership structure, Graham Kissack says in the Greenpeace report: "There is not, and never has been, an intention to create a corporate structure at Paper Excellence that is intended to hide anything. There are various factors to think about when building the corporate structure of a business. This is all the more relevant in the case of international business such as that of the PE Group. These include tax, corporate finance, allocation of corporate liability and the like. One summer night in 1994, Salesh Prasad got angry. He believed Thomas Ortiz had broken his car windows, so in revenge, Prasad shot Ortiz twice in the back of the head outside a market in Modesto. The judge sentenced Prasad to a minimum of 20 years in state prison. In 2021, the State Board of Parole granted him release after 26 years in prison, citing his good behavior and his long commitment to substance abuse recovery and therapy. They said congratulations. I said thank you, and I started crying said Prasad in a phone interview. But more than a year later, he is still not free. Thats because Prasad immigrated to the U.S. from Fiji when he was 6 years old, and though he entered the country legally, he was a legal permanent resident, i.e., a green card holder, and not a citizen. Upon his release from prison, Prasad was transferred to an immigration detention center, where he now fights his deportation to a country he can scarcely remember. His experience is hardly an isolated event. The Stanislaus County Sheriffs Department transferred 106 people from jail into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody from 2018-20. American Civil Liberties Union senior staff attorney Maria Romani said the Sheriffs Department numbers may represent an undercount. Its all part of an ongoing debate across the country about the role of so-called sanctuary cities and counties that limit the ability of ICE to deport immigrants. On Oct. 18, Sheriff Jeff Dirkse delivered his annual presentation to the Board of Supervisors on ICE. In 2021, the county transferred no one to ICE, he reported. But that was despite 30 attempts to do so. Values Act lays down the law The low numbers have little to do with county politics, according to Dirkse. Instead, the drop in ICE transfers comes as a response to a 2018 state law, known as the Values Act, that affects how police and sheriffs departments cooperate with immigration authorities. Any person who enters jail is fingerprinted, and the prints are accessible by ICE. But that data set is enormous, so ICE often relies on local authorities to sort through potential cases. The Values Act restricts the way law enforcement agencies communicate with ICE, allowing the Sheriffs Department to work with ICE only when an inmate has committed certain felonies. All misdemeanors do not qualify. Story continues Examples of the common crimes that could merit both prison and deportation include assault, possession of a weapon, crimes against children, and intent to traffic drugs. A DUI, for example, would be a misdemeanor and not lead to deportation unless another person is harmed. Since the law went into effect in 2018, ICE has requested and gained access to fewer people in the jail system. Its a waste of their time to ask for people we wont give them, Dirkse said in an interview. He also noted that the Sheriffs Department booked 25% fewer people into jail last year than in the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic. Romani, the ACLU attorney, questioned the sheriffs data and alleged that 2022 already has seen more ICE activity at the jails than last year. In a report this spring, the ACLU found that on average, the counties across the San Joaquin Valley transferred three times more people to ICE during 2018-20 than they disclosed to the Attorney Generals Office. She noted that the Values Act requires the Sheriffs Department to let people out of jail regardless of whether ICE shows up at their release. The report found that in 2018 and 2019, the Stanislaus Sheriffs Department illegally held certain immigrants in custody for extra time so ICE could pick them up. Dirkse, who became Sheriff in January 2019, says that much of the departments behavior predates his leadership. The ACLU shared one correspondence from 2021 the year the Sheriffs Department said it made zero transfers. In the note, the Sheriffs Department asked ICE what time its officers planned to arrive to pick up a person from jail. In an interview, Dirkse pointed out that the correspondence doesnt contradict his report to the Board of Supervisors. He could not comment on the individual case but reiterated that the department did coordinate with ICE last year to transfer 30 people who had committed eligible crimes. Its just that the ICE officers didnt show up when those people were released, he explained. They dont have the capacity. Lawmakers VISION fails On Aug. 18, 2021, guards started preparing Prasad for his release. He was able to change out of his prison uniform and into a new outfit his mother had bought for the occasion. A pair of shoes, a brand new pair of shorts, socks, everything, he said. Standing in his new clothes, he waited for the guards to drive him to the bus station, but instead, an ICE officer appeared and took custody of him. Soon, he was undressing again, this time to put on a red uniform for the Golden State Annex detention center in McFarland. The colors denote whether the immigrant has committed a crime. Red is for formerly convicted felons; orange is for everyone else. California should not subject these community members to a second, double punishment, and disregard their record of rehabilitation, stable reentry plans, and community support, purely because they are refugees or immigrants, wrote Assembly Members Ash Karla (D-San Jose), Wendy Carillo (D- Los Angeles), and Miguel Santiago (D- Los Angeles) in the introduction of a new bill, known as the VISION Act. It would have eliminated the transfers from jails or prison to ICE in all but a few cases, but it failed to pass the California State Senate this August. Its not double jeopardy, theyre two completely different things, Dirkse said. The first punishment is for the felony the person committed in Stanislaus County, and the second punishment is for violating immigration law, he explained. Though ICEs actions are beyond his control, he supports deporting undocumented immigrants convicted of heinous crimes. In general, he said, he supports liberal immigration policies coupled with tougher border security. He didnt specify what particular immigration policies he would support. In Prasads case, the first punishment was for committing a homicide. The second punishment was for not being a citizen. Romani and Prasad see that as an injustice and look to the VISION Act as a future. In the meantime, Prasad is applying for humanitarian relief, arguing that as a queer, Indo-Fijian man, he faces torture in his home country. Last month, the Stanislaus County Democratic Central Committee signed a resolution in favor of a pardon, but that decision lies outside Modesto and in the hands of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Stephen Fry has said Wikipedia editors must be exhausted after the recent weeks of chaos in British politics. The latest development in the blink-and-youll-miss-it news cycle came on Monday (24 October), as it was announced that Rishi Sunak will be the UKs third prime minister in three months. The former chancellor emerged victorious before the Tory leadership race had a chance to go to a vote, after rival Penny Mourdant dropped out minutes before the deadline to meet the threshold of 100 supporters needed to make it onto the ballot. The leadership race was triggered by Liz Trusss resignation last week, after she was prime minister for just a month and a half, following Boris Johnson, who stood down after, among other issues, Partygate and the Chris Pincher affair. Posting on Twitter before Sunaks triumph was announced on Monday, actor, comedian and writer Fry shared a screenshot of a Wikipedia entry titled October 2022 United Kingdom government crisis. On the page, readers were notified that this article is about the Truss government crisis. For the Johnson government crisis, see [link] July 2022 United Kingdom government crisis. In the caption on the image, Fry wrote: Those poor old Wikipedia editors must be exhausted... Those poor old Wikipedia editors must be exhausted... pic.twitter.com/3GJh2hgEYf Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) October 24, 2022 The news that Sunak will be the new prime minister comes after Johnson pulled out of the Tory leadership race. Last night (23 October), BBC News presenter Martine Croxall giggled about the Johnson news live on air, while presenting The Papers, and said it made her feel gleeful. She has been taken off air while the corporation looks into complaints of impartiality. (Bloomberg) -- Most Read from Bloomberg Rishi Sunak is set to be UK prime minister after his last remaining rival, Penny Mordaunt, pulled out of the race for 10 Downing Street. We all owe it to the country, to each other and to Rishi to unite and work together for the good of the nation, Mordaunt said in a statement on Twitter. The ruling Conservative Party confirmed Sunak, who is due to address rank-and-file MPs at 2:30 p.m., has been elected leader. Penny Mordaunt Pressed to Exit UK Leader Race as Sunak Advances It is a remarkable turnaround in Sunaks political fortunes, after the former Chancellor of the Exchequer quit Boris Johnsons government in July and then lost out to Liz Truss in the last Tory leadership contest over the summer. But his repeated warnings that her plans would trigger economic chaos proved correct and put him in pole position when Trusss premiership imploded. Even so, Sunak was no shoo-in given the bitterness and division in the Conservative Party. Hes still tarnished in the eyes of many Tory MPs for his role in Johnsons downfall, and the former prime ministers flirtation over the weekend with what would have been an outrageous comeback just months after being ousted briefly threatened to derail Sunaks hopes. Rivals Drop Out https://t.co/9sfWfgMBeS pic.twitter.com/s0EZGK66os Bloomberg UK (@BloombergUK) October 24, 2022 In the end, Johnson withdrew without ever showing he had the support of 100 Tory MPs needed to formally contest the leadership. Likewise, Mordaunt pulled out shortly before influential Tory MP Graham Brady was due to announce which candidates had surpassed that threshold. It effectively meant a coronation for Sunak, 42, who becomes the UKs first Hindu prime minister and the countrys youngest in more than 200 years. Grassroots Tory members, who had the final say when Truss beat out Sunak last time, will have no input this time around. Story continues But Sunak now faces a daunting task to try to bring unity to a party that has been through months of upheaval and is still tearing itself apart over fundamental issues including Brexit and the economy. Some Tory MPs even say the party no longer has a mandate to govern, after a second change of leader since Johnson won the general election in 2019. It will now be impossible to avoid a GE, former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said on Twitter. Turmoil Trusss decision to step down followed weeks of turmoil as investors jettisoned UK assets. Her economic plan, including borrowing to pay for massive tax cuts, rattled markets and turned voters further against the Tories in record numbers. A Long To-Do List for the UKs Next Leader: Balance of Power After firing her first finance minister and long-time political ally, Kwasi Kwarteng, Truss brought in Jeremy Hunt -- who backed Sunak on Sunday -- to try to restore calm. Hunt managed that to a degree, but also put the government on course to impose another punishing round of austerity at a politically sensitive time as Britons struggle with soaring living costs. In a column for the Telegraph newspaper late Sunday, Hunt indicated that he and Sunak are on the same page on how to tackle the economy. Sunak will turn the page on what went wrong, take decisions in the national interest and rebuild the extraordinary potential of our economy, Hunt said. Hunt is due to deliver a major statement on the Treasurys tax-and-spending plans on Oct. 31, a date picked to better inform the Bank of England on how quickly it should raise interest rates. UK bonds surged at Mondays open on expectations of a Sunak premiership. --With assistance from Joe Mayes and Alex Wickham. (Updates with Sunak to address Tory MPs in second paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Rishi Sunak will be the UKs next prime minister after Penny Mordaunt withdrew from the contest. Ms Mordaunt had been the only other MP left in the race after Boris Johnson dramatically withdrew on Sunday night. But she faced an uphill battle to secure the 100 nominations needed to stay in contention. She had just 24 declared supporters. By mid-morning the writing appeared to be on the wall, when one of those, former minister George Freeman, appeared to openly call on her to pull out for the sake of party unity. Team Morduant battled on however, claiming that they had now secured 90 supporters, although the list of those who had done so publicly barely rose. Mr Sunak is to address Tory MPs at 2.30pm. In a statement on Twitter, Ms Mordaunt said it was clear that MPs felt we need certainty. She added: They have taken this decision in good faith for the good of the country. Members should know that this proposition has been fairly and thoroughly tested by the agreed 1922 process. As a result, we have now chosen our next Prime Minister. This decision is an historic one and shows, once again, the diversity and talent of our party. Rishi has my full support. I am proud of the campaign we ran and grateful to all those, across all sides of our party, who gave me their backing. We all owe it to the country, to each other and to Rishi to unite and work together for the good of the nation. There is much work to be done. More follows .... BALTIMORE Michele Kimery, a wife, mother of two adult sons and grandmother of two grandsons, recently reflected on the lessons shes learned from her battle with breast cancer. Kimery, a business services specialist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, is celebrating five years as a breast cancer survivor. Kimery was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, a less common and aggressive form of breast cancer, at age 47 in August 2017, two weeks before her oldest sons wedding. Breast cancer has no concern with timing, Kimery said. Her cancer was diagnosed after a routine mammogram and diagnostic ultrasound that showed concern, she said. She did not have any symptoms for six months before her diagnosis, other than some breast tenderness, which made waiting for the results difficult, she said. One of the hardest parts of the journey was waiting for the biopsy results to return, Kimery said. I was hoping for the best but also preparing for difficult news to be shared, which I did receive from my doctor via a phone call while I was at work. The two weeks after her diagnosis were packed with doctors appointments and routine testing to determine her treatment plan, which would consist of eight chemotherapy treatments with several of the strongest chemo drugs available, she said. Her treatments started in August 2017 and ended the following January, she said. She was fortunate to have what is called a complete response to chemo, which made for a better long-term prognosis, she said. Chemo was followed up in February 2018 with a single mastectomy and then reconstructive surgery at the end of 2018, she said. For several years after diagnosis and treatment, she dealt with some long-lasting side effects, such as diminished energy levels, thinking and memory problems, anxiety about a recurrence of cancer and survivors remorse, she said. Now, she has appointments every three months with three types of doctors an oncologist, a surgeon and a plastic surgeon. She said her journey battling cancer has taught her to enjoy life and avoid unnecessary stress. Story continues When you receive a cancer diagnosis, all the small stuff that we stress about in life immediately melts away, Kimery said. Your focus on what is most important in life becomes crystal clear, as you now face your mortality. She also learned how to use the love from her friends and family as a source of strength. After making the decision about being open and going public about my diagnosis with my family, friends and colleagues at my workplace, I learned that the love, kindness and generosity of those in my life would give me the strength and determination to walk through a very challenging and difficult journey, Kimery said. Kimery has gotten deeper into her faith as a Christian. She has learned to look at cancer as a chapter in her life that she can use to support others, she said. Youll have your own battle scars, just as I do, Kimery said. Will life be exactly the way it was? Most likely not. But once the storm passes, you will find a new normal, slowly, and day by day you will heal physically and emotionally, and you may even find that you are a little stronger than what you were initially. By Maya Gebeily BEIRUT (Reuters) - The first Syrian refugees in Lebanon to return home under a new repatriation scheme will leave on Wednesday, but few in worn-down camps in the central Bekaa Valley said they would sign up. Rights groups fear the programme may not be as voluntary as it purports to be, at a time when concerns are growing about a policy of coercion they say is already in force in Turkey, where 3.6 million Syrians who have fled their country are registered. "How are you supposed to go while there is a war?" said Manal, a 29-year-old Syrian woman eking out a precarious existence in a Bekaa Valley camp, where she is staying put. This year, both host countries have ramped up pressure on refugees to leave. In Lebanon, which is hosting hundreds of thousands of Syrians, President Michel Aoun whose term ends on Oct. 31 said its General Security agency would facilitate voluntary returns, reprising its role from 2018 in the repatriation of around 400,000 who had escaped the violence that followed the 2011 protests against President Bashar al-Assad. It checked with authorities in Damascus if those individuals had any arrest warrants against them and then provided transportation across the border. United Nations refugee agency UNHCR did not back that process but its representatives were on-site if refugees had questions, and may play the same role this time. Amnesty International said it understood upcoming returns would take place through the same mechanism. However, "Syria is not safe for returns," said the global rights group's Syria researcher Diana Semaan. It found that past returnees had been subject to rights violations including detention, torture, rape and forced disappearance. General Security did not respond to requests by Reuters for comment. But Semaan said it was unlikely that refugees indicating they wanted to return had accurate information on security and service provision in their hometowns. Story continues Manal's home province Deir Ezzor, Syria's easternmost, has like much of the country been carved into slices by the warring parties. Islamist militants carry out hit-and-run attacks there, while U.S.-backed Kurds control some areas and government-aligned militias others. Manal lost her two sons to an air strike there several years ago. She fled to Lebanon with her two daughters and earns a little over $2 a day sorting scrapwood to sell for bonfires. "It's easier to live this humiliating life than lose more people from my life. I'm not ready to lose my girls in the war, she told Reuters. 'TERRIFIED TO GO OUT' In Turkey, meanwhile, advocacy group Human Rights Watch on Monday accused authorities of arbitrarily detaining and deporting hundreds of Syrian refugees this year, in violation of the non-refoulement principle of not forcing asylum seekers back to a country where they may be persecuted. It said Turkish authorities had arrested Syrians in streets, homes and workplaces, then beaten them, pushed them to sign documents claiming they were voluntarily returning, and forced them into Syria at gunpoint. Some were from government-held zones but were pushed into rebel-held areas where clashes broke out this month. Turkey's interior ministry declined to comment to Reuters. The head of its Presidency for Migration Management, Savas Unlu told HRW their allegations were "baseless" and that Turkey complied with international migration law. HRW researcher Nadia Hardman told Reuters that Syrian refugees in Turkey were now "terrified to go out men in particular. They say that fear of running into checkpoints reminds them of Syria." Muhanad, a 30-year-old Syrian living in Turkey, was detained for just under a week after authorities found him in a province other than the one where he registered for protected status. After threatening to deport him to government-held parts of Syria, where he is wanted, authorities dumped him and three dozen other Syrians at a junkyard hours away from their homes. Muhanad now avoids public transport so he is not detained again. "If I'm not working I just sit at home, and it's wearing down my mental health," he told Reuters. "I can't go back to Syria, but I can't stay here either." (Reporting by Maya Gebeily; editing by John Stonestreet) Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, in St. Louis. AP Photo/Jeff Roberson Three people including a gunman were killed in a high school shooting in St. Louis, police said. Police have not revealed how the gunman was able to enter the building. Six others were injured and are being treated for shrapnel wounds, gunshot wounds, and cardiac arrest. A high school shooting in St. Louis, Missouri left three people dead, including one adult woman, one teen girl, and the shooting suspect, local police said. It is still unclear how the shooter got into the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in South St. Louis and police refused to give an answer. "The doors were locked," St. Louis Police Department Chief of Police Michael Sack told reporters Monday. "The school was closed." Sack praised the school's security team, saying they did an "outstanding job identifying the suspect's efforts to enter and immediately notified other staff and made sure that we were contacted." "The door did cause pause for the suspect. It bought us some time," Sack said. When asked by another reporter how the gunman got into the school if the doors were locked, Sack said "we're not going to talk about that." Sack noted that the shooting took place on the third floor of the school but it's not clear how the gunman got there. Sack said that his department got a 911 call about an active shooter at the school at 9:10 a.m. local time. Within minutes, officers arrived at the scene and went into the school as kids were fleeing out of the building. The suspect identified as a man "about 20 years of age" was carrying a long gun, Sack said. When police found the shooter in the school, they exchanged gunfire, ultimately hitting the gunman, Sack added. The shooter was then taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. His cause of death and identity have not been released. Eight people total, including the gunman, were transported from the school to local hospitals, Sack said. Story continues One of those people was the adult woman who died of gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the hospital as well. The teen girl who died was pronounced dead at the scene from suspected injuries from gunshots. Those still being treated in the hospital face a variety of injuries, Sack said, including shrapnel injuries and gunshot wounds. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that someone was being treated for cardiac arrest. The St. Louis Police Department and Central Visual and Performing Arts High School did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. Read the original article on Insider Oxford High School shooting suspect Ethan Crumbley. David Guralnick-Pool/Getty Images Teenager Ethan Crumbley pleaded guilty Monday to all 24 charges against him for allegedly perpetrating a massacre at an Oxford, Michigan high school that left four students dead and a tight-knit community reeling. Crumbley pleaded guilty to charges of terrorism and first-degree murder for the shooting at Oxford High School in November 2021. Crumbley, then a 15-year-old sophomore at the school, shot and killed four of his classmates: Tate Myre, 16; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Hana St. Juliana, 14; and Justin Shilling, 17, and also injured seven other people. The Associated Press reported Crumbley showed no emotions when he pleaded guilty, simply replying "yes" when the judge asked if he "knowingly, willfully and deliberately" chose to kill other students. The charges Crumbley pleaded guilty to typically come with a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole in Michigan. However, even though he was tried as an adult, AP noted that teenagers are entitled to have a lawyer argue for a shorter sentence and the possibility of parole. Following the shooting, there was a high level of scrutiny placed on Crumbley's parents for their alleged complicity in the attack, and the pair are facing separate manslaughter charges after allegedly purchasing for their son the gun he used to carry out the attack. While his parents have denied any wrongdoing, USA Today reported that Crumbley dropped a bombshell in court Monday when he revealed the gun was easily accessible and "not locked," contradicting his parents' claim that it was stowed securely. You may also like Magic Johnson reportedly in talks to purchase record-breaking stake in NFL franchise 7 brutally funny cartoons about Liz Truss' resignation Arming Ukraine Photo: The Canadian Press Chief of the Defence Staff Wayne Eyre arrives to appear before the House of Commons standing committee on National Defence in Ottawa, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022. Eyre was warned by his senior legal and medical advisers last year that requiring all troops to be vaccinated against COVID-19 was unnecessary ? and that doing so "may not constitute a legal order." THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick The commander of the Canadian Armed Forces was warned by his senior legal and medical advisers last year that requiring all troops to be vaccinated against COVID-19 was unnecessary and that doing so "may not constitute a legal order." The message was delivered to chief of the defence staff Gen. Wayne Eyre in an August 2021 briefing note, two months before then-defence minister Harjit Sajjan directed him to impose a vaccine requirement for all troops. In two separate interviews with The Canadian Press, the defence chief described the briefing note as one of several legal opinions received before handing down his order in October 2021. "We get lots of legal opinions out there, but we can't allow one legal opinion from stopping us from doing the right thing," Eyre said. "And here, the right thing is ensuring our operational readiness so that we can protect Canada and Canadian interests around the world." However, Catherine Christensen, the Edmonton lawyer who obtained the briefing note through the Access to Information Act, argued the document shows Eyres order was driven by politics. The Aug. 27, 2021, briefing note was presented to Eyre by Maj.-Gen. Trevor Cadieu, who was one of the defence chiefs strategic advisers at the time. It was prepared "in close collaboration" with senior medical, legal, political and public affairs officers and it incorporates legal analysis from the Department of Justice. Citing concerns about a fourth wave of COVID-19 driven by the Delta variant, the advisers noted the benefits of vaccination in preventing the spread of disease, adding vaccine mandates "may be effective in increasing coverage rates." They also described the purpose of a broader federal vaccine mandate would be "not only to protect public health, but also for the federal government to demonstrate leadership and assist in economic recovery." On Aug. 13, 2021, the Liberal government had announced a vaccine mandate for federal public servants, as well as workers and travellers in federally regulated transportation sectors. The memo suggested a universal mandate was unnecessary to protect the health of the Canadian Armed Forces, given that more than 90 per cent of Armed Forces personnel were already vaccinated at that time. The early analysis noted "the level of legal risk" for a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy would depend on the final details, as well as "the strength of the public health rationale and how the policy will be implemented." It said that would include any accommodations and mitigation measures for those either unable or, notably, unwilling to be vaccinated, which it recommend to help defend against Charter challenges. The advisers also warned that Armed Forces members could try to push back against the vaccine mandate on safety grounds. At that time, Health Canada had authorized COVID-19 inoculations under a special interim order due to the emergency nature of the pandemic. "Prior to full approval of the vaccines under Canada's Food and Drug Regulations, CAF members ordered to receive COVID-19 vaccination might argue that they are being ordered to accept a new and potentially dangerous medical substance into their body," the note said. The interim order, which expired in September 2021, allowed the government to authorize vaccines faster than normal where the benefits were deemed to outweigh the risks. In their note, Eyres advisers cited the case of former Sgt. Mike Kipling, who was charged in 1998 under Section 126 of the National Defence Act, which allows the military to charge members who "wilfully and without reasonable excuse" refuse an order to get a vaccine. Kipling had been ordered to take an anthrax vaccine while serving in Kuwait, but refused because he considered the drug unsafe. The vaccine was unlicensed for use in Canada. A military judged eventually ruled in favour of Kipling, agreeing his Charter rights were infringed. The Forces appealed and a new court martial was ordered, but the military decided to drop the proceedings. Eyre was told military personnel who refused a vaccination order could be similarly charged under military law, but "there is a significant risk in ordering CAF members to accept COVID-19 vaccination, as it may not constitute a legal order." The memo also said a mandate for the Armed Forces "would not only be punitive in nature, but would also be counter to the successful efforts made to date to encourage maximum voluntary uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine." The advisers suggested the military share its voluntary approach with other federal departments as a "best practice." The advisers concluded by expressing support for the federal government's intent to bring in a proof-of-vaccination policy, but again cautioned that the rollout would need "prudent planning" that kept in mind the challenges they described. Eyre first ordered all Armed Forces members to attest they had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on Oct. 6, 2021. Rather than charging those who refused to comply, the military forced about 300 non-compliant Armed Forces members out of uniform using an administrative process called a 5F release that declares them unfit for service. About 100 troops have left voluntarily. Hundreds more had permanent censures put on their files. Outside the military, most federal employees were allowed to go on leave without pay and returned to their positions after the mandate was suspended in June. The Armed Forces' vaccination policy does allow exemptions for medical reasons, religious beliefs or any other grounds of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act, to be determined on a case-by-case basis. In late April, a parliamentary committee heard that more than 1,300 members had requested exemptions, but nearly 1,000 had been denied. Retired lieutenant-colonel Rory Fowler, who is now a lawyer specializing in military cases, said the decision to use 5F releases instead of charging unvaccinated troops means the Armed Forces doesnt have to defend the legality of the order in court. And while troops can file a grievance, it currently takes about three years for a case to be heard with the defence chief serving as the final authority. Christensen, who is representing a number of those unvaccinated troops who lost their jobs, said she believes the briefing note explains why the military is using 5F releases instead of charging those who refuse to comply with Eyres order. "They didnt want their mandate or their order for everyone to be vaccinated to be challenged in court," said Christensen. She said Eyre had the power "to order everyone to be vaccinated. Full stop. Then if they did not want to be vaccinated, they had to come up with a reasonable excuse at court martial. (Eyre) didnt do that." Fowler has previously raised concerns about the military trying to punish soldiers without involving the courts in other situations, and believes there are legitimate questions about the legality of the vaccine order. "What I believe is it should be tested," he said. Eyre and his office have not said exactly why that decision was made. His office said in a statement that "administrative measures and the administrative review process was considered the most appropriate approach." Asked if the decision to avoid the courts was the result of concerns about the legality of his order, Eyre said: "Not at all. We had numerous legal opinions." The defence chief also said that while Sajjan directed him to include the Armed Forces in the broader federal governments mandate, "I was in agreement at that time, I issued the order. Make no mistake, it's my order." Hossein Amir-Abdollahian According to the report, Amir-Abdollahian made the announcement at the 18th session of the General Assembly of the Association of News Agencies of the Asia-Pacific Region (OANA), stating that Iran didnt supply Russia with any weapons for the war with Ukraine. Read also: Iran condemns calls to investigate supply of suicide drones to Russia In a conversation with (EU diplomacy chief Josep) Borrell, I said that we are ready to send a group of military experts from Iran to investigate along with Ukraine the allegations of Russia using Iranian-made drones in the war in Ukraine, the minister said. He added that if the use of the Iranian drones by the Russian invaders is confirmed, Iran will not remain indifferent. On Oct. 19, The New York Times reported that the Russian military was having difficulties using Iranian kamikaze drones to carry out attacks against Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. Also, the newspapers sources also said that Iranian instructors were present in Crimea, where they train Russian military personnel. Read also: Iran denies sending military instructors to occupied Crimea Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani later denied the allegation that Iranian instructors were present in Russia-occupied Ukrainian territories. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE), Israel's sole public trading platform for equity and debt, is looking to set up a blockchain-based digital asset trading platform, according to a strategy document published Monday. Establishing the platform is one of four goals outlined in the document, which lays out the institution's road map for the next five years. The TASE is looking to "promote the implementation of innovative technologies" and will explore the use of distributed ledgers (DLT) for immutable record-keeping, tokenization and smart contracts (which can be used to execute crypto trades) to improve existing markets infrastructure, and offer digital asset "services and products." "We see in the next five years a critical window of opportunity for the integration of the Israeli Stock Exchange in the technological revolution that the world's capital markets are going through," CEO Itai Ben-Zeev said in the document. Jurisdictions around the world are warming to the idea of incorporating elements of the technologies that underpin crypto markets into existing markets infrastructure. For instance, the European Union has approved a pilot to test the use of DLT for settling trades directly instead of through intermediaries. Israeli regulators and lawmakers, meantime, have also indicated an interest in encouraging regulated crypto activity in the country. Earlier this year, the country's capital markets regulator handed out its first licenses for crypto service providers, and TASE is working with the Ministry of Finance to issue a blockchain-based digital state bond. The inclusion of crypto in TASE's strategy is a "stamp of approval" for crypto and shows the technology that powers digital assets can improve the traditional financial services sector according to Ben Samocha, industry advocate and founder of Israeli crypto media outlet CryptoJungle. "The inefficiencies of our current systems must be fixed with transparency, digitalization and faster settlements. Every traditional firm, public or private, will now have to better understand the impact of blockchain technology on their business models," Samocha said. Story continues TASE shares rose 0.8% on the exchange. Read more: Central Banks of Israel, Norway and Sweden Team Up to Explore Retail CBDC Eighth-grade students at Wilson Middle School in San Diego sit at a classroom table. National test scores show that eighth-graders in nearly every state across the nation, including California, saw drops in average math scores since the pandemic. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) Eighth-graders in nearly every state across the nation and fourth-graders in a large majority of states, including California, saw significant drops in average math scores since the pandemic, reflecting "heartbreaking" academic setbacks for students across wide swaths of the country, according to the results of the "nation's report card" released Sunday. Average reading scores also declined in a majority of states, though California did not see a significant drop. The falling scores spanned the political and demographic makeup of states, making it difficult to draw simple conclusions about the role the length of pandemic-related campus closures played in student performance, officials said. Overall, scores in Los Angeles, while alarmingly low, showed signs of resilience compared with other large urban districts, and sagging or stalled California scores fared slightly better than national averages. The standardized test scores are especially concerning given that before the pandemic experts were already sounding the alarm about high rates of students across the nation not meeting basic proficiency in reading and math. "The data prior to the pandemic did not reflect an education system that was on the right track," said U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. "The pandemic simply made it worse. It took poor performance and dropped it down even further." That result, he said, is "heartbreaking and it's horrible." A survey administered along with the tests found many teachers expressed insecurity about their ability to help students catch up with about half saying they felt quite or extremely confident they would be able to help their students close pandemic-related gaps. The rigorous standardized assessment known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, was given to a sample of fourth- and eighth-graders in early 2022. The test is administered to students in all 50 states, allowing for comparisons across the country to pre-pandemic 2019. It also includes results for many of the nation's largest school districts, including Los Angeles Unified, which officials said was among the large districts whose scores, although low, reflected a "bright spot" of resilience. Story continues Across the country, only about one in four eighth-graders met standards for proficiency on the national math assessment, down from about one in three in 2019. In reading, about 31% of eighth-graders met standards for proficiency, down from about 34% in 2019. The drop in math scores was especially steep and widespread, particularly for eighth-graders, a year that is a crucial stepping stone for higher level math. In California, where the vast majority of schools were closed until spring 2021, scores fell by 6 points. In Texas and Florida where schools were able to reopen starting in fall 2020 scores fell by 7 points, and in Oklahoma, where schools could also reopen in fall 2020, they fell by 13 points. Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, said the National Assessment of Educational Progress results do not reveal clear-cut answers about how time spent in virtual classes affected students, given the student performance. "There's nothing in this data that says we can draw a straight line between the time spent in remote learning in and of itself, and student achievement," she said. A study earlier this year by researchers at Harvard University found that remote instruction was a primary driver of widening achievement gaps. Carr said there is more research to be done to understand what role remote learning did play, including other factors that affected students and teachers during the pandemic, like mental health, access to internet and the quality of remote learning. The quality of remote instruction was not uniform across the country. Some students spent the entire school day with a teacher for live virtual instruction, while others had minimal live lessons. Those who spent more live time online with a teacher showed better results. In a survey administered along with the national assessment, about 39% of eighth-graders who performed in the lowest quartile on the reading test said they participated in real-time video lessons with their teacher every day or nearly every day. Among those who performed in the highest quartile, about 74% said they had real-time lessons every day or nearly every day. In California, the results were less dire than some experts had feared given that the school districts were among the last in the nation to bring students back to campus. For California fourth-graders, math scores fell by 4 points. Texas and Florida saw 5-point drops, Colorado saw a 6-point drop and New York had a 10-point drop. In reading, in fourth and eighth grades, California students showed no significant change in scores, even as a majority of states showed drops. The results don't mean California students are thriving. Before the pandemic, California was underperforming compared with national averages in reading and math. The latest results mean that only about 30% of California eighth-graders are achieving proficiency in reading. About 23% are achieving proficiency in math. Los Angeles Unified, meanwhile, was among the large districts with scores that Carr said demonstrated "pockets of resilience amidst all the chaos of the pandemic." L.A. fourth-graders saw a 4-point drop in math. Thats significant, but smaller than the vast majority of large urban districts that participated in the test. San Diego, for example, saw an 8-point drop. New York saw a 9-point drop and Baltimore City schools saw a 15-point drop. The district was one of only four large school systems that saw no significant change in score for eighth-grade math. In eighth-grade reading, meanwhile, L.A. Unified student scores increased by 9 points. It was the only large district to post a gain. L.A. students, however, were also underperforming before the pandemic compared to with students in cities across the country. With the 2022 score increase, about 28% of L.A. eighth-graders achieved proficiency in reading. About 17% achieved proficiency in math. Supt. Alberto Carvalho said L.A. Unified took actions that benefited students, including swiftly pivoting to online learning. While he praised the gains, "there's a lot of work to be done." "The reality is that overall performance is still very low," he said. California education officials are expected on Monday to release the results of the state's Smarter Balanced assessments, which gauge how well students are doing meeting state standards in English language arts and math. Last month, Los Angeles Unified released the results of its state assessment scores, which showed about 72% of students not meeting state standards in math and about 58% not meeting standards in English. The dismal results in eighth-grade math on the national test were especially concerning because it comes at a pivotal moment for students, officials said. Declines were observed across most racial and ethnic groups and among higher and lower performing students. "Eighth grade is that gateway, to more advanced mathematical course taking," Carr said. She said students probably struggled more with math because it was more difficult for families to support students with math at home. While many families encourage reading at home, it's challenging for families to support math lessons. The data should help inform how schools approach student recovery, officials said. School systems are required to spend 20% of American Rescue Plan school relief funds to address learning loss. Roberto Rodriguez, assistant secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development at the U.S. Department of Education, noted that about 56% of schools are using high-dosage tutoring to help students recover from academic setbacks and about 75% are offering summer learning and enrichment programs. But it's not enough, he said. "We have to do more, and we have to spend more, and we have to approach that in a more urgent way," he said. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. WASHINGTON (AP) The COVID-19 pandemic caused historic learning setbacks for Americas children, sparing no state or region as it erased decades of academic progress and widened racial disparities, according to results of a national test that provide the sharpest look yet at the scale of the crisis. Across the country, math scores saw their largest decreases ever. Reading scores dropped to 1992 levels. Nearly four in 10 eighth graders failed to grasp basic math concepts. Not a single state saw a notable improvement in their average test scores, with some simply treading water at best. Those are the findings from the National Assessment of Educational Progress known as the nations report card which tested hundreds of thousands of fourth and eighth graders across the country this year. It was the first time the test had been given since 2019, and its seen as the first nationally representative study of the pandemics impact on learning. It is a serious wakeup call for us all, Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, a branch of the Education Department, said in an interview. In NAEP, when we experience a 1- or 2-point decline, were talking about it as a significant impact on a students achievement. In math, we experienced an 8-point decline historic for this assessment. Researchers usually think of a 10-point gain or drop as equivalent to roughly a year of learning. Its no surprise that children are behind. The pandemic upended everyday life and left millions learning from home for months or more. The results released Monday reveal the depth of those setbacks and the size of the challenge schools face as they help students catch up. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said its a sign that schools need to redouble their efforts, using billions of dollars that Congress gave schools to help students recover. Let me be very clear: These results are not acceptable, Cardona said. The NAEP test is typically given every two years. It was taken between January and March by a sample of students in every state, along with 26 of the nations largest school districts. Scores had been stalling even before the pandemic, but the new results show decreases on a scale not seen before. Story continues In both math and reading, students scored lower than those tested in 2019. But while reading scores dipped, math scores plummeted by the largest margins in the history of the NAEP program, which began in 1969. Math scores were worst among eighth graders, with 38% earning scores deemed below basic a cutoff that measures, for example, whether students can find the third angle of a triangle if theyre given the other two. Thats worse than 2019, when 31% of eighth graders scored below that level. No part of the country was exempt. Every region saw test scores slide, and every state saw declines in at least one subject. Several major districts saw test scores fall by more than 10 points. Cleveland saw the largest single drop, falling 16 points in fourth-grade reading, along with a 15-point decline in fourth-grade math. Baltimore and Tennessees Shelby County also saw precipitous declines. This is more confirmation that the pandemic hit us really hard, said Eric Gordon, chief executive for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. To help students recover, the school system has beefed up summer school and added after-school tutoring. Im not concerned that they cant or wont recover, Gordon said. Im concerned that the country wont stay focused on getting kids caught up. The results show a reversal of progress on math scores, which had made big gains since the 1990s. Reading, by contrast, had changed little in recent decades, so even this years relatively small decreases put the averages back to where they were in 1992. Most concerning, however, are the gaps between students. Confirming what many had feared, racial inequities appear to have widened. In fourth grade, Black and Hispanic students saw bigger decreases than white students, widening gaps that have persisted for decades. Inequities were also reflected in a growing gap between higher and lower performing students. In math and reading, scores fell most sharply among the lowest performing students, creating a widening chasm between struggling students and the rest of their peers. Surveys done as part of this years test illustrate the divide. When schools shifted to remote learning, higher performing students were far more likely to have reliable access to quiet spaces, computers and help from their teachers, the survey found. The results make clear that schools must address the long-standing and systemic shortcomings of our education system, said Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of Los Angeles schools and a member of the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets the policies for the test. Many parents may not understand just how far behind their children are academically. A spring survey by the national nonprofit Learning Heroes found the majority of parents believed their children were performing at or above their grade level in math and reading. Theres a myth that parents just dont want to know. That the country just wants to get back to normal, said Sonja Santelises, chief executive officer of Baltimore City Public Schools. But parents are very concerned. Some parents blame schools for not clearly communicating learning gaps. In Nashville, a parent advocacy group is pushing the school system to share clearer information about student progress and to create personal plans to help students catch up. Every student has the right to be taught to read, but we failed at that, said Sonya Thomas, a mother who is the executive director of Nashville PROPEL. Thats creating social emotional problems. Thats creating workforce problems. Thats creating life and death problems. Other recent studies have found that students who spent longer periods learning online suffered greater setbacks. But the NAEP results show no clear connection. Areas that returned to the classroom quickly still saw significant declines, and cities which were more likely to stay remote longer actually saw milder decreases than suburban districts. Los Angeles can claim one of few bright spots. The nations second-largest school district saw eighth-grade reading scores increase by 9 points, the only significant uptick in any district. For other districts, it was a feat just to hold even, as achieved by Dallas and Floridas Hillsborough County. Testing critics caution against putting too much stock in standardized exams, but theres no doubt that the skills it aims to measure are critical. Students who take longer to master reading are more likely to drop out and end up in the criminal justice system, research has found, and eighth grade is seen as a pivotal time to develop skills for math and science careers. For Carr, the results raise new questions about what will happen to students who appear to be far behind in attaining those skills. We want our students to be prepared globally for STEM careers, science and technology and engineering, she said. This puts all of that at risk. We have to do a reset. This is a very serious issue, and its not going to go away on its own. ___ AP education writer Bianca Vazquez Toness in Boston contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content. When you buy a stock there is always a possibility that it could drop 100%. But on the bright side, you can make far more than 100% on a really good stock. For instance, the price of Thomson Reuters Corporation (TSE:TRI) stock is up an impressive 111% over the last five years. We note the stock price is up 1.7% in the last seven days. So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 5 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns. See our latest analysis for Thomson Reuters There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. During five years of share price growth, Thomson Reuters achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 1.5% per year. This EPS growth is slower than the share price growth of 16% per year, over the same period. This suggests that market participants hold the company in higher regard, these days. That's not necessarily surprising considering the five-year track record of earnings growth. This optimism is visible in its fairly high P/E ratio of 93.48. You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). It is of course excellent to see how Thomson Reuters has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. This free interactive report on Thomson Reuters' balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for Thomson Reuters the TSR over the last 5 years was 159%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective While it's never nice to take a loss, Thomson Reuters shareholders can take comfort that , including dividends,their trailing twelve month loss of 3.4% wasn't as bad as the market loss of around 6.6%. Of course, the long term returns are far more important and the good news is that over five years, the stock has returned 21% for each year. It could be that the business is just facing some short term problems, but shareholders should keep a close eye on the fundamentals. 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. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Thomson Reuters you should know about. Of course Thomson Reuters may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on CA 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 Jackson Countys top prosecutor has received numerous threats after announcing that the woman who shot and killed an off-duty Kansas City firefighter would not be charged due to Missouris stand your ground law. On Oct. 6, 41-year-old Anthony Santi was shot in the back by a woman as he held a man in a headlock outside a gas station, court records show. The Jackson County Prosecutors Office later said they would not pursue criminal charges against the shooter because of Missouris laws governing defense of oneself or another person. On Monday, the prosecutor and other employees began receiving numerous threatening, racist and sexist calls and voicemails, the office said in a news release. The prosecutors office shared one of the voicemails directed at Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, which included racist and sexist slurs. Were going to burn your f---ing house, the called said. Were f---ing coming for you. The shooting Santi was shot around 2:30 p.m. Oct. 6 outside a gas station in Independence, police said at the time. The off-duty firefighter decided to intervene when a customer, 23-year-old JaVon L. Taylor, argued with a clerk who told Taylor the gas station didnt have the cigars he wanted, according to court records. The store clerk and Santi both tried telling Taylor to leave after he was refused service. Taylor then jumped away from Santi and started threatening him, court records show. Surveillance video from the incident captured the men moving their argument outside, where Taylor reached into a white SUV and pulled out a gun. The men then began fighting over the weapon a firearm with an extended magazine, according to court documents. When Santi put Taylor in a headlock, a female passenger got out of the vehicle, grabbed the gun and pointed it at Santi, after first trying to break up the fight. She later shot him in the back. Stand your ground law The Jackson County prosecutors office in their news release Monday revealed more about the moments leading up to the shooting. Story continues Once outside, the facts specifically demonstrate that the shooting female fired a single shot in defense of the man who was being strangled, they wrote. A witness at the scene with professional medical training told police that Taylor, while in a headlock, was totally defenseless. Taylor couldnt talk or breathe and was turning purple, the witness told police. He also said Taylors eyes began rolling back in his head. The witness believed that he heard the victim of the shooting say to the man he was choking, Im killing you, the prosecutors office said. The woman holding the gun begged Santi to stop as her hands shook, the prosecutors office said of the witnesses testimony. These statements and video evidence from the convenience store support the defense of others provision as codified in Missouri law, the office wrote Monday. Because of this, as stated, Missouris self-defense and defense of others law required that this case be declined. After he was shot once in the back, Santi let go of Taylor and walked back into the store where he collapsed and died, court records show. According to his obituary, Santi joined the Kansas City Fire Department in 2011, where he was dedicated to helping people through his role as a firefighter and EMT. His daughter was the light of his life. While the woman was not charged, federal prosecutors did charge Taylor in U.S. District Court in Kansas City for alleged possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Stars Andrea Klick contributed. The commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin's threat to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine is real and that the West "should be worried," but said his country is nonetheless winning the war. Gen. Col. Oleksander Syrskiy made the comments in an exclusive interview with ABC News' Chief Foreign Correspondent Ian Pannell in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Sunday. As the 57-year-old top commander of his country's land forces, Syrskiy has played a decisive role in turning the war in Ukraine's favor, first leading the successful defense of the capital, Kyiv, and then -- most recently -- masterminding the spectacular counteroffensive in the northeast that upended the monthslong conflict and threw Russian forces onto the defensive. The rare interview, airing Monday on "Good Morning America," is one of the few times Syrskiy has spoken publicly at length and he described Ukraine's tactics, the importance of Western support, the threat of renewed attacks from Belarus and his determination that Ukraine will reclaim all of its territory, including the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Ukraine's successes, however, have been shadowed by the recent threats from Putin that Russia might resort to nuclear weapons to reverse the course of his war in Ukraine. Syrskiy told ABC News that he takes the threats seriously. "We are and should be worried," Syrskiy said. "I do believe that such a threat really exists and we have to take it into account." The urgency of those worries was underlined on Sunday when Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoigu made telephone calls to his counterparts in France, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, alleging that Ukraine was preparing to use a "dirty bomb" on its own territory. Shoigu's claim sparked fears that Russia might be laying the groundwork to use a nuclear weapon and blame Ukraine for it. MORE: 'We are and should be worried' of Putin's nuclear threat, Ukrainian general says: Exclusive Story continues Following Shoigus call with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson dismissed the allegations as "transparently false." "The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation," Watson said. Russia's nuclear threats have grown louder as its position in Ukraine has become increasingly desperate, and Ukrainian troops now threaten to force the Russians to retreat from the key port city of Kherson -- yet another potential turning point in the war. Syrskiy is one of the minds behind the two crucial victories so far that have enabled Ukraine's stunning success in pushing back Russian forces. When Russian troops advanced on Kyiv in late February, shortly after launching the invasion of neighboring Ukraine, Syrskiy directed the defense that shattered Putins initial objectives. Then in September, Syrskiy led the counteroffensive in northeastern Ukraine that liberated thousands of miles of Russian-occupied territory -- a disaster for Moscow that forced Putin to order a military draft and, for the first time, raised the prospect that Russian forces might suffer a full defeat in Ukraine. "Of course I think we are winning," Syrskiy told ABC News. "Because, first and foremost, we are winning the psychological battle." But the commander warned against complacency, noting the heavy sacrifices that success has required of Ukrainians. "We have success on the battleground, but war is difficult," he added. "There hasn't been any wars at that scale in Europe, or elsewhere in the world, since the Second World War. And we understand that this war is about survival of our people and our state, and this is why we have no other option but to win." MORE: Russia-Ukraine live updates Syrskiy was given the Hero of Ukraine award in April for his efforts defending the capital city. But the victory in Kharkiv, his hometown, was especially personal. Cerebral and reflective, Syrskiy is also a military leader who prefers to see the frontlines himself, regularly visiting positions to personally meet some of the soldiers he is sending into battle. He told ABC News he feels that responsibility and has a "spiritual connection" with his troops. Although he was appointed to his current post in 2019, Syrskiy has helped lead Ukraine's defense against Russia since 2014, when Russian troops and separatist proxies seized parts of the disputed Donbas region, the predominately Russian-speaking industrial heartland of Ukraine's east. Syrskiy has a deep familiarity with the tactics of his enemy, having been trained in the same Soviet school of warfare. In the 1980s, he studied at the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School. Now, he's exploiting that knowledge on the battlefield. "It's easier to understand your enemy's actions," he told ABC News. "You can foresee what he might do in different situations." But as a commander, like the rest of Ukraine's military leadership, Syrskiy has embraced a different mode of military thinking since even before 2014 -- adopting NATO doctrines that grant greater initiative to more junior officers on the ground and moving away from the top-down Soviet approach. "Of course there was a change in mentality," he said. "Understanding that victory is achieved not by increasing the number of troops, but by using them smartly." PHOTO: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, listens to Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskiiys report during his visit in Izium, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Sept. 14, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) Despite his familiarity with Russia, Syrskiy said he had not believed Moscow would go through with a full-scale invasion. Even as Russian forces massed near the border, he said he believed an attack would be limited to the east, though he still prepared for the worst. "To be honest, I did not expect that scale and level of invasion from the enemy," he told ABC News. Now fighting in Donbas, Syrskiy said Ukraine's strategy was to avoid full-frontal clashes that favoured Russia's massed artillery and instead, steadily degrade Russia's firepower by hitting supply hubs while launching constant mobile attacks. The goal, he said, was to achieve objectives with minimal losses. "We achieve this by reliably hitting the firepower of the enemy, their artillery, avoiding frontal assaults, emphasizing raids and manoeuvers, attacking from the flanks and from the back," he added. "We create the conditions under which we can make the enemy nervous, start taking losses and abandon their positions." The successful counteroffensive in the northeast led by Syrskiy has been hailed by military experts as a masterstroke that will go down in the history of warfare, alongside other victorious operations like the D-Day landings during World War II or the Battle of Saratoga in the American Revolutionary War. Ukraine's success relied on patience and misdirection, declaring a counteroffensive in its south over the summer which lured Russia into pulling some of its best troops from the northeastern frontline. Once Russia had thinned its defenses in the northeast, Ukraine struck, rapidly breaking through and causing Russia's lines to collapse. MORE: Satellite photos reveal fortification plans in Russia-occupied Ukraine: Analysts Initially, the northeastern counteroffensive had itself been planned as a feint to tie up Russian units, according to Syrskiy. But he said he realized while planning the operation that Russian forces there were weaker than expected, opening up an opportunity to deliver a blow that would have a much wider effect. "When we were planning it, it became obvious to me that an advance in Kharkiv as an operation will benefit us most and will have the most negative impact on the enemy," Syrskiy told ABC News. "I noticed it first in May during the first offensive operation around Kharkiv, when we managed to liberate 10 to 30 kilometers of areas surrounding the city," he added, before noting that it was only in the summer that the change in the balance in forces made the counteroffensive possible. A similar Ukrainian success now looks possible in Kherson. Russia has ordered all civilians to leave the southern city amid reports it has already pulled back some veteran troops. But there are also concerns Russia might blow up the nearby Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, which Ukrainian officials allege Russian troops have rigged with explosives, threatening to flood Kherson. Syrskiy declined to comment on the battle for Kherson, saying only that he believes "in the success of our armed forces." He said the threat Russia might also blow up the Kakhovka dam should also not be underestimated. There is also renewed concern around neighboring Belarus, from where Russia launched its failed assault on Kyiv and where it has recently again begun moving in more troops and equipment. Western and Ukrainian officials have said that, for now, the new build up in Belarus is small and more likely a feint aimed at drawing Ukrainian troops away from the south. But Syrksiy said he believes the Russian moves in Belarus do reflect preparations to try to move the fighting into new areas once again. "Of course they are getting ready for escalation of the battle and switching the conflict to other combat zones," he told ABC News. "They are getting ready for action aimed at weakening our groupings and, to my mind, the possible purpose of that would be to cut or degrade our lines of communication and supplies." But he said by doing so, Russia again risks stretching itself too thin in the north. "They risk stepping on the same rake twice and hitting themselves in the face," he added. MORE: Here's likely reason why Vladimir Putin imposed martial law in Ukraine: Analysis Most experts believe Putin is preparing for a long war, hoping his military mobilization and the arrival of winter weather will allow Russia to stablize its frontlines and then outlast Western determination to support Ukraine. The possibility of Republicans taking control of the U.S. Congress in the midterm elections next month is also raising questions whether American aid will continue as strongly for Ukraine. Republicans are divided on the issue and some party leaders have suggested they might scale aid back. When asked if he was worried that U.S. support could dry up if Republicans win more seats in Congress, Syrskiy said he doesn't get involved in politics. "I trust the government. I trust the people of the United States of America. I trust that our strategic partner will continue to help us overcome our enemy come what may," he said. Syrskiy said he was grateful to the American people for the aid, which he said played a key role in Ukraine's victories. Without U.S. weapons and ammunition, he said he couldn't even imagine how much harder the task would be. When asked whether he believes Putin would stop if Ukraine succeeded in liberating all its territory, Syrskiy said it doesn't matter and that the fastest way to end the war was for Ukraine to push Russia out as quickly as possible. "We have no other option, we have to go forward, move straight to our state borders," he said, adding that victory would only be when Ukrainian flags were flying over all Ukraine's borders, "including Ukrainian Crimea." Syrskiy recalled seeing razed villages last week as he drove near the recently liberated city of Lyman in northeastern Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast. "You can't look at these scenes without getting emotional," he told ABC News. "You literally feel pain in my heart, in my soul, so certainly you want to deliver such a blow to the enemy that they can never get back to Ukraine." Top Ukrainian general discusses war against Russia, Putin's nuclear threat: Exclusive originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley on Monday spoke with his Russian counterpart in a rare call amid fears that Moscow is looking to escalate its war in Ukraine. Milley and Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, discussed several security-related issues of concern and agreed to keep lines of communication open, the Pentagon said in a statement. Further details were not provided. The call, the first between the two since May, comes on the heels of a call between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. That call was the second in three days between the two, after they spoke on Friday, also the first time since May. Moscow didnt provide details of that call, though it noted that Shoigu, in a call with French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, discussed the situation in Ukraine, which is rapidly deteriorating and trending towards further uncontrolled escalation. The flurry of conversations comes as Russia claims that Ukraine is planning to use a dirty bomb on its own soil. Western officials fear the accusation could be an excuse for the Kremlin to set off an attack in Ukraine and use it as a so-called false flag operation to further its war in the country. The top diplomats in the United States, France and the United Kingdom earlier rejected Russias transparently false allegations. We have seen in the past that the Russians have, on occasion, blamed others for things that they were planning to do, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday. We dont have any indication that thats the case right now. But, it is a play that we have seen before, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. When I first met my now-husband, Dane, he was heading to U.S. Army Ranger school, and during his time there, he wrote me letters on the cardboard packaging of his MREs, or a Meal, Ready-to-Eat, while he was training. According to the Defense Logistics Agency, MREs were designed "to sustain an individual engaged in heavy activity such as military training or during actual military operations when normal food service facilities are not available." While I still have every letter Dane wrote to me more than a decade later, I had yet to try an MRE, despite hearing about them from service members off and on for years. A quick poll of veterans and active duty military members told me that "Chili Mac" was the most coveted MRE among 24 different recipes, including meals like shredded beef in barbecue sauce, Mexican rice and bean bowl and cheese tortellini in tomato sauce. The Chili and Macaroni MRE looked less than appealing in the tan packaging. (Kait Hanson) Each MRE has a three year shelf life and provides an average of 1250 kilocalories broken down as 13 % protein, 36 % fat and 51 % carbohydrates. My first surprise was that inside the tan packaging was more than just my main course. The DLA states that "components are selected to complement each entree as well as provide necessary nutrition." Inside my selected MRE package, I had the beloved chili and macaroni, accompanied by a kippered beef stick, cheese spread with jalapenos, crackers, carrot cake pound cake, Wild Berry Skittles and a grape-flavored powdered drink mix. Honestly, I was pretty excited to see the purple bag of Skittles. (Kait Hanson) Dane told me this was a "good" selection, so I was excited to get started. The MRE also comes with instructions for cooking your main course, which involves a plastic bag and water-activated heater. Please note step five, which includes Despite following the instructions closely (including setting up my meal on a rock to cook) and waiting the allotted time, my heater didn't get too hot and my main course was decidedly cool to the touch. There was minimal cooking occurring with my MRE. (Kait Hanson) While I had the capability of heating the meal further with conventional cookware in my kitchen, I know service members don't have this luxury when MREs are being utilized during military operations, so I chose to eat it "as is." Story continues So what did I think? I don't think service members get dishes, but I had to attempt plating my meal. (Kait Hanson) For starters, the grape drink tasted exactly like Gatorade, so that gets two thumbs up from me. The "Chili Mac" main course was taco-flavored beef crumbles with elbow macaroni in a tomato-based sauce. Honestly, it was not as bad as I had imagined it might be and reminded me of canned spaghetti meals I ate as a kid. I can imagine if I was tired, cold and hungry, it would taste even better, especially if it was hot. One thing that stood out to me is that while the packaging of the main course doesn't look big, the portion was larger than I expected and I could not eat all of it. I took the cheese spread with jalapenos and spread it across the crackers and sprinkled some of the crushed red pepper on top. The cheese tasted really salty to me, but the flavor was similar to Easy Cheese from a can. The crackers were pretty dry and flavorless, so in hindsight, spreading the cheese on top was smart. The kippered beef snack was really salty and something I probably would have traded given the opportunity. The walnuts in the carrot cake added a nice crunch to the moist cake. (Kait Hanson) The best part of the MRE, in my opinion, was the dessert: carrot cake pound cake and Skittles. The cake was moist (I was shocked), full of flavor and the perfect amount of sweet after a meal that was full of more savory flavors. Dane told me that heaters not fully working is fairly common and that many of the items I got (specifically the pound cake and jalapeno spread) are high value items that are frequently traded and coveted by hungry soldiers. Was an MRE as bad as I thought it would be? No, and I was pleasantly surprised by portions and variety within the packet. Am I scrambling to add them to my meal planning? Not quite. And it gives me even more gratitude for the service members who don't have other meal options, let alone a warm kitchen to eat in. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Re. Crime tops priority list (Castanet, Oct. 23) After reading the (Councillor-elect) Rick Webber's comments about crime in Kelowna, I couldn't agree more. Step one has to be to make the big box retailers act responsibly. Whether it be Home Depot, Costco, Rona, Canadian Tire, Walmart (or another), the store associates are told that if they interfere with thieves the will be terminated. I know this because I have had knives pulled on me, I have been pepper sprayed and threatened. There is not a thief out there who doesn't know this is what happens. Many flip us off as the run out with arms full of merchandise. These retailers have to be forced to protect their customers and staff. Shame on them all. Stephen Barber The Trump Organization stands trial this week in what prosecutors allege was a 15-year scheme to compensate top executives of former President Donald Trumps company off the books to help them avoid paying taxes with the company's former chief financial officer appearing as the prosecution's star witness. Jury selection began Monday, with potential panelists likely to be questioned intensely about whether they can be impartial in a case that involves the former president and his eponymous company. An initial group of 132 potential jurors entered the courtroom to begin the screening process at about 11 a.m. ET. State Judge Juan Merchan told them the defendants are accused of a series of crimes, including tax fraud, and are alleged to have "devised and operated a long-term scheme to fail to report income on tax forms." Merchan also said potential witnesses could include Trump, his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, and his daughter Ivanka Trump. The initial number of potential jurors was whittled by more than half after several hours of questioning, in certain cases over associations with the Trump Organization or the prosecutor, an attorney for the defense said. There also was a lot of bias concerning the Trump Organization, the lawyer said. The Trump Organization and Allen Weisselberg, its former longtime chief financial officer, were indicted last year after a yearslong investigation into the company's financial practices by the Manhattan district attorney's office. Weisselberg, 75, pleaded guilty to 15 felony charges in August. As part of his plea agreement, the loyal Trump confidant agreed to pay nearly $2 million in taxes, interest and penalties, and serve five months in jail followed by five years of probation. He also agreed "to testify truthfully at the upcoming trial of the Trump Organization" or face a sentence of up to 5 to 15 years in prison, prosecutors said. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has said Weisselberg had used his position at the company to bilk taxpayers and enrich himself, and that his plea agreement directly implicates the Trump Organization in a wide range of criminal activity and requires Weisselberg to provide invaluable testimony." Story continues Trump is not charged personally in the case, and has blasted the investigation into his company and the charges against his longtime employee as part of a politically motivated "witch hunt." The company said in a statement at the time of Weisselberg's plea that he was an honorable man who, for the past four years, has been harassed, persecuted and threatened by law enforcement, particularly the Manhattan District attorney, in their never ending, politically motivated quest to get President Trump. Donald Trump, Allen Weisselberg, and Donald, Jr. at Trump Tower in New York (Timothy A. Clary / AFP via Getty Images file) Merchan, who is presiding over the trial in New York state Supreme Court in Lower Manhattan, shot down almost all the arguments presented by attorneys for the Trump Organization and Weisselberg in August, ruling that the evidence that was presented to the grand jury was legally sufficient to support the charges in the indictment, and that those proceedings were properly conducted and their integrity unimpaired. The felonies that the indictment alleges the company committed include conspiracy, scheming to defraud, criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records. Under New York law, the Trump Organization faces up to about $1.6 million in penalties if convicted on all counts. Legal experts have told NBC News that a conviction could also hamper the company's ability to obtain financing. The indictment says the "scheme was intended to allow certain employees to substantially understate their compensation from the Trump Organization so that they could and did pay federal, state and local taxes in amounts that were significantly less than the amounts that should have been paid." The scheme also allowed the Trump Organization to evade the payment of payroll taxes that the Trump Organization was required to pay in connection with employee compensation, the indictment said. One of the biggest beneficiaries of the scheme was Weisselberg, who received $1.76 million in indirect employee compensation from the company, according to the charging document. That included a rent-free apartment, expensive cars, private school tuition for his grandchildren and new furniture. The indictment did not name any of the other alleged beneficiaries, and only Weisselberg was charged. The trial comes at an already perilous time for Trump and his company. The former president is under investigation by the Justice Department for removing classified documents from the White House and hoarding them at his Florida resort, and by the Fulton County district attorney's office for possible 2020 election interference in Georgia. New York Attorney General Letitia James, who assisted the Manhattan district attorney's office with its probe of the Trump Organization, filed a separate lawsuit against Trump and the company, charging they had overstated the company's financial assets by billions of dollars. The suit seeks to impose about $250 million in penalties and to permanently bar Trump and his three oldest children from serving as officers of New York-based companies. Trump, the company and his campaign are also being sued by a group of protesters who say they were roughed up by then-candidate Trump's security guards outside Trump Tower in 2015. That case is scheduled for trial in New York's Bronx County Supreme Court next week. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Former U.S. President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Mesa, Arizona, on October 9, 2022. Mario Tama/Getty Images Former President Trump responded angrily to Sunday's edition of '60 Minutes.' The documentary featured the Dominion Voting Systems CEO rebutting Trump's claims. He didn't directly address its arguments, but claimed the show was part of a plot against him. Donald Trump lashed out at Sunday night's edition of "60 Minutes" after it featured a calm dismantling of his election-fraud conspiracy theory by the CEO of Dominion, the voting-technology company. "60 Minutes" is not a News Show, it is a Democrat propaganda machine. Their story last night on Election Fraud was a JOKE!" wrote Trump, and went on to push a series of conspiracy theories and baseless claims about election fraud and plots against him by the FBI. Back in 2020, lawyers close to Trump claimed that Dominion's machines were part of a vast plot involving Venezuela and traitorous US officials to "flip" votes to Joe Biden. There is no evidence to substantiate Trump's claims about widespread election fraud in 2020, or the use of the voting machines in a plot. On "60 Minutes", Dominion boss John Poulos described to host Anderson Cooper the damage the disinformation pushed by Trump and his allies had caused. "My kids still are not allowed to get any package from the front door until we verify that it's actually from a trusted sender," Poulos said, referring to their fears of being attacked at home. He went on to systematically dismiss conspiracy theories about the company. "Were you associated with the late Hugo Chavez?" Cooper asked. "Absolutely not," Poulos said. "Do you use a Venezuelan company's software that's been used to steal elections in other countries?" Cooper asked. "Absolutely not," Poulos said. "Anderson, I can, I can cut all of this short. We were founded in Toronto, which is where my family was from. And there's nothing to do with Venezuela." "Can you flip votes in the computer system?" Cooper asked. "Can you add votes that did not exist?" Story continues "Absolutely not," Poulos again responded. He then showed how the machines count votes, and described how the paper ballot the machines use is retained so the accuracy of the count can be verified in audits. Dominion has launched major lawsuits against a number of businesses and right-wing media organisations which pushed conspiracy theories about the company, including a $1.9 billion lawsuit against Fox News. Fox News claims that its handling of the claims is protected under the First Amendment. "We are confident we will prevail as freedom of the press is foundational to our democracy and must be protected, in addition to the damages claims being outrageous, unsupported, and not rooted in sound financial analysis, serving as nothing more than a flagrant attempt to deter our journalists from doing their jobs," a Fox News spokesperson told Insider. Trump has made bogus claims the 2020 election was stolen from him the center of his rallies and other public statements and he stirs rumors he will make another bid for office in 2024. October 25, 2022: This story was updated to include a statement from Fox News. Read the original article on Business Insider An angry call from Fox News host Tucker Carlson and public swipes from Donald Trump Jr. and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) over an anonymous quote in a story are whipping up a frenzy over the race for what would be the No. 3 leadership slot if Republicans win the House. Carlson, Trump, Jr. and other figures in former President Trumps orbit are going after Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and a contender for House GOP whip, over a quotation from an unnamed source in a Daily Beast article published last week. The quotation mentioned Buckley Carlson, the 25-year-old son of the Fox News host, who is an aide to Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), the chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee and a rival contender for whip. Emmers team has strongly denied that anyone connected to the Minnesota Republican is behind the quote, but they are in a tough position in trying to prove a negative. Chairman Emmer and his staff have never attacked any other members staff. Period. These baseless accusations are meant to distract and divide Republicans. Our focus is on retaking the majority and firing Nancy Pelosi, NRCC Communications Director Michael McAdams said in a statement. The quote in question came from an unnamed source looking over the dynamics of the three-way race for House majority whip. Emmer, Banks and Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), who is currently chief deputy whip, are vying for the post. Deep down, he dies to be liked by the Establishment. He hires Tucker Carlsons son, a 24-year-old kid, to be his communications director, states the controversial quotation, which is cited to a GOP strategist. Trump Jr., who has started to be more open about his preference for Banks being in leadership, immediately blamed Emmers team for planting the quote and said in a tweet that the move was pathetic. The Fox News host on Friday called Emmer directly to demand he name which staff member was responsible for the quote, or else he would assume Emmer himself is to blame, Axios reported Sunday. Story continues Axios said Emmer also tried to shift blame to another House GOP leadership staff member, but Carlson still believes Emmers team was behind the quote. GOP firebrand and Trump ally Greene, as well as Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, also took swipes at Emmer over the weekend. I stand with Buckley Carlson, Greene said in a tweet on Sunday, following up with another: Consultants at national party political action committees should only focus on helping their partys candidates win. They shouldnt fund or not fund races based on candidates conservative views. And they should never attack Members staff to left wing activist bloggers. Ever. Kirk also accused Emmer of being part of a group of establishment swamp creatures in a tweet on Sunday, and endorsing Banks for the post to create a real MAGA majority. One GOP member, however, says he is tuning out the noise. It wont influence my vote, because all Im concerned about right now is myself getting elected, said Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who said he has not committed to supporting any whip contender yet. Im gonna vote for the person who I think is going to do the best job as whip. I understand the whole psychological game that people are playing, but generally this stuff is just stirred up by folks inside the beltway, Burchett added. The elder Carlson has a reputation of being fiercely protective of and loyal to his family in the press, and angering the influential conservative host is thought to be political malpractice among Republicans. An alleged mention of Buckley Carlson was a brief flashpoint in the shadow race for House GOP whip months ago. That has raised suspicions that Buckley Carlson controversies are being manufactured to go after rivals to Banks. A Politico story in May said allies of Donald Trump Jr. had confronted Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who considered a possible contender for whip but has since decided to seek another term as House GOP conference chairwoman, about an effort to plant negative stories about Banks that allegedly included bringing up Buckleys name. The outlet added that it was unable to confirm the veracity of the pro-Stefanik whisper campaign against Banks, and Stefaniks team vigorously denied any of her team brought up the Fox News hosts son. Consultants connected to Trump Jr. are also running a PAC started last month supported by Banks. The group has raised $2 million and is helping a smattering of House GOP candidates, and is serving as counter to an argument that Banks is not a big enough of a fundraising powerhouse compared to Emmer and Ferguson. No matter who is behind the quote, the controversy and attacks have thrown a late wrench into the race for a position that is not officially open yet. A source close to Carlson said that host has been bombarded in recent days with information about Emmers background that clashes with the hosts ideology, such as starting a Congressional Somalia Caucus with former Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), creating the potential to spook GOP members out of publicly supporting Emmer if they are wary of getting on Carlsons bad side. It is unclear, though, whether fear of crossing Carlson or MAGA allies will make any measurable impact on GOP members who will vote to elect the next House GOP whip in a secret ballot soon after the midterm election if Republicans win. Another GOP member supportive of Emmer who requested anonymity to speak candidly said that the public drama could backfire on Banks. People are like, We dont need this. This is mudslinging, the GOP member said. People may just say, Yeah, Im gonna vote this way or that way, but theyre gonna go in and vote however they damn well please, because theres no way they can be attributed to a vote since its a secret ballot. Updated at 8:36 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Oct. 24NORWALK The Norwalk Area Food Bank will host its 3rd annual "Turkey Drive" again this year. Frozen turkey donations will be collected at the location, next to Rite Aid, from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7. The goal is to beat last year's total of 60 turkeys for needy families. With inflation the way it is, this year is more important than ever. Mark your calendar for this event that has garnered a lot of well-deserved attention, even at the national level. Join Jamie Castle, Zina Castle and Robin Bleile of the food bank on this night. Two adults and four children died in an apartment fire in the village of Hartland on Friday, according to a Sunday news release from the Hartland Police Department. The adults have been identified as Connor McKisick and Jessica McKisick, police said. The four children were identified as a 14-year-old girl, a 12-year-old girl and two 3-year-old boys. All six individuals resided together in the apartment, located at 700 Mansfield Court, police said. This continues to remain an active investigation by the Hartland Police Department and the Waukesha County Medical Examiner's Office. On Friday, Misko said that a criminal investigation was underway but was unable to confirm if investigators believe the fire was set intentionally or maliciously. There is no danger to the community regarding this incident, according to police. "Please respect the family's privacy while they mourn the loss of their loved ones," police said. A report of a fire came in about 5:11 Friday morning. The fire took place at a four-family apartment building. Upon arrival, the Hartland police and fire departments helped evacuate individuals from inside the actively burning building and from balconies. A total of 15 fire departments and nine police departments responded with mutual aid. Later Friday, about 20 residents gathered for a vigil at Nixon Park. A crowd of people takes part in a vigil at Nixon Park, 339 Maple Ave., in Hartland on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, following reports that six people were killed in an apartment building fire. Arlene Phelps said she brought her daughter to Nixon Park because her daughter attended Arrowhead High School with one of the victims, a teenage girl. They just had homecoming last week, and now this, Phelps said. (My daughter) just needed to come out to start grieving, Phelps said. Like she went to school with her, she seen her, she talked to her last night. Jennett Zuehl attended the vigil with her daughter, a North Shore Middle School seventh grader who she says was friends with one of the victims. The show of support for the children who have lost classmates is important, Zuehl said. Unfortunately, these things happened," she said. "I am grateful to live in a community willing to come together like this and show support for one another and show support for the kids. Story continues Hartland Village President Jeffrey Pfannerstill agreed. We are all going through this together, Pfannerstill said. Its a really strong and vibrant community, but we take things like this really hard. People are really sticking together. La Risa R. Lynch, Drake Bentley, Drew Dawson and Sarah Volpenhein of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Hartland apartment fire: Two adults, four children who died identified Two Columbia County men recently were charged by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with possessing child pornography. Taylor Randall Shellito, 34, is charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of children. Joshua Paul Barnhill, 40, is charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of children. Authorities arrested Shellito and Barnhill on Oct. 19 and they were booked into the Columbia County jail. Questions regarding their incarceration status were not immediately answered by authorities on Monday. Violent Crimes Unit: 'We're not backing down': Augusta forms new Violent Crimes Unit, Special Victims Unit Child pornography: Columbia County man sentenced to prison, admits to possession of child pornography The arrests were a result of two unrelated investigations being conducted by the GBI Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit, according to a news release. Both investigations stemmed from tips received by the GBI from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children referencing the possession of child pornography. GBI investigators searched Barnhill's and Shellito's homes with the assistance of the Columbia County Sheriffs Office. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: 2 Columbia County men charged with possessing child pornography BROCKTON Two men were ordered held without bail on murder charges in connection with the 2021 shooting death of Jauwon Ambers. Leonardo Monteiro, 22, was arrested in Brockton and Ivanilson Brandao, 23, was arrested in Stoughton on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. They were arraigned Monday, Oct. 24, in Brockton District Court and were ordered held without bail until their next court date on Monday, Nov. 14, according to the Brockton District Court clerk's office. What happened? On Sept. 9, 2021, Brockton Police responded to 77 Highland Terrace at around 4:16 p.m. for a report of multiple shots fired, The Enterprise reported at the time. What we know about each case: 17 murders in Brockton area in less than 2 years The victim, who was later identified as Jauwon Ambers, had been shot in the head, according to the office of Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz. Ambers was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital and then transferred to Boston Medical Center before succumbing to his injuries. Ambers was 20 years old. Brockton police and Massachusetts State Police investigate the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Jauwon Ambers on Highland Terrace in Brockton on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021. Brockton Police and the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit worked together on the investigation. "The investigation was lengthy, but police were able to develop information that identified two suspects in the murder of Ambers," according to the DA's office. Staff writer Namu Sampath can be reached at nsampath@enterprisenews.com, or you can follow her on Twitter @namusampath. Thank you, subscribers. You make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Brockton Enterprise. This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton murder: Leonardo Monteiro, Ivanilson Brandao arraigned By Raneen Sawafta NABLUS, West Bank (Reuters) -The leader of a rising militant group and five other Palestinians were killed on Tuesday after Israeli forces raided the West Bank city of Nablus on Tuesday, setting off one of the largest firefights in weeks, Palestinian officials said. Forces including snipers, soldiers with shoulder-fired missiles and Shin Bet intelligence agents were deployed across Nablus, battling dozens of armed fighters as well as people throwing stones and burning tyres, the military said. Shards of glass and scrap metal covered the cobblestone of the Old City as shopkeepers cleared debris in the aftermath of the raid which the military said targeted an explosives manufacturing site of the "Den of Lions" militant group. The military said 31-year-old Wadi' al-Houh, a Den of Lions leader who it said was responsible for producing pipe bombs and obtaining weapons for the group, was targeted and killed in the operation. Mahmoud Al-Aloul, deputy chairman of the Fatah Movement, told Palestine TV that Palestinian security forces spotted Israeli undercover agents entering Nablus and a heavy exchange of fire followed, leading to several injuries among Palestinian Authority forces. An Israeli military official said there was no intention to target any PA forces who may have been caught in the crossfire. The Den of Lions, a group of mainly young Nablus gunmen with loose factional affiliations, has grown rapidly in recent months, fighting repeated clashes with Israeli forces as violence has surged across the West Bank. 'WE WILL NOT RELENT' Prime Minister Yair Lapid, facing an election on Nov. 1, said Israel would continue to hit militant targets in Nablus and other cities. "We will not relent even for a moment," he said. In all, five Palestinians, including at least two members of the Den of Lions, were killed in Nablus while a sixth man was killed in a protest near the West Bank town of Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah, Palestinian health officials said. Story continues At least 20 people, including some gunmen and members of the Palestinian security forces, were also wounded in Nablus, which has been at the centre of violent clashes in recent months and which has been under an Israeli blockade for days. More than 100 Palestinians from the West Bank have been killed this year, while a string of fatal street attacks by Palestinians have killed 20 people in Israel and Israeli settlements. Four members of Israel's security forces have also been killed, an Israeli military official said, including at least one killed by the Den of Lions. Palestinian officials say the Den of Lions has emerged amid rising frustration among youths in Nablus at confrontations with Israeli settlers and the military but with no clearly articulated political goals. A senior Den of Lions member, Tamer Kilani, was killed overnight on Sunday in what Palestinians described as a targeted explosion carried out by Israel. The militant group vowed to take revenge. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Adel Abu Neama, Ali Sawafta, Ari Rabinovitch and Emily Rose; Editing by Matthew Lewis, Rosalba O'Brien, Simon Cameron-Moore, Nick Macfie and Jonathan Oatis) By Jonathan Stempel, Sarah N. Lynch and Karen Freifeld NEW YORK (Reuters) -U.S. prosecutors said on Monday they have charged two Chinese nationals with trying to obstruct prosecution of a Chinese telecommunications company that a person familiar with the matter identified as Huawei Technologies Co Ltd . Prosecutors said the case is representative of a broader pattern of unlawful influence efforts by China, and announced they had also charged 11 people in two other cases with spying for Beijing or intimidating Chinese dissidents. In the case involving the alleged efforts to tamper with the Huawei investigation, prosecutors said two Chinese intelligence officials attempted to recruit a U.S. law enforcement agent to work as their spy. However, the recruit was actually working as a double agent for the United States. Chinese nationals Guochun He and Zheng Wang were charged with trying to interfere in the prosecution, the prosecutors said. Court documents did not name the company, but the complaint referenced the same dates in which the U.S. unsealed its charges against Huawei, in 2019 and 2020. A spokesperson for Huawei could not be reached for comment on Monday. China's embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In addition to the case against the two Chinese nationals accused of interfering in the Huawei prosecution, the Justice Department also announced charges in two other schemes. The second case charges four Chinese nationals out of New Jersey with running a decade-long intelligence campaign, while the third accuses seven others of waging a harassment campaign against a U.S. resident in a bid to convince him to return to China. Of the 13 people charged, 10 are Chinese intelligence officers and Chinese government officials. All but two of the suspects remain at large. Washington does not have an extradition treaty with China. "The Justice Department will not tolerate attempts by any foreign power to undermine the rule of law upon which our democracy is based," Attorney General Merrick Garland told a news conference. Story continues Huawei was indicted in 2018 for allegedly misleading HSBC and other banks about its business in Iran, which is subject to U.S. sanctions. In 2020, other charges were added to the case, including conspiring to steal trade secrets from six U.S. technology companies and helping Iran track protesters during anti-government demonstrations in 2009. The firm has pleaded not guilty. The complaint against He and Wang alleges they tried to obtain confidential information concerning witnesses, trial evidence and any potential new charges the company could face. It alleges they tried to recruit someone from a U.S. law enforcement agency who they thought would help them spy for China. The recruit, referred to only as "GE-1," was actually working as a double agent for the United States under FBI supervision, the complaint says. Since October 2021, He and Wang paid the recruit $14,000 plus $600 worth of jewelry, in exchange for what they believed was confidential information about the Justice Department's investigation and criminal prosecution of the company, the complaint said. According to court papers, He and Wang first started trying to access nonpublic information about the Justice Department's investigation when the company was initially charged in 2019. But their activity escalated in the summer of 2021, with He asking GE-1 about the details of meetings with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York as prosecutors were discussing preparations for the jury trial. In response, GE-1 passed He a piece of paper that appeared to be marked as classified. That page purported to discuss a plan by federal investigators to arrest two of the company's China-based executives. In exchange for that page, He paid GE-1 $41,000 in bitcoin, the complaint says. Later that same year, GE-1 also passed along a second page that also purportedly discussed legal strategy, including the use of several cooperating witnesses in the prosecution. "Each of these cases lays bare the Chinese governments flagrant violation of international laws, as they work to project their authoritarian view around the world," FBI Director Chris Wray said on Monday. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel and Karen Freifeld in New York and Sarah N. Lynch in Washington; additional reporting by Doina Chiacu, David Brunnstrom and Jacqueline Thomsen; Editing by Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis and David Gregorio) WASHINGTON The White House sharply rebutted Russias accusations Sunday that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory and then blame Moscow. In a statement, a spokesperson for the National Security Council called Russias allegations of a possible false flag operation by Ukraine transparently false and accused Moscow of making the claim to lay the groundwork for its own escalation of the war. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has made the claim of Ukraines possibly using a dirty bomb in phone calls with several Western defense ministers, including U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Shoigu is using the calls to spin stories about the so-called dirty nuclear bomb. Austin spoke with Shoigu for 30 minutes Sunday, a U.S. official said. After they had not spoken for about five months, it was the second time they had talked in the past 48 hours. Austin called Shoigu on Friday. The brief readout said Austin emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication. Secretary Austin rejected any pretext for Russian escalation and reaffirmed the value of continued communication amid Russias unlawful and unjustified war against Ukraine, the Defense Department's press secretary, Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, said in a statement. Ryder said Shoigu also requested a follow-up phone call with Austin. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson similarly pushed back against Moscow's claims. We reject reports of Minister Shoigus transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory, Watson said in a statement. The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation. Also Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, according to Ned Price, State Department spokesperson. Story continues Price said Blinken told Kuleba that the United States rejects Shoigus claims that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. In a joint statement early Monday, Blinken was joined by his French and British counterparts in criticizing Russia's claims. "Earlier today, the defense ministers of each of our countries spoke to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at his request. Our countries made clear that we all reject Russias transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory," the statement said. "We further reject any pretext for escalation by Russia." Putin Attends International Military-Technical Forum 'Army 2022' In Kubinka (Getty Images) The French Ministry of the Armed Forces said Shoigu told his counterpart, Sebastien Lecornu, that the situation in Ukraine was rapidly worsening and trending towards uncontrollable escalation. The growing fears of Russian escalation come as the Kremlin's forces struggle to hold back counteroffensives by Kyiv's military in the east and south. Moscow-installed officials in the southern region of Kherson have been evacuating civilians ahead of an expected Ukrainian push to retake the strategically important regional capital. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Photo: Screenshot courtesy Heiltsuk Nation. Security video of the arrest of Maxwell Johnson and his 12-year-old granddaughter on Dec. 20, 2019 outside the BMO branch on Burrard Street. Two Vancouver police officers who handcuffed a Heiltsuk Nation man and his granddaughter outside a Bank of Montreal branch in December 2019 will not attend an apology ceremony being held in Bella Bella Monday night. The Vancouver Police Board confirmed Monday (Oct. 24) that the constables will not join a delegation of board members and Police Chief Adam Palmer on the trip to the nations homeland, where a ceremony is planned to begin at 5 p.m. We are unable to speak to why the officers are not in attendance, said Faye Wightman, the police boards vice-chairperson and spokesperson, said in an emailed statement Monday morning. In keeping with the terms of the settlement, we made our best efforts for the officers to attend. Last month, the Heiltsuk Nation announced that Maxwell Johnson and his granddaughter reached a multi-pronged settlement with the police board after the pair was mistakenly suspected of fraud and handcuffed by officers outside a BMO branch on Burrard Street. The settlement includes undisclosed damages paid to Johnson and Torianne and an admission from the police board that the two arresting officers discriminated against the pair because of their Indigenous identity. The constables themselves have apologized in a letter to Johnson and his granddaughter and were sent an invitation to attend Mondays apology ceremony Monday in Bella Bella, which will be led by the police board. Maxwell Johnson, his granddaughter Torianne and Louisa Housty Jones of the Heiltsuk Nation at a news conference last month to announce a settlement with the Vancouver Police Board. Photo Mike Howell 'First step in healing journey' Johnson and his granddaughter had filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal, which led to the settlement with the board. Wightman said the board was the respondent in the human rights complaint, not the two constables. It is important not to confuse the key elements of the settlement and the difference between the holistic process of reconciliation on a systemic scale through the Human Rights Tribunal settlement, versus the independent discipline process involving the officers, she said. The board is meeting the terms as defined in the Human Rights settlement in both the specifics and in the spirit of the agreement with a commitment to authentic healing and reconciliation. Wightman said the police board sees Monday's ceremony as the first step in the healing journey involving the board, Johnson, his granddaughter and the Heiltsuk Nation. It is an opportunity for the board to listen to the perspectives of Maxwell Johnson and the Heiltsuk Nation, she said. We are hosting this ceremony to assume accountability as a board, and to sit in the truth of what has happened. Faye Wightman, vice-chairperson of the Vancouver Police Board. Photo Mike Howell 'In the spirit of truth and reconciliation' Wightman said the delegation represents our commitment as an organization to show up to be in community with the Heiltsuk Nation, to stand together against discrimination and to collaborate on our common goal of systemic change. She said the board and police department care deeply about creating a collaborative way forward and building relationships that will support healing and a deeper understanding of the issues faced by Indigenous communities. Our commitment remains to building a relationship with the Heiltsuk Nation and other First Nations communities in the spirit of truth and reconciliation, Wightman said. We hope assumptions are not made regarding the constables decision not to be at the ceremony. The board will not let this detract from the bigger picture, or our willingness to collaborate and implement change. The Heiltsuk Nation, meanwhile, posted a statement on its website Sunday regarding concerns about the constables possibly not attending the ceremony. The statement was posted after the nation learned via a passenger list for a chartered plan that the police board delegation didnt include the officers. The Heiltsuk Nation and Maxwell Johnson would view the constables potential non-attendance as a symptom of the larger systemic failure to acknowledge and take responsibility for systemic racism in policing, said the statement, which also named the officers. 'Extremely hurtful to me and my family' The case dates back to Dec. 20, 2019, when Johnson visited the BMO branch at 595 Burrard St. He had an existing account at the bank and was with his granddaughter to open a joint chequing account. Johnson had recently deposited $30,000 in the account after receiving a settlement. The branch manager didnt believe the pair's purpose at the bank, suspected they were attempting to commit fraud and contacted police. Johnson and his granddaughter were led outside by the constables and handcuffed on a sidewalk. Johnson is quoted in Sunday's statement from the Heiltsuk Nation, saying it will be extremely hurtful to me and my family if the VPD constables do not attend our ceremony tomorrow. We were looking forward to coming full circle with them and putting this behind us. Johnson added: If they dont attend, a bigger question is why they do not feel compelled to. What does that say about the culture they are working in? It is in our culture to forgive, and it is also in our culture to take responsibility. In the absence of a full apology, the weight of that traumatic incident will remain on me and my family, and we will need to find new strength to bear it as we move forward. The ceremony, if it takes place, is expected to be livestreamed on the Heiltsuk Nation's Facebook page. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The federal government is set to issue a warning this week about threats to the United States' elections operations ahead of Nov. 8 congressional elections, Politico reported on Monday. The internal intelligence bulletin will lay out specifics on cyber threats from China and Russia, as well as potential physical threats to election officials across the country, according to the news outlet's report, which cited two people familiar with the matter. Republicans are aiming to win back control of the Senate and the House of Representatives from Biden's fellow Democrats in the midterm elections. Representatives of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) referred questions to the Department of Homeland Security, which not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. Domestic disinformation campaigns and homegrown threats to poll workers are emerging as bigger concerns before the midterms, two senior U.S. officials told Reuters last week. "There is a lot of rhetoric about violence against poll workers," said one of the U.S. officials. "So we have made it a point ... to aggressively investigate all of those threats." Russia and Iran, accused of meddling in past U.S. elections using disinformation campaigns, are enmeshed in their own crises - the Russian invasion of Ukraine and mass protests in Iran - and have not yet been found to have targeted this election, according to the U.S. cybersecurity and law enforcement officials. Election integrity has been a contentious issue in the United States, particularly in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. Republican former President Donald Trump continues to make false claims that the election was stolen from him by Democratic President Joe Biden through voting fraud. Since 2020, there have been numerous reported incidents of poll workers being threatened, harassed or assaulted by Trump supporters, as detailed by Reuters. Opinion polls have shown that a large majority of Republican voters believe Trump won that election. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; editing by Kim Coghill and Stephen Coates) By Svea Herbst-Bayliss NEW YORK(Reuters) - Billionaire investor Daniel Loeb is searching for more promising startups and is setting his sights on Israel to find them. Loeb's $14 billion New York-headquartered hedge fund Third Point LLC is opening an office in Tel Aviv on Monday, creating an outpost in a city known for its booming technology sector. For Third Point, one of the hedge fund industry's most successful firms, the Tel Aviv office will become its first international location. For Third Point Ventures, Third Point's venture capital arm, it will be a second hub, in addition to its Menlo Park office in Silicon Valley, to scout investments focusing on data infrastructure, cybersecurity and enterprise software, Loeb said. Third Point Ventures (TPV), run by Loeb and Robert Schwartz, offers early-stage capital and hands-on help to prepare for a public stock listing. It has made six investments in Israel since 2015, including in cybersecurity company SentinelOne and AI transcription and captioning company Verbit. "TPV's permanent presence in Israel is a natural extension of the commitment we have had to the country for many years, evidenced by previous early-stage investments made from our hedge fund," Loeb said. Sapir Harosh, who worked in military intelligence and joined TPV from Israeli firm Pitango earlier this year, will head the Tel Aviv office. Many U.S.-based hedge funds have long had offices in London and Asia, but Tel Aviv has become a magnet recently for firms to find new investments instead of new investors and to tap into a booming early-stage investment scene. In April, New York-based General Atlantic, opened its Tel Aviv office. While several hedge funds, including Tiger Global Management and Coatue Management, became powerful and public players in the venture capital industry, Loeb has largely kept mum about the investments in startups that he's made for decades. Only recently has Loeb, better known for activist investment campaigns at companies including Nestle SA and Walt Disney Co Story continues and profitable credit investments, begun highlighting the venture team's contributions to the firm's overall success. Third Point finished raising its first dedicated venture fund in 2021 and is currently taking in cash for its second venture fund, a person familiar with the fundraising said. While Third Point is nursing double-digit losses for 2022, fueled in part by a sell off in technology stocks including SentinelOne, its TP Partners fund has delivered an annualized return of 16% over its 27-year lifetime. That compares with an average 9.3% return for the S&P 500 index. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; editing by Diane Craft) ZAGREB (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Monday that Iran was making the world less safe by supplying Russia with drones to be used against targets in Ukraine. "I think Iran is making a big mistake," Pelosi said after meeting Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. "First of all we have to be able to counter the drones... it is a dangerous technology and it must be stopped," she said. Pelosi arrived in Zagreb on Monday to attend a forum aimed at supporting Ukraine's independence and the return of the Crimean peninsula to Kyiv. "We've been trying for a while now to have a nuclear agreement with Iran so that we can make the world a safer place and now they're going off aiding the Russians and making the world a less safe place," Pelosi said. Iran has denied supplying drones to Russia for use in Ukraine. Pelosi, who visited the war-torn country earlier this year, has been a strong supporter of providing aid and military assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24 in what it has called a "special military operation." The Crimea Platform summit, which is being held in the Croatian capital of Zagreb, will hear from Ukrainian government officials and outside experts focusing on Crimea's reintegration after Moscow's annexation of the Eastern European peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. (Reporting by Antonio Bronic; Writing by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Bill Berkrot) By Andrew Chung (Reuters) -U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Monday temporarily blocked a judge's order requiring Senator Lindsey Graham to testify to a grand jury in Georgia in a criminal investigation into whether then-President Donald Trump and his allies unlawfully tried to overturn 2020 election results in the state. Thomas put the case on hold pending further action either from the justice or the full Supreme Court on a request by Graham, a Republican from South Carolina and Trump ally, to halt the order for testimony. Graham filed the emergency application to the Supreme Court on Friday after a federal appeals court denied his request to block the questioning. Thomas acted in the case because he is designated by the court to handle emergency requests from a region that includes Georgia. Graham has argued that his position as a senator provides him immunity under the U.S. Constitution's "speech or debate" clause from having to answer questions related to his actions as part of the legislative process. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has subpoenaed Graham to answer questions about phone calls he made to a senior Georgia election official in the weeks after the November 2020 election. Atlanta-based U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May last month narrowed the scope of questions that Graham must answer from the grand jury, ruling that he is protected from having to discuss "investigatory fact-finding" that he was engaged in during his calls to state election officials. However, May said he may be questioned about alleged efforts to encourage officials to throw out ballots or alleged communication with the Trump campaign. May rejected Graham's bid to avoid testifying altogether. The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday declined to block Graham's testimony pending an appeal. Graham is not a target in the investigation but his testimony could shed further light on coordination among Trump allies to reverse the election results. Story continues The senator's lawyers said in his application that the testimony would "undisputedly center on Senator Graham's official acts - phone calls he made in the course of his official work, in the leadup to the critical vote under the Electoral Count Act." Trump continues to appear at rallies repeating his false claims that the 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden was stolen from him through widespread voting fraud. The investigation was launched after Trump was recorded in a Jan. 2, 2021, phone call pressuring Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to overturn the state's election results based on unfounded claims of voter fraud. During the phone call, Trump urged Raffensperger, a fellow Republican, to "find" enough votes to overturn his Georgia loss to Biden. The transcript of the call quotes Trump telling Raffensperger: "I just want to find 11,780 votes," which is the number Trump needed to win Georgia. Trump has denied wrongdoing in the phone call. Legal experts have said Trump's phone calls may have violated at least three state election laws: conspiracy to commit election fraud, criminal solicitation to commit election fraud and intentional interference with performance of election duties. (Reporting by Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Will Dunham) Sergei Shoigu Read also: Russia attacks Kherson in false flag, U.S. Senate introduced Russian terrorism bill, and Hungary no longer a democracy Our countries made clear that we all reject Russias transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory, reads the statement. The countries reiterated their steadfast support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russias ongoing aggression and remain committed to continue supporting Ukraines efforts to defend its territory for as long as it takes. The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation. We further reject any pretext for escalation by Russia, they added. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Oct. 23 held phone talks with his French, British and Turkish counterparts. Shoigu expressed concern to all three colleagues that Ukraine is allegedly preparing false flag attacks with the use of a dirty bomb referring to a nuclear weapon that functions more to spread radiation than to cause explosive damage. Read also: Russia preparing false flag operation at Zaporizhzhia NPP, ISW report says Shoigu did not reveal why Ukraine would be willing to irradiate portions of its own territory. Shoigu is also said to have discussed this issue with the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, however, the details of the conversation were not specified. The UKs Ministry of Defense also confirmed the conversation between Shoigu and the countrys defense minister, Ben Wallace. They noted that the phone call took place at the request of the Russian side. According to the ministry, Shoigu claimed that Ukraine was planning false flag operations with the help of Western countries, including the UK, to escalate the conflict. Wallace denied the claims and warned Shoigu that such accusations should not be used as a pretext for further escalation. Read also: Nuclear Disarmament of Ukraine The Ukrainian government has denied Russias smears. Ukraine neither possesses the capability to create a dirty bomb, nor the desire to do so, and has shown no interest in nuclear weapons since its signing of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, where it traded nuclear weapons left on its territory following the collapse of the USSR for security guarantees from Russia and the United States. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine With a vote looming on the next University of Florida president, faculty are preparing to voice their displeasure over the process and threatening to take legal action, while students are being warned about protests. The UF Faculty Senate is expected to meet Thursday for a vote of no confidence on U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse being chosen as the sole finalist for university president and the search process that led to his selection. An emergency meeting will take place Oct. 27 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. where faculty members will debate on adopting a resolution of no confidence. The meeting comes before Sasse, R-Neb., is expected to be interviewed Nov. 1 by the board of trustees. Sen. Ben Sasse, the sole finalist to be the next University of Florida president, answers questions at Emerson Alumni Hall in Gainesville on Oct. 10. A resolution being considered at the Faculty Senate meeting states that the next president should already come equipped to lead an institution like UF rather than aiming to learn on the job. Sasse confronted by protestors: UF presidential finalist Ben Sasse confronted by protesters during his first campus visit Chinese faculty concerned: Chinese faculty express concerns over selection of Ben Sasse as the next UF president More reaction: Community reacts to Sasse being secretly tapped to be UF's next president The resolution further states that the search process has "has undermined the trust and confidence" of the Faculty Senate in the selection of Sasse as the sole finalist. "It's like a chess game here. The faculty has the right to say what it thinks about the decisions that are being made," said Danaya Wright, chair-elect of the UF Faculty Senate. Wright said the Faculty Senate could hold a vote of no confidence on the search committee, or schedule another Senate meeting for a vote of no confidence in the board of trustees. Limits put on protests With protests also planned for the vote, UF President Kent Fuchs' office sent an email Monday warning students that they could be disciplined if they violate university regulations. The email said students would not be allowed to protest inside Emerson Alumni Hall, where Sasse's presidential candidacy will be considered by trustees. The decision is backed up by a UF regulation that prohibits protests in campus buildings. Story continues "We have not enforced this policy in recent years because in the rare cases that protesters entered buildings, they were respectful of others and their rights to speak and to hear," Fuchs said in the email. Students who violate the regulation could be disciplined under the student code of conduct. The move follows an Oct. 10 student question-and-answer session with Sasse at Emerson Alumni Hall, where a large group of protestors entered the building chanting, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Ben Sasse has got to go." Students also stood on chairs and banged their fists on windows. "As a result, a planned staff forum in that space had to be moved online and was shortened. UF employees who traveled to the forum site did not get to hear Dr. Sasse in person, as many had planned to do," Fuchs said in the email. Watch this story by UF Graduate Assistants United on Instagram before it disappears. Shortly after receiving the email, Graduate Assistants United took to Instagram, stating, "Banning indoor protests is not free speech." The graduate student union's Instagram post criticized UF for providing "no mechanisms to the UF community for giving input" on the presidential selection and then threatening the UF community for finding alternative methods. UFF threatens to take legal action Meanwhile, the United Faculty of Florida is demanding the names of other presidential finalists and questioning the legality of naming Sasse as the sole candidate for the position. The faculty union is also requesting the records of meetings that discuss the final group of applicants, threatening to take legal action if they're not given. A bill signed into law in March, SB 520, allowed UF to conduct much of the presidential search outside of the requirements of Floridas open meetings and public records laws. According to the law, information about the finalists was required to become public 21 days before the final person was interviewed and chosen. State Sen. Jeff Brandes, the law's co-sponsor, told the Tampa Bay Times that UFs search violated the intent of the law. Brandes said the intent was for universities to "propose multiple candidates ... not announce who the person was as the only finalist. UF stated that the 15-member search committee reached out to more than 700 leaders inside and outside of higher education, focusing on a dozen candidates that included nine sitting presidents at major research universities. UF Faculty Senate Chair Amanda Phalin told the Senate on Oct. 20 that no other finalists wanted to go public while holding current positions as president of other universities, unless they were the sole finalist. "So imagine that you're a sitting president at a top university and you spend three weeks competing for a presidency at another institution ... that was not something that any of them were willing to do," Phalin said. However, the United Faculty of Florida said in a statement that the community deserves to know which candidates were considered less qualified than Sasse "in order to decide for themselves who will make the best president." This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: UF faculty meeting on Sen. Ben Sasse, students warned about protests (Reuters) - Ukraine said seven vessels sailed off from its ports on Sunday carrying grain bound for Asia and Europe, but accused Russia of blocking the full implementation of Black Sea grain deal. "Russia is deliberately blocking the full realisation of the Grain Initiative. As a result, these (Ukrainian) ports in the last few days are working only at 25-30 percent of their capacity," Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry said in a statement via the Telegram messaging app. The agreement, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July, paved the way for Ukraine to resume grain exports from Black Sea ports that had been shut since Russia invaded. Moscow won guarantees for its own grain and fertiliser exports. Ukraine called for the renewal of the deal but concerns over whether Russia will agree to an extension beyond the Nov. 19 deadline has intensified after Russia has repeatedly raised complaints about its implementation. Gennady Gatilov, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, last week told Reuters that Moscow had delivered a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres setting out a list of complaints. [ Among the ships that departed on Sunday included one chartered by the U.N. World Food Programme, carrying 40,000 tonnes of wheat from Chornomorsk and bound for Yemen, a development welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. "It is very important that today the sixth vessel sailed from our port with foodstuffs chartered in the context of the U.N.'s World Food Programme," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. "This ship is bound for Yemen with wheat. Ethiopia, Yemen and Afghanistan -- these three countries have already received foodstuffs thanks to our exports and the U.N.'s food programme." The seven ships carrying a total of 124,300 tonnes of foodstuffs left from ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi, according to the Infrastructure Ministry. Story continues Since Aug. 1, the grain deal struck in Istanbul has resulted in 380 vessels carrying 8.5 million tonnes of foodstuffs from Ukraine's Black Sea ports to countries in Africa, Asia and Europe, the ministry added. Trade specialists have also raised concerns about the wait time for vessels due to reduced numbers of inspections -- considerably less than the 12 supposed to be conducted each day. "The grain corridor is at least working, but it is very unstable," Andriy But, head of the grain trading firm Agrotrade, told the publication UkrAgroConsult on Friday. The deal eased a world food crisis, but as more shippers have joined, the handful of inspection teams has fallen behind. (Reporting by Ronald Popeski and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Diane Craft) Former head of the NBU Kyrylo Shevchenko In addition to Shevchenko, who managed Ukrgasbank before his appointment as central bank chief, the anti-graft agency has also issued warrants for Deputy Chairman of the Board Denys Chernyshov and Deputy Director of the Corporate VIP Clients Department Olena Khmelenko. They are suspected of embezzling over UAH 200 million ($5.4 million). Shevchenko and other Ukrgasbank employees were served with charges in early October. Their whereabouts are currently unknown. The suspects have ignored summonses to an investigator since that time, which led to the declaration of the arrest warrants, NABU said. Shevchenko announced his resignation from the central bank on Oct. 4, citing ill health. The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraines parliament, accepted Shevchenko's resignation on Oct. 4 with 263 votes in favor of the decision. Read also: Zelenskyy puts forward ex-Oschadbank chief Pyshnyy as next central bank governor On Oct. 6, Shevchenko was charged with embezzlement as part of an anti-corruption probe into illegal activities taken by Ukrgasbank leading to losses over UAH 206 million ($5.6 million). According to the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO), the banks management which included Shevchenko, who was chairman of the board at the bank from 2014 to 2020 fabricated contracts with individuals and legal entities, who allegedly attracted large customers to the bank as agents. For their "services," the bank is said to have illegally paid monthly fees leading to the multi-million-dollar losses. This scheme is said to have created 52 fabricated agents in total, from 2014 to 2020. Shevchenko was appointed NBU governor in July 2020 after Yakiv Smolii had abruptly resigned from the post, accusing the countrys leadership of putting pressure on the central bank. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Viktor Medvedchuk I can assure you he wasn't given a red-carpet treatment, said Budanov. Read also: Viktor Medvedchuk, fugitive long-time ally of Putin, caught by SBU Where is he at the moment? Id need to check details first. He was taken to Moscow thats certain. According to Budanov, Medvedchuck was taken to Turkey first, but eventually he ended up in Moscow. "I know Russias FSB had many questions to ask him; the questions were absolutely not political, but rather practical ones," he said. Read also: President's Office advisor speaks about Medvedchuk, negotiations and sanctions against Russia interview Budanov noted the Russian special services might ask Medvedchuk a close ally of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin about the money he was given for preparing the invasion of Ukraine. On Oct. 22, Ukraine returned 215 people from Russian captivity, including 108 fighters from the Azov Regiment. Read also: Zelensky confirms Medvedchuk captured while trying to flee Ukraine Five Azov Regiment commanders were exchanged for 55 Russian troops. The Ukrainian officers are now in Turkey, under personal security guarantees of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Another 210 Ukrainian soldiers were swapped for Medvedchuk, who was charged with treason in Ukraine. Read also: Medvedchuk testifies against former president Poroshenko SBU Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Photo: The Canadian Press Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks at the United Conservative Party AGM in Edmonton, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. Alberta's new cabinet will be sworn in today at a ceremony at Government House in Edmonton. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she is cancelling a health consulting agreement involving the World Economic Forum because she doesn't want to have any ties with a group that brags about controlling governments and politicians. The World Economic Forum has been the focus of unproven online conspiracy theories alleging it is a front for a secret cabal out to impose a new world order, destroy capitalism and force people to have vaccinations with tracking chips. Smith declined to answer directly if she believes in that theory but says she will trust local doctors and nurses for health advice. The deal with Alberta Health Services sees the province share ideas with health researchers at Harvard University and the Mayo Clinic under the umbrella of the World Economic Forum. In recent years, Smith has espoused contrarian theories on alternative media platforms, and last week she apologized for urging earlier this year that Ukraine accept neutrality in its war with Russia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith pushed for later-debunked treatments such as the anti-parasite drug ivermectin. (Bloomberg) -- Ukraines allies are increasingly concerned that desperation in the Kremlin over an unrelenting string of battlefield failures may lead Russia to escalate its war, possibly using a massive attack on a target like a dam or even a weapon of mass destruction. Most Read from Bloomberg For the moment, theres no sign Moscow is actually making preparations for such a strike, even as it ratchets up the rhetoric, according to officials from North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence. US and European defense ministers rejected allegations from Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in a rare round robin of phone calls Sunday alleging Kyiv is preparing to use a dirty bomb. Instead, the view among Ukraines allies is that the Kremlin is trying to scare them with the talk of such unthinkable weapons along with strikes on the countrys civilian power grid into reducing their supplies of weapons and other support for Kyiv. So far, the intimidation campaign hasnt worked. (See RSAN on the Bloomberg Terminal for the Russian Sanctions Dashboard.) Key Developments Putins Threats Worry NATO as Sign of Russian Desperation Top US, Russian Generals Speak Amid Fears of Nuclear Escalation Europes Autumn Heatwave Means More Gas for Later in Winter Russian Oil Logistics in Chaos With Weeks Until Sanctions Bite How Will Insuring Russian Oil Work? We Dont Yet Properly Know On the Ground Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks near 11 settlements in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions over the past day, and shot down 12 Shahed-136 drones, Ukraines General Staff said. As of Oct. 22 Russian troops have used 330 such drones, of which about 222 were shot down, while about 30% reached their targets, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, told Ukrainska Pravda. Story continues Russia has already used 4,500 missiles in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in the address to the participants of the Haaretz Democracy Summit in Israel. We are beating the Russian army. But we do not have a modern and effective air defense and missile defense system, Zelenskiy said. (All times CET) IAEA Offers Reassurance on Safeguards at Nuclear Sites (12 a.m.) The International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday it was aware of Russian statements about alleged activities at two Ukrainian nuclear sites, and that the sites were being visited regularly by agency inspectors. The IAEA did not specify what Russian statements it was referring to, but on Sunday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu called his counterparts in the UK, France and Turkey to warn of a drift toward uncontrolled escalation in Ukraine and the potential for Kyiv to detonate a radioactive dirty bomb. In a joint statement, the US, the UK and France called the allegation transparently false. In the agencys statement, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said the agency had inspected one of these locations one month ago and all our findings were consistent with Ukraines safeguards declarations. No undeclared nuclear activities or material were found there, Grossi added. Ukraines Court Detains President of Motor Sich (7:30 p.m.) A Ukrainian court ordered the detention of executives from Motor Sich PJSC amid an investigation into allegations that the company supplied aviation engines to Russia amid. Vyacheslav Bohuslayev, Motor Sichs president and co-owner, will spend 60 days in detention while the investigation continues, the state security service said on Telegram. Bohuslayev denied any wrongdoing, Ukrainian TV reported. Pelosi Calls Out Iran for Involvement in Ukraine Fight (7:28 p.m.) US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Iran is making a big mistake by getting more involved in the Ukraine conflict. We have been trying for a while now to have a nuclear agreement with Iran so that we can make the world a safer place, and now they are going off aiding the Russians and making the world a less safe place, Pelosi said at a briefing with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic in Zagreb. Iran has upped the ante. Asked to address concerns that Republicans might cut support for Ukraine if they take control of one or both houses of Congress in next months elections, Pelosi said backing for Ukraine is bipartisan and wont stop. Germany to Provide More IRIS-T Air-Defense Systems to Ukraine: Shmyhal (4:30 p.m.) Ukraines Shmyhal said Germany will supply three more IRIS-T air-defense system to Ukraine soon. IRIS-T has been extremely effective in protecting Ukrainian sky, he said on Twitter after meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. There was no immediate confirmation from Germany. Russian Crude Shipments Sink Ahead of EU Sanctions (3 p.m.) European Union sanctions aimed at Russias crude exports may be starting to have an impact already, six weeks before theyre due to come into effect. Seaborne crude shipments from Russia fell to a five-week low in the seven days to Oct. 21, dragging the four-week average down, too. The IAEA Offers Reassurance on Safeguards at Nuclear Sites (12 a.m.) The International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday it was aware of Russian statements about alleged activities at two Ukrainian nuclear sites, and that the sites were being visited regularly by agency inspectors. The IAEA did not specify what Russian statements it was referring to, but on Sunday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu called his counterparts in the UK, France and Turkey to warn of a drift toward uncontrolled escalation in Ukraine and the potential for Kyiv to detonate a radioactive dirty bomb. The US called the allegation transparently false. In the agencys statement, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the agency had inspected one of these locations one month ago and all our findings were consistent with Ukraines safeguards declarations. No undeclared nuclear activities or material were found there, Grossi added. EU Plans New Steps to Enforce Russia Sanctions (2:20 p.m.) The EU said it would create two new mechanisms for member states to share real-time information on sanctions as the bloc steps up its efforts to fight circumvention of penalties imposed on Russia. The blocs financial services commissioner, Mairead McGuinness, said the EU would also hold a conference soon on how to close sanctions loopholes. Scholz Says Ukraine Should Be EU Member (1 p.m.) Ukraine is part of the European family, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at the German-Ukrainian Business Forum in Berlin. We want Ukraine to become part of the European Union. Companies that invest in the reconstruction of Ukraine should know that theyre investing in a future member, he added. At the same time, he called on Kyiv to intensify its fight against corruption as a precondition for membership. Ukraine Ex-Central Bank Chief Put on Wanted List (12:33 p.m.) Ukrainian investigators added former central bank governor Kyrylo Shevchenko to their wanted list, as they probe his alleged involvement in embezzlement. The case relates to his time as former chief executive officer of state-run Ukrgazbank and hes being investigated along with several other lenders managers, according to the National Anti-Corruption Bureaus website. Shevchenko worked for the bank between 2014 and July 2020. Investigators say he and his two deputies were behind the siphoning of money out of the bank via payments to pseudo intermediaries. Shevchenko, who is currently abroad for treatment reasons, said in a text message that he will publicly comment later on the matter. Previously, he denied any wrongdoing, calling the probe political pressure. He stepped down as central bank chief citing health reasons in early October. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. ALONA MAZURENKO MONDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2022, 19:11 The Armed Forces pushed the Russian occupants out of Karmazynivka, Myasozharivka, and Nevske in Luhansk Oblast and Novosadove in Donetsk Oblast. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Quote: "The Air Force carried out 17 strikes in the course of the day. It was confirmed that 13 clusters of weapons and military equipment and four positions of anti-aircraft missile systems were struck. In addition, air defence units shot down two helicopters on different fronts. Ukraines Rocket and Artillery Forces hit four command posts, ten clusters of manpower, weapons and equipment, six ammunition storage points, an anti-aircraft missile system, an area of artillery fire positions, and three other important sites used by the enemy." Details: In order to slow down the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the occupiers keep placing mines on bridges and crossings on their retreat routes in Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts. The invaders continue to actively recruit prisoners both in Russia and in the temporarily occupied territories. Thus, the majority of the criminals were released from the Penal Colony No.90 in the city of Kherson after the so-called conversations with representatives of the Federal Security Service (FSB). At the same time, the occupiers continue evacuating the injured to Crimea. The Russians are trying to hold the temporarily captured territories, improve their tactical situation, focusing on deterring the actions of the defence forces on certain fronts, and conducting offensive actions on the Bakhmut and Avdiivka fronts. In the course of the day, the defence forces repelled attacks of the invaders in the areas of Spirne, Soledar, Bakhmut, Andriivka, Marinka, and Pervomaiske. Through successful actions, the Ukrainian forces have pushed the Russians out of Karmazynivka, Miasozharivka, and Nevske in Luhansk Oblast, as well as Novosadove in Donetsk Oblast. Story continues The Russian invaders are attacking the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces along the entire line of contact, and conducting aerial reconnaissance. Over the current day, the occupiers carried out three missile and seven air strikes and fired three times from MLRS. Civilian infrastructure facilities in Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, Vuhledar and Soledar in Donetsk Oblast, and the city of Mykolaiv were attacked. The invaders fired from tanks, mortars, tubed and rocket artillery on the Slobozhanshchyna, Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Novopavliva, Zaporizhzhia, and Pivdennyi Buh fronts. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday called on Israel to join the fight against Russia and repeated a request for Israeli air defense systems. "Isn't it time for your state to choose who you are with as well?" Zelenskiy said in a video speech to a conference for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. "Is it with the democratic world, which is fighting side by side against the existential threat to its existence? Or with those who turn a blind eye to Russian terror, even when the cost of continued terror is the complete destruction of global security," he said. Israel has condemned the Russian invasion. But it has been wary of straining relations with Moscow, a power broker in neighbouring Syria where Israeli forces frequently attack pro-Iranian militia, and wants to ensure the wellbeing of Russia's Jews. The country faced some criticism of its stance in Washington on Monday. Republican U.S. Representative Mike Turner told reporters on a conference call after he travelled to Ukraine that he was "personally disappointed" with Israel. "We have never seen, since Bosnia, this level of absolute murderous thuggery against innocent civilians since World War Two and this is the time for all democracies and all countries that have a moral compass to stand together against this type of brutality," said Turner, who holds senior positions on the House of Representatives intelligence and Armed Services committees. Israel, which will choose a new government in an election on Nov. 1, has limited its assistance to deliveries of humanitarian aid and defensive equipment. Most recently it offered to help Ukrainians develop air attack alerts for civilians. Zelenskiy said that was not enough and asked that Israeli leaders reconsider sending air defenses as well. He has made the same appeal a number of times since the war started in February. (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch and Anna Dabrowska; Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Josie Kao) The commander of Ukraines ground forces on Monday said the world should be worried about Russian President Vladimir Putins threats to use nuclear weapons. I must agree with you that we are and should be worried, and I do believe that such a threat really exists, and we have to take it into account, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskiy said of Putins threats in an interview aired on ABCs Good Morning America on Monday. Syrskiys comments come after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Sunday called his counterparts in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Turkey to warn that Ukraine is preparing a provocation with a radioactive bomb. Reports and readouts show officials in the U.S., the United Kingdom and France rejected the allegations, but concerns were heightened that Russia may be attempting to stoke a pretext for its own attack. Of course I think we are winning, because first and foremost we are winning mentally, and we have success on the front line, said Syrskiy, who is leading Ukraines counteroffensive. After recent battlefield setbacks, Russia has appeared to retaliate with a renewed surge of strikes throughout Ukraine, targeting the countrys infrastructure and power grid ahead of winter. Putin also continues to provoke international concern over the potential use of nuclear weapons during the war. Syrskiy says the war will be over when Ukrainian flags will fly all over our borders, including Crimea. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. An uncle saw his 12-year-old nephew playing with a toy gun, then grabbed his real gun so they could play together, according to authorities in Texas. Thinking the gun was empty, the 22-year-old man said he fired his weapon toward his nephew, police said. The boy was shot one time. Officers with the Houston Police Department were called to the shooting at about 6:25 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21 in Humble, just north of Houston, according to a news release. Authorities found the child dead at the scene. Cesar Chavez was arrested and charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of his nephew, according to an Oct. 24 news release. Police have not publicly identified the child. Grandma accidentally shoots 4-year-old boy while unloading gun, Pennsylvania cops say Roommate kills college student with gun he thought wasnt loaded, Texas officials say TALLAHASSEE, Fla. University of Florida officials on Monday warned students that the school will enforce a decades-old rule banning protesters inside campus buildings when the board of trustees meets next week to consider appointing Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) as president. While this policy has not been applied in recent years, outgoing president Kent Fuchs told students that the flagship university could discipline demonstrators for protesting like they did two weeks ago, when the Nebraska senator made his first visit to the Gainesville campus. Then, hundreds of protesters flooded the building where Sasse was speaking, chanting loudly, banging their fists on windows, walls and furniture while prompting UF to shorten the engagement, Fuchs said. UF supports the First Amendment right to free speech and embraces our university as a place where people are able and encouraged to exchange differing viewpoints or express their feelings through peaceful protest, Fuchs wrote in a message to the university. With this commitment comes an obligation to protect the rights of everyone in our community to speak and to hear. Sasse on Oct. 6 was named the sole finalist in the search for a new leader at UF, a move that sparked intense backlash from the student body. As Sasse defended his stance on LGBTQ rights, including opposition to a Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, and his views on faculty tenure, students chanted loudly from the packed lobby outside the room, waving signs telling him to go back to Nebraska. Sasse pledged to create a culture of inclusivity at the university and advance institutional protections for all students, faculty and staff when he was asked about his past in politics. Ive obviously had to take positions on a lot of federal policy and political issues that wont align with the views of everybody in this room or everybody in this campus. But thats just one small subset of who each of us are as people, Sasse said during one Oct. 10 meeting. Whatever positions youve had on federal policy or political issues dont define who any of you are, and they dont define who I am. Story continues Anticipating a possible repeat of these protests, Fuchs signaled Monday that the University of Florida will resume enforcement of its standing rule that prohibits protests inside campus buildings. Although on the books for at least two decades according to Fuchs, the policy hasnt been used recently, even as UF hosted controversial speakers, including white nationalist leader Richard Spencer in 2017. We have not enforced this policy in recent years because in the rare cases that protesters entered buildings, they were respectful of others and their rights to speak and to hear, Fuchs said Monday. When university trustees vote on Sasses appointment on Nov. 1, students who protest indoors are at risk of violating the schools code of conduct, according to Fuchs. His message cited a school policy stating that students or faculty who intentionally act to impair, interfere with, or obstruct the orderly conduct, processes, and functions are subject to appropriate disciplinary action by the University authorities. Yet under Floridas campus free speech laws, students are allowed to protest on school grounds. The states Campus Free Expression Act permits protests so long as theyre done in an outdoor communal area and conduct is lawful and does not materially and substantially disrupt the functioning of the university or the rights of others. Before choosing Sasse as president, UF officials said the school search committee homed in on a dozen highly qualified diverse candidates, including nine sitting presidents at major research universities and seven Association of American Universities. But because of a new state law shielding presidential applicants from the public eye, the identities of those candidates is unknown. The United Faculty of Florida, the states university union, on Monday suggested taking legal action against the institution to push university leaders to release more information surrounding the search. The faculty would have preferred an individual who is qualified for the position, not a political appointee, Paul Ortiz, president of the United Faculty of Floridas UF chapter and a history professor, said in a statement Monday. Our students work too hard to get into this university for someone to waltz into the presidency because of his political affiliation. Honoring the homecoming tradition of the corn monument on the Pentacrest, members of the American Society of Engineers at the University of Iowa spent Sunday morning building this year's 36-foot-wide monument. "This is a tradition that's gone on for years and years," noted Trevor Thornburgh, one of the organization's Corn Monument captains. Inspired by the Park Road Bridge, the 10-foot-tall monument will stay on the Pentacrest until Sunday. The monument will have the initials UI to represent the University of Iowa and IC to represent Iowa City. We're really excited about this design, especially after last year's ambitious design modeling the Old Capitol. We really wanted to follow it up with something influential and fun. So this is this is definitely the way to go, said Tyler Morz, president of the American Society of Engineers. The organization has been working on the monument since before the start of the school year. "We've worked every weekend since then designing, getting plans, purchasing our materials and constructing," Thornburgh said. The majority of the monument is made of corn that was joined together using environmentally friendly glue. Once the monument is taken apart, the group hopes to recycle or donate the materials used. The homecoming parade is Friday evening in downtown Iowa City. The football game is at 2:30 p.m. Saturday vs. Northwestern. This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: University of Iowa students honor homecoming tradition, with corn Director and Colonel of the Texas Department of Public Safety Steven C. McCraw listens with other law enforcement officials during a press conference outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 27, 2022. CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images The Uvalde staffer who Texas authorities wrongly claimed propped the door to the school open was left distraught by the false narrative. Emilia "Amy" Marin told ABC News she had to be hospitalized after the Texas officials pointed blame. "I was shaking from head to toe," said Marin, who actually closed the door to Robb Elementary School before the mass shooting. The staffer at Uvalde's Robb Elementary School who Texas authorities wrongly claimed propped the door to the building open before the gunman carried out the deadly massacre said that she was so distraught after being blamed that she had to be hospitalized. "I was shaking from head to toe," Emilia "Amy" Marin, a school aide, told ABC News in a report published on Monday. Marin explained how her daughter was forced to take her to the hospital after she heard that Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw blamed a teacher for giving the shooter access to the school building the day of the May 24 mass shooting. "My boss came in and I told her I closed that door," Marin said, according to ABC News. In the aftermath of the shooting that left 21 dead, including 19 students, McCraw claimed that security footage showed that the door used by the 18-year-old gunman to enter Robb Elementary School was propped open by a teacher. Texas officials later walked that narrative back, saying the staff worker actually closed the door when she saw there was a shooter outside, but that the door did not lock. It was one of the many times Texas authorities changed their story about what happened before, during, and after the massacre. Law enforcement's response to the shooting has come under heavy scrutiny, including investigations for possibly mishandling the shooting. "I am suffering mentally, of course, emotionally," Marin told ABC News, adding, "I am suffering from post-traumatic arthritis, which is very painful." Marin said that she continuously replays that day in her mind. "And I see those victims' faces. I pray for them every night," said Marin. "But what I go through, McCraw doesn't know. Nobody knows. But it was very easy for him to point the finger at me." Story continues Marin said that a few weeks ago she told her counselor, it would have been "better" if the gunman shot her too "because the pain is unbearable." "And when you have people who are higher up in ranks like McCraw, you would think that they know their job well. He has no idea what his words did," she said. Marin, who worked as a speech pathologist in the special education program at Robb Elementary School, said she "died" the day of the massacre. "Right now, I'm lost. Sometimes I go into a dark place. And it's hard when I'm there, but I tell myself, 'you can't let him win. You can't let him win,'" Marin told ABC News of the gunman. "I'm a fighter. I will be okay. I'm going to learn to live with this." The Texas Department of Public Safety told Insider in a statement on Monday: "At the outset of the investigation, DPS reported that an unnamed teacher at Robb Elementary School used a rock to prop open the door that the shooter used to enter the school building." "It was later determined that the same teacher removed the rock from the doorway prior to the arrival of the shooter, and closed the door, unaware that the door was unlocked," the agency said. The department added, "DPS corrected this error in public announcements and testimony and apologizes to the teacher and her family for the additional grief this has caused to an already horrific situation." Read the original article on Insider A Virginia mother faces felony murder and child neglect charges in the wake of her four-year-old sons death, which occurred two days after eating a large amount of THC gummies, authorities say. Tanner Clements was found unresponsive on May 6 and was taken to a hospital where he later died, news outlets reported. Toxicology results showed the childs death was caused by delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol toxicity, resulting in extremely high levels of THC in his system and accidental death, documents state. THC is the compound that makes people high. Clements mother, Dorothy Annette Clements, is being held without bond after her arrest on Wednesday, the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Clements told police that one gummy containing CBD, which does not cause a high, was left in the jar when her son ate a part of it. But the empty jar of gummies seized by police contained THC. The mother told WUSA-TV that she thought she had bought CBD gummies from a store in Fredericksburg. She also said her son suffered from a "cardiac episode" and reported that it was determined her son "had something odd with his heart." 'Serious health risks':Industry experts warn of contaminants in marijuana alternative delta-8 Teen drinking is down, but marijuana use is up, and more popular, study suggests After noticing the eaten gummy, Clements said she called poison control and was assured her son would be OK, according to court documents. The attending doctor reported that earlier medical attention could have prevented his death, according to detectives. What is delta-8? Delta-8 THC is a psychoactive substance produced naturally in the cannabis sativa plant. The Food and Drug Administration warned last year that products containing delta-8 THC have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA for safe use in any context." Poll: Marijuana use is outpacing cigarette use for first time ever in US, new poll says Story continues The cannabis plant doesn't contain significant amounts of delta-8 so it is typically manufactured in concentrated amounts from hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD). "They may be marketed in ways that put the public health at risk and should especially be kept out of reach of children and pets," the FDA says. How are states regulating products like delta-8? Some states have banned products like delta-8, while others, including Virginia, have grappled with fierce pushback from the hemp industry to regulate products with THC. Delta-8 manufacturers call the concerns unfounded and say theyre driven by marijuana businesses trying to protect their market share. At least a dozen states have banned the hemp-derived drug, including Colorado, Montana, New York, and Oregon, which have legalized marijuana. Virginia lawmakers have a state task force focused on how to rein in the sales of items with delta-8 for next year's session. Regulation was discussed in this year's legislative session but failed to reach a consensus. How many adverse reactions to delta-8 have been reported? The FDA received 104 reports of adverse events involving products containing delta-8 THC from from December 2020 to February 2022. National poison control centers received 2,362 cases of exposure to such products during the same period, including one pediatric case coded with an outcome of death, according to the FDA. What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day Contributing: Assosicated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virginia mom faces murder charge in son's THC gummy death Nearly a month after Hurricane Ian hit Central Florida, Volusia County officials say theyre still dealing with lingering problems along the coastline. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<< Volusia County government leaders say it could take more than a year to repair all the damage done to the beaches by Hurricane Ian. READ: Hurricane Ian: Closure of Seminole County Courthouse in Sanford extended The damaged walkways, collapsed seawalls and debris left to be cleaned up have had an impact on tourism and local businesses. Many of the beach approaches have been closed since Hurricane Ian struck, making it difficult for people to gain access. Some of the new threats are debris on the beach, collapsed sea walls, Volusia County Beach Safety Deputy Chief Tammy Malphurs said in a video the county government posted to social media warning people of the dangers lingering along the coast from Hurricane Ian. My biggest fear is if any of these collapse and someone is near it and gets hurt. Volusia County is urging residents and visitors to AVOID ALL STRUCTURES AT THE BEACH. Many have been compromised and could collapse without warning. This includes seawalls, walkovers, and piers. Download the Volusia Beaches mobile app for the latest beach information. pic.twitter.com/F9FGVw5O89 County Of Volusia (@CountyOfVolusia) October 21, 2022 READ: 2 killed in shooting at St. Louis high school; gunman dead The county is working with the state and federal government to fix what it can, but it says the smaller beach and high tide put limits on what it can do to remove debris, do inspections and make repairs. Additionally, those repairs must be done outside of sea turtle nesting season, which usually runs from May through October. James Gavin, who runs Ocean Inlet Surf Shop, says his customers have had to find new ways to access the beach. Story continues READ: Military officials consider ending armed forces COVID-19 vaccine mandate We have actually had a lot of customers coming in and taking our bikes to surf, Gavin said. I had a lot of friends take an electric bike here to the jetty. County officials say they dont know yet how much it will cost to fix the damage. They say that will depend heavily on the specific repairs that are needed. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. With almost two weeks until Election Day 2022, the deadline to register to vote is on Monday, October 24, and the last day to request a mail-in ballot is November 1. Voter turnout is expected to be relatively high, compared to other midterms, and thats likely to include higher numbers for young voters. Here in Pennsylvania, all eyes are on several key races. The [Doug] Mastriano one, obviously, against [Josh] Shapiro. That was the main one Ive been looking at, said voter Mary Howski. The entire nation is paying attention to the U.S. Senate race between John Fetterman and Dr. Mehmet Oz, with voter interest reaching an all-time high for a midterm election. A new NBC poll reports 57 percent of registered voters said this midterm cycle is more important than past ones. Additionally, experts believe that young voter turnout could reach 2018 levels, when a record-high 36 percent of all eligible voters aged 18 to 29 cast ballots in the midterm election, according to NBC news. Ive been planning on registering, I just havent gotten there yet, said Shannon Zelinsky, a student at the University of Pittsburgh. Channel 11 asked young voters what issues are important to them. As a female identifying [as] human being abortion, Zelinsky said. Race relations are very important to me as well, as well as healthcare costs and student loans, said Lilyana Acharya, a sophomore at Pitt. Several voters told Channel 11 that even one vote can make a huge impact. If everyone thought that way and became a nihilist about it, then really nothing would happen because in voting, even though each contribution is only one person at large, the whole difference that it makes is bigger than some of its parts, so everyone counts here, really, Acharya said. To register to vote, you must be a citizen of the U.S., a resident of Pennsylvania, and live in your election district for at least 30 days prior to the election, and you must be at least 18 years old on Election Day. Story continues Click HERE to register to vote. For a mail-in ballot, click HERE. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Remains of missing Florida man who dropped daughter off at college last year found Pittsburgh International Airport auctions off lost-and-found items Multiple units in apartment building on Pittsburghs South Side suspected to have bed bugs VIDEO: Pitt, CMU students react to possible reversal of plan to cancel student loan debt DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts DIANA KRECHETOVA A 3D tour of the museum of the outstanding artist Maria Prymachenko, which was destroyed by the Russian invaders in Ivankiv, was developed in Ukraine. This was reported by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy. To be able to "walk" through the museum, which was burned to the ground, you need to follow the link. Those who wish have the opportunity to see what the panorama of the building, the central entrance, the windows through which local residents rescued valuable paintings by Prymachenko, made in the genre of "naive art", etc., look like now. "In the recording, you can look at the mutilated building from all sides: look at the windows through which the surviving exhibits were saved, see the general panorama of the museum," the Ministry of Culture notes. The museum, destroyed by the occupiers, in Ivankiv. Photo: Ministry of Culture and Information Policy The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy plans to restore the Ivankiv Museum; currently fundraising is underway as part of the "Save Ukrainian Culture" project. Those who want to contribute can do so via the link. The mutilated building of the Historical and Local History Museum in Kyiv Oblast. Photo: Ministry of Culture and Information Policy Reminder: On 25 February, on one of the first days of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine, the Museum of History and Local History in the village of Ivankiv, Kyiv Oblast, was burned down after being bombed by the Russians. Among other things, it housed a collection of paintings by the Ukrainian artist Maria Prymachenko. Photo: Ministry of Culture and Information Policy Photo: Ministry of Culture and Information Policy As later turned out, some of her artwork was saved, thanks to the actions of the local residents. About 14 works by the Ukrainian artist were saved. Later, on 21 September, an exhibition of Prymachenko's rescued paintings was opened for the first time in Kyiv. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his Democratic challenger Charlie Crist are squaring off in their first and only televised debate before voters head to the polls next month. On Monday 24 October at 7pm EST, the pair of gubernatorial candidates will be taking the podium. The timing of the debate arrives as early voting in the Sunshine State has opened up and two weeks out from 8 November, when people across the state and country will be casting votes in dozens of midterm races that will determine whether Democrats or Republicans retain or win control of the House and/or the Senate. The debate will serve as an important opportunity for the trailing Mr Crist, who served as Republican governor in the state from 2007 to 2011 before joining the Democratic party in 2012. Hell likely press Mr DeSantis on platform issues such as the states 15-week abortion ban. For Mr DeSantis, the debate will be a ripe opportunity to amplify his governments response to Hurricane Ian, with the damage done to the states already struggling property insurance market likely to be a topic of top concern throughout the debate. I am working with the Legislature to call a special session to provide permanent property tax relief for storm victims who lost their homes. The session will also provide any necessary appropriations for SWFL as well as further reforms to the property insurance market. pic.twitter.com/S23QskiNhR Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 20, 2022 Mr DeSantis has outpaced Mr Crist in fundraising efforts for the gubernatorial race, with the most recent campaign filings showing that the Florida governor has raised more than $3.68m between 8 October and 14 October. The former governor has raked in just $1.26m, Politico reported. The total includes money raised for campaign accounts and political committees controlled by the candidates. Story continues Good morning, Florida! Whos ready to watch me hold Ron DeSantis accountable on the debate stage tonight? Charlie Crist (@CharlieCrist) October 24, 2022 To tune in to the debate, viewers can watch on local TV channels across the state, including: Pensacola-Fort Walton Beach, WEAR-TV Channel 3; Tallahassee, WTWC-TV Channel 40; Gainesville, WGFL-TV Channel 28; Panama City, WMMB-TV Channel 13; Tampa-St. Petersburg, WFLA-TV Channel 8; Jacksonville, WJAX-TV Channel 19 and WFOX-TV Channel 14; Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, WFTV-TV Channel 9; Miami-Fort Lauderdale, WFOR-TV Channel 4; and Fort Myers-Naples, WBBH-TV Channel 20. For other viewers, you can catch commentary on the broadcast on most mainstream news outlets with some running live streams of the event on their website, such as CBS, and their respective YouTube channels. The Independent will be liveblogging the debate for all the latest updates from the showdown between the pair of nominees for the governors mansion in Florida. Even when a business is losing money, it's possible for shareholders to make money if they buy a good business at the right price. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. But while history lauds those rare successes, those that fail are often forgotten; who remembers Pets.com? Given this risk, we thought we'd take a look at whether Warrego Energy (ASX:WGO) shareholders should be worried about its cash burn. In this report, we will consider the company's annual negative free cash flow, henceforth referring to it as the 'cash burn'. First, we'll determine its cash runway by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves. Check out our latest analysis for Warrego Energy How Long Is Warrego Energy's Cash Runway? A company's cash runway is calculated by dividing its cash hoard by its cash burn. In June 2022, Warrego Energy had AU$34m in cash, and was debt-free. In the last year, its cash burn was AU$17m. That means it had a cash runway of about 2.0 years as of June 2022. While that cash runway isn't too concerning, sensible holders would be peering into the distance, and considering what happens if the company runs out of cash. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below. How Is Warrego Energy's Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Whilst it's great to see that Warrego Energy has already begun generating revenue from operations, last year it only produced AU$5.0m, so we don't think it is generating significant revenue, at this point. As a result, we think it's a bit early to focus on the revenue growth, so we'll limit ourselves to looking at how the cash burn is changing over time. Even though it doesn't get us excited, the 52% reduction in cash burn year on year does suggest the company can continue operating for quite some time. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. For that reason, it makes a lot of sense to take a look at our analyst forecasts for the company. How Hard Would It Be For Warrego Energy To Raise More Cash For Growth? While we're comforted by the recent reduction evident from our analysis of Warrego Energy's cash burn, it is still worth considering how easily the company could raise more funds, if it wanted to accelerate spending to drive growth. Generally speaking, a listed business can raise new cash through issuing shares or taking on debt. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash and drive growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn. Warrego Energy's cash burn of AU$17m is about 9.7% of its AU$177m market capitalisation. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money. So, Should We Worry About Warrego Energy's Cash Burn? It may already be apparent to you that we're relatively comfortable with the way Warrego Energy is burning through its cash. In particular, we think its cash burn reduction stands out as evidence that the company is well on top of its spending. And even though its cash runway wasn't quite as impressive, it was still a positive. Based on the factors mentioned in this article, we think its cash burn situation warrants some attention from shareholders, but we don't think they should be worried. Its important for readers to be cognizant of the risks that can affect the company's operations, and we've picked out 2 warning signs for Warrego Energy that investors should know when investing in the stock. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies insiders are buying, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts) 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 By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday called the expected naming of Rishi Sunak as Britain's next prime minister and first person of color to hold the job "a groundbreaking milestone." Biden, speaking at a White House event to mark the Indian holiday of Diwali, said Sunak, who is also of Indian descent, was expected to be named prime minister on Tuesday after seeing King Charles. Sunak, a 42-year-old multimillionaire former hedge fund boss won the race to lead the Conservative Party on Monday and will become the country's youngest leader in modern times - and its third in less than two months. His family migrated to Britain from India in the 1960s, a period when many people from Britain's former colonies moved to the country to help it rebuild after World War Two. "We've got news that Rishi Sunak is now the prime minister," Biden said. "He's expected to become the prime minister I think tomorrow when he goes to see the King. Pretty astounding. A groundbreaking milestone and it matters." White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden would call Sunak in coming days, noting that it was protocol for the U.S. president to wait to offer his congratulations until after an incoming British prime minister had met with the monarch and been formally invited to form a new government. (Reporting by Steve Holland and Andrea Shalal; editing by Jonathan Oatis) 171 more Vietnamese return from Cambodia As many as 171 Vietnamese citizens have just returned to Tay Ninh Border Gate after being rescued from several casinos and gambling firms in Cambodia. Police receive Vietnamese workers returning from Cambodia at the Xa Mat International Border Gate in Tay Ninh Province on October 22. According to the Consulate General of Vietnam in Battambang Province, they have recently received many letters calling for help from Vietnamese working at local casinos and gambling firms. On September 13, representatives from the consulate came to work with the police of Oddar Meanchey Province, asking for co-operation in the investigation and rescue of Vietnamese workers. Cambodian carried out checks at casinos and online gambling companies in Samrong City, Oddar Meancheay Province between October 11 and 17 and rescued 171 Vietnamese citizens who were coerced into working for them. The workers were handed over to the Vietnamese consulate and were then brought to the Xa Mat International Border Gate in Tay Ninh Province on October 22. After completing necessary procedures, they returned to their respective localities on October 23. Earlier on October 11, the border gate in Tay Ninh also received 78 Vietnamese workers from Cambodia. In mid September, 92 others also returned after being rescued from casinos in Cambodia. According to the Vietnam Consulate General in Cambodia, so far this year, more than 600 Vietnamese citizens have returned home after escaping or being rescued from local casinos where they were ill treated. Most of them were victims of online labour export scams. The state-run veterans home in LaSalle where 36 residents died during a coronavirus outbreak two years ago is experiencing another surge of COVID-19, state officials announced Monday. As of Monday morning, 23 staff members and 42 residents at the 190-bed home had tested positive for the virus, according to a statement from Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Director Terry Prince. Advertisement None of the cases were reported to require hospitalization, with most residents experiencing cold-like symptoms, officials said. The Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle is shown on Dec. 14, 2020. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune / Chicago Tribune) The first case in the latest outbreak was detected Oct. 15 and reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health the same day, officials said. Advertisement Health department officials were in communication with the state VA the following day to verify what steps were being taken in response to the reported case. After increased testing identified seven more cases on Oct. 17, health officials made an unannounced visit the next day, health department spokesman Mike Claffey said. A spokeswoman for Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he was notified of the outbreak by Deputy Gov. Sol Flores that same day, Oct. 18. Public health officials were on-site again two days later, Claffey said. This rapid and early identification and consequent treatment of the residents with COVID-19 has resulted in zero hospitalizations thus far and the intensive mitigation measures implemented have already resulted in a timely slowing down in the identification of new cases daily, Claffey said in an emailed response to questions. The outbreak comes two weeks before Election Day and harks back to the 2020 outbreak that occurred amid the pandemics deadliest surge in Illinois. The Pritzker administrations handling of that outbreak was the subject of a scathing audit earlier this year that found the Department of Public Health, which didnt visit the facility for 11 days after the initial case was detected, failed to identify and respond to the seriousness of the outbreak. The governor has sought to assign some responsibility for the outbreak to Republican elected officials who told people to defy mitigation efforts. Previous reviews, which pinned more of the blame on the state VA, also found lax infection control practices and other problems that likely contributed to the rapid spread of the virus. The latest outbreak also highlights the advances that have been made in combating COVID-19 particularly since the introduction of vaccines in late 2020. Advertisement A spokeswoman for the state VA said all of the infected residents except one had been vaccinated, and a second resident who became ill had declined booster doses. All staff are either vaccinated or have an exemption from the state order, spokeswoman Maureen Hartigan said. All the infected residents have been moved to isolated rooms with special ventilation. The department said it has instituted additional safety measures at LaSalle, including health screening for residents every four hours, COVID-19 testing for staff at all shift changes, and use of N-95 respirator masks with protective face shields. Communal dining has been halted until the outbreak subsides, but leisure activities are continuing with social distancing in place, according to the department. The facility remains open to visitors, but officials highly encourage waiting until after the outbreak ends. This is the third time since June the Veterans Affairs department has reported an outbreak at one of its five homes. COVID-19 was recorded as a contributing factor but not the cause of death for one resident infected during a June outbreak at the Manteno veterans home and two residents infected during a July outbreak at the Quincy home, Hartigan said. Advertisement Beyond the walls of the LaSalle home, public health officials are on guard for another potential fall and winter surge of COVID-19. In Illinois, the number of COVID-19 patients filling hospital beds appears to be on the rise again, reaching 1,084 statewide as of Sunday night. Thats the highest level in more than a month but still substantially below the peak of 7,380 in mid-January during the omicron variant surge. Over the past week, the state has averaged seven deaths per day, roughly the same as a month earlier. The statewide death toll as of Monday stood at 35,183 since the start of the pandemic. dpetrella@chicagotribune.com We begin in Anniston, Alabama, sometime in the 1970s, as an investigator is talking to a woman. A murder from two decades earlier is mentioned. The woman is intrigued, and asks all about the case that began with the discovery of two dismembered bodies in White Plains, Alabama, and includes an investigation in Etowah County. As they talk, the investigator, who worked on the case earlier in his career, asks this acquaintance why she thinks a woman would commit such a heinous murder. It becomes apparent that more is going on here and has been going on in the life of this other woman. The stage is now set (literally) for an intriguing story-within-a-story to unfold. You can learn about these eventful, actual crimes at the historic Ritz Theatre in Alabama City. White Plains, Blue Mountain, a full-length play by Gadsden writers and spouses William Bill Thornton and Donna Thornton, makes its premiere with Theatre of Gadsden. (Both Thorntons are journalists: He writes for AL.com, while she is a long-time reporter for the Gadsden Times.) Theatre of Gadsden commissioned the play in 2017, but the foundations for writing it were set before then. Several years ago, (Bill and I) did some research on the summer of 1959 murders (in White Plains), because we had the idea of writing a true crime story about it, Donna Thornton said. We talked to probably 11 people involved in the investigating and criminal case from one of the attorneys who defended (confessed killer) Viola Hyatt and one of the state investigators, to the state trooper who got the tip that led to the identification of the two (male) victims. Theater program:GSCC theater program presents 'The Great Gatsby' We didnt get the true crime project off the ground, but we kept all our notes and clippings. Then, in about 2017, we saw a post from Mike Beecham on Theatre of Gadsdens Facebook page asking someone to work on a writing project related to the Alabama bicentennial. Bill contacted Mike and found out one of his ideas for a possible project was the story of Viola Hyatt. Then Bill came up with an idea of incorporating another Calhoun County crime into the mix. Story continues Thus, White Plains, Blue Mountain had its beginnings. The most important thing (about playwriting) is to make sure you are creating something that a troupe of actors can interpret in a way that leaves the audience not only with something to think about, but also (something that) inspires the feelings that every human being has, Bill Thornton said. Thats very different than our day jobs, he added. Bill said the writing process already had some sense of flow from how the Viola Hyatt story played out, so a major part of drafting the play involved documenting those events. We read some plays beforehand to get some ideas about structure and staging, and it took about two to three months to get a first draft done, Bill Thornton said. Several rewrites later, the theatre held a one-night-only reading in July 2019, before more revisions "to cut and condense some scenes to focus in on the two main stories. Fortunately, the TOG folks were happy with what we put together, Donna Thornton added. Bill shared more about the challenges of the creative process for writing a play from starting with the idea to turning it into a finished product ready for the premiere. Whole Backstage:The Whole Backstage makes plans for Black Tie Christmas The biggest challenge is dramatizing what the information is, Bill Thornton said. A play is about characters, situations, and action. Some of the scenes would seem obvious, but the characters have to be believably motivated and explicable. One of the reasons we didnt just tell Viola (Hyatt)s story is that much of it is still a mystery. She never spoke publicly, that we could find, about what happened. That was a creative challenge, he said. So we needed another voice to tell the story, which is how the other case came into the play because it involves a very vivid, memorable character. Some of the sources the Thorntons spoke to while writing the play were memorable themselves. Both of us talked to Noble Yocum, the former Etowah County coroner who was there for the examination of the two victims in the Hyatt case, Donna Thornton said. He was such a colorful character and obvious storyteller. He had this very deep voice and could give very clear details about what it was like at this or that occasion. He still remembered what he had been doing just before getting called to one of the crime scenes, she added. He had a sharp memory in his 80s. She also talked to John Phillips, Hyatts lawyer, who gave his memories and thoughts on what he perceived was the relationship in the Hyatt household. Bill said its important for audiences to remember that, while dramatized for the stage, the stories being portrayed are true and have long-reaching effects on peoples lives. Weve come to know some people who were involved peripherally in the lives of the two women, he said. These were real crimes that affected flesh-and-blood people, and they were tragedies. Weve tried to be as respectful as possible in both instances. Weekend showtimes for White Plains, Blue Mountain are 7 p.m. on Oct. 28, Oct. 29, Nov. 4 and Nov. 5; and 2 p.m. on Oct. 30 and Nov. 6. All performances are at the Ritz Theatre, 310 Wall St., Gadsden, Alabama, 35904. A meet-the-playwrights reception is open to attendees following the opening night performance. This program/project was supported by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. For tickets and more information, visit www.theatreofgadsden.org. This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Play drawn from notorious murders comes to Theatre of Gadsden stage ONEIDA - A national bank is seeking to make tribal economies more transparent for potential investors and is commending the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin for its financial moves. Tribal communities are economically invisible, said Dawson Her Many Horses, head of Native American banking for Wells Fargo & Company. He said theres not much economic data available about tribal businesses that potential investors would use to justify their investments. Despite this, in rural Wisconsin counties where tribal reservations are located, tribes are one of the top, if not the top, employers in the county employing both Native and non-Native workers. Unlike much of American society in which most business is owned and operated by corporations and individuals, business in Indian Country is mostly owned and operated by sovereign tribal governments. Tribal officials are often reluctant to share detailed economic data with outsiders, citing proprietary information. Any financial information provided would need to protect tribes at an individual level while still showing economic opportunities (for potential investors), Her Many Horses said. Wells Fargo is organizing a meeting next month in New York between tribal leaders and finance and public accounting executives to discuss a strategy on how to do that. One way that can be done, Her Many Horses explained, is by expanding on national reports, such as that by the National Indian Gaming Commission. The NIGCs latest report shows Indian gaming revenue totaled $39 billion nationally in 2021, which is 40% over 2020 when casinos had to close because of the pandemic and 13% over pre-pandemic 2019. Wells Fargos tribal economic development report released this month highlights the economic resiliency of the tribes to come back in gaming revenue after the pandemic. The report also recognizes tribal banks, such as Oneidas Bay Bank with $140 million in assets, as a success story for helping to develop Indian Country. Story continues Native-owned regional/local banks hold much less capital than national banks but represent a significant source of capital for non-gaming mid-market businesses, the report states. These institutions occupy a unique position of community trust and respect, often boasting closer relationships within Indian Country than national banks. Sign up for the First Nations Wisconsin newsletter Click here to get all of our Indigenous news coverage right in your inbox The report highlights the business savviness of the Oneida Nation, as well as other tribes, by featuring some of Oneidas business decisions, such as investing in a joint $43 million venture to develop the Marriott Residence Inn in Washington, D.C., with three other tribes. This represented a significant tribal investment in non-gaming enterprises, the report stated. By combining resources, the tribes minimized risk and built upon each others diverse business experiences. The success of the venture created a positive precedent for similar future investments. Oneida Nation also conducted the first intertribal loan in history when it contributed to the Lakota Fund in 2005 to help improve the lives of people living on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Not mentioned in the report is the opening of Oneidas Bay Bank on the Menominee Reservation in 2020, the first time a tribally-owned bank opened on the reservation of another tribe in Indian Country. It is designed to help Menominee citizens develop businesses and homes on the reservation. American Indians and Alaska Natives are the most unbanked of any race in the U.S., according to the FDIC. Frank Vaisvilas is a Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank.You can directly support his work with a tax-deductible donation online at GreenBayPressGazette.com/RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Green Bay Press Gazette Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Drive, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Wells Fargo Bank to invest in Indian Country, lauds Oneida Nation The safety stand-down that has grounded the Navys fleet of T-45C Goshawk training jets happened after one of the trainers experienced a low-pressure compressor blade failure before takeoff on Oct. 11, officials have confirmed. Officials said no prior Goshawk mishaps are being attributed to this type of engine blade fault, although a mishap from August remains under investigation. The Navy initiated the safety stand-down on Oct. 14. Goshawks are used to train Navy and Marine Corps fighter pilots. The safety of our service members is a top priority, and we are working with our industry partners toward a swift resolution, Elizabeth Fahrner, a spokeswoman for the Navys Program Executive Office for Tactical Aircraft Programs, said in an email to Navy Times. Flight operations will remain paused until we can safely return the T-45 fleet to a flying status. T-45s have been flying since 1988, with the C variant entering the fleet in 1997. IRYNA BALACHUK MONDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2022, 14:13 Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, conducted another meeting at the Commander-in-Chiefs headquarters. There, the situation at the front and the restoration of facilities damaged by Russian missiles and kamikaze drones were discussed. Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram Quote: "We listened to the reports of the commanders of the forces deployed on the various fronts regarding the current situation there and reviewed the probable actions of the occupiers over the short term. The most topical issue was forming a reliable means of protecting the countrys energy network from air strikes by the Russian forces." Details: Alternative forms of temporary energy and connections for the population and businesses during restoration were also discussed. "Lets maximise our efforts for the sake of the security of the energy infrastructure. And lets remember that by turning off every electrical device we dont need, we are contributing to the restoration of stable and constant electricity supply in the whole territory of Ukraine," Zelenskyy summed up. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Amherst County announced Oct. 24 the hiring of Bradley Beam as the countys new director of public safety. A Henry County native, Beam brings more than 20 years of experience to the position. He previously served as a battalion chief with the Williamsburg Fire Department and worked with Martinsville Fire and EMS for 12 years. While working in public safety, he has acquired multiple certifications and training credentials. Beam holds a bachelors degree from Radford University and currently is enrolled in the Local Government Leadership Graduate program at Virginia Tech. He and his family are excited about the move to Amherst and look forward to becoming an active part of the community, according to a news release from the county. Beam succeeds Sam Bryant, who recently retired after serving in the position for four and a half years. A family nurse practitioner with Centra Medical Group and a farmer in Bedford County was recently awarded the Outstanding Woman in Agriculture distinction by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Womens Leadership Committee. By combining her passions for agriculture and health care, Amy Johnson has indeed made contributions to her field to both of them. Im one that believes that you should be an advocate for your profession, Johnson said. The award, announced at the organizations conference on Aug. 27, honors women for achievements in and contributions to the agriculture industry, according to a news release from the VAFB. Growing up in Highland County, Johnson was raised on her familys beef cattle, turkey, and sheep farm. She joined 4-H at age 7, starting her on a path that, over the years, would lead to working as a paramedic and earning multiple degrees at Virginia Tech, Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke and Radford University, culminating in a doctorate in nursing practice in 2013. With a mother who spent 45 years as the public health nurse in Highland County and a brother who joined a fire department at age 16, health work and caring for others was as much of a part of Johnsons upbringing as agriculture was. The doctoral process was ultimately where Johnson melded agriculture with health care, beginning the career field she has been working in ever since. Because its [my doctoral program] a clinical doctorate and not a research doctorate, we had to do a capstone project looking at improving clinical care and basically applying evidence-based practice, she said. I focused on raising awareness of farm safety, and the importance of preventing farm injuries. That kind of started me down the path of doing presentations to farming groups, 4H groups, FFA groups, fire and EMS groups pretty much anybody who would listen to me at the time talking about farm safety and agricultural injuries. The inspiration for focusing on farm safety was deeply personal. Shortly after graduating from Virginia Tech with her undergraduate degree, while working as an EMT, Johnson responded to her first farm accident. The patient, who Johnson and her team found after a six-hour search across the farm, turned out to be a former college classmate of hers. Despite their best efforts, Johnson said she was not able to save him. That really had a huge impact on me, Johnson said. I was the last one he talked to before he went into cardiac arrest, and he was making a joke then. That was kind of his personality. In a way, her work presenting on farm safety and its connection to health care can carry on her classmates memory, Johnson said. When I give my talks, I frequently bring him up and talk about him and the importance of farm safety. I feel like his death wasnt in vain. Hes remembered, and hes helped a lot of people, she said. Johnsons talks on farm safety and health outline relatively simple, sensible, inexpensive ways to minimize risk of injury in the agricultural world, including the need for preventative healthcare. A major first step is for farmers to have an action plan, Johnson said. She advises everyone to make sure at least one other person always knows where they will be working, when they can be expected back, and how to access areas they will be working in on a particular day, should a search have to go out. A lot of farm injuries are made worse by the fact that it takes hours to find the person, she said. A lot of farmers do work alone, and they work in many different fields, so its sometimes difficult to locate them. Other things include remembering to use proper eye and ear protection; keeping equipment in proper working order; making sure slow-moving vehicle signs are visible on tractors and wagons, and ensuring the lights are working; keeping chemicals stored in their original containers; and generally keeping clutter and waste picked up. The final thing is just really paying attention to what youre doing, Johnson said. It can be easy to fall into habits or autopilot mode, especially for seasoned farmers used to their routines. Johnsons medical and agricultural work intersect regularly in practice, too. Many of her patients at Centras Bedford location are farmers. I think the biggest thing that I see in primary care is the lack of attention to their physical health, and their dismissal of the importance of taking care of their health care needs, Johnson said. I hear a lot of, Well, I realize that its important to address this, but I need to finish this crop first, or I dont have anybody to take care of this, so Im going to get to that, but Im going to do this first. Farming, indeed, is a nonstop job and Johnson is well aware of the lifestyle, having lived it her whole life. As such, she said, she tries to work with her patients to come up with the most effective and feasible plans to help them keep their farms running while simultaneously taking care of themselves, which in the long run will help them be able to maintain their agricultural enterprises. A lot of medicines that we use, the side effects can be magnified with what they do on a farm. Working long hours in the hayfield in the summer with diuretics is not a good idea. Insulin sometimes is not the best option for a farmer who may go all day and not eat, she said. Trying to figure out what the happy medium is, and [what] that balance is, is difficult sometimes. Building trust between farmers and the health care field in general is another priority for Johnson. Recently, Johnson has shifted her primary focus from basic farm safety to mental health aspects of agriculture. Farming is physically demanding and can be incredibly stressful on all fronts, especially if farmers are used to pushing through everything. Johnson said her goal is to bring this aspect of health care to the forefront and break down the stigma around mental health in agriculture. With the Farm Bureau, plus support from grants and other organizations, Johnson helped launch the first crisis hotline called AgriStress specifically for Virginia farmers to call or text. We now have a dedicated crisis line for Virginia farmers, she said. That was a huge step for us. The AgriStress number is (833) 897-2474. A billboard advertising the service will be placed in Bedford County through the month of October, Johnson said. Johnson lives with her husband on their Bedford County family farm, Wilmont Farms, where the couple and their two children produce row crops, stocker cattle and small grains on about 850 acres. Johnson is president of the Bedford County Farm Bureau, having risen to the leadership position after several years as a board member. She is also part of the Virginia AgrAbility Advisory Council, the VFBF Farm Safety Advisory Committee, and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Servicess Farmer Stress Task Force. To the medical end, Johnson also is the medical advisor to the board of Moneta Rescue Squad, and is on the medical executive committee for Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital. The hours are packed every day for Johnson, but she credits her amazing support system for being able to maintain and juggle all the things she is passionate about. It really was an honor and very humbling to be named the Outstanding Woman in Agriculture, Johnson said. I would do everything that I do regardless of whether there was ever recognition for it, because I feel like its so important. Faye Hundley, the VFBF Womens Leadership Committee chair, said Johnson is a well-rounded community person. Amy just does a remarkable job at whatever she sets her mind to, Hundley said. Shes such an advocate for mental health, especially with farmers, with depression and all that. Shes just always looking out. All these attributes propelled Johnson to the top of the list of award candidates, Hundley said. Johnson continues her agriculture/healthcare career, recognizing the need for her niche. When Im talking about ag, and Im talking about health care, its advocating for my patients. Its advocating for rural health. In the end, its helping the community, Johnson said. , Oct 25 ( ANI Asia ) - Daishiro Yamagiwa, Japan's minister in charge of economic security, became the first minister of Fumio Kishida's government on Monday to step down over his ties with the controversial Unification Church. Yamagiwa submitted his resignation directly to the Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in a private meeting, reported Nikkei Asia. The minister's ties with the church have been under intense scrutiny. After his meeting with Kishida, Yamagiwa told reporters that it was a "last minute" decision to resign as he did not want to be a distraction during current parliamentary sessions and to deflect attention away from the formulation of economic policy during this time of turbulence, reported Nikkei Asia. "I regret giving credibility to (Unification Church) by attending gatherings, and from now on, I will be careful not to do it again," Yamagiwa said. Public criticism of the minister had grown as new information surfaced about his ties with the group. Until last week, he had repeatedly claimed that he did not remember attending the gatherings of the Unification Church. He also claimed that he was unable to dig up details on meetings as he would discard such documents and materials at the end of each year, reported Nikkei Asia. ...continue reading Oct 25 (ANNnewsCH) - 24 The fourth cohort has been selected for Aspire Alliances IAspire leadership development program. Pictured is the third cohort of the IAspire Leadership Academy, which is gathered for a team building session in Washington, D.C. (Submitted photo) The NSF INCLUDES Aspire Alliance, which engages a growing network of partners to support systemic change in the STEM higher education system, has announced the fourth cohort of 18 fellows in its IAspire Leadership Academy. The academy is designed to support STEM faculty from underrepresented backgrounds to ascend to leadership roles at colleges and universities. Led by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the University of Georgia, the IAspire Leadership Academy provides professional development for academic leaders to succeed in leadership roles by equipping them with executive leadership skills and strategies for influencing institutional transformation. As we have begun to work with the fourth cohort of the academy, we are honored to support the aspirations of leaders from across the country, said Rochelle Sapp, director of the IAspire Leadership Academy and leadership development specialist at UGAs College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Cooperative Extension. With each successive cohort, we have seen the benefits of providing these emerging leaders from underrepresented groups in STEM opportunities to focus on their personal leadership skills, goals, and style. As weve been able to return to convening in person, we have also been able to see the power of community among the now 89 total IAspire fellows to create a lasting foundation of mutual support to advance their ongoing development and success. The academy is one pillar of diversity and inclusion work underway through the NSF INCLUDES Aspire Alliance. The National Science Foundation-backed alliance is working across post-secondary institutions to develop more inclusive institutional cultures to create a more inclusive and diverse STEM professoriate. Rochelle Sapp, director of the IAspire Leadership Academy With many pressing challenges facing universities across the country, were grateful to see so many institutions supporting the participation of emerging STEM leaders from underrepresented groups in the fourth cohort of the IAspire Leadership Academy, said Howard Gobstein, director of the NSF INCLUDES Aspire Alliance and senior vice president at the APLU. The IAspire fellows are extraordinarily talented, and were excited to see the promise that can be realized by supporting and unleashing their potential. The academy is targeted at mid-career individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups interested in serving in college or university leadership roles in STEM fields. The 18 participating faculty and administrators were selected through a competitive, holistic review of their applications. The fellows selected for fourth cohort of the IAspire Leadership Academy are: Rebecca Atadero, associate professor, Colorado State University Anjan Basu, academic advisor/lecturer, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Mona Behl, associate director of Georgia Sea Grant, UGA Catherine Blake, professor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Julia Bowsher, associate professor, North Dakota State University Mark Buckley, associate professor, University of Rochester Rachel Ellestad, director, Engineering Fundamentals, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Taviare Hawkins, division chair for math and sciences, Saint Catherine University Guiping Hu, associate chair, Iowa State University Dihema Longman, interim associate chair, Georgia State University-Perimeter College Sonya Lopez, associate professor, California State University, Los Angeles Matthew McCullough, associate dean for graduate enrollment, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Laura Naumann, associate professor of psychology, Nevada State College Sami Raut, associate professor, The University of Alabama at Birmingham Kathryn Schreiner, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota Duluth Johnelle Sparks, senior associate dean for faculty success and administration, University of Texas at San Antonio Saadet Toker Beeson, associate professor, University of Texas at San Antonio Eve Walters, associate professor of instruction, Temple University The leadership academy provides an immersive professional development program for academic leaders from underrepresented groups. Working in small groups in monthly meetings combined with three week-long immersive sessions, the fellows learn effective executive leadership skills for increasingly complex higher education environments as well as strategies for influencing institutional transformation in their current and future leadership positions. IAspire Fellows are also invited to participate in Aspires IThrive Collective, a community of support and counterspace designed to amplify the voices of underrepresented group faculty to inform institutional transformation efforts. Learn more about the IAspire Leadership Academy on the Aspire Alliance IAspire Leadership Academy site. Eastern Community Colleges has several fall campus visits dates available in October and November for students and families looking to tour campus and learn more about EICC's academic programs, financial aid options, enrollment process and more. In-person, one-on-one visits are available at all of EICC's main college campus locations at Clinton, Muscatine, and Scott Community colleges. Fall visit options are also available at the SCC Urban Campus and Blong Technology Center in Davenport. Time slots are open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for the following dates: Wednesday, Oct. 26 Monday, Nov. 7 Wednesday, Nov. 9 Students can reserve their campus visit by completing the online form at eicc.edu/visit. If the upcoming fall visit days don't work, students can request to schedule a different date within the campus visit form. EICC's admissions office will also conduct virtual campus visits upon request. Go to eicc.edu/visit for more information or call the campus you wish to visit: Clinton Community College: 563-244-7000 Muscatine Community College: 563-288-6000 Scott Community College: 563-441-4000 Scott Community College Urban Campus: 563-336-3300 Blong Technology Center: 563-441-4360 Call toll-free 1-888-336-3907 or email eiccinfo@eicc.edu for more information. The dumplings at Nine Bar in Chicago's Chinatown, made with tofu, glass noodles and julienned vegetables. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) Across the street from the gate to Chinatown, next to the fire station on Cermak Road, youll find a family restaurant transformed. But only if you know what youre looking for. Advertisement By day, theres a tiny, white-tiled takeout front. But when pink skies fade into neon blue, a back door leads to a darker mood. Nine Bar opened as the first craft cocktail bar in Chinatown. Its not the only one now, since another followed just weeks later in June. Thats not to mention karaoke bar culture, though, which is a whole other thing. Advertisement Lily Wang likes to simply describe Nine Bar as an Asian-ish cocktail bar thats behind Moon Palace Express. Her parents have owned the former full-service family restaurant for nearly 30 years, but the business preceded even them. Wang shape-shifted the space with partner Joe Briglio. The couple both worked as career craft bartenders. She was last at Estereo in Logan Square, and he at Blind Barber in the West Loop. This newest iteration of the Moon Palace space is really an extension of what Lilys parents started, said Briglio, the beverage director. As well as a way to carry on that tradition in a way that feels authentic to us. Nine Bar owners Joe Briglio, from left, and Lily Wang with Wang's parents and Moon Palace owners Jennifer Wang and Zhong Pei. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) The most dramatic change might be found within the glass of one tropical cocktail. At Moon Palace, they had old-school bartending, with sour mix and premade juices, said Wang, the general manager. But a lot of people really liked my moms mai tai. I think its probably because she makes them really strong. Ours is a connection and homage to that. The Nine Bar mai tai is defined by a brilliant orgeat syrup made with almond cookies. The sweet syrup is traditionally made with almond nuts. We were kind of surprised that we hadnt seen it done before, Briglio said. But we just couldnt find that anywhere. Advertisement Their orgeat lends an unexpected creamy texture, creating a mai tai that sips like a delicate and delicious milkshake. It is strong, evident if you suffer from alcohol flush reaction like me. Theres fresh lime juice, the housemade almond cookie orgeat, Apologue persimmon liqueur, a small measure of amaretto and a blend of three rums, Briglio said. Hes currently using aged rums from Barbados and Guyana, with a Jamaican rum, but supply changes weekly, so brands may too. Not so with the almond cookies, baked by Golden Dragon based in Pilsen. While the mai tai pays homage to Wangs mother, the mapo fries honor her father. My dads mapo tofu is one of my favorite dishes, Wang said. And if I see loaded fries on a menu for me, its a no-brainer. A chile-laced pork sauce dots a bed of impeccably golden waffle fries, carefully smothered with togarashi-spiced mayo, red pickled peppers and sharp green scallions. Advertisement Chef Elvis Mom oversees the food. Previously at Spinning J, he led a Khmer pop-up at the bakery and soda fountain in Humboldt Park. Nine Bars intentionally small and thoughtful food and drink menus are an impressive evolution from what began as a Lunar New Year pop-up by Wang and Briglio, which turned into an early pandemic project. The crispy cauliflower at Nine Bar is served with a confit scallion aioli dip. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) Crispy tempura-fried cauliflower, drizzled with a Chinese-inspired orange sauce and served with a confit scallion aioli dip, happens to be vegan, gluten-free and thoroughly irresistible. As are crunchy smashed cucumbers, infused with a chile oil vinaigrette, and further showered with gochugaru. The chefs dumplings pack thrilling heat in elegant wrappers. Mom translates tofu, glass noodles and julienned vegetables into a hidden message hinting at his profound skill with Southeast Asian flavors. The matcha, lemongrass and ginger drink at Nine Bar. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) A matcha, lemongrass and ginger nonalcoholic drink underscores the food with beautiful intensity. We use the syrup for one of our cocktails, the Mahjong Money, Wang said. We make a soda with that for the nonalcoholic version Advertisement which is really important to us to have that section on the menu Briglio added of the spirit-free drinks. (The personal and professional partners often effortlessly weave within one anothers sentences.) just for people who arent partaking in alcohol, Wang continued. To be able to go out and not have to just drink Coke or soda water. They make the syrup with honey, fresh lemongrass and ginger, she said. And we also incorporate some of the spent fruit we use, Wang said. Like when we peel whole fruit for garnish, we save those. The syrup cuts down on waste a little bit. We let that steep, with the husks and the lemongrass, until the flavor is where we need it to be, Briglio said. And then we whisk in the matcha. It explains some of their overall depth and complexity. Advertisement The crab Rangoons, however, were added to the menu by popular demand. They are hands down the No. 1 seller, and made the same as at Moon Palace Express, which shares their kitchen space, but they do change the sauce, Wang said. Elvis is actually originally from the East Coast, and growing up for him, crab Rangoons and most fried food from Chinese restaurants were always served with duck sauce, she said. I actually was not familiar with duck sauce prior to meeting him. Its definitely a big, nostalgic memory for him, Briglio said. The classic Chinese American appetizers, folded triangularly with a filling of cream cheese and imitation crab meat, are fried until theyre blistered and crackling. The crab Rangoon at Nine Bar. They were added to the menu by popular demand. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) Mom makes what they call New England duck sauce with apples, soy, ginger, garlic and sambal. Its terrific and a reminder of the primacy of sauce in the culinary arts. General Jones wings originate from the Moon Palace side too, but theyre only available Wednesdays and Thursdays until 8 p.m. The sweet and mildly spicy take on General Tsos chicken is named for Wangs father. His Chinese name is Zhong Pei, but hes long gone by Jones. The wings are well-fried, and understandably beloved, but I do wonder what a redefined sauce might bring to the dish. Advertisement Even with the fan favorite McKatsu, which Wang first made at home, with panko-crusted pork, American cheese, pickled radish and Bull-Dog sauce. Within the realm of the new Nine Bar offerings, it seems to beckon for one more contrasting component. That can be found in the chicken sandwich. The chef marinates a thigh in ginger and lemongrass, grills the dark meat until its smoky yet tender, then serves it with a bright green papaya slaw. The chicken sandwich at Nine Bar. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) While Moms lovely bruleed toast, with an extraordinary pumpkin spice milk bread, is probably seasonal and likely to change, we can only hope his stunning ube egg tarts, with a deep purple custard in a feathery, flaky crust, will become a staple. One drink thats departing soon is the Chu-Hai, with Iichiko Saiten shochu and Ming River baijiu, so subtly funky with wonderful melon undertones. Well still have a Calpico-based high ball, Wang said. Itll just have a couple of different ingredients. Meanwhile, some things wont change anytime soon. Youll still find her mom, perhaps checking IDs at the door early in the night, and possibly her dad chatting with old friends on the bar side. Advertisement Jennifer and Jones Wang said its important for them to stay for at least a year or so, so their old customers know theyre still the same family behind the business. Eventually, they are hoping to travel, if not retire. Their daughter knows its a time of transition. I love looking around the room on a busy night, and its really cool when theres a group of young, hip, Asian people from the neighborhood, but then theres also an older crowd that used to be regulars of my parents, she said. To see them enjoying some mai tais, and some of our food, its just really exciting for us. If and when Lilys parents do step back more, its definitely on their terms, Briglio said. Because the work that theyve put in over the last 30 years has been immense. And theyre welcome back anytime they want, Wang said, laughing. Just knowing the way my parents are, theyre going to be fully retired for one week and be like, we need to go back to the front right now. lchu@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Nine Bar 216 W. Cermak Road 312-225-4081 ninebarchicago.com Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > Open: Sunday and Wednesday 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Thursday to Saturday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., closed Monday and Tuesday Prices: $6-$15 drinks; $8 crab Rangoons, 4 pieces; $9 ube egg tarts, 2 pieces; $10 dumplings, 6 pieces Noise: Conversation-friendly, can be challenging with live DJ Advertisement Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with restrooms on single level Tribune rating: Excellent to very good, 2 stars Ratings key: Four stars, outstanding; three stars, excellent; two stars, very good; one star, good; no stars, unsatisfactory. Meals are paid for by the Tribune. Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. NORTHWOOD They like Deidre DeJear, two women say at separate political events, held 120 miles apart on the same autumn afternoon in rural Iowa. They think DeJear is a great candidate. They think she would make a great governor. They just wish more people could hear her speak. Such has been one of the challenges faced by DeJear, the Democratic candidate in Iowas 2022 gubernatorial campaign, the first Black woman to earn a major partys nomination for Iowa governor and Iowa Democrats latest hope of earning back at least some share of the state lawmaking process that they have been completely shut out of for six years. DeJear came into the campaign with some statewide recognition, having run unsuccessfully in 2018 for Iowa Secretary of State. But DeJear had nowhere near the name recognition of Republican incumbent Kim Reynolds, who has been governor since 2017 and before that was lieutenant governor for six years. DeJears muted campaign fundraising has stunted her attempt to broaden her message to Iowans with television ads, leaving her to campaign in true grassroots style, making political visits to all corners and all counties in the state, often in front of small groups. Thats why, on one August day, she made appearances in the communities of Northwood in Worth County, Boone in Boone County and Harlan in Shelby County. Northwoods population is just north of 2,000, and Harlans just a little more than 4,000. Roughly a dozen people saw her speak in Northwood. Connect with people. Engage them in this race. Fight for that common ground. Let them know that theyre not alone, and that the current governors complacent mediocrity and how she formulates policy no longer has to be accepted, DeJear said. We can go the distance for all Iowans. And again, nothing about that is easy. And it takes time and energy. But Im willing to put in the work. A recent Mediacom/Des Moines Register Iowa Poll showed Reynolds with an expansive 17-point lead over DeJear, 52 percent to 35 percent. Rick Stewart, the Libertarian Party candidate for Iowa governor, polled at 4 percent. That poll was followed this past week by the latest campaign fundraising figures, in which DeJear continued to struggle and lag far behind Reynolds pace. The incumbent governor has raised nearly $11 million this cycle, according to state records; DeJear has raised just more than $2 million. The big-money Democratic donors are sitting out this campaign. DeJear has received 15 donations of $10,000 or more this cycle, according to state records; Reynolds has 338. Despite those dispiriting numbers, DeJears optimism on the campaign has not waned. This past week, while speaking at Drake University, her alma mater, to a pair of student organizations, DeJear called on the roughly 100 students in attendance to vote themselves and persuade their friends to as well. Now is the moment and I shared this with the team a couple of days ago that we remember our why, and we remember what were capable of, DeJear said after the event. Remember your why. Theres no point of coming up with new things at this point in time, because we are not new to this in this state. Were not new to progress. Thats what Im reminding folks about all over the state. On the campaign trail, DeJear often highlights Iowas progressive history, how the state desegregated its schools and legalized same-sex marriage before the U.S. Supreme Court. And in looking to the future, DeJear says the state is in need of new leadership. I see more people who know our current governors name then when I was helping to organize for (former Democratic Gov. Chet) Culver and when (former Republican Gov. Terry) Branstad was in office. We see more millennials and more Gen Z-ers knowing who this governor is, and the reason why they know who she is, is because they have some qualms with this current representation, DeJear said. So as Im going out here, meeting people where they are, Im talking to these folks and saying, Go let people know that theres another option. Because they know people that are unsettled about the disposition of our democracy right now. Perhaps emboldened by her large lead in the polls, it was only just recently that Reynolds began addressing DeJear by name in public remarks. In fact, during her remarks at a state Republican Party fundraiser in early August, Reynolds did not even mention that she was up for re-election. Once it did turn its sights on DeJear, the Reynolds campaigns most prominent criticism has been over DeJear remaining seated during a standing ovation for Reynolds when she talked about her support for law enforcement during her annual condition of the state address in January to the Iowa Legislature. DeJear said she supports law enforcement as well, and has talked to officials throughout her campaign. However, she said she also believes that law enforcement should be a part of discussions about the criminal justice system, and that Reynolds should do more to support law enforcement than the one-time retention bonus she authorized using federal pandemic relief funding. DeJear has been critical of Reynolds education policies, including her proposal to start a program that would shift taxpayer funding for public schools into private school tuition assistance. DeJear has argued that Iowas public schools have been underfunded for years, and mirrored a proposal by Democratic state lawmakers to inject a one-time, $300 million infusion of state funding into the K-12 public school system. DeJear also has criticized Reynolds on abortion. The governor has asked the state courts to reinstate a 2018 law that would ban abortions once a fetus heartbeat can be detected. DeJear has said she supports the legal structure that was in place federally before the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year struck down Roe v. Wade and, in the process, shifted the issue back to individual states. And DeJear has criticized the state income tax cuts signed into law earlier this year by Reynolds. The latest round of state tax cuts will phase the states tax on income down to a flat rate of 3.9 percent for most workers, which will eventually result in total taxpayer savings and thus a reduction in state revenue of nearly $2 billion annually. Early voting is underway in Iowa. Election Day is Nov. 8. 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. Burundi has reopened borders with its neighbors including Rwanda with whom it has had sour relations since 2015 over accusations that Kigali provides safe haven for former and late leader Pierre Nkurunziza. All the borders of Burundi with its neighboring countries are open. Burundi is a country where everyone can enter and leave freely, the ministry of Interior announced Saturday. The statement did not name the countries but the landlocked country has border with Rwanda (North), (East and South-East). Until the statement, the country has had only its borders with Rwanda closed, since 2015, the time of late Nkurunziza. The former leader closed the border with Rwanda in 2015 in the wake of disputed elections that maintained him in power. The elections were rejected by the opposition. A coup to ouster Nkurunziza failed in May that year. Bujumbura accused Kigali of providing protection to its foes while President Paul Kagames regime also blamed Burundi authorities for collaborating with The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, accused of perpetrating the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The re-opening of the border with Rwanda comes seven months after Kigali also ordered its borders with Burundi to be re-opened. Evariste Ndayishimiye, the current Burundi leader, in power since 2020, has been working to ease ties with Rwanda. Egypts leading engineering, construction and infrastructure company, Hassan Allam Holding, is considering investing up to $150 million in renewable energy and seawater desalination, in Morocco, the companys CEO Amr Allam told Asharq Business in an interview. If we entered a partnership in a renewable energy plant with a capacity between 50 and 100 megawatts (MWs), then investments would range between $50 to $150 million based on the volume of the project and the value of our share in it, Allam said in the interview on the sidelines of Choiseul Africa Business Forum. He insisted that the holding is willing to invest in Morocco and that there are global partners who are ready to enter into partnerships with the company. The first investment in the kingdom could come off in 2023, Allam also revealed. The company based in capital Cairo is Egypts leader engineering, construction and infrastructure entity. It employs 35,000 people across the Middle East and North African region. Allam on October 21st also indicated that the holdings venture with the UAEs Masdar for the green hydrogen project at the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) amount to $10 billion over a period between 7 and 10 years. Ahead of the start of anticipated peace talks between the warring parties, Ethiopian and Eritrean forces captured the historic town of Adwa in the embattled Tigray region on Saturday (October 22) as Tigray forces retreated from the area after reportedly suffering major losses. A day earlier, an airstrike hit Adwa in northern Ethiopia, causing an unspecified number of civilian casualties, according to witnesses. Losing Adwa is the latest setback for Tigrays fugitive leaders, who have recently lost control of a string of towns, including the major town of Shire that was captured by Ethiopias federal government forces on October 18. Troops from neighboring Eritrea are fighting on the side of Ethiopias federal army in the Tigray conflict. South Africa is set to host peace talks, convened by the African Union, that were due to begin this October 24, according to some reports, though the African Union itself has not released details about plans for the talks, if and when they start. The talks were meant to begin earlier in October but were postponed because of logistical and technical issues. Western diplomats and others have welcomed news of talks, urging the parties to agree to an immediate cease-fire. The UN Security Council discussed the conflict in Ethiopia at a closed meeting on Friday but didnt issue a statement because of divisions among its 15 members. Thousands of protesters gathered Saturday in Ethiopias capital, Addis Ababa, for a government-sponsored rally to condemn perceived interference by outsiders in Ethiopias internal affairs. A statement from the federal government praised the protesters who raised their voice for the sovereignty and honor of Ethiopia. The conflict, which began nearly two years ago, has spread into the neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara as Tigrays leaders try to break the blockade of their region. An attack claimed by the al-Shabab armed group on a popular hotel in the centre of the Somali port city of Kismayo killed nine civilians on Sunday, October 23, as the World Food Program (WFP) warned it is only a matter of time before the conflict-torn Somalia is hit with a full-blown famine and people start dying in droves. A car laden with explosives rammed the gate of the hotel, which was followed by an attack by the al-Shabab militants. Somali security forces say they have ended a seven-hour-long siege, killing three of the attackers with a fourth dying in the bomb blast. Most of the guests were rescued, including a local politician. The port city is the latest to be hit following a resurgence of bloody attacks in recent months by the al-Qaeda-linked organization, which has mainly targeted the capital Mogadishu and central Somalia. This is not a government target, said police officer Abdullahi Ismail. It is just an ordinary, civilian-frequented hotel. But Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shababs military operation spokesperson, said the group intended to strike Jubbaland regions administrators who work from the hotel. Al-Shabab was driven out of Mogadishu by African Union forces in 2011, but the armed group still controls swaths of the countryside, including Kismayo, the commercial capital of Jubbaland, a region of southern Somalia. Al-Shabab has been fighting to topple the internationally recognized Somali government for more than 15 years, whereby thousands of Somalis have been killed in a decade-long rebellion. Meanwhile, WFP, the United Nations food agency, said it has been able to keep famine at bay in conflict-torn Somalia by massively increasing food assistance to millions of acutely hungry people. WFP Somalia Deputy Country Director Laura Turner said the increased food aid so far has prevented Somalias hunger crisis from reaching a point of no return. However, she warned that Somalia is not yet out of danger and therefore we are in a desperate race against time. Guineas ruling junta has agreed to restore civilian rule in two years, after facing sanctions by the West African bloc ECOWAS over its original plan for a three-year transfer of power. In a dynamic compromise, experts from ECOWAS and Guinea have jointly developed a consolidated chronogram (timetable) for a transition spread over 24 months, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said in a report following a technical mission to the country last week. West African leaders had last month suspended Guinea from the bloc and imposed sanctions on a number of individuals following a military coup. The countrys military leader, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, said in an address broadcast on state television that the timetable would take effect from 1 January 2023. Leaders from the ECOWAS must approve the timetable before it is officially implemented, with the bloc due to hold a summit before the end of the year. The bloc had given the junta one month to present a reasonable and acceptable timetable for the return to civilian rule, an ultimatum that theoretically expires this weekend. Diplomatic links between the two sides have remained and Guinean authorities have reiterated their readiness to cooperate with ECOWAS, which had dispatched its mission to Conakry to work out a compromise schedule. The poor but mineral-rich West African state has been under a military government since a September 2021 coup that ousted president Alpha Conde after more than 10 years in power. A similar timeframe was agreed between ECOWAS and the junta in neighboring Mali after months of wrangling. It is easy to tell ones own stories. It is much more difficult to become another persons storyteller. And yet, musician Lyn Rye has embarked on this creative journey on their latest album, Soft Blood. Released early last month, Soft Blood is a powerful and evocative collection of tracks detailing personal and collective journeys in an ever-changing and difficult world. For Rye, this new collection of music channels their individual journey as an advocate for change and empowerment. Rye has been playing music for most of their life along with their mom and sister. In high school, Rye began playing bass with their schools jazz band. It was that experience of making music as a collective that helped fuel Ryes pursuit of music professionally. Advertisement As an adult, that love of the collective of working and collaborating with other people, whether through music or otherwise has helped define Ryes story as a creator. I never envisioned that I would be a musician, Rye offered. I view myself primarily as a cultural worker and music has taken on such a role in my life. As a cultural worker, Rye wants to contribute their own cultural voice as well as listen to the voices of others. Advertisement I think that its the way that I understand how all the pieces of my life fit together, they said. So much of what I do, community-wise, is kind of inextricably tied to my musical life. Theres some pretty interesting stories of how they weave in and out together. And I think cultural work is the term that Ive settled on to kind of understand how it all fits together. When articulating what this means, Rye described a serendipitous chain of events. Their mentors chance encounter with a stranger led to Rye joining the Salaam-Shalom Music Project, a group of musicians from the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band as well as Chicagos Arab and Muslim musician community. Later, a member of a queer mens chorus in Seattle reached out to the Salaam-Shalom Music Project looking for a musician willing to work on a song cycle based on the experiences of LGBTQ Muslims who had resettled in Seattle. Rye was asked to write a composition. But in addition to the music, they were also interested in assisting queer Muslims in Seattle. For the last three years, Rye has worked as a point of contact for a queer couple from Syria as they sought asylum in Canada. This work is part of a network that supports queer and transgender Muslims fleeing their countries of origin. Locally, in 2021, Rye cofounded Casa Al-Fatiha, an autonomous sanctuary house for LGBTQ+ asylum-seekers and people coming out of prison. All of this work comes full circle for Rye. The music is intertwined with their social activism work, with one leading to opportunities in the other and vice versa. Most recently, Ryes experiences with Casa Al-Fatiha have transformed into music on their new album. The closing track House of the Empty Chair, a gorgeous and dynamic indie rock number, describes the experiences of everyday life in Casa Al-Fatiha: Im no saint, I just sit at a table / But Ill be damned if your chair gets stolen / the place you rest when your soul is weary / Come love, sit down, drink up, let go. Ryes rich musical background as a bassist, composer and songwriter weaves its way through other tracks on the record. Album opener Two Points Make a Line is another moment of storytelling for others, of stories bubbling to the surface. Ryes mother comes from a family of farmers in Nebraska. In 2019, massive flooding ripped through their community. Two Points Make a Line tells the story of a man who volunteered to drive his tractor through the floodwaters of unknown depths to deliver supplies. And what he did is he set his sights on a satellite tower. That was the straight line, Rye recalled. The man made it through, but before his journey, he took a photograph from the seat of his tractor and sent it to all of the families who would receive his supplies. That photo stuck with me. Like a year later, something about that experience of being faced with this flood of despair or crisis, and that sort of quiet resolve that he had just really stuck with me. Something about the pandemic triggered that to come out as a song. Soft Blood doesnt rest in the aesthetics of one genre, blending elements of jazz, folk, R&B, country and funk for a sound that is uniquely its own. While Rye cites influences like Joni Mitchell and Lianne La Havas, their work sounds distinct and effusive. This is a musician who knows who they are, knows what they want to say, and understands the power and possibility of music as a force for change. Advertisement They next perform in Chicago at Golden Dagger on Nov. 10. It feels like the stories have wings of their own now. And one of the most rewarding things for me is hearing peoples reactions to the stories and the way that they connect to their own lives, Rye said. Ive loved hearing peoples responses from those listening experiences, so I couldnt be happier. This story has been updated to correct a quotation from Lyn Rye. 8 p.m. Nov. 10 at Golden Dagger, 2447 N. Halsted St.; tickets at $10, 21+. More information at ticketweb.com Britt Julious is a freelance critic. Morocco plans to increase the budget for health, education and social safety nets next year but expects the budget deficit to be reduced thanks to an increase in tax revenue, reads the 2023 draft budget. The budget plans to increase in the next four years taxes on companies exceeding 100 million dirhams in annual profits. Banks and insurers in particular will have to pay a 40% tax on profit by 2026, the finance minister has announced as part of a tax reform that will be launched under the 2023 budget. Taxes on sugary products will also be raised, said the finance minister who was presenting the headlines of the budget last week at the parliament. Morocco subsidizes sugar along with cooking gas and flour. But this year, it has offered subsidies to professional transporters to keep prices stable as well as to farmers and tourism businesses to help them redress from the fallout of the pandemic. Overall, spending on subsidies is expected to soar to some $4 billion including 3.2 billion for the subsidies fund (cooking gas, flour and sugar). The Casablanca Finance City will also have to prepare for higher taxes along with free economic zones as Morocco pushes to align itself with tax transparency criteria to evade grey lists. Meanwhile, the finance minister said that the income tax on the middle class and pensioners will be reduced. These measures will help reduce the fiscal deficit from 5.3% in 2022 to 4.5% next year. The government has also earmarked 300 billion dirhams for public investments. The Moroccan king has urged the government to attract 550 billion dirhams in investments to create 500,000 jobs by 2026. Has the Arab summit failed before its kickstart on November 1? As was expected, the Arab summit in Algeria is on its way to be the least attended by Arab monarchs and presidents. Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister was the first to apologize from attending the Algiers summit and other Gulf monarchs are expected to follow suit. The absence of Bin Salman was first announced by the Algerian presidency after phone talks between the Saudi leader and Algerias president. Media reports spoke of similar decisions by other Gulf monarchs including President of the UAE Mohammad Bin Zayed and the monarchs of Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. Lebanese President Michel Aoun will not attend the summit as his term ends on October 31 and Lebanese parliament is still struggling to elect a successor for the outgoing president. The Moroccan palace has not yet confirmed who will represent Rabat and neither did Jordan and Egypt. According to analysts, more Arab leaders are expected to skip the Algiers summit which was postponed three times. Algeria is increasingly perceived in the Arab World as an Iranian ally backing bloody regimes including Bashar Al Assad in Syria whose presence in the summit was a red line for most Arab countries. Algeria also stands at the opposite side of most Arab countries due to its persistence in supporting armed groups that sow instability in the region, such as the Polisario separatist whose connivance with terrorist groups and links with Iran are no secret according to several western reports. Algeria has also discredited itself by its heinous stands regarding Morocco with whom it severed ties, cut gas supplies and closed its airspace. Thus, Algerias slogans of seeking Arab unity are perceived as mere propaganda by the rest of the Arab world. Gulf countries and Jordan have made their position clear in support of Moroccos territorial integrity and Egypt has expressed support for Moroccos autonomy plan for the Sahara region, leaving Algeria the only country in the Arab world that seeks in vain to undermine Moroccos sovereignty over all its territories. The absence of Arab monarchs and presidents from the Algiers summit reflects Algerias isolation in the Arab region and shows that Arab leaders feel uncomfortable about visiting Algiers even for a one-day summit. Mozambique expects to make its first export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe at the end of this month or early November from the Coral Sul floating platform, operated by Italys Eni. The information was given to Reuters by the National Petroleum Institute (INP) last week, at a time when Europe is facing a gas supply crisis. Citing Welligence Energy Analytics, Reuters reports that the BP.L LNG tanker from England has already arrived off northern Mozambique. Regarding the export of LNG, it will be shipped to European markets as BP is committed to bringing gas resources to Europe, INP said in an emailed response to Reuters. All of South Corals annual gas production 3.4 million tons has been contracted to BP for 20 years. The shipment of Mozambican LNG will help alleviate gas shortages in Europe as winter approaches, following Russias decision to reduce supplies to major European Union economies. The second LatAm Ferrer Summit, held in Panama, offered specialists an overview of the latest advances in the areas of cardiology, pulmonary vascular and interstitial lung disease, neurology, and gastroenterology. In keeping with the company's goal of generating a positive impact in society, the event was accompanied by various social and environmental actions in Latin America. MEXICO CITY, October 23, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With the participation of more than 350 specialist doctors from Latin American countries such as Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Argentina, the second LatAm Ferrer Summit was held in Panama. Experts gave presentations on the main health challenges in the region. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221023005059/en/ Doctors attending the second Latam Ferrer Summit (Photo: Business Wire) The gathering, organized by international pharmaceutical company Ferrer, gave these professionals an important opportunity to obtain an overview of the latest advances in cardiology, pulmonary vascular and interstitial lung disease, neurology, and gastroenterology, which are key focus areas for the laboratory. Over two days, the specialists had the opportunity to attend presentations on the latest scientific advances in these four therapeutic areas. One highlight was the presentation of the results of the SECURE Study recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) led by Dr. Jose Maria Castellano, scientific director of the HM Hospitals Research Foundation and first author of the publication. The specialist cardiologist's presentation explained all the details of how the polypill, developed by the Spanish National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) and Ferrer, is effective in preventing cardiovascular events after a heart attack, decreasing mortality from cardiovascular causes by 33%i. According to the researcher, "the results of SECURE reveal, for the first time, that the polypill containing aspirin, atorvastatin, and ramipril achieves clinically significant reductions in recurrent cardiovascular events among people who have recovered from a previous heart attack". Story continues David Martorell, Ferrer's LatAm Region Director, emphasized that the company "has a mission to provide significant differential value to people suffering from serious illnesses, and has therefore developed a portfolio of innovative products capable of transforming the lives of patients, often treating diseases that have no appropriate or authorized treatments". In addition, he stressed that "Ferrer plans to boost its presence in Latin America through its subsidiaries on the continent and via key future launches, both in hospitals and in the focus therapeutic areas". Ferrer's positive impact is expanding through Latin America In addition to the scientific presentations, the event sought to produce a positive impact in society, and therefore shared information with attendees about the 'For Good' activities carried out by Ferrer in the region. Specifically, Ferrer is collaborating with the Home Away from Home Foundation. On Friday evening, in a moving gesture, Ferrer gave a donation of USD 5,000 to the foundation, as well as providing medical teams and purchasing toys and cleaning materials. Mario Rovirosa, Ferrer's CEO, said "we want to promote a new way of doing business and a new way of being in the world. Our business is not an end in itself, but a means to generate substantial social change. We work to achieve a minimum level of profitability that guarantees the company's sustainability and to reinvest a large part of our profits in initiatives with social and environmental impact. To achieve this, the collaboration with the Home Away from Home Foundation reflects our firm commitment to the young people of Panama, particularly those in vulnerable situations". A 100% sustainable event In keeping with Ferrer's mission to protect the environment both for ourselves and for future generations, the highest possible sustainability standards were adhered to for the event, and all CO 2 emissions generated through travel, energy consumption, accommodation, food consumed, and materials produced were offset. In total, 106 tons of CO 2 were offset through participation in the environmental project VCS Peralta Wind, an initiative to develop and operate an onshore wind farm 280 km north of Montevideo, in Uruguay, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing the generation of energy using fossil fuels with energy from wind. Also, with the aim of continuing to generate a positive impact in society and to make Summit attendees aware of the importance of protecting our planet, Ferrer showed attendees the LatAm Summit forest where, symbolically, Ferrer has planted one tree for each attendee in order to generate awareness of sustainability. Under this Treedom project that Ferrer is partnering, so far more than 3 million trees have been planted in Africa, South America and Asia. All the trees are directly planted by local farmers, bringing environmental, social and financial benefits to their communities. Each tree in Treedom geolocated, photographed and has its own page online at treedom.net. About Ferrer At Ferrer we generate a positive impact in society and meet the highest standards in terms of social and environment performance, transparency and corporate responsibility in all the territories in which we have a direct presence. Therefore, as of 2022, we are a B corporation and are certified as a Great Place to Work. In order to be able to fulfill our aims, we offer transformative therapeutic solutions, with an increasing focus on pulmonary vascular and interstitial lung disease and on neurological disorders. We were founded in Barcelona in 1959, our products are present in over 100 countries, and we have a workforce of more than 1,800. We empower and support these professionals in their learning and wellbeing so that they feel proud to work in our company. We are Ferrer. Ferrer for good. www.ferrer.com i Polypill Strategy in Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention Castellano JM, Fuster V et al. New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). 2022 Aug. The original source-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the source-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221023005059/en/ Contacts Ferrer Gorka Ortiz de Zarate gortizdez@ferrer.com Tel.: 936 003 779 LLYC juan.rincon@llorenteycuenca.com Tel.: +55 4423290373 BARCELONA, Spain, October 24, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wallbox (NYSE: WBX), a leading provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy management solutions worldwide, today announced that it will release its financial results for the third quarter of 2022 before market open on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. The company will host a webcast at 8:00 AM ET (2:00 PM CET), to discuss these results and provide a business update. The prepared remarks by Enric Asuncion, co-founder and chief executive officer, and Jordi Lainz, chief financial officer, will be followed by a question and answer session. Please visit this link, which is also accessible on the Events & Presentations section of the companys investor relations website, investors.wallbox.com, to register for and join the webcast. A replay of the webcast following the event and the accompanying presentation materials will be accessible through the same link and available for future download. About Wallbox Wallbox is a global technology company, dedicated to changing the way the world uses energy. Wallbox creates advanced electric vehicle charging and energy management systems that redefine users' relationship to the grid. Wallbox goes beyond electric vehicle charging to give users the power to control their consumption, save money, and live more sustainably. Wallbox offers a complete portfolio of charging and energy management solutions for residential, semi-public and public use in more than 100 countries. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Barcelona, the company now employs over 1,000 people in its offices in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. For additional information, please visit www.wallbox.com. Wallbox Forward Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the timing of the release of the financial results and conference call. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "can," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will" or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology, but the absence of these words does not mean that statement is not forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements, including those discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in Wallboxs Post-Effective Amendment No, 3 to Wallboxs Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-260652) Filed on September 28, 2022, as such factors may be updated from time to time in its other filings with the SEC, accessible on the SECs website at www.sec.gov and the Investors Relations section of Wallboxs website at investors.wallbox.com. These and other important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any forward-looking statement that Wallbox makes in this press release speaks only as of the date of such statement. Except as required by law, Wallbox disclaims any obligation to update or revise, or to publicly announce any update or revision to, any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Story continues View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005091/en/ Contacts Wallbox Public Relations Contact: Elyce Behrsin Public Relations Press@wallbox.com +34 622 513 358 Wallbox Investor Contact: Matt Tractenberg VP, Investor Relations Matt.Tractenberg@wallbox.com +1 404-574-1504 On Sunday evening, around 30 people gathered on Samford Lawn at Auburn University to honor Aniah Blanchard on the third anniversary of her abduction and death. Aniahs mother Angela Hill and stepfather Walter Hill organized the candlelight vigil. Every day is hard, but this is the hardest, of course, Angela Hill said during the vigil. And it helps us to do this, to be with you guys and to share her still. And she's with us today. I know she is, she's always with us every day. Friends and acquaintances lit candles and took the time to lift up Blanchard during the vigil. The family spoke about their daughters life, prayed, and played some of the 19-year-old Southern Union Student's favorite songs. The family has held a vigil each year in Auburn since Aniahs passing on Oct. 23, 2019. The family also held a celebration for their daughter in Homewood, their hometown, on Saturday. We keep pushing, said Walter. This month especially, its been hard on all of us." We're never going to forget our baby, said Angela. We're probably going to do this every year. We want just to bring awareness. We want people to never forget her, just because we love her so much and I know yall do too. The family said Blanchard had a beautiful life, a love for softball and sports, as well as a love for her role as a nanny. They also said Blanchard was a Post Malone fan. They played two of her favorite songs by him: Candy Paint, and Sunflower. Sunflower was especially meaningful to the family. She was a true sunflower. I don't know if you know about them, but no matter what you do, you just cant destroy them, Angela said. She's our blue sunflower and is never going to go away, and that makes us happy as a family and I hope it makes you guys happy. Additionally, Angela chose to honor another young woman named Rayanna Powell who also lost her life in August of 2019. She said Powell, who had been friends with Blanchard, was killed by a drunk driver on Shug Jordan Parkway. She was a beautiful soul, Hill said. Her and Aniah had so much in common, so much alike. They both played softball and actually played softball against each other. The family also took the time during the vigil to speak about Amendment One on the upcoming Nov. 8 ballot, which has been dubbed by supporters Aniahs Law. The amendment if passed would allow judges the discretion to deny bail to individuals charged with crimes who they feel are likely to commit violent crimes while out on bail. The crowd cheered Sunday night as Angela said the bill would be referred to as Aniahs Law on the ballot. Initially we thought it wasn't going to say Aniahs Law and it was just going to have a bill number but they did put Anaiahs Law on the ballot so you will see it, she said. Walter said he got emotional when he saw her name on the ballot. I just broke down crying because it's something I believe, truly, she's proud of, he said. Its going to save a lot of lives and it's going to make a lot of changes in this state. It's going to do some great things. So, we're excited about it. Angela was also positive that the bill would go through. We know Aniahs Law is going to pass, but we as a state want to make an impact, she said. We want to be an overwhelming impact on the state to show that we are tired of this mess. We are tired of these repeat violent offenders being out on the street and our daughter fought for her life and gave her life for this law to save other people. Since Blanchards passing, the family started a nonprofit called Aniahs Heart. Through Aniahs Heart, the family provides safety education and self-defense training. Walter is an elite-level mixed martial artist with a long professional career in UFC. They also provide support for families during search and recovery for missing persons. I know when we were first going through that, we had nobody to talk to that could help us through it, Walter said. So that's just what we're trying to be is a conduit for those people going through these situations. Ibraheem Yazeed was arrested in Nov. 2019 in connection to Blanchards death. Police charged Yazeed and with murder and kidnapping. At the time Yazeed was out of jail on a $280,000 bond after being arrested in February 2019 in Montgomery and charged with two counts of attempted murder and first-degree robbery. For more on Aniahs Heart, visit aniahsheart22.com. Decrease Font Size Font Size Increase Font Size Notice body Evelyne M. Bornier and Margaret M. Marshall's Book "Parcours Louisianais, Panorama de la litterature francophone de Louisiane de ses origines a 1900", Volume I, has been nominated for the 2023 Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities Book, or LEH, of the Year Award. An annual program, the Louisiana Humanities Awards honors scholars who have made outstanding contributions to the understanding of the states culture and history. For more information on the book, click here. Bornier and Marshall will be presenting their book on our campus on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. in RBD Library Room 3129. WASHINGTON The House committee investigating the Capitol riot wont give Donald Trump the chance to turn a possible live TV appearance of his subpoenaed testimony into a circus and food fight as lawmakers try to ensure he complies with their demands, the panels vice chair said Sunday. The committee is demanding Trumps testimony under oath next month as well as records relevant to its investigation. To avoid a complicated and protracted legal battle, Trump reportedly had told associates he might consider complying with the subpoena if he could answer questions during live testimony. Advertisement When asked if the committee would consider taking his testimony live, Rep. Liz Cheney on Sunday did not directly respond. She said the committee would not allow Trumps testimony to turn into a food fight on TV much as was seen, she said, in Trumps broadcast appearances such as one of his 2020 presidential debates and she warned that the committee will take action if he does not comply with the subpoena. We are going to proceed in terms of the questioning of the former president under oath, Cheney, R-Wyo., said on Meet the Press on NBC. It may take multiple days, and it will be done with a level of rigor and discipline and seriousness that it deserves. We are not going to allow hes not going to turn this into a circus. Advertisement Vice Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., speaks as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, holds a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Oct. 13, 2022. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) We have many, many alternatives that we will consider if the former president decides he is not going to comply with his legal obligation, a legal obligation every American citizen has to comply with a subpoena, she said. Her office made clear later that she and the Jan. 6 committee were not ruling out the possibility of live testimony. It did not indicate what form that might take to avoid the food fight or circus that Cheney said would not happen. The subpoena, issued Friday, calls on Trump to hand over documents by Nov. 4 and provide testimony on or about Nov. 14. It is unclear how Trump and his legal team will respond. He could comply or negotiate with the committee, announce he will defy the subpoena or ignore it altogether. He could go to court and try to stop it. Last week, Steve Bannon, a longtime Trump ally, was sentenced to serve four months behind bars after defying a subpoena from the same committee. He remains free pending appeal. Former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro also awaits a trial next month on similar contempt of Congress charges. The subpoena includes requests for any communications referring to extremist groups who were coming to Washington, pressure on state legislators to overturn the 2020 election vote and messages about Vice President Mike Pence, whom Trump was pushing to object to President Joe Bidens victory. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Sunday that she doubted Trump would appear for his deposition and that the public should know that no one is above the law. I dont think hes man enough to show up, Pelosi said on MSNBC. I dont think his lawyers would want him to show up because he (would) had to testify under oath. ... Well see. Advertisement There remains little legal advantage for Trump to cooperate with the committee at a time when he faces other legal battles in various jurisdictions, including over his family business in New York and the handling of presidential records at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Its possible that Trumps lawyers could simply opt to run out the clock on the subpoena if they go to court to try to squash it as the committee of two Republicans and seven Democrats is required to finish its work by the end of the year. Cheney, in the television interview, made her position clear that Trump had committed multiple criminal offenses and should be prosecuted. She cited his repeated efforts as outlined by the Jan. 6 committee to undermine democracy by denying his election loss to Biden and by spurring his supporters in the violent attack on the Capitol. Weve been very clear about a number of different criminal offenses that are likely at issue here, Cheney said. If the Department of Justice determines that they have the evidence that we believe is there and they make a decision not to prosecute, I think that really calls into question whether or not were a nation of laws. Cheney, who lost in Wyomings August primary after becoming Trumps fiercest GOP critic and has signaled a possible 2024 presidential run, expressed dismay over the number of Republican candidates in the Nov. 8 midterms who deny the legitimacy of the 2020 election. She acknowledged that the Jan. 6 committees investigation will be permanently ended in January if Republicans retake control of the House. While saying it may take a couple of election cycles, Cheney insisted the Republican Party can find its way back as a defender of democracy and the Constitution, as she put it. She pointed to the 2024 presidential campaign as a pivotal moment. Advertisement I think that the party has either got to come back from where we are right now, which is a very dangerous, toxic place, or the party will splinter and there will be a new conservative party that rises, she said. And if Donald Trump is the nominee of the Republican Party, the party will shatter and there will be a conservative party that rises in its place. She said Trump has shown his willingness to use force to attempt to stop the peaceful transition of power. And there are simply many, many millions more Americans who, despite any party affiliation, understand how dangerous that is. On whether she could run in 2024, Cheney said: Im focused on what weve got to do to save the country from this dangerous moment were in ... not right now on whether Im going to be a candidate or not. General Hospital Days of Our Lives The Young and the Restless Diane is at her tipping point! #YR is new this week on @CBS. Watch the latest episodes on @paramountplus! pic.twitter.com/WMF5T6VU3V Young and Restless (@YandR_CBS) October 23, 2022 The Bold and the Beautiful Whats going on with Hope and Thomas? #BoldandBeautiful is new this week on @CBS! Watch the latest episodes on @paramountplus. pic.twitter.com/FOORUOpDO9 Bold & The Beautiful (@BandB_CBS) October 23, 2022 This Week in Soaps history... October 23rd-27th, 2000 This week on the US Daytime Soaps...David found out about Jake's "problem" and teased him about it, resulting in a fistfight that Tad quickly got involved in. Dixie walked in on the fight and subsequently quit her job. Later, Jake delivered a young woman's baby, and he and Gillian grew closer. Leo and Bianca were named Enchantment's Young Couple. Laura returned home to comfort Brooke. Adam, Liza, Hayley, and Mateo viewed the tape of Arlene and Vanessa plotting to frame Liza for Arlene's miscarriage. Arlene and Vanessa fled the scene before they could be confronted. Leo and Greenlee reconciled. Bianca overheard some girls talking badly about her, prompting her to flee the Halloween party with Rain. Bianca and Rain ended up at the Blue Angel, a lesbian bar.Craig planned a masquerade Halloween party so Carly could sell the microchips. Emily admitted to having the black box recording, but denied to Molly that she was behind the crank phone calls. Craig infuriated Emily, Chris, and Katie when he announced he had hired Henry to be the new managing editor of the Intruder. Camille left Oakdale for Chicago, but not before stunning John with a kiss. Holden and Lily made love, but Holden was hurt afterward when Lily insisted it didn't change anything.C.J. was granted temporary custody of Little Eric, and was relieved when he, Amber, and his son were able to move out of the Forester house and begin their new life together. Kimberly continued to put up the wall between Brooke and Thorne by implying to Brooke that Thorne had deflowered her. Rick declared that he was going to find Little Eric's real father and get him to grant Rick full custody of Little Eric. Thorne begged Brooke to believe him that what he had done with Kimberly had just been meaningless sex.Johnny had a miraculous recovery, and John seriously considered telling Hope that he was the baby's father -- against Marlena's wishes. Belle was out of immediate danger, but still in a medically induced coma. Philip and Chloe drew closer despite Nancy's warnings. Brandon and Sami tried to get Angela to surrender the tape before leaving for Salem, but Angela was not cooperating. Victor made arrangements to clear himself of Kate and Lucas's crimes. Marlena hired Roman to investigate Brady, placing her marriage to John in jeopardy. Belle's friends rallied at the hospital to celebrate her 16th birthday. Nicole blackmailed Lucas. John gained some insight into Brady's pain and torment. Roman told Marlena that he had incriminating evidence against Brady. Isaac and J.T. were baptized at the hospital. Bo finally called Hope, but her anger and hurt kept her from telling him about J.T.'s condition. In order to save Bo, Jennifer finally revealed her identity to him.Nikolas and Lucky teamed up to discover why Zander had such a pull on Emily. Scott urged Laura to start a new venture. Helena cut off Nikolas as part of his punishment for defying her. Alexis asked Brook Lynn to be her flower girl. Lucky reached out to Liz. Liz saw Luke kidnap Nikolas. Juan saw Zander comforting Emily.Selena told Blake, in confidence, that she and Miguel had had a son and revealed the danger that surrounded them. Olivia pinch-hit for Josh with the Spauldings. Reva stowed away on a ship with answers to the illegal alien scam, and then befriended a young woman who seemed to have many of the answers. Noah joined Reva, and amidst the confusion, told Reva that he loved her. Buzz warned Danny not to mess with his family. Ross told Buzz to get the truth from Selena. Frank, Harley, David, and Buzz believed Selena was hiding the truth about Miguel Santos' murder; they just didn't know how much she was hiding. Edmund continued to torment Richard into believing that he was sterile. Danny's relationship with May blossomed. Danny signed his divorce papers. Edmund assisted Beth with more than the financial advise she requested, and she was flattered and enamored with all the attention. Jim fell prey to casino life. Michelle returned to Springfield with a medical emergency.Colin apologized to Nora. Starr told Todd she wanted him to get back together with Blair. Todd loaded the virus onto Asa's computer. Rae continued to push Max for a DNA test. Will was released, and everyone headed to Crossroads to celebrate. R.J. tampered with Todd's car. Bo told Asa he needed to get help. A drunken Cris stole Todd's car and crashed with Sophia. Viki told Todd she was completely through with him. Renee decided to stop looking for her son. Nora and Sam had a talk. Sophia lied to protect Cris. Cris had no feeling in his hand. Lindsay tried to make friends with Nora. Skye showed Max the proof that Blair owned B&B.A heartbroken Theresa ran off after seeing Ethan and Gwen kissing. Chad was knocked down the mineshaft. Kay encountered Hecuba. Hecuba showed Kay an image of herself and Miguel making love in a magic mirror. The good spirits of Harmony appeared to Sheridan. Theresa found a photo album filled with memories of Ethan and Gwen and realized that they shared a lot of history together. Miguel was frightened and confused as Evil Charity shot bolts of lightning at him. Theresa decided to tell Ethan he was not a Crane after he admitted he didn't feel an obligation to his family to marry Gwen. Miguel and Kay made a daring escape from Evil Charity. Julian fell into the mineshaft. Fearing they wouldn't make it out alive, Kay confessed to Miguel that she loved him.Lucy continued to try to talk Kevin into telling Livvie that she was his daughter. Chris was eavesdropping and printed a copy of the DNA results, which he placed in Eve's locker. He called Livvie to meet him, and then told her he wanted her to let Kevin continue to treat her. She went to talk to Kevin, and while she was there, Eve crashed in the room, not seeing Livvie, and confronted Kevin with the DNA results. She asked Kevin if he had been planning on telling her that Livvie was his daughter.On the heels of Bob's demise, Eve learns that another one of her patients has wound up in the hospital morgue. Eve and Ian sneak into the hospital morgue to take some tissue samples from Bob Green before his body disappears as mysteriously as Bernie Heller's did.Courtney retaliates against Frank by siccing a ravenous horde of reporters on a horrified Jill.Victor and Ashley chatted, and Victor wondered if Ashley marrying Brad was a wise decision. Tomas continued his drinking binge. He went to see his editor in New York, leaving Nina frightened she had lost him. Tomas returned and told Nina that his editor was reading her novel. Victor and Nikki had a discreet and private rendezvous at the Newman penthouse. Victoria returned home during the day and heard Victor and his mystery woman. Victoria warned Nikki that another woman could be in Victor's life. J.T. told Billy all about his little affair with Brittany in the pool house. Billy still didn't believe Brittany or her lies. Mac had a huge daydream about her courtship with Billy and what the summer had meant to her. Diane was shocked to run into Ashley at a baby store and to find out that she was pregnant, as well. Christian stopped in Genoa City to offer his congratulations to Ashley and Brad. Cassie was frightened about her cough and called Millie in Madison for advice. Source 3 and Source 4 A large number of vessels have changed hands to undisclosed buyers during the last couple of months. Some analysts say there will be a tanker shortage that will push oil tanker rates up. Six weeks before the EU embargo on Russian crude oil exports and the planned price cap on Russian oil enters into force, the global tanker and oil markets face increased uncertainty over who will ship Russias oiland howas of December 5. In September, Russia exported 7.5 million bpd of crude and refined products, according to estimates from the International Energy Agency (IEA). If those volumes are to continue flowing, Russia will have to either agree to sell its oil at or below the price cap as the G7 and the EU want, or find a large enough shadow fleet of tankers, insurers, and financiers willing to deal with Moscow. Top Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin and Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, have already said that Russia will not sell its oil to countries that will have joined the price cap mechanism. So, the tanker market and the oil market are left hanging and wondering if there will be a large enough alternative tanker fleet that will ship Russias oil to buyers willing to import Russian oil and products after the EU embargo on crude imports by sea enters into force on December 5 and the ban on products kicks in on February 5. Some analysts say there will be a tanker shortage that will push oil tanker rates and consequently oil prices higher. Others have noted in recent weeks increased vessel-buying from unknown entities in preparation for what they believe is Russias copycatting the oil export tactics of Iran and Venezuela, which have been exporting their crude under the radar for years now after the U.S. sanctioned their oil exports in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Related: Germany Could Launch Natural Gas Subsidies Earlier Than Planned If you look at how many ships have been sold over the past six months to undisclosed buyers, its very clear that a fleet is being built up in order to transport this, Christian Ingerslev, CEO at Maersk Tankers A/S in Copenhagen, told Bloomberg, commenting on Russias efforts to build a fleet of tankers and insurers. Maersk Tankers operates a fleet of 170 vessels, but none of them are being used to transport Russian oil. According to Anoop Singh, head of tanker research at ship broker Braemar, Theres been a sharp rise in the tanker trading since the war and in the run-up to the Dec. 5 deadline by undisclosed entities based in countries such as Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Cyprus, Singh told Bloomberg. In a report last month carried by TradeWinds, Braemar said that Russia is increasingly using vessels previously known to have transported Iranian or Venezuelan oil. Export volumes from Iranian and Venezuelan crude have slid over the past few months in the same period where Russia to China volumes have picked up, Braemar said. To ensure more of its oil is flowing to buyers outside the G7 price cap, Russia is expanding its tanker chartering business. State-owned Rosneft, the biggest oil producer in Russia, has reportedly expanded its tanker chartering business to ease oil shipments for buyers, Reuters reported last week. Rosneft typically sells its oil at the port of loading, meaning the buyer has to hire tankers and handle freight and insurance costs. However, with the embargo looming, Rosnefts customers are asking the company to handle delivery to the final destination, meaning the company will now assume freight and insurance costs. Still, traders including the biggest commodity traders are still confused about how the price cap on Russian oil will be put into practice. We need buy-in from governments, and governments to guide us because its a bit of a minefield, Vitols chief executive Russell Hardy told the APPEC conference in Singapore last month. More recently, a U.S. Treasury official and industry representatives have admitted to Reuters that Russia could largely evade the price cap because it would likely have access to enough own tankers and transport and insurance services to ship its oil. In theory there is a big enough shadow fleet to continue Russian crude flows after Dec. 5, Andrea Olivi, Global Head Wet Freight/Oil Chartering at trading giant Trafigura told Reuters. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The three countries that helped Moscow to maintain crude exports in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine appear to be stepping back into the market for Russian barrels, with Turkey taking a lead role in the latest buying. A marked increase in the volume of crude on tankers that have yet to signal a final destination makes the task of monitoring Russias exports more complicated, but most of those vessels end up in India, with a smaller number heading further east to China. Adding those ships into the calculation shows a steady increase in the combined flow of Russian crude to Turkey, China and India in recent weeks. Almost all tankers carrying Russian crude that signal destinations such as Port Said, Gibraltar or for orders eventually end up in one of those three countries. Time is running out to deliver crude from Russias Baltic ports to China and India before European Union sanctions that will deprive vessels of insurance and other services come into effect on Dec. 5. Tankers have until about Oct. 21 to depart Primorsk or Ust-Luga if they are to reach discharge terminals in eastern China before that deadline. Flows to China, India and Turkey peaked in June at 2.2 million barrels a day. In the four weeks to Oct. 14 that figure was down by about 350,000 barrels a day. However, shipments to Turkey have risen to the highest level for the year so far, while the volume on tankers yet to show final destinations is now so large, at the equivalent of more than 450,000 barrels a day, that it could send combined shipments to these three countries to new post-invasion highs once their actual destinations become apparent. Meanwhile, trading houses and refiners are racing to book storage tanks in Rotterdam in the coming months on expectations of a supply crunch after the EU sanctions take effect. Crude Flows by Destination: Overall exports rose on a four-week average basis, climbing to the highest since mid-August and exceeding 3 million barrels a day for the first time in five weeks. The increase was driven by flows to Europe, which were higher to all three regions of the continent. All figures exclude cargoes identified as Kazakhstans KEBCO grade. These are shipments made by KazTransoil JSC that transit Russia for export through Ust-Luga and Novorossiysk. The Kazakh barrels are blended with crude of Russian origin to create a uniform export grade. Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Kazakhstan has rebranded its cargoes to distinguish them from those shipped by Russian companies. Transit crude is specifically exempted from EU sanctions on Russias seaborne shipments that are due to come into effect in December. Crude Flows by Destination: Europe Russias seaborne crude exports to European countries rose for the first time since the beginning of September, increasing to 714,000 barrels a day in the four weeks to Oct. 14. Flows were up by 89,000 barrels a day, or 14%, from the period to Oct. 7. These figures do not include shipments to Turkey. The volume shipped from Russia to northern European countries rose in the four weeks to Oct. 14, making back the previous weeks loss. All shipments went to storage tanks in Rotterdam. Exports to Mediterranean countries jumped in the four weeks to Oct. 7. Flows to the region, including Turkey, which is excluded from the European figures at the top of this section, rose to a five-week high with the volume heading to Turkey at its highest for the year so far. Combined flows to Bulgaria and Romania rose above 200,000 barrels a day for the first time in seven weeks, with almost all of that volume heading to Bulgaria. Asia Shipments to Russias Asian customers slipped. The four-week average volume of crude heading from Russia to Asia, plus those on vessels showing no final destination, which typically end up in either India or China, edged lower from a 16-week high. Shipments heading to Asia averaged 1.83 million barrels a day over the four weeks to Oct. 14, with a further 160,000 barrels a day on tankers whose point of discharge is unclear. All of the tankers carrying crude to unidentified Asian destinations are signaling Port Said or the Suez Canal, with final discharge points unlikely to be apparent until they have passed through the waterway into the Red Sea, at the earliest. Most of those ships end up in India or China, with the occasional vessel heading to other destinations such as Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, or Colombo in Sri Lanka. Flows by Export Location Aggregate flows of Russian crude increased by 200,000 barrels a day, or 7%, in the seven days to Oct. 14, compared with the previous week. Flows were unchanged from all regions except the Pacific. Figures exclude volumes from Ust-Luga and Novorossiysk identified as Kazakhstans KEBCO grade. Export Revenue Inflows to the Kremlin's war chest from its crude-export duty increased, rising by $9 million to $134 million in the seven days to Oct. 14. The four-week average income also edged higher, gaining $2 million to $145 million. At $6.06 a barrel, the export duty rate in October is the lowest per barrel rate since February 2021, according to Bloomberg calculations using figures published by the Russian Ministry of Finance. Duty rates will fall again in November, dropping to $5.83 a barrel, taking them to their lowest level since January 2021. The Urals discount to Brent widened during the latest calculation period, which ran from Sept. 15 to Oct. 14, compared with the previous one, to stand at about $25.50 a barrel. Origin-to-Location Flows The following charts show the number of ships leaving each export terminal and the destinations of crude cargoes from the four export regions. A total of 30 tankers loaded 22 million barrels of Russian crude in the week to Oct. 14, vessel-tracking data and port agent reports show. Thats up by 1.4 million barrels. Destinations are based on where vessels signal they are heading at the time of writing, and some will almost certainly change as voyages progress. All figures exclude cargoes identified as Kazakhstans KEBCO grade. The total volume on ships loading Russian crude from Baltic terminals was unchanged at 1.25 million barrels a day. Shipments to Europe from Primorsk and Ust-Luga rose to the highest in six weeks. Shipments from Novorossiysk in the Black Sea were also unchanged from the previous week. Arctic shipments, too, were unchanged, with three vessels departing Murmansk in the week to Oct. 14. The Pacific was the only region to show higher shipments in the week to Oct. 14, with flows reaching a four-week high of 1.04 million barrels a day. Nine cargoes of ESPO crude were loaded, with all but one heading to China. The other ship is heading to India. A cargo of Sakhalin Blend crude is also heading to China. By Julian Lee via Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Oil prices are unlikely to drop to the level the U.S. Administration has said would trigger purchases for refilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), U.S. oil executives and analysts say, suggesting that the shale patch will not boost production in response to President Bidens plan to increase output in the short term. Nearly 80 percent of 49 respondents in a Twitter poll created by Matt Gallagher, chief executive at Greenlake Energy Ventures, responded last week that the prompt WTI Crude price would be higher than $72 per barrel in 2023. $72 oil is the upper limit the Biden Administration has set for stating repurchases of crude for the emergency crude oil reserve. Last week, President Biden announced that the Administration intends to repurchase crude oil for the SPR when prices are at or below about $67-$72 per barrel, adding to global demand when prices are around that range. The Biden Administration is in the process of releasing 180 million barrels from the SPR by the end of this year, and is considering further releases in its efforts to bring down gasoline prices ahead of the midterm election on November 8. The Administration hopes that the plan to refill the reserve will help stimulate greater domestic oil production as it would signal stable long-term demand. But the U.S. shale industry is unlikely to significantly boost output, analysts have told Reuters. The announcement of the latest release and the repurchase price set at $67-$72 a barrel was President Biden trying to walk a fine line between supporting his green base and trying to lower fuel prices. And he did neither, Trisha Curtis, CEO at consultancy PetroNerds, told Reuters. American Petroleum Institute (API) President and CEO Mike Sommers said last week, commenting on President Bidens remarks about gasoline prices, At a time when American energy can be a stabilizing force at home and abroad, we urge caution in continuing to rely on short-term efforts that are no substitute for sound long-term policies that enable American energy leadership. The administration should instead focus on addressing the fundamental economic and security challenges we face by spurring more investment in American energy, infrastructure and markets that enable U.S. consumers to benefit from Americas reliable energy resources, Sommers added. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Modern global society is steeped in the idea of trade-offs, the notion that one must suffer losses to obtain desired gains. This prepares the way for disingenuous leaders to explain why sacrifices are necessary to reach supposedly exalted goals. Usually, those sacrifices are made by the powerless in society; they are certainly not made by the leaders who call for sacrifices nor by the wealthy and powerful who benefit from them.* This coming fateful winter season in Europe is likely to include a lively debate about whether the Dutch should make a perilous trade-off on behalf of an energy-starved Europe. So far, the Dutch have been firm about closing one of the world's largest natural gas fields, Groningen, no later than 2024even in the face of severe European gas shortages resulting from the loss of gas from Russian pipelines. The reason for that firmness has to do with the damage earthquakes are inflicting on the buildings located above and around the field, earthquakes related directly to withdrawal of Groningen's gas. In the northeastern part of the country, some 1200 earthquakes have severely damaged 27,000 buildings to the point that they are uninhabitable. About 3,300 structures have been demolished. A 2015 study reported that 152,000 homes need to be reinforced. As a result the government has been reducing gas withdrawals to mitigate the problem with an eye toward closing the field. Closing the field also comports with the government's greenhouse gas reduction goals. But, will the Dutch be able to withstand calls for increasing production from Groningen as the European winter arrives? The Dutch government has sort of left itself an out saying that production could be resumed after a planned 2024 permanent shutdown as a last resort if Dutch households were faced with running out of natural gas. It's worth noting that Groningen still has large reservessome 450 billion cubic meters of gas (15.8 trillion cubic feet) which is the equivalent of more than one year of European Union consumption. But, the field, which opened in 1963, is now more than 80 percent depleted. However, even at the reduced rate of production set back in 2015 of 27 billion cubic meters per year, that gas could help supply Dutch households and export customers in other countries for another 16 years. But, production has been capped at 2.8 billion cubic meters for the coming year in advance of the planned shutdown in 2024. High natural gas prices are affecting the Netherlands just as they are most other European countries. The sprawling Dutch greenhouse industry, for example, which uses a large amount of gas to heat its greenhouses, is under extreme financial pressure. Bakeries, too, use a lot of natural gas for obvious reasons, and many are close to failure as energy bills approach 10 times what bakeries paid just two years ago. And, Dutch households which are filled with appliances and furnaces that burn methaneinstalled during the era of cheap gasare suffering as well. (I previously wrote about the Groningen field's problems in 2017 in a piece entitled "The Dutch love affair with natural gas: A cautionary tale for the United States?") Not surprisingly, the Netherlands is teaming up with Germany to explore for more natural gas in the North Sea starting in 2024. European Union ministers are meeting in Prague this week to discuss how to address Europe's energy crisis. Will the Netherlands ultimately give in to calls for increasing natural gas production? Will the country forever turn its back on a resource worth 750 billion as of Friday's market close? The coming winter will test Dutch resolve. By Kurt Cobb via Resourceinsights More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: U.S. natural gas prices are up over 4.2% Monday after shedding nearly 60% since mid-September, as market sentiment catches headwinds from an anticipated rise in exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Oil Price Charts | Oilprice.com Defying predictions of mild weather that would normally put further downward pressure on U.S. natural gas prices, futures rose on Monday as the market gears up for LNG plants to come back online over the coming weeks following maintenance, Reuters reports. Coming back online soon will be Berkshire Hathaway Energys Cove Point LNG export plan in Maryland after a three-week maintenance shutdown. This will return 0.8 billion cubic feet per day to exports, according to Reuters. Also slated to go back into action is Freeport LNGs 2-billion-cubic-feet-per-day Texas-based LNG export facility, which has been offline since early June and is now expected to partially start up in the first two weeks of November, approval pending. Since the start of October, maintenance and outages have caused natural gas flows to LNG plants on the U.S. Gulf Coast to decline to 11.1 billion cubic feet from 11.5 Bcf in September and 12.9 Bcf in March. Demand for U.S. LNG from international markets continues to rise, putting upward pressure on U.S. domestic gas prices ahead of the winter heating season. Last week, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) said it expected natural gas prices this winter to be higher than the average for recent years due to higher exports. Looking further ahead at the LNG export boost to natural gas future, in its Q3 2022 earnings report, Kinder Morgan remains very bullish on LNG, with CEO Richard Kinder predicting a more than doubling of U.S. LNG exports from 11 billion cubic feet per day today to 28 Bcf/d by 2030. By Josh Owens for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Seven Russian citizens have been detained over the past few weeks for flying drones or taking photographs of sensitive sites in Norway. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre has invited the navies of NATO allies Britain, France and Germany to help address more drone sightings over key oil and gas infrastructure. Norways Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre has invited the navies of NATO allies Britain, France and Germany to help address more drone sightings over key oil and gas infrastructure, as the North Sea begins to emerge as another stage for Russias war on Ukraine. Last week, Norway's domestic security agency opened investigations 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. Norwegian police have been working closely with military investigators who are currently analyzing marine traffic. Some platform operators have reported seeing Russian-flagged research vessels in close vicinity, but so far, investigators have not been able to establish a discernible pattern. 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, Moe has stated, 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 said. 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. Related: Macron Lashes Out At United States Over Double Standard Energy Policies 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. The biggest concern is that Russian spies are using these drones as part of a hybrid war strategy to both intimidate and gather information on vital infrastructure, which Russia could later use for sabotage in a potential strike against the West. I do not believe we are heading for a conventional war with Russia, but a hybrid war. I think we are already in it, Stale Ulriksen, a researcher at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy, has said. European Gas Hub Norway has long been a leading exporter of energy to Europe, and is rapidly replacing Russia as Europe's main source of natural gas and crude. Norwegian natural gas exports hit a record high 10.2 billion cubic meters worth 128.4 billion crowns ($13.26 billion) in July as prices and demand in Europe surged amid a global energy crisis. All in all, Norway is set to deliver a new annual record of more than 117 bcm of gas through its pipelines in 2022. Meanwhile, the countrys full year production of oil liquids - crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids (NGL) is expected to hit 114 mcm of oil equivalent, Reuters reports. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, European Union countries have scrambled to replace their Russian gas imports with shipments from Norway. Indeed, The Nordstream I and II pipeline debacle in the Baltic Sea last month happened a day before Norway opened a new Baltic pipeline to Poland. Gas prices in Europe have lately plunged to their lowest level since June thanks to Europes gas storage running about nine weeks ahead of last year, an impressive feat even after flows from Russia have been severely curtailed. Currently, 93.4% of Europes gas storage has been filled. Indeed, analysts at Standard Chartered Plc are saying that President Vladimir Putins gas weapon will be effectively blunted by the inventory build, with Europe set to go through winter comfortably without Russian gas. That said, Europe will have to pay a heavy price: the cost of replenishing natural gas stocks is estimated at over 50 billion euros ($51 billion), 10 times more than the historical average for filling up tanks ahead of winter. And in the meantime, the North Sea is the perfect venue for Russia to launch a hybrid warand an unofficial one that stokes fears and raises tensions. In a war that has employed energy as a weapon, taking Norwegianor the entirety of North Sea oil and gasoffline would be the makings of World War III. That is exactly why it would seem that acts of sabotage and fear-inducing drone sightings are meant to be shrouded in mystery. With no official declaration of war, and with Europe hesitant to investigate jointly and present evidence against Russia, WWIII is avoided, while the threat remains. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Germanys gas major Uniper will reduce the use of office space at its headquarters by half and maintain lower temperatures in the space remaining in use, German media reported, as quoted by Reuters. The measures that the company is taking are similar to what the EU is advising businesses and households to do in order to reduce their energy consumption this winter. They would also involve a reduction in lighting and turning off hot water where possible, aimed at cutting total energy use by 20 percent. "Every kilowatt hour counts this winter," a company spokesman told a German daily. The utility, which is the largest natural gas importer in Germany, has been struggling with energy supply and affordability challenges for months now and it eventually had to be nationalized by the Scholz government. Earlier this year, the company booked a loss of $12.5 billion for the first half of the year and warned it was facing insolvency because of the losses it was still incurring on a daily basis because of the sharp drop in Russian gas deliveries. The government first injected $15 billion into the utility to keep it afloat by acquiring a 30-percent stake and by increasing its credit line. This was not enough, however, and in September, the government and Unipers current majority shareholder, Finnish Fortum, agreed that Berlin will acquire 99 percent of Uniper. Even this was not enough, however. Earlier this month, media reported that the government might have to inject another $39 billion into the gas major to keep it alive. The reason for the new bailout is that the government scrapped plans to impose a gas tax on all consumers, which would have gone some way towards alleviating the complicated financial situation of Uniper and other energy utilities, according to the reports. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The German government is looking to introduce a planned natural gas price cap for households and businesses as early as in January 2023, compared to initial plans for implementing the subsidy as of March or April. Europes biggest economy is weighing the practical aspects of starting the gas price cap, which will be a form of subsidy, at the beginning of next year, a spokesperson for the German government said on Monday. The energy industry association, BDEW, however, says that bringing forward the gas price cap cannot be done as of January because of the complexity of the technical and administrative changes necessary to be made at such short notice. Earlier this month, a panel of experts proposed measures to alleviate the impact of soaring energy prices on consumers, with steps including a one-off payment and subsidizing more than half of the expected gas consumption. The experts recommended giving households and businesses a one-off payment worth a month of their respective gas bills and subsidizing between 60% and 80% of the expected gas consumption, while consumers will pay the rest at market prices. The one-off payment will be made in December, while the plan for the gas price cap was to be implemented in March or April 2023. The commission will propose measures to blunt the impact of soaring energy prices on large industrial consumers at a later stage. The measures are expected to be part of and paid for by the planned $197 billion (200 billion euros) defensive shield to protect companies and consumers against the impact of soaring energy prices. At the end of September, the German government said that it would ditch earlier plans for a gas levy on consumers and instead would introduce a gas price cap to curb soaring energy bills. A one-off payment, as proposed by the expert commission, would be an immediate relief for residential and business consumers. But the subsidized gas bills could discourage consumers from savings. This would be the opposite of what Germanys expert commission aims to do with a smaller part of gas consumption paid at market prices by consumers. Germanys energy regulator insists that significant gas and energy savings are necessary to avoid a winter of rationing and gas emergency. Households, industry, and businesses need to cut consumption by at least 20%, Klaus Muller, the president of the Federal Network Agency, Bundesnetzagentur, said earlier this month. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Russia has launched new, wide-scale missile strikes on Ukraines civilian energy sites, causing power outages nationwide, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his regular video address late on October 22. Moscow says its forces continued to launch attacks against Ukraine's energy and military infrastructure over the last 24 hours. Ukrainian authorities say nearly 1.5 million households across the country have been left without electricity. But Zelenskiy said most of the Russian missiles and drones were being shot down, reiterating an earlier statement by the Ukrainian military that it had downed 18 out of 33 cruise missiles launched from the air and sea on October 22. Of course we don't yet have the technical ability to knock down 100 percent of the Russian missiles and strike drones. I am sure that, gradually, we will achieve that, with help from our partners," Zelenskiy said. Russia has intensified its strikes on Ukraine's power stations, water supply systems, and other key infrastructure over the past two weeks. The areas targeted by the latest strikes include Khmelnytskiy and Lutsk in the countrys west and the central city of Uman. Khmelnytskiy, which was home to some 275,000 people before the war, was left with no electricity, shortly after local media reported several loud explosions on October 22, regional officials said. Uman, which had some 100,000 residents before the war, was also plunged into darkness after a rocket hit a nearby power station. In Lutsk, a city of 215,000, electricity had been partially knocked out after Russian missiles slammed into local energy facilities, according to local officials. Authorities in Khmelnytskiy and Lutsk urged residents to store water, in case its also gone. Air strikes and power disruptions were also reported from Odesa in the south, the central city of Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhya in the countrys southeast. The national energy company, Ukrenerho, continued to urge all Ukrainians to conserve energy. In his address later on October 22, Zelenskiy said authorities had managed to restore power in multiple regions where electricity had been cut off as a result of the attack. "The main target of the terrorists is energy," he said. In the capital, Kyiv, and surrounding regions rolling blackouts came into effect on October 22 in response to the reduced power supplies. Ukrainian officials said about 40 percent of the country's electric power system has been severely damaged since Russia increased attacks on Ukraines civilian infrastructure. Zelenskiy had earlier said 30 percent of Ukraine's power stations have been destroyed by Russian strikes since October 10. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal warned that the intensifying missile and drone strikes will create a new wave of refugees from Ukraine. "If there is no more electricity, no more heating, no more water in Ukraine, this can trigger a new migration tsunami," he told the October 23 edition of Germany's broadsheet Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Russia's Defense Ministry said on October 23 that it destroyed a large ammunition depot in Ukraine's central Cherkasy region that according to the ministry was storing over 100,000 tons of aviation fuel for the Ukrainian Air Force. Related: Biden Is Running U.S. Energy Security Into The Ground The ministry also said in a daily briefing that Russian forces had repelled Ukrainian counteroffensives along the frontlines in southern and eastern Ukraine. The claims cannot be independently verified. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow had concerns Ukraine could use a "dirty bomb" in the conflict, without providing evidence to support his suggestion. Shoigu made the comment during a phone conversation with his French counterpart, Sebastien Lecornu, on October 23, according to Russian news agencies. Shoigu was quoted as saying that the situation in Ukraine was rapidly deteriorating and trending toward "uncontrolled escalation. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Grace Wahmhoff, 10, shows her patches at Elmhurst University on Oct. 23, 2022, at a Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana event. Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott is giving $4.2 million to the group. (Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune) A recent $4.2 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott will help the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana become more accessible to girls across the region, said council CEO Nancy Wright, with plans to update facilities, expand science and technology education, hire new staff and create more equitable membership opportunities. The investment is part of an $84.5 million gift awarded to Girl Scouts of the USA and 29 local councils, marking the largest individual donation the organization has ever received. Advertisement Whats so impactful about this gift is the generosity of MacKenzie Scott to invest in the future of our world through young people, and her generosity is changing lives, Wright said. The funds will benefit a variety of programming from Girl Scouts GCNWI, which serves 245 communities across six Illinois counties and four Indiana counties. Advertisement A portion of the money will expand efforts to bring scouting to underserved areas, including Chicagos South and West sides. In the past several months, the group has launched nine new troops in the Douglas, Englewood, West Englewood, Roseland, Morgan Park, New City and Gresham communities. What were really eager to do, especially on the South and West Side, is be a part of the communities, Wright said. Weve already started this work, but it gives us an opportunity to listen to the girls, listen to the families, on how we can support them and develop the next generation of powerful female leaders. Part of that effort is ensuring girls can take advantage of learning opportunities in their own backyards. The organization is working to bring 200 girls from the South Side to a Joffrey Ballet performance of The Nutcracker at the Lyric Opera House. Many of our girls, even though they may be close to some of the amenities of different museums or cultural experiences, they dont have access for a variety of reasons, Wright said. We are always looking at breaking down those barriers and supporting girls to be able to try these new activities. The challenges of the pandemic took a toll on the organizations membership, which consists of girls ages 5 to 17. Pre-COVID-19, Wright said the group had over 50,000 participants. That number has since dropped to 32,000 girls. She is optimistic that Scotts donation will help boost recruitment, describing the funds as rocket fuel to accelerate the groups programs. Jade Perez, 9, smiles while walking to her next activity at a Girl Scouts event at Elmhurst University on Oct. 23, 2022. (Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune) Della Duax, 6, left, and Ava Martinez, 5, right, watch to see if they've won during a card game at a Girl Scouts event at Elmhurst University on Oct. 23, 2022. Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott is giving $4.2 million to the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. (Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune) While what Wright calls the organizations old mantra of crafts, camps and cookies may come to mind, she said the group has shifted its focus to career readiness and leadership to empower young girls. She looks forward to using the donation money to increase opportunities for STEM exploration in coding, robotics, aeronautics and other activities. [ Men still outnumber women in STEM fields. The Girl Scouts is trying to change that. ] Sixteen-year-old Sydney Kirages of Lake Forest shared a similar sentiment. She serves as a Girl Scout representative to the board of directors and is pursuing the organizations prestigious Gold Award for creating a website to help hospitalized children socialize and fight isolation. Advertisement Kirages hopes the donation can help other girls make an impact in their own communities. Its so important for people to see that the Girl Scouts is so much more than just selling cookies its about becoming a leader, Kirages said. I think (Scotts) gift will not only impact those who are in Girl Scouts currently, but also affect the future of other girls who are able to join. Its also about addressing the needs of todays girls through a holistic, trauma-informed approach. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. > Wright said the organization noticed girls were experiencing increased stress in recent years and it made the decision to provide trauma-informed training to all staff. The group has now extended that training to volunteers in a program called Tools of Resilience. Being a trauma-informed organization doesnt mean were clinicians or trauma experts, Wright said. But we know that creating a safe environment for girls and having the skill sets to meet them where they are helps their well-being and their development. Wright is hopeful Scotts gift can act as a multiplier, inspiring others to support the organizations growing work in local communities. Advertisement Were hopeful that it will inspire other people to give generously to support the girls as well because the need is much greater than this very, very generous donation, Wright said. Were beyond grateful for that, but I want to encourage other people to continue to support our girls. As for Kirages, she wishes she could express her gratitude for the gift personally. I just really wish that I could personally thank Miss Scott for this wonderful opportunity, Kirages said. It is so appreciated, and it makes myself and my troop so excited for the future. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Sydney Kirages had already received the Gold Award. Taiwan is stocking up on natural gas and coal in anticipation of more military action from Beijing, Reuters has reported, citing a Taipei government official. In case of a Chinese attack on the island or a blockade, Reuters wrote, the Taiwan government wanted to boost its resilience since it is almost completely dependent on imports for its energy demand. "When it does happen, we need to be able to undertake pressure to a certain degree," Tseng Wen-Sheng, a deputy economy minister, told Reuters. Taiwan depends on imports for some 98 percent of its energy consumption, with coal and natural gas accounting for 81.5 percent of electricity generation on the island. Nuclear provides another 9.6 percent and wind and solar contribute another 6 percent. China has been conducting military drills around Taiwan regularly but recently stepped these up, prompting Taiwan to accuse it of a blockade and of simulating a future invasion of the island. The situation heated up in August when U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. Following the visit, China cut several communication channels with the U.S. and called the visit an egregious provocation. This month, the chief of the U.S. Navy warned that China could attack Taiwan by the end of the year and the U.S. must be ready to respond to this attack. When we talk about the 2027 window, in my mind that has to be a 2022 window or potentially a 2023 window, Admiral Mike Gilday told the Atlantic Council last week, as quoted by the FT. I dont mean at all to be alarmist . . . its just that we cant wish that away. Beijing, meanwhile, has blamed the U.S. for the escalation between China and Taiwan. President Xi Jinping said this weekend that if China is compelled to attack Taiwan, it would be because of external forces. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Mark Murphy of Papillion was honored and thanked for his service Saturday, Oct. 22, with a Quilt of Valor. Murphy joined the U.S. Navy in July 1975, according to a news release. He attended bootcamp and 16 weeks of A school at the Great Lakes Training Center. He was assigned to the USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98), an auxiliary ship that refueled, rearmed and replenished supplies to ships at sea during his enlistment time. His duties included working in the Combat Information System and working on radar and communications equipment. He helped navigate the ship when entering or departing ports. Murphy participated in three Mediterranean cruises and two North Atlantic cruises. He visited ports in Cuba; Haiti; St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands; Puerto Rico; Bermuda; Lisbon, Portugal; Weymouth, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; Oslo, Norway; Trondheim, Norway; Kiel, Germany; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Barcelona, Spain; Palma, Spain; Malaga, Spain; Marseille, France; Toulon, France; Naples, Italy; Palermo, Sicily; and Athens, Greece. He crossed the Arctic Circle and received the Bluenose Certificate. He also spent eight months in the Brooklyn, New York, shipyard. Mark was honorably discharged from military duties in July 1980. Thanking and honoring U.S. military personnel and veterans with a Quilt of Valor began with Catherine Roberts in 2003 while her son was deployed in Iraq. Roberts felt 10 seconds from panic and had a tough time sleeping. In the middle of the night, she had a dream where she saw a young soldier deployed somewhere in the world and sitting on the side of the bed in the middle of the night. He was hunched over with a pervading feeling of gloom and despair. Then as if viewing a movie, the next scene in her dream was transformative. The soldier, still sitting on the bed in the middle of the night, now wrapped in a quilt and the whole atmosphere changed, from one of despair to one of hope and well-being. To Roberts, the quilt represented healing. Roberts a military mom, nurse and quilter thought that making quilts was something she could do. She began making quilts for wounded soldiers returning home from conflict. Since that first quilt in 2003, the National Quilts of Valor Foundation members and volunteers have awarded 323,574 quilts to U.S. military personnel and veterans to thank them for their service with healing and caring quilts. Murphys Quilt of Valor was made by Kathy Miller of Lincoln, quilted by Sue Streier of Bennington and hand-bound by Ruby Hinrichs of Papillion. Those unseasonably warm, record-setting temperatures flowing across eastern Nebraska on Sunday will be replaced this week by some downright average autumn weather. We will be closer to normal for this time of year, Katie Gross, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley, said Sunday. The high temperature will be around 60 (degrees) all week. Omaha, Lincoln and Norfolk broke records for high temperatures on Sunday that were set between 95 and 123 years ago. Omaha recorded a high of 87 to break its record of 84 set in 1899; Lincoln posted 89 to better the mark of 84 set in 1915; and Norfolks 89 degrees upended its record of 87 set in 1927. Its going to be cooler Monday with highs around 60 degrees, Gross said. It looks like we will have about a 30% chance of rain for Omaha from Monday morning into the early afternoon. The greatest chance of rain will be east of the Missouri River Valley. The forecast calls for rain totals ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 of an inch near Falls City and 0.1 of an inch or less along the Interstate 80 corridor. The forecast for Tuesday through Sunday is average for this time of year in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, Gross said. Highs are expected to be about 60 degrees, with overnight lows in the upper 30s to low 40s. Theres no real chance of rain again until Thursday, when we have a 20% to 30% chance of getting some precipitation, she said. On Friday, there will be a 15% to 20% chance of showers, but Saturday will be dry, with a high again around 60. The high Sunday for Omaha is, surprise, expected to be in the low 60s. Gross said its a little early to make a Halloween forecast. My crystal ball is a bit cloudy that far out, she said. World-Herald staff writer Molly Ashford contributed to this report. U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse could receive a vote of no confidence by University of Florida faculty before he even is confirmed as that universitys president. The UF Faculty Senate will consider a vote of no confidence regarding the universitys presidential selection process at an emergency meeting Thursday. Sasse, a Nebraska Republican, was announced as the sole finalist for the schools 13th president last month, leading to immediate backlash. During his first visit to campus, Sasse faced a large student protest mainly focused on his stance on same-sex marriage and other LGBTQ+ issues. That prompted current University of Florida President Kent Fuchs to announce Monday that he was enforcing a 20-year-old regulation banning protests inside campus buildings. Several LGBTQ+ UF Faculty Senate members expressed disappointment and fear about Sasses potential selection at the bodys latest meeting Oct. 20. Other members called for the vote of no confidence, with some pressing Chair Amanda Phalin to hold the vote that day. That was not possible under the Faculty Senates bylaws. The Faculty Senate resolution focuses on the selection process university officials followed that led Sasse to be the sole finalist, claiming it undermined the trust and confidence of the Faculty Senate in Sasses selection. It also indicated that the body doubted Sasses qualifications for the role. The next President should come already equipped to lead an institution of this caliber rather than aiming to learn on the job, the resolution read. Before he was elected to the U.S. Senate, Sasse led Midland University in Fremont, a school with roughly 1,600 students. UFs student population stands at nearly 60,000 students. Search committee member David Bloom described Sasse as an accidental politician and said he was more similar to a higher education leader. That comment elicited murmurs of disagreement from Faculty Senate members that could be heard during a recording of the Oct. 20 meeting. Phalin, a nonvoting member of the Faculty Senate who did not serve on the search committee, told the Faculty Senate that there was a large and diverse pool of candidates the committee considered, which included several sitting presidents and chancellors of top universities. Under Florida law, finalists must be named within 21 days of the final decision by the university. Phalin said several candidates were not willing to be named unless they were the sole choice, as they still held leadership roles with other schools. The search committee was left with the choice of either having no candidates or choosing one of them, Phalin said during the meeting. And so they chose one of them. The search committee voted unanimously for Sasses selection. Phalin said in a Monday phone interview that she supports Sasses candidacy. At the Oct. 20 meeting, she said she spoke to each of the candidates for an hour, and when she spoke to Sasse, he did not seem like a politician and he understood that inclusivity was important to the UF community. She noted, however, that she disagrees with many of his political views. While other candidates were more focused on improving UFs rankings compared to other universities, Phalin said she was excited by Sasses outsiders perspective and thinks he would be an effective leader and advocate. He has a lot to live up to in my eyes, Phalin said. And Im going to hold him to that. Sasse still faces a vote by the schools Board of Trustees and then must be confirmed by the states Board of Governors before he is officially named president. If approved, hes expected to resign his Senate seat. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has said he would leave Sasses replacement to the states next governor. Sasses successor would serve until 2024, when a special election would be held to fill the seat. Widespread, wind-driven grass fires that injured two firefighters swept through southern Lancaster County on Sunday, destroying homes, closing roads and prompting evacuation orders as a thin haze of smoke settled on Lincoln. The Lincoln-Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency ordered the evacuations as two separate blazes in the southern part of the county crept north over the course of the afternoon, fueled by winds from the south and dry conditions. By the time night had descended and the fires had been mostly contained, three houses were destroyed and two firefighters were injured, including one seriously, according to a press release from the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office. Lancaster County declared an emergency about 7 p.m. and a relocation center was set up at Lincoln Southwest High School for displaced residents. Officials asked those who left their homes not to return. Several roads in the southern part of the county were blocked off, the Sheriffs Office said. The public was asked not to drive around barriers. The Nebraska State Patrol, Games and Parks officers and Saline County deputies assisted with traffic control and checking on the safety of residents. The first evacuation orders came about 2:44 p.m., when a fire that had started at the Lancaster-Gage County border threatened areas in Lancaster County south and west of Southwest 12th Street and Saltillo Road. The Hallem Fire Department requested that deputies begin evacuating residents in the path of the fire, while a phone alert from the Sheriffs Office also ordered evacuations. Officials later said the order was voluntary. About that time, another evacuation order was issued for people in the area bound by South 38th and 54th Streets and Olive Creek and Apple Roads a swath of rural land roughly between Cortland and Firth due to a blaze southwest of Firth quickly advancing north. Christopher Smith was one of several people gathered at a farm near Southwest 72nd and Panama Roads near Olive Creek State Recreation Area in southwestern Lancaster County, just east of one of the fires. The farms residents and neighbors were planning to move cattle and other valuables to Smiths farm a few miles south. Everybodys just trying to help out, Smith said as the farms owner scrambled to spray down the homes back porch with water and set up sprinklers in case the fire got close. About 4:45 p.m., the fire had burned much of the area around Olive Creek State Recreation Area in southwestern Lancaster County and was spreading rapidly to the north. A red flag warning had been in effect for central and eastern Nebraska, including Lancaster County, until 8 p.m. The National Weather Service said winds from the south gusting as high as 55 mph combined with dry land and low humidity made for dangerous fire conditions. Temperatures were also unseasonably warm, climbing to the upper 80s and setting records for late October. As of 8 p.m., the fire that started southwest of Firth was contained while firefighters continued to battle hotspots near Southwest 100th and West Panama roads north of Olive Creek Lake and near Kramer. The city of Lincoln was not considered to be threatened. In addition to the numerous fire departments who responded including Lincoln Fire and Rescue farmers used irrigation pivots to battle the blaze. Heroic firefighting efforts over the weekend prevented numerous wildfires in the central U.S. from becoming catastrophic, given the volatile weather conditions. In Lancaster County, at least three homes were destroyed and two firefighters were injured in two fast-moving fires. Officials there expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of help from volunteers. Due to the hard work of all of those people, lives were saved and property was saved, Lancaster County Commissioner Deb Schorr said. Despite similar efforts in Missouri, residents of a small town werent so fortunate. About half of Wooldridge, Missouri, burned Saturday, when a harvest-related fire ignited in a neighboring farm field. An 84-year-old Wooldridge resident, Jerry E. Foster, told the Columbia Missourian that he escaped with the clothes on his back, his billfold, checkbook and the keys to his truck. The front of my house was completely in flames, Foster said. I dont have a toothbrush. I dont have another pair of socks. The town of about 100 was evacuated, and the fire left 23 buildings damaged or destroyed and one person injured. Interstate 70, which is just north of the town, was closed for two hours due to smoke. In the southeast Kansas City metro area, firefighters went door to door Sunday, encouraging residents to evacuate due to a grass fire near Interstate 470 between Raytown and Lees Summit. In Nebraska, at least seven counties reported significant fires to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, according to spokeswoman Jodie Fawl. Residents were evacuated from a number of communities, including Hallam and Wisner, and from rural areas in southern Lancaster County/northern Gage County, Nebraska, and in west-central and southwest Iowa. No deaths were known to have occurred due to the fires. Nebraska already has seen three volunteers die this year while fighting wildfires. The Omaha metro area and Douglas County are under a burn ban, said Omaha Fire Battalion Chief Scott Fitzpatrick. Two homes caught fire early Sunday morning in northwest Omaha when strong winds carried embers from the first fire to the second home, he said. The first home sustained significant damage, but firefighters were able to save the second home. Across the Central Plains, hundreds of firefighters and farmers pitched in to protect homes and property. Farmers disked ground to create fire breaks and turned on their irrigation equipment. In some rural communities, firefighters pumped water from swimming pools to douse flames. More than 80% of the lower 48 states is in drought or near drought, according to the National Drought Monitor. Gannon Rush, a climatologist with the High Plains Regional Climate Center, said a powerful weather system was responsible for the weekends volatile conditions. The system generated strong southerly winds that pulled warm southern air into the central U.S. Clear skies allowed plenty of sunshine to heat up the parched ground and contribute to a rapid rise in temperatures, he said. In general, temperatures ran 25 degrees or more above normal, and many communities set or matched records, he said. Some areas saw their highest temperatures on record for this late in the year, he said. Records were set in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Norfolk and McCook. Omaha set a record of 87 degrees Sunday. Lincoln set a record of 89 degrees and an all-time record 142 for days in a year above 80 degrees. (That) doesnt sound glamorous or crazy, but it shows that this year has been fairly warm, Rush said. Rush said the primary factors in the fires were the winds and drought. Winds gusted in excess of 45 mph across the eastern half of Nebraska and exceeded 60 mph in parts of southwest Nebraska, he said. Omahas peak wind gust was 52 mph at 4:15 p.m. Sunday, said Paul Fajman of the National Weather Services Valley office. Fires have plagued Nebraska much of this year. Benjamin Bohall of the Nebraska Forest Service said 2022 has become the states second-worst fire year. The worst was 2012, Nebraskas hottest, driest year on record. More than 600 square miles of Nebraska burned that year, and the state overhauled its firefighting protocols as a result. Nebraskas fire risk is expected to remain high until snow covers the ground. This report includes material from the Lincoln Journal Star and the Associated Press. Editor's note: This is part of a series examining the state of McLean County's housing market. RELATED COVERAGE: BLOOMINGTON Signing high rental leases, paying inflated utility bills, facing potential eviction living with housing insecurity is a challenge, and finding help can be, too. There are so many people who are experiencing instability and potentially getting overwhelmed by what assistance is available, said Erin Duncan, co-chair of the United Way Housing Coalition and a staff attorney with the Justice, Equity and Opportunity Program at Prairie State Legal Services in Bloomington. The housing coalition was formed in the first year of the pandemic as Bloomington-Normal residents were facing the fallout from closing businesses, layoffs, furloughs and other factors that affected their ability to afford rent, utility bills or mortgage payments. The coalition created a single application to apply for the various housing-related grants that local agencies received. That way, their efforts were not being duplicated and people could get assistance from the specific programs they qualified for without having to go through multiple applications with multiple agencies. People facing housing insecurity may stop looking for assistance after one or two setbacks, coalition leaders said. Many programs also require documentation that people might not have readily available. To help address the renewed stress of navigating housing assistance, this year the coalition is proposing a new role for a housing stability navigator. The navigator position would be housed at a local nonprofit and would connect people with resources that can provide assistance, Duncan said. What we envision is that this navigator would be a hub of sorts, like we were a triage center, a clearing house, said Kathleen Lorenz, community investment director of United Way and co-chair of the housing coalition. The coalition is approaching the Bloomington, Normal and McLean County governments about funding for the first three years of the position. That would give the agencies time to pursue grant funding to keep the position in place. Additionally, Duncan would like to see the navigator supplied with a discretionary fund to provide assistance for people who may otherwise fall through the cracks. It would be like a 'pot of last resort,' she said. Many government-funded programs have specific requirements that contribute to housing insecurity, Duncan said. Some federal programs, for instance, require a person to be completely unhoused to receive benefits. That means people cannot start applying until they have left a prior living situation, even if they know their lease is ending or they are being evicted soon. A statewide moratorium on evictions was in place for much of 2020 and 2021, a measure aimed at cushioning the blow from the COVID-19 pandemic. It ended in October 2021. Prairie State Legal Services estimates total evictions filings in the county in 2022 will be higher than the 2018 and 2019 totals. From January to August 2022, there were 575 eviction filings in the county, putting things on track for around 863 total eviction filings this year. In 2018, there were 804 eviction filings in total and in 2019 there were 837, according to data Duncan provided. After the moratorium ended, eviction filings were automatically sealed for a while, which helped those who had been evicted find other housing before their evictions showed up in credit reports, Duncan said. Now that protection, too, has ended. Along with the return of eviction proceedings, the coalition has seen an increase in landlords declining to renew leases, sometimes without providing a cause, Duncan said. This can leave people scrambling to find a place to live. Those who find a place they can afford may then face other challenges, such as not being able to move in right away or finding transportation to the new place, which can lead to housing instability. The navigator role could build relationships with area landlords and developers, as well as direct people to where they can get assistance, to help fight some of these challenges. Right now, various agencies are each handling part of those potential duties, but the people involved are at capacity, Duncan said. The housing coalition benefits from having many agencies involved, because the issue cannot be addressed by any single individual, said McLean County Regional Planning Commission Director Raymond Lai. It cannot just be one agency; it has to be a collaborative effort to make this happen, he said. Duncan added: I really think this is an opportunity for our area to be a leader in meeting that need. At the same time, she and Lorenz acknowledged that the housing navigator would not be a long-term solution to the lack of housing. As the regional housing analysis coordinated by the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council concluded, more housing at higher market levels would free up housing for people with lower incomes, Lorenz said. When people rent units aimed at lower market levels than they could afford, that decreases supply for lower-income people, who have fewer options to start with. At the state level, the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund, operated by the Illinois Housing Development Authority, announced last week that it will reopen a mortgage assistance program Nov. 1 for homeowners affected by the pandemic. The fund provides up to $30,000 in assistance as payments made directly to mortgage servicers, taxing bodies and other entities, through an appropriation from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The payments can be used for late mortgage payments, up to three months of future mortgage payments, delinquent property taxes, homeowners insurance, condominium or homeowner association fees, and mobile home lot rent. The funds do not have to be repaid by the individuals seeking assistance. The application portal is at illinoishousinghelp.org/ilhaf and will close in January. Capitol News Illinois and Kelsey Watznauer contributed to this report. Correction: This article has been update to reflect the numbers are for eviction filings, not completed evictions. A southern sea otter is one of two females at Shedd Aquarium that are part of a program in which rescued females that can't be released into the wild are raised to be surrogate moms to orphaned pups.User Upload Caption: (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) Over the next week, Shedd Aquarium is looking for help to name one of the two female otters that arrived in Chicago from California this month. These furry marine mammals will join the rescued sea otter population in the exhibit in the Abbott Oceanarium. Otters 926 and 929 are a 9-month-old pair that were discovered separately on the coast of California. At just two weeks old, they were found alone with no mother or adult otters in sight, according to a statement from Shedd Aquarium. The Monterey Bay Aquarium rescued the two and ever since, the otters have been referred to as their intake numbers, 926 and 929. Advertisement The animal care team that oversees the health and well-being of North Americas smallest marine mammals, will vote to name otter 926. Meanwhile, the public will get to vote to name otter 929. Advertisement The Shedd Aquarium staff created a short list of names for the public to choose from, each inspired by a location along the coast of California where sea otters can be found. Jade is for the Jade Cove located in the southern area of Big Sur in California. Sunny is for Sunset Beach next to Asilomar Beach in California. Willow is for the Willow Creek Picnic Area and Beach in Monterey County, California. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. > Members of the public can submit digital votes as many times as they would like. Since their arrival at Shedd on Oct. 11, the otters have been living behind the scenes while getting used to their new environment and bonding with their new caregivers. The otters will be in Chicago only temporarily. Both are in a new program in which young female otters are trained to act as surrogate mothers. While at Shedd, the pair will learn how to care for orphaned pups, as they once were. Otters 926 and 929 will be trained by Shedd staff on diving, foraging and carrying pups. Once trained, the juvenile otters will return to California to be matched with pups that they will nurture until the little otters are ready to be released into the wild. Advertisement tatturner@chicagotribune.com BLOOMINGTON Police are investigating a report of gunfire Friday night in west Bloomington. Sgt. Josh Swartzentruber with the Bloomington Police Department said officers were called around 10:50 p.m. Friday to a shots fired report in the 900 block of West Washington Street. He said no one was injured, and there is no suspect information available for release. The police sergeant also confirmed no arrests have been made. He added anyone with additional information on this gunfire report is asked to call BPD dispatch at 309-820-8888. Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the time the shots were reported to police. CHICAGO - The buses filled with migrants from the Texas border continue to arrive in Chicago, but its easy to forget that people are on those buses, people with stories often overshadowed by politics and conversation around the flawed immigration system in America, or by the desperate need to find shelter, warm food and clean clothes for the new arrivals. Nearly 4,000 migrants arrived in the city directly from Texas on the buses sent by Gov. Greg Abbott, according to city officials, but many more refugee seekers mainly from Venezuela have also been coming, on their own, to the promise of safety and job opportunities in Chicago. Without any governmental help, a small house of worship on Division Avenue, Adalberto Memorial United Methodist Church, has turned into a temporary shelter that has housed nearly 100 migrants. Many have transitioned into more permanent housing and found jobs, establishing a network within the group to lend each other a hand in their new home, Chicago. At the church, the migrants share their journeys, fears, and dreams. As some move out, others make room for new arrivals by cleaning up the sleeping areas in between church pews. And during Sunday service, everyone those who have transitioned out and those who recently arrived is invited to have lunch together. They are creating a new home, we give God thanks for their new home, said Jacobita Cortes, the churchs pastor. Beyond the new reality that the migrants face and the story of their desperate need to flee their home countries to undergo a journey north where most are now homeless, are people who once had homes, and jobs. Here are some of their stories: My dream is to have a family As the sun sets in Chicago, a small church in Humboldt Park fills with the smells of Venezuelan food and chatter as migrants arrive at their temporary home after a day of looking for work. A joyful Erly Jose Tovar, 40, welcomes people as they walk in. He had been assigned to watch the makeshift shelter after arriving in the first week of September. He unlocks and locks the doors and makes sure that everyone is safe. Im glad to be here, he said with a smile, his long, blonde hair extensions carefully braided. Tovar is a hairstylist by trade who made his way to Chicago after being bused to Washington, D.C., where he heard of the beauty of the city and its job opportunities. Migrating to the United States was never part of his plans. In fact, through his childhood he only ever dreamed of moving to Spain to eventually open his own hair salon. But it all seemed so distant, Tovar said. Though full of dreams, his childhood was painful. When he was 5 years old, his troubled mother gave him away to an aunt, he recalled as his voice began to break. But his aunt also didnt care for him, leaving Tovar to practically live in the streets, begging for food through his childhood. In his teens, his mom took him in again, but his stepfather would beat him so hard that Tovar decided to leave once again, this time for his grandmothers home. Thats when he finally came out as gay, he said. But things took a worse turn. A family member raped him, according to Tovar, forcing him to seek refugee elsewhere. The family of one of his friends took him under their wing for the rest of his teen years. I began to grow up and looked for ways to support myself, Tovar said. He eventually learned to read with the help of a teacher who agreed to take him in their classroom without needing to register. As he grew older, he found a livelihood in working the cornfields in rural towns; also an attempt to run away from discrimination and bullying for his sexual orientation, he said. Tovar eventually learned to accept and embrace himself. He developed a love for hairstyling from a friend who had a beauty salon, he said. Those friends became my family, Tovar said. Before deciding to migrate north, he moved to Colombia with a distant cousin. There, he worked for several years until he saved enough money to make the journey north. It was a chance for a whole new beginning, he said. A chance to start over and leave all the pain of his childhood behind. So this new life, though uncertain, gives him hope of finally healing and finding peace, he said. My dream is to have a family, Tovar said emotionally. He wants to find a partner and get married. Hopefully adopt kids at one point. I would work so hard to give them everything, all the love and the things I didnt have. A family business that failed Sitting on a church pew after eating dinner, Marianella Hernandez, 47, still savored the dish. Theres so much food, I still cant believe it, I may even get a stomach ache, she smiled as she looked at her husband, Manolo Francisco Palma, 43, sitting next to her on a chair. In Venezuela, she said, their neighbors are struggling to feed their families because even working two jobs they cant make ends meet. The prices of the food, if available at all, are inflated, but the shelves at the stores (are) empty, she said. It was particularly heartbreaking for Hernandez to see her adult children unable to feed their own children. She shook her head and spoke a little softer when she recalled the days before the family decided to leave their whole life behind to make their way to America. I didnt want to come, I was scared to cross that jungle, I was worried for my grandchildren, but we really had no other option. People dont understand that, Hernandez said. Their older son, Jhonder Adrian Garabito, 32, was the first one to leave their native town of Santa Fe de Tuy. He sold his motorcycles and most of his assets, leaving his wife and three young girls with only their bed and a fan, his mother said. Hernandez gave him her blessing and he headed north. When he left, he promised he would immediately look for a job to save enough money to help the rest of his family reach the American Dream, Hernandez said. He did. After just a few weeks of arriving, Jhonder found a job at a factory. He sent enough money to help bring over his wife and children, his two brothers and his parents. The family was happy, and food was abundant. Marianella and her husband began their own business selling fruits and vegetables from town to town in a small truck. The business was sustainable, and even after the economic collapse that began in 2014, they were able to manage and in 2020, suddenly, the business picked up, she recalled. They even bought a new truck. Not once did it cross her mind that one day they would all flee their beloved town and leave their small home empty to migrate north, Hernandez said. But just as suddenly as business picked up, it all disappeared. We had to sell our truck, then some of our other belongings. Then it was hard to feed the family, she recalled. So when her older son made the decision to migrate north, she and her husband felt the responsibility to support him and eventually follow him. For a while she tried to convince her husband to let her stay in Venezuela because she didnt think she would survive the months journey to Chicago because of underlying health issues. But Manolo, her husband of 30 years, begged her to do it. I couldnt leave her behind. Weve spent a whole life together, it was already hard enough to leave everything behind, Manolo said wiping away tears. In Venezuela, the only thing left is their empty home and Hernandezs 67-year-old mother. Though she hopes to see her again one day, as much as it hurts, I dont know what will happen next, Hernandez said. But we are happy to be here together, she added. Manolo was specifically glad to be starting work already. His son was able to get him a job through a staffing agency. All we need is a place to live. He left the uniform behind For more than a decade, Robinson Briseno, 39, served as a police officer in Cojedes, Venezuela, a job that he grew into after joining the military in his youth. I fell in love with the uniform, with helping others, he said. After growing up in a rural town and working the fields, Briseno found a way to better his life through his profession. He then went on get a degree to teach physical education and was a substitute teacher at a local school, he said. Through those years, he fathered seven children and he intended to support them as they sought higher education. It all sounds nice, but one thing is to hear the story and another one is to live it, Briseno said while sitting on a church pew just two days after arriving in one of the buses sent from Texas transporting migrants. Though he tried to make enough to support his family, he couldnt. His salary was not enough. And even on the good days, seeing the other hungry children while I couldnt feed mine, didnt feel right, Briseno said. Its not easy to wear a uniform, to wake up every day in a country that is falling apart, to see people in the streets that are dying of hunger; and to then be forced to oppress those same people that are protesting and fighting against the corrupt government because they are hungry, he said. The only difference between those protesting and him was the uniform. So he left it left it behind and believes that he could never return for fear of retaliation from the governmental officials that he once served. In Chicago, he reunited with two other former officers who also chose to leave Venezuela to migrate to the United States. The three are staying at the church until they find a new job, far away from the one they had in Venezuela. I hope that people take the time to know more about us: Some of us are professionals, engineers, lawyers, and many more, Briseno said. A girl mom Zulmairys Massiel, 31, said, I love being a mom. Her three girls, one 10, another 5 and the youngest one 3, have finally started school since arriving in Chicago. I thought they were going to be scared, but they have been so excited, Massiel said. Attending school will give the girls some sense of normalcy amid so much uncertainty, she said. The months since early June have been traumatic for the three young girls. Their father, Jhonder Adrian Garabito, 32, first left them in Venezuela when he took on the journey to migrate to Chicago. For a few days, the family lost touch with Garabito and didnt know if he was dead or alive. It was one of the most difficult times of my life, Massiel said. To tell the girls that their father was OK when we had no idea of his whereabouts. But she kept positive. Garabito had told her that once he arrived in the States, he would find a job and send enough money to bring them over. Thankfully, he did. Massiel and her three girls began the migration north in mid-August and arrived in Chicago a month later. There was fear through the way, she recalls. People say they rape women and children, Massiel said. Her main concern was crossing the infamous Darien Gap, a jungle linking Colombia to Panama. Sequera was afraid she wouldnt be able to protect her three girls, or herself from harm. I prayed every step of the way, she said. In Chicago, Garabito waited for them. He had paved the way for his two younger siblings and his parents too. When he arrived, he found help at Cortes church in Humboldt Park he was one of the first migrants to arrive in the church but quickly found a job in a nearby factory packing toys, he said. Cortes helped him to find a place to rent, to make sure that his wife and children had a place to live upon arrival. The family has created a home out of an old empty storefront. Were getting ready for the cold, Massiel said. The girls are excited to see snow for the first time. In Venezuela, the daughters were used to spending time playing outside while their mother dedicated her time to doing nails and their father helped with the family business of selling fruits and vegetables. My family and I have always been so hardworking, we had our own business, he said. Garabito is Marianella Hernadez and Manolo Francisco Palmas oldest son. His parents and his middle brother were the last ones to arrive. So we are here to work and do better for our families, he said. Now in Chicago, Garabito and Massiel want to provide for their three girls and recover everything that they lost when they left their beloved Venezuela. I want my girls to attend a good school, to go to college and have a career, Massiel said. Back home, I couldnt afford to buy them their school uniform and there were few teachers. The beauty of Venezuela Just a days after arriving in Chicago from the Texas border, Jose Gregorio Rondon Benitez, 28, went out to look for work. Ill do anything, work at a factory, restaurant, construction, Ill learn and do the work, he said. Through his 20s Venezuela was already suffering economically, he said. There are few jobs and the salary is mediocre. He tried his luck in Peru, where he met the mother of his only daughter, he said. Before that also spent time in Colombia. He has worked the fields, as bank security and a cashier, and driving a motorcycle from town to town to transport people. But the pay was also low, so when he heard that people migrating from Venezuela were being allowed in the United States while they filed their asylum case, he saved his money and left. I told my family I would be back if things dont work out, Rondon said. But I hope its worth it. On the way, Rondon witnesses many more migrants, including women and children, returning to their home country, unable to continue the journey. Others were turned away at the border. So I feel blessed to have made it here, he said. He learned of the shelter at church through other migrants who gave him the pastors phone number. He called her and luckily there was room for him. He remembers learning of Chicago in movies. I loved Chicago after hearing of the stadiums, the snow and its lake, he smiled. If Im honest, I never thought I would actually come here. Rondon loved to live in Venezuela, he recalled. Though money was limited, he was set to make a life like many others had, working the fields or other blue-collar jobs. I loved everything, the beaches, the scenery, the food and our people, he said. While he now tries his luck in Chicago, he will think of his daughter and partner in Peru. Its all for them, he said. Rondon calls them almost every day. He also calls his mother in Venezuela. I feel destroyed because I need my family, but I also feel committed to work to make sure that I can help them, Rondon said. He wants to send money to help his daughter and younger relatives finish school so that they can too see the beauty of Venezuela before running away. I want my daughter to have everything I didnt have, Rondon said. But if it doesnt work out here, I will return with my family. All that matters is that at least I tried. Four dynamic young men and women from the Jospong Group of Companies camp have been nominated and awarded at the just-ended 2022 edition of 40 Under 40 awards held at Kempinski Hotel in Accra, Ghana. These young hardworking individuals whose nominations were facilitated by Sophia Kudjordzi-Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Jospong Group were nominated in the categories of Transport & Automobile contested by Adwoa Frimpomaa Nimako Boateng, GM for J. A. PlantPool and S. A. Automobile, Environment and Climate Sustainability contested by Ing. Senam Tengey the GM for Medical Waste Services Ltd., Logistics & Supplies contested by Hannah Boohemaa Otu, Head Procurement and Supply Chain at the Jospong Group Office and Consultancy and Professional Services which was also contested by Mr. Felix Atsrim C.E.O of FEDEMS LTD. a consultant and a business partner to the Jospong Group. In the various categories contested, Adwoa Frimpomaa Nimako Boateng, GM for J. A. PlantPool and S. A. Automobile emerged the Winner for Transport & Automobile followed by Hannah Boohemaa Otu, Head Procurement and Supply Chain at the Jospong Group Office who also won her category, Logistics and Supplies, however Ing. Senam Tengey couldnt win his category which is Environment and Climate Sustainability In appreciation remarks, all awardees dedicated their awards to the hardworking staff and partners whose contributions and corporations propelled them into achieving this feat. Addressing patrons at the event, Richard Abbey Jnr. Event Director, Xodus Communications Ltd. underscored that the 40 under 40 awards scheme seeks to identify, honor and celebrate a cross-section of the nations most influential and accomplished young business leaders under age Forty from a wide range of industries. According to the Event Director, putting the spotlight on these young achievers will not only celebrate them but also build a robust platform for them by giving a voice and opportunities to the next generation of industry pacesetters whiles building a positive attitude in our youth to strive for excellence at a tender age. 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 President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Saturday, 22 October 2022, opened the Specialty Beers Ghana (SBL) Limited, an enterprise operating under Governments One-District-One-Factory initiative. Located in Kwasi Tenten, in Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality of the Eastern Region, on a five-acre land, Specialty Beers was established to manufacture specialty ale or top fermented beers for the Ghanaian market. The company was registered in Ghana in 2012, but became active in 2020 and applied in January 2021 to take advantage of the One District One Factory (1D1F) Programme being implemented by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Construction of the factory started in May 2021 and the first brew test run was completed in April 2022. SBL is a medium size craft brewery with an annual production capacity of 10,000 hectolitres. As part of SBL's vision to reduce dependency on the importation of raw materials, the company has already invested in the development of a number of beer recipes using mainly adjuncts (such as maize and broken rice) partly replacing malted barley which cannot be sourced in Ghana. A number of local suppliers of these cereals, including Avnash Limited and Hila Farms, Limited have been engaged as anchor suppliers of basic raw materials. The brewery will be the first to introduce the top fermentation brewing process in Ghana. This high-end brewing technology allows the usage of over 70% un-husked grains during the mashing process while ensuring the absolute clarity of the beer without stripping any flavour or aroma due to the centrifuge filtration system. The company has introduced four brands into the market, namely Farmhouse Ale (5% abv), Hibiscus IPA (6% abv), Ginger Triple (7% abv), and Cocoa Stout (8% abv). The entire production process of the state-of-the-art production facility is environmentally friendly and utilises only recyclable materials (no plastics). In addition, the company uses cleaning chemicals that allow the wastewater (by-product) to be used as fertiliser and potassium acetate. Currently, the company has engaged 20 permanent staff who are involved in the pre-factory launch activities in specific areas of factory operations. It is expected that once the company starts full operation, over 60 additional staff would be directly engaged whiles about 1500 indirect employment opportunities will be generated. The second phase of the project is intended to develop exports to the wider ECOWAS region, the rest of Africa and possibly the European market via specialized international distributors. For this reason, Specialty Beers Ghana Limited has already acquired ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme Certification (ETLS) certification. Thus far, the One-District-One-Factory initiative, which has seen the ongoing construction of two hundred and ninety-six (296) factories across the country, of which one hundred and twenty-five (125) have been completed, is part of the foundation on which the Akufo-Addo Government is we are building a comprehensive industrialization programme, inspired by the development of strategic anchor industries, such as the emerging automotive industry and the co-ordinated exploitation for the entire domestic value addition of our bauxite and iron ore resources. In the Eastern Region alone, there are seventeen (17) completed 1D1F enterprises, with sixteen (16) more under construction and four (4) in the pipeline. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video On Friday, October 21, 2022, following intelligence that an armed robbery gang was planning an attack on the cluster of banks in the Suame Magazine and Maakro enclave in Kumasi, the Police launched a special anti-robbery operation in which one of the armed robbers was shot. The armed robber and his accomplice who were on motorbikes attacked a customer who had stepped out of the Fidelity bank, Maakro branch, carrying a brown envelope. The robbers attacked the bank customer and snatched the envelope amidst the firing of guns. The rear windscreen and the left door glass of a Daewoo Matiz saloon car which was parked on the bank premises was hit during the shooting. The Police, who had mounted surveillance in the area, responded to the situation by firing at the armed robbers and succeeded in hitting the pillion rider who fell off the motorbike. However, the rider who also sustained gunshot wounds, managed to escape. One of the police officers was shot by the armed robbers during the exchange of fire and sustained a gunshot wound to his right hip. Both the injured officer and the suspect were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for medical attention. The suspect was, however, pronounced dead on arrival. The body of the deceased suspect has been deposited at the morgue for preservation, identification and autopsy. Efforts are underway to get his accomplice arrested to face justice. We wish to appeal to the public especially those who run health facilities within the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs to report any person seeking medical attention with a gunshot wound, for prompt Police action. We would like to commend all the officers who took part in the operation and also wish our injured colleague a speedy recovery. Source: Ghana Police Service 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 Some concerned teachers in the Ashanti and Central regions have rejected calls by the leadership of the teacher unions over the revocation of the appointment of the new Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Dr Eric Nkansah. His appointment came after the former Director General, Prof. Kwasi Opoku Amankwah was sacked by the President. Four teacher unions at a press conference in Accra criticised the appointment saying the Dr Nkansah is a banker and has not risen to the teaching rank to merit that poisition. But the concerned teachers think otherwise. They say the former head of the GTEC has what it takes to handle the position, especially when his role is purely administrative and has also garnered a lot of experience in the classroom should the argument of thuse discrediting him hold. Convenor for the concerned teachers, Nicholas Adu Berko explained why they have taken a swipe on the stance taken by the other unions. Usually when there is an issue, our respective Union leaders throw them to us at the circuit and district levels to make our contributions on what to do. But when the president mbetioned Mr. Eric Nkansah, nobody consulted us. We only saw our leadership saying they reject his appointment. Yes, on paper he is a banker but this is someone who has thought from the basic level up to the tertiary. He was teaching at the Kumasi Technical University, then Kumasi Polytechnic. Then he went to GES to head the Ghana Tertiary Education Council so when the lecturers issues came up and all he was the liaison between them and the government during their negotiations. And Director General is purely administrative. So how can you tell us such a person cannot be GES Director-General, he noted. 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 Images of students wearing so-called "anti-cheating hats" during college exams have gone viral on social media in the Philippines, sparking amusement. Students at one college in Legazpi City were asked to wear headgear that would prevent them from peeking at others' papers. Many responded by creating homemade contraptions out of cardboard, egg boxes and other recycled materials. Their tutor told the BBC she had been looking for a "fun way" to ensure "integrity and honesty" in her classes. Mary Joy Mandane-Ortiz, a professor of mechanical engineering at Bicol University College of Engineering, said the idea had been "really effective". It was implemented for recent mid-term exams, which were sat by hundreds of students at the college in the third week of October. Source: BBC 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 assured Ghanaians that the current economic hardship shall become a thing of the past. According to him, Ghanaians should believe in him that as the President of this country, he will be able to tackle the challenges facing the country. Speaking at St Mark Anglican Church, Kyebi to end his three-day Eastern Regional tour, on Sunday, October 23, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said: I know the challenges Ghanaians are facing, I appeal to you to have faith in me to solve the challenges, this too shall pass. Ghanaians are currently facing economic challenges just as other countries are also doing. The Cedi has recently been classified by Bloomberg as the worst-performing currency against the US Dollar. Currently, the Cedi is trading at above GH14 to a dollar at some forex bureaus. The depreciation rate is a contributory factor for the ongoing shop closures ordered by the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA). According to the group, the fast depreciation of the Cedi is eroding their profits and also increasing the cost of doing business. 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 Dr John Kwakye, Director of Research, Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), has reaffirmed the assertion of US-based economist and Professor at Johns Hopkins University, Steve Hanke, that only a currency board can stabilize the Ghana cedi. According to him, a currency board-type monetary system can give the cedi lasting stability. Dr Kwakye, however, warned that the managers of the economy in installing the currency board must be done progressively. I agree with Prof. Hanke that only a currency board-type monetary system can give the cedi lasting stability. We should, however, move progressively towards it. The full modalities can be worked out, Dr John Kwakye said in a 3news report. Prof Steve Hanke, a US-based economist, has consistently called for installing of a currency board if the managers of the Ghanaian economy want the Ghana cedi, which has depreciated against the US dollar to stabilise. He noted in his October 20 tweet that the cedi has depreciated by 43.98% against the US dollar since January 2022 to be placed 4th on his weekly Hanke's currency watchlist. He said, for the cedi to gain its strength and appreciate against the US dollar, the President together with the managers of the Ghanaian economy must install a currency board. "The Ghanaian cedi has depreciated against the USD by 43.98% since Jan 2022, which is why #Ghana takes the 4th place in this week Hankes #CurrencyWatchlist. To save the cedi, GHA must install a #CurrencyBoard, NOW," Prof. Steve Hanke's tweeted. The Cedi has recently been classified by Bloomberg as the worst-performing currency against the US Dollar. Currently, the Cedi is trading at above GH14 to a dollar at some forex bureaus. The depreciation rate is a contributory factor for the ongoing shop closures ordered by the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA). According to the group, the fast depreciation of the Cedi is eroding their profits and also increasing the cost of doing business. 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 During periodic security assessments of the Upper East and Upper West Regions, Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister for National Security, on Friday 21st October, 2022, donated motorbikes and pick-ups to State Security and Intelligence agencies in the Upper West and Upper East Regions as part of efforts to enhance security operations in the area, particularly along the countrys northern frontier. Specifically, the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Police Service and Ghana Armed Forces in the Upper West Region received a pick-up each, along with 10, 20, and 15 motorcycles along with crash helmets; with a similar donation made in the Upper East region, where in addition to the aforesaid agencies, the National Intelligence Bureau received 2 pickups and 5 motorbikes. Presenting the motorcycles to the various agencies, Hon Kan-Dapaah encouraged personnel of the various State security and intelligence agencies within the regions to remain on high and continue to prioritise the peace, security and stability of Ghana; adding that the Ministry of National Security remained committed to supporting the work of all actors within the countrys security architecture. The recent donation forms part of ongoing efforts by government to retool the security services of the country to respond adequately to the growing threat of terrorism from the sub-region. It would be recalled that the Ministry of National security in May this year, as part of its counter-terrorism strategies, launched the citizen awareness campaign dubbed See Something Say Something to enhance the security consciousness of citizens and promote the participation of the populace in ongoing efforts to preserve the peace and security of Ghana. 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 Adnan Syed had his murder conviction overturned and is released after prosecutors raised doubts about his guilty finding because of the revelation of alternative suspects in the homicide and unreliable evidence used against him at trial. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun) With the murder charges against him dropped, Adnan Syed may pursue a declaration of innocence that carries a potential $2.2 million payout from the state of Maryland. Three weeks after a Baltimore judge overturned Syeds conviction in the 1999 killing of former high school girlfriend Hae Min Lee, Baltimore States Attorney Marilyn Mosby suddenly announced Oct. 11 that her office had dropped all charges because of newly tested DNA evidence. Advertisement Mosby said the next step is for Syeds attorney to seek to have his innocence certified by an administrative law judge. If thats approved, he would be eligible for significant financial, educational and health care benefits in compensation for being incarcerated for 23 years. Syed, 41, has always maintained his innocence. As attempts to appeal his 2000 murder conviction failed, questions about the evidence against him rose as a result of the Serial podcast. Then, the prosecution and the defense told the Baltimore Circuit Court this fall that prosecutors decades ago failed to inform the defense of evidence about two alternative suspects. Mosby followed up by saying DNA testing of Lees shoes, which were not previously examined for genetic material, found the DNA of four people none of them Syed. Advertisement People whove been exonerated in Maryland said whatever the state might pay Syed couldnt be nearly enough. Kirk Bloodsworth, who served over eight years in prison and was on death row for the killing of 9-year-old Dawn Hamilton, which he didnt commit, said the money is a drop in the bucket compared with what is lost. I wish him the best. They really messed that mans life up and they owe him everything, said Bloodsworth, who has been awarded more than $700,000 from the state. They should take care of him for the rest of his life. Shawn Armbrust, executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, said the financial landscape for wrongfully convicted prisoners is pretty bleak upon release, so compensation is important. Most of them are coming out after multiple decades. So theyre coming out typically at middle age, sometimes a little past middle age, Armbrust said. Our clients are coming out mostly to nothing, and they have to do, you know, starting at a much older age, what most of us were able to start doing in our 20s. The group works to prevent and reverse the conviction of innocent people in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia, according to its website. Armbrust said of the 38 fully exonerated individuals associated with the organization, including 13 in Maryland, 27 received some form of compensation, with one petition pending. Most of them were compensated in 2010 or later. The federal government, 38 states and the District of Columbia have compensation statutes, although payouts vary, according to the Innocence Project, a national nonprofit that works to free innocent people and prevent wrongful convictions. In Maryland, new compensation standards went into effect last year under the Walter Lomax Act. Five exonerees have received compensation since, including four who got payments to supplement awards doled out before the new law. Bloodsworth, 61, was one of those. He was convicted in 1985. DNA evidence cleared him, and he was pardoned in 1993. The next year, the state awarded Bloodsworth a lump sum of $300,000, according to a chart prepared by the Maryland Board of Public Works. Last year, he was awarded an additional $420,000, to be paid out over one fiscal year. Advertisement A wrongfully convicted individual can become eligible for compensation via two paths: through a pardon from the governor or by proving their innocence by presenting clear and convincing evidence to a state administrative law judge through the Office of Administrative Hearings. In the latter process, a former defendant must show they were convicted and imprisoned for a felony; the conviction was reversed or vacated and the charges dismissed (or they were acquitted in a retrial); and they didnt commit the crime, said Emily Witty, a spokesperson for Mosbys office. If the administrative law judge finds an individual to be innocent and entitled to compensation, the Board of Public Works must approve a payment plan. The person is entitled to an initial payment equal to the states annual median household income, currently $94,384, which the state must pay within 60 days of receiving the judges order. The board has discretion as to how it will pay the remaining amount due, but must do so within six fiscal years. Syeds attorney, Erica Suter, declined through a spokesperson for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender to comment for this article. At a news conference the day Syeds charges were dropped, Suter said shed begin the certification process as soon as possible. Both the local prosecutors office and the Maryland Attorney Generals Office are parties to such proceedings in the Office of Administrative Hearings and can appeal an administrative law judges decision to declare a former inmate eligible or ineligible for compensation. Asked about Syeds eligibility for compensation, Mosby has said her office would work with Suters to ensure that that process is done. Advertisement Attorney General Brian Froshs office, which represented the state during Syeds appeals, has disputed that evidence was ever withheld from defense attorneys. Asked whether it would object if Syed pursued compensation, spokesperson Raquel Coombs declined to comment. Under the Lomax Act, those whove been incarcerated for crimes they didnt commit are entitled to compensation determined by a formula that uses the statewide median household income and number of days they were in prison. If declared innocent, Syed would receive roughly $2.2 million. Other forms of compensation include up to five years of education and housing, job training and at least five years of health care, as well as reimbursement for anything a former defendant has paid in court fines, fees and restitution. Attorney Neel Lalchandani of Brown Goldstein & Levy has represented clients who sought compensation, including Bloodsworth. He said that in his experience, when someone wins a fight for financial compensation, they also receive the full slate of benefits. All the cases hes dealt with so far have been resolved in under a year. The law governing compensation for victims of wrongful conviction is named after Lomax, who spent nearly 40 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted in a 1967 killing. Lomax, 74, was released from prison in 2006 and exonerated in 2014. In 2019, he was awarded over $3 million. It remains the largest such payout by the state, according to the chart compiled by the Board of Public Works. Advertisement Before the Lomax Act, any payments were at the discretion of the three-member public works board, which consists of the governor, state comptroller and state treasurer. It was extremely arduous, to say the least, Lomax said. It took me eight years to really clear my name and then five more just to be compensated for it. Lomax fought to get the new legislation passed and signed by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan to standardize payouts. He, Bloodsworth and Armbrust agree the new system works much better than the previous iteration. What was at issue for me is that they had really taken me through as much as they did, just to even consider awarding me, Lomax said. Ive been very fortunate, extremely fortunate. And the relief that I felt was that because I understood what that experience was like and knew what I had to go through, just in order to get to that point, is that no one else would have to have that experience. Armbrust said people often use their compensation to build a life after prison. For the most part, exonerees are using this money to buy homes to, you know, take care of family, to pay for education, Armbrust said. People are really using this to provide for basic necessities. And there are going to be people who spend money on things others would consider frivolous. But frankly, like if somebody spent 35 years in prison, who am I to judge if they want a nice car? Advertisement Only very recent developments have introduced the possibility that Syed could become eligible for any such compensation. Last fall, Suter asked prosecutors in Mosbys office to review the case under Marylands new Juvenile Restoration Act. It allows people accused of crimes as children and teens to appeal their sentences after serving 20 years because research now shows human brains are still developing during the teenage years. Syed was 17 when he was arrested. Syed seemed like a candidate for release under the law. But had he been freed that way, he would still have had the conviction on his record, meaning he wouldnt be eligible for exoneration or compensation. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. > However, members of a sentencing review unit in the prosecutors office said they made several discoveries including the alternative suspects, disclosure issues and unreliable evidence that raised questions about Syeds conviction. Further review led to a joint motion by prosecutors and the defense to vacate his conviction. Mosbys office later officially dropped the charges. Attorney Steve Kelly, who represents Lees mother and brother, said theyre in shock about the recent developments, which unfolded rapidly despite their efforts to intervene. They appealed the decision to overturn Syeds conviction, arguing they didnt get proper notice about a hearing and couldnt testify in person. A judge ruled Oct. 12 that the Lee family has 15 days to explain why its appeal should continue. Advertisement As for the possibility that Syed could receive compensation, Kelly said Lees family hasnt even had time to process the circumstances of his release. It hasnt come up. Its not even on their radar at this point, Kelly said. Bloodsworth and Lomax said no amount of money could soothe the pain of spending years behind bars for crimes they didnt commit. They should give him every dime they can and help him throughout his life and beg for forgiveness for what theyve done to him, Bloodsworth said. Hes got to put it all together and try to, somehow, pull 23 years out of his soul and get on with his life. And let me tell you, thats no easy task. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has designated the fourth Saturday in October as Creation Sabbath. Saturday, October 22, 2022 was marked as the Creation Sabbath, a special time to remember and affirm the belief that the world and everything in it belong to God and that God expects human beings, placed on earth as rulers, to exercise benevolent, and selfless stewardship of the earth. In a press statement, the church said, "As we mark this day, therefore, the Adventist Church in Ghana condemns in no uncertain terms the blatant disregard, abuse and over-exploitation of our natural resources in the name of small scale mining (Galamsey)." "We support the recent call by religious leaders for a ban on small-scale mining (Galamsey), and demand that the perpetrators of this crime work to reclaim the lands, water bodies and forest reserves that have been destroyed by their activities. We are also of the firm belief that there are laws in this country, and until they are enforced it will be difficult for perpetrators to stop this destructive act." Source: graphic.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 In September, 2021, the last bits of the over-a-century-old Kumasi Central Market were pulled down to enable work to start on the redevelopment of the market. The redevelopment of the old Kejetia Transport Terminal and the Central Market, into a modern market complex and transport terminal with other ancillary facilities, is one of the biggest projects to happen in the city of Kumasi. It is expected to breathe fresh life into the business environment of Kumasi, and also give an aesthetic appeal to the centre of the city. According to the consultants, 99 per cent of project designs (Engineering), 63 per cent of procurement, and 27 per cent of the physical construction works had been completed within a period of over 32 months. The main structure of the market is pre-engineered steel structure with sophisticated fixtures including a gas plant, sewage treatment plant, fire fighting and safety installation, substation and generators, and CCTV among others. Concerns The huge facility and sophisticated equipment would require the appointment of competent operators to manage. However, there have been concerns about the management of the project which pose a threat to reaping the desired benefits from the facility. During a visit by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the site of the Phase Two in Kumasi last Monday, the Project Architect, Sampson Awuah, urged the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to ensure that the project, when completed, was properly managed. His call was premised on the deterioration recorded in parts of the Phase One, which is already completed and is now in use. First phase The government, represented by the KMA, and under the supervision of the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, is undertaking the multi-million dollar project. The project is designed to minimise the impact of the construction on the trading activities in the Central Business District (CBD) of the Kumasi Metropolis. It was also to reduce the government's financial burden and cost of borrowing and thirdly to utilise the revenues that would be realised from earlier phases to support the funding of subsequent phases of the project. Construction works for the Phase One, which began in July 2015, comprised the redevelopment of the Old Kejetia Transport Terminal into a market complex. It was handed over to the KMA in December, 2018. Second phase Following the completion of the first phase of the project, the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, on December 19, 2018, signed a contract with Messrs Contracta Construction UK Ltd for the second phase of the project, comprising the redevelopment and modernisation of the Kumasi Central Market and its associated infrastructure (Phase Two), for an amount of 248,000,000 for a period of 48 months. The Phase Two, which is a continuation of Phase One, is to improve on selected infrastructure in the Central Business District of Kumasi as well as to redevelop, modernise and expand the commercial and social/community facilities of the central market enclave. It is also to provide facilities which are necessary and complementary for the effective and efficient functioning of the completed first phase of the project. Project consultants Messrs Avangarde Design Services, an Accra-baaed firm, is providing holistic all-in project management and supervisory consultancy services for Phase Two of the project. Per their mandate, the project management consultants are to ensure that the contractor is effectively and efficiently managed during the contract period to ensure that the employer achieves value for money. Scope of works Phase Two covers a total construction area of 172,197m2 and consists of several components, including the external and internal infrastructure, remodelling of the adjacent road system, organisation and increase in the parking area and construction of a new traditional market area. The main structure of the building is pre-manufactured steel structure and beams. The central opening provides ventilation and light to the interior. Multiple skylights will also provide natural illumination. The market building is a four-level structure with 10,528 commercial spaces and ancillary facilities. The ground floor comprises mostly parking spaces reserved for transport activities. It will have mostly counter shops exclusively reserved for traditional market trading activities, while the second and third floors are mostly anchor shops. When completed, the 10,528 commercial spaces will consist of 6,650 lockable shops, 3,760 counter shops, 118 food shops, 280-seater public washrooms, 600 parking spaces for transport activities, community facilities, technical areas, road networks and operational areas. Timelines The contract period for implementation of the works, according to the project document, is 48 months. Official commencement date for the Phase Two was set at February, 14, 2020 and therefore, the project is expected to be completed on February, 13, 2024 subject to approved extension of time. Implementation The consultants, therefore, see a potential risk of operationalisation because of experiences coming from the management of the first phase. Consequently, the consultants want the KMA to ensure the validation of shop owners before allocation. They also want the appointment of a competent operation and maintenance team, rental values and determination of how much traders will pay and selection of service providers. 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 Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has taken a swipe at critics of the governments planned construction of 111 hospitals in various parts of the country. Speaking on a Kumasi-based Angel FMs Morning Show last Tuesday with the host Kwame Tank (KT), Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu gave reasons why governments decision to undertake such capital-intensive projects must be applauded rather than criticized as being witnessed within a section of the intellectual community. The Majority Leader gave an instance where, but for Agenda 111 being constructed by the current administration, a nearly 300km stretch between Suame Roundabout in Ashanti Region and Wa in the Upper West Region (a major trunk road linking Ghana to other West African neighbors) would have only one health facility at Bole.such vast of geographical space. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said Yes there are hospitals, SDA Hospital at Bremang, St Patricks at Ofinso-Maase, the Holy Family in Techiman, and Wenchi Hospital at Wenchi, all these belong to, or are run by, faith-based organizations such as the Catholic Church, the SDA Church, the Methodist Church and the rest, but not by government". He continued when I say hospitals, I am not referring to clinics and/or Chips Compounds. I refer to a district hospital in the likes of the Agenda 111 projects which, when completed, would enhance equitable healthcare delivery amongst the suffering masses in our rural communities. And help bridge the ever-widening gap between rural/urban dwellers in such an important segment of our national socio-economic planning The Majority Leader alluded to a long-held belief that a good mind stays in a healthy body and concluded that whilst the current administration takes steps to rebuild the countrys knowledge bank through pragmatic national policies such as free and unrestricted access to basic and secondary education, it is equally important that government is indeed brought to the doorsteps of the ordinary Ghanaian. He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to rally behind the NPP administration to take us through these trying moments. He said the NPP remains the best alternative to lead in the restoration of the much needed confidence in our 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 Financial Analyst at Dalex Finance, Joe Jackson, is optimistic the local currency - Cedi - will soon stabilize and trade among major trading currencies, especially the US dollar. According to him, dollars will soon not be on the market due to the unwillingness of Ghanaians to purchase the currency at a high price. Speaking on TV3's Ghana Tonight programme, Joe Jackson noted that government, on the other hand, will soon announce its domestic restricting policy to salvage the current economic hardship fraught Ghanaians. It is a tough time but I expect that the rate will slow down. The rate will slow down because at this moment, it is very hard to find dollars to buy and most of the people we have, are giving up on buying dollars and are slowing," he said. Very soon there will be no dollars in the market and we are going to see some stabilization because the government will announce domestic debt restructuring package, Joe Jackson added. Bloomberg on Thursday, October 20, 2022, reported that Ghanas local currency the cedi - has depreciated in value by 9.6%. This, the news portal said, makes the total loss of the cedi in 2022 almost 52%, the highest recorded in 22 years. The free fall of the cedi now places the currency at the 148 position of worst-performing currencies in the world. Meanwhile, Ghana is targeting an amount of $3 billion over a three-year period from the IMF once an agreement on a programme is reached. The new amount requested as a loan is double the governments initial target of $1.5 billion. The IMF programme is aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability and safeguarding debt sustainability among many others. 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. Head of Economics at the University of Ghana, Professor William Baah Boateng, has raised concerns about the economic waste under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo resulting in the hardships Ghanaians are currently facing. Speaking in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Professor Baah Boateng underscored the need for the President to cut down the size of his appointees as well as check the redundancy in State enterprises. He noted that there are many staffers at the Presidency whose duties are a duplication of the work given to his appointees, yet the staffers receive huge salaries. "We always talk about the number of Ministers; 110 and so forth. I admit it is a big number but it is not limited to the Ministers alone. Do you know we have Presidential Staffers Act? The staffers in Jubilee House are equivalent to a lot of the Ministers, are you aware of that? So, if we have presidential staffers numbering about 100 and 110 Ministers, some of the presidential staffers' equivalent is Deputy Ministers. Some of their equivalent is Ministers and others are Cabinet Ministers. They collect the same remuneration that we say it's too big for the Ministers," he said. He also stated that the output of a lot of the people working in State enterprises doesn't match the number of the workforce, thus placing a huge burden on the government. The Senior Lecturer further decried the politics where successive governments abandon infrastructure projects started by their predecessors stressing it makes the nation run into debts. He argued that because government neglects the projects, it is compelled to borrow to defray the debts. "It puts pressure on your cedi and these are the things that give us problems," he stated. He advised the President to check the excesses in his government. 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 Award-winning Ghanaian actor, Kwadwo Nkansah LilWin, has been heavily bashed by a section of social media users following recent reports that he has married another woman. Most of the netizens who decided to verbally attack LilWin could not understand why the actor cum musician would leave the woman he reportedly struggled with when he had nothing for another lady after he became rich and prominent. Well, after a long period of silence, LilWin has finally spoken and addressed these issues. In a chat with blogger/vlogger, Zionfelix, he stated that marriage is not a do or die affair, stressing any of the partners can leave at any point in time when he/she feels the marriage is not working anymore. Lilwin also used the analogy of a road journey to explain why his marriage with his ex-wife, Patricia Afriyie could not last forever. According to him, a lot of the time when a car sets out for a journey, it is not every time it will get to its destination which is similar to most marriages. Its not by force to stay in marriage till the end. Just as you impregnated two women at the same time, its not your wish but things happen. You cant force it, its a journey. "For instance, its not all cars that travel from Accra to Kumasi that arrive safely. Some either get burnt, collide and are damaged on the way. Thats how life is. You start with someone and the person gives up at a point. You cannot force that person to continue. A lot of wealthier men have even left their wives, he stated. Source: zionfelix 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 Hilarious Ghanaian comedian Richmond Amoakoah, widely recognized as Lawyer Nti in the show business, has bemoaned the presidents shortcomings. Many Ghanaians have criticized the president on their social media accounts and expressed their disgust in his governance. Lawyer Nti has sent a lengthy message to the president on his Facebook page, expressing his dissatisfaction with him. His post reads; Open letter to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Dear President Akufo Addo, I trust you are doing well. I write to you today as someone who followed you keenly on your journey to become a President. I believed in you so much and voted happily for you every single time you contested for the seat of the Presidency. Unfortunately, like many Ghanaians today, I am filled with broken heart, disappointment, anger and sadness as I write you this letter. Sir, you said many things on your way to becoming the President and sadly the reality of today is worse than the situations you passionately spoke against. Your recent responses to the plight of Ghanaians on your tours have been very disappointing and insulting to say the least. We are the very same people you begged to give you a chance to redeem the image and dire economic times of the past. The current situation of the country when measured against your own words, and that of Dr Bawumia, on your way to the Presidency is laughable. When you had to sit and change the things for which we voted for you, you were busy blaming President Mahama for years. After exhausting the Mahama card, you went to Covid and then straight to Russia Ukraine war. Mr President, reasonable Ghanaians are not oblivious of these factors and its impact on Ghana and the rest of the world but we should be doing way better than we are doing today. I am saying this because the man Candidate Akufo-Addo as President was touted as someone who could turn around our fortunes as a people. However, I must say many Ghanaians including me do not believe you can look in the mirror and say you have done your very best for the country. I do not believe you are happy about your numerous promises to the Ghanaian people especially the youth against your performance as a President. Mr. President, you have failed the youth and the swan-song is Nana Addo ama yn sa asi fm. The booing you have been receiving on your recent tours is actually how people feel about you. Do not let your handlers deceive you that NDC is behind that because they are not. When Journalists call you out, do not let your handlers tell you such journalists have been paid by some people to discredit you. Sir, please do not let the few people that your party executives and appointees organize to flood places to meet you on your tour with cheers deceive you. Mr. President, those are merely party fanatics who do not represent genuinely how many Ghanaians feel about the current economic crisis Ghana faces. A lot of Ghanaians I have encountered both on my travels across Ghana and on social media are not happy. Mr. President, you know deep down that you could have done better. You know deep down that we shouldnt be where we are today. You know that you could have done better in your fight against corruption and Galamsey. Sir, you know you could have protected the public purse better and could have acted in the best interest of Ghana, not a few party people and financiers, and damned the consequences because that is the kind of person we thought you were. A lot of people including me were wrong about the disciplined and no nonsense Akufo-Addo we were told about. Mr. President, I am convinced you being defensive and pushing the I dont care posture is your way of dealing with how you feel deep down about your performance as President. You dont seem to care because you know you have failed the many youth you told to Believe In Ghana. It is unacceptable but we can understand because you wont be on the ballot again after this term. However, Mr. President, please do better and salvage the situation. You cannot go out like this after all the fight you have fought to get to where you are today. May God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong. Citizen Richmond Amoakoh aka Lawyer Ntikateche Bombay Isaiah. Source: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah/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 When Filipinos think about traditional clothing, the thought always goes back to the usual Filipiniana that everyone is familiar withbarong tagalog for men; camisa, saya and panuelo for women. This is largely due to the country being colonized for 333 years by Spain. Although these represent national culture, they only symbolize a certain point in Filipino history. Today, there is renewed interest in the countrys pre-colonial history, with more brands wanting to showcase indigenous culture. This is exactly what Balik Batik aims to do. Balik Batik is a social enterprise that promotes Filipino traditional weaving, embroidery and artistry. Each apparel that it sells is unique. It is an intricate art form celebrating some of the countrys indigenous culture and heritage. Unlike the traditional Filipiniana that is usually worn during special and formal events, Balik Batiks pieces can be worn casually and regularly. Veronica Baguio, owner and founder of Balik Batik, shared that her inspiration in creating this business started in 2016 when she learned about Filipino handwoven fabrics. Balik Batik sells and features textiles from different regions in the country. In Luzon, they work with the Itneg, Igorot, Kalinga ethnic groups and collaborate with Pinilian Abel de Yloco weavers. In the Visayas, they have the hablon weavers both in Cebu and Iloilo, and Panay Bukidnon women. In Mindanao, they work with the Tboli, Yakan, Tausug, Maranao, Iranun, Ata Langilan Manobo, among others. I was always interested in having my own clothes with indigenous fabrics, said Veronica. This interest took her far as she was on a business trip in Davao and took a day off scouring for Filipino designs that she could wear to the office. She shared: I found some batik blazers and other indigenous made blazers, and posted about them, she said offering to pasa-buy some for my friends in Cebu. Surprisingly, the post gained traction and many people responded, and most of them are people I didnt know. It was then that I realized that a lot of people are like me in that we want to wear Filipino designs more casually and regularly. It was then that I had the idea to start Balik Batik, said Veronica. Through Balik Batik, Baguio was able to help indigenous groups from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao by supporting their livelihood as well as their rights and highlighting the issues that they are currently facing. In light of preserving the nations indigenous culture, Veronica has made it her advocacy not only in assisting them in their livelihood but bringing awareness to the issues the IPs (Indigenous People) are going through. Veronica shared that the business advocacy didnt happen in a snap. She worked closely with the various indigenous groups and has become more aware of their plights especially during the pandemic when their livelihood was greatly affected. They have their own voices, and our role can be to amplify their voices when they speak out for their rights. I do hope more Filipinos will help our indigenous groups, and that there will be less issues about helping them. Veronica hopes that more Filipinos will be aware of the stories and history behind the pieces that they sell. We want young Filipinos to grow up knowing about our indigenous groups, their fabrics and designs, and so that the new generation will be more appreciative of what is truly Filipino. Our pieces are also unique because we want to highlight diversity. There are more than 100 indigenous groups in the Philippines, and it would be amazing if more Filipinos are aware and support their work. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Researchers have discovered a potential new method for making the high-performance magnets used in wind turbines and electric cars without the need for rare earth elements, which are almost exclusively sourced in China. A team from the University of Cambridge, working with colleagues from Austria, found a new way to make a possible replacement for rare-earth magnets: tetrataenite, a "cosmic magnet" that takes millions of years to develop naturally in meteorites. Previous attempts to make tetrataenite in the laboratory have relied on impractical, extreme methods. But the addition of a common elementphosphoruscould mean that it's possible to make tetrataenite artificially and at scale, without any specialized treatment or expensive techniques. The results are reported in the journal Advanced Science. A patent application on the technology has been filed by Cambridge Enterprise, the University's commercialization arm, and the Austrian Academy of Sciences. High-performance magnets are a vital technology for building a zero-carbon economy, and the best permanent magnets currently available contain rare earth elements. Despite their name, rare earths are plentiful in Earth's crust. However, China has a near monopoly on global production: in 2017, 81% of rare earths worldwide were sourced from China. Other countries, such as Australia, also mine these elements, but as geopolitical tensions with China increase, there are concerns that rare earth supply could be at risk. "Rare earth deposits exist elsewhere, but the mining operations are highly disruptive: you have to extract a huge amount of material to get a small volume of rare earths," said Professor Lindsay Greer from Cambridge's Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, who led the research. "Between the environmental impacts, and the heavy reliance on China, there's been an urgent search for alternative materials that do not require rare earths." Tetrataenite, an iron-nickel alloy with a particular ordered atomic structure, is one of the most promising of those alternatives. Tetrataenite forms over millions of years as a meteorite slowly cools, giving the iron and nickel atoms enough time to order themselves into a particular stacking sequence within the crystalline structure, ultimately resulting in a material with magnetic properties approaching those of rare-earth magnets. In the 1960s, scientists were able to artificially form tetrataenite by bombarding iron-nickel alloys with neutrons, enabling the atoms to form the desired ordered stacking, but this technique is not suitable for mass production. "Since then, scientists have been fascinated with getting that ordered structure, but it's always felt like something that was very far away," said Greer. Despite many attempts over the years, it has not yet been possible to make tetrataenite on anything approaching an industrial scale. Now, Greer and his colleagues from the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Montanuniversitat in Leoben, have found a possible alternative that doesn't require millions of years of cooling or neutron irradiation. The team were studying the mechanical properties of iron-nickel alloys containing small amounts of phosphorus, an element that is also present in meteorites. The pattern of phases inside these materials showed the expected tree-like growth structure called dendrites. "For most people, it would have ended there: nothing interesting to see in the dendrites, but when I looked closer, I saw an interesting diffraction pattern indicating an ordered atomic structure," said first author Dr. Yurii Ivanov, who completed the work while at Cambridge and is now based at the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa. At first glance, the diffraction pattern of tetrataenite looks like that of the structure expected for iron-nickel alloys, namely a disordered crystal not of interest as a high-performance magnet. It took Ivanov's closer look to identify the tetrataenite, but even so Greer says it's strange that no one noticed it before. The researchers say that phosphorus, which is present in meteorites, allows the iron and nickel atoms to move faster, enabling them to form the necessary ordered stacking without waiting for millions of years. By mixing iron, nickel and phosphorus in the right quantities, they were able to speed up tetrataenite formation by between 11 and 15 orders of magnitude, such that it forms over a few seconds in simple casting. "What was so astonishing was that no special treatment was needed: we just melted the alloy, poured it into a mold, and we had tetrataenite," said Greer. "The previous view in the field was that you couldn't get tetrataenite unless you did something extreme, because otherwise you'd have to wait millions of years for it to form. This result represents a total change in how we think about this material." While the researchers have found a promising method to produce tetrataenite, more work is needed to determine whether it will be suitable for high-performance magnets. The team are hoping to work on this with major magnet manufacturers. The work may also force a revision of views on whether the formation of tetrataenite in meteorites really does take millions of years. More information: Direct formation of hard-magnetic tetrataenite in bulk alloy castings, Advanced Science (2022). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202204315 Journal information: Advanced Science Women wait their turn as their hair is dried in sit-down blowers at a salon in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago in 2005. (Alex Garcia / Chicago Tribune) The popular practice women use to straighten their hair with chemicals could increase their odds of getting uterine cancer, according to a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. I knew it. Advertisement According to the research, among a group of women who did not use hair-straightening chemical products in the past 12 months, 1.6% developed uterine cancer by the age of 70. Meanwhile, about 4% of the women who frequently used chemical straightening products developed uterine cancer by age 70. Researchers found using permanent hair dyes and chemical straighteners could heighten risks for ovarian and breast cancers, USA Today reported. Advertisement More than 34,000 women, ages 35-74, participated in nearly 11 years of research at the National Institutes of Health. Women who reported using hair-straightening products permanent processes like chemical relaxers, for example more than four times in a year were more likely to get uterine cancer at some point than a person who didnt use those products, according to the study, USA Today reported. Hair products are a potential source of exposure to chemicals, including both endocrine disrupters that impact our normal hormonal system as well as potential carcinogens, a lead researcher Alexandra White, was quoted as saying. Black women are more likely to feel the impact. About 60% of the study participants who said they used straightening products in the past year were Black women. Its not that the chemicals are necessarily conferring a higher risk in Black women, its just that we know Black women are much more likely to be using these products, using them more frequently and to start at an earlier age, White said. Now, we know. Those hair straightening products are not just painful and unnatural. They may be killing us. Researchers suspect that certain chemicals in the hair straightening products, such as formaldehyde and parabens, may interfere with our hormones. Patrice Weatherly Jackson knows. Hair straighteners are caustic. We know this to be true in our profession, Jackson, my hair stylist, told me last week. Hydroxide is the leading chemical in all straightening products. The degree is accompanied by sodium, calcium or lithium all which alone are known to cause cancer. Also, the product is ingested into the scalp which means that the blood stream is affected, said Jackson, a cosmetologist who is African American. Advertisement I am fearful for my sisters. These chemicals are the dangerous consequence of the pressure we endure to go and stay straight, by applying harsh, unnatural chemicals to our scalps. We know the Caucasian-dominated society values long, bone-straight, gleaming hair. That is not our hair. Black hair hails from deepest Africa. Our follicles are kinked. Knotty. Nappy. And beautiful. Yet, many of us have been brainwashed to believe Black hair is bad hair. We are pressured to conform to Americas demand for whiteness. There is a long history of employment discrimination against Black women who wear natural hairstyles. To be beautiful, accepted, to get ahead, to get a job and keep it, the straighter the better. So, to conform, we resort to wigs, expensive weaves, and yes, we even burn our hair. As a child, the straightening comb was my painful enemy. Mama placed the iron comb on the stoves fiery flame, then pulled it through my hair. I cried, before, during and after I got my hair done. The hair products industry brought us salvation, or so we thought, with the relaxer, a silly label for the chemicals that fry our naps into submission. Advertisement There is nothing relaxing about it. The products are smelly, laden with lye and other mysterious chemicals. If the stuff is left on your scalp too long, it sears your skin. We know those chemicals had to be bad for us, yet we endure the corrosive and painful treatments. Because we are told our naps are unruly, ugly and undesirable. This new study is a long-awaited wake-up call. Hair straightening chemicals are a self-imposed plague we cannot afford. Black women already face so many medical perils. In a 2021 analysis of COVID-19 deaths in Georgia and Michigan, researchers found that Black women died at more than three times the rates of white men and Asian men. The only other group to die at a higher rate from the disease was Black men, showed the study from Harvard Universitys T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Compared to white women, we suffer from higher rates of some cancers, heart disease, high blood pressure, maternal morbidities, and obesity, shows data from a 2021 report by the Journal of Womens Health. Yet we submit to dangerous chemical hair treatments so that we can look more like white women. As they noted a disproportionate rate of fibroids in the Black community, Black stylists began to believe that there was a connection, Jackson said. So, we began to push natural hair styles and products to back away from the chemical use. I went natural decades ago. I wear my nappy locs proudly. In recent years, more Black women are embracing their natural beauty. Locs, braids, twists and Afros are in, and we look marvelous in them. This news should give Black women a No. 1 incentive to go natural and ditch the chemicals. The incentive to live. Laura Washington is a political commentator and longtime Chicago journalist. Her columns appear in the Tribune each Monday. Write to her at LauraLauraWashington@gmail.com. Advertisement Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Optical microcavity as a pulsating neuron (visualization: Mateusz Krol, source: Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw). Credit: Mateusz Krol, source: Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw) Scientists from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw and the Polish Academy of Sciences used photons to create a spiking neuron, the basic element of the future photonic neural network processor. The results of their work are published in the latest Laser and Photonics Review. Neuromorphic devices (systems that imitate the behavior of the biological brain) are the future of artificial intelligence, as they allow for much faster and more effective information processing. Mammalian brains are one of the most complex and efficient systems in the world. In the 1990s, neurobiologists showed that a single area of the macaque cortex was able to analyze and classify visual patterns in just 30 milliseconds, although each of the neurons involved in this process sends fewer than three messages in the form of electrical pulses. This is made possible by a large number of synapsesthe connections between neuronsin the macaque brain's neural network. The human brain is a piece of even more powerful machinery. It is made up of 100 billion neurons, each of which creates an average of several thousand connections with other nerve cells. This creates a neural network of approximately 100 trillion connections, thanks to which our brain is capable of recognizing, reasoning, and controlling motion at the same timeit performs trillions of operations per second, using only 20-25 watts of power. By comparison, conventional processors use ten times as much power to recognize just a thousand different types of objects. This stunning difference and the brain's exceptional performance are due to, among other things, the biochemistry of neurons, the architecture of neural connections, and the biophysics of neural computational algorithms. Society's appetite for information is constantly growing, so we need to process this information faster and more comprehensively. Conventional computing systems may not meet the growing demand for more computing power while increasing energy efficiency. The solution to the problem may be neuromorphic devices that mimic the actions of the biological brain. They are the future of artificial intelligence, as they allow for much faster and more effective processing of information in tasks such as image recognition. Scientists from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw and the Polish Academy of Sciences proposed the use of photons in a way that allows the creation of spiking neural networks. Krzysztof Tyszka from the Faculty of Physics of the University of Warsaw, who is the first author of the work, emphasizes that photonic systems ensure communication at the speed of light, low losses, and low energy consumption. "The advantage of photons is that their propagation takes place practically without energy loss. Unfortunately, because they interact in a relatively weak way, it is difficult to use them to perform computational operations in a manner analogous to electronic systems," says the scientist. "In our research, we propose a solution in which photons strongly interact with particles of very low mass, called excitons," explains Barbara Pietka from the Polariton Laboratory at the Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw. "This strong interaction is possible when the photons and excitons are trapped together in the so-called optical microcavities, which forces repetitive energy exchange between them. This kind of synergy generated in the microcavity between a photon and an exciton is so persistent that physicists call it a quasi-particle and refer to it as excision-polariton (or polariton for short)." Polaritons have unique properties, especially under the right conditions they can show a phase transition into a Bose-Einstein condensate. In a such state, the previously independent multiple polaritons become indistinguishable. "Based on our last experiment, we were the first to notice that when polaritons are excited by laser pulses, they emit light pulses in a way that mimics the spiking of biological neurons," explains Magdalena Furman, Ph.D. student involved in research at the Polariton Laboratory at the Faculty of Physics of the University of Warsaw, This effect is directly related to the Bose-Einstein condensation phenomenon, which either inhibits or enhances the emission of pulses. Andrzej Opala from the Institute of Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, who together with Michal Matuszewski developed the theoretical foundations combining research on polaritons with the LIF model of a neuron (Leaky Integrate-and-Fire model), adds that now the group is working on solving the problem of scalability, i.e. connecting many neurons into a network. "We propose to use a new computational paradigm based on coding information with pulses that trigger a signal only when it arrives at the neuron successively, at the right time," the researcher explains. Currently, neural networks use layers of interconnected neurons that trigger impulses based on the importance assigned to each connection (in the mathematical description we refer to "weights"). In contrast to this type of solution, in the optical neural network described in Laser and Photonics Review, the neurons are triggered (i.e. become active) in response to a train of pulses, which may have different intensity and different time intervals. As with biological neurons that are excited by electrical pulses, there is a certain threshold above which this train of pulses reaching the neuron triggers a signal that will be passed on. Polaritons make it possible to imitate a biological system, because only stimulation with the appropriate number of photons, above a certain threshold, leads to the formation of Bose-Einstein condensate, and then emission of a short, picoseconds scale flash which is a signal for the next neuron. Importantly, the sample, which was used by scientists to trap photons and observe exciton polaritons condensate, was synthesized on-site at the Faculty of Physics of the University of Warsaw, in the group of Wojciech Pacuski. Scientists arranged the atoms of different types of semiconductor crystals layer by layer through a molecular beam epitaxy to create a prototypical photonic neuron. A temperature of 4K was required to achieve the Bose-Einstein condensate state. "Our further goal is to transfer the experiment from cryogenic conditions to room temperature," says Jacek Szczytko from the Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw. "Research is needed on new materials that will allow obtaining Bose-Einstein condensates also at high temperatures. In order for photonic neurons to network, they must be able to transmit signals to each other. Ideally, the transmission direction, i.e. the wiring diagram, could be easily changed as needed." "Scientists still face new challenges in their research into neuromorphic systems. Our new idea to recreate the spiking of biological neurons in the optical domain can be used to create a network, and then a neuromorphic system in which information is sent by orders of magnitude faster and in a more energy-efficient way compared to existing solutions," concludes Krzysztof Tyszka. More information: Krzysztof Tyszka et al, Leaky IntegrateandFire Mechanism in ExcitonPolariton Condensates for Photonic Spiking Neurons, Laser & Photonics Reviews (2022). DOI: 10.1002/lpor.202100660 A male black sunbird. Credit: Nicola Marples and David Kelly, Trinity College Dublin. Zoologists from Trinity College Dublin, working with a research team in Indonesia, have found several new species of colorful, tropical sunbirds. The zoologists have identified a new species, the Wakatobi sunbird (Cinnyris infrenatus), which lives on the tiny Wakatobi Islands in central Indonesia. They also examined the more widespread olive-backed sunbirds and black sunbirds, and found that individuals named as such actually belonged to multiple unrecognized species. In combination, these exciting findings have important implications for our understanding of evolution in this biodiverse region. Living in the tropics from Africa to Australia, sunbirds look similar to the American hummingbirds and fill a similar ecological niche. Male sunbirds often have bright plumage, with iridescent or "metallic" feathers that shine in the sunlight. For hundreds of years zoologists have examined sunbirds' plumage to name species, over 140 of which are currently recognized. However, by using new forms of evidence, including DNA, song recordings, and statistical analyses of body measurements, the zoologists have revealed that this family is even more diverse than had been realized. This work was carried out jointly by researchers from Trinity's School of Natural Sciences and from Universitas Halu Oleo in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and has just been published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. Fittingly, this journal was the first to publish the evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace back in 1858. A male olive-backed sunbird. Credit: Nicola Marples and David Kelly, Trinity College Dublin. The international research team retraced Wallace's steps in more ways than one, as he based his theories on his studies of animals across the islands of present-day Indonesia. Fionn O Marcaigh, first author on the paper and a Ph.D. Candidate in Trinity's School of Natural Sciences, said, "One of Wallace's major findings is referred to as 'Wallace's Line'a boundary between deep and shallow seas that many animals have been unable to cross, leading to marked differences in the species found on either side. The widespread olive-backed sunbird appeared to be an exception, being found all the way from China to Australia with Wallace's Line right in the middle of its range. "The new study, however, has shown that the populations on either side actually represent two different species, in keeping with Wallace's original predictions. The black sunbird was already known to be subject to Wallace's Line, but the new research has shown that the population around Sulawesi is a separate species from the one in New Guinea." Despite this split, the olive-backed sunbird covers quite a wide range for such a small bird. The newly discovered Wakatobi sunbird, on the other hand, is restricted to the tiny Wakatobi Islands, off the coast of the larger Sulawesi. Small, isolated islands like these have their own evolutionary processes, and these often produce unique species, as in the famous case of the Galapagos. Previous work from the Trinity School of Natural Sciences identified two species of white-eye birds from the same area, which has been recognized by international conservation organizations as a Key Biodiversity Area. A male Wakatobi sunbird. Credit: Nicola Marples and David Kelly, Trinity College Dublin. As well as being genetically unique, the Wakatobi sunbird also has darker plumage, a higher-pitched song, and shorter wings than the olive-backed sunbird. Its short wings probably contributed to its remaining isolated on the Wakatobi Islands while the olive-backed sunbird was undertaking long-distance colonization over the sea. Fionn O Marcaigh added, "It's amazing that there are still species waiting to be found in this region, which has been important to evolutionary biology since the time of Wallace. I'm thrilled that we've added to the list of known species from this wonderful part of the world, it's the kind of thing I dreamed of when I first got interested in zoology as a child. As well as that, this study has been a brilliant opportunity to build on classic work with new techniques. It's especially fascinating when we find new discoveries that support Wallace's original predictions." Dr. David Kelly of Trinity University is the second author on the paper. He added, "The identification of the Wakatobi sunbird serves to remind us that biodiversity is everywhere. This bird wasn't found in a remote rainforest, but along the scrubby margins of busy towns and villages. Let us hope the children of the Wakatobi will be able to enjoy these special birds for generations to come." More information: Fionn O Marcaigh et al, Small islands and large biogeographic barriers have driven contrasting speciation patterns in Indo-Pacific sunbirds (Aves: Nectariniidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (2022). DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac081 Journal information: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain For a researcher who studies wildfire, University of Montana graduate student Kyra Clark-Wolf couldn't have had better timing. Clark-Wolf arrived in Missoula to start her graduate studies on the impacts of wildfires on forests at the W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation on July 4, 2017. Eleven days later, a lightning strike sparked the Lolo Peak Fire just south of the city, burning nearly 54,000 acres and leaving lasting and indelible images among Missoulians of dense smoke and flames visible from town. The impacts of that fire on the forest, as well as the Sunrise Fire burning at the same time west of Missoula, would go on to be central to Clark-Wolf's doctoral work. Her findings are shared in two papers, the second recently published in Forest Ecology and Management, a journal in her field. "I was curious once the smoke cleared up what was going on in the forest and what the fires left behind," she said, "and how the effects of ongoing climate change could change forest recovery." With support from her adviser, Philip Higuera, professor and director of UM's PaleoEcology and Fire Ecology Lab, and Kim Davis, a UM research scientist, Clark-Wolf proposed to study how burned landscapes find life again. She chose the Lolo Peak and Sunrise fires for the very practical reason that both were close by, and for the next three years her research would require endless road trips, arduous hikes and hours spent counting tiny tree seedlings and measuring their growth. Her laboratories were 69 field plots staked out at mountain locations far from roads and recreational sites. Her subjects were the thousands of tiny tree seedlings she marked and followed over the years. She also tracked the "micro-site" conditions where those seedlings grew. "We wanted to see how warm and dry it gets right at the ground surface, and what was happening with the soils," she said of her research, which included help from a number of undergraduate students. "Soil conditions are important because that's where plants get moisture and nutrients like nitrogen." Her studies found thousands of seedlings growing after the fires, especially at sites with cooler, damper conditionsoften found in the shade of the dead trees and upper canopy, as well as on the north side of mountains with higher elevations and more undergrowth. She found fewer seedlings at sites with less shade and drier, hotter conditions. In the case of the Lolo Peak and Sunrise fires, moderate temperatures and ample rain in the years since the fires helped seedlings get started and survive in the burned areas, but as climate change continues, Clark-Wolf said, weather conditions might not be so favorable for young seedlings in the future. "This study offers a bit of good news," said Higuera. "It wasn't a given to find so many seedlings after these wildfires. Across the West, there is a trend toward fewer seedlings growing after wildfires, in part because of warmer and drier summers. Fortunately, these forests seem to be regenerating much like they have in the past, at least for now." The results from Clark-Wolf's study suggest steps forest managers might take to promote regrowth, such as leaving burned trees standing. Her findings can also help replanting efforts to focus on areas where its most needed, including those locations far from potential seed sources. "Burnt trees all over the place look ugly to many people," she said, "but they serve important functions. One is providing shading; another is attracting wood boring beetles, which bring in birds like woodpeckers." Burnt trees can also be a source for seeds. "Lodgepole pine cones stay up in the canopy, sealed up with resin, and when fire comes through it melts that resin and releases seeds. So even if the tree dies, its seeds are released for the next generation," she said. "It's just a sea of seedlings up there now." "It's a nice reminder that while severe fires are impactful for people," Clark-Wolf said, "these forests have been experiencing fires for thousands of years and at least for now they are pretty good at coming back." More information: Kyra Clark-Wolf et al, Conifer seedling demography reveals mechanisms of initial forest resilience to wildfires in the northern Rocky Mountains, Forest Ecology and Management (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120487 Journal information: Forest Ecology and Management Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Nationally, only about 50% of students pass college algebra, with even fewer students who are Black, Latinx, and Native. Serving as a gatekeeper course for students seeking a degree in STEM, algebra can serve as a barrier for some BIPOC students. Beyond opportunity gaps, a new study from the University of Colorado Denver finds that "white hoarding," the co-option of resources by white students, marginalizes and disenfranchises some BIPOC students in college algebra. The study was published in the Journal of Higher Education. Whiteness as property in college algebra Previous research has shown that the further Students of Color progress in STEM education, the more racism they face in their classes. Naomi Nishi, Ph.D., lecturer in the Department of Ethnic Studies at CU Denver, conducted an ethnographic study of college algebra at a public university. In the study, Nishi used Critical Race Theory to draw on legal scholar Cheryl Harris' concept of "whiteness as property" (how white people assume the legal tenets of property, namely the rights to enjoy one's property and exclude others from it) and Settler Colonialism Theory (the ways in which early property law in the U.S. only recognized land as property when lived on by white/European people). The resulting theory suggests that white people, even today, not only treat their whiteness as property, but also don't necessarily recognize the property rights of BIPOC people as they do for whites. Entitlement vs. ownership Because race works in concert with systems like class and socioeconomic status, Nishi said it's no coincidence that BIPOC students tend to be from low-income families and are often first-generation college students. In college algebra, students require several resources to be successful, including a graphing calculator, a laptop or tablet, and access to educational apps. Costs can run at least $300 per student, and these tend to be out-of-pocket costs. In Nishi's study, one Black woman student was unable to afford the $70 computer application needed to complete class assignments. After saving up for it for months, the student was too far behind once she finally bought it and failed out of the class. Yet, even in cases where BIPOC students had resources the white students were without, white students were not hesitant to ask for, borrow, or even take the resources they needed to learn. In another class, a mixed-race Black woman without a laptop had to work with the white woman next to her. The white student tilted her laptop so that the Black student could watch her do the exercise. At no point was the black woman allowed or offered to try it herself. At another table, a Latina woman agreed to share her laptop with a white man. She set her laptop between herself and her classmate, but the white man leaned in and began working on the exercise, forcing her to watch him do the assignment on her laptop. "Who felt entitled to property? And why?" said Nishi. "This was one of the moments when it was clear that ownership had little to do with it. Entitlement, under the guise of sharing, had more to do with whether someone was white." Nishi saw that BIPOC students were often excluded from group discussions, subject to a gendered and racial hierarchy in group projects, and they were less likely to ask for help or resources. In her study, one student initially opted to fail a test because he did not have a calculator. He didn't want to ask the teacher if there was an extra he could borrow. "When I talked to that student later, he said it was worth failing to keep himself from 'looking stupid,'" said Nishi. "For him, failing was better than being vulnerable. Yet, in all the semesters I observed college algebra, I rarely saw a white student hesitate to ask a question or for help or for a resource that they needed." A learned hesitancy in asking for help "In interviewing BIPOC students in my study, a theme arose around bad experiences in the K-12 system, where particularly white teachers and classmates had made them feel embarrassed to ask a question or seek help on their schoolwork," said Nishi. "These then manifested in the hesitancy to engage in college algebra." "White hoarding," occurs when white privilege and entitlement and racism are normalized. To combat these, Nishi said a good start would be to require courses on race and racism for college freshmen, as well as for all faculty. The courses, Nishi said, must go well beyond the current "implicit bias" and "respect diversity"-style education, focusing instead on how white supremacism works with other systems like heteropatriarchy, ability, and classism. "Because of the dire condition of this pipeline of students, it's essential that STEM faculty understand and engage in deep critical race education so that they might recognize how whiteness and racism are working in their classrooms," said Nishi. And for the students who find themselves without a calculator or a tablet? "I recommend that these resources be provided to and literally placed in the hands of all students," said Nishi. "We can't put the onus on Students of Color to buy or seek out the resources they need, because they may not possess the means nor the entitlement of their white classmates." More information: Naomi W. Nishi, White Hoarders: A Portrait of Whiteness and Resource Allocation in College Algebra, The Journal of Higher Education (2021). DOI: 10.1080/00221546.2021.1914495 Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev wanted to make it clear to the Americans that the Soviet Union had nuclear weapons that could easily threaten the United States. Credit: Contributed illustration/White House archives As concerns grow that the war in Ukraine could expand into a nuclear conflict, U.S. President Joe Biden compared the current situation to the Cuban missile crisis, a Cold War confrontation between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. over Soviet missiles placed in Cuba in 1962. "We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis," Biden said recentlya quote frequently repeated in the media. Not everyone thinks the comparison is apt. "We're in another crisis that could escalate to a nuclear war that involves the United States and a government in Moscow," said Philip Zelikow, the White Burkett Miller Professor of History at the University of Virginia. "Those points aside, I don't think the crises are very much alike." Zelikow, the former director of the Miller Center and co-editor, with Ernest R. May, of "The Kennedy Tapes: Inside the White House During the Cuban Missile Crisis" and co-author, with Graham Allison, of "Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis," looked back over the Cuban situation that unfolded 60 years ago this month. The crisis started not with Cuba, but rather with the general test of nuclear strength that had come to a focal point over Berlin. The former German capital had been divided after World War II into sectors for the Soviets, the French, the British and the U.S., but was surrounded by Soviet-controlled East Germany. The Berlin crisis was the most serious confrontation in the Cold War, Zelikow said, and the Soviets were adamant that the Western powers leave their sectors of Berlin. Zelikow said the construction of the Berlin Wall in October 1961 was only a stopgap measure that did not end the crisis. "This kind of hole inside the Soviet bloc was no longer tolerable," Zelikow said. "Khrushchev delivered that ultimatum beginning in 1958. And the Americans were in a position where, from a conventional point of view, they didn't have the forces to stop it. The only way to keep the Soviets from doing that was to threaten to start a nuclear war." Zelikow said Khrushchev regarded this American position as incredibly risky and arrogant. One way to bring American leaders to reason was to make it clear the Soviet Union, too, had plenty of nuclear weapons that could easily threaten the United States, Zelikow said. "A deployment to Cuba would demonstrate that," Zelikow said. But Khrushchev knew the deployment had to done secretly, until he was ready to unveil the missiles in November 1962. "At that time, he planned to bring the Berlin crisis to a victorious conclusion, and repeatedly, in quite crude and emphatic ways, secretly warned Kennedy and the West Germans that he would do this in November." Zelikow said. Tens of thousands of Soviet troops and weapons accompanied the missiles to Cuba. It was the largest deployment of troops outside of Europe in the Soviet Union's history. The buildup also included anti-aircraft missiles, which were among the first missiles that they deployed there before the nuclear missiles arrived. The U.S. could see the Soviets were shipping weapons and people into Cuba, though the Soviets downplayed the deployments. CIA director John A. McCone was skeptical of the official Soviet explanation and persuaded Kennedy to order a U-2 spy-plane flight over Cuba. "And the flight, to everyone's shock except McCone's, confirmed that Soviet ballistic nuclear missiles were, in fact, being deployed in Cuba," Zelikow said. "Kennedy's reaction, of course, was of surprise and real concern." Kennedy and his advisers weighed options including destroying the missiles or negotiating with Soviet leaders. "What they chose was a middle solution in which they would quarantine the island to keep further weapons from coming in and display the seriousness of the situation, while also delivering an ultimatum, demanding that the missiles that were already there should be removed," Zelikow said. Kennedy gave a televised address on Oct. 22, 1962. Once the missiles' presence was made public, the world shared "a sense that we are now in the most serious military confrontation with the Soviet Union ever and there is a real danger that this could escalate into World War III," Zelikow said. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and U.S. President John Kennedy talk together in the residence of the U.S. ambassador in a suburb of Vienna on June 3, 1961. Credit: U.S. Department of State Archives The U.S. moved thousands of Marines to Florida for a possible invasion of Cuba. Navy ships began forming a quarantine line, where they encountered Soviet submarines. Khrushchev knew he had lost the element of surprise. "The Kremlin was shocked and surprised the Americans had discovered the missiles," Zelikow said. "They had just delivered new threats to Kennedy about solving the Berlin problem in a meeting the Soviet foreign minister had in the White House just four days before his speech, and Kennedy had given no hint that he knew that the nuclear missiles were in Cuba." Khrushchev considered a military confrontation at the blockade line, but ultimately ordered his shipsincluding some carrying nuclear missilesto turn around. "Khrushchev's unveiling of the full missile deployment never happened in November, as he had planned," Zelikow said. "And then Khrushchev also quietly abandoned his plan to force a victorious November end to the Berlin crisis. He pretended that the crisis had already ended. 'Berlin crisis? What Berlin crisis?' That ended in 1961 when we built the wall. And most historians since then have kind of bought that position, though at the time, Kennedy and his key advisers on the Soviet Union, wholike the British and West Germanswere aware of Khrushchev's blunt but secret warnings, knew better." As a face-saving gesture, Khrushchev secretly suggested the U.S. pledge not to invade Cuba. Kennedy had earlier decided against an invasion, so he was willing to accept the deal. While his administration was preparing to confirm the agreement the next morning, Khrushchev announced publicly the Soviets would remove the missiles from Cuba if the U.S. removed its Jupiter missiles from Turkey. Kennedy assumed this was a clever ploy to bog the two sides into fruitless and protracted negotiations, while the Soviet missiles would remain in Cuba. Since the U.S. had already planned to remove the Jupiter missiles because they had become obsolete, Kennedy's ambassador to Turkey suggested that the U.S. simply take the issue off the table by secretly assuring the Soviets that the missiles would be gone the next year. But the President made it clear that the Soviet missiles had to be removed from Cuba immediately, within the next two or three days. While the heads of state negotiated, events on the ground escalated. "The Soviets shot down an American reconnaissance aircraft over Cuba and killed its pilot," Zelikow said. "There was a lot of other anti-aircraft fire going up against American aircraft. So it looked like fighting was beginning." Initially, Khrushchev did not know it was his own forces, in Cuba, that had shot down the U-2 plane. "There was this real sense that both sides were beginning to lose control of their own forces," Zelikow said. "There were other incidents that were beginning to happen; that Saturday, there were some close and dangerous encounters involving Soviet submarines, a previously scheduled missile test over the Pacific that could have been misinterpreted, and an American U-2 accidentally entered Soviet airspace in Siberia accidentally, with fighters on both sides scrambling before the American plane got out of there. The American fighters carried air-to-air missiles armed with nuclear weapons." The next morning, in Moscow, at a Sunday meeting of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet meeting on Oct. 28, Khrushchevwho had not yet received the further threats and assurances being relayed from Washington, announced to his colleagues that they had to remove the missiles. "In fact, the Soviet leaders were so nervous about this that they decided to go on the radio and announce this right away and not wait to try to communicate this through secret diplomacy," Zelikow said. "And everyone started breathing a great sigh of relief. That relief was a little premature, because the details of how to withdraw the missiles and verify that turned out to be very difficult and require three weeks of very careful negotiation." The deal was done on Nov. 20, 1962. "One undeniable positive is that the Berlin crisis dissipated and that was the most dangerous crisis in the Cold War," he said. "Another big positive result was that Kennedy and Khrushchev were both visibly sobered by the experience of coming so close to a calamity and made real efforts to reduce nuclear tensions, including the successful negotiation of a treaty to ban open-air nuclear tests. Kennedy gave a remarkable speech at American University trying to offer a vision of enemies working together to at least preserve world peace and to wind down this nuclear danger. "In general, having been terrified, the world now shared a real sense that somehow a corner has been turned and that the superpowers were beginning to be more constructive in managing the nuclear danger and averting the fear of destroying the world," Zelikow said. "And so by getting through the crisis, it made the world a lot safer." "That," he added, "might be an insight nowthis current period of danger is not likely to remain static. It is likely to worsen or ease, and a positive outcome could become a turning point toward more cooperation in handling this century's problems." 'You still have the beauty of the bees,' enthuses US entomologist Jeffery Pettis. Bees pollinate 71 of the 100 crop species that provide 90 percent of food worldwide. They also pollinate wild plants, helping sustain biodiversity and the beauty of the natural world. But climate change, pesticides and parasites are taking a terrible toll on bees and they need protecting, according to European beekeepers, who held their annual congress in Quimper, western France, this week. The congress, which said some European beekeepers were suffering "significant mortalities and catastrophic harvests due to difficult climatic conditions", was an opportunity for beekeepers and scientists to try to respond to the major concerns. The European Union, the world's second largest importer of honey, currently produces just 60 percent of what it consumes. French beekeepers, for example, expect to harvest between 12,000 and 14,000 metric tons of honey this year, far lower than the 30,000 tons they harvested in the 1990s, according to the National Union of French Beekeepers (UNAF). "I've been fighting for bees for 30 years but if I had to choose now, I don't know if I'd become a beekeeper," said UNAF spokesman Henri Clement, who has 200 hives in the unspoilt mountainous Cevennes region in southeastern France. Clement is 62 and not far off retiring. "But it's not much fun for young people who want to take up the profession," he said. Many of the subjects buzzing around the congress were evidence of thisAsian hornets, parasitic varroa mites and hive beetles (all invasive alien species in Europe), pesticides and climate change. With climate change, "the bigger issue is just the erratic weather and rain patterns, drought and things like that", explained US entomologist Jeffery Pettis, president of Apimondia, an international federation of beekeeping associations in 110 countries. "In certain places, the plants had been used to a certain temperature. And now it goes up, and you have a hot dry summer, and there are no flowers," Pettis told AFP. No flowers means no pollen, which means bees dying of hunger. Climate scientists say human-induced global heating is intensifying extreme weather events like flooding, and heatwaves that exacerbate wildfires. "The fires seem to be a big issue," Pettis said. "They come sporadically and we lose hives directly from flooding and fires." Pollen quality Pettis, a former scientist at the US Department of Agriculture, published a study in 2016 on the quality of pollen produced by goldenroda hardy perennial also known as solidago that produces a myriad of small, yellow, daisy-like flowers. The study showed that the more carbon dioxidea greenhouse gasaccumulates in the atmosphere, the lower the amount of protein in goldenrod pollen. North America bees are dependent on nourishment from goldenrod pollen to get through the winter, Pettis explained. "Getting inferior food ... should affect wintering. It could happen with other pollen sources. We don't know." 'What kills bees will one day damage people's health too,' warns French scientist Jean-Marc Bonmatin. As in France, 30 to 40 percent of hives in the United States are dying every winter, Pettis said, decimated by varroa mites, pesticides and the destruction of wild spaces where wild plants grow. "Today, there are even American startups that are developing drones to pollinise plants in the place of bees. It's utterly appalling," said Clement. Toxic pesticides are another factor decimating bee colonies and other pollinating insects. French molecular biophysics scientist Jean-Marc Bonmatin said parasites like varroa, were "boosted by the presence of neonicotinide pesticides, which directly poison pollinators". Neonicotinides, chemically similar to nicotine, are systemic pesticides. Unlike contact pesticides, which remain on the surface of the treated leaves, systemic pesticides are taken up by the plant and transported throughout the plant, to their leaves, flowers, roots and stems, as well as to their pollen and nectar. These toxic substances can remain in the soil for between five and 30 years, Bonmatin said. The EU restricted the use of three neonicotinidesbut not allin 2013 and banned them outright in 2018. But since 2013, several EU states have repeatedly granted "emergency authorisations" to use the noxious insecticides on major crops. Limiting toxic chemicals He said open source software called Toxibee was being launched soon to help farmers protect bees by identifying the least toxic molecules to use on their crops. "Before they spray the crops with pesticides, they can try to limit their noxious effect," he said. "Because what kills bees will one day damage people's health too." Pettis strove, however, to remain upbeat, pointing to some of the ways people can help bees. "(We should) diversify agriculture and try not be driven by chemically-dependant agriculture, support organic and more sustainable farming." He also stressed the incredible resistance of some bee species, helped by factors in the natural world. He cited the example of a black bee found on the Ile de Groix island in Brittany, which has survived varroa attacks without beekeepers treating them for mites or giving them supplementary feeding. "We think the bees are dependent on us but in reality they survive pretty well even without us," he said. "And you still have the beauty of the bees. It's such a good thing to work with bees." 2022 AFP Credit: Shutterstock From Little Red Riding Hood to the Ugly Duckling, fairy tales have long been read to children across the ages. Yet despite criticisms of being outdated and sexist, new research shows that fairy tales still hold an important place in primary education. In a new review from the University of South Australia, researchers found that fairy tales are a valid resource for teaching primary students about social justice and emotional intelligence. The review is published in The Australian Journal of Language and Literacy. Experienced teacher and UniSA Education Doctoral candidate, Glenn Saxby, says that when fairy tales are presented in a critical and inclusive manner, they can help explain complex issues to children. "Once upon a time, fairy tales were the main way to teach children about the world and their place within it, but over timeand especially post early 'Disneyfication'people have become more critical about them," Saxby says. "While there's no denying that some fairy tales present unrealistic expectations or stereotypes, when fairy tales are used in a critical and inclusive manner, they can be an effective teaching resource in the contemporary classroom. "Fairy tales offer many positive opportunities for children to learn about empathy, kindness, ethics, and cooperation. But also, when fairy tales portray outdated or gender-ignorant representations, teachers can use these instances to confront and discuss ideas with their students." The review outlines many benefits of fairy tales for modern learningfrom understanding the structure of a compelling tale, to teaching literacy or even STEM, and understanding gender stereotypes. For example, questions such as "Could have Rapunzel built a zip line using her hair to escape her tower prison?" can frame discussions. Saxby says while teachers should be encouraged to feel confident about using fairy tales in the classroom, they should do so with a creative and critical lens. "Active discussion about the historical and sociocultural contexts of fairy tales can provide many teaching opportunities in the classroom, but there is still scope for teachers to extend beyond traditional boundaries," Saxby says. "Multicultural fairy tales have enormous potential to increase cultural equity and understanding among primary children, so finding fairy tales from different cultural backgrounds would be an excellent resource for teachers. "We need to look beyond the 'traditional tale,' and through teachers, we can start a new chapter." More information: Glenn Saxby, Searching for a happily ever after: using fairy tales in primary classrooms to explore gender, subjectivity and the life-worlds of young people, The Australian Journal of Language and Literacy (2022). DOI: 10.1007/s44020-022-00017-z Burnt mud brick wall from Tel Batash (Biblical Timnah) with markings of the field orientation. Credit: Yoav Vaknin. A joint study by TAU and the Hebrew University, involving 20 researchers from different countries and disciplines, has accurately dated 21 destruction layers at 17 archaeological sites in Israel by reconstructing the direction and/or intensity of the earth's magnetic field recorded in burnt remnants. The new data verify the Biblical accounts of the Egyptian, Aramean, Assyrian, and Babylonian military campaigns against the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Findings indicate, for example, that the army of Hazael, King of Aram-Damascus, was responsible for the destruction of several citiesTel Rehov, Tel Zayit, and Horvat Tevet, in addition to Gath of the Philistines, whose destruction is noted in the Hebrew Bible. At the same time, the study refutes the prevailing theory that Hazael was the conqueror who destroyed Tel Beth-Shean. Other geomagnetic findings reveal that the cities in the Negev were destroyed by the Edomites, who took advantage of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Judah by the Babylonians. The groundbreaking interdisciplinary study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and is based on the doctoral thesis of Yoav Vaknin, supervised by Prof. Erez Ben-Yosef and Prof. Oded Lipschits of TAU's Institute of Archaeology and Prof. Ron Shaar from the Institute of Earth Sciences at the Hebrew University. Yoav Vaknin explaining about the research. Credit: Tel Aviv University The researchers explain that geophysicists, attempting to understand the mechanism of earth's magnetic field, track changes in this field throughout history. To this end they use archaeological findings containing magnetic minerals which, when heated or burned, record the magnetic field at the time of the fire. Thus, in a 2020 study, researchers reconstructed the magnetic field as it was on the 9th of the month of Av, 586 BCE, the Hebrew date of the destruction of the First Temple and the City of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian army. Now, using archaeological findings unearthed over several decades at 17 sites throughout Israel, alongside historical information from ancient inscriptions and Biblical accounts, the researchers were able to reconstruct the magnetic fields recorded in 21 destruction layers. They used the data to develop a reliable new scientific tool for archaeological dating. Yoav Vaknin measuring at the site. Credit: Shai Halevi, Israel Antiquities Authority. Yoav Vaknin explains that "based on the similarity or difference in intensity and direction of the magnetic field, we can either corroborate or disprove hypotheses claiming that specific sites were burned during the same military campaign. Moreover, we have constructed a variation curve of field intensity over time which can serve as a scientific dating tool, similar to the radiocarbon dating method." One example given by the researchers is the destruction of Gath of the Philistines (identified today as Tel Tzafit in the Judean foothills) by Hazael, King of Aram-Damascus. Various dating methods have placed this event at around 830 BCE, but were unable to verify that Hazael was also responsible for the destruction of Tel Rehov, Tel Zayit and Horvat Tevet. Now the new study, identifying full statistical synchronization between the magnetic fields recorded at all of these four sites at the time of destruction, makes a very strong case for their destruction during the same campaign. A destruction level at Tel Beth-Shean, on the other hand, recording a totally different magnetic field, refutes the prevailing hypothesis that it too was destroyed by Hazael. Instead, the magnetic data from Beth-Shean indicate that this city, along with two other sites in northern Israel, was probably destroyed 70-100 years earlier, a date which could correspond with the military campaign of the Egyptian Pharaoh Shoshenq. Shoshenq's campaign is described in the Hebrew Bible and in an inscription on a wall of the Temple of Amun in Karnak, Egypt, which mentions Beth-Shean as one of his conquests. One of the most interesting findings revealed by the new dating method has to do with the end of the Kingdom of Judah. Prof. Erez Ben Yosef says, "The last days of the Kingdom of Judah are widely debated. Some researchers, relying on archaeological evidence, argue that Judah was not completely destroyed by the Babylonians. "While Jerusalem and frontier cities in the Judean foothills ceased to exist, other towns in the Negev, the southern Judean Mountains and the southern Judean foothills remained almost unaffected. Now, the magnetic results support this hypothesis, indicating that the Babylonians were not solely responsible for Judah's ultimate demise. "Several decades after they had destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple, sites in the Negev, which had survived the Babylonian campaign, were destroyedprobably by the Edomites who took advantage of the fall of Jerusalem. This betrayal and participation in the destruction of the surviving cities may explain why the Hebrew Bible expresses so much hatred for the Edomitesfor example, in the prophecy of Obadiah." Map of the studied destruction layers and the different military campaigns. Credit: Itamar Ben-Ezra Prof. Oded Lipschits adds that "the new dating tool is unique because it is based on geomagnetic data from sites, whose exact destruction dates are known from historical sources. By combining precise historical information with advanced, comprehensive archaeological research, we were able to base the magnetic method on reliably anchored chronology." A separate paper, presenting the scientific principles of the novel archaeomagnetic dating method, is in preparation. Prof. Ron Shaar, who led the geophysical aspects of the study, as well as the development of the geomagnetic dating method, explains that "Earth's magnetic field is critical to our existence. Most people don't realize that without it there could be no life on earthsince it shields us from cosmic radiation and the solar wind. In addition, both humans and animals use it to navigate. The geomagnetic field is generated by earth's outer core, at a depth of 2,900 km, by currents of liquid iron." Burnt mud stones. Credit: Tel Aviv University. "Due to the chaotic motion of this iron, the magnetic field changes over time. Until recently scientists believed that it remains quite stable for decades, but archaeomagnetic research has contradicted this assumption by revealing some extreme and unpredictable changes in antiquity. Our location here in Israel is uniquely conducive to archaeomagnetic research, due to an abundance of well-dated archaeological findings. Over the past decade we have reconstructed magnetic fields recorded by hundreds of archaeological items." "By combining this dataset with the data from Yoav's investigation of historical destruction layers we were able to form a continuous variation curve showing rapid, sharp changes in the geomagnetic field. This is wonderful news, both for archaeologists who can now use geomagnetic data to determine the age of ancient materials and for geophysicists studying the earth's core." The Porcupine fire, which levelled numerous towns in Ontario and killed 73 people, was followed by a deadlier fire that killed 223 people five years later. Credit: National Archives of Canada-Henry Peters In the fall of 1922, the city of Toronto sent 85 surplus streetcars to Haileybury and other northern Ontario towns to help house thousands of desperate people who had lost their homes to wildfires. Known as the Great Fire, it burned nearly 1,700 square kilometers of the areaincluding the town of Haileybury. It killed 43 people and caused millions of dollars in property damage in 18 townships. A newspaper referred to it as the "worst disaster that had ever overtaken northern Ontario." It was not. The wildfires back then were as fierce, deadly and eerily similar to the ones we have today. And we have yet to learn to live with them. Fires of the past The Great Miramichi fire, which destroyed forests and devastated communities across northern New Brunswick in 1825, was the largest and one of the most deadly wildfires in North American history. The Saguenay and Ottawa Valley fires in 1870 could have been just as deadly when they forced the evacuations of several thousand people. The capital city would have burned down that summer had it not been for a quick-thinking engineer who ordered the gates of the St. Louis dam on the Rideau Canal to be breached so that it would flood city streets. Seventeen villages were leveled in Wisconsin the following year, killing between 1,200 and 1,500 people. In 1881, the Michigan's Thumb fires burned 1,480 barns, 1,521 houses and 51 schools, while killing 283 people and injuring many others. Smoke from those fires colored the sky over Toronto. In 1908, the British Columbia town of Fernie was leveled by a wildfire. In 1911, the Porcupine fire killed 73 people while leveling the towns of South Porcupine and Pottsville in Ontario before partially destroying Golden City and Porquis Junction. There was almost no warning five years later when a deadlier complex of fires swept through the same region and killed 223 people. Each summer and fall, it seemed, ended badly somewhere. Deja vu The similarities between the fires now and then are uncanny, as described in my book Dark Days At Noon: The Future of Fire. The ignition of fires between 1870 and 1922 was fuelled by higher temperatures, drier forests and the kind of elevated lightning activity that we are experiencing today. Much of the warming back then can be attributed to the end of the little ice age (1300 to 1850) that dramatically cooled parts of the world, and the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Today, the unprecedented warming taking place is primarily because of the burning of fossil fuels. Forest land-grabbing and negligence has also fuelled numerous fires in the past and present. Before and beyond the turn of the 19th century, people moved into boreal and temperate forests to take advantage of cheap land and jobs in the mining and forestry sectors. Today, people are building luxurious country homes in places like the Okanagan to escape the cost of living in big cities. Sparks from trains and the careless disposal of locomotive ash accounted for a significant number of fires in Ontario in the past. Following the Lytton fire in B.C. in 2021, the head of Canada's Transportation Safety Board acknowledged that more work is still needed to prevent wildfires caused by trains. Gaps in public policy Wildfire-fuelled tornadoes have been witnessed across Canada, Australia and the U.S. The other thing that hasn't changed much is public policy. The Porcupine fire in 1911 as Canada's version of the Big Burn, a complex of fires that swept through the northern Rockies of the United States in 1910 and resulted in sweeping policy changes. Following the Big Burn, the U.S. passed the Weeks Act that authorized the government to purchase up to 30 million hectares of land to protect watersheds from development and wildfire. This mandated the U.S. Forest Service to work with state fire bureaus, which were happy to co-operate because it came with funding they could not otherwise afford. In contrast, Canadian politicians failed to do what was necessary to prevent future fires. The government, which owned many of the railroad companies, blamed Indigenous people for many fires. Better legislation and fire management strategies were still not in place five years after the Porcupine fire when the Matheson fire took the lives of 223 people. Nor were they there in 1922, when the Great Fire devastated Haileybury. Canada had a chance to replicate what the U.S. Forest Service was doing, but failed to as funding for fire research and management was badly decimated by budget cuts and the off-loading of responsibilities to the provinces in the 1930s. Even today, provinces like Alberta have cut wildfire budgets to save money, only to pay the price when wildfires like the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, which forced the evacuation of 88,000 people. Managing future fires The fact that fire is still entering towns like Lytton and Fort McMurray without adequate warning suggests we have yet to learn to live with the fires that we have stoked by burning fossil fuels, draining wetlands and suppressing natural fires that would have otherwise produced more resilient forests. Stopping Indigenous burning that aided forest regeneration didn't help. We are now in a unique situation where hot fires are creating their own weatherfire-driven thunderstorms and pyrogenetic tornadoesthat can spawn other fires. We saw this in Fort McMurray in 2016, in B.C. in the following years and in 2019 and 2020 when Australia's Black Summer fire season led to a massive outbreak of fire-induced and smoke-infused thunderstorms. This is, in a word, scary. The title of my book, "Dark Days at Noon," harkens back to 1780 when smoke from distant fires blocked out so much sunlight that people from all over New England thought the end of the world was at hand. The end of the world is not at hand, but there will be many more dark days at noon if we do not learn to live with fire. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: Walaiporn Paysawat-Mizu/Shutterstock.com We can thank the pyramids of Giza for roads. A vital part of our built environment, they've been a staple of human existence for millennia. How they are built and used reveal a lot about our own modern societies and economies, but they can also offer a vital window to the past. But when did humans actually begin to use roads? "The generic and honest answer is that it's really hard to know," says Kalayci. "First, we have to be very clear in our mind what we mean by 'road'are we talking about an engineered road, or a simple dirt track that has naturally formed by people and/or animals constantly walking along the same line?" In the case of the latter, one can argue, rather philosophically, that as soon as humans learnt to walk and began to traverse the world from their African homelands, roads began to formin short, a road can be conceived as merely a line that humans continuously wander along. But Kalayci informs us that it was probably the ancient Egyptians that purposely went out of their way to build the first paved roads, when they were busy building pyramids and other monuments, sometime between 2600 and 2200 BCE, during the Old Kingdom Period. "They essentially wanted a nice, easy, straight route between the monument site and quarry that allowed materials to be transported quickly and efficiently," he explains. The caveat here is that archaeologists can't be sure if someone else beat the ancient Egyptians to it. "The truth is, there may be evidence of earlier paved roads we just haven't found it yet," Kalayci admits. The ancient roads of Mesopotamia Kalayci, a former Marie Curie fellow who worked on the GeoMOP project, focuses his research on Upper Mesopotamia, which consists of the modern-day region of Southern Turkey, Northern Iraq and Syria, and is dominated by the mighty Euphrates and Tigris rivers. This mostly flat region was the stomping ground of some of the more widely known ancient civilizations, such as those of the Akkadians and Assyrians. "The archaeological record shows that this region became increasingly urbanized during the ancient period, and because of changes to the economy and society, transportation became a much more important consideration," says Kalayci. "Intensive agriculture began to develop, and as a result, they needed to discipline their movement from cities to villages, from the pastures to the market. As a result, people and animals walked along the same routes and caused shallow depressions in the soilknown as 'hollow ways'that remain to this day." This was Kalayci's focus during the GeoMOP project, where he utilized satellite images to map and chart the network of ancient roads in the region. On top of this, his job was to work out not only where the roads were, but how they were used. "I had to figure out what the traffic levels along each route were, and by knowing this, we can get a better idea of the area's complex political economy." In general, roads have always held a certain allure for Kalayci. "It's a matter of personal curiosity, roads encompass the complexity of humanity very well. When traveling on one, you can read, eat, get annoyed, meet strangers. Roads give interesting clues to the past that are often neglected in archaeology. My work thus aims to make a seemingly invisible human phenomenon just that little bit more visible." Provided by CORDIS As Xi Jinping edges out his rivals in the Chinese Communist Party, shakes up his leadership team and begins an unprecedented third term as Chinas leader, Beijings military modernization continues apace. In a span of two decades, China has transformed itself from a relatively minor player on the world stage into a formidable geopolitical force that is willing and able to pursue its interests aggressively. Xis objective, as stated in numerous documents and communiques, is none other than to turn the Peoples Liberation Army, or PLA, into a world-class military by 2049. Chinas neighbors and competitors, however, arent sitting still as the PLA builds up the worlds largest arsenal of ballistic missiles and fields a growing armada of cruisers, ships and fighter aircraft. Japan and Australia, two countries that have their own grievances with Beijing, are also strengthening their own militaries, increasing their defense budgets and teaming up to create a balancing coalition against China. Advertisement Last week, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed an agreement that will broaden the strategic relationship between Tokyo and Canberra on everything from defense and energy to the economy and the climate. This was the fourth time Kishida and Albanese have met since the latter took office in May, and the latest cooperation accord comes less than a year after Japan and Australia agreed to a lengthy reciprocal access agreement that set the foundation for regular military exchanges on one anothers territory. While nobody is predicting the formation of a defense alliance between the two Pacific powers, its safe to say that the Japanese and Australian governments are sufficiently concerned about Chinas enhanced wealth, influence and hard power that both are willing to combine forces to manage it. The old mantra, Theres strength in numbers, very much applies. Its not a mystery why Japan and Australia feel an imperative to improve their bilateral relations. The three core pillars of a nations power population, wealth and military strength have been noticeably kind to the Chinese since the dawn of the 21st century. Chinas gross domestic product has increased by 1,365% since 2000, surpassing that of the European Union. Hundreds of millions of people in China have been lifted out of poverty as a result, decreasing the strain on the state and adding more productivity to the labor force. China is now a significant trading partner for many; in Latin America, widely considered to be in the U.S. sphere of influence, trade has ballooned to nearly $449 billion last year from $18 billion in 2002. Advertisement All of this wealth has allowed China to turn its military from a backward, unsophisticated force into one that rivals Washington in Asia. While the United States still outspends China on defense by a ratio of more than 2 to 1 in fact, the U.S. spends more on defense than the next nine nations combined the trend line for Beijing has been exponential. According to the World Bank, Chinas military expenditures have risen more than 1,000% since the beginning of the century. More dollars mean more capacity, with the PLA earmarking a large chunk of the money toward researching and developing the next generation of weapons, from anti-submarine warfare aircraft to cruise missile modifications. None of this is to suggest China is capable of establishing hegemony in the Asia-Pacific or is intent on steamrolling its neighbors. For one, the PLA hasnt fought a major conventional war in decades. While Xis rhetoric can be ominous at times, hes also relatively cautious and appears to understand the limits of Chinese power. Chinas assertiveness, however, does help explain why countries such as Japan and Australia feel the need to collaborate more frequently. As University of Notre Dame professor Michael Desch wrote for Defense Priorities in July, As China grows more powerful and assertive, states closest to it are feeling a greater sense of peril. Rather than accede to Chinas wishes in the hopes Xi will show some mercy, Tokyo and Canberra (and New Delhi, for that matter) are instead balancing against Chinese power by boosting their own military capability and pooling resources. This summer, Japans Defense Ministry released its highest budget request in history, asking for $43 billion to fund a litany of items, including standoff weapons that would permit Tokyo to strike at bases in places such as China and North Korea. If Kishida and his party have their way, Japan will devote nearly $280 billion over the next five years toward defense, a big deal for a country whose pacifist leanings are embedded in the constitution. Australia, too, is planning to throw more money into defense projects; its budget for 2022-23 is more than 7% higher than the previous years and the Australians are projected to increase it by another 6% in 2023. If there is anything Australias major political parties agree on, its the utility of improving the countrys ability to defend itself. Its easy to get carried away with all of these numbers. But the bottom line is clear: Faced with a more bellicose China, the smaller nations that operate in the same region have no intention of submitting. If anything, the stronger the PLA becomes, the more committed its competitors will be to not only take responsibility for their own security but also to unite in pursuit of a stable modus vivendi. Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities and a foreign affairs columnist for the Chicago Tribune. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain In recent years, voters in the world's third-largest democracy, Indonesia, have preferred to support candidates with solid religious personas and a lifestyle and appearances adhering to Islamic values. This preference is in line with the increasing trend towards Islamic piety in the Muslim majority country. Many political candidates in Indonesia have been taking advantage of social media to design campaigns that promote piety. Female political candidates in particular have started to utilize social media to bring about social change and encourage women to become politically engaged. During the 2019 election, many Indonesian female candidates running for political office used social media to bolster an Islamic image. Our latest research shows the pattern of social media usage among female candidates in the 2019 election in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province which enforces sharia law. The research finds that creating an Islamic image on social media helps the female candidates increase their electability and supports female participation and representation in politics. Being pious is the key Under Aceh's sharia law, patriarchy dominates religious practices and social customs. But the proportion of female legislators in Banda Aceh has increased significantly in recent years. In 2019 election, female candidates accounted for almost 42% of the total candidates fighting for 30 seats, according to data from the General Elections Commission. In the 2014 election, the portion of female candidates was only 14.8%. We interviewed four female candidates, including one incumbent, who finally won the election, for the research. They were Tati Meutia Asmara, Devi Yunita, Syarifah Munirah and Kasumi Sulaiman. Most of them came from Muslim-based political parties. Knowing that most of the voters and the largest groups of digital media users in Banda Aceh were young women, they decided to launch their political campaigns on social media, especially Facebook and Instagram. On their social media posts, we found that a majority of them tried to create a pious image. Posts saw them share images of their Muslim wardrobes and them engaging with religious events and activities. Tati, for instance, announced a visit to a community of Muslim women who promoted hijrah (becoming more Islamic). She also posted on her Facebook and Instagram feeds a photo of a chaplain who was performing a pilgrimage to Mecca. Kasumi, another example, frequently shared religious quotes on her social media. These actions reflect the candidates' belief that voter ratings were based more on personal characteristics, identity and lifestyle, rather than on issues and their policy programs. Projecting ideal Islamic female figures They also reinforced the image of an ideal female Muslim by showing how they love and care for the family as well as being faithful to their husbands on the social media posts. Tati, for example, built her image as a pious wife through her post that portrayed two pairs of sandals for her husband, with a caption that read, "I am sure, in the sole of your feet, my heaven lies now; for my beloved." Candidate Syarifah Munira branded herself a pious wife by posting a picture with Eid al-Adha greetings while kissing her husband's hand. In Islam, obedience to a husband is widely believed as the path to heaven for women. Kasumi, meanwhile, named all of her social media accounts 'Bunda Mimi' (Mother Mimi) as she tried to associate her feminine image with Islamic values. Our research calculates that their social posts to improve their religious image increased during 2019 election campaign period. Up to 50% of the total number of candidates' posts on Facebook showed these. While the number went up to 24% on Instagram. Tati, who won the election, was the candidate with the most social media posts showing her piety. Breaking the barrier In many Muslim countries, traditional media has supported an idea that it is unfavorable for women to join political race. Social media, however, has given women alternatives. Our study has shown how social media strategy can open more opportunities for women in the region to increase women's political participation. The research echoes other work showing that social media provides more significant chances in certain societies for female candidates to promote themselves and increase their chances of winning elections. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain What is behind all these UFO sightings? We may find out. NASA announced the 16 people who will spend the next nine months studying unidentified aerial phenomena, also known as UFOs. Using unclassified data, the team will "lay the groundwork for future study" of UFOs by examining how the data is gathered by the public, local government and other sources. The goal is to have a roadmap for NASA's data analysis on the flying objects, and determine what events are natural or not. "Exploring the unknown in space and the atmosphere is at the heart of who we are at NASA," Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA, said in a statement. "Understanding the data we have surrounding unidentified aerial phenomena is critical to helping us draw scientific conclusions about what is happening in our skies. Data is the language of scientists and makes the unexplainable, explainable." The announcement of the study participants comes amid a renewed interest in UFOs. In June 2021, the office of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence released a highly anticipated report examining unidentified aerial phenomena, but no "firm conclusions" could be drawn on more than 140 instances. Still, federal officials continue to monitor UAPs because they are viewed as a potential national security threat, according to Rep. Andre Carson, D-Indiana. The Department of Defense created the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization in November 2021 to track and analyze UFOs, and in May, Congress held its first public hearing on UFOs in more than 50 years. While UFOs are commonly associated with aliens, NASA doesn't think the phenomena are "extra-terrestrial in origin." But the agency says observations make it difficult to draw scientific conclusions. Who will study UFOs for NASA? The research group picked by NASA include astronomers, scientists, aviation officials, as well as a former astronaut, oceanographer and reporter. Here are the people who will be part of the study: David Spergel: Chair of the study, founding director of Simons Foundation's Flatiron Institute for Computational Astrophysics. Anamaria Berea: Computational and data science associate professor at George Mason University. Federica Bianco: Physics and astrophysics professor at the University of Delaware, the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration and senior scientist at the Multi-city Urban Observatory. Paula Bontempi: Biological oceanographer and dean of the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island. Reggie Brothers: Operating partner at AE Industrial Partners and former undersecretary for Science and Technology at Department of Homeland Security. Jen Buss: CEO of the Potomac Institute of Policy Studies. Nadia Drake: Freelance science journalist and contributing writer at National Geographic. Mike Gold: Executive vice president of civil space and external affairs at aerospace manufacturer Redwire. David Grinspoon: Senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute. Scott Kelly: Former NASA astronaut, test pilot, fighter pilot and retired U.S. Navy captain. Matt Mountain: President of The Association of Universities for Research and Astronomy. Warren Randolph: Deputy executive director of the Federal Aviation Administration's Accident Investigation and Prevention for Aviation Safety department. Walter Scott: Executive vice president and chief technology officer of space technology company Maxar. Joshua Semeter: Professor of electrical and computer engineering, director of the Center for Space Physics at Boston University. Karlin Toner: Acting executive director of the FAA's Office of Aviation Policy and Plans. Shelley Wright: Associate professor of physics at the UC San Diego's Center for Astrophysics and Space Studies. The team's full report is expected to be released to the public in mid-2023. (c)2022 USA Today Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Credit: The Conversation There has been severe flooding in Nigeriathe worst in a decade. Earlier this month, Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency warned of catastrophic flooding for states located along the courses of the Niger and Benue rivers. It noted that three of Nigeria's reservoirs were expected to overflow. The agency said the release of excess water from a dam in neighboring Cameroon had contributed to the flooding. Olayinka Ogunkoya unpacks Nigeria's mismanagement of its dams. What impact does poor dam management have on flooding in Nigeria? The operations management of dams and reservoirs depends on what purpose the dam was built for. If a dam was built for water supply, irrigation or hydro-electric power, the aim would be to keep the dam as close to full pool capacity as possible so as to maximize resource availability. If the dam was constructed for flood control, then the aim would be to de-water the reservoir before the flood season. This is why flood control reservoirs and dams have temporary reservoir storage space for storing spate flow to alleviate downstream flood damage. The water is subsequently released downstream at rates that will not create flood conditions. Most dams serve multiple purposes. For example, the dams on the River Niger, Kainji and Jebba, and its tributaries, Shiroro and Zungeru on the River Kaduna; and those on the tributaries of the River BenueDadin Kowa and Kiri on the River Gongola, and Kashimbila on the River Katsina Alawere built for hydro-electric power generation, fisheries and flood control. Managing reservoirs for flood control requires keeping the maximum possible empty space before the flood season. Water storage is required for the remaining objectives of water supply, irrigation and hydropower. In the Nigerian situation, hydropower generation dominates the functions of many large dams. This means that the management of reservoirs would focus on keeping the level at full pool. This runs against the grain of what's needed for flood control. If there's no storage space then incoming flood waters won't be contained. What measures should be in place to avert flooding? Nigeria needs to create structures along the River Benue and its tributaries that will serve primarily for flood control, and secondarily for hydro-electric power. Given the lack of resources, it would be difficult to build dams for only flood control. Efforts should therefore be made towards the realization of 1970s plans for the construction of large hydropower dams at Makurdi, Lokoja and Onitsha. These dams, apart from supplying electricity (3300 MW), would have significant flood control and mitigation capability. A few more dams could be constructed upstream of Makurdi on River Benue. One is the Dasin Hausa Dam. This has been designed to detain excess spillage from the Lagdo Dam, and also generate 300 MW, irrigate 150,000 hectares, and make it possible to navigate the River Benue all year. Many flood control dams and reservoirs should be built along the tributaries of River Benue since these are also high-discharge rivers and contribute to the flooding potential of their principal. Flood control structures provide for temporary storage of flood waters upstream so that downstream areas are protected against inundation. The flood waters are gradually released when the threat of flooding has declined. Secondly, urban and settlement growth involving building on lower lying areas that receive runoff should be zoned off unless the areas are reclaimed and significantly elevated. How can affected communities be better protected? Abatement measures. These involve enforcing policies and the construction of structures that inhibit floodingor at the least significantly reduce its impact. Such measures include zoning regulation, catchment afforestation, desilting of channels, and construction of flood control reservoirs. Protection measures should also be taken. These include strengthening the natural levees or construction of artificial levees (flood embankments). A levee is a "dike" along the banks of a river formed by sediments deposited during flood events. The crest of the levee is higher than the floodplain, and thus protects the floodplain from inundation or flooding where the levee is sturdy. Flood embankments or artificial levees are usually built of alluvial material dug out of pits on site. Other types of embankments are flood walls made of reinforced concrete, sheet pile and masonry. During exceptionally severe flood events, embankments may be gradually increased in height, for instance by sand-bagging, to prevent them from being overtopped and damaged. However, flood embankments can have a number of negative effects. They can: reduce storage capacity of the river channel and flood plains by restricting flow from the channel to the flood plain protect only against moderate floods, since extreme floods could readily over-top the walls inhibit the continuing build-up and nutrient enhancement of the floodplain, which would have occurred naturally as a result of inundation and siltation. What can Nigeria do to make better use of its dams? Large dams in Nigeria are fully owned by the government. The states and federal governments can make better use of their dams by ensuring that the dam structure, reservoir and related equipment and canals are maintained properly. Currently, most plants and equipment have broken down or are functioning well below installed capacity. This is because dam management doesn't adhere to operation manuals. Many dams in south-western Nigeria have been so neglected that mature trees are growing on their faces. All dam projects under construction must be urgently completed. There are dams uncompleted since the 1980s. A main challenge in Nigeria is policy discontinuity by successive governments. The result is the accumulation of abandoned projects in all spheres of national development: dam, power, water supply and irrigation, steel industry and roads. It appears it is yet to be appreciated that government is a continuity, whether it is the green or red party that is in control, and all projects initiated by the previous administration have to be completed by succeeding administrations. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The researchers send a trawl like this 200-1.000 meters into the sea to fish for species and plankton that can make them more aware of the ecosystem in the ocean's twilight zone. Credit: Svanhildur Egilsdottir, MFRI Off the coast of Norway, a marine research vessel is on an important mission. A group of researchers aboard the ship are watching closely as a giant steel wire with a fine-meshed trawl net at the end is rolled out. With each rotation, the trawl net is lowered deeper and deeper into the sea, and somewhere between 200 and 1,000 meters below the surface in what is known as the mesopelagic twilight zone, the wire fully extends and reaches its goal. Like a large fishing net, it sifts the seawater for living organisms in search of knowledge about a place on Earth that we know less about than outer space. This North Atlantic deep sea fishing expedition is part of a research project funded by the European Commission. The project aims to investigate whether the fishing industry can target some of the many species found in the mesopelagic zone without repeating the many disasters in fishing history: poor management resulting in overfishing, the destruction of ecosystems, and the collapse of biodiversity. One of the researchers looking for answers in the project is Professor J. Rasmus Nielsen from the National Institute of Aquatic Resources at DTU Aqua, who processes some of the information collected by the marine research vessels along with his colleagues. The work of the researchers from DTU Aqua concentrates on two small species of fish, i.e. the glacier lantern fish and Mueller's pearlside, which are attractive to the commercial fishing industry due to their high oil content of between 20 and 30%. These species can be used to make fish oil, fish meal, and medicine, and perhaps even as a food source. However, according to J. Rasmus Nielsen, we know "virtually nothing" about what consequences fishing for these species may have on the food chain they form part of or what role they play in the overall ecosystem. He has done research, given advice, and taught on the subject of fisheries management and the sustainable use of marine resources his entire adult life, but the mesopelagic zone is largely unknown territory. "It's both exciting and frightening to be doing research in an area where we know so little. This means that our research is both relevant and necessary, but it's also a huge responsibility," he says and adds: "The first articles in a virtually unknown area can have a huge impact on later decisions. So we really need to think it through and do work that is both quick and correct." Vast amount of biomass The mesopelagic zone is called the twilight zone because it starts at a depth that sunlight can barely penetrate. Above it is the epipelagic zone near the surface, where sunlight supports photosynthesis and growth. However, the light levels in the twilight zone are so low that photosynthesis is virtually non-existent, and scientists have always wanted to know what is going on down there. During World War II, when the Allied fleets used echo sounders to detect and locate enemy submarines and mines, very hard blows to the echo sounders indicated that an unknown amount of biomass was hiding in the deep sea. The size of this biomass has been widely discussed, but in 2014 a large international study gained everyone's attention with a mind-blowing estimate. Based on global mapping, the researchers behind the study estimated that the mesopelagic zone is home to a biomass of between 10 and 20 billion tons of fish and shellfish. This is a volume 10 times greater than in previous estimates and corresponds to 90 percent of Earth's total fish biomass or, at the time of the study, about 1.3 tons of fish biomass per human on Earth. "Obviously, those numbers attracted a lot of attention. And soon a number of interested parties were asking the next question: Can this be exploited?" says J. Rasmus Nielsen. Although there was, and still is, great uncertainty about the numbers in the study, they gave rise to a kind of gold rush atmosphere, particularly among the fishing, pharmaceutical, and food industries, which immediately saw an opportunity for an new business adventure. At the same time, researchers from DTU, Norway, Spain, England, Scotland, and Portugal warned people not to exploit the resources in the mesopelagic zone without knowing the possible environmental consequences. The animals and organisms living in the twilight zone have a huge impact on the planet's carbon balance, as every year they help move between 2 and 6 billion tons of carbon from the surface of the sea to the bottom of the ocean, where it is stored for hundreds of years. This process is known as the biological carbon pump, and the risk of negatively affecting this natural process by ceaselessly fishing for the species that are a part of it are great. The researchers therefore called for international research into the biology and sustainability of the twilight zone species, and this was a decisive factor to the research that J. Rasmus Nielsen and his colleagues are doing today. Knowledge about stocks is crucial When brand new data on the glacier lantern fish or Mueller's pearlside lands on J. Rasmus Nielsen's desk, there is one aspect in particular that he and his colleagues are interested in: the stocks of the species and the dynamics of the stocks. "When we know the dynamics of a natural stock, we also know the surplus amount produced and thus how much we can sustainably take from the stock," says J. Rasmus Nielsen. Here is an example of what the trawl brings back to the surface. Credit: Webjrn Melle, Institute of Marine Research, Norway. Specifically, he and his colleagues assess the distribution of length, weight, and the different life stages of the fish coming in from the various research locations in Spain, Norway, and Iceland. They use the data from each location to determine the growth and the different life stages of the fish. This provides an overall picture of when the fish mature and spawn, and with the help of statistical stock models, the researchers can use this information to assess the size of the stock and its capacity for reproduction. In addition, differences in growth and mortality rates can help clarify whether or not the fish from the different locations are from the same stock. "The same stock usually has roughly the same rates, so if there's a big difference in the rates between, for example, the fish from Norway and the fish from Spain, it's a good indication that they're from different stocks," says J. Rasmus Nielsen. The preliminary results from the ongoing research show that the rates do vary between the different research fishing locations and thus that the fish are most likely from different stocks. The next step is identifying the stocks that can stand sustainable fishing and those that cannot. J. Rasmus Nielsen expects in-depth knowledge about the stock dynamics to be ready some time in the next 10 years. At the same time, he knows that it is very unlikely that the industry will wait that long. "We need to act quickly, because if it suddenly turns out that there is a high-value product down there, they're just going to go for it," he says. Sustainable food for the future So far, it looks like he is right in his prediction. The commercial fishing industry is already showing a great interest in the research. SINTEF, an independent research institute in Norway, has already made headway in developing efficient commercial fishing gear for catching glacier lantern fish and Mueller's pearlside. And Norwegian Food Institute, Nofima, is experimenting on how to make Mueller's pearlside an attractive food item for the future. "We inject the fish with different enzymes to find out what happens to the taste, and then we look at whether we can come up with something that's commercially interesting," says Runar G. Solstad, who conducts research in the field of marine biotechnology and is affiliated with the EU project. The injection is called enzymatic hydrolysis and is a chemical process where equal parts fish and water are mixed together and then enzymes are added. Once the enzymes have reacted with the mixture for about an hour, they are deactivated using heat and the water is filtered out so that only the protein remains. After that, they are dried and eaten as a protein-rich snack. The ongoing experiments with Mueller's pearlside have shown that it is possible to infuse the fish with different flavors, and the next step is therefore an external assessment of whether the twilight zone snack has commercial potential. "That's the whole point of this research. If it turns out that we can harvest these mesopelagic resources sustainably, and if it turns out that they're nutritious and can be used for food, then we may have a sustainable food source for the future, and then it makes a lot of sense to move forward with it," says Runar G. Solstad about the future perspective of the ongoing research. J. Rasmus Nielsen is less optimistic, but that does not mean that he is against utilizing these resources. "I'm certainly not saying you shouldn't look into it. We live in a world where the global population is growing. We will have food shortages. We need to look into our options for food production. But you can't look at the sea as a piece of agricultural land where you can just increase production. And you can't remove parts of the food chain and hope that the system will compensate for the loss. Because that's not how it works," he says. Overfishing affects marine ecosystems According to J. Rasmus Nielsen, the UN currently does not have sufficient regional management bodies covering mesopelagic fishing, and there are no quotas limiting fishing from individual stocks. Therefore, J. Rasmus Nielsen and other researchers are working to inform managers and authorities about the need for this, e.g. through their participation in the EU project. Most recently, J. Rasmus Nielsen co-authored an article on the subject. "We shouldn't touch this until we've established whether the fishing is sustainable and until we have the right institutional setup and the right management agencies that are able to act if people overexploit the resources," he says. Through his many years of research and advice on fisheries management, he has witnessed the risks and examples of overexploitation in the fishing industry. The result is usually that we lose large fishing and income opportunities due to poor management, and at the same time it negatively affects marine ecosystems. Therefore, J. Rasmus Nielsen's work with the mesopelagic zone is more than just a job. It is a chance to pave the way for the sustainable fishing industry of tomorrow. "I hope that this time we can prevent people from repeating the fishing mistakes of the past. That's my biggest hope. But it will take knowledge," he says. (a) Sectional view of a headline and (b) locations of Rope Plots at Trial Stations 1 and 2, and corresponding Control Plots at the Lyme Bay mussel farm. Credit: Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries (2022). DOI: 10.1002/aff2.77 Aquaculture is fast becoming integral to global food security, and to feed the world's growing population, it is expected to continue expanding rapidly in the coming years. However, a new study suggests that in addition to helping meet global fish consumption demands, there is also the potential for the industry to have wider benefits for the marine environment. The research is among the first to explore the environmental impact of offshore mussel farms and focused on the largest one in Europe, which deployed its first ropes in Lyme Bayoff the south coast of Englandin 2013. Since then, scientists have used towed and static baited underwater cameras for regular monitoring surveys, during which they tested the effects of the farm's trial installations on the seabed habitat, and the associated species living on it. They found that in addition to growing on the ropes, mussel shells were first observed on the seabed under the lines after just six months. Larger clumps appeared within the first 18 months after deployment. Both the size of mussel clumps and the percentage cover of shells under the farm increased over time and this in turn led to increases in the abundance of other species. For example, the number of Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) around the farm increased by more than 300% in the space of four years, compared to other areas of Lyme Bay. There were also marked increases in the number of European lobster (Homarus gammarus) and edible crab (Cancer pagurus), both species that are commercially important in Lyme Bay but were not expected to be found in this area, as it is highly degraded from years of bottom towed fishing. The study, published in the Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries journal, was led by a team of researchers and Ph.D. candidates from the University of Plymouth's School of Biological and Marine Sciences. The study is part of the Offshore Mussel Farm Ecology project. Dr. Emma Sheehan, who leads that monitoring project and is the current study's senior author, said, "Over the past 15 years, we have consistently shown that a ban on bottom-towed fishing has had positive effects on the environment. This study has given us the first ecological evidence that offshore mussel farming can deliver similar benefits on degraded seabed habitats. "That is crucial for the region's entire seafood industry, and this is the first phase of a long term, multi-method project that is assessing how the farm impacts the surrounding marine ecosystem. However, it immediately increases the evidence base available to policy makers to help guide the move to aquaculture installations offshore, supporting the national and international Blue Growth agenda." The Offshore Mussel Farm Ecology work forms part of the ongoing work by the university to monitor the impact of the Lyme Bay Marine Protected Area, which was designated in 2008. That work has been carried out in conjunction with local fishers and other community groups along the Dorset and Devon coastline. In addition to assessing the effects of a ban on bottom-towed fishing, it has shown that limits on crab and lobster pot fishing could offer long-term benefits and that the restored seabed is now able to recover more quickly following extreme storms. Recommendations from this ongoing work have been included within the UK Government's 25-year Environment Plan, and a major UK government report into Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs), led by former Defra Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon. More information: Danielle Bridger et al, The restoration potential of offshore mussel farming on degraded seabed habitat, Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries (2022). DOI: 10.1002/aff2.77 Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A deadly new threat may be on the horizon for gray whalesa species already suffering from a mysterious decline in population. For the first time in known history, orcas have been observed in the grays' Mexican refuge: the warm, shallow lagoons of the Baja Peninsula, where these 40-plus-foot leviathans go to calf, nurse and mate in peace. Until now, conservationists had considered the area a shelter from shipping, fishing gear, and killer whalesthe ocean's apex predator. According to reports from researchers and local fishermen, Laguna San Ignacio has been visited twice this year by orcas. One pod showed up in January and was videotaped as the orcas fatally attacked two resident bottle-nosed dolphins. They may have also killed a gray whale calf, although a body was never found to confirm that. Cindy Hansen, educator and advocacy coordinator for Orca Network, a Freeland, Washington-based nonprofit, said a piece of skin and blubber were found, "but there was no genetics done to be able to get a positive ID." Then, last week, another pod of orcas swam into the lagoon. This time, there were no gray whalesmost were either in the Arctic where they traditionally spend their summers gorging on small shrimp-like crustaceans that they scoop up off the ocean floor, or just starting their southward migration down the North American coastline. Gray whales usually inhabit the lagoon starting in late January and leave by mid-March or April. It is not clear whether the the two pods of orcas consisted of the same individuals. While researchers were able to photograph and identify each of the killer whales in January, a research team was not present to photograph the intrusion last week, said Steven Swartz, a primary researcher with the Laguna San Ignacio Ecosystem Science Project. "Orcas are part of the normal fauna down there," said Swartz, who is based in Maryland when not studying whales in Baja. "They are offshore up and down the Baja coast and in the Gulf of California, so they are not strangers to the area. What was odd is that we've never had any bona fide, verified real time sightings inside the gray whale breeding lagoons." He said that while no killer whale had ever been documented in the lagoon previouslygoing back to whaling records from the mid-1800s, when San Francisco-based whale hunter Charles Melville Scammon slaughtered thousands of gray whales with his crewit wasn't surprising that these social and intelligent animals would find it. "This is the second time we know of, though they may have come in more frequently but we never saw them," he said. "Maybe they came in at night. We don't know. Now whether these guys are just coming in to take a look around and then they'll leave or come back later, we don't know." Earlier this month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that the number of gray whales living along the Eastern North Pacific was down almost 40% from its peak in 2016. In addition, the number of calves born last year was the lowest they've seen since they started taking records. "You know, every calf counts," said Swartz. "As the population is trying to recover ... and calf counts are down and reproduction rates are down, this could be cause for concern. If the orcas come in during the whale season and target gray whale calves, yeah, that's one more strike against recovery of the population." In 2019, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared an "unusual mortality event" after an alarming number of gray whales began washing up along the shore from Mexico to Alaska. Then and now, the cause of the die-off remains elusive, but it appears that something has drastically altered the food web of these large, bottom-feeding cetaceans. Every year, gray whales migrate from the warm, protected lagoons of Mexico's Baja Peninsula to the cold waters of the Arctic and sub-Arctic. Then they return to Mexico, where they mate, give birth and nurse their calves. It's a 12,000-mile round trip migration that leads the whales past North America's busy coastlinethrough shipping lanes, around fishing vessels, near crowded and intrusive tourist boats and occasionally into the maws of hungry orcas. "Killer whales have to make a living, too," said Swartz. "There's obviously concern for the gray whales because they are the regional charismatic megafauna with people coming from all points to see the gray whale. But we care about the other wildlife, too." As to why they are suddenly showing up, neither Swartz nor Hansen seemed to have an answer; "happenstance" seemed to be the most likely driver, said Swartz. However, Swartz noted that the behavior of gray whales and the shallowness of the lagoon may prevent orcas from doing too much damage to the gray whales, should they return while the giants are present. "Gray whales can be extremely defensive, aggressiveespecially if it's a female and her calf is threatened," he said, noting that killer whales hunt in packs, like wolves. "Except in their world they have three dimensions. So they need relatively deep water to go after large prey." Gerardo Freer, a caretaker at Antonio's EcoTours in Laguna San Ignacio, heard about the sighting and said he thinks the killer whales are targeting a colony of sea lions that live on an island deep within the lagoon. 2022 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Rain and winds in the Seattle area are a welcome relief as they pushed out wildfire smoke that has clouded the air for weeks on end. When Seattle recorded the world's worst air quality this week, Washington reached another grim milestone as the duration of exposure to poor air quality hit a 10-year peak. For the first time in at least a decade, the average number of days with moderate or worse air quality in Washington inched closer to a full month, according to data from the state Department of Ecology. In Washington, the wildfire season typically runs from June to September and particularly affects the region east of the Cascades. But this year, for the first time, a significant wildfire smoke event has extended into October in western Washington, where the regional climate is milder and wetter, according to Susan Woodward, spokesperson for the Ecology Department. The last time active wildfire smoke concerns extended into the fall was in 2012, though it remained east of the Cascades in drier, hotter parts of central and eastern Washington, particularly the Wenatchee area. While other sources of air pollution such as vehicular exhaust fumes and industrial pollution, largely in urban areas, may commonly cause a moderate reading on the air quality index, several days in the moderate range this summer were affected by wildfire smoke, Woodward said. On average, between 2016 and 2020, Washington residents were exposed to 34 days of smoky air annually, compared to 22 days from 2009 to 2014, according to a 2021 analysis of federal satellite imagery of smoke waves by NPR's California Newsroom and Stanford University's Environmental Change and Human Outcomes Lab. The greatest exposure to hazardous air was recorded in 2015, when Washington wildfires, the worst in state history, were declared a federal emergency. Though the state has recorded a prolonged exposure to poor air quality this year due to wildfire smoke, the intensity of the exposure is not as hazardous as it has been in previous years, Woodward pointed out. "By comparison, there have been no hazardous days in 2022," Woodward said. A growing body of research on wildfire smoke and its impact on human health shows even short-term exposure has adverse effects. Particle pollution or fine particulate matter, the main component of wildfire smoke, is 10 to 30 times thinner than human hair and can be inhaled deep into lungs and enter the bloodstream. They pose the greatest threat to public health, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Exposure can range from relatively minor effects, like an eye or respiratory tract irritation, to more serious health effects such as exacerbation of asthma, heart failure and premature death, the EPA said. Emerging research has further found that exposure to wildfire smoke is also linked to cognitive decline and pregnancy risks. New research shows wildfire smoke now accounts for up to half of all PM2.5 exposure on the West Coast, compared to less than 20% a decade ago. In fact, the increasingly routine exposure to wildfire smoke is erasing decades of air quality gains and exposing millions of Americans to extreme pollution levels, say researchers at Stanford University. The state Ecology Department is cautious to agree. "Washington has seen significant reductions over decades in all air pollutants we are required to monitor. We don't think these achievements have been erased due to particulate pollution [PM2.5] from this season of wildfire smoke," said Woodward, adding that the growing exposure to wildfire smoke is still concerning. "Its presence is a clear indication of the need for climate action and strategies that improve year-round air quality and reduce the burden on public health." (c)2022 The Seattle Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Research co-led by The University of Queensland has found sharing real-time air quality readings in developing countries can reduce air pollution and lead to lower mortality rates. Dr. Andrea La Nauze from UQ's School of Economics said the project, in conjunction with Carnegie Mellon University in the United States, was sparked by live air quality updates being posted to Twitter. "In 2008, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing began tweeting hourly air quality information from a new pollution monitor, which dramatically increased attention to air pollution in China," Dr. La Nauze said. "U.S. embassies now tweet live air quality readings in 38 non-OECD countries worldwide. "We looked at 36 of those countries and found the sharing of real-time data increased local public interest in air quality and led to reduced air pollution levels." The researchers used air pollution measurements taken from satellite data to evaluate levels before and after the U.S. embassy in a city began tweeting air quality readings, and compared the results with other non-OECD cities without embassy monitors. They found sharing real-time air quality information yielded an average reduction in fine particulate concentration levels of 24 micrograms per cubic meter each year. Fine particulate matter is an air pollutant that can cause serious health problems such as heart disease and reduced lung function. The researchers estimate the reduction in air pollution for the median city was worth an annual $171 million AUD in health benefits. Dr. Akshaya Jha from Carnegie Mellon University said 90 percent of the global population is exposed to hazardous levels of air pollution, but monitoringespecially in developing countriesisn't always available. "Poor air quality is a leading cause of premature death worldwide, responsible for one out of every 9 deaths," Dr. Jha said. "Sharing credible air quality information can highlight this issue and have huge health and economic benefits that far outweigh the costs of the monitoring technology." Dr. La Nauze said the World Health Organization last year found the state of air quality monitoring to be "inadequate," particularly in less developed countries. "Around 30% of countries had at least some form of monitoring by 2018, but that includes monitoring that is intermittent, only covers a small part of the country or isn't available publicly," Dr. La Nauze said. "Even Australiawhere state governments monitor air quality and provide access to real-time datacould benefit substantially from a denser monitoring network. "Policymakers, diplomats and community organizations worldwide should push for the rapid deployment of credible, real-time air quality monitoring and reporting." The research has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. More information: Jha, Akshaya, US Embassy air-quality tweets led to global health benefits, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2201092119. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2201092119 This free interactive self-help resource has been designed by Australian farmers affected by fires, for Australian farmers. Credit: Shutterstock Nearly two years after the devastating bushfires of 20192020, many farming communities are still coming to terms with the impacts. Now, a new online bushfire resourceRecovering After a Farm Fireis hoping to provide Aussie farmers with the support and information they need to help them process and recover after a bushfire. Launched today by the University of South Australia, this free interactive self-help resource has been designed by Australian farmers affected by fires, for Australian farmers. It hopes to share information and practical tools to help farmers and their supporters to adapt effectively if they have experienced a fire, and to prepare psychologically in case of future fires. Led by UniSA Senior Research Fellow and Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Kate Gunn, the new bushfire resource is part of the successful ifarmwell website, to help farmers cope effectively with life's challenges and get the most out of each day. "Growing up on a farm myself, gave me an insight into the ups and downs that farmers face. When farmers in my community were struggling and wondering where to seek confidential, free help, we came up with the ifarmwell website," Dr. Gunn says. "The new bushfire module focuses on equipping farmers with practical strategies that are helpful for coping with a range of challenges, including stress and trauma, which are often experienced by farmers who are significantly affected by fires. "It's based upon things that other farmers affected by bushfires have told us they found helpfulas well as evidence-based psychological techniques. It covers topics such as how to deal with post-bushfire workloads, how to manage stress, anger, and worry, and importantly, how to maintain good relationships with your community and those around you. "Ultimately, it gives farmers practical tools, based upon psychological science and what other farmers have found useful, to help manage their individual situation." The free 3060-minute module can be accessed on a computer, smartphone, or tabletanywhere with internet accessso farmers have the choice to connect from their tractor, shed or home. It includes contributions from 16 farmers who collaborated on the project, to help other farmers who may have faced similar challenges to them. South Australian dairy farmer, Mick Kowald, has been running the family farm for 20 years. In the aftermath of the 2020 bushfires, he worked around the clock as he cleaned up after the fire and kept the farm running. After 34 days of constant work, little sleep, and extreme stress, he ended up in hospital with a panic attack. "I realized I couldn't deal with the bushfire impacts on my own; I had to take a step back and slow down," Kowald says. "The fire was bigger than anything I could fix in a couple of days, and it was going to take a long time to repair the damage on our farm. "So, I took a few days off and stepped back from it all. I spent a lot of time in my veggie patch, I made sure I cut back on the alcohol, I got involved with community recovery efforts, and I spent a lot more time with my family. "After a bushfire event like I've been through, I think it's so important that you really take time to look after yourself, pace yourself, be aware that you may suffer similar things that I've been through." As an advocate and contributor to the ifarmwell site, Mick willingly gave advice on what the new bushfire module should contain and shared his experiences in a video. He says the value lies in the content being specifically tailored to farmers. "The ifarmwell website has been a great resource for me over the years," Kowald says. "Certainly, it takes some time and commitment to work through, but the advice and strategies on the site are all practical and focused for farmers, so it's all very real and relatable. "My advice is simple: keep talking to your mates and neighbors, share your stories, don't be afraid to open up, and seek advice from resources like ifarmwell if you need it." More information: ifarmwell website: ifarmwell.com.au/about Credit: CC0 Public Domain On a hilltop about 95 miles west of Chicago grow plant species that have been there for hundreds, if not thousands of years. The soil is sandy, so when the surrounding lowlands were used for agriculture, the hill remained untouched. From that vantage point, Nachusa Grasslands sprawls below with sections of savanna, a pond frequented by blue herons, patchy spots where bison have grazed, and a red barn to the far north that marks the volunteer and scientist headquarters. Looking out from her favorite view, Elizabeth Bachfeels at the center of it all. Bach, an ecosystem restoration scientist, is the only full-time scientist at Nachusa, responsible for facilitating the more than 40 scientists conducting research at the site and planning how to manage its 4,000 acres through controlled burns and plantings. Nachusa is home to animals across food chains, many of which have relatively stable populations. "This is the goal in ecosystem restoration," Bach said. "You want a system where these natural processes are happening." But Nachusa has shown that people aren't just needed at planting season. Rather, people can improve conservation outcomes through regular management and stewardship of the land. Researchers from Northern Illinois University tested the popular "field of dreams" ecological hypothesis that posits that by reintroducing plant biodiversity into a setting, the wildlife will follow. But the study showed human management, including the reintroduction of a bison herd and regular controlled burns, was six times more effective in improving animal biodiversity than just restoring diverse plant communities. Nachusa Grasslands is a restored swath of prairie, woodland and wetland with plant and animal species native to Illinois. The project began in 1986 when a group of community members bought about 400 acres to bring back the native prairie in its titular state after years of the land being used for agriculture. According to the U.S. National Park Service, prairie is one of the rarest and most endangered ecosystems in the world. Now, the grassland's size is 10 times that and continues to expand with the purchase of new land parcels, something the Nature Conservancy, the nonprofit organization that manages Nachusa, takes every opportunity to do, Bach said. Bach started at the site in 2018, so she hasn't witnessed the huge changes that have occurred at Nachusa. But she has seen memorable shifts. In 2020, the Nature Conservancy bought a former cornfield and built wetlands. Now sandhill cranes, a species often spotted in Chicago that is expanding out across Illinois, use it for foraging. At the grassland, research and conservation intertwine. When the project started, there was no template for bringing back a native landscape, and the key scientific question was simply, "Can we even plant a prairie?" Bach said. Over the years, those questions have become more rigorous and more complex, like "Why is a bison grazing on a milkweed?" Bach's job is to make sure these questions ultimately advance the Nature Conservancy's ability to manage the prairie. Data sets as large as those at Nachusa are rare in ecology research, Bach said. Most grant-funding cycles last three to five years, and getting funding for a project beyond that is a "steep challenge," she said. This means the data may only reflect a few seasons, when natural landscape changes can take much longer. "It's really exciting where there are opportunities to plug into projects that have been able to continue going year after year," she said. Each project and its findings represent a little piece of a puzzle that Bach gets to put together year after year, slowly building a picture of ecosystem restoration. But in this puzzle, there are no edge piecesthe landscape continues to expand. A herd 100 strong Nachusa Grasslands is famous for its bison, the large furry mammal that almost went extinct in the 1800s. In 2014, 30 bison were brought to the site, and in 2015, the first wild calf in over 200 years was born east of the Mississippi. The goal was to get the herd size to 100, which the team at Nachusa hit in 2018, Bach said. Now, the Nature Conservancy transfers some of the bison to other conservation projects in order to control the population size relative to the land. This October, some bison will be moved to Wisconsin to restore the animals to Native American tribes, an initiative led by the InterTribal Buffalo Council. Bison are a keystone species, meaning they have a disproportionate impact on the health of an ecosystem. Their grazing is believed to play a major role in increasing biodiversity, a hypothesis Bach is studying now. "The bison will use an area for a while and they may abandon it, lose interest in it, and then it recolonizes," Bach said. "So this creates new patches in the landscape." At Nachusa, the bison roam wild, untouched by human interference outside of an annual roundup to provide basic veterinary care. They graze over 1,500 acres that is inaccessible to visitors, though scientists conduct research on the land. Within the herd, females stick close to their calves, forming a tight family unit. Male bison may roam off on their own, sometimes popping up where Bach least expects them. They spend the days ambling about, issuing guttural noises and wallowing, when they roll in the dirt to remove flies and leave behind their scent, visible from the poof of a dust cloud. Stable small mammal populations A few fields over, Erin Rowland-Schaefer, a doctoral candidate at NIU, doesn't name the mice she works with, but she does talk to them when collecting data about each catch. "I really do find that talking to them helps everyone stay much more calm," she said. At Nachusa, there are eight fields where researchers set traps for small mammals to determine how many critters are out there. Population data is collected in the spring, summer and fall to estimate each species' size. The traps resemble long metal boxes, stuffed with pieces of cotton when the temperature's low to keep any captured mice or voles warm at night. Arranged in a five-by-five grid system, each team member takes a row to see if a trap is closed. If so, Rowland-Schaefer empties the creature briefly into an open and large Ziploc bag to scan it for a microchip, which would signal that it has already been registered. If it has one, she collects new measurements and lets it go. If not, she grabs the mouse by the extra skin at its neck to measure its tail and legs, and logs a new population member. The data collection takes a week of intensive work, but it's part of an almost decadelong research project on the health and stability of the small mammal population in Nachusa as the habitat has been restored. "The more information you have, the more informed decisions you can make," Rowland-Schaefer said. "Every little piece helps." Small mammal research can be thought of as the link between plant diversity and other animals, Bach said. Small mammals, such as mice and voles, primarily eat seeds, which affects what plant species thrive and where. The small creatures themselves are food for the predators on the grasslands, such as raptors, coyotes and foxes. Over the years, the small mammal populations have remained relatively stable, while more and more rare populations are making an appearance, such as the meadow jumping mouse, Rowland-Schaefer said. Typically, the researchers catch one a year, but over the summer, she caught nine. Inspiring projects and people The success at Nachusa Grasslands has inspired other grassland and savanna restoration projects, such as the Southeastern Grasslands Initiative in Tennessee. Nachusa has also inspired individuals. In September, Booker Moritz made the trek from Charlottesville, Virginia, to Franklin Grove when he heard about a job opportunity at Nachusa to spend the fall collecting and spreading seeds and studying the prairie. To Moritz, Nachusa is an inspiration, and he hopes to take some of the skills he learns in his time there back home for his own efforts. "You can focus in, and rather than think about everything that's happening, what we're doing here is good and beautiful and successful," Moritz said. Previously, Moritz worked in health care and bought land in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. Keeping the lawn perfectly mowed wasn't his style so instead, he planted a section of prairie. He had also worked at the Platte River Prairiesin Nebraska and knew Nachusa was the place to be for studying ecological restoration. Moritz said ecological restoration requires putting aside the fact that this work could be too little, too late in the face of climate change. "You take the perspective that if by chance, we rally together and do something about the extinction crisis, the biodiversity crisis, climate changeif by chance we do something, you want these refuges left where we can build from," Moritz said. "You can't just give up and sit on the sidelines, that's not accomplishing anything." 2022 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A 20-year-old Aurora man accused of stabbing his mother to death in July was recently extradited to Kane County after fleeing to Wisconsin, officials said. Abel Quinones-Herstad, of the first block of Jackson Place, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Edith Gonzalez-Alarcon, 55, Kane County States Attorneys Office officials said in a news release Monday. Advertisement Quinones-Herstad is accused of stabbing Gonzalez-Alarcon multiple times in the torso on July 14, causing her death, inside the Jackson Place home the two shared, according to the release. Police previously said they received a call around 8:30 a.m. July 15 from a man who reported that his brother arrived at his home and told him he had done something bad to their mother. Upon arrival, police found the mother dead inside her home. Advertisement Quinones-Herstad then fled to Wisconsin, according to officials. A Kane County judge issued a warrant for his arrest and West Allis, Wisconsin, police officers took him into custody. A Milwaukee County judge then ordered Quinones-Herstad to be extradited back to Kane County after a hearing, officials said. Quinones-Herstads bail has been set at $2 million and he is due back in court on Nov. 3. mejones@chicagotribune.com Desks are spaced apart ahead of planned in-person learning at an elementary school on March 19, 2021, in Philadelphia. The COVID-19 pandemic spared no state or region as it caused historic learning setbacks for Americas children, erasing decades of academic progress and widening racial disparities, according to results of a national test that provide the sharpest look yet at the scale of the crisis. Credit: AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File The COVID-19 pandemic caused historic learning setbacks for America's children, sparing no state or region as it erased decades of academic progress and widened racial disparities, according to results of a national test that provide the sharpest look yet at the scale of the crisis. Across the country, math scores saw their largest decreases ever. Reading scores dropped to 1992 levels. Nearly four in 10 eighth graders failed to grasp basic math concepts. Not a single state saw a notable improvement in their average test scores, with some simply treading water at best. Those are the findings from the National Assessment of Educational Progressknown as the "nation's report card"which tested hundreds of thousands of fourth and eighth graders across the country this year. It was the first time the test had been given since 2019, and it's seen as the first nationally representative study of the pandemic's impact on learning. "It is a serious wakeup call for us all," Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, a branch of the Education Department, said in an interview. "In NAEP, when we experience a 1- or 2-point decline, we're talking about it as a significant impact on a student's achievement. In math, we experienced an 8-point declinehistoric for this assessment." Researchers usually think of a 10-point gain or drop as equivalent to roughly a year of learning. It's no surprise that children are behind. The pandemic upended everyday life and left millions learning from home for months or more. The results released Monday reveal the depth of those setbacks and the size of the challenge schools face as they help students catch up. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said it's a sign that schools need to redouble their efforts, using billions of dollars that Congress gave schools to help students recover. "Let me be very clear: These results are not acceptable," Cardona said. The NAEP test is typically given every two years. It was taken between January and March by a sample of students in every state, along with 26 of the nation's largest school districts. Scores had been stalling even before the pandemic, but the new results show decreases on a scale not seen before. In both math and reading, students scored lower than those tested in 2019. But while reading scores dipped, math scores plummeted by the largest margins in the history of the NAEP program, which began in 1969. Math scores were worst among eighth graders, with 38% earning scores deemed "below basic"a cutoff that measures, for example, whether students can find the third angle of a triangle if they're given the other two. That's worse than 2019, when 31% of eighth graders scored below that level. No part of the country was exempt. Every region saw test scores slide, and every state saw declines in at least one subject. Several major districts saw test scores fall by more than 10 points. Cleveland saw the largest single drop, falling 16 points in fourth-grade reading, along with a 15-point decline in fourth-grade math. Baltimore and Tennessee's Shelby County also saw precipitous declines. "This is more confirmation that the pandemic hit us really hard," said Eric Gordon, chief executive for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. To help students recover, the school system has beefed up summer school and added after-school tutoring. "I'm not concerned that they can't or won't recover," Gordon said. "I'm concerned that the country won't stay focused on getting kids caught up." Peggy Carr, Commissioner of the National Center for Education, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press about the National Assessment of Education Process, Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, in Washington. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon The results show a reversal of progress on math scores, which had made big gains since the 1990s. Reading, by contrast, had changed little in recent decades, so even this year's relatively small decreases put the averages back to where they were in 1992. Most concerning, however, are the gaps between students. Confirming what many had feared, racial inequities appear to have widened. In fourth grade, Black and Hispanic students saw bigger decreases than white students, widening gaps that have persisted for decades. Inequities were also reflected in a growing gap between higher and lower performing students. In math and reading, scores fell most sharply among the lowest performing students, creating a widening chasm between struggling students and the rest of their peers. Surveys done as part of this year's test illustrate the divide. When schools shifted to remote learning, higher performing students were far more likely to have reliable access to quiet spaces, computers and help from their teachers, the survey found. The results make clear that schools must address the "long-standing and systemic shortcomings of our education system," said Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of Los Angeles schools and a member of the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets the policies for the test. Many parents may not understand just how far behind their children are academically. A spring survey by the national nonprofit Learning Heroes found the majority of parents believed their children were performing at or above their grade level in math and reading. "There's a myth that parents just don't want to know. That the country just wants to get back to normal," said Sonja Santelises, chief executive officer of Baltimore City Public Schools. "But parents are very concerned." Some parents blame schools for not clearly communicating learning gaps. In Nashville, a parent advocacy group is pushing the school system to share clearer information about student progressand to create personal plans to help students catch up. "Every student has the right to be taught to read, but we failed at that," said Sonya Thomas, a mother who is the executive director of Nashville PROPEL. "That's creating social emotional problems. That's creating workforce problems. That's creating life and death problems." Other recent studies have found that students who spent longer periods learning online suffered greater setbacks. But the NAEP results show no clear connection. Areas that returned to the classroom quickly still saw significant declines, and citieswhich were more likely to stay remote longeractually saw milder decreases than suburban districts. Los Angeles can claim one of few bright spots. The nation's second-largest school district saw eighth-grade reading scores increase by 9 points, the only significant uptick in any district. For other districts, it was a feat just to hold even, as achieved by Dallas and Florida's Hillsborough County. Testing critics caution against putting too much stock in standardized exams, but there's no doubt that the skills it aims to measure are critical. Students who take longer to master reading are more likely to drop out and end up in the criminal justice system, research has found, and eighth grade is seen as a pivotal time to develop skills for math and science careers. For Carr, the results raise new questions about what will happen to students who appear to be far behind in attaining those skills. "We want our students to be prepared globally for STEM careers, science and technology and engineering," she said. "This puts all of that at risk. We have to do a reset. This is a very serious issue, and it's not going to go away on its own." 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. An interior cutaway of the early Earth highlighting its major geodynamic processes. Magnetic field lines are drawn in blue and red emanating from the liquid core that generated them, while plate tectonic forces rearrange the surface and play a role in the churning circulation of the rocky mantle below. Credit: Alec Brenner New research analyzing pieces of the most ancient rocks on the planet adds some of the sharpest evidence yet that Earth's crust was pushing and pulling in a manner similar to modern plate tectonics at least 3.25 billion years ago. The study also provides the earliest proof of when the planet's magnetic north and south poles swapped places. The two results offer clues into how such geological changes may have resulted in an environment more conducive to the development of life on the planet. The work, described in PNAS and led by Harvard geologists Alec Brenner and Roger Fu, focused on a portion of the Pilbara Craton in western Australia, one of the oldest and most stable pieces of the Earth's crust. Using novel techniques and equipment, the researchers show that some of the Earth's earliest surface was moving at a rate of 6.1 centimeters per year and 0.55 degrees every million years. That speed more than doubles the rate the ancient crust was shown to be moving in a previous study by the same researchers. Both the speed and direction of this latitudinal drift leaves plate tectonics as the most logical and strongest explanations for it. "There's a lot of work that seems to suggest that early in Earth's history plate tectonics wasn't actually the dominant way in which the planet's internal heat gets released as it is today through the shifting of plates," said Brenner, a Ph.D. candidate in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and member of Harvard's Paleomagnetics Lab. "This evidence lets us much more confidently rule out explanations that don't involve plate tectonics." For example, the researchers can now argue against phenomena called "true polar wander" and "stagnant lid tectonics," which can both cause the Earth's surface to shift but aren't part of modern-style plate tectonics. The results lean more toward plate tectonic motion because the newly discovered higher rate of speed is inconsistent with aspects of the other two processes. In the paper, the scientists also describe what's believed to be the oldest evidence of when Earth reversed its geomagnetic fields, meaning the magnetic North and South Pole flipped locations. This type of flip-flop is a common occurrence in Earth's geologic history with the pole's reversing 183 times in the last 83 million years and perhaps several hundred times in the past 160 million years, according to NASA. The reversal tells a great deal about the planet's magnetic field 3.2 billion years ago. Key among these implications is that the magnetic field was likely stable and strong enough to keep solar winds from eroding the atmosphere. This insight, combined with the results on plate tectonics, offers clues to the conditions under which the earliest forms of life developed. "It paints this picture of an early earth that was already really geodynamically mature," Brenner said. "It had a lot of the same sorts of dynamic processes that result in an Earth that has essentially more stable environmental and surface conditions, making it more feasible for life to evolve and develop." Today, the Earth's outer shell consists of about 15 shifting blocks of crust, or plates, which hold the planet's continents and oceans. Over eons the plates drifted into each other and apart, forming new continents and mountains and exposing new rocks to the atmosphere, which led to chemical reactions that stabilized Earth's surface temperature over billions of years. Evidence of when plate tectonics started is hard to come by because the oldest pieces of crust are thrust into the interior mantle, never to resurface. Only 5 percent of all rocks on Earth are older than 2.5 billion years old, and no rock is older than about 4 billion years. Overall, the study adds to growing research that tectonic movement occurred relatively early in Earth's 4.5-billion-year history and that early forms of life came about in a more moderate environment. Members of the project revisited the Pilbara Craton in 2018, which stretches about 300 miles across. They drilled into the primordial and thick slab of crust there to collect samples that, back in Cambridge, were analyzed for their magnetic history. Using magnetometers, demagnetizing equipment, and the Quantum Diamond Microscopewhich images the magnetic fields of a sample and precisely identifies the nature of the magnetized particlesthe researchers created a suite of new techniques for determining the age and way the samples became magnetized. This allows the researchers to determine how, when, and which direction the crust shifted as well as the magnetic influence coming from Earth's geomagnetic poles. The Quantum Diamond Microscope was developed in a collaboration between Harvard researchers in the Departments of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) and of Physics. For future studies, Fu and Brenner plan keep their focus on the Pilbara Craton while also looking beyond it to other ancient crusts around the world. They hope to find older evidence of modern-like plate motion and when the Earth's magnetic poles flipped. "Finally being able to reliably read these very ancient rocks opens up so many possibilities for observing a time period that often is known more through theory than solid data," said Fu, professor of EPS in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. "Ultimately, we have a good shot at reconstructing not just when tectonic plates started moving, but also how their motionsand therefore the deep-seated Earth interior processes that drive themhave changed through time." Human remains from Kendricks Cave (North Wales) which date to around 13,600 year old. Credit: R.Stevens The first genetic data from Paleolithic human individuals in the U.K.the oldest human DNA obtained from the British Isles so farindicates the presence of two distinct groups that migrated to Britain at the end of the last ice age, according to new research. Published today in Nature Ecology and Evolution, the new study by UCL Institute of Archaeology, the Natural History Museum and the Francis Crick Institute researchers reveals for the first time that the recolonization of Britain consisted of at least two groups with distinct origins and cultures. The study team explored DNA evidence from an individual from Gough's Cave, Somerset, and an individual from Kendrick's Cave, North Wales, who both lived more than 13,500 years ago. Very few skeletons of this age exist in Britain, with around a dozen found across six sites in total. The study, which involved radiocarbon dating and analysis as well as DNA extraction and sequencing, shows that it is possible to obtain useful genetic information from some of the oldest human skeletal material in the country. The authors say that these genome sequences now represent the earliest chapter of the genetic history of Britain, but ancient DNA and proteins promise to take us back even further into human history. The researchers found that the DNA from the individual from Gough's Cave, who died about 15,000 years ago, indicates that her ancestors were part of an initial migration into northwest Europe around 16,000 years ago. However, the individual from Kendrick's Cave is from a later period, around 13,500 years ago, with his ancestry from a western hunter-gatherer group. This group's ancestral origins are thought to be from the near East, migrating to Britain around 14,000 years ago. Study co-author Dr. Mateja Hajdinjak (Francis Crick Institute) said, "Finding the two ancestries so close in time in Britain, only a millennium or so apart, is adding to the emerging picture of Paleolithic Europe, which is one of a changing and dynamic population." The authors note that these migrations occurred after the last ice age when approximately two-thirds of Britain was covered by glaciers. As the climate warmed and the glaciers melted, drastic ecological and environmental changes took place and humans began to move back into northern Europe. Study co-author Dr. Sophy Charlton, who undertook the study whilst at the Natural History Museum, said, "The period we were interested in, from 2010,000 years ago, is part of the Paleolithicthe Old Stone Age. This is an important time period for the environment in Britain, as there would have been significant climate warming, increases in the amount of forest, and changes in the type of animals available to hunt." Human jaw from Kendricks Cave dated to approximately 13,600 year ago. DNA was analyzed from this individual. Credit: R. Stevens As well as genetically, the two groups were found to be culturally distinct, with differences in what they ate and how they buried their dead. Study co-author Dr. Rhiannon Stevens (UCL Institute of Archaeology) said, "Chemical analyses of the bones showed that the individuals from Kendrick's Cave ate a lot of marine and freshwater foods, including large marine mammals. "Humans at Gough's Cave, however, showed no evidence of eating marine and freshwater foods, and primarily ate terrestrial herbivores such as red deer, bovids (such as wild cattle called aurochs) and horses." The researchers discovered that the mortuary practices of the two groups also differed. Although there were animal bones found at Kendrick's Cave, these included portable art items, such as a decorated horse jawbone. No animal bones were found that showed evidence of being eaten by humans, and the scientists say that this indicates the cave was used as a burial site by its occupiers. Sampling Kendricks Cave human remains for ancient DNA. Credit: T Booth In contrast, animal and human bones found in Gough's Cave showed significant human modification, including human skulls modified into "skull-cups," which the researchers believe to be evidence for ritualistic cannibalism. Individuals from this earlier population seem to be the same people who created the Magdalenian stone tools, a culture known also for iconic cave art and bone artifacts. Gough's Cave is also the site where Britain's famous Cheddar Man was discovered in 1903, dated to 10,5649,915 years BP. In this study, Cheddar Man was found to have a mixture of ancestries, mostly (85%) western hunter-gatherer and some (15%) of the older type from the initial migration. Co-author Dr. Selina Brace (Natural History Museum) said, "We really wanted to find out more about who these early populations in Britain might have been. "We knew from our previous work, including the study of Cheddar Man, that western hunter-gatherers were in Britain by around 10,500 years BP, but we didn't know when they first arrived in Britain, and whether this was the only population that was present." The bison have been released into a large wild enclosure, where their impact on the woodland is being monitored. Credit: Donovan Wright A herd of bison released into woodland near Canterbury, Kent, have surprised conservationists by giving birth to a calf. The animals are part of a rewilding project being run by the Kent Wildlife Trust and the Wildwood Trust to see how the large herbivores could help boost biodiversity and play a role in tackling the climate crisis. Only a few months after they were released into a semi-wild enclosure in southern England, the first European bison to roam the British countryside in thousands of years have given birth to a calf. In July 2022 three female bison were reintroduced to a woodland in Kent as part of a rewilding project that aims to return the forest to a more natural and biodiverse habitat. It is now known that one of these females was already pregnant before being released. "It is difficult to detect pregnancy in bison as they naturally conceal being in calf to avoid being hunted by predators, it is a survival mechanism," explains Tom Gibbs, one of the two dedicated Bison Rangers at the Wilder Blean bison project. "Though it was a surprise to see that the younger female bison had given birth, it was always a possibility, and we have created a care plan for the calf to ensure their needs are met. These animals are wild, so we want to remain as hands-off as possible, but their welfare is at the absolute heart of what we do." The calf was discovered on September 9 after its mother disappeared into the forest to give birth in secluded location. The healthy new addition is doing well and is already nibbling leaves and running around the rest of the herd. Smaller than their American counterparts, European bison are better suited to living in the more confined woodlands that once stretched across much of the continent. The bison in this project have been released into a large wild enclosure where they are being monitored to see what impact they have on the woodland. Credit: Natural History Museum Peering into the past In the early twentieth century the European bison, or wisent, was nearly driven to extinction. The animals were hunted so extensively that they only survived thanks to a small number of captive individuals in zoos. Over the following century the animals were bred and released back into the wild across much of eastern Europe, with further reintroductions having taken place more recently in the west of the continent. Wild populations are now found scattered across Poland, Belarus, Denmark, Romania, Germany and France, amongst many other nations. European bison were once an important part of the landscape in the U.K. The large herbivores are what are known as ecosystem engineers, meaning that as they move through the woodlands in which they live they alter it in ways that can benefit a huge range of other wildlife. This is done in a number of ways, from creating pathways through the trees that can be used by other animals to opening up watering holes and mud baths that provide a greater diversity of habitats. The bison in Kent give us a glimpse of what the U.K.'s woodlands would once have looked like when people first started inhabiting the island thousands of years ago. However, projects to reintroduce bison to the U.K. are not without controversy. This is because the animals are thought to have gone extinct in the U.K. at the end of the last ice age not as a result of human interference, but after environmental conditions changed and became unfavorable for bison. European bison, or wisent, were nearly hunted to extinction in Europe but were pulled back from the brink through breeding programs and reintroductions. Credit: Shutterstock/Film Studio Aves This has led some conservationists to argue that the animals should not be considered native in the same way that beavers or wolves are, and so should not be released back into the wild. Yet, despite this, there is a growing movement to return bison to the countryside, not least as a proxy for other large herbivores such as aurochs which were found in the U.K. and are now extinct. This new little bison has been an unexpected bonus for the project in Kent, which was already planning to grow the herd in the future. According to the team, it is being well looked after by the rest of the bison. "This is an exciting development within a pioneering project," says Paul Hadaway, the Director of Conservation for Kent Wildlife Trust. "European Bison are an incredible species, which were on the brink of extinction after the First World War." "To think that their numbers now swell beyond 9,000 is a true testament to the commitment and dedication of international breeding efforts and, as an organization, Kent Wildlife Trust are privileged to now be part of that journey." The bison will continue to be monitored by scientists, including some from the Museum, to fully understand what impact they have on the forest. The image of NGC 4324 in combined colors taken from the SDSS survey, DR9. Credit: Ahn et al., 2012. Using the Caucasus Mountain Observatory, Russian astronomers have investigated a nearby lenticular galaxy known as NGC 4324. They detected young star-forming complexes in the inner ring of this galaxy. The findings, presented October 14 on arXiv.org, could improve our knowledge about the formation and evolution of NGC 4324. Located some 85 million light years away in the constellation Virgo, NGC 4324 (also known as UGC 07451) is an early-type lenticular galaxy about 66,000 light years in size. It has a stellar mass of some 56 billion solar masses, while its total mass is estimated to be at least 10 times greater. Previous observations of NGC 4324 have found that it contains a significant amount of gas and have revealed its remarkable structurea bright blue ring of star formation embedded in a large-scale stellar disk typical for lenticular galaxies. A team of astronomers from the Lomonosov Moscow State University in Russia, led by Irina Proshina, inspected the pattern of star formation in the ring of NGC 4324. For this purpose, they used the 2.5-m telescope at the Caucasus Mountain Observatory. The study was complemented by archival images from the SDSS, GALEX and WISE surveys. "We decided to take full images of the galaxy NGC 4324 in narrow photometric bands centered on the H and [NII]6583 emission lines with the MaNGaL instrumenta mapper with a tunable filter.... The observations were carried out on April 17, 2018, with the 2.5-m telescope at the Caucasus Mountain Observatory," the researchers wrote in the paper. All in all, the study detected 18 young star-forming complexes (clumps) with a mean size of about 1,600 light years. The largest clumps turned out to have estimated stellar masses reaching 10 million solar masses. The results suggest that the starbursts in these clumps have begun quite recentlywithin 10 million years. The astronomers explained that the stars that could be formed during a previous starburst that took place about 200 million years ago, cannot contribute now to the far-ultraviolet (FUV) luminosity having already exploded, or their luminosity peak has now shifted to the near-ultraviolet (NUV), leading to the observed dip in the FUV of the clumps. According to the research, there is a regularity in the distribution of star-forming complexes in the ring of NGC 4324. This suggests that the physical star formation mechanisms over local scales are the same in spiral and lenticular galaxies. The researchers concluded that their findings confirm the hypothesis about the possible feeding of the disk in NGC 4324 with gas through the infall of gas-rich satellite galaxies or giant clouds. "Clumps are formed in the ring due to the gravitational instability, in which star formation ignites. The subsequent star formation triggers in the gaseous ring are probably the shock waves from evolving complexes of massive OB starsthe first formed clusters of young stars in the gaseous clumps. In addition, the infall of a satellite or a giant gas cloud onto the galactic disk can serve as a trigger of another starburst. Thus, the chain of 'gaseous clumpsstar complexes' observed by us is a chain of the propagation of star formation both in space (in the ring) and in time," the authors of the paper explained. More information: I. S. Proshina, A. V. Moiseev, O. K. Sil'chenko, Young Star-Forming Complexes in the Ring of the S0 galaxy NGC 4324. arXiv:2210.07786v1 [astro-ph.GA], arxiv.org/abs/2210.07786 2022 Science X Network CAMBRIDGE Railfans from all over the Northeast converged on Cambridge on Saturday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Batten Kill Railroad, southern Washington Countys short-line connection to the national rail system. Parked on the rails between Cambridges old passenger depot, now Argyle Brewing Co.s tavern, and the former freight yard, now part of the Hubbard Hall campus, were four diesel-electric locomotives and a caboose, all either active on the line or similar to rolling stock that served in the area. Two of the locomotives, newly painted in blue, yellow, and silver-gray, were provided by Southern New England Railroad. A black and yellow locomotive and red caboose came courtesy of Raven Rail, the contractor that recently started the Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson Railway in Saratoga and Warren counties. One of BKRRs two locomotives, wearing the orange paint of the former Greenwich & Johnsonville Railroad, stood outside the freight depot. Its sister locomotive, organizers said, was at work. Railfans laden with cameras strolled around the rail yard, taking advantage of a rare opportunity to photograph four Alco (American Locomotive Company, of Schenectady) locomotives in the same place. I used to see engines like this in North Adams, said Dave Hoberg, a railfan and model railroader from Pittsfield, Massachusetts. I watched some of the equipment be destroyed after D&H (Delaware & Hudson) went into bankruptcy. To see a short line like the Batten Kill have these engines in working condition is a very pleasant sight. Lectures, held in the freight depot from noon to 5 p.m., were standing room only. Colin Buchowski spoke about the history of the BKRR and its origins, illustrated with historic photos and his own photographs. Buchowski grew up in Salem near the railroad tracks and proudly showed the first photo he ever took of a BKRR train. As a young adult, he spent two years working for the railroad. Mostly he did the heavy labor of replacing ties, but Buchowski recalled it as the best time of my life. Ken Karlewicz, who has been photographing the BKRR since 1985, called the short line a museum that hasnt yet realized its a museum. The BKRR began in the early 1980s when freight carrier Delaware & Hudson pulled out of the area. The southern Washington County paper mills that had been the mainstay of D&Hs business were shutting down and D&H saw no future for the tracks connecting Eagle Bridge, Cambridge, Salem, Greenwich and Thomson. Ron Crowd, a draftsman with the state Department of Transportation, bought the branch line in 1981 and ran his first train in 1982. If it werent for the the Agway feed mill being built in Salem in the 1970s, there would be no Batten Kill Railroad today, Karlewicz said. Feed and fertilizer shipments for the Agway mill, now owned by Cargill, and the nearby CaroVail facility have kept the BKRR in business for the last 40 years. Buchowski and Karlewicz spoke highly of Bill Taber, BKRRs owner and president. Taber started as a conductor on the BKRRs short-lived excursion train in 1984 and took over after Crowd died in 2008. Taber, Buchowski and Karlewicz said, will do any job to keep the train running and ensure that customers receive their orders on time. Karlewicz showed photos of Taber atop the engine on a brutally cold day, doggedly tearing apart an ice-encrusted air horn because the train couldnt run unless the horn was fully functional. Karlewicz, from Rockland County, plans to publish a book of his BKRR photos in the spring of 2024. I have a passion for this region and the railroad that serves it, he said. Some of his most striking photos of the train passing through woodlands, farms, and villages were taken with a drone he acquired in 2019. The drone opened up whole new realms of perspective, Karlewicz said, allowing him to photograph from angles that previously had been impossible. Even more important were the stories behind the photos. Karlewicz described a community of people dedicated to keeping the railroad running despite steep odds and the railfans who share a love of it. David Coppola owns Southern New England Railroad. We allow the Batten Kill to use our locomotives, he said. We go all over the Northeast. The locomotives here provide a service to the Batten Kill and are part of its history. The celebration was very much a last-minute event, said Coppola, who organized the event with Karlewicz. We only had about six weeks, but it all came together. Its good that its a community effort. Argyle Brewing hosted and Hubbard Hall opened the freight depot for the history presentations, Karlewicz said. The big turnout was something of a surprise. We set out 50 chairs in the freight depot, Coppola said. We didnt think wed have standing room only. The BKRRs tracks are owned by Northeastern New York Rail Preservation Group, a nonprofit whose mission is to preserve rail and its history in Washington County, Coppola said. BKRR is its tenant. A professionally lighted night shoot of the locomotives, held Saturday after sunset, was a benefit for Northeast Rail. We want to bring awareness to Northeast Rail and raise money for its projects, Coppola said. KINGSBURY Five people have been arrested in connection with a Friday break-in in which guns were stolen at Calamity Janes Firearms and Fine Shoes store on Dix Avenue. Martin R. Taft, 47, of Salem, and Jonathan E. Combs, 42, of Wells, Vermont, were charged with the felonies of third-degree grand larceny, first-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree burglary, according to authorities. Taft and Combs were arrested Saturday, according to Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey Murphy. Taft and Combs broke into the store in the early morning hours of Friday and stole several firearms, according to a Sheriffs Office news release. The two men are being held without bail pending arraignment in County Court. Also arrested in connection with the case was Billie Jo Parker, 47, of Hudson Falls, who was charged with the felonies of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree criminal possession of stolen property. Sean C. Parmeter, 55, of Hudson Falls, was charged with the felonies of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. Parker and Parmeter were both arraigned in Washington County Centralized Arraignment Court in Fort Edward and released on their own recognizance. Also charged was Penny R. Phillips, 47, of Salem, who was arrested on third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, first-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony, and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor. Phillips was arrested by state police in Warren County. She was arraigned and taken to Warren County Jail. Four Atlantic County residents were arrested in a large-scale seizure of drugs and other contraband in Stafford Township last week. The arrests and seizure were the culmination of a seven-month investigation, labeled Beetlejuice, into drugs that had been connected to dozens of overdoses in the area, according to a Stafford Township Police Department post on Facebook. New Jersey State Police and the Stafford Township Drug Enforcement Unit carried out the search, seizure and arrests Oct. 18 at about 5:30 a.m. Nine search warrants were obtained and executed during the investigation, targeting residences, storage facilities and vehicles. The news release said unspecified advanced techniques were used during the investigation. Stafford police said they found 13,000 wax paper folds of heroin and fentanyl; 100 grams of cocaine and 71.3 grams of crack cocaine; 24.3 grams of methamphetamine; and narcotics packaging material. Police said the searches also yielded four handguns; one Bushmaster .233 AR-15 rifle; ammunition and magazines; and a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver that had been reported stolen in Galloway Township. They also seized a 2015 Grand Jeep Cherokee and $14,205 cash in the search. Kai Sylvester, a 27-year-old man from Somers Point, is alleged to be the main distributor of the drugs and was among those arrested Oct. 18. Three Atlantic City residents Javon Brooks, 39; Leland Loftin, 49; and Abdul Shakur Hopewell, 28 are alleged to have been Sylvesters accomplices. The investigation began in April after Stafford law enforcement allegedly found wax folds stamped Beetlejuice from the scenes of several heroin and fentanyl overdoses. The pattern prompted the State Polices Crime Suppression South Unit in Atlantic City to join the investigation of the alleged regional drug ring. Other agencies involved in the investigation included the Atlantic County Sheriffs Office, Atlantic and Ocean County SWAT, Barnegat Township Crime Reduction Unit and the Ocean County Narcotics Strike Force, as well as the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. Police allege the source of the Beetlejuice heroin and fentanyl was related to 39 overdoses, including 22 that were lethal in Stafford Township and in unspecified locations in Atlantic County. Brooks, Hopewell and Sylvester were each charged with various drug-distribution, weapons and organized-crime offenses and taken to the Atlantic County Jail. Loftin was charged with a third-degree drug offense and released on criminal compliant summonses pending a future date to appear in Atlantic County Superior Court. The polices Facebook post stressed that there is a presumption of innocence due to the accused. NORTH WILDWOOD The state Department of Environmental Protection ordered dune and bulkhead repairs be stopped immediately after the city went ahead with the work despite not having the proper permits or authorization. The city is charged with violating the Coastal Area Facilities Review Act (CAFRA) by proceeding with the work to reshape dunes and install a bulkhead in the area of the 15th Street beach, according to a letter issued by the state DEP on Oct. 20. City officials say the situation is an emergency and they had no choice but to proceed despite being told no. Officials are discussing the matter with the citys legal team, Administrator Nicholas Long said Monday. The city initially appealed to the DEP for emergency authorization for the work after remnants of Hurricane Ian left cliffs about 10 feet high along a stretch of the citys beaches. People try to climb and go up and down, and its dangerous, along with numerous other reasons why we had to take immediate actions and grade those dunes, Long said. The DEP sent a letter to North Wildwood on Oct. 7, then another on Oct. 12, saying the city had permission only to deploy jersey barriers around 15th and 16th streets. Jersey barriers are concrete barriers seen on roadways for traffic control. The charges against the city are for noncompliance with the DEP request denial and for not obtaining a CAFRA permit to move on the project. DEP sent a letter to Mayor Patrick Rosenello informing him of the violations. The letter is signed by Michele Kropilak, manager of the Bureau of Coastal and Land Use Compliance and Enforcement. Penalties may be assessed on a daily basis for each violation, DEPs Oct. 20 letter reads. The letter doesnt say what those penalties may be. DEP spokesperson Caryn Shinske provided the letter to The Press, adding that the Department has no further comment. The city issued a letter to DEP last Thursday confirming it would proceed with emergency repairs regardless of the DEPs stance, saying it found an immediate threat to safety. The DEP, however, initially declined the emergency authorization because it found no such threats, and that proceeding with the work risks further beach erosion. In its letter, the city acknowledged it faced possible violations from the state but said it has no choice in the absence of a meaningful beach replenishment program. Rosenello previously has said the beaches were desperate for the repairs. The city lost upward of 75% of its dunes following Ian, he said. Various shore towns suffered erosion when Ian dropped days of rain along the shore and contributed to strong waves that washed away sand. Ian initially made landfall in the U.S. on Sept. 28, slamming into Florida and ravaging a portion of its west coast. The latest violations arent the first handed to the city by the DEP. In 2020, the city received a violation notice for what the DEP said was destruction of 12 acres of mature, vegetated dunes and the construction of over 2,000 feet of bulkhead, all of which was done without proper permitting. Rosenello suggested the states accusations were retaliation for him criticizing the state government. Long said Monday that the city still is unaware of why its initial authorization request was denied. But, given the need to keep people safe, the city is in a predicament where it cant leave the cliffs unattended, he said. Im not sure why the DEP doesnt believe that it wasnt an immediate risk, Long said. We believe that it is and took immediate action. The River Bend Food Bank and the Nahant Marsh Education Center are partnering to buy 70 acres of land adjacent to both entities for $1.3 million to expand both organizations. The sale with the Three N Corp., comprised of members of the Nobis family of Davenport, is expected to close by the end of this year. The food bank, which serves a 23-county area in Iowa and Illinois, approached Nahant about a joint purchase because it needs land to expand its warehouse, office space and parking, Nancy Renkes, president and CEO of the food bank, said in an email. For its part, Nahant is always looking for chances to add to its current 300-plus-acre wetland because the bigger it is, the more ecological benefits it can provide more habitat for wildlife and more area to absorb flood waters, Brian Ritter, executive director of the Nahant center, said. More land also allows for additional educational, recreational and research opportunities, he said. Renkes said the deal, is a win-win for both nonprofits. River Bend is buying the property and will sell 60 acres to Nahant for $1,014,500. The food bank will keep 10 acres directly south of its current building at 4010 Kimmell Drive for expansion, making its net cost $339,500, Renkes said. The food bank is in the midst of a capital campaign to raise $8.4 million for its expansion; it has raised $6.2 million so far, Renkes said. We need to optimize our space to ensure that food is rescued, sorted, stored and distributed safely, she wrote. This expansion will allow us to do that. It will take over land south of the existing building that now is a parking lot, pushing it farther south across Kimmel Drive and onto the 10 acres of new land. Even without the expansion, parking has become a critical need, Renkes said. On a regular basis we run out of parking spots, which then requires parking on the grass or the side of the road, which is not safe, she wrote. The food bank hopes to begin the warehouse expansion in April 2023, but we are cautious about that day, due to delays happening in the construction world right now, Renkes said. The food bank, founded in 1982 in Moline, moved in 2014 to the 60,000-square-foot warehouse in Davenport. Working with 400 hunger-relief partners, it provides food where it is needed, including meal sites and food pantries. In fiscal 2021-22, it distributed 17.2 million meals. Nahants plans The 60 acres Nahant is buying border the existing marsh on the north and east sides and have long been viewed as an acquisition priority because the acreage will add to the long-term health of the marsh, Ritter said. They are a missing piece of pie, he said. Ideas for use are included in a new, draft master plan for the marsh that was released earlier this month. To improve the quality of the land currently farm ground and some wetland Nahant is considering turning much of it into a wetland mitigation bank, similar to what it did with about 40 acres it purchased in 2018 between the education center and the Mississippi River. Under that arrangement, Nahant replanted the area in native plant species and will receive income under provisions in the federal Clean Water Act by selling credits to an entity that needs to offset its environmental impact because of wetland destruction. Nahant also expects to re-meander a stream that has been straightened, thereby slowing water flow and creating new habitat for fish and frogs. New public recreational trails would be built in concert with the wetland creation and would use the River Bend Food Bank parking area as a trail head. Further into the future, the high ground of the new acreage could become the site of a nature-based preschool. A similar school at the Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids is flourishing and might be a good addition to Nahant, Ritter said. Money for the purchase is coming from previous fundraising and the anticipated receipt of a grant that is pending with Destination Iowa, a state program, Ritter said. The land currently is farm ground with some wetland area; Nahant will rent the land for farming until it is ready to begin its own work, Ritter said. CPC unveils new top leadership for new journey toward modernization 08:20, October 24, 2022 By Xinhua writers Wang Cong, Li Zhihui ( Xinhua Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, addresses the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 23, 2022. Xi Jinping and the other newly elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi met the press on Sunday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) on Sunday unveiled its new top leadership, which will lead the world's most populous nation on its new journey toward a great modern socialist country in all respects. Xi Jinping was elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee at the first plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee following the Party's twice-a-decade national congress. Greeted by rapturous rounds of applause, Xi led Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi onto a red-carpeted stage at the Great Hall of the People. They are members of the newly-elected Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. According to the Party Constitution, the highest leading bodies of the Party are the National Congress and the Central Committee which it elects. Between plenary sessions of the Central Committee, the Political Bureau and its Standing Committee shall exercise the functions and powers of the Central Committee. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and the other newly elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, meet the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) The 20th CPC Central Committee was elected Saturday at the closing session of the 20th CPC National Congress. Speaking to over 600 journalists from home and abroad, Xi hailed the congress as one that held high its banner, pooled all the strength, and promoted solidarity and dedication. Xi expressed gratitude for the trust the whole Party has placed in the new central leadership. "We shall keep in mind the Party's nature and purpose and our own mission and responsibility, and work diligently in the performance of our duty, to prove worthy of the great trust of the Party and our people," he said. Xi said China, having completed its building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, is now taking confident strides on a new journey to turn China into a modern socialist country in all respects. That journey, one that is "filled with glories and dreams," will see China advance toward the second centenary goal, and embrace the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, Xi said. In its two-step strategic plan, the CPC aims 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. The world's second largest economy is walking on a model of modernization that has not been seen before -- 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. "This is a great yet enormous undertaking. The enormity of the task is what makes it great and infinitely glorious," Xi said. He said the CPC and the Chinese people have sought long and hard to pursue a Chinese path to modernization, and the Party must always act for the people on the journey ahead and rely on them in everything it does. "We will always ride out the storm with our people and stay heart to heart with them, taking their priorities as ours and acting on their wishes. We will continue the hard work to turn their aspiration for a better life into a living reality," he said. His emphasis on the people echoed a report Xi delivered to the 20th CPC National Congress, hailing the great achievements of the new era, which came from "the collective dedication and hard work" of the CPC and the Chinese people. In the past decade, China's GDP has grown from 54 trillion yuan (about 7.6 trillion U.S. dollars) to 114 trillion yuan and come to account for 18.5 percent of the world economy, up 7.2 percentage points. China has remained the world's second largest economy, and its per capita GDP has risen from 39,800 yuan to 81,000 yuan. The country has eradicated absolute poverty, and built the largest education, social security, and healthcare systems in the world. It has also joined the ranks of the world's innovators, while achieving an overwhelming victory and fully consolidating the gains in the fight against corruption. But Xi said the Party cannot rest on its laurels just yet. The just-concluded 20th CPC National Congress came at a time when the world is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, and a new phase of uncertainty and transformation. China has entered a period of development in which strategic opportunities, risks, and challenges are concurrent, and uncertainties and unforeseen factors are rising, Xi said in the report to the congress. "Confronted with new challenges and tests on the journey ahead, we must remain on high alert and stay sober-minded and prudent like a student sitting for a never-ending exam," he told journalists Sunday. "We must make sure that our century-old Party will become ever more vigorous through self-reform and continue to be the strong backbone that the Chinese people can lean on at all times," he said. The journey ahead is long and arduous, but with determined steps, "we will reach our destination," he said. "We'll not be daunted by high winds, choppy waters or even dangerous storms, for the people will always have our back and give us confidence," Xi said. He went on to express China's commitment to further promoting the building of a human community with a shared future. "We will work with peoples of all other countries to champion humanity's shared values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom to safeguard global peace and promote global development, and keep promoting the building of a human community with a shared future," Xi said. Just as China cannot develop in isolation from the world, the world needs China for its development, he said, adding that the Chinese economy would remain on the positive trajectory over the long run, and that the country will open its door wider to the rest of the world. "We'll be steadfast in deepening reform and opening up across the board, and in pursuing high-quality development. A prosperous China will create many more opportunities for the world," Xi said. Enditem (Lou Chen, Wang Wen, Wang Di, Guo Likun, Xu Lingui and Fang Dong also contributed to the story.) (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Du Mingming) Four incumbent Democrats are seeking reelection to Will County countywide offices, but all face challenges from Republicans who say they believe they can do a better job. Voters this year will choose a county clerk, sheriff, treasurer and regional superintendent of schools for four-year terms. Advertisement Clerk Democrat Lauren Staley Ferry, 44, of Shorewood, said she is proud of running three successful elections during the pandemic while implementing safety measures for her staff and election judges, and responding to the surge in vote-by-mail requests. In the 2020 presidential election there were nearly 123,800 vote-by-mail requests compared to about 30,200 requests in the 2016 presidential election. Lauren Staley Ferry (Lauren Staley Ferry) The county board approved her request for an automated vote-by-mail system costing about $1.9 million, paid for from federal pandemic relief funds. The process went into effect for this Junes primary election, and savings will be reflected in future elections because part-time help will not be required to handle the large quantities of vote-by-mail requests, Staley Ferry said. Advertisement The requests for a permanent vote-by-mail status will also help increase turnout for the spring municipal elections, which historically have low turnout, she said. Here in Will County we have very successful, fair and secure elections, Staley Ferry said. She said Republicans and Democrats verify signatures when processing vote-by-mail envelopes, and bipartisan teams of three or four election judges collect ballots from drop boxes. She also invites residents to watch how voting machines are used and encourages residents to become election judges. She said one person on her team is dedicated to removing those who are deceased from the system, and there are checks and balances in place to maintain the voter rolls. Staley Ferry said she has worked to modernize the clerks office, saying when she was first elected, credit cards could not be accepted as payment for vital records. Vital records were also scanned off-site, and Staley Ferry said her staff now digitizes records in house. The Republican Party asked Gretchen Fritz, 49, a county board member from Plainfield, to run for clerk. She said her experience in county government, her background working with nonprofit organizations and her degree in library and information science qualifies her to manage records and clean up databases. Gretchen Fritz (Gretchen Fritz) I am a creative, problem-solver, Fritz said. Fritz said her main goal is to proactively clean voter rolls. She said she would like to compare death records to the voter rolls to ensure those who died are no longer getting election mail, a problem she has heard while campaigning. She said she doesnt want families of the deceased to have to reach out to the clerks office to remove their loved ones name. Fritz said she is also in favor of showing identification to vote and believes it would improve confidence in the election process. She said she would lobby Illinois lawmakers to pass legislation requiring identification. She said she too often hears stories that voters are disfranchised with the process. Advertisement Fritz said she believes spending more money isnt the answer, and she is concerned about money being wasted. She said the county board approved automating the vote-by-mail process, a move that is supposed to save $500,000 per year, and she would like to see the savings reflected in the clerks budget. Fritz said another concern is the software used to produce marriage certificates allows residents to only select one race. She said it is unfair to multiracial applicants and she would like to either update the software to better reflect peoples racial identities or remove the question altogether. Staley Ferry said the state of Illinois and the Department of Public Health require this information be collected for statistical purposes, and they arent allowed to make any changes to the form. Sheriff Incumbent Democrat Mike Kelley, 55, of Lockport, said during his eight-year tenure, the office partnered with school districts to get federal grants for security upgrades, including adding state-of-the-art video surveillance equipment to monitor the premises and updating outer doors. If reelected, he wants to continue working with schools to upgrade security and safety measures. Mike Kelley (Mike Kelley) Kelley also reinstated the K-9 programs, eliminated by the previous sheriff. The Will County sheriffs office now has nine dogs, including those trained to detect drugs or explosives, a bloodhound to look for missing people and a comfort dog to help victims of crimes. During his tenure, Kelley said the whole department has been outfitted with body cameras, which increase transparency. Advertisement Kelley said he wrote a letter urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to veto the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today law, or SAFE-T Act. Since that hasnt happen, he said he has worked with police and state legislators to make improvements to the law and continues to lobby for more changes before Jan. 1, when some of the provisions take effect. Ive put in many man-hours to get it fixed, Kelley said. Kelley said he believes morale is high. He was named the Illinois State Crime Commission Sheriff of the Year in 2017, and the department was twice recognized as one of the top places to work in Will County. If reelected, Kelley said he would like to work with the county board to add more personnel. Republican challenger Jim Reilly, 57, of Wilmington, said one of his top concerns is the SAFE-T Act, and said it should be repealed. He said the act is haphazard and reckless, risks the safety of law enforcement officers and undermines their ability to do their jobs. Reilly said he supports Will County States Attorney Jim Glasgow, who filed a lawsuit alleging the law violates the state constitution. Jim Reilly (Jim Reilly) Reilly said he believes one of the fallouts of the SAFE-T Act is that morale among officers is at a low, which he said he can improve. Advertisement He said his 20-year career in law enforcement as well as a doctoral degree in criminal justice demonstrates his qualifications. He wrote a dissertation on community policing and law enforcement methods to improve relationships within communities and would put those practices into effect. Reilly said officers should get to know the people and businesses they serve. He said it is also important to deploy personnel based on crime statistics, citing catalytic converter thefts, home invasions and carjackings. Its time to be engaged, time to lead and time to support law enforcement, Reilly said. Treasurer Democrat Tim Brophy, 59, of Joliet, said hes implemented measures to make the office more efficient. Employees have been cross-trained to handle multiple tasks so theres never an interruption in services when employees are sick, take a vacation or have a maternity leave. Tim Brophy (Tim Brophy) Residents who need a copy of their property tax bill are no longer charged for this service, he said. During the pandemic, Brophy implemented the county boards plan to divide the property tax payments among four installments instead of two to help ease the burden to residents suffering financial hardships. He said while some residents opted to pay the traditional two payments, he heard anecdotally the measure provided relief to others. Advertisement Brophy said one of his priorities is coordinating the countys real estate system among several related offices, such as the supervisor of assessments, recorder of deeds, clerks office and 911 system. He said it needs to be updated so all offices have access in real time to the countys more than 275,000 parcels in a more user-friendly way. Brophy said his background in business administration, finance, banking and as a real estate managing broker covers all aspects of the treasurers office, and believes that experience is an asset. Republican Raj Pi Pillai, a 44-year-old certified public accountant from Plainfield, said he wants to improve accountability and transparency in the treasurers office. He wants to ensure money is not being wasted and residents can easily understand the treasurers website. Pillai said it is important the average person can view clear, concise reports of where their tax dollars are spent. Raj Pi Pillai (Raj Pi Pillai) He said he also wants to work with the county board to help protect county funds. We cant just rubber stamp checks, Pillai said. Pillai said he supports consolidating the treasurer and auditor offices to save money and increase transparency and said other counties have done this successfully. Advertisement He said his background as a certified public accountant and his experience working in the private sector in auditing, accounting and budgeting will ensure the taxpayers are protected. Regional schools superintendent The Regional Office of Education serves as the intermediate agency between the state and local school districts and is responsible for professional licenses, background checks, bus driver training and ensuring school safety. The office also ensures that school districts meet the minimum state education requirements. Democrat Shawn Walsh said during the pandemic, his office petitioned to allow teachers to be a priority to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. He worked with the county executive office and health department to start mass vaccination clinics for teachers. They received their first and second doses in about a month, and the initiative was recognized by the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce, which named the office the 2021 Educational Institution of the Year. Shawn Walsh (Shawn Walsh) Walsh, 45, of Elwood, said he set up a school safety task force and works with the Will County Emergency Management Agency to share best practices and plan safety seminars with school officials. Wash said he is addressing the teacher shortages by meeting with Will County institutes of higher education, such as Lewis University and the University of St. Francis to help create new pipelines for teachers. The office is also offering professional development opportunities to retain existing teachers and coordinating bus driver trainings. Media literacy and using technology properly are important, Walsh said, and one of the silver linings from the pandemic was the ability to use technology to receive lessons from anywhere. Advertisement Media literacy is important to instruct youth how to discern what is reliable information versus noise, Walsh said. Walsh said as a lifelong Will County resident with 15 years experience in the office, he has built relationships with state and local education leaders. He also cites his longtime service to various community organizations. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Republican Elizabeth Caparelli-Ruff, 52, of Homer Glen, said in her 23-year career, she has experience in private and public education from elementary schools to the collegiate level and has worked as a teacher and administrator. Elizabeth Caparelli-Ruff (Elizabeth Caparelli-Ruff) She was recognized nationally for starting a microbusiness for special needs students at Bolingbrook High School to promote job skills, in which students packaged luxury soaps and stationary for upscale stores and created gift baskets to sell in the community. Caparelli-Ruff, a former dean at Carl Sandburg and Bolingbrook high schools, said a top issue is improving safety in schools, citing widely publicized fights that broke out in some of the larger high schools. School safety correlates to students learning outcomes and teacher retention, she said. When students feel safe, they are more open to learning, Caparelli-Ruff said. Do they know that their school has enough security? Do they know that there is a social worker they can go to? Do they know that theyve made a bond with at least one of their teachers, or paraprofessionals or a lunch lady, someone that is a trustworthy adult that they can talk to should they be in a crisis? Advertisement Caparelli-Ruff said she plans to attend school board meetings throughout the county. Each district is unique, but their challenges and needs may be similar, she said. She said such an approach will help connect school districts so they can share experiences and best practices. Addressing teacher and bus driver shortages is important, she said. She would like to explore incentives for teachers to get masters or doctorate degrees or take other continuing education classes. She said she is concerned about mandates teachers face with state standardized testing and said teachers are spending too much time teaching for a test. She said school times could be staggered and she would invite districts to share resources, such as bus barns, to help address the driver shortage. Vans, smaller buses or background-checked transportation companies can also be used to transport a few students at a time instead of a full-sized school bus, she said. When Hurricane Ian roared through Fort Myers, Fla., retired Davenport Police Sgt. Jim Stark and his wife, Julie, were looking for ways to help those in need. Stark said the idea of giving more when they had it started about four years ago when his mother passed away. She was a very caring and giving person, and we decided we needed to be more like her, Stark said. We spent a lot of time talking about what we could do to make a difference, and we finally found the right cause. "She didnt do what she did looking for credit or accolades; she did it because it was the right thing to do, and were trying to follow in her footsteps," he added. Unbeknownst to the Starks at the time, the right cause came into their hands several years ago when the Starks and their friends, Pat and Tonya Rheingans and Pat and Tracy Rockey, purchased a 28-foot Four Winds 5000 recreational vehicle to tool around in. We played with it a few years and had some road trips in it, Stark said. It was on a whim that we all decided to pitch in and buy it, and weve had a lot of fun with it. But eventually they all got campers to pull, and the RV, in great condition, was sitting around not being used. Since they are campers, they were on Facebook and saw somebodys post about how they lost everything in Fort Myers. We thought about how this RV was not being used and that maybe we could find somebody down there who could use it and just give it to them, Stark said. Living in the area is retired Davenport Police Capt. Dale Sievert and his wife, Lisa. Lisa is a flight attendant for Allegiant Airline, while Dale spends his time these days working as a handyman. Stark got in touch with the Sieverts, and Lisa put out the word to her fellow flight attendants that if anyone could use this RV it was theirs for the taking. A week went by and finally another flight attendant reached out to me and told me about this person who lost everything and that she thought they could use this, Lisa Sievert said. I reached out to her, and the next day she called me back. The person who called Sievert was Kerry Swope, who also is a flight attendant with Allegiant, and whose husband, Troy, is in real estate. Speaking through occasional tears, Swope said that she and Troy are usually the ones giving and that they had to swallow hard and realize, Were now the ones in need. Its very hard for us because we are usually the people who are giving, she said. Its just been overwhelming for us. We need a place to stay and this couldnt have worked out any better. The damage is unbelievable, Swope said. "Every time we go to our place we see more and more things that we hadnt seen before. As much progress as everybodys made, there still so much more to do, Swope said. You see the people on the highway coming from everywhere to help out. Its been amazing. Ive never met so many generous people in my whole life. The other owners couldnt get away with Stark to take the RV to Florida, so Stark enlisted the aid of former Police Chief Paul Sikorski. They loaded the vehicle with supplies and headed out Wednesday morning. Both the Davenport Police Union and the Davenport Police Association gave money so Stark could buy the supplies and pay for getting the RV to the Swopes in Florida. We couldnt be more grateful, Kerry Swope said. The more and more I hear about everybody involved, its beyond amazing. Swope also realized that had she said no to Lisa Sievert, Lisa wouldnt have accepted it. The Swopes are determined to get back on their feet and pay the generosity forward to others in need. Lisa Sievert said that the area looks like a war zone. Every day you just listen to people who have lost everything, she said. Were all out trying to help. Its just gut-wrenching, Sievert added. Two men close in age and with extensive backgrounds in law enforcement are running to replace retiring Rock Island County Sheriff Gerry Bustos in the Nov. 8 midterm elections. Democratic candidate Darren Hart is 51 years old, has nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience and is the captain and chief deputy of the Rock Island County Sheriffs Office. Republican candidate Patrick Moody, 52, worked full time in law enforcement for 28 years before retiring from the Moline Police Department in 2020. He works as a project manager for Jansen Roofing in Davenport and has been an independent insurance agent for the past 16 years. Both answered a questionnaire about their experience in law enforcement and how they would apply it if elected. What prior experience do you have that would qualify you for this job? Moody: I worked for the Henry County Sheriffs Department from 1992 to 1995, Colona Police Department from 1994 to 2000 and Moline Department from 2001 to 2020. During my career, Ive worked in patrol, investigations, corrections and dispatch. Ive completed thousands of hours in training throughout my career. Ive held numerous leadership roles, which includes many instructor positions and a field training officer for nearly six years. I was a School Resource Officer and a Community Oriented Policing Officer. Im a certified gang expert, and I also held other leadership positions, such a vice president of the FOP and president and vice president of the Benevolent Association. I served six years in the United States military in the Army Reserves and Army National Guard. The life lessons learned from my time in the military has helped shape my law enforcement career. Hart: My law enforcement career spans nearly 30 years. The last 25 years have been with the Rock Island County Sheriffs Office. I have held various first-line positions as an officer and deputy sheriff; supervisory roles as sergeant and lieutenant; and administrative roles as captain and chief deputy during my career. My qualifications for the office of sheriff include supervising both sworn and non-sworn personnel, employee hiring, managing operating budgets, maintenance operations, 911 dispatch, court security, information technology, grant development, developing capital improvement projects, as well as managing vendor contracts and collective bargaining agreements. What would be your No. 1 priority if elected this term? Hart: Job recruitment, hiring and retention are my top priorities. Services delivered to our communities, whether from law enforcement, corrections, civil process, court security, etc., are all based on having qualified and professional staff members. The Sheriffs Office has incredibly talented employees that meet those community challenges daily. As many know, the public safety profession continues to struggle to attract qualified individuals willing to serve their communities. The Quad-Cities is no different. We must continue to look at every available avenue to attract applicants while streamlining our hiring process to fill open positions within the agency. Moody: Build Employees! I would immediately deputize the correctional staff, which would add value to their positions. With this change, I would restructure job-related responsibilities, provide better work schedules and promote training. Lack of training sets employees up to fail, and its a liability to Rock Island County. What changes would you make to the Rock Island County Sheriffs Office and how it operates? Moody: To further expand on changes, I would actually be open to change rather than staying complacent. My vision is far different than my opponent's, and the things I want to accomplish as sheriff will truly make the department better and more attractive to work for. I will incorporate better communication with the command staff and bring transparency to the entire department. I will be a hands-on sheriff, which includes an open-door policy. I want the best for all employees, but I also want to improve public safety and build incredible connections with the public as well. Hart: I immediately plan to evaluate the agency from the top down, making necessary changes to improve services provided, where feasible, while keeping in mind limitations of both available personnel and financial resources. I mentioned earlier the pressing need to hire additional staff. The Sheriffs Office currently has 10 total openings in both corrections and maintenance. I intend to fill those openings as quickly as possible. I also intend to look at how the agency communicates to those we serve. We need to improve our digital platforms so our citizens have the ability to access vital information from all divisions. I plan to develop a Community Action Team to focus on immediate crime needs within our communities (e.g. stolen cars, burglaries, property crimes, drugs, etc.). I would like to continue or restart programs aimed at reducing recidivism of persons incarcerated within the correctional facility, to include mental health care, the GED program and life skills training, will also be my top priority if elected. Is the Rock Island County Sheriffs Department appropriately equipped and funded to handle the countys caseload? If not, what would you change or what changes would you advocate for? Hart: Yes, the Rock Island County Board has continually provided the necessary financial resources for the Sheriffs Office to be successful in meeting the needs of those we serve. As sheriff, I pledged Day One to continue a conservative fiscal management approach of all expenditures understanding we must be good stewards of our taxpayers money. Accountability and transparency of operation will always be my pledge to the citizens of Rock Island County. Moody: Corrections is understaffed, but filling such positions is nearly impossible under current conditions because the jail has not been given the due respect and attention it deserves. Under my watch, improvements will be made immediately with the correctional staff, which will make hiring much easier in the near future. One of the changes I speak of will provide additional opportunities for the jail staff. I will create a transport team from the jail, which will handle all transports (medical, prisoner, etc.). This change will free up the road deputies and allot them more time for patrol responsibilities (handling calls of service, traffic enforcement, etc.). How can the Rock Island Sheriffs Department contribute to reducing or preventing violent crime? Moody: As sheriff, I have the authority to deputize other officers from other agencies. I will create a posse team that will allow a group effort to target problematic areas anywhere in the county. This team effort can be highly effective when dealing with many crimes, such as shootings, stolen vehicles, drug interdiction, etc. Furthermore, I will use my platform as sheriff in such a way that has never been seen before in Rock Island County. Transparency and real communication have been missing, and this will absolutely change if Im elected. Not only does the public deserve this, but as sheriff, I owe it to every law enforcement official in Rock Island County as well. Hart: Building strong lines of communication and trust between the Sheriffs Office and our citizens is the first step. We must also continue to invest in our youth and collaborate with our local social service organizations, as they truly understand the local needs of our communities. As we develop this level of open and honest dialog, community stakeholders will feel heard, and this will allow the Sheriffs Office to concentrate resources on specific crime needs and offenses. Typically, small fractions of individuals contribute to violent trends within a jurisdiction. Law enforcement alone cannot end crime, however, building lasting partnerships with our citizens can definitely be the starting point for change. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the SAFE-T Act? Hart: Some areas of strength I see within the act include requiring Body Worn Cameras (BWC) statewide. The Rock Island County Sheriffs Office has had a BWC program in place since 2019. Providing additional mental health training and resources is another positive area. The mental health crisis in our country continues to escalate. Law enforcement is typically not in a position to handle individuals in crisis. The SAFE-T Act provides areas for relief and officer training relating to mental health, which is something desperately needed. I see the law enforcement certification/de-certification process as also one that will strengthen the profession by identifying individuals with previous issues and thereby prohibit their employment elsewhere within the state. Again, these are just a few areas I feel the SAFE-T Act provides positive steps forward for the criminal justice system in Illinois. As for areas of weakness, although I support cash bail reform, the current language contained within the SAFE-T Act pertaining to this issue is concerning. The narrow scope for judicial discretion under the act essentially eliminates the process where each individual case be examined on its own merits. Law enforcement and prosecutors statewide have expressed similar concerns and have advocated for clarification. They point to additional language provisions necessary in the act to help protect our local communities while also providing for conditions by which individuals who otherwise would qualify for pre-trial release under the act but are habitual and/or violent offenders, remain incarcerated. Another weakness I see is subjects released on conditional Electronic Home Monitoring (EHM) or home detention programs. According to the bill, those who knowingly remove a monitoring device cannot be charged with an escape offense unless in violation for more than 48 hours. This is a weakness of the bill not to mention the costs associated with starting such a program, and the long-term financial impact it will have on local governments. Moody: The SAFE-T Act needs to be repealed. It was written in such a way that hurts law enforcement, and public safety will suffer as well. There is a section pertaining to body cams in the SAFE-T Act that speaks volumes about the amount of incomprehension and lack of respect to the law enforcement profession. If it were up to those who wrote this bill and voted in favor of it, officers would not be allowed to review body cam footage that involves serious use-of-force situations before writing reports. Body cam footage provides complete accuracy in reports, but it's apparent this is not wanted because the end game is to somehow discredit or crucify officers in highly stressful and difficult situations (sometimes split-second decisions). There are actually many other crime bills that have been created in Illinois since 2020 that are also disastrous for law enforcement. These crime bills (including the SAFE-T Act) were meant to demoralize law enforcement and make their jobs much more difficult. Each concern can be separately written in a bill to be voted on but to leave law enforcement out of the process when it pertains to their profession is unethical, dishonorable, disgraceful and discreditable. The state of Illinois deserves better, and the residents of Rock Island County deserve better. National Weather Service meteorologists predict warmer temperatures will continue at least through Monday with a chance of rain through Tuesday. The high Monday is expected around 74 degrees, then the NWS projects it will drop to the mid- to high 50s through Saturday, according to the service's website. As of Sunday afternoon, the chance for rain showers was expected at 40% Sunday night, then 60% on Monday, with the higher chance after 4 p.m., according to the NWS website. Monday night, the chance of rain is projected at 100%, with potentially as much as half an inch falling. Rain showers could still be possible Tuesday a 60% chance then Wednesday should dry up and be mostly sunny, according to the NWS website. Rain is also not expected Thursday through Saturday, but the skies could be partly cloudy Thursday and Friday. Saturday is expected to be mostly sunny. Meteorologists expect the low Monday to be 51 degrees, then it should range from the high 30s to the low 40s through Friday, according to the website. The NWS also issued a warning Sunday about weather conditions increasing the risk of fires getting out of control. Winds, the service warned late Sunday morning, could gust as high as 40 mph through the afternoon and into the early Sunday evening. When coupled with warm temperatures, cured agricultural fields and humidity levels ranging from 40% or 50%, the risk of fire was expected to be very high. The NWS warned against outside fires and also that farmers should exercise more caution while harvesting. CHICAGO - After a 10-year relationship ended, she started writing poetry to heal a broken heart. Seven years later, she continues to write but now she does so on the sidewalks of Chicago. She goes by the name of Boots. It was the nickname her former boyfriend gave to her because of all the boots she owned, said Kimberly Brown. So she decided to use the nickname out of spite. Were all damaged. Its how we still love with a broken heart that matters and Invest love in the ones who stay are two of the Pilsen residents most popular verses, which are spray-painted onto sidewalks, abandoned buildings and public spaces in cities across the country. But shes not still pining after her former lover, she said. Instead, shes taken her art to 37 states and counting. Brown, who is in her 30s, hopes to visit and spray paint her messages in all 50 by the time she turns 40 an endeavor that can take some time as she awaits permission and invitations from cities. In Chicago, her short poems about heartache, self-love and advice can be found stenciled in black or purple on sidewalks, there to perhaps brighten up the day for passersby walking with their heads down. I feel like we all need these positive messages just to remind us that were still human and were still trying and even if we have days we cant get out of bed, theres always hope, she said. But when does street art some of which is unsanctioned become graffiti? That line can be blurry, said Caitlin Bruce a communication professor from the University of Pittsburgh. Like any kind of public art, it seems like one of the core effects of this work is communicating a sense of intimacy, Bruce said. Graffiti is not always meant to be understandable to a broader public, Bruce said. And in fact, a lot of the styles are meant to be kind of opaque or visually noisy. And so if we think about Wildstyle (graffiti), its hard to read. But if youre part of that community, its very meaningful. Meanwhile, Browns art is meant to be accessible to everyone, the artist said. Even if her art may fade because of the wintertime salt on Chicago streets or in the sun on Texas sidewalks, Brown hopes the words she writes have a long-lasting impact on people who read them. Brown said that sometimes her poems will get covered with graffiti, or artists will send her videos tagging over her writing. She said that some graffiti artists also love reminding her: Theres a difference between painting a huge wall and some stencils on the ground. And I 100% agree with them. Still, Brown is friends with some graffiti artists and muralists who have asked her to collaborate, though she hasnt had the time to sit down and plan something that big, she said. I use spray paint as a medium to get the words across because the words are most important to me, Brown said. So, I try to focus as much as I can on just the words, even though it would be a great thing to do murals and stuff. Its just not as much my focus right now. Brown was an eager reader of poetry from as young as 12, she said. She wrote poems as a hobby in her 20s, and counts poet Michael Faudet and New Zealand novelist Lang Leav among her favorite writers. But her own writing career didnt begin until after that fateful breakup. She collected 145 of her poems and compiled them into her first book, titled Cancun. Theres a chapter on self-pity and drinking too much and numbing yourself. I kind of explore all that, she said. So I think thats why so many people related, because I didnt sugarcoat it. I wrote about crying on the bathroom floor in the fetal position, drinking too much in hotel rooms all these things. I wanted it to be as raw and real as possible. She also self-published a book called Fury in 2017, a collection of 245 poems accompanied by Polaroid pictures of abandoned places. Her messages began garnering even more popularity in 2018 when she started putting stickers on street lamps and abandoned places with more frequency around Los Angeles, where she lived at the time. It prompted a change in focus from just writing to sharing her words through street art. The messages she spray paints with stencils, she said, are hand-picked and often different from the poems she shares online with her 143,000 Instagram followers and in her books. In 2021, Brown moved back to Chicago. She grew up in the south suburbs. When I get a response from Chicago, it means more to me than any other city, because Im from here and this is where I grew up, she said. So whenever I get tags from other cities, its exciting. But every time theres one from Chicago, I get extra excited. Its just hometown pride I feel like my city supports me and thats beautiful to me. Brown has also visited numerous other U.S. cities in some cases, mayors have even invited her to spray paint her inspirational messages on sidewalks and lampposts, including Corpus Christi, Dallas and Houston in Texas, Louisville in Kentucky, Memphis and Nashville in Tennessee and Indianapolis. Although she has a day job, and also runs an Etsy shop where she sells her books and clothing, her art is her passion. I love what I do. I get to travel all the time and put up these incredible messages everywhere, Brown said. And its just super exciting and super fun, and the response I get from all the people its absolutely incredible. I never thought that when I started this, it would turn into what it has and Im so humbled and grateful. As Election Day approaches, the Journal is interviewing candidates for office in the Rapid City region. The Journal selected races in which there are competitive candidates. In instances where the Journal was unable to contact or interview a candidate, information was obtained via campaign websites or previously published stories during the June 2022 primary election. Election Day is Nov. 8. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Additionally, in-person absentee voting is available at county auditor offices. District 33 House Two seats Phil Jensen Phil Jensen, a Rapid City Republican, is a candidate for state House District 33, which includes portions of Pennington and Meade counties, mostly west and southwest of Rapid City. Jensen is a current member of the South Dakota House of Representatives and serves on the House Education and Health and Human Services committees. He has a long political career. Jensen was first elected to the state House in 2008 and served in that chamber before switching to the state Senate following the 2012 election. He switched again from the state Senate and was elected to the state House in 2020. Jensen and his wife, Janet, have been small-business owners for 33 years and also own some rental property. Jensen has lived in South Dakota since 2003. One of Jensens priorities in the Legislature will be addressing corruption in state government, he said in an interview with the Rapid City Journal. He is also concerned about election integrity and hopes to introduce bills to address those issues. Transparency in government is a big one for me because we see less and less and less of it, Jensen said. The legislative branch is giving away, year after year, more of its own authority to the executive branch and that is not a good thing. Another of Jensens priorities is limiting access to abortions. He said he would introduce a bill to prohibit companies from doing business in South Dakota if those companies pay for the costs for their employees to get abortions, specifically if an employee travels out of state to get an abortion. Jensen and his wife have two children and two grandchildren. Curt Massie Curt Massie, a Rapid City Republican, is a candidate for state House District 33, which includes portions of Pennington and Meade counties, mostly west and southwest of Rapid City. "I'm a big supporter of our education system. I believe a community needs good schools and a good education system," Massie said during a meet-and-greet with voters this spring. I believe businesses are the economic foundation of our community and our state. When we have a healthy business climate, we're going to have a healthy state. We're going to have healthy communities. So I want to go to Pierre because growth is coming." A South Dakota native, Massie grew up on a farm and ranch near Belle Fourche. He said he understands the agricultural community and economy. We need to ensure that property taxes on ag land are reasonable and in line with the use of the land to ensure that our South Dakota farms and ranches stay profitable so they can stay in business to continue to produce the food for our tables, Massie said on his website, curtmassie.com. I am a big believer in the importance of re-implementing Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL) laws for beef. American consumers have the right to know what country the beef they are buying is from. Massie has lived in District 33 for 22 years. He worked for the South Dakota Department of Revenue as a tax auditor, a career that gives him an unparalleled amount of expertise and experience in South Dakota tax law that only a few in this state have, Massie said on his website. He now owns a private business tax consulting company. Massie said he decided to run to improve education in the state, contribute to a better climate for business growth, and to fix the tax structure. Working for the state for over 24 years gives me an incredible amount of knowledge and understanding of what works in state government, and more importantly what doesnt work in state government, and how to fix it that no other candidate has, Massie said on his website. Massie and his wife, Jodi, have two children. Vince Vidal Vince Vidal, a Rapid City Democrat, is a candidate for state House District 33, which includes portions of Pennington and Meade counties, mostly west and southwest of Rapid City. I believe the current legislature in Pierre does not accurately represent South Dakotans. I will be a kind, moderate voice within the State House, Vidal said on his candidate website, votevincevidal.com. Vidal serves on the Rapid City Planning Commission and has lived in Rapid City since 1995. According to his campaign announcement, Vidal said he promises to bring strong leadership, integrity and his decades-long background in management, finance and marketing, if elected as a state representative. I will work for you, listen to you and bring your ideas to Pierre," Vidal said. "I believe in putting people first and its time to get back to fair and proper representation in South Dakota, with a focus on the issues: education, health care, infrastructure, a living wage. Your voice and your vote matters." Key issues Vidal highlights on his website include increasing quality jobs in the state. He wants to bring in higher wages and more opportunities for all. Vidal also said he will work toward Medicaid expansion and providing health care access to low-income residents, noting that South Dakota is one of only 12 states that has refused federal funds to accomplish those goals. On the issue of legalizing marijuana, he said he will work tirelessly to be sure the will of South Dakotans is upheld. In 2020, voters approved legalizing both recreational and medical marijuana. His focus on education will be to ensure educators get the respect they deserve and the chance to focus on teaching. Truth in education matters to make sure our children are prepared to usher in a future that works for all South Dakotans, Vidal said on his website. Vidal served in the United States Navy for 20 years and after retiring from military service, he moved to the Black Hills. In recent years, hes worked on the Ellsworth Air Force Base finance team, where Vidal also serves as vice president of the local union, according to his website. Vidal and his wife, Peggy, have four children and five grandchildren. Math and reading scores for Montanas fourth and eighth grade students declined slightly overall but remain above national averages on the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This year was the first since 2019 that students across the nation participated in the test dubbed the nations report card after the COVID pandemic disrupted testing. Nationally, a majority of states saw NAEP test results fall for fourth and eighth graders in math and reading from 2019 to 2022, resulting in the largest ever recorded national average score declines. The only jurisdiction that reported a significantly higher score among its eighth graders in reading was the Department of Defense Education Activity, a federal school system. NAEP is a standardized test that measures math and reading knowledge for fourth and eighth grade students in all 50 states, as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the Department of Defense Education Activity. Not all fourth and eighth grade students in the nation take the test, but it is administered to a representative sample size of students in each state every other year. For the 2022 test in Montana about 7,000 students were tested across 230 schools, according to the Office of Public Instruction. Test scores range from 0 to 500 with average scores landing between 200 and 300. In Montana, test results among fourth graders dropped three points from 2019 in both math and reading, resulting in scores of 239 and 219 respectively, according to results released on Monday. Eighth graders scored a 277 in math, a seven point drop from 2019, and a 261 in reading, a four point drop. The consistent downward trend in assessment scores must be reversed and our students education must be put first, said Montanas Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen. Dr. Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, said that she anticipated the results to reflect the impacts of learning disruption due to the pandemic. However, the results of NAEP do not draw a straight line between the time spent in remote learning and student achievement, Carr added. Even before the pandemic, NAEP test scores showed limited progress in math and reading for both fourth and eighth graders in the decade leading into the 2019 test. These results provide some of the most crucial data we will need to help guide the next steps for supporting students and educators as we look to move forward, Carr said. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona found this years results to be appalling and unacceptable, adding that the pandemic exacerbated existing issues in the countrys education system. Moving forward, Cardonas office will issue new guidance within the next week to help education leaders utilize federal COVID relief funds to address learning loss, among other resources for teachers and parents. We must treat the task of catching our children up with the urgency that this moment demands, Cardona said. This school year, the Montana OPI launched a pilot program for a new state assessment called the Montana Alternative Student Testing (MAST). During this school year fifth and seventh graders across 46 school districts will participate in the test for the first time. As I have said before, a one-size-fits-all test does not accurately measure student knowledge, Arntzen said. Through MAST, participating students will be given multiple testlets throughout the school year, which are bite-sized tests closely connected to current classroom instruction that take between 10-15 minutes to complete. There are four testing windows throughout the school year. By providing multiple tests throughout the year, teachers and administrators will have near immediate feedback on what skills students have mastered and what areas may need more attention. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey prepare for their gubernatorial debate at WGN-TV Channel 9 studios in Chicago on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) In two weeks, the polls open and close, for it will be Election Day. It also will be the day the blitz of bombastic TV commercials ends. We can only hope. Advertisement On Nov. 8, we get to march to our polling places and prove, once again, that little dee democracy works. Much to the chagrin of naysayers who predict a civil war in our future and the election-deniers who, one expects, will cast ballots, too. Past that, there are two trends this election season. One is the overuse of the term extreme painted on various candidates, not only in Illinois but across the nation. The other is the lack of political party affiliations on candidates literature, and in commercials weve been bombarded with lo these many weeks. Advertisement First, all those extremists walking among us. Once, revolutionaries were to be feared. Then came radicals. Dont forget progressives. And now extremists. Extreme is that label being attached to political hopefuls who have differing points of view. Those points of view in some minds may be extreme. In others, not so much. Extreme and extremists are terms meant to demonize opposition candidates, and paint them for being far outside the mainstream. But that mainstream edge may differ in Waukegan compared to West Brooklyn in Lee County in western Illinois. Its not that extreme candidates havent been among us before. It was Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater who entered the extreme lineup with his acceptance speech at the 1964 Republican convention in pre-Summer of Love San Francisco. Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue, stated the conservative senator as he chose the GOP mantle to challenge President Lyndon Johnson, who crushed him that November in a landslide election victory. In their final gubernatorial debate last week aired on WGN-TV, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Downstate farmer and state Sen. Darren Bailey, tossed extreme around a lot. The term has been used extensively about Bailey, whose views perhaps dont play in Lake County, but maybe in Peoria County. Said Pritzker of Bailey: He is frankly too extreme for Illinois. Retorted Bailey about Chicago: I want to call it Pritzkerville because every one of Gov. Pritzkers extreme policies are destroying the city. Even staid Lake Forester Richard Uihlein might be labeled extreme for bankrolling Baileys campaign. The Chicago Tribune reported last week that billionaire Uihlein plopped another $2 million into the Republicans campaign fund on top of about $54 million to an allied political action committee, People Who Play By The Rules. Advertisement Others may think billionaire Democrat Pritzker extreme for self-financing his campaign and spending more than $38 million between the start of July and the end of September. Most of Baileys and Pritzkers funding goes toward radio and television advertising in the expensive Chicago media market. Come Nov. 9, well see which extreme candidate Illinoisans favor. At least we know under which political banner the two gubernatorial candidates represent. Its a different story when candidates are on the lower rungs of the ballot. Their political affiliations seem to be missing this election year. All those political TV ads that interrupt Jeopardy! in the afternoons on ABC7 seem to lack party affiliations. Those candidates for the Illinois legislature appear to have forgotten to say if they are Democrat or Republican. The same is happening at the local-local level. Take Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. Shes running for reelection in a newly remapped District 13, which rambles and curves from her home base of Lake Bluff in Shields Township through North Chicago, western Waukegan and north into Warren Township. In her mailers, which tout her focus on ethical and transparent government, among other issues, nowhere do they mention she is a Democrat. Advertisement Surely she cant be ashamed of being a Democrat. Its not like being affiliated with the Dixiecrat Party or the Bull Moose Party. Lake County News Sun Twice-weekly News updates from Lake County delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Some political consultant perhaps told her to eschew party affiliation because shes running in a partly new district. Maybe her opponents consultant told him the same. Until they get to the voting booth, voters wont know Harts opponent Richard Ruzich of Grayslake is a Republican. Like Harts campaign literature, Ruzichs ignores his party links. Yet, who wouldnt want to trumpet their Republican credentials in the Land of Lincoln. After all, President Abraham Lincoln helped found the Republican Party. Other candidates of both parties at the County Board level are playing the same ignore party-affiliation game this election cycle. But one has to ask: If they dont want to list their party before the election, what else dont they want to declare? Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor. Advertisement sellenews@gmail.com Twitter: @sellenews For the second weekend in a row, a series of shots rang out early Sunday morning on Charlottesvilles Downtown Mall, this time leaving one person dead and two hospitalized at the University of Virginia Medical Center, according to Charlottesville Police officials and social media accounts. Police say the incident occurred around 1 a.m. and in the 200 block of West Main Street. They arrived to find three people shot. Police did not release identities or genders, but social media accounts agree that one man and two women were struck and that the man later died. Police appear to believe that those shot and their assailants likely knew each other. We would like the public to know that this incident poses no immediate threat to our community, officials said in a terse and short press release on Sunday. This is currently an ongoing investigation. Police asked anyone with information to contact Det. Sgt. Stayments at (434) 970-3939, or CrimeStoppers at (434) 977-4000. Last Saturday afternoon, two teenagers were shot near the Charlottesville Omni Hotel. Three teens were arrested on Thursday in relation to the shooting that has left one boy still in the hospital. They are being charged in juvenile court and are between the ages of 14 and 17, according to the Charlottesville Commonwealths Attorney Joe Platania. Because of their ages, their names will be not be released and their trials will not be open to the public. They teens are all in custody at the Blue Ridge Detention Center and face felony charges, according to Platania. Sunday mornings shooting occurred less than three blocks away from last weeks as Saturday revelry on the Downtown Mall was wrapping up. Video footage uploaded to social media by a downtown merchant an estimated 100 yards from the shooting showed several people walking down the mall when a series of shots ring out. First, a volley of two shots ring out and people pause for a minute. Then a second volley of three shots follow and people begin running away from the gunfire. That volley is then followed by about eight shots in quick succession as people can be heard screaming at others to run. Eze Amos, a Charlottesville-based documentary photographer and photojournalist, took photographs of police, fire paramedics and rescue personnel treating the wounded on site and posted them on social media accounts. No arrests have been made in the Sunday death or shootings. The area has seen an increase in reports of shots fired and of shootings. The Oct. 15 shooting in near the Omni Hotel parking lot just off the mall occurred around 5:15 p.m., a time when throngs of people are beginning to arrive on the mall to visit music venues, restaurants, bars and stores. Early the next morning, Oct. 16, police responded to shots fired on Hardy Drive. No one was hit or injured, but police are looking to see if the events are connected. The shootings this weekend and last weekend are not outliers. Several incidents, including one that ended in fatality, have occurred in the city in the past two months. 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. Daquain Maurice Anderson was shot near Court Square about 3 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17. Anderson later died of gunshot wounds at UVa Medical Center. 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 when someone opened fire on their on their car. The men were taken to UVa Medical Center. 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. The girl hid behind a car as the other car drove quickly by. Platania said after the last downtown shooting that he disapproved of the rise in people shooting at each other, both locally and across the country. He called on the community for vigilance. It will take broad community partnerships to turn the tide and stem the violence, he wrote, adding that a young age doesnt excuse gun violence. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Following registration and mailing issues this month, along with letters from a concerned state senator, the Virginia Department of Elections announced the award of a contract in a yearslong plan to replace its current voting technology. The Canton Group, a Baltimore-based software development company, was announced Monday afternoon as the awardee, and the new system is expected to go live in early 2025. The announcement comes after the department experienced a few issues this month. In early October, the Department of Elections said it had forwarded about 107,000 voter registration applications recently submitted through the DMV to local registrars to fix voting rolls with new registrations, updated addresses and other changes. Commissioner of Elections Susan Beals attributed the problem at the time to intermittent network issues. No voter registration data was lost, but the issue will cause an increase in processing voter registration applications at the local level, she said in a statement earlier this month. State Sen. Lionell Spruill Sr., D-Chesapeake, chair of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee, sent a letter the following day asking for more details and followed up with another letter this past weekend. Please provide an explanation to what the problem was, what the solution is, and whether the system is now correctly functioning, he wrote in his latest letter. Spruills re-upped request also asked for details about another issue that happened late last week. More than 30,000 residents in Northern Virginia received mail with the wrong polling locations. Some residents in Southwest Virginia also received the wrong information, according to the Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Meanwhile, Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, said she, along with local officials in Fairfax County and the town of Herndon, are all working collaboratively to make certain that our voters understand where they should be voting and have trust in the process. As a state legislator who represents an area affected by the error, however, Boysko questions why the states election department sent mailers rather than local registrars. Our local jurisdictions know best how to implement these kinds of letters because they do it regularly, Boysko said. I mean, thats my question ... why did they feel like they had to do it from the very beginning? Why didnt they let the local jurisdictions handle this? And I dont have that answer. Aside from mailing issues, critiques have long simmered for the Virginia Election and Registration Information System, or VERIS, which was recommended for replacement in 2018. By last year, officials sought to purchase a new IT system to run alongside VERIS for this years elections as part of a process to transition away from VERIS. Requests for proposals opened last year, when Democrat Ralph Northam was governor and before Beals had been appointed as the commissioner. According to Mondays release, three proposals were received and evaluated. The multiyear project, now that a contract has been awarded, is expected to cost $13.5 million, with an anticipated $2.9 million per year for maintenance and hosting for up to 10 years, the release stated. As election technology and security requirements have increased, the need to replace our current voter registration system has become imperative, Beals said in the release. She added that the procurement was reviewed by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency and the Office of the Attorney General. There is broad support for replacing VERIS, and we were determined to obtain the best solution capable of serving the Commonwealth for years to come, Beals said. Gun violence is not red or blue I feel compelled to comment on Marc Thiessens op-ed in the Oct. 22 Times Dispatch. He spends two full columns arguing the red state/blue state murder problems. This is just another opinion on who or what is at fault when people die violently. Virginia is considered red state with blue cities. What difference does it make where people live or how they vote when lives are lost to violence, most significantly gun violence? Page 3 of the same newspaper contains two reports of Richmonders murdered, one just outside one of our middle schools, both killed with guns. The issue here is not red or blue it is how easily people bent on violence can obtain weapons powerful weapons that are meant to be used in military defense. We live in a country that allows us to express our red or blue opinions and to vote those opinions. That is the gift of democracy. What cannot be allowed to continue is the free and illegal transfer of weapons used to kill our citizens. The only way to stop the violence is the enactment of gun control laws that limit the possession of guns by violent people red and blue. Jane Stafford. FLOYD Citizens General Manager Greg Sapp has announced his plan to retire after 29 years with the rural communications provider. Sapp told attendees at Citizens annual members meeting on Oct. 15 that hell leave at the end of November. He also announced that Donna Hylton Smith has been chosen by Citizens board of directors to succeed him as general manager. Smith, a 21-year employee of Citizens, is a Virginia Tech graduate and Floyd County resident whose family has generational roots in the company. Smiths grandfather, Maynard Hylton, was plant manager at the time of his retirement in 1979. Her father, Donald Hylton, was a contractor for the company prior to his retirement. Sapp also reported to the 160 people who attended the event at the companys Webbs Mill Road headquarters that 27% of Citizens fiber optic project construction remains. The project has a projected 2023 completion. Thereafter, Sapp said, Floyd County will be 100% covered with fiber optic internet technology. Also, recent Virginia Telecommunication Initiative funding has assisted Citizens with strengthening internet connections in Copper Hill, he added. Founded in 1914 as Citizens Telephone Cooperative, the company is a member-owned organization providing telephone, internet and television to Floyd County and surrounding communities. A motorcyclist died Saturday when his bike collided with another vehicle on Virginia 40 (Old Franklin Pike) in Franklin County, according to state police. The crash occurred at 6:54 p.m. at the intersection of Virginia 705 when a 2004 Yamaha motorcycle traveling east at what state police described as a high rate of speed struck a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado, which was making a left turn onto Virginia 40 from Virginia 705. James Dean Frith, 22, of Union Hall, the motorcycles operator, died at the scene and Coy A. Hodges, 45, of Rocky Mount, the Chevrolets driver, was wearing his seat belt and was uninjured, according to state police. The crash remains under investigation. A search warrant certified in Roanoke Circuit Court has identified the man who was shot by a Roanoke police officer earlier this month. Michael William Thomas, 41, was shot in the leg outside his residence on Oct. 8 after police responded to a 911 call about a man with a gun, an affidavit said. Shortly after 11 p.m., Roanoke officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of Mountain View Terrace southwest, in reference to a subject shooting a firearm outside and in the subjects [sic] back yard, the affidavit reads. When officers arrived on scene, they observed a white male sitting on a concrete landing located at the rear of the residence, the affidavit continues. Officers then observed the male point a handgun at them, and officers fired upon the male subject striking the male in the leg. Afterward, Thomas, was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. The affiant that filed the search warrant wrote that he interviewed Thomas and observed a [sic] odor of alcohol coming from his person. The affiant believed medical records and blood vials from Quest Diagnostics at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital would identify any drugs or alcohol that may have impaired Thomas during the incident on Oct. 8. Seven vials of blood and medicals records related to Thomas hospital visit on Oct. 9 have been seized by police. Officers also conducted a search of Thomas residence, looking for subject matter materials regarding violence and violent activity, according to another warrant certified in Roanoke Circuit Court on Oct. 11. From the residence, police seized a handgun, cartridges, cartridge casings, a DVR and DVR data. In an original press release about the shooting, Roanoke police indicated that in accordance with department policy, Virginia State Police would be investigating the case and would provide any updates. Rick Garletts, a state police public information officer, said Monday that no charges have been placed. The investigation will be completed and turned over to the [commonwealths attorney] Office, Garletts said in an email. They will determine if charges will be placed. Roanoke attorney Reuben E. Lawson deserves a more prominent mention in history, and not just in a history of the Roanoke Valley. A Black lawyer practicing in Roanoke in the 1950s and 1960s, Lawson battled the racist policy of Massive Resistance in our region and won court case by court case, succeeding in forcing school systems in Floyd, Grayson, Pulaski and Roanoke counties and in Roanoke and Lynchburg to integrate after they refused to obey the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that was supposed to desegregate schools. On Oct. 11, prominent Roanoke lawyer John Fishwick raised Lawsons profile in dramatic fashion, holding a news conference in which he shared a letter sent to the members of Congress who represent our region Democratic Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, and Republican Reps. Ben Cline and Morgan Griffith advocating for the Richard H. Poff Federal Building to be renamed after Lawson, whom Fishwick called one of Roanokes undeservedly forgotten legal titans. Fishwick further pressed his case by suggesting that Poffs name on the building, which houses federal courts and offices of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, could cast a pall on court proceedings for persons of color coming to seek justice, in the same manner as a Confederate statue standing before a courthouse door. Poff, a Radford native who died in 2011 at age 87, was an important political and legal figure in Virginia, a Virginia Supreme Court justice who as a 10-term congressman has been credited as being the principle author of the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution, codifying presidential succession. He also had an execrable record on race and civil rights. Unlike his fellow Republican, Linwood Holton, who ended Massive Resistance for good when he was elected governor in 1970, Poff crossed party lines in 1956 to add his signature to the mostly-Democrat-supported Southern Manifesto, which claimed states had the right to resist federal integration of schools. He also as congressman voted against the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964 and 1968 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Though he later disavowed his support of segregation, his was no profile in courage. We support Fishwicks proposal but one must be pragmatic as well as idealistic. Fishwick deserves praise for bringing Lawson to the attention of lawmakers and to the citizens of the commonwealth, but through no fault of his own the timing of his uphill charge and the choice of arena works against him. Such a change to a federal building requires action from Congress, and Kaine and Warner will likely be supportive. On the other hand, Cline and Griffith, however they might personally feel about Lawsons accomplishments, are unlikely to support a move that could be interpreted as an attack on the legacy of an important fellow Republican. Lets say for the sake of a thought exercise that the astonishing happens, and voters in the 6th District and the 9th District send the incumbents underdog opponents, Jennifer Lewis and Taysha DeVaughan, to Congress in January. They would likely support Fishwicks request, but have minuscule chance of shepherding it through a newly elected Republican majority in the House of Representatives. We note this just to say that those who would like to see Reuben Lawson honored should consider possible alternatives to renaming the Poff building. Weve often said in this space that Roanoke does not have near enough statues honoring its best citizens from history. Lawson seems a prime candidate for one, not to mention a historical marker or two. Even if Fishwicks effort succeeds, those options are worth considering. You are here: Arts The 74th Frankfurt Book Fair, the largest of its kind in the world, concluded on Sunday on the Frankfurt exhibition grounds. This year's book fair attracted around 90,000 trade visitors from over 100 countries and regions, surpassing expectations, according to Juergen Boos, president and CEO of the Frankfurt Book Fair. He expects further progress in the coming year with a diverse literary landscape. Over 4,000 exhibitors from 95 countries and regions, including over 110 exhibitors from the Chinese mainland, attended the book fair held during Oct 18-23. Chinese exhibitors displayed more than 1,000 different kinds of publications, covering the topics of politics, economy, culture, history, technology and Chinese language learning, for adults and children as well. Next year's Frankfurt Book Fair will be held from Oct 18 to 22, 2023. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Prez Biden suggests disinterest in broader marijuana clemency as activists protest on behalf of pot prisoners | Main | Another plug for a podcast for all sentencing fans (and especially defense attorneys) October 24, 2022 Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley pleads guilty to all counts with sentencing next year As reported in this AP piece, a "teenager pleaded guilty Monday to terrorism and first-degree murder in a Michigan school shooting that killed four students and may be called to testify against his parents, whove been jailed on manslaughter charges for their alleged role in the tragedy." Here is more with an emphasis on sentencing dynamics: Ethan Crumbley, 16, pleaded guilty to all 24 charges, nearly a year after the attack at Oxford High School in southeastern Michigan. In the gallery, some relatives of the victims wept as assistant prosecutor Marc Keast described the crimes. Yes, Crumbley replied, looking down and nodding in affirmation, when asked if he knowingly, willfully and deliberately chose to shoot other students. The prosecutors office said no deals were made ahead of Mondays plea. A first-degree murder conviction typically brings an automatic life prison sentence in Michigan, but teenagers are entitled to a hearing where their lawyer can argue for a shorter term and an opportunity for parole. We are not aware of any other case, anywhere, in the country where a mass shooter has been convicted of terrorism on state charges, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said. The teenager withdrew his intent to pursue an insanity defense, and repeatedly acknowledged under questioning by Judge Kwame Rowe that he understands the potential penalties. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, are jailed on charges of involuntary manslaughter, accused of making the gun accessible to their son and ignoring his need for mental health treatment. Ethan Crumbleys lawyer, Paulette Michel Loftin, said its possible he could be called upon to testify against them She said theyre under a no-contact order, and he has not spoken to his parents. Parents have rarely been charged in school shootings, though the guns used commonly come from the home of a parent or close relative.... Sheriff Michael Bouchard told reporters Monday that Ethan Crumbley still had 18 rounds of ammunition when he was arrested. Its my belief he would have fired every one of those had he not been interrupted by deputies going immediately in, said Bouchard who also called Ethan Crumbley a twisted and evil person. I hope he gets life without parole, the sheriff added. He has permanently taken lives away from four lovely souls and hes permanently affected many, many more. Prosecutors earlier this year disclosed that Ethan Crumbley had hallucinations about demons and was fascinated by guns and Nazi propaganda. Put simply, they created an environment in which their sons violent tendencies flourished. They were aware their son was troubled, and then they bought him a gun, prosecutors said in a court filing.... In addition to the counts of first-degree murder and terrorism causing death, Ethan Crumbley admitted guilt to seven counts of assault with intent to murder and 12 counts of possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony. The judge set Feb. 9 for the start of hearings to determine if hell be sentenced to life without parole or get a shorter sentence due to his age, and a chance at release. His lawyers will be able to argue a variety of mitigating circumstances, including family life and mental health. Prosecutors didnt signal in court if they will argue for a no-parole sentence. October 24, 2022 at 03:40 PM | Permalink Comments Do we know why he decided to drop the insanity defense? Do people think he improved his odds at avoiding LWOP through that decision? Posted by: Jason | Oct 24, 2022 9:52:14 PM Jason -- Perhaps he dropped it because it was flimsy and he was afraid the court would take it as just a shake-and-jive to evade responsibility. I do wonder about the propriety of an order for parents to have no contact with their minor child. That is not my area, but it must be very, very unusual. Posted by: Bill Otis | Oct 24, 2022 11:31:05 PM Jason, I don't know enough about Michigan law to give a firm answer. I know in my state, an insanity defense can be the equivalent of a life with parole sentence. So maybe defense counsel thought that they would get a better result from an open plea. Additionally, in many states, the defendant has the burden of proof on an insanity defense and juries/judges tend to not buy those claims unless the evidence is very strong. Bill, on the no-contact order, most bonds (at least in my state) include a no-contact with witnesses, victims, and codefendants. Many judges will make an exception for codefendants who are relatives, but not all. And I have never seen that litigated with the appellate courts. Posted by: tmm | Oct 25, 2022 1:07:06 PM Post a comment US Sentencing Commission reports receiving "more than 8,000 public comment submissions pertaining to proposed priorities" | Main | Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley pleads guilty to all counts with sentencing next year October 24, 2022 Prez Biden suggests disinterest in broader marijuana clemency as activists protest on behalf of pot prisoners This new Marijuana Moment piece, headlined "Biden Has No Intention Of Extending Marijuana Pardons To Help People Jailed For Selling It, He Suggests," reports on new comments from the President about his recent clemency activity. Here is how it starts: President Joe Biden on Friday again touted his recent marijuana pardons proclamation, but indicated that he has no intention of granting relief to people who are in prison for selling cannabis. Im keeping my promise that no one should be in jail for merely using or possessing marijuana, he said. None. And the records, which hold up people from being able to get jobs and the like, should be totally expunged. Totally expunged. You cant sell it, the president added. But if its just use, youre completely free. The comments come as activists are planning a protest including civil disobedience at the White House for Monday aimed at calling attention to those who are left behind by Bidens existing cannabis clemency action. Its not clear if the presidents latest remarks simply describe the scope of his current marijuana pardons, which came alongside a separate move to review the drugs current scheduling status under federal law, or if they are an indication he is ruling out broadening the scope of clemency relief in the future. The latter scenario would be a great disappointment to the advocates behind the planned White House protest. Those groups, including Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Last Prisoner Project, DCMJ and others, sent a letter to Biden this month, calling his moves to date a great first step but saying they did nothing to address the thousands of federal cannabis prisoners currently incarcerated. This extended Washington Post piece, headlined "Sentenced to 40 years, Bidens marijuana pardons left him behind," discusses the planned protest and the prisoners who are the focal point for additional clemency advocacy: Protesters are expected to gather outside the White House on Monday to advocate for people ... incarcerated for what they would consider nonviolent offenses that involve marijuana, especially as public perception of the substance has shifted. Cannabis is now legal for recreational adult use in Washington, D.C., two territories and 19 states. It is on the ballot in five more states next month. For those hoping to see marijuana law and policy reforms untangle the legacy of the countrys war on drugs, Bidens announcement this month that hed pardon people convicted of federal simple possession did not go far enough. And meaningful post-conviction reform still remains largely elusive in an America that echoed with promises to scrutinize criminal justice following the murder of George Floyd. The Last Prisoner Project, a nonprofit working on cannabis criminal justice reform that lobbied the White House on this issue, has estimated that there are roughly 2,800 people in federal prison due to marijuana-related convictions, a statistic the organization said stems from a 2021 report from Recidiviz, a nonprofit that uses technology and data to build tools for criminal justice reform.... The first step in ending the war on drugs which has disproportionally affected Black and Brown communities is releasing people who have been incarcerated for nonviolent marijuana offenses, said Jason Ortiz, executive director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy. Offenses like cultivation, distribution and conspiracy, Ortiz said, are the same actions major companies are able to commercialize and profit from today. There are multibillion dollar companies that sell thousands and thousands of pounds of cannabis a year and operate in multiple states. So if were going to allow for that type of commerce to happen, everyone in prison who did anything even remotely close to that should be immediately let out. I think it notable and worth noting that we actually have no clear accounting of how many persons may still be serving federal prison terms for "nonviolent marijuana offenses." This recent analysis of federal prison data from January 2022 by the US Sentencing Commission suggests the number of imprisoned marijuana trafficking offenders was "only" around 2200 as of the start of this year. Notably, the federal marijuana prisoner number was around 7500 based on USSC data from just five years ago, but sharp declines in federal marijuana prosecutions (discussed in this article) and COVID-era prison population reductions have had a huge impact on the total number now incarcerated for federal marijuana offenses. Prior recent related posts: UPDATE : Here is a new Washington Post piece about the protest headlined "With speeches, stars and a blow-up joint, protesters press Biden on pot." October 24, 2022 at 09:44 AM | Permalink Comments Post a comment Before Judge Robert Tiefenthaler Donovan Ray Walkingeagle, 25, Sioux City, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, operating while intoxicated; sentenced Oct. 19, 10 years prison. Anthony James Moyle, 44, Sioux City, lascivious acts with a child; sentenced Oct. 18, five years prison suspended, two years probation. Jonathan Paul Krejci, 49, Sloan, Iowa, enticing away a minor; sentenced Oct. 16, five years prison suspended, two years probation. Sidnitra Savee Kong, 25, Sioux City, possession of a controlled substance -- third offense; sentenced Oct. 18, five years prison suspended, two years probation. Martin Terrell Plummer, 44, Sioux City, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, failure to affix a drug tax stamp, eluding, driving while license barred, operating while intoxicated; sentenced Oct. 20, 15 years prison. Debra Dorine Dawdy, 59, Sioux City, possession of a controlled substance -- third offense; sentenced Oct. 19, five years prison suspended, three years probation. Irene Ruth Fourkiller, 46, Sioux City, possession of a controlled substance -- third offense; sentenced Oct. 16, five years prison suspended, two years probation. Stacey Kuhlmann, 52, Sioux City, possession of a controlled substance -- third offense; sentenced Oct. 16, five years prison suspended, two years probation. Jose Blanchard Rosales, 26, Sioux City, possession of a controlled substance -- third offense, probation violation; sentenced Oct. 16, probation revoked, five years prison. MOVILLE, Iowa In 1994 a group of Moville residents formed a non-profit to address the lack of health care in rural areas. The Moville Area Medical Clinic Committee raised the funds and eventually built the current healthcare facility by hand. Now, 28 years later, the same organization has raised the funds for a brand new healthcare facility that will serve Moville as well as the many surrounding small communities. The Moville Area Medical Clinic will be a two-story 10,000 square foot facility located on Frontage Road, right off Highway 20. It will offer family practice, specialists, physical therapy and rehabilitation, a wellness center and urgent care. It will also have space for on-site laboratory and radiology services in addition to an expanded physical therapy/rehabilitation unit. The wellness center will feature fitness and wellness equipment for the community to use. The facility will serve Moville as well as Lawton, Bronson, Anthon, Oto, Correctionville, Kingsley, Pierson, and Climbing Hill. This facility will offer the only urgent care in the rural area, something that he said is necessary. Citizens and organizations have been raising the $3.5 million needed for the project over the last two years, and have finally secured enough funding to begin construction. Construction is estimated to start in spring and take eight or nine months to complete. In 1994 the Moville Area Medical Clinic Committee built the current physicians office located on Movilles main street. The groups held numerous fundraising events, received donations and built the facility themselves. They dug the foundation with local farm equipment, placed the sewer with local volunteers, painted the walls, refinished the woodwork and obtained equipment from nearby offices that were remodeling, Diane Drevs said to the Woodbury County board of supervisors. A physical therapy and rehabilitation center was added later and has been operated by CNOS for several years. The clinic was operated by the committee until it was purchased by Dr. Wente of Family Healthcare of Siouxland in 2006. In 2019, he decided to sell the clinic back to the committee. Countryman said the committee started working to get the clinic reopened, and was able to partner with MercyOne to operate it. MercyOne said due to their five-year plan, they wanted to move into a larger facility and offer additional services. The Moville Area Medical Clinic Committee started looking into where to build a new facility and how to raise the funds. Many of these same individuals who worked on the initial facility are dedicated to the construction of a new facility. Because of new codes and regulations, the cost of materials, and the age of members, the committee decided to hire a contractor for the current facility. Around the same time, the committee was looking for a new location, the City of Moville had purchased a dilapidated Motel 20 and demolished it. Moville Mayor Jim Fisher said the property ended up being the ideal spot for them, and in 2020 the committee purchased it for $1. The largest funding sources for the project include a $1.86 million zero-interest loan from the Rural Economic Development Grant Loan Program, a $700,000 grant from Missouri River Historic Development, and $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding from the Woodbury County board of supervisors. The rest of the funding has come from private funds, local donations and local organizations looking to improve access to medical care. MercyOne will operate the facility. We have been so honored to be a part of the Moville community for several years and to continue that partnership in the future, said Muddasir Ghouse, MercyOne executive director of rural hospitals and clinic operations. This new clinic will allow us to serve more patients and continue our Mission of providing high-quality, family-centered and compassionate care to communities. Our commitment to rural health care remains strong in Iowa and beyond. The current medical facility will not be sold. Fisher said the dream is to convert the building into a preschool and daycare center. Countryman said the medical clinic committee is not the only one working on this project. He said the City of Moville and the Chamber of Commerce are also major contributors. Fisher said it is an amazing feeling to be at this point in the process. He said there have been great experiences and some setbacks, but after the committee received the loan grant from RED, it feels like a dream come true. Jedidiah Morse looked out over the crowded pews full of his parishioners at the New North Church in Boston. The sight of his crop of long gray hair and his severe face, creased with judgment, probably led some of his flock to flinch at the scolding they expected to receive. His stern persona was so familiar, in fact, that he had earned the nickname Granny Morse. Growing conflict between the United States and France had led President John Adams to proclaim that the day, May 9, 1798, should be set aside for Solemn Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer. But Morses audience was not due for a lecture that morning. Instead, as he hesitated before launching into his sermon, he must have taken some private pleasure in knowing he was about to shatter their world. Perhaps he even disturbed the furrows of his face with a smile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that days speech, Morse unspooled a bizarre conspiracy theory alleging that a shadowy cabal of villains called the Illuminati, an offshoot of the Freemasons, were aiming to destroy everything that Americans held dear. This group of philosopher zealots, according to Morse, had secretly extended its branches through a great part of Europe, and even into America. Their goal was to abolish Christianity, private property, and nearly every foundation of good order around the world. According to Morse, they opposed marriage, encouraged people to explore all kinds of sensual pleasures, and proposed a promiscuous intercourse among the sexes. Just a few masks short of a Stanley Kubrick film, Morses story of the Illuminati played upon the darkest nightmares of the nations many devout Christians. Advertisement Sign Up for the Surge The most important political nonsense of the week, delivered to your inbox every Saturday. 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. Morse told his congregation that the Illuminati hoped to infect the people of America through a kind of cultural warfare. They were spreading their doctrines by worming their way in among reading and debating societies, the reviewers, journalists or editors of newspapers and other periodical publications, the booksellers and post-masters and infiltrating all literary, civil and religious institutions. The most prominent Illuminatus named by Morse was Thomas Paine, whose radical pamphlet The Age of Reason (published in installments in 1794, 1795, and 1807) had caused a political stir in the United States. Advertisement If the Illuminati were beginning to corrupt the United States, according to Morse, they had gone much further already in Europe. The evil societys greatest triumph to date, Morse wrote, was its recent work to hatch the French Revolution and disguise it as a mild, moderate event following the model of the American Revolution. With Frances increasing radicalism, anticlericalism, and disorder, it seemed obvious to Morse that the French Jacobins, the political faction that seized control of the nation in 1792, were simply Illuminati by another name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morse got most of this story from a book written by a Scottish academic named John Robison, who in turn took many of his ideas from the abbe de Barruel, a French priest. Robisons book provided rich source material for Morses imagination. It was full of dramatic details, such as an account of the Illuminati possessing tea for procuring abortion as well as a mysterious composition which blinds or kills when spurted in the face. The Illuminati, according to Robison, defended suicide and discouraged patriotism and property owning. Claiming to worship human reason above all else, they practiced a blinkered ethics in which the means always justified the ends, as long as those ends were the growing power of the organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These accounts of the Illuminati were, of course, utterly false. Though a group of Enlightenment intellectuals led by Adam Weishaupt, calling themselves the Illuminati, had existed briefly in Bavaria in the 1770s, they were defunct by the 1790s. They endorsed tolerance and rationalism, but not the kind of extreme amoral worldview attributed to them. There is no evidence that the Illuminati ever held anywhere near the power that its critics claimed. There is certainly nothing to suggest that the reach of the Illuminati extended across the Atlantic to the United States. Nevertheless, in the months following Morses dramatic speech, the Illuminati conspiracy theory became an immediate sensation in the United States and Canada. This was not a fringe conspiracy theory championed by uneducated outsiders. Quite the opposite: Many of the nations leading figures put their reputations behind itboth in public and in private correspondence. In one private letter, former President George Washington wrote that he was satisfied that the Illuminati had spread their Doctrines to the United States. First lady Abigail Adams read Robisons book and recommended it to friends. New Englands preachers were among the most consistent promoters of the Illuminati conspiracy theory, both from their pulpits and behind closed doors, at a time when religious leaders commanded the respect of large audiences. So why did these well-informed, well-educated individuals fall for it? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most important reason that the Illuminati theory became popular, as I show in my new book, Misinformation Nation, was that it explained the otherwise inexplicable matter of why the French Revolution had spiraled out of control. The early stages of the revolution in France had thrilled Americans. It seemed that the French, their recent wartime allies who had helped them to secure independence, were following in their footsteps. Until 1798, most Americans remained hopeful that the French Revolution would follow the model of the American Revolution. Even news of guillotines, massacres, and growing public hostility to religion did not deter the most hopeful Francophiles, who dismissed such accounts as exaggerations by British propagandists. Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jedidiah Morse had, earlier in the decade, distinguished himself as an apologist for the violent excesses in revolutionary France. In 1793, as violence erupted in France, Morse explained to his parishioners that despite the nations errors and irregularities, which were similar to the excesses of the American Revolution, the French Revolutions cause was unquestionably good. Even as his peers started to question the wisdom of the French Revolution, Morse held fast. In 1796, he complained that very few of the clergy in the circle of my acquaintance seem disposed to pray for the success of the French. In 1797, a skeptical Noah Webster wrote to Morse, Your good opinion of the French is very flattering. Advertisement Advertisement But in early 1798, this all changed. Americans hopes that the French Revolution would follow their model began to deflate. French vessels attacked American ships crossing the Atlantic to prevent them from supplying their wartime enemies. When President John Adams sent a delegation to Paris to resolve this problem, the French appeared to insult the delegation and demand a bribe. The dispatches from Paris documenting this dispute, which became known as the XYZ Affair, were published in Philadelphia in April 1798. Advertisement This news caused Americans to turn swiftly and furiously against France and its revolutionary politics. Anti-French hatred became the order of the day. But there was a problem. If the French Revolution had birthed an evil nation, as it now seemed, why did Americans celebrate this horrible revolution for so long? Advertisement Morse happened to be traveling through Philadelphia in April as the XYZ dispatches became public. That month also happened to be the moment when John Robisons book about the Illuminati was first published, also in Philadelphia. Here at once was Morses undoing and his salvation. Just as the French Revolution was becoming indefensible, the revelation of the Illuminati conspiracy offered Morse a convenient explanation for why he had remained one of Frances most steadfast defenders. Advertisement Historians now usually interpret the French Revolution in terms of actions and reactions, theses and antitheses. It wasnt controlled by any single group but took shape through competition between many opposing individuals: Napoleon defeated the Directory, which displaced the Jacobins, who succeeded the Girondins, and none of them quite agreed on what France was and what it could be. Properly told, its an intricate, unpredictable story full of mistakes and confusion, but no evil geniuses. If the Illuminati had plotted the revolution from the beginning, though, there was quite a simple explanation for its decay: These daring deceivers had pretended all along that the French Revolution was something that it was not. They had managed to convince millions that France was pursuing the path laid out by the American Revolution, even as they plotted out a contrary course of violence, extremism, and atheism. Nothing had changed. The revolutions evils had simply been unmasked. This version of the French Revolution, centered around the lies of the Illuminati, absolved Morse and his allies of misjudgment. Morse had not erredhe had been deceived. As one sympathetic commentator wrote, Robisons account unravels everything that appears mysterious in the progress of the French Revolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By late 1799, some skeptics began to pick apart the Illuminati conspiracy theory. Forced to defend his views in public newspapers and in private correspondence, Morses story crumbled. As he received correspondence from European intellectuals who cast doubt on the Illuminati story, Morse began to fall silent. Though he never admitted it, perhaps he realized that he had been deceived. Without fresh evidence to sustain it, the Illuminati scare faded away nearly as quickly as it had arrived. But the basic outlines of the Illuminati conspiracy theory proved too irresistible to disappear entirely. In the 19th century, many Americans developed a renewed fear of Freemasonry and all sorts of secret societies, even forming the Anti-Masonic Party in the 1820s. In the mid-19th century, some Americans and Europeans began to embrace antisemitic conspiracy theories claiming that a small group of Jewish bankers, especially the Rothschild family, secretly ran the world. In more recent years, conspiracy theorists have grasped onto similar stories about other all-powerful secret societies, such as the New World Order, the Bilderberg Group, Bohemian Grove, and QAnons cabal. Some have returned to the Illuminati, imagining celebrities such as Beyonce and Jay-Z to be members of this satanic cult. The names and characters change over time, but the basic template has remained remarkably durable over the centuries: A small, yet nearly omnipotent, group of amoral globalist elites secretly directs world events. This paranoid vision has persevered in large part because it helps their believers to make sense of a rapidly changing world. The faceless structural forces remaking our presentsuch as globalization, accelerating inequality, deindustrialization, racial justice movements, and cultural fragmentationrequire explanation. Just as the Illuminati explained the otherwise inexplicable course of the French Revolution in 1798, these conspiracy theories allow their believers to explain the apparent decay of American society as the will of evil elites, rather than the unintended consequences of a complex mix of historical forces. At the core of every conspiracy theory is the observation that only bad intentions can produce bad outcomes. There are no accidents, only evil people. Are you planning to make midterms election night a big deal? Have some buds and pals over, maybe put up some themed decorations that evoke the Dobbs decision and the price of gasoline, watch the returns? If so, please consider seeking professional help from a licensed care provider. But also, the New York Times Cooking section has just what you need to prepare for the party: A list of 82 foods and beverages, described as comforting dishes to cook and eat as the results roll in, that have been curated under the title Election Day Recipes. Advertisement Now, heres one problem, right off the bat: Even some decisively won contests dont necessarily get called until late on election night. And big-picture takeaways from midterms dont become clear for days or weeks as votes are counted in close races. If youre waiting to eat a steaming tray of Mexican Hot Dogs until you have a firm grasp on the way that the interplay between crime rates and the Jan. 6 select committee hearings played out in the Wisconsin Senate race, you might be waiting to eat such a hot dog for so long it gives you a profound case of election-themed food poisoning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That aside, lets take a look at these recipes themselves. Will you want to pull the lever and vote yes on making themor are they as fraudulent as the Democratic Partys midnight ballot vans? Advertisement Advertisement The first listed dish is French Onion Macaroni and Cheese. Seems like a lot, but lets take a look: Advertisement Thats a cheesy starch topped with a different kind of cheesy starch. It is a lota lot of good ideas on one plate! A-plus. Real Sour Cream and Onion Dip by the legendary Mark Bittman. What could the famed Bittman have to offer that mixing Lipton soup mix with sour cream doesnt? Advertisement 1 medium onion, minced, about cup Hes done it again, folks! No idea why Im launching a career-suicide attack on Mark Bittman, about whom I have no actual opinion. Khachapuri Adjaruli (Georgian Cheese Bread Boat). As in the Georgia in the Caucasus, not the one whose matchup against Tennessee on Nov. 5 could determine who wins the SEC East. However, you can pretend its the latter Georgia and that Herschel Walker falsely claimed to be the captain of the cheese boat in question during a debate monologue that the Atlanta Journal-Constitution described as at times confusing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martini. This is a recipe for a martini. But fairs fairyoull probably need a stiff drink when you hear some of the nonsense that those clowns in Congress come up with. Tomato Rice with Crispy Cheddar. The writeup describes this as pizza in rice form. Sold. When I was young, my dad cooked scrambled eggs with rice and ketchup on weekend mornings. Not something you see as much these days. But why not? Its good. Loco Moco. Another rice dish inspired by a ketchup-based sauce? Is the New York Times reading my dang mind? Did I actually curate this list of 82 comforting dishes to cook and eat as the results roll in during a Tyler Durdenstyle alter-ego blackout? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sausage Balls. LOL. The Big Lasagna. An 18-step, two-and-a-half-hour recipe in which a one-hour, 10-step recipe for homemade lasagna sheets is nested. If you start this bad boy on election night you might be done by the time Philadelphia gets its freakin votes counted, right? Apple Cider Whoopie Pies. Someone call the Federal Bureau of Investigation, because signals intelligence suggests that these dessertsdusted with cinnamon sugar and filled with a cream cheese frostingare planning to stage an insurrection on your sweet tooth! Bricklayer-Style Nachos. Says the Times: Bricklayer-style beef, or puntas al albanil, made with tender pieces of beef, salty bacon and sometimes chorizo in a chunky fire-roasted salsa, is a beloved taco filling in Mexico. Its funny how many fancy names for food, from across the world, boil down to this meat has an extraordinary amount of salt in it. Again, though, whos complaining? Advertisement Hot Cheese Olives. Advertisement Advertisement Mix these with the Sausage Balls and some doughnut holes and use them to fill an arcade-style claw machine. One prize guaranteed per turn! The prize is cholesterol. Advertisement Bill Blasss Meatloaf. This homespun, bacon-wrapped version of the American classic is attributed to Bill Blass, the world-famous clothing designer of the 60s, 70s and 80s, who is perhaps best known for dressing First Lady Nancy Reagan and the upper echelons of New York society. Magical. Put simply, these are normal (but appealing) recipes for autumnally appropriate mixed drinks, desserts, and comfort food that, with the exception of the Nancy Reagan Memorial Meatloaf, do not have anything specifically to do with elections. But the economics of the journalism business are no joke, and sometimes publications need to think creatively about how to take advantage of search traffic for election night party ideas. Which Slate has now done, in its own way, as well. Chinese electric vehicle startups are doing a better job than both international carmakers and local established marques when it comes to customer satisfaction, according to a J.D. Power study. New players, including Xpeng and Zeekr, scored 806 out of a possible 1,000 points, 10 points higher than the average. The study evaluated the ownership experience of new energy vehicle owners in the first two to 12 months after their purchases, said J.D. Power on Thursday. International brands followed with a score of 802, while traditional Chinese brands lagged behind the industry average with 792. The scores were based on evaluations of different customer groups on various measures at three experience stages of purchase, usage and service. Among them, the startups had a 16-point lead in the score for service experience (809) compared with international brands, and a 23-point lead over traditional Chinese brands. The study also found that the usage experience stage (806) is the peak experience of the whole ownership journey, while the purchasing experience stage scored 788, ranking lowest among the three experience stages, and indicates there is still a great deal of room for improvement. Li Auto ranked No 1 in customer experience value among Chinese brands with a score of 816. Xpeng followed with a score of 815. Geometry and Zeekr, both brands newly established under Geely, came third in a tie. Of the international brands, BMW topped the list with a score of 814. It was followed by Mercedes-Benz with a score of 812. SAIC Volkswagen, the German carmaker's Chinese joint venture, and Tesla ranked third in a tie on 802 points. The J.D. Power study, the first dedicated to the NEV market, was based on responses from 3,968 NEV owners who purchased their vehicles between June 2021 and May 2022. A total of 41 brands were involved in the study conducted from June to July 2022 in 56 major cities across China. "The reason why startups seize the lead position is that they have a keen sense of customers' needs. User-centered and demand-driven, the startup sector has achieved remarkable results in customer operation," said Ann Xie, general manager of the digital retail consulting practice at J.D. Power China. She said for automakers, whether startups or established brands, the goal of customer experience management needs to be changed. "It is imperative to enhance customers' experience and increase their loyalty for driving brand growth." J.D. Power also found in the study that NEV makers prefer to glean information online. Up to 16 percent of the respondents used carmakers' apps, which is 4.1 percentage points higher than among gasoline vehicle buyers. It was also found in the study that the respondents who frequented the carmakers' apps tend to rate the brands higher. Those who logged in to the apps several times a day gave a score of 830, compared with 782 points among vehicle owners who logged in once every two to three days, said J.D. Power. It may be no coincidence that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, have held at least two phone conversations in the last three daysafter months of going incommunicadowhile both countries are holding their annual nuclear-war exercises. Their talks have reportedly been focused on Russias persistent threat to use nuclear weapons as a way of reversing its setbacks in the Ukraine war as well as its claimby all accounts, falsethat Kyiv is about to set off a dirty bomb(a conventional weapon laced with radioactive waste). But the tangible context of NATO and Russian nuclear-war drillswhich, by coincidence, started last week and continue for a few more daysmust have heightened tensions and given both sides military leaders a good reason to open up phone lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are certainly aware that, nearly 40 years ago, another nuclear exercise, held against a backdrop of great tension, very nearly triggered World War III. Such exercises routinely take place around this time of year, and have for many decades. Ivo Daalder, president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, who was President Obamas ambassador to NATO, describes them as pretty full-blown rehearsals, involving nuclear-capable aircraft from the U.S. and Allied countriesB-52s, electronic-warfare [planes] and fighters for defense and offensive penetration. NATOs current exercises were planned and publicly announced well before the invasion of Ukraine, and are set in and around Belgium, far away from the Russian border, to avoid misunderstanding. The earlier NATO game, the one that nearly set off a real war, was larger, more elaborate, and more provocative than usual. Called Able Archer, it lasted from Nov. 7 through 11, 1983 and was designed to test the procedures that the U.S. and its Western allies would follow if a war against the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact escalated from a conventional battle to nuclear war. Advertisement Advertisement A fleet of military cargo-transport planes flew 19,000 soldiers from the U.S. to bases in Europe while maintaining radio silence. Strategic Air Command crews taxied B-52 bombers to their runways and loaded them with dummy bombs that looked remarkably like the real thing. Commanders at SAC headquarters in Omaha, Neb., raised the nuclear-alert level through all five DEFCON settings, including to general alertthe final stage before war. Advertisement The Soviets were monitoring all of this, as they generally did (and as U.S. commanders knew they would), but they reacted in ways that they never had during previous exercisesin ways similar to how they might act if the U.S. was gearing up for a real attack. The chief of Soviet armed forces ran the response from a bunker outside Moscow. Nuclear-capable aircraft in East Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakiathe Warsaw Pacts frontline countries in a war against NATOwere placed on high alert. Helicopters transported nuclear warheads from their storage sites to missile launchers in western Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. intelligence agencies were watching all this. Under long-established Cold War procedures, if the Soviets took such actions, the agencies were to notify the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the secretary of defense, who would then respond by escalating maneuvers still further. However, a three-star general named Leonard Perroots, the deputy chief of staff for intelligence at the U.S. Air Forces European headquarters in West Germany, decided instead to do nothing. Hed warned colleagues that Able Archer 83 would be needlessly provocative, and so interpreted the Soviets actions not as a threat but as a rational defensive response to what they saw as an American threat. Advertisement Advertisement While all this was going on, Oleg Gordievsky, a London-based KGB colonel who had turned double agent, was providing his British handlers with documents revealing that Soviet officials were viewing Able Archer as prelude to an attack by the U.S. and NATOand responding with their own nuclear alert. The British shared this intel with their U.S. counterparts. Advertisement Advertisement Top CIA officials were skeptical, dismissing the Soviets war scare as propaganda designed to inflame anti-American sentiments in Western Europe. In any case, Able Archer ended after its five-day run; U.S. crews returned to their bases; in response, the Soviets relaxed. The following May, in a Special National Intelligence Estimate on the subject, the CIA concluded strongly thatboth in response to Able Archer and as a general propositionSoviet actions are not inspired by, and Soviet leaders do not perceive, a genuine danger of imminent conflict or confrontation with the United States. However, six years later, the Presidents Foreign Intelligence Advisory Boarda panel of experts with insiders experience and outsiders disinterestdisputed this judgment. In a 94-page report stamped Top Secret and six other still higher classification labels, its authors concluded: There is little doubt in our minds that the Soviets were genuinely worried by Able Archer and feared that NATO was about to launch an attack under cover of the exercise. At least some Soviet forces, the report added, were preparing to preempt or counterattack what they saw as an imminent first strike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of the boards study has since been declassified. Lieut. Gen. Perroots after-action report, written in 1989 upon his retirement from the Air Force, was later declassified by the State Department but is still considered Top Secret by the CIA. (The private National Security Archive, which obtained the report in a Freedom of Information Act request, has published the report here.) The context of the war scare is worth noting. 1983 was a particularly frazzled year of the Cold War. In March, President Ronald Reagan gave an address to the National Association of Evangelists, referring to the Soviet Union as an evil empire. Two weeks later, he delivered his prime-time Star Wars speech, calling on scientists to invent a space-based device that could shoot down Soviet missiles as they headed toward the United Stateswhich the Soviets interpreted as a first strike-weapon. (The U.S. would launch a nuclear first strike, then shoot down missiles that Moscow would launch in retaliation.) In September, Soviet air defense crews shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007, mistaking it for a U.S. spy plane, as it accidentally crossed into Soviet airspace, killing all 269 passengers onboard, including a U.S. congressman. That same month, Soviet early-warning radars sounded the alarm for what seemed to be an attack by U.S. intercontinental ballistic missiles. (The chief air defense officer on duty, Lt. Col. Stanislav Petrov, figured this had to be a false alarm and decidedon his own initiativenot to notify his superiors. If hed been more like his comrades who downed KAL 007 a month earlier, World War III might have started that day.) Finally, in December, the Kremlin broke off all arms-control negotiations. Communications between the two superpowers shut down almost entirely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At that point, Reagan decided that the Cold War was getting too hot, that he needed to tone down his rhetoric and policies toward Moscow. His new approach took a while to take off: two Soviet leadersYuri Andropov (who had been the director of the KGB before rising to the Kremlins helm) and, after him, the sclerotic Konstantin Chernenkodied before a genuine reformer, Mikhail Gorbachev, improbably emerged as Communist Party chairman. The parallels to the present day are limited. In 1983, the Soviet Union hadnt invaded a neighboring European country; tense as the times were, the nuclear scare didnt play out against the backdrop of an actual shooting war. But this is all the more reason to take note of the lessons from Able Archer. There is currently no basis for diplomacy with Moscow, over Ukraine or much else. But American and Russian leadersespecially their military leadersshould at least talk with each other, if just to avoid the quite reasonable misunderstandings that nearly unleashed war in 1983. Welcome to State of Mind, a new section from Slate and Arizona State University dedicated to exploring mental health. Follow us on Twitter. In 2007, the Supreme Court case Panetti v. Quarterman set the standard for when the government can execute someone with severe mental illness. Fifteen years later, the state of Texas is still trying to execute the petitioner in that case, Scott Panetti. This week, a federal judge is hearing testimony over whether Panetti meets the standard the Supreme Court outlined in his case in 2007: Does he have a rational understanding of the link between his crime (the 1992 murder of his in-laws) and the impending punishment? Advertisement Panettis lawyers say no. Hes been diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, and medical records from the past 40 years document a long series of struggles with delusions, paranoia, hallucinations, and disordered thinking. Between 1981 and 1992, Panetti was hospitalized 14 times for symptoms related to schizophrenia and manic depression. His delusions are often religious in nature, and according to his lawyers, he believes he is engaged in spiritual warfare with Satan. Greg Wiercioch, the lead counsel on his case, told me that Panetti believes God has put him on death row to save the souls of fellow prisoners and correctional staff, and to preach the gospel of Jesus. His execution, in his mind, is part of a conspiracy to prevent him from continuing to spread the word of God and also to cover up evidence of a pedophilia ring in Fredericksburg, Texas, which he believes his in-laws were involved in before his death. At his 1995 trial and sentencing, during which Panetti was inexplicably allowed to represent himself, he showed up dressed as a cowboy and attempted to subpoena the pope, John F. Kennedy, and Jesus Christ. His mental illness is almost like a prism thats distorting and bending reality, said Wiercioch, who has represented Panetti since 2003. Everything that goes through the prism of his mental illness is distorted and bent in a way that no longer makes sense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its 1986 ruling in Ford v. Wainwright, the Supreme Court determined that it was unconstitutional to execute someone who was insane. The ruling drew on the Eighth Amendment and common law, concluding that such an execution has questionable retributive value, presents no example to others, and thus has no deterrence value, and simply offends humanity. The decision quotes the Latin phrase Furiosus solo furore punitur: Madness is its own punishment. But, as the New York Times pointed out in 2006, the ruling left much unclear. Who qualified as insane? In 2007, Panettis Supreme Court case served, in theory, to provide an answer. But rational understandingwhich the court settled on despite the objection of then-Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz, who said it invites real abuseis itself a fuzzy standard. It requires the criminal justice system to do something it is generally unequipped to do: acknowledge the nuance and complexity of mental illness. A recent analysis of federal appellate cases in which defendants argued they were ineligible to be executed under the standard outlined in Panetti found that the standard was an illusion, little more than a paper victory for defendants with serious mental illness: The researchers found only one case in which a federal circuit court agreed there had been a Panetti violation. Prior to Panetti, they wrote, we know that that the Fifth Circuit had not found a single death row defendant to be incompetent to be executed in the two decades since the court had decided Ford v. Wainwright. [L]ittle has changed since. Advertisement This should be alarming: Even the few safeties we have in place totheoreticallyprotect people with serious mental illness from cruel and unusual punishment are failing. These standards are critical to, in the words of Justice Thurgood Marshall in Ford, protect the dignity of society itself from the barbarity of exacting mindless vengeance. Advertisement Advertisement Among the evidence that the Texas judge will hear this week in Panettis competency hearing is the opinion of the states expert that Panetti has some degree of rational understanding of the connection between the crime and the punishment. This standardsome degreewas articulated by the U.S. District Court itself when it ordered the evidentiary hearing. But Panettis lawyers argue that some degree is not sufficient under the 2007 Supreme Court rulinginstead, he needs a complete rational understanding. Panettis thought processlike anyonesis complex: Its easy, as the Marshall Project reported in 2014, to pull out moments of lucidity. Panetti may not always meet a caricatured image of mental illness; its not as if hes foaming at the mouth and raving at the moon 24 hours a day, Wiercioch told me. And its for that very reason that The Supreme Court recognized that mental illness is not binary, such that a person is entirely healthy, or so insane that he or she can do nothing. It exists on a continuum, like physical illness, Panettis lawyers wrote in a recent court filing. An isolated thread of understanding does not diminish the pervasiveness and chronicity of psychotic symptoms. Theyre right: Mental illness isnt a binary. But the problem is our justice system still hasnt gotten the memo. State of Mind is a partnership of Slate and Arizona State University that offers a practical look at our mental health systemand how to make it better. Slovakia has been diversifying gas imports following the war in Ukraine. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled In August and September, the consumption of gas in Slovakia decreased by 24 percent compared to the five-year average, according to the gas distribution company SPP-Distribucia data. These take into consideration the real, that is, the physical consumption of gas by consumers. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement "Slovakia demonstrated the fulfilment of the European Council regulation on coordinated measures to reduce gas demand," stated the Economy Ministry. Related article Related article 50 tips to reduce energy consumption and save money Read more The council introduced a voluntary goal of reducing gas consumption by 15 percent compared to their average gas consumption in the period from August 1 to March 31 during five consecutive years, i.e. between 2017 and 2022. The plan was to prepare for the coming winter or possible disruptions of gas supplies from Russia this winter, arguing that the country is using energy supplies as a weapon. The idea was also to fill gas storage facilities to 80 percent capacity by November 2022, and to 90 percent in the following years. Dependent on Russian gas at 85 percent for a long time, Slovakia has also been diversifying gas imports for a few months following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. More than 60 percent of Russian gas, reduced amounts of which continue to flow to Slovakia, is understood to have been replaced. There is nothing left to save on, says Motycky mayor Maros Lacko. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled In the village of Stare Hory, the office hours at the municipal office will only be in the morning to allow the local kindergarten to function without restrictions. Meanwhile in the nearby village of Motycky, the mayor will work from home three days a week because of the need to save money. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The mayors of the villages near Banska Bystrica are already worried about how to pay not only high energy costs, but also the fuel they have to use for heating in the winter. Related article Related article Schools are trying to save on energy wherever they can Read more Nothing like this "There is simply no point in saving any more. In the village, we already replaced the original light bulbs with LED bulbs, then with new ones that were even more economical. The public lighting energy consumption has been reduced to the minimum," said Motycky mayor Maros Lacko who has led this municipality for almost 20 years. "In our case, turning the lights off has no meaning, or rather it is questionable whether we would really save, because the supplier will not take into account the savings and we have to fulfil the contractual flat rate," added the mayor. The mayor is trying to modernize the village with 105 inhabitants. They already replaced an old heating stove in the municipal office for a modern one that uses pellets for heating. However, the price of pellets went up astronomically along with firewood. "We used to spend about 1,900 for wood per season. If the cost of a pallet of pellets was 190 before a heating season, it was a good price. Now it is between 750 to 800, and we need 10 of them. So we need about 8,000 for heating," said Lacko. Because of this, the mayor will have to work from home three days a week from the new year and office hours will only be until noon. "Thus, the heating will also have to be reduced to a minimum, so that we only use tempered heating and not heat unnecessarily," said Lacko. The changes will also affect the bus driver that arrives in the village with the last bus and sleeps at the municipal office for the first morning departure of the bus. "It will not be possible to heat the building just for him, and it is also not realistic for him to heat himself with an electric heater," said the mayor. They will rely on tempered heating so that water in the pipes and a fire truck does not freeze. According to Lacko, there has never been anything like this before. No matter how hard he tries and brainstorms about where and how to save, he is running out of ideas. "The only option is to take more from my salary, which I have already reduced years ago and I do not earn the amount I am officially supposed to." The mayor works alone and does not even have a secretary. In the coming election no one else is running for the office. Related article Related article Schools shocked by energy bills Read more Everything to help kindergarten The kindergarten in the village of Stare Hory is more than 50 years old. It has never been closed or operated in a limited mode. But that has changed due to the energy crisis and rising prices, and the municipalities cannot bear the burden. The kindergarten is attended by 20 children not only from the village, but also from the nearby villages of Turecka, Motycky and others. "The worst situation will be in the kindergarten," said Mayor Marian Gajdos. The municipality has already started saving on street lighting that is turned on for two hours in the evening and two hours in the morning. In order to allow the kindergarten to run without any problems, they will limit office hours until noon, after which they will work from home. "If we were to turn off the lighting completely, it would affect people a lot and not have the same effect as in big cities," the mayor explained. Five people work at the municipal office. In order to save money, they themselves transport waste to Banska Bystrica. They pay only for processing. As they use wood and coal for heating, the significant increase in prices was felt here as well. "Compared to last year, a ton of coal cost around 400, now it is around 600. Wood cost 40 per cubic metre, now it is 80," said Gajdos. Expensive energy has also impeded any possibility of development in the village of approximately 500 inhabitants in the near future. "We will spend money on only the most necessary things," said Gajdos. Sme Matej Drlicka "crossed a line" with his statements during Budapest conference, minister accepts his resignation. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Matej Drlicka, general director of the Slovak National Theatre, has resigned. After what he admitted to have been inappropriate comments towards national artists and politicians, Drlicka decided to resign from the top job at the national theatre. His statements during a recent conference in Budapest raised eyebrows both in parliament and Slovak theatres. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Culture Minister Natalia Milanova accepted his resignation on Monday, the TASR newswire reported. The minister argues that a person in such a position must be aware of their own responsibility and the consequences of public speaking. Drlicka ends his term as the director of Slovak National Theatre on November 1. His mocking statements towards national artists that were or still are part of Slovak National Theatre ensemble that think theyre the most important people in Slovakia are particularly rude and undignified. We think of his statements addressed to politicians, who are fulfilling their constitutional duty, as unfortunately still breathing, to be a crossing every line of decency, stated members of the committee. A national artist is a recognition that artists were awarded under the communist regime to artists. Drlickas words have come at especially strong times of hardship, Milanova adds. Drlickas words stirred emotions within Slovak society. Particularly at a time of the recent terrorist attack in Bratislava, Matej Drlicka used language beyond the line of acceptable public speaking, which should not happen in art. Drlicka admitted that his choice of words was unacceptable. Before becoming director of the theatre, Matej Drlicka was manager and director of the festival Viva Musica! He and his team started working on January 1, 2020. The committee chose him out of five candidates who applied and underwent three rounds of the selection procedure. Drlickas main aim was to financially stabilise the theatre. To keep the theatre moving swiftly without major breaks, Milanova said that she will entrust the management to a temporary acting director so that stability is maintained. The selection process to fill the directing position is starting soon. Foreigners living in Slovakia have a rare chance to influence the direction of their town, and the country, this coming weekend. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Welcome to your weekly commentary and overview of news from Slovakia. Regional and municipal elections are coming up. MPs failed to improve conditions for (not only) LGBT+ people. The Bratislava shooting is reclassified as terrorism. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Foreigners can vote in this weekends elections Slovakia is preparing for a rather complicated election day on Saturday. As a foreigner, you may be inclined to overlook the election billboards lining the countrys roads, and to ignore the constant drizzle of leaflets that has filled your mailbox lately. Here is why you might want to take a moment and consider voting. All permanent residents, regardless of their citizenship, are eligible to vote in the municipal and regional elections that will be held on Saturday, October 29. EU citizens officially residing in Slovakia automatically receive permanent residence and are hence eligible to vote in these elections regardless of the length of their stay in the country. But whether you are from an EU state or elsewhere, provided you are a permanent resident, you are eligible to vote (as well as run) in regional and municipal elections, which this year are taking place simultaneously for the first time. Christmas markets will return to Bratislava. Meet Gisela Weyde. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Good evening. The Monday, October 24 edition of Today in Slovakia is ready with the main news of the day in less than five minutes. Govt announces help for firms in energy crisis PM Eduard Heger announces on October 24 how his cabinet is going to help firms affected by the energy crisis in 2023. (Source: TASR - Pavel Neubauer) The government will cap the prices of gas and electricity as commodities for firms in Slovakia. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The measure will be in place the first three months of 2023. If company bills exceed the announced caps, the government will cover 80 percent of their energy-related expenses. However, parliament will first have to approve next year's budget. "With this measure, we will cover almost the entire sector of companies," PM Eduard Heger said. "We still have extremely energy-demanding companies to help, to be dealt with individually by the Economy Ministry." Firms can also obtain financial support for the remaining months of this year. Gas: In August and September, gas consumption in Slovakia decreased by 24 percent compared to the five-year average. Villages: Several mayors of small settlements describe what they are going to do to save money in the energy crisis. Tips: Here's 50 tips on how to reduce your energy consumption and save money. More stories from The Slovak Spectator website Theatre: Culture Minister Natalia Milanova (OLaNO) has removed Matej Drlicka, head of the Slovak National Theatre, from his post following improper comments made at a conference in Budapest. Drlicka apologised for his comments last Friday. Culture Minister Natalia Milanova (OLaNO) has removed Matej Drlicka, head of the Slovak National Theatre, from his post following improper comments made at a conference in Budapest. Drlicka apologised for his comments last Friday. Events: A festival that bears the name of Mozart will take place in the capital on October 28. See more events to be held in Bratislava in the coming days. A festival that bears the name of Mozart will take place in the capital on October 28. See more events to be held in Bratislava in the coming days. Music: Dutch musician Robert Leslie is a former busker who played in Slovakia and elsewhere. He has become a professional performer, working with bass players who used to tour with Bob Dylan. Dutch musician Robert Leslie is a former busker who played in Slovakia and elsewhere. He has become a professional performer, working with bass players who used to tour with Bob Dylan. Partial solar eclipse: In our weekend roundup, we mention a partial solar eclipse that you can watch tomorrow, October 25. For a deeper insight into current affairs, check out our Last Week in Slovakia piece published earlier today. This time, we highlight the upcoming 2022 elections. You can sign up for the newsletter here. FEATURE STORY FOR MONDAY Slovakia's first female art historian, and an influencer? Gisela Weyde in 1914. (Source: Bratislava City Gallery) Gisela Weyde was a woman of several firsts. The exhibition "From Athena to Hera", which presents her life and work, runs until December in Bratislava. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription. Thank you. IN OTHER NEWS: Ukraine confirmed the Vysne Nemecke - Uzhhorod border crossing as the connection point of the planned D1 motorway in the section from Bidovce to the Ukrainian border. in the section from Bidovce to the Ukrainian border. After more than a month, the re-trial in the murder case of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova, as well as the case planning the murders of prosecutors, continued at the Specialised Criminal Court in Pezinok. No witnesses were called for Monday's hearing. The documents were read. and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova, as well as the case planning the murders of prosecutors, continued at the Specialised Criminal Court in Pezinok. No witnesses were called for Monday's hearing. The documents were read. Almost 6,800 candidates are running for 2,915 mayorial posts in Saturday's municipal elections. There are 76 candidates for eight presidents of self-governing regions. There are 43,000 candidates for 21,000 local councillor seats. Approximately 3,000 candidates are running for 419 regional councillor seats. The winning design of Trencianske Teplice wafers by Livia Lorinczova. All the 2022 National Design Award winning designs are on display at the Satelit art gallery in Bratislava until December 18, 2022. (Source: TASR - Dano Veselsky) If a voter who is self-isolating due to Covid-19 wants to vote on Saturday, they must call a number published on the website of their town by October 28 (12:00). On election day, members of the special election commission will visit them at home. wants to vote on Saturday, they must call a number published on the website of their town by October 28 (12:00). On election day, members of the special election commission will visit them at home. Traditional Christmas markets will return to Bratislava this year after a pandemic break. They are to be held from November 24 to December 22 on Hlavne Namestie and Frantiskanske Namestie squares. after a pandemic break. They are to be held from November 24 to December 22 on Hlavne Namestie and Frantiskanske Namestie squares. The minimum value of a meal voucher is to be increased from 4.80 to 5.10 from 2023, proposed by the Labour Ministry in response to higher prices in restaurants. If passed, the measure will take effect in January. If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. Sunday was a great day on the field for the Washington Commanders. Elsewhere, not so much. With Taylor Heinicke starting for injured quarterback Carson Wentz, the Commanders stunned the Green Bay Packers at home in a 23-21 win. They did so as fans in the stands called for owners Dan and Tanya Snyder to "sell the team." Sunday's was the first home game in Washington since a report that Dan Snyder threatened "blow up" the NFL with dirt on fellow team owners if they they pressured him to sell. The franchise has been mired in dysfunction since Snyder bought the team in 1999, and allegations of a toxic workplace culture within the organization have amplified calls for Snyder's ouster from the NFL. Since that Oct. 13 report, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said as much out loud. "At this point, Im very concerned that he needs to be removed," Irsay said at owners meetings last week. It turns out that Commanders fans agree. Some of them at least. Commanders fans: 'Sell the team' Per multiple reports, a chant of "sell the team" broke out at FedEx Field on Sunday as a message from co-CEO Tanya Snyder played on the stadium's video board. Tanya is representing the team's ownership interests as Dan has technically been removed from day-to-day operations amid the investigation into the workplace misconduct allegations. Other fans put their displeasure in writing. Several fans showed up to the stadium on Sunday with signs reading "sell the team." One even showed up with a paper bag for his head emblazoned with the same message. He says that security told them to take down their signs. Staff making fans put the Sell the Team signs down pic.twitter.com/37sZsasch4 JP Curtz (@teamsellinszn) October 23, 2022 Snyders security guards made me take the sign down so I put on the bag on and they made me take that off. I told them it was our franchises version of the cheese head. Plenty of cheese heads around us. #SellTheTeam pic.twitter.com/o73l79r5XN Tom Manatos (@TomManatos) October 23, 2022 The "sell the team" bag is now making repeat appearances after showing up during Washington's Week 6 game against the Chicago Bears. Story continues "Sell the team" is becoming a Commanders mantra. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) This all took place on Sunday amid a celebration for the franchise as it honored team greats like Art Monk, Mark Rypien and Doug Williams in a homecoming ceremony. Even that was tinged with controversy. Tanya concluded a speech introducing Monk, Rypien and Williams by invoking the franchise's former nickname that was changed after years of pressure because it's a slur. Heres the end of the video of Tanya Snyder, which includes her Hail to the Redskins (:20). https://t.co/XpIqKP9z3T pic.twitter.com/H5tSIWht6V Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) October 23, 2022 As usual, Washington's NFL franchise struggles to get even the little things right. Athens (Greece), 23 October 2022 (SPS) - The Greek Syriza party (the Coalition of the Radical Left Progressive Alliance) has reaffirmed its position in support of the Polisario Front and the struggle of the Sahrawi people for freedom and independence, calling on Morocco to respect its obligations in the process of a peaceful settlement approved by the United Nations in 1991 to organize a referendum on self-determination and accept its results. This took place during a meeting between a delegation from the Polisario Front and members of the Executive Committee of the Syriza Party, where the Sahrawi delegation briefed the members of the party on the latest developments in the Sahrawi issue and the new situation on the ground in addition to the serious human rights crisis in Western Sahara. The Sahrawi delegation stressed, in this regard, the urgent need for the international community to move towards putting pressure on the Moroccan occupation in order to comply with international legitimacy and put an end to obstructing the decolonization of Western Sahara in order to enable the Sahrawi people to exercise their legitimate right to self-determination and independence. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the European Forum held in the Greek capital, Athens, in which a delegation representing the Polisario Front, led by Abdullah Al-Arabi, the representative of the Polisario Front in Spain, accompanied by Basiri Moulay A-Hasan, member of the Polisario Fronts representation in Europe, took part in its activities. 062/T https://sputniknews.com/20221023/republican-arizona-gubernatorial-candidate-says-she-may-restrict-early-voting-questions-election-1102559877.html Republican Arizona Gubernatorial Candidate Says She May Restrict Early Voting, Questions Election Republican Arizona Gubernatorial Candidate Says She May Restrict Early Voting, Questions Election Republican Kari Lake is in a toss-up election with her Democratic opponent Katie Hobbs. According to FiveThirtyEight, the two are separated by 1.1 points. 23.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-23T22:55+0000 2022-10-23T22:55+0000 2022-10-23T22:55+0000 americas us arizona 2022 us midterms governor gubernatorial elections /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/17/1102559733_15:0:1174:652_1920x0_80_0_0_59338a581b17bc361fa5f1130db85906.png Republican Arizona Gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake suggests that she may restrict early voting in Arizona if elected this November.Lake was speaking to ABCs Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl on ABCs This Week on Sunday when she also again refused to say if she would accept the election results.The comments come after a previous interview on CNN where Lake would only say if she would accept the results if she won and refused to say what would happen if she lost. I'm going to win the election, and I will accept that result, she said last week.Lake has been a consistent critic of the 2020 presidential election, spreading false conspiracy theories about the election process in Arizona. She has alleged that 2,000 mail-in ballots were accepted in Maricopa County after Election Day. Election officials say no ballots were accepted after Election Day and that some ballots that were turned in on Election Day were scanned and counted the next morning, giving them a post-Election Day timestamp.Biden won the state by 10,457 votes. The Republican candidate for Arizona Senate, Blake Masters, has accepted the 2020 Presidential election results, something Lake has not done.When asked if she would restrict mail-in ballots or early voting, Lake was non-committal but said she would work to secure the election while casting doubt on the process. Arizona has a long history of allowing voters to cast their ballot early by mail. In 1991, the Arizona legislature passed a law allowing voters to apply for absentee voting without an excuse. Then in 2007, Arizona allowed voters to vote permanently by mail, after an initial sign-up, without having to request a ballot before each election.Even before the pandemic made voting by mail popular nationwide, it was the preferred way to vote in Arizona. According to the Copper Courier, 80% of Arizona voters cast their ballot by mail before the 2020 elections.Lakes opponent, Katie Hobbs, is currently the secretary of state for Arizona. Part of her role includes certifying the election results. Lake has called for Hobbs to recuse herself from that responsibility. So far, Hobbs has declined to do so, saying that she was having these discussions right now. https://sputniknews.com/20221014/poll-republican-kari-lake-takes-lead-over-katie-hobbs-in-arizona-gubernatorial-race--1101830374.html https://sputniknews.com/20221022/early-voting-high-for-midterms-increased-turnout-expected-1102538370.html americas arizona Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ian DeMartino us, arizona, governor, gubernatorial elections Leading officials in Hong Kong said on Sunday that the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was an uplifting and milestone event that will guide the city's development in the years to come. John Lee Ka-chiu, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said that an accurate understanding of the congress will be beneficial to the steady and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems". "It will also help us better integrate into the nation's development, concentrate on developing the economy, improve livelihoods and build a brighter Hong Kong," Lee said in a social media post. His remarks came after the newly elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, led by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, met with the media on Sunday. Lee said that the congress report, which expounded on "one country, two systems", serves as an action guide for Hong Kong to march to order and prosperity. The new ideas, concepts and strategies laid down in the report point the way forward for the city, he added. Congratulating the CPC on the successful convening of the congress, which concluded on Saturday, Lee said he was deeply moved by Xi's call for the nation to forge ahead. With the central government's full support and the unique strength of "one country, two systems", Lee pledged to unite Hong Kong society to build a caring, vigorous and united city for the people's well-being. Principal officials of the Hong Kong SAR government, including Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, Secretary for Justice Lam Ting-kwok and Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung, also offered their congratulations on the successful conclusion of congress, saying it has set the direction for uniting the city to advance its integration into national development. Chan called on the city to seize the historic opportunities arising from the congress so that Hong Kong can put its economy back on track and contribute to the nation by leveraging its strengths to meet the country's needs. Tang said the successful convening of the congress has united minds, reinforced confidence and set the direction for Hong Kong, while also boosting people's morale. Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said the report delivered at the congress brought forward a number of new ideas and strategies on "one country, two systems", and highlighted the great deal of attention that the CPC Central Committee attaches to the cause of "one country, two systems". Community leaders, including lawmaker Yiu Pak-leung, who is also the chairman of China Travel Service (Hong Kong), and Nick Chan Hiu-fung, a solicitor who is also director of the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre, also vowed to work in solidarity to deepen the city's integration into the nation's development. They said the Party's unwavering support for the implementation of "one country, two systems", as well as Hong Kong's economy and its people's improved livelihoods, has created a better environment for the city to integrate into the nation's development and maintain its long-term stability and prosperity. Other groups, including the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions and the Hong Kong Chinese Importers' and Exporters' Association, also expressed confidence in the newly elected central leadership, saying that China will chart a new course toward its great rejuvenation. https://sputniknews.com/20221024/convicted-sex-offenders--pedophiles-are-working-for-uk-police-force-data-shows-1102567314.html Convicted Sex Offenders & Pedophiles Work for UK Police Force, Data Shows Convicted Sex Offenders & Pedophiles Work for UK Police Force, Data Shows Hundreds of wrongdoers have been escaping justice, according to the findings of Baroness Louise Casey in her damning interim misconduct review into the UK's... 24.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-24T09:26+0000 2022-10-24T09:26+0000 2022-10-24T13:05+0000 world uk uk metropolitan police freedom of information act pedophile sex offenders europe crime scotland yard /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/08/1088878419_0:153:2730:1689_1920x0_80_0_0_b2908df0f9a26d9a258feb8ca3010f5b.jpg More than 100 police officers and staff received a criminal conviction while serving with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) from 1 January 2019 to 31 July this year, data released under a Freedom of Information request shows. Negligence in conducting background checks when hiring, and squeezed funding under the Tory government have been blamed by critics as factors feeding into the force's failings.Among the 104 convicted were 11 sex offenders and six convicted of misconduct in public office, with one individual still serving with the force, according to the information cited by British media outlets. Thirty-two police and staff were convicted of traffic offences, four of theft, two each of forgery and drugs and one of criminal damage, with a further 22 people convicted of unspecified other offences. The murder case refers to Wayne Couzens, serving a whole-life sentence at HMP Frankland in Durham for kidnapping, raping and murdering Sarah Everard in March 2021.Across 22 other forces, an estimated 284 officers and staff have a criminal record, figures showed, with Scotland Yard leading the "appalling" statistics. Forces with the largest number of convictions were Thames Valley and North Wales both with 31, Derbyshire with 27, and both West Midlands and Gwent with 24. Half the forces refused to provide details,, and Humberside Police was the only responding force to claim it had no officers or staff with convictions.During the period in question, former Met officers Deniz Jaffer, 47, and Jamie Lewis, 33, were jailed for two years and nine months after pleading guilty to misconduct in public office. The two ex-officers had taken and shared photographs of bodies of murder victims found in June 2020. Another former police officer, Kashif Mahmood, dressed in his uniform and used marked and unmarked police cars to work with an organized crime gang.Another former PC, Adnan Arib, was jailed for two years in March after admitting misconduct in public office for abusing his position to try to start sexual relationships with two vulnerable teenage girls. Having a criminal record does not automatically bar one from joining the police and officers are ostensibly vetted when they join. However, the latest information showed that some officers were still in post despite a number of convictions, whereas others, already found guilty, were suspended pending misconduct hearings. The scale of criminality within the UK police was laid bare after media pressure prompted the force to release the statistics despite earlier attempts to hide behind data protection rules. 'Unchallenged Corrupting Behaviours'Earlier, in an interim review into misconduct published on 17 October, Victims' Commissioner Baroness Louise Casey revealed that officers guilty of breaking the law or of unacceptable behavior were systemically dodging justice. No more than 1 percent of those facing multiple allegations of serious offences - such as corruption, sexual assault and domestic violence - had been dismissed, according to Casey, who had been appointed to lead an independent review of culture and standards into the Metropolitan Police in London after the murder of Sarah Everard.The Met took an average 400 days to deal with claims of misconduct, the report revealed. In almost 60 percent of cases, allegations of wrongdoing were dismissed with no case to answer. Evidence of systemic racism in the way such cases were handled was cited, with Black and Asian officers more likely to have proceedings brought against them than white officers by 81 percent and 55 percent respectively. According to insiders, the force took "forever" to handle complaints.Furthermore, some 1,809 officers - or 20 percent of those facing allegations - had more than one complaint levelled against them.Describing the interim review as a sobering moment, Sir Mark Rowley, the new Met commissioner, said he was appalled by the findings and added that a radical overhaul of the force was necessary. Rowley, who took over after a succession of racism and misogyny scandals plaguing the Met prompted the resignation of predecessor Dame Cressida Dick in February, wrote to Baroness Casey:Rowley apologized to the public and the force's "honest and dedicated officers" who he said had been let down. He added that he would seek government support for a review of existing disciplinary procedures, arguing that the Met should have the final say in dismissing officers guilty of misconduct. At present the case rests with independent bodies. Baroness Casey's final report is due the next spring.Tory Budget Cuts to BlameEarlier, cuts under Conservative-led governments were blamed by the National Police Chiefs Council for a negative effect upon policing. It stated in late August that crime detection and charge rates had plummeted in the wake of austerity measures and a fall in police numbers since 2010.In a Policy Exchange paper entitled 'Crime & Policing: What Do We want from the Next Prime Minister?' written by former Met detective chief inspector David Spencer, governments led by former Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May (2010 to 2019) were accused of failing to invest in policing while trying to reform its structures. The report conceded that although funding was boosted somewhat under Boris Johnson, the Tory government had not implemented sufficient reforms.Data released earleir by the Home Office showed there were 142,759 police officers in England and Wales in June 2022 compared with 143,734 in March 2011. The figures were particularly compelling given that during the cited period, the population in England and Wales increased by 3.5 million people. https://sputniknews.com/20211027/second-met-police-officer-charged-with-rape-since-wayne-couzens-jailed-for-sarah-everard-murder-1090250600.html https://sputniknews.com/20220612/outrageous--must-be-investigated-twitter-fumes-over-video-of-met-police-punching-teen-suspect-1096241662.html https://sputniknews.com/20220318/sarah-everard-killer-charged-over-flashing-incidents-months-before-murder-1093986818.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 uk, uk metropolitan police, freedom of information act, pedophile, sex offenders, europe, crime, scotland yard https://sputniknews.com/20221024/doj-charges-12-people-with-criminal-actions-taken-in-the-us-under-chinese-government-orders-1102591817.html DOJ Charges 12 People With Criminal Actions Taken in the US Under Chinese Government Orders DOJ Charges 12 People With Criminal Actions Taken in the US Under Chinese Government Orders In a Monday press conference, US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced three new federal cases against 13 individuals, 12 of whom are accused of being... 24.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-24T18:54+0000 2022-10-24T18:54+0000 2022-10-24T18:54+0000 americas us us department of justice china undercover agent /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/06/08/1096130704_0:211:3072:1939_1920x0_80_0_0_771380c68e1aec6050039ff65a0058e2.jpg Garlands appearance was notable, as he was accompanied by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen.Over the past week, the Justice Department has taken several actions to disrupt criminal activity by individuals working on behalf of the government of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), Garland said.According to the indictment, in 2019, the defendants directed an employee at a US government law enforcement agency to steal confidential information about the United States criminal prosecution of the company from the US Attorneys Office in the Eastern District of Virginia, including a prosecution strategy memo, confidential information regarding witnesses, trial evidence, and potential new charges.The double agent provided the defendants with the documents that appeared to present some of the information they sought. In fact, the documents were prepared by the US government for the purpose of this investigation and did not reveal actual meetings, communications, or strategies.He added that another indictment was unsealed in a New Jersey federal court charging four individuals, including three PRC intelligence officers, with conspiring to act in the United States as illegal agents on behalf of a foreign government.According to Garland, that included attempts to procure technology and equipment from the United States and to have it shipped to China. They also included attempts to stop protected First Amendment activities - protests - here in the United States which would have been embarrassing to the Chinese government.Those activities were part of the PRCs global extralegal effort known as Operation Foxhunt. Its purpose is to locate and bring back to China alleged fugitives who have fled to foreign countries, including the United States, he said.Since declaring China its chief rival in "great power competition" in 2018, the US government and media have accused Chinese-Americans, Chinese citizens in the US, and Chinese institutions of serving as agents of the Chinese government. Beijing has denounced this behavior as "racist," pointing out that such demonization has led to a sharp spike in incidents of violence against Asian-Americans in the US. https://sputniknews.com/20220821/cia-carried-out-black-ops-to-get-uk-to-drop-huawei-equipment-in-5g-infrastructure-book-claims-1099832251.html americas china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Fantine Gardinier Fantine Gardinier News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Fantine Gardinier us, us department of justice, china, undercover agent https://sputniknews.com/20221024/erdogan-says-talked-to-putin-five-times-over-past-month-1102561254.html Erdogan Says Talked to Putin Five Times Over Past Month Erdogan Says Talked to Putin Five Times Over Past Month ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he has talked to Russian President Vladimir Putin five times in the past month and also... 24.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-24T02:41+0000 2022-10-24T02:41+0000 2022-10-24T02:41+0000 world recep tayyip erdogan vladimir putin volodymyr zelensky /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107848/58/1078485864_0:151:3103:1896_1920x0_80_0_0_f7918a77a6ecb80557fb517679de4022.jpg "In the course of 20 years, both during my premiership and during my presidency, we have been in constant contact with world leaders. In the last month alone, we have spoken with Mr. Putin five times. The same with Mr. Zelensky," Erdogan said on Sunday, as quoted by state-run news agency Anadolu.He added that he maintains regular telephone contacts with the US leadership as well.On Friday, the Turkish president said that he was going to hold phone talks with Putin, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in the near future.Erdogan also said that Ankara has not lost the hope of organizing a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, and pointed out that, during a telephone conversation on Wednesday, the Ukrainian leader signaled his intention to overcome the crisis.Russia-Ukraine talks began at the end of February after the start of Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine. The last round of the negotiations concluded in Istanbul on March 29. The talks have since stalled, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accusing Kiev of a lack of interest in reaching an agreement.In late September, Putin confirmed that Russia was still open to talks with Ukraine and called on Kiev to stop the hostilities. Zelensky, in turn, stated that Kiev was ready for dialogue with Moscow, but only if another president came to power in Russia. The Kremlin responded that Moscow would wait for a change in the stance of Ukraine's current president or his successor. https://sputniknews.com/20221024/erdogan-says-talked-to-putin-about-overcoming-food-crisis-in-africa-1102561129.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International recep tayyip erdogan, vladimir putin, volodymyr zelensky https://sputniknews.com/20221024/ethiopia-govt-tigray-rebel-forces-to-meet-in-south-africa-for-peace-talks-1102581208.html Ethiopia Government, Tigray Rebel Forces to Meet in South Africa for Peace Talks Ethiopia Government, Tigray Rebel Forces to Meet in South Africa for Peace Talks In early September, officials of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) indicated that they were prepared to take part in talks on bringing hostilities... 24.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-24T12:10+0000 2022-10-24T12:10+0000 2022-11-23T11:36+0000 africa ethiopia tigray forces south africa east africa /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/18/1102581626_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_db13f0c2d542b77514b56be94338b7e5.jpg Delegations of the Ethiopian government and rival Tigray forces are set to meet for the first formal peace talks since violence erupted two years ago, with South Africa offering a venue for the negotiations, mediated by the African Union.The government of Ethiopia views the talks as an opportunity to bring the conflict to a peaceful resolution and consolidate the improvement of the situation on the ground brought about through the sacrifices of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), according to a statement on Twitter from the government communication service of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE).The FDRE added that the ENDF has continued securing major urban centers throughout the past few days, debilitating the military capabilities of the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF).Kindeya Gebrehiwot, a spokesman for the Tigray forces, said the Tigrayan delegation had already arrived, adding on Twitter that the focus of the talks would be an "immediate cessation of hostilities, unfettered humanitarian access, and the withdrawal of Eritrean forces".The Tigray delegation, which arrived on Sunday in a US military aircraft, is being led by one of its top generals, Tsadkan Gebretensae, and spokesman Getachew Reda, according to sources cited by Reuters.The conflict first erupted in November 2020, when the TPLF, which led the country's ruling coalition until Abiy Ahmed became prime minister in 2018, rebelled. After a new government was formed by the countrys first Oromo leader (a Cushitic ethnic group mostly native to the Oromia region of Ethiopia), TPLF forces ambushed ENDF troops sent to the Tigray capital Mekelle to restore peace and order. The TPLF subsequently launched an offensive against Addis Ababa the next year, which was eventually repelled. Although a truce between the TPLF and ENDF was reached in March this year, it was ultimately violated by the rebels at the end of August.The TPLF launched its attack on Amhara and Afar on 24 August, and a week later on 31 August, claiming that Eritrea had invaded Tigray in four directions in conjunction with an ENDF offensive. Eritrea also fought alongside Ethiopia in the first round of the war, from November 2020 until December 2021.Nearly two years of conflict have resulted in a humanitarian crisis, which has been compounded by a devastating drought across much of the Horn of Africa. Around 10 million Ethiopians require food assistance, according to the United Nations, most of them in Tigray, Afar, and Somali states.The fact that the current round of talks is being held in South Africa is testimony to the country's aspirations to project itself as a mediator on the continent. Pretoria has refused to succumb either to western pressure or the recent US "charm offensive" regarding its vision of the Ukrainian security crisis. Since Russia launched its special operation in Ukraine in February, Washington has tried to pressure other nations into condemning the operation and abiding by US sanctions against Moscow. Several senior US diplomats have toured the African continent in recent months trying to woo countries such as South Africa, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to step abandon their neutrality. Nevertheless, South Africa, a longstanding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, has refused to budge. At an earlier stage in the Ukraine conflict, President Cyril Ramaphosa said his country had been approached to play a mediation role, based on its historic relations with the Russian Federation and as a member of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). https://sputniknews.com/20221005/ethiopian-government-accepts-african-unions-offer-for-peace-talks-with-tigray-rebels-1101524411.html https://sputniknews.com/20220916/biden-may-squeeze-ramaphosa-to-alter-stance-on-ukraine-but-south-africa-is-no-pawn-profs-say-1100847488.html africa ethiopia south africa east africa 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 ethiopia, tigray forces, south africa, east africa https://sputniknews.com/20221024/govt-should-help-alter-decades-old-traditions-encourage-indian-farmers-not-to-burn-stubble-1102499012.html Gov't Should Help Alter Decades-Old Traditions, Encourage Indian Farmers Not to Burn Stubble Gov't Should Help Alter Decades-Old Traditions, Encourage Indian Farmers Not to Burn Stubble Traditionally, farmers burn stubble twice a year - in summer and at the beginning of winter after the crops have been harvested. During March and April, the... 24.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-24T08:34+0000 2022-10-24T08:34+0000 2022-10-24T08:34+0000 india farmer farmers farmers farmers pollution pollution haryana punjab delhi /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/15/1102504967_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_af5e89d2de3df140654e575a1e5856ec.jpg Pollution levels in northern India have started to worsen, especially in Delhi, after several incidents of stubble burning were reported in the Indo-Gangetic region, namely in Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh states.Stubble or farm burning, along with dust, industrial and vehicular emissions, and incineration, have been primarily blamed for the decline in the Air Quality Index (AQI) for the last few years, especially during the onset of winter.An AQI from zero to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 satisfactory, 101 to 200 moderate, 201 to 300 poor, 301 to 400 very poor, and 401 to 500 severe. In Delhi-NCR, it has been ranked as poor.It is estimated that the agricultural state of Punjab produces around 20 millions tonnes of paddy residues, and its neighboring state Haryana produces around 7 million tonnes. In general practice, it is burned by farmers in their fields. The issue of stubble burning was first raised in 2016, when the air quality sharply declined across Delhi-NCR. Ever since, the federal government, along with state governments, have worked on all sorts of ways to improve the quality. However, so far, no step has proved effective.Vinay Kumar Sehgal, professor and principal scientist at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute and the head of the Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modelling from Space (CREAMS), said that until 14 October only 15 percent of the land under paddy cultivation had been cleared out rather than the 25 percent at the same period last year and the lapse is because of a delay in harvesting, caused by the untimely rains in October. However, he added that the worst is yet to come and numbers are expected to rise by the end of October or beginning of November.CREAMS collates data from each state in terms of the actual farm fires before sharing it with the Union Environment Ministry and the Commission for Air Quality Management.State governments in both Punjab and Haryana have red-marked 15 districts that reported a maximum number of crop-burning incidents, and will keep a strict watch of these districts.'Nobody Wants to Cause Pollution, But We Are Helpless,' Farmer Union Leader SaysThis year, the Indian government is counting on the practice of mixing stubble in soil. The country has procured 150,000 machines, of which approximately 90,000 are provided to Punjab and 60,000 to Haryana. A machine costs INR 150,000 ($1,810) after subsidy.However, speaking to Sputnik, Kulwant Singh, a Punjab-based farmer union leader, said: This is not a feasible solution as most of the farmers - about 70 percent - own small plots. Even if the government provides subsidies for these machines, farmers cannot afford to buy them. Most of these farmers' annual profit of earning is INR 150,000, he added.No Feasible Solutions at the MomentIn Punjab, those who burn crops will be issued with police warnings. However, the farmers' group has threatened mass protests if the government files any complaints.Nirbhay Singh, leader of the Kirti Kisan Union, believes the government needs to come up with a viable solution and then ask farmers to stop burning crop residue. He also emphasized the need for crop diversification (growing more than one crop in the area), though this doesn't sound practical on the ground: Singh assumed that farmers would only opt to farm alternative crops if there were a market for them or at least the minimum support price (MSP). This year, between 15 September and 19 October, a total of 1,875 cases of stubble burning were reported. The numbers are fairly low compared with last year's total of 2,389 and 2020's 5,562.In 2021, Punjab reported 71,304 farm fires between 15 September and 30 November, and 6,987 stubble-burning incidents were reported in Haryana. Uttar Pradesh reportedly had 4,242 cases that year.In 2019, the Supreme Court ordered one-off cash compensation to farmers who got rid of their residue without burning, but the scheme was a failure as the government did not have adequate funds. Traditional Patterns Should ChangeFederal Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has taken a small step by opening Asia's largest Compressed Biogas plant in the Sangrur district of Punjab which is expected to cut CO2 emissions annually by 150,000 tonnes.According to the Haryana government, this year it expects 1.3 million metric tonnes of crop residue to be consumed in 29 plants producing ethanol, paper, and cardboard. These plants will also store residue.Dr Adarsh Pal Vig, chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, told Sputnik that a lot of solutions are now emerging in markets, which farmers will adopt in the longer run. He suggests that the government should encourage and motivate those farmers who are not burning residue. "Meanwhile, they also needed to identify and speak with farmers not adopting these means, he concluded. https://sputniknews.com/20221011/indias-bks-farmer-body-calls-for-removal-of-key-tax-on-agricultural-items-1101716665.html https://sputniknews.com/20221018/india-inaugurates-asias-largest-compressed-biogas-plant-ahead-of-deadly-smog-1102015647.html haryana punjab delhi new delhi uttar pradesh 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 farmer, farmers, farmers, farmers, pollution, pollution, haryana, punjab, delhi, new delhi, uttar pradesh https://sputniknews.com/20221024/joe-biden-concedes-he-could-drop-dead-tomorrow-after-fresh-strew-of-gaffes-1102562288.html Joe Biden Concedes He Could 'Drop Dead Tomorrow' After Fresh Slew of Gaffes Joe Biden Concedes He Could 'Drop Dead Tomorrow' After Fresh Slew of Gaffes When asked whether he might run for a second term and, possibly, become the first octogenarian leader of the country, gaff-prone US President Joe Biden, who... 24.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-24T05:36+0000 2022-10-24T05:36+0000 2022-10-24T07:57+0000 us joe biden americas /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/07/0b/1097182840_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_b275e6e882fa2eae443b22240c8d8dd4.jpg President Joe Biden, who turns 80 in November, acknowledged that it was fair to be concerned about his age, but defended his mental and physical fitness for office on MSNBC's The Sunday Show.Americas oldest POTUS, whose endless stream of misstatements, verbal blunders and bizarre behavior has been prompting concerns that he is experiencing cognitive decline, addressed these mounting worries with host Jonathan Capehart. After the presenter said that his Democrat-voting Aunt Gloria was unsure about Biden running for president in 2024, the US Commander-in-Chief said:Biden then proceeded to add that he was a "great respecter of fate", and he "could get a disease tomorrow. I could, you know, drop dead tomorrow".Biden appeared to address the concerns of those who pointed to his age and acumen, saying they could support some other Democrat."In terms of my energy level and in terms of how much I'm able to do, I think people should look and say: 'Does he still have the same passion for what he's doing?' And if they think I do and I can do it, then that's fine. If they don't... they should encourage me not to go, said the president. He then told the host:However, a Friday preview clip of the long-ranging interview for MSNBC prompted even more questions as it showed the president apparently zoning out at one point. Biden, who would be 86 at the end of his term if he were to win the presidency again, said of his potential 2024 bid:When Capehart followed up with a question about what the first lady, Jill Biden, felt about his running again, asking, Dr Biden is for it? he was met with an awkward and drawn-out silence from the POTUS. Biden's gaze seemed glued to the floor, until the journalist prodded him with, Mr. President?Finally, Biden said:Dr Biden thinks that my wife thinks that I, uh that were doing something very important.People on social media reacted immediately, wondering, who was calling the shots for the 79-year-old president.Concerns about Biden's fitness for office were described as serious by Republican representative for New York, Claudia Tenney, appearing on Fox News Channel's 'Sunday Morning Futures'. According to Tenney, Biden was "not competent" to be president of the United States.After numerous gaffes on camera - including when Biden called at a White House conference for Jackie Walorski, the Republican representative for Indiana who had died in August - Republican representative from Texas, Ronny Jackson, who has also served as a physician former presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, reiterated calls for Biden to take "a cognitive test".Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, are somewhat concerned about President Bidens mental health, according to an Issues & Insights/TIPP poll published earlier in October.Only 33 percent of Americans would vote to reelect Biden, whose job approval rating has hovered in the low 40s for months, a Fox News poll published on 16 October revealed, and 54 percent said they would cast their ballot for another candidate. In the same survey, 56 percent of voters said they believe Biden does not have the mental soundness to serve in the top office. https://sputniknews.com/20221022/joes-take-two-biden-says-he-has-intention-to-run-again-in-2024-1102520836.html https://sputniknews.com/20221003/weve-all-done-it-joe-bidens-jackie-gaffe-dismissed-on-nbc-as-slip-of-the-tongue-1101467039.html https://sputniknews.com/20221009/snl-takes-swipe-at-joe-bidens-latest-batch-of-gaffes-1101654583.html americas 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 us, joe biden https://sputniknews.com/20221024/kanye-is-right-about-the-jews-banners-on-la-freeway-trigger-outrage-1102565428.html Banners on LA Freeway Reading 'Kanye is Right About the Jews' Spark Outrage Banners on LA Freeway Reading 'Kanye is Right About the Jews' Spark Outrage US rapper Kanye West recently faced a backlash over a succession of outbursts on social media and in interviews that were slammed as anti-Semitic, particularly... 24.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-24T06:54+0000 2022-10-24T06:54+0000 2022-10-24T10:20+0000 us kanye west anti-semitism kim kardashian johnny depp viral /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/12/1091617826_0:0:3001:1688_1920x0_80_0_0_d3d64acd3494d55db9d78db9457e79f0.jpg Kanye West may have been taking a lot of flak of late for statements dubbed anti-Semitic, but one group appears to be a huge fan of his rants.Several members of the group Goyim Defense League (GDL) were reportedly seen gathered in hats and masks around a series of anti-Semitic banners on the 405 Los Angeles freeway. They were offering up the Nazi salute as one of the banners read, Kanye is right about the Jews, and another seemed to be urging drivers to honk while passing."Goyim" is a Hebrew word meaning "nation," and is colloquially used by Jews to refer to those who are not Jewish. GDL, which emerged in 2018, is led by Californian comedian actor Jon Minadeo, who has claimed that the GDL supports all "goyim" rallying together against Jewish influence. A slew of celebrities, including English actress Florence Pugh and artist, photographer and writer Zoe Buckman, went on social media to express their outrage at the signs.They were slammed as absolutely appalling by Pugh, who shared the photo of the banners on the freeway.Buckman also posted a picture of the banners, and made mention of the fact that West collaborates with Adidas.West, now going under the name of Ye, sparked widespread criticism and was locked out of his Instagram* and Twitter accounts in recent weeks for what is seen as anti-Semitism-laden comments online and in TV interviews. The 'All of the Lights' rapper said that Jewish people wield disproportionate power in the media and music industries and try to control the culture, purportedly suppressing everyone who opposes them. The ex-husband of Kim Kardashian also tweeted that he was going to go "death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE, in a likely reference to US military defense readiness condition - DEFCON. Though he later apologized for his wording, the billionaire musician - who was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder in 2016 - received a tremendous backlash. Earlier, his controversial showcasing of a 'Yeezy' T-shirt with the slogan 'White Lives Matter' during Paris Fashion Week was denounced by the Anti-Defamation League. The phrase emblazoned across the shirts, which reframes the Black Lives Matter phrase, was described as a hate statement.Several brands have announced their decision to cease working with the musician, including fashion magazine Vogue, fashion house Balenciaga, bank JPMorgan Chase and others.A defiant West pointed out that the backlash only proves the correctness of his stance on the issue of silencing the dissidents in the industry.Adidas stated earlier in October that it is reviewing its 'Yeezy' partnership with Kanye West, with a spokesman for the German sportswear company adding that the "Adidas Yeezy partnership is one of the most successful collaborations in our industry's history".However, the collaboration between Adidas and West on a hugely popular range of sneakers - known as 'Yeezy' - has been strained for some time. In June, the rapper accused Adidas of making a shoe that looked similar to the 'Yeezy' design, but was purportedly not part of their deal.West responded to the recent Adidas statement by writing on social media, "I AM ADIDAS". In September West also pulled the plug on his 10-year partnership with retailer Gap.Kanye West recently hired Camille Vasquez, who gained national recognition because of her representation of actor Johnny Depp in his defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard, to join his team of lawyers at the Brown Rudnick firm working with West, TMZ added.*Meta (Facebook, Instagram) is banned in Russia as an extremist organization. https://sputniknews.com/20221003/kanye-west-creates-a-white-lives-matter-shirt-for-his-surprise-yeezy-show-1101480528.html https://sputniknews.com/20221023/theyll-mute-you-at-all-costs-kanye-west-slams-attempts-to-cancel-him-1102543655.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 us, kanye west, anti-semitism, kim kardashian, johnny depp https://sputniknews.com/20221024/la-nacha-a-story-of-repression-and-terror-in-mexicos-tlaxcoaque-prison-1102589262.html La Nacha: A Story of Repression and Terror in Mexicos Tlaxcoaque Prison La Nacha: A Story of Repression and Terror in Mexicos Tlaxcoaque Prison The Mexican governments Truth Commission has invited those who have been victims of torture in the notorious Tlaxcoaque jail in Mexico City, a place full of... 24.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-24T17:41+0000 2022-10-24T17:41+0000 2022-10-24T17:41+0000 americas mexico torture repression /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/18/1102590217_0:0:746:420_1920x0_80_0_0_2939d6a698a2bd254f38934256df05d5.png In Nahuatl, Tlaxcoaque means "place from where one watches the snakes." Hundreds, or perhaps thousands or hundreds of thousands of people, have passed through this building that for years housed the General Directorate of Police and Transit and later the Division of Crime Prevention Investigations: members of social movements and militants of political organizations, homeless people, sex workers, and members of the LGBT+ community. Most of them were victims of human rights violations.The building that once stood in what is now the plaza was destroyed after the 1985 earthquake. A small Franciscan chapel survives on its slab and, underneath, there are still the basements that were the site of torture, rape, and other violent and inhumane acts that were perpetrated for more than 30 years, as long as the cells were around.October 2, 1968 marked one of the most infamous days in modern Mexican history. The country's armed forces shot and killed or made disappear hundreds of students during a rally held in the Tlatelolco area, very close to the capital's downtown area. Ana Ignacia was there.Three days after the bloody incident, which she managed to get out from alive, La Nacha, as she is known, was arrested in an apartment where she was hiding. That day, her destination became the dreaded cells of Tlaxcoaque."We were there for several days, I don't remember how many, because you lost track of time there. That is to say, the cells we were in were all bars and the guy who was guarding them would pass by, moving his keys all the time, but they had no wall, it was all bars, so they could see everything: what you were doing, why you were doing it, how you were doing it... We couldn't even go to the bathroom," Ana Ignacia recalled.She assured that she was not physically tortured or sexually abused, as that was the instruction of her police superiors. However, she did suffer psychological torture, as agents forced her to see how other detainees were tortured.After her time in the cells, La Nacha was arrested months later and transferred to the Santa Martha Acatitla women's prison, where she acquired her nickname. She remained there for more than a year and was released in December 1969.In October 2021, Ana Ignacia returned to Tlaxcoaque and went down to the first level of the basement, where the vestiges of decay and death still remain, she said.On October 2, the Mexico City Government announced that Tlaxcoaque would be a memorial site against police torture. Furthermore, the Mexico City District Attorney's Office stated that it had initiated legal proceedings against those responsible for the acts that took place in the basements at the site. But why is this memory important? americas mexico 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 mexico, torture, repression https://sputniknews.com/20221024/one-syrian-soldier-injured-as-result-of-missile-strike-by-israel-syrian-defense-ministry-1102584295.html One Syrian Soldier Injured as Result of Missile Strike by Israel: Syrian Defense Ministry One Syrian Soldier Injured as Result of Missile Strike by Israel: Syrian Defense Ministry Last week, Syrian air defense systems destroyed two cruise missiles and four guided bombs launched by Israel's F-16 fighters at the airports of Damascus and... 24.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-24T12:32+0000 2022-10-24T12:32+0000 2022-10-24T12:32+0000 world syria israel damascus middle east airstrike /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/106770/20/1067702078_0:236:5097:3103_1920x0_80_0_0_f5a654497f8bd68edf638fa9c3740bab.jpg Syria's air defense systems have shot down a number of missiles fired by Israel, with one Syrian soldiers sustaining injuries as a result of the strike, the Syrian Defense Ministry said on Monday.Earlier in the day, Syrian media reported that several explosions occurred in the capital of Damascus and its suburbs, presumably due to an air attack by the Israeli air force.The Israeli military declined to comment on the report.On 22 October, the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties in Syria reported that on Saturday night, four F-16 aircraft of the Israeli Air Force struck at Damascus and Al-Dimas airports with cruise missiles and guided bombs. As a result of the strike, a YLC-6M surveillance radar system belonging to the Syrian military and airport's runway in Al-Dimas were destroyed, but military personnel sustained no injuries.Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes on Syria, claiming that it is aiming to counter the Iranian military presence in the Arab republic. Damascus condemns such attacks as a violation of Syria's sovereignty. https://sputniknews.com/20220907/syrian-foreign-ministry-calls-israeli-strikes-on-aleppo-airport-war-crime-1100515012.html damascus 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 syria, israel, damascus, middle east, airstrike https://sputniknews.com/20221024/progress-ms-19-cargo-spacecraft-undocks-from-iss---roscosmos-1102560726.html Progress MS-19 Cargo Spacecraft Undocks From ISS - Roscosmos Progress MS-19 Cargo Spacecraft Undocks From ISS - Roscosmos MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Progress MS-19 cargo spacecraft has undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) and will be crashed in the non-navigable part of... 24.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-24T01:15+0000 2022-10-24T01:15+0000 2022-10-24T01:15+0000 science & tech iss iss international space station (iss) roscosmos /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105461/48/1054614801_0:63:1201:738_1920x0_80_0_0_292bf7fca02a3d25468bbe81d6b0fa0b.jpg "The Progress MS-19 cargo spacecraft left the ISS on Monday, October 24, 2022, having worked on it for more than eight months. At 01:45:34 Moscow time [22:45 GMT on Sunday], the spacecraft undocked from the Poisk research module of the Russian segment of the ISS," Roscosmos said in a statement.According to the release, after the spacecraft's entry into the Earth's atmosphere, the debris is expected to fall in the South Pacific Ocean Uninhabited Area after the spacecrafts engine is switched on for braking at 04.51 Moscow time (01:51 GMT on Monday).The Progress MS-19 resupply mission to the ISS was launched on February 15, 2022, from the Baikonur space center, using a Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket. The cargo spacecraft docked to the ISS two days later, bringing water, food, fuel, and other standard resupply items, as well as supplies for medical and biological experiments, and six small satellites of the SouthWest State University to the space station. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International iss, iss, international space station (iss), roscosmos https://sputniknews.com/20221024/south-africa-ready-to-make-best-of-new-industrial-revolution-expert-says-1102585479.html South Africa Ready to Make Best of New Industrial Revolution, Expert Says South Africa Ready to Make Best of New Industrial Revolution, Expert Says In an interview with Sputnik on the sidelines of the Valdai Discussion Club, Rasigan Maharajh - founding chief director of the Institute for Economic Research... 24.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-24T13:36+0000 2022-10-24T13:36+0000 2022-10-24T13:36+0000 south america brics covid-19 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/104632/54/1046325455_0:373:4232:2754_1920x0_80_0_0_e3fed6eeed47f2c4919bd251d9340a85.jpg Sputnik: We are now witnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is blurring the lines between the digital, physical and biological spheres. And it's a kind of follow up to the Third Industrial Revolution, which focused obviously on digitalization, among other things. How is the African continent and your country in particular adapting to this situation? How can they contribute to the process? Rasigan Maharajh: We are experiencing a new industrial revolution and it's quite important to recognize it as such. This hierarchy, which sees revolutions following each other in a linear form, of course are not evenly distributed, and that's quite critical in understanding why Africa is in the situation it is presently in. In terms of Africa's own plans for the future, it is putting in place many initiatives not only to catch up on the technological front, but also invest in the human capabilities that allow people to expand it even further. Sputnik: In many of your research papers you have focused on education in South Africa, on higher education in particular. How important is lifelong learning for the people of South Africa and are the educational facilities in other countries able to provide programs which would enable people to adapt to this new economy, which changes so quickly? Rasigan Maharajh: Absolutely. This is a critical issue for all of us. And it's something for us to bear in mind as well. Knowledge accumulates and it accumulates across all peoples. So what we have is really a knowledge commons. And in terms of that common, South Africa has contributed to it and continues to draw benefits from it. But at the same time, it's important to recognize that there are threats to the openness by which knowledge is advanced. And the inclusions of the knowledge through intellectual property poses serious threats to all of us collectively. We've learned this specifically through the apartheid that we saw in the vaccine program. We were faced by zoonotic threat. A virus attacked our species. Yet we chose pieces of paper to determine whether companies were allowed to produce the necessary tools and equipment to fight COVID-19.Sputnik: So did South Africa suffer from this? Rasigan Maharajh: Absolutely. South Africa has one of the highest death rates from COVID-19 on the African continent. But we are not the largest country. And that shows also South Africa's integration in world systems but also subservience to these world trade prescriptions. South Africa has the capacity, has the capability and the competence to produce the vaccines for ourselves. Yet we spent many months in negotiations about whether we could access it from Russia, from China, and other countries such as India. So the world system also needs very serious rethinking.Sputnik: Does BRICS have a lot of potential when it comes to sharing knowledge and innovations? We hear a lot about the blocs being an alternative to the present world order by offering alternatives to emerging nations. But is there such potential for Russia, India, Brazil, China, South Africa when it comes to science and innovation? Rasigan Maharajh: Sure - there's a critical basis on which we can advance on what we've managed to pull together to date. But it really also forces us to answer our internal questions in the five countries themselves. If the science systems in our countries are capable of solving the developmental demands of our constituencies, we stand to contribute more as BRICS for BRICS, and BRICS can be an act in itself. Up to now, there's a level of question and we're looking forward to the elections in Brazil, etc, to change the situation such that it's again going to return to its progressive agenda. south america Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Denis Bolotsky https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/0b/1083128270_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_8cd81dafcbaac1c176c25141f8af1d2a.jpg Denis Bolotsky https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/0b/1083128270_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_8cd81dafcbaac1c176c25141f8af1d2a.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 Denis Bolotsky https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/0b/1083128270_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_8cd81dafcbaac1c176c25141f8af1d2a.jpg south america, brics, covid-19 https://sputniknews.com/20221024/south-korea-to-take-part-in-us-multinational-exercise-cyber-flag-for-first-time-1102565004.html South Korea to Take Part in US Multinational Exercise Cyber Flag for First Time South Korea to Take Part in US Multinational Exercise Cyber Flag for First Time SEOUL (Sputnik) - The South Korean military will participate in the US-led multinational exercise Cyber Flag for the first time this week, the countrys... 24.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-24T06:11+0000 2022-10-24T06:11+0000 2022-10-24T06:11+0000 world south korea us exercises /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105807/59/1058075908_134:0:1786:929_1920x0_80_0_0_bed17d5fac2cacce61f6549e329752b7.jpg The ministry specified that a total of 18 specially selected military personnel from the different branches of troops would take part in this exercise.The US Cyber Command has been conducting annual exercises to bolster the defensive skills of Washington and its allies for cyberattacks. The 2022 Cyber Flag will be held from October 24-28, with the participation of 25 countries, including the United States, South Korea, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and US President Joe Biden agreed to "deepen and broaden cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, and cyber security" during their first summit in May. south korea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International south korea, us, exercises https://sputniknews.com/20221024/twitter-musk-takeover-saga-reportedly-taking-toll-on-platforms-business--staff-morale-1102586231.html Twitter-Musk Takeover Saga Reportedly Taking Toll on Platform's Business & Staff Morale Twitter-Musk Takeover Saga Reportedly Taking Toll on Platform's Business & Staff Morale Elon Musk first offered to buy Twitter on April 14, but backed out of the purchase worth a total of $44 billion, alleging that the social media company had... 24.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-24T14:57+0000 2022-10-24T14:57+0000 2022-10-24T14:57+0000 us twitter elon musk americas /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/05/12/1095615359_0:0:3075:1730_1920x0_80_0_0_d40b8cfc007a735c9fec6b49ae23e78d.jpg With Elon Musk reportedly poised to finalize his deal and purchase Twitter for $44 billion before the expiration of the court deadline on October 28, the social media company is under increasing pressure, Axios reported, citing Twitter insiders.The drawn-out and dramatic takeover saga has taken its toll, making it tough to carry on with business as usual, according to insiders cited by the outlet. Discussing long-term deals with clients and vendors has become particularly challenging amid the "uncertainty," Twitter employees said, adding:Furthermore, staff morale has also ostensibly taken a hit after a recent report from The Washington Post suggested Elon Musk planned to slash up to 75 percent of the company's workforce.After years of corporate turnover, Twitter was described as having become a place where "there is a lack of investment in consistent leadership," Leslie Miley, a former engineering manager, said in the latest podcast episode of "How it Happened: Elon Musk vs Twitter." Miley added:"The organization has probably damaged its ability to become a more refined product."As roughly 85 percent of Twitters advertising business heavily relies on brand ads more than almost any other social media platform the current situation in the economy is likely wreaking havoc on its ads trade, insiders suggested. They added that while the company still hasn't confirmed whether it will publish an earnings report for the third quarter, its current share price is unlikely to reflect the true challenges the social media giant is facing. Amid the volatility, the tech company has attempted to diversify its revenue in recent months with subscriptions, the report added. However, products like Twitter Blue and Super Follows have failed to gain significant traction.While Twitter maintains that its user base has continued to grow this year, the company's rivals are growing much faster. Twitter currently has an average of 237.8 million daily active users, while Snapchat has 363 million.This comes as the worlds richest man has until October 28 to close his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter or face a legal battle in Delaware Chancery Court next month. The Tesla chief executive signed the original takeover deal on April 14, but backed out in July, accusing the social media company of purposely understating its fake and spam accounts. Twitter sued Musk in July to force him to go through with the purchase. However, in a bid to dodge the legal acrimony, Musk then performed a U-turn and re-committed to buying Twitter at $54.20 per share, according to regulatory filings made public on October 4. https://sputniknews.com/20221020/pretty-penny-elon-musk-notes-he-is-obviously-overpaying-for-twitter-but-hopes-deal-is-worth-it-1102441487.html americas 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 us, twitter, elon musk https://sputniknews.com/20221024/un-at-77-four-times-the-worlds-international-peace-and-security-organization-failed-humanity-1102591386.html UN at 77: Four Times the Worlds International Peace and Security Organization Failed Humanity UN at 77: Four Times the Worlds International Peace and Security Organization Failed Humanity Monday is United Nations Day a holiday celebrating the anniversary of the day the intergovernmental organization was established on October 24, 1945. In the... 24.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-24T18:55+0000 2022-10-24T18:55+0000 2022-11-24T11:04+0000 opinion & analysis rwandan genocide korean war cambodia pol pot libya /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/07/0e/1079879461_0:289:2613:1758_1920x0_80_0_0_07688fef39acefc92c8400bfe1e1a798.jpg The United Nations is made for times of crisis like the one the world is presently experiencing, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said.Since its creation 77 years ago by the victorious powers in World War II, the UN has proven instrumental in helping to resolve or at least temper dozens of civil, regional and global conflicts, from the Indo-Pakistan wars to the seemingly eternal Arab-Israeli conflict and the forty-year Cold War between the USSR and the USA, which saw the planet come dangerously close to nuclear armageddon on multiple occasions.From the early 1990s onward, through lavish funding and vigorous diplomatic courting, the United States sought to turn the UN and other international institutions into arms of the State Department, hoping to create the post-Cold War unipolar New World Order declared by former President George H.W. Bush in late 1991. But these efforts have not been completely successful, with the overwhelming majority of nations (including most of Americas allies) refusing to endorse the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, and most of the Global South rejecting the Wests efforts to bully them into submission to condemn Russias military operation in Ukraine in February 2022.Unlike its League of Nations predecessor, which collapsed into irrelevance after Germany withdrew from the body in late 1933, the UN has managed to remain a truly representative international authority, with its 193 member states representing over 99 percent of the worlds population, and all of the planets major powers. The organizations endurance can be credited in part to the work of Andrei Gromyko the Soviet diplomat-turned Cold War foreign minister instructed to enshrine the right of veto into the authority of each of the five permanent Security Council members during negotiations on the UNs creation. The right of veto has stopped resolutions on key global security issues from becoming popularity contests and, for the most part, has prevented the international organization from being turned into a tool allowing one major power or bloc to pursue its interests.The UNs current setup allows nations to take their grievances directly to the body, have their perspective heard, and hopefully resolve conflicts before they escalate into a regional or global conflagration that could end humanity. For conflicts in progress, the UN is a key platform for brokering ceasefires and peace agreements, or at least facilitating talks between combatants. Pending approval from warring parties, the UN can deploy peacekeepers to put new conflicts on ice or prevent frozen ones from reigniting.Korean CrisisBut the UN has not always lived up to its role as peacekeeper. Seventy-two years ago, the body faced the very real prospect of its own dissolution after voting to intervene militarily in the Korean crisis at Washingtons behest. On June 27, 1950, taking advantage of the Soviet boycott of the Security Council in protest of Chinas UN seat being held by the Kuomintang government, rather than the Peoples Republic, the US and its allies rammed through a Security Council resolution authorizing the deployment of UN troops to Korea under what would nominally become a "United Nations Command."Over 370,000 troops from 22 countries including the US, the UK, Canada, Turkey, Australia, and the Philippines fought in Korea under the UN flag, with the three-year conflict claiming three million lives, and leveling 85 percent of North Koreas infrastructure using more bomb tonnage than was used in the entire Pacific Theater in World War II. After Chinas entry into the conflict in late 1950, US President Harry Truman and UN Command chief Douglas MacArthur pondered using nuclear weapons. Fortunately for the world, the situation never escalated to that stage, and in July 1953, an armistice was signed. Moscow learned its lesson, and in the years and decades since, the UN has never again been authorized to intervene directly in a nation-to-nation or regional warzone flying the UN flag.Cambodian QuagmireThe Cambodian Genocide of 1975 and 1979, which saw the extermination of between 1.5 and 2 million people by the ultra-nationalist, ultra-Maoist Pol Pot Khmer Rouge regime, is an embarrassing example of the UNs capacity for complacency, as well as the cold, calculating realpolitik and its logic of the "enemy of my enemy is my friend."After toppling the previous government in April 1975, the Khmer Rouge inherited Cambodias seat at the United Nations. Even as the years wore on and evidence of Pol Pots brutality began to mount, particularly after the Vietnamese military intervened to topple Pol Pot in 1978, dogged US and Chinese intransigence at the UN led to a bizarre situation in which the intergovernmental organization continued to recognize the Khmer Rouge government even after it was driven out of Phnom Penh in January 1979.Under the Cold War logic that anything supported by the Soviets is bad for the West and China, Washington and Beijing kept the Khmer Rouge flag fluttering at the UNs New York City headquarters throughout the 1980s, ensuring political and economic isolation for the government succeeding Pol Pots. In late 1991, a United Nations Transitional Authority on Cambodia was finally established to implement the Paris Peace Accords, which marked a formal end to the Cambodian-Vietnamese War.Rwanda TragedyIn 100 days between April and July of 1994, over 800,000 ethnic Tutsis were systematically murdered in the tiny landlocked East African nation of Rwanda by the Hutu majority. The United Nations Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) which arrived in the country in October of 1993, was made aware of Hutu extremists plans to wage a massacre, and of stockpiles of Hutu arms hidden throughout the country.However, as UNAMIR commander Romeo Dallaire would later attest, his request to intervene to seize the arms caches and halt the genocide was turned down by superiors, allowing the genocide to transpire and resuming the civil war in the country. In an award-winning memoir chronicling the UNs failure to act to stop the violence, and the lack of authority, equipment and personnel to carry out the mandated peacekeeping mission, Dallaire would recall how the world turned a blind eye to the worst targeted genocide since World War II.Two decades after the genocide, declassified cables revealed that US ambassador to the UN Madeleine Albright sent a cable to the State Department encouraging Washington to withdraw most of the UNs peacekeeping forces, with Hutu extremists seeing the move as a green light for genocide, according to George Washington University National Security Archive director Tom Blanton.Libya ChicaneryIn March 2011, a NATO-led coalition of warplanes began a 222-day bombing campaign in Libya. Formally tasked with enforcing a United Nations resolution which imposed a no-fly zone over the country amid an increasingly brutal civil conflict, the strikes factually amounted to a foreign-backed military intervention in support of rebel forces seeking to topple the government of long-time Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi. The campaign succeeded, Gaddafi was overthrown, captured, tortured, sodomized and executed by NATO-backed rebels in October 2011.How did the US and NATO manage to rope Russia and China into acceding to NATOs aggression in Libya? In part, it came down to the resolutions wording, which included talk of an immediate establishment of a ceasefire and a complete end to violence and all attacks against, and abuses of, civilians. Russia, China, Brazil, Germany and India all abstained from the vote, with Moscow and Beijing refusing to use their veto power, which would have blocked the air assault, or at least force NATO to search for another pretext for its aggression.Vladimir Putin, who was serving as Russian's prime minister at the time, and whose position did not allow him to call the shots on foreign policy matters, called the resolution flawed, and compared it to a medieval call for a crusadeallowing for the invasion of a sovereign country. Putins concerns proved correct, and Libya, once the most prosperous and developed country in Africa, was turned into a failed state rife with open-air slave markets and terrorist activities overnight.Today, control of Libya remains divided between the Tobruk-led government and Libyan National Army, and the Tripoli-headquartered Government of National Accord and its allies. The UN has been invited to assist in national political reconciliation. https://sputniknews.com/20150926/1027577179.html https://sputniknews.com/20200216/last-surviving-soviet-ace-of-korean-war-opens-up-on-clandestine-ops-against-us-air-force-1078330230.html https://sputniknews.com/20210412/falsifying-history-altered-photos-of-smiling-cambodian-torture-victims-stir-row-1082607154.html https://sputniknews.com/20220929/financier-of-genocide-felicien-kabuga-who-bankrolled-rwandan-massacres-begins-hague-trial-1101353566.html https://sputniknews.com/20211021/ten-years-since-libyas-gaddafi-was-murdered-by-nato-backed-rebels-1090087300.html cambodia libya 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 rwandan genocide, korean war, cambodia, pol pot, libya Across Virginia, the decline in reported COVID-19 cases is starting to slow, according to the weekly update Oct. 21 from Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District. COVID-19 transmission is rising in the northeast, the release stated. Globally, two subvariants have local health officials attention: XBB and BQ1.1. Now is the time to get the newest bivalent booster, even for those who have already received the original (monovalent) booster, RRHD advised. This booster provides better protection against COVID-19 variants currently circulating. CDC on Oct. 20 approved adding COVID-19 vaccines to the agencys recommended immunization schedules for both children and adults. This step streamlines clinical guidance for healthcare providers by including all current licensed, authorized and routinely recommended vaccines in one document, according to RRHD. CDC recommends the use of vaccines while state and local jurisdictions determine school-entry vaccination requirements. For example, ACIP recommends flu vaccinations for everyone aged 6 months and up, but they are not required for school-entry in Virginia, according to the local health department. Attorney General Jason Miyares last week issued a legal opinion, at the request of Gov. Glenn Youngkin on the recent CDC decision to include COVID-19 vaccine on the list of recommended immunizations for children. Miyares opinion clarified that Virginia law does not require a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of attending public and private schools and childcare facilities in the Commonwealth, according to a release from his office. The CDC cannot force vaccine requirements on Virginia families as a condition of school attendance. Required immunizations for school and childcare attendance statewide are determined by the General Assembly and the Virginia Department of Health, said Miyares. In its day, the Futuro House attracted every passing eyeball on the Outer Banks a silver spaceship parked on the dunes, skulls dangling from its porthole window, its owner greeting beach traffic in a green alien mask. A ramp made from license plates beckoned people inside rainbow-shaped rooms decked out with feather boas and Mardi Gras beads relics from a funkier universe. Nicknamed the Frisco UFO, the house on N.C. 12 in Frisco announced to tourists that they had stumbled into an atypical beach vacation free from boardwalks and high-rise hotels, more likely to involve Blackbeards ghost and a tiki bar. Various aliens stare at you from the windows, a fan wrote on Roadside America in 2008. There is even a matching small boat next to the UFO, which brings up the question: Why would aliens with advanced space travel technology need a dinghy? Heartbroken Last Wednesday night, Friscos flying saucer met a fiery end, burned down to a sliver of its plastic hull in a blaze with unknown causes. Barring alien stragglers, no one lived inside the aging landmark, so the fire stopped short of any human casualties. But on Hatteras Island, the loss stings worse than a man-o-war, triggering cosmic tears. Im pretty sure everyone on the island is heartbroken, said Melodie Schwartz, born and raised in Hatteras village. I know I am. It was almost like the lighthouse to us. The UFO House dates to a 1970s ad in Playboy magazine, a six-page spread tempting readers with the ultimate in bachelor pad living. The prefab plastic spaceship houses were the brainchild of Finnish architect Matti Suuronen, and its fan site The Futuro House lists only 63 remaining worldwide none in North Carolina. Schwartz can still remember the day the spaceship landed on Hatteras Island in 1972, looking like an intergalactic Airstream trailer with submarine windows. A Baltimore doctor and his wife ordered it from the Whole Earth Catalog, the eras hippie shopping guide. It was quite a big deal, she recalled. People from all over the island went to look at it. They put it right in front of a dune so it looked like it landed there. Meeting hall, hot dog stand The Futuro led a storied life, bouncing between lots along the thin strip of barrier island, at one time serving as headquarters for the Buxton Fire Department, meeting hall for the Girl Scouts and office for the defunct Monitor Newspaper. For a time, a proprietor sold hot dogs there, advertising the frankfurters as out of this world. Then ex-Marine Leroy Reynolds bought it in 1994 and inhabited his alien digs with style, giving it beaded curtains and a purple ceiling, hanging spaceman stories from Weekly World News on the walls. Soon after, he would don a racing suit and mask, waving to tourists from inside the ship. I would wait until people were taking pictures and slip down out of the door and sit down behind them just for fun, he told PBS in 2018. Everybody that comes here, after they leave theyre smiling. They come here crappy and they leave smiling. More recently, once the saucer showed its age, he jostled with Dare County over its renovations, which never came to pass. Even in a weakened state, used mostly for storage, the Frisco UFO withstood hurricanes and tropical storms before succumbing to fire. An acute signpost Locals crowded online to console Reynolds, grieving the loss of character on an island grown less unique. I know both locals and frequent visitors are saddened by the loss of this cherished touchstone, said Valerie Crew in Kitty Hawk, but I feel there are some older, lifelong residents who view the demise of the UFO house as an acute signpost that the Outer Banks, as we once knew it, is slipping away piece by piece. Somewhere, an alien planet mourns its emissary lost on Earth an eccentric ambassador carrying no weapon but a smile. Clay Lunsford has a message about the upcoming North Carolina Thumbpickers Convention. If youre looking for good music, you will not be disappointed, Lunsford, who served as president of the group, said. We will have world class performers. Lunsfords group, called Clay Lunsford and Friends, along with Wayne Henderson and Friends, Presley Barker and the great Redd Volkaert are on the schedule for the two-day event. Thumbpicking is a style of guitar playing made famous by Chet Atkins, among many others, and its a style Lunsford learned as a child. Lunsford is self-taught, learning from family members and others who practiced the thumbpicking style. The Thumbpickers Convention, which has bounced between a spring and fall schedule for more than 20 years, will be held Nov. 11-12 at a new venue the Iredell Arts Council, 203 S. Meeting St. Lunsford said the council, which seats between 50 to 75 people, will offer a small, intimate setting and will allow for more one-on-one interaction for the workshops that will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 12. The convention will open at 5 p.m. Nov. 11, and there will be a meet-and-greet with the musicians at 6 p.m. Lunsford and his band, which includes his nephew, Scott Lunsford, will perform at 7 p.m. Barker, a senior at East Wilkes High School, has, like Lunsford, been playing since he was a child and was a contestant on American Idol. On Nov. 12, the convention will kick off with an open-mic event from noon to 5 as well as the workshops with the various musicians during that time frame. There will be a break at 5 p.m. to allow people to visit the downtown restaurants if they desire, Lunsford said. At 7 p.m. Wayne Henderson and Friends will perform followed by Volkaert. Henderson is a native of Grayson County, Virginia, and has been playing and building guitars since he was a child. He has appeared around the world, including at the White House and Carnegie Hall and for the queen of England when she attended the Jamestown 400th anniversary celebration. He will put on a great show, Lunsford said. Volkaert is from Canada and moved to Nashville in the 1990s, and is regarded as one of the greater guitarists of the modern era. He was the go-to guitar player for Merle Haggard and has played with some of the biggest names in country music, including Johnny Paycheck and George Jones. Hes a top player in my book, Lunsford said. During the open mic on Saturday, Lunsford said, anyone that wants to play on stage can do so. Iredell County was the go-to spot for the first Thumbpickers Convention in 1999, and that was a logical choice since Lunsford, a Union Grove native, was president of the group. And with Iredells rich history in bluegrass and old time music, theres no shortage of musicians who learned the thumbpicking style. The Union Grove Fiddlers Convention began in 1924 as a way to raise money for the Union Grove School. And its reach is still being felt, as musicians like Lunsford and those who will be attending the convention are keeping the traditions alive. Were in our 23rd year and still going strong, Lunsford said of the Thumbpickers Convention. Tickets for the convention are $10 at the door. There are no reserved seats so you need to get here early and heard some great music, he said. For information, call Lunsford at 704-880-3698 or the Arts Council at 704-873-6100. HAZEL DELL When discussing the Pacific Northwests cultural love of coffee, the first cities that come to mind are often Seattle and Portland. However, theres a new coffee stand in town that prefers to take a more rural approach. Marirose Haatia is the franchise owner of the newly opened Country Coffee drive-up coffee shop, at 6202 N.E. Highway 99 in Hazel Dell. Country Coffee may be a new addition to Clark County, but its origins date to 2013. Country Coffee Address: 6202 N.E. Highway 99, Hazel Dell Hours: 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Info: www.countrycoffeecompany.com Country Coffee got its start as a small espresso stand in Boring, Oregon. Its founder, Melanie Ward, died earlier this year, but her legacy is carried on by her family, friends, and team members. Country Coffee has now grown to 12 different shops across Oregon. Now Country Coffee has been able to expand into its first location in Washington. Haatia started working for Country Coffee four years ago, while studying to become a veterinary technician. While she would go on to enjoy her time in the veterinary field, she often found herself thinking back to Country Coffee and soon realized it was her true passion. She opened her own franchise this summer. In addition to serving the usual suspects, Country Coffee boasts signature drinks such as a caramel and dark chocolate Haystack Mocha, a caramel cinnamon Horseshoe Latte and the CC Special, a white chocolate Americano. The secret ingredient to these delicious creations comes from Country Coffees exclusive roasters, which operate out of the original location in Boring. However, what Haatia enjoys most about her business is no secret. The best part of my job is getting to know all my customers, Haatia said. They become such a big part of your everyday life, especially when youre lucky enough to have such wonderful regulars like the ones we get to see every day here. That same passion drove Ward to create Country Coffee back in 2013. Haatia hopes to continue her legacy with goals of opening additional locations across Washington in the future. Working for Country Coffee has brought so many people into my life, including some of my best friends, Haatia said. Its like one big loving family and I feel so thankful to work and be a business owner for such a great company run by great people. Those who want to learn more about Country Coffee or look at the menu can visit www.countrycoffeecompany.com. After crashing a spacecraft into asteroid Dimorphos, NASA wants to do the same on Mars. Know reason behind this exciting experiment. It's not like NASA has never touched down on the surface of the red planet before. NASA has successfully landed on Mars nine times so far. From cutting-edge parachutes, and massive airbags, to jetpacks, all of these have been deployed as safe carriers of spacecraft that have landed on the surface of Mars. But now, the space agency is testing out an entirely new way to land on Mars, which is to crash! In fact, NASA has just crashed a spacecraft on Asteroid Dimorphos through its successful DART mission, although the intent was to deflect the space rock even as the spacecraft itself was destroyed.. On Mars, NASA has a different plan, which is ensure the spacecraft survives the impact. NASA explains that instead of trying to slow down a spacecraft's high-speed descent on the red planet, it is now testing an experimental lander design called SHIELD, short for Simplified High Impact Energy Landing Device. NASA says in a blog "(it) would use an accordion-like, collapsible base that acts like the crumple zone of a car and absorbs the energy of a hard impact." How NASA will test the crash technique for Mars To test NASA's new plan for SHIELD for Mars, scientists' team gathered to drop a tower with a full-size prototype of SHIELD's collapsible attenuator. It had an inverted pyramid of metal rings that absorb impact. For the setup, scientists suspended the attenuator on a grapple and inserted a smartphone, a radio, and an accelerometer to gauge the impact on electronics on the spacecraft. NASA dropped the electronics at roughly 110 miles per hour! NASA says That's the speed a Mars lander reaches near the surface after being slowed by atmospheric drag from its initial speed of 14,500 miles per hour when it enters the Mars atmosphere. Future of NASA's plan to crash on Mars If successful, then this newer design will help to drastically reduce the cost of landing on Mars by simplifying entry, landing and expanding options on Mars and even beyond the red planet. We think we could go to more treacherous areas, where we wouldn't want to risk trying to place a billion-dollar rover with our current landing systems. Maybe we could even land several of these at different difficult-to-access locations to build a network, Lou Giersch of NASA's JPL, SHIELD's project manager, said in NASA's blog. Flash The body of a tribal elder Hajji Saifullah who was allegedly killed by the Islamic State (IS) group in the northern Takhar province was found Sunday, provincial police spokesman Abdul Mubin Safi said. Safi added that three militants affiliated with the IS group who were involved in the abduction of Saifullah had already been killed by security forces. Saifullah's body was found on Sunday and has been handed over to his family for burial, the official said. Saifullah, according to locals, was a strong supporter of the Taliban-run caretaker administration. Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Nafi Takors said on his Twitter account that security forces stormed a hideout of IS operatives and killed three insurgents, including a commander named Farooq, in Dasht-e-Qala district of Takhar province. Afghan forces have increased their crackdown on the rival IS outfit as six operatives of the armed group were killed in Kabul early Saturday while five more had been killed in the northern Kunduz province several days ago. Walt Disney Co. and Formula 1 have agreed on a multi-year deal to keep airing F1 races on ESPN. Walt Disney Co. and Formula 1 have agreed on a multi-year deal to keep airing F1 races on ESPN. At least 16 races will air on ABC and ESPN each season through 2025, according to a statement Saturday, which didn't disclose the financial terms for the deal. Bloomberg reported in June Disney would pay between $75 million and $90 million a year for the rights in a three-year deal, up from $5 million a year previously. F1, which has long been popular in Europe, has gained traction among US audiences in recent years. Live telecasts this year are averaging 1.2 million viewers on ESPN, while the telecast of the first Miami Grand Prix on ABC reached 2.6 million people, a US record, according to the statement. A race is taking place in Austin, Texas, this weekend. Formula 1 has seen incredible growth in the US, Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1's chief executive officer, said in the statement. The addition of Las Vegas to the calendar next season, alongside Austin and Miami, will see us host three spectacular races there. The agreement will also give ESPN the flexibility to show F1 content on its streaming service ESPN+. Example frames of the experiment. The left frame shows the virtual agents looking up. The right frame shows the participants response. Credit: iScience (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104891 An Aston University computer scientist has used artificial intelligence (AI) to show that we are not as individual as we may like to think. In the late 1960s, famous psychologist Stanley Milgram demonstrated that if a person sees a crowd looking in one direction, they're likely to follow their gaze. Now, Dr. Ulysses Bernardet in the Computer Science Research Group at Aston University, collaborating with experts from Belgium and Germany, has found evidence that our actions follow a two-step process when we're in a crowd. Their results, "Evidence for a two-step model of social group influence," published in iScience show that we go through a two-stage process, where we're more likely to imitate a crowd first and think independently second. The researchers believe their findings will increase the understanding of how humans make decisions based on what others are doing. To test this idea the academics created an immersive virtual reality (VR) experiment set in a simulated city street. Each of the 160 participants was observed individually as they watched a movie within the virtual reality environment that had been created for the experiment. Credit: iScience (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104891 As they watched the movie, 10 computer-generated "spectators" within the VR simulated street were operated by AI to attempt to influence the direction of the gaze of the individual participants. During the experiment, three different sounds such as an explosion were played coming from either the left or right of the virtual street. At the same time, a number of the "spectators" looked in a specific direction, not always in the direction of the virtual blast or the other two sounds. The academics calculated a direct, and an indirect, measure of gaze-following. The direct measure was the proportion of trials in which participants followed the gaze of the crowd. The indirect measure took into account the reaction speed of participants dependent on whether they were instructed to look in the same or opposite direction as the audience. The experiment's results support the understanding that the influence of a crowd is best explained by a two-step model. Dr. Bernardet says that "humans demonstrate an initial tendence to follow othersa reflexive, imitative process. But this is followed by a more deliberate, strategic processes when a person will decide whether to copy others around them, or not." "One way in which groups affect individuals is by steering their gaze." "This influence is not only felt in the form of social norms but also impacts immediate actions and lies at the heart of group behaviors such as rioting and mass panic." "Our model is not only consistent with evidence gained using brain imaging, but also with recent evidence that gaze following is the manifestation of a complex interplay between basic attentional and advanced social processes." More information: Emiel Cracco et al, Evidence for a two-step model of social group influence, iScience (2022). Journal information: iScience Emiel Cracco et al, Evidence for a two-step model of social group influence,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104891 Early voting for Novembers election opens Monday and runs through Friday, Nov. 4 ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Five early voting locations are open this Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Monday, Oct. 31 through Friday, Nov. 4 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters will be asked for identification at polling center. Valid forms of ID include a voter ID card, a valid Texas drivers license and a passport. There are five early voting sites in Brazos County: Brazos County Elections Administration Office (McLeod Training Room): 300 East William J. Bryan Parkway, Suite 100 in Bryan Arena Hall: 2906 Tabor Road in Bryan Galilee Baptist Church: 804 N. Logan in Bryan College Station Utilities Meeting & Training Facility: 1603 Graham Road in College Station College Station City Hall (Bush 4141 Community Room): 1101 Texas Ave. in College Station In past elections, Brazos County tends to have 50% of voters cast their ballots in early voting with the other 50% voting on Election Day, according to Trudy Hancock, Brazos Countys elections administrator. In November 2018s mid-term elections, 64,877 ballots were cast in Brazos County with 40,104 of them coming in early voting. Im looking for a really heaving turnout, both early voting and Election Day, said Trudy Hancock, Brazos County elections administrator. Usually, the first day and last two days of early voting are the busiest, Hancock said. She noted the slowest days are typically Wednesdays for those looking to beat lines. With a number of federal, state and local races, Hancock suggests voters view sample ballots ahead of time to gather an idea of who to vote for before entering the polls. To view sample ballots and see more voting information in Brazos County, visit BrazosVotes.org. Our ballot is really long, so youre going to be in the voting booth for quite a while, Hancock said. Officials from Brazos County and Texas A&M University Transportation Services have partnered to provide bus service between A&Ms campus and College Station City Hall for the entire duration of early voting ahead of Novembers election. Buses are scheduled to make three round trips per hour between College Station City Hall and the Quad on Lubbock Street near The Commons residence halls. College Station City Hall is the closest early voting site to A&Ms campus. In Burleson County, early voting will be held in the first-floor hallway of the Burleson County Courthouse, 100 W. Buck Street in Caldwell. Early voting polls will be open from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 31 through Wednesday Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Thursday, Nov. 3 and Friday, Nov. 4 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There are two early voting locations in Grimes County: the Grimes County Courthouse at 100 S. Main Street in Anderson, and the Navasota Center, 101 Stadium Drive in Navasota. Polls are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hours will be extended to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays. In Leon County, early voting will be on the thirrd floor of the Annex II Building, 155 N. Cass in Centerville. Early voting polls will be open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Fridays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Madison Countys early voting center is the Madison County Courthouse, 101 W. Main Street in Madisonville. Polls are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are five early voting locations in Milam County: Milam County Clerks Office, 806 N. Crockett Avenue in Cameron; Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Buckholts Community Center, 110 W. Main Street in Buckholts; Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. George Hill Patterson Center, 609 Mills Street in Rockdale; Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thorndale V.F.W., 302 E. Moerbe in Thorndale; Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gause ISD Library, 400 College Street in Gause; Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Robertson County has four early voting centers. All four will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31 through Friday, Nov. 4. Locations include: Robertson County Election Center, 601 N. Hearne Street in Franklin Hearne Public Safety Building, 306 W. 3rd Street in Hearne Calvert Fire Department, 700 Railroad Street in Calvert Justice of the Peace #4, 113 Jack Street in Bremond Washington Countys early voting will be held at the Washington County Courthouse Annex, 100 S. Park in Brenham. Voting times are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 31 and Tuesday Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Wednesday, Nov. 2 through Friday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica 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 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 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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 Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe SideWinder, a prolific nation-state actor mainly known for targeting Pakistan military entities, compromised the official website of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to deliver a tailored malware called WarHawk. "The newly discovered WarHawk backdoor contains various malicious modules that deliver Cobalt Strike, incorporating new TTPs such as KernelCallBackTable injection and Pakistan Standard Time zone check in order to ensure a victorious campaign," Zscaler ThreatLabz said. The threat group, also called APT-C-17, Rattlesnake, and Razor Tiger, is suspected to be an Indian state-sponsored actor, although a report from Kaspersky earlier this May acknowledged previous indicators that led to the attribution have since disappeared, making it challenging it to link the threat cluster to a specific nation. More than 1,000 attacks are said to have been launched by the group since April 2020, an indication of SideWinder's newfound aggression since it commenced operations a decade ago in 2012. The intrusions have been significant not only with regard to their frequency but also in their persistence, even as the group takes advantage of a massive arsenal of obfuscated and newly-developed components. In June 2022, the threat actor was found leveraging an AntiBot script that's designed to filter their victims to check the client browser environment, specifically the IP address, to ensure the targets are located in Pakistan. The September campaign spotted by Zscaler entails the use of a weaponized ISO file hosted on NEPRA's website to activate a killchain that leads to the deployment of the WarHawk malware, with the artifact also acting as a decoy to hide the malicious activity by displaying a legitimate advisory issued by the Cabinet Division of Pakistan on July 27, 2022. WarHawk, for its part, masquerades as legitimate apps such as ASUS Update Setup and Realtek HD Audio Manager to lure unsuspecting victims into execution, resulting in the exfiltration of system metadata to a hard-coded remote server, while also receiving additional payloads from the URL. This includes a command execution module that's responsible for the execution of system commands on the infected machine received from the command-and-control server, a file manager module that recursively enumerates files present in different drives, and an upload module that transmits files of interest to the server. Also deployed as a second-stage payload using the aforementioned command execution module is a Cobalt Strike Loader, which validates the host's time zone to confirm it matches the Pakistan Standard Time (PKT), failing which the process is terminated. Should all the anti-analysis checks successfully pass, the loader injects shellcode into a notepad.exe process using a technique called KernelCallbackTable process injection, with the malware authors lifting source code from a technical write-up published in April 2022 by a researcher who goes by the online alias Capt. Meelo. The shellcode then decrypts and loads Beacon, the default malware payload used by Cobalt Strike to establish a connection to its command-and-control server. Per the cybersecurity company, the attack campaign's connections to the SideWinder APT stem from the reuse of network infrastructure that has been identified as used by the group in prior espionage-focused activities against Pakistan. "The SideWinder APT Group is continuously evolving their tactics and adding new malware to their arsenal in order to carry out successful espionage attack campaigns against their targets," the researchers concluded. The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 8 general election is quickly approaching. Nebraskans hoping to vote in the upcoming election now must register in person. The deadline to register online was last Friday, meaning any online voter registrations received at this point will not be effective for the 2022 general election. That also applies to mail-in registrations any mail-in registrations postmarked after Oct. 21 will not be eligible to vote this fall. Eligible voters have until 6 p.m. Friday to register in person at their county election office. Nebraskans can check their voter registration status and get the location of their polling place by contacting their county election office or by going online to votercheck.necvr.ne.gov. The phone number for the Hall County Election Commission office, located at 121 S. Pine St. in Grand Island, is 308-385-5085. Office hours from from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Friday also is the deadline for voters to request that an early voting ballot be mailed to them. Applications for a mail-in ballot must be received by the county election office by 6 p.m. Friday. Voters in Hall County can find that application at bit.ly/3FbIp3x. Mail-in ballots must be returned to the county election official by the time polls close on Election Day. Early voting is underway, and registered voters can cast their ballot at their county election office during regular business hours before Election Day, Nov. 8. Polls will be open that day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central time. Voters who lose or never receive their early ballot can cast a provisional ballot on Election Day at their polling place. That ballot will be counted once officials confirm that no other ballots have been cast for you. Farming Johns Island across nine generations since 1725, the Legare family has grown everything from sea island cotton in the old days to a modern-day operation of mostly vegetables, along with cattle, hogs, two rolling markets and a bustling pumpkin patch each fall. But even with nearly three centuries of agricultural expertise in his bloodline, Thomas Legare knows theres always more to learn. And Legare said thats why he attended the Coastal Research and Education Center Field Day to hear Clemson University scientists share their research, including the newest ideas and tips for Lowcountry growers such as himself. I always come here to the Field Day because I learn something every year I come, Legare said. Working with Clemson Extension and the RECs around the state has been a great benefit to me; working with Clemson has been a great thing for me. Legare lauded the Clemson Extension Livestock & Forages team for its work in aiding his cattle operation and the Food Crop Horticulture team for assisting with his vegetables. We always can count on them if we have a problem to be able to pick up the phone and call them and they can give us answers, Legare said. And I always learn something new when I come out to the field days new varieties, new things to try and its always a great benefit. The CREC, located on Savannah Highway in Charleston, is one of Clemsons six RECs strategically located throughout South Carolina according to the states unique soil types and climate regions. Zack Snipes, extension area horticulture agent for Beaufort and Charleston counties, said field days are aimed at offering an opportunity to farmers and those in the agriculture industry, as well as the public, to learn about the research taking place and how it benefits the environment, producers and the industry. Its a really great event to showcase not only how were helping these industries, but also how were helping put food on peoples plates, Snipes said. While there is a natural association between the Lowcountry and seafood as the staple of its local cuisine, Snipes said locally grown produce was also a vital part of Charlestons booming culinary scene. People think about Charleston for the seafood, the shrimp and the flounder, but when you go to restaurants, theres a lot of local produce being served and that local produce has to be grown locally, Snipes said. So, whats neat about this research center is we do research thats targeted for the people on the sea islands and the coast. The varieties that were growing, the research that were doing, is targeted to those growers so they can be more successful and they can sell to the chefs and distributors. So, when the tourists or even locals go out to eat, they can have a locally grown product and know that weve done research on it and helped the farmers who grew it be more sustainable. During a trailer ride tour of the CREC Farm for the field day, those in attendance got updates on herbicide, insecticide and fungicide programs, as well as updates on novel techniques in organic vegetable production. The tour began with Tyler Campbell, technician in the weed science laboratory under Assistant Professor Matthew Cutulle, educating those in attendance about the stale seed bed technique, a weed management technique that removes non-dormant weeds from the germination zone of a seedbed prior to crop planting. The idea behind the stale seed bed technique, sort of counterintuitively, you want to promote as much weed germination as possible, Campbell said. Augustine Gus Gubba, a plant pathologist from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, said during the tour that he had been visiting the CREC and interacting with growers for about three months, and had been very impressed with the methods used for producing vegetables. I like most of the technology that you use we dont have that kind of technology in South Africa and most importantly I was impressed by the way you guys mix up your crops, Gubba said. I went to a local farm with more than 30 different vegetables and said, Wow, Ive never seen this in my life. At the next stop, Assistant Professor of Vegetable Entomology Tom Bilbo shared with attendees the purpose of his program as a scientist studying insects in agriculture, as well as discussing upcoming projects. Bilbo said the overall goal of his work what he called the North Star that I use is a term called ecological intensification, or using natural processes to replace human-produced inputs such as pesticides and fertilizers, while maintaining or increasing food production per unit area. By ecologically intensifying agroecosystems, we harness and strengthen the insects, biodiversity, and ecosystem services we have there and this can maintain or increase crop productivity and, of course, profitability, Bilbo said. Because if I come up with a new technique and its not going to make economic sense, its not going to be adopted. "So, I like to do a lot of work closely with growers to understand if something is going to be economically reasonable and logistically reasonable. Practically speaking, we are structuring agricultural systems to discourage pests and to encourage the beneficials natural enemies and pollinators, those are the two groups. Next, Clemson Professor of Plant Pathology Anthony Keinath gave those who attended the field day an up-close look at research sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that included a variety trial of 14 different varieties of kale. Kale is a very European crop, Keinath said. It is grown all over Europe north, south, east and west and all of those different varieties are represented here in this trial. The purpose of these experiments is to improve management of the disease black spot on kale, which is obviously one of the more popular leafy greens that is eaten both cooked and raw now, as well as also sold fresh and also washed and bagged. At the ensuing stop on the tractor tour, Assistant Professor of Vegetable Breeding and Genetics Sandra Branham said the goal of her role at CREC is to develop new vegetable varieties that are adapted to South Carolinas conditions. Branhams work focuses primarily on seven crops spinach, watermelon, cantaloupe, collard, mustard and turnip greens, and ever-popular green beans. She said of the issues that Palmetto State growers frequently battled with green beans is the states sweltering heat. When green beans get heat-stressed when your daytime temperatures are above 86 degrees and nighttime temperatures are above 68 the green-bean flowers for most varieties will start to fall off, Branham said. They wont create pods, or if they do make pods, the pods wont fill properly. So, its a major issue. You could have a grower with a huge field of green beans and then you get an unexpected heat wave and all the flowers fall off theyve lost their entire crop. So, thats one of the reasons that Im working on heat tolerance. Visitors to the field day also heard information from field technician Matt Horry, who has been working with Assistant Professor Brian Ward on a pair of studies taking place at the CREC Farm one nutrient study utilizing organic products as well as a fertility program. Im very pleased to be able to speak about this study today because one of my favorite things to grow is tomatoes so I clearly like a challenge and beating my head against a brick wall, Horry joked. Were doing this study in conjunction with Montys Plant Food company, and we have six different treatments that are using different amounts of their product. Were trying to optimize both the yield and quality of tomatoes and also looking at post-harvest handling so how they hold up while theyre being stored and the quality as time goes on. Known collectively as the Clemson Experiment Station, Clemson Universitys six RECs are an interconnected network of high-tech labs, scientists and students tackling challenges in the areas of precision agriculture, plant genetics, natural resources management, sustainability, soil health, agribusiness management, livestock production and more. And those research discoveries reach far beyond Clemson facilities to stakeholders and South Carolina citizens through not only field days, but also a robust Clemson Cooperative Extension Service with a statewide network of offices, agents and experts who hold remote, in-person and one-on-one educational sessions in classrooms and on farms. My role as an extension agent is to really connect the growers and the general public with what research is going on, Snipes said. Oftentimes the researchers are busy writing grants or doing the research on the farm, so myself and other extension agents are kind of the conduit between the two groups to let the researchers know whats happening in the fields and also taking the information from the researchers and reporting that to the growers to improve how they produce crops. Were the connector between those two groups to get them communicating and open up lines of communication. BAMBERG - Two candidates are seeking to be the District 3 representative on Bamberg County Council. Incumbent Larry Haynes, who is seeking his fourth four-year term on council, is being challenged by candidate Teri Linder in the Nov. 8 election. The candidates say they want to find ways to reduce the impact of high taxes on county residents while maintaining existing services. They also say they want more transparency. Only voters who reside in District 3 can cast a ballot for this race. Larry Haynes Haynes, who has been a council member since 2009, said he is running for another term because he likes serving his community. I like to try to help to keep Bamberg County abreast of the things that's going on and trying to help get more infrastructure into Bamberg County. Ive got a project going on out on Highway 362 trying to get the people out there clean drinking water, Haynes said. He said hes proud of helping area fire departments get needed equipment. At Edisto (Fire Department Substation), we've been without a fire truck that was running. We had a fire truck down there, but the truck would only do about 20 miles per hour. So if somebody had a fire, you wouldn't be able to get there, Haynes said. So I was able to get a new fire truck for that fire station down there. Youve got volunteer firemen. You would like to have equipment that they feel safe in to do their work. We also put in another grant for another fire truck for Hunter's Chapel (Fire Department). We got that grant, he said. Haynes said he wants to continue his work to address his constituents needs. I'm trying to do whatever I can for constituents in my district. I'm constantly trying to get the roads done. In my district, I got about 363 dirt roads. People are steady trying to get something paved, but we do what we can with what we have, the councilman said. Whenever the C Fund gives us some money, we try to get money to do what we can do for the roads. I know with a lot of the roads now, we're trying to rock them if we can't pave them, he said, referring to the countys C Fund Committee that distributes road-paving funds generated by the state gasoline tax. Haynes said he would work to bring more infrastructure to the county. That would help with our taxes. That's the reason why our taxes are where they're at. We don't have the infrastructure that we need to sustain like Orangeburg County does. I would love to see more infrastructure come to Bamberg County. If we could get the infrastructure, I know that would help my constituents. Their taxes would go down even though this year here, the taxes stayed the same. We didn't have a tax increase this year," he said. The councilman continued, "Yes. I know we still have the highest (millage rate in the state), but if we could get more infrastructure to come to Bamberg County, that would help lower our taxes. He said being always willing to listen makes him a good councilman. I'm always willing to learn. Whenever anyone calls me, I call them back. If I don't call you back today, I will definitely call you back tomorrow. So I don't keep nobody hanging. I think being on council for 12 years and knowing how government works gives me an advantage in trying to get things done, Haynes said. I will continue to be the voice of hope and prosperity as we move our county forward, he said. Haynes is a graduate of Richard Carroll High School and attended Denmark Technical College. He and his wife, Nina, are the parents of one daughter and two granddaughters. Teri Linder Linder said divine intervention had much to do with why she is running for the District 3 council seat. God spoke to me. He confirmed it by sending three people that talked to me about running. I'm out doing what the Lord has told me to do, she said. Linder said she would like to see the council demonstrate more transparency. We need open, honest replies to people, to be transparent. I'm not there representing me, I'm representing our district. It doesn't matter about Democrat, Republican or anything. I want to represent everybody, she said. Linder said she is concerned about high taxes. We have the highest taxes, and they need to be lowered. That's something that all of us need to work on together. We need to be held accountable about the spending in our county. The citizens need to be informed about what's going on, she said, noting that all county residents need to realize the value of their vote. They have a voice, Linder said. She said being honest and a good listener makes her a good candidate for the county council seat. I'm open, I'm honest, I'm a Christian, I listen to people ... and I want to be always available. I don't want to run when things get tough. When the storm hits, I don't want to go somewhere else. I want to be right there, Linder said. She continued, I've been serving this community for a long time. I get out and deliver food to the people when they're grieving, when they're sick through our church. I'm a church secretary, and I also lead the kids church on Sunday morning with my daughter at the Colston Branch Baptist Church. I just love serving the Lord, and I feel like if I'm out there shaking hands, talking to people and letting them know that I care, I'm also doing the Lord's work through this. The Ruffin native has lived in Bamberg County since 1979. I have been here 43 years, married to the same man (David), living in almost the same house I've lived where I live now for 38 years. Never moved. I have been right here in the Edisto/Hunter's Chapel community, Linder said. She and her husband are the parents of five children. The oldest passed away in 2019. Linder, a graduate of Andrew Jackson Academy, said she loves her community. "I love everybody in it. ... God has carried me out of my comfort zone and put me in a place where I feel I was needed, she said. The Eve of the Eve of Halloween Eves Eve Celebration will happen on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. in Denmark at CRAWLs Art Park, 927 Hagood Avenue. Creative Connectors Ashley Jordan and Naviree Johnson host the event. The celebration began in response to changes to the holiday during the pandemic. The Connectors designed and crafted a Halloween scene that includes a candy chute to allow social distancing. It remains the focal point today. Treats will be given to participants 10 years old and younger. CRAWL, its partners and its associates assume no liability. For more information, contact bcsccrawl@gmail.com. The community gathered downtown on Sunday to welcome the return of the Taste of Orangeburg following the pandemic. Regional Medical Center President and CEO David Southerland enjoyed his first time at the event. I think it's really, really great a lot of people coming out, a lot of good food, Southerland said. Theres a good variety of food and you get to visit with your friends and neighbors. Local restaurants came together on Sunday afternoon to offer selections during the Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Associations event. The Boo Bash was also held for children. Southerland said the events offered people a chance to bond with one another. The more you can share information, share good food and people just talk about your interests, whatever they are, you get to know each other better. You learn how to trust people better. That's why I'm here, trying to meet more and more people in the community, Southerland said. The vendors in attendance were: Orangeburg Country Club with gumbo and rice and meatloaf sliders Ms. Tookys with Southern food and sides, including stone stew and macaroni Buck Ridge Plantation with shrimp and grits and chicken perlo Original House of Pizza with Greek salad with house dressing, lasagna and spanakopita Tulios with pizza slides and fettucine Alfredo Rotary Club of Orangeburg Morning with turkey legs Randolph Artisan Italian Ice & Gelato with pineapple cups, gelato and Italian ice For many at the event, it was important to support the local businesses in Orangeburg. Chef Evan Johnson of Buck Ridge Plantation said its important to maintain traditions and support the local businesses that continued during the pandemic. Local businesses are what drove us through all the hard times, Johnson said. Rodney Tumbleston said, I always like to support local business. And at the Taste of Orangeburg, You get to taste the things that you normally dont go to. We might try those out next time. It's fun to support the restaurants and DORA and what we're doing in the downtown corridor, Tumbleston said. Yajie Guo said, I think this is a great idea to have the local businesses present their signature dishes to the public. In addition to the food, the event featured a D.J. playing music and families meeting and having fun. The food is really good and Ive been coming to this for years and it's always a treat, Tumbleston said. Southerland said, I think it's wonderful. I think it's just a really good way for the community to get together and enjoy each other. Guo said, I think it's just enjoying the beautiful weather and people are enjoying the food with friends and family. (TBTCO) - Cuc Du tru Lien bang My (FED) co kha nang se tiep tuc ot tang lai suat lan tiep theo trong thang 12 toi, nhung voi muc o co the nhe hon. ieu nay se lai la mot trong nhung yeu to tac ong en thi truong tai chinh va tien te trong nuoc. What do I need to bring with me to vote in the Toronto municipal election? Each voter needs to come equipped with one piece of ID showing their name and Toronto address. Your Voter Information Card will not be accepted as identification. Examples of acceptable ID include: Ontario issued drivers licence or motor vehicle permit. Cancelled personalized cheque, credit card, or bank statement. Utility bill from a public utilities commission. Cheque stub, T4 statement or pay receipt issued by an employer. Property tax assessment or income tax assessment notice Read more in our voting guide: What you need to know to vote in Toronto's 2022 municipal election PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) A teenager pleaded guilty Monday to terrorism and first-degree murder in a Michigan school shooting that killed four students and put an extraordinary focus on the boy's home life and the alleged role of his parents in the tragedy. Ethan Crumbley pleaded guilty to all 24 charges, nearly a year after the attack at Oxford High School in southeastern Michigan. In the gallery, some relatives of the victims were weeping as assistant prosecutor Marc Keast described the crimes. The teenager repeatedly said 'yes' to each detail. The prosecutor's office said no deals were made ahead of Monday's plea. A first-degree murder conviction typically brings an automatic life prison sentence in Michigan, but teenagers are entitled to a hearing at which their lawyer can argue for a shorter term and an opportunity for parole. The teenager withdrew his intent to pursue an insanity defense as part of the plea, and repeatedly acknowledged that he understood the potential penalties. Ethan, now 16, had no discipline issues at the school, roughly 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Detroit, but his behavior earlier on the day of the mass shooting raised flags. A teacher had discovered a drawing with a gun pointing at the words: "The thoughts won't stop. Help me." There was an image of a bullet with the message: "Blood everywhere." James and Jennifer Crumbley declined to take their son home on Nov. 30 but were told to get him into counseling within 48 hours, according to investigators. Ethan had brought a 9mm Sig Sauer handgun and 50 rounds of ammunition to school in his backpack that day and subsequently fired it at fellow students. Deputies rushed in and captured him within minutes. A day earlier, a teacher had seen Ethan searching for ammunition on his phone. The school contacted Jennifer Crumbley, who told her son in a text message: "Lol. I'm not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught," the prosecutor's office said. Separately, the elder Crumbleys are facing involuntary manslaughter charges. They are accused of making a gun accessible to Ethan and ignoring his need for mental health treatment. Parents have rarely been charged in school shootings, though the guns used commonly come from the home of a parent or close relative. Prosecutors earlier this year disclosed that Ethan had hallucinations about demons and was fascinated by guns and Nazi propaganda. "Put simply, they created an environment in which their son's violent tendencies flourished. They were aware their son was troubled, and then they bought him a gun," prosecutors said in a court filing. The Crumbleys said they were unaware of Ethan's plan to commit a school shooting. They also dispute that the gun was easy to grab at home. Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana and Justin Shilling were killed, while six students and a teacher were wounded. In addition to the counts of first-degree murder and terrorism causing death, Ethan admitted guilt to seven counts of assault with intent to murder and 12 counts of possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony. The judge set Feb. 9 for the start of hearings to determine if he'll be sentenced to life without parole or get a shorter sentence due to his age, and a chance at release. His lawyers will be able to argue a variety of mitigating circumstances, including family life and mental health. Prosecutors didn't signal in court if they will argue for a no-parole sentence. JACKSON Steve Moore knows what he saw. It seems totally bizarre to me and, of course, if people choose not to believe it, it doesnt matter to me, he said. So Moore, a Bozeman, Montana, resident who has spent about 20 years poking around Wyomings wilderness areas, is sticking to his story: In mid-August, hiking at around 11,000 feet, deep in the Teton Wilderness, he and two other men saw roughly a dozen wolverines scramble over snowfields on a mountain whose name they refuse to disclose. They dont want other people flocking to the remote area southeast of Yellowstone National Park to disturb the large, elusive carnivores they claim they found. If confirmed, the partys sighting of roughly a dozen wolverines could document relatively uncharted behavioral territory for the species. In the absence of human food, like trash, the largest members of the mustelid family arent typically documented in numbers that large. But confirming the three mens finding is difficult given the information thats been made public. And without confirmation or evidence beyond their word and distant photos some researchers worry the sighting that rippled through media in the Mountain West may actually do more harm than good for the elusive creatures. Its not a claim that should ever be made without verification, said Rebecca Watters, executive director of the Wolverine Foundation. Watters is a wolverine biologist by trade with years of experience studying the circumpolar mammals in Mongolia. She said claims like those Moore and wildlife guide Doug MacCartney made tend to permeate the public consciousness. The unverified report could imply that the population is doing really well, Watters said, possibly opening the door to management actions like pursuing development in wolverine habitat or allowing expanded recreational activity in the area. Research in Idaho, Wyoming and Montana has shown that female wolverines, in particular, are more likely to lose habitat when off-road winter recreation is high. If you dont have proof that those wolverine numbers are what you think they are, then youre making your management decisions based on inaccurate information, and that potentially has repercussions for the population, Watters said. So thats why its really, really important to get this stuff right. MacCartney, a wildlife guide with the Montana-based company Yellowstone Insight, said he came forward in the interest of the species, not self-interest. He said he went public at the advice of friends and scientists, including tracker Jim Halfpenny, researcher Jeff Copeland and a third person he declined to name. All three that I spoke with indicated that it would probably be beneficial for the species to raise public awareness, MacCartney said. But Halfpenny said that wasnt quite what he said: He told MacCartney that going public likely wouldnt do any harm to the species. Still, the Gardiner, Montana-based tracker stuck by his assessment, based in part on photos that havent been publicized: The animals were wolverines. Copeland has not returned the News&Guides requests for comment, relayed through Watters. He is a director of the Wolverine Foundation that Watters helms. A dozen mustelids Moore, MacCartney and a friend they gave only a first name for, Bill, were on a multi-day excursion in the Teton Wilderness, shooting to climb a peak that had particular meaning to Moore. A friend whod recently died had always wanted to make it up the mountain but never done so. Heading up the south flank, they saw the first sign of life: a bear, with cubs on a nearby snowfield. They started to make noise, trying to warn the bear they were there and keep it away from them. But, as they did, MacCartney said he saw a few smaller animals. I looked over and noticed the first of the wolverines and then two more almost immediately, he said. The guys were like, Yeah, right. But then, MacCartney said, they looked over and saw three more animals that looked like wolverines. As they watched they began to identify more animals, MacCartney said, all of which were headed towards the bear and cubs. At first, he said, the group wondered whether the animals were chasing the bear. But then, he and Moore said, they realized the animals were running from their hiking party. In some reporting that was done on this subject, they make it sound like the wolverines were chasing the bears, Moore said. I think thats nonsense. More likely, the bears and wolverines were running from us. Rather than approaching the bear, on the right side of the snowfield, the suspected wolverines headed straight up a narrow spit of snow between the lower and upper field. Then, they disappeared into rocks on the left and right of the photographs MacCartney and the rest of the party were able to grab, MacCartney said. MacCartney and Moore counted 12 or 13 in total. They were so busy counting they didnt start taking photos right away, and when they did they only had phones. MacCartney and Moore said they identified the wolverines by their size, movements and characteristics. They looked smaller than the bears they identified but larger than a marmot. They moved in an undulating way, had a white stripe on the side and were able to move quickly up the snowfield. They didnt even believe what theyd seen at first. Is there anything else this could have been? And no, none of us could come up with anything that was even remotely plausible. We were all convinced that we knew what wed seen when they were close, MacCartney said. So the only thing making us doubt ourselves was the sheer numbers. In the United States wolverines are incredibly rare, and biologists typically estimate fewer than 300 exist in the Lower 48. The animals, the largest members of the mustelid family, which also includes weasels and skunks, are more numerous in Canada but also found across the globe from Mongolia to Scandinavia. They are currently proposed for listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the result of a decades-long battle between conservationists and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under various presidential administrations. Environmentalists argue that the wolverines face localized extinction as a result of climate change, in part because they rely on spring snowpack to rear their young. But its also not clear how many wolverines live in Wyoming, said Zack Walker, nongame supervisor for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. In Wyoming, wolverines are considered a species of greatest conservation need. Theyre not allowed to be hunted. From December 2021 to March 2022, researchers with Game and Fish worked to update a survey of wolverines last conducted from 2015 to 2017. They used baited camera traps and brushes to capture hair and, by extent, DNA of the wolverines in the area. Five years ago only six to eight unique wolverines were detected in the Absaroka and Wind River mountains, north and south of the Teton Wilderness, respectively. Last winter, researchers looked at 54 plots in mountain ranges across the state and found photographic evidence of wolverines in 13 areas, six more areas than five years ago. At least five of those camera traps observed more than one wolverine, a conclusion based on fur patterns. This year, wolverines were detected all around the Teton Wilderness: in three camera traps north and east of the Teton Range and one in the southern Absarokas, west of Yellowstone National Park. But its not clear how many distinct wolverines those sightings amount to. DNA hasnt been processed. Neither has data from remote camera traps in the Tetons, Bighorns and other remote ranges. I dont think its outside of the realm of possibility, Walker said of the reported sighting. But for me, Im just surprised that there were that many in one place knowing that our density of wolverines is not that high. Joe Holbrook, a professor at the University of Wyoming whos studied how wolverines react to winter recreation, said theres been research showing wolverines arent as solitary as once thought. Copeland, the researcher Moore and MacCartney contacted, has been responsible for many of those studies. There can be these unconventional groupings of wolverines that people dont think about, Holbrook said. Still, he was skeptical of Moore and MacCartneys sighting. The probability of that is really, really low, and I cant think of a scenario that would pull those kinds of numbers, Holbrook said. They exist at really low densities. Mike Sawaya, an independent wolverine researcher and member of Wolverine Watch, a group of wolverine researchers, has another hypothesis for what the trio of men saw in the Teton wilderness. He thinks the animals might have been bears, known to congregate in high densities where army cutworm moths are present. And he doesnt think the photos are detailed enough to confirm that the animals are wolverines. He, like other researchers, said the sighting is plausible in part because the area where the animals were spotted is a known insect aggregation site where grizzlies congregate. Sawaya said wolverines could well find that food source and exploit it, and could gather in larger numbers where food is abundant. If there was a big, abundant food source they could congregate in something as high as even 12 animals, Sawaya said. In the far north, Sawaya and other researchers said, up to 30 wolverines have been documented in one place, typically picking through trash in a garbage dump. Theyre all just sort of tolerating each other because theres so much food at the trash site, Sawaya said. However, in looking at the public photos, Sawaya said he didnt see concrete evidence of wolverines, which would have included big, bushy tails that would likely be extended out for balance as the wolverines crossed the snowfield. Plus, in the summer of 2021, Sawaya had friends in the same area who sent him a photo of grizzlies in the area. He and Watters both felt the two species could have been conflated. Theres enough overlap between the general profile of bears and wolverines that from a distance from that distance in particular its very hard to distinguish one of those from the other, Watters said. I want to believe theres herds of wolverines running around, but I also think that we have to be careful as scientists and as just observers and make sure that you dont release misinformation, Sawaya said. There arent a lot of wolverines that have been detected in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. But Halfpenny, who has looked at more photos than were published in Yellowstone Insights Oct. 2 post (MacCartney declined to provide more to the News&Guide) said he was convinced the animals were wolverines. While Sawaya said he thought shadows behind the animals in the public photos could be misinterpreted as tails, Halfpenny said he was convinced those were, in fact, wolverines tails. Plus, he feels grizzlies shown on the right side of the zoomed out images were larger than the animals to the left. I believe I saw tails, I believe I saw lighter markings on the rumps. And I also believe that the comparison of the grizzly bears farther off who are still bigger than those things is pretty convincing, Halfpenny said. Watters said theres nothing in the evidence presented thats conclusive, partly because the photos are so grainy and partly because, when she does sighting assessments, she doesnt conclude an animal is a wolverine if it could be something else, like a bear. I have total respect for all of these people, their background, their experience with wildlife, she said. But at the end of the day, when were assessing wolverine sightings, we have to rely on the evidence. But MacCartney and Moore stuck by their story. Moore said he returned later in the summer and saw another wolverine in the area, while someone else in his party saw two more. This place, they must magically appear or something, he said. Even though his story was posted on a commercial tour companys Facebook page, and Halfpennys account of their conversation differs, MacCartney said he wasnt benefiting financially from the story. Were not doing this for the money, he said. The only reason we even came forward was to try and raise public awareness. Otherwise, he said, he wouldnt have come forward. It was too unique a sighting. Who would have believed them anyway? We were actually joking on our way back that wed be probably better off telling we saw Bigfoot abducted by aliens, he said. Its about as believable. SHERIDAN (WNE) Gov. Mark Gordon celebrated the newly constructed Veterans Home of Wyoming with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday. The first skilled nursing facility dedicated to veterans in Wyoming will provide long-term care to veterans, their spouses and Gold Star families. Our veterans are an integral part of Wyomings rich heritage, and it is an honor to celebrate the completion of the first veterans skilled nursing facility in Wyoming, said Gordon. Veterans and their families embody the spirit of Wyoming through their courageous and selfless actions to protect the liberties we hold dear. This beautiful facility reflects the honor and dignity owed to those who sacrificed so much to protect our way of life. Based on the Green House concept, the state-of-the-art facility includes three cottages, each accommodating 12 veterans, providing a higher level of care to 36 veterans and eligible family members. The Green House concept differs from a traditional nursing home in terms of facility size, interior design, organizational structure, staffing patterns and methods of delivering skilled professional services. It is designed to look and feel like a real home. Each cottage offers a private bedroom and bathroom for the residents, along with a common space that includes a living area, an open kitchen and a dining table. The Veterans Home of Wyoming owned and operated by the state is the result of a partnership between the Wyoming Veterans Commission, State of Wyoming and U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. The VA provided 65% of the funding, and the Wyoming Legislature provided the 35% matching portion. By leveraging both VA and Medicaid reimbursements, the state can offer lower-cost private pay rates to veterans who may reside at the facility. Wyomings 2022 scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress dropped slightly from 2019, mirroring a countrywide trend of decreasing scores on the test following the COVID-19 pandemic. National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) testing is administered every two years under the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act. (The 2021 assessment was postponed because of the pandemic.) It tests proficiency in reading and math for fourth- and eighth-grade students across the country. Academic scores for NAEP tests range from zero to 500. Unlike the WY-TOPP, the states assessment tool, NAEP assessments dont test all students in grades three though 10. Instead, it takes a statistical sample of students, like a survey or a poll. Wyomings NAEP scores have stayed consistently above national averages for the past three decades. This year, only Department of Defense Education Activity schools, which educate kids of military families, outperformed Wyoming in fourth- and eighth-grade math and fourth-grade reading, according to a statement from the Wyoming Department of Education. Just four states outperformed Wyoming in eighth-grade reading. That being said, Wyomings NAEP scores, like those for other states, have also consistently stayed below the NAEPs proficient cutoff scores, which is a step above the NAEPs basic cutoff score. Wyomings scores this year were slightly lower across the board compared to scores from 2019. It is not surprising that the pandemic has had a negative impact on student achievement nationwide, Chad Auer, deputy state superintendent of public instruction, said in a statement from the Wyoming Department of Education. Fourth-grade reading dropped from 227 in 2019 to 225 this year. This drop, however, isnt statistically significant, meaning that the reading score essentially stayed the same from 2019. That score is higher than the national average of 216 and lower than the NAEPs proficient cutoff score of 238. Fourth-grade reading scores have dropped since 2015. Scores for eighth-grade reading also dropped from 265 to 261. Wyomings eighth grade NAEP reading score has fallen since 2013, when it reached a high score of 271. Math scores for these grades also dropped from 2019. For fourth grade, the score decreased from 246 to 243; for eighth grade, from 286 to 281. Both fourth- and eighth-grade NAEP scores have dropped since 2017. Those results mirror the downward national trend since 2019 for public schools. Math scores for eighth grade fell from 2019 to 2022 in 49 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Wyoming Department of Education. Scores fell in 42 states for fourth-grade math and in 33 states for eighth-grade reading. But Wyoming students continued to outperform the NAEPs national average test results, with the exception of eighth-grade reading, which was statistically on-par with the national average, according to the Wyoming Department of Education. Students and education employees faced the incredible challenges brought on by the pandemic in 2020 head-on, and our states relative stability in NAEP scores is a testament to their hard work and dedication, Grady Hutcherson, president of the Wyoming Education Association, said in a statement. Hutcherson acknowledged, however, the slight decline in the NAEP scores. We must remain vigilant in acknowledging and serving the changing needs of students and educators in the wake of the pandemic, he said. He called for the thoughtful, efficient use of COVID relief money to serve those needs. The Wyoming Department of Education also praised in its statement the continued strong performance among Hispanic, special education and school lunch program students in Wyoming, who outperformed their peers nationally in fourth- and eighth-grade math, as well as fourth-grade reading. Wyomings teachers continue to demonstrate a strong commitment to equity and providing a high quality education to ALL students regardless of a students ethnicity, socioeconomic status or learning challenges, Auer said in the statement. CHEYENNE Central High School English teacher Shannon Black responded Friday to concerns about an old photo of people dressed in KKK attire. She said its contemporary purpose in her classroom was misunderstood. She said in a statement sent by local attorney Greg Hacker that much of the speculation was inaccurate, leading to hurtful assumptions about her intentions. She was not able to discuss this previously because she was cooperating with a now-complete Laramie County School District 1 investigation. She said the situation snowballed into a cruel and wrong speculation about me and my family, which is literally the opposite of the truth. Tara Tomlin, the parent of the student who reported the photo, had brought the concerns to the district. She spoke with Central High Principal Karen Dellbridge and Black and followed up with Superintendent Margaret Crespo. She told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle Wednesday she was hesitant to discuss the excuses Black gave, because there is no excuse that is sufficient. She said she was aware the teacher says it was used for education, and both Tomlin and LCSD1 officials say it was not used in teaching this school year. Tomlin said she was concerned the image could hurt students, and she pushed for the district to educate faculty and staff on these issues. She didnt have any comment on Blacks statement Friday. The picture at issue is actually a small, two inches by three inches, photocopy of an old photograph taken in 1913 by my grandmother, who was 8 years old at the time, Black said in the written statement. My grandmother did not even understand at the time what was going on and thought that she was taking a picture of some kind of parade. My grandmother gave me the picture while I was in college because she thought I would be interested to see how openly racism, and a racist organization like the KKK, operated in those days. She said the picture didnt show any family member as part of the KKK. Black explained she never told anyone it shows any of her family. It is not only wrong, but especially cruel for anyone to suggest that I or my family somehow support or have been affiliated with the KKK, the teacher wrote. Neither I nor any of her family have ever had any affiliation or sympathy with the KKK or what they stand for. I am a lifelong supporter of racial equality, acceptance and understanding. Black said she kept the picture over the years not to promote or idealize the clan, but rather for the opposite reason to show how openly racism was practiced and accepted at that time. She teaches about such books as To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. Nothing about having or using the photograph was in any way a promotion of the KKK or of racism, Black wrote. She said it was inaccurate that it was displayed. The photocopy was kept behind her desk, so that I would be able to locate it when and if I might use it in instruction. In hindsight, she said she recognized it would have been better to put the picture entirely out of sight so there would be no misunderstandings. She said she could explain the content and purpose if she showed it while teaching about the novels. I never imagined that someone would happen to view the picture back where it was stored and make the incorrect assumption that I was promoting the KKK, she said. Black supported the school districts work to look into the situation and resolve the concerns. She said she hopes everyone can move forward now that misunderstanding has been clarified. She criticized people on social media who do not have any actual knowledge to make unfounded accusations and hurtful attacks against me and my family. Crespo told the WTE the district had no comment on Blacks statement, and the superintendent confirmed that the investigations were complete. She said officials looked into the circumstances of whether the photo had existed, how quickly it was removed and the process. She said they engaged the advocacy team to work with the family. The superintendent said she cant reveal whether Black was put on leave, would continue to teach or provide other details. She said the teacher made her own statement, and she wanted to honor it. Our focus as we move forward is that we really all have to come together as a community, Crespo said, understanding that we want every student and staff member to feel a sense of belonging in the district. One of the benefits of a board-approved curriculum is that Crespo said it clarifies what the materials are and the expectations for families and teachers. She said there are opportunities for the district to revisit the curriculum, as it does in a typical cycle. Sankofa African Heritage Awareness founder James Peebles told the WTE he didnt see a place for the photo in class, even after reading Blacks statement. He supported Tomlin reporting this to the district, and he attended the meeting with Crespo held Monday. It seems to me just like the farmer locking the stable door after the horse has run out, he said. He said students were left without key information, because it was just a photo that was occupying space in her sacred place, where she wanted it. Thats just a matter of being discovered. Peebles said the teacher had a right to share her side, which he didnt believe helped the situation. He said no intelligent person with a college degree should have left it out at a time when they were not teaching particular books or time in history. He noted there were prior issues at McCormick Junior High and there has been recent bullying of minority students in the district. Some kids are passionate, and the hurt stays within them, Peebles said. Theres no telling how many kids shes already hurt with that picture in that class. Two mussel species native to Wyoming and Utah and recognized for an ability to be in freshwater aquatic ecosystems what Brita is to the average household are declining, research from UWs Wyoming Natural Diversity Database found as a result of efforts in 2019. Lusha Tronstad, lead invertebrate zoologist with WYNDD, was part of that effort that used modern genetic techniques to survey for animals that are difficult to study and about which little is known and was funded by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Madison Crawford, a student at the time who now has her bachelors and masters degrees in botany from UW, was Tronstads field technician. She was the hands and feet, so to speak, for Tronstad: Crawford collected and the zoologist analyzed what she found. Mussels live in the bottom of lakes and streams and often bury themselves in sediment, making them invisible. Such behavior makes them exceptionally difficult to study, Tronstad said in a press release from UW. Luckily, they filter a lot of water, which makes them ideal candidates for environmental DNA (eDNA) studies because they slough a lot of cells and DNA into the water. We collected water, filtered it and sequenced the DNA on the filter for the species of interest. The two species in question are the California floater (Anodonta nuttalliana) and the western pearlshell (Margaritifera falcata). The former is found in Wyoming and Utah in larger, downstream areas of the Bear River. The latter is primarily found in Wyoming. Tronstads analysis paid off: Using what she found from the field work of Crawford, she contributed to a published work. Tronstad was co-second author of a paper titled Distribution of the Native Freshwater Mussels Anodonta nuttalliana and Margaritifera falcata in Utah and Western Wyoming Using Environmental DNA that was recently published in Western North American Naturalist, a peer-reviewed journal focusing on biodiversity and conservation of western North America, the release states. There are seven native mussel species in Wyoming, the release states. The decline of mussels worldwide of concern to environmental experts and game and fish departments, since the creatures act as a sieve for the ecosystems in which they live is why Tronstad feels this work is necessary: To help slow the decline, researchers must first understand why the numbers are dropping. It is also helpful to be able to compare Utahs species with Wyomings, Tronstad said, and it provides a lot more information about the status and the distribution of the species. In the encroaching presence of two harmful species of mussels, the quagga and the zebra, exploring the beneficial kind helps reverse the idea that all mussels are bad. Mussels clean our water. They work quietly in the bottoms of our streams and lakes filtering water, removing particles and eating them, Tronstad said. Filtering water cleans our rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs, making them higher quality for us to enjoy. Some mussels are able to filter bacteria out of the water, which are extremely small particles. I think it is critical to point out that we have native mussels in Wyoming that are vital to our streams and lakes. Native mussels do not cause damage but, instead, are critical to maintain our clean water and aquatic ecosystems in Wyoming. Tronstad stressed that WYNDD only supplies the research data and does not have any role in management decisions, the release noted. The Wyoming Department of Education last week reached an agreement with the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board and U.S. Department of Labor finalizing guidelines for a new paid apprenticeship program that aims to address statewide teacher shortages. The program, which recruits and trains people who want to become teachers, will be piloted in three Wyoming school districts this spring Laramie County School District No. 1, Teton County School District No. 1 and Fremont County School District No. 24. The program is expected to open up to the rest of the state in spring of 2024, according to a Wednesday news release. School districts will be able to decide for themselves whether they want to participate. Its held out as a way to make teacher certification more affordable, and a way to improve school districts employment pipelines. It comes at a time when many teachers are reporting burnout and dissatisfaction. In fact, a survey earlier this year found that two-thirds would quit if they could. Three school districts chosen to participate in pilot teacher apprenticeship program School districts from Laramie, Teton and Fremont counties will participate in a pilot teacher apprenticeship program despite to address teacher shortages. The initiative is based on a teacher training program in Tennessee. That programs fairly new, so how successful it will be remains to be seen. Apprentices will be mentored along the way as they complete an educator preparation program that meets PTSB licensure requirements, Brendan OConnor, executive director of the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board, said in the release. Apprentices will finish with more classroom experience than those in a traditional preparation program. The program will be launched in three phases. The first phase will be geared toward adult paraprofessionals and substitute teachers who have already worked in a Wyoming school district for at least one year. Those applicants must receive a letter of recommendation from an administrator within their school district, according to the release. Theyll be interviewed by district employees and sign an agreement promising to complete the program. For phase two, the apprenticeship will also be open to people with high school diplomas or GEDs. Phase three will introduce a pre-apprenticeship program for high school students. Those who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship program can then apply for the regular apprenticeship program. AN 89-year-old woman was found dead in Tunapuna yesterday morning after a fire at her home. The deceased has been identified as Zubida Mohammed of Prescott Lane in Tunapuna. Residents of the area told the Express that around 8.45 a.m. they heard a loud explosion, and then observed flames coming from one of the rooms of the bottom floor of the two-storey home. Xi meets with CPC National Congress delegates Xinhua) 08:28, October 24, 2022 Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with delegates, specially invited delegates and non-voting participants of the 20th CPC National Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 23, 2022. Xi had group photos taken with them. Other leaders also took part in the meeting. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Sunday met with more than 2,700 delegates, specially invited delegates and non-voting participants of the 20th CPC National Congress in Beijing. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was greeted by long and warm applause at the Great Hall of the People. He had group photos taken with them. Other leaders also took part in the meeting. The 20th CPC National Congress was held from Oct. 16 to 22 in Beijing. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with delegates, specially invited delegates and non-voting participants of the 20th CPC National Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 23, 2022. Xi had group photos taken with them. Other leaders also took part in the meeting. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Du Mingming) What happens after you cast your vote? How and when are votes counted? What will be different this election day? With midterm elections just weeks away, top election officials from Pima County and the Arizona Secretary of State's office gathered to answer these questions and more during a public forum Oct. 20 at Catalina High School. Watch the forum here. Here's a preview of what you'll learn: What happens to my early ballot after I mail it? Ballots are sent to the midtown Cherybell Post Office, then picked up by a Democrat and a Republican who courier the ballots together to the county recorder's office. There, the outer yellow envelope is opened. The affidavit on the still-unopened white envelope is scanned and the signature is compared to the signature on file for that voter. If they don't match, workers call, email, text and send letters trying to make sure the vote is legitimate. Once the signatures are verified, the still-sealed ballots go to the county elections office, where they're scanned but not tabulated until after polls close on Nov. 8. Can I trust voting machines? Voting equipment must meet federal and state standards. Counties conduct 'logic and accuracy testing' before the election, then the state does the same. After the election the county does another logic and accuracy test to makes sure the equipment is still performing accurately. Can someone vote twice? If a voter mails in a ballot and then shows up to vote in person, poll workers give that person a provisional ballot and then the recorder's office and the elections office compare the ballots and determine whether the person voted twice. Although such cases are usually unintentional, officials say, they're turned over to the County Attorney's office for possible criminal prosecution. What happens if the high-tech voting machines fail? A low-tech backup is ready and waiting. Workers would use a backup voter roll prepared by the county recorder's office and voters would cast their ballots using paper ballots on hand for that purpose. Can election workers double-count votes for candidate they support or not count votes for candidates they don't support? No. If the machines that tally the votes can't read a ballot, it's counted by a team of observers from both major political parties. Why can't we get final results on election day? Signatures must be verified, votes must be tabulated, a voter's intended choice might need to be checked. "Accurate results take time," Pima County Elections Director Constance Hargrove said. Sources: Gabriella Cazares-Kelly, Pima County Recorder; Constance Hargrove, Pima County Elections Director; Kori Lorick, election services director, Arizona Secretary of State Arizona is erecting a shipping-crate border barrier along a 10-mile stretch of federal land just west of the Coronado National Memorial in Cochise County, where theres currently no border wall. The state is moving forward with the project estimated to cost about $95 million despite a standoff with the federal government over Arizona installing border barriers on federal land without permission. About 3,000 shipping containers are expected to be installed in Cochise County by the same company, emergency management contractor AshBritt, that put up 3,800 feet of shipping crates over 11 days in Yuma. That project is near the Morelos Dam, where many undocumented migrants have been crossing into Ariozona in the last year. The new barrier will fill a gap in the existing border barrier, says Gov. Doug Duceys spokesman C.J. Karamargin. Last weeks standoff with the federal government began when they asked the state to remove the Yuma containers, saying it was an unauthorized placement on federal property and on Cocopah Indian Tribe land. The Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs responded with a letter saying the state is within its rights to construct a border barrier of shipping containers on federal land in the Yuma area and will not remove it, citing the U.S. Constitution and various legal statues. And Coronado Forest Supervisor Kerwin Dewberry sent a letter to the state saying it needed to obtain prior approval through the federal regulatory approval process that governs National Forest Land before placing any barriers on there, which the state did not do. The federal government waived dozens of laws to speed up wall construction under the Trump administration, including the requirement to review environmental impacts, when it built much of the existing barrier using of the 2005 REAL ID Act, which contains a provision that allows the secretary of Homeland Security to waive laws that interfere with construction of physical barriers at the borders. But the state had no such jurisdiction. The states response escalated when Arizona filed a complaint in federal court Friday saying, among other things, that President Theodore Roosevelt had no legal right to declare all that land along the border, now known as the Roosevelt Reservation, to be the property of the federal government. The Roosevelt Reservation is a 60-foot wide swath of land that runs along most of the border in Arizona as well as California and New Mexico. The complaint also notes that an increase in undocumented migrants at the border has put a strain on domestic resources, which is felt most acutely by border communities. Federal law enforcement at the Arizona border encountered migrants 571,720 times in fiscal year 2022, according to federal data released Friday, an 83% increase over last year. Local communities have reported strain on their ability to provide needed social services, the complaint says. Local officials and NGOs report that the temporary shelters that house migrants are quickly reaching capacity due to the high number of arrivals, and stakeholders in the border region have expressed concern that shelters will eventually reach full bed space capacity and not be able to host any new arrivals. Many local nonprofits, such as Casa Alitas in Tucson, have had to expand their services to accommodate larger numbers of migrants passing through the state, much of which is covered by federal grants from FEMA. The barrier the state erected in Yuma didnt stop migrants from entering the country, and the area saw a 5% increase in migrant encounters the month after the barrier was installed. Filling a 10-mile gap in the Coronado National Forest would be devastating to wildlife and will do nothing to stop the movements of humans, says Robin Silver, a cofounder at the Center for Biological Diversity, which filed a court notice last week of its intent to sue over Arizonas planned use of the shipping containers. Any human that has access to anything like a cheap Home Depot cutting blade or cutting saw can move through the walls. It literally takes a human less than 10 minutes to walk through the wall now, but wildlife cannot go to Home Depot and buy a cutting saw, Silver said. This area is a documented established movement corridor for wildlife, including endangered wildlife like jaguars and ocelots, Silver said. As well, even without a wall currently there, large numbers of people dont go through that area due to the number of border patrol agents, helicopters, drones and hundreds of monitored cameras in the area, he said. The bottom line here is that this is just a publicity stunt by the governor, he said. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: I recently conversed with my son and grandson about my grandsons college plans. My son graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 25 years ago. At graduation many of his classmates were commissioned in the Air Force or the Navy as second lieutenants. They have gone on to have successful careers as pilots in our military. I served as a commissioned officer in the Army during the Vietnam War. Because of that fact and because of the many ERAU graduates with whom my son remains in contact, I thought my grandson might be a candidate for an appointment to the Air Force Academy or the Naval Academy. He is a 4.0 student who is an athlete and works part-time after school when possible. I have no doubt one of our elected senators or Congress persons would consider him to be an acceptable candidate for an appointment. Then, after discussing the above points, my son told me that he has discussed this matter with some of his former classmates. Some of them have already retired and others are considering doing so very soon. When I queried him about these discussions, every one of them said regrettably that the military has changed so radically. They would not recommend military service until circumstances changed radically for the better. Problems began to arise under Barack Obama and became more significant under President Joe Biden. Every one of them spoke very favorably about Donald Trump. The problems seem to involve being required to sit through mandatory indoctrination programs, often with roots in the Marxist tenets of critical race theory. Frequently, senior leaders delegate their command responsibilities to private Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion instructors. Last year, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the House Armed Services Committee that CRT was not taught. Even though he repeated that CRT was not being taught in the military, there are numerous military personnel who have disputed his denials. Just last year a senior officer in the U. S. Space Force, Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier, was removed from his command position for publicly describing the role of CRT used to indoctrinate service members at his post. Additionally, without exception everyone expressed a great deal of consternation about how our military forces were withdrawn from Afghanistan last year. Everyone felt that the withdrawal of our forces and some civilian personnel was an utter debacle. They were upset that Biden expressed such satisfaction that the withdrawal was completed so well. These kinds of issues, as well as numerous others, have caused my grandson to decide that he will not pursue a military education. While I was disappointed, I must confess that I would not want to be subjected to these kinds of problems promulgated by our current Commander-in-Chief. Stay home day: Bixby, Sperry and Union do not have in-person classes on Monday. Bixby is out for a professional development day; Sperry is on fall break; and Union has a previously scheduled distance-learning day. All three districts will resume in-person instruction on Tuesday. Now enrolling: The Cherokee Nation immersion school is now enrolling students for its new campus in Greasy. The school will open first with a 3-year-old program and then add one grade per year through the eighth grade. To be eligible for enrollment, a child must be a citizen of a federally recognized tribe. Applicants must pick up a packet at the southern Adair County school between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Resource fair: Tulsa Public Schools is hosting a resource and transition fair for special education students and their families from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the Wilson Teaching and Learning Center, 2710 E. 11th St. National accolade: Checotah Intermediate Elementary School Principal Ryan Ambrose is one of nine recipients nationwide of the 2022 Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership, the U.S. Department of Education announced Wednesday. Named for the second U.S. secretary of education, the award is part of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Honorees are nominated by their school communities during the final stages of the National Blue Ribbon Schools application process. Coming soon: Owasso Public Schools will offer campus-based before- and after-school care starting with the 2023-24 school year, it announced Wednesday. All nine Owasso elementary schools will offer both before and after care, while an after-school option will be available at the Sixth Grade Center for students in grades 6-8. Tuition rates and enrollment information are slated to be released in the spring. Discounts will be available for district employees and families who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. Feedback deadline: Tulsa Public Schools is accepting feedback through 5 p.m. Friday on redistricting proposals for its Board of Education seats. A survey is available online at tulsaschools.org/survey. School board calendar: Tulsa Techs Board of Education is scheduled to meet on Monday. Bartlesville Public Schools board has a special meeting on Wednesday. The State Board of Education is scheduled to meet Thursday in Oklahoma City. Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton, Tulsa World A new polytechnic school planned for Tulsa by the University of Oklahoma has named an interim director to oversee the design of academic programs and hiring of faculty. Jim Sluss, currently interim president of OU-Tulsa, will serve as interim director for OU Polytechnic Institute, as well, pending the approval of the OU Board of Regents, officials announced Monday. A national search for the institutes permanent director is underway. Jim Sluss leadership at OU-Tulsa has been instrumental at a time when we are aligning the universitys goals with the unique needs and opportunities of northeastern Oklahoma, OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. said. His administrative experience and STEM background make him an obvious choice to help direct the launch of the OU Polytechnic Institute and ensure it is well-positioned to fuel Oklahomas economic prosperity. The institute, to be located on the OU-Tulsa Schusterman Center campus, was officially announced earlier this year. The goal is to open in fall 2024 with the first cohort of students, officials said. The school will be modeled after similar schools emerging around the country and help meet the increasing demand for workers in critical STEM fields. The school will start with five concentration areas: cyber, data science, software development, advanced mobility and medical informatics. A Tulsa County burn ban that had been in effect since Aug. 15 was allowed to expire Monday as widespread rain fell in much of the state. We may revisit it, depending on conditions moving forward. We are still in a drought, said Joe Kralicek, Tulsa Area Emergency Management director. Under state law, if the weather forecast is for 0.5 inches of rain or more in the next 72 hours, county burn bans are prohibited, he said. Tulsa County commissioners on Monday allowed the ban to expire after reissuing it on a weekly basis for weeks on end. Under the ban, outdoor burning, including controlled burns, bonfires, fire pits and chimineas, were prohibited; grilling and welding over nonflammable surfaces were not. A total of 1 to 3 inches of rain was expected in northeast Oklahoma between Monday and Tuesday, forecasters said. As of 7 p.m. Monday, the rainfall totals (in inches) for the area, according to the Oklahoma Mesonet, were: Tulsa: 0.94 Bristow: 1.66 Inola: 1.30 Okmulgee: 1.08 Skiatook: 1.29 A few showers may linger overnight and into the early morning hours of Tuesday, according to Tulsa World Meteorologist Kirsten Lang. Skies will clear by midday Tuesday and we will see a few dry days until our next chance for rain returns by Thursday and Friday, she said. However, Tulsa is still several inches below normal for the year. Before Mondays rain, the city was 4.31 inches below normal rainfall since Sept. 1 and 8.10 inches below normal for the year. Tulsa averages just under 41 inches of rain per year. As of last week, the eastern two-thirds of the state was under extreme or exceptional drought conditions, the two highest levels on a four-tier scale, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The monitor updates conditions for the state and the U.S. on a weekly basis. Kralicek said those conditions, along with the number of wildfires and other factors, are used to determine if a burn ban should be enacted. The latest results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress capture the academic losses students across the country, including here in Oklahoma, experienced during the pandemic. The assessment, which is known as the Nations Report Card, shows across-the-board declines for fourth- and eighth-graders in math and reading between 2019 and 2022, according to new results released Monday by the U.S. Department of Educations National Center for Education Statistics. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona called the results appalling and unacceptable, but said it is important to note that the data prior to the pandemic did not reflect an education system that was on the right track. The pandemic simply made that worse. It took poor performance and dropped it down even further, he said in a Friday press briefing. NAEP is not administered to all children but a representative sample of students from each state. Nationally, fourth-graders posted an average reading score of 216 compared to 219 in 2019 and an average math score of 235 compared to 2019 average of 240. Meanwhile, eighth-graders in the U.S. posted an average reading score of 259 compared to 262 three years earlier and an average math score of 273 compared to the previous average of 281. For fourth-graders in Oklahoma, the average reading score was 208 compared to 216 three years ago and 219 in 1998. And 24% of those students performed at or above the NAEP in 2022, while 29% of fourth-graders did in 2019 and 30% did in 1998. Nationally, 32% of fourth-graders were proficient and advanced this year. In math, Oklahoma fourth graders posted an average score of 229, compared to 237 in 2019 and 224 in 2000. Some 27% of fourth-graders were proficient or advanced, a decline from 35% in 2019 but still better than 16% in 2000. Across the U.S., 35% of fourth-graders were considered proficient and advanced in math. For Oklahoma eighth-graders, the average reading score of 251 was lower than the average score of 258 in 2019 and 265 in 1998. The percentage of eighth-grade students who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in reading was 21% in 2022, a decline of 5 percentage points since 2019 and 9 percentage points from 1998. Nationally, 29% of eighth-graders were proficient or advanced in reading this year. In math, eighth-graders here posted an average math score of 264 compared to 276 in 2019 and 270 in 2000. The percentage of Oklahoma students who were proficient or advanced was 16% in 2022, a large decrease from 26% in 2019, and statistically similar to 18% in 2000. Nationally, 26% of eighth-graders were proficient or advanced in math this year. This years NAEP results are deeply troubling and in line with what we saw with our recent state assessments. The scores are evidence that students suffered significant disruptions to educational achievement as a result of the pandemic, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said. A full recovery will take considerable time and resources, but Oklahoma students are already turning a corner. We have invested in a number of programs to help students recover from learning loss and we are counting on the state Legislature to support additional investments promoting high-quality instruction, academic recovery and student mental health in the next session and in the years to come. With funds disbursed through the American Rescue Plan, schools across the country are investing in tutors, afterschool programs, and hiring more teachers and mental health professionals to try to help students get caught up academically and address mental health issues. The results, U.S. Secretary of Education Cardona said, are a reminder of the impact this pandemic had on our learners and the important work we must do now for our students. This is a moment of truth for education. How we respond to this will determine not only our recovery, but our nations standing in the world, he said. A once-in-a-generation virus upended our country in so many ways and our students cannot be the ones who sacrifice most in the long run. We must treat the task of catching our children up with the urgency this moment demands. NCES, which administers the Nations Report Card assessment, is the primary federal government entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education in the U.S. and other nations. NCES mandate from Congress is to collect, collate, analyze, and report complete statistics on the condition of American education; conduct and publish reports; and review and report on education activities internationally. Heading west from the 21st Street bridge, Tom Culver would have driven past the shopping center without noticing if a real estate agent hadnt pointed it out to him. The Riverview strip mall, with a typical suburban flat roof and glass storefronts, seemed like a textbook example of nondescript. And once you did look at it, it wasnt very appealing, Culver says. Maintenance had obviously been neglected. The soffit was in bad shape. And some of the tenants were very poor quality. He might have said the same about the whole Eugene Field neighborhood and the rest of west Tulsa itself, in some ways an overlooked and forgotten part of town. The rest of Tulsa seems to think the west side of the Arkansas River has nothing but smoke stacks, tank farms and dilapidated housing, Culver says. Its not a positive image in most peoples minds, he says. Culver wouldnt have thought about investing in the area if not for a friend who sells commercial properties. Larry Kelley has been championing west Tulsa for several years, pointing out major employers like HVAC manufacturer Aaon and construction giant Flintco. But he also emphasizes the areas residential side, with one of Tulsas largest middle-class apartment complexes sitting on the west side of the Arkansas with views of the skyline. Not a lot of people really know about what I call the West Tulsa Renaissance, he says. Kelley showed Culver the shopping center in February 2018 and described its hidden potential. It was already generating positive cash flow, he told Culver. If we would fix up the spaces, Culver says, make it a little bit more appealing, clean it up a little bit, then we could upgrade the level of tenant that we had. The sale closed in July 2018. And that same month, the Tulsa Housing Authority received a federal grant to kick-start a $170 million development across the street from the shopping center. The River West project has replaced several square blocks of dilapidated housing, vacant lots and run-down buildings with modern apartments and fashionable townhomes, leaving the neighborhood unrecognizable. Some residents receive housing subsidies, while others pay market-rate rents, avoiding the concentration of poverty that the old and now demolished housing projects created, officials said. Meanwhile, the $465 million Gathering Place opened on the opposite side of the river in September 2018, just two months after Culver bought the shopping center. The 66-acre park attracted nearly 3 million visitors in just 12 months, many of them passing directly in front of Culvers property as they drove from U.S. 75 toward Riverside Drive. Culver spent about $1 million to fix the roof, upgrade the electrical system and make other improvements while changing the shopping centers name to Riverview 66, emphasizing its proximity to the historic highway. I joke that you cant see the river and were not on Route 66, Culver says, but were close enough to claim it. Apple Barrel Cafe, a local chain that started 10 years ago in Bixby, became the anchor tenant in October 2021, investing about $600,000 to transform a vacant shop into a restaurant. The location draws customers across the river from Midtown and from as far south as Glenpool, says co-owner Simon Khatib. But the neighborhood itself, with an influx of middle-class residents at River West, will drive the restaurants growth, he said. And west Tulsas growth. Honestly, it used to be a not very good place to invest, Khatib says. But now its growing. The area is changing big-time, and I think it has big, big potential. <&rule> Featured video: Mixed-income River West apartments begin to open in west Tulsa Oklahoma relies on thousands of poll workers to keep its election system running smoothly. These temporary employees spend election days checking in voters, distributing ballots and ensuring that voting equipment is functioning properly. County election boards are tasked with recruiting and training precinct officials, while the state foots most of the bill for poll worker stipends. State election officials have long warned of a looming crisis if more people dont sign up to become poll workers. In some counties, already challenging recruitment efforts have been complicated by longtime precinct officials leaving the job due to increasing fears of harassment or intimidation. A March 2022 study by the Brennan Center for Justice found that threats against election officials, prompted by false claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, are increasing. Early in October, Tulsa County Election Board officials warned that 350 to 400 workers were still needed to be able to staff and provide backup for the November elections. In August, about three dozen poll workers didnt show up on Election Day for one reason or another, according to Tulsa County Election Board officials. And that was just part of the problem. More and more of the longtime, dedicated workers many of whom are older are too afraid they will be harassed to continue working. Oklahoma Watch spoke with five precinct officials about their motivation for working the polls and what state officials could do to better support local elections. Kim Barrett, 53, of Guthrie has been a poll worker for 13 years. A longtime high school history teacher, she schedules personal time off to ensure that she can work the polls. If we dont continue to have free elections and people who are there to run them and maintain the integrity of them, our government and country would fall into a certain place we dont care to go, Barrett said. She said it also serves as an example of civic engagement for her students, many of whom are 17 or 18 years old. It makes it a little easier to tell our kids what we expect from them when we do it ourselves, Barrett said. Jeff Mohr, 60, said he changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat to benefit the Beckham County Election Board. State law requires that at least one member of each of the two largest political parties staff every precinct, and Mohr said rural county voters need legislators to loosen that statute. Maybe at some point, theyre going to have to go to the county courthouses, and youll be randomly called up to be an election worker like youre called up for jury duty, he said. Kaley Mills, 31, a legislative assistant for State Reps. John Talley, R-Stillwater, and Randy Randleman, R-Eufaula, said a series of phone calls from frustrated constituents prompted her to become a precinct official. They called and said they had to drive all the way to the next town over just to cast their vote, and they were wanting to know why, Mills said. I did some checking, and I was told they had to consolidate precincts because they just simply did not have enough people to work the polls. Thats what made me decide I want to do this and help in this way. She was assigned to a rural precinct in Logan County, where she worked the June 28 primary and Aug. 23 runoff. She said the experience gave her an inside view into how the state counts and validates ballots. We hear from people fairly regularly who are concerned about the security of our elections, she said. Now when someone calls the office and brings that up, I can say Ive been a poll worker and this is actually how we do that part of the process. Its very secure, and I can tell you that firsthand. Peyton and Jody King, a Yukon couple in their late 20s, have worked elections in Canadian County for the past few years. Jody King signed up to become a poll worker while pursuing a political science degree at the University of Oklahoma. The $100 check he received following Election Day was an added bonus. I had no idea that state law dictates precinct officials should be paid, he said. I was just volunteering my time, not expecting any compensation. Now working in state government, he described the job as interesting and fulfilling. If (state government or private employers) just said you can have a full day to go be a precinct official, that would inspire a whole new group of people to go out and serve their community, he said. Peyton King said some voters have tried to discuss political matters inside the voting area but thus far tensions havent escalated when those conversations are shut down. State and local election officials could be doing a better job reaching out to young voters about working the polls, she said. Its not very common knowledge that this is something you can do, she said. <&rule> HANOI -- Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast said on Monday it has received a $135 million financing package led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), part of a push by the bank to boost climate-friendly investments in the region. VinFast, the auto arm of Vietnams largest conglomerate Vingroup JSC, said last year it planned to raise at least $400 million via its first green loan to fund its manufacturing of electric vehicles. The assistance comprises 7-year tenor financing, including a $20 million loan funded by ADB, parallel loans of $87 million facilitated by ADB as mandated lead arranger, and concessional financing of up to $28 million, a joint statement by the two organisations said. Export Finance Australia, the Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation, Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG, and responsAbility also participated in the parallel loans, the statement added. VinFast, which began operations in 2019 and stopped making combustion engine-driven cars in August, is targeting global electric vehicle sales of 750,000 per year by 2026. It is also gearing up to expand in the U.S. market. Vietnams transport sector accounts for 18% of the countrys greenhouse gas emissions, according to official data. According to ADB, the funding will also support Vietnams efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Vietnam has claimed two silver medals at the World Skills Competition 2022, an international vocational skill competition, according to Nguyen Chi Truong, head of the Vocational Skills Department under the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training. In particular, Nguyen Thanh Tung and Nguyen Xuan Thai, who are both 23 years old and from the DENSO Training Academy in Hanoi, brought home the silver medals in Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) Milling and CNC Turning, respectively. Truong told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that this is the best result of the Vietnamese team at this competition. The competition this year will last until the end of November, so the Vietnamese team still has opportunities to win more medals, especially in electrical installation, Truong added. According to the organizer, the CNC Milling category attracts contestants from 22 countries. Chujie Zhou from China secured the gold medal and Kosei Yamashita of the Japanese team won the bronze medal. A screenshot of the results of the CNC Milling category In CNC Turning, the gold medal was awarded to Hongyu Wu from China and the silver medals were given to three contestants, including Thai from Vietnam and two others from Japan and Thailand. The WorldSkills Competition, which is held every two years, is considered the largest global playground for vocational students. The competition is as prestigious as the Olympiad contests in math, physics, chemistry, and biology. The 46th WorldSkills Competition was repeatedly postponed over the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organizer later decided to organize a special edition for the 46th competition, taking place in many countries in October and November this year. The competition this year attracts more than 1,000 contestants and 1,000 experts from 63 countries and territories. Contestants compete in 62 skill competitions. According to the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training under the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs, Vietnam sent 11 contestants to compete in 10 skill competitions, consisting of mechatronics, cloud computing, information network cabling, water technology, mechanical installation, CNC milling, CNC turning, CAD mechanical engineering design, information technology software solutions, and hair design. The Vietnamese team will compete in six countries, including Germany, France, Austria, Finland, Japan, and South Korea. Vietnam took part in the WorldSkills Competition in 2007 for the first time. In every competition, the Southeast Asian country received excellent vocational skill certificates. In 2019, Vietnam won the first silver medal in CNC milling at the competition, which was held in Kazan, Russia. Like us onFacebook or follow us on Twitter to get thelatest news about Vietnam! Nguyen Thanh Cuong, also known as Cuong Ba Cu, who was a notorious member of an underworld gang in Ho Chi Minh City in the 1980s, has turned over a new leaf and offered free meals to poor patients in the city for eight years. Please queue up orderly. Everyone will have food, Cuong, 52, a sturdy man with a tawny complexion told patients who were queuing up to receive free servings at the gate of the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital in Binh Thanh District through a megaphone. Cuong told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that he made mistakes in the past. He was a jailbird for half of his young days. Thanh My, residing in Tay Ninh Province, Vietnam knows Nguyen Thanh Cuongs meaningful activity, so she gives cash totaling VND15 million (US$604) to patients who are treated at the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre Looking back on his journey in the past, he feels regret and wants to do good deeds to have peace of mind. During the meeting with Tuoi Tre, he just talked about stories in the present, meals for poor patients, love, and compassion. He wanted to forget or rarely mentioned his past. I choose the [Ho Chi Minh City] Oncology Hospital as my best friend died there. In 2018, I also fought cancer," Cuong said. Nguyen Thanh Cuong pays much attention to nutritional values and food safety. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre Witnessing what patients have to suffer from, I want to maintain my charity work. Doing charity is not simple, especially in such a complicated area. It is a microcosm of the society in front of the hospital as there are not only raw-boned patients who are fighting for life but also gangsters. I must try to avoid conflicts with them." Cuong uses the revenue from his coffee shop and restaurant to do charity. In addition, his friends across Vietnam regularly make contributions so that he can maintain the meaningful activity. Cuong Ba Cu travels in his car to give free servings to poor patients. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre At 3:00 pm from Monday to Thursday every week, patients and caretakers queue up to wait for Nguyen Thanh Cuong. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre Nguyen Thanh Cuong uses a megaphone to coordinate his charity activity. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre Each patient receives a serving, including rice, main course, stir-fried vegetables, soup, and fruits. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre Patients of the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital are provided with vouchers for servings. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre Like us onFacebook or follow us on Twitter to get thelatest news about Vietnam! Firefighters managed to save 11 people from a fire that broke out at a six-story house in Hanoi on Sunday evening. The incident occurred at a house, which has six floors and covers an area of 50 square meters, in an alley in Cau Giay District at around 7:00 pm, the fire prevention and rescue police division under the Hanoi Department of Public Security confirmed later the same day. Officers rescue victims from a fire at a house in Cau Giay District, Hanoi, October 23, 2022. Photo: Hung Dung / Tuoi Tre More than 20 officers and four fire engines were mobilized to the scene. They were divided into two teams, with one focusing on putting out the flames on the first floor and the other approaching the top floor from the house next door to rescue the stranded victims. A woman hugs a firefighter after being saved from a fire at a house in Cau Giay District, Hanoi, October 23, 2022. Photo: Hung Dung / Tuoi Tre The blaze was extinguished at around 7:30 pm, and 11 people were saved. Police officers confirmed that there were no casualties and that they are working to determine the cause of the fire. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A Vietnamese interpreter has been arrested on suspicion of tying up a Chinese man inside a hotel in Hanoi and robbing the victim. The Hanoi Department of Public Security confirmed on Sunday that the police unit in Cau Giay District had apprehended Nguyen Van Truong, 27, from northern Thai Binh Province, on robbery charges. Officers also captured Truongs accomplices, namely Lai Van Hai, 29, Truong Van Yeu, 29, and Tran Thuy Lien, 32. Preliminary investigation showed that Truong worked as an interpreter and became acquainted with S., a 35-year-old Chinese man living in Cau Giay District. On October 13, Truong had dinner with Hai, Yeu, and Lien and asked S. to join them later that evening. On the following day, Truong planned to rob S. as he needed money and asked Hai, Yeu, and Lien for their assistance. At around 4:00 pm the same day, Truong requested S. to drink alcohol with him at a hotel in Cau Giay District. As soon as S. arrived, Truong, Hai, Yeu, and Lien held him down and tied him up with tape. Truong forced S. to wire VND60 million (US$2,410) to his account. He and his accomplices also took from S. about $1,160 worth of cash, an iPhone 13 Pro Max, an iPhone 12 Pro Max, and some other belongings before fleeing the scene. After the case was reported, police in Cau Giay District coordinated with relevant agencies to carry out an investigation and apprehend the suspects. At the police station, Truong, Hai, Yeu, and Lien admitted to their crime. Further investigation is ongoing. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Thank you for your support! ReportLinker It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5. 7% from 2022 to 2028. The rapid growth of the mining and oil & gas sectors in the Middle East and the increasing the demand for E-houses in the Africa utility industry will likely boost the E-house market growth during the forecast period. New York, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "E-House Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Type, Component, Application" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06353499/?utm_source=GNW Adding to this, the MEA countries, such as Iraq, recovering from a long civil war, are anticipated to provide lucrative E-house market growth opportunities in the near future. Iraqs government focuses on restoring basic amenities such as power supply to business entities and people.For instance, the Ministry of Electricity in Iraq ordered 12 mobile substations for its utility sector in 2017. The increasing power supply led to installing new substations, thus, overcoming the power shortage issue in Iraq. Mozambique, Angola, and Libya are a few major countries with significant demand catalyzing the E-house market growth in the MEA region. One of the major E-house companies operating in the MEA is Kontrolmatik.It manufactures turnkey prefabricated and containerized E-house at its Mobile Energy Solutions Factory in Ankara, Turkiye. The company is involved in the overall E-house system and associated processes, such as equipment supply to system integration, engineering to produce the entire system, factory tests to field testing, and commissioning. The increasing number of oil & gas projects (such as Upper Zakum - Production Capacity Enhancement, Ruwais Refinery Complex - Refinery Expansion, Zubair Oil Field - Rehabilitation Phase and Enhanced Re-Development Phase, Ras Laffan - Qatargas NFE, Basra Gas Gathering Project, and Al Zour Refinery) in the MEA is also providing several opportunities for the E-house market growth. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on E-House Market Due to business lockdowns, travel bans, and supply chain disruptions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Europe witnessed an economic slowdown in 2020, which continued in 2021.European countries, such as the UK, Spain, and Germany, implemented drastic measures and travel restrictions to curb the spread of this virus among their citizens. Due to restrictions imposed on travel, various sectors, such as oil & gas, mining, and many infrastructure development projects, were suspended briefly, impacting E-house use.E-house production came to an unexpected halt due to this. However, in mid of 2020, with the release of lockdown, several projects and suspended development projects were restarted, and the demand for e-house began catalyzing. Market leaders of E-house started taking projects and accelerating the market. In 2022, the Hungarian government started working on developing the region, where the infrastructure sector showed an upward trend. The European Commission approved an investment from the Cohesion Fund of US$ 90.72 million to improve train connections in Northern Great Plain in Hungary for passenger and freight transport. The project includes construction of several amenities that will be constructed across different remote locations that have no power supply which will require new E-house systems to provide power supplies for the construction equipment and related instruments for this project. This will generate new opportunities for E-house market players and will boost the deployment of E-houses in such projects. The e-house market is analyzed based on type, component, and application.Based on type, the market is bifurcated into fixed (skid mounted) and mobile substations. Based on component, the E-house market is segmented into transformer, bus bar, power management system, variable frequency drive, switchgear, HVAC, and others.Based on application, the E-house market is segmented into industrial and utilities. Geographically, the E-house market is categorized into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and South and Central America. ABB Ltd.; Eaton; Becker Mining System AG; Schneider Electric SE; Siemens AG; WEG; StarFlite Systems; Secheron; Powergear Limited; and Powell Industries, Inc. are a some of the E-house market players profiled in the study. Market players are following organic and inorganic growth strategies to sustain their competitive edge. For instance, In January 2022, ABB and UK Power Networks switched to a sustainable future with the worlds first 36 kV double bus bar AirPlus switchgear. UK Power Networks, which provides power to 8.3 million homes and businesses, has commissioned ABB to supply the worlds first 36 kV medium-voltage double busbar AirPlus Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS). It features AirPlus gas, which acts as an insulator between the electrical contacts with almost zero global warming impact. As part of its Environmental Action Plan to pass on a sustainable planet for future generations, the UKs biggest electricity distributor, UK Power Networks, has announced plans to use AirPlus, ABBs innovative sustainable alternative to SF6 switchgear, at its substation in Kent. Similarly, in February 2019, Siemens received one of its largest single orders for e-Houses from the technology group ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions. Seven modular power distribution substations will ensure the power supply for the operation of a new chemical complex of the MOL Group, a leading international oil and gas company from Hungary. The overall e-house market size has been derived using both primary and secondary sources.To begin the research process, exhaustive secondary research has been conducted using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the e-house market. The process also serves the purpose of obtaining an overview and forecast of the e-house market size with respect to all market segments.Also, industry participants and commentators have conducted multiple primary interviews to validate the data and gain more analytical insights. Participants typically involved in the e-house market study include VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, national sales managers, and external consultants, such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders, specializing in the e-house market. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06353499/?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 Albemarle Corporation ALB is benefiting from higher lithium prices and volumes, capacity expansion and cost-saving actions. Albemarle, which is a prominent player in the chemicals space along with Eastman Chemical Company EMN, Celanese Corporation CE and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. APD, is gaining from higher volumes in its lithium business on a recovery in global economic activities. Higher customer demand, new capacity and plant productivity improvements are supporting volumes. The La Negra III/IV expansion in Chile is also contributing to higher volumes. Strong lithium prices are also supporting ALBs performance. Tight supply conditions and growing demand for electric vehicles are driving lithium prices. The companys bromine business is also gaining from strong demand and favorable pricing led by tight market conditions. Albemarle is seeing strong demand for flame retardants. Albemarle raised its net sales outlook for 2022 factoring in continued strength in pricing in its Lithium and Bromine businesses. The company envisions net sales for 2022 to be in the band of $7.1-$7.5 billion, up from $5.8-$6.2 billion expected earlier. Adjusted EBITDA for the year is now forecast to be $3.2-$3.5 billion, up from the prior view of $2.2-$2.5 billion. Albemarle also sees adjusted earnings per share for 2022 in the band of $19.25-$22.25, up from $12.30-$15.00 it expected earlier. The company is also strategically executing its projects aimed at boosting its global lithium conversion capacity. It remains focused on investing in high-return projects to drive productivity. The company is well placed to gain from long-term growth in the battery-grade lithium market. Albemarle's Kemerton I lithium hydroxide conversion plant in Western Australia achieved first product in July 2022. Mechanical completion of the Kemerton II plant is expected in second-half 2022. The company is also expanding lithium carbonate production at its Silver Peak site. The acquisition of the Qinzhou plant in China will also boost the growth of conversion capacity and drive lithium volumes. The company is also benefiting from cost-saving and productivity initiatives. Its cost actions are expected to support its margins in 2022. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Albemarle Corporation (ALB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Eastman Chemical Company (EMN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Celanese Corporation (CE) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images The Kremlin is threatening retaliatory action after authorities arrested Artyom Uss, the son of a top Russian official, at the United States request, for allegedly participating in a sanctions evasion and money laundering scheme. Uss, who was detained in Milan, was charged in relation to a scheme to unlawfully obtain U.S. military technology and sanctioned Venezuelan oil in order to support Russias war effort in Ukraine, according to charges unsealed by the U.S. Department of Justice this week. We are categorically against this and we condemn the practice of these kinds of arrests of Russian citizens, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Uss father, the governor of Russias Krasnoyarsk Krai region, Alexander Uss, has suggested the arrest is politically motivated, according to TASS. Another Russian government spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said Moscow would not leave the United States search for Russians unanswered and accused the U.S. of taking hostages for political purposes, TASS reported. These Top Putin Cronies Vowed to Fight in Ukraine Themselves. So Where Are They? Uss wasnt the only one charged in the money laundering and smuggling scheme. Uss co-owned a trading company called Nord-Deutsche Industrieanlagenbau GmbH (NDA GmbH) which he and co-conspirators allegedly used as a front to ship U.S. defense technology to Russia. Uss and co-conspirators are accused of using NDA GmbH to ship advanced semiconductors and microprocessors for fighter aircraft, missile systems, smart munitions, radar, and satellites to Russiasome have been found in weapons used in the war in Ukraine. Some of the same electronic components obtained through the criminal scheme have been found in Russian weapons platforms seized on the battlefield in Ukraine, the Department of Justice said in an announcement, adding that the accused developed a sophisticated network of schemes that undermined security, economic stability and rule of law around the world. Story continues The group of co-conspirators also allegedly shipped hundreds of millions of barrels of oil from Venezuela to Russian and Chinese entities, including at least one sanctioned oligarch. The 12-count indictment charged five Russian nationals in total, including Yury Orekhov, Svetlana Kuzurgasheva, Timofey Telegin, and Sergey Tulyakov. Juan Fernando Serrano Ponce and Juan Carlos Soto were also charged with setting up illegal oil deals for Venezuelan state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. One of the co-conspirators openly acknowledged that NDA GmbH was working for a sanctioned oligarch, according to court documents. He [the oligarch] is under sanctions as well, Orekhov said. Thats why we [are] acting from this company [NDA GmbH]. As fronting. Russia has long helped Venezuela evade sanctions around the globe. But the latest charges expose the multiple layers of sanctions the United States has imposed on both Russia and Venezuela. The United States has been sanctioning Venezuela for more than 15 years, and in recent years has imposed restrictions on Venezuelas state oil company and other entities in order to try to pressure Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro to leave power. Sanctions on Russian banks in recent months, which the United States and other nations have levied in an attempt to try to isolate Moscow on the world stage while it assaults Ukraine, have likely hurt Venezuelas ability to access its assets, according to the Congressional Research Service. But higher oil prices from Russias invasion of Ukraine appear to be driving a semblance of economic recovery for Venezuela, according to the CRS. Task Force KleptoCapture, the Department of Justice group established earlier this year with the aim of punishing Russia for the war in Ukraine and enforcing sanctions on Russian oligarchs, announced the charges alongside other DOJ entities. Stamping out evasion of export controls on military technology is among the Task Forces highest priorities, Andrew Adams, the director of Task Force KleptoCapture, said in a statement. Webs of shell companies, cryptocurrency and an international network of fraudsters failed to shield Orekhov and his cronies from apprehension by U.S. law enforcement. Its not clear what Russia will be doing in response to Uss arrest. When asked Thursday if Uss arrest is related at all to the negotiations to release Brittney Griner from Russia, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to speculate. The President is willing to take extraordinary lengths to bring Americans home, Jean-Pierre said in a briefing with reporters. 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. Romanias defence minister Vasile Dincu has resigned, citing difficulties working with the countrys president. His departure comes one week after he controversially suggested that Ukraines only chance for peace would be negotiating with Russia. Dincu said on Facebook that he had resigned due to an "inability to collaborate" with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, whos also chief of the NATO countrys armed forces. Iohannis had criticised the defence minister for going against Romanias official stance, stating that "only Ukraine will decide when and how it will negotiate". "This is our official position and some of our country's dignitaries should read the press more often," he added. Dincu, a member of the ruling Social Democrat party (PSD), had held the ministerial post in the coalition government for almost a year. He had also faced criticism from within his own party while opposition lawmakers had called for him to step down. The 60-year-old stated on Monday that he had resigned to avoid hindering a "number of projects absolutely necessary for the optimal functioning of Romania's army. No interim minister or successor has yet been announced. Marcel Ciolacu, the leader of PSD, said Monday that he has requested incumbent Prime Minister Ciuca, a former defence minister, to step in as interim because Romania is obliged to ensure stability on the eastern flank of NATO. Romania shares a 613-kilometre border with Ukraine and hosts multinational battlegroups and air defence systems for the 30-member alliance. The University of North Georgia (UNG) will participate in the National First-Generation College Celebration week from Nov. 7-11. Each of the five UNG campuses will host festivities focused primarily on students who are the first in their families to pursue a college degree. "Historically, being the first in your family to go to college has come with some stigma, and one of the things that we try to do within the UNG First Generation Student Initiatives is to make being the first to come to college and earn a degree a point of pride for our students," Jennifer Herring, special assistant to the vice president of regional campuses, said. "The designation is something to wear as a badge of honor. They're trailblazers." Herring said 25% of UNG students self-identify as first-generation college students, based on tracking since 2018. Nov. 8 was selected as the date for the annual National First-Generation College Celebration to honor the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 as part of then-President Lyndon B. Johnson. Eleven University of North Georgia (UNG) cadets have been named Distinguished Military Graduates (DMG) for 2022-23. DMGs are commissioning cadets who finish in the top 20% of Army graduates on the national Order of Merit List by achieving superior grade-point averages, strong performance in the Army Combat Fitness Test, and proving their worth as exceptional leaders in their college ROTC training. The DMG designation will remain on their Army record throughout their military career. "The DMG recognition from U.S. Army Cadet Command is a testament of exemplary performance from the first semester a cadet joins UNG and the Boar's Head Brigade. These cadets have maintained a level of focus and performance that extends through all facets of a college student's career," Col. Bryan Kirk, UNG's professor of military science, said. "Their scholastic success is a vibrant tribute to the unrelenting support and expertise of our UNG professors, faculty and staff, while their ROTC success speaks to the devotion and experience of our cadre. DMG students have taken up the challenge to maximize their leadership growth at UNG and earn success." UNG's DMG honorees are William Allen, Jordan Armstrong, Michael Blumthal, Andrew Flournoy, Quinn Griffith, Chase Grover, Jacob Hughes, Noah Isley, Anthony Linatoc, Phillip Ly, and David Vinci. Students from the University of North Georgia (UNG) and Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan, are gaining language and cultural learning in growing numbers through a study abroad exchange. With COVID-19 restrictions lifted, each university has welcomed multiple students to its campus for the 2022-23 academic year. Eleven UNG students are spending at least a semester at Nanzan between the fall and spring, with three of them set to study for a full academic year in Nagoya. Three Nanzan students are at UNG for both semesters. The schools had previously engaged in numerous Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) activities and three summer study abroad opportunities at Nanzan, plus a two-week spring 2019 visit from Nanzan students to UNG. Cadet Daniel Shearer in spring 2020 became the first UNG student to head to Nanzan for a semester before having to come back early due to the start of the pandemic. After an increased volume of COIL experiences and a virtual exchange for UNG student Kirsten Howard in 2021-22, Dr. Tomoe Nishio, UNG associate professor of Japanese, is grateful travel is allowing the partnership with Nanzan to blossom even further. "We do our best to give our students experiences in cultural learning locally at UNG, but it's nothing compared to what they can do in Japan immersed in the environment, speaking only in Japanese," Nishio said. "It's good pressure to have to speak the language and learn how to behave in the Japanese context." The University of North Georgia's (UNG) Doctor of Physical Therapy faculty welcomed about 50 high school students and teachers from Hall County and Hawaii on Oct. 7 to learn more about university research opportunities. Students who attended were able to hear about research on guide dogs, core strength, stroke patients, and bone models. They are enrolled in or have already completed Advanced Placement (AP) Research, a class during which they conduct undergraduate-level research in a high school classroom. Additionally, these students are expected to produce a paper of 4,000-5,000 words and a presentation of 15-20 minutes. The Hall County School District, which brought students from Cherokee Bluff, Chestatee and Flowery Branch high schools, was glad to connect with UNG on the research day. Teachers from Mililani High School in Hawaii connected with Dr. Emily Lott, global lead teacher for the AP Research course and English language arts content specialist for Hall County Schools, wishing to visit campuses and have an engaging research experience while in Georgia. This prompted Lott to reach out to UNG and find a way to get UNG, Hall County Schools and Mililani together for AP Research Day. "These students and teachers were interested in working alongside UNG to understand how research works in the higher education classroom," Dr. Sue Ann McCall, UNG associate department head of physical therapy, said. "Many of these students are prospective applicants for UNG." In addition to McCall, physical therapy faculty who shared their work with high school students were Dr. Kimberly Castle, department head and professor, and Dr. Eunse Park, associate professor. SINGAPORE Singapore is a promising market where Vietnamese products see both advantages and difficulties, Cao Xuan Thang from the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore said in an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency. Thang said that Singapore is a transit market of the world with a high level of openness. With its major income coming from services, Singapore is almost completely dependent on imports of consumer goods, he said, noting that Singapore does not have any tariff and non-tariff restrictions or barriers on imported goods, except for the mandatory regulations on quality standards of international organisations. According to Thang, Viet Nams advantages include the capacity of supplying various kinds of goods, close geographical distance to Singapore, and being a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) like Singapore. Viet Nam and Singapore are the only two countries in the region to have comprehensive deals with Europe and the UK, he added, holding that this is also an advantage for import-export activities between the two countries. However, Thang underlined that Viet Nam has also faced a number of challenges and difficulties in the market, including fierce competition with other suppliers, and high marketing costs. He said that over the years, the Viet Nam Trade Office has worked hard to support Vietnamese firms to approach the Singaporean market, especially through updating the policies and import-export situation of the country, guiding the companies to grasp export opportunities, and assisting them in introducing their products to Singaporean partners. Last year, the office held a hybrid trade fair to promote Vietnamese products, he said. After Singapore reopened its doors at the beginning of the year, the office collaborated with its partners to organise a conference to provide information on the market and products of Viet Nam to nearly 400 Singaporean firms. VNS HA NOI General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong yesterday offered congratulations to Xi Jinping on his re-election as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. In his message, the Vietnamese leader also congratulated the 20th CPC National Congress on its success, especially the creative development in continuously perfecting the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, as well as strategic visions and important goals and tasks set by the congress for the long-term development of China. He expressed his belief that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee, with Xi Jinping's thoughts on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era at the core, the entire Party and people of China will certainly fulfil the tasks set by the congress and soon achieve the target of realising socialist modernisation, building China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, civilised, harmonious and beautiful. He also appreciated Xi's good sentiment and attention towards Viet Nam and his important contributions to Viet Nam-China relations to benefit the two peoples. Trong said that he always attaches great importance to and is willing, together with the Chinese leader, to direct all levels, branches and localities of the two countries to thoroughly understand and well implement the high-level agreements and common perceptions, bringing the friendly neighbourhood and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Viet Nam and China to a new height that is stable, healthy and sustainable, meeting the fundamental and long-term interests of the two parties, countries and peoples, for peace, stability, cooperation and development of the region and the world. "I look forward to seeing you again soon so that we can deepen our discussions on strategic issues, contributing to further strengthening political trust, and setting out major orientations for the future development of the two countries' relations," he wrote in his message. VNS Renewable energy and energy efficiency are the key sectors that Danish investors focus on. Photo: unsplash.com In the remarks at the Vietnam-Denmark Business Forum last month, Lina Hansen, Denmark's state secretary for trade and global sustainability, said that energy was a crucial deciding factor for investment in Vietnam. The Grand Opening of the Denmark-Vietnam Sustainable Energy Summit marks the official beginning of business promotion activities during the royal visit in November. It will gather VIPs from both the Danish and Vietnamese sides, including high-ranking government officials and CEOs of big corporations. The high-level business delegation includes 36 Danish enterprises; of which there are 22 enterprises operating in the field of wind energy and 14 enterprises in the field of energy efficiency in November The visit provides an excellent opportunity for Danish companies to acquire and nurture business contacts in Vietnam and to meet with business representatives, organisations, public authorities Denmark has supported Vietnams energy efficiency agenda since 2009. In 2017, Danish cooperation with Vietnam was consolidated under the Danish Energy Partnership Programme to support Vietnam in achieving its national commitment to the Paris Agreement. Clear messages were delivered in the Vietnam Energy Outlook Report 2021, published in early June, which was developed in close collaboration between the Danish Energy Agency, the Embassy of Denmark, and the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade. The report concluded that there is great potential for green transition in Vietnam, which by 2050 can become a net zero-carbon economy, as set out by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during COP26 in Glasgow. In the decade to come, Vietnam will need to supply the countrys growing economy with sufficient and reliable power sources to meet the countrys socioeconomic goals while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to the latest draft of Vietnams Power Development Plan VIII, the total installed capacity for power production is up to 146,000MW in 2030 and 388,000MW in 2045. Several Danish original equipment manufacturers, wind developers, and suppliers are already present in Vietnam, and in 2020, the majority of new onshore wind turbines deployed were delivered by Danish companies. Danish energy leaders welcome Vietnamese alliance The second Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit was hosted on May 30-31 in South Korea. To mark the occasion, Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities Dan Jrgensen spoke to VIRs Nguyen Thu about how P4G accelerates the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals as well as cooperation between Denmark and Vietnam in the green transition. Danish Group to invest up to 13.6 billion USD in offshore wind farm in Hai Phong Denmarks rsted Group, the world's largest corporation in the wind power industry, has proposed an offshore wind power plant in the northern port city of Hai Phong, with an estimated investment of between 11.9 billion USD to 13.6 billion USD. Danish investors pinpointing rising potential of Vietnams green energy Danish investors are eyeing sectors in Vietnam that support a green transition. Kim Hjlund Christensen, Danish Ambassador to Vietnam, told VIRs Nguyen Thu why establishment of a legal framework that allows companies to document related data can help attract high-quality investment from abroad. Dong Thap Department of Planning and Investment figures show that Dong Thap is home to 4,700 businesses, including 570 new setups and 155 businesses resuming operation in the first nine months of this year. The local business community has made significant contributions to the provinces achievements Regional GDP growth reached 9.37 per cent, setting a record for many years and placing Dong Thap sixth out of 13 localities in the Mekong Delta region. At a business gathering marking Vietnam Entrepreneur Day on October 10, Dong Thap Peoples Committee Chairman Pham Thien Nghia praised the significant contributions of the local business community to the provinces success, particularly in surmounting difficulties posed during the pandemic. Business development and startup promotion are among key strategic development breakthroughs in Dong Thap during 2021-2025. Setting up businesses as one of the motivating forces for development, the sectors and local units must be more conscientious about the business role to provincial development, striving to offer the best conditions to aid business to succeed, Nghia said. Dong Thap has also come up with practical business models and concrete actions, such as forming various support networks for businesses to provide quick and efficient support to businesses and enhancing the competitiveness of the provinces private economic sector. The province has launched a startup scheme, striving to shape the local community and evolve into a startup locality. This initiative has had huge spillover effects in the community, driving the creation of fresh speciality products, and making use of distinct local resources. The national One Commune, One Product programme has had pervasive effects and seen novel development directions for nearly 40 craft villages across the province, prompting villagers to adopt diversified production models. This, along with the strategy to stimulate a startup spirit in the young, has helped unleash resources for development, particularly in the local private sector. According to Chairman Nghia, in August the province enacted the plan for digital transformation, which he said would help resolve geographical and transportation bottlenecks, help firms save on operation costs, create new business models, and diversify output markets. Dong Thap urgently needs strong participation from the business community to boost business efficiency and spur growth, underpinning its robust and sustainable development, Nghia added. Leveraging the provinces pro-business mindset, many companies, economic organisations, and investment funds have come to the province to share novel ideas and plans for development. The ventures focus on processing fruits and agricultural products and by-products; building wholesale markets and modern agricultural distribution centres; high-tech and organic agriculture; mechanical engineering centres; agricultural and community tourism; and building high-end residential complexes. With the help of the local government, in the past five years, Dong Thap has seen more than 2,600 new businesses open, with total registered capital surpassing $558 million. In 2021 alone, 490 businesses came into being with capital value reaching $184.7 million. State management agencies at all levels in Dong Thap have constantly been improving the local business environment in recent years, particularly regarding infrastructure conditions; urban, industrial zone and cluster planning; and economic sector restructuring and labour training. All the efforts gear towards creating the best conditions for business operation and development. We are so proud that our efforts have been recognised and appreciated by the business community, attested through Dong Thaps high provincial competitiveness ranking in the past 14 years. This is a source of inspiration but also a challenge requiring us to make further endeavours to better serve businesses and society, Nghia said. Dong Thaps business friendly vow Dong Thaps position on the Provincial Competitiveness Index has been ranked among the best in Vietnam, which is creating a strong impact and a positive image for the Mekong Delta province in the eyes of investors. Dong Thap offers business prosperity Not complacent with current achievements, Dong Thaps leaders are doing their utmost to turn the Mekong Delta province into an increasingly lucrative investment destination through expediting a raft of efficient measures. Bia Saigon won in several categories at the SMARTIES Awards 2022 last week, including the bronze award for "Brand for Experience", the silver award for "Technology Experience" in Geo-Targeting, and the "Communication Impact" award for the Cross Platform category. Beer Saigon's New Year 2022 communication campaign revolved around a collection based on "Vietnamese identity," consisting of 63 cans of Saigon beer bearing the typical images of 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam, honouring the local culture, spirit of solidarity and national union. The campaign also welcomes the New Year with lots of joy and hope, bringing people closer together. The creative team at Bia Saigon has researched extensively to provide the most realistic portrayal of each region. Moreover, the team has utilised conventional Tet colours, including copper yellow, maroon, orange, blue and green, to supply an interestingly Vietnamese vibe. This is considered the most successful Tet campaign of Saigon Beer in the past five years, with growth in both brand awareness, market share and sales. Specifically, customer awareness and experience of the Bia Saigon brand increased nearly three-fold compared to the third quarter of 2021. The popularity of Saigon Beer during Tet 2022 increased by 19 per cent compared to Tet 2021, according to Household Kantar World Panel. Sales in the first quarter of 2022 increased by 42 per cent compared to the third quarter of 2021. The SMARTIES Awards were celebrated with renewed vigour and energy to recognise creativity and innovation and celebrate the future of marketing excellence. Bia Saigon won bronze through its Bia Saigon Tet 2022 campaign The interaction between people and brands has been forever changed - it is closer, personal, powerful and pervasive. And marketing and communications capabilities are about to explode further with the future of 5G, AI, and other emerging technology. Add a growing generation of 'screenagers' entering the workforce and always-connected consumers to the mix, and you have a once-in-an-era transformation in the way brands and their customers interact. The world of marketing aided by technology adoption is evolving rapidly. To keep up with the times, SMARTIES 2022 has been reshaped, reworked, and refined with an emphasis on innovations, Web 3.0, e-commerce, social, and MarTech, enabling excellence in business results and impacting human lives, according to SMARTIES Awards website Over 147 years in the beverage industry, SABECO has established itself as one of the leading corporations in Vietnam with 26 factories, 11 member trading companies and a network of hundreds of companies, and thousands of points of sale across the country. Over the years, SABECO has taken many steps to renew the brand's appearance to suit the tastes of modern consumers. In 2019, the brand identity and packaging of Bia Saigon and Bia 333 were newly designed with a more youthful and prominent style. In April this year, Bia Saigon was reborn with a new taste, packaging, and positioning to better meet the needs of consumers after more than 20 years in the market. Bia Saigon Special is particularly recognised by many Vietnamese people for its special taste and iconic packaging. From the desire to dedicate itself to raising the national brand of Vietnam worldwide, SABECO has built a sustainable development model as the focus of the groups long-term development strategy. With a commitment to Vietnam, SABECOs sustainable development model focuses on the four goals of consumption, conservation, country, and culture. As the core of the group's long-term development plan, the company has developed a sustainable development model out of the ambition to devote itself to enhancing the national brand of Vietnam globally. SABECO's sustainable development approach is committed to Vietnam and focuses on the four objectives of consumption, conservation, country, and culture. SABECO launches new VND5 billion ($217,400) promotion for Bia Saigon Special To welcome the summer and energise consumers with a positive spirit for the working days at home, SABECO launched the promotion Open Bia Saigon Special, win super-premium motorcycle with thousands of lucky opportunities waiting. Bia Saigon officially becomes diamond sponsor of SEA Games 31 Bia Saigon the leading brand of Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation (SABECO) has officially become the diamond sponsor for the 31st rendition of SEA Games to be held in Vietnam, after signing sponsorship agreements on December 3. Bia Saigon celebrates Lunar New Year with families after a year of upheaval Bia Saigon and the Communist Youth Union bring joy to workers and volunteers of the Youth Union, who volunteered in the pandemic prevention efforts in 2021. Iconic Bia Saigon Special reborn with extraordinary taste and a new look Bia Saigon, a brand local beermaker SABECO, has just launched a special event to mark the rebirth of the legendary Bia Saigon Special. The opening event kick-starts a series of activities in 2022 to bring interesting and unique experiences to consumers and beer connoisseurs. A sleek new look for Bia Saigon Special The makers of Bia Saigon, a brand from Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation (SABECO), have been seeking new ways to satisfy consumers thirst through a new look and taste. Election Day: Nov. 8, 2022 In-person early voting will start Monday and continue through Nov. 4 for the Nov. 8 midterms, and the deadline for qualified voters to request a mail-in ballot is Friday. Before heading to the polls, voters should confirm they are registered by going to votetexas.gov and clicking the Am I Registered? link. The registration deadline for this election passed on Oct. 11. 2022 midterm election Q&As The Tribune-Herald editorial board sat down with several candidates for seats in November for long-form interviews lasting an hour or more. He Registered voters who moved recently also can update their address at votetexas.gov, which may be needed if a registration status is listed as suspense. A registered voter with an out-of-date address may be limited to a provisional ballot that leaves out local races. McLennan County voters can choose to vote at any of five vote centers for in-person early voting: Robinson Community Center, 106 West Lyndale Ave. Waco Multi-Purpose Community Center, 1020 Elm Ave. First Assembly of God, 6701 Bosque Blvd. in Waco Hewitt City Hall and Library, 200 Patriot Court Records Building basement, 214 N. Fourth St., Suite 300 in Waco. Vote center hours vary by day of early voting: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, through Friday, Oct. 28 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31 through Friday, Nov. 4. Both major political parties are offering free rides to the polls. The Republican Party of McLennan County will offer rides primarily on Election Day, but also during early voting, party Chair Brad Holland said. For details or to schedule in advance, call the regular office number, 254-772-6955, or email info@mclennanrepublicans.org. The McLennan County Democratic Party will offer rides during early voting and on Election Day, party Chair Mark Hays said. To schedule in advance, call 254-749-7332. Hays said the rides will be COVID-19-safe, and everyone including the driver must wear a mask. The driver will also crack a window and take only a limited number of people, Hays said. We will also offer rides for curbside voting. All our drivers are trained for this, Hays said. We wont ask which party youre voting for. The Waco NAACP chapter also will take part in Souls to the Polls on Sunday. This is the only Sunday of early voting for this election, chapter President Peaches Henry said. In 2020, there were two Sundays of early voting, because of COVID, but thats not how it usually is. This year is back to usual. Souls to the Polls is a nationwide effort among Black churches in which congregations caravan straight from services to vote together and avoid harassment and intimidation, Henry said. Wacos Souls to the Polls effort will include a setup at Paul Quinn Campus, adjacent to the vote center at the Waco Multi-Purpose Community Center, 1020 Elm Ave. We will have a live DJ, four local food trucks, and the first 200 voters will get a free lunch at one of the food trucks, Henry said. All the political parties encourage people to bring their friends to the polls. Henry also recommends voters view a sample ballot at the county elections website, available at www.co.mclennan.tx.us/337/Elections, before heading to the polls. It can be helpful to write choices down for each race and ballot initiative on a piece of paper, Henry said. You wont be allowed to have a cellphone turned on in the vote center, she said. You will be allowed to refer to paper notes. She also said poll workers can read the ballot, but cannot make recommendations on how to vote. Bringing a book or magazine to read while standing in line is also a good idea. Texas law requires voters to present one of seven forms of photo ID to cast a ballot. For voters ages 18 to 69, IDs expired for less than four years are acceptable. For those 70 and over, any expired ID is acceptable, as long as the information on it is still correct. The approved IDs are: Texas driver license, Texas election ID certificate, Texas personal ID card, Texas handgun license, U.S. citizenship certificate with photo, U.S. Military ID, U.S. passport. For those who do not have and cannot reasonably get one of the seven approved forms of ID, the law says they can fill out a form and present an alternative document such as a voter registration certificate, a birth certificate, a current utility bill or bank statement, a government-issued check or a paycheck. For voters who want to use a mail-in ballot, eligibility requirements apply, and the application to vote by mail must be received at the county elections office by Friday. Hays said he recommends mailing it several days before, to allow time for delivery. To be eligible for a mail-in ballot, one of the following must apply: Voter is 65 years of age or older on Election Day Voter is disabled or has a sickness that prevents the voter from appearing at the polling place on Election Day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or injuring the voters health Voter is expecting to give birth within 3 weeks before or after Election Day Voter will be absent from McLennan County during early voting and Election Day. Voter must provide an out-of-county mailing address for the ballot Voter is eligible but confined in jail or through an involuntary civil commitment. The monthly NAACP meeting on Monday will explain voting by mail and other voting procedures, Henry said. The process requires voters to follow requirements carefully. Be sure to write both your driver license number and the last four of your Social Security number in the correct place on the outside of the envelope for the ballot-by-mail application, Henry said. When you seal the flap on the envelope, it will cover those numbers so no one can steal your identity. Henry also said voters should remember that anyone already in line to vote before a vote center closes, during early voting or on Election Day, can stay afterward and vote. On the ballot Some significant items on the ballot this election include congressional representatives, governor and several other statewide offices, state legislators, McLennan County district attorney, Precinct 2 county commissioner, Precinct 5 justice of the peace as well as some school district items. Texas House District 13 was recreated in the last legislative session to include East Waco, eastern McLennan County and four surrounding counties. It has no incumbent. Democratic nominee Cedric Davis faces Republican nominee Angelia Orr. In the race for western and southern McLennan Countys Texas House District 56, Republican incumbent Charles Doc Anderson, who has held the seat since 2004, faces Democratic challenger Erin Shank. In the race for McLennan County district attorney, local defense attorney Josh Tetens won the Republican primary to run against Democratic Party nominee Aubrey Robertson, who has prior experience as both a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney. Patricia Miller is the incumbent Precinct 2 McLennan County commissioner and the Democratic Party nominee to face Republican Party challenger Donis D.L. Wilson. Judge Fernando Villarreal will soon retire as justice of the peace for Precinct 5, and in the race to succeed him, Republican Party nominee and business owner Jessica R. Dominguez faces Democratic Party nominee and Beverly Hills Mayor Lucyann Sanchez-Miramontez. Cotton Palace Park meeting The city of Waco will have a public meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday to discuss ongoing master planning efforts for the future of Cotton Palace Park. The meeting will take place at South Waco Community Center, 2815 Speight Ave. Topics will include an overview of the parks context, history and use; review of project goals and public feedback to-date; and visuals of potential improvements. Representatives from Waco Parks and Recreation and members of the consultant team led by Walker Partners will be available to answer questions and collect community feedback. Crape myrtle seedlings Waco Friends of the Climate will distribute 400 free crape myrtle seedlings at the Waco Downtown Waco Farmers Market, 500 Washington Ave., on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until all trees are distributed. The trees are the Biloxi variant with pale pink flowers and will grow up to 30 feet high. For more information, email anorthc@aol.com. CRC program Thursday The Community Race Relations Coalition will host its quarterly program Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at St. Albans Episcopal Church parish hall, 305 N. 30th Street. Dinner is provided, followed by a program with a four-member panel addressing Perspectives on Hate, including how we learn hate, experiences caused by hate, internalized racism (where the hate turns inward) and how we can battle the us against them attitude within ourselves. Reservations are required by calling or texting 254-717-7903 or emailing crrcwaco@gmail.com. Trunk or treat Bledsoe-Miller and Dewey Community centers host a trunk or treat event from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the City of Waco Multi-Purpose Facility, 1020 Elm Ave. Wear your favorite costume, bring a bag to store all your goodies, and enjoy an evening of family-friendly fun. Admission is free. For information, call Bledsoe-Miller at 254-750-8684 or Dewey at 254-750-8677. Medicare education class The Heart of Texas Agency on Aging is hosting an informal question and answer session on Medicare Wednesday at the Heart of Texas Council of Governments office, 1514 S. New Road. Experts will be available to answer all Medicare questions. There are no sales pitches. The session is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Lions Club pancake supper Waco Founder Lions Clubs fall pancake supper is Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Waco Lions Den, 1716 N. 42nd St. Cost is $10 per plate. A recommendation by a federal advisory panel that the COVID-19 vaccine be included in next years list of recommended vaccines for kids does not mean children would have to get the shots to attend school, Nebraskas chief medical officer said. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices voted Thursday to recommend that the vaccines be included in the 2023 immunization schedule and in the Vaccines for Children program, a program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated. Dr. Gary Anthone said in a statement issued Thursday by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services that the CDC still must approve both recommendations, which it has not yet done. Even if the agency approves the recommendations, Nebraska will not require a child to get vaccinated for COVID-19 to attend school, he said. The State of Nebraska establishes vaccine requirements, not ACIP or CDC, Anthone said in the statement. The CDC, too, clarified in a statement Thursday that the agency only makes recommendations for use of vaccines, while school-entry vaccination requirements are determined by state or local jurisdictions. A spokesman for the Nebraska health agency said staff there had received some calls from concerned parents regarding the recommendation. On Tuesday, Fox News host Tucker Carlson erroneously claimed on Twitter that the CDC was set to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for children. If the CDC adopts the advisory committees recommendations, Anthone said, it would put the COVID-19 vaccine in the same category as flu shots and HPV vaccines. Those vaccines are recommended for kids but are not required by many schools. I encourage parents to consult with their childs physician regarding the benefits of receiving the vaccine as they make their own decisions, Anthone said. This report contains material from the Associated Press. The NASA team will evaluate unidentified aerial phenomena reports, how data is acquired, and create a plan for how NASA can analyze this moving forward. In the interest of national security, NASA has announced that it would support a group of experts to explore "unidentified aerial phenomena," or UFOs. NASA has chosen 16 people to participate in the long-awaited research of unexplained aerial phenomenon, or UAP. These unexplained flying objects are most often referred to as UFOs. Because UFOs have recently been dubbed "unexplained aerial phenomena," the space agency announced in June that it had commissioned a committee to investigate UFOs, the original term of the phenomenon. NASA officials said that the independent study would begin in the fall, cost less than $100,000, and take around nine months to complete from start to finish. According to NASA spokespeople, the inquiry will begin on Monday, and the team will spend the following nine months examining earlier sightings and determining methods to analyze data on future occurrences. The study's goal is not to confirm the reality of stories of UFO sightings; instead, it will pave the way for future occurrences to determine what observations will be necessary to get a better knowledge of the phenomena. Subscribe 100% Free to Wall Street Rebel.com and receive access to investment tools worth $17,500! The inquiry, set to begin on October 24, will provide the groundwork for future research into unexplained aerial phenomena (UAPs), which are observed in the sky but cannot be linked to natural occurrences or aircraft. This project will last nine months, focus only on unclassified data, explore how data is gathered, and provide suggestions on how NASA should analyze data in the future. The results will be made accessible to the general public by the middle of 2023. The organization comprises experts in a broad range of subjects, including technology, observation, and aviation research. The team is led by David Spergel, an astronomer who made a name for himself as a co-leader of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe and the current president of the scientific philanthropic organization the Simons Foundation. He is the one who gathered the team. Mike Gold, a former NASA official, is also a team member. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, Gold helped draft the Artemis Accords, which have institutionalized the behavioral rules for space, and he aided in gaining the required accords for NASA's long-awaited lunar Gateway. The Artemis Accords are the papers that established space-based behavioral guidelines. Even if entirely natural, undiscovered airborne phenomena might pose a hazard to airplanes in theory. After all, the spirit of discovery and adventure is central to the aim. However, NASA's primary emphasis is not on the hunt for life on other planets but on improving flight safety. "Exploring the unknown in space and the atmosphere is at the heart of who we are at NASA," says Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "It is critical that we have a good comprehension of the facts surrounding our mystery aerial phenomena to come to scientific conclusions regarding what is going on in our sky. Data is the language of scientists and aids in understanding events that previously eluded explanation. "The sixteen investigators come from a variety of specialties, including journalism, astronomy, oceanography, computer science, and others. Former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly will also be among the group of qualified professionals. Kelly was an Orbit Shuttle Discovery pilot who held the record for the most time spent in space overall at one point. "NASA has assembled some of the world's finest scientists, data and artificial intelligence practitioners, and aerospace safety specialists," Evans said. "NASA has assembled some of the world's top scientists, data scientists, artificial intelligence practitioners, and aerospace safety specialists." The findings will be made accessible to the public in line with NASA's core principles of transparency, openness, and scientific integrity. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) believes that investigating unexplained flying objects is vital to guarantee both aviation safety and national security. According to the CIA, if they do not have access to the relevant data, validating a sighting and determining what is creating the mystery would be very difficult, if not impossible. The independent group is simply one component of a number of ongoing missions that are working hard to find signs of life elsewhere in the universe. The members of NASA's independent study team on unidentified aerial phenomena are: David Spergel was selected to chair NASA's independent study on unidentified aerial phenomena. He is the president of the Simons Foundation, where he was the founding director of its Flatiron Institute for Computational Astrophysics. His interests range from searching for planets and nearby stars to the universe's shape. He has measured the universe's age, shape, and composition and played a key role in establishing the standard model of cosmology. A MacArthur "Genius" Fellow, Spergel has been cited more than 100,000 times in publications. Anamaria Berea is an associate professor of Computational and Data Science at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She is a research affiliate with the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California, and a research investigator with the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science in Seattle. Her research focuses on the emergence of communication in complex living systems and on data science applications in astrobiology, for the science of biosignatures and technosignatures. She uses a wide range of computational methods to uncover fundamental patterns in the data. Federica Bianco is a joint professor at the University of Delaware in the Department of Physics and Astrophysics, the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration, and a Senior Scientist at the Multi-city Urban Observatory. She is a cross-disciplinary scientist focusing on using data science to study the universe and find solutions to urban-based problems on Earth. She is Deputy Project Scientist for the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which in 2023 will start the Legacy Survey of Space and Time to study the night sky in the southern hemisphere and discover new galaxies and stars. She has been published in more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and received the Department of Energy's "Innovative Development in Energy-Related Applied Science" grant. Paula Bontempi has been a biological oceanographer for more than 25 years. She is the sixth dean and the second woman to lead the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island (URI). She is also a professor of oceanography at URI. She spent eighteen years at NASA and was appointed acting deputy director of NASA's Earth Science Division for the Science Mission Directorate. She also led NASA's research on ocean biology, biogeochemistry, the carbon cycle and ecosystems, as well as many NASA Earth observing satellite missions in marine science. She is a fellow of The Oceanography Society. Reggie Brothers is the operating partner at A.E. Industrial Partners in Boca Raton, Florida. He previously served as CEO and board member of BigBear.ai in Columbia, Maryland. Brothers also was the executive vice president and chief technology officer of Peraton, as well as a principal with the Chertoff Group. Prior to his time in the private sector, he served as the undersecretary for Science and Technology at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research at the Department of Defense. Brothers is also a Distinguished Fellow at Georgetown's Center for Security and Emerging Technology, and he is a member of the Visiting Committee for Sponsored Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Jen Buss is the CEO of the Potomac Institute of Policy Studies in Arlington, Virginia. She is nationally recognized as an authority in her field for science and technology trends analysis and policy solutions. Before becoming CEO, Buss worked extensively with NASA to explore policy issues and strategic planning processes for astronaut medical care, cancer diagnostics, and therapeutics. Nadia Drake is a freelance science journalist and contributing writer at National Geographic. She also regularly writes for Scientific American and specializes in covering astronomy, astrophysics, planetary sciences, and jungles. She has won journalism awards for her work in National Geographic, including the David N. Schramm Award from the High Energy Astrophysics Division of the American Astronomical Society and the Jonathan Eberhart award from the AAS Division of Planetary Sciences. Drake holds a doctorate in genetics from Cornell University. Mike Gold is the executive vice president of Civil Space and External Affairs at Redwire in Jacksonville, Florida. Prior to Redwire, Gold held multiple leadership roles at NASA, including associate administrator for Space Policy and Partnerships, acting associate administrator for the Office of International and Interagency Relations and senior advisor to the Administrator for International and Legal Affairs. He led NASA, jointly with the Department of State, in creating and executing the Artemis Accords, which established the norms of behavior in space. He also led the negotiation and adoption of binding international agreements for the lunar Gateway, the creation of new planetary protocols and the first purchase by NASA of a lunar resource. Gold was awarded NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal for his work in 2020. Gold was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to serve as Chair of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee from 2012 until he joined NASA in 2019. David Grinspoon is a senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute in Tuscon, Arizona, and serves as a frequent advisor to NASA on space exploration. He is on science teams for several interplanetary spacecraft missions, including the DAVINCI mission to Venus. He is the former inaugural Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology. His research focuses on comparative planetology, especially regarding climate evolution and the implications of habitability on earth-like planets. The American Astronomical Society awarded him the Carl Sagan Medal, and he was an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is also an adjunct professor of Astrophysical and Planetary Science at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado and Georgetown University in Washington. Scott Kelly is a former NASA astronaut, test pilot, fighter pilot, and retired U.S. Navy captain. He commanded the International Space Station Expeditions 26, 45, and 46. He was also the pilot of Space Shuttle Discovery for the third Hubble Servicing Mission. He was selected for a year-long mission to the space station, where he set the record at the time for the total accumulated number of days spent in space. Before NASA, Kelly was the first pilot to fly the F-14 with a new digital flight control system. He flew the F-14 Tomcat in fighter squadron VF-143 aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. He is a two-time New York Times bestselling author and was recognized by Time magazine in 2015 as one of the most influential people in the world. Matt Mountain is the president of The Association of Universities for Research and Astronomy, known as AURA. At AURA, Mountain oversees a consortium of 44 universities nationwide and four international affiliates that help NASA and the National Science Foundation build and operate observatories, including NASA's Hubble Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope. He also serves as a telescope scientist for Webb and is a member of its Science Working Group. He is the former director of The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore and the International Gemini Observatory in Hilo, Hawaii. Warren Randolph is the deputy executive director of the Federal Aviation Administration's Accident Investigation and Prevention for Aviation Safety department. He has an extensive background in aviation safety at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is currently responsible for setting and implementing safety management system principles and using data to inform the assessment of future hazards and emerging safety risks. Prior to the FAA, Randolph served as an aerodynamicist for the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Air Force for multiple flight simulations. Walter Scott is the executive vice president and chief technology officer of Maxar in Westminster, Colorado, a space technology company that specializes in earth intelligence and space infrastructure. In 1992, he founded DigitalGlobe, which became part of Maxar in 2017. He has held leadership positions at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California, and was the president of Scott Consulting. In 2021, he was inducted into the David W. Thompson Lecture in Space Commerce by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Joshua Semeter is a professor of electrical and computer engineering as well as the director of the Center for Space Physics at Boston University. At Boston University, he researches interactions between Earth's ionosphere and the space environment. Activities in Semeter's lab include the development of optical and magnetic sensor technologies, radar experiment design and signal processing, and the application of tomographic and other inversion techniques to the analysis of distributed, multi-mode measurements of the space environment. Karlin Toner is the acting executive director of the FAA's Office of Aviation Policy and Plans. Previously, she served as the director of the FAA's global strategy, leading the FAA's international strategy and managing threats to international civil aviation. Prior to the FAA, Toner served at NASA in multiple leadership positions, including director of the Airspace Systems Program at NASA Headquarters. She is a NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal recipient and is an associate fellow for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Shelley Wright is an associate professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego's Center for Astrophysics and Space Studies. She is a Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) researcher and instrumentalist. She specializes in galaxies, supermassive black holes and building optical and infrared instruments for telescopes using adaptive optics such as integral field spectrographs. She is also the principal investigator for the U.C. San Diego Optical Infrared Laboratory. Previously, she was an assistant professor at the University of Toronto's Dunlap Institute. Subscribe 100% Free to Wall Street Rebel.com and receive access to investment tools worth $17,500! 'I am significantly intrigued': Harvard professor on UFO sighting study | NewsNation Prime To me it is vital to harp on the way that Ukraine was allowed by Russia to keep its lights, web, and rail framework all working, since early this year when Russia said enough lies and games. This has been all the while that the Western Media of lies claims a ruthless, evil, barbaric and ridiculous assault by Orcs from Russia If you are in the west? (Chorus) Tell Me Lies, tell me sweet little lies (Tell Me Lies, Tell me tell me lies) Oh no no, you cant disguise (You cant disguise, no you cant disguise) Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies WtR Briefing on radiation security threats by the chief of nuclear, biological and chemical protection troops Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov October 24, 2022 The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation has information about Kiev regimes planning to commit a provocation by exploding the so-called dirty bomb or low-power nuclear warhead. The provocation is aimed at accusing Russia of using mass destruction weapon at the Ukrainian theatre of operations that would launch a powerful anti-Russian campaign in order to undermine the confidence in Moscow. It is to be recalled that the President Zelensky announced his intention to re-establish Ukraine as a nuclear-armed State at the Munich Security Conference dated 19 February 2022. It should also be noted that President Zelensky has repeatedly called on NATO countries to launch a strike at the Russian Federation since the beginning of the special military operation. What does NATO have to do? We need pre-emptive strikes, so that theyll know what will happen to them if they use (nukes). And not the other way around, dont wait for Russias nuclear strikes Recently, in an interview to Canadian TV channels on 22 October, Zelensky urged the world to strike Kremlin if Russia launches attacks at the decision-making centres in Bankovaya street where the Office of the President of Ukraine is located. We would like to recall the possibility of a complicated radiation situation that can evolve around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, the largest nuclear plant in Europe. From 24 February until now, the territory of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant has suffered 39 fire attacks launched by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), including 10 launched by unmanned aerial vehicles and 29 by various artillery systems. The attacks launched by the AFU at the plant did not cause any anxiety of the world community as, according to various U.S. experts, an impact of large-calibre artillery shells to spent nuclear fuel containers will not cause a considerable risk, and the nuclear reactors are resistible to a civilian airplane crash. However, the forecast of our experts about the radiation situations development furtherly confirmed by relevant European scientific organisations has shown that the release of radioactive substances will affect almost whole Europe. Moreover, despite the visit of the IAEA Director General R. Grossi, the AFU have not abandoned their attempts to carry out a subversive operation to capture the plant. On 1, 15, 30 September and 17 October, special units of the AFU attempted to land their forces through the Kakhovka reservoir and to take the nuclear power plant under control. According to the available information, two organisations of Ukraine have been directly ordered to create the so-called dirty bomb. The works are at their concluding stage. Moreover, we have information about contacts between the Office of the President of Ukraine and representatives of the United Kingdom regarding the possible reception of technologies to create nuclear weapons. With this purpose, Ukraine has got relevant production and scientific capacities. There are enterprises of nuclear industry in Ukraine that possess stockpiles of radioactive substances that can be used for creating the dirty bomb. These concern three operating nuclear power plants: the Yuzhnoukrainsk, Khmelnitsky and Rovno nuclear power plants with nine storage pools for spent nuclear fuel that contain up to 1.5 thousand tonnes of uranium enriched with up to 1.5% of oxide. Over 22,000 fuel assemblies (21,284 and 1,692 respectively) are stored at the inoperable Chernobyl nuclear power plant with radioactive waste repositories, as well as products that suppose using Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239 that constitute the backbone of a nuclear charge. More than 50,000 m of radioactive waste that are also apt as the backbone for creating the dirty bomb can be stored at the recently established enterprise Vektor designed for radioactive waste reprocessing at the radioactive waste disposal sites Buryakovka, Podlesny, and Rossokha at Pridneprovsky chemical plant. Moreover, the Eastern Mining and Processing Plant extracts uranium ore at two of the three shafts with a capacity of up to 1,000 tonnes per year (the plant includes three shafts for extracting uranium ore, two of them Ingulskaya and Smolinskaya are operable, while one of them Novokonstantinovskaya is currently under construction). It is also to be emphasised that Ukraine has at its disposal a scientific base: the Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology. Its scientists were involved in the nuclear programme of the USSR where various testing systems are still in operation, including Uragan thermonuclear systems. The second base is the Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine located in Kiev. Its BBP-M reactor is used for research that supposes the employment of high-activity radioactive materials. I want to recall that the dirty bomb constitutes a container with radioactive isotopes and explosive charge. In case of exploding the charge, the container is to be destroyed, and the radioactive substance is to be pulverised by a blast wave that produces radioactive contamination at large areas, and can cause a radiation morbidity. Uranium oxide that forms part of spent fuel elements stored at spent nuclear fuel and storage pools of nuclear power plants can be used as the radioactive substance. Moreover, it concerns the radioactive substances derived from the spent nuclear fuel storages of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The Kiev regime plans to camouflage the explosion of this kind of ordnance under an extraordinary effect of Russian low-power nuclear warhead that contains highly enriched uranium in its charge. The presence of radioactive isotopes in the air will be recorded by the sensors of the International Monitoring System installed in Europe with further accusation of the Russian Federation of using tactical nuclear weapons. It is to be noted that this kind of information warfare technologies have already been used by the West in Syria when the White Helmets were filming propaganda footage about the employment of chemical weapons by the governmental forces there. One of the most resonant and widely distributed episodes is the provocation committed by the abovementioned non-governmental organisation and their patrons on 4 April 2017 in Khan Sheikhoun. Pay attention to the picture where the people who are taking samples of soil have no individual protection means. But it does not seem to bother anyone! Especially those who took the decision to launch a missile strike at the territory of the sovereign country. Using this provocation as a pretext, the Americans launched the missile strike at Shayrat airbase without waiting for an investigation to begin and, all the more, a decision of the UN Security Council, grossly violating the international law. This scenario is highly probable to be used in this case, too. Detonation of a radiological explosive device will inevitably lead to radiological contamination covering up to several thousands of square metres. To summarise, Ukraine has got a motive to use the dirty bomb, as well as scientific, technical and production capacities to create it. Ukraine expects dirty-bomb provocation to intimidate the population, increase the flow of refugees, and accuse the Russian Federation of nuclear terrorism. The Ministry of Defence has arranged for countering possible provocations of Ukraine: the means and forces are alerted to operate amid radioactive contamination. MoD WtR In Kherson, they announced the creation of a local Territorial Defense, where those who wish are invited to join. A set of territorial defense from the locals tells you that they are not going to leave Kherson, Russia and instead fight for their new found home They will fight alongside the Russian Army Just hope they know when to get out? Ukraine and NATO are making a last hurrah at Kherson WtR Commentary by M.V. Zakharova in connection with the US refusal to issue visas to the Russian delegation to the IAEA International Ministerial Conference Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century The United States again showed duplicity and demonstrated arrogant disregard for the principles of work of international organizations, which provide for non-discriminatory and equal partnership of their participants. The United States never issued visas to the Russian delegates despite the fact that the relevant applications were submitted by them in advance in the prescribed manner. The norms enshrined in the Agreement between the IAEA and the state hosting the event under the auspices of the Agency, with obligations to provide the necessary conditions for participation in meetings convened in accordance with the Agencys mandate, have been grossly violated. WtR Translated from a piece being shared among Russians. To better understand whom they are against The whole civilized world: all the colonies of the USA. Global civilizational values: conditions of vassalage under US sovereignty. Democracy: the power of the Anglo-Saxons over the people. We have a democracy: we Anglo-Saxons have all the power. You dont have democracy: you have something that the Anglo-Saxons consider their own. You have totalitarianism: you have something that the Anglo-Saxons consider their own and you dont want to give it to them. You are violating human rights: you are violating the rights of the Anglo-Saxons to take away from you whatever they like. We are fighting for human rights: we are fighting for the rights of the Anglo-Saxons to kill those who do not want to give them something. We have freedom of speech: we can only say what is approved by the US State Department. You do not have freedom of speech: you allow yourself too much of what the US State Department does not approve of. Russia threatens the entire civilized community: for some reason Russia does not want to be a colony of the USA. The whole civilized world is against Russia: all the colonies of the USA are against Russia. Our actions are not directed against Russia: it is against Russia that all our actions are directed. We support the struggle for human rights in Russia: we support the destruction of Russians by all available means. We are concerned about human rights in Russia: we are concerned that the destruction of Russians is not proceeding at an adequate pace. Russian propaganda lies: the Anglo-Saxons lie and do not blush. Very Good WtR 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 today with gusty winds, colder temperatures, and chances for snow showers. Highest snow potential will be in the Warner mountains, Surprise Valley and northern Washoe County (60% chance of 1 to 2 inches) with lesser potential as the storm slides southward across the Interstate 80 corridor (50% chance of a dusting). 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 to 70+ mph. Plan on impacts to activities in the backcountry and on area lakes as well as turbulence for aviators. Latest guidance continues to point to a couple of more impactful storms Thursday through next weekend. These storms will be capable of producing strong winds and more significant snowfall accumulations, with some snow even down in the valleys. Stay tuned in to the latest forecasts this week as travel could become difficult, especially in the Sierra and northeast California. James Schwabel / Alamy Stock Photo Day 2: Sturgeon Bay to Sister Bay (41 miles) Continuing along Doors bayside, State Highway 42 and smaller tributary lanes string together a series of small towns, beginning with Egg Harbor, roughly 17 miles north of Sturgeon Bay. There, the intriguing gift shop Chief Oshkosh Native American Arts sells local and Indigenous crafts (various Native American tribes inhabited this land long before European settlers arrived). If you need a bite to eat, drop into MacReady Artisan Breads for a loaf studded with Door County cherries, or stay for a Wisconsin cranberry chicken salad on homemade French bread. About 7 miles north, Fish Creek, an original timber and fishing settlement, is another walkable town (most are invitingly level) with a bustling marina and shop-lined main street. Take in a guided tour of the Alexander Noble House Museum, an 1875 Greek Revival farmhouse (the main floor is accessible to those in wheelchairs and walkers, but not the second). There you can pick up a copy of a self-guided tour to more than 20 historic buildings in town (theres also a free audio tour). The artistic seat of Door County, Fish Creek is home to several cultural attractions, including the popular Peninsula Players Theatre, where an 87-year-old professional company performs June through October (with wheelchair-accessible seating). Next, spend some time in neighboring Peninsula State Park, a nearly 3,800-acre knob of forest edged in limestone cliffs. Stop to snap a photo of the 1868 Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. From the popular 60-foot-high Eagle Tower, spy panoramic views of the surrounding waterfront and smell the sun-warmed pines; climb 100 steps or take an 850-foot accessible walk that winds its way up at an angle of 5 percent or less, with benches for resting along the way. On the parks north side, in Ephraim, grab a root beer float (the sodas home-brewed) at the 1906 favorite Wilsons Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor, and take it five blocks north to the Anderson Dock, a landmark boathouse graffitied by sailors and tourists since the 19th century. Catch sunset with a stroll or a sit along the 1,900 feet of public waterfront at neighboring Sister Bay, then return to Fish Creek for a fish-boil dinner. Such feasts are a local tradition dating back to the late 19th century, when fish and potatoes were boiled in a vat to feed large numbers of Scandinavian immigrant workers. Watching the flames and the signature boilover of water into them has long entertained diners at the 1896-vintage White Gull Inn. Where to stay: The Dorr, a 47-room hotel in Sister Bay, draws on the regions Nordic heritage with bright minimalist interiors and wood finishes (ADA-compliant rooms are available). Welcoming Adirondack chairs ring firepits on the front lawn seasonally. by Dana Halawi BEIRUT, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sawsan al-Qadi, a housewife living in Lebanon's eastern town of Rashaya al-Wadi, fears that her children's school would fail to secure sufficient heating fuel to keep kids warm this winter. "I am anxious about sending my children to school in the cold weather in the absence of proper heating devices, especially after discovering cases of Cholera in the country," al-Qadi told Xinhua. Al-Qadi said she bought her kids woolen clothes, but they are not enough to keep them warm in the freezing winter. Attending schools will be a daunting task for Lebanese schoolchildren this year in light of the remarkable increase in prices of diesel used to operate heating devices after the government removed subsidies on fuel amid the steep financial crisis. "I will probably not send my son to school during icy days as his school informed parents that they were able to secure 10 percent only of the school's need for diesel," said Elham Abdelhak, another resident of Rashaya al-Wadi. Abdelhak noted that this quantity is sufficient to operate the school's heating devices for only one month. Jihan al-Khatib, director at Mimas intermediate public school in Lebanon's southern town of Hasbaya, told Xinhua that schools in mountainous areas face the greatest challenge of equipping classrooms with heating service given the increase in diesel prices to 26 U.S. dollars (1,040,000 Lebanese pounds) for 20 liters. Al-Khatib noted that a school with ten classrooms needs around 60 liters of diesel for daily heating, priced at approximately 80 U.S. dollars, equivalent to about 3.2 million Lebanese pounds. "This amount of money is not affordable for schools, and we do not know how to secure it," she explained. She added that her school received some funds from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). However, they can barely cover a few of the school's expenses. Hassan Mrad, head of the parliamentary education committee, told Xinhua that schools in mountainous areas suffer from a bitter reality this year as the temperature in these areas drops below zero in light of their inability to purchase diesel for diesel heating. "Despite all efforts, fuel will likely remain a significant challenge this school year. UNICEF is liaising closely with MEHE (Ministry of Education and Higher Education) and other partners to identify options to ensure schools can function," UNICEF said. New Copper Zone Intersected at the Ngami Copper Project Sydney, Oct 24, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cobre Limited ( ASX:CBE ) is pleased to announce results from its first diamond drill hole into a new set of exploration targets in the vicinity of the recent Comet Target on Kalahari Metals Limited's (KML) NCP licenses (Refer Figure 1*). Drill hole NCP21 intersected a 12m zone of anomalous copper mineralisation consisting of chrysocolla and fine-grained chalcocite which occurs from 117 - 129m downhole. The hole was designed to test a TerraleachTM partial digest soil anomaly which occurs in proximity to a compelling structural jog and large demagnetised zone identified in high-resolution magnetic data (Refer Figure 2*). Commenting on the intersection of this new copper zone, Executive Chairman and Managing Director, Martin Holland, said: "Intersecting further copper mineralisation at a distinct new target (Nova), 10km away from current drilling at Comet, is a significant exploration milestone that validates the Company's targeting strategy and methodology. In particular, the identification of anomalous copper mineralisation at the Nova Target represents an important indicator of the significant scale opportunity unfolding in this exciting new copper district. Cobre's current focus on exploration at NCP is based on the potential we see for the expansion of our footprint in this highly prospective district as we continue to unlock multiple distinct copper targets. We are currently undertaking a diamond drilling program to infill higher-grade portions of our Comet Target, with a second drill rig secured to test the extent of mineralisation at the newly identified Nova Target before moving onto additional new targets in the vicinity. In addition to our ongoing drill programme at NCP, an extensive soil sampling programme on the neighbouring ~2,000 km2 Kitlanya West Project is nearing completion. This data will be used to prioritise additional new targets for our 2023 exploration campaign as we endeavour to unlock a potential new copper district in Botswana." The demagnetised zone is potentially indicative of hydrothermal alteration associated with the mineralising event, providing support for a larger scale target. Further drilling is planned to test the extent of mineralisation across this newly identified Nova Target. Importantly, Nova is located only 10km along strike from ongoing drilling at Comet demonstrating the potential for multiple,structurally controlled copper deposits within the NCP project area. To date, results from 55% of the ~5,000 samples submitted for partial-digest, low detection limit assays have been received with the remaining results expected by the end of November. These results will be combined with an additional ~8,500 samples from the Company's neighbouring Kitlanya West Project to assist with prioritisation of further targets across this extensive emerging copper district. Ngami Copper Project Exploration The drill programme at NCP has been designed to intersect sedimentary-hosted, structurally controlled, copper-silver (Cu-Ag) mineralisation associated with the redox contact between oxidised Ngwako Pan Formation red beds and overlying reduced marine sedimentary rocks of the D'Kar Formation on the dipping limbs of anticline structures. Mineralisation intersected at NCP appears to follow the general pattern observed in the prospective north-eastern KCB, where high-grade copper deposits are surrounded by anomalous copper halos which may extend over 2 to 5 km, separated by long-tracts of low-grade background mineralisation which is pervasive along the redox contact. Locally, Cu-Ag mineralisation is concentrated structurally, resulting in a variability in grade and intersection widths, with higher grade zones associated with dilatational trap-sites. Target generation at NCP has relied on litho-structural interpretation of high-resolution magnetic data combined with soil sampling. Significant Cu-Ag intersections at Comet have demonstrated the existence of an active mineralising system in this relatively unexplored portion of the KCB. The recent Cu intersection at Nova highlights the effectiveness of our current exploration strategy and methodology despite the relatively thick (70 - 90m) Kalahari Group cover in the area. Nova Target The new Nova target is defined by a zone of demagnetisation with anomalous TerraleachTM samples occurring in proximity to a distinct structural jog along the Ngwako Pan - D'Kar Formation contact and in proximity to an interesting ENE trending fault which appears to bound the demagnetised zone. Drill hole NCP21 has intersected 93m of Kalahari Group cover underlain by a series of coarsening upward sedimentary cycles of lower D'Kar Formation. Notable copper mineralisation (confirmed by pXRF measurements), consisting of chrysocolla and fine-grained chalcocite (Refer Figure 3*), is hosted in the lowermost siltstone above the Ngwako Pan Formation contact which occurs at 131m downhole. Importantly, post-mineralisation faulting appears to have removed the lowermost portion of D'Kar Formation stratigraphy, suggesting the higher-grade portion of mineralisation may have been displaced locally. *To view tables and figures, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/9G0I9A06 About Cobre Limited Cobre Limited (ASX:CBE) is a copper and base-metals explorer with projects in Western Australia and Botswana. The Company recently discovered a new high-grade VMS deposit enriched in Copper, Gold, Zinc and Silver in Western Australia, and is currently exploring approximately 8,100 km2 of tenements within the Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB) in Botswana. Distribution of company announcements to the professional platforms, finance portals and syndication of important corporate news to a wide variety of news aggregators and financial news systems. loading......... Malibu, CA, Oct 24, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Join Ellis Martin for a conversation with Jordan Trimble, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Skyharbour Resources Ltd ( CVE:SYH ) ( SYHBF:OTCMKTS ) a preeminent uranium and thorium exploration Company with projects located in the prolific Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan, Canada. In this segment Mr. Trimble reviews the macroeconomics of the current uranium market and the company's latest partner project news. Skyharbour Resources announced that it has entered into an option agreement (the "Option Agreement" or the "Agreement"), dated October 19th, 2022, with Tisdale Clean Energy Corp. ("Tisdale"), which provides Tisdale with an earn-in option to acquire an initial 51% interest and up to a 75% interest in the South Falcon East Property located in the Athabasca Basin in Northern Saskatchewan (the "Property"). The Property consists of a series of mineral claims totaling 12,464 hectares and is a portion of the Company's existing South Falcon Point Project. Skyharbour will retain a minority interest in the Property assuming the earn-in is completed as well as a 100% interest in the remaining and adjacent 32,006 hectare South Falcon Point Project and its management team as they advance the South Falcon East Project over the coming years with a substantial amount of exploration planned and significant cash and share payments to Skyharbour. Assuming the option earn-in is completed, Skyharbour will retain a minority interest in the project as well as an NSR while maintaining a 100% interest in the surrounding claims. News will be forthcoming on exploration plans at the Property and will complement our aggressive drill campaign forthcoming at Russell Lake as well as those at various other partner-funded projects in our portfolio." To Listen to the Interview, please visit: https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/2047XI5N About Skyharbour Resources Ltd. Skyharbour Resources (CVE:SYH) (OTCMKTS:SYHBF) holds an extensive portfolio of uranium and thorium exploration projects in Canada's Athabasca Basin and is well positioned to benefit from improving uranium market fundamentals with six drill-ready projects. In July 2016, Skyharbour acquired an option from Denison Mines, a large strategic shareholder of the Company, to acquire 100% of the Moore Uranium Project which is located approximately 15 kilometres east of Denison's Wheeler River project and 39 kilometres south of Cameco's McArthur River uranium mine. Moore is an advanced stage uranium exploration project with high grade uranium mineralization at the Maverick Zone. Drill results have returned up to 6.0% U3O8 over 5.9 metres, including 20.8% U3O8 over 1.5 metres at a vertical depth of 265 metres. Skyharbour has signed option agreements with Orano Canada Inc. and Azincourt Energy whereby Orano and Azincourt can earn in up to 70% of specific segments of the Preston Project through a combined $9,800,000 in total exploration expenditures, as well as $1,700,000 in total cash payments and Azincourt shares. Preston is a large, geologically prospective property proximal to Fission Uranium's Triple R deposit as well as NexGen Energy's Arrow deposit. The Company also owns a 100% interest in the Falcon Point Uranium Project which hosts a high-grade surface showing with up to 68% U3O8 in grab samples from a massive pitchblende vein, the source of which has yet to be discovered. The Company's 100% owned Mann Lake Uranium project on the east side of the Basin is strategically located adjacent to the Mann Lake Joint Venture operated by Cameco, where high-grade uranium mineralization has been identified. Skyharbour's goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal An 18-year-old Taos High School student has been charged with eight counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after hosting the house party that deputies say was attended by several of the teenagers who were in a fatal crash early Sunday morning. One girl was killed and six others were injured three critically. Saturday was the night of Taos High Schools homecoming dance and all the teenagers in the car were students, according to the superintendent. They have not been publicly identified. Haley Martinez was booked into jail and then released Monday following her first appearance in court. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor is a fourth degree felony. Her attorney, John Day, said his office is still investigating and it was too soon for him to comment on the case. News of the crash spread throughout the state on social media, with everyone from local restaurants to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to the states Republican Party offering condolences and calling the event heartbreaking. In a letter to the Taos Municipal Schools community, interim Superintendent Valerie Trujillo said hearts are broken over the tragic crash. As we send our thoughts, prayers, and condolences to the families of the student we lost and to the students who were seriously injured, we will make every effort to provide support services for our students and staff who need grief counseling throughout this week, Trujillo wrote. Through our tears, we as a community will work to grow stronger as a result of this incredible tragedy. A little before 2 a.m. on Sunday, Taos County deputies and emergency personnel were dispatched to a single vehicle rollover on Los Cordovas near State Road 240. When they arrived they found a silver Jeep Patriot had flipped over with seven teenagers inside. In a news release, Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe said one girl was partially ejected from the vehicle and trapped and died at the scene. He said the other teenagers were taken to Holy Cross Hospital. From there three including the driver were flown to the University of New Mexico Hospital with critical injuries. Seatbelts did not appear to have been worn by the occupants and excessive speed and alcohol use is suspected, Hogrefe said. As deputies investigated the crash they learned of a house party that had been held a little over a mile away. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, a woman reported her teenage son had called her and said he was going to get a ride home from a friend and then she didnt hear from him again. She said the 16-year-old seemed to be highly intoxicated and said he didnt know where he was. The woman headed to the area where her son said he was and deputies did, too. Thats when they were pointed in the direction of Martinezs house party. When deputes arrived at her house they said they found numerous containers of alcoholic beverages, such as beer cans and empty containers of liquor spread throughout the yard, as well as a large number of red plastic cups (commonly known to be used to hold alcoholic beverages). A female was cleaning up the yard and seven other teenagers ages 15 to 17 were still at the house as well, according to the complaint. Those seven, along with the boy whose mom had been looking for him, are listed in the criminal complaint as the minors Martinez is alleged to have contributed to the delinquency of. Haley did admit to having a party at her house but told me she did not supply the alcohol, the deputy wrote in the complaint. However, she said she was aware of them drinking. She said she had even made arrangements for the individuals who had left to have DD (designated driver). When the deputy spoke to the boy whose mom had been looking for him, he told them that he had been at Martinezs house since about 10:30 and had drunk alcohol from coolers that were set up by a gazebo. He didnt know who provided the alcohol. (The boy) told me he was so intoxicated he did not remember some of the events which had occurred, the deputy wrote in the complaint. He also told me he had seen several of the occupants from the fatal crash at this same party, and he also saw some of them drinking. WASHINGTON With several billion dollars in federal money secured for drought-stricken western states, managers and officials on the Rio Grande are hopeful some will reach their communities and bring attention to the challenges facing one of North Americas longest rivers. Stretches of the river near Albuquerque went dry for the first time in 40 years in August, destroying critical habitat for endangered fish. South Texas cities including McAllen, Brownsville and Mission, whose only water source is the river, ratcheted up water restrictions on businesses and a collective 1 million people. Reservoirs that are key to those residents, but not household names, like Amistad and the Falcon Lakes, fell to all-time lows. Farmers in the Rio Grande Valley braced for losses when drought caused interruptions to deliveries from canals that normally bring them water. With $4 billion in the Biden administrations climate measure to address drought, some officials argue cities and farms in the Rio Grande basin have been overlooked while facing just as many problems as others in the West. The money from the federal spending package has not yet been fully allocated, but priority will be given to states served by the 1,450-mile powerhouse of the West, the Colorado River, and to other drought-afflicted basins. Officials in New Mexico and Texas want the Rio Grande to be included. A main way the money will be spent in the Colorado River basin is to pay farmers to leave fields unplanted and free up the water that would otherwise be used. Southwestern cities and Native American tribes, who have their own rights to water, could also be paid to use less of their supply. Over the years, Rio Grande communities have received federal grant funding and loans for infrastructure repairs and conservation, but officials say the current moment is unique because the Interior Department and other federal agencies are flush with cash from spending packages passed under the Biden administration. New Mexico has received bits and pieces of things, said Mike Hamman, the state water engineer. But nothing like a major drought appropriation strictly from the federal government, to date. In Texas, Maria Elena-Giner helps oversee treaties that govern how the U.S. and Mexico share the Rio Grande and Colorado River as the U.S. representative to the International Boundary and Water Commission. Key differences between the two rivers make managing South Texas water supply challenging, Giner said. In South Texas, 70% of water from the Rio Grande comes from tributaries located in Mexico. The southern neighbor is to deliver water to the U.S. in five-year cycles, or send smaller increments yearly. But Mexicos water deliveries have grown increasingly unpredictable as drought cuts into both countries water supply. Additional money could be put toward new water storage projects and improvements to existing dams, canals and reservoirs in both countries, Giner said. The big challenge is really some predictability on an annual basis. The situation on the Rio Grande is unlike the Colorado River, where Mexico is last in line for water. The northwestern Mexican states of Baja California and Sonora use Colorado River water while Chihuahua, to the east, relies on the Rio Grande. Giner added that whereas the Colorado has the powerful Bureau of Reclamation as a manager, the Rio Grande has the International Boundary and Water Commission, a little-known diplomatic agency headquartered in El Paso, with nowhere near the same manpower to handle transboundary water issues. We are the Bureau of Reclamation on the Rio Grande, she said, pointing to the commissions $55 million annual budget for the entire U.S-Mexico border. But Democratic U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico said the problems of the three-state Rio Grande basin go beyond money. She wants to reform how the river is managed, and introduced legislation in Congress last summer to bring more coordination between the basin states, arguing that policies should be updated to match current climate conditions in the Southwest. Stansbury said reservoirs on the Rio Grande could be managed differently to allow for better water storage, which would help communities in times of drought. Currently, reservoirs in New Mexico have specific uses for water delivery, flood control or storage, but are rarely used for more than one purpose. And adding more coordination among states would allow them to make better use of funding thats available, she said. On the Rio Grande, theres not a set of common goals because that management framework doesnt exist for the entire basin, Stansbury said. Her bill is part of a larger drought and wildfire package that the Senate will likely vote on after the midterm elections. The Colorado River is on a scale unmatched by any other North American river, serving 40 million people across seven states, 29 tribes and Mexico. The Rio Grande provides water to more than 6 million people in southern Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico and irrigates thousands of square miles of farmland. Jason Casuga, chief engineer for New Mexicos Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, said the Rio Grandes smaller scale should make conservation easier, particularly as drought-affected states are eligible for more funding. The Colorado is just orders and orders of magnitude different on the scale of water, which complicates solutions, Casuga said. Luckily, for the Rio Grande, I dont believe thats the case. There are tangible solutions to moving water for drought purposes. People carry luggage as they cross to neighboring Uganda at Bunagana in the border district of Kisoro, Uganda, Oct. 23, 2022. Over 8,000 people from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have crossed to neighboring Uganda seeking refuge following a weekend fight between government troops and rebels. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua) KAMPALA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Over 8,000 people from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have crossed to neighboring Uganda seeking refuge following a weekend fight between government troops and rebels. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Uganda office in a tweet on Monday said it received over 3,000 asylum seekers at the Nyakabande Transit Center in the border district of Kisoro. The refugee agency said a total of 5,451 people are temporarily occupying Bunagana Primary School from where they will be transferred to the Transit Center. "The government of Uganda, UNHCR, and partners are fast-tracking the relocation of all asylum seekers to settlements," the refugee agency said. Esther Anyakun, Minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, told Xinhua on Sunday that UN agencies and other partners had rushed to the district to offer relief support. "According to the reports we have so far received, there are many, many refugees who have re-entered the country. The World Food Programme is already on the ground to offer some support," Anyakun said, adding that the UNHCR has dispatched a team to offer humanitarian assistance. In March, similar fighting forced over 10,000 Congolese to flee to Uganda, according to UNHCR figures. People rest at Bunagana primary school in the border district of Kisoro, Uganda, Oct. 23, 2022. Over 8,000 people from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have crossed to neighboring Uganda seeking refuge following a weekend fight between government troops and rebels. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua) People rest at Bunagana primary school in the border district of Kisoro, Uganda, Oct. 23, 2022. Over 8,000 people from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have crossed to neighboring Uganda seeking refuge following a weekend fight between government troops and rebels. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua) People rest at Bunagana primary school in the border district of Kisoro, Uganda, Oct. 23, 2022. Over 8,000 people from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have crossed to neighboring Uganda seeking refuge following a weekend fight between government troops and rebels. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua) People rest at Bunagana town in the border district of Kisoro, Uganda, Oct. 23, 2022. Over 8,000 people from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have crossed to neighboring Uganda seeking refuge following a weekend fight between government troops and rebels. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua) Women carrying their luggage cross the Bunagana border point in the district of Kisoro, Uganda, Oct. 23, 2022. Over 8,000 people from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have crossed to neighboring Uganda seeking refuge following a weekend fight between government troops and rebels. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua) Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Bernalillo County will have a pair of new commissioners come January. Voters this fall are selecting new representatives for District 1, which runs from the North Valley and through parts of Albuquerques West Side all the way to the countys western line, and District 5, which extends from the Uptown area of Albuquerque out to the countys eastern border, encompassing communities like Edgewood and Tijeras. Current District 1 Commissioner Debbie OMalley cannot seek reelection due to term limits. Democrat Barbara Baca, a retired government administrator, and Republican Michaela Chavez, a bookkeeper, are vying to replace her. In District 5, current representative Charlene Pyskoty lost in the June primary, setting up this falls race between small business owner Eric Olivas, a Democrat, and retired educator Judy Young, a Republican. District 1 Barbara Baca was born and raised in District 1 and always wanted to come back and serve the same community. The time is right for that, she said, as some of the toughest issues we have ever faced, were facing now. When it comes to county government, Baca sees partnership as the best way forward specifically partnership with Albuquerques city government. We have the same constituents, so although they are two different agencies, oftentimes I scratch my head as to why dont we talk to each other better, Baca said in a recent interview. Bacas opponent, Michaela Chavez, did not agree to do a Journal interview for this story. In written responses to the Journals 2022 candidate questionnaire, she said she wanted to make Bernalillo County a place we can be proud of again and make it more business-friendly. Baca, 62, knows Albuquerque government well, having spent most of her career in it. She retired in 2014 as the city parks director, though she also logged years in Albuquerques Senior Affairs Department. She said she has witnessed successful city-county collaboration first-hand but believes there are many other opportunities to pool resources and ideas. The community deserves that, Baca said, telling the story of a friend who once phoned the city for emergency help after her elderly mother wandered from home, only to be transferred to the county since she lived outside city limits in the checkerboard North Valley. To her, thats a life-and-death situation; to the dispatch, it was a jurisdictional one, Baca said. And thats a problem. As a commissioner, Baca said she would like to study the feasibility of a shared, city-county dispatch and explore a way to expand Albuquerque Community Safety a city public safety department that answers certain 911 calls, like those relating to homelessness or addiction, with behavioral health responders to cover even the unincorporated areas of the county. Because of her background in city government, Baca said she is well-equipped to foster the needed alliances. I feel like the two working together is not as large a leap as some people think, if we listen to each other and work together toward a common goal, she said. District 5 Asked what Bernalillo County government is not doing well right now, Eric Olivas said that requires a long answer. Olivas, 31, contends the county has poorly managed its special behavioral health tax that now generates nearly $30 million per year and also has failed to closely monitor the consequential staffing issues at the Metropolitan Detention Center. And it happens, he said, without much public scrutiny. I think the county often gets away too easily because so many people are focused on the city (of Albuquerque government), he said in a recent interview. Judy Young, the Republican candidate for the District 5 seat, would not agree to a Journal request for an in-person or telephone interview for this story. In a written response to the Journals candidate questionnaire, Young said she would make addressing crime her top priority, including by supporting law enforcement, making tougher jail policy and implementing policy to protect the lawful and impose consequences for the unlawful. Many of Olivas proposed solutions for what he sees as the countys biggest problems ultimately involve the city or at least collaboration between the two overlapping government agencies. The vast majority of the countys population resides within Albuquerque city limits, and Olivas said he sees multiple obvious opportunities for more partnership. A former member of the citys Civilian Police Oversight Agency board, Olivas said he would encourage getting more county deputies inside city limits to supplement Albuquerque police, whether that means helping with traffic enforcement or investigating crimes against children. City residents pay full county taxes, which funds the (Bernalillo County) sheriffs department. They fund all the county public safety programs, and city residents need to be receiving their fair share of those services, he said. Olivas, who owns a five-employee landscaping and plumbing company, said he would also prioritize reforming the countys Behavioral Health Initiative. He said it would make sense to transition oversight to a new joint city-county board, suggesting a model similar to the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority. He said that would reduce the current piecemeal approach to behavioral health challenges, forcing the entities to work toward shared goals and better screen prospective expenditures instead of allowing individuals within their own government to have extraordinary leverage over money. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal A former maintenance worker at a womens halfway house is accused of raping a woman multiple times in late 2021 and early 2022 in the South Valley facility. Nathan Sena, 37, is charged with eight counts of criminal sexual penetration while in a position of authority in the repeated rape of a woman from Nov. 14, 2021 to Feb. 17, 2022. It is unclear if Sena has an attorney. During the alleged rapes, according to the Attorney Generals Office, Sena was employed by GEO Group Inc. at the New Mexico Womens Recovery Academy treatment facility. A pretrial detention motion filed Thursday said Sena was a maintenance worker at the facility but because of staffing shortages, was also cloaked with a mantle of authority as a deputy officer. Detention officers are charged with the safety and security of inmates, and no one in a position of authority has a right to sexually exploit those entrusted to their care, Attorney General Hector Balderas said in a release. An agent with Balderas office was approached by an attorney for the woman in early March, according to an investigative report filed in the pretrial detention motion. The woman told agents she was ordered to the inpatient facility, on Isleta near Pajarito SW, in August 2021 after a parole violation. Agents said the woman told them there was a mutual flirtation between her and Sena before they had sex, legally considered rape, several times. The woman said most of the incidents happened in the maintenance shack and Sena would give her gifts like cigarettes and quarters for the vending machine. The woman told investigators she was afraid to report the incident, thinking she would be retaliated against and labeled as a rat, according to the report. Agents said the woman told them when she came to the facility she was told to save any evidence in the event of sexual abuse, according to the report. The woman said she was able to save some of Senas bodily fluids during one of the encounters, and investigators matched it to Sena. KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian authorities tried to dampen public fears over Russias use of Iranian drones by claiming increasing success Monday in shooting them down, while the Kremlins talk of a possible dirty bomb attack added another worrying dimension as the war enters its ninth month. Ukrainians are bracing for less electric power this winter following a sustained Russian barrage on their infrastructure in recent weeks. Citizens in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv lined up for water and essential supplies Monday as Ukrainian forces advanced on the nearby Russian-occupied city of Kherson. Ukraines forces have shot down more than two-thirds of the approximately 330 Shahed drones that Russia has fired through Saturday, the head of Ukraines intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov, said Monday. Budanov said Russias military had ordered about 1,700 drones of different types and is rolling out a second batch of about 300 Shaheds. Terror with the use of Shaheds can actually last for a long time, he was quoted as saying in the Ukrainska Pravda newspaper, adding: Air defense is basically coping, 70% are shot down. Both Russia and Iran deny that Iranian-built drones have been used but the triangle-shaped Shahed-136s have rained down on civilians in Kyiv and elsewhere. First of all, we have to be able to counter the drones, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday at a press conference in Zagreb with Croatias leader. It is a dangerous technology and it must be stopped. Britains Ministry of Defense said Russia was likely to use a large number of drones to try to penetrate the increasingly effective Ukrainian air defenses to substitute for Russian-made long-range precision weapons which are becoming increasingly scarce. That assessment came on top of a stark warning by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to his British, French, Turkish and U.S. counterparts over the weekend that Ukrainian forces were preparing a provocation involving a radioactive device a so-called dirty bomb. Britain, France, and the United States rejected that claim as transparently false. A dirty bomb uses explosives to scatter radioactive waste in an effort to sow terror. Such weapons dont have the devastating destruction of a nuclear explosion, but could expose broad areas to radioactive contamination. Russian authorities on Monday doubled down on Shoigus warning. Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian militarys radiation, chemical and biological protection forces, said Russian military assets were on high readiness for possible radioactive contamination. He told reporters a dirty bomb blast could contaminate thousands of square kilometers. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday: Its not an unfounded suspicion, we have serious reasons to believe that such things could be planned. Ukraine has rejected Moscows claims as an attempt to distract attention from its own plans to detonate a dirty bomb. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht on Monday dismissed as outrageous the Russian claim that Ukraine could use a dirty bomb. The White House on Monday again underscored that the Russian allegations were false. Its just not true. We know its not true, John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said. In the past, the Russians have, on occasion, blamed others for things that they were planning to do. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that Moscow itself was setting the stage for deploying a radioactive device on Ukrainian soil. The countrys foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said Monday he has urged the United Nations nuclear watchdog to immediately send an inspection team to the country to dispel Moscows claims. The International Atomic Energy Agency said in response that it was preparing safeguards visits in the coming days. The U.N. Security Council scheduled closed consultations Tuesday at Russias request on what it claimed was Ukraines plans for a dirty bomb. On the battlefield Monday, his office said at least six civilians were killed and another five were wounded by Russian shelling of several Ukrainian regions over the past 24 hours, including Mykolaiv where energy facilities were targeted and the city of Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region. Later in the day, the Ukrainian military reported they had pushed the enemy out of three villages in the eastern Luhansk region and one in Donetsk. Moscow has not immediately commented on the claim. Russian authorities said Ukrainian troops fired rockets at the Kakhovka major hydroelectric power plant in the Kherson region. Vladimir Rogov, a senior member of the Russian-installed administration in the neighboring Zaporizhzhia region, said the plant hadnt sustained serious damage and continued to operate. Russia and Ukraine have both accused each other of plotting to blow up the plants dam to flood the area as Ukrainian forces pressed an offensive on Kherson, which was captured by Russian troops early in the war. Russian officials also accused Ukrainian forces of shelling a car with three civilians in the Kherson region, killing one. Ukraines relentless artillery strikes on Kherson have cut the main crossings across the Dnieper River, which bisects southern Ukraine, and have left Russian troops on the west bank short of supplies and vulnerable to encirclement. The region is one of four that Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed last month and put under Russian martial law last week. Budanov, the Ukrainian intelligence chief, played down speculation that Russian forces were preparing an immediate exit from Kherson. While Russian forces were helping tens of thousands of residents evacuate, at the same time, they are bringing new military units in and preparing the streets of the city for defense, he said. Meanwhile, Russian authorities removed monuments of 18th-century Russian military chiefs Alexander Suvorov and Fyodor Ushakov from Kherson to save them from Ukrainian shelling. On Saturday, Russian-installed authorities told all residents of Kherson to leave immediately ahead of an expected advance by Ukrainian troops seeking to recapture the city, which sits on a key route to the Russian-occupied Black Sea peninsula of Crimea. A poll released Monday from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology showed 86% of Ukrainian respondents agreed that Ukraines armed struggle with Russia should continue. Some 10% believed it was necessary to start negotiations with Russia even if Ukraine has to make concessions. The telephone poll of 1,000 adults from across Ukraine was conducted Friday through Sunday, it said. Residents in Mykolaiv, northwest of Kherson, echoed the determination to fight on even as their city endures shelling almost every night and residents must line up during the day for food and water. Ukraine is doing the right thing. Russians attacked us, and they must be beaten for that, said Mykolaiv resident Mykola Kovalenko, 76. With an eye on the coming winter, Kyiv and seven other Ukrainian regions on Monday planned rolling blackouts as authorities worked to fix the damage to energy facilities caused by targeted Russian shelling. Zelenskyy appealed to local authorities to make sure Ukrainians heed a call to conserve energy. Now is definitely not the time for bright storefronts and signs, he said. ____ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine PONTIAC, Mich. A teenager pleaded guilty Monday to terrorism and first-degree murder in a Michigan school shooting that killed four students and may be called to testify against his parents, whove been jailed on manslaughter charges for their alleged role in the tragedy. Ethan Crumbley, 16, pleaded guilty to all 24 charges, nearly a year after the attack at Oxford High School in southeastern Michigan. In the gallery, some relatives of the victims wept as assistant prosecutor Marc Keast described the crimes. Yes, Crumbley replied, looking down and nodding in affirmation, when asked if he knowingly, willfully and deliberately chose to shoot other students. The prosecutors office said no deals were made ahead of Mondays plea. A first-degree murder conviction typically brings an automatic life prison sentence in Michigan, but teenagers are entitled to a hearing where their lawyer can argue for a shorter term and an opportunity for parole. We are not aware of any other case, anywhere, in the country where a mass shooter has been convicted of terrorism on state charges, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said. The teenager withdrew his intent to pursue an insanity defense, and repeatedly acknowledged under questioning by Judge Kwame Rowe that he understands the potential penalties. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, are jailed on charges of involuntary manslaughter, accused of making the gun accessible to their son and ignoring his need for mental health treatment. Ethan Crumbleys lawyer, Paulette Michel Loftin, said its possible he could be called upon to testify against them. She said theyre under a no-contact order, and he has not spoken to his parents. Parents have rarely been charged in school shootings, though the guns used commonly come from the home of a parent or close relative. Jennifer Crumbley referred to the gun on social media as a Christmas present for her son. Ethan Crumbley admitted under questioning Monday that his own money was used to purchase the gun, which his father bought for him on Nov. 26, a few days before the shooting. He also agreed that the gun was not locked in a container or safe the morning he took it to the school. He was 15 at the time of the shootings and had no discipline issues at the school, roughly 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Detroit, but his behavior earlier that day raised flags. A teacher had discovered a drawing with a gun pointing at the words: The thoughts wont stop. Help me. There was an image of a bullet with the message: Blood everywhere. The couple declined to take their son home on Nov. 30 but were told to get him into counseling within 48 hours, according to investigators. Ethan Crumbley had brought a 9mm Sig Sauer handgun and 50 rounds of ammunition to school in his backpack that day. He went into a bathroom, pulled out the weapon and began shooting. Within minutes, deputies rushed in and he surrendered without resistance. A day earlier, a teacher had seen Ethan Crumbley searching for ammunition on his phone. The school contacted Jennifer Crumbley, who told her son in a text message: Lol. Im not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught, the prosecutors office said. Sheriff Michael Bouchard told reporters Monday that Ethan Crumbley still had 18 rounds of ammunition when he was arrested. Its my belief he would have fired every one of those had he not been interrupted by deputies going immediately in, said Bouchard who also called Ethan Crumbley a twisted and evil person. I hope he gets life without parole, the sheriff added. He has permanently taken lives away from four lovely souls and hes permanently affected many, many more. Prosecutors earlier this year disclosed that Ethan Crumbley had hallucinations about demons and was fascinated by guns and Nazi propaganda. Put simply, they created an environment in which their sons violent tendencies flourished. They were aware their son was troubled, and then they bought him a gun, prosecutors said in a court filing. His parents said they were unaware of their sons plan to commit a school shooting. They also dispute that the gun was easy to grab at home. Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana and Justin Shilling were killed, while six students and a teacher were wounded. In addition to the counts of first-degree murder and terrorism causing death, Ethan Crumbley admitted guilt to seven counts of assault with intent to murder and 12 counts of possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony. The judge set Feb. 9 for the start of hearings to determine if hell be sentenced to life without parole or get a shorter sentence due to his age, and a chance at release. His lawyers will be able to argue a variety of mitigating circumstances, including family life and mental health. Prosecutors didnt signal in court if they will argue for a no-parole sentence. Loftin said the teenager is remorseful: Hes taking accountability for his actions, she said. As for the victims, she said I dont think there are any words that could make them feel any better. Meghan Gregory, whose son, Keegan, was hiding in a school bathroom with Justin Shilling when Shilling was fatally shot, told reporters after the hearing that it was tough to see Crumbley for the first time in person. She said her son did not want to attend, but did ask for a link to the livestream so he could watch the hearing from afar. He struggles with the thought of being in the same room, Gregory said. I mean, he was held hostage by him for almost six minutes. Detroit attorney Ven Johnson, who is suing the Oxford school district and the Crumbley family on behalf of several victims families, said Mondays plea is one small step forward on a long path towards obtaining full justice for our clients. We will continue to fight until the truth is revealed about what went wrong leading up to this tragedy, and who, including Crumbleys parents and multiple Oxford Community Schools employees, could have and should have prevented it, Johnsons statement said. Wolf Mueller, another lawyer representing victims families, said it was pretty incredible to hear and a stunning development that Ethan Crumbley acknowledged he purchased the gun with his own money. It was cold-blooded what he did, Mueller said. And, while he may have been dealt a bad set of cards with the parents, its still a choice that he made to do the harm and bring the tragedy to Oxford. ___ Williams reported from West Bloomfield, Michigan. MINNEAPOLIS Another long and painful trial over the killing of George Floyd was averted on Monday after one former Minneapolis police officer pleaded guilty to manslaughter and another agreed to take a more uncommon approach and let a judge decide his fate based on the evidence in the case. J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao had been set to stand trial Monday on charges of aiding and abetting both murder and manslaughter in the May 25, 2020, killing of Floyd, who died after another officer kneeled on the Black mans neck, sparking worldwide protests as part of a broader reckoning over racial injustice. Instead, Kueng pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in exchange for the murder count being dismissed. And Thao, who previously told the judge that it would be lying to plead guilty, agreed to whats called a stipulated evidence trial on the aiding and abetting manslaughter count. The two sides will work out agreed-upon evidence in his case, file written closing arguments and let Judge Peter Cahill decide guilt or innocence. If Thao is convicted, the murder count which carries a presumptive sentence of 12 1/2 years in prison will be dropped. The days developments pushed the long process of prosecuting the officers involved in Floyds death nearer an end. Derek Chauvin, the white officer who pinned Floyds neck for 9 1/2 minutes as Floyd said he couldnt breathe and eventually grew still, was convicted in state court in spring 2021 and later pleaded guilty to federal charges. A fourth officer, Thomas Lane, was convicted of federal charges in February and pleaded guilty to state charges in May. Kueng knelt on Floyds back, Lane held his legs and Thao kept bystanders back during the restraint, which was captured on video. Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office prosecuted the state cases, said in a statement that he hopes Keungs plea can bring comfort to Floyds family and bring our communities closer to a new era of accountability and justice. He also said his office is looking forward to a swift resolution of Thaos case. Thao waived his right to a jury trial, as well as his right to cross-examine the states witnesses, call witnesses of his own and testify. But he preserves his right to appeal. His attorney, Bob Paule, told The Associated Press that this allows Thao to still litigate the issue of his guilt or innocence, and its ultimately up to the judge to decide whether this really constitutes aiding and abetting. Legal experts say the approach is uncommon in a case like this and could benefit both sides. The stipulated bench trial allows him to maintain his innocence and to blame the court if he gets found guilty, rather than make any admissions himself, said Rachel Moran, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. On the states part, they also dont want to go to trial. They are exhausted, their witnesses are exhausted. They potentially get what they want, which is just a conviction and concurrent prison time, which is all they were looking for. As part of his plea agreement, Kueng admitted that he held Floyds torso, that he knew from his experience and training that restraining a handcuffed person in a prone position created a substantial risk, and that the restraint of Floyd was unreasonable under the circumstances. Kueng agreed to a sentence of 3 1/2 years in prison, to be served at the same time as his federal sentence and in federal custody. He will be formally sentenced later and was being returned to federal custody he has been at a prison in Ohio since early October. Ben Crump and other attorneys for Floyds family said in a statement that Kuengs plea shows justice takes time, adding: We must never forget the horror of what we all saw in that 9-minute video, and that there rightfully should be both accountability for all involved as well as deep lessons learned for police officers and communities everywhere. In Thaos case, both sides have until Nov. 17 to submit their materials to Cahill, who said he would decide within 90 days. If convicted of manslaughter, Thao would likely get about four years in prison, to be served at the same time as his federal sentence. Thao, who has been at the federal medical center in Lexington, Kentucky, since early October, said in court that he wished to remain in Hennepin County sheriffs custody while his case proceeds, even though he would be in solitary confinement. Cahill said in court that Thao had recently suffered a concussion, but he did not say how. When asked if there had been an incident at the federal prison, a spokesman for the Bureau of Prisons said he could not comment, citing privacy, safety and security reasons. Someone familiar with the matter told the AP that Thao was attacked in prison on Friday but only suffered minor injuries. The person could not discuss details of the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. John Baker, a lawyer and assistant professor of criminal justice studies at St. Cloud State University, said stipulated bench trials can be used when there are concerns about getting an unbiased jury and when a case hinges more on a legal question rather than evidentiary issues. Mike Brandt, a Minneapolis defense attorney who is also monitoring the case, said: I think there was incentive for everyone to settle these cases. The state probably had a reality check; that murder charges were questionable. And if they can get (a conviction) without the time and trouble, and frankly without putting the witnesses through all the trauma again, theres a huge benefit in that. Chauvin was convicted of state murder and manslaughter charges last year and is serving 22 1/2 years in the state case. He also pleaded guilty to a federal charge of violating Floyds civil rights and was sentenced to 21 years. He is serving the sentences concurrently at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona. Kueng, Lane and Thao were convicted of federal charges in February: All three were convicted of depriving Floyd of his right to medical care and Thao and Kueng were also convicted of failing to intervene to stop Chauvin during the killing. Lane, who is white, is serving his 2 1/2-year federal sentence at a facility in Colorado. Hes serving a three-year state sentence at the same time. Kueng, who is Black, was sentenced to three years on the federal counts; Thao, who is Hmong American, got a 3 1/2-year federal sentence. ___ Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Student performance on New Mexicos 2022 standardized tests earlier this year provides a stark reminder of the lingering effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, and of the status of the education system across the state. But results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the Nations Report Card, suggest that while New Mexico isnt alone, it has a long way to go. In fourth and eighth grade reading and math, New Mexico students came in just about dead last in proficiency out of the over-50 states and jurisdictions that were sampled. New Mexico fourth and eighth graders overall lost ground in both math and reading, setbacks that officials say were in large part due to the pandemic. That was also the case across the country, national education officials told reporters on Friday. This is what we expected, state Education Secretary Kurt Steinhaus told the Journal, adding that the scores are not acceptable and not OK. New Mexico fourth graders fell about 14 points behind national public school student averages overall. The same was true for eighth graders in math, but they only lagged about 11 points behind in reading. In math, New Mexico fourth and eighth graders dropped about 10 points from state scores in 2019. They lost less ground in reading, where fourth graders dropped about five points and eighth graders dropped four. That came out to reading and math proficiency rates of 21% and 19% among fourth graders, respectively, which was roughly three and 10 percentage points lower than in 2019. A little more than 18% of eighth graders were proficient in reading and about 13% were proficient in math a drop of five and eight percentage points, respectively. Each of those percentages brought up the rear out of every state and jurisdiction, according to National Center for Education Statistics data. The results came from a sample of about 4,300 students. Steinhaus said NAEP tests were conducted in 29% of elementary schools and 42% of middle schools. The highest possible score on the NAEP test is 500. Most of the United States suffered similar setbacks. No state, for example, improved in fourth or eighth grade math, and only a few states improved in reading and those that did, did so by a maximum of two points. Nationally, this years results yielded the largest drop in mathematics in the history of NAEP, officials said. The results in todays Nations Report Card are appalling and unacceptable, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said during a Friday call with reporters. But lets also be very clear here the data prior to the pandemic did not reflect an education system that was on the right track. The pandemic simply made it worse. National Center for Education Statistics Commissioner Peggy Carr noted that each states varying response to the pandemic, especially in terms of when students returned to in-person learning, was an influential but not deciding factor in test performance results. Theres nothing in this data that says we can draw a straight line between the time spent in remote learning and student achievement, she said during the Friday call. APS scores Students at Albuquerque Public Schools, the largest district in the state, mostly held steady in their proficiency levels. While there were drops in both subjects for eighth graders, the NCES found they were not significantly different from 2019 scores. However, fourth grade math proficiency, at about 24%, was around six percentage points lower than it was in 2019. Overall APS student scores also dropped across the board from their pre-pandemic levels, though not as much as statewide numbers did. The largest declines came in math, where both fourth and eighth graders lost roughly seven points each. APS students suffered from the pandemic, Superintendent Scott Elder said. Still, he noted that Albuquerque was in a much better place than a lot of other places in New Mexico when it comes to accessibility to things like the internet. And while APS students were still behind other large cities in both grades and subject areas, those gaps didnt widen as some thought they would, he pointed out. You dont look at the scores and think OK, great,' he told the Journal. We lost a little bit, but we didnt lose as much as I think people were afraid (we would). We see a significant decline in the math, but thats similar to what we see nationally, he added. Underserved students Across the board, student groups identified in New Mexicos landmark Yazzie-Martinez consolidated lawsuit lagged behind their national and statewide peers. They also almost all had lower scores this year than in 2019 with a few exceptions. In 2018, a judge found in that lawsuit that those students including those who are Indigenous, economically disadvantaged, English learners and students with disabilities had been denied a uniform, sufficient public education system. The students who were in families impacted by poverty had a greater negative impact because of the pandemic, Steinhaus said, noting that Yazzie-Martinez students represent over 70% of New Mexico students. So the pandemic impacted us harder than a lot of other states. Math scores for New Mexico students identified in the lawsuit this year were worse for both grades than they were before the pandemic as was fourth grade reading. APS Yazzie-Martinez students also almost universally lost ground in their scores in both subjects. For the most part, students identified in New Mexicos lawsuit also fared worse around the country this year than in 2019. But one bright spot among New Mexicos data was that eighth graders in those student groups almost universally improved their reading scores from 2019, even if only by a point. Nationally, that was also true for eighth grade English learners, and eighth graders with disabilities scores didnt change. APS fourth graders with disabilities improved in math and reading, and eighth grade students with disabilities and English learners improved in reading. Gaps between APS Yazzie-Martinez student test scores and those collected from those student groups in large cities around the country also didnt tend to widen dramatically over the pandemic, and in many cases improved. Some solutions Teachers this year said they felt more overworked, according to surveys given to them in conjunction with the test, and some said they felt less confident that they would be able to help their students close pandemic-related gaps. Clearly, our teachers need our help, Carr said. To address that problem, Steinhaus said the state is continuing an ongoing effort to bolster its mental health support for teachers and students alike. New Mexico is also rolling out more tutoring for students and families, particularly those in schools with high populations of economically-disadvantaged families. In January, Steinhaus added, the state Public Education Department aims to roll out more high-dosage tutoring focused, small-group tutoring three times a week which will also emphasize math. Weve got to continue improving literacy. But this year, our primary focus is going to be on mathematics, he said. SAN FRANCISCO(BUSINESS WIRE)Oct 24, 2022 Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced that Fargo, a new virtual assistant set to roll out to customers in the coming months, will leverage Google Clouds artificial intelligence (AI) to provide a more personalized, convenient, and simple banking experience. Wells Fargos collaboration with Google Cloud marks a pivotal milestone in its digital strategy to provide customers with an intuitive banking journey that meets their individual financial needs. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005103/en/ Wells Fargos new virtual assistant, Fargo (Photo: Wells Fargo) The last two years have seen a dramatic surge in digital banking, and demand for a full-service digital experience. According to a study conducted this summer by Ipsos on behalf of Wells Fargo & Company, nearly two thirds (65%) of millennials and Gen Z respondents prefer to use a virtual assistant for customer service needs rather than waiting for a customer service representative on the phone. Most (84%) who have used virtual assistants reported a favorable experience and 70% cited saving time as a top benefit. Personalized financial insights At launch, Fargo will provide customers with a simple, intuitive means of servicing their accounts. From turning on/off debit cards and checking credit limits, to searching for specific transactions by date, amount, or type, users will be able to ask Fargo instead of hunting for the answer on their own. If Fargo cannot address an inquiry, it will seamlessly connect customers to a live agent. Next year, Fargo will offer Spanish language capabilities. It will also take a more proactive role in guiding customers toward financial wellness by leveraging predictive analytics to enable meaningful conversations that learn and adapt to each individual customer. Fargo will greet users with a highly curated set of actionable tips and insights, including: *Spotlighting the unexpected, such as an increase in a recurring subscription or a spike in spending at a particular merchant *Simplifying budgeting, by calculating how much someone can safely spend, while still covering their bills and hitting their savings targets *Surfacing smart money moves, like identifying how much a customer could save by consolidating debt or recognizing when a customer could achieve their goals faster by aligning extra cash to investments Powerful partnership As mobile banking has become Wells Fargo customers most preferred way to bank, we will continue to innovate in collaboration with strategic partners like Google Cloud to build customer experiences that motivate and support them on their financial journeys, said Michelle Moore, head of Digital for Consumer and Wealth & Investment Management at Wells Fargo. This partnership will expand our customers digital financial support network by enabling meaningful money conversations conveniently from their mobile device. Its more than just dollars and cents; its about uplifting our customers emotional and financial well-being by understanding their financial goals and providing the most convenient interactions to meet those goals. Fargo will be built on Dialogflow, Google Clouds conversational AI platform, and will use the language processing capabilities of this platform to understand customers intents and provide a tailored response. The partnership enables Wells Fargo to tap into Google Clouds world-class AI capabilities, while the platform architecture also keeps Wells Fargo customer data secure and private. Todays announcement marks a milestone for Google Cloud as we expand our partnership with Wells Fargo to evolve the digital banking experience, said Yolande Piazza, vice president of Financial Services at Google Cloud. By pairing our leading AI and natural language processing capabilities with Wells Fargos industry-leading banking experience, we can provide customers with connected, personalized tools that seamlessly blend with their financial needs. Fargo builds on Wells Fargos strategic cloud partnerships as the bank plans to leverage third-party expertise and capabilities to execute a new digital infrastructure strategy. These enhanced digital capabilities are just the start of many initiatives in Wells Fargos multiyear plan to become digital-first and reinvent personal finance. Since launching its rebuilt mobile app earlier this year, the industry has taken notice of Wells Fargos reemergence as a digital leader. In its 2022 U.S. Banking Mobile App Satisfaction Study, J.D. Power ranked Wells Fargo No. 3 a significant climb from the previous years list and cites how the complete redesign of the visual language and page layouts enhance the Wells Fargo mobile app experience. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets, proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of small businesses in the U.S., and is a leading middle market banking provider in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 41 on Fortunes 2022 rankings of Americas largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories. Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter: @WellsFargo. About Google Cloud Google Cloud accelerates every organizations ability to digitally transform its business. They deliver enterprise-grade solutions that leverage Googles cutting-edge technology all on the cleanest cloud in the industry. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to enable growth and solve their most critical business problems. Cautionary Statement about Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements about our future financial performance and business. Because forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding the future, they are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements as actual results could differ materially from expectations. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we do not undertake to update them to reflect changes or events that occur after that date. For information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, refer to our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Forward-Looking Statements discussion in Wells Fargos most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as well as to Wells Fargos other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion under Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, available on its website at www.sec.gov. News Release Category: Products & Services: WF-PS View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005103/en/ CONTACT: Media Natalie Papaj, 703-586-0048 natalie.papaj@wellsfargo.compress@google.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: APPS/APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY MOBILE/WIRELESS FINANCE FINTECH BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SOFTWARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOURCE: Wells Fargo & Company Copyright Business Wire 2022. PUB: 10/24/2022 12:00 PM/DISC: 10/24/2022 12:02 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005103/en NAIROBI, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will host the fifth edition of the Kenya International Industrial Expo (KIIE) that is expected to boost Sino-Kenya ties, organizers said on Monday. Gao Wei, managing director of Afripeak Expo Kenya, told journalists in Nairobi, Kenya's capital that 130 companies mainly from China and other countries will showcase their products for the expo that is scheduled to take place on Nov. 3-5. "The Kenyan pavilion will also accommodate 20 local companies who will present their products and will have an opportunity to link to potential overseas buyers," Gao said. He observed that more than 5,000 professionals and merchants from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and other countries are expected to attend the exhibition, saying that the trade show will display advanced general and construction machinery, hardware, solar and other renewable energy products, auto parts, chemical products as well as medical equipment from China. Pius Rotich, general manager in charge of investment promotion at the Kenya Investment Authority said that the expo provides an opportunity for Kenya to enhance its industrialization drive through linkages and partnerships with Chinese firms. Rotich added that the exhibition also provides a unique platform for both government and private sectors from China and Kenya to cooperate on agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare and construction which are the key sectors of priority for Kenya. "This expo is coming at a time when the government is working hard to revive businesses that had been affected by the pandemic and slowed down during the electioneering period," he noted. Rotich revealed that the trading platform is also ideal for Kenyan companies seeking new markets for tea, coffee, avocados and flowers in China. ABUJA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's secret police on Monday issued a fresh alert on the security situation in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, calling on residents to take necessary precautions. In a statement, Peter Afunanya, spokesman for the Department of State Services (DSS) recalled that the security police had previously issued a security advisory to residents in Abuja to remain alert and calm. The latest alert was issued in view of the security advisory released Sunday by the U.S. embassy to its employees on a possible terror attack on public places in Abuja. "While advising that necessary precautions are taken by all and sundry, the populace is enjoined to remain alert and assist security agencies with useful information regarding threats and suspicious criminal acts around them," Afunanya said. He added the secret police was working with other law enforcement agencies and stakeholders to maintain peace and order in and beyond Abuja. This is a declaration of war on our children. The responsibility to be unrelenting as we defend the next generation from Big Pharma now falls on us. In the coming months, nearly every state in the nation will universally adopt the CDCs recommended vaccination schedule. Note: Our Matching Gift Fall Campaign is in full swing. Please consider a tax deductible donation. Paper: Autism Age, PO Box 110546, Trumbull, CT 06611 Thank you. Donate ### Last week, the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices approved the addition of Covid vaccines to the pediatric schedule. This means even babies as young as six months of age could be required to have the full series (2, 3, quarterly?) of Covid vaccines to attend day care, if States add this vaccine to their school requirement list. The CDC did not mandate the vaccine - as pointed out as "misinformation" on social media. States use the CDC schedule to decide which vaccines they will add to their schedules. Age of Autism believes parents should be able to decide for their own children. Parents perfectly at ease with the current schedule yet wholly against the covid vaccine could find themselves having to submit to send their kids to school. Is this enough of a wake up after our many years of demanding an END to mandates? Below is an action alert from CHD. If you have alerts from other orgs, please send them to AutismAges@gmail.com . Thanks. October 21, 2022 Demand Public Health Agencies and Lawmakers Stop COVID Vaccine Mandates CLICK HERE TO Demand Public Lawmakers Stop COVID Vaccine Mandates Despite immense blowback, Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted unanimously to add COVID-19 injections to its recommended schedule of vaccinations for infants, children and adolescents. The committee members votes solidify their steadfast loyalty to protecting pharma profits at the cost of childrens lives. This is the first step to granting permanent, blanket liability protection for all current and future COVID-19 injections. This vote solidifies the capture and corruption of the agencies put in place to protect public health. Its clear this is not about protecting public health rather protecting Big Pharma by granting permanent liability protection. With the addition of this vaccine to the childhood schedule there will be zero recourse for the injured moving forward. We need YOU to hold the line and remind CDC, FDA and our elected officials that its their duty to protect the public health of American children and citizens. The risks demonstrably outweigh the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination in children. Vaccines authorized for emergency use are not permitted to be recommended to the childhood schedule. There is no emergency in our children that would warrant the hasty and unscientific addition of a vaccine that has not been proven safe or effective. We know you are outraged and want to take action immediately. There are two things you can do. First, demand CDC and elected officials protect our children from COVID-19 mandates. Next, get ahead of school mandates by reaching out to your own school districts superintendent, and your states education commissioner to plead for their intercession on behalf of our children. Make clear to your superintendent and commissioner that exemptions are not enough and that you will be pulling your child from school if this vaccine is mandated for attendance, costing the district tens of thousands of dollars in funding. Parents hold the power dont let anyone tell you otherwise. Click the covers to order: 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. Lies My Government Told Me by Dr. Robert Malone Available for pre-order now. With contributions from eminent doctors, scientists, and experts in their fields, Lies My Gov't Told Me offers a comprehensive look at the coronavirus pandemicwhere we are today, how we got here, and what's on the horizon. Challenging the mainstream government-pharma-media narrative, the chapters in this book will not only outrage readers but will also inform and give readers hope. Cause Unknown: The Epidemic of Sudden Deaths in 2021 & 2022 by Ed Dowd Available for pre-order now. What is killing young healthy Americans? Edward Dowd, a former Wall Street analyst and BlackRock portfolio manager, examines the epidemic of sudden deaths in America. Joseph Ladapo, MD , PhD is the surgeon general of Florida and professor at University of Florida College of Medicine. He received his MD from Harvard Medical School and a PhD in Health Policy from Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Ladapo worked as an associate professor of general internal medicine and a health policy researcher at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. He lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife and children. In Dr. Ladapos book Transcend Fear: A Blueprint for Mindful Leadership in Public Health published on August 23, 2022, he describes his views on public health restrictions, early home treatment, and COVID-19 vaccines, along with how Florida officials made public health decisions that set Florida apart from other statesand nations. Based on this experience, Dr. Ladapo explains how states can make better public health decisions in the futureparticularly during a crisis. It is an insult to the scientific process and shows that current leadership at the CDC and other parts of the federal government prioritize politics over common sense. Americans deserve better, more honest leadership in public health. A vaccine associated with rapidly declining effectiveness against infection, an evolving safety profile including possible subclinical myocarditis, and no high-quality evidence proving a clinical benefit to healthy children should not be added to the routine vaccine schedule. Praise for Transcend Fear "In two years of interviewing public health officials, Dr. Joe Ladapo was the most impressive I met, and the most decent. I suspect it won't be long before every American knows his name." Tucker Carlson This gripping biographical narrative lets the world understand the complex reality that has unfolded in the life of Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, MD, PhD. He stands as an impressive physical and intellectual force yet has been formed and molded into a respectful, careful, and quietly courageous leader in public health. The narrative quickly brings the reader through the life of Ladapo, his family, and Governor Ron DeSantis as characters working to save Floridians and the nation at large from the catastrophic federal response to the pandemic that has unfolded before our very eyes. Ladapo is a wonderful writer and has taken brave steps in disclosure that many public figures could not bring themselves to do in spoken words or print. This book will stand as an important inflection point for Dr. Ladapo and Americas public health community at a time of continued crisis and upheaval in our country. So, sit back and enjoy this wonderful story about one of America's finest heroes in contemporary history. Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH, coauthor of Courage to Face COVID-19: Preventing Hospitalization and Death While Battling the Biopharmaceutical Complex I searched the nation for ethical and honorable physicians to tell the American people the real public health truth. By reviewing decades of research prior to Covid and observing real-time scientific data, Dr. Ladapo spoke boldly and accurately. He reminded us that masks are unable to stop the spread of a tiny respiratory virus; he reminded us that early treatment is always superior to negligence; and he reminded us of Public Health 101: locking down healthy people is never going to be an effectiveor legalpublic health measure. Dr. Ladapo was different because he refused to delegate his personal responsibility to think criticallyeven in the face of overwhelming pressure to follow the herd. Simone Gold, MD, JD, founder of Americas Frontline Doctors and CEO of GoldCareHealth & Wellness Joe Ladapo has been one of very few public voices of reason throughout the Covid pandemic. While other leaders in the field of public health have panicked, forgotten their training, and allowed their thinking to be clouded by fear, he has consistently demanded that we look at the actual evidence, and do a careful weighing of benefits and harms before putting in place massively disruptive public health interventions. With Joe at the center of Floridas public health decision making, it is not hard to understand why the state has come out of the pandemic looking so good. Sebastian Rushworth, MD, author of Covid: Why Most of What You Know Is Wrong Highlights of foreign congratulatory messages on 20th CPC National Congress (19) Xinhua) 08:45, October 24, 2022 BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Political party leaders, government officials and lawmakers worldwide have congratulated the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and General Secretary Xi Jinping of the committee on the convening of the 20th CPC National Congress. Peda Grbin, president of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia, said the 20th CPC National Congress is of great significance and believes that the principles and policies formulated at the congress will promote the development of the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and the two countries. Bassam Salhi, general secretary of the Palestinian People's Party, expressed his belief that the 20th CPC National Congress will further advance the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and promote the common values of mankind. The great achievements China has made since the 18th CPC National Congress have led the development of the world, and the CPC has played an important role in pursuing human progress and world harmony, said Abdul Wahab al-Ansi, secretary general of the Yemeni Islah Party. In recent years, the CPC has made remarkable achievements in poverty alleviation, green development, scientific and technological innovation, and the fight against COVID-19, said Richard Todwong, secretary general of Uganda's National Resistance Movement party. His party believes that the 20th CPC National Congress will further promote China's development and prosperity, Todwong said. The CPC has opened a new path for China's social, economic and cultural development in the past 100 years, and the 20th CPC National Congress will certainly have a profound impact on China's future development, said Stefanos Stefanou, general secretary of the Progressive Party of Working People of Cyprus. Those also sending congratulatory messages include: Benyamin Poghosyan, chairman of the Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies in Armenia; Jim O'Neill, a member of the British House of Lords; Keith Bennett, co-editor of the Friends of Socialist China platform; Istvan Ujhelyi, vice chair of the Committee on Transport and Tourism of the European Parliament, and president of Europe-China One Belt One Road Cultural &Tourism Development Committee; Miguel Figueroa, president of the Canadian Peace Congress; Solo Mara, secretary general of the Pacific Islands Development Forum; Matteo Marchisio, China-based country director and representative for the International Fund for Agricultural Development; The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan; The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle; Malaysia's People's Justice Party; Myanmar's National League for Democracy; The Democratic Patriots' Unified Party in Tunisia; Argentina's Republican Proposal party; The Workers' Party in Brazil; The Broad Front party of Costa Rica; The Socialist Party of Chile; The Modern Revolutionary Party in the Dominican Republic; The Peruvian Communist Party (Unity); The Fidesz-Hungarian Civic Alliance party; The French Communist Party; The Communist Party of Greece; The Italian Communist Party; The Communist Party of Norway; Spain's United Left party; The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist); Central Committee, Union Party, Lebanon; The Central Committee of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice of Eritrea; The National Executive Committee of the Movement of Popular Participation of Uruguay; The Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party; The Executive Committee of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova; The Central Committee of the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova; International Department of the Podemos party of Spain; The foreign ministry of Equatorial Guinea; The Secretariat of the World Peace Council; Social Democracy-Mongolian Women's Association; Libyan Youth Leaders; The People's National Movement (PNM) National Youth League in Trinidad and Tobago; The Italian Communist Youth Federation; Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Du Mingming) KHARTOUM, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- A tripartite mechanism tasked with facilitating intra-Sudanese dialogue on Monday urged the Sudanese security forces to protect the protesters during expected demonstrations planned for Tuesday. "The mechanism urges the security forces to exercise maximum restraint and protect the rights of protesters with freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly," said a statement by the mechanism, which is composed of the United Nations, African Union, and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, an eight-country trade bloc in Africa. The mechanism stressed the "urgent need" for a political solution that could finally end the current impasse in the country, lead to the formation of a legitimate civilian government, and restore security and constitutional order. "Any act of violence is unacceptable and will undermine the recent momentum towards reaching a solution to the political crisis in Sudan. Any provocations should be avoided," it said. Sudan has been suffering a political crisis since Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, declared a state of emergency on Oct. 25, 2021, and dissolved the Sovereign Council and the government. Since then, the capital Khartoum and other cities have been witnessing continued protests demanding a return to civilian rule. Kanye West has recently outraged a large segment of American society that still believes America is a biblically inspired Republic, embodying the values of its Constitution. He has done so by publicly threatening not just one or two specific Jews but the entire Jewish people. This is well within the spirit of the classical medieval antisemitism, once largely religious, that was secularized by Mussolini and Adolf Hitler during the 20th century, with horrific results. West comes by his Jew hatred dishonestly, for it is well documented that, since the death of Reverend Martin Luther King Junior, an admirer and defender of the State of Israel and the Jewish people, medieval antisemitism has seeped into the African American community via the likes of Malcolm X and the despicable Louis Farrakhan. West is not an original thinker or a thinker at all; he is just the next in a series of high-profile American antisemites, and the news is now filled with these facts about his outbursts. But there is another factor at work here, and that is Wests rage or wrath, a socially patterned emotion that has been growing among young African American as well as White musicians and lyricists, with their recently invented repertoire of rap and hip hop. Mr. West is one of this genres prime exponents, having made millions of dollars from the creation and performance of pieces within this style. Image: Kanye West. YouTube screengrab. Most ethnomusicologists, who are often consciously and unconsciously influenced by cultural relativism and leftist cultural politics, will no doubt take a pass on Wests latest outrage. One awaits with Job-like patience for the hoped-for tidal wave of outraged protest from the American ethnomusicological and musicological community, comfortably ensconced in Americas liberal arts colleges and universities. But other scholars without blinders may give us one of the keys to understanding Wests well-publicized outburst of hatred. Dr. Peter Wood is the President of the National Association of Scholars, an organization of educators and researchers dedicated to monitoring wokeness on the American campus and advocating a return to liberal education. Wood, a professional anthropologist, has turned his ethnographic eye on his own society America, and his book, Wrath, America Enraged has much to say about the growing acceptance of public demonstrations of rage coming from the American left and from the stars of pop culture. On page 54 of his book, Wood argues that the new rage permeates popular music. He lists eleven of what he considers to be the angriest anthems of popular music from 2000 to 2013. Number seven is Kanye Wests song, Black Skinhead (2013). It is important to share the lyrics: For my theme song My leather black jeans on My by any means on Pardon, Im getting my scream on Enter the kingdom But watch who you bring home They see a black man with a white woman At the top floor they gone come to kill King Kong Middle America packed in Came to see me in my black skin Number one question they asking Fuck every question you asking If I dont get ran out by Catholics Here come some conservative Baptists Claiming Im overreacting Like them black kids in Chiraq bitch For those well-read in history, modern, socially patterned anger often ends up being directed at Jews and Jewish symbols. To add insult to injury, just three days ago, on October 17, 2022, the Times of Israel reported this latest outburst from Mr. West: Kanye West launched into a fresh tirade against Jewish people during a podcast appearance on Sunday, after being restricted from major social media platforms for similar rants. The hip-hop star, now known as Ye, spoke on Revolt TVs Drink Champs podcast, hosted by rapper N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN, where he made antisemitic claims regarding Jewish ties to media and wealth You get used to paparazzi taking a picture of you, and you dont get money off it. You just get used to being screwed by the Jewish media, West raged, adding that the Jewish media blocked me out. Anyone who reads todays news knows that places like New York City are experiencing an upsurge in random violence that has three roots: Critical Race Theory, a movement to defund the police, and a popular culture that demonizes whiteness (whatever that means, but, ahIt means multi racial supporters of the Constitution, for when African Americans express these sentiments, they are accused of being white!). And so, artists (?) like Kanye West are both a cause and a symptom of the new anarchy that is permeating North American popular culture. Dr. Wood puts it succinctly: The wrath right nowdraws on the cultural dynamics of new anger. We can see the difference in several ways. This wrath is self-consciously and conspicuously theatricalCancel culture is too. And Black Lives Matter, a total inversion of the civil rights movement, is new anger writ large and in flames. It is wrath as a charter of living. And Kanye West is selling the new anger with everything at his disposal. Expect more. In the early 1960s, DC Comics introduced a storyline so fanciful that it piqued my interest: it started with Bizarro Superman, then was fleshed out with his Bizarro World, where every part of life was exactly the opposite of life on earth. On Bizarro Supermans world, called Htrae (earth spelled backwards), society is ruled by the Bizarro Code, which stated Us do opposite of all Earthly things! Us hate beauty! Us love ugliness! Is big crime to make anything perfect on Bizarro World! It was a counterfeit world, a bastardization and corruption of every concept, every action, everything on earth. There were other superheroes on Htrae, too, but instead of high-tech weaponry, Bizarro Batman sported a futility belt full of cigarette butts, chewed gum, and other such priceless Bizarro treasures. The Yellow Lantern had a ring that gave him no power; he was vulnerable to anything colored green and was the most easily frightened being in the universe. Bizarro Aquaman could not swim! There is even a Bizarro Marilyn Monroe, the ugliest of them all. Sound familiar? Is that not what the Democrat Party has created right here in America, transforming a once prosperous, strong, united, and safe nation into a debt-laden, militarily weak, socially divided, and increasingly dangerous society? Here are some of the Bizarro policies and beliefs inflicted on us by the neo-socialist, globalist, anti-American Democrat Party over the past few decades Although leftists and atheists may deny it, the writings of the Founders make clear that the Classical Liberalism upon which this nation was founded stemmed from Judeo-Christian principles. The self-discipline, respect for law and order, and Protestant work ethic that helped build the U.S. created the most prosperous and militarily mighty nation in history. But the leftist Democrats cant have that, for Christian principles block their irresponsible and increasingly perverse demands, so God had to go, leading to the continual erosion of Judeo-Christian principles, plunging our nation into the current chaos. In 1990, the Pew Research Center found that 90% of young Americans (30 to 34) raised as Christian identified themselves as Christian; today that number has declined to less than 65%. (Among young Americans not raised as Christian, the number who identify as Christian has declined from 44% in 1990 to 21% today.) The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution proclaim freedom and rights for the individual, and they implement majority rule, with minority rights protected. However, Democrats favor a society of the Squeaky Wheel, where minority groups based on race, gender, sexual orientation, etc., that squawk the loudest and disrupt society the most set the standards by which government make policy. So instead of the majority of law-abiding, hard-working citizens who hold to traditional values determining the social mores and standards of our society, the leftist media continually trumpet the demands of a mishmash of identity groups: homosexuals, feminists, transgenders, etc., whose standards are often diametrically opposed to that of the majority. The current sexualization of kindergarten and elementary school children is but the latest example of their rejection of the Judeo-Christian standards upon which this nation was founded. If you dont punish the guilty you are, in effect, punishing the innocent, by unleashing bold thugs and criminals (no longer afraid of punishment) on the rest of society. Yet for the past several decades the Democrat Party has been consistently more interested in the rights of criminals than in protecting the innocent victims of their crimes. The increasing lawlessness we see all across this nation is a direct result of Democrat DAs refusing to do their jobs, which is to enforce the law. If they dont agree with the law, then why did they seek those offices? To deliberately dismantle our society, because that has been the result. Another foundation of our democratic republic is free and fair elections. While money has long been problematic for our electoral process, Americans used to at least be able to count on the candidate receiving the most votes being elected. No more, thanks to the deliberate efforts of the Democrat Party to gain and hold onto power, whatever it takes. Long known for their urban political machinery and voting irregularities stretching back to the Boss Tweed era in the late 1800s, the media pretends to be shocked at the mere suggestion that their Democrat Party pals would ever stoop to such a thing. The right to vote is a privilege bordering on the sacred, and as long as there are provisions for people unable to go to the polls on election day (the sick, military personnel serving overseas, etc.), then it should be a point of honor for Americans to get themselves to the polls to vote. But instead of extremely limited mail-in ballots, distributed only by individual name to eligible voters who request them, in 2020 the Democrats mailed out millions -- thats right, millions -- of blank ballots in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, Nevada, et al. Although its clear that such processes will inevitably be abused, the Bizarro Left wants to institutionalize mail-in voting, claiming that restrictions on mail-in ballots violates the rights of (you guessed it) minority groups and suppresses their vote. What rot. Unless youre incapacitated (affirmed by medical personnel), or overseas or across the country serving in the military, if you want to vote you go to the polls on election day. Period. But the Bizarro Left isnt satisfied with turning our political system upside down; they have to demolish or deform every traditional standard in order to make the deviant behaviors of their splinter groups seem more normal. For example, the past few years weve been berated for fat-shaming overweight people (especially women), and now were seeing fat women on the covers of magazines and on TV commercials for underwear. Sorry, as attractive as some overweight women are, fat has traditionally been seen as indicative of lack of self-discipline and unhealthiness, and not regarded as beautiful by most people. But the Democrat Party is desperate to placate its myriad splinter groups, so fat is beautiful! Another of those leftist groups the Bizarro Left seeks to keep in its electoral pocket is homosexuals. If youll recall, in the 1990s the homosexual lobby pleaded to just leave us alone and let us live our lives as we see fit, certainly a reasonable request. But in the 2000s the homosexual lobby became more militant, and their message became Were here, were queer deal with it! The normalization of homosexuality (4.5% of population, per Gallup, 2018) has now reached the stage where its publicly flaunted, and anyone who dares criticize it (or even fails to celebrate it) is immediately set upon and even cancelled (remember Dr. Joyce Brothers?). More recently, transgenders (0.6% of U.S. population per Center for Disease Control, 2020) have become the new favored group of the Bizarro Left, resulting in men competing against women in college sports, and most shamefully, in young children being exposed to that lifestyle in our public schools. When your party offers little to the majority of citizens, it must cater to every identity group imaginable in order to gain and maintain power. So according to the Bizarro Democrat Party, the perverse is wonderful, the ugly is beautiful, traditional good is oppressive, common sense is racist and who knows what is next on the Bizarro Democrats agenda to totally destroy the foundations and traditions of this nation and all of Western civilization? And for what? If the past twenty months are any indication, following this Bizarro path inevitably leads to societal division, economic ruin, and chaos. If the Democrats arent overwhelmingly rejected in next months mid-term elections, God help us. Image: JD Hancock In just two weeks we have an election. Since at least the 1920s, American Jews have been among the most reliable supporters of the Democratic Party. Half of American Jews self-describe as liberal. But more tellingly, they vote Democratic at a rate of 70%. Jews are successful in many pursuits, yet they frequently seem to work against their own economic and political interests through their strident liberal leanings. The question is why? What you need to know about Jews (and Im proud to be one) is that most of us believe that our successes in the arts, education, politics, business, philanthropy, and other areas require us to give back to the society that enriched us. We should also lead the fight to improve the lot of the poor and powerless. Jews lay claim to more Nobel prizes, patents, more economic success, and likely more doctors than any other ethnic or religious group in the world. That merely proves we are smart. That still does not explain why we collectively lean toward liberalism. So let's dig deeper. American Jewry is tied to Americas twin social problems of antisemitism and race relations. On balance, Jews in other areas of the world, particularly Israel, tend to be conservative. I think it can be said that for Jews, the threat and reality of antisemitism in the U.S. made the suffering of blacks, particularly in the South, a sympathetic and emotional pull to the left that put both groups seemingly on the same team. However, Jews were in a position to do something about it. Blacks, not as much. This desire culminated in the founding of the NAACP in New York, largely with the support of Jews. In my hometown of Atlanta, the president of Rich's, which was, our largest department store chain, plus the president of National Linen were the two most important backers of the Atlanta branch of the NAACP. It was this group that introduced the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the world. Without Jewish support, you may never have ever heard of MLK. America did not welcome Jews who were escaping Nazi Germany before the war. Jewish influence here was not as great as it is today. Jews kept their heads down even in the U.S. as antisemitism predominated. Jews were excluded from American society on many levels -- social clubs, business, and housing. Such exclusions caused Jewish communities to become insular. Other Jews simply hid their Jewishness. Post-war, all this helps to explain why Jews still felt persecuted, even in America. They tended to align themselves with liberal causes which often promised an end to injustice. Sadly, the last vestiges of these threats still exist as we witness recent attacks on Jewish houses of worship and schools. I attended an Atlanta public school in the mid-60s. A couple of times a week, a Hebrew school bus would pick me up after school to take me to my religious study class. One particular day, a group of adults surrounded my bus and shouted epithets at us. One window was broken. My parents were devastated, but I was back on that bus the next time it came by. Thankfully, that incident never repeated itself. Interestingly, my parents were conservative as well. Perhaps conservative values run in families? There is a growing gap between American Jews and Jews in other countries. While Jews are always on guard for real or imagined threats, they largely depend on the government to right wrongs and to protect them. While in Israel and quite a few other countries, that may seem naive. The refrain Never Again is more of a reflex action when spoken by American Jews. It means something quite different elsewhere. I cant recall who said To live in this world, not in the world of the politically Utopian or the religiously messianic, but I think it capsulizes an important sentiment. Without the threat of imminent demise, American Jews, who vote reliably Democrat and align themselves with every liberal social cause, have lost perspective. Every day, the divisions within our country on any social or economic line you can think of, are enhanced by a lack of logical thought as to the long-term consequences that flow from liberalism. The central premise of liberal thinking, as expressed by Barb Cortez, a former HHS Department Head, states: From my observation of liberals, I would say they notice the disparities in society and would like to close the gaps. They would like bigotry not to be accepted in society. Liberals would like every human to be treated with the same respect. Liberals would like the basics of life or the basics of a good life to be afforded everyone especially since we can afford to do it. The basics of life are food, housing, health care, education, a living wage, justice, and a clean environment. Liberalism's end game lies exposed . Food security, housing security, healthcare, guaranteed, education, guarantee of a living wage, together with a justice system that supposedly works for everyone. Who wouldnt want to make a more perfect world? But one just doesnt exist. Its been tried, but to accomplish it, wed have to become a nation of drones. Wed have to drive out the very features of Man that have given so many of us prosperity and longevity. Lust, avarice, greed, and some other powerful human emotions and drives, often accompanied by the opposite of egalitarianism predominate in a free society. Another wise philosophy, as I mentioned above, was expressed in this way; Live in this world, not in the world of the politically Utopian or the religiously messianic. I completely agree. Liberals have had their chance, and while they think they have changed the world, the change they think theyve brought us is even more poverty, suffering, and a contrived economy where the government almost always makes the wrong calls. Liberals wage phony wars (foreign and domestic) to right the wrongs they see as an impediment to a better world. Conservatives build on what works. If they stick to their philosophical guns, that is. American Jews make up a disproportionate share of our political leaders. There are 37 Jewish members of Congress and the Senate which represents about 7% of both bodies. Only 2.4% of our population is Jewish. Jews are motivated to serve in disproportionate numbers by their desire to make our world better. Unfortunately, their persuasive positions overwhelmingly lean left. Please dont misunderstand the intent of todays missive. At my core, I believe in the value of conservative Jewish theology and the power we, as a group, have to make our world better. However, our human DNA will not support a Utopia. I wish that every Jewish leader from whatever walk of life would realize the limitations of good intentions. They must remember, every day of their lives, how close the clarion call of Never Again still is and hew to a conservative approach to all things in life. Too often, our desires to make us believe we can change fundamental human behavior, and by extension the world, will never materialize. l'chaim! To Life! God bless our country. Allan J. Feifer is an author, businessman, and thinker. Read more about Allan, his background and his ideas to create a better tomorrow at www.1plus1equals2.com Image: Logo, via Wikipedia // public domain Over the weekend, CDC director Rochelle Walensky announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19: Walensky is "up to date with her vaccines," the statement said, and is experiencing mild symptoms. She is isolating at home, per her agency's guidance, which recommends quarantining for at least five days after testing positive. I certainly wish her well, with a speedy recovery and no lasting damage. But coming down with a case of COVID a month after she made a highly publicized visit to a CVS store, all masked up, to get her booster, role-modeling to the public how we should all get boosters and be "protected," raises a lot of awkward questions. .@CDCDirector Rochelle Walensky visited a CVS Pharmacy today to get her bivalent COVID-19 booster. The bivalent vaccine provides added protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant and is available at CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide. https://t.co/wXDZYrmMyd pic.twitter.com/BQojEnRpl4 CVS Health (@CVSHealth) September 22, 2022 Someone who is far better credentialed to ask those questions than I am is Vinay Prasad, M.D., a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California San Francisco. At his Substack blog, Sensible Medicine, he holds her to account. Rochelle Walensky just announced that she has COVID 19. She received the bivalent booster exactly one month ago at a CVS pharmacy. Right now she's probably in the window where the booster exerts the greatest protective effect it could possibly exert, yet still: look what happened. If you ask the CDC director, "What is the vaccine efficacy of the bivalent booster you have received? What is it for any symptomatic disease? What is it for severe disease?" She won't be able to answer. That's because the leadership at the White House has permitted this product to come to the US market without any credible evidence that it has any vaccine effectiveness. We simply don't have human randomized data for clinical endpoints. All we have is human data on antibody titers, which is a surrogate endpoint of no value in the current moment. It will be hard for the American people to reconcile Rochelle Walensky's insistance [sic] that everyone rush to boost their 7-year-old, a decision she encourages, with her living proof that this vaccine cannot stop breakthrough infection. And knowing we know nothing about the benefit on severe disease in a child that young. Particularly one who had Covid. Dr. Prasad is an expert on randomized studies and describes what could and should have been done by Pfizer now that the early stage of the disease is over. And he excoriates the political leadership that has bungled its handling of COVID: This White House is too cozy with Pfizer. They spend too much time talking to Pfizer and too little time talking to experts in evidence-based medicine. Sadly, their internal expertise does not seem to include medicine, evidence, or health policy. Probably their biggest failure is that they picked the wrong people to run the show. They picked political loyalists, and not the best scientific minds. They picked Ashish Jha because they saw him on cable news. And they saw him on cable news because he tweeted a lot. And they really liked him because like a puppy dog, he loved the White House's decisions, even when they were blatantly negligent and clearly incompetent. He kissed up better than the best. And that's why he's running the show. Not because he's the most thoughtful scientist. His decision making suggests otherwise. Here we find ourselves. A White House that is committed to the campaign that bivalent boosters, in young populations, is a critical step in the fall pandemic plan. They have no randomized evidence for that. They have no observational evidence for that. Their own CDC director who received this vaccine one month ago now has breakthrough infection. They have never asked Pfizer to do anything challenging, to earn the billions of dollars their forking over. This administration is incompetent, corporatist, and anti-evidence-based medicine. They spend more time smearing their opponents as misinformation purveyors then they do demanding drug companies generate information. He concludes: Rochelle Walensky's infection is just a reminder to the American people she doesn't know what she's talking about, because she has not asked for good evidence. Hat tip: Frank Amato Photo credit: Twitter. Most Americans haven't been paying attention to seemingly random stories about Israel attacking military sites in Syria. However, a Hebrew-language news outlet has a different take on what's going on. It claims that Israel's actions in Syria have destroyed 90% of Iranian weapons production facilities in Syria. An ABC report today provides a perfect example of the kind of attack Israel has been launching against Syria of late, along with the Syrian assurance that Israel's attacks are really nothing more than ineffective inconveniences: Israel carried out an airstrike on military posts in the suburbs of the Syrian capital Damascus on Monday wounding a soldier and damaging property, the Syrian army said. The afternoon attack came three days after a similar strike on Damascus suburbs caused property damage. Israel usually carries out airstrikes at night and such daytime attacks have been rare. The Syrian military said in a statement carried by state media that the missiles were fired from over northern Israel and that Syria's air defenses shot down some of them. However, the Walla News, a Hebrew-language newspaper offered a different take on Israel's motives and her success. (Hat tip: Israel 365 News.) I don't read Hebrew, but I'm assuming that this Google Translate version is accurate: Image: YouTube screen grab. Senior IDF officials: We hit 90% of Iran's weapons production mechanism in Syria According to the same sources, Israel managed to stop the establishment of the Revolutionary Guards on Syrian soil as part of the campaign between the wars. The sources rejected claims that the IDF reduced the intensity of the attacks due to the tensions in relations with Moscow, and noted that the fight against Iran and the pro-Iranian forces was maintained. The IDF destroyed about 90% of the plans of Iran and Hezbollah to base themselves in Syria - this is what senior officials in the defense system revealed today (Saturday). According to them, in recent years Israel has succeeded in almost completely curbing Iran's ability to transfer weapons in Syria, to manufacture weapons on the country's soil and to establish a base in it through pro-Iranian bases and forces. According to the same sources, the great plan of the commander of the Iranian Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, who was eliminated in 2020, to establish large forces in Syria did not come to fruition thanks to the campaign between the wars (MABM) carried out by the IDF in the years The last alleged attack attributed to Israel in Syria was last Friday when local media reported that the IDF attacked near the Damascus airport after about a month of relative silence. What's not said in the article, which is obviously quite focused on Israel, is that it's very likely that it was Trump's strike on Qassem Soleimani that made these attacks successful. With Soleimani, the head of Iran's worldwide terrorism network, dead, Iran's ability to continue building such facilities was going to be severely impaired. Looking back over the last six years, it's become clear that Trump was a phenomenally successful president at a foreign policy level. While the American left liked to smirk about the fact that the Europeans neither liked nor respected him, leftists overlooked the fact that Europeans neither like nor respect America and, moreover, that they frequently ally themselves with America's enemies. Trump, by ignoring both supercilious Democrats and Europeans, was able to focus on weakening the web of those opposed to America's interests. Sadly, in less than two years in office, Biden has managed to undo all of that good work...and then some. Just yesterday, Shawn Fleetwood of The Federalist reported that Joe Biden's Department of Justice is delaying its handover of records relating to Biden's executive order from March 2021. The records were requested by a federal court. Biden's Executive Order 14019 asked all 600 federal agencies to "consider ways to expand citizens' opportunities to register to vote and to obtain information about, and participate in, the electoral process." The Federalist's Mollie Hemingway has carried reports about this. Was Biden misusing the federal government to conduct an unconstitutional "get out the vote" effort, or was something more ominous afoot? Many groups, including GOP groups, demanded more details about the scope of Biden's order, but those demands fell on deaf ears. Some state officials demanded that the executive order be summarily rescinded. The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) filed several Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests relating to the order. The FGA sued the DOJ back in April after its officials failed to respond. Finally, the DOJ handed over some of its records to the FGA just last month. As expected, the documents were heavily redacted. This is a standard ploy when governments want to conceal information from the public. Also absent was the DOJ's 15-page "strategic plan" on how the agency intends to comply with Biden's executive order. In response to the court order, the DOJ filed a motion for summary judgment with the U.S. Middle District Court of Florida in an attempt to conceal communication records related to Executive Order 14019. In their legal filing, Biden's DOJ argued that they had "submitted a reasonably specific declaration" in response to FGA's request. The DOJ claimed that documents related to their strategic plan were "within the scope of the presidential communications privilege," so they had to withhold and redact. Another ludicrous excuse was that disclosure would reveal "a full range of options, plans, or propositions for future potential actions" and could cause "public confusion" because "it contains many proposed actions that the public might construe as future commitments, past actions, or provisions already in place." What a picture this is. First, they redact and withhold, then they claim "presidential communications privilege," and when all flimsy excuses are exhausted, they blame the citizens for being too vacuous to understand their documents. Going down the road of absurdity, they could even claim that KGB agents are interfering with the midterm elections, so their secrecy is essential. The question is, whom among the electorate will the government target to "expand citizens' opportunities to register to vote"? What if they conduct registration drives for only those groups that are likely to vote Democrat? What if they begin registering pro-Democrat non-citizens? What if voter identification is made optional? What if there is subliminal pro-Democrat messaging during the registration drives banners and talk about climate change, abortion, BLM, etc.? What if the government collaborates with private organizations to facilitate transportation to the polling booth or ballot-harvesters to the home on Election Day? They could claim it is for select impoverished areas and only for the elderly and the disabled. But who decides which areas apply? What if the government engages in door-to-door visits to "obtain information" and verify election documents on certain groups of voters? Once the verification is complete, the citizens are paid visits by activists who engage in campaign talk. What if the government targets those Democrat voters who are disgusted by Biden's misgovernance and hence decide to abstain from voting? In a democracy, voting is a right, a right doesn't always have to be exercised. A voter can register a protest by not voting. The question is, will Biden officials hound these people and compel them to vote? Will mail-in votes still be allowed, and will federal agents or "activists" "assist" people in filling in their mail-in ballots? The Biden administration can answer all questions by being transparent about the executive order. But instead, officials are engaging in obfuscation and delay tactics. People have a right to be concerned. People know that when matters go against the Democrats' wishes, Democrats alter sacrosanct rules that have existed for ages. When Trump won the election in 2016, instead of accepting the results and introspecting, they rejected the results and claimed that Trump had won by colluding with Russia. Next, they managed the appointment of a special counsel despite the GOP being in control of the Senate, the House, and the White House. The probe proceeded for around two years and hung like a sword over the Trump administration. It probably cost the GOP the House in 2019. They also blamed low-information or bigoted MAGA voters for their losses when they happened. When the Democrats lost twice to George W. Bush, they talked about abolishing the Electoral College. This talk revived after their 2016 defeat, when Hillary Clinton ran for president. The Democrats have abused their power in the Executive and Legislative Branches to hound and persecute President Trump because he could win back the White House in 2024. Never before has a former president been targeted in such a manner. When social media platforms provided a forum for citizens to express themselves freely, Democrats decided that that could affect the 2016 elections, so they colluded with Big Tech to suppress all dissenting views in 2020 and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The list of systemic changes the Democrats have either accomplished or are attempting is endless. The mainstream news media function like the P.R. wing for the Democrats while government agencies have been politicized. Hence, they know that nobody will call them out and challenge their abuse of power and corruption. The Democrats know that retaining power in the Legislative Branch is the only way to prevent Trump from running in 2024 and to prevent investigations regarding Biden's scandals and misgovernance, Dr. Anthony Fauci and his pandemic profiteering, and numerous instances of Democrat abuse of power and corruption. The poll numbers and the mood of the nation show that the Democrats are on track to receive a routing during the midterms. The only way the Democrats can retain power is to meddle with the rules and play foul behind the scenes. They managed this during previous election i.e., the 2020 presidential election on many levels. Big media and Big Tech colluded to suppress the Hunter Biden laptop scandal. A poll showed that nearly four of five Americans believe that "truthful" coverage would have changed the outcome of that election. Mark Zuckerberg spent $419 million, which enabled far-left activists to target specific key districts in swing states, redesign ballots to their advantage, overrule local elected officials on how elections were to be run, and even infiltrate sacrosanct electoral infrastructure. Many states altered their voting procedures mere months prior to the election, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse. Mass ballot-harvesting and widespread vote-by-mail resulted in many accounts of misplaced, displaced, duplicate and fraudulent ballots cast. In the end, an unprecedented 69% of voters cast their votes either by mail and/or before Election Day. Recent polling from ABC/Ipsos shows that an astounding 41 percent of Americans, across party lines, are not confident about the integrity of the country's elections. If that number grows, there will come a day when a majority of citizens wont trust any elections within America. That will lead to anarchy. Image: Screen shot from a camera aimed at a live television broadcast, processed with FotoSketcher. James Lee, writing in City Journal, describes an outrageous limitation on scientific research being imposed by anonymous bureaucrats at the National Institutes of Health, which is receiving $45 billion in taxpayer funding this year. Apparently, some researchers whose work might lead to results that could "stigmatize" certain groups, or which otherwise would challenge the personal values of the bureaucrats, are being denied access to a key database that taxpayers have paid to assemble. A policy of deliberate ignorance has corrupted top scientific institutions in the West. It's been an open secret for years that prestigious journals will often reject submissions that offend prevailing political orthodoxies especially if they involve controversial aspects of human biology and behavior no matter how scientifically sound the work might be. The leading journal Nature Human Behaviour recently made this practice official in an editorial effectively announcing that it will not publish studies that show the wrong kind of differences between human groups. American geneticists now face an even more drastic form of censorship: exclusion from access to the data necessary to conduct analyses, let alone publish results. Case in point: the National Institutes of Health now withholds access to an important database if it thinks a scientist's research may wander into forbidden territory. The source at issue, the Database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP), is an exceptional tool, combining genome scans of several million individuals with extensive data about health, education, occupation, and income. It is indispensable for research on how genes and environments combine to affect human traits. No other widely accessible American database comes close in terms of scientific utility. (snip) Apparently, NIH is clamping down on a broad range of attempts to explore the relationship between genetics and intelligence. What is NIH's justification? Studies of intelligence do not pose any greater threat to the dignity of their participants than research based on non-genetic factors. With the customary safeguards in place, research activities such as genetically predicting an individual's academic performance need be no more "stigmatizing" than predicting academic performance based on an individual's family structure during childhood. The cost of this censorship is profound. On a practical level, many of the original data-generating studies were set up with the explicit goal of understanding risk factors for various diseases. Since intelligence and education are also risk factors for many of these diseases, denying researchers usage of these data stymies progress on the problems the studies were funded to address. Scientific research should not have to justify itself on those grounds, anyway. Perhaps the most elemental principle of science is that the search for truth is worthwhile, regardless of its practical benefits. NIH's responsibility is to protect the safety and privacy of research participants, not to enforce a party line. Indeed, no apparent legal basis exists for these restrictions. NIH enforces hundreds of regulations, but you will search in vain for any grounds on which to ban "stigmatizing" research whatever that even means. The restrictions appear to be invented to impede research on certain topics that anonymous bureaucrats with ideological motivations have decided are out of bounds. It's impossible to know whether senior NIH officials have instigated the restrictions or merely accepted them tacitly. Perhaps they are unaware of the problem; officials far down the bureaucratic ladder are responsible for approving specific applications. JAKARTA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- A fire broke out on a passenger ship in the waters off East Nusa Tenggara province in central Indonesia on Monday as the evacuation of passengers and crew members was underway, head of the provincial search and rescue office said. "Rescue operation is underway. Our personnel are attempting to rescue the crew and the passengers of the ship," Putu Sudayana told Xinhua by phone. The ship, named Shantika Lestari, caught fire when it was sailing in the waters off Kupang city, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara province, according to Richard Pelt, a senior official of the provincial disaster management and mitigation agency. The ship, which departed from a seaport in Kupang city, was heading to the Alor district of the province, he told Xinhua. A video footage showed a huge black smoke appearing from the ship and passengers were wearing life jackets. Mark Wauck, at his Substack blog Meaning in History, asks if a new iron curtain is emerging, with a dramatic split in attitudes on transgenderism between Eastern and Western Europe, coincident with the split between communist and non-communist nations during the Cold War. He cites this map in a tweet, noting that the source of the poll is unclear: Do you believe that transgender women are equal to biological womenand do you believe that trannies deserve the same rights as biological women? Think of sports, changing rooms and the exception of military service. pic.twitter.com/ANdilpSKKt JacobCharite (@jaccocharite) October 22, 2022 He notes that views in the U.S. vary widely on related questions, with, for instance, 87% of Democrats favoring transgender people serving in the military but only 43% of Republicans. But views appear to be shifting away from acceptance of transgender ideology. Breitbart a year ago: Sixty-two percent of Americans say each person's sex cannot be changed, marking a big shift since 2019 away from the transgender ideology, according to the results of a new poll by Harvard/Harris. The poll of 1,576 registered voters was conducted October 26-28 by Harvard's Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) and Harris Insights and Analytics. (snip) Less than 40 percent of the respondents agreed that people can change their sex, according to the Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll, which also reported that 62 percent of all voters said, "people are born with their gender." I find the variation among Western European countries interesting. Sweden has a reputation for extremely liberal views on sex, but Spain and Ireland do not. Russian president Vladimir Putin often describes the West as decadent, and I am sure poll results like the map above are ammunition for him. Image credit: Twitter. Early this year, the California State University System, the largest public university in the country with 23 campuses, almost half a million students, and over 50,000 faculty, proudly became the first to ban discrimination on the basis of caste. Now that anti-discrimination policy is the subject of a lawsuit, claiming that it discriminates against students and staff who are Indian and/or Hindu. The anticaste discrimination measure was hailed at first. NBC News reported: California State University has become the first university system in the country to add caste to its anti-discrimination policy. On the system's 23 campuses across California, caste-oppressed students will now be able to report anti-Dalit bias, which students say they regularly experience at school. Dalit is a reclaimed term for those born into scheduled castes, the most socially and economically oppressed in South Asia's stratified caste hierarchy. Though the caste system was abolished in India, its influence still pervades South Asia and diaspora communities. (snip) Twenty-five percent of Dalits in the U.S. say they frequently face verbal and physical assaults because of their caste, according to research by Equality Labs, an organization dedicated to ending white supremacy and casteism. But not everyone at Cal State was enthusiastic, as DW.com reported in February: More than 500 faculty members publicly supported the policy, while at least 80 said they opposed it, claiming that the policy could perpetuate discrimination against South Asian students. "We believe that this addition is a misguided overreach without any evidence for its need and that, instead of curbing discrimination, it will cause more discrimination by unconstitutionally singling out and targeting Hindu faculty of Indian and South Asian descent," a statement issued by the Hindu American Foundation said. The statement also called for "the removal of the discriminatory insertion of 'caste' as an additional category," and said it would reinforce "deeply entrenched, false stereotypes about Indians, Hindus, and caste." Now two professors have filed suit: Professors Sunil Kumar of Cal State San Diego and Praveen Sinha of Cal State Long Beach both consider the move unconstitutional as they claimed it would only bolster discrimination against the school's Hindu and South Asian populations. (snip) The Hindu American Foundation (HAF), which is aiding the professors' legal representation, said the university is misrepresenting the caste system as a tenet of Hindu belief. HAF Executive Director Suhag Shukla and Managing Director Samir Kalra claim the policy is "unconstitutional" because it reportedly violates the First Amendment's Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses as well as the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses. Kumar and Sinha filed their complaint at a California federal court to stop the university from enforcing the updated policy. I confess that I have no idea how this will turn out, or how it should. Caste, on the surface, seems inherently discriminatory. Its formal abolition in India speaks volumes, and on the surface should indicate that it has no place in America. Yet we also guarantee freedom of religion and certainly don't want Hindus or anyone else persecuted for their beliefs. I'll be interested to see how the arguments in this lawsuit are fleshed out. A vast protest movement of demonstrations all over Iran is shaking that theocratic and despotic regime led by Ayatollah Khamenei to its core. Now in their sixth week, the demonstrators, including many women, are protesting the death of 22-year-old Masha Amini for allegedly violating the strict dress code imposed on women, wearing a scarf in a way that displeased the religious police, who beat her to death. A new generation that came of age after President Obama betrayed the hopes of the Green Revolution in 2009 once again threatens the stability of the ruling circle's hold on power. Ayatollah Khamenei. As Adam Kredo reports in the Free Beacon: As the Iranian regime violently cracks down on growing nationwide protests, lawmakers' attention is again on the atrocities committed at the hands of the Iranian regime. Yet not a single House Democrat has lent support to legislation that would sanction Iran's supreme leader and his inner circle for mass human rights crimes, according to senior congressional sources familiar with the matter. The bill, dubbed the Mahsa Amini Act after the 22-year-old Iranian woman who was killed by the regime's morality police for improperly wearing her head covering, would "impose sanctions on the supreme leader of Iran and the president of Iran and their respective offices for human rights abuses and support for terrorism," according to a copy of the measure obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. (snip) The Republican-led bill was circulated to every single Democratic House office, but not a single one has yet to cosponsor the bill, two senior Republican congressional aides told the Free Beacon. Democrats have been throwing around reckless charges of being "pro-Putin" or of being "in Putin's camp" against anyone who dares to question President Biden's conduct of foreign policy in Ukraine, which is scurrilous. But those who use such language need to answer why they are protecting the monsters who rule Iran with an iron fist while they plot to annihilate Israel ("The Little Satan") and the United States ("The Great Satan"). And now that Iran is supplying drones used by Russia in Ukraine, they need to answer why they are protecting leaders who are definitely "in Putin's camp." A good guess for the source of this reticence would be the Biden administration's attempt to revive the JCPOA Iran nuclear deal. But that travesty is dead and should remain in its grave. Revival would channel billions to Iran just as the regime is tottering and offers no prospect of deterring Iran's fanatical leaders from their quest to destroy us. Photo credit: Khamenei.ir, CC BY 4.0 license. Tech companies are no strangers to releasing limited edition branded versions of their products. Samsung is one of them, and it partnered with Maison Margiela to produce limited edition Galaxy Z Flip 4 devices. This device is going to be targeted at people really into fashion and luxury devices. The brand Maison Margiela is a world-renowned fashion company, so a partnership with Samsung was imminent. Not only will there be a specifically branded Galaxy Z Flip 4, but the Maison Margiela partnership will also encompass accessories. We see this in a tweet from Samsung. The tweet shows numbers from 1 to 23 with the Maison Margiela text right under it. The number 11 is circled. Number 11 refers to Maison Margielas accessory line. Advertisement One thing to know about this partnership is that it may be available outside of South Korea. This is substantial, as Samsung usually only launches its branded devices in its home country. We dont know what the Maison Margiela Galaxy Flip 4 will look like Unfortunately, we dont know what to expect with this device. There arent any leaked renders or leaked photos to go off of. All we have is the announcement from Samsung. While the clamshell foldable is getting a fashion makeover, unfortunately, there will be no Maison Margiela version of the Galaxy Z Fold 4. This will definitely be a disappointment to people looking forward to one. Advertisement At this point, we are not sure when this version of the Z Flip 4 will come out. We will have to wait for more information on this to know for sure. If you are considering getting one of these phones, they are definitely worth the money. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 bring some slight yet welcome changes over last years devices. Android Headlines posted reviews for both of these phones. You can find the Galaxy Z Fold 4 review here and the Galaxy Z Flip 4 review here. Vehicles pass through a waterlogged street in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, Oct. 24, 2022. Most parts of Bangladesh is witnessing gusty winds and heavy rain over cyclone Sitrang that is heading towards the South Asian country's vast coastline. (Xinhua) DHAKA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Most parts of Bangladesh is witnessing gusty winds and heavy rain over cyclone Sitrang that is heading towards the South Asian country's vast coastline. A special bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said Monday morning that the cyclone was now staying at 525 km southwest of Bangladesh's Mongla port in southern Khulna region and 590 km southwest of Chattogram port in southeastern Bangladesh. Kh. Hafizur Rahman, a senior meteorologist, said weather forecasters were asked to hoist danger signal No. 6 for Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, a seaside city in southeastern Bangladesh, and signal No. 7 for Mongla seaport in southwest Bangladesh and Payra seaport in southern Bangladesh. The coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni and their offshore islands also come under danger signal 7. According to the BMD, some coastal areas of the mentioned districts may experience gusty winds up to 60 kph along with heavy to very heavy rainfall. All the fishing boats, trawlers and maritime vessels have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice. Apart from this, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) suspended the operations of vessels on all waterways across the country due to inclement weather caused by the cyclone. TV reports said southern and southeastern coastal districts have been experiencing gusty winds as the cyclone was approaching. TV footage showed widespread flooding in coastal districts of Khulna and Chattogram divisions and other districts Monday morning, where tens of thousands of people have reportedly been evacuated from their homes. Cities including the capital Dhaka are experiencing drizzle and gusty wind on Monday as an impact of the advancing storm. The cyclone is expected to intensify further before cutting its path through the Bangladeshi coast by early Tuesday, the meteorological office said in the bulletin. A motorbike passes through a waterlogged street in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, Oct. 24, 2022. Most parts of Bangladesh is witnessing gusty winds and heavy rain over cyclone Sitrang that is heading towards the South Asian country's vast coastline. (Xinhua) People walk on a waterlogged street in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, on Oct. 24, 2022. Most parts of Bangladesh is witnessing gusty winds and heavy rain over cyclone Sitrang that is heading towards the South Asian country's vast coastline. (Xinhua) People walk on a waterlogged street in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, on Oct. 24, 2022. Most parts of Bangladesh is witnessing gusty winds and heavy rain over cyclone Sitrang that is heading towards the South Asian country's vast coastline. (Xinhua) Fishermen pack belongings on a seashore in Chattogram, Bangladesh, on Oct. 24, 2022. Most parts of Bangladesh is witnessing gusty winds and heavy rain over cyclone Sitrang that is heading towards the South Asian country's vast coastline. (Xinhua) This photo shows rough sea in Chattogram, Bangladesh, on Oct. 24, 2022. Most parts of Bangladesh is witnessing gusty winds and heavy rain over cyclone Sitrang that is heading towards the South Asian country's vast coastline. (Xinhua) Fishermen are seen on seashore in Chattogram, Bangladesh, on Oct. 24, 2022. Most parts of Bangladesh is witnessing gusty winds and heavy rain over cyclone Sitrang that is heading towards the South Asian country's vast coastline. (Xinhua) (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 24 - The climate crisis is increasingly a factor in driving the migrants who arrive in Italy to leave their homelands, according to the 'Immigrazione 2022' report released by the Idos research centre on Monday. The report, prepared in collaboration with the Confronti study centre and the 'S. Pio V' Political Studies Institute, said that the top countries of origin of the migrants who came here in 2021 were States hit especially hard by climate-linked phenomena such as prolonged drought and extreme flooding. These included Tunisia, Egypt, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Syria, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Guinea, Pakistan and Iran. The report said these migrants are 'invisible' before the law in the sense that Italy and the European Union do not give climate migrants refugee status. "Climate injustice and social injustice are merging and migration is becoming the only adaptation strategy available for those who have no other alternative in order to flee poverty in all its forms," said Idos President Luca Di Sciullo. "Preventing conflict is not sufficient to resolve the issue of forced migration. "It is also necessary to learn to live in a more sustainable way with our planet, turning the current development model on its head and thinking practically about the right to migrate". (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 24 - A spokesman for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said after criticism of his tweet congratulating an alleged "post-Fascist" leader in new Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni that "Germany collaborates with all European governments, and in this sense the Chancellor posted a tweet Saturday and there will also be a telegramme of congratulations to follow". As well as his congratulatory tweet, Scholz said after the European Council Friday that Germany was ready to work with Brothers of Italy (FDI) leader Meloni. "We are all together as European nations within the EU and it is essential that we democracies cooperate a great deal," said Scholz. "Every time that there is a change of government because of elections, as (happens) in a democracy, it cannot change the good relations that we have with the other member States or, for example, that we have between Germany and Italy. "We will continue to work with very good cooperation between the countries and within the sphere of the European Union". In his tweet Saturday Scholz said: Congratulazioni @GiorgiaMeloni. I look forward to continue working closely together with Italy in EU, NATO and G7. "All the best and thank you to Mario Draghi @Palazzo_Chigifor the good German-Italian partnership in recent years." Meloni replied "Many thanks @Bundeskanzler. We are ready to work together to find common and shared solutions to the important challenges that Europe is facing from an energy, economic and security point of view." Meloni rejects the 'post-Fascist' label, preferring to be called "conservative", and is the chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists party along with Spain's Vox, Poland's Law and Justice, and the Sweden Democrats. She says Italy "handed Fascism over" to history decades ago, with its suspension of democracy and "ignominious" anti-Jewish laws, and says she shares values with Britain's Conservatives and the US Republicans. (ANSA). Kosovo: Western Ambassadors concerned about plates Meeting with Vucic in Belgrade (ANSA) - BELGRADE, OCT 21 - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Quint ambassadors and the head of the European Union (EU) delegation on Friday, who presented him with a joint document expressing their concerns about a potential breach of stability ahead of the deadline for the replacement of Serbian-issued license plates in Kosovo and Metohija, according to a press release issued by the President's Office, as reported by regional television N1. According to the press release, Vucic expressed concern about potential tensions and stated that Serbia is committed to dialogue as a means of resolving open issues for the benefit of Serbs and ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo and Metohija while not jeopardizing its own state and national interests. (ANSA). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved Webuild leads consortium for 490 million Romania contract Total of new orders amount to 10.7 billion (ANSA) - BELGRADE, OCT 24 - Webuild will work on the Lot 4 of a railway line connecting Cluj-Napoca to Episcopia Bihor in Romania in collaboration with two other companies, according to a statement from the company. The lot is worth approximately 490 million euros in total. Webuild is in charge of the consortium with a 50% stake in the project, followed by Pizzarotti (30%) and Salcef (20%). The new contract brings the Webuild Group's total new orders since the beginning of the year to 10.7 billion euros. (ANSA). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved Bosnia: appeal against 'revisionist' movie in Vicenza Also Sarajevo's major against 'RS: The Struggle for Freedom (ANSA) - BELGRADE, OCT 24 - The mayor of Sarajevo, Benjamina Karic, and the imam Ahmed Tabakovic are among the signatories of an open letter to Vicenza's mayor, Francesco Rucco, in which they request assurance that no public screening of filmmaker Boris Malagurski's new film, 'Republika Srpska: The Struggle for Freedom,' will take place in the northern Italian city on November 11, 2022. The film was made by a director who had "years of public relativisation and denial of the crimes committed in the RS' name, including the Srebrenica Genocide of 1995," according to the letter, seen by ANSA. Furthermore, Malagurski's film "revises this painful history of 1992-1995 by misrepresenting genocidal crimes as a 'fight for freedom.' In doing so, the film whitewashes crimes against humanity that the ICTY has found to have been committed, including the genocide in Srebrenica in July 1995," to the letter reads. Similar protests led to the cancellation of screenings of the documentary in almost 20 cities in recent weeks, including Dusseldorf, Brussels, Antwerp, Belgium, and Klagenfurt. (ANSA). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved BEIRUT - Turkish authorities in just five months have arrested and deported hundreds of Syrian refugees, including minors, to Syrian territories still torn by armed conflict, according to an in-depth research and dozens of interviews carried out by international organization Human Rights Watch (HRW). The newly published report said that between February and July 2022, Turkish officials arrested 39 people including Syrian adults and teens while they were at home, on the job or on the street. According to the documents and witness accounts gathered by HRW, these 37 men and two minors were detained in precarious conditions, in the majority of cases they were hit and mistreated, and they were forced to sign documents of "voluntary repatriation". The report went on to say that they were subsequently taken to the northern border of Syria and forced to cross at gunpoint. "In violation of international law, Turkish authorities took hundreds of Syrian refugees, including unaccompanied minors, and forced to return to northern Syria", said Nadia Hardman, a researcher on the rights of refugees and migrants at Human Rights Watch. "Although Turkey provided temporary protection to over three and a half million Syrian refugees, it now looks like he is trying to transform northern Syria into a dumping ground for refugees", said Hardman. Recent signs coming from Turkey and other governments, continued HRW, indicate a trend to normalize relations with the Syrian government, embodied by the contested President Bashar al Assad. Last May, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the intention of deporting to northern Syria one million refugees, in areas not controlled by the government but under the influence or direct control of Ankara. HRW said the areas are still involved in the armed conflict and are too dangerous for the return of refugees. In March 2016, the European Union and Turkey reached an agreement under which Ankara pledged to stop the flow of Syrian migrants towards EU countries in exchange, among other benefits, for six million euros formally received from the Union to "improve the humanitarian conditions" of migrants in Turkey. BEIRUT - Authorities in Beirut on Monday confirmed the exchange of documents between Lebanon and Israel to reach a formal agreement between the two countries, mediated by the US, for the definition of maritime borders and the consequent division of natural gas fields off the coasts of the two countries, which will take place next Thursday at the UN base of Cape Naqura, a border area between the two countries. Media in Beirut quoted the Lebanese presidency as saying that US mediator Amos Hochstein will arrive in Lebanon on Wednesday to attend the ceremony the next day at Cape Naqura. At the base of the UN military contingent deployed in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the country will be represented by a high official of the Lebanese army and the director general for oil affairs of the Lebanese energy ministry, according to media reports. The US mediation between Lebanon and Israel wrapped up after more than 10 years only a few weeks ago with an agreement described as "historic" between the sides. The two countries remain in a state of belligerence and have not yet started negotiations for the definition of the land border. The definition of the maritime border was possible thanks to respective financial interests for the exploitation of energy resources off the coasts of the two countries. After reaching an "historic" accord with the Israeli "enemy", Lebanese authorities announced they are ready to negotiate with Cypriot authorities for the definition of maritime borders between the two countries ahead of the division of energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean. Negotiations with Cyprus, according to Lebanese media reports published on Monday, will formally start only after the formal conclusion of the agreement between Lebanon and Israel next Thursday. Moreover, over the next few hours, authorities in Beirut have started negotiations with neighboring Syria for the definition of the maritime border, which is also necessary in this case for the division of energy resources between the two countries. Lebanese presidential palace sources quoted on Monday by local media said deputy Parliament speaker, Elias Abou Saab, was tasked by the outgoing head of State Michel Aoun, an ally of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah, to visit the day after tomorrow Damascus for a "preparatory visit" ahead of negotiations for the definition of maritime borders between the two countries. Over the past few days, according to Lebanese media, Aoun spoke on the phone with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al Assad to start talks, connected - in this case as well - to the division of energy resources off Lebanese and Syrian coasts. Last year, Syrian authorities signed a contract with a Russian energy company for the exploration of that part of the sea disputed with Lebanon. According to Lebanon, the Syrian block 1 is in part in Lebanese territorial waters and coincides with Lebanese blocks 1 and 2. Russia has offered to mediate between Damascus and Beirut on the issue, reports said. Russia intervened militarily in the war in Syria in October 2015 and has been a strategic ally of Damascus for about half a century. ROME - Forty organizations have urged civil society to demonstrate against the Italy-Libya memorandum during a demonstration organized next Wednesday at 5.30 pm in Rome's Esquilino square. "If by November 2 the Italian government will not decide for its suspension - the NGOs said - the memorandum will be automatically renewed for another three years. It is an agreement that has had dramatic consequences for the past five years on the life of thousands of migrant and refugee women, men and children. From 2017 to October 2022, nearly 100,000 people have been intercepted at sea by Libyan coast guards and forcibly taken back to Libya, a country which cannot be considered safe. The organizations are asking the Italian government to recognize its responsibility and not renew agreements with Libya". The NGOs are also asking to "shed light on the management of European funds financing Libyan coast guards". The demonstration will be preceded by a press conference at 2:30 pm at the Sala Cristallo of the Nazionale Hotel, during which organizations that have signed the appeal to civil society will illustrate the consequences of the memorandum on people held in Libya, including abuse, arbitrary detention and torture. The NGOs promoting the event, many of which operate to support and defend migrant rights, include the Agency Habeshia, Alarm Phone, Amnesty International Italia, Centro Astalli, Fondazione Migrantes, Intersos, Medici del Mondo Italia, Mediterranea, Medici Senza Frontiere, Open Arms, Oxfam Italia, Refugees Welcome Italia, ResQ - People Saving People, Save the Children, Sea-Watch. CANBERRA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has decided to sign the Global Methane Pledge to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30 percent below 2020 levels by 2030. Chris Bowen, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, recently announced that signatories to the non-binding pledge commit to taking a range of domestic actions such as standards for reducing emissions in the energy and waste sectors, and seeking abatement opportunities in the agricultural sector through technology and partnerships with farmers. "Now, methane is 24 percent of Australia's emissions, and we are the world's 11th biggest emitter of methane. So it's very important that we have a seat at the table, and we are part of the solution," he said in a press conference on Sunday. Bowen said that as this is a global pledge, it does not require Australia to reduce its own emissions by 30 percent. "It requires us to work to reduce our emissions as much as possible and to contribute to a 30 percent global reduction and to improve our measurement," he said. The agriculture sector accounts for about half of Australia's methane emissions, with resources and waste responsible for a further 39 percent. According to Bowen, the government has committed funding for the seaweed industry to support the commercialization of the low-emissions livestock feed supplement asparagopsis. It will also support the development of technologies to deliver low-emission feed supplements to grazing animals and determine their technical viability and commercial potential. Bowen said the pledge does not require Australia to focus solely on agriculture, or reduce agricultural production or livestock numbers. The minister also said the government will not legislate or introduce taxes or levies to reduce livestock emissions. Stars of Doctor Who, Line Of Duty and Strictly Come Dancing have all lent their voices to the reading of a poem by the Poet Laureate to mark the BBCs centenary. A host of famous faces from across the BBC have made cameo appearances in a new video recording of the poem by Simon Armitage, titled Transmission Report. The video released by the BBC on Monday features Armitage and celebrities including Jodie Whittaker, Professor Brian Cox, Craig Revel Horwood, Romesh Ranganathan and Adrian Dunbar. BBC shares Poet Laureate Simon Armitages poem, Transmission, to mark centenary #BBC100Read more https://t.co/HJSTqHBQnO pic.twitter.com/W53YUviB5u BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) October 24, 2022 Lines by Armitage describe the BBC as the soul of the nation and sending a measured and clear signal throughout its 100 years. Above gridlocked airwaves and channels jammed with cross-talk and static, I set my clock and steer by a signal that pulses keen and measured and clear, the poet writes. The video is accompanied by composer Patrick Pearson and The BBCs Concert Orchestra. Other familiar faces include stars of Ru Pauls Drag Race UK Krystal Versace, Ella Vaday and Kitty Scott-Claus, as well as Ross Kemp, Chris Packham, Sir Michael Palin and Dame Mary Berry. BBC broadcasters Huw Edwards and Clive Myrie also make appearances, along with colleagues including Fiona Bruce, Zoe Ball and Alex Scott. "The intellectual and artistic and emotional life of this country would be much poorer without the BBC." Poet Laureate Simon Armitage sums up the message behind 'Transmission Report', our #BBC100 poem beautifully accompanied by @BBCCO. #TheOneShow pic.twitter.com/Mb90Ztp9Qs BBC The 100 Show (@BBCTheOneShow) October 24, 2022 The BBC is also marking its centenary by renaming The One Show for one week to The 100 Show. Speaking on The 100 Show about the poem, Armitage said he had wanted people to think about what the (UK) broadcasting landscape would look like without the BBC. Its become a family member for a lot of people, he said. I didnt intend at the time that the poem would be spoken by all these names and faces but watching it, you can wonder what it would be like if we didnt have them in our living rooms. He added: Im just trying to say to people that the intellectual and artistic and emotional life of this country would be much poorer without the BBC. The Government has missed a deadline set by Boris Johnson to sign a free trade deal with India, prompting questions over the future of the negotiations under incoming prime minister Rishi Sunak. Earlier this month, Downing Street insisted there was no rush for Britain to finalise an agreement amid reports that talks with the government of Narendra Modi were close to collapse. At the time, the Department for International Trade (DIT) said negotiations were continuing despite claims that anger in New Delhi over remarks by then home secretary Suella Braverman criticising Indian migrants had put hopes of an agreement in jeopardy. Negotiations for a trade deal between the UK and India were reportedly thrown into doubt after comments made by ex-home secretary Suella Braverman (Aaron Chown/PA) When Boris Johnson visited India in April, the two countries set a deadline of Diwali on Monday to conclude a deal, with reports that Mr Modi could travel to the UK to mark the occasion. But no announcement has been made, despite outgoing Prime Minister Liz Truss committing to the same deadline. The DIT had sought to play down suggestions of a breakdown in negotiations, with a spokesman saying the Government would only sign when the terms were right. As the latest Conservative leadership handover takes place, attention will turn to how Mr Sunak may approach the subject, particularly given his links to the country. The 42-year-old is the first British Asian and Hindu to become prime minister in the UK. His wife is the daughter of Indias sixth richest man, and his parents are of Punjabi descent. During the last leadership election where Mr Sunak lost out to Ms Truss, the former chancellor said he wanted to be pragmatic in his approach to immigration and make sure his policies support economic growth. Although he said little about his views on the use of work visas while the UK continues to face a labour shortage, these comments suggest a more liberal attitude than favoured by the likes of Ms Braverman. During her brief tenure in charge of the Home Office, Ms Braverman clashed with Downing Street for expressing views which put her at odds with Government policy as Ms Truss struggled to enforce party discipline. Ms Braverman said she had reservations about relaxing immigration controls as part of any trade deal with India, telling The Spectator she had concerns about having an open borders migration policy with India because I dont think thats what people voted for with Brexit. Look at migration in this country the largest group of people who overstay are Indian migrants, she told the magazine. We even reached an agreement with the Indian government last year to encourage and facilitate better co-operation in this regard. It has not necessarily worked very well. Her comments were reported to have provoked a furious reaction from ministers and officials in New Delhi. Will Smith has hailed an epic night, after sharing his new film with famous faces including Rihanna, ASAP Rocky and comedian Dave Chappelle. The actor is due to star in Apple TV+ drama Emancipation in December, marking his first big project since the now infamous Oscars slap. Smith stormed the stage at the 94th Academy Awards in March and slapped comedian Chris Rock following a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. A post on his Instagram page showed the actor smiling at a screening of Emancipation, alongside Tyler Perry, Rihanna, ASAP Rocky and Chappelle. EPIC night!! Thanx for coming to see #Emancipation. Hope yall enjoyed!! he wrote, captioning the photo. Comedian Chappelle is known to be good friends with Rock, and the pair have recently shared bills on tour, including several venues in the UK. Chappelle himself was also subject to an onstage attack at the Hollywood Bowl venue in Los Angeles, shortly after the incident between Smith and Rock. The two comedians have reportedly addressed the incidents in comedy routines, both separately and together, though Rock has yet to issue a direct public response to Smith. Comedian Chappelle, who is known to be friends with Chris Rock, was pictured at a film screening alongside Will Smith (Netflix/Mathieu Bitton/PA) The actor was banned from all Academy events or programmes for 10 years following his unprecedented behaviour at the ceremony. He apologised to Rock over the infamous slap three months after the incident in a five-minute video posted on Instagram. Smiths film Emancipation sees him play a slave who flees a Louisiana plantation and embarks on a journey to reunite with his family. Based on the true story of whipped Peter from 1863 who was taken during a Union Army medical examination, the film will debut on the streaming platform on December 9. The head of the armed forces has used a call with his Russian counterpart to restate the UKs support for Ukraine. Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and General Valery Gerasimov spoke at the request of the Russian defence ministry. Their call, which discussed the need to manage the risk of miscalculation, came after a Russian jet accidentally released a missile near a British spy plane over the Black Sea in September. A statement on the Chief of the Defence Staffs call with the Russian Chief of the General Staff, General of the Army Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov: pic.twitter.com/0OTbnTIoLv Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) October 24, 2022 It follows similar discussions between Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and his counterpart Sergei Shoigu on Sunday. Mr Wallace strongly rejected Russian claims that Western powers are colluding with Ukraine on a provocation involving a radioactive dirty bomb. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said Sir Tony also rejected Russias allegations that Ukraine is planning actions to escalate the conflict. The spokesman said: At the request of the Russian Ministry of Defence, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, spoke with his Russian counterpart, general of the army Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov, this afternoon. The Chief of the Defence Staff rejected Russias allegations that Ukraine is planning actions to escalate the conflict, and he restated the UKs enduring support for Ukraine. The military leaders both agreed on the importance of maintaining open channels of communication between the UK and Russia to manage the risk of miscalculation and to facilitate de-escalation. The conversation followed the Defence Secretarys call with his Russian counterpart yesterday and a call between the foreign ministers of France, the UK and the USA last night. Downing Street said it was too early whether the calls, at the initiation of Moscow, were a sign that Russia is trying to engage with the West to ease tensions but it remains important that we have these open channels of communication. Obviously, we would welcome any conversations, but I think what youre seeing play out on the ground does not suggest any toning down in approach, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said. There continues to be indiscriminate attacks on a daily basis. kate_sept2004 / Getty Images If you want to guarantee a happy, stable retirement, it's important to start saving and investing now. Unfortunately, hidden fees can wreak havoc on even the smartest investment strategies. Social Security: New Bill Could Give Seniors an Extra $2,400 a Year Find: 5 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 Along with consulting fees, you might find yourself dealing with fees to trade, fees to advise and even high taxes. Watch out for these 15 hidden fees so you can avoid wasting your money in retirement. FG Trade / Getty Images 1. Advisory Fees While financial advisors need to eat and pay rent just like anyone else, the rhetoric they use to express how much you're being charged might be hard to decipher. Advisors often talk in "basis points," which simply means tiny fractions of a percentage point. For example, 1% comprises 100 basis points, and 50 basis points are equal to 0.5%.Depending on your investment, advisory fees can be some of the highest fees you'll pay.Take Our Poll: Are You Struggling To Keep Up With Your Utility Bills? xavierarnau / Getty Images How Much Advisory Fees Cost An advisory fee of 1% is typical, but you need to understand what 1% of your assets will cost you. Let's say your portfolio is valued at $500,000. If you're being charged a 1% advisory fee, you'll have to pay $5,000 annually. ebstock / iStock.com 2. 401(k) Expense Ratios Many mid- to large-sized companies offer 401(k) plans, but many people who contribute to them don't realize that these retirement savings plans aren't free. Depending on the funds you select, you could be stuck with high expense ratios that will slowly chip away at your hard-earned retirement savings. And, these expense ratios might not be explicitly expressed to you. Anchiy / Getty Images Choose Funds With Low Expense Ratios Your expense ratio might be somewhere between 0.5% and 2%, which doesn't seem like much. But, just as compound interest accumulates over time, so does a 2% expense ratio that's working against you. So, when you're picking funds for your 401(k), try to choose ones with low expense ratios. Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com 3. 12b-1 Fees Here's one of the most important things to know before investing in mutual funds: 12b-1 fees are the annual marketing or distribution fees on some mutual funds, and they're typically included in a fund's expense ratio.Initially, 12b-1 fees were introduced to help investors by marketing a mutual fund to yield higher assets and lower expenses. However, some experts argue that 12b-1 fees can bring down your returns instead of improving your fund's performance. filadendron / Getty Images Why 12b-1 Fees Matter In September 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed proceedings against First Eagle Investment Management, an asset management company that allegedly used investors' mutual fund assets improperly for payments to cover "marketing and distribution of fund shares." According to The Wall Street Journal, "First Eagle dipped deeper into funds' assets than allowed under a plan known as the 12b-1 plan."First Eagle had to pay $25 million to reimburse shareholders, plus interest and a penalty of $12.5 million, Reuters reported. Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com 4. Annuity Fees A type of insurance that pays out a fixed sum to the holder every year, annuities can be a great product for people who want to receive a regular income stream for the rest of their lives. But, this kind of contract can come with some hidden surprises. dardespot / Getty Images Why Annuity Fees Can Cost a Lot Some notoriously high fees include commissions by the people who sell the annuities. These charges can soar as high as 10%, reported CNN Money. There are also surrender charges, which come into play if you decide to withdraw money in the first few years. These fees can range from 7% to 20% in the first year. Additionally, annual insurance fees, investment management fees and insurance rider fees on annuities can cost you a significant amount. PeopleImages / Getty Images 5. Yearly Fees Mutual fund fees can be broken down into ongoing yearly fees and loads, and both can seriously eat away at your returns. Ongoing yearly expenses usually include a management fee between 0.5% and 2% of the assets, according to Investopedia administrative costs and the 12b-1 fee. FatCamera / Getty Images High Expense Ratios Don't Always Mean High Returns It's important to note that there's no clear correlation between high expense ratios and high returns. In other words, even if your ongoing expenses are high, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll enjoy high returns. wong yu liang / Shutterstock.com 6. Loads Loads are typically described as front-end or back-end.A front-end load is an expense incurred at the purchase of the fund. For example, a 3% front-end load on a $5,000 investment means that $150 goes toward the sales fee, and $4,850 is actually invested.Back-end loads are deferred sales charges, or redemption charges, that go into effect when a fund is sold before a certain time. Back-end loads tend to decrease the longer you wait to sell the fund. According to Morningstar, back-end loads start at around 5% to 7% in the first year. They go down to 0% in the next five to seven years. champja / Getty Images/iStockphoto Look For No-Load Funds To Save Money Not all mutual funds come with these kinds of expenses, so seeking out no-load funds where possible can help you keep more money in your investment accounts over the long run. fstop123 / iStock.com 7. Taxes As you approach retirement age, taxes will likely become one of your bigger expenses.Traditional 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts can be tax-deferred, which helps maximize savings. But, when you withdraw from these accounts, you'll have to pay taxes on that money. Interest earned through savings accounts is taxed at your normal income rate, and the income that some bonds generate might be taxable as well. Moreover, any profits from selling an investment are taxed at the capital gains rate. jesslowcher / Twenty20.com Know Where To Put Your Money First Before you start putting your money in taxable accounts, such as mutual funds and bonds, it's recommended that you maximize your 401(k) and IRA options, reported Forbes. sirtravelalot / Shutterstock.com 8. Early Withdrawal Penalties Just because you think of yourself as retired doesn't mean the IRS agrees. Once you've reached age 59 1/2, you can take the money out of qualified retirement plans, including IRA, 401(k) and 403(b) accounts, without incurring a tax penalty. But, if you withdraw money prior to that, the IRS adds a 10% penalty on the taxable portion of your distribution. monkeybusinessimages / Getty Images/iStockphoto Exceptions to the Early Withdrawal Penalty If an exception applies, you can avoid the early withdrawal penalty. For 401(k) and 403(b) accounts, IRAs allow early distributions to pay for higher education costs including for your kids and insurance premiums while you're unemployed. Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com 9. Trading Fees When you buy and sell shares, the brokerage charges you a fee for each trade. Fees can vary wildly between companies. ferrantraite / Getty Images/Vetta Choose Your Financial Advisor Wisely When your financial advisor engages in excess trades on your behalf to rack up commissions and fees, it's called "churning." This practice is illegal, and you can report it to the SEC through the online complaint form. You'll want to work with someone who won't take advantage of you, so be careful when picking your retirement financial advisor. imtmphoto / Shutterstock.com 10. Penalties for Failing To Take Required Distributions Beginning in the year that you turn 72 (70 1/2 if you reached 70 1/2 before Jan. 1, 2020), you must start taking minimum distributions from your qualified retirement plans. You can postpone required minimum distributions from 401(k) and 403(b) plans if you're still working, as long as you don't own more than 5% of the company in question. playb / Getty Images How Much the Penalties Cost If you fail to take the required minimum distributions when you turn 72, the IRS imposes a penalty equal to 50% of the amount that you didn't take out. The payouts are designed to make sure you receive your retirement benefits during your lifetime, so do yourself a favor and make active withdrawals on time. Terry Vine / Getty Images 11. Annuity Rollover Fees Annuity rollover fees are a hidden cost that many retirees might not notice. Not all annuities are created equal. Some might be tied to mutual funds which are tied to the sometimes-volatile stock market and others function through an insurance brokerage, promising fixed rates and guaranteed minimums. Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury Follow Your Annuity Guidelines To Avoid Fees If you've decided that it's time to jump ship from your current provider, be sure you're following the guidelines so you don't get slammed with hidden annuity rollover fees, as well as other costs like higher expense ratios or administrative fees that you didn't have before.The IRS allows for tax-free exchanges of annuity contracts as long as they fall under the same tax status. For example, a simplified employee pension or a savings incentive match plan for employees can be rolled over into a traditional IRA because they're both tax-deferred. kali9 / iStock.com 12. Surrender Fees If the IRS doesn't hit you with extra charges for rolling over your annuity, it doesn't mean you're home free. Companies might charge a surrender penalty if you sell or withdraw money from a variable annuity. Annuities are often structured in a yearly format, with the surrender penalties decreasing over time. AzmanL / Getty Images How To Handle Surrender Fees This information is typically located toward the front of your policy, so before you make a switch, be sure to consult your plan. Very few annuity providers charge no surrender fees, so you should expect to pay them and, if possible, budget for them in advance. Ariel Skelley / Getty Images 13. Inactivity Fees Beware of being nickeled and dimed by your low-cost brokerage. There might be hefty fees associated with inactivity it's one of the reasons why a low-cost brokerage might not be the best option for your investments. ipopba / iStock.com Keep Your Investments Active If you're not trading frequently, you might see charges for inactivity and maintenance which could land around $50 to $200 in addition to existing fees to access data, trading tools and more. So, make sure you're engaging in enough trades to be considered active. Peopleimages / iStock.com 14. 401(k) Administrative Fees Many employers offer a 401(k) matching benefit, but it might be costing you. Although the most generous companies foot the bill for administrative fees associated with managing your retirement plan, others might decide to opt out which leaves you as the account holder to pay up. NoSystem images / Getty Images Find a Retirement Plan That Works Better For You If the management fee isn't covered, consider getting out once your company match maxes out and taking your hard-earned dollars elsewhere, such as an IRA. shapecharge / iStock.com 15. Beneficiary Fees This fee won't affect you directly, but it'll hit your beneficiaries hard once you're gone.If there are any funds left over in your IRA after your passing, you might choose to help your children or grandchildren out as a final gift. However, the cash doesn't come without a cost. When an IRA gets distributed after death, the beneficiaries are often hit with a tax burden one that they are sometimes unprepared for. jarenwicklund / Getty Images/iStockphoto List a Trust as an IRA Beneficiary Naming a trust as a beneficiary of your IRA could help safeguard your children who are disabled, minors or otherwise susceptible to creditors, according to CNBC. However, this isn't an easy thing to do, so make sure you consult professionals like an accountant or an estate-planning attorney before attempting it.More From GOBankingRatesJaw-Dropping Stats About the State of Retirement in America GOBankingRates' Best Credit Cards for 2023 If Your Credit Score is Under 740, Make These 4 Moves Now 4 Ways Women Can Prepare Their Finances for Unexpected Life-Changing Events Michael Keenan and Rachel Farrow contributed to the reporting for this article. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 15 Hidden Fees To Watch Out for in Retirement Ramiro V. / Flickr Costco consistently leads in customer satisfaction, competing with top retailers like Amazon and Apple. But what if we take a more granular look at Costcos across the country? Thats precisely what Finance Buzz did in an October survey, which asked more than 6,000 Costco customers to rank their local warehouse store in six categories: cleanliness, friendliness, stock availability, the quality of samples, the quantity of samples, and parking lot availability. Using those scores, Finance Buzz determined the states with the highest-rated Costco locations. Weve collected the top 10 states below, highlighting some of the most salient data points. Related: I Shopped at Costco for the First Time and This Is What I Learned Courtney O. / Yelp Warehouses: 6 Cleanliness: 9/10 Friendliness: 9/10 Stock: 8.9/10 Total Score: 51.1 Costco stores in South Carolina rank among the friendliest in the country, collectively earning the only 9/10 score in that category. The samples in South Carolina must have been extra delicious, too, as the state topped both sample rankings. The Palmetto state isnt perfect, however: South Carolinas six Costco warehouses averaged just under 8/10 for its parking lots, lagging behind Wisconsin and Ohio. Related: The 25 Best Finds at Costco Michael R. / Yelp Warehouses: 12 Cleanliness: 8.9/10 Friendliness: 8.9/10 Stock: 8.9/10 Total Score: 50.6 Costco warehouses in Ohio receive plaudits for their parking lots, winning the top spot in the category. That might not be the most glamorous accolade but hey, Ohio did well across the board, only lagging behind in the variety of its samples. For more Costco coverage and other shopping news, please sign up for our free newsletter. Daniel S. / Yelp Warehouses: 6 Cleanliness: 9/10 Friendliness: 8.9/10 Stock: 8.8/10 Total Score: 50 According to Finance Buzzs data, Costco shoppers in Tennessee can expect some of the friendliest employees and cleanest warehouses in the country. If it werent for Tennessees low parking lot score, a 7.5/10, the Volunteer State would nab the top spot. Sherry W. / Yelp Warehouses: 8 Cleanliness: 8.9/10 Friendliness: 8.8/10 Stock: 8.5/10 Total Score: 49.9 While Costcos in Missouri might skimp on samples, the stores are among the cleanest in the country. The Show Me State also boasts a high friendliness score, competing with the top 3. Marissa M. / Yelp Warehouses: 8 Cleanliness: 8.8/10 Friendliness: 8.5/10 Stock: 8.5/10 Total Score: 49.7 An 8.5/10, while still respectable, is among the lowest friendliness scores among the top 10, placing Connecticut at the bottom of that category. That said, its employees serve plenty of high-quality samples, according to survey data. VeeVee N. / Yelp Warehouses: 10 Cleanliness: 8.7/10 Friendliness: 8.6/10 Stock: 8.4/10 Total Score: 49.5 Although not a leader in any category, Wisconsinites enjoy respectable scores across the board, beating out most states in parking lot and sample quality. However, the store suffers when it comes to the availability and variety of its stock, tying Washington for last place in the category. Tam L. / Yelp Warehouses: 8 Cleanliness: 8.8/10 Friendliness: 8.6/10 Stock: 8.6/10 Total Score: 49.4 Indiana doesnt really have any standout scores, earning middling ratings in most categories. It does, however, punch above its weight when it comes to its stock, meaning the states stores have a wide selection of products. Donald E. / Yelp Warehouses: 13 Cleanliness: 8.7/10 Friendliness: 8.6/10 Stock: 8.5/10 Total Score: 49.3 Like Indiana, Minnesota scores in the middle of the pack in most categories. While we dont have access to all of Finance Buzzs data, Google Maps reviews show that one of the states highest-rated locations is its Minneapolis business center, which consumers give 4.7/5 stars. Bill U. / Flickr Warehouses: 36 Cleanliness: 8.8/10 Friendliness: 8.5/10 Stock: 8.5/10 Total Score: 48.9 Texas finds itself at the bottom of the top 10 list, tying with Connecticut for the lowest friendliness score. And yet, the Lone Star State also boasts two of the highest-rated individual stores in Finance Buzzs analysis. The states northwest San Antonio location earned scores of 9/10 or higher in three different categories, scoring an impressive 9.7/10 in cleanliness. Houstons Galleria warehouse also made the top 5, earning 9s or higher across three sections. Ramiro V. / Flickr Warehouses: 32 Cleanliness: 8.7/10 Friendliness: 8.7/10 Stock: 8.4/10 Total Score: 48.6 Given that Washington is home to Costco headquarters, one should expect the state to perform well. And it did receive high scores compared to the 37 states that didnt make the top 10 list. But compared to heavy hitters like Costco South Carolina and Ohio, the Evergreen State received the lowest sample and parking scores, sending it to the bottom of Finance Buzzs top 10. Mike Mozart / Flickr Like Cheapism's content? Be sure to follow us. Jub Job / Getty Images/iStockphoto Can money buy happiness? According to a recent Purdue study published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, income can correlate with emotional well-being and life satisfaction. Explore: Your Biggest Money Etiquette Questions Answered Retirement at Any Age: Get Retirement Tips That Fit Every Stage of Life "Globally, we find that satiation occurs at $95,000 for life evaluation and $60,000 to $75,000 for emotional well-being," said the study's authors in the journal. However, the study also found that the ideal income for life satisfaction in North America is $105,000, as reported by Inc. To estimate how much money you might need to be satisfied or happy in every U.S. state, GOBankingRates factored in each state's cost-of-living index and used the $105,000 figure as the "benchmark." The states were ranked from least to most amount of money needed to be happy. GOBankingRates also included unemployment and crime rates for many states for informational purposes. It's important to keep in mind, though, that "happiness" is subjective. The cost to live comfortably can vary from person to person. Keep reading to find out how much it takes to be happy in your state. DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images Mississippi Minimum salary needed to be happy: $87,465 If you love living in Mississippi, lucky you! The state's low cost of living means you can stretch your paycheck that much farther. And while nearly $90,000 is a lot more than most Mississippians earn in a year, the range the study sets for "emotional well-being" goes as low as about $50,000 a year in the birthplace of the blues. Take Our Poll: Are You Struggling To Keep Up With Your Utility Bills? Nagel Photography / Shutterstock.com Kansas Minimum salary needed to be happy: $90,825 Kansas' salary to be happy is $14,175 a year below the rate quoted for North America as a whole, representing a cost of living that's over 11% below the national average. However, the salary needed for emotional well-being is as low as $51,900. tobynabors / iStock.com Oklahoma Minimum salary needed to be happy: $92,295 Oklahoma's high cost of living is likely going to be even more welcome than usual given the low unemployment rate is 2.7%. While you do need over $92,000 to be happy, you can settle for emotional well-being at as little as $52,740. Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com Alabama Minimum salary needed to be happy: $92,295 If you're looking at a figure of $92,295 and thinking it's just not realistic in the Yellowhammer State, you should know that the study's band of incomes allowing for "emotional well-being" runs as low as $52,740. Davel5957 / Getty Images Arkansas Minimum salary needed to be happy: $95,445 That $93,555 might seem out of reach for many Arkansans, but it's notable that a range of $54,540 to $68,175 would get you to the "emotional well-being" stage described in the Purdue study. Sean Pavone / iStock.com Georgia Minimum salary needed to be happy: $93,240 Not only can Georgians claim to have one of the most attainable levels of income to be happy, they also live in one of the states that's lucky enough to still be showing an unemployment rate below 4%. It takes even less to reach emotional well-being, just $53,280 to $66,660. digidreamgrafix / Getty Images/iStockphoto Tennessee Minimum salary needed to be happy: $93,450 Tennessee's cost of living is 11% below the national average, but its crime rates are higher -- potentially making happiness that much harder to attain. The state sees 6.70 violent crimes and 24.84 property crimes per 1,000 residents. JByard / iStock.com Missouri Minimum salary needed to be happy: $94,290 The "life evaluation" stage -- in which you feel comfortable about providing for your basic needs and start considering other, bigger questions -- would come at a more attainable $85,310 in the Show-Me State. In a state with a low unemployment rate, it's a good place to be. Davel5957 / Getty Images New Mexico Minimum salary needed to be happy: $95,550 Being able to stretch your paycheck farther than most of the rest of the country has got to make life easier for all New Mexicans -- even those making well under $90,000 a year. However, residents' happiness levels could be limited by the high rates of violent and property crime. Shutterstock.com Indiana Minimum salary needed to be happy: $95,130 Hoosiers features one of the lowest unemployment rates on this list at 2.2%. Additionally, Indiana has a low crime rate that should help residents manage the crisis just a little easier. And to achieve a state of emotional well-being only requires $54,360. Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Iowa Minimum salary needed to be happy: $94,395 Iowans can enjoy lower costs than the nation on the whole as well as much lower crime rates. As such, Hawkeyes earning less than $94,00 a year have plenty of reasons to enjoy life. Those in a state of life evaluation can get by for $85,405. Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Michigan Minimum salary needed to be happy: $95,865 The Great Lake State also has a lower cost of living than the rest of the United States by almost 11%. However, it has a rather high employment rate of 4.4. Still, emotional well-being can be had for as little as $54,780. Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto Ohio Minimum salary needed to be happy: $95,865 At the height of the pandemic, 13.7% of the Buckeye State was unemployed. However, that number has rebounded to 4.1%, hopefully improving the lives of many Ohioans. Shutterstock.com Texas Minimum salary needed to be happy: $96,705 Residents of the Longhorn State are fond of saying "everything's big in Texas," but that definitely doesn't include prices. The cost of living there is over 10% below the national average. Residents can find a state of emotional well-being for $55,260 and can get peace of mind with a low violent crime rate. Shutterstock.com West Virginia Minimum salary needed to be happy: $95,025 While the unemployment rate in West Virginians is at 3.7%, the state does have an especially low rate of property crime going for it. There are just over 13.92 a year for every 1,000 residents. f11photo / Shutterstock.com Louisiana Minimum salary needed to be happy: $97,650 One thing that likely makes it harder to be happy in Louisiana is that it has the highest property crime rate of all the states. There are nearly 28.77 such incidents each year for every 1,000 people living there. However, unemployment is low and it only takes $55,800 to achieve emotional well being. Shutterstock.com Kentucky Minimum salary needed to be happy: $97,755 Kentucky's relatively low cost of living is paired with its very low rates of crime. There's just over two violent crimes for every 1,000 Kentuckians each year, and just under 18 property crimes. Davel5957 / Getty Images Nebraska Minimum salary needed to be happy: $98,385 Nebraska's normally low cost of living is looking even better right now as its unemployment rate continues to lag way behind the rest of the country. Sitting at just 2.0%, it's among the lowest in the country. vkbhat / Getty Images Idaho Minimum salary needed to be happy: $107,205 The people of Idaho certainly don't think of $107,205 as small potatoes, but even those earning less than that can enjoy decently low rates of violent crime and property crime in the country. And a salary ranging from $61,260 to $76,575 is enough to achieve well being. Shutterstock.com Illinois Minimum salary needed to be happy: $99,015 Illinois' current unemployment rate hovers north of 4.7%, suggesting that a lot of people there are currently focused on making ends meet for the present. However, people can still find emotional well-being at just $56,580. Davel5957 / iStock.com Wyoming Minimum salary needed to be happy: $99,015 Wyoming has a median unemployment rate of 3.4% and it has low violent and property crime rates to offset economic issues. Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com South Carolina Minimum salary needed to be happy: $98,280 North and South Carolina have virtually identical costs of living, so there's no difference in what it takes to be happy between them. However, South Carolinians are victims of far more property crime as 1 of just 3 states with 28 or more such incidents per 1,000 residents. Davel5957 / iStock.com North Carolina Minimum salary needed to be happy: $100,485 Making $100,000 a year is often considered a long-term goal for many Americans, and that could be reinforced by the conclusions of the Purdue study. North Carolina is among those states where you need to make at least $100,000 a year to be happy, but 29 others similarly call for a six-figure income to be happy. And here, you can still achieve well-being at $57,420. FierceAbin / iStock.com Wisconsin Minimum salary needed to be happy: $101,220 Plenty in the Badger State might view a salary of over $100,000 outside of what they can expect from their career, but that doesn't mean they're doomed to a life of being overworked. For a state of "emotional well-being," anywhere from $57,840 to $72,300 will suffice. csfotoimages / Getty Images North Dakota Minimum salary needed to be happy: $103,110 One of those lucky states where unemployment has remained below 3%, North Dakotans are still looking at a considerable sum to reach happiness as defined by the Purdue study. However, they can achieve emotional well-being at a minimum of $58,920. f11photo / Shutterstock.com Utah Minimum salary needed to be happy: $103,950 While that six-figure income might leave some Utahans feeling a little intimidated, it should be noted the state has a lot going for it -- like comparatively low rates of unemployment and violent crime. ElsvanderGun / Getty Images South Dakota Minimum salary needed to be happy: $106,050 South Dakotans can expect an easier time than most of the country when it comes to property crime and unemployment rates. The rate of 19.70 crimes per 1,000 residents falls in the nation's median range and it has an incredibly low unemployment rate of 2.5%. Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com Montana Minimum salary needed to be happy: $105,735 While the cost of living in Montana is higher than the nation as a whole, it might not be felt as hard there at the moment. Plus, you can achieve emotional well-being at $60,420. Montana's unemployment rate is also comfortably low at 2.3%. Shutterstock.com Florida Minimum salary needed to be happy: $105,315 The Sunshine State is doing pretty well, despite previously high unemployment during the pandemic. Right now, unemployment is at 3.2%. While you do need to make a bit more than $105,000 to be happy here, well-being is possible at $60,180. Mark Herreid- / Shutterstock.com Minnesota Minimum salary needed to be happy: $105,000 One thing that's likely to help improve the happiness of Minnesotans of all incomes is the relatively low rate of violent and property crime, with rates of just 2.75 and 21.07 per 1,000 residents, respectively. Shutterstock.com Virginia Minimum salary needed to be happy: $106,890 Virginia boasts the sixth-lowest violent crime rate in the country, and the relative peace of mind that can come with a firm sense of safety is hard to put a price on. However, in terms of the cost of living alone, the state is among the costlier of the rest of the country. dszc / iStock.com Arizona Minimum salary needed to be happy: $108,360 Arizona is just a tenth of a percent higher than the national average for cost of living, making it a great way to get a sense of costs for the typical American. The state's 3.3% unemployment rate is lower than the rest of the country and Arizonans can get by on just $61,920 for "emotional well-being." Ultima_Gaina / Getty Images/iStockphoto Pennsylvania Minimum salary needed to be happy: $107,625 Pennsylvania's economy was hit harder than many others, with an unemployment rate, though lower than its peak of 13.1%, is still higher than others at 4.9%. However, the most recent data on its property crime rate shows them to be among the nation's lowest. EdgeOfReason / Shutterstock.com Colorado Minimum salary needed to be happy: $110,565 Colorado is higher than the norm both in terms of cost of living and its rate of property crimes per 1,000 residents, but you can still expect to find "emotional well-being" in an income range of $63,180 to $78,975. DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com Delaware Minimum salary needed to be happy: $113,295 Delaware's unemployment rate has rebounded from its peak, down to 4.5%. So, while $113,295 a year likely seemed out of reach for most residents in good times, the slight rebound in employment should be helping. artisteer / Getty Images/iStockphoto Nevada Minimum salary needed to be happy: $111,615 With its strong association with the hospitality industry, Nevada has been hit hardest by the pandemic. It has the nation's highest unemployment rate at 5.0%. However, you can achieve emotional well-being for $63,780. Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com New Hampshire Minimum salary needed to be happy: $115,395 The cost of living is high throughout New England, and New Hampshire is no exception, with residents paying 9% more than the national average. But the high cost to live here correlates with the state's safety. New Hampshire has extremely low crime rates -- it's 1 of just 5 states with fewer than 2 violent crimes annually per 1,000 residents. ferrantraite / iStock.com Washington Minimum salary needed to be happy: $117,180 While $117,180 may seem like a lot to achieve, residents here can still find "emotional well-being" in the range of $66,960 to $83,700. Unemployment is also low, at 4.2%. DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images New Jersey Minimum salary needed to be happy: $120,960 The Garden State might have some of the lowest crime rates in the country, but it's also coming at a high cost of living, 9 percent higher than the national average. And that can't be easy to bear right now, with an unemployment rate over 4%. However, you can achieve emotional well-being at $69,120. Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com Maine Minimum salary needed to be happy: $120,750 Maine represents the nation's safest state, with just 1.08 violent crimes annually per 1,000 residents. However, living here isn't cheap, with a cost of living that is more than 9% over the national average. You can still achieve emotional well-being at a more moderate $69,000. Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com Vermont Minimum salary needed to be happy: $122,850 While it takes a lot of money to be happy in Vermont, the state boasts a violent crime rate of 1.68 per every 1,000 residents, Vermont also has one of the nation's lowest rates for property crime at 11.80 a year per 1,000 residents. SeanPavonePhoto / iStock.com Rhode Island Minimum salary needed to be happy: $123,060 Rhode Island is one more New England state where it costs a lot to get by, but the crime rates are very low. The cost of living is $18,000 higher than the national average, but there are just 2.22 violent crimes and 12 property crimes per 1,000 residents each year. Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com Connecticut Minimum salary needed to be happy: $127,680 While neighboring Rhode Island was hit especially hard by the pandemic Connecticut avoided some of the worst of it. Unemployment there remains below 5%. Even though it takes nearly $130,000 to be happy, you can achieve emotional well-being at just $72,960. Shutterstock.com Maryland Minimum salary needed to be happy: $130,200 Maryland's unemployment rates are at 4.6% right now, especially with a cost of living $25,200 higher than the national average. But people can still find happiness here at around $74,400 annual income. Rocky Grimes / Shutterstock.com Alaska Minimum salary needed to be happy: $133,455 The crime rates in Alaska are among the highest in the country. Its violent crime rate is 8.35 a year per 1,000 residents, and its property crime rate is 22.54 a year per 1,000 residents. zhudifeng / iStock.com Oregon Minimum salary needed to be happy: $136,605 The cost of living is more than a full third higher than the national average. So while the unemployment rate is down to 3.8% being out of work there is likely a much more difficult proposition than in other parts of the country. Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com Massachusetts Minimum salary needed to be happy: $141,750 Much like the rest of New England, Massachusetts has a combination of relatively low crime and high costs. The cost of living is over 36,000 higher than the national average, but there are only 3.03 violent crimes per 1000 people, and the property crime rate is just 10.33. Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto California Minimum salary needed to be happy: $149,310 California's notoriously high cost of living is on display here, with just over $149,000 a year being needed to secure happiness. While California's staggering 16.3% unemployment rate at the height of the pandemic has come down, 4.9% is still among the highest in the nation. Donald RSwartz / Shutterstock.com New York Minimum salary needed to be happy: $155,610 The Empire State comes with some empire-sized costs of living, with the average New York resident shelling out $50,610 more than the national average. And with an unemployment rate of 4.6%, times are tough for a lot of New Yorkers right now. However one can still find happiness at $88,920. SergiyN / iStock.com Hawaii Minimum salary needed to be happy: $202,965 The cost of living in Hawaii is just under double that of the rest of the country, making it especially costly to be happy there. You'll need to plan on earning over $200,000 a year to reach that state of bliss in the Aloha State, though you can settle for emotional well-being, which doesn't seem hard to achieve here, at $115,980. More From GOBankingRates Jordan Rosenfeld and Alexandria Bova contributed to the reporting of this article. Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the cost-of-living-adjusted minimum salary needed to be "happy" based on income satiation levels identified by Purdue University researchers. Global income satiation levels are the following: $95,000 for "life evaluation" and $60,000-$75,000 for "emotional well-being." In North America, the income satiation level is $105,000 for "life evaluation," according to Purdue. To get a state-by-state breakdown, we factored in each city's cost of living index, sourced from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center: Composite Cost of Living Index Quarter Two of 2021. For supplemental data, GOBankingRates found each state's March 2022 unemployment rate as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and violent and property crime rates (per 1,000 residents) as sourced from NeighborhoodScout.com. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 9, 2022. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What Is the Minimum Salary You Need To Be Happy in Every State? As the November midterm elections creep closer and U.S.-China tensions remain high, political uncertainty could rattle markets further. On Monday, for instance, markets reacted swiftly to the conclusion of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) congress, with Chinese stocks in Hong Kong opening at their lowest level since the 2008 financial crisis. With that in mind, here are the top political stories this week with implications for investors: Xi Jinping consolidates power in Communist China Xi Jinping has secured a third five-year term as general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), making him the most powerful Chinese leader in decades. In both his remarks as well as amendments to his party's platform, Xi has signaled that he intends to tighten his grip on the world's second-largest economy by consolidating power economically, militarily, and technologically, analysts have suggested. And Xi, who is 69, has yet to indicate who might eventually succeed him as the next leader. Chinese President Xi Jinping waves at an event to introduce new members of the Politburo Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File) During the party meeting, the CCP voted to add an amendment to the constitution promising to "firmly oppose and contain Taiwanese independence," according to Bloomberg. That is the strongest language Xi's CCP has used regarding Taiwan. It drew a swift rebuke from Taipei leaders, who are vowing not to be coerced by CCP officials should they try to deploy the economic tactics used in Hong Kong or follow through on military threats China issued in recent months, including during House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) visit to the island. Just as there is strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in Washington, there also remains strong support for Taiwan. According to Defense News, Washington plans to double the amount of assistance to Taiwan's military to $10 billion during the next five years. In a joint statement released earlier this month, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and the committee's top Republican Jack Risch (R-ID) underscored that support. A country truly committed to addressing the worlds security challenges does not threaten war, as Xi is doing to Taiwan," Menendez and Risch stated. "China is also providing metals and energy to prop up Russias grotesque war in Ukraine. Xi securing a third term will only continue this path of repression, economic coercion, and regional instability." Xi is also focused on codifying digital authoritarianism and said that the CCP will "win the battle in key core technologies." Xi's rhetoric regarding Taiwan is all the more sobering given that half the world's global supply of microchips is owned by Taiwan-headquartered TSMC (TSM). For that reason, there has been a sprint from Washington policymakers to address the need for a long-term policy playbook for chip supply chains. This combination of photos shows Ohio Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, on March 28, 2022, in Wilberforce, Ohio, left, and Republican candidate JD Vance on Sept. 17, 2022, in Youngstown, Ohio. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon) Midterm elections The midterm elections are two weeks away, and Republicans and Democrats are seeking to distance themselves from Xi's Communist chokehold. In some cases, the political attacks on leaders may foreshadow headline risks that companies could ultimately face, such as the criticism Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump faced regarding their relationships with Russia long before companies scrambled to leave Russia after Putin escalated its invasion of Ukraine. That may be the case in the Ohio Senate race, where centrist Democrat Rep. Tim Ryan is looking to link his MAGA-backed competitor J.D. Vance to China. On Friday, Ryan slammed Vance in a primetime interview with Jake Tapper on CNN, saying: "In Ohio, there's a clear contrast a guy like me, who wants to take that issue on, take on the corporate interest, take on China and move the manufacturing back. [Then] you got a guy like J.D. Vance, who's actually investing into China, making money off it, and shipping the products back here." It's unclear whether the line of attack will work. Vance leads Ryan 47% to 45%, with 7% of voters still undecided or voting for other candidates, according to a Suffolk poll released last week. Vice Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., speaks as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, holds a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Oct. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) Liz Cheney's comments on the GOP Whether she runs or not, Liz Cheney is influencing the 2024 primary. Cheney continues to position herself as the de facto leader of never-Trumpers, granting her access to conservative-minded Republicans who were left out of Trump's MAGA-branding of the GOP. In a stoic interview with NBC's Meet The Press, Cheney declared that the Republican Party "will shatter" if Trump becomes the 2024 nominee. She could get a chance to confront Trump directly in mid-November should Trump cooperate with the Jan. 6 Committee's subpoena. "This isn't going to be [like] his first debate against Joe Biden and the circus and the food fight that that became," Cheney said on Meet The Press about Trump potentially testifying to the committee. "This is a far too serious set of issues." - Kevin Cirilli is a visiting media fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub and the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue. Follow him on LinkedIn. 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 From Sandra Bullock's The Lost City to Jennifer Lopez's Marry Me, it seems like we're living in the age of cheesy, breezy rom-coms. And we can totally understand why. For one, they give us an excuse to switch our brains off for two hours, and they're a nice escape from the real world. So, it comes as no surprise that yet another rom-com, Ticket to Paradise, has been added to Hollywood's ever-growing list. At first glance, the film is essentially a formulaic romance with a few laughs and some stunning scenery. And for the most part, this prediction is pretty spot-on. It isn't the kind of film you want to take too seriously, but if you live for guilty-pleasure movies with far-fetched storylines, then you'll want to add this one to your queue. Directed by Ol Parker (the mastermind behind Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!), Ticket to Paradise follows a law school graduate named Lily (played by Kaitlyn Dever), who heads off to Bali for a much-needed vacation before starting her big job at a prestigious firm. But her divorced parents (played by Julia Roberts and George Clooney) are stunned to learn that she is giving up her career to marry a seaweed farmer that she met a only few weeks ago. Desperate to stop their daughter from making what could be the biggest mistake of her life, David and Georgia put their differences aside and make a secret pact to ruin the wedding during their visit. But naturally, things dont quite go as planned. First off, the chemistry between Roberts and Clooney is fantastic. Both actors give solid performances as bitter exes whose fateful reunion just might give them a second chance at love. And while most of their shared scenes arent exactly laugh-out-loud funny, the snide remarks and banter will make definitely make you chuckle. Another positive? Getting to live vicariously through the characters during their stay in Bali. One look at the stunning, scenic beaches will help you understand why Lily would ditch her city job for a life with the charming Gede (Maxime Bouttier) in this lush paradise. But even with gorgeous views and great performances from Roberts and Clooney, the movieunfortunatelyfalls a bit flat due to its extremely predictable plot and forgettable characters. (No offense, but the chemistry between Lily and Gede isnt nearly as interesting as that of David and Georgia.) Almost anyone who watches this movie can probably predict what will happen about ten minutes in. It begins with divorced parents who go out of their way to avoid each other when it comes to their daughters events. But then, theyre forced to team up as they figure out how to sabotage Lily's wedding, which plays right into the common trope of divorced couples who slowly fall in love again. As for the rest of the cast, theres very little character development, which makes it challenging to really connect with the others. But its worth noting that Gedes father, brilliantly portrayed by first-time actor Agung Pindha, immediately stood out because of his scene-stealing humor. Still, despite its shortcomings, Ticket to Paradise holds up as a feel-good, guilty-pleasure film. (Here's hoping this isn't the last time we see Roberts and Clooney on-screen together.) PureWow Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars Although Ticket to Paradise relies too heavily on the star power of its two leads, Julia Roberts and George Clooney are simply a delight to watch. Even with the predictable plot, fans are in for a fun escape (and plenty of stunning views). Want all the latest reviews and hot takes sent right to your inbox? Subscribe here. For a full breakdown of PureWow's entertainment rating system, click here. THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL ON NETFLIX BOASTS MAJOR NAMES, BUT IS IT THE NEXT HARRY POTTER? Members of search and rescue teams carry a woman injured in a ship fire in East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, on Oct. 24, 2022. Rescuers recovered 13 bodies and rescued 263 people as a fire broke out on a passenger ship in the waters off East Nusa Tenggara province in central Indonesia on Monday, rescuers said. (Photo by Starla Benetta/Xinhua) JAKARTA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers recovered 13 bodies and rescued 263 people as a fire broke out on a passenger ship in the waters off East Nusa Tenggara province in central Indonesia on Monday, rescuers said. Among the survivors, some suffered from injuries, said Saidar Rahmanjaya, head of the operation unit of the provincial search and rescue office. "The total death toll stood at 13 now," he told Xinhua over phone. He said that the search and rescue operation was halted now and it would resume on Tuesday. Rahmanjaya, who is also the field coordinator of the search and rescue operation, said that the rescue operation involved people from his office, another passenger ship and sailors from the area. He declined to give the number of missing persons in the accident, stressing that he would focus on the rescue operation. The evacuation of the passengers and the crew members of the ship was immediately carried out after the fire broke out, Putu Sudayana, head of the provincial search and rescue office, told Xinhua over phone. However, he said that huge waves hampered the evacuation of the passengers of the ship. The ship, Shantika Lestari, caught fire when it was sailing in the waters off Kupang city, the capital of the province, according to Richard Pelt, a senior official of the provincial disaster management and mitigation agency. The ship departed from a seaport in Kupang city and was heading to the Alor district of the province, he told Xinhua over phone. Members of search and rescue teams carry the body of a victim of a ship fire in East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, on Oct. 24, 2022. Rescuers recovered 13 bodies and rescued 263 people as a fire broke out on a passenger ship in the waters off East Nusa Tenggara province in central Indonesia on Monday, rescuers said. (Photo by Starla Benetta/Xinhua) Members of search and rescue teams carry the body of a victim of a ship fire in East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, on Oct. 24, 2022. Rescuers recovered 13 bodies and rescued 263 people as a fire broke out on a passenger ship in the waters off East Nusa Tenggara province in central Indonesia on Monday, rescuers said. (Photo by Starla Benetta/Xinhua) Survivors of a ship fire are seen in East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, on Oct. 24, 2022. Rescuers recovered 13 bodies and rescued 263 people as a fire broke out on a passenger ship in the waters off East Nusa Tenggara province in central Indonesia on Monday, rescuers said. (Photo by Starla Benetta/Xinhua) DALLAS (AP) Authorities have identified one of the two Dallas hospital employees who police say were fatally shot over the weekend by a 30-year-old man who opened fire after accusing his girlfriend of infidelity while she was at the medical facility to give birth. Jacqueline Pokuaa, 45, was killed in the Saturday shooting at Methodist Dallas Medical Center, the Dallas County medical examiners office said . A spokeswoman for the office said the manner and cause of death were still being reviewed and that it wasn't yet prepared to release the identity of the other person who was killed. Authorities have said Nestor Hernandez opened fire around 11 a.m. Saturday while at the hospital for the birth of a child by his significant other. Hernandez, who was on parole from prison at the time and had been granted permission to be at the hospital, was shot and wounded by a police officer and taken to another medical facility for care, authorities said. Hernandez has been charged with capital murder. A Dallas County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman said he hadn't been booked into jail as of late Sunday, and it wasn't immediately clear if he has an attorney. Police have released little information on what led to the shooting. But according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by WFAA-TV, Hernandez was at the hospital for the birth of his child when he accused his girlfriend of cheating on him and began to strike her in the head with a handgun. Hernandez then started making ominous calls and sending text messages to his family, told his girlfriend that they were both going to die and said whoever comes in this room is going to die with us, according to the Dallas TV station's account of the affidavit. It reportedly says Hernandez shot two employees who entered the room before a hospital police officer shot him in the leg. Authorities haven't released any information on the girlfriend's health or how Hernandez came to have a gun while on parole for a felony conviction. The Dallas County district clerk's office said it hadn't received the affidavit from police. A Dallas Police Department spokeswoman declined to provide the document, saying the department was assisting hospital police on the case. A spokesman for the hospital system and its police department didn't immediately respond to an emailed request for the document Monday. Hernandez was released on parole last October after having been sentenced to prison for aggravated robbery, according to Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman Amanda Hernandez. She said he was granted leave to be with his significant other at the hospital during her delivery Saturday. Authorities have not disclosed the specific conditions of his parole, but police said Hernandez was wearing an ankle monitor during the shooting. Dallas County records show that Nestor Hernandez has been arrested repeatedly since 2011, including on charges of aggravated robbery, burglary and the unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Former film producer Harvey Weinstein during an Oct. 4 court hearing at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles. (Etienne Laurent / Pool Photo) The worlds of politics and Hollywood collided Monday in a Los Angeles courtroom as Harvey Weinstein's trial on rape charges finally began in the city where he once held sway as a film-industry kingmaker. During a blistering 90-minute opening statement, Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. Atty. Paul Thompson read quotes from the eight women expected to say Weinstein assaulted them, describing in their own words how they were terrified of both his massive size advantage and the enormous influence he wielded over their futures as actresses and models. I was scared that if I didnt play nice, something could happen in the room or out of the room because of his power in the industry, one woman said, according to Thompson. Thompson also provided the most detailed account yet of Weinstein's alleged rape of Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Gov. Gavin Newsoms wife, who worked as an actress in the early 2000s. He showed jurors photos of Siebel Newsom and the governor to contrast her prominent role today in California politics to the "powerless actor trying to make her way in Hollywood" he said she was at the time of the alleged assault in a Beverly Hills hotel room. Weinstein, 70, has been indicted on 11 counts of rape, forcible oral copulation and sexual battery in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills charges that stem from alleged assaults on women between 2004 and 2013. If convicted, Weinstein faces a de facto life sentence in California. He is serving a 23-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2020 in New York of other rapes and assaults. At the Los Angeles trial, which is expected to last several weeks, the women whose allegations form the basis of the charges against Weinstein will testify as "Jane Does." Another group of women who are expected to testify about "prior bad acts" will be identified in court by their first name and last initial. While The Times typically does not name victims of alleged sexual violence, Siebel Newsom and some of the women testifying against Weinstein have accused him publicly. More than 80 women have claimed Weinstein sexually abused them since 2017, when investigations by the New York Times and the New Yorker brought the alleged assaults into the public eye and made Weinstein a central antagonist of the #MeToo movement. He has denied all wrongdoing. The #MeToo movement featured prominently in the opening argument of defense attorney Mark Werksman, who described the movement as an "asteroid" that struck Earth and changed the landscape of acceptable behavior. Werksman said that Weinstein had only engaged in "casting couch" acts before the phrase #MeToo" became a household term and that many of the women accusing him of wrongdoing had used "sex as a commodity" to get things from Weinstein. Werksman claimed that two of the Jane Does in the Los Angeles trial fabricated their allegations against Weinstein and that two others, including Siebel Newsom, had "transactional sex" with the mogul. The accusers in this case, women who willingly played the game by the rules that applied back then, they will come into this courtroom now, with their lawyers in tow, and claim they were raped and sexually assaulted," Werksman said. "They have to lie to themselves to make what they did consensually back then seem like it was forced upon them. According to court records, Siebel Newsom will testify that Weinstein assaulted her sometime between September 2004 and 2005. She previously described the assault in a 2017 Huffington Post essay. When the two met at a Beverly Hills Hotel, Weinstein said he wanted to discuss Siebel Newsom's career, and when the Miramax co-founder showed up to the meeting with several assistants, she believed him. But the others quickly left, and Siebel Newsom found herself alone with Weinstein, Thompson said. They spoke for a while about business, but then Weinstein disappeared to the bathroom and asked her to follow. Weinstein was in a bathrobe and made a sexual overture which Siebel Newsom quickly declined, Thompson said. Weinstein then began talking about top-flight actresses whose careers he had launched in a tone that "moved from pleading to aggressive to demanding," Thompson said. Then, Weinstein shoved her onto a bed. She couldnt get any words out because of her fear, said Thompson, who alleged Weinstein forced himself on Siebel Newsom orally before raping her. Thompson told jurors that many of the accusers maintained relationships with Weinstein after the alleged attacks because of his influence in Hollywood and on the political stage. At one point, Thompson flashed a picture of Weinstein laughing alongside Hillary Rodham Clinton and noted he had pull "with presidential contenders. Many of the women feared Weinstein "could crush their careers if they reported what he had done to him. Werksman seized on those communications, displaying emails in which one accuser said she had enjoyed seeing Weinstein years after an alleged assault. He also attacked Siebel Newsom for soliciting political donations from Weinstein, a longtime fundraiser for national Democrats, and for bringing her husband, then San Francisco's mayor, to a party with the mogul in 2007. She brought her husband to meet and party with the man who raped her. Who does that? Werksman asked. Later, Werksman said that if Siebel Newsom had not risen to political prominence, she would be "just another bimbo who slept with Harvey Weinstein to get ahead in Hollywood. The comment drew a quick condemnation from the Newsom camp. Convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein and his enablers are once again resorting to their despicable, desperate, dishonest attack-the-victim playbook," said Siebel Newsom's civil attorney, Elizabeth Fegan. "The defense is callously engaging in misogynistic name-calling and victim-shaming but survivors will not be deterred and Weinstein should be found guilty once again. It is unclear what role, if any, the governor will play in the trial. He and his wife began dating after the alleged assault in 2006, but Weinstein's defense team asked potential jurors last week about their feelings on the governor. Weinstein's attorneys also plan to cross-examine Siebel Newsom about how she sought political donations from Weinstein. The actor and director Mel Gibson is also expected to testify at the trial. Prosecutors say a woman identified as Jane Doe No. 3, who alleges Weinstein abused her in May 2010, described the assault to Gibson while giving the actor a massage. Thompson said Monday that the victim is a professional masseuse whose clients included celebrities and athletes. But after giving Weinstein a massage in a hotel suite, he allegedly followed her into the bathroom, groped her breasts and masturbated. When the woman protested, Weinstein responded it was "completely normal, hed done it with so many people, according to Thompson. Weinstein offered a book deal to Jane Doe No. 3 after the assault, according to Thompson, who said she agreed to future consensual encounters with the mogul as a result. At one point, Thompson said, a future employer of Jane Doe No. 3 asked her to help him arrange a meeting with Weinstein. "It's going to cost you," Weinstein said, and later ordered Jane Doe No. 3 to watch him masturbate, according to Thompson. Prosecutors also plan to call Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, a Filipina Italian model whose accusations against Weinstein in 2015 led to his arrest by New York City police and played a critical role in a New Yorker article that, in part, sparked Weinstein's downfall. Manhattan prosecutors ultimately did not charge Weinstein for the alleged assault. Battilana Gutierrez will testify that in 2015, Weinstein allegedly groped her during a meeting to discuss her career at the New York City offices of his eponymous company. While the 11 criminal counts against Weinstein were based on the allegations of five women, Thompson made no mention to jurors of Jane Doe No. 5 on Monday, raising the prospect that she has decided not to testify. Four of the 11 counts against Weinstein stem from allegations made by Jane Doe No. 5, court records show. Tiffiny Blacknell, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, said no charges had been dropped as of Monday but declined to explain why Jane Doe No. 5 was not mentioned during the hearing. The woman's attorney, Gloria Allred, referred all questions to prosecutors. Jane Doe No. 1, an Italian model who previously spoke to The Times on the condition of anonymity, was the first victim to take the stand Monday. She has accused Weinstein of barging into her Beverly Hills hotel room after a 2013 film festival and assaulting her. In her previous interview with The Times, the woman accused Weinstein of bragging about his influence in the film industry while demanding sexual favors. She begged him to leave and showed him pictures of her children, but Weinstein did not relent, she said. He grabbed me by the hair and forced me to do something I did not want to do, she told The Times in 2017. He then dragged me to the bathroom and forcibly raped me. On Monday, the woman could be seen taking big deep breaths and balling her hands into fists as she walked into the courtroom to face Weinstein. After an hour of testimony, Thompson asked her to recount the assault. But she collapsed into tears after saying she was "crying" and "choking" during the attack, causing Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench to end proceedings for the day. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A mother in Virginia has been charged with felony murder and felony child neglect for the death of her 4-year-old son after he ingested THC-infused gummies earlier this year. On Thursday, Oct. 20, the Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office shared in a release that Dorothy Annette Clements, 30, was indicted by a grand jury in Spotsylvania County for the death of her son, Tanner Clements, on May 8, 2022. She was taken into custody on Thursday and incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail with no bond. An attorney for Clements was not listed. Numerous attempts to contact the Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office and Rappahannock Regional Jail by TODAY were not returned. According to police, the 4-year-old suffered a medical emergency on May 6, 2022, two days prior to his death, at a residence on Jamie Court. "Detectives from the Child Victims Unit investigated the death and learned from doctors that the childs toxicity level showed a high level of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)," the release said. "Detectives believe the child ingested a large amount of THC gummies. The attending doctor told Detectives that if medical intervention occurred shortly after ingestion, it could have prevented death. Statements made to Detectives by the mother did not match evidence seized at the home." WRC-TV, an NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C., reported that an autopsy ultimately revealed that THC had caused the childs death. Over just the last few years, there have been several cautionary tales in the news about children consuming products containing THC. In April 2020, at least two children were hospitalized in Utah after consuming THC candy received from a food bank. The following year in June 2021, a mother shared her personal scary story on social media, writing in a Facebook post that her 6-year-old daughter was hospitalized overnight after accidentally consuming a marijuana-infused gummy that she mistook to for candy. In April 2022, three toddlers in Virginia got sick from gold fish crackers that tested positive for THC. The childrens 60-year-old licensed home day care provider was charged with three counts of cruelty and injury to children after surrounding her day care license and surrendering to police. You have little kids that accidentally get into this stuff; they dont know any better, Sgt. Jim Gerhardt of the Colorado Drug Investigators Association said in September 2017. Or a baby sitter might give a child something out of the pantry, not realizing what it is. Those accidental issues are on the rise, and its a big problem. Poison Control says on its website that after ingesting a THC gummy or marijuana-infused product, children will often exhibit a series of common symptoms including vomiting, drowsiness, difficulty walking, confusion, rapid heart rate, and breathing difficulties. If a child has ingested the substance, it is recommended to contact Poison Control for further advice. This article was originally published on TODAY.com DALLAS (AP) The 30-year-old man charged with capital murder in the fatal shooting of two Dallas hospital employees was on parole and had been given permission to be at the medical facility for the birth of a child, a Texas prison official said Sunday. Nestor Hernandez was granted leave to be with his significant other at Methodist Dallas Medical Center during her delivery Saturday, according to Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman Amanda Hernandez. She said he'd been sentenced to prison for aggravated robbery and was released on parole last October, but did not provide additional details on the circumstances of the shooting. Authorities have said Hernandez opened fire at the hospital around 11 a.m. Saturday and killed two staff members before being shot and injured by a hospital police officer. The victims have not been publicly identified and it's unclear what led to the shooting. Hernandez, who was wearing an ankle location monitor at the time, was taken to another hospital for treatment, hospital officials said Saturday. He was not listed Sunday in Dallas County jail records and it was not immediately clear whether he has a lawyer. The Texas prison system's Office of Inspector General is working with police to investigate the shooting, Amanda Hernandez said. Dallas police and a hospital spokesman declined Sunday to provide additional information on the shooting. It follows hospital shootings in September in Little Rock, Arkansas, that killed a visitor and one in June in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that left four dead. WASHINGTON In a series of calls with Western military leaders over the weekend, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu warned about a supposed Ukrainian dirty bomb and once more raised the prospects of nuclear escalation, despite the Kremlin's having been repeatedly warned against doing so by Western leaders. On Monday, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley spoke with Gen. Valery Gerasimov, his Russian counterpart, about the dirty-bomb threat, a potential sign of concern in Washington over what the threat is intended to convey and to whom. The Russian Foreign Ministrys short readout of Shoigus call with British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace similarly describes concerns about a possible provocation by Ukraine with the use of a dirty bomb. Shoigu made the same sort of warnings to officials in France and Turkey. He has also spoken twice to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin since Friday. Elaborating on Shoigus warnings, Russian authorities charged on Monday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys government had reached out to the United Kingdom regarding the possible reception of technologies to create nuclear weapons. In a post on Telegram, the social media network popular in Russia, Russian Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov argued that Ukraine has got a motive to use the dirty bomb, as well as scientific, technical and production capacities to create it. Ukraine expects dirty-bomb provocation to intimidate the population, increase the flow of refugees, and accuse the Russian Federation of nuclear terrorism. Western observers are skeptical and mystified. It is long-standing Russian practice to accuse others of doing what it plans to do or has already done. I fear that Shoigus remarks are part of this pattern, nuclear proliferation expert Paul Goble told Yahoo News. But it is also part of a Russian effort to intimidate the West by threatening such things. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP) It would make little sense for Ukraine to use a dirty bomb conventional explosives laced with radioactive material on its own territory, where its troops have been fending off Russias invasion. Striking within Russia would also fail to accomplish Ukraines defensive goals. That left many observers wondering just what the Kremlin had in mind, and whether it was potentially using nuclear fears to distract from military setbacks. Ukrainian forces, fortified by Western weaponry, continue to retake ground lost to Russia during the first months of the invasion, which Russian President Vladimir Putin launched in February. Some are speculating that Russia may detonate a very low-yield tactical nuclear weapon and claim that the resulting radiation was caused by a Ukrainian dirty bomb, physicist Edwin Lyman, who heads the nuclear safety program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told Yahoo News. But it would be fairly easy to distinguish between even a very small nuclear weapon and a dirty bomb by the types of radiation that would result, as well as the consequences of the initial blast effect. So this doesnt make a lot of sense to me, Lyman added. Russia has previously accused Ukraine of trying to create a nuclear disaster at Zaporizhzhia, the largest nuclear plant in Europe, and the only one in Ukraine that has been occupied by Russian troops. Then, as now, most observers were skeptical of Russias claims, while also worrying about what those claims may have revealed about the Kremlins plans. In possession of the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, Russia has a number of terrifying options that could alter the trajectory of what was supposed to be a quick invasion of Ukraine culminating in the collapse of Zelenskys government in Kyiv. Western support of Ukrainian resistance has turned the invasion into a debacle for Russian military leaders, for whom nuclear weapons could be an option of last resort. Russian Defense Ministry officials claimed they successfully test-launched their Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile on April 20. (Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation/Cover Images via Zuma Press) Last month, Putin seemed to hint at Russias willingness to use nuclear weapons, leading President Biden to speculate that Russia was preparing for nuclear Armageddon. Some called Bidens speculation irresponsible, but American visibility into Kremlin deliberations remains low, and high-ranking Russian officials seem willing to keep the possibility of nuclear escalation within the realm of the possible. Zelensky sees Russian deception at work. If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means only one thing: that Russia has already prepared all of it, he said in response to Shoigus calls. In response to Shoigu, the governments of France, the United States and Great Britain issued a joint statement condemning his warnings. Our countries made clear that we all reject Russias transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation. We further reject any pretext for escalation by Russia, the statement said. The three nations also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine. Shoigus calls were made after a prolonged period during which the Russian defense minister had been largely out of public view and was seen to be losing influence with Putin, who appears to be increasingly involved in military operations. Just why Shoigu was dispatched to contact his Western counterparts remains something of a mystery. Ultimately, the risk of significant nuclear escalation remains low, according to experts. The Kremlin is unlikely to be preparing an imminent false-flag dirty bomb attack. Shoigus claims further a longstanding Russian information campaign, says an assessment from the Institute for the Study of War published on Sunday evening. Shoigus threats are likely intended to intimidate Western states into cutting or limiting support for Ukraine, the ISW assessment suggests. Last month a blistering Ukrainian counteroffensive saw Russian units forced into a disorganized retreat. Now the fighting is centered on Kherson, a strategically important city on the Dnipro River. There, too, Russia is facing setbacks. RT journalist Anton Krasovsky. (Reuters) - A Russian TV presenter apologised on Monday for calling for Ukrainian children to be drowned, as Russia's state Investigative Committee said it was probing his remarks. In a show last week on state-controlled broadcaster RT, presenter Anton Krasovsky said Ukrainian children who saw Russians as occupiers under the Soviet Union should have been "thrown straight into a river with a strong current" and drowned. Ukraine said on Sunday that RT was an inciter of genocide and should be banned worldwide. Margarita Simonyan, the channel's editor-in-chief, said she had suspended Krasovsky because of his "disgusting" comments, adding that no one at RT shared his views. Krasovsky said in a social media post he was "really embarrassed". "Well, it happens: you're on air, you get carried away. And you can't stop. I ask for the forgiveness of everyone who was stunned by this," he said. State television, heavily controlled by the Kremlin, has been a vocal cheerleader of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, often calling on President Vladimir Putin to take an even more aggressive approach to the war. But Krasovsky's comments appeared to have crossed a line for the authorities. Joked about the rape of Ukrainian women The Investigative Committee, which handles serious crimes, said it had been asked to look into his "sharp statements" and had ordered a report. Krasovsky is a pro-war commentator on Russian television who has been sanctioned by the European Union. In last week's show, he also talked about shoving children into huts and burning them, and joked about the rape of Ukrainian women. "Governments which have still not banned RT must watch this excerpt," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter, linking to a clip of the interview. He said Ukraine would put Krasovsky on trial for "aggressive genocide incitement". In a statement on RT's website, Simonyan said: "For the children of Ukraine, as well as the children of Donbas, and all other children, I wish that all this ends as soon as possible, and they can live and study in peace again in the language they consider native." The State Department determined in recent days that Eyvin Hernandez, a 44-year-old deputy public defender from Los Angeles, is being wrongfully detained in Venezuela, U.S. officials and friends of the Hernandez family told McClatchy and the Miami Herald. Hernandez was vacationing in Colombia in March of this year when he traveled to the countrys border region with Venezuela and was apprehended by armed men, according to his family. Ever since, he has been in the custody of Venezuelas military intelligence unit, the DGCIM, in a section of the countrys most notorious prison. The determination makes Hernandez the only known U.S. citizen officially designated as wrongfully detained in Venezuela after a major prisoner swap earlier this month secured the release of seven other American prisoners, in exchange for two prominent Venezuelans convicted on U.S. drug trafficking charges. The Bureau of Consular Affairs at the State Department handles most cases of Americans detained abroad. But U.S. citizens who are determined to be wrongfully detained, using criteria set by Congress, get enhanced attention from the U.S. government, including resources from the office of the special envoy for hostage affairs, which harnesses tools from across government agencies to secure their release. A week before his designation, McClatchy and the Miami Herald reported on frustration among his friends and family that the State Department had not acted on his case six months into his detention. READ MORE: Biden hailed a prisoner swap with Maduro but Americans remain in Venezuelas notorious jail At least five other U.S. citizens are in Venezuelan custody and suspected of being held for political purposes. Seven Department of Public Safety troopers were put under internal investigation this summer after the shooting. The Texas Department of Public Safety fired an officer Friday who was at the scene of the Uvalde school massacre and becomes the first member of the state police force to lose their job in the fallout over the hesitant response to the May attack. The department served Sgt. Juan Maldonado with termination papers, spokeswoman Ericka Miller said. No details were offered about his role at the scene of the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary School or the specific reason Maldonado was fired. The firing comes five months after the mass shooting that has put state police under scrutiny over their actions on the school campus as a gunman with an AR-15-style rifle killed 19 children and two teachers. An officer walks outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 25, 2022. (Photo by ALLISON DINNER/AFP via Getty Images) Maldonado could not be reached for comment Friday night. Body camera footage and media reports have shown the Department of Public Safety had a larger role at the scene than the department appeared to suggest after the shooting. State troopers were among the first wave of officers to arrive but did not immediately confront the gunman, which experts say goes against standard police procedure during mass shootings. Instead, more than 70 minutes passed before officers finally stormed inside a fourth-grade classroom and killed the gunman, ending one of the deadliest school attacks in U.S. history. Nearly 400 officers in all eventually made their way to the scene, including state police, Uvalde police, school officers and U.S. Border Patrol agents. Seven Department of Public Safety troopers were put under internal investigation this summer after a damning report by lawmakers revealed that state police has more 90 officers at the scene, more than any other agency. Steve McCraw, the Department of Public Safety director, has called the law enforcement response an abject failure but put most of the blame on former Uvalde school police Chief Pete Arredondo, who was fired in August and can be seen on body cam video searching in futility for a key to the classroom door that may been unlocked the entire time. But the Uvalde mayor, parents of the victims and some lawmakers have accused the Department of Public Safety of trying to minimize its own failures. Vehicles pass crosses placed to honor the victims of the shootings at Robb Elementary School, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. The Texas Department of Public Safety has fired an officer who was at the scene of the school massacre and becomes the first member of the state police force to lose their job in the fallout over the hesitant response to the May attack. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat whose district includes Uvalde, reacted to news of the firing by saying that accountability in the department should not end there. Ninety more to go, plus the DPS director, he said. Gutierrez has sued the department in an effort to obtain documents surrounding the response to the shooting. Several media outlets, including The Associated Press, have also asked courts to compel authorities and Uvalde officials to release records under public information laws. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who is up for reelection in November, has stood by McCraw and said during a September debate there needed to be accountability for law enforcement at every level. A spokesperson for Abbott did not return messages seeking comment about the firing. One of the state troopers put under internal investigation was Crimson Elizondo, who resigned and later was hired by Uvalde schools to work as a campus police officer. She was fired less than 24 hours after outraged parents in Uvalde found out about her hiring. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Texas state police fire 1st officer over Uvalde response appeared first on TheGrio. WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. Postal Service is honoring the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as an icon of American culture with a stamp in the new year. The design, unveiled on Monday, is a painted portrait based on a photo of Ginsburg in a black robe with an intricate white collar, which became her trademark. After beginning her career as an activist lawyer fighting gender discrimination, Justice Ginsburg became a respected jurist whose important majority opinions advancing equality and strong dissents on socially controversial rulings made her a passionate proponent of equal justice, the agency said in its announcement. Ginsburg died in 2020 at the age of 87. The newly unveiled first-class forever stamp of the liberal icon will be available for purchase in 2023, although officials did not mention a specific date. A first-class stamp currently costs 60 cents, a price that will rise to 63 cents on Jan. 22, 2023. Before a Cuban defector piloted an aging Soviet-era biplane and landed on an isolated runway in the Everglades, it buzzed boats in the Florida Keys, flying just feet above the ocean, according to video recorded on a fishermans phone. I was confused by it, said Brian Cone, a longtime Islamorada charter fishing captain. He was in the process of trying to hook a sailfish on the ocean side of Plantation Key when the plane approached. I thought, this is not a normal plane to be out here, he said. The single-engine Russian-built Antonov An-2 plane likely used for crop-dusting in Cuba touched down at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport off Tamiami Trail, about 50 miles west of Miami in the middle of the Everglades. The pilot told U.S. authorities he was defecting from Cuba. He said he works for a Cuban state domestic flight charter company, and he flew the plane from Sancti Spiritus in Central Cuba a roughly 270-mile, one-way trip. Spain-based news outlet Cibercuba identified the pilot as Ruben Martinez. The Department of Homeland Security is investigating the flight and the pilot, said agency spokesman Nestor Yglesias. It was not immediately clear Monday if the pilot is being detained or if he was released. Yglesias referred questions about if the plane was being tracked at any time over the course of its journey to either the Federal Aviation Administration or Department of Defense. Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Devin Robinson referred that question to either Homeland Security or the FAA. An FAA spokeswoman did not immediately respond to questions about the flight. The incident happened as the United States is in the midst of receiving the largest exodus of Cubans since the 1960s. Most of the roughly 200,000 people who have come to the States have entered through the southern border, but thousands have also arrived by sea to South Florida and the Keys in what has become the largest maritime migration from Cuba in nearly a decade. U.S. Border Patrol agents have encountered more than 550 people from Cuba in the Keys since the the beginning of October. The Coast Guard has stopped another 921 people at sea along the Florida Straits. That exceeds the 838 Cubans the Coast Guard stopped at sea between Cuba and South Florida during an entire 12-month period from October 2020 through September 2021. Miami Herald staff writers Chuck Rabin, Nora Gamez Torres and Doug Hanks contributed to this report. ATHENS, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The rising cost of energy has placed a heavy burden on many Greeks, with every other household struggling to pay for their energy needs lately, according to the 2022 edition of the annual Poverty Watch report released here by the Hellenic Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN Greece). The independent organization, a member of the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN), calls for decisive measures on national and European levels to tackle energy poverty, such as setting prices at source based on the real cost of production, Spyros Psychas, member of the Board of EAPN-Greece, told Xinhua in a recent interview. The report shows that 64 percent of Greek households cut down on other needs and 36 percent cut down on some of their basic needs in order to manage amid the energy crisis. In the past year, the Greek government has allocated some 10 billion euros (9.86 billion U.S. dollars) to support households and businesses, according to the Finance Ministry. But for Psychas and many Greeks, fuel, natural gas and electricity subsidies are not enough. In a recent survey conducted by polling firm politic.gr, 55 percent of respondents called for a reduction in value-added tax (VAT) and other taxes, and just 6 percent said that the government should continue supporting society with subsidies. A society already weakened by a decade of financial crisis, which was followed by the COVID-19 pandemic and now the energy crisis, needs more drastic policies, Psychas said. "Over 29 percent of the population is poor. And when we say poor, we mean that those people lack basic goods, have low income and live in a low-employment household," he said, citing Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) figures released in July for 2021. The Poverty Watch research comprises data from ELSTAT, surveys from various institutes and from dozens of organizations offering support to socially excluded groups, and testimonies of people experiencing poverty, he explained. They all show that poverty is a chronic problem for a large part of Greek society that has been deepening again in the past three years. The risk of poverty and exclusion in Greece was 27.7 percent in 2010 when the debt crisis broke out. It peaked at 36 percent in 2014 and climbed to 28.9 percent in 2020, according to ELSTAT. Regarding energy poverty, four in ten households heat only one part of their residence and turn the heat off even if the temperature is lower than 18 degrees Celsius there, the report noted, citing findings of a research released in June by the Nicos Poulantzas Institute, an Athens-based think tank. Loss of real income of Greek households due to the energy crisis will be over 10 percent in 2022, the report added, citing an analysis of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). "With what is happening in Europe today I think this winter will be worse," Psychas said. "Our research into what our organizations recorded showed that a percentage of households cut back on heating to cook or cut back on cooking to keep warm, which means that we are even heading to food poverty and not just energy poverty," he noted. (1 euro= 0.99 U.S. dollar) LONDON Last Wednesday, the term whip took on a new meaning as the famous gesticulating and yelling across the aisles of the British House of Commons escalated into Conservatives pushing their fellow party members out of the main room and toward the voting booths to keep them from abstaining during the governments vote on fracking. This was a last-ditch effort to save the government of Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss, who already had two major Cabinet members resign, complaining of serious concerns about the governments leadership. The government was looking weaker by the second. Although Trusss team won the vote, she lost the war, as she resigned the next day. The vote was brought forward by the opposition Labour Party, in an effort to permanently ban fracking. Labours motion failed by a vote of 329 to 230. But the chaos during the vote exposed the deep rifts within the Conservative Party, also known as the Tories, between the right-wingers who led the United Kingdom out of the European Union and the moderates who favor more pro-environment policies. (Truss belongs to the former camp.) Despite the win, confidence in Trusss leadership remained low and she resigned after just 44 days in office, the shortest tenure in U.K. history. The British House of Commons considers the banning of fracking, Oct. 19. (House of Commons/PA Images via Getty Images) To understand why fracking which is short for hydraulic fracturing and refers to the process of shooting liquid into rock below the Earths surface to release oil or gas has become central to British politics, one must start at the beginning of the issues history. Fracking caused small earthquakes in the U.K. around 2011, leading to an 18-month ban and a new system to regulate drilling and monitor seismic activity. In 2019, the oil and gas company Cuadrilla Resources triggered a 2.9-magnitude earthquake, which was believed to be the biggest fracking-related tremor ever recorded in Britain. In response, the national government issued a moratorium that promised not to start fracking again unless new evidence said it was safe to do so. But this spring, the Russian invasion of Ukraine caused oil and gas prices to spike, especially in Europe. The government of then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson commissioned a review on fracking by the British Geological Survey. The study found no new evidence that it can be done more safely, in part because there has been no new fracking in the country, but also because theres no evidence internationally that it can be done more safely than in the past. On Oct. 18, the Labour Party, which has the second most seats in Parliament, brought forward a motion to ban fracking officially. Several senior Conservative members of Parliament, including the commissioner of an independent study of the governments approach to meeting its net zero target, announced they would abstain rather than vote with Truss. In response, a few of Trusss allies claimed that abstaining in effect voting with Labour would signify a no-confidence vote for Truss, turning those nonvotes into a major rebellion in the party and instilling even more doubt in a government that was already shaky. A fracking operation in Blackpool, England. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) This is not a motion on fracking. This is a confidence motion in the government, said the Conservative deputy chief whip, Craig Whittaker, in a message to MPs. His job was to convince all the Tories to vote in favor of the Conservative government, meaning against the motion. As a result, the vote came to signify not just the countrys future in fracking, but also the Tories confidence in, and loyalty to, their own leadership. Fracking itself was less of an issue than the fact that several senior members of the Conservative Party were about to go against the prime minister. In the end, 40 Conservatives abstained, which was in effect a vote against Truss, and the vote itself was a spectacle. I saw a whole swathe of MPs effectively pushing one member straight through the door, Labour MP Chris Bryant told the BBC, adding that what he saw was clear bullying. Because the voting booths are outside the house chamber, members of government must leave the room in order to vote. Those being pushed were likely hoping to abstain. The controversy shook the party to its core. Several MPs, who were now extremely worried that they no longer had party unity, called for Truss to step down the next day in an effort to restore some sense of order. The countrys third prime minister of the year, Rishi Sunak, was elected unopposed on Monday. The U.K.s deeply conflicted attitude toward fracking has its roots in the U.S.s success with the process. Fracking created a boom in U.S. domestic oil and gas production in the mid-2000s, making up 43% of the oil production and 67% of natural gas production in the United States. It created around 9.8 million jobs over the course of the last decade and provided some assistance during the 2008 recession. Prime Minister Liz Truss announces her resignation after only 44 days in office, Oct. 20. (Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) One of the reasons [former Conservative Prime Minister David] Camerons government was so hopeful [about fracking] was because it looked at what was happening in the U.S., Michael Bradshaw, professor of global energy at Warwick Business School in Coventry, England, told Yahoo News. They believed the hype that the industry was selling them. But the geological conditions in Britain are not as conducive to fracking as they are in the U.S. A 2013 study by Chatham House, an international affairs think tank, found 14 factors that could explain the American fracking boom, such as low clay content, which made it easier to fracture the rocks. Most of those factors do not apply in the U.K. The intra-Tory divide between staunch conservatives who favor fracking and moderates who oppose it hinges on whether there could be a boom in energy from fracking like the one the U.S. experienced. But all the evidence points to no. Comparing the two is deeply problematic, said Bradshaw, citing the different geologies, the decades the U.S. has had to build up its fracking industry, and laws that allowed gas producers more access to the pipelines, in addition to a much more extensive pipeline grid. The simplicity and uniformity of the U.S.s geology makes fracking easier and more efficient. Economic and productivity success of shale gas in the U.S. is phenomenal, said Jon Gluyas, executive director of the Durham Energy Institute. Will it last? No. But you have a lot of shale to go. The U.K.s geology is complex and made up of small basin areas. Each area is different, which means each drilling session requires a new plan and approach. Because our geology is small and complex, each well would be different, Gluyas said. The U.S. can, in contrast, drill hundreds of thousands of identical wells. The Marathon Refinery in Carson, Calif. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) In addition to the fact that British geology makes fracking more challenging, it also means not nearly as much oil can be extracted. The size of the prize, experts cant even agree on that, Bradshaw said. Fracking reemerged recently as an answer to the energy crisis, but experts and even some fracking companies have said that drilling is not going to solve the short-term crisis. Whatever it extracts by fracking will have no impact on the current crisis partly because the lead times are so long that the new resources wont be live for a while, said Josh Burke, a senior policy fellow at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. The oil would also go into international markets rather than solely to domestic supply, which means it will reduce prices only by as much as it increases supply globally, which translates to a small impact on domestic prices. Experts cant quite figure out why the recent government made fracking such a big issue. Its honestly quite baffling, Burke said. Its particularly hard to grapple with because it was put to bed three to four years ago and people are looking to move on, there are stringent climate targets which makes the idea of extracting more natural gas hard to grapple with, and it isnt going to solve the energy crisis. The Truss government justified fracking by repeating its focus on growth and saying it wanted to continue drilling in order to collect data on the dangers. Truss also promised she would go through with fracking only if there is local consent, but failed to define what counts as consent. Thousands demonstrate against fracking outside Downing Street in London, Oct. 14. (Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images) She had an intention of trying to get shale gas going, but everything shes done has made it less likely, not more, said Bradshaw. While the fracking vote served as a proxy for loyalty in Trusss government, it also exposed the rift within the Conservative Party and speaks to the role of fracking in the future of British politics. The conservative MPs who voted against it are from key battleground areas in the north of England. Those areas would be the most affected by fracking, showing that local consent is unlikely and that pushing forward could cause the Conservatives to lose those areas. There is no general election scheduled for another two and a half years. In the meantime, Labour, which is polling a record 36 points ahead of the Conservative government, has promised it will ban fracking if it comes into in power, so companies may be reluctant to invest in fracking even if the moratorium were soon lifted. Experts believe Sunak will not want to revive the contentious debate over fracking, and predict that the moratorium will not get lifted. Hell probably say his inbox is too full with other things, Bradshaw said. Firefighters battled a burning wind turbine in Iowa and a secondary fire caused by pieces of flaming debris, according to officials. The Williamsburg Fire Department, in eastern Iowa, responded to a call at 12:39 a.m. on Oct. 24, the department said in a news release. Minutes later, they arrived at the rural address south of Interstate 80 to find a flaming wind turbine, its head fully engulfed by fire. Williamsburg is roughly 35 miles southwest of Cedar Rapids. This type of fire is unique and challenging, the department said. Falling debris and the massive turbine blades looming overhead all present additional dangers. The field surrounding the turbine was also burning, firefighters said. Firefighters secured the area and went to work extinguishing the flames. With the fires put out, MidAmerican Energy workers showed up to the scene and took over operations of the wind turbine at 3:01 a.m., the department said. Nobody was hurt during the incident. MidAmerican Energy is looking into what could have caused the turbine to catch fire, a company spokesperson told McClatchy News. Safety is our highest priority, and we are working with the turbine manufacturer, Vestas-American Wind Technology, to determine what occurred, spokesperson Geoff Greenwood said in an email. As a precaution, we have taken several other turbines offline in the immediate area and will conduct additional inspections, as necessary. MidAmerican operates over 3,400 wind turbines across Iowa, according to Greenwood, who called Mondays fire an extremely rare occurrence. We have experienced only one other fire of this magnitude in the nearly 20 years since we began operating our first wind farm. We are doing everything we can, along with the manufacturer, to ensure our wind turbines are operating safely to provide our customers with affordable and reliable clean energy, Greenwood said. Families run to safety as huge fire burns 73 vehicles at pumpkin patch, TX videos show Neighbor heard a boom before fire that killed mom and her 2 kids, Florida cops say Stolen U-Haul erupts in flames after leading police on hourslong chase, Texas cops say What next for Boris Johnson, the former PM with aspirations to lead again? Boris Johnson may have withdrawn from the race to be the next prime minister, but there are sure to be questions about what the ex-No 10 resident does next. The 58-year-old had a chance to emulate his political hero, Winston Churchill, and return from the wilderness just seven weeks after leaving Downing Street. It had already been widely rumoured he believed he could make a comeback, and his final speech in No 10 appeared to hint as much with its reference to Cincinnatus, who was recalled from his farm to save ancient Rome from crisis. But Mr Johnson was forced late on Sunday to admit he could not unite his warring party, seemingly surrendering the Tory leadership race to his ex-chancellor, Rishi Sunak. Even if he does secure sufficient support from Tory MPs, Mr Sunak may struggle to shake off the spectre of Mr Johnson. The blond-haired, charismatic former Conservative leader said on Sunday that he thought he was well placed to lead to the Tories to victory at the next general election. I believe I am well placed to deliver a Conservative victory in 2024 and tonight I can confirm that I have cleared the very high hurdle of 102 nominations, including a proposer and a seconder, and I could put my nomination in tomorrow, Mr Johnson said in his statement. There is a very good chance that I would be successful in the election with Conservative Party members and that I could indeed be back in Downing Street on Friday. He closed his statement by saying: I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time. That confidence may lead Mr Sunak to create some distance between his ambitious ex-boss and the capital, potentially by arranging a suitable ambassadorial posting. Mr Sunak appeared to indicate as much, telling The Westminster Hour on Radio 4 of Mr Johnson: Although he has decided not to run for PM again, I truly hope he continues to contribute to public life at home and abroad. Rishi Sunak is now the favourite to be the next PM (Belinda Jiao/PA) Sunak-supporting Tory MP Steve Brine did not rule out the possibility of Mr Johnson taking an ambassadorial position, telling the same programme yes, possibly when asked about it. The Winchester MP added: What Rishi will not do is repeat the mistake of the two (former and current) prime ministers and double down and only appoint his friends and those who supported him. It would be across the board, Im sure. Mr Johnson has extensive overseas experience, having been foreign secretary under Theresa May from July 2016 to June 2018. He was also born in New York City and grew up for a time in the 1970s in Brussels, where he returned as The Daily Telegraphs correspondent from 1989 to 1994 and became a darling of Eurosceptics including then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher. A departure from politics is also possible for the backbencher, who has been dogged by scandal throughout his career. In early November 2021 he tried to change the rules to prevent the suspension of then-Tory MP Owen Paterson for breaking lobbying rules, before being forced to U-turn just 24 hours later in the face of public anger. Later the same month, the first story of what would become partygate broke, with reports that Downing Street staff had held three gatherings almost a year earlier. This eventually saw him become the first prime minister to receive a criminal penalty while in office. Finally the Chris Pincher scandal in which it emerged that Mr Johnson had appointed the Tamworth MP to the Whips Office despite hearing allegations against him as far back as 2019 brought an avalanche of ministerial resignations and his exit from Downing Street. Mr Johnson is still under investigation by the House of Commons Privileges Committee, which is looking into whether he misled the House during partygate and could at any moment recommend that he is suspended from Parliament because of it. A return to the media, where he first made his name as a conservative voice before going on to the editorship of The Spectator, may prove tempting to a man whose career has continued to rise ever upwards despite numerous challenges. Almost 200 disadvantaged and seriously-ill children have spoken about enjoying the best days of their lives on a free holiday in Florida. For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic, youngsters from across the UK were taken on the trip of a lifetime, organised by Dreamflight. They visited a host of attractions, including SeaWorld, Disneys Hollywood Studios and Universal Studios. For many, it was their first time abroad without their families. During their penultimate trip, the children got the opportunity swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove in Orlando on Sunday. Emma Huey, 14, from Ballymoney in Co Antrim, swims with a dolphin during the Dreamflight visit to Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida (Kirsty OConnor/PA) Several of the youngsters were carefully lifted from their wheelchairs to get into the water, where instructors and carers helped them get up close with the mammals. The children, wearing life jackets and wetsuits, rode on the dolphins in the water and got the chance to see them jump into the air. Emma Huey, 14, from Ballymoney in Co Antrim, told the PA news agency: It was really great, we got to pet the dolphin and we got to swim with him across the water, and seeing them doing tricks was good. The holiday has been really great, theyre the best days of my life probably, everything has been great. Going on rollercoasters was quite scary but I did go on them, and Ive made new friends as well. Junior Brown, 13, from Redditch in north-east Worcestershire, who celebrated his birthday on Sunday, said: My birthday has been very good, swimming with the dolphins was extraordinary and something different. At first we were getting to know them and doing hand signals to make them do tricks, and then we got to touch its tail. Safa Thagia said swimming with dolphins was the most amazing experience (Kirsty OConnor/PA) We also had the chance to swim with it, which was really cool, and watch it jump about. Its not what I thought, it was really different. This has been the best holiday of my life, theres been rollercoasters and water slides and a lot of walking. Ive had a really good time. Overcoming my fear of rollercoasters has been the best part of it. Safa Thagia, 14, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, said: That was the most amazing experience and one of the best things Ive ever done in my life. I was quite scared before but also really excited to do it. I wanted to do it, its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We got to do hand signals that the dolphins recognise and then we got to touch them. Ive done everything I could possibly do. Ive been on all of the big rollercoasters, I did a high ropes course yesterday Its been the best trip and Im really going to miss it. Its very difficult to pick the best thing but my entire trip has been the best experience. Jamie Sandiford said it was the best holiday he had ever had (Kirsty OConnor/PA) Jamie Sandiford, 13, from Isleworth, south-west London, said: The holiday has been amazing. Im really big on rollercoasters and weve done so many. Its the best holiday Ive ever been on. I wish I could stay for longer, I wish I could live here! The 192 children had been picked to join the 10-day holiday after battling serious illness, disability or trauma. More than 6,000 children from across the country have been involved in Dreamflight holidays since the first one in 1987. This is the 34th trip put on by the charity, costing 1 million. Incoming prime minister Rishi Sunak has been told by DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson that he must deal with the Northern Ireland Protocol if he wants to see Stormont restored. Northern Irelands political leaders have been reacting to the news that the former chancellor will be the next prime minister, with the leader of the cross-community Alliance Party, Naomi Long, urging him to reform the devolved powersharing institutions. One of the pressing issues facing Mr Sunak will be the political crisis in Northern Ireland where there has been no functioning Assembly for months due to the DUP protest against the workings of the post-Brexit protocol, which has created economic barriers on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The UK Government has vowed to secure changes to the protocol, either through a negotiated compromise with the EU or domestic legislation to empower ministers to scrap the arrangements without the approval of Brussels. If the Stormont institutions are not restored by Friday, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has pledged that he will call fresh Assembly elections. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the DUP, called on Rishi Sunak to deal with the NI Protocol (Liam McBurney/PA) In his message to the new prime minister, Sir Jeffrey said: There may be a focus on the unity of the Conservative Party, but the unity of our United Kingdom must be protected. The protocol is incompatible with the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland. If the prime minister wants to see a fully functioning Stormont, then he must deal with it once and for all. Delivering that solution would be a very powerful signal that he is focused on building a better future for everyone. Naomi Long, leader of the Alliance Party, said the new PM needed to take a fresh approach to NI political problems (Liam McBurney/PA) Mrs Long urged Mr Sunak to take a fresh approach to political problems in Northern Ireland. She said: Northern Ireland needs stable and sustainable government. Rishi Sunak needs to recognise, even if a solution to the protocol can be agreed with the EU, there remains an inherent instability at the heart of our institutions. The protocol is only the latest in a long line of grievances to have collapsed Stormont. Until the institutions are reformed to remove the vetoes the largest parties wield over Executive formation, the crisis-collapse cycle will continue. Colum Eastwood, leader of the SDLP, has called for a general election (Liam McBurney/PA) SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the process of appointing Mr Sunak as prime minister was a farce and called for a general election. The Foyle MP added: Mr Sunaks predecessors have completely destroyed the publics confidence in politics and public service and wrecked the economy and he should not be allowed another two years to desperately attempt to clean up their mess. The circus that has surrounded British politics has to end and the only way to do that is through a general election and the establishment of a Labour-led government. Doug Beattie, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, said the protocol must be replaced with a deal that works for everyone (Liam McBurney/PA) Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said the UK was desperate for a strong and stable government. He added: Northern Ireland needs better government and that means the restoration of the devolved institutions. One of the new prime ministers priorities must be resolving the political impasse and dealing with the issues caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol. Northern Ireland cannot continue to be used as political football between the United Kingdom and the EU. The protocol must be replaced with a deal that works for everyone. Meanwhile, the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry said she hoped Mr Sunaks victory would lead to economic stability and political certainty. Ann McGregor said: Given the significant fiscal pressures we face and with only days left until Northern Ireland could find itself without devolved ministers, we would urge the new prime minister and the UK Government to do all that they can, without delay, to work with local parties to restore a fully functioning Executive. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS. Indian news and views website India Narrative has published an article about the recent visit of Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan to India. The article says that the defense cooperation between Armenia and India is expected to get a major uplift after the visit of a high-level delegation from Armenia to Gujarats Gandhinagar for DefExpo 2022. It also says that during the meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh, Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan focused on the possibilities of expanding bilateral military and military-technical cooperation between the two countries. Papikyan and accompanying interlocutors also spent quite a bit of time touring the exhibition booths at Asias largest defense event, familiarizing themselves with the presented exhibits and having discussions with the managers of a number of companies, the article says, stating that the significant visit took place amid the latest military escalation between Armenia and Azerbaijan. India Narrative says India has maintained a consistent position with regard to the situation in the Caucasus region, calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through diplomatic means right from the beginning of the hostilities. I presented the situation created as a result of the recent aggression of Azerbaijan and thanked for Indias clear position in international platforms. I also invited my colleague to visit Armenia on an official visit, India Narrative quoted Papikyan as saying. With Turkey and Pakistan backing Azerbaijan to the hilt, Yerevan has been keen on building a strong strategic partnership with New Delhi. It all began with India supplying Armenia with four Swathi Weapon Locating Radars (WLRs) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at a cost of $40 million in 2020. Since then, from indigenously-developed Pinaka Extended Range multi-barrel rocket launchers and laser-guided Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) to the New Generation Akash (Akash-NG) missile, the government led by Nikol Pashinyan has been showing deep interest in acquiring the latest Indian military hardware, the article says. As reported recently, Armenia and India have now signed a 250 million USD weapon deal to take their defense partnership to a new high. The centuries-old India-Armenia connect makes the bond even stronger, the article said. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will pay an official visit to the Vatican on October 25-26, the Foreign Ministry said. Within the framework of the visit, Minister Mirzoyan will meet with high-ranking officials of the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta. The Foreign Minister of Armenia will attend the Holy Mass for Peace in Armenia in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. BELGRADE, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The 65th International Belgrade Book Fair opened on Sunday at the Belgrade Fair in Serbia, with China as one of the national exhibitors. Represented by the China National Publications Import and Export (Group) Corporation with the slogan of "Reading China," China's exhibition includes literature, language learning books, martial art materials, Chinese medicine books, publications about economy and politics. "We have books about traditional topics like gongfu, panda, and others in Chinese, we also have books about China in English to help foreign readers get to know China's politics, economy, culture, and diplomacy," said Julia, a representative of the Chinese exhibitor. While exploring the "Reading China" stand, Marko, a lawyer from Belgrade, hailed the diverse offer of Chinese publishers. "I am interested in Chinese politics and economy, and I think they are very applicable in our country and could help us improve," he said, adding that by engaging in such cultural exchange "we can only help our society progress and improve." The fair gathered hundreds of exhibitors from Serbia and across the world, including publishers from Germany, Russia, Belarus, Italy, and India, as well as this year's guest of honor, Romania. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS. The Members of the European Parliament at the meeting with the Armenian MPs in Strasbourg unequivocally stated that Azerbaijan is the aggressor and should immediately withdraw its troops from the sovereign territory of Armenia, MP Hayk Konjoryan from the "Civil Contract" faction of the National Assembly of Armenia presented the details of the meetings held in Strasbourg in an interview with ARMENPRESS. Head of the "Civil Contractt" faction Hayk Konjoryan, MPs Arman Yeghoyan and Arusyak Julhakyan had about 2 dozen meetings in Strasbourg recently. During the political consultations, they presented to the MEPs the situation created around Armenia, the fact that Azerbaijan actually attacked the sovereign territory of Armenia, occupied some territories, and that, in essence, it is trying to implement an aggressive policy towards Armenia with gross violations of international law. "They made unequivocal statements that Azerbaijan is the aggressor, that Azerbaijan should immediately withdraw its troops from the sovereign territory of Armenia. Many of them also condemned, have condemned and I am sure will still condemn this aggressive behavior by Azerbaijan in their addressed statements. I attach great importance to this visit and meetings, because we tried to present the Armenian point of view, the Armenian interest, our positions, that we are committed to the peace agenda, but at the same time we will not allow encroachments on our sovereign territory," said Konjoryan. Konjoryan noted that there is a clear perception among the Members of the European Parliament that Azerbaijan is the aggressor, many of them actively condemn and make statements, as well as initiate various debates, processes of adopting resolutions or documents. In Strasbourg, the Armenian MPs also met Andrey Kovatchev, the rapporteur on Armenia in the European Parliament, who also gave unequivocal assessments of Azerbaijan's aggression. Kovatchev also arrived in Armenia a day after the meeting with the MPs. He announced also in Armenia that the attack was from Azerbaijan. In the coming days, the Italian MEP Massimo Castaldo will also visit Armenia, who also met with the Armenian MPs in Strasbourg. Castaldo will come to Armenia to familiarize himself with the situation on the spot. "Mainly, the result of our meetings and such meetings should be the generation of political pressure on Azerbaijan, so that as a result of this international pressure and international isolation, Azerbaijan refrains from aggressive actions against Armenia. In this sense, these meetings will have their specific logic and logical continuity, Konjoryan said. The MPs noted that since the footage of the shooting of Armenian prisoners of war by the Azerbaijani armed forces was published on the Internet, the positions of the European partners regarding the Azerbaijani actions have actually become tougher. The Members of the European Parliament are shocked by this inhuman cruelty. Konjoryan is sure that the MEPs who met with them will also convey the theses voiced by the Armenian side to their national governments. "Constant work is being done both through embassies, the Foreign Ministry, and parliamentary diplomacy," said Konjoryan. In the near future, the reports on both Armenia and Azerbaijan will be discussed in the European Parliament. Konjoryan is sure that the theses presented at the meetings will play an important role. by p. Gianni Criveller * Part 2 of PIME missionary and sinologist, Fr. Gianni Criveller's analysis of the second renewal of the agreement on the appointment of bishops. "The Agreement is being used as an instrument of pressure on priests. The wonders taking place in China's Catholic communities are not a result of this religious policy, but in spite of it'. Read Part 1 . Rome (AsiaNews) - There is one issue around the second renewal of the Agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China on the appointment of bishops, that is particularly painful. It regards the civil registration requirment for members of the official church including priests and bishops belonging to unregistered communities (also called underground in Chinese) who wish to come out of "hiding". Without this registration, pastoral activities in the official church are impossible. The government decided to require such registration from people (and not just places of worship, as was previously the case) after the Agreement was signed. The text of the declaration to be signed includes the affirmation of the independence of the Catholic Church in China. Bishops and priests are put under pressure by the authorities with the absolutely false claim that the Secret Agreement with the Holy See encourages such registration. The fact that the text remains secret also has this negative implication for Chinese Catholics: they cannot challenge the version that unscrupulous officials give of it. The Holy See intervened in the matter with a statement on 28 June 2019 revealing that 'independence' is to be understood as 'autonomy'. But it admits that, for reasons of conscience, priests and bishops can refuse to sign. However, those who have not signed have run into the authorities' retaliation and their many ways of making ordinary life very difficult for those who refuse to submit. For example, the mobile phone app that allows shopping and many other tasks of daily life is rendered unenforceable: by now, almost all money transactions are carried out electronically in China. Some of those who have registered are now suffering from the criticism of family and community members opposed to registration, which sincere Catholics consider unacceptable, who cannot sign a declaration that includes an affirmation of the Church's independence. Consequently, among those who agreed to register, quite a few regretted it. Perhaps, like St Paul, they felt freer when they were imprisoned for consistency with their faith. Among the Chinese observers and friends with whom I spoke, this thought has emerged: if the Holy See rejects the agreement, it exposes Chinese Catholics to even greater difficulties and retaliation. So the agreement is a lesser evil, designed to avoid greater evils. Unfortunately, I fear this is the case. If this were true, however, it would show that it is not a bona fide agreement between two different, distant parties, adversaries even, but eager to find common ground. It would be an understanding in which one party imposes itself and the other party suffers. If this were the case, the agreement would have a paradoxical outcome, namely to make the Church not more, but less free. There are still overly benevolent portrayals of the Catholic affair in China in recent years and the claim that, all things considered, the Agreement works. It seems to us that things are more complex. Certainly there is no shortage of wonderful things among Chinese Catholics: not because of religious policy, but in spite of it; not because of the success of the Accord, but because of the admirable resilience of Chinese Catholics. And dialogue with China, as with any interlocutor, should not mean the renunciation of words of truth on numerous unacceptable events: the lack of religious freedom and human and political rights; the repression of rights to which the peoples of Tibet, Xinjiang and Mongolia are subjected; the suppression of democracy in Hong Kong; the dangers for Taiwan. We have often wondered why China renews the Agreement with the Holy See, but then makes its implementation so difficult, or applies it just enough to induce the Vatican not to renege on it. The question is why China makes an agreement with the Vatican, but makes the lives of Catholics more difficult now than in the previous 30 years. The fear is that the nation's leaders are not sincere in this dialogue, and that they have a political agenda that is not to find an honourable compromise with the Holy See. There is certainly an important image gain for Beijing. Pope Francis is critical of the powers of the West and open to the reasons of the emerging countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, which have so far been penalised in the international context. An agreement with this pontiff can only be a strength in the community of nations. This is a legitimate goal on the part of the Chinese government, but one that unfortunately does not correspond to the concession of an improvement in the lives of Catholics. The concern is also that the Chinese authorities see the agreement with the Vatican as instrumental to the further isolation of Taiwan. The Holy See is the only world authority of certain prestige to maintain a formal diplomatic relationship with Taipei (even if it is rather downgraded in the concrete behaviour of Vatican diplomacy). Reunification with the island is a priority in Xi Jinping's nationalist policy, and therefore China would like the Holy See to remove all recognition of Taiwan, to be led back - sooner rather than later, by hook or crook - to the "motherland". It is true that the agreement between the Holy See and China took place without the Vatican having to sever its relations with Taiwan. This is a positive fact. It is a pastoral and not a diplomatic agreement, but it still has a political character. It is to be hoped that a window of opportunity will be found for the Holy See not to abandon Taiwan even if it establishes closer relations with China. Pope Francis has said that despite the possibility of being deceived and despite everything, there is no other way but dialogue. One can only agree. There is no other way but dialogue. And dialogue with stubborn interlocutors is an even more meritorious challenge. And it is admirable that the pontiff wants to overcome his interlocutors in generosity and sincerity, and the difficulties they pose. When we point out the difficulties in this dialogue, it is not because we want to interrupt it. It is out of consistency with the information that reaches us from our brothers and sisters from China, and out of respect for the difficulties that they experience and tell us of with apprehension and pain. For our part, we pray wholeheartedly, and we commit ourselves to the best of our ability, so that the Pope's wishes for China and the Catholic community of that great and beloved country be realised. They are also ours and those of all Catholics who love the Pope and China. * PIME missionary and sinologist (Part 1 of this article was published on Saturday 22 October 2022. Click here to read it) by Giorgio Bernardelli The Federation of Asian Bishops is marking its 50th anniversary at a general conference in Bangkok. The meeting will conclude at the end of this week when a final statement will be issued to the people of God. No prelate from mainland China was able to come. On this occasion we felt their absence, Card Gracias of Bombay said. Yet we still feel they are part of our journey. Bangkok (AsiaNews) The Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) has been holding its general conference in Bangkok (Thailand) since 12 October with bishops, priests and lay delegates from 29 countries. The meeting is set to conclude its last week next Sunday, 30 October; however, today, the conferences three presidents FABC President Card Charles Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, chief organiser Archbishop Card Oswald Gracias of Bombay, and Archbishop Card Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitvanit of Bangkok spoke at a press conference. Their remarks were not only for the Churches of Asia but also for Churches around the world. In fact, The time has come for our Churches in Asia to make their contribution to the universal Church, especially on issues such as interreligious dialogue, which for us is daily life. Reflections began on some new ways for the Church to address the great emerging realities in Asia today. Lines of action will be summarised in a final statement to the people of God which will be released over the weekend and in a pastoral plan drawn up in the following months. Many of our Churches are young, but still have significant experiences to offer, said Card Gracias. For us, for example, dialogue with other religions is a challenge that we have always faced and so we can also help the Churches in Europe or the United States that today are wondering about its forms. But I also think about the reflections that the Churches in Korea and Japan have carried forward on a theme as important today as peace and reconciliation. Youth is also a central topic at the general conference in Bangkok. They are part and players of our evangelising mission, said Card Bo. If we want to change today's Asia, we can only start with young people, going where they are. In this sense we feel the challenge of the new languages and digital communication. In this sense, a new, significant tool to bring young people closer to the Bible was presented on the sidelines of the conference. The book contains QR codes that will allow readers to open video clips with people talking about passages from the Bible in relation to their lives. This is the result of the collaboration between Card John Dew of Wellington, New Zealand, John Bergin, consultant with the United Bible Societies, and the FABC Office of Evangelisation. We had another experience of this kind, yesterday, on World Mission Sunday, said Card Kovitvanit. Thanks to digital tools, the delegates in Bangkok were able to 'virtually meet' 20 different parishes scattered throughout Asia. As small groups they visited various parishes in Mumbai, Dhaka, Seoul, Lahore, Yogyakarta, Pathein, Sabah, but also Darkhan in Mongolia, as well as parishes Taiwan, Brunei, Laos, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan and the Philippines. The visit began with an introduction and a video by the parish, followed by a conversation with the assembled delegates. While this embraced the whole of Asia, the People's Republic of China was the great absent. Answering a question from AsiaNews about how to bring bishops from mainland China, Card Gracias explained that it was not possible this time. "We sent an invitation but the difficulties related to the pandemic prevented participation, he said. "If not for the pandemic, Im sure they would have been here with us. The two bishops from China came for the synod in Rome, they were there. Subsequently, we had a meeting on theology here in this very place of Asia. China sent two bishops and did full participation. I did mention to them that we would like their presence over here for this general conference, and said its incomplete without you, you are an important component, and they were interested in coming. However, the conference itself was postponed twice because of the pandemic and there were restrictions of movement there, so it is all because of logistics. We made efforts and we hoped that they would come. I want to say publicly that we miss their presence over here". [*] Originally, the conference was scheduled for 2020, but was postponed because of the COVID-19 outbreak. by Arundathie Abeysinghe The initiative will collect excess food and avoid waste. Many children have stopped going to school because lunch is no longer guaranteed. The funds allocated by the government are not enough. Colombo (AsiaNews) Food banks and food exchange centres have been set up at religious facilities to provide food to needy families under the direction of the Ministry of Buddhasasana,[*] Religious and Cultural Affairs. The plan involves 14,000 village service centres that collect surplus food and deliver it to food banks, which in turn distribute it. Thus, no food will be wasted. To implement the programme, the government will rely on Buddhist monks and priests who are thought to have a better understanding of the living conditions of ordinary people affected by the economic crisis. For months, Sri Lanka has been facing an unprecedented crisis that saw it default on its foreign debt in April with many families facing food insecurity. The decision to create food banks with the assistance of clergy was taken to ensure that distribution to the needy was conducted in a transparent manner, instead of lists submitted by politicians in relevant areas, said a senior analyst who took part in the meetings to discuss the programme speaking to AsiaNews. Meanwhile, an education department official said that information from several school principals indicates that large numbers of children from low-income families were skipping school since parents were unable to feed them and "many students were fainting during the morning assembly." According to a recent government report, "One in seven children have dropped out of school due to food shortages. According to a senior education ministry official, out of 4.1 million students, only 1.1 million receive midday meals, this despite government funding (60 rupees, or 16 US cents per meal). In the districts of Monaragala, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, most parents are day wage earners employed as bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers, or labourers. Some have not found work for days or even weeks forcing them to pawn the family jewels to buy basic necessities. The 60 rupees the government has allocated is not enough. An egg costs 50 rupees so it is not possible to provide a full meal. Most of the children are fed thanks to the goodwill of the community," said the principal of a rural school. The government set itself the goal of providing lunch for one million children in order to keep them in school. Several international organisations such as Save The Children and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) are working with the Education Ministry while some groups have set up community kitchens in Wattegama, Maskeliya and Dickoya aimed at school children. [*] Buddhas dispensation or teachings. by Li Qiang For Beijing, the economic picture is not rosy and Xi might play the nationalist card to hold the system together. The new leadership lacks "economic brains" like outgoing Premier Li Keqiang. The military leaders appointed by the Chinese president are well acquainted with the Taiwan file. Beijing (AsiaNews) As Xi Jinping takes on the mantle of absolute leader, a good economy may no longer be the social glue to hold together Chinas communist regime and population. Surrounded by loyalists with little experience in economics, Chinas president and general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) could play the nationalist card to stay in power. This means that as the countrys economy slows down, chances of an attack against Taiwan increase. What is more, the new standing committee of the politburo that came out of the 20th Party Congress, which closed on Saturday, is made up exclusively of Xi loyalists. The retirement from political life of Premier Li Keqiang, the exclusion of outgoing committee member Wang Yang, and the failure to promote Vice Premier Hu Chunhua leave China's real decision-making body without "economic brains". Although China's GDP grew faster than expected in the third quarter of this year 3.9 per cent compared to 3.4 per cent forecast by a Reuters poll, todays published data cast doubt on future prospects. Exports may be growing, but weakly. Retail sales fell in September compared to August while real estate prices continue to drop. Conversely, youth unemployment remains high at around 18 per cent. Fearing more pressure on the private sector to the benefit of large public enterprises, markets reacted badly to Xi's third coronation and the absence of reformist figures on the Politburo Standing Committee. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange lost more than 6 per cent while Shanghai and Shenzhen lost more than 2 per cent. More importantly for investors, Xi shows no signs that he plans to ease his draconian COVID-19 policy, seen as an obstacle to economic recovery. According to Nomura, various forms of lockdowns and health restrictions were in place in 30 Chinese cities until last week, affecting about 225 million people. Analysts note that Xi stacked the new Central Military Commission, which he chairs, with people familiar with the Taiwan file. More pressure from Beijing is expected in Taipei, especially since opposition to Taiwanese independence has been included in the CPC charter. According to Admiral Michael Gilday, the US Navys chief of naval operations (CNO), China may be able to invade the island by 2024 and not 2027 as previously estimated by the Pentagon. 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. kW Featuring the same aerodynamic changes that debuted on the electrified models , the 2023 Nissan Juke also has new badging, two more color options, the Ceramic Gray, and Magnetic Blue, and new 17-inch wheels on the first two trim levels. The ST-L, ST-L+, and Ti sport a new luggage board, and intelligent key. The Bose premium audio has two rear speakers in the latter two models.Pricing starts at AU$28,390 (US$18,105), and standard gear includes the 17-inch wheels, LED DRLs, automatic LED headlamps, auto-folding side mirrors with heating, 4.2-inch instrument cluster, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, smartphone integration, voice recognition, cloth upholstery, and numerous safety gizmos. The ST+ starts at AU$31,140 (US$19,860) and adds LED front fog lamps, climate control, heated front seats, digital radio, sat-nav, and front parking sensors.Stepping up to the ST-L means paying at least AU$34,440 (US$21,965). This version adds 19-inch wheels, intelligent key, push-button start, ambient lighting, 7-inch TFT display, auto-dimming rearview mirror, rain-sensing wipers, leather-accented seats, steering wheel, and gearshift lever, and others. The ST-L+ starts at AU$35,540 (US$22,665), and brings white leather-accented trim, black chrome details, and 10-speaker Bose audio. The Ti / TiO has an MSRP of AU$36,890 (US$23,525) and comes with additional features, including rear privacy windows, illuminated kick plates, and follow-me-home headlights.Powering the 2023 Nissan Juke in Australia is the same turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine. It is hooked up to a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission as standard and produces 84(115 ps / 113 hp) and 180 Nm (lb-ft) of torque. The subcompact crossover returns 5.8 l/100 km (40.55 mpg US) on average, which makes it one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs locally, the automaker says. EV kWh kW The guys from ROAD Car published it on Instagram and just shared this is the first image of the new Abarth full electric. But we already know a thing or two about thisto share with you.Considering the 500es largest battery pack is a 42-(37.3 kWh usable) unit, thats what the performance EV will have as well. Only a new cell technology could allow Fiat to pack more energy into the tiny battery pack that fits in this car.The 500es most powerful motor currently delivers 87(117 hp), but the Abarth derivative is all about improving that. This is why the new Abarth should be named 595e. Expect to see a 695e as well. It may even be this prototype, as far as we know. The rumor is that the new electric Abarth will have outputs ranging from 125 kW (168 hp) and 150 kW (201 hp).Apart from the green lime paint, the new Abarth 595e (or 695e) presents a more aggressive front bumper, and the name Abarth printed there instead of 500e (which this high-performance electric isnt, at least in what relates to its name).It seems Stellantis has new plans for Abarth. And it should: Fiat does pretty well in Brazil, but that is the only market in which it is competitive. Even Italy forgot about its largest brand, which now has a restricted lineup in its home country. Either Stellantis fixes that, or it should think about other brands to bear the Abarth logo. Simca was bought by Chrysler (remember FCA) and later by Peugeot, which could also get the scorpion badge. What about Lancia and Alfa Romeo? Abarths electric future has great possibilities of breaking free from Fiat. Brad Pitt making a movie about F1 but not knowing who the voice of the sport Martin Brundle is???? pic.twitter.com/Xh3E28xTa8 Omid Scobie (@scobie) October 23, 2022 as if Brad Pitt just brushed off Martin Brundle. ITS MARTIN BRUNDLE. this is his playground. ???? Charley Louise (@_charleylouisew) October 23, 2022 Brad Pitt and Ed Sheeren are both A-holes. Been watching Martin Brundle interview various folks on the Grid and both just brushed him off. If they were true F1fans they would have realized Martin is a former F1 driver and shown him a bit more respect. Peter Jacob (@Bigdogpeter) October 23, 2022 Damn, Brad Pitt at #USGP for his movie and cant do a grid interview with Martin Brundle, these celebs man ?????????? #F1 Jarred Easter (@jarredeaster08) October 23, 2022 About Brad Pitts bodyguards theyre known as Pitt stops if he doesnt want you to speak to him ???????????????? Martin Brundle with the dad jokes Jason (@jcatley) October 23, 2022 Not sure I understand the logic of Brad Pitt not wanting to spend just a moment to talk to Martin Brundle during the grid walk. I mean, this is his moment to connect with those F1 fans that would see his F1 movie. Bill Walker (@East_Tn_Badger) October 23, 2022 One film project to look forward to, at least for car enthusiasts, is the Apple-produced Formula One film, with Brad Pitt as lead and F1 driver Lewis Hamilton as producer and consultant. The project doesnt have a timeline yet, or a synopsis, but Hamilton has long confirmed its existence and his involvement in it. Pitts recent appearance at the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix also does that: this is him going method (of sorts) for his new role.Put differently, Pitts appearance at the event was presented by his PR as some sort of research work, or at least an attempt on his part to immerse himself in the F1 atmosphere. It funny then that, in the process, he snubbed an F1 legend, in the person of former racing champion turned TV pundit Martin Brundle.If the name Martin Brundle rings a bell, its probably because hes famous for his grid walks and the oftentimes-funny interviews he does with celebrities or public figures from all walks of life. In recent years, hes been in the news a lot after getting snubbed by various stars, like Megan Thee Stallion and, as of this weekend, Brad Pitt.Below is Brundles interaction with Pitt, conducted as Pitts bodyguards were trying to block Brundle from getting near the actor. It did not sit well with the F1 viewers at home, most of whom thought it was rude of Pitt not to stop for a short chat with an F1 legend like Brundle. After all, if youre at an F1 event to do research, you might as well play the part and not pretend like youre too good for the grid walk.In all fairness, Pitt did answer a couple of Brundles questions, but he also made it very clear that he was in no mood for chit-chatting by not even breaking his stride. Its precisely this that got viewers at home upset, as the selection of random tweets below will show. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion was also rude for not speaking to the Sky News presenter, but at least she was there because she was promoting a new partnership; she wasnt there in preparation for an F1 movie like Pitt.Controversy aside, one thing you can always count on: Martin Brundle may not be an instantly recognizable F1 legend for everyone, but he will always, without exception, deliver the dad jokes. Drake is the proud owner of a Boeing 767 private jet which he calls Air Drake . And this inspired all his fellow artists to want to own their own airplane, just like DJ Khaled.This isnt the first time the rapper has expressed his wish to own a jet. A few months ago, he flew with Fat Joe to Los Angeles, California, to get his Hollywood Walk of Fame star. The aircraft they chartered was a Bombardier Global 7500 and he shared a video of himself outside it before boarding. In one of the posts, he wrote: Im get one these things one day inshallah. Global 7500, tagging the company.Well, not it looks like hes over Global 7500, because now he wants a Boeing. In several recent videos posted on his Instagram account, we see his black Rolls-Royce Phantom parked next to a massive jet, a Boeing 767.The rapper wrote in the description, "I'm just window shopping , I want feel like Drake!" He added that he wanted to travel the world with his family and friends, and the way to do it was to own a jet. In the voiceover, he says that he went "jet shopping," repeating that he wants to "feel like Drake."In another video, he gives us a full tour of the immense aircraft. "So we decided to get a Boeing." He adds, "I like flying in my Global 7500, and I could fly the world in that. I'm not saying I'm not going to do that." But one could see the appeal for the Boeing.The aircraft he visited seems to be one of the biggest private jets, a Boeing 767-200(ER), that belongs to Miami attorney and billionaire John H. Ruiz The plane is a massive display of wealth, one of the 121 units built and delivered. It comes with a length of 159 ft (48.5 m) and was converted into a flying mansion. It has two staterooms, two lounges, a formal dining room, a private cinema, a DJ station, and no less than four bathrooms, spreading over 2,000 square feet (186 sq. m) of interior space. It was completely refurbished by Florida-based aviation design company, VIP Completions.Its unclear whether this private jet, which is estimated at $38 million, is now available for sale. But if it were, DJ Khaled, who has a net worth of $75 million, could afford it. The magnetic field is generated by the planets iron and nickel core, more precisely by the motion of convection currents caused by heat escaping the core. It extends from inside the core to the space around our planet, and shields us from things like cosmic radiation and charged solar particles, thus being essential to the existence of life in this blue heaven.As said, the magnetic field is invisible, but it's also quiet, so you never really know its there. If it werent quiet, wed all probably die of exhaustion, as if it emitted sound, it'd be simply awful.We know that thanks to scientists from the Technical University of Denmark, who managed to convert the data captured by the European Space Agencys (ESA) Swarm satellite and convert it into sound, effectively giving the magnetic field a voice of its own.Well, its actually more than one voice were dealing with here, and the five-minute-long recording the Europeans released contains all sorts of sounds, from what seem to be chimes to the screams of something being dragged on a cold stone floor.For the duration of the recording, though, we get to hear what sounds like millions of glass marbles being dropped on the floor, in a bowl, and pretty much everywhere. You can experience that for yourself in the attached Soundcloud file below.Technically, knowing what the Earths magnetic field sounds like will not help our society, scientifically speaking, in any way, and according to ESA its just a quirky way of reminding us that the magnetic field exists.Danes in Copenhagen will be reminded of that en masse between October 24 and October 30, as loudspeakers installed at Solbjerg Square will blast the above magnetic field sounds three times a day. But on the other hand, the app also comes with a series of extras, and one of the things I use regularly is the support for sharing my location in real time.This comes in handy in a wide variety of scenarios, and the one I use most often is to let my wife know when Im on the way to pick her up from work.However, I recently noticed that sharing the real-time location from Google Maps on Android Auto is no longer possible. Its hard to tell whos to blame, but it looks like the move to Android 13 broke down something, so the feature disappeared completely.Oddly enough, sharing the real-time location from the mobile device is still possible, so the workaround I turned to was to begin the navigation on the phone, share the location, and then connect the device to the head unit to run Android Auto. Of course, its not the most convenient way to do the whole thing, but at least it gets the job done.As it turns out, Im not the only one seeing this glitch, and some people seem to blame recent Google Maps updates for the bug. I believe that Android 13 is actually the culprit, as its not a secret that the new operating system has created quite a lot of problems for Android Auto users.Unfortunately, Google is yet to acknowledge the glitch so far, which means that were still all alone in our attempt to find a fix. Its hard to tell how widespread the problem currently is, but we should find out more info on this front as more devices are updated to Android 13. Officially a survey vessel, HMS Enterprise has a versatile spirit. Yes, its main job is to conduct oceanographic and hydrographic surveys. Equipped with things like single and multi-beam echo sounders and various types of sensors, it maps the seafloor in search of important scientific data. But it also serves as a floating base for mine countermeasures operations. This turns it into a sort of mothership for the Mine Counter-Measure Vessels, with its crew ready to support these specialist ships.The area known as the High North is strategically important, which is why the Royal Navy keeps an eye on it constantly through its patrol vessels to make sure that nothing blocks freedom of navigation. This freedom allows ships such as HMS Enterprise to conduct their scientific missions.The survey vessel recently concluded its latest mission, where it got very close to the North Pole . For two months, the crew collected data that will be used mainly for updating charts. After a change of crew, it continued its mission in the Norwegian Sea and the Denmark Strait. Then, after a second crew change in Iceland, HMS Enterprise returned to the UK, in Aberdeen, where it was visited by various players in the maritime industry.It wasnt all about science but also about history. While in Arctic waters, HMS Enterprise paid tribute to the heroic sailors who faced these incredibly harsh conditions during World War II in order to deliver supplies to the Soviet Union. To mark the 35th anniversary of the performance partnership, the National Corvette Museum has opened a special Callaway Exhibit that shows what the team of dedicated engineers has done to the Corvette during these years.Committed to creating powerfully engineered automobiles, Callaway has worked on Corvettes with such great care, attention to detail, and quality that their factory warranties remain intact.In the mid-80s, GMs own single and twin-turbo V6 and V8 projects had run their course, so after closely analyzing a Callaway Alfa Twin Turbo, Dave McLellan, who acted as Chief Engineer for Corvette at the time, gave Callaway the green light to develop a twin-turbo prototype.In June 1986, the Callaway Twin Turbo engine option was presented, and it ended up inside a C4 Corvette, endowing it with 345 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. The powertrain option was to GMs liking, so it even got an actual RPO code (Regular Production Option) - B2K. It was the only engine package produced outside of GM to ever receive an RPO code and marked the beginning of a productive collaboration.The introduction of the C8 Stingray was the perfect occasion for GM to issue a new RPO for Callaway to commemorate the milestone anniversary of 35 years of working together. In March, we found out that Callaway would make available a B2K anniversary package (PCY) for the C8 Corvette Stingray for nearly $35,000 ($34,960). Just 35 of these vehicles were produced and offered through authorized Callaway dealers.Besides the worlds most exclusive and powerful Corvettes ever made, they also tackled some trucks and SUVs like the Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Sierra and Yukon family, as well as the mighty Cadillac Escalade, adding as many as 182 additional ponies under the hood of these vehicles.Dont miss the Callaway Exhibit if youre a true Corvette fan. According to the Corvette Museum s website, the exhibit will remain open until February 2023. EV Frankly, the interest in the 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre the posh and battery-powered successor of the Wraith grand tourer is going through the roof. So, we fully expect the automaker to rack up an incredible profit while the aftermarket world is already dying to get their hands on the first examples to make sure thewill stand out in any crowd.But not everything is perfect, even though it is also getting a much better reception than Caddys odd five-door liftback. For example, some people felt the introduction specification was a little childish on the inside, while others had the usual problems with any recent BMW Group product its front end looks a bit split , at least in terms of headlights. Oh, and let us not get started with the humongous grille that serves no purpose but to keep the traditional (illuminated) brand image alive.However, there are solutions, already. Naturally, since deliveries have not started just yet (they are scheduled for Q3, 2023), all of them are merely wishful thinking. But they do touch on the most sensible CGI spots, frankly. So, here is the virtual artist better known as j.b.cars on social media, who takes another CGI jab at something from the BMW Group and makes it look a little less outrageous than its OEM intended.This imagined 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre EV feels like a proper, subtler Wraith heir now. And it is all simply because theres a unified set of headlights and DLRs. But wait, as there is a little more. The pixel masters specification could very well also serve as a preview for the potential Black Badge Spectre that may be coming a few years after the release of the regular version and countless bespoke commissions . And it does not look half bad, frankly. While other sanctioned oligarchs have already had their superyachts sold after being seized, billionaire Kuzmichev is on the way to getting both of his yachts back. These are La Petite Ourse, an 86-footer (26 meters), and La Petite Ourse II, a 54-footer (16.5 meters), both Wally yachts. Earlier this month, Kuzmichev made headlines after judges ruled that the raid on La Petite Ourse was illegal.Now, his lawyer is arguing that the billionaire has the right to use his second yacht just to cruise from Cannes to Saint Tropez. Russian oligarchs that were sanctioned by the EU still have the right to use their frozen assets, Bloomberg reports, as long as they dont leave the territory where theyre located. Based on this, Kuzmichevs lawyer argued that the billionaire should be able to use his yacht along the French Riviera when hes at his second home, just as he uses his cars to go from one of his houses to the other.It sounds like the Russian mogul, one of the founders of a powerful investment company, is upset about not being allowed to use his multiple vehicles to move from one of his multiple properties to the other. Most of us associate luxury yachts with vacations, but when you live on the French Riviera, these precious toys become day-to-day personal vehicles. According to the owners lawyer, as long as he sticks to French territorial waters, Kuzmichev should be free to sail La Petite Ourse II whenever he wants to.This new petition could bring a second victory for the Russian tycoon, who has been one of the few to sue the authorities following the unprecedented hunt for oligarch-owned yachts. CVT ICE The VB also happens to be well, aesthetically challenged. The proportions may be spot on, theres no mistaking that. Be that as it may, black plastic cladding used all through the lower end on all four sides of the vehicle is too much and too cheap as per many prospective customers and fans. Another serious problem is the GT specification, which features Ultrasuede-wrapped Recaro front seats, electronically controlled dampers, 430 different customization options for the Drive Mode Select System, summer performance tires, 18-inch aluminum wheels, and a boringSubaru had the nerve of calling it Subaru Performance Transmission, waxing lyrical about its eight-speed manual shifting mode that simply doesnt match the inherent pleasure of using a good ol manual gearbox.Adding insult to injury, Subaru offers a torquier WRX in Japan. As if that wasnt bad enough for the VB, the Japanese automaker has shot down any hopes of a WRX STI. A statement from March 2022 highlights that anWRX STI will not be produced on the new platform, which isnt actually new given that the Subaru Global Platform was introduced back in 2016.The Japanese automaker is gearing up for either a partially electrified or a fully electrified WRX STI, but only time will tell when the all-new model will go official. In the meantime, Prodrive has reimagined the Impreza 22B STi into a limited-run restomod with carbon-fiber bodywork throughout.Pixel artist Marouane Bembli went on a different route, using the VB as the basis for the return of the Impreza 22B STi. The rendering featured in the clip below also includes a two-door makeover, which improves the aesthetic qualities of the second-generation WRX by a tremendous margin. Body-color trim rather than black plastic cladding on the wheel arches also needs to be mentioned, along with bodyside graphics, better wheels, painted brake rotors with a similar finish to the graphics, and a body-color rear wing. EV Chinese consumers who bought a #Tesla Model 3/Y before the price cut are pissed off, form a "rights protection group". Protest at dealers and Tesla offices. Police are called in. Lots of anger on Weibo.@Tesla $Tsla @TeslaChinaRider @SawyerMerritt pic.twitter.com/1XrvtwHT53 Tycho de Feijter (@TychodeFeijter) October 24, 2022 Here is how Tesla's prices in China have changed. This was a good move by Tesla because they need more orders and the backlog was gone. I wish they had done it sooner. pic.twitter.com/b6o0OGE7Lo Troy Teslike (@TroyTeslike) October 24, 2022 The largest price reduction was for the Model Y Long Range. From RMB394,900 ($54,372), it now costs RMB357,900 ($49,277). Tesla states people will have to wait four to eight weeks to receive their cars. Anyway, the most strategic one also happens to be the second-largest price drop (thanks to the Chinese governments help).Tesla used to charge RMB316,900 ($43,632) for the Model Y Standard Range, which themaker only names Model Y in China. It reduced the price to RMB299,988 ($41,304), which is just enough for it to be eligible for government subsidies of RMB11,088 ($1,527). As the guys from CNEVPost warn, only vehicles below RMB300,000 make the cut. That helped the value drop to RMB288,900 ($39,777), which is the price Tesla announces on its website. Deliveries take one to four weeks to happen.Without the Chinese governments help, the price reduction would have been only RMB16,912 ($2,329), ending in fourth place in the discount ranking. The Model Y Performance and Model 3 Performance had more significant decreases. The electric crossovers cost was RMB417,900 ($57,539) and dropped to RMB397,900 ($54,785), or a RMB20,000 ($2,754) decrease. The sedans price came down to RMB349,900 ($48,176) from RMB367,900 ($50,654), an abatement of RMB18,000 ($2,478).The lowest cutback was for the Model 3 Standard Range, called simply Model 3 in China. Its price used to be RMB279,900 ($38,538). Tesla lowered it to RMB276,988 ($38,137), and the governments subsidy did the rest, making its price drop to RMB265,900 ($36,610). However, theres a catch, as you must have certainly noticed.At RMB279,900, the Model 3 was already eligible for the Chinese government EV subsidy, so this was not its real price: it was the value with CCPs aid that Tesla prefers to present. Without it, the cars true price tag was RMB290,988 ($40,065). The discount was RMB14,000 ($1,928).There are two main narratives Tesla investors have to feed for share prices to keep expanding: that the company has the highest profit margins in the industry and that it has unlimited demand. The price reduction in China made it cut those profit margins in a market with escalating costs when unlimited demand would help it increase prices even further.Further proof of that is that Tesla had an insurance incentive that did not help it sell more cars as much as it thought. When it lowered the prices, it warned that the insurance incentive would no longer be available. On the other hand, CNEVPost said that Tesla is now offering the silver paint for free in its entry-level Model Y, something customers could only get if they chose a black crossover. The offer does not apply to other derivatives and other models.Suppose the price reduction had anything to do with lower costs. In this case, the discounts would follow a certain coherence related to the battery pack type or something. They dont. It is evidently a movement to increase demand in the Chinese market, the worlds largest one. In Teslas Q3 2022 earnings call, Elon Musk had to deal with the company missing its revenue targets. Despite the issue, the CEO stuck with the goal of reaching a 50% annualized growth rate in 2022. To get there, the company desperately needs to sell more cars in Q4 2022.On top of that, people who bought a Model 3 and a Model Y in China are furious at the company. They made protests in China and promised to form a rights protection group to get the same discounts. This is not the first time such protests have emerged: there are pictures from 2019 and 2021 with customers protesting price reductions they did not receive at Tesla showrooms, which Tycho de Feijter, from CarNewsChina, shared in the tweet below. Selling more cars and keeping its growth promises may cost Tesla a lot of money. As a result, the Japanese company has no other option than to turn to the same old trick and temporarily halt production at certain facilities until the chip supply improves.The company confirmed that during November, production would be suspended at no more than 11 lines in 8 plants out of a total of 28 lines in 14 plants. This means more than half of its domestic factories would shut down for at least one day, all because of the parts shortage that makes it impossible to keep production going.Needless to say, the adjustment would lead to an impact on the output of several models, including Corolla, RAV4, Yaris, Yaris Cross, several Lexus models, and so on. As a result, Toyota says it expects to build approximately 800,000 vehicles next month, 250,000 of which would roll off the assembly lines in Japan.On the other hand, the Japanese carmaker finally admits that reaching its annual production target might no longer be possible.This isnt the first time Toyota has experienced major production disruption this year, but so far, the company has been rather optimistic about the chances of making up for the temporary halts and accelerating manufacturing in the short term.But in the latest announcement, Toyota says that reaching the annual production target may no longer be possible, so the company now expects to produce fewer than 9.7 million units for FY2023.The Japanese firm also emphasizes that offering a forecast of how production would recover in the coming months is impossible right now, especially because of the semiconductor shortage . Of course, the company ends on a positive note, explaining that its working with all involved suppliers to make sure the wait for new cars is as short as possible. The car exchanged hands three times among members of the same family before being sold to the current owner, a classic car dealer. Bought new in January 1970, the automobile stayed with the first proprietor for 25 years. In 1995, the owner's twin brother purchased the car and held on to it for seven more years before selling it to a relative.The Mach 1 Sportsroof is in exceptional condition from tip to toe, and even before the showroom-quality detailing, it was a gem of a Mustang. Liveried in Grabber Green over White Clarion Knit/Corinthian vinyl bucket seat, the pony proudly wears the Black hood stripe that seems to flow out of the functional Shaker hood scoop.AM radio, power steering, power brakes (with discs on the front), a hefty 351 CID (5.8 liters) V8, 3.00 Traction-Lock rear, and the FMX Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission were installed on the assembly line in late 1969. The last owner in the family wrote a brief history of the car the letter is part of the documents folder that will accompany the vehicle to its future driver.It is almost a miracle the car survived in such excellent condition after 52 years, even if the most outstanding care was taken in its maintenance. It takes a keen eye to notice the spots on the windshield and minor paint chipping here and there. However, the dealer inspected the livery with an electronic tester to check for authenticity. The results were impeccable the car is a survivor in all its might.However, even survivors get bruised occasionally: the passenger quarter glass had to be replaced after it was damaged long ago. But that's a minor aspect and can quickly fade when put next to the vehicle's other, significantly more visible qualities: the original 14" steel wheels with their outfitted factory-installed hub caps.Era-correct Firestone Wide Oval FR70-14 tires with raised white letters are a recent addition the current seller put them on the car less than a month ago. A second set of wheels purchased in 1977 and part of the sale package equipped the Mustang during most of its life (and that's the main reason the initial wheels are as good-looking as they are).And the interior is just as pristine as the outer body. Except for some cracks on the driver's door armrest, everything is beyond the greatest of expectations. Ironically, the only interior element affected by time was the clock the original is long gone, and an electric one now sits in its place on the dashboard. Otherwise, the radio and heater are in working order.Finally, the engine and engine compartment are perfectly in line with the survivor majesty of this 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1. Except for some parts - replaced during regular servicing and maintenance over the decades - the 351 Cleveland V8 is flawlessly original. It runs and drives like day one (play the video to listen to it at the 49:50 mark).It was rated at 300 bhp (304 PS) and 385 lb-ft (522 Nm) in 1970 and came as the mid-range option for first-generation Mach 1. To have this engine running without a speck of hesitation is quite a record. The mileage is this low less than 1,000 miles (16,000 km) per year, which puts the odometer reading and the gallery proves it at 49,889 miles (80.289 km).The timing chain, distributor, water pump, heater core, coil, voltage regulator, air cleaner, wires, starter, belts, and several hoses have been replaced over the years some of the original ones are included in the sale. Also, the fuel tank and sending unit are "new" the tank is from 1990, while the pump is eight years old. The steering, suspensions, and brakes were inspected in preparation for the upcoming auction.Garage-kept and driven only in good weather, this classic is probably one of the greatest-looking survivors among the initial Mach 1 epoch. A splendid example of automotive nostalgia, rigorous maintenance, and family dedication, now ready for a new owner, the beautiful Ford will be listed at an auction The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan said on Monday that Mark Cameron, the director of the departments Office of Caucasus Affairs and Regional Conflicts, travelled to Gegharkunik province to meet with the commander of an Armenian army corps stationed in the area and observe the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. A statement released by the embassy said Cameron also visited the border village of Sotk which was heavily shelled by Azerbaijani forces during the September 13-14 hostilities. During his visit, he underscored the continued U.S. support for Armenias sovereignty, and lasting peace in the South Caucasus, added the statement. During the two-day hostilities, Azerbaijani troops attacked and seized Armenian border posts in Gegharkunik and two other Armenian provinces. The U.S. State Department publicly urged Azerbaijan on September 26 to return troops to their initial positions. Baku denies occupying any Armenian territory. Speaking in the Russian city of Saint-Petersburg on Monday, the deputy chairman of the Armenian parliament committee on defense and security, Armen Khachatrian, said that Azerbaijan seized a total of 127 square kilometers of Armenias territory in 2021 and this year. Khachatrian, who is affiliated with the ruling Civil Contract party, did not go into details and could not be reached for further comment later in the day. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said earlier that Armenia lost 41 square kilometers of land in 2021 and another 10 square kilometers during the September border clashes. The figure given by Khachatrian suggests that the Azerbaijani territorial gains made last month were much bigger than what was claimed by Pashinian. The Armenian Defense Ministry has still not officially specified the number of border posts lost by its troops on September 13-14. The ministry spokesman, Aram Torosian, said on Monday that those losses are still being clarified. Armenian opposition leaders have portrayed the outcome of the recent border clashes as further proof of Pashinians incompetence and inability to rebuild the countrys armed forces. They also blame him for Armenias defeat in the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinian claimed on October 17 that Baku is looking for an excuse to launch new military aggression against Armenia. The Irish Civil War grew out of intense disagreement over the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty that ended the Irish War of Independence against Britain. Fighting amongst Irish revolutionaries broke out after failed attempts to form a coalition between the pro-treaty forces and those who opposed it because, among other reasons, it called for a partition of Ireland that allowed six counties in the north to stay part of Britain and the establishment of an Irish Free State instead of a republic. While the war lasted barely a year, ending with the pro-treaty side victorious, the toll was steep. Precise figures for combatant and civilian deaths have never been verified, but are estimated to be at least 1,500 and probably more, including renowned figures like Michael Collins, a beloved hero of the War of Independence. Guerilla attacks, government-sanctioned executions, and other brutal acts were carried out. The economic damage was substantial, which affected negotiations for the border between the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland. Civil wars are by nature a traumatic national event that can leave long-lasting psychological and emotional scars. But as Aiken writes in Spiritual Wounds, the impact of the 1922-1923 war on Irish people has been a complicated and often misunderstood matter. In the years afterward, politicians and other public figures stressed a process of healing the wounds of war over remembrance, while school textbooks and other historical publications mostly omitted references to the civil war. This led to the unspeakable war characterization (associated with journalist Eoin Neeson, who chose it for the title of his 1958 series of articles on the war)a belief that there was a code of silence about the war, she notes, despite the fact that many civil war veterans had published or otherwise shared their accounts, and later generations also contested the notion of total silence about the conflict. The wealth of this body of testimony suggests that the silence of the Irish Civil War was not necessarily a result of revolutionaries reluctance to speak, Aiken writes, but rather due to the unwillingness of the architects of official memoryjournalists, historians, politiciansto listen to the testimony of civil war veterans. Sullivan Millennium Chair and Irish Studies Director Guy Beiner, whose researchcited by Aiken in the bookexplores how popular conceptions of national and local history are shaped not only by collective memory but also what he calls social forgetting, praised Aiken as an innovative, forward-thinking scholar. Siobhra is one of the most original and interesting new voices in the field of Irish studies today: Shes an historian who also works with literature and is fluent in Irish. In Spiritual Wounds, she challenges long-held assumptions that embarrassment is the reason why the Irish Civil War has been so neglected. Female survivors or relatives of veterans were especially marginalized, and some of them worked out their war-related trauma and experiences through writing fiction, which does not appear on the A list of Irish literature. Siobhra dug deep to find these writings, and they help put this chapter of Irish history in a new light. The Irish Civil Wars impact was far-reaching and well worth examining, especially as we conclude the centenary commemorations of the Irish Revolution. All of contemporary Irish politics was framed by the war, for example, and the conflict spurred emigration of anti-treaty Irishsome of whom came to Boston. For information on this and other Irish Studies events, go to the program's website. Sean Smith | University Communications | October 2022 CPC Central Committee to hold press conference on report to 20th national congress Xinhua) 08:46, October 24, 2022 BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee will hold a press conference Monday morning to introduce and interpret a key report to the just-concluded 20th CPC National Congress. The press conference, which will start at 10 a.m. Monday, will be broadcast live by China Media Group, as well as on people.com.cn, xinhuanet.com, and china.com.cn. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Du Mingming) China more than doubled its investment in Indonesia in the first half of 2022, compared to the same period last year, driven by the construction of nickel smelters, according to Indonesian government data released Monday. Chinese investments in Indonesia reached U.S. $3.6 billion from January to the end of June, compared with $1.7 billion in the first half of 2021, according to the Indonesian Ministry of Investment. Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the countrys downstreaming sector would continue to attract investments. Downstreaming refers to a government policy that requires companies to refine commodities here to make exports more valuable and to create more jobs. I have a conviction that Indonesia will still be a choice for investment, especially in the downstream sector, Bahlil said during a news conference broadcast live on YouTube. China is really pushing hard with downstreaming. So, the way I see it is even though there is a slowdown there [in China], investment here will be just fine. Indonesia imposed a ban on nickel ore shipments in 2020, prompting the European Union to seek a review by the World Trade Organization. Still, Jakarta has said that it will apply a similar downstream policy to other commodities such as bauxite, copper and tin. The smelter operations, which extract metal from ore, are exempt from the ban. In addition to discussing the first-half China investment figures, Bahlil said foreign direct investment in Indonesia rose 63.6 percent on a yearly basis in the third quarter, to 168.9 trillion rupiah ($10.83 billion). The growth of 63 percent is the biggest ever recorded, so this is extraordinary, he said. Zero-COVID policy The boost in Chinese investment could be attributed to the governments downstreaming policy, said Tauhid Ahmad, executive director at the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF), a Jakarta think-tank. China is building a lot of factories here, Tauhid told BenarNews, adding that he expected Chinas investment this year could top $7 billion, up from $3.2 billion in 2021. He said Chinas zero-COVID policy, which had resulted in widespread lockdowns, could force Chinese businesses to look elsewhere for growth. Chinese-linked companies dominate the nickel smelter industry in Indonesia, according to information from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. These firms include PT Sulawesi Mining Investment, PT Virtue Dragon Industry, PT Huadi Nickel Alloy and PT Harita Nickel. In May, Chinas Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co. said it would partner with EVE Energy, a maker of batteries for electric vehicles, to establish a $2.08 billion nickel and cobalt plant on Halmahera, an island in the Moluccas chain. Meanwhile, Indonesias coordinating minister for maritime affairs and investment, Luhut Pandjaitan, told Reuters news agency that his countrys exports could hit a record $280 billion this year, with nickel-based steel shipments rising sharply following the ban on nickel ore exports. Exports could rise to more than $300 billion by 2024 as the government prepares to regulate exports of other commodities, Luhut told Reuters. China is the second largest investor in Indonesia after Singapore, whose investment in the country reached $6.7 billion in the first half of this year. Last year, Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo broke ground on a U.S. $132 billion green industrial zone on Borneo to be built with investments from China and the United Arab Emirates and electrified by a Chinese-funded hydropower plant. When finished the 30,000-hectare (116-square-mile) industrial zone in North Kalimantan province would be almost as big as the island-nation of Malta and be a manufacturing hub for solar panels, batteries for electric cars, industrial silicon and other products. The government is targeting 2024, Jokowis final year in office, to complete construction of the project. China is also funding projects in Indonesia as part of Beijings Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) worldwide infrastructure-building program. These include the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project, which is expected to be completed in June 2023. Indonesia owes $17.28 billion in hidden debt to China, more than four times its $3.9 billion in reported sovereign debt, according to a 2021 study by AidData, a United States-based international development research lab. Nearly 70 percent of Chinas overseas lending is directed to state-owned companies and private-sector institutions. For the most part, the debts do not appear on government balance sheets, AidData said. Members of a female motorcyclist group who are against polygamy pose for a photo after distributing relief aid to villagers in Yala, Thailand, August 2022. A group of Muslim women in Thailands Deep South is criticizing a doctor for promoting his services online to help local men find up to three extra wives, saying such polygamous matchmaking doesnt follow the Prophets example. Waemahadi Wae-dao, a physician and former MP from the mainly Muslim southern border region shrugs off the criticism about his fee-based activities as a matchmaker. He says hes well-intentioned and helping to match men with wives in accordance with the Islamic principle that allows a man to have as many as four spouses. Wae, who himself has four wives, started providing the services by advertising them on his Facebook page. The idea was to eradicate secret extra-marital affairs and help both parties find good partners in the Deep South, a largely impoverished and insurgency-stricken region on the border with Malaysia. He collects a fee of 12,000 baht (U.S. $315) from men for each successful match. This has brought me many criticisms online some polite and some rude comments. However, I dont really care. I take them as nonsense, he told BenarNews. Imams Muslim preachers are compelled to perform such marriages because in Islam a man can wed as many as four wives as long as he can provide for and maintain each of his families equally. Wae uses an outdated practice for todays world, Anchana Heemina, the president of the Duay Jai (With Heart) Group, a Thai NGO, told BenarNews. He is looking from a view of religious principles and the needs of those who wanted to marry more than one person. But he is neglecting why marrying four women was permitted in the past compared to the practicality of these principles in todays context, she said. Polygamy is only encouraged in Islam when it comes to oppressed or the orphans among women, and justice can be done by marrying more than one, she said. If we follow all the principles, then there should be widows and poor women getting chosen, regardless of their appearance, shape or education, which is improbable. Men are after lust Anchana said Waes matchmaking service require women to describe their status, education, appearance, height and weight as if they are contenders in a competition for the men to choose from. She and five other women in the Deep South interviewed by BenarNews said they were opposed to men marrying four wives, noting that for many men, their sole argument is that Prophet Mohammad allowed it. Many of these men cannot provide financial and emotional support to the women they are marrying, as per the Prophets instructions, the women said. Habsoh, 17, a Pattani province resident who is not married, said social media including Waes own Facebook posts, are drawing attention to something that had been hidden for years. Men are after lust instead of following a good example of the Prophet. There is no flaw in the Prophets way. It was good, and there is no doubt about that, Habsoh said. She asked BenarNews to use only her first name because of privacy concerns. However, these men are blindly choosing to have four wives with the excuse that the Prophet allows it, while they take no responsibility toward any of their wives. They do not properly manage financial support, or even give time and love equally, she said, alleging that some men with more than one wife are putting their wives to work in order to support him. There have been many cases like this in her town, she alleged. The heavily pregnant woman has to work in the rubber plantation and raise young kids, while the man of the house lives a carefree life, Habsoh said. Doctors multi-step program for love Wae, who used to represent a parliamentary constituency in Narathiwat province, said he started promoting his match-making service this year after the COVID-19 pandemic lessened. While working as a doctor, politician, businessman, and social worker in different parts of the country Wae said he saw that people were struggling to find partners, so he sought to find a solution for lonely hearts. He said he had received applications from more than 1,700 people. Many are men seeking their first brides, but about 170 of his clients were seeking additional spouses. One, men and women cannot live together without a marriage, according to our religion; two, there is a considerable number of older unmarried women between the ages of 27 and 35; and three, men were facing challenges in finding good women to marry, Wae said. He said he has devised a multi-step plan that includes finding a couple with matching chemistry and introducing them to each other; organizing a video call between the two in the presence of staff; making an appointment for the couple to meet along with a chaperone; making a formal marriage proposal; and organizing the wedding. Some problems they have encountered are that there are more of women than men, and sometimes the women are not OK with polygamy, Wae said. The disagreement stems from a misunderstanding and bad experiences with men who are irresponsible, careless and unjust. When BenarNews interviewed the matchmaker earlier this month, two wedding ceremonies were planned in the coming weeks for couples he had matched. Both grooms already have wives. Abdul, a local from Yala province who asked that his last name not be used, said he had two wives but admitted his love for each was not equal. My solution is not to let the two meet. If that happens, then war will break out, Abdul told BenarNews. He said he agreed that its not always possible for a man to provide all of his wives fairly and equally. There can never be equal love for both, but I want to be with both, Abdul said. I know the first wife lives in tears, but she must go along because the religion allows for it. She has to make peace with it. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. 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. PITTSFIELD After months of community pressure, the Pittsfield Police Department is on the brink of deploying a body camera pilot program with eight officers. Chief Michael Wynn says the department has overcome legal questions about use of body cameras, come to agreements with police unions and is now testing devices. Thats the summary Wynn provided in a letter to the City Council. Wynn is set to come before the council tonight with an update on the departments progress in purchasing body cameras in response to a petition from Councilor Patrick Kavey. The chief writes in the letter the department has undertaken a systematic process to implement the use of Body Worn Cameras (BWCs) by Pittsfield Police officers since March. City councilors and residents have asked for years why the department doesnt equip officers with body cameras. In March, a Pittsfield officer shot and killed Miguel Estrella. The only video evidence of Estrellas killing came from grainy surveillance video from a nearby business. Since Estrellas death, questions about why the department has no cameras and calls for a change have reignited. Taking steps A timeline included in Wynns letter shows that between March 29 and June 21 the department met with three body camera companies: Watchguard, which is owned by Motorola; BodyWorn, which is owned by Utility; and Axon. After meetings with company representatives and product reviews, Wynn says the department decided to go forward with a training and evaluation period with BodyWorn and Axon after WatchGuard was dropped from consideration due to lack of vendor responsiveness, comparable data storage cost, and negative reviews. The department worked out a temporary body camera policy with patrol unions between August and early October. Last week, a group of eight officers signed on to serve as the initial pilot group for the cameras and on October 15 received initial training. Wynn writes in his Thursday letter to the council that the Axon body camera testing phase is tentatively scheduled to begin in the next four days. The pilot program puts the Pittsfield Police Department one step closer to joining the group of more than 100 departments across the state using body cameras. Among this group are the Great Barrington and Sheffield police departments. Great Barrington started using Axon body cameras in late September, becoming the first local department in Berkshire County to equip officers with cameras. The department paid $59,000 for the cameras and five years of video storage for its 22 officers. Earlier legal questions Wynn told the council shortly after Estrellas March shooting that he was in favor of cameras generally, but didnt think the technology was allowed under the states wiretapping laws. Neither I nor, as far as I know, any member of our police department has any opposition to implementing a body camera program in the city of Pittsfield, Wynn said at a council meeting in May. We do have considerable concern about how to properly do it within the legal framework we find in the commonwealth. The Pittsfield police chief says he supports body cameras, but has legal concerns Pittsfield Police Chief Michael Wynn said the department's met regularly with a handful of body camera vendors, but he and the department haven't purchased cameras because they haven't resolved what he sees as major legal issues around using the technology in the state. At the time, Wynn questioned whether having officers record interactions with the public was at odds with the states wiretapping statute, which requires two-party consent to audio recordings. The chief told The Berkshire Eagle in May that after a conversation with the attorney for the Massachusetts Association of Police Chiefs, his concerns had been quieted. Wynn said the attorney told him that if police record their interaction with a person and they continue to speak after being notified about the use of a body camera, that sequence provides consent. That reading of state law is mirrored in new policy recommendations published by the states Law Enforcement Body Worn Camera Task Force the body commissioned with sorting through law enforcement and citizens concerns over body cameras. The policy recommendations, published in early August, suggest officers should use body cameras to record whenever a user interacts with a member of the public but also that officers should create a notation on any recording that captures a conversation with a person whose request to de-active the BWC was declined. Editor's note: This article has been corrected to state that Pittsfield City Councilor Patrick Kavey submitted the petition prompting Chief Michael Wynn's status report on the body-worn cameras. He circled in on the town square: The Eagle's Fredric Rutberg honored with 2022 Governors Award in the Humanities Historically, people without means of posting bail for even low-level crimes would face time at the Berkshire County Jail & House of Correction while awaiting trial essentially serving a sentence before its been imposed, notes columnist Ruth Bass. Bail reform has helped to remedy that injustice, without a significant impact on crime. One of the largest PFP Gaming franchise to set up home in Africarare Africarare, Africas first metaverse, is proud to welcome its newest early settler. One of the worlds most prestigious PFP (profile picture) gaming franchises, CyberKongz, has secured space in Ubuntuland, in order to set up its presence in the African metaverse, with big plans to use this platform to change lives for good. Visitors to this metaverse will be able to immerse themselves in the CyberKongz ecosystem by visiting their jungle build or by hanging out with members of the CyberKongz community. Additionally, all 15,000 VX Kongz will be interoperable in Africarare. Through this, they will be raising funds to support conservation in Virunga National Park. This national park, which is a UNESCO world heritage site in the Albertine Rift Valley in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is home to some of the worlds most endangered gorillas. CyberKongz have been supporting Virunga for many years and intend to leverage their presence in Africarare to take that support even further. The CyberKongz brand is filled with unique and randomly generated 2D/3D NFT social avatars that create highly sought-after online experiences, in other words, gamified collectibles with utility. They are intended to be avatars for both the two-dimensional space as well as playable avatars on platforms such as The Sandbox and Africarare. Interoperability is the foundation of our ecosystem, so bringing our community into a metaverse based in Africa is a natural fit. CyberKongzs donations have helped Virunga National Park install crypto mining rigs powered by green energy. This helps create financial security for the park during dire times, said Cyberkongz council member Myoo*. "We believe the metaverse can provide an immersive experience for people to learn more about African conservation efforts, he concluded. We are excited to welcome the outstanding CyberKongz community into Ubuntuland. They have done remarkable work with NFTs,and I believe that they will play an important role in the global Ubuntuland communitys future, said Mic Mann, co-founder and CEO of Africarare. By entering Africarare, this vibrant organisation will make incredible new experiences possible, all while raising funds for a worthy cause, he added. Africarare, Africas first metaverse was established to unlock African potential and connect Africa to the global digital economy. For regular updates, follow Africarare on Twitter: @AfricarareNFT. In the past, a retailer's online strategy consisted largely of a website, possibly with some e-commerce functionality. It was the next frontier in the digital space and everyone who was anyone in the retail world had one. Picture: 123RF NONWARIT PRUETISIRIROT That approach is no longer sufficient as we now understand so much more about how the digital channel is used in the path to purchase. Though websites and apps still lead in terms of channels to shop, shopped by 67% and 63% respectively, they are being joined by other, less expensive online channels such as social selling via Facebook and Instagram - making it easier for more businesses, especially smaller ones, to get in on the commercial game. A quarter of physical sales are made through online discovery and research In the 2022 SA Digital Customer Experience Report, we stress that brands should no longer be thinking in silos but rather become channel agnostic. Their customers are. In fact, our report revealed that a significant 25% of all physical sales made across retail categories of groceries, fashion, medicine/toiletries and furniture/hardware were enabled because of consumers online research. In rand value that equates to R294bn in physical sales, a figure not to be sneezed at. We now know that social selling, app usage and even WhatsApp or other instant messaging platforms play a pivotal role in the offline experience and purchase. But what we are not (yet) seeing is retailers who are taking advantage of this new consumer behaviour and bringing digital into their stores. Brands need to ensure their product catalogue is always available online, and updated, so that consumers can find what they like and want, without having to leave the house Using mobile in the moment Consumers are using their phones in store to look for recipes to help them decide whats for dinner, or are viewing products in store to check the quality or try an item on, only to buy it online, through their phone, at a later stage and possibly get a discount. We are also using our phones in restaurants and cafes to view menus through QR codes, a behaviour that has become entrenched - this would have been unheard of before Covid. These examples aside, there are so many more online opportunities available to brands to bring their stores and products to life, to create truly memorable or useful experiences. Given that 50% of our respondents said theyd tell their friends and family about a poor experience (43% are posting this online), it is in every brands interest to get the on- and offline experience right. Consider, for instance, how an offline brand can make its stock levels in store, and at which store, viewable online, in real time. This could be anything from a clothing item to an appliance or a food product. Being able to see whats available where, from your phone, before you get into your car, would be a boon for shoppers and brands, and those that implement this will reap loyalty; I hope to see this type of integration in the future. Online research an essential part of the purchase pathway Researching online is not just a fun pastime or fad but has become a key component of the purchase pathway. While about 23% of respondents used online to search for groceries, food, beverages and tobacco, 41% surfed the web to research travel options, 34% looked at household furniture and appliances and 28% researched clothing, footwear and leather goods. What this means is that brands need to ensure their product catalogue is always available online, and updated, so that consumers can find what they like and want, without having to leave the house. Another opportunity for retailers is to provide in-store digital interactions with their products. Food retailers could quickly win the hearts of their shoppers if they had virtual stations that shared which aisle a product was in - there is nothing more frustrating than walking up and down the aisles looking for the jam. Or they could offer recipes and shopping lists to make the grocery shopping experience that little bit easier - just as they do online. While not yet on our shores, the US brand Target has started rolling this out in its stores to much consumer acclaim. Of course, we have seen the massive increase in online grocery shopping since Covid started, but many people still go into, and prefer, a store - this is where the next opportunity lies. Online retailers can learn a thing or two from offline peers too Looking at this the other way around, online retailers can also do better, especially when creating moments for impulse buying. Online its easy to choose what you want, check out and thats that. In store, we are more likely to pick up some confectionery while waiting in line to pay or grab a smaller clothing item in addition to what we went into the store for originally. In my view, this is the next online opportunity: create more demand for those little extras to bump up basket sizes, and increase the bottom line. Whichever way you look at it, on- or offline, consumers are dipping in and out of both as they please to fulfil a particular function. Online, research, including looking at reviews, is a key behaviour, making it important to get reviews of your product online. The bare minimum now is a complete product catalogue with all information needed to make the purchase decision. Offline, retailers need to bring digital into their stores, add QR codes to products, offer online discounts for offline purchases and provide useful information such as recipes, where relevant, as well as use digital to aid store navigation. We no longer live in a binary world of off and on; they have merged and each influence the other in myriad ways. If 25% of all physical sales made across core categories are made through online interactions, it is essential for physical retailers to link their digital to their in-store to capitalise on how the new consumer shops and meet them everywhere they are. Retailers need to break down legacy barriers and allow digital channels to support offline shopping and vice versa, allowing the best of both worlds. The big take-out: Retailers need to break down legacy barriers and allow digital channels to support offline shopping and vice versa, allowing the best of both worlds. First published in RedZone - https://www.businesslive.co.za/redzone/news-insights/2022-09-21-why-online-is-now-an-essential-part-of-retailers-offline-strategies/. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced a series of initiatives and a call for proposals to advance locally-led innovation that supports work by scientists and researchers in developing economies. The announcement was made at the Grand Challenges annual meeting in Brussels earlier today. This years meeting focused on lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic, which highlighted the need for high-impact research and development platforms, partnerships, and policies that effectively bridge the gap between innovation and equitable access. The meeting brings together researchers from around the world to share work, learn about cutting-edge advances in the healthcare field, and collaborate with other investigators. Health equity shouldnt just be a statement of why we do this work. It should guide how we do it, said Kedest Tesfagiorgis, deputy director of global partnerships and grand challenges at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. When we support locally led innovation, we maximise impact by bringing different kinds of knowledge and perspectives to the fore. The Grand Challenges Global Call to Action is a 10-year initiative announced at last years meeting to help ensure scientists and institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) play a central role in shaping the global R&D agenda. As part of the initiative, the foundation announced the following two new projects: Pathogen genomic surveillance and immunology in Asia: This is an invitation for proposals from investigators in South and Southeast Asia to design and pilot a genomic surveillance programme or develop capacity for immunology and immune sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 to inform epidemic response. Up to $300,000 per year for up to two years will be available for each project, with potential additional funding for projects that include a focus on monoclonal antibody discovery. Building data modelling capacity for gender equality: This is an invitation for proposals from investigators in low- and middle-income countries for projects aimed at addressing disparities and gaps affecting women and girls in health. This initiative is focused on innovative approaches to modelling that advance gender equality. Each project will receive up to $500,000 over one to three years. "Societies measure what they value, and for most of history, society hasnt valued women. This means were trying to tackle global health and development challenges with missing information, said Anita Zaidi, president of the gender equality division at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It is long past time to put women and girls at the centre of the data modelling that guides our solutions. In partnership with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the foundation will also provide grants to researchers investigating and detecting emerging pathogens in LMICs. Researchers will receive up to $200,000 each for up to two years, as well as operational support and technical training from the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub. This funding commitment builds on a 2018 partnership between the foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub that is focused on building metagenomics capacity in LMICs through a Global Grand Challenges initiative. The first in-person Galliova Food and Health Writers' Awards ceremony since the pandemic hit was well attended, as the creme de la creme of the food industry showed up in numbers. Herman Lensing. Source: Supplied. Sarie Kos' Herman Lensing won the overall Galliova champion award and the Galliova Food Stylist award at the event which was held at Clara's Barn in Stellenbosch. What an incredible honour! Thank you to everyone who is a part of this story. All I want to do is show the world good food every day, said Lensing. Speaking to Bizcommunity Lensing said he has been winning Galliova awards since 2009. Winning this Galliova award is amazing, it's an absolute honour for my work to be recognised and above all it shows that I am doing something right. There are two types of recognition that are important to me, first of all it's that my readers support my work and people on the outside who look at my work with different eyes," he said. Marthinus Stander, honorary president of awards sponsor, the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) and managing director Chicken Division at RCL Foods, said the association recognised the tenacity of the media over the past few years, and was proud to once again acknowledge the importance of the countrys food and health media. We are really happy to be together again, and to see so many members of the media with us today who have flown in from all over the country to join us. This year we made a few changes to the categories and entry criteria, in line with the ongoing changes in the media landscape. Im delighted to say that all the judges commented on the excellent standard of work submitted, and that we were able to increase the total value of the cash prizes to R189 000.00, Stander told guests. The 2022 Galliova Award winners are: Galliova Digital Content Creator Winner: Dianne Bibby, Bibbys Kitchen Runner-up: Georgia East, East After Noon The scores for the top four entries in this category were extremely close, with the judges giving Sam Linsell of Drizzle & Dip a special mention for her beautiful work. Galliova Health Writer Winner: Lydia van der Merwe, Sarie, Sarie Kos & Sarie Gesond Runner-up: Glynis Horning, freelance writer The number of entrants in this category in 2022 was double that of previous years, which was encouraging. The health judges awarded a special mention to freelance writer, Jandri Barnard for the excellent standard of her writing. Galliova Food Stylist Winner: Herman Lensing, Sarie Kos Runner-up: Vickie de Beer, Lose It! & Keto Mag A special mention in this category was extended to first-time Galliova Awards entrant, Gail Damon from Fresh Living magazine. The Galliova Food Writer Joint winners: Lydia van der Merwe and Herman Lensing, Sarie Kos Runner-up: Anna Trapido, freelance writer The focus of this category changed in 2022 from recipes and visuals to full-length food articles. The judges gave a special mention to Anel Potgieter of Rapport for her outstanding writing. The Egg Champion Winner: Gail Damon, Fresh Living magazine Runner-up: Vickie de Beer, Lose It! & Keto Mag In addition to the winners in this category, the judges gave a special mention to Pierrette Mulumba from Longevity Live for her work in promoting South African eggs. The Broiler Champion Winner: Vickie de Beer, Lose It! & Keto Mag Runner-up: Johane Neilson, Tuis | Home & Weg | Go! Chicken is one of the most consumed and popular proteins in South Africa. Despite this, the number of entries received for this category were lower than last year. The judges opted to include entrants from other categories where chicken recipes had been used, to bolster the entry pool in this category. Galliova Champion Overall awards winner: Herman Lensing, Sarie Kos The Galliova Champion was a new and exciting addition to this years awards. It recognises and acknowledges one of the winners, from the other six categories, for their exceptional work. It is not a guaranteed award, and only granted if all judges agree one winner surpassed all expectations. The winners were judged according to their overall promotion of locally produced poultry products, including both eggs and chicken, as well as excellence in promoting food culture, food writing, visual appeal and food styling. The 2022 Galliova Food and Health Writers Awards were attended by renowned South African food and health media, including social media influencers; SAPA board members; and dignitaries Dr Simphewe Ngqangweni, CEO of the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC), and Dr Sifiso Ntombela, chief economist of the NAMC. In acknowledgment of the longstanding history of South Africas poultry industry, and its support of the Galliova Awards over the past three decades, the official welcome was given by Colin Steenhuisen, a member of the SAPA and Egg Boards, and a stalwart of the local egg industry with a professional career spanning 47 years. It was back in 2004 that Steenhuisen awarded celebrated South African food journalist, Justine Drake, her first-ever Galliova Award. Drake returned to the Galliova Awards stage this year, but this time as the event MC. -Additional reporting by Karabo Ledwaba South Africa's first ever virtual 'fan-building' conference takes place online on 3 November. Curated by HaveYouHeards head of Culture and editor of Snacks and @thisisin__, Brett Rogers, @thisisin__s Fans webinar will provide clever marketers, entertainers and brand builders with the insights they need to adopt their strategies to future-proof their brands by tapping into engaged communities of brand fans. Its quick-fire two-hour format features nine local and international speakers including Lauren Dallas from Future Females, Ryan McFadyen from HaveYouHeard, Bill Milhench from Treble UK, Angelique Kuiper from Resonance International, Mbali Ndhlovu, Martin Duenas from LaLiga Tech, Ninel Lara Musson from Vth Season and Paul Machin from RedmenTV. Among others, topics include Brands need purpose, Turning fans into a community, Creating impactful brand/talent partnerships, and Generating ROI from technology through personalised fan experiences. There are a limited number of free tickets for Bizcom Fans. To gain access to these tickets click this link: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/191962-thisisin-fan-conference/#/, click 'Tickets' and enter the promo code BizComFans, for your 100% discount. According to Rogers, in a few years from now, the strongest and most resilient brands will be those that have a fan base not a customer base, not a consumer segment and not a demographic target sector. The paradigm shift brands need to make to thrive in the years ahead of them is from customer to fan, because the drivers of consumer behaviour are very different from the drivers of fan behaviour, said Rogers. When a consumer needs a product, they will make their selection based on a reason that other competing brands can emulate. For example, the product they reach for may be the cheapest, or contains the highest percentage of natural ingredients, or it has attractive packaging, or is placed on the shelf where they dont have to bend or rise on tiptoes to grab it. If those parameters change, or a competing product offers a lower price, more natural ingredients, more attractive packaging, or pays to be on that middle shelf, the consumer will switch brands. Not so with a fan. As Ben Milhench, one of our speakers, says: Fans forgive, customers dont. A fan resonates with the brand, they care deeply about that brand and its wellbeing. A fan is loyal, and even if the product behind the brand is more difficult to get or more expensive they will buy that product because they love the brand and they want it to succeed. More importantly, according to Rogers, a fan is a part of a community a consumer is not. This means that a fan will help you build the brand. A consumer or customer is only interested in the product, but a fan is interested in becoming a natural influencer for you, an organic influencer, a person who is trying to help the brand by converting other people into fans of the brand. The fact that a fan wants to belong to the brand community and will actively strive to grow that community not only means that brand building budgets go that much further with the fan doing a lot of the work for you, it means a more stable base of users who will ignore competitor attempts to convert them, he said. Game is returning to a one-day-only Black Friday sale, after two consecutive years of month-long Black November deals driven by the Covid-19 pandemic. Source: Supplied With consumer shopping habits continuing to return to normal, Game will open most of its 108 stores across the country from midnight until 8pm on Friday, 25 November, giving shoppers extended time to get their hands on deals. Following the success of our inaugural Halfway Day sale in July, it has become clear to us that the South African consumer is ready to return to one-day sales. As South Africas most Googled retailer for Black Friday for the past three years, this is an important day for our business and our consumers as they look to find the best possible deals on the items they need and want. As a responsible retailer, we continue to keep our stores safe and comfortable for the shopper and will ensure all necessary safety measures are in place this Black Friday, says Games vice president, Andrew Stein. Game promises to have an assortment of products available at "heavily discounted prices" across categories, but shoppers can expect major deals on electronics, appliances, homeware, DIY and outdoor this year. The retailer notes that the shopping experience is also set to be positive, with all stores now being completely revamped making them easier to navigate. Stein elaborates saying, Our teams have been working all year to bring in the products our customers are looking for, at astounding prices. These are some of the best deals weve had for Black Friday yet. Weve also been able to plan better than we ever have without external market interferences. Our stock is here, our prices are here and now we are looking forward to welcome customers to what we believe is our biggest Black Friday yet. Online deals In line with its growing e-commerce offering, the retailer is also offering its largest-ever online range for Black Friday, giving those consumers who prefer to shop from home more choice with free delivery on all online orders over R450 made between 00:01 and 23:59 on Friday, 25 November. While we have worked hard alongside our suppliers to ensure the best deals, it is important that consumers are aware that stock tends to go quickly on deep discount days like Black Friday, so they should shop early to avoid disappointment. Were also offering more ways to pay than ever, including a new layby offering that has a 0% deposit and six months to pay says Stein. He adds that all shoppers are guaranteed the best price in the market on any items bought at Game this year, as the retailers Price Beat Promise is valid on all Black Friday deals, in-store and online. Hebron Mall, which will officially open in the North West on 27 October, has invested in local community upliftment by building a new nursery school for Mama Rose, who has been teaching preschoolers in the Hebron area for 20 years. The facility was opened officially at an event on Thursday 20 October, attended by representatives from various stakeholders and partners. Image: Supplied Speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mama Rose expressed her gratitude to everyone involved in bringing the project to fruition. I would like to thank God and all who made this possible. I am very much humbled and grateful, she said. The new nursery school will extend Mama Roses legacy well into the future and allow her to equip the next generation with the skills and confidence necessary for success in life. The R2.1m corporate social investment project developed by Hebron Mall has been supported by various partners. Leading clay brick and paving manufacturer Corobrik, the brick supplier for the shopping complex, donated 36,000 Country Classic Travertine clay face bricks worth R160,000 to the Mama Rose Nursery School upgrade. Hebron Mall, which is a joint venture between Twin City and Moolman Group, has no commercial stake either in the ownership or in management of the school. It is completely community owned and operated by Mama Rose. We do not run the nursery school or own the facility; our investment is in people who, in turn, add extensive value to the entire community, explains Twin City Foundation head, Dr Eunice van Wyk. The most important reason for this choice was the passion and dedication that Mama Rose has shown to the children in her care despite her very limited resources over the years. The investment into Mama Rose has not only involved a total rebuild of the school, but the teacher employed by Twin City Foundation has visited the nursery school over the past six months to put the framework in place for the planned ECD programme. During this time, and with the assistance of the professional team developing Hebron Mall, a large-scale facility upgrade was carried out. We are actually building an entirely new nursery school, as previously it was housed in informal settlements, with no electricity or plumbing, says Van Wyk. Image: Supplied Corobrik business development manager, Johannetjie van der Linde, says the company was more than happy to assist Twin City Foundation, as this project is in line with its own corporate social responsibility initiative of empowering local communities. In addition to donating the face bricks to secure Mama Roses legacy for future generations, Corobrik is also providing sets of its mini bricks for all the children. We trust that our donation will certainly enhance the Mama Rose Nursery School for ECD in Hebron. Corobrik is proud to be associated with Hebron Mall in working towards uplifting disadvantaged communities and being an active roleplayer in building a better future for South Africans, says marketing support manager, Thilo Sidambaram. The concept of crowdfunding to kickstart a company or raise money for a needy cause is familiar to many South Africans. While crowdfunding is a billion-dollar global industry, equity crowdfunding is in its infancy in Africa and is an exciting alternative investment that is disrupting the funding landscape. It offers investors a share in a particular business in exchange for capital to be used for growth. Jeff Miller, founder of Grovest and GoGetta | image supplied Raising capital is difficult for entrepreneurs worldwide but it is particularly tough for African entrepreneurs who try to fundraise unsuccessfully using traditional financiers such as banks, as they often dont have the security required. Yet, there are many examples of brilliant businesses on the continent - they are not only resilient but innovative to harness potential in various sectors. I am particularly passionate about entrepreneurship and developing quality entrepreneurs. I am just as keen on the importance of alternative investments for more balanced investment portfolios. I was a pioneer in the Section 12J space in this country and saw the enthusiasm which South Africans embraced this alternative investment. After Treasury ended this option to invest in alternative assets, I saw the gap for an equity crowdfunding platform focused exclusively on African businesses. This mechanism is simple and quick to market. If the crowd likes it, theyll fund the business, and entrepreneurs get some validation up-front for their concepts and have a chance to achieve their goals. With R3,5bn under management at Grovest and a deep understanding of licensing requirements, I was keen to create a way for retail investors to invest in an asset class that offers potentially better returns than the stock market. Global equity crowdfunding markets The worldwide crowdfunding market was estimated to be over $17bn in 2020, with an annual growth rate of 16% - 17% projected from 2021 - 2026. By 2028, it is forecast to reach $43bn. Equity crowdfunding in the US, Europe and the Orient continues to gain traction, but the concept is quite new in Africa. Crowdfunding volumes in Africa have grown 118% since 2015, with almost 90% of capital being raised through foreign-based platforms headquartered in Europe and the United States. Between 2013 and 2016, over 78% of annual African crowdfunding occurred in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. Benefits for entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs have a solution to raise funds other than from traditional sources and the platform is sector agnostic. However, crowdfunding is about more than just raising capital. The need to pass the muster of the investment committee provides two opportunities to test the business concept - first with the investment committee and once listed, potential equity investors. Entrepreneurs retain their ideas and control over their businesses, but they are guided and mentored by strong business development professionals to carefully manage costs, timing, marketing and delivery. Post the fundraise, entrepreneurs will be assisted with reporting to investors. Eyes on Africa By 2050, Africa is expected to be the continent with the largest population and consumer base. Although historically, connectivity and other issues were barriers to growth, we are seeing massive adoption as infrastructure improves and mobile and internet penetration continues to rise. SMMEs are the key to prosperity and growth throughout Africa; they need as many opportunities for sustainable investment as possible. There are unique African problems and subscribing for equity in the businesses that solve these issues should be available to global investors. Africa is a magnificent sleeping giant, and we are ready to awaken her. Amidst the ongoing challenges facing women in South Africa, tech entrepreneurship presents a remarkable opportunity to empower women and girls in our country through the use of technology. The seventh annual Innovator Trust Women in Tech (WIT) Appreciation Experience is almost upon us. Set to take place on Wednesday, 16 November 2022, the awards aim to honour female tech entrepreneurs from across the country for their outstanding achievements in leading their businesses. Watch WIT 2022 promo. The awards are hosted by the Innovator Trust, a small-business training incubation facilitator established in 2014, whose mission it is to support and nurture the development of sustainable information and communications technology (ICT) SMMEs in South Africa. Now in its seventh year, the auspicious Women in Tech (WIT) Appreciation Experience was initially conceptualised primarily to recognise female beneficiaries from the Enterprise Development, Supplier Development, and Young Entrepreneurs (YEP) programmes facilitated by the Innovator Trust. Since inception, the Innovator Trust has successfully incubated more than 190 black-owned ICT small businesses, some who have been able to grow from start-up phase to medium- and large-scale enterprises. For the last two years, the WIT event was virtual and offered a captivating line-up of keynote addresses and panel discussions featuring renowned women in leadership such as minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, former public protector of South Africa, Professor Thuli Madonsela, chancellor of the Nelson Mandela Bay University, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, and Vodacom chief officer and executive director for External Affairs, Takalani Netshitenzhe. Click here to watch highlights from WIT 2021. This years experience will be hosted as a 1-day hybrid event to include those unable to attend in person. Leading women of industry, innovators, government, academia, media, and small business owners are expected to attend the event in recognition of the female beneficiaries being awarded. WIT 2022 presents a call to action for women to #PowerUp in support of one another and unite as a collective toward creating the opportunities for economic growth that exist within the realm of tech entrepreneurship, despite the dire economic and social climate of the country, commented Tashline Jooste, chief executive officer of the Innovator Trust. In addition to a spectacular awards ceremony, the programme promises an impressive line-up of guest speakers and panel discussions engaging on topics such as women and sustainability, African entrepreneurship and the effects of the energy crises in the SMME sector, challenging the current status quo on the state of women in technology and entrepreneurship. Complimentary virtual registrations to WIT 2022 are now open until 16 November 2022. Register here to claim your free virtual seat to WIT 2022. Women in Tech Appreciation Exprience the future of tech, powered by women. For more information, visit the Innovator Trust website or follow the updates on the official social media channels: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Website Leaked documents detailing the forthcoming launch of 'Project Fela' - a new marketplace with its own membership programme owned by Amazon - has prompted much industry speculation and debate around the role that competition plays in sector development. In this key example of the disruptive entry of an international player into the local market, lie valuable lessons for small businesses, particularly those who compete directly with large corporates, have aggressive growth strategies, or simply want to understand how to manage their competitors more effectively. Jeremy Lang Expect disruption, is the advice of Jeremy Lang, executive director at Business Partners Limited, who urges SMEs to avoid complacency and see competitor research not as a once-off exercise, but as an ongoing business imperative. As he expands: A significant component of thorough market research must involve rigorous competitor research not only in terms of existing businesses, but in terms of plausible disruptors who may enter the market in years to come. Two pieces of information that are indispensable to entrepreneurs are: what will compel their targeted market segment to buy their product, and who else is competing on that same basis. Know your position: Strategic positioning as a clear market differentiator According to Lang, three key factors are the major determinants of an SMEs market positioning: price, quality and service. Usually, SMEs leverage off of one or two of these factors and use it as the basis of their value proposition. Hitting the nail on the head, in terms of positioning relies on a thorough understanding of the relevant market what drives their purchasing decisions and spending habits, as well as what their needs and pain points are. With the looming possibility of Amazon Shopping Online serving as a serious contender for Takealots market share however, a fourth factor needs to be considered innovation. On this point, Lang encourages SMEs not to limit their understanding of what innovation means solely to the realm of the product. Over and above product innovation, the potential innovation in customer experience has to retain and attract customers can serve as a powerful differentiator if actioned correctly. In the example of Amazon, we see an international brand foregrounding unmatched convenience with selling points like free delivery and cloud storage as value adds to its membership package. Herein lies an important business lesson the customer is king means more now than it did even ten years ago. With technology as an enabler, businesses have the means by which to engage their customer base, learn from them and tailor their sales journey to what their customers on the ground need and want, explains Lang. Competitors as potential partners For small businesses particularly those who find themselves going head-to-head with large corporates a shift in mindset could also provide the basis for gaining a competitive edge. Instead of seeing big brands as insurmountable obstacles, they can be looked at as potential partners and a way to expand an SMEs network. Sometimes the best way to remain competitive is to forge strategic partnerships that take advantage of the complementary nature of each partys inherent strengths and weaknesses. On a more positive note, SMEs also have an opportunity to collaborate and sell their products via the Amazon Shopping Online platform, asserts Lang. Customer retention is imperative during periods of disruption Expanding further on how businesses can brace themselves for disruptive market movements, Lang provides the following insight: Upon reaching a crossroads in business, SME owners can either focus on selling existing products to existing customers, promoting new products to existing customers, pushing sales on existing products to new customers or punting new products to new customers. "When the market is turbulent and market share is at risk, the general approach is to focus on the first two options. Customer retention and leveraging brand loyalty is an important strategy when preparing for the knock-on effects of new competition in the market." Local businesses have significant advantages over global newcomers For Lang, when it comes to tackling competition from global players, there are no concrete conclusions one can never assume that the international player will clinch an industry monopoly simply by virtue of its size and perceived prominence in the marketplace. In fact, as Lang explains, local businesses have a few key advantages. Touching on the product delivery aspect of the Amazon example, Lang explains that local companies have the advantage of speed due to the existence of local distribution centres and delivery channels. In an age of instant gratification, the speed at which delivery can be achieved will continue to be a key selling point for local businesses and prerequisite for repeat sales. Furthermore, local businesses should not underestimate the value of grassroots experience and having a comprehensive and hands-on understanding of how the South African consumer thinks and spends. Theres a fair amount of psychology that goes into how South Africans make purchasing decisions local brands can appeal to this unique psyche and use it to foster customer loyalty, says Lang. Locally, loyalty programmes such as those attached to financial institutions eBucks and uCount Rewards, are also a major drawcard for local customers and a way that South African companies can increase their value proposition and encourage repeat sales. As Lang concludes: Industry disruption is an inevitability whether it happens a month into a business journey or a few decades after a brand has established itself as a market leader. But there is a very constructive side to increased competition it keeps companies on their toes, pushes innovation and creativity and ultimately, contributes to wider consumer choice. The submission of Cabinet's response to the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector is a firm and clear indication of the primacy of the rule of law and a demonstration of the democratic system at work. Image source: Richard Van der Spuy 123RF.com President Cyril Ramaphosa said the response constitutes an ethical, moral and institutional departure from the abuses revealed by the State Capture Commission. The actions we are taking and the implementation of the Commissions recommendations are designed to provide redress in respect of the events of the past and to advance the renewal of our society. Through the implementation of the actions contained in this response, we can start a new chapter in our struggle against corruption, the President said in his address to the nation in response to the State Capture Commission Report at the Union Buildings on Sunday. On Saturday, the President submitted to Parliament Cabinets response to the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector. He highlighted that the response to the recommendations of the State Capture Commission may therefore include the implementation of a recommendation as set out in the report, the implementation of part of a recommendation or, where there is good reason, a decision not to implement a recommendation. The Commission made over 350 recommendations. The Commission, which was led by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, was established as part of the remedial action contained in the report of the Public Protector released on 2 November 2016. Action against perpetrators The President highlighted that the Commissions report notes that state capture was facilitated by a deliberate effort to subvert and weaken law enforcement and intelligence agencies so as to shield and sustain illicit activities, avoid accountability and to disempower opponents. Since 2018, decisive steps have been taken to strengthen the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Hawks, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the South African Revenue Service (Sars), the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and other important agencies. New leadership was appointed at the Hawks, an institution that was targeted for weakening, which has, since then, secured 4,500 convictions for corruption and other priority crimes. A new National Director of Public Prosecutions was also appointed on the recommendations of an independent panel following a transparent public process. That is why even as the State Capture Commission was being appointed in 2018, this government was taking decisive steps to end state capture and rebuild our institutions. As a result of these efforts, several major state capture and other serious corruption cases have been brought to court, the President said. Since the start of the work of the Commission, significant resources have been made available to build and rebuild the capacity and capability of law enforcement agencies to respond effectively to the findings and recommendations of the Commission. As a result of this work, the Investigating Directorate that we established within the National Prosecuting Authority has to date enrolled 26 cases, declared 89 investigations and 165 accused persons have appeared in court for alleged state capture-related offences. Law enforcement agencies have, to date, been granted freezing or preservation orders to the value of R12.9bn. A total of R2.9bn has also been recovered and returned to the affected entities and Sars has collected R4.8bn in unpaid taxes arising from the work of the Commission. In addition to recommending actions against the perpetrators of state capture, the Commission made 95 recommendations that would require constitutional, legislative, regulatory or operational changes. Strengthening law enforcement To address some of the abuses by private companies, the President said that amendments will be made to laws currently under review to, among other things, criminalise donations to political parties in expectation of state contracts, to bar suppliers who have engaged in dishonest or corrupt behaviour, and to make failure to prevent bribery an offence. The Commission investigated various allegations of illegal activities and abuse of state resources at the State Security Agency (SSA). The Commission found that weaknesses in our intelligence services regulatory framework made them particularly vulnerable to abuse for political and personal gain. We will implement all of the Commissions extensive recommendations on the intelligence services, together with the recommendations of the High-Level Review Panel on the SSA chaired by Dr Sydney Mufamadi. A new General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill will establish separate domestic and foreign intelligence services, improving oversight of intelligence agencies and giving practical effect to the principle that no member of the Executive responsible for intelligence may be involved in the operational matters of the SSA. To strengthen the independence of the NPA, legislation will be amended to introduce greater transparency and consultation in the appointment of the national Director of Prosecutions. To further strengthen anti-corruption capabilities, the Investigating Directorate will be established as a permanent entity within the NPA. Addressing corruption in procurement President Ramaphosa announced that the Public Procurement Bill will be submitted to parliament by March 2023 and will address many of the Commissions recommendations. The Commission made detailed recommendations about the establishment of an independent Public Procurement Anti-Corruption Agency. It also recommended the establishment of a Permanent Anti-Corruption Commission that would have oversight over both Parliament and the Executive. The Commissions recommendations underline the need for a coherent and integrated approach to combating corruption, fraud and maladministration. It is therefore appropriate that these recommendations form part of a fundamental redesign and review of the countrys anti-corruption architecture. Reforming state owned entities The President announced that State-owned entities (SOEs) board candidates will be recommended by the independent panels with appropriate technical expertise. No SOE board member will be allowed to be operationally involved in procurement processes beyond an oversight role. This after the Commission found that the appointment and removal of board members and senior executives in state-owned enterprises was one of the key causes of state capture. The lack of compliance, transparency and accountability in the appointment of board members not only enabled the capture of these companies, but also contributed to a decline in their operational and financial performance. That is why government accepts the Commissions recommendations on the need for a process for the appointment of boards of state-owned enterprises that is not open to manipulation. This would include the involvement of independent panels with appropriate technical expertise to recommend suitable candidates to the relevant Minister, the President said. He added that Ministers will be prohibited from playing any role in procurement within state-owned enterprises or departments. The report of the Commission, consisting of six parts, was handed to the President over a period of six months: the first part of the report was submitted on 4 January 2022 and the final part of the report on 22 June 2022. The 77-page response to the recommendations can be accessed on: https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/assets/downloads/State%20Capture%20Commission%20Response.pdf. Where payments meet digital ID. At the Authenticate 2022 event, Mastercard SVP of Digital Identity Sarah Clark detailed the companys digital ID plans. Clark detailed Mastercards plans for a digital ID network at a presentation on Use of FIDO in a Reusable Digital Identity Network. The network is aimed at individuals who already have a government-issued ID. Mastercard plans to create a network through which digital IDs can be reused online, for in-person interactions, through calls and other channels. The company claims that the network is fully operational in two markets and active in seven markets across the globe. The company has launched a digital identity in Brazil and helped the Australian government develop the TDIF, a framework for the development of digital identity services. According to Clark, there are opportunities for digital ID systems because of the poor user experiences most people have with traditional ID systems. She also claimed that digital ID could help combat cyber fraud. The system, called ID, does not require a password; it uses biometrics. The user owns their own digital ID, making it decentralized, store it on their smartphone, and only show it to a party that has requested it. The system also uses standards provided by the FIDO Alliance, an organization focused on providing authentication measures that do not rely on passwords. FIDO provides Mastercard with, among other things, more efficient biometric authentication. Mastercard will add more verification methods other than facial biometrics. The company is also looking to develop web wallets and other services to make online transactions easier. Related Articles: One of the worlds most powerful bankers has laid out plans for digital cash by touting the form of currency as a way to push society into new equilibriums. The subject of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) has been a hot topic during the 2022 International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank Group (WBG) Annual Meeting. Overall, like the Young Global Leaders program, the Global Shapers and New Champions represent another piece of the globalist octopus which has become quite effective at penetrating and manipulating world governments. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation this month announced $200 million in new funding part of an overall $1.27 billion commitment in support of global health and development projects that include creating a global digital ID system. Thursday, September 29, 2022 - Gates Foundation boosts funding for Digital ID projects The plan was surveillance from the outset. It is interesting to note that they say technology is being deployed to prevent sick individuals from traveling in public. The undoubted long term plan is to use technology to prevent individuals from travelling. Your civil liberties and rights will be tied into your social credit score. If you criticise the government, you wont receive your UBI which will be in the form of a digital currency. Your bank account could be shut down by the press of a button. The United Nations is getting an upgrade to prepare itself for the post-Great Reset era. The WEF and UN are all but physically merged into a giant public-private partnership to transform the world through Innovation, Data, Strategic foresight, Results orientation, and Behavioural science. Remember that Technocracy was defined as the Science of Social Engineering as far back as 1937 Wednesday, August 31, 2022 - How The World Economic Forum Promotes Transhumanism The World Economic Forum promotes the Great Reset in two parts: Technocracy that transforms society, economics and politics and Transhumanism that creates H+ or Humanity 2.0. This is the heartbeat of Klaus Schwabs Fourth Industrial Revolution: immortal gods living in perpetual Utopia. Sunday, August 28, 2022 - Pakistani government threatens to block digital IDs to shut down protestors access to bank accounts Amid continued blackouts and great political unrest, the Pakistani government has threatened protesters with having their digital IDs blocked so they cant access their bank accounts. The sociopaths at the WEF are telegraphing their crimes against humanity global digital ID scheme in plain sight; to wit: Friday, August 19, 2022 - World Economic Forum makes big push for digital identity programs around the world Says that governments need to develop "digital trust" to make people accept the rollout of digital IDs. Monday, August 15, 2022 - How Your Carbon Footprint And Your Carbon Wallet Are Really Going To Work In The Dystopian World That WEF Has Planned? Let me introduce you to Barbara Baarsma. Barbara is the CEO of Rabo Carbon Bank. Yes, you read that right. Not Rabo Bank but Rabo Carbon Bank. In this 53 second video interview below she is advocating for a "Personal Carbon Wallet". That may not seem like a big deal but when you hear what she has to say you should be concerned, very concerned in fact. Friday, August 12, 2022 - Canada plots digital ID system after WEF partnership Part of the big push for digital identification. Friday, August 12, 2022 - World Bank Creates $1 Billion Fund For Vaccine Passports Unelected and unaccountable Technocrats are bent on creating vaccine passports. There is no discussion with nation-states or actual citizens who will be forced into taking the passports. A universal digital ID is the Holy Grail of Technocracy because it will enable a Skynet system of total control. The World Banks backing guarantees that Central Bank Digital Currency will be tightly coupled with vaccine passports. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is promoting Enhanced Border Security Agreements by offering access to the departments vast biometric databanks to foreign states that agree to reciprocate, according to a July 22 Statewatch report. A DHS document, DHS International Biometric Information Sharing (IBIS) Program, is effectively a sales pitch to potential foreign partners, Statewatch said. Those who aren't "freshly vaccinated" will be subject to restrictions. Thursday, August 11, 2022 - Turkey is the next country to push biometric payments As part of the big push to merge data and payments, biometric payment cards developed by Idex Biometrics in collaboration with E-Kart are to roll out in Turkey and other countries in Eastern Europe. Idex is also supplying biometric technology to a Web3 biometric card issued by Reltime. A report published last week on revamping the Government of Canadas digital infrastructure states that the next step to making services more convenient is to introduce a federal Digital Identity Program. The World Health Organization (WHO) is moving ahead with plans to enact a new or revised international pandemic preparedness treaty, despite encountering setbacks earlier this summer after dozens of countries, primarily outside the Western world, objected to the plan. Important to understand is that there is not one single new or original idea in Klaus Schwabs so-called Great Reset agenda for the world. Nor is his Fourth Industrial Revolution agenda his or his claim to having invented the notion of Stakeholder Capitalism a product of Schwab. Klaus Schwab is little more than a slick PR agent for a global technocratic agenda, a corporatist unity of corporate power with government, including the UN, an agenda whose origins go back to the beginning of the 1970s, and even earlier. The Davos Great reset is merely an updated blueprint for a global dystopian dictatorship under UN control that has been decades in development. The key actors were David Rockefeller and his protege, Maurice Strong. In the beginning of the 1970s, there was arguably no one person more influential in world politics than the late David Rockefeller, then largely known as chairman of Chase Manhattan Bank. Creating the new paradigm At the end of the 1960s and into the early 1970s, the international circles directly tied to David Rockefeller launched a dazzling array of elite organizations and think tanks. These included The Club of Rome; the 1001: A Nature Trust, tied to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF); the Stockholm United Nations Earth Day conference; the MIT-authored study, Limits to Growth; and David Rockefeller's Trilateral Commission. Club of Rome In 1968 David Rockefeller founded a neo-Malthusian think tank, The Club of Rome, along with Aurelio Peccei and Alexander King. Aurelio Peccei, was a senior manager of the Fiat car company, owned by the powerful Italian Agnelli family. Fiat's Gianni Agnelli was an intimate friend of David Rockefeller and a member of the International Advisory Committee of Rockefeller's Chase Manhattan Bank. Agnelli and David Rockefeller had been close friends since 1957. Agnelli became a founding member of David Rockefeller's Trilateral Commission in 1973. Alexander King, head of the OECD Science Program was also a consultant to NATO. That was the beginning of what would become the neo-Malthusian people pollute movement. In 1971 the Club of Rome published a deeply-flawed report, Limits to Growth, which predicted an end to civilization as we knew it because of rapid population growth, combined with fixed resources such as oil. The report concluded that without substantial changes in resource consumption, "the most probable result will be a rather sudden and uncontrollable decline in both population and industrial capacity." It was based on bogus computer simulations by a group of MIT computer scientists. It stated the bold prediction, If the present growth trends in world population, industrialization, pollution, food production, and resource depletion continue unchanged, the limits to growth on this planet will be reached sometime within the next one hundred years. That was 1971. In 1973 Klaus Schwab in his third annual Davos business leader meeting invited Peccei to Davos to present Limits to Growth to assembled corporate CEOs. In 1974, the Club of Rome declared boldly, "The Earth has cancer and the cancer is Man." Then: the world is facing an unprecedented set of interlocking global problems, such as, over-population, food shortages, non-renewable resource [oil-w.e.] depletion, environmental degradation and poor governance. They argued that, 'horizontal' restructuring of the world system is neededdrastic changes in the norm stratum - that is, in the value system and the goals of man - are necessary in order to solve energy, food, and other crises, i.e., social changes and changes in individual attitudes are needed if the transition to organic growth is to take place. In their 1974 report, Mankind at the Turning Point, The Club of Rome further argued: Increasing interdependence between nations and regions must then translate as a decrease in independence. Nations cannot be interdependent without each of them giving up some of, or at least acknowledging limits to, its own independence. Now is the time to draw up a master plan for organic sustainable growth and world development based on global allocation of all finite resources and a new global economic system. That was the early formulation of the UN Agenda 21, Agenda2030 and the 2020 Davos Great Reset. David Rockefeller and Maurice Strong By far the most influential organizer of Rockefellers zero growth agenda in the early 1970s was David Rockefeller's longtime friend, a billionaire oilman named Maurice Strong. Canadian Maurice Strong was one of the key early propagators of the scientifically fraudulent theory that man-made CO2 emissions from transportation vehicles, coal plants and agriculture caused a dramatic and accelerating global temperature rise which threatens the planet, so-called Global Warming. As chairman of the 1972 Earth Day UN Stockholm Conference, Strong promoted an agenda of population reduction and lowering of living standards around the world to "save the environment." Strong stated his radical ecologist agenda: "Isnt the only hope for the planet that the industrialized civilizations collapse? Isnt it our responsibility to bring that about? This is what is now taking place under cover of a hyped global pandemic. Strong was a curious choice to head a major UN initiative to mobilize action on the environment, as his career and his considerable fortune had been built on exploitation of oil, like an unusual number of the new advocates of ecological purity, such as David Rockefeller or Robert O. Anderson of Aspen Institute or Shell's John Loudon. Strong had met David Rockefeller in 1947 as a young Canadian high school dropout of eighteen and from that point, his career became tied to the network of the Rockefeller family. Through his new friendship with David Rockefeller, Strong, at age 18, was given a key UN position under UN Treasurer, Noah Monod. The UNs funds were conveniently enough handled by Rockefellers Chase Bank. This was typical of the model of public-private partnership to be deployed by Strongprivate gain from public government. In the 1960s Strong had become president of the huge Montreal energy conglomerate and oil company known as Power Corporation, then owned by the influential Paul Desmarais. Power Corporation was reportedly also used as a political slush fund to finance campaigns of select Canadian politicians such as Pierre Trudeau, father of Davos protege Justin Trudeau, according to Canadian investigative researcher, Elaine Dewar (Elaine Dewar, op cit. p. 269-271. ) Earth Summit I and Rio Earth Summit By 1971 Strong was named Undersecretary of the United Nations in New York and Secretary General of the upcoming Earth Day conference, United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Earth Summit I) in Stockholm, Sweden. He was also named that year as a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation who financed his launch of the Stockholm Earth Day project (Elaine Dewar, op cit. p.277). In Stockholm the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) was created with Strong as its head. By 1989 Strong was named by the UN Secretary General to head the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development or UNCED (Rio Earth Summit II). He oversaw the drafting of the UN Sustainable Environment goals there, the Agenda 21 for Sustainable Development that forms the basis of Klaus Schwabs Great Reset, as well as creation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the UN. Strong, who was also a board member of Davos WEF, had arranged for Schwab to serve as a key adviser to the Rio Earth Summit. As Secretary General of the UN Rio Conference, Strong also commissioned a report from the Club of Rome, The First Global Revolution, authored by Alexander King which admitted that the CO2 global warming claim was merely an invented ruse to force change: The common enemy of humanity is man. In searching for a new enemy to unite us, we came up with the idea that pollution, the threat of global warming, water shortages, famine and the like would fit the bill. All these dangers are caused by human intervention, and it is only through changed attitudes and behavior that they can be overcome. The real enemy then, is humanity itself. President Clintons delegate to Rio, Tim Wirth, admitted the same, stating, We have got to ride the global warming issue. Even if the theory of global warming is wrong, we will be doing the right thing in terms of economic policy and environmental policy." (Elaine Dewar, Cloak of Green: The Links between key environmental groups, government and big business, Toronto, James Lorimer & Co., 1995, pp. 259-265. ) At Rio Strong first introduced the manipulative idea of sustainable society defined in relation this arbitrary goal of eliminating CO2 and other so-called Greenhouse Gases. Agenda 21 became Agenda 2030 in Sept 2015 in Rome, with the Popes blessing, with 17 sustainable goals. It declared among other items, Land, because of its unique nature and the crucial role it plays in human settlement, cannot be treated as an ordinary asset, controlled by individuals and subject to the pressures and inefficiencies of the market. Private land ownership also is a principal instrument of accumulation and concentration of wealth and therefore contributes to social injusticeSocial justice, urban renewal, and development, the provision of decent dwellings and healthy conditions for the people can only 'be achieved if land is used in the interests of society as a whole." In short private land ownership must become socialized for society as a whole, an idea well-known in Soviet Union days, and a key part of the Davos Great Reset. At Rio in 1992 where he was chairman and General Secretary, Strong declared: It is clear that current lifestyles and consumption patterns of the affluent middle class involving high meat intake, consumption of large amounts frozen and convenience foods, use of fossil fuels, appliances, home and work place air-conditioning, and suburban housing are not sustainable. (emphasis added) Strong did not heed his own call. What Strong did not tell his environmentalist allies at Rio was that he had also made a huge purchase of the Colorado Land and Cattle Company, from Saudi arms dealer and CIA asset, Adnan Khashoggi. By that time Strong was at the very center of the transformation of the UN into the vehicle for imposing a new global technocratic fascism by stealth, using dire warnings of planet extinction and global warming, merging government agencies with corporate power in an unelected control of pretty much everything, under the fraudulent cover of sustainability. In 1997 Strong oversaw creation of the action plan following the Earth Summit, The Global Diversity Assessment, a blueprint for the roll out of a Fourth Industrial Revolution, an inventory of every resource on the planet, how it would be controlled , and how this revolution would be achieved. At this time Strong was co-chairman of Klaus Schwabs Davos World Economic Forum. In 2015 on Strongs death, Davos founder Klaus Schwab wrote, He was my mentor since the creation of the Forum: a great friend; an indispensable advisor; and, for many years, a member of our Foundation Board. Before he was forced to leave the UN in disgrace over an Iraq Food-for-Oil corruption scandal, Strong was member of the Club of Rome, Trustee of the Aspen Institute, Trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation and Rothschild Foundation. Strong was also a director of the occult Temple of Understanding of the Lucifer Trust (aka Lucis Trust) housed at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, where pagan rituals include escorting sheep and cattle to the alter for blessing. Here, Vice President Al Gore delivered a sermon, as worshippers marched to the altar with bowls of compost and worms xvi This is the dark origin of Schwabs Great Reset agenda where we should eat worms and have no private property in order to save the planet. The agenda is dark, dystopian and meant to eliminate billions of us ordinary humans. F. William Engdahl is strategic risk consultant and lecturer, he holds a degree in politics from Princeton University and is a best-selling author on oil and geopolitics, exclusively for the online magazine Global Research Centre for Research on Globalization Related Articles: One of the worlds most powerful bankers has laid out plans for digital cash by touting the form of currency as a way to push society into new equilibriums. The subject of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) has been a hot topic during the 2022 International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank Group (WBG) Annual Meeting. What if we were really at the point where the arrow indicates on the bar-code cartoon below? Or, it could be much worse, we could already be just a tiny little speck on the all-encroaching and dominating QR code. The Club of Rome was founded in 1968 to deliberately push the global climate terrorism agenda in order to usher in the eventual planetary Great Reset. Today, the WEF and UN and their various assets are the public faces of this PSYOP-CLIMATE-CHANGE scam. One of the founders and thought leaders of the Club of Rome was sociopathic enough to agree to an interview where he admits their eugenics agenda in plain sight: CRISPR, a recently developed gene-editing technology is promoted as a potential solution to numerous diseases, to food security and climate change even as a way to deliver designer babies and bring extinct mammals back to life. The technology has attracted significant investments and the attention of actors such as Bill Gates and the World Economic Forum (WEF). But many scientists express concerns about the technologys potential harmful effects. Overall, like the Young Global Leaders program, the Global Shapers and New Champions represent another piece of the globalist octopus which has become quite effective at penetrating and manipulating world governments. In his 2020 book THE DENIAL journalist Ross Clark describes a dystopian future in which everything we buy or do has a carbon (CO2) value and each household or individual has a carbon allowance which is the maximum amount of CO2 they are allowed to use each month. New British PM Elizabeth Truss has been touted by many including the mainstream media as a far-right politician with wide appeal to British conservatives. This is fast becoming a prerequisite ideological position to take in Europe as the open border/socialist policies of leftist political leaders are leaving the EU in economic ruins and as they approach an energy based catastrophe not seen since WWII. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation this month announced $200 million in new funding part of an overall $1.27 billion commitment in support of global health and development projects that include creating a global digital ID system. The plan was surveillance from the outset. It is interesting to note that they say technology is being deployed to prevent sick individuals from traveling in public. The undoubted long term plan is to use technology to prevent individuals from travelling. Have you ever found yourself completely losing your temper in the middle of a heated struggle of some sort? Whether it is a hotly contested sporting event, an actual fist fight or a bitter battle against an online foe, it can be way too easy to lose your temper. And when tempers flare, you can end up losing control and doing things that you deeply regret later. Unfortunately, the same thing is true on an international level. Russia and NATO have both become absolutely obsessed with winning in Ukraine, and leaders on both sides are getting angrier and angrier. And when leaders become extremely angry, they can do really stupid things. I have been extremely alarmed by some of the events that have transpired over the past week. Hotheads in Russia and hotheads in the western world just continue to escalate the conflict in Ukraine, and we are getting dangerously close to a point of no return. The following are 5 signs that the war between Russia and NATO is about to spiral out of control #1 A Dirty Bomb? There had been a lot of chatter about the possibility that Russia could start using tactical nukes in Ukraine, and now the Russians are alleging that the Ukrainians are preparing to detonate a dirty bomb in their own territory in order to motivate the western powers to get even more involved in the conflict Russias defense chief on Sunday alleged that Ukraine was preparing a provocation involving a radioactive device, a stark claim that reflected soaring tensions as Moscow struggles to stem Ukrainian advances in the south and is building defensive positions in anticipation of Ukrainian offensives elsewhere. Russias Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made the allegations in phone calls with his counterparts from Britain, France and Turkey. He also spoke to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in their second call in three days, but a terse Russian readout of that call didnt say whether the dirty bomb claim was also mentioned in their conversation. #2 The U.S. 101st Airborne Division Gets Deployed To Eastern Europe The 101st Airborne Division is one of the most famous units in the history of the U.S. military, and I was quite stunned to learn that they have just been deployed to Europe for the first time in almost 80 years The U.S. Armys 101st Airborne Division has been deployed to Europe for the first time in almost 80 years amid soaring tension between Russia and the American-led NATO military alliance. The light infantry unit, nicknamed the Screaming Eagles, is trained to deploy on any battlefield in the world within hours, ready to fight. For now, the Screaming Eagles are involved in exercises near the Ukrainian border, but CBS News is reporting that they are prepared to cross the border into Ukraine if that becomes necessary The Screaming Eagles commanders told CBS News repeatedly that they are always ready to fight tonight, and while theyre there to defend NATO territory, if the fighting escalates or theres any attack on NATO, theyre fully prepared to cross the border into Ukraine. #3 A Million Rounds Of Ammunition The U.S. has never armed anyone like they are arming the Ukrainians. If you can believe it, we have already given Ukraine over a million rounds of howitzer ammunition since the beginning of the war The U.S. has now provided Ukraine with over a million rounds of howitzer ammunition since it began shipping arms to the embattled nation to aid its fight against Russia, according to the latest figures from the Defense Department. That includes up to 903,000 standard 155mm howitzer rounds as well as 3,000 M982 Excalibur guided rounds, 7,000 Remote Anti-Armor Mine System (RAAMS) projectiles, and 180,000 105mm howitzer shells. And it appears that much more help will soon be on the way. Right now, a new aid package is being readied in Congress which would give the Ukrainians another 50 billion dollars in assistance The new aid package, which most likely would be part of an omnibus spending bill, could be within the range of roughly $50 billion, congressional aides and a source close to the Ukraine government said. #4 Iranian Troops In Ukraine? A lot of mercenaries from western nations have been fighting alongside the Ukrainians for a long time, and now the U.S. is alleging that Iranian troops have actually entered Ukraine and are directly engaged on the ground in an effort to help the Russians Iranian troops are directly engaged on the ground in Crimea supporting Russian drone attacks on Ukraines infrastructure and civilian population, the White House has said. The US government has confirmed that Russian attacks have employed unmanned aerial vehicles purchased from Tehran in attacks carried out against Ukrainian targets from bases on the peninsula that Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said. This conflict in Ukraine is becoming more of a world war with each passing day. We know that the Russians have been using Iranian drones to strike targets all over Ukraine in recent days, and that should deeply trouble all of us. Speaking of Iran, I just learned that their military has been conducting large-scale military drills on its border with Azerbaijan Irans military is conducting large-scale military drills on its border with Azerbaijan, including practicing crossings of the Aras River, which defines a large part of the border between the two states. The exercises, called Mighty Iran, began on October 17. The exact location has not been specified, but Iranian media placed them in between Irans provinces of Ardabil and East Azerbaijan, the part of Iran across the Aras from Azerbaijans Fuzuli region. One expert on open-source intelligence, however, analyzed photos of the pontoon crossing and placed it across from Azerbaijans exclave of Nakhchivan. The Iranians have been getting really aggressive lately. And I have a feeling that a direct conflict between Iran and Israel will begin sooner rather than later. #5 Relentless Bombing Of Power Infrastructure The Russians have decided to take the gloves off. They have started relentlessly bombing electrical infrastructure all over Ukraine, and this threatens to create a major humanitarian crisis because winter is rapidly approaching Missiles and drones are being used to rain down upon key civilian infrastructure targets mainly power stations as the weather gets colder and days get darker. It is believed Russia hopes by doing so they may be able to make Kyiv lose hope and give up the defence on their homeland. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, a key advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky, confirmed there are now an estimated 1.5 million people without power across Ukraine. Both sides just continue to escalate matters, and it is just a matter of time before someone pushes things a little bit too far. Even now, it is really difficult to see a peaceful way out of this mess. The Biden administration seems to be completely opposed to any peace talks with the Russians, and I believe that is a tragic mistake. If both sides just continue to get angrier, at some point someone is going to be really tempted to resort to nuclear weapons. And once that happens, our world will never be the same again. Unfortunately, our leaders dont seem to understand that we could literally be on the brink of a nuclear conflict. They are so determined to win this current battle on the global chessboard that they cant even see the bigger picture. Sadly, we have reached a stage where one wrong move could unleash death and destruction on a scale that most of us dont even want to imagine. ***It is finally here! Michaels new book entitled 7 Year Apocalypse is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.*** Were living in two worlds. Theres the world we see (or are made to see) and then theres the one we sense (and occasionally catch a glimpse of), the latter of which is a far cry from the propaganda-driven reality manufactured by the government and its corporate sponsors, including the media. Indeed, what most Americans perceive as life in Americaprivileged, progressive and freeis a far cry from reality, where economic inequality is growing, real agendas and real power are buried beneath layers of Orwellian doublespeak and corporate obfuscation, and freedom, such that it is, is meted out in small, legalistic doses by militarized police and federal agents armed to the teeth. All is not as it seems. Monsters with human faces walk among us. Many of them work for the U.S. government. This is the premise of John Carpenters film They Live, which was released in November 1988 and remains unnervingly, chillingly appropriate for our modern age. Best known for his horror film Halloween, which assumes that there is a form of evil so dark that it cant be killed, Carpenters larger body of work is infused with a strong anti-authoritarian, anti-establishment, laconic bent that speaks to the filmmakers concerns about the unraveling of our society, particularly our government. Time and again, Carpenter portrays the government working against its own citizens, a populace out of touch with reality, technology run amok, and a future more horrific than any horror film. In Escape from New York, Carpenter presents fascism as the future of America. In The Thing, a remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic of the same name, Carpenter presupposes that increasingly we are all becoming dehumanized. In Christine, the film adaptation of Stephen Kings novel about a demon-possessed car, technology exhibits a will and consciousness of its own and goes on a murderous rampage. In In the Mouth of Madness, Carpenter notes that evil grows when people lose the ability to know the difference between reality and fantasy. And then there is Carpenters They Live, in which two migrant workers discover that the world is not as it seems. In fact, the population is actually being controlled and exploited by aliens working in partnership with an oligarchic elite. All the while, the populaceblissfully unaware of the real agenda at work in their liveshas been lulled into complacency, indoctrinated into compliance, bombarded with media distractions, and hypnotized by subliminal messages beamed out of television and various electronic devices, billboards and the like. It is only when homeless drifter John Nada (played to the hilt by the late Roddy Piper) discovers a pair of doctored sunglassesHoffman lensesthat Nada sees what lies beneath the elites fabricated reality: control and bondage. When viewed through the lens of truth, the elite, who appear human until stripped of their disguises, are shown to be monsters who have enslaved the citizenry in order to prey on them. Likewise, billboards blare out hidden, authoritative messages: a bikini-clad woman in one ad is actually ordering viewers to MARRY AND REPRODUCE. Magazine racks scream CONSUME and OBEY. A wad of dollar bills in a vendors hand proclaims, THIS IS YOUR GOD. When viewed through Nadas Hoffman lenses, some of the other hidden messages being drummed into the peoples subconscious include: NO INDEPENDENT THOUGHT, CONFORM, SUBMIT, STAY ASLEEP, BUY, WATCH TV, NO IMAGINATION, and DO NOT QUESTION AUTHORITY. This indoctrination campaign engineered by the elite in They Live is painfully familiar to anyone who has studied the decline of American culture. A citizenry that does not think for themselves, obeys without question, is submissive, does not challenge authority, does not think outside the box, and is content to sit back and be entertained is a citizenry that can be easily controlled. In this way, the subtle message of They Live provides an apt analogy of our own distorted vision of life in the American police state, what philosopher Slavoj Zizek refers to as dictatorship in democracy, the invisible order which sustains your apparent freedom. Were being fed a series of carefully contrived fictions that bear no resemblance to reality. Tune out the governments attempts to distract, divert and befuddle us and tune into whats really going on in this country, and youll run headlong into an unmistakable, unpalatable truth: what we are dealing with today is an authoritarian beast that has outgrown its chains and will not be restrained. Through its acts of power grabs, brutality, meanness, inhumanity, immorality, greed, corruption, debauchery and tyranny, the government has become almost indistinguishable from the evil it claims to be fighting, whether that evil takes the form of terrorism, torture, disease, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, murder, violence, theft, pornography, scientific experimentations or some other diabolical means of inflicting pain, suffering and servitude on humanity. We have let the governments evil-doing and abuses go on for too long. Were being fed a series of carefully contrived fictions that bear no resemblance to reality. Despite the fact that we are 17,600 times more likely to die from heart disease than from a terrorist attack; 11,000 times more likely to die from an airplane accident than from a terrorist plot involving an airplane; 1,048 times more likely to die from a car accident than a terrorist attack, and 8 times more likely to be killed by a police officer than by a terrorist , we have handed over control of our lives to government officials who treat us as a means to an endthe source of money and power. As the Bearded Man in They Live warns, They are dismantling the sleeping middle class. More and more people are becoming poor. We are their cattle. We are being bred for slavery. We have bought into the illusion and refused to grasp the truth. From the moment we are born until we die, we are indoctrinated into believing that those who rule us do it for our own good. The truth is far different. The powers-that-be want us to feel threatened by forces beyond our control (terrorists, pandemics, mass shootings, etc.). They want us afraid and dependent on the government and its militarized armies for our safety and well-being. They want us distrustful of each other, divided by our prejudices, and at each others throats. Most of all, they want us to continue to march in lockstep with their dictates as fearful, controlled, pacified zombies. This brings me back to They Live, in which the real zombies are not the aliens calling the shots but the populace who are content to remain controlled. When all is said and done, the world of They Live is not so different from our own. As one of the characters points out, The poor and the underclass are growing. Racial justice and human rights are nonexistent. They have created a repressive society and we are their unwitting accomplices. Their intention to rule rests with the annihilation of consciousness. We have been lulled into a trance. They have made us indifferent to ourselves, to others. We are focused only on our own gain. We, too, are focused only on our own pleasures, prejudices and gains. Our poor and underclasses are also growing. Injustice is growing. Inequality is growing. A concern for human rights is nearly nonexistent. We too have been lulled into a trance, indifferent to others. Oblivious to what lies ahead, weve been manipulated into believing that if we continue to consume, obey, and have faith, things will work out. But thats never been true of emerging regimes. And by the time we feel the hammer coming down upon us, it will be too late. So where does that leave us? The characters who populate Carpenters films provide some insight. Underneath their machismo, they still believe in the ideals of liberty and equal opportunity. Their beliefs place them in constant opposition with the law and the establishment, but they are nonetheless freedom fighters. When, for example, John Nada destroys the alien hypno-transmitter in They Live, he delivers a wake-up call for freedom. As Nada memorably declares, I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And Im all out of bubblegum. In other words: we need to get active and take a stand for whats really important. Stop allowing yourselves to be easily distracted by pointless political spectacles and pay attention to whats really going on in the country. As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, the real battle for control of this nation is taking place on roadsides, in police cars, on witness stands, over phone lines, in government offices, in corporate offices, in public school hallways and classrooms, in parks and city council meetings, and in towns and cities across this country. All the trappings of the American police state are now in plain sight. Wake up, America. If they live (the tyrants, the oppressors, the invaders, the overlords), it is only because we the people sleep. WC: 1535 Womens networking group Business Chicks will push ahead with its luxury leadership conference on the Gold Coast just days after the business confirmed widespread redundancies that include its recently appointed Australian CEO and chief of staff. Entrepreneur Emma Isaacs, who owns the business, defended herself to this masthead on Friday as news of the lay-offs broke, saying she and the remaining team would continue to provide resources and support for members. However, termination documents signed by Isaacs obtained and sighted by this masthead said Business Chicks was being shut down. Emma Isaacs speaks at a Business Chicks event in Melbourne. Credit:Josh Robenstone News of the redundancies came to light last Friday after a fiery post appeared on the groups official Instagram account, claiming 13 members of its core team had been notified that their positions would not be continuing, with one staff member set to miss out on maternity leave entitlements because of the situation. Isaacs told this masthead nine staff members had been made redundant. In an email to Business Chicks members on Monday, Isaacs stated the company had to downsize in order to keep the brand alive, but termination letters to at least one employee dated October 19 said redundancies were occurring due to business operations being shut down. Is Xi Jinping the most powerful man in the world as suggested in the subtitle of the biography by Stefan Aust and Adrian Geiges? The answer is clearly yes given that Chinas gross domestic product is first in the world in terms of parity purchasing power, and that Xi, newly confirmed in his third term as president, rules with few of the constraints that limit leaders in liberal democracies. The authors are German journalists who set out to provide an insight into Xis history, the nature of his rule, and the impact of Xis China on the rest of the world, relying heavily on interviews and their own experiences in China. The book offers a good introduction to contemporary China viewed from the perspective of Xis rule. While Marxism-Leninism is the official ideology, Xi also appreciates Confucian values of hierarchy, obedience and wise governance. Credit:Getty The starting point is Xis career trajectory as a member of the red aristocracy. Xis father was prominent in the Chinese Communist Party but suffered persecution during the Cultural Revolution. Xi positioned himself to maximise his opportunities for rising through the Party bureaucracy, moving to the provinces in the first instance. By 2012 Xi had become general secretary of the Communist Party and in 2013 president of the Peoples Republic. Xi clearly believes that China needs a strong leader to maintain its unity and deal with the various challenges political, economic, social, environmental facing the country. The centralised and hierarchical Communist Party is vital to this task. While Marxism-Leninism is the official ideology, Xi also appreciates Confucian values of hierarchy, obedience and wise governance. Nationalism is also important, with Xi gaining legitimacy by overcoming the legacy of the century of humiliation. Meiry and Claudia, two of Ernys five daughters, live in Australia. Having heard of Teos legendary skills, theyd flown their mother to Sydney for a second opinion about the operability of her brain tumour. The sisters recall Teo opened the consultation saying the family had done the right thing in coming to see him. While he respected the advice of the Singapore neurosurgeon, Teo told them his risk to benefit ratio was far better than other surgeons. We paid him for her indescribable pain and suffering. Meiry Huang, daughter of Charlie Teos patient Erny, who couldnt speak English, was tired and stressed but her daughters said she kept smiling and trying to communicate her concerns. The two sisters said that the brain surgeon did tell them that there were serious risks with the surgery but he was confident it would be successful. As Meiry was talking to her mother in Chinese, Teo interjected several times, saying, Im the best nobodys better in the world, no one. After telling them their mother either has surgery tomorrow or she accepts death, the family went out into the corridor to try to take in this shocking news. The family had come for a second opinion not expecting to be told that their mother was about to die and surgery had to be done the next day if they wanted to save her. But as they told this masthead, it wasnt just anybody giving them this hope, it was the celebrated miracle worker Teo. However, the outcome of their mothers surgery was dire and her daughters are plagued by guilt and anguish at their part in believing in the hope Teo sold them. Despite Teo telling them the operation was a success and hed removed 95 per cent of the tumour, Erny was paralysed down one side. She couldnt eat, drink, sit up or stand and she could no longer communicate properly. Half of her body was dead, basically, Claudia said. Having paid around $100,000 for the operation, which included $40,000 for Teo personally plus a $1275 administration fee and private hospital costs, Ernys post-operative complications and rehab left the family out of pocket another $150,000. The family flew their mother back to her home in Jakarta where she died on 10 November 2017. My mother lived the last 94 days of her life in a state of complete misery a living hell, said Meiry in her complaint to the HCCC. I believe he vastly downplayed the risks of the operation and took no interest in her mother post-operatively, she wrote. Meiry told the HCCC she and her sisters were willing to pay Teo whatever he asked because of the quality of life he assured us my mother would have. Loading Instead, we paid him for her indescribable pain and suffering, she said. For his part, Teo denied downplaying the risks or pressuring Erny Djie into a hasty decision regarding her surgery. He also told the HCCC the complaint is at odds with his usual practices and his own recollections. Teo also denied the sisters claim that their mother was given a choice of surgery the next day or death. He also denied claiming he was the best. Teo did accept that he said, his minimally invasive surgery provided a different risk/benefit ratio compared to what was offered by most neurosurgeons. One of the reasons he gave to the HCCC for proceeding with the surgery was: While the extent of resection was somewhat controversial, at the time of surgery it was felt that a radical gross total resection (GTR) was necessary to make a statistical difference to survival. The HCCC found that the complaint did suggest problems with Teos obtaining informed consent for surgery. However, the Djie family is furious that all that happened was the HCCC wrote to Teo to remind him of his ethical obligation to provide patients with sufficient knowledge and understanding of the risks and benefits of his surgery to enable them to make an informed decision. Teo has also previously expressed resentment when hes been criticised for taking risks on surgery deemed inoperable by others. I resent because all patients have the right to choose themselves what risks theyre willing to take, he said. Corridor consult Rebecca Anderson was stunned when she was fired as a patient for trying to talk to Teo about the risks she was willing to take. In 2009 Anderson was diagnosed with a brain tumour. While benign, its location meant that it was a difficult surgery. Rebecca Anderson, who was cancelled as a patient by Charlie Teo, and her sister Ilana Lamont. Credit:60 Minutes As a nurse at the same hospital, Andersons first port of call was the renowned neurosurgeon. She was taken aback while he shelled and ate peanuts during her consultation. Given Teos reputation as an aggressive surgeon she wanted to talk to him about the extent of the risks she was prepared to take. Anderson said she asked him not to be aggressive in surgery as her tumour was slow growing and not malignant. I want you to remember who I am. Im a wife, Im a mother and Im a nurse, and I have children, she told him. Teo replied, Well, thats not my style, but Ill try. Anderson grew anxious as her surgery approached and wanted to discuss her fears. She rang Teos office several times, and although she was told Teo would get back to her, he never did. When Anderson ran into Teo in the hospital corridor, she was appalled by his response when she said she just wanted to talk about the risks she was prepared to take but she hadnt been able to get onto him. I dont speak to anyone, why should I speak to you? Youre nothing special. He then told her she had bad karma and he was cancelling her surgery. Dr Teo strode down the corridor yelling over his shoulder, Cancelled. Surgerys cancelled, and that was the last I heard from him, Anderson said. I was absolutely devastated. I was in floods of tears. Andersons husband Michael complained to Prince of Wales Private Hospital and Teo and received what they describe as a sorry/not sorry letter from Teo. Having said he had unfortunately had to agree with the complaint about his behaviour, he then said if a surgeon finds a patient (sic) behaviour concerning he has every right to reject the patient both morally and legally. He then went on to blame Rebecca for the situation turning acrimonious when she tried to speak to him in the corridor. Left or right? For another patient, her blood runs cold when she hears Bonnie Tylers Total Eclipse of the Heart. It was the song playing as she was being wheeled into the operating theatre for brain surgery. Charlie Teo settled a claim from Michelle Smith for operating on the wrong side of her brain. Credit:Wolter Peeters In 2003 Teo operated on Michelle Smith at Prince of Wales Private Hospital to remove a tumour that was causing her epileptic seizures. Twelve weeks after surgery she had a follow-up appointment. Showing the scans, Teo explained that he had removed some of the tumour but a second operation would be needed to remove the rest. Everythings great. You can stop all your meds, Smith recalled him saying. She followed his advice but over the years her seizures got worse and she couldnt hold down a job let alone drive a car. Michelle Smiths 2014 brain scan. The red circles indicate the location of the brain tumour, while the green shows where Dr Charlie Teo operated. In 2014 she had a near fatal car accident. I had a seizure behind the wheel and hit two parked cars, writing off three cars, Smith said. After the accident a fresh brain scan showed none of the tumour had been taken out and that Teo had actually operated on the wrong side of her brain. Thirteen years after the initial surgery, Michelle had another operation to remove the tumour. This time a neurosurgeon at a Sydney public hospital operated at no charge and since then Smith has been seizure-free and feels like shes been given a new life. But Dr Teos mistake still distresses her. She felt Teos failed surgery, compounded by his failure to own up to his mistake, had stolen the best years of her life. When told Teo had denied that hed operated on the wrong side of her brain, Smith replied: The scans dont lie. Its all there. Maybe he needs to look at them again. In 2018 she sued Teo for medical negligence and obtained a confidential settlement. Smith said: I did have a few people ask me why I would even waste my time trying to take on Charlie Teo because hes untouchable. Whether suits are favoured by powerful women or whether tailored trousers and smooth lapels make them appear stronger, is a chicken and egg situation without the feathers. Julia Roberts, Tilda Swinton, Janelle Monae, Naomi Watts, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway recently exuded confidence on the red carpet, in colourful suits nodding to the stylish approach of golden age movie stars Katharine Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich. Tilda Swinton wearing a Bella Freud suit at a London screening of The Eternal Daughter; Janelle Monae in Thom Browne at the London Film Festival; Cate Blanchett in Alexander McQueen at the London Film Festival; Julia Roberts in Adidas x Gucci on the Ticket to Paradise press tour. Credit:AP, Getty Images, GC Images The tailoring trend is gathering speed, with Australian women leaning into outfits that offer modest coverage, ease of movement and ready access to pockets. Theres a new energy to the way that women are dressing, and the suit is becoming a popular option for women seeking outfits that take them from the desk to dinner, says Melanie Levis, executive director of Cue. Drone delivery company Wing is partnering with Coles for what they bill as the first store-to-door drone delivery service. Wing, owned by Googles parent company Alphabet, will set up a drone facility at the Coles Ormeau site, and deliver groceries to consumers via its app. Wing is expanding with a new facility at Coles Ormeau. Credit:Wing Wing Australia general manager Simon Rossi said the move followed an earlier partnership with Coles in Canberra. This is the first time in Australia that weve done a store-to-door set-up, where the drones will be dedicated to that store specifically. Almost 20 years ago the Victorian government finally moved to impose closing hours on the states poker machine venues. The laws were far from draconian. Venues were required to close for just four hours a day which meant gambling could still happen in the wee small hours of the day when those who suffer the most gambling harm are likely to lose the most. Poker machine venues must close for four hours a day, but the specific hours are not mandated. Credit:Dallas Kilponen But the laws were ineffectual and larger operators exploited a loophole to allow people to continue to gamble 24 hours a day. The problem was that the laws never stipulated what the closing hours should be simply that they needed to be closed for four hours. Poker machine operators who owned several venues simply staggered their closing hours, allowing gamblers to venue hop. Chinas growing technological dominance should scare the heck out of democratic nations such as Australia and is a more worrying short-term threat than its rapid military build-up, says the head of the high-powered United States Senate intelligence committee. Mark Warner, one of the most senior Democrats in the US Congress, said he harboured deep concerns about the privacy and national security risks of popular Chinese-owned social media app TikTok. Mark Warner said Australian parents should be concerned about how much of their childrens data was being harvested. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer This is not something you would normally hear me say but Donald Trump was right on TikTok years ago, Warner said during a visit to Australia to meet with local intelligence chiefs, politicians and business people. In 2020, Trump threatened to shut down TikToks US operations unless Chinese company ByteDance agreed to divest ownership of the application, citing national security concerns. A Trump executive order banning the app from online stores was halted by a US judge just days before it was due to come into effect. NSW Liberal elder Brad Hazzard will quit politics at the state election, insisting he will look back on his tenure as health minister during a global pandemic as the best and worst times of his career. Hazzard, who has represented the northern beaches seat of Wakehurst for 32 years, has decided it is time for a new beginning, making him the 12th Coalition MP to announce their retirement. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has described the early days of the pandemic as deeply upsetting. Credit:James Brickwood Hazzard, 71, is one of the longest serving MPs in Macquarie Street. Elected in 1991, he has been in government, opposition and government once again. He has spent more than 25 years on the frontbench, with 17 portfolios. The one-time teacher and lawyer has been in cabinet since the Coalitions landslide win in 2011, including as attorney-general and minister for planning, justice, social housing, community services and finally health. Singapore: Australia has sent vials of a rare antidote for chemical poisoning to Indonesia after 133 children died from acute kidney damage linked to tainted cough syrup. Indonesia last week suspended nationwide sales of all syrup-based medicine as the government in Jakarta launched an urgent investigation into the fatalities and dozens of other cases across 22 provinces over a two month period. Employees wait for customers at a counter displaying a notification saying that the sale of medicinal syrup is temporarily halted at a pharmacy in Jakarta. Credit:AP More than half of the 241 children recorded to have sustained acute kidney injuries have died and the majority have been under the age of five. Indonesia has confirmed that toxic substances ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol were found in the bloodstreams of toddlers and had been discovered in medicinal syrup products in the households of some of those afflicted. The 79-year-old former paramount leader was sitting calmly at Xis left hand one moment and was being manhandled out of his seat the next. One of the two men who removed him is the head of Xis personal security unit. Xi sat watching, unconcerned. The event was censored across Chinas media. Party outlets told the outside world that Hu had been feeling unwell. The China-watching community is in a frenzy of speculation was Xi purging the former leader in the most humiliating manner possible, or was it a genuine health scare? Loading No one knows, says Barme. Whatever the explanation, the main point of the event is that it shows everyone what these cold-hearted party men are like everyone can see the way Hus treated, the dismissive way Xi deals with it. He points out the moment when Hu pauses on the way out, apparently to appeal for help to the outgoing premier, Li Keqiang, seated on the other side of Xi. The old man touches Li on the shoulder: Hu is obviously frail, but Li, who was one of his proteges, and the second most powerful man in China, doesnt even turn to look at him, hes frozen. That moment shows men without empathy, without humanity, without basic civility. Only one person moved to help, and he was pulled back by his coat tails. Barme tempers his sympathy by noting that Hu was once, as party secretary of Tibet, nicknamed the Butcher of Lhasa for his brutal repression of the Tibetans: When you start to feel sympathy for that thug, you know youre in trouble. Loading Outside China, most of the coverage has remarked that Xi now commands more power than anyone since the founder of the Peoples Republic himself, the so-called great helmsman, Mao Zedong. Barme flatly contradicts this. Xi has outdone Mao, says the New Zealand-based publisher of chinaheritage.net and former head of ANUs Australian Centre for China in the World. He has more titles and more power than Mao. The new politburo standing committee under Xi comprises a secretary of his, some advisers and some buddies, all flunkeys, or courtiers and viziers at best. Xi has purged China of the factional style of politics that has existed literally for 2200 years. At no point except for the year 1966 arguably did Mao ever have absolute power. Even at the height of Maos power, he couldnt get rid of the people he needed to run the country. On his right hand he had the army and the technocrats and the rightists and on the left he had the people hed promoted in the Cultural Revolution. Loading Mao didnt even want to get rid of them all he was a thinker, a philosopher, a poet who didnt want to be dragged down with the business of running the country. The fearfulness and hypersensitivity with which Chinese officialdom treats Xi is spreading even into the West. Two German journalists have just published a book titled Xi Jinping: The Most Powerful Man in the World. In their preface, they relate that the German edition of the book was scheduled to be discussed in two workshops at Confucius Institutes in Germany. But a few days before the event, authors Stefan Aust and Adrian Geiges received phone calls from the heads of the institutes to tell them the workshops were cancelled. Theyd had orders from their Chinese partner universities: You can no longer talk about Xi Jinping the way you talk about any ordinary person, the head of one of the German institutes explained. He is meant to be untouchable and non-negotiable from now on. London: Russias Defence Ministry said on Monday that it had prepared its forces to work in conditions of radioactive contamination, after Moscow accused Ukraine of planning to detonate a dirty bomb something Kyiv has strongly denied. After weeks of rising international tension following threats by President Vladimir Putin to defend Russias territorial integrity with nuclear weapons, it was the first concrete statement from Moscow of a change in its forces state of preparedness. Major General Igor Kirillov, the head of the Russian militarys radiation, biological and chemical protection troops. Credit:AP Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told Western defence ministers on Sunday that Moscow believed Ukraine was preparing to detonate such a bomb - a device using conventional explosives packed with radioactive material to spread contamination over a wide area. The head of Russias nuclear, biological and chemical protection troops, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, told a media briefing on Monday the aim of such an attack would be to blame the resulting radioactive contamination on Russia by accusing it of detonating a low-grade nuclear weapon. 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 Changes to the way the Banking Code of Compliance Committee operates will improve transparency by holding banks to account for the promises they make under the code, says the committees chair. Ian Govey AM was responding to the Australian Banking Associations announcement on October 21 that it accepts most of the recommendations from the final report of the independent review of the BCCC. These changes will, ultimately, deliver better outcomes for consumers, BCCC chair Govey said. They will improve transparency by holding banks to account for the promises they make under the code. Read next: ACCC welcomes new deputy chair The review of the BCCC made a total of 19 recommendations 10 of these were within the BCCCs power to implement while the remaining nine required the acceptance of the ABA because they required a change to the Banking Code or the BCCC Charter. The BCC review was conducted by former financial services regulator (ex-ASIC) Phil Khoury from consultancy firm cameron. ralph. khoury. The BCCC is an independent committee that monitors and drives best practice compliance with the Banking Code of Practice. It examines banks practices, identifies industry-wide problems, recommends improvements to practice, sanctions banks for serious compliance failures, and keeps stakeholders and the public informed. ABA CEO Anna Bligh (pictured above) said the ABA supported the majority of recommendations from the BCCC review, in particular the transition to greater transparency on bank compliance with the code through a naming regime. We think this is beneficial for lifting industry standards even higher, Bligh said. While there is further work to do to address consistency in reporting and benchmarking to get ready for such a change, the ABA looks forward to working with the BCCC and other industry stakeholders on this objective. The ABA accepted eight out of the nine recommendations within its remit, including: Recognising and further promoting the dual role of the BCCC in both monitoring compliance and promoting industry best practice Enhanced representation of small business and faming sectors in the BCCCs work Enhanced powers to report serious or system issues to ASIC and Enhanced powers to consider code breach matters beyond two years or, where another forum has made no finding in relation to a code breach. Regarding the one recommendation not supported recommendation 17 that banks named by the BCCC for serious breaches also publish this fact on their own website Bligh said the BCCC has existing powers to publicly name banks that have breached the code without the need for banks to repeat this information on their own websites. Bligh said compliance monitoring work undertaken by the BCCC was crucial to build public trust and confidence and keep banks accountable. The work the BCCC does on identifying areas for improvement is very valuable to banks in identifying areas for further work and ultimately delivering better customer outcomes, she said. In responding to the review, the ABA sought the views of member banks and considered recent reports relating to BCCC priorities. Read next: Bendigo Bank offers expanded support for flood-affected farmers Govey said it was disappointing that the ABA had not supported recommendation 17 but noted that the committee was pleased the ABA had accepted in principle a separate recommendation that banks be named in the BCCCs regular reporting on breaches. We look forward to working with the ABA to map out the plan for this new milestone in reporting, he said. Govey said the accepted recommendations would also result in greater sharing of information with ASIC and AFCA. This will allow greater co-ordination between organisations and ensure consumers receive the appropriate response to issues. It also avoids duplication for banks, he said. The 10 recommendations that the BCCC is implementing itself include steps to clarify roles and priorities, improvements to monitoring and reporting and more targeted and timely inquiries. Govey said the BCCC had already undertaken considerable work to revitalise its Small Business and Agribusiness Advisory Panel. It welcomed the ABAs decision to give the panel time to establish itself rather than appoint a fourth member to the committee at this time. With the ABA and banks, we are already working on projects to improve the consistency of compliance reporting and benchmarking, Mr Govey said. The independent review of the BCCC began in August 2021 and the report was published in December 2021. This regular review was held in parallel with the separate independent review of the Banking Code of Practice. Fintech unicorn is scaling up its efforts to expand in India's Tier-2 and 3 towns, and hinterlands. The firm is witnessing a huge demand for its Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services among the offline merchant community during this festive season. expects to process BNPL transactions worth Rs 5,000 crore this month as an increasing number of in small towns are buying products from physical stores using (equated monthly installment). These include products such as smartphones, wearables, large appliances, smart televisions, and washing machines. Other categories in which it is seeing huge demand include fashion, apparel, and lifestyle products. We are expecting to cross Rs 5,000 crore in (transaction value) for BNPL for the month of October. This is a 100 per cent growth compared to an average month, said Mayur Mulani, Business Leader-Pay Later, Pine Labs, in an interview. This is also the first time people are stepping out after two years to the stores to shop for the festive season. Overall Pine Labs, which is valued at $5.05 billion, competes with players such as Razorpay, Paytm, and PayU. It is looking at working and partnering with 100,000 stores for BNPL services this month. It has partnerships with brands such as Samsung, Sony, Whirlpool, Xiaomi, and Oppo. Mulani said the firm is enabling BNPL along with merchants even to buying a Rs 10,000 pr Rs 20,000 phone. That has been a big lever for us and we see a significant uptake, said Mulani. The firm said its merchants are in an advantageous position as it offers a growing network of leading banks and brands on its Pay Later platform. The company has built a robust and secure tech stack on its Android-powered PoS (point-of-sale) terminals. These ensure paperless Pay Later debit and credit card transactions are validated and processed within seconds. also recently entered the wearables segment in the consumer electronics category. Shoppers in India can purchase wearable devices of select brands on a BNPL arrangement using Pine Labs PoS terminals. We are going to tier-3, tier-4, and tier-5 cities to work with merchant stores and change their behavior about how can increase their sales, said Mulani. The brick and mortar stores were struggling a couple of years back compared to the ease of transactions performed by the online retail players. We really worked hard and got out (BNPL) products that give instant gratification to the . Ease of transaction is also the key for pushing affordability. Pine Labs is now enabling BNPL across a network of 15 major credit card issuers with a potential customer base of over 40 million. The company also introduced first-of-its-kind EMI on debit cards and from NBFCs with a combined eligible base of 60 million Indias BNPL market would grow to $45-50 billion by 2026, up from $3-3.5 billion today, according to experts. They said the number of BNPL users in the country might increase to 80-100 million by then, up from 10-15 million now. Covid-19 led to the rise of digital lending by NBFCs and the proliferation of innovative credit products. About $25 billion to $30 billion credit was disbursed to 15 million buy-now-pay-later users in FY21, as BNPL emerged as a preferred credit offering in the wake of Covid-19, according to a report by consulting firm Bain & Company. It said short-term, small-ticket consumer loan products, which offer convenience and a better customer experience, grew rapidly as a preferred mode of consumption financing. Additionally, equated monthly installment (EMI)-based CC propositions are gaining traction in the small-ticket-size segments. From a fintech perspective, we saw the emergence and scale-up of convenience Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) such as Simpl and LazyPay, affordability BNPL (e.g., ZestMoney), and card-based lending products, said the Bain & Company report. Given that the Corporation of India (FCI) has paid over Rs 5,000 crore in rent for storage houses between 2014-15 and 2019- 20 (Rs 1,000 crore was paid in 2019-20 itself), it is not surprising that Indias biggest corporate houses are making a beeline for the storage business. The pollution level in the National Capital remains in the "poor" category as the Air Quality Index in the Delhi region was at 276 on the eve of Diwali, as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). According to the SAFAR, the AQI index in the Delhi University area was in the 'very poor' category at 319. Meanwhile, Noida was also in 'very poor' category at 309. 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. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday said that Delhi, a day before Diwali recorded a maximum temperature of 31.2 degrees Celsius, one notch below the average. The levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 were recorded at 110 in the 'poor' and 237 in the 'moderate' category respectively on Sunday morning. Meanwhile, Noida's overall air quality also stood in the 'very poor' category with the AQI at 311. However, the air quality in Gurugram stood in the 'moderate' category with an AQI of 139.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.SAFAR also advised the sensitive groups to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion, take more breaks, and do less intense activities. "Asthmatics, keep medicine ready if symptoms of coughing or shortness of breath occur. Heart patients, see a doctor if get palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue," it said in its advisory. Meanwhile, the Delhi government has banned the production, storage, sale, and bursting of crackers this year as well as fines and jail terms in case of violation. The air quality in the national capital remained in the 'poor' category on Saturday with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 262, as per the SAFAR. In a bid to reduce vehicular pollution, the Delhi Government also announced the 'Red Light On Gaadi Off' campaign. Under the campaign, public representatives and officials will motivate commuters to turn their vehicles off at red lights in a bid to curb vehicular pollution. The air quality in the national capital is also affected because of stubble burning in surrounding Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan in the winter. As Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) continue to breathe toxic air, the Chairman of Fortis Escorts Heart Institute Dr Ashok Seth said that the pollution not only damages the lungs but it also affects our hearts. "While pollution has only been linked to lung problems as asthma gets worsens, people often ignored the proven fact that leads to increased heart damage and we should not ignore this." Earlier on Wednesday, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the Delhi government banned the production, storage, sale, and bursting of crackers this year as well with fines and jail terms in case of violation. While addressing a press conference, Rai said, "This year as well, there is a ban on production, sale, storage and bursting of crackers. Sale or storage of firecrackers in Delhi can be punished with a fine of Rs 5,000 and/or imprisonment for three years." The minister further said that strict action will be taken against those bursting crackers before Diwali. "Strict action will be taken against those who burst crackers till Diwali. Under section 268 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), there is a provision of a fine of Rs 200 and/or jail for 6 months against those who burst crackers," he further 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 army personnel who died in the crash of an Army helicopter in were cremated at their native place with full military and state honours. The funeral pyre of Rohitashv Kumar in Posana village of Jhunjhunu and Vikas Bhambhu in Rampuria village of Hanumangarh was lit by their minor daughters. The third jawan Maj Mustafa Zakiuddin Bohra from who was also killed in the crash was buried on Sunday in Udaipur. Hundreds of people took part in the funeral procession, leaving behind Diwali celebrations, to bid their last adieu to the soldiers with teary eyes and slogans in praise of the country and soldiers who lay their life for the motherland. In Jhunjhunu, Minister Rajendra Gudha, Additional District Collector JP Gaur and SP Mridul Kachhawa also paid tribute to the martyr. Earlier, the body had reached Gudhagaudji police station at 9.30 pm on Sunday from where the funeral procession was taken out. Soldier Welfare Minister Rajendra Singh Gudha, former MLA Shubhakaran Choudhary, RLP District President Dinesh Kumar Dodiya, Sub Divisional Officer Ram Singh Rajawat, DSP Satpal Singh Gudha were present, police said. On Friday, an army helicopter crashed in in which five jawans, including three from Rajasthan, were martyred. The area where the accident took place was not connected by road so it took time for the army to reach the spot. On the other hand, the mortal remains of martyr Major Vikas Bhambhu reached his native village Rampuria around 1 pm. He was cremated with military and state honours. During this, Minister in-charge Govindram Meghwal, Sangaria MLA Gurdeep Shahpini, SP Ajay Singh Rathore, Animal Welfare Board President KC Bishnoi, PCC member Shabnam Godara, MP Nihalchand Meghwal, former cabinet minister Dr Rampratap, former cabinet minister Subhash Mahariya, BJP district president Balbir Bishnoi, former Nohar MLA Abhishek Matoria, including a large number of villagers and nearby people reached to pay tribute to the martyr, police said. Earlier, the body of the Major was sent to the native village from the military station of Suratgarh in the morning. During this, a large number of people standing on both sides of the road showered flowers on the mortal remains amidst slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. A large number of people were carrying the tricolour in the procession. (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.) Even as India awaits clearance of genetically modified mustard, the regulatory authority in Australia approved the commercial cultivation of the genetically modified Indian species called Brassica juncea for herbicide tolerance a few weeks ago. Scientists said this is, perhaps, the first time a genetically modified variety of Indian has received commercial approval anywhere in the world. So far, the canola (Brassica napus) is perhaps the only genetically modified variety that has been cleared for commercial application. GM canola has been in cultivation since 1996 in several countries across the world including Canada, the USA, and even in Australia. Canola is a temperate species of mustard. The approval has been granted to BASF Australia to commercially release the Indian mustard genetically modified for herbicide tolerance across all of Australia, subject to restrictions in some states and territories for marketing reasons. At present, Indian mustard varieties are commercially cultivated in a very small part of Australia, mainly in Central New South Wales and western Victoria. The regulator has not imposed any specific measures to manage risk, as the risk assessment concluded that this release of GM Indian mustard poses negligible risk to the health and safety of people or the environment. General conditions have been imposed to ensure that there is ongoing oversight of the release, a statement posted on the website of Australias Office of Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) said. The risk analysis for this application was carried out in accordance with the Regulators Risk Analysis Framework, the statement added. GM Indian mustard variety RF3 contains bar gene from Streptomyces hygroscopicus that impart tolerance to herbicide glufosinate whereas barstar gene from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (a species of bacterium in the genus Bacillus) for restoration of male fertility, and has been developed by crossing non-GM Indian mustard with GM canola, already approved and cultivated successfully on large scale in Australia since 2003. New GM Indian mustard genetically modified for tolerance to Glufosinate Ammonium is approved for commercial cultivation in all mustard growing areas of Australia, Bhagirath Choudhary, founder director of the South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC), wrote in a social media post a few days ago. He said though India is a major producer of Brassica juncea variety of mustard, it has been evaluating the biosafety and field efficacy of GM mustard for almost 20 years now. The indigenous GM mustard variety has been developed by Deepak Pental and a team of scientists at University of Delhi and funded entirely by National Dairy Development Board and Department of Biotechnology, India, Choudhary said. award recipient director of Bengali films, Pinaki Chaudhuri, died at his Kolkata residence on Monday following a protracted illness, his family said. Chaudhuri, who was 82, left behind his wife and a son. He was suffering from lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, and was admitted to a hospital one month back. He was discharged three days ago as the hospital authorities suggested that he be taken back to his residence in the last days of life. Chaudhuri had varied interests in arts and music and made his foray into the world of films in 1983 when he directed Chena Achena' (Known and Unknown) starring Soumitra Chatterjee, Amol Palekar, Tanuja, Chhaya Devi among others. He got two awards for Shanghaath' (Conflict) in 1996 and for Ballygunge Court' in 2007. Among his other notable films are Kakababu Here Gelen?' (Kakababu defeated?), Ek Tukro Chand' (A slice of the moon) and Arohan' (Ascension). Actor Bhaswar Chatterjee, who had been cast in Ballygunge Court', recalled his shooting experience in London in a Facebook post. "He shot on all real locations.... Big Ben, Victoria Terminus, Thames, London Eye, Buckingham Palace. Rest in Peace sir," Chatterjee, a known name in the industry, 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 deep depression over intensified into a on Sunday evening and is very likely to gather further strength becoming a severe cyclonic before crossing the coast on October 25 morning, the IMD said. The cyclone, named Sitrang by Thailand, is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic on Monday with wind speed reaching 90 to 100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. It is likely to cause heavy to very heavy rain in the coastal districts of West Bengal and isolated heavy rain in north coastal Odisha, it said. At 5.30 pm on Sunday, the was 580 km south of Sagar Island in West Bengal and 740 km south-southwest of Barisal in Bangladesh, it said. It will mainly affect the Sunderbans spread over West Bengal and as tidal waves are likely to reach a height of six metres owing to the twin effect of the weather system and new moon, deputy director-general of the Regional Met Centre in Kolkata Sanjib Bandopadhyay said. After changing course in a northeastward direction from northwest-bound, the system will reach north before making landfall between Tinkona island and Sandwip close to Barisal in in the early morning of Tuesday, he said. Bandopadhyay said that light to moderate rain will occur in southern West Bengal districts till Wednesday morning owing to the system. The system is very likely to bring heavy to very heavy rain in the coastal districts of South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas and heavy rain in East and West Midnapore on Monday, he said. Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly are likely to receive moderate rain on Monday and Tuesday, he said. Heavy rain will occur in North and South 24 Parganas and Nadia districts on Tuesday, he said. Sitrang will bring in its wake wind reaching speed of 80 to 90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph in coastal North and South 24 Parganas on Tuesday, while it will cause wind reaching speed of 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph on Monday in these districts along with East Midnapore. Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly and West Midnapore are likely to be affected by wind reaching speed of 40 to 50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph on Tuesday, while it will be 30 to 40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph on Monday in these districts, Bandopadhyay told reporters. "The main affected area will be the Sunderbans in the coastal areas of North and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal and in Bangladesh," he said. He said that heavy rain, accompanied by wind gusting up to 100 kmph and high tidal waves is likely to cause damage to kutcha embankments and roads, disruption of power and communication lines and damage to kutcha houses. Bandopadhyay said the major concern is that breakage of kutcha embankments owing to surge accompanied by the high astronomical tide on the new moon may lead to seawater inundation of low-lying areas in these places. "The height of the waves due to the will be one metre above astronomical tide level, but since new moon is on October 25, the tide level owing to it will be five to six metres at West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts, so effective height of the tide at the time of landfall on the morning of that day will be around six metres in North and South 24 Parganas," he said. South 24 Parganas' district magistrate Sumit Gupta said that already 10,000 people in the district have been moved to safer places, and work is on to shift another 30,000 people. Seven teams of NDRF and SDRF with 26 personnel in each team were on standby in the district, he said. The administration is also ensuring the safety of domestic animals, Gupta said. The tide level is likely to be higher on the Bangladesh coast as the height of waves owing to the cyclone will be around two metres there. The impending cyclone has dampened spirits of the people, from children to elders, planning to celebrate Kali Puja and Deepawali in a grand manner after a two-year pandemic-caused lull. A Kolkata Municipal Corporation official said it has initiated steps to tackle any situation that may emerge owing to Sitrang in the metropolis, including keeping all pumping stations fully active and making arrangements for shifting residents of dilapidated buildings to schools and community halls. The weather office warned that wind speed over sea areas will reach speed of 90 to 100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph in north Bay of Bengal, advising fishermen not to venture into the sea and the suspension of all offshore activities on October 24 and 25. The weather office has advised suspension of ferry services in Sunderbans and water-bound tourist activities at the seaside resort towns of Digha, Mandarmoni, Shankarpur, Bakkhali and Sagar on October 24 and 25. In Odisha, heavy rains are likely to lash certain places in the coastal districts of Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Puri till 8.30 am on Monday. A yellow warning of heavy rainfall was issued for Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, and Cuttack till Tuesday morning. The Ganjam district administration has restricted entry of tourists to the Gopalpur beach. "The restriction was imposed as people in large numbers thronged the beach on Sunday evening despite a cyclone warning," said a senior official. The IMD also advised hoisting of Local Cautionary Signal Number Three (LC-III) at all ports of Odisha, denoting squally weather for ships. (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 Monday urged the people of the state to stay indoors in case there is heavy rainfall and storm as a result of Sitrang which is likely to cross the Bangladesh coast later. She also requested the people who were evacuated from the coastal areas to safe shelters to cooperate with the state administration and not return home until the threat of the is over. "It ( Sitrang) will make landfall in Bangladesh around midnight in Barisal. Light rain and wind will continue in till October 25. This may also bring storm here," Banerjee told reporters at her Kalighat residence here, where she is organising a Kali Puja. The chief minister is monitoring the Cyclone situation from her residence. Banerjee asked people to celebrate Kali puja and Diwali but remain inside their houses if there is a storm and heavy rainfall. "I will request those who have been evacuated to safe shelters not to return home until the threat is over as you cannot predict anything about natural calamities. Things may take sudden turns anytime. This is mainly for those from the critical areas of Sunderbans and Sagar Island, she said. Governor La Ganesan paid a visit to Banerjee's residence and offered his prayers to Goddess Kali. Intermittent showers since morning forced people to remain indoors as most Kolkata streets wore a deserted look on a festive evening which would normally have attracted tens of thousands to visit marquees with idols of Goddess Kali. Squally wind accompanied by light to moderate rain affected normal life in the coastal districts of the state. Moving at a speed of 33 kmph in a north-northeastward direction, cyclone 'Sitrang' lay 260 kmph southeast of Sagar island at 2.30 pm over the northwest Bay of Bengal and is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm, packing wind speed of 90 to 100 kmph, gusting to 110 kmph by Monday night. It is likely to cross the Bangladesh coast between Tinkona island and Sandwip near Barisal early on Tuesday, the weather office 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.) Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Monday issued notices to Vice-Chancellors of nine universities after they refused to send their resignation letters to him before 11.30 AM as per his directive on Sunday. This was disclosed by the Governor himself, who is also the chancellor of the universities in the state. "Now, they have refused to resign. Now formal notices have been issued", Khan told a press conference here. He said the notices were issued upholding the verdict of the Supreme Court, which has declared as "void ab initio" any appointment as a Vice-Chancellor made on the recommendation of the Search Committee, which is constituted contrary to the provisions of the UGC regulation. "Now, it is in the light of the Supreme Court decision why I should not declare your appointment "void ab initio", Khan said when asked about the details of the show-cause notices. He said the Vice Chancellors have been given time till November 3 to respond. Khan also rejected the allegations of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that the VCs have been denied natural justice. "I only suggested an honourable way out. I have not sacked them", the Governor said in a lengthy press conference convened to give reply to the Chief Minister's allegations against him. (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.) Maharashtra's district has recorded 64 new cases of coronavirus, taking its infection count to 7,46,415, a health official said on Monday. With the addition of the latest cases on Sunday, there are currently 487 active COVID-19 cases in the district, which falls under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, he said. The death toll in the district remained unchanged at 11,964, the official said, adding that the recovery count has reached 7,34,669. (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.) Amid the ongoing Diwali celebrations, the Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has urged the citizens of the state to celebrate a pollution-free and environment-friendly Diwali this year without the use of firecrackers. In a report by Indian Express, the MPCB has insisted the residents buy a gift for their loved ones and pledge to conserve the environment. With noise pollution due to firecrackers being identified as one of the main contributors to pollution during Diwali, the board will also monitor decibel levels across 14 sites in as part of its annual exercise. warrior moms, a group of mothers from across the country with various city-level branches fighting for the right of children to breathe clean air, also urged the state government to act against toxic and take a strict stand. Pratap Jagtap, sub-regional officer, MPCB for Pune, said that they had tested the decibels of 14 commercially available firecrackers, and several of these have been found within the permissible range. He also added that awareness campaigns had been carried out to ensure the noise levels did not exceed. Out of the 14 locations which have been monitored since October 21, 11 are in the city of Pune, while three are at Pimpri Chinchwad. The locations include Shivaji Nagar, Karve Road, Satara Road, Swargate, Yerawada, Khadki, Shaniwarwada, Laxmi Road, Sarasbaug, Aundh gaon, University road, Deluxe chowk at Pimpri, Chafekar chowk at Chinchwad, and Dange chowk at Thergaon among others. According to a report by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the air quality during this Diwali might turn from moderate to poor, starting Monday and will be continued till Tuesday if the firecracker emissions double that of the previous year. According to Dr Beig, the Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee Chair Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, IISc, Bengaluru, told Indian Express, Pune's (AQI) has started deteriorating from good to satisfactory already. Diwali, the festival of lights, was celebrated across and on Monday with great fervour and enthusiasm. Devotees queued up at temples and gurudwaras across and including Chandigarh to worship their gurus and deities. Chief Minister along with his wife Gurpreet Kaur offered prayers at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali. He also bought some diyas from a roadside vendor. Cities across the two states were lit with candles, diyas (earthen lamps), and electric lights, as people did rounds of each others' houses and exchanged sweets and gifts. Everywhere, people thronged the market places for last-minute shopping as shopkeepers selling items and sweets made a brisk business. To ward off any bad incident, security was tightened across the two states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, especially in and around vital locations, markets, and places of worship, officials said. In Amritsar, the Golden Temple, the holy Sikh shrine, gleamed with gold and aesthetically draped electric lights. The temple witnessed a huge rush of devotees that began in the early morning and remained unabated till evening. 'Langar' (community kitchen) arrangements were made for devotees. 'Bandi Chhor Divas', the festival which coincides with Diwali, was also celebrated across Punjab. The festival marks the historical release of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh guru, along with 52 kings, from a Mughal prison in 1620. According to the historical record, after his release, Guru Hargobind went straight to the Golden Temple, as people welcomed his release by lighting up the whole city with diyas. The Punjab government has allowed a window of two hours from 8 pm till 10 pm for bursting firecrackers on . while the government has allowed only green crackers in the state. Chandigarh had allowed use of green crackers on . (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 Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has extended his Diwali greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as he celebrated the joyous occasion with leaders of the Indian-American community at his sprawling official residence in Austin. Diwali or Deepavali is a festival that marks the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. On Sunday, Governor Abbott and first lady Cecilia Abbott were dressed in traditional Indian attire, as they greeted leaders of the Indian-American community and lit a lamp to commemorate the occasion. Abbott conveyed Diwali wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the people of India and Indian Americans living in and other states in the US. Tonight, Cecilia & I celebrated Diwali at the Governor's Mansion. We welcomed friends as we lit Diwali lamps & celebrated the victory of light over darkness, goodness over evil, & hope over despair. Happy Diwali to those celebrating the Festival of Lights! Abbott said in a tweet. He also lauded the Indian-American community for their achievements in various sectors and participating in the prosperity of . Indian Americans are true partners in growth of economy and they are enhancing Texas values, we are glad they have called Texas as their home, Governor Abbott said. "The growing similarity of shared values such as education, entrepreneurship, economic advancement, and compassion will continue to bring the communities of India, Texas and Indian Americans closer to each other," he elaborated. The Diwali celebrations have become an annual fixture at Abbott's official residence, with the only exception being in 2020, when the event was cancelled due to the pandemic. The guests at the ceremony included prominent heads of the community organisations from across the state of Texas, Consul General of India in Houston, Aseem Mahajan, Arun Agarwal from Dallas, who serves as Vice-Chair of Texas Economic Development Corporation and Dr Satish Nayak from Midland, who serves on Texas medical board as governors' appointee, among others. Diwali, the festival of lights symbolises the triumph of good over evil and is a time for harmony, goodwill and affirming the bonds between family and friends, Mahajan said, as he thanked Abbott and First Lady Cecilia for their warm gesture. Agarwal, who was instrumental in organising Abbott's maiden visit to India four years ago, thanked the Governor for supporting the Indian-American community in Texas. Texas is home to the second-largest Indian-American population in the US, behind only to the state of California. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the nation celebrates Diwali, is witnessing a spike in the emergency calls for burns and vehicular trauma accidents amid pre-festival celebrations. According to a report in the Indian Express, the cases of vehicular trauma in on October 23 rose by nearly 50 per cent compared to the regular days, whereas 16 cases of burns were recorded instead of the average of six cases reported on a single day. A total of 621 were recorded compared with an average of 424 cases in a single day. Ahmedabad has witnessed the highest spike of vehicular trauma incidents with 74 cases and took 12 per cent of the state's share. Out of the 16 burns cases, Ahmedabad also reported six cases. Another three were reported from Sabarkantha. According to previous year's data by GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI), which manages ambulances in Gujarat, the forecast for this year expects the highest spike in the number of emergency cases on October 25, which marks the Hindu New Year. In Gujarat, the overall non-vehicular trauma incidents, such as falls, burns, physical assaults, amputations, and sexual assaults, saw a 22 per cent spike on Sunday. Meanwhile, in Chandigarh, the health department made all necessary arrangements to meet medical exigencies during celebrations. According to a report in The Tribune, on Sunday, the Emergency Department at the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, and civil at Sectors 22 and 45, and Mani Majra have been put on alert. All the required arrangements have been made at the hospitals, including stocking up on necessary medicines to deal with burn cases due to the bursting firecrackers. Doctors in have also advised residents to celebrate the festival by avoiding firecrackers and lighting diyas/earthen lamps. About 110 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of is estimated to be procured at the (MSP) in the ongoing kharif marketing season from farmers in Chhattisgarh, a government official said on Monday. Last year, around 98 lakh MT of was purchased from cultivators in the state. The procurement drive will begin on November 1, Chhattisgarh's statehood day, and conclude on January 31 next year. All preparations are in full swing to start purchase of paddy and so far over 25 lakh farmers have registered, 95,000 of them new registrations, themselves to sell their produce at designated centres, he said. Registrations of farmers who were enrolled last year were carry forward this year, the official added. About 110 lakh metric tonnes of paddy is estimated to be procured in this kharif marketing season for which 5.50 lakh bundles of jute gunny bags will be required, he said. A trial run of the drive will be held from October 26 to 28 at all cooperative societies before actual procurement starts, he added. Teams of revenue, food, cooperative and forest departments have been constituted at the district level to check illegal flow of paddy from neighbouring states, the official added. In June this year, the Centre had hiked the of paddy by Rs 100 to Rs 2,040 per quintal for the 2022-23 crop 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.) Uttar Pradesh, which is looking to become a major player in the South Asian region, has bagged projects worth Rs 16,000 crore in the new-age sector. A is a facility that houses shared information technology (IT) activities and equipment to store, process, and disseminate information and applications. The government is in the process of amending its existing policy to sweeten the deal for private sector investors. Under this proposed policy, the state is planning to set up smaller capacity data centres in the hinterland across the state. The policy will aim to attract private sector investment to attain Rs 30,000 crore in the next five years. Data centre projects in UP include those of Hiranandani Group, Adani Group, NTT Japan, and Web Werks, among others. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will inaugurate the states first data centre park in Greater Noida, on October 31. The Rs 5,000 crore mega data centre park has been developed by Yotta Infrastructure, Hiranandani Groups data centre arm. The first block Yotta D-1 will go live on October 31. The first block will have a capacity of 5,000 server racks with a 48-hour IT power backup, a government official said. The project consists of six data centre blocks with a combined capacity to house 30,000 server racks along with 250 megawatt of power generation. Due to the lack of robust data centres in India, the domestic data of different Indian and multinational companies are primarily preserved in servers located at offshore locations. This exposes vital data to possible cyberattacks and manipulations. The Union government is pursuing an aggressive data localisation policy for ensuring data security with speedy spread of internet and online services. At present, less than 20 per cent of domestic data is preserved at onshore data centres. on Monday evacuated over 2.19 lakh people to safety as Sitrang approached the nation's southwestern coastlines and is expected to make a landfall around midnight, according to a senior official from the ministry of Disaster Management. Mohammmad Moniruzzaman, the spokesperson of the Disaster Management Ministry, said that Bangladeshi authorities have kept ready 6,925 centers expecting the last person exposed to dangers to take refuge there. At least 219,990 people have been taken to cyclone centers in 15 coastal districts by 5 pm on Monday, Moniruzzaman told PTI. Moniruzzaman's comments came as southwestern coastal districts already started witnessing the impacts of the cyclone's tip while incessant rains gripped most parts of the country, including Dhaka. The met office, meanwhile, said the epicenter of the cyclone advanced further and was located 170 kilometres south-southwest off Payra Seaport, 220 km south-southwest off Mongla seaport, 275 km southwest off Chattogram and 240 km off Cox's Bazar seaport. The cyclone has been approaching towards the coastline faster than its previous pace with wind speed at its core being 80 to 90 kilometres per hour . . . it may hit the coastline in Barishal region by Monday midnight, Monwar Hossain, a meteorologist, said. The meteorology department in its latest directive issued on Monday evening asked the seaports of Payra, Mongla and Chattogram to hoist danger signal no 7 and advised the Cox's Bazar seaport to maintain the danger signal no 6 in a scale of 10. The met office warned that southwestern Patuakhali, Bhola, Barguna and Jhalakathi were likely to be exposed worst brunt of the storm while the Red Crescent Society alongside the government agencies mobilised tens of thousands of volunteers. Reports and TV footages showed the volunteers using megaphones to alert people and ask them to evacuate. The met office, however, does not fear the cyclone to cause any very serious damage once it make the landfall while a meteorologist earlier said it might turn to a be severe cyclone, not a super cyclone. But, they said, the cyclone coincided with new moon to inflate the waters and heighten the tidal surges. (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.) Chinese markets weakened after the Party congress concluded with a reshuffle of the nations economic policy team, as investors expressed disappointment at the new leadership filled with President Xi Jinpings allies. The offshore weakened as much as 0.7% to 7.2782 per dollar Monday morning to approach a record low seen last week. The Peoples Bank of China set the fixing at 7.1230 per dollar, away from the recent pattern of near 7.11 per dollar. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index fell more than 2%. The reshuffle announced after the Party congress highlighted Xis unquestioned grip over the ruling party, with loyalists set to take up key economic posts. While that may help accelerate key agendas, the addition of Covid Zero advocates to the Politburo Standing Committee diminishes the chance of any early loosening of Covid restrictions. Investors were disappointed during the congress last week as Xi defended his Covid Zero policy and fell short of offering stimulus to shore up the property market. The onshore fell to the weakest level in 14 years and the CSI 300 slumped in all but one session last week. While markets may see some initial support this week on renewed policy hopes, overall sentiment will remain cautious as investors await growth data for the third quarter, which had been abruptly delayed last week. has reportedly threatened to block news in if the country goes through its proposed Online News Act that forces online platforms like and Google to share revenue with the news publishers. In a blog post, parent company Meta said that the proposed Act falsely presumes that it "unfairly benefits from its relationship with publishers." "We believe the Online News Act misrepresents the relationship between platforms and news publishers, and we call on the government to rethink its approach to help create a more fair and sustainable news industry in the long-term," Meta said. Marc Dinsdale, head of media partnerships at Meta's Canadian unit, was quoted as saying in the Wall Street Journal that "we feel it is important to be transparent about the possibility that we may be forced to consider whether we continue to allow the sharing of news content in Canada". Meta said that the Canadian government's approach is particularly misguided because, under the current system, Facebook helps publishers. According to the company, registered news publishers in received over 1.9 billion clicks over the past 12 months, bringing in an estimated $230 million Canadian dollars in value. "Posts with links to news articles make up less than 3 per cent of what people see in their Facebook Feed and Canadians tell us they want to see less news and political content," said the company. The framework of the current legislation presumes that Meta unfairly benefits from its relationship with publishers. Earlier, Google also said that the Act "will make it harder for Canadians to find and share trusted and authoritative news online". The social network has now urged the Canadian government to consider a policy response in support of public interest journalism that is fact-based and reflects the interests of not only a small handful of legacy publishers, "but also those of small businesses, innovative independent publishers and the 21 million Canadians who use Facebook every day". "As always, we remain open to working with the government on ways to achieve that goal," it added. --IANS na/dpb (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The community of is an integral part of the country's makeup, President said on Monday as he extended greetings of Diwali to the community members across the nation. The Community is an integral part of South Africa's rich multicultural tapestry. Members of the Community have made a significant contribution to our country since the arrival of indentured Indians to in 1860, Ramaphosa said. He was referring to the first Indians who arrived by boat in November 1860 to work on the sugar cane plantations of the then British colonial province of Natal. They were followed by thousands more, as well passenger Indians who paid their own way to start up businesses in . Descendants of these first Indian settlers now number 1.4 million South African citizens in a seventh generation in some instances. Ramaphosa also acknowledged the Indian community across several generations who were in the forefront of the struggle against apartheid. The community contributed immensely to our freedom struggle and are playing an important role today in nation building and the economic recovery and revitalisation of our country at a time of great challenges faced by the global community, the president said. Diwali thus is a time to reflect and celebrate the joyous achievements of all in our country. Let us use the celebration of Diwali to renew and reinvigorate our commitment to work together as one family in building a just, inclusive and prosperous South Africa. Ramaphosa said the universal message of Diwali resonated with all South Africans. It is a message of hope, love, caring for the wellbeing of all and working together for the mutual prosperity of all. One of the central messages of Diwali is the oneness of humanity and that all of life is equal and sacred. May the blessings of Lord Rama and Mother Sita be showered upon you and your family and friends on this auspicious occasion of Diwali, Ramaphosa concluded in his message. Ashwin Trikamjee, President of the South Africa Hindu Maha Sabha, endorsed Ramaphosa's message as he appealed to the community to consider sharing what they enjoyed on Diwali with their fellow citizens who were suffering the effects of massive unemployment and poverty on their doorsteps. This is still being felt after the widespread rioting and looting of July last year, and in the spirit of Diwali celebrating the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness, we as Hindus would do well to assist our neighbours, many of whom are without food and after the recent floods, some even without adequate water supplies or even a permanent roof over their heads, Trikamjee 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.) With on the threshold of becoming the first non-White Prime Minister of Britain, arch-rivals India and Pakistan are on the cusp of history to share a pride, though none of them played a role in it. Sunak's grandparents originated from British India but their birthplace Gujranwala lies in modern day Pakistan's Punjab province. Thus, in an odd way, the new British leader is both an Indian and a Pakistani. So far, the scanty details about his ancestry are available only on social media and that is where both Indian and Pakistanis are expressing their views about his rise to power amidst bitter political wrangling in the UK. "The Sunaks are a Punjabi Khatri family from Gujranwala, now in Pakistan, tweeted one Queen Lioness 86, adding: "Ramdas Sunak, Rishi's paternal grandfather, left Gujranwala to work as a clerk in Nairobi in 1935." Ramdas' wife, Suhag Rani Sunak, moved to Delhi first from Gujranwala, along with her mother-in-law, before travelling to Kenya in 1937, according to Queen Lioness 86, who has provided all details about the family, including the migration of UL and the birth of Rishi in 1980 in Southampton. Though officially nothing has been said in Pakistan about 42-year-old Sunak, some on social media have suggested the government to lay its claim on him. "I think Pakistan should also lay claim on because his paternal grandparents were from Gujranwala who from there migrated to Kenya and then to Britain, one Shafat Shah tweeted. Someone with a Twitter handle as Grand Finale wrote: Wow! What a tremendous achievement. A Pakistani has now ascended to the highest office in England. Anything is possible if you believe." But others suggested that both Pakistan and India should be proud of the new British leader. "Going to bed in the US with hopes that a #Punjabi from #Gujranwala will be the #PrimeMinister of the #UK in the morning! Both #Pakistan and #India should be jointly proud of this moment! tweeted Yaqoob Bangash. There are also fears that the two countries may live up to their reputation of animosity and even try to cross lines while laying claim that Sunak is the son of their respective lands, said 35-year-old Zulfiqar Jatt. "Since Gujranwala is in Pakistan, anyone who belonged to this city even a 100 years ago is a Pakistani today, Jatt told PTI. Others like Akhtar Saleem are more down to earth and want Sunak to address the longstanding issue of the Kohinoor diamond. "Since he is becoming prime minister, I think Pakistan should ask him to return the Kohinoor diamond which was stolen from Lahore, Saleem 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.) India will always stand with the Global South and seek to strengthen the UN's effectiveness, said External Affairs Minister on Monday on the annual commemorative day celebrating the creation of the . "India's ongoing tenure as the member of the UNSC has reflected our principled approach of promoting dialogue and diplomacy to meet contemporary challenges. India will always stand with the Global South and seek to strengthen the UN's effectiveness," he said. "Our focus on reformed multilateralism, rule of law, and a fair and equitable system is aimed at ensuring UN's continued relevance," he added. As the UN's founding member, Jaishankar said India remains committed to its purposes and principles. "Our contributions to implementing the goals of the Charter are a reflection of this commitment." During his 11-day US visit last month, the external affairs minister articulated both infringements of India's core interests as well as issues of pressing global concern including the long impending UN reforms. "I think it's a collective effort that members of the UN have to make and we have been pressing the reform effort," he said while addressing a press conference in Washington. Day, on October 24, marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the officially came into being. There is no other global organization with the legitimacy, convening power and normative impact of the United Nations. No other global organization gives hope to so many people for a better world and can deliver the future we want. "Today, the urgency for all countries to come together, to fulfil the promise of the nations united, has rarely been greater," the message on UN website read. UN Day, celebrated every year, offers the opportunity to amplify our common agenda and reaffirm the purposes and principles of the UN Charter that have guided us for the past 77 years. (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 Treasury chief on Monday was elected unopposed to become Britain's Prime Minister as the governing Conservative Party sought stability at a time of immense economic challenges and after months of chaos that consumed the past two leaders. He will be the third PM in seven months. Sunak will replace Liz Truss, who served as Britain's shortest-serving prime minister. The new UK PM was the front-runner after his rival Boris Johnson quit the race, admitting that he could no longer unite their party following one of the most turbulent periods in British political history. Sunak, 42, said he wanted to "fix our economy, unite our party and deliver for our country" when he declared his candidacy. He has held a solid lead in the contest, having surpassed the 100-MPs threshold to make the shortlist. The UK-born son of Indian-origin general practitioner father Yashvir and pharmacist mother Usha spoke extensively of his migrant roots during the last campaign and referenced making history by lighting Diwali diyas at 11 Downing Street as the first Indian-origin Chancellor of the Exchequer. "Sixty years after my Naniji boarded a plane in East Africa, on a warm sunny evening in October, her great-granddaughters, my kids, played in the street outside our home, painted Rangoli on the doorstep, lit sparklers and diyas; had fun like so many other families on Diwali. Except the street was Downing Street, and the door was the door to No. 11, said Sunak in his campaign video a few months ago. Priti Patel, a loyalist of former Boris Johnson, on Monday came out in support of to take over at 10 Downing Street as the Conservative Party leader after her former boss withdrew from the leadership contest. The Indian-origin former home secretary, who resigned from the Cabinet when Liz Truss was elected the Prime Minister last month, said the Tories must put political differences aside to give Sunak the best chance of succeeding as the new leader. Her intervention came as the former chancellor looks well poised as the frontrunner to make history as the first Indian-origin Prime Minister of the UK, with publicly voiced support for Leader of the Commons Penny Mordaunt still well short of the 100-MPs threshold. In these difficult times for our country we must unite by putting public service first and work together, tweeted Patel. We care about our country and with the enormous challenges upon us we must put political differences aside to give the best chance of succeeding, she said. It came alongside her Diwali tweet, with images of the senior Tory MP at a temple lighting candles. The Hindu Festival of Light, is an auspicious and joyous festival. It is a time for self-reflection, family, friends and service to others. I wish everyone a very blessed and happy Diwali, she said. It follows a dramatic weekend when Johnson declared that though he had met the high hurdle of 102 nominations, enough to make the shortlist in time for the Monday deadline, he had decided not to proceed in the interest of party unity. There is a very good chance that I would be successful in the election with Conservative Party members and that I could indeed be back in Downing Street on Friday. But in the course of the last days, I have sadly come to the conclusion that this would simply not be the right thing to do. You can't govern effectively unless you have a united party in Parliament, he said in a statement. Sunak took to Twitter soon after to praise his record in office, in an apparent outreach to the Johnson loyalists within a divided Tory party. Sunak said: Boris Johnson delivered Brexit and the great vaccine roll-out. He led our country through some of the toughest challenges we have ever faced, and then took on Putin and his barbaric war in Ukraine. We will always be grateful to him for that. Although he has decided not to run for PM again, I truly hope he continues to contribute to public life at home and abroad. There had been much talk of a rapprochement between the duo, who worked side by side at No. 10 and 11 Downing Street as the Prime Minister and Chancellor during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it was the pandemic lockdown law-breaking partygate scandal that ultimately brought their partnership to a halt in July when Sunak's resignation from Cabinet set events in motion that ended in Johnson's own exit. (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 Basavaraj Bommai on Monday expressed his happiness over Rishi Sunak, a person of Indian origin set to become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Talking to reporters in Shiggaon, Bommai said the British ruled India for over 200 years and they would have never expected such a big development. Today, Indians are on all fronts and have got elected as MPs in several countries. Now, has got elected as the new Britain PM. The wheel of fortune has turned completely, he opined. In a series of tweets, former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy too congratulated Sunak, who is set to become the prime minister. "Hearty congratulations to Sri @RishiSunak, senior Conservative party leader & Britain's Prime Minister elect. He is connected to our . I am overwhelmed with the election of Sri Rishi Sunak, son-in-law of Infosys founder Sri N R Narayanamurthy & Smt Sudha Murty," Kumaraswamy tweeted. "I am confident that Sri will effectively lead Britain & help to bring its economy back on track," 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.) An Conference titled "INSTC ( North South Transport Corridor) and Chabahar Port in Iran The conference was jointly organized by the Ala-Too University, Bishkek, and a think tank Burana Institute, Bishkek. The conference was jointly inaugurated by Dr Zhydyzbek Zhakshylykov, Head of Science and Innovation Department, Ministry of Education, Kyrgyz Republic, and Dr Sanzharbek Erdolatov, Rector, Ala-Too University, Bishkek, the think tank informed in a release. Eminent scholars from Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Poland, Sweden, England, India, and presented papers highlighting the importance and advantages of INSTC and Chabahar port for land-locked Central Asian, CIS countries and Russia. Professor Ali Omidi from the University of Isfahan, while speaking at the conference, spoke on Iran's role in strengthening Eurasian cooperation through the corridor. He also quoted the phrase "If you want to become Powerful, First Make a Road." While talking about the geopolitical importance of INSTC and Chabahar Port for India, the author said "The INSTC and Chabahar-Central Asia Corridors are of strategic importance for India, as they facilitate trade with Russia, Europe, as well as Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing its regional rival, Pakistan." "But the main goal of New Delhi through the North-South Corridor and Chabahar-Central Asia is to increase its geopolitical influence in the resource-rich republics of Central Asia, which India considers as a source of energy supply and a large market for Indian goods," he said. "Chabahar port for India will reduce the transportation costs by 60% and the time of transporting goods to Central Asia by 50%. India's first export shipment from Chabahar was destined to Afghanistan in 2017 in the form of a 130,000-ton wheat shipment," he said as per the think tank. Emphasizing Iran's geographical location, he called Iran's position as strategic by saying "Iran's position in the INSTC and Chabahar-Central Asia is strategic because of its geographical location that connects the Persian Gulf to Afghanistan and Eurasia." "Of course, does not see itself as the stage of geopolitical rivalry between regional and global powers and welcomes infrastructure investments from different countries," he said. Professor Sos Khachikyan from the Armenian State University of Economics during her presentation focussed on India- relations within the INSTC-Armenia context. She spoke in detail about the INSTC project from the Armenian perspective, which is a thought-provoking one. In his speech, he said that India and Iran have the potential, as well as the necessity to be involved in worldwide transnational projects because of the following two factors: - "Firstly, India is one of the emerging countries of the world with significant technological achievements and an increasing role in the Pacific region. Secondly, Iran proved the ability to provide technological development under the sanctions and to have a decisive role in regional stability," she said. "India and Iran, as emerging Asian countries with strong traditions of trade, don't have direct lines between each other within Eurasian corridors," she added. She also said that Armenia could play a significant role to offer an alternative corridor to connect India and Iran with Europe through Georgia and the Black Sea. "Armenia is the only country that signed the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the European Union, as well as is membership to the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU)," she said. Dr Shatlyk Amanov, Suleyman Demirel University, Almaty, Kazakhstan gave a presentation on "India's Eurasian ambitions and the INSTC: Insights from the 'South-South Cooperation 3.0' model". Dr Amanov said India's Eurasian ambitions are based on the "Connect Central Asia Policy". INSTC was agreed upon in 2000 and ratified in 2002 by India, Iran, and Russia, and trial runs were conducted in 2016. "The INSTC is a burgeoning multimodal connectivity project designed to link India to Iran and, through the Caspian basin, to Russia and reaching further to the North. Since its announcement, the project has been accompanied by active scholarly debate over its viability, relevancy, and scope," he said. Dr Amanov quoted "India is building its position as a leader in South-South cooperation, much like it played a key role in the Non-Aligned Movement. South-South cooperation has traditionally been an important pillar of India's foreign policy and diplomacy." (OECD, 2012). Dr Rajkumar Sharma, Post-Doc Fellow, Delhi School of Transnational Affairs, University of Delhi gave a presentation (via video conference) on "India has the geographical and economic potential to bring together Eurasia and Indo-Pacific via INSTC". During his speech, Dr Sharma said that there has been big power jostling in Eurasia for connectivity as the US, Russia, China, European Union, and India have been making efforts to achieve their respective connectivity visions in the region. "India, by the virtue of its geographical location, is a continental (Eurasian) and maritime (Indo-Pacific) power. India has the geographical and economic potential to bring together Eurasia and Indo-Pacific via INSTC," Sharma said. "The proposed INSTC plan is 40% shorter and 30% cheaper than the BRI - an enticing economic opportunity for India. The impact of INSTC could potentially decrease Afghanistan's economic dependency on Pakistan. Chabahar route is 800km shorter than the Karachi port route," Sharma added. Rouslan Jalil, Lecturer at the OSCE Academy, Bishkek, and co-founder and Director of the Burana Institute, a Bishkek-based think-tank concluded the session by speaking on the "Concept of Democracy is not alien to India" "INSTC might serve as a soft power tool for establishing India's economic and political influence. However, China promoted BRI is shaped by Chinese political ideology, and one cannot have any expectations of movement of democratic ideas, concepts or practices along the BRI route," Jalil said. "A concept of democracy is not alien to India and whether India will also export such concepts along this route to Central Asia and further?" he asked while concluding the session, the think tank stated. (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 Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a new report detailing the mistreatment of Afghan women, who were wrongfully detained with their families for protesting against abuses. The New York-based rights group last week released a report, detailing the horror that the Afghan women are experiencing, including threats, beatings, dangerous conditions of confinement, denial of due process, abusive conditions of release and other abuses. According to the HRW, the authorities assaulted and administered electric shocks to detained male relatives. The women's description of their experiences sheds light on the Taliban's treatment of women protesters in custody and the Taliban's efforts to silence the protest movement. "It's difficult to overstate the incredible bravery of these and other Afghan women who protest against abuses," said Heather Barr, associate women's rights director at Human Rights Watch. "These women's stories show how deeply threatened the feel by their activities, and the brutal lengths the Taliban go to try to silence them." The Taliban had arbitrarily arrested the three women during a single raid on a safe house in Kabul in February 2022. The Taliban authorities held them and their family members for several weeks at the Interior Ministry in apparent retaliation for their involvement in planning and participating in women's rights protests. After their release, they were able to flee the country. After the Taliban seized control of on August 15, 2021, they immediately began rolling back the rights of women and girls. Women began to protest on the streets since Taliban's first week in power, despite the grave risks they faced in doing so. By early September, women-led protests were taking place in Herat province in western and quickly spread across multiple provinces. The HRW said the Taliban response was brutal from the beginning, beating protesters, disrupting protests, and detaining and torturing journalists covering the demonstrations. The Taliban also banned unauthorized protests. Over time, the Taliban's abusive responses escalated, with a particularly brutal response to a protest on January 16 in Kabul, when Taliban members threatened, intimidated, and physically assaulted protesters, using pepper spray and electric shock devices. Days later, the Taliban began conducting raids to arbitrarily detain women who had participated in protests. The Washington Post documented the Taliban's arrests of 24 women's rights activists, some taken with their families, in January and February. Tamana Paryani, one of the first protesters to be arbitrarily detained under Taliban rule, filmed herself as the Taliban broke into her home at night searching for her, and then quickly posted the video on social media. The women interviewed said that Paryani's abduction sent waves of fear through other protesters, causing many to go into hiding. "I didn't know them well, but I became afraid then," one woman said, referring to Paryani and another woman arrested that night. "I woke up at night and all my body shook.... We were so afraid. We knew we would be arrested." Another woman said family and friends repeatedly urged her to flee the country, but she refused: "I wanted to stay and fight." According to HRW, the three women described being held initially in a single cramped and stiflingly hot room with a total of 21 women and 7 children for five days, provided virtually no food or water or access to a toilet. The Taliban held them for several weeks, and abusively interrogated them, without allowing access to counsel or other due process rights, forcibly coerced confessions, and severely tortured the men. The Taliban compelled the three women's families to hand over the original deeds to their property as the price for release, with the threat that the Taliban would confiscate the property if the women got into trouble again, the rights group said. The HRW said the Taliban should immediately release everyone detained for exercising their rights to free speech and peaceful protest. "They should respect the rights of all to peaceful assembly and free expression, including journalists covering protests. They should end all arbitrary detention, ensure due process, including promptly charging suspects in custody before an independent judge, and providing immediate access to counsel," it added. The prominent rights group said the Taliban should hold lawfully detained individuals in accordance with the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. Anyone responsible for torture or other ill-treatment should be impartially investigated and appropriately prosecuted. "Afghan women and girls have faced some of the harshest consequences of Taliban rule, and they have led the difficult fight to protect rights in Afghanistan," Barr said. "Unfortunately, their pleas to the community to stand by them have not been answered. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leaders of DPRK, Vietnam, Laos, Cuba congratulate Xi on election as general secretary of CPC Central Committee Xinhua) 09:02, October 24, 2022 BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Ruling party leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Vietnam, Laos and Cuba on Sunday respectively sent congratulations to Xi Jinping on his election as general secretary of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, said the 20th CPC National Congress is of epoch-making milestone significance for the Chinese party and people to unite more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core, and to promote the historic process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation under the banner of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Kim said he firmly believes that under Xi's leadership, the CPC and the Chinese people will uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics and achieve glorious victory in the new journey toward building a modern socialist country in all respects. He said he would like to work with Xi to lead DPRK-China relations to a better future, and vigorously promote the development of the great cause of socialism of the two countries. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong said that aiming at China's long-term development and the successful realization of the Second Centenary Goal, the 20th CPC National Congress has formulated a series of important strategic plans, goals and tasks, as well as promoted the continuous improvement and innovative development of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He believes that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core and under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the whole Party and the people of the whole country will surely complete the goals put forward by the 20th CPC National Congress, basically realize socialist modernization at an early date and build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful. Vietnam cherishes and highly values Xi's sincere concern and great contribution to Vietnam-China relations for the benefit of the people of the two countries, he added. In his message, Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, said since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core has united and led the Chinese people, continuously making new accomplishments and create new glories in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The major ideas and propositions put forward by Xi, Thongloun said, such as the building of a human community with a shared future, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, and the Global Security Initiative, have been widely recognized and supported by the international community, and these proposals have made and will continue to make positive contributions to world peace and development. Thongloun said he is ready to work with Xi to further strengthen strategic communication, jointly lead and promote the in-depth development of Laos-China relations in the new era and the building of a community with a shared future for them to bear fruits, so as to bring more benefits to the two countries and their people, and jointly advance the great cause of socialism. In his congratulations to Xi, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said it is believed that under Xi's leadership, the CPC and the Chinese people will surely continue to make new achievements in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era. Xi has led the CPC Central Committee in making theoretical and practical contributions to socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era, marking a milestone in the adaption of Marxism to Chinese context and the times, he said. China and Cuba are good friends, good comrades and good brothers, Diaz-Canel said, noting that political mutual trust, friendly cooperation and closeness are the distinctive features of the relations between the two countries. The relations between the two parties, two countries and the people in Cuba and China are exemplary, he added. He reiterated that he stands ready to work with Xi to unswervingly continue strengthening the political guidance of the above-mentioned relations for their expansion and improvement, so as to promote the sustainable development of the two countries and the well-being of the their people, and help make the socialism process of the world irreversible and full of vigor. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Hongyu) Ukrainian authorities on Monday tried to dampen public fears over Russia's use of Iranian-built drones on its neighbour by claiming increasing success in shooting down the small aircraft, while talk of a dirty bomb attack has added another worrying dimension to the conflict that's entering it's ninth month. Ukrainians are bracing for less electric power this winter following a sustained Russian barrage on infrastructure across their country in recent weeks. Meanwhile, citizens in the southern city of Mykolaiv lined up for water and essential supplies as Ukrainian forces continued their advance on the nearby Russian-occupied city of Kherson. Ukraine's forces have shot down more than two-thirds of the approximately 330 Shahed drones that Russia has fired through Saturday, the head of Ukraine's intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov, said in a published interview on Monday. Budanov said that Russia's military had ordered about 1,700 units of various types of drones, and a second batch of about 300 Shaheds is currently being rolled out. Terror with the use of Shaheds' can actually last for a long time, he was quoted as saying in Ukrainska Pravda newspaper adding: Air defense is basically coping, 70% are shot down." Both Russia and Iran deny that any Iranian-built drones have been used in the war. Budanov also played down speculation that Russian forces are preparing an immediate exit from Kherson, even though an evacuation of civilians and including banking personnel and teachers is underway. Budanov said statements to that effect by Russia's newly appointed commander in Ukraine, Gen. Sergei Surovikin, were aimed at preparing the ground in case a full pullout does take place which the Ukrainian official predicted would happen by year's end. But at the same time I cannot tell you that right now they are fleeing from Kherson, Budanov said. Meanwhile, Russian authorities have removed monuments of 18th-century Russian military chiefs Alexander Suvorov and Fyodor Ushakov from Kherson, saying that the action was intended to save them from Ukrainian shelling of the city. On Saturday, Russian-installed authorities told all residents of Kherson to leave immediately ahead of an expected advance by Ukrainian troops waging a counteroffensive to recapture the city a key route to Russian-occupied Crimea which has been in Russian hands since the early days of the war. Ukraine's relentless artillery strikes on Kherson have cut the main crossings across the Dnieper River, which bisects southern Ukraine, leaving Russian troops on the west bank short of supplies and vulnerable to encirclement. The region is one of four that Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed last month and put under Russian martial law last week. Britain's Ministry of Defense, in an intelligence update posted on Twitter, said Russia was likely' to use a high number of Shahed drones to penetrate increasingly effective Ukrainian air defenses in part to substitute for Russian-made long-range precision weapons which are becoming increasingly scarce. That assessment came on top of a stark warning by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to key Western and Turkish counterparts over the weekend that Ukrainian forces were preparing a provocation involving a radioactive device a so-called dirty bomb." Britain, France, and the United States who got calls from Shoigu on the matter, along with Turkey rejected that claim. Turkey's defense ministry on Sunday said Defense Minister Hulusi Akar discussed bilateral relations and security issues with Shoigu, including the need to be cautious about provocations that could worsen the security situation in the region. Russia's defense ministry said Shoigu raised the prospect of possible Ukrainian provocations involving a dirty bomb,' which is a device that uses explosives to scatter radioactive waste. Such weapons don't have the devastating destruction of a nuclear explosion, but could expose broad areas to radioactive contamination. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, visiting an elite German unit in southwestern Germany on Monday, dismissed as outrageous the claim that Ukraine could use a dirty bomb, saying there were zero indications of that. Moscow on Monday strongly backed Shoigu's claim. In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted that Shoigu's warning reflected a real threat. Their distrust of the information that has been provided by the Russian side doesn't mean that the threat of using such a dirty bomb doesn't exist, Peskov. Alluding to Western countries Peskov added: "it's up to them whether to trust it or not. In a televised address Sunday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that Moscow itself was setting the stage for deploying a radioactive device on Ukrainian soil. If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means only one thing: that Russia has already prepared all of it, Zelenskyy said. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov accused Russia of nuclear blackmail on Twitter and insisted: The thought of a dirty bomb' is repulsive to us. The city of Mykolaiv, northwest of Kherson, endures shelling almost every night and residents line up during the day for food and water. Ukraine is doing the right thing. Russians attacked us, and they must be beaten for that, said Mykolaiv resident Mykola Kovalenko, 76. Of course, my life changed. I live with constant pressure. I believe even the way I talk changed. Zelenskyy said Sunday that repair crews are working to restore electricity supplies cut off by large-scale Russian missile strikes a day earlier, but acknowledged that it would take longer to provide heating. He appealed to local authorities to make sure Ukrainians heed a call to conserve energy. Now is definitely not the time for bright storefronts and signs, he said. Kyiv and seven other regions planned rolling blackouts Monday as authorities worked to fix the damage to energy facilities. His office said Monday that at least six civilians were killed and another five have been wounded by Russian shelling of several Ukrainian regions over the past 24 hours, including Mykolaiv where energy facilities were targeted and the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region coming under the most intense attacks. (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.) Researchers in Berlin have spent decades researching a peculiar hereditary illness that results in extraordinarily short fingers and incredibly high blood pressure in half of the members of specific families. By the time they become 50, affected persons typically succumb to a stroke if untreated. The findings of the research were published in the journal Circulation. Researchers at the Max Delbruck Center (MDC) in Berlin identified the cause of the disease back in 2015 and were able to prove their hypothesis five years later using animal models: a mutation in the phosphodiesterase 3A gene (PDE3A) causes its encoded enzyme to become overactive, affecting bone growth and causing blood vessel hyperplasia - resulting in elevated blood pressure. Immune to hypertension-related damage "High blood pressure almost always leads to the heart becoming weaker," said Dr. Enno Klussmann, head of the Anchored Signaling Lab at the Max Delbruck Center and a scientist at the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK). As it has to pump against a higher pressure, Klussmann explains, the organ tries to strengthen its left ventricle. "But ultimately, this results in the thickening of the heart muscle - known as cardiac hypertrophy - which can lead to heart failure greatly decreasing its pumping capacity." But in patients with shortened fingers and mutated PDE3A gene, this doesn't happen. "For reasons that are now partly - but not yet fully - understood, their hearts appear immune to the damage that usually results from high blood pressure," said Klussmann. The study is the result of a collaboration between researchers at the Max Delbruck Center, Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin, and the DZHK. In addition to Klussmann, professors Norbert Hubner and Michael Bader from the Max Delbruck Center were involved as final authors, along with Dr. Sylvia Bahring from the Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) - a joint institution of Charite and the Max Delbruck Center. Together with 43 other researchers from Berlin, Bochum, Heidelberg, Kassel, Limburg, Lubeck, Canada, and New Zealand, the team has now reported its findings on the protective effects of the gene mutation - and why these results could change the way heart failure is treated in the future. The publication has four first authors, three of whom conduct research at the Max Delbruck Center and one at the ECRC. Two mutations with the same effect The scientists performed their tests on human patients with and brachydactyly (HTNB) syndrome - i.e., high blood pressure and abnormally short digits - as well as on rat models and heart muscle cells. The cells were grown from specially engineered stem cells known as induced pluripotent stem cells. Before testing began, researchers altered the PDE3A gene in the cells and the animals to mimic HTNB mutations. "We came across a previously unknown PDE3A gene mutation in the patients we examined," reports Bahring. "Previous studies had always shown the mutation in the enzyme to be located outside the catalytic domain - but we have now found a mutation right in the center of this domain." Surprisingly, both mutations have the same effect in making the enzyme more active than usual. This hyperactivity ramps up the degradation of one of the cell's important signalling molecules known as cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate), which is involved in the contraction of the heart muscle cells. "It is possible that this gene modification - regardless of its location - causes two or more PDE3A molecules to cluster together and thus work more effectively," Bahring suspects. The proteins stay the same The researchers used a rat model - created with CRISPR-Cas9 technology by Michael Bader's lab at the Max Delbruck Center - to try to better understand the effects of the mutations. "We treated the animals with the agent isoproterenol, a so-called beta-receptor agonist," says Klussmann. Such medications are sometimes used in patients with end-stage heart failure. Isoproterenol is known to induce cardiac hypertrophy. "Yet surprisingly, this occurred in the gene-modified rats in a manner similar to what we observed in the wild-type animals. Contrary to what we expected, existing did not aggravate the situation," reports Klussmann. "Their hearts were quite obviously protected from this effect of the isoproterenol." In further experiments, the team investigated whether proteins in a specific signaling cascade of the heart muscle cells changed as a result of the mutation and if so which ones. Through this chain of chemical reactions, the heart responds to adrenaline and beats faster in response to situations such as excitement. Adrenaline activates the cells' beta receptors, causing them to produce more cAMP. PDE3A and other PDEs stop the process by chemically altering cAMP. "However, we found little difference between mutant and wild-type rats at both the protein and the RNA levels," Klussmann said.More calcium in the cytosol. The conversion of cAMP by PDE3A does not occur just anywhere in the heart muscle cell, but near a tubular membrane system that stores calcium ions. A release of these ions into the cytosol of the cell triggers muscle contraction, thus making the heartbeat. After the contraction, the calcium is pumped back into storage by a protein complex. This process is also regulated locally by PDE. Klussmann and his team hypothesized that because these enzymes are hyperactive in the local region around the calcium pump, there should be less cAMP, inhibiting the pump's activity. "In the gene-modified heart muscle cells, we actually showed that the calcium ions remain in the cytosol longer than usual," said Dr. Maria Ercu, a member of Klussmann's lab and one of the study's four first authors. "This could increase the contractile force of the cells." Activating instead of inhibiting "PDE3 inhibitors are currently in use for acute heart failure treatment to increase cAMP levels," Klussmann explains. Regular therapy with these drugs would rapidly sap the heart muscle's strength. "Our findings now suggest that not the inhibition of PDE3, but - on the contrary - the selective activation of PDE3A may be a new and vastly improved approach for preventing and treating hypertension-induced cardiac damage like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and heart failure," Klussmann said. But before that can happen, he says, more light needs to be shed on the protective effects of the mutation. "We have observed that PDE3A not only becomes more active, but also that its concentration in heart muscle cells decreases," the researcher reports, adding that it is possible that the former can be explained by oligomerization - a mechanism that involves at least two enzyme molecules working together. "In this case," said Klussmann, "we could probably develop strategies that artificially initiate local oligomerization - thus mimicking the protective effect for the heart. (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 Monday left for a two-day visit to to attend a key investment summit and hold bilateral talks with Saudi Crown Prince . The Saudi Future Investment Initiative Summit, often referred to as Davos in the Desert' aims to lure in investors to the desert kingdom. The summit has been an annual feature since 2017. Confirming his attendance at the summit, the PM tweeted: The present state of the global economy needs new thinking and bold vision to overcome the irritants and forge new paths. There are serious concerns about the threat of global recession hitting the economies. The pandemic and climate-induced disasters have already put immense strains on developing countries. High time the world explored solutions to the deepening challenges through candid dialogue, Sharif said in the tweet. Sharif during his travel to Saudi is being accompanied by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and other officials and would try to convince the Saudi authorities to invest in Pakistan, the foreign office said in a statement. Foreign Office said that Prime Minister Shehbaz was paying an official visit to Riyadh on the invitation of Prince Mohammad. He would hold consultations with the Saudi Crown Prince to review the longstanding fraternal relations, with a view to further strengthening the multifaceted cooperation, especially in the economic field, the statement said. The prime minister would be one of the key speakers at the conference and use it to highlight investment opportunities in . Sharif's visit comes amidst Pakistan's success in persuading Saudi to revive a USD 12 billion state-of-the-art deep conversion refinery and a petrochemical complex in the country, a project that was shelved by the oil-rich Gulf Kingdom during the Imran Khan regime. In 2019, Crown Prince Mohammed visited when Khan was the prime minister, and signed MoUs for an investment of USD 21 billion, including the project of a deep conversion refinery and petrochemical complex with an investment of USD 12 billion. Subsequently, when Khan tried to cobble up a bloc of Islamic countries with the consent of Turkey and Malaysia, outside the ambit of the Saudi-dominated Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), it irked the Gulf Kingdom. Riyadh is particularly sensitive about any move that might undermine its leadership of the 57-member pan-Islamic body. Bilateral ties between Pakistan and have remained strained since then. The government is now trying to reset ties with Riyadh by reaching out to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince. (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 Monday met at the with French President Emmanuel Macron, with the war in looming large in both leaders' concerns. The nearly hour-long private audience was Francis' third with Macron since becoming pontiff. Neither side immediately released details of their talks. On the eve of their meeting, Macron spoke at a conference in Rome about the need for to decide the time and terms of peace with Russia, which invaded its neighbour eight months ago. Francis will go to the Colosseum on Tuesday to deliver a speech to the same forum, a conference centered on the need for peace and organised by a Catholic charity close to the . Accompanying Macron to the was his wife, Brigitte. (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.) PDP president on Monday said it was a proud moment that Indian-origin Rishi Sunak was elected as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said while India rightly celebrates Sunak's elevation, it should also serve as a reminder that the has accepted an ethnic minority member as its premier but we are still shackled by divisive and discriminatory laws like NRC and CAA." National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, who has a British mother, did not comment on the development but retweeted a tweet by George Osborne, the former chancellor of the Exchequer in the . "Rishi Sunak will be Prime Minister by the end of the day. Some think, like me, he's a solution to our problems; others think he's part of the problem. But whatever your politics, let's all celebrate the first British Asian becoming PM and be proud of our country where this can happen," Osborne 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.) Rishi Sunak, the former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, has been elected as Britain's first Indian-origin prime minister. Sunak, 42, will replace Liz Truss, who resigned last week after being in power for 45 days. Her short stint made her the shortest-serving prime minister in British history. Other candidates like and pulled out of the race after they could not muster the support of 100 MPs needed to stand in the elections. Sunak, on the other hand, received support from as many as 193 MPs. The new was the front-runner after his rival and former boss Johnson, quit the race, admitting that he could no longer unite their party following one of the most turbulent periods in British political history. With Johnson's party gate scandal and Truss's tax cuts debacle, Sunak is the third prime minister in the last seven months. Sunak's appointment comes at a time when the UK economy is witnessing immense challenges amid the political chaos in the country. As he creates history, here is a look at his Indian connections: 1. Rishi Sunak's parents are both of Indian descent. His parents, pharmacists, migrated to the UK in the 1960s from East Africa. He was born in the Southampton area. His grandparents hailed from Punjab. 2. Sunak is married to Akshara Murthy, daughter of Infosys chief Narayan Murthy. Sunak and Murthy have two daughters, namely- Krishna and Anoushka. 3. The 42-year-old Sunak took oath as MP from Richmond, Yorkshire, on the Bhagwad Gita in the Parliament and became the first UK parliamentarian to do so. According to a report in NDTV, the former Chancellor also shared a statement where he said that the Bhagwad Gita often rescues him during stressful situations and reminds him to be dutiful. 4. often speaks of his heritage and how he was constantly reminded about his culture and values by his family. 5. In February 2020, Sunak was appointed as the Chancellor of the Exchequer under Boris Johnson's leadership. On the occasion of Diwali, Sunak used to lit diyas at his residence on Downing Street 6. Education was a key aspect of parenting in the Sunak household. A former investment banker, Sunak is a Stanford University graduate. 7. Sunak visits Bengaluru with his wife and daughters to meet his in-laws. 8. While campaigning for the PM's post in 2022, faced criticism on various grounds, including his lavish house, shoes, and expensive suits. Singaporeans are divided on whether the government has struck the right balance in bringing foreign workers and protecting local jobs, as the manpower-short country works out directions to maintain its economic prosperity. About 40 per cent respondents to an online survey agreed with the government policy on foreigners' participation in the country's economic activities while 44 per cent disagreed, and the rest said they did not know enough to answer. The survey of 1,000 Singaporeans and permanent residents on Forward topics was commissioned by The Straits Times and conducted by consumer research firm Milieu Insight in September. It was published on Monday. The topics included and jobs, health and social support, home and living environment, and education and lifelong learning. The increasing presence of foreigners, both in labour-intensive industries and professional executives in businesses, has been widely debated in public and Parliament as Singaporeans fear losing jobs in management posts while the government has been explaining the manpower shortage which could hamper economic growth. Commenting on the survey, strategic advisory consultancy BowerGroupAsia managing director Nydia Ngiow noted that even among younger respondents, a sizeable number believe the government has not struck the right balance. She said this could be a reflection of their insecurities around job prospects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the return of more foreign workers since Singapore's reopening of borders in recent months to revive the economic activities. It will be crucial for the government to continue engaging this segment of the population, especially since this group will play a bigger role in upcoming elections, The Straits Times quoted Ngiow as saying. National University of (NUS) sociologist Tan Ern Ser said younger Singaporeans who are increasingly more future-ready and experience less or no competition from foreign professionals at the entry level are more likely to agree the right balance has been found. In contrast, older workers are likely concerned about their prospects for re-employment and lacking the skills that younger people and foreign professionals possess. He pointed out that seniors in lower-level jobs may also be concerned that the availability of foreign workers may render them less competitive should they demand higher wages, though the Progressive Wage Model may mitigate this concern. Yet, younger respondents aged 34 and below were over twice as likely to indicate education and lifelong learning as a pressing concern than middle-aged workers, who picked it least, the daily had Tan as commenting on the survey. NUS College vice-dean of special programmes and sociologist Daniel Goh said younger Singaporeans are more receptive to messaging from the government on this topic, as they experience the need for openness in workplace and in schools. They also get to know more foreigners and understand how much is shared between them, such as the aspiration for good lives for their future families and the global cosmopolitan culture, he added. In contrast, the older generation faced the toughest competition and displacement in the labour market in the decades of immigration in the 1990s and 2000s, when attention to the protection of local jobs was not as strong as it is today. This is something we need to take note of, he said. We often assume people are rational and will respond to logical arguments or self-interests, but we underestimate the power of experience and emotions in shaping lifelong attitudes and views, he said. Negative experiences in interactions between foreigners and locals can shape negative attitudes for life, the broadsheet quoted Goh. (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.) Western countries accused Russia on Monday of plotting to use a threat of a bomb laced with nuclear material as a pretext for escalation in Ukraine, as Moscow evacuated civilians from a southern city in anticipation of a major battle. With Ukrainian forces advancing into Russian-occupied Kherson province, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu phoned Western counterparts on Sunday to tell them Moscow suspected Kyiv of planning to use a so-called dirty bomb. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of France, Britain and the United States said they had all rejected the allegations and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine against Russia. Our countries made clear that we all reject Russias transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory, they said. The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation. Meanwhile, more than 1 million households in Ukraine are without electricity as Russia continues to attack critical energy infrastructure around the country. In an overnight address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the Russian accusation was a sign Moscow was planning such an attack itself and would blame Ukraine. If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means one thing: Russia has already prepared all this, Zelenskiy said. So when today the Russian Minister of Defense organises a phone carousel and calls foreign ministers with stories about the so-called dirty nuclear bomb, everyone understands everything well. Understands who is the source of everything dirty that can be imagined in this war. Asked about the fact that did not seem to believe Russian's accusations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a briefing on Monday: Their disbelief doesn't mean there's no threat ... The threat is evident. Russia has ordered civilians to evacuate territory it controls on the western bank of the Dnipro River, where Ukrainian forces have been advancing since the start of this month shortly after Moscow claimed to have annexed the area. A Russian defeat there would be one of Moscows biggest setbacks of the war. Kherson's regional capital is the only big city Russia has captured intact since the invasion in February, and its only foothold on the west bank of the Dnipro, which bisects Ukraine. The province controls the gateway to Crimea, the peninsula Russia seized and claimed to annex in 2014. The Russian-installed authorities in Kherson announced on Monday that men who stay behind would have the option of joining a military self-defence unit. Kyiv accuses Russia of press-ganging men in occupied areas into military formations, a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraines military spy chief, said Russian forces were preparing to defend Kherson city, not retreat from it, and reported evacuations were part of a Russian information campaign. While Russia is moving financial structures, equipment, vulnerable residents and wounded people from Kherson, he said, it is also reinforcing defences. "They are creating the illusion that all is lost. Yet at the same time they are moving new military units in and preparing to defend the streets of Kherson," he told Interfax Ukraine news agency. Since Russia's forces suffered major battlefield defeats in September, President has escalated the war, calling up hundreds of thousands of reservists, announcing the annexation of occupied territory and repeatedly threatening to use nuclear weapons to defend Russian land. This month, Russia has started a new campaign using long-range cruise missiles and Iranian-made drones to attack Ukraine's electric power and heat ahead of winter. Russian state television is filled with talk shows featuring pundits who are openly cheering attacks on Ukrainian civil infrastructure and call for ever tougher measures to eliminate what they describe as an illegitimate Ukrainian state. On Monday, Russian state TV presenter Anton Krasovsky apologised for remarks in which he called for Ukrainian children to be drowned in rivers and burned alive in huts with the doors nailed shut. He also joked that Ukrainian grandmothers were saving their funeral funds to pay Russian soldiers to rape them. "Well, it happens: you're on air, you get carried away. And you can't stop," Krasovsky said, adding he was "really embarrassed". Krasovsky was suspended from Russia's state-funded channel RT, and Russia's Investigative Committee said it had ordered a report into his "sharp comments". Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Krasovsky would be prosecuted some day for promoting genocide, and called on countries to ban RT. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sweden's center-right government will fulfil all requirements under a deal with to join NATO and will concentrate external relations to its immediate neighbourhood while dropping the previous administration's feminist foreign policy," the country's top diplomat said on Monday. Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrm said the new government shares Turkey's concern about the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which is considered a terrorist organisation in Turkey, Europe and the United States. There will be no nonsense from the Swedish government when it comes to the PKK, Billstrm told the Associated Press in an interview. We are fully behind a policy which means that terrorist organisations don't have a right to function on Swedish territory. stalled and Finland's historic bid to join NATO over concerns that the two countries - in particular - had become a safe haven for members of the PKK and affiliated groups. Under a memorandum of understanding signed by Sweden's previous left-leaning government at a NATO summit in June, and Finland committed to not support Kurdish groups in Syria that says are affiliated with the PKK and to lift arms embargos on Turkey imposed after its incursion in northern Syria in 2019. They also agreed to address pending deportation or extradition requests of terror suspects, which has proven more complicated due the broad definition of terrorism in Turkey, where anti-terror laws have been used to crack down on opponents of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Everything which is written into the trilateral memorandum, and which has been agreed upon by all three parties, should be fulfilled, needs to be fulfilled by all the three parties, Billstrm said, adding that everything also has to be done in a legally safe way. The PKK has led an armed insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 and the conflict has since resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people. Paul Levin, director of the Institute for Turkish Studies at Stockholm University, said the new government may have an advantage over the previous Social Democratic government in dealing with Turkey because it doesn't have the same links to the Kurdish diaspora in Sweden. However, the independence of the authorities and the courts in Sweden sets limits to what is possible, and so does law, Levin said. Hungary and Turkey are the only NATO countries which have not yet ratified the accession of Sweden and Finland, traditionally non-aligned countries which rushed to apply for membership after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February. Like most European countries, Sweden has clearly taken Ukraine's side in the war, supplying its armed forces with anti-tank weapons, assault rifles and anti-ship missiles. Ukraine has also asked Sweden to provide the Archer artillery system and RBS-70 portable air defense system. Billstrm said the new government has not yet decided on those requests. We are ready to try and give as much aid as possible to the Ukrainian government in its heroic struggle against the Russian forces, Billstrm said. We shall see when we have made the proper assessments about these matters. A former migration minister, Billstrm is a senior member of the conservative Moderate Party, which formed a coalition government last week with the center-right Liberals and Christian Democrats. The new government relies on support from the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats with whom it has drafted a joint policy platform that includes sharp restrictions on immigration and a crackdown on organized crime. Billstrm also pledged a shift in Sweden's foreign relations, with emphasis on northern Europe. Traditionally Sweden has sought to project itself internationally as a humanitarian superpower with relatively generous support for developing countries around the globe and a strong commitment to the United Nations. This is not to say that we won't be interested in the rest of the world, far from it, Billstrm said, noting that he had given a speech earlier Monday at celebration for United Nations Day, which marks the anniversary of the 1945 UN charter. But when it comes to these recalibrations that we are aiming at, it is true that there will be a shift of focus, he said. And the Nordic countries, the Baltic countries and the European Union will be the three legs on which we will base this recalibration. In addition, the new government will give up the feminist foreign policy which the previous government established in 2014. The label has since been used by other countries, including Canada, France, Spain and Germany. We believe that equal rights between men and women is important, but to use the expression feminist foreign policy' means that you sometimes divert the interest away from what is really important. You put more emphasis upon the label than about the actual content, Billstrm 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.) Vice President for South Asia, Martin Raiser on Sunday advised to take internal measures along with help from the community by implementing economic reforms to recover from the cataclysmic . In an interview with Geo News, Raiser talked about Pakistan's situation after facing heavy flooding and said that the country has been badly affected by climate change. He said that the depth of the crisis is unprecedented and added that needs a roadmap for flood recovery. "In order to recover from the devastations caused by floods, needs a roadmap," said Raiser. The vice president of the global lender said that the community needs to help Pakistan, however, Islamabad also needs to implement financial reforms, reported Geo News. Raiser said Pakistan would have to take internal steps as the citizens are already disturbed by massive electricity bills. "This is why the [authorities] are facing losses in distribution and the prices are high," he said. In this regard, he suggested that it was imperative for Pakistan to bring reforms to its energy sector. The vice president also said that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has assured implementation of reforms as they are important for long-term investment, reported Geo News. On Friday, the said that Pakistan will have to take "tough" decisions for economic recovery and hoped that the country will focus on reforms as promised. "We acknowledge that it will be difficult for Pakistan to work on the reforms considering the country's economic situation after the as they have caused enormous damage," said the . This year's unprecedented flood situation has left one-third of Pakistan underwater and affected approximately 33 million people. The ongoing crisis has left many regions uninhabitable and unsafe and also caused estimated damage of USD 10 billion. (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 government urgently needs to adopt a more systematic approach to disinvestment. Finding companies to divest after having arrived at a target for the year will not help. It should instead have a rolling list of companies to be privatised over a period of time. A ready list will not only give departments concerned much-needed clarity, but also allow the markets to prepare for buying shares of such companies, the top edit argues here. In other views: Debashis Basu says that even as Sebi is weighing down direct retail investors with more disclosures, mutual funds, as experts and custodians of another set of retail investors savings, play a speculative game they are neither supposed to nor equipped to do. Read it Debashis Basu says that even as Sebi is weighing down direct retail investors with more disclosures, mutual funds, as experts and custodians of another set of retail investors savings, play a speculative game they are neither supposed to nor equipped to do. Read it here Tamal Bandyopadhyay chalks out a potential strategy for banks to cope with the growing exodus of employees, including those in specialised jobs. Read it here Mihir Sharma explains why British Prime Minister Liz Truss departure is upsetting some of those on the left as much as those on the right and the second edit points to the perils of ignoring fiscal constraints. Read both here Last week in Mumbai, UN Secretary-General made a scathing indictment of the Indian governments domestic record on social inclusivity and suggested that this had eroded its international credibility. He said, As an elected member of the Human Rights Council, India has a responsibility to shape global human rights but that Indias voice on the global stage can only gain in authority and credibility from a strong commitment to inclusivity and respect for human rights at home. leader in Telangana, Rapolu Ananda Bhaskar on Sunday called on president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and expressed his keenness to join the ruling party. Bhaskar, who had served as Rajya Sabha member between 2012 and 2018 when he was in Congress, met Rao at Pragati Bhavan, the CM's camp office-cum-official residence here, sources said late on Sunday night. Expressing disappointment over the NDA government at imposing GST on handloom products, Bhaskar told Rao that he cannot tolerate this as he belonged to a family which is into handlooms, they said. Bhaskar, a journalist by profession, informed Rao that he would quit and join the TRS, they added. The former Rajya Sabha member had resigned from Congress and joined in 2019. Bhaskar's meeting with Rao comes close on the heels of two leaders -- former Legislative Council Chairman Swamy Goud and Sravan Dasoju -- quitting BJP and joining the . (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 stands for peace and has always considered war as not the first but last resort, but its armed forces have the strength and strategies to give a befitting reply to anyone who casts an evil eye on the nation, Prime Minister said Monday. Addressing soldiers here on Diwali, Modi said India is against war but also underscored the need for strength to ensure peace and asserted that its growing power boosts the chances of global peace and prosperity. The whole world is looking at India which is a "balancing force", he told soldiers at the site of the armed forces' heroic feats in the Kargil war in 1999 as India beat back Pakistani forces. Modi invoked the epics of Ramayan and Mahabharat to assert that it is in Indian tradition to avoid war be it in Lanka or Kurukshetra and the country stands for world peace. The prime minister highlighted numerous measures taken by his government to boost economy and development, saying a country is safe only when its borders are secure, its economy robust and society full of self-confidence. The armed forces are pillars of India's security, he said. Noting that India has become the fifth largest world economy from 10th in the last seven-eight years ago, Modi also spoke about the emergence of over 80,000 startups and the ISRO's record of simultaneously launching 36 satellites to assert that these feats fill soldiers with pride. The tricolour acted as a protective shield for Indians in the Ukraine war, he said. In a swipe at previous governments, the prime minister said his dispensation has worked to remove the shortcomings of the past poor governance which constricted India's capabilities and limited its development. He said India has been dealing with its enemies, both external and internal, with force and recounted the steps taken to uproot the terror, naxalism and extremism from within the country. Modi claimed that India's war against corruption is at a decisive stage and asserted that no corrupt person however powerful will be spared. Actions of federal agencies in alleged cases of corruption have often drawn criticism from opposition parties which have claimed that the government has been using them to target their leaders for political reasons, a charge rejected by the ruling BJP. In his address, Modi recalled his visit to this frontier region, which is part of Ladakh that touches the border with China as well, during the war when the had "crushed the hood of terror". "There has not been a single war with Pakistan when Kargil has not flown the victory flag," he said, adding that Diwali symbolised the "celebration of the end of terror". "I have witnessed the Kargil war closely. It was my duty that had brought me to Kargil back then. There are many memories of that time when the sounds of victory were reverberating all around," Modi said, continuing with his custom of spending time with soldiers in different parts of the country during Diwali. Modi said 'atmanirbhar bharat' is the most important aspect of the country's security as it needs to have minimal reliance on foreign weapons and systems. "I admire our three wings of the armed forces as they decided that more than 400 pieces of defence equipment will no longer be bought from abroad, and will now be made in India itself," he said. Indigenous weapons boost soldiers' confidence and carry an element of surprise for the enemy, he said, giving examples of several such items, including fighter jets and missiles, inducted. From being an importer, Indian is now becoming an exporter in defence equipment, Modi said, adding that it is also working rapidly on modern and effective technology like drones. The 'amrit kaal' will be a witness to the rising strength and capabilities of India, he said. The prime minister also lauded the induction of women in the armed forces, saying this will boost their strength. Reforms in the armed forces that were required for decades are now being implemented, he said. Modi said a nation is safe when its borders are secure, economy strong and society full of confidence. He said India has never viewed war as the first option. "We have always seen war as the final resort. We are in favour of global peace... But peace cannot be achieved without strength," Modi said. "Our armed forces have the strategies as well as the strength. If anyone dares cast an evil eye on us, our three armed forces know very well how to give a befitting reply to the enemy in its own language," the prime minister said. In his speech, Modi also asserted that "slave mentality" acted as an obstacle to India and its forces for long, and the country is now getting rid of it. In this context, he mentioned his government's decision to change the name of 'Rajpath' to 'Kartavya Path' and the installation of Subhas Chandra Bose's statue in India Gate besides the opening of War Memorial and police memorial. The prime minister paid tributes to soldiers for their bravery and asserted that they have been his family for many years, and Diwali's sweetness and brightness to him is in their midst. Since coming to power in 2014, Modi has been visiting different military facilities to celebrate Diwali. In 2014, the prime minister had celebrated the festival of lights with soldiers at the Siachen Glacier. In the following year, on the 50th anniversary of the 1965 war with Pakistan, Modi visited three memorials in Punjab where the Indian armed forces had fought pitched battles that proved to be key to the country's victory. In 2016, the prime minister travelled to Himachal Pradesh to meet personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Dogra Scouts and the army at Sumdoh near the China border. Modi, in 2017, was in the Gurez sector in north Kashmir, while in 2018, he celebrated Diwali in Harsil in Uttarakhand which was followed by a visit to Kedarnath. After being re-elected to the high office in 2019, Modi celebrated Diwali in Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir. In 2020, he was at a border post of Longewala on Diwali, while last year, he was in Nowshera. (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.) They are mighty and they dominate markets across continents. They are also accused of stifling competition and not allowing smaller firms to flourish. Even the United States -- which is home to big techs like Apple, Amazon and Google had to come out with an antitrust bill to introduce a level-playing field. But according to some reports, the bill is at risk of failing as some big companies are bent against it and have spent millions of dollars in lobbying. Is consumer still the king? Domination of a few big companies means higher prices and a lack of options for consumers like us. So it is when we look towards the government to set things right. The Google case The Competition Commission of India, or CCI, has imposed a of 1,337.76 crore rupees on Google. The action has been taken against the tech giant for allegedly abusing its dominant position in multiple markets in the Android mobile device ecosystem. The CCI has also issued a cease and desist order against Google and directed the company to modify its conduct within a defined timeline. Google has 30 days to provide the required financial details and supporting documents. This latest setback for Google comes just a month after the European Court of Justices General Court upheld the EU executive commissions 2018 decision to impose a on the tech giant, only reducing the fine amount from 4.34 billion euros to 4.125 billion euros. The latest EU fine is only one among a larger number of antitrust penalties, which add up to over 8 billion euros, that Google could face in Europe. As on September 14, Google still had the option to move the appeal in the latest case to the EUs Court of Justice, the blocs top court. How CCI works The CCI can take action against two activities -- abuse of dominant position and anti-competitive conduct. It can receive a complaint from a central or state government authority or an informant. It can even look into issues on its own. If prima facie there is a case then the director general office is asked to submit a report. If there is no contravention then CCI can ask the parties concerned to share their objections or it can decide to close the matter. What CCI can do However, if a case is made out, then the CCI can give directions for further inquiry or take action. What action can it take? The anti-trust watchdog can issue directions to the parties concerned to discontinue such practices, re-enter negotiations or impose a . The maximum penalty can be 10 percent of the average turnover of the last three years. But, if it is a cartel, then an even higher fine can be imposed. So, how likely is it that the CCI will succeed in making Google pay the India penalty? An analysis of its past record might provide an indication. The Competition Commission of Indias annual report for 2018-19, which is the latest one available, reveals that most of the commissions orders till the 31st of March, 2019, were under appeal before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal or under challenge before various High Courts and the Supreme Court. A reply in Rajya Sabha in July revealed that between April 2017 and June 2022, the CCI imposed penalties amounting to 4,369.39 crore rupees in 241 cases for violations of various provisions of the Competition Act, 2002. But, only an amount of 197.88 crore rupees, or about 4.5 per cent of the total, had been paid by the companies. The rest had been stayed or set aside by tribunals and courts. In some cases, the statutory time granted for the deposit of the penalty by the parties had not expired. A Parliamentary Standing Committee report also revealed a decline in the budgetary allocations for the CCI in the last four years. The CCI was allocated 46 crore rupees in FY23 according to the budget estimates, showing no increase over the FY22 revised estimates. The funds allocated to the Commission would have an impact on the resources at its disposal to pursue cases. As of March 2022, out of the sanctioned strength of 195 staff, 69 positions were vacant. Inadequate staffing is also likely to negatively impact the CCI's effectiveness. Compare this to the EU Commission's staff of 800, most of which can be roped in for research. According to a 2018 news report, the CCI's research team had only 41 posts at that time. [Expert byte in] The action against Google follows close on the heels of the Competition Commission slapping penalties on online travel firms MakeMyTrip and Goibibo and hospitality services provider OYO for unfair business practices. In fact, recent times have seen many cases related to digital markets and new-age companies coming up before the CCI, involving online marketplace platforms, app stores, and payment gateways, to name a few. Against this backdrop, CCI Chairperson Ashok Kumar Gupta recently said that the regulator was constantly honing its toolkit to meet the challenges arising from digital markets. Gupta added that the CCI planned to hire data scientists and algorithm experts for its upcoming digital markets and data unit. Buying a is no easy task. And in India, buying an under-construction is fraught with risk like no other. Delay possession, compromise with quality and increase of price are some of the common risks buyers are faced with. After numerous cases of defaults and delays by developers across the country, market preference has shifted decisively in favour of ready-to-move-in properties. Here, the buyer gets what he sees. However, such properties are costlier than under-construction properties. But buyers with lower budget or are prepared to take higher risk in anticipation of higher reward go for under-construction properties. But what steps can such buyers take to reduce risk? As with all real estate, the first factor is to look at is the location. The project should be located close to, or within easy travelling distance from, an economic hub. Such properties tend to witness higher appreciation. Tenants are also easier to find for them. If the area is being develop, you need to be careful. The basic infrastructure, physical and social, must be in place. Dont entirely trust the sellers word that these developments will come up quickly. Make enquiries about proximity to highways and metro lines. Such upcoming infrastructure tends to provide a big, one-time boost to the price of a property. Next comes the reputation of the developer. With some legwork, you can check this out easily. Visit two or three of the developers older projects. Speak to the residents there about the builders track record. Had he delivered the project to them on time? If he delayed possession, did he pay the penalty as promised? How about the quality of construction? Besides the quality of construction, did the developer offer all the specifications he had promised? And was the carpet area of the flats exactly as promised? A leopard never changes its spots, nor does a developer. A developer that has been fair to its customers in the past is likely to be so in the future as well. Next, check the financials of the developer. This is easier to do in the case of listed companies. Avoid a developer that is incurring losses If brokers and vendors of a developer receive their commissions and payments on time, the latter is likely to be in good financial shape or is weighed down by debt. In the case of unlisted companies, try to speak to brokers and vendors, which include suppliers to the developer. On the other hand, those who delay payments are likely to be in financial trouble. If the project is already underway, visit the site and make sure that construction is not at a standstill. High cost impacts Pakistan cement export in 3MFY22 ICR Newsroom By 24 October 2022 According to Intermarket Securities Ltd, in 1QFY22-23 (July-September 2022) overall cement industry utilisation stood at 56 per cent, compared to 72 per cent in the same period last year. The fall in capacity utilisation was also partially reflected in exports. The overall increase in manufacturing cost has discouraged cement companies in the South from exporting cement/clinker at current prices, which have not moved in tandem with cost. In addition, higher international coal prices coupled with recent floods have made the export market unattractive for the industry. Pakistans cement industry earned US$46.35m by dispatching 941,532t of cement and clinker overseas in the 1QFY22-23, compared to US$55.20m from 1.555Mt of exports in the year-ago period, says data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statics (PBS). Therefore, the sector saw a YoY reduction of 16 per cent in dollar terms and 39.5 per cent in volume in the 1QFY22-23. However, exports valued in Pakistani rupees rose by 15 per cent to PKR10.51bn during this period. On a positive note, in September 2022 alone, export revenues saw an increase of 151.4 per cent MoM to US$29.13m on the shipment of 612,404t, compared to US$11.55m from 223,987t of exports in August 2022. The quantity increased by 173.4 per cent during this period. However, if compared with September 2021 (US$33.81m from 1.020Mt), the trend was revered as an export drop by 13.8 per cent in cost and volumes by 40 per cent. Meanwhile, on an encouraging note, Karachi Port Trust (KPT) adds that it coordinates closely with exporters to enhance the countrys cement exports and extend all possible facilities per their requirements. In this regard, KPT is paying special attention to cement exporters, raising Pakistans cement exports to as far as the USA. During the last quarter of the FY21-22, KPT handled 60,109t of cement. In the 1QFY22-23, KPT dealt with the export of 125,660t of cement, a 48 per cent increase from the previous quarter. Taking into account the orders in the pipeline, these volumes are expected to grow further. Pakistan has been exporting clinker or cement to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Madagascar, South Africa, Tanzania, USA and India. Published under Eastdale Neighborhood Association has partnered with Rise Chattanooga to host the first Eastdale Community Festival. It will take place Saturday, Nov. 5, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., on the grounds of Eastdale Community Center, 1312 Moss St. Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod said, "This is a great opportunity to bring our community together through local performers, vendors, family and friends. We welcome Chattanoogans and surrounding areas to come enjoy fun-filled family activities, good food, laughter, and meet new friends. Social cohesion is a basic requirement of healthy communities. Place-based arts and creative place making can help flow social cohesion to encourage community well-being. Jessi Igou, secretary of the Eastdale Neighborhood Association, said, Its wonderful to see such vibrancy within our community and to bring everyone together to celebrate through music, food and the arts. The Eastdale Neighborhood Association is a place with open doors to ensure the community have access to the services they need to enjoy what Chattanooga has to offer. Having the opportunity to host an eclectic mix of arts within the community only strengthens our neighborhood, said Shane Morrow, founder of Rise Chattanooga. For more information, to reserve as a vendor, or to make a donation to the success of this event, email ART angi.reed.thomas@gmail.com During our recent trip to Vermont, one of the stops on our YMCA bus tour was the headquarters for Ben & Jerrys ice cream in South Burlington. With Covid restrictions still lingering, they hadnt reopened the plant to show visitors how ice cream is made. However, they did provide free ice cream samples for tour groups and we got to see their Flavor Graveyard, where unsuccessful flavors are memorialized.You might not recall their murky-sounding Tennessee Mud flavor, or their forgettable concoctions like Dastardly Mash, Urban Jumble, Rainforest Crunch, Oh Pear, and This Is Nuts. Each tombstone lists the years the flavor existed the year of its inception and the year it was discontinued. They include one other important item on the inscription, the dash that represents the span of time between the flavors beginning and end.Thats a feature human gravestones share. The inscription might indicate whether the deceased lived in good taste, but between the date of birth and date of death is the universal dash. That tiny punctuation represents the totality of ones life.Years ago, I helped my friend Richard write his testimony and publish it in booklet form, and he chose the intriguing title, Living in the Dash. He reflected on how the simple dash, easily overlooked, stands for so much that cant be stated on a slab of granite. His desire, Richard said, was that when his life came to its ultimate end, that dash between the dates of birth and death would represent a life that glorified God and enhanced the lives of others.Perhaps it was mere coincidence, but on the tour we also visited the Rock of Ages granite quarry in Barre, Vermont. We saw where and how the granite is mined, then went to the plant where the huge blocks of stone are moved, cut, polished and engraved for gravestones. An adjacent visitors center presented famous examples of tombstones each inscription including the requisite dash.Its humbling but true: That tiny dash stands for all the triumphs and defeats, joys and sorrows, accomplishments and failures accumulated during a lifetime. Wouldnt it be interesting if those dashes could be greatly enlarged, perhaps offering a video overview of the individuals life?When I helped my friend Richard publish his testimony, he was still busily living in the dash, actively engaged in activities and relationships that will one day represent his lifes work. Ive reflected on that many times since, pondering how my own dash is shaping up.Most of us tend to go about our lives as if well live forever, knowing full well thats not true. Lest we forget, James 4:14 gives a sober reminder: Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Other translations state, you are just a vapor Either way, it gives us a vivid image of the transitory nature of life here today, gone tomorrow.Maybe we dont like to contemplate lifes brevity because if we look back, we might determine up to that point, our dash hasnt amounted to much. If thats the case, theres no better time for start making changes than right now. As someone has said, Yesterdays the past, tomorrows the future, but today is a gift. Thats why they call it the present.In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ talked about [storing] up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:20). He later said, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34).I sometimes think about people who were accorded only fleeting mention in the Bible, and yet made significant enough contributions that they were cited and perhaps those actions changed the content of their dash forever.Consider one of the two thieves on crosses adjacent to that of Christ. While one thief mocked Jesus, the other countered, Dont you fear Godsince you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong. To which Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise (Luke 23:40-42). We know absolutely nothing else about this criminal, but his dash would have spoken of literal dying grace.How about Simon of Cyrene, who was volunteered to carry the cross of Christ to Golgotha because Jesus had been tortured so viciously that He could not bear it Himself. Again, we have no other information about this Simon than this singular event. But his dash certainly would have included this unique act of service to the Lord.We could list hundreds more, but the point is simple. We all are currently living in the dash. If one day someone were able to examine its contents in full detail, what would we like it to contain? * * * Robert J. Tamasy is a veteran journalist, former newspaper editor and magazine editor. Bob has written, co-authored and edited more than 15 books. These include the newly published, Marketplace Ambassadors; Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Todays Workplace; Tufting Legacies, The Heart of Mentoring, and Pursuing Life With a Shepherds Heart. A weekly business meditation he edits, Monday Manna, is translated into more than 20 languages and sent via email around the world by CBMC International. The address for his blog is www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com. His email address is btamasy@comcast.net. Bobby Calhoun, 77, of Destin, FL, was called home by the Lord on Friday, October 21, 2022, with his family by his bedside, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimers. Bob was born on Dec. 29, 1944, to Ralph and Clara Calhoun in Elkhorn, WV. He grew up in South Pittsburgh, Tn., and joined the military in 1963. After serving 14 months in Korea, he married Evelyn Faye Rector in 1965. After they married, they were transferred to Germany and in 1967 Bob was deployed to fight in the Vietnam War. He served four tours of duty before retiring from the U.S. Army and National Guard in 1989 as Sergeant First Class. The couple had two children, Tammy Louise and Tina Michelle. After retiring from the military, Bob became a boilermaker for the TVA and worked at the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant in Hollywood, AL, where he retired. During Bobs military service, he received numerous metals including the Purple Heart. He also received an Associates Degree in Applied Science from Northeast Alabama State Junior College. Bob was preceded in death by his youngest daughter, Tina Michelle Shriver and is survived by his wife, Evelyn Faye and his daughter, Tammy Baer. Bob has eight grandchildren, Lauren, Michelle, Jessica, Destiny, Joseph, Christina, Samuel and Kaitlyn. He has eight great-grandchildren. Bob had a passion for deep sea fishing, hunting and playing dominos. Bobby Calhoun never met a stranger. He was a giver with a soft heart for people in need. Bob overcame any adversity with strength and dignity. He was a solider at heart, served our country wholeheartedly and unfortunately saw unimaginable tragedy in Vietnam. His love for his family was unwavering. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. CST on Tuesday, Oct. 25, in the funeral home chapel of Rogers Funeral Home of South Pittsburg with Ray Rector officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 25, from 1-3 p.m. (CST) at Rogers Funeral Home of South Pittsburg prior to the funeral service in the funeral home chapel. Mr. Calhoun will be laid to rest at the Chattanooga National Cemetery on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 12 p.m. CST with military honors. Arrangements are entrusted to Rogers Funeral Home of South Pittsburg, 400 Laurel Ave, South Pittsburg, Tn. 37380, 423 837-7176. A County School Board member has been arrested on a charge of indecent exposure in an alleged incident from over five years ago. Gary William Kuehn, 63, was charged in connection with an incident at a doctor's office that the complaint says happened Aug. 18, 2017. On why a five-year-old warrant was just now being served, the Sheriff's Office said, "Hamilton County Sheriffs Office Criminal Warrants division noticed an active warrant for Mr. Gary Kuehn while operating within the Harrison area. "The warrant was located within Hamilton County Courts Warrant Database, which is utilized by law enforcement. "The detective made contact with Mr. Kuehn and advised him that he had an active warrant, and made arrangements for Mr. Kuehn to turn himself in for processing on the morning of October 23rd. "Mr. Kuehn was compliant and turned himself in to the Hamilton County Jail without further incident." The complaint says Kuehn was at the doctor's office to receive a testerone injection. A female nurse said after the injection that Kuehn asked her if the injection would make him hard. She said that was a question for the doctor. The nurse said he then pulled out his penis and stroked it to make it hard. She said she told him she was leaving the room. She said he told her not to leave and continued to stroke himself in front of her. The nurse said she then left and told the doctor about the incident. She said she wanted to prosecute. Kuehn was a science teacher at Central High School, and was the principal at Hunter Middle School and the Adult High School. He was arrested on Sunday. The Junior League of Chattanooga invites members of the Chattanooga community to the annual Touch-A-Truck event in Warner Park, 1100 McCallie Ave. this Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., with a 9-10 a.m. quiet hour. "With over 20 trucks committed to attend, this event is sure to be a fun and an educational opportunity for children of all ages," organizers said. "Touch-a-Truck Chattanooga is a family-friendly, hands-on event that offers opportunities for children to explore, climb and touch trucks of all kinds, including emergency response vehicles, heavy machinery and other equipment. Kids will also have the opportunity to meet the personnel who protect, serve and build our community. Learning will come alive when children connect these gigantic vehicles to our Tennessee economy and possible careers like farming, manufacturing, construction and public service."More information on the event and an opportunity to purchase tickets can be found here Tennessee American Water is encouraging residents to participate in the Drug Enforcement Agencys National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Customers are encouraged to drop off unwanted medications at approved regional collection sites so they can be incinerated.The Environmental Protection Agency recommends having unwanted medications incinerated. Flushing medications down the toilet and throwing them in the trash are discouraged.The biannual Drug Take Back provides residents the opportunity to rid their homes of expired, unused and unwanted medications.Residents may simply drive to a Drug Take Back location, where a law enforcement official or volunteer will take the medications for proper disposal. The service is free and anonymous.Lori Stenzel, Tennessee American Water manager of water quality and environmental compliance, said, We are encouraging residents to take advantage of the drug take back events in their area. These events are not only a safer alternative to dispose of unwanted medications, but they also help to protect our environment and waterways.Regional Drug Take Back Day collection sites can be located here on the website of Tennessee American Waters partner, the Hamilton County Coalition. Participating counties include Hamilton, Sequatchie, Rhea, Grundy and Marion. Counties in the central time zone will hold their drug take back events from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. local time.This program is a great opportunity for our area to securely and conveniently drop off any unused or expired medications, says Camilla Bibbs, executive director of the Hamilton County Coalition. Its important for us to keep these items not only out of our landfills and water supplies, but also out of the hands of our youth.Through partnership and collaboration with the Hamilton County Coalition, local pharmacies, environmental stewards, police departments and government agencies, Tennessee American Water helps to bring awareness to the proper disposal of medications to prevent misuse and abuse of medications while protecting local water sources, officials said.Residents who are unable to participate Saturday are encouraged to use local, permanent community pharmaceutical sites. Year-round prescription dropbox locations can be found on the Hamilton County Coalitions interactive map Bachelor in Paradise Season 8 fans are rooting for Victoria Fuller and Johnny DePhillipo. Victoria got her start on Peter Webers season of The Bachelor, and Johnny DePhillipo chased Gabby Windeys heart on The Bachelorette. While Victoria and Johnny hit it off on the beach, rumors suggest Victoria cheated on Johnny and headed to Italy on vacation with Greg Grippo. [Spoiler alert: Bachelor in Paradise spoilers ahead regarding Victoria Fuller and Johnny DePhillipo.] Is Victoria Fuller in a relationship? Early Bachelor in Paradise spoilers said yes Bachelor in Paradise star Victoria Fuller | ABC/Craig Sjodin Currently, on Bachelor in Paradise, Victoria Fuller and Johnny DePhillipo are a solid couple. The two met each other early on the show, and the other cast members havent threatened their bond. Given how the lovebirds progressed on their journey on the beach, fans can see them completely falling in love and engaged by the shows end. So, does Victoria Fuller get engaged on Bachelor in Paradise? According to spoilers posted to Reddit, Johnny gets down on one knee and proposes, and Victoria accepts. They leave the beach as an engaged couple. Unfortunately, new rumors from Reality Steve suggest the couples no longer together. Reality Steve shared on his Daily Roundup that he received a direct message on Sept. 15, 2022, stating Johnny and Victoria were no longer together. Rumors suggest Victoria Fuller cheated on Johnny DePhillipo with Greg Grippo Johnny DePhillipo in Bachelor in Paradise | Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images Current Bachelor in Paradise rumors suggest Victoria Fuller and Johnny DePhillipo are no longer together but thats not all. Reality Steve notes a fan on TikTok posted footage that looked like Victoria and Greg Grippo together on vacation in Italy. Additional rumors state Victoria cheated on Johnny twice in their relationship with Greg. Reality Steve says he cant verify the cheating rumors. While the spoiler guru says he has strong sources, he doesnt have direct proof of this occurring, thus he doesnt want to state it as fact. Im not saying its not true, Im just saying I dont know, Steve stated. As for what he can say with confidence, he knows Victoria and Johnny havent been together since early September 2022. As for the picture in Italy, Im not convinced that that is Victoria, Im not convinced that is Greg, but that doesnt mean it isnt, he added. If we find out that wasnt Greg and Victoria in Italy, that doesnt mean the first two things arent true, which are, Victoria and Johnny are done, and Victoria and Greg have something going on. Talking, dating, hooking up, whatever. Did she cheat on Johnny with Greg? I dont know. When is the Bachelor in Paradise finale? Fans can expect to hear more about Victoria Fuller, Johnny DePhillipo, and Greg Grippo during the Bachelor in Paradise Season 8 reunion. Reality Steve stated the reunion tapes on Nov. 4, 2022. He believes the producers will bring it up to the exes. Were going to find out what happens at that taping, Im sure, he stated on the Daily Roundup. The most solid thing you can run with is Victoria and Johnny are broken up. And I think theres a lot of signs that point to Victoria and Greg have something going on. The Bachelor in Paradise two-night finale event begins on Nov. 21, 2022, and ends on Nov. 22, 2022. Bachelor in Paradise Season 8 airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel. RELATED: Bachelor in Paradise: Why the Twist Didnt Apply to Michael Allio A new startup, Quino Energy, aims to bring to market a grid-scale energy storage solution developed by Harvard researchers to facilitate more widespread adoption of renewable energy sources. About 12% of U.S. utility-scale electricity generation currently comes from wind and solar sources, which fluctuate with daily weather conditions. For wind and solar to play a greater role in the decarbonization of the electricity grid while reliably meeting consumer demand, grid operators recognize the need to deploy energy storage systems, but these have not yet proved cost-effective at scale. An innovative redox-flow battery now entering commercial development may help to tip the balance. Distinguished by its use of an aqueous, organic electrolyte, this flow battery was developed by Harvard materials scientists and chemists led by Michael Aziz and Roy Gordon at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. Harvards Office of Technology Development (OTD) has granted Quino Energy an exclusive, worldwide license to commercialize energy storage systems using the chemistry identified by the labs, including quinone or hydroquinone compounds as the active materials in the electrolyte. Quinos founders believe the system may offer game-changing advantages in cost, safety, stability, and power. The cost of wind and solar electricity has dropped so much that the greatest barrier to getting the vast majority of our electricity from these renewable sources is their intermittency. A safe, scalable, cost-effective storage medium could solve this problem, said Aziz, who is the Gene and Tracy Sykes Professor of Materials and Energy Technologies at Harvard SEAS and a Faculty Associate of the Harvard University Center for the Environment. He is a cofounder of Quino Energy and serves on its scientific advisory board. For grid-scale stationary storage, you want to be able to run your city through the night and when the wind isnt blowing, without burning fossil fuels. You might go two or three days without wind in a typical weather pattern, and youll certainly go eight hours without sunshine, so having a discharge duration at rated power of 5 to 20 hours can be a very useful thing. Thats the sweet spot for flow batteries, where we think they can be especially competitive versus the shorter-duration lithium-ion batteries. Longer-duration grid and micro-grid storage is a huge and growing opportunity, especially here in California where were demonstrating our prototypes, said Eugene Beh, PhD, cofounder and CEO of Quino Energy. A native of Singapore, Beh earned his bachelors and masters degrees from Harvard in 2009 and his PhD from Stanford University, returning to Harvard as a postdoctoral research fellow from 2015 to 2017. In comparison to other flow batteries that rely on expensive, mined metals with limited scalability such as vanadium, the Harvard teams organic, water-soluble implementation may present a more affordable and practical approach. Sixteen inventors, in addition to Gordon and Aziz, applied their expertise in materials science and chemical synthesis to identify, create, and test families of molecules with favorable energy density, solubility, stability, and cost of synthesis. Most recently, publishing in Nature Chemistry in June 2022, they demonstrated a complete flow battery system that overcomes the propensity of these anthraquinone molecules to decompose over time. By subjecting the system to an occasional voltage pulse, they were able to electrochemically recompose the energy-carrying molecules, dramatically extending the lifespan of the system and thereby lowering its overall cost. Weve designed and redesigned versions of these chemicals with long-term stability in mind that is, we try to beat them up in various ways, said Gordon, who is the Thomas D. Cabot Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Emeritus, and a scientific advisor to Quino. Our students have been very diligent in identifying molecules that can stand up to the conditions theyll encounter in a battery in various states. Based on our findings, were optimistic that flow batteries filled with cheap and abundant elements have the potential to supply the future need for enhanced electricity storage. In addition to being selected for ongoing participation in the 2022 cohorts of the Harvard Climate Entrepreneurs Circle, the Berkeley Haas Cleantech to Market program, and the Rice Alliance Clean Energy Accelerator, where it was named one of the Most Promising Energy Tech Startups, Quino was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to receive $4.58 million in nondilutive funding from the DOE Advanced Manufacturing Office, which will support the companys development of a scalable, continuous, and cost-effective process for the synthesis of aqueous, organic flow battery reactants. Added Beh, We are grateful to the DOE for their generous support. The process in question could enable Quino to create high-performance flow battery reactants from the raw materials through an electrochemical reaction that can be performed inside the flow battery itself. If we are successful, there will be no need for a chemical factory essentially, the flow battery is the factory itself which we believe will enable the low production costs necessary for commercial success. Through investments in new technologies, the DOE is targeting a 90% reduction in the cost of long-duration, grid-scale energy storage, compared to a lithium-ion baseline, during this decade. Part of Quinos DOE award, through a subcontracting relationship, will support further studies to innovate on the flow battery chemistry at Harvard. Quino Energys long duration energy storage solution offers that important tool to both policymakers and grid operators alike as we seek to meet the twin policy objectives of increasing renewable energy penetration while maintaining grid reliability, said Brett Perlman, former Texas Public Utility Commissioner and current CEO of the Center for Houstons Future. Perlman is also an advisor to Quino Energy. The $4.58 million DOE grant is augmented by Quinos recently concluded seed round: the company has raised $3.3 million from a group of investors led by ANRI, one of the most active seed/early-stage venture capital firms based in Tokyo. TechEnergy Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of the energy transition division of Techint Group, also participated in the round. In addition to Beh, Aziz, and Gordon, chemical engineer Meisam Bahari, PhD, is a cofounder of Quino Energy. A former postdoctoral researcher at Harvard, he is now the companys Chief Technology Officer. The power markets desperately need lower cost long duration storage to mitigate the volatility from extreme weather on our grid and to help integrate high renewable penetration, says Joseph Santo, Director of Investments at Arevon Energy and an advisor to Quino Energy. He continues, Lithium-ion batteries are facing significant headwinds from supply chain difficulties, a 5x increase in lithium carbonate commodity costs over the last year, and competing demands from electric vehicle manufacturers. Its compelling that Quinos solution can be produced domestically in the U.S. from readily available commodities and can achieve a longer duration. The Harvard research enabling the innovations licensed to Quino Energy was supported by academic research grants from the DOE, National Science Foundation, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The Aziz lab has also received funding for experimental research in this area from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. As in all Harvard license agreements, the university reserves the rights of not-for-profit research institutions to continue to make and use the licensed technology for research, educational, and scholarly purposes. With the sale of its TAA derivatives business to SABO, Evonik is taking the next step in focusing its portfolio on specialty chemicals. The Italian chemical company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of light stabilizers, for which TAA derivatives are a raw material. On the sales price, no details are disclosed. The transaction is subject to approval by the competent Evonik committees. The closing is expected to be in early 2023. We want to continue our profitable growth in specialty chemicals, says Christian Kullmann, Chairman of the Executive Board of Evonik. That includes divesting businesses that do not longer fit to our strategic focus. We are thus concentrating our investment resources and at the same time enabling these businesses to better develop the future under new ownership. The TAA business is part of Evonik's Specialty Additives Division. Around 250 people are working at the two production sites in Marl, Germany, and Liaoyang, China. TAA derivatives are essential precursors to produce light stabilizers. The resulting additives are used in low concentrations to protect and stabilize polymers against decomposition by light, oxygen, and heat, and can significantly increase the service life of plastics. The TAA derivatives are used in many products, for example in the automotive and construction industries and in the production of agricultural films. We are handing over a strong business to an experienced partner, says Claudine Mollenkopf, Head of the Specialty Additives division. The sale to SABO opens the TAA business new opportunities for future growth." With the acquisition, SABO strengthens its own backward integration in the light stabilizer market and its global footprint, through the acquisition of the Chinese site in Liaoyang The documentary film produced by Lame Deer Films focuses on the stories of an African American World War I veteran and an Asian American World War I veteran and the work that the Valor Medals Review Task Force is conducting. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close 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 NAIROBI, Kenya, October 23, 2022 (Morning Star News) Two evangelists in eastern Uganda were beaten and slashed with knives after leading several Muslims to Christ, sources said. Earlier this month Robert Okia, a 43-year-old father of six children, and Wilberforce Mutenga, a father of two, shared the gospel in predominantly Muslim Busakira village, in eastern Uganda, where eight Muslims put their faith in Christ, Mutenga said. They then continued their outreach in Ikule village, Mayuge District, where they were attacked on Oct. 7, he said. We were beaten because of taking the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to the purely Muslim community of Ikule village, Mutenga, 38, told Morning Star News. We didnt know that Muslims in this place had heard about our successful mission in Busakira village. After visiting two homes in Ikule, at the second house Muslims surrounded them and began asking questions about Islam that they could not answer, he said. One shouted the Islamic slogan of Allah Akbar [God is greater] three times, and everyone began to get hold of sticks and started beating us badly, he said. Mutenga sustained a knife wound on his head and bruises on his legs, dislocating his right knee when one of the assailants knocked him down, an area source said. At this writing, he was receiving treatment at a private clinic in Kampala. Okia sustained a knife wound on his knee, rib and hand injuries, swelling on his mouth and face and body pain throughout, the source said. Okia was referred to a hospital in Jinja for more specialized treatment. After beating us, they carried and threw us near the swamp that separates Busakira and Kigandaalo, where a herdsman saw both of us bleeding and screaming for help, Mutenga told Morning Star News. The man rushed and called local authorities, who took us to a nearby clinic for treatment. The two were able to identify some of the attackers and reported the assault to local authorities; they plan to file a police report when they leave hospital treatment, he said. We need your prayers all the time, because when we recover, we have to continue with the message no matter the persecution which we have gone through, Mutenga said. The evangelists were sent to preach Christ by a church, undisclosed for security reasons, in Mayuge Town Council. The attack was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented. Ugandas constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12 percent of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country. If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved. If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission. Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Anastasiia M A friend sent me a clip of two Christian political commentators arguing that their cultural opponents were so sinful that they had sunk to the level of the subhuman. This is demonic. Our enemies are demonic, one said. Theres no turning the other cheek; theres no being winsome. This trope is so common at this point that I wasnt even jarred to hear a professed Christian dismiss the literal words of Jesus Christ, breathed out in Holy Scripturethat his followers are to, when struck, turn the other cheek. In fact, several years ago, I started hearing from pastors getting pushback from political factions in their congregations if their sermons included even a glancing allusion to love your enemies or turn the other cheek. Whats startling to me is not the seeming biblical illiteracy of those assuming the actual words of the incarnate Son of God are liberal slogans along the lines of visualize world peace. Its that when pastors explain they are quoting Jesus from his Sermon on the Mount, the response doesnt change. That was fine for those times, the counterargument will go, but not in a culture this hostile to Christianity. That doesnt work anymore. For this, we cant be weak; we have to fight. Yet here we have even more biblical illiteracy than if Christians merely confused the words of Jesus for a Bob Marley song or a coexist bumper sticker. The Sermon on the Mount was delivered not in Mayberry but in Roman-occupied territory. A collaborator with a literally pagan, sexually libertine empire was seated on the throne of David. Crosses lined the roads for those who would dissent. And Jesus was speaking to those he knew would be arrested or tortured or killed. Its hard to get more hostile than crucifixion. Its hard to get more hostile than crucifixion. The idea that kindness, gentleness, endurance, and self-control dont work anymore comes up often. A common critique of evangelical pastor Tim Keller is that his patient explanation of the gospel, his belligerence against sin but not against sinners, works in a neutral culture of the past, but not in a hostile culture like this one. Setting aside the question of whether New York City in the late modern age could be considered neutral to evangelical Christianity, the larger point is that the idea of a culture neutral to Christianity is itself a liberalizing religion. The Bible tells us that people, from Eden on, are not divided into those hostile to the gospel and those not. The apostle Paul writes, There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God (Rom. 3:1011). Hostility to God can show itself as felt hatred of God, but it also caneven more perniciouslyshow itself as the attempt to use God or Christianity for ones own gain and goals (Acts 8:1823). To think that pretend Christianityclaiming the goals of Jesus while ditching his ways, embracing Christian values without individual new birthis somehow closer to Christ than is outright paganism is the opposite of what Jesus himself told us (Matt. 21:31). Interesting too is that those who seek to engage their opponents without giving up Christlike character are frequently dismissed as following a strategy that no longer worksas though any of these things were ever a strategy in the first place. The way of Jesus and the fruit of the Spirit do not workand never haveby the metrics of the world. Lifelong marital fidelity doesnt work eitherif the goal is to maximize each mans spreading of genetic material. For that, orgies work far better than one man and one woman giving their lives only to each other. If we obey Jesus only when the culture is neutral enough to allow us to do so and still win on our own terms, then Jesus is not Lord and we are not his discipleshe is our disciple and we are his lord. And if we must adopt anti-Christlike character to win Christian victories over a secular culture, then perhaps we should wonder whats gone wrong. When the centurions start to look more valiant than the crucified, then maybe our culture wars have taken us away from the Cross and toward something else. If the American church thinks Turn the other cheek is surrender and weakness, wait until they hear Take up your cross and follow me. Russell Moore is editor in chief of Christianity Today. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. European court says feminist who pretended to abort Jesus on the altar was exercising freedom Overturning the verdict of a French court, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that a feminist who interrupted the rehearsal of Christmas carols to perform a topless act of aborting Jesus on the altar of a Paris church was exercising "freedom of expression." Bare-breasted and covered in pro-abortion slogans, Eloise Bouton entered the La Madeleine church in December 2013 and simulated aborting Jesus in protest of the Catholic Church's teaching against abortion. Bouton, a former member of the group Femen, stood in front of the altar, wearing a blue veil to mock the Virgin Mary and carried pieces of animal liver to represent an aborted fetus. She acted out an "abortion" before urinating on the ground before those in attendance. After Bouton's act, Femen wrote on social media that "Christmas is cancelled!" and that "the holy mother Eloise has just aborted the embryo of Jesus on the altar of the Madeleine." After the church's priest filed a complaint, a national court found Bouton guilty of "sexual display" and ordered her to pay the parish 2,000 euros. She was sentenced to one month in prison. The Court of Cassation, the highest judicial court in France, upheld the judgment. In an Oct. 13 opinion, the European Court of Human Rights argued that France violated Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects freedom of expression. "The applicant considers that far from being gratuitously offensive or seeking to disturb those present in the church in the practice of their worship, her action was part of a public debate on the place of women in society and aimed to convey a message about the position of the Catholic Church regarding abortion," the court's opinion states. "As such, it recalls that the protection of Article 10 must extend to ideas which offend or shock any section of the population." The court, which the Council of Europe tasks to interpret the European Convention on Human Rights, also accepted the argument that public nudity "can be considered one of the forms of freedom of expression." "The Court notes that the applicant's conviction was based on the characterization of the offense of sexual exhibition. According to the Government, it was not intended to sanction [her] critical ideas and opinions on the doctrine of the Catholic Church," the opinion reads. "Nevertheless, the Court considers, as it has mentioned above ..., that in view of its militant nature, the action of the applicant, who sought to express her political convictions, in line with the positions defended by the Femen movement on whose behalf she was acting, must be regarded as constituting a 'performance' falling within the scope of the article." The Strasbourg-based court ordered France to pay Bouton 9,800 euros (approximately $9,584) for moral damages, legal costs and expenses. The ECHR's ruling has drawn criticism from conservative religious organizations. "It is becoming a habit at the ECHR to defend these attacks in churches and against the Church," Gregor Puppinck, the director of the European Centre for Law and Justice, wrote on the group's website. "In 2018, it had already ruled that the blasphemous provocation of the feminist punk group, the 'Pussy riots,' in the choir of the Orthodox Cathedral in Moscow was a form of expression protected by the Court. The Pussy riots' lawyer, formerly working for [George] Soros foundation, has since become a judge at the ECHR. The same year, the Court also condemned Lithuania for sanctioning blasphemous advertisements featuring Christ and the Virgin Mary." Puppinck wrote that the ECHR's position is "different when it comes to Islam." "In 2018, the ECHR upheld the criminal conviction of an Austrian lecturer who was accused of having equated Mohammed's sexual relationship with Aisha, then only 9 years old, with 'paedophilia,'" he wrote. "The ECHR ruled that the lecturer had not sought to inform the public objectively but to 'demonstrate that Muhammad is not worthy of worship.' In support of this conviction, the Court considered that to speak of 'paedophile' would be a 'generalisation without any factual basis,' 'likely to arouse justified indignation' among Muslims. According to the Court, these remarks constituted 'a malicious violation of the spirit of tolerance that underpins democratic society' and were likely to 'stir up prejudice' and 'endanger religious peace.'" Salman Rushdie loses eye, use of hand after Islamic extremist attack in New York British author Sir. Salman Rushdie, who was stabbed multiple times allegedly by a Shia Muslim at a theatre in New York state in August, has lost sight in one eye and the use of a hand, according to his agent. The 75-year-old Indian-born writer suffered three severe wounds to his neck and 15 to his chest and torso in the attack because of a death edict issued years ago by Irans Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Rushdies literary agent Andrew Wylie told the Spanish language newspaper El Pais, according to The Telegraph. The attack, which occurred while Rushdie was on the stage of Chautauqua Institution for a discussion, led to the loss of sight in an eye and left a hand incapacitated. The author remains in hospital, Wylie was quoted as saying. Rushdie became the object of persecution when he wrote the novel, The Satanic Verses (1988), in which militant Islamists believed he blasphemed the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The then Ayatollah of Iran issued a fatwa calling for Rushdies murder, accompanied by a monetary reward of about $3 million. The Ayatollahs decree extended to anyone involved in publishing or translating the novel. A Japanese scholar who translated the novel into Japanese was murdered in 1991. Rushdie, who promotes freedom of speech and speaks out against religious extremism, was forced to go into hiding for more than a dozen years. In 2000, he moved to America, where he has taught at several universities, including Emory in Atlanta and New York University. The fatwa calling for his murder was never rescinded. This means any Islamist might be prone to interpret this as calling them to act to fulfill the fatwa as a matter of religious duty. The New York State Police identified the suspect in the attack on Rushdie as Hadi Matar from New Jersey. He was sympathetic to the Iranian government, The New York Post said at the time, quoting anonymous law enforcement sources. Based on his social media posts, Matar is a supporter of Iran, its Revolutionary Guard and Shia extremism, the Post reported. The suspect rushed the stage and attacked Rushdie after he had just sat down onstage with the discussions moderator, Ralph Henry Reese, from the Pittsburgh-based nonprofit City of Asylum for exiled writers, The New York Times reported at the time. The author was scheduled to give a talk before 2,500 people about the United States being a safe haven for exiled writers. President Joe Biden called the attack reprehensible. This act of violence is appalling. All of us in the Biden-Harris Administration are praying for his speedy recovery, Biden said in a statement. We are thankful to good citizens and first responders for helping Mr. Rushdie so quickly after the attack and to law enforcement for its swift and effective work, which is ongoing. School shooting leaves 3 dead, including gunman, in St. Louis; several injured A gunman entered a Missouri high school and opened fire on Monday, killing two and injuring several others. Authorities say the suspected shooter died at a hospital. Police arrived at Central Visual and Performing Arts School in South St. Louis on Monday morning within minutes of the shooting being reported. According to St. Louis Metropolitan Police, the call came around 9:10 a.m. Authorities told media that officers arrived at the magnet school as children ran from the building and exchanged shots with the gunman. The suspect was an unidentified man believed to be 20 years old, who died later at a hospital. According to The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, authorities have not released the names of the victims. However, the outlet reports that a health teacher and a teenage girl died in the shooting. Family members told The Post-Dispatch that 61-year-old health and physical education teacher Jean Kuczka, a mother of five, lost her life. Kuczka's daughter said she was told the gunman went into Kuczka's classroom, and the teacher went in front of the gunman to protect the students. Freshman Adrianne Bolden told KSDK that when he and his classmates escaped the building, he initially thought it was a regular intruder drill. But, when we started hearing sirens outside, and the teachers started to even get scared, then we knew that this wasn't just a regular drill and it was real, said Bolden. Police Chief Mike Sack said at a news conference that there were at least nine victims, eight of whom were transported for medical attention. Everyone who survived here is going to take home trauma," Sack said, according to NBC News. Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the shooting, or what connection if any the suspect had to the school. Sack said that the school's doors were locked and wouldn't disclose how the shooter entered the building. A school official said at the news conference that seven security officers were onsite at the time. Math teacher David Williams told The St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the principal alerted the school community over the audio system with the codeword for a school shooter. Williams said he heard multiple shots outside his classroom. He also claims he heard a man say: "You are all going to [expletive] die." In addition to local authorities, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the tragic incident. St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said at a news conference that the shooting was "a devastating and traumatic situation." "I'm heartbroken for these families who send their children to our schools hoping they will be safe," said Jones. "Our children shouldn't have to experience this, they shouldn't have to go through active shooter drills in case something happens. And unfortunately, that happened today." According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, there were 45,222 gun-related deaths in the United States in 2020, or about 124 people dying from firearms every day. Of that number, more than half were suicides while around 40% were homicides. Gun violence was the fifth leading cause of death for Americans aged 1-44, according to the CDC. The haunting of Bishop Pike On February 4, 1966, 20-year-old James Pike Jr., son of controversial Episcopal Bishop James Pike, committed suicide in a New York City hotel room. Shortly afterward, the Bishop began experiencing poltergeist-styled activity in the Cambridge flat where he and his son had lived. The unexplained activities were witnessed by Reverend David Barr and Maren Bergrud of the Episcopal Diocese of California who occupied the flat with the Bishop. Pike, who had previously disbelieved in life after death, became convinced that his deceased son was trying to communicate with him from the afterlife. The various phenomena that occurred in the residence had the signature of his dead son and relayed information in a way that only the younger Pike would know. Distraught over the death of his son, and moved by the remarkable activities he was seeing with his own eyes, the Bishop began visiting a number of mediums in an attempt to communicate with James Jr. While fraud and failure are the norms in the psychic domain, the Bishop sought out well-known mediums who brought, during their sessions, the evidence he was seeking. One of the end results of the Bishops pursuits was The Other Side, a book authored by Pike that chronicled his paranormal experiences and newfound faith in the hereafter. The work was well received during the era in which the Bishop lived, a time many say was the dawn of the occult age and the supposed Age of Aquarius. The question, of course, is: what really happened with the Bishop? Did he have actual experiences with his dead son, or was he in contact with something else? The devils agenda The story of Pike is told from a Christian perspective in the book, The Haunting of Bishop Pike, written by Dr. Merrill Unger, an expert in demonology, who for years taught at Dallas Theological Seminary. Unger notes that, because of the credible evidence gathered in this case, the Bishops experiences were not the self-deceived or been-tricked kind so common in the spiritist realm, but instead was the real thing. The activities and communication that occurred in the Bishops flat and the information relayed to him through the mediums he visited could not be disputed. The personalities behind that contact, though, insists Unger, were not those of the Bishops son and other relatives, but instead were what the Bible calls angels of light (2 Cor. 11:14). And what was their agenda? Unger observes, The essential thing to understand concerning all the phenomena of spiritualism, whether telekinesis, psychic visions, automatic writing, trance speaking, materializations, apparitions, excursions of the psyche, or whatever is that fact is used as a springboard to fraudSatans masquerading as an angel of light is far more destructive than his forays as a devouring lion (emphasis in the original). In other words, the devils agenda often includes the use of a little truth to capture the undiscerning and lead them eventually down the wrong path. An example of this is seen in the book of Acts: It happened that as we [Paul and the author of Acts] were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation (Acts 16:16-17). This account shows that Satan will even go so far as to green-light the gospels proclamation if it allows his association with Gods people to distort and pollute the truth ultimately. The devil knows humanity instinctively craves the immaterial, which is something G.K. Chesterton notes in his book The Everlasting Man: Nature is always looking for the supernatural. Of course, the enemy doesnt care which error-ridden trail (e.g., atheism or occultism) a person takes as long as it doesnt lead him to Jesus. As C.S. Lewis says, the enemy hails a materialist or a magician with the same delight. Pike, being someone who was regarded as heretical by his own denomination, lacked the discernment to understand that the supernatural he was encountering was not the holy kind. Unger says: Bishop Pike was unable to evaluate his psychic experiences properly and to react wisely because he had rejected the Word of God as authoritative and final. And what was the Bishop's final outcome? He was found dead in a desert by the Dead Sea on September 7, 1969, having succumbed to the elements. Why he met the end that he did is something no one can fully explain. Unger sums up the tragic end of the Bishop with a warning that applies to all of us: The healings by spiritualistic mediums through demonic power are not free and purely beneficent. They always operate under the principle of compensation, with a price tag attached to them [And that] price must be paid throughout eternity. This young woman survived an ISIS attack. Then she was euthanized in Belgium Seventeen-year-old Shanti De Corte was waiting to board a plane headed to Italy for a school trip in 2016 when an explosion went off in the Brussels Zaventem Airport. Parts of the airport filled with smoke and panicked people started running before a second bomb went off a few minutes later. Thirty-two people were killed in the airport and the corresponding attack at a metro station that day, both claimed by ISIS. Earlier this year, the then-23-year-old chose to commit suicide through euthanasia. This controversial case in Belgium is sparking well-deserved increased scrutiny on the countrys euthanasia law. Though she did not sustain any physical injuries, the trauma of the Brussels terror attack event proved too emotionally difficult for her. De Corte had previously been admitted to a psychiatric hospital before the attack and had battled a few bouts of depression, which intensified in 2020. She eventually requested to be euthanized, citing a mental health problem. Initially, doctors denied this request. When De Corte approached a pro-euthanasia activist group, they helped her find two psychiatrists who signed off on her request to die. She was euthanized on May 7, 2022. De Cortes parents supported her request to be euthanized. Her mother Marielle told The Daily Mail, It was Shantis wish. I am convinced she is at peace now. It brings us comfort, makes it more bearable, to know that it is what she wanted. Yet, De Cortes suicide has disturbed many, including neurologist Paul Deltenre who argued that physicians had failed to explore all of De Cortes treatment options. Belgium has one of the most liberal euthanasia laws in the world. Someone may legally request to be euthanized if they are in a medically futile condition of constant and unbearable physical or mental suffering that cannot be alleviated, resulting from a serious and incurable disorder caused by illness or accident. A 2015 article from The New Yorker exposes the ever-expanding list of ailments for which physicians in Belgium will allow euthanasia, including autism, anorexia, chronic-fatigue syndrome, blindness coupled with deafness, manic depression, and what the chairman of Belgiums Federal Control and Evaluation Commission, Wim Distelmans, calls being tired of life. With such broad justifications, Belgiums skyrocketing euthanasia numbers should come as no surprise. More than 27,000 people have died from euthanasia in Belgium since it was legalized in 2002. In 2021, it was estimated that nearly one-in-five people euthanized were not likely to die naturally in the immediate future. Research from ADF International indicates that where euthanasia and assisted suicide are legalized, the number of people euthanized, and the number of qualifying conditions increase with no logical stopping point. They point to Belgium as an example. In 2014, Belgiums euthanasia law was expanded to include children without any age limit as long as they have parental consent. In 2020, the law was further amended again to eliminate conscience protections for physicians who dont want to practice or refer patients who seek to be euthanized and normalize euthanasia as a medical procedure. Activists fighting for the expansion of euthanasia and assisted suicide often push the narrative that these premature killings offer death with dignity to suffering patients. But hardships in life and health do not strip people of dignity. Indeed, when a government agrees with the false notion that someone is better off dead and helps facilitate their death, that does grievously violate ones human dignity. Deputy Director of ADF International Robert Clarke argues that when a government legalizes euthanasia, it sends a deeply damaging message to its citizens. He writes, It says that at some point, a life is just no longer worth living. It speaks of lethal fatalism instead of hope to people who are struggling. To give up on the futures of those who might be persuaded to give up on themselves will never be the answer. Instead, we must love people well by providing everyone with the best medical care, emotional and spiritual resources, and community support possible until their lives come to natural ends. Sadly, rather than affirm the value of De Cortes life, Belgium aided ISISs goal on that fateful day in 2016 by ending the life of this young woman who initially survived their brutal attack. As De Cortes story hits the news in Europe, it should be a wake-up call for all of us. The legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide is an ugly assault on human dignity for the most vulnerable one that must be uprooted. Tragic stories like that of Shanti De Corte ought to renew our resolve to embrace our neighbors who might be hurting and remind them that life is worth living. Originally published at The Washington Stand. Apologist shares how he overcame doubts, found his way back to Christ A Christian apologist shared how he overcame doubts and found his way back to believing in Jesus Christ amid unanswered questions about his faith. In an episode of the "Challenging Conversations" podcast, Pastor Jason Jimenez spoke with Bobby Conway, known for his One Minute Apologist website, about doubting Christianity. Conway, who served for 15 years at Life Fellowship Church in the suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina, said that he never imagined wrestling with doubts in his faith when he first became a Christian at age 19. He thought he was immune to doubt, saying he was "an absolute zealot" at first. "Typical of that honeymoon season falling in love with Jesus, I had a great zeal for the Lord," Conway recalled. "And so, if somebody was struggling with doubt, I would have thought, 'well, what's wrong with this person? They must not love God. There must be something really off.'" "But the further I kept growing in this Christian faith, and the deeper I kept going into it as it relates to studying philosophy and apologetics, I started to bump into some questions that I had a hard time resolving myself." Over time, Conway said he began to think about certain questions: "What does it mean to have a comprehensive worldview? What are the future challenges that are going to come against us as Christians? What type of challenges will the atheist bring up? What type of challenges will the Muslim bring up?" As time progressed, Conway said his desire for immediate answers grew and took a toll. "I just wanted those questions answered. So it was very simplistic, but what I found is there was a lot of complexity to some of the questions that were challenging me, and I was reading a ton. I was studying a ton," Conway said. "But for every book that I tried to read to chase down the answer to my doubts, I would collect 10 more questions and more doubts, and the snowball kept growing." By the time he entered seminary school at age 27, Conway said his doubt was at an all-time high as he continued to yearn for more detailed wisdom to answer his theological inquiries. "That's when I really started getting hit with some true doubts. I was taking the Gospels and we were looking at the Synoptic Gospels, and I was struggling, trying to reconcile some of the accounts together. I figured out how to work through that. And then, I would go on, and [the questions] would quiet down," Conway recounted. "But like that game at Chuck E. Cheese called whack-a-mole I would whack the mole, and then boom, another one would pop up. I just felt like my whole Christian life was just whacking moles, whacking moles, whacking moles, and I was getting exhausted by the different questions." The differing levels of doubt were an ongoing struggle for Conway throughout his seminary years. Even after graduation, when he became an apologist and pastored what he described as a "thriving church," he still secretly battled doubts. "And now, I'm really beginning to doubt to a point where I'm wondering if I'm going to be an apostate. And that was very challenging because, Jason, I can honestly say I hated my doubts," Conway said. "I was not like this guy that was deconstructing, so to speak, and wanting to be fully deconstructed. I was not this guy that wanted to go and be a progressive Christian. I did not want to move beyond my doubts to just finally come to this self-enlightenment effect." Conway continued to pastor his church despite his doubts. He remembers speaking to God and saying: "God, I'm struggling to believe this. I'm wondering if you are there. Please know that my heart hates these doubts." "I was so depressed. I had suicidal thoughts. I ended up in counseling. I ended up on antidepressants. I was suffering because I didn't know how to live," Conway recounted. "I thought: 'What if I've been duped?' I gave myself to this Christian worldview? I threw myself all in it, prepared myself for ministry, and now, my brain is producing questions way faster than I can track down the answers to." Amid tremendous pressure to continue running his apologetics and pastoral ministry, Conway began to feel as though he was being hypocritical to his congregants. "I felt like a sham, but I didn't want to. I was just trying to genuinely work through stuff. And it was absolutely vexing in the deepest kind of way. And the reason it was so vexing to me is because of how meaningful Jesus was to me. It was like the most important relationship I ever had in my life was gone. I didn't know where He went. I didn't know what about all these amazing moments we had, and I've been duped," Conway said. "And it was the thought of, 'Wow, I got my life clean and sober when I was a kid, threw my life into Jesus, thought this was the realest thing ever, and now, the thing that I thought was most real, was I duped?' And that was very, very hard to digest and live with." About five years ago, Conway said, "God, in His grace, absolutely broke into my dark night of the soul" and removed his doubts. Conway viewed that season of doubt as a positive. "The deep doubt that I was experiencing, I really feel like God used that season because those doubts can be the making of an apologist. And so, it got to a point when I was in that agony that I had to imagine how to live again. If I wasn't going to be a Christian, where do I go? And so I would envision, 'Well, what if I was an atheist? What if I was an agnostic? What if I was a Buddhist? What if I was whatever?'" Conway recalled. "And I would think about what it would be like to live in that worldview and what type of questions and doubts that I would inherit. And then, I would just try to resolve those, and when all was said and done, it was like I broke out, and it was like Christianity seemed like the greatest, and the most strongest, and the most beautiful and the most wonderful worldview of them all." "It was like, 'Wow, God, You didn't leave me, You didn't abandon me. You really were there,'" he added. "It meant so much to me because I just felt like I fell in love with Him again." Conway said that the "way out" of his doubt "was the way into Christianity." "It was having faith like a child again," he described. "My relationship became a Q+A session with God, and my heart got detached from the process. I lost my way in the journey. Doubt is not a Christian problem. It's a human problem. In the absence of certainty, there is always going to be room for doubt. The question is which worldview best closes the doubt gap. All of a sudden, I was able to realize that, 'Why do I always feel like I have to be on the defensive as a Christian? The atheist has to give answers, too.' ... We're not alone in this endeavor. It was just so freeing." Travel: 3 places to visit this fall The fall shoulder season is arguably the best time of the year to travel. Regardless of whether you postponed travel for the better part of three years because of coronavirus or you decided to avoid the crowds of summer, the following three places in no particular order are perfect to visit as the pages of the calendar turn and the weather becomes crisper. Arlington, Virginia Arlington is a place that people visit without ever knowing. Located directly across the Potomac River from the countrys capital of Washington, D.C., this is where Reagan National Airport is located. Airport notwithstanding, Arlington is a destination in its own right with plenty for visitors to see and do. In fact, it is home to five major memorials and monuments, including the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial and the U.S. Air Force Memorial. The big draw is Arlington National Cemetery, which contains both the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the grave of slain President John F. Kennedy. The cemetery is also where you find Confederate General Robert E. Lees Arlington House. If you go: Stay at the Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport. Beverley, England Surrounded by the Yorkshire countryside, Beverley is one of those classic English towns. Towering over the town is Beverley Minster, a Gothic masterpiece that rivals many cathedrals in bother grandeur and size. The twin-towered church is so impressive that it has been used by filmmakers as a double for Westminster Abbey in London the royal peculiar that most recently hosted the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Much of the similarity comes from the mid-15th century towers, which the acclaimed church architect Nicholas Hawksmoor used for inspiration when designing the abbeys west towers in the first half of the 18th century. As with so many other medieval churches and cathedrals, Beverley Minster underwent significant change during the Reformation, when the old religion of Roman Catholicism and its trappings of chantry chapels, statuary and saintly relics were lost, sold or otherwise destroyed. Among the surviving period fabric are an Anglo-Saxon stone chair next to the high altar that once upon a time provided a form of sanctuary for criminals who sat in it, the Norman-era baptismal font and 68 exquisite carvings under the hinged seats of the quire stalls. If you go: Stay at The Kings Head, which overlooks where Beverleys weekly Saturday market is held. Oxford, Mississippi Oxford is the dictionary definition of a Southern town. While it is quintessentially Southern, it is also a vibrant college town, thanks to the University of Mississippi. For many, the big draw is Rowan Oak, the home of William Faulkner. The acclaimed writer used Oxford and surrounding Lafayette County as the setting for the fictional Yoknapatawpha County. Beyond all things literary, Oxford is anchored by the Square and a postbellum county courthouse. Facing the courthouse are a mixture of eateries and old-school shops frequented by a mix of students, professors, college administrators and even retirees attracted to Mississippis low taxes. There are also two notable antebellum churches connected to Faulkner: St. Peters Episcopal Church, a handsome Gothic Revival brick edifice near the Square, and College Hill Presbyterian, a Greek Revival kirk. The minister of College Hill married Faulkner, an Episcopalian, and his wife, a divorcee. If you go: Stay at the Graduate Oxford Hotel. Dennis Lennox writes a travel column for The Christian Post. Archeologists find tomb of Saint Nicholas, 4th century bishop and inspiration for Santa Claus St. Nicholas was persecuted for his faith under Emperor Diocletian but lived to see Constantine rise to power Archeologists have found the tomb that holds the remains of Saint Nicholas underneath an ancient church in Turkey. Nicholas, who became the basis for the Christmas character Santa Claus, died more than 1,600 years ago. This is an extremely important discovery, the first find from that period, Fox News quoted Osman Eravsar, chairman of the Antalya Cultural Heritage Preservation Regional Board, as saying about the discovery in a church in the Demre town in southern Turkey. After rising sea levels in the Mediterranean submerged the church, a second church was built there centuries later. Now we have reached the remains of the first church and the floor on which Saint Nicholas stepped, Eravsar said, according to The Daily Mail. The tiling of the floor of the first church, on which Saint Nicholas walked, has been unearthed. Researchers have been examining the foundations of the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre for decades. They also recently uncovered a fresco of Jesus at the site. When the screed floor slab laid in the 1970s was removed where it was, an excavation was carried out to find out whats under it, Eravsar explained. The result was an early fourth century floor covering of the church. In 2017, when archeologists found the tomb but couldnt confirm, The Daily Sabah newspaper noted that the finding was considered surprising, as the remains of St. Nicholas were believed to have been smuggled to the Italian city of Bari by Italian merchants in the year 1087. The Santa Claus Museum, formerly an ancient church with a sarcophagus attributed to the Christmas saint is located in the town of Demre, added the news site. A fourth century bishop who lived under the Roman Empire, St. Nicholas was persecuted for his faith under Emperor Diocletian but lived to see Constantine come to power and legalize Christianity. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. He died Dec. 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church, where a unique relic, called manna, formed in his grave, notes the St. Nicholas Center. This liquid substance, said to have healing powers, fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day, Dec. 6 (Dec. 19 on the Julian Calendar). Many stories have emerged about Nicholas generosity, with these tales eventually helping to form the mythology of the modern Santa Claus. According to History, St. Nicholas was introduced into American popular culture toward the end of the 18th century when groups of Dutch families gathered to honor the anniversary of his death. The name Santa Claus evolved from Nick's Dutch nickname, Sinter Klaas, a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas (Dutch for Saint Nicholas). Jewish university launches LGBT student club as litigation over Pride Alliance rejection continues A Jewish university engaged in litigation over its refusal to approve an LGBT club on campus has launched an LGBT group of its own as it continues to make the case that it is a religious institution instead of a public accommodation. In a statement Monday, Yeshiva University announced the formation of a "new initiative grounded in Halacha and Torah values to support its LGBTQ undergraduates, including strengthening its on-campus support services and endorsing a new student club that presents an approved traditional Orthodox alternative to YU Pride Alliance." Yeshiva's refusal to recognize YU Pride Alliance, an LBGT group, as an official student club has subjected America's flagship Jewish university to an ongoing lawsuit. The university created the Kol Yisrael Areivim Club for LGBT students "striving to live authentic Torah lives." The university indicated that the club will "provide students with space to grow in their personal journeys, navigating the formidable challenges that they face in living a fully committed, uncompromisingly authentic halachic life within Orthodox communities." The club will encourage students to maintain lives of chastity. Participants in the club will be able to "gather, share their experiences, host events, and support one another while benefiting from the full resources of the Yeshiva community." "We are eager to support and facilitate the religious growth and personal life journeys of all of our students to live authentic Torah lives, and we hope that this Torah based initiative with a new student club tailored to Yeshiva's undergraduate LGBTQ students will provide them with meaningful support to do so," said Yeshiva University President Rabbi Ari Berman. Yeshiva's Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Herschel Schacter expressed hope that the new club "deepens our students' commitment to the Torah and leads to harmony in our Yeshiva University community." In a statement shared with the media, YU Pride Alliance called the new club a "sham." "This is a desperate stunt by Yeshiva University to distract from the growing calls from its donors, alumni, faculty, policymakers, and the business community, who have stood alongside the YU Pride Alliance, as we continue to fight for our rights," the statement reads. "The YU sham is not a club as it was not formed by students, is not led by students, and does not have members; rather, it is a feeble attempt by YU to continue denying LGBTQ students equal treatment as full members of the YU student community." Leaders of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represents Yeshiva University in its litigation with YU Pride Alliance, elaborated on the development in a call with reporters on Monday. Becket Executive Director Montse Alvarado said the new club "reflects the input and perspectives from conversations between all of these stakeholders: Yeshiva's rabbis, educators, its current and past undergraduate LGBTQ students." "This is the university's way of pastoring and caring for, in a compassionate way, the LGBTQ students, but also drawing a very important line about what it means to be an Orthodox Jew and to be part of Yeshiva University, the flagship university that is recognized around the world for being animated by its five core Torah values: seeking truth, living your values, discovering your potential, acting with compassion and bringing redemption," she added. Alvarado said the university has "always had on-campus support services for its LGBTQ students and has been committed to sensitivity training for faculty and staff, strict anti-harassment, anti-bullying and anti-discrimination policies and ongoing support groups and educational sessions during orientation for its incoming students." The university will expand these support services as part of the new initiative unveiled Monday. Becket Senior Counsel Eric Baxter maintained that the Kol Yisrael Areivim Club "would be encouraging students to live lives of chastity." "It has been made clear that the responsibilities and the desires that the university has for all students are the same, that all students are encouraged to live lives of chastity, lives that are walking alongside the spiritual values that they're being given by the choice that they made, their individual choice to come to this university." "This is not a requirement that is specific to LGBTQ students," Baxter added. "It's something that is asked of and hopefully inspired by what they're learning to live a life that is consistent with Torah values and that's for everyone. It's not specific to any one type of student that identifies as one way or another." Baxter suggested that the ongoing litigation "is not really about the approval of any specific club" but rather "calls into question Yeshiva's ability to make religious decisions generally." He identified the conclusion of the lawsuit as a determination that "Under the New York City Human Rights Law, Yeshiva is a public accommodation, which means it cannot engage in any decision-making based on religion even." "And so it's religious admissions, it's religious hiring, it's the fact that it provides religious worship for Jews but not other religious faiths, the fact that it requires approval for all the student club activities to ensure that they are consistent with the law and values," he said. "So we anticipate that the lawsuit will have to go forward because Yeshiva needs to confirm that it is not a public accommodation, that it has the right to make religious decisions and to maintain its religious identity." The litigation between Yeshiva University and YU Pride Alliance dates back to 2020. After a New York State Supreme Court justice ordered the school to recognize YU Pride Alliance as an official club earlier this year, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a stay last month, vacating that ruling as litigation continued. After the stay from the U.S. Supreme Court expired and a state court declined to issue a ruling providing the university with relief late last month, Yeshiva University and the YU Pride Alliance entered into an agreement halting enforcement of the court order requiring the college to recognize the club while litigation continued. The Becket case page for YU Pride Alliance v. Yeshiva University outlines the next steps in the litigation. With briefings due for completion by Oct. 14, oral arguments before the New York Appellate Division will take place in November, with a ruling expected shortly thereafter. Ben Shapiro likens Kanye West's anti-Semitic remarks to Nazi propaganda Advertisers are being urged to drop rapper Kanye West over his recent anti-Semitic remarks that have drawn the ire of many, including conservative commenter Ben Shapiro and Jewish advocacy groups. In recent weeks, West, now known by the name Ye, has made numerous comments in interviews and on social media that have landed the popular rapper in hot water and led to blowback on Instagram and Twitter. After much backlash, the 45-year-old, who in recent years has touted his Christian faith and even held "Sunday Service" gospel events, has seemingly both doubled down on his remarks and apologized. In an interview last week with NewsNation's Chris Cuomo, West stated that the "underground Jewish mafia" is targeting him and he doesn't believe in the term "anti-Semitic." That interview came days after West made similar remarks during a long appearance on the "Drink Champs" podcast. In a since-deleted Oct. 8 tweet, West declared: "I'm a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I'm going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE." "The funny thing is I actually can't be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jew," he wrote. "[A]lso You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda." During a recent appearance on Piers Morgan's talk show, West apologized for his "death con" comment, stating that he wrote the remark from a place of "hurt" as a victim of "trauma." Daily Wire founder Shapiro, who is an Orthodox Jew, likened West's remarks to Nazi propaganda, noting that the musician is promoting a series of conspiracies about Jewish people. Shapiro responded to West's latest statements, in which the rapper claimed the term "anti-Semitism" has been used to allow people in the music industry to "get away with murder sometimes," likening the industry to "modern-day slavery." "It's just pure unbridled anti-Semitism," Shapiro said. "There's just no other way to put it, there's no other way to read it. End of story." Shapiro claimed that West is spouting "Der Sturmer-type anti-Semitism," referring to the Nazi-era newspaper, adding that "nobody should be defending that." Shapiro also noted that West is an "unstable human being," suggesting the rapper's comments may be related to mental illness. "He is promoting every conspiracy theory about Jews that you can think of, from 'Jews control the media,' to 'Jews somehow perverted my wife sexually,'" Shapiro said. The "Drink Champs" podcast, hosted by Noreaga and DJ EFN, features the pair interviewing musicians while drinking excessive amounts of liquor. While on the show, West claimed that his ex-wife Kim Kardashian and comedian Pete Davidson "have sex by the fireplace to honor their grandmother. It's Jewish Zionists that's about that life." Shapiro believes one of the main issues with West's anti-Semitism is his broad targeting of Jews. The commentator disagreed with the rapper's defenders, saying how they claim that West is only criticizing Jewish individuals. "Here is the difference between anti-Semitism and naming just a person who happens to be Jewish that you're blaming all the Jewish people," Shapiro said. "If I see a black guy and I'm like, 'Man, that particular guy really ticks me off,' that's not racism. If I say, 'That guy's black, all black people are terrible,' that's racism. Kanye West does the latter thing." The Israel-based International Legal Forum, comprised of over 4,000 lawyers and activists worldwide, sent a letter to apparel giant Adidas urging the brand to sever ties with West. "Earlier this month, Kanye threatened to go 'Death Con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE,'" the letter explains, according to JNS. "He has since gone on an unhinged anti-Semitic tirade, including blaming 'Jewish media' for various grievances, saying 'Jewish people have owned the black voice' and that 'the Jewish community, especially in the music industry, they'll take us and milk us till we die.'" Amid a rise in anti-Semitic attacks in the U.S. in recent years, the Jewish advocacy organization Anti-Defamation League warns that West's comments "have been embraced by antisemitic extremist groups." "During an October 16 sermon for the Nation of Islam's annual Holy Day of Atonement commemoration, Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad referenced Ye's recent remarks," a post from the ADL's Center on Extremism reads. "Extremist Black Hebrew Israelite sects also praised Ye over the weekend for helping spread their teachings to more people. Other extremist groups, including White Lives Matter and the Goyim Defense League, have leveraged Ye's comments to further their own agendas and inspire new propaganda campaigns." In an interview last week with The New York Post's Page Six, West discussed the various brands refusing to associate with him in light of his remarks on social media. That same day, JP Morgan Chase gave West a November deadline to find a new bank to hold his company Yeezy. "Hey, if you call somebody out for bad business, that means you're being anti-Semitic," West said. "I feel happy to have crossed the line of that idea so we can speak openly about things like getting canceled by a bank." The weekend before JP Morgan Chase dropped West, the musician shared a screenshot of a text with rapper Diddy on Instagram, saying he would use him "as an example to show the Jewish people that told you to call me that no one can threaten or influence me." Instagram locked West out of his account for the remark, and he was later locked out of Twitter for posting another anti-Semitic statement. As Vice reported last week, deleted segments of West's interview with Fox News' Tucker Carlson earlier this month show the rapper making several derogatory statements about Jewish people. The Fox News host did not appear to correct West for his remarks, claiming at the end that the star is "not crazy" and "worth listening to." In one unaired portion of the interview, West said he would prefer his kids knew about Chanukah instead of Kwanzaa, claiming the former comes with "some financial engineering." "When I say Jew, I mean the 12 lost tribes of Judah, the blood of Christ, who the people known as the race Black really are," West said in another unaired statement. Last month, West appeared to compare himself to Moses, the biblical figure who received God's Ten Commandments and led the enslaved Israelites out of Egypt. "No one asked Moses how much he slept," West wrote on his Instagram story, with the post displaying white text over a black background. While it's uncertain what West was referring to, some of his fans believe the post was in reference to the rapper having launched a Christian private school in Southern California. Street preacher known as Gospel Warrior detained for evangelizing at CCPs 20th National Congress Police in China kept a street preacher in detention for days until the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party ended Saturday because he was sharing the Gospel at the venue prior to the party's meeting. Chen Wensheng, who's known as the Gospel Warrior and is part of the Xiaoqun Church in Hengyang, located in Chinas Hunan province, was first warned against sharing the Gospel on the street before the CCP's National Congress, and when he politely refused to obey, police took him and his wife to a mountain for a half-month vacation, said the U.S.-based group China Aid, which monitors human rights violations inside the communist country. Chen, who often carries a wooden cross inscribed with the words Glory to our Savior and Repent and Be Saved by Faith as he shares the Gospel with passers-by, reportedly rested and studied during the detention. Because of his evangelistic efforts, Chen is frequently arrested and detained at the police station, where hes repeatedly urged officers to put their faith in Jesus. Chen was quoted as saying that, days before the weeklong party congress, local officials had visited his home to talk to him and take pictures. On Oct. 8, local police officers invited him and his wife for lunch. As soon as the police entered his home, he handed out gospel leaflets and said, Officers, Im glad you come again. Jesus loves you and blesses you! They tried again to persuade him to join the local Three-Self church. They promised that if Chen was willing, they would let him replace the two pastors of the local church or give him the opportunity to deliver speeches to large crowds of audiences in various locations in Hunan province, the group said. Chen then explained why he was not willing to join the government-regulated Three-Self Church. His detention followed. For over a decade, Chen had abused drugs before he converted to Christianity. He initially heard the Gospel at a rehab center and became a Christian and got sober. In China, evangelism is banned outside of registered religious sites. The U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern has reported that with the crackdown against house churches in China, street evangelism has become increasingly difficult. Those who evangelize face harassment or detention, while others see their churches further restricted by authorities. The five state-sanctioned religious groups in China are the Buddhist Association of China, the Chinese Taoist Association, the Islamic Association of China, the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. Even the organizations affiliated with the five authorized religions can be subject to surveillance and limitations. Religious freedom in China is getting worse by the day, China Aid said last week. Last month, Berea Church in Fujian Province and Yangguangzhijia Reformed Church in Jilin Provinces Changchun City had been banned, the group said, adding that the Wenzhou Canaan Theological Seminary was also dismantled, and all the church facilities were destroyed and Senior Pastor Huang Jianle, Teacher Liu Shitao, Teacher Shi and Teacher Sun were taken away by the police. ICC documented more than 100 incidents of Christian persecution in China between July 2020 and June 2021 as the countrys communist regime sought to forcefully convert independent religious groups into mechanisms of the Chinese Communist Party. There are an estimated 100 million Christians in China. Scholars have said that, given the growth of Christianity in China, there could be more Christians in China than anywhere else in the world by 2030. Vatican renews provisional agreement with China on bishop appointments The Roman Catholic Church has renewed a scrutinized agreement with the People's Republic of China over the appointment of bishops, even as the Communist government continues to restrict religious freedom. The Holy See Press Office announced Saturday that the Catholic Church renewed a provisional agreement with China allowing the government to submit candidates for bishop offices, with Pope Francis getting the final say. The provisional agreement was initially approved in 2018 and was previously renewed in 2020, with the latest renewal scheduled to expire in 2024. "The Vatican is committed to continuing a respectful and constructive dialogue with the Chinese Party for a productive implementation of the Accord and further development of bilateral relations, with a view to fostering the mission of the Catholic Church and the good of the Chinese people," stated the Holy See Press Office. In an interview with Vatican News published Saturday, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said that the two-year renewal "mainly concerns aspects that are essential to the daily life of the Church in China." "Pope Francis with determination and patient foresight has decided to continue along this path not under the illusion of finding perfection in human rules, but in the concrete hope of being able to assure Chinese Catholic communities, even in such a complex context, of the guidance of pastors who are worthy and suitable for the task entrusted to them," said Parolin. "The ultimate goal of this journey is for the 'little flock' of Chinese Catholics to advance in the possibility of living serenely and freely their Christian life, which is made up of the proclamation of the Gospel, solid formation, joyful celebration of the Eucharist, as well as an industrious witness of charity, in order to be close to those who struggle the most to cope with life, as was the case during the difficult time of the pandemic." The renewal comes as Chinese leader Xi Jinping claimed a third term as head of the Chinese Communist Party, which has increased government control of religious bodies in recent years. Since the agreement was enacted in 2018, six Catholic bishops have been ordained, even though 40 dioceses in China still do not have a bishop, according to The Wall Street Journal. Religious freedom advocates and some clergy have criticized the agreement. "Despite the Holy See's attempt to normalize its operation in the authoritarian country, religious freedom has not improved for the underground Chinese Catholics in the last few years," the United States-based NGO International Christian Concern warned in a statement. "Many disappeared clergy have not returned, while those who are loyal to the Vatican constantly face threats and sometimes are subject to a 're-education' for their submission to join the official church." Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated in September 2020 that religious freedom conditions for Catholics in China had only worsened in the two years since the agreement was first adopted. "The Vatican endangers its moral authority, should it renew the deal," Pompeo tweeted at the time. Among critics of the agreement between the Vatican and the Chinese government is Cardinal Joseph Zen, who formerly served as bishop of Hong Kong, a Chinese protectorate. The 90-year-old Zen was arrested in May by Chinese authorities for his involvement in a humanitarian organization tied to the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. "The Vatican may have acted out of good faith but they have made an unwise decision," said Zen at a prayer meeting in May, as quoted by the WSJ. The Christian persecution watchdog group, Open Doors USA, ranks China as the 17th worst persecutor of Christians in the world. In late August, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report documenting human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, especially aimed at predominantly Muslim communities like the Uyghurs. Pentagon to pay travel costs for military service members to get abortions The U.S. Department of Defense will pay for service members to travel out-of-state to obtain abortions to "ensure that our Service members can access reproductive health care and our health care providers can operate effectively." Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin sent a memorandum to senior Pentagon leadership Thursday on "Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Care." He directed the department to establish "travel and transportation allowances for Service members and their dependents, as appropriate and consistent with applicable federal law and operational requirements." He also called for creating a "uniform Department of Defense policy that allows for appropriate administrative absence consistent with applicable federal law for non-covered reproductive healthcare." The memo outlines that the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in June to allow states to pass laws banning or restricting abortion will mean that "significant numbers of Service members and their families may be forced to travel greater distances, take more time off from work, and pay more out of pocket expenses to receive reproductive health care." Lloyd believes that the effects of the court'sruling will impact the Department of Defense's ability to "recruit, retain, and maintain the readiness of a highly qualified force." The secretary ordered the amendment of "any applicable travel regulations" to "facilitate official travel to access non-covered reproductive health care that is unavailable within the local area of a Service member's permanent duty station." He suggested new policies were necessary due to "concerns from many of our Service members and their families about the complexity and the uncertainty that they now face in accessing reproductive health care, including abortion services." "The actions outlined in this memorandum will be executed as soon as possible. All actions will be completed no later than the end of this calendar year, to the maximum extent possible," the memo states. "The Department of Defense will continue to closely evaluate our policies to ensure that we continue to provide seamless access to reproductive health care as appropriate and consistent with federal law." In a statement, Marjorie Dannenfelser of the national grassroots pro-life group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America decried the Pentagon's new policy. "The Biden administration will stop at nothing to impose abortion on demand until birth nationwide, paid for by taxpayers, no matter what laws they have to ignore or rewrite," she said. The new memo comes as other federal agencies have enacted policies to protect access to abortion for service members. The Biden administration submitted an interim final rule to the Federal Register in September that will authorize Veterans Administration hospitals to perform abortions on service members, even in states where the procedure is illegal. President Joe Biden expressed support for establishing a federal abortion leave fund in a previously taped interview forum with NowThis News slated to air this weekend. "It is heartbreaking to see President Biden is so obsessed with abortion on demand that he is willing to use American tax dollars to push for more abortion rather than offering federal funding for lifesaving options offered by pro-life organizations and maternity homes around the country," Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life, said in a statement. The conservative advocacy group CatholicVote argued in a Twitter thread that a federal abortion fund would amount to "govt sponsored abortion vacations" that would "take tax dollars out of the pockets of American workers to pay for time off to destroy unborn children." Govt sponsored abortion vacations? @potus now doubling down on his abortion extremism, committing to take tax dollars out of the pockets of American workers to pay for time off to destroy unborn children. https://t.co/9RLNczfyto CatholicVote.org (@CatholicVote) October 20, 2022 The president also hopes to establish a federal right to abortion after the midterm elections. Speaking at the Howard Theatre last week, Biden stressed the importance of electing "more Democratic senators to the United States Senate and more Democrats to keep control of the House of Representatives," vowing to "codify Roe once and for all." Biden previously promised to push for Congress to codify Roe days after his inauguration. The Women's Health Protection Act, legislation that would establish a right to abortion at the federal level, has come up short of the votes needed for passage in the evenly divided U.S. Senate after passing the Democrat-controlled U.S. House on party-line vote. As Democrats tout the Women's Health Protection Act as simply a codification of Roe, pro-life groups contend the measure will go far beyond Roe and establish a right to abortion until birth. Public opinion polling indicates that most Americans oppose allowing abortions throughout all nine months of pregnancy. A May poll from CBS News found that 17% of Americans believed that abortion should be permitted at any point in a pregnancy. A Pew Research Center survey from that same month measured support for legal abortion in all cases at 19%. 12,000 fentanyl pills disguised as candy seized at LAX; Authorities issue Halloween warning Parents are advised to be extra vigilant this year in checking what their children bring home on Halloween after agents in Los Angeles seized around 12,000 fentanyl pills packaged in several bags of candy, the latest incident of the deadly drug being disguised as something innocuous. According to a statement from Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, a suspect carrying packages of fentanyl pills attempted to go through a TSA screening at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday, trying sneak past screening and board a plane. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Narcotics Bureau Detectives and Drug Enforcement Agency agents assigned to the airport discovered the pills inside boxes of Sweetarts, Skittles and Whoppers. The person carrying the drugs fled before he or she could be detained, but the suspect's identity is known. An investigation into the matter is ongoing. "With Halloween approaching, parents need to make sure they are checking their kids candy and not allowing them to eat anything until it has been inspected by them," officials with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department warned in the statement. "If you find anything in candy boxes that you believe might be narcotics, do not touch it and immediately notify your local law enforcement agency." The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 71,000 overdose deaths from synthetic fentanyl in 2021, up from 57,000 deaths in 2020. Last month, New York authorities arrested a New Jersey woman after discovering she had 15,000 rainbow-colored fentanyl pills inside a lego box. The DEA reported the incident was the largest fentanyl seizure in New York City history. The 48-year-old suspect, Latesha Bush, was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Sept. 30. A criminal complaint filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP) against Bush charged her with one count of first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. New York authorities investigating suspected narcotics trafficking stopped Bush's vehicle and found the two black tote bags and a Lego package containing fentanyl pills in the car. The pills were imprinted with "M" and "30" to resemble Oxycodone pills. "Disguising fentanyl as candy and concealing it in children's toys will never hide the fact that fentanyl is a deadly poison that harms our communities, our families, and our city," Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said in a statement. Investigators claim Bush traveled from New Jersey to Manhattan in a rental car, and the pills she was carrying originated from Mexico. Investigators said disguising fentanyl as candy or other prescription drugs is a tactic used by the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel, two Mexican drug cartels. Earlier this month, the DEA announced the results of its One Pill Can Kill initiative, which led to the seizure of more than 10.2 million fentanyl pills and approximately 980 pounds of fentanyl powder from May 23 through Sept. 8. Out of the 390 cases investigated, 51 were linked to overdose poisonings, and 35 were connected to one or both of the Mexican cartels. In a national survey of 1,000 likely U.S. voters conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC for Rasmussen Reports, 91% of participants said they believe the country's fentanyl issue is serious, with 73% describing it as a "very serious problem." The survey was conducted from Sept. 26 to Sept. 27 by phone, with a margin sampling of error of is +/- 3 percentage points and a 95% confidence level. Why do Christians do bad things? There are generally two basic forms in which this question is asked. First, most Christians have at some point asked themselves, If Im a true Christian, why do I keep sinning? Second, Christians and others have asked questions like, How could Christians have committed such atrocities during the Crusades? The two questions are different, but they have essentially the same theological and biblical answer. The answer requires us to understand what Scripture says is true of Christians in the threefold application of redemption. We must consider the Bibles teaching about what has already happened to the Christian, what is happening to the Christian, and what has not yet happened to the Christian. Already: What has happened to Christians (regeneration, justification, adoption) According to the Bible, when a person becomes a Christian, he has gone from death to life. He has experienced what we often call regeneration. This is foundational to our Christian identity. The Christian is a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). He has been born again (John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:3). He was in darkness, and now he is in light (Acts 26:18; Eph. 5:8; 2 Cor. 6:14; 1 Peter 2:9). He was dead in trespasses and sins, and now he is alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:12; Col. 2:13). He was a slave to sin, and now he is a slave to righteousness (John 8:34; Rom. 6:123; Gal. 5:1). He had a heart of stone, and now he has a heart of flesh (Ezek. 11:19; 36:26). Regeneration and its fruit, conversion to Christ, signify a drastic change in identity. Regeneration does not, however, purge the effects of our fallenness from our souls and bodies. Regeneration imparts spiritual life into the soul, but ones history before regeneration is not changed. This means that a Christian will hate his sin, but he still might be attracted to the same sins as he was before conversion. In the new birth (i.e., regeneration), we are effectually called, meaning that the Spirit not only calls us to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ by faith but also gives us the ability to respond to that call. When we place our faith in Christ, the Spirit unites us to Christ, from whom we receive the benefits of redemption, including justification, adoption and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them (Westminster Shorter Catechism 32). In our union with Christ, justification, adoption, and sanctification are distinct yet inseparable benefits. In the act of justification, a person is pardoned of all sins and accepted as righteous in the sight of God only on account of the imputed righteousness of Christ received by faith alone (WSC 33). In the act of adoption, a person is received into the number and given a right to all the privileges of the sons of God (WSC 34). In the work of sanctification, a person begins to be renewed in his whole being after the image of God and is enabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness (WSC 35). Whereas justification and adoption are acts of God, sanctification is a work of God. Justification and adoption are punctiliar, one-time events. Sanctification is a progressive, lifelong work. So while the Christian is declared righteous in Gods sight on account of the imputed righteousness of Christ, he has not yet been entirely renewed in his whole being. At least not yet. As Martin Luther said, the Christian is simul justus et peccator at the same time righteous and sinful. Regeneration makes a man new, yet he is an undeveloped man a man who is being sanctified but has not yet been perfected. Already/not yet: What is happening to Christians (sanctification mortification and vivification) Some people, upon conversion, find that many of their old affections and sinful patterns immediately dissolve. Others experience a more gradual renewal of their desires. Although there is a sense that we are sanctified at our conversion, in that we are set apart as holy to the Lord, sanctification as a process is experienced at different rates. Sanctification does not mean that the remnants of sin and corruption are eradicated at once. Rather, as Geerhardus Vos noted: The renewing activity of the Holy Spirit does not immediately remove all evil from us and replace it with a completely holy and good person. He effects renewal at one point in order from there to cause His renewing and sanctifying work to take hold in increasingly wider circles.1 In conversion, sin is dethroned in the heart of the believer, but it is not yet fully exterminated. Sin has no dominion over him who is under grace, but sin is still a present enemy. John Murray states: Deliverance from the power of sin secured by union with Christ and from the defilement of sin secured by regeneration does not eliminate all sin from the heart and life of the believer. There is still indwelling sin.2 Therefore, sanctification can be messy. We become aware of the depths of sin in our lives slowly, and ethical blind spots may persist. Sanctification involves painfully slow progress that sometimes doesnt look like progress at all. It often involves returning to the same sin over and over with increasing hatred of that sin. Nevertheless, the trajectory of the Christian life, because of union with Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, is one of progressive renewal and conformity to the image of God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism defines sanctification as the work of Gods free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness. Sanctification has two aspects: dying unto sin, known as mortification, and living unto righteousness, known as vivification. Every Christian has indwelling sin that must be mortified in the power of the Spirit. Paul states as much in his own admission in Romans 7. Charles Hodge says, The characteristic difference between the unrenewed and the renewed is not that the former are entirely sinful, and the latter perfectly holy; but that the former are wholly under the control of their fallen nature, while the latter have the Spirit of God dwelling in them, which leads them to crucify the flesh, and to strive after complete conformity to the image of God.3 In other words, the Spirits dwelling within us doesnt eradicate sin entirely, but it does mean that the determinative and operative power in the Christians life is the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. The Christian still has vestigial sin, not governing sin, that needs to be mortified.4 Indwelling sin remains in the heart, but it is contradictory to and in conflict with the regenerate heart. This conflict will remain until our corruptible bodies are replaced with what is incorruptible. So the Christian has been justified and adopted and he is being sanctified. When, if ever, will the Christian no longer sin? Not yet: What has yet to happen to Christians (glorification) Throughout church history, some teachers have affirmed perfectionism the idea that sanctification can be perfected in this life. The Reformation, however, rejected this view. Perfection will indeed come for the Christian, but not in this life. Martin Luther said: There be two contrary captains in you, the spirit and the flesh. In justification God hath stirred up in your bodies a strife and a battle; the flesh and the spirit at war with the other ... If we were pure from all sin, and were inflamed with perfect love both towards God and our neighbor, then should we indeed be righteous and holy through love, and God would require no more of us. This is not done in the present life, but is deferred until the life to come. We receive here the first fruits of the spirit, so that we begin to live, howbeit very slenderly.5 The error of the perfectionists is an over-realized eschatology that is, an expectation that what is promised for the final state of glory will be experienced now. Indwelling sin remains until glorification, however, and glorification doesnt happen until death: The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the resurrection (WSC 37). John Owen says: Indwelling sin continues to live in believers in some measure and degree while we are in this world ... There is a remaining darkness to be gradually removed ... We have a body of death (Rom. 7:24); from which we are not delivered but by the death of our bodies (Phil. 3:21).6 Until death, our sanctification remains imperfect, and glorification remains a future, albeit Spirit-guaranteed (Eph. 1:1314), reality. The Canons of Dort capture this tension well: Whom God calls, according to His purpose, to the communion of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and regenerates by the Holy Spirit, He delivers also from the dominion and slavery of sin in this life; though not altogether from the body of sin and from the infirmities of the flesh, so long as they continue in this world (5.1). A Christian is someone who has been renewed (regeneration), is being renewed (sanctification), and will be renewed (glorification). His sin has been dealt with judicially (justification), it is being dealt with progressively (sanctification), and it will be dealt with permanently (glorification). These nuances help us make sense of the presence of sin in the life of a Christian. While we saints remain in these bodies of sin in a fallen world, we continue to battle our own flesh and its non-reigning, extant sin which is why Christians still do bad things. But one day, coming soon, we will do only that which is good, in glorified bodies and a renewed world that arent polluted by sin and corruption. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Geerhardus Vos, Reformed Dogmatics, ed. and trans. Richard B. Gaffin Jr., vol. 4 (Bellingham, Wash.: Lexham, 2016), 51. John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied (1955; repr., Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2015), 152. Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, vol. 3 (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 2016), 248. See Murray, 154: It is one thing for sin to live in us; it is another for us to live in sin. It is one thing for the enemy to occupy the capital; it is another for his defeated hosts to harass the garrisons for the kingdom. Martin Luther,Commentary on Galatians (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel, 1979), 33031. John Owen, The Mortification of Sin (Edinburgh, Scotland: Banner of Truth, 2016), 67. This article was first published in Tabletalk, the Bible study magazine of Ligonier Ministries. Find out more at TabletalkMagazine.com or subscribe today at GetTabletalk.com. Christian evangelist awarded $11,000 for arrest; police apologize The Metropolitan Police in London has apologized for falling "below standards" in the case of a Christian evangelist who was wrongfully arrested twice while preaching the Gospel at the city's Speakers' Corner. Hatun Tash, who critiques and debates the Quran and Islam at Central London's Speakers' Corner, has received 10,000 (about $11,304) in compensation and costs, the Christian Legal Centre announced Friday. In late September, Inspector of the Metropolitan Police Directorate of Professional Standards Civil Actions Unit, Andy O'Donnell, sent Tash a letter formally apologizing for service that fell below the department's "requisite standard." "I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to you for the distress that you have suffered as a consequence of these incidents," O'Donnell wrote. "I hope that settlement of this claim and this recognition of the impact of what happened will enable you to put these incidents behind you." The police arrested Tash, the director of the ministry Defend Christ Critique Islam, in May 2021 and December 2020 at Speakers' Corner, a traditional site for public speeches and debates. In the first instance, Tash was assaulted, abused and harassed by a group of Islamic men for wearing a t-shirt featuring a picture of Muhammad while participating in weekly debates, according to the Christian Legal Centre, which represents Tash. When officers asked the group to leave, they refused and continued to intimidate Tash, as was seen in a video. The officers then requested Tash to leave, and when she refused, they arrested her. In the second instance, officers cited COVID-19 regulations to detain Tash after she encouraged officers not to hinder another preacher's right to free speech. Two months later, Tash was stabbed in front of police at the same location by a man in a black Islamic robe in broad daylight. No arrest has been made, according to CLC. "Police inaction has led to what happened to me," Tash told the media at the time. "It is heartbreaking that we live in a society where police do not want to arrest a Muslim for fear of being called Islamophobic." Tash has donated the settlement payout to the CLC. She hopes this is "just the beginning of the police doing more to protect Christian freedoms and free speech at Speakers' Corner." "The police have repeatedly taken away my rights and told me that they cannot protect me because they do not want to offend a certain group of people, which has been very disturbing. "I believe Jesus Christ is the good news for Muslims, the police and the world. Police need to protect my rights as l tell others this good news. My hope is that many Muslims will come to faith in Jesus," she said in a statement. "More must be done to properly deal with Islamic violence and intimidation at Speakers' Corner. We don't live in Pakistan; we don't live in Saudi Arabia. I am Christian, and by default, I believe that Muhammad is a false prophet. I should be allowed to say that in the UK without being stabbed or repeatedly arrested." In his apology letter, O'Donnell said that "MPS constantly strives to maintain the highest professional standards" but "incidents occasionally arise when the level of service falls below that standard." "This pay-out to Hatun is a rare admission by the police that they got it wrong," CLC Chief Executive Andrea Williams said in a statement. "If Hatun is silenced by violence at Speakers' Corner, we are all silenced." Last August, a court ruled that Hazel Lewis, a 50-year-old preacher arrested under the Public Order Act while preaching outside Finsbury Park tube station in North London last February, had not been threatening or abusing. The accusation against the preacher included that she had made a child cry and used threatening language as she told one of the accusing men that he was "an advocate of Satan." In July 2021, evangelist and missionary Ryan Schiavo was arrested in London for preaching that homosexuality is a sin. He later told The Christian Post that "things are getting very bad" in the United Kingdom and other Western countries. Last May, Pastor John Sherwood, the 71-year-old minister of the Penn Free Methodist Church in north London, was arrested for preaching about the biblical definition of marriage being between one man and one woman from Genesis 1. 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. If you have a criminal record, you may be able to overcome inadmissibility. Travelling to Canada with a criminal record for hunting season If you have a criminal record, you may be able to overcome inadmissibility. Travelling to Canada with a criminal record for hunting season If you have a criminal record, you may be able to overcome inadmissibility. Travelling to Canada with a criminal record for hunting season If you have a criminal record, you may be able to overcome inadmissibility. Daniel Levy Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A A criminal history may not be the end of your plans to go hunting in Canada. Although travellers who try to cross the border with a criminal record face a risk of being denied entry to Canada, there are a few options available to overcome inadmissibility. Schedule a Free Legal Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm An experienced inadmissibility expert can help you prepare the documents you need to cross the border with a criminal record. Here are three options to overcome criminal inadmissibility to Canada. A Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) can help you gain temporary access to Canada. A TRP application should only be submitted for significant travel and can be granted from the duration of a stay up to three years, depending on the reasons for entry. Travel such as hunting or fishing may not be viewed by immigration officers as the most important reason for entering Canada, which can hurt the chances of success for a TRP application, especially if it is not well-prepared. For this reason, ensuring that your application conforms as much as possible to what immigration authorities are looking for in a successful TRP application is key to maximizing your chances of approval. A criminal rehabilitation application approved by the Canadian government is a permanent solution that allows indefinite travel to Canada. If you have been denied entry to Canada, a Canadian immigration officer may suggest criminal rehabilitation as a method to eliminate future denials. Once you are approved, you no longer require a TRP for entry to the country. A legal opinion letter can also be of assistance to you. An experienced Canadian immigration lawyer can draft a letter on your behalf explaining to Canadian authorities the relevant facts of your situation and the case for them allowing you into Canada. Schedule a Free Legal Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm CIC News All Rights Reserved. Discover your Canadian immigration options at CanadaVisa.com. Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access Frankfurt Book Fair concludes with 90,000 trade visitors Xinhua) 09:22, October 24, 2022 People visit the 74th Frankfurt Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany on Oct. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu) Over 4,000 exhibitors from 95 countries and regions, including over 110 exhibitors from the Chinese mainland, attended the book fair held during Oct. 18-23. FRANKFURT, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The 74th Frankfurt Book Fair, the largest of its kind in the world, concluded on Sunday on the Frankfurt exhibition grounds. This year's book fair attracted around 90,000 trade visitors from over 100 countries and regions, surpassing expectations, according to Juergen Boos, president and CEO of the Frankfurt Book Fair. He expects further progress in the coming year with a diverse literary landscape. Over 4,000 exhibitors from 95 countries and regions, including over 110 exhibitors from the Chinese mainland, attended the book fair held during Oct. 18-23. Chinese exhibitors displayed more than 1,000 different kinds of publications, covering the topics of politics, economy, culture, history, technology and Chinese language learning, for adults and children as well. Next year's Frankfurt Book Fair will be held from Oct. 18 to 22, 2023. People visit the 74th Frankfurt Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany on Oct. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu) (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Hongyu) Termeni de referinta pentru selectarea unui/unei expert/experte in elaborarea conceptelor si implementarea unor mini campanii de promovare a Scolii de Jurnalism din Moldova Families of deceased charity supporters have been left unable to access tribute pages they have created after a supplier to the charity sector suddenly became inactive. A service used by charities including Guide Dogs that created in-memoriam online books suddenly stopped operating earlier this year after the death of its director. Civil Society News understands that at least four charities had paid an annual fee of 1,250 plus VAT to the Online Book Company (OBC) for the service before Jonathan Haward passed away. The sudden closure of the service has caused some charities to lose access to memorial data which commemorated the lives of beneficiaries' loved ones. Now that the service has become inactive, charities have no way of recovering their data and have been met with silence when trying to contact the company. One charity said it was extremely frustrated by the loss of its data and lack of contact from the company, while another said it was now looking for a replacement service. More than 25 charities have worked with the company before, including RNLI and RNIB. Sudden closure The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) said its customers were told about the situation in May. An automatic-reply email read that until the shareholders appointed a replacement director, the company's employees were unable to help its customers. A few days later, BTO lost access to its online book completely. When the charity complained to the company, it received an automatic reply: The company has paused trading and websites turned off, whilst the shareholders decide on its future. As employees, we deeply regret we are not able to assist you any further. According to Companies House, 12 of the 13 staff working at the company resigned following the directors death. The only officer remaining on the website seems to be his widow. On 2 August, a First Gazette notice for compulsory strike-off was issued, which occurs when a company has ceased trading. However, on 29 September the strike-off action was discontinued. The company has not responded to Civil Society News request for comment, and its telephone number no longer works. Time and money A spokesperson from BTO told Civil Society News it was saddened by the loss of the data. BTO has put a lot of time and money into the book of remembrance, not to mention the families of deceased BTO supporters. They have created tribute pages in honour of their loved ones as part of their healing process and they are no longer able to access them, a BTO spokesperson said. Being able to offer this special service to family and friends is incredibly important to us so we will have to find a replacement service. Since the sad passing of Jonathan Haward, we have had no communication from the Online Book Company other than the bounce-back email messages and no access to our book of remembrance. Extremely disappointed and frustrated Alan House, chief operating officer of the Firefighters Memorial Trust, said: We are extremely disappointed and frustrated by the loss of our online book which contained the names of firefighters that died in the line of duty. Families could add photos and comments about their loved ones, so it has had an effect not only on the trust but on the loved ones, as we are trying to retrieve the data. Moreover, a spokesperson for Guide Dogs told Civil Society News: Guide Dogs procurement protocol means that we do not comment on the engagement with individual suppliers. However, we would like to express that we were saddened to learn of the death of the founder of the Online Book company and weve signposted bereaved supporters to an alternative way of remembering their loved ones. On Friday, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat defending a competitive US House seat in Virginia, and Yesli Vega, her Republican opponent, did not meet for a debate. They were supposed to, but the plan started to crumble, the Washington Posts Meagan Flynn reported, after Spanberger objected to the appointment, as a co-moderator, of Larry OConnor, a radio host and columnist at the right-wing website Townhall (sample recent content: Democrats Say MTG is Stoking Violence, But They Are Hypocrites); Spanbergers campaign said that OConnor has previously disparaged her and other Democrats, including in interviews with Vega in which, per Flynn, he directed listeners to Vegas website so that they might make donations. The debates organizers said theyd picked OConnor because he was familiar to Vegaand had picked Lisa Desjardins, a reporter at PBS, as the other moderator because she had interviewed Spanberger in the pastbut also acknowledged that they hadnt heard the comments that Spanbergers campaign flagged and had possibly been guilty of a process failure. The organizers offered to find an alternative moderator, but Spanberger dropped out. According to Flynn, the involvement of OConnor was not the only reason the debate fell apart, even if it was the most eye-catching: Desjardins separately dropped out as a moderator amid an apparent disagreement over the framing of questions, while Spanbergers campaign also cited concerns about insufficient security. The campaign accused Vega of blowing up the debate, including by insisting on OConnor as one of the moderators, but Vega responded (and the organizers confirmed) that she had only requested that the debate be televised, adding in a subsequent interview (on OConnors show, no less) that Spanberger was running scared. This was despite the fact that Vega had ducked a separate debate, planned for last month, that was to have been held at the University of Mary Washington (in conjunction with community groups and news outlets) and moderated by Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist thererejecting plans for Virginia public media to broadcast the debate as insufficient, and taking a potshot at Spanbergers college campus base. The pair now arent expected to debate at all. ICYMI: Why we should think twice before using the term migrant The blow-up didnt attract much attention outside of Virginia, but it was emblematic of a broader national trend: a decline in candidate debates across the map amid a parade of mutual recrimination. Earlier this month, the Brookings Institution found that only seven debates had been scheduled in the countrys five most competitive US Senate races to that point, down from seventeen in 2010; last week, the New York Times reported that nine competitive races for Senate and governor would feature just one debate each. Herschel Walker, the scandal-plagued Republican Senate candidate in Georgia, agreed to one debate, then received the empty-podium treatment after refusing to show for a second, a treatment also afforded this midterm cycle to Eric Schmitt, the Republican Senate candidate in Missouri, and, last night, Tim Walz, the incumbent Democratic governor of Minnesota. The Pennsylvania Senate candidates John Fetterman, a Democrat, and Mehmet Oz, a Republican, will meet for their only debate tomorrow. (Oz has accused Fetterman of avoiding him. Fetterman, who had a stroke in May, accused Oz of contriving debate concessions that mocked his recovery; he will use closed-captioning technology at the debate, as he has done in multiple recent media interviews.) The competitive Senate race in Nevada will pass without a debate, as will the governors race in Ohio, where the GOP incumbent, Mike DeWine, has said that voters already know where he stands on the issues. In New York, the incumbent Democratic governor, Kathy Hochul, has agreed to one debate but said that she doesnt have time to stand on a street corner screaming into the wind because shes busy running the state. There are time-honored reasons why political candidates have sometimes skipped out on debates (or threatened as much), from haggling over the formatthe allotted time, the identity of the moderator, and so onto not seeing participation as politically advantageous, a particularly common motivation for candidates who are comfortably ahead in their races and thus have particular reason to fear a game-changing gaffe. Reasons for the recent decline, however, are rooted more troublingly in Americas current political and media environment. In midterm campaigns across the country, direct political engagement has been falling away, Lisa Lerer and Jazmine Ulloa wrote for the Times last week, citing three main factors: security concerns, pandemic-era workarounds and Republican hostility to the mainstream media. I wrote about the latter trend in August, in the context of Republican candidates also limiting access to their events and refusing to participate in news stories and profiles, for reasons that ranged from a desire to avoid scrutiny to a recognition that they can actively leverage media avoidance into a badge of honor. Since then, Doug Mastriano, the election-denier Republican candidate for governor of Pennsylvania, has refused to participate in debates moderated by mainstream outlets, citing their supposed hidden partisan agenda. Meanwhile, some Democratic candidates have refused to share a stage with election-denying opponents, stating that they dont want to give a platform to dangerous lies. Katie Hobbs, the Democrat running for governor of Arizona, has been one such candidate. Kari Lake, Hobbss election-denier opponent, has in turn hammered Hobbs as a debate denier. The traditional debate format has been in peril for several cycles now. As with other manifestations of Republican media avoidance, the trend arguably gained steam, on the right, with the ascent of Donald Trump, who benefited greatly from the traditional debate format in 2016 (certainly in the primaries) and yet lambasted organizers and moderators for being biased; in 2020, he skipped one of his three scheduled debates with Joe Biden after the Commission on Presidential Debates shifted it to a virtual format following Trumps hospitalization with COVID. In the spring of this year, numerous Republican candidates bailed on primary debates despite not having to share the stage with any Democratic candidates; in Pennsylvania, several Republican gubernatorial campaigns told the media that they would only participate in debates with moderators who were registered Republicans and had not maligned any of the candidates in the past. Turning back to presidential debates, its currently uncertain if therell be any in 2024, with the Republican National Committee moving this year to disavow the CPDwhich has institutionalized the organization of presidential debates on a bipartisan basis since the eightiesas biased, and instructing Republican presidential aspirants to boycott it. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Observers have noted that another reason candidates skip debates is a growing view of their obsolescence: the notion that few voters watch them these days and that those who do have often made their minds up before tuning in. This has often been cited as a result of growing polarization in the electorate, but, as I wrote during debate season in 2020, it may also have something to do with the fact that the press tends to cover debates more as pro-wrestling than a substantive exchange of policy views; if we treat debates as a sport, should we be surprised when those without a rooting interest in one side eschew them? When weve seen debates at all, this sort of coverage has sometimes recurred during this cycle; when theyve risen to the level of national media attention, its often been a function of a viral momentWalker pulling out an honorary sheriffs badge, for exampleor a dissection of who won and lost. Candidates ducking out of debates is, typically, cowardly; often, the empty-podium treatment is a justified response. Equally, if the press is liable to boil debate coverage down to soundbites and knockout blows, should we be surprised when candidates view them as a risk? As Ive written often in this newsletter over the years, there are other problems with debates, and the way the press talks about them. Particularly when they feature one candidate from either party, they risk baking in a sort of false equivalency, with the candidates subject to the same rules even if one is engaging in typical partisan spin and the other is, say, an election denier; this can be navigated by aggressive moderation and real-time fact-checking, but some candidates lie at such a pace that even skilled moderators struggle to keep up, and organizersincluding, in 2020, the CPDoften dont see fact-checking as their responsibility. Debates are nonetheless, to my mind, worth saving as one part of the mainstream medias coverage at election timethey are an opportunity for scrutiny; at their best (and arguably, sometimes, at their worst) they directly illuminate the choices voters faceand, as Ive written here before, there are ample ways in which the media might make them more useful for viewers, even if only at the margins. Needless to say, if debates dont happen, we cant improve them at all. After the disastrous first debate of the 2020 presidential election, when Trump trampled all over Biden and the rules, I wrote that improving candidate debates would require not only format tweaks but a media reevaluation of how we cover debates, in the broadest sense of that term: a reckoning, in other words, with our willingness to put policy disagreements at the heart of political coverage, and not relegate or oversimplify them for being wonky or dull. In a functioning democracy, these two senses of the term debatethe in-person and the more abstractshouldnt be neatly separable. It should come as no surprise, then, that debates, in the first sense, have declined in the US with debate, in the latter sense, in such poor shape. Yesterday, the Times published a deep dive, by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries and Steve Eder, on an uptick in vilifying rhetoric among members of Congress, findingbased on an analysis of nearly four million tweets, ads, newsletters, and speechesthat the many Republican lawmakers who voted to overturn the results of the 2020 election have recently far outpaced other Republicans and Democrats in their use of incendiary labels for their political opponents. Jennifer Mercieca, an expert in political rhetoric at Texas A&M University, described this sort of rhetoric as devil termsthings that are so unquestionably bad that you cant have a debate about them. Of course, there are also facts that are so unquestionable we cant debate themor shouldnt, at least. Being an election denier is far worse than being a debate denier. Below, more on debates and democracy: Vega v. Spanberger: Last week, the editorial board of the Free Lance-Star, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, squarely blamed Vega for the lack of debates in her race against Spanberger (which is in the papers district), including the one scheduled for Friday from which Spanberger pulled out; While it is true that Spanberger ultimately pulled the plug, the board wrote, its equally true that Vega was uncooperative with debate organizers. Meanwhile, after the Post tagged Vega as an election denier in a recent analysis, the Free Lance-Star reached out to her for a response, but she failed to offer one. Vegas refusal to interact isnt surprising, the editorial board wrote. She has never acknowledged our offer to put her views before our readers in the opinion pages. She refuses to return phone calls or answer questions from the Free LanceStar. Last week, the editorial board of the Free Lance-Star, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, squarely blamed Vega for the lack of debates in her race against Spanberger (which is in the papers district), including the one scheduled for Friday from which Spanberger pulled out; While it is true that Spanberger ultimately pulled the plug, the board wrote, its equally true that Vega was uncooperative with debate organizers. Meanwhile, after the Post tagged Vega as an election denier in a recent analysis, the Free Lance-Star reached out to her for a response, but she failed to offer one. Vegas refusal to interact isnt surprising, the editorial board wrote. She has never acknowledged our offer to put her views before our readers in the opinion pages. She refuses to return phone calls or answer questions from the Free LanceStar. Legislate for that: Recently, David Knight Legg, the chair of the debate platform Intelligence Squared, argued in an op-ed for Politico that debates are so critical to a healthy democracy that they should be made essentially mandatory for candidates, before offering proposals as to how this might be achieved. States should pass bipartisan legislation establishing requirements for debates so they arent subject to the fickleness of campaign managers, Legg writes. In the absence of legislation, campaigns that choose to opt out should still be made to pay dearly. TV stations that sponsor debates can continue to hold them and ensure absentee candidates are highlighted by an empty chair with a will not debate sign printed beside their name. Recently, David Knight Legg, the chair of the debate platform Intelligence Squared, argued in an op-ed for Politico that debates are so critical to a healthy democracy that they should be made essentially mandatory for candidates, before offering proposals as to how this might be achieved. States should pass bipartisan legislation establishing requirements for debates so they arent subject to the fickleness of campaign managers, Legg writes. In the absence of legislation, campaigns that choose to opt out should still be made to pay dearly. TV stations that sponsor debates can continue to hold them and ensure absentee candidates are highlighted by an empty chair with a will not debate sign printed beside their name. It has happened here: Last week, Jamelle Bouie, a columnist at the Times, argued that we should conceive of the relationship between democracy and autocracy in the US not as a light-switch transition or a gradual journey, but rather of authoritarianism as something like a contradiction that has long nestled within the American democratic tradition. If US democracy backslides further, theres no reason to think that most elites, and most people, wont accommodate themselves to the absence of democracy for many of their fellow Americans, Bouie writes. After a time, that absence of democracy may become just the regular order of thingsa regrettable custom that nonetheless should more or less be left alone because of federalism or limited government. That, in fact, is how many politicians, journalists and intellectuals rationalized autocracy in the South and reconciled it with their belief that the United States was a free country. Other notable stories: ICYMI: Agronomy in the UK 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. KEENE, N.H. (AP) A small plane crashed into a building in New Hampshire, killing the two people on board and sparking a large fire on the ground, authorities said. The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement Saturday that a single-engine Beechcraft Sierra aircraft crashed into a building north of Keene Dillant-Hopkins Airport in Keene, New Hampshire, on Friday evening. City officials said on their Facebook page that no one was injured in the building hit by the plane but those on the plane have perished. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide additional updates, the FAA said. Keene Mayor George Hansel told The Associated Press that two people on the plane died but that they have not been identified. He said the the plane hit a two-story barn connected to a multi-family apartment building. All eight people were evacuated from the apartment building due to the subsequent fire. At a morning press conference, Hansel said the plane was owned by Monadnock Aviation, which is based at the airport. He said it was unclear where the plane was headed and no one answered the phone at Monadnock. The cause of the crash remains under investigation and the operations at the airport were not affected, he said. We are very fortunate in some ways that the plane didnt hit a part of the building where people were, Hansel said. This obviously could have been much worse but any loss of life is a tragedy. Shaughn Calkins told WMUR-TV that he saw the fire as he was driving. We were probably close to quarter of a mile away, and you could feel the heat from the fire, Calkins said. It was billowing, so it was a big fire. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. LE PECQ, France (AP) French police said Friday theyre investigating multiple cuts to fiber-optic cables in Frances second-largest city. Operators said the cables link Marseille to other cities in France and Europe and that internet and phone services were severely disrupted. The disruptions in Marseille were a taste of what analysts warn could be far larger problems in other cases if cables are systematically attacked. The vulnerability of fiber-optic cables, especially those underwater, and other key infrastructure was highlighted by the sabotage last month in the Baltic Sea of natural gas pipelines from Russia. The damage in the city in southern France also appeared to resemble suspected acts of sabotage to other cables in the country earlier this year. French cable operator and internet service provider Free said its repair teams were mobilized before dawn Wednesday to deal with an act of vandalism on our fiber infrastructure. It said the attacks were simultaneous and on multiple spots of its fiber network near Marseille. Photos that Free published on Twitter showed multiple cables completely severed in their concrete housings buried in the ground. It said the cuts led to major disruptions to its network and phone services in the Marseille area. A spokeswoman for Marseille police said Friday that the judicial police were investigating multiple breakages to cables on the citys outskirts. Cybersecurity company Zscaler said the severed cables link Marseille to Milan, Barcelona and the French city of Lyon. It said the cuts impacted major cables with connectivity to Asia, Europe, (the) U.S. and potentially other parts of the world. The damage also slowed some network traffic from Europe to India, company CEO Jay Chaudhry said. Since Zscaler controls the network, we were able to re-route the traffic and mitigate the issue for our global users, he posted. In the case earlier this year, Frances domestic intelligence agency was recruited to help with the investigation into suspected sabotage of French fiber-optic cables. Photos posted then by Free showed damage that looked much like the latest cuts in Marseille, with multiple cables severed in their apparently pried-open concrete housings. Internet service was disrupted in several regions around France in that case, requiring the call-out of repair teams in the middle of the night. The Paris prosecutors office opened a preliminary investigation and said the French internal intelligence service, known as the DGSI, was also enlisted, along with the judicial police. The prosecutors office opened a preliminary investigation in that case on charges of damaging goods of a nature of harming the fundamental interests of the nation, as well as obstruction of an automatic data processing system and criminal association. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Harvard University has already exhausted $25 million in insurance coverage defending its affirmative action admissions program and is in court trying to force another of its insurers to cover up to $15 million more. While the $25 million costs to date have been covered under an American International Group subsidiarys (National Union Fire Insurance Co.) primary liability policy, the university wants its $15 million excess insurance policy issued by Zurich Insurance to cover costs above that amount. But Zurich maintains Harvard missed the deadline for notifying it of its claim The university has been defending its admissions policy against a lawsuit brought by Students for Fair Admissions filed in 2014 and a Department of Justice investigation launched in 2017. Both the primary and excess policies covered claims made during the year ended November 2015 provided Harvard notified the insurers by January 2016. Harvard said its defense costs consist of legal fees and expenses, costs associated with electronic discovery vendors, expert witness fees and court costs. These costs have exceeded the AIG policy limits and retention/deductible. The school said it has incurred and will continue to accrue defense costs for these matters because the SFFA action is now the subject of a writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court and the DOJ Investigation is still pending. According to court filings, AIG has treated the SFFA action and the DOJ investigation as a single claim and covered the defense costs incurred subject to a single retention/deductible. Zurich has declined coverage, claiming that Harvard did not give it timely written notice of the SFFA claim. Notice to the primary insurer does not satisfy its notice requirement, the insurer insists. However, Harvard argues that, while it did not formally notify Zurich of the SFFA action until May 2017, it believes that Zurich had actual or constructive knowledge of the SFFA action in late 2014 or early 2015, and in any event no later than January 30, 2016. Harvard contends that Zurich had notice by virtue of widespread media coverage of the SFFA action including by CNN and Fox News, as well as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Bloomberg, USA Today, The Associated Press and The Washington Post. Harvard further claims Zurich was given notice through the attendance by Zurich personnel assigned to its account at meetings where the SFFA action was discussed. Harvard argues that the Zurich policy follows the AIG policy, which requires written notice as soon as practicable, and that it formally notified Zurich well before its costs exceeded the AIG policy. Formal notice of the SFFA Action was given to Zurich as soon as practicable, given the attachment point of the Zurich Policy and the state of the SFFA Action and its defense at or about the time that formal notice was provided, Harvard states. Harvard claims that when it provided formal notice to Zurich, the AIG policy limit amount was far from being exhausted and its defense costs were not even close to the attachment point of the Zurich policy. Also, the university notes, AIG as the primary insurance company was actively participating in the defense of the underlying claim. Harvard seeks damages from Zurich for breach of contract and a declaration that Zurich must reimburse Harvard for all reasonable defense costs incurred and which will be incurred in excess of the AIG policy and retention/deductible. The dispute over the excess coverage is before federal court in Massachusetts. Harvard is also asking the court to compel Zurich to grant it access to personnel, emails and documents related to the SFFA action and its insurance account, including underwriting and setting of insurance rates. The SFFA has contended that Harvard Colleges student admissions program uses race in a way that violates Title VI civil rights act and unfairly discriminates against Asian American applicants. Harvard said the SFFA action required it to engage in extensive pre-trial discovery and motion practice. The trial was conducted over a three-week period. Harvard succeeded in winning judgment on all counts. SFFA appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, which in November 2020 ruled in favor of Harvard and upheld the district courts decision. Adam J. Sounders agreed to settle his personal-injury lawsuit against a trucking company for $500,000, but pulled out of the deal when he received a settlement check that included a workers compensation lien holder as a payee. A Florida jury rewarded that decision with a $1,883,302.89 net judgment against Suarez Trucking Co. That was enough to reimburse Guarantee Insurance Co. for the $522,607 in workers comp benefits it paid with plenty left over for Sounders and his lawyers. The Florida Supreme Court, however, quashed that verdict on Thursday by ruling that Sounders had no right to withdraw his settlement offer in the first place. The high court said in a 5-1 decision that the settlement became enforceable when Suarez Trucking filed its acceptance with the court, even though the payout check named Guarantee Insurance Co. as a payee. This notice of acceptance created a binding settlement contract by unequivocally and fully assenting to the terms of the offer, the opinion says. It is hard to imagine a form of acceptance that could be more clear or more effective. The decision overturned a ruling by the 2nd District Court of Appeals and the Hillsborough County trial court. Sounders was injured on Feb. 20, 2014 when his vehicle collided with a dump truck owned by Suarez. He filed a lawsuit, and then offered to settle the case if Suarez paid $500,000 within 10 days. Suarez accepted the deal and sent a check that listed Sounders, his attorneys law firm and Guarantee as payees. The workers compensation carrier had paid nearly $500,000 for medical treatment and indemnity benefits as Sounders recovered. Sounders refused to accept the check, saying he did not intend for the workers compensation carrier to be a fellow payee. The trial court denied a motion by Suarez to enforce the settlement agreement. A Hillsborough County jury awarded damages of $1,960,000 and found Suarez Trucking liable for 96% of that amount. The company appealed, but the Second District Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court. Suarez took the case to the states top court. The Supreme Court majority said the Second Districts ruling conflicted with a decision in a similar case decided by the Fourth District Court of Appeals in 2012, titled Cirrus Design Corp. v. Sasso. In that case, the appellate panel ruled that a contract was formed as soon as the tortfeasor in the case accepted the settlement offer. The Supreme Court said the Fourth Districts decision correctly interprets Florida contract law. But the high court did not decide whether Suarez had breached the settlement contract by making the check out to the leinholder. Those issues should be resolved on remand, uninfluenced by the erroneous view of contract formation adopted by the Second District, the majority opinion says. Justice Charles T. Canaday would have gone further. He said in a concurring opinion that contracts are formed within the confines of state law. Florida statute Section 440.39 entitles an insurance carrier to a pro rata share of an employees recovery in a third-party action. Once a lien is filed, a plaintiff has no right to the proceeds of the award until the trial court determines what portion of the payment should go to the workers compensation carrier, he said. When the contract is understood in light of these existing relationships and obligations, as is required by the well-established rule of incorporation, it is hard to see how Suarez Truckings tender of the settlement check with the workers compensation carrier named as a payee could be a breachmuch less a material breachof the settlement agreement, Canadys concurring opinion says. Justice Jorge Labarga dissented. He said the failure of the parties in Sounders case to have a meeting of minds rendered the settlement agreement unenforceable. SALEM, Ore. (AP) A U.S. Forest Service employee in Oregon was arrested this week by a county sheriff after a planned burn in a national forest spread onto private land. It was the latest episode that underscores simmering tensions over management of federal lands in rural, conservative eastern Oregon. That tension exploded into the 2016 takeover by armed right-wing extremists of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, 300 miles (480 kilometers) southeast of Portland. One of the extremist leaders was killed by law enforcement officers at a roadblock. Rick Snodgrass, the U.S. Forest Service burn boss, was arrested Wednesday and transported to the Grant County Jail, where he was conditionally released, District Attorney Jim Carpenter said in a statement. Carpenter warned that Snodgrass federal employment will not protect him if it is determined that he acted recklessly. That the USFS was engaging in a prescribed burn may actually raise, rather than lower the standard to which Snodgrass will be held, the prosecutor said. Prescribed burns are set intentionally and under carefully controlled conditions to clear underbrush, pine needle beds and other surface fuels that make forests more prone to wildfires. Grant County Sheriff Todd McKinley said in a statement that the controlled burn escaped U.S. Forest Service lands on a hot day Wednesday and burned about 20 acres (8 hectares) of land belonging to Holiday Ranches. McKinleys initial investigation led the sheriff to believe he had probable cause to arrest Snodgrass, who supervised the planned burn, for reckless burning, Carpenter said. This case will be evaluated once the investigation is complete, and if appropriate, Snodgrass will formally be charged, McKinley said. Forest Service spokesperson Jon McMillan called the situation very uncommon but declined to comment further on the arrest because of the potential of legal proceedings. Snodgrass was conducting an approved fire operation in the Malheur National Forest, McMillan said Friday. Were waiting to see if hes going to have to go to court on a criminal offense for reckless burning, McMillan said. So thats why were not commenting right now. The wildlife refuge takeover in adjacent Harney County was mounted by right-wing militants to protest the treatment of ranchers Steven Hammond and his father, Dwight, who were both convicted of arson for setting fire to federal range land and sent to prison for mandatory five-year sentences. That led to the armed occupation of the refuge for 41 days. Occupier LaVoy Finicum was shot dead by Oregon State Police. They say he reached for a pistol at a roadblock along a snowy highway. Former President Donald Trump pardoned the Hammonds in 2018, allowing them to be freed from federal prison. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Abortions in Colorado Abortions in Colorado 17,750 abortions were performed in 1984, the highest amount the state has had in one year In 2021, 11,580 abortions were done, up from 9,869 in 2020 By the end of September, the number of abortions performed, 9,898, had surpassed 2020s total, with three months remaining Of those, 2,477 women came from out-of-state this year, nearly double the amount in 2020 About three in four abortions conducted in Colorado last year were eight weeks gestation or less Thirty-five women who had abortions last year were more than 28 weeks into their pregnancy Just over two in three women who had abortions in 2021 opted for the non-surgical medical procedure, while 28% had a suction method One in five women who sought abortions last year had had one previous abortion, and 3%, or 367 women, had had three or more prior abortions Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 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. Colorado can directly distribute $6 million to victims of the Marshall Fire to help with rebuilding efforts, thanks to newly granted permission from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), according to a news release. HUD officials are allowing Colorado to directly administer the $6 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, waiving the rule that requires Boulder County to administer funds instead of the state. State and county officials said this requirement would have strained Boulder Countys limited resources and delayed the funds from reaching victims. This enables private nonprofit entities to receive and quickly disperse these funds to residents, Rick Garcia, executive director of the Department of Local Affairs, said in the release. Through the CDBG waiver, the Department of Local Affairs will have access to additional federal funds to augment its Disaster Resilience Rebuilding grant/loan program for Marshall Fire survivors and impacted households. In December, the Marshall Fire devastated Boulder County, destroying more than 1,000 homes and businesses, becoming the most destructive wildfire in Colorados history. State officials said the $6 million will be used to help survivors rebuild their homes. Colorado U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse sent a letter to HUD officials in August urging them to approve Colorados waiver request. The three lawmakers applauded the waivers acceptance on Monday. We greatly appreciate HUDs flexibility and support on this matter, Bennet said. Every dollar we save by streamlining the process is another dollar for the survivors of the Marshall Fire as they continue to rebuild. Neguse added: We will keep working every day to ensure that federal resources are brought to bear as our community recovers from this unprecedented disaster. 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 Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Sustainable or green IT is not new. In fact, it has been a topic of discussion among IT leaders for decades. But the concept of sustainability in general, which the United Nations defines as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, is something people and organizations are prioritizing more than ever and for good reason. Concerns about the environment and climate change are front and center among world leaders, environmental advocacy groups, and society at large. Corporate executives and boards want their organizations to do their part or at least be perceived as doing their part to help. The push for better environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives has taken a high priority at many organizations, and this encompasses more efficient uses of technology. What is sustainable IT? In the broadest sense, sustainable IT refers to efforts to ensure a positive impact on the environment with regard to the production, use, and disposal of technology. But as with many other terms in technology, definitions will vary depending on whos providing them. Sustainable IT is an umbrella term that describes an environment-focused approach to the design, use, and disposal of computer hardware and software applications and the design of accompanying business processes, says Matthew Bradley, sustainability director at IT services provider Capgemini. The term also extends to activities such as responsible mining of the rare metals used to develop IT hardware, water conservation, and the application of circular economy principles across the technology lifecycle, Bradley says. The terms sustainable IT and green IT might be used interchangeably by many, but experts say they are not exactly the same. For me, the terms differ in what they encapsulate, Bradley says. Green IT refers to an approach where an organization seeks to reduce the operational environmental impact of its IT estate, he says. This is often primarily through actions that increase energy efficiency, such as optimizing server usage, transitioning to more efficient physical IT assets, or by seeking to deploy more efficient coding or software. My preference is to use the term sustainable IT, because it expands the remit to consider the full lifecycle of assets, Bradley says. The term encompasses other dimensions, such as raw materials use, social justice and human rights, and end-to-end supply chain impacts. Amy Cravens, research manager, Governance, Risk, and Compliance at research firm IDC, has a similar take on the two terms. Green IT is a term thats been used for quite a while and has probably been mostly focused on carbon emissions and energy usage, she says. Sustainable IT also includes topics such as waste reduction, managing end of lifecycle for products, and social pillar topics related to sustainable sourcing, such as human rights protection, Cravens says. For example, sustainable IT practices might include looking at data center energy consumption as well as enabling technologies such as software that facilitates more sustainable business practices through the functionality and insights that it delivers. I think green IT has been looked at more as a nice to have, while these days theres been the whole shift to ESG. IT buyers are making more deliberated decisions to work with an IT vendor based on its ability to help them with their sustainable transformation journey, Cravens says. Why is sustainable IT so important now? Sustainable IT is something organizations need to embrace for a variety of reasons, including their ability to meet governmental regulations in many countries around the world. Clearly some of the main incentives are related to financial impacts. Two areas of impact are business value and stakeholder value, Cravens says. From a business value perspective, organizations are seeking sustainable solutions to create material benefit to the organization, she says. That benefit comes from reduced energy costs and greater resiliency. Stakeholder impact refers to meeting the expectations of internal and external stakeholders, including consumers, regulatory [bodies], employees, board, and investors, Cravens says. Technology has the ability to positively impact many environmental issues; however, it also has unintended consequences, Bradley adds. IT accounts for about 3% of global CO 2 emissions more than Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal combined according to Capgeminis Environmental Sustainability Performance Report 2021/2022. This footprint is currently growing, with contributing factors including rising demand for computing power and data storage as well as the production and disposal of electronic devices, Bradley says. As organizations around the world look to balance their growth objectives with the need to build sustainable businesses, it is important to consider the impact of IT. Businesses need to consider sustainable IT approaches to help deliver on carbon reduction commitments, especially as many continue to invest in digital technologies, Bradley says. That needs to include sustainable IT procurement and the use of sustainable IT services. There has been a massive increase in electricity needed to power digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) systems and cloud computing infrastructures that require more computing power and storage, says Niklas Sundberg, senior vice president and CIO at Swedish conglomerate Assa Abloy and a board member of SustainableIT.org, a nonprofit organization focused on advancing global sustainability through technology leadership. Electronic waste has become the largest waste stream in the world, with 57 million tons being generated each year, Sundberg says. Just data centers alone is on par with the aviation industry in terms of carbon emission, Sundberg says. IT hardware requires rare earth minerals that are finite, he adds. What aspects of IT does sustainability encompass? Virtually every aspect of IT falls under the sustainability umbrella. For example, think of all the components that make up an IT infrastructure. There is data center equipment including services, storage systems, networking, and power systems. For many organizations, the cloud is a growing part of the infrastructure. And while the shift to cloud services is often touted as a way to reduce data center energy consumption, the vast infrastructures of the giant public cloud service providers need to be powered, as do private and hybrid clouds operated by organizations. Networks and communications systems, including all the networks that enable remote users to gain access to corporate systems, are also part of the sustainability picture. The emergence of edge computing and the Internet of Things has greatly expanded demand for connectivity. Then there are all the end-user devices, including desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and others, and the applications they run to support the business not to mention a host of peripherals such as monitors, keyboards, printers, and more. Benefits and challenges in implementing sustainable IT Implementing sustainable IT practices can lead to significant benefits for organizations, Bradley says. A survey of 1,000 worldwide organizations conducted by the Capgemini Research Institute found that enterprises saw improved ESG scores and brand image, improved customer satisfaction, and financial savings. The greatest opportunity for businesses is that once an organization has a sustainable IT estate, this can be used to unlock greater sustainability outcomes, Bradley says. For example, this could be by making it possible to realize positive sustainability outcomes within a companys operations, such as by using a technology-based solution to reduce fuel consumption through optimizing logistics planning. With sustainable IT, enterprises can create a more resilient business by offsetting ESG risks, Cravens says. Specifically, from an operational standpoint they can offset energy, weather, supply chain, and other potential impacts, she says. Another possible benefit is enhanced reputation, Cravens says. Having a sustainable IT strategy in place can improve a companys standing with customers, employees, and business partners. And then there are the cost savings that can come from migrating to energy efficient solutions, which in turn improves financial performance, Cravens says. A key challenge facing organizations implementing sustainable IT practices is a need for greater understanding of the environmental impact of the digital world, Bradley says. For instance, among the global organizations surveyed by Capgemini Research Institute, less than half (43%) said they are aware of their organizations IT footprint. Other challenges include determining which solutions will have the most material impact on sustainability and identifying metrics to track the impact of sustainability investments, Cravens says. Best practices for successful sustainable IT programs One of the best things a company can do when launching or renewing a sustainable IT initiative is to evaluate what it has in place in terms of IT infrastructure and determine where improvements can be made. Part of this assessment includes figuring out which new sustainability tools to invest in. Conduct a materiality assessment and invest first in those solutions offering the most impact to the organization, Cravens says. Then, track the impact of the investment by leveraging data management platforms to collect and analyze data related to sustainability, such as energy usage. When looking to accelerate a sustainable IT approach, Capgemini recommends a three-stage effort that looks beyond technology and operations to also embrace the need to consider consumption habits and ways of working, Bradley says. First, companies need to set the foundation for sustainable IT by assessing their environmental footprint and creating a sustainable IT strategy that aligns with the businesss global sustainability strategy, Bradley says. Second, they need to create effective governance procedures that support the strategy, and third, they need to operationalize their plan by, for example, embedding sustainability in software architecture and by developing a sustainability culture among employees. Spreading awareness about the need for IT sustainability and a comprehensive strategy is vital. Half of the organizations surveyed by Capgemini said they have defined an enterprise-wide sustainability strategy, but only 18% said they have a comprehensive sustainable IT strategy with well-defined goals and target timelines. Only one third of organizations have established policies mandating the reporting of the enterprise IT carbon footprint, the report said. In addition, most organizations do not extend disclosure requirements to their vendors. Tools to help sustainable IT efforts Organizations can choose from a number of technology solutions to support their sustainable IT plan. One is ESG management software. These products collect data and enable companies to track, manage, and report on areas such as energy and water usage, waste generation, greenhouse gas emissions, workplace safety, and compliance metrics. ESG management software automates the process of gathering and analyzing data, potentially saving time and reducing errors. Data is collected from users via their devices, or from connected systems, sensors, devices, and other components that play a role in any of the areas being tracked. Data thats gathered is aggregated and made available on dashboards and reports to help with decision making. Another tool is advanced grid management software, which includes supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), utility energy management systems, and operationalized real-time capabilities that leverage physical and machine learning models, according to research firm Gartner. The software is used by electricity system operators to monitor and control energy resources across the electricity grid, to maintain system stability, and defer capital investments, the firm says. By deploying tools such as these and implementing best practices, organizations can enhance their IT sustainability efforts to the benefit of their own business and the world at large. Read this next: Why sustainable tech is becoming a top initiative for execs The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran on Sunday confirmed that an email server at its Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant was hacked. The organization blamed a foreign country, but an Iranian hacking group that goes by the name Black Reward has claimed responsibility for the breach. The Atomic Energy Organization said that the IT group serving the Bushehr plant has examined and issued a report on the breach, and denied any sensitive information being exposed. The energy agency said the hack was intended to gain the attention of the public and media. "It should be noted that the content in users' emails contains technical messages and common and current daily exchanges," according to a statement on the organization's website. "It is obvious that the purpose of such illegal efforts, which are carried out of desperation, is to attract public attention." The Bushehr plant's IT group has taken preventative measures in the wake of the hack, according to the atomic energy group. Despite the energy organization's claims that the email hack was the result of nation-state cyberespionage, an Iranian hacking group that goes by the name Black Reward posted on Telegram and Twitter that it had hacked information about Irans nuclear activity at the Bushehr plant. The group claimed in posts on Saturdaya day before Atomic Energy Organization's confrmation of the breachthat the hack was in support of the ongoing nationwide protests over the death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody. Amini was taken into custody by the government's morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly. Her death in custody has sparked violent clashes between demonstrators and authorities for the last few weeks. Black Reward threatened to release hacked information in 24 hours unless the authorities released political prisoners and people arrested during the recent unrest. On Sunday, the group posted a link to their Telegram channel, from where the information can be downloaded. The information is a cleaned, browser-viewable version" of about 85,000 email message, "perfect for researchers and journalists," the group said on Twitter. The group claimed the leaked information included management and operational schedules of different parts of the Bushehr power plant, along with visas and passport information of Iranian and Russian nuclear experts working there, financial receipts, as well as agreements with local and foreign organizations. The Bushehr nuclear power plant was built using Russian technology in 2011 and is Irans first nuclear plant situated along the Persian Gulf. This weekend's cyberattack on Bushehr was not the first time Iran's nuclear program has been targeted. Stuxnet, a malicious worm first uncovered in 2010 had targeted and caused substantial damage to Irans nuclear program by infecting Windows PCs in the country's Natanz nuclear facility. It is believed to be a cyberweapon built jointly by the US and Israel. Stuxnet reportedly ruined almost one-fifth of Iran's nuclear centrifuges by infecting over 200,000 computers and causing 1,000 machines to physically degrade. If the claims of Black Reward are true, then revealing the operations of the country's nuclear infrastructure might pave the way for more attacks like Stuxnet. In addition, any correspondence regarding agreements between local and foreign organizations and Iran's Atomic Energy Organization is sure to be scrutinized by international agencies, as the nation's nuclear program is under the inspection to verify safety and ensure it is not developing any nuclear weapon. Skulls, spirits and death are seen in the horror movies that give us our worst nightmares, but throughout Latin America, these things are greatly celebrated during Dia de los Muertos. Largely originating in Mexico, this holiday aims to commemorate those who have passed onto the underworld by welcoming their presence back. So what happens when our loved ones come back to town for two days? Well, we have the rest of the year to grieve, so we waste no time in gathering together and expressing our joy for life. Nov. 1 and 2 are full of festivals including live music, art, and delicious food, and laughter echoes through it all. The Maude Kerns Art Centers yearly Day of the Dead Exhibit running from Oct. 14-Nov. 14 provides a space for the Eugene community to learn more about the holiday and engage in beautiful traditions. With 19 artists from the States and Mexico, Maude Kerns is excited to share a range of art forms exhibiting oil and acrylic paintings, watercolors, textiles, photographs, welded metal and prints. Folks in town will not only be introduced to Latin American art forms, but will also be able to immerse themselves in the profound emotion behind the culture. One of these works comes from Maryland artist Francis Schultz-DePalo, who is exhibiting theyre oil painting titled Dia de los Muertos, Hildalgo. Shultz-DePalo describes it as a scene of devotion depicting a mother and child in Mexico preparing a grave site in the midst of festivities. When celebrators arent out in the colorful graveyards or streets, they are expressing their gratitude back home by setting up altars. These are meant to commemorate those we have lost by creating space for sentimental objects. This can look like food, drinks and trinkets close ones enjoyed during their lives along with photographs of them. Back home, my mother remembers my grandfather by surrounding his photograph with marigolds (the designated flower meant to guide spirits), candles, his favorite pastry, a toy he left behind in his former car shop and maybe a Corona or two. Community members in Eugene have decided to incorporate this integral part of the holiday by showcasing seven altars at the exhibit. If youre looking to join the party, a Fiesta Reception is being held at the museum on Friday, Oct. 28 from 5-8 p.m., which will include activities, refreshments and an exciting performance by El Taller de Son Jarocho, a local community group that specializes in folk music. Tie up your shoelaces and get ready for a lively night! Death is a universal experience, yet it is processed so differently across the world. Partaking and learning about the way different cultures navigate loss can be eye-opening. Before learning about my own traditions, I thought the only way to process loss was to grieve. Although that is part of it, Ive found that the other half of loss is feeling gratitude for what we used to have and how it continuously shapes who we are. You too can begin celebrating the Dia de los Muertos by learning about the history of the holiday and partaking in the celebration of life. When Iker Lopez first arrived at the University of Oregon for his freshman year, he couldnt find his dorm room. He reported this to Global Scholars Hall, but his card listed a lounge and didn't say which floor. Our impression was, it was going to be two doubles connected by a bathroom. That's what pops up when you look at the rooms and your housing, Lopez said. I was the first one to move in, and I took a video of the room, and I sent it to them and then we were all super shocked that it was just one really big room with two bunk beds. He had been told he would be in a room with three other students, but didnt realize his dorm room would be a converted common area with four beds and the windows covered so people walking down the halls couldnt see in the room. This year, UO announced their freshman class was the biggest ever recorded at the university: 5,338. According to an Around the O article published in late September, the class represents a 16% increase in freshman enrollment compared to last year and a 36% increase over the last five years. As a result of this large freshman class, UO has been forced to find more available space for incoming students by converting lounges into dorm rooms and what used to be doubles into triples, according to GSH resident assistant Liam McNamara. Over-enrollment has created a number of issues within freshman dorms, like students not being able to move rooms and having limited community space and crowded amenities. Community spaces are now returning to their former use as students are being relocated out of temporary living spaces to new openings where students didnt show up or have already left. But due to the greater number of triples, amenities are still overworked. Lounges in dorms like GSH started as temporary living spaces, and the students assigned to these spaces are being relocated to permanent living spaces as they open up, according to an emailed statement by Anna Schmidt-MacKenzie, director of Resident Life and Educational Initiatives. She said this is due to an overwhelming and somewhat more than expected demand for a University of Oregon education. Students living in these temporary living spaces are charged for the cheapest room rate plus their dining plan, Schmidt-MacKenzie said, adding that these students will also receive support from their RAs and other UO team members will help them to transition to permanent living spaces. However, some students feel like they lack support from the university. Sabina Lyon-Freedman said it was difficult to know where to go on the first day. It didnt help that she didnt really know what she was looking for. It had lounge written on the temporary housing portal thing, but it was unclear what they meant, she said. I thought I was gonna be stuck in a broom closet. As spots began to open up, students in lounges were given new room assignments and Lyon-Freedman was assigned to a room down the hall. She was given 48 hours to move. When she went to look at the room, she found the top bunk she was supposed to sleep on was extremely unstable. Additionally, because of medical reasons, sleeping on a top bunk was unrealistic, she said. Her future roommates were never told she was coming. When she brought her situation up with University Housing, staff offered to let her stay in her lounge for a couple extra days and suggested that she request that maintenance bring in a new bed. When she asked that housing assign her to a different room on account of her medical needs, they told her she would need to provide doctors notes to the Accessible Education Center and then speak with housing again. Im supposed to do all that by Tuesday, Lyon-Freedman. I knew I would only be given 48 hours, but I did not know that the place I would be moved to would be inaccessible for me. Despite making no headway with the accessibility center, UO housing found her a double with a bathroom that had opened up in Kalapuya Ilihi which fit her needs, Lyon-Freedman said. She moved there on Wednesday. Just a floor below Lyon-Freedmans room, the second floor lounge in the north tower of GSH played host to four young men, making it a very rare quad dorm room. Iker Lopez and Shai Bromberg are two of the people who live there and have already grown close over the first month of school, they said. Now, after establishing connections with the other residents, they and their other two roommates are being sent to four different dorm rooms in three different dorm buildings. So one of us is going into Barnhart. [Ikers] going to Bean, I'm going to Hamilton and another one is going to Hamilton, Bromberg said. They will take the spot of students that either never showed up or have left UO. But Lopez and Bromberg would rather stick together. Im moving to Bean and getting put in a double with someone new, Lopez said. We actually filled out a roommate change so that me and [Shai] could actually be in a double. The four students have now moved in with roommates they dont know in a hall with people they have never met. Its very frustrating because I made new friends, got close with my roommates and everyones comfortable, Bromberg said. Now, like mid-term, while I have all these tests and everything now theyre telling us I gotta move, get a new roommate [and] I have to move all my stuff from this location. When Megan Sebree signed up for housing in the spring, she registered for a double with a sink. But when she checked her housing portal late in the summer, her room had switched to a triple, she said. The effects of over-enrollment have become a normal part of her living experience. In the first weeks of school, with lounges being used for temporary living, she and her friends looked for study rooms or remained in their dorms. Sebree said she has spent more time in her dorm room than she had expected. I think we've been using the study rooms more, but the study rooms are just full all the time. Sebree said. And I think I've been spending more time in my dorm than I would have probably thought I would. In addition to converted lounges and triples in GSH, other halls have also felt the effects of over-enrollment. Kalapuya, which is mostly doubles with bathrooms, has also seen a large number of rooms converted to triples. The large campus population has changed campus life for the rest of the students outside of dorms as well. UO dining has struggled to keep up. Unthank Hall was designed with seven dining options, only five of which are ever open, according to McNamara. The already-understaffed UO dining appears to be struggling to keep up with the demand of more than 5,000 freshmen, plus RAs, professors and other students. Mcnamara regularly sees lines circling around the Unthank dining hall. While the lounges have cleared out and students have been moved to permanent living situations, the other effects of this year's abnormally large freshman class are still being felt and wont go away so easily. Over the last few years, UO freshman class sizes have increased steadily. With the construction of new dorms, perhaps there will be enough space for bigger freshmen classes, but it remains to be seen if the rest of campus is prepared for more students. US Dollar, USD/SGD, USD/IDR, USD/THB, USD/PHP ASEAN Technical Analysis US Dollar traded mixed against ASEAN currencies last week Singapore Dollar is setting up for the most aggressive push What about USD /IDR, USD/THB and USD/PHP? Recommended by Daniel Dubrovsky Get Your Free USD Forecast Get My Guide Singapore Dollar Technical Outlook Bullish The US Dollar is trading at its weakest against the Singapore Dollar since September after USD/SGD made strong downside progress last week. Prices broke under the rising trendline from August. Moreover, it seems the pair has confirmed a breakout under a bearish Double Top chat formation. That could open the door to extending losses. Key support seems to be the 1.4061 1.4107 inflection zone. Below that, the 100-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) could kick in, reinstating the upside focus. USD/SGD Daily Chart Chart Created in TradingView Indonesian Rupiah Technical Outlook Bearish The US Dollar continued making upside progress against the Indonesian Rupiah, with USD/IDR pushing to its highest since April 2020. A bullish Golden Cross remains between the 20- and 50-day Simple Moving Averages, offering a bullish bias. These could reinstate the upside focus in the event of a turn lower. Immediate resistance is the 78.6% Fibonacci extension at 15663. Beyond that is the 100% level at 15800. Trade Smarter - Sign up for the DailyFX Newsletter Receive timely and compelling market commentary from the DailyFX team Subscribe to Newsletter USD/IDR Daily Chart Chart Created in TradingView Thai Baht Technical Outlook Slightly Bearish The US Dollar slowed its ascent against the Thai Baht this past week. This followed the presence of negative RSI divergence, showing that USD/THB upside momentum was fading. Such an occurrence could warn that a turn lower may be a possibility ahead. Still, keep a close eye on the rising trendline from August. It could reinstate the upside focus towards the June 2006 high at 38.61. Otherwise, breaking under exposes the 100-day SMA. USD/THB Daily Chart Chart Created in TradingView Philippine Peso Technical Outlook Neutral The US Dollar continues to mark time against the Philippine Peso. USD/PHP has been trading in a narrow range between 58.41 and 59.31 since the middle of September. There is some potential for currency intervention here. The Philippine Central Bank has let markets know in recent days that it is ready to use tools to bring volatility down in the currency. Traders out to proceed with caution in the event of further gains. Negative RSI divergence is present, showing that upside momentum is fading. A turn lower places the focus on the 20- and 50-period SMAs. Recommended by Daniel Dubrovsky The Fundamentals of Breakout Trading Get My Guide USD/PHP Daily Chart Chart Created in TradingView --- Written by Daniel Dubrovsky, Strategist for DailyFX.com To contact Daniel, use the comments section below or@ddubrovskyFXon Twitter British Pound, GBP/USD, US Dollar, USD/JPY, Yen, China, Hang Seng - Talking Points The British Pound got a lift from perceptions of a political resolution Treasury yields slipped again but the US Dollar gained traction on risk woes Chinese equities took a bath as economic prospects wilt under tough rules Recommended by Daniel McCarthy Get Your Free EUR Forecast Get My Guide The British Pound is one the few currencies to not lose ground to the US Dollar today due to a degree of political certainty after Boris Johnson ruled himself out of running for the Prime Ministership. Rishi Sunak is now seen as the front runner for the UKs top job, with Penny Mordaunt the main the competitor at this stage. Whoever wins the race will be facing a challenging economic environment. The US Dollar has gained elsewhere despite Treasury yields dipping on Friday and easing again through todays Asian session. Some of the Fed rhetoric on Friday was seen as not as uber hawkish as previously. Growth concerns appear to have battered market confidence to start the week with Chinese President Xi Jinping doubling down by stacking the leadership group with his own loyalists. This appears to have been interpreted as a continuation of lockdowns and a tough regulatory environment for companies in several sectors. Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index was battered, down over 5% at one stage. Australian and Japanese equities saw modest gains. Chinese GDP and industrial production figures were released today, and both were better than forecast, coming in at 3.9% and 6.3% respectively year-on-year to the end of September. Retail sales for the same period was a miss though, coming in at 2.5% instead of 3.0% anticipated. USD/JPY has had a wild ride after the Bank of Japan appears certain to have intervened late on Friday and again this morning in fairly illiquid conditions. It has traded a wide range of 145.47 151.95 since Friday. The WTI futures contract is near US$ 84.50 bbl while the Brent contract is a touch below US$ 93 bbl. Gold is steady on the day, trading near US$ 1,670 at the time of going to print. Its PMI Monday today and after the European numbers, the US will see what their purchasing managers are thinking about business conditions. The full economic calendar can be viewed here. Recommended by Daniel McCarthy How to Trade GBP/USD Get My Guide GBP/USD TECHNICAL ANALYSIS GBP/USD has held onto recent gains today as it approaches the top end of the 3-week range of 1.0924 1.1496. Ahead of the prior peak is potential break point resistance in the 1.1405 1.1414 area. On the downside, support might be at the previous lows of 1.1061, 1.0924 and 1.0354. The price is above the 10- and 21-day simple moving averages (SMA) but below the 55- and 100-day SMAs which may suggest range trading conditions could prevail until a there is a clear break of the range. Chart created in TradingView --- Written by Daniel McCarthy, Strategist for DailyFX.com Please contact Daniel via @DanMcCathyFX on Twitter In last weeks chaotic Commons vote on fracking, more than 30 Tory MPs refused to back the Governments decision to lift the ban on shale gas exploration. However, among the ministers supporting the Government was new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who clearly approves of fracking . . . unless, it seems, its in his South-West Surrey constituency. In June, he sent a sternly worded letter to Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove objecting to a proposal by UK Oil & Gas (UKOG) to explore a site for gas in his constituency. The plan was rejected by local councillors but given the go-ahead on appeal by Goves department. Among the ministers supporting the Government was new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who clearly approves of fracking . . . unless, it seems, its in his South-West Surrey constituency I protest in the strongest of terms against your decision to grant the appeal that will allow drilling and exploration of fossil fuel, wrote Hunt. The proposals to carry out such activity have been decisively rejected by Surrey County Council and the entire local community. I cant see how this site has any role to play in our future energy supply needs. Nimby Hunt was widely mocked on social media following last weeks vote, including the following on a local blog: FRACK!! I am now the Chancellor so sod the Stop The UKOG brigade protesting against oil/gas exploration on my patch. Still in Surrey, Farnham town councillors debated last week whether to send a congratulatory message to the newly-appointed Chancellor but thought better of it. He might not be there very long, mused one. Indeed not! Madsen Pirie, president of the Thatcherite Adam Smith Institute, is not impressed by the bleatings of some of former Prime Minister Liz Trusss more stentorian critics. We have indeed entered strange territory when a notionally Conservative MP, Robert Halfon, describes those who favour tax cuts as libertarian jihadists. They used to be called Conservatives. Lets face it, he has a point! Overheard in the Commons. One Tory MP to another: How long before the Queens record of 15 prime ministers is beaten by Charles III? Wherefore arent thou, Romeo At the Cliveden Literary Festival last week, the UKs most senior female civil servant Antonia Romeo, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, posed the question: Are women in the West less prepared to fight? Have we become complacent? To those in the know, it was something of a loaded question from Romeo, who was famed for her glamorous parties when Consul General in New York. She had been first choice to be top mandarin at the Treasury despite never having worked there. Unfortunately, the markets reaction to the Trussonomics mini-budget spooked the former PM and Liz vetoed the appointment. Comedian David Baddiel summed up the air of disbelief around the Tory leadership battle before Boris bowed out. If we end up with Sunak as Chancellor and Johnson as PM, does it mean weve been asleep and theyve both just been in the shower together all this time? Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans James Heappey was put on the spot by LBCs Nick Ferrari. Referring to Liz Trusss days at Oxford, Ferrari said: Theres only one more U-turn Truss has left: returning to the Lib Dems. Lib Dem MP Layla Moran swiftly tweeted: We wouldnt take her. Irish popstrels Jedward John and Edward Grimes (right) could not resist twisting the knife: We lasted longer on X-Factor than Truss as PM! Rishi Sunak declared his love of Taylor Swifts music during his unsuccessful summer leadership campaign. Now aides have adopted her track We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. Who were they thinking of? Joke of the week: Downing Street is applying for planning permission to extend the No 10 staircase in order to accommodate this years prime ministerial portraits. Rishi Sunak did not mince his words when he met with Tory MPs half an hour after being confirmed as their new leader and Britains next Prime Minister. The Conservative Party faces an existential threat, he said, as he warned they face a stark choice: unite or die. Those present for the behind-closed-doors pep talk in Parliaments committee room 14 already know he is right. After months of bitter infighting which has seen them ditch not one leader but two, the Conservatives are trailing Labour by 30 points and are in danger of sacrificing their reputation as the natural party of government for a generation. Mr Sunaks choice of priorities was instructive. In the days since Liz Truss was forced from office he has not said a single word in public, despite being clear favourite to succeed her in No 10. Rishi Sunak did not mince his words when he met with Tory MPs half an hour after being confirmed as their new leader and Britains next Prime Minister But his first move yesterday was to speak not to the public, but to his own MPs. In the circumstances he was probably wise. Before she was even elected in the summer, one pro-Truss Cabinet minister confided that her biggest challenge would be party discipline. With a divided party and a weak mandate, the new PM would have to reach out to her opponents. But she did not heed the warning, appointing a Cabinet of loyalists and going out of her way to remove anyone who supported Mr Sunak from senior positions. A month later, her senior aides were complaining that the party had become an ungovernable rabble as they forced her to drop key policies. Two weeks after that she was gone. Mr Sunak is determined to avoid the same error. Tomorrow he will appoint a broad and inclusive government drawn from all wings of the party rather than just his own supporters. Prominent backers have already been warned they are not guaranteed a job, while some of Miss Trusss allies may find they get an unexpected stay of execution. He is right to be concerned. In the days since Liz Truss was forced from office he has not said a single word in public, despite being clear favourite to succeed her in No 10 Some of Boris Johnsons most ardent backers have made it clear they will not go quietly. Nadine Dorries said it would be impossible to avoid a general election because Mr Sunak has no mandate either from the country or the Conservative Party. If Rishi becomes PM automatically I think all hell will break loose, she said. He has no mandate whatsoever to be Prime Minister of this country. Fellow Boris backer Sir Christopher Chope labelled some of Mr Sunaks supporters as hyenas for their role in ousting first Mr Johnson and then Miss Truss. Sir Christopher called for an immediate general election, saying Mr Sunak would face continuing rebellions from MPs unless he won his own mandate. We have got a parliamentary party that is completely riven and ungovernable, he said. David Campbell-Bannerman, another Boris supporter, simply posted an unpleasant picture of Mr Sunak mocked up as a snake outside 10 Downing Street. Mr Johnson, meanwhile, is letting it be known that he will hold the new governments feet to the fire over levelling up and Ukraine and has not ruled out a return. He thinks the jobs not done, said one ally. Then there is the daunting in-tray. Next week the Government will press ahead with a Budget that is set to be eye-wateringly painful. Sir Christopher called for an immediate general election, saying Mr Sunak would face continuing rebellions from MPs unless he won his own mandate One source who has seen the figures on the public finances describes the situation as dire. Jeremy Hunt has drawn up options for filling a black hole estimated at 40billion and almost all of them will be politically difficult. Meeting MPs yesterday, Mr Sunak refused to commit to raising defence spending to three per cent of GDP, despite warnings that the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace considers it a resigning issue. Painful options such as scrapping the pensions triple lock or squeezing benefit payments are also being considered. Even the NHS is not exempt from scrutiny in the search for savings, despite a record waiting list of more than seven million. Every single decision in that Budget is going to be unpopular, a Tory source said. He will probably find it easier to take the decisions necessary than Boris would have. But has to find a way to carry people with him or he is going to be in deep trouble straight away. Mr Sunak has some advantages. Unlike Miss Truss, he has the backing of a majority of Tory MPs from the outset. His predecessors short, disastrous reign may also make it easier to explain the need to take difficult decisions. And his MPs must surely know that they could not hope to avoid a general election if they oust a third leader. Mr Sunak told them yesterday that there would be no early election. But if he cannot persuade them to follow him, he may have no choice. Rishi Sunaks elevation to the top of British politics comes as little surprise to me. In 2020, shortly after Boris Johnson appointed him Chancellor of the Exchequer, I wrote a book about his life and career. It was clear from the scores of people who contributed that Sunak is a man of many talents. Clever, hard-working, decent and disciplined, he is one of the few MPs in the present House of Commons with the ability to steer the nation through these stormy times. In working on Sunaks biography, I was fascinated to learn that teachers from his Hampshire prep school, Stroud, had marked him out for greatness when he was 13 years old. Olly Case was among his contemporaries in the school between 1989 and 1993 and went on to become a teacher there himself. He said Sunak was talked about; teachers would say: Hes going to be a Prime Minister. LORD ASHCROFT: Rishi Sunaks elevation to the top of British politics comes as little surprise to me Well, they were right. And those people with an interest in diversity in public life would do well to remember that just as the Conservative Party can boast of having had the first Jewish prime minister in Benjamin Disraeli, and the first woman prime minister in Margaret Thatcher, the rise of Sunak the first British Asian PM is further proof that the Tories are the true progressives. Now that he is running the country, Sunak faces a daunting array of challenges. He must unite his parliamentary party; assemble a Cabinet that appeases his MPs; get to grips with the economy; ensure Britains support for Ukraine does not waver; address the political and trade uncertainties in Northern Ireland; and confront cross-Channel illegal immigration. All this while taking the fight to a Labour Party that is surging in the polls and preparing for the next election. Despite the scale of the mountain to be climbed, I do not think that Sunak will fear it. It is obvious that he can keep a cool head. At the height of the pandemic he often worked 18-hour days and would even forget to eat, so intense was his commitment to his job. This, surely, is the type of leader Britain needs just now. Clever, hard-working, decent and disciplined, he is one of the few MPs in the present House of Commons with the ability to steer the nation through these stormy times I am the first to acknowledge that Sunak has his critics. Some accuse him of having torpedoed Boris Johnsons premiership this summer. He has also been labelled too slick for his own good. And the fact that he grew prosperous as a financier, and then married the daughter of a highly successful Indian businessman, is held against him, too. Only disaffected MPs and those who indulge in the politics of envy would attack Sunak for his triumphs in life. He got where he is today through aptitude and perseverance. Even so, there is no doubt that another one of his big challenges will be to persuade voters that he is on their side as living costs spiral. Britain is in a precarious state. The country is crying out for a leader who will offer solutions, not bring more problems. If MPs ensure that Sunaks life is not made more complicated by their infighting, he will have a chance of steadying the ship in time for the next general election. His fate is in their hands as much as it is in his. Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. For information on his work, visit lordashcroft.com. Follow him on Twitter and/or Facebook @LordAshcroft. Going For Broke: The Rise Of Rishi Sunak by Michael Ashcroft is published by Biteback. To order, click here. Although she didn't reveal exactly how much time she spends working out, some criticized her lengthy workout as being unrealistic for people with 'real jobs' From spending over two hours on cardio, to doing multiple sets of ab workouts, Beca baffled fans as she detailed the strenuous workout that keeps her in shape A model shared her vigorous workout routine that sees her spending hours in the gym so that she can maintain her incredibly enviable figure for photo shoots and castings. Beca Michie, a rising fashion star from New York City, regularly shares glamorous images of herself on Instagram, where she boasts tens of thousands of followers. However, the model doesn't just boast glam outfits, she also boasts a killer body - and she is now revealing the secrets behind it in a series of 'model workout' videos posted to her TikTok, where she details the exact routines she uses to hone her abs and maintain a lean physique. In one of her most recent clips, Beca took followers along with her for an hours-long workout that saw her pounding the streets of New York City on runs and walks - while also breaking up the outdoor activities with a trip to the gym, where she worked on toning. Beca Michie, a model from New York City, shared her vigorous workout routine that sees her spending hours in the gym for the sake of staying in tip-top shape Before she struts down the runway, the rising fashion star boasts her killer body, which comes at a cost and involves spending most of your day at the gym From spending over two hours on cardio, to doing multiple sets of ab workouts, Beca baffled fans as she detailed the strenuous workout that keeps her in shape One of the vigorous model workouts that Beca uses to stay in shape for shoots Jog or walk for two miles at 'conversation pace' as your warm up Hour-long incline walk at an incline of 4.5 and a speed of 2.5, after the first thirty minutes boost the incline to five and the speed to three Front, left and right side planks for one minute each 40 crunches 40 toe touches 40 shoulder taps 30 Russian twists Another set of planks for one minute on each side Finish off your killer workout with another two mile walk Advertisement Captioning the video, 'Today's model workout,' the fashionista showed off her toned abs in athleisure wear before beginning her workout. Beca started by walking and jogging for two miles, which she said was her 'warm up', before adding '90 per cent of models that I know maintain their measurements just by walking.' After finishing up her warm up, the model does an hour-long incline walk. She sets the incline to 4.5 incline and a 2.5 speed and begins her walk, after 30 minutes she boosts the incline to five and the speed to three. When Beca finishes up her cardio, she moves onto focusing on toning her core with ab workouts. The model starts by doing planks, she does front-facing planks, right-facing and left-facing planks for a minute each before moving onto the next workout. She then pushes herself to do 40 crunches, 40 toe touches, 40 shoulder taps, 30 Russian twists, which she calls 'cherry pickers', and finishes it off with another set of planks for a minute on each side. Lastly the model does a 'slow two mile walk home' and that completes her workout. The model has boasted she spends 'long days' at the gym and makes sure to pack a big bag with her. Beca usually runs multiple miles in her workout routine and often walks as a 'warm up' and added, '90 per cent of models that I know maintain their measurements just by walking' When Beca finishes up her cardio, she moves onto focusing on toning her core with ab workouts Beca does even more cardio when on her way home and walks two miles at a slow pace, but while at the gym she makes sure to get an hour-long incline walk in Beca is signed with model agency Omit Models, and her fans know she never misses a chance to show off her toned figure or chic fashion style, which she dubbed 'model off duty' But if you don't have access to a gym, Beca has also shared alternative workouts that require nothing more than some outdoor space and a road to walk or run on. 'Let's do a workout,' she says at the beginning of another video before she runs two miles at 'conversation pace.' Next, Beca stretches before running another two laps at 85 per cent effort and then moves onto ab workouts. She does her usual planks for a minute each - front-facing, then on both sides - and runs another two laps 'as fast as you can go.' Beca gets back into her ab workouts, making sure she keeps her six-pack sculpted, and does 40 curl ups, 40 toe touches, 40 cherry pickers and spider workouts until she's 'burnt out.' She runs one more lap and then finishes her outdoors workout with fast-paced walk. The model has boasted she spends 'long days' at the gym and makes sure to pack a big bag with her Although the model doesn't feature too many shots from her modeling shoots on her social media, when she does, fans are quick to flood her comments section with words of praise Although she doesn't reveal exactly how much time of her day she spends working out, many users slammed the model because they have 'real jobs' Beca is signed with model agency Omit Models by Timothy Rosado, although the model doesn't feature too many shots from her modeling shoots on her social media, she makes sure her fans know she never misses a chance to show off her toned figure or chic fashion style, which she dubbed 'model off duty.' The model's workout routines have caused quite the stir on social media - with some praising her dedication to fitness, while others were left stunned by just how much time she spends in the gym. Although she doesn't reveal exactly how much time of her day she spends working out, many users claimed it would be 'four hours' or more, while others slammed the model for pushing others to do the same workouts, because they have 'real jobs.' One user wrote: 'Yeah Id love to do this if I didnt have a real job.' 'Yeah a five hour workout? That's a no from me,' added another user. 'I wish I had this much free time,' said one user. One user commented: 'That will be four hours.' A traditional Chinese medicine expert has offered up an all-natural alternative to Adderall which she claims gives 'better' results than the ADHD drug - amid an ongoing shortage in the US. The Eastern Philosophy, an Asian-owned small business that specializes in herbal medicines, frequently shares educational videos about health on TikTok, including several recent videos that showcase herbal 'brain pills', which are said to improve focus and reduce anxiety. In one of the clips, the small business owner suggested how the herbal medicine, which is known as Bu Nao Wan, could act as a natural alternative to the prescription drug Adderall, which is used to help those with ADHD and anxiety. A Chinese medicine expert has showcased a natural alternative to Adderall, which she says offers even 'better' results than the prescription ADHD drug The small business owner specializes in herbal medicine and frequently shares educational videos about health on TikTok Its most recent video showcased Bu Nao Wan, herbal 'brain pills' that are meant to reduce anxiety and improve focus, with the expert suggesting them as a natural Adderall alternative The alternative to Adderall: What is The Eastern Philosophy's remedy? The small business explained the supplement, known as Bu Nao Wan, contains a variety of herbs that benefit you. According to the Asian-owned small business, the natural supplement is loved by many students in China, 'seniors experiencing cognitive decline,' and is 'regularly used by stressed-out younger professionals.' The natural Adderall alternative, Bu Nao Wan, contains many different herbs such as YZD or Yuanzhi, which is said to improve 'sleep regulation' and 'reverse cognitive decline.' Schisandra is another active ingredient in the supplement and it is said it helps 'improve concentration'. According to the company's site, the supplement also includes 'dragon bone', which is a traditional Chinese medicine ingredient that is 'rich in trace minerals and considered one of the best natural remedies for relieving stress and calming the mind.' The Eastern Philosophy noted the bottle contains 300 pills and added people should take 10 small pills two to three times each day. Advertisement 'If you're looking for an herbal alternative to Adderall, this Chinese medicine formula has long been used to sharpen focus and boost memory. 'We've received the most positive feedback from those with ADHD and brain fog. A recent study also showed that one of its main ingredients significantly restored imperative cognitive function,' explained the small business owner in her video. She added that her business even carries a vegan version, which is called Jian Nao Wan. In a follow-up video promoting its herbal medicine, The Eastern Philosophy owner branded the herbal supplement 'better' than the FDA approved prescription drug. 'When there's an Adderall shortage but you take herbs for better focus and less anxiety,' the small business captioned the video. The alternative is 'highly recommended' in Chinese medicine for 'improving cognitive function,' it's also an 'all-herbal remedy used to sharpen focus, boost memory, clear brain fog, calm hyperactivity, and reduce irritability,' according to the website . According to the Asian-owned small business, the natural supplement is loved by many students in China, 'seniors experiencing cognitive decline,' and is 'regularly used by stressed-out younger professionals.' The natural Adderall alternative, Bu Nao Wan, contains many different herbs such as YZD or Yuanzhi, that is said to improve 'sleep regulation' and 'reverse cognitive decline.' Schisandra is another active ingredient in the supplement and it is said to help 'improve concentration'. According to the company's site, the supplement also includes 'dragon bone', which is a traditional Chinese medicine ingredient that is 'rich in trace minerals and considered one of the best natural remedies for relieving stress and calming the mind.' The above shows the number of prescriptions for Adderall given to age groups by year. It shows under-21s (light green), 22 to 44 year olds (light blue) and over-45s (dark blue) Patients have been raising concerns over Adderall shortages since August, but the FDA only recognized the shortage this week (stock image) The drug shortage that's leaving many questioning how they'll go on: What is Adderall? Adderall is an amphetamines drug used to help people concentrate and avoid unwanted behaviors. It was dubbed a 'game-changer' when it first hit the market in 1996. Who takes the drug? The drug is prescribed for people who are diagnosed with ADHD. But addiction centers say many otherwise healthy people are taking the drug to help with their work or social life. How does it work? It works by boosting levels of 'feel good hormones' dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. The increase of hormones helps those with ADHD focus and avoid behavioral issues. How it's taken? It's available as a fast-acting pill, taken two to three times a day. Or it can be taken as a long-lasting pill, taken once a day. It costs $12.68 per 30 tablets, or about 42 cents a pill. The withdrawal side effects of Adderall: People who come off the drug are left in a heightened state of agitation. They also have slowed brain and body movements, a higher appetite and unusual levels of tiredness. Advertisement The Eastern Philosophy noted the bottle contains 300 pills and added people should take 10 small pills, two to three times each day. The national shortage of Adderall, which is a prescription stimulant used to treat ADHD, has left patients who rely on the pills struggling to fill their prescriptions. The Food and Drug Administration announced the shortage on October 12, explaining that one of the largest producers was experiencing 'intermittent manufacturing delays' and that others couldn't keep up with the growing demand. According to Bloomberg, Teva Pharmaceutical, one of the largest sellers of Adderall, has blamed 'packing capacity constraints' and labor shortages. However, an increase in the demand for the pills during the pandemic is also contributing to the current shortage. According to the U.S National Institutes of Health, around 16 million Americans used prescription stimulants including Adderall in 2017, that amount drastically increased once the pandemic hit. The number of patients aged 22-24 with Adderall prescriptions rose 7.4 per cent between the second quarter of 2019 and the second quarter of 2020. It increased another 15.1 per cent the next year, while patients aged 45 and older saw a smaller increase, those aged 21 and under remained stable, according to Trilliant Health. The shortage affected many patients, although most of them noted it was a belated acknowledgement to the harsh reality they have lived with for months as pharmacies everywhere were unable to fill their orders, causing them to experience growing anxiety over the shortage of the pill. Adderall is an amphetamine drug that helps patients concentrate and avoid behavioral issues. The pill works by boosting levels of the hormones dopamine and norepinephrine - known as the 'feel good hormones' in the brain. The increase of hormones helps patients with ADHD to focus and avoid behavioral issues. It initially hit the market in 1996 and was dubbed a 'game changer'. Users flooded the small business's comment section with words of praise while others couldn't wait to get their hands on the alternative Adderall pills The shortage of the drug is especially worrisome because of the side effects of the pill. Patients who come off the drug are often left in a heightened state of agitation and experience higher appetite levels and extreme fatigue. As anxiety about how patients will access the medication needed to manage their daily lives grew, The Eastern Philosophy shared their alternative natural treatment for those looking to find their own solution to the pill shortage. Users flooded the small business's comment section with words of praise while others couldn't wait to get their hands on the alternative Adderall pills. One user wrote: 'Wow I need this!' 'I love it,' added another user. 'Wow. This is amazing,' commented one user. Another user said: 'Okay, I'm trying it.' I am an autumnal being. Come August, I can be found fantasising about velvet, cashmere and fur: willing that first crisp catch within the air, leaf fall, and the building of bonfires. And it is finally here: that exquisite moment when we winter women emit a delighted shiver. It's the same with perfume bouquets vex me. Instead, I am obsessed with wood, smoke and leather. It's some formative fixation with reading by a fire, in an ancient leather chair; despite a childhood spent in a gas-fired semi. The first thing I do at this time of year is invest in a Diptyque Feu de Bois Candle (from 33 for 70g, libertylondon.com). We all make decisions about how to spend our money. I no longer drink alcohol, meaning I can afford to be drunk on wax. Hannah Betts advises the smokey scents you can lean into now that autumn is here. Stock image used And I relish everything about my annual shopping trip to buy the candle: the anticipation, the journey, the elaborate 'tasting' ritual, as I knock the wax out of each pot and breathe deep, knowing I will always settle on a smouldering log fire. No scent moves me like Feu de Bois, a consummate blend of precious woods, released in 1999. All I have to do is light a match and I am transported to home and hearth, wallowing in the sanctuary of the fireplace. I have just unboxed my new flame and, between now and spring, it will perfume my home, my clothes and me the packaging tucked away in my knicker drawer. As far as scenting myself directly is concerned, my current woody obsession is a less literal take. Chanel's Bois des Iles (from 169 for 75ml, chanel.com) launched in 1926, was inspired by a bohemian cabaret in Paris, where flappers danced the Charleston to the pulse of hot jazz, tobacco smoke snaking through the air. 'Island of Forests' is an amber wood, by perfumer Ernest Beaux, who also came up with No 5. It is said that this aroma of dark autumn woods was his favourite creation. The top notes are dryly spicy, the heart serenely floral without ever being cloying, on a base that is all forests and fireplaces. I didn't understand Bois des Iles when I encountered it 20 years ago it was too subtle, too elusive. At 50, I'm fixated. I was at a party the other evening and a chap strode up behind me and muttered 'Tu m'enivres'. This is what I want in a perfume: not 'You smell nice', but 'You enslave me'. If it is simply too much money to contemplate, try Stash by Sarah Jessica Parker (now 24.99 for 100ml, the beautystore.com), a foxy aroma evoking cognac and leather. I realise that patchouli can prove problematic for those who associate it with grubby feet and Afghan coats. However, if you do find yourself that way inclined, I urge you to head to Guerlain and demand Heritage (from 85 for 100ml, guerlain.com). This 1992 humdinger is one of the perfume world's supreme head-turners: a great fist of patchouli that smells magnificently expensive. Even if you can't abide its headline ingredient, Zara's Fleur de Patchouli (from 5.99 for 10ml, zara.com) may still appeal. One of Jo Malone's compositions for the fashion giant, it appeared in 2019, a delicate dance of peony, patchouli and guaiac wood. Subtle and lingering, it delights fans of Coco Mademoiselle, and brilliantly, it's just 25.99 for 90ml. I crave patchouli, so I add Miaroma Patchouli Pure Essential Oil (7, hollandand barrett.com) to my bath. Then I anoint myself with Aromatherapy Associates's blissful Revive Evening Bath & Shower Oil (50 for 55ml, aromatherapy associates.com), patchouli blended with sandalwood and euphoria-inducing Madagascan ylang ylang. As my final layer, I slather on Aroma Active Laboratories Soothing Body & Face Cleanser (12 for 250ml, boots.com) whenever I wash my hands. And, finally, I am cocooned. RACE YOU TO IT... Medik8's new toner This new Medik8 toner (34, medik8.com) is selling up a storm and it's immediately clear why. The blemish-busting liquid promotes a strikingly clearer complexion while being non-irritating, thanks to a slow-release technology and a skin barrier friendly pH 5.5. Shop MY ICON OF THE WEEK PENNY MORDAUNT In the last Tory leadership election, the 49-year-old MP was famously asked whether she was 'just Theresa May with bigger hair' In the last Tory leadership election, the 49-year-old MP was famously asked whether she was 'just Theresa May with bigger hair'. But what hair that was: big, blow-dried, resplendently leonine. This time round, it's less bouffant, saying: 'I've got this. I'm in control, pulled together without being distracted.' 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Rishi, also 42, his wife and their daughters Krishna and Anoushka will be the first Hindu family to occupy the prime ministerial home. The former chancellor has had something of a meteoric rise in the seven years since he first became an MP, and now Akshata is the new 'first lady' of the UK with her own fortune and a chic wardrobe to boot. And, having faced scrutiny for her non-dom tax status in the last year, she is no stranger to the attention that comes with being the Prime Minister's wife while Rishi himself has given voters glimpses into their private life and the things they bicker about. The billionaire heiress is the daughter of Indian IT mogul Narayana Murthy who owns Bangalore-based Infosys. Akshata Murthy, 42, with Rishi Sunak, also 42, who she has been married to since 2009 after the pair met at Stanford University. The billionaire heiress will move into 10 Downing Street this week after her husband won the Conservative Party leadership contest The couple have a combined fortune of 730 million, according to The Sunday Times Rich List Akshata, who is known for her love of designer items, is seen handing cups of tea to members of the Press following her husband's resignation as chancellor in July The couple have two daughters, Krishna and Anoushka (pictured with their parents at Rishi's campaign to be leader of the Conservative Party in July) Together, the Sunaks have a combined fortune of 730 million, the Sunday Times Rich List revealed in May. In an interview with The Times in August, as he languished behind Liz Truss in the first Tory leadership contest, Rishi gave voters an insight into his marriage. He told the newspaper: 'My family all drink, my wife definitely drinks. It massively irritates her that I don't.' The former chancellor added he was finally persuaded to have a few shots shortly before his wedding in India in 2009, but admitted he didn't like the taste. Rishi added there are several other ways in which the couple are like chalk and cheese with housekeeping being their biggest difference. Akshata has previously raised eyebrows with her high-end wardrobe. She wears a box-fresh pair of 445 Gucci trainers, a REDValentino shearling and leather coat costing 1,630 and a leather skirt worth more then 1,000, for a date night with her husband in Mayfair in 2020 Akshata with her in-laws Usha Sunak, centre, and Yashvir Sunak, right, on August 31, 2022 'Im incredibly tidy, shes very messy,' he said. 'Im much more organised, she is more spontaneous... she is not going to love me for saying this but Ill be honest with you, she is not big on the whole tidying thing. She is a total nightmare, clothes everywhere... and shoes... oh God, shoes.' Akshata, a former fashion designer, and her brother Rohan were largely raised by their paternal grandparents while their ambitious mother and father pursued careers in engineering and science. While her father Narayana went on to found Infosys and build his fortune, Akshata's mother Sudha became the first female engineer to work for India's biggest car manufacturer TELCO. She had a passion for fashion from an early age and has recalled how her mother scolded her for paying more attention to glamour than she did her studies. After finishing school, Akshata moved to the US, where she completed degrees in economics and French at Claremont McKenna College in California and studied at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in LA. It was when she moved to Stanford University to study for an MBA that she met her husband Rishi, who was studying at the top college after being granted a Fulbright scholarship. Rishi recently admitted there was 'clearly something' there when he and Akshata first met and added he is an enormous fan of rom-coms, prompting him to change some of his classes so that he could sit next to his wife. Four years later, in 2009, they married in a lavish ceremony in Bengaluru in India, which was the couple's home for the next four years. Family fun! Rishi and Akshata take part in a Christmas run with their young daughters, dressing up as Santa for the occasion Tory blue: Akshata, the daughter of billionaire Indian IT mogul Narayana Murthy, donned a 165 dress by High Street label Club Monaco for the outing to Margaret Thatcher's hometown of Grantham. Pictured: She and Rishi are joined by their daughters on the campaign trail in July During their early years together, Akshata pursued a career in fashion and set up her own business in 2007, Akshata Designs, based on celebrating Indian culture, discovering artists in remote villages and working with them and their designs to create her own. 'Im about the story behind a particular garment, its authenticity, craftsmanship and protecting a rich heritage,' she told Vogue. 'I care about doing something in India, for India because its part of our familys DNA.' However, her business venture fell flat and collapsed after just three years. Nonetheless, the mother of two has continued to hold stakes in businesses over the years including the family empire, Infosys and a project she and Rishi set up together, Catamaran Ventures UK. She has also been linked to Jamie Oliver's Pizzeria and Etonian tailor, New & Lingwood. Murthy's Millions: Akshata's family business portfolio Combined shareholding in tech firm Infosys worth 1.7billion Joint venture with Amazon, Cloudtail, in India worth 900m a year Shareholding in UK firm which runs Jamie's Italian restaurants and burger chain Wendy's in India Also holds shares in Koru Kids and is director of Digme Fitness Akshata is a shareholder or director in five other UK companies, including Mayfair outfitter which makes Eton College pupils' tailcoats costing 2,500 each Akshata is also listed as a director of the UK arm of software company, Soroco, co-founded by her brother Investment firm Catamaran Ventures owned by father Narayana Murthy She runs fashion label Akshata Designs Advertisement Eventually Rishi and Akshata moved to the UK in 2013, where Rishi became MP for Richmond in Yorkshire two years later. The couple now live in a 7 million townhouse in Kensington with their daughters, which is just one of several properties they own. As well as the townhouse, they also enjoy a 1million flat in Kensington and a 2million mansion in Rishi's Yorkshire constituency, where he is nicknamed the 'Maharaja of the Dales'. They also have a 5.5million penthouse in California, overlooking Santa Monica pier, which they use in the holidays. Although not an elected politician herself, Akshata has become the subject of public scrutiny on more than one occasion both in relation to her fortune and her fashion choices. Earlier this year she made headlines for her non-domicile ('non-dom') tax status, which is a legal way to avoid paying taxes in Britain on overseas income. The status is often used by the super-wealthy to save thousands or even millions of pounds in tax. It is thought the bulk of Akshata's wealth comes from Infosys, which is based in Bangalore. After the tax revelation was revealed, the couple faced intense backlash which led to Akshata ultimately giving up her non-dom status and promising to pay tax in the UK on the fortunes she brought in from around the world. She released a statement defending her 'entirely legal' arrangement, but ultimately conceded to give up the status. The statement read: 'It has become clear that many do not feel it is compatible with my husbands role as Chancellor. 'I understand and appreciate the British sense of fairness and I do not wish my tax status to be a distraction for my husband or to affect my family. After Oxford Mr Sunak studied at California's Stanford University where he met his wife Akshata Murty 'This means I will now pay UK tax on an arising basis on all my worldwide income, including dividends and capital gains, wherever in the world that income arises. I do this because I want to, not because the rules require me to.' As well as her tax status, the mother of two has also raised eyebrows with her wardrobe, after stepping out on occasion in outfits worth thousands of pounds. In December 2020, the IT heiress wore a box-fresh pair of 445 Gucci trainers, a REDValentino shearling and leather coat costing 1,630 and a leather skirt worth more then 1,000, for a date night with her husband in upmarket Mayfair. However, during Rishi's first leadership campaign in the summer of 2022 in which he lost out to Liz Truss Akshata stepped out in a High-Street outfit at a campaign event for her husband. She donned a 165 dress by high street label Club Monaco for the outing to Margaret Thatcher's hometown of Grantham. Chinas tilt to a totalitarian state from an authoritarian one began on Sunday with the general secretary of the Chinese Communist party, Xi Jinping, retaining his status for an unprecedented third term. Xis elevation to Mao-like status comes as no surprise as the party had been deifying him at least in the last four years since he got them to do away with the two-term limit on the presidency. With a cohort of his favourites handpicked by him including Shanghai party boss Li Qiyang who is likely to be the next Prime Minister by March 2023 replacing the out-of-favour incumbent Li Keqiang to take the reins of administration in Beijing, it is the world that will have to brace itself for dealing with one of the strongest men on the planet in charge of the second biggest economy and heading the Peoples Liberation Army that is to be modernised and weaponised in being vested with greater power. Xis treatment of his predecessor, Hu Jintao, whose forced departure was deliberately played out in front of the cameras during the closing session of the party congress, symbolised the message the general secretary wishes to convey with his utter ruthlessness. He is the emperor who will be presiding over a new China era while the old one of a consultative regime with a bit of openness and double-digit economic growth is long over. A culture of hero worship, cultivated by men like Mao Zedong, may not sit too well in these post-modern times but Xi has retrofitted China into a time in which the chairman of everything might be aiming at spending the rest of his active life as the core whose political vision will be central to Chinas future. Xis rise in the last 10 years has also taken the world back to an atavistic bipolar state with Chinas support for another totalitarian, Vladimir Putin, ruling Russia being key to sealing the new alignment. With Taiwan as an immediate bargaining chip that Xi could cash at any time, a polarised world may be in for tenser times even as the Ukraine war rages. Of course, Xi may be preoccupied for a while more with internal conditions marked by slower economic growth while China is still in the grip of Xis Zero Covid policy, which may be spreading a bit of disaffection. The peoples will may, however, be subservient to the states wishes even as Xi propounds Jiang Zemins theory of Chinas socialist market economy based on Karl Marxs historical materialism for the common good. It must be a source of wonder for the rest of the world that 1.4 billion people, or a fifth of the global population, should be willing to be subjugated in this continuing redefinition of Communism in which they are willing to surrender some of their basic rights for social security and a chance at prosperity while having living in a country with a stringent surveillance system aided by modern high technology driven by artificial intelligence. There may be no significance to how India reacts to events confirming Xi as the supreme leader. The last time they met their 18th meeting in eight years Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping did not shake hands though they stood together for the formal photo opportunity at the SCO summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The effect of the Galwan skirmish of May 2020 may not be erased any time soon but trade ties remain strong and there is hope Chinas territorial expansionist ambitions will remain muted while Xi looks elsewhere to signal his abrasive approach to the West. A UK vet has created a viral TikTok video revealing which four cat breeds he would never buy - and why. The creator, known as @ben.the.vet, garnered more than 2.5 million views on the clip, as well as thousands of comments. In the video, Ben pointed out that the four breeds he outlined are specifically ones he wouldn't buy, but 'if it was a rescue situation and they needed to be adopted, then that's different and [he] would consider them'. He also reminded viewers that the clip is based on his personal experience as a vet, and while 'there is science' to support the health problems he discussed, ultimately, the video is his opinion. Among the cat breeds the vet would never buy are Sphinxes, with Ben saying he prefers to 'cuddly a fluffy cat' (stock image) Counting backwards from four, Ben listed Bengals as the first breed he would not buy. He said: 'They are beautiful looking cats, they have gorgeous coats, I can see why people like them. 'But, what a lot of people aren't aware of, is that they're a hybrid between a type of wild cat called Asian Leopard Cat, and domestic cat breeds. So they're still quite wild in terms of their behaviour and temperament. 'And at the vets they have a reputation for being quite aggressive. Usually, it's our fear that they can actually be really quite dangerous to handle. They're highly intelligent, they need a lot of stimulation and unfortunately, a lot of homes just aren't right for them.' Coming in at number three was the Sphinx. Ben noted that he has 'nothing against them', and that they are nice cats, but he I 'prefers to cuddle a fluffy cat'. The next breed he would never buy is the Scottish Fold, with Ben explaining that this is down to the way they are bred to have their most distinctive feature - their curly ears - is a result of a cartilage disorder called Osteochondrodysplasia. Meanwhile, Ben listed Persian cats as the number one breed he would not buy, citing the slew of health issues the animals suffer (stock image) Ben said: 'The problem is this defective cartilage is also found in all of their joints. And this means that they commonly develop painful arthritis at a young age...For me that is just cruel and unfair and I could never support their breeding.' The number one breed the vet would never buy is the Persian cat, with health issues again being the major factor driving the decision. He said: 'Number one for me is the Persian cat, and that is because of how flat their faces are, and how many issues that causes them with regards to health and their day-to-day life.' Ben noted that while some breeders are trying to breed Persians with less extreme features, they are, in his experience, in the minority, and 'on the whole, people are just far too accepting of the health problems that these cats have'. According to Ben (pictured) he would not buy a Bengal cat, as the animals can be aggressive, and require more stimulation than many households can provide The vet added: 'I have seen Persian cats whose noses look inverted into their face, in that their eyes bulge beyond their nose. 'People don't realise they can struggle to breathe just as badly as some of the flat faced dog breeds. And that's for the same reasons on the whole. 'The nostrils are too small. All the bones in their nasal passages are crowded together and they often have a too long a soft palate at the back of their throat.' Scottish Fold cats are another breed the vet would avoid buying, because their distinctive folded ears are a result of a cartilage disorder that causes the animals to suffer from arthritis In addition, he noted that their tear ducts usually don't work properly 'so all of their eye bogeys collect around their eyes', and that the shape of their heads and bulging eyes leave them vulnerable to eye issues. Other health issues Persian cats are prone to include heart disease, polycystic kidney disease, and dental disease. 'So they're a bit of a health disaster overall,' said Ben, 'and for that reason, I could never buy one.' An Only Fans model has claimed her 'head exploded' mid-flight from air pressure after she had cosmetic surgery. Weronika, who lives in Exeter in Devon, was travelling back from Turkey post 'cat eye' surgery abroad when she heard an 'audible pop' behind her ear which was her stitches 'ripping open' due to the cabin pressure. The Polish native took to her TikTok @polish_99 to reveal what had happened in a video which racked up over 6 million views. She captioned the clip: 'Point of view: you're the flight attendant that I've just had to inform the back of my head exploded from the pressure.' Weronika, who lives in Exeter in Devon, revealed her 'head exploded' mid-flight from air pressure after she had cosmetic surgery She appeared in the clip with purple bruising under her eyes and a black head brace on which she captioned: 'Still not over how gross it was.' Users were baffled by Weronika's shocking experience and asked her to share more details on what happened. In the comments section she wrote: 'Guys, it's obviously about stitches ripping on the plane. 'Obviously my brains didn't blow out.' The social media star went onto explain what had happened and why she was allowed to fly after surgery in a series of tell-all videos (pictured before the procedure) The beauty admitted she has previously used the same surgeon for a Brazilian Butt Lift (pictured before the procedure) She was travelling back from Turkey post 'cat eye' surgery abroad when she heard an 'audible pop' behind her ear which was her stitches 'ripping open' due to the cabin pressure The social media star went onto explain what had happened and why she was allowed to fly after surgery in a series of tell-all videos. She said she had undergone 'cat eye' surgery - a treatment that modifies the shape and size of the eyes. The TikToker also explained she had had a 'neck lift' procedure done while in Turkey. The beauty admitted she has previously used the same surgeon for a Brazilian Butt Lift. She explained: 'No one made any mistakes; the original surgeon, or the airport doctor at the hospital. Everything was fine when I got on the plane. 'I have unusually soft tissue and swell more than the average person which led to some of the stitches coming open on the plane in one tiny area'. The social media star went onto explain what had happened and why she was allowed to fly after surgery in a series of tell-all videos In the comments section, she explained how her stitches had ripped open during the flight behind her ear Weronika revealed that prior to her flight she had arranged a final consultation with her surgeon and he was pleased with her recovery process so far and agreed to give her a fit to fly certificate. Unfortunately, her surgeon had forgotten to give her a printed copy of the certificate so she had to visit a different doctor at the airport. Her doctor even gave her the go-ahead via WhatsApp to board the plane. However during the flight Weronika realised that the incision behind her ear had shockingly 'ripped' open leaving her with severe pain and blood pouring from the back of her head. In another clip, she explained: 'I have unusually soft tissue and swell more than the average person which led to some of the stitches coming open on the plane in one tiny area.' Fans were quick to rush to the comments section to send their best wishes to the social media star 'We were on the plane, everything's chill, we'd gone to sleep because we'd been travelling since 2am and I wake up and I'm in a lot of pain. 'I can feel pain all around [behind my left ear], like my actual ear was in pain as well and I was like, 'How is that possible? I can't even feel my ears yet'. 'Everything was really hurting, I got up, went to the toilet and I heard this audible pop.' She continued: 'Immediately after I felt this hot liquid [blood] dripping down my neck and I grabbed some towels and started wiping it up'. She captioned her final video with the update: 'Long story short I ended up with a infected oozing hole behind my ear but it's clearing up now and it's all good I just have to be careful before it shuts'. Weronika kept pressure on the wound until her flight landed and she got the help of her mother, who is a dentist, to put the staples back in and close the wound. Fans were quick to rush to the comments to send their best wishes to the social media star. One person wrote: 'That sounds scary hope you're OK' while another said: 'Your so brave thats so traumatic.' Advertisement Ivanka Trump was spotted enjoying dinner with Kim Kardashian in Beverly Hills, California, on Sunday night - days after Kim's ex-husband, Kanye West, made a series of scathing anti-Semitic comments, which sparked furious fire for the rapper. Ivanka, 40, who converted to Judaism when she married her husband, Jared Kushner, in 2009, was photographed leaving upscale eatery The Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills hotel with Kim, 42, by her side over the weekend, after the two allegedly spent three hours dining together. The meetup comes two weeks after Kim's ex Kanye, 45, came under fire for stating that he was going to go 'death con three on Jewish people,' seemingly referring to the US military's defense system known as DEFCON. Ivanka Trump was spotted enjoying dinner with Kim Kardashian in Beverly Hills, California, on Sunday night - days after Kim's ex-husband, Kanye West, made a series of scathing anti-Semitic comments, which sparked furious fire for the rapper Ivanka, 40, who converted to Judaism when she married Jared Kushner in 2009, was photographed leaving upscale eatery The Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills hotel with Kim, 42, by her side, after the two spent three hours dining together Several hours after the dinner, Kim posted a tweet seemingly slamming Kanye for his hate messages. She didn't address him by name, but asked for the 'terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards the Jewish community to come to an end' The meetup comes two weeks after Kim's ex Kanye, 45, came under fire for stating that he was going to go 'death con three on Jewish people,' seemingly referring to the US military's defense system known as DEFCON But despite Kanye's spew of hatred towards Jewish people, Ivanka appeared not to hold it against the Stronger artist's ex-wife, as the pair met up for dinner on Sunday evening 'Im a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up Im going death con three on JEWISH PEOPLE,' he wrote in a tweet shared on October 9. Ivanka donned a tan pea coat, which she kept buttoned up to hide her outfit underneath, while the SKIMS founder - who split from Kanye in February - wore a long, black skirt and a leather jacket 'The funny thing is I actually cant 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.' Following his controversial remarks, Kanye was banned from Twitter and Instagram, and many well-known brands like Balenciaga and JPMorgan Chase announced that they were cutting ties with the rapper. But despite Kanye's spew of hatred towards Jewish people, Ivanka appeared not to hold it against the Stronger artist's ex-wife, as the pair met up for dinner on Sunday evening. Ivanka converted after marrying Jared, who is a Modern Orthodox Jew, and the pair are raising their three children, Arabella Rose, 11, Joseph Frederick, nine, and Theodore James, six, in the same faith. All of the kids are currently enrolled in a local Jewish school in Miami that is located just a short distance from their home in the luxury oceanfront building Arte Surfside. Ivanka donned a tan pea coat for the outing, which she kept buttoned up to hide her outfit underneath, while Kim - who split from Kanye in February - wore a long, black skirt and a leather jacket. The daughter of former President Donald Trump paired her look with a pair of open-toed heels, while the reality star opted for some pumps; the two women exited the celebrity hotspot together before getting into separate vehicles. Several after their dinner, Kim posted a tweet seemingly slamming Kanye for his hate messages. She didn't address him by name, but said she was 'standing together with the Jewish community' and asked for the 'terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end.' 'Hate speech is never OK or excusable,' she wrote in the tweet, which was shared on Monday morning. 'I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end.' The daughter of former President Donald Trump paired her look with a pair of open-toed heels, while the reality star opted for some pumps; the two women exited the celebrity hotspot together before getting into separate vehicles Ivanka was spotted flying out of Miami - where she lives with Jared, 41, and their three kids, Arabella Rose, 11, Joseph Frederick, nine, and Theodore James, six - on Sunday morning It does not appear as if any of her family members came with her on the trip, since she was seen heading through the airport alone The businesswoman kept it casual for the flight in a pair of blue jeans, a green jacket, and pink Adidas sneakers She carried her belongings in a blue tote bag, and left her long, blonde hair in loose waves around her face While the SKIMS founder publicly supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, she seems to have a cordial relationship with the Trump family. She met with Donald multiple times while he was in office, in an attempt to get women who she felt had been wrongfully imprisoned released from jail, and has rubbed shoulders with Ivanka a few times at events in the past. Back in 2019, the two women even teamed up to 'fight for people who truly deserve a second chance.' 'Thank you @KimKardashian for your passionate advocacy of [criminal justice reform] and Second Chance hiring,' Ivanka tweeted in 2019, to which Kim replied, 'Thank you @IvankaTrump for helping me to start this amazing journey of fighting for people who truly deserve a second chance.' Kim was also photographed entering Ivanka and Jared's home in May 2018. As for Kanye, he has been a longtime supporter of Ivanka's father; he has spoken positively of Donald many times in interviews and online, and is often seen sporting the former President's 'Make American Great Again' red hat. He wrote in a 2018 tweet, 'You don't have to agree with Trump but the mob can't make me not love him. 'We are both dragon energy. He is my brother. I love everyone. I don't agree with everything anyone does. That's what makes us individuals. And we have the right to independent thought.' He also appeared close with Ivanka and Jared - however, earlier this month, during another shocking social media rant, Kanye attacked Jared by stating that he 'held Trump back.' Hours after she landed in LA, Ivanka met up with Kim for dinner. She is seen at the airport in Miami While Kim (seen with Donald in 2019) publicly supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, she met with Donald multiple times while he was in office to discuss prison reform She has also rubbed shoulders with Ivanka a few times at events in the past. And in 2019, the two women even teamed up to 'fight for people who truly deserve a second chance.' They are seen together in June 2019 Kim was also photographed entering Ivanka and Jared's home in May 2018 As for Kanye, he has been a longtime supporter of Ivanka's father (seen in 2018); he has spoken positively of Donald many times in interviews and online, and is often seen sporting the former President's 'Make American Great Again' red hat He also appeared close with Ivanka and Jared - however, earlier this month, during another shocking social media rant, Kanye attacked Jared by stating that he 'held Trump back.' He is seen in a MAGA hat in 2018 On Sunday, Ivanka posted some adorable pictures of her family apple picking to Instagram, but it appears that the snaps were taken before she jetted off to LA In the photos, Ivanka, Jared, and their three children could be seen laughing while pulling fruit off the trees and carrying their pickings back Ivanka and Jared's kids beamed from ear to ear as they brought back numerous boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables In an interview with Fox News Tucker Carlson, he also claimed that Jared only wanted to normalize relations between Israel and Arab countries to 'make money,' and slammed his brother, Joshua, who is married to Karlie Kloss, for investing in Kim's SKIMS line. Arabella and Joseph worked together to carry one particularly heavy carton filled with cucumbers, peppers, and other veggies 'You know, I had a dinner with Ivanka, Jared and Josh. And a couple days later, I found out that Josh Kushner had 10 per cent of SKIMS, which is a line that I developed with Kim. 'I had a lot of issues with the imagery of SKIMS. I felt like there's a lot of imagery that was overly sexualized and things that I wouldn't want to see my wife and definitely not my daughters doing in the future in order to sell product. 'So, I found out after this dinner that Josh Kushner had 10 per cent of SKIMS and I had 5 per cent of SKIMS ... I said, "Hey, Josh, what if I had 10 per cent of Karlie Kloss' lingerie shapewear swimsuit line, and you have 5 per cent of it and you didn't know? How would that make you feel?"' Ivanka was spotted flying out of Miami - where she lives with Jared, 41, and their three kids - on Sunday morning; it does not appear as if any of her family members came with her on the trip, since she was seen heading through the airport alone. The businesswoman kept it casual for the flight in a pair of blue jeans, a green jacket, and pink Adidas sneakers. On Sunday, the mother-of-three posted some adorable pictures of her family apple picking to Instagram, but it appears that the snaps were taken before she jetted off to LA. In the photos, Ivanka, Jared, and their three children could be seen laughing while pulling fruit off the trees and carrying their pickings back. Critics have dubbed the prop 'disgusting' and 'disturbing,' saying the Dahmer-inspired pizza is disrespectful to the families of the serial killer's victims The notorious murderer, who is played by Evan Peters in the show, killed and ate 17 victims in Ohio and Wisconsin between 1978 and 1991 The fake pizza, which is not an actual menu item, was inspired by 'spooky season' and the Netflix drama series 'Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story' A Texas pizzeria has come under fire for creating a 'Jeffrey Dahmer Special' topped with fake blood, guts, and body parts in celebration of Halloween. Capital Pizza in Lubbock has been accused of glorifying the real-life serial killer and cannibal with its gory window display, which was inspired by 'spooky season' and the popularity of the Netflix drama series 'Dahmer Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.' The notorious murderer, who is played by Evan Peters in the show, killed and ate 17 victims in Ohio and Wisconsin between 1978 and 1991. 'One of our waitresses came up with the idea and made the pizza and just put it up as a fun prop for Halloween,' the restaurant's manager Kiefer Slusher-Davidson told Everything Lubbock. Capital Pizza in Lubbock is facing backlash for displaying a 'Jeffrey Dahmer Special' topped with fake blood and guts in celebration of Halloween Dahmer killed and ate 17 men and boys in Ohio and Wisconsin between 1978 and 1991 The fake pizza, which is not an actual menu item, has a foam base topped with Ramen noodles mixed with fake blood, prosthetic body parts including fingers and eyeballs and pepperoncini garnish. 'Like I said, its a fun prop,' he added. 'I suppose [it] will become either famous or infamous.' Slusher-Davidson told TMZ that the display has been out for about three weeks, and while they have received complaints about it being in poor taste, there have also been plenty of fans. Some customers have even had their children pose for pictures in front of it, according to the manager. Critics online have dubbed the prop 'disgusting' and 'disturbing,' saying the Dahmer-inspired pizza is disrespectful to the families of the serial killer's victims. Manager Kiefer Slusher-Davidson said the prop, which is not a real menu item, is topped with Ramen noodles mixed with fake blood, prosthetic body parts, and pepperoncini garnish Slusher-Davidson said there have been complaints about the distasteful display, but there have also been plenty of fans Twitter user BoujeeB.WithTheTea shared photos of the display on Saturday while highlighting everything that is wrong with its creation. 'Of course, it's not real, but I really don't like how people are so detached when it comes to the crimes he committed. I get that it can be intriguing because you don't hear about people eating people every day, but you also have to remember that this happened in real life,' she wrote. 'The victims' families are still alive & have to see people glorifying their relative's murderer,' she added. 'I guarantee you won't see people making a "Uvalde Special" or a "Sandy Hook Special." So, I wanna know why is it different when it comes to Jeffrey Dahmer?' Another agreed: 'The glorification of serial killers in this country is fuqin disgusting!! That whole case wasnt too long ago and the families are still suffering from that situation!! Its absolutely disgusting!!' 'Theres a pizza place in Texas that now has The Jeffrey Dahmer Special that literally looks so f*cking disgustingwhatever youre picturing - I promise you this is worse,' someone else tweeted. Just further proof that there are some really twisted a** ppl in this world' Some customers have even had their children pose for pictures in front of the gruesome pizza, according to the manager Critics have dubbed the prop 'disgusting' and 'disturbing,' saying the Dahmer-inspired pizza is disrespectful to the families of the serial killer's victims Dahmer is considered one of America's most terrifying serial killers, having murdered 17 men and boys many of whom were young, gay African Americans during his 13-year killing spree. His victims ranged from age 14 to 33, and many of his murders involved necrophilia and cannibalism. He was convicted of 16 of his murders in 1992 and was sentenced to 16 life sentences in prison. In November 1994, he was bludgeoned to death with a metal bar by Christopher Scarver, another inmate at the Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage, Wisconsin. The release of Netflix's Dahmer series last month has sparked a renewed interest in the serial killer and his crimes. The Ryan Murphy drama has become the streaming platform's second most popular series of all time. Peters, 35, admitted in an interview with Netflix that portraying Dahmer in the series was 'one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life.' The actor shared that he was 'very scared' to take on the role due to the serial killer's horrific past, explaining that he had to go to 'dark places' during filming to get into the mindset of a monster. The fake pizza special was inspired in part by the popular Netflix series 'Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,' which stars Evan Peters as the killer (pictured) People are also being warned not to dress up as Dahmer (pictured) for Halloween this year after the show sparked renewed interest in the serial killer and his crimes 'It was so jaw-dropping that it all really happened that it felt important to be respectful to the victims, the victims' families, to try and tell the story as authentically as we could,' he said. Peters' performance has received some praise, but the show has largely been criticized for 'glamourizing' and 'exploiting' Dahmer's murders. Survivors and family members of his deceased victims have also condemned the show for the dramatization of their trauma. Dahmer is expected to be one of the top costumes this Halloween thanks largely in part to the popularity of the show. For weeks, people have been taking to Twitter to warn fans of the show not to don a blonde wig and gold-frame glasses as an homage to the serial killer, insisting it's a slap in the face to the families of his victims. 'The constant lack of remorse for Dahmer's victims on social media makes me believe many people are going dress as Jeffery Dahmer and his victims for Halloween and that is so sick,' one person tweeted. However, despite the backlash brewing, there are a number of Dahmer costume tutorials that have been shared on TikTok in recent weeks People have also been sharing photos of their Dahmer costumes from Halloween past in anticipation of October 31, including Instagram user Sophia Casanova (pictured) People have been taking to Twitter to slam anyone who is thinking about dressing up as Dahmer this October Another added: 'I'm am urging people to PLEASE not dress up as Jeffery Dahmer for Halloween. We get that there is a cool new Netflix show about him but this man was a real-life murderer who does not deserve the praise.' 'FFS, please do not "Cosplay" or dress up as Jeffrey Dahmer for Halloween. Stop idolizing a horrific human that committed atrocious crimes. Its f**king weird,' someone else insisted. 'Go to therapy to work through your weird a** obsession, too. That s**t is not healthy.' However, despite the backlash brewing, there are a number of Dahmer costume tutorials that have been shared on TikTok in recent weeks. Some of the clips show how key pieces of the killer's wardrobe can easily be purchased online, including versions of his signature gold-frame glasses. People have also been sharing photos of their Dahmer costumes from Halloween past in anticipation of October 31. Instagram user Sophia Casanova recently posted a split photo of herself posed as the killer when he got his mugshot taken. The snapshot, which was from five years ago, was allegedly removed from the platform. Casanova posted it again last month, writing: 'I worked too hard to be censored!' A husband and wife who decided to move into separate homes have revealed how living apart ultimately saved their marriage - after 'decades of togetherness' left them feeling 'trapped, miserable and 'exhausted' from 'managing life with another person.' Leigh Shulman and Noah Edelblum, originally from Brooklyn, New York, but now living in Argentina, have been together for more than 30 years. Over the years, the pair - who have welcomed one daughter together - appeared as a 'perfect couple' to the outside world, but in reality, Leigh, who works as a writer, teacher, and graphic designer, has now admitted to Insider they were both feeling 'trapped and miserable' in their relationship. A husband and wife who decided to move into separate homes have revealed how living apart saved their marriage - after they grew 'exhausted' of 'managing life with another person' Leigh Shulman and Noah Edelblum, originally from Brooklyn, New York, but now living in Argentina, have been together for more than 30 years Over the years, the pair - who have welcomed one daughter together - appeared as a 'perfect couple' to the outside world, but in reality, Leigh said they were feeling 'trapped and miserable' When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, which forced them to be 'together 24 hours a day for months on end,' their marriage began to fall apart - but when they made the decision to move into separate homes, Leigh said it solved everything. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, which forced them to be 'together 24 hours a day,' their marriage began to fall apart - but when they made the decision to move into separate homes, Leigh said it solved everything 'I don't remember the moment one of us decided it was better not to live together anymore. At first, it was just a few days here and there, often because one of us had a project or simply needed space,' the mother-of-one explained during a recent essay for Insider. 'The more we did this, the more I realized how much I needed time on my own to breathe and feel OK. 'It added a dimension to my life that I'd forgotten existed. It had been so long since I'd experienced it.' Leigh said she and Noah, who works in science and research, were simply 'tolerating' each other before they got their own places, but now, their marriage is stronger than ever. 'Decades of togetherness left us feeling trapped and miserable,' she admitted. 'It's exhausting managing life with another person. Leigh said she and Noah, who works in science and research, were simply 'tolerating' each other before they got their own places, but now, their marriage is stronger than ever They now 'spend most of the week apart' but are usually together on the weekends, and while it may appear like they're 'separated,' they are very much still in love 'It felt wrong at first, like spending time apart meant the death of us. Now that I'm used to it, I don't want to go back to how we lived before,' Leigh (seen with their daughter) added 'What's for lunch? Did you feed the dog? Every day became a series of organizational meetings of household life. The graphic designer explained that she loves having the house to herself and doing 'what she wants when she wants without having to take anyone else into consideration' - and she now 'looks forward' to seeing Noah again 'Then the pandemic happened, shoving us together 24 hours a day for months on end. 'Our time as a couple became something we did just because we thought, "Isn't that what couples are supposed to do?" 'When we weren't fighting, we rolled our eyes and tolerated each other. It was no way to live.' Now, they 'spend most of the week apart' but are usually together on the weekends, and 'split parenting duties' equally. And while it may appear like they're 'separated,' they are very much still in love. 'It felt wrong at first, like spending time apart meant the death of us. Now that I'm used to it, I don't want to go back to how we lived before,' Leigh added. The graphic designer explained that she loves having the house to herself and doing 'what she wants when she wants without having to take anyone else into consideration' - and she now 'looks forward' to seeing Noah again. She also said is has strengthened each of their relationships with their daughter, since it gives them more one-and-one time together. Noah is seen with their daughter But there are some downsides to their living arrangement - and Leigh admitted that the hardest part is the negative response she has received about it from others She revealed: 'The hardest part is what other people think. People assume that living apart is a sign of selfishness or a broken relationship, but it makes our connection stronger' She also said is has strengthened her relationship with her daughter, since it gives them more one-and-one time together. But there are some downsides to their living arrangement - and Leigh admitted that the hardest part is the negative response she has received about it from others. She revealed: 'The hardest part is what other people think. It's the look of pity in people's eyes that I hate the most. 'People assume that living apart is a sign of selfishness or a broken relationship, but it makes our connection stronger. We fight less and enjoy our time together more. 'Conventional relationship wisdom says to always put the other person first, and that's true as long as you're taking care of your own needs first. 'When Noah and I are together all the time, we aren't able to focus on ourselves. If your needs aren't being met, then putting another first all the time just drains you.' Queen Letizia of Spain looked as sophisticated as ever in a daring backless navy dress as she and her husband attended the inauguration of The Royal Theatre Season in Madrid today. The royal, 50, was effortlessly elegant in the waist-cinched gown, which featured ruffled skirt detailing. She flaunted the cut-out back detailing as she and King Felipe VI waved to attendees at Teatro Real. Queen Letizia of Spain looked as sophisticated as ever in a daring backless navy dress as she and her husband attended the inauguration of The Royal Theatre Season in Madrid today The royal, 50, was effortlessly elegant in the waist-cinched gown, which featured ruffled skirt detailing She flaunted the cut-out back detailing as she and King Felipe VI waved to attendees at Teatro Real The Spanish queen collected her chocolate tresses into a braided bun, accessorising the ensemble with chic drop earrings. Looking typically stylish, she opted for a glamorous make-up look, with long lashes and a glossy lipstick. Letizia held onto a golden clutch, sporting metallic stiletto heels as she grinned at the event. Elsewhere Felipe, 54, looked dapper in a pinstripe suit, worn with a wine red tie. The pair arrived to enjoy a rendition of the Opera Aida, by Giuseppe Verdi. Today's version of the classic - which is set in the Old Kingdom of Egypt - was produced by Hugo de Ana. It comes following a recent trip the royal couple took to Germany, in a state visit that was delayed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The queen collected her chocolate tresses into a braided bun, accessorising the ensemble with chic drop earrings Elsewhere Felipe, 54, looked dapper in a pinstripe suit, worn with a wine red tie. The pair arrived to enjoy a rendition of the Opera Aida, by Giuseppe Verdi Letizia (pictured left and right) sported a sophisticated ensemble as she added a pop of glamour to her navy dress Last week Letizia wowed in a red leather ensemble while out in Frankfurwith her husband. She donned a matching blazer and skirt set, adding a pop of colour to her chic, autumnal look. The queen threw the lapel-free jacket over a sophisticated white blouse, which featured ruffled detailing, as she and the king walked on the Agora of the Frankfurt International Book Fair 2022. '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. The queen flaunted a daring backless dress as she and the king enjoyed an engagement in Madrid Letizia and Felipe smiled as they arrived at the event. Letizia donned a navy dress, whereas her husband opted for a sophisticated suit A thrifty Australian mum has shared how she makes a full week's worth of dinner for her family of five with just a $106 trip to Aldi. The mum-of-three, from the Gold Coast, runs the popular My Family Eats Instagram page that chronicles her family's meals and the ingredients that went into their preparation. Her trip to Aldi aided in making chicken Greek bowls, fish tacos with coleslaw, Mexican chicken bowls, spinach and pumpkin tortellini, gnocchi bake, meatball subs with salad, and char sui pork with lemongrass rice and broccolini. Scroll down for video A thrifty Australian mum has shared how she makes a full week's worth of dinner for her family of five with just a $106 trip to Aldi The mum-of-three, from the Gold Coast, runs the popular My Family Eats Instagram page that chronicles her family's meals and the ingredients that went into their preparation While feeding a large family is usually expensive the mum revealed that shopping at Aldi did wonders for her grocery bill - and her family's delicious cravings. She uses several of Aldi's cheap staple ingredients - such as the black beans, corn, and its taco kit. Her secret to ensuring she stayed within her budget was to split up ingredients and use them in multiple meals. For example, the mum uses the same pack of chicken breasts to make the Mexican chicken bowls one night, and Greek chicken bowls another night For example, the mum uses the same pack of chicken breasts to make the Mexican chicken bowls one night and Greek chicken bowls another night. In addition she also added a brown rice and quinoa mix to the Greek chicken dish to bulk it up. The mum uses Mexican seasoning from the Aldi taco kit for the chicken bowls, and uses the rest for her fish tacos the next night. Her trip to Aldi aided in making chicken Greek bowls, fish tacos with coleslaw, Mexican chicken bowls, spinach and pumpkin tortellini, gnocchi bake, meatball subs with salad, and char sui pork with lemongrass rice and broccolini Her secret to ensuring she stayed within her budget was to split up ingredients and use them in multiple meals Many have commended the mum's creative ways of eating exciting, healthy meals on a tight budget. 'What I love the most is that you make well rounded healthy meals! I am going to be copying this for this week's shopping!' said one woman. 'This is so helpful,' added another. But Sophia believes her lie was justified because of Sydney's rental market Her landlord evicted her because of the lie and refused to renegotiate the lease She recently moved into an apartment in the CBD but failed to disclose her dog A woman was kicked out of her Sydney rental after failing to disclose that she had a dog - but is convinced her behaviour is justified because of the rental market. Sophia, who goes by @sophiainsydney on TikTok and is originally from Los Angeles, shared a video explaining her unfortunate housing situation. 'My life has been the most unstable it's ever been in the past few weeks,' she explained. 'I did not declare my dog because I think the rental market is so RIDICULOUS - and now I have to move out.' Scroll down for video Sophia [pictured], who goes by @sophiainsydney now that she has left her native Los Angeles, shared a video on TikTok explaining her unfortunate housing situation A woman was kicked out of her Sydney rental after failing to disclose her dog - but is convinced her behaviour is justified because of the rental market Poll Do you think the lie was justified? YES - renting with pets is very hard NO - it's illegal to lie on rental applications Do you think the lie was justified? YES - renting with pets is very hard 140 votes NO - it's illegal to lie on rental applications 462 votes Now share your opinion 'I just moved [to my current apartment] two weeks ago and I'm going to have to move out,' she said. Sophia will also have to forfeit $3,200 - which was the fee for breaking her lease early. 'This building is very crazy and they noticed I have a dog,' she said tearfully. The American expat also tried to negotiate with the landlord and offer a higher bond to cover having her dog, but the landlord refused to cooperate with her. 'I'm at a point where I feel like I'm trying really hard and I finally thought I could take a break and everything was working out,' she said. Sophia added: 'But it's been really tough the last few weeks. I don't want to go through all this again - finding a place, moving, losing more things.' The LA influencer revealed that she had over $2,000 worth of jewellery missing from the last time she moved and urged her followers to ensure their valuables are taped up in a box instead of somewhere an untrustworthy mover could get into. She admitted to feeling extremely lonely and lost - especially being so far away from her home and family. 'Times like these just make me feel more alone and, like, what am I doing here?' The LA influencer revealed that she had over $2,000 worth of jewellery missing from the last time she moved and urged her followers to ensure their valuables are taped up in a box instead of somewhere an untrustworthy mover could get into The American expat also tried to negotiate with the landlord and offer a higher bond to cover having her dog, but the landlord refused to cooperate with her Many of her followers sympathised with her situation. 'Unfortunately, Sydney is super strict on declaring pets,' one woman said. 'But there are so many places out there now that allow pets! Especially coastal areas.' 'I have a cat and it sucks so much because it makes it so much harder to find a place to live,' said another. 'I had to move recently and the rental crisis is f***ed.' But others blamed her for her own situation. 'You created this problem yourself when you lied,' said one man. 'It's sad but pets can be extremely destructive and landlords deserve to know the truth.' Thankfully a rural community came to the rescue and assisted But at 1pm they were told the venue had flooded due to heavy rain Keili Bentley and Zach Bacigalupo were to exchange vows on Friday at 3pm An Aussie couple were forced to find a new wedding venue in just two hours A rural community has come to the rescue after an Aussie couple were forced to find a new wedding venue just two hours before their nuptials were due to start. Keili Bentley, 23, and Zach Bacigalupo, 28, were to exchange vows on Friday at 3pm in Boonah, 87km south-west of Brisbane, but two hours prior Zach received a call explaining the venue had flooded after heavy rainfall and couldn't be used. Keili's five bridesmaids told her the dreadful news and she instantly thought it would be 'impossible' to go ahead with the wedding - but knowing guests had travelled from far and wide to attend, cancelling wasn't the best option. 'I knew it likely wouldn't be my dream wedding but it needed to happen on that day, so we started to find another option,' Keili told FEMAIL. Not only did the pair require a new venue, they also needed a chef, cake, florals, decorations and seating arrangements. Thinking quick on their feet, bridesmaid Emily reached out to the Kalbar Community Group on Facebook seeking urgent help - and to everyone's surprise the community pulled through. Aussie couple Keili Bentley, 23, (right) and Zach Bacigalupo, 28, (left) nearly had to cancel their wedding on Friday due to flooding and heavy rain But in just two hours with help from the Kalbar community the event went ahead and the pair wed at 3pm With 85 guests set to attend, finding a new venue swiftly was a difficult task not many could pull off. They found a small chapel available to host both the ceremony and reception With 85 guests set to attend, finding a new venue swiftly was a difficult task not many could pull off. Complete strangers from the community offered tables, chairs, marquees, and 'anything' needed to assist. A chef brought his team together last minute to serve a delicious roast feast, hospitality workers offered to help and a bakery provided the cake. But they still needed a venue and briefly considered the accommodation the bridal party were staying at. Shortly after Keili's mum noticed a small but beautiful chapel on the same street as the accommodation, and luckily the venue didn't have any bookings that afternoon. Instantly the venue was booked for both the ceremony and reception, and remarkably Keili walked down the aisle on time at 3pm. 'We had no expectations about how the day would turn out, but it was just spectacular in the end; It was beautiful and everything we could've hoped for,' Keilie told FEMAIL Luckily the same celebrant, DJ, photographer, videographer, stylist and wedding coordinator were still able to attend 'We're so grateful for everyone from the community who offered to help and those involved who made the wedding happen,' she said. Luckily the same celebrant, DJ, photographer, videographer, stylist and wedding coordinator were still able to attend. 'Our stylist and wedding coordinator had to drive through floodwaters to deliver the flowers, and I'm so thankful they were able to make it because it was an essential part to make the day feel like a wedding,' Keilie said. The photographer and videographer were also the ultimate 'hype girls' who kept the excitement up the whole day. Complete strangers from the community offered tables, chairs, marquees, and 'anything' needed to assist. 'We're so grateful for everyone from the community who offered to help and those involved who made the wedding happen,' Keilie said Keilie said the photographer and videographer were the ultimate 'hype girls' who kept the excitement up the whole day 'Our entire bridal party of 12 helped and I called guests to tell them about the new venue while having hair and makeup done,' she added. The new chapel was located a convenient 15 minute drive away from the previous venue - however the flooding meant guests had to make their own way to the wedding when buses were the prior arrangement. 'We had no expectations about how the day would turn out, but it was just spectacular in the end; It was beautiful and everything we could've hoped for,' Keilie said. Despite the chaos, Keili and Zach agree the wedding was still a beautiful day and momentous event they'll remember for years to come How much did everything cost? While the momentous day went ahead, the couple were forced to cough up $12,500 after having already paid around $65,000 for the previous venue and wedding costs. Thankfully their parents were able to assist with the costs and are confident they'll receive a refund from the previous venue. Food: Mitch & Beck - Scenic Rim Catering & Hire - $3600 Cake: Vanilla Pod / Speciality Cakes - $560 Venue: White Chapel Kalbar - $8600 Styling/decorations/flowers: Tanya from Sugared Style - $11,500 Photography: Terra & Terri from Figtree photography - $4100 Videography: Madie from Madrose film - $3000 Celebrant: Jay from marriedbyjay - $990 DJ & Live music: Ben from Loco entertainment. Ricky from Silk 'n' Oak Advertisement While the momentous day went ahead, the couple were forced to cough up $12,500 after having already paid around $65,000 for the previous venue and wedding costs. Thankfully their parents were able to assist with the costs and are confident they'll receive a refund from the previous venue. Despite the chaos, Keili and Zach agree the wedding was still a beautiful day and momentous event they'll remember for years to come. 'And now we have a story to tell behind it all too,' Keilie said with a laugh. In severe cases, ITP can cause life-threatening brain hemorrhaging A young woman from Virginia had a brush with death when a strange rash that erupted across her body turned out to be a rare, severe, autoimmune disorder. Juliana Pascarella, 21, noticed little red dots all over her body in April 2020. She dismissed the symptom at first, but her condition deteriorated quickly. Large bruises bloomed under her skin, her nose began bleeding profusely, and a scab appeared on her lower lip. She went to the hospital within a few hours of noticing the seemingly harmless rash. It was there that she learned she was suffering from idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a disorder that causes the platelets in blood to plummet. They also told her the strange dots under her skin were little bruises caused by bleeding, known as petechiae. ITP is a rare condition that affects roughly 3 out of every 100,000 adults each year. Worldwide, it is estimated that there are well over 200,000 people affected by it annually. I thought my rash was harmless but I was minutes away from death,' she said. The condition is rarely fatal and most patients with ITP do not suffer significant bleeding episodes. The majority of cases are managed successfully with conventional treatments, according to doctors at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. In the months leading up to her admission to the hospital, Ms Pascarella had felt constant fatigue, her skin was pale, and she had lost her appetite. Leading up to her hospital stay, Ms Pascarella described feeling 'overly ill' and 'Not just the regular tired I had been feeling for months, but physically fatigue and sick.' Prior to her diagnoses, Juliana Pascarella, a 21-year-old from Virginia said she had never heard of her diagnoses, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Early on, Ms Pascarella noticed small dots all over her body, which progressed to large bruises indicating bleeding under her skin. Not knowing what was making her sick, Ms Pascarella felt frightened. A scab also appeared on her lip. She went to the hospital where she learned that her life was at risk. Her condition deteriorated quickly and following numerous blood tests, doctors discovered that her blood platelet count was dangerously low. 'Knowing that my brain could hemorrhage at any second and I could lose my life really showed me a new perspective on life,' Pascarella said. She added, ''After running more tests, [the hematologist] said I was lucky I wasnt internally bleeding, and that if I hadnt come to the hospital theres a high chance i couldnt be saved. I felt overwhelmed and scared.' At the hospital, doctors measured her platelets, or the amount microscopic blood cells that circulate in our blood and bind together to mend broken blood vessels. A normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter (l) of blood. Ms Pascarella's, though, had fallen to 3,000l. Her condition results in excessive bleeding because the blood is unable to clot. Other symptoms of ITP include signs that the body is bruising easily and spontaneously, petechiae that represent small hemorrhages, bleeding gums, frequent and long-lasting nose bleeds, and blood blisters on the inside of cheeks. In rare cases, ITP can cause a brain hemorrhage, a condition in which there is bleeding between the brain tissue and skull or within the brain tissue itself. A brain bleed causes neurological damage and can be life-threatening. Doctors administered intravenous gamma globulin infusions to transfer antibody-rich plasma meant to prop up the body's immune system response. Ms Pascarella said the transfusion process was very uncomfortable. Ms Pascarella said that during her hospital stay her family was unable to stay with her, making an already scary experience very lonely. The small bruises spread all over her body. What is ITP ITP, or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, is a rare disorder characterized by dangerously low blood platelet count. A low platelet count deprives the body's ability to clot, leading to excessive bleeding. It causes spontaneous bruising representing little hemorrhages under the skin. Other symptoms include long lasting nosebleeds, heavy menstrual periods, blood blisters inside the mouth, and bleeding gums. In the severest of circumstances, ITP could cause a brain bleed, a potentially fatal condition. ITP is commonly called immune thrombocytopenia as it is thought to be caused by the body's own immune system mistakenly attacking its own platelets. Advertisement Doctors rushed to administer numerous intravenous gamma globulin (IVIg) infusions to transfer antibody-rich plasma meant to prop up the body's immune system response. 'Having someone elses plasma enter into my body over three separate seven-hour periods was a lot to take in,' Ms Pascarella said. She added: 'Completely replacing my own blood with someone elses was something I just couldnt wrap my head around, and the process was consistently nauseating and painful.' Ms Pascarella described her feeling of loneliness during this time, as her family was not permitted ITP, which is commonly called immune thrombocytopenia, is thought to be caused by the body's own immune system mistakenly attacking its own platelets. Symptoms often follow a viral infection that prompts antibodies to cross-react with platelets, including the viruses that cause chicken pox, hepatitis C, and AIDS. The harrowing experience convinced Ms Pascarella to take better care of herself and listen more diligently to her body. She advised other people to do the same. She said: 'If you have an idea that something may be off, find a medical professional, ask questions, do your research, and most importantly, take care of yourself and get the treatment you need before its too late.' Tanzanian VP opens 6th edition of Swahili International Tourism Expo Xinhua) 09:42, October 24, 2022 Tanzanian Vice President Philip Mpango speaks during the opening ceremony of the 6th edition of the Swahili International Tourism Expo in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Oct. 22, 2022. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua) Tanzanian Vice President Philip Mpango on Saturday officially opened the 6th edition of the Swahili International Tourism Expo and pledged the government's continued improvement of the country's infrastructure of tourism services. DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Vice President Philip Mpango on Saturday officially opened the 6th edition of the Swahili International Tourism Expo and pledged the government's continued improvement of the country's infrastructure of tourism services. In addition, Mpango said the government has since 2020 been working to align infrastructures and providing incentives to attract investment in tourism. "We are also vigorously promoting other unpopular touristic attractions especially in the southern corridor of our country, including Mikumi, Ruaha, Julius Nyerere and Udzungwa National Parks which we believe also have a great potential to boost this sector to new heights," he said in Dar es Salaam, the commercial capital of Tanzania. He said achievements recorded in the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period and the recent recovery are a clear testimony of joint efforts made by the government and the private sector to boost the development of the tourism sector. "The government recognizes the importance of private sector as the driver and engine of the tourism sector and over the years, we have been taking a number of legal and fiscal reforms to support growth of the sector," said Mpango, adding there is a plethora of tourism investment opportunities including the construction of hotels, lodges, holiday homes, developing amusement parks, sea and lake cruising as well as expanding tour operators and agencies. Maasai people sing a song during the opening ceremony of the 6th edition of the Swahili International Tourism Expo in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Oct. 22, 2022. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua) Pindi Chana, the minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, said the Swahili International Tourism Expo was established in 2014 to promote Tanzania's tourist attractions and investment opportunities. It is a part of the implementation of a tourism marketing strategy to attract tourists to visit destination Tanzania and increase tourism contribution to the country's economy. The expo, which started Friday and will end Sunday, is held after a hiatus of two years because of COVID-19. This year's expo feature business exhibitions, investment forums and seminars, speed-networking sessions, cultural performances, and familiarization trips to unique tourist attractions across Tanzania. It is being attended by more than 200 domestic and overseas exhibitors, over 100 international buyers from within and outside Africa, and more than 5,000 trade visitors. Chana said the expo has attracted stakeholders in the tourism industry from countries including China, Indonesia, India, the United Kingdom, Oman, Mozambique, Malawi, Algeria and Zimbabwe. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Hongyu) Cannabis users face more pain after surgery than those who do not use the drug and they need more painkillers, a study has found. Many Americans take medical marijuana to help relieve pain from urinary and digestive problems among other conditions. Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic analyzed pain and opioid records from 35,000 patients a day after surgery. It included 1,600 people who had used marijuana at least a month before their operations, but not for chronic or long-term pain. In Ohio, where the clinic was based, it is only legal to use the drug for medical reasons. Cannabis users whether smoking, eating or taking it as pills experienced 14 per cent more pain over the day after surgery, researchers found. They were also received seven per cent more opioids to help ease pain, although this was not significantly higher than in the other group. Dr Elyad Ekrami, a clinical research fellow involved in the study, said the study underlined the importance of telling doctors whether you use cannabis. He said patients should not stop taking it before surgery unless advised by their doctors. Cannabis lobbyists today told DailyMail.com that patients should follow the advice of their doctors. Experts suggest cannabis may lead to more pain after surgery because users may be unable to take it in hospital, leaving them suffering more pain. But it could also be because the drug makes pain receptors less sensitive, meaning more opioids are required to reduce the experience of pain. Cannabis users face more pain after surgery than those who use the drug and need more painkillers to reduce it, a study has found (file photo) The above shows cannabis use across American states. Some 19 have legalized it for recreational use, while nearly all now allow it to be used for medicinal purposes Doctors have been aware that cannabis use can leave patients suffering more pain after surgeries for years. But this study is believed to be the first large-scale paper to detect the effect. The retrospective paper was presented today at the American Society of Anesthesiologists annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. For the paper scientists combed through the Cleveland clinic database of elective surgery from 2010 to 2020. What are the health risks of marijuana? About 48million Americans smoke cannabis at least once a year, official estimates suggest. This figure is rising as states continue to legalize the drug. But evidence is also growing over its health risks, particularly for young adults. Researchers suggest it has the following negative impacts: Brain damage : It can cause a permanent loss of IQ and even alter development in young adults; : It can cause a permanent loss of IQ and even alter development in young adults; Mental health : It has been linked to suicide, depression and anxiety in the past, although it is unclear if marijuana is the cause; : It has been linked to suicide, depression and anxiety in the past, although it is unclear if marijuana is the cause; Daily life : Surveys link it to more problems in careers and relationships; : Surveys link it to more problems in careers and relationships; Driving : Those who drive under the influence have slower reactions and less coordination, research shows. Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Advertisement Ohio, where the clinic is based, did not legalize medicinal marijuana for medicinal use until 2016. It is not legal to use it recreationally in the state. A total of 34,321 patients were included in the study who did not smoke marijuana in the month before their operation. It also included 1,681 people who had used marijuana at least once in the month before being admitted to hospital for surgery. Individuals with chronic pain, a common reason to take medicinal marijuana, were excluded from the analysis. No data was available on how participants used cannabis whether smoked, eaten or taken as a pill , or whether they were regular users. But Dr Ekrami said it was likely the group included patients using all types of cannabis either regularly or rarely. Patients were surveyed after surgery on how severe their pain was, while data was collected on the amount of opioids they received. The scientists initially performed an analysis to control for age, sex, type of surgery and other factors. Results showed that cannabis users had 14 per cent more pain after surgery than those who did not use the drug. This was a significant difference, underlining the impact of cannabis. But although they had more opioids on average over the day after surgery, this was not significantly higher. Dr Ekrami told DailyMail.com: 'Our study shows that cannabis users had significantly higher pain scores and a slightly higher use of opioids. 'But this is not an enormously higher amount of pain. It is 0.58 higher, and pain was ranked on a scale of zero to ten being the most severe.' 'I don't think this goes against canabis use, I don't think someone who uses cannabis will quit because of these results. 'But what it shows is that patients should be honest about what substances they use to their caregivers to get it documented.' He admitted it was possible that some patients with chronic pain may have been included in the study, affecting the results. He added that they may also have missed some cannabis users, who did not admit to using it to their doctors or were not asked whether they did use it. The Cannabis Industry Association which represents manufacturers told DailyMail.com: 'Patients should follow the advice of their physicians.' A growing body of research warns that repeated use of the drug can alter brain development in young adults and even raise the risk of depression or problems in relationships and careers. But it has been legalized for recreational use in 19 states so far, with others looking set to soon follow. It remains illegal to use cannabis at the federal level. More than 48.2million Americans try marijuana annually or 18 per cent of the population, official estimates suggest. This figure has risen in young adults as a total of 19 states have now legalized it for recreational use. Marijuana can be smoked or eaten via a tablet or edible laced with THC. It works by stimulating the release of dopamine the brain's reward chemical sparking feelings of pleasure, satisfaction and achievement. Chronic use of the drug has been associated with altered brain development, leading to a lower IQ. The drug has also been linked depression and other mental health problems. Home goods conglomerate Unilever has recalled millions of its dry shampoo products after determining that they contained the human carcinogen benzene. The recall affected both Canadian and US markets. The company announced the recalls in both countries earlier this week. The Food and Drug Administration said this week that Unilever's move to pull millions of dry shampoos from the US market was made 'out of an abundance of caution.' There have been no reports of adverse effects related to benzene exposure in the US, but the chemical was found in the products marketed in Canada. Health Canada, the government health agency, announced the recall this week for 15 different products manufactured under various brands under Unilever. Over a million of the affected products were sold in Canada between January 2020 and October 2022. Continued exposure to benzene over a long period of time can cause leukemia, blood cancer of the bone marrow, and blood disorders which can be life-threatening. Pregnant woman should also limit their exposure to benzene wherever they can. The chemical has been proven to disrupt a developing fetus in pregnancy. The Canadian health agency recalled millions of products after they were found to contain benzene. While US health officials did not confirm that the products sold statewide were tainted, Unilever pulled them from US markets out of caution. Benzene - the cancer causing chemical found in millions of dry shampoos Benzene is a cancer-causing chemical, also known as a carcinogen, that is widely used in manufacturing in the US. It is used in the creation of plastic, nylon, rubbers, paint and glue products. It can also be found in tobacco smoke, motor vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions. Long-term exposure to the chemical has been linked to severe damage to a person's blood. In has been linked to blood cancers like leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The chemical has also been linked to anemia. Source: CDC Advertisement Health Canada said, 'Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled product and dispose of it in accordance with the instructions for disposal on the packaging.' The recalled products in the US include those made by Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI (Rockaholic and Bed Head), and TRESemme. Aerosol products including dry shampoos and hairsprays that use butane, propane or other propellants are at greater risk of being contaminated by benzene. Benzene is a raw material that is commonly used to produce chemicals that make plastic, rubbers, paint, resins, synthetic fibers, and glue. It is also found in crude oil and is a major part of gasoline. Inhalation of high concentrations of benzene in the short term can cause a myriad of adverse effects such as dizziness, headaches, irregular heartbeat, and, in certain severe circumstances, death. Recalls over concerns about benzene contamination are not unprecedented. Last year, Procter & Gamble recalled 32 dry shampoo and conditioner products after detecting benzene in some of them. It was among over half a dozen recalls of products contaminated with the cancer causing chemical. Also last year, Johnson & Johnson issued a recall for five of its aerosol sunscreens after finding trace amounts of benzene in them. Experts have voiced concerns over the number of preventable deaths on NHS operating tables after breathing tubes having been inserted incorrectly. Officially the mistake kills an average of six people a year in the UK, but some senior medics fear the true toll could be much higher. And patients lucky enough to survive the error are often left with life-changing brain injuries. Concerns the problem is being under-reported have prompted a team of UK and international specialists to draw up new guidance for medics to try to eliminate the mistakes and save lives. It follows the death of Glenda Logsdail, a 61-year-old NHS consultant radiographer, in August 2020. She suffered fatal brain damage caused by a cardiac arrest during a routine operation for appendicitis. Experts have voiced concerns over the number of preventable deaths on NHS operating tables after breathing tubes having been inserted incorrectly (stock image) An inquest blamed the tragedy on a doctor who mistakenly inserted the tube that was supposed to go into her lungs, to help her breathe, into her oesophagus the pipe that takes food to the stomach. This meant vital organs were starved of oxygen, triggering her heart to stop within minutes. 'There have been growing concerns about the problem,' says Professor Tim Cook, consultant anaesthetist at Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust. 'The death of Glenda Logsdail added to those concerns and led to the new guidance. 'We suspect that the six deaths a year is not accurate and that there are probably more. The problem is there is no official registry of accidents or deaths caused by this error yet the more you look for it, the more you find it. 'These deaths are almost entirely preventable and the aim of the new guidance is to reduce these cases to zero.' Many common operations involve an intubation, when a tube is inserted down the throat and into the airway to help a patient breathe while under general anaesthetic. The anaesthetist first threads a tube between the vocal cords and into the windpipe, which connects to the lungs. It follows the death of Glenda Logsdail (pictured right with husband Richard), a 61-year-old NHS consultant radiographer, in August 2020 She suffered fatal brain damage caused by a cardiac arrest during a routine operation for appendicitis A ventilator then pumps oxygen through the tube and into the lungs, before extracting carbon dioxide from the airways through the same tube. But the windpipe sits in close proximity to the oesophagus, which carries food to the stomach. If the tube enters the oesophagus instead, it means the air passing through is not reaching the lungs and carbon dioxide cannot escape. In the vast majority of cases, doctors notice immediately and rectify the problem. But if it is not spotted within the first few minutes, the patient's heart and lungs can be so starved of oxygen that it triggers cardiac arrest. These deaths are almost entirely preventable Glenda Logsdail died after experienced consultant anaesthetist Dr Wael Zghaibe failed to spot his error during a procedure at Milton Keynes hospital. An inquest described the 'panic and chaos' in the operating theatre and said Dr Zghaibe had become 'fixated' on the idea that the patient was suffering some kind of severe reaction to the anaesthetic. In a statement at the inquest in 2021, Glenda's family said: 'We miss her terribly but we know that she'd be happy that something good will come from her tragic death and that nobody else will go through what we've had to go through as a family.' One of the measures being called for in guidance newly published by the Association of Anaesthetics is the routine use of video laryngoscopy, where a probe with a miniature camera on the end is used to insert the tube. Another tragic case involved the death of 46-year-old Naomi Ryan, who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest in 2019 when doctors at Charing Cross Hospital (above) in London inserted the intubation tube incorrectly, shutting off her airways The camera instantly projects the image on to a screen in the operating theatre so all staff can see the tube is in the right place. Prof Cook says: 'The measure reduces the risk of putting the tube in the wrong place three-fold.' He added that it was possible some patient deaths from cardiac arrest on the table might be put down to natural causes, when in fact they are due to faulty placement of the intubation tube into the food pipe. 'In these cases we might never know an error was made because the tube is removed before anyone can check if it was the cause of the arrest,' he adds. Another tragic case involved the death of 46-year-old Naomi Ryan, who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest in 2019 when doctors at Charing Cross Hospital in London inserted the intubation tube incorrectly, shutting off her airways. She had been admitted with severe pneumonia. Doctors had noticed that a carbon dioxide monitor showed no CO2 was leaving her lungs a warning sign for blocked airways but wrongly assumed that the gadget was faulty. The Association of Anaesthetics has called for carbon dioxide devices to be used before all future operations to check tubes are not impeding airflow and if there is no carbon dioxide output, then the tube is almost certainly in the wrong place. Bosses at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Charing Cross, ordered more training for all staff involved in intubation and set up 'crash call teams' to be on alert for any unexpected cardiac arrests there. They also say most children will not commit to gender changes in their teens New guidelines say it can have significant effects it on a child's psychology NHS to consider risks of social transition in youth questioning gender identity Children who believe they are trans are probably just going through a short-lived phase, the NHS has told doctors. The health service last week issued draft guidance on treating children and young people with gender dysphoria those who feel their gender is different from their sex. Doctors should be open to 'exploring all developmentally appropriate options' with youngsters who believe they are trans but be 'mindful that this may be a transient phase', it states. Health chiefs noted that in 'most cases gender incongruence does not persist into adolescence'. Its guidance says 'social transitioning' should be no longer be viewed as a 'neutral act' due to the significant effects it may have on a child's psychology. Social transitioning is when a person lives as a gender different to their biological sex but doesn't take drugs to transition, such as controversial puberty blockers or hormones. It may see a person change their name, pronouns and dress in clothes associated with their opposite sex. They may also use the bathrooms of their preferred identity rather than their biological sex. Children considering changing gender could be discouraged from social transitioning, like switching pronouns or dressing like the opposite sex as NHS the proposes to shake-up its approach to gender identity care Revealed: At least 15 under-FOURS were referred to NHS Tavistock clinic to undergo gender care services At least 15 children under the age of four were directed to the NHS's transgender health service in England in the past two years. A similar number of five-year-olds were referred between 2021-2022 to the highly-controversial Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) at the Tavistock clinic, the country's only gender identity service for children. NHS documents state that, in total, over 5,000 children were referred to Tavistock's service in the past two years, over concerns they were suffering from their gender identity not matching their biological sex. Only half of referrals were for children aged 15-plus. The NHS data, unveiled among some new guidelines for how to treat children with gender dysphoria, only concerns referrals to the GIDS at Tavistock. Not all of the patients would have been taken on for actual treatment, which can include puberty blockers and hormones that help change their bodies to align more with their gender identity. It is not known how many of the children aged five or under referred to GIDS went on to become patients. Any that did are unlikely to have been prescribed medication. But the figure is likely to cast even more questions over how children questioning their gender are directed to NHS care in England. NHS England is cracking down on how children are referred to gender identity care in the future, in the wake of the Tavistock chaos which saw its GIDS service ruled unsafe following a review. Advertisement The guidance sets out that medics should carefully consider encouraging prepubescent children to socially transition due to the mental health risks they face in their teenage years. 'The clinical approach has to be mindful of the risks of an inappropriate gender transition and the difficulties that the child may experience in returning to the original gender role upon entering puberty if the gender incongruence does not persist into adolescence,' the guidance reads. Even for older children, those already in their adolescence, social transitioning should only be considered a last resort in severe cases, the NHS suggests. 'Social transition should only be considered where the approach is necessary for the alleviation of, or prevention of, clinically significant distress or significant impairment in social functioning and the young person is able to fully comprehend the implications of affirming a social transition,' the draft reads. Stella O'Malley, psychotherapist and director of campaign group Genspect, said medics needed to take heed of warnings over social transitioning. She said: 'Professionals working with children need to reflect on that and make sure they aren't inadvertently causing harm by providing short term relief that leads to long term distress. 'At Genspect we believe that children should be free to wear whatever clothes they want, boys should be free to run around waving fairy wands in princess dresses and girls should be free to act however they wish, yet we don't think changing pronouns helps anyone it creates more problems than it resolves.' The NHS England draft guidelines are part of the health service's plan to close the highly-controversial Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) at the Tavistock clinic, the country's only gender identity service for children. GIDS is scheduled to shut its doors in the spring after a review ruled that the service was unsafe. It found that other mental health issues were 'overshadowed' in favour of gender identity treatment, prompting accusations that staff rushed children onto powerful drugs. As part of its response NHS England said GIDS would be replaced with two services one in London and one in the North West. The new London service will be run by a partnership between Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and Evelina London Children's Hospital. In the North West, the service will be a partnership between Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. Afurther six or seven similar services might be opened in other parts of the country. These services would operate under the draft documents now up for public consultation. Other changes in the draft include a clampdown on referrals to gender identity care. Under current guidelines, health and social service staff, teachers, and charities can refer a child they think is suffering from gender dysphoria to specialist NHS care. But in the new system referrals to NHS gender identity care would be restricted to just GPs and health service staff. At least 15 pre-primary school children were referred to the NHS England's gender identify service in 2021 and 2022 Other sections of the draft also detail that puberty blockers should only be provided via an NHS research programme, and medics should consider safeguarding processes if children obtain such drugs online. The documents released yesterday also show that least 15 children under the age of four were directed to the NHS's transgender health service in England in the past two years. A similar number of five-year-olds were referred between 2021-2022 at GIDS. NHS documents state that in total over 5,000 children were referred to Tavistock's service in the past two years, over concerns they were suffering from their gender identity not matching their biological sex. Only half of referrals were for children aged 15-plus. Patients currently being treated at Tavistock's Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) will have their care transferred to the new operators early next year. NHS England penned the draft guidelines are in response to an ongoing review of GIDS by senior paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, who warned the gender clinic was 'not a safe or viable long-term option'. She found other mental health issues were 'overshadowed' in favour of gender identity issues when children were referred to Tavistock. Dr Cass has called for 'rapid' research on the use of the drugs after she found 'insufficient evidence' on their benefits. GIDS has found itself facing increasing scrutiny in recent years, with campaigners accusing it of rushing children onto puberty blocking drugs. Former patient Keira Bell took the clinic to the High Court in 2020, claiming that she had not been challenged enough when she was prescribed the drugs at age 16. Feedback on the NHS's draft guidelines closes on 4 December. The coronavirus was likely made in a lab, according to the latest explosive study to shed light on the possible origins of the pandemic. Researchers in the US and Germany studied Covid's genome the virus' instruction manual and compared it to dozens of previously detected coronaviruses. 'Peculiar patterns' were visible in the building blocks of the pandemic-causing virus, which they say are hallmark signs that it was manufactured. The team described it as having a 'synthetic fingerprint'. Study author Dr Alex Washburne, a mathematical biologist, said the lab leak theory can't be ruled out based on the results of his controversial study. Each test his team performed 'decreased the odds of SARS-CoV-2 having a natural origin', he said. However, Dr Washburne noted his team don't identify which lab that was the source of the outbreak and insisted that the virus looks more 'like an accident' rather than a 'bioweapon'. Some experts called the results 'troubling' and claimed they offered the 'strongest piece of evidence' yet that the virus was man-made. But dozens of others, including leaders in the field, have hit out at the findings, sparking a fierce row. One virologist said the research is 'so deeply flawed that it wouldn't pass kindergarten molecular biology'. Another said the study was 'very poorly controlled, cherry-picked and making a big deal out of lumps and bumps that are of no significance to the virus'. One described it as 'tinfoil-hat bonkers'. The study is the latest addition to the fierce argument around how the virus came to sweep the world in 2020. Most leading virologists believe the coronavirus jumped to humans from an infected animal, potentially in the 'ground zero' wet market in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Others think it leaked from a secretive laboratory in the same city. Whether or not it was deliberate or accidental is an even more contentious part of the 'lab leak' theory. Scientists argue it is vital to find out the origins of the virus so steps can be taken to prevent future pandemics. But many doubt the root source of the pandemic will ever be uncovered, with China accused of trying to conceal investigations. Researchers in the US and Germany studied Covid's genome the virus' instruction manual and compared it to dozens of previously detected coronaviruses. The team detected a 'peculiar patterns' in the building blocks of the pandemic-causing virus, which they say are hallmarks that it was manufactured in a lab. These include a more organised structure than naturally-occurring viruses and mutations that suggest the virus was assembled in a lab. Study author Dr Alex Washburne, a mathematical biologist, said the lab leak theory can't be ruled out based on the results of his controversial study. However, he noted his team don't identify which lab that was the source of the outbreak. Pictured: the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which is at the centre of the lab leak theory The top graph shows the average length of the longest fragment in a coronavirus genome (shown by grey line in the middle of bars). The coloured dots show the longest fragment length in the genome of Covid (red) and 10 other genetically engineered coronaviruses. The researchers said Covid's longest genome segment length is 'well below' what would be expected if the virus had evolved naturally and 'right within the narrow range of fragment number we find in engineered coronaviruses'. The bottom graph compares the virus fragment length in relation to how many standard deviations the difference from the average length the lab-made viruses are from naturally occurring coronaviruses. The researchers said this shows Covid 'appears more likely to have been engineered' than other viruses that are known to be man-made DID COVID LEAK FROM A WUHAN LAB? THE EVIDENCE FOR AND AGAINST Evidence for Wuhan lab-leak theory An article in the respected Science journal on May 14 2021 kick-started the surge in interest for the lab-leak theory. Some 18 experts wrote in the journal that 'we must take hypotheses about both natural and laboratory spillovers seriously until we have sufficient data'. Later that month, a study by British Professor Angus Dalgleish and Norwegian scientist Dr Birger Srensen claimed it had 'prima facie evidence of retro-engineering in China' for a year. The study included accusations of 'deliberate destruction, concealment or contamination of data' at Chinese labs. It followed statements from the WHO Director General, US and EU that greater clarity about the origins of this pandemic is necessary and feasible to achieve. Previously, the theory had been dismissed as conspiracy by most experts, partly because of its association with President Donald Trump. President Joe Biden in May 2021 ordered a full investigation into the origin of the pandemic virus and demanded scientists work out whether there is truth to the theory. In December 2021, Harvard scientist Dr Alina Chan told the UK's Science and Technology Select Committee that it is 'reasonable' to believe that Covid was genetically engineered in China. She also said that the Chinese Communist Party's cover-up of the initial outbreak in Wuhan two years ago and attempts to sabotage the World Health Organisation's inquiry into the origins of the pandemic made the lab-leak theory likely. The head of the World Health Organization insisted just a day earlier that the theory that Covid emerged from a Wuhan lab has not been ruled out as he said China should help solve the mystery out of 'respect' for the dead. The body's director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, suggested that Beijing had not cooperated fully as he urged more 'transparency' in the continuing investigation. And a senior Government source claimed in June 2022 that the WHO boss privately believes the pandemic kicked off following a leak from a Chinese lab. In September 2022, leading medical journal the Lancet admitted the virus may have been leaked from a lab, including those in the US. Evidence against the theory Most of the scientific community say the virus is most likely of natural origin. A series of papers point to the virus evolving in animals before being transmitted to humans, in the same way as all other previously discovered coronaviruses. The first study, published in Scientific Reports, showed some 47,000 wild animals from 38 species were sold across four markets in Wuhan between May 2017 and November 2019. The authors, including Dr Chris Newman, an evolutionary ecologist at Oxford University, claimed the evidence showed the conditions for animal-to-human transmission were in place in Wuhan. But they acknowledged there was no proof Sars-CoV-2 was present or originated in any of these animals. A joint World Health Organization-China investigation also concluded it was 'very likely' the virus jumped from bats to humans via an as-yet-unknown intermediary animal. And a June 2022 report by the WHO sets out that Covid most likely originated in bats before infecting humans. Advertisement The scientists, including Dr Washburne from Montana-based research institute Selva Analytics and Professor Antonius VanDongen, a pharmacology expert at Duke University, in North Carolina examined the SARS-CoV-2 genome the virus' genetic material. The team also included Valentin Bruttel, an immunologist who is attached to the gynecology department at the University of Wurzburg in Germany. While human genomes are made of double-stranded DNA and 3billion letters long, Covid has a single short RNA strand that is just 30,000 letters long. Some researchers create viruses in lab experiments to study how they behave and develop drugs and vaccines to treat them, in case of an outbreak. They do this by making small segments of viral genome and stitching them together with the joins known as restriction sites. While restriction sites tend to be randomly scattered throughout the genomes of naturally-occurring viruses, scientists building a virus in a lab add more in and tend to spread them out evenly, according to the researchers. To determine whether Covid evolved naturally or was manufactured, the team looked at the number and length of stitching points in Covid's genome to compare it to 70 coronaviruses found in nature, as well as man-made versions. Their findings, published on the pre-print website bioRxiv, set out that the pattern of Covid's restriction sites are 'typical' of man-made viruses and different from naturally-occurring coronaviruses. They found that the restriction sites on Covid's genome were evenly spread rather than randomly spaced out, making it an 'outlier'. Meanwhile, the average length of Covid's genome fragments were the smallest out of the dozens of coronaviruses that the researchers looked at. Covid also has so-called silent mutations in its restriction sites, which are a hallmark of a manufactured virus, according to the researchers. It is 'is extremely unlikely' this 'synthetic fingerprint' appeared 'by random evolution', they wrote. The experts concluded Covid's genome is similar to 'many' engineered coronavirus genomes and 'differs from closest relatives' found in nature. They wrote: 'We report a high likelihood that SARS-CoV-2 may have originated as an infectious clone assembled. 'The type of mutations (synonymous or silent mutations) that differentiate the restriction sites in SARS-CoV-2 are characteristic of engineering. 'And the concentration of these silent mutations in the restriction sites is extremely unlikely to have arisen by random evolution. 'Both the restriction site fingerprint and the pattern of mutations generating them are extremely unlikely in wild coronaviruses and nearly universal in synthetic viruses. 'Our findings strongly suggest a synthetic origin of SARS-CoV2.' And they called for more research to investigate the origins of the virus, noting that 'further tests may reject our theory'. The team noted they could have drawn on a wider pool of coronaviruses to compare Covid against to better understand similarities and differences. Nonetheless, Dr Washburne said the lab leak theory which certain corners of the scientific community have repeatedly tried to dismiss since the beginnings of the pandemic can't be ruled out based on the results of this study. However, he noted that his team do not identify which lab that was the source of the outbreak. This would also be near impossible. And he said the virus 'looks like an accident' rather than being a 'bioweapon' or gain of function research modifying organisms to enhance how they work, such as making a virus more deadly or more transmissible. But he drew parallels with a recent controversial study at Boston University, which saw scientists create a hybrid Covid strain combining the original strain and Omicron that killed 80 per cent of mice in a study. Dr Washburne said: 'Making chimeric viruses in vitro [in a lab] carries risks. 'We encourage transparency from researchers studying CoVs in Wuhan. We strongly encourage global coordination on biosafety.' Mr Bruttel told German TV channel n-tv that the results 'show that this virus is 99.9 per cent an artificially created copy of a natural virus'. While China has insisted the virus originated elsewhere, academics, politicians and the media have contemplated the possibility it leaked from a high-level biochemical lab in Wuhan - raising suspicions that Chinese officials simply hid evidence of the early spread The question of whether the global outbreak began with a spillover from wildlife sold at the market or leaked out of the Wuhan lab just eight miles across the Yangtze River has given rise to fierce debate about how to prevent the next pandemic. Studies point to a natural spillover at the Huanan wildlife market. Positive swab samples of floors, cages and counters also track the virus back to stalls in the southwestern corner of the market (bottom left), where animals with the potential to harbour Covid were sold for meat or fur at the time (bottom right) Experts slam Boston lab where scientists have created a new deadly Omicron strain with an 80% kill rate in mice Boston University scientists were today condemned for 'playing with fire' after it emerged they had created a lethal new Covid strain in a laboratory. DailyMail.com revealed the team had made a hybrid virus combining Omicron and the original Wuhan strain that killed 80 per cent of mice in a study. The researchers were attempting to discover whether the spike protein on the Omicron variant responsible for making it the most transmissible of Covid strains to date is also behind the virus having a particularly mild effect on infected hosts, with most suffering only slight illness. The resultant chimera was only slightly less deadly than the Wuhan strain, indicating that the spike protein is not behind the attenuation of its effects on hosts. The team behind its creation announced that as well as 'inflict[ing] severe disease' it also 'robustly escapes vaccine-induced humoral immunity', indicating that the recombinant virus retained the most dangerous properties of its parents. The revelation exposes how dangerous virus manipulation research continues to go on even in the US, despite fears similar practices may have started the pandemic. Professor Shmuel Shapira, a leading scientist in the Israeli Government, said: 'This should be totally forbidden, it's playing with fire.' Gain of function research - when viruses are purposefully manipulated to be more infectious or deadly - is thought to be at the center of Covid's origin. Advertisement Professor Francois Balloux, an infectious disease expert based at University College London, said the findings appear 'solid, both conceptually and methologically'. He said: 'The distribution of restriction sites in SARS-CoV-2 is highly atypical when compared to related viruses in circulation, and far more in line with previous lab-engineered coronaviruses. 'This is a troubling finding, which requires scrutiny. 'These findings are not "final and dispositive", but they can't be ignored either. 'To me, this is by far the strongest piece of evidence to date against a simple scenario of strict zoonotic origin for SARS-CoV-2.' However, Professor Kristian Andersen, a virologist at research facility Scripps Research in California, said the study is 'so deeply flawed that it wouldn't pass kindergarten molecular biology'. He said: 'The study is a clear example of motivated reasoning with a heavy dose of technobabble to make it sound legitimate but it's nothing more than poppycock dressed up as science. 'In plain language this is uninformed nonsense and it's simply not worth engaging with.' Dr Benjamin Neuman, a virologist at the of the Texas A&M University, said the study is 'very poorly controlled, cherry-picked and making a big deal out of lumps and bumps that are of no significance to the virus'. He said: 'It's about as illuminating an approach as converting the genome to digits, adding up the digits, and comparing that to the "number of the Beast". 'This isn't really evidence for or against the discredited idea of a lab-origin virus. 'The study looks for patterns of nucleotides that people have found useful because they can be cleaved by restriction enzymes. 'Essentially, this study looks at an irrelevant trait that would not be useful to either the virus or a person trying to assemble the virus using modern technology.' Dr Neuman added: 'There is no reason a person assembling a genome would need to assemble the sequence in gene-sized chunks that start or end exactly at gene boundaries. It's tinfoil-hat bonkers. 'The methodology is nonsense, as are the conclusions. There are thousands of different Coronavirus genomes now, and this study cherry-picks fewer than forty that make its point.' Since China originally alerted the world to a mysterious virus circulating in Wuhan in December 2019, debate has been raging over its true source. China has repeatedly insisted the virus spilled naturally into humans from bats, with most scientists agreeing Covid most likely had natural origins. But some say it's possible the coronavirus leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), where researchers were conducting controversial research on the world's most dangerous pathogens. The WIV has been carrying out gain of function work for years before the Covid outbreak. China insisted early and often that the virus did not leak from the lab, claiming that crossover to humans must have occurred at a 'wet market' in Wuhan that sold live animals. Perhaps driven by animosity for then-US President Donald Trump, who embraced the lab leak theory early on, mainstream media and academics in the West heaped scorn on the possibility, calling it an unhinged conspiracy theory. His comments came as some fear a combo of flu and Covid will cripple the NHS He said community immunity has blunted Covid's ability to disrupt Briton's lives The ex-Covid testing tsar says the virus that emerged in 2020 is essentially gone The Covid which forced Britain into an endless cycle of lockdowns 'does not exist anymore', an ex-Government adviser claims. Oxford University's Sir John Bell, who served as No10's coronavirus testing tsar and was an early member of the vaccine taskforce, said the virus has radically changed since 2020. Britain was forced to shelter from the virus before the vaccines came onto the scene, in order to save tens of thousands from dying and prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed. That disease that we were all terrified of in the first iterations of the disease in 2020, which was that terrible pneumonia that put people in the intensive care unit, that disease essentially doesnt exist anymore, Sir John said. Sir John was responding to questions regarding the potential impact of Covid this winter on the BBC Radio 4's Today programme. He said although the virus was still present and would still make people ill, widespread immunity in the community had blunted coronavirus's ability to wreak havoc on society. No10's former Covid testing tsar, Oxford University's Sir John Bell says the Covid of 2020, which sent Britons into the first national lockdown 'doesn't exist anymore' Statisticians at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimate 1.7million people in the country, or three per cent, were infected in the week to October 10. The figure, based on random testing of thousands of Britons, is up 12 per cent in a week. But the growth rate has slowed by a third in comparison to seven days earlier Our health heroes! Three million Britons will join global medical study to help develop new ways to detect illnesses sooner At least three million Britons are set to take part in one of the world's largest health research programmes. The Our Future Health study hopes to use the huge amounts of data received to develop new ways to detect illnesses earlier. Those taking part are expected to consent to providing DNA and blood samples over a long period. It is hoped the research will help doctors better predict who is at higher risk of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, dementia and stroke. Professor Sir John Bell, chairman of Our Future Health, said the ambition is to develop new methods for 'early diagnostics or prevention strategies across a large population of people something between three and five million people'. Invitation letters are being sent to people over 18 who live in four regions: West Yorkshire, West Midlands, Manchester and London. Advertisement 'People will feel a bit sick itll be a bit like the flu and you may have to stay home in bed and you wont feel so well,' he said. 'But I think we shouldnt have the sort of problems that weve had in the past.' However, he added this was contingent on vulnerable people, including the elderly, getting a Covid vaccine ahead of this winter to reduce their chances of needing to go into hospital. The older you get the more youre going to suffer from this disease and it will lead to hospitalisations, that syndrome that puts you in the intensive care unit is rare, but you will get elderly people whore frail hospitalised,' he said 'I think the vaccine is a good way to reduce the risk, that doesnt eliminate the risk, as we all know, but it does reduce the risk.' Sir John's comments come amid signs that the recent resurgence is already levelling off in England, despite gloomy calls for face masks to return. Analysts at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated 1.7million people in the country, or one in 30, were infected on any day in the week to October 10. The figure, based on random testing of thousands of people across the country, was up 12 per cent in a week. But the speed of growth has slowed drastically. NHS virus admissions have already started to fall. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) hailed data as 'encouragingly' showing the trend is already in reverse. Health chiefs said the downturn may be due to the 'benefits from so many people taking up their Covid autumn booster'. Around 9million people have had the top-up. Despite Covid appearing to level off, officials have warned there are signs the flu wave has started, with experts fearing a 'twindemic' the resurgence of the virus combined with Covid could cripple the health service this winter. Professor Sir John added his voice to other experts calling on Britons to get the flu vaccine, warning that forecasts warned of a bad influenza season. FLU: One in 24 people (4.1 per cent) with respiratory symptoms in England tested positive for influenza, based on samples taken from around 15,000 people suffering from a cough, runny nose and shortness of breath in the week to October 16. Flu cases were highest among five to 14-year-olds (light blue line), with one in five (10.8 per cent) with symptoms testing positive for flu, followed by 15 to 44-year-olds (green line) (8.1 per cent) 'The Australians have had a very bad flu season which basically means thats probably going to come over the hill, he said. Australia's winter flu season, which occurs during the British summer, is used by health authorities as a canary in the coal mine for what the virus will hold in store for the UK. The latest data for England shows one in 24 people (4.1 per cent) with respiratory symptoms tested positive for influenza, based on samples taken from around 15,000 people suffering from a cough, runny nose and shortness of breath in the week to October 16. Flu cases were highest among five to 14-year-olds, with one in five (10.8 per cent) with symptoms testing positive for flu, followed by 15 to 44-year-olds (8.1 per cent). Health chiefs have also reported a rise in people with flu-like illness booking GP appointments, calling NHS 111 and showing up at A&E. And there has been a jump in influenza hospital admissions, with rates highest among under-fives in both standard wards and critical care. They said the results could one day help develop a new treatment for people In tests on mice the nasal shot performed similar to the direct brain injection The power of love may help reverse the devastating damage of Alzheimer's. That is, at least, what a new Japanese study suggests. Previous studies on the brain tissue of dead mice found oxytocin, the so-called love hormone, was able to counter some of the Alzheimer's-induced damage. The discovery sparked hope that treatments could be developed to help millions of people suffering from the memory-robbing condition. However, researchers have struggled to find both a safe and effective way to deliver the hormone to the brains of living animals. Academics at the Tokyo University of Science now might have uncovered a way to overcome that hurdle. Tests showed giving mice the hormone via a nasal drip worked almost as well as through a direct injection into the brain, which is a much risker procedure. Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease of the brain, in which a build-up of abnormal, toxic proteins kills nerve cells. No cure yet exists, but some drugs have been developed that can alleviate some of the symptoms. Japanese scientists may have uncovered a way to safely harness the love hormone oxytocin to fight Alzheimer's disease What is Alzheimer's and how is it treated? Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, in which build-up of abnormal proteins causes nerve cells to die. This disrupts the transmitters that carry messages, and causes the brain to shrink. More than 5 million people suffer from the disease in the US, where it is the 6th leading cause of death, and more than 1 million Britons have it. WHAT HAPPENS? As brain cells die, the functions they provide are lost. That includes memory, orientation and the ability to think and reason. The progress of the disease is slow and gradual. On average, patients live five to seven years after diagnosis, but some may live for ten to 15 years. EARLY SYMPTOMS: Loss of short-term memory Disorientation Behavioral changes Mood swings Difficulties dealing with money or making a phone call LATER SYMPTOMS: Severe memory loss, forgetting close family members, familiar objects or places Becoming anxious and frustrated over inability to make sense of the world, leading to aggressive behavior Eventually lose ability to walk May have problems eating The majority will eventually need 24-hour care HOW IT IS TREATED? There is no known cure for Alzheimer's disease. However, some treatments are available that help alleviate some of the symptoms. One of these is Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors which helps brain cells communicate to one another. Another is menantine which works by blocking a chemical called glutamate that can build-up in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease inhibiting mental function. As the disease progresses Alzheimer's patients can start displaying aggressive behaviour and/or may suffer from depression. Drugs can be provided to help mitigate these symptoms. Other non-pharmaceutical treatments like mental training to improve memory helping combat the one aspect of Alzheimer's disease is also recommended. Source: Alzheimer's Association and the NHS Advertisement In the latest study, Dr Jun-Ichiro Oka, an expert in neuropharmacology, and team, wanted to test two methods of giving oxytocin to mice engineered to have the tell-tale plaques of Alzheimer's. The first was via an injection directly into their brain, while the other was delivered through the nose. While the injection method is known to work, it is considered too dangerous and difficult to use on humans, who have more complex brain structures. Traditionally, the nasal method which would be safer has struggled due to difficulty penetrating the blood brain barrier, an incredibly thin membrane designed to protect sensitive brain tissues from any toxins carried in the blood. But the Tokyo scientists modified the oxytocin molecule to allow it more to slip past the membrane more effectively. All of the rodents completed timed maze tests. One test involved a Y-shaped corridor, with scientists measuring how often mice returned to the same corridor repeatedly, indicating they had forgotten they had just visited it. Another involved a water maze, where mice were made to repeatedly swim and find a hidden platform to escape. Scientists tested how long it took them to remember where the platform was. Mice were made to go through the tests before being treated with oxytocin, to see how the therapy helped improve their memory. Publishing the results in the journal Neuropharmacology Reports, the researchers found rodents given the injection of oxytocin were found to perform better in both maze tests. The mice on the nasal treatment had improved performance on the Y-maze, but not in the water maze. Despite the nasal treatment not performing as well as the injection, Dr Oka hailed it as a success in principle. 'This suggests oxytocin may help reduce the cognitive decline we see in Alzheimer's disease,' he said. 'Since intranasal delivery is a non-invasive procedure, this modified version of the hormone could potentially be a clinically viable treatment for Alzheimer's.' He called for further studies to explore how oxytocin might help treat Alzheimer's disease. Previous studies have suggested oxytocin can reverse the impairment of synaptic plasticity, the brain's ability to change and adapt to new information. Oxytocin is already used as a way to induce labour in pregnant women if a birth is taking longer than might be safe. This is delivered via an IV bag. Scientists have been hunting for effective Alzheimer's treatments for decades but have, so-far, only developed drugs that slow the disease or help alleviate the symptoms and none that can cure it. But last month, the results of a drug called lecanemab which combats the build-up of the toxic plaques in the brain offered some promising results. The drug, delivered as an injection, was found to slow the mental deterioration of patients battling the earliest stages of the cruel disease by more than a quarter in the last trial before it was sent to medical safety regulators for review. Around 850,000 Britons and 5.8million Americans have Alzheimer's. A study by researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine revealed that global dementia cases are set to nearly triple by 2050, from 57.4million to 152.8. But the rate of illness is expected to increase varies between different parts of the world. In Western Europe, cases are expected to rise by just 75 per cent, mainly due to an ageing population, while they are expected to double in North America. But the biggest increase is expected to be seen in North Africa and the Middle East, where cases are projected to rise by 375 per cent Alzheimer's is most common in people over the age of 65, although people can develop it earlier. It is the leading cause of dementia, an ongoing decline in brain functioning typically more common as people age. Dementia is considered a global health concern due to people living longer and is putting an increasing burden on health care systems including in the UK. Treating and caring for patients with the conditions is estimated to cost Britain 25billion per year, according to Alzheimer's Research UK, the vast majority of that being in social care. Advertisement The White House announced plans to crackdown on viruses manipulation research only days after DailyMail.com uncovered similar research being undertaken at Boston University. In a national biodefense strategy unveiled last week, the Biden Administration laid out plans to prevent and respond to future biological disaster situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. The report highlights the risk of 'accidental biological threats' caused by accidents in biosafety labs which work with dangerous pathogens. Last Monday, DailyMail.com revealed that Boston University's National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, had developed a hybrid strain of Covid with an 80 per cent lethality rate in mice. Researchers defended the work, claiming it could advance our understanding of Covid and how to treat and vaccinate against it, but critics warn the benefits do not outweigh the risk of a potential leak. Biden's biosafety plans, which were published two days later on October 19, says the 'United States has a responsibility to ensure our technology, development, and assistance programs do not exacerbate this risk [a lab leak] unintentionally'. The White House report also accepts that the 'risk of laboratory accidents may be increasing with the rise in the number of laboratories around the world conducting high-risk life sciences research and research with potential pandemic pathogens'. There is no suggestion that the report is a response to the work at Boston University, and DailyMail.com has approached the White House for comment. But the report gives a nod to the potential dangers of so-called 'gain of function' research, when a virus is enhanced to be more dangerous or infectious so scientists can get ahead of potential outbreaks or develop therapies. Boston University has argued that their research was not gain of function, as the original wild strain killed 100 per cent of mice exposed to it, which they argue means their work actually reduced the lethality of the virus. Researchers equipped the original Wuhan strain of Covid with Omicron's spike protein - the part which helps it invade cells and makes it more infectious. Critics say the combination of increased infectiousness and lethality made it dangerous. In the days following the White House publishing the plans a National Insitutel lab in Maryland unveiled plans to combine two forms of monkeypox to potentially create a more lethal strain. The White House warns that the risk of lab accidents are increasing around the world, and even with proper equipment and protocols there is always a chance that dangerous pathogens could escape the lab and enter the real world The White House says that the US has a duty to make sure its technology and research is not does not increase the risk for dangerous pathogens to spread across the world and cause harm The White House highlighted the need for the US to make sure its funding is not going towards experiments that are not being performed with proper oversight. NIH officials are probing Boston University to make sure the school followed proper protocols when undergoing experiments Pictured above are scientists working at Boston's high-tech infectious diseases lab in the South End neighborhood of the city. While the lab is considered to be among the most well equipped in the nation, the White House warns that even these facilities can suffer dangerous errors In the new research , which has not been peer-reviewed, a team of researchers from Boston and Florida extracted Omicron's spike protein the unique structure that binds to and invades human cells. It has always been present but it has become more evolved over time. Omicron has dozens of mutations in its spike protein that made it so infectious. Researchers attached Omicron's spike protein to the original wildtype strain that first emerged in Wuhan at the start of the pandemic. The researchers looked at how mice fared under the new hybrid strain compared to the original Omicron variant The National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan highlights how the US plans to track and manage the emergence of biological threats across the world. It was revealed Wednesday and built upon a strategy put-in-place in 2018 to fight against these types of biological threats. The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense, created in 2014, was responsible for putting it together. Part of the document's goal is to prevent US-funded research to leading to potentially devastating biological catastrophes. '[The White House plans to] ensure all facilities in the United States or funded by the US Government that conduct life sciences research, development, manufacturing, or diagnostic activities with especially dangerous biological materialsor which conduct work reasonably anticipated to result in such materialsare implementing and maintaining effective, transparent, rigorous, and comprehensive oversight, training, and monitoring programs for biosafety, biosecurity, and responsible and ethical conduct in science,' the report reads. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) granted funds to EcoHealth Alliance, a New York City-based non-profit, who then passed funds to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) - based in the Chinese city where the virus first emerged - that could potentially be at the center of the virus's origin. The origins of the virus that took over the world in early 2020 are still murky. The official narrative is that it made its way into the human population via zoonotic transmission from an animal like a bat. Some believe otherwise though, highlighting that the WIV was performing gain of function research on bat coronaviruses before the pandemic broke out. The 'lab leak' theory - that a virus that scientists at the WIV were working on infected staff members who then brought it out into the world - was initially dismissed as a conspiracy but is now a leading theory. China has since stifled independent investigations into the lab and wiped crucial data about the earliest Covid cases. Pictured above are scientists working at the lab. Controversy surrounds the center after it emerged scientists there had carried out potential gain-of-function experiments The White House warns that nation-states and terrorist groups could use this type of research to build biological weapons that can harm the US and the rest of the world China has refused to cooperate with the World Health Organization and other groups investigating the matter. Government lab in Maryland plans to create hybrid monkeypox strain that is MORE deadly A Government laboratory in Maryland plans to make the circulating monkeypox strain more lethal in highly controversial research in mice. The team want to equip the dominant clade - which mostly causes a rash and flu-like symptoms - with genes from another strain that causes severe disease. They hope the experiment will reveal how different genes make monkeypox more deadly, and spur the development of better drugs and vaccines for humans. It comes just a week after DailyMail.com revealed a similar experiment involving a hybrid Covid strain was conducted at Boston University. The latest monkeypox study is being funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a research arm of National Institutes of Health (NIH). But if the modified virus 'poses an exceptionally high risk' to the public if it accidentally leaks, according to Dr Richard Ebright, a microbiologist at Rutgers University in New Jersey. The team in Maryland would argue their work does not involve 'enhancing' a pathogen because they are swapping natural mutations rather than creating new ones, meaning the hybrid cannot be more deadly than the existing clades. But the news will no doubt surprise many Americans that such research continues to go on in the US despite fears similar practices may have started the pandemic. Advertisement The Boston University study has been published as a preprint in bioRxiv but has not been peer-reviewed by other scientists. The goal of the study was to determine if the mutations in the spike were responsible for this variants heightened ability to evade immunity, and whether it made Omicron more mild. There is now a row about whether the study qualifies as gain of function. Dr Steven Salzberg, a biomedical engineering professor at Johns Hopkins University, described it as 'gain of function research' in an op-ed for Forbes. 'As many scientists (and others) have pointed out, research like this carries great risks, foremost among them the chance that an accidental lab leak could create a new pandemic, killing millions of people,' he wrote. Dr Richard Ebright, a microbiologist at Rutgers University in New Jersey, said: 'The claims in BU's public statement that: "this research is not gain-of-function research", "it did not... make it more dangerous", and "this research made the virus replicate less dangerous [sic]" are demonstrably false and should be deeply embarrassing.' He pointed out that the edited virus was more dangerous than BA.1 the Omicron sub-variant the spike proteins were taken from that is currently dominant in the United States. No rodents infected with BA.1 during the experiment died, but 80 per cent of those infected with the edited virus did. He told DailyMail.com: 'The novel lab-generated coronavirus exhibits the high immune escape of Omicron BA.1 and higher lethality than Omicron BA.1 albeit lower lethality than original Wuhan-1 SARS-CoV-2 in mice engineered to display human receptors for SARS-like coronaviruses. 'It is concerning that this research like the research in Wuhan that may have caused the pandemic ' was not identified as gain-of-function and reviewed appropriately. A Boston University spokesman told DailyMail.com last week: 'There was no gain-of-function with this research. If at any point there was evidence that the research was gaining function, under both NIAID and our own protocols, we would immediately stop and report.' Dr Emily Erbedling, from the division of NIH that part-funded the research, said she was not aware of the specific nature of the research until she read about it in the news Dr Erbelding said that if it emerged the experiment had been funded by NIAID, she 'wished' that the scientists had informed them of the work. Professor David Livermore, a microbiologist at East Anglia University in the UK, blasted the research as 'profoundly unwise'. 'Given the strong likelihood that the Covid pandemic originated from the escape of a lab-manipulated coronavirus in Wuhan, these experiments seem profoundly unwise,' he said. Professor Karol Sikora, a biochemist and past head of the World Health Organization's cancer program, told DailyMail.com there was a risk the study may lead to 'nasty variants emerging'. 'We don't do it with anthrax, so why this!', he said. Professor Sikora, from Buckingham University in the UK, added that the study had not added to scientific knowledge after tweaking the virus, saying: 'As was known before its the spike protein that determines whether the virus will bind and enter the nasopharyngeal epithelium but other properties determine how much damage it causes and how long it will last.' GOP Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall told DailyMail.com it was 'unconscionable' that the US was continuing to sponsor this type of research 'in densely populated areas'. He warned it created the 'potential to kill more people than any singular nuclear weapon', adding: 'History has taught us that viruses have managed to escape from 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.' Senator for Kentucky Rand Paul added that he was 'troubled' by the news, telling DailyMail.com that oversight of these experiments needed to be strengthened to avoid the next pandemic. 'As the first senator to hold a congressional hearing on gain-of-function research that can create dangerous new viruses, I am troubled by the news of this research from Boston University,' he said. Gain-of-function research was halted in the US from 2014 to 2017 over fears it could inadvertently trigger a pandemic. But five years ago it was allowed to restart with NIH-backed grants with proponents arguing it could help the world prepare for the next severe illness. But it comes amid growing concern about virus manipulation research in labs The aim of the project is to spur the development of better drugs for humans They will attempt to make currently dominant clade more lethal and infect mice NIAID research will see experts swap genes between two monkeypox strains A Government laboratory in Maryland plans to make the circulating monkeypox strain more lethal in highly controversial research in mice. The team wants to equip the dominant clade - which mostly causes a rash and flu-like symptoms - with genes from another strain that causes severe disease. They hope the experiment will reveal how different genes make monkeypox more deadly, and spur the development of better drugs and vaccines for humans. It comes just a week after DailyMail.com revealed a similar experiment involving a hybrid Covid strain was conducted at Boston University. The latest monkeypox study is being funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a research arm of National Institutes of Health (NIH). But the modified virus 'poses an exceptionally high risk' to the public if it accidentally leaks, according to Dr Richard Ebright, a microbiologist at Rutgers University in New Jersey. The team in Maryland would argue their work does not involve 'enhancing' a pathogen because they are swapping natural mutations rather than creating new ones, meaning the hybrid cannot be more deadly than the existing clades. But the news will no doubt surprise many Americans that such research continues to go on in the US despite fears similar practices may have started the pandemic. There have been more than 27,000 cases of monkeypox in the US since the current outbreak took hold earlier this year The Maryland study will involve extracting dozens genes from the more severe clade 1 (pictured left) monkeypox virus and putting them into the less virulent clade 2 virus. They will then infect mice with the hybrid virus and monitor how the disease progresses The Maryland team's work is being led by NIAID scientist Bernard Moss at the agency's headquarters in Bethesda (shown) The Maryland team's work is being led by NIAID scientist Bernard Moss at the agency's headquarters in Bethesda. This phase of the study will involve extracting dozens genes from the more severe clade 1 monkeypox virus and putting them into the milder clade 2 virus. They will then infect mice with the hybrid virus and monitor how the disease progresses. The team had initially attempted the reverse: swapping genetic materials in the less virulent clade into clade 1 to make it less deadly, but without success. The current global outbreak is confirmed to be driven by clade 2, the less deadly West African monkeypox strain, which has a mortality rate of less than one percent. Clade 1, meanwhile, kills one in 10 people it infects. It has its origins in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and primarily spreads in the Congo Basin. Cases of monkeypox are in decline after peaking over the summer Biden promises to crackdown on virus manipulation research The White House announced plans to crackdown on viruses manipulation research only days after DailyMail.com uncovered similar research being undertaken at Boston University. In a national biodefense strategy unveiled last week, the Biden Administration laid out plans to prevent and respond to future biological disaster situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. The report highlights the risk of 'accidental biological threats' caused by accidents in biosafety labs which work with dangerous pathogens. Last Monday, DailyMail.com revealed that Boston University's National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, had developed a hybrid strain of Covid with an 80 per cent lethality rate in mice. Researchers defended the work, claiming it could advance our understanding of Covid and how to treat and vaccinate against it, but critics warn the benefits do not outweigh the risk of a potential leak. Biden's biosafety plans, which were published two days later on October 19, says the 'United States has a responsibility to ensure our technology, development, and assistance programs do not exacerbate this risk [a lab leak] unintentionally'. The White House report also accepts that the 'risk of laboratory accidents may be increasing with the rise in the number of laboratories around the world conducting high-risk life sciences research and research with potential pandemic pathogens'. There is no suggestion that the report is a response to the work at Boston University, and DailyMail.com has approached the White House for comment. But the report gives a nod to the potential dangers of so-called 'gain of function' research, when a virus is enhanced to be more dangerous or infectious so scientists can get ahead of potential outbreaks or develop therapies. Boston University has argued that their research was not gain of function, as the original wild strain killed 100 per cent of mice exposed to it, which they argue means their work actually reduced the lethality of the virus. Researchers equipped the original Wuhan strain of Covid with Omicron's spike protein - the part which helps it invade cells and makes it more infectious. Critics say the combination of increased infectiousness and lethality made it dangerous. Advertisement The Maryland experiment was exempt from oversight when it was given the green light in 2018 because monkeypox did not meet the threshold for a 'potential pandemic pathogen'. To be considered a PPP, the pathogen has to be widely transmissible with the potential of spreading uncontrollably and being highly dangerous. But at that time, monkeypox outbreaks were confined to Africa and the virus did not spread easily between people. US cases could almost always be traced back to imported animals or travelers who had visited Central or Western African countries. Now, with monkeypox widespread and more than 26,000 US cases, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is planning to reexamine the work. But the study still might not qualify as 'enhancing' a PPP, the agency says, because the team are using existing mutations. Dr Ebright told DailyMail.com: 'A laboratory-generated monkeypox virus... more lethal than, and as transmissible as, the monkeypox virus currently circulating in humans potentially likely would defeat protection by vaccines and likely would spread beyond current at-risk populations to the general population. 'The risk-benefit ratio is essentially infinite, comprising potentially existential risks.' Amid growing concern about such experiments, the NIH and the Department of Health and Human Services met last month to devise recommended rule changes to the NIH's Potential Pandemic Pathogen Care and Oversight policy. Among those proposed changes is an expansion of what constitutes a 'potential pandemic pathogen' to include those that are highly transmissible though less virulent, as well as those that are less transmissible but have more severe negative outcomes. The rule change, if adopted next year, would place stricter regulations on the kind of research on monkeypox viruses set to begin at NIH. The latest controversy surrounding risky monkeypox research comes on the back of years of ferocious debate over gain of function research, which many believe resulted in the Covid pandemic. The pandemic shed a light on the risky research practices, which the government has funded for decades with pushback, having temporarily paused in 2014 only to resume three years later. High-profile debates about the merits of gain of function remain centered on the unproven theory that the coronavirus escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China. It comes after DailyMail.com revealed that a team from Boston University had developed a hybrid Covid virus combining the Omicron and original Wuhan strains which had an 80 per cent lethality rate in mice. Boston University has argued that their research was not gain of function, as the original wild strain killed 100 per cent of mice exposed to it, which they argue means their work actually reduced the lethality of the virus. Researchers equipped the original Wuhan strain of Covid with Omicron's spike protein - the part which helps it invade cells and makes it more infectious. Some experts defended the work, claiming it could advance our understanding of Covid and how to treat and vaccinate against it, but critics warn the benefits did not outweigh the risk of a potential leak. The hybrid strain was of immediate concern due to its combination of the worst attributes of the virus - Omicron's high rate of transmissibility and the original's high lethality. The number of chest reconstruction surgeries being performed on trans children has rocketed nearly five-fold in recent years, a study has found. Researchers from Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee, found there were 489 'top surgeries' performed among those aged 17 or younger in 2019. This was up from only 100 in 2016, marking a 389 per cent rise in three years. The average age of patients who received surgery was 17, but 5.5 per cent were under 14. It comes after Joe Biden said states shouldn't have the power to regulate any health care related to a person transitioning from one sex to the other. The majority of operations were masculinizing surgeries which involve removing the breasts, while feminizing surgeries involve implanting breast tissue. The research did not look at 'bottom' surgeries among minors, which involve removing or modifying youngsters' sex organs. These procedures are also thought to have risen in recent years. Surgeries, puberty blockers, and hormones therapies among children have been a hot button issue in the US in recent months. Opponents say that more counseling needs to occur before minors are allowed to undergo the often irreversible treatments at an impressionable age. A report by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), published this year found that 300,000 US children identify as transgender - doubling in recent years. The number of chest reconstruction surgeries among children in the US jumped five-fold from 2016 to 2019, from 100 to 489 annually This map shows the proportion of children aged between 13 and 17 years old that identified as transgender by state. The darker colors indicate a higher proportion of youngsters. In New York and New Mexico, it is as high as three per cent In the latest study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers gathered data from the Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample between 2016 and 2019. The number of top surgeries steadily increased during that time, surpassing 200 in 2017 and rising above 300 in 2018. Biden says he backs 'gender-affirming' healthcare and slams Republicans trying to ban sex changes for children Joe Biden said in an interview with a transgender TikTok star that states shouldn't have the power to regulate any health care related to a person transitioning from one sex to the other. The president denounced Republican states that have passed laws attempting to ban or limit sex change surgeries and transition treatments like hormone blockers for children who identify as non binary or transgender. Biden spoke with a panel of six progressive activists for the NowThis News presidential forum on Friday, which aired on Sunday. One of the six panelists was TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney who is documenting their transition from a male to trans woman. When asked if red states should have the right to pass laws limiting access to gender-affirming treatments, Biden said: 'I don't think any state or anybody should have the right to do that.' 'As a moral question and as a legal question, I just think it's wrong,' the president added. 'Sometimes they try to block you from being able to access certain medicines, being able to access certain procedures, and so on,' he continued, referencing Republican-led state bills blocking doctors from performing such treatment, especially when it comes to minors. 'I mean, no state should be able to do that, in my view. So I feel very, very strongly that you should have every single solitary right including use of your gender-identity bathrooms in public.' Alabama, Arkansas, Texas and Arizona all enacted laws or policies earlier this year restricting youth access to sex change treatments, care and surgeries. In some cases, these laws impose penalties on adults who facilitate access to this care. Advertisement Children were usually older, with 44 per cent being 17, but a third were 16 and 5.5 per cent were 14 or younger. Masculinizing chest surgeries - when a girl transitioning to a boy - accounted for the overwhelming majority of chest reconstruction surgeries. Just 1.4 per cent of the operations were among boys who were transitioning. The surgeries cost, on average, nearly $30,000 each before charges were covered by insurance. Children who received the operations were usually from wealthier families. Half of them came from families that made a combined $82,000 or more per year. Whether these types of procedures should remain allowed has been a topic of discussion in the US this year. According to the Movement Advancement Project, 22 US states have either instituted or discussed the institution of laws that would restrict youth trans care. This list includes Oklahoma, which earlier this month restricted funding to hospitals in the Sooner state prescribed puberty blockers to children. In neighboring Texas, Gov Greg Abbot has likened the use of puberty blockers to 'child abuse'. These drugs are often used among trans youth to prevent themselves from going through natural puberty with the gender they are born with. There are fears that many young people who receive these surgeries or use these drugs are making a decision they do not fully understand and could later regret. Reports of hundreds of people across the US, UK and other nations that are seeking to de-transition - regretting their previous decision - have emerged in recent years. There is fierce debate about the reason for the sharp rise in trans children in the US. Some argue it is because society is becoming more accepting of gender identities. However, many believe that the impressionable minds of children are easily swayed by trends and phases among peers and that children are not ready to make irreversible decisions about their gender. The share of children who identify as transgender also widely varies from state-to-state. In blue states like New Mexico and New York, as many as three per cent of children identify as trans. In red states like Missouri, Kentucky, and West Virginia, transgender youth are relatively rare. Timing is everything. It may be a well-worn phrase, but never a truer one than when applied to your health. Growing evidence suggests this includes when, specifically, to take your medication, including what time of day to be vaccinated against flu (maybe even Covid) for maximum protection. Its all part of whats known as chronopharmacology chrono, meaning time, and pharmacology, drugs a thrilling and still-emerging area of science. I count myself lucky to have had a ringside seat to its progress during my 40-year career as a professor of circadian neuroscience. Chronopharmacology hinges on understanding and respecting our bodys circadian rhythm the daily clock in each of our cells that keep us to a roughly 24-hour cycle. Running in tandem with night and day, it is responsible for everything from priming our guts for breakfast (saliva production and gastric acid rise when we wake) to boosting our immune responses when best to fight off bugs and viruses. Timing is everything. It may be a well-worn phrase, but never a truer one than when applied to your health, writes Professor Russell Foster (pictured above) The smooth running of these clocks is key to how well we function and the more closely we live by these internal clocks, the healthier we are: we are less prone to disease and better able to fight it off when it does invade. These clocks also affect how we respond to medication. Although more than 100 medicines have been shown to have an improved effect or lower toxicity if given at particular times of day (see below), working with instead of against our bodies daily rhythms is a health hack that has still not been fully explored by researchers or taken advantage of by the vast majority of practising medics. But in recent years interest in chronopharmacology has surged and advances have been made: in particular, thanks to some brilliant research on the best time of day to have the flu jab and fresh insights into the possibility of timing your Covid booster for maximum efficacy, too. When it comes to the date we know that the annual flu vaccine is best taken in autumn, so our immune systems have responded to it and are well-defended just before the winter flu season hits. So late September through to November is prime time to get an appointment in your diary for a jab, to avoid being struck down by that classic December /January flu (typically taking you out over both Christmas and New Year). Its all part of whats known as chronopharmacology chrono, meaning time, and pharmacology, drugs a thrilling and still-emerging area of science. I count myself lucky to have had a ringside seat to its progress during my 40-year career as a professor of circadian neuroscience I had my flu jab last Sunday, and I booked it for the morning, as I have done ever since a key study by researchers at Birmingham University in 2016 showed convincingly that morning flu vaccination enhances antibody response over afternoon vaccination. The researchers looked at the antibody response of two groups of patients aged 65 and over who had either been vaccinated in the morning, between 9am and 11am, or in the afternoon, between 3pm and 5pm. They found that one month later, those jabbed in the morning showed an antibody response the marker of the jabs efficacy as a vaccine an impressive three times higher than those jabbed in the afternoon. The authors did not speculate about the reason for this improved response to morning vaccination. But to my mind, it chimes with what we already know about the immune systems daily rhythms. It has been proven that our immunity is generally turned up in the daytime, when we are active and are more likely to encounter disease. As night approaches, and when we are asleep, it is turned down, when the chances of encountering other people with new pathogens is much reduced. So it may well follow that vaccines will elicit a greater immune response and so provide more protection if theyre given in the morning, when our defensive mechanisms are just revving up, rather than in the afternoon when they are preparing to wind down. So far, studies have not looked at the effect of vaccination at night, but the prediction would be that the immune response would be even worse than late afternoon. Its enough to convince me to have booked my jab in the morning and for me to advise you to do the same, if you can. But to follow the theory to its logical conclusion, you can tailor this timing to your own body clock to maximise its effectiveness even further. If youre a morning person a lark then your immune system will start firing on all cylinders that bit earlier in the day. It follows, therefore, that if you can, you should book your vaccine for first thing, which for you may be 8am when the surgery opens. Meanwhile if youre a late evening person or night owl like me, then your immune system will be all systems go that little bit closer to elevenses, or even lunchtime hence my 11am appointment. Get a good nights kip afterwards As well as timing your vaccine, making sure you get a good nights rest in the days after your jab could also boost its effectiveness. In one of my favourite studies illustrating this phenomenon, in 2018 researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in the U.S. compared two groups of people after having a flu jab one group was only allowed to sleep for four hours the night after the jab, while the other slept their usual 7.5 to 8.5 hours. The short sleep group had less than half the level of protective antibodies to the flu virus after being vaccinated than the group who slept well. Similar results have been shown for hepatitis B and hepatitis A jabs. So whats behind this? It has not been absolutely proven but it could be partly down to the effect of cortisol. If you are stressed by lack of sleep, this hormone will inhibit your natural immune responses and you will develop fewer antibodies in response to the inoculation. As well as timing your vaccine, making sure you get a good nights rest in the days after your jab could also boost its effectiveness Advertisement Of course, if your GP only has afternoon appointments available, your flu jab will still work and you shouldnt be put off having the vaccine this winter. We are not talking of timing making the difference between being inoculated successfully or not, but about optimising treatment effects. The Birmingham teams flu finding in 2016 so excited the chronopharmocology community that when research into a similar shot for Covid began in earnest in 2020, emails began flying into my inbox from academic colleagues across the globe, saying the Oxford team simply must look at whether time-of-day effects are relevant in the giving of the Covid vaccine, just as they are with flu. The thinking was that we needed any edge we could possibly get against this virus that had stopped the world in its tracks. I was in the privileged position of passing the information on to colleagues involved in developing the vaccine and delighted when researchers began looking at how time of day impacts on the jabs efficacy research which is just beginning to be published now. So what are the findings so far? Im surprised to say that what we know at this stage suggests that, quite unlike the flu jab, afternoon vaccination may be a better bet against Covid-19. One study on 435 young adults conducted at the University of Warsaw (published in the respected journal Vaccines) initially found that levels of antibodies to the Covid virus were higher in participants vaccinated in the morning groups, but these differences were not statistically significant. Hot on its heels, another study, led by my colleagues at the University of Oxford and Harvard Medical School in the U.S., found that time of day of vaccination did improve antibody responses in those vaccinated later on in the day. When it comes to the date we know that the annual flu vaccine is best taken in autumn, so our immune systems have responded to it and are well-defended just before the winter flu season hits The study observed antibody levels after vaccination among 2,190 healthcare workers in the UK, each of whom were being vaccinated for the first time, during one of three time periods: 7am to 10.59am, 11am to 2.59pm, and 3pm to 9.59pm. The researchers found that antibody responses were higher in general for everyone inoculated later in the day between 11am and 9.59pm whether with the Pfizer or the AstraZeneca vaccine. Agreater magnitude of antibodies suggests greater resulting immunity to Covid, and this study is the first step in possibly being able to recommend that those who would benefit from an extra boost from the vaccine, such as the elderly or immunocompromised, schedule their jab for the afternoon. But were not quite there yet: further research is needed to replicate the findings and to better understand why this Covid study so contrasts with the flu study in terms of the timing of antibody response. The answer could be related to a number of different things, including whether individual participants had sufficient sleep, differences in their levels of stress hormones and if they had recent exposure to other viruses all factors that may affect the immune response. There is also the fact that the flu vaccination study examined only men and women aged over 65, compared with the Covid study, which involved healthcare staff of working age who likely work irregular shifts and may have very different circadian rhythms to most people. The bottom line is that we need a randomised controlled trial (RCT), where a large number of people of similar age and health are randomly assigned to test the effect in this case of a vaccine given at different times. Such RCTs are being planned for Covid vaccines. So in what way might sleep disruption before or immediately after vaccination weaken the immune response? As with so much research, what we know all starts with studies on mice. In a key study published in 2019 by a team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, a group of mice were immunised against the flu virus. Some of the mice were then deprived of sleep for seven hours immediately after immunisation, while the others were allowed to sleep. All the mice were then exposed to the flu virus. None of the mice in the group allowed to sleep were badly infected unlike the sleep-deprived group: their infections lasted longer and caused greater lung injury. The same effect is seen in humans. I suspect this has much to do with our stress hormones. When were sleep deprived, the stress response is triggered and our bodies are flooded with cortisol. One action of cortisol is to suppress our immune responses. In the Covid study, perhaps the healthcare workers given the jab in the early morning had just come off a sleep-sapping night shift, for instance? Most importantly, what does this all mean for you especially for the older and vulnerable groups now being offered the combined flu and Covid jab? My feeling is that you should still rock up to the doctors surgery earlier in the day, if you can: the results of the flu study were certainly applicable to this group of patients, whereas the relevance of the emerging data on the Covid jab may well only be applicable to younger healthcare workers. So, dont worry about not having your Covid jab in the afternoon. The bigger issue is your sleep try to get as much sleep the days before and immediately after your vaccination (see box). And as for the future of chronopharmacology: these early studies into vaccination timing are precious insights to be built upon. They show that the scientific community is starting to take the subject seriously and by asking the simple question Whats the best time to?, our ability to work with our circadian rhythms when treating or preventing illnesses will only grow. Life Time: The New Science Of The Body Clock, And How It Can Revolutionise Your Sleep And Health, by Professor Russell Foster (Penguin Life, 16.99). Your guide to when you take your medicines Evidence increasingly shows that timing certain medications can affect their efficacy... High blood pressure pills before bed One very simple way to reduce your risk of stroke and heart attack is to take blood pressure-lowering pills just before bed. Its true that our blood pressure rises before we wake in anticipation for demands of the day. The data shows unambiguously that you are consequently most likely to die from a stroke or heart attack first thing in the morning. As a result, many doctors will suggest patients pop blood pressure pills such as beta blockers the moment they wake. However, a key study has shown that when such drugs, known as antihypertensives, are taken before bedtime, rather than on waking, they are more effective. In the most extensive trial to date, at the chronobiology lab at the University of Vigo in Spain, nearly 20,000 people with high blood pressure were told either to take their daily dose of antihypertensives at bedtime, or in the morning. The patients were followed up annually for more than six years. Those who took their pills in the evening were found to have almost half the risk of cardiovascular death, including heart failure and stroke. Its down to how the drugs are absorbed and distributed through the body. By taking antihypertensive medication at bedtime the drug levels rise and remain in the body at relatively high levels. These act to reduce blood pressure across the time window when the sharp rise in blood pressure normally occurs 6am to 12 noon. But if the medication is taken in the morning, drug effectiveness will have risen and then peaked after the critical surge in blood pressure and long before the next one is due. Take aspirin in the evening, too Its a similar story with aspirin, commonly prescribed for those at risk of stroke or heart attack as it reduces platelets clumping to form unwanted clots. Blood tends to be prone to clotting in the mornings, as it prepares for the risk of injury in the day to come. It is a risk factor, along with that rise in blood pressure, for a cardiac event. But aspirin levels in the blood rise and fall again quickly, certainly within a few hours so why would taking it in the evening be better than in the morning, when blood is stickiest? A hundred billion new platelets are made during the evening and into the night, ready for the next day when activity increases the risk of injury and potential blood loss. So taking aspirin at bedtime will ensure new platelets will be effectively deactivated long before the dangerous window for stroke the following morning. Statins? Check the type you're on Another risk factor for a heart attack and stroke is increased blood cholesterol. Statins can lower levels of bad cholesterol by slowing down its production in the liver, where it is normally produced between midnight and 6am. When you should take your statins depends on what type youve been prescribed: some remain effective in the blood for just four to six hours, but others stay effective for 20 or 30 hours. So if the statin you take is short-acting (e.g. simvastatin), take it around bedtime to hit the night-time production of cholesterol. However, if you take statins that have a longer half-life (20 to 30 hours, e.g. atorvastatin), take them whenever it suits you though ideally at the same time each day, as their effectiveness will overlap with higher cholesterol production at night time. When you should take your statins depends on what type youve been prescribed: some remain effective in the blood for just four to six hours, but others stay effective for 20 or 30 hours Acid reflux pills first thing Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole, stop the cells that line the stomach from producing too much stomach acid by turning off their proton pumps. More stomach acid cant be produced until new pumps are made by the stomach cells, which takes about 36 hours. The current good advice is to take PPIs in the morning: but why is this, when we know that stomach acid production (and thus acid reflux symptoms) peaks in the evening in response to eating? A critical point is that the PPIs are only able to effectively turn off the proton pumps if the pumps have been activated by new food in the stomach. Without food, PPIs are less effective at lowering stomach acidity. Taking PPIs in the morning, 30 minutes before food, means they are ready for the new wave of proton pumps and shut them off until new pumps can be made, reducing stomach acid production for the next 36 hours. Taking a PPI when eating has finished for the day would be less effective. With new petrol and diesel cars due to be banned from the end of the decade, it's not just members of the public who are expected to transition to electric vehicles over the coming years - the police will also need to do the same. And some have already started adding battery-powered cars to their fleets, with UK forces boasting over 430 electric vehicles to date and over 800 of their own dedicated charging points, according to a new piece of research. Motoring title Auto Express asked UK constabularies up and down the country how many EVs they currently run and found that numbers are not evenly spread, with some using almost 100 and others none at all. You've been charged! UK police forces already have over 430 electric vehicles in their fleets. We reveal the constabularies with the most battery models and those that don't have any at all All 45 UK police forces were contacted via freedom of information request, though just 34 responded. Of those, 26 constabularies said they had at least one electric vehicle within their fleet, while the remaining seven said they are yet to be using a battery model for official police purposes. Of the 11 remaining forces, some refused to provide the information because it was 'not in the public interest'. The UK largest force - unsurprisingly - has the most EVs on fleet at the moment. The Metropolitan Police Service currently has 99 fully electric vehicles, including 50 Nissan e-NV200 electric vans, 41 Nissan Leaf hatchbacks and eight BMW K17 C Evolution maxi-scooters. The force also uses a large number of BMW i3 patrol cars, however, these are range-extending models that have a small supplementary petrol engine, rather than the fully-electric versions of the German model. The investigation also asked UK forces about the number of EV chargepoints they have installed in order to keep their battery cars and motorcycles running for duty. HOW MANY ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND CHARGING POINTS DOES YOUR LOCAL POLICE FORCE CURRENTLY HAVE? Police force Number of electric vehicles Number of EV charging points Metropolitan Police Service 99 264 Gloucestershire Constabulary 83 59 West Midlands Police 41 52 Surrey Police 32 42 Avon and Somerset Constabulary 21 10 Lincolnshire Police 21 29 West Mercia Police 16 11 Hampshire Constabulary 15 62 Norfolk and Suffolk 12 20 North Wales Police 12 19 Dyfed-Powys Police 11 12 South Yorkshire Police 11 24 Wiltshire Police 10 32 Essex Police 8 8 Merseyside Police 8 64 Gwent Police 6 25 Cheshire Constabulary 5 12 Devon and Cornwall Constabulary 4 6 Hertfordshire Constabulary 3 10 South Wales Police 3 11 Derbyshire Constabulary 2 1 Kent Police 2 19 West Yorkshire Police 2 6 Bedfordshire Police 1 0 Cleveland Police 1 4 North Yorkshire Police 1 6 Cambridgeshire Constabulary 0 0 City of London Police 0 0 Durham Constabulary 0 0 Lancashire Constabulary 0 0 Police Service of Northern Ireland 0 0 Staffordshire Police 0 0 Warwickshire Police 0 0 Cumbria Constabulary * * Dorset Police * * Greater Manchester Police * * Humberside Police * * Leicestershire Constabulary * * Northamptonshire Police * * Northumbria Police * * Nottinghamshire Police * * Police Scotland * * Sussex Police * * Thames Valley Police * * Total 430 808 Source: Auto Express FOI request to 45 UK police forces of which 34 responded * failed to respond to FOI request The Met also has the highest number of charging points with 264 spread across its 33 police stations. It told Auto Express that its 99 vehicles charge mostly using these devices, though officers do 'occasionally' need to plug into public charging points, too. Another force with a large number of electric vehicles is Gloucestershire Constabulary, which has 83 in total. Of the EVs it has, 72 are Nissan Leafs, nine are Nissan e-NV200s and it also has two Tesla Model 3s. The force has 59 chargers in total at 17 police stations in the county, and it also has a strict policy to only use these and never to use public chargers that are in short supply for EV-owning members of the public. Earlier this year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service submitted its own FOI request to Gloucestershire Constabulary regarding the number of times its fleet of electric vehicles have ran out of power during a shift. It confirmed two recorded instances of EV vehicles running out of power - one in 2019 and another last year. Neither were during an emergency situation as the force says the electric vehicles are 'not authorised to respond to emergency incidents', according to Gloucestershire Live. Gloucestershire Police currently has the second highest volume of EVs on fleet behind the Met. It has 72 Nissan Leafs (left and right) and nine Nissan e-NV200s (centre) The BMW i3 is the second most-common electric vehicle currently being used by the police, Auto Express found in its investigation The Leaf is by far the most popular EV of choice for UK forces, with 117 in operation, which accounts for over a quarter (27 per cent) of all electric cars with blues and twos. The BMW i3, Nissan e-NV200 and Vauxhall Corsa-e are also highly popular choices, with 87, 71 and 60 of these vehicles featuring in police fleets respectively, Auto Express found. Police forces up and down the country have this year been offered to trial a 60,000 Tesla Model 3 patrol car that's been fully adapted for officer use by the US car maker. Elon Musk's brand claimed it had received 'mind blowing' reports from officers as well as plenty of public support for the 162mph electric saloon. A synopsis of the first nine months of the trial published at the end of last year said the police Model 3 was capable of running for up to four hours of continuous 'advanced driving conditions'. Officers using the car have been able to access the company's Supercharger network of charging devices. Tesla has this year loaned a modified 60,000 Model 3 electric saloon for police forces to trial to understand if they think the vehicle will be a useful addition as a patrol vehicle Tesla claims after the first nine months of the trial that officers had waxed lyrically about the 162mph EVs 'mind blowing' performance as a police car Most common police electric vehicles in use 1. Nissan Leaf 2. BMW i3 3. Nissan e-NV200 4. Vauxhall Corsa-e 5. Renault Zoe 6. Peugeot e-208 7. BMW K17 C Evolution 8. Peugeot e-Expert =9. Hyundai Kona Electric =9. SEAT Mii =9. Vauxhall Vivaro-e Source: Auto Express FOI request to 45 UK police forces of which 34 responded Forces that responded to the FOI request and said they have zero EVs right now included Cambridgeshire, City of London, Durham, Lancashire, Northern Ireland, Staffordshire and Warwickshire. Police Scotland is one of the 11 forces not to have provided information about the number of electric cars or chargers it currently has. A spokesperson said this was both because it does not hold all information on record and said it 'would be against the public interest' to tell the motoring title about the numbers of EVs it operates. Yet, in August it did tell the Scottish Liberal Democrats that it has spent around 20million buying electric cars to bolster its fleet of vehicles. However, the force also admitted to the political party that it had so far failed to install the necessary infrastructure to charge them, with vehicles being left overnight in public car parks to replenish the batteries. Earlier this month, Afritin took another significant step towards upgrading the already impressive production at its Uis tin mine in Namibia. The company is nearing the end of a drilling programme that's designed to upgrade the resource to support an expanded production scenario that will bring tantalum and, more significantly, lithium into the equation in a major way. For many years in the latter part of the twentieth century Uis was one of the most significant mines in Namibia and one of the most significant tin mines regionally, if not globally. The tin price crash of the 90s put an end to Afritin's Uis mine, but that has now been re-established and cash is coming in Times change, though, and the tin price crash which put an end to tin mining operations in Cornwall at the end of the 1990s also put paid to Uis. But then, a few years later, along came Afritin's chief executive Anthony Viljoen with a band of young, energetic entrepreneurs. They planned to start the whole thing up again and were just young and fresh-faced enough to think it would work, much against the grain of prevailing wisdom in junior mining, which says that tin operations are best left to the big boys. But Viljoen recognised what he saw at Uis as a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity', and he wasn't about to let it end up as a footnote on some mining major's spreadsheet. Fast forward a few years and tin production is well established. That box can be ticked, cash is coming in and a track record of success is being built up. But there is a new twist now, one that none of the old timers would ever have predicted. Back when Uis was first operated, no-one really had any use for lithium. But boy has that changed. Lithium remains one of the few commodities still firmly in bull market territory after all the ups and downs of recent months on the markets. Which is good news for Afritin. Because, besides the tin, and some tantalum, Uis also contains a very significant endowment of lithium. 'This resource is turning into something quite special,' says Viljoen. 'It's one of the top five tin, lithium and tantalum resources globally. Our target resource is 200million tonnes of ore.' Usually, when lithium, tin and tantalum are found together in pegmatite mineralisation, the structures are narrow and fairly short. But in Namibia, Afritin's orebody is hundreds of metres thick and goes on for hundreds of miles. That makes it both one of the largest standalone tin orebodies, and one of the largest standalone lithium orebodies anywhere in the world. Quite simply, it means that in all likelihood the company will effectively be able to mine its lithium free of charge, with all costs borne by the sales of tin. And, as if that wasn't enough, it's all happening very quickly. With production of tin already in place, the company has already cleared many of the potential hurdles that other junior start-ups face. It knows the government, it knows the logistics, it knows the geology and to a large extent it knows the processing that will be involved too. Officially, the plan to bring the lithium into the equation is called Phase 2 of development at Uis, with Phase 1 largely completed. And if anyone doubts the significance of the foundation that Afritin has laid at Uis by the completion of this first phase, consider that at one point in this past year the operation was running at around a 50 per cent EBITDA margin. This is a company that's already up and running in a meaningful way, and with plans to go much, much bigger. Well, first off there is the planned expansion of the resource from the existing 71.5million tonnes to that 200million figure. Part of the money that was recently raised will go towards completing that work, which will itself underpin further detailed economic study. But Aftritin already has some idea of the parameters it's likely to be dealing with once Phase 2 is up and running. An earlier preliminary economic assessment put the net present value of the project at $2billion and an internal rate of return of 75 per cent. Those figures are based around plans to process 10million tonnes of ore per year over 14 year mine life, to produce a total of just under 275,000 tonnes of tin, 17,300 tonnes of tantalum, and 1.1million tonnes of lithium dioxide. Under this scenario, lithium would account for just over 60 per cent of revenues, with annual EBITDA expected to run at over $600million, and margins at upwards of 64 per cent. These are big ticket numbers, so it's perhaps somewhat surprising that the capital expenditure required is set at a comparatively modest $440million. Of course, in the world of junior mining, a number like that would in any event be unachievable for most companies. But not so, Afritin. For one thing, this is a company that's being built piecemeal. The market capitalisation has already jumped to over 60million (at 4.1p) over the past few years and it was significantly higher than that for a good portion of the summer. A certain amount of value is already being recognised and the gap between market capitalisation and project finance doesn't look as unbridgeable as it does for some. But more to the point, as the latest round of financing indicates, the likely funding partners are already in place. Big names like Standard Bank and Orion have come on board at what for an operation like that is a relatively early stage. Why? because they want to be able to get position when the real action starts. And that sits well enough with Viljoen's approach. 'We're not going to take small steps,' he says. 'We're going to be pretty bold in what we do.' Credit Suisse has agreed to pay 234m in France to settle a tax evasion and money laundering probe Credit Suisse has agreed to pay 234m in France to settle a tax evasion and money laundering probe. It is alleged the troubled Swiss bank urged wealthy French clients to move their assets to Switzerland. Credit Suisse was accused by French authorities of encouraging rich customers in France to set up bank accounts in Switzerland between 2005 and 2012, which were then out of reach of the French taxman. Credit Suisse will make a strategy announcement this week aimed at putting an end to years of scandals and losses that have eroded confidence. Last week, it agreed to pay 438m to resolve a case related to its sale of residential mortgage-backed securities. A British oil executive has revealed how he was jailed in India alongside hardened criminals after bringing a banned satellite phone on a yoga retreat. Fergus MacLeod, who works for the oil company Saudi Aramco, says he spent a week locked up in an Indian jail alongside some 'very serious' convicts after accidently breaching the country's strict rules. Fergus MacLeod (pictured), head of investor relations at Saudi Aramco, was detained after he was found with a satellite phone while on holiday in Valley of Flowers National Park. Satellite phones are illegal for foreigners to use in India Mr MacLeod, who is head of investor relations for the company, the world's largest oil exporter, says he was arrested at a hotel at a UNESCO heritage site called Valley of Flowers National Park in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand this summer. The 62-year-old says police took him away from the retreat after he was found with a satellite phone. It is illegal for foreign nationals to use satellite phones when they are in India. The phone type was banned after terrorists used them in the 2008 Mumbai attacks which killed 175 people. Anyone not from India needs to ask permission of the Government to use the special type of phone which uses satellites to pick up signals rather than terrestrial towers. Mr MacLeod was arrested on July 12 and was detained in prison in the town Chamoli until July 18. The executive, who had been on holiday with friends, including some colleagues from Saudi Aramco, said he was treated well throughout the ordeal. Officers detained Mr MacLeod after he had turned on and off the satellite phone in his hotel room but claimed he did not use it. Authorities were then able to pick up the phone's coordinates before arresting him. Mr MacLeod, who has led investor relations at the oil company giant since 2017, told the Financial Times he had been unaware of the ban. The Saudi Aramco boss had been on a yoga retreat UNESCO heritage site called Valley of Flowers National Park in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. Stock of image of an adult meditating He also said he successfully passed through two airports in the country without being stopped by security staff. He claims he bought the phone legally in the UK in 2017 for personal use. He later used it when travelling through the Saudi Arabian desert in case of emergencies. Mr MacLeod added that even though he was treated well by lawyers during the detention period, his request to seek legal counsel was rejected. He was also unable to contact family. He said: 'It was a frightening place and a highly traumatic experience, where I was in a communal cell with long-term prisoners who had committed very serious crimes.' A police officer in Chamoli, Narendra Singh Rawat, confirmed to the FT that Mr MacLeod had been arrested and had carried the satellite phone 'by mistake'. While in the prison, he tried to get in contact on a Foreign Office Helpline, adding that while the Government department was 'sympathetic' no 'meaningful action' had been taken. The oil exec was eventually released after his friends paid his bail. Despite this he could leave the country until after a court hearing at the end of the month on July 27 where he pleaded guilty and settled the fine of just 10 ($12), or Rs1,000. Satellite phones (pictured left) use satellites to pick up signals rather than terrestrial towers. The Indian Government made it illegal for foreign nationals to use the phones in the country after they were used in the deadly Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008 (pictured right) The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it 'provided consular support to a British man in India' but did not add any further details. Mr MacLeod is one of the most senior western executives at Aramco, which is based in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The Oxford University PPE graduate joined the company and moved to Saudi Arabia in 2017, a few years before the oil company became one of the most valuable companies in the world, just behind tech company Apple. Melbourne start-up founder David Vitale is winning awards and international market share by transforming whisky from 'dad's drink' into something more like a shared table wine. However, it was a tough sell early on as he struggled to get his Port Melbourne distillery off the ground. Mr Vitale tried to convince a 'high-net worth' family friend in 2009 of 'a whisky resurgence'. Melbourne whisky maker David Vitale risked everything when he set out to create his own distillery in 2007 'I just don't understand why anybody would buy your whisky as opposed to just buying Johnnie Walker,' the friend told Mr Vitale. Six years later Mr Vitale signed a deal with Diageo, the company that makes Johnnie Walker, to invest in his whisky brand Starward and help launch it internationally. 'Not only did drinkers believe they wanted to buy us, but Johnnie Walker believed they should buy us too,' Mr Vitale says with evident satisfaction. The father-of-three relocated with his family to the US in 2019 to 'spearhead the Aussie whisky movement in the US'. 'Maybe in two years we will sell more in the US than we do in Australia,' Mr Vitale told Daily Mail Australia. David's Starward brand of whisky is conquering the world and has picked up a bagful of prizes, including the highly covered 'distillery of the year' at the 'Oscars' of booze held in San Francisco 'Once that happens, get out of the way, it's going to hopefully be a steam train.' It is unlikely story for a 48-year-old who grew up as part of a large Italian family in Melbourne's northern suburbs, where wine flowed freely but whisky was only uncorked once a year. 'We gave whisky to our accountant for Christmas in a box,' Mr Vitale said. 'That was the extent of whisky purchases in our household.' By the late 90s Mr Vitale was running a financial e-learning business but his spare time was absorbed by making craft beer. The unique selling point of Starward whisky is that it is fermented and aged from start to finish in wine barrels 'On a whim' he made a fateful visit to Tasmania. 'I walked into a little whisky bar called the Lark Distillery, which obviously is far more famous now,' Mr Vitale said. 'It was like a lightning bolt hit me. For me what was really interesting was that all the things I loved about craft beer were in these single malt craft whiskies. 'They talked to provenance and style and place and there were so many of them.' After selling his e-business he spent two years learning the craft of whisky making at a distillery, where he used his background in finance and tech to expand operation. Mr Vitale (pictured right) is seen making a whisky cocktail, which is part of his drive to make the drink a more commonly used mixer However, he had a far bigger vision for a uniquely Melbourne brew, which in June 2007 led to his 'entrepreneurial brain fart' moment of 'I'm going to do this'.' The idea was to use wine barrels from surrounding wineries to age his whisky from start to finish, which is not standard practice. 'We weren't sure it was going to work but like most innovation you just think about what can go wrong, try to mitigate that and just push the boundaries and see what happens,' he said. 'I thought 'I am going to put all chips on black and age it in these wine barrels and see what happens'.' What happened was a distinctive flavour. Starward is Melbourne's own brand of whisky that is taking and beating the best from the rest of the world David Vitale's five tips for success Melbourne whisky maker David Vitale is turning his Starward whisky brand into a global success. Here are five tips on building a business from scratch * Have focus and clarity David resisted the route a lot of distilleries take to make gin while their whisky ages. A mentor's advice helped: 'He told me if you try to catch a few rabbits in a paddock you are not likely to catch any of them'. 'We were just focused on the one thing, the one rabbit and that was modern Australian whisky aged in red wine barrels, something that's really delicious, affordable and always available,' David said. * Get everybody who is part of your orbit to buy into your singular vision 'If you don't have that type of clarity then the first adverse event that happens will completely derail you,' David said. * Patience and persistence comes from having a clear vision and focus 'You need to have patient investors and you need to be equal parts patient and impatient with what you are trying to do,' David said. 'We just kept etching away at it day by day, which gave people the optimism that there is something here we just needed to be more patient.' * Have a selling point to call your own David says: 'I didn't want to dig up someone else's bone and call it my own.' Scotch whisky often emphasises tradition and he knew 'you can't outScotch scotch on those terms'. 'I wanted to say this is a distinctive product from the place it is made,' David said. 'Understand what your key advantages are over the incumbents, over the establishment and work with that and build on that from there.' * Disadvantages can be advantages with some 'agile' thinking 'Our secret weapon in Melbourne is our climate,' David says. 'You could see it as a barrier you know what we are only going to be able to release young whisky because if we left it in the barrel for too long it wouldn't be balanced, it wouldn't taste great. 'Isn't that an advantage? I can actually bring products to market in a third of a time that other people do.' Advertisement 'We had something we could build a moat around as ours that couldn't be imitated,' Mr Vitale said. 'Starward is more Australian than Scotch is Scottish because their barrels come from other places Spain, Portugal, America and quite often the barley does too. Famously whisky takes years to ferment and mature, although in Melbourne's climate the optimum period is three to four years, so Mr Vitale's first batch wasn't ready until 20 December, 2012. Mr Vitale admitted whisky was far from fashionable when he started out. 'In 2007 people weren't drinking a lot of whisky vodka was the big thing back then. Whisky is what your parents drank probably your dad, truth be told,' he said. 'It wasn't really a cool product.' Then came the challenge of putting Starward, rather than Johnnie Walker or any other well-established brand, into whisky drinkers' glasses. Melbourne's climate means that whisky ages faster in the barrels and cannot be left in them for longer periods 'It was hand-to-hand combat for those first three years,' Mr Vitale said. 'When we launched I was 60 days away from insolvency for the better part of two years. Just hanging on. 'It's almost like you have to earn your place on the shelf, then once you have been around long enough people will say 'alright I will give it a go' and they are always pleasantly surprised, which is always funny for me. 'It does genuinely surprise them that Australia can make such amazingly delicious whisky.' Mr Vitale says he was close to insolvency for the better part of two years after launching his whisky Americans are cottoning on to, with Starward now available in 40 US states. Mr Vitale likened this feat to getting into 40 different European countries as each state has its own liquor laws. One thing that is uniformly better is the lower tax Americans impose on spirits. 'The hard liquor tax regime in the US is very not interventionalist,' Mr Vitale said. 'Literally I could buy a Starward bottle in LA, FedEx it to the Melbourne distillery and it would be cheaper (with only US taxes imposed) than what it would cost over the counter in Australia.' Mr Vitale predicts that in a few years he will be more selling more Starward in the US than in Australia Starward is quickly becoming a favourite with judges too, with the brand claiming an incredible 15 top awards at the San Francisco Spirits Awards in April. Mr Vitale's brainchild was the first Australian recipient of the main prize, Distillery of the Year, rising above a pack of about 4000 global competitors to claim the highly coveted gong. While the accolades are nice, Mr Vitale said the reason he makes whisky is to fashion a drink that is distinctly of a place. He also wants whisky to be a popular and shared anytime refreshment, especially in cocktails, so it is not just kept regally boxed in the back of the drinks cupboard for special occasions. As Starward conquers the US, gains a widespread presence in Europe and the UK as well as a growing one in southeast Asia, Mr Vitale's vision is taking shape nicely. Even Johnnie Walker will drink to that. A 2016 email shows the then VP's senior advisor sent a schedule for his call with then-Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko - and copied Hunter in the message President Joe Biden is listed as an 'accomplice' in six alleged white collar crimes in an explosive 634-page report on the contents of Hunter's laptop by a right wing transparency organization, obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com. The incendiary report by nonprofit Marco Polo, a right-wing transparency group, details accusations of 459 crimes allegedly committed by Hunter including prostitution offenses, distribution and possession of drugs, defrauding government agencies, illegal foreign lobbying and money laundering. The report - published by founder Garrett Ziegler, a 26-year-old former Trump White House aide - claims that Joe is complicit in tax evasion, violations of the Presidential Records Act and the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), and using nonpublic information from a government job for financial gain. The six incidents involving Joe listed in the report span from June 2010 to December 2016. The report come days after DailyMail.com reported a White House lawyer had sent Hunter and his business partner emails about then-Vice President Joe Biden's taxes in 2010, calling into question the president's claim that he had no financial link to his son. A report by Marco Polo on the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop claims dad Joe Biden was complicit in tax evasion, violated the Presidential Records Act, and used nonpublic information for financial gain The six incidents involving Joe listed in the report span from June 2010 to December 2016. He is pictured aboard Air Force One on October 17 A 2016 email shows the then VP's senior advisor sent a schedule for his call with then-Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko - and copied Hunter in the message Marco Polo's report combs through the emails, texts and pictures from the First Son's abandoned MacBook Pro in painstaking detail and is designed, according to Ziegler, as a guide for both law enforcement and congressional investigators for 'what to subpoena' to build a criminal case. It has been sent to all 535 members of the House and the Senate. Neither the White House nor Hunter's lawyers responded to DailyMail.com's requests for comment. But in combative text messages with a Marco Polo operative on Monday, Hunter's Hollywood attorney Kevin Morris called the report a 'package of libel.' In one May 2016 email highlighted in the report, John S. Flynn, a senior advisor to the vice president sent Joe a schedule for his call with then-Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and copied Hunter in the message. Hunter was on the board of Ukrainian gas company Burisma at the time. 'Boss8.45am prep for 9am call with Pres Poroshenko. Then we're off to Rhode Island,' the email said, and attached a Microsoft Word document with a briefing. Marco Polo claims that copying Hunter in the VP's schedule constitutes a use of nonpublic information from a government job for financial gain, which allegedly violates section 2635 of the US Code of Federal Regulations. Flynn sent the message to an alias email address Joe used under the name 'Robert Peters'. The report claims Joe also 'illegally utilized his private, alias email address' under another pseudonym 'Robin Ware' in a 2012 conversation with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was then National Security Advisor to the VP. John S. Flynn, the former senior advisor to the vice president, is pictured with Joe in an undated photo The report claims Joe also 'illegally utilized his private, alias email address' under another pseudonym 'Robin Ware' in a 2012 conversation with now Secretary of State Antony Blinken, At the time Blinken was National Security Advisor to the VP. They are pictured above in September 2022 The Presidential Records Act requires the VP to turn over all official records including government-related communications to the National Archives and Records Administration for preservation. It is unclear whether that occurred with emails on Joe's private addresses. Marco Polo claims that Joe was involved in attempted tax evasion by failing to declare to the IRS the alleged gift of having thousands of dollars of his personal bills paid by Hunter's company. The report points to June 2010 emails from Hunter's business partner in his Rosemont Seneca consultancy, Eric Schwerin, which list $5,227.09 of bills including home maintenance and insurance. 'I am not sure which ones are a priority and which should get paid out of 'my' account,' Schwerin wrote. Marco Polo founder Garrett Ziegler is a 26-year-old former Trump White House aide Another email five days later shows money flowing between Hunter and Joe's accounts. Schwerin wrote: 'Your Dad's Delaware tax refund check came today. I am depositing it in his account and writing a check in that amount back to you since he owes it to you.' The 634-page report claims to have identified 140 'business-related crimes' by Hunter, 191 'sex-related' and 128 'drug-related'. Hunter is already facing an FBI investigation over alleged money laundering, tax crimes and illegal foreign lobbying. The Washington Post reported this month that agents believe they have enough evidence for Delaware prosecutor David Weiss to charge Hunter with tax and gun crimes. DailyMail.com stories are among the 2,020 footnotes in the wide-ranging Marco Polo report, which covers Hunter's deals with Chinese intelligence-linked oil giant CEFC, allegedly corrupt Ukrainian gas firm Burisma, Russian oligarchs and Mexican billionaires. The report points to June 2010 emails from Hunter's business partner in his Rosemont Seneca consultancy, Eric Schwerin, which list $5,227.09 of bills including home maintenance and insurance Marco Polo claims Joe was involved in attempted tax evasion by failing to declare to the IRS the alleged gift of having thousands of dollars of his personal bills paid by Hunter's company A June 10, 2010 email shows money flowing between Hunter and Joe's accounts The shocking document also makes outright accusations of criminality by Hunter and his associates. Marco Polo alleges Biden family confidant Rob Walker 'laundered' $6million from their Chinese business partners through his company Robinson Walker LLC to Hunter. It accuses Hunter of a FARA violation by intervening on Burisma owner Nikolai Zlochevsky's behalf with the State Department to resolve a visa issue for the oligarch's trip to Mexico in 2015, without Hunter registering as an agent of Burisma with the US government. Ziegler's wrote the report after almost two years of research with the help of private investigators and lawyers on his team. Among the reports revelations are apparent contradictions in statements Hunter made about a 3.16 carat diamond gifted to him by his Chinese business partner with links to the Beijing government. Hunter met CEFC chairman Ye Jianming in Miami February 2017, who gave him the $80,000 rock. His estranged wife Kathleen found out and her lawyer emailed Hunter's, asking for 'proof that the diamond has been placed in a safety deposit box'. His attorney, Sarah Mancinelli, wrote: 'There is no diamond in Hunter's possession. I don't know where Kathleen is getting access to this information, but on this score, what your email purports below is inaccurate.' The right-wing watchdog which reviewed the contents of Hunter's laptop also makes outright accusations of criminality by Hunter and his associates The report combs through the emails, texts and pictures from the First Son's abandoned MacBook Pro in painstaking detail and is allegedly designed to help law enforcement officials build their criminal case In subsequent media interviews claimed he gave it to an associate and never saw it again. But the Marco Polo report points out that Hunter changed his story, claiming he gave it back to Jianming. One of Kathleen's divorce filings says: 'Mr. Biden now admits, through counsel, that he was in possession of a diamond, but asserts that it has been returned to the entity that gave it to him.' Pictures on the laptop show Hunter photographed a stone matching its description over a year later in Delaware at the home of his lover and brother's widow Hallie Biden in March 2018. Hunter does not appear to have declared the diamond as income, which could constitute further tax violations. Marco Polo is a registered nonprofit founded by Ziegler, 26, who worked as an aide in the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy from February 2019 to the end of the Trump administration. Ziegler's report could prove to be provocative to Democrats and to Hunter's legal team, who have been talking tough and gearing up for the First Son's defense both in the media and in the face of his federal criminal probe. It refers to Joe Biden as the 'pResident', a reference to the conspiracy theory that his presidency is illegitimate due to supposed widespread election fraud. Photographs of Joe are crudely photoshopped into Hunter's naked selfies with prostitutes included in the document. Family members of individuals named in the files on Hunter's laptop are pictured in the report, sometimes with revealing photos taken from social media. Ziegler himself is a lightning rod of controversy. He has been scrutinized as the aide who reportedly arranged a 2020 Oval office meeting where former national security adviser Michael Flynn and lawyer Sidney Powell tried to convince Trump to order the seizure of voting machines in an effort to overturn the presidential election result. In July he appeared before the House Jan. 6 committee investigating the 2021 riot at the Capitol, then released a 27-minute video calling the panel racist against white people and calling female former White House colleagues who spoke out against Trump 'thots and hoes'. Hunter's lawyer Kevin Morris has already had a spat with Marco Polo. An operative working for the organization struck up a text conversation with him in May this year while posing as an ally to Hunter's defense team. When the trickster revealed his identity a week later, a furious Morris called him a 'f***ing moron' and told him 'I'm going to take all your money', 'I know where you live', 'I'm coming to get you', and 'You're going to enjoy being a buttboy for 20 years dude. Lube up'. The Murray River in Echuca peaked at 94.8m on Monday, topping 1993's record A woman, 28, was found dead near Mudgee after being swept away in floods Three rain systems are continuing to batter Queensland, NSW, Victoria and WA Three major weather systems will continue to batter the east and south coasts of Australia with more than 140 flood warnings issued in one state alone. Two rain cells battering New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria along with another system sweeping over south Western Australia will continue to bring heavy rain to several regions over the next week. Residents in Lismore, in northern NSW, avoided the worst of the severe weather predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology overnight to Monday with the flood-ravaged town suffering minor to moderate flooding instead of another catastrophic event as predicted. It comes as authorities confirm a 28-year-old woman was tragically found dead after she vanished in floodwaters near the NSW town of Mudgee on Sunday night. The woman was in a car with a 45-year-old driver and two male passengers - aged 43 and 26 - when their vehicle was swept off a causeway Cooyal Creek at Gulgong. Everyone managed to escape the car however the woman disappeared in the floodwaters a short time later. Her body was found on the riverbank just before 10am on Monday. Echuca locals having a beer in the floodwaters after the Murray River peaked at 94.8m on Monday, smashing the 1993 record of 94.77m Monday's flood warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology The search comes as NSW Emergency Services Minister Stephanie Cooke said authorities were keeping a 'very, very close eye' on Lismore and the wider region. 'We all know how much those communities have been through this year,' she told the ABC. There are also concerns about Moree in the state's north, where the town is experiencing its worst flooding in a decade. Farmers in the agricultural hub were just weeks away from harvesting crops, which are now destroyed. 'It's heartbreaking. There's no doubt the damage and devastation through that region will be deep and widespread,' Ms Cooke said. An Echuca local having a fish in the flooded Murray River after it peaked above its 1993 record at the weekend Flood warnings from NSW SES for Monday as the state braced for further heavy rain The Mehi River at Moree peaked at 10.5 metres on Sunday and is expected to remain above the major flood level (8.8m) into Tuesday. Other towns at risk of flooding include Hay, Wentworth, Ballina, Yamba and Maclean. Evacuation orders are in place for Moree, Terry Hie Hie, Gunnedah and Carroll in the state's north, the Riverina town of Narrandera and Mudgee in the central west. While a severe weather alert for the next two days remains in the region, it is likely to by cancelled by midday Monday as the massive rainband over the region has unexpectedly weakened and moved further south. However, as that coastal system moves down NSW, it is forecast to bring substantial rain to regions already at risk of flooding including several areas around Coffs Harbour, the Hunter Valley and Sydney. Sydneysiders are expected to see the worst of Monday's rain around midday with up to 50mm expected to fall from 11am to 2pm in the city's Northern Beaches. The NSW SES have issued 142 flood warnings, 23 of which are emergency status. Emergency flood warnings for Victoria on Monday The community of Moree (pictured) has banded together with locals making thousands of sandbags for residents trying to stop water getting into their homes Two hundred Australian Defence Force personnel have been deployed across the state with more than a dozen helicopters helping with rescue and relief efforts, including three defence choppers. Natural disaster declarations have been made in more than 40 local government areas, opening councils, residents and businesses for financial aid. Meanwhile, Canberra residents will be caught in the thick of the forecast rain with up to 25mm to fall on Monday and 15mm on Tuesday before showers ease into Thursday. As that system continues to move south, it will partially combine with a second cell hanging over western NSW and Victoria. That cell is forecast to bring storms with low rainfall to border towns between NSW and Victoria on Monday, including Echuca. The Murray River in Echuca peaked at a whopping 94.8m on Monday, smashing the 1993 94.77m record. Echuca, on the NSW-Victorian border, has been on edge for almost a week with the Murray River predicted to peak about 95m on Tuesday It's believed upcoming rain could push the river above 95m by Tuesday. Vic Emergency has issued 67 flood warnings for the state, with a critical evacuation order in place for Echuca and five other emergency warnings. Fortunately, storms are set to ease in the area on Tuesday however showers will continue until late next week. Melbourne residents can also expect to see a rainy week with showers forecast through to Friday. A third system sitting over southern Western Australia will continue bringing light to moderate rain through to mid-next week. Perth residents should dodge most of the wet though with conditions to clear from Monday afternoon. Regions on South Australia's border with Victoria faced heavy rain on Sunday but can expect conditions to ease from Monday with storms to ease into showers on Tuesday. Moree, in northern NSW, was inundated with floodwaters after heavy rain saw the Mehi River peak at 10.44m Adelaide residents are in for a dreary week with showers expected through to Thursday. Northern Territorians are set to stay dry for the beginning of this week with the exception of a few midday showers over Darwin on Monday. Showers will develop off Tasmania's capital on Monday and bring rain with daily totals up to 25mm on Tuesday and Wednesday before the system eases into showers from Thursday. Major legislative flaws in our national security laws could allow more than a dozen accused Islamic State terrorists to apply to have their Australian citizenship returned. A legislative loophole could allow jihadi bride Zehra Duman (pictured) to return to Australia despite her known links to the Islamic State terrorism group It comes four months after the High Court of Australia ruled citizenship cessation laws were invalid as they relied on a ministerial decision and not a judicial verdict. Government lawyers informed ISIS jihadi bride Zehra Duman's legal team on Monday they would no longer fight an appeal against the Coalition government's decision to strip her citizenship. In late 2014, Duman, then-aged 19, went to Syria and became Australia's most notorious jihadi bride after marrying three ISIS fighters, including fellow Melbourne extremist Mahmoud Abdullatif, known as the 'playboy jihadi'. In 2014, Duman left Melbourne aged 19 and joined ISIS in Syria. She is believed to be living in a refugee camp in Turkey with her two children, and is desperate to return to Australia. Pictured: the woman thought to be Duman (centre) alongside aid workers The Albanese government is scrambling for a legislative solution to the citizenship problem since the High Court's ruling. In June, the court overturned the former government's decision to strip dual Australian-Turkish national Delil Alexander of his Australian citizenship while he was detained in Syria. The ruling, which related to Alexander and one other person, set a precedent and had direct implications for roughly 20 Australians who have had their citizenship revoked over alleged terrorism links. The government will introduce its own citizenship cessation laws that would empower a court, instead of a minister, to decide whether a person involved in terrorism activities should lose their citizenship. It's believed the laws will apply to people who commit terrorism offences overseas as well as on Australian soil. It comes as the threats Dunam made on social media resurface, where she spruiked vile ISIS propaganda and directly threatened Australia and a Daily Mail Australia reporter's family. Duman used social media to spread a series of propaganda images promoting ISIS (pictured) In 2015, a Twitter account believed to be run by Duman posted pictures of ISIS women brandishing machine guns and standing next to a BMW car, head to toe in Islamic dress, with the caption '5-star jihad'. In one tweet, Duman said: 'US + Australia, how does it feel that all five of us were born n (sic) raised in your lands, and now here thirsty for ur (sic) blood?' At the time, Duman told Daily Mail Australia: 'All you have to know is that the next time I will ever step into Australia, is when we come and make it a part of the Islamic State bi'thnillah (with the permission of Allah). 'Oh and do I miss my family? Well I think you will miss yours soon (sic). Thank you and have a great day mate!' Duman was detained in the Kurdish region of Syria after Islamic State's collapse in March 2019, with her Australian citizenship revoked later that year. With the help of people smugglers, she escaped al-Hol detention camp and fled to Turkey with her son, Jarred and daughter, Layla, and in 2020 was convicted of being a member of a terrorist group. Her family in Melbourne has long campaigned for her return, saying she was 'brainwashed', with Duman begging to return to home and for her children to be treated like 'normal kids' in Australia. The Australian extremist sent this threatening message to a Daily Mail Australia journalist on January 22, 2015 (pictured) In one of her tweets, Duman boasted about her and American jihadi brides being thirsty for Australian and American blood (pictured) Brittany Higgins is pictured leaving ACT Supreme Court Jurors in the high profile trial of Brittany Higgins' accused rapist have sent a note to the judge saying that they have not yet reached a verdict, and asking for a 'little extra time'. The eight women and four men of the jury arrived at the ACT Supreme Court on Monday morning to continue determining whether Bruce Lehrmann sexually assaulted the former Liberal staffer in Parliament House in March 2019. Lehrmann pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent. The jury have been deliberating since about 3pm on Wednesday and have been directed to reach a unanimous verdict. On Monday morning, jury members sent Chief Justice Lucy McCallum a note which read: 'We have not yet reached an agreement beyond reasonable doubt. 'We have asked the court to give us a little extra time.' Justice McCallum urged them to 'relax, stay as calm as you can ... There is no rush, there's no time limit.' 'There is no expectation. You can and should take all the time you need,' she said. Bruce Lehrmann (pictured leaving court on Tuesday) is charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent. He has pleaded not guilty She urged them not to feel rushed because people are waiting for a verdict, and said she has presided over matters where the jury took much longer to make a decision. Before they were sent home for the weekend, Justice Lucy McCallum reminded them not to look at social media or talk to anyone about the case. 'Please remember the reminders I have given you, as you come into contact with a broader range of people over the weekend,' Justice McCallum said. 'It's extremely important at this stage that you don't engage in any conversation, you may accidentally engage with someone who might tell you something that might be problematic. 'Give yourself a social media holiday.' She also reminded them Lehrmann was presumed innocent and it was up to the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In his closing argument last week, Prosecutor Shane Drumgold urged the jury to disregard discussions of political movements and workplace cultures sparked by the case. He said the case was not about the culture inside Parliament House or the Me Too movement but about what happened on a couch inside a minister's office in the early hours of Saturday, March 23, 2019. Mr Drumgold said Ms Higgins had been a credible and honest witness whose version of events that night had not wavered. Brittany Higgins is pictured (centre) outside court with before the first day of the trial on October 4 Meanwhile, he said Lehrmann had given inconsistent accounts about why he was at parliament on the night of the alleged assault to the security guards, to his boss and to the police. The prosecutor suggested Lehrmann's intent was to go to Parliament House so he could be alone with the 'drunk' and 'vulnerable' Ms Higgins. Lehrmann's defence lawyer Steven Whybrow told the court nothing happened that night and suggested Ms Higgins had fabricated her account to save her job. He said a closer look at her evidence made the prosecution's case against his client 'totally untenable'. Mr Whybrow pointed to inconsistencies in Ms Higgins' story, including that she had told police and others she had attended doctor appointments after the alleged assault. He suggested Ms Higgins fabricated doctor appointments at the time to 'make it more believable' that she had been sexually assaulted. 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. Advertisement Portland's Democratic mayor has finally announced plans to shut down any unsanctioned Homeless camps in the city - as a high number of squalid shanty towns and rising crime continues to plague the area. Ted Wheeler condemned Portland's homeless problems as a 'vortex of misery,' and shared his ideas on how to qualm the issue, with residents already turning their backs on the city. Locals told DailyMail.com that they're abandoning the Democrats, who have been in charge for 40 years, because they're sick of crime, drug use and homelessness in the center of the city. Now, they're thinking of electing a Republican as governor for the first time, with Nike co-founder, and Oregons richest man Phil Knight is backing Christine Drazan to defeat her Democratic rival. Democrat Wheeler has been blamed for crime skyrocketing, with Portland setting a record for murders las year when they reported 90 homicides - shattering the previous high of 66 - and could be about to surpass it this year. The Oregon city currently has more than 700 homeless encampments across the city within less than 150 square miles, and the ordeal has also led to skyrocketing crime in the area. And some of the most charming, trendy and expensive neighborhoods of the Pacific Northwest city are now overrun with tent cities crowding residential sidewalks and littered with trash - and the issue is scaring away both locals and tourists. Announcing the ban, Mayor Wheeler said: 'The magnitude and the depth of the homelessness crisis in our city is nothing short of a humanitarian catastrophe.' In his proposal, the mayor said that he plans to ban the unsanctioned encampments across the city and make way for the construction of 20,000 units in the coming years. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler held a press conference Friday to announce sweeping changes to how the city addresses the ongoing homeless crisis The decriminalization of hard drugs is blamed by many for changing the tone of the city. Drugs are on open display A homeless encampment is seen on a residential street in Portland earlier this year Dozens of campervans and open air rampant drug use at of squalid shanty towns across Portland are causing locals to consider doing the unthinkable and voting Republican for the first time in 40 years Portland's Democratic mayor has finally announced plans to shut down any unsanctioned homeless camps in the city - as a high number of squalid shanty towns and rising crime continues to plague the area Tents crowd the sidewalk that is littered with trash from homeless communities setting up camp in areas spread from downtown Portland now out through the suburbs A homeless man is seen next to tents, a shopping cart and stroller full of belongings and trash. Homeless encampments have been popping up along residential streets in several Portland neighborhoods Wheeler hopes that the units will be affordable and built over the next decade. 'We need to move our scattered, vulnerable homeless population closer to the services that they need,' Wheeler said. A key factor of his proposal includes the idea to also create additional emergency shelters, Safe Rest Villages, and city-designated campsites. The actual banning of the homeless encampments would not come until 'funding has been secured,' the mayor said. His announcement comes after billionaire Knight donated $1million to Drazan after bankrolling the campaign of an independent who has turned the governor election into a toss-up. A man rummages through a bag next to a tent and shopping cart full of belongings and trash. Several unauthorized homeless camps are springing up on grassy areas next to sidewalks in residential areas of Portland after being pushed from downtown Mayor Wheeler has announced plans where he hopes that the units will be affordable and built over the next decade to help solve the problem Encampments of RV's and other run down vehicles have become an eyesore on the side of the road in Portland, with many residents demanding change Oregon's richest man Phil Knight says he will do whatever he can to stop Democratic nominee Tina Kotek becoming the state's next governor. His money has upended the race If Christine Drazan wins she would be first Republican to be elected governor of the deep blue state since 1982 - the year Diet Coke was launched The actual banning of the homeless encampments would not come until 'funding has been secured,' the mayor said Analysts said his two-horse strategy suggested Knight was intent on keeping the Democrat out of the governor's mansion. In a rare interview, Knight, 84, said he would do whatever it took to end the Democrat's stranglehold on power and described himself as 'an anti-Tina person.' He told the New York Times: 'One of the political cartoons after our legislative session had a person snorting cocaine out of a mountain of white. 'It said, "Which of these is illegal in Oregon?" And the answer was the plastic straw.' Before that, he had given $3.75 million to Betsy Johnson, running as an independent. Wheeler said that he would also need the support of state officials, including the governor, whose seat will be filled in November A photo shows encampments blocking sidewalks adjacent to the Pacific Northwest College of Arts on SW Broadway and Hoyt Street A map shows the various homeless encampments across the city of Portland A man slumps on the sidewalk in downtown Portland, Oregon. Homelessness, drugs and crime are dominating the contest to elect the state's next governor. A Republican candidate with a law-and-order message has eased ahead in the polls Clusters of tents dot down town Portland. Critics of the city say it has taken a 'laissez faire' attitude to drug users Additionally, once the funding has been procured for his proposal, the government officials said that the rollout would take up to 18 months to roll out. 'No government agency in Oregon has more experience putting together temporary outdoor emergency shelter camps than the State. With the state's help, we can get Portland's designated sanctioned camping areas up before winter.' Wheeler said that he would also need the support of state officials, including the governor, whose seat will be filled in November. 'I need the governor-elect to ask the outgoing governor to immediately declare a statewide emergency declaration,' Wheeler said. Groups of homeless people litter the streets in Portland, with drug users injecting and smoking substances before many pass out or appear to be in a semi-comatose condition barely able to move Republican candidate Christine Drazan holds a narrow lead in the race to be Oregon's next governor Rolling averages of polls suggest Drazan enjoys a narrow lead over Democratic Party candidate Tina Kotek, like this survey published this week by Emerson College Polling Users were also seen within very close proximity to a kids play park area and used umbrellas to shield themselves from view as many users did or used a jacket or backpack to block themselves in The race is between Republican Christine Drazan and Democrat Tina Kotek, as well as third-party candidate Betsy Johnson. Drazan has previously been vocal about her plans to declare an emergency if she were to win the office. In an interview with FOX earlier this year, the Oregon gubernatorial candidate said she would work swiftly to handle the state's homeless crisis. 'We have among the highest numbers for homelessness and addiction with the lowest level of access to recovery services,' Drazan said. Social workers would be responsible for finding anyone living in campsites on the city's streets and directing them to the designated sites, the mayor said Republican nominee Drazan, left, and Democratic nominee Tina Kotek, middle, listen to unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson speak during the gubernatorial debate hosted by Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association at Mount Hood Oregon Resort in July Once the funding has been procured for his proposal, the government officials said that the rollout would take up to 18 months to roll out According to Wheeler, a large portion of the city's homeless population is dealing with mental health and drug issues. making the difficult situation even more complicated. 'Collectively, this is a vortex of misery for all involved,' the mayor said Friday. Wheeler plans to introduce the official proposal at a Portland City Council meeting this week. Social workers would be responsible for finding anyone living in campsites on the city's streets and directing them to the designated sites, the mayor said. Should the individuals refuse to move, police could become involved. In recent years, Portland has seen an alarming rise in homelessness. Like many Democratic led cities in the United States, Portland is experiencing a homeless crisis An encampment on 33rd Drive stretches for a mile of broken down RVs, cars and trucks In 2019, the city recorded just over 2,000 homeless individuals. Less than three years later, that number has risen by 50 per cent, now at more than 3,000 living on the streets. The city currently says there are more than 700 encampments in less than 150 square miles. Scott Kerman, executive director of Blanchet House, a Portland nonprofit that provides social services for people experiencing homelessness, said the plan 'has some positive elements' but that 'there remain a lot of unanswered questions and unknown details.' Tents are lined up along a residential street in Portland, with belongings strewn about A woman fills her bottle from a fountain in downtown Portland. She moves slowly, looking like a living statue 'We're serving people that even in the most extreme winter and summer weather conditions will not seek out emergency shelter because they have such PTSD and anxiety about congregate shelter,' Kerman said. 'They have felt unsafe in those environments. They may have even been victimized in those environments.' The nonprofit director also said he worries some of the state's healthcare and judicial infrastructure is already too fragile to be dealt another blow. 'Our state hospital, our local hospitals, our county jails are already filled past capacity with people on mental health holds who are in the criminal justice system,' he said. In 2022 alone, Wheeler has made four emergency declarations regarding homelessness in Portland. The mayor also recently expanded a declaration that prohibits camping on highways and walking routes nearby K-12 schools. Portland, Oregon is experiencing a major issue with hard drug use on its streets ever since the city decided to decriminalize Class A and B drugs for personal use The general filth, discarded needles, human waste and the smell of urine adding another layer of tarnish towards the cities progressive policies In 2021, Portland reported 90 homicides - shattering the previous high of 66 - and could be about to surpass it this year Earlier this week, DailyMail.com shared exclusive photos from some of the city's most ravaged streets. 'You walk with blinders,' said Charlene, a 21-year-old student. 'Otherwise you wouldn't come here at all.' In a small city center park, morning dog walkers strolled past benches filled with drug users. One man was seen flattening a piece of foil before putting a lighter to it, and inhaling the results through a pipe in plain view of a children's playground. In 2021, Portland reported 90 homicides - shattering the previous high of 66 - and could be about to surpass it this year. The city is so unsafe that well-respected franchises have pulled out of 'The City of Roses' entirely. Starbucks recently announced that they would be closing a stores in the heart of the city because of security concerns. A member of staff confirmed that it was because of insecurity. 'We've had some incidents,' the employee said. Drazan weighed in on the closing on social media, writing: 'When even coffee shops cant stay open in Portland for public safety concerns, something needs to change.' One woman near the Starbucks said that she understood the decision because the area had become a magnet for troubled people. 'You just walk by and try not to let it bother you,' she said, before pointing out an empty restaurant on the block that closed a year ago. She added that she now carries mace spray with her. Customers on Tuesday arrived at a Starbucks store in downtown Portland to be told that it will be closing on Thursday, as business struggle to survive amid problems with crime and homelessness. The issues are at the heart of an election for Oregon governor The sign thanks patrons for their custom and said staff would be transferred to nearby stores One man was seen flattening a piece of foil before putting a lighter to it, and inhaling the results through a pipe in plain view of a children's playground Wheeler's latest proposal comes just weeks after a virtual meeting of the Portland City Council where one woman said that the Democrats' attempt to stop homelessness in the area has been an 'epic failure.' 'You have to stop enabling this,' said Gillian Rose, a Portland resident. 'I'm angry and I'm sad and I'm fed up, and I'm so sick of having politicians pander to a woke agenda that's been nothing short of an epic failure.' After Rose spoke, Wheeler chuckled audibly and responded, 'thank you, you've made your point emphatically clear. Thank you for being here and sharing your perspective, we do appreciate it.' After the meeting, Rose said that Wheeler had scoffed at her concerns, telling KOIN-TV: 'when he laughed, it kind of just proved my point.' She added 'it was really insulting actually and painful to hear.' The woman said she felt betrayed after moving to the city for its left-leaning views. 'I moved here in hopes of becoming part of a progressive city where it seemed like its leaders cared about social issues -- what's transpired here is not progressivism,' she said. Mayor Ted Wheeler chuckled was accused of enabling the homeless problem in Portland during a recent City Council meeting Portland resident Gillian Rose accused Mayor Ted Wheeler of scoffing at her after she slammed the city's handling of its homeless population 'A lot of people who live on the streets fill them with trash and their own feces while openly using drugs -- it's not progressive, it's insane and unacceptable,' added Rose. 'Portland has become the laughing stock of the country, it really has,' she told the city's leaders. Rose told how Powell Boulevard had become clogged with tents and trash, describing the area as an 'open drug market.' She said that a homeless man had swung wildly at her partner on Spring Water Trail while they were out on a bike ride. A woman sleeps on the ground at a homeless campsite at Deering Oaks Park A homeless campsite was cleared away by the city, who cleaned up trash before evicting people from the shanty towns 'When you consider carrying a gun or bear mace while riding your bike, I think something is severely, severely wrong,' she said. Rose told how her friend, a realtor, lost a deal because a homeless encampment sprung up in front of a house that his clients were about to buy, scuttling the deal. She said that a neighbor, an occupational therapist at Legacy Emmanuel Medical Center, primarily treated homeless people who had infections from drug use, or burn injuries from accidently setting themselves on fire. 'Please stop wasting our money and destroying our beautiful city and please start being leaders,' the frustrated resident concluded. Controversial brain surgeon Charlie Teo charged huge fees to the desperate families of two children, one of whom was left vegetative and both of whom died within a year. Dr Teo reportedly asked the parents of the children, a four-year-old Indian boy, and a girl, 7, from NSW's Hunter Valley, to deposit $40,000 and $50,000 overnight in his bank account before operating. Both children had diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) - a very rare and aggressive type of childhood brain cancer that neurosurgeons label inoperable and incurable. The tumour, which forms on the brain stem, is so aggressive and incurable that children who are diagnosed with DIPG are immediately considered palliative. Mikolaj Barman from Assam in India, was one of the two children who was suffering from DIPG when his parents reached out to Dr Teo, a Nine Newspapers report revealed. The operation to remove the tumour from his brain stem left him unable to walk, speak or breathe unaided again. He died 10 months later, in August 2019, shortly after the tumour inevitably returned. Dr Teo is under investigation by the Health Care Complaints Commission, and last year his accreditation to operate at Prince of Wales Private Hospital was withdrawn. But the controversial specialist does have the backing of some senior brain surgeons, one of whom has lodged a supportive submission with the NSW Medical Council. Parents Prasanta and Sangeeta Barman (above with their late son, Mikolaj) paid Charlie Teo $80,000 to operate on the four-year-old in a last ditch attempt to prolong his life. Followign the surgery, child allee could not walk, talk or breathe unaided and he died 10 months later Indian engineer Prasanta Barman had noticed his son's difficulty walking and when Dr Teo offered a lifeline that New Delhi doctors could not, the father emptied his savings and retirement accounts and a friend started a GoFundMe page. Mr Barman and his wife Sangeeta paid $40,000, half Dr Teo's fee, after the Australian refuted two Indian neurosurgeons' negative prognosis, saying 'we think we can cure Mikolaj with surgery'. When Dr Teo met Mikolaj's parents for the first time as their son was being wheeled into an operating theatre in Singapore on October 11, 2018. Feeling unable to back out, the Barmans gave the go ahead and after ten hours of surgery, he told them he had removed 85 per cent of the tumour which he said appeared 'benign' (the opposite of malignant). The Barman family claim Dr Teo operated on Mikolaj before doing a biopsy on the tumour. The pathology results revealed the tumour was DIPG and whereas Mikolaj had been happy and playful before the operation, he was now unable to walk, seat or talk. The Barmans spent a further $40,000 to return him home via air ambulance, and he spent the next ten months staring at a ceiling before dying from the tumour, his care totalling $250,000. Bella Howard, of Shoal Bay, was the second child operated on by Dr Teo after her parents desperately tried to prolong her life when a DIPG was detected on her brain stem. She was left with left-side paralysis after the family paid Dr Teo $100,000 in April, 2020 for surgery. Bella died seven months later, the tumour having returned. An eminent US paediatric neurosurgeon, Professor Mark Souweidane, told the newspaper that no clinical or research data in the world that showed there was any benefit from conducting surgery on DIPG tumours. This type of tumour infiltrates the pons, the walnut-sized part of the brainstem which links your brain to your spinal cord, which controls your sleep-wake cycle, your breathing and your ability to feel pain. Professor Souweidane said removing part of the pons is to remove 'the very part of the brain that keeps you alive'. The two families of the children who complained about Dr Teo to Nine newspapers and 60 Minutes were initially elated by Dr Teo's promise of hope for their children. But other specialists had advised that death was inevitable and the only treatment was possible radiation during palliative care. For the last 15 months, Dr Teo has been unable to operate without written approval from a fellow surgeon due to restrictions placed on his practising certificate by the Medical Council of NSW after it received three complaints. Maverick brain surgeon Charlie Theo (above with his partner and former patient, Traci Griffiths, is due to face a disciplinary hearing over the results of some of his surgeries Bella Howard (above) died aged seven just eight months after Dr Teo operated on her brain stem tumour, charging her parents, Hunter Valley tradie Gene and his wife Sarah $100,000 But the maverick motorbike riding doctor is also revered by the families of some of his patients. And as he fights to end restrictions on his ability to conduct surgery in Australia, Dr Teo has defended his operations saying 'once you start exploring ... advancements, you are going to get some bad outcomes, some terrible outcomes, which I have had. 'You are also going to get patients that do very well, that get more months or years on their lives and get to enjoy life,' he told the Daily Telegraph. The NSW Health Care Complaints Commission ordered a two-day disciplinary hearing over the negative outcomes from two of Dr Teo's surgeries, one of which was a DIPG patient. Meanwhile Dr Teo, who operated on Mikolaj Barman in Singapore, has conducted surgery at least four times in Spain and South Africa where he has gained a operating permit. The surgeon operated on two stricken young Aussies, a Sydney woman and a Melbourne man in Madrid, Spain. He is also believed to have operated in Johannesburg and in Switzerland, however it is understood the Medical Council of NSW has enquired into Dr Teo's overseas surgeries and may have alerted Spanish authorities of its concerns. The maverick motorbike riding doctor (above left) is revered by some families for extending the lives of their terminally ill children, but others say they were given false hope Now-restricted brain surgeon Dr Charlie Teo operated on a young Sydney woman, Monica Lopresti in Madrid, Spain (Pictured Christina Lopresti with her daughter, Monica Lopresti) Dr Teo has told the Daily Telegraph that his method of treating brain stem tumours was developed from a pioneering US paediatric neurosurgeon, Fred Epstein, whose 'progressive approach ... unfortunately ... didn't really catch on'. Epstein recognised 'two very distinct types' of brain stem tumour, diffuse, which spreads and focal, which Teo said 'I consider it to be operable'. Bella Howard's parents were facing the dire diagnosis of DIPG in their daughter in April 2020 when Gene, a tradie, and his wife, Sarah, turned in desperation to Dr Teo, who offered to operate the next day. All they needed to do was pay $50,000, which Gene's boss loaned him, and the same amount later, and when Dr Teo had operated he reportedly said Bella's tumour was low grade and he'd removed 95 pc of it. The pathology results said Bella had DIPG, and Dr Teo - according to the Nine reports - offered to do a second operationfor the same price. It was 12 weeks after surgery when the Howards received a phone call from Teo with the results of Bella's latest scan saying, 'this is really bad. It's grown ... probably three times as a big as it originally was'. Bella died in January 2021. Prasanta Barman, who lost his only son to the brain stem tumour, told the Sydney Morning Herald he was guilty for putting his son through the surgery because 'there was not hope. So why give false hope in the first place?' Famous 'last chance' brain surgeon Dr Charlie Teo is performing operations on Australians in overseas hospitals after being restricted in this country The family of Jad Chahine (above with Charlie Two) have pleaded for him to be allowed to operate unrestricted in Australia after the maverick surgeon removed their boy's brain tumour in Spain However, families like the parents of eight-year-old Madeline Suy remain supportive of Dr Teo and believe 'we made the right decision'. Alan Suy told the Daily Telegraph that when Madeline was diagnosed with DIPG, he consulted the surgeon despite knowing about the controversies about his surgery, and said he was 'never offered any kind of false hope'. Mr Suy said Dr Teo was honest and told him 'that his approach was unconventional, high risk and came with no guarantees of success'. Madeline was operated on in December 2020, and underwent radiation to further shrink the tumour. An MRI scan in June this year showed the tumour was regrowing, but the Suys take heart because, having just turned eight, Madeline has 'already beaten the odds ... the average survival time for DIPG patients (being) nine to 12 months'. One of those backing Dr Teo is Associate Professor Yeo Tseng Tsai, head of neurosurgery at Singapore's National University Hospital, who invited himto operate on brain tumour patients, despite his reputation among Australian peers as 'a bit of a maverick and a showman.' There is growing support for controversial brain surgeon Dr Charlie Teo (pictured with his partner Traci Griffiths) Dr Teo operated on five to six patients with very difficult brain tumours, which all resulted in' truly excellent outcomes' under Dr Tsai's supervision. 'Seeing is believing as they say, and I realised then that I was now observing one of the great technical neurosurgeons in the world performing at truly world class levels in our own university hospital in Singapore,' Dr Tsai said in his submission. 'My experience with him, even in these cases with a less than stellar outcome, was that he was always very upfront and honest with the patient and relatives pre-op, so that we had no issues at all with relatives and patients when the post op outcome was less than what we expected, as a very good bond of trust had been built with them.' Dr Teo received no payment for his week-long stint working on public hospital patients in Singapore. Dr Tsai admitted a few cases had the outcomes that were 'not really great' and that he had conflicting opinions to Dr Teo on several cases on whether to operate. 'In most of them, he was proved correct in the end,' he wrote. The families of Dr Teo's former patients who have leapt to his defence include that of teen Milli Lucas, whom Dr Teo operated on twice before the Western Australian 14-year-old lost her brave battle in January 2021. The family of teen Milli Lucas (pictured with Dr Teo before she died in 2021) are among those who have spoken out in support of the surgeon Neurosurgery head at Singapore's National University Hospital Associate Professor Yeo Tseng Tsai (pictured) described Dr Teo as 'one of the great technical neurosurgeons' 'Poor Charlie, seriously just let the man do his job Australia,' Milli's mum Monica Smirk recently posted on Facebook. She says Dr Teo gave their family two extra years with Milli they wouldn't have otherwise had. 'I know the neurosurgeons in Australia think he's a cowboy and think he takes things just that little bit extra but that should be left to the patient to choose,' Ms Smirk told news.com.au. 'I feel sorry for the people in Australia who want to be a neurosurgeon and aren't able to learn from the best in the world.' Dr Teo recently revealed he was fielding 'daily' phone calls from families begging for his help, and claimed 'jealous' colleagues were restricting him from performing his 'miracle' surgeries in Australia. Renowned neurosurgeon Charlie Teo, 64, is unable to operate without written approval from a fellow surgeon due to restrictions placed on him by the Medical Council of NSW after receiving three complaints 'It's gang warfare,' Dr Teo recently told 2GB host Chris Smith. 'It's purely based on professional jealousy. Even a governing body has said that I'm a competent surgeon.' 'It all started from nameless, faceless, cowardly people who went to the media, made allegations and made up stories about me to try and destroy my reputation. 'If I'm as bad as surgeons say I am, if I'm offering people false hope and false promises, come out and say it... and put a face to the allegations.' Dr Teo must provide a monthly log of names and procedures of patients and seek the second opinion of another neurosurgeon before performing rare brain conditions. How do you catch monkeypox? Until this worldwide outbreak, monkeypox was usually spread by infected rodents including rats, mice and even squirrels in west and central Africa. Humans can catch the illness which comes from the same family as smallpox if they're bitten by infected animals, touch their blood, bodily fluids, or scabs, or eat wild game or bush meat. The orthopoxvirus, which causes monkeypox, can enter the body through broken skin even if it's not visible, as well as the eyes, nose and mouth. Despite being mainly spread by wild animals, it was known that monkeypox could be passed on between people. However, health chiefs insist it was very rare until the current outbreak. Human-to-human spread can occur if someone touches clothing or bedding used by an infected person, or through direct contact with the virus' tell-tale scabs. The virus can also spread through coughs and sneezes. In the ongoing surge in cases, experts think the virus is passing through skin-to-skin contact during sex even though this exact mechanism has never been seen until now. How deadly is it? Monkeypox is usually mild, with most patients recovering within a few weeks without treatment. Yet, the disease kills up to 10 per cent of cases. But this high rate is thought to be in part due to a historic lack of testing meaning that a tenth of known cases have died rather than a tenth of all infections. However, with milder strains the fatality rate is closer to one in 100 similar to when Covid first hit. The west African version of the virus, which is mild compared to the Central African strain, is behind the current spread. No deaths have been reported as part of the ongoing outbreak. How is it tested for? It can be difficult to diagnose monkeypox as it is often confused with other infections such as chickenpox. But when a case is suspected doctors send samples to their local health authorities to be tested for orthopox viruses the family of viruses that includes monkeypox and smallpox. If the result is positive, the sample is then sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or a private laboratory for confirmatory testing. The test involves taking samples from skin lesions, such as part of the scab, fluid leaking from them or pieces of dry crusts. What are the symptoms? It can take up to three weeks for monkeypox-infected patients to develop any of its tell-tale symptoms. Early signs of the virus include a fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion meaning it could, theoretically, be mistaken for other common illnesses. But its most unusual feature is a rash that often begins on the face, then spreads to other parts of the body, commonly the hands and feet. The rash changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off. How long is someone contagious? An individual is contagious from the point their rash appears until all the scabs have fallen off and there is intact skin underneath. The scabs may also contain infectious virus material. The infectious period is thought to last for three weeks but may vary between individuals. What do I do if I have symptoms? The CDC advises anyone with an unexplained rash or another warning sign to contact their healthcare provider for a medical assessment and monkeypox test. Anyone who does not have insurance should visit a public health clinic. Suspected patients should also avoid close contact including sex or being intimate with others, they add. When they visit a clinic it is also advised to wear a mask, and remind the healthcare provider that the virus is circulating in the area. Gay and bisexual men have been asked to be especially alert to the symptoms as most of the cases have been detected in men who have sex with men. What even is monkeypox? Monkeypox was first discovered when an outbreak of a pox-like disease occurred in monkeys kept for research in 1958. The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the infection has been reported in a number of central and western African countries since then. Only a handful of cases have been reported outside of Africa and they were confined to people with travel links to the continent. The UK, U.S., Israel and Singapore are the only countries which had detected the virus before May 2022. But as testing was ramped up globally cases were quickly detected in other countries including the first case in the U.S. in May in a man who had recently returned from Canada by car. Monkeypox is a rare viral infection which kills up to one in ten of those infected but does not spread easily between people. The tropical disease is endemic in parts of Africa and is known for its rare and unusual rashes, bumps and lesions (file photo) Nurses and doctors are being advised to stay 'alert' to patients who present with a new rash or scabby lesions (like above) Is it related to chickenpox? Despite causing a similar rash, chickenpox is not related to monkeypox. The infection, which usually strikes children, is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. For comparison, monkeypox like smallpox is an orthopoxvirus. Because of this link, smallpox vaccines also provide protection against monkeypox. Are young people more vulnerable? Americans aged under 50 may be more susceptible to monkeypox, according to the World Health Organization. This is because children in America were routinely offered the smallpox jab, which protects against monkeypox, until 1972. The programme was halted once smallpox had been eradicated. The WHO also warns that the fatality rate has been higher among young children. Does it spread as easily as Covid? Leading experts insist we won't be seeing Covid-style levels of transmission in the monkeypox outbreak. A World Health Organization report last year suggested the natural R rate of the virus the number of people each patient would infect if they lived normally while sick is two. This is lower than the original Wuhan variant of Covid and about a third of the R rate of the Indian 'Delta' strain. But the real rate is likely much lower because 'distinctive symptoms greatly aid in its early detection and containment,' the team said, meaning it's easy to spot cases and isolate them. Covid is mainly spread through droplets an infected person releases whenever they breathe, speak, cough or sneeze. There are a handful of antivirals and therapies for smallpox that appear to work on monkeypox, including the drug tecovirimat or TPOXX, which was approved for monkeypox in the U.S. in August Is there a vaccine for it? The smallpox vaccine, called Imvanex in the UK and Jynneos in the U.S., can protect against monkeypox because the viruses behind the illnesses are closely related. Data shows it prevents around 85 per cent of cases, and has been used in the U.S. since 2019. The jab, estimated to cost $24.16 per dose, contains a modified live vaccinia virus, which is similar to both smallpox and monkeypox, but does not cause disease in people. Because of its similarity to the pox viruses, antibodies produced against this virus offer cross protection. Are there any drugs to treat it? There are a handful of antivirals and therapies for smallpox that appear to work on monkeypox. This includes the drug tecovirimat also known as TPOXX , which was approved for use against monkeypox in the U.S. in August. Tecovirimat prevents the virus from leaving an infected cell, hindering the spread of the virus within the body. An injectable antiviral used to treat AIDS called cidofovir can be used to manage the infection, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It also works by stopping the growth of the virus. A young boy desperate to see his dad for the first time in nine months was left 'distraught' after Qantas refused to let him board a flight to see him. Charlie Mooney, aged 12, was set to fly from Auckland to Bangkok to see his dad for the first time in nine months when he was turned away at the boarding gate. The boy's ticket to fly as an unaccompanied minor was booked two weeks ago through a Qantas ticketing agent. The adult ticket was purchased with an extra fee to ensure Charlie would be taken care of on the flight. Clare Mooney (left) says her 12-year-old son Charlie Moore (right) was left 'distraught' after Qantas refused to let him board a flight to see his father But when his mother, Clare Mooney, dropped her son off at the airport for the 3am flight, they were told he couldn't board by 'unhelpful' Qantas staff. Mooney was first told her son could not board the flight because of a problem with his vaccination certificate. But then staff told her this was incorrect, and her son could not board the flight due to it being a codeshare trip with Emirates - meaning there was a different carrier for each leg of the trip. Due to Qantas not being responsible for accompanying her son at the stopover point in Sydney as the second leg was with Emirates, her son was not allowed to board the plane. She was then informed her son was unable to board due to it being a codeshare flight with Emirates, meaning the carrier was different on the second leg of the journey and couldn't assure the unaccompanied minor could be looked after at the Sydney stop over 'My son was distraught and was upset he wasn't going to be able to see his dad,' Ms Mooney explained to the New Zealand Herald. 'I was standing there feeling helpless after being treated like I had done something wrong.' Ms Mooney said the ticket was booked by Charlie's father Andrew Read and despite the code-sharing issue being mentioned at the time of booking, Mr Read was assured it would be fine by the third-party booking agent. Ms Mooney said the ticket was booked by Charlie's father Andrew Read (right) and the issue was mentioned at the time of booking but he was assured that it would be fine Ms Mooney said the ticket indicated both flights were with Qantas. The Qantas unaccompanied minor policy states a child under 12 years is an unaccompanied minor if the child is traveling without the supervision of a 15-year-old or older sibling or with a parent or guardian. 'If your child is not booked as an unaccompanied minor where required, your child may not be accepted for travel alone and may be denied travel at the airport,' Qantas' unaccompanied minor policy states. Once it was understood Charlie was not going to be allowed to board, both his parents discussed the possibility of him flying as an adult but once again they were told that wasn't possible. Ms Mooney said she felt Qantas just wanted them to go away as she kept trying to find solutions but 'they just wanted to find problems'. 'I was doing all of the work and they were doing nothing,' she said. She and her son returned home unable to find a solution with Charlie's father spending $4,500 to book alternative flights with Malaysian Airlines so he could see his son. Mr Read said he complained to Qantas but kept being forwarded to Emirates before the airline eventually stopped replying to his queries. Charlie's father spending $4500 to book alternative flights with Malaysian Airlines so he could see his son. Qantas said they would issue the family a refund 'They could have flown Charlie with their ground staff providing support with very little issue, but instead, they approached it so poorly. There is no empathy or humanity around these airlines anymore,' Mr Read said. Charlie's parents said the experience was upsetting for the whole family and there was no warmth or care given from the start. A Qantas spokesperson told the New Zealand Herald the family would be refunded. 'We know this would have been a very frustrating experience and we have apologised to the Read family for providing incorrect advice. 'Passengers can only make use of the unaccompanied minor service if they are booked on a Qantas flight with a Qantas flight number. They should not have been advised that they would be able to use the unaccompanied minor service after they'd made their booking,' the spokesperson said. Volodymyr Zelensky's wife has issued a plea for more weapons as she met Ukrainians who have fled to Germany. Olena Zelenska, who married the Ukrainian president in 2003, spoke out as she visited some of the million refugees who have fled to cities including Frankfurt. Pleading for more air defence weapons this weekend, she said: 'In the situation of Ukraine, we are forced to use every chance to be heard. We must close the sky and stop this deliberate missile terror of Russia.' Olena Zelenska, who married the Ukrainian president in 2003, spoke out as she visited some of the million refugees who have fled to cities including Frankfur Ms Zelenska met her German counterpart, Elke Budenbender, and raised the issue of providing more weapons Ms Zelenska also met her German counterpart, Elke Budenbender, and raised the issue of providing more weapons. She added: 'I am forced to raise the topic of providing weapons to Ukraine. This should not be a topic of protocol communication between first ladies.' On Saturday, she told an audience at an event organised by German women's magazine Brigitte in Frankfurt that her role demands she 'tell the truth' about the horrors faced by Ukrainians, adding: 'We are fighting for our lives.' More than a dozen victims have come forward after a Texas woman accused a janitor of peeing in employee water bottles - which was then caught on video. The Houston mother-of-two, 54, who did not want to be identified, discovered the horrifying events becoming infected with an STD which prompted her to install a camera in the doctor's office where she worked. 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 told ABC 13. The woman, who works in a doctor's office where he was a janitor, became suspicious in August after the office water dispenser appeared to be tainted and was producing a foul scent. She then started bringing in her own water bottle. Diaz is charged with indecent assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is being held on a $75,000 bond. Both charges are related to the same victim. Now, with 13 victims coming forward, investigators say additional charges are possible. 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 Investigators say 13 victims have come forward after a 54-year-old mother, who worked in a doctor's office in Houston (pictured) where Diaz was a janitor, claimed she got an STD after drinking from her water bottle that he allegedly peed in 'This individual is a sick man,' she 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.' The woman 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. 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 The employee, who asked not to be named, installed security cameras in her office and caught him in putting his penis into her water bottle and then tilting it back to rinse his private part in the water In September, a coworker offered to make her coffee and when she told her to use the water from her bottle, she 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. '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.' 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.' A former Today show producer has been acquitted of raping a drunk woman in his home after a night out drinking and snorting cocaine. Thomas Joseph Nicol, 33, had pleaded not guilty to raping a woman he knew at his Bondi home, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, in January 2021. The woman said she'd awoken during the night to Mr Nicol kneeling over her before he raped her and she froze. But Mr Nicol said the pair engaged in consensual sexual touching after they went to his home to find her lost phone. A jury has acquitted a former Today show producer of raping a drunk woman in his home after a night out drinking and snorting cocaine After about two hours of deliberation, the Sydney District Court jury on Monday returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty. Mr Nicol's family embraced him as he left the dock. The woman told the jury last week she couldn't recall getting in an Uber with Mr Nicol to his place and awoke to him kneeling over her touching her in bed. She said 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. 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,' prosecutor Emilija Beljic told the jury in her closing address. 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 had heard from former housemates of Mr Nicol who spoke highly of him. Thomas Joseph Nicol, 33, had pleaded not guilty to raping a woman he knew at his Bondi home, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, in January 2021 'He's loyal and trustworthy ... I haven't felt more comfortable with a man than with Tom,' former housemate Hannah Hanfy said. Another housemate, Alice Flanagan, told the court: '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.' The jury deliberated for about 90 minutes on Thursday afternoon before resuming about 10am on Monday. The verdict was delivered about 10.50am. Mr Nicol was previously employed on the Nine Network's Today show as a supervising producer, according to his profile on LinkedIn. A Russia Today director has sparked fury after making disturbing comments calling for the genocide of Ukrainians and saying he would drown children. Anton Krasovsky, 47, has since been suspended by the Kremlin-backed channel, a move commentators have described as 'too little too late' as anti-Ukrainian rhetoric in Russia escalates and becomes increasingly violent. The Director of Broadcasting has made vile comments previously and is considered extreme even amongst supporters of Putin's war. Krasovsky, who is a senior journalist at RT, made the comments during an interview with Sergei Lukyanenko, a Russian sci-fi author who also holds aggressively anti-Ukrainian views. In the horrifying footage of the interview, Krasovsky makes a series of statements suggesting he would kill the Ukrainian children and uses an offensive slur throughout. Krasovsky made the comments in response to Lukyanenko's account about how, when he first visited Ukraine in the 1980s, children told him they would live better lives were it not for Moscow occupying their country. 'They should have been drowned in the river, right there where the duckling swims. 'Just drown those children, drown them in the Tysyna (river),' he says. 'You throw them in the river with a strong undercurrent.' In the horrifying footage of the interview, Anton Krasovsky makes a series of statements suggesting he would kill the Ukrainian children and uses an offensive slur throughout As he speaks, Krasovsky can be seen lifting his fist and mimicking how he would drown children. 'That's not your method, you sci-fi writers are intelligent people, but it is our method', he tells Lukyanenko with a smirk. He later says - with a grin on his face - that all Ukrainians should be killed, and that he would burn them alive in their homes and shoot them. Krasovsky, who is a senior journalist at RT, made the comments during an interview with Sergei Lukyanenko, a Russian sci-fi author who also holds aggressively anti-Ukrainian views Krasovsky makes other violent threats throughout the rest of the interview, including saying that Ukraine is 'not supposed to exist at all' before asking 'should Ukraine remain on the map of the world at all'. In a short segment of the interview, shared on social media, Krasovsky also laughed at reports that Russian soldiers had raped elderly Ukrainian women during the invasion. Following extensive backlash, RT suspended the TV host. The channel's Editor-in-Chief, Margarita Simonovna Simonyan, described his statement as 'wild and disgusting'. 'Perhaps Anton will explain what kind of temporary insanity it was caused and how it broke from his tongue. 'It is hard to believe that Krasovsky sincerely believed that children should be drowned. 'For now, I'm stopping our collaboration, as neither I nor the rest of the RT team can afford to even think that any of us are capable of sharing such a game. I'm confused what to say. 'For the children of Ukraine, as well as for the children of Donbass, and for all other children, I wish that all this ends as soon as possible, and that they can live and study in peace again - in the language they consider native.' Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has since called for a global ban on RT. He said on Twitter: 'Governments which still have not banned RT must watch this excerpt. 'This is what you side with if you allow RT to operate in your countries. 'Aggressive genocide incitement (we will put this person on trial for it), which has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Ban RT worldwide!' Responding to Krasovsky's suspension, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford said that his comments are 'just the tip of the iceberg' and that 'hate speech is the now the norm on Russian state-TV when it comes to Ukraine'. Russian media continues to bombard people with anti-Ukrainian messaging, with analysts warning hatred against Ukrainians in Russia could be embedded for generations. Contrary to popular belief, Australians doing their tax return don't need to keep a copy of their receipts - provided their expenses are less than $300. Workers have until October 31, one week away, to submit their return to the Australian Taxation Office or register with a tax accountant. But H&R Block director of tax communications Mark Chapman said you didn't need to keep a copy of a receipt if your work-related expenses were less than $300. However, you should have proof on a bank statement. 'If your total work-related expenses claims do not exceed $300, you do not need written evidence in the form of detailed substantiation, such as invoices or receipts,' Mr Chapman said. Australians doing their tax return don't need to keep a copy of their receipts if their expenses are less than $300. Individuals have until October 31 - one week away - to submit their return to the Australian Taxation Office or register with a tax accountant (pictured is a stock image) 'The ATO can still request information as to how the claim was worked out so you may need to be able to prove that the money was spent. 'They may also seek an explanation as to why you believe the claim is reasonable, based on your occupation. 'Provided the claim is less than $300, the expenses are deductible without a receipt. 'However, you must be able to prove that you spent the money, so a bank statement showing this would be useful.' The $300 rule, without a receipt, covers total work-related expenses like laundry, highlighters, notepads and mobile phone expenses. Mr Chapman warned Australians against falsely making a tax claim for something they hadn't spent money on for work. Many Australians panic and worry they can't make a claim for work unless they have every receipt. H&R Block director of tax communications Mark Chapman said you didn't need to keep a copy of a receipt if your work-related expenses were less than $300 Penalties for lying on a tax return form CARELESS: 25 per cent RECKLESS: 50 per cent DELIBERATE: 75 per cent REPEAT OFFENDER: 95 per cent Source: H&R Block analysis of Australian Taxation Office penalties for making inflated claims Advertisement 'The ATO has debunked the popular myth that you can make a "standard" expense claim of $300, without having spent the money,' he said. 'If the claim looks wrong - for example, it appears out of line with your occupation - they will audit it. 'Simply inserting a claim for $300 without having actually incurred the expense could land you in hot water with the ATO.' The tax office imposes a 75 per cent penalty for making a deliberately misleading claim. Repeat offenders are hit with a penalty that is 95 per cent of the wrongful claim. Australians who miss the October 31 deadline to submit a tax return online or register with a tax agent face a $222 fine. That penalty grows to a maximum of $1,110, with the amount increasing by $222 for every 28 days after Halloween. But those who need more time have until May 15 next year to complete their tax return if they register with an accountant. Advertisement A close friend of Princess Diana has slammed Netflix as 'sadistic and wicked' over its depiction of her final hours in the latest series of The Crown. Simone Simmons was highly critical of the show's decision to recreate the moments before Diana's death in a Paris car crash in 1997. The streaming giant's fifth season of the programme, which airs on November 9, features haunting scenes showing the former Princess of Wales entering a limousine shortly before the fateful accident. Netflix insists it will not recreate the crash. Ms Simmons told The Sun: 'These are cruel, sadistic and wicked people to recreate these moments. They are the lowest of the low. 'They are rewriting history as they go along and that's what makes me very angry.' Elizabeth Debicki wears sunglasses and looks the image of Diana as she sits in the back of a car with Khalid Abdalla, 40, who plays Dodi Fayed, who the princess was travelling with when the car crashed in Paris Ms Debicki wore a seatbelt in the back of the car as she filmed - which may be a sign the crew were not filming the exact car journey taken by the princess and Dodi in their final moments. It has been found neither wore seatbelts in the 1997 crash Trailer shows Ms Debicki as Diana screeching to a halt in car chase scene in a red puffer jacket reminiscent of one the princess wore skiing in Austria in 1994, right 'I never stood a chance': The new trailer shows Diana in a skin-baring swimsuit as she floats in the water Prasanna Puwanarajah plays Martin Bashir in Netflix's recreation of the journalist's infamous interview with Diana in 1995 Ms Simmons went on to slam the flagship show as 'disgusting and sick' and questioned if they were 'setting out' to hurt the feelings of Princes William and Harry. 'It's forcing them to relive the pain, agony, and psychological torment they suffered when their mother died,' she said. The Prince of Wales may be angered at scenes recreating his mother's infamous 1995 interview with Martin Bashir, which was last year deemed to have been obtained unlawfully after the journalist falsified invoices to gain the princess's trust. William, 40, later issued a public statement saying the interview had been a 'major contribution to making my parents' relationship worse' and said it should never be aired again. In a recent letter to The Times, actress Dame Judi Dench described the upcoming series of The Crown as 'crude sensationalism' and 'cruelly unjust' to the Royal Family and suggested it should feature a disclaimer at the start of each episode. She wrote: No one is a greater believer in artistic freedom than I, but this cannot go unchallenged. 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 their own reputation in the eyes of their British subscribers. The Crown has been a huge hit for Netflix and it now spends around 11.5million per episode. Two years ago, the then-culture secretary Oliver Dowden asked the streaming giant for a health warning on episodes so viewers would know scenes were fictionalised, but Netflix refused. It defended the show this week as fictional dramatisation. In the fifth series, Barcelona was used for filming as a stand-in for Paris, where Diana died with her boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed. Elizabeth Debicki, who plays the princess, and Khalid Abdalla, who plays Al-Fayed, were spotted filming scenes in Francesc Macia Square in the centre of the Spanish city. It comes as one of the late Queen's closest friends claimed that the latest season of The Crown, 'would have destroyed her' because of how 'vicious' the dramatised plotlines are. The unnamed source told The Sunday Times she's 'horrified' by the vicious untruths set to be presented as fact when the season airs on November 9. The latest season of The Crown 'would have destroyed the Queen' because of how 'vicious' the dramatised plotlines are, one of her close friends has revealed. Pictured: Imelda Staunton plays Elizabeth II in the fifth series 'I'm horrified by what is going on with Netflix and how they are vilifying the Royal Family. It is vicious. It's as if they're trying to destroy the Royal Family,' the source said. 'It would have destroyed her.' The source has joined calls for Netflix to include a disclaimer stating the show is fiction ahead of every episode. This season will cover events from 1990 to 1997 a famously tumultuous period of royal history. A spokesman for Netflix said the show has always been a fictional dramatisation of the Royal Family's inner workings. 'Series five is... 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.' Among the most controversial scenes are reenactments of Diana's funeral and the fire which tore through Windsor Castle in 1992. Pictured: Ms Debicki as the Princess of Wales The family pictured at Diana's 1997 funeral. Netflix's scene depicting a grief-stricken William and Harry then aged 15 and 12 was filmed in secrecy at a disused RAF base and is due to be broadcast in series six next year A teaser trailer from the new season revealed the show will chronicle the early days of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla's relationship. The series will showcase the couple played by Dominic West and Olivia Williams sharing intimate moments while they were married to other people. One impending storyline which has the potential to cause the most angst for the royal family is the dramatisation in next year's sixth season of Diana's funeral. Amid mounting outrage over the show's disregard for historical truth, the macabre scenes are set to depict a grief-stricken William and Prince Harry then aged 15 and 12. To the further horror of Diana's family and friends, The Crown's production team will be in Paris next week to recreate her final hours, The Mail on Sunday revealed. They will portray her time spent in the French capital with her boyfriend Al-Fayed. While it is understood that the crash that killed them won't be recreated, scenes of them leaving the Ritz hotel together will be. Imelda Staunton and Jonathon Pryce, who play the Queen and Prince Philip in the new series of The Crown, received honours from Prince William and Elizabeth II Last night those close to the Royal Family lambasted the Netflix series as 'crude, cruel and totally insensitive, particularly in light of the Queen's recent death'. An unnamed close friend of the late Queen has told The Sunday Times she's 'horrified' by the vicious untruths set to be presented as fact when the season airs on November 9 William Shawcross, the Queen Mother's official biographer, said: 'Nothing is sacred to [the writer of The Crown] Peter Morgan. He has made his republican sentiments and his contempt for our late Queen very clear. 'This is a vile series which lies to the public and has been incredibly hurtful to the Royal Family from the Queen and our new King down. Unlike any other family, they cannot sue.' It is most unlikely that Morgan and his colleagues on The Crown will have failed to understand the sensitivities around recreating the day William and Harry had to say goodbye to their beloved mother, who died aged 36. Both princes have spoken publicly of their anguish at having to follow the coffin for its final mile along the Mall, through Horse Guards Parade, along Whitehall to Parliament Square and on to Westminster Abbey. The Duke of Sussex has been notably outspoken, telling biographer Angela Levin: 'My mother had just died and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin, surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television. 'I don't think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don't think it would happen today. No child should lose their mother at such a young age and then have his grief observed by thousands of people.' Another storyline with show King Charles's relationship with the Queen Consort. The couple are played by Dominic West and Olivia Williams The Hungarian Defense Force just got the first unit of Lynx KF-41 Infantry Fighting Vehicle manufactured by the Rheinmetall firm. Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister, oversaw the arrival of the first IFV unit, making Budapest the first NATO and European nation to possess the cutting-edge medium-weight armored vehicle and combat system. Hungary Arms Up as Borders Heat Up The other 46 Lynx IFVs from the German company will be delivered after the initial unit, reported The Defense Post. By the end of 2022, the company will begin transporting the remaining units out of its Hungarian centers. CEO of Rheinmetall AG, Armin Papperger, said that the company is honored to provide their partner, Hungary, with its first Lynx infantry fighting vehicle today, marking an important, pivotal moment. He remarked that by making this acquisition, Hungary's top political and military officials had all demonstrated a desire to push their country to the forefront of European army technology. It highlights the Hungarian administration's commitment to acting as a reliable ally to its NATO allies, a policy it is implementing with systematic determination, citing Army Technology. The Mainstay of Hungary Shipment is the result of a two-billion-euro ($2 million) agreement that Rheinmetall and the Hungarian Ministry of Defense signed two years ago. Under the contract, Rheinmetall will build 209 Lynx KF-41 Infantry Fighting Vehicle in variations such as joint fire observer, mortar carrier, command post, field ambulance, and driver trainer. The contract also involves offering related equipment, such as instruction, simulation software, replacement parts, and upkeep assistance for the Hungarian Defense Force. Read Also: Vladimir Putin: 3 Facts You Didn't Know About Russia's President - From His Judo Records to His KGB Pseudonym When incorporated into the Hungarian defense forces, this same Lynx fleet is anticipated to "become the foundation of Hungary's highly mechanized ground forces." Lynx Next-Gen Infantry Fighting Vehicle The medium IFV comes in a variety of configurations, including one with a manned 30-millimeter Lance turret, a light 7.62-millimeter light gun, deployable smoke grenades, or the tank-killing Spike 2 LR or drone canisters. Up to three crew members and eight infantry dismounts can fit in every unit. Added options for the Lynx; Hungary is outfitting 209 of its new IFVs with the StrikeShield hard-kill active protection system (APS), made by the German defense contractor Rheinmetall. Hungary purchased medium-armored units last year that will be fitted with the StrikeShield APS, which utilizes sensors, defensive measures, and higher processing elements to address these challenges near the chassis. The overall cost of this boost is 140 million euros ($171 million), per Army Recognition. Other solutions, such as fast detection and early warning recognition, offer all-around protection with little collateral harm. According to a press release from the company, Budapest's decision to equip IFVs with StrikeShield is motivated by its dedication to participating in challenging missions where current anti-tank weapon systems present a significant risk. The StrikeShield is a third-generation hard-kill APS that uses the "Active Defense System (ADS) technology" developed by a German defense company. According to the manufacturer, it offers the industry's lowest electromagnetic spectrum output and the quickest recovery time in ambush and multiple-hit scenarios. To mechanically combine the StrikeShield APS into the Lynx's hybrid armored tiles, the company developed the Lynx IFV as a viable medium-weight IFV. Hungarian Defense Force and getting the Lynx KF-41 Infantry Fighting Vehicle for its infantry offers advantages with several variants. Related Article: Possible J-20 and F-35 Second Encounter: Chinese Stealth Fighters Pushed Unknown Foreign Jets To Leave ADIZ @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The race for 10 Downing Street enters its final phase on Monday with former chancellor Rishi Sunak the odds-on favourite to become prime minister. Only the current Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt stands in his way after Boris Johnson dramatically withdrew from the race on Sunday evening. The former prime minister claimed he had the nominations needed to make it onto the ballot paper but admitted he could not unite his warring party. His withdrawal means the contest could be decided by early afternoon on Monday unless both the remaining candidates can get the support of 100 MPs - but how will it work? What happens if Penny Mordaunt fails to secure backing of 100 MPs? Mr Sunak and Miss Mordaunt will both need to declare their leadership bids by 2pm on Monday and prove they have the backing of 100 Tory MPs. At the last count late on Sunday evening, according to BBC News, Mr Sunak boasted 155 backers compared to Miss Mordaunt's 25. However the latter candidate hopes she can scrape through to the ballot by winning over enough Boris supporters to her cause. If she fails to do so and Mr Sunak is the only candidate with more than 100 MPs supporting him, he will automatically be named leader of the Conservative Party and the next prime minister of the UK. The race for 10 Downing Street enters its final phase on Monday with former chancellor Rishi Sunak (left) the odds-on favourite to become prime minister. Only the current Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt (right) stands in his way after Boris Johnson dramatically withdrew from the race on Sunday evening At the last count late on Sunday evening, according to BBC News, Mr Sunak boasted 155 backers compared to Miss Mordaunt's 25 How soon could Mr Sunak be made prime minister? Mr Sunak could be announced as Britain's new prime minister by Monday afternoon. If Ms Mordaunt fails to get the backing of 100 MPs by 2pm, Mr Sunak will automatically become leader and secure his place at 10 Downing Street within hours. What will happen if both candidates make it onto the ballot? However, if both receive the backing of 100 MPs, an indicative vote among MPs will be held at 2pm. The result will be announced at around 6pm. If there is a clear favourite among MPs, the candidate with far less support may choose to withdraw. If things are tighter or neither candidate opts to bow out, an online vote of Tory party members will go ahead on Friday. That vote will close at 11am, the winner of which will be announced leader of the Conservative Party and the next prime minister of the UK. How likely is it that Ms Mordaunt will reach the 100 MP threshold? With lagging support from MPs, there were serious questions about whether Miss Mordaunt would secure the 100 nominations needed by 2pm today to make it on to the ballot paper. Earlier in the day, she rejected a plea from Mr Johnson to pull out of the competition and lend him her support by publicly backing the former prime minister. Sources said, in a sign of his scrambling around for votes, Mr Johnson offered her a Cabinet job in return for her support. Instead she flipped the request on its head and suggested that the former PM pull out and back her in a run-off with Mr Sunak. The pair are understood to have spoken several times in recent days, with Miss Mordaunt urging Mr Johnson not to run as she believed he was unable to unify the party, a point he conceded last night. But Ms Mordaunt, who came third in the leadership race to replace Mr Johnson this summer, had only around 24 MPs publicly backing her yesterday. Before Mr Johnson's intervention last night, several MPs had been encouraging her to give her support to another candidate and take many of her backers with her. But last night sources close to Miss Mordaunt insisted she would reach the threshold of 100 MPs and would not pull out of the race. They told the Mail: 'The numbers are far better than reported. A lot of our supporters are emailing in their nominations and not publicly declaring.' Will Mr Sunak call a general election? There are growing calls among Tory MPs, in particular Boris Johnson loyalists, for a general election if Mr Sunak is anointed as prime minister this week. Former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said on Sunday that a general election was now inevitable following the withdrawal of Mr Johnson. She said: 'Boris would have won members vote - already had a mandate from the people. 'Rishi and Penny, despite requests from Boris refused to unite which would have made governing utterly impossible. Penny actually asked him to step aside for her. It will now be impossible to avoid a GE.' However in an interview with Rachel Johnson on LBC, Ms Dorries said she believes Mr Sunak has no plans to go to a public vote. Mr Sunak himself has shown no intention of holding an election to date. In a tweet announcing his candidacy, Mr Sunak said: 'The United Kingdom is a great country but we face a profound economic crisis'. He vowed to 'fix our economy, unite our party and deliver for our country', and that although 'the challenges we face now are even greater' than those posed by the pandemic, 'the opportunities - if we make the right choice - are phenomenal'. He then referenced the 2019 manifesto, which saw the Tory party win its biggest majority for decades - suggesting he intends to rebuild on his party's victory. He promised there will be 'integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level of government.' He added: 'The choice our party makes now will decide whether the next generation of British people will have more opportunities than the last.' The former PM (pictured arriving at Gatwick Airport on Saturday) tonight said continuing his bid to return to No10 was 'simply not the right thing to do' 'It is simply not the right thing to do': Boris Johnson bows out of race to return as PM In statement this evening, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed he was bowing out of the race because it is 'simply not the right thing to do', despite claiming he had cleared the 'very high hurdle of 102 nominations'. He said: 'In the last few days I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who suggested that I should once again contest the Conservative Party leadership, both among the public and among friends and colleagues in Parliament. 'I have been attracted because I led our party into a massive election victory less than three years ago - and I believe I am therefore uniquely placed to avert a general election now. 'A general election would be a further disastrous distraction just when the government must focus on the economic pressures faced by families across the country. 'I believe I am well placed to deliver a Conservative victory in 2024 - and tonight I can confirm that I have cleared the very high hurdle of 102 nominations, including a proposer and a seconder, and I could put my nomination in tomorrow. There is a very good chance that I would be successful in the election with Conservative Party members - and that I could indeed be back in Downing Street on Friday. 'But in the course of the last days I have sadly come to the conclusion that this would simply not be the right thing to do. You cant govern effectively unless you have a united party in parliament. 'And though I have reached out to both Rishi and Penny - because I hoped that we could come together in the national interest - we have sadly not been able to work out a way of doing this. 'Therefore I am afraid the best thing is that I do not allow my nomination to go forward and commit my support to whoever succeeds. I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time.' Advertisement Monday's tense contest comes after Mr Johnson said there was a 'very good chance' he could have been back in No 10 by the end of the week if he had stood. However he said his efforts to 'reach out' to his rivals Mr Sunak and Miss Mordaunt to work together in the national interest had not been successful so he was dropping out. A campaign source for Miss Mordaunt last night confirmed she was still in the running, arguing she is the candidate who Labour fear the most. 'Penny is the unifying candidate who is most likely to keep the wings of the Conservative Party together and polling shows that she is the most likely candidate to hold onto the seats the Conservative Party gained in 2019,' the source said. However one senior minister who was backing Mr Johnson the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Nadhim Zahawi said he would now be supporting Mr Sunak. 'Rishi is immensely talented, will command a strong majority in the parliamentary Conservative Party, and will have my full support and loyalty,' he tweeted. With nominations due to close at 2pm on Monday, Ms Mordaunt has limited time to get the necessary nominations. If she fails Mr Sunak will be declared leader without a contest. Certainly there are some in the party who would like to see an uncontested 'coronation' to avoid a repeat of what happened with Liz Truss when the party in the country voted for a leader who did not have the backing of MPs. Ms Mordaunt could find herself under pressure to withdraw if she finishes a long way behind Mr Sunak in the poll of MPs, even though she is popular with the Tory grassroots. At the same time however many activists many of whom loathe Mr Sunak for his roll in bringing down Mr Johnson will be furious if they are denied a say in the contest. In a statement on Sunday evening, Mr Johnson said he had been 'overwhelmed' by the support he had received from people urging to run just weeks after being forced out by his own MPs after one scandal too many. If he had stood, he said there was a 'very good chance' the members would have voted him back into No 10 by the end of week and that he would have been 'well-placed' to lead the party to victory in a general election in 2024. However he had come to the conclusion that 'this would simply not be the right thing to do'. 'You can't govern effectively unless you have a united party in Parliament,' he said. 'And though I have reached out to both Rishi and Penny because I hoped that we could come together in the national interest we have sadly not been able to work out a way of doing this. 'I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time.' Some MPs were sceptical of his claim to have secured the 100 nominations needed to go forward, with the numbers of public declarations of support falling far short of that. Some at Westminster suspected that he chose to withdraw rather than face the humiliation of having to admit he could not get the numbers. A former Wren was among the first people to receive a 100th birthday card from the King and Queen Consort and said she vows to keep it in a prominent place so 'everyone can see it'. Ruth Park-Pearson, from Tadcaster, North Yorkshire turned 100 on Friday and was delighted when the card signed by both Charles and Camilla arrived the following day. Mrs Park-Pearson, who was born in Glasgow, served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (Wrens) during the Second World War when Charles' grandfather, King George VI was on the throne. On Saturday, Irene Lloyd - who celebrated her 100th birthday on September 25 - also received one of the first cards from King Charles III. The greeting said: 'My wife and I are so pleased to know that you celebrated your one hundredth birthday on 21st of October 2022. Ruth Park-Pearson, from Tadcaster, North Yorkshire turned 100 on Friday and was delighted when the card signed by both Charles and Camilla arrived the following day The former Wren was among the first people to receive birthday cards from the King and Queen Consort said she will proudly display the greetings from the third monarch in her life 'This brings our warmest congratulations and heartfelt good wishes on such a special occasion.' The card features a photograph of the smiling royal couple, which was taken in the summer of 2018. Charles became King on the death of his mother, the Queen, on September 8 and Mrs Park-Pearson is one of those who received birthday greetings from the new monarch this weekend. King Charless cards are more similar to those sent out by his grandfather King George VI, which also featured his wife Queen Elizabeth, later the Queen Mother. 'I was like 'my goodness me',' she said. 'It's lovely because it's got a lovely gold cord through it with a tassel on the end. 'It really is a lovely card; I shall keep it very prominent so everyone can see it.' On Saturday, Irene Lloyd - who celebrated her 100th birthday on September 25 - also received one of the first cards from King Charles III The card features a photograph of the smiling royal couple, which was taken in the summer of 2018 Glasgow-born Mrs Park-Pearson, who plans to display the card on her cabinet, served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (Wrens) during the Second World War. Queen Elizabeth II reigned from 1952 until her death in September, after marking her Platinum Jubilee. During her 70-year reign, approximately 1.3 million cards were sent to mark birthdays and anniversaries across the UK, the Realms and the Overseas Territories. Mrs Park-Pearson said: 'I was serving under her father if you think about it. 'I served under him and the Queen and now it's going to be King Charles, three monarchs shall we say, in my life. 'You don't think about it at the time, it's not until later you realise just sort of how old you are suddenly. You think my goodness me; I remember the old King. The greeting said: 'My wife and I are so pleased to know that you celebrated your one hundredth birthday on 21st of October 2022. This brings our warmest congratulations and heartfelt good wishes on such a special occasion.' Mrs Park-Pearson, who was born in Glasgow, served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (Wrens) during the Second World War when Charles' grandfather, King George VI was on the throne 'The Queen Mother was a very elegant lady.' Mrs Park-Pearson, who has six children, 13 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, celebrated her milestone birthday surrounded by family and said the special event brought them all together. 'Everybody seems to have just gelled all together, you know, the cousins haven't seen each other for years but they all just gelled nicely together. 'Even the young great-grandchildren were happy to be with one another. 'So it was a really happy day. 'I really had a wonderful birthday I have to say. 'So many wonderful presents and flowers, I could start a flower shop almost.' Mrs Lloyd, who worked on a dairy farm during the Second World War, said: I was really thrilled to receive a card from the new King and Queen. With the death of the late Queen, I thought people who were 100 at the time might have missed out, so it was a nice surprise to receive mine. Mrs Park-Pearson, who has six children, 13 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, celebrated her milestone birthday surrounded by family and said the special event brought them all together Her son and carer Ian Lloyd handed the card to her when it arrived. Mr Lloyd, who is also a royal historian, said: Having thought we would see a photo of an elderly man in a suit, or at best in a uniform, it was great to have a friendlier image of the royal couple together. Prince Philip never appeared on the Queens cards and you have to go back to the war years when a monarch and consort last sent images of themselves to the public from the Palace. The tradition of sending royal messages to mark significant birthdays and anniversaries dates back to 1917 during the reign of George V, when those celebrating their 100th birthday or 60th wedding anniversary were sent a telegram of good wishes from the king. Thousands of birthday and wedding anniversary cards are sent from Buckingham Palace every year to those celebrating their 100th and 105th birthday and every year thereafter. They are also sent to those celebrating their 60th, 65th, 70th wedding anniversaries and all subsequent years. The photo of the monarch on the card is updated every five years. Police have seized firearms, prohibited weapons, drugs and an awkward family-style Christmas card during raids on outlaw motorcycle gang members. The items were allegedly found in the possession of Bandidos and Finks motorcycle gang members (OMCGs) during a multi-day operation across NSW's mid-north coast - a 400km area stretching from Port Stephens to Woolgoolga. During 'Operation Luna', police executed 14 Firearm Prohibition Order searches on local alleged bikie gang members from 6am on Saturday to Monday. One of the most bizarre items seized was a photograph of Bandidos gang members awkwardly posing in front of a body of water with 'Merry Christmas 2020' in red writing. The bikies, all dressed in their Bandidos vests, stared at the camera with some gingerly putting their arms around each other while some simply stood with their hands by their sides. A family-style Christmas card showing members of the outlawed Bandidos bikie gang members posing awkwardly was seized in sweeping police raids in NSW Officers also seized two firearms, several prohibited weapons, including a taser and handcuffs and an amount of prohibited drugs and steroids. One man was charged with drug and driving matters, and another will be issued with court attendance notices for the possession of prohibited weapons. Police also issued 23 consorting warnings and conducted traffic enforcement duties which resulted in seven infringement notices being issued. The sweeping raids, headed by the State Crime Command's Criminal Groups Squad and the Mid North Coast Police District along with Raptor Squad's assistance, aimed to disrupt OMCG operations. Officers seized two firearms (right) several prohibited weapons, including a taser (left), drugs and steroids during 'Operation Luna' Criminal Groups Squad Detective Chief Inspector Nick Read, said law enforcement would continue to target outlaw bikie gangs. 'The intent of this operation was to disrupt the activity of these groups and gather information,' Mr Read said. 'It's also sending a message that we will continue to target these gangs, and that we will use the information gathered over the three days to plan future operations in other areas of NSW. 'We've identified several new targets and will continue ... to further detect, disrupt, and prevent serious criminal activity.' During the two day operation police executed 14 Firearm Prohibition Order searches on local alleged Bandidos and Finks gang members (pictured, Bandidos vest seized during the raid) Police issued 23 consorting warnings and conducted traffic enforcement duties resulting in seven infringement notices being issued (pictured, motorbike seized during the raid) Mid North Coast Police District Commander Detective Superintendent Shane Cribb said targeting bikies was a top priority, with 'significant' resources being thrown at gang members. 'If you live as the "one per cent" then you can expect the significant resources of the police force thrown at you until such time you part ways with a lifestyle at odds with the broader community,' Mr Cribb said. 'Targeting anti-social OMCG behaviour remains a top priority for police districts right up the north coast and the level of scrutiny by law enforcement on these groups is as intense as any metropolitan area.' Advertisement Rishi Sunak could be named as the new Prime Minister later today after Boris Johnson bowed out of the Tory leadership race - as Penny Mordaunt insists she will 'fight on' despite appearing to be significantly short of the 100 supporters she needs to remain in contention ahead of the 2pm deadline. The former Chancellor, who officially launched his campaign yesterday morning, has received the public backing of more than 150 Tory MPs - with more joining team Sunak following Mr Johnson's departure from the race. As of last night, 155 MPs had said they are backing Mr Sunak, while just 25 had spoken out in support of Ms Mordaunt. But a further 54 who were hoping Mr Johnson would return to the premiership are yet to publicly reveal to whom they have switched allegiance. Mr Johnson, though, earlier said he had in fact reached the 'very high hurdle of 102 nominations' and believed there was a 'very good chance' that he would have been successful in the leadership contest. But the former PM added that continuing his bid for a return was 'simply not the right thing to do', citing the need to 'unite' the party. He is understood to have realised that he could not achieve unity when key Tory figures such as former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and prominent Brexiteer Steve Baker - both of whom are popular on the Tory Right - gave their backing to Mr Sunak. Last night there was no immediate response from the Sunak camp, with a source reportedly saying the ex-chancellor is not taking anything for granted and that he will continue to talk to colleagues and discuss how best to unite the party and take the country forward. It comes after Mr Sunak appeared to be surging further ahead in the contest yesterday as he also secured the backing of Grant Shapps, who replaced Ms Braverman as Home Secretary following her resignation this week, and Work and Pensions Secretary Chloe Smith. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey also said Mr Sunak would 'bring together our divided party and restore stability to our Government'. And Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, writing for The Telegraph, has endorsed Mr Sunak in an article in which he compares him to Winston Churchill due to his willingness to speak the 'truth'. It has left Leader of the House of Commons Ms Mordaunt as the only leadership hopeful standing in his way. She declared yesterday that 'Im in this to win it', but the determined statement came amid signs she is struggling to win backers. However, a source from Ms Mordaunt's campaign said last night: 'Penny is still running to be the Leader of the Conservative Party. Penny is the unifying candidate who is most likely to keep the wings of the Conservative Party together and polling shows that she is the most likely candidate to hold onto the seats the Conservative Party gained in 2019. 'Ed Balls, Shadow Cabinet ministers and Labour advisers have all said Penny is the candidate Keir Starmer fears the most.' She is not seen as a candidate of the right, though, and so is believed to be unlikely to secure a significant number of Mr Johnson's backers. But despite being well below the threshold of 100 supporters, Ms Mordaunt's team have insisted she had dozens of MPs who have not yet gone public with their support for her as she appeals to Mr Johnson's backers to get behind her campaign instead. Candidates need 100 nominations from Tory MPs by 2pm tomorrow if they are to remain in contention ahead of a final poll of party members. And Ms Mordaunt's allies believe Mr Johnson's decision to pull himself from the race will 'propel her over the line'. In other developments: Ms Mordaunt was claimed to have rebuffed attempts from Mr Johnson to get her to drop out of the race during a phone call She is reported to have told Mr Johnson that the majority of her supporters were more likely to have switched to Team Sunak, rather than backing his return to the premiership. Mr Johnson received public backing from 57 MPs, but a WhatsApp message to his supporters last night said he had reached the 100 threshold The message, sent by Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, said 'all the paperwork' had been completed to ensure he would appear on the ballot to replace Liz Truss. But in a statement last night, Mr Johnson said he was bowing out of the race despite reaching the 'very high hurdle of 102 nominations' Mr Sunak praised Mr Johnson for having 'led our country through some of the toughest challenges we have ever faced' Former Chancellor George Osborne also praised the 'very welcome and sensible judgement call by Boris Johnson' But Mr Johnson loyalist Nadine Dorries revealed her disappointment that he had bowed out, saying that a general election was now inevitable Rishi Sunak appears set to become the new Prime Minister today after Boris Johnson sensationally dropped out of the Tory leadership race last night Mr Johnson earlier said he had in fact reached the 'very high hurdle of 102 nominations' and believed there was a 'very good chance' that he would have been successful in the leadership contest As of last night, 155 MPs had said they are backing Mr Sunak, while just 25 had spoken out in support of Ms Mordaunt. But a further 54 who were hoping Mr Johnson would return to the premiership are yet to publicly reveal to whom they have switched allegiance Now only Ms Mordaunt now stands in the way of Mr Sunak's leadership bid. 'Im in this to win it,' the Leader of the House of Commons earlier declared 'It is simply not the right thing to do': Boris Johnson bows out of race to return as PM In statement this evening, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed he was bowing out of the race because it is 'simply not the right thing to do', despite claiming he had cleared the 'very high hurdle of 102 nominations'. He said: 'In the last few days I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who suggested that I should once again contest the Conservative Party leadership, both among the public and among friends and colleagues in Parliament. 'I have been attracted because I led our party into a massive election victory less than three years ago - and I believe I am therefore uniquely placed to avert a general election now. 'A general election would be a further disastrous distraction just when the government must focus on the economic pressures faced by families across the country. 'I believe I am well placed to deliver a Conservative victory in 2024 - and tonight I can confirm that I have cleared the very high hurdle of 102 nominations, including a proposer and a seconder, and I could put my nomination in tomorrow. There is a very good chance that I would be successful in the election with Conservative Party members - and that I could indeed be back in Downing Street on Friday. 'But in the course of the last days I have sadly come to the conclusion that this would simply not be the right thing to do. You cant govern effectively unless you have a united party in parliament. 'And though I have reached out to both Rishi and Penny - because I hoped that we could come together in the national interest - we have sadly not been able to work out a way of doing this. 'Therefore I am afraid the best thing is that I do not allow my nomination to go forward and commit my support to whoever succeeds. I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time.' Advertisement In a statement last night, Mr Johnson said: 'In the last few days I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who suggested that I should once again contest the Conservative Party leadership, both among the public and among friends and colleagues in Parliament. 'I have been attracted because I led our party into a massive election victory less than three years ago - and I believe I am therefore uniquely placed to avert a general election now. 'A general election would be a further disastrous distraction just when the government must focus on the economic pressures faced by families across the country. 'I believe I am well placed to deliver a Conservative victory in 2024 - and tonight I can confirm that I have cleared the very high hurdle of 102 nominations, including a proposer and a seconder, and I could put my nomination in tomorrow. 'There is a very good chance that I would be successful in the election with Conservative Party members - and that I could indeed be back in Downing Street on Friday. 'But in the course of the last days I have sadly come to the conclusion that this would simply not be the right thing to do. You cant govern effectively unless you have a united party in parliament. 'And though I have reached out to both Rishi and Penny - because I hoped that we could come together in the national interest - we have sadly not been able to work out a way of doing this. 'Therefore I am afraid the best thing is that I do not allow my nomination to go forward and commit my support to whoever succeeds. 'I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time.' Following the statement, Mr Sunak said he hoped the former PM would contribute to 'public life at home and abroad'. He added: 'Boris Johnson delivered Brexit and the great vaccine roll-out. He led our country through some of the toughest challenges we have ever faced, and then took on Putin and his barbaric war in Ukraine. We will always be grateful to him for that. 'Although he has decided not to run for PM again, I truly hope he continues to contribute to public life at home and abroad. ' A jubilant Sunak-backing MP also told MailOnline: Ive known him since 1995: he never changes. Hes too thin skinned to be brave. Another Cabinet source said the writing was on the wall for the ex-PM after a day of bluster. Former Chancellor George Osborne added: 'Very welcome and sensible judgement call by Boris Johnson - the country was heading for a constitutional crisis. Instead Rishi Sunak can now - with hard but necessary decisions - begin to restore Britains economic credibility and good governance.' Mr Johnson's hopes of a return had earlier gained traction when Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Nadhim Zahawi, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, both declared their support. Mr Zahawi earlier claimed 'Boris 2.0' had 'learned from those mistakes' he made during his first spell in No10 and would lead the Tories to 'victory and prosperity'. He saw a piece backing his former boss go online just as Mr Johnsons bombshell statement dropped. Mr Zahawi, who served as Chancellor in the final days of Mr Johnson's premiership, is now backing Mr Sunak. He tweeted: 'A day is a long time in politics... Given today's news, it's clear that we should turn to Rishi Sunak to become our next Prime Minister. 'Rishi is immensely talented, will command a strong majority in the parliamentary Conservative Party, and will have my full support & loyalty.' Former Culture Secretary and Mr Johnson loyalist Nadine Dorries also revealed her disappointment that he has bowed out, saying that a general election was now inevitable. She said: 'Boris would have won members vote - already had a mandate from the people. 'Rishi and Penny, despite requests from Boris refused to unite which would have made governing utterly impossible. Penny actually asked him to step aside for her. It will now be impossible to avoid a GE.' Former Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, a Sunak supporter, said: A thoughtful, wise and statesmanlike decision by Boris Johnson to withdraw, reflecting the qualities that made so many of us originally put our faith in him three years ago. Last night there was no immediate response from the Sunak camp, with a source reportedly saying the ex-chancellor is not taking anything for granted Tory leadership race timeline Monday: Nominations for the race close, candidates making it through must have at least 100 Tory MPs backing them Monday 3.30 pm: First round of voting (if more than one candidate gets through) Monday 6pm: Result of first vote announced. If three make it through, the candidate with the fewest votes is be knocked out Monday 6.30pm: 'Indicative' ballot held if two candidates are left, one may drop out Tuesday-Friday: If two candidates make it through, Conservative Party members have the chance to vote online Friday: The final vote closes and Britain's new Prime Minister is announced Advertisement It came after Mr Johnson unsuccessfully reached out to his two main rivals in an attempt to make a pact. Ms Mordaunt, now Mr Sunak's only rival in the leadership bid, was claimed to have rebuffed attempts from the former Prime Minister to get her to drop out in a phone call. She is reported to have told Mr Johnson that the majority of her supporters were more likely to have switched to Team Sunak, rather than backing his return to the premiership. It also means Ms Mordaunt is likely to be short of the 100 backers needed to remain in contention. Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak, meanwhile, met at 8pm last night, where the ex-PM is said to have told his former Chancellor that - if he re-entered No10 with Mr Sunak in a senior role - it would avoid a divisive battle. But it was subsequently claimed this morning that no agreement had been struck between the pair following negotiations that last around three hours. It comes as Mr Sunak appeared to be surging further ahead in the contest today as he moved near to 150 Tory MPs publicly supporting him today. His leadership bid was further bolstered by the backing of former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who is popular on the Tory Right, and her close ally Steve Baker. Grant Shapps, who replaced Ms Braverman as Home Secretary following her resignation this week, and Work and Pensions Secretary Chloe Smith also gave their support to Mr Sunak. And Armed Forces and Veterans Secretary James Heappey also this evening tweeted his support, saying: 'Ive been agonising all weekend knowing that our choice as next PM must bring together our divided party and restore stability to our Government. 'All wings of our party will need to work together after contest to achieve that but Im supporting Rishi Sunak to lead us in doing so.' Earlier this evening, WhatsApp messages sent to supporters of the former PM are understood to have said that 'all the paperwork' had been completed to ensure he would appear on the ballot to replace Liz Truss. Chris Heaton-Harris, Northern Ireland Secretary, wrote: 'OK everyone! Some very good news!. Thanks to all your hard work I can confirm we have completed all the paperwork (verified all nominations, with proposer and seconder) to be on the ballot tomorrow. 'Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! More to follow, but thank you!!!!' The message, seen by the Sun and Bloomberg, came despite Mr Johnson only having had 57 publicly-declared backers. Candidates need 100 nominations from Tory MPs by 2pm tomorrow if they are to remain in contention ahead of a final poll of party members. Even last night, Mr Johnsons campaign was sharing a memo outlining the results of five recent polls that suggested he has the best chance of saving the Tories from electoral wipe-out. The four-page document listed the results of surveys by leading pollsters indicating he would narrow the gap between Labour and the Tories, compared to Mr Sunak. It was titled Five Polls In The Last Five Days That Show That Boris Johnson Is The Best Chance The Conservatives Have At Avoiding Electoral Wipe-out. Mr Johnson loyalist Michael Fabricant also joined claims his support had met the threshold, adding: 'Boris WILL go to the membership. He has exceeded the 100 certified supporters.' But fellow Tory MP Richard Holden questioned the claims, tweeting: 'Very odd to brief this out again (2 days in a row) Its what they briefed yesterday. 'What a strange thing to do Wonder why youd do it Its almost as if they still need people and are desperate to show momentum, which they cant because no-one will publicly come out.' Mr Fabricant then followed up on his earlier tweet to reveal his disappointment at Mr Johnson's decision to no longer run, adding that he is now backing Ms Mordaunt. He said: 'I am deeply disappointed that Boris has chosen not to stand. I shall now nominate #PM4PM to let the members of our great Party decide who should be our Leader and next Prime Minister. I abhor political coronations. They invariably get it wrong.' Mr Sunak, meanwhile, has vowed to 'work day in and day out to get the job done' as as the UK faces a 'profound economic crisis'. He has also promised to lead a Government with 'integrity, professionalism and accountability' if he is confirmed as the new PM tomorrow. Mr Sunak officially launched his PM bid in a Twitter post, as he promised to 'fix our economy, unite our party and deliver for our country' Rishi Sunak's campaign received a major boost when prominent Brexiteer Steve Baker gave his support to the former Chancellor It comes after Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak met at 8pm on Saturday night, where the ex-PM is said to have told his former Chancellor that - if he re-entered No10 with Mr Sunak in a senior role - it would avoid a divisive battle. But it was subsequently claimed this morning that no agreement had been struck between the pair following negotiations that last around three hours. Mr Johnson earlier claimed 'Boris 2.0' had 'learned from those mistakes' he made during his first spell in No10 and would lead the Tories to 'victory and prosperity'. Allies revealed a 'smartly dressed' Mr Johnson was on 'good form' as he ploughed on with his comeback bid this morning in a meeting with supporters. His hopes of a return also gained further traction today when Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Nadhim Zahawi, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, both declared their support. But Mr Johnson suffered a blow when prominent Brexiteer Steve Baker gave his support to Mr Sunak and warned Tory MPs against putting the former premier back in Downing Street. The Northern Ireland minister, who backed Ms Truss over Mr Sunak in this summer's leadership contest, claimed a Boris comeback would be a 'guaranteed disaster'. 'This isnt the time for Boris and his style,' Mr Baker told Sky News, as he claimed the parliamentary Partygate probe hanging over Mr Johnson's head would see his premiership 'implode'. He warned a 'large number' of Tories would refuse to 'lay down their integrity to save' Mr Johnson in a House of Commons vote over whether he misled MPs on Covid rule-breaking in No10, which is being investigated by the Privileges Committee. Meanwhile, Mr Sunak officially confirmed his candidacy in a Twitter post yesterday morning, as he promised to 'fix our economy, unite our party and deliver for our country'. He wrote: 'I served as your Chancellor, helping to steer our economy through the toughest of times. 'The challenges we face now are even greater. But the opportunities, if we make the right choice, are phenomenal. 'I have the track record of delivery, a clear plan to fix the biggest problems we face and I will deliver on the promise of the 2019 manifesto. 'There will be integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level of the government I lead and I will work day in and day out to get the job done. 'I am asking you for the opportunity to help fix our problems. To lead our party and country forwards towards the next general election, confident in our record, firm in our convictions and ready to lead again.' Mrs Braverman, who dramatically quit as Home Secretary the day before Ms Truss's premiership collapsed, backed Mr Sunak as 'a leader who will put our house in order and apply a steady, careful hand on the tiller'. She wrote in the Telegraph: 'I have backed Boris from the start. From running alongside him in London in 2012, to supporting him to be our leader in 2019 and willing him to succeed throughout the travails of this year. His resignation in July was a loss for our country. 'But we are in dire straits now. We need unity, stability and efficiency. Rishi is the only candidate that fits the bill and I am proud to support him.' And Mr Shapps added: 'We need someone who can provide stability and proven economic competence in these challenging times, and Rishi Sunak is that person.' DOMINIC LAWSON: The Tory faithful may prefer Boris Johnson - but Rishi Sunak is the real Right-winger So Rishi Sunak has won the contest of unfeasible comebacks. Boris Johnson has abandoned his own remarkable attempt to return to 10 Downing Street within months of being booted out by his own MPs. But it is a scarcely less improbable and in this case, successful comeback for Rishi Sunak, now set to be Prime Minister. It was only last month that he was rejected by the Conservative Party's membership in favour of Liz Truss. When I saw the former Chancellor at his small parliamentary office last Tuesday, he was trying to come to terms with the speed with which everything had fallen apart for the woman who beat him to the top job only last month. When it comes to the matter of lockdowns, it was Rishi Sunak who was, in the Cabinet, the most persistent in warning not to overdo it. His Eat Out To Help Out scheme was a manifestation of his desire to get the country back to normal life as soon as possible And he still did not know whether he would fight afresh for an opportunity which he never imagined would come again, or at least definitely not this side of a General Election. He certainly wasn't taking an 'I told you so' attitude even though he had predicted exactly what would happen if a Tory Government adopted what, during that leadership election, he denounced as 'fairytale economics'. He warned presciently that a policy of massive unfunded tax cuts would cause interest rates to spike upwards, to the great cost of mortgage holders. Jibe Truss and Sunak had competed for the accolade of the 'true Thatcherite' always the key to the good opinion of Tory Party members. Misleadingly, Truss's gender made her seem the more plausible candidate for that honour. But as I reminded readers last week, my father Nigel Lawson, Thatcher's tax-cutting Chancellor, warned in July how his 1988 Budget had done that only after the Government had eradicated the public sector borrowing requirement and insisted: 'Sunak is the only candidate who understands Thatcherite economics.' For his pains, Sunak was described by Jacob Rees-Mogg, during a Cabinet meeting after he had quit No 11, as 'the late lamented socialist Chancellor'. Yet the principal reason for Sunak's resignation was that he could not support Boris Johnson's determination to embark on a version of what later became Truss's fiscally incontinent strategy. This was clear from his resignation statement: 'Our people know that if something is too good to be true, then it's not true.' I discussed Rees-Mogg's jibe with a Treasury official, who was incredulous: 'Rishi is seriously Right-wing.' And then he added: 'More than Boris Johnson.' Truss and Sunak had competed for the accolade of the 'true Thatcherite' always the key to the good opinion of Tory Party members. Misleadingly, Truss's gender made her seem the more plausible candidate for that honour Yet it seems to be Conservative members on what might loosely be described as on the Right of the party who appear to regard Sunak as 'unsound' but see Boris Johnson as a man after their own hearts. Doubtless there are many such members of the party now furious that Rishi Sunak has, in effect, been forced on them by the decision of the Parliamentary party, which overwhelmingly backed the ex-Chancellor. When you look at the long-term records of the two men, this view among party members doesn't make sense. While he was at Oxford University, Johnson dallied with the then fashionable SDP (the new Social Democratic Party of Roy Jenkins and Shirley Williams, who abandoned Labour partly in protest at its advocacy of quitting the European Community). Sunak was a precocious Tory who, in the wake of Tony Blair's triumph in the 1997 General Election, complained in The Wykehamist (the magazine of his public school, Winchester): 'He revels in the label of patriot, but has plans for the possible break-up of the United Kingdom and membership of an eventual European Superstate.' As I reminded readers last week, my father Nigel Lawson, Thatcher's tax-cutting Chancellor, warned in July how his 1988 Budget had done that only after the Government had eradicated the public sector borrowing requirement and insisted: 'Sunak is the only candidate who understands Thatcherite economics' Sunak's decision to campaign for Brexit as an MP was therefore entirely consistent with his long-held euroscepticism. And I noticed, while in his office last week, that prominent on one of its walls was a framed front page headline of a pro-Brexit newspaper from the first day of the referendum campaign: 'Beleave in Britain'. Sunak's pioneering of the furlough scheme is one reason given by some in the party for regarding him as a socialist in Tory clothing. Well, under Donald Trump the U.S. embarked on a far more costly scheme to protect the incomes of working people during the economic havoc caused by the first wave of Covid 19, and I don't hear anyone describing The Donald as a leftie. Lockdowns When it comes to the matter of lockdowns, it was Rishi Sunak who was, in the Cabinet, the most persistent in warning not to overdo it. His Eat Out To Help Out scheme was a manifestation of his desire to get the country back to normal life as soon as possible. He declared that everyone 'must learn to live with it and live without fear'. And it was Sunak who broke off a long-delayed family holiday in December 2021, and flew 5,000 miles back from California, when he heard that Boris Johnson was set to impose a second Christmas lockdown. This was after the outbreak of the Omicron variant, a much more transmissible form of the virus than any yet seen. The Government's medical advisers were warning of the need to introduce another wave of mandatory restrictions on social life, and Johnson was leaning towards their view. Sunak, as The Mail on Sunday reported a month later, 'went straight [from the airport] to Number 10 to see the Prime Minister, who was preparing to use a press conference that weekend to impose new restrictions on social interactions. So, in the light of all these areas where Sunak appears to be more to the Right on the most pressing issues, why is it that many Tory Party members who would share his policy approach instead seem to think Boris Johnson more their sort of politician? Sunak insisted that the data did not justify such draconian action. This was because he observed that the data from South Africa, where Omicron began, showed the mortality rate to be much lower than from previous variants. This point hadn't been taken in by Boris Johnson, whose many talents do not include a forensic attention to detail the polar opposite of Sunak. In this context, it is unsurprising that Lord (David) Frost, who supported the then Chancellor in that Cabinet debate on whether to reimpose Covid restrictions, last week backed Sunak and not Johnson. Then there is the matter of net-zero carbon emissions and the speed with which the UK should 'go Green'. While Boris Johnson was gung-ho for this declaring that the UK would become 'the Saudi Arabia of wind power', Rishi Sunak was much less so. Indeed, after his last Tory Conference speech as Chancellor, as the Politico website observed: 'He failed to mention climate once.' Shameful More recently, Sunak has advocated the removal of the moratorium on onshore gas exploration and production ('fracking'). Whereas Johnson, in his final week as PM, before Liz Truss took over, pointedly criticised such a liberalisation: 'Tell everyone who thinks we should get fracking and all that: offshore wind is entirely Green and clean.' So, in the light of all these areas where Sunak appears to be more to the Right on the most pressing issues, why is it that many Tory Party members who would share his policy approach instead seem to think Boris Johnson more their sort of politician? Perhaps a clue came over the weekend on Sangita Myska's LBC radio phone-in show. A man called Jerry, from Lowestoft, who claimed to be a Conservative Party member and the son of a former constituency party chairman, said he would 'vote for Boris' in any party ballot and added: 'Rishi's not going to win it. Rishi is not even BritishHe doesn't love England like Boris does.' Pressed by Ms Myska that Rishi Sunak was born and educated in this country, Jerry wasn't having it: 'Having a British passport doesn't mean you are a true British patriot . . . 85 per cent of the English are white English people and they want a Prime Minister that reflects them.' Your standard racist, in other words. We don't know if 'Jerry' from Lowestoft is, as he claimed, a Conservative Party member. But when I asked a friend who is a member and voted for Sunak in the last leadership election, he said he thought that 'around 10 per cent' of the membership might 'be biased against Sunak' on such grounds, even if they would never express it publicly. The idea that Sunak may be Right enough, but not white enough, for some party members, is shameful. Thank goodness it never came to that. STEPHEN GLOVER: Britain is poised to get what it needs - a leader around whom warring Tory factions can settle and coalesce So it has happened. After all the various claims from the Boris Johnson camp, their man has dropped out of the latest Tory leadership race. Rishi Sunak is effectively Prime Minister. It is of course sad for Boris, but by a wide margin the best outcome for the country. The prospect of Rishi and Boris Johnson going down to the wire was a deeply alarming one. Britain has got what it so sorely needs a clear result, around which warring Tory factions can, with luck, settle and coalesce. A deal between the two candidates was never on the cards. The danger was that Rishi would easily win the vote among Tory MPs but that the result would be reversed in the ballot of Conservative Party members. There could have been a stand-off in which some of Mr Sunak's supporters refused to accept Mr Johnson as leader. Now that Boris Johnson has dropped out of the latest Tory leadership race, Rishi Sunak is effectively Prime Minister That would have led to chaos, and the inevitable fall of the Government followed by a landslide Labour victory. The Tories might have been finished for a generation. Now there is some hope. For all Boris's qualities, the truth is that Rishi was the stronger of the two contestants. I discount Penny Mordaunt as being inexperienced, and very possibly (like Liz Truss) not up to the job. In different, happier circumstances, Boris might have deserved another chance. He is a man of immense and unusual gifts as well as considerable flaws whom it is not easy to reject. Yet this turbulent and divisive man shouldn't now be leader of our country. Britain is in a mess. Putin has created an energy crisis. The pandemic has thrown the public finances into disarray. And for the past few weeks Liz Truss has taken us on a mad, and wholly unnecessary, white-knuckle ride on a big dipper that has further frayed our already jangled nerves. What most of us long for, I submit, is calm, stability and competence which is what Rishi Sunak offers. He understands numbers and economics which Boris emphatically does not. Somehow the sight on Saturday of the blond bombshell bounding off his aeroplane at Gatwick made me yearn for peace and quiet. So did that picture yesterday of the rather manic-looking ex-prime minister, with one thumb in the air and a pugnacious expression inviting us to join him on the next phase of his journey. Not for me, thank you. Not now. The prospect of Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson going down to the wire was a deeply alarming one Whereas Rishi's presence in No 10 will soothe the markets, the sight of the free-spending Boris back in his old job would have rattled them. Rishi offers us hope that this convulsive period in our national life which has lasted pretty much since the 2016 EU Referendum might not go on for ever. To be specific: Mr Sunak has a chance of re-uniting the Tory Party, and healing some of its wounds, because, unlike Boris, he is not viscerally hated by a sizeable chunk of its MPs. This is a crucial point in his favour. Moreover, although Rishi is often said, wrongly I think, to be on the Left of the party, he has attracted the support of several key figures on the Right, including rising star Kemi Badenoch, Steve Baker, Suella Braverman and Boris's former chum, Lord Frost. All of them are solid Brexiteers. Consider this point. If Rishi Sunak were the Establishment patsy that his detractors have alleged, I don't believe he would have backed Brexit in 2016. As a young MP who had only been in Parliament a year, he had much to lose by offending the pro-Remain party hierarchy. Naturally, I don't think he's perfect. As Chancellor during the pandemic, he was chiefly responsible for the furlough scheme, which covered 80 per cent of salaries up to a cap of 2,500 a month. It lasted too long and was too generous. Tens of billions were squandered on other ill-conceived Covid measures such as Test and Trace or lost to fraud. Some of the 400 billion Covid debt that has been built up in proportion to the size of Britain's economy, one of the largest in the world could have been avoided with more prudent management. I discount Penny Mordaunt as being inexperienced, and very possibly (like Liz Truss) not up to the job But as Prime Minister at the time, Boris Johnson should also accept responsibility for this extravagance. In fact, he was a more fervent evangeliser for lockdown than Mr Sunak, who resisted calls for a third misguided episode last December after the Omicron variant was detected. Another error that can reasonably be laid at Rishi's door is the rise earlier this year in National Insurance. Its recent reversal is virtually the only positive achievement of Liz Truss's administration. Britain was the only major economy to raise taxes in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic and with an energy crisis looming. That was Rishi's decision, with Boris, despite some qualms, offering covering fire. My argument is not that everything that Mr Sunak has touched has turned to gold. He was a competent rather than an outstanding Chancellor. But he has shown that he understands the markets, and correctly forecast their panicky reaction to Liz Truss's unfunded tax cuts. By the way, one argument sometimes deployed against Rishi namely that he was Boris's ruthless assassin is overdone. Didn't Margaret Thatcher connive in the removal of Ted Heath as PM, and indeed Boris Johnson in the defenestration of Theresa May? It is admittedly true that Mr Sunak is an unknown quantity as the occupant of No 10, whereas Boris's strengths and defects are known to all of us. The truth is that Rishi hasn't been given the opportunity to show he can be an effective national leader. It is a risk we have to take, as we do with all new prime ministers. For the past few weeks Liz Truss has taken us on a mad, and wholly unnecessary, white-knuckle ride on a big dipper Ah, I hear some Boris supporters say, what about the polls over the weekend suggesting that Boris would do better than Rishi against Sir Keir Starmer? My answer is that no one can know. How well Mr Sunak does in two years' time will be determined by how successfully he grapples with the daunting economic problems that face us. It was far too early for Boris Johnson to return, though his time could conceivably come again. His failings are fresh in the electorate's mind, and his achievements not yet sufficiently treasured. The admittedly biased Commons committee investigating whether he misled the House has barely begun its inquiries. At a moment when the country craves stability, the return of Boris Johnson would have brought more tumult and discord. I don't doubt he would have done some things right if given the chance, but he was too divisive a figure to run this country in its present disrupted condition. If he and Rishi had been able to make a deal and unite the Tory Party, that would obviously have been splendid. But it wasn't realistic. Rishi couldn't contemplate being subservient to Boris, and Boris was unable to imagine being inferior to Rishi. Now that Rishi Sunak is on track to become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, there is a hope I put it no more strongly of measured, stable government. The Conservative Party has an infinitely better chance of holding together than it would have done if Boris Johnson had won. This country has been crying out for calm and competence. Rishi Sunak is the only person who can bring our long national nervous breakdown to an end. Ezra Miller is set to star in Warner Bros' upcoming $250million superhero flick The Flash, but after being at the center of controversy the past six months, rumors are swirling of a possible replacement. George MacKay is reportedly at the top of the list to replace Miller in the role of Barry Allen in future installments of the DC comic flick, following its release in June 2023, MovieWeb.com reported, citing verified sources on Twitter. Fans on social media have fueled the rumors, with some even creating fan art that replaces Miller with MacKay. The rumors come after a string of arrests and reports of erratic behavior by the 'Flash' actor that stretch from Hawaii to Vermont. Trouble actor Ezra Miller is set to star in the superhero flick The Flash, but after being at the center of controversy the past six months, rumors are swirling of a possible replacement - and fan art (pictured) depicts George MacKay as the who could take that spot Miller reportedly filmed reshoots for The Flash last week, and the script for the follow-up sequel is already in the works, MovieWeb reported Earlier this month, Miller appeared in Vermont Superior Court where he pleaded not guilty to stealing three bottles of alcohol from their neighbors property in Vermont. Miller was told to stay away from neighbor Isaac Winokur and faces 26 years in prison if they are found guilty of the charges, as well as more than $2,000 in fines. They are accused of taking a bottle of gin, vodka and rum from Winokurs pantry on May 1 at around 5pm. The charges are the latest in a series of legal woes for the actor. The Fantastic Beasts star was hauled into a meeting with Warner Bros bosses as his ongoing public issues threaten to put the already delayed $250million movie in jeopardy. Some verified insiders posted their speculations on Twitter this week, while others say nothing is set in stone until after The Flash reaches its 2023 release date. An artist on Instagram @Clements.Ink shared a piece of fan art that depicts MacKay replacing Miller as The Flash. The 1917 star is pictured in a costume that is very similar to one of the costumes Grant Gustin wore in The Flash TV series on The CW. Despite mounting rumors, it's not known if DC and Warner Bros. have cut ties with the actor as Miller reportedly filmed reshoots for The Flash last week, and the script for the follow-up sequel is already in the works, MovieWeb reported. Fans on social media have fueled the rumors, with some even creating fan art that replaces Miller with MacKay (pictured) Grace Randolph initially posted about the rumors on Twitter Ezra Miller has appeared in court earlier this month and pleaded not guilty to stealing three bottles of alcohol from their neighbor's property in Vermont The rumors come after a string of arrests and reports of erratic behavior by the 'Flash' actor that stretch from Hawaii to Vermont Miller was arrested twice this year in Hawaii, including for disorderly conduct and harassment at a karaoke bar. Also this year, the parents of 18-year-old Tokata Iron Eyes, a Native American activist, filed a protection order against Miller, accusing the actor of inappropriate behavior with her as a minor from the age of 12. Her parents accused Miller of grooming their child and other inappropriate behavior with her as a minor from the age of 12 which has been disputed by Tokota. Miller has been accused of 'grooming' and 'brainwashing' Tokata Iron Eyes, 18 (backseat), who is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. They are pictured together in a car A Massachusetts mother was granted a temporary order of protection against Miller in June, on behalf of the womans 12-year-old child. It was granted after the judge found the child faced substantial likelihood of immediate danger of harassment. A mother-of-three and her young children have also moved into their Vermont farmhouse which is allegedly filled with guns and large quantities of marijuana. The father of the children claims that the mother, 25, left their island home in Hawaii with Miller in April, and took the children without his consent. Video from April, obtained by Rolling Stone, reportedly showed at least eight assault weapons, rifles, and handguns lying around the living room. An expose also claimed that they ran a secret harem out of his Vermont ranch, a recent expose on the actor's arrests has shown - a de facto convent where the star asserted themself as a Jesus figure over a group of women. Miller was charged with felony burglary in Vermont, and earlier this year was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment at a karaoke bar following two arrests in Hawaii in March Miller, who uses they/them pronouns, was arrested twice in Hawaii in March and charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree assault. They were accused of shouting and swearing at customers as they sang karaoke at a bar in Hilo, as well as grabbing a microphone from a 23-year-old woman. At a court hearing for the incident, they pleaded no contest to one count of disorderly conduct and paid a $500 fine. A married couple took out a restraining order against them, after Miller burst into their bedroom and threatened to kill them, then left stealing her passport and his wallet. In April the star was accused of throwing a chair at a 26-year-old woman, hitting her at a private party in Pahoa. A video of Miller appearing to choke a woman at a bar in Reykjavik, Iceland, also surfaced in April 2020, but did not result in any charges. A video resurfaced on Twitter of Miller appearing to choke a woman at a bar in Reykjavik, Iceland, in April 2020 In August Miller announced that they were seeking treatment for complex mental health issues, after Hollywood bosses were forced to reconsider their future in the DCs cinematic universe. They said in a statement: Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe, and productive stage in my life. Ben Fordham labelled the actions of the inspectors as 'arrogant' The UN released a statement saying the denial of access was a 'clear breach' The inspectors left the country for New York after a 12-day Australian tour UN prison inspectors sent packing after being denied access to NSW prisons United Nations inspectors have suspended plans to look at Australian detention facilities after NSW and Queensland blocked access. The UN prison inspectors arrived to look at the level of care offered to criminals behind bars. NSW officials blame their federal counterparts for signing up to an optional protocol of the convention against torture, suggesting the UN should focus its attention on countries that haven't accepted the international agreement. Representatives from the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture said they were obstructed from carrying out their protective mandate, violating the country's obligations. The 12-day tour was to continue until Thursday, but the UN pulled the plug after being denied access when they showed up at prison facilities in NSW and Queensland. United Nation inspectors have head home to New York after unsuccessful attempts to carry out surprise inspections on NSW prisons The United Nations after 12-days suspended its tour of Australia's detention facilities accusing the country of a 'clear breach' of its obligations under the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (Opcat) Australia signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture under former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in 2017 and this was the first time since it was signed inspectors had visited Australia. As part of the mandate, the subcommittee on the prevention of torture has the right to make unannounced visits to all detention facilities and conduct private interviews with individuals who are locked up without any witnesses present. The UN representatives threatened 'grave' consequences for the NSW government after being denied entry to inspect NSW facilities, including their attempt to access Silverwater jail 2GB's Ben Fordham labelled the UN's actions as 'arrogant'. 'Before leaving town, the United Nations had one last shot at getting access to NSW jails despite formally being told no in writing and being shooed away from every prison they went to in NSW. 'How arrogant can you get! These people are visitors in our country. They've been granted access to jails in other states. But NSW said no. Security and safety are the biggest priorities,' Fordham said. UN in a statement said; 'It is deeply regrettable that the lack of cooperation, especially with respect to NSW and Queensland, has compelled us to take this drastic measure' Fordham recommended the delegation visit countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, where there are 'appalling' human rights violations. 'Remember, the United Nations weren't here inspecting homeless shelters or hospitals,' the 2GB host said. 'They didn't ask questions about victims of crime- or their living conditions. They only wanted to check in on the criminals. We're talking about murderers. Monsters. Rapists. Drug lords. 'And the UN wanted to come in and fluff their pillows. 'Maybe drop into Iran. Take a look at the appalling human rights violations happening to women,' Fordham continued. 'Or Saudi Arabia- where they still put people to death for being gay. China. Russia. North Korea. Indonesia. Countries that DON'T allow the UN to inspect their prison. 'But if youre looking for human rights violations, theres lots of options for you. Or are those countries too hot to handle?' Before flying back to New York, the United Nation's delegation head Aisha Shujune Muhammad said it was deeply regrettable but the limited understanding of its mandate and a lack of co-operation from NSW and Queensland spurred the decision. Mr Dreyfus said the federal government was disappointed in NSW for refusing access and it regretted the UN's avoidable exit. He said other unnamed jurisdictions had experienced problems but had tried to resolve these issues in good faith, adding the UN's departure would not change Australia's commitment. 'It is vital that places of detention in Australia maintain the rights of those who are held within their walls,' Mr Dreyfus said. NSW Corrections Minister Geoff Lee told a budget estimates hearing on Monday he had confidence in the state's facilities. 'They meet and many times often exceed those of other countries,' he said. But the committee was told five older facilities, which housed hundreds of inmates, needed updating. Corrective Services NSW commissioner Kevin Corcoran said the Inspector of Custodial Services had already delivered a report highlighting inadequate facilities. 'We've got our own standards they don't meet those standards,' he said. Assistant commissioner Leon Taylor said some infrastructure dated back to the Victorian era and did not support 'contemporary correctional practice. Two facilities from the era had been closed and replaced with more modern facilities in the past 18 months and a new infrastructure strategy was being developed, he said. Dr Lee said he would try and address the issue in his remaining months as minister. 'I will continue to advocate very strongly for our portfolio agency to receive money to upgrade and expand our facilities and retire the old facilities as soon as possible,' he said. Retiring MP David Elliott, who was NSW corrections minister when Australia ratified the protocol, said he told past premiers not to approve inspections. 'I'm not going to have UN inspectors from Iran and China and Cuba come into NSW jails and tell us that we're doing things wrong,' he told 2GB radio on Monday. None of those countries have ratified the protocol, nor has the USA, which has the world's highest per-capita incarceration rate. Mr Elliott said the federal government encouraged the inspections but was protected from having to open up immigration detention centres or defence force correctional facilities. Mr Dreyfus said the UN inspectors were given access to Commonwealth-run detention facilities but did not specify which ones. Academics and advocacy groups condemned the states for blocking access. 'Parties have an obligation to both receive the (subcommittee) in their territory and allow it to exercise its mandate in full, including by allowing unfettered access to places of detention,' a joint statement from Australian Lawyers for Human Rights and multiple other groups said. The Queensland government has been contacted for comment. A sheriff's deputy was responding to a call when he came across an overturned car in a muddy canal - with a delivery driver in the water rescuing people trapped inside. An elderly couple and their caretaker were stuck in the car after it flipped on October 8 and became partially submerged in the Florida canal. Dramatic body cam video released by Indian County Sheriff's department shows the moment a sheriff's deputy arrives at the tense scene. Deputy Dan Whittington was responding to another call when he passed the overturned car and descended into the canal to offer assistance to the Amazon driver. He was pulling a woman dressed in scrubs from the rear of the car, bringing her to safety. Two women from the vehicle were rushed to a nearby hospital after the rescue but thankfully only required treatment for minor injuries. In body cam footage recorded by Whittington an unidentified Amazon driver can be seen attempting to open the rear left door to pull a woman in scrubs out from the car Indian River County Fire Rescue can also be seen in the footage helping a man out from the car Deputies have said the elderly couple were travelling with a caretaker when their car crashed and ended up in the canal, east of the Indian River Mall, not far from Vero Beach. Later, Deputy Patrick Newman arrived on the scene to assist with the rescue. As a shocked woman is pulled from the car she can be heard panicking as deputy Newman reassures her: 'We got you, we got you.' 'I was actually kind of shocked to see the car upside down,' Whittington told local news station WPTV. 'I think I was put there for a reason and just there at the right time, and I'm glad we were able to get all three of them out of the car,' Whittington said. 'If we hadn't gotten there, he would've definitely drowned because he was ready to give up,' Whittington said regarding an elderly man in the vehicle. 'I am happy that I was [there to help], but do I consider myself a hero? No, I don't consider myself a hero,' the deputy said. The Amazon driver has not been identified and Indian River County Fire Rescue helped with the rescue. The woman is panicked as she is taken out from the car but reassured by Deputy Newman who reassures her: 'We got you' Indian County Sheriff's Deputy Dan Whittington was driving to an unrelated call when he spotted the overturned car Anthony Albanese may face many daunting leadership moments but few are likely to imprint on his memory more than meeting Perth grandad John Bradley, whose green mankini left very little to the prime ministerial imagination. Mr Bradley, 76, donned the very revealing outfit to win a bet and raise $25,000 during Sunday night's Telethon7 charity event in Western Australia. With the few strips of fabric protecting his modesty almost lost to the side view, Mr Bradley strode confidently across the Telethon set to meet the 'horrified' Prime Minister. Perth grandad John Bradley was happy to reveal almost all for the sake of charity during a meeting with the Prime Minister A laughing Mr Albanese, who was wearing an eye-catching colourful telethon pyjama top, was heard saying 'good on you'. Gesturing to his non-prime ministerial night-time attire, Mr Albanese said: 'I got off lightly'. Mr Bradley told 2GB interviewer Ben Fordham on Monday morning that he donned the mankini, made famous by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat character, to win two bets and raise $25,000. Initially his daughter's husband, who owns a seafood business, bet $1000 he wouldn't walk a stretch of beach in the mankini. According to Mr Bradley Anthony Albanese greeted him with a look of horror' during the telethon event Mr Bradley haggled the bet up to $10,000 and dutifully took the walk on Thursday. A second bet for an additional $15,000 was then made that challenged Mr Bradley to wear the mankini and present two cheques to the Prime Minister. Apparently the Prime Minister was somewhat taken aback. 'He had a look of horror on his face,' Mr Bradley said. 'He (Mr Albanese) said hell "never forget it".' Mr Bradley told Seven's Sunrise show on Monday morning that it was a bit of a rude introduction to Perth's annual fundraiser for Mr Albanese. Sacha Baron Cohen made the character of Borat famous in the self-titled 2006 film, with the image of Cohen in a green one-piece 'mankini' synonymous with the character 'I dont think he was used to what happens at telephones and those type of things always happen,' Mr Bradley said. He also revealed his wife had a similar reaction. 'Shes not very happy about it,' he told the laughing interviewers. 'She said "thats the first and last time you are ever going to do that".' Asked by David Koch if he had thought about wearing 'flesh-coloured undies', Mr Bradley said he had tried on about 10 pairs belonging to his wife but didn't feel that honoured the bet. Mr Albanese was happy to don a colourful pyjama top during his appearance in the Telethon7 broadcast 'The deal was Id go in the mankini and thats always the way its going to be,' he said. 'I had no problems with it. 'The only thing going through my mind was the money for the kids and thats the only reason I did it. 'I wasnt too worried about the whole thing at all.' Mr Bradley's unselfconsciousness contributed to the more than $71 million being raised at the event, as shown on the most recent update on the organiser's Facebook page. A new list of Australia's most trusted brands has shown plenty of them have managed to be highly valued despite some recent negative publicity. The Roy Morgan Trusted Brand Awards judged organisations such as supermarkets, media organisations, cars, travel, services, banks, insurance, superannuation, charities and more. Woolworths took out the top gong with the likes of Qantas, Toyota, Australia Post and ABC following close behind. The ultimate winner - dubbed the 'best of the best' by Roy Morgan - has now been Woolworths for two years in a row after it toppled Bunnings out of the top spot. And while all of the corporations are clearly highly trusted by Aussies, they've also found themselves in a good deal of hot water in the past year, none more so than Australia's national airline. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce (left) is pictured with his husband Shane Lloyd. Mr Joyce has been slammed over his huge salary Qantas - Most trusted in travel and tourism Video emerged last week of a passenger on a Qantas flight from Denpasar to Sydney raging at a flight attendant, 'you are being rude, and it's f**king disgusting'. '(Flight attendants) made her cry, and she's crying because they were being rude to her with a newborn baby, apologise,' the man said. Though he was removed from the flight, he had a lot of support on social media. 'He's right. I would do the same thing if someone disrespected my family,' one person commented. 'Stuck up for his family, crew in the wrong,' wrote a second. Qantas' CEO Alan Joyce has also been slammed this year for getting a massive $287,000 pay rise, taking his package to a reported $5.5million. Qantas is the most trusted travel and tourism brand in Australia This pay spike came despite both Qantas and its subsidiary, Jetstar, being plagued by delays, cancellations and other problems as air travel came back from the pandemic. In April, Mr Joyce was forced to apologise after blaming customers for not being 'match fit' to fly as queues snaked around airports across Australia. But Australians are a forgiving bunch, and Qantas is still one of its most trusted brand names. Woolworths - Most trusted supermarket Woolworths not only got the most trusted supermarket award, it was also the overall winner. According to the Roy Morgan awards, Woolworths' customers said it was 'sensitive to consumer needs and delivers quality products. There's no reason to distrust.' Another customer said 'I find their prices, customer service and delivery very good'. 'The only way you teach Woolies a lesson is if don't buy your fresh fruit and vegetables there - go down the road to green grocer or come to Flemington markets,' said farmer Guy Gaeta But it was a different story in a Daily Mail Australia report in June when a farmer called on Aussie shoppers to boycott Woolworths over its prices. 'The only way you teach Woolies a lesson is if don't buy your fresh fruit and vegetables there - go down the road to green grocer or come to Flemington markets,' said Guy Gaeta, an apple and cherry grower from Orange, NSW. Mr Gaeta claimed families could save '50 or 60 per cent' on their fruit and vegetable bills by shopping at Sydney's Flemington markets. Toyota - Most trusted car brand Toyota is not only Australia's most trusted car brand, it's also the biggest seller by a significant margin, selling more than 14,000 vehicles in September alone. But last week, 'one of the biggest claims in the country's legal history' alleged Toyota used 'defeat devices' to hide vehicle emissions and evade standards. Popular vehicles targeted in the lawsuit range from four-wheel drives to utes and vans including the Toyota Hi-Lux, LandCruiser, RAV4, Prado, Fortuner, Granvia and HiAce. In a statement, Toyota said it stood by its reporting of all vehicle emissions and would defend itself 'rigorously'. Australian motorists are being forced to wait four years for a brand new Toyota LandCruiser (pictured) due to 'unprecedented global demand', even though the most ordered style has been around for almost 40 years. Maddens Lawyers special counsel Brendan Pendergast said the lawsuit would claim some Toyota vehicles used 'sophisticated engineering' and 'multiple sensors' to comply with emissions standards during test conditions but not in real-world use. Maddens claims Toyota could be forced to pay out up to $1billion. It also emerged in September that Australian motorists are being forced to wait four years for a brand new Toyota LandCruiser due to 'unprecedented global demand', even though the most ordered style has been around for almost 40 years. ABC - Most trusted media brand The ABC is Australia's most trusted media brand, according to the Roy Morgan awards, but it seems to be a love/hate relationship at times. In March, the broadcaster rejected pleas from viewers to halt the rollout of a new 'log in to watch' feature on its iView platform. The login, which is mandatory in order to access much of the national broadcaster's streaming content, has been found a nuisance to even the ABC's biggest fans. ABC is one of Australia's most trusted brand, but it was slammed this year for making it difficult for people to view it online. ABC presenter Virginia Trioli is pictured There are also those who have no time for ABC anyway, such as the Daily Mail commenter who said 'The ABC is one of the worst abusers of taxpayer funds in the country'. 'Either privatise it or make it pay per view so that those who don't want to watch it don't have to pay for it,' they added. Another said the ABC was the 'biggest waste of $2billion a year of taxpayer's money'. Australia Post - Most trusted service Australia Post also made the top 20, and won the overall prize for the best service award. But it also manages to be the most complained about Australian organisation outside of Qantas. Much of the complaining about Australia Post centres around the delivery, often non-delivery, of parcels and the dreaded 'Sorry we missed you' card. Melbourne couple Wade Short and Veronica Lisbon were paid $3,000 by the company after repeatedly being left collection slips by posties and spending half an hour retrieving their items from the post office each week. Australians have heaped criticism on Australia Post over a frustrating and apparently common delivery fail where posties don't deliver parcels despite the customers being home Their battle with their local postie began in early 2020 when Mr Short would notice their parcels would either be left near the door or a collection slip left in the mailbox without knocking to see if anybody was home. On one occasion the delivery driver threw one of the parcels up the front steps of his Melbourne house and left - later saying the stairs were not up to safety standards. The story hit home for many Daily Mail Australia readers, with some sharing their own issues they've experienced with the postal service. 'Happens to me weekly I even have them on camera not even ringing my doorbell just placing a card in the mail because they are too lazy,' one said. But again, Australians seem to want to forgive and forget when it comes to Australia Post. Greens senator Lidia Thorpe will reportedly refer herself to a parliamentary committee over her secret relationship with a former bikie leader. Ms Thorpe is set to write to the Senate president requesting the Upper House's privileges committee look at her relationship with the onetime Victorian Rebels president. Her decision was supported by the Greens party room and reflected Ms Thorpe being happy for the inquiry to go ahead, according to Guardian Australia. It was revealed last Thursday that Ms Thorpe had a brief relationship in 2021 with the ex-bikie uncle of AFL star Dustin Martin. Greens senator Lidia Thorpe (right) will reportedly refer herself to a parliamentary committee over her secret relationship with former former bikie leader Dean Martin (left) On Thursday it was revealed Ms Thorpe (above) had a brief relationship in 2021 with Dean Martin, the ex-president of the Rebels Victoria chapter and uncle of AFL star Dustin Martin Greens leader Adam Bandt asked for Ms Thorpe to resign as deputy leader of the party in the Senate, which she did, after describing her conduct as exhibiting a 'significant lack of judgment'. Ms Thorpe's relationship with Martin came to light after reports her staff were concerned by the relationship because she was a member of a joint parliamentary law enforcement committee. That committee heard highly confidential briefings from the Australian Federal Police about its efforts to monitor the activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs. According to the ABC, Ms Thorpe told one of her staff members about her liaison with Martin in May, 2021, and another in June. In August, 2021, one of those staff members confronted Ms Thorpe about the dangers inherent in the relationship after confidential committee documents arrived in the senator's Melbourne office the same day she had met Martin in a park nearby. The staffer then made a work diary entry after warning Ms Thorpe the 'risks are catastrophic' of her relationship with Martin being discovered, the ABC reported. The diary entry also revealed Ms Thorpe and Martin communicated by messaging app Signal, writing that 'they clear their conversations once a week, that they never meet at their respective homes and that she was being really careful'. The staffer noted Ms Thorpe chose not to take advice about the relationship: 'I highlighted the huge, real, risk. She assured me the relationship was no longer underway.' Martin (left) is the ex-president of the Rebels Victoria chapter and has a long association with the club. He has recorded no criminal convictions Greens leader Mr Bandt (right, with Ms Thorpe at left) is under pressure to explain why his chief of staff appeared to know about Ms Thorpe's relationship with Martin in October last year but the leader remained unaware until last week The same person was further alarmed in February this year when Martin appeared in Ms Thorpe's electorate office and they spoke privately in a room for 15 minutes. Ms Thorpe explained the meeting was 'to discuss issues related to deportation of First Nations people including his brother [Shane]'. Despite his bikie affiliations, Martin has no criminal convictions. Ms Thorpe has stressed she has at no time inappropriately shared confidential information received as a committee member. Her position on the committee ended earlier this year. 'Obviously, I'm concerned about the criminal activities of outlaw motorcycle clubs in general. But when we met, Mr Martin was no longer involved with that world,' she told the ABC. It's understood members of the committee, including Ms Thorpe, were briefed on highly secretive police operations and investigations into drugs and firearms trafficking by outlaw motorcycle gangs. Dean Martin is the brother of Dustin Martin's father Shane, who passed away in New Zealand in December, 2021 The revelation of the relationship has led to the possibility of Ms Thorpe being formally censured by the Federal parliament when it sits next week. Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley said there were serious questions to answer, and challenged Labor to back a censure motion against Ms Thorpe in the Senate when federal parliament returns. 'You can't be receiving confidential briefings during the day about outlaw motorcycle gangs and be in bed with one of them at night. That's not on,' she told Sunrise on Friday. 'As I understand it, there will be a censure motion moved in the Senate... I hope [Labor] support it.' 'I don't think Lidia Thorpe belongs in the parliament,' Opposition leader Peter Dutton told Sky News on Thursday night Opposition leader Peter Dutton has gone further, suggesting Ms Thorpe resign from the parliament. 'I don't think Lidia Thorpe belongs in the parliament,' he told Sky News on Thursday night. 'She should be leaving the Greens and she should be leaving the Australian parliament.' Education Minister Jason Clare said it was a 'no-brainer' that Ms Thorpe appeared to have a 'massive' conflict of interest. 'You can't be on an inquiry investigating outlaw motorcycle gangs and be in a relationship with an (ex) outlaw motorcycle gang member, a bikie,' he said on Sunrise. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Greens leader Adam Bandt had further explaining to do and what he knew and when in relation to the revelations about Ms Thorpe Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, visiting Western Australia, said Greens leader Adam Bandt - who said he only learned of Ms Thorpe's relationship with Martin after questions from the ABC last week - had further explaining to do. 'I note that Senator Thorpe has said that this is an error of judgment that is the least description that I would put to it,' the prime minister said. 'Adam Bandt has to explain what his office knew and what he knew and why he wasnt informed about these issues given his office was informed, why that is the case.' Mr Bandt is under pressure to explain why his chief of staff Damien Lawson appeared to know about the matter in October last year but the leader remained unaware until last week. 'People are entitled to trust that where there are issues that affect the work of senators, all members of parliament, that they will be disclosed,' he said on Thursday. In a statement on Thursday Ms Thorpe said she had accepted the mistakes she had made. 'I ... have not exercised good judgment,' she said 'As leader, I expect my senators and MPs, especially those in leadership positions, to exercise good judgment. 'At a minimum, Senator Thorpe needed to disclose to me her connection to Mr Martin and her failure to do so showed a significant lack of judgment.' Ms Thorpe said she had accepted the mistakes she had made. 'I... have not exercised good judgment,' she said in a statement. 'I will now reflect on this and focus on my important portfolio work, especially advocating for First Nations people.' France announced the shipbuilding firm Naval Group was presenting the concept of its next-generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at the 2022 Euronaval trade conference held in Paris. The Porte Avion Nouvelle Generation (PANG) will be able to transport up to 32 jet fighters and a handful of helicopters. France's New Warship on the Horizon The aircraft carrier is going to be designed to be able to manage and deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), tactical battle system, with command/ control aircraft as part of its capabilities, reported The Defense Post. One of the goals in settling on the ship's design that can be modified piece by bit, as well as upgrading the combat system capable of evolving, commented program director Olivier de Saint Julien, as noted by Breaking Defense. He said they don't know what the next technology trend will be in the next 15 years. There is a necessity for hull enlargement to enable easier integration into the carrier. A new carrier like the PANG is slated to replace the French nuclear reactor-equipped Charles de Gaulle carrier that is still in service. It is expected to be ready in 2038, with sea trials beginning in 2036 after it is built, giving it a two-year lead time before entering service with the maritime forces of France in 2038. Next-Generation Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier Features The ship that the Naval Group will create is roughly 310 meters long and 85 meters wide, and it will be powered by twin nuclear reactors produced by TechnicAtome, which will power three shaft drives on the massive ship. Read Also: Bill Gates Net Worth 2022: What Is His Rank on Forbes' Billionaires List? It will enable long deployment compared to a conventionally powered ship. Refueling for reactors will be done every ten years too. On board the next-generation PANG is approximately 2,000 crew members, including aircraft engineers, to give maintenance support and overall resorts. Shipbuilding Firms To Build the European Patrol Corvette At the Euronaval 2022 show in France, a group of firms signed a tentative cooperative agreement to assist the European Patrol Corvette project. Naval Group, Fincantieri, Naviris, and Navantia are some of the organizations working on the corvette. A fundamental concept for a second-tier surface combatant vessel with a length of 110 meters (361 feet) and displacement of 3,000 tonnes (2.7 million kg) would be constructed through the two-year initiative. The proposal was presented in 2021 for the European Defense Fund's Modular and Multirole Patrol Corvette request. This was chosen previously in the year by the European Commission. Several countries decided to fund the program, including Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Denmark, and Norway, which will get the corvette later. In addition to shipbuilders, 40 companies with locations across 12 European states will provide maritime technology and related equipment. By fostering more member-state collaboration and strengthening the sector, the European Patrol Corvette project is expected to contribute strongly to European independence in the naval domain. Following the policy of the European Commission, the Naval Group continued by stating that the initiative, which pursues excellence, intends to increase the expertise of other qualified European companies. The warship developed from the venture will be flexible, interoperable, sustainable, and inventive to complement emerging operational requirements. According to France, the Naval Group, part of the European Patrol Corvette project, was tasked to build PANG. This next-generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will replace Charles De Gaulle in 2038. Related Article: India's INS Vikrant Competes With China's Type 003 Fujian To Be the Better Aircraft Carrier @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Kalllista Mutten (pictured outside court) has avoided prison Charlise Mutten's mother has appeared in court wearing enormous fake eyelashes, hoop earrings and a chunky amethyst necklace - as she avoids a year-long prison sentence for theft. Kallista Mutten appeared at Campbelltown Local Court on Tuesday where she was sentenced to a community corrections order for stealing two guns and ammunition during a home invasion. The home invasion took place on August 22 last year - five months before her fiance, Justin Stein, allegedly shot and killed her nine-year-old daughter. At the time of the alleged murder on January 11 this year, Mutten was reportedly pregnant with Stein's child. Mutten previously pleaded guilty to one charge of break and enter a dwelling in company and steal to a value not exceeding $60,000. The gemstone necklace she wore to court is believed by some to invoke 'calmness' and 'clarity' upon the wearer. At a previous court mention, Mutton's lawyer said she couldn't appear in person because she was in a rehabilitation facility, Odyssey House. Outside court on Tuesday, she was overheard by reporters saying she liked being inside the facility because they 'understood' the real her. The court heard of the 'very tragic circumstances' of Mutten and that she was trying 'to put her life back together while in rehab at Odyssey House Police allege Stein committed the break and enter with Mutton. While investigating Charlise's death in February, detectives found two firearms and ammunition in bushland near where the schoolgirl disappeared. Following forensic examination, police determined the items were allegedly stolen from a Mount Wilson property, known as Sylvan Close, on August 22 last year. Stein was charged in May with two counts of possess an unauthorised firearm, two of possessing an unregistered firearm and possessing ammunition without a licence. He is yet to enter a plea. It is not suggested that Kallista Mutten was involved in Charlise's death. On Tuesday, the court heard of the 'very tragic circumstances' of Mutten and that she was trying 'to put her life back together' while in rehab at Odyssey House. Charlise Mutten, who was found dead in January inside a barrel dumped on the banks of the Color River after she was allegedly murdered 65km away in Mount Wilson at the property of her mother Kaliista's then fiance, Justin Stein The court heard her offending record went back to 2001 and she'd been on drugs from the age of 34. THE SECRET MEANING BEHIND KALLISTA MUTTEN'S NECKLACE Kallista Mutten wore an amethyst necklace to court on Tuesday. Some believe the gem's purple colours represent 'purity of spirit'. The purple/red hues represented the 'chastening and purifying effects of suffering'. It used to be believed that colours represented the wounds and suffering of Christ, which lead to amethysts being used to aid the healing of wounds. Source: gemsociety.org Advertisement Her lawyer Bet Turgut revealed that Mutten has turned on her Stein and will testify against him in the break and enter charge. The court heard Mutten is 'co-operating with police in relation to the co-accused. She has signed a statement and will give evidence to the police'. In 2017, Mutten was convicted of killing a woman while high on ice when she lost control of her car and plunged into a river in northern NSW. She was 33 and living in rehab when she was jailed for one charge of dangerous driving occasioning death and one of driving with an illicit drug in her system. Mutten's friend Karen 'Kaz' Bunch, 53, never regained consciousness and died three weeks after the crash. The magistrate found that despite a sentencing assessment report saying Mutten had not been a willing participant to the break and enter, she was willing. Police facts say Mutten jemmied the door of the house with a screwdriver while Stein kept watch. Mutten will return to rehab where she is doing 'very well', a tendered report by Odyssey House said. The court heard her offending record went back to 2001 and she'd been on drugs from the age of 34. Kallista Mutten (pictured) pleaded guilty to stealing two guns and ammunition during a home invasion at Mount Wilson just up the road from where her daughter was allegedly shot dead Justin Stein (pictured) was also charged with aggravated break and enter of a Mount Wilson property Charlise, who lived with her maternal grandparents, had been holidaying with her mother and Stein at his family's luxury Blue Mountains wedding venue over the Christmas holiday season last year. Mutten reported her daughter missing in January, sparking a widespread search for the nine-year-old before her body was found. According to police, the schoolgirl was alone in the care of Stein on the night she was allegedly murdered. At the time of the alleged murder, police say Charlise's mother Kallista Mutten was staying at a caravan park at Lower Portland on the Hawkesbury River, 81km from the luxury Mount Wilson estate where Charlise is believed to have died. Police allege Stein shot and killed the girl on January 11, placed her body in a barrel in the back of his red ute and dumped it 65km away on the Colo River. His case will return to court at a later date. The last public photo of Kallista Mutten back in January this year before she went to hospital for mental health treatment following her daughter's death and then drug rehab He said KFC responded to him within five minutes of his complaint being posted Quinton Armarego said he grabbed a late night bite to eat from Kwinana KFC A man had a nasty surprise while grabbing a late-night bite to eat at his local KFC - finding a used glove in his box of chips. The man said he went to his local KFC at Kwinana, south of Perth, around 11pm and was shocked to find the glove at the bottom of his large chips. Quinton Armarego took to social media, saying, 'might want to avoid KFC for a bit. Dirty used gloves found in a box of chips.' Mr Armarego said KFC contacted him within five minutes of his social media post. A man has had a nasty surprise while grabbing a late night bite to eat at his local KFC, finding a used glove in his box of chips The Kwinana man said he went to his local KFC around 11pm and was shocked to find the glove at the bottom of his large chips The discovery disgusted social media users, with many shocked and confused as to how it could happen. 'Can the staff member filling the box not see the glove? Should have gone to spec savers!' one user wrote. 'I have never wanted the throwing up emoji as a react button more than I do right now,' commented a second. 'I got KFC from there a couple of weeks ago. Pulled up to the pick up window and what I saw in the kitchen was a floor covered in chicken and chips and used gloves. Absolutely disgusting. Won't be returning,' said a third. Kwinana KFC has a rating of 2.9 stars on Google, and their reviews contain multiple negative complaints, many about the chips. 'One time, I got a half-full large chips on my order, and today, not only they made me wait 15 min in the parking lot, but the chicken and chips they gave me are the non-fresh ones and not a single dip on my tender dipping feast! You guys need to train your staff more!' one review reads. 'Gave us half boxes of stale old chips, then tried to tell us they were fresh. The chips were cold to the touch. When returning the food, the assistant manager was extremely smug for someone who can't seem to do a half-decent job. If I could have given this place 0 stars I would of,' another review stated. Kwinana KFC has a rating of 2.9 stars on Google and their reviews contain multiple negative complaints, many about the chips Math levels dropped the largest amount since the test was introduced in 1969 The last test was done in 2019, before the effects of the pandemic on schools The Covid pandemic caused historic setbacks for America's children by erasing decades of academic progress and widening racial disparities, national test results suggest. Across the country, math scores saw their largest decreases ever while reading scores dropped to 1992 levels and nearly four in 10 eighth graders failed to grasp basic math concepts. These were findings of the National Assessment of Educational Progress - also known as the 'nation's report card' - and were released on Monday. It tested hundreds of thousands of fourth and eighth graders across the country and found that not a single state saw a notable improvement in their average test scores. Scores had been stalling even before the pandemic but the new results show decreases on a scale not seen before, with math levels dropping the most they have since the test was established in 1969. Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics said in an interview that these results 'are a serious wake up call' It was the first time the test had been conducted since 2019 and it is seen as the first nationally representative study of the pandemic's impact on learning. 'It is a serious wakeup call for us all,' Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics said in an interview. 'In NAEP, when we experience a 1- or 2-point decline, we're talking about it as a significant impact on a student's achievement. In math, we experienced an 8-point decline - historic for this assessment.' Researchers usually think of a 10-point gain or drop as equivalent to roughly a year of learning. The pandemic upended every facet of life and left millions learning from home for months. The results released on Monday reveal the depth of those setbacks, and the size of the challenge facing schools as they help students catch up. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said it is a sign that schools need to redouble their efforts, using billions of dollars that Congress gave them to help students recover. 'Let me be very clear: these results are not acceptable,' Cardona said. The NAEP test is typically given every two years. It was taken between January and March by a sample of students in every state, along with 26 of the nations largest school districts. In both math and reading, students scored lower than those tested in 2019. But while reading scores dipped, math scores plummeted by the largest margins in the history of the NAEP test, which began in 1969. Math scores were worst among eighth graders, with 38% earning scores deemed 'below basic'. In 2019, when 31 percent of eighth graders scored below that level. Every part of the US saw test scores slide and every state saw declines in at least one subject. Several major districts saw test scores fall by more than 10 points. Peggy Carr, Commissioner of the National Center for Education, spoke about the recent NAEP results on Friday The New York City Department of Education has axed 850 teachers and classroom aides after they refused to show proof of getting the COVID vaccine (file photo from November 2021) Cleveland saw the largest single drop, falling 16 points in fourth-grade reading, along with a 15-point decline in fourth-grade math. Baltimore and Tennessees Shelby County also saw huge declines. 'This is more confirmation that the pandemic hit us really hard,' said Eric Gordon, chief executive for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. To help students recover the school system has beefed up summer school and added after-school tutoring. 'I'm not concerned that they can't or won't recover,' Gordon said. 'I'm concerned that the country won't stay focused on getting kids caught up.' The results show a reversal of progress on math scores, which had made big gains since the 1990s. Reading, by contrast, had changed little in recent decades, so even this years relatively small decreases put the averages back to where they were in 1992. Results revealed the biggest drop in math scores since the test was first introduced in 1969 While overall levels went down increasing gaps between students are also now of concern. In fourth grade, Black and Hispanic students saw bigger decreases than white students, widening gaps that have persisted for decades. Inequities were also reflected in a growing gap between higher and lower performing students. In math and reading, scores fell most sharply among the lowest performing students, creating a widening gap between struggling students and the rest of their peers. Surveys done as part of this year's test illustrate the divide. When schools shifted to remote learning, higher performing students were far more likely to have reliable access to quiet spaces, computers and help from their teachers, the survey found. The results make clear that schools must address the 'long-standing and systemic shortcomings of our education system,' said Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of Los Angeles schools and a member of the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets the policies for the test. 'While the pandemic was a blow to schools and communities, we cannot use it as an excuse,' he said. 'We have to stay committed to high standards and expectations and help every child succeed.' NAEP results show no clear connection between the severity of the setbacks and the time spent learning online. Areas that returned to the classroom quickly still saw significant declines, and cities - which were more likely to stay remote longer - actually saw milder decreases than suburban districts, according to the results. Los Angeles was the only school district that saw any significant increase in scores Los Angeles can claim one of the few bright spots in the results. Its school district saw eighth-grade reading scores increase by 9 points, the only significant uptick in any district. For other districts, it was a feat just to hold even, as achieved by Dallas and Florida's Hillsborough County. Testing critics warn against putting too much stock in exams like NAEP. Students who take longer to master reading are more likely to drop out and end up in the criminal justice system, research has found. Eighth grade is also seen as a pivotal time to develop skills for math, science and technology careers. For Carr, the results raise new questions about what will happen to students who appear to be far behind in attaining those skills. 'We want our students to be prepared globally for STEM careers, science and technology and engineering,' she said. 'This puts all of that at risk. We have to do a reset. This is a very serious issue, and its not going to go away on its own.' Jurors in the trial of Brittany Higgins' accused rapist will enter their fifth day of deliberations. Bruce Lehrmann is accused of raping the former Liberal staffer in Parliament House after a night out in March 2019. He has pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent and is being tried in the ACT Supreme Court. On Monday afternoon, Chief Justice Lucy McCallum told the 12-person jury: 'Thank you for your ongoing hard work. I'll let you separate and go home now.' They will arrive back in court at 10am on Tuesday to continue deliberating. Earlier on Monday, jurors sent a note to Chief Justice Lucy McCallum asking for more time. Brittany Higgins (pictured) alleged Bruce Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House after a night out in March 2019 The jury asked the chief justice for more time to deliberate on Monday morning. By that afternoon, they had not yet made a decision. Pictured: Bruce Lehrmann The note read: 'We have not yet reached an agreement beyond reasonable doubt.' Chief Justice McCallum told them to 'relax' and urged them not to rush the decision. 'There is no rush, there's no time limit ... There is no expectation. You can and should take all the time you need,' the chief justice said. The jury was asked to retire at about 3pm on Wednesday and have been directed to reach a unanimous verdict. Before they were sent home for the weekend on Friday, Justice Lucy McCallum reminded them not to look at social media or talk to anyone about the case. 'Please remember the reminders I have given you, as you come into contact with a broader range of people over the weekend,' Justice McCallum said. 'It's extremely important at this stage that you don't engage in any conversation, you may accidentally engage with someone who might tell you something that might be problematic. 'Give yourself a social media holiday.' The defence lawyer suggested Ms Higgins fabricated doctor appointments at the time to 'make it more believable' that she had been sexually assaulted She also reminded them Lehrmann was presumed innocent and it was up to the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In his closing argument last week, Prosecutor Shane Drumgold urged the jury to disregard discussions of political movements and workplace cultures sparked by the case. He said the case was not about the culture inside Parliament House or the Me Too movement but about what happened on a couch inside a minister's office in the early hours of Saturday, March 23, 2019. Mr Drumgold said Ms Higgins had been a credible and honest witness whose version of events that night had not wavered. Meanwhile, he said Lehrmann had given inconsistent accounts about why he was at parliament on the night of the alleged assault to the security guards, to his boss and to the police. Lehrmann will soon learn his fate. He has pleaded not guilty to a single count of sexual intercourse without consent The prosecutor suggested Lehrmann's intent was to go to Parliament House so he could be alone with the 'drunk' and 'vulnerable' Ms Higgins. Lehrmann's defence lawyer Steven Whybrow told the court nothing happened that night and suggested Ms Higgins had fabricated her account to save her job. He said a closer look at her evidence made the prosecution's case against his client 'totally untenable'. Mr Whybrow pointed to inconsistencies in Ms Higgins' story, including that she had told police and others she had attended doctor appointments after the alleged assault. He suggested Ms Higgins fabricated doctor appointments at the time to 'make it more believable' that she had been sexually assaulted. Customers weren't eligible for a second replacement if warranty period expired Customers weren't eligible for a second replacement if warranty period expired Refunds were issued if a faulty Fitbit was returned within 45 days of purchase Refunds were issued if a faulty Fitbit was returned within 45 days of purchase Fitness electronic company Fitbit has been hit with Federal Court action for allegedly misleading customers about their guarantee rights. It's alleged the American-based company told customers between May 2020 and February 2022 they wouldn't be eligible for a refund unless they returned a faulty product within 45 days of buying it. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission also says Google-owned Fitbit told customers who did get a replacement device they weren't eligible for a second one if their original two-year 'limited warranty period' had expired. Australia's competition watchdog is taking Google-owned fitness tracker giant Fitbit to court for allegedly refusing to provide refunds or replacing faulty devices (STOCK IMAGE) It's not the first time the ACCC has had Fitbit in their sights, the fitness brand having been given a court-enforceable undertaking in 2018 after they broke similar laws via representations they made about warranties for faulty products. Their latest case has 58 examples of customers being allegedly misled by Fitbit's customer service representatives when seeking assistance for faulty products. ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said Fitbit's alleged conduct was serious and lacked compliance with Australian consumer law. 'Products must be of acceptable quality, and retailers must provide a remedy for faulty goods which include a repair, replacement or refund, depending on the circumstances,' she said. 'All consumers have these automatic consumer guarantee rights that cannot be excluded, restricted or modified ... the consumer guarantee rights exist in addition to any warranties offered by manufacturers.' Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb (Pictured) said Fitbit's alleged conduct was serious and lacked compliance with Australian consumer law Australian consumer law doesn't impose a 45-day limit on refunds, and consumer rights on faulty replacement products don't depend on when the original product was purchased. The ACCC says it's seeking court outcomes including penalties, injunctions and a compliance program. California Governor Gavin Newsom has finally called for all of those involved in the Los Angeles City Council racism audio leak scandal to resign. The prominent Democrat has said that remaining council members Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo should follow former Council President Nuri Martinez out the door and should also resign. Martinez resigned on October 12 after she was heard on a leaked audio recording from 2021 referring to a colleague's black son as a 'little monkey'. In the same recording, she is heard speaking about LA DA George Gascon, saying: 'F*** that guy, he's with the blacks'. She can also be heard on the audio referring to Jewish colleagues as 'judios', Spanish for Jews. She was referring to former state assemblyman Richard Katz and his team. Her colleague, Ron Herrera, kicked off the conversation saying: 'I'm sure Katz and his crew have an agenda.' She replied: 'The Judios cut their deal with South L.A. That's how I see it. And they're going to screw everybody else.' Newsom's calls for more resignnations came following his KQED debate with his gubernatorial challenger Republican Sen. Brian Dahle. Newsom said: 'I wanted to give them space, but I think I was very clear with Nury, that she did the right thing. And I think the others should do the same.' He added: 'I wanted to provide the opportunity for them to justify what they said, and the opportunity to be transparent about what they said. And so were hoping and looking forward to announcements soon,' reports the Los Angeles Times. Council members Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo were also part of the leaked conversation, in which de Leon agreed that Bonin carried his son 'like an accessory', comparing it to Martinez wandering around with her Louis Vuitton bag Governor Gavin Newsom told the media on Sunday: 'I wanted to give them space, but I think I was very clear with Nury, that she did the right thing. And I think the others should do the same' Nury Martinez resigned from her position on the Los Angeles City Council last week following calls from her colleagues and the public, demanding she step down LA City Council member Mike Bonin (pictured) and his adoptive son were unknowingly subjected to derogatory remarks from Martinez and two other city council members in an October 2021 conversation Cedillo will be leaving office shortly regardless following his election defeat to Eunisses Hernandez earlier this year. In previous statements, de Leon made it clear that he does not plan to resign. He told Univision in an interview: 'No, I will not resign, because there is a lot of work ahead.' He also described the comments as a 'bad joke.' During the leaked audio, de Leon can be heard comparing a colleague's black son to Martinez coming to council meetings with a Louis Vuitton bag. A week ago, the pair were removed from their committee assignments. That left the council's housing and homelessness committees without chairs. The city council members have faced harsh criticism from colleagues, higher political figures, including President Joe Biden, and the public over comments they made on a leaked audio recording from October 2021. Prior to calling for the resignations, Newsom previously said: ''Words matter, and racist language can do real harm. These comments have no place in our state, or in our politics, and we must all model better behavior to live the values that so many of us fight every day to protect.' As de Leon continues to fight resignation calls, ABC Los Angeles reports that Black Lives Matter protesters have been parked outside of his home and say that they will not leave until he quits. Activist Dr. Melina Abdullah told the station: 'It was horrendous what these folks have said, but it's more horrendous what these folks have done.' She went on: 'We need to be clear that it was Kevin de Leon's words that were problematic when he co-signed on the diminishment and dehumanization of a Black toddler.' While the leader of Indigenous activist organization CIELO, Aurora Pedro rejected de Leon's claims that the comments were merely a joke saying: 'No. You made those remarks. You laughed at those jokes, and we heard you, and now, we're telling you, you need to step down.' Along with Martinez, Cedillo and de Leon can be heard participating in the racist banter at the expense of the small child. Mike Bonin, the boy's father, was among those who called for a full resignation. 'F**k that guy, he's with the blacks': Martinez fumed at L.A. DA George Gascon '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.' Los Angeles Federation of Labor President, Ron Herrera, is also heard in the leaked audio recording. Herrera resigned from his position earlier this week. Martinez also took a swipe at District Attorney George Gascon, saying: 'He's with the blacks.' She also referred to an Armenian colleague as having 'one eyebrow', and said others didn't have a chance at becoming elected in white neighborhoods. Martinez refers to Jewish colleagues as 'judios', Spanish for Jews. She was referring to former state assemblyman Richard Katz and his team. It was Herrera who kicked off the conversation saying: 'I'm sure Katz and his crew have an agenda.' She replied: 'The Judios cut their deal with South L.A. That's how I see it. And they're going to screw everybody else.' Shocked witnesses have described the scenes of pandemonium that unfolded Man arrested at scene with manhunt underway for motorcyclist who fled One man has been arrested and a motorcycle rider is on the run after a shot was fired during an alleged jewellery heist in front of shocked onlookers in broad daylight. Emergency services were called to Prouds the Jewellers at Carnes Hill Marketplace in Sydney's south-west around 4.45pm on Monday after reports of an armed robbery. Police were told two men entered the store and allegedly smashed the glass display cabinets before firing a single shot from a gun and fled with stolen jewellery. Officers were directed to a motorcycle outside the shopping centre and rushed outside to arrest a male passenger in dramatic scenes as the rider allegedly fled the scene. A desperate manhunt has been launched for the motorcycle rider who remains on the run on Monday night with additional police units and a helicopter deployed to assist in tracking him down. Carnes Hill Marketplace descended into chaos after an alleged armed robbery at Prouds the Jewellers on Monday afternoon. Pictured are police interviewing witnesses No one was injured in the incident and there's no ongoing threat to public safety. At least one woman was treated by paramedics for shock. The man arrested was allegedly in possession of a firearm and jewellery which were seized by police. The alleged armed robbery occurred 45 minutes before closing time for the jewellery store. A major police operation continues at the shopping centre with the jewellery store cordoned off as they interviewed shocked staff and shoppers. Photos from the scene show the store floor covered in shattered glass. 'He shot up in the jewellery store. And then from then he came in, he ran outside he took a couple of things from the front display but from what I saw, came outside, went to his bike and he just went away,' one witness told Nine News. Others described the scenes chaos throughout the shopping centre including Woolworths, where shoppers were locked inside the supermarket for 30 minutes following the incident. Police arrested a man outside the shopping centre as the desperate manhunt for another on the run continues 'Everyone started saying 'get into the back, get into the back, everyone in the back' and they closed Woolworths down,' one woman told the Liverpool Leader. 'There were a few kids crying because they didn't know where their mum was, so a few had been separated from their parents.' Anyone who may have information or mobile phone footage is urged to call Crime Stoppers. This is the dramatic moment a Russian fighter pilot was forced to eject from his burning plane moments before it crashed and exploded. Newly-released helmet camera footage captures the pilot bailing out of an Su-25 jet as it spirals out of control, believed to be over Belgorod, in Russia, back in June. It is thought the jet in question had clipped a nearby power line, breaking off one of its tail fins and causing it to plunge to the ground. But pro-Ukraine sources claimed it had actually been shot down. This is the moment the pilot of a Russian Su-25 jet ejected as the aircraft burst into flames and then came crashing back to earth It is thought the newly-released footage captures a crash that happened over Belgorod - a region of Russia - back in June Russian war bloggers had reported the crash at the time it happened, along with footage of the plane's wreckage burning in a field. They said that 'according to preliminary data, the aircraft hit a power line pole.' But new video released for the first time on Sunday captures the crash from the pilot's point of view. The footage appears to start moments after the aircraft was struck - either by some kind of anti-aircraft missile or a power line. The jet begins to twist in the air as the pilot loses control, before the aircraft turns sideways and rolls upside down. Halfway through the roll the pilot ejects - capturing an astonishing glimpse of his own plane as it flies away into the distance. Parts of the aircraft are breaking off as it falls and there is a fire in one of the engines. Half of the rear upright tail fin appears to be missing. There are 'V' war makings on the fuselage, and a red '09' number on the side. Online observers believe the plane is likely to be an Su-25SM aircraft based out of Russia's far east that had been relocated to Ukraine to fight in the war. Footage captures the pilot (visible in a rear-view mirror, left) losing control of the aircraft at a low altitude before hitting the eject button Video shows the pilot's parachute deploying before he drifts back down to earth and lands in a field, near the wreckage of his plane Pro-Ukraine sources sharing the footage claimed it showed the plane being shot down, but internet sleuths believe it may have actually clipped a power line The pilot's parachute is seen deploying before he floats back down to earth as his jet slams into the ground several hundred yards away and explodes. It is just the latest embarrassing incident involving one of Russia's fighter jets. On Sunday, an Su-30 plane taking part in a training flight over Irkutsk - eastern Russia - nose-dived into the ground, killing both of its pilots. Those airmen have since been named as Maxim Konyushin, 50 and a renowned test pilot, and Major Viktor Kryukov, 43. The exact cause of the crash remains a mystery, though information has emerged that both pilots may have blacked out in the cockpit. A second plane was sent up to make contact with the doomed aircraft after it failed to respond to calls from the Irkutsk Aviation Plant and began circling on autopilot. The aircraft is though to have circled 'for a considerable period' before their fuel ran out and the plane plunged to earth. The crew of the second plane saw the pilots 'with their heads hanging down low, in other words, they both blacked out', a source at the testing plant said. The insider told SibReal media that shocking safety abuses were common at the plant - one of Russia's major aircraft manufacturers. Maxim Konyushin, 50 (left), a renowned Russian test pilot and Major Viktor Kryukov, 43 (right) were killed on Sunday after their Su-30 jet crashed The pilots were taking the jet on a test flight above the city of Irkutsk, eastern Russia, when it nose-dived into the ground and exploded 'Given the quality of pre- and post flight checks, I am not surprised at all,' said the source. Boxes were ticked but safety measures were not carried out properly. 'Clearly if both pilots fainted simultaneously, something was wrong with the cabin's [air pressure]'. Yet another eyewitness disputed that account, saying: 'I watched it fly. The plane soared sharply upwards, and then began to fall, like a stone, downwards.' Air Force major Andrei Krasnoperov said that a fault was likely with oxygen on the plane. But experts cited by Readovka media disputed that the plane was on autopilot and had run out of fuel, since its engines were heard functioning when it crashed. 'There was no attempt to straighten the flight line by the pilots during the crash, which confirms the version of at least unconsciousness of the people on board,' said the report. This is the extraordinary moment a Russian Su-34 fighter/bomber jet crashed next to an apartment block in the city of Yeysk , setting the building on fire as the pilots ejected (right) 'Fighter pilots have to wear oxygen masks during the whole flight, so system malfunction might have been the cause of unconsciousness.' They called for the criminal probe of the Russian Investigation Committee to examine 'the details of the accident and determine exactly what happened, since the currently available information does not allow making any specific conclusions'. It comes shortly after another Russian jet - a Sukhoi 34 fighter-bomber - plunged into an apartment block in the city of Yeysk and exploded, killing at least 13 people. Ten people burned to death inside the building including three children, while another three died jumping from the roof rather than perish in the fire. Both pilots ejected safely. The Russian military said the men were taking part in training when the crash happened, denying some of the deaths were caused by exploding ammunition. The crash is yet another humiliating loss for President Putin's beleaguered air force, which has now suffered eleven non-combat crashes since the start of the war. Xi Jinping's historic third term raises the prospect of greater tension between China and the West as the Communist leader tightens his grip on power in 'the greatest threat to democracy today', experts fear. The 69-year-old will lead the world's most populous nation for another five years after he was confirmed as General Secretary once more at yesterday's party congress. He shunned the two-term limit and promoted devoted loyalists to the Politburo Standing Committee instead of proven veterans in a move signalling his absolute power, ringing alarm bells worldwide. Eswar Prasad, China expert at Cornell University, told the Financial Times it was 'quite a show of force', adding: 'I see some dark days ahead as Xi now turns to rallying the country behind his muscular foreign policy vision.' Other analysts say it could be the start of a new Cold War with the West as Xi's absolute power without any checks and balances could see him pursue a 'new era of dictatorship'. Dr Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, said: 'Xi Jinping has cemented his position as the most powerful leader of China since Chairman Mao. 'What's more his positioning of loyalists to senior positions in the CCP, as well as constitutional changes to reflect Xi Thought, shows he is set on becoming President for life. 'The West should be extremely concerned by this latest turn of events and take them for what they are, a power grab by a leader set on pushing China into a new era of dictatorship. 'In the face of this totalitarian takeover, Western nations need to move away from just talking tough on China and start to implement policies which actually treat the People's Republic as a hostile actor and the greatest threat to liberal democracy which exists today.' Xi Jinping's historic third term raises the prospect of greater tension between China and the West as the Communist leader tightens his grip on power In the conference, Xi said that the use of force was still an option in Taiwan, and he was accused this month of trying to undermine global security and economic rules by Washington. Activists say Xi's government also wants to deflect criticism of abuses by changing the UN's definition of human rights. The week-long congress attended by 2,200 delegated saw changes to the party's constitution approved and ensure Xi is China's most important leader since Mao Zedong. The seven-member committee has no women and includes four new members, Shanghai Communist boss Li Qiang who oversaw its disastrous Zero Covid lockdowns, Beijing chief Cai Qi, and Guangdong province's Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi. All four are Xi loyalists, and in the wider politburo, more than half of the 24 members were replaced with friends and allies. Li was named number two in the Politburo Standing Committee, and will replace Li Keqiang as premier when he retires in March, the top economic official. BBC's China correspondent Stephen McDonnell told the Today Show: '[The standing committee] has been stacked with Xi Jinping loyalists and this would appear to show that now loyalty to Xi Jinping trumps proven ability. 'There had been an argument that the Chinese system is one of meritocracy, it would be hard to stand that up now if you look at the people who have been given roles on that politburo standing committee. He shunned the two-term limit and promoted devoted loyalists to the Politburo Standing Committee instead of proven veterans 'Especially the new premier Li Qiang in charge of China's economy, he was the party boss in Shanghai who was overseeing the disastrous Zero Covid lockdown there in which tens of millions of people were confined to their homes months on end, enormous food shortages, it was seen as a logistical stuff-up of a grand magnitude. He's in charge of the Chinese economy. 'Many analysts are looking at this and thinking it shows Xi Jinping himself doesn't understand or even care about the economy, that loyalty to him is what is important 'He seems to think that party discipline and rampant nationalism can fix any problem.' Neil Thomas, senior China analyst at the Eurasia Group, said: 'It represents a massive consolidation of Xi's power that is unprecedented since the Mao era.' Xi gave no sign of plans to change the severe 'zero-COVID' strategy that has frustrated China's public and disrupted business and trade. He called for more self-reliance in technology, faster military development and protection of Beijing's 'core interests' abroad. He announced no changes in policies straining relations with Washington and Asian neighbours. Xi says 'the world system is broken and China has answers,' said William Callahan of the London School of Economics. 'More and more, Xi Jinping is talking about the Chinese style as a universal model of the world order, which goes back to a Cold War kind of conflict.' Xi's consolidation of power has massive implications not only in China but around the world: Politics Xi calls for the 'great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation' based on reviving the ruling party's role as an economic, social and cultural leader in a throwback to what he sees as a golden age after the 1949 revolution. 'Xi's embrace of Marxist-Leninist orthodoxy should put to rest any wishful thinking that Xi's China might peacefully liberalize its politics and economy,' Kevin Rudd, president of the Asia Society and a former Australian prime minister, wrote in Foreign Affairs. Xi calls for the 'great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation' based on reviving the ruling party's role as an economic, social and cultural leader Lockdown architect promoted to key post One of President Xi Jinping's most trusted proteges, Li Qiang is almost certain to become China's next premier after he was unveiled as number two in the Communist Party. The Shanghai party boss leapfrogged over two other candidates seen as having more traditional qualifications for the role -- a shock move confirming that Xi has stacked the Standing Committee, the highest echelon of power, with his allies. Li's chances of getting such a high-ranking role were seen to have been endangered by the harsh two-month Shanghai lockdown he oversaw earlier this year, in which the financial hub's 25 million residents struggled to access food and basic medical care. 'If proof were needed that loyalty trumps meritocracy in Xi's China, Li Qiang's elevation provides it,' said Richard McGregor, senior fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney. 'Li might be quite capable, and may make a good premier, but it is hard to see how he got there other than through Xi's personal favour.' Although it is not unusual for former Shanghai chiefs to be promoted to the party's top ranks, unlike almost all previous premiers, Li does not have experience at the central government level as a vice premier. Li's loyalty to Xi is viewed by many analysts as a way for the president to push through a conservative economic agenda. Advertisement Xi's government has jailed dissidents, stepped up internet censorship and crushed a pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. Its 'social credit' initiative tracks the public and punishes infractions from fraud to littering. 'Zero COVID,' which tracks individuals using smartphone apps and has confined tens of millions to their homes, 'is indicative of how Xi Jinping wants Chinese society to work,' said Callahan. 'It is to be under constant surveillance and control,' he said. 'It has become much more authoritarian and at times totalitarian.' Economy By 2035, the Communist Party wants economic output per person to match a 'medium-level developed country,' Xi said in a report to the congress. That suggests doubling output from 2020 levels, according to Larry Hu and Yuxiao Zhang of Macquarie. Meanwhile, however, the ruling party is building up subsidy-devouring state industry and tightening control over entrepreneurs who generate wealth and jobs. That prompts warnings economic growth that sank to 2.2% over a year earlier in the first half of 2022 will suffer. The economy faces challenges from tension with Washington, curbs on China's access to Western technology, an aging population and a slump in its vast real estate industry. 'If top leaders take the target seriously, they might have to adopt a more pro-growth policy stance,' Hu and Zhang said in a report. Analysts are watching for details after the party's Central Economic Work Conference in early December. Technology Xi promised to 'build China's self-reliance and strength in science and technology.' He gave no details, but earlier efforts to reduce reliance on the West and Japan by creating Chinese sources of renewable energy, electric car, computer and other technology have prompted complaints Beijing violates its free-trade commitments by shielding its companies from competition. American officials worry Chinese competition might erode U.S. industrial leadership. China faces growing limits on access to Western technology, especially from the United States, which warns it might be used to make weapons. China is building its own chip industry, but analysts say it is generations behind global leaders. Beijing doesn't appear to be trying to isolate China but wants to reduce strategic unease by catching up with other countries, said Alicia Garcia Herrero of Natixis. She said that will involve increased state-led investment. 'That is going to create some tension,' she said. Security Xi says 'external and internal security' are the 'bedrock of national rejuvenation.' In a speech that used the word security 26 times, he said Beijing will 'work faster' to modernize the party's military wing, the People's Liberation Army, and 'enhance the military's strategic capabilities.' China already has the world's second-highest military spending after the United States and is trying to extend its reach by developing ballistic missiles, submarines and other technology. Xi refused to renounce the use of force to unite Taiwan with the mainland. Chinese forces carry out training exercises around the island of Taiwan amid heightened tensions China's ex-president forcibly removed from seat China's former leader Hu Jintao was forcibly removed from his seat next to President Xi Jinping at the televised Communist Party Congress, before his name appeared to vanish from Chinese social media. Hu Jintao was taken off stage shortly after foreign media came in to the Great Hall of the People, Beijing. Search results for him on Weibo, China's version of Twitter, have appeared to be heavily censored since his hasty removal. Late on Saturday, state media claimed Hu was 'not feeling well' when he was escorted out, but was doing 'much better' after getting some rest. During the incident, the 79-year-old looked slightly disorientated as two assistants came to speak to him and reluctant to move in part of the clip. The former Chinese leader preceded President Xi and had been in power between 2003 and 2013. Advertisement He said: 'We have resolutely waged a major struggle against separatism and interference, demonstrating our strong determination and ability to safeguard state sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose Taiwan independence.' The gathered delegates responded with loud applause as their president emphasized that China will 'never commit to abandoning the use of force' in its unification with Taiwan, which he called inevitable. Xi added that China will accelerate the building of a world-class military and strengthen its ability to build a strategic deterrent capability. Xi also called for improved security for supplies of energy, food and industrial goods. The party also sees 'ideological security' as a priority, which is leading to more internet censorship. Foreign relations Beijing increasingly uses its economic muscle as the biggest trading partner for all of its neighbours as leverage in politics and security. China blocked imports of Australian wine, meat and other goods after its government called for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19. Beijing tried unsuccessfully to persuade 10 Pacific island governments to sign a security pact this year, but is making inroads with some. Police officers from the Solomon Islands are being trained in China. Beijing wants a 'China-centred security system,' said Callahan. 'Beijing wants to be a world leader, and part of that, according to Beijing, is to be a leader in the hard politics of global security.' Chinese diplomats, in a trend dubbed 'wolf warrior diplomacy,' are more confrontational and sometimes violent. This month, Chinese diplomats in Manchester, England, beat a protester after dragging him onto the grounds of their consulate. Diplomats have 'carried forward the fighting spirit,' said a deputy foreign minister, Ma Zhaoxu. He said the diplomatic corps will 'improve its fighting skills and always stand at the forefront of safeguarding national interests and national dignity.' Covid Xi gave no indication China's 'zero-COVID' strategy might ease despite public frustration with its costs. While other countries have eased travel curbs, China is sticking to a strategy that has kept infection rates low but shut down major cities. Medical workers in protective gears carry bags of COVID test samples taken at a shopping mall last week The party newspaper People's Daily tried to dispel expectations of a relaxation once the congress ended. The strategy 'must be sustained,' it argued. Public health experts say more of the elderly need to be vaccinated before the ruling party can relax the COVID-19 restrictions. That might take months. Forecasters say that means it might be the end of 2023 before controls might ease. Climate Xi promised a 'proactive and steady' approach to reducing climate-changing carbon emissions, but at the same time the ruling party is increasing coal production to avert a repeat of last year's power shortages and blackouts. A Cabinet official said annual coal output will rise to 4.6 billion tons in 2025. That would be 12% more than 2021. Xi said in a 2020 speech to the United Nations that China's emissions should peak in 2030 but didn't say at what level. China already emits more carbon than the United States and other developed economies combined, according to Rhodium Group. China is building more coal-fired power plants, which activists warn might cause higher emissions. Meanwhile, Beijing suspended a climate dialogue with Washington in August in retaliation for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to rival Taiwan. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has slammed Russia following its accusations that Ukraine was planning to deploy a radioactive bomb in occupied territory. Blinken tweeted on Sunday that he had spoken to Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba regarding the allegations and confirmed he had 'rejected Russia's false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory'. It comes after the Secretary of State earlier this week accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of 'doubling and tripling down' on his aggression towards the neighboring country. 'Every indication is that far from being willing to engage in meaningful diplomacy, President Putin continues to push in the opposite direction,' he said at a press conference with his French counterpart Catherine Colonna. Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu this weekend spoke with his British, French and Turkish counterparts to convey 'concerns about possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a dirty bomb,' - a weapon that uses traditional explosives to contaminate an area with radioactive waste. But Ukraine swiftly dismissed Moscow's allegations as 'dangerous lies', with the United States, Britain and France also issuing a joint statement on Sunday rejecting Russia's 'transparently false' claims. Earlier on Sunday, Kuleba also denounced Moscow's claims as 'absurd' and 'dangerous'. 'Russians often accuse others of what they plan themselves,' he added, before tweeting about his call with Secretary Blinken. 'We both agreed Russia's ''dirty bomb'' disinformation campaign might be aimed at creating a pretext for a false flag operation,' Kuleba wrote. 'We also discussed further practical steps to boost Ukraine's air defense. Secretary affirmed the US spares no effort to this end.' U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has rejected 'Russia's false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory' Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke with his British, French and Turkish counterparts to convey 'concerns about possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a ''dirty bomb'',' - a weapon that uses traditional explosives to contaminate an area with radioactive waste Smoke rises over the western Ukrainian city of Lviv after Russian missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine Both Blinken and Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba confirmed their call in which they both condemned Russia's accusations of a Ukrainian dirty bomb plot. Kuleba added that Blinken asserted the US would continue to boost Ukraine's air defense systems Moscow said Shoigu had also spoken to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, but the Pentagon said Austin had 'rejected any pretext for Russian escalation' in the phone call. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meanwhile called for a united international response. 'If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means one thing: Russia has already prepared all this,' Zelensky said in a video address on social media. 'I believe that now the world should react as harshly as possible.' In Washington, National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said President Joe Biden's administration dismissed Moscow's 'transparently false allegations'. And the UK Ministry of Defense said: 'Minister Shoigu alleged that Ukraine was planning actions facilitated by Western countries, including the UK, to escalate the conflict in Ukraine. '[British Defense Secretary] Wallace refuted these claims and cautioned that such allegations should not be used as a pretext for greater escalation.' Russia announced Sunday it had destroyed a depot in central Ukraine that was storing over 100,000 tonnes of aviation fuel. Kyiv's energy operator said scheduled power cuts had been introduced in the capital due to Russia's repeated strikes on Ukraine's power network, and urged residents to use electricity sparingly. More than one million Ukrainian households have lost electricity following recent Russian strikes and at least a third of the country's power stations have been destroyed ahead of winter, according to officials in Kyiv. Zelensky condemned the strikes as 'vile'. The intensification of Russian strikes on Ukraine, particularly on energy facilities, came after the bridge linking the annexed Crimea peninsula to mainland Russia was partially destroyed most likely by Ukrainian forces earlier this month. It was another major setback for Moscow, whose troops are battling to contain a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the south and east of the country. Earlier this week Blinken accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of 'doubling and tripling down' on his aggression towards neighboring Ukraine in a press conference with French foreign minister Catherine Colonna Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian positions from a U.S.-supplied M777 howitzer in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022 Taisiia Kovaliova, 15, stands amongst the rubble of a playground in front of her house hit by a Russian missile in Mykolaiv, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022 Victor walks across the forecourt of his garage which was completely destroyed during Russian strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Balakliia, Ukraine, October 22 A patient walks past the surgery department which was destroyed after a Russian attack at the hospital in Izyum, Ukraine, Sept 17 Speaking in Rome on Sunday at the start of a peace conference, French President Emmanuel Macron said that it was for Ukrainians to decide when 'peace is possible'. Ukraine reported three deaths in an overnight Russian artillery strike in the Toretsk area, a governor of the eastern Donetsk region said. Inside Russia, two lines of defense have been built in the border region of Kursk to deal with any possible attack, a local governor said Sunday. And defense structures are also being built in the neighboring Russian border region of Belgorod after two civilians were killed there in strikes Saturday and thousands were left without electricity, according to governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. Ukraine's SBU intelligence service said it had detained two officials of Ukrainian aircraft engine maker Motor Sich on suspicion of working with Russia. Civilians evacuated from the Russian-controlled city of Kherson walk from a ferry to board a bus heading to Crimea, in the town of Oleshky, Kherson region, Russian-controlled Ukraine October 23 A view shows a residential building heavily damaged by a Russian missile attack in Mykolaiv, Ukraine October 23, 2022 The SBU said management at the company's plant in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region - partly controlled by Russian forces - had colluded with Russian state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec. The suspects had supplied Russia with Ukrainian aircraft engines that were used to make and repair attack helicopters, the SBU said. In the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, which Russia claims to have annexed, pro-Moscow officials have urged residents to leave amid Ukraine's counteroffensive. Kherson, the region's main city, was the first to fall to Moscow's troops in the invasion's early days and retaking it would be a major prize for Kyiv. Around 25,000 people have already left Kherson city to the left bank of the Dnipro River, according to Kremlin-installed officials. Ukraine has denounced the removal of residents from Kherson, describing them as 'deportations'. A Russian fighter jet that crashed into a Siberian residential building that resulted in the death of the two pilots of the aircraft is the second of such fatal incidents in the last week that involves a Sukhoi plane. The governor of Irkutsk, Igor Kobsez, said in a post on Telegram that the plane crashed into a two-story house located within the city. The official also published video footage of the aftermath of the incident that showed firefighters clambering over the wreckage of the aircraft and directing jets of water at the still-burning rubble. Russian Jet Crash The governor said that fortunately, no one on the ground was hurt due to the airplane crash. Authorities noted that the plane was a Sukhoi Su-30 that was being flown on a test flight. Last Monday, a Sukhoi Su-34 crashed into an apartment block in the southern city of Yeysk, near Ukraine, resulting in at least 15 casualties, as per Reuters. Officials added that the initial investigation of the first incident, where pilots were ejected, pointed to a technical malfunction of the aircraft. Video footage of the recent Sunday crash, which was shared on social media platforms, showed the aircraft dove almost vertically before crashing into a fireball and sending black smoke into the sky. Another clip from the plane crash in Siberia, #Russia. The two Russian pilots on board the fighter jet were killed in the crash. To comment, follow this link pic.twitter.com/065l6bDegf AbuAliEnglish (@AbuAliEnglishB1) October 23, 2022 Kobzev noted that roughly 150 homes nearby were left without electricity and efforts were underway to restore power. In a statement, Russia's state Investigative Committee said that it had launched a criminal investigation into violations of air safety rules. A #Russian Su-30 fighter jet crashed into a residential building in Irkutsk, in the southeast, in Siberia. This is the second time in less than a week this has happened: an Su-34 crashed into a block of flats on Oct. 17 in Yeysk, in the far west. pic.twitter.com/n82DzjFkD9 Kyle Orton (@KyleWOrton) October 23, 2022 According to the Associated Press, Kobzev said that officials would provide temporary accommodation and compensation to residents who were affected by the crash. The recent crashes are seen as a growing strain that resulted in the fighting in Ukraine, which has placed pressure on the Russian air force. Read Also: China: Xi Jinping Face Intensifying Protests as Chinese Leader Begins Third Term Russia-Ukraine War A state-controlled conglomerate of Russian aircraft-making plants, the United Aircraft Corporation, released a statement saying that the plane involved in Sunday's crash went down during a training flight before its delivery to the air force. The plane was said to have been carrying no weapons. Irkutsk is a major industrial center of more than 600,000 people located in eastern Siberia and is home to an aircraft factory that produces the Su-30s. The aircraft is a supersonic twin-engine, twin-seat fighter jet that has been considered a key component of the Russian air force. Many countries, including China and India, are also known to use the planes. The crash on the weekend was also the 11th reported non-combat crash of a Russian warplane since Moscow deployed its troops to invade on Feb. 24. Military experts have weighed in on the situation saying that as the number of Russian military flights increased sharply during the fighting, so did the number of crashes. The situation comes as 33 missiles were reportedly fired at Ukraine in the latest development in the war between Moscow and Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged to take back all Russian-occupied territory. In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a mobilization of reservists which was expected to call up to as many as 300,000 additional forces, ABC News reported. Related Article: US Intel: Iran Sends 'Tech Support' to Help Russia Pilot Drone Weapons @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The incident comes just days before Brazilians vote in the presidential elections Mr Bolsonaro falsely claimed that there were no photos of the two men together The former congressman barricaded himself in his home and fired at police A former Brazilian congressman with ties to President Jair Bolsonaro has thrown grenades at police officers who were trying to arrest him at his home on Sunday. Roberto Jefferson, a former lawmaker and an ally of President Jair Bolsonaro, also fired a rifle at police in the attempt to arrest him, wounding two officers in the rural municipality Comendador Levy Gasparian, in Rio de Janeiro state. Jefferson said in a video message sent to supporters on WhatsApp that he refused to surrender, though by early evening he was in custody. Mr Bolsonaro immediately condemned the armed attack by Roberto Jefferson and distanced himself from the former legislator, calling him a 'bandit'. Bolsonaro claimed he has no photos with Roberto Jefferson. However, the two were pictured together at Palacio do Planalto, the presidential offices, in September 2020. Roberto Jefferson is a former congressman in Brazil's lower chamber. He is pictured during a speech in September 2005. The Federal Supreme Court (STF) had ordered Jefferson to be taken back into custody after he broke the terms of his house arrest by issuing online attacks against Supreme Court Justice Carmen Lucia, calling her a 'witch' and a 'prostitute.' Jefferson barricaded himself in his home, located in Levy Gasaparian in Rio de Janeiro state, for eight hours. He said in a video posted on social media that he had fired a gun, but that he did not intend to injure the officers. Jefferson in January received permission to serve preventative arrest under house arrest, provided he complies with certain conditions. Justice Alexandre de Moraes said in a decision published on Sunday that Jefferson has repeatedly violated those terms - most recently by using social media to compare one female justice to a prostitute - and ordered he be returned to prison. Two police officers were injured in the incident as Jefferson fired and threw grenades at them. Supporters of Jefferson and Mr Bolsonaro gathered outside the former congressman's home in Levy Gasparian, Rio de Janeiro state on Sunday evening. 'I didn't shoot anyone to hit them. No one. I shot their car and near them. There were four of them, they ran, I said, 'Get out, because I'm going get you',' Jefferson said in the video. 'I'm setting my example, I'm leaving my seed planted: resist oppression, resist tyranny. God bless Brazil.' The Federal Police indicated that Jefferson had resisted arrest using 'firearms and explosives,' but was finally taken into custody in the evening, 'after an intense negotiation.' Two policemen 'were wounded by shrapnel from a grenade thrown' by the ex-legislator, but received medical attention and are in good condition, according to the Federal Police. Later, Brazil's federal police said in another statement that Jefferson was also arrested for attempted murder. Mr Bolsonaro, who had earlier dispatched his justice minister to the scene, repudiated the 'armed action' and expressed his solidarity with the injured officers. Police officers patrol around the former lawmaker's house in Rio de Janeiro state. Mr Bolsonaro, who is currently campaigning for reelection, addressed the incident involving Roberto Jefferson at a press conference on Sunday. 'Whoever shoots at the Federal Police is a bandit,' he said during a television interview on Sunday night, while insisting he had no ties with Jefferson, who in 2020 said the president was his 'personal friend.' Mr Bolsonaro had claimed on social media that he had not taken photos with Jefferson, but several images were later published showing the two together since he became president in 2019. Mr Bolsonaro condemned the statements made by Jefferson against the Supreme Court justice, but also repudiated the STF investigations of Jefferson, which he believes are being carried out 'without any support in the Constitution.' The Brazilian president's base had mixed reactions, with some on social media hailing Jefferson as a hero for standing up to the top court. Dozens flocked to his house to show support as he remained holed up inside. The armed standoff comes only a week before the presidential election's second round, which pits Bolsonaro against leftist former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is campaigning to return to his former job, told reporters in Sao Paulo that Jefferson 'does not have adequate behaviour. It is not normal behaviour'. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court convicted lawmaker Daniel Silveira for inciting physical attacks on the court's justices as well as other authorities. Mr Bolsonaro quickly issued a pardon for Mr Silveira, who appeared beside the president after he cast his vote in the election's first round on October 2. The runoff vote between Mr Bolsonaro and Mr da Silva is set for October 30 'Brazil is terrified watching events that, this Sunday, reach the peak of the absurd,' Arthur Lira, the president of Congress' Lower House and a Mr Bolsonaro ally, wrote on Twitter. 'We will not tolerate setbacks or attacks against our democracy.' Dragon's Den star Drew Cockton shared an Instagram post about bosses helping staff 'feel comfortable to open up about their lives without fear of judgement' hours before he died aged 36. Drew Cockton, who secured a 50,000 investment for his scented candle business while impressing the Dragons with his honesty about his mental health battles when he appeared on the BBC1 show last year, died 'peacefully at home' on Saturday, his mother said. Mr Cockton's final Instagram post before his death spoke about businesses making sure staff feel comfortable enough to be authentic and doing 'simple things' to create a safe environment. 'Businesses big and small should be encouraging their staff to feel comfortable about being their true and authentic selves,' he wrote, alongside a picture of his smiling face. 'This has been proven by economists to boost productivity and profitability, so from an economic as well as moral viewpoint there is the impetus to do so. 'Simple things such as taking the time to learn which pronouns your staff members want to use and creating an environment in which they feel comfortable to open up about their lives outside work without fear of judgement is key.' Commenting on the post, Paris Hilton wrote: 'Devastated to hear the news of my friend & #LittleHilton @mrowendrew. Dragon's Den star Drew Cockton wrote this Instagram post hours before his death Paris Hilton later commented on the post following his death, speaking of her devastation Entrepreneur Drew Cockton, who secured a 50,000 investment in his scented candle business on Dragon's Den, has died at the age of 36 Mr Cockton impressed the Dragons with his honesty about his mental health when he appeared on the BBC show last year 'He was so kind with a heart of gold. My heart breaks for his loved ones & family. Sending them all my condolences & so much love. RIP sweet soul. Love you forever my friend.' Comments paying tribute flooded in after his death was announced, with one saying: 'Rest in peace Drew. Completely shocked and saddened. Thank you for your kindness, you will forever be remembered as highly driven and, passionate business man with a heart of gold to go along with, the charities and the people in need you extended to will be cherished and appreciated for years to come.' Another said: 'I cant believe the sad news today. Unbelievable to lose such a light in these dark days. I hope he rests in peace and somebody carries on his good work.' Mr Cockton had quit his high-pressured corporate job to focus on his candle-making enterprise. The success of his vegan fragrance brand Owen Drew soared after he received a 50,000 investment from Toulker Suleyman, even securing the endorsement of socialite Paris Hilton and reality star Gemma Collins. But his mother yesterday said that she is 'truly, utterly heartbroken' to announce that her 'gorgeous boy' died peacefully at home. In a post on Facebook Kate Drew wrote: 'We are devastated beyond belief. Life is never, ever going to be the same again. Rest Peacefully darling boy.' Friends and relatives have described Mr Cockton as a 'kind and caring person' with a 'heart of pure gold' in tributes. Mr Cockton created the world's most expensive candle, designed to celebrate Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018 (pictured) The 36-year-old, from Wirral, Merseyside, founded vegan fragrance brand Owen Drew in 2017 after quitting his high-pressured corporate job to turn his candle-making hobby into an enterprise. He claimed to have created the world's most expensive candle, designed to celebrate Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018, after details of the bride's floral arrangements and bouquet were released. Set in 24 carat gold vessels, they retail at 750 and contain some of the most expensive oils and perfumes on earth. Mr Cockton pitched to the Dragons on the BBC show last year and impressed them with how candid he was about his bipolar disorder- so much so that retail mogul Touker Suleyman agreed to invest 50,000 in the venture in exchange for a 30 per cent stake. Mr Cockton had quit his high-pressured corporate job to focus on his candle-making enterprise In an interview with FEMAIL last year Mr Cockton admitted he might have remained stuck in an unfulfilling office job had he not fought his own challenging health battles which led to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. He told MailOnline: 'I'm naturally very creative and there's no doubt certain traits of living with bipolar have helped me, rather than hindered me. 'My sense of risk is really low, it's not something I worry about, so it works for me and drives me forward. 'Every case of bipolar is different and it's more of a spectrum, so I tend to have cycles of six months where I'll feel quite flat, but because I'm medicated it's not actually depression, it's just a very low time. 'Then I'll have six months where I've got loads of energy and I'm really productive, want to take on challenges and do new things and feel really creative. 'Once I'm in that mindset I'm focused and if I decide to do something, I do it. That's where bipolar helps me, and the lack of concern with taking risks is what made me go on Dragons' Den I don't think I'd have done it otherwise.' Having graduated from Manchester University with a degree in German and politics he became a postgraduate at the university's business school. But as the country struggled to recover from the grip of the 2008 financial crisis, jobs were scarce. Mr Cockton drafted a business plan, earned funding from a bank and opened a 13-room bed and breakfast called EazySleep on Canal Street. But less than a year later Drew's dreams were shattered when he had to shut it down. He admitted he was 'woefully inexperienced', adding: 'I was doing the jobs of about 10 people and eventually I just burned out and had a breakdown. Drew, pictured right with Michael Skeggs, left, told how bipolar disorder drove him to make a soaring success of his luxury candles venture Owen Drew sold bath oils, perfumes, soaps and various other high-end wellness fragrance-based products 'I was severely depressed, lost all my hair, had really bad anxiety and had shaky hands all the time. My mum could see I was really unwell so got me to see a GP who referred me to a psychiatrist, who diagnosed me with bipolar disorder. I was 23. 'I was a bit of a zombie at the time so didn't really feel anything about the diagnosis; I was just existing and it's all a bit of a blur.' With the right medication Mr Cockton slowly began to get better and rebuild his life. He spent the next seven years working for various companies using his fluency in German to manage accounts in Germany, Switzerland and Austria for various blue chip organisations. He said: 'It was fine as a job, but I hated those environments. I hated the drudgery, the passive-aggressive emails from middle managers, I hated the whole corporate world and it wasn't making me happy or giving me any fulfilment. 'As a creative outlet I started making candles, just as a hobby, but people began calling at the house, contacting me on social media wanting to buy them and it just snowballed from there.' In January 2017 he decided to take a gamble, quit his job and throw himself into creating a business. After a few months his then partner Mike Skeggs, 29, quit his job in investments to become his business partner and they opened their first shop on a trading estate in Birkenhead, embracing the 'industrial chic' look. After the appearance on Dragon's Den, Owen Drew expanded into bath oils, perfumes, soaps and various other high-end wellness fragrance-based products. And even the Princess of Wales was said to be partial to the brand. Mr Cockton claimed a Buckingham Palace butler bought six of his 35 Anglesey candles as a gift for Kate. Human remains have been found by a worker hidden in tall grass on vacant lot Human remains have been found hidden in tall grass at a vacant lot in Adelaide - which may have been on the property as long as six months. A worker was mowing the long grass at the block in Salisbury South at 2pm on Monday when they made the discovery. South Australia Police attended and have since created a crime scene around the area on Cheviot Road. Human remains have been found hidden in tall grass at a vacant lot in Adelaide - which may have been on the property as long as six months Detective Inspector Brett Featherby said the remains were so decomposed they were unable to identify whether they belonged to a man or woman. 'We currently don't know how long the deceased has been in this location,' he told reporters on Monday, noting the lawns were last mowed in March. 'We're going to have to require forensic testing to actually identify who the person is that we've located today.' Det. Insp. Featherby said the grass had grown to heights beyond 1.5metres - perfectly concealing the remains. 'We do know from the workers that we've spoken to that there are some items including the decomposed body that weren't present in March of this year,' he added. A worker was mowing the long grass at the block in Salisbury South at 2pm on Monday when they made the discovery The circumstances surrounding the death are being treated as suspicious and SA Police are asking people to come forward who may have information. 'Any members of the public who have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the vicinity of the vacant block on Cheviot Road, Salisbury South in recent months is asked to please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,' it said in a statement. The investigation continues. The incident was rated Category A, meaning a 'serious risk of collision existed' One of the pilots thought he heard a 'thud' but no damage was done to plane The plane, carrying 180 passengers, would have been travelling at over 300mph Drone came into view when the Airbus A320 was at 16,000ft above Kent coast An EasyJet plane came within ten feet of smashing into a drone that was flying more than 40 times higher than the legal limit in one of the nearest ever misses involving an airliner, according to a report. The Airbus A320's two pilots spotted the black flying object when they were reaching 16,000ft over the Kent coast, at which point the aircraft would have been travelling at more than 300mph. One pilot thought he'd heard a 'thud' and feared the drone had hit the plane, which was carrying 180 passengers from Gatwick to Rhodes on July 5, according to The Sun. The pilot told air traffic controllers in London: 'We very nearly just hit a drone. We're talking less than ten feet. 'We don't think we've hit it, there was a bit of a thud, we'll come back to you.' A drone flying at 40 times the legal height nearly crashed into a plane carrying 180 passengers in July this year. (Stock image) When the plane reached Greece the pilot assessed the plane and confirmed that no damage had been done. He reported: 'I can confirm we did not hit the the drone. 'It passed very close underneath the aircraft, but we discussed that the thud the First Officer heard was likely from the cabin.' The Airprox Board, which assesses the severity of near misses,rated the incident as a Category A, meaning a 'serious risk of collision existed'. The report added: 'In the Board's opinion the reported altitude and/or description of the object were sufficient to indicate that it could have been a drone.' Experts fear that an impact with a heavy drone could disable a jet engine or cause serious injury to pilots by smashing a jet's windscreen. A 2016 study commissioned by the Department for Transport and the British Airline Pilots Association, found that a mid-air collision with a 4kg drone at high speed could 'critically damage' an airliner's windscreen. The pilots on the EasyJet Airbus A320 feared the drone had hit the plane when one of them heard a 'thud'. (Stock image) Drone legislation has become stricter in recent years and pilots need authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority to fly above 400ft. The pilot of this drone - which was flying at 40 times the usual maximum permitted drone flight height - would have faced five years imprisonment for endangering the safety of an aircraft if they had been traced to the incident. An EasyJet spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the report and will always fully support any investigation. 'Safety is always easyJet's highest priority and our flight crew acted in accordance with our standard operating procedures to ensure the safety of the flight was not compromised.' Dozens of women rescued in Ukraine's first female-only prisoner exchange have spoken of horrific torture at the hands of Vladimir Putin's forces. The women were beaten with hammers, electrocuted, and had boiling water poured over them, they revealed after they were reunited with their families in Zaporizhzhia. Torturing prisoners of war is considered a war crime under the Geneva Convention. One woman named only as Hanna, 26, a serviceman of the 36th Marine Brigade, was held in captivity for six months and four days. A woman released from Russian captivity within the framework of a large-scale exchange of prisoners, is hugged as she arrives to Ukrainian side in Zaporizhzhia. The women spoke of horrific torture at the hands of Vladimir Putin's forces She was a defender at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol and said the forces there would have died had they not surrendered. 'I can't believe it now... I dreamt so many times about being at home...' Hanna said. The servicewoman has not heard from any of her relatives for more than half a year. Hanna told Ukrinform about how the women were treated. 'They beat the girls, they tortured the girls with electric current, beat them with hammers, that's the easiest thing,' she said. 'They hung girls. I don't talk about the food at all, because it was sour. Even the dogs are not given such food.' Her husband is still being held in captivity, and his location is unknown. She has a child in Ukrainian territory occupied by Russians who she has not yet been able to contact. 'Those who had tattoos... they wanted to cut off our hands, cut off the tattoos, scalded us with boiling water just because you exist, because you are a marine, because you speak Ukrainian,' she said. Approximately 96 of the swapped prisoners are servicewomen, including 37 evacuees from Azovstal, whereas 12 are civilians. Some of the women were forced to give interviews to Russian media while in captivity, threatening to beat them if they refused. The women did not know they were being prepared for exchange. They were taken to Taganrog, a Russian city close to the Ukrainian border, before crossing over for the prisoner swap. Ukraine swapped more than 100 prisoners with Russia in what it said was the first all-female exchange since the war began. Pictured: Women walk towards their relatives as part of all-female prisoner swap The women did not realise they were being rescued until they began hearing Ukrainian after they were loaded on to the bus The Russians had told them they would not be exchanged, and that instead they would be imprisoned until the end of the 'special operation', the Kremlin's name for the War in Ukraine. At the end, they would 'shoot us like dogs', Hanna recalled the soldiers telling them. The women only found out they were being rescued when they began hearing Ukrainian after they were loaded on to the bus. Among those rescued was a military doctor from Azovstal, separated from her 4-year-old child by the Russians during the evacuation on May 8. 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. Alisa, her four-year-old, had been living in Poland with her grandparents before being reunited with her mother. None of their possessions were returned, and many of the women will have to start from scratch, but they wept tears of joy after being reunited with their loved ones. The women will undergo medical examination and rehabilitation. Climate activists are at odds over what actions protesters should take to get the public's attention with some leaders urging demonstrators to 'upset people' and others calling for a 'moderate flank.' Just Stop Oil mastermind Roger Hallam has called on his organisation to take extreme actions, arguing that 'nothing happens' unless you upset the public. However, Rupert Read, former spokesman for Extinction Rebellion (XR), has urged the group to focus on attracting new members to its cause instead of flashy demonstrations. The leaders' remarks come as eco-zealots across Britain face criticism over outlandish protests that saw vandalism of a Van Gogh painting, luxury retailers in London and even the scaling of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. Mr Read argues the 'radical' actions the groups have been taking pose 'significant barriers' when recruiting new activists to join the cause. XR inspired the seemingly more radical groups, Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain. Both groups were founded and run by experienced members of XR. Mr Hallam, a co-founder member of XR, actually left the group to pursue a more radical extreme path. He now co-ordinates behind the scenes for Just Stop Oil. Climate activists are at odds over what actions protesters should take to get the public's attention. Pictured: Anna Holland, 20, and Phoebe Plummer, 21, during a Just Stop Oil protest in which they threw two tins of Heinz tomato soup over Van Gogh's Sunflowers in the National Gallery in central London on Oct. 14, 2022 Just Stop Oil urged protesters to take extreme actions, arguing that 'nothing happens' unless you upset the public. Pictured: A Just Stop Oil protester is pictured laying in a hammock over the Dartford Bridge during a demonstration on Oct. 18, 2022 'If we're going to win, we need a lot of people on board. I'm trying to create a moderate flank,' Mr Read, a professor at the University of East Anglia, has argued, according to The Times. 'What I want to see, and what I believe will occur, is a much larger mobilisation of people more moderate than Extinction Rebellion but more radical than any existing mainstream groups.' Mr Read argued the climate change movement has to 'be ready to grow exponentially' which means activism groups must 'lower barriers to entry.' 'The reality is, a lot of people feel there are significant barriers of entry for them with radical and environmental activism,' he argued. 'I don't think [the movement has] done such a good job to people with different political opinions and it's not done a terribly good job of being inclusive to people of a different class background.' The activist argued 'most people need to engage in non-violent direct action' and that having individuals take meaningful action on a smaller scale would 'be a game changer.' He said: 'If we had a lot more people being determined that their employers or the institution where they spend most of their time should be serious about moving really fast, about reducing their climate and diversity impacts, that would be a game changer.' However, Extinction Rebellion has urged members to focus on attracting new members to its cause instead of flashy demonstrations. Pictured: An XR protester scaling a Tube at Canning Town station at rush hour on Oct. 17, 2019 One XR leader argued the 'radical' actions the groups have been taking pose 'significant barriers' when recruiting new activists to join the cause. Pictured: Insulate Britain activists blocking traffic on the M25 on Sept. 29, 2021 Just Stop Oil protesters sprayed orange paint over the Aston Martin car showroom on Park Lane in London on Oct. 16, 2022 in an apparent spontaneous act of vandalism However, Mr Hallam has taken a different approach to gather support, telling environmental enthusiasts: 'If you don't upset people enough, then nothing happens.' 'If you upset people too much, like traditionally with violence, then you're dead as well. But then there's a sweet spot.' He added: 'No one knows where that sweet spot is, but as a general rule of thumb it's a lot higher up than you think.' Just Stop Oil is pushing activists to act boldly and encourages 'high-level disruption and intense mobilisation.' Tim Hewes, a retired church of England priest affiliated with the group, told members: 'If you're not already in custody or dead we need you.' The group also stresses the benefits of its 'support system' which includes no-fee lawyers that can help anyone who gets arrested over demonstrative action. Additionally, members have access to an emotional support hotline with 'climate crisis-aware' professionals and safe houses 'where somebody will cook you dinner.' Just Stop Oil protesters Anna Holland, 20, from Newcastle, and Phoebe Plummer, 21, threw two tins of Heinz tomato soup over an iconic Van Gogh painting at the National Gallery on Oct. 14, 2022. After their protest, the pair of demonstrators glued themselves to the floor and needed to be unglued by specialist police officers Police say the 76 million piece of art was 'unharmed' during the climate demonstration Eco-zealots from the campaign group launched a humiliating attack against the police that same day, spraying orange paint over the New Scotland Yard HQ's sign in Westminster, London on Oct. 14, 2022 - prompting officers to make 24 arrests Lora Johnson, 38, was charged in the Scotland Yard incident and pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal damage. She went viral when she gave an interview about climate change while being carried off the ground by police Just last week, two Just Stop Oil protesters threw soup at Van Gogh's Sunflowers in the National Gallery in central London. Anna Holland, 20, from Newcastle, and Phoebe Plummer, 21, from Lambeth, south-west London, threw two tins of Heinz tomato soup over the iconic 76 million painting before gluing themselves to a wall inside the Gallery. Both have since pleaded not guilty to criminal damage to the frame of Van Gogh's painting in a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court. Other rebellious eco-zealots from the campaign group launched a humiliating attack against the police that same day, spraying orange paint over the New Scotland Yard HQ's sign in Westminster, London - prompting officers to make 24 arrests. Lora Johnson, 38, from Southwold, Suffolk, was charged in the incident and pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal damage. Also last week, two Just Stop Oil protestors were arrested after they suspended themselves from the Dartford Bridge. Drivers were unable to use the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex, after it was blocked when the demonstrators mounted its cables with climbing equipment. Protesters Morgan Trowland, 39, and Marcus Decker, 33, climbed so high up the bridge that police negotiators urging them to descend were unable to communicate with them. The pair are then were said to have unfurled a Just Stop Oil banner and remained there for almost 36 hours. Trowland and Decker will face a jury trial after both indicated not guilty pleas at Southend Magistrates' Court to committing public nuisance over the alleged stunt. Marcus Decker (left) and Morgan Trowland (right) have been charged with conspiracy to commit a public nuisance after allegedly climbing up the Dartford Bridge on Oct. 29, 2022 The pair were apparently taken down from the structure and arrested on Oct. 19, 2022 after a 'super cherry picker' arrived at the scene The two protestors allegedly suspended themselves in hammocks and raised a flag across the bridge on Oct. 29, 2022 Mark Ovland, 38, and his fellow protester James Mee, 37, unfurled a banner saying business as usual = death as angry passengers bombarded them with coins, coffee and sandwiches in east London on Oct. 17, 2019 The prosecutor said the pair were only on top of the train for 20 minutes but 48,000 people had their morning journeys affected Although Just Stop Oil protests have dominated headlines in recent weeks, the organisation is not the only climate change group to make in extreme demonstrations. XR activists enraged commuters by scaling a Tube at Canning Town station at rush hour before being dragged off and roughed up by other travellers. Mark Ovland, 38, and his fellow protester James Mee, 37, unfurled a banner saying 'business as usual = death' as angry passengers bombarded them with coins, coffee and sandwiches in east London on October 17, 2019, during a two-week protest. Mee was eventually pulled onto the platform at Canning Tube station and kicked by commuters during the morning rush-hour. The pair were only on top of the train for 20 minutes but 48,000 people had their morning journeys affected, the prosecutor said during their tribunal earlier this year. Ovland and Mee admitted 'we got it wrong' when they appeared in front of a judge in March, noting how they 'had the best of intentions' but poor execution. Both men were given 12-month community orders but spared jail. Judge Silas Reid, when issuing their sentence, told the pair: 'Each of you was part of a team under the wider Extinction Rebellion umbrella. This was a protest about a hugely important area. 'It is, though, irrelevant whether your argument is on the right side entirely or not. Of course, climate change is a vitally important matter for everyone to consider for the future. What you did though is you went too far.' Activists from the Insulate Britain climate change protest group blocked the road near to junction 3 of the M25 motorway near Swanley on Sept. 29, 2021 A police officer is seen dragging one of the Insulate Britain protesters off the road at junction 3 of the M25 at Swanley on Sept. 29, 2021. The demonstration cost the economy about 4,603, with an estimated 18,000 vehicles affected The group ran into the middle of the road and spread out across two areas of the junction, bringing traffic to a standstill Similarly, Insulate Britain protesters blocked traffic on the M25, including an ambulance carrying an 'urgent patient', by sitting across Junction 3, a busy interchange on the motorway at Swanley, Kent, on September 29, 2021. The group ran into the middle of the road and spread out across two areas of the junction, bringing traffic to a standstill. Some demonstrators glued themselves to the tarmac, one stuck himself to a police car and another, Mary Adams, refused to move out of the way of an ambulance that was transporting a patient to hospital. The cost to the economy caused by the disruption was about 4,603, with an estimated 18,000 vehicles affected across the wider area, according to evidence from National Highways. In total, nine of the activists admitted charges in relation to the protest either by post or in person at Crawley Magistrates' Court earlier this year. Ian Bates, 63, and Karen Matthews, 60, as well as Mary Adams, 68, Margurite Doubleday, 67, Bethany Mogie, 39, Xavier Gonzalez-Trimmer, 21, and Lucy Crawford, 52, each pleaded guilty to wilful obstruction of free passage of the highway. Biff Whipster, 54, admitted criminal damage by leaving a 'hard, crusty layer of glue' on the window of a police vehicle during the demonstration. Has since been medically discharged from Navy due to mental health problems Has been jailed, dismissed from the Navy and placed on sex offenders register Able Seaman Troy Glasgow, 31, took 'opportunistic advantage' of his colleague A Royal Navy sailor who raped his sleeping male colleague after a barbecue has been jailed for seven years. Able Seaman Troy Glasgow took 'opportunistic advantage' of the horrified sailor, who was woken by an 'excruciating pain' after being raped in an accommodation block at a naval base overseas. The 31-year-old 'completely destroyed' the life of his victim, who has since been medically discharged from the Navy due to the subsequent mental health problems which have 'completely consumed' his life. Having denied rape, AB Glasgow was convicted after a three-day trial at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire and has been jailed, dismissed 'with disgrace' and placed on the sex offenders register. The trial heard that AB Glasgow and the man had earlier been drinking beer at a Navy barbecue event while stationed abroad. AB Glasgow has also been dismissed from the force 'with disgrace' and placed on the sex offenders register after he completely destroyed' the life of his victim The pair lived in the same accommodation block, and walked home together after last orders at around 10.30pm. The victim invited AB Glasgow - who is an engineering technician - back to his room so they could continue drinking. After drinking vodka and listening to music, the court heard that the sailor had a video call with a woman he was 'getting to know' while AB Glasgow was still in the room. Later, while the male sailor was still on his phone, AB Glasgow fell asleep on the bed. After falling asleep himself, the sailor, who is heterosexual, woke in the early hours of the morning to horrific pain. When he realised what was happening, the sailor reacted in 'pure rage,' swinging at AB Glasgow with a vodka bottle before shouting 'get out' and pulling a knife from his multi-tool before being restrained by crewmates, the court heard. Able Seaman Troy Glasgow (pictured), 31, has been jailed for seven years after raping a male colleague after a barbecue The sailor then jumped off a nearby jetty into the sea because he 'felt dirty.' He said in a victim impact statement: 'This incident has severely impacted my mental health and have had mental health problems brought on as a direct result of the incident. 'I feel like I have been stuck living in a nightmare.' The court heard that the victim suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, takes anti-depressants daily and suffers panic attacks. He continued: 'Without my medication I am unable to sleep. 'I wake up in the night visibly shaking and start crying for no reason.' The court heard that the victim avoids seeing his parents and daughter as he feels like he has 'let them down'. 'I used to be confident and outgoing, now I'm withdrawn and avoid social interactions as much as possible. 'My career has spiralled so uncontrollably, I have now been medically discharged. I am on my own and isolated. I feel like a loner and that I will spend the rest of my life this way. 'My future is no longer certain or stable - something that the Navy offered. I can't imagine a future for me with anything positive. This incident has completely destroyed my life and future. 'My mental health problems have completely consumed my life. I feel like I have lost everything. I am not the same person I was before. I am scared I will never be the same again.' Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire (pictured) heard that the victim suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, takes anti-depressants daily and suffers panic attacks Sentencing Judge Advocate Alistair McGrigor, said the assault had had a 'devastating impact' on the victim's mental health. He said to AB Glasgow: 'You both fell asleep. 'When you awoke, you were aroused and took opportunistic advantage of his sleep. 'He was comatose and was not in a position to give consent or resist. 'It is certain that your actions have had a devastating effect on [the victim's] mental health. 'You can no longer remain in the Navy and you must be dismissed. 'We consider your conduct to have been disgraceful.' Suzy Lamplugh's suspected killer will be quizzed on new evidence allegedly linking him to her murder as part of his bid for parole. John Cannan, 68, a convicted rapist and kidnapper, is the man who police believe killed the estate agent following her disappearance in 1986. Cannan - who is due to appear before a parole board to try and win his freedom - has now served his minimum 35 years for the 1987 murder of newlywed Shirley Banks. But new parole rules mean the board has to consider allegations, even if they have not led to a prosecution. It means Cannan will face questions on any new evidence that has been collected since he was last spoken to in connection with Suzy's murder. If he is successful, he could be allowed back into the community, a possibility that angered former Jim Dickie, a former Detective Chief Inspector with the Met Police, who led a fresh probe into Suzy's murder 20 years ago. John Cannan (left) is suspected by police of killing Suzy Lamplugh (right) but he has never been charged Newlywed Shirley Banks was abducted by Cannan during an evening shopping trip to Bristol He said: 'Cannan should never be released, full stop. 'He is a psychopath and serial sex offender who, in my opinion, has murdered at least three women. 'He will remain a danger to women until the day he dies and it would be a grave risk to ever release him.' Suzy was last seen on July 28, 1986, when she left the Fulham office of the Sturgis estate agency in her company Ford Fiesta. Her diary said she had an appointment at 12.45pm to meet a prospective buyer called Mr Kipper. The car was later found abandoned outside another house on the Sturgis books. The ignition key was missing and her purse was in the glove box. Police officers search an area near Pershore in Worcestershire in 2019 as part of further investigations into Suzy's disappearance A search of a wooded area by police in 2019 (pictured) is not believed to have found any significant new evidence in Suzy's case The murder of Shirley Banks: How Cannan snatched newlywed before killing her Newlywed Shirley Banks was abducted during an evening shopping trip to Bristol 1987. She was held captive at Cannan's flat and forced to phone in sick to the factory where she worked as a textiles manager. Cannan then murdered the 29-year-old by hitting her head with a rock before he dumped her naked body at Dead Women's Ditch in the Quantock Hills in 1987. He was given three life sentences for Shirley's murder, the attempted kidnap of Julia Holman the previous night and the rape of a woman the previous year. Advertisement Investigators most recently carried out searches at a property in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, in 2018 and on land near Drakes Broughton in Worcestershire in 2019, but nothing was found. One of the most dangerous men in Britain, Cannan had been living at a West London bail hostel after serving five years of an eight-year sentence for rape at knifepoint. He has always denied any involvement in the case and the absence of a body or forensic evidence means there has been little chance of linking him to Suzy. But a Channel 5 documentary The Vanishing Of Suzy Lamplugh, screened at the end of last year - pointed to intriguing evidence that was originally ignored by police. A lorry driver called Dave had seen someone looking like Cannan on the towpath of the Grand Union Canal in Brentford, West London, carrying 'a very heavy bag on wheels'. Moments later, the witness who has since died heard a loud splash and saw the man running away empty-handed. 'Dave went to the police three times about what he saw back in 1986 but felt he was never listened to and no action was taken,' a friend told The Mail on Sunday. 'It troubled Dave for the rest of his life until he died six years ago. Why would someone be dumping a suitcase in the canal at that time of the morning?' Suzy's brother Richard said 'it would be lovely to find her' and scatter her ashes (Pictured: Richard holding a framed photo of his missing sister) Cannan is serving three life terms at HMP Full Sutton, a top security prison in East Yorkshire. In that time, however, he has suffered a stroke and serious subsequent health problems. His parole hearing will determine whether he is fit and able to be moved to open conditions, where he would then be allowed home leave and visits into the community. In August this year, Suzy's family told how they pleaded with police to question Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright over her suspected murder. The 25-year-old estate agent worked alongside the serial killer on the QE2 luxury cruise liner and he is even said to have chatted her up. But according to his ex-wife, when Suzy vanished and her disappearance hit the headlines, he denied ever knowing her. Wright, 63, is currently serving life for murdering five women in Ipswich within a fortnight in 2006 and was arrested in July this year on suspicion of killing Victoria Hall, 17, whose naked body was found in a ditch in 1999. Now Suzy's family are demanding he also be quizzed over her suspected murder. Suzy vanished after leaving her London office to meet a 'Mr Kipper' for a viewing at a Fulham flat. Killer Wright is coincidentally said to have used the word 'kipper' as slang for 'face'. Suzy's body was never found and she was declared dead presumed murdered five years later. But Wright was jailed for the Ipswich killings in 2008 and ruled out of Suzy's case by police in 2012. But Suzy's brother Richard, 61, told the Sunday Mirror: 'I don't see any reason why police couldn't speak to Wright about Suzy's murder. 'They are trying to solve another case and are probably concentrating on that one. 'But if Wright has been linked, if the police thought it was relevant, then it would be worthwhile.' An alleged killer accused of beating aspiring lawyer Zara Aleena to death as she walked home from a night out appeared at the Old Bailey today. Jordan McSweeney, 29, allegedly kicked and stamped on the 35-year-old after dragging her into a driveway in Ilford, east London, in the early hours of June 26. McSweeney is accused of robbing Ms Aleena of her handbag, mobile phone and house keys and trying to rape her. He appeared at court wearing a grey tracksuit and spoke to confirm his name. McSweeney is charged with murder, robbery and attempted rape. George Carter-Stephenson, KC, defending, asked for McSweeney not to enter pleas today while further psychiatric and psychological reports are prepared. 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 Aleena, who had recently started work at the Royal Courts of Justice, died from blunt force trauma injury and neck compression Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb subsequently adjourned McSweeney's plea and trial preparation hearing until 11 November after ordering further psychiatric reports. Last week the judge set his trial date for December 5. Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow, KC, earlier told the court McSweeney was charged 'in connection with the violent death of Zara who was attacked in the early hours of the morning of 26 June. 'Emergency services were called after her body was discovered on the driveway of Cranbrook Road.' Forensic officers at the scene in east London following the death of Ms Aleena in June Ms Aleena, who had recently started work at the Royal Courts of Justice, died from severe head injuries after she was attacked. Her screams woke 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 after. 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. Flowers and tributes left outside the home of Ms Aleena 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 'She was a carer for her mother, and her grandmother. Caring for others came so naturally to her. 'Zara was friendly, she was everybody's friend. She was everybody's daughter, everybody's niece, everybody's sister, everybody's 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'. McSweeney, of Church Elm Lane, Dagenham, is charged with murder, robbery and attempted rape. A Michigan woman is being charged with theft after allegedly stealing from Walmart by not scanning items at the self-checkout and swapping out barcodes for cheaper items. Michigan State Police say 34-year-old TeddyJo Marie Fliam was using the self-checkout at the Walmart in Alpena County when employees noticed she wasn't scanning each item she was putting in her basket. Walmart's loss prevention employees confronted Fliam after seeing what she was doing. According to reports, Fliam then became agitated and left the store. TeddyJo Marie Fliam, 34, was charged with first-degree retail fraud after stealing more than $1,000 worth of goods from the Walmart store in Alpena County. The Walmart store in Alpena County reviewed their CCTV footage and discovered that Fliam had previously stolen more than $1,000 (885) worth of items. Fliam was soon arrested by Michigan State police at her home in Alpena County and was later charged with first-degree retail fraud. Walmart's loss prevention workers had recently been tasked with cracking down on self-checkout theft. There were two recent incidents where people were caught not scanning items correctly and swapping barcodes at the self-checkouts. This is not the first time someone has been caught barcode swapping at the Alpena County store. Joseph Carl Alexander, 36, was charged in early September for swapping the barcodes on inexpensive items for bigger items. AI and loss prevention workers have been rolled out to prevent stealing in Walmart stores. After reviewing the surveillance footage, Alexander was found to have stollen more than $1,100 (970) worth of goods from the Walmart store. He was also charged with first-degree retail fraud. In 2019, Walmart rolled out artificial intelligence in its stores in an effort to crack down on thefts. The system uses 'selfie' cameras to watch customers and make sure every item is scanned. A Walmart spokesperson addressed the use of artificial intelligence ion their stores. The spokesperson said: 'Walmart is making a true investment to ensure the safety of our customers and associates. 'Over the last three years, the company has invested over half a billion dollars in an effort to prevent, reduce and deter crime in our stores and parking lots. We are continuously investing in people, programs and technology to keep our stores and communities safe.' The monkeypox outbreak in the United States has resulted in the death of six people who were infected with the disease despite the continuously dropping number of cases, two in New York City, two in Chicago, one in Nevada, and one in Maryland. In a statement, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said that it was "deeply saddened by the two reported deaths, and our hearts go out to the individuals' loved ones and community." Monkeypox Deaths The NYC DOH added that they would make every effort to prevent any additional suffering from the virus with the help of continued community engagement, information-sharing, and vaccination. The two individuals who died in Chicago had multiple other health conditions, including weakened immune systems, said the Chicago Department of Health (CDPH). Dr. Allison Arwady, the CDPH commissioner, said that while the number of new MPV cases has declined significantly since summer, the deaths are a stark reminder that the monkeypox virus is dangerous and can cause severe illness and in some instances, be fatal, as per CNN. The monkeypox virus was a contributing factor in the death of a Maryland resident, who was found to be immunocompromised and was experiencing a severe case, as revealed by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH). The Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services of the MDH, Dr. Jinlene Chan, said that if a person is eligible, such as being immunocompromised or at-risk, the best way to protect themselves from the monkeypox virus was getting the vaccine. According to the Washington Post, the deaths also come as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 27,884 confirmed cases of the virus in the United States since the outbreak started in May earlier this year. Read Also: Oral Polio Vaccine Under Consideration as Health Experts Weigh Options Against New York Outbreak Decreasing Number of Cases Public health officials attributed the decreasing number of infections to changes in human behavior and uptake of the two-dose monkeypox vaccine. In Maryland, which has the highest case rate per capita compared to other states, authorities have administered more than 37,000 vaccine doses as of Monday. Public health officials in D.C. made getting vaccinations much easier when they eliminated pre-registration, transitioned to an entirely walk-up system, and merged monkeypox vaccine clinics with existing coronavirus vaccine centers. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia had all expanded eligibility criteria by late September to include any person, of any sexual orientation or gender, who has had anonymous or multiple sexual partners in the past two weeks. The list includes people who are considered highest-risk: gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men; transgender men and transgender women; sex workers; and staff at bathhouses, saunas, or sex clubs. The situation comes as San Francisco will not renew its monkeypox public health emergency declaration when it expires at the end of the month. In the last two months, daily cases of monkeypox infection have declined eightfold. Data from the CDC showed that the number of monkeypox cases dropped from an average of 400 per day on Aug. 19 to fewer than 50 per day on Wednesday. An epidemiology professor at Columbia University, Stephen Morse, said that officials do not want to declare victory prematurely but noted that it seemed the virus was being defeated, NBC News reported. Related Article: Uganda's Ebola Outbreak 'Rapidly Evolving' a Month After Disease was First Reported, WHO Warns @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. But he has not yet rolled back the comments which led to his suspension The suspended director has now begged Simonyan to let him return to the job Krasovsky was suspended by the state-owned broadcaster after the outburst RT Director Anton Krasovsky said he would drown and burn Ukrainian children One of Vladimir Putin's leading propagandists has apologised and pleaded to keep his job after launching a 'genocidal' diatribe on air in which he called for Ukrainian children to be drowned. Anton Krasovsky, 47, is both a star presenter and a director of broadcasting with RT, one of Russia's top state-owned news channels headed up by infamous editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, currently subject to Western sanctions. Putin's pundits regularly advocate decimating Ukraine or laying waste to the West with nuclear weapons across multiple state TV channels. But Krasovsky's savage rant on drowning Ukrainian children caused horror even among his own chiefs. 'Just drown those children, drown them in the Tysyna [River],' he said in recorded TV comments that were not edited. 'You throw them in the river with a strong undercurrent Shove them right into their huts and burn them.' He was promptly suspended from RT by Simonyan and even faces possible criminal action after the head of the Russia's Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin - a former university classmate of Putin's - ordered an investigation into his remarks. Krasovsky today issued an apology to anyone he had offended and openly begged his boss to allow him to come back to work - though he stopped short of retracting the comments. 'Listen, I feel truly uneasy about somehow missing that red line [in what I said] about the children,' the RT director of broadcasting said. 'Sometimes it happens that you get carried away while on air and you cannot stop. 'I apologise to everyone who got stunned by this. I beg Margarita [Simonyan] to pardon me. And I apologise to all those who saw this as wild and unthinkable. 'I hope you can forgive me.' Krasovsky's savage rant on drowning Ukrainian children caused horror even among his own chiefs. 'Just drown those children, drown them in the Tysyna [River],' he said. 'You throw them in the river with a strong undercurrent Shove them right into their huts and burn them' Krasovsky's comments prompted widespread outrage, with RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan suspending him and demanding that he 'explain himself' Simonyan - who usually exchanges loving messages and warm praise with Krasovsky - said his TV comments were 'savage and disgusting'. 'Perhaps Anton would explain himself by saying what temporary insanity it was caused by, and how it slipped off his tongue,' she said, adding: 'It is hard to believe Krasovsky truly thinks children should be drowned. 'As of now I am suspending our co-operation, because neither myself, nor the rest of the RT team can allow even a hint of thought that any of us can share such nonsense.' Despite having personally advocated for a Russian crackdown in Ukraine, Simonyan concluded: 'To the children of Ukraine, as well as to children of Donbas and to all other children, I wish for it all to end as soon as possible, so that they can live peacefully and study in the language they consider to be their mother tongue.' Krasovsky made his vile comments during an interview with Sergei Lukyanenko, a Russian sci-fi author who also holds aggressively anti-Ukrainian views. In the horrifying footage of the interview, Krasovsky makes a series of statements suggesting he would kill the Ukrainian children and uses an offensive slur throughout. Krasovsky comments came in response to Lukyanenko's account about how, when he first visited Ukraine in the 1980s, children told him they would live better lives were it not for Moscow occupying their country. As he spoke, Krasovsky was seen lifting his fist and mimicking how he would drown children. 'That's not your method - you sci-fi writers are intelligent people - but it is our method', he told Lukyanenko with a smirk. 'I apologise to everyone who got stunned by [the comments]. I beg Margarita [Simonyan] to pardon me. And I apologise to all those who saw this as wild and unthinkable,' Krasovsky said Margarita Simonyan and Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba condemned Krasovsky's comments on Twitter Krasovsky went on to declare that all Ukrainians should be killed, and that he would burn them alive in their homes and shoot them. In a short segment of the interview, shared on social media, Krasovsky also laughed at reports that Russian soldiers had raped elderly Ukrainian women during the invasion. Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, called for a global ban on RT in the wake of the shocking interview. He said on Twitter: 'Governments which still have not banned RT must watch this excerpt. 'This is what you side with if you allow RT to operate in your countries. 'Aggressive genocide incitement (we will put this person on trial for it), which has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Ban RT worldwide!' Responding to Krasovsky's suspension, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford said that his comments are 'just the tip of the iceberg' and that 'hate speech is the now the norm on Russian state-TV when it comes to Ukraine'. Krasovsky has previously aired vile comments on TV without censure. On TV protester Marina Ovsyannikova - a former editor who interrupted a live state television news bulletin holding an an anti-war sign, he said: 'The bitch should be jailed for ten years.' He has previously referred to Ukrainians as 'animals' in broadcasts. Russian media continues to bombard people with anti-Ukrainian messaging, with analysts warning hatred against Ukrainians in Russia could be embedded for generations. In a recent broadcast, a pair of pro-war pundits claimed Ukrainians are 'mentally sick' Russians who will later recover and understand the errors of their ways. Krasovsky faces possible criminal action after the head of the Russia's Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin (pictured) - a former university classmate of Putin's - ordered an investigation into his remarks In a recent broadcast, a pair of pro-war pundits Sergei Mardan (L) and Valdlen Tatarsky (R) claimed Ukrainians are 'mentally sick' Russians who will later recover and understand the errors of their ways One journalist, Sergei Mardan, asked rhetorically: 'Who exactly is our enemy? It has not been outlined by anybody in the past seven months. For some inexplicable reason, our bosses are shy about it 'They regularly repeat ritual mantras about [Russians and Ukrainians being] one people.' War reporter Vladlen Tatarsky then replied: 'What are Ukrainians? I suddenly understood it. A Ukrainian is a Russian who got mentally sick 'A Ukrainian is a Russian spiritual transvestite who is trying to squeeze into another skin. 'I was always interested - when was this moment when they shifted from a healthy Russian person into total schizophrenia? 'The future of Ukraine, those people who live there, is that they are Russian people and they will return to their normal state. 'When we win in Ukraine, the future of these people is that they are Russian people who ho recovered from their craziness, their spiritual transvestism, and returned to their normal state.' Working in the dead of night, thieves are ripping out scores of sophisticated speed cameras from roadside poles across Sweden - but who is behind the mysterious thefts? One bizarre theory that has emerged is that Russia is behind the vanishing act and is using the Swedish speed cameras to build home-made drones that are being deployed to Ukraine. Swedish officials were left scratching their heads after 70 of Sweden's distinctive blue fartkameror, which are used to enforce limits of 70-90 km/h, went missing over an eight day period in August in Stockholm and Uppsala. The night-time attacks stopped in September - but picked up again this month with 80 more speed cameras, which cost 250,000 Swedish kronor (19,780) each, ripped out. The devices contain the highly-sophisticated camera, a flash, radar and a processor - all of which could be used in a drone. Working in the dead of night, thieves are ripping out scores of sophisticated speed cameras from roadside poles across Sweden - but who is behind the mysterious thefts? Russia has now been blamed for the attack after the recent discovery of a camera of a similar type to that found in Swedish speed cameras was found in a home-made Russian drone that was sent to spy on Ukraine. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has previously posted a video online of a crashed Russian drone being taken apart. It showed a Canon camera, similar to that used in Sweden's speed camera, attached to the drone with a strip of Velcro. Swedish police said that speed cameras have been vandalised in Sweden in the past - but sporadically and by disgruntled drivers who have been handed a speeding ticket. But the sheer scale of these targeted attacks on the speed cameras has prompted some to theorize that Russia could be behind it. Lars Wilderang, author of a popular Swedish military blog, has speculated that the crippling technology sanctions imposed on Russia by the West has forced Moscow to find creative solutions to access components that they can use for military equipment. 'The thieves come from somewhere, but the buyers come from someone else,' Wilderang said. 'You don't do these kinds of big systematic thefts unless you have someone ordering the products.' Local police say that the systematic thefts are completely different to what they have seen before. Russia has now been blamed for the attack after the recent discovery of a camera of a similar type to that found in Swedish speed cameras was found in a home-made Russian drone that was sent to spy on Ukraine Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has previously posted a video online of a crashed Russian drone being taken apart. It showed a Canon camera, similar to that used in Sweden's speed camera, attached to the drone with a strip of Velcro. Jonas Eronen, a police spokesperson for Region Mitt, where there has been a spate of speed camera thefts, told New York Times that previous vandals would be 'someone who's mad because they got a speeding ticket'. They would 'either spray paint the lens or knock it over,' he added. 'But in the past few weeks someone has systematically broken into these cabinets and plundered the contents, taking the camera and throwing the rest on the ground near the crime scene,' Eronen said. Hans Liwang, associate professor at the Norwegian Defence Academy, told Swedish media it was possible the stolen cameras could find their way into Russian drones through a growing black market. But there remains scepticism about whether Russia are using Sweden's speed cameras, which contain customised Nikon cameras, to build or repair their drones as Ukraine has only found drones with Canon cameras. The Nikon cameras used in Sweden take pictures from 50 feet away, meaning that the lens will be out of focus at any other distance. 'Its not possible to adjust this, according to our supplier. Not easily, at least,' said Eva Lundberg, national coordinator for the traffic camera system at Trafikverket, the countrys transport agency. Taylor threw wine over him after feeling he'd been rude and 'made fun' of her A grandmother has been ordered to pay a proud Welshman 200 in damages after breaking his teeth when she threw a glass of red wine over him following a row about English people buying second homes in Wales. Council support worker Julia Taylor, 61, left Alun Williams with two broken teeth after the glass accidentally connected with his mouth as she emptied the contents over his head at a 13th-century Chester pub. A court heard Mr Williams had 'strong views' about the number of houses in his native country being snapped up by English people as holiday homes - squeezing out locals unable to get on the property ladder. But after the row Taylor, from Birchwood in Warrington, Cheshire claimed Mr Williams had been rude and 'made fun' of her and threw the wine over him in a fit of rage. The victim later required dental treatment. Council support worker Julia Taylor, 61, left Alun Williams with two broken teeth after the glass accidentally connected with his mouth as she emptied the contents over his head At Warrington magistrates' court, Taylor - who works for St Helens Council in Merseyside - admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm. As well as being told to pay damages to Mr Williams, she was also fined 120 and ordered to complete a 12 month community order. The incident occurred on November 27 last year after the pair who were total strangers began talking to each other whilst out at the historic Victoria pub in Chester which dates back to 1269. Rachel Bennion, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant and the complainant were not known to each other but they had a disagreement following a discussion. The defendant used her glass to hit the complainant in the mouth. 'He suffered two broken teeth, the upper left incisor and the upper left lateral incisor.' In police interview, Taylor, who had no previous convictions, believed that she had only thrown the wine over him and that the glass had not made contact. The prosecutor said: 'The defendant admitted speaking to the complainant in the pub and she said she threw her glass of wine in front of him. She said the glass did not break or come into contact with him. 'There is no request for a restraining order. They did not know each other and live in different areas. The prosecution is asking for compensation for the victim as he had to undertake dental treatment.' In mitigation defence lawyer Cathy Davis. 'Although this matter is a serious one, it is, however, a complete one-off that will never recur. My client had been on an overnight stay in Chester with a friend and they had gone to the Victoria for a drink. The row took place at The Victoria, a 13th-century Chester pub. Taylor had been staying in the city with a friend 'She does not usually socialise a lot and this opportunity presented itself. They were drinking steadily for a number of hours. Mr Williams arrived with friends, there were five or six of them. They were quite large men. Ms Taylor had a conversation with Mr Williams and he expressed strong views about the English buying properties in Wales. 'Mr Williams then left but he returned a short time later and approached Ms Taylor. She felt that he was making fun of her and behaving in a brusque and combative manner. She was so troubled by the behaviour that she impulsively threw a drink at him. 'There was no intention other than to swill him with the contents of her wine glass. The CCTV captures this. There was no slap, no punch in the face. However, the glass must have caused an injury to Mr Williams's tooth.' Miss Davis maintained that Mr Williams had sustained a 'small chip' to one of his teeth and added: 'Ms Taylor accepts that this was probably the result of throwing the drink at Mr Williams. But it was never her intention to chip Mr Williams's tooth. Sentencing JP Dr Elaine Hemmings decided not to jail Taylor due to her previous good conduct 'She was so ashamed of what happened that she never told a soul about it until October 2022. It was a very small chip which had limited impact on Mr Williams. There is no evidence that he suffered any psychological harm.' The court heard that the probation report had recommended Taylor be given a community order with rehabilitation days which would involve work on conflict resolution, victim empathy, and developing her anger management skills. 'She poses a low risk of offending and repeat behaviour and there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.' Miss Davis said, adding: 'Ms Taylor is a 61-year-old lady who has never had any previous convictions. There's a reason for that. She has always chosen to be on the right side of the law. Before this night she had never been in a police station or in court before. 'She has a daughter and two grandchildren. She has a job at St Helens Council as a support worker and is responsible for a number of individuals who require supported living. If incarcerated she would lose her job and would require looking for further employment.' Sentencing JP Dr Elaine Hemmings told Taylor: 'Taking everything into account, although this offence is very serious and crosses the custody threshold, because of your previous good character and because of your prompt guilty plea, which has had the effect of reducing the sentence, we are placing it as a high level community order.' Many towns and villages in the North Wales area including Abersoch, Morfa Nefyn and Beaumaris have become magnets for wealthy English people looking to buy second homes sparking a property boom and leaving locals unable to afford houses in the area. The Welsh Government have since launched a crackdown by allowing councils to set council tax premiums on second homes and long-term empty properties to 300%. The criteria for self-catering accommodation being liable for business rates instead of council tax will also change at the same time, from 70 to 182 days. This is the moment Black Lives Matter protesters heckled the District Attorney of San Francisco off a university stage after she postponed a trial set to prosecute a police officer. DA Broke Jenkins, who is running for office by promising to restore order after ousting her predecessor, left after around 10 minutes of heckling. The students were demonstrating against Jenkins' postponement of a trial against Christopher Samayoa, a San Francisco police officer who shot and killed alleged carjacker Keita ONeil in 2017. The DA is set to face SF voters four days after she was appointed to replace the recalled Chesa Boudin. Jenkins' predecessor, Boudin, was toppled in a blow to a national movement toward more lenient prosecution. A poll conducted by Bay Area-based EMC Research found Jenkins leading the race with 49% of survey respondents, 20 points ahead of her nearest rival. Black Lives Matter protesters heckled district attorney Broke Jenkins off a San Francisco State University stage on Thursday night Some of the signs also indicated the protesters were upset by Jenkins allowing some juvenile offenders to be charged as adults for 'heinous' crimes. The heckling went on for around 10 minutes until the DA left the stage The protesters arrived around 20 minutes into the debate and interrupted the talk on Thursday night. They brought signs and began heckling the speaker after Jenkins took a question about her decision to remove veteran judge Anthony Kline from juvenile cases. Her team invoked a state law on bias to removed the senior judge from the case, without stating their reasons. Jenkins office has refused to discuss its action, with the San Francisco Chronicle quoting sources who called the action a political move. Jenkins, who has been campaigning ahead of the November 8 Consolidated General Election, has taken a position to be tougher on juveniles. Some of the signs also indicated the protesters were upset by Jenkins allowing some juvenile offenders to be charged as adults for 'heinous' crimes. 'The district attorneys security detail sole responsibility is to keep the district attorney safe and they made the ultimate decision for her to leave,' Maggie Muir, a campaign consultant for Jenkins, told SFGATE in a statement. 'As the citys top prosecutor, she faces higher public safety risks and the safety of her and her family is always a top priority.' Three days earlier, families of the police shooting victims rallied in front of Jenkins' office, urging her to prosecute SFPD Officers and calling them 'murderers'. 'Its infuriating to see @BrookeJenkinsSF walk out of a debate when youth activists demanded her to respond to her anti-youth / anti-BIPOC policies & actions,' said We need a DA who isnt afraid to listen to young people & uphold true justice for all.' 'The officer who killed Keita ONeil was fired from the San Francisco Police Department. All three families have won civil lawsuits over these cases. Even the police department and city believes these officers did something wrong. So why isnt the district attorney working with complete urgency to hold them accountable?' said James Burch, of the Anti Police-Terror Project. But other spectators said the tactics amounted to intimidation. 'They did not want her to listen,' said another social media user. 'They wanted to shout and not let anyone else speak. They cheered when she left. Because they thought that was their victory. The other candidates got no exposure. The cowards are the ones who won't allow debate.' Advertisement Students in the Philippines have taken to wearing 'anti-cheating' hats to stop them peeking at other test papers during exams, pictures have shown. Teachers at a school in Legazpi City told their students to wear the headgear to ensure 'integrity and honesty' in their exams, but gave them permission to 'go wild' when it came to selecting what they could use. The pupils responded in kind, creating their own home-made 'devices' to cover their heads out of egg boxes, cardboard and other recycled materials, as well as Halloween masks and motorcycle helmets. Pictured: Students in the Philippines have taken to wearing 'anti-cheating' hats to stop them peeking at other test papers during exams Professor Mandane-Ortiz, who was the one to give her student permission to 'go wild' with their choice of headgear, saw the funny side. She posted pictures from he classroom at Bicol University College of Engineering which subsequently went viral, sparking much hilarity. Mandane-Ortiz told the BBC that she had been looking for a 'fun way' to ensure there was no cheating in the classroom, adding her method had been 'really effective'. The students were taking recent mid-term exams at the college, held in the third week of October, when they deployed their anti-cheating contraptions. Pictures show the students sitting over their exam papers wearing dozens of unique, home-made head gear. Some are seen wearing motorcycle helmets with the visors down. Others have egg cartons strapped to their head. One student can be seen with a large paper-made box, which when placed on his head almost touches the desk he is writing on. Teachers at a school in Legazpi City told their students to wear the headgear to ensure 'integrity and honesty' in their exams, but gave them permission to 'go wild' when it came to selecting what they could use. Pictured: Students wear masks during their exams Several students are shown wearing Halloween masks, including a 'scream' mask, a plague doctor mask, and a mask known for being worn in Netflix's 'Money Heist'. He also had 'Midterm Heist' written on paper around his head. Others can be seen wearing large hats, or sunglasses, or paper taped to either side of their heads to block their peripheral vision. One girl attached yellow paper to hat, with two flaps either side. She put lollipops inside the rim of the hat, and wrote on the paper: 'Lollipop: 1 peso'. Several students are shown wearing Halloween masks, including a 'scream' mask, a plague doctor mask, and a mask known for being worn in Netflix's 'Money Heist' (left) Mandane-Ortiz said she initially told students to make something 'simple'. She told the BBC she was inspired by a technique she had seen used in Thailand. In 2013, a picture showing students taking exams in Bangkok while wearing 'ear flaps' - sheets of paper attached either side of their head. The professor said once given the idea, her engineer students ran with it, creating the array of headgear. In some cases, she said, they put something together in a matter of minutes with any junk they could find. Mandane-Ortiz's posts to Facebook went viral, reportedly inspiring other schools in the Philippines to recreate her idea in their own classrooms. She said her students performed better in their exams this year, and that none of them were found to be cheating. According to The Strait Times, Mandane-Ortiz said she was proud of her students. 'I really love and [I'm] proud of my students because their engineering mid-term exam s can be pressuring and stressful, yet they managed to add some colour and fun,' she was quoted as saying by the paper. 'Thank you very much, students. You make me proud,' she added. Advertisement The Bond Street stop on London's new Elizabeth line has finally opened today after four years of delays due to construction issues which has seen costs soar to 500 million over budget. Train enthusiasts travelled from across the country and queued in the early hours to be the first to ride the debut service which arrived at the newly opened branch at 5.47am. Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, praised the 'spacious, stylish and step-free station' at Bond Street as it opened this morning, five months after the rest of the line went into service. From today, there will be a train service every five minutes, increasing to every three to four minutes at peak times from Sunday, November 6. There will be no service on Sunday, October 30, but a week later the Elizabeth line will run services seven days a week. Around 140,000 passengers are expected to pass through the station every day, with more than double the number of people currently using Bond Street station expected to visit the area. The new station is set to relieve congestion at nearby stations in the busy shopping district, such as Oxford Circus, and make central London more accessible ahead of Black Friday and the festive period. The separate sections of the Elizabeth line, from Reading, Heathrow and Shenfield, are set to be joined with the central stretch from Sunday, November 6. Left to right: Nigel Holness, managing director of MTR Elizabeth Line, Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, Andy Byford, TfL commissioner, at the opening of the Bond Street Elizabeth Line branch Sadiq Khan praised the 'spacious, stylish' station which is running five months after rest of the line opened How Crossrail will open in three stages by May 2023 Stage 1: From May 24, 2022 The Elizabeth line launched with services on Monday to Saturday from Paddington to Abbey Wood. Services from Reading and Heathrow to Paddington, and from Shenfield to Liverpool Street, rebranded from 'TfL Rail' to the 'Elizabeth line'. Stage 2: November 6, 2022 The announced date for the next phase is November 6, 2022. When this phase launches, services from Reading and Heathrow will operate through to Abbey Wood. Services from Shenfield will go through to Paddington. Stage 3: May 2023 Full timetable for travel from Reading or Heathrow to Shenfield or Abbey Wood without changing. Advertisement The first commuters were also treated to a live performance by Rosie Graham, who performed a song from the National Theatres new musical version of Sleeping Beauty, Hex. Today's opening of Bond Street Elizabeth line station, hailed the 'jewel in the crown' of the West End's transport provision, marks the completion of the last of the 10 new stations on the railway. There to greet commuters was the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who said: 'I'm delighted to be here today as the spectacular new Elizabeth line station at Bond Street opens to passengers for the first time. 'The spacious, stylish and step-free station at Bond Street is a huge boost for our retail and hospitality businesses and will radically improve travel across London and the South East by providing a new link to one of the busiest shopping districts in Europe ahead of the festive period. 'I cant wait for Londoners and visitors to our capital to experience this beautiful new station for themselves.' The first commuters were also treated to a live performance by Rosie Graham, who performed a song from the National Theatres new musical version of Sleeping Beauty, Hex. This will mean commuters will no longer have to change trains at Paddington or Liverpool Street. The new station is step-free from street to train with two lifts to street level, further enhancing accessibility across the TfL network. Mr Khan was joined this morning by Transport Minister Katherine Fletcher, and Transport Commissioner Andy Byford, who is due to leave his post at the end of this month. Map of the Elizabeth line: Starting from Heathrow and Reading in the west, it joins central London and Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east The new railway began running in May, but trains have not called at Bond Street due to delays completing the station The Bond Street stop on London's new Elizabeth line has opened today, with the first service calling at the new station arriving at 5.47am Ms Fletcher said: 'Just five months after officially opening, the Elizabeth line has shown itself to be a beacon of British success, delivering more than 54 million journeys and creating 55,000 jobs. From an abundance of natural light to bronze used throughout: Bond Street Elizabeth Line's design features - The new station is step-free from street to train with two lifts to street level - Station set to accommodate nearly 140,000 passenger journeys daily -There are two brand new spacious ticket halls, with an abundance of natural light - Both entrances feature columns, which blur the line between interior and exterior spaces - Red sandstone has been used at the Davies Street entrance whereas pale Portland stone has been used at Hanover Square - Bronze is used throughout the station, in ticket halls to frame ventiliation grilles between columns - The escalator at the Hanover Square entrance is the longest escalator on the Elizabeth line, at 60-metres long, making it the second longest on the TfL network at just one metre behind the escalator at Angel Underground Station - British artist Darren Almond has created three abstract artworks for the spaces above and around the new Bond Street station western ticket hall escalators - Upon exiting the eastern ticket hall at Hanover Square, there is a revamped green space: Medici Courtyard, the first public courtyard to open in Mayfair for more than a century Advertisement 'The opening of Bond Street station is only set to build on this success, servicing over 140,000 people a day and better connecting Londoners to the UKs biggest shopping areas and the heart of the legendary West End. 'Im delighted to be here today and immensely proud of the role the Government has played in making this a reality through our 9 billion investment.' Mr Byford added: 'This new station is the jewel in the crown of the West Ends transport provision. It is truly spectacular. 'I promised that Bond Street would open in autumn, and we have delivered on that promise. 'It is now set to serve as a significant new link to one of the most popular shopping districts in Europe, just in time for the busy festive period this year. 'When I came to TfL I set two clear priorities, one of which was to get the Elizabeth line open without further delay. 'Todays opening, after years of hard work, marks the completion of the central section of the Elizabeth line, which now includes 10 world-class new stations. 'I am also pleased that through journeys from the east and west into central London are now less than two weeks away. He continued: 'It has been a huge privilege to have served as the Transport Commissioner for this incredible city. I am proud to have worked alongside a great team to get this station open and complete the railway. 'I encourage everyone to visit and use it as our capital continues to chart a bright future. Meanwhile Ros Morgan, chief executive of the Heart of London Business Alliance, said: 'Its fantastic news for the West End that the Elizabeth line is reaching another milestone with the opening of Bond Street station. 'This step-change in improving connectivity and accessibility comes at a time when our members need it the most.' Dee Corsi, the New West End Company's interim chief executive said the opening will 'further enhance our district and encourage continued investment'. She added it will enhance the 'importance of London's West End to Britain's economy.' Bennie Gray, founder of Grays Antiques, said: 'Crossrail is an astonishing engineering achievement which is right up there with the work of Brunel and Stephenson. 'Having watched the construction unfold on our doorstep, our family of 100 antique and jewellery dealers are overjoyed at the opportunity for connectivity that this new station opening will bring with it. 'We hope to welcome Christmas shoppers from far and wide through our doors on Davies Street.' STAGE 1: Since launching on May 24, the line has been running in three different sections - from Reading or Heathrow to Paddington; Paddington to Abbey Wood via Liverpool Street; and Liverpool Street to Shenfield. The green section is the new project STAGE 2: The second stage, from November 6, will ensure the services from Reading or Heathrow towards Paddington can run all the way through to Abbey Wood via Liverpool Street. At this stage, there will also be trains running direct from Paddington to Shenfield, also via Liverpool Street STAGE 3: The final milestone will be 'no later than May 2023', when the full timetable will allow passengers to travel without changing across the entire line from Reading to Shenfield or Abbey Wood The majority of the Elizabeth line had its grand unveiling in May, but trains have not called at Bond Street due to construction issues dating back to 2014, which delayed the station's completion. Problems, including tunneling issues, meant the station was at one point 18 months behind the rest of the stations that sit on the central section of the line and in 2019 it was announced the station would likely open at a different time. The delays even resulted in Crossrail paying 19 million to contractors to end its involvement with the project in 2020, however it saw further setbacks as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The problem-hit tube stop has seen major costs increases that left it at least 549million over budget. Ahead of today's opening, the station underwent final preparations last week including trial evacuations, testing of fire control systems and extensive security checks. The new central section, built by the Crossrail project, runs through tunnels from Paddington in west London to Abbey Wood However, numerous issues - including construction difficulties and complications installing signalling systems - left builders behind scheduled for several years. Following the multitude of setbacks, the station was 'decoupled' from the delivery of the Elizabeth line, allowing the route to open without the stop. The Elizabeth line was named in honour of the late Queen. The monarch visited the line on May 17 when she unveiled a plaque to mark its grand opening The line - which stretches from Reading in Berkshire and London Heathrow Airport to Abbey Wood and Shenfield in Essex - was always planned to initially run in three separate sections. The first section was integrated in May, the second will begin next month and the third in 2023. The Crossrail project was due to be completed in December 2018 and was set a budget of 14.8 billion in 2010. The final total cost for the project has been estimated at 18.9 billion, including 5.1 billion from the Government. The delivery of the problem-hit Bond Street station seemed to utilise a large portion of the budget. Figures released by the National Audit in July 2021 revealed the cost of the station increased by 595 per cent, with an expected price tag of 660million. Initial plans estimated 111million for the station protect. The Elizabeth line was named in honour of the late Queen. The monarch visited Paddington station in May when she unveiled a plaque to mark the completion of Crossrail. He faces jail after being convicted of stalking involving serious alarm or distress He followed Miss Smialek for months, leaving her in a 'constant state of panic' Izabela Smialek, 29, confronted stalker after he drove her to the brink of suicide A woman who had to start carrying an alarm with her after an obsessed admirer left her in a 'constant state of panic' bravely confronted her stalker and posted his pictures on social media to warn others. Izabela Smialek, 29, confronted Yousif Mohammed, 32, after he drove her to the brink of suicide with his four-month stalking campaign. Mohammed had been following Miss Smialek, a complete stranger, to work and the gym on an almost daily basis after becoming infatuated with her when he spotted her walking her daily commute. Never even telling Miss Smialek his name, car wash worker Mohammed would loiter outside her home in his white BMW, give her flowers, blow kisses at her and repeatedly say how much he 'loved and missed her'. He was warned, then arrested and bailed by police - but he continued pestering her. She then took photos of Mohammed on her mobile phone whilst shouting: 'You need to leave me alone!' Miss Smialek posted the images on Facebook with the caption: 'Women of Wigan! This man is dangerous. If you see him or his car, please call 999!' The victim, a finance clerk from Wigan, Greater Manchester was so fearful of being harmed by Mohammed that she shared a location app on her phone so friends would 'find her body' and she even contemplated taking her own life to end her ordeal. Mohammed (pictured being confronted in a separate incident) is appealing against his conviction and claims the victim had initially approached him and that it was just a 'coincidence' he kept seeing her Yousif Mohammed, 32, (pictured outside court) has been convicted of stalking involving serious alarm or distress after leaving Izabela Smialek, 29, in a 'constant state of panic' by following her for months Eventually Mohammed was re-arrested after his confrontation with Ms Smialek. He now faces jail after being found guilty of stalking involving serious alarm and distress at Bolton Magistrates Court in July. The case was sent to Bolton Crown Court for sentencing but has been adjourned as Mohammed is appealing against his conviction. He told the court: 'I did not follow her, she has been following me. I think she was obsessed with me. She called me so many times. You have never met a person as truthful as I am.' He denied wrongdoing and laughed over a video link from prison where is being held on remand as the tearful victim told how she started taking liquid food supplements because she could not eat due to the stress. She also temporarily moved back to her native Poland to get away from him. Polish-born Ms Smialek, who settled in the UK when she was 13, told the court: 'I did not know who this man is or what he wanted from me but he seemed to be everywhere I went. 'I wanted him to stop and I told him on several occasions to leave me alone but unfortunately the more frustrated I got, the more amusement he got of it - and he continued to follow me. He would be there at my home each morning then follow me when I walked to work. Miss Smialek bravely confronted Mohammed after he drove her to the brink of suicide with his four-month stalking campaign 'For about one three week period, this man, who I still do not know, was outside my house staring at me and up to my bedroom window. I felt he was trying to watch me getting dressed. 'His behaviour scared me and I felt anxious as I did not know if he was videoing or photographing me. I started to look over my shoulder wherever I went and on my walk home I noted the location of CCTV cameras in case something bad was going to happen to me. I downloaded a location app so my sister could find me or, in the worse case, my body. 'I decided to carry a personal alarm with me as his behaviour escalated. I had taken for granted going to the supermarket and walking to see friends alone. I could no longer do that as I was living in a constant state of panic.' Miss Smialek said the fear was causing her to have panic attacks. She continued: 'My chest tightened and I felt like I was going to die. The life I knew stopped and I felt my freedom had been taken from me. 'My line manager felt it would be safer to pick me up from home and take me to work in her car and if she wasn't available I would get a taxi as I could no longer walk to work. Miss Smialek posted images of her stalker on social media with the caption: 'Women of Wigan! This man is dangerous. If you see him or his car, please call 999!' 'The only time I went outside was to go to work and on my days off I stayed inside. My home became my prison. I cried every single day and felt completely helpless and I isolated myself from everyone.' The court heard the stalking campaign took place between November 2021 and March this year after Mohammed noticed Miss Smialek walking to work. He was said to have catcalled and stared at her in the street, offered her lifts in his car and would follow down streets, urging her to go off with him. The victim told the hearing how she called the police but Mohammed carried on following her. 'Each time he was arrested his behaviour worsened,' she said. 'One time after he was arrested he brought me flowers and told me three times in English and once in Polish that he loved me. 'This man knew I was Polish and where I lived but I knew nothing about him. I still do not know what his intentions are and why he followed me. People have also made changes to their life so they could protect me. 'I only discovered his name after police posted it on social media. This man is a stranger who became obsessed and fixated with me. I don't know who he is and what he is capable of. The unknown is the scariest part. 'It was a traumatic ordeal and he doesn't believe he has done anything wrong. If this is acceptable to him I know I will never feel safe again.' She added: 'My life was fixated on survival and at work, if more than one person was talking I hade to leave the office. This man took my life from me. I was not existing, not living.' Ms Smialek told Bolton Crown Court that she started taking liquid food supplements because she could not eat due to the stress Mohammed, who is appealing against his conviction, claimed the victim had initially approached him and insisted it was just a 'coincidence' he kept seeing her. At his trial he represented himself and, speaking through a Kurdish-Surani interpreter, claimed he was getting abuse on social media following the posting of the pictures and said he wanted 'justice'. 'This girl has invited me to her house every night or three times a week at least,' he said. 'She said she wanted me to follow her and I did not want to. I've done nothing wrong. Even if I did take flowers to her, what's wrong with that? 'I did not follow her, she has been following me. I think she was obsessed with me. She called me so many times. You have never met a person as truthful as I am.' The case was adjourned pending the appeal hearing. Boris Johnson could be handed a top foreign diplomacy role after turning down an opportunity to become prime minister for a second time. The former premier rejected attempting an unlikely No10 return last night that leaves his former chancellor Rishi Sunak in prime position to take power today. One of the few foreign policy success stories of Mr Johnson's term in office was backing for Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion. And Mr Sunak has hinted that Mr Johnson could build on that role, telling The Westminster Hour on BBC Radio 4: 'Although he has decided not to run for PM again, I truly hope he continues to contribute to public life at home and abroad.' One role that could attract Mr Johnson's attention is that of Nato secretary general. A new leader of the military alliance is expected to be elected in September 2023, after the term of incumbent Jens Stoltenberg was extended by a year due to Vladimir Putin's warmongering. However it remains to be seen how many of the other member states would be prepared to back his candidacy. The former premier rejected attempting an unlikely No10 return last night that leaves his former chancellor Rishi Sunak in prime position to take power today. A new leader of the military alliance is expected to be elected in September 2023, after the term of incumbent Jens Stoltenberg (pictured left, with Mr Johnson in March) was extended by a year due to Vladimir Putin's warmongering. Sunak-supporting Tory MP Steve Brine did not rule out the possibility of Mr Johnson taking an ambassadorial position, telling the same programme 'yes, possibly' when asked about it. The Winchester MP added: 'What Rishi will not do is repeat the mistake of the two (former and current) prime ministers and double down and only appoint his friends and those who supported him. It would be across the board, I'm sure.' Mr Johnson has overseas experience, having been foreign secretary under Theresa May from July 2016 to June 2018. But his time there was overshadowed by some major gaffes. The most high profile was his role in the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. The British-Iranian was jailed for almost six years on trumped up spying charges, a situation exacerbated by comments by Mr Johnson. Ms Zaghari denied claims by the Tehran regime that she was teaching journalists, but he then told the Commons: 'When we look at what Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was doing, she was simply teaching people journalism, as I understand it, at the very limit.' She was eventually released earlier this year when the UK paid an outstanding debt of almost 400million. He was also born in New York City and grew up for a time in the 1970s in Brussels, where he returned as The Daily Telegraph's correspondent from 1989 to 1994 and became a darling of Eurosceptics including then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Mr Johnson had returned home from a Caribbean holiday at the weekend as he plotted a return to No 10 less than two months after being ousted following a series of scandals, but later ruled out standing. In a statement on Sunday evening, he said there was a 'very good chance' he could have been back in No 10 by the end of the week if he had stood but admitting he could not unite his warring party. His efforts to 'reach out' to his rivals - Mr Sunak and Ms Mordaunt - to work together in the national interest - had not been successful, he said, so he was dropping out. He lagged far behind Mr Sunak in public declarations of support but claimed to have amassed at least 102 nominations, though his public tally never topped 60. Some of his supporters today remained convinced he could have won the election, given his popularity with grassroots Tories. Cabinet Office minister Brendan Clarke-Smith said: 'I am disappointed that Boris Johnson has pulled out of the race to lead the Conservatives. Having secured the nominations necessary, he would have no doubt won in a ballot of party members. 'However it is also important to command the support of the parliamentary party and he therefore took the dignified decision to put what is best for the country ahead of himself. I would now encourage others to do the same.' Others were less measured. One Tory staffer working for a Boris-backing MP told Polito's London Playbook: 'If I f**ing see him, he better hope he's got a quick flight back to the Dominican Republic. What a complete and utter f*ing s** to march people up like this and say to people ''oh yeah, it's definitely happening'.'' Sir Keir Starmer said he put his head in his hands at the prospect of Boris Johnson running for the Tory leadership. He told LBC his 'first sentiment' on hearing Mr Johnson had ruled himself out of the race for No 10 was that 'he didn't have the numbers' required to secure a spot on the Tory ballot. 'But when he first said that he was going to run, and everybody was sort of rallying around, I did put my head in my hands and think, so, really, we're going to go from the prime minister who's just crashed the economy ... back to the guy that only ... months ago, most of us were saying was unfit for office,' he said. 'It was never going to work, I don't think.' He added: 'The less time now spent on this sort of chaotic, ridiculous circus at the top of the Tory party, the better.' The Russian Su-34 which smashed into an apartment block last week in a huge fireball killing 15 people malfunctioned after seagulls entered the engine, investigators have said. The fighter-bomber was taking off from an airfield in the southern Russian city of Yeysk, near the border with Ukraine, on Monday evening when it plunged from the sky moments later with one engine on fire slamming into the ground in front of an apartment block and dousing the building in burning fuel. Both pilots ejected safely, with footage showing one of them on the ground nearby still attached to his parachute. Investigators probing the crash say it was caused by two seagulls entering the engines during takeoff. TASS news agency was told: 'Their remains were found by experts while examining the wreckage of the aircraft.' It comes as remarkable new footage has emerged showing the terrifying final seconds before the warplane flew into the apartment block. A Russian Su-34 fighter bomber jet crashed next to an apartment block in the city of Yeysk, setting the building on fire as the pilots ejected (circled) The damaged apartment block in the Russian city of Yeysk after a military jet crashed close by it, throwing one wheel of the aircraft into the side of the building (centre left) Emergency workers load debris of a warplane on a truck at the scene of a plane crash in a residential area in Yeysk The Russian Su-34 which smashed into an apartment block last week in a huge fireball killing 15 people malfunctioned after seagulls entered the engine The video is formed from a car, with a woman's voice telling the driver: 'Sasha get out of here, fast!' Then she sees people fleeing for their lives and tells him to take care. 'People, there are people,' she says. 'Careful not to knock anyone down' The footage shows the low-flying bomber at 18:16 and 56 seconds, we see the plane entering the frame from the right. It apparently has an on board fire. At 18:17.00 there is a loud bang coinciding with the pilots ejecting. 18.17.02, the plane hits the yard of the apartment block and erupts in a fireball. Afterwards as people fled, reports say explosives were heard from the crash site. The plane had ammunition on board which exploded when the aircraft hit the yard of the apartment block. The crewmen may have ejected after they realised a crash was inevitable and could not fly the plane away from the residential building. The death toll in the apartment block has hit 15, including three children and three adults who jumped from a burning apartment block after a Russian military jet crashed next to the building and set it on fire. The Russian military said the men were taking part in training when the crash happened and the stranded pilot can be heard denying the craft was shot down as people try to help him. The crash was yet another humiliating loss for Putin's beleaguered air force, which has now suffered ten non-combat crashes since the start of the war. His pilots have also failed to destroy Ukraine's much smaller air force and are limited to operating behind Russian lines after failing to take out Kyiv's air defences. Investigators probing the crash say it was caused by two seagulls entering the engines during takeoff Video showed one of the pilots on the floor and still attached to his parachute shortly after the crash (left) and right, denying the plane was shot down as people try to help him The chassis of a Sukhoi Su-34 military jet sticks out of the partially destroyed nine-storey apartment building after it crashed in the courtyard of a residential area Footage of the pilot lying on the ground also appears to capture the sound of explosions in the background, sparking rumours on Russian social media that the plane was flying a combat mission and ammunition detonated after it came down. But Krasnodar regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev denied this, saying the explosions were fuel tanks bursting. Russian outlet Zvezdanews reported the fire was extinguished with the help of 410 firefighters and emergency services personnel. Deputy governor Anna Minkova said additional beds were being prepared for injured civilians, adding: 'Specialists of the burn department from regional clinical hospitals have been sent to Yeysk.' Putin was informed of the fire and ordered 'all necessary assistance be given to casualties from the military plane incident', the Kremlin told state-run news agency TASS. The plane narrowly missed a kindergarten with 150 children. The Su-34 bomber was on a training flight when it malfunctioned and ploughed into the block of flats in Yeysk, a resort city on the Sea of Azov near Crimea The Russian ministry of defence said: 'On October 17, 2022, while climbing to perform a training flight from the military airfield of the southern military district, a Su-34 aircraft crashed. The aircraft crashed within the city of Yeysk. 'According to the report of the ejected pilots, the cause of the plane crash was the ignition of one of the engines during take-off. 'At the site of the crash of the Su-34 in the courtyard of one of the residential areas, the fuel of the aircraft ignited.' In a similar blow to Putin, another Russian fighter pilot was forced to eject from his burning plane moments before it crashed and exploded. Newly-released helmet camera footage captures the pilot bailing out of an Su-25 jet as it spirals out of control, believed to be over Belgorod, in Russia, back in June. It is thought the jet in question had clipped a nearby power line, breaking off one of its tail fins and causing it to plunge to the ground. But pro-Ukraine sources claimed it had actually been shot down. This is the moment the pilot of a Russian Su-25 jet ejected as the aircraft burst into flames and then came crashing back to earth It is thought the newly-released footage captures a crash that happened over Belgorod - a region of Russia - back in June Russian war bloggers had reported the crash at the time it happened, along with footage of the plane's wreckage burning in a field. They said that 'according to preliminary data, the aircraft hit a power line pole.' But new video released for the first time on Sunday captures the crash from the pilot's point of view. The footage appears to start moments after the aircraft was struck - either by some kind of anti-aircraft missile or a power line. The jet begins to twist in the air as the pilot loses control, before the aircraft turns sideways and rolls upside down. Halfway through the roll the pilot ejects - capturing an astonishing glimpse of his own plane as it flies away into the distance. Parts of the aircraft are breaking off as it falls and there is a fire in one of the engines. Half of the rear upright tail fin appears to be missing. There are 'V' war makings on the fuselage, and a red '09' number on the side. Online observers believe the plane is likely to be an Su-25SM aircraft based out of Russia's far east that had been relocated to Ukraine to fight in the war. Footage captures the pilot (visible in a rear-view mirror, left) losing control of the aircraft at a low altitude before hitting the eject button Video shows the pilot's parachute deploying before he drifts back down to earth and lands in a field, near the wreckage of his plane Pro-Ukraine sources sharing the footage claimed it showed the plane being shot down, but internet sleuths believe it may have actually clipped a power line The pilot's parachute is seen deploying before he floats back down to earth as his jet slams into the ground several hundred yards away and explodes. On Sunday, an Su-30 plane taking part in a training flight over Irkutsk - eastern Russia - nose-dived into the ground, killing both of its pilots. Those airmen have since been named as Maxim Konyushin, 50 and a renowned test pilot, and Major Viktor Kryukov, 43. The exact cause of the crash remains a mystery, though information has emerged that both pilots may have blacked out in the cockpit. A second plane was sent up to make contact with the doomed aircraft after it failed to respond to calls from the Irkutsk Aviation Plant and began circling on autopilot. The aircraft is though to have circled 'for a considerable period' before their fuel ran out and the plane plunged to earth. The crew of the second plane saw the pilots 'with their heads hanging down low, in other words, they both blacked out', a source at the testing plant said. The insider told SibReal media that shocking safety abuses were common at the plant - one of Russia's major aircraft manufacturers. Maxim Konyushin, 50 (left), a renowned Russian test pilot and Major Viktor Kryukov, 43 (right) were killed on Sunday after their Su-30 jet crashed The pilots were taking the jet on a test flight above the city of Irkutsk, eastern Russia, when it nose-dived into the ground and exploded 'Given the quality of pre- and post flight checks, I am not surprised at all,' said the source. Boxes were ticked but safety measures were not carried out properly. 'Clearly if both pilots fainted simultaneously, something was wrong with the cabin's [air pressure]'. Yet another eyewitness disputed that account, saying: 'I watched it fly. The plane soared sharply upwards, and then began to fall, like a stone, downwards.' Air Force major Andrei Krasnoperov said that a fault was likely with oxygen on the plane. But experts cited by Readovka media disputed that the plane was on autopilot and had run out of fuel, since its engines were heard functioning when it crashed. 'There was no attempt to straighten the flight line by the pilots during the crash, which confirms the version of at least unconsciousness of the people on board,' said the report. 'Fighter pilots have to wear oxygen masks during the whole flight, so system malfunction might have been the cause of unconsciousness.' A group of Melbourne eshays have been caught on CCTV footage dine and dashing on a $500 order of food. Old School Pizza & Stone Grill in Coburg posted the video to TikTok - which has since gone viral - showing 12 teens eating a massive order in its outdoor dining area earlier this month. The clip shows the dozen boys order and eat their meals just after 8:30pm on October 8 then slipping out through the scaffolding fence one by one - before the final eshay runs away. The restaurant's owner Kamal Soueid said none of them paid for their food - setting him back about $500. 'In the seven years we have been here, something like this has never happened,' Mr Soueid said. The group of 12 Melbourne eshays were caught on CCTV walking through the scaffolding fence, ordering and eating $500 worth of fooding then doing a runner on the bill Old School Pizza & Stone Grill in Coburg posted the video to TikTok - which has since gone viral with more than 1.5million views The Coburg restaurant, which has more than 120,000 followers on TikTok, posted the video to its account which has since gone viral with more than 1.5million views. Mr Soueid said the family business doesn't charge people until they have finished their meal to ensure they are 'happy and satisfied'. 'They had come in and even though we were fully booked we made room for them. We served them and they ordered what they wanted,' he said. 'It was targeted and a total disregard for anyone or anything.' The eshays can be seen eating in the outdoor dining area of the restaurant, racking up a bill of $500 The owner has since reported the group to police, who informed him they are known to them for dining and dashing from other restaurants. 'When the first boy got up, he looked around almost pretending he needed to get something from the store across the road,' Mr Soueid said. 'I guess he was testing us to see if we were watching. 'It appears some of the boys planned to run away and it looked like the other guys were thinking, 'Sh*t I'd better run too, I don't want to be left alone.' One by one the group start sneaking out through the fence of the dining area - with some pretending to take a phone call Commenters on the video slammed the behaviour of the teenagers, with one parent saying they'd be bringing their son back if he'd done the same. 'Sorry you guys had to experience this. By trusting and doing good by people and not taking money beforehand, people took advantage of it. Scums,' a TikTok user commented. 'Good luck catching them. Hopefully someone recognises them and informs police,' another replied. After a short effort to retake the position he was expelled from less than three months ago, the former British prime minister Boris Johnson declared on Sunday that he will not compete to lead the Conservative Party. Former Treasury Chief Rishi Sunak is now the clear frontrunner to become the next prime minister of Britain as a result of his resignation. He may take first place as early as Monday. Boris Johnson Says It's Not The Right Time For Comeback Liz Truss resigned last week after her tax-cutting economic plan caused turbulence in the financial markets and destroyed her influence within the ruling party. Johnson, who was driven out of office in July over ethical problems, was widely anticipated to seek to succeed Truss. Johnson returned from his Caribbean vacation via plane and spent the weekend attempting to win over his fellow senators. He said late Sunday that he had gathered more than 100 names-the necessary number to run, USA Today reported. Johnson claimed he had come to the conclusion that "you can't lead successfully until you have a cohesive party in Parliament" despite being well behind Sunak in support. In order to get the upper hand over his two primary challengers, Johnson and former Cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt, Sunak won the public backing of well over 100 Tory legislators. A contest was hurriedly arranged by the Conservative Party with the goal of naming a new prime minister - its third this year - within a week. In the battle for the Tory leadership to succeed Johnson this summer, Sunak, 42, came in second place behind Truss. He announced his re-entry into the most recent leadership race on Sunday. According to NBC News, Johnson stated, "I am afraid the best thing is that I do not let my nomination to go forward and offer my support to whoever succeeds," due to the inability to strike an agreement with Sunak and another candidate, Penny Mordaunt, the leader of the House of Commons. "I think I have a lot to contribute, but I'm afraid this just isn't the right time," he added. Johnson's return was demanded by a number of politicians, including several of his former Cabinet members, notably the defense minister Ben Wallace and the former home secretary Suella Braverman. Read Also: Liz Truss vs. Lettuce: Twitter Has All the Jokes After UK Prime Minister Resigns Rishi Sunak Gains Ground in UK Prime Minister Race The former defense minister Mordaunt confirmed her candidacy last week, but Sunak, who announced his campaign on Sunday, would have been Johnson's toughest rival. Both were defeated by Truss in the previous election, but Sunak appears to have earned the backing of key people on the party's right flank this time around. In a statement, Sunak, who if chosen, would become the first prime minister of Indian descent, said, "I want to improve our economy, unify our party, and deliver for our country." In the 1960s, when many immigrants from Britain's former colonies arrived to aid in the nation's post-World War II reconstruction, his family immigrated to Britain. Per Daily Mail, 228 of the 357 Tory MPs have made their support clear as of this evening. According to reports,. Sunak has 147 backers, compared to Mordaunt's 24. Johnson said he had reached more than 100 but had just 57 when he pulled out. Johnson and Sunak met last night at 8 o'clock, and Johnson is reported to have assured his former Chancellor that if he returned to No. 10 with Sunak in a key position, it would prevent a contentious conflict. However, it was later said this morning that no agreement had been reached between the two parties after the about three-hour-long discussions. Only Mordaunt is now blocking Sunak's ambition for the leadership. The Leader of the House of Commons earlier said, "I'm in this to win it." However, despite Johnson's absence, her resolute remark comes amid indications that she is finding it difficult to gain supporters. Related Article: Boris Johnson Leads Race To Replace Liz Truss as Prime Minister @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A top German doctor who was jailed for killing his married lover by sprinkling cocaine on his penis before she performed oral sex on him has been ordered to pay 11,500 to cover the cost of medics' doomed bid to save the victim's life. Surgeon Dr Andreas David Niederbichler, 46, was jailed for nine years in 2019 for aggravated rape and bodily harm leading to death after making his lover, identified as Yvonne M., 38, take an overdose of cocaine that he had placed on his private parts. During his trial, Niederbichler had claimed that Yvonne, who died after suffering shortness of breath and collapsing, knew that he had put cocaine on his penis before she performed oral sex. But a German court rejected those claims and now a judge in Magdeburg, Germany, has ruled that Niederbichler must pay 11,500 (13,280 euros) to medical insurers IKK Gesund Plus who paid for Yvonne's medical treatment before she died. Niederbichler had previously refused to pay Yvonne's family 25,000 in compensation, with 9,000 each going to the dead woman's husband and son, and a further 7,000 going to her family to cover funeral costs. Yvonne M, 38 (left), died of an accidental overdose after her lover Andreas Niederbichler (right) laced his penis with cocaine without telling her Yvonne was not Niederbichler's only victim. The former head physician at the Halberstadt Clinic in Saxony-Anhalt drugged and sexually assaulted three other women between September 2015 and February 2018. According to the investigation, he also secretly put cocaine in their champagne glasses, their lipstick, and their toothpaste. The surgeon was charged in February 2018 when Yvonne M. died of an overdose after he put cocaine on his private parts during sex. Niederbichler was sentenced in 2019 to nine years imprisonment and subsequent preventive detention. He is currently undergoing drug therapy. Yvonne's widowed husband and son sued the surgeon when he refused to pay financial compensation and also refused to cover the funeral costs. The higher regional court last year agreed with the family and the man dubbed the German Christian Grey because of his perverted sexual fantasies has been ordered to pay for the funeral costs. Judge Steffi Ewald said: 'The defendant is sentenced to pay the funeral costs in the amount of 7,337, as well as survivor benefits to the deceased's husband and the son in the amount of 8,581 each.' Surgeon Dr Andreas David Niederbichler, 46, was jailed for nine years for aggravated rape and bodily harm leading to death Niederbichler stayed silent during his trial but, faced with the new wrongful death lawsuit brought by Yvonne's widower and son, he decided to break his silence to deny being responsible for her death. He also denied drugging three other women, after the court was told he had again laced his penis with cocaine during oral, vagina and anal sex with the three women between 2015 and 2018. Speaking to German newspaper Bild last month, he said: 'Yes, there were drugs. But I didn't drug any of the women without her knowledge. 'I was looking for a special kick and they took part.' Niederbichler also described Yvonne as an 'experienced' cocaine user, who knew what she was getting into. Speaking about his original criminal trial, he said it was a 'mistake' to stay silent - a move he had taken on the advice of his lawyers - because it meant the judge only heard the women's account of events. He told Bild he wanted to prove that he was not criminally guilty of causing Yvonne's death. The court of appeal has already thrown out the case, and Niederbichler has not presented any new evidence that would force it to look at the case again. Niederbichler (pictured centre during his trial) is attempting to prove he is not criminally responsible for Yvonne's death, but has already had his case thrown out on appeal Before being jailed, Niederbichler had worked as the top plastic surgeon at Ameos hospital in the city of Halberstadt, 60 miles outside Hanover. The court heard that Yvonne had been a patient of his before the pair started an affair, which ultimately led to her death in February 2018. Niederbichler also used the internet to meet other women for sex, judges were told during his trial. Three other woman who had sex with the doctor reported feeling light-headed after meeting with him, while one was involved in two car crashes after a date. Another reported passing out and suffering nervous twitches. Niederbichler was ultimately found guilty of aggravated rape and bodily harm resulting in death and sentenced to nine years in jail. He appealed the sentence but it was rejected. A Cambridge University college's student union has banned a popular annual Harry Potter-themed dinner in a 'woke' protest at JK Rowling's views on trans issues, it is claimed. For several years, Homerton College has held the Hogwarts 'formal' dinners in its iconic wood-panelled Great Hall, with students and staff in costume, house banners for Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, and even real owls from a local sanctuary swooping over the long tables. But this year the event usually a sell-out has been scrapped to be replaced with a scaled-down Harry Potter film night. The official reason cited is that that a new dining hall 'doesn't lend itself to the theme'. But angry undergraduates are adamant that the new batch of student office holders in Homerton Union of Students (HUS) privately admit the real reason is their feelings about JK Rowling and her gender critical stance defending women's rights vs trans rights, which has seen her 'cancelled' by many woke institutions. And MailOnline discovered that the HUS President Robin Webber has frequently tweeted his condemnation of the Harry Potter author, writing in June 2020: 'F*** transphobia f*** jk Rowling f*** that energy'. Homerton College's annual Hogwarts 'formal' dinner will not take place this year, with students claiming it is because of student union members' views towards JK Rowling HUS President Robin Webber (pictured) has frequently tweeted his condemnation of the Harry Potter author, writing in June 2020: 'F*** transphobia f*** jk Rowling f*** that energy' And in a 2021 discussion on Twitter, he wrote: 'I understand wanting to stick with Harry Potter, but you ARE supporting the artist who does real damage to the rights of trans people in the UK. I grew up very attached to Harry Potter so I understand the reluctance to let go but JK Rowling is dangerous to me.' One student told MailOnline: 'It's just fun, students and staff dress up, there are a few funny sketches and speeches, and a local sanctuary brings real owls that fly over the tables. 'These events are hugely popular among students and always sell out.' According to the student, some students chose to apply to Homerton mainly because of the Harry Potter dinners. The source added: 'The student reps just want to stop any event remotely associated with JK Rowling, because they disagree with her statements on women's rights and trans rights. 'It does not bother them that hundreds of students love these events. It doesn't matter that JK Rowling is not so much as mentioned at the dinner - it's a bit of fun about being at Hogwarts. In a 2021 discussion on Twitter, Mr Webber wrote: 'I understand wanting to stick with Harry Potter, but you ARE supporting the artist who does real damage to the rights of trans people in the UK. I grew up very attached to Harry Potter so I understand the reluctance to let go but JK Rowling is dangerous to me' The dinner is usually a sell-out event, with students and staff dressing in costume, house banners displayed for Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, and even real owls from a local sanctuary swooping over the long tables 'There is mounting anger at the student reps for just deciding what students can and can't do. We would vote them out but they won't open the matter up for discussion, and next year will be too late. They should resign.' The President of the HUS, Robin Webber, told MailOnline in a statement: 'This year we're showing the Harry Potter films on an outdoor cinema screen, instead of doing a formal hall. 'The timetable of themed formal halls is agreed by each year's HUS Committee and is different every year. Our new modern dining hall doesn't really lend itself to a Harry Potter theme, and this year we wanted to try something new anyway.' Mr Webber repeatedly failed to respond when asked whether the decision was linked to the committee's views on JK Rowling. He denied a claim that a collection of props including Hogwarts house flags, pennants and tablecloths had been thrown away, insisting: 'It's simply on loan currently and will be available to future HUS members should they wish to use it.' Robin Webber said the event was not taking place this year because the new modern dining hall 'doesn't really lend itself to a Harry Potter theme' JK Rowling (pictured) has been condemned by LGBT charities and several of the Harry Potter franchise actors for her gender critical stance defending women's rights vs trans rights In June 2020 JK Rowling was accused of transphobia when she mocked an article which had used the phrase 'people who menstruate', saying: 'I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?' LGBT charities and several of the Harry Potter franchise actors condemned her words and she received insults and death threats. In January, Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson all of whom voiced their disagreement with Rowling's views on trans people - returned to the set of the franchise for a 20th anniversary HBO TV special, but the author herself was absent, only appearing in old footage. While many assumed Rowling was asked not to return for the special due to her controversial tweets about the transgender community, Rowling says she chose not to participate as the event was more about the films rather than the books. General Oleksandr Syrskiy, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, said today of the threat posed by Vladimir Putin's nuclear weapons: 'We are worried' But it has raised fears Moscow is planning a 'false flag' attack to escalate further Russia has claimed Ukraine is in the 'final stage' of creating a 'dirty bomb', further raising fears that Moscow will carry out a false flag attack. The claim came as Kyiv's top general admitted President Volodymyr Zelensky's office is 'worried' about the threat posed by Vladimir Putin's nuclear weapons. Concerns have been growing in recent weeks that Moscow could order its forces to set off a dirty bomb of its own, place the blame on Kyiv, and use it as justification to further escalate the war with a devastating nuclear strike. Following a series of embarrassing battlefield setbacks, the Russian despot issued a thinly veiled threat late last month that he would be willing to resort to using nuclear weapons. Nuclear sabre rattling has also come from other Russian hardliners. On Monday, the Kremlin stood by its allegation that Ukraine may be preparing to detonate a so-called dirty bomb, which disperses radioactive material. 'According to the information we have, two organisations in Ukraine have specific instructions to create a so-called 'dirty bomb'. This work is in its final stage,' Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov claimed in a statement on Monday. Ukraine, the United States, Britain and France have dismissed Moscow's claim. Pictured: Smoke rises from a building after it was attacked by Russian suicide drones in Kyiv, Ukraine on October 17, 2022. Russia has claimed Ukraine is in the 'final stage' of creating a 'dirty bomb', further raising fears that Moscow will carry out a false flag attack General Oleksandr Syrskiy, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, did not mince his words when assessing the threat posed by the nuclear weapons at Putin's disposal, saying that he and other Ukrainian officials are 'worried' about Putin's arsenal General Oleksandr Syrskiy, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, did not mince his words when assessing the threat posed by the nuclear weapons at Putin's disposal. 'We are and should be worried,' he told ABC news in an interview released Monday. Syrskiy, who won the battle for Kyiv in the spring, and the battle of Kharkiv in September, said that he was confident Ukraine was winning the war which is about the 'survival of our people'. 'Of course, I think we are winning. Because first and foremost, we are winning the psychological battle,' he said. 'We have success on the battleground, but the war is difficult.' The blistering Ukrainian counteroffensive, that forced the Russians out of lands they seized in the more industrial north, has now reached the agricultural south. Kherson, the southern region's main city, was the first to fall to Moscow's troops in the invasion's early days and retaking it would be a major prize for Kyiv. But as Ukraine continues to add to its victories, Russia is getting more desperate. Russia has intensified its strikes on Ukraine, particularly on energy facilities, after the bridge linking the annexed Crimea peninsula to mainland Russia was partially destroyed by an explosion this month. Last week, Putin declared martial law in four occupied regions, empowering their Russian-installed administrations to step up mobilisation. Compelling civilians to serve in the armed forces of an occupying power is defined as a breach of the Geneva Conventions on conduct in war. While he is confident Ukraine was winning the war, Syrskiy stressed the importance of pressing on, saying that there is 'no other option but to win'. 'We know what we are fighting for,' he told ABC. 'There hasn't been any wars at that scale in Europe, or elsewhere in the world, since the Second World War. 'And we understand that this war is about the survival of our people and our state and this is why we have no other option but to win,' Syrskiy added. Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke with his counterparts to convey 'concerns about possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a 'dirty bomb' - a weapon that uses traditional explosives to contaminate an area with radioactive waste Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made the claim that Ukraine is developing a dirty bomb in phone calls with his counterparts from the United States, Britain, France and Turkey over the weekend. The Russian Defense Ministry said Shoigu voiced concern about 'possible Ukrainian provocations involving a "dirty bomb",' a device that uses explosives to scatter radioactive material. Such a device doesn't have the devastating effect of a nuclear explosion, but could expose broad areas to radioactive contamination. The Russian Defence Ministry and the Kremlin didn't publicly offer any specific information to back up its claim. But speaking during Monday's call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted that Shoigu's warning reflected a real threat. 'Their distrust of the information that has been provided by the Russian side doesn't mean that the threat of using such a dirty bomb doesn't exist,' Peskov said. Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian positions from a U.S.-supplied M777 howitzer in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022 Taisiia Kovaliova, 15, stands amongst the rubble of a playground in front of her house hit by a Russian missile in Mykolaiv, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022 Victor walks across the forecourt of his garage which was completely destroyed during Russian strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Balakliia, Ukraine, October 22 'Such a threat exists, and the defence minister has given the information about it to his interlocutors. It's up to them whether to trust it or not.' Western allies said they reject 'Russia's transparently false allegations' and warned they would 'see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation' - suggestion Russia could be preparing for a 'false flag' attack. Ukraine's top diplomat urged the U.N. nuclear watchdog to immediately send an inspection team to the country to counter Moscow's claim that Kyiv is preparing a 'provocation' involving a dirty bomb. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Monday he made the request in a call with Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Kuleba said Grossi agreed to send a team of inspectors, adding that 'unlike Russia, Ukraine has always been and remains transparent. We have nothing to hide.' Budanov said in-fighting to replace Putin has also worsened in recent weeks Russia is staring down the barrel of an 'inevitable defeat' in the city of Kherson, the former head of Britain's armed forced has said. General Lord Dannatt, former chief of the general staff, said Putin's forces are in the midst of a 'managed withdrawal' from the regional capital - in southern Ukraine - to avoid a chaotic rout of the kind they suffered last month in Kharkiv. Meanwhile the country's elite are trying to negotiate an end to the war with the West because they realise they have lost, according to the head of Ukraine's military intelligence branch, Kyrylo Budanov. Kremlin insiders are also plotting to seize power from Putin with Nikolai Patrushev, the security council secretary, and Sergey Kiriyenko, Vladimir's domestic policy tsar, among the frontrunners, Budanov added. A Ukrainian tank opens fire on Russian forces near Bakhmut, in the east of the country, as Putin's forces continue to be pushed back on the battlefield Ukrainian artillery crews fire their gun as they fight with Russian troops in the eastern Donbas Vladimir Putin's grip on power is slipping as power-players line themselves up to replace him, according to the head of Ukraine's military intelligence Ukraine plotting with UK to create 'dirty bomb', Russia claims Ukraine is plotting with the UK to create a nuclear 'dirty bomb' to use on its own territory, Russia has implausibly claimed today. Kyiv plans to use spent fuel from its nuclear plants and British know-how to create a device capable of spreading radioactive contamination over 'thousands of square meters', according to the Russian MoD. The blast will be blamed on Russia to justify an escalation in fighting, the ministry added. It came as Lieutenant-General Igor Kirillov, head of Russia's radiation defence forces, vowed his men are ready to fight through fallout. Ukraine and its allies - the UK and US included - say Kyiv has no nuclear weapons or and does not intend to create any. They say Russia's talk of a nuclear blast may be intended to cover up Putin's own use of atomic weapons, and have warned of 'devastating' consequences if he choses to detonate one. Advertisement Lord Dannatt, speaking to Sky News this morning, said Russia remains 'on the back foot' on the battlefield in Ukraine and is targeting infrastructure as a result. The situation is particularly critical in the southern city of Kherson, which Ukraine has been attacking since early August. Sergei Surovikin, Putin's new overall commander in Ukraine, has been hinting at a retreat in recent media appearances. Lord Dannatt said; 'The Russians are obviously thinking about trying to turn what is probably an inevitable defeat there into some kind of managed withdrawal to make it appear less chaotic.' Mr Budanov painted a slightly different picture in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda, saying the Russians are only withdrawing civilians and related infrastructure - such as banking machines and cash stores. Putin's commanders are actually moving troops into the city and preparing defences, and they plan to try and keep control, he added. But they also know that if they lose control of the nearby dam at Nova Kakhovka they will lose their only route of retreat out of the city, Mr Budanov added, and may have to make a quick decision about whether to flee. Surovikin's comments are designed to lay the groundwork for that retreat in the event it is ordered at short notice, he said. Losing Kherson - the only regional capital captured by Putin's troops, which he declared to be Russian territory just weeks ago - would be the most embarrassing loss of the war to date. Mr Budanov said annexing the regions had hugely backfired for Putin, and sent some of his elites scrambling to negotiate with the West because they realised the hopelessness of the situation. A destroyed town in norther Kharkiv region is pictured after it was liberated by Ukrainian forces in recent weeks A self-propelled howitzer in use by the Ukrainian military sits in a field as the crew wait to receive orders to fire on nearby Russian troops 'The higher military and political leadership began to carry out massive strikes... in order to force negotiations,' he said. 'It won't work. 'Others ran to negotiate, as they say, with Western countries. How to negotiate? To say: "We're powerless here, it's not us. But we're ready for changes, it all has to stop."' In-fighting to replace Putin also 'definitely got worse' after the annexation, Mr Budanov added, with public faith in the leadership being eroded as more and more 'Russian' territory is liberated by Ukraine. Asked who could replace Putin, Mr Budanov put forward two names: Nikolai Patrushev and Sergey Kiriyenko. Patrushev is a former director of the FSB who has served as secretary of the security council since 2008. He is a staunch Putin ally, and hostile to the West. His name is frequently put forward as a likely successor. Kiriyenko served a short and disastrous tenure as Russia's youngest prime minister after being appointed to the post aged 35 in 1998. But during that time he did appoint Putin as head of the FSB, who returned the favour and saved Kiriyenko's political career when he became president in 2000. Kiriyenko is now known as Putin's domestic policy tsar and has reportedly been entrusted with overseeing the annexation of occupied Ukraine. A destroyed armoured personal carrier is seen near Borivske, in the Kharkiv region, after the area was recaptured by Ukraine Putin's war in Ukraine has now lasted for eight months, after what was supposed to be a days-long 'special military operation' spectacularly backfired. Russia has instead found itself fighting a grinding war of attrition with its neighbour which has seen its army mauled and almost none of its objectives achieved. Having given up advancing almost everywhere except the eastern town of Bakhmut, Putin now appears to be trying to cling to what territory he has managed to take. He has called up Russia's military reserves - some 300,000 men - to plug gaps on the frontline as Ukraine pushes to re-take territory before winter sets in. As well as being pushed back towards Kherson, Ukraine has also managed to liberate a swathe of territory near Kharkiv, in the north. Troops are now pushing further to the west, into Luhansk, in an attempt to out-flank the offensive in Bakhmut. It is thought the Ukrainian game plan would then be to push south, towards Crimea, before re-taking the peninsula - which is hugely important to Russia. President Zelensky has declared that the war will end on the peninsula, and Mr Budanov said he believes that moment could come as soon as next summer. Three Met police officers accused of attacking a 17-year-old boy after ordering him to get off a bus denied assault today. Sergeant Dave Mattock, 36, Acting Sergeant Callum Ferguson, 26, and Pc Jack Beadle, 26, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court this morning. Prosecutor Adrita Ahmed said the officers were on patrol on April 2 when they saw two youths concealing their identity on a TfL bus. 'They identified the complainant and asked him to get off the bus. 'CCTV captured the complainant running off the bus and Mr Ferguson pushing him into a parked car, restraining the complainant on the ground.' The teenager was arrested for assaulting an emergency worker but he made a complaint against the three officers on April 11. Three Metropolitan Police officers have denied assaulting a 17-year-old boy when removing him from a bus in London earlier this year The officers, from the force's South West Command Unit, spoke to confirm their names and dates of birth before pleading not guilty to a charge of assault by beating on April 2. The trio boarded a bus the suspect was on in Tooting, south London, before he ran off, the court heard. The teenager was allegedly pushed towards a parked car before being restrained and arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. The officers were charged following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) into an allegation that they used excessive force. The officers were referred to the Crown Prosecution Service following an investigation from the Independent Office for Police Conduct The police watchdog said it investigated following a complaint about officers who stopped a bus and removed the youth from the vehicle. District Judge John Zani released them on unconditional bail ahead of a two-day trial at the same court on February 13 next year. The IOPC said last week: 'Our investigation followed a referral by the MPS in April after it received a complaint that excessive force was used by the officers. 'In September we passed a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised the charges contrary to Section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.' A winemaker who was fired after a 'monumental cock up' ruined a vintage and cost a Sussex wine estate 500,000 has lost an unfair dismissal claim. Jonathan Medard took the Rathfinny Wine Estate to an employment hearing after he was sacked after being blamed for the problem with the 2017 Classic Cuvee Vintage. The London South tribunal heard Mr Medard 'was responsible for all winemaking' at the South Downs winery having joined in 2012, two years after it was founded by Mark and Sarah Driver. The tribunal was told that Mr Medard had played a role in successfully establishing the vineyard as a producer of English sparking wine, and the first wine received positive reviews when it was released in 2018. An employment tribunal heard Rathfinny Wine Estate based in Sussex concluded that senior winemaker Jonathan Medard (pictured) was responsible for the problem and he was dismissed The winery was established in 2010 by Mark and Sarah Driver (pictured) on a farm in the South Downs But in 2019 a winery manager, Tony Milanowski, was recruited as part of a restructure - a new layer of management above Mr Medard who did not agree with this change. The tribunal was told in late 2020 and early 2021 the 2017 Classic Cuvue vintage was being prepared for sale. But there was a problem with the wine because at least some bottles - around a third of the harvest -were not at the correct pressure, and around this time Mr Medard went on sick leave suffering from stress and anxiety. Mr Milanowski carried out an investigation and found that samples were either over pressure or excessively dry and concluded this was because of errors before the bottling process. The panel was told unless the correct amount of fermentation has occurred the wine is not drinkable or sellable. He said some bottles had too much sugar but most had too little which affected the fermentation and added that wine should have been tested before being bottled. The panel was told: 'Overall, Mr Milanowski concluded that there had been gross negligence in the mixing/bottling/testing/labelling process for the Classic Cuvee 2017 Vintage.' The tribunal was told that Rathfinny and Mr Medard successfully established the winery as a producer of English sparkling wine, and the first wine was released in 2018 to positive reviews Owner Mr Driver was dismayed at the situation and called it 'a monumental cock up of (Mr Medard's) making' and referred to three previous incidents where he felt Mr Medard had made a wine making error. At a disciplinary meeting Mr Medard agreed the wine was faulty as a result of a problem with mixing but said Mr Milanowski's explanation was 'gibberish'. In March 2021 the allegations were upheld against Mr Medard and he was fired. Mr Medard then claimed unfair dismissal against the winery at the tribunal, but the panel rejected his claim. The panel said the loss of revenue was 500,000 - one third of their annual turnover. The panel said: 'The loss of the 2017 Classic Cuvee represented a substantial lost opportunity in terms of sales, marketing as well as a serious risk to the Rathfinny's reputation.' The panel said Mr Medard did not take responsibility for his mistakes and sought to blame others. They concluded: 'He was the senior winemaker at Rathfinny. He had overall responsibility for the production of the wine and had been engaged specifically for his particular knowledge and abilities. 'It was reasonable therefore for the Respondent to hold him to a high standard of expertise and to regard what appeared to them to be a sequence of fundamental failures as a serious matter.' A statement from Rathfinny Wine Estate said: "We want to reassure the public that thanks to rigorous checks in place none of this wine was ever released to the market." A California teacher appeared in court Monday on charges she hid a teenage boy whose family spent two years looking for him after reporting him missing. Michael Ramirez, 15, ran away from his family home in Sacramento in 2020 after an argument with his aunt and uncle about their strict rules. Unbeknownst to them, he ran to the home of Holga Castillo Olivares, a 61-year-old teacher who was also the mother of Michael's teenage girlfriend. For two years, he lived with Olivares and her family at their home, just 20 miles away from his own. His aunt also claims that Olivares lied to cops when she was questioned over the boy's whereabouts. Holga Castillo Olivares appeared in court Monday on charges she hid a teenage boy whose family spent two years looking for him after reporting him missing Michael Ramirez, 15, ran away from his family home in Sacramento in 2020 after an argument with his aunt and uncle about their strict rules Michael Ramirez's aunt and uncle are seen outside of the Sacramento courthouse on Monday Olivares (pictured in court on Monday) is the mother of the boy's teenage girlfriend Suddenly in May this year, Michael returned home to his aunt and uncle, asking to move back in. They were stunned but relieved to welcome him home, but became irate once he told them where he'd been living. Now, Olivares has been charged with detention of a minor with the intent to conceal from a parent(s) and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She is due in court in Sacramento on Monday afternoon. Michael's family reported him missing in June 2020. Police launched an effort to find him, issuing these missing persons posters The teacher's home in Sacramento, where the boy spent two years while his family 20 miles away looked for him Michael, far right, was living with his aunt and uncle and their five other kids. He ran away after an argument over their strict rules Michael, now 17, returned home in May. The teacher has not been charged with concealing a minor Michael's aunt Katte Smith said the family 'thought the worst' after he ran away. Now, they want the teacher to be held accountable The woman works at a K-8 school, but it's unclear if she was ever Michael's teacher. She remains employed by the school district despite the charges. 'There are no words that can really explain how you feel when you have a missing child. 'You think the worst. You think the absolute worst. 'We felt so robbed of all this time with him,' his aunt, Katte Smith, told local outlet KCRA. Olivares has not yet responded to the charges. 'You can't just hide someone's kid and think that's OK,' Smith added. A sex attacker who tried to rape an elderly woman at knifepoint as she walked through a London park has been jailed for 15 years. James Nicolaou, 29, lurked in the bushes before attacking the terrified woman, who was in her late sixties, in Neasden Recreation Ground in north-west London on August 2, 2021. Nicolaou grabbed the woman, threatened her with a knife and exposed himself before trying to rape her. The victim fell and lost consciousness. She later awoke covered in bruises and had also suffered head injuries, Harrow Crown Court heard. She was taken to hospital and staff contacted the police, who arrested Nicolaou five days later after conducting forensic enquiries. Nicolaou, of Finchley, north-west London, was subsequently found guilty of two counts of attempted rape, sexual assault and possession of a knife. James Nicolaou, 29, (pictured) has been jailed for 15 years after being found guilty of two counts of attempted rape, sexual assault and possession of a knife Nicolaou lurked in the bushes before attacking the terrified woman, who was in her late sixties, in Neasden Recreation Ground (pictured) in north-west London on August 2, 2021 He was jailed for 15 years and will serve a further four years on licence upon his release. Detective Constable Mary Fenton, of the Met Police's North West Command Unit, said: 'The Judge remarked that Nicolaou is considered a dangerous individual, hence the sentence that we have seen passed here. 'I believe London will be a safer place now he is behind bars. 'The victim was out for a walk on a summer's evening as usual when she was subject to a horrible attack. She has shown considerable courage throughout the course of our investigation.' DC Fenton added: 'Victims of sexual offences should take heart from this conviction and report it to police. 'We will listen to you, we will investigate and do everything in our power to bring offenders to justice.' One of Australia's most-seen faces during the Covid-19 pandemic will quit politics at the next state election. NSW health minister Brad Hazzard announced on Monday night it was time for a new beginning after 32 years in politics including more than a decade on the cabinet front bench. The long-time member for Wakehurst on Sydney's northern beaches is the second minister within 24 hours and the fifth in recent months to announce he won't contest another four-year term. Mr Hazzard, 71, is best known for fronting press conferences on a daily basis to update NSW on the Covid crisis alongside then-Premier Gladys Berejiklian and chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant. NSW health minister Brad Hazzard (pictured with his wife, Nicole, in December 2021) won't contest the 2023 NSW election 'As NSW Health Minister it has been the best of times and the worst of times,' Mr Hazzard said. 'The worst of times came with COVID-19. When the pandemic began, we were bracing for an expected 25,000 deaths in NSW in the first year. 'There were many anguished nights. What followed was a gruelling and a deeply upsetting time where rapid decisions had to be made to try and keep 8.5 million people safe from the virus.' The best times, he said, were working with 'incredibly talented medical and non-medical staff in our health system' and delivering almost 200 new hospitals and health facilities. 'This period of political life has been very demanding,' he said. 'As my staff pointed out, Victoria has had four health ministers during this time, and Queensland and Tasmania three.' The decriminalisation of abortion in 2019 was another proud highlight. 'Working with colleagues across the political divide to right the antiquated wrong of potential criminalisation of women and doctors who found themselves making the difficult decision to undertake an abortion, was another important moment for me,' Mr Hazzard said. He thanked his wife Nicole and his family for their support, 'especially over these past three Covid-challenged years' and paid tribute to his electoral and ministerial staff. The former teacher and lawyer has held the seat of Wakehurst since 1991 and is currently the longest serving member of the NSW lower house. During Sydney's four month lockdown, Brad Hazzard (left) was one of the state's faces of the pandemic alongside then Premier Gladys Berejiklian He has been in cabinet since the Coalition's landslide victory at the 2011 election, including as attorney-general and minister for planning, justice, social housing, community services and finally health. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet described Mr Hazzard as a 'tireless and committed advocate for people right across our state'. 'Our state is a better place thanks to Brad's significant contribution,' he said. 'There is no doubt our state benefited from Brad's invaluable experience, commitment and advice throughout the pandemic and beyond. 'Brad's legacy is a health system that is the envy of every other state in Australia, with investment and support at record levels.' Brad Hazzard (pictured in 2000) says it's time for new beginnings after 32 years in politics Mr Hazzard is the fifth current minister within months to announce he's retiring, joining David Elliott, Rob Stokes, Victor Dominello and Geoff Lee in the mass exodus along with a host of current Liberal MPs. Former NSW Health secretary Elizabeth Koff also paid tribute to Mr Hazzard's 'extraordinary contribution' but admits she had doubts when he first took over the health portfolio. 'It would be fair to say his reputation preceded him as a challenging and demanding Minister,' she told The Daily Telegraph. 'I don't think he got the name Battleship Hazzard for no reason, because he is a formidable character.' About 1900 passengers on the cruise liner Coral Princess are at the centre of a Covid scare after 100 infected passengers and crew were forced to isolate for five days. The ship was the first luxury liner to enter Western Australian waters in more than two years because of the pandemic when it docked in Broome on Monday morning. But around 100-infected passengers and crew are unable to leave and must stay in isolation for the next five days after the virus was discovered circulating on the ship. About 1900 passengers on the cruise liner Coral Princess (pictured) are at the centre of a Covid scare and 100 infected passengers and crew were forced to isolate for five days The Coral Princess had departed Sydney for WA on October 11 after the state government announced that it would allow large cruise liners to dock off the state's coastline again. A WA Health spokesperson said in a statement that the cruise ship operators should abide by the national eastern seaboard and Western Australian cruise protocols, as well as having their own COVID-19 plans. 'In accordance with the protocols, while in WA waters cruise operators should report COVID-19 cases to WA Health 12 to 24 hours prior to arrival in a WA port,' they said. 'Regarding the Coral Princess, WA Health has been advised of passengers and crew testing positive to COVID-19, and this evolving situation is being managed by the vessel operator according to its COVID-19 plan. 'Under the protocols, those onboard vessels who have Covid should isolate for five days.' WA Health did not confirm how many cases are on board the vessel. A Princess Cruises spokesperson told the Broome Advertiser that the outbreak on the ship was being managed. 'A rise in cases among guests is being managed effectively in accordance with the Protocols, which exceed standards that apply to land-based venues,' they said. 'The Eastern Seaboard and Western Australia Cruise Protocols, developed by state authorities in conjunction with the cruise industry, have provided a strong foundation to manage any cases of COVID-19 on board.' The ship departed Sydney on October 11 and docked in Broome in north-western Western Australia on Monday morning It's understood about 100 passengers and crew on the cruise liner have tested positive for the virus The Coral Princess can carry up to 2390 passengers and 900 crew. According to the itinerary, the ship was scheduled to leave Broome at 6pm and head further down the WA coastline, docking in Geraldton, Fremantle, Busselton and Albany. It would make its return to Sydney next month. Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia President, Marguerite Fitzgerald, told Daily Mail Australia that only a small number of passengers were infected. 'We continue to monitor closely the small number of guests who tested positive to COVID-19 on board Coral Princess.' 'As a result of early detection and isolation, case numbers remain steady with a majority of our 2000 guests unimpacted.' Ms Fitzgerald explained that the guests who tested positive were isolating for five days and 'being cared for in their staterooms by our medical and support staff'. 'For our remaining guests, they are able to move freely on board and disembark at upcoming destinations.' Costa Rican authorities discovered two bodies while searching for six missing people whose whereabouts became unknown after the airplane they were flying on disappeared from radar just off the country's Caribbean coast. Among the missing people is the German businessman behind Gold's Gym who is suspected to be one of the two bodies found. However, officials said that the two victims have not yet been identified as they include one adult and one child. Costa Rican Plane Crash The Security Ministry revealed that the searchers were also able to find backpacks and bags and pieces of the plane. Security Minister Jorge Torres said that all five of the passengers were believed to be German citizens while the pilot was Swiss. Authorities added that pieces of the small, twin-engine turboprop aircraft were discovered in the water on Saturday after it went missing the day before. A flight plan filed for the small plane listed Rainer Schaller as a passenger and is known for being the one who runs international chains of fitness and gym outlets, including Gold's Gym and McFit, as per US News. They noted that at least one of the other victims aboard the plane was a relative of Schaller, but the relation was not immediately confirmed. The searchers focused their efforts on a site roughly 28 kilometers off the coast from the Limon airport. The aircraft was a nine-seat Italian-made Piaggio P180 Avanti which is known for its distinctive profile. The plane disappeared from the radar while on its way to Limon, which is a resort town on the coast. According to CNN, based on a flight manifest shared by the Public Security Ministry, it was discovered that among the victims were the businessman's partner, Christiane Schikorsky, and two minors. Read Also: Iran Protests: Demonstrators in US, Europe March in Solidarity with Iranian Women's Rights Rallies Costa Rica Plane Crash Missing Victims The vice president of the Ministry of Public Security, Martin Arias, said that the coast guard conducted a search operation in the Caribbean Sea starting at around 5:00 a.m. local time on Saturday and found remains of the aircraft at roughly 5:50 a.m. The official noted that the Red Cross has been asked to assist with search and rescue operations. In a statement, the German Foreign Office said it was aware of the situation and added that the German Embassy in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose was in contact with local authorities for further clarification. The German Foreign Office added that the embassy was also standing ready to provide consular assistance to the families of the persons affected by the crash. Schaller was also a sponsor and organizer of the Tecno Parade electronic music street festival between 2006 and 2010, the year that the festivities came to a tragic end with a human stampede that resulted in 21 deaths. Among the pieces of the plane that searchers discovered include a seat and part of the aircraft's fuselage. One official noted that the search began from the last communication from the site and they measured a perimeter. This was very effective because they arrived promptly at the site of the event, Tico Times reported. Related Article: Russian Fighter Jet Crashes Again, Video Shows Massive Fire in Crash Site @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Joe Biden said in an interview with a transgender TikTok star that states shouldn't have the power to regulate any health care related to a person transitioning from one sex to the other. The president denounced Republican states that have passed laws attempting to ban or limit sex change surgeries and transition treatments like hormone blockers for children who identify as non binary or transgender. Biden spoke with a panel of six progressive activists for the NowThis News presidential forum on Friday, which aired on Sunday. One of the six panelists was TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney who is documenting their transition from a male to trans woman. When asked if red states should have the right to pass laws limiting access to gender-affirming treatments, Biden said: 'I don't think any state or anybody should have the right to do that.' 'As a moral question and as a legal question, I just think it's wrong,' the president added. President Joe Biden said during an panel discussion on NowThis News that he doesn't think states should have the right to regulate gender-affirming surgeries or treatments TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney, who is documenting the transition from male to female on the app, was one of the six progressive panelists to speak with Biden on Friday. The segment aired Sunday 'Sometimes they try to block you from being able to access certain medicines, being able to access certain procedures, and so on,' he continued, referencing Republican-led state bills blocking doctors from performing such treatment, especially when it comes to minors. 'I mean, no state should be able to do that, in my view. So I feel very, very strongly that you should have every single solitary right including use of your gender-identity bathrooms in public.' Alabama, Arkansas, Texas and Arizona all enacted laws or policies earlier this year restricting youth access to sex change treatments, care and surgeries. In some cases, these laws impose penalties on adults who facilitate access to this care. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has long voiced her opposition to transgenderism, was the first lawmaker to publicly weigh in on Biden's response to Mulvaney. 'Joe Biden thinks it's wrong to stop the profit driven medical industry from cutting breasts off 15 yr old girls and castrating teen boys before they are old enough to legally get a tattoo or vote,' the GOP Georgia lawmaker tweeted. She added: 'Democrats are the party of child abuse.' 'It's day 222 of being a girl. I'm in Washington D.C., and I'm going to the White House to speak to the President of the United States,' Mulvaney said in a TikTok from a hotel room Mulvaney documented the process of getting ready to speak with President Biden including choosing an outfit that donned the flags of the transgender flag Dylan starred in the Book of Mormon on Broadway in New York and has been a fervent activist on social media Mulvaney, 25, started transitioning to female earlier this year. 'It's day 222 of being a girl. I'm in Washington D.C., and I'm going to the White House to speak to the President of the United States,' Mulvaney said in a TikTok from a hotel room while wearing a shirt that says, 'Don't mess with trans kids.' 'You know that phrase, 'I think I may have girlbossed too close to the sun?' Well that's how I feel today,' Mulvaney continued. 'Because I get to sit down with Joe Biden and NowThis News, and I get to ask him a few questions surrounding trans issues in the United States and talk to him about my transness, and I really just want to represent my community the best that I can.' GOP lawmakers pushing legislation that would regulate gender-affirming surgeries and treatment argue they are dangerous and could cause irreversible changes in younger patients. Most legislation in red states have focused on minors, not adults. 'I think that it's really important that we continue to speak out about the basic fundamental rights of all human beings,' Biden said later in his conversation with Mulvaney. 'And the idea that what's going on in some states, I won't get into the politics of it, but in some states, it's just, it's outrageous, and I think it's immoral,' the president added. 'The trans part's not immoral, what they're trying to do to trans persons is immoral.' Mulvaney is documenting 'firsts' as a woman in a series called 'days of girlhood' on TikTok, where her account has garnered more than 8.3 million followers. When arriving at the White House on Friday, Mulvaney also documented the day on TikTok. Mulvaney recently faced controversy after many called for a boycott of Ulta Beauty, which hosted her on their 'The Beauty of ...' podcast on October 13. The influencer, who has been living as a woman for less than a year, has been accused of 'womanface' by some feminists claiming she is play-acting the parts of being a woman she enjoys, while ignoring the misogyny faced by females on a day-to-day basis. As of this summer, 15 states introduced at least two dozen bills that would impose some sort of restrictions to 'gender affirming' surgeries or treatments, according to a Freedom for All Americans tracker. Provisions in some of the proposed legislation include, but are not limited to criminalization of healthcare professionals who provide transgender treatments to minors, penalizing of parents aiding in youth access to this care and a limitation on insurance coverage of gender affirming services. In some cases the language would classify allowing or aiding a child in receiving treatment to permanently change sex characteristics as child abuse. Mulvaney has sparked a backlash against Ulta Beauty following her appearance on a podcast in which she spoke about 'all things girlhood' The trans influencer, who has been living as a woman for less than a year, has been accused of 'womanface' by some feminists claiming she is play-acting the parts of being a woman she enjoys, while ignoring the misogyny faced by females on a day-to-day basis. Mulvaney (right) was interviewed by gender-fluid hairdresser to the stars, David Lopez (left) on Ulta's podcast A major GOP initiative is making sure that no state funds are used for such services. Republicans and right-leaning activists are mostly concerned with the affect these surgeries are having on children who choose to transition and then later regret the choice they made as a minor. Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) suspended gender altering surgeries earlier this month amid outrage over claims the hospital 'chemically castrates' minors for financial gain. The center confirmed it was freezing all 'gender affirmation surgery' on underage patients pending a review of their processes, in response to calls from Tennessee lawmakers to investigate the hospital. VUMC came under fire last month after conservative activist Matt Walsh released a 2018 video showing Dr. Shayne Taylor an LGBTQ specialist at the hospital touting transgender surgeries as 'huge money makers' for the hospital. Walsh also compiled a report of his own investigation into VUMC's trans program which found the hospital 'drugs, chemically castrates and performs double mastectomies on minors. A nurse caring for a premature baby girl at the Countess of Chester Hospital thought 'Oh no, not again' when she saw the infant collapse 28 hours after her twin brother's death, Lucy Letby's trial heard today. Nurse A had been trying to resuscitate Baby A along with other staff when she felt his final heartbeat. The following night, at about 12.30am on June 10, 2015, Lucy Letby, the long-time friend she had once mentored as a student, called her over to the incubator of Baby B. Lucy Letby, 32, is accused of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 more. She denies all charges It is alleged nurse Letby, 32, injected air into the bloodstream of the newborn, Child A, shortly after she came on shift on June 8 2015, just over 24 hours after his premature birth. The Crown alleges she used the same method to attack his sister, Child B, on the following night shift. 'Lucy went over to her,' the nurse told the jury on the 11th day of Letby's trial at Manchester Crown Court. 'She'd been standing with me, checking the medication. Lucy said 'She's apnoeic, she's not breathing'. She asked me to go and help'. The two nurses had to use a neopuff device to give the infant breaths because she was not breathing herself. 'She was very pale. She had blotches to her skin', said Nurse A. She went on: 'She suddenly looked very ill. She looked very like her brother had done the night before. She was pale, white, with this purple, blotchy discolouration. 'I just remember thinking 'Oh no, not again'. I'd not seen anything like that before. To see his sister with the same appearance' Nurse A, who cannot be named for legal reasons, summoned two doctors to help revive the infant. A medical note of the incident read: 'Shut down, limp, apnoeicColour changed rapidly to purple blotchiness with white patches. Started to become bradycardic (slow heart rate). A breathing tube was inserted and Child B 'started to stabilise quite quickly', said the witness giving evidence screened from the public gallery and the defendant. The nurse went on: '(Child A's) deterioration was very sudden and to an unusual degree. Babies can be very poorly quickly but there is usually some indication that is happening. We had no undue concerns. 'To go from that is very unusual and then (Child B) had been good throughout the evening for me ... then she became ill very quickly. She deteriorated very quickly and then this discolouration. 'You never want any baby to die. You want to help them go home to their families. That's always been my goal.' Child B recovered and was eventually discharged a month later, the court heard. The nurse told the jury she could not remember who administered intravenous fluids to Child A shortly before his collapse but accepted she told police that another nursing colleague had 'pressed start' in the process and Letby assisted with checks. John and Susan Letby, parents of Lucy Letby, arriving at Manchester Crown Court on Friday, October 21, for their daughter's murder trial Letby, 32, of Hereford, is on trial for the alleged murders of seven babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital, Cheshire, and the attempted murder of 10 more between 2015 and 2016. She denies all charges Letby, 32, from Hereford, denies murdering seven babies and attempting to kill a further ten. Nurse A told Ben Myers, KC, defending, said she had first become a friend of Letby when the alleged killer was studying at Chester University around 2010 and 2011. She had come to the neonatal unit twice during her training, and eventually joined the team permanently once she had qualified. Nurse A agreed with Mr Myers that she found her colleague and friend 'highly qualified and dedicated to the work she was doing' as a neonatal nurse. The nurse said she acted as 'mentor' to Letby, who first came to the unit as a trainee around 2010/11 while studying at the University of Chester. They became 'good friends', she said, as Letby went on to join the unit after she qualified. Mr Myers said: 'We know the allegations but your experience when working with her was she was highly professional? 'Yes,' replied the witness. Mr Myers said: 'And dedicated to the work she was doing?' 'Yes,' agreed the witness. The trial continues. Linguists have slammed Cambridge University for teaching and encouraging students to speak a new form of gender-neutral German. The university's 'inclusive language' section of the 9,250-per-year German course aims 'to use gender- and non-binary-inclusive language' in both speech and writing. The push for inclusive language likely stems from German's use of the male form when referring to the plural form of words, which some argue is sexist and doesn't account for non-binary people. However, experts argue attempting to converse in the 'woke version' of the ancient language 'stand a good chance of making a fool of themselves.' Some linguists say they 'wouldn't recommend' the course to anybody - despite tuition costs for the undergrad degree totalling 27,550. Language experts have slammed Cambridge University (pictured) for teaching and encouraging students to speak a new form of gender-neutral German Based on the structure of German grammar, some words used in the language are naturally gendered and the male form is traditionally used when referring to the plural form of words. For instance, a male citizen is a Burger and a female citizen is a Burgerin - but a group of citizens would be referred to as all male - even if they were not. Cambridge course bosses are encouraging students and staff to use newer forms with plural nouns, which can include an asterisk in the middle of some words to imply they are gender neutral and can refer to anyone. They admitted that 'in extended German texts grammatical structures can inhibit inclusivityrelative and other pronouns, for example, are obligatorily marked for grammatical gender, so going gender-free is difficult to achieve'. But despite this and the fact that 'gender as a grammatical category is part of native speakers' language competence, and overlaps only partly with gender as a real-world phenomenon and a lived identity,' Cambridge insists that the gender-neutral and non-binary terms must be included in the syllabus. A Cambridge spokesperson, in a statement provided to MailOnline, said: 'As it clearly states on the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics website, students are free to choose for themselves how to engage with inclusive language when speaking and writing in German. To suggest otherwise is entirely wrong.' Oliver Baer, of the German Language Association, (pictured) said non-native speakers attempting to chatter with Germans using the woke version of the ancient language 'stand a good chance of making a fool of themselves' Oliver Baer, of the German Language Association, said non-native speakers attempting to chatter with Germans in the trendy new tongue are likely to get laughed out of the country. Mr Baer, from Dortmund, said: 'My first reaction is it's like Monty Python is back. 'It's a minefield and I would hate to recommend to any Englishman to have to go through the details of all that. 'Although it's accepted, it's not respected to speak like that in Germany. 'I'd never pay 9,000I wouldn't recommend that to anybody.' While Mr Baer insisted 'the issues' of gender equality that sparked the discussion about the German language are 'very respectable and important.' He said: 'The method of implying it through changing language is totally useless, and it won't work. 'We suggest just focusing on what's really important, things like equal pay.' He added: 'Language doesn't evolve from the top down. Maybe you can do that in North Korea, but not in our society.' Mr Baer said he and his colleagues at the German Language Association are worried about how their mother tongue is being 'abused', adding people are 'possessed by genitalia'. He insisted that the better thing to do would be to neutralise the implied maleness of some forms of German language so that they encompass every gender - rather than attempting to invent a completely new way of speaking. He added: 'If a non-native speaker came and tried to use gender-neutral German while on holiday here I think they would stand a good chance of making a fool of themselves. 'Fortunately we have no German word for 'woke' so we borrow it from the English.' However, Maren Pauli, (pictured) head of B2B didactics at language learning platform Babbel, argued the more progressive form of the language should be taught However, Maren Pauli, head of B2B didactics at language learning platform Babbel, argued the more progressive form of the language should be taught. She said: 'Ever since we have the German language, we have had grammatical gender. 'So grammatical gender should not be mistaken with gender in general. 'If we talk about persons, like people, we only have two options to choose from. 'We have masculine and the feminine - if you would talk about any kind of professional, in German, if you use one single word, you have to decide whether you're talking about a male teacher or a female teacher, there is no way in the German language to have it as neutral as it is in English. 'What's happening is that it's not inventing a new word, but it's basically just mentioning both forms. 'It's just using what we already have in the language in a more reflective and flexible way to include everybody.' Chocolat author Joanne Harris is facing a vote on whether she should quit as the chairman of the Society of Authors after she was accused of mocking JK Rowling with a 'tasteless' Twitter poll about death threats. Ms Harris posted the poll on Twitter in August after Harry Potter author Ms Rowling had expressed her support for her fellow writer Sir Salman Rushdie, who had just been stabbed at an event in the US. Ms Rowling immediately received the response from a Twitter troll: 'Don't worry, you are next'. Ms Harris then asked her Twitter followers: 'Fellow-authors... have you ever received a death threat (credible or otherwise).' The options to respond were 'Yes', 'Hell, yes', 'No, never' and 'Show me, dammit', suggesting scepticism about how serious the threats were. After furious backlash, the poll was deleted, but that did not stop Ms Harris from facing calls from fellow writers for her to step down from her post. Now, a group of 10 members of the Society of Authors, including feminist writer Julie Bindel, who is a friend of Ms Rowling's, have proposed a resolution for the society's upcoming annual general meeting calling on Ms Harris to step down. According to The Bookseller, the resolution states that Ms Harris's behaviour is 'not compatible with the society's goals of protecting free expression and their policy of dignity and respect'. After the news emerged, Ms Harris tweeted claiming she too had received a death threat in an email that read: 'We are coming for you'. Chocolat author Joanne Harris (left) is facing a vote on whether she should quit as the chairman of the Society of Authors after she was accused of mocking JK Rowling (right) with a 'tasteless' Twitter poll about death threats Ms Rowling tweeted on August 13 after news emerged on the attack on Mr Rushdie. He was stabbed multiple times as he took to the stage to give a talk on artistic freedom in at the Chautauqua Institute in New York. It emerged at the weekend that Mr Rushdie has lost sight in one eye and mobility in one hand as a result of the attack. Ms Rowling said in her tweet: 'Feeling very sick right now. Let him be ok.' The responding death threat was posted by an Iran-supporting Islamic extremist called Meer Asif Aziz, based in Karachi, who described himself on Twitter as a 'student, social activist, political activist and research activist'. Ms Harris's Twitter poll was then published later on August 13. Ms Bindel was among those who criticised the post, branding it 'disgustingly inappropriate.' Ms Harris posted the poll on Twitter in August after Harry Potter author Ms Rowling had expressed her support for her fellow writer Sir Sir Salmon Rushdie, who had just been stabbed at an event in the US. Ms Rowling received a death threat after posting her message Ms Harris then asked her Twitter followers: 'Fellow-authors... have you ever received a death threat (credible or otherwise).' The poll was later deleted by Joanne Harris, who replaced it with an alternative version shown above Novelist Simon Edge had said the poll was 'indefensible' and said it is 'high time' the Chocolat author stepped down. Today it was reported that 10 members from the Society of Authors' 12,000-strong membership proposed a new resolution aimed at Ms Harris. An additional resolution from Ms Bindel and others reportedly called for the society to review 'how to pursue its stated aim 'to protect free speech' and put in place a robust framework to do so, including a member and management committee working group that looks at how best to protect the fundamental right of all authors to express themselves freely within the law, and to uphold the impartiality expected of the society, including all who govern and work for it.' The second resolution was tabled after a war of words between Ms Harris and fellow author Kate Clanchy, who was last year accused by online commentators of using racialised stereotypes of children in her book Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me. Ms Clanchy compiled a report that she sent to the Society claiming it and Ms Harris had entered the dispute over the book when they should not have done. According to The Bookseller, she wrote: 'A de facto morality clause from my publisher was something the society might have campaigned against: instead they found themselves an important voice in calling for it. 'This leaves the society with ongoing difficulties as they attempt to defend free speech.' Ms Clanchy also separately accused Ms Harris of calling her 'ignorant, cruel and patronising'. The second resolution will be voted on in an electronic poll at the Society's meeting on November 17. A spokesman for the Society of Authors said: 'The members' resolutions will be heard and fully debated at the a.g.m. 'However, in relation to resolution six, Joanne Harris strongly denies that she has acted in ways that are incompatible "with the society's goals of protecting free expression and their policy of dignity and respect". Ms Harris tweeted a 'sample' from her email inbox today. Among the messages was an apparent death threat Last night, she appeared to take a swipe at her critics as she tweeted in response to news about the extent of Mr Rushdie's injuries 'On resolution seven, we commented at length about our approach to freedom of expression on 15th August, 17th August and 19th August. 'This is quite aside from our ongoing work working against morality clauses and "strategic lawsuits against public participation" (SLAPPs), as well as supporting the wider campaigns of free expression organisations such as English PEN.' Ms Harris today posted a 'sample' from her Twitter messages. One read: 'Your woke values are incompatible with the functioning of civil society. 'Please resign from your position at the Society of Authors, and retire from public life until you learn how to behave like a decent person.' She also highlighted the apparent death threat, which also included a 'death's head emjoi' and was unsigned. Last night, she appeared to take a swipe at her critics as she tweeted in response to news about the extent of Mr Rushdie's injuries. She wrote: 'There's something very wrong with our Press when this grotesque attack on free speech is repeatedly eclipsed by the voices of a privileged few, claiming to have been cancelled.' Ms Harris was approached for comment. Hundreds of migrants were intercepted by Border Force officers after crossing the English Channel in small boats yesterday amid thunderstorms and strong winds. While almost a month's worth of rain battered parts of southern England, 528 people people were detained after making the treacherous voyage to Dover, according to official Ministry of Defence figures. This takes the total number so far this year past 37,400. The latest arrivals are the first to make the perilous journey in almost a week after wet weather and choppy conditions at sea put a temporary pause on Channel crossings. But despite stormy conditions yesterday, 10 dinghies were picked up by Border Force and RNLI boats. There is understood to have been one uncontrolled landing, according to the MoD, which is thought to have been at Samphire Hoe between Dover and Folkestone in Kent. French authorities also rescued 62 people, who were crammed into one dinghy off the Calais coast, after they got into difficulty as they tried head to the Kent coast in the early hours yesterday. The French Navy's support vessel Rhone was dispatched to pick up the stranded group. The ship brought them into the port at Calais where they have been taken into the care of medics to be checked over. According to official data released by the MoD, a total of 37,493 migrants have made the treacherous journey across the 21-mile Dover Straits so far this year - 4,492 of those have arrived in October alone. But despite stormy conditions yesterday, 10 dinghies carrying 528 migrants were picked up by Border Force and RNLI boats. (Stock image) This year's figures have already surpassed the total for 2021 which saw 28,526 people cross the Channel by small boat, and 2020 when just 8,410 asylum seekers arrived in the UK. MP for Dover, Natalie Elphicke, has described the situation as 'truly shocking'. She said: 'Alongside the brazen criminality of the people smugglers, it beggars belief that there is a free public bus from the migrant camps to the beach departure points. 'It's little wonder we are seeing record breaking arrivals coming through the illegal small boats crossings route.' Two months earlier he had groped a sleeping disabled woman in her own home He was confronted by a nurse who detained him until police arrived to arrest him He told the woman 'not to worry, he was a doctor' before sexually assaulting her Carl Burger, 55, sneaked into the A&E cubicle at the Royal Liverpool Hospital A man who posed as a doctor to sexually assault an 81-year-old hospital patient in her A&E cubicle has been jailed for three years. Carl Burger, 55, sneaked into the cubicle and falsely told the woman he was a medical professional who was performing an examination to carry out the sickening assault on August 18. It came just two weeks after he'd been interviewed by police in relation to another incident on June 8, where he had groped a disabled victim as she slept. He had been released under investigation and was not charged until August 19- the day after the hospital assault. Burger has now been jailed for three years and has been put on the sex offenders register for life for the sexual assault of both women. The 81-year-old victim was asleep in an A&E cubicle at the Royal Liverpool Hospital when Burger entered. When she awoke he told her 'not to worry, he was a doctor' and claimed that he was going to perform a check on her heart. Instead, he lifted up her dressing gown and sexually assaulted her before a nurse entered the cubicle and challenged him, having originally thought he was a relative. Burger tried to leave but was detained by the nurse until police arrived at the hospital and arrested him. Carl Burger, 55, (pictured) has been jailed for three years and has been put on the sex offenders register for life for the sexual assault of two women In a statement, the grandmother said: 'Before the incident I was a happy, outgoing person. However, all this changed. 'He deceived me, saying he was a doctor then touching me inappropriately. It makes me feel physically sick to think about it.' She said she had to return to the hospital since and felt 'petrified', adding that she's not sure if she'll be able to go back there if she needs more medical care. Burger, who appeared in Liverpool Crown Court via video link from HMP Altcourse, had 37 previous convictions for 75 offences. Just two months earlier, he had assaulted a woman in her own home in Liverpool in the early hours of the morning. The victim, a severely disabled woman, had been asleep and woke to find Burger groping her left breast under her pyjama top and told him to leave. A report was immediately made to police, who attended and took statements. Burger voluntarily attended a police interview on August 3 and was released under investigation. He was charged on August 19, remanded in custody and appeared in court the following day. The 81-year-old victim was in an A&E cubicle at the Royal Liverpool Hospital (pictured) when Burger entered and told her 'not to worry, he was a doctor' before sexually assaulting her. (Stock image) The victim personal statements of both women were read to the Liverpool Crown Court. The elderly victim said: 'I am in the later stages of my life, a period where I should be carefree and just be able to enjoy being with my family. 'Since this incident however I am more vulnerable than ever. 'I feel I have lost my spark and my family would also share those concerns. 'I appear like I have just given up, defeated and my family say they have lost the nan they know and love. 'The male's actions have not only had a profound effect on me, but also my family. 'They fear the worst, and we hope that no other person has to suffer at the hands of this terrible male. 'I cannot believe someone would do something so awful to a vulnerable person in need, and hope this male is punished for what he has done.' Burger, who appeared in Liverpool Crown Court (pictured) via video link from HMP Altcourse, had 37 previous convictions for 75 offences. (Stock image) The younger victim said: 'I worry about him ever turning up at my address and worry that I will come across him again. 'The incident has made me feel incredibly conscious and worried about everything, at night I want every door to be locked and checked as I worry that someone will creep into the house and do something to me.' Senior Crown Prosecutor Chris Fontaine said: 'Burger is a serial sex offender who preyed on vulnerable women in circumstances that meant they were even more vulnerable. 'We would like to thank the victims, their families and the staff at the Royal Liverpool Hospital for immediately reporting these offences to the police and stopping this offending behaviour before it escalated further. 'It is because of their actions, their evidence and their support that Merseyside Police and the Crown Prosecution Service were able to build a strong case and bring this case to justice in a timely manner.' Amerie Jo Garza, 10 Amerie Jo Garza (right) Amerie Jo Garza, a fourth grader at Robb Elementary, was one of 19 students confirmed to be killed Tuesday morning by Ramos, who cops say was carrying a handgun and an AR-15 during the attack that also killed two teachers in the classroom. Her grandmother, Berlinda Irene Arreola, said the 10-year-old was killed as she tried to phone 911 while sitting next to her best friend, who ended up 'covered in her blood.' Arreola said Ramos told the students and staffers inside the room, 'You're going to die,' before opening fire - shooting her granddaughter dead as she tried to phone for help. 'So the gunman went in and he told the children, 'You're going to die,' Berlinda told The Daily Beast. 'And [Amerie] had her phone and she called 911. And instead of grabbing it and breaking it or taking it from her, he shot her. She was sitting right next to her best friend. Her best friend was covered in her blood.' Uziyah Garcia Uziyah Garcia, 8 Uziyah Garcia, the youngest victim at age eight, was also killed in the attack. The child's family announced he was killed hours after announcing he was among the many children unaccounted for following the tragedy. The boy's grandfather, Manny Renfro, broke the news early Wednesday after being notified by authorities. '[He was] the sweetest little boy that I've ever known,' Renfro said. 'I'm not just saying that because he was my grandkid.' Renfro recalled how Uziyah last visited him in San Angelo over spring break. 'We started throwing the football together and I was teaching him pass patterns. 'Such a fast little boy and he could catch a ball so good,' the grieving grandad said. 'There were certain plays that I would call that he would remember and he would do it exactly like we practiced.' Makenna Elrod, 10 Makenna Lee Elrod Makenna Elrod, 10, had also been among the missing in the chaos that followed the massacre, with her father, Brandon Elrod telling reporters at the time he feared 'she may not be alive.' Her death was eventually confirmed by a family friend on Wednesday. 'It's pretty sad what this world's coming to,' the girl's father told local outlet KTRK after the shooting. A mother of one of Makenna's friends lamented the loss in a post to Facebook. 'Sweet Makenna Rest in Paradise!! My heart is shattered as my daughter Chloe loved her so much!!' the mom wrote. A relative Wednesday confirmed that the girl had been among the victims. Xavier Lopez, 10 Xavier Lopez Xavier Lopez, 10, was the first student victim to be identified as one of Ramos' victims. The child's mother, Felicha Martinez, told the Washington Post Tuesday that just hours before the massacre, the mom had been at the school to see her son participate an honor roll ceremony. She took a picture showing her son showing off his certificate. In the last exchange she had with the child, the mom heartbreakingly told the boy that she was proud of him and that she loved him, giving him a hug goodbye - not knowing it would be the last time she would see him alive. 'He was funny, never serious and his smile that smile I will never forget,' she recalled after learning of his death from police. 'It would always cheer anyone up.' The boy's cousin, Lisa Garza, 54, of Arlington, said Xavier enjoyed swimming and had been looking forward to the summer. 'He was just a loving 10-year-old little boy, just enjoying life, not knowing that this tragedy was going to happen today,' she said. 'He was very bubbly, loved to dance with his brothers, his mom. This has just taken a toll on all of us.' Amelia Sandoval, Lopez's grandmother, said: 'It's just so hard... you send your kids to school thinking they are going to make it back home but they're not.' Eliahana Torres, 10 Eliahana Cruz Torres Eliahana Cruz Torres, 10, had also been missing for hours until she was confirmed to be among the dead. Adolfo Cruz, her great-grandfather, said she didn't want to attend school the day of the shooting - but was told by her family that she had to attend. He said he remained outside the school gates throughout the night until he leanrned of her fate from local authorities. 'I hope she is alive,' he said at the time. Torres was an avid baseball player and played the sport in a local little league. Ellie Lugo, 10 Ellie Lugo Ellie Lugo was named as a victim of Tuesday's attack by her parents, with Steven Garcia and Jennifer Lugo confirming her death several hours after she was listed among the missing. 'It's hard to issue out a statement on anything right now my mind is going at 1000 miles per hour but I do wanna send our thoughts and prayers to those who also didn't make it home tonight!!! Our Ellie was a doll and was the happiest ever,' Steven Lugo said Wednesday. 'Mom and Dad love you never forget that and please try and stay by our side.' Nevaeh Bravo, 10 Nevaeh Bravo Nevaeh Bravo was confirmed to be among the dead late Tuesday, after her cousin posted on social media following the shooting to ask for helping the girl. Around 9 pm, she broke the news on Twitter. 'Unfortunately my beautiful Nevaeh was one of the many victims from todays tragedy,' she wrote. Sje said the schoolchild was 'flying high' and asked for the family to be kept in people's prayers 'Our Nevaeh has been found. She is flying with the angels above. We love you Navaeh very much princess.' 'Thank you for the support and help,' she wrote. 'Rest in peace my sweet girl, you didn't deserve this.' Bravo's age could not immediately be confirmed. Tess Marie Mata Tess Marie Mata Tess Marie Mata was also among those to perish in the attack, her sister, Faith Mata, revealed in a post to Facebook Wednesday. 'I honestly have no words just sadness, confusion, and anger,' she wrote. 'I'm sad because we will never get to tag team on mom and dad again and tell each other how much we mean to each other, I'm confused because how can something like this happen to my sweet, caring, and beautiful sister, and I'm angry because a coward took you from us.' Photos shared with the post showed Tess smiling in a baby photo, snuggling with a cat, doing gymnastics, flashing a peace sign, and posing in front of a large heart mural. 'Sissy I miss you so much, I just want to hold you and tell you how pretty you are, I want to take you outside and practice softball, I want to go on one last family vacation, I want to hear your contagious laugh, and I want you to hear me tell you how much I love you,' she wrote. Her age could not immediately be confirmed. Rojelio Torres, 10 Rojelio Torres Rojelio Torres, 10, was initially reported missing by his father, but on Wednesday was confirmed dead by his family. A person who said she was the boy's cousin wrote on Twitter: 'It breaks my heart to say my rojelio is now with the angels I'll forever miss you and love you my angel.' The child's father , Federico Torres, told Houston reporters that he was at work when he learned about the shooting and immediately raced to the school. 'They sent us to the hospital, to the civic center, to the hospital and here again, nothing, not even in San Antonio,' he said. 'They don't tell us anything, only a photo, wait, hope that everything is well.' Nearly half a day later, cops broke the news to the boy's family. 'Our entire family waited almost 12 hours since the shooting to find out Rojelio Torres, my 10-year-old nephew, was killed in this tragedy,' Torres' aunt, Precious Perez, told KSAT. 'We are devastated and heartbroken. Rojer was a very intelligent, hard-working and helpful person. He will be missed and never forgotten.' Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, 10 Jayce Luevanos Jayce Luevanos, 10, died in the shooting along with his ten-year-old cousin, Jailah, the child's mother said Wednesday. In a Facebook post, uncle Unberto Gonzalez shared photos of both kids while offering a touching tribute. 'My babies going to miss them like crazy!!!,' Gonzalez wrote. 'We luv y'all so much!!! I'm just lost right now!!! Fly high my beautiful Angels!!' Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10 Jailah Nicole Silguero Ten-year-old Jailah Nicole Silguero was also killed in the shooting, her mother, Veronica Luevanos, tearfully revealed to Univision Wednesday. She also lost her 10-year-old nephew Jayce to the tragedy. She said Jailah loved to dance and film videos on TikTok. The child reportedly also asked her mom the morning of the shooting if she could stay home from school - a request the now mourning mom rebuffed. 'I took her to school, but she didn't want to go. She told her father, 'Can I stay home?'' Luevanos said, noting that it was not a common occurrence for her daughter to make such a request. 'I think she knew something would happen.' Luevanos' mom confirmed the loss on Facebook Wednesday. 'Fly high my angels. We're going to miss yall so much,' wrote Veronica Luevanos - whose dad had died just a week earlier. 'I'm so heart broken,' she wrote with a photo of her daughter and nephew. 'My baby I love u so much fly high baby girl.' Alithia Ramirez, 10 Alithia Ramirez Fourth grader Alithia Ramirez was confirmed dead early Wednesday by her father, Ryan Ramirez, who shared a post to Facebook showing the 10-year-old with angel's wings. He had used the same photo the previous day as he pleaded for help finding her after the massacre He had heartbreakingly used the same photo the previous day as he desperately pleaded for help finding her after the massacre. 'Trying to find my daughter Alithia. I called all the hospitals and nothing,' he wrote at the time. He also reporters during his frantic search, 'I'm trying to find out where my baby's at.' Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10 Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10, was another killed by Ramos Tuesday - along with her cousin, who has yet to be identified. Annabell's father spent the afternoon after the shooting in frantic search for his daughter. Speaking to KHOU11 Tuesday, he lamented at how he was at a loss as to what do, having little success with the search. 'They're not letting us in at the hospital right now so we don't know where to go.' She has since been declared to be among the dead. Miranda Mathis, 11 Miranda Mathis Miranda Mathis, 11, was also confirmed as another casualty from the mass shooting early Wednesday, in a Facebook post by an older cousin who earlier that day had posted a desperate plea for help in locating the child. 'My sweet baby cousin we loved u dearly,' Deanna Miller wrote alongside a photo of the child with angel wings. 'I'm so sorry this happen to u baby please keep my family in your prayers,' she grieved. Miller's kids had also been at the school at the time of the shooting, but survived the attack. One of her sons told her that they were ushered out of a window by staffers during the attack and subsequently ran to a nearby funeral home after 'he heard the shooter say he was gonna kill all the kids.' Alexandria 'Lexi' Aniyah Rubio, 10 Alexandria Aniyah Rubio Alexandria Aniyah Rubio - who was better known to friends as 'Lexi' - was confirmed dead just before midnight on Tuesday. The ten-year-old was shot dead just hours after posing for a photo with her parents at the school's honor roll ceremony. Kimberly Mata-Rubio, the girl's mother, wrote of the loss: 'My beautiful, smart, Alexandria Aniyah Rubio was recognized today for All-A honor roll. She also received the good citizen award. We told her we loved her and would pick her up after school. We had no idea this was goodbye.' Maite Yuleana Maite Yuleana Maite Yuleana was another student to die in the attack that had attended the honor roll ceremony just hours before. A cousin of the girl's mother, Ana Rodriguez, announced the loss Wednesday. 'It is with a heavy heart I come on here on behalf of my cousin Ana who lost her sweet baby girl in yesterday's senseless shooting. 'We are deeply saddened by the lose [sic] of this sweet smart little girl. God bless and may she R.I.P Maite Rodriguez we love you.' Another relative shared a photo of Maite with her honor roll certificate. Her age could not immediately be confirmed. Jose Flores Jr, 10 Jose Flores Jose Flores, 10, was also killed in the shooting after attending the honor roll ceremony, where he was pictured triumphantly clutching a certificate celebrating the accomplishment. Uncle Christopher Salazar confirmed to the Washington Post Wednesday that his 10-year-old nephew was among the dead, after sharing a tribute to the child on Facebook. 'I love you and I miss you,' Salazar wrote in the post. The boy's father described Jose to CNN as an amazing boy and big brother to his two younger siblings. 'He was always fill of energy,' Jose Flores Sr. said. 'Ready to play till the night.' He said the boy loved playing baseball and video games. Jackie Cazares Jackie Cazares, 10 Jackie Cazares, 10, was another to be killed during the vicious attack at the elementary school. Her father Jacinto confirmed she lost her life inside her fourth-grade classroom. 'My baby girl has been taken away from my family and I,' the grieving father said in an online post. 'We're devastated in ways I hope no one ever goes through. ... It hurts us to our souls.' Cazares said his daughter, who was with her cousin, Annabell Rodriguez, when she died, was 'full of life and love'. Layla Salazar, 10 The 10-year-old student was the last of the slaying victims to be identified. Vincent Salazar told the Philadelphia Inquirer his young daughter was among those killed. He said she was 'a lot of fun' and recalled how they sang along to 'Sweet Child O' Mine' by Guns 'n' Roses whenever he drove her to school. Layla Salazar Irma Garcia, 46 - fourth grade teacher Irma Garcia Irma Garcia, who co-taught with Mireles for the last five year, had been at Robb Elementary for 23 years. Married to Joe for 24 years, she was a mother of four - Cristian, completing Marine boot camp; Jose, attending Texas State university University; Lyliana, a sophomore in high school; and Alysandra, a 7th grader. 'My tia did not make it, she sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom, i beg of you to keep my family including all of her family in y'all's prayers , IRMA GARCIA IS HER NAME and she died a HERO,' tweeted her nephew John. 'She was loved by many and will truly be missed.' She was nominated as teacher of the year for the 2018-19 awards, organized by Trinity University. Eva Mireles, 44 - fourth grade teacher Eva Mireles Eva Mireles, a fourth grade teacher, was identified by her family as being one of the staff members shot dead. She had worked in education for 17 years. Her husband Ruben Ruiz, a veteran detective and SWAT team member currently serving as a police officer with the school district, held regular active shooter drills for the schools - most recently at the end of March. A kind-hearted couple who got engaged in Mauritius have returned back home with more than a just a wedding to plan after adopting a couple of stray dogs. Ben Jenkins, 27, and his new fiance Charlotte Long, 29, were taken aback by the number of stray dogs running loose during their dream trip to the picturesque island earlier this month. While staying at the Long Beach Mauritius resort, the couple came across a small timid male dog and a young female that would beg around for food. The couple instantly fell in love with the canine pair who they later named Mauri and Moo. By the end of the holiday Ben and Charlotte couldn't bear to part with their new four-legged-friends so contacted 4 Paws Rescue and Relocation to find out how they could adopt to two dogs and bring them back to their home in Waterlooville, Hampshire. Ben Jenkins and Charlotte Long were taken aback by the amount of stray pooches on the loose during their dream holiday The couple took Moo (left) and Mauri (right) food from the hotel's breakfast buffet after being horrified by how thin the dogs were. The couple were horrified to be told that locals allegedly drug and drown stray animals to combat the problem on the island. Ben set up a fundraising page to help cover the staggering 3,500 costs to sterilise, vaccinate, and house the dogs before they were deemed fit to fly over to the UK to be rehomed. Ben set up the GoFundMe page, writing: 'We are asking for your help to bring these babies to safety and stop them from having to simply survive each day and instead give them a life full of love and food and fun. (The excitement they had when we gave them a piece of ribbon to play with almost had us in tears).' The fundraising target was smashed within 24 hours after animal lovers flocked to the page to donate. After successfully raising the funds, Mauri and Moo are now going through checks and being treated while they await their flight for their new home. Ben said: 'We first met the dogs when we adventured to the beach that is part of the hotel we were staying at. The couple instantly fell in love with the duo. Ben is pictured carrying Mauri during the holiday. Charlotte gives Moo a cuddle 'The male we met first and he was a timid but friendly dog who seemed very young, would often wander round to the tourists looking for food and finding some shade to lay in. 'And then the female we met again on the beach the next day I believe and we just fell in love with her. 'Unlike the male she was more on edge and afraid of mostly anything that approached her. Any staff or local person who would come near or she would see approaching she would sprint away or take such a wide berth. 'Since we met them every morning we would walk along the beach to meet them and then go for our breakfast and fill up napkins full of eggs and bacon etc to take for them to eat. 'We soon found that eggs and cheese were their favourite so we made sure to then take surplus of those. After falling in love with Mauri (pictured) and Moo during their beach holiday, they couple said they 'had to do something'. 'They stole our hearts as they were so, so underweight yet would take food ever so gently. It was this that made us assume that the dogs were in fact the hotels as they would always be around the beach of the hotel. 'Despite how fearful they are, they have both latched onto us and followed us everywhere, they even allow us to stroke and cuddle them which makes you imagine the kind of treatment she in particular has been accustomed to.' The loved-up pair were mortified after a rescue centre claimed that stray dogs are often caught by businesses and killed. The two dogs are currently going through treatments before they're allowed to fly home. Ben continued: 'We could not believe what we were hearing and this made up our minds that we had to do something to help save these poor babies from that potential fate. 'We have named the girl Mauri after Mauritius as the island is so beautiful and her soul is so genuine. 'Even if the government is so bad and inhumane towards their stray dogs, the island itself is incredible. 'The boy we have named Moo as he has markings like a cow and loves to lick your hands like a farmyard cow.' Mauri and Moo are still going through treatments to allow them to fly over to the UK but should be in their forever home in the coming days. Donald Trump openly criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Sunday night, a gaping wound in a once-close relationship that's since been marked by months of veiled jabs and reports of nasty personal comments. DeSantis appears to have angered the former president by endorsing Joe O'Dea, a moderate GOP candidate in Colorado who has not shied away from criticizing Trump. O'Dea, a construction executive, is running to unseat the battleground state's Democrat Senator Michael Bennet. Trump wrote on his Truth Social app that DeSantis' endorsement was 'A BIG MISTAKE.' DailyMail.com has reached out to DeSantis' gubernatorial campaign for comment. On Sunday, O'Dea's campaign revealed that the popular Sunshine State governor had recorded a 50-second audio spot endorsing him for Colorado's Senate seat. 'Hello this is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. America needs strong leadership and desperately. Thats why Im endorsing Joe ODea for U.S. Senate. Colorado, please vote for Joe ODea,' DeSantis says in the recording. 'Ive watched Joe from a distance. And Im impressed. This guy is not a career politician.' He goes on to say that Bennet voted with President Joe Biden's agenda '98 percent of the time.' Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis are consistently at the top of GOP voter surveys of who Republicans want to be their 2024 presidential nominee DeSantis also touted O'Dea's support for building a wall along the southwestern border with Mexico. It's a signature idea of Trump's, though the former president was not mentioned. 'Joe's focused on building the wall and cracking down on crime. He'll stand up to the big spending politicians in both parties and cut red tape,' DeSantis says in the ad. 'Vote Joe O'Dea and let's turn Colorado red.' O'Dea reacted to DeSantis' support on Twitter: 'Governor DeSantis is a fighter a true leader who has brought progress and prosperity to Florida. Im honored to have his support.' DeSantis endorsed Colorado Senate candidate Joe O'Dea on Sunday. O'Dea's moderate, anti-Trump campaign is being eyed as a possible roadmap for the GOP to win back footing in battleground states It's a marked departure than how O'Dea has regarded Trump, who he pledged to 'actively campaign' against during a CNN interview earlier this month, should the ex-president run again in 2024. O'Dea instead suggested candidates like DeSantis, former Trump administration United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. 'They can run and serve for eight years,' O'Dea said after listing off the trio. 'I'm gonna do my job as a US senator to make sure that they have good campaigns in the primary here, so we have a good selection of candidates for 2024.' And while neither Trump nor DeSantis have announced their intent to run, both men have consistently come out on top of early polls of who Republican voters want as their presidential nominee. Multiple reports suggest Trump has been irate that DeSantis has not ruled out the possibility of challenging him in a primary. A profile of the Florida governor's meteoric rise in Vanity Fair revealed that the ex-president branded him as 'disloyal' and 'overrated.' An excerpt from Maggie Haberman's book 'Confidence Man' published in The Atlantic claimed Trump had called DeSantis 'fat,' 'whiny' and a 'phony.' Trump posted on his Truth Social app Sunday night that DeSantis made 'A BIG MISTAKE' in endorsing O'Dea O'Dea has previously vowed to 'actively campaign' against Trump in 2024 while holding up DeSantis as a potential presidential contender DeSantis' narrow 2018 victory over ex-Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum was widely credited to Trump's support for his campaign - back when DeSantis was a member of the House Freedom Caucus. Their close relationship fractured as DeSantis' star grew. And despite months of holding off on public attacks, DeSantis has savagely locked Trump in private, according to Vanity Fair. While he's thus far demurred from presidential speculation, the Sunshine State governor reportedly told donors that he would face a Trump challenge 'head on.' 'He calls him a TV personality and a moron who has no business running for president,' a staffer told the outlet. The report suggests his plan of attack would largely focus on showing Trump's broken promises and empty threats as just bluster. An unnamed Republican source recalled him telling donors, '[T]he only way to beat Trump is to attack him head-on. He says he would turn to Trump during a debate and say, "Why didnt you fire Fauci? You said you would build the wall, but there is no wall. Why is that?"' Bubba described Leilani as a cheater and liar who spent her days snorting cocaine and smoking marijuana The mother named as a suspect in the murder of her 18-month-old son Quinton Simon tried to pin his disappearance on his biological father, DailyMail.com has learned. Leilani Simon told police that her ex-lover snatched the toddler from her Savannah home in the darkness of night, prompting police to track down and confront Quinton's long-absent father shortly after she reported him missing on October 5. DailyMail.com located the tragic boy's biological father at his home 85 miles from Savannah and in an exclusive interview Henry Moss who is known as Bubba revealed how his ex tried to blame him for the boy's vanishing. 'Leilani's tried to blame it on me,' the shaggy-haired 24-year-old told DailyMail.com in a soft southern drawl. He said he was mowing his boss's lawn when police pulled up. 'They asked did I have him and when was the last time I was in Savannah?' he recalled. 'They told me Leilani said I came and got him overnight.' Bubba, who lives in Girard, Georgia, a rural town of 250 people, told police that he hadn't been anywhere near Savannah for a month, when he installed an air conditioner in nearby Tybee Island, where Leilani and her mother Billie Jo Howell were seen downing tequila shots in a bar a week after Quinton's disappearance. Leilani Simon (pictured in a 2020 mugshot) told police that her ex-lover Henry Moss, who is called Bubba, snatched her son Quinton Simon from her Savannah home in the darkness of night. He is speaking out to DailyMail.com for the first time One-year-old Quinton Simon has been missing since October 5. 'He was happy, always smiling,' Bubba said of Quinton. 'He really didn't scream a lot. He was a good baby' Bubba vowed he told police the truth that he was home when Quinton disappeared, and that he left for work at 7.40 that morning. He said he presented alibis and that there was also CCTV footage from the next-door gas station that proved he didn't leave his home overnight. At that time, it was just a missing person's case. 'I told police she's gonna hurt that baby,' he recalled. 'I said I didn't know what was going on. Hell, I haven't heard from her in six to seven months.' During the interview, Bubba proceeded to share his turbulent backstory with the woman suspected of killing their son. Bubba said that Leilani kept her pregnancy with Quinton a secret from him. FBI agents assume the boy is dead and are searching a landfill for Quinton's body Bubba, who has two daughters with another woman, said he met Leilani at a swimming hole in 2019. Leilani had her own child, Zayne. They started dating and she became pregnant with Quinton in 2020. She initially kept it a secret. 'She didn't tell me until months later that she was pregnant,' Bubba recalled. 'I didn't have no say in it, really.' He said Leilani went to Alabama to give birth to Quinton in January 2021, so Bubba's name wasn't on the original birth certificate. She then returned home. 'He was happy, always smiling,' Bubba said of Quinton. 'He really didn't scream a lot. He was a good baby.' He said the tipping point in their relationship came in February 2021, after he was served with an arrest warrant for breaking into a trailer home back in June 2020. Leilani had already been arrested for the crime, committed in the mobile home park in nearby Waynesboro, where she was living with her mother, Billie Jo Howell. Leilani, however, blamed Bubba. A police incident report obtained by DailyMail.com states that Leilani allegedly cut her way through a screen window and stole $50 from a coin jar. The 40-year-old victim who owned the trailer called the cops. 'When asked who he (the victim) thought was responsible, he pointed out a female, later identified as Leilani Maree Simon, who lives next door and was currently standing outside,' the investigator states in the report. 'I then spoke with Ms. Simon and while doing so, she admitted to entering the camper and taking all of the change from inside of the coin jar. 'Ms. Simon added that her child's father, Henry 'Bubba' Moss, came over at approximately 8am today and convinced her to help him enter the camper. Ms. Simon stated that since he couldn't fit through the window, she did instead,' the report adds. Leilani was charged with first-degree burglary, a felony. It was pleaded down to criminal trespass, court records show, and she was given 12-months probation. She is still on that probation and another probationary period for a 2021 theft in North Carolina. Leilani, 22, is the main suspect in the disappearance of her 18-month-old son. She is pictured in a 2021 mugshot after an arrest for theft in North Carolina. Bubba described Leilani as a cheater and liar who spent her days snorting cocaine and smoking marijuana DailyMail.com located the boy's biological father at his home 85 miles from Savannah, Georgia. Bubba Moss revealed to DailyMail.com how Leilani tried to pin his son's disappearance on him A warrant was issued for Bubba's arrest in the Waynesboro case, but he said he didn't know it at the time. Later that summer, a woman in another trailer there had her black and white Harley Davidson wallet stolen. The owner confronted Leilani, who blamed Bubba again. 'Mrs. Simon stated Mr. Henry Moss had stolen it,' the incident report states. But the report points out that the victim didn't witness the theft, and no arrest was made. The property owner told DailyMail.com that he evicted Leilani and Billie Jo, who was working as a union worker at a nearby nuclear plant, that summer. Leilani then moved in with Bubba in the nearby city of Hiltonia. 'Leilani's tried to blame it on me. I told police she's gonna hurt that baby' Henry 'Bubba' Moss But their relationship proved a disaster. Bubba described her as a cheater and liar, a homemaker who spent her days snorting cocaine and smoking marijuana. 'She did cocaine every day, all day, as much as she could,' he said. Leilani also exhibited a violent temper and would lash out at him when she was craving more drugs, according to Bubba. 'When she didn't get no money from me to get f**king drugs, she'd go crazy,' he said. 'She hit me a few times in the face.' He said Leilani would also sleep with other men to get cash for drugs. Everything fell apart after he received the arrest warrant in mid-February 2021. He had his best friend Morgan record her admitting she framed him. 'I'm saying, why did you do that, though?' Bubba could be heard telling Leilani on the recording, obtained by DailyMail.com. 'That is f**ked up. I can't believe it still. Huh? What, you gonna tell them the f**king truth now or what?' 'Yes, Bubba, I'm going to tell them the truth,' she replies. 'I've already called up there. They have so many different f**king recorded messages when you call them I'm going to tell the truth, that you didn't do anything.' 'I know, but damn, you shouldn't be lying and everything else, that we be together and everything else,' he snaps back. 'Damn, man, you f**king my life up with this,' he continues. 'I got locked up. I mean it's f**king stupid.' 'Why I'm so mad - there should have never been no motherf**king charges!' he argues. The five-minute recording also shed light on other aspects of their relationship. At the time, Quinton was about seven weeks old, and Bubba was still questioning whether he was the actual father. 'I'll keep the baby and take care of him and all, so if he's mine, we're going to get a DNA test,' he said. 'If he's mine, I would want to put his mother**king name right on his birth certificate and change his last name. He can live with me. I'll do that, put him in motherf**king day care, whatever I've got to do. I'll take care of him, I promise you that.' 'The only reason I'm not in Quinton's life is because she left,' Bubba told DailyMail.com. 'She was not welcome here anymore with all her lying and stealing' Leilani and her mother, Billie Jo Howell, were at StingRay's, a beach bar in the vacation town of Tybee Island, drowning their sorrows while authorities were searching for Quinton He then accuses her of sleeping with other men, to suggest that maybe he's not the father. 'I ain't f**ked nobody but Bubba Moss in 2021,' she insists, though she'd become pregnant with Quinton the prior year. 'I ain't never f**ked Tim either. That boy's a child.' After the argument, Bubba and Leilani split up. She left town later that year. 'The only reason I'm not in Quinton's life is because she left,' he told DailyMail.com. 'She was not welcome here anymore with all her lying and stealing.' Quinton's grandmother, Billie Jo, had legal custody of him at the time of his disappearance Bubba has experienced his own trouble with the law, admitting he'd previously been arrested for fighting, criminal trespass, and possession of marijuana. At the time of the disappearance, Leilani was living in Savannah with Quinton and Zayne, her boyfriend Danny Youngkin, Billie Jo and her husband Thomas Howell. Billie Jo obtained legal custody of Quinton and his now three-year-old brother Zayne. But she was reportedly out of town October 5. Police say Quinton was last seen by his mother's boyfriend, Youngkin, around 6am. It wasn't until after 9am that his mother reported him missing. Bubba said cops from the local sheriff's office confronted him later that morning. The next day, he drove to Savannah and spoke with the FBI. 'They wanted to talk to me,' he said. 'They were asking me a lot more questions about her.' He said investigators also had him take a DNA test to prove his paternity, and it came back a match. The next night, he stopped by Billie Jo's house to speak with Leilani and her mother, who were gathered in the backyard. To him, it seemed more like a party than a time of grief. 'Every one of them was high as a kite and drunk as hell,' he told DailyMail.com. 'Leilani was on something. She wasn't crying when I walked up. She was laughing and having a good time with everybody. It looked like a party.' 'I didn't tell her what the FBI told me,' he said. 'All I said was how did Quinton go missing, how did a 20-month-old go walk out?' 'She didn't have anything to say to me,' he added. 'All she said was she was sorry and that she didn't know what happened to him. That's all she does is lies.' He said that a few minutes after he spoke with her, she cried. Authorities would later drain the backyard pool, which was full when Bubba stopped by. The Chatham County Police Department shared photos of the team sorting through tons of garbage as they search for little Quinton While Leilani and her mother were drinking, agents were searching this landfill for any signs of little Quinton's remains A week after the disappearance, police announced that they believe Quinton is dead and named his mother as the prime suspect. The FBI has been searching a nearby landfill where they believe Quinton's body was dumped. As the search got underway early last week, Leilana and her mother left town for an overnight stay in Tybee Island, where they were seen laughing and smiling while downing Patron shots with several friends at StingRay's, a popular bar across the street from their motel. Bubba said he's shocked Leilani hasn't yet been arrested. 'I can't believe she ain't locked up now,' Bubba said. 'She's a terrible person and she's going to jail, or hell. She's evil. She shouldn't be here out in society.' 'If she didn't want him, she could have told me,' he added. 'I would have come and got him.' According to South Korea's military, warning shots were fired after a North Korean warship breached the maritime boundary between the two nations early on Monday. The North's official KCNA said in response to the South's warning shots, North Korea launched 10 artillery projectiles. According to a spokesman for the General Staff of the North's Korean People's Army, the North Korean rocket launchers were fired at roughly 5.15 am local time on Monday after the South Korean military fired warning shots at about 3:50 a.m. Tension Escalates Between North and South Korea The Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas, was crossed by a North Korean commerce ship, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the South. "The Korean People's Army General Staff... instructed to harshly send back the enemy's vessel with 10 rocket launcher shots, the North Korean official said in a statement reported by the KCNA. North Korea has conducted a number of nuclear tests in recent weeks in reaction to what it views as provocative military exercises between South Korea and the US. North Korea has launched 15 missiles and many artillery rounds into the ocean since September 25, as per The Independent. Regular military exercises between Seoul and Washington keep both sides ready for any North Korean assault. Although the allies claim that their exercises are defensive in character, North Korea sees them as a practice for an invasion. It would be "unimaginable" for a North Korean merchant ship to cross the border so early in the day without approval from the North's military, according to analyst Cheong Seong-Chang of the private Sejong Institute in South Korea. Cheong said recent missile tests by North Korea, in which the country claimed to have simulated the use of tactical nuclear weapons to attack South Korean and American targets, have given the country more assurance. He pointed out Pyongyang would also be aware of Washington's tense relations with China and Russia, which make it more challenging for the US to secure their assistance on the North Korean issue. According to Cheong, "the South Korean military has to undertake thorough preparations to prevent new incidents from developing on the West Sea and prevent them from leading to the North Korean military initiating artillery bombardments" on a South Korean border island. The North Korean artillery firings on Monday, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, violated a 2018 inter-Korean agreement on lowering military hostilities and jeopardize the stability of the Korean Peninsula. It stated that although South Korea is increasing its military preparation, North Korean shells did not land in South Korean seas, NBC San Diego reported. The Korean People's Army's General Staff claimed South Korea with inciting hostilities along their shared land border with its own artillery tests and propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts. Although South Korea has previously acknowledged that it conducted artillery drills last week as part of routine military training, it has denied that it resumed the loudspeaker broadcasts that both Koreas agreed to stop in 2018. Read Also: Xi Jinping Expands Powers, Promotes Allies After Successfully Getting Unprecedented 3rd Term US and South Korea to Conduct Joint Air Force Exercises The conflict on Monday occurred close to the ill-defined maritime border off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula, which has seen a number of brutal naval battles between the two Koreas in recent years, including two attacks in 2010 that resulted in the deaths of 50 South Koreans. Since the start of the year, Pyongyang has conducted an unprecedented number of missile tests, most notably launching an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan, which prompted a countrywide call to safety. It has just conducted another round of weapons tests, launching 15 missiles since September 25 in what it claims is retaliation for provocative military exercises by South Korea and the US. Regular combined military exercises between Seoul and Washington were scaled back in 2018 due to the 2019 breakdown of inter-Korean peace negotiations. For the first time in five years, the US Navy dispatched an aircraft carrier to conduct maneuvers with the South Korean Navy in September. A total of 240 warplanes, including F-35 fighters flown by both countries, will participate in joint air force exercises between South Korea and the US next week. The Pentagon also said last week that it had sent B-1B heavy bombers to Guam to thwart "possible provocations," according to The Telegraph via MSN. 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. A Michigan teenager on Monday pleaded guilty to murder and terrorism charges in a mass shooting at a high school last year that killed four of his classmates and wounded more than half a dozen other people. Ethan Crumbley, 16, is accused of opening fire at Oxford High School outside Detroit on November 30 with a semi-automatic handgun that his father purchased for him as a Christmas gift days before the massacre. The guilty plea comes after DailyMail.com revealed the dismissal of two school officials - Dean of Students Nicholas Ejak and Counselor Shawn Hopkins - who failed to send Crumbley home after meeting with him and his parents over disturbing drawings he'd made on the day of the shooting. Prosecutors told the court there was no plea agreement with Crumbley. There will be no trial due to the plea. Crumbley was charged as an adult, and faces life without parole when he is sentenced. A tentative sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 9, 2023. Ethan Crumbley, 16, pleaded guilty to murder and terrorism charges in a mass shooting at a high school last year that killed four of his classmates and wounded more than half a dozen other people Crumbley was 15-years-old when he opened fire at Oxford High School outside Detroit on November 30 with a semi-automatic handgun that his father purchased for him as a Christmas gift days before the massacre Two boys, aged 17 and 16, and two girls, aged 17 and 14, were killed while six other students and a teacher were wounded. Crumbley, who was a 15-year-old at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty in Oakland County Circuit Court to a total of 24 charges, including one count of terrorism causing death and four counts of first-degree murder. Crumbley was also charged with seven counts of assault with intent to murder and 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. 'Ethan Crumbley's guilty plea is one small step forward on a long path towards obtaining full justice for our clients. We will continue to fight until the truth is revealed about what went wrong leading up to this tragedy,' Ven Johnson, a lawyer representing several families of the victims, said in a statement. Crumbley wore an orange jumpsuit and a white mask over his nose and mouth while his left hand remained shackled during the hearing. As he stood at the podium, he answered 'Yes' to a series of questions the judge and prosecutor asked him, confirming his guilty plea. Ethan Crumbley, then 15, is seen in his booking photo released by Oakland County sheriff's office Ethan's parents, Jennifer Crumbley (left) and James Crumbley (right), both face manslaughter charges for their son's actions Crumbley's lawyers on Monday withdrew an insanity defense notice that they had previously filed with the court. Crumbley's parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, also face involuntary manslaughter charges connected to the shooting. In that case, Rochester District Court Judge Julie Nicholson said evidence showed they had purchased a gun for their son despite signs that he was a 'troubled young man.' The case appears to be the first in the United States in which the parents of a teenage school shooter have been charged with crimes attributed to their child. They have pleaded not guilty. Four days before the shooting, Ethan Crumbley accompanied his father to a gun shop, where James Crumbley bought a 9mm handgun, prosecutors said. Counselor Shawn Hopkins (pictured left) and the Oxford High School Dean of Students Nicholas Ejak (pictured right) were allegedly suspended in the wake of the brutal shooting at the school in November, but remain employed by the district, according to a lawsuit A memorial to the four victims of Ethan Crumbley's rampage, which he plead guilty to today Ejak and Hopkins were dismissed from the school after they were named in a lawsuit alleging the school district violated the constitutional rights of the children at school to be safe by failing to take proper action against Crumbley after he exhibited highly disturbing behavior on the day of the shooting. Ejak and Hopkins both met with Crumbley and his parents to discuss the disturbing drawings he'd made just a few hours before he went on a killing spree, according to the county prosecutor. Crumbley allegedly convinced them that the drawings were for a video game and his parents refused to take him home. The lawsuit against the district also claims Ejak had Crumbley's backpack containing a handgun and 48 rounds of ammunition in his possession. A representative from the district told Fox News that Hopkins and Ejak were both moved to a different school this fall but both 'are still employed by the school district.' A Michigan couple who vanished with their two teenage sons after ranting about 9/11 conspiracies have been found safe 300 miles away and are no longer a police concern - despite remaining convinced that people are 'after them'. Anthony and Suzette Cirigliano, 51, fled their home in Fremont, Michigan, with sons Brandon, 19, and Noah, 15, last week. DailyMail.com previously revealed how the couple had locked the doors and windows of their home, leaving Suzette's elderly, dementia-suffering mother wandering the streets. Before they vanished, Anthony phoned the police ranting about conspiracies involving the FBI, CIA and 911. Anthony and Suzette Cirigliano, 51, fled their home in Fremont, Michigan, with sons Brandon, 19, and Noah, 15, last week. Police now say they are safe, but remain 'of the opinion that people are after them' The family drove 300 miles north of their home. That is where they were spotted in Over the weekend, the family was spotted in a gas station in Wisconsin. One of the teenage boys asked to use the store's phone, which staff thought was strange. Now, as a result of that sighting, police have been able to track down the family and interview them. They say that while they remain certain that 'people are after them', they can no longer intervene. Suzette's mother is now being cared for by another family member. In an update on Monday, Fremont Police said: 'The Fremont Police Deaprtment would like to thank you for all the helping locating the Cirigliano Family. 'The family was successfully located in Wisconsin.' Gas station footage caught the family at the Blaney Park Quik Stop off the US-2 highway in Gulliver on Monday - hundreds of miles away from their home. Tony had called police ranting about 9/11, the FBI and the CIA. Police say he and his wife still believe people are 'after them' The alarm was raised when Suzette's elderly, dementia-suffering mother was found wandering the streets near their home. The family is shown with both Tony and Suzette's mothers A gas station manager said one of the sons came into the store and asked to use the phone while the other used the restroom during the family's 15-minute pit stop for food and gas. 'He was acting a little strange, so we were just watching him,' manager Heidi Bowler told Nexstar's WOOD-TV. 'The only reason we paid attention to them is because the boys were a little different. 'I thought, "I wonder what's wrong. 'Like, why is he using the phone? No one else is asking."' Footage captured Anthony pumping gas into their silver 2005 Toyota Sienna minivan while Suzette wandered around the gas station store. A couple and their teenage sons who mysteriously vanished were spotted 300 miles away from their Michigan home days at a gas station at the Blaney Park Quik Stop off the US-2 highway in Gulliver. Pictured: Suzette Cirigliano shopping with one of her sons Footage captured Anthony Cirigliano pumping gas into their silver 2005 Toyota Sienna minivan Anthony and Suzette Cirigliano, both 51, and their two sons Brandon, 19, and Noah, 15, were spotted on Monday after disappearing from their Fremont home Brandon, 19, and Noah, 15 were spotted by a gas station manager at the Blaney Park Quik Stop off the US-2 highway in Gulliver on Monday asking to use a phone and the restroom Bowler was unaware of the missing Cirigliano family until she learned about them through a missing family article on Facebook days later. Quickly, she was able to identify the Ciriglianos as the 'strange' family that went to the gas station earlier in the week. 'I immediately started the footage and I looked and I scrolled in on the license plate,' Bowler said. 'It's definitely them.' The gas station manager called Fremont Police Department and reported the sighting. She said the family didn't appear to be in any danger. Mystery has shrouded the case after it emerged that on October 16 before they disappeared, Anthony had called 911 in distress about a 9/11 conspiracy theory and was 'paranoid' about the FBI and CIA. Anthony's bizarre 911 call obtained by News 8 revealed his last words to police as he requested 'police protection immediately' due to his knowledge on the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The father of two could be heard on the recording seeking the help from Fremont Police Department Sgt. John Greeting. 'I'm not crazy,' Anthony told the 911 operator. 'Mr. Greeting knows me. I'm a Christian. I just need some help. I know this sounds crazy. You don't have instructions for this.' Officers arrived at the Cirigilano's home after confirming he didn't have any weapons. After interviewing him for about an hour, they determined he wasn't in danger and left. Gas station surveillance footage captured the minivan the family was using The family is traveling in a silver 2005 Toyota Sienna minivan (pictured) The next day, officers only discovered that the family were missing when they found Suzette's elderly mother, who suffers from dementia and is cared for by Suzette, was found wandering the streets of Fremont confused and alone, according to Fox News. When the police took Suzette's mother back to the family home, they discovered the parents and their two sons were missing. Police have since searched the family's home and found Suzette and the two teenager's phones there. The couple have not used their credit cards and there has been no activity on their bank accounts, while Antony's phone has been turned off, police said. 'We're just very concerned,' Fremont police department chief Tim Rodwell said. 'The circumstances are strange.' The family appeared to have left abruptly as they had not made any arrangements for Suzette's elderly mother, who is now in the care of another relative. The night before they disappeared, Anthony had called 911 in distress. 'Anthony was complaining of some elaborate issue in regard to the Sept. 11 attack,' Rodwell said. 'He was displaying to my officers paranoia and some concerns in regard to the FBI and CIA.' Two police officers went to their family home that night and spoke to Anthony for 45 minutes, police said. They also spoke to Suzette to make sure she was safe. But the police officers determined from the visit that the family were not in imminent danger. 'They seem like really good people who were taking care of their family,' Rodwell said. 'No one has had any problems with them.' The Covid-19 pandemic took a 'profound toll' on America's schoolchildren, causing historic setbacks in math and reading and erasing decades of academic progress, a government agency warned on Monday. Across the US, math scores saw their biggest decreases ever, and reading scores fell to levels not seen since the early 1990s, according to National Assessment of Educational Progress known as the 'nation's report card'. The collected scores of hundreds of thousands of fourth and eighth graders found that nearly four in 10 eighth graders failed to grasp basic math concepts a sign of the devastating effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on America's children. The same agency last month revealed how math and reading scores for other age groups had also tanked, with mass school closures during the pandemic being blamed for upending the education for millions of children. 'The results show the profound toll on student learning during the pandemic, as the size and scope of the declines are the largest ever in mathematics,' said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics. NAEP assessment results are reported as average scores on a 0-500 scale. They are derived from student responses to assessment questions, and summarize overall performance levels A student participates in a remote math class from his home in Kensington, Maryland, in 2020, as the Coronavirus pandemic shuttered classrooms. Test results fell markedly during the outbreak MOMS AGAINST SCHOOL LOCKDOWNS Mom-of-four Tiffany Justice says lockdowns were an educational 'black hole' for kids Tiffany Justice, wife and mom of four school-aged children, said Covid-19 quarantine measures were the equivalent of a student falling into an educational black hole that could derail their progress for years. Though Florida was relatively light in lockdown rules, schools in her part of the central Atlantic coast had strict quarantine rules, meaning seemingly healthy students were kept out of class if they were exposed to somebody who was infected. When a student was quarantined and my own daughter was quarantined, twice back to back it was like they fell into a black hole, Justice told DailyMail.com The only communication they had with a teacher was on a message board, with no video. Justice says she watched her daughter and her classmates trying to set themselves on a trajectory for a good future but being repeatedly sidetracked and unable to complete courses and take part in school sports. You'd have all these healthy children outside of school, they were going to the beach together, they were hanging out together, completely healthy. And they weren't allowed in school, and that was a crime, said Justice, who is also co-founder of Moms for Liberty, a campaign group. We will hold people accountable for the crimes that were perpetrated against children so that it never happens again. Erika Sanzi says lockdowns 'hurt a lot of families' in Rhode Island Erika Sanzi, a former teacher, said the pandemic affected the education of her three school-aged sons, even though Rhode Island had relatively limited school lockdowns, but maintained tough masking and vaccination rules. She had to put scaffolding in place to ensure her boys could continue their education, study unsupervised, and not fall too far behind but other families in her area were not so lucky, she added. It really hurt a lot of families in my state, Sanzi, also the outreach director at Parents Defending Education, a campaign group, told DailyMail.com. Families with an eight-year-old child who was getting repeatedly quarantined, couldnt stay at home alone, and didnt have a parent who worked from home. When schools were open, masking rules inhibited classroom interaction, said Sanzi. Schoolchildren who had been exposed to the pathogen, though were not necessarily sick or contagious, were repeatedly kicked out of classrooms. For many schoolkids who fell behind, theres a very good chance they're not going to catch up, she warned. Advertisement It's no surprise that children are behind. The pandemic upended every facet of life and left millions learning from home for months or more. The results released this week showcase the depth of those setbacks, and the size of the challenge facing schools as they help students catch up. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said it's a sign that schools need to redouble their efforts, using billions of dollars that Congress gave schools to help students recover. 'Let me be very clear: these results are not acceptable,' Cardona said. The NAEP test is typically given every two years. It was taken between January and March by a sample of students in every state, along with 26 of the nation's largest school districts. Scores had been stalling even before the pandemic, but the new results show decreases on a scale not seen before. In both math and reading, students scored lower than those tested in 2019. But while reading scores dipped, math scores plummeted by the largest margins in the history of the NAEP test, which began in 1969. Math scores were worst among eighth graders, with 38 percent earning scores deemed 'below basic' a cutoff that measures, for example, whether students can find the third angle of a triangle if they're given the other two. That's worse than 2019, when 31 percent of eighth graders scored below that level. No part of the country was exempt. Every region saw test scores slide, and every state saw declines in at least one subject. Several major districts saw test scores fall by more than 10 points. Cleveland saw the largest single drop, falling 16 points in fourth-grade reading, along with a 15-point decline in fourth-grade math. Baltimore and Tennessee's Shelby County also saw precipitous declines. 'This is more confirmation that the pandemic hit us really hard,' said Eric Gordon, chief executive for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. To help students recover, the school system has beefed up summer school and added after-school tutoring. 'I'm not concerned that they can't or won't recover,' Gordon said. 'I'm concerned that the country won't stay focused on getting kids caught up.' The results show a reversal of progress on math scores, which had made big gains since the 1990s. Reading, by contrast, had changed little in recent decades, so even this year's relatively small decreases put the averages back to where they were in 1992. Most concerning, however, are the gaps between students. Confirming what many had feared, racial inequities appear to have widened during the pandemic. In fourth grade, Black and Hispanic students saw bigger decreases than white students, widening gaps that have persisted for decades. Inequities were also reflected in a growing gap between higher and lower performing students. In math and reading, scores fell most sharply among the lowest performing students, creating a widening chasm between struggling students and the rest of their peers. Surveys done as part of this year's test illustrate the divide. When schools shifted to remote learning, higher performing students were far more likely to have reliable access to quiet spaces, computers and help from their teachers, the survey found. The results make clear that schools must address the 'long-standing and systemic shortcomings of our education system,' said Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of Los Angeles schools and a member of the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets the policies for the test. 'While the pandemic was a blow to schools and communities, we cannot use it as an excuse,' he said. 'We have to stay committed to high standards and expectations and help every child succeed.' Other recent studies have found that students who spent longer periods learning online suffered greater setbacks. But the NAEP results show no clear connection. A mother working from home sits alongside her son attending school remotely in an arranged photograph taken in Miami, Florida, US, as the pandemic raged in September 2020 Peggy Carr, Commissioner of the National Center for Education, laments the 'profound toll' on schoolkids Areas that returned to the classroom quickly still saw significant declines, and cities which were more likely to stay remote longer actually saw milder decreases than suburban districts, according to the results. Los Angeles can claim one of the few bright spots in the results. The nation's second-largest school district saw eighth-grade reading scores increase by 9 points, the only significant uptick in any district. For other districts, it was a feat just to hold even, as achieved by Dallas and Florida's Hillsborough County. Testing critics caution against putting too much stock in exams like NAEP, but there's no doubt that the skills it aims to measure are critical. Students who take longer to master reading are more likely to drop out and end up in the criminal justice system, research has found. And eighth grade is seen as a pivotal time to develop skills for math, science and technology careers. For Carr, the results raise new questions about what will happen to students who appear to be far behind in attaining those skills. 'We want our students to be prepared globally for STEM careers, science and technology and engineering,' she said. 'This puts all of that at risk. We have to do a reset. This is a very serious issue, and it's not going to go away on its own.' A woke oath taken by students at a prestigious medical school pledging to tackle white supremacy and embrace indigenous medicine has been blasted as harmful to patients. The University of Minnesota medical school's class of 2026 recited an oath which also promised to 'uproot the legacy and perpetuation of structural violence deeply embedded within the healthcare system'. But a leading doctor has now warned adopting political messages instead of focusing on healthcare could harm the public. The oath said: 'We commit to uprooting the legacy and perpetuation of structural violence deeply embedded within the healthcare system. 'We recognize iniquities built by past and present traumas rooted in white supremacy, colonialism, the gender binary, ableism and all forms of oppression.' Dr Marc Siegel (pictured), clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, said the contents of the pledge were a 'mess' Students committed to 'promoting an culture of anti-racism, listening and amplifying voices for positive change'. They added: 'We pledge to honor all Indigenous ways of healing that have been historically marginalized by Western medicine.' But Dr Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, said the contents of the pledge were a 'mess'. 'Indigenous medicine, honoring the history of that would be one thing, but if we start having to give out herbs rather than the latest technology, it might actually influence patient care,' he told Fox News. 'The other thing I wonder is, are they going to get rid of the white coat altogether, because it's a white coat?' The ceremony at the University of Minnesota was led by Robert Englander (pictured), Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education Among the pledges the students (pictured) made was to 'honor Indigenous ways of healing that's been marginalized by Western medicine' Students (pictured) also committed to 'promoting an culture of anti-racism, listening and amplifying voices for positive change' The university's oath, taken on August 19, also referred to 'healing our planet'. But Dr Siegel said: 'Well how about healing ourselves and healing our patients? The whole white coat ceremony was based on the Hippocratic Oath, do no harm, and the whole idea of being humble and being kind and having integrity. 'All of that really matters and the ceremony is really important. 'There's no guarantee whatsoever that even if you mouth those words that you won't actually treat people properly. 'You could mouth those words and be politically correct and follow critical race theory but still be awful to people. 'They are building a community of robots, not doctors. I want to know how to take out an appendix, how to give antibiotics, that's what we're supposed to be doing.' He concluded by saying student should be 'studying medical text books' rather than being forced into social and political debates. The University y of Minnesota medical school (pictured) came under fire after the oath was aired in August White coat ceremonies typically include a recital of the Hippocratic Oath, which dates back to Ancient Greece as an ethical code for physicians. It includes the promise: 'First, do no harm'. The ceremony at the University of Minnesota was led by Robert Englander, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education. The university explains: 'It is during this ceremony when students recite their oath. 'This sacred pledge dates back hundreds of years and affirms each student to abide by a strong set of ethical standards, commitment to their patients and the utmost quality of care.' Students also committed to 'promoting an culture of anti-racism, listening and amplifying voices for positive change'. 'We vow to embrace our role as community members and strive to embody cultural humility,' the oath said. 'We promise to continue restoring trust in the medical system and fulfilling our responsibilities as educators and advocates. 'We commit to collaborating with social, political and additional systems to advance health equity. 'We will learn from the scientific innovations made before us and pledge to advance and share this knowledge with peers and neighbors. 'We recognize the importance of being in community with and advocating for those we serve.' A progressive opposition group isn't just focusing their efforts on Donald Trump for 2024 but has broadened their research to nearly two dozen candidates who might make a bid for the White House against the former president. American Bridge 21st Century, Democrats' largest opposition research group, is tracking 21 candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, according to a document provided to Yahoo News. The massive field includes Trump, who is the de facto frontrunner, as well as a slew of current and former lawmakers. The race for the White House is set to start in coming weeks after the 2022 midterms conclude in November. GOP governors that the group is tracking includes Florida's Ron DeSantis, South Dakota's Kristi Noem, Maryland Larry Hogan, Virginia's Glenn Youngkin, Texas' Greg Abbott, Arizona's Doug Ducey, Arkansas' Asa Hutchinson and New Hampshire's Chris Sununu as well as former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Republican Senators being tracked already are Ted Cruz of Texas, Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, both of Florida, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Mitt Romney of Utah. Progressive opposition research group American Bridge 21st Century is already tracking 21 candidates it feels could make a bid for president in 2024 with de facto frontrunner Donald Trump at the top of the list Democrats' largest opposition research group is also making sure to keep an eye on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate The other four on American Bridge's target list are former Vice President Mike Pence, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and outgoing Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney. The opposition research group has hired a new presidential research director and a team of more than a dozen researchers in preparation for the 2024 presidential race. American Bridge tracks candidates' comments and monitors conservative media. No one has officially announced that they are running for president in 2024 yet, as campaign finance laws would start immediately applying. Trump and President Joe Biden have both hinted that they will be running again. Other potential candidates have refused to comment or delivered statements claiming they won't rule anything out when asked whether they are weighing running for president in 2024. The field that the American Bridge is tracking is the largest in modern memory and further proves that Trump doesn't have the nomination in the bag. No one has yet said if they will run for president, but the race will likely heat up after the 2022 midterms next month. American Bridge is also keeping tabs on some anti-Trump establishment GOP lawmakers like Representative Liz Cheney (left) and Senator Mitt Romney (right) A new poll shows that more Republicans wants to see Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have influence over the future of the GOP than former President Donald Trump 'I think part of it is an insurance policy. I think part of it is also acknowledging that a lot can happen, especially as we're seeing sort of the walls close in around Trump,' American Bridge's new presidential research director Julie Alderman Boudreau told Yahoo of their expansive list. 'We've acknowledged Trump as a candidate,' she added. 'And I think it'd be foolish to say he's not the frontrunner, but at the same time there's going to be a contest. We might as well get ready.' DeSantis' additional to the list comes as a new poll shows that Republicans think the Florida governor should be a bigger face of the future of the GOP than Trump. Most voters in a new ABC News/Ipsos poll released Sunday shows that 72 percent of right-leaning voters are more interested in DeSantis being the face of the future of the Republican Party while 8 percent less 64 percent felt Trump should maintain that power. Closely behind Trump is Texas Senator Ted Cruz , with 63 percent of Republicans surveyed saying they want him to have a 'great deal' or 'good amount of influence' over the party and South Carolina Senator Rick Scott came in fourth with 52 percent. All four men are on American Bridge's radar for 2024. Former Vice President Mike Pence is also on the list of nearly two dozen lawmakers that the progressive group is watching out for in 2024 Alderman Boudreau said that the group is looking at mainstream Republicans even though the party is shifting toward more extremist candidates, claiming that the standard expectation can't be lowered for the caliber of GOP candidates just because of Trump. 'The bar is below the surface level,' she said. 'Has Liz Cheney done the right thing by serving the January 6 committee and speaking the truth? Yes. But that can't be the only qualifier. She's still the person who put out a statement the day that Roe got overturned.' A group of devotees took sex dolls to Myanmar's holiest site to perform 'ritual incantations', the country's religious affairs ministry has said. Eight people tried to bring the pair of 'lady dolls' into the towering, gold-plated Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon on Saturday. The dolls were allegedly imported by the accused from China for around 2,000 each. A group of devotees took sex dolls to Myanmar's holiest site to perform 'ritual incantations', the country's religious affairs ministry has said The dolls were allegedly imported by the accused from China for around 2,000 each Security prevented the dolls from entering the complex, which dominates the commercial capital's skyline and, is said to contain strands of the Buddha's hair. The group instead left them outside and walked around the compound before carrying out the incantations in the car park. It is not known exactly what ritualistic acts they performed. 'While performing their ritual incantations, pagoda security personnel called them for interrogation and rid the pagoda precinct of the dolls,' the ministry said. State media showed pictures of the dolls wearing tiaras and traditional dresses, their palms pressed together in a traditional greeting and with offerings of fruit and flowers laid out before them. Eight people tried to bring the pair of 'lady dolls' into the towering, gold-plated Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon Security prevented the dolls from entering the complex, which dominates the commercial capital's skyline The group instead left them outside and walked around the compound before carrying out the incantations in the car park Local reports said the two figures had been dressed as spirit guardians typically worshipped to bring protection and good luck. The group will be prosecuted 'for defamation of the Buddhist religion,' the statement said. Some online users condemned the groups' actions. 'This is very rude acting like this at Shwedagon as it is a holy place,' one wrote. Advertisement Liz Truss donned another pair of large sunglasses as she headed out of Downing Street this afternoon - just minutes after it was confirmed Rishi Sunak will be her successor. Sunak is expected to move into Downing Street tomorrow, making her the shortest serving Prime Minister in British political history with just 44 days in office. On Monday afternoon, she congratulated her successor and told him: 'You have my full support'. She tweeted: 'Congratulations @RishiSunak on being appointed as Leader of the Conservative Party and our next Prime Minister. You have my full support'. Now that Mr Sunak has been confirmed as the next Prime Minister, Ms Truss will offer her resignation to King Charles III paving the way for coronation.ng She wore another pair of sunglasses when she emerged from Downing Street on Friday as it reveals she will receive 115,000 a year from the taxpayer to maintain a public office. Meanwhile, Mr Sunak was seen celebrating with MPs and Tory supporters who had gathered outside the Conservative Campaign HQ in London. Liz Truss is pictured getting into a Land Rover at Downing Street this afternoon - minutes after her successor was announced Even close allies of Truss said on Monday that the Tory party must now get behind Rish Sunak. Asked by reporters if Mr Sunak was an election winner, Deputy Prime Minister Therese Coffey said: 'I think he certainly won an election this week. 'We need to get behind him and I will do whatever I can to help support him in making sure that he is in the best place possible in his role as prime minister but also in winning the next election.' On Thursday afternoon, Liz Truss stood at the lectern outside No 10 and in a brief speech, told the country she recognised she 'cannot deliver the mandate' which Tory members gave her a little over six weeks ago. Over the weekend, the outgoing Prime Minister held a series of farewell events for MPs and staff at Chequers on her final weekend in post. The departing premier, who resigned this week after a disastrous spell in No 10, used the grace-and-favour mansion in Buckinghamshire for a string of goodbye parties. A Downing Street source revealed the PM - at her personal expense - had gathered MPs and staff at the 16th-century manor house to thank them. An inquest into Ms Truss's spectacular downfall has seen a former adviser accuse the PM of ignoring the 'political reality of the world outside' as soon as she won power. Kirsty Buchanan, who was a special adviser to Ms Truss at the Ministry of Justice and who also worked in Downing Street under Theresa May, claimed the PM's reputation was 'in tatters'. 'The seeds of destruction were sown early as she shut out all but her closest allies and cocooned herself with those who shared her views,' Ms Buchanan wrote in the Sunday Times. Liz Truss, pictured leaving Downing Street on Friday, has used Chequers for a string of goodbye parties A Downing Street source revealed the PM - at her personal expense - had gathered MPs and staff at the 16th-century manor house in Buckinghamshire to thank them 'With experience and institutional knowledge gone, dangerous groupthink and staggering naivety took hold at No 10. 'Hubris went unchecked when humility was required from an administration that did not earn its majority but inherited it. 'Politics was baked in a Petri dish, away from the political reality of the world outside.' Ms Truss's former aide said it would take 'every ounce of her famed resilience' for the PM to 'bounce back from this humiliation'. 'I suspect, though, that it will be the humbling in the eyes of her daughters, of whom she is fiercely proud, which may hit Truss hardest,' she added. Ms Truss is beginning her final week as Prime Minister as her rivals circle to take her job - but there is also increasing anger about the cash and benefits she is leaving with and demands for her to forgo them. Like all other departing Government ministers, Ms Truss will be entitled to one-quarter of her annual salary in severance pay. Ms Truss earned a total salary of 164,080: 84,144 for being an MP, plus a further 75,440 for being PM. It means she is in line for a 18,860 pay-out due to her resignation as PM. She will continue to receive her 84,144 salary for being MP for South West Norfolk. Meanwhile, on top of the 18,860 pay-out, Ms Truss will also be entitled to claim up to 115,000 a year in an allowance for former prime ministers - a point of contention after she only served in office for 44 days. Payments are made to help ex-premiers continue to fulfil their public duties through the running of an office. They are entitled to the money for the rest of their lives, unless they take up another public appointment. Former PMs have to supply supporting documents - such as salary details for staff, or travel receipts - in order to receive the cash. Her predecessors Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson are all believed to have claimed it. Ms Truss will also benefit from a taxpayer-funded pension as a former minister and Prime Minister. And Nick Clegg initially took it too after the he left Westminster. Last week, Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer joined calls for Ms Truss to reject her allowance and hand back any payout, declaring that she had 'not earned the right' to keep it. He said: 'She should turn it down. I think that's the right thing to do. She's done 44 days in office, she's not really entitled to it, she should turn it down and not take it'. The Liberal Democrats said it will leave a further 'bitter taste' if she claims the allowance payment. An expert in body dissection accused of killing and beheading a pensioner used her 'knowledge and ability' to cover her tracks after the murder, a court heard today. Former osteopath Jemma Mitchell, 38, is accused of killing Mee Kuen Chong, 67, at her home in Wembley before dumping her body more than 250 miles away in Salcombe, Devon. The 38-year-old allegedly needed 400,000 to modernise her London home and had pressurised Ms Chong to give her some money. When Ms Chong refused, Mitchell is alleged to have killed Ms Chong on 11 June after battering her head and fracturing her skull with a blunt object, the Old Bailey heard. Both of them were devout Christians who met through the church and had known each other since August 2020, jurors were told. Jemma Mitchell (pictured), 38, is accused of killing Mee Kuen Chong, 67, at her home in Wembley before dumping her body more than 250 miles away in Salcombe, Devon Previously a pathologist said Ms Chong's head injury could have been caused by a blow with a weapon or a violent push. Mitchell then moved the body in a blue suitcase to her half-derelict house and kept it there for two weeks before driving to Devon in a rented Volvo, the jury heard. The head was found ten metres away and had been cleanly cut from the rest of the body. Mitchell had been a brilliant medical student and won a prestigious prize for her knowledge of the human body. After the killing, she allegedly made herself the main beneficiary of the victims will. Prosecutor Deanna Heer, KC, said: 'On 11 June 2021, Deborah Chong went missing from her home. 15 days later on 27 June 2021 her body was found 200 miles away in Devon. Decapitated and dumped. Mitchell killed Ms Chong on 11 June after battering her head and fracturing her skull with a blunt object, it was claimed 'There is one person who connects those two events and that is the defendant Jemma Mitchell.' Ms Heer told the jury the killing and hiding of Ms Chong's body was all done 'quite deliberately for one purpose - money.' She said: 'The defendant wanted someone to pay for repairs and in Deborah Chong she found that person. 'Someone who is vulnerable. Someone who is too quick to offer money to help people. Someone who was obviously mentally unstable. Someone who could be taken advantage of, flattered, and convinced to give money. 'Deborah Chong withdrew her help and the defendant set out to kill her, forged her will, and that's exactly what the evidence proves she did. 'On the evidence presented to you, you can be sure that that is the truth.' Both Mitchell and Ms Chong were devout Christians who met through the church and had known each other since August 2020, jurors were told. Ms Heer said the lack of forensic evidence uncovered during the investigation was not unusual 'when the perpetrator sets out to cover their tracks and where they have the knowledge and ability to do so.' Likening the facts of the case to a jigsaw puzzle, Ms Heer said: 'There are gaps in the evidence, things you would like to know, but that doesn't stop you from seeing the picture. 'This was not a spontaneous killing. She thought it through. She thought it was such an easy thing to get away with murder and she didn't think it through enough. 'I ask that when you consider any single piece of evidence, you consider it in the context of the other evidence. 'It clearly shows that Jemma Mitchell is guilty of murder of Deborah Chong, that is the only conclusion that fits the totality of the evidence.' Mitchell, of Brondesbury Park, Willesden, northwest London, denies murder but she has declined to give evidence. Judge Richard Marks has said jurors could also consider a charge of manslaughter on the basis Australian-born Mitchell did not intend to kill Ms Chong. The case continues. A teenager was stabbed and injured on a New York subway after she got into an argument with two other girls. The 14-year-old was on a train at Saint Nicholas Avenue and 191st Street in Washington Heights on Sunday when she was stabbed in the torso. She was taken to hospital in stable condition. The stabbing is the latest violent crime on the Big Apple's transport system as Mayor Eric Adams continues to claim there is only a perception that crime is out of control in the city. Since the start of the year, nine people have been killed on the subway system and another 13 have been victims of senseless shoved. The latest shoving victim was attacked on Saturday. Adams has now been forced to confront the escalating violence, and on Saturday said that he will flood the subways with more cops to curb attacks on commuters. In this latest incident, the 14-year-old girl - who has not been identified - was seen on the train about 4pm on Saturday. 'She was holding her side the whole time because it happened on the train and there was no blood trail,' MTA cleaner Walter R. Lewis told the New York Post. 'She said she had history with the girl, whoever it was, that stabbed her.' The girl was with a 13-year-old boy who was also injured - but not stabbed - while attempting to breakup the fight, NYPD told DailyMail.com. No arrests have been made. A 14-year-old girl was knifed on a New York subway located in Washington Heights on Sunday by two girls that she knew Mayor Eric Adams previously claimed there is only a perception that crime is out of control in the city Adams was put under pressure last week after disregarding rising NYC subway crime, and claiming that only six crimes on average happen per day on the transport network. But after furious backlash, he pledged on Saturday in the Grand Central Terminal alongside the MTA Police Department and Gov. Kathy Hochul to fill the subways with more police and extra security measures. The new initiative will add 1,200 more shifts, or 10,000 more hours per day to enhance security in the subway. The focus will be in Penn Station, Atlantic Terminal, Grand Central and Jamaica Station, according to NBC. 'We must address both the perception and reality of safety, and the expanded partnership we are announcing today with Governor Hochul will do just that, while building off the successes of our Subway Safety Plan,' Adams said. ' 'The bottom line is that riders will see more officers in the system, and so will those thinking of breaking the law.' Subway police will also have to undergo new training on how to care for mentally ill riders. The plan will complement the two new psychiatric facilities that will soon open soon in the city. The first center will open on November 1 and the second in 2023. It's unclear when the new initiative will begin. Adams has been slammed by former NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly who said on Sunday that the subway crimes in the cities have run rampant. 'We were the safest big city in America just a few years ago,' Kelly said, according to the NY Post. 'This isn't brain surgery. You go back and look at the things we were doing then and you re-implement them. But apparently, the mayor doesn't want to do this.' 'Every day you read about a crime in the transit system, and it just reinforces the notion that it's too dangerous to travel on the subway. I think they need a fresh look at the transit system because we know the subways are the lifeblood of New York.' In this latest incident, the 14-year-old girl - who has not been identified - was seen on the train about 4pm at the 191 St station in Washington Heights on Saturday Transit crime in New York City is up 31 percent, year on year Last week, Adams said that there is only a 'perception that crime in the city is 'out of control' despite nine people being murdered on the subway system this year. He claimed that he was fighting the 'actual crime',' with the average of 'six crimes a day' on the subway 'not giving the impression that crime is out of control.' Despite Adam's previous claims, slayings on the transportation network have skyrocketed to the highest annual levels in 25 years, as NYPD data shows the city is grappling with an overall spike in random violence. Overall crime in the city is up 31.1 percent in comparison to last year with felony assaults, robbery and rape leading the ranks. Hours after the 14-year-old girl was stabbed in Washington Heights, another unprovoked attack occurred on a southbound platform in the Bronx. A 63-year-old passenger was waiting for the No.4 train when he was hit in the head from behind - causing him to fall onto the train tracks, according to NBC New York. The man refused medical care - and police later arrested a 21-year-old man. Last week two men were shoved onto train tracks in the Big Apple. David Martin, 32, was the latest subway victim that is know suffering from a broken collarbone and a swollen face after being targeted by a crazed man at the Wyckoff Avenue and Myrtle Avenue subway station at 2.40pm on Friday. Martin is now traumatized to the point of being suicidal, according to his mother. The 32-year-old became the 13th victim this year - and the third in just one week - to be pushed onto the subway tracks in New York City. Video released by the New York Police Department on Saturday shows a man charging at a subway passenger David Martin at a station in Brooklyn Friday afternoon Video footage showed the horrifying moment the attacker shoved Martin before running away and escaping through the turnstiles. Another man was rescued by Good Samaritans on October 15 after he was shoved off platform located at 149th Street in the Bronx. Surveillance footage showed the horrific moment, the wide-eyed pusher stalked the 26-year-old man for seconds before running behind him and pushing him off the platform. The pusher fled the station and appeared to be shocked the man was helped by Good Samaritans. Another man was rescued by Good Samaritans on October 15 after he was shoved off platform located at 149th Street in the Bronx 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. Others say it's down to relaxed bail policies in liberal cities like New York and San Francisco. 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. Advertisement This is the bizarre moment a parliamentary security officer tried to shut down a Sky News broadcast after more than 30 Greenpeace activists staged a protest in the central lobby. Chief Political Correspondent Jon Craig was interviewing Tory MPs Rebecca Pow and Laura Farris when the activists began pouring into the room before sitting down and linking arms. Despite the security breach, it appeared one officer was more concerned about the continuing broadcast, with footage showing him walking up to the camera and putting his hand over the screen. This prompted a reprimand from Mr Craig, who said: 'We're mid-way through an interview, excuse me.' The officer walked away, before coming back several moments later shaking his head before standing with his back to the camera. 'Got to stop you there, Laura Farris, Rebecca Pow, thank you very much. And the policeman [sic], sir, you're like on Sky News,' Mr Craig said, before the officer muttered, 'My apologies'. The protest took place within minutes of Rishi Sunak being named as the new PM, with campaigners who had entered the Palace of Westminster as tourists and visitors unfurling a banner reading Chaos Costs Lives. There was no attempt by police to move them on and after reading out a number of statements they left voluntarily. It is the latest breach of parliamentary security after Extinction Rebellion activists were able to glue themselves to the Speaker's Chair last month. Sky News footage the moment Greenpeace activists 'occupied' the central lobby of parliament today, with a security officer bizarrely attempting to halt an interview that was being broadcast at the time Presenter Jon Craig was interviewing Tory MPs Rebecca Pow and Laura Farris when the protesters began pouring into the room before sitting down and linking arms. This prompted the officer to walk over and put his hand on the screen The intervention prompted a reprimand from Mr Craig, who said: 'We're mid-way through an interview, excuse me' The officer walked away, before coming back several moments later shaking his head before standing with his back to the camera The protesters - who were also from Fuel Poverty Action - unveiled a banner reading Chaos Costs Lives. There was no attempt by police to move them on and after reading out a number of statements they left voluntarily Greenpeace UK's co-executive director, Will McCallum, said: 'Rishi Sunak should have realised by now the huge mistake he made by blocking plans for warmer homes and failing to properly tax fossil fuel giants. 'People need permanently lower bills and a safe climate, and that means more renewable energy, more financial support, a nationwide street-by-street insulation programme, and a proper tax on the energy profiteers to pay for it.' Ruth London, from Fuel Poverty Action, which also took part in the protest, called for support for their 'energy for all' proposal, giving each household enough free energy to cover basics such as heating, cooking and lighting, paid for windfall taxes, ending fossil fuel subsidies and higher prices for excess energy use. It comes just hours after police arrested a group of Just Stop Oil protesters who threw chocolate cake in the face of a waxwork of King Charles at Madame Tussauds in the eco mob's 26th stunt this month. Footage shows two of the eco zealots walking up to the waxwork at the famous London attraction at around 10.50am before taking off their tops to reveal Just Stop Oil t-shirts. One of them shouts, 'This is a time for action' before they both smear it with cake. As onlookers shout 'stop', the female protester begins a finger-wagging lecture about climate change while her male counterpart stands awkwardly with his arms crossed. Just Stop Oil identified the pair as Eilidh McFadden, a 20-year-old from Glasgow and Tom Johnson, 29, a painter decorator from Sunderland. They had bought tickets to Madame Tussauds and wore black tops to cover their t-shirts. This morning, the Met confirmed they had been arrested for criminal damage alongside two others. Nearby waxworks of Camilla, William and Kate emerged unscathed. McFadden said: 'We are here because we seek to protect our freedoms and rights, because we seek to protect this green and pleasant land which is the inheritance of us all. Last year, at Cop 26 in Glasgow, Queen Elizabeth said: ''The time for words has moved to the time for action''.' She added: 'The science is clear. The demand is simple: just stop new oil and gas. It's a piece of cake.' King Charles III is a passionate environmental campaigner who has long spoken about the dangers of global warming. He had planned to travel to Egypt for Cop27, but has since abandoned plans to do so after it was claimed former prime minister Liz Truss warned him against attending. Footage shows two of the eco morons walking up to the waxwork at the famous London attraction before taking off their tops to reveal Just Stop Oil t-shirts One of the protesters shouts, 'This is a time for action' before they both smear the waxwork with cake Onlookers can be heard shouting 'stop' during this morning's bizarre protest in London As onlookers shout 'stop', the female protester begins a finger-wagging lecture about climate change while her male counterpart stands awkwardly Just Stop Oil identified the pair as Eilidh McFadden, a 20-year-old from Glasgow and Tom Johnson, 29, a painter decorator from Sunderland McFadden was among a group of 20 activists who, in May, blocked the entrance to the Nustar Clydebank oil terminal near Glasgow. They were eventually forcibly removed by police. Today's incident is the latest in a long list of disruptive stunts by Just Stop Oil in recent weeks. They have previously blocked the Dartford Bridge, tipped tomato soup over Van Gogh's Sunflowers, spray painted the iconic glass frontage of Harrods orange and glued themselves to London's Abbey Road crossing. It recently emerged the group is being funded by a coalition of wealthy individuals from California, including Aileen Getty - the granddaughter of oil tycoon J Paul Getty - and that some of this money is used to pay activists. In response to a report in The Times this weekend, a spokesman for the group confirmed that 'some people supporting Just Stop Oil do receive a small income'. Just Stop Oil's month of chaos in London with 26 protests in 24 days Here are the main protests that have taken place so far this month - October 1 - Bridge blockades In its first protest of the month, Just Stop Oil protesters block Waterloo, Westminster, Lambeth and Vauxhall bridges by sitting in the road. October 10 - Mob on the Mall Around 30 Just Stop Oil supporters set up a roadblock on the Mall stopping traffic in both directions. October 14 - Sunflowers stunt Two Just Stop Oil protesters Anna Holland, 20, from Newcastle, and Phoebe Plummer, 21, throw soup at Van Gogh's Sunflowers in the National Gallery in central London. Other zealots sprayed orange paint over the New Scotland Yard HQ's sign in Westminster, London. October 17 - Dartford Crossing Drivers are unable to use the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex, after it is blocked by demonstrators climbed into the structure and suspended themselves from it. Saturday - Islington Roughly 20 protesters walk into the road in north London and stop traffic at Upper Street and Islington Green at 12pm. Some supporters glue themselves onto the tarmac and others used locked ons. Sunday - Abbey Road Members of the eco-mob stroll onto the pedestrian crossing - made famous by The Beatles album of the same name - at 1pm on Sunday and sit on it before being arrested. Today - Madame Tussauds Two protesters smear chocolate cake in the face of a waxwork of King Charles at Madame Tussauds before being arrested by police. Advertisement Aileen Getty, who lives in the United States and can draw on her family's estimated $5.4 billion (3.7 billion) fortune, has been helping to fund the Climate Emergency Fund (CEF), a US nonprofit that gives grants and funds to activists around the world, including Just Stop Oil. This has sparked accusations from one MP that 'foreign millionaires' are funding eco mobs 'to do their dirty work without any intention of coming out of the shadows and exposing themselves to democratic accountability'. To date, Ms Getty has been thought to have given more than 800,000 ($1million) of her own money to the organisation, which has also counts Hollywood director Adam McKay among its supporters. The CEF in turn has given out more than 6million to groups such as Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, the latter of which have caused havoc in the UK in recent months. Ms Getty's grandfather, J Paul Getty, was at one time the world's richest man. A Madame Tussauds London's spokesman said today: 'At approximately 10.50am protesters entered the 'World Stage' Zone at Madame Tussauds London and appeared to throw what is believed to be cake at our figures of The Royal Family. 'Our security team dealt with the incident quickly and we are working closely with the Metropolitan Police on this matter. 'The attraction remains open, with our Royal Family set closed temporarily.' It comes as splits emerged within the radical eco movement, with activists at odds over which actions protesters should take to get the public's attention. Just Stop Oil mastermind Roger Hallam has called on his organisation to take extreme actions, arguing that 'nothing happens' unless you upset the public. However, Rupert Read, former spokesman for Extinction Rebellion (XR), has urged the group to focus on attracting new members to its cause instead of flashy demonstrations. Mr Read argues the 'radical' actions the groups have been taking pose 'significant barriers' when recruiting new activists to join the cause. XR inspired the seemingly more radical groups, Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain. Both groups were founded and run by experienced members of XR. Mr Hallam, a co-founder member of XR, actually left the group to pursue a more radical extreme path. He now co-ordinates behind the scenes for Just Stop Oil. 'If we're going to win, we need a lot of people on board. I'm trying to create a moderate flank,' Mr Read, a professor at the University of East Anglia, has argued, according to The Times. 'What I want to see, and what I believe will occur, is a much larger mobilisation of people more moderate than Extinction Rebellion but more radical than any existing mainstream groups.' It recently emerged the group is being funded by a coalition of wealthy individuals from California, including Aileen Getty (right - at an awards ceremony with Elton John) Climate activists are at odds over what actions protesters should take to get the public's attention. Pictured: Anna Holland, 20, and Phoebe Plummer, 21, during a Just Stop Oil protest in which they threw two tins of Heinz tomato soup over Van Gogh's Sunflowers in the National Gallery in central London on Oct. 14, 2022 Just Stop Oil urged protesters to take extreme actions, arguing that 'nothing happens' unless you upset the public. Pictured: A Just Stop Oil protester is pictured laying in a hammock over the Dartford Bridge during a demonstration on Oct. 18, 2022 Mr Read argued the climate change movement has to 'be ready to grow exponentially' which means activism groups must 'lower barriers to entry.' 'The reality is, a lot of people feel there are significant barriers of entry for them with radical and environmental activism,' he argued. 'I don't think [the movement has] done such a good job to people with different political opinions and it's not done a terribly good job of being inclusive to people of a different class background.' The activist argued 'most people need to engage in non-violent direct action' and that having individuals take meaningful action on a smaller scale would 'be a game changer.' He said: 'If we had a lot more people being determined that their employers or the institution where they spend most of their time should be serious about moving really fast, about reducing their climate and diversity impacts, that would be a game changer.' However, Extinction Rebellion has urged members to focus on attracting new members to its cause instead of flashy demonstrations. Pictured: An XR protester scaling a Tube at Canning Town station at rush hour on Oct. 17, 2019 One XR leader argued the 'radical' actions the groups have been taking pose 'significant barriers' when recruiting new activists to join the cause. Pictured: Insulate Britain activists blocking traffic on the M25 on Sept. 29, 2021 Just Stop Oil protesters sprayed orange paint over the Aston Martin car showroom on Park Lane in London on Oct. 16, 2022 in an apparent spontaneous act of vandalism However, Mr Hallam has taken a different approach to gather support, telling environmental enthusiasts: 'If you don't upset people enough, then nothing happens.' 'If you upset people too much, like traditionally with violence, then you're dead as well. But then there's a sweet spot.' He added: 'No one knows where that sweet spot is, but as a general rule of thumb it's a lot higher up than you think.' Just Stop Oil is pushing activists to act boldly and encourages 'high level disruption and intense mobilisation.' Tim Hewes, a retired church of England priest affiliated with the group, told members: 'If you're not already in custody or dead we need you.' The group also stresses the benefits of its 'support system' which includes no-fee lawyers that can help anyone who gets arrested over demonstrative action. Additionally, members have access to an emotional support hotline with 'climate crisis aware' professionals and safe houses 'where somebody will cook you dinner.' Just Stop Oil protesters Anna Holland, 20, from Newcastle, and Phoebe Plummer, 21, threw two tins of Heinz tomato soup over an iconic Van Gogh painting at the National Gallery on Oct. 14, 2022. After their protest, the pair of demonstrators glued themselves to the floor and needed to be unglued by specialist police officers Police say the 76 million piece of art was 'unharmed' during the climate demonstration Lora Johnson, 38, was charged in the Scotland Yard incident and pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal damage. She went viral when she gave an interview about climate change while being carried off the ground by police Just last week, two Just Stop Oil protesters threw soup at Van Gogh's Sunflowers in the National Gallery in central London. Anna Holland, 20, from Newcastle, and Phoebe Plummer, 21, from Lambeth, south west London, threw two tins of Heinz tomato soup over the iconic 76 million painting before gluing themselves to a wall inside the Gallery. Both have since pleaded not guilty to criminal damage to the frame of Van Gogh's painting in a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court. Other eco zealots sprayed orange paint over the New Scotland Yard HQ's sign in Westminster, London. Lora Johnson, 38, from Southwold, Suffolk, was charged in the incident and pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal damage. Also last week, two Just Stop Oil protesters were arrested after they suspended themselves from the Dartford Bridge. Marcus Decker (left) and Morgan Trowland (right) have been charged with conspiracy to commit a public nuisance after allegedly climbing up the Dartford Bridge on Oct. 29, 2022 The pair were apparently taken down from the structure and arrested on Oct. 19, 2022 after a 'super cherry picker' arrived at the scene Drivers were unable to use the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex, after it was blocked when the demonstrators mounted its cables with climbing equipment. Protesters Morgan Trowland, 39, and Marcus Decker, 33, climbed so high up the bridge that police negotiators urging them to descend were unable to communicate with them. The pair are then were said to have unfurled a Just Stop Oil banner and remained there for almost 36 hours. Trowland and Decker will face a jury trial after both indicated not guilty pleas. Why is the heiress to Getty oil billions bankrolling eco maniacs hell bent on disruption? Fossil fuel tycoon's granddaughter is prominent backer of green zealots causing chaos on roads and defacing priceless artwork Beth Hale for the Daily Mail They have blocked the Dartford Bridge, tipped tomato soup over Van Gogh's Sunflowers, spray painted the iconic glass frontage of Harrods orange and glued themselves to London's Abbey Road crossing. And that's just in the past week. Now Just Stop Oil protesters have also been accused of 'having blood on their hands' after traffic carnage, caused after activists suspended themselves from the notoriously busy Thames crossing, indirectly led to the deaths of two women on the nearby choked M20. The women, one of whom was named as Lisa Webber, a mother of four in her 50s, had stopped in heavy rain on the hardshoulder of the motorway, when they were hit by a passing car. A shocked witness said: 'The ecowarriors may have thought it was an innocent protest, but they've got blood on their hands.' Aileen threw herself into HIV awareness campaigning (she's still an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation), which brought her close to Princess Diana While no one is suggesting the protesters planned such a terrible outcome, there are, it would seem, no lengths to which members of Just Stop Oil will not go in pursuit of their aim. How ironic, then, to discover that one of the most prominent backers of this rag-tag assortment of eco-zealots who think gluing themselves to walls aids their anti-fossil fuel cause, is a woman whose funding clout possibly runs deeper than, well, an oil well. Step forward Aileen Getty, an heiress to the Getty family fortune, which, of course, grew from the very industry activists are so keen to bring to its knees. Aileen, 65, is the granddaughter of J. Paul Getty, the late tycoon who built an empire out of oil, one that made him the richest man in the world for a time. The family left the oil industry in the early 2000s, but it certainly helped to grow a family fortune reckoned to be worth somewhere in the region of 4.8 billion. Aileen, who has a collection of high-end properties in the U.S., is a founding member of the Climate Emergency Fund (CEF), a U.S.-based non-profit organisation that is funding direct action, like that of Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion, across the globe. According to the CEF's own Twitter feed, she has donated 'over a million dollars to brave climate activists', money that in some cases pays such protesters a nominal salary. A Just Stop Oil spokesman confirmed this week that supporters 'do receive a small income'. And she's doing this, she told the Mail, because society was 'out of time'. 'My hope is that we, as a society, can accept these actions from brave climate activists for what they are an alarm that jolts us out of the status quo and focuses us on the real emergency at hand: we are literally killing life on Earth,' she said. Quite how the notoriously frugal Getty family patriarch, who died in 1976, aged 83, would feel about his once favourite granddaughter's actions is open to debate. Aileen, however, has spent most of her life treading an unconventional path. Now something of an ageing hippy chick albeit one who has chefs to prepare her vegan cuisine and who sold one of her homes to pop star Katy Perry her life was once extraordinarily glamorous; Dudley Moore played the piano at her engagement party, and her first husband was Christopher Wilding, son of the late Elizabeth Taylor more of which later. Despite the marriage, a deeply troubled Aileen was on a path to self-destruction. A cocaine addict (an interviewer once noted her daily cocaine habit was 'enough to put an elephant into space'), she contracted HIV as the result of an extra-marital affair. It was 1985, a time when there was still terrible public stigma to the disease. By 1990 Aileen's infection would escalate to Aids. She suffered heart problems, lung disease, collapsed and nearly died, but somehow clung on, saved by the discovery of effective HIV medication. The year 1996 was a turning point. She got clean, and was famously photographed with Princess Diana visiting a drop-in centre for people with Aids in London's West End. Facing death and her own demons were definite motivating factors in her epiphany. As was money. 'Wealth has destroyed us,' she said in an interview in June 1996. The 'us' she was referring to was, of course, her family. For Aileen's extraordinary story is just one chapter in a family history often dubbed the 'Curse of the Gettys' a dynastic saga punctuated by kidnapping, drugs, rivalry and death. Her first husband was Christopher Wilding, son of the late Elizabeth Taylor (left) J. Paul Getty was shown his first oil well aged 11. After graduating from Oxford University, he'd made his first million by the age of 23. He struck black gold after securing a 60-year concession on a stretch of land between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in 1949. What he lacked as a husband he married and divorced five times Getty made up for in his money-making ability. By 1966 he was named the richest private citizen in the world, with an estimated billion-dollar fortune. He bought Rembrandts and Renoirs and moved to England to Sutton Place, a 16th-century estate near Guildford, Surrey, where, a notorious skinflint, he installed a payphone for guests. Aileen spent long periods there as a youngster. 'I was my grandfather's favourite, I think, because I wasn't afraid of him,' she once said. His estate was a sanctuary for her as a teenager. Her own father, John Paul Jr, was a jet-setting heroin addict in the 1960s and 1970s. By the mid-1960s, his marriage to Aileen's mother, Gail Harris, had crumbled and he married Dutch actress Talitha Pol, who would die from a drug overdose in 1971. Darker times still were yet to come. Aileen was 13 and living in Rome with her mother, when her elder brother, John Paul III, 16, was kidnapped by Italian terrorists. A bitter five-month negotiation ensued. Aileen's dad had never got on with his own father, who'd sacked him from Getty Oil and cut him out of his will. When asked to pay the ransom demand initially around 15 million Getty refused, declaring: 'I have 13 other grandchildren, if I pay one penny now, then I'll have 14 kidnapped grandchildren.' It was only when John Paul III's severed ear arrived in the post, along with a lock of his hair, that he agreed to pay 1.9 million (the maximum that was tax deductible) towards a reduced ransom for his grandson. Money-minded even in the midst of this crisis, he loaned the difference, about 885,000, to his son on the condition he pay it back with 4 per cent interest. Aileen's brother was then freed. Their father eventually left his wild ways behind and became a virtual recluse. The impact of the kidnap on his son, however, was cataclysmic. He adopted a hippy lifestyle, married at the age of 18 (for which he was disinherited), then tumbled into a trail of self-destruction that culminated in a drug overdose in 1981, which left him paralysed and virtually blind until his death at the age of 54 in 2011. A teenage Aileen moved to Los Angeles, where she fell into a glossy world of parties and drugs and fell in love with Christopher Wilding. Desperate to marry, they had to wait until she was 22 to avoid disinheritance under Getty trust rules. The marriage was haunted by the heartbreak of multiple miscarriages before the couple adopted Caleb, now 39. Aileen then fell pregnant with Andrew, now 37. But four years into the union the wheels had already started to come off. In 1985, Aileen had a fling with a man only ever named as 'Gary' who infected her with HIV. That led to the end of her marriage, a descent into drug addiction and the temporary loss of custody of her beloved boys. Her family's reaction to the disease didn't help she said they were in denial. Her biggest source of support was her former mother-in-law Elizabeth Taylor, herself an early and committed supporter of research on HIV/Aids. Such was Aileen's devotion to Liz she always referred to her as 'Mom', while her own mother she called 'Gail'. 'Elizabeth is the greatest. If it wasn't for her, I don't think I would have lasted this long,' she said in an interview in 1996. It was reciprocal. 'I love her like she's one of my own children,' the late star declared. Aileen threw herself into HIV awareness campaigning (she's still an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation), which brought her close to Princess Diana. 'Aids has given me a purpose, in many senses,' Aileen once said. 'I was numb before; I didn't know what to do with my life.' In 2012, she founded the Aileen Getty Foundation, supporting a variety of causes close to her heart. She had a short-lived second marriage to American Scott Padilla, whom she met in rehab in 1990; and intriguingly spoke in 1997 of a third marriage to an unnamed Englishman. It clearly didn't last, because in 2004 she married Bartolomeo Ruspoli. In recent years she has kept a low profile. Her last significant interview appears to have been in 2015 for a U.S. magazine, in which she said: 'The early years were very hard years and I don't think I'm over that. I don't talk about it much, but it lives in a very deep place in me that's . . . still painful.' She said her health was good, as was her relationship with her two sons. Aileen, 65, is the granddaughter of J. Paul Getty (pictured), the late tycoon who built an empire out of oil, one that made him the richest man in the world for a time As youngsters, they had been given instructions on the emergency number to call if their mother collapsed and were told to wear rubber gloves to protect themselves if she bled. 'I'm a very lucky parent,' she said. 'They're both divine souls and we're all very close.' Philanthropy and activism aside, she does appear to have inherited some of the business acumen of her forbears. Founder of LA restaurant company Sprout, she's a serial buyer and seller of high-end homes, most recently a 19 million New York townhouse. On the subject of her activism, she has been pointed but brief. But she responded by email to the Mail last week, insisting: 'I support climate activism through the Climate Emergency Fund because we are out of time for anything other than rapid, comprehensive climate action. 'We can have a fossil fuel-powered economy, or we can have thriving life on planet Earth. We can't have both.' She said she funded the CEF, which in turn made grants to climate activists 'engaged in non-violent legal civil disobedience', including Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain. 'I do not fund these groups or their actions directly, though I am in full support of Just Stop Oil's critical demand of no new oil and gas leases.' As for the disruptive actions of those groups she said: 'If you accept that we are facing a widespread climate disaster, then civil disobedience does not seem so crazy and extreme. 'Any discomfort caused by the protests we are seeing which have been peaceful and non- violent pales in comparison with what awaits us all if we fail to act on climate.' Additional reporting Barbara McMahon. South Africa: President Ramaphosa welcomes focus on price stabilisation of oil President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the decision by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other OPEC countries to focus on price stabilisation in their management of oil production. In a statement on Sunday, The Presidency said rising oil prices contribute to higher fuel costs in South Africa, which exerts further pressure on small businesses, consumers and households. The burden is heavier for the working class and unbearable for the poor, the high office said. During the recent wide raging bilateral talks held in Jeddah, HRH Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud briefed President Ramaphosa about a number of economic initiatives the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is embarking on, including the intentions of the Kingdom to ensure oil price stability. President Ramaphosa appreciated the development as a measure that could provide relief to South Africas pressured economy, the Presidency said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-10-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. First stop of a tour along the Central Axis of Beijing (People's Daily App) 09:52, October 24, 2022 Bruce Connolly, a Scottish photographer, came to China in 1987, and witnessed the great changes that have taken place over the years across the country and in the city. The Beijing Central Axis, stretching 7.8 kilometers from Yongdingmen Gate in the south to the Zhonggulou Tower in the north, epitomizes ingenious urban planning and the Chinese belief in balance and harmony. Join Bruce for a stroll that begins from the Yongdingmen Gate, to appreciate the magnificence of the axis line, a landmark route where the past meets the present. (Video provided by Beijing Foreign Studies University) (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Hongyu) Tim Burton stated that it is likely the end of his collaboration with Disney. In an interview with Melanie Goodfellow of Deadline that was published on Saturday, Burton discussed his thoughts. After directing the 2019 'Dumbo' remake, Burton, 64, informed the outlet that he had no further plans to collaborate with Disney. Tim Burton Regrets Working For Disney Per Deadline, a star-studded ensemble for the 'Dumbo' adaptation includes Danny DeVito, Colin Farrell, Eva Green, and Michael Keaton. In March 2019, Burton admitted to IndieWire that he connected with the movie's lead character. The 'Beetlejuice' filmmaker added that Disney is presently concentrating on Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars content, which implies that individual projects are receiving less attention. Burton was sacked in 1984 after making 'Frankenweenie' because he utilized company funds to produce a movie that was too frightening for children. Burton had been an apprentice at Disney in the early 1980s. 'James and the Giant Peach' and 'Alice in Wonderland' are two of his more well-known Disney movies. He rejoined with the studio in 1993 for 'The Nightmare Before Christmas,' and went on to direct numerous additional projects with Disney. After being presented with an honorary Prix Lumiere at the Lumiere Festival in France, Burton claimed in a press conference that working for Disney was like being confined to a "big, horrible circus." According to CNN, Burton remarked, "It's gotten to be extremely homogenized, very consolidated. This was in relation to his experience working with Disney on the making of the movie, 'Dumbo.' There's less room for other kinds of things," he said, even going so far as to say that he couldn't imagine himself working on a Marvel film. He stated, "I can only deal with one universe, l can't cope with a multi-universe," to that effect, but according to Deadline, the filmmaker has never really given independent production any thought. Throughout his whole career, he has only ever worked with studios. The well-known director-producer said he has lost faith in the House of Mouse and is unlikely to collaborate with the studio on upcoming projects. After beginning his career at Disney as an artist, Burton went on to produce and direct a number of well-liked films for the studio, including 'Corpse Bride' and 'The Nightmare Before Christmas.' Burton received the esteemed Prix Lumiere at the current Lumiere Festival. Wednesday, an 'Addams Family' spinoff series, is his first film to be directed since 'Dumbo' opened to unimpressive reviews. It debuts on Netflix on November 23 and stars budding scream queen Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams. Read Also: Meghan Markle Sexual Scene Resurfaces Following Backlash Over 'Hypocrite' Comments on 'Deal or No Deal' Role [WATCH] Tim Burton Recreates Lumiere Brothers' 1895 Film Moreover, Tim Burton followed in the footsteps of Auguste and Louis Lumiere, the fathers of French cinema in the 19th century, by directing his own adaptation of their 1895 picture La Sortie De L'Usine at the location of their former factory in Lyon. In his other role as director of the Institut Lumiere, Cannes delegate general Thierry Fremaux led the Lumiere Festival, which the filmmaker attended as the festival's honorary guest of honor in Lyon. Per Deadline, Burton was furthermore requested to recreate the historic debut film by the Lumiere Brothers as the 14th recipient of the festival's Prix Institut this year. Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Jane Campion are past winners who also produced their own adaptations. Related Article: Kevin Spacey Trial: New York Jury Finds 'House of Cards' Actor Not Liable in Sex Abuse Allegations Made by Anthony Rapp @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A man who was falsely accused of rape by a 'serial liar', who had also claimed she was trafficked by a made-up Asian grooming gang, has told a court his life was ruined. Jordan Trengove, 22, was accused of rape by Eleanor Williams, who has since been charged with perverting the course of justice. In 2019 she told police she was drugged by Mr Trengove while on a night out in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, before he then raped her, Preston Crown Court heard today. The jury was told she made two further allegations that he came to her flat in Barrow, threatened her, assaulted her and raped her again. Giving evidence Mr Trengove, who was 18 at the time the allegations were made, said he was annoyed when she accused him of rape. Jordan Trengove, 22, said his life was ruined after Eleanor Williams, 21, (pictured) falsely accused him of rape He said: 'Any male being accused of that would be annoyed. It can ruin your life and it has ruined mine.' The court heard that after his arrest in May 2019, he was kept in custody until August that year, when the charges were dropped. Being questioned about details of the night out before Williams claimed he raped her, Mr Trengove said: 'I honestly can't remember. 'I have tried to brainwash all this stuff out of my head because I am mentally ill because of it.' Mr Trengove, who asked for two breaks during his evidence as he became emotional, said he had since had a son, but initially did not want anything to do with him because of Williams' claims. He said: 'I didn't want him to grow up thinking his dad was this so-called rapist. That's what people say about me.' Williams now faces seven charges of perverting the course of justice. Giving evidence Mr Trengove, who was 18 at the time the allegations were made, told Preston Crown Court (pictured) he was annoyed when she accused him of rape He denied all of the allegations made by Williams. Opening the case earlier this month, Jonathan Sandiford KC, prosecuting, said Williams was a 'serial liar' who made allegations on a number of occasions between October 2017 and May 2020. She is also accused of fabricating messages in which her alleged abusers, assailants and traffickers appeared to admit offences and in which she appeared to communicate with other trafficking victims. The trial, expected to last 10 weeks, resumed today after a week's break. Williams denies seven counts of doing acts tended or intending to pervert the course of justice. Federal authorities are also urging parents to be vigilant of where their children are going trick-or-treating this Halloween Yakima County Coroner Jim Curtice is warning that the counterfeit drugs can kill children if there isn't an early intervention Parents are being urged to keep vigilant about what candy their children are picking up for Halloween amid an influx of deadly fentanyl hidden in sweet wrappers. A Washington State Coroner is calling for parents to be very prudent, because the drugs could be fatal for children if they come into contact with them. Thousands of rainbow fentanyl pills have flooded the US this year, with federal drug agents warning that they could be a potential danger to children going trick-or-treating. It comes after 26 states saw the dangerous drugs seized by the DEA, with police forces also warning about the dangers ahead of October 31. Monroe County Sheriffs Office say the pills are 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Yakima County Coroner Jim Curtice has not yet seen the rainbow drug in any investigations of overdose deaths but is concerned that they will soon arrive in the area. Speaking to DailyMail.com he warned parents to look out for the signs of a fentanyl overdose over the Halloween weekend, including struggling to breathe and collapsing. He said: The big concern is if kids get a hold of this stuff. It seems like they make the different colors also to try to lessen the perception of how lethal it is. Twenty-six states have seen the dangerous drugs seized by the DEA, with police forces also warning about the dangers ahead of October 31 The deadly drugs have been smuggled in and confiscated by authorities, who discovered them in various candy wrappers Parents should be 'vigilant' across the Halloween weekend, and look through their children's candy thoroughly It could be fatal for children, most definitely. The best thing for parents to do is be very prudent and look through their kids candy. If they see loose powder or anything that resembles the rainbow-colored fentanyl, it would probably be best to discard the whole container. That stuff can be in the air, if someone inhales it can definitely affect somebody that way too. If they see any kid with any kind of pills they dont have a prescription for, they should ask questions and get rid of them Across the country police, coroners, elected officials and a regional Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) spokeswoman are urging people to be cautious in the run up to the spooky holiday. Omaha DEA spokeswoman Emily Murray is also calling for caution, saying that its not worth the risk to take something that doesnt look like its in the original packaging. She added: When I was young, it used to be you were afraid that someone was going to stick a needle in a Snickers bar. Now, obviously, this is a whole new game but still a scary threat. It is important to check your kids candy because this fentanyl, this rainbow fentanyl thats coming across, it is made to look like bright colors that kids are going to be attracted to. We all have positive, wonderful thoughts about our friends or family, whoever it may be. Tuolumne County Sheriffs office warned that the trend has been increasing in recent months with the drugs found in candy wrappers Across the country police, coroners, elected officials and a regional Drug Enforcement Administration spokeswoman are urging people to be cautious in the run up to the spooky holiday Thousands of rainbow fentanyl pills have flooded the US this year, with federal drug agents warning that they could be a potential danger to children going trick-or-treating Republican Senators are also warning parents across the country about the dangers of the drug, urging them to be on the lookout at head of Halloween describing it as the deadliest ever 'But if you dont know 100 percent where that product is coming from, in this day and age, unfortunately, its just too big of a risk to take. Tuolumne County Sheriffs office warned that the trend has been increasing in recent months with the drugs found in candy wrappers. Urging parents to stay vigilant, a spokesman said: With Halloween approaching, parents should make sure they are checking their kids candy and not allowing them to eat anything until it has been inspected by them. If you find anything in candy boxes that you believe might be narcotics, do not touch it and immediately notify your local law enforcement agency. Parents, please stay vigilant and take the time to educate your kids about the dangers of drugs! The Monroe County Sheriffs Office in upstate New York also confirmed they have seen rainbow fentanyl. Deputy Michael Favata explaining the pills are 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. More than 22lb of the drug in powdered form worth an estimated $9million was found in a Bronx apartment inside of a LEGO toy box Parents are being urged to dispose of their children's entire bag of candy if they see any pills or powder that resemble the killer drug He is also urging parents to check their kids candy, telling parents they should be ripping everything open to make sure they are safe. Yakima County Coroner Jim Curtice has not yet seen the rainbow drug in any investigations of overdose deaths but is concerned that they will soon arrive in the area Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department found 12,000 suspected pills inside of candy and snack bags at LAX on Wednesday. Officers found the killer pills inside the SweeTARTS, Skittles, and Whoppers boxes, and have since identified the suspect who fled the airport. Republican Senators are also warning parents across the country about the dangers of the drug, urging them to be on the lookout at head of Halloween describing it as the deadliest ever. Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall said in a video warning about the drugs that just one pill can kill, while others told parents to set a curfew and to only trick-or-treat with trusted friends and neighbours. Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn added: The powerful drug cartels are coming after your kids, your neighbors, your students, your family members, and your friends. No one is spared as fake pills laced with fentanyl are beginning to look like candy in an effort to lure young Americans. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram has said there is not a direct link between the drugs and Halloween but if that changes they will issue a public safety alert Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department found 12,000 suspected pills inside of candy and snack bags at LAX on Wednesday DEA Administrator Anne Milgram warned that cartels are using colorful and enticing new packaging to try and get younger people hooked on the highly-dangerous drugs. She said that the colorful drugs are a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction but would not confirm if there was a direct link between the drugs and Halloween. However, she added that if there were any changes to that stance, then they would be alerting the public. Milgram added: The men and women of the DEA are relentlessly working to stop the trafficking of rainbow fentanyl and defeat the Mexican drug cartels that are responsible for the vast majority of the fentanyl that is being trafficked in the United States. The latest Customs and Border Protection data shows that, in the year to August, 12,900lbs of fentanyl has been seized. It is more than for the entire of 2021 - in which 11,200lbs were confiscated- and shows that three times more fentanyl was seized in the first eight months of this year than in the entire year for 2020 - and more than four times the total for 2019. A teenage rugby player fell to his death from a seventh-floor window on a Spanish school trip after messaging friends he wanted to go back to a park where they had been drinking, an inquest was told today. Max McMullen, 15, from Beechen Cliff School, Bath, died from the fall while on a language exchange in Cordoba in October 19, 2019. Max McMullen (pictured) has been named as the boy who fell to his death in Cordoba on Saturday Avon Coroners Court in Flax Bourton, Somerset, also told today he may have been trying to fix a broken part of the window when he slipped to his death. At the start of inquest into Max's death, a statement was read out by his family on the tragedy that unfolded that Saturday evening. They confirmed they had heard from the host family that Max may have been near the window to fix shutters. He was found dead on the floor at about 11pm and Spanish police described it as a 'tragic accident'. The court heard Max had been with friends in a park until around 10pm, when he had to return to his host family. Friends said in statements there had been some alcohol, but they had not been drunk. But the coroner heard how Max messaged friends on Snapchat to say he had wanted to go back to the park. (The street pictured above) where the teenager fell to his death in Cordoba during a school exchange on Saturday The exchange and his text messages suggested an element of boredom, the court was told. Giving evidence, Miss Kate Marshall, the lead teacher for the trip, also stressed checks were made the children would be safe. She added: 'I would consider all risks that might present themselves before the stay, talking to children about the different risks as well.' But she admitted they did not carry out checks at the host homes but relied on the judgement of the partner school. The court also heard there was a shared and agreed understanding of care arrangements but this was not written down. Alun Williams, chief executive officer for Midsomer Norton partnership, the trust which manages the school, suggested steps for future trips. He said: 'They must seek written confirmation that families are suitable to host children. 'There were so many visits, so much discussion between schools prior to understand expectations of the exchange.' Avon Coroners Court, Flax Burton, Bristol, where the inquest into Max's death is being heard He also talked about Max's disposition in the months running up to the trip. Mr Williams said: 'Max was becoming increasingly withdrawn in class and apathetic.' He said a meeting had been arranged with Max's parents in May - and by July no further references were reported and the matter was closed. He added: 'It's not uncommon for a teenager to exhibit. I was pleased the school had noticed and taken the time to contact Max's parents.' The school had held a parents' evening prior to the trip, where they talked about making good decisions and remembering they would be in a foreign country. They were also told not to drink or smoke or separate from their exchange partner, Miss Marshall added to the hearing. The Spanish language exchange had been oversubscribed and children were selected on academic and behavioral criteria. The apartment Max fell from is situated on a street called Calle Periodista Quesada Chacon. In a statement local education chief Inmaculada Troncoso said at the time: 'We deeply regret what has happened. We are offering support to the school where the boy was as well as his family.' Video footage taken after the tragedy showed the police and ambulance response. Local police placed a security cordon around the apartment block where the boy fell to his death shortly after the incident happened. The inquest continues tomorrow. Texas Senator Ted Cruz recalled discussing whether to still vote against President Joe Biden's electoral victory in a new excerpt from his memoir As Donald Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6 last year, Texas Senator Ted Cruz was in a supply closet urging his colleagues to overturn President Joe Biden's 2020 victory. The Texas Republican made the revelations himself in a forthcoming memoir. Newsweek published an excerpt on Monday. A former 2016 presidential primary opponent of Trump's, Cruz was among the first sitting lawmakers to pivot and get behind his explosive campaign. He was also one of six Republican senators who voted to overturn the 2020 election results. The excerpt shows the moment Cruz first found out that the ex-president's supporters breached the Capitol, as lawmakers in both chambers were certifying Biden's win. 'Toward the end of our two-hour session, as Senator James Lankford from Oklahoma was speaking, there was a commotion from outside the [Senate] chamber,' the Texas senator wrote. Vice President Mike Pence was then 'hastily escorted' out before the bicameral session was halted altogether, Cruz recalled. 'In the fog of the confusion, it was difficult to tell what exactly was happening. We were informed that a riot had broken out and that rioters were attempting to violently breach the Capitol building,' he wrote. 'At first, Capitol Police instructed us to remain on the Senate floor. And so we did. Then, a few minutes later, they instructed us to evacuate rapidly.' He described tension within the area they evacuated to, with some colleagues 'blaming us explicitly for the violence that was occurring.' 'While we waited for the Capitol to be secured, I assembled our coalition in a back room (really, a supply closet with stacked chairs) to discuss what we should do next,' Cruz wrote. 'Several members of the group argued that in the face of the riot, we should suspend our objections and vote to certify the election. I understood the sentiment' Americans got a sense of the high-stress circumstances lawmakers were under during the House January 6 Committee's most recent hearing, where the panel aired video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer trying to coordinate security efforts from an undisclosed location. But while Pelosi was phoning officials at the Pentagon and nearby governors for assistance, it appears that Cruz hid inside a 'supply closet with stacked chairs' to discuss the next move for him and other pro-Trump stalwarts. 'While we waited for the Capitol to be secured, I assembled our coalition in a back room (really, a supply closet with stacked chairs) to discuss what we should do next,' Cruz wrote. 'Several members of the group argued that in the face of the riot, we should suspend our objections and vote to certify the election. I understood the sentiment.' But the Texas Republican said he 'vehemently disagreed' with legitimizing Biden's victory. 'I urged my colleagues that the course of action we were advocating was the right and principled one,' he wrote in the memoir. The January 6 committee's video shows lawmakers getting word that they could return to the Capitol from then-Vice President Mike Pence. He later voted against certifying the election anyway - and defended his stance during an interview on ABC's The View on Monday Cruz equated Republican calls of election fraud with Democrat doubts about election access Schumer and Pelosi are seen standing over a phone where Pence can be heard saying they can get back 'in roughly an hour.' 'Good news,' Schumer said. Pelosi added: 'Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President, for the good news.' That evening, Cruz voted against certifying the 2020 election. He defended the vote during an interview on The View on Monday, equating Republican objections to the 2020 vote to Hillary Clinton and Stacey Abrams' reluctance to accept the results of their elections. When pressed about the fact that neither had incited a mob to march on the Capitol, Cruz pivoted to denouncing the nationwide racial protests that followed the murder of George Floyd by a white cop in 2020. 'There are a lot of folks in the media that try to, any time a Republican is in front of a TV camera, try to say, the election was fair and square and legitimate. Do you know who y'all don't do that to? Not Hillary Clinton who stood up and said, "Trump stole the election." Or Stacey Abrams who said the election was stolen,' Cruz said. He also blasted the House select committee investigating January 6 as a 'kangaroo circus.' Rishi Sunak has been elected as Tory leader and is set for a whirlwind first week as Prime Minister. First of all, the 42-year-old will have to make a trip to see King Charles at Buckingham Palace in order to be formally appointed as PM. He will then face a first appearance in the House of Commons as the country's new premier. Mr Sunak's thoughts will also be dominated by how he's going to fix the public finances with a Halloween budget looming next Monday. Here's how his first seven days as PM are likely to pan out: Tomorrow - Mr Sunak is set to visit King Charles at Buckingham Palace tomorrow morning in order to be formally appointed as PM. This will come after departing premier Liz Truss - who will chair her final Cabinet meeting at 9am - has visited the monarch to officially offer her resignation. Mr Sunak is expected to make his first address to the nation from Downing Street once he returns from the Palace around 11.35am. His thoughts will then turn to appointing the top team that will sit around the Cabinet table with him in No 10. Soon after he arrives at his new office, Mr Sunak will be expected to summon Tory MPs to be appointed to the most senior Government jobs. This could include giving Penny Mordaunt, who ended up being his closest rival in the Tory leadership race, the role of Foreign Secretary. Jeremy Hunt is also tipped to remain as Chancellor, while Suella Braverman might make a return as Home Secretary. Once he's appointed his Cabinet, Mr Sunak will also have to conduct a reshuffle of more junior Government roles with many of his allies set for jobs. Rishi Sunak waves in central London after winning the Tory leadership contest today. He is set for a whirlwind first week as Prime Minister Wednesday Mr Sunak is due to make his first appearance in the House of Commons as PM when he takes on Labour's Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions. The Labour leader will be expected to once again demand a general election as he faces a third Tory leader in the Commons in the space of just over three months. Mr Sunak will be hoping for strong support from the Tory benches behind him, as he seeks to reunite Conservative MPs under his leadership following this year's two divisive leadership contests. Friday One of the major challenges facing the incoming PM is restoring power-sharing in Northern Ireland. New elections are due to be held at Stormont if there is no return to a power-sharing government before Friday. If no agreement is reached between Northern Ireland's parties prior to that deadline, Mr Sunak has a legal duty to send voters to the polls for the second time this year. The election is likely to be held before Christmas. The DUP is currently blocking the functioning of Stormont institutions as part of their protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements, known as the Northern Ireland Protocol. But the party is under pressure to end their boycott of Stormont while resumed talks between the UK Government and the EU over the Protocol continue. Mr Sunak will hope that increased positivity around the state of those negotiations with Brussels will soon lead to a breakthrough in the Protocol row. Next Monday The Government is due to deliver its medium-term fiscal plan on Halloween. The statement has been promised as a means of bringing further stability to financial markets by setting out how a 60billion blackhole in the public finances will be filled. Mr Sunak is likely to have to oversee severe spending cuts and possible tax rises as he attempts to claw back money into the Treasury coffers. Ex-minister Matt Hancock was brutally snubbed by his former Cabinet rival Rishi Sunak as the new Tory leader arrived to greet supporters today. The former health secretary was front and centre at Conservative Party headquarters today as the incoming prime minister was thronged by wellwishers. But as he worked along a line of MPs including Mel Stride and Guy Opperman he was seen to completely blank Mr Hancock and move on to shake hands with party chairman Jake Berry. The two men were in Boris Johnsons cabinet for most of the Covid pandemic before Mr Hancock was forced out as health secretary for breaking his won rules during an illicit affair. They were often seen to be on opposing sides of the coronavirus row within the government, over how to balance competing economic and health requirements. The moment Matt Hancock was blanked by the new Tory leader The former health secretary was front and centre at Conservative Party headquarters today as the incoming prime minister was thronged by wellwishers. But as he worked along a line of MPs including Mel Stride and Guy Opperman he was seen to completely blank Mr Hancock and move on to shake hands with party chairman Jake Berry. The two men were in Boris Johnsons cabinet for most of the Covid pandemic before Mr Hancock was forced out as health secretary for breaking his won rules during an illicit affair. If Mr Hancock was hoping for a return to the Cabinet it appears to be some way off. The parlous state of the economy, the war in Ukraine, possible elections in Northern Ireland, the Channel migrants crisis and reuniting the Conservative Party are all critical tasks lying in Mr Sunak's in-tray. Yet the most immediate duty for Mr Sunak is for him to choose who will sit around the Cabinet table with him in Downing Street. Penny Mordaunt ended up being Mr Sunak's closest challenger for the Tory leadership and, by convention, she should be offered a job in the new PM's top team. The Royal Navy reservist has already held the role of Defence Secretary and is currently the Leader of the House of Commons. She is likely to be looking for a move up the Cabinet hierarchy, perhaps to one of the 'great offices of state'. The most immediate crisis facing Mr Sunak as the incoming PM is the state of the economy in the wake of Ms Truss's mini-Budget disaster. Her second Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has been working on plans to restore market confidence at a planned fiscal statement on 31st October. This includes spending cuts and possible tax rises in order to fill a blackhole in the public finances. With financial markets having reacted well to Mr Hunt's appointment and his ripping up of Ms Truss's economic agenda, Mr Sunak will be tempted to keep him in place as Treasury chief. Mr Hunt last night came out in support of Mr Sunak as PM in a newspaper article. Speaking outside Conservative Campaign Headquarters, Treasury Committee chairman Mel Stride said he was 'very pleased' to see his ally Rishi Sunak win the Tory leadership. 'Very pleased,' he said. 'I think it's an opportunity now for the party to unite. 'I think he can bring us together, there will be huge economic challenges in particular but I think he is somebody who believes in fiscal responsibility and I think we can get back to that place. 'So, very pleased, I'm very optimistic, a lot of work to be done though.' Kremlin state TV propagandists have wasted no time in taking a swipe at Britain's new prime minister Rishi Sunak. Olga Skabeyeva, known as Putin's Iron Doll, blasted the new Conservative leader, saying 'racist' Ukrainians won't show him the same love they showed Boris Johnson. Speaking on state-run Rossiya 1, the presenter said: 'Of course, London's commitment to destroying Russia is unlikely to change. 'Admittedly in Kyiv, as expected, they've started crying. 'For unclear reasons, Johnson, who travelled to Kyiv solely to improve his ratings, is for some reason considered a greater friend of Ukraine than Rishi Sunak is.' Kremlin state TV propagandists have wasted no time in taking a swipe at Britain's new prime minister Rishi Sunak Olga Skabeyeva, known as Putin's Iron Doll, blasted the new Conservative leader, saying 'racist' Ukrainians won't show him the same love they showed Boris Johnson Skabeyeva then took aim at 'racist' Ukraine, a common Russian attack line against Kyiv, saying they could never support Britain's first ever PM of Asian descent. She added: 'Sunak shouldn't expect the same love from Ukrainians. 'After all, racism is an important component in the ideology of Ukrainian nationalists. 'What's more, we need to understand that London doesn't need Kyiv's love at all for its war with Moscow.' Skabeyeva then took aim at 'racist' Ukraine, a common Russian attack line against Kyiv Kremlin TV has regularly fired shots at Britain throughout the war, with Boris Johnson's staunch support for Ukraine and fierce condemnation of Russia making him a regular target. Liz Truss was also mocked in her brief stint in office by Russia. Upon her resignation, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: 'Britain has never known such a disgrace of a prime minister. 'The catastrophic illiteracy and the queen's funeral immediately after her audience with Liz Truss will be remembered.' Boris Johnson's staunch support for Ukraine and fierce condemnation of Russia have made him a regular target of Russian state TV A guest on the political talkshow 'Time Will Tell' said Truss had possessed the three traits needed to thrive in British politics: 'Stupidity, arrogance, and belligerence'. Truss has been the target of withering comments from Moscow since she visited in February as part of a fruitless drive by Western politicians to the invasion of Ukraine. Russian officials took a dim view of Truss's premiership from the outset and have revelled in her numerous gaffes. Upon her appointment in September, Lavrov said Truss did not know how to compromise and questioned how the British leader could say she did not know whether French President Emmanuel Macron was a 'friend or foe'. 'Britain has never known such a disgrace of a prime minister,' Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (shown left) said. 'The catastrophic illiteracy and the queen's funeral immediately after her audience with Liz Truss will be remembered'. Pictured right: Liz Truss visits Moscow during her time as Britain's Foreign Secretary in February 2022 Zakharova also on Thursday mocked Truss' high-profile photo shoot in Estonia last year, where she donned a flak jacket and helmet to ride in a tank during a visit to British troops stationed in the Baltic country. Along with her husband Yevgeny Popov, Skabeyeva has throughout the war spread baseless conspiracy theories, overstated Moscow's war successes, parroted Kremlin lies about 'Nazis' in Ukraine, and issued dire warnings of World War Three and threats against the West. As a result, she has been branded a 'monster' by commentators, with other analysts suggesting her sabre-rattling rhetoric has marked a shift in the Kremlin's tone. She was previously involved in efforts to discredit the British investigation into the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal by Novichok nerve agent in the English city of Salisbury. She has called Putin's invasion an effort to 'to protect people in Donbas from a Nazi regime' and said that the decision to send Moscow's forces into the country was 'without exaggeration, a crucial junction in history.' A Republican campaign volunteer was brutally beaten by people who said Republicans 'weren't allowed' in their area, Florida GOP Senator Marco Rubio said on Monday morning. The canvasser was clad in Rubio's campaign gear and that of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the senator said. 'Last night one of our canvassers wearing my T-shirt and a Desantis[sic] hat was brutally attacked by 4 animals who told him Republicans werent allowed in their neighborhood,' Rubio wrote on Twitter. 'He suffered internal bleeding, a broken jaw & will need facial reconstructive surgery.' Later that same day police in Hialea, Florida arrested a 22-year-old suspect named Javier Lopez, according to a statement sent to DailyMail.com. However, it made no mention of the political animosity Rubio described. Lopez told the 27-year-old volunteer that 'he was not allowed to walk on the sidewalk and pass out fliers in his neighborhood,' according to Hialea Police Sergeant Jose Torres. 'The victim, in order to avoid the confrontation walked across the street where he was again confronted by Mr. Lopez,' Torres' statement continues. 'During the verbal dispute, Mr. Lopez then struck the victim multiple times in the face and head causing the injuries.' A request for further details about the canvasser sent to Rubio's campaign was referred to the state Republican Party. The city of Hialeah, where the incident occurred, is located in Miami-Dade County. Florida Senator Marco Rubio revealed that one of his campaign volunteers was attacked on Sunday night Photos shared by Rubio show the canvasser was wearing the senator's campaign gear when he was attacked Police confirmed that a 22-year-old suspect was arrested in connection to the attack Its mayor, Esteban Bovo, is a Republican, but the county overall narrowly voted for President Joe Biden in 2020. State lawmaker and former Florida GOP chair Blaise Ingoglia called on prominent Democrats in the state including gubernatorial candidate Rep. Charlie Crist to condemn the incident. It comes amid a wave of Republican criticism directed at the president for his harsh campaign trail attacks on the pro-Trump faction of the GOP. He recently derided them as 'mega MAGA Republicans' in a Sunday interview on MSNBC and has panned them as 'extremists' in appearances across the country alongside Democratic midterm candidates. Biden said in Philadelphia last month: 'Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.' The Republican National Committee immediately accused the president of fomenting violence, writing in a statement: 'Joe Biden's wretched attacks on millions of Americans have fueled attacks on pregnancy centers, Republican offices, and an assassination attempt on a Supreme Court Justice.' Rubio is running for re-election against a Democratic challenger, House Rep. Val Demings The canvasser was also wearing a Ron DeSantis hat in support of the Florida governor, Rubio wrote on Twitter Growing political divisions have led to a surge in online and real life confrontations that have enveloped both lawmakers and everyday Americans. The Department of Homeland Security has sent out multiple bulletins this year alone that warn of increased threats against federal employees and others in the political sphere. All the while, violent rhetoric is becoming normalized language to invigorate the voter base. Donald Trump said earlier in October that Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell 'has a death wish' over the Kentucky Republican's vote to fund the government and avoid a shutdown. And Democrat Rep. Tim Ryan, who is running for an open Senate seat in Ohio, said on MSNBC last month that Americans must 'kill and confront' the MAGA Republican movement. An armed 26-year-old was arrested in June of this year near the home of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The young man told police he wanted to kill a specific member of the court because he was 'upset' at the then-draft decision to overturn abortion protections in Roe v. Wade. Advertisement A gunman dressed entirely in black opened fire on a St. Louis performing arts school on Monday, shooting dead a female teacher and a teenage girl before being killed by police. The shooter - described as a 20-year-old white man - burst into the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School shortly after 9am on Monday and screamed: 'You're all going to die'. He was shot dead by police inside the school. Seven guards were inside the building at the time, but Michael Slack, commissioner of St Louis police, refused to say at a Monday night press conference how he got inside. Slack said he did not want 'to give a blueprint' to other would-be gunmen. The FBI appealed for anyone with photos or video to hand them over to police, to assist their investigation. 'The gun laws in St Louis are very broad,' said Slack. 'If someone walks down the street with a rifle, if we have no cause we can't go and talk to them. And that's one of the greatest challenges we face.' One student, Jerya Luster, said: 'They were banging on Mr Williams' room door. They shot like four times. 'It was a white man. He said: 'All of y'all are going to die.'' Others said the gunman said he was 'tired of everybody'. His victims have been named as Jean Kirk Kuczka, a teacher, and a 15-year-old female student named Alex. Alex's family confirmed her death on social media, hours after her mother posted in a panic that she couldn't find her. The shooter has not been named and it remains unclear how gained access to the building; police insist the doors were locked this morning, and there were seven armed guards stationed at the building - but won't say how he was able to get inside. Scroll down for video Health teacher Jean Kirk Kuczka, 61, and a 15-year-old student named only as Alex (right) were killed in the shooting in Missouri Terrified students hug outside the Central Visual School in St. Louis, Missouri, on Monday People embrace in the Schnucks Arsenal parking lot following a shooting at Central Visual Performing Arts High School in St. Louis on Monday Terrified students escaped the school by climbing through windows and onto roofs. The gunman was killed by police after shooting two people dead Students stand in a parking lot near the Central Visual & Performing Arts High School after a shooting at the school Kuczka was a mother-of-five and grandmother-of-seven. She had been teaching at the school for 14 years. Police have not been able to explain how the gunman managed to get inside. They proudly told reporters that there were seven armed guards at the scene. They then admitted that the guards saw the gunman trying to enter through a locked door, and said the sighting of the gunman 'bought them time'. Instead of shooting him, the guard told school officials that he was trying to get into the building, and police were called. By the time they arrived and engaged the gunman in a fight, he had killed Kuczka and the student. People gather outside after a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts high school in St. Louis, on Monday Messiah Miller, 16, center, a junior at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School, prays with his teacher Ray Parks, second from right, following a shooting at the school on Monday, in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. 'He looked at me, he pointed the gun at me,' Miller said People embrace in the Schnucks Arsenal parking lot following the shooting at Central Visual Performing Arts High School in St. Louis on Monday This was the scene outside of Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis on Monday morning after a gunman opened fire and killed two people Students were less than four hours into the school day when they were evacuated due to an active shooter in the building The other seven who were injured were taken to the hospital and it remains unclear how seriously they are hurt. Their injuries range from gunshot wounds to shrapnel injuries and cardiac arrest. Survivors said they at first thought they were participating in an active shooter drill. Taniya Gholston, 16, recalled being in the dance room when the attacker burst in. She said she only survived because his gun jammed. 'I was in the dance room. All I heard was two shots, I was trying to run and I couldn't run. And me and him... 'I'm glad I made it out because his gun got jammed,' she said. 'I think somebody got shot. We saw blood on the floor.' A flurry of police cars were spotted Monday morning outside of the Missouri school Armed officers approached the scene with caution after an unidentified suspect shot and killed two people. District officials said that officers were able to quickly stop the shooter by fatally shooting him Lieutenant Colonel Steve Sack, Commanding Officer for the Division of Criminal Investigation, said that as students were running out of the building, several told police officers that the suspect was inside and had a 'long gun.' 'As kids were fleeing out of the building, they talked to some of the kids who told them that there was a shooter armed with a long gun,' Sack said during a press conference. 'I was in the dance room. All I heard was two shots, I was trying to run and I couldn't run. And me and him... I'm glad I made it out because his gun got jammed. I think somebody got shot. We saw blood on the floor,' Taniya Gholston, 16 The officers then entered the school, located the shooter, and fatally shot the suspect, he continued. 'There was an exchange of gunfire' after the officers had located the suspect,' he said. He said he did not know how the suspect got in. 'The doors were locked' said Sack. Additionally, one district officials said that there were seven security officers inside the building before police arrived at the scene. After a reporter pressed the police commissioner on how the gunman entered, Sack responded: 'We're not going to talk about how the suspect gained entry.' Mayor Tishuara Jones said: 'This is a day of tragedy. 'I'm stressed and I'm heartbroken, I'm heartbroken for these families. 'Our children shouldn't have to experience this. 'They shouldn't have to go through active shooter drills in case something happens and unfortunately that happened today.' Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School Monday Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School on Monday Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School on Monday Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School on Monday Congresswoman Cori Bush was also present at the press conference. The Democrat represents the district where St. Louis is located. 'Today is one of those days, those days that we pray, we pray never happens across this country,' Rep. Bush said. 'We want to thank again our first responders, but we also want to thank those teachers and school staff and administrators that were in place and moving and ready,' the congresswoman said. 'Those that were there to support the students and those that are there right now.' Bush said that any families or victims 'who don't know who to talk to,' can call her office, stating that the phone lines will be open for those who need help. The shooting was initially confirmed by the Twitter account of St. Louis Public Schools. 'Police are on site at Central Visual and Performing Arts this morning following reports of an active shooter and both CVPA and Collegiate are on lockdown,' they said on Monday morning. The post from the district says that the 'shooter was quickly stopped by police inside CVPA.' 'We will send information on where parents can reunite with students,' the district said. Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School on Monday Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School on Monday They later said that parents and students could reunite at the Gateway STEM School, located two miles from CVAP. The school district asked officials on Monday to avoid the area of S. King's Highway to Arsenal Street 'until further notice. This investigation is ongoing.' Mike Parson, the governor of Missouri, responded to the shooting in a social media post, thanking the police who arrived at the scene and saying that he is 'praying' for the victims. 'Our hearts go out to the victims and their families of this morning's shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis. Our office has been briefed on this tragedy,' he said. 'State Public Safety officials are coordinating with local law enforcement and have offered any state resources necessary to assist with the investigation. 'St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department quickly arrived on scene and immediately went to the sound of gunfire to protect lives, secure the area, and eliminate the threat. Teresa and I are praying for the victims, their families, and the entire community.' U.S. Senate candidate Trudy Busch Valentine, a Democrat running for an open seat in Missouri, also reacted to the news in a tweet, sharing her own feelings of heartbreak as a 'mother and grandmother.' 'As mother and grandmother myself, I'm shocked and praying for all those affected - students, parents, faculty, and in the community,' she said. 'I'm grateful to brave law enforcement for their quick response.' More than 50 people were shot in Chicago this weekend, including a 14-year-old boy on a playground. Out of the 51 victims, about 11 died from the 43 shooting incidents that began on Friday around 6pm in the crime ridden city. About nine of the victims were juveniles. The shootings occurred as Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot struggles to get a grip on the city's spiraling murder rate as Chicago ranks seventh in America for murders, according to the New York Times. The democratic mayor recently proposed to refund the police after defunding them in 2020. Shootings in the Windy City are up from the previous weekend when nine murders and 31 victims were reported. So far, 2,313 shooting incidents have been reported in 2022. In this weekends series of shootings, a bullet scraped the face of a 14-year-old boy on a playground located at the 4400 block of West Wilcox on Saturday evening, according to Fox News. He was transported to a local hospital in stable condition. Within an hour, a 16-year-old walking on the 1200 block of South Fairfield was shot by two men in a sedan. The teenager died of his injuries in hospital. At least 50 people were shot in the windy city of Chicago this weekend as woke Mayor Lori Lightfoot urges to refund the police A bullet scraped the face of a 14-year-old boy on a playground located at the 4400 block of West Wilcox on Saturday evening. Pictured: the area where the teenager was shot A 16-year-old walking on the 1200 block of South Fairfield was shot by two men in a sedan. He succumbed to his wounds in the hospital. Pictured: the neighborhood where the victim was shot One of the first juveniles was shot in the Homan Square neighborhood on Friday night. The 12-year-old was shot in the chest by a random gunman in a gray sedan around 8.35pm in the 900 block of South Albany, according to ABC 7. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Shortly after, a 16-year-old boy walking in the 3500-block of East 106th Street was shot in the leg. Another teenager was shot about an hour later while walking in the South Commons neighborhood. The 17-year-old was shot in the hand was is in stable condition. Juvenile shootings continued into early Saturday morning with another 15-year-old boy shot on the sidewalk of South Langley Avenue at 1am. He was shot in the foot and is in good condition. At about 7am, a 15-year-old boy was shot multiple times in the Englewood neighborhood by gunman in a sedan. He is currently in critical condition. No arrests were made with the following juvenile shootings. A 12-year-old was shot in the chest by a random gunman in a gray sedan around 8.35pm in the 900 block of South Albany. Pictured: The neighborhood where the teenager was shot Home shooting also shook Chicago on Sunday with one man, 37, killed in his Scottsdale neighborhood. Shortly after, another man was shot in the head near North Leclaire Avenue. A second victim - around 40-years-old - was later found with a gunshot wound to his head in his apartment located South Phillips Avenue. An altercation between two men led to death of a 31-year-old at his Auburn Gresham home. The suspect was arrested at the home. Three fatal shootings occurred on Sunday around 4am and involved street racers with gang affiliations. The shooting occurred nearby 100 vehicles located in Brighton Park. The victims were between the ages of 15 to 20. Two others were shot and are expected to survive. No immediate arrests were made. One of the last shootings on Sunday involved a 50-year-old man, who was inside an apartment hallway located at Irving Park. Police said he went outside his apartment and was shot in the face. Three fatal shootings occurred on Sunday around 4am and involved street racers with gang affiliations. The shooting occurred nearby 100 vehicles located in Brighton Park The victims of the street car racing were between the ages of 15 to 20. Two others were shot and are expected to survive Mayor Lightfoot proposed increasing police funding last month after defunding the police in 2020 Approximately 49,433 more crimes have been reported in Chicago in comparison to 35,746 during the same time last year. About 545 murders have occurred in the windy city, not including this past weekend. Mayor Lightfoot, who was sworn into office in May 2019, has vowed to tackle the city's crime rates, but so far without much success. She proposed last month a proposed budget to refund the police as gang and violence runs the city. Lightfoot didn't give an exact number but teased the police department budget will increase. 'No question. We have to,' Lightfoot previously said. She added, We have to make sure we are continuing to provide resources to recruit the next generation of police officers and make sure were doing that recruitment in a way that reflects diversity of the city. The budget increase is a U-turn from Lightfoots proposal last year which slashed $59million from the CPD budget, or 3.3percent, and 600 vacant positions from the department, amid Black Lives Matter protests throughout the summer of 2020. Lightfoot has since denounced the 'defund the police' movement, but Chicago's police union since issued a vote of 'no confidence' in the mayor. The resignation of all involved in the Los Angeles City Council racist audio leak scandal has now been demanded by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The well-known Democrat has suggested that the two remaining council members, Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo, should resign in addition to former Council President Nuri Martinez. On October 12, Martinez made her resignation public. Los Angeles City Council Racist Audio Leak His remarks followed their KQED discussion with Republican Sen. Brian Dahle, his opponent for governor. Despite losing the election to Eunisses Hernandez earlier this year, Cedillo will be leaving office soon. De Leon has stated repeatedly that he has no intention of leaving his position. In an interview, he stated: "No, I will not resign, because there is lot of work ahead of me." He also called the remarks a "bad joke." De Leon can be heard making a comparison between Martinez attending council meetings with a Louis Vuitton bag and a colleague's black son in the tape that was released. The two were fired from their committee positions a week ago. The housing and homelessness committees of the council were consequently without chairs, as per Daily Mail. The public, President Joe Biden, and other prominent political leaders have harshly criticized the city council members for remarks they made on a leaked audio tape from October 2021. The Los Angeles City Council recently elected a new leader after a yelling mob of demonstrators demanded that the vote be postponed unless two councilmen apologized for their roles in a 2021 meeting that featured crude, racist remarks. Following a week of unrest and public indignation over the racial tirades that threatened to halt the Council's operations and forced Nury Martinez to leave, Councilman Paul Krekorian has been chosen to preside over the chamber. According to Fox News, Ron Herrera, the head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and a significant union figure who also attended the 2021 secret meeting, resigned last week. The two other participants in the leaked conversation, Council members Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo, were removed from committee assignments related to real estate development, housing, homelessness, and other issues, according to acting Los Angeles City Council President Mitch O'Farrell. Read Also: US Housing Crash: Experts Warn of 'Brutal' Drop in Home Prices That Is Only Going To Get Worse Los Angeles' Complex Politics Four Latino leaders were heard discussing how to redraw electoral boundaries to their advantage on a leaked recording that has upended Los Angeles politics this month. They used racial slurs and other derogatory language that was widely condemned. Per New York Times, the recording also revealed anger at the lack of Latino representation in political positions, despite the fact that they make up half of the city's population. The current composition of the City Council, where white and Black leaders have more seats than demographics may imply, is the product of decades of political compromises and decisions. The revelation of the audio has also sparked a discussion about the relevance of earlier generations' racial bloc politics. The Ninth District has a low voter turnout rate, and some locals claimed that despite their ongoing worries about crime and homelessness, they don't pay much attention to local politics. Maria Robles, 30, was hustling her 8-year-old son home from school in South Los Angeles when she pondered what the regional lawmakers would do to address issues. The disparity between the city's Latino population and its degree of influence, however, has always been a problem. This is never more apparent than in the Ninth District, where Latinos now make up 80% of the population. A growing number of Latino immigrants arrived in South Los Angeles in the 1980s as a result of economic turmoil in Mexico and civil upheavals in Central America. At the same time, the Black middle class was leaving the area as manufacturing jobs disappeared, gang violence increased, and drug use increased. By 1990, more over half of the local population was Latino, according to census statistics examined by SocialExplorer.com. Related Article: Kathy Hochul, Lee Zeldin Set To Debate as They Face Off in Fierce New York Gubernatorial Race @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. He is standing trial with seven other defendants accused of hiding funds at firm A gold bullion firm used by the former son-in-law of Bernie Ecclestone received hundreds of thousands of pounds delivered in sacks by anonymous couriers in the UK's biggest ever money laundering scam, a court has heard. James Stunt, 40, the ex-husband of F1 heiress Petra Ecclestone, is standing trial alongside seven other defendants accused of hiding funds at Bradford-based Fowler Oldfield. Leeds Crown Court today heard how the defendants allegedly laundered the vast fortune after the sacks of cash, valued at up to 250,000, arrived at the business' premises. It was then used to buy billion between January 2014 and September 2016. A police probe revealed that in excess of 266m was paid into Fowler Oldfields bank account via cash and unknown deposits, the court heard. Prosecutor Nicholas Clarke QC, cross-examining company accountant Heidi Buckler, today said the company stated it would give an 'invoice reference' for each deposit. But in reality, he alleged this process actually 'didn't happen at all' and had been just for 'public consumption', adding the couriers instead received '5 notes' as receipts. James Stunt, 40, the ex-husband of F1 heiress Petra Ecclestone, is standing trial alongside seven other defendants James Stunt is pictured standing next to Helena Robinson outside Leeds Cloth Hall Court today in May earlier this year James Stunt pictured with his then-wife Petra Ecclestone at the Monaco Grand Prix in May 2012 Mr Clarke asked: 'That was for public consumption wasn't it? It didn't really happen like that at all?' 'Did you know there was a pile of 5 notes that were being used to give out as receipts?' The prosecutor also said it was expected that companies would use 'extremely secure ways' of depositing cash to a company such as Fowler Oldfield. He told the court that businesses would have a record of 'names and numbers of cars so there could be no doubt who they were dealing with'. But Mr Clarke told Buckler that she, as the accountant working in the company office, must have been aware that there were 'anonymous couriers' arriving at the premises with bags of cash. He told the court: 'They were all anonymous couriers and delivered hundreds of thousands of pounds in cash in the bags as we have seen. 'You were seeing it day in, day out for more than a year and a half, weren't you?' Ms Buckler, 45, replied: 'I still didn't count any money and meet any couriers, and I didn't deal with any of the customers.' Mr Clarke also said one man, Arjun Babber, had deposited 62m in cash with the business in 2015 - more than the 47m it had made from all its clients the previous year. He continued: 'The total for the whole year in 2014 was 47m. The next year, Arjun Babber, who didn't feature on the rankings for 2014, has come from nowhere, hasn't he?' Buckler replied: 'He's a customer, just like any other business would get a new customer.' Leeds Crown Court today heard how the defendants allegedly laundered the vast fortune after the sacks of cash, valued at up to 250,000, arrived at the business' premises (Stunt pictured in May earlier this year) But Mr Clarke repeated: 'That customer has not only brought in as much as the whole business for the previous year. But he has actually done it in cash, hasn't he?' 'He brought cash into the business to pay directly into the Fowler Oldfield account?' Mr Clarke also put it to Buckler that the reason why hundreds of thousands of pounds in cash had been deposited at Fowler Oldfield without receipts was that it was 'criminal cash'. He said: 'I have suggested one of the reasons couriers hand in bags of 250,000 and 5,000 was because it was criminal cash derived from criminal conducted, and that's when you don't get a receipt. 'Do you know of any explanation for why all this cash came without receipts?' Buckler replied: 'I didn't know a reason. I don't know.' Stunt married Ms Ecclestone in Italy in 2011. They had three children together but divorced in 2017. Ms Buckler, 45, jointly denies money laundering alongside, Mr Miller, 45, Mr Rashid, 51, Mr Rawson, 45, Ms Sota, 34, Mr Stunt, 40 and Mr Tulloch, 41. The trial continues. A killer who confessed to the murder of a barman, found naked and tied up in his Kensington apartment in 1980, is facing a life sentence. John Paul, 61, battered 42-year-old Anthony Bird with pieces of wood before strangling him in his flat in Bentley Court, Kensington Square in June 42 years ago. Paul, of Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill, west London, walked into Hammersmith Police Station and reported his horrific crime to an officer on May 5 last year. Asked what he had done he replied simply: Murder. He later described how he had tied Mr Bird's ankles, hands and arms with a cord. Mr Bird was naked at the time. Paul denied murder, despite the confession, but he was convicted by an Old Bailey jury today. The judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb will set a sentencing date later. The court heard sked what happened, he told one officer: I see a man, he approached me and hes just speaking to me and just talked me into having sex with him. John Paul, 61, battered 42-year-old Anthony Bird with pieces of wood before strangling him in his flat in Bentley Court, Kensington Square (pictured) in June 42 years ago He took me back to his place. I tied him with cord. I think the cord was black Im not sure. I tied him with a cord, his ankles, his hands, his arms, on the bed naked. There was a piece of wood, a piece of wood, I used the piece of wood to batter him. Knocked him unconscious. Officers investigated whether there was a record of an unsolved killing of a man at around the same time and location as Paul was reporting, the court heard. The unsolved killing of Mr Bird was deemed worth a look and that afternoon, Paul was arrested for the murder. The 61-year-old was admitted as an inpatient at Hillingdon Hospital the next day while police investigated. Mr Bird lived in that flat alone, said John Price, KC, prosecuting. He was a homosexual man, and it was known amongst his friends that he would frequently pick up men in the street and pay them for sex. His next-door neighbour whom the police took a statement back during the first investigation spoke of frequent male visitors to his flat. Mr Bird was out in Queensway, on June 3 1980 when he came across some friends and told them that he had his eye on a black lad before following him. Amongst those who knew him, Tony Bird was never to be seen alive again, the prosecutor said. Mr Bird was due to work shifts at the Railway Tap pub that week and that the pubs landlord became concerned when he failed to show up. The police were eventually called on June 6 after a member of staff received no reply when he was sent to knock on Mr Birds door. Police officers went to the flat on that Friday and they too knocked on the door. Again, there was no reply, Mr Price said. The front door was securely locked and so, obviously by now fearing for Mr Birds safety, they had to use a sledgehammer to force it open. The curtains were fully drawn in the living room of the flat. The room was in a dishevelled state as if, so it seemed to them, it had been ransacked. There was a sideboard with nothing on it, though they noted that there were patterns in the dust marks which indicated that objects...had recently been moved. Paul denied murder, despite the confession, but he was convicted by an Old Bailey (pictured) jury today They went into the bedroom. On the bed, they found the lifeless body of Tony Bird. He was naked. He was lying on his side. His knees were tucked up and his legs were crossed. There was black electrical flex bound tightly around his left wrist and around his left ankle. There was also the mark of a cord around his right wrist. There were numerous marks and apparent bruising to a number of places on his body. A post-mortem in 1980 found multiple sites of blunt force injury on Mr Birds body including bruising on his head, jaw, chest, thighs and the base of his penis, as well as a neck bone fracture. Pathologist Rufus Crompton found the injuries were consistent with the use of billets of wood. Dr Crompton also believed the cause of death was manual strangulation. The court heard fingerprints taken from the scene decades ago, which were previously unattributed, matched Pauls prints. Paul was charged with the murder on May 27, 2021. Mr Price added: The evidence shows, the prosecution say, that John Pauls many confessions that he is the man who killed Tony Bird are true.' In the interview, she asked Biden whether red states should be able to deny 'gender-affirming care,' to which the president said 'no' She was part of a panel of six progressive activists for NowThis News who interviewed President Joe Biden on Friday Mulvaney is now planning to get gender reassignment surgery in December In her first videos from 2020, she identified as a gay male but announced in March that she was coming out as a trans woman Dylan Mulvaney, 25, has gained a massive following on TikTok as she documents her transition to a transgender female The trans TikTok star who pushed for 'gender-affirming' healthcare in a panel with President Joe Biden only started transitioning in March and has not yet had full reassignment surgery. Dylan Mulvaney, 25, has gained a massive following on TikTok as she documents her transition to a transgender female originally identifying as 'nonbinary' but affirming to her 8.3 million followers in March that she is a girl. She is planning to get gender reassignment surgery in December. With her massive following, DailyMail.com reported, Mulvaney was able to meet with the President of the United States on Friday as part of a panel of six progressive activists for NowThis News. During the panel, a video of which aired on Sunday, the president vowed to protect 'gender-affirming care,' saying he does not believe any state should have the right to pass laws limiting access to transgender treatments. 'As a moral question and as a legal question, I just think it's wrong,' Biden said. But Mulvaney has previously faced controversy after many called for a boycott of Ulta Beauty, which hosted her on their 'The Beauty of ...' podcast on October 13. She said in the video she hopes to one day 'become a mom' as she discussed things she thought were now available to her as a trans woman. As a result, Mulvaney was soon accused by some feminists of play-acting the parts of being a woman she enjoys, while ignoring the misogyny faced by females on a day-to-day basis. TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney, who is documenting the transition from male to female on the app, was one of the six progressive panelists to speak with President Joe Biden on Friday. The segment aired Sunday She asked the president whether he thought it was right for red states to ban access to 'gender-affirming care' Biden said during the panel discussion on NowThis News that he doesn't think states should have the right to regulate gender-affirming surgeries or treatments Mulvaney first joined TikTok back in 2020 after a stint playing Elder White in the Book of Mormon on Broadway. In their first few videos, Mulvaney identified as a gay man before posting in December 2020 a 'gender reveal video' in which they said: 'I'm dropping the 'He' and my new pronouns are 'they, them, theirs.' Mulvaney continued to identify as 'nonbinary' through February of this year, when they posted a video of them receiving a new California driver's license with their sex listed as 'X.' Just one month later, though, Mulvaney released her 'coming out' video. 'Here it goes, I am a girl,' she says in the video posted March 11. 'I'm a trans woman, my new pronouns are "she and they."' She explained in the video that when she was nonbinary, 'I would often say that I felt less and less like a boy every day. 'But now I realize it was really every day I was feeling more and more like a girl and I didn't know that.' Mulvaney added that she was 'scared and ashamed to be back on the [gender] binary,' but said that when she was four, she went up to her mom and said, "I'm a girl and God made a mistake." 'And she said, "God doesn't make mistakes,' Mulvaney recounted. 'But I'm not a mistake, I'm here for a reason and now it feels like I can honor that child in me that knew that so long ago. 'I'm really excited for you all to meet girl Dylan,' she told her followers at the time. Mulvaney came out as a transgender woman in a video on March 11 Just about one month before, she posted a video of her getting a new driver's license in California The new driver's license lists her sex as 'X' under California state law From there, she went on to document her transition and firsts' she experienced as a woman in a series called 'days of girlhood.' Just a few weeks after she posted her 'coming out video,' Mulvaney posted a TikTok of her getting laser hair removal to get rid of some facial hair, and was also asked to be a sponsor for tampon company Tampax. She then appeared at a pride parade in Los Angeles on June 12, after announcing just days before that her nipples were getting larger as she began taking estrogen. 'Now I fully have pepperoni nipples,' she said in the video on July 9, adding: 'I'm also gaining some weight, and I say "Bring it" because this is the beauty of being a woman and having curves, and I think I'm gonna need a real bra soon.' By last week, her dream seemed to come true after taking estrogen for a total of 10 months. 'Look I have boobs, like there's no question about it,' Mulvaney said as she revealed she is not planning to get top surgery in December 'with my other procedures.' Mulvaney appeared at the Los Angeles Pride Parade on June 12, posting a video of the event In one video, Mulvaney could be seen getting laser hair removal to get rid of some facial hair But with her fame came controversy as she continued to speak about what being a woman meant to her. Just recently, Ulta hosted Mulvaney in a digital campaign its running called 'The Beauty of...,' in which Mulvaney spoke about girlhood. She discussed with gender-fluid celebrity hairstylist David Lopez things she feels are accessible to her now that she is a woman, including being able to find love, still being a performer and even being a mother. The video was soon criticized by some feminists who accused her of wearing womanhood as a costume, with some even threatening to boycott the company in the comments. Ulta responded to these comments by saying: 'At Ulta Beauty, we believe that beauty is for everyone and we kindly request that everyone be treated with respect on our channels.' The company added that beauty has no boundaries, TMZ reports, and said in a statement: 'We believe beauty is for everyone. And while we recognize some conversations we host will challenge perspectives and opinion, we believe constructive dialogue is one important way to move beauty forward. 'The intersectionality of gender identity is nuanced, something David and Dylan acknowledge themselves within the episode. 'Regardless of how someone identifies, they deserve our respect.' Mulvaney has sparked a backlash against Ulta Beauty following her appearance on a podcast in which she spoke about 'all things girlhood' The trans influencer, who has been living as a woman for less than a year, has been accused of play-acting the parts of being a woman she enjoys, while ignoring the misogyny faced by females on a day-to-day basis. Mulvaney (right) was interviewed by gender-fluid hairdresser to the stars, David Lopez (left) on Ulta's podcast Still, Mulvaney continues to see success on her TikTok page, posting on Friday that she was in Washington D.C. to 'speak to the President of the United States.' 'You know that phrase, 'I think I may have girlbossed too close to the sun?' Well that's how I feel today,' Mulvaney continued. 'Because I get to sit down with Joe Biden and NowThis News, and I get to ask him a few questions surrounding trans issues in the United States and talk to him about my transness, and I really just want to represent my community the best that I can.' During the panel, she asked the president whether he thought red states should have the right to pass laws limiting access to gender-affirming treatments, Biden said: 'I don't think any state or anybody should have the right to do that.' 'As a moral question and as a legal question, I just think it's wrong,' the president added. 'Sometimes they try to block you from being able to access certain medicines, being able to access certain procedures, and so on,' he continued, referencing Republican-led state bills blocking doctors from performing such treatment, especially when it comes to minors. 'I mean, no state should be able to do that, in my view. So I feel very, very strongly that you should have every single solitary right including use of your gender-identity bathrooms in public.' Alabama, Arkansas, Texas and Arizona all enacted laws or policies earlier this year restricting youth access to sex change treatments, care and surgeries. In some cases, these laws impose penalties on adults who facilitate access to this care. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has long voiced her opposition to transgenderism, was the first lawmaker to publicly weigh in on Biden's response to Mulvaney. 'Joe Biden thinks it's wrong to stop the profit driven medical industry from cutting breasts off 15 yr old girls and castrating teen boys before they are old enough to legally get a tattoo or vote,' the GOP Georgia lawmaker tweeted. She added: 'Democrats are the party of child abuse.' As of this summer, 15 states introduced at least two dozen bills that would impose some sort of restrictions to 'gender affirming' surgeries or treatments, according to a Freedom for All Americans tracker. Provisions in some of the proposed legislation include, but are not limited to criminalization of healthcare professionals who provide transgender treatments to minors, penalizing of parents aiding in youth access to this care and a limitation on insurance coverage of gender affirming services. In some cases the language would classify allowing or aiding a child in receiving treatment to permanently change sex characteristics as child abuse. A major GOP initiative is making sure that no state funds are used for such services. Republicans and right-leaning activists are mostly concerned with the affect these surgeries are having on children who choose to transition and then later regret the choice they made as a minor. Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) suspended gender altering surgeries earlier this month amid outrage over claims the hospital 'chemically castrates' minors for financial gain. The center confirmed it was freezing all 'gender affirmation surgery' on underage patients pending a review of their processes, in response to calls from Tennessee lawmakers to investigate the hospital. VUMC came under fire last month after conservative activist Matt Walsh released a 2018 video showing Dr. Shayne Taylor an LGBTQ specialist at the hospital touting transgender surgeries as 'huge money makers' for the hospital. Walsh also compiled a report of his own investigation into VUMC's trans program which found the hospital 'drugs, chemically castrates and performs double mastectomies on minors. Republicans on the House Education and Labor Committee are calling out President Biden for claiming inaccurately that a plan he created unilaterally to forgive up to $20,000 in student loans was a 'law' that narrowly cleared Congress. Biden made the statement at a NowThis News presidential forum on Friday. That was the same day Biden was touting the plan and blasting Republicans who have criticized it, even while in some cases accepting pandemic relief loans, as DailyMail.com reported. As you're probably aware, I've just signed a law that's being challenged by my Republican colleagues, the same people who got PPP loans ... in some cases up to 5 600,000 they have no problem with that,' Biden said at the forum. 'It's passed. I got it passed by a vote or two. And it's in effect,' Biden said. 'I got it passed': President Joe Biden touted a new executive order providing up to $20,000 in student loan forgiveness but he described it as a legislative achievement even though it didn't go through Congress But Biden grossly misstated how the program came to be. He created it by executive order, announcing it last month as a way to fulfill a campaign promise. It didn't go through Congress, despite some lawmakers saying months ago that it required legislation to take effect. Republicans on the House Education and Labor Committee called out the statement on Twitter. 'Can someone fact-check POTUS' nonsense? Mr. President, you clearly need a refresh so we'll remind you: you bypassed Congress to advance your student loan scheme. Taxpayers and voters never agreed to pay off the loans of doctors and lawyers. @washingtonpost, Pinocchio test pls,' they wrote, inviting the paper's fact-checker column to weigh in. He discussed a variety of issues during the forum It came on a day Biden touted the debt forgiveness, and blasted GOP critics who had personally gotten pandemic relief loans Education and Labor panel Republicans demanded a fact-check on the comments House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had said in 2021 that only Congress could move to provide permanent relief Instead, Biden opted to create the program through executive order, providing debt forgiveness of up to $10,000 for individuals earning up to $125,000 and $20,000 for pell grants recipients. The Justice Department said Biden's move is authorized by the HEROES ACT, which allowed for a variety of actions under the national emergency conditions created by the pandemic. But with Biden having once declared the pandemic over conditions changed substantially, opponents of the move are arguing it is improperly founded, and it is already subject to multiple lawsuits that are are just at the beginning of the process of being adjudicated. The fact sheet the administration released announcing the plan was laced with references to the pandemic, describing the program as a form of relief. 'Today, President Biden is announcing a three-part plan to provide more breathing room to Americas working families as they continue to recover from the strains associated with the COVID-19 pandemic,' the administration wrote. That came about a year after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated her position at the time: 'People think that the President of the United States has the power for debt forgiveness,' she said at a press conference in July 2021. 'He does not. He can postpone. He can delay. But he does not have that power. That has to be an act of Congress.' President Donald Trump signed the $900 million HEROES Act, which included pandemic relief, shortly before leaving office. Biden signed the American Rescue Plan, which passed the Senate 50-49, as one of his first major actions as president. In part since it didn't go through Congress, the administration couldn't provide an immediate cost estimate when it announced the plan. The Congressional Budget Office later estimated it could cost up to $400 billion. Fellow students recalling the power couple on campus in his biography penned by Lord Ashcroft, as well as 'hard working' Irving Grousebeck said that he had no recollection of him to share, while Andy Rachleff added that he does not remember the politician He met his wife, billionaire heiress Akshata Murty, while studying at Stanford Graduate School of Business where they graduated in 2006 Several of Sunak's former professors admitted that they had 'no recollection' of their student, who is set to be Britain's first non-white Prime Minister Advertisement He is Britain's first non-white Prime Minister who's inheriting a country on its knees in the wake of disastrous economic policies by his predecessor. But Rishi Sunak could be the right man for the job, having left Stanford University with an MBA from its world class business school. The Conservative leader, who is set to take over from Liz Truss tomorrow morning, attended the exclusive California institution on a Fulbright scholarship in 2006. He left the college with one of the most prestigious degrees in the world, as well as meeting his future wife - the billionaire heiress Akshata Murty. Her father, NR Narayana Murthy, is India's sixth-wealthiest man thanks to his ownership of multinational business technology giant Infosys. The couple married in her home city of Bangalore in 2009 in a two-day ceremony attended by 1,000 guests. Ex-chancellor Sunak also opened up previously about the huge impact Stanford had on his academic life, teaching him to 'think bigger' instead of having a 'more incremental mindset'. Yet when approached by DailyMail.com on Monday, Sunak appeared to have had little effect on the 137-year-old school, with his former professors admitting they had no words he could say about his student. He left the college with one of the most prestigious degrees in the world, as well as meeting his future wife - billionaire heiress Akshata Murty Several of Sunak's former professors at Stanford University admitted that they had 'no recollection' of their student, who is set to be Britain's first non-white Prime Minister Welcoming the news about their alumni, Stanford Graduate School of Business said: On this historic occasion, Rishi Sunak, MBA 06, will become the 57th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. We wish the new Prime Minister, and his wife Akshata Murthy, MBA 06, the best of luck as they embark on this new chapter' Irving Grousebeck said that he had no recollection of him to share, while Andy Rachleff added that he does not remember the soon-to-be Prime Minister who was one of 400 in his graduating class. Several others also confirmed that they did not remember the new PM, with many saying they didnt have any recollections other than a vague one of a very bright student. Sunak, who was not awarded a prize for being in the top 10 percent of the MBA class in 2006, made fast friends with several of his peers who have gone on to other high-flying jobs. He met his wife Akshata while at the top University, with fellow students recalling the power couple on campus in his biography penned by Lord Ashcroft. Lord Ashcroft penned a biography of Sunaks life, called Going for Broke, and detailed several students praising him as a hard worker. One student, Maria Arguiano, told the author that Sunak was a very positive person who coped very well with the stresses of the course. She added that Sunak and Akshata were impact oriented people, while Rashad Bartholomew said: I do think they definitely complemented one another, theyre definitely a beautiful, powerful power couple, a good-looking couple, a smart couple. Sunak, the son of first generation immigrants from India to the UK, was head boy at Winchester College before studying at both Oxford and then Stanford where he was granted a Fulbright Scholarship Rishi Sunak was hit by a political backlash over the news that his heiress wife Akshata Murty was domiciled in India for tax purposes Sunak appeared to have had little effect on the 137-year-old school, with his former professors admitting they had no words he could say about his student And I definitely think that their hearts are in the right place. The book also details that while the ex-Chancellor did not drink, he would sometimes engage in games of poker where the winner would treat everyone to dinner. Bartholomew added that Sunak was well liked and had his own crew while at the iconic US University, before transferring back across the pond to work at a lucrative hedge fund. Sunak, the son of first generation immigrants from India to the UK, was head boy at Winchester College before studying at both Oxford and then Stanford where he was granted a Fulbright Scholarship. Welcoming the news about their alumni, Stanford Graduate School of Business said: On this historic occasion, Rishi Sunak, MBA 06, will become the 57th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. We wish the new Prime Minister, and his wife Akshata Murthy, MBA 06, the best of luck as they embark on this new chapter. Ex-chancellor Sunak also opened up previously about the huge impact Stanford had on his academic life, teaching him to 'think bigger' instead of having a 'more incremental mindset'. The UK's first and only other minority prime minister was Benjamin Disraeli, who was Jewish, in 1874 The GP's son from Southampton retreated to the backbenches last month after being swept aside by Liz Truss in the battle to replace Boris Johnson The UK's first and only other minority prime minister was Benjamin Disraeli, who was Jewish, in 1874. Mr Sunak, 42, took over after challenger Penny Mordaunt pulled out of the leadership race with two minutes to go. She conceded at 1.58pm after failing to get 100 backers for her bid. It caps a political journey that began seven years ago when he replaced William Hague in his Yorkshire seat at the 2015 election. Mr Sunak only got his first ministerial job four years ago but became Chancellor of the Exchequer aged 39 in 2020. He will become the youngest PM in the modern era to enter No 10, at the age of 42 younger even than David Cameron in 2010 and Tony Blair in 1997. His parents saved up to send him to the $42,000-per-year Winchester College, and he later went to Oxford, where he studied PPE. After Oxford he studied at California's Stanford University where he met his wife Akshata Murty Mr Sunak previously shared pictures of his childhood in a three-minute long video when he launched his first Tory leadership campaign this summer Mr Sunak ran for the leadership in the summer and won the backing of MPs including Michael Gove (pictured with Ms Murty) Mr Sunak has previously spoken of how did the books at his mother's pharmacy in Southampton while he was growing up. After the couple returned to Britain, Mr Sunak worked for a London hedge fund before setting up his own business, Theleme Partners, in 2010, with an initial fund of $700million. He was based in the UK and the United States before entering politics and winning Richmond in 2015. In April it was revealed he had held a US Green Card which carries American residency and tax requirements while in office. But Lord Geidt, the adviser on ministerial standards, cleared Mr Sunak of wrongdoing after the chancellor referred himself for investigation. This is the extraordinary web of homes and businesses with links to Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata, a heiress to a billion-dollar fortune The new PM has regularly spoken of how his father, Yashvir, was an NHS GP in Southampton There was also uproar over Ms Murty's tax status and her shareholding in her father's tech firm while living in a grace-and-favour apartment in Downing Street. Ms Murty legally avoided a huge UK tax bill by paying 30,000 a year to register as being based in India. The India-born 42-year-old later said she would give up her right to pay only 'international tax' on her foreign fortune. The move, designed to save Mr Sunak's political career, is likely to cost Ms Murty millions of pounds a year in extra tax. Mr Sunak insisted she hadn't 'done anything wrong' while accusing his critics of 'smearing her to get at him'. In his May 2021 annual statement the independent adviser on ministers' interests said he had 'gone through the individual returns' of members of the Cabinet, including their tax affairs and the interests of their spouses. He went on to say that 'any issues have been resolved to my satisfaction', suggesting he was happy with Ms Murty's tax status, her shareholding in Infosys and the Green Card. President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned Russia is 'probably' paying for Iranian drones with nuclear research assistance, as he slammed Israel's neutrality in the war. At a conference organised by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Mr Zelensky said: 'I have a question for you, how does Russia pay Iran for this, in your opinion? Is Iran just interested in money?' He continued: 'Probably not money at all but Russian assistance to the Iranian nuclear programme. Probably, this is the exact meaning of their alliance.' Mr Zelensky also on Monday said the decision by Israeli leaders not to support Kyiv had encouraged Russia's military partnership with Iran. President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned Russia is 'probably' paying for Iranian drones with nuclear research assistance, as he slammed Israel's neutrality in the war Mr Zelensky on Monday said the decision by Israeli leaders not to support Kyiv had encouraged Russia's military partnership with Iran The Ukrainian president said Russia ordered around 2,000 drones from Iran, the same kind that Kyiv says Moscow has been using in its recent attacks against Ukraine. 'The disgusting sound of Iranian drones is heard in our skies every night. According to our intelligence, Russia ordered about 2,000 'Shaheds' from Iran,' Mr Zelensky said during a speech at a conference organised by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. It was not immediately clear if he was referring to Russia's past purchases or new ones. Mr Zelensky also said 'Iranian instructors came to teach Russians how to use drones' in Ukraine. On Israel's neutral stance, he told the conference: 'This alliance of theirs simply would not have happened if your politicians had made only one decision at the time... it seems that it was adopted a long time ago - in 2014, when Russia began its aggression against Ukraine,' 'The decision 'not to annoy' the Kremlin, not to help Ukraine for real,' enabled the alliance between Moscow and Tehran, Mr Zelensky said. The Ukrainian president also said Russia ordered around 2,000 drones from Iran, the same kind that Kyiv says Moscow has been using in its recent attacks against Ukraine Mr Zelensky also said 'Iranian instructors came to teach Russians how to use drones' in Ukraine Mr Zelensky has on several occasions criticised Israel for failing to firmly oppose Russian aggression. The Israeli position has however evolved over recent months, from near neutrality to more forceful condemnations of Russia. Still, on Monday, Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz told his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksiy Reznikov that 'Israel will not provide weapon systems to Ukraine.' Mr Zelensky's speech came a few days ahead of legislative elections in Israel, on November 1. This comes after Britain, the US and France claimed that Iran's export of 'kamikaze drones' to Russia, which have been deployed in multiple attacks on Ukrainian urban and civilian centres, violates a key UN security council resolution and a landmark 2015 nuclear deal. On October 17, a US State Department spokesperson said: 'Earlier today our French and British allies publicly offered the assessment that Iran's supply of these UAVs (for) Russia is a violation of UN Security Council resolution 2231. This is something that we agree with.' The drones h ave been deployed in multiple attacks on Ukrainian urban and civilian centres (Pictured: Firefighters work after a drone attack on buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine, on October 17) (Pictured: A view shows a residential building destroyed by a Russian drone strike, which local authorities consider to be Iranian-made Shahed-136 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), amid Russia's attack on Ukraine) Resolution 2231 endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - that limited Tehran's uranium enrichment activity, making it harder for Iran to develop nuclear arms while lifting international sanctions. Under the resolution, a conventional arms embargo on Iran was in place until October 2020, but Western diplomats said the resolution still includes restrictions on missiles and related technologies that last until October 2023 and that encompass the export and purchase of advanced military systems such as drones. Iran has not confirmed the delivery of its drones to Russia, and the Kremlin has not confirmed their use in Ukraine. The attacks prompted Ukrainian citizens to protest outside of the Iranian embassy in Kyiv, waving their national flag and demanding that the Iranian government cease the delivery of more deadly drones to Russia. Hanged paper planes were also seen in front of the Iranian Embassy during the protest against Iran's allegedly supply of drones on October 19. The drone attacks prompted Ukrainian citizens to protest outside of the Iranian embassy in Kyiv Protesters were seen waving their national flag and demanding that the Iranian government cease the delivery of more deadly drones to Russia Hanged paper planes were also seen in front of the Iranian Embassy during the protest against Iran's allegedly supply of drones on October 19 Andrii Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president's office, confirmed in a social media post that Shahed drones were among those used in the strike. Iran has previously denied providing Russia with weapons, although its Revolutionary Guard chief has boasted about providing arms to the world's top powers, without elaborating. The drones have also been repeatedly used by Russia elsewhere in Ukraine in recent weeks to target urban centres and infrastructure, including power stations. They are comparatively cheap, costing in the region of 17,730. Their use in swarms presents a challenge to Ukrainian air defences, said Ihnat, the Air Force spokesman. Western nations have promised to bolster Ukrainian air defences with systems that can shoot down drones but much of that weaponry has yet to arrive and, in some cases, may be months away. Lucy Letby is accused of killing seven babies and attempted murder of further 10 A TV doctor and his colleagues 'raised concerns' about Lucy Letby after a number of babies collapsed, but were told 'not to make a fuss', a court has heard. The neonatal nurse, 32, is standing trial charged with killing seven babies and the attempted murder of a further 10 at the Countess of Chester Hospital between between June 2015 and June 2016. Dr Ravi Jayaram, lead paediatrician at the hospital, told Letby's trial that he had noticed the series of unusual and sometimes fatal collapses of babies in the neonatal unit. But he said that, at the time, he and colleagues were being told they 'shouldnt be saying such things' and instead told 'not to make a fuss'. The paediatrician, who has featured on health shows on Channel 4, also agreed during cross-examination that he had failed to mention unusual patterns of purple blotching at the inquest into the first infant said to have died at her hands. It was only during a police interview in the aftermath of Letby's arrest that he finally gave a detailed description of mottling effects he had never previously seen in his 30-year career. Dr Jayaram told Ben Myers KC, representing Letby, that he and his colleagues had become increasingly worried about a run of 'very unusual and seemingly inexplicable' collapses in the neonatal unit from June 2015. The first of these resulted in the death of Baby A, who collapsed and died suddenly around 24 hours after being born prematurely on June 8. Lucy Letby, 32, is accused of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 more. She denies all charges Dr Ravi Jayaram (pictured outside Manchester Crown Court today), lead paediatrician at the hospital, told her trial that he had noticed the series of unusual and sometimes fatal collapses of babies in the neonatal unit 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 Dr Jayaram gave evidence to the local coroner at the time, but agreed that he had failed to mention details of an apparent rash on the infants body that 'appeared, vanished, reappeared and flitted about' as medics tried desperately to save him. During questioning from Mr Myers today, he acknowledged that detail of the discolouration a 'bright pinkness against a background of blue-grey' - would have been 'plainly relevant' to the coroner as he tried to determine a cause of death. Following half an hour of intense cross-examination, he told the barrister: 'At the time of the coroners report, we as a group of clinicians had already begun to raise concern about the association that wed seen with an individual being present in these situations. 'And at the time we were being told that really we shouldnt be saying such things and not to make a fuss. 'My concern is that had I suggested this - that this could have been happening I didnt have any hard evidence.' Dr Jayaram denied being influenced by a research paper he had read some time before his police interview on September 18, 2017. This referred to 'blanching and migrating areas of cutaneous pallor'. Mr Myers put it to him that there would have been no reason to hold back his observations of the blotching on Baby As body from the coroner investigating his death. He asked: 'Its a straightforward clinical observation, and yet you didnt report it, did you? Has what you read in that paper influenced what you later told the police?' Dr Jayaram replied: 'No. Absolutely not. Categorically.' The court also today heard how a nurse caring for a premature baby girl at the Countess of Chester Hospital thought 'Oh no, not again' when she saw the infant collapse 28 hours after her twin brother's death, Lucy Letby's trial heard today. The court also heard today how a nurse working in the neonatal unit said 'Oh no, not again' when she saw an infant collapse 28 hours after her twin brother's death, Lucy Letby's trial heard today. Nurse A had been trying to resuscitate Baby A along with other staff when she felt his final heartbeat. The following night, at about 12.30am on June 10, 2015, Lucy Letby, the long-time friend she had once mentored as a student, called her over to the incubator of Baby B. It is alleged nurse Letby, 32, injected air into the bloodstream of the newborn, Child A, shortly after she came on shift on June 8 2015, just over 24 hours after his premature birth. The Crown alleges she used the same method to attack his sister, Child B, on the following night shift. 'Lucy went over to her,' the nurse told the jury on the 11th day of Letby's trial at Manchester Crown Court. 'She'd been standing with me, checking the medication. Lucy said 'She's apnoeic, she's not breathing'. She asked me to go and help'. The two nurses had to use a neopuff device to give the infant breaths because she was not breathing herself. 'She was very pale. She had blotches to her skin', said Nurse A. She went on: 'She suddenly looked very ill. She looked very like her brother had done the night before. She was pale, white, with this purple, blotchy discolouration. 'I just remember thinking 'Oh no, not again'. I'd not seen anything like that before. To see his sister with the same appearance' Nurse A, who cannot be named for legal reasons, summoned two doctors to help revive the infant. John and Susan Letby, parents of Lucy Letby, arriving at Manchester Crown Court on Friday, October 21, for their daughter's murder trial Letby, 32, of Hereford, is on trial for the alleged murders of seven babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital, Cheshire, and the attempted murder of 10 more between 2015 and 2016. She denies all charges A medical note of the incident read: 'Shut down, limp, apnoeicColour changed rapidly to purple blotchiness with white patches. Started to become bradycardic (slow heart rate). A breathing tube was inserted and Child B 'started to stabilise quite quickly', said the witness giving evidence screened from the public gallery and the defendant. The nurse went on: '(Child A's) deterioration was very sudden and to an unusual degree. Babies can be very poorly quickly but there is usually some indication that is happening. We had no undue concerns. 'To go from that is very unusual and then (Child B) had been good throughout the evening for me ... then she became ill very quickly. She deteriorated very quickly and then this discolouration. 'You never want any baby to die. You want to help them go home to their families. That's always been my goal.' Child B recovered and was eventually discharged a month later, the court heard. The nurse told the jury she could not remember who administered intravenous fluids to Child A shortly before his collapse but accepted she told police that another nursing colleague had 'pressed start' in the process and Letby assisted with checks. Letby, 32, from Hereford, denies murdering seven babies and attempting to kill a further ten. Nurse A told Ben Myers, KC, defending, said she had first become a friend of Letby when the alleged killer was studying at Chester University around 2010 and 2011. She had come to the neonatal unit twice during her training, and eventually joined the team permanently once she had qualified. Nurse A agreed with Mr Myers that she found her colleague and friend 'highly qualified and dedicated to the work she was doing' as a neonatal nurse. The nurse said she acted as 'mentor' to Letby, who first came to the unit as a trainee around 2010/11 while studying at the University of Chester. They became 'good friends', she said, as Letby went on to join the unit after she qualified. Mr Myers said: 'We know the allegations but your experience when working with her was she was highly professional? 'Yes,' replied the witness. Mr Myers said: 'And dedicated to the work she was doing?' 'Yes,' agreed the witness. The trial continues. The father of missing Harmony Montgomery has been charged with her murder, authorities said Monday - nearly three years after the five-year-old's disappearance. Harmony vanished sometime in late November or early December of 2019, but cops were only made aware of her disappearance last fall. An investigation led by the FBI subsequently ensued - and led cops to arrest Adam Montgomery in January 2022, in connection with a second-degree assault charge involving his daughter prior to her disappearance. During a Monday afternoon briefing in New Hampshire state court, Montgomery - who had yet to be charged in the disappearance - was hit with the charges by New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella. Speaking to the court, Formella accused Montgomery, 31, of 'causing the death of' his daughter during that 2019 encounter, 'by repeatedly striking Harmony in the head with a closed fist' at his home in Manchester, New Hampshire. As a result, the jurist said, he is now charged with second-degree murder. Other counts against the accused child killer include falsifying physical evidence, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with a witness, the proceedings further revealed - with Montgomery scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Manchester. Adam Montgomery, the father of long-missing Harmony Montgomery has been charged with her murder, cops said Monday - nearly three years after the five-year-old's disappearance Harmony vanished sometime in late November or early December of 2019, but cops were only made aware of her disappearance last fall The bombshell disclosure was several months in the making and serves as the first indication from investigators that Harmony, as many suspected, was murdered. It also comes four months after DailyMail.com revealed members of the FBI stormed Montgomery's home, hauling out evidence, including a fridge, from the apartment. Harmony had lived with her father, and his convict wife Kayla Montgomery, in the weeks leading up to her disappearance. 'I do want to again express my deepest sympathies to Harmony's family, friends, and loved ones,' Attorney General Formella said at the news conference Monday after making the revelations. 'We understand that today's news, while significant for purposes of this investigation, is yet another difficult moment for those who loved Harmony and those who have followed this case.' Formella added that Montgomery will be arraigned on the new charges Tuesday. Authorities investigating the highly-publicized case made waves in August when they declared they were investigating the New Hampshire girl's disappearance as a homicide, after learning of it just months before despite her disappearing more than two years earlier. At the time, without elaborating, authorities said they believed Harmony was murdered in Manchester in early December 2019. Those assertions seemed to be linked to the aforementioned search of the rental apartment the Montgomeries called home just days before Harmony's proposed disappearance in June. It also comes four months after DailyMail.com revealed members of the FBI stormed Montgomery's home, hauling out evidence, including a fridge, from the apartment. Officials at the time said the Union Street home had become 'the focus of the investigation' Cops had then been seen removing evidence, including a full-sized refrigerator, from the Manchester home, as well as a plethora of other items that were covered up in various packaging. Authorities did not disclose what sparked the search - the second in a matter of months of the property, which authorities did not learn of until just weeks before engaging in the operations. Officials at the time, however, did concede that the Union Street home had become 'the focus of the investigation.' Montgomery has been in jail since January in connection with a second-degree assault charge involving his daughter, including failing to have her in his custody and endangering her welfare. In April, he was hit with further charges of stealing a rifle and a shotgun before Harmony's disappearance. His estranged wife, 31, has been charged with welfare fraud after taking out food stamps in the child's name after she was last seen alive. Harmony, who was blind in one eye, was in her father's care at the time of her disappearance after her mother, Crystal Sorey, lost custody in July 2018 due to substance abuse issues. Pictured in court last month, Montgomery, 31, is now accused of 'causing the death of' his daughter during that 2019 encounter, 'by repeatedly striking Harmony in the head with a closed fist' at the home in Manchester, New Hampshire On January 4, investigators descended on the home and the apartment complex's garden after learning of its existence from a witness tip, with aerial footage at the time showing a crime scene tent set up in the backyard. In June, authorities repeated this course of action, with forensics teams scouring the home and removing what looked to be almost all of its contents. The search saw the lawmen, many wearing protective plastic suits, repeatedly enter the apartment and exit with items that likely served as evidence in the case - most of them packed away in tape and cardboard. Law enforcement officials were again seen setting up a green privacy tent during the search - which attracted crowds of curious residents who have been left wondering about Harmony's fate - so that investigators could pack the materials discreetly. The fridge, however, likely due to its size, was rolled out and wrapped outside, with the press capturing it on film - leading many to wonder if perhaps the little girl's remains had been inside. Police have yet to confirm that this is the case, with Monday's reveal being the first murder charge leveled after nearly a year of investigating. Investigators revealed earlier this year that Harmony had been homeless and living out of a car with her family in the days before her disappearance, after being evicted from the Union Street apartment on November 27 - a date that falls within the span of the girl's disappearance. Harmony disappeared between November 28 and December 10, 2019, while she was living with her dad at the residence, a second-floor apartment Harmony had lived with her father, and his convict wife Kayla Montgomery, in the weeks leading up to her disappearance During that time, Harmony's family was either living out of a silver 2010 Chrysler Sebring or a dark blue 2006 Audi S4. Adam, meanwhile - who had come under suspicion of case workers of abusing Harmony in the months before her disappearance - was arrested more than two years later, in January, shortly after police were made aware of Harmony's vanishing. He was arrested on multiple counts related to his daughter's disappearance, including felony second-degree assault, one misdemeanor charge of interference with custody, and two misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a child - but was not charged with her disappearance. He pleaded not guilty and was jailed in New Hampshire without bail, where he has remained since. He was also hit with more unrelated charges in April after he allegedly stole a rifle and a shotgun between September 29 and October 3, 2019 - mere weeks before Harmony was last seen. It has since been revealed he was also considered a suspect in the February 2008 killing of Darlin Guzman, a 28 year-old computer repairman who was fatally shot in the parking lot of a convenience store in Lynn, Massachusetts. Adam, who has a criminal record that goes back at least to 2007, has been in jail since January in connection with the second-degree assault charge. Relatives have accused Adam Montgomery of abusing Harmony, causing case workers to visit the Manchester apartment multiple times in 2019, 2020, and 2021 - several coming after the girl was last seen. Those visits saw the dad tell city officials the child had went to live with his mom. Relatives, including Montgomery's uncle, Kevin Montgomery, recounted incidents including spanking, forcing the then five-year-old to scrub the toilet with her toothbrush, and leaving her standing in the corner for hours, investigators say. Kevin told police his nephew once admitted to him that he 'bashed her around this house' during one instance in 2019, after the father reportedly found her trying to get her younger brother to stop crying while she was bathing him. According to the uncle, Adam Montgomery explained that he had left Harmony, then age 5, in charge of her infant brother while he was in the bathroom. When the baby started crying, Adam Montgomery said he came out of the bathroom to find Harmony with her hand clamped over her brother's mouth to stop him from crying. 'Adam told Kevin that he responded by striking [Harmony] in the face and causing the black eye,' according to the affidavit. Kevin Montgomery told police he reported the 2019 assault to the Department of Children of Children Youth and Their Families (DCYF). A caseworker visited Montgomery's home in July 2019 and found the claim Harmony had a black eye unfounded. However, the family were 'identified as high risk of repeat child welfare system involvement' and were given referrals for housing supports, the review stated. During a second visit that August, the worker noticed a red mark in Harmony's eye and faded bruising under her eyelid. The worker was told by Harmony and her father that the mark was caused by 'horseplay with another sibling when a toy light saber struck Harmony Montgomery near her eye.' Two other visits that year showed 'the children appeared happy and healthy,' the review said. The last visit was on October 1, 2019. The division didn't have contact with Adam Montgomery again until January 2020. When asked about Harmony, he said the child was living with Sorey in Massachusetts. A child protective services worker left a voicemail for Sorey, but the call wasn't returned and there is no evidence of any additional attempts to contact her, the review said. Police believe Harmony disappeared between November 28 and December 10, 2019 FBI personnel and investigators in tyvek suits working on the second floor of this home where Harmonys father, Adam Montgomery, and his estranged wife Kayla Montgomery previously lived. 5-year-old Harmony hasnt been seen since 2019 #WCVB pic.twitter.com/x0FKrvDFOm Matt Reed (@MattReedNews) June 14, 2022 Seeing law officers swarm the home, Corey Sorey, pictured here earlier this year, said she fears the worst for her only daughter, saying that she believes investigators are 'looking for a body' Adam Montgomery made similar comments about Harmony when a case worker visited the house twice in 2021, the review said. In September, a 'close contact' of Harmony's mother contacted the division and 'raised concerns' that Sorey hadn't seen her daughter since 2019 and hadn't been able to contact Adam Montgomery, the review said. The division confirmed that Harmony had never been registered for school in the public school system. The division attempted to find the Montgomery family and speak with Sorey, who later told police she hadn't seen her daughter since a Facetime call around Easter 2019. Meanwhile, Harmony's 31-year-old stepmom has pleaded not guilty to a felony count of welfare fraud after being accused of collecting $1,500 worth of food stamps in the child's name for a year after her disappearance. In an interview with police on New Year's Eve, Kayla - who shares three children with her husband, ages 4, 2, and 1 - said she last saw Harmony in November or December 2019. She said her husband was driving Harmony to the child's mother in Massachusetts. She said she believed Harmony had been returned to the mother, and never saw or heard about Harmony after that day, according to the police document. She also told police she hadn't seen Adam since October and had not spoken to him since November. She further asserts that the last she saw the Harmony was the day after Thanksgiving in 2019. Harmony was born in June 2014 while her father was incarcerated as he awaiting trial for allegedly shooting a man in the head during a drug deal. Crystal attempted to care for her newborn daughter while battling her substance use disorder, but despite her efforts, DCF received three reports of neglect the month Harmony was born. Investigators attempted to provide service to Crystal, however, the neglect continued, with two additional reports filed in August 2014. Officials determined the infant's well-being was at risk and she was removed from Crystal's care. Harmony was placed in a foster home for the first time and officials worked to develop an action plan for Crystal. In September of that year, DCF devised an action plan with Adam, while he was incarcerated, indicating he would engage with offered programs to help with parenting, substance use disorder, and anger management. Officials made numerous attempts to contact Adam about the plan but he did not respond the report states. When DCF finally connected with Adam in December 2014 he issued support for Harmony to return to Crystal's care. He also asked for a visit with Harmony. The convict met his daughter for the first time in January 2015, when she was six months old, during a supervised visit with her DCF care team. Immediately following the visit, Harmony was placed in Crystal's care but remained under the custody of DCF. Approximately four months later, Harmony, then 10 months old, was returned to foster care after Crystal failed to maintain the requirements of her action plan. Harmony remained in foster care until March 2017 when she was placed back in Crystal's care, but still under the custody of DCF. The girl's mother had met with DCF workers on numerous occasions to monitor her progress and readiness to act as Harmony's guardian. Crystal Sorey (right) - Harmony's biological mother - lost custody of the young girl in 2018 because of her drug addiction Almost three years after Harmony was placed in Adam's care, on December 31, 2021, the city of Manchester, New Hampshire police announced seven-year-old Harmony's disappearance and their search for her. They estimated her disappearance to have taken place in late 2019. She still remains missing In January 2018, Harmony, now three-and-a-half, was removed from Crystal's care for the third time due to her relapsing. She was placed back into foster care. In August 2018, Adam resumed supervised visits with Harmony, then four, after having not visited with her for the prior eleven months. He was granted guardianship of his daughter in February 2019, where she seemingly resided until her disappearance. State officials have since discerned that the girl, who would now be 8, was repeatedly failed by the Massachusetts child welfare system since infancy, being placed in the care of violent criminal Montgomery despite opposition from her caseworkers. Officials also failed to prioritize Harmony's medical and special needs when making decisions about her guardian, which the state said in a scathing report penned by Massachusetts Department of Children and Families should have been 'central to the decision-making'. 'Harmony's needs, well-being and safety were not prioritized,' Massachusetts child advocate Maria Mossaides said during a press conference in May. 'We do not know Harmony Montgomery's ultimate fate, and unfortunately, we may never. 'But we do know that this beautiful young child experienced many tragedies in her short life, and that by not putting her needs first, our system ultimately failed her.' Advertisement Indians have celebrated Diwali as earthen oil lamps and dazzling lights lit up homes and streets across the country to mark the Hindu festival that symbolises the victory of light over darkness. Diwali, which is a national holiday across India, is typically celebrated by socialising and exchanging gifts with family and friends. Many light earthen oil lamps or candles and fireworks are set off as part of the celebrations. In the evening, a special prayer is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, who is believed to bring luck and prosperity. Ahead of the celebrations, cities and towns across the country were decked with colourful lights. Devotees light candles and earthen lamps as they pay respect at the illuminated Golden Temple in Amritsar for the Bandi Chhor Divas - a Sikh festival that coincides with Diwali Indian Sikh devotees light candles at sunset at the illuminated Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Temple in New Delhi Indian Sikhs light candles in a long procession at sunset at the illuminated Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Temple Devotees light dozens of candles in an opulent frame while celebrating Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights A hindu girl is pictured at a temple during the Diwali celebrations in Srinagar, Kashmir province firecrackers light across the sky on the occasion of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Chennai, Locals light firecrackers on the occasion of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Chennai Residences are lit up with lanterns and lights on the occasion of Diwali festival, in Mumbai Millions of Indians thronged crowded bazaars for shopping, bringing back the Diwali cheer that was dampened during the last two years due to coronavirus restrictions. The markets buzzed with eager shoppers buying flowers, lanterns and candles meant to decorate houses and offices. As dusk fell on Sunday, over 1.5 million earthen lamps were lit and kept burning for 45 minutes at Ram ki Paidi, on the banks of Saryu river in the northern city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state, retaining the Guinness World Record it set last year. Senior government official Nitish Kumar said that more than 22,000 volunteers, the majority of them college students, ensured that lamps burned for the prescribed time to break last year's record of 900,000 oil lamps. Hindus believe that the deity Lord Ram was born in Ayodhya, where he returned after 14 years in exile. To celebrate his return, people light the earthen lamps. The holy city was decked with fairy lights ahead of the event and a laser and fireworks show illuminated its lanes and river banks. Thousands of residents also lit lamps at their houses and temples across the city. Diwali is a time for socialising and fun, with many young people taking to the streets in Bur Dubai with lighted firecrackers Children light the fire crackers during Diwali, the festival of lights in Mumbai Earthen lamps lit by devotees are pictured during the Hindu festival of Diwali at a temple in Yangon Houses are lit up with decorative lights and lanterns at a slum in Mumbai, India Devotees leave after offering prayers during the Hindu festival of Diwali at a temple in Yangon People of Hindu community perform their rituals during a ceremony to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, at a temple, in Sukkur, Pakistan People burn crackers during Diwali, the Festival of Lights, in Bangalore, India Sawantri, 40, helps her son to wave a burning sparkler during Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Karachi, Pakistan Worshippers pay their respects during the Hindu festival of Diwali at a temple in Yangon, India Devotees visit the illuminated Golden Temple on the occasion of Bandi Chhor Divas, a Sikh festival coinciding with Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Amritsar A woman lights a firecracker on the occasion of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Chennai, India A view of the illuminated Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Temple in New Delhi, India, during Diwali celebrations Locals light a firecracker on the occasion of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Chennai A vendor transports banana leaves for devotees during Hindu festival of Diwali in Hyderabad earlier today The stunning spectacle along the shores of Saryu River was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Amid chants of Hindu religious hymns, Mr Modi lit an earthen lamp and performed "aarti" - a customary Hindu ritual that involves waving lighted lamps in front of an idol. Earlier, he offered prayers at a long-awaited temple of the Hindu god Ram at the site of a demolished 16th-century Babri mosque in Ayodhya. The Babri Masjid mosque was destroyed by a Hindu mob with pickaxes and crowbars in December 1992, sparking massive Hindu-Muslim violence that left some 2,000 people dead, most of them Muslims. The Supreme Court's verdict in 2019 allowed a temple to be built in place of the demolished mosque. Bombay Stock Exchange building lit up as the stock brokers and their family members gathered for special trading session on the occasion of Diwali festival Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn (third from right), along with other Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) officials, ring the bell to start the Muhurat Trading, a special trading session on the occasion of Diwali festival, at the BSE in Mumbai, India A girl waves a burning sparkler during Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Karachi, Pakistan Devotees attend prayers inside a temple during the Diwali celebrations in Srinagar, Kashmir province Diwali also known as Deepavali, and the ''festival of lights'', is one of the most popular festivals of Hinduism It symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance" Devotees light earthen oil lamps at a temple during the Diwali celebrations in Srinagar A man decorated his house during Diwali, the festival of lights in Mumbai A girl poses with a rangoli, mural made out of coloured powders, outside her home during Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Karachi, Pakistan An Indian man takes a selfie with the tetrapods like structure lit up at the girgaon beach on the occasion of Diwali festival, in Mumbai Stock brokers and their family members gathered for special trading session on the occasion of Diwali festival, at the Bombay Stock Exchange It was Mr Modi's second visit to the temple since he laid the foundation in 2020 for the construction of the temple. Mr Modi and his party had long pledged to build a temple to Ram where the Mughal-era mosque once stood, in a long-running controversy. "Lord Ram's ideals are a beacon of light for people aspiring for a developed India in the next 25 years," Mr Modi said during his address there. Over the past few years, Diwali celebrations are tinged with worries over air pollution, which typically shroud northern India under a toxic grey smog as temperatures dip and winter settles in. Northern India's pollution woes during the onset of winter mainly stem from vehicular emissions and the burning of crop stubble to clear fields. But on Diwali night people also lit up the sky with firecrackers and its smoke causes smog that sometimes takes days to clear. Some Indian states, including the capital New Delhi, have banned sales of fireworks and imposed other restrictions to stem the pollution. Authorities have also urged residents to light "green crackers" that emit less pollutants than normal firecrackers but similar bans have often been flouted in the past. A 12-year-old girl, whose murder shook France and sparked political controversy, was laid to rest this afternoon, after an Algerian woman who was in the country illegally was charged with her killing. The brutal assault and murder of the little girl, known as Lola, was branded as 'evil' by President Emmanuel Macron after her body was found earlier this month in a trunk in Paris. The killing prompted conservative and far-right critics to accuse his government of not doing enough to prevent illegal migration, while ministers shot back that such rebukes were inappropriate. A 12-year-old girl, whose murder shook France and sparked political controversy, was laid to rest this afternoon. Her mother (pictured right) arrives with her daughter's coffin The family of 'Lola', 12, had called for political mudslinging to be set aside and for the young girl to be laid to rest in 'respect and dignity' Lola is seen partially obscured by the door as she follows her suspected killer, pictured centre. The suspect is seen wearing a grey jumper, white leggings and trainers. Lola quickly followed her into the building Lola is pictured in this CCTV footage still wearing a white coat and carrying what appears to be her schoolbag alongside the suspect Lola's family had called for political mudslinging to be set aside and for the young girl to be laid to rest in 'respect and dignity' in the town of Lillers, in her home region in northern France. Her parents, her brothers, other family members and a crowd - including Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, a Macron ally - were present when her white coffin, adorned with white flowers, was carried into the local church. 'You left us much too soon,' Thibault, one of Lola's older brothers, said at the ceremony. 'I didn't have time to tell you how much I love you.' Bishop Olivier Leborgne, who presided over the ceremony, said: 'Lola, who was 12, not only died too young, but under unbearable circumstances.' A drawn portrait of Lola and flowers are seen in front of the collegiate church St Omer during her funeral Lola's parents, her brothers, other family members and a crowd - including Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, a Macron ally - were present when her white coffin, adorned with white flowers, was carried into the local church Relatives of the 12-year-old schoolgirl, known as Lola, stand next to her coffin at the end of a funeral ceremony Dozens of mourners followed the ceremony via loudspeakers set up outside the church. 'My grandchildren, who are the same age as Lola, wanted us to be here,' said Sabine Vizenski, one of the mourners gathered near the church. 'There are no words to describe what was done to that young girl,' said another, Thomas Maillot, who drove half an hour to pay his respects. 'It's very important for me to be here,' he said. The funeral mass was open to the public but the family wanted the actual burial in the cemetery to be strictly private. A girl places a white rose near a portrait of Lola, a 12-year-old schoolgirl, who was brutally killed and whose body was stuffed in a trunk in the 19th district in Paris A mourner leaves the collegiate church 'St Omer' after the funeral of Lola in Liller, northern France Macron had on Friday spoken of the 'atrociousness of the crime' which he described as an act of 'extreme evil'. He praised the 'dignified' behaviour of Lola's family, who he said deserved 'first and foremost the respect and affection of the nation'. But the profile of the suspect - an Algerian woman named only as Dahbia B. who was the subject of an expulsion order - has prompted stinging criticism from the right and one of the most bitter political debates since Macron's re-election in May. She had overstayed a student visa and had failed to comply with a notice issued in August to leave France within 30 days. On Monday, the 24-year-old was charged with the rape and murder of a minor aged under 15, along with torture and abuse. French far-right party Rassemblement National (RN) leader and Member of Parliament Marine Le Pen (left), and RN's MP Jordan Bardella (right) observe a minute of silence for Lola In an at times rambling interview, the woman confessed that she had 'committed harm of a sexual nature and other violent acts against (Lola) that caused her death, and hid her body in the trunk', prosecutors said. According to the autopsy, the young girl died due to 'cardio-respiratory failure with signs of asphyxia and cervical compression'. The investigation will now focus on whether the suspect was suffering from a psychiatric disorder at the time of the killing and if she can face criminal responsibility for the murder. Protesters hold portraits of 'Lola' reading 'Lola could have been our little sister' during a rally called by the far-right organization 'Institut pour la Justice' in Paris A man holds an illustration with the portrait of Lola during a extreme right-wing demonstration at the end of the tribute for Lola last week Eric Ciotti, MP from the right-wing Republicans (LR) party, had accused the government of 'criminal... laxism' over migration, while extreme-right figure Eric Zemmour, an unsuccessful presidential candidate in May, had even described Lola's killing as 'Francocide'. The far-right National Rally (RN) observed a minute of silence in parliament on Monday and the leader of its MPs, Marine Le Pen, insisted on the need for 'answers' from the government. A balloon reading Lola outside the church in Lillers where the little girl was laid to rest today In a statement sent to AFP on Friday, Lola's parents called for an immediate end to 'any use of the name and image of their child for political ends' so they could 'honour the memory of their child in peace, respect and dignity'. Separately, police have launched an investigation after one of their officers gave graphic details of the case in an interview with television channel BFMTV. The interview, filmed in a way that concealed the officer's identity, was broadcast on Friday. A 30 year-old man opened fire at Methodist Dallas Medical Center, where two of its staffers were killed on Saturday. Authorities said the alleged shooter had been apprehended. The Methodist Health System, the hospital's parent company, reports that a responding officer shot and injured the suspect. The suspect, identified as Nestor Hernandez, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, according to NBC News. According to the Dallas Police Department, Hernandez was on parole for robbery and was wearing an "active ankle monitor." Hernandez may have hired a lawyer, but that remained unclear. Despite repeated attempts to reach out, the county defense attorney remained silent on the Dallas shooting as of present reporting. Nobody knew if the suspect knew any of the victims or what may have triggered the violence. The victims have not been named, and we don't know what they did for a living. In a statement, the Methodist Health System expressed that it is "grieved" by the demise of two cherished team members and called the incident an "unimaginable tragedy." Police Chief Eddie Garcia of Dallas referred to the incident as "an appalling" failure of our criminal justice system." Suspect Was Imprisoned For Aggravated Robbery Amanda Hernandez, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, confirmed that Nestor Hernandez was permitted to be present at Methodist Dallas Medical Center to be with his "significant other" while giving birth on Saturday. She revealed that the suspect had served time in jail for aggravated robbery and had been paroled in October of last year, but she did not elaborate on the situation surrounding the incident of US gun violence, AP News reported. Read Also: Five Mississippi Day Care Employees Charged For Scaring Kids Using Scary Mask Similar To 'Scream' The incident occured at around 11 a.m. on Saturday.There has been no public identification of the victims, and the motive for the Dallas shooting remains unknown. Hospital authorities confirmed that Hernandez, had been transferred to another facility for treatment. The suspect was apprehended, stabilized, and transferred to another local hospital, according to a statement from Methodist Health System. A Moment of Terror At the time of the Dallas shooting, hundreds of breast cancer survivors and their families were touring a newly refurbished breast center in a different building on the hospital's campus, the Oak Cliff Adovocate reported. Shots were heard in the hospital's maternity ward, according to witnesses interviewed by NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Amanda Birdwell stated that she and her loved ones took refuge in the hospital's cafeteria kitchen. She said that her sister suffered a "panic attack" during the shooting incident. Amanda Hernandez stated that the Office of the Inspector General for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is assisting local law enforcement with their investigation into the shooting. On Sunday, neither the Dallas police nor a hospital spokesperson would comment further on the Dallas shooting. It comes after a US gun violence in a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in June that left four people dead, and one in Little Rock, Arkansas, in September that resulted in the death of a visitor. Related Article: Costa Rica Plane Crash: Gold's Gym Owner Believed to be Among 2 Bodies Found @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Monday temporarily blocked Sen. Lindsey Graham's testimony to a Georgia special grand jury investigating whether then-President Donald Trump and others illegally tried to influence the 2020 election in the state. Thomas' order is intended to prevent Fani Willis, Fulton County district attorney, from compelling Graham to testify while the Supreme Court weighs the senator's request for a lengthier halt to the proceedings. Willis has a deadline Thursday to tell the high court why Graham should have to answer the grand jury's questions. Sen. Lindsey Graham (left) doesn't have to testify in Georgia's election fraud probe for now, after conservative Justice Clarence Thomas (right) temporarily blocked the South Carolina Republican's testimony before a grand jury Fani Willis, Fulton County district attorney, launched the election fraud probe after The Washington Post reported on a phone call President Donald Trump (pictured) had with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger to 'find' enough votes for him to win the Peach State Lower courts have ruled that his testimony can take place. Thomas acted on his own, as he's the justice who handles emergency appeals from Georgia. Willis has indicated that she wants to speak to Graham, a top ally of Trump on Capitol Hill, about calls he made to Georgia election officials after the 2020 race. Graham has said he shouldn't have to testify because he's protected by the Constitution's Speech or Debate Clause, which shields lawmakers from certain law enforcemant actions if they're performing legislative duties. The South Carolina senator reached out to the conservative-leaning Supreme Court on Friday, arguing that calls with Georgian election officials were to gain facts related to the 'impending vote on certifying the election,' which lawmakers took on January 6, 2021 - proceedings that were interrupted by the Capitol attack. Graham argued that because he was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee he was charged with 'reviewing election-related issues.' The 11th Circuit Court of U.S. Appeals argued otherwise, ruling that 'communications and coordination with the Trump campaign regarding its post-election efforts in Georgia, public statements regarding the 2020 election, and efforts to "cajole" or "exhort" Georgia election officials" are not legislative activities protected by the Speech and Debate Clause.' Willis launched the election fraud probe after The Washington Post reported in January 2021 on a phone call Trump had with Georgia's Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger to 'find' enough votes for him to win the Peach State. Since then, the probe has expanded to include Trump and his allies scheme to name fake electors, Trump lawyer's presentations to state lawmakers making false election fraud claims and efforts made to access voting machines in a Georgia county, as well as threats made to election workers. Advertisement Heartbroken Will & Grace stars Eric McCormack and Sean Hayes have paid tribute to 'unique' comedian Leslie Jordan who died after suffering a medical emergency and crashing his BMW into the side of a Hollywood building on Monday. The actor was 67. Los Angeles Police Department told DailyMail.com that they received reports that a car crashed into a wall located at Romaine Street and Cahuenga Blvd about 9.30am. Jordan, who was known for his work on Will & Grace, Call Me Kat, and American Horror Story, was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee and lived in Los Angeles. He recently took up a career as a country singer and just teased about the release of a new song a day before he died. He won an on outstanding guest actor Emmy in 2006 for his role as Beverly Leslie in NBC's hit show 'Will & Grace' on which he had a recurring role. His co-stars, Sean Hayes and Eric McCormack, were among the first stars to pay tribute to him. Sean Hayes wrote on Twitter: 'My heart is broken. Leslie Jordan was one of the funniest people I ever had the pleasure of working with. Everyone who ever met him, loved him. There will never be anyone like him. A unique talent with an enormous, caring heart. You will be missed, my dear friend.' Co-star Eric McCormack, who played the leading role of Will Truman, said he was 'crushed' by the loss. 'The funniest & flirtiest southern gent I've ever known. The joy and laughter he brought to every one of his #WillandGrace episodes was palpable. Gone about thirty years too soon. You were loved, sweet man.' Costars Debra Messing and Megan Mullally have not yet commented on Jordan's death. In Jordan's final Instagram post on Sunday, he posted a video of himself singing along with songwriter Danny Myrick and announced he would be releasing a new single soon. 'Sunday Mornin' Hymm Singin' with @dannymyrick,' Jordan wrote on social media. 'Danny helped me with a new original song that should be comin' out real soon. Love. Light. Leslie.' Comedian Leslie Jordan has died after crashing his BMW into the side of a building in Hollywood on Monday The country artists posted a video of himself singing along with songwriter Danny Myrick on Instagram on Sunday and announced he would be releasing a new single Jordan teased the release of a new country song on Instagram yesterday. Fans were quick to pay their condolences online Police received a call at 9.30am about a car that had crashed into a wall located at Romaine Street and Cahuenga Blvd Sean Hayes, Will & Grace costar, also paid tribute on social media Eric McCormack, who plays Will Truman on Will & Grace, also remembered Jordan on Twitter A representative for Jordan announced his death on the actor's social media page and asked fans to share their favorite memories of the star. 'The love and light that Leslie shared will never go out and we invite you to share your memories and comfort each other during this time. In the coming days we will be giving a glimpse of a project Leslie was really proud of and was looking forward to sharing with the world.' 'The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan,' his agent added in a statement to Reuters. 'Not only was he a mega talent and joy to work with, but he provided an emotional sanctuary to the nation at one of its most difficult times. What he lacked in height he made up in generosity and greatness as son, brother, artist, comedian, partner and human being.' Police were seen surrounding the scene this morning A tent was set up behind Jordan's BMW on Monday morning Police closed down the road where Jordan crashed his vehicle Jordan appeared in a number of hit TV shows, including Ugly Betty, Star Trek: Voyager, Pee-Wee's Playhouse and Reba. He also appeared on this year's CNN's New Year's Eve countdown to ring in 2022 along with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen. The beloved Will & Grace star blew up on social media in 2020 by posting humorous videos on social media. It began when he started posting to the social media platform as he hunkered down in his native Chattanooga, Tennessee, in March 2020 during the pandemic. Jordan's videos consisted of him asking 'How ya'll doin?' and giving fans an insight to his childhood. 'I would just sit here and think of things and think: 'oh, that's funny,'' Jordan told DailyMail.com. 'And I would, you know, put it out.' The television star captivated a different audience and is now at 5.8 million followers on Instagram and 2.3 million on TikTok. Jordan never set out to make viral content. It's his truly genuine off-the-cuff takes or, 'pillow talk' as he as dubbed it, that makes the videos a pure joy to watch. 'People knew me from my characters, but I'm amazed that, people discovered me as me. They loved me. And they came back,' Jordan said at the time. Jordan's social media fam led him to write a new book, 'How Y'all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived.' He released his first book in 2008 - which was a memoir, dubbed 'My Trip down the Red Carpet.' Celebrities and fans were devastated to learn about the natural comedian's death. 'Leslie Jordan put a smile on the faces of so many, especially with his pandemic videos,' actress Lynda Carter wrote. 'What a feat to keep us all laughing and connected in such difficult times... It feels so cruel that this could happen to such a beautiful soul.' 'Heartbreaking - RIP Leslie Jordan,' producer Gibson Johns wrote on Twitter. 'How incredible that he was able to feel so much love and admiration for his talents during his resurgence over the past several years. He had so much more to give.' 'This is so heartbreaking,' playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris wrote. 'Your star shined bright no matter where you were on screen and even moreso off. You were truly one of the spirits that made aging as a queer man feel more exciting than existing in the present. To a lived fully! RIP LESLIE JORDAN.' Loni Love, cohost of The Real talkshow, also chimed in to pay tribute to Jordan. She wrote: 'The last time I worked with Leslie Jordan... we guest co hosted The Talk... Leslie was so much fun to be around, always a funny story and he inspired me to keep going in an industry that could be ageist... I will miss you my friend.. Mama is waiting on you.' 'I feel like I can't breathe,' Ghost Whisper actress Jennifer Hewitt added. 'My beautiful and sweet friend. What will we do without you? Your entire spread love, sunshine and goodness. I will miss you more than I have words to say. Love you friend. May you make heaven as joyful as you made earth.' Actor George Takei added:'I am stunned at the death of Leslie Jordan, who delighted us with his many roles on television and film. 'The cause of death was a car crash after he suffered a medical emergency. Leslie, we are heartbroken at your loss and will miss your mirth and your inimitable spirit.' Jordan appeared in other television series, such as Ugly Betty, Star Trek: Voyager, Pee-Wee's Playhouse and Reba He became a breakout Instagram star during the COVID-19 pandemic you were the light we needed in a dark time. RIP Leslie Jordan pic.twitter.com/RsvXrUxfGL The Notorious J.O.V. (@whotfisjovana) October 24, 2022 leslie jordan was one of the few ppl who made us laugh throughout the pandemic. may he rest in peace pic.twitter.com/b3sKgm8g4p roni (@GETMEBODlED) October 24, 2022 The television star captivated a different audience when he took on Instagram two years ago and is now at 5.8 million followers on Instagram Celebrities poured their hearts out in remembrance of Jordan on social media Actor George Takei confirmed the later actor's death and mourned him on Twitter. Loni Love, cohost of The Real talkshow, also chimed in to pay tribute to Jordan Jordan previously chatted with DailyMailTV in March 2021 about becoming an unlikely quarantine-era social media star. At the time, the actor chatted with host Thomas Roberts about the next chapter in his career toward country music. 'When I got to Hollywood, I never thought, oh, well, I want to pursue a career in music or anything,' Leslie explained at the time. Jordan's county album, dubbed 'Company's Comin',' released in 2021 and featured some of the biggest names in music including his friend, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. A few of his hits on the album included 'Where the Soul Never Dies' with singer Dolly Parton and 'The One Who Hideth Me' featuring Vedder. He took his musical career a step further late last year and appeared on 'The Masked Singer' to perform the song 'This Little Light of Mine.' Going Country! Leslie Jordan exclusively chatted with DailyMailtTV host Thomas Roberts about the surprising next chapter in his career and his latest project to raise money for a very important cause 'When I got to Hollywood, I never thought, oh, well, I want to pursue a career in music or anything,' Leslie said of his upcoming debut country album Company's Comin' Jordan came to Hollywood in 1982. The Cool Kids (above) was one of his hit shows released in 2018 Jordan was cast as Beverley Leslie in Will & Grace (above). He won an Emmy for his role in the show in 2006 Jordan is seen above in episode 17 of Will & Grace, dubbed Cowboys and Iranians Jordan arrived in Hollywood in 1982 and soon found work in a variety of TV shows including Murphy Brown, Night Court, Midnight Caller, and Hearts Afire. By the 2000s, he was working steadily in primetime hits such as Ally McBeal, Boston Public and Boston Legal. In 2001, he was cast as Beverley Leslie in Will & Grace and continued to appear regularly throughout its run until it ended after eight seasons in 2006. He won the 2006 Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for the role and he returned for the sictom's reboot from 2017 to 2020. Jordan also appeared in the hit 2011 movie The Help and in several episodes of Ryan Murphy's anthology series American Horror Story on FX. He then returned to the big screen for the Fox sitcom Call Me Kat which stars Mayim Bialik and is executive produced by Jim Parsons. Child abusers are using a 'loophole' to change their named and avoid detection by officials, former Home Secretary Sajid Javid has revealed. In its final report published last week, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse - set up in 2015 in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal - described the abuse of children as an 'epidemic that leaves tens of thousands of victims in its poisonous wake'. But Grant Shapps, who last week became Home Secretary following Suella Braverman's resignation, today said he is working to close the loophole in the law that is allowing convicted abusers to change their names. He told MPs that he will use 'all available levers' to protect children from sexual abuse and 'right the wrongs exposed' by the seven-year independent inquiry into the issue. It comes after Mr Javid told the Commons: 'Can I just ask him particularly about the disclosure and barring service which I think is referenced some 84 times in the report. 'When I led a commission in 2020 into child sexual abuse and exploitation, there were a number of issues we discovered around the DBS service, but in particular the ability for some people to simply change their name and avoid detection despite being convicted child sexual abusers. 'This loophole has still not been closed by the Government, so can I urge him to work with his colleagues in the Ministry of Justice and close this as quickly as possible?' Child abusers are using a 'loophole' to change their named and avoid detection by officials, former Home Secretary Sajid Javid has revealed Grant Shapps, who last week became Home Secretary following Suella Braverman's resignation, today he is working to close the loophole in the law The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse was set up in 2015 in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal The report published the socio-demographic characteristics of Truth Project participants The report also published data on the outcomes of child sex abuse cases Everything you need to know about the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) When was the inquiry set up? The inquiry was set up in 2015. How many investigations did the inquiry conduct? The inquiry conducted 15 investigations before the publication of its final report, into areas such as Westminster and the church. How many victims gave evidence in the inquiry? More than 7,000 victims came forward to give evidence. How many witnesses gave evidence in the inquiry? A total of 725 witnesses gave evidence including 21 bishops, four archbishops, two archdeacons, one cardinal, 43 senior police officers, 29 Lords and Ladies, eight former government ministers, the former Director General of MI5 and three ex-prime ministers. Which prominent figures featured in the inquiry? One strand of the inquiry looked at children who reported being sexually abused by the late Labour grandee Lord Janner. The King gave evidence to the inquiry through a written statement while he was the Prince of Wales, as his support for shamed clergyman Peter Ball was described as 'misguided' in a scathing report. Other famous names that gave evidence to the inquiry were the Archbishop of Canterbury and former prime minister Sir Tony Blair. How many pages of evidence were processed in the inquiry? There were 2.5million pages of evidence processed. How many recommendations were made in the final overarching report? There were 20 recommendations made in the inquiry's final report - including the implementation of laws compelling people in positions of trust to report child sexual abuse and a national compensation scheme for victims. How much did the inquiry cost? The inquiry cost 186.6million up until the report's publication date. Advertisement Mr Shapps replied: 'It is very concerning about the DBS service and actually I have asked my ministerial colleague to look into this urgently and that work is already under way. So I will report back to the House.' The inquiry concluded that people in positions of trust should be compelled by law to report child sexual abuse, and that a national compensation scheme for victims should be introduced. It also recommended enabling more frequent use of the disclosure and barring service (DBS), aimed at making sure volunteers or employees working with children are safe to do so. Responding to the inquiry's conclusion, Mr Shapps earlier apologised on behalf of the Government, telling MPs: 'I cannot imagine the pain victims have been through. 'So I say this on behalf of the Government, and all governments that come before, to all the victims who have suffered this horrendous abuse, I am truly sorry.' But Mr Shapps would not commit to immediately implementing any of the report's recommendations, telling the Commons the Government needed to 'take time to carefully consider its findings and recommendations in full'. But he added: 'Let me make this promise now. I will use all available levers to protect our children and right the wrongs exposed by the inquiry's findings. 'I will do all in my power to improve how law enforcement and the criminal justice system respond to child sexual abuse. 'And I will work with my ministerial colleagues and across party lines to hold organisations to account, bring perpetrators to justice and support victims and survivors with compassion and total care.' Former PM Theresa May, who set up the inquiry, said the report had 'shone a light on the horrific violence against children that has been taking place" and should be treated with 'utter seriousness'. Mrs May added: "The Government now has an opportunity on the back of this inquiry report to make changes that will make a real difference, so I urge (Mr Shapps) to make sure that all parts of Government take this report and treat it with utter seriousness and particularly the recommendation on mandatory reporting." Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper paid tribute to the victims and survivors "who pressed for this inquiry and who have shown great bravery and strength in telling their stories, speaking out to seek justice, to seek truth and to seek protection for others". She added: "This is a deeply serious report about one of the worst imaginable crimes, about the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The violence and pain, the terror that they have described, the degradation and violation and the consequences that they have felt throughout their lives. Ms Cooper warned that the report was "too important to get lost in all of the political changes that have been taking place and all of the confusion within Government". Anne Heche's ex-partner James Tupper is claiming the late actress's estate is actually worth $2million - five times more than her son's original valuation of her property. In a new petition for probate filed last week, Tupper, who is currently locked in a legal battle with Heche's 20-year-old son Homer Heche Laffoon, challenged her older son's $400,000 estimated appraisal of his mother's estate. Tupper, 57, instead valued Heche's personal property at $1.6million and listed the annual gross income from that property at $400,000, documents obtained by DailyMail.com reveal. The Canadian actor also cited Homer's alleged failure to communicate with his younger brother Atlas - Tupper's 13-year-old son with Heche - and claims he locked the boy out of Heche's home. He is also asking for Britney Spears's former conservator, Jodi Pais Montgomery, to be appointed the 'neutral' administrator. The move comes just a few days after DailyMail.com reported Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lee Bogdanoff had rejected Tupper's petition to be made legal guardian of his and Heche's 13-year-old son Atlas. During the October 11 hearing, the judge also warned Tupper he was also likely to lose the battle over her estate. Filings obtained by DailyMail.com show Anne Heche's ex-partner James Tupper valued her personal property at $2million - five times her son's original appraisal The first court hearing for Anne Heche's estate was held Tuesday October 11 at Los Angeles Superior Court. Her eldest son Homer Heche Laffoon (pictured right with Heche and younger son Atlas) was appointed temporary administrator over her estate last month In Tupper's petition for probate obtained by DailyMail.com, the actor said Heche's personal property was worth $1.6M and listed the annual income from that property at $400,000 At the moment, Homer is executor of Heche's property and has previously argued that he is more likely to act in his brother Atlas's interests as both of the sons 'share the common goal of administering the estate as efficiently as possible. But Tupper has continued to challenge Homer's appointment, now claiming 'fraudulent and/or intentional failures to provide notice and related misrepresentations' are grounds to deny him from serving as the administrator. In his filing, he also cites Homer's alleged failure to communicate with Atlas and locking Atlas out of Heche's home as grounds to stop him from being appointed Administrator. Tupper alleges that the actions Homer has taken demonstrate a hostile and bias attitude against Atlas, and a neutral fiduciary is best suited to become the permanent administrator of Heche's estate. The Big Little Lies star had filed for legal guardianship which would have made him responsible for protecting Atlas's interests in court. Upon hearing the ruling earlier this month, Tupper shook his head as he stood in court with his hands stuffed into his blue jeans. Earlier this month, a Los Angeles judge denied James Tupper's petition to be appointed legal guardian of 13-year-old Atlas Heche Tupper(pictured) his only son with late actress Anne Heche In a court hearing on October 11, the Canadian actor, 57, lost his bid to be made 'guardian ad litem' of Atlas - his 13-year-old son with Anne Heche But the gesture of frustration angered Judge Bogdanoff, who snapped at him: 'Don't you shake your head at me and take your hands out of your pockets!' Tupper sheepishly complied, telling the judge: 'I don't think his (Atlas) older brother (Homer) is going to look after his interests. 'He is treating him like an enemy. Their relationship is going to be destroyed forever.' When Tupper's attorney, Christopher Johnson complained that Homer was blocking Atlas's access to the apartment he and his mother shared to pick up his belongings, Judge Bogdanoff ordered that the young boy to be able to 'get into the apartment and get his stuff as quickly as possible.' Addressing her decision the judge said: 'The brothers have an equal interest in the estateI'm not seeing a reason to grant a GAL (guardian ad litem) because he (Atlas) and his brother have the same interest in the estate.' Judge Bogdanoff also questioned why Tupper is claiming that Homer is 'not qualified' to be named permanent administrator to Heche's estate. 'What is the basis to object?' asked the judge. 'We are not here to pick the best person. In California you can be an illiterate and be an administrator.' He also warned Tupper that making a formal objection to the impending decision to make Homer permanent administrator would likely be a 'waste of time.' Yet, Bogdanoff still gave Tupper's attorney, Johnson, until October 20 to file an objection and scheduled another hearing on November 30. Homer, 20, has been locked in a legal battle with his mother's ex James Tupper (right) who has claimed she appointed him executor in a will she emailed him in 2011 Tupper, 57, last week filed to be appointed 'guardian ad litem' over his 13-year-old son. That would make him responsible for protecting Atlas's interests in court hearings The hearing comes after new documents filed in court earlier revealed that the late actress's wealth amounted to a fraction of the millions she was believed to be worth. Homer Heche Laffoon, 20 Heche's son with ex-husband Coleman Laffoon said he estimated the value of his all his mother's personal property to be approximately $400,000 total, according to filings obtained by DailyMail.com. He said he expects another $400,000 annually from royalties and residuals. Homer also revealed Heche lived in an apartment and did not own a house. Meanwhile, Tupper maintains that she appointed him executor of her estate in a 'will' she emailed to him in 2011. But Homer insists that the email is not valid because it's not signed and that his mother had no will when she died two months ago at age 53. He also blasted a petition last week to be named legal guardian of Atlas as a 'conflict of interest' and an attempt to manipulate him and his half brother to seize control of their mother's belongings. The fight for control of Heche's estate was scheduled for its first hearing on October 11 at Los Angeles Superior Court. In legal documents filed ahead of the hearing by Homer, whom the court appointed last month as temporary administrator of the estate, he provides a fairly vague list of what his mother owned at the time of her death: A few modest banks accounts; Royalty payments and other income; A corporation in which (Heche) was the sole shareholder (used for projects in development and business functions related to her career in film, including a modest bank account and royalty payments); An LLC membership interest related to her podcast; Tangible personal property of unknown value; Heche's interest in the future profits from her forthcoming book (Call Me Anne, due to be published early next year); Heche's claims for damages against Mr. Tupper stemming from Mr. Tupper's breach of contractual obligations related to their co-owned real properties that have since been sold.' Homer said his 'best estimate on the value of all (his mother's) personal property is $400,000. The probable value of the annual income from all the estate's property is approximately $400,000.' He added that Heche 'did not have any interest in real property at the time of her death.' The movie star, best known for roles in Donnie Brasco, Volcano, and Wag the Dog and her three-year-relationship with Ellen DeGeneres, died days after slamming her Mini Cooper into a house in Los Angeles, causing an explosion, on August 5. Blood tests showed that she had cocaine and fentanyl in her system when the high-speed crash occurred, but officials confirmed that she had not been drinking alcohol despite being pictured earlier with a vodka bottle in her cupholder. Tupper, who was in a relationship with Heche from 2007 to 2018, is the father of her younger son Atlas, 13 (pictured in 2012) while Homer is the son of Heche's ex Coleman Laffoon Homer (pictured in 2012) has previously claimed Tupper has 'potential and actual conflicts of interest' with the younger boy his own son he shares with Heche, Atlas Heche Tupper, 13 Tupper claims the 2011 email proves that he should be in charge of the estate. 'FYI in case I die tomorrow and anyone asks,' Heche's email begins. 'My wishes are that all of my assets go to the control of Mr. James Tupper to be used to raise my children and then given to the children' She was left badly burned and in a coma. Heche's life support machine was turned off on August 14, and she was cremated on August 18. A coroner ruled on August 17 that she died from inhalation injury and burns, and the death was ruled an accident. The mother-of-two also had a fractured sternum caused by 'blunt trauma,' according to information on the website of the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner. Homer, the product of Heche's eight-year marriage to cameraman Coleman Laffoon, is suspicious of Tupper's motives for applying to be appointed 'guardian ad litem' over his 13-year-old son as it would make him responsible for protecting Atlas's interests in court. And he slammed Tupper for claiming he wanted to 'preserve family harmony and a healthy, brotherly relationship' between Heche's two sons. 'Mr. Tupper gives no support or context for these claims,' Homer's lawyers wrote. 'Mr. Laffoon can confirm for the court that there is no disharmony' between them. Tupper is objecting to Homer petition to continue as administrator of Heche's estate, and instead wants an independent administrator. He claims that Homer 'is not suitable' to run the estate because he is too young, unemployed, and was estranged from his mother at the time of her death. Tupper said that the two half-brothers have not had any contact since the day Heche died. And he also accused Homer of changing the locks on the apartment Heche shared with Atlas, allegedly preventing the younger brother from retrieving his belongings. But Homer hit back in his new filing saying that he had arranged for Atlas's laptop and clothes to be retrieved from the apartment but Tupper hadn't picked them up. Home called Tupper's claims 'unfounded personal attacks' and 'frivolous legal claims.' In new court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, Homer said his 'best estimate on the value of all of [Heche's] personal property is $400,000 plus an annual income from that property at another $400,000 Tupper is objecting to Homer petition to continue as administrator of Heche's estate, and instead wants an independent administrator He went on to say Tupper is manipulating him and his half brother to grab control of their mother's estate. Homer also claimed Tupper is keeping him away from Atlas by controlling the teenager's phone. Last month, DailyMail.com revealed a 2011 email Heche sent to Tupper in whic she named him executor of her estate. The email was included in Tupper's legal filing as he battles Homer for control. But Homer fought back in a filing last week, claiming that the email is not a legally recognized will because Heche did not sign the document. 'Mr. Tupper repeatedly refers to the email as a ''will'' however as a matter of law the email does not qualify as either a holographic will or formal witnessed will,' Laffoon's filing states. 'The email was not signed by [Heche] and does not have two witnesses who signed the document during [her] lifetime.' Homer says his mother failed to leave behind a will when she tragically died. 'Without a will, there can be no nomination of an executor,' Laffoon stated, adding that he is 'legally entitled to appointment as administrator.' However, Tupper claims that Heche's email from January 25, 2011 makes it clear that she wanted all assets to be controlled by him. The email from Heche has the subject line 'WILL' and is addressed to Tupper and copied to attorneys Kevin Yorn and Melodie Moore. 'My wishes are that all of my assets go to the control of Mr. James Tupper to be used to raise my children and then given to the children,' the email reads. It says that her assets will be divided equally among her two sons and that their portions should be given to them when they turn 25 years old. Heche died days after slamming her Mini Cooper into a house in Los Angeles, causing an explosion, on August 5 The actress was left badly burned and in a coma. Heche's life support machine was turned off on August 14, and she was cremated on August 18 In the event that her two sons and Tupper all pass, Heche turned her assets over to her nephew Eliot Bergman, to be divided equally among her nieces and nephews. 'May this go into my records as my word until further papers are drawn up,' Heche ends the email. It appears no further paperwork was ever filed. Published accounts have estimated Heche's wealth at around $4million. In 2021, it was reported that she was selling her cottage in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles for around $2million with co-star and ex-partner Thomas Jane. It was also previously reported that she owned another home in the Hancock Park-Wilshire area of Los Angeles a mansion priced at around $4million. Senate candidates facing off in a brutal race in Ohio are in a dead heat in new polls, while Wisconsin GOP Sen. Ron Johnson leads his Democratic opponent by a single point. Republicans are pushing resources at at both races in efforts to maintain the seats as they seek to seize control of the 50-50 Senate, while trying to pick off Democratic-held seats in Nevada, New Hampshire, or Georgia. Johnson leads Democrat Mandela Barnes 50-49, after Republican groups hammered the Democrat on crime issues in the state, according to a new CNN poll. That lead is among likely voters. Barnes holds an edge, 48 - 45, among registered voters in the midwest battleground. Yet Johnson has crossed the 50 percent threshold in the RealClear Politics polling average following an angry debate where when he was asked to name something admirable about his opponent said he 'has turned against America.' Ohio Republican J.D. Vance, who is demanding Republicans try to force President Biden to rebuild border wall if his party takes control, finds himself tied with Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan at 47 per cent in a new Marist poll. Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan is tied with J.D. Vance in Ohio in a new poll of the hard-fought Senate race Democrats have gone on air attacking Republican Sen. Ron Johnson for his comments about January 6. Holding his seat is critical for Republicans seeking to take over the Senate Another survey, by Spectrum News / Siena, has them tied at 46. The two men face off in a town hall hosted by Fox News on Tuesday evening in Columbus, after they clashed on the debate stage when Ryan accused Vance of lacking self-respect by allowing former President Trump to say he 'kisses my a**' on a rally stage. The poll in Wisconsin follows a Marquette University poll last week that had Johnson leading 52-46. Democrats last week started hitting Johnson with ads highlighting his comments about January 6. 'I'll never forget Jan. 6th, watching my fellow law enforcement officers defending the Capitol,' says retired Police Capt. George Silverwood in the spot. 'And then, five officers died. But Ron Johnson is making excuses for rioters who tried to overthrow our government, even calling them "peaceful protests."' Whitmer is being challenged by Tudor Dixon, a former conservative commentator who said Donald Trump won the 2020 election Lt. Gov. John Fetterman holds a 2 point lead over Dr. Mehmet Oz in the RealClearPolitics poll average Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz has the backing of former President Donald Trump Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer leads Trump-backed candidate Tudor Dixon, 52 to 46 in a new poll In one of the most closely-watched races in the nation, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman leads Trump-backed candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania 51-46, according to the new CNN poll. They were tied in a Fox News poll released last week, although Fetterman holds a 2 point lead in the RealClearPolitics average. The battleground polls come as Republicans have seized the lead in a series of 'generic' congressional polls, when respondents are asked to say which party they would favor in the November elections. That has raised forecasters to up their forecasts of the possibility of a GOP 'wave' that could hand Republicans control of the House a move that would impact policy from abortion to Ukraine aide, and could position Biden to face a series of investigations. In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer leads her Republican opponent, Trump-backed candidate Tudor Dixon, 52 to 46 in a new CNN poll released Monday, in a battle to run a state with a key role in presidential elections. A woman was reportedly removed from the pool of potential jurors who will weigh whether the Trump Organization is guilty of tax fraud because she claimed 'there is no way in hell' she could be impartial. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's criminal trial kicked off on Monday with jury selection. Both sides were expected to be hard-pressed to find suitable jurors in the Democratic stronghold. That has held true for at least one person - a 34-year-old advertising executive who told reporters outside of the downtown courthouse that she already believed Trump was 'guilty.' 'He's guilty in my mind whatever the case is anything he does, anything his corporation does,' she said, according to Insider. The woman, only identified as Adrienne, said she would 'absolutely not' be able to be impartial in the trial. Another person who was ultimately not chosen as a juror said a fellow participant told her: 'I hate Trump.' They're part of a pool of more than 100 people who were summoned to the courthouse on Monday. Potential jurors who need to speak privately with the judge and attorneys raise their hands at the jury selection for the Trump Organization's criminal tax trial in Manhattan Criminal Court, New York City, U.S., October 24. Monday marks the first day of the highly-anticipated trial Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass arrives for the first day of proceedings Trump's attorney Michael van der Veen (left) called the trial a 'witch hunt' outside of the courtroom on Monday The former president himself has not been charged with any wrongdoing in the case, which has enveloped his family's real estate empire. But prosecutors say his company engaged in fraudulent practices by compensating executives in lavish off-the-books gifts like cars, luxury apartments and tuition fees - in order to skirt payroll taxes. The Trump Organization has denied guilt, but its longtime Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg is expected to be New York's key witness after he pleaded guilty over the summer. Weisselberg admitted to accepting nearly $2 million in compensatory off-the-books benefits over his time working for the Trump Organization. But despite months of pressure to flip on his boss, the executive instead accepted a jail sentence of 100 days - a fraction of the 15 years he could have gotten - and agreed to give narrower testimony regarding the tax fraud scheme that saw him showered with high-end cars, apartments and tuition for his children. Trump himself has not been accused of any wrongdoing but his family real estate empire is facing legal jeopardy along with its longtime Chief Financial Officer, Allen Weisselberg Trump claimed Weisselberg was 'threatened' into making his August 2022 guilty plea He raged at the trial on his social media platform Truth Social as it kicked off In a post on his Truth Social app on Monday, Trump called the case a 'witch hunt' and suggests prosecutors 'tortured' Weisselberg into pleading guilty. He also accused Democratic DA Bragg of political motivations, noting that the midterm elections are just a short while away. 'The highly partisan Democrat Witch Hunt goes on, this time in New York where, after viewing millions of pages of documents over many years, charges were brought against a long time Trump executive who they tortured & threatened for years, for not paying taxes on the use of company cars, the use of a company apartment, & the education of his grandchildren,' Trump wrote in the winding post. 'No such fringe benefits case has ever been brought criminally(?) in the U.S., & right during the important Mid-Term Elections, of course!' A Trump Organization lawyer said last week that the defense will seek to paint Weisselberg as a liar when he admitted to knowingly breaking the law. 'Weisselberg will testify he believed everything he was doing was wrong,' she said during a video conference. 'We think he's lying and we want to show that.' She never told her husband, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, when she met him a year later Disgraced Harvey Weinstein was wheeled into the courtroom for his LA rape trial with a jury set to hear details from eight women of how he sexually assaulted them. Weinstein, 70, is facing 11 charges of rape and sexual assault involving eight women in the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles area between 2004 and 2013. Weinstein has denied any non-consensual sex and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was brought into court Monday by deputies in a wheelchair, wearing a black suit and blue tie. One of his accusers is Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who claims he sexually assaulted her during a business meeting telling her relax, this is going to make her feel better. She claims that he assaulted her in 2005 when she was a powerless actor trying to make her way in Hollywood. Weinstein listened in as the District Attorney's office described how he 'forcibly raped' his victims Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, claims he sexually assaulted her during a business meeting telling her relax, this is going to make her feel better' Siebel alleges that Weinstein raped her in 2005, when she was an actress. It was three years before she married Newsom Weinstein was brought into court Monday by deputies in a wheelchair, wearing a black suit and blue tie They reportedly met at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Weinstein invited her to discuss her career with him at the Peninsula Hotel. Deputy DA Paul Thompson told the court that Weinstein spoke to her briefly before going into the bathroom and summoned her wearing only a bathrobe. He went on to say that Weinstein asked her to touch him but she refused, before he then referred to a list of A-List actresses whose careers he supposedly made. The court heard that his voice moved from pleading, to aggressive and demanding, as he forced her onto the bed leaving her shaking before he forcibly raped her. She claims that she felt like she had 'no choice' but to keep in contact with Weinstein, conversing by email and meeting in public places. Siebel Newsom met her husband Gavin Newsom a year after the assault but did not tell him about it, with Weinsteing donating some money to Newsom. Weinstein has denied any non-consensual sex and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was brought into court Monday by deputies in a wheelchair, wearing a black suit and blue tie. Deputy DA Paul Thompson told the court that Weinstein spoke to Jennifer Siebel Newsom briefly before going into the bathroom and summoned her wearing only a bathrobe One woman reported an assault by Weinstein to the NYPD in 2015, but the seven other women did not report the rapes until after the scandal exploded in 2017 THE LOS ANGELES CHARGES AGAINST WEINSTEIN JANE DOE #1 - Unidentified Italian actress Forced oral copulation - February 18, 2013 Sexual penetration by foreign object - February 18, 2013 Forcible rape against the same woman on the same day - February 18, 2013 JANE DOE #2 Sexual battery - February 19, 2013 JANE DOE #3 Sexual battery by restraint - May 11, 2010. 'Weinstein unlawfully touched an intimate part of Jane Doe #3 while she was unlawfully restrained'. JANE DOE #4 - Jennifer Siebel Newsom Forcible oral copulation - September 2005 Forcible rape - September 2005 JANE DOE #5 Forcible oral copulation November - 2009 Forcible rape - November 2009 Forcible oral copulation - November 2010 Forcible rape - November 2010 Advertisement During a hiking trip in 2005 she told a friend about the incident, and a fellow actor that she had been raped by someone 'high up on the food chain'. The identities of his other accusers are being kept secret in court documents, which refer to them as Jane Does. Weinstein is currently serving a 23-year sentence for sex crimes in New York, with a jury set to hear lurid details about the owner he held over the women because of his high position. Addressing the jury, Thompson said that several other women described being dragged to the bathroom and bedroom before being assaulted by Weinstein. They also claim they felt powerless because he was a big guy, with one saying: Hes big. Hes broad. Hes overweight. Hes domineering. Thompson added: They feared that he could crush their careers if they reported what he had done to him. Other accusers reportedly begged him to stop, with one even telling him please I have kids as he attacked her. The jury was also told that Weinsteins films launched the careers of Quentin Tarantino, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow as well as wielding power with presidential contenders such as Hillary Clinton. One woman reported an assault by Weinstein to the NYPD in 2015, but the seven other women did not report the rapes until after the scandal exploded in 2017. However all of the women told friends or family about the assaults before 2017, and most of the victims were able to describe unique things about his body. Thompson said: What Im referring to is the result of a surgery that the defendant had in 1999. That surgery caused pretty noticeable scarring, and youll see the pictures. Because of an infection, his testicles were actually taken from his scrotum and put into his inner thighs. None of the Jane Does will describe his anatomy perfectly, but most of them will be able to describe these abnormalities that they observed during the assaults. Weinstein, pictured with Juliette Binoche, claims all of the interactions with the women were consensual. The trial opened two weeks ago with jury selection, five years after women's stories about him gave massive momentum to the #MeToo movement The identities of his other accusers are being kept secret in court documents, which refer to them as Jane Does His lawyer is set to give his opening statement on Monday afternoon, and it is expected d to be followed by testimony from the first of the accusers, an Italian model and actor who says Weinstein raped her at her Los Angeles hotel in 2013. Confusion arose in the courtroom, however, when Thompson during his opening statement made no mention of one accuser who had been set to testify as recently as last week. Weinstein was indicted on 11 counts overall, but four of those counts - including two counts of rape and two of sexual assault - involved the woman who was not included in the opening. Several of the women claim that they were isolated by Weinstein in a bathroom, with the movie mogul claiming all of the interactions with the women were consensual. His lawyer is set to give his opening statement on Monday afternoon, and it is expected d to be followed by testimony from the first of the accusers One of the victims claims that Weinstein groped her and put his hand up her skirt before a member of his team offered her tickets. She reported the incident to police, and got Weinstein to confess to the incident while on a recorded phone call with the NYPD which led to his arrest. The actress told Weinstein that she was upset with his behavior, before he responded: I will never do anything to you. Five minutes. Dont ruin your friendship with me for five minutes. If you dont trust me then we have no reason to do anything, and you will lose big opportunities. The trial opened two weeks ago with jury selection, five years after women's stories about him gave massive momentum to the #MeToo movement. A rail union has announced nearly a week of industrial action in their ongoing dispute over pay, job security and conditions - a move expected to cause fresh chaos for commuters. Other workers will stage action 'short of strike', meaning they could take part in go-slows, causing further disruption across the country in November. Thousands of members of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) in Network Rail will be involved in the action, including staff working in ticket offices, stations, control rooms, and other support roles. The union is at loggerheads with the Department of Transport, which has called the move 'incredibly disappointing' and warned it will impact commuters' day-to-day lives. Union members will strike on Thursday November 3, Saturday November 5 and Monday November 7 while members in individual train companies will take strike action and action short of strike on November 3, 4, 7 and 8. Members working across five rail companies, South Western Rail, Southeastern, West Midlands Trains, Northern and Great Western, will take action short of strike action for the whole of November, and a sixth company, TransPennine Express will join them from November 7. There will also be strike action by members working for Avanti West Coast on 3 and 5 November as well as C2C rail on November 8. In London, further strikes will affect Tube, London Overground, Elizabeth line and national rail services on Thursday 3, Saturday 5 and Monday 7 November. Some 9,000 train drivers walked out on October 5 in a long-running row over pay, jobs and conditions, bringing rail network to a virtual standstill TSSA is seeking a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies, a pay rise which meets the cost-of-living crisis and no unagreed changes to terms and conditions. TSSA general secretary, Manuel Cortes, said: 'Our members never take industrial action lightly. 'We would far rather find a fair negotiated solution to this now long-running dispute, but we simply have no choice. 'A huge number of rail workers in our union, many of whom are our longstanding members, had never been directly involved in an industrial dispute before this year. 'Across our railways, our members recently stepped up to the plate yet again and went above and beyond to meet unprecedented demand during the period of public mourning to provide additional services and keep the public safe, much like they did during the pandemic. 'They prove their worth time and time again and yet they are still undervalued. 'When this dust has settled over Rishi Sunak's coronation, I hope that whoever he appoints as the new Secretary of State for Transport will see sense, unlike Grant Shapps, and use their powers to mandate a fair pay rise, reasonable terms and conditions and end this dispute. 'It's time for train operators to be allowed to meet us round the table and negotiate a fair solution.' There will be strike action by members working for Avanti West Coast on 3 and 5 November A Department for Transport spokesperson said: 'This is incredibly disappointing. Through no fault of their own, people up and down the country will once again have their day to day lives disrupted and be unable to attend work, school or vital doctor's appointments. 'Our railway is in desperate need of modernisation, but all more strikes will do is take it back to the dark ages and push passengers further away. 'We urge union bosses to reconsider this divisive action and instead work with employers, not against them, to agree a new way forward.' The RMT union is already set to stage strikes on 3, 5 and 7 November. The union said it believes salaries should increase to reflect the rising cost of living. Network Rail said the offer it made to workers in July is worth 8 per cent over two years, but RMT described this as a 'paltry sum' representing a real terms pay cut. Some 9,000 train drivers walked out on October 5 in a long-running row over pay, jobs and conditions, with members from TSSA, the RMT and drivers' union Aslef taking industrial action. MPs last night demanded tougher sentences for eco-zealots after a serial protester slammed chocolate cake into the face of a waxwork of King Charles at Madame Tussauds. Eilidh McFadden, 20, was free to vault a security barrier and vandalise the statue of Charles a noted environmentalist despite arrests at two previous protests. The Just Stop Oil activist was joined at the London attraction by Tom Johnson, a 29-year-old painter and decorator from Sunderland. Footage shows the pair walking up to the waxwork at around 10.50am before taking off their tops to reveal Just Stop Oil T-shirts underneath. One of them shouts, 'This is a time for action' before they both slam cake into the face of the King's statue. Tory MP Philip Davies said the soft sentences that have meant eco-protesters repeatedly walking free from court needed to stop. Just Stop Oil activists threw a chocolate cake at King Charles' waxwork statue at Madam Tussauds 'They are absolute lunatics, that much is clear,' he said. 'Judges must stop pussy-footing around. What I'd like to see is these protesters causing criminal damage at the houses of judges. 'We might see them stop pussyfooting around then and impose tougher sentences then.' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called the protesters' actions 'arrogant' and promised to introduce strict sentences for those blocking roads, often holding up ambulances. 'Their action is wrong,' Sir Keir told LBC Radio yesterday. 'My mum was very ill all of her life she was in those ambulances when she was alive, and there will be other families listening to this who will be in the same situation. It's arrogant.' After the waxwork attack, McFadden, from Glasgow, said: 'We are here because we seek to protect our freedoms and rights, because we seek to protect this green and pleasant land which is the inheritance of us all. The demand is simple: Just stop new oil and gas. It's a piece of cake.' McFadden was arrested yesterday following the protest. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called the protesters' actions 'arrogant' and promised to introduce strict sentences for those blocking roads, often holding up ambulances She has been held by police on two other occasions. She was fined 250 in May for breaking an injunction to keep protesters away from the Kingsbury Oil Terminal in Warwickshire. That month she was also among a group of 20 who blocked the entrance to the Nustar Clydebank oil terminal near Glasgow before being removed by police. She is also one of more than 200 activists named in an injunction by Thurrock Council ordering them to stay away from oil terminals east of London. According to High Court documents, she was found in April at the Esso terminal in Purfleet with superglue and a bike lock, apparently ahead of another protest. King Charles III is a passionate environmental campaigner who has long spoken about the dangers of global warming. Dozens of climate and fuel poverty activists occupy a hall at the heart of Parliament to tell the government He had planned to travel to Egypt for the Cop27 environmental summit, but has abandoned plans to do so after it was claimed ex-prime minister Liz Truss warned him against attending. Yesterday's incident is the latest in a long list of disruptive stunts by Just Stop Oil in recent weeks. They have blocked the Dartford Bridge, tipped tomato soup over Van Gogh's Sunflowers, spray-painted the glass frontage of Harrods orange and glued themselves to the Abbey Road crossing in London. It came as Greenpeace protesters at the Commons tried to disrupt Rishi Sunak's moment of glory as the next prime minister by unfurling a banner that said 'Chaos costs lives'. Madame Tussauds said of the protest yesterday: 'Our security team dealt with it quickly and we are working closely with the Metropolitan Police on this. The attraction remains open, with our royal family set closed temporarily.' The White House defended its handling Monday of a record border crisis, saying the whole of the Western hemisphere was feeling the impact of people fleeing repressive regimes. Figures released on Friday showed the number of migrant border crossings reached 2.76 million in the 2022 fiscal year, breaking the previous record. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre described the problem as a 'different kind of challenge' and again accused Republicans of trying to make political capital out of human suffering. 'This new migration challenge is driven by people who are fleeing falling regimes and economic collapse as you know in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and also Cuba,' she said. 'It's impacting the entire Western Hemisphere.' She said the numbers arriving from those troubled nations was up 245 percent, while those from Mexico and northern Central America were down a quarter in the past year. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday defended the Biden administration's handling a record border crisis, saying the whole of the Western hemisphere was feeling the impact of people fleeing repressive regimes Figures released on Friday showed the number of migrant border crossings reached 2.76 million in the 2022 fiscal year , breaking the previous record set a year earlier Venezuelan migrants, expelled from the U.S., and sent back to Mexico in Ciudad Juarez last week Even so, for the 12 months up to the end of September, Customs and Border Patrol stopped migrants more than 2,766,582 compared to 1.72 million in the year before - the previous record. Republicans have kept up a steady stream of attacks on President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing them of taking a soft-touch approach. Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee tweeted: 'New reports showed at least 2 MILLION migrant encounters in FY22. 'This is the highest number in history but it doesnt even account for the hundreds of thousands of gotaways. Our border is in crisis and the White House is in denial.' Several governors have taken to busing or flying migrants to Democratic-held cities to demonstrate the scale of the crisis. Jean-Pierre repeated her attack on Republican governors grandstanding. 'While we're trying to deal with the challenges, as you all know, you have Republican governors who are using these migrants using these folks who are trying to flee communism, falling regimes, and economic collapses, ... they're using them as a political pawns,' she said during her daily briefing. In total, there were 227,547 encounters along the southwest land border in September, a 12 percent increase compared to August - ending the fiscal year at an all-time high And she displayed a graph showing a decline in the number of Venezuelans arriving in the past week. It means for the Fiscal Year ending September 30th, there was a total of 2,378,944 encounters - the highest level ever recorded by the department Her comments echo those of the CBP chief when the new figures were released. 'While failing regimes in Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua continued to drive a new wave of migration across the western Hemisphere, the number of Venezuelans arriving at the southern border decreased sharply nearly every day since we launched additional joint actions with Mexico to reduce irregular migration and create a more fair, orderly and safe process for people fleeing the humanitarian and economic crisis in their country,' said CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus. 'Over the past week, the number of Venezuelans attempting to enter the country fell more than 80 percent compared to the week prior to the launch of the joint enforcement actions.' India launched a rocket with 36 private broadband satellites early Sunday morning to keep the orbital constellation expanding after a few months of delay caused by the Russia-Ukraine war. It marked the first launch for London-based OneWeb after parting with the Russian Space Agency in March over the Ukraine war, according to AP News. India Space Agency chair S. Somanath reported that they have "accomplished the orbit very accurately," and now the rocket is in its target orbit. He reported successfully launching 16 satellites into orbit and voiced certainty that the other 20 satellites would be successfully detached. Now that 462 of OneWeb's satellites are operational, the business has more than 70% of the spacecraft it needs, including India Satellite, to fulfill its global broadband service commitment. Despite the inconvenience this year, OneWeb stated that it remains on schedule to launch a network of 648 satellites that would provide worldwide coverage next year. India's Heaviest and Biggest Rocket The average weight of a OneWeb satellite is 330 lbs (150 kilograms) in the India Rocket Launch. This was OneWeb's 14th satellite launch, and it used India's largest rocket, which is typically reserved for military satellites, according to Al Jazeera. OneWeb's history of launches begins in 2019, with the first flight using Russian rockets. Congratulations Bharat! ISRO successfully launched its heaviest rocket (6ton), Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) and placed 36 Satellites of OneWeb India-1 in the Circumpolar Near Earth Orbit, WebOne Satellite System will have a total of 588 Satellites arranged in 12 Orbital Planes pic.twitter.com/gJmbfLZ2Tj Aviator Anil Chopra (@Chopsyturvey) October 23, 2022 Director of the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi specializing in space and security Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan told the Associated Press that the deployment is significant for India and shows the increasing openness of its space agency to commercial clients. Read Also: Starlink Internet in Iran? Here's Why Joe Biden Wants Elon Musk to Bring SpaceX Service in Middle East Rajagopalan stated that India launched smaller satellites before, and the country has been aiming to corner the market as a satellite launch facility. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine may present an opportunity for India, as several nations have abandoned Russian launch services due to Moscow's attack on Ukraine. In cases when non-geosynchronous orbits need to be serviced, the LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3) is used instead of the GSLV-Mk3 (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-3). It's the most powerful and biggest rocket India has ever built. It launched from Satish Dhawan in Andhra Pradesh at 00:07 Sunday (19:37 BST, Saturday), as per a BBC report. At a height of 600 kilometers, unloading all of the satellites took an hour and a half during the India Rocket Launch. The spaceships will take a few weeks to reach their 1,200 km (750 mi) polar operating orbits using their ion engines. This is huge - has placed India as a significant global player in the commercial satellite launch market pic.twitter.com/4vI9dXNi4T Bharat (@Bharath12450842) October 22, 2022 OneWeb had to act rapidly to hitch rides on other carriers with only two-thirds of its satellites in space. SpaceX and Relativity Space, two American rocket companies, and New Space India Limited, the commercial branch of India's space agency, Isro, have all signed contracts to market and distribute the LVM3. More Launches Soon High-speed Internet access is available to beta clients in latitudes of more than 50 degrees North and South right now, thanks to OneWeb. Two more launches are scheduled for this year, bringing coverage closer to the equator with each one. According to OneWeb CEO Neil Masterson, the company is targeting to conduct OneWeb Satellite launches before Christmas that will allow the activation of their services in 25 degrees North and South. He added that the constellation's deployment will be finished by spring, enabling OneWeb to provide worldwide commercial service by the end of 2023. OneWeb and Paris-based Eutelsat have discussed merging since March. The French company uses communications satellites in orbit 36,000 kilometers above the atmosphere, called Geostationary Orbit. They are a major player in the direct-to-home television industry. Related Article: India: Why Does Google Need To Pay $162 Million? @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Charlise Mutten's body was found in a barrel after she went missing in the Blue Mountains A Sydney court is due to sentence the mother of murdered nine-year-old Charlise Mutten over a home invasion. Charlise's body was found in a barrel dumped near the Colo River, northwest of Sydney, after a five-day search in January. Her mother's fiance, Justin Stein, was charged with the girl's murder, which allegedly took place on his family's multimillion-dollar Blue Mountains property days before she was reported missing. Kallista Mutten, 39, has not been implicated in the alleged murder. However, she's due to be sentenced in Campbelltown Local Court on Tuesday for an earlier burglary, uncovered during the murder investigation. Police in July alleged Stein and Mutten worked together to steal two guns from a Mount Wilson property in 2021. Stein has been charged with several firearms offences and aggravated break and enter in company. He remains before the courts. A Sydney court is due to sentence the mother of murdered nine-year-old Charlise Mutten over a home invasion Ukraine has issued a slap down to Emmanuel Macron after he urged Western leaders to negotiate around a table with Russian despot Vladimir Putin. Mykhailo Podolyak, a top adviser to the Ukrainian president, blasted the French leader for telling Volodymyr Zelensky to consider talking to the Kremlin dictator as the countrys towns and cities are being attacked. Speaking to the Daily Mail in Kyiv, Mr Podolyak said Mr Macron displayed a total misunderstanding of the Russian tyrants invasion, saying such a move would only play into Moscows hands. The French president used a speech in Italy late on Sunday to call on his Ukrainian counterpart to rethink his stance that peace talks with Putin are impossible. Ukraine has issued a slap down to Emmanuel Macron (pictured) after he urged Western leaders to negotiate around a table with Russian despot Vladimir Putin It is more important for Macron to understand the soul of the Ukrainian people and know that they will never get on their knees for Russia, Mr Podolyak said. If he wants to see children dying, and waiting before giving extra help, OK let him wait. But Ukraine will still resist. The 50-year-old former journalist accused the French president of making the same mistakes as his predecessors, Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande, in dealing with Putin. Both men tried to broker peace deals after Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014, which failed to dissuade Putin from launching the war against its neighbour. Its very strange behaviour by the French, Mr Podolyak said. Macron cannot depart from this conservative, traditional European mentality. Any continuation of the negotiating process with Russia will only mean the continuation of war in the future and intensifying the war, he added. Mr Macron told a conference in Rome that any talk of peace should not be taken as a sign of appeasement to Russia. The French leader told Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) to consider talking to the Kremlin dictator as the countrys towns and cities are being attacked Lets not let peace be hostage to Russian power, he said. Peace will be built with the other... around a table. Earlier this month Mr Zelensky signed a decree which formally declared the prospect of any Ukrainian talks with the Kremlin despot directly impossible, but left the door open to talks with Russia. Ukrainian officials said negotiations with Putin would never happen after Moscow claimed to have annexed four occupied Ukrainian regions in a series of rigged referendums. They have also cited the emergence of evidence of possible war crimes committed against their troops and civilians as a reason not to sit down with Russia. Mr Macron has tried to position himself as a possible peacemaker, holding several phone calls with Putin in a bid to broker a deal. However the French president caused uproar in Kyiv in June when he insisted the Ukrainian government and its Western allies must not humiliate Russia in any possible negotiations to end the war. But senior sources close to Mr Macron insist France backs Ukraines bid to regain control of all of its territory, including the occupied Crimea and Donbas regions. Senior sources close to Mr Macron insist France backs Ukraines bid to regain control of all of its territory, including the occupied Crimea and Donbas regions His defence minister Sebastien Lecornu joined the UK and the US on Sunday in dismissing Russian claims Ukraine will use a so-called dirty bomb in the battle for the key southern city of Kherson. Western officials believe the Kremlin could use a nuclear weapon in a desperate bid to deter them from supplying Ukraine with modern weapons, intelligence and training. Ukrainian defence minister Oleksii Reznikov said: Lies about a dirty bomb Ukraine is supposedly preparing to use is an element of the Kremlins usual tactics. The one where Russian criminals try to pre-emptively blame the victim of aggression for their own crime. The Ukrainian military has launched its counter-offensive to retake Kherson, a port city which is the gateway to occupied Crimea and was seized by Russia in the early days of the invasion. Kyivs armed forces have already managed to claw back large swathes of its territory from Putin, including last months successful push in the north-eastern Kharkiv region. Faced with a series of humiliating defeats, Russia has been striking civilian targets and key energy infrastructure to destroy Ukraines power grid ahead of winter. Former attorney-general Christian Porter has asked his girlfriend Karen Espiner to marry him, with the high-flying lawyer showing off her sparkling new engagement ring at a charity event over the weekend. The loved-up couple happily smiled for the cameras on Saturday night when they walked the red carpet at the Telethon Ball in Perth, where Ms Espiner flashed her large diamond ring and inadvertently showed off a butterfly tattoo on her side. Mr Porter, 52, retired from politics and Scott Morrison's government in December 2021, nine months after revealing he was the anonymous man referred to in media reports about a 16-year-old girl allegedly being raped back in 1988. Mr Porter denied the allegation and sued the ABC for defamation with the case eventually being dropped and no damages awarded to the former attorney-general. Mr Porter's impending marriage to Ms Espiner will be his third after he split from his second wife Jennifer in 2020. The couple share two children after being married for 13 years. Christian Porter made a public appearance with his fiancee Karen Espiner in Coogee back in February (pictured together) Mr Porter and Ms Espiner started dating in 2021 but were not pictured together until February this year, after they spent six hours dining out at the upmarket seafood restaurant Mimi's in Coogee, in Sydney's east. The couple maintained a cross-country relationship for the past year because Mr Porter is back to practicing law in Perth while Ms Espiner has her legal firm - Younes + Espiner Lawyers - in Sydney. Mr Porter, a former Crown prosecutor for Western Australia, returned to the courtroom last year after retiring from politics. He is back working at his former firm Henley Stirling Lawyers. Ms Espiner previously she was not involved in Mr Porter's defamation case but offered him personal support during the tough time. The hotshot law partner is among Sydney's most high-powered lawyers and was named Criminal Law Partner of the Year at the 2020 Lawyers Weekly Awards. Mr Porter's Sydney pitstop with Ms Espiner (pictured together) was the first time the couple was seen together in public Ms Espiner wore a colourful summer dress by the boutique Byron Bay designer Mister Zimi, while Mr Porter stepped out in dark jeans, a sports jacket and Converse Chuck Taylors Much of her practice is devoted to representing clients in the District and Supreme Courts who have been charged with 'very serious criminal law matters including murder, sexual offences, drug offences, serious assaults and corporate offences,' according to the Younes + Espiner Lawyers website. 'She also appears in complicated local court matters for clients whose personal and professional reputations are at risk. 'One of Karen's strengths is her ability to analyse and explain complex legal issues to her clients in a simple, easy-to-follow way. 'She is well respected by other members of the profession and the judiciary and is known for her meticulous preparation, persuasive advocacy and professionalism.' Mr Porter split from his wife Jennifer, also a lawyer, in January 2020, after 13 years together. 'It is a mutual decision and no third parties are involved,' the couple said at the time. 'We have been working hard to see what could be possible because first and foremost we are loving parents to two wonderful little children.' Although the couple went public with their relationship in June 2021, February was the first time Christian Porter and Karen Espiner (pictured) were photographed in public together Mr Porter (pictured with Ms Espiner) resigned from cabinet in September 2021 after it was revealed he had accepted anonymous donations from a blind trust to cover his legal expenses Mr Porter was once considered a possible future prime minister but ended his political career as a backbencher after suing the ABC and journalist Louise Milligan in a defamation case. Mr Porter left his attorney-general role after an emotional press conference in March 2021. It followed allegations - which he categorically denied - that he was involved in a rape in 1988 when he was 17 while at a high-school debating competition in Sydney. An article by the ABC had detailed the accusations levelled at a Cabinet minister but did not name him. But in the days that followed, Mr Porter outed himself as the minister referred to in the story, but strongly refuted all the allegations and launched legal action against the public broadcaster. NSW Police found there was not enough evidence to pursue the historical allegations and dropped the investigation. Mr Porter was moved to the position of Minister for Industry, Science and Technology while he was taking legal action against the ABC as a political compromise on the advice of the solicitor-general. The lawsuit was later settled out of court. When it emerged his huge legal fees were paid for by a blind trust, he resigned from Cabinet completely. Mr Porter said the trust was established in a way that he did not know who the funders were. It is estimated Mr Porter received between $600,000 to $1million from a mystery benefactor. The two laughed and smiled as they held hands and wrapped arms while walking by the beach in the trendy suburb Ms Espiner calls home Armed police and the Met's anti-terror units have rushed to an incident in north London - with officers evacuating neighbouring streets. Emergency services are currently in attendance at an incident in Satter Mews, Stoke Newington, following reports of a person 'experiencing a mental health crisis'. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: 'Officers are responding, alongside the London Ambulance Service, to an incident in Sattar Mews, N16 where a person is reported to be experiencing a mental health crisis. 'Due to the nature of some comments made during the incident, a cordon has been put in place requiring the evacuation of some neighboring streets. 'This is a precautionary measure while we continue to deal with the incident. We will provide further updates when we can.' Residents have reported being trapped in buildings around the area while police deal with the incident. Emergency services are currently in attendance at an incident in Satter Mews (pictured), Stoke Newington An update later added: 'Officers are continuing to respond to this incident. The cordons remain in place. We're grateful to Hackney Council staff for their support in opening a rest centre locally for displaced residents.' Cordons are understood to have been erected around Clissold Street, Albion Road and Stoke Newington Church Street. Philip Glanville, the Mayor of Hackney, said he was in contact with the council, which is currently supporting emergency services at the scene. President Biden called Kamala Harris a 'great president' as he wished her a happy belated birthday on Monday. 'Kamala's birthday - she turned 30,' Biden joked at an event celebrating Diwali. The VP turned 58 on October 20. 'Happy birthday to a great president,' he said. The gaffe-prone president has given away his job to his second-in-command in numerous word flubs since taking office. 'President Harris is a proud Howard alum,' Biden said in a commencement speech at South Carolina State last December. He did the same during a press briefing on coronavirus vaccines in March 2021. That same month, he referred to Harris as 'the first lady.' President Biden called Kamala Harris a 'great president' as he wished her a happy belated birthday on Monday 'Kamala's birthday - she turned 30,' Biden joked at an event celebrating Diwali Last month the 79-year-old president had to apologize to the family of late Indiana GOP Rep. Jackie Walorski for forgetting she died. 'Jackie, are you here?' Biden asked during the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. 'Where's Jackie?' Biden was forced to defend his mental and physical fitness for office yet again on Sunday as questions continue to mount over whether the 79-year-old leader will - or even could - run for re-election in 2024. During an interview on MSNBC's The Sunday Show, Biden was confident in his own capacities but conceded that he understood his nearing 80 was a 'concern' for some voters. The VP turned 58 on October 20. 'Happy birthday to a great president,' he said Further pressing on his own mortality, Biden said, 'I could get a disease, I could drop dead tomorrow.' 'I think it's a legitimate thing to be concerned about, anyone's age, including mine. I think that's totally legitimate,' the president said. 'But the best way to make a judgment is to, you know, watch me. You know, am I slowing up? Do I not have the same pace? Or, you know, and that old joke, you know - everybody talks about the new, you know, 70s, 50s, you know all that stuff.' 'I do not want to jinx myself, I am in good health. All of my- everything physically about me is still functioning well, so you know, and mentally too, so,' the president said. Voters' rising doubts about Biden at age 79 come against the backdrop of his stagnant job approval numbers, which have hovered in the low 40s for months after dropping for much of his tenure. However most polls still show him above his vice president, Kamala Harris, whose rock-bottom favorability has Democrat election-watchers worried about who will take up Biden's mantle. Despite that, Biden sung Harris' praises during his Sunday show interview. 'First of all, she's smart as hell. She has a backbone like a ramrod and she has enormous integrity,' he said. 'She is really, really thoroughly informed- particularly on areas of foreign policy, national security issues. So I find her to be extremely, extremely well qualified' He insisted that she was not left out of any White House meetings or decisions. 'We engage her in everything,' Biden said. A 64-year-old man was arrested by Sussex Police on suspicion of murder Police were called to the home in Shoreham, Sussex at 12.37pm on Monday A murder investigation has been launched after a woman was found dead Police have launched a murder investigation after a woman was found dead inside a home in Sussex. A 64-year-old man, who was known to the woman, was arrested by police on suspicion of murder. Officers were called to the house in Shoreham at 12.37pm on Monday after receiving reports that a 59-year-old woman had been assaulted. Paramedics also were called out but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have launched a murder investigation after a woman was found dead inside a home in Shoreham, Sussex A 64-year-old man, who was known to the woman, was arrested by police on suspicion of murder Her next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. The 64-year-old man remains in police custody. Sussex Police said they do not believe there is any threat to the wider community. Sussex Police said they do not believe there is any threat to the wider community A spokesperson for the force added: 'Anyone with information that could help police with their enquiries is asked to report it to police online or call 101 quoting Operation Terrace. 'This information can also be reported anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111.' Boris Johnson is set to keep his promise to his friend Volodymyr Zelensky and keep flying the flag for Ukraine following his aborted Downing Street bid. After leading the international response to Vladimir Putins illegal invasion, Mr Johnson plans to keep up the pressure on the Russian leader. Allies of the former PM yesterday promised that he would hold Rishi Sunaks feet to the fire over Ukraine to make sure the UKs commitment does not slip. He is also said to be planning visits to Washington to ensure there is no back-sliding from US President Joe Biden or other Western nations. And Mr Johnsons allies say his decision to pull out of the Tory leadership race on Sunday does not mean his career in frontline politics is over. He could become a thorn in the side of his former chancellor from the backbenches thanks to a determination to make sure his flagship levelling-up agenda remains on course. Boris Johnson is set to keep his promise to his friend Volodymyr Zelensky and keep flying the flag for Ukraine following his aborted Downing Street bid Interventions could include critical speeches in the Commons chamber and visits to Red Wall seats, long held by Labour, in the North and Midlands that he snatched in the 2019 election. Hes interested in maintaining his legacy on levelling up and protecting the 2019 feeling that something unique was happening when we were winning in places that we have never won before, one ally said. It may force Mr Sunak to offer Mr Johnson a frontline role to neutralise any threat. The ally also didnt rule out a return to No 10, saying: He still thinks the jobs not done. However, one of his first priorities will be to clear his name in the Partygate investigation being conducted by the privileges committee. It is considering whether Mr Johnson deliberately misled the Commons over Downing Street parties when Covid-19 lockdown measures were in place and is due to start hearing evidence, including from Mr Johnson, within weeks. It could prove hugely embarrassing for the ex-PM and if he is found to have deliberately misled Parliament which he denies he could be suspended as an MP. As that would fall under the Recall of MPs Act, it could even trigger a by-election and see Mr Johnson ousted from his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat potentially ending his political career. After leading the international response to Vladimir Putins illegal invasion, Mr Johnson plans to keep up the pressure on the Russian leader Yesterday it was confirmed by the backbench 1922 Committee that he had reached the threshold of support from 100 MPs that was needed to reach the final ballot for a showdown with Mr Sunak. Some of his supporters were angered by his decision to pull out, saying they felt betrayed after publicly backing him. But Nadine Dorries, a former culture secretary and one of his staunchest allies, said he did the right thing, insisting: That doesnt mean its the end of Boris Johnson. In his statement on Sunday night, Mr Johnson hinted he could still lead the Tories into a general election, saying he still has much to offer but that this is simply not the right time. Will Walden, who was Mr Johnsons director of communications when he was mayor of London, said he had further destabilised the Conservative Party and predicted he wont be back. However, one MP who backed Mr Johnson said: Id never count him out of making a comeback. You never know with him. A police force is reviewing its vetting procedures after a serving officer was jailed for more than 18 years for repeatedly raping a young girl. Constable James Ford, 31, was locked up last week after what a judge called a horrific catalogue of abuse against his victim that lasted two years. Hertfordshire Police has admitted it discovered several inappropriate Facebook likes when he was vetted for the job he started in 2019. Ford said the posts the contents of which have not been revealed did not reflect his adult lifestyle. The force decided that, as there were no other matters of concern, it would have been disproportionate to stop vetting Ford, adding: This decision was reviewed and ratified. Constable Jonathan Ford, 31, formerly of Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, is starting an 18-year jail sentence for a series of offences against a young girl The case comes days after it emerged that 43 police forces in the country have hundreds of serving officers with criminal convictions. Last year Scotland Yard admitted that its officer Wayne Couzens, who murdered Sarah Everard, had not gone through adequate vetting. Ford, formerly of Bishops Stortford, was convicted of ten offences against the same girl who was under 13. The College of Policing, which sets police standards and training, has said vetting of recruits is being reviewed. Ford, formerly of Bishops Stortford, was jailed on Friday. He was also convicted of perverting the course of justice after wiping his mobile phone to hide suspected video footage and other evidence. The uniformed response officer committed an appalling course of sexual offending [that] pretty much spans the whole time during which you have been a serving officer, sentencing judge Mr Justice Bryan said. Several inappropriate likes were unearthed during his vetting process, Hertfordshire Police revealed subsequently. But the force said Fords explanation was 'reasonable and credible'. Just last week, the End Violence Against Women coalition warned: Core processes around vetting, ethics, standards and training are inconsistent and need to be overhauled and consistently applied. Hertfordshire Polices website states 95 per cent of applicants pass the police vetting process. Those who arent accepted have a 30-40 per cent chance of success on appeal. It adds material that could undermine an application includes anything considered discriminatory, abusive, oppressive, harassing, bullying, victimising, offensive or otherwise incompatible with policing principles. Ford, who was suspended from duties after his arrest, now faces dismissal at a fast-track misconduct hearing. Hertfordshire Police said a full review of the process he went through to become a police constable will follow. They added: This is to identify any learning opportunities and how we can better improve our existing practices. As the evenings get colder and darker, many of us will be preparing for Halloween celebrations this weekend. The quintessential decoration is a pumpkin carved with a spooky face, which can sometimes take hours of gutting and cutting to perfect. But too often can all that painstaking labour go to waste when, just hours before night falls on October 31, the fruit collapses into mush. To prevent this terrifying fate, professional pumpkin sculptor Szimonetta Zombori has revealed how to keep your pumpkin looking its best for Halloween. This includes giving it a bath in bleach to kill any bacteria that could speed up decomposition, and rubbing Vaseline into its surface. Professional pumpkin sculptor Szimonetta Zombori has revealed how to keep your pumpkin looking its best for Halloween Ms Zombori trained as a stone-sculptor, but then discovered a love for carving different foods including watermelon, cheese and pumpkins TIPS TO KEEP YOUR CARVED PUMPKINS FRESH Choose a pumpkin without a mouldy or rotten stem. Bathe with bleach. Store it outside. Coat it with Vaseline. Spray it with lemon water and wrap in cling film. Advertisement Ms Zombori trained as a stone-sculptor, but then discovered a love for carving different foods including watermelon, cheese and pumpkins. Now the Hungarian artist creates intricate carvings for huge brands like Google, Sainsburys, and for the theatre production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Sometimes the fruits need to stay fresh for days before being displayed, but luckily she has a few tricks that prevent them from rotting away. 1. Choose the pumpkin carefully The first step to creating the best pumpkin decoration on your street is in choosing a healthy one to start with. Signs of disease can start forming on pumpkins after they have been harvested, as a bruise or crack sustained in transit can let in bacteria. Ms Zombori told MailOnline: 'When we choose a pumpkin we have to make sure it's not rotten around the stem or mouldy. 'It has to be dry, otherwise your pumpkin will start to mould quickly, especially in the house at room temperature. 'Also, please never pick up a pumpkin by the stem, it will snap off and cause the pumpkin to rot more quickly.' 2. Give it a bleach bath After you have completed the carving, giving your pumpkin a bleach bath will kill any microorganisms that could eat away at the sugary fruit. As they spend most of their life growing in a field, they are vulnerable to all sorts of fungi, bacteria and insects which are unlikely to have been washed off. When you begin carving and breaking away at the pumpkin's skin, that creates new orifices for these organisms to infiltrate. Ms Zombori said: 'You can add one tablespoon of bleach to one gallon (4.5 litres) of water and give a good bath to your carved pumpkin. 'Then rinse well, and dry your pumpkin. That will help it to last longer.' 3. Store it outside The artist recommends keeping your pumpkin creations outside, in as cool temperatures as possible. 'It's better to keep it outside and then it can be a nice decoration on your porch or front door,' she said. 'If you keep your carved pumpkin at room temperature, the warm room will cause rotting to start more quickly.' Ms Zombori trained as a stone-sculptor, but then discovered a love for carving different foods including watermelon, cheese and pumpkins PUMPKIN CARVING TIPS 1. Have a carving plan. Ms Zombori told MailOnline: 'I never start to carve my pumpkins without plan. 'You have to think over what you will cut out and what you wont touch with your knife. 'First I draw out the design with a pen onto the pumpkin and start carving away after that.' 2. Keep a water bottle handy Ms Zombori said: 'Pumpkins lose a lot of moisture while you carve them, so one thing I do while carving is constantly spray it with water, trying to keep it wet. 'That helps it to stay workable. 'When I finish with the carving I wrap it with clingfilm, and I remove it only before I put the carving on display.' 3. Dont only use the traditional pumpkin carving set. If you want to carve like a pro, Ms Zombori recommends ditching the traditional carving kit. She uses Exacto knives, saws and clay sculpting tools. She said: 'One of my favourite ones is the linoleum cutter, its great for doing intricate designs. 'If you want to go for the traditional Jack-O'-Lantern style, you will need a stainless-steel saw, poker tool and pumpkin scraper. 'You will notice a difference in how easy it is to work with these tools.' Advertisement As the temperature increases, decomposing microorganisms become more active and the rate of decay increases. It is also a good idea to keep your pumpkin sheltered from any rain, which could cause mould to grow. When it comes to illuminating the pumpkin, Ms Zombori also recommends using an electric LED lamp rather than a candle, to avoid unnecessary heat. She said: 'Pumpkins get really bright, but they dont give off heat. 'You want to keep the pumpkin as cold as possible, and if you have a heat source inside of it, the pumpkin is going to start to cook inside. 'So, if you use electric light, you will also give a longer life to your carving.' 4. Coat it with Vaseline Not just for chapped lips, Ms Zombori swears by Vaseline to keep her carved creations looking almost good enough to eat. It will act as a barrier that prevents bacteria-ridden moisture getting inside, but also locks in its own freshness. She said: 'If you do a stencil carving, where you are not cutting through the pumpkin wall and only carve out the surface, then you can apply Vaseline on the surface. 'Petroleum jelly will keep the pumpkin moisturised. It won't dry out that quickly and it gives a nice shine to your masterpiece as well.' 5. Spray with lemon water Her final tip is to spray the surface of your spooky gourd creations with lemon water after you have finished carving. These can then be tightly wrapped in cling film and put in a cold place, like the fridge or outside, before being unwrapped on Halloween night. Ms Zombori said: 'When I had to carve out 40 pumpkins for an event, I had to make sure the ones I carved in the first few days would be as fresh as the ones I carved out on day four or five. 'I was able to do that with this trick. I sprayed each pumpkin in the evening and wrapped them up, and all of them were fresh for the event.' Similar ecosystems are likely to exist in other oceanic islands like the Maldives, according to the team Organisms called micronekton get trapped in the rocky underwater landscape and attract hungry predators Scientists have discovered a new ecosystem called The Trapping Zone, 1,640ft deep in the Indian Ocean Advertisement A new ecosystem has been discovered 1,640 feet (500 metres) down in the depths of the Indian Ocean, where hungry sharks go to feast on krill. Named 'The Trapping Zone', scientists have described it as an 'oasis of life' in the midst of a 'very large ocean desert' in the Maldives. Predators such as sharks and other large fish swarm to the area to feast on a hive of small organisms known as micronekton. These are marine organisms that can swim independently of the current, migrating to the ocean surface at night and diving back into the deep at dawn. However, according to researchers from the University of Oxford, these micronekton become trapped against the underwater landscape at 1,640 feet (500 metres) deep. 'This has all the hallmarks of a distinct new ecosystem', said Professor Alex Rogers who has spent over 30 hours underwater observing The Trapping Zone. 'The Trapping Zone is creating an oasis of life in the Maldives and it is highly likely to exist in other oceanic islands and also on the slopes of continents.' A new ecosystem of krill and plankton has been discovered 1,640 feet (500 metres) down in the depths of the Indian Ocean Predators such as sharks and other large fish swarm to the area to feast on a hive of small organisms known as micro-nekton.. Pictured: Bramble shark WHAT ARE MICRONEKTON? Micro-nekton are marine organisms between 0.8 and 8 inches (2 and 20 cm) in size. They can swim independently of the current, and demonstrate 'vertical migration'. This is when the zooplankton rise to the sunlit shallows at dusk each night to feast on phytoplankton. Then, when the sun rises, they return to deeper waters to avoid predators. Advertisement The Nekton Maldives Mission, which involved sending submersible vehicles to depths of nearly 3,300 feet (1,000 metres), set sail on September 4. During the 34 day expedition, researchers aimed to undertake the first ever systematic survey and sampling of the deep sea around the Maldives. Until the mission, almost nothing was known about what lay below 100 feet (30 metres) deep in this region. While aboard their Omega Seamaster II submersible, they explored the Satho Rahaa seamount, a 4,900 feet-high (1,500 metre) underwater mountain. They also saw that volcanic rocky layers and fossilised carbonate reefs form steep vertical cliffs and shelving terraces. These are what make up the bases of the Maldivian atolls - ring-shaped islands that encircle lagoons. It is this rough, subsea landscape that traps the micronekton and prevents them from diving any deeper as the sun rises. This trapping effect has been associated with biodiversity hotspots on seamounts in the past, but it has never been linked to oceanic islands like the Maldives. While aboard their Omega Seamaster II submersible (pictured left and right), scientists explored the Satho Rahaa seamount, a 4,900 feet-high (1,500 metre) underwater mountain The scientists also saw that volcanic rocky layers and fossilised carbonate reefs form steep vertical cliffs and shelving terraces. These are what make up the bases of the Maldivian atolls - ring-shaped islands that encircle lagoons. It is this rough, subsea landscape that traps the micro-nekton, and prevents them from diving any deeper as the sun rises This trapping effect has been associated with biodiversity hotspots on seamounts in the past, however it has never been linked to oceanic islands like the Maldives The scientists captured footage of the underwater life with their onboard cameras, collected biological samples and mapped the area extensively using sonar. The data suggested that the trapped animals were targeted by large pelagic predators, including schools of tuna and sharks. Tiger sharks, gill sharks, sand tiger sharks, dog fish, gulper sharks, scalloped hammerhead sharks, silky sharks and the very rare bramble shark were all documented by the mission. Shafiya Naeem, Director General of the Maldives Marine Research Institute, said: 'We've observed sharks in shallower waters quite extensively in the Maldives before, but for the first time we've have been able to document an immense diversity of sharks in the deep sea.' The swarms of plankton also attracted large, deep-water fish, including the spiky oreo and alfonsino. Lucy Woodall, Associate Professor of Marine Biology and Nekton Principal Scientist, said the team are interested in understanding exactly what happens at the 1,640 foot (500 metre) mark. Tiger sharks, gill sharks, sand tiger sharks, dog fish, gulper sharks, scalloped hammerhead sharks, silky sharks and the very rare bramble shark were all documented by the mission. pictured: A six-gill shark with hagfish 'Is this something that's specific at 500 metres, does this life go even deeper, what is this transition, what is there and why?' she said. 'Why are we seeing the patterns that we have observed on this expedition? This will enable us to understand the deep ocean in much better terms.' The discovery could have important implications for sustainable fisheries management, the burial and storage of carbon and climate change mitigation. While analysis of the data collected in the mission is ongoing, the findings have already been hailed as highly significant by the Maldives Government. President of the Maldives H.E Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, said: 'The discovery of "The Trapping Zone" and the oasis of life in the depths surrounding the Maldives provides us with critical new knowledge that further supports our conservation commitments and sustainable ocean management, and almost certainly support fisheries and tourism.' Meta Platforms Inc. warns Canada that the company is prepared to block Canadian news content sharing over a media revenue-sharing legislation. According to The Verge, Facebook is threatening to ban news sharing in Canada if the country passes the new Online News Act that makes news outlets pay for their content. The Online News Act Compels Platforms To Pay Compensation Meta says that it may stop sharing news content with Canadians in light of the proposed Online News Act that forces platforms like Facebook to share revenue with local news organizations. This law bears resemblance to an Australian law that was introduced last year called the News Media Bargaining Code. This law requires Facebook and Google to pay for the news they put on their platforms has been passed by the Australian Government eventually. In a statement, Facebook says that the proposal misrepresents the relationship between big platforms and news publishers, even urging the Canadian government to rethink its approach. The company adds that the threat to ban news sharing has only come after Canada's House of Commons Heritage Committee met about the matter, and they were not invited, The Verge writes. "We have always approached our engagement with Canadian public authorities on this legislation in the spirit of honest and fair debate," Facebook explains. Engadget reports that Meta expresses its surprise that the Committee has not given them an invitation to the meeting, given that the public comments and the law targets Facebook specifically. Meanwhile, Facebook defends itself from the accusations of being unfair by revealing that news content is not a significant source of revenue for them since it only makes up 3% of Canadian Facebook Feeds. Read More: Meta Will End Support for Facebook's Instant Articles Next Year Facebook Wishes They Could Have Raised Their Concerns In their statement, Facebook writes that despite the issue, they are still investing in partnerships and programs that support the development of sustainable business models for news organizations. However, the company also says that there are some concerns that they would have raised if the Committee had sent them an invitation to sit down and discuss the law. Facebook says that Canadian news publishers choose to share links on platforms like Facebook to reach a wider audience for free, earning them more than $230 million annually. This would not have been the case if the Canadian government charges news publishers to achieve their reach with a fixed compensation. Additionally, Meta believes that the legislation would require them to acquiesce to a system that lets publishers charge the company for a price with no limits, MSN reports. With this, the Online News Act will create different forms of financial liability for Facebook in Canada, which might make the company reconsider if they want to continue sharing news in the country. It will also regulate a space where competition and creativity can thrive by stifling innovation through the reduction of trust in media in the online environment, Facebook writes. Because of this, Meta urges the Canadian government to consider a policy response that highlights support for public interest by being open to working together with companies towards their goals. Related Article: Meta is Shutting Down News Platform Bulletin Paul Scholes has claimed that Jurgen Klopp and Jordan Henderson have fallen out amidst the Liverpool captain's absence from their starting lineup. This comes after Henderson found himself on the bench for his side's 1-0 defeat and lacklustre performance against the struggling Nottingham Forest. Liverpool were missing something from the away loss and Scholes believes that the influence of their skipper could have made the difference. Jordan Henderson started on the bench for Liverpool's 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest Manchester United legend Paul Scholes thinks Henderson and Jurgen Klopp have 'fallen out' Speaking to Premier League Productions, Scholes said: 'He has Jordan Henderson on the bench, he should be playing. 'He is the leader of the team. He's the captain and the one, the Casemiro type of role, and he gets everyone ticking around.' The Manchester United legend's confusion about Henderson's omission from the starting XI has led him to speculate about the possible reasons. 'He seems to have fallen out with him or carrying an injury. There is something not quite right there.' If Scholes is correct - it could help to explain why the 32-year-old has not started two of Liverpool's last three Premier League games. Scholes believes a falling out or an injury is behind Klopp's omission of the Liverpool captain However, despite Scholes' assertion, Henderson has remained a constant fixture in the Liverpool setup this campaign. The England midfielder has appeared in 10 of Liverpool's 11 Premier League games this season - starting in seven of them. If there is a rift between manager and player, Liverpool's line-ups in their upcoming games could be an indicator. Liverpool welcome Leeds to Anfield this weekend, hoping to bounce back from their defeat at the City Ground. Blue Ivy Carter the ten-year-old daughter of Beyonce, 41, and Jay-Z, 52 stunned the Wearable Art Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday night. The young girl bid over $80K for a pair of Lorraine Schwartz diamond earrings, shocking her grandmother Tina Knowles-Lawson, 68, and Keke Palmer, 29. Both women were up on stage serving as the auctioneers when Blue Ivy jumped up from her chair and entered the bidding war by waving her paddle. Big spender: Blue Ivy Carter the ten-year-old daughter of Beyonce, 41, and Jay-Z, 52 stunned the Wearable Art Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday night when she bid over $80K for a pair of Lorraine Schwartz diamond earrings Art connoisseur: This isn't the first time that Beyonce and Jay-Z's eldest child has caused a stir at the event's luxury auction. Blue Ivy has a history of bidding big Monique Rodriguez, the founder of Mielle Organics, went head-to-head with the formidable youngster and made the winning bid of $105K. This isn't the first time that Beyonce and Jay-Z's eldest child has caused a stir at the annual event's luxury auction. In 2019, when she was only six years old, Blue Ivy bid $19K on another item up for auction at that year's Wearable Art Gala. The art connoisseur, who was six years old at the time, bid on an acrylic painting of a young Sidney Poitier and she entered into a bidding war with a mysterious rival. That mystery bidder turned out to be none other than Tyler Perry, 53, who didn't even know that he was bidding against a child. 'Somebody else was bidding against me,' Perry later told NBC's Today show after winning the bidding war with Blue Ivy. 'I didn't know who it was.' Proud grandma: Blue Ivy shocked her grandmother Tina Knowles-Lawson, 68, and Keke Palmer, 29. Both women were up on stage serving as this year's celebrity auctioneers when Blue Ivy entered the bidding war and raised her paddle for the unidentified auction item 'I look over and it's her,' said the influential filmmaker. 'She's taking the paddle out of Jay's hand and Beyonce's hand and she's bidding.' Perry's resolve didn't waver once he realized that his competition was practically a kindergartener. 'This kid's not outbidding me today,' he said of his determination. 'You gonna learn today, little girl, I'm getting this painting.' The celebrity auctioneer for the gala that year was Star Jones, 60, and she shined a light on how Blue Ivy's passion for art has developed. 'Her mother and father have been talking about how you gather art and that is a big deal for African Americans,' said Jones from the stage. The former host of The View went on to add that this insight came straight from Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles-Lawson. A force to be reckoned with: In 2019, when she was only six years old, Blue Ivy bid $19K on on an acrylic painting of a young Sidney Poitier at that year's Wearable Art Gala. After a heated bidding war, she lost out to Tyler Perry, 53 Where her passion comes from: The celebrity auctioneer for the gala in 2019 was Star Jones, 60, who shined a light on how Blue Ivy's passion for art has developed. 'Her mother and father have been talking about how you gather art and that is a big deal for African Americans,' said Jones from the stage Tina is co-founder of the WACO Theatre Center, which puts on the Wearable Art Gala every year in order to benefit WACO's artistic and youth mentorship programs. The annual charity event is a family affair, with Beyonce serving as an honorary co-chair along with her sister Solange Knowles, 36. The Carters never fail to make an impact every year, contributing to the cause with both their presence and their pocketbooks. Beyonce was decked out in Gucci for this year's event where she revealed that her Renaissance World Tour will kick off next summer. The superstar donated the first round of tour ticket to the gala and they reportedly sold for $150K. Blue Ivy was not responsible for bidding up the astronomical price of the tickets. Sarah-Jane and Tom's marriage has been pushed to breaking point on The Block, with fans speculating the Melbourne couple may soon divorce. Tensions boiled over last week when the pair bickered over their unfinished study, with Tom telling his wife to 'go find a new husband' if she's so unhappy. Despite fears their relationship won't survive the show, Sarah-Jane has insisted they are still rock solid and have worked through bigger problems in the past. Sarah-Jane and Tom's marriage has been pushed to breaking point on The Block, with fans speculating the Melbourne couple may soon divorce 'We have dealt with more daunting and harder experiences in life. We knew we had each other's backs no matter what,' the social worker told Woman's Day. Sarah-Jane added that she and Tom had 'prepared ourselves for a really emotional and exhausting experience'. 'When you're stressed constantly, you take it out on the one you love the most. Well, I do anyway,' she admitted. Tensions boiled over last week when the pair bickered over their unfinished study, with Tom telling his wife to 'go find a new husband' if she's so unhappy In recent weeks, viewers have been sharing their concerns about the future of Sarah-Jane and Tom's three-year marriage. 'I give Sarah-Jane and Tom five years of marriage. He'll get sick of her mouth and finally leave her,' one fan tweeted. 'I simply don't get how you could have a loving relationship speaking to each other like that,' another added. Despite fears their relationship won't survive the show, Sarah-Jane has insisted they are still rock solid and have worked through bigger problems in the past Sarah-Jane and Tom locked horns during Working from Home Space Week. The couple clashed on the building site as they realised their study wouldn't be ready in time for the judges on Tuesday's episode. Their quarrel began when the team decided to use a 120sqm space instead of a 30sqm room that was required. Sarah-Jane and Tom locked horns during Working from Home Space Week 'There's a couple of hurdles that keep popping up with labour shortages and the wrong roof sheets for the walls,' Tom told producers. 'Let's be realistic, these houses are not going to be finished, unfortunately.' Sarah-Jane also called out her husband for 'complaining' too much. 'It's not that I complain, I vent my frustrations and I'm open about that,' Tom replied. Sarah-Jane called out her husband for 'complaining' too much on the building site 'It's the way he looks at me. He looks at me like I'm an idiot,' Sarah-Jane then said to the cameras. 'He snaps at me, he's doesn't have time for me and he's been doing it the last two weeks and I'm not having it anymore so I went off.' The pair were then seen arguing over picking up three wine barrels, despite only needing one for the room they were working on. The pair were then seen arguing over picking up three wine barrels, despite only needing one for the room they were working on 'He wants me to go pick up three of them from an hour and a half away, and I'm just wondering what all three of them are for?' Sarah-Jane said. She later said Tom was making her 'feel like s**t', before telling producers: 'I'm just sick of Tom deflecting it on the fact that he can be an a**ehole and it's always just everybody else.' 'Babe, I was not an a**ehole,' Tom snapped back. 'I tell him how I'm feeling and his response is, "Well, get a new husband,"' she said. The Block continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine and 9Now She later said Tom was making her 'feel like s**t', before telling producers: 'I'm just sick of Tom deflecting it on the fact that he can be an a**ehole and it's always just everybody else' Trevor Noah insists that there is no 'beef' between himself and Kanye West. The 38-year-old comedian answered the question about whether or not he's beefing with West, 45, in a video posted to TikTok on Friday, Oct. 21. 'Why am I beefing with Kanye? Thats an interesting way to phrase it because a beef has to go both ways,' Noah said. Beefing? Trevor Noah insists that there is no 'beef' between himself and Kanye West He continued, 'Genuinely it does. In my limited understanding of the world, "beef" has always been something that generally will happen between two hip-hop artists. Ive never beefed with Kanye West. I was concerned about Kanye West. 'If somebody says to me that they have a mental health issue, and they say to everyone that when they dont take their medication, theyre unable to control themselves. 'And then everyone ignores when that person is having an episode and they havent taken the medication and then they platform the person and put them up. I sometimes think its a little stty, to be honest with you.' Enlightening clip: The 38-year-old comedian answered the question about whether or not he's beefing with West, 45, in a video posted to TikTok on Friday, Oct. 21 'Interesting': 'Why am I beefing with Kanye? Thats an interesting way to phrase it because a beef has to go both ways,' Noah said 'So OJ': West went after Noah earlier this month in an interview on Drink Champs when he said, 'Trevor Noah, not even from America, he just looks Black right? Gonna say, yo, Kim its gonna get dangerous, he putting all that "He so crazy, hes so OJ"' West went after Noah earlier this month in an interview on Drink Champs when he said, 'Trevor Noah, not even from America, he just looks Black right? Gonna say, yo, Kim its gonna get dangerous, he putting all that "He so crazy, hes so OJ." Nori just wants the family back together, I just want the family back together.' In the same interview, West made some anti-Semitic comments as he discussed a sex story involving his estranged wife Kim and her ex-boyfriend Pete Davidson. The rapper shocked fans last week when he tweeted that he was going to 'go death con 3 on Jewish people...' which resulted in him being banned from the microblogging app. Yet he doubled down on his view during the interview as he claimed that Kim discussing her sex life with Pete alluded to Jewish Zionist practice. West was referring to a scene on the The Kardashians, in which Kim, 41, spoke about how she slept with Pete, 28, in front of a fireplace in tribute to her grandmother. Anti-Semitic: The rapper shocked fans last week when he tweeted that he was going to 'go death con 3 on Jewish people...' which resulted in him being banned from the microblogging app Angry with his ex: West was referring to a scene on the The Kardashians, in which Kim, 41, spoke about how she slept with Pete, 28, in front of a fireplace in tribute to her grandmother (pictured Oct. 12, 2022) 'Christian': 'Kim is a Christian - on TMZ, I just saw it yesterday, it said, "Pete Davidson and Kim had sex by the fireplace to honor they grandmother,"' he said (pictured Oct. 1 2022) In his rant, West told hosts N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN: 'We Jew so I cant be anti-Semite. First of all, I need my stadiums back. The 78 media outlets that called me an "abuser" when I was trying to get Pete Davidson away from my kids that was tattooing my kids names on him, Skete. 'Kim is a Christian - on TMZ, I just saw it yesterday, it said, "Pete Davidson and Kim had sex by the fireplace to honor they grandmother,"' he said. 'Its Jewish Zionists thats about that life, thats telling this Christian woman that has four black children to put that out as a message in the media.' He continued: 'So when I drive by and I see the Hulu ads and I see the JP [Morgan Chase] ads, Im gonna let yall know right now, the devil is a defeated foe - you cant poison me.' Kardashian filed from divorce from West in February of 2021, and the former couple are parents of four children: North, nine, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, three. West has also faced backlash for wearing a White Lives Matter t-shirt earlier this month. Because of these recent controversies, West has been dropped by Balenciaga and Vogue has reportedly decided not to work with him anymore. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Rinna flashed a smirk on her way out of Starbucks in Beverly Hills on Sunday. The OC-born, Oregon-raised 59-year-old was dressed down in a tie-dye maxi-cardigan over a black top, matching capri leggings, and brown buckled slippers. Lisa finished off her casual attire with a SoulCycle skull-and-crossbones bandana, Ray-Ban ombre aviator sunglasses, and Prada cross-body bag. Caffeine fix: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Rinna flashed a smirk on her way out of Starbucks in Beverly Hills on Sunday Rinna's street sighting came two days after TMZ published an interview with her estranged castmate Kathy Hilton, who singled her and Erika Jayne Girardi out for being 'bullies.' 'Those two are desperate for a storyline, and they'll throw anybody under the bus,' the 63-year-old hotel heiress said on Wednesday. 'I had said that I would only be willing to come back [for season 13] if the cast [changed]. If it was completely the same, absolutely not. Because I feel they are two bullies that intimidate a lot of the other girls.' The four-time Daytime Emmy nominee previously called Kathy 'the devil' suffering from a 'psychotic break' during their girls' trip to Aspen, during which she locked herself in a bedroom. Rolled out of bed: The OC-born, Oregon-raised 59-year-old was dressed down in a tie-dye maxi-cardigan over a black top, matching capri leggings, and brown buckled slippers Running errands: Lisa finished off her casual attire with a SoulCycle skull-and-crossbones bandana, Ray-Ban ombre aviator sunglasses, and Prada cross-body bag At BravoCon on October 14, Lisa famously flipped off the 10K strong crowd loudly booing her entrance to the Javits Center in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan. 'This season was f***ing rough. This season was brutal. [It was] horrible, horrible,' Rinna confessed to RealiTea With Derek Z host Derek Zagami the same day. 'We need a break. We need time! We need some time to let it settle. You know, I hope that we can move forward.' On Sunday, the Bravo-lebrity donned a bucket hat and posted yet another one of her dancing videos, this time to Donna Summer's 1979 disco song Sunset People. Eyeballs emoji: Rinna's street sighting came two days after TMZ published an interview with her estranged castmate Kathy Hilton, who singled her and Erika Jayne Girardi out for being 'bullies' The 63-year-old hotel heiress (pictured October 14) said on Wednesday: 'Those two are desperate for a storyline, and they'll throw anybody under the bus...I had said that I would only be willing to come back [for season 13] if the cast [changed]. If it was completely the same, absolutely not. Because I feel they are two bullies that intimidate a lot of the other girls' Name calling: The four-time Daytime Emmy nominee previously called Kathy 'the devil' suffering from a 'psychotic break' during their girls' trip to Aspen, during which she locked herself in a bedroom (pictured in 2010) 'Higlight getting booed at BravoCon!' At BravoCon on October 14, Lisa famously flipped off the 10K strong crowd loudly booing her entrance to the Javits Center in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan Rinna confessed to RealiTea With Derek Z host Derek Zagami the same day: 'This season was f***ing rough. This season was brutal. [It was] horrible, horrible...We need a break. We need time! We need some time to let it settle. You know, I hope that we can move forward' Lisa - who boasts 5.4M social media followers - was promoting the Brut and Rose from her new French wine company Rinna Wines, which hits shelves 'soon.' The Rinna Beauty founder will also launch three new 'Iconic Eye Kits' on Monday. Lisa and her daughters - Delilah Belle, 24; and Amelia Gray, 21 - will all celebrate the 71st birthday of her husband of 25 years, Emmy nominee Harry Hamlin, next Sunday. Rinna is also stepmother to the Flowers in the Attic: The Origin actor's 42-year-old son Dimitri Alexander from his four-year romance with Swiss sex symbol Ursula Andress, which ended in 1983. Here we go again! On Sunday, the Bravo-lebrity donned a bucket hat and posted yet another one of her dancing videos, this time to Donna Summer's 1979 disco song Sunset People Advert: Lisa - who boasts 5.4M social media followers - was promoting the Brut and Rose from her new French wine company Rinna Wines, which hits shelves 'soon' Cosmetics company: The Rinna Beauty founder will also launch three new 'Iconic Eye Kits' on Monday Lori Harvey turned heads in a stunning purple gown that she wore on Saturday to the 5th Annual Wearable Art Gala in Santa Monica, California. The talented star, 25, opted for a structured, threaded dress which clung to her fit physique as she attended the star-studded event. The daughter of television host, Steve Harvey, posed up a storm on the red carpet in the unique and very eye-catching outfit. Stunning: Lori Harvey, 25, turned heads in a threaded, purple dress with a structured neck piece as she attended the 2022 Wearable Art Gala in Santa Monica on Saturday Lori's purple backless gown contained a thigh-high slit, giving a glimpse of her long, toned legs. A structured piece was added on top of the dress, wrapping around her neck for an artsy touch. To keep up with the color scheme of her overall ensemble, Lori slipped into a pair of sleek, lavender-colored Christina Louboutin heels. The star added an assortment of glistening and eye-catching rings, while a pair of dangly, teardrop earrings added a glamorous look. Eye-catching: The backless gown had a thigh-high slit that showcased her toned legs. A structured piece was added on top of the dress, wrapping around her neck for an artsy touch Beauty: Lori wore her hair in a sleek 'do and added stunning teardrop earrings and glossy lip color Her dark hair was parted to the side with sleek waves bordering her face for an additional stylish touch. Lori's makeup was classically done, comprising of a nude-colored eye shadow, a layer of black mascara, and nude-colored lipstick with a darker lip liner. The star posted a series of candid shots of her in the dress to Instagram as well, with the caption: 'WACO Wearable Art Gala 22: Harlem Nights.' The beauty appeared to be in high spirits as she also posed for close-up photos to show off the detailed fabric of her dress to her devoted followers. Radiant: To keep up with the color scheme of her overall ensemble, Lori slipped into a pair of sleek, lavender-colored Christina Louboutin heels Lori recently opened up to Vogue about how she maintains her fit and healthy physique, explaining that 'balance' is very important. 'The biggest thing for me is that I dont really try to restrict myself too much on what I eat, but I will portion control, which I found helps me a lot more,' she explained to the popular fashion outlet. The SKN By LH founder also emphasized that finding her confidence was also key to her overall health and balance in her life. 'I would say just having the inner self-confidence helps balance everything out,' adding that she was also in therapy to focus on her mental health. 'I think self-work is never-ending.' Star power: Lori recently spoke to Vogue about her health and fitness routine and how having a famous father in Steve Harvey helped her cope with her own celebrity Casual chic: The model wore a white T-shirt and black jeans for dinner on Sunday in Santa Monica, California The star also discussed how her 65-year-old father Steve has been by her side every step of the way in her successful career. 'I think having my dad already be in the spotlight helped me navigate a lot because he had a lot of really great advice,' Lori told Vogue. 'He helps keep me level-headed, keep me grounded.' When talking about her work and aspirations, the beauty told the publication, 'My definition of success is just knocking out goals of mine that Ive set every single day.' The influencer further added, 'Because every day, it is a task...youre met with different challenges.' Perry's net worth stands at $120 million. The actor made $22,500 per episode on the first season of Friends, with his salary rising to a whooping $1 million per episode for the last two seasons Matthew Perry has revealed the steep cost of his sobriety journey. The Friends star, 53, shared the head-turning amount of money he spent on getting help for his addiction in a recent interview with The New York Times, while promoting his upcoming memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing. 'I've probably spent $9 million or something trying to get sober,' the actor estimated, while also sharing that he recently celebrated 18 months of sobriety. 'I've probably spent $9 million or something trying to get sober': Matthew Perry, 53, revealed the steep cost of his sobriety a few days after sharing he nearly died from an opioid addiction The timeline indicated that Perry was newly sober during the Friends reunion special, which aired in May 2021. Perry's net worth stands at $120 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The actor made $22,500 per episode on the first season of Friends, with his salary rising to a whooping $1 million per episode for the last two seasons (nine and ten). It comes just a few days since he revealed that he nearly died from an opioid addiction, and detailed how his drug and alcohol addictions left him with a 2% survival after opioids caused his colon to burst and left him in a two-week coma. The TV star is set to sit down with ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer for an exclusive broadcast interview, airing Friday, October 28 at 8 pm EST on ABC; It will be available the following day on Hulu. Sober: The Friends star also shared that he recently celebrated 18 months of sobriety, indicating that her was newly sober during the Friends reunion special in May 2021 In the trailer Perry revealed that co-star Jennifer Aniston confronted him about his drinking and revealed to the actor that she and the rest of the cast '"know you're drinking."' He also shared Aniston's continued support during his recovery: '[Aniston] was the one that reached out the most,' he revealed. 'I'm really grateful to her for that.' The extent of Perry's drug addiction was revealed on Thursday during his interview with People Magazine, while he was speaking about his upcoming memoir. During his interview, Perry - best known for playing Chandler Bing on Friends - spoke about his decades long battle to rid himself of the disease of addiction. Road to recovery: Last week the TV star - who is set to sit down with Diane Sawyer for an exclusive interview airing October 28 - detailed how his drug and alcohol addictions left him with a 2% survival after opioids caused his colon to burst and left him in a two-week coma He revealed that he had to have 14 surgeries on is stomach and had to use a colostomy bag for nine months; he said his stomach has a number of scars from the multiple surgeries. His therapist told him he may have to use a colostomy bag for the rest of his life if he takes drugs again, something that keeps him from relapsing. The actor did not disclose when he got sober but said he is 'pretty healthy' now and chooses to 'count each day.' The actor also said he had to go to rehab 15 times in a bid to get clean; his first bout was in 1997 and then again in 2001 and in 2011. Confrontation: In the trailer for the new interview, Perry also revealed that Jennifer Aniston confronted him about his drinking saying she and the rest of the cast 'know you're drinking' Support: He also shared Aniston's continued support during his recovery: '[Aniston] was the one that reached out the most,' he revealed. 'I'm really grateful to her for that'; Pictured 1995 During his interview he shared: 'The doctors told my family that I had a two 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.' Adding: '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. Surgeries: Matthew had revealed that he to have 14 surgeries on is stomach and had to use a colostomy bag for nine months; he said his stomach has a number of scars from the multiple surgeries The actor said his alcohol addiction began when he was 24 while starring on Friends, adding that he was 'entrenched in a lot of trouble' by age 34. Mathhew revealed that at one time he was taking 55 Vicodin a day while on Friends, noting that he was down to 128 pounds but 'didn't know how to stop.' He said that his co-stars on Friends 'were understanding' and 'patient.' During season nine, Matthew was sober; that was the year he also was nominated for Best Actor. Claim to fame: The actor said his alcohol addiction began when he was 24 while starring on Friends, adding that he was 'entrenched in a lot of trouble' by age 34 He played Chandler from 1994 to 2004 on Friends alongside co-stars David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow. The show aired for 10 seasons and made the stars household names. They reunited in 2021 - the first time after 17 years since the show ended - for a reunion special. Matthew's memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing is available on November 1. This Is Us actor Chris Sullivan and his wife Rachel Reichard revealed Sunday that they had welcomed their second child, a baby daughter. Chris, 42, and his spouse posted a clip to Instagram, writing, 'Please meet AOIFE BEA! She came 3 weeks early, fully grown, healthy and VERY strong. A super fast and smooth delivery (much to her mother's relief).' The couple, who exchanged vows in 2010 and welcomed son Bear in July 2020, said their son was 'enamored and overjoyed to welcome his sister home, telling everyone "baby coming!" the day she was born.' The latest: This Is Us actor Chris Sullivan, 42, and wife Rachel Reichard revealed Sunday that they had welcomed their second child, a baby daughter. They were snapped in March in LA He added: 'She has immediately captured our hearts and doubled the love.' In a clip featuring the newborn Sunday, Bear was seen seated on a couch holding his baby sister with the supportive family surrounding him. The Palm Springs, California native said on the social media site this past May that he and his wife were expecting their second child in early November. 'We have wrapped my final scenes for #thisisus,' the Emmy-winning actor said. 'What an incredible 6 years these have been. With every end, there is a new beginning so here is a trailer of what's to come.' The couple said their daughter Aoife 'came 3 weeks early, fully grown, healthy and VERY strong' in 'a super fast and smooth delivery' In a clip featuring the newborn Sunday, Bear was seen seated on a couch holding his baby sister with the supportive family surrounding him The couple shared a picture of the newborn with the caption, 'Nice to meet you' Sullivan, who has also been seen on The Knick and Stranger Things, took to the site after his son was born in July of 2020 to reflect on the emotional experience. 'Witnessing @therealrachelsullivan bring our first son into this world, after 20 hours of labor, was one of the great honors of my life,' he said. 'It was primal and intentional and I have never been more in love with this powerful woman.' He told ET at the time they had 'gotten into a pretty good rhythm of getting each other to sleep and rest. And then we've got a little bit of help here at home ... I'm still running on mostly adrenaline. Adrenaline and pure joy.' On Sunday, Sullivan received a number of congratulatory responses on the post from castmates on the NBC hit, as Mandy Moore wrote, 'Cant wait to meet her!! Congrats sweet Sullivan fam!!!!' while Susan Kelechi Watson wrote, 'My heart.' Caitlin Thompson said, 'So sweet! Cant wait to meet her!' On Sunday, Sullivan received a number of congratulatory responses on the post from castmates on the NBC hit The couple shared an emotional clip to announce the birth of their second child Moore revealed in an Instagram post Friday that she welcomed son Ozzie with husband Taylor Goldsmith. Moore wrote: 'Ozzie is here! Oscar Bennett Goldsmith arrived a little late but with much aplomb (and an easier/speedier delivery than his big brother, much to the delight of his parents). 'Every adage is true: our hearts have doubled in size and the immediacy of the love is astounding. He is beyond words and we are so grateful for our family of four!' Fans are convinced that Andy Lee and his model girlfriend Rebecca Harding have either secretly wed or got engaged during a romantic trip to Paris. On Sunday, the 41-year-old comedian shared a sweet snap of the couple looking loved-up as they posed for a sunset photo in front of the Eiffel Tower to Instagram. Some followers were quick to suggest they had tied the knot because Andy had his left hand in tucked in his pocket, while others speculated there was proposal or one was imminent. Fans are convinced that Andy Lee, 41, and his model girlfriend Rebecca Harding, 30, are secretly engaged following a romantic trip to Paris. Hiding those left hands,' one fan wrote. 'Perfect place for a romantic engagement or even a wedding,' one user added. A second commented: 'I think you guys are engaged, way too happy! 'Waiting for the engagement announcement' added a third. Fans were quick to suggest a proposal was imminent. 'Perfect place for a romantic engagement or even a wedding,' one user wrote The caption of the post itself simply read: 'Never heard of the tower behind us but people were making a rather large deal about it.' Bec also commented on the photo, sharing a love heart emoji. The couple have been together since 2014, but didn't go public with their romance until January the following year. The caption of the post itself simply read: 'Never heard of the tower behind us but people were making a rather large deal about it' History: The couple have been together since 2014, but didn't go public with their romance until January the following year They briefly split for six-months back in 2016, and Rebecca spoke about their separation on The Lady Brunch last year. 'I was struggling in the newfound interest in my personal life,' she said during the show, commenting on the spotlight their relationship garnered. 'I was 24 when I met Andy, so still at uni and it was very different to my previous life,' she continued. 'But anyway I got over that and now we are as happy as ever.' Andy and Rebecca met at a Melbourne cafe where she was working as a waitress. He left his email address for her on a napkin. Dame Judi Dench reportedly seriously considered joining the cast of Netflix's The Crown for its fifth season. The esteemed actress, 87, is said to have been sent a script while talking to the royal drama's producers about taking the role of the Queen Mother - a character which was eventually taken on by actress Marcia Warren. And the revelation comes after Dame Judi branded the series' plotlines 'cruelly unjust' as she slammed the show, blaming it for crude sensationalism. Dame Judi Dench, 87, reportedly had serious talks to join season five of The Crown... before branding the royal drama's plotlines 'cruelly unjust' in a letter to The Times this week (pictured earlier this month) According to The Times, sources alleged that both The Crown and Dame Judi were 'taking it seriously' when in talks for her to join season five. But the publication noted that there was conflict between the actress and producers over the Queen Mother being a relatively small role for the star, alongside disputes on the size of fee she would get for the role. The Crown ensures that whichever actress is playing Queen Elizabeth II in the show, currently Imelda Staunton, receives the highest level of pay. Dame Judi, who has played Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria in past roles, also has a close relationship with the royal family and often fronts events - such as this year's Jubilee celebrations - leading to worries she could damage their friendship. Queen Mother: She is said to have been sent a script while talking to the royal drama's producers about taking the role of the Queen Mother (Marion Bailey as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in season three) Experience: Dame Judi Dench has played Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria in past roles But it seems a surprise that the Oscar-winning actress was considering joining the show for it's fifth season, as she wrote a strongly worded letter to The Times slamming the series just last week. She blamed the Netflix hit for crude sensationalism and blurring fact and fiction in a dramatic intervention in the row over the shows rewriting of history. In a letter, she called on Netflix to display a disclaimer at the start of each episode to say it is fictionalised drama. She said it would also show respect for the bereavement suffered by the Royal Family and the nation. Taken it on: The role she was in talks for was eventually taken on by 78-year-old actress Marcia Warren (pictured) Not a fan? Just last week, Dame Judi blamed the Netflix hit for crude sensationalism and blurring fact and fiction in a dramatic intervention in the row over the shows rewriting of history Dame Judi, who was made a Companion of Honour in 2005 said she was stung by reports that the latest series would include scenes of Prince Charles lobbying to force his mothers abdication. She fears it will give an inaccurate and hurtful account of history. She wrote: 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. Inner circle: The screen star has a close relationship with the royal family, often attending events and engagements (pictured with now Queen Consort Camilla in 2019) Netflix has faced a backlash over the latest series, which is due to be screened next month. But it has repeatedly resisted calls for it to carry a disclaimer. Series five will cover 1991 to 1997, including the separation of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. It is expected to include fictionalised scenes showing Charles, played by Dominic West, lobbying then-prime minister Sir John Major over the potential abdication of his mother. Sir John has described the scenes as a barrel-load of malicious nonsense. Dame Judi warned such scenes would be cruelly unjust and that theres a danger that viewers would believe it presented an accurate version of history. Real events: Series five of the show will cover 1991 to 1997, including the separation of Prince Charles and Princess Diana The Crown has a rule that no star on the show earns a higher fee than the actress playing Her Majesty, which is currently Imelda Staunton She added: No one is a greater believer in artistic freedom than I, but this cannot go unchallenged. 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 their own reputation in the eyes of their British subscribers. The Crown has been a huge hit for Netflix, and it now spends around 11.5million per episode. Two years ago, the then-culture secretary Oliver Dowden asked Netflix for a health warning on episodes so viewers would know scenes were fictionalised, but Netflix refused. It defended the show this week as fictional dramatisation. Being a social media influencer is not an easy task. You always have to come up with new content and take the time to record and edit them. It can sometimes be taxing on a person's mental well-being, and Pinterest has acknowledged this. The image-sharing service will be teaming up with Headspace, a company specializing in meditation, to give content creators access to mental health support, as mentioned on Insider. Pinterest's Content Creator Perk If a content creator meets the requirements set by Pinterest, then they can sign up for a subscription on Headspace, which will be free for six months. The standard cost is $12.99 per month or $69.99 per year. With the subscription, Headspace can provide guided meditations, breathing exercises, and tips for overall mindfulness. There are criteria that content creators need to meet: They need either live in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. They should have three or more published pins every month in the last three months. Content creators should have 20 saves of their published pins in the last 30 days. Their content should be original and must follow Pinterest's community guidelines. This is Pinterest's way of taking care of content creators, especially from the stress of constantly thinking about what content they should post to garner engagements. Read Also: This Smart Ring Can Help You Monitor Your Mental Health - How Does It Work? What Prompted It Mikayla Nogueira, a beauty influencer, faced backlash for complaining about having to pretend to be happy in her TikTok videos. She claimed that people who say that it's easy to be an influencer are out of their minds. Many have stitched the original video with both negative and positive feedback. Some attest to what she has stated, and some say that it's still not as hard as a regular job. Another TikToker, @jaegurley, stated that she traded her 9 to 5 job for 24/7 work instead, and that she constantly thinks about making content, according to CNBC. Pintereat's Chief Content Officer, Malik Ducard, said that they really wanted to inspire the people who do the inspiring. He added that he wanted to provide influencers with tools and offerings to help them with their mental health and well-being, since professional content creation comes with mental exhaustion. Ducard also expressed that on the Internet, creators experience burnout and exhaustion when it comes to creation, instead of the excitement that should come with it. In light of this, Pinterest also conducted initiatives like banning weight loss ads and compassionate searches. In the update of their ad policy, all ads with weight loss language and imagery are prohibited. This includes testimonies regarding weight loss products, language or imagery that idealizes or denigrates certain body types, or products that claim weight loss. This already adds to Pinterest's ad policies that prohibit body shaming and dangerous weight loss products or claims. The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) applauded Pinterest for being the first platform to prohibit ads associated with weight loss and imagery. Related: It Looks Like the Moderation on Pinterest Has Some Flaws of Its Own Hailey Bieber showed off her long legs while grabbing a bite to eat with her husband Justin and their friend Justine Skye in Beverly Hills on Sunday. The 25-year-old model donned a pair of tiny denim shorts, and she added a black crop top shirt that showed off a sliver of her toned tummy. She added a black coat over the top, and she walked down the street in shiny black loafers. Leggy: Hailey Bieber showed off her long legs while grabbing a bite to eat with her husband Justin and their friend Justine Skye in Beverly Hills on Sunday Bieber parted her long, silky brown locks in the middle and let them fall down the sides of her face. She protected her eyes with thin black sunglasses. Her beau, 28, donned a gray hoodie with black lettering surrounded by a yellow background on the chest of the jacket. He added baggy white sweatpants with thin pinstripes running down to pristine white shoes, topping off his look with a white beanie from Monrow. Sliver of tummy: The 25-year-old model donned a pair of tiny denim shorts, and she added a black crop top shirt that showed off a sliver of her toned tummy Casual outfit: Her beau, 28, donned a gray hoodie with black lettering surrounded by a yellow background on the chest of the jacket, topping the look off with a Monrow beanie Spending time together: Justin and Hailey have been able to spend quite a bit of time together in recent weeks because the pop superstar put his Justice World Tour on pause (pictured April 2022) Skye, 27, wore a red and green hoodie, and she also wore bright white sweats as well. The trio also shopped together at the Gallery Dept. clothing store. Justin and Hailey have been able to spend quite a bit of time together in recent weeks because the pop superstar put his Justice World Tour on pause. The tour was originally set to begin in Seattle, Washington on May 14, 2020 and go through and conclude on September 26, 2020. But, like all musical artists around the world, it had to be scrapped due to COVID-19, which was eventually deemed a pandemic in mid-March of that year. Pausing: Justin and Hailey have been able to spend quite a bit of time together in recent weeks because the pop superstar put his Justice World Tour on pause (pictured 2021) Diagnosis: Bieber's on-again, off-again tour comes in the wake of his doctors diagnosing him with Ramsay Hunt syndrome (pictured 2021) First the tour was pushed back to the following year, and then again to 2022. Eventually it kicked off on February 18, 2022 with a show at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, with an end date set for March 25, 2023. However, more problems would arise, resulting in a number of postponed and cancelled shows, culminating with the plug being pulled altogether on the Justice World Tour after a show in Rio de Janeiro on September 4, due to Bieber wanting to prioritize his health. Following the performance at Rock in Rio in Brazil, Bieber confessed, 'the exhaustion overtook me and I realized that I need to make my health the priority right now,' he said in a statement as reported by ABC, adding, 'So I'm going to take a break from touring for the time being. 'I'm going to be ok, but I need time to rest and get better.' Bieber's on-again, off-again tour comes in the wake of his doctors diagnosing him with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which the Mayo Clinic says 'occurs when a shingles outbreak affects the facial nerve near one of your ears. In addition to the painful shingles rash, Ramsay Hunt syndrome can cause facial paralysis and hearing loss in the affected ear.' Supermodel Elle Macpherson's new boyfriend has been identified as Texas-born musician Doyle Bramhall II. Things are already 'getting serious' between the couple, who have travelled around the world together, reports Australian magazine New Idea. A source told the publication: 'Elle and Doyle have known each other for a while but their friendship recently turned romantic.' Supermodel Elle Macpherson's new boyfriend has been identified as Texas-born musician Doyle Bramhall II. (The couple is pictured together at Paris Fashion Week on September 27) 'It's getting serious. Elle travels the world with Doyle and already knows his two adult daughters. He worships her and is very supportive of her work in the wellness space, too,' they added. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Macpherson's representative for comment. Bramhall, who is best known for collaborating with Eric Clapton and Roger Waters, previously dated Renee Zellweger for seven years before they split in 2019. Last week, the guitarist shared a photo to Instagram of himself and Macpherson gazing lovingly at one another backstage at Clapton's concert in Switzerland. Things are already 'getting serious' between the couple, who have travelled around the world together, reports New Idea. (Macpherson is pictured in Paris on September 27) It comes ten months after Macpherson confirmed her split from disgraced former British doctor Andrew Wakefield, who is a hero of the 'anti-vax' movement. Her spokesperson revealed the news to Daily Mail Australia in a statement last December, saying the pair actually broke up 'almost two years ago'. 'As a spokesperson for Elle I can unequivocally confirm that the relationship between Elle and Dr [sic] Wakefield terminated almost two years ago,' they said. 'It's getting serious. Elle travels the world with Doyle and already knows his two daughters. He worships her and is very supportive of her work in the wellness space, too,' a source said 'There has been no contact subsequently.' Macpherson reportedly first started dating Wakefield in 2017. When asked about the break-up rumours earlier in 2021, a spokesperson for Wakefield said: 'He rarely answers press enquiries from mainstream news publications and doesn't comment on his private life.' It comes ten months after Macpherson confirmed her split from disgraced former British doctor Andrew Wakefield, who is a hero of the 'anti-vax' movement Wakefield, originally from Berkshire, was struck off the medical register in 2010 after his research showing the supposed link between the MMR jabs and autism was exposed as an 'elaborate fraud'. His false claims led to a downturn in vaccination among children and renewed measles outbreaks. Macpherson was previously married to French fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon from 1986 to 1989, and to American billionaire Jeffrey Soffer from 2013 to 2017. She shares two sons, Flynn and Cy, with another ex-partner, French financier Arpad Busson. Chef Curtis Stone has come to the defense of James Corden, after the comedian was banned from a New York City restaurant for bullying staff. The Australian celebrity chef, 46, shared that the television host, 44, 'has been an absolute gentleman' at his restaurant, calling him a 'lovely guest' and saying he's always been 'friendly to the staff' in an interview with TMZ. 'We never talk about our guests,' he added in regards to restaurant owner etiquette, before realizing he had contradicted himself, 'Well I just did, but I said something nice about him.' In defense: Chef Curtis Stone has come to the defense of James Corden, after he was banned from a New York City restaurant for bullying staff; Pictured 2018 The TV personality also shared he was 'shocked to hear' the allegations regarding Corden's behavior. The conversation came about after the TMZ reporter asked Curtis for the best way a customer can complain about their food at a restaurant. 'It depends what the problem is,' Stone responded. 'If something hasn't been done correctly, you should let it go but not be angry about it' he stated. A gent! The Australian celebrity chef, 46, said the television host, 44, 'has been an absolute gentleman' at his restaurant, and shared he's always been 'friendly to the staff'; (L) Stone pictured 2017, (R) Corden pictured 2019 Stone then expanded on owner protocol, saying that it's 'a little off color' to publicly complain about customers. 'We're in the hospitality business and we create special moments for people, whether they're celebrating or getting together with people they love and care about. And sometimes they have a lot of fun, and sometimes they are a little crazy. We make that safe space for them.' 'What happens in the restaurant, stays in the restaurant,' the photographer added, to which Stone replied, 'Something like that.' It comes after Corden declared he 'didn't do anything wrong' after fiery restaurateur Keith McNally - owner of NYC hot spot Balthazar - demanded the Late Late Show host apologize to his staff. Nothing wrong: It comes after Corden declared he 'didn't do anything wrong' after a New York City restaurant owner demanded the Late Late Show host apologize to his staff Corden apologized on Tuesday for being rude to two young servers after he was called out by the Balthazar owner on Instagram. However, in an interview with a New York Times reporter on Friday, Corden broke his silence and said: 'I haven't done anything wrong, on any level.' Responding to the interview, McNally wrote in a new Instagram post: 'I have no wish to kick a man when he's down, but I believe the best way for James Corden to retrieve some of the vast respect the public had for him before this incident is to own up to it and apologize to the young servers he abused.' He added: 'Whatever Corden meant, his implication was clear: he didnt do it.' Banned: Restaurateur Keith McNally, 71, temporarily banned the Late Late Show host from his restaurants because of his 'extremely nasty' treatment of staff Popular: 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 The Balthazar owner said if Corden 'apologizes to the two servers he insulted, I'll let him eat free at Balthazar for the next 10 years.' Corden went on to say in The New York Times interview that speaking about the ordeal was 'beneath' the publication after the reporter appeared grateful Corden hadn't called off the chat altogether. Corden was banned from the NYC restaurant on Monday after McNally revealed he berated staff at his restaurant - and a day later, he revoked that ban the Late Late Show house called him to apologize. 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.' No egg whites! 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; Pictured 2021 McNally then posted 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. Reversed: 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 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 wife Carey ordered an egg yolk omelet 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 omelet myself!' 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. The daughter of a top Australian celebrity is moonlighting as a stripper and an OnlyFans model. The young woman performs at a strip club on Melbourne's infamous King Street and goes by a fake name. She also regularly shares adult content on OnlyFans, charging $18 per month for explicit content and private messages. The daughter of a top Australian celebrity is moonlighting as a stripper and OnlyFans model. (The above image is a stock picture) Her bio describes her as an 'Aussie livin [sic] in her lingerie dancing around a pole', and she promotes her services via a private Instagram page. She previously had a Twitter account, but the page has since been suspended for violating the platform's terms of use. OnlyFans is a subscription-based platform popular with sex workers, influencers and reality stars. The young woman performs at a strip club on Melbourne's infamous King Street and goes by a fake name. (The above image is a stock picture) Content on OnlyFans can range from anything as innocent as a suggestive selfie, all the way to hardcore pornography. Notable Aussies on the platform include MAFS stars Jessika Power and Olivia Frazer, socialite Tziporah Malkah, and Carl Williams' daughter Dhakota. In response to the growing popularity of OnlyFans, the Australian government recently issued a warning to young people who might be curious about making their own X-rated content. Content on OnlyFans can range from something as innocent as a suggestive selfie, all the way to hardcore pornography In 2020, Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, reminded OnlyFans creators that their accounts could easily be hacked and their content leaked online. 'Australians who share explicit images on the Internet can place themselves at risk of wider circulation of those images across the Internet,' Ms Grant said. There has already been a case in Queensland of an OnlyFans creator having her personal information leaked online by an unhappy customer. The woman, 21, had her real name, age, phone number and location posted alongside pornographic images in fake prostitution advertisements. Lily Tomlin and Goldie Hawn looked fashionable while leading myriad celebrities into an event honoring George Schlatter at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles on Sunday. George Schlatter is a television producer and director known for his work on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and also as the founder of the American Comedy Awards. Tomlin, 83, stepped out in a beige blazer and matching slacks. Underneath the blazer, the Grace and Frankie star wore a Ramones t-shirt. Star power: Lily Tomlin and Goldie Hawn looked fashionable while leading myriad celebrities into an event honoring George Schlatter at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles on Sunday She stood in bright white sneakers, and her dark brown hair fell messily to the top of her back. Tomlin stood alongside a number of stars at the event including Hawn who donned a white and gray shawl over a tight black shirt. The 76-year-old actress wore black slacks and matching footwear. A long brown necklace with a large stone hung down to the middle of her chest. Curly: Tomlin's dark brown hair fell messily to the top of her back Holding hands: The star's held hands on the event's red carpet Golden hair: Hawn's long blonde locks were swept off to each side, and her short hair brushed the top of her shoulders Another comedian: Jo Anne Worley of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In fame donned a psychedelic, multicolored top and matching pants Fringe: Pink fringe hung off the hem of her shirt and exploded from where her pants met her brown shoes Hawn's long blonde locks were swept off to each side, and her short hair brushed the top of her shoulders. Jo Anne Worley of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In fame donned a psychedelic, multicolored top and matching pants. Pink fringe hung off the hem of her shirt and exploded from where her pants met her brown shoes. She accessorized with a matching headband in her dark black hair, cut short into a late 1960s style. Accessory: She accessorized with a matching headband in her dark black hair, cut short into a late 1960s style Daughter of a star: The daughter of Joan Rivers, 54-year-old Melissa, kept her look simple with a gray blazer, white t-shirt and jeans Wispy: Her dark brown hair was cut into a short bob with bangs hanging nearly to her dark eyes Vibrant: Sarah Purcell, 74, donned a hot pink blazer over a low-cut black shirt. She stood in black high heels and matched with black trousers The daughter of Joan Rivers, 54-year-old Melissa, kept her look simple with a gray blazer, white t-shirt and jeans. Her dark brown hair was cut into a short bob with bangs hanging nearly to her dark eyes. Sarah Purcell, 74, donned a hot pink blazer over a low-cut black shirt. She stood in black high heels and matched with black trousers. Purcell cut her platinum blonde locks short and brushed them off to the left in front. Many of the night's attendees posed with Schlatter at the event, put on by The National Comedy Center. He wore a classic black blazer and white button-down shirt. Man of the hour: Many of the night's attendees posed with Schlatter at the event, put on by The National Comedy Center Manu Feildel raised temperatures at Channel Seven's annual Perth Telethon over the weekend. The My Kitchen Rules star ripped off his shirt to flaunt his extensive tattoo collection. The French chef hilariously painted some abs on his stomach, using bronzer to create the illusion of a six-pack. Shirtless Manu Feildel showed off his extensive tattoo collection and bizarre painted on abs at Channel Seven's annual Perth Telethon over the weekend Home and Away star Lynne McGranger couldn't get enough of the strip show, and was seen smiling and laughing as she touched Manu's tummy. The 48-year-old culinary star played up to the role of a male stripper, showing off his dance moves and flexing his muscles. The two stars were answering calls alongside other celebrities and notable figures to help raise money for 50 beneficiaries, including the Perth Children's Hospital. Home and Away star Lynne McGranger couldn't get enough of the strip show and was seen smiling and laughing as she touched Manu's tummy The French chef had hilariously painted some abs on his stomach, using bronzer to create the illusion of a six-pack Manu recently admitted he thought his TV career was over when he was dropped by Channel Seven in 2020 after Plate of Origin flopped in the ratings. He said he was shocked when he received a call from the network for this year's season of My Kitchen Rules. 'I thought that was it. We stopped MKR three years ago, we did Plate of Origin and then Covid happened, so I lost my job at Channel Seven,' Manu explained. Mau showed off his collection of tattoos across his chest and back The 48-year-old culinary star played up to the role of a stripper, showing off some dance moves and flexing his muscles 'I thought perhaps this is the end of my TV career, and so move on and do something else.' 'Then suddenly I got the call from Channel Seven saying we are coming back and I was like "wow",' he added. MKR had once been a ratings juggernaut for Seven, but its popularity nosedived in recent years as viewers flocked to Channel Nine's Married At First Sight instead. In 2020, its eleventh season drew an average of 500,000 metro viewers per episode. At its height in 2014, the fifth season had attracted an average audience of 1.891 million across the five major cities. The cooking show was previously hosted by Manu, Pete Evans and Colin Fassnidge. In April it was announced that home-cooking sensation Nigella Lawson would replace Evans as a judge on a revamped new season of My Kitchen Rules. Sara Sampaio said, 'Kanye is a danger to society and so are these people' Sofia Richie asked, 'So how long can we make excuses????' presumably speaking about West Celebs including Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Julianne Moore took to social media with posts condemning anti-Semitism One of the banners encouraged drivers to honk while another read: 'Kanye is right about the Jews' The Saturday afternoon sighting on the 405 freeway went viral as the group was seen tossing up the Nazi salute An anti-Semitic group was seen hovering over a series of banners on a Los Angeles freeway while praising Kanye West's recent war against Jews Khloe Kardashian became the first member of her famed family to allude to the ongoing anti-Semitism scandal swirling around Kanye West after a racist display in Los Angeles over the weekend caught the attention of many celebs. Khloe, 38, reposted a statement from Jessica Seinfeld that read, 'I support my Jewish friends and the Jewish people.' It came after anti-Semitic banners reading, 'Kanye is right about the Jews,' were hung from a Los Angeles freeway on Saturday following the rapper declaring war against Jewish people earlier this month. The latest: Khloe Kardashian, 38, became the first member of the famed family to allude to the ongoing anti-Semitism scandal swirling around Kanye West, 43, after a racist display over the weekend caught the attention of many celebs A group of about five people from the Goyim Defense League, a group that spreads conspiracy theories about Jews, gathered in hats and masks while hovering around a series of anti-Semitic banners on the 405 freeway. The group appeared to support West after his now-deleted Tweet from October 9 read: 'I'm a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I'm going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE.' Group members were seen tossing up the Nazi salute as drivers read the signs: 'Honk if you know... Kayne is right about the Jews... GOYIM TV.TV. REV 3:9, John 8:44.' West has recently been vocal about anti-Semitic content and conspiracy theories on social media and media appearances. Khloe reposted a statement from Jessica Seinfeld that read, 'I support my Jewish friends and the Jewish people' An anti-Semitic group was seen hovering over a series of banners on a Los Angeles freeway while praising Kanye West's recent war against Jews. The Saturday sighting went viral on social media West sent a disturbing tweet where he suggested he would be 'going death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE' Khloe was one of a number of celebs to share Jessica Seinfeld's post, as others included Julianne Moore, Amy Schumer, Amanda Kloots and Kathy Hilton. Jennifer Aniston shared a shot of the demonstrators in Los Angeles photoshopped atop scores of people saluting Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany. Accompanying text read, 'The neo Nazis are doing a Nazi salute - a greeting gesture which was used during the Holocaust to signal obedience to Adolf Hitler.' Aniston also reposted a tweet from political commentator Ana Navarro that read, 'Mental illness is not an excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Period.' Jennifer Aniston shared multiple posts on her Instagram condemning West's actions and the actions they have emboldened from others Ariel Winter questioned the display, writing, 'What in the F*** LA????????????' Dan Levy said, 'F*** this ignorant, dangerous bulls***' Ariel Winter wrote, 'What in the F*** LA????????????' while Dan Levy said, 'F*** this ignorant, dangerous bulls***.' Sara Sampaio said the display was 'f***ing disgusting,' adding, 'Kanye is a danger to society and so are these people.' Sofia Richie reposted the shot asking, 'So how long can we make excuses????' presumably speaking about West. Sarah Silverman shared the shot with the caption, 'Lemme guess: Still not time to get scared' Florence Pugh said, 'Absolutely appalling,' on her Instagram story while sharing the photo of the banners on the freeway. Sara Sampaio said the display was 'f***ing disgusting,' adding, 'Kanye is a danger to society and so are these people' Sarah Michelle Gellar reposted the shot questioning why Adidas has not come out against West yet Sofia Richie reposted the shot asking, 'So how long can we make excuses????' presumably speaking about West Florence Pugh said, 'Absolutely appalling,' on her Instagram story while sharing the photo of the banners on the freeway Reese Witherspoon took to Twitter saying, 'Anti-Semitism in any form is deplorable. In person. Online. Doesn't matter where. It's hate and it's unacceptable. 'Completely understand why my Jewish friends/colleagues are frightened for their families. This is a very scary time.' In a lengthier post, Zoe Buckman posted the horrific photo on Instagram while referencing West's collaboration with Adidas that is currently 'under review' amid his recent controversies. 'This is LA October 22nd,' Buckman wrote. 'We should stop waiting for a statement or action from @adidas - it's insulting at this point. We know how PR machines work & how quickly [folks] can put out a response if they feel motivated too.' Buckman continued: 'We should stop waiting for the so-called allies to speak up about the wave of antisemitism coming from the right AND left. We should galvanize & engage with our cultural & ethnic pride as Jews in the diaspora. Sarah Silverman shared the shot with the caption, 'Lemme guess: Still not time to get scared' Jamie Chung said that 'the growing anti-Semitism in this country is a real problem' Isla Fisher said that she was 'disappointed' to see West use his large platform to 'perpetuate hate and pure stupidity' 'I know weve had to hide time & time again & I understand the self-loathing that generations, centuries, actually, of persecution can instill in us, but other marginalized groups have pride: wheres ours. 'If youre Jewish: I see you. Im with you. If youre not, and you want to turn a blind eye, get out my f****** way.' Isla Fisher said that she was 'disappointed' to see West use his large platform to 'perpetuate hate and pure stupidity.' She added: 'This is right outside our door on the 405 freeway in LA and scary as hell.' She encouraged people to speak out against anti-Semitism. Jamie Chung also encouraged people to 'call it out when you see it,' adding that 'the growing anti-Semitism in this country is a real problem.' SNL star Chloe Fineman reposted a post that read, 'Kanye is just a troll, it's not like anyone is taking him seriously' with the response, 'Are you sure? Reese Witherspoon said that West's rhetoric was making for a 'very scary time' for Jewish people SNL star Chloe Fineman reposted a post that read, 'Kanye is just a troll, it's not like anyone is taking him seriously' with the response, 'Are you sure? Zoe Buckman was among those who shared their disgust with the signs on social media Comedian Amy Schumer also chimed in on Sunday with a photo that read: 'I support my Jewish friends and the Jewish people. In the caption, Schumer added a question for discussion: 'If you don't know what to post. Let's start with this. In the comments. Do you know what the Jewish community is afraid this will lead to? 1 in 2 people don't know the holocaust happened. Stand up.' The post by Schumer was also seen reposted by various others, including Jessica Seinfeld, who added the caption: 'If you don't know what to say, you can just say this in your feed.' West previously said in an interview with Piers Morgan on October 19 that he 'absolutely' doesn't regret his anti-Semitic comments but offered a half-hearted apology. 'I will say I'm sorry for the people that I hurt with the death con [comments],' West said on the British talk show, 'Piers Morgan Uncensored.' '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 previously said in an interview with Piers Morgan on October 19 that he 'absolutely' doesn't regret his anti-Semitic comments but offered a half-hearted apology Kanye West has hired Camille Vasquez who famously defended Johnny Depp in his defamation trial, to handle his business interests Earlier this month 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. 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.' 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. The rapper's Twitter account was later suspended. In the interview with Morgan, West 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. While the ex-husband of Kim Kardashian has been known to have unpredictable outbursts on social media - he was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder in 2016 - his rants have become more frequent this year. Recently, West hired Camille Vasquez, the attorney who defended Johnny Depp, to handle his business interests. Vasquez, who gained national attention due to her representation of Depp in his heated defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard, will be among the lawyers at the Brown Rudnick firm now working with West, TMZ reports. The Sister Wives family just got a little bit bigger, with star Logan Brown tying the knot with longtime girlfriend Michelle Petty. The 28-year-old Logan is the oldest child of Kody Brown and Janelle Brown, though he hasn't been featured on the series since 2014. Brown's wedding was attended by his mother Janelle and former stepmom Christine Brown, who both shared snaps from the happy event. Tying the knot: The Sister Wives family just got a little bit bigger, with star Logan Brown tying the knot with longtime girlfriend Michelle Petty Mom and stepmom: Brown's wedding was attended by his mother Janelle and former stepmom Christine Brown, who both shared snaps from the happy event Brown and Petty tied the knot on Saturday, with Janelle sharing a snap of her and Christine at the wedding on her Instagram story. 'Christine and I at Logan and Michelle's wedding last night. Such a beautiful day,' Janelle said in the caption. She also added a second photo with all of her children at the wedding, which she captioned, 'My kids. And the new bride and groom.' Christine and Janelle: 'Christine and I at Logan and Michelle's wedding last night. Such a beautiful day,' Janelle said in the caption 'Some of us are already sweating from the legendary Brown family dancing at events,' she added in the caption. Christine also took to Instagram to share a pic of four of her daughters - Aspyn, 27, Gwendlyn, 20, Ysabel, 19, and Truely, 12 - at the wedding. 'Its amazing and overwhelming to be the mom of these beautiful ladies,' she captioned the snap. Family: 'Some of us are already sweating from the legendary Brown family dancing at events,' she added in the caption Daughters: Christine also took to Instagram to share a pic of four of her daughters - Aspyn, 27, Gwendlyn, 20, Ysabel, 19, and Truely, 12 - at the wedding Brown and Petty started dating in 2014 and got engaged in 2017, though they announced they wanted to wait until they both finished school and saved up some money before tying the knot. While Logan wasn't on the show when he got engaged, both Janelle and Kody spoke about the engagement in a 2017 video. 'I was pretty excited. I was kind of getting worried because Im pretty attached to Michelle,' Janelle began. Dating: Brown and Petty started dating in 2014 and got engaged in 2017, though they announced they wanted to wait until they both finished school and saved up some money before tying the knot 'I was getting a little bit worried that Logan would let her slip away so Im glad to see some commitment here,' she added. Kody said, 'Logan and Michelle are a great match. Logan is sometimes high strung and Michelle knows to to calm down and get him to ease into it.' Janelle also revealed in July in an Instagram post that Logan and Michelle moved into their new Las Vegas home, stating, 'Celebrating Logan and Michelles new home today! After months of delays they finally moved in. Its an amazing space . Congratulations you guys.' Christian Wilkins never puts a foot wrong in the style stakes. And the star, 27, stole the show yet again on Monday as he enjoyed the launch of Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington. Christian looked every inch the fashionisto as he posed at the launch wearing a silver three-piece suit which included a waistcoat. Socialite Christian Wilkins, 27, (pictured) stole the show in an artsy three-piece suit at the launch of Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Monday The influencer kept to his quirky style by opting for a matte makeup look and dramatic sky blue eyeshadow. Christian finished his look by wearing his blonde tresses down in a wavy style, allowing them to cascade past his shoulders. Christian finished his look by wearing his blonde tresses down in a wavy style, allowing them to cascade past his shoulders. Here with Crystal Kimber-Peters and Rebecca Share At the event he posed alongside Crystal Kimber-Peters and Rebecca Share. Also on hand at the event was Francesca Cumani who wore a pink suit which included an elegant double-breasted jacket and pants. She finished her look with pink pointed heels, and a crown for her hair along with drop pearl earrings. Also on hand at the event was Francesca Cumani who wore a pink suit which included an elegant double-breasted jacket and pants. She finished the look with metallic heels She opted for a less-is-more approach with her makeup which included a matte lipstick. At one point she posed alongside Eddie McGuire who looked smart in a freshly pressed suit, crisp white shirt and blue tie. The pair presented at the lectern together at the festivities. Eddie and Francesca stood at the lectern together at the festivities Swimmer Ariarne Titmus was on hand as part of the festivities Melbourne Cup will soon be in full swing with the launch of the carnival on Monday, with the official Flemington account saying as much. 'Today the glorious Melbourne Cup Carnival celebrations kicked off at Flemington with the official launch of Cup Week!' the account read. The Melbourne Cup will be run on Tuesday, November 1. Lisa Wilkinson and her daughter Billi FitzSimons arrived at Sydney Airport on Monday after taking a trip to Brisbane together. The lookalike pair donned casual outfits for their trip, and were spotted carrying their bags through the terminal. The 62-year-old host of The Project donned a black blazer over a matching long-sleeved blouse. Lisa Wilkinson and her daughter Billi FitzSimons arrived at Sydney Airport on Monday after taking a trip to Brisbane together. Both pictured The television personality added a pair of loose blue denim jeans paired with black flat sandals. Lisa appeared to go makeup free, covering up her famous face with a pair of sunglasses. She wore her brunette locks down around her face and carried a large tan crossbody bag. The lookalike pair donned casual outfits for their trip, and were spotted carrying their bags through the terminal The television personality added a pair of loose blue denim jeans paired with black flat sandals Billi meanwhile went for a comfy black hoodie and matching track pants with white sneakers. She carried a number of items, including a designer purse and a handful of garment bags. The budding journalist went makeup free for her flight, and wore her hair down and straight. Lisa wheeled a carry-on bag through the terminal before the women waited for their ride outside Lisa wheeled a carry-on bag through the terminal before the women waited for their ride outside. The TV star shares her daughter with her husband of twenty years, journalist Peter FitzSimons, 61. In addition to youngest child Billi, Lisa and Peter are doting parents to two sons Jake, 29, and Louis, 27. To honor the legacy and achievements of Albert Einstein, the Israeli government approves the $18 million dollar budget for the Einstein Museum at Hebrew University. Israel decides to give a thumbs up to the multimillion-dollar fund dedicated to the curation and safekeeping of the scientist's documents in an archiving effort, The Times Of Israel writes. Einstein Left His Archives To The University As A Founding Father The Albert Einstein Museum to be built at the Hebrew University Givat Ram campus in Jerusalem is receiving $18 million from both the government and the university. Lauded as one of the greatest physicists of all time, Einstein became one of the university's founding fathers, which is why Hebrew University dedicated itself to serving Einstein's collection a space in its halls. His legacy of excellence in academic research forms the very foundation of our university, whereas his scientific achievements continue to impact all of our lives," Professor Asher Cohen, university president, says. According to curator Roni Gross, Einstein's archives has around 85,000 documents which will be housed in an innovative place for scientific and technological education at Hebrew University. Phys says that along with Einstein's original documents, there will be cutting-edge exhibition techniques and scientific demonstrations on the impact of his discoveries today. "Albert Einstein is an asset, the biggest brand name in the world for intelligence, science and genius," Alternate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says. Israel's alternate Prime Minister adds that he hopes that the museum becomes a pilgrimage site for anyone who wants to become acquainted with Einstein and intelligence in general. The archives will be accessible to those who want to browse them in digital format and in physical documents, which will be in the museum, according to the Jewish News Syndicate. Read More: Magnetar Near Black Hole Could Put Einstein's Theory Of General Relativity To The Test The Public Archive Records Key Historical Moments During His Life The German-born Einstein is named one of the best scientists of all time as he revolutionized the theory of relativity by introducing new ways of looking at the movements of objects in space. He also won the Nobel Peace Prize for Physics in 1921 for his major contributions to quantum mechanics theory. Additionally, he has even become a pop culture icon due to his dry wit, trademark unruly hair, and bushy mustache and eyebrows, Phys writes. The Times of Israel also reports that Einstein's role in Judaism is so deep that he was offered the position of Israel's President in 1952, which he declined. Einstein claims that he lacked natural aptitude and the expertise to deal with people and to exercise official functions properly upon refusing the offer. The plans to establish an archival museum for Einstein at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem have been discussed for over a decade already but have never been done due to funding issues. However, some of the original documents by Einstein have already been sold at auctions to this day. Related Article: Einstein's Theory On Speed Of Light Could Be Wrong, Physicists Say Sienna Miller proved there's no hard feelings between herself and ex Tom Sturridge as they partied alongside each other at Glastonbury festival. In pictures shared by their mutual friend Poppy Delevingne, it was apparent that the exes had both attended the festival in June but with their new partners. The actress, 40, was joined by her toyboy partner Oli Green, 25, who she has been dating since February, while Tom, 36, went public with girlfriend Alexa Chung, 38, in July. Cute couple: Sienna Miller attended Glastonbury Festival in June alongside boyfriend Oli Green (pictured) where they partied alongside her ex Tom Sturridge and his new girlfriend Alexa Chung On Sunday, Poppy, 36, took to Instagram to share a series of snaps from the group's time at a festival, simply captioned: 'friends on film'. Sienna looked radiant in a snap alongside Oli, with the couple beaming for the camera while posing alongside pal Paul Rowe. While Tom's relationship with Alexa was not public at the time, he was seen planting a kiss on her cheek in a sweet snap captured by Poppy. Pucker up: While Tom's relationship with Alexa was not public at the time, he was seen planting a kiss on her cheek in a sweet snap captured by Poppy Fun times: Other famous friends seen at the festival were the likes of Matt Smith (bottom right) and Poppy also shared a snap of her husband James Cook (bottom left) partying with them despite rumours they split in January Other famous friends seen at the festival were the likes of Rita Ora and Matt Smith, and Poppy also shared a snap of her husband James Cook partying with them despite rumours they split in January. Sienna and Tom dated from 2011 to 2015 and they share nine-year-old daughter Marlowe Ottoline Layng Sturridge. In the past, the British-American beauty has spoken openly about her 'unconventional' relationship with the Being Julia actor. Delightful duo: Rita Ora was also seen getting in on the action as she posed for snaps with Poppy while living it up at the festival Striking: Poppy shared another snap alongside Lady Mary Charteris in the back of a taxi Dun times: Poppy looked incredible in a fringed halterneck top for another striking snap Model moment: Poppy shared a stunning snap of Alexa Chung Of co-parenting, in 2019 she told Elle UK, 'Its not like theres a structure for custody. We make it work. Its not conventional.' Sienna previously gushed to Harper's Bazaar that Tom was her 'best friend in the entire world' - and that while they don't share a property, they often stay together to spend mutual time with their little girl. Admitting their close bond has not broken since they cut romantic ties in the summer of 2015 after four years together, she explained: 'We still love each other. Commanding attention: Sienna was seen living it up with boyfriend Oli when they attended Glastonbury. The pair were first linked in February Standing out! Alexa looked incredible at Glastonbury but was not seen photographed with Tom at the time 'I think in a break-up somebody has to be a little bit cruel in order for it to be traditional, but its not been acrimonious in a way where you would choose to not be around that person.' Sienna embarked on a romance with Lucas Zwirner, though their relationship came to an end in the latter half of last year, prompting the star to relocate back to the UK from New York City. Sienna split from her ex-fiance, Lucas, in September 2020 before being spotted looking cosy with her longtime pal Archie Keswick last summer. She first stepped out with Oli at New York Knicks game in New York and they are still going strong today. Meanwhile Tom previously dated Stranger Things actress Maya Hawke last year after they confirmed their romance at several events. The actor and the daughter of stars Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, first sparked romance rumours mid 2020 and were last spotted together at the end of 2021. More than 30 years after its iconic debut on ABC and five years after its Showtime sequel series, many of the Twin Peaks cast members reunited over the weekend. Madchen Amick, who played Shelly Johnson on the hit series, shared a snap of the reunited cast sitting at a large dinner table. Also in attendance was Kyle MacLachlan (Special Agent Dale Cooper), Sherilyn Fenn (Audrey Horne), Dana Ashbrook (Bobby Briggs), Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer) and Kimmy Robertson (Lucy Moran) and a few unidentified guests. Reunited: More than 30 years after its iconic debut on ABC and five years after its Showtime sequel series, many of the Twin Peaks cast members reunited over the weekend Cast: Also in attendance was Kyle MacLachlan (Special Agent Dale Cooper), Sherilyn Fenn (Audrey Horne), Dana Ashbrook (Bobby Briggs), Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer) and Kimmy Robertson (Lucy Moran) and a few unidentified guests 'Precious moments with looong time friends. Feelin all the feels,' Amick added in the caption, with the hashtags #iluvsthem #twinpeaks #fam. Dana Ashbrook also shared the same photo Amick did, along with another close-up shot with Amick. He added in his caption, 'A few of my favorite people on earth...' with the hashtags #luckyasf*ck #oldfriends #beautifulpeople. Precious: 'Precious moments with looong time friends. Feelin all the feels,' Amick added in the caption, with the hashtags #iluvsthem #twinpeaks #fam The actors were not joined by series creators David Lynch and Mark Frost at the dinner and it's unclear where the reunion took place. Twin Peaks debuted on ABC in 1990, which was critically acclaimed though it only lasted two seasons. The series takes place in the fictional town of Twin Peaks, Washington, where FBI Agent Dale Cooper arrives in when he's assigned to investigate the grisly murder of Laura Palmer. Debut: Twin Peaks debuted on ABC in 1990, which was critically acclaimed though it only lasted two seasons Dale: The series takes place in the fictional town of Twin Peaks, Washington, where FBI Agent Dale Cooper arrives in when he's assigned to investigate the grisly murder of Laura Palmer The two-season run was followed up by the 1992 prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me that revealed the last seven days in the life of Laura Palmer. The show built a massive fan base over the years and it's now considered one of the best shows of all time. Lynch and Frost returned with a new Twin Peaks sequel series that consisted of 18 episodes and aired on Showtime in 2017. Sequel: Lynch and Frost returned with a new Twin Peaks sequel series that consisted of 18 episodes and aired on Showtime in 2017 Amick has since starred on The CW's Riverdale, playing Alice Cooper on the hit series since its debut in 2017. MacLachlan recently starred in Confess, Fletch and he also has Miranda's Victim currently in post-production. Ashbrook stars in Please Baby Please and he's currently filming Unplugged. Advertisement Matthew Perry has revealed counsellors at a rehab clinic tried to stop him from going to hospital when his colon exploded because they thought it was a bid to get drugs. The 53-year-old was given just a two percent chance of survival after an opioid addiction caused his colon to burst when he was 49, leaving him in a coma for two weeks and spending months in hospital. Prior to his admittance, he was staying at a sober house alongside his assistant, who could see he was in serious pain and got him to hospital despite staff insisting it was just 'drug-seeking behavior'. He added his problems didn't stop after he was admitted, as the hospital he was staying in didn't have the necessary equipment to treat him, but neighboring clinics refused to admit him because of his level of fame. It comes after the actor revealed in his new book he spent around $9million trying to get sober and recently celebrated 18 months of sobriety. He also told how Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston confronted him about his drinking and revealed she and the rest of the cast 'know you're drinking.' But he said she was a constant source of support during his recovery, adding: '[Aniston] was the one that reached out the most,' he revealed. 'I'm really grateful to her for that.' Shocking: Matthew Perry has revealed that the counsellors at rehab tried to stop him from going to hospital when his colon exploded because they thought he was going to get drugs (pictured September 2022) Life-threatening: The star, 53, was given just a two percent chance of survival in 2019 after an opioid addiction caused his colon to burst when he was aged 49 (pictured in 2019) Support: He also shared Aniston's continued support during his recovery: '[Aniston] was the one that reached out the most,' he revealed. 'I'm really grateful to her for that'; Pictured 1995 In an extract from his memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, published in The Times on Monday, Matthew revealed that he was in the worst pain of his life and had been unable to empty his bowels for 10 days when his assistant came to his aid. He recalled: 'Something was wrong, very wrong. This was a different kind of pain. Like my body was going to burst. 'Like my insides were trying to force their way out. This was the no f***ing-around kind of pain.' It was at this point, his assistant Erin - who had been staying in the sober house with him for support - realized he needed to go to hospital. Yet she was told by staff at the sober house: 'This is just drug-seeking behavior. He's going to ask for drugs at the hospital.' Perry recalled counsellors tried to 'block' their exit, at one point even standing in front of their car so they couldn't leave. He reasoned: 'If I were just doing this to get drugs, then I deserved an Oscar.' The actor was then admitted to Saint John's Hospital where he lapsed into a coma, aspirated into his breathing tube, contracted pneumonia and his colon exploded. 'I've probably spent $9 million or something trying to get sober': Matthew Perry, 53, revealed the steep cost of his sobriety a few days after sharing he nearly died from an opioid addiction Road to recovery: Last week the TV star - who is set to sit down with Diane Sawyer for an exclusive interview airing October 28 - detailed how his drug and alcohol addictions left him with a 2 percent survival after opioids caused his colon to burst and left him in a two-week coma Sober: The Friends star also shared that he recently celebrated 18 months of sobriety, indicating that her was newly sober during the Friends reunion special in May 2021 After beating the odds and surviving the night, Matthew's loved ones were told he needed an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine, which wasn't available at Saint John's. Coming soon: Matthew's memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing is available on November 1 But other hospitals were not willing to admit him, with Perry saying: 'Cedars-Sinai was called they took one look at my chart and apparently said, 'Matthew Perry is not dying in our hospital.' Thanks, guys. 'UCLA wasn't willing to take me, either for the same reason? Who can say? but at least they were willing to send an ECMO machine and a team. 'I was hooked up to it for several hours, and it seemed to work!' Perry revealed UCLA then admitted him and he spent six weeks on their heart and lung ICU unit. MailOnline has contacted Cedars-Sinai and UCLA for comment. In total, Matthew had to have 14 surgeries on is stomach and had to use a colostomy bag for nine months; he said his stomach has a number of scars from the multiple surgeries. The extent of his drug addiction was revealed on Thursday during his interview with People Magazine, while he was speaking about his upcoming memoir. During his interview, Matthew - best known for playing Chandler Bing on Friends - spoke about his decades long battle to rid himself of the disease of addiction. His therapist told him he may have to use a colostomy bag for the rest of his life if he takes drugs again, something that keeps him from relapsing. The actor did not disclose when he got sober but said he is 'pretty healthy' now and chooses to 'count each day.' Troubled: The actor said his alcohol addiction began when he was 24 while starring on Friends (pictured with Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Matt Le Blanc and Lisa Kudrow) Outrageous: The hospital he was staying in didn't have the necessary equipment to treat him, but neighbouring clinics refused to admit him because of his level of fame (pictured in 2004) The actor also said he had to go to rehab 15 times in a bid to get clean; his first bout was in 1997 and then again in 2001 and in 2011. The actor said his alcohol addiction began when he was 24 while starring on Friends, adding that he was 'entrenched in a lot of trouble' by age 34. Matthew revealed that at one time he was taking 55 Vicodin a day while on Friends, noting that he was down to 128 pounds but 'didn't know how to stop.' He said that his co-stars on Friends 'were understanding' and 'patient.' During season nine, Matthew was sober; that was the year he also was nominated for Best Actor. He played Chandler from 1994 to 2004 on Friends alongside co-stars David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow. The show aired for 10 seasons and made the stars household names. They reunited in 2021 - the first time after 17 years since the show ended - for a reunion special. Perry's net worth stands at $120million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The actor made $22,500 per episode on the first season of Friends, with his salary rising to $1million per episode for the last two seasons. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse in the US, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP If you are in the UK, call FRANK 24 hours a day, seven days a week 0300 123 6600 Eddie Redmayne revealed he attended nursing school to prepare for his role in movie, The Good Nurse but was 'totally s*** at it'. The award winning actor, 40, opened up about how he prepared for to play real-life serial killer Charles Cullen by hanging saline bags and inserting PICC lines. The star spent two weeks at the school mastering the nurses' actions despite never going to drama school and just 'winging' each role as they come. 'You never want me in a crisis': Eddie Redmayne told GQ Hype he attended nursing school to prepare for his role in The Good Nurse but was 'totally s*** at it' Dedicated: The award winning actor, 40, opened up about how he prepared for his character Charles Cullen by hanging saline bags and inserting PICC lines (pictured as Cullen) Eddie told GQ Hype during an interview: 'I was totally s*** at it, you never want me in a crisis. I have no grand plan, I'm just winging it.' The Oscar winner stars in the true-crime thriller alongside Jessica Chastain who plays a struggling single mother trying to stay afloat with her demanding career as a nurse at a New Jersey Hospital. She initially strikes up a good rapport with a new nurse (played by Eddie), but after several of her patients who seemed to be improving die under unusual circumstances, she comes to suspect him of foul play. Incredible: The star told GQ Hype that he spent two weeks at the school mastering the nurses' actions despite never going to drama school and just 'winging' each role as they come Eddie plays Cullen in the film who was responsible for 29 confirmed deaths. However, the serial killer claimed to have killed as many as 40 people, and some investigators involved in the case believe he may have killed more than 300 people. This makes him possibly the most deadly American serial killer, according to Charles Graeber's 2007 New York Magazine story, which was the basis for his 2013 book and, in turn, the film. Cullen was handed down six life sentences in 2006 after he admitted poisoning at least 40 people in New Jersey and Pennsylvania over the course of his 16-year nursing career. Sinister: Eddie Redmayne (left in character) played mild-mannered serial killer Charles Cullen (right) in the film who is responsible for 29 confirmed deaths Behind bars: Cullen was jailed for life in 2006 after being implicated in the deaths of up to 300 patients over 16 years and he will not be eligible for parole until 2403 At the time of his arrest in December 2003, Cullen told authorities he had administered overdoses to patients to spare them from going into cardiac or respiratory arrest. Even though there were suspicions at several of the hospitals he worked at, these were never reported or marked on his record and Cullen was able to continue his killing spree at each place he was transferred to. When Cullen was hired at Saint Luke's University Hospital in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, he had already been fired or forced to resign from five other hospitals. Yet none of this was in his file with the state nursing board. He admits to killing five people at St Lukes and even though there were suspicions, the hospital asked him to resign on the premise they would give him neutral references. He was then hired as a critical care nurse at New Jersey's Somerset Medical Center, where he administered lethal injections to 13 patients over 13 months. It was only when a Roman Catholic priest named Florian Gall died unexpectedly overnight while recovering from pneumonia, that the hospital discovered high levels of the heart drug digoxin in his blood. It was the second unexplained overdose in two weeks and set in motion the events leading up to Cullen's arrest. In April 2004, he plead guilty to killing 13 patients, and after agreeing to co-operate with police to avoid facing the death penalty plead guilty to the murder of three more patients, and another six more later that year. Cullen was eventually sentenced to eleven consecutive life sentences in 2006, and he will not be eligible for parole until 2403. Previously Eddie starred in the Harry Potter franchise Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them alongside Jude Law, Johnny Depp and Mads Mikkelsen. He told the publication that joining the huge films, which are 'bigger than me', made him to comfortable and didn't push him out of his 'comfort zone' enough. Previously Eddie starred in the Harry Potter franchise Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them alongside Jude Law (pictured), Johnny Depp and Mads Mikkelsen He said: 'When I entered that world, I knew I was joining a machine that was so much bigger than me. It's given me a huge amount and I've loved working with some of the best, most joyful actors in the world. 'Being able to come back to that every couple of years in an industry that is nomadic and circus-like that continuity has been wonderful. What's become clear to me is that comfort and I don't go very well together, so I'm always looking for ways to push myself outside my comfort zone.' Following starring in The Good Nurse, Eddie has admitted he has become 'more picky' with what films and characters he takes on. Read the full feature online at GQ Hype now Hamza Yassin has revealed that he was voluntarily homeless for nine months as he tried to achieve his dream of becoming a wildlife photographer. The CBeebies star, 32, who has won a legion of fans through his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, left home when he was 21 after being inspired by a family holiday to a remote Scottish village on the west coast peninsula of Ardnamurchan. He decided to stay in the village to observe the wildlife, despite having no job and nowhere to live, with his parents convinced it was just a phase. Tough start: Hamza Yassin (pictured in a car holding an otter) has revealed he lived in his car for nine months while trying to fulfil his dream of becoming a wildlife photographer Hamza told The Sunday Post: 'I went on holiday to the west coast and fell in love with it. Two weeks later, I told my parents I had found where I was going to stay, came back and never left. I slept in my car for nine months looking for work and for a place to live. 'They thought it would be a two-week thing, a phase. My dad said: "He will come 'back to us when his clothes are dirty and he wants more home-cooked food." But the phase is nearly 11 years old now, it is not a phase any more.' He added in an interview with The Herald: 'I never in a million years imagined I'd work in front of the camera. But to have the opportunity to inspire the younger generation as I was inspired, if I can do that, then I will be a happy man.' Keep dancing: The CBeebies star, 32, who has won a legion of fans through his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, left home when he was 21 (pictured with Jowita Przystal) Hamza soon made a name for himself on the island and would have locals approach him to tell him of their wildlife spots. The Sudanese-born star said in a 2020 interview: 'I'm the only black person on the whole peninsula and most of the west coast. Even people on neighbouring islands know who I am.' He has lived there ever since and recently fronted Channel 4 documentary Scotland: My Life in the Wild and Scotland: Escape to the Wilderness, in which he guided celebrity companions on journeys through western and eastern Scotland and the Highlands. In his element: Hamza stayed in Scotland to observe the wildlife, despite having no job and nowhere to live, with his parents convinced it was just a phase (pictured in Antarctica) Hamza - who has worked on Countryfile and Animal Park - is known to younger viewers under the guise of Ranger Hamza, presenting CBeebies live-action show Let's Go For A Walk and new series Ranger Hamza's Eco Quest. Yet it's his appearance on this year's Strictly that has made him a household name, with the wildlife presenter and his professional partner Jowita Przystal quickly becoming fan favourites. Last week, the celebrities were forced to up their game as the show celebrated 100 years of the BBC with a special themed week, as the couples danced to some of the most loved tracks from the channels iconic programmes. It was a great night for Hamza, who ended up joint top of the leaderboard alongside Helen Skelton, with both pairs earning 35 points. Strictly kicked off with the professionals prancing through the BBC studios to celebrate the broadcasters 100th birthday as they danced through 14 BBC shows with 35 BBC stars, in the most ambitious group performance yet. Helen, who presented Blue Peter for five years, joined her partner Gorka Marquez to dance the Charleston to the legendary children's programme theme tune, which was praised by all four judges. Success: Hamza's appearance on this year's Strictly that has made him a household name and last week saw him top the leaderboard with his Quickstep Head judge Shirley Ballas gave the duo a standing ovation and praised their phenomenal routine, while Anton Du Beke said it was her best dance yet. Motsi praised the 'high level, high quality performance' and even Craig Revel Horwood was blown away, adding: 'This is the best I've seen you dance,' as Helen was awarded her highest score yet. Hamza blew the judges away as he performed the Quickstep to Imagine Dragons hit song On Top of the World, to honour his work on natural history documentaries and love for mother nature. Speaking ahead of the show, he said: 'Saturday night, what can I say, I blinked, I opened by eyes and everyone was going bonkers there was some amazing comments from the judges. 'I really want to do well in this dance just to show the rest of the world how much mother nature means to me. ' Alongside Jowita, they transformed the ballroom into the Arctic for their amazing performance - they scored a total of 35. Kerry Katona has revealed she has started the egg freezing process. The mother-of-five, 42, has never had any children with her fiance Ryan Maloney, 33, and doesn't want to rob him of the chance of having his own children in the future. She has said that she would use a surrogate if she was to have another child after she nearly died giving birth to her youngest Dylan-Jorge, eight. Mother-of-five: Kerry Katona, 42, took to Instagram on Monday to reveal she has started the egg freezing process to avoid robbing fiance Ryan Maloney, 33, of chance of becoming a dad Her love: Ryan asked Kerry to marry him in August 2020 - he has never had any biological children Sharing pictures of herself beginning the process of having her eggs harvested, Kerry said: 'Sooooo last week we started the process of embryo freezing!! 'Happy to report Ive got lots of eggs in my basket! Now @ryanmahoney_7 has a date with a cup and we go from there! '@pallmallmedical and Dr Maiti have been absolutely amazing! Exciting times.' Kerry wrote: 'Happy to report Ive got lots of eggs in my basket! Now @ryanmahoney_7 has a date with a cup and we go from there!' Brood: As well as DJ, eight, Kerry is mother to Molly, 20, and Lilly-Sue, 18, with Brian McFadden, 41, and Heidi, 14, and Maxwell, 13, from her relationship with Mark Croft, 50 She recently told Loose Women: 'The thing is my other half is eight years younger than me, I can still pull them love!' Already mother to Molly, 20, and Lilly-Sue, 18, from her relationship with Brian McFadden, 41, and Heidi, 14, and Maxwell, 13, with Mark Croft, 50, Kerry's daughter DJ, is from her marriage to late rugby player George Kay. HOW ARE EGGS FROZEN? Egg freezing dates back to 1986 when the first pregnancy from a frozen egg was reported in the Lancet Journal. Collected eggs were preserved in cryogenic tanks after being frozen 'slowly' for many years. In the early 2000s, scientists began experimenting with an 'ultra-rapid' freezing technique called vitrification. Using this process, the temperature of an egg plummets thousands of degrees per minute, resulting in a glass-like cell structure that is stronger than other crystalline ice forms. They are then stored in cryogenic tanks, for up to 25 years. In preparation for having her eggs retrieved, a woman must undergo the first stage of an IVF cycle, which uses hormones to stimulate more eggs into maturity, then another set of hormones to trigger the eggs' release. Patients inject these drugs at home and are usually closely monitored by their doctors. There are many different forms of these hormone treatments, ranging in cost from about $800 to $6,000 per cycle, and six to 10 weeks in duration. Then, the eggs are surgically retrieved in a minimally-invasive procedure. Advertisement She recently told Loose Women: 'The thing is my other half is eight years younger than me, I can still pull them love! 'He has no children of his own and me and the kids are enough for him, more than enough for him, and hes happy with that. But I also dont want to rob him of that option. But it was only in May that Kerry said she could no longer see herself having a baby with Ryan because she didn't think he was ready. Writing in her new! Magazine column, she explained: 'I previously spoke about freezing my eggs to potentially have a baby with Ryan. But now I cant see us ever having children together. 'In all honesty, I just cant imagine Ryan with a newborn and getting up in the middle of the night for feeds. 'Hes a great stepdad, but Im not sure hed be able to cope with a baby. Ryan is very content with the kids we have.' Yet it seems she has since had a change of heart. She told Steph's Packed Lunch last week: 'We have got an appointment tomorrow about getting my eggs harvested. That is the next step, and that is as far as we are going. 'Ryan hasnt biologically grown any of his children, hes eight years younger than me.' 'I dont want to rob Ryan of not having his own child, if that is a route we want to go down, but I dont want to carry another child.' Ryan added: 'Its something that down the line it might be more of a thought than a thing for me to be like," I want more than I do at the minute". 'Were so busy that it isnt top of the list, but if it is going to happen, we need to get the ball rolling and start the process.' The couple were told by Dr Helen Prosser that they were looking at spending an initial 25,000 on a surrogate to cover expenses including vitamins, clothing and childcare. Kerry, pictured with her doctor, has said: 'I dont want to rob Ryan of not having his own child, if that is a route we want to go down, but I dont want to carry another child' What to expect when you freeze your eggs: Everything we know - and don't - about the latest trend in fertility treatment Alicia Trapini is now 30, 'but my eggs will always be 29,' she likes to say. Last year, Alicia made the decision to shell out thousands of dollars to freeze her eggs as a measure to protect her chances of having children when she is ready to. She is one of some 20,000 women in the US that have elected to freeze their eggs or embryos and their numbers are growing every day. It has been 40 years since the first baby conceived by IVF was born. And now, countless frozen eggs and embryos make up future generations of babies made possible by medical technology. Since rapid, extremely low-temperature freezing was introduced became the widespread practice in 2012, the freezing process itself has become a widely standardized low-risk procedure. But even as the technology stabilizes and more and more women spend thousands to go through IVF treatments and egg extraction and freezing, questions and misconceptions continue to swirl around the cryogenic technique. The reality, however, is that even without unforeseen tank failures, freezing your eggs is more like hedging your bets than it is purchasing a fail-proof insurance policy. After hormone therapy and egg retrieval, eggs are frozen and stored in cryogenic tanks like this one for up to 25 years at a storage cost of about $100 a year WHAT WE KNOW: RETRIEVAL IS SAFE (IF PAINFUL) AND 90 PERCENT OF EGGS SURVIVE THAWING Alicia's six frozen eggs nestled in a cryotank in New York are not, in her mind, her only hope for children. Instead, they are more like a plan B. Recent cryotank mishaps at fertility clinics in Cleveland, Ohio, and San Francisco, California, cost more than 1,000 families some of their most precious assets, thawing and destroying their frozen eggs and embryos. Alicia Trapini, 30, decided to freeze her eggs last year at the age of 29 but hopes they will just be a back up plan for a future pregnancy For those families, the technology that had seemed to serve as a safeguard became instead a devastating set back. When egg freezing first became commercialized, it was still mostly offered to women with medical conditions, particularly those who had been diagnosed with cancer and would need to undergo chemotherapy which could damage or destroy their eggs and render them infertile. But Alicia is one of a newer wave of women who know two things for certain: they want to have the option of becoming mothers someday, but they don't want children just yet. Earlier in the history of cryopreservation technology, embryos seemed to be far more resilient to the the process of freezing and thawing. Many women had to either choose to fertilize their eggs with their current partner or donor sperm without knowing what (or who) their future would hold by the time they wanted to have that embryo implanted. 'I'm single and I do plan on hopefully having a husband one day to make embryos with,' says Alicia, but she doesn't know who that person will be. 'I was young [when I decided to do it] and I didn't know anyone else that had frozen their eggs in their 20s, besides people with health issues.' I'm single and I do plan on hopefully having a husband one day to make embryos with Alicia Trapini, egg freezing patient Luckily for Alicia and single women like her, survival rates for unfertilized eggs are now nearly as good as those for fertilized embryos, at 90 percent versus 95 percent. The improved resilience of frozen eggs was brought about by the advent of vitrification, a rapid freezing process by which the temperature of an egg or embryo plummets by thousands of degrees per minute. Cells frozen this way take on a smooth glass-like structure, rather than developing the crystalline structure of ice, which is less stable and more fragile. By 2012, vitrification was the preferred method for egg and embryo freezing. WHAT TO EXPECT: MONTHS OF INJECTIONS AND DOCTORS VISITS ARE NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART Her eggs may have been frozen ultra-rapidly, but the preparation process Alicia had to go through was long, and arduous. Once Alicia was ready to pull the trigger, Dr John Zhang and his team at New Hope Fertility Center began monitoring her hormones and health immediately. 'They put you on hormones to stimulate your body to produce more eggs, take your blood almost every day and start watching you really really closely,' she says. 'It's exhausting, it takes a lot of time and it's important to stick to taking your medications on time. They give you explicit information about what you have to do on a daily basis and you're constantly going to the pharmacy.' All of those drugs are expensive. Depending on the particular treatment and extent of monitoring, the price can run somewhere between $800 and $6,000, per treatment cycle. The total cost of the process varies depending on what type of IVF a woman opts to use in preparation for egg retrieval, but Alicia says to be prepared to shell out several thousand dollars, plus $100 a year to store your eggs. Alicia opted to do mini-IVF, a form of the treatment that uses lower doses of hormones but has to be administered over a longer period of time - 10 weeks, instead of the six weeks of traditional IVF. For that entire time, 'you have to inject yourself with drugs every day, or, in my case, I had my sister do it,' Alicia says. 'I am not someone who is comfortable with needles but it's less of a big deal than you think, you get used to it. I think that deters a lot of people from even thinking about it, but if I can get used to it, anybody can.' When her body and hormones were otherwise ready, Alicia got a final dose of a drug to make her ovaries release the carefully cultivated batch of eggs to be extracted. For all the medical interventions they use to encourage the development of these eggs, doctors still only have so much control over when they will come, so egg retrievals don't exactly comply with nine-to-five work schedules. 'It happens in a very specific time window. It could be midnight. Mine was on a Sunday,' Alicia says. Retrieval procedures are short, only lasting about 20 to 30 minutes, and patients can elect to be awake for the procedure or under general anesthesia. Alicia decided to stay awake so she wouldn't have to worry about finding someone to drive her home and 'was being an independent woman about it,' she says. 'It wasn't great. It was pretty painful and uncomfortable and I kind of wish I had opted to go to sleep.' If I'm a single woman and I'm young and I have the money, go for it, the younger the better Dr Zaher Merhi, New Hope Fertility Center Because she had had mini-IVF instead of the traditional form, Alicia knew to expect she would have a relatively small harvest of eggs, but that they were supposed to be higher quality. Still, 'at first [the surgeons] only had four eggs, they couldn't get the other two out, and you're in the room as they're communicating this. It was very emotional,' Alicia recalls. In the end, her team got all six. Alicia even plans to do another cycle in the next year or so, before her egg quality starts to deteriorate, which typically begins around age 35. 'One of the reasons I've become more involved with New Hope,' says Alicia, who now speaks at the clinic's regular information sessions on egg freezing, 'is that just because you don't have that decline yet doesn't mean you shouldn't freeze your eggs while your life is not focused on trying to find someone to have children with.' Though generally speaking, 35 is the 'scary age,' as Alicia puts it, the number and quality of her eggs varies from woman to woman. There's a 90 percent chance each of her eggs survive thawing and they can stay frozen for about 25 years. But beyond that there is no guarantee the eggs will yield children for Alicia, and no good way to estimate the odds. What we don't know: How to accurately tell an egg's fertility without fertilizing it WHAT WE DON'T KNOW: WHETHER OR NOT A FROZEN EGG WILL LEAD TO A SUCCESSFUL PREGNANCY Doctors test fertility by measuring levels of two hormones: anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). These help to estimate the number of eggs a woman has in her ovarian reserve, but really tell us nothing about the quality of those eggs. Sperm can be observed under a microscope for motility, or how well they swim, which gives a good indication of their quality. 'We use donor sperm to kind of test eggs,' says Dr Zaher Merhi who works at New Hope Fertility Center but did not treat Alicia. But that means fertilizing precious eggs, and some women are not ready to make that commitment. The best doctors like Dr Merhi can do is look at the extracted eggs under a microscope for very obvious and basic imperfections like a 'cracked shell,' he says. If the eggs don't look good, they are disposed of. 'If we were able to find a marker that tells us whether or not an egg is good by testing the fluid or something, that would increase egg freezing a lot compared to IVF,' which is still the go-to infertility treatment, he says. Many women seem unaware that a frozen egg is not a guarantee of a pregnancy down the line. If we were able to find a marker that tells us whether or not an egg is good by testing the fluid or something, that would increase egg freezing a lot compared to IVF Dr Merhi Earlier this month, the journal Fertility and Sterility published a study on women's perception of egg freezing revealed that many believed there was a 100 percent chance that their frozen eggs would result in a child. To date, more than 5,000 babies have been born from frozen eggs, but there is no national registry counting how many eggs have been frozen, and therefore no way of knowing what percentage have been fertilized successfully or unsuccessfully. Dr Merhi says that this uncertainty should not dissuade young women from doing it any way: 'If I'm a single woman and I'm young and I have the money, go for it, the younger the better. So once a patient starts to think about it, she should do it, but at 35 you shouldn't wait any longer.' Yet women may not even be aware that freezing their eggs is an option. Alicia found out about egg freezing through her work in medical sales for a fertility company. She met Dr Zhang who told her 'you should definitely do it now if you don't have concrete plans to have children in the next five years and a meaningful relationships with somebody you want to have kids with,' she recalls. Alicia agreed, and went ahead with egg freezing, but her own OBGYN had never mentioned the option. 'I had an appointment with her a couple of months after I started the process and I let her know about it. She was like "oh, that's good, good call,"' Alicia says. Now that she's frozen her eggs, 'it gives me peace of mind,' she adds. 'I still might not to have to use them. Honestly, my plan is to donate them to science and have kids the old fashioned way.' 'But I think a lot of women end up saying "I wish I'd known about it" when they are, like, 40,' and Alicia is relieved not to be one of them. Blue Ivy left fans in hysterics over the weekend as it emerged the 10-year-old had bid $80,000 on a pair of Lorraine Schwartz diamond earrings while attending a luxury auction. The youngster had joined Beyonce, 41, and Jay-Z, 52, at the Wearable Art Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday night when she shocked onlookers by throwing her paddle into the air as she joined the bidding war. The move is said to have left her grandmother Tina Knowles-Lawson, 68, and Keke Palmer, 29, open-mouthed - yet it's not the first time that such scenes have occurred. Blue Ivy the businesswoman! Jay Z and Beyonce's 10-year-old daughter's $80K bid for diamond earrings was her SECOND visit to the auction room The youngster has a history at the auction house, previously offering up a $19,000 bid at the same event in 2019 when she was just six years old. The art connoisseur bid on an acrylic painting of a young Sidney Poitier and she entered into a bidding war with a mysterious rival. That mystery bidder turned out to be none other than Tyler Perry, 53, who didn't even know that he was bidding against a child. 'Somebody else was bidding against me,' Perry later told NBC's Today show after winning the bidding war with Blue Ivy. 'I didn't know who it was.' 'I look over and it's her,' said the influential filmmaker. 'She's taking the paddle out of Jay's hand and Beyonce's hand and she's bidding.' Famous parents: The youngster had joined Beyonce, 41, and Jay-Z, 52, at the Wearable Art Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday night when she bid on items (pictured in 2014) Perry's resolve didn't waver once he realized that his competition was practically a kindergartener. 'This kid's not outbidding me today,' he said of his determination. 'You gonna learn today, little girl, I'm getting this painting.' While she may have missed out on the prize, Blue Ivy didn't let it impact her confidence and she was quick to offer up more money for the next item: a 36 x 36 piece of art composed of deconstructed law books from Indiana and medical books from California, created by artist Samuel Levi Jones. She was able to snap up the tome for a cool $10,000. Proud grandma: Blue Ivy shocked her grandmother Tina Knowles-Lawson, 68, and Keke Palmer, 29, when she entered the bidding war and raised her paddle for the auction item The celebrity auctioneer for the gala that year was Star Jones, 60, and she explained how Blue Ivy's passion for art has developed. 'Her mother and father have been talking about how you gather art and that is a big deal for African Americans,' said Jones from the stage. The former host of The View went on to add that this insight came straight from Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles-Lawson. Tina is co-founder of the WACO Theatre Center, which puts on the Wearable Art Gala every year in order to benefit WACO's artistic and youth mentorship programs. Talented: Her collaboration with Beyonce on the single Brown Skin Girl also earned her the title of youngest ever winner of a BET Award and second youngest person to win a Grammy Award The annual charity event is a family affair, with Beyonce serving as an honorary co-chair along with her sister Solange Knowles, 36. The Carters never fail to make an impact every year, contributing to the cause with both their presence and their pocketbooks. Beyonce was decked out in Gucci for this year's event where she revealed that her Renaissance World Tour will kick off next summer. The superstar donated the first round of tour ticket to the gala and they reportedly sold for $150K. Blue Ivy was not responsible for bidding up the astronomical price of the tickets. While she may be just 10 years old, the first-born daughter of Jay-Z and Beyonce has an estimated net worth of $500million. She has spent her entire life in the spotlight, being dubbed 'the most famous baby in the world' by Time magazine just two days after she was born. Her collaboration with Beyonce on the single Brown Skin Girl also earned her the title of youngest ever winner of a BET Award and second youngest person to win a Grammy Award. Last year, Blue Ivy branched out with another talent, appearing as a young model in the promotional material for her mother's Ivy Park x Adidas line. Mikaela Testa has come under fire after visiting a market in Indonesia that sells dog meat. The Australian OnlyFans model and TikTok star went to the 'secret' market to buy some exotic meats to try on camera for her 2.2million TikTok followers. 'I'm in Indonesia and our taxi driver is taking us to a super top secret market,' the 22-year-old said in a now-deleted video. Mikaela Testa (pictured) has come under fire after visiting a market in Indonesia that sells dog meat to test the produce 'They basically sell every single animal you can think of at this market monkey, crocodile, rabbit, frog and we're gonna try everything.' After picking up some meat, she added: 'Oh, my, God, okay, so we got some stuff. That was very, very traumatising for me. They actually had dog meat, they had monkey, they had everything. 'I was not allowed to film much, because I might be somebody from an organisation trying to shut them down. They were very skeptical of me.' The Australian OnlyFans model and TikTok star went to the 'secret' market to buy some exotic meats to try on camera for her 2.2million TikTok followers 'I'm in Indonesia and our taxi driver is taking us to a super top secret market,' the 22-year-old said in a now-deleted video Mikaela later returned to her villa with her manager where she showed her fans rat meat and monkey meat, explaining, 'This is rat it has like a certain smell to it.' They opted not to eat the monkey, before trying the rat and crocodile meat while gagging. The video, which was reposted to Instagram account Influencer Updates Au, caused controversy, with several comments expressing disgust. 'It's sad to even think young girls look up to her,' one person wrote while another added, 'Why did she think this was a good idea?' Among the food on offer was a meal made with dog meat. 'They basically sell every single animal you can think of at this market monkey, crocodile, rabbit, frog and we're gonna try everything,' she said Mikaela later returned to her villa with her manager where she showed her fans rat meat and monkey meat, explaining, 'This is rat it has like a certain smell to it' 'Her just going to a place like that supports that trade. She is so problematic,' one more wrote. 'Putrid both literally and behaviour,' someone else said, while another wrote, 'She wonders why she copes so much hate'. Someone else complained: 'She's repulsive', while another said: 'Why would you even go there that's just all f***ed up'. They opted not to eat the monkey, before trying the rat and crocodile meat while gagging The social media star showed her fans some of the meat she bought Others were more sympathetic, with one saying: 'God who cares if a market sold dog meat. Its not like it was human meat. People need to calm down'. Another agreed: 'It's no different to eating a chicken, cow or pig... the cultural conditioning be strong here.' Mikaela addressed the controversy in a second TikTok video, explaining that she did not know that the market sold dog meat before she went inside. 'Oh, my, God, okay, so we got some stuff. That was very, very traumatising for me. They actually had dog meat, they had monkey, they had everything,' she said 'I definitely was not thinking straight, and I should not have posted the video, and I am very sorry for that,' she said on Sunday night. 'I knew there was going to be monkey meat, because that is what Indonesians eat, it's common. I don't agree with that, but I would never disrespect someone's culture,' she continued. 'There is this narrative that I knew there was dog meat at this market. Which I had no idea. I would never have gone to this market if [I knew] there was dog meat at this marke,t' she went on. The video, which was reposted to Instagram account Influencer Updates Au, caused controversy, with several comments expressing disgust, but others were sympathetic 'You can't tell what meat something is, it was all cooked and on plates. The taxi driver told me [afterwards] it was dog meat. 'I should never have posted that video, and I apologise so deeply for that,' she concluded. Mikaela had plenty of support from her TikTok followers, many who pointed out the hypocrisy of meat eaters who take issue with eating dog but not other animals. Mikaela addressed the controversy in a second TikTok video, explaining that she did not know that the market sold dog meat before she went inside 'People are so sensitive bro. People are acting like we don't eat chickens and cows. Besides its Indonesian culture let them eat what they want,' one wrote. 'The people hating are so stuck in their own western norms,' another said. 'Meat is meat, people are so sensitive as if they're not also eating a living creature,' one more chimed in. 'I definitely was not thinking straight, and I should not have posted the video, and I am very sorry for that,' she said on Sunday night 'Just because it's not normal for others to eat doesn't give people the right to judge others for what they do eat!!' one more said. It's not the first time the influencer and TikTok star has fallen afoul of public opinion. Earlier this year, she was slammed for posting a video of herself crying about homeless people while driving an expensive Tesla through Los Angeles' poverty-stricken Skid Row. Mikaela had plenty of support from her TikTok followers, many who pointed out the hypocrisy of meat eaters who take issue with eating dog but not other animals Mikaela recently travelled to America with a female pal, and documented her daily activities in a series of vlogs on TikTok. One video showed the women renting a Tesla, worth around $100K, and then driving to an upmarket grocery store where they splashed $130 on salads. The pair then drove to Downtown LA to visit the notorious Cecil Hotel, a run-down complex that has been the site of several infamous murders. Earlier this year, she was slammed for posting a video of herself crying about homeless people while driving an expensive Tesla through Los Angeles' poverty-stricken Skid Row To visit the hotel, Mikaela was forced to drive through Skid Row, a neighbourhood known for its high poverty rate and homeless population. 'Driving through these streets was very heartbreaking, I could not stop crying,' Mikaela said gravely as she filmed homeless encampments on the street. 'I couldn't even make it through, I was not going to get out of the car, so I missed out,' she added. She drove to Downtown LA to visit the notorious Cecil Hotel, which is located on Skid Row 'Driving through these streets was very heartbreaking, I could not stop crying,' Mikaela said gravely as she filmed homeless encampments on the street Suddenly in a bizarre turn, Mikaela immediately began pondering whether Australian or American money was prettier. 'What country's money is better? The plastic, washable Australian money or the American money with blood stains on it?' She asked, flashing $100 bills at the camera. 'The American one is so aesthetic, I love it much more,' she added. Suddenly in a bizarre turn, Mikaela immediately began pondering whether Australian or American money was prettier Critics immediately blasted Mikaela, with one commenting on the clip: 'LMFAOOOO she can't be serious.' 'The homelessness makes me cry... which money is prettier?' another commented, pointing out how tone-deaf Mikaela's commentary sounded. Mikaela has since removed the comments from the video. However, that hasn't stopped some users from airing their frustrations in comments elsewhere on her profile. Critics immediately blasted Mikaela, with one commenting on the clip: 'LMFAOOOO she can't be serious'. Mikaela has since removed the comments from the video Beneath her latest video, documenting her holiday in Greece, one critic commented: 'Please remember to refrain from recording urself at weird angles if you see any people in disadvantaged positions during your stay.' 'So deactivating the comments is the new way of addressing things?' another asked. Mikaela reportedly earns more than $162,000 per month selling X-rated images and videos on OnlyFans. Doctor Who drew in 4million viewers on Sunday as David Tennant made his shocking return and Jodie Whittaker bowed out from the role after five years. The much-anticipated episode, titled The Power of the Doctor, pulled in 3.6million average viewers with a peak of 4million, according to new overnight ratings. Jodie's last hurrah as the Time Lord proved more popular than the New Year's special, which racked up just 3.2million average viewers with a peak of 3.4million. Ratings: Doctor Who drew in 4million viewers on Sunday as David Tennant made his shocking return and Jodie Whittaker bowed out from the role after five years But audience numbers still remained far below the start of Jodie's tenure as the Doctor in 2018, which pulled in a staggering 9million viewers. It comes as Russell T Davies is returning as the Doctor Who showrunner in a bid to save the show amid falling ratings - 12 years after he stepped away from the series. And David's surprise return as the Time Lord is sure to get longtime fans of the sci-fi franchise glued to their seats, along with Ncuti Gatwa's debut as the 14th Doctor. Excitement: The episode, which saw David Tennant return as the Doctor, pulled in 3.6million average viewers with a peak of 4million, according to new overnight ratings Hit: Jodie's last hurrah as the Time Lord proved more popular than the New Year's special, which racked up just 3.2million average viewers with a peak of 3.4million The Power of the Doctor was jam-packed with excitement as famous faces returned, Jodie bowed out after five years as the Time Lord, David made his return, and fans were given a first-look at Ncuti in the role. The episode came to a very dramatic conclusion as Jodie's Doctor shockingly regenerated into a very familiar face - David Tennant's 10th Doctor. Despite not being ready to regenerate, she said while watching the sunset: 'The blossomiest blossom. That's the only sad thing. I want to know what happens next.' 'Right then, Doctor Whoever-I-am-about-to-be. Tag, you're it,' before Tennant made his shock appearance. New face: The Power of the Doctor saw famous faces returned, Jodie bow out after five years as the Time Lord, and fans were given a first-look at Ncuti Gatwa as the 14th Doctor The newly regenerated Doctor ran his fingers over his teeth and said 'I know these' clearly perplexed as he returned to his former body. David is returning for three special episodes, set to air in November 2023, after bowing out from the role in 2010. The feature length 60th celebration of the sci-fi series will also star Catherine Tate before Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa takes control of the Tardis. Jodie's finale episode on Sunday night ended with a short trailer for the new series, which will hit screens in 2023. He's back! David Tennant returned to the lead role in Doctor Who's feature length episode on Sunday as Jodie Whittaker bowed out after five years as the Time Lord Goodbye: Following an action packed episode that saw many famous faces returning, the Time Lord regenerated into a very famous face as Jodie bid farewell to the role Following the episode, returning show-runner Russell T Davies said: 'If you thought the appearance of David Tennant was a shock, we've got plenty more surprises on the way!' 'The path to Ncuti's Fifteenth Doctor is laden with mystery, horror, robots, puppets, danger and fun! And how is it connected to the return of the wonderful Donna Noble? How, what, why? We're giving you a year to speculate, and then all hell lets loose! ' Sunday's opening scenes saw the brave Time Lord (Jodie) race to save the lives of the passengers of a space train who were battling the Master's newest Cyber Men - termed Cyber Masters. Regeneration: Despite not being ready to regenerate Jodie's Doctor exclaimed: 'That's the only sad thing. I want to know what happens next. Right then, Doctor Whoever-I-am-about-to-be. Tag, you're it' One last go: David is returning for three special episodes, set to air in November 2023, after bowing out from the role in 2010 Joined by companions Yaz (Mandip Gil) and Dan (John Bishop), the trio discovered that the Doctor's robotic nemesis were hunting for an unknown cargo. Dressed in space suits they discovered that the much sought after entity was in fact a young girl, who was later kidnapped by the robotic wrongens - who can also regenerate. Following the dangerous altercation, which saw Dan nearly fatally shot, he decided to leave the Tardis for his safer life back on earth. Returning: Sunday's opening scenes saw the brave Time Lord (Jodie Whittaker) race to save the lives of the passengers of a space train who were battling the Master's newest Cyber Men Evil: Joined by companions Yaz (Mandip Gil) and Dan (John Bishop) the trio discovered that the Doctor's robotic nemesis were hunting for an unknown cargo Then fans of the original show were then rewarded with not one returnee but two, in the form of ex companions Ace (Sophie Aldred) and Tegan (Janet Fielding). Despite decades away from the Time Lord, the duo were still busy fighting for good and were left uneasy when hundreds of the world's most famous paintings had all been removed from view. Elsewhere, the Master (Sacha Dhawan) found himself in 1800s Russia and controlling the country's King and royal family, resembling the real life Rasputin. When his face began to appear in artworks, UNIT's Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) reunited Ace and Tegan with the Time Lord. Cargo: Dressed in space suits they discovered that the unknown entity was in fact a young girl, who was later kidnapped by the evil entities - who can also regenerate Lover of the Russian queen: Elsewhere the Master (Sacha Dhawan) found himself in 1800s Russia and controling the country's King and royal family, resembling the real life Rasputin No more: Following the dangerous altercation Dan (John Bishop) decided to leave the Tardis for his safer life back on earth Getting the band back together: Then fans of the original show were then rewarded with not one returnee but two in the form of companions Ace (Sophie Aldred) and Tegan (Janet Fielding) The Doctor was then faced with another of the show's most famous villains when a Dalek hologram appeared in the Tardis. Promising not to be kill, it said that it would provide much needed help. The Doctor tracked down the Master, who had discovered how to minimise his enemies. Taking him into custody at UNIT, little did they realise that it was a trap and he had shrunken a 'Russian Doll Cyberman' with hundreds then taking over the building. When meeting the Dalek promising to give her information, the Doctor was captured and forced inside a Dalek and was taken to the Master - as it was revealed both the Cyberman and Daleks were working with him. The Doctor was then forced inside a machine by the Master and had no choice but to enter a forced regeneration, with the Master taking over her body, sending her soul into purgatory. Baddies: When his face began to appear in artworks, UNIT's Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) reunited Ace and Tegan with the Time Lord Drama: The Doctor tracked down the master who had discovered how to minimise his enemies. Taking him into custody little did they realise that it was a trap and he had shrunken a 'Russian Doll Cyberman' with hundreds taking over the building Swapping bodies: The Doctor was forced inside a machine and had no choice but to enter a forced regeneration, with the Master taking over her body, sending her soul into purgatory With Yaz desperate to save the Time Lord, she planned a trap for the Master, reuniting with Inston Vee Vinder (Jacob Anderson) and Ace - who proudly parachuted into the time machine. Our hero then came face to face with many of her old incarnations - played by Colin Baker, David Bradley, Paul McGann and Sylvester McCoy - where she was given advice while stuck in purgatory. As the Doctor returned as a hologram, Ace and Tegan both had poignant scenes with their own Doctors as the Time Lord switched between all of her former personas. Old faces: Our hero then came face to face with many of her old incarnations including Peter Davidson (pictured) Back again: Sunday's episode of Doctor Who was jam-packed with stars from the show's past who helped the actress' time on the show come to an end in an epic style (Peter Davidson pictured left in the show, right in 1981) Colin back for more? Colin Baker who famously played the Doctor from 1984 to 1986 also made a cameo First Doctor: David Bradley reprised the role of the first doctor after taking over from the late David Hartnell Don't forget me: Paul McGann made an appearance (left) as the character after playing him in a 1996 special (pictured, right) Back for more: Bradley Walsh also returned for a final time as Graham to help his former friend, splitting sides as he introduced himself as a former busman Graham (Bradley Walsh) also appeared to help, splitting sides as he introduced himself as a 'friend of the Doctor and a former busman'. UNIT's Kate Stewart (Jemima Redgrave) came very close to a grizzly end as she was almost upgraded to become a Cyberman. But working together with the help of Jo Martin's Doctor, the team vanquished the villain's with the Master appearing defeated, and the Doctor returned to her body for the epic finale. Danger: Kate came very close to a grizzly end as she was almost upgraded to become a Cyberman Back to normal: But working together with the help of Jo Martin's Doctor the team vanquished the villains Back in her body: The Doctor returned to her body for the show's epic climax Back for more: Jo Martin's Doctor also made a surprise appearance Bye: She then said goodbye to her time in the Tardis in less dramatic fashion as she enjoyed an ice cream with Yaz on the roof of the Tardis as they floated through space Although things originally seemed to be going to plan for the Doctor, the Master ominously said 'if I can't be the Doctor, then neither can you' before knocking her to the ground with a blast. The Doctor survived but it was clear her body would not last for long as she began regenerating, forcing her to say goodbye to her longtime companion Yaz. But she said goodbye to her time in the Tardis in less dramatic fashion as she enjoyed an ice cream with Yaz on the roof of the Tardis as they floated through space. The duo refused to say 'goodbye' but had a tender and heartfelt farewell, with Yaz reuniting with both Dan and Graham back on earth. No tears: The duo refused to say 'goodbye' but bid a tender and heartfelt farewell Quick: As they bid farewell the Doctor realised she was beginning to regenerate Paying homage to more former companions, Yaz joined a support group for friends of the Doctor that included Mel Bush (Bonnie Langford) Jo Grant (Katy Manning) and 97-year-old William Russell as Ian Chesterton. Jodie then had her epic last moments as the Doctor as she watched a sunset, emotionally admitting she wasn't ready to go. She said: 'That's the only sad thing. I want to know what happens next.' 'Right then, Doctor Whoever-I-am-about-to-be. Tag, you're it,' before she regenerated - shocking fans as the 10th Doctor, David Tennant, appeared in her place. Companions: Elsewhere fans were rewarded with not one but who companions from the original series as Ace (Sophie Aldred) and Tegan (Janet Fielding, pictured) turned up to save the world. s (right, pictured in 1981) Acing it: Ace (Sophie Aldred) returned after hopping into the Tardis from 1987 to 1989 Back again: West End star Bonnie Langford (left) returned to the role that made her famous from 1986 to 1987 (left pictured in 1986) Hello! Katy Manning (left) also celebrated the show as she reprised her role as Jo Grant (pictured right in 1972) Incredible: 97-year-oldWilliam Russell starred as Ian Chesterton way back in 1961 for four years Taking to Twitter, one fan exclaimed: 'Ace was absolutely epic in this episode, her and Graham made such a good duo!'. And: 'When I look back on my 80s childhood we had some fantastic female role models on Doctor Who. And we saw two again tonight thank you for brining us more Tegan and Ace. Pitch perfect and looking fab!'. More agreed writing: 'I loved Tegan and Ace being reunited with their Doctors and making peace with them'. Loving it: Viewers took to Twitter delighted by the returning stars Another commented: 'When David Bradley popped up I was like aww and then Colin Baker popped up and I was like no way, then Peter Davison popped up and I was like omg omg, then Sylvester McCoy popped up and I was like ohhhh omg delightful, then Paul McGann popped up and I was like...Paul McGann!'. One more said: 'Seeing the classis doctors back on screen, wearing their outfits, after all this time, was a thing of beauty. Especially the scenes between 5 (Peter Davison) and Tegan 7 (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace. Honestly this episode was perfect'. While another wrote: 'Graham Yaz and the Doctor reunite!'. Johnny Depp has delighted one fan by transforming into his most beloved character when meeting with them. The Pirates of the Caribbean star, 59, was filmed chatting to a fan before effortlessly slipping into the iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow. While he begins talking to her as normal in the clip, he soon takes on Jack's slurred speech patterns and begins talking about rum. Uncanny! Johnny Depp has delighted one fan by transforming into his most beloved character when meeting with them The wholesome interaction was shared on TikTok with fans excitedly praising the actor for his transformation. But many were taken aback by the star's clean-shaven appearance, and even dismissed the video as actually being of him. However, when he launches into his pitch-perfect impression of Jack Sparrow it becomes clear than it can be none other than Johnny himself. Johnny has been seen putting on the pirate's famous voice and mannerisms for fans in the past. Iconic role: The Pirates of the Caribbean star, 59, was filmed chatting to a fan before effortlessly slipping into Captain Jack Sparrow (left) He's previously donned the costume to surprise children in hospital, in character as Jack. And one time he surprised guests at Disneyland by appearing amongst the waxwork figures on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. It comes after it was reported that Johnny is set 'to return' to Pirates of the Caribbean after being dropped from the franchise in 2018. He was the major lead in five Pirates movies over the past 15 years and made what was thought to be his final voyage on the Black Pearl in Dead Men Tell No Tales which was released in 2017. Enjoys it: Johnny has been seen putting on the pirate's famous voice and mannerisms for fans in the past (pictured at Disney's D23 in 2015) But a source told Poptopic that the actor has been in talks with Disney about a '$300 million deal' after winning his defamation trial again Amber Heard. The insider revealed that Disney are interested in patching the relationship up with Johnny and have recently reached out to him. They said: 'They reached out to the actor prior to his defamation trial against Amber Heard and asked whether he would be interested in returning for another pirate film or two. Gracious: He's previously donned the costume to surprise children in hospital, in character as Jack (pictured at Curie Institute in 2018) The source added that another project is in the works for Disney Plus. They said: 'The deal is reportedly for Johnny Depp to return as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean 6 and a spin-off Disney Plus series about the early life of the Captain of The Black Pearl.' They continued: 'What I can tell you is that the studio has already penned up a draft for a film about Jack Sparrow so they are very hopeful that Johnny will forgive them and return as his iconic character.' The source said that the media house is working on a '$301 million deal' to coax Depp back soon and are also reportedly adding a 'sizeable donation' to a charity of Depp's choice as a gesture of goodwill. Return? It comes after it was reported that Johnny is set 'to return' to Pirates of the Caribbean after being dropped from the franchise in 2018 The Edward Scissorhands star previously told the jury he would not work with Disney again after he was scrubbed from the sixth Pirates movie. His legal team claims Johnny lost out on a $22 million payday after Amber published her Washington Post op-ed in 2018 that didn't identify Johnny, but clearly branded him as a domestic abuser. Johnny said he felt as if he was 'guilty until proven innocent' with Disney executives. Original Pirates script writer Stuart Beattie was the first to publicly confirm that Disney Studios were ditching the star in 2018 as they rework the entire franchise. Speaking exclusively to DailyMailTV at a red carpet event in Hollywood, Beattie confirmed on camera the reboot means Depp is out as Sparrow. Nodding when it was suggested Depp was out, he said: 'I think he's had a great run. Obviously, he's made that character his own and it's become the character he's most famous for now. 'And kids all over the world love him as that character so I think it's been great for him, it's been great for us, so I'm just very, very happy about it.' Samsung has started rolling out One IU 5, based on the stable Android 13, to users of the Samsung Galaxy S22 series. Owners of the said device have started reporting they can now access the stable update, as per Android Authority. Android 13 Rolls Out to Samsung Galaxy S22 Series Equipped With Exynos Users of Samsung Galaxy S22 series have been reporting on both Twitter and Reddit that the stable Android 13-based update, One IU 5, is already available for download. If you are from Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and the UK, and your phone is an Exynos model, you can download the almost 3GB One IU 5 update. Unfortunately, the update is only available to those who owns the Exynos model. Users who own Snapdragon variants would have to wait for some time. Android Authority hopes the company will soon roll out the update to Snapdragon variants. Samsung became available in August 2022. It rolled out to Google Pixel phones upon release. However, other companies such as Samsung "need to push the new software through their own testing and optimization pipelines." The electronic company made a promise that it would roll out the One IU 5 update to the Galaxy S22 series later in the month of October, according to Android Police. True to their promise, Samsung rolled out the latest update to Galaxy S22 series, including the Galaxy S22 Ultra, Galaxy S22, and Galaxy S22+. Other eligible devices for the update are Galaxy Z Fold4, and Galaxy Z Flip4. The One UI 5.0 update comes to Android phones with the S908BXXU2BVJA firmware. Given the numerous changes that it brings, its almost 3GB size is understandable. Read Also: Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus Features New Messaging Standard: How to Use Google Messages Roll Out of Android 13 to Samsung U.S. Version Might Take Some Time If you own any of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22, Galaxy Z Fold4, and Galaxy Z Flip4 units, you can go to your system settings to check if the update is already available to your device. You should get a note in the software update section telling you if One UI 5 is ready for download or not. Samsung will release a small update for users who are on the beta version of Android 13. This update from Samsung should move their device to the final version. On the other hand, users who are still on Android 12 will have to download a couple of gigabytes before they can update to the new software. Users can expect a number of handy features and tweaks to Galaxy S22 series phones that come with the One IU 5 update. There will be modes, a security and privacy dashboard, and video wallpaper functionality. Per-app language controls, notification permissions, and improved Material You support are among the other features of the Android 13-based update. The update rolled out today to most of the European countries. But countries in other parts of the world could get the update as soon as later this week. Unfortunately, it might take longer before the update rolls out in the U.S. version of Samsung phones. The U.S. models have a Snapdragon CPU but the update is available only to models with the Exynos chipset. Related Article: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Release Date, Design, Rumors: February Unpacked Event Confirmed! Laurence Fox was seen for the first time since he accused his ex-wife Billie Piper of using their sons as 'weapons' in a raging Twitter attack. The actor, 44, sported washed-out jeans, a white shirt and a grey blazer as he stepped out in London with a serious expression on his face on Monday. He kept comfortable in a pair of bright red trainers and shielded his eyes with a pair of round brown glasses as he was seeing getting out of a car. Outing: Laurence Fox was seen for the first time since he accused his ex-wife Billie Piper of using their sons as 'weapons' in a raging Twitter attack Laurence accessorised with a silver watch and styled his blonde locks in a slicked back style as he glanced at something on a tablet. He sported a beaded necklace and looked slightly downcast as he was seen for the first time since sharing a ranting Twitter post about his ex-wife Billie. Last week, Laurence came under fire from fans for using his children as 'weapons' in the post, where he had accused his actress ex-wife, 40, of doing the same thing. Casual look: The actor, 44, sported grey jeans, a white shirt and a blazer as he stepped out in London with a serious expression on his face on Monday Smart: He kept comfortable in a pair of bright red trainers and shielded his eyes with a pair of round brown glasses The Lewis star had taken to Twitter on Thursday evening to share the fuming post, where he claimed Billie had used his two sons as 'weapons' against him. But Twitter users were quick to hit back at Laurence and angrily accused him of being a 'complete hypocrite' as they claimed he was doing exactly what he accused Billie of. Laurence and Billie, who divorced in 2016 after nine years of marriage, share two sons - Winston, 14, and Eugene, 10. Taking to Twitter, Laurence accused Billie of denying him access to their children, alleging that he has not been able to see or speak to his eldest son Winston on his 14th birthday. Serious: Laurence accessorised with a silver watch and styled his blonde locks in a slicked back style as he glanced at something on a tablet Fuming: Laurence came under fire from fans for using his kids as 'weapons' by sharing a post, where he accused his ex-wife, 40, of doing the same thing. Pictured: Billie and Laurence with kids Winston and Eugene in 2013 He penned: 'It is [my son's] birthday tomorrow and his mother has denied him any access to see or speak with me, I am using my platform to highlight what child alienation does to families. Kids need both parents. 'Don't be the parent who refuses to let their sons speak to their dad, especially on their birthday. Don't be that parent. Put children first. Don't use them as weapons. 'It is so bad for kids. Child alienation needs to be talked about openly, along with all other child abuse.' But Twitter users were quick to hit back at his allegations and accused him of using his children as 'weapons' - which he accused Billie of - by sharing the ranting post. One person fumed: 'Above all, don't be the parent who plays out personal drama on an extensive social media platform that can be accessed by the child's friends and also his enemies.' Kids: The Lewis star took to Twitter on Thursday evening to share the fuming post, where he claimed Billie had used his two sons as 'weapons' against him Anger: Laurence accused Billie of denying him access to their children, alleging that he has not been able to see or speak to his son Winston on his 14th birthday Another hit back, saying: 'Maybe don't be that parent who airs their grievances in public it's also bad for the children.' 'Twitter is really not the place to air this stuff to 300k people - for the sake of the kids involved,' a third commented. A fourth said, 'This tweet sounds a bit like you're using your children as weapons,' while another added: 'Don't use them as weapons. Isn't that what you're doing?' And a sixth commented: 'How high does tweeting about your relationship for engagement online score on your chart of 'using your kids as weapons', Lozza?' 'He shouldn't be airing this in public, it makes him a complete hypocrite,' another tweeted, while someone else questioned: 'And how about putting a personal situation about your kids on Twitter for everyone to see?' Criticism: But Twitter users were quick to hit back at Laurence and angrily accused him of being a 'complete hypocrite' as they claimed he was doing exactly what he accused Billie of Billie's representatives declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline. Laurence and Billie divorced in 2016 after nine years of marriage on the grounds of Laurence's 'unreasonable behaviour'. At the time of their split, they stated their intention to 'co-parent their children with the utmost mutual respect for each other'. Laurence said they agreed to share custody, continuing the arrangement when one was working away from home. Between 2016 and 2017, Laurence and Billie then became embroiled in a lengthy custody dispute over access to their children. The proceedings concluded in the Family Division of the High Court in December 2017 and Laurence previously claimed that they drained his finances. Custody: The former couple (pictured in November 2014), who divorced in 2016 after nine years of marriage, share two sons - Winston, 14, and Eugene, 10 Speaking in January 2018, he said: 'I was certainly in a very dark place at one point at my lowest ebb. I almost felt like I couldn't go on. It all felt so hopeless. 'With divorce, you immediately lose half the time you'd spend with the kids. That in itself is a mental health crisis. But, like everything, these feelings pass and you start to feel stronger with every day. 'Men no longer feel comfortable talking about relationships, and for the men who bottle it, it can be disastrous they end up throwing themselves off buildings.' After his court proceedings, Laurence started campaigning to transform the family court system, which he described as 'unnecessarily adversarial'. At the time, he said: 'Actually I feel really sad. The process didn't need to be so long, drawn-out and adversarial. Accusations: Taking to Twitter, Laurence accused Billie of denying him access to their kids, alleging that he has not been able to see or speak to his eldest son Winston on his 14th birthday 'And ours was quick, because we have cash. I feel the children have been robbed of their young lives. It's been half of Eugene's life.' In 2020, he also revealed that he considered taking his own life after his and Billie's split in 2016, after nine years of marriage. Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine, Laurence blamed the family court system for assuming women 'are better nurturers and raisers of children' following a lengthy custody battle with Billie over their two children. He said: 'Certain aspects of the family court system are difficult as a man. [It assumes women] are better nurturers and raisers of children when all of the facts are that children need both parents. 'It's "Believe the woman". It's like "No! Don't believe the woman. Provide the evidence. Provide this evidence. Try me as a f***ing criminal, man, and let's see how far you get." This is a poison in our culture and it's wrong. Split: Laurence and Billie (pictured in November 2013) divorced in 2016 after nine years of marriage on the grounds of Laurence's 'unreasonable behaviour' 'I imagine every single divorce is like it. There's loads of blokes top themselves because of this stuff.' And when asked if he considered taking his own life, he added: 'I did. Not within the marriage. Afterwards. 'Not from the grief of the breakdown of the marriage, even though I did grieve the breakdown of the marriage, because you see it as a failure. 'But suddenly not being a family with your children every day was the bit that sent me over the edge, and I certainly, definitely had thoughts of what's the point in being alive?' Last year, Billie also discussed the difficulties of co-parenting her children with her ex Laurence Fox over the Christmas period during the first years of their split. The I Hate Suzie star described the time period as 'tricky' and admitted she has a lot of compassion for other couples who are in the same situation. Talking to Grazia, Billie discussed her plans for Christmas 2021 and admitted that being a blended family over the festive period 'isn't easy'. Hard times: Last year, Billie discussed the difficulties of co-parenting her children with her ex Laurence Fox over the Christmas period during the first years of their split She said: 'It's a weirdly emotional time of year anyway, so throw in any logistics or difficulties and it's just the first couple of years are tricky and I have a lot of compassion for people who are going through it. 'I'm quite far into that arrangement now, and you find your way with it. The upside for the kids is that you celebrate with a lot more people.' Billie and Laurence wed after six months of dating on New Year's Eve, 2007, in Eastbourne, West Sussex, and Laurence has previously described their relationship as 'hedonistic'. Billie had previously been married to Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, and was finalising her divorce when she met Laurence during rehearsals for West End play Treats. If you have been affected by anything in this article and need support call the Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. Meadow Rain Walker - the only child and heir of the late Paul Walker - unveiled her new Tiffany & Co. eyewear campaign on Monday. In the commercial, the DNA Model - turning 24 next week - showcased the $439 'Tiffany T' sunglasses while a blonde model whispered in her ear. Meadow also modeled a $412 pair of 'Tiffany HardWear' sunglasses for the luxury Fifth Avenue jeweler, which was originally founded in 1837. Cheers! Meadow Rain Walker - the only child and heir of the late Paul Walker - unveiled her new Tiffany & Co. eyewear campaign on Monday Aside from modeling, Walker keeps busy serving as the president of the Paul Walker Foundation as well as the global ambassador for Pencils of Promise and the United Nations Population Fund. The Cali-born, Hawaiian-raised beauty recently returned from a camping trip with her husband Louis Thornton-Allan, who's reportedly enrolled at the New York City branch of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Meadow was photographed leaving the 25-year-old Englishman at a Manhattan restaurant table in order to sob on the street on October 11 - two days after celebrating their first wedding anniversary. Walker and Thornton-Allan - who went public with their romance in June 2021 - had a worrying exchange on his October 10 Instagram post where he posed beneath a statue and wrote: 'Please break please break please.' Birthday girl! In the commercial, the DNA Model - turning 24 next week - showcased the $439 'Tiffany T' sunglasses while a blonde model whispered in her ear 'All eyes on @meadowwalker': Meadow also modeled a $412 pair of 'Tiffany HardWear' sunglasses for the luxury Fifth Avenue jeweler, which was originally founded in 1837 'Theres more than one way to command attention': Aside from modeling, Walker keeps busy serving as the president of the Paul Walker Foundation as well as the global ambassador for Pencils of Promise and the United Nations Population Fund 'I don't like this caption,' the 5ft9in brunette - who boasts 4.7M social media followers - commented. 'Never break never break.' Meadow's famous father tragically died, age 40, in 2013 shortly after hopping into a Porsche Carrera GT with his pal Roger Rodas, who crashed into a concrete lamp and two trees in Valencia, CA. Paul's cremated remains were buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills in a non-denominational ceremony. Smoker: The Cali-born, Hawaiian-raised beauty recently returned from a camping trip with her husband Louis Thornton-Allan (L, pictured last Friday), who's reportedly enrolled at the New York City branch of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting 'One year!' Meadow was photographed leaving the 25-year-old Englishman at a Manhattan restaurant table in order to sob on the street on October 11 - two days after celebrating their first wedding anniversary Walker and Thornton-Allan - who went public with their romance in June 2021 - had a worrying exchange on his October 10 Instagram post where he posed beneath a statue and wrote: 'Please break please break please' The goddaughter of Vin Diesel was only 15 when the Fast & Furious action star died and she received $7.2M in her 2014 settlement from the Rodas estate, according to TMZ. And by 2017, Meadow and her grandfather Paul Sr. settled a separate lawsuit against Porsche 'to the satisfaction of all involved' - according to the Los Angeles Times. Meanwhile, Walker's mother is Rebecca Soteros, a primary school teacher. Former Love Island star Maura Higgins absolutely stunned as she graced the red carpet at the 2022 Pride of Britain Awards in London on Monday. The TV personality, 31, looked every inch the belle of the ball in a flowing yellow tulle dress designed by Ukrainian brand Milla. Maura went braless in her halter neck dress, flashing a hint of sideboob thanks to sheer paneling on the sides. Pride Of Britain Awards 2022: Braless Maura Higgins stunned as she flashed a hint of sideboob in a flowing yellow tulle dress designed by Ukrainian brand Milla, on the red carpet in London Her frock featured a backless design and a flowing, ruffled train. The brunette beauty showed off a deep, golden tan and wore her dark locks back and off her face in an elegant up-do. Her makeup was complete with matte foundation, a winged eye and a glossy nude lip. Gorgeous: Her makeup was complete with matte foundation, a winged eye and a glossy nude lip Belle of the ball! The TV personality, 31, looked every inch the belle of the ball in a flowing yellow tulle dress Maura appeared in high spirits at the event, beaming as she made her way down the red carpet. Other stars who attended the coveted event included the likes of Peter Andre, Zara McDermott, Holly Willoughby and Emily Atack. The evening marked the 23rd annual Pride Of Britain Awards, with the ceremony taking place since 1999 and honouring the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. In good company: Other stars who attended the coveted event included the likes of Peter Andre, Zara McDermott, Holly Willoughby and Emily Atack After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Despite taking place on Monday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday 27 October at 8pm. Carol Vorderman, who has hosted the event for 23 years since 1999, said: 'We'll have 12 incredible winners again this year, but it's difficult for the judging panel because we have thousands of nominations and everyone on the shortlist could easily win.' The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in eight categories; TSB Community Hero Award, ITV Fundraiser Of The Year, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child/Teenager of Courage, Lifetime Achievement and Special Recognition. Yazmin Oukhellou turned up the heat on Sunday in a tiny string bikini as she shared a throwback picture from her idyllic Spanish getaway. The former TOWIE star, 28, looked incredible as she left little to the imagination in her colourful two piece, flashing her washboard abs and putting on a busty display. Yazmin, who has been open about her mental health since the fatal crash which killed boyfriend Jake McLean, posed up a storm as she enjoyed a well-deserved spa day. Turning up the heat! Yazmin Oukhellou showed off her ample assets and washboard abs in a tiny string bikini in throwback snap from Marbella on Sunday Her two piece featured a chic blue and lilac print, with pops of yellow and orange. Her bikini top featured a triangle design over the bust and high-waisted string bottoms. The brunette beauty showed off a deep golden tan and wore her long locks out and over her shoulders. She wore makeup including lashings of mascara and a deep nude lip. Hot stuff: On Saturday, Yazmin exposed her ample cleavage in a plunging black shirt during her sun-soaked Marbella getaway 'Spa Sundays,' her post was captioned. On Saturday, Yazmin exposed her ample cleavage in a plunging black shirt during her sun-soaked Marbella getaway. Having flawlessly applied a full face of make-up, she smouldered while posing for an eye-popping mirror selfie in her bathroom. Just the day before, Yazmin flashed her legs and pert bottom in a tight black gym shorts and bra top co-ord as she was pictured out-and-about on the Spanish island. Looking good: Just the day before, Yazmin flashed her legs and pert bottom in a tight black gym shorts and bra top co-ord as she was pictured out-and-about on the Spanish island The reality star took to Instagram last Monday to share details of her tumultuous mental health battle, in support of World Mental Health Day. She detailed her recovery from the traumatic crash which killed her boyfriend Jake McLean earlier this year, describing it as the 'lowest I've ever been in my life'. Yazmin accompanied the post with a video from her time in hospital as she recovered from the harrowing ordeal, during which she severed an artery and a nerve in her right arm. World Mental Health Day takes place on October 10 each year internationally, dedicated to global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. And joining in to support the day, Yazmin's video showed her in hospital with her arm in a cast, holding her hand over her face as she appeared in a low state. She explained that the video was taken by her mum Lisa, who filmed her daily while in hospital to send to her dad Hamid as updates on her recovery. Playing Ariana Grande's 'Keep Breathing' over the video, the reality star shared that while she wasn't aware that the videos were being taken - she's glad to look back on them. 'It was the lowest I've ever been in my life': It comes after Yazmin detailed her mental health battle as she shared a video from her hospital recovery following the fatal Turkey crash which killed boyfriend Jake McLean Penning: 'Last week my mum shared this video with me which she sent to my dad during my time in hospital as she updated him daily. I was unaware it was being taken at the time but am glad I have this to see just how far I've come.' Encouraging her followers that they can 'get through anything', Yazmin detailed her mental health struggle following the crash. 'This was me at the lowest I've ever been in my life. Mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. I'm sharing this today not only for World Mental Health Day but to also show you that with the right help and support you can and will get through anything. 'Something I've struggled with since the accident is people saying they feel bad sharing their problems with me as they seem small or silly in comparison. But no matter how big or small something is, if it bothers you or makes you upset, it's a problem and it is important.' Urging her 740K followers to 'share your feelings', the star continued that she has had some 'really awful days' following the crash, but remains positive. 'I want to encourage you all to talk more. Journal more. Share your feelings. & MOST importantly when you feel this way take a moment to just BREATHE. Trust me it helps. I want you to live each day as positively as you can & appreciate the little things. 'Since the accident I have some really awful days but I try to put a brave face on and post something positive. On my worst days you simply won't hear from me at all. 'But World Mental Health Day has got me thinking that maybe I should be more real on here and share those times too which is why I have shared this today.' Awful: Jake was killed when his blue Mercedes E class saloon crashed, while Yazmin was left with serious injuries after she had to break her own arm to escape the wreckage as Jake was in the driving seat unconscious Concluding: 'I had days where I didn't think I'd ever feel normal again. We all struggle at some point in our lives and we can all help each other a little more. Let's be a bit kinder. 'So today I want you to take a few minutes and think about YOU and your mental health. Ask yourself am I okay? Really? If the answer is no or if there's even a slight hesitance I'd encourage you to speak to someone (a medical professional, family, friend or helpline). 'I have therapy once a week now with an amazing lady called Sandra. She has truly changed my life. I'm so proud of how far I've come and you all should be too. If your going through something awful right now just know you are loved and it won't last forever. Love Yaz #worldmentalhealthday'. An array of comments came in from friends of fans of Yazmin, with stars such as Ella Rae Wise and Coco Lodge encouraging; 'You've got this'. Opening up: The reality star shared that while she wasn't aware that the videos were being taken - she's glad to look back on them Yazmin has now returned to social media after the horrific ordeal in Bodrum, which took place on July 3. Jake was killed when his blue Mercedes E class saloon crashed, while Yazmin was left with serious injuries after she had to break her own arm to escape the wreckage as Jake was in the driving seat unconscious. The crash took place at around 4.30am and investigators have established that the car hurtled around 70 feet over a left turn bend and landed in a ravine almost 30 feet below. His on-off lover Yazmin was left with serious injuries after she had to break her own arm to escape the wreckage while Jake was in the driving seat unconscious. Parents She explained that the video was taken by her mum Lisa, who filmed her daily while in hospital to send to her dad Hamid as updates on her recovery (pictured with her dad Hamid) Jake was pronounced dead at the scene while Yazmin was rushed to hospital, where she underwent treatment for her injured arm. After the crash, she clambered through thick, thorny bushes to stop a passing motorist for help. She has told of how she is still coping with post traumatic stress following her return to the UK. If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org. She had brief romance with the controversial rapper Kanye West earlier this year. But Chaney Jones was focused on herself on Sunday as she enjoyed a day at the beach in Miami with her model friend Aliana Mawla. The 25-year-old social media star put her sizzling curves on display with a striking black one-piece suit just days after her 45-year-old ex-boyfriend insisted he didn't regret recent anti-Semitic comments he made on social media. Fun in the sun: Chaney Jones, 25, showed off her sizzling figure at Miami Beach on Sunday, just days after her ex Kanye West, 45, doubled down on his recent anti-Semitic comments Chaney was seen strolling on the sand in a sleek suit with thick straps and a cutout exposing her back. The outfit's thong-style bottom half also highlighted the model's pert derriere. She showed off her winning smile while wearing her raven tresses in wet curls and blocking out the piercing sun with slim black sunglasses. The model completed her beach outfit with black platform sandals and a graygreen knit handbag. Her pal Aliana favored a black halter monokini with more sizable cutouts over her sides. Beach buddies: Chaney strolled on the sand in a sleek black suit that highlighted her curves while she was joined by her model friend Aliana Mawla Showing off: Her suit had a sizable cutout revealing her back Luxurious: During her beach trip, Chaney posted a photo of her coconut cup, revealing that she was visiting the Setai resort in Miami Beach Both women have made a splash with their high-profile relationships. Chaney was linked to Kanye West for five months earlier this year, before splitting over the summer, while Aliana briefly dated Liam Payne this summer. During her beach trip, Chaney posted a photo of her coconut cup, revealing that she was visiting the Setai resort in Miami Beach. The day before, she shared some sizzling images of herself in an all-black ensemble. She put on a busty display while crouched down in a black crop top and a matching black miniskirt, and she elevated her stature with an edgy pair of thigh-high black leather boots. 'Unreachable,' she captioned the photos, which showed her with a small black handbag covered in metal eyelets and black sunglasses. Stunner: The day before, she shared some sizzling images of herself in an all-black ensemble Back in black: She put on a busty display while crouched down in a black crop top and a matching black miniskirt, and she elevated her stature with an edgy pair of thigh-high black leather boots Out of sight: 'Unreachable,' she captioned the photos, which showed her with a small black handbag covered in metal eyelets and black sunglasses Chaney's carefree day at the beach comes amid her ex-boyfriend Kanye West's continued public self-destruction. Last week, during an interview with Piers Morgan, the Monster rapper remained defiant about recent anti-Semitic remarks he made on social media. Earlier this month, he wrote in a since-deleted tweet: 'I'm a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I'm going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE [sic].' Kanye told the British talk show host, 'I will say I'm sorry for the people that I hurt with the 'death con' [comments]. '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.' But West doubled down, saying he was only apologizing to innocent Jewish people, while he said his tweet only applied to Jews who had supposedly mistreated him. He also referenced anti-Semitic stereotypes about Jewish people running financial systems. Famous ex: Last week, Chaney's ex-boyfriend Kanye West offered a tepid apology for anti-Semitic comments he made on Twitter, before doubling down and saying he stood by the comments when it came to Jews who had supposedly wronged him Shocking: He previously tweeted in a since-deleted post that he would be 'going death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE' while bringing back his 'White Lives Matter' T-shirt Chaney was first linked to the rapper at the start of the year, when observers noted her similar appearance to his ex-wife Kim Kardashian. The model, who is 20 years West's junior, reportedly went their separate ways in July of this year, though it is unclear who chose to end the relationship. More recently, Kanye has been seen packing on the PDA with the Brazilian model Juliana Nalu, though he has been spotted briefly with several women since his breakup with Chaney. New lady: More recently, Kanye has been seen packing on the PDA with the Brazilian model Juliana Nalu Later on Monday, Chaney showed off her curves while posing next to a gorgeous baby blue SUV. The dark-haired beauty beamed ear-to-ear while posing next to what looked like a new Mercedes. She captioned the jubilant photos, '2022 CHINA BLUE.' Chaney wore a sleek black sleeveless bodysuit with a cut-out over her back, along with knee-high black boots. Her hair was style in a lustrous blunt-cut bob, and she protected herself with large visor-style sunglasses while accessorizing with a charcoal Birkin bag. New ride: Later on Monday, Chaney showed off her curves while posing next to a gorgeous baby blue SUV Blue mood: The dark-haired beauty beamed ear-to-ear while posing next to what looked like a new Mercedes Loving it: She captioned the jubilant photos, '2022 CHINA BLUE' Behind the wheel: Chaney wore a sleek black sleeveless bodysuit with a cut-out over her back, along with knee-high black boots Shirley Ballas looked as loved-up as ever with her boyfriend Daniel Taylor as they stepped out at the Pride Of Britain Awards on Monday evening. The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 62, dazzled in a one-shouldered gold sparkling jumpsuit as she arrived on the red carpet at London's Grosvenor House. She accessorised her show-stopping look with a pair of dangling gold earrings and gave herself a few extra inches in heels, which were concealed beneath her flared trousers. Wow! Shirley Ballas looked as loved-up as ever with her boyfriend Daniel Taylor as they stepped out at the Pride Of Britain Awards on Monday evening Shirley accentuated her natural good looks with glamorous lashings of mascara and a bold red lipstick. The dancer styled her brunette tresses loosely in voluminous curls as she posed up a storm with her beau, 49. Daniel - who is 13 years her junior - cut a suave figure in a black suit and tie as he wrapped his arms around Shirley on the red carpet. They first went public with their relationship in March 2019 after meeting doing panto in November 2018. Sparkling: The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 62, dazzled in a one-shouldered gold sparkling jumpsuit as she arrived on the red carpet at London's Grosvenor House Earlier this year, Shirley said she finds it 'offensive' when people refer to her boyfriend Daniel as her 'toyboy'. 'If a man dates a younger girl, it's absolutely fine; if a woman dates a younger man, they call him toyboy,' she told the Daily Mail's Richard Eden at a party in Mayfair. 'I find that offensive.' Shirley added: 'He is the most remarkable man and is close to 50. He's getting there, and keeps saying to me: 'Don't you go pushing my age up.'' Late last year, it was reported that Shirley is reportedly set to marry for a third time as her boyfriend Danny has purchased an engagement ring. Gorgeous: She accessorised her show-stopping look with a pair of dangling gold earrings and gave herself a few extra inches in heels, which were concealed beneath her flared trousers Beauty: Shirley accentuated her natural good looks with glamorous lashings of mascara and a bold red lipstick According to The Sun, Danny, 48, bought the rock last year and now Shirley, 61, is waiting for him to pop the question. The annual Pride of Britain Awards have returned for a 23rd year at London's Grosvenor House, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair. Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Dapper: Daniel - who is 13 years her junior - cut a suave figure in a black suit and tie as he wrapped his arms around Shirley on the red carpet Relationship: Earlier this year, Shirley said she finds it 'offensive' when people refer to her boyfriend Daniel as her 'toyboy' Despite taking place on Monday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday 27 October at 8pm. Carol, who has hosted the event for 23 years since 1999, said: 'Well have 12 incredible winners again this year, but it's difficult for the judging panel because we have thousands of nominations and everyone on the shortlist could easily win.' The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in eight categories; TSB Community Hero Award, ITV Fundraiser Of The Year, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child/Teenager of Courage, Lifetime Achievement and Special Recognition. A slew of famous faces are set to attend the bash, including David Beckham, Dame Joan Collins, Sir Mo Farah and many more. Eddie Redmayne has credited his parents for his successful career in a rare candid interview. The Oscar-winning actor, 40, said it was his father, Richard, a banker, and mother Patricia, who ran a relocation company, and their willingness to allow him to pursue his interest in acting at an early age that allowed him to flourish in his career. 'I loved music and singing and acting at school,' the Fantastic Beast franchise star told Today's Willie Geist in an interview aired Sunday. 'To my parents' credit, which now as a parent myself I really do hold high, anything I had an interest in or my brothers had an interest in, they supported.' Success: Eddie Redmayne has credited his parents for his successful career in a rare candid interview (pictured on Sunday) The future star attended the Jackie Palmer Studios Stage School in London where his classmates including James Corden, Jamie Dornan and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. The father of two shares Iris, six and Luke, four, with his wife of eight years, Hannah Bagshawe. Eddie, who won the Academy Award for his portrayal of the late physicist Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything, is now receiving rave reviews for his work as a serial killer in the real crime drama The Good Nurse, opposite Jessica Chastain. Interview: 'I loved music and singing and acting at school,' the Fantastic Beast franchise star told Today 's Willie Geist in an interview aired Sunday Non-theatrical: Eddie said his family wasn't really interested in movies or theater, but his parents Richard and Patricia supported his interests ( Pictured in New York with wife Hannah Bagshawe in 2014) Support: Eddie and his wife, Hannah Bagshawe have two children (pictured in June) The film begins streaming on Netflix Wednesday, October 26. The chameleon-like artist has already won awards for his portrayal of Charlie Cullen, who killed an estimated 400 people before being caught, including Performer of the Year at the Montclair Film Festival and the Virtuoso award from the SCAD Savannah Film Festival. And while the star has been known to employ method acting to get inside his character, he opted not to do that for The Good Nurse. The Good Nurse: Eddie has been traveling around the US promoting his film The Good Nurse, co-starring Jessica Chastain at various film festivals 'I have a six-year-old and a four-year-old and for the sake of my wife's sanity, staying in Charlie Cullen would not have been enjoyable for anyone.' In addition to the Oscar, Eddie won a Tony in 2010 for his work in Red. Still most fans know him for his role as Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts films. He's starred in three of the magical adventures, but said he isn't sure when or if a fourth is in the works. Speaking to Indiewire the actor explained, 'Its more a question for J. K. Rowling and David Yates and Warners, but I dont know, Im afraid. I cant add to that, adding, 'I love playing Newt, hes a sweet man. Celebs including Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Julianne Moore took to social media with posts condemning anti-Semitism One of the banners encouraged drivers to honk while another read: 'Kanye is right about the Jews' The Saturday afternoon sighting on the 405 freeway went viral as the group was seen tossing up the Nazi salute An anti-Semitic group was seen hovering over a series of banners on a Los Angeles freeway while praising Kanye's recent war against Jews Her sister Khloe Kardashian broke her family's silence on Kanye's anti-Semitism scandal on Sunday as she publicly supported Jewish people The 42-year-old star shared her support for the Jewish community as well as condemning hate speech Kim Kardashian finally broke her silence on ex husband Kanye West amid his anti-Semitic scandal Kim Kardashian finally broke her silence on ex-husband Kanye West's ongoing anti-Semitism scandal. The 42-year-old took to Twitter to publicly support the Jewish community and condemn any hate speech on Monday morning. 'Hate speech is never OK or excusable. I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric toward them to come to an immediate end,' the billionaire wrote. Breaking her silence: Kim Kardashian finally broke her silence on ex-husband Kanye West's ongoing anti-Semitism scandal On Friday, Kim was spotted was seen arriving to nine-year-old daughter North's basketball game in LA with her eldest son Saint, six, - with ex Kanye shortly arriving to the game as well. Kanye, who recently said he and Kim were only divorced 'on paper,' was seen arriving to the game separately looking somber, amid his string of controversies. He recently reignited tensions between himself and Kim by airing out their custody issues and making claims about the SKIMS founder in the media. She has reportedly distanced herself from the rapper and 'isn't answering Kanye's calls,' according to TMZ. Her words: The 42-year-old took to Twitter to publicly support the Jewish community and condemn any hate speech on Monday morning; seen Friday in LA Scandal: Kanye, who recently said he and Kim were only divorced 'on paper,' was seen arriving to the game separately looking somber, amid his string of controversies; seen on Friday West and Kardashian share four children: North, nine, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, three. West previously stated that his ex-wife 'basically 80 percent of the time, raise[s] those children.' The reality superstar filed for divorce in February 2021 just before what would have been the pair's seventh wedding anniversary. One day prior, sister Khloe, 38, reposted a statement from Jessica Seinfeld that read, 'I support my Jewish friends and the Jewish people.' Khloe became the first member of her famed family to allude to the ongoing anti-Semitism scandal swirling around Kanye after a racist display in Los Angeles over the weekend caught the attention of many celebs. Not on speaking terms: She has reportedly distanced herself from the rapper and 'isn't answering Kanye's calls,' according to TMZ; seen on November 6, 2019 in NYC with Kris Jenner The latest: Khloe Kardashian became the first member of the famed family to allude to the ongoing anti-Semitism scandal swirling around Kanye West, 43, after a racist display over the weekend caught the attention of many celebs It came after anti-Semitic banners reading, 'Kanye is right about the Jews,' were hung from a Los Angeles freeway on Saturday following the rapper declaring war against Jewish people earlier this month. A group of about five people from the Goyim Defense League, a group that spreads conspiracy theories about Jews, gathered in hats and masks while hovering around a series of anti-Semitic banners on the 405 freeway. The group appeared to support West after his now-deleted Tweet from October 9 read: 'I'm a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I'm going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE.' Public: Khloe reposted a statement from Jessica Seinfeld that read, 'I support my Jewish friends and the Jewish people' LA: An anti-Semitic group was seen hovering over a series of banners on a Los Angeles freeway while praising Kanye West's recent war against Jews. The Saturday sighting went viral on social media Group members were seen tossing up the Nazi salute as drivers read the signs: 'Honk if you know... Kayne is right about the Jews... GOYIM TV.TV. REV 3:9, John 8:44.' West has recently been vocal about anti-Semitic content and conspiracy theories on social media and media appearances. Khloe was one of a number of celebs to share Jessica Seinfeld's post, as others included Julianne Moore, Amy Schumer, Amanda Kloots and Kathy Hilton. West sent a disturbing tweet where he suggested he would be 'going death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE' Jennifer Aniston shared a shot of the demonstrators in Los Angeles photoshopped atop scores of people saluting Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany. Accompanying text read, 'The neo Nazis are doing a Nazi salute - a greeting gesture which was used during the Holocaust to signal obedience to Adolf Hitler.' Aniston also reposted a tweet from political commentator Ana Navarro that read, 'Mental illness is not an excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Period.' Speaking out: Jennifer Aniston shared multiple posts on her Instagram condemning West's actions and the actions they have emboldened from others Comment: Ariel Winter questioned the display, writing, 'What in the F*** LA????????????' Shocking: Dan Levy said, 'F*** this ignorant, dangerous bulls***' Ariel Winter wrote, 'What in the F*** LA????????????' while Dan Levy said, 'F*** this ignorant, dangerous bulls***.' Sara Sampaio said the display was 'f***ing disgusting,' adding, 'Kanye is a danger to society and so are these people.' Sofia Richie reposted the shot asking, 'So how long can we make excuses????' presumably speaking about West. Sarah Silverman shared the shot with the caption, 'Lemme guess: Still not time to get scared' Florence Pugh said, 'Absolutely appalling,' on her Instagram story while sharing the photo of the banners on the freeway. Sara Sampaio said the display was 'f***ing disgusting,' adding, 'Kanye is a danger to society and so are these people' Statment: Sarah Michelle Gellar reposted the shot questioning why Adidas has not come out against West yet Her thoughts: Sofia Richie reposted the shot asking, 'So how long can we make excuses????' presumably speaking about West Her reaction: Florence Pugh said, 'Absolutely appalling,' on her Instagram story while sharing the photo of the banners on the freeway Reese Witherspoon took to Twitter saying, 'Anti-Semitism in any form is deplorable. In person. Online. Doesn't matter where. It's hate and it's unacceptable. 'Completely understand why my Jewish friends/colleagues are frightened for their families. This is a very scary time.' In a lengthier post, Zoe Buckman posted the horrific photo on Instagram while referencing West's collaboration with Adidas that is currently 'under review' amid his recent controversies. 'This is LA October 22nd,' Buckman wrote. 'We should stop waiting for a statement or action from @adidas - it's insulting at this point. We know how PR machines work & how quickly [folks] can put out a response if they feel motivated too.' Buckman continued: 'We should stop waiting for the so-called allies to speak up about the wave of antisemitism coming from the right AND left. We should galvanize & engage with our cultural & ethnic pride as Jews in the diaspora. Opinion: Sarah Silverman shared the shot with the caption, 'Lemme guess: Still not time to get scared' Post: Jamie Chung said that 'the growing anti-Semitism in this country is a real problem' Words: Isla Fisher said that she was 'disappointed' to see West use his large platform to 'perpetuate hate and pure stupidity' 'I know weve had to hide time & time again & I understand the self-loathing that generations, centuries, actually, of persecution can instill in us, but other marginalized groups have pride: wheres ours. 'If youre Jewish: I see you. Im with you. If youre not, and you want to turn a blind eye, get out my f****** way.' Isla Fisher said that she was 'disappointed' to see West use his large platform to 'perpetuate hate and pure stupidity.' She added: 'This is right outside our door on the 405 freeway in LA and scary as hell.' She encouraged people to speak out against anti-Semitism. Jamie Chung also encouraged people to 'call it out when you see it,' adding that 'the growing anti-Semitism in this country is a real problem.' SNL star Chloe Fineman reposted a post that read, 'Kanye is just a troll, it's not like anyone is taking him seriously' with the response, 'Are you sure? Support: Reese Witherspoon said that West's rhetoric was making for a 'very scary time' for Jewish people 2022: SNL star Chloe Fineman reposted a post that read, 'Kanye is just a troll, it's not like anyone is taking him seriously' with the response, 'Are you sure? Weekend: Zoe Buckman was among those who shared their disgust with the signs on social media Comedian Amy Schumer also chimed in on Sunday with a photo that read: 'I support my Jewish friends and the Jewish people. In the caption, Schumer added a question for discussion: 'If you don't know what to post. Let's start with this. In the comments. Do you know what the Jewish community is afraid this will lead to? 1 in 2 people don't know the holocaust happened. Stand up.' The post by Schumer was also seen reposted by various others, including Jessica Seinfeld, who added the caption: 'If you don't know what to say, you can just say this in your feed.' West previously said in an interview with Piers Morgan on October 19 that he 'absolutely' doesn't regret his anti-Semitic comments but offered a half-hearted apology. 'I will say I'm sorry for the people that I hurt with the death con [comments],' West said on the British talk show, 'Piers Morgan Uncensored.' '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.' Interview: West previously said in an interview with Piers Morgan on October 19 that he 'absolutely' doesn't regret his anti-Semitic comments but offered a half-hearted apology Legal team: Kanye West has hired Camille Vasquez who famously defended Johnny Depp in his defamation trial, to handle his business interests Earlier this month 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. 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.' 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. The rapper's Twitter account was later suspended. In the interview with Morgan, West 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. While the ex-husband of Kim Kardashian has been known to have unpredictable outbursts on social media - he was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder in 2016 - his rants have become more frequent this year. Recently, West hired Camille Vasquez, the attorney who defended Johnny Depp, to handle his business interests. Vasquez, who gained national attention due to her representation of Depp in his heated defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard, will be among the lawyers at the Brown Rudnick firm now working with West, TMZ reports. Zara McDermott put on a busty display on Monday evening as she graced the red carpet of the 2022 Pride of Britain Awards held at London's Grosvenor House. The reality star, 25, looked sensational in a sparkling halterneck gown which highlighted her ample cleavage. While the gown's daring thigh-high split also allowed her to showcase her toned legs. Wow: Zara McDermott put on a busty display on Monday evening as she graced the red carpet of the 2022 Pride of Britain Awards held at London's Grosvenor House Zara oozed confidence as she posed up a storm in the golden dress, which she teamed with silver pointed heels and a pair of ornate gold earrings. The Love Island stunner styled her caramel tresses in a swept-back style, while highlighting her features with a radiant make-up palette. Zara braved the cool autumnal weather as she ditched her coat for the evening, and instead showed off her amazing figure in the form-fitting dress. Meanwhile, Zara's boyfriend Sam Thompson cut a dapper figure in a black tuxedo as he posed for snaps after presenting on the red carpet. Sensational: The reality star, 25, looked sensational in a sparkling halterneck gown which highlighted her ample cleavage The annual Pride of Britain Awards returned for a 23rd year at London's Grosvenor House on Monday evening, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair. Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Despite taking place on Monday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday 27 October at 8pm. Golden girl: Zara oozed confidence as she posed up a storm in the golden dress, which she teamed with silver pointed heels and a pair of ornate gold earrings Carol, who has hosted the event for 23 years since 1999, said: 'Well have 12 incredible winners again this year, but it's difficult for the judging panel because we have thousands of nominations and everyone on the shortlist could easily win.' The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in eight categories; TSB Community Hero Award, ITV Fundraiser Of The Year, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child/Teenager of Courage, Lifetime Achievement and Special Recognition. A slew of famous faces are set to attend the bash, including David Beckham, Dame Joan Collins, Sir Mo Farah and many more. Flawless: The Love Island stunner styled her caramel tresses in a swept-back style, while highlighting her features with a radiant make-up palette There he is: Meanwhile, Zara's boyfriend Sam Thompson cut a dapper figure in a black tuxedo as he posed for snaps after presenting on the red carpet They've been going from strength to strength since winning the 2022 series of Love Island. And Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Davide Sanclimenti appeared to be as smitten as ever as they stepped out at the Pride Of Britain Awards on Monday. The Turkish actress, 28, put on a glamorous display in a busty black mini dress which flaunted her enviable curves as she arrived at London's Grosvenor House. Sweet: Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Davide Sanclimenti appeared to be as smitten as ever as they stepped out at the Pride Of Britain Awards on Monday She added a few inches to her frame in a pair of black stilettos embellished with a silver sequin strap and sported a black clutch bag to complete the look. Ekin-Su styled her chocolate tresses in a straight fashion cascading loosely down her back and opted to wear a pair of small gold hoop earrings. She accentuated her striking features with a touch of bronzer and a glamorous smokey-eye make-up palette for the event. The bombshell appeared in excellent spirits as she flashed a huge grin while posing on the red carpet with her boyfriend Davide. Glitzy: The Turkish actress, 28, put on a glamorous display in a busty black mini dress which flaunted her enviable curves as she arrived at London's Grosvenor House The Italian businessman, 27, cut a suave figure in grey trousers and a crisp white shirt, which he styled with a burgundy tie and a navy blazer. He completed his dapper ensemble with a pair of chunky loafers and styled his dark locks in a slicked back style. Earlier in the evening, Davide had taken to his Instagram Stories to share a snap of himself and Ekin-Su as they were en-route to the event. Davide, who is based in Manchester, recently asked Essex-based Ekin-Su to move in with him with a sweet dessert proposal. Stunning: She added a few inches to her frame in a pair of black stilettos embellished with a silver sequin strap and sported a black clutch bag to complete the look He ordered a dessert as they enjoyed dinner in Prezzo, which had 'Moving in?' piped on the tray in chocolate sauce. A delighted Ekin-Su responding through giggles: 'Yes!', as the couple then shared a kiss before taking a spoonful each of the tiramisu and feeding it to each other. He captioned the loved-up video: 'The beginning of a new beautiful chapter.' Couple: Earlier in the evening, Davide had taken to his Instagram Stories to share a snap of himself and Ekin-Su as they were en-route to the event Back in August, Ekin-Su announced on Lorraine that her and Davide were planning on moving in together at the end of September. But due to their chaotic work schedules, the couple haven't had time to house hunt and appear to be pushing back their move in date. While they explained at the recent National Television Awards that while they were originally looking at Essex, they're hunting in London now due to work. Congratulations! It comes after Davide and Ekin-Su revealed they are taking the next step in their relationship and are officially moving in together The annual Pride of Britain Awards have returned for a 23rd year at London's Grosvenor House, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair. Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Despite taking place on Monday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday 27 October at 8pm. Carol, who has hosted the event for 23 years since 1999, said: 'Well have 12 incredible winners again this year, but it's difficult for the judging panel because we have thousands of nominations and everyone on the shortlist could easily win.' The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in eight categories; TSB Community Hero Award, ITV Fundraiser Of The Year, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child/Teenager of Courage, Lifetime Achievement and Special Recognition. A slew of famous faces are set to attend the bash, including David Beckham, Dame Joan Collins, Sir Mo Farah and many more. University professors and KB Financial Group executives are joined by the banking group's tech staff during a ceremony to mark the introduction of ethical criteria concerning artificial intelligence (AI) at the group's data center in Yeouido, Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of KB Financial Group By Yi Whan-woo KB Financial Group has introduced a set of criteria to ensure ethical rules are observed when developing and using artificial intelligence (AI), the company announced on Monday. KB Financial Group will be Korea's first financial services firm to address ethical guidelines on AI, as the banking sector's reliance increases on cutting-edge technologies. The criteria deal with values that should be taken into account in the development, operation and maintenance of AI. Among the values are fairness, tolerance, cooperation, transparency and a safety-first mindset. "The banking sector deals with vast amounts of data and capitalizing on AI is increasingly needed," the company said. "But using AI requires heavy responsibilities, because it can lead to serious consequences if AI is developed to learn biased and other undesirable information." The lender held a ceremony at its data center in Yeouido, Seoul, Friday, with its tech staff announcing their commitment to the criteria. The ceremony was attended by university professors and KB executives who worked together on the criteria. Seven-time Emmy nominee Drew Barrymore suited up for her appearance on The Howard Stern Show inside SiriusXM Studios in Midtown Manhattan on Monday. The 68-year-old shock jock and his wife of 14 years - Beth Ostrosky Stern - found four eligible bachelors to compete for the thrice-divorced 47-year-old's heart on an on-air dating show, which streamed on SiriusXM Monday. 'There are a lot of guys out there who want to date Drew Barrymore,' Howard teased ahead of the episode. Looking for love! Seven-time Emmy nominee Drew Barrymore suited up for her appearance on The Howard Stern Show inside SiriusXM Studios in Midtown Manhattan on Monday 'I think she's going to find love right here on the show': The 68-year-old shock jock and his wife of 14 years - Beth Ostrosky Stern - found four eligible bachelors to compete for the thrice-divorced 47-year-old's heart on an on-air dating show, which streamed on SiriusXM Monday '[Beth] personally picked two of the guys who are participating who she feels will be very, very strong candidates to be Mr. Drew Barrymore. We got some great guys for her - like, really great guys. I think she's going to find love right here on the show, and I'd like to be responsible for that.' Some of the men who didn't make the cut included a TV host, an actor on an Emmy-nominated show, and a variety of successful lawyers, doctors, musicians, firefighters, and policemen. Drew was wearing her usual uniform - a black double-breasted pantsuit over a nude top and sky-high peep-toe platform heels to boost her 5ft4in stature - which was selected by her stylist Lee Harris. Hairstylist Daniel Howell coiffed Barrymore's signature middle-parted brunette waves for the radio show taping. HBIC: Drew was wearing her usual uniform - a black double-breasted pantsuit over a nude top and sky-high peep-toe platform heels to boost her 5ft4in stature - which was selected by her stylist Lee Harris Luscious locks: Hairstylist Daniel Howell coiffed Barrymore's signature middle-parted brunette waves for the radio show taping Statement earrings! Make-up artist Lauren Lazaro Gulino brought out the perky presenter's natural beauty with defined brows, a hint of eyeliner, and pink pout At least not yet! Hours later, Drew emerged from the studio solo, so she won't be riding off into the sunset with Mr. Right Make-up artist Lauren Lazaro Gulino brought out the perky presenter's natural beauty with defined brows, a hint of eyeliner, and pink pout. Hours later, Drew emerged from the studio solo, so she won't be riding off into the sunset with Mr. Right... at least not yet. Barrymore has been single for six years (the first four were on purpose) following the 2016 end of her four-year marriage to art consultant Will Kopelman, with whom she has two daughters - Olive, 10; and Frankie, 8. The former Hollywood wildchild previously divorced Canadian comedian Tom Green in 2002 after 15 months of marriage, and she famously divorced British bar owner Jeremy Thomas in 1995 after just two months. 2021 family portrait: Barrymore has been single for six years (the first four were on purpose) following the 2016 end of her four-year marriage to art consultant Will Kopelman, with whom she has two daughters - Olive, 10; and Frankie, 8 Her other exes: The former Hollywood wildchild previously divorced Canadian comedian Tom Green (L) in 2002 after 15 months of marriage, and she famously divorced British bar owner Jeremy Thomas (R) in 1995 after just two months Drew executive produces and hosts her own syndicated CBS daytime talk show, now in its third season, and Monday's episode featured Jennette McCurdy, Celeste Barber, and Danny Seo. Barrymore had previously posted her emotional 19-minute interview with the 30-year-old I'm Glad My Mom Died author on September 26, but now the full episode finally aired. The E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial alum clearly bonded with Jennette over their shared troubled relationships with their respective stage moms, Jaid Barrymore and Debra McCurdy. Pre-taped: Drew executive produces and hosts her own syndicated CBS daytime talk show, now in its third season, and Monday's episode featured Jennette McCurdy (pictured), Celeste Barber, and Danny Seo Deja vu: Barrymore had previously posted her emotional 19-minute interview with the 30-year-old I'm Glad My Mom Died author (R) on September 26, but now the full episode finally aired Love Island's Tasha Ghouri and Andrew Le Page looked as smitten as ever as they packed on the PDA at the Pride Of Britain Awards 2022. The couple, who met on the 2022 series of the ITV2 dating show, showed off their love as they had a smooch on the red carpet at London's Grosvenor House. Model Tasha, 24, looked effortlessly glamorous in a show-stopping one-shouldered silver gown embellished with panels of glittering beads and sequins. Cosy: Love Island's Tasha Ghouri and Andrew Le Page looked as smitten as ever as they packed on the PDA at the Pride Of Britain Awards 2022 She accessorised her glitzy ensemble with a gold arm cuff and an array of matching rings, while she kept her essentials in a white clutch bag. Tasha styled her golden locks loosely in a straight fashion and slicked back strands away from her face with two silver clips. She accentuated her natural beauty with a golden touch of eyeshadow and a slick of mascara as she cosied up to her estate agent beau. Andrew cut a smart figure in a slim fit black tuxedo from Moss Bros and did not shy away from planting a kiss on his girlfriend's lips as they appeared as loved-up as ever. Packing on the PDA: The couple, who met on the 2022 series of the ITV2 dating show, showed off their love as they had a smooch on the red carpet at London's Grosvenor House Gorgeous: Model Tasha, 24, looked effortlessly glamorous in a show-stopping one-shouldered silver gown embellished with panels of glittering beads and sequins The pair recently jetted back from a lavish getaway in Dubai, where they staying in a 700-a-night room with a private pool. They picked the ultimate romantic destination, with the five-star hotel offering everything from a private pool to an incredible outdoor terrace looking over the picturesque scenery. The luxury hotel attracts guests with facilities such as an urban spa, a state-of-the-art gym and a beauty salon. There were several spa treatments to choose from including coffee scrubs and feather massages, as well as personal training sessions and classes to splash out on. Glamorous: She accessorised her glitzy ensemble with a gold arm cuff and an array of matching rings, while she kept her essentials in a white clutch bag Stunning: Tasha styled her golden locks loosely in a straight fashion and slicked back strands away from her face with two silver clips But they made sure to return from their sun-soaked getaway in time for the annual Pride Of Britain Awards ceremony. The awards have returned for a 23rd year at London's Grosvenor House, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair. Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Relaxing: The pair recently jetted back from a lavish getaway in Dubai, where they staying in a 700-a-night room with a private pool Despite taking place on Monday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday 27 October at 8pm. Carol, who has hosted the event for 23 years since 1999, said: 'Well have 12 incredible winners again this year, but it's difficult for the judging panel because we have thousands of nominations and everyone on the shortlist could easily win.' The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in eight categories; TSB Community Hero Award, ITV Fundraiser Of The Year, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child/Teenager of Courage, Lifetime Achievement and Special Recognition. A slew of famous faces are set to attend the bash, including David Beckham, Dame Joan Collins, Sir Mo Farah and many more. Oti Mabuse oozed confidence as she hit the red carpet at the Pride Of Britain Awards 2022 in London on Monday evening. The former Strictly Come Dancing professional, 32, put on a very busty display in a shimmering gold sequin gown. She wowed in the mesh ensemble, while elevating her height in a pair of silver stilettos. Wow! Oti Mabuse oozed confidence as she hit the red carpet at the Pride Of Britain Awards 2022 in London on Monday evening Oti completed the look with a diamond necklace and matching drop earrings, while flashing her dazzling white smile. The star sported a smokey eye look and a glossy lip as her brown tresses were styled in a neat bun with a fringe split down the middle framing her face. The annual Pride of Britain Awards return for a 23rd year at London's Grosvenor House on Monday evening, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair. Glam: The former Strictly Come Dancing professional, 32, put on a very busty display in a shimmering gold sequin gown It comes after Strictly fans were left missing one of the show's most beloved stars when Oti was nowhere to be seen during its launch earlier this month. The BBC hit is back for another series with the celebrity contestants being partnered up with their professional dance partners. But two-time champion Oti was absent as she previously confirmed she would not be returning for the 2022 series as she focuses on other projects. Her absence was glaring for many viewers who quickly took to social media to express their sadness that she wouldn't be seen this season. Beauty: Oti completed the look with a diamond necklace and matching drop earrings, while flashing her dazzling white smile Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Despite taking place on Monday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday 27 October at 8pm. Carol, who has hosted the event for 23 years since 1999, said: 'Well have 12 incredible winners again this year, but it's difficult for the judging panel because we have thousands of nominations and everyone on the shortlist could easily win.' The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in eight categories; TSB Community Hero Award, ITV Fundraiser Of The Year, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child/Teenager of Courage, Lifetime Achievement and Special Recognition. A slew of famous faces are set to attend the bash, including David Beckham, Dame Joan Collins, Sir Mo Farah and many more. Feuding former TOWIE stars Ferne McCann and Sam Faiers had a rather awkward run-in at the Pride of Britain Awards in London on Monday. The former best friends, whose dramatic falling out has made headlines in recent weeks, both made their way down the red carpet at the coveted event wearing similar brown dresses. It comes after Ferne, 32, allegedly branded Sam, 31, a 'fat c***' and 'narcissistic b**ch' in leaked voice notes. Pride of Britain Awards 2022: Ferne McCann suffered a VERY awkward red carpet reunion with Sam Faiers in London on Monday On the evening, Ferne turned heads in a figure-hugging long sleeve gown that featured a high neck and a cut-out over the waist. She completed her look with her dark locks out and around her face and wearing makeup including a nude lip. Sam meanwhile, walked the red carpet with her husband Paul Knightley, stunning in an elegant brown dress that featured feather detailing on the sleeves and a thigh-split. Glammed up: Ferne wore her dark locks out and around her face and wearing makeup including a nude lip Turning heads: On the evening, Ferne turned heads in a figure-hugging long sleeve gown that featured a high neck and a cut-out over the waist Sam pulled her dark locks back and off her face and into an elegant, low bun. Just last week, Ferne broke her silence after the voice notes scandal. Fresh from completing Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, the former TOWIE star, 32, revealed on Instagram that she had 'confronted difficulties in her life' during the experience. The reality star wrote: 'What a journey. Taking part in @sas_whodareswins was one of the most humbling and toughest things Ive ever done. Elegant: Sam meanwhile, walked the red carpet with her husband Paul Knightley, stunning in an elegant brown dress that featured feather detailing on the sleeves and a thigh-split 'I can honestly say its changed my life. The whole experience makes you look at every single part of yourself - your strengths, your weaknesses, your deepest fears. 'It taught me resilience, self acceptance and that every moment is an opportunity for change. Its given me the confidence to finally confront difficulties in my life, deal with them and move forward. 'I went in to the series to prove to myself I can be strong and I wanted to make Sunday proud. It was a major shock to the system! 'Every day I cried for Sunday, every day I wanted to leave, my body ached and I missed home so much. But I had my personal reasons why I needed to stick it out. 'Yes I completed it and I passed but If SAS taught me anything, it taught me to take things step by step, push a little harder to the next morning, get through just to one more task. 'Moments will floor you, you will mess up but youve got to find that resilience & grit to pick yourself up and go again. 'Just when you think youve got it all figured out life will always throw something else up, and as the DS say, its about how you deal with it,' she added in part of her lengthy post. 'I've confronted difficulties in my life': Just last week, Ferne broke her silence after leaked voice notes allegedly saw her brand Sam a 'fat c***' and 'narcissistic b**ch' Reflecting: Fresh from completing Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, the former TOWIE star, 32, revealed on Instagram that she had 'confronted difficulties in her life' during the experience Ferne hit headlines just earlier this month after the audio footage was posted from an Instagram account. Sam and Ferne, who starred alongside one another on The Only Way Is Essex, were friends for over 20 years before the drama. Ferne has reportedly been left devastated by the leaked notes and 'can't stop crying' as she has received backlash from fans online after the audios appeared to show her calling Sam a 'fat c***'. 'Her thighs are so big and I looked really skinny today,' the message continued - cutting to other clips where allegedly describing Sam, Ferne said: 'Sort of girl that she is, she's just a narcissistic b**ch, she honestly won't care.' The Instagram account wrote alongside the clip: '@FerneMcCann what a jealous bitter woman talking about your so called best friend @SamanthaFaiers who you have known for 20 years. Falling out: The former TOWIE star, 32, has been embroiled in an ongoing feud with Sam, 31, after audio footage was leaked which allegedly saw Ferne brand her pal a 'fat c***' (pictured together in 2019) 'As a friend you should be supporting your friends not running to other friends and slating them.' The voice messages were allegedly sent by Ferne on WhatsApp to a friend in June, just a month after Sam had given birth to her third baby, Edward. But sharing that Ferne 'doesn't know what to do next', a source explained: 'She is in a living nightmare and wants this to stop. People dont know all the facts. All eyes are on what could come out next on this Instagram account.' 'If those voice notes were made by Ferne then it is incredibly damaging. She is being seen as a bit toxic at the moment. No one can believe she would say such things.' Sam has unfollowed Ferne on Instagram amid the drama, with her sister Billie reportedly calling her former co-star to find out the situation. According to The Sun, Ferne has now reached out to Essex Police to see if they can locate the anonymous person behind an Instagram account that has been sharing the shocking voice notes. Social media friends: Sam has unfollowed Ferne on Instagram but Ferne is still following Sam A source said: 'Ferne was visited by the police on Thursday night after having her life turned upside down by a fake account that has launched a malicious smear campaign against her. 'Officers spent a few hours with her and gave reassurances that they are prioritising this case, tracking the parties responsible. 'Having taken statements, the police are currently in the process of tracking the fake account's whereabouts. The Online Safety Bill was discussed as they clamp down on cyber crime.' The voice messages also allegedly show Ferne taking a swipe at Sam's sister Billie, saying it was 'weird' that Billie decided to call her son Arthur - the name of Ferne's ex Arthur Collins, who she shares daughter Sunday with. Throwback: The pair were friends for over 20 years, before skyrocketing to fame in The Only Way Is Essex Arthur, 29, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty of carrying out a brutal acid attack in 2017. Ferne has raised Sunday as a single parent. The voice note says: 'It feels so weird saying 'Arthur', I can't believe, it's like me having a little boy and calling him Greg, anyway, whatever.' However, many fans have flocked to Ferne's defence, insisting everyone makes comments 'behind closed doors' and arguing that the row should be sorted in private. Taking to social media, one fan said: 'Always two sides to every story. You just never know what goes on behind closed doors. Fact.' Another wrote: 'I really disagree with this, however can't it be sorted privately, I recon Ferne will be in a very bad place over this, as much as she has done wrong, two wrongs don't make a right.' Kate Garraway captured attention as she stepped out at London's Grosvenor House for the Pride Of Britain Awards 2022. The Good Morning Britain presenter, 55, dazzled in a burgundy gown embellished with lines of glittering sequins and sheer mesh sleeves. She accessorised with a statement choker necklace, made up of sequinned leaves, and a simple pair of diamond earrings. Eye-catching: Kate Garraway captured attention as she stepped out at London's Grosvenor House for the Pride Of Britain Awards 2022 Kate added a few extra inches to her frame with a pair of gold stilettos and carried her belongings in a black handbag with a silver strap. She styled her golden locks loosely in a straight fashion and bolstered her features with dramatic lashings of mascara and a touch of pink lipstick. The annual Pride of Britain Awards have returned for a 23rd year at London's Grosvenor House on Monday evening, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair. Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. Glamorous: The Good Morning Britain presenter, 55, dazzled in a burgundy gown embellished with lines of glittering sequins and sheer mesh sleeves Elegant: She accessorised with a statement choker necklace made up of sequinned leaves and a simple pair of diamond earrings After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Despite taking place on Monday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday 27 October at 8pm. Carol, who has hosted the event for 23 years since 1999, said: 'We'll have 12 incredible winners again this year, but it's difficult for the judging panel because we have thousands of nominations and everyone on the shortlist could easily win.' The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in eight categories; TSB Community Hero Award, ITV Fundraiser Of The Year, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child/Teenager of Courage, Lifetime Achievement and Special Recognition. Stunning: She styled her golden locks loosely in a straight fashion as she posed up a storm on the red carpet Bold look: Kate added a few extra inches to her frame with a pair of gold stilettos and carried her belongings in a black handbag with a silver strap A slew of famous faces are set to attend the bash, including David Beckham, Dame Joan Collins, Sir Mo Farah and many more. Kate's appearance at the star-studded event comes after she won her second National Television Awards last week for Best Authored Documentary. Earlier this month, she fought back tears as she thanked her husband Derek Draper and accepted the gong for her documentary, Caring For Derek. She won the award last year for her first documentary, Finding Derek, which focused on Derek's health battle after being hospitalised with the coronavirus. Glittering: Kate bolstered her features with dramatic lashings of mascara and a touch of pink lipstick Thankful: Kate's appearance at the event comes after she won her second National Television Awards last week for Best Authored Documentary (she is pictured with her daughter Darcey) Her win came after she had revealed that Derek had been readmitted to hospital as he continues to battle complications after contracting sepsis in August. Accompanied by her 16-year-old daughter Darcey on stage, Kate said that Derek is continuing to 'fight' and that they hope he will be home soon. Derek, 54, is one of the UK's longest-suffering patients of Covid after being admitted to hospital with the virus in March 2020, only returning to the family's London home in April 2021, where he receives round-the-clock care. Since then he has been in and out of hospital as he continues in his battle to return to health. Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield put on a united front at the Pride Of Britain Awards 2022 in London on Monday evening as they put 'queue-gate' backlash behind them. The This Morning Presenters appeared in great spirits as they giggled while having their picture taken on the red carpet. Holly, 41, looked the epitome of chic in a floral pink gown with a bow shoulder detail, designed by Nedret Taciroglu. Duo: Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield put on a united front at the Pride Of Britain Awards 2022 in London on Monday evening as they put 'queue-gate' backlash behind them Meanwhile Phil, 60, cut a dapper figure in a dark grey blazer, teamed with a crisp black shirt, tie and trousers. It comes after Holly snuck out of the National Television Awards before the ceremony ended on Thursday, leaving Phillip Schofield to face the music as he was awkwardly asked about their 'queuegate' controversy. The TV presenters were booed at the event when This Morning won the Best Daytime award, following allegations they had skipped the queue to see the Queen lying in state last month. Holly departed the awards show - held at London's Ovo Arena Wembley - just before 10pm, more than half an hour before the ceremony finished. While Holly avoided any further embarrassment by leaving the show early, co-host Phillip, 60, was left flustered as one guest later probed him on queuegate - leaving him awkwardly responding with a gushing ode to his fans. Beaming: The This Morning Presenters appeared in great spirits as they giggled while having their picture taken on the red carpet Scandal: Tearful Holly was booed at the National Television Awards last week before sneaking out of show early after backlash over 'queue-gate' - while flustered Phillip Schofield stumbled as he was quizzed over the scandal The annual Pride of Britain Awards return for a 23rd year at London's Grosvenor House on Monday evening, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair. Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Despite taking place on Monday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday 27 October at 8pm. What a number: Holly's gown featured a gorgeous mesh layered skirt , gathered waist and figure-hugging bustier, as one strip of material came over her left shoulder to form a bow strap, leaving the other shoulder bare Carol, who has hosted the event for 23 years since 1999, said: 'Well have 12 incredible winners again this year, but it's difficult for the judging panel because we have thousands of nominations and everyone on the shortlist could easily win.' The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in eight categories; TSB Community Hero Award, ITV Fundraiser Of The Year, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child/Teenager of Courage, Lifetime Achievement and Special Recognition. A slew of famous faces are set to attend the bash, including David Beckham, Dame Joan Collins, Sir Mo Farah and many more. Megan McKenna flaunted her incredible figure in a show-stopping ensemble as she graced the red carpet at the Pride Of Britain Awards 2022. The former TOWIE star, 30, made sure all eyes were on her in a plunging black sheer feathered gown, which she wore over high-waisted black underwear. She flaunted her incredible figure in the glamorous ensemble, which was also embellished with black sequins and featured a daringly low neckline. Dazzling: Megan McKenna flaunted her incredible figure in a show-stopping ensemble as she graced the red carpet at the Pride Of Britain Awards 2022 Megan styled her platinum blonde tresses loosely in natural waves as she posed up a storm at London's Grosvenor House. The Celebrity Big Brother personality kept her accessories minimal with just a pair of silver hoop earrings as she let her outfit do all the talking. She bolstered her natural beauty with a touch of bronzer and a slick of pink lipstick to complete her stunning look. Stunning: The former TOWIE star, 30, made sure all eyes were on her in a plunging black sheer feathered gown, which she wore over black underwear Gorgeous: She flaunted her incredible figure in the glamorous ensemble, which was also embellished with black sequins and featured a daringly low neckline Bombshell: Megan styled her platinum blonde tresses loosely in natural waves as she posed up a storm at London's Grosvenor House The annual Pride of Britain Awards have returned for a 23rd year at London's Grosvenor House, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair. Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Despite taking place on Monday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday 27 October at 8pm. Beauty: She bolstered her natural beauty with a touch of bronzer and a slick of pink lipstick to complete her stunning look Glam: The Celebrity Big Brother personality kept her accessories minimal with just a pair of silver hoop earrings as she let her outfit do all the talking Carol, who has hosted the event for 23 years since 1999, said: 'Well have 12 incredible winners again this year, but it's difficult for the judging panel because we have thousands of nominations and everyone on the shortlist could easily win.' The Pride Of Britain awards will honour winners in eight categories; TSB Community Hero Award, ITV Fundraiser Of The Year, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child/Teenager of Courage, Lifetime Achievement and Special Recognition. A slew of famous faces are set to attend the bash, including David Beckham, Dame Joan Collins, Sir Mo Farah and many more. Kylie Jenner flaunted her taut tummy in a white tank top chopped into a crop-top and matching Y-front biker shorts on Sunday. The 25-year-old Kylie Cosmetics/Skin/Swim CEO - who welcomed her second child eight months ago - paired the athleisure attire with a black leather motorcycle jacket. Kylie - who boasts 506.1M social media followers - demonstrated how to do a Mexican-American 'Chola' lip on TikTok - days after her beau Travis Scott denied having an affair with model Rojean Kar. Selfie time: Kylie Jenner flaunted her taut tummy in a white tank top chopped into a crop-top and matching Y-front biker shorts on Sunday Jenner was promoting her beauty brand's $17 'Rose and Chill' plumping gloss and the 'Leo' liner from her out-of-stock $32 Leo Matte Lip Kit. Kylie's promotional posts came the day before her babydaddy Travis Scott's alleged mistress Rojean Kar spoke out again, this time to clarify that she hasn't been romantically involved with him for a while. 'I have never perpetuated any narrative. I never said I'm currently with him or have recently been with him,' the 27-year-old Instagram model wrote via Instastory on Monday. Welcomed her second child eight months ago: The 25-year-old Kylie Cosmetics/Skin/Swim CEO bizarrely paired the athleisure attire with a black leather motorcycle jacket. 'New favorite lip combo!' Kylie - who boasts 506.1M social media followers - demonstrated how to do a Mexican-American 'Chola' lip on TikTok 'Ulta exclusive!' Jenner was simply promoting her beauty brand's $17 'Rose and Chill' plumping gloss and the 'Leo' liner from her out-of-stock $32 Leo Matte Lip Kit Snap: Last Friday, the Calabasas socialite claimed she was 'naturally pretty' and 'didn't need make-up' while chatting with her loyal glam squad member, Ariel Tejada 'Having someone you've known for almost a decade disrespect you and assume you won't stand up for yourself because you never do, is hurtful. I reacted in the moment and speaking on someone else's relationship was wrong of me. I have nothing to prove, him deleting all his posts as soon as I posted an inconspicuous screenshot speaks for itself. 'Having thousands of people say you've posted and done things that are completely out of character and you would never do is equally hurtful. I am a regular person with a real career and family. I'm not a blogger or reality TV star who lives by the motto "all publicity is good publicity."' Rojean also blasted trolls for posting 'Photoshopped tweets and photos that were never posted on any of my social media.' 'I never said I'm currently with him or have recently been with him': Kylie's promotional posts came the day before her babydaddy Travis Scott's alleged mistress Rojean Kar spoke out again, this time to clarify that she hasn't been romantically involved with him for a while The 27-year-old Instagram model wrote via Instastory on Monday: 'Having someone you've known for almost a decade disrespect you and assume you won't stand up for yourself because you never do, is hurtful' Shutting down allegations: Over the weekend Scott released a statement claiming that he had 'never been with this person' and also didn't even 'know this person' Long-time love: Kylie and Travis have been together for five years and share two children (pictured May) DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Travis Scott for comment. The 31-year-old Astroworld founder has completely denied ever knowing or dating Kar despite them posting extremely similar pictures visiting the same casino during the same week in the summer of 2019. Travis opted to put an end to the allegations on his Instagram story on Sunday. 'It's a lot of weird s**t going on. An uninvited person was sneaking photos on what was supposed to be a closed set while I was directing a video,' the singer typed out. 'I'm saying this for the last time,' the star wrote, further revealing that he doesn't even know the woman. 'I don't know this person. I've never been with this person. So please stop with the continuous cyber games and the fictional storytelling.' And in March 2018, the brunette beauty and Travis (born Jacques Webster) shared similar snowy snaps at a ski resort within two days of each other. Coincidence? The 31-year-old Astroworld founder (L) has completely denied ever knowing or dating Rojean despite them posting extremely similar pictures visiting the same casino during the same week in the summer of 2019 Former Sex And The City costume designer Patricia Field crashed the And Just Like That... season two set in NYC on Monday where lead star Sarah Jessica Parker was filming. The fashion icon, 80, looked delighted as she reunited with SATC and AJLT showrunner Michael Patrick King, 68, and posed up with a chair bearing the show's name - amid her continued friendship with SJP's nemesis and ex co-star Kim Cattrall. Patricia, who is now consulting costume designer for Netflix sensation, Emily In Paris, looked chic in a a black top, quirky green, yellow and red patterned trousers, and lime green brogues. The Queen is back: Former Sex And The City costume designer Patricia Field crashed the And Just Like That... set in NYC on Monday where lead star Sarah Jessica Parker was filming She completed her ensemble with an orange hat and glasses as she took a quick tour of the set. For her work on Sex And The City, Field was nominated for five Emmy Awards, win one win and six Costume Designers Guild Awards, with four wins. She went on to return as costume designer for the Sex And The City movie (2008) and the sequel (2010), however she was unable to reprise her role for the reboot due to her Emily In Paris commitments. Patricia is known for her close friendship with ex SATC star Kim Cattrall, 66, who played the iconic Samantha Jones, but exited the franchise acrimoniously due to her feud with Parker. Leggy: Carrie Bradshaw star SJP was also seen filming for the HBO reboot series, while showing her support for US senator candidate, Tim Ryan, with a printed bag Pals: The fashion icon, 80, looked delighted as she reunited with SATC and AJLT showrunner Michael Patrick King, 68 Fun: Patricia is known for her close friendship with ex SATC star Kim Cattrall, 66, who played the iconic Samantha Jones, but exited the franchise acrimoniously due to her feud with Parker Good to see you: Michael planted a kiss on Patricia's cheek as they met Colorful: Patricia, who is now consulting costume designer for Netflix sensation, Emily In Paris, looked chic in a a black top, quirky green, yellow and red patterned trousers, and lime green brogues Sarah Jessica, 57, flashed her toned legs in a lavender sequinned skirt with a daring thigh-split, teamed with matching stiletto sandals. She wore a colorful pinstriped blouse and wrapped up with a black padded jacket. The star wore her tresses in soft waves and sported smoky eye make-up and a face mask, She also showed her support for US senator candidate, Tim Ryan, as she toted a bag with his name on. Smile: Patricia looked delighted as she caught up with the showrunner Glam: Sarah Jessica, 57, flashed her toned legs in a lavender sequinned skirt with a daring thigh-split, teamed with matching stiletto sandals Filming: She wore a colorful pinstriped blouse and wrapped up with a black padded jacket Stroll: The star was seen strolling to set with a bodyguard Fab four: Kim starred as Samantha Jones in six series of the show from 1998-2004 as well as two movies (pictured with Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes, Kristin Davis as Charlotte York and SJP) Patricia has publicly pledged her allegiance with Kim since the show ended, and in December last year, said she is interested in doing a series with her, The two-time Emmy winner told Page Six: 'I would love to do a show with [Kim].' Back in December, Patricia also slammed Cynthia Nixon over her fashion demands when asked about her former assistant Molly Rogers' work styling the cast on HBO Max's And Just Like That. The Oscar nominee admitted she 'liked some of it, but not all of it', during an interview with the Sunday Times. She added: 'I know those gals! Sarah Jessica [Parker] thinks she knows everything - and she does. Cynthia Nixon thinks she knows everything - and she doesn't! Even today, when I speak with Molly, it's about Cynthia. I say, "I remember what you are going through." Reunion: Patricia has publicly pledged her allegiance with Kim since the show ended, and in December last year, said she is interested in doing a series with her (pictured in May with Kim and SATC author Candace Bushnell) Speaking about Kim's absence from the popular series, Field said: 'It is a vacuum. I hear it everywhere. Everyone is mad she wont be in it.' DailyMail.com exclusively revealed in September 2017 that a third Sex and the City movie was essentially 'torpedoed' due to Cattrall's excessive demands. Cattrall reportedly demanded that Warner Bros. step up and produce other movies she was developing, or she wouldn't star in Sex and the City 3. Parker, Nixon and Davis were all set to reprise their roles, with production slated to happen that fall, though the project completely fell apart and never went into production. Cattrall denied the story, tweeting, 'The only DEMAND I ever made was that I didnt want to do a 3rd film.& that was back in 2016.' Tensions had reportedly brewed between Cattrall and the rest of the cast since the start of the show, which escalated when one of her only allies - creator Darren Star - left the show and was replaced by Michael Patrick King, who created And Just Like That. The feud escalated in 2018 when Cattrall blasted Parker for talking about Kim's brother Christopher, who was found dead in Canada, in a TV interview. Phenomenon: SATC has become one of the most iconic television shows of all time 'Your continuous reaching out is a painful reminder of how cruel you really were then and now. Let me make this VERY clear. (If I havent already) You are not my family. You are not my friend. So Im writing to tell you one last time to stop exploiting our tragedy in order to restore your "nice girl" persona,' Cattrall said in the post Needless to say, most weren't surprised when Cattrall wasn't part of And Just Like That... with the actress revealing that she was never asked to be a part of the show. It was revealed in the first episode of And Just Like That... that her character, Samantha Jones, is now living in London. In February SJP also revealed that she does not want Kim to come back and reprise her role as Samantha Jones. In a new interview with Variety, Parke was asked if she would be 'OK' if Cattrall was able to come back to the show if some 'miracle were to happen,' after their very public feud exploded back in 2018. Proving the door is firmly shut to Cattrall, Parker responded: 'I don't think I would, because I think there's just too much public history of feelings on her part that she's shared.' Adding: 'I haven't participated in or read articles, although people are inclined to let me know.' 'We didn't go to Kim for this, you know,' Parker said. 'After we didn't do the movie and the studio couldn't meet what she wanted to do, we have to hear her and listen to her and what was important to her.' 'It didn't fit into what was important or needed for us. There's a very distinct line between Samantha and Kim,' Parker continued. 'Samantha's not gone. Samantha's present, and I think was handled with such respect and elegance. She wasn't villainized. She was a human being who had feelings about a relationship, so I think we found a way to address it which was necessary and important for people that loved her.' There was one notable guest missing from influencer couple Jade Tuncdoruk and Lachie Brycki's star-studded wedding on Saturday. Fitness queen Steph Claire Smith, who has been close with Jade and Lachie for years, wasn't in attendance when the genetically blessed couple tied the knot at a picturesque winery in the Hunter Valley. While some fans rushed to speculate about a rift in their friendship, it has since emerged there was a perfectly good reason why Steph could not attend. There was one notable guest missing from Jade Tuncdoruk (right) and Lachie Brycki's (left) star-studded wedding on Saturday: the couple's long-time friend Steph Claire Smith The 28-year-old entrepreneur was unable to travel from Melbourne to rural NSW because her whole family had Covid. Steph, the founder of popular workout program Keep It Cleaner, revealed on Monday she'd caught the virus alongside her husband Josh Miller and baby son Harvey. 'Why did you not go to Jade's wedding?' a fan asked her during an Instagram Q&A, to which she replied, 'Because we all had Covid,' alongside a broken-heart emoji. Steph (right, with Jade in an undated photo) wasn't in attendance when the newlyweds tied the knot in the Hunter Valley. While some fans rushed to speculate about a rift in their friendship, it has since emerged there was a perfectly good reason why she could not attend The model also said her husband had been 'hit the hardest' out of all of them, but was starting to feel better. Steph's health update comes after influencers Jade, 27, and Lachie, 29, exchanged vows on Saturday at the French-inspired Krinklewood Vineyard. The Instagram star walked down the aisle in a custom-made dress with a flowing skirt from J. Andreatta Bridal Couture. The 28-year-old entrepreneur was unable to travel from Melbourne to rural NSW because her whole family had Covid. Steph, the founder of workout program Keep It Cleaner, revealed on Monday she'd caught the virus alongside her husband Josh Miller and baby son Harvey The model also said her husband Josh had been 'hit the hardest' out of all of them, but was starting to feel better She then changed into a slinky Marilyn Monroe-inspired satin halterneck dress for dinner and dancing at her reception. Jade wore her brunette locks up with strands delicately framing her face, and accessorised with a pair of dainty gold earrings. Her makeup palette comprised rosy cheeks, a nude lipstick and lashings of mascara. Steph's health update comes after influencers Jade (centre left) and Lachie (left) exchanged vows on Saturday at the French-inspired Krinklewood Vineyard The Instagram star walked down the aisle in a custom-made dress with a flowing skirt from J. Andreatta Bridal Couture. She then changed into a slinky Marilyn Monroe-inspired satin halterneck dress for dinner and dancing at her reception (pictured centre right) Lachie looked dapper in a classic black tuxedo with a white shirt underneath, which he matched with a bow tie. (The newlyweds are pictured with a male guest at their wedding) Lachie looked dapper in a classic black tuxedo with a white shirt underneath, which he matched with a bow tie. After saying 'I do', the couple enjoyed an outdoor meal and reception under a marquee at the idyllic estate. A violin quartet serenaded the guests as they milled around sipping glasses of champagne on the stunning grounds. Jade (centre, with her bridesmaids) wore her brunette locks up with strands delicately framing her face, and accessorised with a pair of dainty gold earrings Her makeup palette comprised rosy cheeks, a nude lipstick and lashings of mascara The newlyweds enjoyed a toast as the reception kicked off in style Tables were beautifully decorated with bunches of wild flowers, and the menus were handwritten by a calligrapher. Food on offer included pasta cooked outdoors in a giant pot by a chef, as well as a wedding cake which the newlyweds sliced together in front of their guests. After the wedding, Jade her new husband partied into the early hours of the morning to the tunes of DJ Hayden Short. High-profile guests included former Bachelor star Bella Varelis, who was one of Jade's bridesmaids. The couple shared their first dance after the sun went down The logo of Credit Suisse is seen at a building in the Brunau quarters in Zurich, Switzerland, in this Dec. 9, 2008, file photo. AP-Yonhap French prosecutors said Monday that Credit Suisse has agreed to pay 238 million euros ($234 million) to settle tax fraud allegations, the latest blow for the embattled Swiss bank. The bank will pay 123 million euros in fines and 115 million in damages and interest to France, whose investigators will close an inquiry launched in 2016 on possible charges of aggravated tax fraud laundering and illegal soliciting, French prosecutor Jean-Francois Bohnert said in a statement. French media have reported that Credit Suisse representatives courted wealthy French customers to persuade them to open accounts with the bank that weren't declared to French tax authorities. Credit Suisse says it doesn't acknowledge criminal liability in the settlement. "The bank is pleased to resolve this matter, which marks another important step in the proactive resolution of litigation and legacy issues," the company said in a statement. It comes just a week after Credit Suisse agreed to pay $495 million in a U.S. settlement over a yearslong dispute tied to mortgage-backed securities, an investment vehicle that played a central role in the 2008 financial crisis. The settlements are just the latest of a string of woes for Credit Suisse, including bad bets on hedge funds and a spying scandal involving UBS. A Swiss court fined the bank more than $2 million in June for failing to prevent money laundering linked to a Bulgarian criminal gang more than 15 years ago. CEO Thomas Gottstein announced in July that he was resigning after 2 1/2 years in the job as the bank posted a net loss of 1.6 billion Swiss francs (about $1.7 billion) in the second quarter. (AP) Married At First Sight bride Susie Bradley is moving onwards and upwards after her brutal split from her ex-fiance Todd Carney. The single mum, 29, splashed out on a new family home on the Gold Coast, Queensland. She proudly shared her big news on Tuesday, uploading several Instagram photos of herself, daughter Baby, eight, and son Lion, one, posing in front their newly-purchased digs. Married At First Sight bride Susie Bradley, 29, announced she's purchased a new family home on the Gold Coast, Queensland, on Monday, uploading photos of herself posing in front of the property with her daughter Baby, eight, and son Lion, one 'Bought my babies a house. #NewBeginnings,' the cosmetic nurse wrote in the caption. Susie looked ecstatic in the images, grinning widely as she cuddled her kids next to a 'sold' sign in the front yard. Baby was also seen holding the leash of a newly-purchased puppy. Susie's milestone moment caps off a rocky year for the former reality star, whose messy split from NRL star Todd Carney made headlines back in June. 'Bought my babies a house. #NewBeginnings,' the cosmetic nurse wrote in the caption Susie's milestone moment caps off a rocky year for the former reality star, whose messy split from NRL star Todd Carney (right) made national headlines back in June The couple began dating back in 2019, with Todd stepping into the role of stepfather to Susie's daughter, Baby. They announced their engagement in December 2020, shortly before confirming Susie was also pregnant with their first child together. They welcomed their first child together, Lion, in April last year. They announced their engagement in December 2020, shortly before confirming Susie was also pregnant with their first child together Just hours after she confirmed the end of her engagement with Todd, Susie was rushed to hospital when she collapsed at the Gold Coast home. The Courier Mail reported she was in a serious condition when emergency services arrived at her home. Susie chose not to share details of her health scare, but told her followers that she had taken temporary leave from her beauty clinic business. The couple had been together for three years before their shock break-up Susie has deleted all traces of Todd from her Instagram, while the ex-Cronulla Sharks player also deleted his Instagram account Meanwhile, Susie has deleted all traces of Todd from her Instagram, while the ex-Cronulla Sharks player also deleted his Instagram account. Susie rose to fame on the fifth season of Married At First Sight, which was filmed in late 2018 and aired the following year. She was partnered with barista Billy Vincent, but they split before their final vows. Todd infamously had his $3M contract with the Cronulla Sharks torn up in 2014 after he was pictured urinating in his own mouth at a Sydney pub. He now works as a concreter. A farm owner who begged Bindi Irwin for help after losing 99 per cent of her birds to avian influenza has shared an update on her beloved emu Emmanuel. Taylor Blake, also known as Eco Sister on Twitter, sent a desperate message to the Irwin clan last week after she thought her emu and TikTok fan favourite Emmanuel had contracted the virus. Taylor has now revealed her emu has tested negative for avian influenza and his condition is improving. Florida farm owner who begged Bindi Irwin for help after losing 99 per cent of her birds to avian influenza shares incredible update about her TikTok-famous emu Emmanuel 'Emmanuel Todd Lopez tested negative for Avian Influenza at 2 separate labs, swab, fecal and blood,' she revealed on Sunday. 'He doesn't have the virus, and is not actively shedding the virus. God is good! Thank you for the prayers, the kind words and the support. Always trust your intuition!' Taylor said Emmanuel was 'getting stronger each day' and was now able to lift himself. 'I'm getting stronger each day, friends! I am now able to lift myself up and reposition myself on my own,' she wrote alongside an image of her beloved bird. Taylor has revealed her emu has tested negative for avian influenza and his condition is improving She revealed Emmanuel was 'getting stronger each day' and was now able to lift himself 'This is a BIG step because before, I would just fall over. My neck is starting to straighten out and I am drinking lots of water on my own! Thank you for the prayers.' Taylor has been sharing the story of her sick emu Emmanuel on social media since her farm in South Florida was struck down with the epidemic. Earlier this month, she explained she had lost every chicken and duck as well as many geese, turkeys and swans. Taylor has been sharing the story of her sick emu Emmanuel on social media since her farm in South Florida was struck down with the epidemic Last week, Taylor sent a desperate plea to the Irwin clan after she believed Emmanuel had contracted the flu, however he later tested negative to the virus. She expressed her admiration for the family while asking for advice. 'I have been a fan of your family for as long as I can remember, I am reaching out to you in total desperation right now,' she tweeted. 'I need help saving my emu, Emmanuel. I will pay to fly anyone to us, if they can help, no questions asked.' Bindi responded: 'Thank you so much for reaching out.' 'Though our Wildlife Hospital which has treated over 100,000 animals including emus, we have never treated an emu with this particular disease,' she added. She thought her beloved bird Emmanuel was the latest bird to contract the flu, prompting Taylor to send a desperate plea to the Irwin clan 'We will need to rely on our fellow animal experts with more experience with this avian flu.' Bindi continued: 'Our hearts are with you and we appreciate that you care so deeply and have such compassion for darling Emmanuel. 'We believe that all of us need to have love for each and every individual animal. 'We hope that someone who has greater experience in their area can be of assistance. Sending love and light your way from our entire family.' Taylor thanked Bindi for replying, writing: 'Thank you so much for taking the time to write this, Bindi your response alone means more than you know. Please send my love to your family!' Bindi responded by saying she wasn't able to provide too much support because the team at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital had never treated birds with avian flu, but did send her 'love and prayers' to the farm But some fans flocked to social media to slam Bindi's response, with one calling it 'pathetic' and 'useless'. 'What a pathetic, useless reply. Zero effort to help when you're in a supposedly unique position to use your influence and contacts to actually help her. Thoughts and prayers are cheap. You are unimpressive and that's being polite,' they said. 'Thoughts and prayers are nice, but is there not someone you could recommend, given your family has been in this field for years?' another agreed. A third person wrote: 'So you don't know of anyone in your network who could help? One would assume it wouldn't be hard for you to ask around or spread the word in the hopes someone with the right experience comes forward, rather than writing this form[al] letter response pretending you care.' 'We hope that someone who has greater experience in their area can be of assistance. Sending love and light your way from our entire family,' Bindi wrote Bindi is the daughter of Steve Irwin, known to millions around the world as 'the Crocodile Hunter'. Steve died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray while filming a documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland. Bindi was just eight years old at the time. Following his death, Steve's family, including his daughter Bindi, widow Terri, son Robert and son-in-law Chandler Powell, have continued his conservation work at Australia Zoo. Idris Elba's wife Sabrina looked incredibly chic and stylish as she hit the red carpet in London on Monday. The model, 33, stunned in a plunging white dress as she attended the Pride of Britain Awards. Sabrina flew solo at the event, stepping out without her man, but commanded attention on the red carpet. Pride of Britain Awards 2022: Sabrina Elba looked chic in a plunging white dress in London on Monday as she graced the red carpet Her frock featured a V-neckline, three-quarter sleeves and a fitted skirt. She teamed the look with black heels and eye-catching gold jewellery including a beaded choker and bracelets. Sabrina wore her short, dark locks out and neatly straightened around her face and makeup including a deep nude lip and a bronzed eye. Dolled up: Sabrina wore her short, dark locks out and neatly straightened around her face and makeup including a deep nude lip and a bronzed eye Other stars who attended the coveted event included the likes of Peter Andre, Zara McDermott, Holly Willoughby and Emily Atack. The evening marked the 23rd annual Pride Of Britain Awards, with the ceremony taking place since 1999 and honouring the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public. After a shortlist has been produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. Despite taking place on Monday evening, the ceremony will be aired on ITV on Thursday 27 October at 8pm. Understated elegance: She teamed the look with black heels and eye-catching gold jewellery including a beaded choker and bracelets It comes after her husband Idris, 50, revealed the hilarious moment his steamy shower romp with his wife Sabrina was brought to an abrupt end by a rogue bat. The actor, who is set to star in the upcoming film Beast, shared the amusing anecdote from his time shooting in South Africa, admitting he is 'horrified' by the animal. Idris, who married Sabrina in 2019, also admitted his never been able to live down his reaction to seeing the bat, and his wife still 'makes fun of him to this day'. He told Men's Journal: 'I was shooting in Limpopo. My wife was there and we were going to have some fun in the shower. 'Some morning romance, you know? She got in, then I followed her and closed the door. But then I looked down and clinging for life to the inside shower door handle was this bat. 'A tiny, wet bat. I hate bats. It was freaky as f***. I jumped out of the shower so fast. My wife makes fun of me about it to this day ''You left me in the shower with a bat!'' Idris went onto reveal that he first developed a fear of bats while he was in Australia in 2019. They celebrated their third wedding anniversary on Monday, after first meeting when he judged her food on BBC's Celebrity MasterChef. And Lisa Faulker, 50, took to Instagram to celebrate the milestone with a gushing tribute to husband John Torode, 57. The actress also offered her 322K followers a look at the big day with a candid throwback snap of the couple as they enjoyed a kiss after exchanging vows. Throwback: Lisa Faulker, 50, took to Instagram to celebrate her third wedding anniversary with a gushing tribute to husband John Torode, 57, on Monday Lisa looked ravishing in her ivory gown as a dapper John held her close and they gazed into each others eyes during the sweet embrace. She penned: 'Happy anniversary my @johntorodecooks 3 wonderful years married to you'. 'What a beautiful wedding. Have sat and looked at our wedding video and the happiness in everyone's faces. You bring me so much joy. I love you so very much. Thank you for being my husband'. Happy couple: The actress also offered her 322K followers a look at the big day with a candid throwback snap of the couple as they enjoyed a kiss after exchanging vows (pictured together earlier this year) The TV judge rushed to the comments section and replied: 'Bloody love my wife'. Meanwhile actress Amanda Abbington wrote: 'Happy anniversary to two of the most beautiful people' while Sean Maguire agreed writing 'Congrats to you both'. And All Saints Natalie Appleton added: ' Happy anniversary'. Lovebirds: She penned: 'Happy anniversary my @johntorodecooks 3 wonderful years married to you' while John quickly exclaimed he 'bloody loves' his wife Famous friends: Meanwhile actress Amanda Abbington wrote: 'Happy anniversary to two of the most beautiful people' while Sean Maguire agreed writing 'Congrats to you both' The couple wed at the swanky Aynhoe Park in Banbury in October 2019 with a whole host of famous faces on the guest list, including Amanda Holden and Tamzin Outhwaite. Lisa was previously married to EastEnders actor Chris Choghill, 47, from 2005-2011 and with whom she shares 16-year-old daughter Billie. Meanwhile John split from wife Jessica in 2011, with whom he shares Jonah, 18, and Lulu, 16, and is also a father to two other older sons from a previous relationship. 'Wonderful husband and best friend': The holiday comes as John and Lisa opened up about their romance and navigating their blended family (pictured together in July) In a new interview with The Sunday Times earlier this year ,the culinary duo got candid about their first encounter, cooking and family, with John admitting there has been a 'black mark' about when the pair met. The Australian explained how in his version of events, they'd met when Lisa was a contestant on Celebrity MasterChef back in 2010. Yet unearthed footage from This Morning back in 1996 showed John being introduced as the new chef, while his now-wife was being interviewed on the sofa. For London-born Lisa, their initial meet on the ITV daytime show had not escaped her memory, as she recalled complimenting one of his dishes and his brusque reply. She regaled that she thought he was arrogant, but that soon changed when their soon-found friendship after MasterChef developed into something more. Of how he'd been encouraged to ask the Brookside actress on a date, John divulged: 'I'd separated from my wife [Jessica] which was awful, and I was reluctant to approach Lisa face to face as I didn't fancy the prospect of her saying no, so I wrote her a letter. 'If I'd got no response, it wouldn't matter. Cowardly? S***, yeah. I'm as cowardly as they get.' John explained that she'd agreed to a date and from there, everything fell into place, gushing that 'we just really, really like each other.' A teary-eyed Brendan Fraser was met with a standing ovation at the Montclair Film Festival screening of his new movie The Whale, which marks his triumphant return to Hollywood after a lengthy battle with depression. The 53-year-old actor attempted to quietly enter the Wellmont Theater in New Jersey on Sunday, but the audience burst into applause when they realized he was taking his seat. Fraser looked emotional during the standing ovation the audience gave him following the film just before he took the stage for an interview with Stephen Colbert. It comes during the actor's Hollywood comeback after grappling with depression following a claim of sexual assault and being in and out of hospital for health issues. To end the standing ovation, Stephen Colbert joked 'I'm afraid that's all we have time for' but the interview with a visibly emotional Fraser carried on. Fraser's film The Whale is set to hit theaters on December 9, and marks his first lead role in a movie since thriller Breakout in 2013. A teary-eyed Brendan Fraser, 53, was met with a standing ovation at the Montclair Film Festival screening of his new movie The Whale as the actor continues his Hollywood comeback The 53-year-old actor attempted to quietly enter the Wellmont Theater in New Jersey on Sunday, but the audience burst into applause when they realized he was taking his seat Fraser looked emotional during the standing ovation the audience gave him following the film just before he took the stage for an interview with Stephen Colbert Actor Dwayne Johnson called for his former The Mummy Returns co-star to bag an Oscar for his role in The Whale. The Whale is a psychological drama which saw Fraser undergo a physical transformation, as he plays a 600-pound man confined to a wheelchair, a role for which he also had to wear prosthetics. The official synopsis reads: 'A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption.' In a interview with MTV News, Johnson insisted he was 'so happy' for Fraser, adding: 'I want him to go all the way, man, I wanna see him on that Oscar stage, and hold that sucker up, and deliver, I'm sure, what will be an amazing speech.' Johnson, known to fans as The Rock, made his acting debut in the 2001 The Mummy sequel as the Scorpion King, alongside lead actor Fraser who portrayed adventurer. The Whale is a psychological drama with Fraser (seen left at the premiere and right in the movie) who underwent a physical transformation and wore prosthetics to play a man 'living with obesity' Fraser's film The Whale is set to hit theaters on December 9, and marks his first lead role in a movie since thriller Breakout in 2013 Earlier this month, Fraser broke down in tears when he received a five-minute standing ovation at the London screening of the movie. The actor's emotional display came amid a lengthy press tour for his new project, which marks his triumphant return to Hollywood after a lengthy battle with depression. Fraser has said this was sparked after he was 'sexually assaulted' by the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Philip Berk, in 2003. In footage shared on social media following the film's Venice screening last month, Fraser fought back tears as he received another lengthy standing ovation. And the poignancy of the touching moment did not go unnoticed by the actor's friends and fans alike with several taking to Twitter to share words of support. Fraser shot to stardom when he was cast in children's favorite film franchises George of the Jungle and The Mummy. Brendan Fraser receives a five-minute standing ovation at a London screening of The Whale the movie that marks his Hollywood comeback after a lengthy battle with depression Acclaimed performance: The Whale, which will be released in cinemas in December, received its first premiere at the Venice Film Festival last month, and is quickly earning rave reviews. Pictured: Its premiere at the London Film Festival last week Fraser first shot to fame as a Hollywood heartthrob starring in big-hit movies like George of the Jungle and The Mummy His chiseled physique earned him a position as a Hollywood heartthrob as he thrashed around the sets performing stunts in high-action roles. But Fraser revealed in a later interview the toll the stunts had taken on his body. He told GQ in 2018 that when he filmed the third installment in The Mummy franchise, he was being taped up and was icing injuries in between takes. 'By the time I did the third Mummy picture in China [in 2008], I was put together with tape and ice... because they're small and light and they can fit under your clothes. I was building an exoskeleton for myself daily,' he recalled. Eventually the injuries he received while performing his stunts required multiple surgeries. He needed a lumbar laminectomy, a surgery that removes the back portion of a vertebra in the lower back, to create more room within the spinal canal. However, it didn't take and it had to be done again a year later. He had a partial knee replacement, more back surgery involving bolting various compressed spinal pads together and even surgery to repair his vocal cords. Fraser said he was in and out of hospitals for almost seven years. Actor Dwayne Johnson called for his former The Mummy Returns co-star (pictured) to bag an Oscar for his role in The Whale Alongside his physical injuries, Fraser also revealed in a 2018 GQ interview that he believed he had been blacklisted from Hollywood after he claimed he had been sexually assaulted by the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Philip Berk, in 2003. Fraser claimed he was leaving a luncheon hosted by the HFPA at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Hollywood when Berk shook his hand. He said: 'His left hand reaches around, grabs my a** cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. And he starts moving it around.' The actor added: 'I felt ill. I felt like a little kid. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. I thought I was going to cry.' Fraser claimed he was able to remove Berk's hand before running out of the hotel and going straight home. He told his then wife, actress Afton Smith, about the incident but never made it public. Instead, his reps asked Berk for a written apology, which he provided, but did not admit any wrongdoing. Speaking to GQ about the claims, Berk acknowledged he had written a letter of apology to Fraser but insisted he had not done anything wrong and dismissed Fraser's account as 'a total fabrication'. Picture perfect: Brendan was proudly supported by his glamorous partner Jeanne Moore at the UK premiere of The Whale at the BFI London Film Festival Dream team: Joining Brendan (centre) for the premiere was The Whale's director Darren Aronofsky (left) and screenwriter Samuel D. Hunter (right) After Fraser reported the claim to the HFPA he said he believed he may have been 'blacklisted' and was rarely invited back to the Golden Globe awards. Fraser said the incident had caused him to 'retreat' as he spiraled into depression. He described feeling 'not worthy' as the decade wore on, leading him to take roles he was less proud of. Meanwhile, his marriage was also falling apart. He divorced Afton in 2007 after nine years of marriage and three sons together, Griffin, Leland and Holden. As part of the settlement, he was ordered to pay $50,000 a month in spousal support. However in 2013 he sought an amendment to the agreement asking to pay less, claiming he wasn't earning the same enormous cheques he had received in the 1990s during his heyday and couldn't afford the payments. The Whale marks Brendan's first Hollywood project in almost ten years and Brendan's first lead role in a movie since straight-to-DVD thriller Breakout in 2013, leading many fans to believe this is his comeback. The Whale is a psychological drama which saw Brendan undergo a physical transformation, as he plays a 600-pound gay man confined to a wheelchair, a role for which he also had to wear prosthetics. 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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Could a CBDC turn the yuan into a global currency? 10:32, October 24, 2022 By Zhou Lanxu ( China Daily Since the first day I started covering stories about the digital yuan, one question has occupied my mind constantly What is the real relationship between the country's push toward a central bank digital currency, or CBDC, and yuan internationalization? Some argue that these are separate topics that should not be confused with one another. E-CNY is only a digital form of the yuan, on par with the physical form. It barely impacts the currency's internationalization, which instead depends on the country's economic and trade heft as well as financial opening-up progress. But others believe the opposite, contending that e-CNY may play a necessary position in internationalizing the yuan and even transforming the geoeconomic landscape. An e-CNY themed exhibition is held during the 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) held in Beijing in September. [Photo/Xinhua] My perspective on this topic is that e-CNY may indeed have limited actual impact on yuan internationalization in the short term due to its focus on domestic retail scenarios. But strategically, boosting the Chinese currency's global profile would require a robust ecosystem of e-CNY as the rise of multiple CBDCs across the world is changing the determinants of a currency's competitive edge. In late September, the mBridge platform which explores multilateral cooperation regarding CBDC international payments completed its first real-trade pilot test with four CBDCs including e-CNY, supporting more than $22 million in foreign exchange transactions. That amount appears to be small as official data showed the value of transactions using e-CNY in domestic pilot areas had topped 100 billion yuan ($13.8 billion) by the end of August, demonstrating e-CNY's current focus on domestic scenarios. While many developed economies focus CBDC development on cross-border payments, the emphasis of e-CNY should be put on retail payments to facilitate people making daily transactions, said Zhou Xiaochuan, former governor of People's Bank of China, the central bank. But Zhou also recognized that domestic retail applications can pave the way for cross-border e-CNY transactions. "Obviously, (CBDC) retail payments act as an important basis for cross-border payments," Zhou said while addressing a forum last month. "If two countries do not have efficient and secure digital currency retail payment arrangements, cross-border connectivity would be difficult." Declaring its intention to explore cross-border CBDC applications, the PBOC vowed in an article this month to deeply participate in international digital currency governance. Apart from taking an active part in the mBridge project promoted by the Bank for International Settlements, or BIS, the PBOC has launched technical tests for CBDC payments between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, the article said. As the infrastructure for cross-border CBDC payments matures in the future, e-CNY may help slash the time and money costs of international payments and settlements, potentially encouraging more global use of the renminbi. A BIS report has noted that multiple CBDC settlements were able to complete international transfers in seconds, as opposed to the several days normally required for any transaction to be completed using the existing network of commercial banks. In a world where nine out of 10 central banks are exploring CBDCs, it is needless to say that those who cannot catch up with others in facilitating fast and safe international CBDC transfers would lose some appeal in the global currency landscape. This is one of the key reasons why a robust e-CNY system would be a prerequisite for internationalizing the yuan over the long run. As Song Ke, deputy director of the International Monetary Institute at the Renmin University of China, puts it, the core of currency competition may shift from grabbing more trade shares to providing information services for payment networks as CBDC systems mature. By then, economies with a sound basis of digital services can pursue new paths of currency internationalization while the monetary sovereignty of those with weak strength in information technology could be impaired, Song said. "It is too early to discuss the impact of the digital yuan on the global currency landscape," he said. "But the influence of CBDCs on the reform of the international currency system would be far-reaching." (Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu) South Korean people watch breaking news of a North Korean ship invading the Northern Limit Line at Seoul Station, Monday. Newsis North Korean merchant ship violates maritime border By Kang Seung-woo South and North Korea exchanged warning shots, Monday, accusing each other of border violations in the West Sea, in what is already a period of heightened tension. According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), a North Korean merchant ship invaded the Northern Limit Line (NLL) at 3:42 a.m. and the South Korean Navy responded with 20 warning messages and as many warning shots to repel the vessel. However, nearly one hour after the North Korean ship retreated, the North's military fired 10 artillery shells into the West Sea, claiming that a South Korean naval ship intruded into North Korean waters 2.5 kilometers to five kilometers with the excuse that South Korean authorities were cracking down on an unidentified ship when they made the alleged intrusion. The NLL is the de facto maritime border in the West Sea between the two Koreas, drawn up by the United Nations Command after the 1950-53 Korean War. However, Pyongyang has persistently attempted to invalidate the NLL, claiming that it should be drawn south of the current line. In that respect, bloody battles occurred there in 1999, 2002 and 2009 and thus in order to prevent such unintended incidents, the two Koreas reached an agreement to establish a maritime buffer zone spanning around 80 kilometers in the East Sea and 135 kilometers in the West Sea under which artillery firing and naval drills are suspended, while routine patrol operations near the NLL and efforts to protect fishing activities continue. According to the South Korean JCS, it detected the North's launch of 10 artillery shells, which started at around 5:14 a.m., in violation of the inter-Korean military agreement, signed in September 2018 to reduce border tensions. The JCS called it a provocation harming peace and stability not only on the peninsula but also in the international community. However, the General Staff of the North's Korean People's Army (KPA) said its coastal defense units on the western front took initial countermeasure to "powerfully expel the enemy warship by firing 10 shells, from multiple rocket launchers, toward the territorial waters, where the enemy's naval movements were detected, at 5:15." It added, "The KPA General Staff once again sends a grave warning to the enemies who made the naval intrusion in the wake of such provocations as the recent artillery firing and loudspeaker broadcasting on the ground front." In response, the JCS said it was no longer operating loudspeakers along the border. The exchange of fire came as tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been sharply escalating due to the North's recent belligerent activities. Between Oct. 14 and 19, North Korea fired some 1,000 artillery shells off of the east and west coasts of the Korean peninsula, while a total of 44 ballistic missiles have been launched this year, a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, which currently ban the North from testing ballistic missile technology. Alongside the recent provocations, North Korea has fully prepared for a nuclear test, according to South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities, ratcheting up tensions further on the peninsula. Diplomatic observers believe North Korea's next nuclear test is a matter of when and not if. "North Korea could conduct a nuclear test any day now especially now that the Chinese party congress is over," said Harry Kazianis, the president of the Rogue States Project, a U.S.-based think tank. "We should stop asking if it will happen the only question now is when." China, North Korea's lone ally, ended its National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, Saturday, which saw President Xi Jinping re-elected for an unprecedented third five-year term, with many believing that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would detonate another nuclear device after Beijing's major political event. "My guess would be that Kim would want to put a little distance between China's big political events and the nuclear test, so it would make sense to pull the trigger sometime near the U.S. midterms for maximum impact maybe around the week of Oct. 31," Kazianis said. Traditionally, the North Korean regime has shown a proclivity to cause trouble around U.S. election time. "Kim would get maximum media impact if he did it a few days before the midterms," he added. The Korean government and the World Health Organization (WHO) will jointly host the 2022 World Bio Summit at Grand Walkerhill Seoul from Oct. 25 to 26. Screenshot from the World Bio Summit website By Lee Hyo-jin The Korean government and the World Health Organization (WHO) will jointly host the 2022 World Bio Summit in Seoul from Oct. 25 to 26, gathering various health experts, the heads of international organizations and the leaders of top biopharmaceutical firms. The inaugural event will take place at Grand Walkerhill Seoul, bringing together over 300 participants from around the world, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will deliver his opening remarks online, while President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Masatsugu Asakawa, former Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) Richard Hatchett and Director General of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Jerome Kim, will give speeches in person. Under the theme, "the future of vaccine and bio-health," the experts will share their insight on ways to boost global cooperation in the development of vaccines and treatments in preparation for future pandemics, reflecting on lessons learned from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. On the first day of the summit, the heads of global pharmaceutical companies such as Merck, Moderna, Pfizer, SK Bioscience, MSD, Shinogi, Afrigen and Biovec will gather for a CEO session chaired by the director general of the IVI, to share their experiences in developing COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, and visions to foster the bio-health industry. On the second day, the health ministers of six countries Korea, the United States, Germany, Nigeria, El Salvador and Thailand will announce the Seoul Declaration, pledging increased partnerships for future pandemics. The large-scale event comes as the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of cooperation between countries. While vaccines and treatments remain vital tools to combat the ongoing global health crisis, inequitable access to medical resources has hindered pandemic responses in low- and middle-income countries. Earlier this year, Korea was selected by the WHO as a global biomanufacturing training hub, joining international initiatives to support such countries in fostering vaccine production experts. Wishing the Indian community in Fiji on Diwali, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said that this year's celebration is special as the world has won over the Covid pandemic. "I thank God we live in a country where we can so openly share in the celebrations of all our fellow Fijians... Fijians of all backgrounds have been draped in colourful sarees, salwar kameez and kurtas and workplaces have been decorated," Bainimarama said in a video message posted on Twitter. On the eve of Diwali, I thank God we live in a country where we can so openly share in the celebrations of all our fellow Fijians. Whether you plan to celebrate in the comfort of a beautifully lit home, at work, or out with friends and family, I wish you all a very Happy Diwali! pic.twitter.com/ZeFsXpM0UA Frank Bainimarama (@FijiPM) October 24, 2022 A significant number of Fiji-Indians celebrate Ramlila and Diwali with traditional rituals, and they are part of the main events held on the islands. Also Read | Thousands flock to Golden Temple for Bandi Chhor Diwas, Diwali celebrations Like their Indian counterparts, people of Fiji celebrate Diwali with elaborate lighting and candle decorations. It is also a national holiday in the country. "This Diwali is special because we celebrate with the assurance that our resilience has prevailed over the pandemic and with the happiness that our recovery is here. Light has won over darkness. Good has won over evil." Diwali in Fiji is a five-day festival, starting with Dhanteras, then Hanuman Jayanti and Narak Chaturdashi, followed by Diwali, and then Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj celebrations. Indians make around 38 per cent of Fiji's population and as of 2021, roughly 3.20 lakh Indians live in the South Pacific nation, according to the Union Ministry of External Affairs. They have mostly descended from 'Girmitiyas', or indentured labourers, brought to the islands by British colonial rulers between 1879 and 1916 to work on Fiji's sugar plantations. The vast majority of Indo-Fijians trace their origins to Bihar and South India. Two loud blasts were heard across the Syrian capital Damascus on Monday, according to a Reuters witness and Syrian state news agency SANA. SANA said authorities were investigating the source of the blasts. Not ruling out a terror angle to the LPG cylinder blast onboard a car in which the occupant, a 25-year-old man, was killed in Coimbatore in the early hours of Sunday, the Tamil Nadu Police on Monday began questioning nine people who were in touch with the deceased in the days leading up to the incident. Jameesha Mubin was killed instantly as an LPG cylinder inside the car he was driving exploded near a temple in Ukkadam in communally-sensitive Coimbatore on Sunday morning. The police are refusing to rule out terror angle not just because Mubin was one of the five persons to be questioned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2019 in connection with the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka, but also because of materials recovered from his house after Sundays incident. However, there is no concrete evidence against Mubin so far to say he was planning an attack on Sunday, police sources said, adding that CCTV footage shows Mubin and three of his accomplices carrying a heavy object from his house. Though there is no clarity, investigators assume the heavy object could be two LPG cylinders that were in the vehicle that exploded while one went up in flames, another was intact. There is no case registered against him. But he was questioned for his links with Towheed Jamaat which is responsible for the bombings in Sri Lanka, a senior police officer said, without revealing further details. Police also found black powder, potassium nitrate, aluminium powder, charcoal, sulphur and matchboxes from Mubins house but say these materials are not enough to come to any concrete conclusion. Also Read | Fire breaks out at a drugs production firm in Chennai TN Director General of Police (DGP) C Sylendra Babu, who inspected the blast site on Sunday evening along with senior officials, inferred that Mubin could have been planning an attack in the future given the nature of the materials recovered from his residence. The suspicion that the blast could have a terror angle also arose from the fact that it occurred near a temple on Sunday morning. But, police sources said, there is nothing concrete so far to connect Sundays incident to terror other than assumptions. The sources added that police have formed six special teams to probe the incident. While two persons seen in the CCTV footage have been identified, efforts are on to identify the remaining individual the two are believed to have told the police that Mubin asked them to help in shifting his home. In total, we are questioning nine people who were in contact with Mubin in the last few days before his death. The investigation is continuing, a source said. Another official also refuted reports that the deceased was from Bangladesh. The incident also comes weeks after an alert was sounded across the country following a ban on Popular Front of India (PFI). Coimbatore has always been communally-sensitive especially after the 1998 blasts killed 58 people in which BJP leader L K Advani had a miraculous escape. While Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami demanded a thorough investigation to find out whether this was an accident or a pre-planned attack, Tamil Nadu BJP called it a clear cut terror attack and asked the DMK government to own up the failure of the state intelligence network. Coimbatore Cylinder blast is no more a cylinder blast. Its a clear-cut terror act with ISIS links. Will @CMOTamilnadu come out in the open & accept this? Is this not a clear failure of the state intelligence machinery & DMK Govt? The accused who died during the course of planning this attack had clear cut links to ISIS & was handled from outside the country, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai tweeted. A local publication celebrating 1500 years of Derrys most historic site is to be launched in the city. 'Casting a Long Shadow: A People's History of the Long Tower' will be launched at the St Columba's Church, Long Tower, on Friday (October 28), at 8.30pm and everyone is very welcome. Published by Colmcille Press, 'Casting a Long Shadow: A People's History of the Long Tower' is the first comprehensive history of the area to be produced in more than a century. The book was written by Ivor Doherty, Martin McGeehan and Joe Martin, and edited by Erin Hutcheon and Philly Barwise. It features more than 30 contributors including Dr Brian Lacy, Seamas OReilly, Patricia Nic Torcail and Professor Declan McGonagle. The researchers follow the site from Columban times, through the Middle Ages and the era of Penal Law, through the revival in the 1800s and 1900s, right up until the recent 1500th anniversary celebrations. They revisit revolutionary priests, hostile city authorities, a graveyard landslide, and a pro-establishment bishop known as Orange Charlie. They also unearth the story of how the Long Tower came to have one of the finest collections of church art outside Italy. In addition, using archives, annals and ancient records, they attempt to pinpoint the location of the 6th century monastic settlement, the route of the medieval Columban pilgrimage, and the exact site of the 12th century Tur Fada (Long Tower), saidto be the tallest building in Ireland at the time. 'Casting a Long Shadow: A People's History of the Long Tower' contains scores of photographs, illustrations and old records, which will captivate the casual reader and serious historian alike. Priced 20, Casting A Long Shadow is now available from local bookshops, Colmcille Press and from the office at Aras Cholmcille at the Long Tower. An Chroi Community Hub and North West Multi Modal Transport Hub have been recognised at the prestigious RICS Awards Grand Final in London. An Chroi Community Hub was highly commended in the Community Benefit Project category, whilst the project team delivering the North West Multi Modal Transport Hub won Infrastructure Team of the Year. Category winners of all sizes and budgets from each of the 12 regional RICS Awards competed in the Grand Final for the chance to win their respective category. Four new national categories were introduced at this years awards - Infrastructure Team of the Year, Environmental Impact, Outstanding Large and Small surveying firm/team. The 10 category winners were announced at the ceremony as well as the overall winner and a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. The judges said that the North West Multi-Modal Transport hub is a worthy winner in its category. They said: This transport hub project covered the restoration and refurbishment of the former Grade B listed Waterside train station in Derry. "It delivered a strategic gateway to the North West of Northern Ireland and materially assisted in regenerating the local economy. It encouraged a modal shift from cars to public transport by providing an integrated and convenient service to encourage more active travel. The Integrated Design Team appointed by Translink provided an extremely high standard of service to the client with the quantity surveyors acting as an integral part of the team, reviewing costs against budget at every stage. Nominated by Consarc Conservation, the project team included an Integrated Design Team (IDT) appointed by Translink, including Mott MacDonald, Consarc Conservation, Babcock Rail, and Farrans. North West Multi Modal Transport Hub Commenting on An Chroi Community Hub, judges said: An Chroi means The Heart in Irish and this excellent and intensively used centre provides cradle to grave services to the surrounding community. "The judges noted in particular that this centre is playing a significant role in bringing together various parts of the community which in the past has had a troubled history. In a great awards for Northern Ireland, Erne Campus at South West College in Enniskillen won the overall UK Project of the Year title as well as the Public Sector Project of the Year. Commenting on the grand final winners, chair of the judging panel David Brooks-Wilson FRICS said: The judging panel and I were so impressed with the dedication of the teams behind these winning projects, they are a true testament to the tireless dedication of industry professionals across the UK. "Their talent and collaborative approaches have resulted in exemplary and innovative schemes that really do represent the very best built projects across the regions. Each of the winning projects is having a profoundly positive impact on their local area and the RICS is delighted to recognise the hard work that went behind ensuring these projects were delivered successfully, particularly in such challenging and uncertain times as we navigated through the pandemic. "The teams behind them should be incredibly proud of the part they have played in helping to improve their community and wider local economy. A man has been charged with the murder of Ryan McNab in Co Antrim, police said. The 24-year-old man is expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court on Monday. Mr McNab, 31, from north Belfast, was killed in an attack on Friday evening in the Rathcoole area of Newtownabbey. Police said they received a report shortly after 8.15pm on Friday evening of a serious assault at an address in the Barna Square area. Despite received medical treatment, Mr McNab died from his injuries at the scene. A murder investigation was launched following his death. On Saturday, the police said they were aware of footage from the scene being circulated and asked people not to share it out of respect for the family. Anyone with any information that could assist detectives are asked to contact the PSNI. As is normal procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service. The Fire and Rescue Service has urged the public to be aware of additional risks during Halloween celebrations. It has urged anyone using fireworks, sparklers or candles to follow its fire safety advice to keep themselves, their family and friends safe. Last Halloween the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) was called to 90 incidents, a drop from 100 calls in the same 24-hour period in 2020. NIFRS group commander Suzanne Fleming urged the public not to put more pressure on resources. Halloween is a busy time of year for us and we are urging everyone not to put more pressure on our resources by starting fires deliberately and to act responsibly over the Halloween period, she said. If you plan to use fireworks, sparklers or candles, please follow our fire safety advice to keep yourself, your family and friends safe. Please remember that fireworks are dangerous and can set fire to buildings and clothing. They can also cause serious injury, particularly to your hands and face. Only light fireworks outside in an open space and keep children well away from them. Sparklers can cause serious injury without proper supervision. Never give them to children under the age of five and always wear gloves when using them, preferably leather gloves. Fancy dress costumes can be highly flammable, and if you are making your own, dont use flammable materials such as black plastic bags. It is important to make sure children are properly supervised at all times and kept away from fireworks or open flames. If a costume catches fire, remember stop, drop and roll to quickly put the flames out. Korea will make efforts for the further development of ties with China as President Xi Jinping began his third term in office, a senior Seoul foreign ministry official said Monday. "The government will continue to strive to develop a healthier and more mature Korea-China relationship with the new Chinese leadership based on the spirit of mutual respect and reciprocity," the official said in response to Xi's re-election Sunday. The official added Seoul is also considering sending an official congratulatory message to Beijing. Xi was again appointed by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China as the country's president and he unveiled his new leadership team at the weekend. (Yonhap) A Northern Ireland Office minister has urged the DUP to choke down its position in refusing to re-enter Stormont powersharing so that an election can be avoided Steve Baker said another election would be a waste of money that could be better spent elsewhere. Irish premier Micheal Martin said on Monday that the decision of the DUP not to participate in the Northern Ireland Executive runs counter to democracy and risks undermining the faith of people in the potential of politics. However, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the UK Government could have acted unilaterally over the Northern Ireland Protocol and avoided the potential for an election. The DUP is refusing to engage with the devolved institutions in Belfast until decisive action is taken to remove the protocols economic barriers on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The partys stance means it has not been possible to form a ministerial executive at Stormont following Mays Assembly election. A six-month legislative deadline to form an administration expires on Friday. If no executive is in place by that date the Government assumes a legal responsibility to call another election. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has made it clear he will call a fresh poll if the deadline passes, with December 15 the likely date. Speaking at the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in Co Cavan on Monday, Mr Baker said it was incumbent on all of the parties to form an executive as soon as possible. We will continue in the short term to press all parties to reform the Northern Ireland Executive, he added. He said the Government would continue to strive to reach an agreement with Brussels to make changes to the protocol that are acceptable to all sides. We would like the DUP to accept that and reform the Executive in order to avoid an election. We are very clear that we will otherwise call an election and call it to get it done as soon as feasible, Mr Baker said. This government and indeed the next prime minister will maintain the UKs policy on the protocol. They (DUP) should count on us to negotiate with humility and resolve, recognising everyones interests, trying to get a deal that works for us all. If the DUP accept that and find it in within themselves to choke down the position they have taken, just get into the Executive and do it this week, we can avoid an election which would waste time and money that could be better spent elsewhere. The Government has vowed to secure changes to the protocol, either by a negotiated compromise with the EU or through proposed domestic legislation the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill which would empower ministers to scrap the arrangements without the approval of Brussels. On Sunday, Mr Baker told Sky News that devolved government in Stormont will not happen until the legitimate interest of unionists to end the jurisdiction of EU law in Northern Ireland takes place. We will not have devolved government in Northern Ireland until its done, he said. That means we wont be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement. On Monday, Mr Baker suggested his comments had been misrepresented. He said the Government was committed to getting an agreement that works for everyone. I do want to restate our conviction that the protocol can and should be improved so it better reflects the delicate but crucial balances at the heart of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, he said. Since some of my comments have been, perhaps, misrepresented, let me be absolutely clear. I want us together to be celebrating the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. Mr Martin also attended the Assembly event in Co Cavan. There is a genuine risk that people in Northern Ireland will become disengaged from a political process that they do not feel is working for them, he said. Delighted to be at the @BritishIrishPA in Cavan. As we look forward to the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, we must grasp this historic opportunity to ensure that the institutions flourish and, together, build a better future for our children. pic.twitter.com/1UztOwVkT6 Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) October 24, 2022 Politics has to respond to the legitimate, everyday needs of voters. As John Hume often reminded us, you cant eat a flag; real politics is about the living standards, about social and economic development. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey said: The UK Government could take unilateral action to remove the (Northern Ireland) protocol, but they have chosen instead to go for negotiation. I dont think the negotiations are going to resolve the issues and remove the protocol before Friday, therefore it is a matter for the Government whether they think having an Assembly election will help move us towards that objective. Personally, I dont think it will, but it is a matter for the Government. If they decide to have an election, we will be there and will take our case to the people and will seek to refresh our mandate for the stance we are taking. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said a deal between the UK and EU to resolve outstanding issues with the protocol could be done very, very quickly. She said: The challenge for the next prime minister is whether or not they are prepared to actually get the business done and to ensure that people who live here are not left endlessly in a limbo, facing into a cost-of-living crisis and with no government to serve them and to protect them. That is completely unacceptable. The idea that there would be no executive, the idea that the DUP would keep us in this limbo in these circumstances, is absolutely breathtaking in its scale. A man has claimed he was acting in self-defence when he choked another man to death in Co Antrim at the weekend, a court heard. Mark Doak, 24, of Barna Square, Newtownabbey, was charged with the murder of Ryan McNab on Friday. Doak appeared before Belfast Magistrates Court via video link on Monday. On Friday, emergency services were called and told that Mr McNab was dead at Doaks flat. The ambulance service and police discovered Mr McNab lying unconscious on the floor of the living room. CPR was attempted but Mr McNab was pronounced dead at the scene. Doak was arrested on suspicion of murder shortly before 9.30pm. A detective sergeant told the court that she could connect the accused to the charge. The court was also told that the accused claimed Mr McNab had attacked him with a glass, that they had been fighting, and that Doak choked him to death. He claimed it was in self-defence. Doak made a statement to police that he choked Mr McNab after he was attacked with a glass bottle. Doak was taken to hospital on Friday where he was treated for his injuries before being taken to Antrim police station on Saturday. Mr Doak answered all questions and made a full admission and stated that Mr McNab attacked him at his home having been invited there for a drink, the detective sergeant told the court. The two men ended up scuffling on the floor. During the scuffle, Mr Doak had put Mr McNab in a wrestling hold in order to incapacitate him. He did this for a period of time until Mr McNab stopped moving. He then let go. A short time later Mr Doak realised Mr McNab was not breathing and raised the alarm. He said he had not attempted to kill him, that it had been an accident and he performed a hold to stop him being attacked. Some of Mr McNabs family and friends, who were in court, became emotional and upset during the hearing and were told by the judge that the court had to remain quiet to deal with the case. Doaks solicitor James Ballentine made an application for bail, however the detective sergeant said that police objected on the strongest possible terms. The address that has been provided is not suitable, she added. The defendant does not have a record but inquiries have been made that indicate that the defendant alleged the victim was going to go over to his ex-girlfriends property and this may have been part of the catalyst for the murder, because the allegation was that he was going to do her in. We have video evidence of the suspect saying I choked him, describing a violent scene and describing the deceased lying dead. We also have further recording on a phone where the defendant sounds extremely volatile, panicking and out of control. The defendant claims the (incident) was self-defence but it is not an isolated incident. On October 12 2022, police were called to his ex-girlfriends. She stated he had tried to choke her. He said he punched the wall during the incident and broke his hand and is in a plaster cast. The ex-girlfriend has declined to make a statement of evidence regarding this incident. We would have concerns he might attempt to interfere with the course of justice. I believe the suspect presents a danger to the public. Inquiries would indicate that Mr McNab was not known to the defendant prior to around 5pm on Friday. Approximately two to three hours later he is dead in the defendants flat, having suffered a violent death where the defendant has used martial arts skills to bring this about. The defendant told police that he had been on a three-day drink and cocaine bender from Wednesday until Friday, when he was arrested, and had not slept during this time. He took cocaine at 10am on Friday and took diazepam and continued to consume large quantities of cider and vodka throughout the day. Mr Ballentine told the court that his client was distressed and horrified over the death, and that it was an accident. This man is totally devastated by what has occurred and indeed he and the now deceased were in the defendants flat where they shared drink and the mood was perfectly in order, he added. It appears that during the course of the evening, the injured party said he was going to my clients ex-girlfriends, and break down her door and carry out an assault on her. Because of that, the mood changed and suddenly the injured party rose, lifted a bottle and smashed it on the defendants head. There are injuries to confirm that. This man is in a plaster cast and unable to repel the attack that was made. They ended up on the floor and the defendant used his good arm and put it around him to defend himself in a self-defence manoeuvre, and as a result this unfortunate incident arose. He did not intend to kill the gentleman, this man is distraught. It is a life-changing incident, not only for the victims family who are in court, for which the defendant sympathises with, but for this man as well. He did not leave the scene and performed CPR until ambulance and police arrived. The judge rejected the bail application, saying it is an extremely serious charge. The case was adjourned until November 21. An online tool to help parents across Northern Ireland make informed decisions about their childrens health has been launched by the Belfast Trust. The Paediatric Symptom Checker details the regular symptoms seen in the Emergency Department at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. It has been developed by the trusts paediatric emergency and general paediatric team, in consultation with Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool and the Healthier Together Programme. The platform provides advice for parents to consider when their child becomes unwell and ranges from coughs and colds through to burns and more serious symptoms. Dr Julie-Ann Maney, emergency consultant at Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, said: This is an excellent, informative tool which is designed not to replace the advice we provide in hospital, but as a guide to parents who are sometimes not sure of the right course of action to take. Children regularly get sick, they can get up to 10 colds every year when they are very young, which is their immune system developing responses to the infections we are all exposed to every day. We recognise that this can be worrying for parents and want to help by providing high quality, easy to follow advice. Dr Sarah Kapur, general paediatric consultant, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children said, Bringing a child to an emergency department is sometimes not the right course of action, but parents can feel they do not have access to the right information. We would much rather see a child who does not need to be there than not see one who does need to be there. However, we hope this symptom checker can provide some reassurance in addition to GP services, pharmacies and other aspects of the healthcare system. Health Minister Robin Swann said: I very much welcome the launch of this paediatric symptom checker. My thanks go all to those who have worked on its development. I never cease to be inspired by the commitment of health care staff to innovation and improvement. I have no doubt this symptom checker will prove to be an invaluable resource for parents right across Northern Ireland. The new Xbox OS update comes with Capture & Share, which includes a new playback and editing app called Captures and better Discord integration. Discord has announced a new Update Preview coming to the Alpha ring insiders. The OS version released as a part of the update is already available to Xbox Insiders from October 19, 2022. While some changes in the upgrade include background improvements, Xbox has also released some user-centric features, including Capture & Share, Live Streaming via Twitch, and Settings - Language. Xbox Insiders update comes with new features As mentioned earlier, the new Xbox OS update comes with Capture & Share, which includes a new playback and editing app called Captures, which is accessible through both My games & apps and Guide. The app will help users capture and share videos on other digital platforms. Microsoft has also improved the UI and performance of the app and added a new option to copy players' local captures to external drives. Further, players will now be able to stream to Twitch from the Guide using their Lightstream or Streamlabs subscriptions. Players must change the Destination drop-down on the Live Streaming options page to do this. In addition, Microsoft has also added support for the Ukrainian language as a console display language. Although some experiences, such as in Store where everything might not be displayed in Ukrainian. Users can now join a voice channel from an Xbox console in an easy way The Microsoft Xbox OS update's main highlight seems to be a Discord Voice feature. The feature makes the Discord server & voice channel browser available upon clicking the Discord button in the Guide under the Parties & chats section. Hence, account-linked users can join the voice channel directly from their console. Those who do not have their Xbox and Discord accounts linked will be asked to connect their accounts first. Although, players still need to keep their phones handy if they want to join direct calls. Microsoft has also fixed other bugs and known issues with the update. First, Xbox engineers have fixed an issue where the console would sleep instead of shutting down properly. Then they have also updated the interface to reflect local languages across the console properly. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in. Subscriber content preview BERLIN (AP) Germany took formal delivery Friday of its first, modest, batch of hydrogen from the United Arab Emirates, a green fuel it hopes will help replace coal and gas used by energy-intensive industries in future. Germany is scrambling to substitute natural gas imports from Russia while also staying on track for its ambitious goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025. . . . Subscriber content preview You simply arrive at a campground to an RV that's already set up for you. By SALLY FRENCH NerdWallet iStock photo RV delivery is a growing trend that allows travelers to enjoy all of the conveniences of staying in an RV without actually having to drive it. San Diego-based mom of two Audrey Patterson frequently vacations in an RV with her family. But she's actually only driven an RV once a brief stretch near Burbank, California en route to Yosemite National Park for their 2021 summer vacation. The area northwest of downtown Los Angeles is a tangled web of freeways, tricky to navigate no matter the vehicle. . . . Subscriber content preview Photo via Blume Company Real Estate [enlarge] Looking north, the two-building complex has decks that face west to South Lake Union. The two eponymous apartment buildings at 624 Yale Ave. N. sold on Friday for just over $103.9 million, according to King County records. The seller was 624 Delaware Yale LLC, which is associated with original developer Blume Company Real Estate. . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE A small apartment building at 420 N. 39th St. sold last week for almost $3.9 million, according to King County records. The seller was 420 LLC, a family group that originally developed the property. . . . South Korea's military is set to participate in a U.S.-led multinational exercise on cyber operations this week, the defense ministry said Monday, amid growing security threats from North Korea. Eighteen personnel from the South's military will join the Cyber Flag exercise to be held from Monday to Friday in Virginia, according to the ministry. Since 2011, the U.S. Cyber Command has conducted the exercise annually to enhance the readiness of Washington and its allies against malicious cyber activities. "Our military's participation in the Cyber Flag exercise will provide an important opportunity to strengthen the readiness among allies against cyber threats and build partnerships," said Brig. Gen. Kim Han-sung, commander of the Cyber Operations Command in Seoul. The exercise, which includes both seminars and cyber field training, will be joined by 25 countries this year. In May, President Yoon Suk-yeol and his American counterpart, Joe Biden, agreed during their first summit to "deepen and broaden cooperation on critical and emerging technologies and cybersecurity." (Yonhap) The intake of Ukrainian refugees into Donegal has been halted following the Creeslough tragedy. The number here at the moment is almost 5,000, said the government department handling their needs and it will not be taking in any more here at this point in time. "All agencies are at capacity in terms of support and will be under significant pressure following on from the tragedy in Creeslough," a spokesman said. The ongoing dilemma on how to accommodate those arriving from the war-torn region came to a head last Friday when the Minister for Children Equality, Disability Integration and Youth Roderic O'Gorman said the State cannot guarantee it will be able to accommodate all Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants by next week because of a capacity issue. It is understood that while many business-type operations have sprung up in a number of towns to accommodate refugees, many families throughout Donegal have been willing to provide accommodation, but their offers are not being processed. There have also been questions regarding the arrival of refugees at the Finn Accommodation Centre in Ballybofey and how many Ukrainians are being catered for there. The Finn Accommodation Centre is the refurbished 47 apartments above the Finn Valley Shopping Centre at Trusk Road. A spokesman for the department said since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on February 24, and the invoking of the temporary protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, they have worked intensively as part of the cross-governmental response to the Ukraine crisis. "The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of displaced persons like the one that we have seen over the past months. The departments role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here. "To date, more than 45,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 34,000 of those have been referred to us seeking accommodation from the State. "Overseeing the provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, a broad range of accommodation types has been contracted, including hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, religious properties, accommodation operated by voluntary bodies and emergency accommodation. While this is not ideal, the priority is to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodations. "Based on recent information there are almost 5,000 people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine accommodated in Donegal. All agencies are at capacity in terms of support and will be under significant pressure following the tragedy in Creeslough. "As a result, the decision has been made to pause procurement in Donegal but that we will keep it under active review," a spokesman said. He added the department will continue to work with the local authorities to ensure that we do not procure accommodation in areas where local services are saturated. In relation to the accommodation at the Ballybofey apartments, the spokesman added that the Finn Accommodation Centre has been opened to provide emergency accommodation to international protection (IP) applicants accommodating families. "In relation to the nationalities of the IP applicants in Finn Accommodation Centre, IP applicants have a statutory right to anonymity and accordingly, IPAS does not provide information about the occupants of IPAS accommodation," he said. Richard Harriss son has said he is excited for people to see how his father was a renaissance man when his new archive collection opens at the University College Cork (UCC). The estate of the late actor donated the extensive selection of his letters, photographs, literary works and professional and personal documents which span more than 50 years to help preserve his legacy. The multi-award winning actor, who died in 2002 aged 72, starred in a plethora of plays and films during his career including playing Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films, the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius in 2000s Gladiator and Abbe Faria in 2002s The Count Of Monte Cristo. His son and actor Jared Harris told the PA news agency: What Im excited about is that people will get an idea of just what a kind of renaissance man he was and how varied his interests were. Because it represents not just what you would expect of him in terms of his interest in his professional career as an actor, but also his ambitions as a director. Among the collection is his directors copy of a production of Hamlet, a collection of his poetry and letters he kept from friends. One of the letters is from Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter in the fantasy film series, wishing him a good recovery while Harris was in hospital in his last days. Another was written to his parents when he was in a production of Arthur Millers A View From The Bridge where he reveals the playwright came to visit them every day and that Marilyn Monroe came to rehearsals one evening. Harriss son added: He collected an awful lot of personal memorabilia. I wasnt aware that he was that sentimental and I dont mean that in a pejorative way, its heartwarming to me that he considered these things to be valuable and things that he wanted to hang on to and collect. The items will be first exhibited in Harriss birth city of Limerick at the Hunt Museum. Jared Harris added: The archive has been sitting almost since my father passed away, which is 20 years now, in a lockup and Ive spent the good last 10 years trying to figure out what to do with it and the family, obviously we dont want to leave it sitting in a lock-up slowly getting damp and degrading. And we needed it to go somewhere someplace that would look after it and the University of Cork the programmes and the curriculum that they have on offer mirror so many of my fathers interests. They have a school of film, theatre, drama, they do fantastic literature programmes and it seemed as though this dovetailed with what his passions were. Cronan O Doibhlin, head of collections at UCC Library, said: The Richard Harris Archive will be of great benefit to the arts and culture industry to Richard Harriss home province of Munster, where his legacy as a loved and internationally respected actor continues to be celebrated and cherished. A fascinating radio documentary is set to be broadcast on LMFM radio next Monday on an internationally famous author with links to Omeath, Co Louth. Whatever Happened to Gertrude Page?, a new radio documentary by Chris Nikkel for Little Road Productions Ltd, will broadcast at 12noon on Monday October 31 2022 on LMFM Radio. Gertrude Page has been called the Maeve Binchy of her day. Shes also been called, the Kipling of Rhodesia, the country she lived out the last two decades of her life. Her 20 books sold 2.5 million copies worldwide, making her a household name in Britain and Ireland, and as far away as New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. Her most famous novel, Paddy the Next Best Thing, set in her favourite village of Omeath, in Co Louth, sold more than 300,000 copies. So popular was Gertrude Page, that when she died in 1922, the play-adaptation of Paddy the Next Best Thing was on a record-breaking run at the Savoy, in Londonthe following year the Irish story hit the silver screen as a British-made silent film, and then was subsequently remade as a Hollywood blockbuster starting Janet Graynor and heartthrob Warner Baxter. Few writers could top the success of Gertrude Page in the early 20th Century. The question is: Whatever happened to Gertrude Page? Today, not one Gertrude Page book is still in print. The silent version of Paddy the Next Best Thing is lost, along with film-adaptations of two of her other books. Only the 1933 Hollywood version of Paddy the Next Best Thing survives, and though it was one of the most successful films of that year, today it can only be considered as obscure. Gertrude Page grew up in England, but married an Anglo-Irish land agent with a Big House in Omeath, Co Louth.She fell in love with Omeath, and so set Paddy the Next Best Thing in Omeath around the time she herself lived there at the turn of the 20th Century. And it is in this novel that we get our first sense of why Gertrude Page slipped into obscurity. The title of the novel reveals the main theme of the story. Paddy is the daughter of a wealthy Omeath merchant who always wanted a son, but instead had two daughters. Paddy, his youngest daughter and a tomboy, becomes the next best thing to a son. The story shows Paddy and her sister with archetypal 19th century roles and characteristics: they are entirely emotional, and in the language of the times, hysterical. In contrast, the men are universally reasoned, methodical and logical. This depiction of gender roles is outdated and simplisticnot a theme that carries easily into the 21st Century. But it is the world of Omeath that is perhaps even more unpalatable to a contemporary audience. Gertrude Page portrayed the social class in which she livedan Anglo-Irish world that was still very much intact and powerful in Ireland when she wrote the novel. Irish servants waited on landlords. Money stayed in the hands of an Anglo-Irish elite. Omeath, located near the merchant port of Newry, was filled with Anglo-Irish merchants such as Gertrudes husband, George Alexander Dobbin, whose father spent much of his life in India, a Captain in the British Army fighting for the British Empire. While Paddy the Next Best Thing was published in a time when this elite Anglo-Irish world was still accepted, its existence would largely disappear after Irish independence fifteen years later. This fact would alienate her story, her themes and the stereotypes she usedonce again, Gertrude Page was on the wrong side of history. As a firm believer in the British Empire, George Alexander Dobbin decided to try his luck abroad, moving to the South African British colony of Rhodesia, leaving Omeath to be cared for by the hired help. On arrival, he and Gertrude Page acquired a 21,000 Acre farm and immediately named it Omeathnow located in the country of Zimbabwe, the area is still called Omeath to this day. From this farm, Gertrude would write over a dozen books, becoming the voice of colonial Rhodesia, a country named after the now controversial Cecil Rhodes. Gertrude Page would die in Africa aged just 50, buried alone on a hill on the farm shed named after her favourite place in Ireland. But just like in Ireland, her success as a Rhodesian writer would become overshadowed by politics in the decades that followed. In the wake of the collapse of the British Empire, and more recently the growing critiques of the colonial endeavourmost keenly highlighted in the Black Lives Matter movementthe writer once called the Kipling of Rhodesia has become a symbol of the power imbalance inherent to colonisation. The Gertrude Page books set in Rhodesia show a racist relationship to the local black population and an exploitative nature that make them unreadable today. As Stephen Donovan, the foremost scholar on Gertrude Page has written: Like the British empire which she championed so passionately, Gertrude Page has been relegated to the dustbin of history. Whatever happened to Gertrude Page? is the story of one writer who scaled the heights of fame and fortune, only to have her legacy dismantled just as quickly because the inevitable shifts in historical and political perspectives. It is a cautionary tale, but also an illustration of a how easily history moves on from the convictions and beliefs of the past. The documentary was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television Licence Fee. 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. As the folk and traditional music revival explodes in Irelands cities and towns, Ceolaireacht - an exciting new series - takes a deep dive into the grass roots of the regional style. Presenter and musician Doireann Ni Ghlacain heads off with her fiddle on her back, to find out what is happening at the heart of the traditional Irish music scene in four different areas around Ireland. Weve been told for years that traditional music lives in west Clare, Sliabh Luachra and Donegal but is that still the case? Doireann delves into the music scene in less recognized areas, musically speaking, to see who is playing, what they are playing and where the craic is at. She heads to Dundalk, west Limerick and north Clare, but first she checks out whats on her own doorstep, in Dublins North inner city. In the second episode on 30 October Doireann is in Dundalk where she meets local musicians Zoe Conway and John McIntyre, The Mary Wallopers, Gerry O'Connor and Nuala Kennedy, Finnian O'Connor, Tadhg and Saran Mulligan. She learns about the rich cultural and musical heritage of the area. Traditional music has come a long way from the comely young maidens dancing at the crossroads or a session in the corner of a country pub. Now traditional musicians are selling out tours all over the States, the UK and at home in Ireland. Before trad music hit the mainstream, we had distinct accents in our music. Doireann endeavours to find out if regional styles exist in areas less associated with trad. A new 4-part x 52 min series by ANIAR for TG4 South Korea's Navy said Monday it has started a large-scale exercise in the West Sea on Monday, joined by the Army, the Air Force and the Coast Guard as well as American troops. The four-day training is being held as part of the annual ongoing Hoguk drills that will run until Oct. 28. It is aimed at enhancing the military's combined and joint maritime operational capabilities against enemy provocations with a focus on improving capabilities of maritime counter special operation forces and responses to North Korea's provocations near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border, the Navy said. It added more than 20 warships, including Aegis destroyers and frigates, will be mobilized, along with the Army's Apache helicopter and the Air Force's F-15K and F-16 fighter jets. The U.S. Army's Apache helicopters and its Air Force's A-10 aircraft will join the training as well. Earlier in the day, South Korea's military said it fired warning shots at a North Korean ship that crossed the NLL. The North fired multiple rocket launcher shots into the waters in response. (Yonhap) Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, center, tours the Champs-Elysees in Paris along with officials from the Paris city government, Oct. 22. Yonhap Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has said he plans to create a national iconic street with green spaces and wider walkways, like the Champs-Elysees of Paris, along a 7-kilometer-long route from Gwanghwamun in central Seoul to the Han River. The mayor announced the city development plan Saturday (French time) in Paris after touring the Champs-Elysees, one of the most famous streets in the world where a city-led green makeover project is currently under way. Oh was visiting Paris as part of his ongoing 11-day trip to Europe. Taking a cue from the makeover plan at the heart of Paris, Oh said he plans to build the 7-km route running from Gwanghwamun through Seoul Station and Yongsan to the Han River into a street symbolizing Seoul and its history and culture, similar to the Champs-Elysees. Under the plan, the eight lanes along the route will be streamlined into four to make way for wider walkways, parks and other types of green spaces, according to city officials. The project is part of the city's broader "green path" scheme aimed at connecting separate green spaces in Seoul, measuring a total of some 2,000 km by 2026. Having refurbished the 1.5-km section between Gwanghwamun and Seoul Station last year, the city will work on the remaining 5.3-km section from Seoul Station through Yongsan to the Han River this year, the officials said. "The Champs-Elysees and our envisioned national iconic street have a lot in common in terms of history and culture," Oh said. "A green makeover plan by a famed global tourist spot like the Champs-Elysees may greatly inspire Seoul for its plans to expand urban green spaces." (Yonhap) Bank leaders meet President Zelenskyy in Kyiv The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will commit up to 3 billion over 2022-2023 to help Ukraines businesses and economy keep functioning. On a visit to Kyiv, EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso told Ukraines leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Banks determination to support Ukraine while it defends itself against Russias aggression. Since the invasion began in February, the EBRD has committed more than 1 billion, and aims to triple that figure by the end of 2023. Its primary focus will be to support the real economy maintaining energy and food security, restoring rail infrastructure, and supporting the pharmaceutical industry. In their meeting, President Zelenskyy highlighted the damage to the countrys infrastructure, and said the Russians had intensified targeting electricity generation and distribution. EBRD investment has already been made into Ukraines electricity companies, as well as providing up to 500m liquidity support for the countrys main gas supplier. Discussions are also underway to scale up funding for urgent repairs of the electricity grid and support municipal authorities in Kyiv, Lviv and Dnipro. EBRD investments are backed by donors or guarantors from countries including the US, and other EU and G7 countries. Norway recently pledged 200m in support. President Zelenskyy thanked the EBRD for its support, and President Renaud-Basso responded by expressing her admiration for the courage and determination of the Ukrainian people. The Banks President was accompanied on her two-day visit by Vice President, Banking, Alain Pilloux and the Managing Director for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, Matteo Patrone. The group held other meetings with the Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, and the new Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, Andrii Pyshnyi. They also had talks with business leaders including the heads of the energy company Ukrenergo, the rail company Ukrzaliznytsia, as well as Privatbank and Dragon Capital. After her visit, President Renaud-Basso said: I was keen to meet President Zelenskyy to express our solidarity and support for Ukraine in person. He left me in no doubt about the scale of assistance needed, and the EBRD is determined to do all it can to play its part. The EBRD is the largest institutional investor in Ukraine, and has links there stretching back 30 years. Its is appalling to see the damage done by Russias invasion, and yet also moving to see the resilience of the population. I said it on February 24th, and I will keep saying it we stand by Ukraine. A 48-year-old man was given a three-month suspended jail term for possession of heroin for his own use at Wolfe Tone Street in Cork. Judge Olann Kelleher imposed that sentence on John Arundel of Harbour Row, Cobh, County Cork. Defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer, stressed that the offence went back to July 6 2020. He said that accused had been homeless at the time but was residing at St Vincents Hostel on Anglesea Terrace for the past eight months and getting on much better. Judge Kelleher suspended the three-month sentence at Cork District Court on condition that the accused would be of good behaviour for the next two years. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a civil rights investigation into whether or not the state of Mississippi discriminated against its capital city of Jackson by failing to fix its outdated water infrastructure. The city of Jackson, which is more than 80 percent Black, suffered a water crisis this August after flooding led to the failure of its main treatment plant. However, this inciting incident was just the tip of the iceberg for the city, which has been struggling with failing water infrastructure for years. Todays decision by the EPA is a significant first step in holding the state accountable for its role in exacerbating the Jackson water crisis, NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Director Abre Conner said in a statement. For far too long, residents of Jackson, like Black communities across this country, have had water access weaponized against them. The NAACP and our partners will continue finding and holding those in power accountable to ensure that all communities have access to clean drinking water. BREAKING: the @EPA has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the State of Mississippi for its decades-long pattern of discriminating against the City of Jackson when it comes to funding for water improvements. #ThisIsPower https://t.co/Zm6rvyu2w0 pic.twitter.com/F4ZUJnLWTn NAACP (@NAACP) October 20, 2022 The EPAs action, announced Thursday, came in response to a discrimination complaint filed by the NAACP late last month and also comes as two Congressional committees have started investigations into the Jackson water crisis. In a letter responding to the NAACP complaint, the EPA said it would investigate whether the Mississippi Department of Health (MDH) and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) discriminated against the majority Black population of the City of Jackson on the basis of race in their funding of water infrastructure and treatment programs and activities. The Jackson City water crisis came to an acute head at the end of August when the failure of its main treatment plant left 180,000 people without access to running water. Governor Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency and the state moved to distribute bottled water. However, even before the plant failed the city had been under a boil notice for a month, as AP News explained. Residents had further endured more than 300 boil notices during the past two years, according to Politico. The city, where a quarter of residents live in poverty, has been asking the state for funds to improve its water infrastructure for years, according to AP News. Some city leaders said that state officials had not returned their calls to discuss improvements, as CNN reported. In its complaint, the NAACP said the state had a history of channeling funds to predominantly white communities with less need and that its actions all but assured the summers crisis, according to AP News. We believe we gave compelling evidence that the state of Mississippi intentionally starved the city of Jackson of the resources to maintain its water infrastructure, NAACP President Derrick Johnson, himself a Jackson resident, told The AP on Thursday. We want the EPA and this administration to put forth a course of action to prevent the state of Mississippi from ever doing this again. The complaint was filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EPA typically tries to resolve complaints informally but has a total of 180 days to complete an investigation if that doesnt work, Politico explained. If the MDH and MDEQ are found to have discriminated, they could face further action from the Department of Justice or could lose out on federal money until they change their policies. The state of Mississippi has received nearly $75 million in water funding from an infrastructure law but has not earmarked any over it towards fixing the Jackson plant. Reeves has accused city leadership of incompetence, AP News reported. They have proven that they have no ability to manage the water system, he told journalists, as AP News reported. However, the city has been reeling from the impacts of environmental racism for more than half a century, the Mississippi Free Press noted. Pipes in the city havent been properly upgraded since the 1950s, and civic leaders have been warning about the water system since the 1970s. Yet the city faced challenges in funding upgrades on its own because white flight following desegregation cut into its revenue from taxes and middle class Black people have also now begun to leave. The case will be one of the first investigated under the EPAs new office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. While few environmental cases have been investigated under the Civil Rights Act, the Biden administration has made environmental justice a priority, AP News reported. 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. Modhera in the state of Gujarat has become the first solar-powered village in India, setting a precedent for what UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called a reconciliation between humankind and planet, reported Euronews. The solar project has provided Modheras residents with a surplus of renewable energy at a cost of $9.7 million, UN News reported. The bill for the solar project was split between the Indian government and the Government of Gujarat. Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi proclaimed Modhera to be the first village in the country to be powered by solar around the clock every day, as reported by Euronews. Because of this, residents can save from 60 to 100 percent of their power bills, Gujarats government said. Earlier, when solar was not there, I had to pay huge amount for the electricity bill close to 2,000 rupees. However, with the installation of the solar, my electricity bill is now zero. Everything from the refrigerator to washing machine now runs on solar in my house. I am not paying even 1 rupee electricity bill now, said village resident Gadvi Kailashben, who supports her family through farming, as UN News reported. Nearly 30 acres of Modhera now have solar and rooftop panels that provide more kilowatts of energy than the villages residents use each day, reported Euronews. There are three major components to this entire project. One is our ground mounted 6-megawatt project. The second is the 15-megawatt battery storage system and the third is the one-kilowatt rooftops installed on 1,300 houses, explained Rajendra Mistry, the chief project officer of Gujarat Power Corporation Limited, as reported by UN News. The solar project not only helps with the villagers bills, its also becoming a source of income, as any surplus power they have can be sold back to the electric grid. We work in our farm and used to pay huge electricity bills for agriculture. Since solar installation in our village, we are now saving a lot of electricity. Earlier our electricity bill used to come around 2,000 rupees. Now it is in minus, said villager Ashaben Mahendrabhai, who lives with her husband and two children, as UN News reported. While visiting the Sun Temple of Modhera on the bank of the river Pushpavati, Guterres said, One thousand years ago, the ancestors of those that live today in this village built this marvelous Temple of Sun. And they did it recognising that the origin of all energy that we have on Earth comes from the sun, as reported by Euronews. The Sun Temple itself is completely powered by solar energy, including a 3D light show, and its parking area has electric vehicle charging stations, UN News reported. The UN chief added that, because of the solar project, the village was becoming more healthy, giving them more prosperity, but at the same time contributing to rescue our planet from a climate change that is still rising without control, as reported by Euronews. Last week, the residents of Modhera told Guterres they were glad to be using renewable energy that doesnt cause damage to the environment. Modhera, which is associated with the Sun Temple, will also be known for its strides in solar energy. Big day for Modhera as it takes a giant leap towards harnessing solar power, said Prime Minister Modi, as The Economic Times reported. School regulations banning students from dying or perming their hair infringe upon their basic human rights, the state rights watchdog said Monday. A high school girl, whose name was withheld, from an undisclosed school in North Gyeongsang Province filed a petition with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, claiming that the school's hair dress code violates her freedom. Many middle and high schools in Korea ban colored or permed hairstyles for their students and sometimes take away their school credits for violating hair dress codes. The commission said that excessively limiting students' hairstyles infringes upon their freedom to self-determination and rights to reveal personality as guaranteed by the Constitution. The commission also said the school's claim that such a ban is aimed at preventing students from going astray has not been proven. The commission made the recommendation that the school revise its hair dress code policies. (Yonhap) Vehicles of the prosecution are parked in front of the headquarters of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea in western Seoul, Oct. 24. Yonhap Prosecutors on Monday raided the headquarters of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) as part of an investigation into bribery allegations involving a close confidant of party leader Lee Jae-myung. The Seoul Central Prosecutors Office is probing Kim Yong, deputy head of the DPK-affiliated Institute for Democracy think tank, on suspicion of receiving a total of 847 million won ($591,000) from property developers in the city of Seongnam, just south of Seoul, in violation of the political fund law. Amid intense resistance and protest by party officials and lawmakers, prosecutors searched Kim's office in the DPK headquarters to seize relevant documents. Kim, who was arrested over the weekend, is under suspicion of taking the funds between April and August last year ahead of the party's primary election to pick the candidate to run for this year's presidential election. Isle of Man Aircraft Registry celebrates 15 years of service This year the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry (IOMAR) is celebrating 15 years of service, with over 1,250 high quality business jets, twin turbine helicopters and transitional aircraft registered to date. Launched in 2007, the Registry has grown in both stature and reputation, with its team fastidiously upholding appropriately robust regulatory standards that are necessary for operational safety and the maintenance of good reputation on the international stage. Despite a turbulent past few years, the anniversary year celebrated the return of the Isle of Man Aviation Conference in June providing over 130 industry professionals attending from business aviation sectors in the Isle of Man, UK, Europe and USA to enjoy networking in-person again for the first time since 2019. Lawrie Hooper MHK, Minister for the Department for Enterprise, commented: The IOMAR is truly a first-class aircraft registry recognised internationally for its high regulatory standards and award-winning, excellent customer service. Established initially on a cost neutral basis, the Islands economy is boosted by the efforts of the Registry, with private sector companies working closely with us to provide extra services and support for the registered aircraft. Local charity receives over 16K donation Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man has recieved a 16,516 donation from Zurich Lighthouses Challenge & Z Zurich Foundation. Hundreds of cyclists who took part in this years Zurich Lighthouses Challenge helped to raise over 16,000 for Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man. The annual event, held on July 3rd, attracted cyclists from on and off-Island of all ages and abilities, with more than 350 tackling one of three different routes covering 26, 50 or 100 miles. The event also donated 400 for the local branch of St John Ambulance, 200 for Ramsey RNLI, and Isle of Man Foodbank benefitted too with excess food from the July 3rd event being donated to the charity. Days before Elon Musks deal to acquire Twitter could finally close, workers at the social company are warning that staff cuts would be reckless. Time reports that an open letter from an unspecified number of Twitter employees, directed to Musk and Twitters board, is making rounds within the company. The letter comes on the heels of a report from The Washington Post, that Musk wants to cut as much as 75 percent of Twitters roughly 7,500 staff. Elon Musks plan to lay off 75% of Twitter workers will hurt Twitters ability to serve the public conversation, the letter says. A threat of this magnitude is reckless, undermines our users and customers trust in our platform, and is a transparent act of worker intimidation. We cannot do our work in an environment of constant harassment and threats. The letter also includes a list of demands for current and future leadership of the company. In addition to fair severance policies for all workers, letter writers want Musk to keep existing employee benefits in place, including remote work. Musk has previously criticized remote work, and suggested most Twitter employees should return to the office. Turn on browser notifications to receive breaking news alerts from Engadget You can disable notifications at any time in your settings menu. Not now Turned on Turn on The letter also hints at the potential ideological divide between some Twitter workers and Musk, who has said he favors less moderation . We demand that leadership does not discriminate against workers on the basis of their race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or political beliefs, the letter says. Under Xi Jinping's third term, South Korea will need detailed policies to leverage its strengths in chips, batteries as US-China tensions continue By Kim Yoo-chul Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party have tightened their grip on power further by approving Xi's third term in office. Xi has already been in power for a decade, a period characterized by growing authoritarianism in the world's second-largest economy. Political analysts and executives at South Korea's leading export companies believe Xi will maintain his assertive stance in the coming years, especially regarding cross-strait issues and the ongoing trade dispute with the United States. As Xi's extension could embolden him, Seoul's presidential office is now tasked to specify additional detailed plans for the battery and semiconductor industries. The two industries, in which South Korea clearly has global dominance, have been identified as nationally significant industries by the U.S. and China in their race for technological supremacy. "Policymakers should understand that both Washington and Beijing's pressure on Seoul will grow as Xi is set to apply protectionist policies to its key trading partners by giving them preferential treatment, a similar policy espoused by the Biden administration," a senior trade policy secretary under the former Moon Jae-in administration said via telephone to The Korea Times. "Seoul's trade policies should be focused on addressing concerns about how various credit provisions will work in practice with regard to South Korean semiconductor and battery manufacturers in China and the United States. We have to understand that the limits of a middle power are real." No transactional relations? With less than three weeks until the U.S. midterm elections, various poll results have shown that Republicans may take more seats in the House of Representatives. But mainstream thinking suggests that regardless of the outcome of the elections, the hawkish policy stance toward China, which was originally sought by the former Trump administration, will stay. "Despite its yearlong trade war against the United States, China still views its bitter relationship with the United States as transactional. But the central point is that it's very unlikely Washington may concede on some issues it considers as competitive even after its midterm elections," said Yeon Won-ho, head of the economic security team at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. "Because it's just unrealistic to expect South Korea's middle-level power to alleviate geopolitical tensions, it is necessary from Seoul's viewpoint to set up an independent body with trade and finance ministry officials and presidential secretaries for a coordinated approach on chip and battery supply chain-related issues." Yeon stressed that Seoul's role is somewhat flexible and expandable in areas relating to chips and batteries in China given XI's focus on semiconductor self-sufficiency. Chinese President Xi Jinping looks on as former Chinese President Hu Jintao is assisted to leave the hall during the closing ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct. 22. AP-Yonhap The U.S. recently identified China as posing a challenge to its national interests in the coming years. While it has also mentioned cooperative aspects in the bilateral relationship, such as promoting global health, no clear details have been announced on how and when this may be achieved. Citing the U.S. Department of Commerce's recent decision to limit the sale of chip equipment to Chinese customers, Jeong In-kyo, a professor of international trade at Incheon University, said Seoul's top trade policymakers will need deep discussions with their U.S. and Chinese counterparts on ways to minimize outstanding risks as the world's top two economies are on track to strengthen their respective protectionist policies amid their deepening rivalry. "I would recommend the country's trade policymakers take scenario-based strategies until the U.S.-China relationship sees an improvement," Jeong said. Bernstein's analysts led by Mark Li said the newly announced restrictions plugged loopholes in the prior restrictions. China will not be able to improve its chip technologies as quickly as before and probably has no visible choice but to focus on the mature part of the business. China is South Korea's largest trading partner, followed by the U.S. Last month, South Korea exported $13.4 billion to China, 60 percent of which was related to semiconductors, data from the trade ministry showed. However, the incumbent Yoon Suk-yeol administration is focusing on deepening bilateral ties with the U.S. both economically and diplomatically. Given the volume of South Korean investments in China and the level of technology being applied to Chinese tech companies, chances are low for China to impose any discriminative measures against South Korean tech companies there in the foreseeable future. China is focusing on improving its self-sufficiency rate in memory semiconductors, which Samsung and SK currently lead. "Because China needs to retain Samsung, LG and SK's tech affiliates in the coming years, at least until its self-sufficiency rate in memory chips and batteries reaches its target, South Korean tech firms will become one of the top beneficiaries of subsidies from both central and regional Chinese governments. Looking ahead, as Xi commits himself to continue China's rivalry with the U.S on the tech front, South Korean trade policymakers should set up hotlines with their counterparts in China and the U.S. to stress South Korea's deliverables regarding these issues and near-term position," said a lawmaker of the ruling People Power Party (PPP). In the electric vehicle (EV) industry, which is also led by South Korea as the country is home to the world's leading battery producers LG Energy Solution (LGES) and Samsung SDI it is understood that the government will keep communication channels open with Beijing and Washington on a regular rather than an as-needed basis. Thanks to the CHIPS and Science Act, signed into law in August 2022, the U.S. government has $52 billion in new funding to try to reinvigorate the countrys semiconductor industry. Although semiconductors were invented in the United States and their design and manufacture still generally require U.S. software and tools, most chips are now manufactured elsewhere, largely in East Asia. But in the face of escalating U.S.-China competitionand with Washington rolling out sweeping new restrictions on Chinas access to advanced computing technologiesimproving the U.S. position in chip-making has become a national security priority. That the most advanced processors can be fabricated only outside the United States, mainly in Taiwan, adds to the sense of risk. Rebuilding the U.S. role in manufacturing will be expensive, as the CHIPS and Science Act recognizes. TSMC, Samsung, and Intelthe three biggest companies producing processor chipsare all likely to receive funds for new semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the United States. But an influx of new money alone cant solve the problem at the core. A cultural change is needed, too, in Silicon Valley and in Washington, to prioritize the challenges faced by firms in advanced manufacturing, including chip makers and their key suppliers. Silicon Valley has strayed too far from its manufacturing roots, focusing on apps and the Internet, while policymakers in Washington are fixated on consumer-focused Big Tech firms rather than on the hardware on which all computing depends. As the U.S. government tries to revitalize the semiconductor industry, it will succeed only if it learns lessons from Silicon Valleys early days. This isnt the first time U.S. chip firms have faced intense foreign competition amid fears that they were falling behind. In the 1980s, leading U.S. semiconductor manufacturers such as Intel stood on the brink of bankruptcy. Intel was rescued by CEO Andrew Grove, who was driven by the realization that advanced technology depends not only on creativity and innovation but also on ultra-efficient precision manufacturing. To help the U.S. chip industry, policymakers in Washington need to start by adjusting their definition of tech to encompass advanced manufacturing, too. HOW DID WE GET HERE? The United States long decline in the production of processor chips has a complex set of causes. Multiple factors have driven up the cost of chip-making in the United States relative to other countries. Environmental regulations governing the toxic chemicals involved in chip-making have grown stricter in the United States. U.S. labor costs are higher than those in parts of East Asia, although labor represents a smaller share of the cost of fabricating semiconductors than it does of many other types of manufacturing. Most important, however, is that other governments have offered substantial tax incentives for chip-making that the United States, until recently, has failed to match. Chinas surge of subsidies available through its Made in China 2025 program and other government initiatives represents the latest step in a semiconductor subsidy arms race that has nothing to do with market competition. Meanwhile, the chip industry has undergone relentless consolidation. Several decades ago, two dozen companies could fabricate advanced processor chips, but today only three firms produce the most advanced processors: Taiwans TSMC, South Koreas Samsung, and the United States Intel. Each company keeps most of its production in its home country. For that reason, the fate of the United States domestic chip-making capabilities depends in no small part on the trajectory of a single company: Intel. Grove, the Budapest-born refugee who led the company for several decades, saw manufacturing as the core of Intels identity. After becoming the firms president in 1979, he pulled it back from the brink of bankruptcy amid an onslaught of Japanese competition. Within a decade, Intels processor chips were inside more than half of all the computers that had ever been built. Since then, the company has earned over $250 billion in profit. When Grove first became president of Intel, its primary business was selling memory chips used mostly in corporate mainframe computers. But Japanese firms had entered the sector in the mid-1970s, learning to fabricate chips that were less expensive to produce and had fewer defects than chips made by U.S. peers. Watching this, Grove knew the firm had to get out of commoditized memory chips and refocus on higher-value products such as the advanced microprocessors that IBM was putting in a new device it called the personal computer. The United States has lost the ability to manufacture the most advanced processor chips. Exiting the memory-chip market felt impossible to many at Intel, like Ford deciding to stop making cars. But Grove eventually mustered the courage to jettison the memory-chip business, laying off a quarter of Intels workforce and shuttering multiple facilities. Alongside this restructuring, Grove adopted a second strategy: ruthlessly improve manufacturing quality. Grove described his philosophy in a bestselling book, Only the Paranoid Survive: Fear of competition, fear of bankruptcy, fear of being wrong and fear of losing can all be powerful motivators. After a long day of work, it was fear that kept Grove flipping through his correspondence or on the phone with subordinates, worried hed missed news of product delays or unhappy customers. At Groves reinvigorated Intel in the late 1980s and 1990s, workdays started at 8 a.m. sharp. A freewheeling Silicon Valley culture was replaced by drill sergeant discipline. Grove launched a new policy called copy exactly, by which the company would determine the best manufacturing process and then teach its engineers to replicate it in all their facilities. Many chafed at being told to implement rather than to invent. Yet as each of the companys plants began to function less like a research lab and more like a finely tuned machine, productivity rose and costs fell. Groves hard-driving management, however, explains only part of Intels resurgence during the 1980s. Intel succeeded not only by optimizing manufacturing, although this was crucial, but also by intertwining leading-edge manufacturing with top-notch chip design. Intel called this the tick-tock method: each ticka manufacturing process improvementwas coupled with a tock, a more efficient chip design. The close interaction between manufacturing, software, and system design kept Intel atop the PC processor business for three decades. After Grove retired from Intel in 2005, the company began to drift. Because Intels core business of building chips for personal computers was so profitable for so long, the companys culture of discipline began to slip, according to interviews I conducted with former employees. Years of profits dulled the sense of Groveian paranoia that had once permeated the company. Longtime employees noticed that, with each passing year, executives shirts got whiter as chemists and physicists lost influence to the finance department. A company that had been an icon of American technology slid into a decadelong decline. After Groves departure, the company failed to make big, bold, risky bets. Its chip-making capabilities, which had been the worlds most advanced, fell behind TSMC and South Koreas Samsung, which are now able to produce chips with more precision than Intel can. The company missed key industry shifts, failing to foresee smartphones and the rise of artificial intelligence. It had the technology, it had the people, it just didnt want to take the margin hit, one former finance executive at Intel told me. LESS LIKING, MORE BUILDING After he retired, Grove voiced concern that the United States advanced manufacturing capabilities were eroding. Abandoning todays commodity manufacturing can lock you out of tomorrows emerging industry, he noted in 2010, warning that Silicon Valleys fixation on software at the expense of hardware was misguided. Grove saw the electric battery industry as a case study in how losing manufacturing capability risked eroding innovative capacity. The United States lost its lead in batteries 30 years ago when it stopped making consumer electronics devices, Grove said in 2010. Back then, American companies had failed to innovate in manufacturing batteries for personal computers; now, they are far behind rivals, notably in South Korea and China, in producing batteries for electric vehicles. I doubt they will ever catch up, Grove predicted, with depressing accuracy. But Groves warnings about the importance of advanced manufacturing in the broader tech ecosystem were ignored. Most of Silicon Valley wrote him off as representative of a bygone era. After all, he had built Intel before the Internet existed. Facebook, founded in 2006, soon became several times more valuable than Intel, despite manufacturing nothing and selling little besides advertisements. Intel could retort that the Internets data was processed on its chips. Yet producing chips was less profitable than selling ads on apps. Over time, however, the United States has lost the ability to manufacture the most advanced processor chips. Chips crucial to applications from smartphones to artificial intelligence in data centers can now only be made offshore. After a supply chain shock and amid an intensifying rivalry with China, U.S. political and business leaders are beginning to grasp what is at stake. The passage of the CHIPS and Science Act shows that, for the first time in decades, Washington is willing to spend substantial sums of money to support chip makers. This is a crucial first step, but political leaders also need to improve the business environment for manufacturing. Construction permits, environmental rules, and tax policies are critical determinants of the viability of a manufacturing facility. Innovation alone isnt enough to revitalize U.S. chip-making unless manufacturing chips is economically viable, too. Chris Miller : foreignaffairs.com Monday, October 24, 2022 DC To Allow Non-citizens Incl, Illegals To Vote After 30 Days By Peggy Sands Orchowski DC's liberal city council has carried equity and inclusion way to far, many citizens feel including the Washington Post and especially naturalized citizens. On Wednesday Oct. 19 DC's council voted 12-1 to allow all non-citizens to vote in local elections. That includes unauthorized migrants (aka illegal or "undocumented" migrants). And they only have to reside in the District for just 30 days or more. It's historic, unique in the USA. And it's dead wrong. Even the Washington Post editorial board disapproved. And perhaps the angriest are those immigrants who went through the long process to become naturalized citizens so they could vote! Anyone who attends a naturalization ceremony is almost overwhelmed with the joy of the new citizens, noted the Washington Post in an editorial on Oct. 18. They swear to be loyal to the United States. They swear off allegiances to any "foreign potentates" and their interests. One of the first things most new citizens do, is register to vote as they leave the swearing in ceremony. "My parents became citizens so that they could vote," Harry Medrano a lifetime DC resident echoed what many others say in objecting to the new law. "This newspaper has opposed efforts over the past decade to rewrite the election code so green-card holders could vote," stated the Washington Post in a Oct. 18 top-of-the-page editorial. President Clinton signed a law in 1996 that bans non-citizens from voting in federal contests. But a few communities like Tacoma Park Maryland has allowed permanent legal residents (aka green card holders) to vote in local elections. Even that was declared unconstitutional in New York State when the City tried to pass such a law. But DC has informally allowed it. "The intent is to give people, whether they are citizens or not, more say over their lives," Juan Ulloa a board members of the DC Latino Caucus said. "Non citizens here, pay taxes, contribute to the economy and our way of life. Yet the decisions being made on the money they have no say on it." "We decided the right to vote should be expanded," Brooke Pinto (31), Georgetown's city councilwoman in the midst of her first term, said. Some 50,000 non citizens would be eligible in DC. But that doesn't count recent arrivals (some 7000 mainly young men from Venezuela, bussed here from Texas this summer). It may however include foreign students, visiting scholars, thousands of embassy representatives, businessmen and the like who are temporarily residing in the district. "I doubt few would vote," said Pinto, "even if they had the right to". So questions abound. Many elections include local and federal contests. How in our messy registration and voter system would any community distinguish between the non-citizen and the citizen voter at the ballot box? Even the US census is not allowed to collect information about how many citizens live in a district (only foreign born are counted). DC Councilwoman Mary Cheh (Ward 3) the only elected official to vote against the bill, expressed concerns that new arrivals should be eligible to vote after only 30 days. It can be asked how many taxes such recent arrivals have paid? How much could they know about local issues in order to cast a vote rooted in attachment and engagement on issues where substantial DC property and income tax payer money is to be committed? "Such questions are rooted in xenophobia and racism", said Abel Amene Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America. "Some progressives hope that reshaping the electorate will allow them to reshape local politics, prodding the city further to the left on issues such as rent control and spending on social programs," wrote the Washington Post. "Sponsors of the bill are rushing to get it enacted so the 30-day review period for Congress to overturn the law will expire before the Republicans likely takeover the House in January," the Washington Post editorial claimed Better might be efforts to support more migrants to come in legally on green cards, to become citizens after five years so they can vote (no one is required to become a citizen and there is no automatic citizenship for anyone not born in the country; still, currently the majority of green card holders do not become citizens or may wait decades to do so). But that would require Congress to pass a bipartisan law. by Diego Sandoval | Jazz Correspondent | Mon, Oct 24th 1:20am EDT Jordan Clarkson scored 18 points (7-19 FG, 3-10 3PT, 1-2 FT), dished out six assists, grabbed one rebound and added one block in 37 minutes of Sunday's 122-121 win over the Pelicans. Fantasy Impact: Clarkson didn't have his best stuff shooting the ball on Sunday, but he led the team in field goal and three-point attempts. He also was tied for the team-high in minutes played in the overtime win. Expect him to continue to get plenty of opportunities in this offense. Farm leaders are urging the public to remember the distress fireworks and sky lanterns can cause to livestock, as well as the potential damage they bring to property. With bonfire night fast approaching, industry groups are once again eager to highlight the dangers posed by bonfires, sky lanterns and fireworks. Over the years, farmers have highlighted the devastating impact sky lanterns can have, such as their ability to cause distressing injuries to livestock. The products can cause injury and death to animals by ingestion, entanglement and entrapment. Increasing in popularity on Bonfire Night and around New Year, the products also bring an added risk of fire damage to farms and the wider countryside. Countries around the world, including Germany, Austria and Brazil, have implemented a ban on sky lanterns. In the UK, more than 50,000 people have signed an NFU petition calling on the government to ban them. Now the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) has told the public to not let "negligence and ignorance be the cause of a tragedy this year." We remind people that sky lanterns have been banned on all public land by all Local Authorities across Wales," said the union's deputy president, Ian Rickman. "They pose significant dangers to livestock and are, of course, a considerable fire safety risk." He also called on the public to stick to the firework safety code at all times to minimise the risk to livestock, pets and humans. "Animals in general are not fond of the noise of fireworks and can become quite anxious during this time of year. "Therefore, the Farmers' Union of Wales urges people to be considerate and not let them off near livestock." NFU vice president, David Exwood added that sky lanterns continued to be a 'real danger' to people living and working in the countryside. "They can cause serious injury to livestock if they are eaten, particularly with so many calves and lambs in the fields in the spring and summer months. As the weather gets and drier the potential for damage to crops and buildings is also increased." National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) wildfire lead, Paul Hedley said the body "does not advocate the use of sky lanterns under any circumstances, at any time". "We have seen devastating fires caused by these lanterns, as well as posing a risk to wildlife and property," Mr Hedley added. Fires caused by a sky lantern are likely to be complex and large-scale incidents, putting huge pressure on fire services. "Just one sky lantern fire could cause untold damage, while posing a threat to lives. The chief executive of the National Sheep Association (NSA) has been hailed for his dedication and contribution to the farming industry. Phil Stocker, who has been NSA chief executive since 2011, was presented with the prestigious 'Outstanding Contribution to British Agriculture' title at the British Farming Awards on 20 October. The award recognises an individuals dedication to the industry, such as championing the needs for fellow farmers, spearheading change or promoting the industry to the public. In Phils time at NSA, he has transformed the membership association and contributed to discussions on sheep health and welfare, genetics, trade and farm support. He is involved in other groups such as Livestock Chain Advisory Group, Black Mountains Land Use Partnership, Livestock Information Service Working Group and Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture. His involvement with the new Environmental Land Management Scheme since its inception, creating farm-led forums and facilitating dialogue between Defra and NSA pilot participants, exemplifies the role he plays in creating the link between producer and policymaker. Initiatives Phil has spearheaded include the NSA Next Generation programme, the newly formed Register of Sheep Advisers and a number of research and development projects. He has also increased knowledge exchange between farmers and bridged the gap between farmers, vets, researchers and other industry experts. Phil is actively involved in British Heritage Sheep, the Campaign for Wool and other programmes which seek to increase understanding and appreciation of sheep farming within the public. On receiving the award, he said the UK sheep sector was central to a growing interest in sustainable farming: Its easy for us, as farmers, to keep our heads down, and get on with our work," he said. "But awards such as these give us all the chance to sit back and celebrate the hard work of so many people who contribute to the future of farming. "I also want to say that, while this award may have my name on it, there are a lot of people colleagues and family - who are also responsible and who have given me huge support throughout my career. "If I have any advice, it is to surround yourself with good people who share your values, interests and ethics its teamwork and collaboration that has a real impact. NSA chairman, Dan Phipps said the award "sums up exactly what Phil is giving British agriculture - an outstanding contribution". "The way in which he has gone about this is really what makes Phil standout; he is a man of his time. "He has clear thinking around sheep farming and how it fits into a modern changing world." Lee Jae-myung, head of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), pauses while speaking to reporters in front of the DPK headquarters in Seoul, Oct. 24. Yonhap An apparently tearful opposition leader Lee Jae-myung cried foul Monday after prosecutors raided the headquarters of his Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) in a corruption investigation that is zeroing in on him after the arrest of one of his closest aides. Investigators made their way into the DPK headquarters to search the office of Kim Yong, a longtime confidant of Lee, over allegations that he took 847 million won ($591,000) from property developers in the suburban city of Seongnam in violation of the political fund law. Kim, who was arrested Saturday, is deputy head of the DPK-affiliated Institute for Democracy think tank. It was the second attempt to raid the DPK headquarters after an earlier attempt fell through due to protests from party officials. "The central headquarters building of the opposition party was violated in the middle of a parliamentary audit," Lee told reporters in front of the party headquarters. "A terrible incident unprecedented in the history of democracy in the Republic of Korea is happening now." While speaking, Lee apparently became tearful, looked up at the sky and wiped his eye. Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung speaks during the party's Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, Oct. 24. Yonhap "I hope the people will not forget this scene of history and safeguard the regressing democracy," he said. Prosecutors suspect the money given to Kim was used to help fund the presidential campaign of Lee, who lost to President Yoon Suk-yeol by a razor-thin margin in the March presidential election. Lee has flatly denied any wrongdoing, saying he did not receive even a penny of illegal money. Earlier in the day, Lee denounced the raid as "violence" against the opposition. "It is hard to understand from common sense that a raid was conducted ahead of the president's parliamentary budget speech," he said. "It comes to my mind that politics are gone and all that's left is domination." Lee and the DPK have called for an independent counsel probe, claiming the scandal also involves those close to Yoon. The ruling People Power Party immediately rejected the request, saying Lee is trying to stall for time. The party has threatened to boycott a budget speech that Yoon is scheduled to deliver at the National Assembly on Tuesday unless Yoon agrees to a special prosecutor investigation and apologizes for what the party calls suppression of the opposition. "There is no cooperation. Just threats," DPK Rep. Jung Chung-rai said, denouncing the prosecution's second attempt to raid the DPK headquarters. "Unless President Yoon sincerely apologizes, the DPK should not hesitate to boycott his budget speech." Some party members have also proposed a special counsel probe into irregularities involving first lady Kim Keon-hee. "Those who agree to a special counsel probe of the first lady are twofold of those who are against it. We urge that a special counsel probe into the first lady is immediately accepted to uncover the truth," DPK floor leader Park Hong-keun said. "We will guard democracy through all means including a special counsel probe into Kim Keon-hee," DPK Rep. Jang Kyung-tae said. (Yonhap) Apparel exports from Turkiye to Middle East increased by more than 10 per cent in the first half (H1) of this year. They reached $805.882 million during January to June 2022 from $732.871 million during July to December 2021. However, the exports of apparel from Turkiye could not fully recover from the dent in the industry due to COVID-19 in 2020. The exports decreased to $1,291.493 million in 2020 from $1,806.652 million of 2019, according to Fibre2Fashions market insight tool TexPro. The shipment was valued at $1,733.717 million in 2018 and $1,744.819 million in 2017. After COVID-19, exports from Turkiye rose to $1,461.320 million in 2021, which was higher than 2020, but lower than pre-COVID levels. On half-year basis, the exports were noted at $728.448 million in H1 2021, $668.902 million in H2 2020 and $622.591 million in H1 2020. Trousers and shorts, dresses, shirts, T-shirts, and ensembles were the top five apparel products exported by Turkiye, as per TexPro. Exports of trousers and shorts were at $143.937 million (18.12 per cent), dresses at $143.388 million (18.05 per cent), shirts at $116.397 million (14.66 per cent), T-shirts at $95.673 million (12.17 per cent) and ensembles at $45.042 million (5.67 per cent). Apparel exports from Turkiye to Middle East increased by more than 10 per cent in the first half (H1) of this year. They reached $805.882 million during January to June 2022 from $732.871 million during July to December 2021. However, the exports of apparel from Turkiye could not fully recover from the dent in the industry due to COVID-19 in 2020. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), an initiative for sustainable African cotton, has been officially recognised by Green Button and been confirmed as an accredited source of raw materials for Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certified. The CmiA standard has now been officially recognised by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), which administers Green Button. This recognition pertains to CmiA cotton as a sustainable natural fibre. In addition to meeting the human-rights and environmental-protection criteria of the government-run textile certification label Green Button 2.0, licensed companies must apply the meta-label approach to prove that they produce their products sustainably, according to a press release by CmiA. Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) has been officially recognised by the Green Button and been confirmed as an accredited source of raw materials for Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certified. The CmiA standard has now been officially recognised by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), which administers Green Button. This recognition means that over 90 companies are currently able to meet meta-label requirements by using cotton from CmiA. Without a recognised certification seal, products cannot bear the Green Button label. To enable consumers to better navigate the market, Green Buttons meta-label approach recognises only independent, exacting, and relevant certification programmes in the textile sector. At nearly the same time, the standards organisation Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute recognised the requirements of the CmiA standard. C2C certified is the global standard for products that are safe, circular, and responsibly made. As a result, companies can use CmiA cotton produced through the Hard Identity Preserved (HIP) system to meet the bronze-level requirements in the material health category of the C2C certified product standard version 4.0. By using CmiA cotton produced through the HIP system in their products, they can also meet the C2C certified gold-level requirements in three categories: product circularity, water and soil stewardship, and social fairness. Mass balance material may be used to achieve the gold-level in the two categories of product circularity and water and soil stewardship as well, added the release. As a result of these developments, CmiA can now offer companies the raw materials they need for their garments and textiles to fulfil the requirements of two additional exacting sustainability standards. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB) International Monetary Fund (IMF) representatives plan to visit Dhaka from October 26 to November 9 to discuss with the government economic and financial reforms and policies. The team will be led by Rahul Anand, IMF mission chief to Bangladesh. The terms of the $4.5-billion loan sought by Bangladesh as budget support will be reportedly discussed as well. The goal is to make progress towards a staff-level agreement on a prospective extended credit facility or extended fund facility programme and access under the newly created resilience and sustainability facility (RSF) in the coming months, as per an IMF press release. International Monetary Fund (IMF) representatives plan to visit Dhaka from October 26 to November 9 to discuss with the government economic and financial reforms and policies. The team will be led by Rahul Anand, IMF mission chief to Bangladesh. The terms of the $4.5-billion loan sought by Bangladesh as budget support will be reportedly discussed as well. RSF aims to provide affordable, long-term financing to help build resilience against climate risks in countries highly vulnerable to climate change. Bangladesh finance ministry officials expect to receive $1.5 billion as the first installment of the loan in January next year after negotiations on loan terms, according to a report in a local media outlet. IMF staff would also continue engagement with other stakeholders during the visit. This is the first mission and programme discussions could continue over the coming months, the release added. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Participants of the meeting on the final Review of the Asian and Pasific Decade of Persons with Disabilities 2013-2023 in Jakarta, Friday (October 21, 2022).(ANTARA/Ministry of Social Affairs) JAKARTA, Oct 23, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - The High-level Intergovermental Meeting on The Final Review of The Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities (HLIGM APDPD) was closed with the Jakarta Declaration agreement, which marked the start of the fourth decade of Asia and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities."Today is the last day and the high-level meeting between governments in the Asia Pacific was closed and we are making the Jakarta Declaration 2023-2032 which will be followed up by members, accelerated and implemented," said Indonesian Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini in Jakarta.The Jakarta Declaration is expected to be able to reaffirm the commitment of the governments of Asia Pacific countries in realizing the Incheon Strategy, which was initiated ten years ago.The Jakarta Declaration has six resolutions. One of the priority issues is the alignment of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at the level of legislation.According to Risma, harmonization of legislation is the toughest challenge for the Indonesian government because it has three levels of government, namely, the central government, provincial government and regency/city government.Meanwhile, Under-Secretary-General United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, said although the implementation of the CRPD making progress, people with disabilities in the Asia Pacific region face obstacles in education, work, decision making, and many other aspects.Therefore he invites UNESCAP members to strengthen new partnerships with disability organizations, the private sector, United Nations entities and the others to create a comprehensive community approach.Armida hopes that people with disabilities can participate in all policies and programs related to disability actively and significantly, in line with the spirit of 'nothing without us about us'.HLIGM APDPD was held on a hybrid basis during 19 - 21 October 2022 and was attended by delegates from 53 member states, 9 association member, observer countries, UN agencies, and civil society organizations.See the original article: https://en.antaranews.com/news/256377/Written by: PR Wire, Editor: PR Wire (c) ANTARA 2022Source: Indonesian Minister of Social AffairsCopyright 2022 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. La Perla Fashion Holding N.V. Registered office: Schiphol Boulevard 127, G4.02, 1118 BG Schiphol, the Netherlands 24th October 2022 Disclosure of an inside information pursuant to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR SOUTH AFRICA. La Perla: Management update Amsterdam, October 24, 2022 - La Perla Fashion Holding N.V. (the "Company" and together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the "Group") is pleased to announce that Pascal Perrier, following the fulfilment of his term as CEO of La Perla Global Management (UK) Ltd., has agreed to take on the position of Non-Executive, Honorary Chair of the Board, through which he will continue to provide strategic advice to the Company. Peter Shaefer, currently CEO of La Perla Beauty (UK) Ltd., has, in addition to his current position, taken over the position of CEO of La Perla Global Management (UK) Ltd, with full operational control of the business. We take the opportunity to thank Pascal for all his contributions to La Perla during his tenure as CEO and we look forward to his ongoing advisory support to the Board and Peter. We welcome Peter as CEO of La Perla and look forward to working together towards delivering on the company's unique luxury strategy and business plan. Media contacts Seven Dials Simon Kelner / Joe Carton: simon@sevendialspr.com / joe@sevendialscity.com / +44 7707 693449 About La Perla: La Perla Fashion Holding N.V., a luxury fashion holding company, is the direct shareholder of La Perla Beauty (UK) Limited ("La Perla Beauty") and La Perla Global Management (UK) Limited and its subsidiaries (the "Operating La Perla Group"). La Perla, through the Operating La Perla Group, is a leading designer, manufacturer and retailer of luxury lingerie, nightwear and swimwear. The group operates under the brand "La Perla". Founded in 1954 in Bologna, Italy, the brand is renowned for its heritage and craftsmanship. Disclaimer This announcement does not contain or constitute an offer of, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for, securities. This document is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States (including its territories and possessions, any State of the United States and the District of Columbia), Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. Subject to certain exceptions, the securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa. This release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States of America. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). There was and will be no public offer of the securities in the United States of America. This document is not a prospectus for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 and as such does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase shares of La Perla Fashion Holding N.V. This release may contain forward-looking statements, i.e., statements that do not relate to historical facts or events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific. La Perla Fashion Holding N.V. bases these statements on its current plans, estimates, projections and expectations and they relate to events and are based on current assumptions that may not occur in the future. These forward-looking statements may not be indicative of future performance; the actual outcome of the financial condition and results of operations of La Perla Fashion Holding N.V. and its consolidated subsidiaries, and the development of economic conditions, may differ materially from, in particular be more negative than, those conditions expressly or implicitly assumed or described in such statements. Even if the actual results of La Perla Fashion Holding N.V. or its consolidated subsidiaries, including the financial condition, results of operations and economic conditions, develop in line with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, there can be no assurance that this will be the case in the future. ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: m2tslcVtZZmbm2xtZcZubGWZbWuWlWLJmJfIm2idlceUcJ5gm29mbMnHZnBnnWpu - 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-0-76858-la-perla-management-update-24-october-2022.pdf LOS ANGELES, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The short film Time Is Eternal -starring, co-written and produced by Los Angeles-based model and actress Berite Labellehttps://www.beritelabelle.com -is an official selection at the prestigious annual CROATIA Fashion Film Festival https://croatiafff.wixsite.com/cfff. The festival will take place on Saturday, October 27, 2022 at Zagreb Kaptol Boutique Cinema. Time Is Eternal is co-written by Daniel Lir, who co-directed with his wife and business partner, Bayou Bennett, of Dream Team Directors. https://www.dreamteamdirectors.com/filmc343928d In July, Time Is Eternal took home four awards (best picture, best director, best actress, best set design) at the 13th annual La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival in California, where the 15-minute film was honored with 10 nominations. And more recently "Time is Eternal" was an Official Selection at the Berlin Fashion Film Festival. https://berlinfashionfilm.awardsengine.com/?action=ows:entries.details&e=95530&project_year=2022 Set in present-day Los Angeles, Time Is Eternal goes inside the mind of a renowned female writer, penning her latest novel, which imagines the fictional meeting of two legendary women. Cleopatra VIII, queen of Egypt during the first century B.C., comes face to face with the English writer-women's rights activist Mary Wollstonecraft, mother of Frankenstein author Mary Shelley. A powerful ode to female strength and equality, the film chronicles a soulful discussion between these two trailblazers. Both known as lovers and as warriors for a cause, the fighter and the writer contemplate their differing approaches to leadership, culminating in a shared passion that intertwines eternally. "We wanted to highlight the power of women across history, in a previously male-dominated world," says Lir. "I strongly related to Berite's purpose to inform a younger generation about the impactful (and under-represented) contribution of these women to the creation of our culture." Labelle deftly champions four roles in her debut film- playing the writer, Cleopatra, Wollstonecraft, and a mermaid, who symbolizes swimming through another dimension in time. "You can create anything with imagination and love," says Labelle. "I wish to create beautiful moments from my imaginary world. Gratitude, knowledge and patience are the other elements I needed to conceive Time Is Eternal. Follow me in my journey of discoveries through time in motion pictures." Shot at The Paramour Estate in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, with opulent early twentieth century period decor, the surreal, dreamlike visuals have a fashion focus. "I want audiences to be overwhelmed with beauty and brought into a world of magic and inspiration that helps them forget their troubles and all we have been through as a human race in the last two years," says Bennett. Hollywood stylist and costume designer Lenov (who has worked with Saweetie, Bebe Rexha and Iggy Azalea) sourced mostly vintage pieces for the film. "It was really cool to recreate historical moments through the fashion lens in the film," says Lenov. "Every character was about women's empowerment, and I wanted to the push the envelope and bring a fashion element to the characters and a sexier twist. I thought, 'What can we spin off in the feminine energy for Gen Z and beyond?' I really want to thank designer Michelle Hebert and Elie Madi for helping bring Mary and Cleopatra, respectively, to life as I envisioned them." Since October 2021, Labelle has covered multiple international editions of Vogue, Glamour, Harper's Bazaar and Marie Claire. She has an Affiliate Fine Arts (AFA) degree in Acting on Camera from the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles. Dream Team Directors has collaborated with the likes of Mark Ruffalo, Bella Hadid, Juliette Lewis, Lea Michele, Coldplay, Paris Hilton, Adidas, Smashbox Cosmetics, Atlantic Records and Chrome Hearts. Their 2019 short film, Tombstone Pillow, has drawn widespread acclaim and won 33 awards. Twitter: @DreamTeamFilm @berite_labelle Time IsEternal Instagram: @berite_labelle @dreamteamdirectors https://instagram.com/croatiafashionfilm?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Viewing links and imagery are available by request. Berite Labelle, Daniel Lir, Bayou Bennett and other nominated team members are available for interviews. Please contact Dream Team Directors: bayou@dreamteamdirectors.com, daniel@dreamteamdirectors.com 917-907-2169 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1921953/Berite_Labelle_Time_Is_Eternal_Mermaid.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/time-is-eternal-nominated-for-best-fashion-film-award-at-croatia-fashion-film-festival-301650301.html Studies widen the inventory and geographic extent of these gigantic animal traps, the largest built structures of their ancient era Animals were driven along converging stone walls for hundreds of metres to a sudden precipice or concealed pit RCU is further revealing region's cultural heritage through such research, the intellectual foundation for Kingdoms Institute as hub of archaeology ALULA, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- New peer-reviewed research into ancient stone-built animal traps, known as 'desert kites', reveals sophisticated and extensive hunting of wild animals from the Late Neolithic and shows the ingenuity and perhaps collaborative nature of the region's peoples in the past. To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/9102251-research-supported-by-royal-commission-alula-insights-into-ancient-animal-traps/ The structures were named 'kites' by aviators in the 1920s because, observed from above, their form is reminiscent of old-fashioned children's kites with streamers. However, the origins and function of these huge, monumental structures had been a matter of debate. Dr Remy Crassard, a leading expert on desert kites, notes that they are some of the largest ancient structures of their era. The oldest kites, in southern Jordan, have been dated to 7000 BCE. The age of newly found kites in north-west Arabia is still being determined but appears to straddle the transition from the Late Neolithic to the Bronze Age (5000-2000 BCE). Dr Crassard - who, besides being affiliated with France's National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), is a co-director of the Khaybar Longue Duree Archaeological Project, which is sponsored by RCU and its strategic partner Afalula (France's Agency for the Development of AlUla) - estimates that 700 to 800 kites were known 20 years ago compared to about 6,500 now, with the number still growing. Based on recent research conducted in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Armenia and Kazakhstan, Dr Crassard's team affirms that kites were used for hunting and not for domestication, that they "mark a profound change in human strategies for trapping animals", and that "the development of these mega-traps made a spectacular human impact on the landscape". Kites may have led to hunting well beyond subsistence levels, related to "an increase in symbolic behaviour related to food production and social organisation". Some wild species such as gazelles might have altered their migratory routes as a result, and other species might have been hunted to extinction. In Saudi Arabia, research led by Rebecca Repper of the University of Western Australia's RCU-sponsored team, Aerial Archaeology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Al Ula, detected 207 previously unknown kites in AlUla County. These are especially concentrated on the Harrat 'Uwayrid, an upland area with an extinct volcano. The team found that a distinct type of V-shaped kite was the dominant form in their study area, in contrast to kites found elsewhere in the region. Kites have been described in a variety of shapes, including V, 'sock', 'hatchet' and W-shaped. Regardless of form, all kites in the region have driving lines of low stone walls that converge to funnel animals towards a trap such as a pit or precipice. On average, the driving lines of the AlUla kites are approximately 200m long. However, elsewhere they can stretch for kilometres. Ms Repper says the shorter length shows the local knowledge of the hunters, who placed the traps in areas where existing landscapes naturally restricted animal movements. Kite placement also suggests that the hunters had an intimate knowledge of prey movements. While kites recorded in the AlUla region tended to funnel prey towards a sudden precipice, kites elsewhere often end in concealed pits, in which hundreds of animals could be killed during a single hunt. This difference could be an adaptation to the local geography or an evolution of trap hunting. The aerial archaeology team's research in the region complements work by Dr Crassard, who contributed data on the kites of Khaybar to a recently published study led by Dr Olivier Barge (CNRS) on the relative chronology of kite types. In Khaybar, two types of kites have been distinguished: traditionally defined desert kites and rudimentary proto-kites, which do not have a well-defined enclosure surrounded by traps or pits. The team suggests that the proto-kites might have been a precursor to desert kites. The more complex kites may reflect less opportunistic and more formalized hunting techniques. Dr Rebecca Foote, Director of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Research for RCU, said: "These studies add to our growing understanding of the rich cultural heritage of the people of north-west Arabia, in this case more on prehistoric practices. The recent studies expand on our earlier discoveries of the Neolithic period in the region, including the construction of large-scale ritual structures known as mustatils. As we embark on the autumn season of RCU-supported archaeological fieldwork, with teams from KSA, France, Australia, Germany and beyond, we look forward to many more insightful findings as part of our ambitious plan to create a global hub of archaeological research and conservation in AlUla." That hub, the Kingdoms Institute, is currently active as a research organization, with plans to open a physical presence at AlUla by 2030. The RCU-sponsored research in and around AlUla is adding to the knowledge base that will inform the Kingdoms Institute. RCU expects the institute to become a prime destination by the time AlUla is receiving 2 million visitors a year in 2035. Dr Ingrid Perisse Valero, Director of Archaeology and Heritage for Afalula, said: "The recording of these new kites in AlUla and Khaybar opens up important perspectives on the origins, development and diffusion of these hunting structures, which marked a significant milestone in the history of human evolution and mankind's relationship with the natural environment. The groundbreaking research from these international teams, including work by France's expert Dr Remy Crassard, combines the results of satellite image analysis and fieldwork, which is the only way to provide precise dating and function by analysing the material associated with these structures. Without a doubt, the ongoing research will be a landmark in prehistorical studies." The recent research is detailed in the following: 'The Use of Desert Kites as Hunting Mega Traps: Functional Evidence and Potential Impacts on Socioeconomic and Ecological Spheres' by Remy Crassard, et al, published in Journal of World Prehistory . Project sponsored by CNRS and French National Research Agency. . Project sponsored by CNRS and French National Research Agency. 'Kites of AlUla County and the ?arrat 'Uwayri?, Saudi Arabia ' by Rebecca Repper , et al, published in Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy . Project sponsored by RCU. ' by , et al, published in . Project sponsored by RCU. 'New Arabian desert kites and potential proto-kites extend the global distribution of hunting mega-traps' by Olivier Barge , et al, published in Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. Khaybar data in this article results from the Khaybar Longue Duree Archaeological Project. To download a factsheet and diagrams on kites, click here About the Royal Commission for AlUla RCU was established by royal decree in July 2017 to preserve and develop AlUla, a region of outstanding natural and cultural significance in north-west Saudi Arabia. RCU's long-term plan outlines a responsible, sustainable, and sensitive approach to urban and economic development that preserves the area's natural and cultural heritage, while establishing AlUla as a desirable location to live, work, and visit. This encompasses a broad range of initiatives across archaeology, tourism, education, the arts, nature and more, reflecting a commitment to meeting the economic diversification, local community empowerment, and heritage preservation priorities of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programme. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1926110/Royal_Commission_for_AlUla.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1926109/Royal_Commission_AlUla_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/research-supported-by-royal-commission-for-alula-provides-new-insights-into-huge-ancient-animal-traps-known-as-kites-301656201.html New HJT LION 390 Wp module available in European warehouses LANNION, France, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RECOM Technologies, a leading renewable energy company and the only European Bloomberg Tier 1 PV module manufacturer, launches the new LION 390Wp Bifacial HJT Mono Crystalline Double Glass Module. Allowing more energy to be harvested, due to the Heterojunction technology (HJT), the LION 390Wp promises great performance in small and large-scale ground or rooftop solar applications. Lion series modules with power output over 700Wp are based on Heterojunction (HJT) technology. Heterojunction (HJT) photovoltaic module is a ground breaking technology as it guarantees high performance and low degradation of the PV module, substantially improving the results and the yield in the time. Heterojunction solar cells combine two different technologies into one cell: a mono thin crystalline silicon wafer surrounded by ultra-thin amorphous silicon layers. This allows an increase in the efficiency of the panels and more energy to be harvested easily when compared to conventional silicon solar panels. With bifaciality factor up to 90% (compared to 70% industry standard modules), Lion modules gain up to 20% more energy yield, in low-light conditions, in the morning an evening hours and with cloudy skies. Owing to N-type technology the power losses are considerably decreased and there are No PID & No LID effects delivering lowest LCOE. RECOM Technologies Lion series range is available from 375Wp and goes above 700Wp. Product Specifications Bifacial HJT Mono Crystalline Double Glass Module 30 Years Product Warranty & Output Warranty Low Temperature Coefficient -0,24%/Celsius >91,25% performance output after 30 years 10-35% Power Generation Gain Module efficiency over 22,5% High Bifaciality / High Energy Yield / Low Degradation No LID & PID RECOM's power plants are certified to ISO 9001 and 14001 standards and Lion series is fully certified to IEC61215 & 61730 standards. Lion series is also certified to withstand extreme wind Testing [2400 Pascal] and snow loads [5400 Pascal). RECOM supports fast and reliable deliveries ensuring product availability at European warehouses. For more information on RECOM's solar solutions, please visit https://recom-tech.com. For sales and technical inquiries please send email to info@recom-tech.com. About us RECOM Technologies is a France based renewable energy company with notable presence in the global solar industry. RECOM is a module, cell, inverters, hybrid storage systems, batteries and electrical vehicle chargers (EV) manufacturer, an innovative company integrating R&D, manufacturing and distribution. RECOM is a leading and the only Bloomberg Tier 1 PV module manufacturer in Europe with above 1,1GW annual production capacity and with sales of over 2GW solar modules in 95 countries. Contact: Email: marketing@recom-tech.com Telephone: +33255030861 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1926394/RECOM_Technologies.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1902016/RECOM_Technologies_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/recom-technologies-lion-hjt-pv-module-series-with-power-output-over-700wp--life-expectancy-over-30-years-301655445.html Eclipse Foundation's biggest event of the year to held in person for the first time in three years BRUSSELS, Belgium, Oct. 24, 2022, the leading conference for developers, architects and open source business leaders to learn about Eclipse technologies and share best practices. EclipseCon is the Foundation's biggest in-person event of the year and connects the Eclipse ecosystem and the industry's leading minds to explore common challenges and innovate together on open source runtimes, tools, and frameworks for cloud, edge applications, IoT, artificial intelligence, connected vehicles and transportation and digital ledger technologies. "I am thrilled to get back to seeing everyone in person," said Mike Milinkovich, Executive Director of the Eclipse Foundation. "After years of great momentum following our move to our new European home and innovations spanning from our long-standing tooling franchises to our new cloud, edge, AI, automotive initiatives, there is so much to share with our community." This year's conference, now in its 17th year, will include dozens of sessions for hundreds of attendees interested in learning more about technologies hosted by the Eclipse Foundation. Industry leaders such as our elite sponsors, Huawei and IBM, support nine conference tracks that focus on Web and Desktop Tooling, Cloud Native Technologies, IoT & Edge, Java, Modeling Technologies, Automotive & Mobility, The Open Source Way, All Things Quality and Security and more in a track named Other Cool Stuff. Additional areas of focus for this year's conference include: Annual gatherings of our leading industry collaboration initiatives Particular focus on new projects recently introduced at the Eclipse Foundation, including automotive, edge, and AI related the growth of the Software Defined Vehicle Working Group and its significant progress made this year Outstanding speakers from industry leaders including BMW, Bosch, SAP, Ericsson, and SMEs like Eurotech, Obeo, Typefox, and more An Eclipse Foundation Hacker Day on Thursday, October 27 enabling the community for brainstorming, sharing ideas, testing devices, and honing your strategy using Eclipse technologies The Eclipse Foundation has a long, proven history of managing the governance of complex technology initiatives and multi-vendor organizations. Its commitment and unique approach to transparency, vendor-neutrality, and a shared voice will ensure that all participants have the opportunity to shape the future of open source software in the EU and around the world. Organizations and individuals interested in Eclipse technologies and open source software overall are welcome to learn more at www.eclipsecon.org/2022 or register to attend at https://www.eclipsecon.org/2022/registration About the Eclipse Foundation The Eclipse Foundation provides our global community of individuals and organizations with a mature, scalable, and commercial-friendly environment for open source software collaboration and innovation. The Foundation is home to the Eclipse IDE, Jakarta EE, and over 400 open source projects, including runtimes, tools, and frameworks for cloud and edge applications, IoT, AI, automotive, systems engineering, distributed ledger technologies, open processor designs, and many others. The Eclipse Foundation is an international non-profit association supported by over 330 members, including industry leaders who value open source as a key enabler for their business strategies. To learn more, follow us on Twitter @EclipseFdn , LinkedIn or visit eclipse.org . Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Media contacts: Karla Ferrer, Head of Marketing The Eclipse Foundation karla.ferrer@eclipse-foundation.org +33 6 43 11 02 45 BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - China's economic growth accelerated in the third quarter after the relaxation of Covid restrictions, but other economic indicators signaled a mixed picture, official data revealed Monday. Gross domestic product logged an annual growth of 3.9 percent in the third quarter, faster than the 0.4 percent expansion seen in the second quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics reported. The pace of growth also exceeded economists' forecast of 3.4 percent, but fell short of Beijing's growth target of 'around 5.5 percent' for the whole year. Due to the low base of comparison, the quarterly growth also came in at 3.9 percent in the third quarter, again above the forecast of 3.5 percent. The International Monetary Fund had projected China's economy to grow 3.2 percent this year, but slashed the country's forecast for next year to 4.4 percent. Last week, the NBS had delayed the publication of its third quarter GDP data along with other major economic indicators as the initial release date coincided with the 20th party conference of the ruling Communist Party. At the party conference on Sunday, President Xi Jinping was re-elected as the General Secretary of the Communist Party for a third term. Driven by reduced lockdowns in ports, industrial production advanced at a faster pace of 6.3 percent annually in September, following a 4.2 percent gain in August. Output was forecast to rise 4.5 percent. Meanwhile, the retail sales growth eased to 2.5 percent from 5.4 percent a month ago. This was slower than economists' forecast of 3.3 percent. For the January to September period, fixed asset investment increased 5.9 percent from the same period last year, almost in line with the expected growth of 6.0 percent. The property market downturn continued to weigh on the overall economic growth. Property investment plunged 8.0 percent during the January to September period. The urban surveyed unemployment rate climbed to 5.5 percent in September from 5.3 percent in August. Data published by the General Administration of Customs showed that exports rose 5.7 percent in September, after increasing 7.1 percent a month ago. On the other hand, growth in imports held steady at 0.3 percent. Exports and imports were expected to gain 4.1 percent and 1.0 percent, respectively. As a result, the trade surplus rose to $84.7 billion in September from $79.4 billion in August. This set of data sends an important message that even Covid measures have become more flexible as it depends on the number of Covid cases, lockdowns are still a big uncertainty to the economy with the background of the real estate crisis, ING economist Iris Pang said. This uncertainty means the effectiveness of pro-growth policy would be undermined, the economist added. Capital Economics' economist Julian Evans-Pritchard said the outlook remains gloomy. There is no prospect of China lifting its zero-COVID policy in the near future, and any meaningful relaxation before 2024 is not expected. The economist said the official GDP is set to expand just 3.5 percent next year, with actual growth likely to be even weaker. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Iran says to export 40 homegrown gas turbines to Russia Xinhua) 10:35, October 24, 2022 Picture taken on Oct. 8, 2012 shows Nord Stream pipeline equipments before the opening ceremony of the North Stream second gas link in Portovaya bay, some 60 km from the town of Vyborg in northwestern Russia. (Xinhua File photo) TEHRAN, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran has signed a contract with Russia to export 40 homegrown gas turbines to the country, Shana News Agency affiliated to the Iranian oil ministry reported Sunday. Iran is now capable of meeting 85 percent of its domestic needs for gas equipment and facilities, and its gas production has doubled despite the severe U.S. sanctions, Shana quoted Reza Noshadi, head of Iran Gas Engineering and Development Company, as saying. Iran and Russia have in recent years expanded their cooperation in different areas. In July, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding, according to which Russia is expected to invest about 40 billion U.S. dollars in Iran's petroleum industry, Shana reported. In late July, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran Ali Salehabadi announced that the Tehran Stock Exchange had launched the rial-ruble trading, official news agency IRNA reported. About a month later, he said Tehran and Moscow will expand the use of national currencies in transactions to other areas of bilateral trade, semi-official Fars News Agency reported. In late August, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia and Iran are finalizing a comprehensive document on their cooperation. "We are satisfied with the way our bilateral relations are developing. They are reaching a new qualitative level, which will be fixed in a large agreement between the two countries," Lavrov said at a joint briefing following his meeting with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Moscow. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Hongyu) President Yoon Suk-yeol enters the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Monday. Joint Press Corps By Nam Hyun-woo President Yoon Suk-yeol on Monday dismissed the Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) calls that he accept DPK leader Lee Jae-myung's proposal to introduce a special counsel to investigate allegations related to the Daejang-dong land development project in Seongnam, as well as to commit to ending politically biased investigations. The DPK also said that Yoon should apologize for his use of a profanity that was caught on a hot mic last month during his trip to New York which the presidential office afterwards said referred to Korea's opposition party rather than the U.S. Congress as well as for suggesting that the opposition are a "pro-North Korea Jucheist faction" at a luncheon and to reporters last week. Yoon dismissed the DPK's demands, saying that he has never heard of conditions being attached to a presidential speech in the legislature. "The Constitution guarantees the president's right to speak in the National Assembly. The National Assembly Act states that the speech should be heard at the plenary session and the rival parties agreed to have the speech this Tuesday," Yoon told reporters on his way to the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Monday. "As far as I remember, in the history of our Constitution, there has been no such thing as additional conditions attached to the giving of a presidential speech." Yoon was referring to the Article 81 of the Constitution that allows the president to attend and address the National Assembly or express his or her views through written messages. Article 84 of the National Assembly Act also states that the administrative speech dealing with the government's proposed budget "shall be heard at the plenary session." Yoon's comments came after DPK floor leader Park Hong-keun said Sunday that, "without at least an apology (from the president) to restore trust," the party will boycott his speech. Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung pauses before answering reporters' questions in front of the party's headquarters on Yeouido, Seoul, Monday, when the prosecution raided the headquarters due to an investigation. Yonhap YANTAI, China, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 2022 World Industrial Design Conference will be held grandly in Yantai City, Shandong Province on 11th-13rd November. The conference is co-hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China and the People's Government of Shandong Province and organized by the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Shandong Province, the China Industrial Design Association and the People's Government of Yantai City, which is not only the highest and largest industrial design event in the world, but also the only industrial design event in this branch sponsored by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. With the theme of "Design - Linking up the Future", the conference brings together representatives of government agencies, industry organizations, experts and scholars, entrepreneurs, designers and other innovation leaders from more than 40 countries and regions both online and offline to conduct a series of fruitful sharing, exchange and cooperation on the innovative development of industrial design in the new development pattern, discussing the influence of "Design+" on the supplementation, extension and reinforcement of industrial chains. The Award of China Excellent Industrial Design, the only national award approved by the central government in the field of industrial design in China, organized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, will also hold an award ceremony at the opening ceremony of the conference. The award has been expanded from 10 gold awards to 60 gold, silver and bronze awards for the first time, which will stimulate the economic vitality and innovation consciousness of the whole society and improve the global influence and reputation of Chinese design. The conference will gather more than 100 global manufacturing enterprises, design institutions, universities and institutes to discuss the frontier development and industrial application of industrial design, release integration innovation initiatives for the whole industry chain, the opening of China Artificial Intelligence Open Innovation Joint Laboratory, and organize the city partner signing ceremony "Capital of Design" tailored for Yantai, inviting many well-known domestic and foreign innovation leaders to form a community of enterprise with Yantai to share the risks, success and future, so that creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and high-quality economic and social development can be deeply integrated and Yantai can be set in motion to build the world's "Capital of Design". Yantai has held the World Industrial Design Conference for four consecutive years, built the National Industrial Design Institute of Intelligent Manufacturering, put forward the strategic goal of creating an international "Capital of Design", planned and built the International Design Town and the World Design Park, and accumulated five national industrial design centers, 44 provincial industrial design centers and 252 municipal industrial design centers. Industrial design is becoming a new city business card of Yantai. In the future, Yantai will gradually build an international first-class innovation ecology, human ecology and environmental ecology by design, creating a new landmark of world-class industrial design and an inviting and innovative highland for global designers. Contact: Zhao Xiangyang Tel: 0086535-6789710 E-mail:yt6789710@yt.shandong.cn Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1802020/City_of_Yantai_Logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1926901/City_of_Yantai.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/recurring-world-industrial-design-conference-in-yantai-shandong-helping-yantai-polish-its-city-business-card-capital-of-design-301657162.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 24, 2022) - Endurance Gold Corporation (TSXV: EDG) (OTC Pink: ENDGF) (FSE: 3EG) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the signing of an exploration agreement (the "Exploration Agreement") with the Bridge River Indian Band ("Xwisten") regarding the Reliance Gold Property (the "Property"). The road accessible Property is located 4 kilometres ("km") east of the village of Gold Bridge, and 10 km north of the historic Bralorne-Pioneer Gold Mining Camp within Xwisten's traditional territory in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. The Exploration Agreement addresses the parties' desire for a mutually beneficial arrangement in respect of current and proposed exploration activities within the Xwisten traditional territory and provides for protection of traditional activities and sensitive sites, including archaeological surveys, environmental protection measures, and the opportunity for the Xwisten community to participate in any business and employment opportunities that the project generates. The Exploration Agreement covers all exploration activities through to completion of a Feasibility Study which demonstrates economic viability. The parties further agree that eventually the Exploration Agreement will be replaced by an impacts and benefits agreement to cover any anticipated commercial mining operation. The Exploration Agreement recognizes that Endurance will retain the rights to accommodate and work with any other Indigenous communities that may have traditional territory within the Property area. "Endurance is a strong advocate of working cooperatively and respectfully with indigenous communities that are impacted by exploration activities in their traditional territory" commented Robert T. Boyd, CEO of Endurance Gold. "We are thus very pleased to have finalized this agreement with Xwisten, which acknowledges and respects their Indigenous Title and Rights, and provides for a mutually respectful dialogue with Xwisten through our continuing exploration program". As compensation for impacts of the Company's exploration activities on Xwisten's traditional territory the Company, among other things, has agreed to issue Xwisten 130,000 common shares of the Company ("Endurance Shares") upon the acceptance of the Exploration Agreement by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Endurance Shares will be subject to a hold period as per the policy of the Exchange. Endurance Gold Corporation is a company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of highly prospective North American mineral properties with the potential to develop world-class deposits. ENDURANCE GOLD CORPORATION Robert T. Boyd, President & CEO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Endurance Gold Corporationwww.endurancegold.com Toll Free: (877) 624 2237, info@endurancegold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release may contain forward looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from the expected results. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141619 PARIS (dpa-AFX) - The defense ministers of three western countries have rejected Russia's allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory, as 'transparently false.' The 'dirty bomb' allegation was made by Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu during phone calls that he initiated with his American counterpart Lloyd Austin and British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace on Sunday, without providing any basis to support it. Dirty bomb is a weapon that combines conventional explosives laced with radioactive material such as uranium. Shoigu made similar claims to French defense minister as well. The Foreign Ministers of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States later issued a joint statement reiterating their steadfast support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression. 'Earlier today, the defense ministers of each of our countries spoke to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu at his request. Our countries made clear that we all reject Russia's transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation. We further reject any pretext for escalation by Russia,' the statement says. The Foreign Ministers also discussed their shared determination to continue supporting Ukraine with security, economic, and humanitarian assistance in the face of the ongoing Russian aggression. Separately, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to reaffirm the United States' steadfast support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. Blinken also rejected Shoygu's allegation that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb as 'transparently false.' Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to this by saying that Russia itself could be preparing to carry out such an attack. Russia is 'the source of everything dirty that can be imagined in this war,' according to him. In the opinion of the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), it is a strategy by Moscow 'to slow or suspend Western military aid to Ukraine and possibly weaken the NATO alliance in scare-mongering calls with several NATO defense ministers'. The Kremlin has repeatedly claimed that Western states would help Ukraine conduct a false-flag WMD attack since the earliest stages of its invasion of Ukraine in February. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de VANCOUVER, B.C., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pangea Natural Foods Inc. (CSE: PNGA) ("Pangea" or the "Company"), a natural food company, is pleased to announce hitting the milestone of selling over 5,000 units of its Pangea Old Fashioned Ghee, a grass-fed, organic, clarified butter sourced from New Zealand to Save-On-Foods across its Canadian locations within the last 30 days. Save-On-Foods is a chain of supermarkets located across Western Canada, owned by the Pattison Food Group. With Save-on-Foods, the Company has listed Pangea Old Fashioned Ghee nationally in approximately 177 stores. "Our customers are consistently purchasing our products and our brand recognition is growing rapidly," says Pangea CEO Pratap Sandhu, "We're very pleased with the distribution results from our relationship with Save-on-Foods, a well-known and established retailer." The Company's Old Fashioned Ghee is a grass-fed, organic, clarified butter sourced from New Zealand. In 2021, the Global Ghee Market reached a value of US$45.7 billion, while's expected to reach US$68.9 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 7.18%.[1] All of the Company's products are manufactured in the Vancouver lower mainland at an in-house facility approved by both the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. To provide a convenient experience for its customers, the Company offers its products for purchase via e-commerce platforms and traditional retail outlets, including Save-on-Foods. Pangea offers a broad portfolio of innovative healthy food products that taste great and are sustainably sourced. Pangea's signature products include the Pangea Plant-Based Patties, Old Fashioned Ghee and Munchie Mix, which are available on the Company's website and in over 250 leading national retail food stores across Canada and the United States. About Pangea Natural Foods Inc. Pangea Natural Foods Inc. is a food manufacturing company focused on manufacturing and distributing high quality food products that are nutritious and free of GMO ingredients, fillers, antibiotics, hormones, and bioengineered ingredients. On Behalf of the Board of Directors (signed) "Pratap Sandhu" Pratap Sandhu CEO, Corporate Secretary and Director For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.pangeafood.com or contact: Pangea Natural Foods Inc. Pratap Sandhu, Chief Executive Officer Telephone: +1 (604) 765-8069 Email: pratap@pangeafood.com Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain statements and information that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements regarding the Company's plans to expand distribution of its products throughout North America and expectations regarding the Company's growth. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends," "anticipates," "it is expected," or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "should," or "would" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analyses made by management of the Company and the opinions and estimates of management of the Company as of the date of this news release, including that the Company will be able to widen the distribution of its products in North America and that the Company's business will grow. Although the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to them, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking statements in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Such risk factors may include, among others, that the Company will not be able to expand its distribution network, and the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company and the business of the Company as set forth in the Company's final long form prospectus dated June 20, 2022 and its other disclosure available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that the transactions contemplated in this news release will complete. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. We seek safe harbor. [1] https://www.imarcgroup.com/ghee-market# View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pangea-sells-over-5-000-units-of-organic-ghee-in-one-month-301657276.html Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 24, 2022 / TPT Global Tech, Inc. (OTCPINK:TPTW) ("TPT Global Tech") announces today that its subsidiary TPT Strategic Inc. (OTC PINK:INOQ)("TPT Strategic") and its newly acquired construction company, Information Security and Training LLC ("IST LLC" or "IST") (www.istincs.com) a General Construction and Information Technology Services company have successfully concluded its $2.89M 2-year Highway construction project, MAMMOTH CAVE PAVING, National Park Services, Mammoth, KY for the Federal Highway Administration Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division, September 2022. IST has approximately $5.4M backlogged in executed Government contracts, as of April 2022, and looks forward to beginning work on each of them. IST, based in Huntsville Alabama, with branch offices in Nashville TN, Birmingham Al, Jackson MS, Fort Campbell KY, New Orleans LA, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, has two divisions, Construction and IT Technology, and has been a general contractor for over 15years. IST has been in the Federal Marketplace since its inception in 2008 and has completed work for over 15 federal agencies. IST has been successfully 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 Information Technology Services Division provides program management, System 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. With the completed acquisition of IST and its seasoned professional team of construction engineers and design teams, TPT Global Tech is positioned to start its Tuskegee Smart City project. " It is such a pleasure to work with Everett Lanier the new President for TPT Strategic and the IST Team. They are bringing such a high level of professionalism and experience to TPT Global Tech's already seasoned team of Executives to assist us as we move forward with our Smart City initiatives domestically and internationally," said Stephen J Thomas III, Chairman & 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/721965/TPT-Global-Techs-Real-Estate-Technology-Division-TPT-Strategic-and-IST-LLC-Completes-A-289M-Road-Construction-Project-In-the-State-of-Kentucky Stevanato Group S.p.A. (NYSE: STVN), a leading global provider of drug containment, drug delivery, and diagnostic solutions to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and life sciences industries, announced today that it will issue financial results for the third quarter of 2022 on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at 6:30 a.m. (ET). Conference call and webcast: The Company will host a conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. (ET) on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 to discuss financial results for the third quarter. During the call, management will refer to a slide presentation which will be available at 6:30 a.m. (ET) on the day of the call on the "Financial Results" page under the Company's Investor Relations section of its website. Pre-registration: Participants who pre-register will be given a conference passcode and unique PIN to gain immediate access to the call and bypass the live operator. We encourage participants to pre-register for the conference call using the following link: http://services.choruscall.it/DiamondPassRegistration/register?confirmationNumber=4544003&linkSecurityString=514976446 Webcast: A live, listen-only webcast of the call will be available at the following link: https://87399.choruscall.eu/links/stevanato221108.html Dial in: Those who are unable to pre-register may dial in by calling: Italy: +39 02 802 09 11 UK: +44 1 212 818004 USA: +1 718 705 8796 USA Toll Free: +1 855 265 6958 Replay The webcast will be archived for three months on the Company's Investor Relations section of its website at: https://ir.stevanatogroup.com/financial-results. About Stevanato Group Founded in 1949, Stevanato Group is a leading global provider of drug containment, drug delivery and diagnostic solutions to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life sciences industries. Stevanato Group delivers an integrated, end-to-end portfolio of products, processes and services that address customer needs across the entire drug life cycle at each of the development, clinical and commercial stages. Stevanato Group's core capabilities in scientific research and development, its commitment to technical innovation and its engineering excellence are central to its ability to offer value added solutions to clients. For more information, please visit www.stevanatogroup.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005962/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations Lisa Miles lisa.miles@stevanatogroup.com Media media@stevanatogroup.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 24, 2022) - Doubleview Gold Corp. (TSXV: DBG) (OTCQB: DBLVF) (FSE: 1D4) ("Doubleview") is pleased to announce that the Company's ongoing testwork program investigating the potential for scandium extraction and recovery has resulted in a significant accomplishment by achieving 89% Scandium extraction from floatation tailings of Hat Deposit material. These results are an important break-through metallurgical accomplishment for the Company's Hat Deposit. Scandium is an important strategic element that has many applications in global electrical and metal industries and is chronically in short supply. Preliminary metallurgical extraction tests on flotation tailings in sulphate media at elevated temperatures demonstrated that 89% of the scandium in the flotation tailings could be extracted into solution. Higher levels of scandium extraction are anticipated with optimization of extraction conditions. These results are an important accomplishment in the metallurgical development of the Company's Hat Deposit. Recent quantitative mineralogical investigations in relation to the HAT Deposit showed that scandium is primarily associated with rock forming minerals such as clinopyroxene and amphiboles. Supplementary copper flotation test work showed that 99.5% of the scandium associated with the gangue minerals reported to the flotation tailings. The scandium grade of the tailings from the flotation tests assayed 65 g/t. Andrew Carter, Doubleview's QP, stated, "The mode of occurrence of scandium in Hat Deposit mineralized material is typical and scandium responds predictably to conventional approaches to extraction, furthermore, recovery of scandium from sulphate solution is not expected to present any undue difficulty." Doubleview President and CEO, Mr. Farshad Shirvani, commented, "I am specifically proud of the metallurgical team and laboratory scientists for achieving exceptional results in the recovery of scandium, now recognized in North American as an essential mineral. Initial scandium recovery rates of 89% from flotation tailings with the anticipation of higher recoveries with optimization is extremely encouraging. Scandium is present and has been assayed throughout the deposit and will be evaluated in upcoming resource calculations. Recovering scandium from tailings in addition to copper, cobalt and gold recovery in concentrates is significant as it potentially provides another commercially saleable product with limited additional costs. The Company recently announced it commissioned a maiden resource estimate for the HAT Deposit. The addition of scandium to a polymetallic resource which includes gold, copper, cobalt, silver and PGE could distinguish the HAT Deposit as a world class resource." Laboratory test work is currently underway in which the scandium bearing solutions will be subjected to a sequential purification process before recovery of scandium as a commercial salt. Several recovery processes have been identified to produce a range of potential scandium products, which will be further evaluated as the test work proceeds. Qualified Person. EUR ING Andrew Carter B.Sc. CEng. MIMMM, MSAIMM SME of Tetra Tech Europe is Doubleview's Qualified Person with respect to the Hat Project Metallurgical Studies as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release. He is independent of Doubleview. About Doubleview Gold Corp Doubleview Gold Corp., a mineral resource exploration and development company, is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and is publicly traded on the TSX-Venture Exchange (TSXV: DBG), (OTCQB: DBLVF), (GER: A1W038), (FSE: 1D4). Doubleview identifies, acquires and finances precious and base metal exploration projects in North America, particularly in British Columbia. Doubleview increases shareholder value through acquisition and exploration of quality gold, copper and silver properties and the application of advanced state-of-the-art exploration methods. The Company's portfolio of strategic properties provides diversification and mitigates investment risk. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Farshad Shirvani, President & Chief Executive Officer For further information please contact: Doubleview Gold Corp Vancouver, BC Farshad Shirvani President & CEO T: (604) 678-9587 E: corporate@doubleview.ca Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Doubleview cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Doubleview's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Doubleview's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Doubleview undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141711 Chip City Cookies, a New York-based cookie brand, raised $10M in funding. Enlightened Hospitality Investments made the commitment. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate growth plans to scale its gourmet cookie concept beyond New York City, and strengthen its brand position within the competitive cookie segment, bolstered by its ship-anywhere partnership with Uber Eats. Co-founded by Peter Phillips and Teddy Gailas, Chip City is a gourmet cookie brand that rotates its flavorful and sizeable cookies on a weekly basis. It currently has 14 locations across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island with plans to enter into new markets, including New Jersey and Florida. FinSMEs 25/10/2022 Emmanuel Adegboye, head of Madica (pictured on the left) launches new pre-seed Africa fund spun out from Flourish Ventures. He celebrates with new Board members, Efayomi Carr, principal, Flourish Ventures, Ameya Upadhyay, venture partner, Flourish Ventures and Arjuna Costa, managing director, Flourish Ventures (left to right), Flourish Ventures, a San Francisco, CA-based global venture capital firm investing in mission-driven fintech entrepreneurs, launched a structured investment program for pre-seed stage technology companies in Africa. Led by Emmanuel Adegboye, Madica is a new sector-agnostic program that will invest capital in tech startups and offer founders tailored mentorship and company-building support. Over the next three years, it seeks to back 25-30 African entrepreneurs with up to $200,000 each, coupled with multi-year programmatic support. A central element of the program will be a curated panel of seasoned African operators who will mentor Madica founders. To further cultivate this sense of community, the program intends to share a part of its financial returns with the broader ecosystem. It is an Africa-wide initiative inviting founders from across the continent, including those outside the large tech hubs of Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and South Africa. Further, Madica will prioritize companies led by local founders, women, and those focused on frontier sectors to shore up gaps in funding on the continent. To be eligible for the program, mission-driven startups must: have a minimum viable product (MVP) have founder(s) who are engaged full time have received little or no institutional funding Madica operates an open application process so founders can apply without an introduction. The program will work with partners such as incubators, accelerators, and angels to identify and support entrepreneurs. All applicants will undergo the same evaluation procedure, and investments will be made on a rolling basis throughout the year. Applications are now open, and interested startups can find out more and apply by visiting Madicas website. FinSMEs President Yoon Suk-yeol called Monday for special measures to address drug crimes, saying they must be stopped before they become a national-level threat. Yoon gave the instructions during a weekly meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo at his office, leading the government to plan comprehensive measures against drug crimes, according to deputy presidential spokesperson Lee Jae-myoung. "President Yoon emphasized that we desperately need to wage war against drugs as a society before drugs spread beyond the manageable critical level to a national-level risk," Lee said. "Regarding the sharp increase in young drug offenders online and beyond, he called for coming up with special measures with a sense of duty that we must protect our future generations," he added. (Yonhap) Trinity Hunt Partners, a Dallas, TX-based growth-oriented private equity firm, closed its first continuation fund, at $618m. Limited Partners included StepStone Group and Schroders Capital and other investors. The capital will support the acquisitions of Argano and Improving, two premier technology services companies, from Trinity Hunt Partners V, L.P, and the continued growth of the companies. The firm has worked to grow each business through a focus on organic growth, add-on acquisitions, and investments in people and culture. Argano is a digital consultancy focused on optimizing client operations by modernizing, integrating and automating their Digital Foundations, with capabilities including commerce, billing, enterprise resource planning, supply chain, human capital, analytics, reporting and performance management. The company serves over 1,500 clients across industries with a talent pool spanning 38 countries. Improving is a modern digital services organization focused on delivering impactful business solutions using the latest technologies. The company has an international presence with 16 offices across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Led by Blake Apel, Managing Partner, Trinity Hunt Partners is a growth-oriented middle market private equity firm with over $1.5 billion of assets under management focused on building leading business, healthcare, and consumer services companies. The company has earned a reputation for providing the strategic, operational, and financial capabilities. FinSMEs 25/10/2022 On August 4, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son at the latter's request on the sidelines of the series of foreign ministers' meetings on East Asia cooperation in Phnom Penh. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the consensus reached at the 14th meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation to accelerate cooperation in key areas in the next stage. Bui Thanh Son wished the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China a complete success, saying that the Vietnamese side will host a series of celebrations to demonstrate mutual support between socialist countries. Vietnam sees its relations with China as a strategic choice and a top priority of its foreign policy, and expects to maintain high-level exchanges between the two parties and two countries, carry forward the traditional friendship, consolidate political mutual trust, and deepen practical cooperation. The Vietnamese side reaffirms its firm commitment to the one-China policy, has released a joint statement thereon with other ASEAN countries, and stands ready to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability. Wang Yi said that both being a socialist country led by a communist party, China and Vietnam have enjoyed comrade-and-brother like friendship, and always staunchly supported each other's major core interests. The two sides should take the building of a community with a shared future with strategic significance as their vision and goal, strengthen exchanges and mutual learning, and jointly develop the paths for developing countries to achieve modernization. Wang Yi appreciated the Vietnamese side adhering to the one-China principle, emphasizing that the causes of the current situation across the Taiwan Strait are crystal clear, and so are the rights and wrongs thereof. The retrogressive acts of the US have not only encroached upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also undermined the common interests of the region and all developing countries, and violated the basic norms governing international relations. As the Chinese proverb goes, "With justice on your side, you can go anywhere; without it, you cannot take a step." Over 100 countries have expressed their commitment to the one-China principle, and UN Secretary-General has clearly stated that the UN will continue to adhere to the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758. The Chinese side is ready to work with the Vietnamese side to fully demonstrate what a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership is all about, jointly uphold solidarity among socialist countries, and jointly defend international fairness and justice. On August 3, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Turkiye Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on the sidelines of the series of foreign ministers' meetings on East Asia cooperation in Phnom Penh. Wang Yi noted that China and Turkiye are both representatives of emerging economies with closely-intertwined interests and similar positions. China stands ready to work with Turkiye to enhance mutual trust and cooperation in line with the principles set by the two heads of state, support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, foster greater synergy of development strategies, and promote the sound and stable development of the strategic cooperative relationship between the two countries. Wang Yi said that in the face of the drastic increase in the instability, uncertainty and insecurity in the current international situation, major countries should have taken the lead in abiding by the UN Charter, upholding the basic norms governing international relations, and advocating and practicing multilateralism. However, the United States is just doing the opposite, blatantly challenging China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and jeopardizing peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The international community has unanimously condemned its dangerous and foolish acts. The Chinese side will work with all sides to strictly abide by the basic norm of respecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity in international relations, and safeguard peace and stability in the region and the world at large. Cavusoglu said that Turkiye is firmly committed to the one-China policy, not only on the Taiwan question but also on Xinjiang-related issues. Turkiye welcomes United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelets visit to Xinjiang, and hopes to maintain communication with the Chinese side regarding the Turkish delegation's visit to Xinjiang. Cavusoglu noted that Turkiye adheres to multilateralism, and opposes unilateral sanctions. Currently, the Ukraine crisis has posed serious challenges to global economic recovery. Turkiye is ready to strengthen solidarity with the Chinese side to jointly cope with food security and other challenges. Turkiye attaches great importance to the effort to foster greater synergy between the Middle Corridor Initiative and the Belt and Road Initiative, stands ready to push for a more balanced bilateral economic and trade relationship between the two countries, welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Turkiye, and would like to see increased direct flights between the two countries. Wang Yi said that the Chinese side appreciates Turkiye's active part in mediating the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and supports Turkiye in playing a constructive role in securing a soft landing of the Ukraine crisis. Since the beginning of this year, the Chinese side has overcome difficulties to provide the neediest developing countries with more than 30,000 tons of emergency humanitarian food aid. The Chinese side also put forward a cooperation initiative on global food security at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and will continue to play a constructive role in tackling global food security challenges. Wang Yi emphasized that Xinjiang-related issues are China's internal affairs. China takes an open and transparent attitude towards Xinjiang-related issues, and welcomes the Turkish delegation to Xinjiang for a visit. By Robert Skidelsky LONDON Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet Union's last leader, was buried last month at the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow next to his wife Raisa and near fellow Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. To no one's surprise, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend the funeral. Novodevichy, after all, is where "unsuccessful" Soviet leaders had been consigned to their final rest. Putin's snub reminded me of a conversation I had two decades ago during a midnight stroll through Red Square. On impulse, I asked the army officer stationed in front of Lenin's Tomb who was buried in the Soviet Necropolis behind it, and he offered to show me. There, I saw a succession of graves and plinths for Soviet leaders: from Stalin to Leonid Brezhnev, Alexei Kosygin, and Yuri Andropov. The last plinth was unoccupied. "For Gorbachev, I suppose?" I asked. "No, his place is in Washington," the officer replied. Ironically, Gorbachev has been lionized in the West for accomplishing something he never set out to do: bringing about the end of the Soviet Union. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990, yet Russians widely regarded him as a traitor. In his ill-fated attempt at a political comeback in the 1996 Russian presidential election, he received just 0.5 percent of the popular vote. Gorbachev remains a reviled figure in Russia. A 2012 survey by the state-owned pollster VTsIOM found that Gorbachev was the most unpopular of all Russian leaders. According to a 2021 poll, more than 70 percent of Russians believe their country had moved in the wrong direction under his rule. Hardliners hate him for dismantling Soviet power, and liberals despise him for clinging to the impossible ideal of reforming the communist regime. I became acquainted with Gorbachev in the early 2000s when I attended meetings of the World Political Forum, the think tank he founded in Turin. The organization was purportedly established to promote democracy and human rights. But in practice, its events were nostalgic reminiscences where Gorbachev held forth on "what might have been." He was usually flanked by other has-beens of his era, including former Polish leaders Wojciech Jaruzelski and Lech Walesa, former Hungarian Prime Minister Gyula Horn, Russian diplomat Alexander Bessmertnykh, and a sprinkling of left-leaning academics. Gorbachev's idea of a "Third Way" between socialism and capitalism was briefly fashionable in the West but was soon swamped by neoliberal triumphalism. Nonetheless, I liked and respected this strangely visionary leader of the dying USSR, who refused to use force to resist change. Today, most Russians cast Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin as harbingers of Russia's misfortune. Putin, on the other hand, is widely hailed as a paragon of order and prosperity who has reclaimed Russia's leading role on the world stage. In September, 60 percent of Russians said they believe that their country is heading in the right direction, though this no doubt partly reflects the tight control Putin exercises over television news (the main source of information for most citizens). In the eyes of most Russians, Gorbachev's legacy is one of naivete and incompetence, if not outright betrayal. According to the prevailing narrative, Gorbachev allowed NATO to expand into East Germany in 1990 on the basis of a verbal commitment by then-US Secretary of State James Baker that the alliance would expand "not one inch eastwards." Gorbachev, in this telling, relinquished Soviet control over Central and Eastern Europe without demanding a written assurance. In reality, however, Baker was in no position to make such a promise in writing, and Gorbachev knew it. Moreover, Gorbachev repeatedly confirmed over many years that a serious promise not to expand NATO eastward was never made. In any case, the truth is that the Soviet Union's control over its European satellites had become untenable after it signed the 1975 Helsinki Final Act. The accord, signed by the United States, Canada, and most of Europe, included commitments to respect human rights, including freedom of information and movement. Communist governments' ability to control their population gradually eroded, culminating in the chain of mostly peaceful uprisings that ultimately led to the Soviet Union's dissolution. Yet there is a grain of truth to the myth of Gorbachev's capitulation. After all, the USSR had not been defeated in battle, as Germany and Japan were in 1945, and the formidable Soviet military machine remained intact in 1990. In theory, Gorbachev could have used tanks to deal with the popular uprisings in Eastern Europe, as his predecessors did in East Germany in 1953, Hungary in 1956, and Czechoslovakia in 1968. Gorbachev's refusal to resort to violence to preserve the Soviet empire resulted in a bloodless defeat and a feeling of humiliation among Russians. This sense of grievance has fueled widespread distrust of NATO, which Putin used years later to mobilize popular support for his invasion of Ukraine. Another common misconception is that Gorbachev dismantled a functioning economic system. In fact, far from fulfilling Khrushchev's promise to "bury" the West economically, the Soviet economy had been declining for decades. Gorbachev understood that the Soviet Union could not keep up with the U.S. militarily while satisfying civilian demands for higher living standards. But while he rejected the Brezhnev era's stagnation-inducing policies, he had nothing coherent to put in their place. Instead of facilitating a functioning market economy, his rushed abandonment of the central-planning system enriched the corrupt managerial class in the Soviet republics and led to a resurgence of ethnic nationalism. To my mind, Gorbachev is a tragic figure. While he fully grasped the immense challenges facing Soviet communism, he had no control over the forces he helped unleash. Russia in the 1980s simply lacked the intellectual, spiritual, and political resources to overcome its underlying problems. But while the Soviet empire has been extinct for 30 years, many of the dysfunctions that contributed to its demise now threaten to engulf the entire world. Robert Skidelsky, a member of the British House of Lords and professor emeritus of political economy at Warwick University, was a non-executive director of the private Russian oil company PJSC Russneft from 2016 to 2021. This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). Story Highlights Disengaged employees cost the world $7.8 trillion in lost productivity Quiet quitting starts when your culture fails to deliver on employment promises Concerns about quiet quitting exist in many leadership circles. Quiet quitting refers to a trend where unmotivated, disinterested, checked-out employees do bare-minimum work at best -- just enough to get the job done but no more. While "quiet quitting" is a new term, the phenomenon is anything but novel. Disengaged employees have been a long-time -- not to mention expensive -- problem for leaders: Employees who are not engaged or who are actively disengaged cost the world $7.8 trillion in lost productivity, according to Gallup's State of the Global Workplace: 2022 Report. That's equal to 11% of global GDP. Alarmingly, at least 50% of the U.S. workforce are quiet quitters; in all likelihood, probably more than 50%. It's easy to understand why quiet quitting is troubling leaders. Yet there's a root cause to quiet quitting that is not currently in the mainstream conversation: broken brand promises. Does Your Culture Deliver on Your Promises or Disappoint? In the wake of the Great Resignation, many workplaces are revitalizing their employee value propositions and making promises to their people. For example, some companies assure employees that they'll prioritize worker wellbeing and implement employee assistance programs. Alarmingly, at least 50% of the U.S. workforce are quiet quitters; in all likelihood, probably more than 50%. With these promises in place, many employees and job candidates have felt renewed hope, optimism and excitement about what their workplace could provide: flexibility, an inspiring mission and managers who genuinely care about their wellbeing. ###Embeddable### But here's the problem: If employees perceive workplace promises as an illusion, it's only a matter of time before hopeful workers become discouraged. Experiences must follow brand promises. Experiences are born of culture. If there's a misalignment between your culture and what your employer brand has promised, employees either leave the organization or quietly do the bare minimum. In the wake of countless resignations, many are now choosing the easier path of smiling and taking the money. Unfortunately, many organizations struggle to deliver brand promises and create exceptional employee experiences that resonate with each worker. It's a problem that persists across organizations because it's hard work to change a workplace culture. Put simply, your employer brand is only able to get the best of your people when it's an authentic representation of reality -- what employees experience in your work culture every day. A compelling employee value proposition may get talent in the door, but the only way to engage and retain employees is with a culture and employee experience that consistently reflect brand promises. Your culture is either delivering on your promises or creating quiet quitters. In fact, a brand that honestly endorses its imperfections and shortcomings is far better than a brand that tries to be more than it truly is. A workplace that is upfront with employees even about what isn't ideal in the culture can keep high performers better than one that seems disingenuous to workers. Here are three questions to ask yourself to build a culture that delivers on your brand promises and keeps quiet quitting at bay. 1. Can we deliver on what we promise? What employees want and expect from a workplace has changed over time. Only a generation ago, top talent was most attracted to large, stable organizations. Then, technology and innovation became the new buzzwords, with the most cutting-edge work attracting the best. Now, people are seeing that life is more than just their job. They want their work to matter. They crave work that does good and is part of a global solution. They want a workplace that offers the opportunity to use their strengths to promote a higher purpose. And they're most engaged in a mission-driven workplace that's taking visible, credible action to do good and make the world a better place. If there's a misalignment between your culture and what your employer brand has promised, employees either leave the organization or quietly do the bare minimum. Approaching your brand promises without deeply understanding your culture, no matter how inspiring and well communicated, can only work for so long. The best brands are authentic to what and who your organization is. That is, you need a specific, one-of-a-kind brand that communicates the difference your organization makes, how your company provides that value (your unique capabilities) and the customers you serve. 2. Are we tracking and measuring our culture? Successful leaders measure and track their culture to ensure that the messages they want to convey get through to their people. To be perceived as real, you need to understand your culture from both logistical and emotional perspectives. Instead of settling for a vague understanding of your culture, use quantitative and qualitative metrics to fully comprehend the intricacies of employees' experiences and beliefs. What factors motivate people to stay? What key moments convince people this is the right workplace for them? What are the most common experiences that push people away? When you truly know your culture and the meaningful moments that create the reality of your employee experience, you can make data-driven changes to increase employee commitment. Remember, a strong culture and employee experience are honest, inspiring, and consistent with a compelling employer brand. In other words, your workplace's inside -- your culture and employees' experiences -- must match its outside -- what your brand promises. 3. Are we doing the work required to change? To stop quiet quitting, leaders need to take concrete, consistent actions to ensure their culture does what it says it will do. Put differently, your workplace culture should be a priority every day -- and this starts with your managers. Managers are vital to building a compelling culture because they structure how work gets done, interact with employees regularly and shape people's day-to-day experiences with each other. Managers influence how employees consistently experience their workplace culture. To do this well, they need manager development and leaders who support them. Your workplace culture should be a priority every day -- and this starts with your managers. Without great managers who bring your desired culture to life, your employees could become quiet quitters. And while this quiet quitting may seem like a threat -- it's undoubtedly a problem -- it is fixable. The answer is your culture. Your culture doesn't need to be perfect. But to attract the best and keep talent from quiet quitting, your promises must match the reality of your culture. Your culture is one of the most important factors in stopping quit quitting: Read our guide to learn why culture matters and discover what that means for your organization. Contact us to talk about transforming your culture and keeping your brand promises. By Alexander Schallenberg Among the many definitions of democracy and the rule of law, Maria Ressa's version is a very compelling one, "Freedom of the press is the foundation of every single right we have as citizens." The Philippine journalist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate knows from her own personal experience what she is talking about. She knows that protecting the media equals protecting democracy. Ressa and her news organization face multiple court charges. An article on her news website, Rappler, about alleged corruption by the chief justice of the Philippines Supreme Court may well land her in prison for "cyber libel." The sentence was based on a law, which entered into force four months after the original article was published. This is but one example of the daily reality for journalists in many parts of the world. Too often, it leads to the loss of critical voices and the loss of information due to censorship or self-censorship. Journalists have to fear deadly attacks, lengthy prison sentences or harassment campaigns. This shock and awe strategy against media outlets and their employees is one fundamental reason why so many people do not have access to the information they need. We often blame social media platforms and their algorithms for pushing us into filter bubbles and echo chambers, and indeed there is truth to this. However, efforts by various governments and political parties to take control of the public realm, attacking and discrediting critical journalism, have greatly contributed to polarization. Targeted smear campaigns against women journalists and representatives of minorities have silenced many journalists and led to an immense loss of diversity in reporting, at a time when diverse voices are needed more than ever. Daphne Caruana Galizia was a highly respected journalist reporting for the Times of Malta. Her killing in 2017 was a tragic loss for the many people who admired her coverage when confronting and highlighting organized crime and political corruption. Her courage had turned Daphne into a role model for young women aspiring to a career in journalism. Their dreams were crushed by her killing. Even more so, they were crushed by the awareness that perpetrators of attacks against journalists, all too often, go unpunished. Physical violence is but one of many forms of attacks aimed at silencing journalists and taking control of the public domain. The recent arrest of almost 40 journalists covering the protests in Iran over Mahsa Amini's death is another attempt to stifle press freedom during a national crisis. Women journalists, again, have been the primary target. Finally, we have seen an alarming increase in government surveillance around the world, posing a major threat to journalists and their sources. Over the past year, investigations by civil society and tech experts have revealed the use of Pegasus spyware by more than a dozen governments to snoop illegally on journalists and political opponents. The International Press Institute (IPI) has documented the Russian government's use of biometric technologies, including facial recognition, for surveilling and repressing journalists in Moscow and other major Russian cities. Access to accurate, credible and diverse news sources allows us to participate effectively in democratic deliberations. As anti-democratic tendencies have been spreading fast around the world and disinformation is rife within our societies, defending the right of journalists to carry out their profession without fear of retaliation is more important than ever. In this vein, the High Level Conference on the Safety of Journalists in Vienna on Nov. 3-4 comes at the right time. Today, more than ever, we need to identify effective strategies to guarantee media freedom and journalists' safety, thereby protecting and safeguarding our democracies. Let us, therefore, join together in the spirit of the words of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol at the opening of the 77th U.N. General Assembly: "When freedom of any individual in a nation comes under threat, members of the community must join hands to remove the threat and defend freedom." Let us join hands and renew our commitment to the freedom of the press. Only by protecting journalists can we protect our democracies. Alexander Schallenberg is the foreign minister of Austria. A Lebanon man died in a mobile home fire Saturday night, Oct. 22 after Lebanon firefighters were unable to enter the structure. The fire started in a double-wide mobile home in rural Lebanon, according to a news release from the Lebanon Fire District. The victims roommate was able to escape and call 911. Crews told the incident commander there was a possibility of a victim and a dog inside the home. The incident commander arrived at the scene to find the fire fully involved. After a 360-degree assessment, the commander determined the structure was untenable for survivability, so he did not send firefighters into the residence. It became a defensible fire, the news release said. Firefighters trained fire streams into the building from the outside and noticed multiple places in the roof had collapsed, according to the release. The incident commander requested two more water tenders from neighboring departments. After several hours, crews had the blaze under control but still could not enter the building because of the amount of damage. Firefighters used a track-hoe from the county to pull the collapsed roof from the structure. Firefighters located the victim after removing the roof. The dog was never found, and it unclear if it escaped or not, Fire District officials said. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Lebanon Express. The cause of the fire is undetermined, even after investigation, due to the extent of the structures damage. No firefighters were hurt, and a medic evaluated the other occupant of the building. Lebanon fire responded with 19 personnel on one engine, one ladder truck, two advanced life support ambulances, one basic life support unit, two water tenders, one heavy rescue and a rehab vehicle for firefighters, the news release said. Four staff officers also responded. The Oregon State Fire Marshals office, Linn County Sheriffs Office, Linn County Road Department, Scio Fire District, Sweet Home Fire District and Albany Fire Department all assisted LFD. The Lebanon Fire District wants to remind community members to check smoke detectors and make sure to maintain the flues of wood fireplaces and stoves. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. Strengthened anti-stalking measures still in doubt The Ministry of Justice has announced amendment bills to the Stalking Punishment Act and the Electronic Device Attachment Act, alarmed by the shocking murder of a subway worker by her former coworker at Sindang Station in Seoul. The amendments come in response to a public outcry over the government's failure to properly address stalking crimes and violence against women. Among other things, the amendment to the anti-stalking law envisions abolishing a provision stipulating that a perpetrator cannot be prosecuted without the explicit consent of the victim. This provision has been strongly criticized for leaving victims vulnerable to pressure from offenders to withdraw claims under threat of retaliation. Stalking suspects will also be obliged to wear an electronic anklet even before court sentencing in consideration of the urgent need to prevent access of the suspects to their victims. Women's organizations and experts have strongly been demanding the adoption of these measures. However, the government has come up with them belatedly only after the high-profile murder case erupted. Some critics even argue that the removal of the "no punishment against will" clause could have prevented the Sindang Station murder case in which the 28-year-old victim was stabbed multiple times after finishing her evening shift in mid-September. An anti-stalking bill was proposed in 1999, but it took 22 years before the law was enacted in October of last year. That's because stalking was treated as a misdemeanor punishable only by a modest fine. Given that stalking often precedes more serious crimes, the importance of preventing stalking crimes cannot be overemphasized. Reports to the police for stalking numbered 685 during the first nine months of the year, exceeding the 606 reported last year. Despite the justice ministry's revision bills, it's still questionable if the proposed measures could be effective in addressing the ever-worsening stalking problem. The most important thing is protecting victims rather than punishing offenders. Once stalking complaints are filed, what should be done first is to separate the perpetrator from the victim. New York, US, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR), Water Purifier Market Research Report: Information by Product Type, End-Use, and Region Forecast till 2030, the market is anticipated to acquire a valuation of approximately USD 140,385.0 Million by the end of 2028. The reports further predict the market to flourish at a robust CAGR of over 17.58% during the assessment timeframe. Water Purifier Market Overview: Water purifiers are crucial for eliminating water-borne vectors, infection-causing bacteria, and toxins. Having access to safe drinking water is essential to maintain proper health. The bleeding-edge technologies of water purifiers are designed to make drinking water equitable from sustainable options. UV water purifiers and AI-based water purification systems are the latest trends in the market. Key players active in the global water purifier market are- Unilever A. O. Smith EcoWater Systems LLC Coway Co., Ltd. Panasonic Corporation Livpure Pvt. Ltd. KENT RO Systems Ltd. Get Free Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2178 A UV water purifier treats microbiologically unsafe water using ultraviolet (UV) radiation that restricts viruses, bacteria, and fungi from reproducing and replicating, destroying their DNAs. AI-based water purification system has emerged as the key enabler of the sustainable industries of tomorrow. The growing adoption of AI-enabled water purification systems in one of the fastest growing and flourishing industries, like the hospitality industry, to offer better water quality offers significant market opportunities. Due to advancing technology, the global water purifier market will observe significant growth in the next few years. Report Scope: Report Metric Details Revenue forecast in 2028 USD 140,385.0 Million Growth Rate CAGR of 17.58% from 2021 to 2028 Base Year 2020 Study Period 2021-2028 Key Market Opportunities Increase in per capita disposable income of Asia-pacific countries Key Market Drivers Rapidly developing economy Growing awareness of water-borne diseases Browse In-depth Market Research Report (100 Pages) on Water Purifier Market: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/water-purifier-market-2178 Industry Trends The ever-increasing population worldwide boosts the market demand, creating the need for safe, clean drinking water. Also, rapid urbanization increases the usage of water purifiers, demanding clean and safe drinking water. The demand for drinking water has been tremendously growing due to the rapidly pharmaceutical industries worldwide. Moreover, the availability of diverse product portfolios and various benefits of water purifiers substantiate market revenues. On the other hand, the price volatility of raw materials restricts the growth of the water purifier market. Nevertheless, the increasing use of water purifiers in the rapidly growing healthcare and hospitality industry would support market growth in future years. Water Purifier Market Segments The water purifier market is segmented into devices, products, end-users, and regions. The product segment comprises RO water purifiers, UV water purifiers, activated carbon filters, and others. Similarly, the device segment comprises countertop, wall-mounted, tabletop, faucet-mounted, under-the-sink (UTS), and others. The end-user segment comprises residential and commercial. The region segment is sub-segmented into Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, and the Rest-of-the-World. Regional Analysis APAC dominates the global water purifier market, witnessing the growing demand from the residential and commercial sectors. Besides, the spurring rise in the commercial sector escalates the market value. The rising awareness of the clean drinking water benefits and growing prevalence of water-borne diseases, alongside government initiatives in the region, boost the market size. Ask To Expert: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/ask_for_schedule_call/2178 Additionally, the rapidly developing economy, industrialization, and growing population bolster the water purifier market revenues. China, Japan, and India are significant markets for water purifiers in the region. The growing utilization of water purifiers in the region attracts investors and encourages manufacturers to shift their production bases to these countries. The APAC water purifier market is likely to witness vast demand from residential sectors. North America is another rapidly growing market for water purifiers. The increasing demand from food & beverage, cosmetics & personal care, and pharmaceutical industries boost the market size. With the large technological advances, the North American water purifier market is set to grow at a higher CAGR throughout the assessment period. Europe is set to observe significant growth in the global water purifier market. The increased demand is fueled by stringent government regulations for safe drinking water. Germany, Italy, and the UK are projected to lead the water purifier market in this region owing to rapid technology upgrades and growing usage. The European water purifier market is predicted to witness rapid growth during the review period. Competitive Analysis The highly competitive global water purifier market looks diversified, with several well-established players forming a competitive landscape. These players adopt approaches such as mergers & acquisitions, collaborations, innovation, and product launches. Leading manufacturers strive to develop new products that can reach even higher efficiencies with lower or zero contaminations. Consumer durables major acquire bigger plays eyeing investments in water purifier businesses. Such buyouts help industry players gain a hefty boost in their water purifier market shares. Players collaborate with research institutes or form partnerships with other players to design, develop, and manufacture cost-effective and highly configurable technologies. The market is likely to witness many product launches, further intensifying market competition. Check for Discount: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/2178 For instance, on Oct 07, 2022, AquaTru, a leading water purifier company, launched revolutionizing at-home water purification system - AquaTru Carafe. The new water purifier with a smaller countertop footprint is designed for individuals and smaller households. Reverse osmosis and an elegant half-gallon glass carafe allow easy pouring and storage in the fridge. Leveraging AquaTru's proprietary and installation-free 4-Stage ultra reverse osmosis purification technology, AquaTru Carafe is proven to remove the most harmful contaminants from tap water. Reverse osmosis filtration technology is a gold standard in water filtration, significantly reducing many dangerous contaminants. It pushes contaminants through ultrafine filters removing particles larger than water molecules. In another instance, on Sep 21, 2022, Xiaomi launched MIJIA Water Purifier 1600G with an OLED display-packing faucet. The new water purifier can output up to 1600 gallons of water at a flow rate of 4.25L/min, using a 100mm roll film to offer a 3:1 ratio for pure to wastewater. The new Xiaomi water purifier features the LPD low water pressure mode providing water in high-rise buildings with low water pressure. Related Reports: Water Treatment Systems (point of entry) Market Information by Technology, by Application and Region - Forecast to 2028 Produced Water Treatment Market Information Report by Well Type, by Treatment and by Region - Forecast to 2030 Packaged Water Treatment System Market Information Report by Type, By Application and by Region - Global Forecast to 2030 About Market Research Future: Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis regarding diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions. October 24, 2022, Oslo, Norway: PGS is awarded a 3D exploration acquisition contract* in Namibia by a major energy company. Ramform Titan will mobilize for this survey and acquisition is expected to complete mid-February 2023. PGS has many years of experience operating in Namibia and we are proud to be part of this exciting new chapter in the countrys offshore development. The contract secures visibility for the Ramform Titan well into the winter season, says President & CEO in PGS, Rune Olav Pedersen. *The project was included in the booked position update in September investor presentations. FOR DETAILS, CONTACT: Bard Stenberg, VP IR & Corporate Communication Mobile: +47 99 24 52 35 *** PGS ASA and its subsidiaries (PGS or the Company) is a fully integrated marine geophysical company that provides a broad range of seismic and reservoir services, including data acquisition, imaging, interpretation, and field evaluation. Our services are provided to the oil and gas industry, as well as to the broader and emerging new energy industries, including carbon storage and offshore wind. The Company operates on a worldwide basis with headquarters in Oslo, Norway and the PGS share is listed on the Oslo stock exchange (OSE: PGS). For more information on PGS visit www.pgs.com. *** The information included herein contains certain forward-looking statements that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. These statements are based on various assumptions made by the Company, which are beyond its control and are subject to certain additional risks and uncertainties. The Company is subject to a large number of risk factors including but not limited to the demand for seismic services, the demand for data from our multi-client data library, the attractiveness of our technology, unpredictable changes in governmental regulations affecting our markets and extreme weather conditions. For a further description of other relevant risk factors we refer to our Annual Report for 2021. As a result of these and other risk factors, actual events and our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The reservation is also made that inaccuracies or mistakes may occur in the information given above about current status of the Company or its business. Any reliance on the information above is at the risk of the reader, and PGS disclaims any and all liability in this respect. --END-- BRUSSELS, Belgium, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Eclipse Foundation, one of the worlds largest open source software foundations, today welcomes its larger community at EclipseCon 2022 , the leading conference for developers, architects and open source business leaders to learn about Eclipse technologies and share best practices. EclipseCon is the Foundations biggest in-person event of the year and connects the Eclipse ecosystem and the industrys leading minds to explore common challenges and innovate together on open source runtimes, tools, and frameworks for cloud, edge applications, IoT, artificial intelligence, connected vehicles and transportation and digital ledger technologies. I am thrilled to get back to seeing everyone in person, said Mike Milinkovich, Executive Director of the Eclipse Foundation. After years of great momentum following our move to our new European home and innovations spanning from our long-standing tooling franchises to our new cloud, edge, AI, automotive initiatives, there is so much to share with our community. This years conference, now in its 17th year, will include dozens of sessions for hundreds of attendees interested in learning more about technologies hosted by the Eclipse Foundation. Industry leaders such as our elite sponsors, Huawei and IBM, support nine conference tracks that focus on Web and Desktop Tooling, Cloud Native Technologies, IoT & Edge, Java, Modeling Technologies, Automotive & Mobility, The Open Source Way, All Things Quality and Security and more in a track named Other Cool Stuff. Additional areas of focus for this years conference include: Annual gatherings of our leading industry collaboration initiatives Particular focus on new projects recently introduced at the Eclipse Foundation, including automotive, edge, and AI related the growth of the Software Defined Vehicle Working Group and its significant progress made this year Outstanding speakers from industry leaders including BMW, Bosch, SAP, Ericsson, and SMEs like Eurotech, Obeo, Typefox, and more An Eclipse Foundation Hacker Day on Thursday, October 27 enabling the community for brainstorming, sharing ideas, testing devices, and honing your strategy using Eclipse technologies The Eclipse Foundation has a long, proven history of managing the governance of complex technology initiatives and multi-vendor organizations. Its commitment and unique approach to transparency, vendor-neutrality, and a shared voice will ensure that all participants have the opportunity to shape the future of open source software in the EU and around the world. Organizations and individuals interested in Eclipse technologies and open source software overall are welcome to learn more at www.eclipsecon.org/2022 or register to attend at https://www.eclipsecon.org/2022/registration About the Eclipse Foundation The Eclipse Foundation provides our global community of individuals and organizations with a mature, scalable, and commercial-friendly environment for open source software collaboration and innovation. The Foundation is home to the Eclipse IDE, Jakarta EE, and over 400 open source projects, including runtimes, tools, and frameworks for cloud and edge applications, IoT, AI, automotive, systems engineering, distributed ledger technologies, open processor designs, and many others. The Eclipse Foundation is an international non-profit association supported by over 330 members, including industry leaders who value open source as a key enabler for their business strategies. To learn more, follow us on Twitter @EclipseFdn , LinkedIn or visit eclipse.org . Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Media contacts: Karla Ferrer, Head of Marketing The Eclipse Foundation karla.ferrer@eclipse-foundation.org +33 6 43 11 02 45 Dublin, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Regulatory Report: US State-by-State Taxation of Medical Cannabis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report focuses only on state taxation of medical cannabis. On the federal level, there is no excise tax on cannabis, as it is a controlled substance. Cannabis businesses must still pay income taxes, though, and cannot claim deductions that other businesses routinely use for federal tax purposes. Tax policies for medical cannabis vary widely across the states of the US, as the public policy debate continues. Whereas some states seek to derive revenue from it - either to fund tight regulation over the program or other endeavors - others subject medical cannabis to lower tax rates than other goods to reduce patients' medical costs. By comparison, CBD products are generally taxed in the same way as any other sale of goods: they are subjected to the general state sales tax. Recreational cannabis, on the other hand, is often subject to excise taxes - sometimes at very high rates. Key Topics Covered: 1 Executive Summary 2 Introduction 3 State Taxation of Medical Cannabis 4 State Regulations 5 Alabama 6 Alaska 7 Arizona 8 Arkansas 9 California 10 Colorado 11 Connecticut 12 Delaware 13 Florida 14 Hawaii 15 Illinois 16 Louisiana 17 Maine 18 Maryland 19 Massachusetts 20 Michigan 21 Minnesota 22 Mississippi 23 Missouri 24 Montana 25 Nevada 26 New Hampshire 27 New Jersey 28 New Mexico 29 New York 30 North Dakota 31 Ohio 32 Oklahoma 33 Oregon 34 Pennsylvania 35 Rhode Island 36 South Dakota 37 Utah 38 Vermont 39 Virginia 40 Washington 41 West Virginia For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/e36eq0 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. A police box at Seodaemun in the early 1900s. Robert Neff Collection By Robert Neff In the early 1890s, one British visitor to the Korean Peninsula declared that "the chief sources of expense to a [Korean] man lie in his clothes and his pipe." Pipe smoking was an integral part of Korean society enjoyed not only by men, but also women and even children. Tobacco soothed the troubled-spirit, aided in the treatment of diseases and injuries and was even figuratively used to "reckon time by the number of pipes smoked." An example given in an 1893 article was: "He only stopped long enough to smoke one pipe" which indicated a very short time. A Korean gentleman enjoying his pipe in the early 1900s. Robert Neff Collection Pipes were expensive and prized especially the long-stemmed pipes which were seen as status symbols. Thus, it isn't too surprising to learn that when a law prohibiting smoking long pipes in the streets was enacted, it enraged a large number of people. It was the custom of the yangban (gentry) and the affluent (as well as posers) to smoke tobacco using long pipes the longer the pipe the more affluent the smoker. It must have really chaffed these Joseon-era influencers to be harangued by the police especially when the police were often criticized in the local paper for doing nothing but "smoking pipes in their boxes and saluting certain yangban who pass by." The government claimed that the ban on these long pipes was for safety reasons. Sometimes, while walking and smoking, the pipes were inadvertently bumped by passersby causing them to piece the throats of their hapless smoker. According to one early visitor, this was a fairly common accident. "The commonest surgical operation in Korea, the medical missionaries say, is to pull a two or three foot pipe stem out of the back of a Korean neck; by accidents in wheeling around corners or by falling down when intoxicated, these pipe stems are jammed downwards or backwards, ad infinitum." However, not all of these incidents occurred while the smoker was walking. In March 1897, The Independent the local newspaper reported: "Pak Changsik of Nitong, while standing in front of a Chinese mans store recently on that street with a long pipe in his mouth, was struck by a Chinese man named Yu Kebup. The blow caused the pipe to pierce the throat of the Korean. The injured man attempted to hit the Chinese man, but before he could strike him, two other Chinese men rushed at the Korean and threw him to the ground. A Korean policeman interfered and arrested the Chinesemen. They were locked up in the Chinese jail by the Chinese police, and were made to pay the Korean for the damage which he sustained." In January 1898, a Korean soldier a member of the Imperial Guard had the audacity to smoke a long pipe as he passed by a police box. The policeman scolded the soldier and told him to put the pipe out as it was against the law. Defiantly, the soldier informed the policeman that he was "not under the police law and he did not care to observe it" and went on puffing on his pipe. The situation quickly deteriorated into a general melee as the policeman tried to physically enforce the law and the soldier with the same amount of determination physically defended his independence from the law. A number of passing soldiers and policemen joined into the fight. Fortunately for all, a police sergeant arrived before swords and knives could be drawn and restored peace. A good meal followed by a good smoke in the early 20th century. Robert Neff Collection Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OKLAHOMA CITY BALLET NAMES RYAN JOLICOEUR-NYE AS ITS NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Oklahoma City, OK: The Board of Trustees of Oklahoma City Ballet announced that Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye has been selected as the new artistic director for Oklahoma City Ballet. Jolicoeur-Nye has served as acting artistic director since January 2022 after longtime artistic director Robert Mills resigned. We are thrilled to welcome Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye as our new artistic director, said Dr. Susan E. Brackett, president of the Board of Trustees. We look forward to him leading us into a new era of success for the Ballet. We also deeply appreciate the support of the Kirkpatrick Family Fund whose support allowed an extensive international search for our new artistic director. We are confident we have found the best possible person. The Oklahoma City Ballet is an organization the Kirkpatrick family and its entities have deeply cared for since its founding in 1972, says Christian Keesee, president of the Kirkpatrick Family Fund. We are thrilled with the ballets decision to name Ryan Nye artistic director. His award-winning choreography and experience in this arena will undoubtedly renew the companys trajectory as a regional powerhouse and impact our citys overall cultural landscape. As artistic director, Jolicoeur-Nye will be responsible for conceiving, developing, and implementing the artistic direction and focus of Oklahoma City Ballet. He will recruit and develop the professional dancers, produce performances, choreograph ballets, and serve as a voice for Oklahoma City Ballet in the community. I am so humbled by this wonderful opportunity. It will be an honor to lead this company into the future. I look forward to serving our community and this incredible organization with fervent dedication, integrity, and passion. I am thankful for the trust of the board, the staff, and the artists, and cannot wait to see what we accomplish in our journey together, stated Jolicoeur-Nye. Our future at Oklahoma City Ballet looks bright with Ryans appointment as our next artistic director, said Jo Lynne Jones, John Kirkpatrick Executive Director. His enthusiasm, creativity, and vision for the company is infectious and just what we need to keep our 50 year old institution vital and thriving. I look forward to working side-by-side with him to continue growing our iconic performing arts organization. As acting artistic director, Jolicoeur-Nye led the company while choreographing his new version of The Sleeping Beauty which debuted in May 2022. He also staged a wildly popular outdoor performance, Ballet Under the Stars, last month. Nearly 5,000 attended the free performance at Scissortail Park in downtown Oklahoma City. Originally from central Maine, Jolicoeur-Nye began his ballet training with Andrei Bossov at the age of 16, and after graduating from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, he danced professionally for Eugene Ballet, Ballet Idaho, Kansas City Ballet, plus many guest roles throughout North America before retiring from the stage in 2016. In 2018, Jolicoeur-Nye was named Artistic Director of Northwest Arkansas Ballet Theatre based in Bentonville. Under his tenure, the company experienced exponential growth, creating more than 80 performances and reaching over 28,000 area residents. As a choreographer, he has created ballets for Northwest Arkansas Ballet Theatre, Ballet Idaho, Chicago Repertory Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Moving Arts Dance Festival, Ballet Des Moines, and Oklahoma City Ballet, among others. Jolicoeur-Nye was named Outstanding Choreographer at the 2017 Youth American Grand Prix as well as Best Choreographer at the World Ballet Art Competition (WBAC) Grand Prix 2019. Jolicoeur-Nye joined Oklahoma City Ballet in August 2020 as a rehearsal director, working closely with company dancers. Since 2020, he has choreographed crowd favorite short pieces such as Chan Chan, Abbey Road, Playlist, and feature-length ballets The Sleeping Beauty and a fresh version of The Nutcracker to debut in December 2022. Jolicoeur-Nye is married to Racheal Nye, school director for the Oklahoma City Ballet Yvonne Chouteau School and together they have two children. In his free time, Ryan enjoys playing music, painting, cooking, and family time. # # # About Oklahoma City Ballet: Founded by Ballet Russe dancers Yvonne Chouteau and Miguel Terekhov, Oklahoma City Ballet has been the citys professional ballet company for 51 years. It is the resident dance Company of the Civic Center Music Hall and currently boasts dancers from around the world. Led by Artistic Director Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye, the Company produces five main stage productions per season in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City Ballet restages classical and neo classical ballets and regularly commissions new works from the industrys leading choreographers. Oklahoma City Ballet also includes the Yvonne Chouteau School, offering dance training to students of all ages, in addition to numerous free community engagement programs serving all of Oklahoma. Attachment NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES Calgary, AB, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Volt Carbon Technologies Inc. (Volt or the Company) (TSX-V: VCT & OTCQB:TORVF) is pleased to announce that is has entered into an Engagement Letter with Sixty Two Capital Pty Ltd. (Sixty Two Capital or the Finder) pursuant to which the Company intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of 10,000,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (each, a Share) at a price of $0.07 per Share for gross aggregate proceeds of CDN$700,000 (the Offering). The Shares will be subject to a four month and one day hold period. The Company anticipates closing the Offering as soon as October 31. In consideration for acting as the finder, the Company will pay Sixty Two Capital a cash fee equal to 8% of the aggregate gross proceeds from purchasers of Shares sourced by the Finder. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering to pay outstanding payables, purchase additional testing equipment, evaluate and potentially option additional mineral claims and for working capital. Although the Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering as described above, the actual allocation of net proceeds may vary from the uses set forth above, depending on future operations or unforeseen events or opportunities. Closing of the Offering is subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the Exchange). The Company intends to close the Offering as soon as practicable. Sixty Two Capital is an Australian-based investment and corporate advisory group with a focus on the growth and funding of emerging companies within the mining, technology and life science sectors. About Volt Carbon Volt Carbon is a publicly traded carbon science company, with specific interests in energy storage and green energy creation and green re-creation, with holdings in graphite mining claims in the province of Quebec in Canada. For the latest information on Volt Carbons properties and news please refer to the website: http://www.voltcarbontech.com/ On behalf of the Board of Directors Volt Carbon Technologies Inc. William Pfaffenberger, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President Information Contact: Email: info@voltcarbontech.com Tel: (250) 381-6181 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. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, concerning Volt Carbons business and affairs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, intends budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements include those with respect to: (i) the approval by the Exchange of the Offering; (ii) completion of the Offering; (iii) the anticipated closing of the Offering being as soon as October 31; (iv) the Companys intention to use the proceeds of the Offering to pay outstanding payables, purchase additional testing equipment, evaluate and potentially option additional mineral claims and for working capital. Statements of past performance should not be construed as an indication of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors, including those discussed above, could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this press release, and Volt Carbon assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities legislation. CORNWALL, Prince Edward Island, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MADD Canada and PEI Liquor Control Commission (PEI Liquor) are teaming up to deliver a dynamic new program to educate young people about the dangers of impaired driving and how to prevent it. Final Play, MADD Canadas new School Program, will be delivered at schools around the province, with PEI Liquor directly sponsoring 20 screenings this year. The Honourable D. Mark V. McLane, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for PEI Liquor Control Commission will be attending a special screening of the program at East Wiltshire Intermediate School on Thursday and speaking with students. Media are welcome to attend the screening and speak with special guests, students and staff. Date: Thursday, October 27 at 9:10 a.m. Location: East Wiltshire Intermediate School, 100 Kingston Rd., Cornwall, PE Guests: The Honourable Mark McLane, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for PEI Liquor Control Commission Shayla Morag Steeves, MADD Canada Atlantic Regional Manager Road crashes are the number one cause of death among Canadian youth, and alcohol and/or drugs are involved in more than half of those crashes. Every year, with the support of sponsors such as PEI Liquor, MADD Canada produces a new School Program to educate students in Grades 7 12 about the risks of impaired driving. Following the realistic and hard-hitting fictional storyline, students see the personal stories of real-life victims of impaired driving. MADD Canadas School Program, which will be presented to hundreds of thousands of students across the country, is available in the traditional assembly format, as well as classroom or virtual formats, depending on each schools preference. Following the presentations, schools receive an Educators Guide to help teachers continue the sober driving conversation all year long. To see a clip of MADD Canadas School Program: https://maddyouth.ca/school-program/ Vancouver, Canada and Delft, Netherlands, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chrysalix Venture Capital, a global technology venture capital firm that specializes in transformational industrial innovation, is pleased to announce that Greg Allen has joined its Vancouver-based investment team. Greg is an experienced CEO, turnaround leader and board member at multinational technology companies. At Chrysalix, he will be responsible for supporting the investment team with selected portfolio companies in director and observer roles. Greg will also lead key aspects of Chrysalixs operational activities and is a member of the Chrysalix investment committee. Greg has 30 years technical, operations, sales, and governance roles in public and private companies. He has led teams delivering growth and turnaround strategies across many industries, including global manufacturing services, industrial products, cleantech, telecoms, enterprise computing, IoT and cloud services. Greg holds an MBA from Napier University, Edinburgh, and holds the Canadian Institute of Corporate Directors ICD.D professional designation. Chrysalix Managing Partner Fred van Beuningen commented; We continue to grow our global investment team with start-up, scale-up and governance expertise to support our RoboValley Industry 4.0 fund and as we look towards our next fund focused on supporting industrial companies with their carbon neutral targets. Greg brings a wealth of leadership and governance experience to the team and will be assisting in both Chrysalix operations and portfolio company oversight. Greg Allen commented; I am excited to be part of a team that are recognized leaders in driving investment in innovation for hard to abate, resource intensive industries. The Chrysalix RoboValley Fund portfolio already has some impressive investments in areas such as metals circularity, EV battery manufacturing analytics, and minerals discovery using AI. I am looking forward to supporting the investment team and portfolio companies as they move toward scale-up mode and also working with the team as we expand globally with new funds." About Chrysalix Venture Capital DENVER, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new white paper from KEY Investment Partners analyzes the rapid expansion of the U.S. cannabis market over the past several years, and provides insights into why the firm and its partners believe the industry offers some of the most attractive investment opportunities in a generation. The full white paper, Cannabis 2.0: Investing in Todays Regulated Industry, is available for free download here . Two-thirds of Americans now have legal access to cannabis, and although there are still some political obstacles it now seems more inevitable than ever that federal cannabis reform is only a matter of time, said Tiby Erdely, a founding partner at KEY Investment Partners. The acceptance and adoption of cannabis has reached a tipping point, and the industry is maturing to appeal to a broader section of the population. We believe this and other factors all contribute to a continued positive future for investments in the cannabis space. The white paper identifies the characteristics of the U.S. cannabis market and the unique advantages of investment in U.S. cannabis companies as compared to other alternative investments. The analysis from KEY Investment Partners concludes that given the projected growth of the cannabis industry, the existing large funding gap in the cannabis market and the apparent inevitability of federal legalization, investors in cannabis businesses today will have the opportunity to achieve superior risk-adjusted returns compared to other asset classes. To learn more about investing in the cannabis industry, download the full white paper Cannabis 2.0: Investing in Todays Regulated Industry. About KEY Investment Partners Founded in 2018, KEY Investment Partners combines a systematic approach to sourcing deals and rigorous due diligence, with the goal of connecting investors to the most attractive cannabis opportunities. Leveraging decades of combined institutional experience, KEY sources unique opportunities in high-growth, market-leading cannabis companies which are operated by exceptional management teams. The firm uses time-tested methods to provide institutional quality investment management and client service to those looking to capitalize on the rapid growth of the U.S. cannabis market. For more information, please visit KEY Investment Partners online or email contact@keyinvestmentpartners.com . Stay updated on cannabis investing by subscribing to the KEY Investment Partners podcast, Unlocking Cannabis . RESTON, Va., Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Resonate , the leading provider of A.I.-powered data and intelligence, today announced the launch of its proprietary media bubbles solution, designed to help political campaigns and candidates identify and reach voters who are trapped within problematic media echo chambers across digital advertising channels. Resonate has developed the capability to leverage the most advanced artificial intelligence to identify, analyze, and disrupt media bubbles in real-time. This solution enables campaigns to target and shift the conversation with key swing voters who are most likely to determine the outcome of this years contentious midterm elections. Campaigns can no longer rely on the party vote. Media bubbles have created private channels in our political discourse. They are often used by partisan groups to effectively shield segments of voters from the opposition, said Bryan Gernert, CEO of Resonate. Resonates AI-driven data enables campaigns to breach the media bubbles and engage these hard-to-reach voters in order to change the conversation and impact their vote. This can fundamentally shape the outcomes of this years midterm elections. A media bubble is a defined segment of people who consume one type of content with intensity and are isolated from content outside of that specific view of the world. In an increasingly polarized world, each media network risks becoming an echo chamber. Media bubbles dont only exist on the fringes; they span the entire spectrum of media outlets, with each channel catering to its viewers by delivering news they want to hear, through the lens they are pre-disposed to believe. One example of voters trapped in a seemingly impenetrable media bubble are swing voters in Alabama. There are voters, known as non-obvious Democrats, trapped in a conservative news media bubble. However, leveraging Resonates AI-driven media bubble solution, they could swing left. In fact, 26% of these voters voted for Barack Obama in 2012, and 56% are pro-choice. When Resonates data and insights into these voters was recently used to battle the echo chamber media bubble, these voters shifted to left-leaning browsing by 30%. To build these proprietary media bubble segments, Resonate leverages its best-in-class AI-data engine, which combines data from the nations largest continuous voter survey, including questions related to todays most relevant political and policy issues, with behavioral data at scale. Machine-learning algorithms enable Resonate to yield thousands of individual-level insights on every eligible voter, including party, policy positions, preferred voting method, psychological drivers, personal values and more. Lastly, Resonate uses AI to cluster and segment the eligible electorate based on a range of media consumption, characterized into right and left media segments, resulting in where campaigns and candidates can reach voters to disrupt the narratives occurring within the media bubbles. Learn more about Resonates proprietary approach to breaching media bubbles here . About Resonate Headquartered in Reston, VA, Resonate is a pioneer in A.I.-driven data and intelligence, delivering deep, dynamic data, for analysis and activation, directly through its easy-to-use SaaS platform or through highly rated Managed Media Services. The Resonate proprietary, privacy-safe data set includes more than 14,000 rich, relevant, real-time data points that describe more than 230 million U.S. individuals. Hundreds of companies use Resonate to drive better marketing strategy and execution fueled by a more comprehensive understanding of their audience that extends beyond traditional demographics, psychographics and behavioral data to uncover why people choose, buy or support certain brands, products or causes. For more information, please visit www.resonate.com . Media Contact: Kyle Kuhnel kyle@broadsheetcomms.com AMSTERDAM, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Expereo, global provider of managed Internet and hybrid networks, SD-WAN and Cloud connectivity solutions, welcomes Victoria Marshall-Rice as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Executive Board Member. This appointment expands upon Expereos ongoing commitment to sourcing and retaining the best talent to help organisations improve productivity and enhance performance. We are thrilled to have someone of Victorias standing join Expereo, says Irwin Fouwels, Chief Executive Officer at Expereo. With her expertise and experience, Victoria will be instrumental in continuing to build and develop Expereos growing team to deliver strategic capabilities and unparalleled service that delights our customers, whilst building a culture that attracts, retains and develops the best team worldwide. Marshall-Rice joins Expereo from Vodafone Business, where she was the Head of Human Resources and worked closely with the CEO and senior management team to lead the development and execution of a business and culture transformation strategy for Enterprise Sales. With a strong background in various HR leadership roles, she is recognised as a culture change leader with a proven record of developing strong talent and leadership teams to deliver organisational excellence. Marshall-Rice will be critical in positioning Expereo for future growth. My driving force and passion is around creating admired places to work. I believe HR should be focused on supporting and empowering customer-obsessed organisations, fostering a companywide 'growth mindset, and partnering with every area of the business to meet and exceed goals, says Marshall-Rice. Marshall-Rice embraces working closely with executive teams to build the most effective work communities, and is committed to ensuring employees are enabled to perform at their best. About Expereo Expereo is a leading global provider of managed network solutions including, Global Internet, SD-WAN/SASE, and Enhanced Internet. With an extensive global reach, Expereo is the trusted partner of 30% of Fortune 500 companies. It powers enterprise and government sites in more than 190 countries, helping customers improve productivity and empowering their networks and cloud services with the agility, flexibility and value of the Internet, with optimal network performance. Expereo was acquired in Feb 2021, by Vitruvian Partners. The international growth capital and buyout firm acquired a majority shareholding from leading European private equity firm, Apax Partners sas. For more information visit: www.expereo.com . Contact Emese Csikai emese@grammatikagency.com LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GPO Plus, Inc. (OTCQB: GPOX), a publicly traded company of diversified Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) using the power of Group Purchasing to save businesses money, announced the signing of a Binding Letter of Intent (LOI) Asset Purchase Agreement to acquire assets of Betterment Retail Solutions , Inc. (Betterment), including its innovative Feel Good Shop . Betterment developed a strong DSD (Direct Store Distribution) infrastructure catering to over 470 retail locations throughout Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Wyoming, Missouri and Nebraska. Strong relationships with retailers include Yesway / Allsups , Texas Born , and CEFCO . The Feel Good Shops is a store within a store concept at local retailers offering CBD and other cannabinoid (Delta-8, HHC, etc.) products from leading companies including Martha Stewart, Kill Cliff, Canopy Growth, John Daly Collection, and CaliGold. The Betterment and Feel Good Shops assets are to be managed under DISTRO+ , GPOXs distribution division, and GPO for specialty retailers and wholesalers. Dorsey Sparks , President of Betterment said I couldn't be happier about the opportunity with GPOX and DISTRO+. This partnership will support multiple growth opportunities and allow us to serve an exponentially larger customer base with our curated, best in class products. I'm excited to work with such a talented and energetic team! Joseph Jaconi , President of DISTRO+, said We are elated to have reached an agreement with Betterment that will increase our (DISTRO+) distribution footprint immediately adding over 470 retail locations. This creates an amazing opportunity to generate additional sales from our distributed and owned brands like HERBERALL , and enables us to expand our portfolio of products while increasing revenue for GPOX. Brett H. Pojunis , CEO of GPOX, said We are extremely excited to work with Dorsey and continue to grow our distribution! Additionally, this asset purchase is an important step forward in the overall execution of our acquisitive growth strategy to build additional long-term shareholder value. Connect with us on social media to view live video updates, content, and general information about GPOX and its GPOs: https://gpoplus.com/social . Sign up for your FREE account on the GPOX Investor Relations Portal: Once you Activate your GPOX Investor Account you will have immediate access to real-time information available on GPOX. Sign up for alerts (email and SMS) to be the first to know about news, SEC Filings, Investor Events, updated Investor Presentations, and more: www.GPOPlus.com/ir . About Betterment Retail Solutions Betterment RS cuts through the clutter of crowded, emerging categories to find the best in alternative and emerging health products. Betterment pairs its unmatched vetting process with extensive market knowledge to curate the perfect offering for each retailer. The product portfolio is diversified by high-potential ESG health and wellness brands, CBD Products and other cutting edge Hemp Derived solutions. Betterment offers true full-service DSD including store ordering, inventory management, store staff training, and maintaining and detailing shelf space for our retail partners. Betterment owns and operates The Feel Good Shop. Betterment has offices and a full service logistics facility in Lubbock, Texas. For more information, please visit https://bettermentrs.com and https://thefeelgood.shop . About DISTRO+ We help retailers save money + simplify purchasing! DISTRO+ is a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) + distributor of premium products for the emerging specialty retailer sector and wholesalers. DISTRO+ proudly represents best-in-class brands focusing on nutraceuticals, hemp derived products including flower, prerolls, gummies, sublingual strips and more utilizing the latest compounds and ingredients such as HHC, Farm Bill Compliant Delta 8 and Delta 10, THC-O, THC-P, and Kratom. All of this is backed by a robust technology portal that gives our small and medium sized partners (we call them Members) the IT backbone to manage logistics, inventory, payments while shopping from real time product catalogs and inventory. Through the power of Group Purchasing, DISTRO+ offers its network competitive pricing with low MOQs that realize similar discounts as major retailers with large buying power. Visit DISTRO.Plus for more information. About GPOPlus+ (GPOX) Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, GPOPlus+ (OTCQB: GPOX ) is a publicly traded company of diversified Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs). Our Purpose is to save businesses money by activating the power of Group Purchasing and our Mission is to create value for our GPO Members, partners, suppliers, and shareholders. Our Mantra: We Aggregate, Negotiate + Share! Aggregate - We aggregate the purchasing power of our Members. - We the purchasing power of our Members. Negotiate - We leverage buying power to negotiate discounts. - We leverage buying power to discounts. Share - We share the discounts with our Members and save them money. For more information, please visit www.GPOPlus.com . To activate your free GPOX Investor Account at www.GPOPlus.com/ir . Information about Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that include statements regarding expected financial performance and growth information relating to future events. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions, and future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond the control of the Company and its officers and managers, and which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by which, that performance or those results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time they are made and/or managements good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in, or suggested by, the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to; inability to gain or maintain licenses, reliance on unaudited statements, the Companys need for additional funding, governmental regulation of the cannabis industry, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the demand for the Companys products, and other risks that are detailed from time-to-time in the Companys filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements. You can typically identify these forward-looking statements through use of words such as may, will, can anticipate, assume, should, indicate, would, believe, contemplate, expect, seek, estimate, continue, plan, point to, project, predict, could, intend, target, potential, and other similar words and expressions of the future. The Company expresses its expectations, beliefs and projections in good faith and believes that its expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions. However, there is no assurance that these expectations, beliefs and projections will prove to have been correct. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to its operations and future events, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to its proposed operations, including the risk factors set forth herein. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Companys actual results may vary significantly from those intended, anticipated, believed, estimated, expected or planned. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, any favorable forward-looking events discussed herein might not be realized and occur. The Company has no obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting GPO Plus, Inc. GPOX, please refer to the Companys recent Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which are available at www.sec.gov. 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. Company Contacts: Betterment Retail Solutions Contact: Dorsey Sparks, President Lubbock, TX Email: dorsey.sparks@bettermentrs.com DISTRO+ Joseph Jaconi, President Email: joe@distro.plus Shareholder Success Team+ Investor Relation Contacts: Brett H. Pojunis, CEO Email: ir@gpoplus.com Shareholders Line: 855.935.GPOX (4769) Attachment Denver, CO, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intrepid Potash Inc. (NYSE: IPI) plans to release its third quarter 2022 financial results on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, after the market closes. Intrepid will host a conference call on Thursday, November 3, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results and other operating and financial matters and answer investor questions. Management invites you to listen to the conference call by using the toll-free dial-in number 1 (888) 210-4149 or toll-in dial-in 1 (646) 960-0145; please use conference ID 9158079. The call will also be streamed live via webcast. A recording of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call by dialing 1 (800) 770-2030 for toll-free, 1 (647) 362-9199 for toll-in, or via webcast. The replay of the call will require the input of the conference identification number 9158079. The recording will be available through November 10, 2022. About Intrepid Intrepid is a diversified mineral company that delivers potassium, magnesium, sulfur, salt and water products essential for customer success in agriculture, animal feed and the oil and gas industry. Intrepid is the only U.S. producer of muriate of potash, which is applied as an essential nutrient for healthy crop development, utilized in several industrial applications and used as an ingredient in animal feed. In addition, Intrepid produces a specialty fertilizer, Trio, which delivers three key nutrients, potassium, magnesium, and sulfate, in a single particle. Intrepid also provides water, magnesium chloride, brine and various oilfield services. Intrepid serves diverse customers in markets where a logistical advantage exists and is a leader in the use of solar evaporation for potash production, resulting in lower cost and more environmentally friendly production. Intrepids mineral production comes from three solar solution potash facilities and one conventional underground Trio mine. Intrepid routinely posts important information, including information about upcoming investor presentations and press releases, on its website under the Investor Relations tab. Investors and other interested parties are encouraged to enroll at intrepidpotash.com, to receive automatic email alerts or RSS feeds for new postings. Contact: Evan Mapes, CFA, Investor Relations Manager Phone: 303-996-3042 Email: evan.mapes@intrepidpotash.com NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Japan Smaller Capitalization Fund, Inc. (NYSE: JOF) (the Fund) announced that it will reschedule its annual meeting of shareholders (the Meeting) previously announced from November 21, 2022, at 10:30 a.m., Eastern Time to December 15, 2022, at 10:30 a.m., Eastern Time. The Meeting will be held virtually. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to participate in the Meeting has remained as of September 23, 2022. The Fund invests primarily in the securities of smaller capitalization companies in Japan and is designed for investors seeking long-term capital appreciation. The Manager of the Fund is Nomura Asset Management U.S.A. Inc., which is based in New York. Nomura Asset Management U.S.A. Inc. is a subsidiary of Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd., which is one of the largest investment advisory companies in Japan in terms of assets under management and which serves as the Investment Adviser to the Fund. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Contact: Maria R. Premole 1-800-833-0018 JOFInvestorRelations@nomura-asset.com Witnesses called to testify at the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee's audit of the Ministry of Science and ICT take an oath at the National Assembly building in Seoul, Monday. From front row left are Kakao founder Kim Beom-su, Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon and Naver founder Lee Hae-jin. Yonhap SK chairman appears at Assembly audit in evening By Park Jae-hyuk The founders of Kakao and Naver, as well as the chairman of SK Group, made public apologies during the last session of this year's National Assembly audit, for the inconvenience caused by a fire on Oct. 15, which damaged the servers of Kakao and Naver based inside SK C&C's building in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. "I apologize for causing inconvenience to our service used by almost everyone in this country," Kakao founder Kim Beom-su, who leads the company's Future Initiative Center, said at Monday's audit of the Ministry of Science and ICT. "As we were aware of the importance of data centers, we began investing in our data centers from 2018. However, we were still not ready." This was the first time for the Kakao founder to apologize for the longest-ever disruption in Kakao's overall services. He appeared at the National Assembly audit as a witness with Kakao CEO Hong Eun-taek, who held a press conference last Wednesday to apologize to the public. The CEOs of KakaoBank and Kakao Pay also appeared at the National Policy Committee's audit of the financial authorities that day. Kim told lawmakers that his company is considering compensating losses suffered by users of its free services, as soon as it finishes collecting user data. Rep. Jung Chung-rae of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Rep. Her Eun-a of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), however, criticized Kakao for its lukewarm stance about compensating free service users, attributing the company's huge profits to its large number of users. Naver founder Lee Hae-jin, who serves as the company's global investment officer, also apologized for temporary disruptions in his company's services. He appeared at the audit with Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon. "Although our employees restored the services immediately, we will do our best to minimize inconvenience for our users," Lee said. SK C&C CEO Park Sung-ha, who made a public apology once again, vowed to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents. "We plan to talk with SK Group about compensation plans," he said. According to the CEO, however, his company has yet to talk with Kakao about compensation. The two companies have been in blame game over who is responsible for the cause of the fire. According to industry officials, SK C&C hired the nation's largest law firm, Kim & Chang, to undertake litigation, while Kakao hired Yulchon and Bae, Kim & Lee. Rep. Yoon Young-chan of the DPK claimed that SK C&C should take more responsibility than Kakao for this accident, saying that the building's design was the main cause of the server outage. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who was called as a witness to testify at the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee's audit of the Ministry of Science and ICT, takes an oath at the National Assembly building in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap A customer buys a self-test kit for COVID-19 at a convenience store in Seoul, on July 25. Yonhap By Kim Jae-heun Convenience store owners are expressing discontent over the government's decision to ban the sale of plastic bags on Nov. 24, arguing the move could hurt their businesses, according to industry officials Sunday. The stores will only be able to sell paper bags or standard plastic garbage bags approved by the Ministry of Environment. According to the ministry, selling disposable plastic bags at retail stores bigger than 33 square meters in size will not be allowed. As of 2020, there were 38,718 convenience stores bigger than the size subject to the law enforcement, which is 84 percent of overall stores in the country. Those who sell or provide plastic bags will be fined up to 3 million won ($2,086). The biggest concern for convenience store owners are squabbles they have to go through with customers over the new regulation. "I have been giving out free plastic bags for customers to carry their purchases until recently. But after the government decided to ban selling plastic bags starting from next month and only allow selling them before the law's enforcement, I had so many quarrels with customers asking for free bags," a convenience store owner surnamed Kim said. In 2016, a part-time worker at a convenience store in North Gyeongsang Province was stabbed to death by a customer after requesting payment for a plastic bag. Convenience store owners are also worried that forcing customers to purchase paper bags or standard plastic garbage bags which are three to 10 times more expensive than a plastic bag can discourage them from buying many items in stores. "Most people who come to convenience stores buy small snacks or beer. If I stop providing plastic bags to customers, they will not make more purchase than one or two items leading to a decrease in sales," a local convenience store owner said. "We understand the government's purpose of enforcing such law that aims to protect the environment. However, it is not right to hand over all the resulting conflicts to store owners and impose penalties when they breach regulations. We believe the government should let customers know about the law more first and adopt it with enough time." The environment ministry said local governments will start adopting the regulation as originally planned, but it is also considering putting in place an interim period before enforcement of the law commences. Unionists of HD Hyundai's three shipyard units hold a rally to demand the start of this year's wage talks in front of the group's office in Seoul, July 18. Yonhap Unionized workers at HD Hyundai's three shipyard units kicked off a joint strike vote Monday amid little progress in their collective negotiations. Unionists at the three shipbuilders Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries are slated to cast votes till Wednesday, according to union officials. It marks the first time that the labor unions of the shipbuilders have held a joint strike vote. The outcome of the vote is due late Wednesday, with unionized workers widely expected to vote for a strike. The trade unions said they are planning to discuss whether to go on a strike if unionists deliver a yes vote. Even though collective negotiations have been under way at each shipyard, little progress has been made so far. Unionized workers are asking for contracts that include a 142,300 won ($99) hike in base pay and the abolition of a wage peak system. In July, the three unions came up with a joint collective bargaining demand, but the companies say joint collective negotiations are not desirable because they are separate entities and have different situations. HD Hyundai, formerly Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings, is a shipbuilding, oil refining and machinery conglomerate in Korea. The three shipyards are under the wing of Korea Shipbuilding Offshore Engineering, the group's shipbuilding subholding company. Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Mipo Dockyard are based in the southeastern industrial port of Ulsan, while Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries is headquartered in Yeongam on the southwest coast. (Yonhap) Humidifier disinfectants manufactured by SK Chemicals and sold by Aekyung Industrial are on display during a press conference held by bereaved families of victims of the products at the Asian Citizen's Center for Environment and Health in Seoul in this January 2021 file photo. Newsis By Park Jae-hyuk The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) held a plenary meeting on Monday to decide how to sanction SK Chemicals and Aekyung Industrial over three online advertorials in which they had claimed that their humidifier sanitizers are harmless. The products, which had been manufactured by SK Chemicals and sold by Aekyung Industrial, are among the various humidifier disinfectants to have been sold in Korea until the early 2010s that killed at least 1,784 people. The FTC said it will announce its decision later this week. There is growing speculation that the regulator decided to refer the two companies to prosecutors for their alleged violation of the Act on Fair Labeling and Advertising, as it is unusual for the FTC to hold a plenary meeting on a Monday. The antitrust watchdog tends to hold the meetings of its top decision makers on Wednesdays. Its decision to bring forward this week's meeting by two days is therefore interpreted as an attempt to refer the two companies to prosecutors before the statute of limitations runs out at the end of this month. "The FTC is expected to refer SK Chemicals and Aekyung to prosecutors," said lawyer Song Ki-ho, who represents victims of the humidifier disinfectant. "There should not be a statute of limitations regarding social disasters that incurred multiple deaths." According to the lawyer, the FTC reopened the case following a ruling by the Constitutional Court. The court said it was unconstitutional for the antitrust regulator to have decided in 2016 to exclude the online advertorials from its deliberations over whether to sanction the two companies. When a victim of the two companies' humidifier disinfectant asked the FTC to sanction them for the online advertorials in 2016, the FTC did not regard the advertorials as ads. After the Ministry of Environment acknowledged the toxic substances in humidifier disinfectants in 2018, the FTC decided to impose fines on SK Chemicals and Aekyung Industrial and refer them to prosecutors. However, they were not indicted for their alleged violation of the advertising law, as prosecutors had said the statute of limitations had expired. At that time, the two companies had claimed that their products were not sold after 2011. Earlier this year, however, the Supreme Court accepted the FTC's claim that their products were on display until October 2017. Therefore, the statute of limitations has not run out. The FTC is therefore allowed to continue its legal battle with the two companies. New research from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, finds that the discharge water from ships exhaust gas treatment systemsi.e., scrubbersis responsible for up to 9% of certain emissions of carcinogenic and environmentally harmful substances in the Baltic Seaconsiderably more than was previously known. Furthermore, the number of ships equipped with scrubbers have tripled since the study was carried out. The Baltic Sea is one of the most polluted sea areas in the world due to the northerly geographic location, natural hydrographic properties, large catchment area and the semi-enclosed character of the brackish inland sea. Comparison of loads (kg/year) of PAHs from direct discharges from ships and atmospheric deposition to the Baltic Sea. The loads from atmospheric deposition should be treated as indicative due to large uncertainties. Ytreberg et al. The researchers study 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. For many years, weve 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 shippings emissions and impact on the marine environment. Ida-Maja Hassellov, Professor and researcher at the Division of Maritime Studies at Chalmers 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 as an open-access paper 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 Sea in 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. 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. 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 studys 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. lead author Erik Ytreberg, Associate Professor and researcher at the Division of Maritime Studies at Chalmers 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 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. Scrubbers are currently installed on more than 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 percent 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 percent 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. Erik Ytreberg Resources Last week, the European Parliament adopted its position on draft EU rules on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport. Parliament wants the maritime sector to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships by 2% as of 2025, 20% as of 2035 and 80% as of 2050 compared to 2020 level (the European Commission proposed a 13% and 75% reduction). This would apply for ships above a gross tonnage of 5,000in principle responsible for 90% of CO 2 emissionsto all energy used on board in or between EU ports, and to 50% of energy used on voyages where the departure or arrival port is outside of the EU or in its outermost regions. MEPs also set a target of 2% of renewable fuels usage and mandated containerships and passenger ships to use on-shore power supply while at berth at main EU ports as of 2030. This would significantly reduce air pollution in ports. To ensure compliance, MEPs favor the introduction of penalties. Revenues generated from these should go to the Ocean Fund and contribute to decarbonizing the maritime sector, energy efficiency and zero-emission propulsion technologies. Parliament is now ready to start negotiations with member states. Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Ltd., the Japan-based parent company of the specialty chemicals manufacturer Toyo Ink Group, announced the official opening of a new wholly-owned manufacturing subsidiary, Toyo Ink Hungary LLC, in Ujhartyan in Pest County, Hungary. The new entity produces and markets Lioaccum carbon nanotube (CNT) conductive dispersions for lithium-ion battery cathodes specifically developed for electric vehicles (EVs). The high-performance dispersions produced at the Ujhartyan site will be supplied to SK On, a leading South Korea-based supplier of high-energy-density EV batteries for global automakers such as the Volkswagen Group. The 7-billion-HUF (Hungarian forint) (US$17-million) investment to set up Toyo Ink Hungary is part of a long-term business plan of the Toyo Ink Group, in which approximately 10 billion JPY (US$68 million) will be invested up to 2026 to strengthen its global CNT dispersions production network and to ensure a reliable global supply. Mass production at the Ujhartyan Factory, which employs 30 people, started in July 2022. Additional construction for increasing production capacity by six times present levels is currently underway and is planned to be completed by the end of 2023. The production facility is operating in a 5,964 m2 building on 44,806 m2 of land. The incorporation of CNTs as a conductive additive in Li-ion batteries can increase capacity but there have been several issues associated with CNT dispersion that have hindered its practical use. To resolve this issue, leveraging its unique dispersion technology, Toyo Ink Group researchers in Japan successfully achieved high conductivity levels by replacing carbon black in the battery cathode with a small amount of Lioaccum CNT dispersions as the conductive additive. Reduced material usage not only gives battery manufacturers the additional cell space to insert active materials needed to boost battery capacity and performance, but it also considerably reduces manufacturing cost. China's digital economy surges in 10 years Chinadaily.com.cn) 15:23, October 24, 2022 A humanoid robot called Walker X plays Chinese chess at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai in June, 2021. [Photo/CHINA DAILY] China's digital economy jumped from 11 trillion yuan ($1.52 trillion) to 45 trillion yuan ($6.20 trillion) during the past decade, providing a powerful motivation to economic and social development, CCTV.com reported on Saturday. The mobile payment is profoundly changing Chinese people's life, with the annual trade volume hitting 527 trillion yuan. The country has built an advanced and complete digital industry system. The core computing industry scale has exceeded 1.5 trillion yuan, with the average growth rate of over 30 percent in the past five years, and the market size of cloud computing surpassed 300 billion yuan. Moreover, China has 1.05 billion internet users, forming the world's largest and most dynamic digital society. With digital technologies such as machine vision and virtual simulation, some intelligent factories are springing up in the country. The industry digitalization has developed rapidly in China during the past decade. The industrial internet applications covered 45 national economic categories and the industrial scale exceeded 1 trillion yuan, connecting nearly 80 million industrial devices. China has built the world's largest information communication network during the past ten years, with more than 1.96 million 5G base stations having covered all cities at prefecture level and above. A staff member of the Bank of Communications Beijing Branch instructs a visitor to open a digital RMB wallet on a mobile phone, on June 16, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua] An exhibitor is seen at the 2022 World 5G Convention in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. [Photo provided to China Daily] (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Hongyu) By Kim Hyun-bin Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee met with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg at the Samsung Innovation Museum in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday, to request support for Busan's bid to host the World Expo 2030, according to the company, Monday. Vice Chairman Han presented Samsung Electronics' eco-friendly ICT technologies. Samsung Electronics strives to increase resource circulation throughout the entire electronic product cycle, and continues to strengthen accessibility features, the company said. He emphasized the significance of hosting the Expo in Korea, and asked for support so that Samsung Electronics' various technologies can be showcased there. Samsung Electronics is a participant of the Busan World Expo 2030 Bidding Committee and has been carrying out various promotional activities. Minister Schallenberg looked at the history of the modern electronics industry and innovative technologies of Samsung Electronics at the Samsung Innovation Museum, the largest electronics industry history museum in Korea. Last month, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited Mexico City and met with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, requesting Mexico's support for Busan's bid to host the World Expo. Lee has been serving as a presidential envoy to promote the Expo campaign. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Sony has a Japan-exclusive series of phones, called Xperia Ace, which recently welcomed a new member, the Ace III. Now Sumaho Digest is reporting on the next model that will likely launch some time next year and details some of the specs (the info originally comes from Weibo sources). The Sony Xperia Ace IV will remain relatively tiny with a 5.5 display, however, it will feature and upgraded OLED panel with 1,080 x 2,520px resolution. For comparison, the Mark 3 had an LCD with HD+ resolution. The new generation will switch from the 19:9 aspect ratio to the Sony standard of 21:9. The current Sony Xperia Ace III The phone will also have more number crunching power it wont be a speed demon, but the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset promises a 15% faster CPU and 10% faster GPU than the Snapdragon 480 used in the Mark 3. Based on AnTuTu scores, this 6nm chip performs similarly to the Snapdragon 695 (which powers the Xperia 10 IV). The rumored info claims that the chip will be paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage (up from 4/64GB). If tradition holds, this phone should have a microSD slot too. It should be water resistant and have a 3.5mm headphone jack too like any proper Xperia. The current Sony Xperia Ace III Anyway, the battery seems to be the one thing that wont change with 4,500mAh capacity and 18W charging. Thats still plenty given how petite this phone is compared to most Androids on the market. Like we mentioned, the first three Xperia Ace models have been exclusive to Japan. However, recent murmurs in the rumor mill suggest that this could change for the Xperia Ace IV as Sony may be thinking about bringing it to new markets. Source (in Japanese) | Via (in Italian) A 2012 law that bars doctors from providing medication abortions through virtual teleconference discriminates against abortion patients and providers for no good reason, the American Civil Liberties Union argues in an ongoing court battle with the government of Guam over abortion access. The ACLU wants to preserve a District Court of Guam order that allows its clients, Hawaii-based doctors Shandhini Raidoo and Bliss Kaneshiro, to provide abortions to Guam women. Court documents show Raidoo and Kaneshiro have already been providing medication abortions on Guam through telemedicine consultation. Guams informed consent law requires women to get certain medical information in person before obtaining an abortion, effectively barring telemedicine abortions. But the law was enjoined in the District Court last September on the grounds it posed an undue burden on the right of a patient to obtain an abortion. Since then, the national abortion right has been overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Guam Office of the Attorney General has asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to let the in-person consultation requirement take effect again and kick the lawsuit back to the District Court for reconsideration. Unconstitutional The ACLU has since shifted its argument against the informed consent law. They maintain that the law is unconstitutional because it singles out patients, particularly women, seeking an abortion and the doctors who provide the procedure. The government of Guam has no legitimate interest in doing so, they argued in a brief filed this month. Rationalizations from the AGs office that GovGuam would want to require in-person consultations in order to properly inform abortion-seekers are moot, lawyers for Raidoo and Kaneshiro state. They state that all the law does is prevent their clients two experienced obstetrician-gynecologists from providing important medical information. Yet, while (Raidoo and Kaneshiro) cannot provide informed consent to their own patients, the law permits individuals in Guam who do not provide or assist in the provision of abortion services, do not provide medical care to pregnant patients, or even have any medical training or provide any medical care at all, to instead obtain informed consent from abortion patients solely by virtue of their physical location. Psychologists, social workers or professional counselors operating on Guam are all qualified to provide the required consultation to abortion seekers under the law. That same restriction would not be applied to a patient seeking open-heart surgery, the ACLU argued. Arguments from the AGs office that an in-person consultation would be a solemn setting for abortion information to be received, and thus serve GovGuams interest in preserving prenatal life dont hold up, either, they argue. the Informed Consent Law would be satisfied if a pediatrician delivered the government-mandated information to an abortion patient with neither judgment, solemnity, nor gravity, while both are sitting in an office filled with toys, balloons and lollipops. Plaintiffs want the appeals court to affirm the injunction, or else allow it to stand while the District Court of Guam reconsiders. Oral arguments for the case are tentatively scheduled for some time next February, court filings show. Corrections & Clarifications: This story has been updated to reflect that Officer Jason Young testified in the trial. A previous version of the story gave an incorrect first name for the officer. Former Guam Police Department Lt. Jojo Templo Garcia on trial on three counts of terrorizing as a third-degree felony, four counts of reckless conduct and one count of official misconduct as misdemeanors, took the stand in his trial Monday afternoon. Defense attorney Peter Santos asked Garcia about a fight between him, neighbor Joseph Andrew Borja and a woman on Nov. 30, 2021. In previous testimony, Borja, as well as police officers Peter Quenga and Jason Young, said Garcia was holding a gun that night and was cursing at Borja and the woman. However, Garcia said that he wasnt holding a gun, but a flashlight, when the two officers arrived. Maybe they made a mistake," Garcia said. "Is it a common mistake, that people think something, like a cell phone or a flashlight in your hand, could be a weapon? Santos asked. Yes. It's how you see. It's not unheard of, said Garcia. Quenga previously testified that when he was talking to the woman, she appeared to be scared of Garcia. However, Garcia said the woman was yelling and cursing at him. All I did was respond to her screaming. I said Ill be right back, said Garcia. Santos also showed the court a three-minute video of another incident that involved Garcia and three other individuals in front of Garcias residence. In the video, Garcia, dressed in all black with a long-sleeved T-shirt and pants, can be seen holding what looked like a long, black gun and to be pointing it at a man, who does not appear to be armed. Garcia and his family members are also seen coming out of their residence, yelling obscenities at the individuals as well as flipping off and cursing at the person recording from the camera. The person in the video can be heard saying, "That's an AR right there and open fire. When asked about the video, Garcia admitted to having tunnel vision but it was because prior to the recording, the individuals were threatening his family and his instinct was to defend his family. He also said that the man he pointed the gun at had on a sling bag, which is commonly used by law enforcement to carry weapons off-duty. My son and I were outside my garage, at the carport and then I heard people yelling, so I looked over and then I couldn't understand what they're saying. Then all I noticed was three or four guys, maybe three guys running towards my house. I was standing in front and I noticed he was about to hit my son. My son came up, wondering what's going on, Garcia said. Then I see these guys motioning to pull up weapons from their bags. Additionally, Garcia said prior to the video, there were numerous incidents when he walked out of the house and the men made comments such as: I'm gonna rape your wife and your daughter. They would mention that they didn't feel comfortable because these guys would be making rude comments or remarks whenever they're outside the house, he said. So this was not to instill fear or to terrorize anybody? asked Santos. No, said Garcia. If you wanted to shoot one of those individuals could you have? asked Santos. Yes, said Garcia. Garcia said if the men had pulled out actual weapons, rather than just gesturing, he would have been prompted to use his weapon. Passengers at Japan's Fukuoka Airport, along with Japanese social media celebrities, promote the return of the first United Airlines direct flights from Fukuoka to Guam which arrived on Guam on Aug. 4, 2022. Haiti - USA : USAID launches the Civil Society Strengthening Program Given the political, security and health crisis in Haiti, the role of Civil Society is more important than ever. Faced with this difficult situation, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), announced the launch of the Civil Society Strengthening Program (CSSP) whose objective is to strengthen the capacity of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Haitians, including religious organizations, grassroots groups, and those working with the diaspora that are registered and operate in Haiti. As a result, participating CSOs will be better equipped to develop, implement and evaluate their advocacy and service delivery activities to the highest quality standards. Civil society organizations in Haiti play an essential role in social and economic development by providing essential services and promoting citizen participation. There is a critical need for increased collaboration between Haitian civil society organizations for the amplification of their impact and the sustainability of services as well as their influence on public policies and decision-making. The CSSP will help support the establishment of a networking mechanism to promote collaboration among civil society organizations. This networking will include groups working in the same geographic area or on common interests such as access to education, health care, water and sanitation, job creation, human rights or the fight against corruption. CSSP Objectives : Strengthen the capacities of civil society organizations in advocacy and administrative matters, whether in support of citizens or in the provision of services. Build comprehensive, efficient and effective CSO networks at national and local levels; Support productive working relationships between civil society organizations and development actors, including but not limited to local/central government, private sector and major donors. With greater institutional capacity and active collaboration, Civil Society Organizations will act as even more powerful catalysts to drive development and mobilize resources that provide vital services and foster citizen participation in democratic, social and political change. Acting US Charge d'Affaires Eric Stromayer commented, "Civil society organizations represent the interests of the Haitian people. U.S. Government support for USAID's Civil Society Strengthening Program will strengthen Haitian organizations and networks to advocate for people's needs and rights and provide needed services such as health care and education." The CSSP, implemented by "Papyrus" one of USAID's main local partners, will work to create critical networks of CSOs at the national and local levels in order to facilitate productive working relationships between organizations and other development actors. By strengthening collaboration among CSOs, USAID aims to help these organizations develop a stronger, more unified voice to promote the human rights of Haitian citizens as well as equitable access to basic services. CSSP leader Jean Succar remarked, "I look forward to continuing with Papyrus' tradition of working with civil society partners at this critical time in Haiti's history. We thank USAID for this opportunity to build the organizational capacity of civil society organizations so they can better advocate for much-needed change in their communities and we are ready to go !" Furthermore, as CSOs are essential providers of services and community leadership, the CSSP will also work to strengthen their institutional and leadership capacities. With more developed capacities in management, finance and administration, CSOs will have a greater impact on improving living conditions and will become a national voice defending the interests of the population. USAID will ensure that participating organizations are able to develop, implement, and evaluate their advocacy and service delivery activities to the highest quality standards. HL/ HaitiLibre A view of a damaged apartment building in the retaken village of Bohorodychne, eastern Ukraine, Oct. 22. AP-Yonhap Kyiv on Sunday denounced as dangerous lies suggestions from Russia that Ukraine was preparing to use a "dirty bomb" as a dramatic escalation in their eight-month-old war. Ukraine's western allies also dismissed the allegations from Moscow, just hours after Russia went public with the startling claims. In conversations with his British, French and Turkish counterparts, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu conveyed "concerns about possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a 'dirty bomb'", Moscow said, reffing to a weapon that uses traditional explosives to scatter radioactive material. Shoigu also spoke to Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin, but Moscow did not mention the dirty bomb allegations in its statement summarizing that call. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted swiftly, calling for a united international response. "If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means one thing: Russia has already prepared all this," Zelenskyy said in a video address on social media. "I believe that now the world should react as harshly as possible." Earlier Sunday, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba denounced Moscow's claims as "absurd" and "dangerous". "Russians often accuse others of what they plan themselves," he added. A British defense ministry statement said Defense Secretary Ben Wallace had "refuted these claims and cautioned that such allegations should not be used as a pretext for greater escalation". And in Washington, National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said Joe Biden's administration dismissed Moscow's "transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory." Watson added: "The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation." Damaged domes lie next to a damaged church in the retaken village of Bohorodychne, eastern Ukraine, Oct. 22. AP-Yonhap 'Vile strikes' Russia also announced Sunday it had destroyed a depot in central Ukraine storing over 100,000 tons of aviation fuel. Kyiv's energy operator meanwhile said scheduled power cuts had been introduced in the capital due to Russia's repeated strikes on Ukraine's power network and urged residents to use electricity sparingly. More than one million Ukrainian households have lost electricity following recent Russian strikes and at least a third of the country's power stations having been destroyed ahead of winter, according to officials in Kyiv. Zelenskyy condemned the strikes as "vile". 'Save your strength' In the southern Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rig, deputy mayor Sergiy Miliutin was dealing with emergencies and outages from his underground bunker, used as a venue for a children's martial arts competition. "I've reached a point where I just survive on my drive. You have to stay level-headed and save your strength. No one knows how long this will all last," he told AFP. The intensification of Russian strikes on Ukraine, particularly energy facilities, came after the bridge linking the annexed Crimea peninsula to mainland Russia was partially destroyed by an explosion earlier this month. It was another major setback for Moscow's forces, battling to contain a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the south and east of the country. Speaking in Rome on Sunday at the start of a peace conference, French President Emmanuel Macron said that it was for Ukrainians to decide when "peace is possible". Ukraine reported three deaths in an overnight Russian artillery strike in the Toretsk area, a governor of the eastern Donetsk region said. Inside Russia, two lines of defense have been built in the border region of Kursk to deal with any possible attack, a local governor said Sunday. And defense structures are also being built in the neighboring Russian border region of Belgorod after two civilians were killed there in strikes Saturday and thousands were left without electricity, according to governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. Firefighters work to put out a fire at energy infrastructure facilities, damaged by a Russian missile strike, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in an undisclosed location, Ukraine, Oct. 22. Reuters-Yonhap State of Illinois accreditation assessment team invites public comment A team from the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ILEAP) will be at the Harper College Police Department November 2-4, 2022, to examine all aspects of the Harper College Police Departments policies and procedures, management, operations and support services. The Harper College Police Department has chosen to undergo this voluntary process to gain accreditation, which has been a top priority for Chief of Police John R. Lawson. Accreditation will demonstrate the agency has achieved a level of professionalism among its law enforcement peers and validate the methods of service its members provide to the community in which they serve. In addition to improving the departments relationship with the Harper College community, accreditation improves accountability while limiting liability and risk exposure. As part of the on-site assessment, agency personnel, elected officials, members of the college community and surrounding community are invited to call in with their comments during a public information session from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Friday, November 4, at 847.925.6662. Telephone comments are limited to five minutes and must address the departments ability to meet ILEAP standards. A copy of the standards is available to view on the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police website (ILEAP Manual). The local contact is Accreditation Manager Chief of Police John R. Lawson. Written comments discussing the Harper College Police Departments ability to meet standards for accreditation should be mailed or emailed to: Harper College Police Department Attn: ILEAP Accreditation Process 1200 W. Algonquin Road Palatine, IL 60067 -or- Via email at: jhamer@macombpolice.com Acquiring accreditation is an important achievement for both the department and the college community. The assessment team is composed of public safety practitioners from other agencies in Illinois. The assessors will review written material, interview individuals, visit officers and elected officials, and inspect other locations where compliance can be witnessed. The assessors are Lieutenant Jeff Hamer, Macomb Illinois Police Department, and Chief Tony Brown, Rantoul Illinois Police Department. Once ILEAP Assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the ILEAP Committee Council of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. The files are reviewed and distributed to the ILEAP council and acted on at the councils next meeting, which will then decide if the agency will be granted accredited status. Accreditation lasts for four years. To maintain accreditation status, the Harper College Police Department must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with those standards, under which it was initially accredited. The Finnish Immigration Service is preparing to set up new reception centres due to the increased need to provide accommodation for people fleeing Ukraine. Some of the reception centres to be established are branches of existing reception centres. The Finnish Immigration Service continues to increase the number of accommodation places in existing reception centres. At present, Finland has altogether 86 reception centres, their secondary branches and service points for people in private accommodation, as well as 8 reception units for minors. Approximately 42,000 people are currently registered as clients in the reception system. Approximately 50 per cent of them live in private accommodation and 10 per cent in municipalities as part of the municipal model for accommodation of people applying for temporary protection. Most clients are people who have fled to Finland from Ukraine. The number of people applying for temporary protection keeps increasing, although there are people returning to Ukraine as well. Still, it is hard to predict how the ongoing war in Ukraine affects the number of applicants. We need to prepare for the possibility that there is a significant increase in the number of applicants in winter, which is why an increase in our accommodation capacity is necessary and justified, says Pekka Nuutinen, Director of Reception Unit. The Finnish Immigration Service is responsible for directing, planning and supervising the operations of the reception system. The reception centres maintained by the Finnish Immigration Service are located in Helsinki, Lappeenranta (Joutseno) and Oulu. The other reception centres are maintained by organisations, Finnish municipalities, and companies. New reception centres, situation on 24 October 2022 The Iisalmi branch of the Kuopio reception centre, Setlementti Puijola, 200 beds. In operation as of 24 October 2022. The Porvoo branch of the Loviisa reception centre, Hemcare Oy, 300 beds. In operation as of 1 November 2022. The Sipoo branch of the Loviisa reception centre, Hemcare Oy, 300 beds. In operation as of 1 November 2022. Seinajoki reception centre, Finnish Red Cross, 250 beds. In operation as of 15 November 2022. The Kuusankoski branch of the Hamina reception centre, Hemcare Oy, 400 beds. In operation as of 1 December 2022. HT Source: Finnish Immigration Service The Ministry of Defence is weighing up the possibility of a total ban as part of a broader ongoing assessment of real estate acquisitions even though the government has yet to make its decision on the issue, Helsingin Sanomat wrote on Friday. MINISTER OF DEFENCE Antti Kaikkonen (Centre) says the government will weigh up the possibility of imposing a total ban on real estate acquisitions by Russians. Its something we havent looked thoroughly into previously, but the need and possibilities for it will be incorporated into the assessment as part of continuing work to develop the legislation, commented Kaikkonen. Presently the understanding is, though, that the possible total ban would be associated with significant constitutional questions. The Ministry of Defences recent legislative update focused on tightening the permit process, and were now taking a significant step in that direction, he added, referring to a bill the government has drafted to impose stricter conditions on real estate transactions by businesses and individuals from outside the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA). Members of the Parliament were presented the bill on Thursday. The Ministry of Defence would under the bill be able to deny any acquisitions that are deemed to pose a threat to national security, as well as receive broader rights to access information and look into the funding of a proposed acquisition. Effectively all non-EU and non-EEA citizens would be able to apply for a permit for real estate acquisitions fulfilling certain criteria, summarised Joona Lapinlampi, a senior secretary at the Ministry of Defence. No permit would be granted for the deal if it threatens national defence, border security and security of supply or, under the new law, national security, he stated to the newspaper. The bill is set to enter into force at the start of next year. Aleksi Teivainen HT I believe its important that we try to improve the state of the environment. Thats what this restoration is about, but it has to be done in places where its functional and sensible, she outlined during her regular interview on YLE Radio Suomi . PRIME MINISTER Sanna Marin (SDP) on Sunday said Finland could vote against the nature restoration regulation proposed by the European Union. The European Union is proposing, for example, that at least 20 per cent of land and sea areas across the 27-country bloc be restored to their natural state by 2030. The question of utilising forest resources has laid bare a deep division between the Centre and Green League. The Parliaments Commerce Committee on Friday voted in favour of not backing the proposed regulation, a position that was supported by members of the Centre, Social Democrats and Swedish Peoples Party. The Greens and Left Alliance were thereby the only two ruling parties to support the government's original position on the proposal. Its absolutely exceptional that the ruling parties are so divided. Nothing like this has happened during this electoral terms, Sanni Grahn-Laasonen (NCP), the chairperson of the Commerce Committee, stated to Helsingin Sanomat. Marin on Sunday reminded that it is no secret that members of the ruling coalition have different priorities when it comes to utilising forests. Ultimately well have to evaluate whats the best option from the viewpoint of Finlands national interests and look whether [the regulation] is something we can support or if we should vote against it, she commented. The National Coalition announced after the committee voted to not support the proposal that it will submit an interpellation on forest policy, viewing that the government has failed to stand up for national interests. The interview also highlighted another difference of opinion within the government. Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko (Centre) has stated publicly that the government should scrap its so-called exit tax. Marin, though, stated that the government has no intention to abandon the tax and has had no discussions about doing so. The government, she emphasised, must stand by what was agreed on together. If the starting point is that you dont have to stand by things we agreed on together, then Im sure we wont stand by things that are important for the Centre. Then wed be talking about the whole governments ability to function, she said. The tax would enable the taxation of profits received by individuals residing overseas from the sales of share holdings if the profit had accumulated while the individual was residing in Finland. It is fundamentally an instrument that prevents people from avoiding the capital gains tax by relocating to a country with lower taxes on capital gains. Aleksi Teivainen HT A PODIATRIST in Wargrave has won an award for her voluntary work helping people in India suffering from leprosy. Alison Clark-Morris, who co-founded Feetwise Footcare in High Street, was presented with the Alf Morris Award by the Royal College of Podiatry at a ceremony at the House of Lords. The award is in recognition of her work with the Village of Hope leprosy colony in Delhi. Mrs Clark-Morris, 56, was the first podiatrist to visit the colony when she went in 2017. She has now visited four times in total, working in the bandaging unit to treat people with foot ulceration and dress their wounds. Since her first visit, she has also fundraised to buy equipment, including hand-propelled tricycles for patients, better lighting, clinical trolleys, footwear and blankets. She has also introduced a new software system so that the clinic staff have a more accurate way of recording the number of patients they see. Wounds can also be photographed, allowing their progress to be monitored, and advice offered remotely from the UK. Mrs Clark-Morris said: I was very honoured to win the award. Hopefully it will raise the profile of the Village of Hope within the profession. Ive made a connection with a podiatrist in India as a result. Hopefully, we might get students supporting it within the country. Mrs Clark-Morris will be returning to Delhi in February after missing two years due to the covid-19 pandemic and is currently fundraising to buy more equipment. She said: The main thing is hand-propelled tricycles. People still have to walk around, which stops their feet healing. The tricycles give independence, the chance for mobility. It changes their lives. They can go shopping. One chap could take his child to school. Another who relies on begging can go further afield. They can get around without walking in pain. When people donate they can vote for Mrs Clark-Morris to take on one of three challenges: to abseil down the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture in London, to dress as a chicken to go shopping, or get a tattoo of the Hope Foundation logo. She said: Ill do the thing that raises the most. I plan to do it before I go in February. I have a 750 target and all the money raised will be used for the hand-propelled tricycles, which cost 150 each. So far, it looks like the chicken is getting the most votes. I was hoping to get a tattoo. Weve paid for flights, accommodation and visas and jabs. Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease and symptoms can include skin lesions and inflammation of nerves. It is curable and treatment in the early stages can prevent disability. When she visits the clinic, Mrs Clark-Morris will assess the blood supply to patients feet using a Doppler ultrasound machine, to help understand the healing time based on how good or poor it is. She will teach staff and students how to use the machines and hopes to leave some there so that patients can continue to be monitored. She also plans to make a foot health promotion video, which will be shown on a TV screen in the waiting room, which is being donated by Reading Rotary Club. She will do an audit afterwards to see if it improves how patients look after their feet. Mrs Clark-Morris qualified in 1987 and worked in the NHS, specialising in diabetes foot care. She moved into private practice and set up Feetwise Footcare with Mandy Morris in 2019 after they visited the Village of Hope together and found they made a good team. To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/alicm ANOTHER 11 homes are to be built on the outskirts of Shiplake after an alleged error by council officials. Westbourne Homes has been granted planning permission to develop land west of Reading Road after winning an appeal. A planning inspector ruled that South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, had failed to show that it had five-year land supply as it submitted its figures too late. This is almost exactly what happened in 2017 when Taylor Wimpey was granted permission for 95 homes at the former Thames Farm, which is next door to the site. Construction of that development, called Regency Place, has not begun because the company has not been given approval of its controversial drainage plan, which Westbourne also planned to rely on. The council says it did present the correct figures and followed government guidelines. The inspectors decision, which has angered residents and parish councillors in Shiplake, means that the number of homes being, or due to be, built along a short stretch of the A4155 is more than 210, which is over six times the number allocated to the village by the district council. Chris Penrose, chairman of the parish council, accused the district council of woeful preparation for the appeal hearing and said residents had once again been let down. He said: The district council failed to provide five-year housing supply figures at the hearing and sent them in late and was admonished by the inspector for doing so in his final judgement. This is yet another unsustainable development on Lower Shiplakes boundary. The parish council put masses of effort into the defence of this site, including hiring of external consulting advice and many hours on the thoroughness of our case based on planning criteria, only to be let down by the district councils woeful level of preparation for the appeal. The district council simply did not do its job well and seems incapable of learning from its past errors or taking responsibility for them. We have subsequently asked for consideration of a judicial review of this decision. This has been refused by the district councils deputy chief executive. Residents are right to be angry and should feel totally let down by the council. The appeal hearing was held at Henley town hall in July. The developer claimed the district council had only enough land to provide homes for the next four years rather than the required five. The council waited almost a month to contradict this and prove it had more than enough land to meet the target but by this time it was too late. In his ruling issued last week, the inspector Steven Rennie said the district council failed to provide acceptable evidence for refusing the appeal. He said: There was opportunity for the council to provide more up-to-date evidence at the hearing on the matter of housing land supply, to counter the evidence of the appellant, but it did not do so at the time. The appeal decision is therefore based on the housing land supply information presented at the hearing and not submitted afterwards. Westbourne cited a successful appeal by a developer to build 150 homes at Lady Grove in Didcot after a planning inspector concluded that the district council could not demonstrate that it had a five-year supply of deliverable housing land. Mr Rennie said: The appellant has undertaken their own analysis, particularly with regard to the deliverability of sites. It concluded that many of the dwellings in the council assessment should be discounted as they are not deliverable, resulting in a housing land supply of 4.16 years. The council did not provide any substantive evidence to counter either the conclusions of the Lady Grove appeal nor the appellants evidence regarding deliverability. While there may have been more up-to-date evidence available since the appeal, or which may be relied upon by the appellant in their assessment, it was not presented to me in detail at the hearing. I can only conclude that the council cannot demonstrate a five-year land supply. Henley Town Council, which had refused to include the Westbourne site in his its joint neighbourhood plan with Harpsden parish, which includes the Westbourne site, was also disappointed at the decision. Councillor Ken Arlett, who chairs the neighbourhood plan group and is also a district councillor, said he had attended the appeal hearing and was dismayed. Speaking at a town council meeting, he said: It was horrendous what was going on there. The major problem was the five-year land supply which the inspector asked [about] and the office said, No, we dont have a land supply because it ran out at the end of March and from that point onwards they were kind of getting slaughtered. A few weeks later the district council found out that it had a 5.31-year land supply. If that figure had been put to the hearing I think we would have got a totally different answer on this appeal. Cllr Arlett said the town council should write to district council chief executive Mark Stone and Adrian Duffield, the head of planning, to ask why there was a delay. Kester George, who chairs Harpsden Parish Council, said: I think it is a disgraceful misuse of the planning system. Both Shiplake and Harpsden have met the targets imposed on them for housing without these 11 houses. This was only granted because of district councils apparent inefficiency in showing that it had met its district housing target. What a rotten planning system when parish councils can be overruled even when they have done all they needed to do. The Government is to blame for having a planning system which is manifestly unfair, unjust and unreasonable. Councillor David Bartholomew, who represents Shiplake on the district council, said: I am deeply unhappy that this was allowed on appeal despite being opposed locally. Our housing target has been exceeded many times over. The ongoing parish boundary quirk creates problems for everybody and has been exploited by developers. In 2017 planning inspector John Braithwaite announced he was overturning the district councils decision to refuse planning permission to develop Thames Farm following a four-day public inquiry. He said the district council couldnt even demonstrate a three-year housing land supply, which the Government has deemed sufficient for a neighbourhood plan to remain enforceable. The council disputed this but Mr Braithwaite said its estimate for the number of houses that would be built over the next few years was too optimistic. In a statement, the district council said: The council explained it had 5.33 years of housing land supply, as set out in its 2021 housing statement, which was correct at the time of the appeal hearing. The council reports on the housing land supply position once per year, in line with the national policy guidance issued by Government within the National Planning Policy Framework. All councils that do so use data drawn from the year ending April 1 for the preceding year and work to publish their position once the required analysis is complete. For many councils, the publication of this analysis occurs in the December/January, around nine months after the end of the period. South Oxfordshire District Council regularly publishes our position many months ahead of this and is frequently one of the first in the country to do so. At the point of publication, this becomes the up-to-date housing land supply position for the council until the process is repeated and another one is published the following year. The council always has a published housing land supply position, as under national guidance it is always the most recent one published. The planning inspector was presented with a land supply position, which was the current one at the time of the appeal hearing. However, the inspector was critical that he was not supplied with a new position at the appeal hearing given it was available shortly after. The council explained that the information was the current published position in line with the Governments requirements. The council provided the up-to-date housing supply position before the inspectors decision, but he choose to disregard it. The council is disappointed with the wording used by the inspector. It is not reasonable for a council to simply rely on or issue data that it has not been analysed and confirmed. TWO friends are hoping to open a taproom in Henley. Dom Genski and Dane White, both 31, have submitted a planning application to open Phantom Brewery in Gardiner Place. This would be an addition to the brewery of the same name in Meadow Road, Reading, that they opened in 2019 and has a taproom. Mr Genski, a former Henley College student who lives in Sunningdale, says they want a retail outlet to showcase their beers and sell merchandise as well as have another tasting room. He said: When I saw the opportunity to open a place in Henley it felt nice to come back to where it all started. We are all family and friends in the business and there is a lot of passion, which is nice. I have been best friends with Dane since we were children. Mr Genski said the taproom would offer about 10 beer taps and stock local guest products such as Stanlake Park wine, from Twyford, curated ciders and Henley gins. The brewery offers unconventional beers and experiments with different flavours. Examples include Coral, which contains blue raspberry, pineapple and coconut flavours. Mr Genski said: We take pride in the fact that someone will say they have never even heard of a beer on the tap board but are willing to try it. When people say they dont like beer, we say, You dont like beer yet. Our aim is to explore every style of beer. In this regard, it is no different to culinary exploration. The pair first registered the company in 2017. Mr Genski used to work in technology and Mr White in automotive engineering. Mr Genski said: The business stemmed from getting into lagers that werent the typical ones you would find in every pub. We started learning about how to brew beer as a hobby. We brewed it on a small-scale in my house and did not originally consider it in a commercial sense. We loved it so much and in November 2017 we registered the company. We were open in Reading for four months before the pandemic started. We were pleasantly surprised that people loved the beer tasting rooms. We have regular customers who come every weekend to see what new beers we have on offer. Our regulars supported us throughout the pandemic. I think there is a bigger focus on locality since the pandemic people want to see local businesses thrive rather than just big chains. The company designer, Thomas Gutteridge, also attended The Henley College, and the company photographer, George Bull, is a teacher there. Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India's largest hospitality company, today announced its debut in Wayanad with the opening of Taj Wayanad Resort & Spa, Kerala. Nestled at the edge of a hill, with sweeping views of the surrounding forest and lake, the resort seamlessly weaves together luxury with nature and mindfulness at every corner. Located at driving distance from Kozhikode, Kannur and Bengaluru, the 10-acre resort features 61 rooms and villas, each paying ode to the beauty of the surrounding environ. The resort offers 270 degrees views of the Banasura Hills and lake, where guests can experience the tranquil beauty of the destination with a touch of wellness at the award-winning Jiva Spa offering signature Ayurvedic therapies. From enjoying favourites at the iconic all-day diner, Shamiana; to indulging in South Indian specialities at Southern Spice; languid evenings at Tropics - the poolside grill and bar and world class cocktails at a maritime themed bar; guests can choose from myriad dining experiences during their stay. The resort's high-ceiling banquet hall with a private entrance makes Taj Wayanad the ideal destination for events, while guests can also rejuvenate at the outdoor infinity pool, yoga deck, fitness centre and lakeside promenade. A green paradise, Wayanad adorns the northern hills of Kerala and is known for its natural beauty and rich history and culture. The destination is popular among travellers looking to explore the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, rolling spice plantations and Edakkal Caves. With this luxury lakeside resort, IHCL has 14 hotels in the state of Kerala including two under development. Hotel website Dusit Thani Maldives has appointed Mr Jacques Leizerovici as its new General Manager, effective 30 August 2022. Mr Leizerovici, a dual French-Canadian citizen, brings to the role more than 30 years of experience working in senior management positions for renowned hotel brands under the Accor group across South America, Malaysia, and Canada. Since humbly starting his career in 1984 at Le Meridien Montreal, followed by a stint as Maitre d'hotel and Front Office Manager at Novotel Fleur d' Epee, he has gone on to develop a wellrounded-skillset across hotel operations, sales, and marketing, revenue management, and distribution. This includes serving as Regional Director of Sales & Marketing for Accor's Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, and Ibis brands in the French Caribbean, and playing a key role in several preopening projects. Alongside opening several hotels in Sabah, Malaysia, he was delighted to serve as Director of Corporate Affairs at the Yayasan Sabah International Convention Centre. Most recently, he held the position of General Manager of Pullman Vung Tau and Convention Center, an Executive Director of Dutaland Group, and President of the CCIFM (Chamber of Commerce and Industry French Malaysia). A highly motivated executive committed to excellence, Jacques has completed a training programme in finance at the University of Ryerson in Toronto, as well as modules in finance and market research at Cornell University, New York. As the Director of Restaurants, Bars, and Events, Flynn is the leader of all aspects of the hotel's R&B concepts and will work in tandem with Executive Chef Thomas Davis to elevate The Sylvan concepts' menu planning, service, and adherence to quality and safety standards. Born and raised in Romania, Flynn knew she had a passion for hospitality early on in life. Combining that passion with her strong desire to travel the world, she took her first hospitality position as a restaurant stewardess working on a cruise line, and the rest as was history. With over 20 years in the hospitality industry, Flynn's career has taken her around the globe including managing a small mom-and-pop restaurant in the UK, before making a leap across the pond in 2006 where she worked in New York restaurants for 11 years, holding a variety of positions as a Server, Manager, and General Manager. In 2017, Flynn made the move to Atlanta where she held General Manager positions at Morton's Steakhouse, Compass Group, and By George inside The Candler Hotel. In Fall 2022, Flynn joined The Kimpton Sylvan Hotel team to lead the food and beverage programming at all three of the hotel's restaurant and bar concepts: The Betty, St. Julep, and Willow Bar. With over 20 years of international luxury hospitality experience, Duarte Bon de Sousa has been appointed Vice President, Operations of Oetker Collection. Bon de Sousa originally joined the company as General Manager of L'Apogee Courchevel in December 2013 and shortly thereafter, also took charge of sister seasonal property, Chateau Saint-Martin & Spa in Vence. A Portuguese native, Bon de Sousa studied Hospitality and Tourism in Estoril and started his hotel career as Night Manager at Le Meridien Park Atlantic in Lisbon in 1999. Varied roles at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon followed before he undertook the role of General Manager at the five-starred Choupana Hills Resort & Spa in Madeira from 2007 to 2011. Prior to joining Oetker Collection, Bon de Sousa supervised the pre-opening of two boutique hotels in Lisbon. In addition to his dual General Manager roles in Courchevel and Vence, Bon de Sousa opened Oetker Collection's 10th Masterpiece Hotel, The Woodward in Geneva, in September 2021. Most recently, he has been acting General Manager at Hotel La Palma in Capri, overseeing the upcoming debut of the hotel and its recently opened beach club, Da Gioia by La Palma. In his new remit, Bon de Sousa will support Senior Vice President, Operations, Luca Allegri to optimize operations and coordinate best practices and synergies across all Oetker Collection hotels in the departments of Rooms, Food & Beverage, Spa, and Engineering. In addition to quality assurance and developing operational training programs, inclusive of preventive maintenance, this position will entail a key function in Food & Beverage and Spa concept creation. Bon de Sousa will also be charged with providing support to the development team during the planning and subsequent opening stages of new hotels joining the portfolio. Stockholm - ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions, a leading provider of advanced security technology for the hospitality industry, is today honored to be recognized by the World Travel Tech Awards for its ongoing commitment in developing solutions that lead to safer and more efficient hotel operations. With hospitality professionals around the world voting for their most favored solutions, ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions was notably named Worlds Best Digital Key Solutions Provider and Worlds Best Hotel Asset Management Solutions Provider for 2022. An awards program dedicated to recognizing and celebrating excellence in travel technology, the World Travel Tech Awards seeks to reward solution providers who have demonstrated an ability to push innovation and industry capabilities to new heights. For the best digital key solutions category, industry voters ultimately selected Mobile Access by ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions thanks to the technologys robust and flexible design, as well as its proven ability to enhance guest check-in convenience. With Mobile Access, hoteliers significantly have a range of deployment options depending on specific business needs or guest preferences. This includes integrating the solution with a hotels existing mobile app or deploying the technology as a standalone service. For hoteliers lacking their own mobile app but desiring additional functionality beyond offering digital key services, Mobile Access further boasts a wide range of Certified Partner options for hoteliers to select from. Also named this years winner due to the platforms commitment to future-proof scalability, Mobile Access now even provides options for guests to store and use room keys within digital wallets located on personal devices for even greater convenience. Winning an award is always cause for celebration, but to win two as a result of the opinions of industry peers is a great honor and achievement, said Li Wang, Senior Vice President and Head of Hospitality at ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions. Our company remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries on what hoteliers can achieve with technology in making their businesses safer, more efficient and able to live up to todays guest expectations. These latest award wins demonstrate our companys success in aligning R&D efforts with current industry needs, and we couldnt be prouder of our teams hard work in developing new and exciting hotel-based technologies. Earning this years award for best hotel asset management solution was Vostio Location Solutions- Hotel Asset Management. A location-based technology leveraging a network of Bluetooth Low Energy Beacons (BLE), Vostio Location Solutions- Hotel Asset Management notably allows property employees to instantly locate the precise whereabouts of amenities and equipment in real-time. By simply attaching a reader tag, this can include items such as luggage carts, maintenance equipment, amenity rentals and much more. With Vostio Location Solutions, hoteliers also gain a future-proof platform that can be scaled to include additional functionalities. This includes Vostio Location Solutions- Staff Safety, a feature that allows hotel employees to transmit an alert along with their real-time location in the event of a threat to their wellbeing. For more information about ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions and its comprehensive line of electronic in-room safes and locking solutions for the hospitality industry, please visit www.assaabloyglobalsolutions.com/hospitality. About ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions The ASSA ABLOY Group is the global leader in access solutions. Every day, we help billions of people experience a more open world. ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions is dedicated to reimagining how people move through their world. Our expertise in customer journey mapping, innovation and service design leads to the invention of new security solutions that create value for our clients and exceptional experiences for end users. For the hospitality market, these solutions include integrated software systems, mobile access and location solutions designed to help our customers enhance the hotel guest experience, while improving operational efficiency. In order to provide best-in-class customer service, we offer support in more than 166 countries. For more information, please visit assaabloyglobalsolutions.com/hospitality and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Riise Walker Director of Marketing +1 214 912 1527 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Saudi Arabia will take place in Riyadh in 2023, bringing together the regions industry leaders for discussions, deals and insight on the continued growth of the Kingdoms hospitality and tourism sectors. This will be the sixth industry conference organised by The Bench for the Saudi market. Host sponsors are Al Faisaliah Hotel and Al Khozama Investment. The 2023 edition of FHS Saudi Arabia will take place at the luxurious Prince Sultan Grand Hall, located in one of Riyadhs most sought-after venues. Al Faisaliah Hotel is currently undergoing a guestroom and public area refurbishment, which is scheduled for completion by year-end 2023. The event will once again unite the investment communities of the Saudi Arabian Hospitality Investment Conference (SHIC) and the Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) and will bring together government leaders, hotel and F&B investors, developers and operators, to address the Kingdoms latest developments and the industrys hottest topics. Following the resounding success of FHS in Riyadh and Dubai this year, we are excited to announce the dates and host partners for next year, said Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench. "This years events have further cemented the Future Hospitality Summit as the flagship hospitality investment platform in the region and we cant wait to start working on the programmes for 2023. We are delighted to welcome Al Faisaliah Hotel and Al Khozama Investment as our host sponsors for the third edition of FHS Saudi Arabia and look forward to welcoming everyone to the iconic Al Faisaliah Hotel, managed by Mandarin Oriental. FHS Saudi Arabia 2023 will focus on various conference tracks including hospitality investment, industry start-ups, sustainable development and human capital ecosystems. The FHS Advisory Board will convene November to discuss and shape the event programme and experiences. Al Faisaliah Hotel is excited to partner with The Bench and Al Khozama in delivering the next Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh, a city that is developing rapidly with vast opportunities and resources to grasp on. We are delighted to have this summit at our property and we cant wait to see you all soon, commented Richard Johnson, General Manager of Al Faisaliah Hotel. Six months after FHS Saudi Arabia concludes, the Future Hospitality Summit will be held in Abu Dhabi for the first time and will be hosted at the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island from 25-27 September 2023. For more information on the 2023 editions of FHS please visit https://www.futurehospitalitysummit.com/. About Al Faisaliah Hotel With an enviable location in the heart of the prestigious Olaya district, Al Faisaliah Hotel is the epitome of Arabian hospitality in Riyadh. The luxurious hotel features 325 tastefully designed rooms and suites, complemented by around-the-clock butler service, an array of exquisite dining options, an award-winning ladies-only Spa and a state-of-the-art fitness centre. The hotels 6,300 square meters of customisable meeting facilities have been designed to accommodate events of any size. Surrounded by Al Faisaliah Tower, Mode Mall and other Riyadhs key attractions, Al Faisaliah Hotel is a cosmopolitan hub with Saudi charm. About Al Khozama Investments Al Khozama Investment (AK) is a pioneering developer and manager of premium commercial properties in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in 1995, the company follows a progressive and diversified business model that covers the ownership, investment and management of properties in hospitality, retail, commercial, F&B and residential sectors. With numerous international awards garnered by company over the past 25 years, in 2019 AK Investment was named Saudi Arabia's leading luxury hospitality company by the World Travel Awards. In addition to presently managed five hotels including Al Faisaliah Hotel and Al Faisaliah Suites, Riyadh; Bay La Sun Hotel & Marina and Views Hotel & Residences, King Abdullah Economic City and Al Bustan Residences, Riyadh. For more information, visit alkhozama.com About The Bench The Benchhas established a legacy for delivering world-leading investment forums and conferences in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The key principle behind these platforms has remained "dealmaking'. Transforming the way business connect, Bench has developed a reputation for creating innovative and high-impact meeting spaces for the industry. For over two decades - government leaders, tourism ministries, global travel & tourism associations, the world's most influential hospitality brands, hotel owners & investors, renowned restaurant groups, airlines & aviation authorities, destination developers, asset managers, financial groups and consultants have been participating in The Bench's events for their respective objectives. These include AHIC, AHIF, GRIF, FHS, AHF, IDEEA, AviaDev and RENEW where industry players showcase their brands, position themselves as thought leaders or innovators, and connect with the right opportunities and knowledge. Learn more on thebench.com About MEED Launched on International Women's Day 1957, the Middle East Economic Digest, MEED, is a well-known and trusted brand used by governments and businesses operating in the region. Encompassing a business intelligence service, digital media, publications and events MEED provides exclusive daily news, data and analysis. We are responsible for keeping our audiences of subscribers, registered users and event attendees informed, helping to facilitate decision making and connections. Our marketing solutions team provides clients with access to our audiences. We partner with local and international companies who need to reach our high-value communities. In consultation with our clients we utilise tried and tested methods to target and engage decision makers to announce and explain, lead and grow and to contact and convert business leaders into customers. MEED is wholly owned by data and intelligence company GlobalData Plc which means that our marketing solutions clients are also able to access a network of over 13m digital users per month across 18 different sectors. Learn more on meed.com Anne Bleeker In2 Consulting +971 56 603 0886 The Bench DALLAS, TX - Unifocus, the leading provider of Workforce Management Systems, was named the Worlds Best Workforce Management Solutions Provider at this years World Travel Tech Awards. At the ceremony held on October 23, Unifocus was honored by hospitality professionals worldwide who voted for the hotel industrys most outstanding achievements in travel technology innovation. Source: UniFocus The companys comprehensive workforce management platform that can address every aspect of a hotels daily staff and operation management resonated with voters who are quickly adapting to operating their properties in the labor crisis. Using AI technology, Unifocus' automatic optimization of employee schedules to ensure a hotels labor resources are always aligned with service demand fluctuations and consistently high service quality is delivered. With many of todays workers looking for flexible schedules, employees can select their own shifts based on current and upcoming business needs. This significantly minimizes the risk of employee resignations, scheduling conflicts and prevents any lapse in coverage or service quality. Being named the best workforce management platform is an amazing honor, said Moneesh Arora, CEO of Unifocus. The hotel industry currently faces some major forces that are reshaping what it means to effectively manage hotel labor and operations. Unifocus remains dedicated to leading the development of new solutions that resolve industry challenges, and this award validates the direction we are heading." Unifocus also includes the first virtual assistant specifically designed to enhance and streamline workforce management. Using the virtual assistant, hoteliers can receive a range of high-value analytics uncovering new opportunities to increase productivity, guest satisfaction and business revenues. Dynamic task management capabilities allow hotels to accomplish 100% of daily tasks with 75% of the staff once needed. Each worker is given a real-time list of active assignments via mobile device for housekeeping, maintenance, guest service requests and more. Additional features include a robust and flexible engagement survey technology, allowing hoteliers real time feedback on business health, opinions and sentiments of employees and guests alike. About UniFocus UniFocus is the only complete workforce management platform designed to fundamentally shift the way service industries manage labor. The powerful platform helps managers plan with intelligent Labor Management tools that automatically produce accurate forecasts, optimized schedules based on business demand, employee availability, service standards and work rules. Staff is easily aligned with a world-class Time and Attendance module that communicates schedules and facilitates swaps with tools like Shift Genius that live within an intuitive mobile app. Once scheduled, frontline employees operate with ease from the industry-leading Knowcross Task Management suite that streamlines guest services, housekeeping, maintenance, inspections, and glitches. With traditional workplace silos removed, managers benefit from a complete view of analytics and a personalized virtual assistant, Odin, that highlights opportunities to improve productivity and cost controls while keeping an eye on guest satisfaction and employee engagement. UniFocus is arming managers with best-in-class decision-making technology in the hospitality, restaurant, retail, and healthcare industries. Check us out at UniFocus.com to learn more about the labor paradigm shift. Corey McCarthy Chief Marketing Officer 972-512-5100 PARSIPPANY, N.J. - Sampling Mexico's sizzling street tacos, inhaling the bold aroma of Turkish coffee, uncovering the tangiest chimichurri in Argentina it's a job any foodie would covet and now, it could be yours. Ramada by Wyndham, one of the world's most well-known hotel brands, is searching for its first-ever Chief Eats Officer ("CEO"), a newly created role that will take one lucky job-seeker around the globe as they help the brand uncover and share some of the world's best culinary and cultural delights. Best of all, the gig comes with a $10,000 payday and bragging rights as the most mouth-watering job ever. Known for its diverse portfolio of award-winning hotels in more than 63 countries around the globe, Ramada helps travelers sample the world. The appointed "CEO" will be tasked with uncovering the culture and cuisine throughout five different continents and creatively showcase their finds on the brand's social media and marketing channels. In exchange, the selected candidate will receive $10,000 and a $150 daily travel stipend to help them make the most of their globetrotting adventure. The "CEO Comp Package" also includes paid accommodations and air travel, an upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Diamond membership and bucket-list travel experiences. "Food is the key that opens the door to new cultures, which is what Ramada by Wyndham is all about, inspiring travelers while connecting them to new global experiences," said Stephanie Kendrick, brand leader and VP of Operations, Ramada by Wyndham. "Our lucky CEO will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in the best Ramada and its many destinations have to offer, all while bringing along a global audience to share in every moment of their life-enriching adventure." About the Role: The Chief Eats Officer's responsibilities include traveling the world for up to three weeks and documenting a curated list of must eats on social media. The CEO's creative content and experiences will be featured on Ramada's brand website and social media channels to help inspire other travelers to sample the world with Ramada. Responsibilities: Visit up to eight countries over the course of a three-week trip. Document travel and culinary adventures in real-time with unique photo, video, and written content. Inspire others around the world by sharing your experiences on your social media channels. Qualifications: Active and proficient on various social media accounts (TikTok and Instagram preferred). Fluent in spoken and written English. At least 21 years old with a valid passport. Availability to travel for up to three weeks during summer 2023. Self-confessed foodie. Strong writing skills (required for blog writing). Comfortable working remotely and on deadline. Must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 based on the requirements stated by each country to be visited. Applicants must be a resident of Argentina, Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, or the United States. The Perks: $10,000 payday. $150 daily travel stipend for up to three weeks. Round trip economy air transportation. Paid hotel accommodations for up to three weeks at Ramada by Wyndham hotels. Upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Diamond level membership for one year. How to Apply: Post a public video via TikTok tagging @RamadabyWyndham and #RamadaCEO describing what makes you the ideal candidate for the job. Video submissions should be at least 2 minutes and candidates are encouraged to demonstrate food and travel flair, as well as storytelling skills and social savviness. Applicant's applying via TikTok must follow @RamadabyWyndham to be considered. Alternatively, candidates may email their video to [email protected] . . Please include your country of residence in video. If applying via email, please include handles to active personal social media accounts. Accounts must be public to be considered. Applications must be submitted and received by 11:59 p.m. ET on November 14, 2022, in English, by adults 21 years and older. Individuals must be available to travel internationally for up to three weeks between May-August 2023. Entries must comply with the official rules. Ramada by Wyndham will select the winning "CEO" on or around the week of December 19, 2022. No purchase is necessary to enter. For more information, including official rules, visit www.ramada.com/ceo. About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world's largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,000 hotels across over 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of approximately 819,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 23 hotel brands, including Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada, Microtel, La Quinta, Baymont, Wingate, AmericInn, Hawthorn Suites, Trademark Collection and Wyndham. The Company's award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers over 95 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com. This running column has been all about wine, but alas this age-old alcohol is only a subset of the overall F&B program for any hotel property. It makes little sense to build an extensive wine selection or for that matter contemplate any wine purchase without first consulting the restaurant manager, the F&B director and, in some cases, the GM. Wine must serve the role of generating profit as well as the less quantifiable goal of heightening guest satisfaction both patrons to a dining outlet and as a reason to stay at or return to the hotel. Hence, a solid wine strategy must define the parameters for how these beverages are positioned within the property, ensuring consistency with the overall brand approach. Here are some key considerations for the development of a lucrative plan: Target audience. The wine selection must be tailored to the hotel guest or locals depending on what markets the brand is hoping to inroads with. Often, though, the interests of those seeking leisure accommodations, event planners and other restaurant-only patrons do not align. Catering. Per the previous hint of group guests, its not uncommon to have two different wine lists. One is built for by-the-glass and prestigious bottle sales with reasonable markups while the other is designed for the tonnage of weddings, reunions and corporate retreats. Different needs call for different arrangements with suppliers. As well, note that events are often booked many months in advance, so you need to be able to present wines that can be finalized 30 days out. Theme. As the vast majority of customers choose based on type of cuisine first, the wine must be congruent with the food the restaurant offers and not the other way around. Theme is not just about expectation management for instance, people expecting a good glass of chianti at a low-key Italian joint but about maximizing the experience and making memories. Beyond matching to the country, a fish restaurant will typically have more whites versus a steakhouse more reds, and then you must consider wine styles and grape varietals. Local influences. Hotels must show deference to the community, both for support and to help build a unique experience. Are there any wineries nearby and, significantly, are any of them worthy of more than a token local inclusion? Pricing. You start with costs then broadly define a markup coefficient. From there you examine prices based on past sales and market psychology for variable markups. There should also be a standard process for regular reassessments to maximize sales versus profit per bottle. As it concerns premium selections, would you consider adding a limited quantity of high-priced bottles onto the list for special occasions like champagne celebrations? Private labels. Would you consider stocking a house red and house white? If so, whats your price point and can you achieve a three-times markup? What are your cashflow requirements to guide order quantities? Inventory. Storage costs and available space are important considerations as are revenue forecasts and turnover. Establish an appropriate dollar value for the total wine inventory along with a complete analysis of the number of labels housed. Part of this element is also the availability of supply in terms of working with reliable suppliers or wine merchants. Understand their terms and conditions, minimum order quantities and reordering speeds. Wine list presentation. Whats the menu design? How many by-the-glass options are you including? How do you print your wine list and how easy is it to update? For example, guests dont like it when the stated vintage year is 2018 and the server appears with a 2019 bottle. Cashflow. Its often said that the success of every business hinges on this and the same is true for any alcohol where theres an upfront cost. Wine merchants are typically cash on delivery and you may need to purchase many more cases of wine in order to take advantage of better pricing or vintage availability. The rub is that these outflows dont usually coincide with peak hotel occupancy or other periods of high restaurant volume. Larry Mogelonsky Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited View source 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: During the lecture, Tuesday, eighth-grade students Lillian Howe, Abbe Ali-Nixon, and Esme Aalberts handed over a $1,000 check to a BIC Volunteer Coordinator Charles Bonenti. Mount Greylock Students Raise $1,000 for Berkshire Immigrant Center WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Mount Greylock Regional High School students donated $1,000 to the Berkshire Immigrant Center (BIC) during a Greylock Talks presentation focusing on immigration in the Berkshires. During the lecture, Tuesday, eighth-grade students Lillian Howe, Abbe Ali-Nixon, and Esme Aalberts handed over a $1,000 check to a BIC Volunteer Coordinator Charles Bonenti. "[The student raising money is] remarkable to me. We may hire them as fundraisers for other projects we have going here in the districts. It's really impressive," Superintendent Jason Mccandless said. The three students raised money over the summer by baking and selling cookies. Director of Curriculum and Instruction Joelle Brookner said she was not surprised to hear of this kind gesture. "I've known them since elementary school, and they're just always thinking beyond themselves so it's wonderful and it's really not all that surprising," Brookner said. The Berkshire Immigrant Center advocates for the rights of all immigrants by guiding them through the United States immigration system. The center assists more than 700 individuals annually from more than 60 countries, their website reads. This is not the first time the trio raised money for a special cause, and over the last two summers, the group held a bake sale to donate funds to the Berkshire Food Project in North Adams. They raised $920 in their first two years of fundraising. "During the school year, we don't really have time to do any charity or anything like that because we're so busy, Howe said. But in the summer, I feel like we might as well if we're baking cookies, then we might as well make them for a good cause. During the actual presentation, Mount Greylock students heard from two speakers: Kyungmin Yook, a Williams College student who won a grant to study resources and services for local immigrants and Bonenti. "I think as a superintendent, as an educator, as a dad, anything we can do that that gets our students to think about life beyond their town life, beyond their current friend and acquaintance group, to think about the bigger world and their place in it, and the impact that they can make is worthwhile," Superintendent Mccandless said Mount Greylock Regional High School graduates Jake and Sam Kobrin started Greylock Talks in 2014 hoping to create a platform for conversation that do not always happen in the normal school curriculum. "A talk like this makes me think of people in our community doing great work and opportunities for our students to learn about these things that are happening in our community that we might not know about," Mount Greylock Regional High School sophomore and Greylock Talks subcommittee chair Caleb Low said. Guest Column: Fentanyl: Current Wave of the Opioid Crisis in the Berkshires The United States has passed a grim, heartbreaking milestone: a record number of Americans are dying as a result of a drug overdose. Between April 2020 and April 2021, drugs mostly synthetic opioids such as fentanyl took the lives of more than 100,000 of our sons and daughters, loved ones and neighbors, community members, and friends. Preliminary data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health indicate confirmed overdose deaths from opioids have increased 7 percent from 2020 to 2021. Overdose deaths from synthetic opioids primarily fentanyl have also increased. This rise in opioid overdoses across the country is largely due to illicit fentanyl contaminating street drugs. Pharmaceutical fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is FDA-approved as a patch or lozenge for the treatment of severe pain. Fentanyl is at least 50 times more potent than heroin. Most recent cases of fentanyl-related harm, overdose, and death in the U.S. are linked to illegally made fentanyl that is mixed into drugs, like counterfeit painkillers and benzodiazepines, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Because we have an unregulated and criminalized drug supply, there is no way to tell if a street drug that a person is using is 100 percent safe. This means that someone may use a substance that they believe their body is able to tolerate, but it may actually be much stronger than they expect due to being contaminated with fentanyl, without knowing. Data from the Department of Public Health tells us that in Berkshire County overdoses increased from 56 in 2020 to 62 in 2021, an 11 percent increase. The following are rates of fatal overdoses per 100,000 residents in 2021: Massachusetts: 33 Berkshire County: 61 Cheshire: 96 Pittsfield: 78 North Adams: 70 Adams: 62 Lee: 53 The opioid crisis is not confined to a particular subset of our population and these numbers do not mean that any one town or area is immune. The epidemic affects wealthy and poor, Black and white, rural and urban, and every corner of the Berkshires The street drug supply has always been unpredictable and inconsistent this is especially true now. Assume overdose risk no matter what drug youre using, and practice as much harm reduction as possible, as consistently as possible. These conditions hold true for recreational drug use as much as for regular use and are not restricted to any one type of drug, as they have been found in heroin, crack/cocaine, and pressed pills. Go slow. Use less. Try not to use alone. If you do, have someone with naloxone check on you. If youre using in a group, have naloxone on-hand and take turns so someone is always alert and available to respond. Know the signs of an overdose. Carry naloxone and know how to use it. Look out for others in the community and administer naloxone if you suspect an overdose. In 2021, Berkshire Harm Reduction gave out 1,757 naloxone kits between Pittsfield and North Adams. These kits will be more readily available in the near future for anyone interested in supporting the health of our community. By following these harm reduction strategies, together, we can heal our communities and reduce preventable overdose deaths. More Information To learn more about fentanyl and naloxone, visit www.HealTogetherMA.org/Pittsfield and www.HealthToogetherMA.org/NorthAdams On behalf of HEALing Communities of North Adams and Pittsfield Berkshire Bank's Foundation Donates to 160 Nonprofit Organizations PITTSFIELD, Mass. Berkshire Bank announced over $660,000 in philanthropic investments from its foundation during the third quarter of 2022. According to a press release, the grants awarded cover a range of projects that help foster community diversity, equity, and inclusion-focused programs, support education and youth, and enhance opportunities for individual success in the communities the bank serves. These investments also support the company's BEST Community Comeback, which includes a planned $15 million in community contributions by the end of 2024. "We are so pleased to support nonprofit organizations once again with philanthropy to sustain vital community services in all the regions that Berkshire Bank serves during challenging economic times. Since January 2022, the Berkshire Bank Foundation has provided nearly $2 million to support the needs of the community," said Lori Gazzillo Kiely, Foundation Director. Recipients: Albany Medical Center Foundation (NY) American Cancer Society (NY) Art Resource Collaborative For Kids (ARCK) (Mass) Ascentria Care Alliance, Inc. (Mass) Bennington Area Habitat for HuMassnity (Vt) Berkshire County ARC, Inc. (Mass) Berkshire County Education Task Force (Mass Big Sister Association of Greater Boston (Mass)* Boys and Girls Club of The Berkshires (Mass) Chabad of the Berkshires (Mass) Community Food Cupboard, Inc. (Vt) Elmcrest Children's Center (NY) Festival Latino of the Berkshires (Mass) Girls, Inc. of the Greater Capital Region (NY)* Girls' LEAP (Mass)* Jonnycake Center of Westerly (RI) Mohawk Valley Community College Foundation (NY) Nathan's Angels Memorial Foundation (RI) Quinebaug Valley Community College Foundation (RI) Revitalize Community Development Corporation (Mass) Springfield Boys & Girls Club, Inc. (Mass) The Business Training Institute Inc. (NY) The Latina Circle Inc. (Mass)* The Leukemia & LymphoMass Society Upstate NY (NY) The Minority Construction Council, Inc. (CT) United Way of the Valley & Greater Utica Area (NY) Union Capital Boston (Mass) Veterans Inc. (Mass) Veteran Entrepreneurship Training and Resource Network (NY) Western Massss Women's Fund (Mass)* Wonderfeet Kids' Museum (Vt) Worcester Center for the Performing Arts (Mass) YWCA Hartford Region (CT)* Youth In Action, Inc. (RI) On October 18, the Secretary General of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and Bulatlat managing editor Ronalyn Olea was a victim of red tagging by broadcaster Sonshine Media Network International. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in condemning the red-tagging of Ronalyn Olea and urges continued action against malicious and targeted disinformation. Ronalyn Olea, the Secretary General of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) was recently a victim of red tagging by the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI). Olea, the managing editor of Bulatlat and advocate for press freedom was labelled an operatibong internet operator for the Communist Party of the Philippines, New Peoples Army and the National Democratic Front by SNMI anchors. Local and international media rights organisations, including the NUJP, have denounced the act. Oleas outlet, Bulatlat, condemned the action, identifying an increasing number of red-tagging incidents and other attacks against journalists in recent months. The claim was made by Lorraine Badoy, a former spokesperson for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), an organisation created in 2018 by former president Rodrigo Duterte. Badoy has stirred controversy and faced harsh criticism for her dangerous and sensational claims against media rights, civil society and legal organisations. SNMI is the Davao City-based broadcasting arm of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, a controversial Philippine televangelist. Like Badoy, SNMI have also recently invoked outrage from media and human rights groups for accusing both organisations and individuals of having connections to rebel groups, including the NUJP, the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines and the Movement Against Disinformation. Red tagging is the practice of labelling activists, journalists and other political figures as terrorists, communists or other enemies of the state, regardless of their beliefs. The NUJP has condemned the use of red-tagging as a means to harass, discredit and justify violence against journalists, media practitioners and activists since its founding in 1986. The NUJP said: The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines denounces in the strongest possible terms the red-tagging of our secretary general and Bulatlat editor Ronalyn Olea. [] In the face of the baseless accusations and desperate vilification, we stand with Ms Olea and all others red-tagged by the government and by its mouthpieces. The IFJ said: As incidents of violence and harassment against media practitioners continue to grow, the actions of the Sonshine Media Network International news outlet pose a real risk to journalists and media workers. The IFJ condemns the practice of red-tagging and the ongoing harassment and violence against journalists in the Philippines and calls for greater measures to ensure the rights of journalists are respected. A suspect in the murder of radio broadcaster Percival Mabasa, also known as Percy Lapid, is being held in custody after surrendering to police on October 17. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in welcoming the detention of a suspect in Percy Lapids murder and urging the government of the Philippines to ensure that all individuals involved in the journalists killing are brought to justice. Joel Estorial (C), the alleged gunman in the killing of Philippine journalist Percival Mabasa, is presented to the media as Philippine Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos (L) speaks during a press conference in Manila on October 18, 2022. Credit: STR / AFP On October 18, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos announced that 38-year-old Joel Estorial had surrendered himself to police, confessing to the incident and handing over a gun. Police confirmed the alleged murder weapon used the same bullets as the one found at the crime scene. Estorial fronted the media wearing a bulletproof vest and helmet and provided details on the attack. The suspect identified two other men allegedly involved in the killing, Edmon Dimaculangan and Israel Dimaculangan, and said he received orders from a man known only as Orly or Orlando, operating out of New Bilibid Prison. The Philippines Department of Justice has since confirmed all three men have been charged as respondents, however, all are currently at large. The victims family, media rights groups and civil society organisations have welcomed the arrest but insisted that law enforcement continue their investigation. Several groups have warned against rising impunity in the killings of media personalities and critical voices. Percival Mabasa, a radio broadcaster and outspoken critic of both former President Rodrigo Duterte and incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, was shot dead in his vehicle in Las Pinas City on October 3. His killing inspired international outrage, with media rights groups and foreign governments declaring their concern for the incident and calling for an immediate investigation. Lapid was the second journalist to be killed under the Marcos Jr. administration since its election in June 2022. The NUJP said: While we welcome this development, we cannot help but raise more questions regarding the surrender of the alleged gunman. We hope that the authorities be more transparent as the family deserves no less than the truth. We urge authorities to continue their investigation until the mastermind is identified and held accountable. Let the case of Percy Lapid be an eye-opener on the extent of impunity in the crimes against journalists. We reiterate our call for justice for 196 other journalists who were murdered since 1986. The IFJ said: While detaining a suspect in Percy Lapids case is a welcome development, it is not sufficient to ensure justice in this case. The IFJ strongly condemns the killing of Percy Lapid, and urge authorities to ensure that all individuals involve in the journalists killing are brought to justice. By Xiang Haoyu Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida signed a new security agreement with the Australian Prime Minister Albanese during his recent visit to Australia. The new agreement allowed personnel of both countries to go to the other for joint training in addition to strengthening cooperation in such areas as military, intelligence, cyberspace, outer space, and law enforcement. It's worth noting that the heating up of Japan-Australia security ties is not an individual case. Considering the series of military and security activities recently held by the US and Japan in the Asia Pacific, a new "Five Eyes alliance" led by the US seems to be in the making. The US and Japan will hold their biennial joint exercise, the largest-scale real-combat training dubbed Keen Sword, in waters around Okinawa from November 10. In addition to 26,000 Japanese troops and 10,000 US troops, the exercise will involve tens of ships and hundreds of military planes from the two countries. What's conspicuous is that Britain, Australia and Canada will also assign ships and aircraft to the exercise. Those three countries have had close military and security interactions with Japan recently. Britain and Japan signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement in May and elevated their relationship to a "quasi alliance". Canada and Japan agreed to start negotiations on the General Security of Information Agreement, a pact aimed at sharing military intelligence, during the Canadian foreign minister's visit to Japan in mid-October. There are many signs that the traditional Five Eyes alliance formed in the background of the Cold War based on religious beliefs and values will probably be replaced by a new version characterized by the mindset of the geopolitical game and major-country competition. In recent years, as the US has shifted its global strategic pivot to the Indo-Pacific and viewed China as its arch-strategic rival, coping with major-country competition has gradually become an important function of the Five Eyes alliance, whose scope of coordination and cooperation has expanded from intelligence sharing to 5G, cyber-security, and topics related with Xinjiang and Hong Kong. Such a shift has made America better at international mobilization, but also increasingly exposed the inherent limitation of the "Five Eyes" alliance. In this case, two voices have appeared within the US and the UK. One is that Japan should be accepted to form a Six Eyes alliance; the other is that New Zealand, given its limited international influence and half-heartedness in curbing China, has encumbered the alliance in its joint anti-China efforts. Japan has been longing to become a Five Eyes member for a long time. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) made it clear in the Economic and Security Strategy issued at the end of 2020 that the country should join the alliance. But despite its strong political will, Japan faces many technical barriers on its way to the alliance, including that the Japanese Constitution restricts the government from obtaining intelligence and information on its citizens, and the country has shortcomings in the domestic intelligence system and intelligence collection capability. This, combined with the public opposition at home, dims the prospect of Japan joining the Five Eyes alliance anytime soon. But whether the Five Eyes will take on a new outlook as a multilateral alliance, the military and security interactions among the US, Japan, UK, Australia, and Canada in the Asia Pacific marked a "re-rally" of America's core allies under its "Indo-Pacific" baton, with geostrategic impacts not to be neglected. We must see that America is reshaping its Indo-Pacific security alliance at a faster pace, and the Biden administration is working hard to bring together the Asian-Pacific alliance and the cross-Atlantic alliance in the region. It is possible that the new Five Eyes, comprising Washington, Tokyo, London, Canberra and Ottawa, will play a central part in the Indo-Pacific strategy. We must also note that the foundation for the five countries' security cooperation is by no means solid. Both the enhanced US-Japan military ties and the deepened Japan-Australia security cooperation have the strategic intention which they make no secret of of jointly combating China. Yet this kind of small-clique cooperation following the logic of major-country competition and highlighting military confrontation is against the common wish of regional countries for peace and cooperation, and the different demands of the members render their ties fragile from the very beginning, let alone that the five countries are not on the same page regarding their interests in China. As their cooperation goes deeper, such divergences are sure to become more conspicuous and irreconcilable. (The author is a special researcher at the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies, China Institute of International Studies) Editor's note: Originally published on the huanqiu.com, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. As Chinese President Xi Jinping began his third five-year term as the general secretary of Communist Party of China (CPC) on Sunday, the fresh political development in the northern neighbour was also deeply observed in next-door Nepal. In Nepal, Xis re-election to the partys top job is being viewed from two perspectives. According to China watchers here, the first is how China takes forward its overall neighborhood policy including Nepal and the second is how China battles the United States in the region during Xis upcoming tenure. Sundar Nath Bhattarai, chairman of China Study Center, said that China has viewed Nepal as a gateway to South Asia and brought various infrastructures plans accordingly. Chinese President Xi told multiple times that he sees Nepal as a dynamic bridge between China and South Asia. It was Xi who vowed to transform landlocked Nepal into a land-linked country when he visited Nepal in October 2019. However, his strategic vision could not go into implementation due to both geopolitical and domestic reasons in his last term. This time around, Xi may push the same idea although he knows that India is not positive towards it, Bhattarai told India Narrative on Sunday. Of late, Nepal has witnessed growing strategic rivalry between the United States and China and this trend will continue, he said. China may become more assertive in Nepal in the coming days due to growing influence of the West, particularly the United States, Bhattarai, who is also a former career diplomat, said. As a result of Chinas pro-active engagements in Nepal during Xis last tenure, the United States has also geared up to counter China in the South Asian nation, observers said. Recent geopolitical events suggested that Chinas reactive diplomacy put Nepal into a geopolitical quagmire as the rising power made an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the passage of the United States-initiated Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact from the Nepali parliament in February this year. Nepal is trapped in the geopolitical and geostrategic rivalries between China and the US over the Tibetan issue, too. When Xi visited Nepal in October 2019, he told the Nepali leaders that anyone attempting to split China will be crushed. Xis comments came as Beijing had been putting pressure on Kathmandu to rein-in pro-Dalai Lama Tibetans in Nepal. Nepal shares a 1414-km border with Tibet and is home to around 20,000 Tibetan exiles. Every year hundreds of Tibetan refugees enter Nepal crossing the Tibetan border on their way to Dharamshala, India, to meet their spiritual leader Dalai Lama. Beijing views the Dalai Lama as a secessionist trying to split the Tibetan region from China. Amid growing tensions between Beijing and Washington over numerous issues, including the human rights of the Tibetans, Xi is likely to adopt a more assertive approach to protect his countrys security interest. This will put Nepal into a geopolitical quagmire, experts believe. Bhattarai agreed that Xis China will keep seeking assurances from the Nepali leaders over the Tibet issue, calling it a sovereign matter of China. It was Xi who warned the Nepali leaders in 2019 that anyone attempting to split China will be crushed. Xi was referring to the US attempt to play the Tibetan card, he added. As China has become more assertive, projecting itself as a superpower, it has been pressing Nepal to implement the agreement reached between the two countries. In the final days of this second term, Xi sent senior CPC leaders and ministers to Nepal and those visits were aimed at keeping tabs on the US influence. During Xis visit, the two countries had elevated their bilateral ties to strategic partnership and signed a slew of agreements, including a plan to build a trans-Himalayan railway line under the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. However, Nepal has, of late, reluctantly conveyed to China that it wants only grants under BRI not commercial loans. Despite Nepals reluctance to execute projects under the BRI owing to debt trap fear, China has kept asking Nepal to finalize railroad-connectivity projects. However, not a single project has been selected in Nepal yet under the mega infrastructure initiative introduced by Chinese President Xi in his first term (2013 to 2018). It is very likely that China will pursue the BRI with more vigour whereas the US and its allies may try to block the BRI projects. This may also cause unease in the South Asia region, Yuba Nath Lamsal, a former Nepali ambassador and foreign policy observer, told India Narrative. As Xi seeks to build a new development pattern in all sectors of China at a time when the world economy is facing headwinds, China appears to portray the Chinese economic pattern as an alternative model of development. Lasmal said that China is likely to be more assertive and outward looking in the international arena given Xis tone and tenor. As China seems to be portraying modernization and security as the two sides of a coin, China may be more assertive in the neighbourhood, especially when the United States is building its alliance and strengthening its capability in Asia and the pacific region. This scenario may create friction in our neighborhood, which could be a matter of concern for countries in the region, Lamsal told India Narrative. Also Read: Xi era unlikely to end soon as new leadership line-up shows no sign of successor (Santosh Ghimire is a diplomatic correspondent based in Kathmandu) Three-quarters (75%) of learners say strong workplace training would have a very high or high impact on their decision to stay with an employer, according to Emergn, a global digital business services firm. And 55% say that learning and development (L&D) programs increase job satisfaction and employee morale. However, only 23% of learners and 22% of leaders view their organizations current workplace training as extremely effective, finds the survey of more than 1,200 professionals from the US and UK, conducted in July and August. A lot of organizations are used to collecting what we could train our people on but individuals want to be connected to something, to a mission, to a purpose, said Steven Angelo-Eadie, head of learning Services, Emergn. If you dont know why [the training is] important, then it will feel like its a drain on your time and your energy. Absolute necessity In Australia, L&D has also grown in prominence for organizations. Where once upskilling was seen as a nice-to-have, its now an absolute necessity with employees craving personalized, digitized development. In hybrid and remote work, only the very best tech will do, which is something Arbaz Nadeem, global field and growth marketing manager at Whatfix, understands all too well. With the remote and hybrid work culture setting in for most companies, training employees on the complex applications they use every day is becoming a big problem. You cant bank on physical classroom-led training anymore, hence companies now need to make sure that learning and training are happening in the flow of work and in a way that learners learn in a very personalized manner, said Nadeem. And in the great resignation, L&D could be the difference between floundering and thriving. A report from LinkedIn found that 94% of employees would stay with their employer longer if they offered a more comprehensive development program. Despite this, 49% of workers said they simply dont have the time to invest in their personal development, an issue that really should be front of mind for Australian employers. The pandemic has had a bitter-sweet impact on L&D, said Nadeem. L&D is now being valued all over the world and is fast becoming an essential component for companies. With the great resignation taking over, companies are now focusing on, and investing much more in, upskilling and retaining their seasoned employees. Key consideration The evidence is clear, L&D will become part of the DNA of successful organizations and employers. Its an absolute reflection of workers understanding that we can no longer give lip service to lifelong learning, said Richard Wahlquist, president and CEO of the American Staffing Association (ASA) in Alexandria, Va. looking at the results of a recent survey by his organization. It found that 80% of US workers consider an employers professional development and training offerings an important consideration when accepting a new job. However, just 39% say their current employer is helping them improve their current skills or gain new skills to do their job better, finds the survey of 2,042 US adults. These days, workers have choices, said Wahlquist. Employers are competing, its a war for qualified talent. So, when theyre talking to candidates, candidates are much more interested in getting a sense of fit, alignment with values [and] culture, and then investment in addition to pay. One of the key benefits, as our survey indicated, was this investment in me and my professional development, he said. Depending on the outcome of the ongoing quarterly closing and on account of sustained encouraging operating performance in all lines of business and a positive one-off effect at ERGO Life and Health Germany Munich Re anticipates a quarterly profit of about 0.5 billion. For the year, meanwhile, Munich Re said it is still expecting about 3.3 billion in profit. However, the reinsurer conceded, it has become significantly more challenging to meet the 2022 profit target which is subject to the realization of currently anticipated positive one-off effects, particularly regarding investments. In addition, the forecast is still based on major losses during Q4 being in line with the expectations. In the third quarter of last year, Munich Res profit was 366 million. The meeting, held Oct. 4-6 at Bostons Marriott Copley Place hotel, included more than 300 insurance industry professionals from around the country. It was SIAAs 49th national business meeting. The event provided the opportunity for attendees from SIAA, its 48 regional master agencies, and executives from top insurance companies to collaborate through workshops and presentations highlighting opportunities and challenges in the independent agency distribution channel. Read next: Neptune Flood partners with SIAA These business meetings provide a forum for SIAA, its master agencies, and strategic partner companies to discuss the current state of the industry and to partner in the evolution of independent agencies and the independent agency distribution channel while meeting the changing needs of the insurance-buying consumer, said Matt Masiello, CEO of SIAA. It also provides an opportunity to share the ideas, successes and challenges affecting the independent agent of today and bring that knowledge to the members across the country to manage and grow their agencies in a rapidly changing environment. Read more: Zurich North America names head of sustainability underwriting Insurance Business America spoke with Way to understand what it means to be a sustainable insurer. We also ask how Zurichs stance on sustainability attracts young talent, and how insurance can take the lead in driving sustainability. What does your role as head of sustainability underwriting entail? I lead the Office of Sustainability Underwriting, which was formed when I joined Zurich North America in December 2021. At Zurich, we believe we have a responsibility to contribute to addressing sustainability challenges facing society. We can maximize our contribution by driving it into our core business activities and supporting our customers as we transition to a net-zero and more sustainable future. With that in mind, the Sustainability Underwriting team was formed with the express mandate to support Zurichs business units in the development of the products and services our customers need now and in the future. That means understanding the current risk landscape as well as how it could change over time and how customers needs will change. Much of the work relates to climate change, including both the physical and transition risks. By transition risk, we mean the risks brought on by the transition to a net-zero society by changes linked to policy and regulation, the legal landscape, technological, etc. What does it mean to be a sustainable insurance company? How we approach the topic of sustainability has evolved over the last 20 years or so. In the beginning, the focus was mostly inward looking, but now it has a greater emphasis on how insurers can help customers and society at large become more sustainable. The internal operational issues, like managing your environmental footprint, remain. But increasingly we need to shift the focus of sustainability initiatives to include helping to manage customers risks as they strive to build sustainability into their business model. For example: Understanding the emerging sustainability risk landscape and manage the risks accordingly; Offering the appropriate products, services and expertise to support our customers and help them ensure the financial sustainability of their own operations; Encouraging discussion and actions to ensure high-risk areas remain insurable; and Providing expertise at the local, national and international level to help find solutions to the challenges we face from critical topics like climate change, biodiversity loss or financial inclusion. Effectively, to aim at true sustainability, an insurance company, or any other company for that matter, has to ensure that all aspects of its business are aligned with the prerequisites for a sustainable future. In the context of climate change, that means aligning with the 1.5C future through the use of science-based targets etc. How aware are insurers of the topic of climate change? What is Zurich doing to address climate change? Across the insurance industry, there is awareness about the potential physical impacts of climate change, but there are different levels of engagement among insurers. There will probably never be full uniformity in the approach, however, the insurance industry has a unique voice and an important role to play when discussing climate resilience and risk management. The insurance industry has always been at the forefront of addressing emerging risks (think: building codes in hurricane-prone regions and automobile safety testing), so those outside of the industry want to hear from us. And it is in our best interest to address climate risk head-on. Action to tackle climate change is gaining momentum. We see the Biden administration starting to make progress on climate; we see the SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) and NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) both active in the risk reporting area; and we see rising concern in many parts of the country as the increase in frequency and severity of weather events has devastating impacts. Our industry has a natural voice in this topic. For its part, Zurich has introduced a comprehensive strategy to address climate change. Internally, Zurich has made strong progress and commitments to reducing our carbon footprint and improving our performance in other areas of sustainability. Weve almost completely eliminated single-use plastics in our offices and significantly reduced emissions from air travel. Working with a renewable energy technology company, Zurich is helping U.S. employees access 100% clean renewable energy for their homes at either no cost or a potential savings. Weve also joined with two U.S.-based airlines to invest in the use of sustainable airline fuel. At the Zurich Group level, we have set a target of net-zero emissions in our operations by 2030, and we recently achieved the highest-possible ESG rating (AAA) from the MSCI ESG Ratings assessment. Zurich was the first insurer to sign the Business Ambition for 1.5C Pledge, which is aimed at limiting average global temperature increases to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. And we have played a leading role in the development of two industry-level initiatives that target net-zero emissions in both the core functions of underwriting and investments: Net-Zero Insurance Alliance and Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance. And, as mentioned, we are increasing our focus on how we can support our customers as they face physical and transitional climate change risks. From your perspective, how does a company's commitment to sustainability affects its capacity to attract new talent? In my experience, at Zurich and previous organizations, a sincere, visible and active commitment to sustainability is a major draw for young talent. I have heard this firsthand in multiple interviews with job candidates over the years. Millennials and Gen Z are looking for employment with organizations where they can see an alignment of values. How can insurance lead the way for the rest of the financial services industry when it comes to driving sustainability and climate change resilience? This has got to be about leveraging all our capabilities and our role as societys risk manager. We are in an uphill battle if we truly want to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. We need to articulate and quantify the risk our customers face and will face through, for example, global warming, biodiversity loss, the protection gap and lack of access to risk transfer. In the case of transitioning to a net-zero society, we need to understand what the potential technological solutions could be, understand the associated risk and how it can best be managed to encourage their development and implementation. The California Department of Insurance (CDI) issued rules that require insurers to submit new rate filings incorporating wildfire safety standards created by the department. The rules also require insurance companies to create a process for publishing wildfire risk determinations for both residents and businesses within the next 180 days. Property owners will also be given the right to appeal the assessments. My regulation is the result of listening closely to the needs of consumers and businesses and crafting common-sense, lasting solutions that strengthen our ability to protect Californians from the threat of climate change-intensified wildfires, said Lara in a statement. In partnership with California Governor Gavin Newsom, the CDI last week also released Safer From Wildfires guidelines, which list steps that homeowners and business owners can take to receive the discounts. Steps include fitting properties with Class A fire-rated roofs, clearing vegetation and flammable debris from surrounding areas, and establishing a community evacuation plan. Bloomberg reported that a government website has been created, containing contact information for insurers operating in California that already offer discounts to customers for mitigating their fire risk. These insurers include State Farm and Allstate. This post is part of a series sponsored by AgentSync. Georgia is contesting a federal challenge to its 1332 waiver, leaving the 2023 healthcare open enrollment period in flux while the state and fed duke it out. If some of that sounds a little garbled, then have no fear: Were here with the basics of what were talking about, what the heck a 1332 waiver even is, and how we got to this point. To begin with, lets do a quick refresher of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and set the stage for this healthcare drama. The Affordable Care Act and state health exchanges Circa 2010, Congress voted the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law, which created a federal exchange, a one-stop shop of ACA-compliant plans that would follow federal guidelines for minimum healthcare coverage. The law, also known as Obamacare, gave states the option to start their own healthcare exchanges with ACA-compliant, locally covered plans. Any state that chose not to start a state-specific health exchange allowed the federal exchange to be a default for non-employer-based individual coverage. ACA infrastructure also set up a system of credits and state rebates to help keep costs low for consumers and the federal government. Some of the credits go to subsidizing coverage for those with low incomes, and some of them can be rebated to states that find ways to lessen the overall cost of insuring people. What is a Section 1332 healthcare waiver? A Section 1332 healthcare waiver allows states to be exempt from some of the Affordable Care Act guidelines but not all and use federal rebates for innovative strategies to reduce the cost of healthcare. The majority of states that have applied for 1332 waivers have used them for reinsurance programs that pass on insurance risks and provide backup to health insurers. The general qualifications of a 1332 waiver are fourfold: Any coverage the state provides under a 1332 must be as comprehensive as ACA coverage Coverage must be as affordable as ACA-equivalent coverage The same(ish) number of state residents should be covered as an ACA plan The 1332 exemption cant increase the federal deficit Aside from using this provision to start state-based reinsurance, Washington state has applied for an innovation waiver to extend ACA-compliant coverage (notably without federal subsidies) to its undocumented populace. Georgias 1332 waiver Georgia applied for a waiver in July 2020, aimed at reforming its market in time for the 2023 open enrollment season. The plan comprises two essential parts: Phase 1 would create a not-terribly-novel state reinsurance plan for healthcare insurers to parcel off some of the higher-risk claims. Phase 2 would pull Georgia from the federal healthcare exchange. However, instead of creating an alternative, state-based exchange with ACA-compliant plans, the planned Georgia Access Model would return enrollments to private insurance brokers. Critics have compared the plan to the pre-ACA model, where individuals seeking coverage would be left to the whim of ad dollars and Google algorithms to select care from plans that may or may not follow ACA guardrails, leaving consumers unable to tell the difference. In late 2020, the presidential administration of Donald J. Trump approved Georgias Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver, in part based on Georgias self-reported data that the state would see increased insurance enrollment as a result of withdrawing from the federal exchange. Even at the time, Georgias waiver request was controversial, with many critics saying that the lack of state budget for advertising the private Georgia Access Model would actually have the opposite effect on insurance enrollment. Georgias waiver in jeopardy federal criticism Federal-level criticism of Georgias waiver application has only grown since 2020. Commentary from the Brookings Institute and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities leveled severe critiques on the state of Georgias initial data submission, and in fact called for an outright rejection of the waiver. Soon after the 2020 election, the administration under President Joseph R(obinette) Biden indicated it would terminate the waiver after the fact, due to the inconsistencies in the states assessment of the Georgia Access Models impact. In April of 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of the Treasury sent a joint letter to the state of Georgia, requesting updated impact data by July 28, 2022, or the departments would suspend the states 1332 waiver. On July 27, 2022, the state responded by challenging the departments abilities to request data for a program that hasnt yet reached implementation. This looks like a case that wont have an easy resolution, as the federal governments ability to well govern has been called into question by the U.S. Supreme Court. While we here at the AgentSync blog arent conlaw nerds, just insurance ones, well certainly be keeping an eye on Georgia Access as the back-and-forth between federal agencies and Georgia state officials continues. New Georgia insurance license pulled back Georgia initially planned for the success of their waiver as the state announced the creation of an Agent Georgia Access health insurance license in late July. The license, which would have gone into effect Aug. 12, 2022, would allow agents to sell Georgia Access plans. To obtain the new license, applicants would need to hold an accident and sickness line of authority (or apply for one simultaneously to their Georgia Access application). Residents and non-residents alike would need to pass an exam in addition to holding an accident and sickness line in order to be fully licensed as Georgia Access agents. However, Georgia quickly pulled back its electronic availability of the Agent Georgia Access license, possibly signaling the state expected federal pushback once again. In the absence of settled answers, those who hope to sell health insurance via the Georgia Access Model will need to at least apply for health licenses in Georgia and then sit tight to see if things get sorted in time for the 2023 open enrollment season. If nothing else, this serves as a fine example of the difficulties of staying compliant with shifting regulations across all states, territories, and the federal government. To make it easier, check out AgentSyncs solutions to stay on top of your producer licenses. Topics Georgia It is the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) that those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed. Charles Darwin There are several customer-facing facets an insurance company shows its customers. These include: the agents and brokers that interact with customers; the various administrative service communications which respond (or dont) to customer queries; the internal and third-party claim adjudicators working with clients to manage loss events; advertisements on traditional and social media; and insurance products that carriers offer (or remove from) the marketplace. This column focuses on the final facet mentioned above. While shown last on my list, insurance products represent a very critical facet that customers see of the carriers with which they decide to conduct commerce. For customers and insurance companies, insurance products represent an (in)tangible expression of a carriers willingness to accept or reject various types of risk at a point in time. For me, that means an insurers risk appetite, as viewed through the lens of the product mix it offers the market, should always be in a state of constant redefinition. The flux of products should be shaped by the continually shifting risk landscape; the changing needs of customers, producers, and the company itself. Product development succeeds when the new (or enhanced) product simultaneously gets and keeps customers, satisfies the expectations of producers, but most importantly, generates profit for the insurance company. Collaboration Is Essential for Product Development The very criticality of developing products mandates the presence of collaboration among and between insurance professionals. If collaboration is not already present in the DNA of an insurance company, then the company needs to discover whatever magical elixir exists to create the collaboration DNA for the firm. However, whether the DNA exists or not, the creation of an insurance product is not an easy task. With the collaboration DNA, product development will be difficult. Without collaboration, the development process will be close to impossible to accomplish. Why? Product development requires a blend of ideas, people, time, and other resources including: insurance experience and expertise; knowledge of the changing risk landscape; understanding of the firms evolving current and target markets needs; conceptual ideas regarding what customers want both now and in some future period (to be determined by the product development initiative) for cover; the current and potential manner in which all the involved stakeholders want to consume and potentially require service for the product; financial estimation of the potential administration and claim management service expenses; and, as importantly, the authority and willingness to say no to a product idea. A Diverse Portfolio of People and Functionalities An insurance company is a many-silo-ed, multi-functional, geographically dispersed creature. The product development process may have to include participants from many, if not all, of these areas. Beyond the company, most if not all, the various participating firms in an insurers many and varied ecosystems (e.g., law firms, repair shops, rehabilitation firms, hospitals, property restoration firms) are also many-siloed and multi-functional. One ongoing challenge of product development is solving how to gather the right professionals together to meet at the right place at the right times. A second challenge is conducting the product development process with insurance professionals working within the insurance company, within its various value chains, or throughout the insurers participating ecosystems. A third challenge of product development is managing the coming-and-going activities of professionals occuring in both synchronous and asynchronous time periods. An Illustrative Product Development Process The three challenges I mentioned above must be resolved in an environment where the product development is a never-ending process. Moreover, I believe the product development process is governed by three principles: No product is permanent, whether it already exists in the marketplace or is in some stage of development. No specific set of stakeholder needs takes precedence, except for the primacy of the insurance carriers requirements to generate profitable premium. Insurance product development should meet the changing needs of the various stakeholders by making it easy for the stakeholders to conduct insurance commerce in a manner each stakeholder expects. To make a product development process real, here is an example of a product development process framework that has six major steps. The steps shown encompass various activities, departments that probably should participate, and requisite systems used in the process. Note that neither the steps nor the activities are meant to exclude other steps or other activities for each step (whether shown or not shown in the visual). Regardless of the differences between the framework in the visual and other frameworks, there are five major points that insurance firms need to consider when developing products: Many functional departments are involved, as shown in the visual. The ideation step is an iterative step. The activities within this step will not be one-and-done, but instead loop among and between the people collaborating to create a new product idea. The entire series of steps are themselves part of a larger iterative loop. Information should be extracted from the post-launch step and fed back to the ideation step to feed ideas for enhancing the product just launched or create new products. The product development process is part of other insurance business processes, including the insurers underwriting, rating, quoting, core administration system, reinsurance, accounting, and customer/intermediary firm service processes. Product development collaboration sessions and final product forms and related material should be accessible from CRM, broker management systems, and, where available, producer productivity systems. Enabling the Product Development Process The three challenges are essentially pulling together insurance professionals from different functions, different companies (between and among participating ecosystems), different geographies, and different time periods to satisfy a coherent objective. One solution that enables the product development process, and simultaneously resolves the three challenges, is the use of a mobile device app that is a web-accessible, cloud-enabled digital hub to generate, consume and share a wide range of information in a collaborative manner. This information includes new or enhanced policy ideas, rate and/or actuarial calculations, approved policy forms, policy contractual elements (i.e., terms, conditions, restrictions), product coverage elements, compliance requirements, reinsurance requirements, target-market opportunities, marketing or sales campaigns, advertising, branding, conversations, pictures, and video. More specifically, professionals involved with product development, whether from within the insurance company or throughout its participating ecosystems, need a solution that supports, at a minimum: Face-to-face, click-to-chat, click-to-call, and IM interactions between two or more people (perhaps even communicating and collaborating within the metaverse?) Data, rules, algorithms, template, and document creation, editing, sharing, annotation, and storage Storage of all the communication threads in each product development collaborative session, including documents and data generated and accessed throughout the development process for each product Search of and access to information (including documents and data in each product development collaborative session) in the development process of each product A library of policy forms finalized by the insurance company approved by regulators, including tags of each information element of every finalized and regulatory-approved policy form A library of regulations both existing and proposed for each jurisdiction in which the insurer wants to sell insurance, including tags for each regulation and jurisdiction Access on all major mobile platforms (iOS, Android, Windows) An audit date/day/time trail of each insurance professionals activities described by the items on the list above. At some time in the future, commercial property/casualty insurance firms might want to consider opening the product development platform to their clients risk managers or CFOs to enable them to contribute their needs and expectations about their own firms commercial P/C insurance product purchase and consumption needs. Summing Up Products are the lifeblood of an insurance firm, whether the firm is a carrier or a distribution channel. Products are also an embodiment of an insurance firms strategy and go-to-market approach. However, new risks constantly emerge in the market, and customer expectations continually change as to the way they want to conduct business with companies, regardless of industry. Insurance products need to encompass the risks insurance firms are willing to accept and be suitable to the current and future ways the insurance firms conduct business. The product development process will not support current or future commerce interactions unless the insurer has a robust collaboration DNA. New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Federal authorities say two construction workers struck and killed by a train earlier this month on a bridge between New Jersey and Pennsylvania were on a track that was supposed to have been taken out of service for planned concrete work. The National Transportation Safety Board said two contractor employees from JPC Group Inc. were hit by a westbound Port Authority Transit Corporation train at about 9:20 p.m. Oct. 14 on the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Camden, New Jersey. A safety board spokesperson said there was a planned outage on on the track at the time for concrete work. But she said preliminary information indicates that at the time of the accident, track 2 had not been taken out of service when the contractors entered the bridge in a close clearance area. The PATCO train had 68 passengers aboard and was traveling at 33 mph, below the maximum authorized speed of 40 mph for the track, she said. The safety board said it expects to have a preliminary report on the accident in about 45 days. The workers were identified as members of the Cement Masons & Plasterers Union Local No. 592 in Philadelphia by the union, which said it was deeply saddened by the tragic loss of two of our brothers. They were involved in a long-term bridge rehabilitation project announced in March 2020 and due to continue through December 2024. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also investigating. JPC Group Inc. is a subcontractor for GC Skanska Koch Inc. of Carteret, N.J., which said it is conducting an internal investigation. We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families during this time, the company said in a statement. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics New Jersey New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Harvard University has already exhausted $25 million in insurance coverage defending its affirmative action admissions program and is in court trying to force another of its insurers to cover up to $15 million more. While the $25 million costs to date have been covered under an AIG subsidiarys (National Union Fire Insurance Co.) primary liability policy, the university wants its $15 million excess insurance policy issued by Zurich Insurance to cover costs above that amount. But Zurich maintains Harvard missed the deadline for notifying it of its claim. The university has been defending its admissions policy against a lawsuit brought by Students for Fair Admissions filed in 2014 and a Department of Justice investigation launched in 2017. Both the primary and excess policies covered claims made during the year ended November 2015 provided Harvard notified the insurers by January 2016. Harvard said its defense costs consist of legal fees and expenses, costs associated with electronic discovery vendors, expert witness fees and court costs. These costs have exceeded the AIG policy limits and retention/deductible. The school said it has incurred and will continue to accrue defense costs for these matters because the SFFA action is now the subject of a writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court and the DOJ Investigation is still pending. According to court filings, AIG has treated the SFFA action and the DOJ investigation as a single claim and covered the defense costs incurred subject to a single retention/deductible. Zurich has declined coverage, claiming that Harvard did not give it timely written notice of the SFFA claim. Notice to the primary insurer does not satisfy its notice requirement, the insurer insists. However, Harvard argues that, while it did not formally notify Zurich of the SFFA action until May 2017, it believes that Zurich had actual or constructive knowledge of the SFFA action in late 2014 or early 2015, and in any event no later than January 30, 2016. Harvard contends that Zurich had notice by virtue of widespread media coverage of the SFFA action including by CNN and Fox News, as well as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Bloomberg, USA Today, The Associated Press and The Washington Post. Harvard further claims Zurich was given notice through the attendance by Zurich personnel assigned to its account at meetings where the SFFA action was discussed. Harvard argues that the Zurich policy follows the AIG policy, which requires written notice as soon as practicable, and that it formally notified Zurich well before its costs exceeded the AIG policy. Formal notice of the SFFA Action was given to Zurich as soon as practicable, given the attachment point of the Zurich Policy and the state of the SFFA Action and its defense at or about the time that formal notice was provided, Harvard states. Harvard claims that when it provided formal notice to Zurich, the AIG policy limit amount was far from being exhausted and its defense costs were not even close to the attachment point of the Zurich policy. Also, the university notes, AIG as the primary insurance company was actively participating in the defense of the underlying claim. Harvard seeks damages from Zurich for breach of contract and a declaration that Zurich must reimburse Harvard for all reasonable defense costs incurred and which will be incurred in excess of the AIG policy. The dispute over the excess coverage is before federal court in Massachusetts. Harvard is also asking the court to compel Zurich to grant it access to personnel, emails and documents related to the SFFA action and to its insurance account, including those involving underwriting and the setting of insurance rates. The SFFA has contended that Harvard Colleges student admissions program uses race in a way that violates the federal Title VI civil rights act and unfairly discriminates against Asian American applicants. Harvard said the SFFA action required it to engage in extensive pre-trial discovery and motion practice. The trial was conducted over a three-week period. Harvard succeeded in winning judgment on all counts. SFFA appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, which in November 2020 ruled in favor of Harvard and upheld the district courts decision. Reliance Industries Ltd., will create a financial services unit to feed its consumer businesses that are contributing an increasing share of profits to the retail-to-refining conglomerate. It will also restructure the engineering and projects divisions as it sets about carrying out large infrastructure investments including the rolling out an ambitious 5G network in the country. Jio Financial Services will be spun off and listed in India, Reliance said in an exchange filing Friday. It will lend to consumers and merchants based on proprietary data analytics and will eventually branch out to insurance, payments, digital broking and asset management. Every Reliance shareholder will get one share of the new firm for every share held in the parent. The spinoff will complement Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambanis consumer businesses, which include Indias largest wireless operator with almost 428 million users, top retail chain with over 16,000 stores. Owning the levers of credit in a nation with more than a billion consumers could also help the billionaire tycoon bolster his ambitions to take on Amazon.com Inc. in e-commerce. Uniquely Positioned Jio Financial will be a technology-led business, delivering financial products digitally by leveraging the nationwide omni-channel presence of Reliances consumer businesses, Ambani said in the statement. It is uniquely positioned to capture opportunities and bring millions of Indians into formal financial institutions. No time line was announced by the company for Jio Financials listing. Regulatory licenses for the key businesses are in place, according to the filing which followed the flagships quarterly earnings. Rejigs Engineering The group will separate the engineering and infrastructure departments of its unit Reliance Projects and Property Management Services Ltd. and merge them with the parent company. Reliance seeks to leverage its engineering strength through this restructuring for implementing large projects across oil-to-chemicals, new energy and the 5G roll-out, the company said in a separate statement late Friday evening. Billionaire Ambani has pledged to invest $75 billion in renewables infrastructure, $25 billion in rolling out 5G services across India and another $9 billion in its oil-to-chemical business in next five years. The company is known for its project execution skills and has built the worlds biggest oil refining complex in western India. Reliance, Indias largest company by market value, posted a larger-than-expected quarterly profit as a robust performance by its consumer units offset the weakness in its traditional energy business. Its refining business was hit by a new local windfall tax on fuel exports. With assistance from Debjit Chakraborty and Anirban Nag. Photograph: The logo of Reliance Jio, the mobile network of Reliance Industries Ltd., is displayed at a store in Mumbai, India, on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. Photo credit: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics India United Insurance Brokers (UIB), the London-based re/insurance broker, announced the formation of its Corporate & Capital Risks practice. This announcement comes after UIB restructured its Specialty Lines Division this month and continued to develop its multi-line suite of specialist products. The practice, which is led by James Wilson, is a multi-disciplined offering that provides the full spectrum of insurance solutions to help navigate the complex environment of todays business world, said UIB in a statement. The team will work within UIBs Specialty Lines Division, recently rebranded from Non-Marine division, which is led by Co-Heads Chris Townley and Julian Ball. The decision to rename the division reflects the enhanced offering to UIBs global client portfolio and will boost the promotion of the teams diverse product suite. UIB, by unifying one team of professionals working across a variety of specialist lines, can provide a complete and unique intermediary service for our clients, commented James Wilson, head of Corporate & Capital Risks. Typically, these very different classes of insurance are split over several divisions in the insurance broking profession. However, by working as one specialist unit, we can identify risk and structure a range of insurance policies tailored to each clients specific and various risk management requirements, Wilson added. The Corporate & Capital Risks practice caters to all corporate and capital concerns, including executive, professional, and general liability, as well as more specialist solutions for transaction-related risks, real estate and environmental liabilities; and cyber, media and technology exposures. After the restructure, UIB Specialty Lines Division now consists of four business units. These are Crisis Management, Corporate & Capital Risks practice, Direct & Facultative Property, and International Liability. UIB has also recently appointed two new experts within the Corporate and Capital Risks team. Nikhil Shah has joined as an associate director in Transactional Risks and Emeka Cole as a senior broker in Cyber, Media & Tech Risks within the new practice. Restructuring the division is an exciting opportunity for us to create a centre of excellence for UIBs global portfolio. Unlike traditional mono-line specialty teams, we have expanded our specialist expertise to encapsulate multi-line and multi-territory classes of business which fit our clients ever-changing needs and risk appetite, said Chris Townley and Julian Ball, UIB Co-Heads of Specialty Lines Division. Source: United Insurance Brokers (UIB) Topics Agencies Excess Surplus New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! The Republican National Committee (RNC) filed a lawsuit against Alphabet Incs Google on Friday for allegedly sending its emails to users spam folders. The U.S. political committee accuses the tech giant of discriminating against it by throttling its email messages because of the RNCs political affiliation and views, according to a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in California. Google has relegated millions of RNC emails en masse to potential donors and supporters spam folders during pivotal points in election fundraising and community building, the RNC said in the lawsuit. Google rejected the claims. As we have repeatedly said, we simply dont filter emails based on political affiliation. Gmails spam filters reflect users actions, Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said in a statement. We provide training and guidelines to campaigns, we recently launched an FEC-approved pilot for political senders, and we continue to work to maximize email deliverability while minimizing unwanted spam, he said, referring to the Federal Election Commission. Spam filters on email services typically weed out unsolicited spam messages and divert them to a separate folder. The RNC said that for most of the month, nearly all of its emails end up in users inboxes but at the end of the month, which is an important time for fund-raising, nearly all of their emails end up in spam folders. Critically, and suspiciously, this end of the month period is historically when the RNCs fundraising is most successful, the lawsuit said, adding that it does not matter whether the email is about donating, voting or community outreach. The committee said the discrimination had been going on for about 10 months despite its best efforts to work with Google. It said the alleged routing of its emails to spam folders had eaten up revenue and that more money would be lost in coming weeks as midterm elections loom. Republicans have long accused big tech companies of discriminating against conservative views and suppressing free speech, an assertion tech companies strongly deny. Topics Lawsuits Google Politics New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A U.S. appeals court on Friday upheld the social cost of carbon calculation used by President Joe Bidens administration, which sharply boosts the price tag policy makers will put on the environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions from that used by former President Donald Trump. The St. Louis, Missouri-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the plaintiffs, attorneys general from 13 states, including Missouri, Alaska and Montana, cannot rely on generalized grievances to challenge the metric absent a specific action taken by a federal agency. The social cost of carbon metric is used in rulemaking processes and permitting decisions to calculate economic damages associated with a rise in greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels and other activities. The decision supports the Biden administrations argument that states cannot sue until federal agencies incorporate the metric into decisions. The Missouri attorney generals office and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Democratic Biden administration had determined the cost to be around $51 per metric ton of carbon dioxide emissions, quintuple the roughly $10 figure implemented under Trump, a Republican. The Republican attorneys general challenged Bidens February 2021 executive order that restored the approximately $51 per metric ton number set by former President Barack Obamas administration. The states argued in a lawsuit filed in Missouri federal court last year that the pricing system would lead to regulatory restrictions that would overburden farmers and manufacturers. An Obama-appointed federal judge dismissed the lawsuit after determining the states lacked standing to sue because they had not been injured. In response to a similar challenge by a group of seven Republican-led states, a Trump-appointed federal judge in Louisiana said in February the president lacks the authority to unilaterally write policies that fundamentally transform legislative rules or the economy and issued an injunction blocking the metric. After the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that sweeping injunction, the U.S. Supreme Court in May affirmed. Topics USA Climate Change New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Tesla Inc.s advanced driver assistant software wont gain regulatory approval in 2022, CEO Elon Musk said in remarks last week, which indicate the company is not yet able to satisfy authorities that its cars can be driven without someone behind the wheel. The Silicon Valley automaker sells a $15,000 software add-on called Full Self-Driving (FSD) which enables its vehicles to change lanes and park autonomously. That complements its standard Autopilot feature which enables cars to steer, accelerate and brake within their lanes without driver intervention. However, the cars still need to be driven with human oversight. A completely autonomous vehicle would require regulatory approval. Musk told a post-earnings call on Wednesday that all FSD users in North America will get an upgraded version at the end of the year, adding that while its cars are not ready to have no one behind the wheel, drivers would rarely have to touch the controls. The car will be able to take you from your home to your work, your friends house, the grocery store without you touching the wheel, he said. Its a separate matter as to will it have regulatory approval. It wont have regulatory approval at that time, he added. Musk also said Tesla hopes to provide an update to FSD in 2023 to show regulators that the car is much safer than the average human. Musk is opening the possibility Tesla will have a more difficult path to approval for FSD given heightened NHTSA and other scrutiny, said Craig Irwin, an analyst at Roth Capital. Technology Questions Auto safety regulators have long been at loggerheads with Tesla over its partially automated driving systems. Since 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened 38 special investigations into crashes involving Tesla vehicles that have resulted in 19 deaths, looking at whether the software was a factor. Translation: Tensions between NHTSA and Tesla will ramp at the end of the year and Tesla will move forward, said Gene Munster, a managing partner at venture capital firm Loup Ventures, which owns Tesla shares. Teslas naming of its software has also caused consternation, with the automaker accused by a California state transportation regulator of false advertising since the features do not provide full autonomous vehicle control. Teslas website says both technologies require active driver supervision, with a fully attentive driver whose hands are on the wheel, and do not make the vehicle autonomous. Some analysts say, however, that Teslas primary problem is not regulators but the software itself, given the complexity of autonomous driving. The impediment is the technology. It is not about approval of that technology, said Bryant Walker Smith, a law professor at the University of South Carolina. Tesla has repeatedly missed self-imposed targets for its vehicles to achieve full self-driving capability a function that Musk has said will eventually would become the most important source of profitability for Tesla. Topics Personal Auto NEW ORLEANS (AP) A federal appeals court has ordered a nine-year-old lawsuit filed against oil and gas companies over damage to Louisianas wetlands to be returned to state court for trial, potentially clearing the way for at least 41 similar suits to move forward. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week upheld a January decision by the late U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman of New Orleans, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported. The ruling returns the suit filed by Plaquemines Parish against Chevron USA, Exxon Mobil Corp., ConocoPhillips Co., BP America, and Shell to state court in Plaquemines Parish, the newspaper said. Feldman correctly found that just because oil and gas exploration and production operations during World War II were conducted on behalf of the war effort, the companies were not acting under the orders of federal agents in a way that required the suit to be heard in federal court, the panel ruled. Todays decision will make the history books, John Carmouche, an attorney representing the parish and the state, told the newspaper. Finally, Louisiana can be made whole for everything it has given to our nation in resources. Carmouche said the decision would apply to all 42 cases in which he is lead attorney, and should result in early trial dates. All parties agreed that this decision would apply to all cases. We can get to trial in eight months or less, he said. However, a spokesman for several of the oil and gas companies could not say if they would appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, or that they would agree to apply it to the other cases. Jason Harbison, on behalf of the legal teams representing BP America, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil Corporation and Shell, said the companies are disappointed by the appellate decision. The allegations in this case, like the other similar parish lawsuits against oil and gas companies, challenge oil production practices going back for decades, including World War II, a unique period in the relationship between the federal government and the oil and gas industry, Harbison said. The companies continue to believe that these lawsuits implicate distinctive federal interests and deserve to be heard in a federal forum and are considering their options for further review. This is the fourth time that this first wetlands damage suit has been ordered returned to the Plaquemines court by federal judges. A 43rd suit, filed on behalf of Orleans Parish, also was removed to federal court and could eventually be returned to state court. The lawsuits were originally filed in state courts in Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. John the Baptist, Vermilion and Cameron parishes between 2012 and 2017. The suits challenge the failure of the oil companies to comply with the State and Local Coastal Resources Management Act, a 1980 state law. Each suit contained language specifying that it was not challenging the companies with violation of any federal laws. The parishes cited damage to wetlands stemming from the building of service canals, disposal of hazardous waste and saltwater, and other operations. Each asked that the companies either repair the damage or pay the parishes and state for the losses. Still on hold is a proposed $100 million settlement between Freeport-McMoRan Co., the six parishes represented in the 42 lawsuits, and possibly another six parishes where the company operated. In 2020, the Legislature shot down a bill that would have set up a method of distributing the money among coastal parishes, and there has been no additional action on the proposal. Carmouche and state officials had hoped the settlement agreement could have been used as a model for similar settlements with other oil companies listed as defendants in the suit. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Louisiana Energy Oil Gas The Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) announced Commissioner Jim Donelon is traveling to London this week to meet with leaders from Lloyds of London (Lloyds) and the International Underwriting Association of London (IUA). During the meetings, Commissioner Donelon will provide an update on insurance legislation passed during the 2022 legislative session and discuss his plan to strengthen the property insurance market by incentivizing more insurance companies to do business in Louisiana. Donelon will also pitch both organizations on Louisianas business-friendly regulatory environment and continued viability as a destination for the reinsurance and surplus lines industries. Reinsurance and surplus lines insurance are both vital to maintaining a healthy property insurance market in Louisiana and to our states economy at large, said Commissioner Donelon. Our state has had long and mutually beneficial relationships with Lloyds and the IUA for many years, and I look forward to meeting with them to ensure those relationships stay strong. Commissioner Donelon also recently attended a Lloyds presentation in Kansas City sponsored by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners where he visited with representatives from the reinsurers U.S.-based office in anticipation of the London trip. SOURCE: LDI Topics Louisiana Excess Surplus Lloyd's London New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Extreme rainfall events, and the dangerous floods that follow them, are happening more often in Tennessee. This risk grows as the climate warms. To respond to this risk, climate scientists, engineers and emergency mangers rely on environmental data data that is scarce in Tennessee. For instance, the state largely lacks, outside of rivers near urban centers, flood sensors. Rural areas is where we dont have any eyes on the ground, said Alfred Kalyanapu, an engineering professor at Tennessee Technological University. The problem is similar to Tennessees absence of a mesonet, a system of sensors that track environmental conditions like soil moisture and barometric pressure in real time. At least 35 states now have mesonets, which scientists say improve extreme weather forecasts. In 2017, Kalyanapu decided to look into flood-specific sensors, which can compliment mesonet data. He worked with students to create a low-cost solution to what he discovered is a significant infrastructure scarcity, which is often ascribed by state leaders as a funding challenge. He gathered initial support for the project through a U.S. Geological Survey grant. His team built ultrasonic devices that sit vertically above a body of water. Each device sends soundwaves down at a 42 kilohertz frequency and records how long it takes for the echo of the sound to reflect back. This provides an accurate measurement between the sensor and the water, and it can be recorded in 15-minute intervals. If the data points start rising, theres probably a flood. Most of the time, these graphs will appear boring. But the data can help us better respond to and prepare for inevitable disasters, Kalyanapu said. It can cut down the time between official warnings and danger, allow scientists to recreate a flood event in models, and help emergency managers understand the risks. You cannot just blindly say, `Hey, I have a sixth sense that tells me thats going to flood, Kalyanapu said. You need data to inform your decisions. These flood sensors cost about $500, Kalyanapu said, whereas a commercial equivalent usually costs about $20,000. To test their accuracy, Kalyanapu placed one of his sensors next to an official USGS gauge. Preliminary data shows its as good as commercial sensors, especially considering the cost, Kalyanapu said. Any community can reach out to the university to request a sensor. The town of Waverly, which experienced Tennessees second-deadliest flood event to date, had two installed. Photo: Communities like Waverly, Tennessee, shown here after the August 2021 flooding, could get better warnings of rising waters with sensors developed by a professor at Tennessee Tech University. (AP Photo/John Amis) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Flood InsurTech Tech Tennessee The State will carry out a national review of its supports for PhD researchers, marking a significant victory for postgraduate campaigners. Speaking at the joint Oireachtas committee on education last week, Higher Education Minister Simon Harris said there should be a minimum floor for PhD stipends which needs to be higher. Irelands researchers are among the lowest paid in Europe at around 18,500 per year, the highest of which is Denmark, where researchers are paid up to 50,000 annually. A significant number engage in part time work to survive, which has a detrimental effect on their research. There is currently no minimum amount for stipends and income greatly depends on the funding organisation or third-level institution is funding the researcher. The announcement has received a broad welcome from postgraduate campaigners who have sought a change in conditions for years. Announced last Wednesday, the review will consider financial supports, the status of researchers (as a student or employee), graduate outcomes and visa requirements for non-EU researchers. The review will begin in November and will be completed in early 2023. The minister said he was committed to investing in talent and ensuring that there are appropriate supports for researchers. He said the review will hear from frontline stakeholders including researchers, host institutions, research funders and relevant Government Departments. The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) welcomed the announcement but urged the minister to consult postgraduate researchers groups on the terms of the review before its commencement. USI vice president for postgraduate affairs Waqar Ahmed said: We demand the recognition of all postgraduate researchers engaged in research as workers with employee status, living income, parental rights and benefits. Recognising doctoral candidates as employees will stimulate the research working environment. PhDs continue to struggle, our situation made considerably more difficult by the housing and cost of living crises, the Postgraduate Workers' Alliance of Ireland (PGWA) said. Established in 2019, the PGWA represents postgraduate researchers and has been vocal with protests on the need for reform in the sector. We will continue to escalate and broaden the base of our campaign until significant reforms are implemented in full we will not settle for reports, statements or temporary solutions, we need deep, structural changes to how PhDs operate in Ireland. Crucially, there will be a review of PhD worker status, where we will advocate for a model similar to those found in continental Europe, where PhD researchers are treated as salaried employees, as opposed to students. If Irish research is to have a future, PhDs must be paid commensurate to our essential contribution to the sector. Budget 2023 granted PhD researchers in receipt of funding from Science Foundation Ireland or the Irish Research Council a 500 increase to their stipend. Last August, more than 420 PhD researchers signed an open letter calling for an increase in their stipend after the Government announced a scheme granting researchers in certain areas a stipend of 28,000, inviting condemnation from those struggling to meet ends meet on an average of 10,000 or less. I had to take a break because of my mental health For 27-year-old Trinity College researcher Shaakya Anand-Vembar, much of her degree has been spent preoccupied by how to survive earning less than the minimum wage. In Ireland, PhD candidates are not formally considered staff, despite the fact that many work tirelessly within their faculties and are the backbone of undergraduate tuition. Originally from India, Ms Anand-Vembar studied in the US and the Netherlands before coming to Dublin in March 2019 to take up her PhD candidacy at Trinitys department of psychiatry. The 17,000 annual stipend she receives from the university isnt nearly enough to support living in the capital amid rising rents and a cost-of-living crisis. Shaakya Anand-Vembar: Precarious finances affected her mental health. Financial difficulties have plagued her time in Ireland and adversely affected her research. She found part time jobs here and there which really burned me out and took a lot of time and motivation from my PhD. Living at home is not an option for me [as an international], she said, and added she is constantly thinking about how to make money to survive. It really affected my mental health to the point where I had to take a break from my PhD [last] summer, for a couple of months, she said. Because of that Ill have to extend my PhD so Im worried about my finances. As she accepted her stipend during her time off, she will have to finish the last stretch of her research without income from the stipend. For non-EU candidates, immigration difficulties are an added worry and cost. If you were a worker and had an employment permit, you dont have to renew your (300) permit every year, she said. A change in employment status for PhD candidates would give researchers a huge relief, she said, but lamented that any changes may not affect her before finishing her research. Employment status over student status, she said, and expressed hope that there will be postgraduates represented on the review panel to be appointed in the coming weeks. Rishi Sunak warned his warring MPs the Conservatives must unite or die after he completed a spectacular political comeback to win the race to be the next British prime minister. The former UK chancellor ruled out opposition demands for a general election after he won the Tory leadership race on Monday when rival Penny Mordaunt failed to win the backing of MPs. Liz Truss, who will make way for Mr Sunak less than two months after she beat him in the last contest, congratulated her soon-to-be-successor and told him you have my full support. Congratulations @RishiSunak on being appointed as Leader of the Conservative Party and our next Prime Minister. You have my full support. Liz Truss (@trussliz) October 24, 2022 With his victory coming on Diwali, Mr Sunak will be the UKs first Hindu prime minister, the first of Asian heritage, and the youngest for more than 200 years at the age of 42. He will be formally appointed to the role in a handover of power within the coming days. Ms Mordaunt, the UK House of Commons Leader, bowed out of the race as she failed to get the 100 nominations from Tory MPs required by the 2pm deadline. With Boris Johnson having ditched his own bid at a comeback, Mr Sunak will enter No 10 unopposed and avoid an online ballot of the Conservative members that rejected him for Ms Truss last month. Mr Sunak sought to hit the ground running by addressing Conservative MPs behind closed doors in the House of Commons half an hour after his victory was announced. Three MPs in the room said his message to the party was they must unite or die, as they focus on delivering on the publics priorities during a cost-of-living crisis. Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak. Picture: PA Labour has led calls for a new general election as the Tories move onto their third prime minister on the mandate won by Mr Johnson in 2019. A senior Tory said that Mr Sunak told the party he would not give in to the oppositions demand. The MP told reporters: He is actually going to hit the ground running. We have no time to lose. Certainly, he said that there will be no early general election. Mr Sunak now has the daunting task of leading the nation through an economic crisis only exacerbated by the chaotic leadership Ms Truss, who was ousted after only six weeks in office. Britain's King Charles was understood to be travelling to London on Monday afternoon from the private royal estate of Sandringham. But it appears unlikely Charles will host audiences at Buckingham Palace on Monday to accept Ms Trusss resignation and to then appoint her successor. In a statement posted online two minutes before the deadline, Ms Mordaunt said her opponent now has her full support. These are unprecedented times. Despite the compressed timetable for the leadership contest it is clear that colleagues feel we need certainty today, she said. They have taken this decision in good faith for the good of the country. Members should know that this proposition has been fairly and thoroughly tested by the agreed 1922 process. As a result, we have now chosen our next prime minister. Graham Brady, who as chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservatives was overseeing the contest, said he received only one valid nomination form. Rishi Sunak is therefore elected the next leader of the Conservative Party, he added. Sources in the Mordaunt camp said she got 90 nominations, though the number of those who publicly announced their backing of her fell far short of this. The Tories have crowned Rishi Sunak without him saying a word about what he would do as PM. He has no mandate, no answers and no ideas. Nobody voted for this. The public deserve their say on Britains future through a General Election. Its time for a fresh start with Labour. Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) October 24, 2022 Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: Rishi Sunak has no mandate and no idea what working people need. We need a general election so the public get a say on the future of Britain and the chance for a fresh start with Labour. SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford made the same demand and said his party would back Labour in a vote of no confidence if they tabled one. James Cleverly, who had backed Mr Johnson to return to No 10 less than two months after he left in a series of scandals, called for an anticipated Cabinet overhaul to feature the best ministers rather than focus on loyalists. He told Sky News: We have got to have the first 15 on the pitch. I know that Rishi understands that. Mr Sunaks ascendency from MP to PM is the fastest in modern political history, having first won the constituency of Richmond in North Yorkshire in 2015. His journey to the top job has not been without its hitches, having been fined alongside Mr Johnson for breaching coronavirus rules and having faced questions over his wife Akshata Murty non-dom status for tax purposes. War Against the Junta Myanmar Juntas Village Militias Committing Atrocities in Resistance Strongholds Buddhist monk U Wasawa takes part in a ceremony to honor pro-regime local militias at a military base in Kanbalu Township in October. The winter bean season has arrived in Sagaing Region and U Maung Sein should be busy sowing seeds. But the fields are lying quiet and empty around his village of Kone Maw in Mingin Township, Sagaing, a stronghold of the anti-coup armed resistance movement. The 53-year-old farmer had sowed and reaped here all his life until last year. But he and fellow villagers no longer dare to farm after the pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee militia from nearby Kyaw village began shelling their fields regularly. This year we cant even plant monsoon beans and winter beans because we are afraid of them, U Maung Sein said, referring to the Pyu Saw Htee. There are more than 40 hectares (100 acres) of land between the villages of Kone Maw and Kyaw. Normally, Kone Maw residents use them to grow different types of beans, a cash crop for people in the region. Now, not only are they prevented from farming, but they must also take shelter in the forest to escape Pyu Saw Htee attacks. Kone Maw is located in the west of Mingin township, home to Kyaw village and two other active pro-junta militia villages. Kone Maw was a small village of just 97 houses, before half of its homes were burnt down by Pyu Saw Htee and junta troops on June 13. U Maung Sein lost his two-story house in the raid. After junta troops retreated, he returned along with other villagers to find his home reduced to a smoking pile of ash. There are no words to express my emotions, U Maung Sein muttered. Junta troops accompanied by Pyu Saw Htee militia raided Kone Maw village again on September 3 afternoon, injuring three villagers including the 6-year-old daughter of a teacher from the civil disobedience movement (CDM). Also injured in the raid was the teachers husband, whose right leg was broken by a bullet. U Maung Sein said he and other residents ran as the raiders sprayed the village with gunfire. They opened fire as if they were attacking an enemy camp, he recalled of the raid. Pyu Saw Htee terror campaign Kone Maw is one among many villages around the country being destroyed by the junta-backed Pyu Saw Htee. Mainly formed with pro-junta civilians last year to help the regime clear resistance hotbeds, Pyu Saw Htees thuggish members have become accomplices in killing innocent civilians and looting their property. Pyu Saw Htee members are locals and therefore useful to regime troops for their knowledge about the local terrain and whos who in the community. Myanmars junta has provided military training and weapons to hundreds of supporters, members of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and former soldiers in cities across the country since the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) declared a war of resistance on Sept. 7, 2021. The resulting militia groups are generally known as Pyu Saw Htee among the people. Meanwhile, pro-junta monks have been forming militias in the resistance stronghold of Sagaing Region to counter anti-regime Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs). Led by influential monk U Wasawa from the ultranationalist Association for Protection of Race and Religion, better known by its Burmese acronym Ma Ba Tha, monks have been rallying villagers to support military rule in Sagaing. It has got worse in the area since February this year because of Wasawa and his followers, a member of the Infinity group told The Irrawaddy. Infinity is a local information network that broke the news of junta atrocities in Kyunhla, Kantbalu and Taze Townships in Sagaing. Junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun told press early this year that the regime had formed peoples militias in villages where PDFs are demanding allegiance from residents but insisted it had not armed them. However, in August the regime provided weapons to pro-regime militia groups in the resistance strongholds of Mandalay, Magwe and Sagaing regions. Though the exact number of Pyu Saw Htee villages in Myanmar is not known, they have mushroomed in the anti-junta strongholds of Sagaing and Magway regions. Pyu Saw Htee militia have sprung up in at least 12 of the 34 townships in Sagaing, according to local Peoples Defense Forces. Data compiled by the Irrawaddy shows more than 50 Pyu Saw Htee villages in six Sagaing townships Mingin, Kani, Kyun Hla, Kantbalu, Yinmabin and Pale. Kantbalu and Mingin are home to the most Pyu Saw Htee villages, with about 20 each. Villages torched Nearly 20,000 civilians from 53 villages in Sagaing have been forced to flee their homes by the Pyu Saw Htee attacks since last year. Pyu Saw Htee militia torched around 900 houses in 18 villages in Taze township. They also burnt down around 250 houses in Kantbalu township, according to Infinity group. These attacks were attributed exclusively to the pro-junta militia. Pyu Saw Htee members use various vehicles to loot the property of villagers before torching their houses. They also target homes belonging to supporters of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and CDM. They try to force villagers to join their training by threatening to burn down the village, said an Infinity group member who is also a resident of Kantbalu. Civilians from neighboring Magway Region also live in fear of the Pyu Saw Htee. Kanni, a notorious Pyu Saw Htee village in southern Magways Myaing Township, has been home to regime troops since last year. Pyu Saw Htee leaders and junta troops from Kanni have raided and torched over 100 houses in nearby villages. Among them is Kone Balu, where two villagers were brutally killed by Pyu Saw Htee members earlier this year, residents said. Junta troops are using Kanni as a base for artillery strikes on nearby villages, shelling even at night. As a result, the civilian population are having to flee their homes for the relative safety of the forest. As they are the closest enemy to us, we are quite afraid of them, said Ko Than Myint, an Oh Bo villager in Myaing Township. There are more than 20 Pyu Saw Htee villages in four townships of Magway region, according to data compiled by The Irrawaddy. Pyu Saw Htee attacks in Myaing and nearby Yesagyo Township have forced around 10,000 civilians to flee by since last year. Pyu Saw Htee militia in Sagaing Region are more brutal than in Magway Region, Ko Nway Oo, a founder of the Civil Defense and Security Organization Myaung, Sagaing told The Irrawaddy. When they arrest someone, they interrogate them and then kill them. Their only objective is to kill, Ko Nway Oo said of Pyu Saw Htee militias attitude to resistance fighters and civilians. When regime troops raid a village, Pyu Saw Htee members reportedly take advantage by looting everything from cattle to motorbikes to solar panels as villagers flee. The destruction caused by Pyu Saw Htee is even worse than that of Sit -Khwe [military dogs], said Ko Nway Oo, referring to junta soldiers. Disgust for local thugs with guns Ko Than Myint and U Maung Sein harbor hatred and disgust towards the Pyu Saw Htee because they kill fellow civilians. They are a group of thugs relying only on the power of the gun, said Ko Than Myint. Despite the Pyu Saw Htees allegiance with regime troops, relatives of militia members who live in other villages have also fallen victim to junta raids. They should realize the truth that their relatives property is also being destroyed by junta troops. They should scrutinize themselves, a member of Infinity told The Irrawaddy. Despite their atrocities, Pyu Saw Htee members who change their minds and defect are always welcomed by local resistance forces, who consider them as fellow civilians, Ko Nway Oo told The Irrawaddy. However, the number of Pyu Saw Htee defectors reportedly remains low. Burma Myanmar Pagoda Guards Blow up Sex Doll Ritual Plans The dolls dressed as spirit guardians are seen before being removed. YANGONA group who used sex dolls to carry out ritual incantations in the car park of Myanmars holiest site will be prosecuted by the religious affairs ministry, state media said Monday. Around eight people attempted to bring two lady dolls into the towering, gold-plated Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon on Saturday, according to the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper. Security prevented the dolls from entering the complex, which dominates the commercial capitals skyline and, according to local chronicles, contains strands of the Buddhas hair. The group instead left them outside and made a circumambulation of the compound before repairing to the car park to begin ritual incantations, according to the report, which did not specify what those were. While performing their ritual incantations, pagoda security personnel called them for interrogation and rid the pagoda precinct of the dolls, it said. State media showed pictures of the dolls wearing tiaras and traditional dresses, their palms pressed together in a traditional greeting and with offerings of fruit and flowers laid out before them. Local reports said the two figures had been dressed as spirit guardians typically worshipped to bring protection and good luck. The group will be prosecuted for defamation of the Buddhist religion, the statement said. Some online users condemned the groups actions. This is very rude acting like this at Shwedagon as it is a holy place, one wrote. Earlier this month, President Joe Biden was in Florida to help rebuild the Southwest region of the peninsula following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Ian. In about 10 days, the president is scheduled to come back to Florida, as the Nov. 8 midterm elections loom. This time, President Biden is scheduled to be in South Florida to participate in a rally for the Democratic National Committee, according to a White House press release from Saturday. Additional details to follow, the release stated. At issue is that the midterm elections could shake up Congress if Democrats lose too many seats. Republicans are favored to win the House, according to a forecast from Nate Silvers FiveThirtyEight. In addition, the Senate forecast is described as a dead heat. In Florida, FiveThirtyEights forecast in the U.S. Senate shows that incumbent U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio likely has a 90 percent chance to win the race. The Miami Herald also reported that Biden will stump for Charlie Crist in South Florida one week before Election Day as Crist vies to unseat Gov. Ron DeSantis. Crist, a Democrat, has been a member of Congress as well as a GOP Florida governor, Attorney General and Education Commissioner. This report first appeared on the website of the Florida Phoenix, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to coverage of state government and politics from Tallahassee. Michelle Rowland: "The Albanese Government takes the privacy of all Australians very seriously." The Federal Government appears to be unwilling to say anything negative about the ABC's blanket collection of user data from its iview application, preferring instead to offer noncommittal replies. In response to queries from iTWire about the data collection which was begun earlier this year, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said, in part: "The Albanese Government takes the privacy of all Australians very seriously and Australians have a right to expect their data will be protected." As iTWire pointed out when making the queries, the ABC has constantly refused to be open about the data collection. In March this year, a video released by security researcher Dr Vanessa Teague showed how the data of users, logged in or not, was being leaked to a number of commercial outlets. Dr Teague, one of the few technical experts to raise objections to the ABC's imposition of logins for iview users, pointed out that the ABC news website was also leaking data to the likes of Google, Facebook, Chartbeat and Tealium. Even hashed email addresses are sent to these commercial entities. At the time, iTWire independently verified that this does indeed happen. Dr Teague demonstrated the leaking of data in a video she uploaded on YouTube, one that somewhat surprisingly has been viewed very few times. The Australian Privacy Foundation raised the data collection with the ABC on numerous occasions but was fobbed off. When the previous Coalition Government was asked about the compulsory iview logins by a government-owned organisation that has no need to spy on its users it adopted a hands-off approach, saying the taxpayer-funded broadcaster had content and operational independence to do what it liked. Labor's stance does not appear to much different. Said Rowland: "We also respect the operational and editorial independence of the ABC which has a statutory responsibility to provide innovative and comprehensive broadcasting services of a high standard, as well as digital media services. "The ABC worked closely with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner to meet the expectation of the Australian community with regard to privacy and information sharing for ABC iview. "The ABC remains accountable to the Australian Parliament through its annual reports, government audits and inquiries, and appearances before Parliament." The AI-based plug-in can turn video management systems (VMS) into powerful search engines capable of real-time searches or deep forensic analysis. Already supported by leading VMS such as Genetec Security Centre and Milestone Systems, who showcased the Active Guard plug-in for X-Protect at their MIPS Summit in Dubai last 12 October and 13 October, Active Guard features the industrys largest number of search attributes and new UI enhancements. With the addition of Milestone X-Protect, i-PRO Active Guard is now available to the major leaders in the global VMS market and will revolutionise how security officers conduct real time and post event searches, said i-PRO global head of product management Norio Hitsuishi. These enhancements combined with the extension of our AI-capable camera line-up are creating a powerful end-to-end AI security ecosystem that allows businesses to take their security infrastructure to the next level. This latest announcement underscores i-PROs mission as a trusted next-generation partner to make AI the new standard in the security industry. Fast and intuitive, i-PRO Active Guard creates a more efficient and accurate AI-powered system without compromising on image quality or network performance. The plug-in integrates seamlessly into the existing UI of the VMS, appearing as just another function tab. It allows users to easily manage the AI analytics from multiple i-PRO cameras and allows users to easily set up sophisticated search parameters based on the industrys largest number of search attributes which include gender, age, clothing colour, facial characteristics, vehicle colour and direction, and many more. With Active Guard, security officers no longer have to spend time looking at multiple screens for persons or vehicles of interest or watch hours of recorded video to search for important events. Operators can register specific characteristics in their watch lists (for instance male wearing a red shirt and blue pants) and the VMS will send them a real-time alarm whenever a match is identified. This enhances real-time situational awareness and enables proactive security. The same process can be set up for fast data mining of events during forensic investigations. The metadata is captured and analysed by i-PRO AI network cameras at the edge, which use the powerful Ambarella SoC, reducing bandwidth and eliminating the need for expensive servers. i-PRO Active Guard is a light-load and unique in the industry in that the edge-processed AI data results are sent to the Active Guard server eliminating the requirement for additional on-premises servers. The metadata is then searched and presented in the Active Guard plugin on the client. About i-PRO i-PRO is a global leader of advanced sensing technologies in the fields of intelligent surveillance, public safety and industrial/medical imaging. Established in 2019, i-PRO was built on a legacy of over 60 years of innovation with Panasonic. The companys products, software and services extend human senses to capture moments of truth with innovations that inform and protect. In order to help create a safer world, i-PRO Co., Ltd., supports the work of professionals who protect and save lives. GUEST OPINION: Over the 2020-21 financial year, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) received more than 67,500 cybercrime reports , an increase of nearly 13% year on year. Across all cases, the report revealed a concerning trend of increased complexity and sophistication of attacks, with medium-sized businesses seeing the highest average financial loss. According to Sophos State of Ransomware 2022, 59% of organisations across the globe have experienced an increase in the complexity of cyberattacks over the past financial year. In Australia, 80% of all surveyed organisations were hit by ransomware in 2021, with Australia suffering the second-highest ransomware hit rate of all 31 surveyed countries. Malicious actors are more cunning than ever, increasingly deploying stealthy human-led techniques to conduct their attacks. To combat this and stop advanced threats before serious damage is done, security teams have turned to counterattack with human-led threat hunting. However, it isnt easy. Five steps to help you prepare for threat hunting To tackle ever-evolving cyber threats with threat hunting, preparation is the key to success. By laying the right foundations before you begin to hunt in earnest, you will be better placed to stop threats before they wreak damage. Here are the five steps to set your team up for success: Understand the maturity of your current cybersecurity operations Mapping your processes to a cybersecurity maturity model like the ACSCs Essential Eight is a great way to understand your capabilities for threat hunting. Its also a good idea to audit your security posture to determine how susceptible to threats your organisation is. Decide how you want to go about threat hunting Once youve determined your cyber maturity, you can then decide whether threat hunting is something you want to do in-house, fully outsource or a combination of both. Identify technology gaps Review your existing tools and identify what else you need for active threat hunting. How effective is your prevention technology? Does it have or support threat hunting capabilities? Identify skills gaps Threat hunting requires specialist skills. If you dont have the experience in-house, explore training courses to help develop the necessary skills. Also, consider working with a third-party provider to supplement your team. Develop and implement an incident response plan It is essential to have a fully-fledged incident response plan in place to ensure any response is measured and controlled. Having a well-prepared, well-understood response plan that key parties can immediately put into action will dramatically reduce the impact of an attack on your organisation. Understand the key threat hunting enablers After evaluating cybersecurity maturity and strategy, IT leaders should leverage a combination of next-generation technologies with extensive expertise for human-led threat hunting. #1 - Prevention technologies reducing signal fatigue Threat hunters can only conduct their roles efficiently if they arent inundated with security alerts. To enhance the effectiveness of threat hunters, best-in-class prevention technologies can help defenders streamline the subsequent investigation and response process, providing more accurate detections, and focusing on the key alerts triggered by critical threats. The prevention capabilities in Sophos Intercept X Endpoint protection block 99.98% of threats enabling defenders to better focus on the suspicious signals that require human intervention. #2 - Threat hunting technologies endpoint/extended detection and response (EDR/XDR) For threat hunters to identify and investigate potentially malicious activities, they need inputs and investigation tools. With EDR and XDR, hunters can quickly see suspicious detections and investigate them thoroughly. EDR provides inputs from the endpoint solution. In contrast, XDR consolidates signals from across the wider IT environment, including firewall, mobile, email, and cloud security solutions. Given that adversaries exploit every attack opportunity, the wider you cast your signal net, the better you can detect them early. Designed for security analysts and IT administrators alike, Sophos XDR enables teams to detect, investigate, and respond to incidents across the IT estate, and instantly delivers the information that matters most. #3 - Threat hunting services managed detection and response (MDR) MDR, delivered as a fully-managed service, provides a dedicated team of security analysts hunting for threats 24/7/365. All types of organisations across all sectors use MDR services from small companies with limited IT resources to large enterprises with in-house security operation centres. An MDR solution, like Sophos Managed Detection and Response (MDR), has many advantages over an in-house-only security operations program. The most significant advantage is experience. The Sophos MDR team has thousands of hours of experience, having seen and dealt with everything adversaries use to attempt to infiltrate networks. These teams learn all the time from attacks on one organisation to another and then apply these learnings to all their customers. Another benefit is scale: the Sophos MDR team provides 24/7 support delivered by a globally dispersed team. Sophos is always ready to work out the best threat-hunting model with customers, joining together to fight against cyber threats based on individual customer requirements to devise a security solution that best suits their needs. Digital services and consulting specialist Infosys is extending its Living Labs ecosystem in Australia to participants of the Infosys Innovation Network. Living Labs aims to help start-ups progress more rapidly, the company said. "We are pleased to extend our Living Labs ecosystem to startups with a presence in Australia," said Infosys vice president and ANZ regional head of delivery and operations Ashok Mysore. "This serves as an invaluable resource for them to test, build and scale innovative ideas to accelerate their growth and development in global markets." An event at the Infosys Living Lab in Melbourne, held in collaboration with venture capital firm partner Telstra Ventures, marked the change that gave startups from the Infosys Innovation Network with a presence in Australia an opportunity to pitch their products and services to Infosys' enterprise customers from private sector, public sector and academia. Structured workshops held at the Living Labs in Sydney and Melbourne allow startups to tap into Infosys' offerings and expertise, including those from subsidiaries Wongdoody and Infosys Consulting. "We are excited to continue our collaboration with Infosys to help enterprise ready startups in Australia accelerate their go to market," said Telstra Ventures operating partner Gurpreet Ghuliani. "With access to over $1.3 billion managed by Telstra Ventures and Infosys' Living Labs ecosystem, startups are better equipped to succeed." According to Infosys, more than 100 enterprises and 200 startups have benefitted from its more than 30 existing Living Labs to accelerate their digital innovation. STRATEGY: An Australian smart technology developer has been internationally awarded for a program to catch distracted and dangerous UK drivers. Acusensuss three-month trial using its world-first AI-enabled software and hardware to catch drivers using their mobile phone and not wearing seatbelts was recognised by Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) UK, the pre-eminent UK body advocating the use of technology for safer transport, winning the Enforcement Scheme Award. In a UK first, government body National Highways, Warwickshire Police and AECOM partnered with Acusensus in July to use its patented solution to monitor driver behaviour across motorways and major A-roads in Warwickshire. Acusensus already operates camera detection programs in New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia, as well as in several international jurisdictions. The mobile roadside sensor van is equipped with multiple cameras to individually capture every passing vehicle, even at speeds of up to 300km/h (186m/h). The mobile van captured 37 mobile phone offences and 128 seatbelt offences in the first 18 hours of operation, and in one 64-hour period caught 152 drivers using their mobile phone and 512 occupants without a seatbelt equivalent to one offence every six minutes. Further analysis showed men were the biggest offenders (94%), and those aged between 30 and 49 years old were responsible for 80 per cent of offences. The latest findings follow a six-month pilot in 2021, with Acusensuss fixed camera system on a single lane of the M4 capturing more than 25,000 instances of mobile phone use and almost 7000 seat belt offences. The mobile van trial is an important tool for authorities to address two of the fatal four" killers on UK roads. UK government figures show in 2019 there were 420 collisions on British roads involving a driver using a mobile phone, while Department of Transport data shows road fatalities caused by not wearing a seatbelt jumped from 23 per cent in 2020 to 30 per cent in 2021, the highest death rate since 2013. Acusensus founder and managing director Alexander Jannink said the award was recognition of the companys mission to help reach zero road deaths globally. We are extremely honoured to be recognised by the leading ITS association in the UK for our innovative mobile phone and seatbelt enforcement technology, Jannink said. "We are proud to work with National Highways, AECOM and Warwickshire Police on this project, which will no doubt change driver behaviour and make a huge impact on two of the biggest killers on UK roads. The mobile enforcement van uses game-changing technology that enables authorities to better understand the scale of mobile phone and non-seatbelt compliance, and to warn drivers and encourage behaviour change. Technology such as this could be integral to the UK achieving its Vision Zero targets. We have already seen a significant fall in road fatalities since the implementation of similar enforcement programs in New South Wales and Queensland, and more recently WA. Dr Jamie Uff, Technical Director at AECOM, which is managing this research project for National Highways, said the numbers of people killed or seriously injured due to distracted driving and failing to wear a seatbelt remained high, despite repeated warnings. The technology AECOM is deploying makes detection straightforward and is providing valuable insight to the police and policy makers on the current level of road user behaviour. We are really keen to use this equipment to raise awareness and help improve road safety for all,Uff said. The trial has resulted in more than 216 prosecution notices. Warwickshire Police Inspector Jem Mountford described the technology as a fantastic tool tosupport officers in changing driver behaviour and enforcing the legislation for those reluctant to comply. About Acusensus Acusensus was founded in 2018 with a mission to improve road safety around the world by providing intelligent solutions to drive behavioural change on the roads, reduce the instances of dangerous and unlawful driving, and the deaths and serious injuries that result from it. Acusensuss Heads-Up solution provides anywhere-anytime digital evidence that can be used in conjunction with law enforcement to drive behavioral change and address issues, including distracted driving, seat belt use, speeding, and vehicles of interest. For more information on Acusensus solutions, go to acusensus.com or email info@acusensus.com Today Lots of sunshine. High 74F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph, becoming WSW and increasing to 10 to 20 mph. Tonight A clear sky. Low 52F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Tomorrow Mainly sunny. High 71F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. AFTER nine days of mourning their six colleagues, Tynwald High students make an emotional return to their school this morning when it reopens its doors. Tears will flow again when the grief-stricken students mark their return with a number of counselling sessions being lined up. The Harare school suspended its lessons in the wake of the bus crash which claimed the lives of six students in Nyanga. Only those writing examinations were attending school, but the atmosphere was tense and filled with emotions. Tynwald High headmaster, Kenias Matimba, whose leadership in this time of grief has been exemplary, including taking all the blame for the disaster, told H-Metro lessons will resume today. A former head girl at the school has penned an emotional poem titled The Knock Unheard dedicated to the six late students. Tafadzwa Dhumukwa, who is now at the University of Zimbabwe studying law felt heartbroken, said she dedicated the poem to the students and their families. I saw these six youths grow at some point, learn and experience life from an angle where they had dreams. At some point, the dreams were simply to be like their head girl, very small dreams. They were visionaries but the race was cut short. The rest of the story I have put it in the poem. I hope everyone finds comfort and consolation from the piece. The poem speaks about how these young souls were snatched from us. Their dreams were cut short, she said. Part of the poem reads: The dark cloud hovered, not once, not twice but blinked, snatched away the jewels of sovereignty. Full of life and never to be conceived again, the dust is never full. No respect for our tears. Anita, tough on the outside but a jewel too soft to be scattered, Beyonce, the shielded smile to be vividly displayed, yes in our heads. Kimberly, youre gold, royalty of no debate so shine even from above in height. Look at Tarisai, the resemblance of the African girl, yes, far gone but embraced in memory. Destiny, Alas! Just like your name, heaven has picked you amongst the rest. To keep your royalty close by, all in the name of destiny! Mwari asarudza iwe Anesu asi sezita rako iwe chimhandara uchagara nesu. The vision in sport, getting the spotlight and motivation even for me. The gentleman accompanying the princesses to their permanent home. Craig you have been honoured by the moulder to witness the glory. Let no tear drown us forever for we appreciate you gone youths, for the days yes memories amusingly shared. Today will also see the schools students, who were part of the triumphant Zimbabwe team, which won gold at the Global Robotics Challenge, in Switzerland, return to meet their colleagues. Four of the team members are Tynwald High students, with the other two from Prince Edward and Bernard Mzeki. The four Tynwald students shed tears as they hugged their headmaster, when they returned home on Thursday, first before embracing their parents and relatives. As Tynwald High School, we feel consoled by the win, following the tragedy that robbed us of our six students, said Matimba. The win came at the right time and we are happy that the participants dedicated their effort to the departed children. They received news of the Nyanga accident, but managed to remain focused on the grand prize. We would like to thank them for raising the Zimbabwe flag high. We invite willing schools and corporates to partner us in coming up with a solid national team. Their win wiped away our tears and to the departed six children, may their souls rest in peace, he said. H Metro THE ruling Zanu PF party has reportedly ordered struggling State-owned parastatals to sponsor its congress this week by buying exhibition space that cost between US$3 000 and US$6 000. State enterprises and parastatals are statutory bodies set up by acts of Parliament and companies that are wholly or majority-owned by the State. Zimbabwe has 107 such enterprises. That means the party could potentially raise between US$321 000 and US$642 000 from parastatals alone. Zanu PF is holding its 7th National Peoples Congress, the first since the late former leader and President Robert Mugabe was deposed by the military in November 2017 and was replaced by incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa. In two separate letters seen by NewsDay written to parastatals, one under the Information Communication Technology (ICT) and another one in the transport sector, Zanu PF secretary for finance Patrick Chinamasa asked the parastatals to exhibit at the congress. The Zanu PF party is appealing for your co-operation to utilise space allocated to advertise your products and services during the Zanu PF 7th National People's Congress scheduled for between October 26 and 29, 2022. The party is selling exhibition space as follows: 6-metre x 3-metre cubicle, US$6 000 or ZWL equivalent at the official auction rate and for 3-metre x 3-metre cubicle US$3 000 or ZWL equivalent at official RBZ auction rate, Chinamasa said in the letters copied to Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu and deputy secretary for finance Tshinga Dube. However, a top official from a parastatal under the ICT ministry told NewsDay that most parastatals had no financial capacity to fund the exhibitions. We are broke and we do not get government support but we are being forced to pay these large amounts to sponsor this event which is not fair on our part. Where do we find such amount of money when there is not enough already to fund our retooling efforts? a source told NewsDay. Zanu PF has been accused of using parastatals and State-owned enterprises as cash cows for its events. Mpofu referred questions to Chinamasa. I am at the farm and unable to verify the letter you are referring to. I will be in the office tomorrow (today), but why dont you speak to Chinamasa, Mpofu said. Efforts to get a comment from Chinamasa and Dube were fruitless at the time of going to print. The Zanu PF congress will draw delegates from its central committee, women's league, youth league, war veterans league, provincial executive members, district co-ordinating committee executives and one district executive chairperson per party district drawn from the main body. The 7th National People's Congress, will formally elect the president and first secretary of the party who will represent the party as its presidential candidate in general elections expected next year. Newsday Kunti Kamaras trial, which opened in Paris on October 10, is stirring up the ghosts of the first Liberian civil war. In the early 1990s this Liberian of Mandingo ethnicity, now 47, headed an armed contingent of the United Liberation Movement for Democracy (ULIMO). ULIMO was fighting the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) led by the man who would become Liberias president, Charles Taylor. In 1993, Kamara reportedly participated in the capture of Foya in Lofa County, and is said to have committed multiple acts of violence during the following year. According to the indictment, Kamara was complicit in a "massive and systematic practice of torture or inhumane acts, inspired by political, philosophical, racial or religious motives and organized as part of a concerted plan against a civilian population group. These acts are qualified as crimes against humanity". But the legal terms do not prepare one for the violence as described by witnesses and victims. Their accounts are a long litany of horror that echo the descriptions two years ago before the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland. At the end of the Swiss trial, Alieu Kosiah, former commander of ULIMO, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for war crimes. The two trials mirror each other. Kamara and Kosiah, a higher-ranking officer, were accused of some of the same crimes in the early 1990s in Foya, Lofa County, where both deny having been present. They knew each other in Liberia and crossed paths years later in the Netherlands, where Kamara sought refuge in 2001. When Kosiah was arrested and later tried in Switzerland, it was Kamara whom he called to testify on his behalf. The commander presumably expected his former brother-in-arms to confirm that he was not in Lofa County. According to the transcript of the hearing produced by the Swiss NGO Civitas Maxima, Kamara tried to defend his former superior, describing him as "a person who is not cruel. But he also said that Kosiah was in Lofa County in 1993 and 1994. The "conspiracy" of Civitas Maxima Almost two years later, the situations are reversed. On Friday, October 21, it was Kosiah's turn to testify at the trial of his former comrade. The aim was to determine whether or not the accused - this time Kamara - was in Foya, Lofa County, at the time of the events. Flanked by two gendarmes, Kosiah entered the courtroom like an orator, filling the space with his massive size and glib tongue. Faced with this and his grand gestures, you might almost forget Kamara, small and silent in his box. Kosiah himself did not seem to be fully aware of why he was there, talking as if he were in the second round of his own trial. Invited to make a statement before being questioned, he gave it his all. For nearly an hour, Kosiah denounced in great detail a "conspiracy" of which he says he is victim, hatched by the NGO Civitas Maxima and its president, Swiss lawyer Alain Werner. The former warlord claims that Werner recruited and manipulated various individuals in Liberia so as to build cases against him and Kamara (who nodded his head from time to time in approval, while visibly struggling to follow the convoluted speech). "I have with me several documents that prove it, Mr. President!" said Kosiah with a wave of his arm. In the room, this brought a sigh from Werner. This was not the first time he had heard this speech. It was the same one Kosiah gave at his trial in Switzerland. "Nobody here understands what happened But Kosiah also questioned the capacity of a European court to judge what happened in Liberia. On several occasions during the hearing, he said of the deputy prosecutor Aurelie Belliot and civil parties' lawyer Sabrina Delattre that they "don't know what they are talking about" and "nobody here really understands what happened". "I think this case is too complicated to be judged by white people, he even told the court president When damning testimonies against Kamara were cited, Kosiah said they were not legitimate. "I am Mandingo, Kunti is Mandingo, to testify against ULIMO, you have to look for people who are not Mandingo. To understand the background of the war in Liberia, you have to understand who is accusing whom, he repeated. Kosiah sees the testimony given as just a continuation of the conflict he took part in 30 years earlier. The court president tried to tell him that the court was "not judging the conflict" but "trying to find out if civilians who were not involved in the conflict were victims of atrocities", but it made no difference. The lack of understanding between Kosiah and the court president increased further when it came to one of the most disturbing acts that Kamara is accused of in this trial the murder of a schoolteacher and eating of his heart, in which Kamara and Kosiah are alleged to have participated. Asked about this, Kosiah replied: - Mr. President, we are all human beings. We discovered fire a long time ago. I don't think any human being could eat a heart like that. - You mean raw?" asked the judge. "Because if it had been cooked it would have been more humane? Twenty minutes later, Kosiah was still desperately trying to explain that it was not about whether its right or wrong, but that in practice, eating a raw heart is complicated. The capture of Foya But while the former commander wore people out with his digressions and circumlocutions, it seems the prosecution and civil parties can still extract some useful elements from the hearing. From the beginning, Kamara has not only denied participating in the crimes of which he is accused, but says they were committed by Taylor's men. Kosiah put forward the same line at his own trial, but the former commander now seems to have toned down his version. According to Kosiah, the practice of tabe - a torture technique - was indeed "the invention of Taylor's NPFL" but was "subsequently used by all parties" to the conflict. He also admitted that there were child soldiers within ULIMO. These are all things that Kamara has so far contested. Above all, Kosiah told the court that Kamara did take part in the capture of Foya in early summer 1993 and was probably based there during the following months ("even if I can only assume so, since I repeat I was not there at that time"). The commander did, however, come across him "during a visit" in 1994. Since his arrest, Kamara has maintained that he was not based in the town of Foya in 1993 and 1994, and claims to have spent those long months on a frontline in Medikoma. Kosiah obviously has no knowledge of this frontline, for when questioned about the frontlines at the time, he did not mention it. Four hours after his boastful entrance, Kosiah was thanked and left the courtroom handcuffed, under the tired gaze of the judges and jurors. He barely glanced at his former brother-in-arms. At this point it is every man for himself. Kosiahs appeal will be heard in a few months, at the beginning of 2023, in Switzerland. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Sunday attacked the EU over its Russia-sanctions policy, while tens of thousands protested in Budapest at his neglect of the education sector. In a speech in the western city of Zalaegerszeg, Orban accused Brussels of shooting at Hungary with the sanctions. Lets not worry about those shooting at Hungary in the shadows somewhere behind the watchtowers of Brussels, he said. They will land where their predecessors landed, he added, hinting that the EU could crumble like the Soviet bloc. Hungary, which is heavily dependent on Russian energy imports, has maintained ties with the Kremlin to continue receiving gas and oil since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. At the same time, Budapest has repeatedly denounced the EU sanctions as disastrous for its economy. Orban was speaking on the anniversary of the start of Hungarys 1956 uprising against Soviet rule, which was eventually crushed when Moscow sent tanks to quell the rebellion. Last week Budapest launched a national consultation survey of citizens on the EU sanctions. The sanctions from Brussels are destroying us, says posters across the country. Although Hungary voted in favor of the sanctions with his EU counterparts, Orban has regularly protested the damage they have inflicted on the countrys economy. War on our doorstep, financial crisis and economic slump in the European Union, migratory invasion in the south, () we have to face several problems, Orban said on Sunday But he insisted his strong and united government would rise to such challenges. protest against the government In Budapest, meanwhile, tens of thousands demonstrated against Orbans education policies, angry at schools underfunding and intimidation of teachers who are pushing for better conditions. After years of unsuccessfully pushing for pay increases, activists are hardening their tone and opposing a February government decree that severely curtailed teachers right to strike. Since the beginning of the school year, teachers and high school students have held several demonstrations in Budapest and in cities across the country in support of teachers who were fired for taking part in previous protests. The Sunday march in Budapest was the biggest yet and organizers pledged to keep the pressure up in the coming weeks. Everyone in my school is exhausted from having to fight for the basics like enough teachers and equipment, said 17-year-old student Anett Bodi at the demonstration. We fully support our teachers in their fight for their rights, she told the AFP news agency. Despite acknowledging wages are too low, the government has linked a planned increase to long-awaited EU funds. Along a dark-water-tangled highway, Nigerians load dozens of boats with food to bring aid to victims of the countrys worst floods in a decade. Bolaji Phillips waits by the water, past the many half-submerged trucks, and watches beside his vehicle, which is filled with cassava flour, rice and noodles. My wife and I consulted and decided to use our savings, what little we have, to do something for the people, said the 40-year-old. Aid is slowly coming to southern Nigeria after the worst floods since 2012 killed more than 600 people and affected nearly three million others, officials said. Many have fled their homes, including to overcrowded refugee camps. The others, totally cut off from the world, remain in communities swallowed by the waters. Efforts are now focused on crossing the damaged and partially impassable highway connecting Rivers and Bayelsa states one of the two most devastated regions. Near the town of Ahoada, volunteers and NGOs are doing vital work until official aid slowly reaches those most in need. The damage is enormous. The government has not done much so far. Were all alone, said Winner Written, a 32-year-old entrepreneur among the volunteers. Were just individuals trying to help each other. Suffer Over the weekend, volunteers loaded precious fuel in yellow canisters onto boats heading to the flooded villages. Rivers state authorities have allocated 1 billion naira (US$2.3 million) to help victims, particularly around Ahouda, one of the worst-hit. The United States said it had donated $1 million in humanitarian aid. Rescue officials said they began delivering 12,000 tons of food across the country after aid was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari. But few have seen the results of these efforts on the ground. Food delivery is nearly impossible, hampered by strong currents or water bodies strewn with obstacles or clogged with vegetation, and aid coordination is hampered by a lack of cell phone coverage in remote areas. In a black tank top, Jeremy Ogboka, 35, lends a hand on a section of the half-flooded highway. Right here one of the speedboats capsized. Luckily we saved them all, he said. We help where we can, but nobody pays us. So many people are suffering. The road has been closed for two weeks. With two speedboats, the Nigerian Navy has provided security and transportation in the region to facilitate humanitarian aid. A rescue mission drove to the remote areas this weekend, ferrying members of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and sailors to bring aid and evacuate those who could. Humanitarian Crisis Guided by young people who know the way to the devastated communities, the motor boats sink into the dense vegetation and fight against the currents. After half an hour of arduous progress, the remains of a village appeared. No sign of life. The lieutenant in charge, seated at the front of the ship, kept his assault rifle in hand. This is a volatile region. Two months ago we arrested many kidnappers and criminals and acquired many guns, he said. Almost everything around is underwater. The roofs and blackboard of a school jut out, the only signs of a semblance of life now submerged. Boat engines are bogged down in foliage while current tugs pull the ship, making it impossible to get into a flooded village where some victims who needed medical attention were able to call NEMA. Finally, the rescue mission is aborted. In addition to worsening food insecurity farmlands and crops have been devastated the deadly floods have caused a cholera outbreak, according to the NGO International Rescue Committee (IRC). In 2012, particularly deadly floods devastated Nigeria, but residents said this years disaster got much worse. The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on a state-owned gold mining operation in Nicaragua, saying it funds the regime of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo. The sanctions focused on Nicaraguans Directorate General of Mines and Lenin Cerna, a close adviser and former security chief of Ortega. The US Treasury Department said the directorate manages most of the mining nationwide and that proceeds from gold mining directly benefit the Ortega regime. Ortega and his cronies continue to use proceeds from the production and sale of gold to line their own pockets and pay those who keep the regime in power, the Treasury Department said in a statement. By blacklisting the directorate, the United States aims to cut off the Ortega-Murillo regime from its ability to use gold proceeds to repress the Nicaraguan people. Nicaraguan Energy and Mines Minister Salvador Mansell Castrillo was placed on the sanctions list last year. Lenin Cerna, who was head of state security under Ortegas presidency in the 1970s and 1980s, was reportedly implicated in numerous incidents of violence, murder and torture and admitted association with known terrorist groups, the Treasury Department said. The Ortega-Murillo regimes continued attacks on democratic actors and members of civil society, and the unjustified detention of political prisoners show that the regime does not believe in the rule of law, Treasury Secretary Brian Nelson said. The US sanctions aim to freeze any assets the Designated Persons have under US jurisdiction and prohibit US persons or companies including international banks with US operations from doing business with them, thereby restricting their access to global financial networks is effectively restricted. "Under the Queen's Umbrella" episode 3 showcases how Kim Hye Soo will do whatever it takes to guard her sons against their grandmother. With the surprising secrets at the palace, the viewership rating of the newest historical K-drama experienced a slight dip. 'Under the Queen's Umbrella' Viewership For the weekend series, "Under the Queen's Umbrella" episode 3 had a slight decrease after garnering a nationwide average of 7 percent, making it the lowest viewership rating yet. Unfortunately, it is also a significant decline from its previous episode of 9.062 percent. Despite the downturn in rating, "Under the Queen's Umbrella" never fails to deliver an outstanding story and performance from the cast, giving the viewers every reason to look forward to the next episode. 'Under the Queen's Umbrella' Episode 3: Queen Dowager Knows About Her Grandson's Secret The exam for the cohort selection has begun with the grand princes hoping to be considered as the next in line to the throne. However, prior to the palace's big day, a consort discovered grand prince Gyesong's secret who was at his hideout. Surprised by his identity and wanting to get the trust of the queen dowager, the consort immediately revealed this to the King's mother. However, Queen Dowager Cho had a different reaction and accused the consort of telling lies, but the king's mother had other plans. Grand Prince Gyesong and Grand Prince Seongnam Make it at the Cohort's Selection The day has come for the gran princes to test their knowledge and skills to be the next in line to the succession. Although Prince Ui Sung had a head start through hints thanks to his mother, Royal Consort Hwang, and the palace's Hwang Won Hyung, he knew the possible questions that might be included in the exam. Surprisingly, the King added a few more questions to test the next cohort. READ MORE: Kim Hye Soo Proves She IS Queen That Even the Director Did THIS in Front of Her Grand Prince Ui Sung and Grand Prince Bo Gum were among the first names that were called and as followed by Queen Im Hwa Ryung's sons Grand Prince Gyesong and Grand Prince Seongnam. Queen Im Hwa Ryung Protects Sons at All Cost One of the highlights in "Under the Queen's Umbrella" episode 3 is Queen In Hwa Ryung's action to guard his family. Starting off with the Crown Prince, the Queen asked the King's permission to relocate their son away from the palace for his fast recovery. Up until this time, the King is still clueless about the Crown Prince's deteriorating health. However, there were rumors circulating inside the palace saying that the crown Prince's health had gone worse. Another problem concerning Queen In Hwa Ryung is about Grand Prince Gyesong's identity. Now that Queen Dowager Cho knew about her secret, the royal wanted to tell it to the King herself. In one scene, Queen Dowager Cho alongside her son visited Grand Prince Gyesong's hideout, where he keeps his secret. At this point, Queen In Hwa Ryung got the upper hand and was able to burn down the hut, leaving no evidence that would show the grand prince's secret. The situation left Grand Prince Gyesong heartbroken, but Queen In Hwa Ryung had another plan. The grand prince had his portrait painted wearing a royal hanbok and donning his mother's hairpin, which was passed on In Hwa Ryung. "Whenever you want to see your true self, look at that painting," she said to her son. KDramastars owns this article Written by Geca Wills A right whale known as "Half Note and her calf are shown in a January, 2022 handout photo off of Georgia. The calf was thin with whale lice on its flukes, indications of poor health. A new study says the population of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales continued its downward trend this year, partly because only 15 calves were born in 2022, far below the average of 24 reported in the early 2000s. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute **MANDATORY CREDIT** With enrolment declining at its Willowstone Academy private school, and the school in a "critical" financial position, the leaders of First Lutheran Church on Lakeshore Road have a plan to sell the school and church to Kelowna Christian School. Rishi Sunak leaves the Conservative Campaign Headquarters in London, Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Canadians can expect some long-awaited stability in its relations with Britain with today's news that the U.K.'s former finance minister Rishi Sunak will be prime minister, after two contenders -- including former PM Boris Johnson -- bowed out of the leadership contest. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-David Cliff As the biggest night in the Kilkenny business calendar approaches, the shortlisted businesses have done all they can to ensure success. Over 50 local enterprises were shortlisted and took part in the peer-review round on October 19. Each finalist had the opportunity to share their success stories with 21 prominent local businesspeople who adjudicated on the winning businesses. The top business in each category has been selected and will remain sealed until Saturday, November 19 when the winners will be announced at the Kilkenny Business Awards. Presented by broadcaster Helen Carroll, the overall Business of the Year will be unveiled at the ceremony on November 19, along with the 20 category winners and the coveted Presidents Award and Lifetime Achievement Award. Kilkenny Chamber is looking forward to gathering on November 19 at the Lyrath Estate Hotel to celebrate the achievements and successes in the business community this year, said Brian Keyes, President of Kilkenny Chamber. There is a huge level of interest in this years event - thanks to all those who entered, and well done to the finalists in each of the 20 plus categories. Many thanks also to our judges who took a day out of their busy schedules to meet our finalists. Kilkenny Chamber, and main sponsors, State Street are pleased to announce its charity partner for the event, St Vincent de Paul. The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) was founded in Ireland in 1844. It is the largest voluntary charitable organisation in Ireland. During its history it has helped people in need through a Famine, a Civil War, a War of Independence, two World Wars and several economic recessions. Their focus is on practical approach to dealing with poverty, alleviating its effects on individuals and families through working primarily in person-to-person contact by a unique system of family visitation and seeking to achieve social justice and equality of opportunity for all citizens. The Kilkenny Business Awards take place in Lyrath Estate Hotel, November 19. Tickets are now available via admin@kilkennychamber.ie or by ringing the Chamber on 089-2553585. A new study claims that tens of thousands of young Irish women are losing out on the chance to knock 500 off their motor insurance because they are not as likely to sit and pass their driving test as their male counterparts despite women having a safer track record on Irish roads then men. The most recent driving test statistics show that 26pc more men than women sit their driving test, and 40pc more men passed their test. MissQuote.ie, an online broker which specializes in motor insurance for young women, said that drivers could save 500 on their car insurance if they pass their test and move from a provisional licence to a full licence. The RSA figures, for the year 2020, also show that men have a higher pass rate then women, with 57.4pc of men passing their driving test in 2020 compared to 52.1pc of women. Deirdre McCarthy, Manager at MissQuote.ie observed, In Kilkenny alone, approximately 3,500 more men than women hold a full licence, even though there are more women than men living in Ireland. The disparity is even greater for younger drivers. Almost 60pc more men than women aged between 17 and 20 had their full licence in 2020. As this age group often pay through the nose for car insurance, its likely that tens of thousands of young Irish women are paying at least 500 more for their car insurance than they would if they sat and passed their driving test. There is clear evidence that women have a safer track record on Irish roads, particularly if you look at the number of men with penalty points on their licences so more needs to be done to encourage young female drivers to come forward for their driving test. The Stats The Government can do better in securing additional emergency accommodation for Ukrainians, the Taoiseach said, as senior ministers meet to discuss the crisis in housing. Micheal Martin also said there have been proposals around the reconfiguration of properties that could potentially provide accommodation for a significant number of people. Government ministers are meeting on Monday to discuss emergency accommodation for Ukrainians and refugees arriving in Ireland. Mr Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan and Minister for Housing Darragh OBrien are among those taking part in the Cabinet sub-committee meeting. It comes as about 43 Ukrainian refugees were left without state accommodation in recent days after they arrived in Ireland. Speaking in Co Cavan ahead of the meeting, Mr Martin said there has been an extraordinary response by the Irish people. He said the war in Ukraine has brought about an unprecedented level of migration to the country. The country has never had to deal with so many people fleeing war in its history, Mr Martin added. The numbers that have arrived in such a very short space of time have been unprecedented. We are looking at 58,000 Ukrainians have come into the country now. Well over the mid-40s getting accommodated by the state. Others finding accommodation. We now have 15,000 in direct provision. This is not a normal domestic policy where you can say well do X, Y and Z in a planned way. This is very much a consequence of war. If you look at where we were last week. We were at an EU Council meeting in Brussels. What was the issue? Energy. Why? Because (Russian president Vladimir) Putin has weaponised energy, and he is weaponising migration. The bombing of energy infrastructure is about that. He wants to make life so miserable for Ukrainians throughout this winter that he wants to create a further wave of migration out of Ukraine. That is what is at issue here. It is important that Europe stands together. Ireland continues to show its solidarity against Putins war. That means we have to double down and do better again in terms of what we are doing to accommodate people fleeing war from Ukraine. It is very difficult for Ukrainians, it is very difficult for people generally. It is not just an Irish phenomenon, it is a phenomenon across Europe. Other countries and cities are facing similar situations. Mr Martin acknowledged that the system to cater for refugees could be better. We can do things better in terms of some of our systems in respect of payments and so on but also securing additional accommodation, he added. He said the cabinet sub-committee meeting will go through all of the options. There had been proposals around reconfigurating a whole range of properties that had been identified already, which if brought to realisation quickly could provide very significant numbers of places, he added. Mr Martin also said there is a legal and moral obligation on Ireland to take in refugees. This is part of a European-wide protection collective, he said. I believe the moral one is the strong one, but it is also a legal one and we are working with other European member states. We are all in this together across Europe. There is not the facility for one country to opt out. That challenges ourselves to be part of that European solidarity. Speaking to reporters in Belfast, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said the emergency accommodation crisis is a huge failure of government policy. Ms McDonald said there has been a failure to plan and a failure to provide adequate accommodation. It is quite disgraceful that it has come to this, she added. I mean, the Government knew, and in fact predicted that we would have far greater numbers of Ukrainians seeking refuge in Ireland, and yet they have failed comprehensively to prepare and to provide for those people. And just remember, this is part and parcel of a wider failure to provide housing and accommodation for the wider population. The Palace Museum in Beijing hopes to hold a joint exhibition with its counterpart in Taipei at the newly opened Hong Kong Palace Museum in the future, said Wang Xudong, director of the museum, which is also known as the Forbidden City, at a news conference on Thursday. "We are one family bound by blood and share the same roots. Why don't we have more communication and cultural exchanges?" Wang said to journalists from home and abroad attending a news conference in Beijing during the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. After the civil war in the late 1940s, some of the art collections from Beijing's Forbidden City were transported to Taiwan and housed at the Palace Museum in Taipei built in 1962. A delegate to the congress, Wang said he wishes the two palace museums can "talk with each other" and cooperate on academic research and relic protections in the future. "Only if we talk with each other can we have the chance to realize future cooperation. The Palace Museum welcomes all the possibilities to work with its counterpart in Taipei," Wang said. The museum director called for a joint show with the Taipei museum. Wang said a suitable venue may be Hong Kong's palace museum, which opened to the public in July, a milestone cross-boundary cultural collaboration between the cities of Beijing and Hong Kong. "It's my sincere wish that the three palace museums in Beijing, Taipei and Hong Kong can curate together on exhibitions to show Chinese culture," he said. Before COVID-19 disruptions, the two palace museums in Beijing and Taipei carried out many cultural exchanges, such as joint shows and academic sessions. Icebreaking exchanges between the two museums started in 2009 when their then directors visited each other. A joint show Harmony and Integrity: The Yongzheng Emperor and His Times was held in Taipei that year. Later, the masterpiece ink painting Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, parts of which were collected by the two museums, was exhibited together in Taipei in 2011. Wang said he visited Taipei's Palace Museum twice as director of the Dunhuang Academy in Gansu province, but he has not had the chance to visit it again since he took up his role heading the Palace Museum in Beijing in 2019. "I'm looking forward to visiting again and sincerely invite them to visit us," Wang said. Wang worked at the Dunhuang Academy from 1991 to 2019. The academy focuses on studies and preservation of the Mogao Caves, which houses fine Buddhist art and is known for its exquisite murals and Buddha statues. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today A good deal of sunshine. High 56F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 38F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. A couple wanted in connection to a murder case in Las Vegas have been found dead, police say President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks to reporters as he arrives at the presidential office in Seoul, Oct. 24. Yonhap President Yoon Suk-yeol said Monday no conditions should be attached to his parliamentary budget speech scheduled for this week, as the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea threatens to boycott it unless Yoon apologizes for what the party calls suppression of the opposition. The DPK is also demanding that Yoon agree to an independent counsel probe into a corruption scandal that prosecutors have been investigating and that led to the arrest of a key confidant of DPK leader Lee Jae-myung, before Yoon delivers the budget speech at the National Assembly on Tuesday. "The Constitution guarantees the president's right to speak at the National Assembly, and the National Assembly Act requires parliament to listen to the budget speech when a budget proposal is submitted," Yoon told reporters as he arrived for work, adding the rival parties had agreed on Tuesday as the date. "Adding some sort of additional conditions to that is something I don't think I've heard of in the history of our constitutional government, as far as I can recall," he said. The DPK has strongly protested the prosecution's investigation into the corruption scandal amid concern the probe is zeroing in on Lee. On Saturday, Kim Yong, one of Lee's closest confidants, was arrested on charges of taking illegal political funds. Prosecutors suspect the money was used for Lee's election campaign. Lee and his party have called for a special prosecutor investigation into the case, claiming that the scandal also involves those close to Yoon. Yoon also spoke to reporters about Sunday's announcement of the government's plan to expand funding for liquidity programs to at least 50 trillion won ($34.7 billion) to help calm the corporate bond and commercial paper markets. "We determined that such swift and large-scale market stabilization measures will above all be of great help in easing the financial difficulties of small and medium-sized firms, so they will be executed promptly starting today," he said. Yoon further emphasized his administration's zero tolerance policy for loan sharks, saying the government will carry out tough crackdowns on predatory and illegal private lenders. (Yonhap) We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Kurt D. Dykstra, from left, president and CEO of Independent Colleges of Indiana; Deborah J. Daniels, chair of the Indiana Academy Board of Regents and partner at Krieg DeVault LLP; David M. Findlay, president and chief executive officer of Lake City Bank and member of the Trine University Board of Trustees; and Earl D. Brooks II, Trine University president, are pictured at the 51st Indiana Academy Gala on Oct. 10. Findlay was one of four men inducted into the Indiana Academy this year. Many K-pop groups debut with the release of either a single album or a mini-album. There are also some who only drop a digital single. Debuting with a studio album is rare in the K-pop industry, but that doesn't mean no one did it before. In fact, there are six K-pop groups that released a full album first. 6 K-pop Groups That Debuted With Full Album: KARA, WINNER, More Super Junior Originally called Super Junior 05, Super Junior released their studio album "Twins" on Dec. 6, 2005. They are the first K-pop group to debut with a full album. "Twins" was preceded by the release of the title track "Twins (Knock Out)" along with three other songs included in the album. The group promoted the album with two songs "Twins (Knock Out)" and "Miracle." KARA Consisting of four members, KARA debuted on March 29, 2007 with their first studio album, titled "The First Blooming" or "The First Bloooooming." They are the first K-pop girl group to debut with a full album. "The Blooming" contains 10 total songs including the title track "Break It," where they showcased their mature and "strong female" image. This is the only album featuring original member Kim Sunghee who left in 2008 to focus on her studies. The album, unfortunately, was not a commercial success and didn't receive attention from the public. FT ISLAND F.T. Island (short for Five Treasure Island) debuted as a group with five members on June 7, 2007. On that day, they released their first studio album "Cheerful Sensibility," which is composed of 13 songs that were split into two parts, "Emotional Chapter" and "F.T. Island Chapter," according to the songs' genre. In particular, the "Emotional Chapter" features rock ballads, whereas the "F.T. Island Chapter" contains various pop rock songs. WINNER WINNER is another K-pop group that debuted with a full album. Originally a five-member boy group, WINNER digitally dropped their studio album "2014 S/S" on Aug. 12, 2014. This album made the boy group the fastest Korean artist to take first place on Billboard World Albums chart, and its title song "Empty" became a hit in South Korea, claiming the top of the Circle Chart and Billboard K-pop Hot 100 chart. "2014 S/S" is the only studio album of the group that featured their former main vocalist Nam Taehyun who left in November 2016. Lovelyz YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 9 K-pop Groups With Several Albums That Sold Over One Million Copies Each Next, we have another K-pop girl group called Lovelyz, which unfortunately disbanded in November 2021. They started their career in the K-pop industry by releasing their first studio album "Girls' Invasion" on Nov. 17, 2014. Like Super Junior, the album was preceded by the release of a pre-release digital single titled "Good Night Like Yesterday" on Nov. 5. DIA The last artist on our list of K-pop groups that debuted with a full album is DIA, short for DIAMOND or Do It Amazing. Their self-titled studio album "Do It Amazing" came out on Sept. 14, 2015. Sadly, this album marked the first and final release of the original lineup that included member Seunghee, who withdrew from the group in April 2016. Do you know other K-pop groups that debuted with a full album? Comment theirs names in the box below! For more K-pop news, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article Written by Maria Scott Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 24 (ANI): Indices of the Indian markets during the auspicious hour of the Muhurat trading on Diwali went up as Sensex surged 562 points to 59,869.22 and Nifty50 rose 157 points to 17,733.40 level on Monday. Some of the most active stocks during the hour on BSE were Sasken which moved up about 15 per cent in the beginning, Borosil Renewables which surged about 5.23 per cent and Tejas Networks which rose about 5.8 per cent. Also Read | #TEMPEST Treats Fans to Music Video for B-side Track Young & Wild Latest Tweet by Allkpop. The special trading window marks the beginning of Samvat 2079. It is the Hindu calendar that starts on Diwali. BSE LargeCap was up 56.50 points and Nestle India, HDFC Bank, Berger Paint, Grasim were the most active on the index. BSE MidCap was 115 points and its most active stocks were IDBI, Federal Bank, JSW Energy and Natco Pharma. Also Read | Pune Court Bars Female Lawyers From 'Arranging' Hair in Courtroom, Withdraws Diktat After Backlash. The Nifty Next 50 closed 190 points up at 41967.95. Tata Motors, ICICI Bank, Asian Paints, Axis Bank and Tata Steel were the most active stocks on Nifty. While Nifty Bank performed nicely with 525 points up. Bollywood Actor Ajay Devgn rang the opening bell of the Muhurat hour. BSE Chief Financial Officer Nayan Mehta was also present in the ceremony along with Girish Joshi, head for listing business at BSE and BSE Chief Belief Officer Sameer Patil. The usual trading session of the Indian stock exchanges were closed on Monday for trading on the occasion of Diwali. Normal trading will resume tomorrow. The Indian stock exchanges open for an hour in what is called as Muhurat trading. Trading took place across various segments like equity, commodity derivatives, currency derivatives, equity futures & options, and securities lending & borrowing (SLB) in the same time slot. It is believed that this auspicious occasion of Mahurat Trading will bring more wealth and prosperity. During this one-hour window, investors place orders for stocks according to their wishes which they believe to be auspicious and bring in good returns.Stock brokers perform Lakshmi Puja at the exchange and then the Muhurat trading takes place. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi comes and resides at the place of puja which is why traders and shopkeepers stay awake with all decorative lights. In the first minutes of the session, Sensex went up 661.70 points to 59,952.11 levels, while Nifty50 went up 185.65 points to 17,761.95. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) San Antonio [US], October 23 (ANI): According to a new study, sexual side effects of cancer therapy are discussed considerably less frequently in female patients than in male patients, even when the medication directly affects genital organs. In a high-volume cancer facility, 9 out of 10 males undergoing brachytherapy for prostate or cervical cancer were asked about their sexual health, compared to 1 out of 10 women. Findings point to an opportunity for physicians to gain a better understanding of their patients' experiences with cancer treatment. "There seems to be a big disparity in the way we approach sexual dysfunction with our patients, where female patients are asked about sexual issues much less often than male patients are," said Jamie Takayesu, MD, lead author of the study and a radiation oncology resident physician at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. "Equally importantly, we see this trend on a national level in clinical trials." Also Read | Diwali 2022: Heart Patients Need To Be Extra Cautious, Tech-Innovation To Help Prevent After Effects. Each year, roughly 13,000 news cases of cervical cancer and more than 220,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. Both diseases respond well to radiation therapy and other treatments, and an estimated 96% of patients with prostate cancer and 67% with cervical cancer survive at least five years after their diagnosis. Because these patients often can expect to live a long time after treatment, the potential for long-term side effects including sexual dysfunction is important to consider, said Dr. Takayesu. With brachytherapy for prostate or cervical cancer, doctors insert radioactive sources directly into the tumor, which can cause toxicity to the organs in the genital region. Also Read | Lara Dutta Feels Menopause Is Not Given Due Importance, Says 'It Is So Back on the Burner as a Priority'. Roughly half of the women who receive cervical brachytherapy experience sexual side effects, most commonly changes to vaginal tissue and dryness that can cause pain and discomfort. Between a quarter and half of the men who receive prostate brachytherapy will experience erectile dysfunction. Side effects can occur during, after or well after treatment. The study design combined a retrospective analysis of institutional data with an analysis of national clinical trials. For the institutional analysis, researchers reviewed consult notes in the records of 201 patients who were treated with brachytherapy for prostate cancer (n=75) or cervical cancer (n=136) between 2010 and 2021. They found a stark difference between how many male versus female patients were asked about sexual health at their initial consult - 89% of men, compared to 13% of women (p (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhopal, October 24: Devotees participated in the 'maha aarti' of goddess Laxmi at Karunadham Ashram in Bhopal, on the occasion of Diwali. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan spent Diwali eve with children who lost their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic, at the CM House on Sunday. Lakshmi Puja 2022 Shubh Muhurat Timings: Know All About Laxmi Puja Mahurat and Rituals Observed on Badi Diwali. Video of 'Maha Aarti' of Goddess Laxmi at Karunadham Ashram: #WATCH | Madhya Pradesh: Devotees participate in 'maha aarti' of goddess Laxmi at Karunadham Ashram in Bhopal, on #Diwali pic.twitter.com/hMJsvWDsq4 ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) October 24, 2022 CM Chouhan was spotted dancing along with the children on the occasion. According to Chief Minister's Office, 315 children participated in the programme and the children also presented cultural programmes on the occasion. Earlier today, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan lauded Prime Minister for spending Diwali with Jawans in Kargil. Happy Diwali 2022 SMS & Laxmi Puja HD Images: WhatsApp Messages, Facebook Quotes, Greetings, Shubh Deepavali GIFs, Stickers and Wishes for Family and Friends. "Burning lamps have narrated this message to everyone. Live for the sake of others, have taught this great mantra to live. In the form of Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, the country has got such a national hero who is a companion of the happiness of every countryman," tweeted Chouhan. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hoshiarpur (PB), Oct 24 (PTI) A three-year-old girl was found dead in a dry fodder room in a village field here, police said on Monday. The autopsy conducted at a local government hospital on Monday evening confirmed that the girl had been raped. Her body was found Sunday night. Also Read | Cyclone Sitrang: West Bengal Govt Takes All Measures to Deal with Adverse Situations Due to Cyclonic Storm. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Rural), Hoshiarpur, Surinder Pal said the girl had been missing from her house since Sunday morning. Her family could not find her despite searching for her at various places. Also Read | Pune Court Bars Female Lawyers From 'Arranging' Hair in Courtroom, Withdraws Diktat After Backlash. During examination of footage of CCTV cameras installed in the village, police found that a 14-year-old boy of the same village had taken her with him. Strangulation marks were also found on the neck of the girl, said police. Police said raids are being conducted to nab the boy. He has been booked under relevant sections of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. (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 24 (PTI) India on Monday described as "very disturbing" the circumstances surrounding the abduction of two Indians in Kenya and subsequent lack of information in the case. Indian High Commissioner to Kenya, Namgya Khampa, met Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto and requested him for expediting the investigation into the matter, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. Also Read | Diwali 2022: Indian Army Soldiers Celebrate Deepavali in Jammu and Kashmirs Akhnoor Sector by Lighting Oil Lamps. A close aide of the Kenyan President last week claimed the two missing Indians, Mohammad Zaid Sami Kidwai and Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan, have been killed by the disbanded DCI (Directorate of Criminal Investigations) unit, according to a media report. It is learnt that the Kenyan government has not said anything officially on the report. Also Read | UPPCL Recruitment 2022: Vacancies Notified for 79 Assistant Accountant Posts, Apply Online at upenergy.in. Kidwai and Khan, who were part of the Kenya Kwanza digital campaign team, went missing alongside taxi driver Nicodemus Mwania from Mombasa Road in July. "We have been in regular touch with the Kenyan government to locate the whereabouts of the two missing Indian nationals, Mohammad Zaid Sami Kidwai and Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Monday night. "Our High Commissioner in Nairobi, Namgya Khampa, today called on President William Samoei Ruto to convey our deep concern and request the expediting of investigations into the matter," he said. Bagchi was responding to media queries on the matter. He said the High Commissioner of Kenya in New Delhi was also called into the ministry on Sunday to convey India's concerns in the matter. "The specific circumstances surrounding the abduction and subsequent lack of information is very disturbing. We expect that the case will be investigated thoroughly," Bagchi said. He said the Indian High Commission in Kenya is in touch with the family members of the two Indians and assisting them. "The case is under active investigation by the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) of Kenyan Police. We have noted that several people have been taken into custody in this connection, including officials of the recently abolished Special Service Unit of the Kenyan Police," Bagchi added. He said the MEA continues to monitor all developments related to this case. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jammu and Kashmir [India], October 24 (ANI): Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Monday visited forward posts in the Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir and celebrated Diwali with soldiers. He was accompanied by White Knight Corps Commander Lt Gen Manjinder Singh. "General Anil Chauhan also laid a wreath at Naman Sthal, the war memorial of Naushera Sector, and paid his respects to the bravehearts who had laid down their lives in the service of the nation," an official communique said. Also Read | UPPCL Recruitment 2022: Vacancies Notified for 79 Assistant Accountant Posts, Apply Online at upenergy.in. Field commanders briefed Gen Anil Chauhan on the current operational situation and security scenario along the Line of Control (LoC). He also reviewed the development of defence infrastructure and operational preparedness undertaken despite challenging terrain and weather conditions in the region. The CDS, while addressing the troops, exhorted them to inculcate professionalism and carry forward the rich tradition of courage and valour of the Indian Army. He also emphasised the need for operational preparedness of the highest order. The visit by the CDS, on the occasion of Diwali, acted as a great morale booster for troops deployed on the frontlines in challenging conditions. Also Read | Delhi Air Pollution: AQI Turns Very Poor in National Capital, Max Temperature Settle at 31.2 Degrees Celsius. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Kargil to celebrate Diwali with soldiers. Narendra Modi also laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial and paid tribute to the army personnel who lost their lives here in 1999. PM Modi addressed jawans as his family and said it was a privilege for him to celebrate Diwali with them. He shared sweets with the jawans during his unannounced visit to Kargil. The Prime Minister also participated in the 'Vande Mataram' singalong with Armed Forces members in Kargil. In his address, PM Modi said Diwali means the "festival of end of terror" and that Kargil had made it possible. "For me, all of you have been my family for years now. It is a privilege to spend Diwali with our brave jawans in Kargil," he said. Earlier, Chief of Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande visited the Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt on Saturday ahead of Diwali, and interacted with the serving soldiers and their next of kin. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Datia (MP), Oct 24 (PTI) A family of four, heading to Madhya Pradesh's Datia district for Diwali celebrations, was killed after a truck rammed into their two-wheeler on Monday, police said. Also Read | Gender-Based Violence: Punjab Government to Organise State Level Awareness Function in Jalandhar on October 27. A couple and their two minor sons died on the spot in the accident that took place between Sitapur and Upariya villages in Goraghat police station area, Superintendent of Police (SP) Aman Singh Rathore told PTI. Also Read | Tamil Nadu Car Explosion: CCTV Footage Shows 5 People Carrying Gunny Bag From Victims House in Coimbatore. The truck driver fled the scene with the vehicle, but was arrested later at Chirula toll plaza, he said. The family was travelling on a scooter from Gwalior to Datia for Diwali celebrations, it was stated. Based on the Aadhaar card found with the deceased man, his family members were contacted and informed about the accident, the official said. The bodies of the deceased have been sent to the district hospital for post-mortem, the SP said, adding that a case has been registered and investigations are on. (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 24 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Kargil to celebrate Diwali with soldiers on Monday. The PMO said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Kargil, where he will celebrate Diwali with our brave soldiers." Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Road Accident: Five of Family Killed As Car Rams Into Truck in Basti District. Since coming to power in 2014, Modi has been visiting different military facilities to celebrate Diwali. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar, Oct 24 (PTI) PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said it was a proud moment that Indian-origin Rishi Sunak was elected as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said while India rightly celebrates Sunak's elevation, it should also serve as a reminder that the Britain has accepted an ethnic minority member as its premier but we are still shackled by divisive and discriminatory laws like NRC and CAA." Also Read | UPPCL Recruitment 2022: Vacancies Notified for 79 Assistant Accountant Posts, Apply Online at upenergy.in. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, who has a British mother, did not comment on the development but retweeted a tweet by George Osborne, the former chancellor of the Exchequer in the UK. "Rishi Sunak will be Prime Minister by the end of the day. Some think, like me, he's a solution to our problems; others think he's part of the problem. But whatever your politics, let's all celebrate the first British Asian becoming PM and be proud of our country where this can happen," Osborne said. Also Read | Delhi Air Pollution: AQI Turns Very Poor in National Capital, Max Temperature Settle at 31.2 Degrees Celsius. (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 24 (PTI) With Indian-origin Rishi Sunak set to become Britain's prime minister, some opposition leaders on Monday hoped that India will take a lesson and adopt the practice of electing a person from among minorities to the top post. Congress leaders P Chidambaram and Shashi Tharoor welcomed the move and hoped one day this practice is adopted in the country. Also Read | Diwali 2022: UP CM Yogi Adityanath Urges Officers, Employees to Celebrate Deepavali with Deprived, Needy People. TMC MP Mohua Moitra welcomed the move and hoped India too becomes more tolerant. "First Kamala Harris, now Rishi Sunak. The people of the US and the UK have embraced the non-majority citizens of their countries and elected them to high office in government," Chidambaram said on Twitter. Also Read | Thane: Man Stabs Nephew to Death Over Domestic Dispute in Dombivili, Arrested. "I think there is a lesson to be learned by India and the parties that practise majoritarianism," he also said. "If this does happen, I think all of us will have to acknowledge that the Brits have done something very rare in the world, to place a member of a visible minority in the most powerful office. As we Indians celebrate the ascent of @RishiSunak, let's honestly ask: can it happen here," said Tharoor. Moitra said, "Proud of the UK, my second favourite country for placing a British Asian in Number 10." "May India be more tolerant and more accepting of all faiths, all backgrounds," she said. Sunak will make history as Britain's first Indian-origin Prime Minister after being elected unopposed as the new leader of the governing Conservative Party on Diwali as Penny Mordaunt withdrew from the race. This means the 42-year-old former chancellor, a devout Hindu, is poised to walk through the door of 10 Downing Street in London after an audience with King Charles III in Buckingham Palace, which is likely to be on Tuesday. Sunak will not officially become Prime Minister until Liz Truss, Britain's shortest serving Prime Minister, formally tenders her resignation to the King after which he will be invited by the monarch to form a new government. Besides being the first Hindu Prime Minister of Indian heritage, Sunak is also the youngest for around 200 years at 42 years. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad, Oct 24 (PTI) With Rishi Sunak on the threshold of becoming the first non-White Prime Minister of Britain, arch-rivals India and Pakistan are on the cusp of history to share a pride, though none of them played a role in it. Sunak's grandparents originated from British India but their birthplace Gujranwala lies in modern day Pakistan's Punjab province. Thus, in an odd way, the new British leader is both an Indian and a Pakistani. Also Read | Rishi Sunak Favourite To Win Conservative Party Leadership Election 2022, UK PM Post: Know How Tories Will Elect Their Leader, Important Dates for Nominations, Vote and Result. So far, the scanty details about his ancestry are available only on social media and that is where both Indian and Pakistanis are expressing their views about his rise to power amidst bitter political wrangling in the UK. "The Sunaks are a Punjabi Khatri family from Gujranwala, now in Pakistan, tweeted one Queen Lioness 86, adding: "Ramdas Sunak, Rishi's paternal grandfather, left Gujranwala to work as a clerk in Nairobi in 1935." Also Read | UK PM Race: Former Home Secretary Priti Patel Backs Fellow Indian-Origin Rishi Sunak. Ramdas' wife, Suhag Rani Sunak, moved to Delhi first from Gujranwala, along with her mother-in-law, before travelling to Kenya in 1937, according to Queen Lioness 86, who has provided all details about the family, including the migration of UL and the birth of Rishi in 1980 in Southampton. Though officially nothing has been said in Pakistan about 42-year-old Sunak, some on social media have suggested the government to lay its claim on him. "I think Pakistan should also lay claim on Rishi Sunak because his paternal grandparents were from Gujranwala who from there migrated to Kenya and then to Britain, one Shafat Shah tweeted. Someone with a Twitter handle as Grand Finale wrote: Wow! What a tremendous achievement. A Pakistani has now ascended to the highest office in England. Anything is possible if you believe." But others suggested that both Pakistan and India should be proud of the new British leader. "Going to bed in the US with hopes that a #Punjabi from #Gujranwala will be the #PrimeMinister of the #UK in the morning! Both #Pakistan and #India should be jointly proud of this moment! tweeted Yaqoob Bangash. There are also fears that the two countries may live up to their reputation of animosity and even try to cross lines while laying claim that Sunak is the son of their respective lands, said 35-year-old Zulfiqar Jatt. "Since Gujranwala is in Pakistan, anyone who belonged to this city even a 100 years ago is a Pakistani today, Jatt told PTI. Others like Akhtar Saleem are more down to earth and want Sunak to address the longstanding issue of the Kohinoor diamond. "Since he is becoming prime minister, I think Pakistan should ask him to return the Kohinoor diamond which was stolen from Lahore, Saleem said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad, October 24: With Rishi Sunak all set to be the first non-White Prime Minister of Britain, arch-rivals India and Pakistan are on the cusp of history to share a pride, though none of them played a role in it. The 42-year-old former chancellor, a devout Hindu, was elected unopposed as the new leader of the governing Conservative Party on Diwali as Penny Mordaunt withdrew from the race. Sunak's grandparents originated from British India but their birthplace Gujranwala lies in modern day Pakistan's Punjab province. Thus, in an odd way, the new British leader is both an Indian and a Pakistani. So far, the scanty details about his ancestry are available only on social media and that is where both Indian and Pakistanis are expressing their views about his rise to power amidst bitter political wrangling in the UK. Rishi Sunak Set to Become Next UK PM: Timeline of Main Events Leading to Indian-Origins Second Shot at Britain Prime Ministers Post. "The Sunaks are a Punjabi Khatri family from Gujranwala, now in Pakistan, tweeted one Queen Lioness 86, adding: "Ramdas Sunak, Rishi's paternal grandfather, left Gujranwala to work as a clerk in Nairobi in 1935." Ramdas' wife, Suhag Rani Sunak, moved to Delhi first from Gujranwala, along with her mother-in-law, before travelling to Kenya in 1937, according to Queen Lioness 86, who has provided all details about the family, including the migration of UL and the birth of Rishi in 1980 in Southampton. Though officially nothing has been said in Pakistan about Sunak, some on social media have suggested the government to lay its claim on him. "I think Pakistan should also lay claim on Rishi Sunak because his paternal grandparents were from Gujranwala who from there migrated to Kenya and then to Britain, one Shafat Shah tweeted. Someone with a Twitter handle as Grand Finale wrote: Wow! What a tremendous achievement. A Pakistani has now ascended to the highest office in England. Anything is possible if you believe." But others suggested that both Pakistan and India should be proud of the new British leader. "Going to bed in the US with hopes that a #Punjabi from #Gujranwala will be the #PrimeMinister of the #UK in the morning! Both #Pakistan and #India should be jointly proud of this moment! tweeted Yaqoob Bangash. There are also fears that the two countries may live up to their reputation of animosity and even try to cross lines while laying claim that Sunak is the son of their respective lands, said 35-year-old Zulfiqar Jatt. Rishi Sunak Scripts History, Set To Be First Indian-Origin UK Prime Minister After Winning Conservative Party Leadership Election. "Since Gujranwala is in Pakistan, anyone who belonged to this city even a 100 years ago is a Pakistani today, Jatt told PTI. Others like Akhtar Saleem are more down to earth and want Sunak to address the longstanding issue of the Kohinoor diamond. "Since he is becoming prime minister, I think Pakistan should ask him to return the Kohinoor diamond which was stolen from Lahore, Saleem said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Pennsylvania (US), Oct 25 (AP) A crash involving two military vehicles claimed the life of one soldier and injured three others at a Pennsylvania military training area over the weekend, officials said. The crash happened on Saturday at Fort Indiantown Gap, about 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Harrisburg, where the Pennsylvania National Guard has its headquarters, guard officials said in a news release. Also Read | When Rishi Sunak, Now UK PM-Designate, Celebrated Diwali at 11 Downing Street, Took Oath On the 'Bhagavad Gita'. Killed in the crash was Spc. Mackenzie L. Shay, 20, of New Castle, the officials said. Shay was a 92F, Army Petroleum Supply Specialist, assigned to the 28th Infantry Division's Company G, 128th Brigade Support Battalion. Three other service members were treated at Hershey Medical Center and released, officials said. Also Read | Pakistan Blast: 4 Personnel Injured in North Waziristan Suicide Blast. Our priority right now is taking care of the family and soldiers, ensuring they have all the resources they need during this critical time, said Army Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler. Officials did not release details about the crash, saying only that it remains under investigation. WHP-TV quoted fort officials as saying the crash happened during a routine supply mission between ranges in the fort's more remote training area. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad, October 24: Senior Pakistan journalist Arshad Sharif died in Kenya reportedly after being shot, his wife said on Monday. "I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist @arsched today, as per police he was shot in Kenya. Respect our privacy and in the name of breaking pls don't share our family pics, personal details and his last pictures from hospital. Remember us in ur prayers," Sharif's wife Javeria Siddique said in a Twitter post. Initial media reports had claimed that Sharif died in an accident. Pakistan Foreign Office has said that their High Commission in Kenya was gathering information from the authorities. Chand Nawab 2.0! Dramatic Pakistani Journalist Immerses Himself in Neck-Deep Water To Report About Pakistan Floods, Video Goes Viral. Pakistani Journalist Arshad Sharif's Wife Javeria Siddique's Tweet I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist @arsched today, as per police he was shot in Kenya. Respect our privacy and in the name of breaking pls don't share our family pics, personal details and his last pictures from hospital. Remember us in ur prayers. pic.twitter.com/wP1BJxqP5e Javeria Siddique (@javerias) October 24, 2022 Many prominent Pakistanis and media community members expressed condolences after the news broke about Arshad Sharif's death. Former Pakistani parliamentarian Farahnaz Ispahani expressed her deepest condolences. "What a huge & shocking loss. May he rest in eternal peace." "Heartfelt condolences. He and you are in our thoughts and prayers," said former Pakistan envoy to the US, Husain Haqqani. Ary news journalist Kashif Abbasi tweeted, "My brother, my friend my colleague arshad shareef was shot dead in Kenya..I still can't believe it. It's beyond heart breaking.this is just wrong.. this is painful.. I love u brother." Pakistan is one of the world's deadliest countries for journalists, with three to four murders each year that are often linked to corruption or illegal trafficking and go completely unpunished, according to a Paris-based media watchdog. "Any journalist who crosses the red lines dictated by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - an intelligence agency offshoot - is liable to be the target of in-depth surveillance that could lead to abduction and detention for varying lengths of time in the state's prisons or less official jails," said Reporters Without Borders. Furthermore, the watchdog said that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan's leading military intelligence agency, is prepared to silence any criticism. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad, Oct 24 (PTI) Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday left for a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia to attend a key investment summit and hold bilateral talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudi Future Investment Initiative Summit, often referred to as Davos in the Desert' aims to lure in investors to the desert kingdom. The summit has been an annual feature since 2017. Also Read | Rishi Sunak Scripts History, Set To Be First Indian-Origin UK Prime Minister After Winning Conservative Party Leadership Election. Confirming his attendance at the summit, the PM tweeted: The present state of the global economy needs new thinking and bold vision to overcome the irritants and forge new paths. Also Read | Rishi Sunak Set To Become First Asian To Hold UK PM Post, Wins Conservative Party Leadership Election. There are serious concerns about the threat of global recession hitting the economies. The pandemic and climate-induced disasters have already put immense strains on developing countries. High time the world explored solutions to the deepening challenges through candid dialogue, Sharif said in the tweet. Sharif during his travel to Saudi is being accompanied by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and other officials and would try to convince the Saudi authorities to invest in Pakistan, the foreign office said in a statement. Foreign Office said that Prime Minister Shehbaz was paying an official visit to Riyadh on the invitation of Prince Mohammad. He would hold consultations with the Saudi Crown Prince to review the longstanding fraternal relations, with a view to further strengthening the multifaceted cooperation, especially in the economic field, the statement said. The prime minister would be one of the key speakers at the conference and use it to highlight investment opportunities in Pakistan. Sharif's visit comes amidst Pakistan's success in persuading Saudi to revive a USD 12 billion state-of-the-art deep conversion refinery and a petrochemical complex in the country, a project that was shelved by the oil-rich Gulf Kingdom during the Imran Khan regime. In 2019, Crown Prince Mohammed visited Pakistan when Khan was the prime minister, and signed MoUs for an investment of USD 21 billion, including the project of a deep conversion refinery and petrochemical complex with an investment of USD 12 billion. Subsequently, when Khan tried to cobble up a bloc of Islamic countries with the consent of Turkey and Malaysia, outside the ambit of the Saudi-dominated Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), it irked the Gulf Kingdom. Riyadh is particularly sensitive about any move that might undermine its leadership of the 57-member pan-Islamic body. Bilateral ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have remained strained since then. The Shehbaz Sharif government is now trying to reset ties with Riyadh by reaching out to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is celebrating Diwali with the soldiers at the Kargil border. The Prime Minister while addressing the soldiers said that Diwali means festival of end of terror."There has not been a single war with Pakistan where Kargil has not hoisted the flag of victory. Diwali means 'festival of end of terror' and Kargil made it possible. Diwali 2022: PM Narendra Modi Wishes People, Says Festival Associated With Brightness And Radiance PM Narendra Modi Addresses Soldiers: #WATCH | There has not been a single war with Pakistan where Kargil has not hoisted the flag of victory. #Diwali means 'festival of end of terror' and Kargil made it possible: PM Narendra Modi, in Kargil pic.twitter.com/VpP7MY0nJY ANI (@ANI) October 24, 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.) London, October 24: After a dramatic turnaround, Rishi Sunak is the favourite to become the next Prime Minister of Britain barely months after he failed in the summer leadership contest to convince the grassroots he was a better option than Liz Truss. Liz Truss- Britain's shortest-serving prime minister resigned after her economic agendas sparked a economic turmoil in the country. UK PM Race: Rishi Sunak Likely to Become Britains Next Prime Minister After Boris Johnson Pulls Out of Contest Heres Everything You Need to Know About Rishi Sunak: 1. Rishi Sunak was born in Southampton on May 12,1980. Rishi, completed his schooling from the private school Winchester College in Britain. After this he enrolled in the prestigious Oxford University for higher education. Rishi studied MBA from Stanford University in America and later started his career with investment bank Goldman Sachs and later founded an investment firm. 2. Sunaks parents are of Indian origin. His father's name is Shayveer and mother's name is Usha Sunak. Rishi is the eldest among his siblings. His ancestors were from Punjab. Rishi Sunak Praises Boris Johnsons Leadership After He Pulls Out of UK PM Race, Says Former PM Led Britain Through Some of the Toughest Challenges 3. Rishi became the MP of Richmond, Yorkshire for the first time from the year 2015 and has been an MP there since then. Last year, Rishi was elected MP for the second time from the Richmond (Yorks) seat. Prior to being Finance Minister, he was announced as Britain's Housing Minister in 2018. 4. Rishi was elected the Conservative candidate for Richmond (York) in October 2014, replacing former party leader and Foreign Secretary William Hague. Then in 2015 general elections were held where Rishi won with a majority of 36.2% getting 19,550 votes and was elected as MP. 5. Sunak is an important figure in the Conservative Party. While being the Finance Minister, he successfully faced the economic challenges during the COVID-19 period. He issued relief packages for financial institutions and did not let the economy derail with his efforts. 6. Rishi Sunak co-founded a 1-billion-pound global investment firm and specialised in investing in small British businesses before his entry into politics. 7. Rishi is married to Akshata Murthy, a fashion designer of British-Indian origin. Akshata is the daughter of Narayan Murthy, the founder of Infosys, a well-known software company. 8. Back in September, Rishi Sunak was defeated by Liz Truss in the race to replace Boris Johnson after losing an election held by members of the Conservative party across the country. Britains political turmoil was triggered after Sue Gray delivered a report over the gatherings held at Downing Street when Boris Johnson was in the office with the rest of the country in lockdown. According to reports, several dozen staff at his office held two separate boozy bashes on April 16, 2021. These reports led to resignation of Boris after his party leaders lost confidence in him. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 24, 2022 04:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). When it comes to roasting an entire pig, one dish often stands out, and that is lechon. The dish is basically slow-roasted pork, often a whole pig, famous for its crispy skin and succulent and juicy meat. Lechon is a popular food in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Spain, and even in the Philippines. It is enjoyed across the world, especially in Latin America. The dish traces its roots back to Spain, which took the art form to the New World and its farthest colonies. It has since spread to Colombia, Honduras, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and other Spanish-speaking nations. READ NEXT: Mexican Food: Top 5 Taco Varieties You Have to Try in Mexico The Original Suckling Pig of Spain The original Lechon is known to be a whole piglet, still suckling from its mother, being roasted inside an oven until it becomes tender, juicy inside, and crispy on the outside. In Spain, only a suckling pig can be called lechon and must be slaughtered between two and six weeks. It is often served with a side of potatoes and, of course, wine. Puerto Rico and Cuba Add a Caribbean Flair The Puerto Rican style of Lechon stays true to its Spanish roots, as it often uses a suckling pig. However, unlike the Spanish style, this one is placed in a metal rod and skewered, rotating over an open charcoal pit. It results in extra crispy skin, according to Amigo Foods. However, not all lechon in Puerto Rico is suckling pigs, as slightly older juveniles and adults are also used. The dish is so popular and revered in the U.S. territory that Highway 184 is also known as the La Ruta del Lechon, better known to English speakers as the "Pork Highway." In Cuba, the dish is slightly different. While other countries like Spain, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico tend to use whole pigs, Cuba does things differently, as they often use parts of the pig instead of the entire animal. However, they also usually roast whole pigs. Cuban Lechon, or Lechon Asado, whether the entire pig or part of it, is usually marinated in a citrusy concoction known as a mojo sauce. It is placed inside a Caja China, an outdoor roasting box that uses coals to cook, according to Cook2eatwell. The Philippines: Where Lechon is an Art Form Spain's most faraway colony is over in the Philippines, and the Southeast Asian country has treated lechon as a national obsession. The dish is officially the country's national food, often enjoyed during special occasions like birthdays, weddings, Christmas, or fiestas. In one province, they even have a fiesta dedicated to lechon. There are plenty of styles in the Philippines, like the "Manila Lechon" or "Luzon Lechon," which is not usually stuffed with herbs but served with "lechon sauce." Meanwhile, the "Cebu Lechon" or "Visayas Lechon" is stuffed to the brim with herbs like bay leaves, lemongrass, green onions, black peppercorns, and scallions. While the debate on which style is the best is ongoing, Filipinos are also seeking ways to innovate the dish, from new variants like the lechon belly to off-shoots like lechon manok, which is basically Philippine-style rotisserie chicken. READ MORE: Mexico: 5 Underrated Mexican Food That Are Not Tacos This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Inside Puerto Rico's Pork Highway, The Ruta Del Lechon - Food insider After forming off the Pacific coast, Hurricane Roslyn made landfall in Mexico on Sunday. The storm has brought heavy rains, severe flooding, and landslides. At least two people have been reported dead. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that landslides could happen in the storm's path. The agency noted that "this rainfall could lead to flash flooding and landslides in areas of rugged terrain." The NHC also warned that the swells generated by Hurricane Roslyn will be affecting several portions of the coast of southwestern Mexico, west-central Mexico, and the southern portion of the Baja California peninsula through tonight, CNN reported. The hurricane center said the swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. The NHC further noted that the heavy rainfall caused by Roslyn is "expected to produce an additional 1 to 3 inches of rain across southern Durango, Sinaloa into portions of Nayarit, Zacatecas, and Jalisco." It added that the maximum storm total rainfall could reach up to 10 inches. Hurricane Roslyn Categorized as a Major Hurricane According to CNN, Roslyn made landfall around 7:20 a.m ET near Santa Cruz in Nayarit state as a Category 3 hurricane. It had maximum sustained winds of up to 120 miles per hour (mph). This makes Roslyn a "major hurricane," which usually has maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph. However, the storm is now weakening, with maximum sustained winds decreasing to almost 70 mph as of Sunday afternoon. This rapid weakening is forecasted to continue, with Roslyn expected to be downgraded to a tropical depression and would soon dissipate as late as early Monday. As of Sunday 2 p.m. ET, the center of Roslyn was spotted some 90 kilometers south-southeast of Durango, Mexico. The NHC said It was moving north-northeast at 20 mph. Roslyn formed off the western coast of Mexico. Its sustained wind speed increased by 60 mph from Friday to Saturday morning. READ NEXT: Cuba: US Offering Hurricane Relief After Hurricane Ian Devastates Island Hurricane Roslyn Doing Extensive Damage and Loss of Life in Nayarit State While not as strong as previous hurricanes like Hurricane Fiona and Hurricane Ian that hit the Americas this year, Hurricane Roslyn still managed to do some significant damage, mostly in Nayarit state. When the storm made landfall, Roslyn caused "major damage" to rooftops and outdoor coverings. Images and videos from local residents also showed cars submerged in water and buildings collapsing due to the strong winds and heavy rainfall. Nayarit state's Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection has already dispatched emergency personnel to the most affected areas. The ministry reported two confirmed deaths as Hurricane Roslyn passed by the state. The first victim was a 74-year-old man who was killed when a beam fell on his head in the Nayarit town of Mexcaltitan de Santiago Ixcuintla. As for the second victim, the 39-year-old woman tragically passed away after a fence collapsed on her in the state's Rosamorada district. The storm also passed by the neighboring state of Jalisco. However, Reuters reported that the state only suffered minor damage, and the Puerto Vallarta International Airport has already resumed operations after the storm passed the area. READ MORE: Hurricane Ian Update: Blackouts in Cuba While People Trapped Inside Their Homes in Florida This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Hurricane Roslyn Makes Landfall In Mexico As Powerful Category 3 Hurricane - Fox Weather The third phase of disaster SNAP benefits in Florida is set to open on October 24 for the people in Hillsborough, Lake, Osceola, Putnam, Seminole, and Volusia counties. Residents in the aforementioned counties could apply for disaster SNAP benefits in Florida if they passed the eligibility standards for the benefits payments. According to WTSP News, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) will provide food assistance for individuals and families affected by the storm Hurricane Ian, particularly those who are not currently receiving any payments through the regular SNAP benefits. Shevaun Harris, the Secretary of DCF administering disaster SNAP benefits or D-SNAP benefits, said in a statement that the first two phases of the D-SNAP have been "highly successful," with more than 112,000 households receiving the benefits, which amounted to $69.7 million. The news release said dates and locations for D-SNAP events will be announced at a later date. Harris noted that the agency has been offering and encouraging applicants to use the phone option for their interview. He added that hundreds of call center agents are available daily to support these efforts. READ NEXT: Disaster SNAP Benefits: Who Is Eligible to Get Extra Payments, Hurricane Ian Aid in Florida? Disaster SNAP Benefits Florida The first phase of D-SNAP benefits in Florida started on October 10 after the DCF announced that Florida's Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) application had been approved. Counties in phase one included Collier, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Lee, Sarasota, and Polk counties. It ended on October 16. The second phase was on October 7, and it concluded Sunday. It covered Florida counties Orange, Flagler, Highlands, Manatee, Pinellas, and St. Johns. To avail of D-SNAP benefits, applicants must work on their pre-registration while DCF announces in-person D-SNAP events. According to Click Orlando, there are certain criteria and standard eligibility to qualify for the D-SNAP benefits. Applicants must not receive regular SNAP benefits, and applicants must also be living or working in a disaster-declared country during Hurricane Ian. Applicants must also have disaster-related losses such as the following: damage to their home/s or self-employment property, loss of food, reduction or loss of income, and other disaster-related losses. Pre-registration for the third phase of the D-SNAP benefits in Florida will end on October 30. Meanwhile, Florida households that normally would have received their SNAP benefits from October 1-14 received those benefits ahead of schedule on September 27. The early distribution was to help residents prepare for the storm at the time. SNAP Benefits Florida Aside from the regular SNAP benefits in Florida, Florida students will also be eligible for a Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) starting this month. P-EBT benefits will be distributed to all school-aged children who have free or reduced-price lunch through National School Lunch Program during the 2021-2022 school year, Fox35 reported. Each qualified student for P-EBT will receive a one-time payment of $391, which will be distributed until November, according to Florida DCF. The Summer 2022 P-EBT benefits will also be distributed to children under age six who receive SNAP benefits during the summer and participate in a childcare setting. READ MORE: Disaster SNAP Benefits Update: Are You Eligible for New Florida Payments? This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Florida Hires Government Security to Stop International D-SNAP Fraud - From WKMG 6 News ClickOrlando President Joe Biden has enacted a new border policy that has made it harder for Venezuelan migrants to cross the U.S. border. The new policy seems to be working, as immigration from Venezuela fell by 90%. Before the policy was announced on October 12, the Associated Press reported that around 1,200 Venezuelan migrants came to the U.S.-Mexico border daily. The number has now dropped to about 150 Venezuelans trying to cross the U.S. border from Mexico. The report said the main reason is the strict enforcement of the new policy, which allows the U.S. to expel Venezuelans to Mexico without an opportunity to seek asylum. READ NEXT: Mexico, U.S. Agree on Ukraine-style Relief for Venezuelan Migrants Mexico and Panama Backing Up U.S. Numbers in Venezuelan Migrants Decrease Mexico's Foreign Relations Department backed these numbers as well. According to Arturo Rocha, a top official from the said department, Venezuelans entering the U.S. fell around 90%, which is roughly in line with the U.S. government's statistics. The official added that Venezuelans crossing the dangerous Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama also dropped to around 80%. The Panamanian government also said the new U.S. policy is forcing Venezuelan migrants to return home. On Friday, the Panamanian government reported that 435 Venezuelan migrants had flown back to Venezuela soon after the U.S. government announced its new policy. Another 200 more are also expected to return via charter flights arranged by the Venezuelan consulate. According to NPR, this new U.S. policy was made in agreement with Mexico to curb the record number of Venezuelan migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. It also opens a new legal pathway for around 24,000 Venezuelan migrants planning to enter the country. However, this makes it harder for Venezuelans to cross the U.S. border as they need to find a financial sponsor in the U.S. and come over to the country by plane. Venezuelan migrants also face a tougher time whenever they arrive in the U.S. than those from Mexico. "They're starting over in very precarious circumstances," said Andrew Selee, the president of the Migration Policy Institute. That is mainly because Venezuelan migrants usually do not have the social networks in the U.S. to make things easier for them, unlike immigrants of other nationalities. First Group of Venezuelan Migrants Who Followed the New Joe Biden Policy Arrive While the new Biden administration policy made it harder for Venezuelans to enter the U.S., the first group who availed of the legal offer finally arrived last Saturday. According to CBS News, these Venezuelan migrants were approved to come to the U.S. under the private sponsorship program. The U.S. government began accepting applications from prospective sponsors on Tuesday and showed that the sponsorship process was placed into operation at a rapid pace. In addition, hundreds more have also been approved to travel to the U.S. where they will be granted humanitarian parole. This temporary quasi-status will allow these Venezuelan migrants to legally work and live in the U.S. for at least two years. According to officials of the Biden administration, Venezuelans were generally being expelled under Title 42, a public health rule that suspends rights to seek asylum under the U.S. and international law to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The administration expanded the program to expel Venezuelans to Mexico despite an effort earlier this year to end Title 42, which has stayed in effect under a court order. This new policy was also reportedly modeled after the humanitarian efforts to take in Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. READ MORE: Venezuela Detainee Swap: Daughter of Released American Prisoner Blasts Marco Rubio For Criticizing Prisoner Exchange This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Venezuelans Halt at Darien Jungle After New U.S. Policy - From Associated Press House Speaker Nancy Pelosi thinks former President Donald Trump is not "man enough" to testify before the Jan. 6 House committee that subpoenaed him. The Jan. 6 House committee officially issued a subpoena on Trump on Friday. The panel demands that the former president returns the classified documents by November 4 and appear in front of the committee before November 14. Nancy Pelosi told Jonathan Capehart on "The Sunday Show" that she does not think Trump's lawyers would want him to show up as he has to "testify under oath," according to Business Insider. "But I don't think he'll show up. I don't think he's man enough. We'll see," the speaker noted. She said people will have to see if Trump is "man enough to show up, and the public should make a judgment." Nancy Pelosi noted that if Trump does not conform to the subpoena issued on him, the public can say that Trump "thinks he is above the law." "No one is above the law. If we believe that, then they should make a judgment about how he responds to that request," the speaker said. The Jan. 6 House committee noted that Trump is mandated by law to follow the subpoena they issued. Rep. Adam Kinzinger earlier said the Justice Department holding Donald Trump in criminal contempt is "a bridge we cross if we have to." READ NEXT: Donald Trump Wants Mitch McConnell Ousted as GOP Leader 'Immediately' Jan. 6 House Committee Subpoena Reps. Bennie Thompson and Liz Cheney, leaders of the Jan. 6 panel, wrote to Donald Trump Friday and said they have gathered "overwhelming evidence" that he personally created and oversaw the effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. The two leaders noted that the evidence also covered those from dozens of Trump's former appointees and staff. Thompson and Cheney said the committee's request was "narrowly focused" on information that the former president was "uniquely positioned to provide," The New York Times reported. Cheney, the committee's vice chairwoman, noted that if Trump refused to follow the subpoena, panel members would "take the steps" they are required to take. The subpoena orders Trump to hand over documents and appear in a deposition that could last several days. A lawyer for Trump said in a statement on Friday that their legal team would review the subpoena but criticized the House committee for what he described as "unprecedented action." The documents that Donald Trump is ordered to hand over include any communications about extremist groups involved in the Capitol riot. Donald Trump on Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Liz Cheney said the former president will be unable to turn his testimony in front of the panel into a "circus." NBC reported that the panel vice chairwoman noted that the House committee takes the matter with great seriousness, adding that the deposition will be conducted with "a level of rigor and discipline" that the investigation deserves. Meanwhile, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon was sentenced to four months in jail on Friday after defying a subpoena from the House committee. The New York Times said that Donald Trump has yet to confirm if he will comply with the subpoena. However, he has privately mused that he might comply if his testimony is broadcast live. READ MORE: Donald Trump Says FBI Agents Raided Mar-A-Lago Home; Agency's Visit Unannounced This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Speaker Nancy Pelosi: Donald Trump 'Not Man Enough' to Comply With Jan. 6 Subpoena - From MSNBC Minneapolis Police Department is still struggling with recruitment while hundreds of police officers left, citing post-traumatic stress from the George Floyd incident in 2020. City officials are now calling people to join the force. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has said in August that the city "needs more police officers" while he was presenting a proposal to boost police funding. ABC News Go reported that crime increased in Minneapolis during the pandemic, with homicide offenses nearly doubling from 2019 to 2021, aggravated assaults rose by one-third, and car-jackings skyrocketed. The crime problem was also doubled down by the mass resignation of police officers after George Floyd was killed. It resulted in roughly one-third of its personnel quitting. Frey wanted to push the number of police officers to more than 800 by 2025 after a court ruled that the city has an insufficient minimum number of officers required under the city's charter. Police spokesman Garrett Parten said that the city is aware it is facing recruitment challenges, saying fewer people are "applying for the job." In September, only six graduated in a class that can accommodate more than 40 recruits. In 2022, only 57 people applied. It was a decrease from 292 applicants in 2019. READ NEXT: Ex-Minneapolis Cop Derek Chauvin Gets 22.5 Years in Prison for George Floyd's Murder Minneapolis Police Recruitment Challenges The nonprofit Police Executive Research Forum surveyed 184 police agencies in the U.S. and Canada. It revealed that resignations increased by 43% from 2019 through 2021, according to a Fox News report. In addition, retirements in police departments rose by 24%, with overall hiring in the same period falling by 4%. Interim City Attorney Peter Ginder noted in a recruitment issue in court in June that the police mass resignation was "an unprecedented loss of personnel that is not easily corrected." Ginder added that the Minneapolis mayor and Minneapolis Police Department are working "in good faith" to recruit and hire more police officers. Minneapolis police officers responsible for Floyd's death have faced legal repercussions, with Derek Chauvin convicted of murder last year. Chauvin was the police officer who knelt on Floyd's neck for nine minutes. Minneapolis Police Department Legal Battles MPR News noted that the Minneapolis City Council approved settlements more than $700,000 in lawsuits by more than a dozen protesters, claiming that the police officers used excessive force against them. The cases were rooted in police response during protests after the murder of Floyd in 2020. The city also agreed to a proposed injunction on police use of chemical agents like tear gas or mace as part of the settlement. Attorney Joshua Rissman, who represented some of the plaintiffs, said that with the unlawful use of rubber bullets or other chemical munitions against peaceful protesters, they are able to quickly seek to enforce the injunction in federal court. One of the lawsuits noted that Minneapolis police started using pepper spray, rubber bullets, and tear gas despite demonstrations already dispersing. In May, council members also approved $1.2 million in settlements, covering the $600,000 to a freelance photographer who lost sight in her eye while covering protests. READ MORE: Derek Chauvin Trial Moves Forward, Video of George Floyd's Final Moments to Be Played This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Minneapolis police continue to fall short in officer hires - from WCCO- CBS Minnesota An appeal has been issued after a man was attacked and seriously injured by a group in Portlaoise. Laois Gardai are appealing for witnesses following the assault of a male on Coote Street, Portlaoise in the early hours of Sunday morning October 23. "At approximately 1.20am on Sunday morning a male aged in his 40s was walking on Coote Street when he was approached by a group of four people and assaulted. "The man was seriously injured during the incident. He is currently being treated for his injuries, which are understood to be non-life threatening, in St. James Hospital, Dublin. Gardai say no arrests have been made at this time," said Gardai. Gardai are appealing to any person who may have witnessed this incident near the Market Square area to contact them. "Any person who was in the vicinity of Coote Street between 1.20am and 1.30am on Sunday morning, particularly any road users who may have camera footage (including dash cam), is asked to contact investigating Gardai," said a statement. Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 867 4100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Some 15 years since Durrow decided to dazzle with daffodils, the local Tidy Towns wants your help to add a fresh splash of spring colour to the Laois village. The original fundraiser saw the Tidy Towns getting sponsorship for bags of bulbs for on the approach roads into Durrow. "You may have noticed that the burst of spring yellow has not been as bright lately and in particular on the Abbeyleix road. "We are reaching out to the community both at home and abroad to sponsor a bag of bulbs," they say. If youd like to do so, ypu can sponsor online or if youd like to sponsor any amount towards the bulbs you can do so by dropping an envelope marked Durrow Tidy Towns to Lawlors Gala in the square or to our treasurer Rita Casey. "This would also make a great Christmas gift for family and friends," say the community. https://durrowscarecrowfestival.com/community-shop/ for details on purchasing Portlaoise District Court Judge Andrew Cody has said the level of business at the court sitting is unsustainable and another Judge is needed. Last Thursday, Judge Cody said Portlaoise District Court is the second busiest court in the country as he block adjourned road traffic matters. He said some District Courts get through 1,000 cases a month but Portlaoise covered 500 in the past a week. We are doing our best but it is not sustainable at this rate, he remarked. Stating that there were 286 cases on top of seven search warrants, three executed warrants and six prison video links, Judge Cody said there is not a hope in hell of doing 286 cases. I have been trying my best. We covered 500 cases last week, he told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. I am going to see what I can do to get a second JudgeI hope for next year we get a permanent second part time Judge, he said. Judge Codys comments were made on the same day the issue of court resources was raised in the Dail with Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee. She said: The fact of the matter is that we do not have enough judges, and we need more. That is clear. That is why I set up the review group. It is important that we understand how many we need and why we need them. Minister McEntee was responding to questions from Deputy Martin Kenny. He had asked about the workload being faced by courts in the wake of the Covid restrictions. Deputy Kenny said: Access to justice is a primary need and a primary right that citizens must have. At the end of the day, if we do not have enough judges to carry out the roles that are required, we are simply failing the public. That needs to be recognised. Minister McEntee said she had established a judicial planning working group in April 2021. The working group is going to look at type and number of judges that we have to ensure that there is efficient and effective administration across the system as it currently stands, she explained. The OECD was commissioned to carry out an independent review in support of the working group and their report is with the Ministers office. I am hoping to meet with the judicial planning working group in the coming weeks, when it will submit the final report to me, said Minister McEntee. In its final report that will be published in the coming weeks, the group will set out exactly how many judges are needed. Pre-empting that report, over 2 million was allocated in the budget this year to ensure that we can start putting the resources and people in place, Minister McEntee explained. She said work was underway to establish support teams within the court structure and a modernisation programme was being implemented in the courts system. Iarnrod Eireann is advising customers in Laois that a revised timetable will be in place this October Bank Holiday weekend on all routes. Commuter services between Portlaoise and Dublin Heuston will involve bus transfers between Portlaoise and Portarlington in both directions between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning at 10.30am. The national rail carrier is warning that major works between Portarlington and Ballybrophy will result in line closures and alternative arrangements during the weekend. The line from Portarlington to Ballybrophy between 2.30pm on Saturday, October 29 to Monday, October 31 at 10.30am. Due to a series of track and signalling works taking place, the line between Portarlington and Thurles is closed from 2.30pm on Saturday, ensuring that full services will operate at the busiest times of the weekend, Irish Rail stated. All services between Dublin and Cork, Kerry and Limerick will be part-replaced by bus transfers, and to a revised schedule, with other services also affected: Services between Cork and Dublin Heuston will operate to a revised schedule, with bus transfers between Thurles and Kildare in both directions. Direct services between Limerick and Dublin Heuston are cancelled. Journeys between Limerick and Dublin Heuston, involving a change at Limerick Junction, will have bus transfers between Thurles and Kildare, in both directions. Direct services between Tralee and Dublin Heuston will operate as follows: Saturday: 5.05pm Heuston to Tralee will operate between Mallow and Tralee only - please use Heuston to Cork service to connect at Mallow. On Sunday the 08.30am Heuston to Tralee will operate with bus transfers between Thurles and Kildare. Customers are advised to check times before travel at www.irishrail.ie and at the Iarnrod Eireann App. We apologise to customers for any inconvenience from these essential works, Irish Rail stated. There is no more room at the inn in Laois for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. Laois County Council CEO John Mulholland has said the county is nearly there or thereabouts at capacity. Speaking this Monday, October 24 at the monthly council meeting, the CEO said that 702 people are now accommodated across the county, mainly in hotels and private homes. The council recently took on the Red Cross's role of taking pledges of spare bedrooms in private homes, as well as giving emergency assistance to Ukrainians. We liaise with families to see if they are still committed, organise Garda vetting and check transport links. We deal with it on an emergency basis almost every day. If its not about accommodation, it's about health or liaising with schools. There are a lot of partners involved. But to ask me, I'd say we're nearly there or thereabouts. We have 702 at the moment. Most are at hotels, some of them since March, in Durrow and Abbeyleix. A number of private properties bypassed our service and are contracted, in town here and in Clonaslee and they are outside the line of sight of the local authority, he said. Below: Laois County Council CEO John Mulholland. Photo: Alf Harvey Sites and commercial buildings are being viewed to fasttrack temporary homes, but so far none in Laois have been found. The department is looking across the country for sites for quickbuild units. A couple in Portlaoise are being examined at the moment, but even at that it would only take 60 or 70 people. Each of these units are all fairly expensive. Mr Mulholland was asked by Cllr Willie Aird how many Ukrainian people Laois is told to take. There is no fixed formula for deciding how many displaced citizens counties get. It depends on hotels, homes, university campuses, and the number of pledges. It was predicted that up to 200,000 would come to Ireland. At the moment it is 60,000. Others are seeking refuge too. There are quite a number from Georgia, the Laois CEO said. He said that converting commercial buildings into temporary accommodation is not easy, as minimum standards must be met on ventilation, lights, fire alarms, hot water and toilets. If they are not commected to a sewer you are talking of a major expense. There is a pitfall of investing and finding no tenants. We ran our eye over four or five but none came through. If anyone thinks they have a building that might meet requirements, contact the dept of housing, Mr Mulholland said. We look for sites, we do a preliminary design and we send it to the Department for Children and see if we get any commitment back, he said. He expects the Russian war to last until next year. When the Ukrainians leave they would be used for some other emergency accommodation, but we are nowhere near that point. We're six months into it and it soesn't look like this time next year we will be out of it. It's a long term emergency. Cllr John King suggested that sites and buildings be identfied in rural Laois towns and villages, to boost numbers in rural schools. Cllr Ben Brennan said that an owner of a commercial building has told him that he sent in a query to Laois County Council on whether it was suitable but was told a reply would take six weeks. That is not good enough, he said. The CEO agreed. If it is on an emergency footing it should be quicker, Mr Mulholland said. Temporary planning permission can be given for emergency Ukrainian accommodation, said Laois Director of Services for Planning, Angela McEvoy. Commercial buildings can ask for change of use for temporary accommodation, if they write into us, but only for Ukraine, after that they must be regularised, she said. Irish police have launched a murder inquiry following the death of a 60-year-old man in Dublin at the weekend. A gardai spokesperson said that in the early hours of Saturday, Adnan Asic was walking towards Blanchardstown Road North coming from the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre when he was violently assaulted. He was taken to hospital but died as a result of his injuries. Mr Asic was originally from Bosnia but he had lived in Ireland for more than 30 years. A post-mortem examination was conducted on Saturday evening by State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan, at Dublin City Mortuary. The results are not being released for operational reasons. An incident room has been established at Blanchardstown garda station and the investigation is being carried out under the direction of a senior investigating officer. Gardai are appealing to any person who were in the vicinity of Blanchardstown Road North at the junction with the Old Navan Road or the N3 (Mulhuddart) Flyover and surrounding areas between 2am and 3am on Saturday to contact the investigation team at Blanchardstown Garda Station. In particular, police are appealing for any road users travelling in these areas at these times who may have camera footage to make it available. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Blanchardstown garda station on 01 666 7000, the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station. In this photo taken by an individual not employed by the Associated Press and obtained by the AP outside Iran, Iranians protest the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was detained by the morality police. In Tehran on October 1, 2022. AP Iran's atomic energy agency alleged on Sunday, October 23, that hackers acting on behalf of an unidentified foreign country broke into a subsidiary's network and had free access to its email system. An anonymous hacking group claimed responsibility for the attack on Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, demanding Tehran release political prisoners arrested in the recent nationwide protests. The group said it leaked 50 gigabytes of internal emails, contracts and construction plans related to Irans Russian-backed nuclear power plant in Bushehr and shared the files on its Telegram channel. It was unclear whether the breached system contained classified material. The hack comes as Iran continues to face nationwide unrest first sparked by the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman in police custody for allegedly not adhering to the country's strict Islamic dress code. On Sunday, Iran's leading teachers association reported that sit-ins canceled classes at multiple schools across the country in protest over the governments crackdown on student protesters. Read more Subscribers only Iranian repression increasingly targets teenagers The protests first focused on Irans state-mandated hijab, or headscarf, for women but transformed into one of the most serious challenges to the countrys ruling clerics. Protesters have clashed with police and even called for the downfall of the Islamic Republic itself. Security forces have fired live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrations, killing over 200 people, according to estimates by rights groups. Iran's civil nuclear arm said hackers breached the email system used by a company operating the country's sole nuclear power plant in the southern port city of Bushehr. The agency blamed a "foreign country" for the attack, without elaborating. Iran has previously accused the United States and Israel for cyberattacks that have impaired the countrys infrastructure. "These illegal efforts out of desperation are aimed at attracting public attention," the organization said. An anonymous hacking group, calling itself "Black Reward," published on Telegram what appeared to be files of contracts, construction plans and details about equipment at the Bushehr plant, which went online in 2011 with help from Russia. "Unlike Westerners, we do not flirt with criminal mullahs," the group wrote. Teachers union boycott Meanwhile, the Coordination Council for Teachers Union, Iran's leading teachers association that has been vocal in the protests, reported that schools, largely in Iran's Kurdish provinces, heeded its call to boycott classes Sunday in protest over the deaths and detentions of students in the past month of unrest. There was no immediate acknowledgment of the strikes from authorities. The union shared photos of teachers holding up protest signs saying "Woman, Life, Freedom" instead of teaching at schools in the Kurdish cities of Sanandaj, Marivan, Kermanshah and Saqez, as well as in West Azerbaijan and mountainous Hamadan provinces. "Schools have become barracks and tear gas is thrown in the faces of elementary school students," one teacher wrote in a letter shared by the union. "History will record the names of this brave generation." Read more Subscribers only 'In Iran, we need sanctions targeting those repressing protesters' We are interested in your experience using the site. Send feedback Campuses have long been a flash point for unrest in Iran, including during the 1953 student protests under the Western-backed shah and during the 1999 pro-democracy demonstrations under former reformist President Mohammad Khatami. At the prestigious Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, the scene of an hours-long siege by security forces earlier this month that ended with dozens of students arrested, protests erupted as students tore down the barrier dividing men from women in the campus cafeteria, a students' association said. As footage showed, the massive crowd of students shouted "Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!" at the top of their lungs, pumping their fists in the air. Le Monde with AP A RICH COLLECTION of world-famous actor Richard Harris's archives are to be put on display in his home city of Limerick. The Hunt Museum in the city centre is to showcase the rich set of materials later this year in a tribute to the acclaimed film star's strong roots on Shannonside, at a special request from the Harris family including his son Jared. What will be on show is a collection of letters, photographs, literary works, artefacts and both professional and personal documents which belonged to the Grammy and Golden Globe-winning actor, who died in 2002. "Our family is excited about bringing this collection to the public in Limerick and also basing it around the particular academic expertise of Dr Barry Monahan," said Jared, who himself is an international film icon, "We hope the public will enjoy the Limerick exhibition and students of film, music and theatre will find in the collection a fascinating trove of information. Spanning more than 50 years, the Richard Harris Archive gives a unique insight into one of Irelands most legendary actors - and one of Limerick's most famous sons - who starred in some of the most celebrated pieces of cinema. In the collection are Richards personal creative writing manuscripts including poetry, publicity and location photos from his screen and stage performances including Camelot and Pirandellos Henry IV, private memos, items from film sets, Young Munster rugby plaques and pictures, letters and wire communications from family and friends, arts critics and co-performers. Pictured below, the crown Richard adorned in Camelot, part of the collection Below, Harris in Pirandello's Henry IV with a note from Peter O' Toole Jill Cousins, director of the Hunt Museum in Limerick stated: "It will be an honour to curate this wonderful archive into an exhibition about one of Limericks favourite sons. We are looking forward to the collaboration with University College Cork (UCC) and the Harris Family and to the joyful experience people will get from a greater insight into the man who was both an athlete and an actor. A preview of the collection was on Friday presented by Jared Harris and UCC at an event attended by members of the Harris family in London. Prominent items from the archives were unveiled at the event which took place in the Savoy Hotels Richard Harris Suite, where the late actor resided for many years. The documents reveal a man whose skills as a gifted athlete and talented rugby player not only served him in practical ways for his performance in This Sporting Life, but for the duration of his career on stage and screen, and as a writer, director and producer of universal acclaim. After the archive's stint in Limerick, they will find a permanent home at UCC, which has plans to develop a special treasures gallery for the exhibition. Exact dates of the collection's appearance in Limerick will be released at a later date. MONALEEN National School was among the first schools to host the popular childrens fitness initiative Fit Squad as it resumed its programme of in-person school visits following a two-year break during Covid. The initiative is delivered by Irish fitness expert Tom Dalton and is supported by Fyffes. The visit to Monaleen NS in Castletroy saw over 150 pupils participate in the active workout which included advice on healthy eating and demonstrations of exercises that young people should do and tips on how to use leisure time to stay physically fit. Schools interested in receiving a similar visit can find more details online at fyffesfitsquad.ie. Each 45-minute session includes an active workout plus talks and tips on healthy eating, all designed to improve childrens general fitness through engaging and fun-filled activities. Continuing until next March, it is expected that some 7,500 pupils - at schools in Limerick and across the country - will participate in the interactive fitness sessions. Over 20,000 pupils who have taken part in the Fit Squad initiative since it was first launched in 2018. A COUNCILLOR has confirmed that fencing is to be erected at a Limerick bridge following several 'rock-throwing' incidents. Reports of rock-throwing perpetrated by teenagers across Irish Rail owned bridges in Limerick city have been highlighted by Limerick Live since September, after several motorists received damage to their windscreens. One particular bridge, located above the Kilmallock Roundabout on Childers Road, which can be accessed by the adjacent Bengal Terrace, has now secured a commitment of special fencing. In September, Irish Rail responded to requests by elected representatives to address the anti-social activity, saying that they would liaise with the council to work on further "deterrent measures." Cllr Catherine Slattery (FF) stated that last week, she received a call from Irish Rail, to inform her that the bridge will be receiving palisade fencing to "prevent rocks being thrown from the bridge." "All in all, it's great news because it was so dangerous with people driving past that bridge and their cars getting belted with rocks. If something wasn't done, someone could have been killed," Cllr Slattery said. The special fencing, which first hit Irish markets in 1975, provides a formidable barrier using profiled strip steel components. Palisade is an extremely effective perimeter protection. She explained that as the council are in charge of the maintenance of the bridge, Irish Rail have proposed that they will do the fencing, but it is up for the council to pay for the works. Since the update, local residents have expressed their delight to the city-based councillor. One word of thanks told of how each night, after visiting the local graveyard in Bengal, they have been taking another route home due to "safety concerns." "We are talking about people's safety and people's lives here. This is a big issue for residents and people driving under those bridges. A big well done to Irish Rail and the council," Cllr Slattery added. The fencing is due to be erected "in the coming weeks." People visit the 74th Frankfurt Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany on Oct. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu) The China International Publishing Group and China National Publications Import and Export Co., Ltd. have brought together over 100 publishing companies in China to attend the fair. More than 1,000 different kinds of publications were exhibited on the shelves of the Chinese booths, covering topics of politics, economics, culture, history, technology and the Chinese language, for adults and children as well. FRANKFURT, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- For people who are eager to get a better understanding of China, the Chinese booths at the ongoing Frankfurt Book Fair presented opportunities for them. "I visit the Chinese booths at the Fair every time, and plentiful of selected Chinese books never fail to help me to know better about different aspects of China," Charlottes, who works in the culture industry in Belgium, told Xinhua. In order to meet the needs of visitors like Charlottes, the China International Publishing Group and China National Publications Import and Export Co., Ltd. have brought together over 100 publishing companies in China to attend the event, regarded as the largest of its kind, this year. People visit the 74th Frankfurt Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany on Oct. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu) More than 1,000 different kinds of publications were exhibited on the shelves of the Chinese booths, covering topics of politics, economics, culture, history, technology and the Chinese language, for adults and children as well. Rosenmarie Stefan, whose curiosity about China has been built up since she took a few courses about China in a community school, is looking for something about China that would be different from the reports of the local press. The local media's coverage of China is far from enough for people to know a big country, she said. As a consultant in Frankfurt, Dirk Schneider has been cooperating with Chinese companies for over 20 years, and he prefers books about Chinese politics and economics. "I am keen to know more about the New Silkroad and would like to find some publications about it." People visit the 74th Frankfurt Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany on Oct. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu) Ralf Glitza, who is teaching philosophy and education at Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, said he hopes to find books about Chinese political philosophy and education. "I want to deepen my understanding about the possibility of China for now and in the future." An increasing number of Chinese books have been published abroad in the past few years, said Ren Lei, chief representative of the German representative office of China National Publications Import and Export (Group) Co., Ltd. Books about children's education, novels authored by well-known Chinese writers, Chinese philosophy and Chinese medicines are especially popular among readers in Europe, according to Ren. The Frankfurt Book Fair, scheduled for Oct. 18-23, drew more than 4,000 publishing companies from 95 countries and regions. GREAT weather brought a large crowd out for the launch of a new defibrillator in the heart of a Limerick village. The defibrillator was placed in a vintage phone box, repurposed for housing the life saving device. The Ballyneety Community Development Association (BCDA) and Donoughmore, Knockea and Roxboro (DKR) Community Association joined forces to source a defibrillator for the village. Member of the Ballyneety Defibrillator Project Ann Rowsome commented: "Our sincere thanks to St Ailbes Credit Union, John Godfrey and family of Bioscience Nutrition Ireland, Ann and Brian Murphy of Creative Gardens for their immediate support. "3,000 was raised by the community in just three days and a total of 3,500 was raised in a week it's brilliant," Ann said. Although there are defibrillators in Ballyneety prior to the launch of the phone box defibrillator, they were only available during working hours. The team wanted the defibrillator to be visible to any passer-by in the village, so they enlisted Thomas Hassett of Custom Concrete Studio in Abbeyfeale who builds replica vintage defibrillator phone boxes to make the unit. The box was installed in the village and is a standout landmark that can be easily accessed in case of emergencies, it's available 24 hrs a day to the community and is illuminated at night with access via keypad. The 4-pin code is written on the door of the box (pictured above) for easy access and is also linked with the National Ambulance Service, so when someone dials 999 in the event of an emergency the operator will alert you to the location of the nearest defibrillator if required. BCDA Chairperson Brid Lang said: "When two community organisations come together with a mutual goal to support and further enhance the community spirit, anything can be achieved." Chairperson of the DKR Community Association Naomi Cleary Graham commented: "Community Spirit can help foster growth and nurture positive experiences. This has been evident with the addition of the defibrillator to our village. Ballyneety Defibrillator Project's success has been a testament to our wonderful community." VITALOGRAPH Ireland, which has a significant presence in Limerick, has announced the creation of more than 70 new jobs in Ennis with the purchase of the Ballymaley Enterprise and Innovation Centre from Clare County Council. Clare County Council and Ennis 2040 have announced the sale of the property to Vitalograph Ireland for the development of its new Clinical Trials Services Centre of Excellence. A total of 72 new jobs will be created as a result of the deal. Cllr Tony OBrien, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, said: It is great news for Ennis and County Clare when companies like Vitalograph continue to grow and expand their investment in the region. I welcome their commitment to Clare and wish them continued success. Vitalograph, which produces respiratory diagnostic devices, previously announced a 10 million expansion and the addition of 200 jobs in Clare and Limerick earlier this year. The announcement, in April, has been followed up with confirmation of the purchase of the Ballymaley Enterprise and Innovation Centre which will bring the company's headcount in Clare to 310 by 2024. Frank Keane, CEO, Vitalograph Ireland, said that the new expansion represents a significant development for the company and shows Vitalographs commitment to its Irish operations as well as the local community in County Clare. "The new premises will enable us to support the international growth of our ground-breaking clinical trial solutions. Creating a Centre of Excellence here in Ennis reflects the talent and skill that exists in the Vitalograph workforce and will offer many opportunities to people looking to build their careers in this exciting business," he said. After the announcement of Rishi Sunak's victory in the UK's next Prime Minister's race on Monday, Bengalurians termed it a historic moment and a sign of a mature democracy. The 42-year-old Sunak, who is also known as the son-in-law of Bengaluru" was married to Akshatha Murthy, daughter of Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty. While the Murthys chose to maintain silence over their son-in-law making history, many others from the corporate world expressed their happiness over the development. Congratulations to Conservative Party leader Shri Rishi Sunak as being elected Britains Prime Minister, the first person of Indian-origin to hold this august office. Best wishes for a successful tenure. #RishiSunak pic.twitter.com/wJKSGFVLQw Basavaraj S Bommai (@BSBommai) October 24, 2022 Along with corporate giants Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai also congratulate Rishi Sunak on being elected as the Britain Prime Minister. Union Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, Skill Development, Electronics and Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar, congratulated Rishi Sunak on his victory and his term as the Prime Minister of UK. Along with congratulating, he also warned that Rishi Sunak is taking over the responsibility at a time when the whole of Europe is going through a difficult time. "I have met him (Sunak) personally. He is a highly competent person," Chandrasekhar said. Kamal Bali, the president and managing director of the Volvo Group India said it is a matter of joy that a person of Indian origin is becoming the Prime Minister in the UK. "Rishi Sunak's rise shows that anybody has an opportunity in a democratic set-up. It is a good sign, which also shows that capability matters in a democratic country," Bali told PTI. The former Infosys Chief Finance Officer V Balakrishnan called it a historic moment. He also said that Britain is an example to the world that a migrant can also become Prime Minister of their country. Britain is a sign of a mature democracy Former president of the Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jacob Crasta regarded it a matter of great pride and honour for Indians. "It is a pride for us Bengalurians as the son-in-law of Bengaluru is becoming the Prime Minister of the UK," Crasta told PTI. He further informed that it is a good news for India as it will create new opportunities for the development of India UK relationship and bring more options for UK technology to come to the country. Gone are the days when students were made to sit leaving a gap of an empty bench between them to prevent cheating, as the teachers of a college in the Philippines have found anti-cheating hats to do the task. Social media is brimming with interesting images of anti-cheating hats worn by students of Legazpi Citys college during their college exams. A teacher at Bicol University College of Engineering in Legazpi City had asked the students to make and wear headgears that would prevent them from peeking at others papers. Students decided to obey the orders creatively. With children wearing hats made of egg boxes, cardboard, etc, the exam hall looked nothing different than a fancy dress competition. The innovative way to prevent cheating in the examination hall has been applauded by Twitteratis. From a crow head to a Spartan, students amazed the teacher as well as social media with their unique and interesting hats. The idea was implemented for recent mid-term exams in which hundreds of students appeared in the third week of October. Mary Joy Mandane-Ortiz, a professor at the engineering college saw the upcoming mid-term exams as an opportunity to come up with an interesting and fun way to build integrity and creativity in students. Hence, she ordered the students to wear headgears that would cover their heads and hinder their side view. One of the students also wore tunnel-visioned binoculars in the examination hall. Whereas, some decided to wear helmets and Halloween masks to meet the mandatory requirements for appearing in the examination. Some students simply used blank sheets of paper and pins to make their headgear. The teacher shared the images of the students wearing these fancy anti-cheating headgear on her Facebook account. Since then, the images of these students have gone viral and have been featured in many Thailand media outlets as well as international media organisations. Akshata Murty, the Indian wife of Britain's next Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is fabulously rich thanks to her billionaire father, a fortune that is attracting controversy as ordinary people reel from a cost-of-living crisis. Sunak's father-in-law, N.R. Narayana Murthy, 76, co-founded tech giant Infosys in 1981. The outsourcing behemoth now worth around $75 billion helped drive India's transformation into the "back office of the world". One of only two non-Americans in Fortune magazine's 2012 list of the "12 greatest entrepreneurs of our time", the Infosys chief's life-changing moment came in 1974 when he was locked up for four nights in communist Eastern Europe. "That cured me from being a confused leftist to a determined compassionate capitalist," Narayana said afterwards. Sunak's mother-in-law Sudha meanwhile was Tata Motors' first female engineer after famously complaining via a postcard to the chairman about the firm's stipulation that "lady candidates need not apply". Regarded as "India's favourite granny", she is a prolific author and a powerful force in social work, setting up 60,000 libraries and building 16,000 toilets -- and is reputed to be humble despite her own immense wealth. Doctor's son Sudha ensured an austere upbringing for her children Akshata and Rohan, with no television at home and insisting they go to school in an auto-rickshaw like their classmates. Atypically for class-conscious India, where arranged marriages are still common, the couple were fine with Murty's comparatively humble choice of husband, a doctor's son from Southampton named Rishi Sunak. In a letter, Murty's father -- who spells his surname differently to his daughter -- said Sunak was "all that you had described him to be -- brilliant, handsome, and, most importantly, honest". The couple met at Stanford University in the United States when Murty was pursuing her MBA. The future prime minister was a Fulbright scholar with a first-class degree from Oxford. Their 2009 wedding was a relatively modest affair by the standards of India's well-heeled, but the reception was attended by about 1,000 guests including politicians, industrialists and cricketers. Non-dom Murty's stake in Infosys is worth around $700 million, making her richer than the late Queen Elizabeth II, whose personal wealth was estimated at about $460 million by the 2021 Sunday Times Rich List. The 42-year-old has also earned tens of millions in dividends in recent years, but her "non-domicile" status in the UK shielded some of this income from British taxes. To assuage some of the resulting public anger that hurt her husband politically, Murty said in April that she would pay UK tax on all her worldwide income. "I do this because I want to, not because the rules require me to," she tweeted. "My decision... will not change the fact that India remains the country of my birth, citizenship, parents' home and place of domicile. But I love the UK too." The couple -- who have two daughters and a photogenic dog -- remain extremely rich and their lavish lifestyle hasn't gone unnoticed by the British media at a time when ordinary people are struggling. In August, reports said that they were spending 400,000 on a swimming pool at their country pad. In July, Sunak wore Prada loafers on a campaign visit to a rubble-strewn construction site. Non-materialistic Murty and Sunak own at least four properties, including a 7 million five-bedroom house in Kensington, London. They also own a flat in Santa Monica, California. She dabbled in finance and marketing before creating her own fashion label, Akshata Designs, in 2010. According to a 2011 Vogue profile, Murty works with artists in remote villages to create Indian-meets-Western fusion clothes that are "vehicles to discovering Indian culture". "I believe we live in a materialistic society," she told the magazine. "People are becoming more conscious about the world they live in. Doing good is fashionable." This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. As Hindus celebrate the festival of lights and happiness across the world, Sydney Opera House lit up on Sunday following the greetings from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and several world leaders of Diwali. In his public statement released on Monday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called Diwali "A season of reflection and renewal". "May this Deepawali bring every joy and contentment to you and your loved ones," he said. Earlier today, the Sydney Opera House in Australia also lit up on the occasion of Diwali after a "Viraat" Sunday, giving a cricketing reference to India's four-wicket win over Pakistan yesterday guided by Virat Kohli, in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022. Diwali celebrations became more grand for Indians after the victory of Rishi Sunak in the UK Prime Minister' race. The Consulate General of India tweeted saying "After a Viraat Sunday, Sydney all geared up to witness Grand Diwali". In another Diwali greetings to the global Hindu community, Google CEO Sundar Pichai tweeted his kind of Diwali celebrations. In his tweet, he mentioned that he celebtrated Diwali by watching 'the last three overs again'. "Happy Diwali! Hope everyone celebrating has a great time with your friends and family. I celebrated by watching the last three overs again today, what a game and performance #Diwali #TeamIndia #T20WC2022," he tweeted. Happy Diwali! Hope everyone celebrating has a great time with your friends and family. I celebrated by watching the last three overs again today, what a game and performance #Diwali #TeamIndia #T20WC2022 Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) October 24, 2022 In another remarkable development on Friday, New York mayor Eric Adams announced that Diwali will be a holiday for the New York City public school starting next year in 2023. India's neighbouring country, Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif also tweeted on Monday to express his greetings to the Hindu community in Pakistan and around the world on the occasion of Diwali. "Wishing the Hindu community in Pakistan and around the world on Diwali , the festival of lights. May the day bring peace, joy and harmony to our world!" he tweeted. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also released a video to wish everyone celebrating the "Festival of Lights" in Canada and around the world. "Diwali represents the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, right over wrong and the power of freedom, hope and knowledge," he said. Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss also wished everyone in the UK and worldwide a joyful Diwali and 'Bandi Chhor Divas'. "I wish you all peace and prosperity and a very Happy Diwali," she said. Israel Prime Minister Yair Lapid wished his "dear friend" Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all the Indians on the occasion of Diwali. "Wishing a #HappyDiwali to my dear friend@NarendraModiand all the people of India! May this festival of lights bring happiness, good health and prosperity to all. smst bhaartvaasiyoN ko #diipaavlii ke paavn avsr pr haardik shubhkaamnaaeN / " he tweeted. Deepavali, popularly known as the festival of lights, is celebrated nationwide with great fervour and enthusiasm. 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. Use the Arrows < > above to go through the gallery Longford Lamb Producer Group held their annual open evening this year on the farm of Tommy and Noel Claffey at the Claffey family farm at Ballinagore, Co Westmeath. The theme of the event was farm safety and farmers health and wellbeing. Longford Lamb Producer Group Chairman Mr Joe Esler presided over the event and welcomed the large attendance and the guest speakers. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO Caption: Tommy Claffey and Patricia Claffey (hosts of the Longford Lamb Producer Group annual open evening), Ruth Campbell, Noel Claffey and Joe Esler, Chairman Longford Lamb Producer Group. Missing from picture is Deirdre Claffey The main speakers on the evening were Francis Blighe, Teagasc Health and Safety Specialist. The aim of his presentation was to raise awareness of potential dangers on members' own farms and reduce incidents of accidents occurring. Laura Tully, from TUS Athlone, gave a very interesting presentation on farmers' Health and Wellbeing. Barbara Allen, from FBD Mullingar, gave a presentation on farm insurance and the importance of keeping it updated. The meeting was also addressed by representatives from Kepak Athleague. Jonathan Forbes and David Mannion gave a detailed presentation on the current markets for sheep meat and future prospects for the sheep trade. The Longford Lamb Producer Group committee would like to thank the Claffey family for putting their farm yard and facilities at the disposal of the Group for this important event. Afterwards the annual members' draw was held and the Early, Mid and Late Lamb Producers award winners were announced and presented with their cups. Overview of Longford lamb Group Longford Lamb Producer Group is located in South Longford and caters for approximately 100 farmers mainly in the South Longford /South Westmeath catchment area. The group is run for the benefit of all its members and is a not for profit organisation. All positions on the executive are carried out on a voluntary basis and are renewed at the Groups annual general meeting held each year in early April. Any member can be proposed for any position, thus giving farmers an input into the running of the group. The Group has a good professional working relationship with the factory, representing approximately 100 farmers interests. Convenience: lambs are transported to the factory each week on Monday evenings which suits all farmers especially part time farmers. Loading takes place in Ballymahon at the Longford Westmeath Farmers Mart. The committee would like to acknowledge and thank the management of the mart premises for facilitating these arrangements. The group endeavours at all times to have a group representative present at the factory to oversee the entire operation. All members are issued with the rules of the group on an annual basis. These are designed to facilitate the smooth running of the group. Longford Lamb Producer Group are fortunate to have buy-in from the members in adhering to the rules and embracing the ethos and objectives of the group . This is evident by the fact that the group has grown its membership year on year with a consequent increase in the number of lambs being processed through the group. Any problems or issues that arise with the factory are dealt with through the committee and the results communicated to the individual farmer. A dedicated representative is appointed for this sole purpose. As a producer group, a better price can be negotiated with the factory than that obtained by an individual farmer. A sub committee is tasked with this task on behalf of the group. The advantage for the factory is that it has a weekly guaranteed supply of lambs. Booking of lambs is carried out through our Joint Co-ordinators to a dedicated group mobile number. Other benefits for group members is that they can avail of discounts on their farm insurance through a deal with FBD insurance. Deals for Oil Feed fertiliser and veterinary products are also negotiated on a yearly basis. Social Open evenings are organised for group members. While these are educational, they also provide a forum for exchanging information and raising any problems they may have. An annual draw is held each August for members. Group Contacts Anyone who requires more information regarding the group are asked to contact the group Chairman Joe Esler on 086 270 9640 or Group Secretary Ben Lynn on 087 2379629 or any committee member. A sub-group of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee was convened recently to provide a forum to discuss potential challenges around the fertiliser supply chain facing into the peak season of fertiliser demand on farms in the coming spring. Relevant stakeholders attended the meeting from across the fertiliser wholesale and agri-retail sectors and from farm organisations. The meeting also included representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, agri-finance, agri-media and Teagasc. In his opening remarks to the meeting, Mike Magan, Chair of the Fodder and Food Security Committee said: The meeting is being held to provide a forum to discuss and understand the potential risks of disruption to the fertiliser supply chain in the coming months and into the peak fertiliser usage period in spring and early summer of 2023. "We want to ensure that we dont have a situation where a farmer needing to apply fertiliser next year will not be able to source it." The meeting came to agreement on a number of key awareness messages that require to be communicated to farmers and industry to mitigate the potential risk of fertiliser shortages: At a national level, greater awareness is needed across the sector of potential threats to reduced fertiliser availability. At individual farmer level, the fertiliser requirements specific to the farm for 2023 should be assessed, including factoring in the ongoing need to build sufficient fodder reserves. A recommendation that farmers should consider committing to securing 20-30% of their total annual fertiliser requirement for 2023 over the coming weeks was proposed, taking account of the cash flow and risk factors specific to the farm business. Farmers should focus on sourcing their Phosphorus (P) fertiliser requirements for spring 2023 as soon as possible. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine informed the meeting that although all the sales data is not yet collated for 2022, the trend observed in quarter 3 continues with total fertiliser sales expected to be approximately 20% lower than 2021. Sales of Nitrogen (N) are showing a decrease of approximately 20% with the decrease in Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) lower at approximately 30% when compared with 2021. An EU Fertiliser Strategy is also under discussion at present where policy coherence across a number of areas including energy, fertiliser and food security is anticipated. Input to the meeting from fertiliser wholesalers highlighted the relatively small scale of Irelands fertiliser usage, being less than 0.5% of the overall global usage, thus making Ireland very vulnerable to global factors in securing fertiliser supply. Prices of nitrogen fertiliser continue to remain high due to the dependence and price of energy, particularly gas. Availability of fertilisers is affected by restricted access to products that are linked to sanctioned Russian oligarchs and the supply risk is particularly acute in the case of P fertilisers, as approximately 70% of P used in Ireland was from Russian-associated companies. The importance of having imports coming into the country from now on in order to ensure sufficient stocks are ready for usage on farms next spring was highlighted. However, confidence around importing large quantities is low at present due to the lack of significant demand for product coming through from farm and agri-retail levels. Any delay in imports now has the potential of knock-on impacts on availability during the peak fertiliser usage period in the months of March and April. Representatives from across the agri-retail trade (agri-cooperatives and merchants) highlighted that there has been some forward buying of fertiliser at farm-level in advance of 2023. However, this has not been widespread and has tailed off in recent weeks. While fertiliser stocks are available to meet demand currently, the level of stock held in Ireland has now dropped to below normal levels for this time of year. The additional risk associated with high value transactions was also increasing the need for commitments on pricing and shorter payment timelines. Some individual retailers are exploring and have implemented initiatives to help facilitate fertiliser purchase options for farmers. Input across the farm organisations consistently highlighted the issues faced by farmers, particularly around having to absorb risk through committing to purchases at high prices and with short payment terms. The issue is particularly acute on farms where cash flow is irregular across the year. The importance of any EU policy initiatives prioritising European and global food security was emphasised. Concerns around declining fertiliser use and knock-on impacts on soil fertility levels and productive capacity were voiced. In summing up the meeting, Chairman of the committee, Mike Magan thanked the forum for the positive input from all stakeholders, and stressed the importance of the collective effort and shared responsibility required across the industry to help mitigate against any potential supply issues. In particular, the continued engagement across the supply chain to minimise and share risks, including the development of workable supply and financing arrangements will be very beneficial. A Longford man with close to 20 previous convictions was arrested by gardai after being found so drunk he did not even know what door he was allegedly banging on during the early hours of the morning. Janusz Rudkiewicz (39), 58 Harbour Point, Longford, pleaded guilty before Judge John Brennan at last week's sitting of Longford District Court to being found intoxicated and engaging in threatening behaviour during an incident at O'Connor Park, Longford on October 1, 2022. The court heard Mr Rudkiewicz was arrested by gardai after officers were called to deal with reports of a male banging at a door in the estate. Sgt Mark Mahon, for the State, said when officers went to arrest the accused he suddenly became aggressive and began shouting and roaring. He described the accused man as being highly intoxicated on the night in question. The court was told Mr Rudkiewicz had 19 previous convictions to his name, the bulk of which were for road traffic related offences. The last public order conviction recorded by Mr Rudkiewicz came in September 2014, the court was informed, and which resulted in a 400 fine. In defence, solicitor Brid Mimnagh said her client was resident in Ireland for the past decade and was someone who had cut his professional cloth as a very accomplished stone mason. He is trying to get his life back on track, he apologises and wants to plead (guilty), she remarked. During his summation, Judge Brennan said the incident was ranked in the upper end of public order matters as the accused continued his aggressive stance towards gardai throughout the course of the incident. Sgt Mahon, at that juncture interjected to reveal the extent of Mr Rudkiewicz's alleged intoxication. I don't think he (Mr Rudkiewicz) he even knew what door he was at, he said. Judge Brennan said it would appear the accused was an individual with a propensity for alcohol as he took into account the level of aggressiveness which was shown to gardai on the night. In passing judgement Judge Brennan said he was obliged to factor in both the fact this was Mr Rudkiewicz's second public order conviction while also paying heed to the country's escalating cost of living crisis. There was, however, a brief moment of confusion when Judge Brennan handed down a fine of 500, giving him six months to pay. When that verdict was passed, Ms Mimnagh revealed Mr Rudkiewicz was in fact on social welfare. He's not working, she said. He had been an accomplished stone mason, but the drink just got the better of him. Judge Brennan, as a consequence, said he would be revising the initial fine handed down and instead fined Mr Rudkiewicz 300 for the section 6 threatening and abusive behaviour charge. The accompanying section 4 intoxication charge was taken into consideration. A High Court judge has criticised claims by a Sinn Fein TD that judges are unwilling to travel outside of where they are based to hear cases as "concerning" and "ill informed". Speaking as he managed the Central Criminal Court trial list today, Mr Justice Paul McDermott refuted claims made by Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny in Dail Eireann last week that court facilities outside of Dublin are being underutilised because judges are not willing to travel outside of their area to hear cases and because of a shortage in the number of judges. Mr Kenny, Sinn Fein's Justice Spokesman, made the comments when asking Minister for Justice Helen McEntee about additional judicial appointments. In the Dail last Thursday, Mr Kenny said there were new court buildings established a number of years ago in Limerick but said "most of the time, half of the courts there are not being used" and instead people were travelling to Dublin to access court services in the capital. He said witnesses and victims of crime were having to get on a train and leave Limerick to go to Dublin when "adequate facilities are in place in their own city". Mr Kenny said he had been told that one of the reasons for this is because "judges do not want to travel from where they are based". However, at the Criminal Courts of Justice today Mr Justice McDermott said it is "simply incorrect to say judges are not willing to travel". He described the comments made by Mr Kenny as "concerning" and said it was "ill informed" to say that judges of the High Court are showing reluctance to travel to "Limerick or any other court". "It's important to point out that judges are always willing to travel," Mr Justice McDermott said, adding in this session alone cases have been heard in Cork, Kilkenny, Monaghan and Tullamore. He said Waterford will be coming on stream soon and trials will also take place in various other locations. These venues are "actively sought out" by the Central Criminal Court so that cases can be heard, he added. Mr Justice McDermott said there was "no question" of any judge of the High Court not willing to travel to hear a case. "In the specific case of Limerick, that court is not available and if it were available, we would travel there." The courts are very aware of the "extreme distress" that these cases can cause for victims of crime, he said. Mr Justice McDermott said the judges of the High Court are very anxious to reduce the lists and if a venue is available then "we will travel". Jailed teacher Enoch Burke wants the High Court to place a stay on the full hearing of the action brought against him by his employer until his appeal against an injunction obtained by Wilson's Hospital School against has been determined. However, an application made on Mr Burke's behalf to be allowed attend court to seek a stay on Monday was refused by Mr Justice Brian O'Moore who adjourned the matter to a date next month. Mr Burke is incarcerated at Mountjoy Prison over his refusal to comply with High Court injunction to stay away from and not teach at Wilson's Hospital in Co Westmeath, in a row he claims centres around his objection to transgendarism. The school brought proceedings against Mr Burke over his alleged failure to comply with the terms of his suspension on full pay from the school. Mr Burke has appealed to the Court of Appeal various High Court decisions including the granting of injunction, which it to remain in place until the High Court has decided the matter, directing him to stay away from the school. The appeal has been fixed for February of next year. While no date has been fixed for the hearing of the full High Court dispute between Mr Burke and the school, Mr Justice O'Moore had previously expressed a view that the matter be heard either before Christmas or early in the New Year. To facilitate an early hearing the judge previously put a timetable in place for the exchange of legal documents between the school and Mr Burke. The matter was briefly mentioned before the High Court on Monday when the judge was informed by Mr Burke's sister Ms Ammi Burke, who made submissions via an online video link, that her brother does not want the High Court case heard until after the CoA has determined the appeal. The court heard that Mr Burke says that his case will be prejudiced if the High Court proceeds to hear the full dispute before his appeal has been determined by the CoA. Ms Burke added that the school had been made aware that her brother intends to seek a stay on the High Court matter proceedings until the CoA rules on the appeal. Given the urgency of the matter Ms Burke sought an order allowing her brother to come before the court from Mountjoy Prison so he could make his case for a stay on the operation of the judge's directions for the exchange of documents. Mr Justice O'Moore refused to make an order allowing Mr Burke to attend the Court on Monday afternoon. He said the matter could be heard on November 7. His grounds of refusal including that the school is entitled to sufficient notice of the application for a stay. A few hours' notice was far too short, the judge said during a hearing fraught with technical difficulties. The Judge also cited pressure on the chancery court's list as another reason for refusing to hear application for a production order until November 7. The Judge added that Mr Burke could make his application for a stay in the normal manner. If Mr Burke was unsuccessful in his application for a stay the judge said that he would be sympathetic to pushing back the dates set in the timetable for the exchange of documentation. Mr Burke, who objects to addressing a student with the pronoun "they" and opposes transgendarism, was committed to prison last month until he agrees to obey the order not to attend at or attempt to teach any classes at the school. The school obtained an order committing Mr Burke, who had been suspended pending the hearing of a disciplinary hearing into allegations of misconduct against him, to prison over his failure to comply with the injunction. Mr Burke, a History and German teacher, was suspended on full pay late last August pending an investigation into alleged misconduct. Arising out of his refusal to stay away from the school a High Court injunction was obtained against him. His ongoing refusal to comply with that order resulted in his incarceration. The school, located in Multyfarnham Co Westmeath is the Church of Ireland's Diocesan School for Meath and Kildare claims that his refusal to comply with the injunction was disruptive to the school's students. Mr Burke has brought his own proceedings against the school where he seeks various orders and declarations including a declaration that the disciplinary process against him is unlawful and a breach of his constitutional rights, including his rights to freedom of expression, conscience, and religion. He also seeks various orders preventing the school from continuing both his paid administrative leave, and the disciplinary process against him and an order preventing the school from dismissing him from his position. 150% more admitted patients are waiting for hospital beds today (October 24) compared to 10 years prior. That's according to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), which revealed over 600 people are waiting this morning without access to a bed in emergency departments and wards nationwide. University Hospital Limerick is by far the most overcrowded hospital across the country with 86 patients waiting for beds, followed by 71 people at Cork University Hospital and 43 at Sligo University Hospital. Just two hospitals are free from overcrowding including Beaumont Hospital and Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. In comparison, 242 people were on trolleys at overcrowded Irish hospitals in 2012. South Tipperary General Hospital was recorded as the most overcrowded with 24 people waiting for beds, followed by 22 at Beaumont Hospital, 19 at University College Hospital Galway, and 17 at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. No overcrowding was recorded at four hospitals including Tallaght University Hospital, Cavan General Hospital, Mid Western Regional Hospital Ennis, and Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. The INMO has recently called on the HSE and government to implement "an immediate plan to tackle chronic dangerous overcrowding in our emergency departments". In a statement on Twitter on October 18, the INMO stated: "Action needed on safe staffing, fast tracking recruitment and getting private hospitals on the pitch now." Most recently (October 21), the organisation sounded the alarm on "intolerable and unsafe" conditions at Mercy University Hospital in Cork in particular. In a Twitter statement, the INMO said, "It's time for hospital management to implement a full escalation protocol and curtain non-urgent electives." In a statement released on the INMO website, Industrial Relations Officer Liam Conway said, "Significant overcrowding in Mercy University Hospital has led to a dangerous environment for staff and their patients. Our members are describing conditions inside the hospital itself as unsafe and intolerable, this is coupled with a significant ambulance wait time outside of the hospital itself. "Since the beginning of October, over 379 patients have been on trolleys in the Mercy. This is unsustainable for our members. We know that there is a serious problem across all hospitals in Cork City. when it comes to the discharging of patients back into the community. This requires urgent political intervention in the days and weeks ahead. "It is vital to ensure that action is taken to protect both our members and their patients. The environment they find themselves in is making it impossible to provide safe and timely care. The volume of trolleys in the emergency department is leading to concerns around infection control and fire safety." He concluded: "Urgent interventions are now required from the South/Southwest Hospital Group by way of implementing a full escalation protocol. Hospital management must now curtail all non-urgent elective care. Additional bed capacity must be sourced in the community and from the private sector in order to alleviate serious pressure in the hospital." Crime By Chris Boyle Published: October 24 2022 "We must do whatever it takes to ensure every conceivable measure that can be deployed to keep our kids safe is in place," said Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick). Recently, the Assembly Minority Task Force on School Safety & Security (task force), which was formed to collect feedback from stakeholders across the state in response to the increased acts of violence in schools, and to effectively address measures to keep our children and educators safe while on school grounds, hosted its first of five regional forums on Long Island. The Long Island Forum, hosted by Assemblyman Doug Smith at St. Josephs University in Patchogue, was designed to collect feedback from education professionals, mental-health experts, parents, law-enforcement officials and other community stakeholders in New York state to assist the Conference with suggestions and solutions to improve school safety and security. School safety and security continue to be a major priority for me, my colleagues and many other state and local officials in New York, said Assemblyman Smith (R,C,I-Holbrook), a co-chair of the task force and former math teacher. By coming together to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of day-to-day and annual operations in our school facilities, we can better protect our children from whatever threats they may face while on school grounds. As a parent, teacher and legislator, I am proud to be part of this effort and am eager to hear firsthand from those dealing with these issues what seems to work, what doesnt and where improvements can be made. The most strategic way to improve public policy is with information, collaboration and strategy. That is the task forces goal with these school safety and security forums, said Assemblyman Joseph M. Giglio (R,C,I-Gowanda), a co-chair of the task force and former member of law enforcement. With insight from principal stakeholders particularly school personnel, law enforcement, first responders and parents I am confident we will better be able to address this important topic. I look forward to continuing to work with them, and hearing about their best practices, as we continue to cultivate a better, safer New York in the hopes of giving parents peace of mind when their children go to school each day. As past president of Community Education Council 31 for New York City public schools, I worked tirelessly to improve the safety of our school children and educators. It is tragic that acts of violence continue to infiltrate schools and terrorize students and teachers, but air-tight preparation, planning and communication will ensure the path to progress, said Assemblyman Mike Reilly (R,C-Staten Island), a co-chair of the task force and former lieutenant with the NYPD. These forums represent an important step in that preparation and by verifying school officials, first responders and parents are on the same page, I am confident, together, we will identify ways to better secure our school buildings and infrastructure. What we have seen in recent months and years at schools across the country has been utterly devastating, said Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick). We must do whatever it takes to ensure every conceivable measure that can be deployed to keep our kids safe is in place. The stakes are simply too high not to do so, and I am proud to be a part of the effort to protect our most valuable asset our children. We must support educators and school staff with the resources they need to ensure a healthy learning environment for all students, said Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R,C,I-Smithtown). Allowing for an open and honest dialogue between stakeholders at the local and state level, at forums like this, will help identify strategies that are effective in keeping our schools safe. Ultimately, we understand that this is not a one size fits all approach in New York and we must adapt to meet the unique needs of each school district and surrounding community. We are here to demonstrate our commitment to providing children with what they need a safe and productive learning environment, said Assemblyman John Mikulin (R,C-Bethpage). Students learning cannot be allowed to be disrupted by chronic disruptions, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Being able to interact and listen to the parents, educators and first responders here, today, has been insightful and meaningful. I am confident that the task forces efforts will have a tremendous impact on students social, mental and academic needs and help prevent crises in our classrooms. From the moment a child steps on the bus in the morning until they are reunited with their family at the end of the day, their safety is a top priority among administrators, teachers, first responders and parents. As a parent and elected official, Im happy to be a part of todays discussion in Patchogue, said Assemblyman Michael Durso (R-Massapequa Park). It is quite clear, school districts must be given the resources and tools needed to implement best-practice safety and security standards. As legislators, it is our job to make sure they get what they need. If there is one thing Ive learned from this evenings discussion, its that we must provide educators and schools with the resources necessary to implement safety and security initiatives. In some instances, theyre learning as they go and modifying others best practices to suit their individual districts needs these things take time, said Assemblyman Jarett Gandolfo (R,C,I-Sayville). I commend the education professionals and first responders for working together to develop a strategic plan that ensures a safe learning and teaching environment for students and staff. The next forum will take place on Thursday, Oct. 20 from 6 8 p.m., at Public School 8, located at 112 Lindenwood Road, Staten Island, NY 10308, hosted by Assemblyman Michael Tannousis. At the conclusion of the forums, a report including a summary of findings and targeted solutions will be generated and brought to the Legislature and presented to the governor. For more information about the task force, contact the Assembly Minority Office of Public Affairs at 518-455-5073. Pets & Animal By Chris Boyle Published: October 24 2022 Annual Halloween observance held every Oct. 24-31 raises public awareness to help reduce human disturbance to endangered and threatened bats. In observance of the internationally recognized Bat Week held Oct. 24-31 each year to raise awareness about the critical role of bats in our environment, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today encouraged outdoor enthusiasts to refrain from visiting caves and mines during the fall and winter months. Bats spend the winter hibernating in these underground cavities where relatively constant, warm temperatures protect them from harsh outside winter temperatures above ground. Human visitation in the winter to these "hibernacula" disturbs the bats, and is especially harmful since the arrival of white-nose syndrome, a fungus that has killed more than 90 percent of bats at hibernation sites in the state. "Bats play an important role in our environment, helping control insect populations," Commissioner Seggos said. "With Halloween on people's minds, DEC is urging outdoor adventurers to protect New York's bats by avoiding caves and mines altogether. Even the quietest cave visits will disturb bats hunkering down for the winter." If bats are disturbed during hibernation, they raise their body temperature, depleting crucial fat reserves. This stored fat is the only source of energy available to the bats until the weather warms in spring and insects become readily available. The more frequently bats are disturbed, the less likely they are to survive the long winter months underground without eating. DEC reminds the public to follow all posted notices restricting access to caves and mines. If explorers do venture out and discover bats hibernating in a cave, DEC urges them to leave quickly and quietly to minimize disturbance. Bat Week is observed each year through Oct. 31, and is organized by representatives from conservation groups and government agencies in the U.S. and Canada. In recent years, scientists have found some evidence of recovery of the once-common little brown bat throughout New York State. While this seeming stabilization provides a hopeful outlook after more than a decade of devastating population declines, similar evidence of stabilization has not been seen for other severely affected bat species. Two species of bats are currently protected under federal and State endangered species law. The Indiana bat, which is sparsely distributed across New York, is a federally endangered bat listed before white-nose syndrome later began affecting bat populations. The northern long-eared bat, currently listed as a threatened species under federal and New York State endangered species law, was proposed to be listed as endangered. The current population for this formerly common bat is approximately one percent of its previous size, making this species the most severely affected by white-nose syndrome. Still, northern long-eared bats are widely distributed in New York and their presence has been documented in most of the state's approximately 100 caves and mines serving as bat hibernation sites. A third New York species, the tri-colored bat, was proposed for endangered species protection by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Sept. 13, 2022. Although widespread in distribution, tri-colored bats were rare in New York even before they experienced a 98-percent population decline due to white-nose disease. Anyone entering a northern long-eared bat hibernation site from Oct. 1 through April 30, the typical hibernation period for bats, may be subject to prosecution. Details about the protection of the northern long-eared bat can be found on DEC's website. There is currently no treatment for bats suffering from white-nose syndrome. Along with the New York State Department of Health, DEC is partnering with researchers from the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin, and experts at universities across the country to better understand the disease and develop a treatment. This collaborative effort helped identify that reducing disturbances at hibernation sites during the winter can help the remaining animals survive. For more information about white-nose syndrome, visit the White-Nose Syndrome Response Team website. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: October 24 2022 Officers ticketed the angler for keeping out-of-season blackfish and failing to release blackfish without undue harm. Recently, K9 Cramer joined New York Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) investigating an illegal fishing case in Nassau County. ECOs Kochanowski and Macropoulos observed a fisherman catch an out-of-season blackfish under one of the bridges on the Wantagh Parkway, put it in a bag, and toss the bag down into the rocks. When the Officers approached, the angler appeared to be all packed up and leaving the area. The ECOs were surprised the subject had no fish and only fishing equipment. After a hasty search of the area failed to uncover the poached fish, the Officers reached out to ECO DeRose to bring in K9 Cramer. Cramer searched the area the subject was fishing, but focused on a nearby location. Officer DeRose expanded the search area and after getting to the opposite side of the bridge, Cramer quickly barreled through a large section of vegetation and alerted his handler. ECO DeRose moved in and discovered multiple black bags containing blackfish. Officers ticketed the angler for keeping out-of-season blackfish and failing to release blackfish without undue harm, returnable to Nassau County First District Court. Teen Arrested for Posting Threat to Shoot Teachers & Students on Social Media Local News, Crime By Long Island Published: October 24 2022 Suffolk County Police today arrested a Copiague Middle School student after he posted a threat on social media. Suffolk County Police today arrested a Copiague Middle School student after he posted a threat on social media. A 13-year-old male posted in a social media group chat that if school was in session on October 24, he would shoot teachers and students at Copiague Middle School. The post was shared by multiple students and a parent notified school officials who called police. The teen was charged with Making a Threat of Mass Harm, a Class B Misdemeanor, and will be arraigned in Suffolk County Family Court at a later date. Landore Resources Ltd - Mining exploration and development company in Canada - Finalises and executes Extinguishment Agreement with Green Technology Metals Ltd for CAD3 million, or USD2.2 million. Green Technology Metals will extinguish half of Landore's 3% net smelter royalty over the Root Lake property in Ontario, Canada. In return Green Technology has agreed to pay Landore CAD2 million in cash. Agreement also provides for acquisition of remaining 1.5% net smelter royalty currently held by Ardiden Ltd. Under terms of 2016 agreement between Ardiden and Landore, Ardiden could acquire Landore's 1.5% stake for CAD1 million. Green Technology Metals on Monday said it will acquire Ardiden's total stake, meaning it will pay additional CAD1 million to Landore. Landore says proceeds will fund exploration activities at Felix, Lamaune and BAM at the Junior Lake property, also in Canada. Current stock price: 12.37 pence, up 0.9% on Monday in London 12-month change: down 44% By Chris Dorrell; chrisdorrell@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Download Image: Web Lycoming College will host experienced archaeologist Jennie Ebeling, Ph.D., for a talk entitled, Biblical Jezreel on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 6 p.m., in the Fine Arts Lecture Hall #107 on the Lycoming College campus. The lecture is free and open to the public. We are fortunate to have Dr. Ebeling here on campus to share her work with and to meet with our students about their interests in archaeology, said Pamela Gaber, Ph.D., professor of archaeology at Lycoming College. She is an engaging and entertaining speaker, and our students stand to gain wonderful insight from her extensive experience. Ebeling, associate professor of archaeology at University of Evansville, is an accomplished archaeologist with a specialty in archaeology of the family during the Biblical period. She has been digging in Israel for more than 20 years, and has authored and co-authored several books on the archaeology of Israel. A former Fulbright scholar, Ebeling has been awarded fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Lady Davis Trust and was appointed Annual Professor of the W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem in 2015-16. She co-directed the Jezreel Expedition survey and excavation project with Norma Franklin (University of Haifa) 2012-2018 and is currently preparing the results for publication. A popular public speaker, Ebeling lectures for the Biblical Archaeology Society as well as the Archaeological Institute of America and numerous other organizations. She is co-editor of The Woman in the Pith Helmet (Lockwood, 2020), The Old Testament in Archaeology and History (Baylor, 2017), Household Archaeology in Ancient Israel and Beyond (Brill, 2011), and New Approaches to Old Stones: Recent Studies of Ground Stone Artifacts (Equinox, 2008) and the author of Women's Lives in Biblical Times (T&T Clark, Int'l, 2010). She recently contributed to the fourth edition of Ancient Israel: From Abraham to the Roman Destruction of the Temple (Biblical Archaeology Society, 2021). Students studying archaeology at Lycoming College are given a solid foundation in the theories, methods, and diverse approaches that archaeologists use to answer important questions about cultural diversity and social change through time and across vast geographic regions. Unique field experiences, individualized curriculum with diverse electives, and extensive internship opportunities, define the archaeology program, and students are provided opportunities for hands-on experiences at digs and museums around the world. More information on the archaeology program at Lycoming College is available at https://www.lycoming.edu/archaeology/. "Sharing is caring" has come a long way for Whisper's Presko Squad as they achieved a special milestone through their #ShareTheConfidence campaign. Together with World Vision and Shopee Philippines, the program pulled-in help from girls around the Philippines in breaking myths on menstruation and empowering local communities on menstrual hygiene. Whisper Presko Squad Goals Achieved Over 25,000 beneficiaries across World Visions communities will receive Whisper pads, which is also in line with its Buy-One, Share-One" e-commerce campaign. Whisper pledged to match and donate menstrual hygiene essentials for every Whisper product sold on Shopee from May 28 to June 30, 2022. It successfully delivered its first batch of donations to a World Vision community in Laurel, Batangas last month, with over 12,000 seen to benefit from the initial set of goods. Program participants were young students, Lyke and Ladyline, from Balakilong Integrated School. The two expressed their gratitude to P&G, Whisper, Shopee Philippines, and World Vision - quoting, Ito poy importante sa amin dahil kahit bata pa kami ay mapoprotektahan at maaalagaan na namin ang aming mga sarili, ang aming mga kaibigan at mga mahal sa buhay. Natutunan din namin na dapat hindi ikinakahiya [and menstruation] dahil ito ay natural na pinagdadaanan ng mga babae, at buong tapang po namin itong haharapin dahil alam po namin na hindi kami nagiisa pag sumapit po ito. Aside from the community in Batangas, Whisper also partnered with communities across Philippines, including Baseco, Malabon, Quezon City, Misamis Occidental, and Zamboanga del Norte. The communities received donations of Whisper sanitary products, along with a provision of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, co-made with World Vision. The beneficiaries were likewise taught the 4 components of Menstrual Hygiene Management, which included: 1. Access to Menstrual Products 2. Access to Soap and Water for Cleaning 3. Access to Safe and Proper Menstrual Disposal 4. Access to Period Education Sharing the Confidence Forward In one of the programs, Diana Nachor, who is the Health & Nutrition Technical Specialist of World Vision Development Foundation, Inc., shared the partnership's goal to debunk period myths and promote better menstrual health. Girls need to feel empowered to manage menstruation safely and hygienically with confidence and without shame - where no woman or girl is to be limited by something as natural and normal as her period, she said. Charm Banzuelo, P&G Senior Communications Manager, echoed the sentiment and added, In many countries and communities, girls tend to miss some school days and other activities because of menstruation. It is crucial that we engage schools and families with period education and products so that women can fully, confidently, and equally participate in everyday life and take charge of their future. We hope that this simple gift goes a long way and that we can pass and share the confidence along. Making Legacy GenZ icons Belle Mariano and Andrea Brillantes fostered discussions around the advocacy along with other icons: AC Bonifacio, Kyline Alcantara, Maris Racal, and Francine Diaz committing to the success of #ShareTheConfidence campaign. Another Whisper Presko Squad member and Batangas-native, Ayn Bernos, celebrated the brands recent donation drive that occurred in her hometown. She creates a heartfelt post on Instagram, mentioning Im on my second day of my period today. No biggie. More than a decade into this shared experience and I know how valuable support and guidance is especially to young girls going through puberty and their first period. Within #ShareTheConfidence, Whisper promotes its Whisper Breathable Cottony Soft pad among the participants. With this pad, it gives women the airy freshness and reliable leakage protection through its top sheet, which contains thousands of airflow vents locking the fluids in. It also helps in keeping womens sensitive skin dry and clean, enabling women to avoid dreaded hot, stuffy, and sticky period situations. If you want to support the #ShareTheConfidence campaign and be part of Whispers Presko Squad, check out facebook.com/WhisperPhilippines/ for future programs and campaigns. You can also visit Whispers official Shopee store and click add to cart now! Aaron Judge's dream of winning a World Series with the New York Yankees is becoming more distant every day. His historic season in which he surpassed Roger Maris' mythical record of 61 home runs in a season, with 62, which reignited the controversy of whether it should be considered the real all time HR record -and not Barry Bonds's-, ended with a week ball grabbed by Houston Astros' pitcher, who threw to first base to end the embarrassing sweep that they gave the Yankees in the ALCS. Aaron Judge, the current face of the Yankees, the star player, may have played his last game at Yankee Stadium as a member of the team, as he will become an unrestricted free agent next month, so he will be free to sign with the team of his choice. Fans booing may make the decision easier for him And the decision may not be too complicated for him. After being heavily booed in these playoffs for his offensive inability (1-16 in the ALCS, with a .063 average), Judge may seriously consider leaving the Big Apple. According to reports, the Yankees would have offered him a 7-year, $213.5 million contract extension, which he turned down in order to better price himself as a free agent. He came close to winning the second MLB Triple Crown since 1967, leading the American League in batting average and RBI, but falling five points short in batting average. His destiny appears to be far from NY At 30 years of age, Judge is very likely to leave the Yankees. Some teams that could want his services are Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals. There is even talk that he could stay in New York, but with the Mets. When it comes to money, the Yankees front office, headed by Brian Cashman, has the capacity to pay Judge the same ammount and more than what other teams offer him. It really all comes down to whether the Yankees will make him that offer and whether Judge himself wants to stay with the Bronx team. Yankees already experienced this 15 years ago, when Alex Rodriguez became a free agent, but opted to stay with the team. The cost? A 10-year, $275 million contract. Judge has had such a bad postseason that he'll have to take a few days before deciding whether to leave the winningest team in MLB history or take his talent -which he has- to another franchise. Fourth and eighth grade students in Defense Department schools scored better in a national assessment of math and reading skills than their civilian counterparts as nationwide averages dropped in the first comprehensive appraisal since the COVID-19 pandemic. In data released Monday for the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Reading and Mathematics Assessments, also known as "the nation's report card," students in Department of Defense Education Activity, or DoDEA, schools scored an average of 15 to 23 points higher than the national averages and held steady or increased from the previous assessment in 2019, even as most jurisdictions saw decreased scores. "This year's scores are the result of a six-year commitment to rigorous College and Career Ready Standards curriculum, combined with an exceptionally dedicated team of teachers and administrators, support staff, and military-connected students who displayed tremendous grit and resilience over the past two and a half years," Gil Cisneros, the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said in a statement Monday. Read Next: Fort Bragg Just Finished Moving over 1,000 Soldiers from Moldy Barracks At least half of DoDEA students were proficient or above in fourth grade math and reading and eighth grade reading, though just 41% of eighth graders were proficient in math. Like most school districts, DoDEA, which operates 160 schools on U.S. military bases around the globe for nearly 70,000 kids, moved to remote learning in early 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. But in August 2020, as many schools across the United States continued to stay remote, many DoDEA schools reopened for kids to return in person. The nation's report card is a test administered by the Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics for a broad sample of fourth and eighth grade students across the country. Tests are averaged across jurisdictions on a scale of zero to 500, with the score to be considered "proficient" differing based on subject and grade level. The test, which dates back to the early 1990s, is typically given every two years, but the pandemic delayed the 2021 assessment. At average scores of 250 for fourth grade math, 235 for fourth grade reading, 292 in eighth grade math and 282 in eighth grade reading, DoDEA ranked No. 1 in all four categories above every state, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. The nationwide results for 2022 are being seen as a sign of the effect pandemic-related school closures and shifts to remote schooling had on kids' learning, though reading scores started declining before the pandemic. Some students faced challenges learning virtually because of a lack of access to technology; difficulty paying attention to a screen; parents juggling their own remote work with ensuring their children paid attention; and teachers scrambling to adjust curriculums and balancing their job with their own families being home, among other reasons. "The results released today from the National Assessment of Educational Progress are appalling, unacceptable and a reminder of the impact that this pandemic has had on our learners," Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement Monday. "The data also represent a call to action for the important work we must do now for our students -- especially those who have suffered the most during the pandemic." Nationwide, reading scores dropped an average of three points for both fourth and eighth graders compared to 2019, and just 33% of fourth graders and 31% of eighth graders were considered at least proficient in 2022, according to the report card. In math, scores dropped the most they have since 1990, with a five-point decrease for fourth graders and an eight-point decrease for eighth graders. Just 36% of fourth graders and 26% of eighth graders were considered at least proficient in math. DoDEA schools bucked those trends. Reading scores for fourth graders were the same in 2022 as 2019, and for eighth graders were two points higher in 2022. Math scores held steady for both fourth and eighth graders in 2022 compared to 2019. "DoDEA leaders focused on equity of access and continuity of instruction during the early stages of the pandemic with a rapid transition to remote learning, then worked to create conditions that enabled students to start returning to classrooms by the beginning of School Year 20-21," Cisneros said in his statement. "Their work, coupled with strong partnership from military commands and parents, directly supported military readiness by allowing service members with students in DoDEA schools to remain focused on their military missions." The emphasis on equity is reflected in higher test scores among DoDEA's Black and Hispanic students than the nationwide averages, Cisneros added. In fourth grade reading, Black DoDEA students scored an average of 226, compared to the national average of 199, and Hispanic DoDEA students scored an average of 229, compared to 205 nationwide. In math for that grade, Black DoDEA students averaged 237, compared with a 217 national average, and Hispanic DoDEA students averaged 246, compared with 224 nationwide. In reading for eighth graders, Black DoDEA students scored an average of 271, compared to the nationwide average of 244, and Hispanic DoDEA students averaged 281, compared to 251 nationwide. In eighth grade math, Black DoDEA students averaged 272, compared with 253 nationally, and Hispanic DoDEA students averaged 284, compared to 261 nationally. -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: Half of All DoD-Run Schools in US Will Move to Remote Learning for Fall Fort Bragg, North Carolina, has finished relocating 1,189 soldiers from half-century-old buildings that have been infested with mold for years, the service announced late Friday. The move took nearly two months longer than anticipated, and roughly half of the soldiers moved were granted a housing allowance to live off base, something that is usually reserved for married troops. The evacuation of the moldy barracks was a messy and largely unprecedented move by garrison planners, who had to find room for so many soldiers quickly without disrupting Army operations. The relocation took place only after the rough living conditions became a point of focus for senior service leaders and garnered media attention. The moves will likely impact base operations for years, with soldiers scattered across Fort Bragg instead of in centralized locations with their units, while roughly 570 soldiers who moved off base will add to car traffic. Read Next: National Guard Struggles with Duty Status and Benefits Reform as Suicide Rates Refuse to Decline It's unclear what impact those extra troops renting will have on the real estate market in Fayetteville, the town surrounding the base, which is already experiencing a stretched affordable housing market. "I would like to commend all leaders but especially our senior NCOs' efforts, which enabled us to accomplish this monumental effort in short order. It was not easy, but we wanted to ensure we did this right in order to best care of our Soldiers," Maj. Gen. Brian Mennes, the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg deputy commanding general, said in a press release. "We understood that all residential moves are significant to the soldier so our guiding principle was to take care of our people throughout this process and not cause undue hardship due to the move." Military installations rarely have excess barracks and finding spare rooms was a significant issue for garrison planners. When the decision was made to find new homes for the soldiers, an internal count of beds available on base showed about 3,000, but that number fell to 700 when planners started to confirm availability. That difficulty finding space is likely to prevent moving so many soldiers out of moldy barracks from becoming standard practice in the force, given the lack of extra space at most bases, though some officials from other installations have reached out to Fort Bragg about the logistics behind the move. Many barracks in the Army's inventory, particularly in the South, suffer from mold issues, some potentially even worse than Fort Bragg. A Military.com investigation in September found the barracks at Fort Stewart, Georgia, are also in disarray, with the walls of some buildings effectively painted with mold. Command Sgt. Maj. Quentin Fenderson, the 3rd Infantry Division's top enlisted leader, told Military.com in a September interview that he did not see the need to remove his soldiers from those buildings. After leadership was made aware of Military.com's investigation on the conditions at Fort Stewart, the garrison held a mandatory class to teach noncommissioned officers how to identify and clean mold. After the story was published, the Army initiated a service-wide inspection of all of its facilities, set to be complete by Nov. 18. The issues at Bragg and Stewart are partly attributable to the way they were constructed in the 1970s, with poor ventilation and outdated air conditioning that is prone to leaking and expensive and complicated to repair, service leaders have said. Soldiers are also not trained to properly mitigate or treat mold issues, though they are routinely expected to do so. The surge of attention on mold issues can be traced back to July, when a senior noncommissioned officer raised concerns to Army Secretary Christine Wormuth on the mold infestations at Smoke Bomb Hill barracks on Fort Bragg. That complaint followed a smaller relocation effort at the base in 2020, but the mold issues go back decades, according to multiple veterans interviewed by Military.com, which was first to detail the scale of the poor living conditions. After the complaint to Wormuth, the barracks were inspected by Gen. Edward Daly, head of Army Materiel Command, and later Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston. Leaders at Fort Bragg, home of the famed 82nd Airborne Division and Special Forces, faulted outdated tracking software and told the press in August that it was difficult to see the scope of the mold issues on post. Both Wormuth and Grinston have made quality-of-life issues one of the top priorities of their tenure, but major shifts have been halted by federal bureaucracy. The service has secured $10 billion from Congress to be spent on barracks construction and renovation over the next decade. Twelve Smoke Bomb Hill barracks are set to be demolished next year, roughly five years ahead of schedule. But a $115 million project for new living quarters at Fort Bragg and renovations of five others could take the rest of the decade to finish. At Fort Stewart, new barracks projects won't be completed until 2035. -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon. Related: Michael Grinston's Quiet War to Help Make the Army More Lethal, Wokeness Hysterics Be Damned The United Service Organizations building at Fort Lee, Virginia, closed its doors indefinitely last week, one of several permanent and abrupt closures of USO facilities across the country. Fort Lee's public affairs office issued a release Wednesday criticizing the nonprofit for its "no-notice shuttering," while noting that a range of other USO locations had closed suddenly. The USO has been a staple of military culture since its founding in 1941. The nonprofit operates centers at military installations and airports to support service members and their families while they travel on assignments around the world, including unstaffed locations in war zones too dangerous for USO employees. Read Next: Despite Flipping in Surf 4 Times in a Year, Marines Say New ACV Is the Future of Amphibious Warfare In response to Fort Lee and local media, USO officials have pointed to a general reprioritization of resources, citing low foot traffic at recently closed locations in several cases. At least three of the closures came during the same week, included at airports in Ohio and Florida, despite increases in program spending and end-of-year net assets for the USO organization-wide, according to organization tax filings. "The USO continually evaluates how it can best serve the needs of our service members and their families," Daniel Drummond, director of communications and social media for the nonprofit organization, told Fort Lee's public affairs in an email last week. "We have determined several of our locations have very low traffic and have decided to redeploy those resources elsewhere in the U.S. and around the world to better serve our military." After publication, the USO sent a copy of the same comment from Drummond to Military.com. "This is a challenging environment for nonprofit fundraising, and the USO is not immune to that trend," a former employee of the nonprofit told Military.com on the condition of anonymity to speak about their former employer. "However, I am disappointed to see low foot traffic cited as primary causes for these closures. "In my personal and professional experience, USO centers and programs on smaller bases may report lower 'numbers served' but [they] have the greatest need for wellness programming, accessible activities, and fellowship," the former employee added. "Often, this is where USO programs can be the most impactful." As the Global War on Terror fades and military rotations to eastern Europe in support of NATO allies watching Russia's renewed invasion into Ukraine from the sidelines have increased, the USO has made a noticeable shift in rhetoric in its support for those troops. A page on the organization's website titled "USO On The Frontlines" was launched this spring and features a number of initiatives that suggest support and resources for service members deploying to Europe. The closures also come amid changes and improvements to some organization locations, with the USO opening its first-ever "gaming center" for service members at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, in February, according to a USO press release. Local news outlets have also reported on closures. The Dayton Daily News reported that the USO at Dayton International Airport closed last week due to a reevaluation of resources. CBS47 out of Jacksonville reported last week that the USO in that city's international airport closed too, quoting a volunteer who said that he was not notified of the closure until days before the shuttering. KVIA, an ABC affiliate out of El Paso, Texas, reported in August that the USO was also planning on closing its doors in that city's international airport, with USO Regional President Gary Cole pointing to a 75% decrease in foot traffic and a reprioritization of resources to USO locations at Fort Bliss -- an enormous Army post in the city. The Dayton Daily News cited USO center program manager Erik Oberg in an email to volunteers saying that the closures did not have to do with the economy. "It is not being driven by the current economic environment," he wrote, according to the publication. "We would be making these reductions even in a better economy." The USO reported a 17% increase in total end-of-year net revenue between 2020 and 2021, with last year's total surpassing $100 million, according to publicly available financial statements. The organization's fundraising also increased by 13% year-over-year, a continuation of a trend of five years of continued growth. Meanwhile, how much the organization spent on program services, a category of expenses that ostensibly funds day-to-day operations and projects, has remained largely unchanged compared to the total expenses it has reported each year since 2017. "Fort Lee recognizes and appreciates the USO's incredible support to our soldiers over the years," Maj. Gen. Mark T. Simerly, the Fort Lee commanding general, told Military.com in a statement via email regarding his installation's USO closure; that facility had opened more than 10 years ago. "The USO is always welcome on Fort Lee, and I sincerely hope our troops will again be able to benefit from greater USO services here in the future." Editors Note: This article has been updated to include reference to receiving comment from the USO. -- Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at drew.lawrence@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @df_lawrence. Related: USO The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. The world might not want to hear it, but Kim Jong Un might be right. "There will never be such a thing as our abandonment of the nuclear weapons or denuclearization," Kim declared last month. "The position of our state as a nuclear nation has become irreversible." Decades of pursuing the "denuclearization" of the Korean peninsula has failed. After North Korea last month declared itself a nuclear weapons state, it's time for the U.S. and its allies to accept this reality -- and learn to live with it. That's the first step to reducing the risk of accidental confrontation that could lead to all-out nuclear war. The idea is reaching the mainstream. Jeffrey Lewis, a leading nuclear weapons expert, has called on Washington to "contemplate the unthinkable" and accept North Korea's nuclear statehood, citing the increasing risks of a flashpoint as South Korea and Japan talk up first-strike capability. Washington should think "about the return we're seeing on our stubborn continued insistence on denuclearization as the desired near-term end-state," agrees Ankit Panda, a senior fellow in the nuclear policy program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "We have a far more acute interest on the Korean peninsula, which is averting the use of nuclear weapons by North Korea." A rethink is needed. For one thing, the U.S. administration has already shown an admirable willingness to abandon the failed policies of previous administrations. From ending the war in Afghanistan, casting off decades of naive Democratic party China policy or de-escalating the War on Drugs with a reform of cannabis policy, President Joe Biden has discarded ideas he previously promoted. And to describe the goal of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula as a bust would be generous. Beyond condemning millions to poverty after 30 years, the U.S. has little to show for its punishing economic sanctions. Pyongyang has built itself a formidable arsenal: enough fissile material for dozens of nuclear bombs, and a demonstrated capacity for its missiles to hit U.S. bases in Guam or the American mainland itself. More nuclear tests are feared soon, which would be the first in five years. Kim said last month he won't budge even after 100 years of sanctions. Absent a very dangerous policy of regime change, Kim is going to remain in charge, and in any event doesn't have a way to climb down from nuclear weapons. The window for military action against North Korea closed during the Clinton administration, when the U.S. considered a preemptive strike. It chose negotiation instead, which Pyongyang used as cover to speed development of its nuclear and missile programs. North Korea's new nuclear doctrine, unveiled in September, has further upped the ante, pledging automatic nuclear strikes on its enemies if its command-and-control leadership is threatened. Such a doctrine is a "logical reaction" to South Korea talking up its ability to deal a fatal blow to the North's leadership, Panda says. Indeed, far from the stereotype of the crazy North Korean leader, Kim is being perfectly logical in seeking to keep his regime in one piece. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has put that in stark relief. Ukraine famously agreed to give up the nuclear weapons on its territory (though they were not under its control) after the fall of the Soviet Union, in exchange for security guarantees from the U.S., U.K. and Russia. Time has shown how valuable those assurances were. Iraq's Saddam Hussein and Libya's Moammar Gadhafi are other examples of leaders who abandoned their nuclear pursuits, only to meet gruesome ends. Kim could not be sure of any guarantee that Washington might give in return for denuclearization -- especially when it's U.S. policy that has been most inconsistent. Flipping between dovish Democratic and hawkish Republican positions on Pyongyang (or in the case of Donald Trump's administration, between "fire and fury" and love letters in the space of a few years) has resulted in head-snappingly inconsistent carrot-and-stick approaches. Meanwhile, through a cycle of bait-and-switch negotiations and threats, Kim has managed to keep the U.S. and South Korea distracted enough to complete his nuclear state. He's on his fourth South Korean leader and third American president. He's less than half Biden's age; time is on his side, assuming he can avoid the heart problems that felled his father and grandfather. Of course, there are significant risks. Pyongyang has proven not to be a trustworthy negotiating partner. Being seen to reward its obstinacy might embolden rogue regimes elsewhere. Even a tacit acceptance of North Korea's position could also lead to another bout of proliferation. The South Korean public is already roundly in favor of also possessing nuclear weapons. Japan is understandably far more opposed but how might it react surrounded by four nuclear-armed states? But doggedly pursuing a failed policy that has only become more unrealistic over the years isn't getting the U.S. and its allies anywhere -- and the risk of accidental confrontation is only running higher. ___ (Gearoid Reidy is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Japan and the Koreas. He previously led the breaking news team in North Asia, and was the Tokyo deputy bureau chief.) 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com/opinion. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Phillies entered the winter widely tabbed as the most obvious aggressor on the free-agent market. It has been known for years, after all, that the organization was stripping its payroll and building its prospect base in hopes of launching back into a powerhouse. Perhaps, then, it shouldnt be too surprising that Philadelphia owner John Middleton was so willing to acknowledge the obvious. But he did so, with unusual candor, in an interview with USA Todays Bob Nightengale. As Middleton put it: Were going into this expecting to spend money. And maybe even be a little bit stupid about it. We just prefer not to be completely stupid. Whether those surprisingly forthcoming words portend a true spending bonanza isnt quite clear. But they surely suggest that the Phillies arent afraid of a bidding war and are open willing, even to go a bit outside their comfort zone to win one, at least for the right player. This long-anticipated free-agent class may not quite have arrived with the expected hype, but its still laden with opportunities. And the Phils have both the need and the means to chase the markets biggest names: Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, of course, but also perhaps quality players such as Patrick Corbin, Craig Kimbrel, and Yasmani Grandal. Click here for a detailed analysis of the Phillies payroll availability. As Middleton rightly assesses, the Phillies clearly have lots of ways to go to improve a roster that has some valuable assets but relatively little in the way of established stars. That only makes things more interesting. Big-name acquisitions would likely also be followed by trades of current Philadelphia players, increasing the intrigue and ramping up the overall market entropy. Clearly, its a high-stakes winter for a ballclub that sees an opportunity to make major strides. With Middleton expressing excitement at the prospect of unleashing the organizations financial might, theres every reason to believe that the Phillies will function as a market driver. Reigning Musician, Black Sherif says buying a luxurious car is not his priority at the moment because he sees no profit in that. According to him, it is not a reasonable thing to do at this point in his career. In an interview on Peace FM with Kwami Sefa Kayi, the Soja crooner said he has been investing his music money back into the business. I haven't reached anywhere. I only came to Accra two years ago to make my music. The money I am making. If I buy cars and other things, it wont benefit me. I have money to reinvest in my videos and promote my music because I believe thats the only way forward, he stated. Sherif is currently promoting his maiden album 'The Villain I Never Was' which was on October 6. The album is currently one of the most streamed works on the African continent. Many had thought that he had made huge sums after his breakout, hence he should be enjoying a luxurious lifestyle. However, he says he has no time for that. The lost productivity resulting from depression and anxiety, two of the most common mental disorders, cost the global economy US$ 1 trillion each year. In low and middle-income countries, more than 75% of people with mental disorders receive no treatment at all for their disorder. In Ghana, there have been efforts by the government to improve mental healthcare services at all levels. However, significant gaps remained, with only about 2% of Ghanas 2.3 million people living with mental health conditions receiving psychiatric treatment and support from health facilities according to WHO. To help countries like Ghana address the gaps in mental health, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the Director Generals Special Initiative for Mental Health (DG-SIMH) with the vision to ensure that all people in the target population in the selected countries achieve the highest standard of mental health and well-being. The five-year initiative supported by the Government of Norway seeks to get 100 million more people to have access to quality and affordable mental health in 12 countries around the world. Ahead of the implementation in Ghana, the WHO has helped Ghana to develop a national implementation plan and is currently assisting the countrys six new regions in the development of their regional plans toward effective implementation. We recognize the important role of stakeholders in the implementation of this initiative, said the WHO Noncommunicable Diseases & Risk Factors Officer in Ghana, Dr Joana Ansong at the inception meeting for the initiative in the Western North Region of Ghana. That is why we want the regions to map out their implementation strategies so they can own the process and strengthen partnerships to achieve universal health coverage for mental health. Ghana launched the initiative in July 2022 and is expected to start implementation in the third quarter of 2022 and will span five years, with the aim to improve access to integrated quality person-centred mental health care for an additional 5.2 million Ghanaians. The WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health will advance mental health policies, advocacy and human rights, and scale up quality interventions and services for individuals with mental health conditions, including substance use and neurological disorders. For health authorities in Ghana, this initiative is a great opportunity to strengthen the mental health system whilst mobilizing communities to create an environment devoid of stigma and abuse against persons with mental health conditions. We need to create an environment that is conducive enough for people with mental disorders to come out and seek help at any level of the health system, said the Western North Regional Director of Health, Dr. Marion Okoh-Owusu. This special initiative is an opportunity for us to redefine mental healthcare in Ghana. Indeed, whilst expressing profound gratitude for the WHO Special Initiative on Mental Health, Kyidomhene of Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Area, Nana Elluo Panyin III underscored the critical role traditional leaders can play to help improve mental health service delivery in Ghana. We need to deepen collaboration between health authorities and traditional leaders to strengthen mechanisms towards the protection of people with mental health conditions, added Nana Elluo panyin III. The WHO Special Initiative on Mental Health will build on the successes of other mental health interventions such as the QualityRights Initiative, which is helping to improve the quality of care and promote the human rights of people living with mental health conditions. Faced with an unprecedented crisis in pediatric services, the government on Sunday promised "an immediate action plan", and announced a 150 million euro aid package. However, the announcements were met with lukewarm enthusiasm by health professionals who say more permanent structural change is necessary. The announcement comes on the heels of an open letter addressed to President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, signed by four thousand pediatric caregivers. Health workers say an epidemic of bronchiolitis, a common chest infection which mostly affects babies, has hit the country earlier than usual, putting pedatric services into overdrive. They said "irresponsible political inaction" has lead to "unsuitable working conditions", preventing them from providing adequate care. In their letter, the signatories highlight a "loss of meaning" in their profession, directly linked to "bureaucratic governance and activity-based pricing, leading to overall exhaustion and a massive departure of hospital staff". Government spokesman Olivier Veran said an "immediate action plan" would come into force including the emergency "white plans". These are organisational measures intended to deal with an exceptional health situation or increased activity of a hospital. Extra staff This would include "calling back additional staff and better cooperation in the territories," Veran told CNews on Sunday. On top of this, French Health minister Francois Braun announced an immediate 150 million euro package for all "under pressure" services in French hospitals. The objective is to "be able to respond to urgent needs", such as staff reinforcements and support for difficult jobs such as security guards and night work in particular. "Of course we are going to take care of all the children who need to go to the hospital," Braun insisted, "but we must help ourselves by avoiding going to the hospital when it is not necessary." "The government was obliged to react quickly but there is a real fundamental problem", says Isabelle Desguerre, head of the neuropediatrics department at Necker hospital in Paris, one of the signatories of the letter to the president. Recognition needed "The problem is not the money but recognising the status of caregivers, making them want to work in hospitals, putting real ratios of caregivers per child," she explains. "We want structural, urgent reforms and all we are given is a 'white plan' used every year since 2019. This plan means moving nurses, canceling leave. It only overextends the way in which we practice the care", estimates Melodie Aubart, neuropediatrician at the Necker-Enfants Malades hospital in Paris, also a signatory of the letter to Macron. "We cannot continue to permanently put bandages on a wooden leg," she summarises. The Ministry of Health has also promised holding an open consultation with specialists in the pediatrics sector early next year, which will "bring together all the stakeholders concerned in order to work on all the structural difficulties". These longterm problems, range from hospitalisations of children in unsuitable places, to distant transfers, postponements of scheduled surgical interventions, or even premature discharge from hospital. The director general of the regional health agency (ARS) of Ile-de-France, Amelie Verdier said hosptials were at breaking point with the number of intensive care cases among children. 16 young patients have already had to be transferred outside the central Ile-de-France region, to the public hospitals in Amiens and Rouen in particular she noted. At least four people have been killed in an attack on a hotel in Kismayo, southern Somalia, claimed by Al-Shabaab Islamists, police and a witness said on Sunday. The port city is the latest to be hit following a resurgence of bloody attacks in recent months by the Al-Qaeda-linked group, which has mainly targeted the capital Mogadishu and central Somalia. Sunday's assault began at 12:45 pm (0945 GMT) when a booby-trapped car rammed the entrance of Hotel Tawakal. "Another dead body of a civilian was discovered, making four the overall civilian casualties we have confirmed so far," police officer Abdullahi Ismail said, updating the toll of three given by officials earlier. "This is not a government target," Ismail said. "It is just an ordinary, civilian-frequented hotel." As security forces sought to bring the siege to an end, they killed "two of the attackers", he added. "They are clearing the hotel building and will soon announce the siege is over." Witness Abdikarin Yare told AFP the forces "managed to storm the main building and we can still hear gunshots", adding: "Two dead bodies of the attackers were dragged out." Another witness Farhan Hassan, who was outside the hotel when the attack happened, said "a suicide bomber drove a vehicle into the entrance of the hotel before the gunmen entered the building". Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying members of the federal government of Jubaland, where Kismayo is located, were meeting in the hotel at the time. 'Total war' Al-Shabaab has been trying to overthrow the government for more than 15 years and regularly attacks civilian and military targets. Kismayo was once an Al-Shabaab stronghold before it was taken over in 2012 by local militias backed by Kenyan forces. In August it launched a 30-hour gun and bomb attack on the popular Hayat hotel in Mogadishu, killing 21 people and wounding 117. In 2019, the group conducted a similar attack on a hotel in Kismayo, killing 26 and injuring 56. Map locating the city of Kismayo in Somalia. By (AFP) Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was elected in May, vowed after the siege in August to wage "all-out war" on the Islamists. In September he urged citizens to stay away from areas controlled by the jihadists, saying the armed forces and tribal militia were ratcheting up offensives against them. A joint US-Somali drone strike killed one of the militants' most senior commanders on October 1. Just hours after his death was announced, a triple bombing in the southern city of Beledweyne killed at least 30 people. In addition to violence, Somalia -- like its neighbours in the Horn of Africa -- is in the grip of the worst drought in more than 40 years. Four failed rainy seasons have wiped out livestock and crops. Some 7.8 million Somalis -- nearly half the population -- are affected by the drought and 213,000 are on the brink of famine as a result, according to the United Nations Star Moroccan rapper ElGrande Toto on Sunday apologised for causing offence through recent public statements in which he acknowledged using cannabis. His original comments had sparked an outcry in the country. "I offer my apologies to anyone offended by my words, starting with the authorities and my public," ElGrande Toto, whose real name is Taha Fahssi, told a packed press conference. "Rap is a particular language -- perhaps I did not make good use of it at the right time," the 26-year-old Casablancan rap star said. In late September, ElGrande Toto had told reporters who gathered after one of his concerts "I smoke hash -- so what? "It does not mean I set a bad example," he added at the time. These comments, circulated widely on social media, provoked an outcry in the North African country. Morocco is ranked the biggest producer of cannabis in the world by the UN. Use of the plant is banned at home, but the country is seeking to enter the global medicinal market. The controversy "became too big and it is a valuable lesson for me," added the rapper, who was on Thursday forbidden from leaving Moroccan territory by the authorities and was also summoned by the police in Casablanca. "We do not know the purpose of this summons," his lawyer, Abdelfattah Zahrach, said on Sunday. A Belgium-based journalist has lodged a complaint against Fahssi, accusing him of "incitement to consume drugs" in the wake of his September comments, according to the journalist's lawyer, Mohamed Karrout. ElGrande Toto was the most in demand Arab artist in the Maghreb in 2021 on Spotify, with more than 50 million downloads. His YouTube channel meanwhile maintains 2.7 million subscribers. The Bia East constituency branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Western North Region has successfully elected its new constituency officers to manage the affairs of the party in the next four years. At a well-organised election supervised by the Electoral Commission, Mr Siaka Musilli polled 448 votes to beat the incumbent chairman Mr Yaw Ofosu Adawiah, who had 299 of the valid votes cast with five rejected ballots. For the vice chairmanship position, Mr Ahmed Abdul Raman had 296 votes to beat two others James Aidoo and Victor Konadu who pulled 235 and 141 votes respectively. Mr Joseph Apraku, was elected constituency secretary with 392 votes beating Mr Osei Simon Sunday the incumbent secretary who bagged 284 votes with three rejected. Mr Maxwell Agyei went unopposed for the Deputy Secretary position. The organiser position went to Mr Augustine Abare who had 343 votes defeating his closest contender Mr Issah Larabu who also polled 333 votes. Mr Yakubu Yahaya was elected Deputy organiser after polling 413 votes to beat Mr Isaac Kwabena Atiaya Baidoo who had 269 votes. Madame Charlotte Amankwah won the Women Organiser position with 41 votes defeating Zachariah Mamuna who had 34 votes. Mr Amankwah Francis, communication officer, Naomi Nkrumah Deputy Women Organiser and Sule Alhassan Deputy Communication officer all went unopposed. Zongo caucus Organiser, Mr Issah Adams, Deputy Youth Organiser Hayford Narty and Owusu Ayer Daniel, Deputy Treasurer all went unopposed. Madam Mamunatu Issah who had 162 votes, Adu Aghei with 151 votes, Osei prosper, 81 votes, Micheal Asum 76 votes, Kofi Mosquito with 44 votes were elected Executive Members. The rest are Mr Amankona Dankwaa who had 30 votes, Adanse Dominic with 31 votes, Tersuur Niberbaar 32 votes were all elected executive members. The elected chairman Mr Siaka Musili, in his victory speech, commended the delegate for voting for him and called on all party members to come together and rally behind the party for victory 2024. He promised to ensure unity in the party and to work closely with the members of Parliament to ensure the NDC wins political power in 2024. Mr Joseph Apraku, secretary elect for his part, promised to work in truth and build a solid foundation to ensure the party maintained the Bia East constituency as a safe seat for the NDC. Mr Richard Acheampong, member of Parliament for Bia East before the election called for unity among party members since that was the only way the party could win political power. GNA The Executive Director of a Non-Governmental Organisation, Comprehensive Development Initiative, (CDI), Madam Baaba Esibu has expressed worry that breast cancer and cancer-related diseases have been perceived by people as spiritual. This perception, according to her, is not helping in the fight against the disease, adding that people from 40 years stand a higher risk of getting the disease. Madam Esibu said this when her organization, CDI, organized a free Breast Cancer, Diabetes screening and family planning education for the people of Winneba. According to her, the NGO is more focused on the health of women, describing them as a venerable group due to their busy nature as a result of work and family life hence, have no time for their health. She advised the people to be mindful of their health and go for constant medical checkups to identify problems in time, for a quick solution. "This is the only way to be in good health to take care of your families", she stressed. A midwife at the Pan Parenthood Association of Ghana, Madam Abigail Yorke, dispelled the notion that those who undergo family planning fail to give birth in future. "Family planning is in two phases, it helps those looking for babies to get, whilst others with children are able to space their birth", she indicated. According to madam Yorke, family planning helps families to plan their lives, saves them money, reduces diseases and stress and also reduces lifestyle conditions. She observed that family planning also helps government provide basic amenities in society when is sure of the population in a community. A beneficiary, Auntie Awoo, thanked CDI for organizing the screening, adding that it has been very beneficial to the community. She noted that lots of women due to financial challenges fail to go for periodic medical checkups. She also appreciated the effort of the Member of Parliament for Effutu Constituency who offered his radio station, Osimpam 95.5 FM to publicize the event. The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has signed an agreement to extend a loan facility of 60 million dollars to the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo). A statement issued by the Bank, copied to the Ghana News Agency said the signing ceremony took place in Lome, Togo, its head office. Dr George Agyekum Donkor, the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, EBID, signed on behalf of the bank, while Mr Ebenezer Kofi Essienyi, the Chief Executive Officer of GRIDco, signed for the Company. The facility is to finance the installation and upgrading of transmission lines in Ghana. Dr Donkor said as ECOWAS Member States worked towards post COVID-19 economic recovery, it was necessary to expand regional electricity connectivity to accommodate growth. Therefore electricity infrastructure expansion in the sub-region is a key sector that must be given the necessary attention. The Bank's total commitment to Ghana stood at 250 million dollars as of October 12, 2022, he said. He reiterated the Bank's commitment to continuously finance infrastructure projects across all sectors of the economies of ECOWAS Member States to accelerate recovery and development of the Sub-region. The project is in line with the Bank's strategic objectives and aligned perfectly with Ghana's Agenda for Jobs II. Mr Kabral Blay-Amihere, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, GRIDco, said projects to be undertaken with EBID's facility were part of a broader plan to upgrade infrastructure for improved efficiency and increase power transmission within Ghana and other West African countries such as Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and the Ivory Coast. While appreciating the confidence reposed in GRIDCo by EBID, he noted that the completion of the project would lead to reduction in technical losses to enhance businesses and livelihoods in Ghana and the ECOWAS sub region. Mr Blay-Amihere commended the President of EBID and his team for their dedication and professionalism that saw the expeditious completion of the credit process and the consummation of the transaction. Present at the ceremony were Mr Kofi Demetia, Ghana's Ambassador to Togo, Mr Philip Owiredu, the Managing Director of Calbank PLC., and executives from C-Nergy Ghana. EBID is a leading regional investment and development bank, owned by the 15 ECOWAS Member States. These are Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, the Ivory Coast, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Based in Lome, Togo, it is committed to financing developmental projects and programmes covering diverse initiatives from infrastructure and basic amenities, rural development and environment, industry, and social services sectors, through its private and public sector windows. GNA The eighth meeting of the Statistical Commission for Africa will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 24-28 October 2022 under the theme Modernizing data ecosystems in Africa to support regional Integration. Data and statistics are the lifeblood of development planning. Reliable statistics and analysis boost effective implementation of development programmes to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Accurate, high quality, timely, disaggregated and accessible data enhances development planning by providing useful and understandable information critical in knowing the development metrics of a country. Owing to lack of capacity and poor investment, many countries in Africa are challenged by inadequate data and insufficient statistical analysis to make data driven policy decisions to support social and economic development. The eighth meeting of the Statistical Commission for Africa will bring participants from across Africa including Heads of national statistical offices, statisticians, geoinformation system experts, information and communications technology experts, academia, research institutions, regional and international development partners as well as observers from intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. Organized by the ECA under the guidance of the Bureau of the Statistical Commission for Africa, the meeting will discuss the link between African and global statistical systems to ensure Africa is not left behind in global statistical initiatives. In addition, the meeting will discuss progress and statistical development in African statistical systems while taking stock of current global initiatives to mainstream new and updated methodologies to enhance their statistical capacity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Particular emphasis will be placed on how to modernize and transform national statistical systems in Africa to ensure data needed for subregional and continental integration and the global agendas are available. The meeting is also expected to share methodologies on modernizing statistical systems and strengthening collaboration between statisticians, geospatial and civil registration experts. The Statistical Commission for Africa is the highest decision-making body in Africa responsible for setting statistical standards, developing concepts and methods and implementing them at the national, subregional and continental levels. Representatives of the Forum on African Statistical Development, the Regional Committee of United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Africa and other initiatives report on their progress through the Statistical Commission for Africa. The meeting will also feature a number of events such as the tenth meeting of the Forum on African Statistical Development and the Takwimu Programme launched in July 2021 by the African Center for Statistics and the ECA to develop young statisticians in Africa. Furthermore, the meeting will incorporate the eighth meeting of the Regional Committee of United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Africa as well as the expert segment of the sixth session of the Conference of African Ministers Responsible for Civil Registration. 24.10.2022 LISTEN Ghanaian students have been advised to ignore false information that sucking of breasts by men prevents breast cancer. The advice was to counter some media reports on social media urging women to make their breasts available to their partners to suck. The President of Breast Care International (BCI), Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai, who gave the advice warned women not to compromise their health, especially breast cancer. She gave the advice during breast cancer education and screening at the St Monicas College of Education at Asante Mampong in the Ashanti, on Friday, October 21, 2020. The program which was attended by both students and staff from St Monicas College of Education and St Monicas SHS, was organized by National Union Ghana Students (NUGS), in collaboration with Breast Care International (BCI). It was part of activities to create breast cancer awareness and education to celebrate the October Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai, who is also the CEO of Peace and Love Hospitals, urged students not to be brainwashed by such false education that has the tendency of affecting their health. She noted that the best way of preventing the disease is to adapt to self-breast and Clinical breast cancer examination and screening for early detection of lumps. Reports that sucking of the breasts prevents and cures breast cancer is force, ignore them. To me, they are trying to take advantage of your ignorance, Dr Wiafe Addai said. She stated that Breast-Self Examination (BSE), clinical screening and mammography are some of the medically recommended ways to examine the breast. Adapt to any of this and when you find any change in breast, report it immediately for action to be taken." Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai also noted that the causal agents of breast cancer are not known, therefore attributing it to witchcraft and other myths must be ignored This he urged the public to stop resortIng to herbal medicine and prayer camps for treatment. Stop resulting to herbal medicine and prayer camps because the disease is not caused by witchcraft. We are yet to find the cause of the disease. Live a healthy life; refrain from alcohol, smoking, fatty foods intake, the use of skin lightening lotions and creams, she posited. The Dean of Students of St Monicas College of Education, Mrs Akosua Baah Ani-Agyei, on behalf of the staff and students thanked the organizers for such an educative programme. She believed the education and the screening improve their knowledge about breast cancer disease and promised to propagate the message to their family members back home. Some of the students also thanked Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai for the exercise and her in-depth knowledge of breast cancer and asked her to frequently hold such events for education and screening. Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, the Minister for National Security has commended officers of the various security agencies for sacrificing to maintain the peace and tranquillity in the country. He said the fact that Ghana was recognised as the most peaceful and safe country in the sub-region and considered the second most powerful and secured country in Africa, was an achievement all Ghanaians should be proud of. If our investment drive has been successful, that has fed into it. Investors come because they know that there is peace and tranquillity in our country. Let us, as Ghanaians never forget that the peace and tranquillity that we have is the result of sacrifices being made by our gallant troops. I want to take this opportunity to salute and thank them and to let them know how much we in government appreciate the work that they are doing for us, the National Security Minister said. Mr Kan Dapaah gave the commendation in Bolgatanga at a brief ceremony to hand over motorbikes and pick-up vehicles to four security agencies in the Upper East Region to boost their operations. The beneficiary agencies were the Ghana Immigration Service which received one pick-up vehicle and 10 motorbikes, the Ghana Armed Forces had a pick-up vehicle and 15 motorbikes. The Ghana Police Service had a pick-up vehicle and 20 motorbikes, while the National Investigations Bureau, got two pick-up vehicles and five motorbikes. Mr Kan Dapaah said even though it was not the primary responsibility of the Sector to provide vehicles to the security agencies, the Ministry took the initiative from its budget to support the agencies to function effectively. He noted that some of the agencies, especially the Ghana National Fire Service, and the Ghana Prison Service had not benefitted, and gave the assurance that they would soon receive their share of the vehicles. The National Security Minister said the security challenges in the Upper East Region were peculiar, and needed a lot of attention to handle, and commended members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) for the successful management of the security challenges in the Region. He said the conflict in Bawku required careful management, In recent times, the reports that I get from Bawku indicate that to a large extent, we are able to get the two sides to work together. That is necessary and can only be achieved through the commitment, loyalty, and determination of the security agencies, especially the REGSEC, Mr Kan Dapaah added. Mr Stephen Yakubu, the Upper East Regional Minister, said the security situation in the Region was of national concern and indicated that apart from the Bawku and Doba-Kandiga conflicts, there were threats of violent attacks from extremist groups from the Sahel. He said the Region hosted a number of immigrants who had escaped the attacks at various locations in communities which share border with neighbouring countries, and said REGSEC was sensitising the border communities on the See something, say something campaign. Mr Yakubu, who is the Chairman of REGSEC, thanked the National Security Minister for the support and gave the assurance that REGSEC would monitor to ensure the vehicles were used for the intended purpose. GNA Lola, the 12-year-old schoolgirl whose body was found in a suitcase ten days ago in Paris, will be buried this Monday in northern France. Her parents have called for "dignity" and "respect" before their daughter's funeral. In a statement, Lola's parents said: "In the midst of the fear and pain we are experiencing, we wish for peace and meditation in order to mourn. For Lola's memory, we hope that the various ceremonies will take place in a spirit of serenity and calm, far from political and media agitation. "We understand the desire for information to understand the incomprehensible, but it must be done with dignity and respect," they continued, asking "everyone to keep the necessary distance." They added that the "support of an entire population is a precious help in overcoming this painful ordeal. But we hope that those who will come to give their support" will do so "without official scarves or any particular sign of belonging to a political organisation." On Wednesday, French government spokesman Olivier Veran praised the "courage" of Lola's parents "who are facing the unspeakable". The parents have asked us "to show our collective support for what they are going through without adding to it," Veran stressed. The French government has accuses the right wing and far-right of exploiting Lola's case for political gain. 'Show them all our compassion' The funeral of the 12-year-old schoolgirl is scheduled for Monday at 2.30pm in Lillers, her mother's home town in northern France. The service will be "open to all those who wish to pay their last respects", said her parents, but "the burial in the cemetery will be done in the strictest privacy". The ceremony will be celebrated by the Bishop of Arras, Olivier Leborgne, in the church of Saint-Omer, the diocese said on Thursday. France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin will attend the ceremony. On Friday, a gathering to "pay tribute to Lola" and "support her family and friends" was planned in Fouquereuil, the town in the Bethune region where the girl's father is from. "As of now, Lola's parents have decided to leave Paris to return to live in Fouquereuil. Before their final return, this is an opportunity to come and show them all our compassion in these moments of great sorrow," wrote the mayor, Gerard Ogiez, on the website of this town of 1,600 inhabitants. Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has expressed anger and frustration at the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo , questioning his recent comments about not being bothered by the vote threats by some disappointed Ghanaians in the Ashanti Region. Some New Patriotic Party (NPP) supported in Kwabre and Manso threatened to vote against the party in the next elections as a result of the hardship they are suffering. But in an interview with Kumasi-based Otec FM while on his tour of the Region, President Akufo-Addo said the threats do not bother him. If you decide to vote for the NDC in the general election, it is your choice and that is not my problem. No one will force you to vote for someone, he said in local language Twi. But Mr Kpebu said the over 31 million Ghanaians must not be cowed into silence by the president but rather put him in his right place since the comments in the interview appear insulting. This man, is he okay? he wondered on The Keypoints on TV3/3FM on Saturday, October 22, You eat our food and tell us that? We have to talk back to him. Ghanaians must understand that somebody has to die, he threatened, calling Ghanaians to a demonstration he has dubbed Kumepreko II. Thirty-one million [people], we cant all be scared. What does he take us for? Who does he think he is? Everything you use, we pay for it and you insult us like this? What have we done to deserve this shabby treatment from President Akufo-Addo? READ ALSO: [Full Text] Fellow Ghanaians, Update No. 15 He, consequently, served notice to the police, inviting Ghanaians with similar sentiments to hit the streets on Friday, October 28 against the Akufo-Addo-led government. Mr Kpebu also asked Parliament to start the process to impeach Mr Akufo-Addo as per Article 69 of the 1992 Constitution. He said the tree of democracy is watered by the blood of some people and he has elected himself to join this group of martyrs. For him, one can even die in ones room while in bed and so to die by fighting for the rights and freedom of the masses must also be worth it. Look as for death, you can lie in your room and die. So those of you out there who dont want to pay any price, look, lets step up. 3news.com The founder of Alabaster International Ministries, Prophet Kofi Oduro has taken a swipe at President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over the hardships in the country. According to him, the President is not finding solutions to the problems facing the countrys economy because he has become prouder even than former President John Dramani Mahama who was perceived as such. Preaching at his church over the weekend, Prophet Oduro stressed that if President Akufo-Addo doesn't change his ways and stop making arrogant speeches, his government will go down as the worst in the history of the country. They spoke carelessly without any remembrance and in the humility of your heart God favored you but Your Excellency you have become prouder than the NDC and their Mahama. I stand here with a heavy heart to respectfully say this to you, the Lord is telling me pride takes everybody down and if you continue to be proud you will go down without remedy, Prophet Oduro said in a message delivered at his church. The well-known preacher continued, Your government will be the worst in the history of this country. Your Excellency if you continue in the arrogance of speech and the pride of your life you will never see solutions and you will never see remedy. I stand here as a man of God and as Prophet of God not needing anything from you except your repentance and your humility. If not Ghana is going into destruction. It is only the fool that thinks we are going in the right direction. The Lord told me to give Proverbs 1:22. President Akufo-Addo in the past week has come under severe backlash for touring the country with a long convoy at the time the citizenry continues to suffer hardships. There are calls for him to stop the tour immediately and address the country on what his government is doing to solve the challenges of the Ghanaian economy. 24.10.2022 LISTEN The Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of the Parliamentary Services Board, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has received a draft Parliamentary Transition Bill from the Center for Democratic Transitions (CDT). The draft bill was presented to him in Accra by Professor Kwamina Ahwoi and Nana Ato Dadzie, both consultants with the CDT. Transitioning from one parliament to another under the Fourth Republican Constitution has had gaps and doubtful legal validity, that have created challenges from one parliament to another in particular, and for democratic governance in general. The purpose of the draft bill therefore is to ensure a smooth, seamless and peaceful transition for the legislature. The draft bill is similar to, but different from the Presidential Transition Act, which was passed for the executive for a similar purpose. The Parliamentary Transition Bill focuses on the peculiarities of the legislature in periods of changeover, and what the experience has been so far. The idea of enacting legislation in the nature of a Parliamentary Transition Bill dawned on Rt. Hon. Speaker Bagbin immediately he assumed office after the nasty and acrimonious election process on January 7th 2021. The idea was shared with the Parliamentary Service Board, which commissioned the drafting of the Parliamentary Transition Bill Speaking after a presentation on the draft bill and related documents, the Rt. Hon. Speaker said the Parliamentary Services Board commissioned the drafting of the bill to help bring closure to some of the unregulated and contestable aspects of what have been the processes, procedures and practices when it comes to parliamentary transition. He spoke about instances where there have been certain expectations of the Speaker or the Clerk to Parliament, when in truth that mandate does not exist, and said the draft bill takes a retrospective look at what has happened in the past, considers todays hung parliament, anticipates what could happen in the future and provides direction and guidance. Rt. Hon. Bagbin commended Professor Ahwoi and his team for the deep thoughts that went into the proposals and recommendations. He looked forward to sharing the proposals and recommendations with the Parliamentary Service Board so that together, they could chart a path that will sustain parliamentary democracy in Ghana. Presenting the draft bill to the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Professor Ahwoi gave examples of the gaps the bill will help close. He said the election of the Speaker of Parliament has hitherto been done by elected Members of Parliament who have not been sworn into office. That, he said, was problematic and could raise legal issues. The bill therefore proposes that election of the Speaker should be by constituting elected MPs into an electoral college to conduct that business. That would help circumvent the current challenge. Professor Ahwoi also suggested that to avoid unnecessary complications and complexities in the future, consideration should be given to the Electoral Commission to be responsible for the election of the Speaker of Parliament. The Speaker, once elected and sworn in, will then supervise the election of the deputies. These, he said, would have to be done at least two days before the Speaker presides over Parliament for the swearing-in of the President-elect of the Republic, in consonance with the Presidential Transition Act. When validated, considered and passed, the Parliamentary Transition Act will govern how the offices of the Speaker, Leaders of the House, and MPs transition from one person to the other to ensure continuity, sustainability and ultimately enhance parliamentary democracy in Ghana. Present during the presentation was the Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Cyril Nsiah and other officers of the Parliamentary Service. Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George has lambasted President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over the unbearable hardships in the country. Speaking to metro TV in an interview, the outspoken MP condemned the President for refusing to address the nation to give some bit of comfort to the suffering masses. Making reference to the Presidents ongoing tour of the country, Sam George opined that it is needless at this critical point in time. He is of the view that the Presidents decision to move around the country with several land cruisers is proof of the Presidents wickedness. He argues that President Akufo-Addo is not only incompetent but also callous and insensitive. When we didnt invite him he came into our homes. He is the president he should show leadership today. Why has the president refused to address the nation? Even if he wont have the decency and courtesy to resign he should address the country. This is not the time for the president to be transporting a chair in a V8 with his convoy of 28 Land cruisers, Sam George shared in the engagement. The MP for Ningo Prampram added, Ghanaians are unable to afford even a meal a day and the president is moving around with a plethora of appointees like he is asking for re-election, how incompetent and insensitive can you be? You are not just incompetent you are wicked and callous. According to Sam George, the incompetence of President Akufo-Addo is going to lead to people losing their family members to suicide and mental depression. Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin has praised underfire President, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the midst of economic crisis. According to him, the President deserves to be defended and supported to do his work. In his view, people who heap insults on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo are either witches or wizards or children of villagers who are uncivilised. We must appreciate the feat of the President and show him appreciation for what he has done for Ghana. We must defend and protect him. Those insulting the President are children of villagers. They are uncivilized. No well-nurtured person will insult an elderly. If you were raised in the Church you will not insult an elder. If you are not villager then you may be a witch or wizard, the Okyenhene said these on Sunday, October 23, at the inauguration of Archeaconry Service held at the St. Martin Anglican Church in Kyebi in the Abuakwa South Municipality. Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin further advised President Akufo-Addo to continue being sincere in his dealings and one day the lies and attacks against him will be defeated by the truth of the good works he has done. Not all will like you. Even Jesus Christ was crucified. It wont bother me if they speak with sincerity but when you speak with hate, witchcraft, and enviness, you must becareful because one day! one day! one day! one day! One day! truth will overcome evil lies and envy," he shared. The inauguration was attended by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as part of his tour of the Eastern Region. Former President, John Dramani Mahama 24.10.2022 LISTEN Former President, John Dramani Mahama will deliver an address on the state of Ghanas economy later this week. This has been announced in a post on the Facebook page of Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). According to him, the leading member of the largest opposition party will speak on the collapsed Ghanaian economy and the unprecedented hardships in the country on Thursday, October 27. John Mahama speaks on Ghanas collapsed economy and the unprecedented hardships sweeping across the land and the way forward on Thursday 27th October at 7pm, Sammy Gyamfi said in his post. The former President in the past year has been vocal about the poor state of the Ghanaian economy. Consistently, he has urged the government to call for a national dialogue to gather ideas on how to address the challenges facing the economy. In his latest advise to President Akufo-Addo, John Dramani Mahama stressed that soliciting ideas and suggests from Ghanaians will not take anything away from him as the President of the country. The Dean of the School of Economics at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof. James Atta Peprah says Ghanaians should brace themselves for a tough Christmas this year. A Ghanaian delegation from the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana returned from yet another round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over the weekend towards a Fund-supported programme. In a statement, the Ministry said officials from the IMF Misson Team are expected back in Accra in the coming weeks. Comparing the IMF bail-out to insulin for diabetic patients, Prof. Atta Peprah said the economic climate will remain tough towards Christmas, as Ghana may not receive the expected $3 billion bailout. Ghanaians should expect worse situations than this as we approach Christmas because, from the look of things, I am not too sure that, we are going to get the money from the IMF. The agreement has not been finalized yet, negotiations are ongoing, so you can imagine what to expect at the end of December and the start of January 2023. Prof. Atta Peprah further suggested Ghana downgrades its economy in order to access concessional loans, which are cheaper options. Sri Lankas economy has been downgraded so that they can access concessional loans. If you are a middle-income country, you cannot access concessional loans, so I am asking myself, can Ghana downgrade the economy because, in principle, we have been downgraded already. Concessional loans are cheaper, and the conditions there are far flexible than extended credit facilities. Citinewsroom The Ministry of National Security has reiterated its commitment to resourcing the security services of Ghana to enhance ongoing efforts to safeguard the peace and stability of the country. Speaking during the presentation of a total of 8 pick-ups and 95 motorbikes along with crash helmets to State Security and Intelligence Agencies in the Upper West and Upper East regions, on Friday, 21st October 2022, Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister for National Security, explained that notwithstanding the prevailing economic conditions, there was a need to prioritise the security of the country; and that government remained dedicated to supporting ongoing counter-terrorism operations. He, therefore, called on personnel of the various security agencies within the two regions to remain on high alert to curb the infiltration of terrorist and extremist elements into the country. He also expressed appreciation to the personnel of the various State security agencies in the regions for their good work, and called on Ghanaians, particularly residents of the two regions, to support the work of security officials towards preserving the peace and stability of Ghana. The recent donation comes on the back of efforts by the Ministry of National Security to retool State Security and Intelligence agencies to respond adequately to the growing threat of terrorism in neighbouring countries given the relentlessness of terrorist and extremist elements to advance their expansionist ambitions to coastal West African States. 24.10.2022 LISTEN DAILY GUIDE has gathered that the first accused person in the Mankessim murder case, Christopher Ekow Clarke Quansah, has led the police to exhume two more bodies believed to have been killed and buried by him. Christopher Ekow Clarke Quansah is one of the three suspects currently before court for their alleged involvement in the murder of Georgina Asor Botchwey, a prospective nursing student, at Mankessim. Suspect Ekow Clarke Quansah, 65, is also the Tufuhen of Ekumfi Akwakrom in the Central Region. The other two, Michael Darko, 48, a self-styled pastor and Jonathan Obeng, 26, a mason, together with the first accused have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime, to wit murder; and murder. The three accused persons have appeared before the Cape Coast District Court 2' on three occasions, but their pleas have not been taken. DAILY GUIDE gathered that last Thursday evening police and National Security personnel took the suspect in handcuff to his Mankessim residence where he allegedly killed and buried the 22-year-old aspiring nursing student. The police went to his room, dug a hole, and exhumed another body in a decomposed state. The police this time around did not allow journalists to come near the crime scene or take any pictures from the scene. However, it was later found out that something believed to be a human body wrapped in a police body bag was conveyed from the room into an ambulance vehicle. Earlier, Nana Clarke and his accomplice, Pastor Michael Darko took the police officers to Anomabo, also in the region, and exhumed a body from a bush that the suspect is believed to have murdered and buried there. The body exhumed from Anomabo was also in a decomposed state. The two bodies were later conveyed to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital Mortuary. The three suspects will reappear before the Cape Coast District Court 2 presided over by Bernice Mensima Ackon, on November 8, 2022. Daily Guide Albert Kan-Dapaah, the Minister of National Security, has presented branded motorbikes and vehicles to some security agencies in the Upper West Region to enhance the maintenance of peace and security in the region. The Ghana Police Service received 20 motorbikes and a pickup; the Ghana Armed Forces, 15 motorbikes and a pickup, and the Ghana Immigration Service had 10 motorbikes and a pickup. Addressing the security personnel in Wa at a brief ceremony to present the logistics, Mr Kan-Dapaah acknowledged their efforts in ensuring regional peace and security. He said the Prisons Service, Fire Service, and the National Disaster Management Organisation would also receive their share of the logistics later through the Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih. He acknowledged that the ministries of Defence and Interior had played crucial roles in providing the security officers with the requisite training and logistics to work with, which had earned Ghana the enviable status as the most peaceful country in West Africa and second in Africa, next to Mauritius. I know they are doing well but, we thought at the Ministry of National Security that we could also do something, however small, to complement what my colleagues in the Ministries of Defence and Interior are doing, Mr Kan-Dapaah said. This is why we thought it's necessary to have a look at our budget to see what we can do to assist. He commended members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the security and intelligence agencies for the work done to maintain peace in the country. It was the duty of every government to provide public services to the citizens, including health and educational facilities, he said, but security was the most important as none of the other services could be enjoyed without security. He said Ghana had been the preferred destination for foreign nationals for businesses or education due to security and urged stakeholders, especially the security agencies, to up their game to maintain that status. Dr Salih, on his part, said the logistics was timely as it would help improve the security situation in the region. Commenting on the recent killings and abductions in Wa, he said the REGSEC was not resting on its oars and would work to bring the perpetrators to book. Brigadier General Matthew Essien, General Officer Commanding, Northern Command, on behalf of the security agencies, acknowledged the government's efforts in supporting their work. He commended the National Security Minister for the logistics and said it would make them more effective in their duties but appealed for more support to beef up security. GNA 24.10.2022 LISTEN Former President John Dramani Mahama is not a trustworthy person. He is clearly a two-faced individual who for political power, says one thing in public, and another thing in private. He is a very dishonest person who in my candid opinion, is not only a misfit in the post of president of Ghana but a waste of space in the nations political arena. In one breath, he acknowledges before a white journalist that the Russian/Ukraine war has immensely adversely affected the world economy to possibly culminate in worldwide economic recession. In another breath, he tells Ghanaians that it is the mismanagement of the Ghana economy by President Nana Akufo-Addo that Ghanaians are suffering untold economic hardships in Ghana. How can you trust this person who lies same as he breathes, to come back to rule Ghana again? I remember my French work colleague once saying to another colleague, Tu mens comme tu respires, meaning, you lie same as you breathe. One in this situation tells lies at any least opportunity they get. The tempo of their propensity to lie is same as the rhythm of their breathing. Former President John Dramani Mahama is one individual politician who is devoid of policies and programmes to better the economy of Ghana and the conditions of living of Ghanaians. All he does best is to destructively criticise without himself having solutions to the problems he wrongly or correctly attributes to President Nana Akufo-Addo as the causer. Additionally, he incessantly publicly accuses the president of failure of fighting to eliminate the devastating illegal surface and alluvial mining (galamsey) from Ghana. However, there are many videos already in the public domain where himself and his teeming sycophantic NDC members and supporters are going round the galamsey sites throughout the nation urging those engaged in the galamsey activities to carry on with their job. They even go further to promise them more lands and tools to facilitate their job. What an irresponsible greedy and wicked person he is! This is the very individual many a Ghanaian not abreast with the state of the world economy as impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russian/Ukraine war, looks forward to come and save them from the ongoing harsh economic situation in the country. Let it be known to my Ghanaian countrymen and women that the worsened conditions of living and bad economic situation as are confronting Ghanaians are not unique to Ghana but a world phenomenon. How credible is former President John Mahama when he acknowledges the true causes of the bad economic situation in Ghana when granting interview to white journalists or foreign countries but says differently when talking to the Ghanaian public? Does he not lie about the economic situation in Ghana all with the aim to causing public disaffection for President Nana Akufo-Addo and his NPP government? Yes, the large size of the NPP government and the presidents inability to enforce the obedience of the laws, can be criticised for contributing to the harsh conditions of living and insecurity in the country. However, to blame the totality of the worsened economic situation in Ghana on President Nana Akufo-Addo, as though there were, or are, no Covid-19 and Russian/Ukraine war, makes it more convincing that former President John Dramani Mahama is unfit to lead Ghana. He is such a bloody liar. Anyway, he will never be my president even if Ghanaians voted him to power in 2024. He does not have the brains to rule Ghana, as dishonest and a gargantuan liar he is. It is just unfortunate that many a Ghanaian is blinded by tribalism, regionalism and party politics to not see who is capable and able to rule Ghana to benefit all and sundry. If John Mahama were in power in the wake and duration of the Covid-19 and the Russian/Ukraine war, Ghana will have burnt to ashes. Was he not the one in whose tenure of office as president of Ghana that the nation witnessed the influx of the heartless Chinese into the country to worsen the plight of the native Ghanaians? John Mahama had better give me a break, courtesy to Obaa Yaa (NPP communicator based in London), for he is not the alternative to President Nana Akufo-Addo when it comes to he who has the vision to develop Ghana for the collective interests of all. I shall be on the case of former President John Mahama for permanently lying about his political opponents and the causes of most of the problems facing mother Ghana and Ghanaians. He must bear in mind that when the proud and fearless son of Kumawu/Asiampa, Rockson Adofo, says it, he indeed, means it. Folks, please watch the video below to see how honest or dishonest former President John Dramani Mahama is. Ghanaians, dont cheapen yourselves to be bought so cheap by insatiably greedy John Mahama, who in his quest for power and immense wealth, will tell every lie his mind can think of to achieve his objective. Rockson Adofo Monday, 24 October 2022 The founder of Heaven Way Church Patricia Asiedua Oduro aka Nana Agradaa has been granted GHc150,000 bail in another case by the Accra Circuit Court 10. This comes a week after she was granted bail by Accra Circuit Court 9 in a different case against her. Agradaa, who is facing charges of 6 counts of defrauding by fault pretense and charlatanic advertisement has been ordered to deposit her passport at the court registry. Her bail conditions consist of 3 sureties of whom one must be justified with landed property. Case has been adjourned to November 15, 2022. Source: 3news.com|Ghana Various generations have endured peculiar challenges, history vividly tells us. The Marshal Plan which witnessed the US pushing some $15 billion into restoration works in European countries destroyed by WWII was one of the greatest strides in post-war history. The world suffered a recession, the like of which the world has never witnessed. History might have a way of repeating itself as being evidenced today. The black plaque has come and gone but then, we too have had our share of a pandemic, the economic repercussions of which have had a telling effect on the whole world. We are not only countenancing a post-pandemic turbulence but the fallout from the invasion of one country by another. No country has been spared the ricocheting effect of the missile exchanges and the stalling world trade. Unfortunately, in our circumstances, the foregone are best pushed under the carpet because they suit the purpose, the political project of others who can only be excited by the fallouts. They would have rather it was limited to Ghana. Being honest and sincere is good and must be upheld at all times even when desperate politicians are at their mischievous best. There are many feats this government has achieved in terms of infrastructure and others. Even as the economy endures the hiccups of the international setting, road projects and others have not stalled. The free SHS remains an unrivalled feat which at the time, it was presented to Ghanaians as a project planned for the future, others on the other side of the aisle described it as an impossibility even a ruse. It has come to pass and many who would have not had the opportunity of accessing education but for the seismic social intervention are beneficiaries. It is a yardstick for caring governance which future governments would not dare review. President Akufo-Addo has been told by a revered Ghanaian King to go and tell the success story of his government. He would not have told him to do so but for his acknowledgment of the strides registered during his tenure. The expensive interchanges have added to the skyline of the country, tangible milestones on our physical architecture. We are now in a world where because of the propaganda of others, those at the helm must be able to spread word about how much they have done to change the lives of the governed. Under the prevailing circumstances, spreading the word about how far we have gone must be included in the government's to-do-list as a matter of exigency. With social media as a catalyst, both the truth and mendacious have equal space but sometimes, the latter gains momentum although momentarily. The difficult times are transient and like others before them, shall pass and be confined to the dark pages of history. Mr William Sebil, the Principal of the Nursing Training College (NTC), Bolgatanga, says most of the 800 Senior High School (SHS) applicants with excellent grades are unable to defend their results before the College's admission interview panel. Crippling worrying trends that are emerging and seen to be very disturbing among the applicants is that, when they face the interview panel, they simply cannot express themselves. Some come with grade 'A' in all eight subjects but cannot defend the grade, he said. The Principal recalled that an applicant faced the panel and said, For me, I was taught by my teacher in the examination hall. These types of applicants unfortunately are usually caught by the rigorous internal examination tools used by the College. Mr Sebil said this at a matriculation ceremony for fresh students of the College in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Regional capital. He said when such students were demoted or dismissed, members of the public should bear with management of the College and not conclude that the examination board or management of the College were wicked or bad. Mr Sebil said the College was noted for churning out intelligent, professional and properly trained nurses spread all over Ghana and outside the country, insisting that management would not in anyway compromise on its standards. He encouraged trainees of the College to inculcate in themselves a sense of purpose, saying, I urge you to find your purpose. Choosing your preferred choice of becoming a nurse is the first step in the right direction. Now comes the real work as we have in the nurses pledge; 'My personal life shall all time bring credit to my profession.' Set your sight on a noble cause from now and work tirelessly to achieve it, Mr Sebil said. He further admonished them to step out of their comfort zones, explore and learn new skills, make new friends and be deliberate about their personal growth. The Principal urged them to make conscious efforts to apply themselves to learning; not just to pass their examinations but attain skills that would help them in the future. He said there was the tendency for some students to be carried away by the freedom they enjoyed, and cautioned them that The freedom you now have, means that you must take decisions on your own and act maturely because you will be held individually responsible for all your actions and omissions. He commended both teaching and non-teaching staff of the College for their sacrifices over the years despite all the infrastructural challenges, which had culminated in the upliftment of the enviable academic performances of the College. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Yakubu, in a speech read on his behalf, acknowledged the sacrifices of the tutors and members of the Advisory Board of Governors of the College over the years. He said their sacrifices were reflected in the milestone achieved by the College over the years, When the name of the College is mentioned now and in the future, your names shall remain perpetually imprinted. GNA Embattled Chinese national, Aisha Huang returned to court in Accra on Monday, October 24. Unfortunately, the lawyers of Aisha Huang once again could not secure bail for her. While in court, the judge denied the appeal for bail with the explanation that until there is an unreasonable delay in the case, he wont change his mind about the bail decision. According to the judge, he has been reliably informed that the Chinese interpreter has travelled out of Ghana and an arrangement was being made for another one. He directed the Registrar to ensure that a Chinese interpreter is made available at the next sitting and subsequent ones. In addition, the judge also directed the prosecution to file their second batch of witness statements and serve the same on the defense four clear days before the next date. The case was subsequently adjourned to November 2, 2022, for case management. The counsel of Aisha Huang will be expected to appeal again for bail for their client. Among other charges, the Chinese national has been accused of engaging in illegal mining and the trading of minerals without a valid license. Richard Kofi Galewosi, a 27-year-old farmer at Dodo-Amanfrom in the Kadjebi District of the Oti Region, has clubbed his girlfriend to death, Tuglo Mawusi, a 24-year-old seamstress apprentice on suspicion of infidelity, with a pestle. The incident, which occurred last Thursday, had thrown the entire community into disbelief as the potential couple had been in a relationship for seven years now. Ghana News Agency (GNA) gathered that after the incident, the suspect called his elder brother from Ahamansu to the crime scene, where he discovered the lifeless body of the deceased in a pool of blood. Frightened and terrified, the brother marched the suspect to the Dodo-Amanfrom Police Station to report the case. GNA learnt that the suspect said he killed the girlfriend because, he suspected her of infidelity and that the battering was occasioned after the deceased allegedly received a call from the supposed new boyfriend. Mr. Cephas Awumee Amenyitor, the Assemblyman for Dodo-Amanfrom South Electoral Area, confirming the incident, told the GNA that the suspect and the deceased were lovers since the deceased was in Junior High School (JHS) two, and alleged the boyfriend, enrolled her into apprenticeship. He said the relationship of the two love birds had turned sour lately, leading to the gruesome murder of the deceased. He advised girls to muster courage to bow out from strained relationships in order not to lose their lives prematurely. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gyan-Mante Frempong, the Kadjebi District Police Commander, who confirmed the incident to the GNA, said the suspect was arraigned and remanded and that he would re-appear in Court on November 15. He disclosed investigations were underway to unravel the circumstance leading to the incident. The body of the deceased had been deposited at the morgue of the St. Mary Theresah Hospital at Dodi-Papase for preservation. GNA The Ashanti Regional Police Command Friday foiled bank robbery attacks at Suame in Kumasi. One was shot dead during the operations and another is being hunted by the Police. A press release shared on the Ghana Police Services Facebook platform, said,On Friday, October 21, 2022, following intelligence that an armed robbery gang was planning an attack on the cluster of banks in the Suame Magazine and Maakro enclave in Kumasi, the Police launched a special anti-robbery operation in which one of the armed robbers was shot. The press release signed by Chief Superintendent of Police Grace Ansah-Akrofi Director of Police Public Affairs Unit, said the armed robber and his accomplices who were on motorbikes, attacked a customer who had stepped out of the Fidelity bank, Maakro branch, carrying a brown envelope. The robbers attacked the bank customer and snatched the envelope amidst the firing of guns, it said. It said the rear windscreen and the left door glass of a Daewoo Matiz saloon car which was parked on the bank premises were hit during the shooting. The Police, it said, which had mounted surveillance in the area, responded to the situation by firing at the armed robbers and succeeded in hitting the pillion rider who fell off the motorbike whilst the rider who also sustained gunshot wounds managed to escape. One of the Police officers was shot by the armed robbers during the exchange of fire and sustained a gunshot wound to his right hip. It said both the injured officer and the suspect were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for medical attention but the suspect was pronounced dead on arrival. The press release said the body of the deceased suspect had been deposited at the morgue for preservation, identification and autopsy as efforts were underway to arrest his accomplice. Police have therefore appealed to the public especially those who run health facilities within the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs to report any person seeking medical attention with gunshot wounds, for prompt Police action. GNA Organisations excelling in the Public Sector, Banking, FinTech, Telecoms, ICT, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Health, and all other sectors involved in digitisation were honoured with awards at the 2022 Ghana Information Technology & Telecom Award (GITTA) at the end of a night of glamour and celebrations on Friday, October 21. GITTA, now in its 12th year over the years has become the cornerstone event that promotes and celebrates Governments, IT Operators, ISPs, Infrastructure providers, Fintechs, Banks, and other stakeholders to share the progress of their successful ICT innovations, aiming to further enhance the Ghanaian community as part of the Governments vision on a robust digital economy. The award organised by Instinct Wave was created as a strategic platform to recognize, reward, and showcase the pioneering ICT initiatives driving the Ghanaian private and public sector innovation with a vision of setting a benchmark for the sub-region's wave of development in ICT. Last Friday, another successful edition of the awards ceremony was held at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra. Delivering a welcome address to kick off the awards night, the CEO of Instinct wave, Mr. Akin Naphtal stressed that GITTA remains committed to promoting and celebrating governments, institutions, digital operators, and infrastructure providers among others. GITTA was created as a strategic platform to recognize, reward, and showcase the pioneering ICT initiatives driving the Ghanaian private and public sectors with a vision of setting a benchmark to the sub-regions wave of development in ICT. The prestigious annual ICT gala awards night has inspired and promoted further development, growth, and innovation of the countrys ICT industry as a regional leader, he indicated. Mr. Akin Naphtal also emphasised that through the platform, his outfit will continue to honour industry players driving change and development through digitalisation. A special Guest for the event, the Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation, Ms. Ama Pomaa-Boateng applauded Instinct Wave for growing the awards ceremony. The Deputy Minister while praising the organisers also charged winners on the night to strive to achieve more in their fields in the digital economy for the benefit of the country. While honouring winners of 2022 GITTA, Instinct Wave simultaneously at the event awarded winners of the 2022 Africa Digital Economy awards. On the night, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful was named Digital Leader of the Year, an award she has now won back-to-back. In the telecom space, MTN Ghana and AirtelTigo led the way in the awards. The several awards won by MTN include; Network team of the year, Telecom Executive Team of the Year, and Customer Service Team of the Year. While the companys Chief Executive Officer Mr. Selorm Adadevoh picked the CEO of the Year award, the MTN Ghana Foundation was also honoured with the CSR in leadership award. In the banking sector, ABSA bank and Prudential bank were named Innovative ATM enabler of the year and Emerging digital bank of the year awards respectively. On the night, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, the Cyber Security Authority, and the National Communications Authority also won big after they were recognised with various top awards. Below is the list of winners: 2022 Ghana Information Technology and Telecom Awards winners: Excellence in Promoting Financial Inclusion - GhanaPay by GhIPSS Innovative Blockchain Provider of the Year - Binance Datacenter provider of the year - MainOne Marketing Campaign of the Year - (To Gu Me So Promo). AirtelTigo Technology Driven Public Sector Agency of the Year - DVLA Enterprise Solutions Provider of the Year - Comsys Ghana Excellence In Customer Services (B2B) - Comsys Ghana Cyber Security Regulator of the Year Cyber Security Authority ISP of Year - Comsys Ghana Cyber Security Consulting Company of the Year - Cyberteq Falcon Metro Fiber Provider of the Year - Csquared Ghana Telecom Infrastructure Provider of the Year - ATC Tower Team of the Year ATC Tower Team Digital Bank of the Year - Standard Chartered Mobile Banking App of the Year (SC Mobile) - Standard Chartered Innovative ATM Enabler of the Year Absa Bank Emerging Digital Bank of the Year Prudential Bank Software Provider of the Year - NeraSol Ghana Innovative Product (Telecom) Fuse Voice Bundle [AirteTigo] Cyber Forensic Technology Solutions Provider of the Year - e-Crime Bureau Excellence In Cyber Security Capacity Building - e-Crime Bureau Innovative Asset Management Solutions Provider of the Year Maatec systems Wholesale infrastructure provider of the Year - CSquared Excellence in Communication Regulation - NCA Digital-Payments Product of the Year (Tingg) - Cellulant Ghana Emerging Backbone Service Provider of the Year - Broadspectrum Mobile Money Leadership Award MTN MoMo Excellence in Customer Experience - MTN Network Team of the Year - MTN CSR Leadership Award MTN Foundation Telecom Executive Team of the Year MTN Executive Team Customer Experience Team of the Year MTN IT Professional of the Year - Samuel Ofori-Gyampoh [COONeraSol Ghana] Digital Influencer of the Year - Alex Offei Lartey [Head, Digital Marketing and Product Development, AirtelTigo] Special Recognition for Promoting Digital Products - Yao Wordih [Manager, Digital Products, Standard Chartered Bank] CEO of the Year - Selorm Adadevoh [CEO, MTN Ghana] Digital Leader of the Year - Hon. Ursla Owusu-Ekuful [Minister, The Ministry of Communication and Digitalization] IT Professional of the Year - Samuel Ofori-Gyampoh [COO, NeraSol Ghana] Emerging Backbone Service Provider of the Year - Spectrum Fibre Interconnect Clearing Provider of the Year Afriwave Telecom 2022 Africa Digital Economy awards winners: A teacher group, known as 'Modern Teachers for Development' said the group was not happy with leaders of teacher unions discrediting the competencies of the new Director-General for Ghana Education Service (GES) Dr Eric Nkansah. The Reverend Nicholas Adu Berko, the group's convener, at a media briefing at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region explained that with such decisions, teachers in the classrooms were supposed to have been consulted before making false profiling about Dr. Nkansah. Some of the issues raised were that the new Director-General has never taught before and that too we discredit. If they want to do their checks and balances, the profile is on social media, who cares to find out. "He taught as a geography teacher at Kintampo SHS from 2000-2006," he explained. And I know GES has records of every teacher and every person that has ever dropped on their pay slip, so I am urging the leaders of our unions to check before they discredit Dr Nkansah as our new Director-General of GES.' The convener explained that one did not have to be a professional before he could teach, we the teacher unions are aware that it is not only those who go to the teacher training that qualify to be teachers we have professional teachers and non-professional teachers. He commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for appointing Dr Eric Nkansah as the new Director-General for Ghana Education Service (GES). The group believes that the appointment of the new Director General was timely and was hopeful that with support from all stakeholders in the educational sector, the new D-G would work to transform education and seek the welfare of teachers. He declared that the group was in support of the President's decision to appoint Dr. Nkansah. We support the President one hundred percent for appointing Dr. Eric Nkansah as the new Director-General for GES, the appointment is not out of place, he has the capability to work in the educational sector, he noted. He cited Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the energy minister, as one who did well in managing the government's Free School High School Programme well despite, he not being in the educational sector giving a tracking system that helped to shape the educational system. The Cote D'Ivoire and Ghana Civil-Society Cocoa Platforms have issued a joint press release to react to the decision by the two governments to boycott the World Cocoa Foundation partners meeting. The governments of Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana have been invited to the meeting scheduled to be held in Brussels later this week as key stakeholders in the cocoa industry. In the joint press release from the Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana Civil-Society Cocoa Platforms, it stressed that they are in full support of the decision by the two governments, insisting that the action of the two countries is spot on. The Plateforme Ivoirienne pour le cacao durable and the Ghana Civil-society Cocoa Platform, comprising of farmers, farmer-based organizations, cocoa cooperatives, small-scale processors, media and civil society organizations working in the cocoa sector wishes to commend the government and regulators in our respective countries for the bold and unprecedented decision to boycott the World Cocoa Foundation partners meeting happening in Brussels between October 26-27, 2022. We may not always align with COCOBOD and CCCs decisions, but we fully support this action and the reasons provided for the boycott, parts of the joint press release reads. The two Civil-Society Cocoa Platforms are of the view that it is about time the world recognised the double standards of multinational cocoa and chocolate industries, especially on cocoa pricing and the deteriorating living conditions of cocoa farmers due to their self-seeking interests and quest to maximize profits without any willingness to distribute profits along the value chain. By boycotting this flagship gathering of the private sector in Brussels, the Civil-Society Cocoa Platforms insists that the governments of Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana are sending a strong signal, but it is also a cry from the heart. They say they hope the world will take notice and denounce the private sector for their nefarious and unfair cocoa pricing practices. BEIJING, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- At week-long 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which concluded on Saturday in Beijing, a blueprint for China's future development has been mapped out. As the world economy is facing a tough situation this year, with probably tougher prospects for the next, China's economic outlook carries global significance. Voicing their confidence in China's future growth, business communities worldwide believe that China's modernization stride and innovation-driven growth will inject more certainty into the global economy. QUALITY DEVELOPMENT BENEFITS ALL China will accelerate creating a new development pattern and pursue high-quality development, said Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, while delivering a report at the CPC congress. "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. Deeply impressed by the remarks, Wichai Kinchong Choi, senior vice president of the leading Thai bank Kasikornbank, said he can see China's future development direction focus more on high-quality and sustainable development. "This is good news for Thailand and other neighboring countries," he said. In the past few years, many Chinese high-tech enterprises have set up factories in Thailand, which is exactly what Thailand needs, he noted, saying that they have helped the Thai economy to transform and upgrade, and enhance its competitiveness. Over the past decade, China's gross domestic product has come to account for 18.5 percent of the world economy. It has become a major trading partner for over 140 countries and regions, leading the world in total volume of trade in goods. Since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, China, which has managed to coordinate pandemic control and economic development, still maintains a stabilizer of the global supply and industrial chains, and is keeping driving the world economic recovery. Moreover, its development is not achieved at the expense of the environment. Instead, China is striving to make its development greener and more sustainable. In pursuit of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, the country has cut its carbon emission intensity by 34.4 percent over the past 10 years, and pledged to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. In the eyes of Chenhong Huang, global executive vice president of the German multinational software company SAP SE and president of SAP Greater China, China's green development will profoundly change the global energy, environment and economic landscape. "Chinese enterprises are using digital technology to make carbon emission data transparent and quantifiable, and promote a balance between green development and commercial development," Huang said. Meanwhile, China renewing its commitment in the CPC congress report to promoting a high-standard opening-up also strikes a chord with the international business community. U.S. automaker Tesla's success in China speaks volume for Beijing's determination to further opening-up. Thanks to the efforts of the Chinese government to facilitate foreign investment, Tesla became the first wholly foreign-owned auto enterprise in China, Vice President of Tesla Tao Lin said, adding that the U.S. company is seeking to further expand its presence in the Chinese market. German heat exchanger company Kelvion (China) has started operations in China over 20 years ago. Cheng Wenwu, general manager of the company, said doing business in China is becoming easier. Mentioning an effective market mechanism and a convenient and fast standardized administrative process in China, Cheng said the changes over the past years have lowered the costs of companies, facilitated market access and helped firms to adapt to international rules, benefiting the companies' operations. CHINESE MODERNIZATION MEANS OPPORTUNITIES Chinese modernization, a key term defining China's journey to national rejuvenation and another buzzword in the CPC report, has spurred a heated discussion in business communities both domestic and abroad. It contains elements common to the modernization processes of all countries, but more importantly, it features the Chinese context. It 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. For business leaders in many parts of the world, Chinese modernization means more opportunities. Jose Antonio Hidalgo, former president of the Ecuador-China Chamber of Commerce, said Chinese modernization will generate a positive impact in the global context, especially for the agri-food sector of Ecuador. "It is an opportunity for us because the middle-class consumers (in China) are going to need excellent quality agrifood and they are going to look for it in countries like ours," he said. In 2021, China announced that after eight years of strenuous work between late 2012 and late 2020, the country had lifted the final 98.99 million impoverished rural residents living under the current poverty line out of poverty, and removed all 832 impoverished counties and 128,000 villages from the poverty list. Now the country boasts the world's biggest middle-income group -- 400 million people. That means huge potential for consumption. Hamdi Al-Tabbaa, president of the Jordanian Businessmen Association, also sees opportunities in the Chinese path to modernization. China's consistent efforts to improve people's living standards mean a significantly expanded middle-income group and upgraded consumption structure, which will offer more development opportunities for global enterprises, said Al-Tabbaa. From initiating the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank to taking the lead in implementing the UN sustainable development agenda, China has always been sharing its development dividends with the rest of the world. Woody Guo, senior vice president and managing director of Herbalife Nutrition in China, said the CPC report underlines the certainty of the Chinese market against the uncertainties of the global market, and makes foreign enterprises feel reassured about their development in China. The Chinese modernization "will provide more chances and opportunities, not only from the growing of markets, but also from an employment point of view," said Sara Vermeulen-Anastasi, head of group communication at Swiss technology group Oerlikon. "We will be able to attract more engineers and have more choices of new technologies," Vermeulen-Anastasi said. INNOVATION INSPIRES NEW MOMENTUM While invigorating its economy, China has made innovation a top priority in its planning. The country rose to 12th place on the Global Innovation Index 2021, up from 34th place in 2012, said the World Intellectual Property Organization. It ranked first among middle-income economies. "We must regard science and technology as our primary productive force, talent as our primary resource, and innovation as our primary driver of growth," Xi said in the report. "Everything is about innovation," said Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club. China is very forward-looking, as in every sector, China has the dynamic about "wanting to know where the world is going," he added. Amid the innovation drive, the number of Chinese companies on the Fortune Global 500 list has grown. In 2021, 145 Chinese companies made it to the list, climbing from 95 in 2012 and increasing for 19 consecutive years. In terms of telecommunication infrastructure, the country has built the world's largest 5G network, with a total of 1.43 million 5G base stations installed across the country by the end of 2021, accounting for over 60 percent of the world's total. Backed by technological advancement, China has accelerated the construction of high-speed transportation networks. With the world's most developed high-speed rail network, China now has more than 40,000 km of high-speed rail lines in operation. Oswaldo Navarro from Jalisco, an agriculture-producing state in Mexico, has purchased several pieces of agriculture and farming equipment from China. He told Xinhua that the seed cleaning machine he imported from China has a daily capacity two to three times that of the equipment from other countries, saving much time and cost. China's increased efforts in science and education will help turn scientific and technological achievements into productivity, said Navarro. Hichem Chorfi, an Algerian businessman working for a consulting firm in industrial technology and innovation, said China shares advanced development models and achieves economic complementarity with other countries, improving the well-being of people in various countries through advanced technologies. Chinese innovation will be featured in many important areas of human society in the future, he said. Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has lamented the direction Ghana is heading under the leadership of the President, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. According to him, the sitting President is no different from most of the Presidents who have led the country under the Fourth Republic. In his view, all the Presidents Ghana has had have been dishonest with the exception of the late John Evans Atta Mills. Some say we need a benevolent dictator but this benevolent dictator, this argument has been made for over 30 years since I became conscious but we havent seen it. All the Presidents we have had, apart from Atta Mills who is honest, the rest are very dishonest, so where are we going to get the benevolent dictator from? Atta Mills has been the honest man, the rest are not, I am talking about the Fourth Republic, Lawyer Martin Kpebu told TV3 in an interview. He continued, Atta Mills, people will die and say he was an honest man. Apart from [him] I dont know either of them that is said to be honest. So this thing about benevolent dictator, yes, but when is that going to come? During the engagement on the Key Points programme, Lawyer Martin Kpebu hit out at President Akufo-Addo for failing to address the nation in the midst of the current economic hardships. He is asking Ghanaians to come out and stage a massive demonstration to send a signal to the President that things are not going well. Lawyer Martin Kpebu also wants Parliament to start the process to impeach the President. A group calling itself the Concerned Eastern Regional caucus of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed displeasure with the handling of the just-ended Constituency elections by the Regional Executives of the party. This comes on the back of delays in voting at the just-ended constituency elections of the party, in the Eastern Region. A statement issued by the group, Sunday, 23 October 2022, condemned the manner in which the elections was conducted by the election committee. We condemn, without any reservation, the shoddy manner in which an election committee set up by the regional team handled the printing and distribution of election material for not more than 33 constituencies that resulted in almost all the constituency elections not happening on the appointed date, leading to frustration and disappointment of contestants, delegates, ordinary Party members and all officials (including the electoral commission and the police) who had assembled for the exercise from 7 a.m. on Saturday, October 22nd till 5 p.m. when the exercise had to be called off, the group said. It continued that: To make matters worse, the officials with the responsibility to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the exercise could not be reached on phone readily to explain why the election materials were not being delivered and when one was lucky to speak to any of them, lies about the delivery were told us from 9 a.m. until about 4 p.m. when a few constituencies received their election material. The group therefore demanded an immediate inquiry into this reckless handling of such an important Party exercise. It further demanded that appropriate sanctions be brought against all those who have proved incompetent in the handling of this exercise, especially those who are seeking re-election to manage our affairs in the region. The group indicated that it will not allow a few selfish and disgruntled members to tarnish the image of the Party and urged persons who cannot show enough commitment and loyalty to the Party and its vision of helping build a better Ghana, to give way to more committed and courageous members to lead the Party going into elections 2024. Source: classfmonline.com A public health physician specialist, Dr Daniel Mingle, has asked for more oncologists to be trained in Ghana noting the pressing need for the establishment of more oncology centres. He was speaking to Class News Prince Benjamin on the sidelines of the maiden Pink October: Breast Cancer Educational Talk organised by the Duala Medical Centre at the Garrison Methodist-Presbyterian Church, Burma Camp, Accra. Dr Mingle first noted, when it comes to breast cancer disease, There are barriers that prevent people from seeking help and he identified them as: Information access, unawareness, geographical access, and financial barriers. After speaking on the efforts of medical facilities of the Ghana Armed Forces to increase awareness on the disease and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) taking care of the financial burdens of breast cancer consultation and treatment including chemotherapy but excluding radiotherapy, he bemoaned the challenge rural dwellers have in accessing health care regarding their breasts. Across all facilities in the country, once the institution accepts NHIS, you can consult a specialist and seek treatment for free but as a country, we need to look at training more oncologists, the medical doctor noted. Oncologists are doctors who specilise in the treatment of cancers, he explained. Dr Mingle holds that currently few medical facilities including the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital [in Kumasi] and the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital [in Accra] being the only places where you can manage [cancer] cases," are overburdened. He worried that transportation to far distances to seek oncological care can exacerbate the financial burdens on patients. You diagnose somebody all the way up north, maybe Bawku, and the person has to travel all the way to Kumasi to seek treatment. That part of the financial access [is lacking]. It's not just the treatment [I'm concerned with] but moving from there [to the distant treatment centre], he cited with the illustration: He or she pays for transportation. Where [will they] sleep? How [will they] feed? Where are they going to take a bath? All these access barriers need to be taken care of in such a way that the patient is treated as a human being, his or her human rights are respected, in such a way that there are oncology points anywhere so that the travel is not too much [so] they have [full] access. Returning to the grave need to create cancer centres across the 16 regions of Ghana, he Dr Daniel Mingle stressed: Our point [and what we seek by talking] is to make sure we have early detection centres in all our medical installations so all these [inconveniences] will be cut short. We believe 70 per cent of our clients are [part of the] civilian population. So whatever impact we bring to bear is going to also going to [seen] on the general public and with that we help reduce the cancer burden in the country, the public health physician specialist at the 37 Military Hospital, Accra, concluded. --- 24.10.2022 LISTEN The Media Coalition Against Open Defecation (M-CODe) is set to take part in the 2022 MOLE XXXIII Conference which will focus on Ghanas commitment to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services delivery as an enabler to achieve the 2030 SDG 6 WASH targets. The MOLE XXXIII Conference slated for Sunday, October 30th to Friday, November 4th at Elimina in the Central Region is intended to create a common space where policymakers, practitioners, and researchers will gather to give account on the state of Ghanas WASH delivery systems. A statement signed by Mr. Francis Ameyibor, M-CODe National Convenor, in Tema commended World Vision Ghana and the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) for sponsoring five M-CODe members to participate in the conference. The M-CODe representatives are joining other stakeholders to discuss SDG 6 which is an ambitious desire to ensure availability and Sustainable Management of Water and Sanitation for All by 2030. The statement said through the sponsorship of World Vision Ghana and GAMA, M-CODe is joining experts from the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, as well as Development partners, Academia, Research institutions, and Non-governmental organizations. Other participants are from Community Based Organizations, Faith Based Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, the Private sector, and Media practitioners. The M-CODe stated that the overall objective of the conference is to review Ghanas commitment towards universal access to sustainable WASH services in the country by discussing the systems, approaches, and models of WASH service delivery, and connecting the systems to bridge service delivery gaps. According to a MOLE XXXIII Conference working document, the participants would also reflect on Ghanas WASH commitments towards achieving national and SDG 6 targets for water, sanitation, and hygiene in the country. The conference would explore area-wide approaches to service delivery that address equity concerns, promote sustainable WASH service delivery for everyone everywhere, and discuss options for delivering sustainable WASH services to deprived and underserved communities in Ghana. The MOLE XXXIII Conference will also highlight cutting-edge partnerships with education, health, economic, and environmental sectors in delivering cost-effective, affordable, and inclusive WASH services. It will review existing innovative financing approaches that are inclusive and self-sustaining, and explore appropriate technology and innovations in an equitably, and inclusive manner. It will also develop practical and actionable recommendations for accelerating access to sustainable WASH services. The conference is also expected to adopt an agreed set of recommendations for tracking Ghanas commitments and keeping the government and stakeholders on track to accelerate sustainable WASH services delivery. A clear understanding of service delivery approaches, models, and methods capable of replicability, and scalability towards WASH for all agendas would also be set The conference will offer a rare opportunity for participants to learn from good practices across the country and beyond, and disseminate the results of successful programs and projects. It is expected to meet industry players and share what works and what doesnt, identify synergies and ways of working together in the future, network with relevant stakeholders in the WASH sector, and serve as a critical mass of stakeholders and actors committed to prioritizing and promoting sustainable WASH services delivery. British Asian politician, Rishi Sunak has emerged as the UK prime minister after rival Penny Mordaunt failed to secure the necessary 100 nominations from her fellow Members of Parliament (MPs). Mr Sunak won the support of an overwhelming majority of Tory MPs, enabling him to claim the keys to No10. Sunak will become Britain's first PM of Indian heritage. Ms Mordaunt dropped out of the contest at the last minute this afternoon after she failed to secure the support of 100 colleagues. Mordaunt, in a statement, said, Our Party is our membership. Whether we are elected representatives, activists, fundraisers or supporters. We all have a stake in who our leader is. These are unprecedented times. Despite the compressed timetable for the leadership contest it is clear that colleagues feel we need certainty today. They have taken this decision in good faith for the good of the country. Members should know that this proposition has been fairly and thoroughly tested by the agreed 1922 process. As a result, we have now chosen our next Prime Minister. This decision is an historic one and shows, once again, the diversity and talent of our party. Rishi has my full support. I am proud of the campaign we ran and grateful to all those, across all sides of our party, who gave me their backing. We all owe it to the country, to each other and to Rishi to unite and work together for the good of the nation. There is much work to be done. The ex-Chancellor took an early lead in the Tory leadership race, having lost the last one to Liz Truss just weeks ago. Within hours of Ms Truss announcing her resignation last Thursday, MPs came out in droves to support Mr Sunak. But his chances of moving to Downing Street were dramatically slashed when Boris Johnson informally launched a spectacular comeback bid. The ex-PM left his glamorous holiday in the Dominican Republic to fly back to London and shore up support. Tory heavyweights split between two camps, with James Cleverly and Priti Patel going team Boris, and Grant Shapps and Kemi Badenoch waving the flag for Rishi. Over the weekend Ms Mordaunt trailed behind the pair, with only around two dozen MPs backing her campaign. On Sunday Mr Johnson made a late night exit from the race. The former Prime Minster insisted he had the numbers to go to a vote of the Conservative membership. But he threw in the towel as MPs broke for Mr Sunak at a rate of more than two to one. However, according to an announcement made by Sir Graham Brady, only one nomination was received by the 1922 Committee for the new leader of the party, and backed by 100 MPs. Sir Brady, therefore, declared Sunak to be the next party leader, and consequently the new Prime Minister. He confirmed that the new Tory leader Rishi Sunak will address MPs at 14:30 BST. -DGN online A team led by Dr Michael K. Obeng, a world-renowned plastic surgeon of RESTORE Worldwide, Inc, the Foundation for Reconstructive Surgery, has conducted free reconstructive surgery for 200 patients in the Volta region. The Surgeons conducted 135 surgical operations, dental tooth extractions, and chiropractic skeletal manipulations within four and a half working days. The 33-member team of volunteers comprised a dentist and chiropractor, seven surgeons, an internist, a general practitioner, two anesthesiologists, a nurse anesthetist, a physician assistant, two surgical nurses, three surgical technologists, and four registered nurses. The team prior to surgery screened more than 500 patients from across the country. A statement from RESTORE Worldwide copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the team from different backgrounds met in Ghana from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Mali, Senegal, and Ghana. Dr John Tampuori, the Chief Executive Officer, Ho Teaching Hospital and a Urologist said: When the RESTORE team told me about their lofty target of 120 surgeries, I was a bit skeptical, but they have done what 'God' can do. Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency, expressed gratitude to the team when he witnessed at first-hand, the lives that were transformed. I will make sure the RESTORE team comes to this area every single year whether I am in government or not. I will like to see my people happy. I am delighted that a good number of our compatriots outside the Volta Region also benefited. We are eternally indebted to Dr. Obeng and the RESTORE team, he added. Dr Obeng said: I know we can do better as a country. Ghana has some of the most brilliant minds and most of our natural resources are untapped. There is a great amount of wealth in this country and our people should have better access to health. Health is wealth and a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. The statement noted that there were a preponderance of thyroid-related diseases (goiters), gigantic facial tumors, burn scar deformities causing functional impairment as well as unprecedented number of ambiguous genitalia, which carried with it social stigmatisation that had prompted most of the subsets of patients contemplating suicide. On Wednesday, October 12, the team successfully conducted the first gender re-affirmation surgery, the first of its kind in the Region on a 19-year true intersex (hermaphrodite) who had been living as a girl since birth. Another major procedure executed by the team was a hemi-maxillectomy, followed by Reconstruction on an elderly woman with a tumor engulfing half of her face. The team, according to the statement, successfully removed a tumor from an 11-year-old boy that wrapped around cranial nerves 11 & 12 and the common carotid artery at its bifurcation, a surgery that had been attempted twice by local surgeons, but with futility because of the vital structures mentioned above. Dr Paa Ekow Hoyte-Williams of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Director of Medical Affairs for the RESTORE team, expressed satisfaction with the success chalked by the mission and the safety measures it had implemented to prevent catastrophes. All these were life-transforming surgeries, and it is an amazing initiative because all these have been done at no cost to the patients, he said. This mission also saw a large number of German volunteers led by Dr. Mehmet Atila of Medical Inn in Dusseldorf, Germany. The team conducted 111 surgeries in Dakar, Senegal in December 2021 and was expected to perform the next exercise in Cameroon in February 2023. The trip included a group of surgeons like Colonel Dr Raccine Kane, Professor, and Head of Urology of L'Hopital de Dakar, Senegal, Dr Dembele, Chief of Plastic Surgery in Mali dubbed by the team 'The Machine' for his surgical prowess, and Dr Marco from Germany. GNA The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Saturday, 22 nd October 2022, commissioned the Specialty Beers Ghana (SBL) Limited, an enterprise operating under Governments One-District-One-Factory initiative. Located in Kwasi Tenten, in Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality of the Eastern Region, on a five-acre land, Specialty Beers was established to manufacture specialty ale or top fermented beers for the Ghanaian market. The company was registered in Ghana in 2012, but became active in 2020 and applied in January 2021 to take advantage of the One District One Factory (1D1F) Programme being implemented by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Construction of the factory started in May 2021 and the first brew test run was completed in April 2022. SBL is a medium size craft brewery with annual production capacity of 10,000 hectolitres. As part of SBL vision to reduce dependency on importation of raw materials, the company has already invested in the development of a number of beer recipes using mainly adjuncts (such as maize and broken rice) partly replacing malted barley which cannot be sourced in Ghana. A number of local suppliers of these cereals, including Avnash Limited and Hila Farms, Limited have been engaged as anchor suppliers of basic raw materials. The brewery will be the first to introduce top fermentation brewing process in Ghana. This high-end brewing technology allows the usage of over 70% un-husked grains during the mashing process while ensuring absolute clarity of the beer without stripping any flavour or aroma due to the centrifuge filtration system. The company has introduced four brands into the market, namely Farmhouse Ale (5% abv), Hibiscus IPA (6% abv), Ginger Triple (7% abv), and Cocoa Stout (8% abv). The entire production process of the state-of-the-art production facility is environmentally friendly and utilises only recyclable materials (no plastics). In addition, the company uses cleaning chemicals that allow the wastewater (by-product) to be used as fertiliser and potassium acetate. Currently, the company has engaged 20 permanent staff who are involved in the pre-factory launch activities in specific areas of factory operations. It is expected that once the company starts full operation, over 60 additional staff would be directly engaged whiles about 1500 indirect employment opportunities will be generated. The second phase of the project is intended to develop exports to the wider ECOWAS region, rest of Africa and possibly the European market via specialized international distributors. For this reason, Specialty Beers Ghana Limited has already acquired ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme Certification (ETLS) certification. Thus far, the One-District-One-Factory initiative, which has seen the ongoing construction of two hundred and ninety-six (296) factories across the country, of which one hundred and twenty-five (125) have been completed, is part of the foundation on which the Akufo-Addo Government is we are building a comprehensive industrialization programme, inspired by the development of strategic anchor industries, such as the emerging automotive industry and the co-ordinated exploitation for the entire domestic value addition of our bauxite and iron ore resources. In the Eastern Region alone, there are seventeen (17) completed 1D1F enterprises, with sixteen (16) more under construction and four (4) in the pipeline. 24.10.2022 LISTEN An Accra High Court has ordered the Attorney General to file disclosures and other documents in relation to the trial of En Huang, aka Aisha Huang, alleged to be involved in illegal mining. This will enable the court to commence with the Case Management Conference and pre-trial at the next sitting. Meanwhile, the court presided over by Mrs Justice Lydia Osei-Marfo, has indicated that the official Chinese Interpreter in the case had travelled outside the country. The trial Judge said the court was making arrangement for a new interpreter. Captain Nkrabeah Effah Darteh, lead Counsel for Aisha, said if the prosecution was not ready to go ahead with the trial, he would repeat his application for bail for Aisha. The Defence Counsel said he was optimistic that the trial judge would change her mind in respect of the bail application. But the trial judge in response said she was not going to change her mind. Aisha is being held on the charges of undertaking a mining operation without license, facilitating participation of persons engaged in mining. She is additionally being held over illegal employment of foreign nationals and entering Ghana while prohibited from re-entry. The case of the State is that the complainants are security and intelligence officers. The prosecution said Aisha had gained notoriety for engaging in series of small-scale mining activities known as 'galamsey' across the country. It said in 2017, Aisha was arrested for a similar offence, but she managed to sneak out of the country, averting prosecution and had allegedly commenced small-scale mining activities without license. -GNA A mother and son have been granted bail by an Accra Circuit Court for fraudulent transaction and causing unlawful damage. The accused persons; Elizabeth Acquah, a 55-year-old woman and John Prince Danso, a 31-year-old, are both unemployed. They pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them. The Court presided over by Mrs Afia Owusuaa Appiah granted Elizabeth bail in the sum of GHS 50,000.00 with two sureties to be justified, while John Danso was also granted GHS30,000.00 bail with two sureties to be justified. The case has been adjourned to November 29, 2022. Police Inspector Wisdom Alorwu, prosecutor of the case, told the Court that the complainant, Mr Victor Essel, is a development Officer and resided at Teshie. Inspector Alorwu said in 2021, Elizabeth sold a piece of land located at Spintex road area to the complainant at the cost of GHS 170,000. The prosecution said the complainant after making full payment started constructing a fence wall around the land and on February 2, 2022, the complainant visited the land and found out that Danso had damaged the fence wall valued at GHS 10,000. The prosecution said the complainant after further investigations realised that the said land belonged to Elizabeth's husband, who was separated from her for 22 years and all the land documents were still in his name. Inspector Alorwu said the complainant contacted the husband for his consent, but he refused, and this made it difficult for the complainant to develop the land. The prosecution said the complainant then demanded a refund from Elizabeth, but she could not do that. Inspector Alorwu said the complainant then lodged a case against the accused persons who were subsequently arrested. The prosecution said during investigations, Elizabeth claimed she contributed to the purchase of the land and that she used the proceeds to educate one of her sons in school. Inspector Alorwu said Danso also claimed his father had given him power of attorney over the land. GNA 24.10.2022 LISTEN OccupyGhana, a pressure group, has appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to intervene as it seeks the prosecution of persons behind the operations of Akonta Mining Limited in the Nimri Tano Forest Reserve in the Amenfi West Municipality of the Western Region. In an open letter dated October 24, 2022, the Group asked the President to direct the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission to furnish the Police and the Attorney-General with evidence concerning the illegal activities of Akonta Mining in the Forest Reserve. OccupyGhana had earlier written to the Ministry to assist the Police with evidence to facilitate the prosecution of officials behind the operations of the Company. This was after the Ministry had directed the Forestry Commission to immediately halt the activities of Akonta Mining in the Forest. The Ministry said in a statement that Akonta Mining had a mining lease to undertake mining operations in some parts of Samreboi, outside the Forest Reserve, but it had no mineral right to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. OccupyGhana accused the Ministry of failing to act on its request, hence the decision to invite the President into the matter. The Ministry and Commission must have sufficient evidence to back these press statements. That evidence is what the Police and Attorney-General require to launch criminal investigations into the matter, and when satisfied, prosecute that Company and its directors and officers for the requisite offences under the Minerals and Mining Act, it said. The Group said the Akonta Mining case is a key test to the President's resolve to end the illegal mining menace. Just like the Aisha Huang matter, it is a key test of your resolve to end illegal mining. If that Company is not engaged in illegal mining, the police investigations will absolve them. If, however, it is engaged in illegal mining, then the police will take the requisite steps, it said. The letter added: We want to see the commitment behind your declared intention to end the menace posed by galamsey, manifested in this matter too. Mr President, we once again urge you to lead the charge, as decisive action is required to save the nation from the dangers of galamsey. GNA The Minister in charge of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has disclosed that government is working hard to address the economic challenges facing the country. According to the Ofoase-Ayirebi Member of Parliament (MP), there is already an enhanced programme in place to turn things around. Government not throwing its hands in despair. We are working hard to solve the economic challenges. We have an enhanced domestic programme to arrest the economic challenges, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah told Asempa FM on Monday, October 24, during an engagement on the Ekosii sen programme. He said following Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Attas return to the country, he will brief the government on the way forward with the IMF programme. Subsequently, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah noted that other measures would be taken, all geared towards getting the struggling economy back on its feet. The Minister of Information further disclosed that the government is meeting the various stakeholders for discussions on all sectors of the economy for appropriate measures to be taken. Already, the Minister has hinted that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will be addressing the country on the measures being taken by the government to tackle the economic challenges of the country later this week. While a date is yet to be communicated, former President John Dramani Mahama is gearing up to deliver an address on the current state of the Ghanaian economy on Thursday, October 27. The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Akosua Manu has urged world leaders and investors to channel resources into green jobs. She made these remarks at a panel discussion at the just-ended Blue Earth Summit in Bristol in the United Kingdom. The politician and climate activist opined that government, private sector, and relevant stakeholders must allocate grants to young people especially those in rural areas to accelerate youth innovations and initiatives on climate change. She further called for the empowerment of the youth to take up green jobs and provide the necessary resources to create a green economy. I believe that young people have the capacity to effect change through creativity and innovation. They need to be supported with funding and resources to be able to fulfill to enable them to champion the green economy, she emphasized. She further urged developed countries to fulfil their financial commitments and pledges toward addressing climate change. She reiterated that developing countries in the global south are the hardest hit by climate change and require urgent funding to develop adaptation strategies. She also called for global north-global south collaboration to address climate change effectively. Akosua Manu hinted at efforts by the Authority to collaborate and support young climate activists to champion Ghanas climate agenda. According to her, the Authority under the leadership of its CEO, Pius Enam Hadzide is committed to advancing the work of climate activists and youth-led organizations in Ghana. This was evident in the NYAs sponsorship and participation at the just-ended Local Conference of Youth on Climate Change (LCOY Ghana). Speaking on the issue of illegal mining in Ghana, she reiterated the government's commitment to addressing the menace. She further argued that tackling illegal mining and other environmental crimes requires a concerted effort. She shared the stage with Nadia Owusu, (Youth Advocate), Abraham Bugre (climate change consultant and researcher), and Emmanuel Ameyaw (Ghanaian journalist and Communications Specialist). They espoused diverse topics on climate reality in the global south and youth mobilization for climate action. BACKGROUND Blue Earth Summit is a movement. A dynamic mix of communities, driven by a love for the outdoors and a determination to do business better. The Blue Earth Summit features over 70 speakers and provides a platform for knowledge sharing and practical steps to address environmental issues including climate change. The Blue Earth Summit also champions energy transition, green jobs, and youth inclusion. The Blue Earth Summit was held in Bristol, the United Kingdom from the 11th to the 13th of October 2022. Our elders have taught us that when there is no head, the body decays. Its on this premised wisdom that every human grouping elects and appoints leaders to control affairs so that such groupings will not go into extinction or oblivion. The rise and fall of governments, institutions, organizations, associations and groups is leadership. It does in light of this that many democratically civilized nations, organizations and institutions appoint or elect personalities with integrity and necessary leadership credentials to lead them. As is the custom in many established jurisdictions, the Ghana Physician Assistants Association (GPAA) holds its national elections every four years. The association organizes Annual General Conference (AGC). It is on AGC grounds, national officers are elected. This years AGC is the 19th Annual General Conference of GPAA which will be held at the Business School Auditorium of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST), comes off from Tuesday, 25th October, 2022 to Saturday, 29th October, 2022 with His Royal Majesty Otumfour Osei Tutu II, King of the Asante Kingdom as the Special Guest of Honour. The conference is themed Strengthening and Maximizing the Sub-District Level for Effective, Efficient and Equitable Healthcare Service Delivery: The Role of the Stakeholders. In attendance will be Ghanas Minister of Health Hon. Kwaku Agyemang Manu and the Director General of Ghana Health Services Dr. Patrick Kumah-Aboagye. The conference will be climaxed on Friday, 28th October, 2022 with the election and induction of new national officers into office for the next four years. Undoubtedly, this years election has sparked the greatest continuous intellectual discourse among Physician Assistants across the length and breadth of the country on the basis of who is best fit to lead the association in the next four years as its president looking at the policy directives of the aspirants. The two great personalities contesting for the presidency Mr. Ayamba Peter Akudugu and Mr. Sam Dodoo Stephen have all outlined cogent policies they intend to implement should they be given the nod. Chief Imoro Bandana handed over as president in 2017 and Mr. Emmanuel Yaw Appiah led from 2018 to 2022. Who will the next leader be? The answer lies with the delegates who will be flooding the congress ground on the day of the election to cast their vote. Whoever wins should obviously know the daunting task required of him in making a somewhat struggling association great and for it to gain the recognition it needs among its peers. In other portfolios, Emmanuel Kofi Nti Brantuo locks horn with Robert Essien for the position of Vice President; the incumbent General Secretary Peter Eyram Kuenyefu faces fierce opposition from Samuel Wiafe for the position of the General Secretary; former General Secretary of Western Regional GPAA Charles Cudjoe comes up against an established award-winning author Edward Etse Aloryito for the Vice Secretary position; and John Mbeibo Lalibe battles Justice Mensah for Financial Secretary slot. Aminu Ali Mohammed and Hajia Abubakari Balchisu are respectively going unopposed for Public Relations Officer and Treasurer. May the best candidates win; in the end, its the association that has won. Physician Assistants are trained primary healthcare providers, who consult, diagnose, treat and manage medical and dental cases at the health centres (subdistrict level), polyclinics and hospitals. They are the backbone of Ghanas primary healthcare service delivery system and by extension major contributors to universal health coverage (UHC in SDG 3). The current data from the Ghana Medical and Dental Council (GMDC) reveals 5,584 registered Physician Assistants in Ghana excluding Physician Assistant interns. GMDC is the body responsible for regulating the practice of medicine and dentistry by medical officers, Physician Assistants and Certified Registered Anesthetists. Beatrice Kenyo, an 18-year-old mother of a 5-month-old baby has successfully completed her Junior High School (JHS) education, but not without hurdles. She sat for the 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), officially bringing her JHS education to a close on October 20, 2022. In the Akwatiakwaso Community of Abenta Village in Adawso, a town in the Eastern Region, where Beatrice lives with her mother and six siblings, it is a norm for teenagers to indulge in illicit affairs that can lead to pregnancy. This is basically due to poverty and pressures from ones peers. That was the circumstance Beatrice Kenyo found herself in. To her, getting a 20-year-old boyfriend was a way to get approval from her friends in that same circle. Also, getting a boyfriend was also the only way to augment the little money she got from her mother for school. Beatrice made these revelations in an exclusive interview with Emelia Naa Ayeley Aryee, a Ghanaian journalist, gender advocate, and one interested in women and childrens affairs. By completing JHS, Beatrice thus overcame what seems to be a canker in her community, where young teenage girls who got pregnant end up being forcefully married to their equally young partners, bringing their education to a halt. Beatrice had a baby The 18-year-old girl gave birth to her daughter, Lordina Kenyo, in May 2022. The zealous Beatrice was regular in her school attendance during her pregnancy period, and would only miss school when she had complications or was sick. In fact, she was in school the whole week prior to her delivery week. She disclosed that her class teacher, Mr. Lord Addo Yobo, advised her to stay away from school so she would prepare herself adequately for the arrival of her baby. But for the timely advice of her teacher, Beatrice could have given birth to her baby in the classroom. For her, she felt strong enough to keep going to school until she experienced labour pains wherever it would happen. Grandmother and cousin to the rescue Determined not to let the feeding and caring of her baby stop her from continuing school, Beatrice got back to the classroom less than a month after delivery. She told this journalist how she managed to persuade her grandmother and little cousin into taking care of her child while she went to school. Her own mother was not in a position to take care of the baby, and so Beatrice had to either stay at home or find someone to leave the baby with. What helped her was that her grandmothers house was closer to the school. In the morning, Beatrice would wake up earlier than usual, bathe and prepare her baby, and then take her to her grandmothers house. During break time, she would sneak out of the school compound to her grandmothers house to breastfeed the baby, and then return to the school after break time was over. What next after BECE? Being an average student, Beatrice is expecting to score an aggregate 21 in her BECE. She aims to continue to the secondary school level, and become a nurse in the future. Beatrice listed her top six schools as Mampong Presec; Aburi Girls Senior High School; Larteh Presec; Benkum Senior High School; Adonten Senior High School, and Okuapeman Senior High School, in order of her first to sixth choice. She also pleaded with well-meaning Ghanaians, non-governmental organisations (NGO), and other civil society groups to come to her aid so she would achieve her dream of becoming a health professional. April 21, 2018 The Media War On Truthful Reporting And Legitimate Opinions - A Documentary Early in life I have noticed that no event is ever correctly reported in a newspaper, but in Spain, for the first time, I saw newspaper reports which did not bear any relation to the facts, not even the relationship which is implied in an ordinary lie. I saw great battles reported where there had been no fighting, and complete silence where hundreds of men had been killed. I saw troops who had fought bravely denounced as cowards and traitors, and others who had never seen a shot fired hailed as the heroes of imaginary victories; and I saw newspapers in London retailing these lies and eager intellectuals building emotional superstructures over events that had never happened. I saw, in fact, history being written not in terms of what happened but of what ought to have happened according to various party lines. George Orwell, Looking back on the Spanish War, Chapter 4 Last week saw an extreme intensifying of the warmongers' campaign against individuals who publicly hold and defend a different view than the powers-that-be want to promote. The campaign has a longer history but recently turned personal. It now endangers the life and livelihood of real people. In fall 2016 a smear campaign was launched against 200 websites which did not confirm to NATO propaganda. Prominent sites like Naked Capitalism were among them as well as this site: While the ProPornOT campaign was against websites the next and larger attack was a general defaming of specific content. The neoconservative Alliance For Securing Democracy declared that any doubt of the veracity of U.S. propaganda stories discussed on Twitter was part of a "Russian influence campaign". Their 'dashboard' shows the most prominent hashtags and themes tweeted and retweeted by some 600 hand-selected but undisclosed accounts. (I have reason to believe that @MoonofA is among them.) The dashboard gave rise to an endless line of main-stream stories faking concern over alleged "Russian influence". The New York Times published several such stories including this recent one: Russia did not respond militarily to the Friday strike, but American officials noted a sharp spike in Russian online activity around the time it was launched. A snapshot on Friday night recorded a 2,000 percent increase in Russian troll activity overall, according to Tyler Q. Houlton, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security. One known Russian bot, #SyriaStrikes, had a 4,443 percent increase in activity while another, #Damsucs, saw a 2,800 percent jump, Mr. Houlton said. A person on Twitter, or a bot, is tagged by a chosen name led with an @-sign. Anything led with a #-sign is a 'hashtag', a categorizing attribute of a place, text or tweet. Hashtags have nothing to do with any "troll activity". The use of the attribute or hashtag #syriastrike increased dramatically when a U.S. strike on Syria happened. Duh. A lot of people remarked on the strikes and used the hashtag #syriastrike to categorize their remarks. It made it easier for others to find information about the incident. The hashtag #Damsucs does not exit. How could it have a 2,800% increase? It is obviously a mistyping of #Damascus or someone may have used as a joke. In June 2013 an Associated Press story famously carried the dateline "Damsucs". The city was then under artillery attack from various Takfiri groups. The author likely felt that the situation sucked. The spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security Tyler Q. Holton, to which the Times attributes the "bot" nonsense, has a Twitter account under his name and also tweets as @SpoxDHS. Peter Baker, the NYT author, has some 150,000 followers on Twitter and tweets several times per day. Holton and Tyler surely know what @accounts and #hashtags are. One suspects that Holton used the bizzare statistic of the infamous 'Dashboard' created by the neoconservative, anti-Russian lobby. The dashboard creators asserted that the use of certain hashtags is a sign of 'Russian bots'. On December 25 the dashboard showed that Russian trolls and bots made extensive use of the hashtag #MerryChristmas to undermine America's moral. One of the creators of the dashboard, Clint Watts, has since confessed that it is mere bullshit: Im not convinced on this bot thing, said Watts, the cofounder of a project that is widely cited as the main, if not only, source of information on Russian bots. He also called the narrative overdone. As government spokesperson Holton is supposed to spout propaganda that supports the government's policies. But propaganda is ineffective when it does not adhere to basic realities. Holton is bad at his job. Baker, the NYT author, did even worse. He repeated the government's propaganda bullshit without pointing out and explaining that it obviously did not make any sense. He used it to further his own opinionated, false narrative. It took a day for the Times to issue a paritial correction of the fact free tale. With the situation in Syria developing in favor of the Syrian people, with dubious government claims around the Skripal affair in Salisbury and the recent faked 'chemical attack' in Douma the campaign against dissenting reports and opinions became more and more personal. Last December the Guardian commissioned a hatchet job against Vanessa Beeley and Eva Bartlett. Beeley and Bartlett extensively reported (vid) from the ground in Syria on the British propaganda racket "White Helmets". The Guardian piece defended the 'heros' of the White Helmets and insinuated that both journalists were Russian paid stooges. In March the self proclaimed whistle-blower and blowhard Sibel Edmonds of Newsbud launched a lunatic broadside smear attack (vid) against Vanessa Beeley and Eva Bartlett. The Corbett Report debunked (vid) the nonsense. (The debunking received 59,000 views. Edmonds public wanking was seen by less than 23,000 people.) Some time ago the CIA propaganda outlets Voice of America and Radio Free Europe started a 'fact-checking' website and named it Polygraph.info. (Some satirist or a clueless intern must have come up with that name. No country but the U.S. believes that the unscientific results of polygraph tests have any relation to truthfulness. To any educated non-U.S. citizen the first association with the term 'polygraph' is the term 'fake'.) On April 4 the Polygraph wrote a smear piece about the Twitter account Ian56 (@Ian56789). Its headline: Disinfo News: Doing the Kremlins Work: A Fake Twitter Troll Pushes Many Opinions: Ben Nimmo, the Senior Fellow for Information Defense at the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab, studies the exploits of Ian56 and similar accounts on Twitter. His recent article in the online publication Medium profiles such fake pro-Kremlin accounts and demonstrates how they operate. ... Nimmo, and several other dimwits quoted in the piece, came to the conclusion that Ian56 is a Kremlin paid troll, not a real person. Next to Ian56 Nimmo 'identified' other 'Russian troll' accounts: Ben Nimmo @benimmo - 10:50 UTC - 24 Mar 2018 One particularly influential retweeter (judging by the number of accounts which then retweeted it) was @ValLisitsa, which posts in English and Russian. Last year, this account joined the troll-factory #StopMorganLie campaign. Nimmo's employer, the Atlantic Council, is a lobby of companies who profit from war. Had Nimmo, a former NATO spokesperson, had some decent education he would have know that @ValLisitsa, aka Valentina Lisitsa, is a famous American-Ukrainian pianist. Yes, she sometimes tweets in Russian language to her many fans in Russia and the Ukraine. Is that now a crime? The videos of her world wide performances on Youtube have more than 170 million views. It is absurd to claim that she is a 'Russian troll' and to insinuate that she is taking Kremlin money to push 'Russian troll' opinions. Earlier this month Newsweek also targeted the journalists Beeley and Bartlett and smeared a group of people who had traveled to Syria as 'Assad's pawns'. On April 14 Murdoch's London Times took personal aim at the members of a group of British academics who assembled to scientificly investigate dubious claims against Syria. Their first investigation report though, was about the Skripal incident in Salisbury. The London Times also targeted Bartlett and Beeley. The piece was leading on page one with the headline: "Apologists for Assad working in universities". A page two splash and an editorial complemented the full fledged attack on the livelihood of the scientists. Tim Hayward, who initiated the academic group, published a (too) mild response. On April 18 the NPR station Wabenews smeared the black activists Anoa Changa and Eugene Puryear for appearing on a Russian TV station. It was the begin of an ongoing, well concerted campaign launched with at least seven prominent smear pieces issued on a single day against the opposition to a wider war on Syria. On April 19 the BBC took aim at Sarah Abdallah, a Twitter account with over 130,000 followers that takes a generally pro Syrian government stand. The piece also attacked Vanessa Beeley and defended the 'White Helmets': In addition to pictures of herself, Sarah Abdallah tweets constant pro-Russia and pro-Assad messages, with a dollop of retweeting mostly aimed at attacking Barack Obama, other US Democrats and Saudi Arabia. ... The Sarah Abdallah account is, according to a recent study by the online research firm Graphika, one of the most influential social media accounts in the online conversation about Syria, and specifically in pushing misinformation about a 2017 chemical weapons attack and the Syria Civil Defence, whose rescue workers are widely known as the "White Helmets". ... Graphika was commissioned to prepare a report on online chatter by The Syria Campaign, a UK-based advocacy group organisation which campaigns for a democratic future for Syria and supports the White Helmets. The Syria Campaign Ltd. is a for profit 'regime change' lobby which, like the White Helmets it promotes, is sponsored with millions of British and U.S. taxpayer money. Brian Whitaker, a former Middle East editor for the Guardian, alleged that Sarah Abdullah has a 'Hizbullah connection'. He assumes that from two terms she used which point to a southern Lebanese heritage. But south Lebanon is by far not solely Hizbullah and Sarah Abdallah certainly does not dress herself like a pious Shia. She is more likely a Maronite or secular whatever. Exposing here as 'Hizbullah' can easily endanger her life. Replying to Whitaker the British politician George Galloway asked: George Galloway @georgegalloway - 14:50 UTC - Replying to @Brian_Whit Will you be content when shes dead Brian? ... Will you be content Brian when ISIS cut off her head and eat her heart? You are beneath contempt. Even for a former Guardian man Whitaker's smear piece was not even researched by himself. He plagiarized it, without naming his source, from Joumana Gebara, a CentCom approved Social Media Advisor to parts of the Syrian 'opposition'. Whitaker is prone to fall for scams like the 'White Helmets'. Back in mid 2011 he promoted the "Gay Girl in Damascus", a scam by a 40 year old U.S. man with dubious financial sources who pretended to be a progressive Syrian woman. Also on April 19 the Guardian stenographed a British government smear against two other prominent Twitter accounts: Russia used trolls and bots to unleash disinformation on to social media in the wake of the Salisbury poisoning, according to fresh Whitehall analysis. Government sources said experts had uncovered an increase of up to 4,000% in the spread of propaganda from Russia-based accounts since the attack, many of which were identifiable as automated bots. Notice that this idiotic % increase claim, without giving a base number, is similar to the one made in the New York Times piece quoted above. It is likely also based on the lunatic 'dashboard'. [C]ivil servants identified a sharp increase in the flow of fake news after the Salisbury poisoning, which continued in the runup to the airstrikes on Syria. One bot, @Ian56789, was sending 100 posts a day during a 12-day period from 7 April, and reached 23 million users, before the account was suspended. It focused on claims that the chemical weapons attack on Douma had been falsified, using the hashtag #falseflag. Another, @Partisangirl, reached 61 million users with 2,300 posts over the same 12-day period. The prime minister discussed the matter at a security briefing with fellow Commonwealth leaders Malcolm Turnbull, Jacinda Ardern and Justin Trudeau earlier this week. They were briefed by experts from GCHQ and the National Cyber Security Centre about the security situation in the aftermath of the Syrian airstrikes. The political editor of the Guardian, Heather Steward, admitted that her 'reporting' was a mere copy of government claims: Heather Stewart @GuardianHeather - 10:38 UTC - 20 Apr 2018 It's not my analysis - as the piece makes quite clear - it's the government's. The government claim was also picked up by other British outlets like Sky News (vid). A day earlier Ian56/@Ian56789 account with 35,000 followers had suddenly been blocked by Twitter. Ben Nimmo was extremely happy about this success. But after many users protested to the Twitter censors the account was revived. Neither Ian, nor Partisangirl, are 'bots' or have anything to do with Russia. Partisangirl, aka Syria Girl, is the twitter moniker of Maram Susli, a Syrian-Australian scientist specialized in quantum chemistry. She was already interviewed on Australian TV (vid) four years ago and has been back since. She has published videos of herself talking about Syria on Youtube and on Twitter and held presentations on Syria at several international conferences. Her account is marked as 'verified' by Twitter. Any cursory search would have shown that she is a real person. The claim of bots and the numbers of their tweets the government gave to the Guardian and Sky News are evidently false. With just a few clicks the Guardian and Sky News 'journalists' could have debunked the British government claims. But these stenograhers do not even try and just run with whatever nonsense the government claims. Sky News even manipulated the picture of Partisangirl's Twitter homepage in the video and screenshot above. The original shows Maram Susli speaking about Syrian refugees at a conference in Germany. The picture provides that she is evidently a living person and not a 'bot'. But Sky News did not dare to show that. It would have debunked the government's claim. After some negative feed back on social media Sky News contacted the 'Russian bot' Ian and invited him to a live interview (vid). Ian Shilling, a wakeful British pensioner, managed to deliver a few zingers against the government and Sky News. He also published a written response: I have been campaigning against the Neocons and the Neocon Wars since January 2002, when I first realised Dick Cheney and the PNAC crowd were going to use 9/11 as the pretext to launch a disastrous invasion of Iraq. This has nothing to do with Russia. It has EVERYTHING to do with the massive lies constantly told by the UK & US governments about their illegal Wars of Aggression. ... Brian Whitaker could not hold back. Within the 156,000 tweets Ian wrote over seven years Whitaker found one(!) with a murky theory (not a denial) about the Holocaust. He alleged that Ian believes in 'conspiracy theories'. Whitaker then linked to and discussed one Conspirador Norteno who peddles 'Russian bots' conspiracy theories. Presumably Whitaker did not get the consp-irony of doing such. On the same day as the other reports the British version of the Huffington Post joined the Times in its earlier smear against British academics, accusing Professor Hayward and Professor Piers Robinson of "whitewashing war crimes". They have done no such thing. Vanessa Beeley was additionally attacked. Also on the 19th the London Times aimed at another target. Citizen Halo, a well known Finnish grandma, was declared to be a 'Russian troll' based on Ben Nimmo's pseudo-scientific trash, for not believing in the Skripal tale and the faked 'chemical attack' in Syria. The Times doubted her nationality and existence by using quotes around her as a "Finnish activist". Meanwhile the defense editor of the Times, Deborah Haynes, is stalking Valentina Lisitsa on Twitter. A fresh smear-piece against the pianist is surely in the works. The obviously organized campaign against critical thinking in Britain extended beyond the Atlantic. While the BBC, Guardian, HuffPo, Times and Sky News published smear pieces depicting dissenting people as 'Russian bots', the Intercept pushed a piece by Mehdi Hasan bashing an amorphous 'left' for rejecting a U.S. war on Syria: Dear Bashar al-Assad Apologists: Your Hero Is a War Criminal Even If He Didnt Gas Syrians. Mehdi Hasan is of course eminently qualified to write such a piece. Until recently he worked for Al Jazeerah, the media outlet of the Wahhabi dictatorship of Qatar which supports the Qatari sponsored al-Qaeda in its war against Syria. The Mehdi Hasan's piece repeats every false and debunked claim that has been raised against the Syrian government as evidence for the Syrian president's viciousness. Naturally many of the links he provides point back to Al Jazeerah's propaganda. A few years ago Mehdi Hasan tried to get a job with the conservative British tabloid Daily Mail. The Mail did not want him. During a later TV discussion Hasan slammed the Daily Mail for its reporting and conservative editorial position. The paper responded by publishing his old job application. In it Mehdi Hasan emphasized his own conservative believes: I am also attracted by the Mail's social conservatism on issues like marriage, the family, abortion and teenage pregnancies. A conservative war-on-Syria promoter is bashing an anonymous 'left' which he falsely accuses of supporting Assad when it takes a stand against imperial wars. Is that a 'progressive' Muslim Brotherhood position? (Added: Stephen Gowans and Kurt Nimmo respond to Hasan's screed.) On the same day Sonali Kolhatkar at Truthdig, as pseudo-progressive as the Intercept, published a quite similar piece: Why Are Some on the Left Falling for Fake News on Syria?. She bashes the 'left' - without citing any example - for not falling for the recent scam of the 'chemical attack' in Douma and for distrusting the U.S./UK government paid White Helmets. The comments against the piece are lively. Those working in the media are up in arms over alleged fake news and they lament the loss of paying readership. But they have only themselves to blame. They are the biggest creators of fake news and provider of government falsehood. Their attacks on critical readers and commentators are despicable. Until two years ago Hala Jabar was foreign correspondent in the Middle East for the Sunday Times. After fourteen years with the paper and winning six awards for her work she was 'made redundant' for her objective reporting on Syria. She remarks on the recent media push against truth about Syria and the very personal attacks against non-conformist opinions: Hala Jaber @HalaJaber - 18:36 UTC - 19 Apr 2018 In my entire career, spanning more than three decades of professional journalism, I have never seen MSM resolve to such ugly smear campaigns & hit pieces against those questioning mainstream narratives, with a different view point, as I have seen on Syria, recently. .2/ This is a dangerous manoeuvre , a witch hunt in fact, aimed not only at character assassination, but at attempting to silence those who think differently or even sway from mainstream & state narrative. .3/ It would have been more productive, to actually question the reason why more & more people are indeed turning to alternative voices for information & news, than to dish out ad hominem smears aimed at intimidating by labelling alternative voices as conspirators or apologists. .4/ The journalists, activists, professors & citizens under attack are presenting an alternative view point. Surely, people are entitled to hear those and are intelligent enough to make their own judgments. .5/ Or is there an assumption, (patronizing, if so), that the tens of thousands of people collectively following these alternative voices are too dumb & unintelligent to reach their own conclusions by sifting through the mass information being dished at them daily from all sides? .6/ Like it or hate it, agree or disagree with them, the bottom line is that the people under attack do present an alternative view point. Least we forget, no one has a monopoly on truth. Are all those currently launching this witch hunt suggesting they do? The governments and media would like to handle the war on Syria like they handled the war in Spain. They want reports without "any relation to the facts". The media want to "retail the lies" and eager propagandists want to "build emotional superstructures over events that never happened." The new communication networks allow everyone to follow the war on Syria as diligently as George Orwell followed the war in Spain in which he took part. We no longer have to travel to see the differences of what really happens and what gets reported in the main stream press. We can debunk false government claims with freely available knowledge. The governments, media and their stenographers would love to go back to the old times when they were not plagued by reports and tweets from Eva, Vanessa, Ian, Maram and Sarah or by blogposts like this one. The vicious campaign against any dissenting report or opinion is a sorry attempt to go back in time and to again gain the monopoly on 'truth'. It is on us to not let them succeed. Posted by b on April 21, 2018 at 23:02 UTC | Permalink Comments next page August 02, 2021 Why Hypersonic Missiles Are Real Game Changers - by Gordog A Technical Look at the Science Behind the Headlines by Gordog The Americans are now crying uncle about Russias hypersonic weapons. After the most recent flight test of the scramjet-powered Zircon cruise missile, the Washington Post on July 11 carried a Nato statement of complaint: "Russias new hypersonic missiles are highly destabilizing and pose significant risks to security and stability across the Euro-Atlantic area," the statement said. At the same time, talks have begun on the strategic dialog between the US and Russia, as agreed at the June 16 Geneva Summit of the two presidents. The two sides had already agreed to extend the START treaty on strategic weapons that has been in effect for a decade, but, notably, it was the US side that initiated the summitperhaps spurred by the deployment of the hypersonic, intercontinental-range Avangard missile back in 2019, when US weapons inspectors were present, as per START, to inspect the Avangard as it was lowered into its missile silos. But what exactly is a hypersonic missileand why is it suddenly such a big deal? We all remember when Vladimir Putin announced these wonder weapons in his March 2018 address to his nation [and the world]. The response from the US media was loud guffaws about CGI cartoons and Russian wishcasting. Well, neither Nato nor the Biden team are guffawing now. Like the five stages of grief, the initial denial phase has slowly given way to acceptance of realityas Russia continues deploying already operational missiles, like the Avangard and the air-launched Kinzhal, now in Syria, as well as finishing up successful state trials of the Zircon, which is to be operationally deployed aboard surface ships and submarines, starting in early 2022. And in fact, there are a whole slew of new Russian hypersonic missiles in the pipeline, some of them much smaller and able to be carried by ordinary fighter jets, like the Gremlin aka GZUR. The word hypersonic itself means a flight regime above the speed of Mach 5. That is simple enough, but it is not only about speed. More important is the ability to MANEUVER at those high speeds, in order to avoid being shot down by the opponents air defenses. A ballistic missile can go much fasteran ICBM flies at about 6 to 7 km/s, which is about 15,000 mph, about M 25 high in the atmosphere. [Mach number varies with temperature, so it is not an absolute measure of speed. The same 15,000 mph would only equal M 20 at sea level, where the temperature is higher and the speed of sound is also higher.] But a ballistic missile flies on a straightforward trajectory, just like a bullet fired from a barrel of a gunit cannot change direction at all, hence the word ballistic. This means that ballistic missiles can, in theory, be tracked by radar and shot down with an interceptor missile. It should be noted here that even this is a very tough task, despite the straight-line ballistic trajectory. Such an interception has never been demonstrated in combat, not even with intermediate-range ballistic missiles [IRBMs], of the kind that the DPRK fired off numerous times, sailing above the heads of the US Pacific Fleet in the Sea of Japan, consisting of over a dozen Aegis-class Ballistic Missile Defense ships, designed specifically for the very purpose of shooting down IRBMs. Such an interception would have been a historic demonstration of military technologyon the level of the shock and awe of Hiroshima! But no interception was ever attempted by those ballistic missile defense ships, spectating as they were, right under the flight paths of the North Korean rockets! The bottom line is that hitting even a straight-line ballistic missile has never been successfully demonstrated in actual practice. It is a very hard thing to do. Consider that a modern combat rifle with a high-velocity cartridge can fire a bullet at a speed of about 1,200 meters per second [1.2 km/s]. That is barely one fifth the speed of an ICBM warhead, and only about half the speed of a short or intermediate-range ballistic missile. Clearly, intercepting anything that flies double or even five times the speed of a rifle bullet is going to be a daunting task. [Note from our previous discussion on the space race and the technicalities of orbital flight, that the ICBM does not reach orbital velocity, but flies on a suborbital trajectoryalthough it does exit the atmosphere]. Between the two, speed and maneuvering, the latter is much more effective in evading defensive interception. We know this from many actual battlefield results. When the US launched large salvoes of subsonic Tomahawk cruise missiles at Syria in 2017 and again in 2018, a number of them were intercepted by Syrian air defenses. But not nearly all. Many did get through despite the T-Hawks relatively slow speed of about 500 mph, which is only about M 0.7. But the cruise missiles ability to fly low to the ground and maneuver in flight, changing direction constantly, make it a tough target to hit. Likewise in the Falklands War, the Argentines used subsonic and fairly short-range, French-made Exocet sea-skimming cruise missiles to sink several large British warships, including a then-state-of-the-art Royal Navy destroyer, HMS Sheffield. Even bird hunters know this, and will use a shotgun that scatters many pellets over a wide area rather than a bullet-firing rifle to take down slow-flying, but maneuvering, land and waterfowl! Obviously, if you combine high speed WITH maneuvering, you will have a missile that is going to be very difficult to stop. [If not impossible, with something like the Avangard, which reaches ICBM speeds of up to M 25!]. But lets lower our sights a little from ICBMs and IRBMs [and even subsonic cruise missiles] to a quite ancient missile technology, the Soviet-era Scud, first introduced into service in 1957! A recent case with a Houthi Scud missile fired at Saudi Arabia in December 2017 shows just how difficult missile interception really is: At around 9 p.ma loud bang shook the domestic terminal at Riyadhs King Khalid International Airport. There was an explosion at the airport, a man said in a video taken moments after the bang. He and others rushed to the windows as emergency vehicles streamed onto the runway. Another video, taken from the tarmac, shows the emergency vehicles at the end of the runway. Just beyond them is a plume of smoke, confirming the blast and indicating a likely point of impact. The Houthi missile, identified as an Iranian-made Burqan-2 [a copy of a North Korean Scud, itself a copy of a Chinese copy of the original Russian Scud from the 1960s], flew over 600 miles before hitting the Riyadh international airport. The US-made Patriot missile defense system fired FIVE interceptor shots at the missileall of them missed! Laura Grego, a missile expert at the Union of Concerned Scientists, expressed alarm that Saudi defense batteries had fired five times at the incoming missile. You shoot five times at this missile and they all miss? That's shocking, she said. That's shocking because this system is supposed to work. Ms Grego knows what shes talking aboutshe holds a physics doctorate from Caltech and has worked in missile technology for many years. Not surprisingly, American officials first claimed the Patriot missiles had done their job and shot the Scud down. This was convincingly debunked in the extensive expert analysis that ran in the NYT: Did American Missile Defense Fail in Saudi Arabia? This was not the first time that Patriot missile defense against this supposedly obsolete missile failed spectacularly: On February 25, 1991, an Iraqi Scud hit the barracks in Dharan, Saudi Arabia, killing 28 soldiers from the U.S. Army's 14th Quartermaster Detachment. A government investigation revealed that the failed intercept at Dhahran had been caused by a software error in the system's handling of timestamps. The Patriot missile battery at Dhahran had been in operation for 100 hours, by which time the system's internal clock had drifted by one-third of a second. Due to the missile's speed this was equivalent to a miss distance of 600 meters. Whether this explanation is factual or not, the Americans initial claims of wild success in downing nearly all of the 80 Iraqi Scuds launched, was debunked by MIT physicist Theodore Postol, who concluded that no missiles were in fact intercepted! As the missile experts in the NYT point out: Shooting down Scud missiles is difficult, and governments have wrongly claimed success against them in the past. Governments have overstated the effectiveness of missile defenses in the past, including against Scuds. During the first Gulf War, the United States claimed a near-perfect record in shooting down Iraqi variants of the Scud. Subsequent analyses found that nearly all the interceptions had failed. Why is shooting down Scuds so difficult? Because this was arguably the worlds first hypersonic missile [it flies at M 5 and does MANEUVER]! If we take a closer look at this missile, we see that it is propelled nearly throughout its entire flight. This is the key. The warhead only separates from the missile body a few miles [mere seconds], before reaching its target. That missile body contains a means for maneuvering the missile, by means of thrust vectorusing graphite paddles that move into and out of the rocket engine exhaust stream, as seen here. So it will be jinking and jibing as it enters the terminal phase of flightmaking it a very hard target to radar track and shoot down! Once the warhead separates, the spent missile body falls harmlessly to the ground, as it did just outside the Riyadh airport, landing on a nearby street. It is this now uselessly falling body that could be locked onto by air defense radars and hit by interceptor missileswhile the warhead itself sails unobstructed overhead. The only real problem with those ancient Scuds was their accuracy. They could be off by hundreds of meters. But of course, accuracy and missile guidance systems have come a long way since then. The modern successor to the Scud, the Russian truck-launched Iskander, has an accuracy of about 5 meters! It too, is really a hypersonic missile that reaches M 7, but has a range of only 500 kmwhich was dictated by the now-defunct INF treaty, from which the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew. The Russian Iskander-M cruises at hypersonic speed of 2,1002,600 m/s [Mach 67] at a height of 50 km. The Iskander-M weighs 4,615 kg carries a warhead of 710800 kg, has a range of 480 km and achieves a CEP [circular error probable] of 57 meters. During flight it can maneuver at different altitudes and trajectories to evade anti-ballistic missiles. Iskander is generally described, at least in the west, as a quasi-ballistic missile. But quasi or not, the US considers the Iskander a very dangerous weapon, and a type of weapon which it does not yet possess. In fact, the US attempts to develop its very first hypersonic missile have been rather slow out of the blocks. Its first flight test attempt with the proposed Lockheed-Martin AGM183 [aka ARRW] in April of this year, did not even manage to release the rocket from the wing of the B52 carrier! The second attempt, on July 29, managed to get the rocket to release, but the engine failed to fire! Clearly the US is many years away from fielding a working hypersonic missile. These early tests were only supposed to test the rocket, and carried a dummy glide vehicle which is supposed to separate from the rocket once it reaches a speed of about M 6 or so, and then glide to its target while maneuvering. The prototype missile would carry a frangible surrogate for that [glide] vehicle that would disintegrate after release. However, it is unclear how an unpowered gliding body is going to accomplish aerodynamic maneuvering INSIDE the atmosphere. The concept of boost-glide, which is used by Avangard, works by hoisting the glide vehicle up above the atmosphere, at ICBM speed, where the glider can then skip off the upper layers of the atmosphere like a flat pebble skipping over the surface of a still pond. The overall flight range of AGM183 is a claimed 1,000 miles [1,600 km]. Clearly such a short-range missile, and reaching a speed of only about M 8 at most [based on statements of reaching its target in a flight time of 10 to 12 minutes] is not going to be able to use the boost-glide means of maneuvering, which requires exiting the atmosphere. The Technical Deep Dive (If you are not inclined to follow technical details jump to the conclusions.) So lets look at Russian hypersonic technology in a little more detail, so that we may understand more than just what the technically-challenged media are telling us. From what the Russian military has already fielded, we can see that hypersonic missiles come in all shapes and sizes. Some, like Avangard, are launched by powerful ICBM rockets and have ICBM-like striking range. Others, like Zircon, are more like a Tomahawk or Kalibr cruise missile, powered by an air-breathing engine, and able to aerodynamically maneuver throughout their flight to the targetbut flying about ten times faster. Others, like Kinzhal, which appears to be an evolution of the Iskander [itself an evolution of the Scud] are powered by relatively small rockets and are designed to maneuver gas-dynamically [thrust vectoring], again, during all phases of flight, right up to the target. These are the three primary types for purposes of basic classification. They all fly very fast [up to M 25 for Avangard], but they use different propulsion systems, and different means of maneuvering. Lets begin with the Kinzhal, since we already understand the basics of how a Scud or Iskander works. In the case of Kinzhal, it is launched from a very high speed and height by a MiG31 interceptor aircraft, which is designed to fly up to 1,500 km at a cruising speed of M 2.4, at a height of about 20 km. By carrying even an unmodified Iskander up to this speed and height, its range could easily double, to about 1,000 kmsince the rocket chemical energy required to reach that height and speed would be saved, and could be expended on increasing its flight range. The range given for Kinzhal is 2,000 km, but it is not clear if that includes the flight range of the MiG31 carrier aircraft. My guess would be that it does. The MiG has a combat radius of over 700 km at its M 2.4 cruise speed. That means that after release, the Kinzhal would need to fly for about 1,300 km before hitting its targetfor an overall system range of 2,000 km. In fact, the MiG could fly a significant portion of its flight subsonically, saving fuel, and accelerate up to supersonic cruise speed, or even its top speed of M 2.8, only in the last couple of hundred km, before launching Kinzhal. It would then circle back and return to base subsonically again. This would increase range even more. Either way, it is a safe bet that the overall range to a target, say a US aircraft carrier, from the takeoff point of the MiG [now deployed in Syria], is realistically going to be no less than the stated 2,000 km, if not more. This is certainly a game-changer for US naval dominance! Carrier-based aircraft would have no chance to fly far enough from their floating airfield to intercept a MiG31 launching a Kinzhal at 1,000 km or more distance from the ship. The F/A-18 has a combat radius for air-to-air missions of only 740 km. Obviously, it is not going to be able to reach the MiG launching from outside of 1,000 km. Now let us look at the Zircon cruise missile that Nato is complaining about. So far, this missile has been successfully test-flown at target distances of up to about 450 km. The Russian MoD says its range is actually in excess of 1,000 km, and that flight tests to maximum range will be forthcoming. This too is a game-changer. The Zircon will be carried by Russias new class of surface warships in the frigate or small destroyer size, as well as on the new Yasen-class cruise missile nuclear subs that are now coming into service. These state-of-the-art subs will also carry subsonic Kalibr cruise missiles with a maximum range of 4,500 km! Combined with the air-launched Kinzhal, the US Navy will face some very stiff challengesfrom the air, from the sea, and even from under the sea. It should be noted that both the Zircon and Kinzhal are not exclusively anti-ship missiles. They can just as readily target land objects, including Nato command and control centerswhich Putin has said Russia will do, in the event of any kind of western aggression! But Zircon is also a technological tour de force. The unique feature of the Zircon is its scramjet engine. This is the first time that the world has a production engine of this typesomething which has long been a goal for both the US and Russia. Not surprisingly, the Russians flew the worlds first scramjet prototype back in 1991the Kholod, which means cold in Russian. Remarkably, in the Yeltsin detente atmosphere of the early nineties, the Russian developers of the worlds first functional scramjet engine, the Central Institute of Aviation Motors [CIAM] invited Nasa to participate in the flight tests at the Sary Shagan test range in Kazakhstan. The results were published in the US professional literature, here, and here. But despite this technology boost from Russia, the US has not been able to keep up. Its experiments with scramjet engines, although wildly hyped in the media, have been dormant for several years. It appears that the US has given up on the idea of building a working scramjet engine for the time beingmuch as they gave up, decades ago, on the idea of building a closed-cycle rocket engine, having deemed the technology impossible. So what is a scramjet engine anyway? To fully understand this, lets first look at how a turbojet engine works. Here is a picture that is worth a thousand words. Air enters the front of the engine and is then compressed by a number of rotating blades on a series of wheels, similar to a fan or propeller. The compressed air is then passed into the burner, or combustion chamber, where fuel is squirted in and the result is a high temperature and high-pressure gas that then drives the turbine wheelswhich are bladed in a way similar to the compressor wheels up front. The turbine wheels and compressor are on a single shaft and rotate at the same speedso it is the energy of the gas driving the turbines, that drives the compressors. The remaining energy in the gas is squeezed out through a nozzle, which accelerates the gas flow, which, in turn, creates thruston the principle of Newtons Third Law, action-reaction. The force of the fast-moving mass flow of gas out the nozzle, must be compensated by a REACTION force in the opposite direction [forward thrust], as per the conservation of momentum principle. Hence all jet engines, whether air-breathing or rocket, are called reaction engines. [Incidentally, the heart of any liquid-fuel rocket engine is a turbopump, which is basically a gas turbine engine. It has a burner, where some amount of the fuel and oxidizer are burned, supplying gas to drive a turbine wheel or wheels, which then drive two compressor pumps [also wheels], that pressurize the oxidizer and fuel, which is then delivered to the main combustion chamber under great pressure.] Now what happens when you want to go very fast with a turbojet engine? Well, you basically hit a wall, due to the physics of airflow]. The faster you go, the greater the ram pressure on the front of the engine. This ram pressure [technically called dynamic pressure, or Q] is like kinetic energyit increases by the square of speed. [KE = M x V^2 / 2; Q = rho x V^2 / 2; they are the same except mass is replaced by density, rho, since we are dealing with a flowing fluid instead of a solid particle!] In simple terms, dynamic pressure [aka ram pressure] is what you feel on your hand when you stick your hand out the window of your car while driving on the highway. The results of this quadratic pressure rise with speed are profound! At a typical passenger jet cruise speed of 450 knots, or M 0.8, the pressure increase from ram effect, at the front of the engine fan, is about 1.5. Also, the engine inlet must SLOW the airflow down to about M 0.5, so that the rotating blades can work efficiently. If you increase flight speed to M 2, the pressure rise at the engine face due to ram effect is seven-fold! At this speed, you dont even need a compressor or turbines. This is the idea of the ramjet engineyou need no moving parts, just an air inlet that is designed to slow down the airflow to below sonic velocity, turning kinetic energy into pressure energy. The combustion chamber is simply a pipe with fuel squirters, where that compressed air is burned with fuel, and then expelled through a nozzle, exactly as on the turbojet. In fact the afterburner on supersonic fighter jets works exactly like a ramjet enginefuel is squirted in and combusts with air that was used for cooling the combustion chamber walls upstream [only a small amount of air is burned in a turbojet engine, with air to fuel ratios of over 50, compared to about 15 for a car engine.] An illustration of an afterburner shows the simple basic geometry. But the ramjet hits a speed limit too, just like the turbojet. In both cases it has to do with the falling efficiency of the engine inlet at higher speeds: more of the kinetic energy of the high-speed airflow is converted into heat, rather than usable pressure. In a turbojet, the heat limit is reached by about Mach 3, when the heat of that incoming air exceeds the materials limit of the compressor blades. In the ramjet, eliminating those unneeded blades and all the other moving parts raises the temperature limit to a much higher valueso flight up to about Mach 5 is possible. Above those speeds, the Ramjet faces a different kind of problem. As flight speeds continue to increase, the efficiency of turning that kinetic energy into pressure continues to decrease steeply. This pressure loss is due to a series of shockwaves generated by slowing down the airflow in the engine inlet passage, upstream of the combustion chamber. The biggest shockwave and biggest pressure loss happens when the flow finally transitions to below sonic velocity. This is called the normal shockwave, because it is perpendicular [normal] to the inlet wall, as seen in this illustration of a supersonic inlet and its shockwaves. So the speed limit comes because most of that ram pressure is not recoverableit is simply dissipated into heat by the inlet shockwaves. Enter the scramjet. Here, the flow is never actually slowed to below sonic velocity. Thats why its called a SCramjet, for supersonic combustionthe airflow through the combustion chamber is well above Mach 1, perhaps closer to Mach 2. By comparison, the flow in a turbojet enters the burner at just M 0.2, ten times slowerand in the afterburner and ramjet, it is about M 0.5. This solves the speed limit issue of not having any more pressure energy available. But it comes with HUGE challenges. At a flight speed of M 6 or 7, the craft is moving at a speed of about 2,000 m/s. The main challenge is the flame front speed of combustion. Even if it took only one hundredth of a second to combust the air-fuel mixture, it would require a combustion chamber 20 meters long! That is hardly practical of course, but is in line with the flame propagation speed of aviation kerosene. That is why the afterburner jetpipes on supersonic aircraft are several meters long. So we see that each type of airbreathing engine, turbojet, ramjet and scramjet, has its own speed limit, as shown graphically here. Even the scramjet will run into a wall at some point. The vertical measure is specific impulse [ISP], which is engine efficiency, per mass of fuel burned. We see that ISP decreases the faster we go, in any type of engineit simply means that fuel use rises much faster than flight speed! But back to the main challenge of the scramjet, which is flame speed. This is strictly a limit of the chemical physics of fuel combustion. Hydrogen burns ten times as fast as kerosene, but is not a practical fuelit must be cooled to near absolute zero to be liquid, and so is not storable, and cannot be launched at will without time-consuming fueling. All of the previous scramjet experimental prototypes, both US and Russian, used cryogenic liquid hydrogen fuel. But the Zircon uses a kerosene-based fuel innovation that the Russians call Detsilin-M. The exact means by which the Russians have achieved this fuel chemistry is of course a tightly held secret, but it is clearly a remarkable breakthrough in chemical engineeringcomparable to the breakthrough in materials science that led to the closed-cycle, oxygen-rich staged combustion rocket engine in the 1960s [which the US still has not demonstrated]. In a previous discussion here, the technically-inclined commenter and longtime gyroplane pilot PeterAU1, dug up some interesting material about doping kerosene with certain additives to enhance flame front speed. But the technicalities of that subject are beyond the scope of this relatively brief introductory discussion. [Although Im sure we may hear more in the comments section!] Conclusions: The bottom line is that the Zircon represents not only a formidable and very deadly weaponbut it is indicative of the engineering capabilities of the Russian aerospace industry. It is an impressive achievement that is in fact groundbreaking. As mentioned already, Zircon is only the beginning of scramjet engine use by the Russian military. The next generation of such missiles, like the already mentioned Gremlin, will be even smaller and more capable in range and speed. At some point in the future, we may even see scramjet engines on superfast civil aircraftbut that is probably a long way off yet. An even bigger engineering accomplishment is the astonishing Avangard boost-glide vehicle. But I will leave that remarkable story for another discussion. The bottom line is that these new Russian technologies are in fact tilting the global military balance going forward. They are game-changing because they are UNSTOPPABLE with todays air defense technology. Just like the Plains Indians couldnt hope to stop, with their bows and arrows, the US cavalry with their repeating rifles. Even more profound may be the psychological effect that Russias engineering accomplishments must be exerting on the American psyche, which is used to assuming that they have the smartest engineers and make the best military hardware. That is demonstrably NOT the case anymore. And that may be the biggest game-changer of all! Posted by b on August 2, 2021 at 10:15 UTC | Permalink Comments next page October 24, 2022 Some Media Won't Tell You When The Saudis Snub Biden Last week the Saudis publicly snubbed the Biden administration. Several outlet picked up on that. MBS head to head with Biden, US officials not invited to Davos - Oct 17, 2022 - Al Mayadeen US Officials Not Invited To Saudi Investment Forum: Organiser - Oct 17, 2022 - Barrons / AFP Saudi Arabia snubs US officials ahead of 'Davos in the Desert' - Oct 17, 2022 - Middle East Eye US officials not invited to Saudi's 'Davos in the Desert': organiser - Oct 18, 2022 - The New Arab US officials not invited to Saudi investment conference, says organiser - Oct 18, 2022 - Middle East Monitor From the last one: The CEO of the Future Investment Initiative (FII), the organiser of the "Davos of the Desert" Saudi investment conference said on Monday that US government officials will not be invited to attend the event at the end of this month. The reason, added Richard Attias, is so that the event does not turn into a "political platform". The decision not to invite US officials, unlike previous years, comes amid rising tension between Washington and Riyadh over the recent decision by the Saudi-led OPEC+ group to reduce oil output by 2 million barrels per day, starting in November. ... "We are not inviting too many politicians," explained Attias, "because I realised that when you have political leaders on stage, the attention of the media, let's be very frank, is diverted to the political agenda, and we don't want the FII to become a political platform." However, in an earlier press conference, the initiative's CEO said that at least "12 ministers of economy and finance" will attend this year's programme, with the possibility of inviting heads of state. "We will know in a few days who are the heads of state who are 100 per cent sure to attend." The snub is significant. While lots of top U.S. bankers will take part the Biden administration will be given no chance to influence the Saudi investment plans. However, the Biden's administration main propaganda outlet, the New York Times, won't have any of that. It depicts the Saudi snub as one done by the uninvited the Biden administration. It is also lying about the Biden administration's response: U.S. Executives Are Flocking to Saudi Davos in the Desert - Oct 24, 2022 - New York Times Some top American business leaders area headed to the Saudi business conference. But Biden administration officials, angry over the kingdoms stance on oil production and ties with Russia, are staying away. LONDON The Biden administrations message to corporate America was clear: Consider the reputation of the countries you do business with. The remark came from the White House press secretary at a briefing last week, just as some top American executives were preparing to attend a major Saudi business conference, along with thousands of other investors, businesspeople and politicians. The three-day gathering the Future Investment Initiative, nicknamed Davos in the Desert is set to open on Tuesday. But U.S. government officials will be notably absent, weeks after an intense and public trading of accusations between the U.S. and Saudi governments over an Oct. 5 production cut by the oil cartel OPEC Plus, co-led by Saudi Arabia and Russia. ... Last week, the White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, reminded American companies to take into account reputational concerns that can arise from public policy choices made by host countries when making decisions about where to invest. Richard Attias, the organizer of the Saudi conference, made a point of telling reporters in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, last week that he had received so many requests from Americans to attend the event that his team had begun turning them down for lack of space. At the same time, Mr. Bidens plan for meting out the threatened consequences against Saudi Arabia has remained vague in the weeks since he delivered the warning. That Attias, the organizer, explicitly said that the U.S. government was not invited is not mentioned in the NYT piece. Its readers are left to believe that it is the Biden administration that snubs Saudi Arabia instead of the other way around. A White House briefing on October 18 mentions reputational concerns. But it does not do so as a message to the companies but as a general description of their behaviors: Q Thanks very much. Sort of following up on that, are any Biden administration officials planning to go to the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, later this month? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We dont have anything to preview or announce at this time on any travel. Q And do you think its appropriate for U.S. businesses to continue their engagement or investment in the Kingdom in light of what happened recently? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, as they do in every part of the world, American companies will make their own decisions about their presence and where to invest, taking into account a range of factors including legal constraints, the business environment, and reputational concerns that can arise from public policy choices made by host countries. In a briefing on the October 20 spokesman John Kirby denied that the Biden administration is trying to influence the companies' decision. The NYT is lying when it claims otherwise. Kirby's briefing had these passage referring Saudi Arabia. Q Hey, John, whats the status of the review of Saudi Arabia and the consequences for their oil output cut? What I havent heard anything about this all week. Whats whats happening there? MR. KIRBY: Yeah, its ongoing, Steve, and it has been since the President made the decision that were going to do it. Thus far, most of the process of reviewing the relationship and looking at options going forward is internal here to the national security team and inside the interagency. But we expect to be able to broaden that out to include members of Congress, you know, when they come back to town. So were not going to rush this. I dont have a timeline for you. Im certainly not going to speak to ongoing deliberations. But I can assure you that that process of review has begun and were working it internally. But again, we look forward to being able to have conversations with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, quite frankly, at the earliest opportunity. ... Q Just following up on the question about the Saudis, this Saudi-sponsored business conference next week that people call Davos in the Desert, Im wondering if youre asking or encouraging American companies not to attend as part of your reevaluation of the Saudi relationship. [..] MR. KIRBY: [..] No, we are not talking to U.S. companies in advising or discouraging them to not attend the Davos in the Desert. We are not we are not doing that. These are decisions that, as private companies, they can make for themselves. Kirby denies taking influence on companies or messaging something to them. Throughout the various White House briefings the non-invitation by the Saudis is not mentioned at all. So again: The NYT is not reporting the Saudi snub but claims that it is the Biden administration that is tough on the Saudis, even as it is obviously not. The NYT is falsely claiming that the White House has discouraged U.S. companies from taking part even as Kirby had directly denied that. It is another reminder that organs like the NYT are no longer news site but spin machine in the service of politics and politicians their owners like. Posted by b on October 24, 2022 at 10:53 UTC | Permalink Comments October 24, 2022 Ukraine Open Thread 2022-182 Only for news & views directly related to the Ukraine conflict. Please stick to the topic. The current open thread for other issues is here. Posted by b on October 24, 2022 at 10:54 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has expressed its "deep concern" over the latest deadly events in the Blue Nile State in South Sudan By Lambert Strether of Corrente CDC, and the public health establishment generally, promote a paradigm of personal risk assessment that will enable you to live with Covid. Implicit in that social contract is that CDC will provide the necessary data for you to make the assessment; obviously, an individual isnt going to be personally tracking case counts, or new variants, or dipping into their local wastewater to run tests. Leaving aside the viciously neoliberal and eugenic[1] character of the paradigm, CDC is also failing to uphold its end of the bargain (and not for the first time). In this post, Ill examine CDCs latest betrayal: Its failure to alert the public to a rapidly doubling new variant, BQ.1.* (BQ.1.* includes both BQ.1 and BQ.1.1.) First, Ill establish that BQ.1.* is a variant that you should be concerned about. Next, Ill look at the timeline that shows CDCs failure to warn. Next, I will do a post mortem on whether CDCs latest betrayal is attribute to persons (malevolence) or institutions (operational incapacity). Finally, Ill look into CDCs operational incapacity more deeply, in particular the CDCs reliance on a small team of volunteers for its variant data. The Danger BQ.1.* is a dangerous variant. It is characterized by rapid doubling time. From Reuters: U.S. health regulators on Friday estimated that BQ.1 and closely related BQ.1.1 accounted for 16.6% of coronavirus variants in the country, nearly doubling from last week , while Europe expects them to become the dominant variants in a month. These variants (BQ.1 and BQ.1.1) can quite possibly lead to a very bad surge of illness this winter in the U.S. as its already starting to happen in Europe and the UK, said Gregory Poland, a virologist and vaccine researcher at Mayo Clinic. Here is a chart that shows doubling time since the beginning of the pandemic: As you can see, even a week is a long time when the virus is getting rolling. To be fair, the United States population is not the same population it was in 2020, when Covid first hit: Many more people have acquired immunity, many more are vaxed, most have different combinations of immunity and vaccination, and so on; we are no longer, as it were, virgin territory. Which makes BQ.1.*s next characteristic all the more important BQ.1.* is immune evasive (that is, previous infection does not protect from a second infection). From Fortune: BQ.1.1 is thought to be the most immune-evasive new variant, according to Dr. Eric Topol, a professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research and founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. BQ.1.1s extreme immune evasiveness sets it up to be the principal driver of the next U.S. wave in the weeks ahead, Topol tweeted Friday. On Thursday, he told Fortune that scientists wont know to what extent it challenges vaccines, if it does, until it reaches 30%-50% of cases somewhere. Its not going to wipe out vaccine efficacy, but it could but a dent in protection against hospitalizations and death, he said. (Wait. Since vaccines dont prevent transmission, I thought protection against hospitalizations and death was the reason to het them? Next, BQ.1.* renders some treatments obsolete. Fortune again: BQ.1.1 is already known to escape antibody immunity, rendering useless monoclonal antibody treatments used in high-risk individuals with COVID. According to a study last month out of Peking Universitys Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center in China, BQ.1.1 escapes immunity from Bebtelovimab, the last monoclonal antibody drug effective on all variants, as well as Evusheld, which works on some. Along with variants CA.1 and XBB, BQ.1.1 could lead to more severe symptoms, the authors wrote. Finally, New York City is under the gun. From Beckers Hospital Review: Health experts are carefully watching COVID-19 trends in New York amid signs the nation will face a winter surge. The state has seen an increase in hospitalizations over the last month. Statewide, the daily average for COVID-19 hospitalizations is up 15 percent over the last two weeks, according to HHS data compiled by The New York Times. As of Oct. 20, an average of 3,095 people were hospitalized in New York. On Oct. 2, that figure was 2,614. The increase in hospitalization rates comes as a pair of omicron relatives dubbed escape variants gain prevalence nationwide. The strains BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 are most prevalent in New York and New Jersey, where they account for nearly 30 percent of new infections, according to CDC estimates for the week ending Oct. 22. BQ.1s rising prevalence may be driving the jump in hospitalizations, but scientists say its still too early to confirm a causal relationship. While hospitalizations appear to be trending upward in New York, cases have remained relatively flat throughout the month. This discrepancy highlights the difficulty of monitoring virus activity in an era of unreliable case data and a departure from daily reporting cadences. (Ya think? Howd that happen?) For those of us who remember the very first Covid wave in 2020, this is worrisome. From Fortune: New York is a veritable crystal ball when it comes to COVID forecasting for a couple of reasons: its volume of incoming international travelers, and its robust capabilities to genetically sequence COVID virus samples, experts say. When a variant gains traction in Europe, as the BQ family has, trackers like Rajnarayanan and Gregory know to look for it in the U.S. The first place they check: New York. Together, Omicron spawn BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 are following the same script as other previously dominant variantslike the original strain of COVID, Delta, and the original strain of Omicronby starting a swelling in the northeast that could eventually wash over the rest of the U.S. , fellow variant tracker Dr. Ryan Gregory, a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, told Fortune. (Well, if the spread follows the pattern of 2020, the first places to track are the Hamptons and the Hudson Valley, as those who can leave, leave.) If I am to make a personal risk assessment about flying into New York as indeed many PMC, flying (unmasked) on planes, or attending (unmasked) conferences will do I really need to know that a dangerous variant is exhibiting doubling behavior there. And I need to now it now, ASAP, because the variants doubling behavior means a week, let alone two weeks, is far too long. Unfortunately for many, CDC failed to give timely warning. Lets look at why.. The Timeline Here is the timeline for CDCs reveal of BQ.1.*.[2] From Fierce Healthcare (and kudos to them for explaining so clearly a story that has yet to appear in [genuflects] the Times or the Post): The highly infectious and evasive BQ.1.1 variant not only has a foothold in the U.S., it may have established that foothold weeks ago. The data on the variant have prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to redo previous weeks variants tracking charts. Its been hiding in plain sight , Kevin Kavanagh, M.D., founder of the patient advocacy group Health Watch USA, told Fierce Healthcare. The charts below tell the story. The left shows the first version of CDC tracking data for the week ending Oct. 8, where BQ.1.1 (and its cousin, BQ.1) dont even appear. The CDC had grouped those data under the BA.5 label, which has been the most dominant subvariant of omicron since early July. After examining additional data, the CDC this week reconfigured the chart to show BQ 1.1. accounting for 2.4% of new cases of COVID-19 for the week ending Oct. 8 and BQ.1 accounting for 3.3%. Now look at the chart for the week ending Oct. 15. Both variants now account for 5.7% of new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Kavanagh said BQ.1.1 appears to be doubling every week. Data from CDC appears delayed in being posted on this variant. Once it became apparent in the last few weeks that the variant is having a significant impact, the data were separated. So, the doubling behavior of BQ.1.* was hidden by being aggregated with the declining BA.5s data. At some point after October 8, CDC disaggregated them, and BQ.1.* became visible. Being as charitable as possible to CDC, it got the data out a week late (October 15, not October 8), but as I point out above, a week is too slow. If one wishes not to be charitable, CDCs internal deliberations took far too long (it became apparent in the last few weeks). How did this happen? The Post Mortem There are at least to reasons CDC failed to warn the public about BQ.1* in a timely fashion: Malevolence, and operational incapacity. Taking malevolence first, from WSWS: On Friday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its variant monitoring graphs to show that the highly contagious and immune-evasive descendants of the Omicron BA.5 subvariant, known as BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, now account for a combined 11.4 percent of all sequenced variants. However, the update came one day after epidemiologist Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding tweeted these same data, which he noted were leaked to him from a CDC-insider source which informed him that the CDC had been sitting on this crucial information regarding the state of the variants in the US. After Feigl-Dings tweet went viral, garnering over 10,000 likes and over 5,000 retweets within hours, the CDC was forced to release the data publicly. This is among the most significant cover-ups by the foremost health agency in the US since the start of the pandemic. It is clear that the CDC deliberately concealed this vital information from the public for weeks, as part of the relentless propaganda campaign by the Biden administration and the corporate media to falsely claim that the pandemic is over. Well, CDC data drops every Friday, at a stately once-a-week pace. Readers know, I am sure, that I hold no brief for the CDC. However, theres a good deal of handwaving in WSWSs post, which I have helpfully underlined; sequence and causality are not the same. In particular, I doubt very much that a Tweetstorm can cause CDC to do anything. If it could, Rochelle Walensky bless her heart would be recommending masking because #CovidIsAirborne. I also note that WSWS seems to have no knowledge of how CDC variant data is actually collected. That brings us to operational incapacity. Reporter Alexander Tin found a transcript of CDC giving its version at a webinar with testing labs on October 17: NATALIE THORNBURG, CDC [00:22:55] And then last week, we had an update where we added three additional sublineages [including the two BQ.1.* lineages] to the data tracker. And just a reminder, when we decide the reason we decide to break things out, sublineages out on the data tracker, we have a couple of criteria. One, it has to reach at least 1% prevalence nationally. Two, it has to have medically relevant substitutions. So it has to have substitutions that could show a reduction in neutralization titers, have some effect on we havent really seen diagnostics, but have some effect on diagnostics or therapeutics. But what weve really seen most most often is substitutions that could affect neutralization. And then of course, we need a method for identifying those sublineages. So early last week, Pango, which is our software that we use to call lineages, released an update that allowed us to call BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 sublineages of viruses , as well as BA.2.75.2 So CDCs defense is that they did not have the operational capacity to disaggregate BQ.1.* until they got the data from Pango[lin][4], at the usual stately every Friday pace. the Hence the following subtweet directed at Eric Fiegel-Ding: Virtually all of the underlying seq data are available to the public, and emerging variants are quickly flagged and discussed on scientific forums (& by experts / citizen scientists on Twitter)! This conspiratorial, clout-chasing nonsense is dangerous and a disservice to us all. Duncan MacCannell (@dmaccannell) October 14, 2022 Personally, I lean toward the operational incapacity explanation, because its more stupid, and this is the stupidest timeline. Readers may differ! In any case and as usual, The Onion has the story covered: We Have Coronavirus Under Control, Announces CDC Director As Nose Slowly Transforms Into Pangolin Snout (from 3/05/20 (!!)). But what is Pangolin? How Pangolin Shows CDCs Operational Incapacity Pangolin is a suite of open source software (lead developer; README): Pangolin was developed to implement the dynamic nomenclature of SARS-CoV-2 lineages, known as the Pango nomenclature. It allows a user to assign a SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence the most likely lineage (Pango lineage) to SARS-CoV-2 query sequences. It is available as a command line tool and a web application. The web application was developed by the Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance. The command line tool is open source software available under the GNU General Public License v3.0. (I am assuming that the WebApp somehow uses the command line tool on the backend, hence is GPLed, too. Pangolin includes a machine learning component, UShER, also GPLed). Before going any further, lets just ask the basic question: Why doesnt CDC get the Pangolin volunteers some money so that they can speed up their work?! This every Friday drop just doesnt make it, because the doubling capacity of the virus can outrun it. Now lets look at the instituional set-up for Pangolin (and please note that I have nothing but the utmost respect for the skills of the developers, or the power and beauty of their work). From MIT Technology Review: [the Pangolin project is] a GitHub page staffed by a handful of volunteers around the world, led primarily by a PhD student in Scotland. Those volunteers oversee a system called Pango, which has quietly become essential to global covid research. Its software tools and naming system have now helped scientists worldwide understand and classify nearly 2.5 million samples of the virus. Researchers, public health officers, and journalists around the world use Pango to understand covids evolution. But few realize that the entire endeavorlike much in the new field of covid genomicsis powered by a tiny team of young researchers who have often put their own work on hold to build it . Many of the foundational tools for tracking covid genomes have been developed and maintained by early-career scientists like OToole and Scher over the last year and a half. As the need for worldwide covid collaboration exploded, scientists rushed to support it with ad hoc infrastructure like Pango. Much of that work fell to tech-savvy young researchers in their 20s and 30s. They used informal networks and tools that were open sourcemeaning they were free to use, and anyone could volunteer to add tweaks and improvements. The people on the cutting edge of new technologies tend to be grad students and postdocs, says Angie Hinrichs, a bioinformatician at UC Santa Cruz who joined the project earlier this year. So, just to be clear, CDC has outsourced the essential technology for variant detection to volunteers[5]. (And what is the key characteristic of grad students and postdocs? They need to move on.) CDC has bet thousands of lives, perhaps tens or hundreds of thousands, on volunteers. Does that sound like a sensible approach to you? Why the heck, again, cant CDC get them some kinda budget? What happens when the developer gets a better offer? Or moves to another institution? Do people at CDC think that complex open source software is maintained by little elves? Does this sound like operational capacity to you?[6] Conclusion I wouldnt be so worried if CDC and the public health establishment hadnt systematically ignored or discredited all forms of non-pharmaceutical intervention, and vax uptake was not at a standstill. But here are are: CDC delenda est. Burn the facilities, plow the rubble under, salt the earth. Theres no excuse for any of this. NOTES [1] The ability to assess personal risk is strongly correlated to income, which in turn is driven by class and social determinants of health generally. Yvess helper Betty Jo, for example, who is dedicated to masking, ventilation, and Povidone iodine, wont be running Bob Wachters complex risk assessment algorithm anytime soon; shes too busy. Hence, stochastic eugenics. [2] These screenshots have CDCs NowCast algorithm on. I keep it off, because I dont trust CDCs models, based on experience. In some ways, NowCast makes CDC even more culpable; if you have model capable of predicting doubling behavior, why not reveal it? [3] Here is the argument that CDC should have disaggregated the data much earlier, say on September 24: 2. "() with BQ.1 exceeding one percent of all sequenced variants on September 24 and BQ.1.1. reaching that threshold by the week of October 1. By the CDCs rules, they have to break out these newer strains from all the ones being tracked and list their frequency." pic.twitter.com/J1IvUy6CBt Nancy Delagrave | Covid-Stop (@RougeMatisse) October 17, 2022 However, wed need more evidence that CDC was aware that BQ.1.* had passed the 1% threshold than a screenshot of the current chart, since CDC backfills the charts when new variants are disaggregated: New CDC variant Nowcasts: BQ.1 and BQ 1.1 combined are now ~17% of new cases (up from 9.4% last week) BA 4.6 consistent from last week BA.5 is 62% of new cases (down from 70% last week) Note that CDC has always backfilled as sequences are received.https://t.co/xuOF2fkHPS pic.twitter.com/mYTDDbB32L Benjy Renton (@bhrenton) October 21, 2022 [4] The chart in this Tweet purports to show that CDC is slower than private labs: This chart shows that the CDC is sitting on variant data for 2-3 weeks while state, university, and private labs are getting results and submitting them to a global database within 5-10 days. The CDC has been sitting on these data for weeks. pic.twitter.com/vThbzVBUbZ Dr. Jorge Caballero stands with (@DataDrivenMD) October 14, 2022 But I cant understand the chart, which is why it goes in a note. Readers? [5] The Technology Review article is 2021, and that is the most recent version I can find. UShER, the GPLed Pangolin component, was run by volunteers in 2022. [6] Maybe put the United States Digital Service on the case? Not to rewrite the code, but to straighten out the obvious oncoming trainwreck in getting Pangolin maintained? Without, please gawd, privatizing it in Big Pharmas loving embrace? Lambert here: Oh, good. By Renuka Rayasam, KHN Senior Correspondent, and Colleen DeGuzman, KHN. Peggy Girshman Fellow. Originally published at Kaiser Health News. AUSTIN, Texas After Britt Kellys son participated in a lockdown drill two years ago in his Lamar, Texas, kindergarten class, he had nightmares and wet his bed. Now 8, he can sleep only with a light on. In August, Mary Jacksons daughter, a kindergartner in Leander, asked her mom to put a special lock on her bedroom door to keep bad adults out in the wake of a separate lockdown drill. Clay Giampaolo, a high school senior with special needs, said that after drills at his school in Plano, he goes to the special education room to calm down. As the nation reevaluates its gun laws, training for violent threats has become a grisly yet commonplace reality in K-12 schools. More than 40 states require schools to prepare students to react when a campus comes under attack. Nearly every student in America experiences at least one or more of these drills a year, even though their effectiveness has been hotly debated by state legislators, school staffers, safety experts, and parents. About 98% of public schools taught students lockdown procedures before the pandemic, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The reasons for them are clear: The 2020-21 school year saw 93 school shootings with casualties, the highest number in two decades, according to the NCES. While school shootings are rare, they have devastating consequences. But the preparations for these events also can come with a price. The literal trauma caused just by them is horrifying, Giampaolo said. Anxiety, stress, and depression increased 39%-42% in K-12 students following lockdown drills, according to a study published in December in the journal Nature that examined social media posts. The drills, especially those that involve simulations, heightened students fear around the possibility of a shooting and made them feel unsafe in school. The more realistic the drill, the more fear they provoked. Students like Giampaolo who have special needs, and those who have experienced previous trauma, are among the most affected, according to safety experts. At least one state is taking a step toward balancing school safety and student health. To minimize trauma to participants, new Texas regulations require schools to ensure that drills dont simulate shootings a change that comes just one semester after a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers in Uvalde. If some kids are coming away traumatized or were magnifying existing trauma, were not moving in the right direction, said Nicole Golden, executive director of Texas Gun Sense, an advocacy group that supported the bill. Texas mandates that schools complete two lockdown drills a year. But there was confusion and wide-ranging interpretations about how they should be conducted, said state Rep. Claudia Ordaz Perez, a Democrat who sponsored the bill that passed during the 2021 legislative session. Despite a growing body of research about how to prepare for worst-case scenarios, not all schools are following best practices and theres no way to tell which ones are, said Jaclyn Schildkraut, an associate professor of criminal justice at the State University of New York-Oswego, who has argued in favor of drills. We have no national standard, no national guidance, and no tracking system, Schildkraut said. In extreme cases, schools simulate shootings, with officers brandishing weapons or mimicking gunshot sounds, which she said is unnecessarily traumatizing for both students and staff members. We dont set schools on fire to practice a fire drill, said Schildkraut. The Texas rules now more clearly distinguish between lockdown drills, which are required, and active-threat exercises, which are voluntary and can involve re-creating aspects of a shooting. A drill doesnt involve fake injuries or gunshot sounds. Instead, students either talk through what to do, or practice activities like turning off the lights, locking doors, and staying quiet and away from windows. Active-threat exercises, which are intended to train first responders, might involve realistic depictions of injured students or loud sounds. They give officials in different jurisdictions a chance to plan a coordinated response, said Kathy Martinez-Prather, director of the Texas School Safety Center. But schools need to plan those simulations carefully without requiring student participation, she said. The new regulations require schools to tailor drills and exercises to students ages and development, but they focus on creating guardrails for active threat exercises. Students arent banned from participating in exercises, a move some gun safety and parents groups wanted. But the rules advise schools to carry them out during a time when students are not on campus. They also require that everyone involved be given adequate notice before an exercise and a public announcement be made immediately before, so that no participants confuse a simulation with an actual shooter. The measure, which also orders school districts to find ways to minimize potential trauma to students and staffers, such as consulting mental health professionals while planning the drills, was in effect during the previous school year. But the Texas Education Agency didnt finalize rules until this year. The clarifications come as schools renew their focus on safety. Especially everything that came out of Uvalde, this legislation is more important than ever, Ordaz Perez said. The measure is a sign of incremental progress, but it is not comprehensive, said Blair Taylor, an advocate at Moms Demand Action in Texas, a nonprofit that focuses on ending gun violence. She wants the Texas legislature to do more to prevent school shootings from taking place at all. These are band-aids for bullet holes, Taylor said. We are not addressing the actual problem of easy access to guns and toxic gun culture. The Texas American Federation of Teachers is creating posters to make sure teachers know about the new rules, so they can file any complaints to school districts. But the Texas regulations dont specify punitive measures if districts fail to comply. The San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District has no plans to change how it conducts drills this year, said Doug Wozniak, the districts director of safety and health services. Once a semester, students are instructed to hide in a corner silently while first responders go through the hallways and lightly jiggle classroom doorknobs, he said. Officers then yell, Police, open up. Students with special needs arent exempt from these lockdown drills, he said, but officers try to check on classrooms with those students first so that they can quickly resume class. After the drill, students, teachers, and first responders gather in the cafeteria to debrief. But even jiggling doorknobs might be too much like a simulation for many students, particularly those who are younger or have experienced a previous shooting, some experts say. When schools simulate any aspect of a shooting, they can potentially make students feel unsafe on school grounds, said M. Aurora Vasquez, vice president of state policy and engagement for Sandy Hook Promise. The anxiety starts to sit with them on a regular basis when they go to school, she said. Texas limits the number of all types of drills that school districts should perform to 16 per school year, but many argue that lockdown drills dont need to be conducted frequently. When you start doing these drills every month, which some school districts require, then it starts to suggest they are relatively likely, said David Schonfeld, director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. That is a bad perception for kids. Many students say that the way Texas schools are currently conducting drills has a lasting impact. Jacksons daughter is on the autism spectrum. Before August, she was never worried about a bedroom intruder. Shes never been afraid of monsters; shes never been afraid of the dark, said Jackson. Afterward, that changed. Between the Uvalde shooting and the regularity of drills, Giampaolo said, he and many of his peers feel uneasy in school this year. We literally just want to go to school and not worry about being shot, he said. Kelly said she understands the necessity of school shooter preparedness, but its been difficult for her son. I dont even know what the answer is, and I think thats where I feel so powerless in this fight, she said. The kids are taking the brunt of bad decisions. KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation. USE OUR CONTENT First, a diatribe against the word narrative, now pervasively used in commentary, particularly what purports to be political/geopolitical reporting. What is a narrative? It is a story. Until recently, narrative referred to plot lines in works of fiction, such as screenplays. So the widespread use of the word narrative to describe various official and press efforts to splain what is happening in Ukraine is an up-front warning that what you are being told could very well be the product of overheated imaginations. Lambert is sometime wont to say: You cant reverse engineer the truth out of bullshit. But then he adds, But God knows we try. So here we go again. Some of the sources we follow on the Russia-Ukraine conflict were painting in awfully bright colors in their latest updates. One wonders if this is due to discomfort with comparatively limited action on the battlefield even as Russia is moving troops from its partial mobilization into place and Ukraine is supposedly about to Do Something Big, like launch its much ballyhooed Kherson offensive or blow the Kakhovka dam to flood Kherson city. But this isnt impatience isnt due just to the tense surface stasis during this preparatory/transition phase of the Russia operation. Many readers, commentators, and increasingly Russian citizens want Russia to get on with it, even though fast and aggressive prosecution of the war is not a great course of action. The fact that the new theater commander, General Surovikin, looks like a human incarnation of a mailed fist has only somewhat reduced their anxiety. Alexander Mercouris, who did stay measured, pointed out at the top of his Sunday show that hes never seen such a stark divergence between Western and Russia-friendly commentary, and then unpacked which version had better factual foundations, focusing on the battlefield. As we will see below, the Russian leadership, even in this front-line to-ing and fro-ing stage, sees Ukraine as readying to escalate, and in particularly nasty ways. So this may be the phase when energy is building up in a system before it goes chaotic. To try to step back from the fog of narrative: Russias campaign against the Ukraine electrical grid and selected military targets looks to be very effective and very much underreported. The fact that the Western press is acknowledging only in passing that Russia has seriously damaged up to 40% of Ukraines electrical grid (this from a Ukraine official at the end of last week) is a tacit admission that the US and NATO dont want to talk about it. Its a big problem for which they have no answer. Having said that, the one aspect of this development that is getting traction is the accusation that Iran has provided Russia with some of the drone that are proving to be mighty effective in these attacks, and the West is therefore readying yet more sanctions. Russia and Iran have both denied that Russia got the drones from Iran. Even though Iran does apparently have (very) similar drones, these are technologically not complex, so its possible, as some claim, that Iran and Russia wound up in pretty much the same place via parallel development. Because reporting is fragmentary, I hope this 50,000 foot recap is more or less accurate; please feel free to correct and/or update in comments. (Mercouris cites John Helmer as doing the best reporting on this topic and Helmers last account was on the 18th). Russia started heavy strikes on Ukraines electrical system and other military or combined use targets on Monday, October 10. Even though the timing of the attacks looked to be in retaliation for the Kerch bridge bombing, experts deemed that the campaign had been planned before that. Russia reduced the level of attack on subsequent days, leading observers to speculate that Russia was probing, to see what hits produced what damage and how quickly Ukraine could repair it, as a combo heavy-duty softening up/intel gathering before a presumed really big grid assault in conjunction with a ground campaign. It also appears that Russia is targeting transmission lines (particularly substations) and not so much generating capacity. One assumes that the lines are easier to repair. But since Ukraines system is 330kV, used only in Russia and CIS states, it is pretty certain that Ukraine will soon run out of needed equipment. However, Russia again considerably picked up the intensity of its attacks over the past weekend, seemingly back to the assault level on day 1. Does this mean Russia is already at the point where it is degrading the electrical network immediately before a big combined arms campaign? Does it mean Russia learned whatever it was seeking to garner during its reduced scale phase and now has a clear picture of what it wants to take out and how? I wonder about the idea of even bigger shock and awe electrical system attacks right before the expected big offensive. The fact that the Western press is barely acknowledging the Russian grid destruction is close to saying it does not officially exist (mind you, that could change when the Anglosphere figures out how to spin it and/or Ukraine tips into a crisis, particularly flood its neighbors with refugees). That alone argues for Russia making maximum use of this approach in the face of the US/NATO inability to respond. Why should Russia use more men and materiel than it needs to, and subject Ukraine cities to more shelling (and impose more rebuilding costs on Russia), if it can prostrate Ukraine by turning off nearly all its power? 101st Airborne Division in Romania freakout. The Naked Capitalism commentariat did an exemplary job of taking the hot air out of a lot of the patter on this story, both from Western and Russia-friendly venues. A typical account, this from AntiWar: The White House has deployed thousands of American soldiers just miles from Ukraine to prepare for war, according to CBS News. Officers speaking with the outlet revealed they were there for combat against Russia. Brigadier General John Lubas confirmed nearly 5,000 troops from the 101st Airborne recently joined the 100,000 American soldiers already deployed to Europe. Lubas described his troops as being on full deployment, and they are preparing to fight Russian soldiers in Ukraine. This is not a training deployment, this is a combat deployment for us. We understand we need to be ready to fight tonight, he said. As youll see below, there is actually not much there there. That leads me to wonder if this obvious media plant (the deployment took place in June and was significantly a rotation of the 82nd Airborne, so why all the puffery now?) is a threat display aimed at Russia, posturing for the US and EU, and/or throwing a bone to Ukraine. GF quoted a story from the US Armys website: Note that these guys replaced the 82nd Airborne Division, so this was not then and is not now a new deployment of U.S. troops. Moreover, these troops have been in place for a little more than four months: Elements of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) began arriving to the Mihail Kogalniceanum Airbase in Romania June 20, and are scheduled to continue arriving during the next several days. Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, will support the U.S. Army V Corps mission to reinforce NATOs eastern flank and engage in multinational exercises with partners across the European continent in order to reassure allies and deter further Russian aggression. The deploying 101st Soldiers do not represent additional U.S. forces in Europe, but are taking the place of Soldiers assigned to 82nd Airborne Division Headquarters and the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division. In all, approximately 4,700 Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division are scheduled to deploy to locations across Europe. Several readers picked apart Brian Berletics contention that the 101st Airborne deployment to Romania may reflect plans for US military to enter Ukraine in the western and Odessa region to prevent Russia form taking all of Ukraine coast. If this actually is a plan, it doesnt look so hot. First from David: I doubt it. The 101st is a Light Infantry Division, for heavens sake. Its used for fighting wars in places like Afghanistan. The only situation I can see it being used is as a purely deterrent force, ie it could enter Ukraine by invitation and set up shop somewhere, denying the Russians a chance to take and hold the area without a serious risk of escalation. This would be, to put it mildly, very dangerous, since a single weapon firing in the wrong direction could start something nasty. It would also rapidly become, in effect, a hostage unit for the Ukrainians, and I would have thought the US realises this. In any event, for all that it could influence the battle, the Russians could simply ignore it, and perhaps just manoeuvre to get it out of supply. I wouldnt pay any attention to the reported words of the Commander, by the way. Generals dont get to decide things like that. And then The Rev Kev: Agreed that the 101st does not have any heavy equipment and even if they managed to get into Odessa, there would be the matter of back-up and logistical support. Still, you can bet that there would be some White House policy makers like Blinken or Sullivan who would think that this would be a great idea because they did that in Syria and got away with it. I doubt that the Pentagon would let them do it though as the thought of the 101st Airborne coming up against a combat-experienced Russian battalion tactical group is not an idea to be lightly entertained. And if the 101st called in air support, because they would have to take off from bases in NATO countries, that would be as good as a declaration of war against Russia. And Kouros: The problem with 101 crossing into Ukraine from southern Romania, where has been positioned is that there is no bridge over Danube between Ukraine and Romania and the first highway /road that links Ukraine with Romania, starting in Galatzi, crosses through Moldova. And then, given the destroyed bridge in southern Ukraine, another pass through Moldova would be necessary to reach Odessa. Logistically I dont see how they can accomplished any transfer, maybe this is why Romania accepted to participate in this charade. Finally from Karl: U.S. troops entering Ukraine would presumably require a Congressional AUMF for offensive operations. No way. Without an AUMF, youd probably need a covert operation. A covert force to save Odessa is a pretty ridiculous operation to contemplate, given its high chances of failure, human loss, exposure, and consequent U.S. humiliation. Biden may be dim, but too many cooler heads would have to sign off.. And then, who would sign up for that mission impossible? Still, these are extreme times, and our leaders have surprised us with extreme stupidity many times, so its not out of the question I guess! However, the good news is that the press for the moment has dropped its obsession with Putin starting a nuclear war. What about the October Surprise? YouTubers, based presumably on Telegram gossip, have said that the Biden Administration had told the Zelensky government to take Kherson city by the US midterms. Given the fall rains setting in, that attack should have happened if it were going to happen. Rain means the ground becomes so muddy that most Ukraine armored vehicles have to use roads, as opposed to open steppe, which makes them even easier to attack and counter. Lambert believes that a Ukraine stunt as in a terrorist attack, even on the scale of the Nord Stream sabotage (not that we know who was behind that) or the Kerch bridge attack, wont do for electoral purposes. He thinks Americans would want to see Ukraine taking ground, as they did in the Kharkiv offensive. Even though blowing up the Kakhovka dam an a resulting big flood could be spun as a Ukraine victory if it force Russian to pull out of the west side of the Dnieper, even temporarily, theres been enough talk of that that I would bet any attack would only be partially successful, as it in could damage the dam and increase outflow, but not create a big flood. Dams are very substantial and need to be blow up from the bottom to be largely destroyed. And Russia has also been lowering the water level in the reservoir behind the dam so as to reduce the damage potential. The cynic in me has to wonder if this talk of the dam is diversionary. The two big sabotage attacks, the Nord Streams and Kerch bridge, were complete surprises. And any splashy splashy destruction would boost Ukraine morale and pry some more funds from Western coffers. Dismissal of Russian dirty bomb warnings. I wonder why Minister of Defense Sergey Shoigu bothered, unless this move again was to play to the Global South, particularly since the first defense minister Shoigu called was Turkiyes. The Western knee-jerk dismissal and trying to depict the alert as a dastardly Russian scheme was predictable. As Lambert said, this is not how serious players are supposed to act. From Aljazeera: Russia has accused Ukraine of planning to detonate a radioactive dirty bomb and blame it on Moscow. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Ukraine war in calls with NATO nations on Sunday. The purpose of the provocation is to accuse Russia of using weapons of mass destruction in the Ukrainian theatre of operations and thereby launch a powerful anti-Russian campaign in the world aimed at undermining confidence in Moscow, the RIA Novosti news agency said on Telegram. The calculation of the organisers of the provocation is that if it is successfully implemented, most countries will react extremely harshly to the nuclear incident in Ukraine, the post said. As a result, Moscow will lose the support of many of its key partners. After Ukraine shelling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, its hard to see how the idea of a Ukraine dirty bomb rejected out of hand, particularly since my impression is that dirty bombs are actually crappy weapons qua weapons. Notice how one has yet to be used? There is a tradeoff between how much nuclear material you use and how much in explosives. My guess is they can actually only effectively contaminate a relatively small area, and would best be used in a high volume transit hub, like Grand Central. But to Shoigus point, any dirty bomb, even one not all that effective in radiation/detonation terms, would still taint Russia if Ukraine could pin it on Russia. Aljazeera said (presumably based on Western sources) that Shoigu provided no evidence. That may be true, but a phone call is not a venue for providing evidence. And even if Russia had some indicative or even pretty solid intel, Russia might be leery of sharing it due to not wanting to reveal sources and methods. Perhaps Turkiye could have served as a confidential intermediary, to comment on the degree of credibility. But the fact that Russia presented evidence of the US biolabs in Ukraine to the UN and that investigation has gone nowhere says Shoigu was not likely to be believed even if he had been willing and able to serve up bona fide substantiation. So the reaction was predictable. From the Wall Street Journal: Late Sunday, the U.S., U.K. and France released a joint statement on Mr. Shoigus remarks. Our countries made clear that we all reject Russias transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory, the statement said. The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation. As I indicate in an earlier post, the more the prospect of battlefield success recedes for Ukraine, the more Ukraine will fall back to terrorist acts. The dirty bomb idea, whether just (potentially idle) chatter or a more advanced scheme, is just an example of what Ukraine could try to execute. If I were Russia, that argues for hobbling Ukraine as quickly as possible. And the fastest way to achieve that is doing enough damage to the electrical grid to severely limit movement and communication across Ukraine. That wont stop attacks, but it ought to markedly reduce their number. Yves here. It might be easy to dismiss the run-around Nick Turse has gotten in trying to obtain basic information about the US military presence in Africa, namely the number of bases, as a dog bites man story. But that reaction indicated the degree to which weve become inured to official misconduct, and yes, patently incomplete responses to FOIAs is misconduct. But it now seem the attitude of big entities, be they private or government, is So sue me. Another aspect, which Turse does not dwell on, is the fact that the US clearly has beefed up in Africa while pretending not to, stands in noteworthy contrast to how the Chinese have gained influence there. The Chinese have engaged in direct investing and have made loans in a series of areas. From Foreign Policy Research Institute report found (pub date 2022 but based on data only through 2018): We analyze the effects of FDI investments and loans from China on the change in political alignment. We find that FDI investment from China is positively related to an African countrys change in political alignment with China. Specifically, between 2001 and 2012, every $1 billion investment resulted in approximately an 8% increase in the average political alignment with China.Our data reveals that economic engagement achieves greater alignment post-2008. Lastly, loans from China are also positively related to an African countrys change in political alignment with ChinaOur data reveals that, post-2008, economic investment via loans achieved slightly less political alignment. The finding that FDI and loans from China to Sub-Saharan Africa increased their political alignment with China does not necessarily mean they are less aligned with the U.S. This finding could simply reflect greater global alignment on non-controversial issues. As such, we also examined how Chinese FDI investments impacted alignment between African countries and the U.S. We find that FDI investment from China reduces African countries political alignment with the U.S. Specifically, between 2008 and 2012, every $1 billion investment resulted in an approximate 1.3% decrease in average political alignment with the U.S. But the US prefers sticks, or in this case guns, to carrots. By Nick Turse. Originally published at TomDispatch Whats the U.S. military doing in Africa? Its an enigma, wrapped in a riddle, straight-jacketed in secrecy, and hogtied by red tape. Or at least it would be if it were up to the Pentagon. Ten years ago, I embarked on a quest to answer that question at TomDispatch, chronicling a growing American military presence on that continent, a build-up of both logistical capabilities and outposts, and the possibility that far more was occurring out of sight. Keep your eye on Africa, I concluded. The U.S. military is going to make news there for years to come. I knew I had a story when U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) failed to answer basic questions honestly. And the commands reaction to the article told me that I also had a new beat. Not long after publication, AFRICOM wrote a letter of complaint to my editor, Tom Engelhardt, attempting to discredit my investigation. (I responded point by point in a follow-up piece.) The command claimed the U.S. was doing little on that continent, had one measly base there, and was transparent about its operations. I would encourage you and those who have interest in what we do to review our Website, www.AFRICOM.mil, and a new Defense Department Special Web Report on U.S. Africa Command at this link http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2012/0712_AFRICOM/, wrote its director of public affairs Colonel Tom Davis. A decade later, the link is dead; Davis is a functionary at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona; and Im still keeping an eye on AFRICOM. A few months ago, in fact, I revealed the existence of a previously unknown AFRICOM investigation of an airstrike in Nigeria that killed more than 160 civilians. A formerly secret 2017 Africa Command document I obtained called for an inquiry into that U.S.-Nigerian operation that was never disclosed to Congress, much less the public. Since then, AFRICOM has steadfastly refused to offer a substantive comment on the strike or the investigation that followed and wont even say if it will release relevant documents to members of Congress. Last month, citing my reporting, a group of lawmakers from the newly formed Protection of Civilians in Conflict Caucus called on Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to turn over the files on, and answer key questions about, the attack. The Pentagon has so far kept mum. Has AFRICOM then, as Davis contended so long ago, been transparent? Is its website the go-to spot for information about U.S. military missions on that continent? Did its operations there remain few and innocuous? Or was I onto something? A Kinder, Gentler Combatant Command From its inception, according to its first commander, General William Ward, AFRICOM was intended to be a different kind of command: less hardcore, more Peace Corps. AFRICOMs focus is on war prevention, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Theresa Whelan said in 2007, rather than warfighting. In 2012, Wards successor, General Carter Ham, told the House Armed Services Committee that small teams of American personnel were conducting a wide range of engagements in support of U.S. security interests. Years later, retired Army Brigadier General Don Bolduc, who served at AFRICOM from 2013 to 2015 and headed Special Operations Command Africa until 2017, would offer some clarity about those engagements. Between 2013 and 2017, he explained, American commandos saw combat in at least 13 African countries: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan, and Tunisia. U.S. troops, he added, were killed or wounded in action in at least six of them. Between 2015 and 2017, there were at least 10 unreported attacks on American troops in West Africa alone. A month after that January 2017 Nigerian air strike, in fact, U.S. Marines fought al-Qaeda militants in a battle that AFRICOM still wont admit took place in Tunisia. That April, a U.S. commando reportedly killed a member of warlord Joseph Konys Lords Resistance Army in the Central African Republic. The next month, during an advise, assist, and accompany mission, 38-year-old Navy SEAL Kyle Milliken was killed and two other Americans were wounded in a raid on a militant camp in Somalia. That same year, a Navy SEAL reportedly shot and killed a man outside a compound flying an Islamic State (ISIS) flag in Cameroon. And that October, AFRICOM was finally forced to abandon the fiction that U.S. troops werent at war on the continent after ISIS militants ambushed American troops in Niger, killing four and wounding two more. We dont know exactly where were at in the world, militarily, and what were doing, said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, then a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, after meeting with Pentagon officials about the attack. In the 2010s, I would, in fact, help reveal that the U.S. had conducted at least 36 named operations and activities in Africa more than anywhere else on earth, including the Middle East. Among them were eight 127e programs, named for the budgetary authority that allows Special Operations forces to use foreign military units as surrogates in counterterrorism missions. More recently, I would report on 11 of those proxy programs employed in Africa, including one in Tunisia, code-named Obsidian Tower and never acknowledged by the Pentagon, and another with a notoriously abusive Cameroonian military unit connected to mass atrocities. Five of those 127e programs were conducted in Somalia by U.S. commandos training, equipping, and directing troops from Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda as part of the fight against the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab. In 2018, 26-year-old Alex Conrad of the Armys Special Forces was killed in an attack on a small U.S. military outpost in Somalia. Such outposts have long been a point of contention between AFRICOM and me. The U.S. maintains a surprising number of bases in Africa, I wrote in that initial TomDispatch article in July 2012. Colonel Davis denied it. Other than our base at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, he claimed, we do not have military bases in Africa. I had, he insisted, filed that article before AFRICOM could get me further outpost material. If he had waited, we would have provided the information requested, which could have better informed his story. I had begun requesting information that May, called in additional questions in June and July, and then (as requested) put them in writing. I followed up on the 9th, mentioning my looming deadline and was told that AFRICOM headquarters might have some answers for me on the 10th. That day came and went, as did the 11th. TomDispatch finally published the piece on July 12th. I respectfully submit that a vigorous free press cannot be held hostage, waiting for information that might never arrive, I wrote Davis. When I later followed up, Davis turned out to be on leave, but AFRICOM spokesperson Eric Elliott emailed in August to say: Let me see what I can give you in response to your request for a complete list of facilities. Then, for weeks, AFRICOM went dark. A follow-up email in late October went unanswered. Another in early November elicited a response from spokesperson Dave Hecht, who said that he was handling the request and would provide an update by weeks end. Im sure you wont be shocked to learn that he didnt. So, I followed up yet again. On November 16th, he finally responded: All questions now have answers. I just need the boss to review before I can release. I hope to have them to you by mid next week. Did I get them? What do you think? In December, Hecht finally replied: All questions have been answered but are still being reviewed for release. Hopefully this week I can send everything your way. Did he? Hah! In January 2013, I received answers to some questions of mine, but nothing about those bases. By then, Hecht, too, had disappeared and I was left dealing with AFRICOMs Chief of Media Engagement, Benjamin Benson. When asked about my questions, he replied that public affairs couldnt provide answers and I should instead file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. To recap, six months later, Benson recommended I start again. And in good faith, I did. In 2016, three and a half years later, I finally received a partial response to that FOIA request: one page of partially redacted not to mention useless information about (yep!) Camp Lemonnier and nothing else. I would spend years investigating the bases Davis claimed didnt exist. Using leaked secret documents, I shed light on a network of African drone bases integral to U.S. assassination programs on the continent as well as the existence of a secret network of National Security Agency eavesdropping outposts in Ethiopia. Using formerly secret documents, I revealed an even larger network of U.S. bases across Africa, again and again. I used little-noticed open-source information to highlight activities at those facilities, while helping expose murder and torture by local forces at a drone base in Cameroon built-up and frequented by Americans. I also spotlighted the construction of a $100 million drone base in Niger; a previously unreported outpost in Mali apparently overrun by militants after a 2012 coup there by a U.S.-trained officer; the expansion of a shadowy drone base in the Horn of Africa and its role in lethal strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria; hundreds of drone strikes from Libya to Somalia and the resulting civilian casualties; and the flailing, failing U.S. war on terror all across Africa. Not surprisingly, AFRICOMs website never had much to say about such reporting, nor could you go there to find articles like: The AFRICOM Files: Pentagon Undercounts and Ignores Military Sexual Assault in Africa Pentagon Document Shows U.S. Knew of Credible Reports of Civilian Casualties After Its Attacks in Somalia New Data Shows the U.S. Military Is Severely Undercounting Civilian Casualties in Somalia Pentagon Stands by Cameroon Despite Forensic Analysis Showing Its Soldiers Executed Women and Children U.S. Troops in Africa Might be in Danger. Why Is the Military Trying to Hide It? You Know Youre on Target When Youre Getting a Lot of Flak(s) In the years since, a parade of AFRICOM press officials came and went, replying in a by-then-familiar fashion. Nick, were not going to respond to any of your questions, Lieutenant Commander Anthony Falvo, head of its public affairs branch, told me in October 2017. Did he, I asked, believe AFRICOM neednt address questions from the press in general or only from me. No, just you, he replied. We dont consider you a legitimate journalist, really. Then he hung up. That same month, I was inadvertently ushered behind the closed doors of the AFRICOM public affairs office. While attempting to hang up on me, a member of the staff accidentally put me on speakerphone and suddenly I found myself listening in to the goings on, from banal banter to shrieking outbursts. And, believe me, it wasnt pretty. While the command regularly claimed its personnel had the utmost respect for their local counterparts, I discovered, for example, that at least certain press officers appeared to have a remarkably low opinion of some of their African partners. At one point, Falvo asked if there was any new intelligence regarding military operations in Niger after the 2017 ambush that killed those four American soldiers. You cant put Nigeriens and intelligence in the same sentence, replied someone in the office. Laughter followed and I published the sordid details. That very month, Anthony Falvo shipped off (literally ending up in the public affairs office of the USS Gerald Ford). Today, a new coterie of AFRICOM public affairs personnel field questions, but Falvos successor, Deputy Director of Public Affairs John Manley, a genuine professional, seems to be on call whenever my questions are especially problematic. He swears this isnt true, but Im sure you wont be shocked to learn that he fielded my queries for this article. After Col. Tom Davis who left AFRICOM to join Special Operations Command (where, in a private email, he called me a turkey) failed to respond to my interview requests, I asked AFRICOM if his defer-and-deny system was the best way to inform the American public. We are not going to comment on processes and procedures in place a decade ago or provide opinions on personnel who worked in the office at that time, said Manley. Our responsibility is to provide timely, accurate, and transparent responses to queries received from all members of the media, Manley told me. Yes, me, the reporter whos been waiting since 2012 for answers about those U.S. bases. And by AFRICOM standards, maybe thats not really so long, given its endless failures in quelling terrorism and promoting stability in places like Burkina Faso, Libya, and Somalia. Still, I give Manley a lot of credit. He isnt thin-skinned or afraid to talk and he does offer answers, although sometimes they seem so far-fetched that I cant believe he uttered them with a straight face. Though he agreed to discuss his replies further, I doubted that badgering him would get either of us anywhere, so Ill just let his last one stand as a digital monument to my 10-year relationship with AFRICOM. When I asked if the public affairs office had always been as forthcoming, forthright, and helpful with my queries as possible, he unleashed the perfect capstone to my decade-long dance with U.S. Africa Command by offering up just one lone word: Yes. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libya's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Taher el-Sonni, Monday welcomed signs of consensus in the Security Council on Libya, especially after the appointment of a new UN Envoy to the country, He also called for more positive steps to support Libya's stability and end the international division that has plagued it for years (Natural News) The United States Army is spending millions upon millions of your tax dollars on a variety of weapons including nanotechnology and quantum mechanics, which just so happens to be a key component of Big Pharmas latest vaccines. Carbon nanotubes are being investigated as a replacement for traditional silicon-based semiconductors, according to Joe Qiu, who is affiliated with the One Army Research Office. This new technology, Qiu said, is especially useful at very high frequencies in the 30-plus gigahertz range, as well as in very short wavelengths such as millimeter wave, which are used in the naked body scanners at American airports. We know that carbon nanotubes are a key component in the 5G networks that Donald Trump helped roll out at warp speed with billions of dollars stolen from American taxpayers. The mass implementation of 5G technology is not just about cell phones and computers, just to be clear. There is strong evidence to suggest that it is also about connecting humans to the internet of things, also known as transhumanism, which fake president Joe Biden is helping to fast-track as well with Executive Order (EO) 14081, as well as others. Former Pfizer employee Karen Kingston explains all of this in much further detail in an interview she participated in with Dr. Steven Hotze, which is available at Brighteon.tv. Bidens executive order on Sept. 12 is about transhumanism, Kingston told Hotze. In the EO, he clearly states that it is important to fund the development of technologies that can program cells to reprogram our biology, the same way that you program a computer program. Its disheartening that there hasnt been more movement to stop unleashing these bioweapons, neuroweapons and artificial intelligence, advanced device technologies on the American population and our children. They want quantum dot tattoos on every person to connect them to the 5G and beyond grid of globalist control The Army says that at the moment, 5G deployment is largely limited to ranges lower than six gigahertz. There are plans, though, to improve these frequencies to 28 GHz and higher. Its not just 5G, Qiu says. Its beyond 5G. Within the next five years, he added, commercial use of nanotube-based integrated circuits could become a reality, though this is just an estimate. The Army has been funding such research for at least the past 10 years. The Army is also working with quantum dot technology, the same technology that billionaire eugenicist Bill Gates talked about incorporating into Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines. Quantum dots are even smaller that carbon nanotubes, it turns out, and are capable of fitting inside them. They are designed to emit very specific wavelengths, allowing them to communicate with nearby towers when embedded as a tattoo onto or into the human body. They are not easy to produce, but with a seemingly endless supply of taxpayer cash, the Army is working hard to make them a common feature in American society, including in medicine. Congress and good-government watchdogs often wonder, with good reason, about oddball research projects that slip into the Pentagon budget with no clear connection to any military purpose, writes Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. for Breaking Defense about the technology, referring to the secretive nature of this creepy research taking place right underneath our noses. Kingston also spoked to Dr. Eric Nepute, by the way, about covid injections in children and the threat these injectable biological weapons pose to current and future generations. You can check out that interview at Brighteon.tv. The latest news about the U.S. Armys work with carbon nanotubes, quantum dots, and more can be found at Transhumanism.news. Sources for this article include: BreakingDefense.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Ask yourself, what war was ever waged without a single gun shot, missile launch, or bomb exploded? In what war did everyone who got executed volunteer unknowingly for their own demise? Answer: World War III The Covid Vaccine War. Most people dont believe the war is even happening, or that governments around the world could be so evil as to inject their own citizens with biological warfare weapons full of toxic prions that cause life-threatening, and often fatal disorders. Yet then again, almost 100 years ago, most people, including German citizens, did not believe Hitler was killing off 6 million Jews (and many others) in gas chambers or by two bullets to the back of the head. And so the war ensues, right now. Were two years in and its Big Nature versus Big Pharma. Its the natural health advocates versus the creators and promoters of the clot shots, or call them what you may. The Fauci Flu jabs. The gain-of-function spike protein syndrome stabs. The Wuhan-concocted gene mutation injections. So the best weapons to defend yourself against Big Pharma includes vitamins and minerals, whole organic food, clean water and the cognitive awareness that the Covid so-called vaccines ARE the weapons of mass destruction of WWIII. The clot shots have already wounded billions and killed millions of innocent humans across the globe. The true tally is much larger than what is currently reported to VAERS and every other countrys vaccine damage data hub that records complaints, adverse events, side effects, permanent injury, death, miscarriages and more. Big Nature is the remedy, while Big Pharma is the nemesis The Covid clot shots are killing children at an unprecedented rate, according to shocking figures from an official report published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in England recently. Those children shot up with millions of toxic spike protein prions are dying of Covid-19 (and from the jabs themselves) over 13,000 times more than the children who dont get the jabs. Yes, Big Pharma has created not only a virus that jumped from animals to humans for the first time, but a vaccine that makes the immune system WEAKER with each jab and more susceptible to DYING from Covid-19, much more than those who rely on natural immunity from literally catching the virus or just consuming healthy foods and natural supplements. Horrific mortality rates are being exposed for the fully vaccinated, where the fully unvaccinated are, for the most part, surviving Covid or not catching it at all. Thats why Big Nature is winning big over Big Pharma when it comes to disease prevention. Its a vaccine holocaust out there and mass media is trying their best to block it out, censor it, and debunk it, but the truth is coming out, and fast. The fully vaccinated, especially the youth, are dying in droves from the jab and from the Fauci Flu. Building and maintaining immunity with natural remedies and indigenous cures has never been more important than right now Both Covid-19 and the clot shots cause massive inflammation in the body, driving other sicknesses, diseases and disorders to the brink. The best way to avoid all of this catastrophe is to stock up on and consume natural foods and supplements regularly. This includes vitamins B, C, D, superfoods, herbal medicine and anti-inflammatory supplements like licorice root, turmeric, cinnamon, garlic and oil of oregano. These also fight and ward off the common cold, allergies, the flu, viruses and bacterial infections. Indigenous cures for everything under the sun have been around and used effectively for thousands of years, and dont require a prescription or hospital visits. Take the path Big Nature has set out for you. Learn what your body loves the most and use those bio-hacking skills and strategies to your advantage. Also look into the powers of ivermectin at nipping Covid-19 in the bud should it rear its ugly head for you. Ivermectin is proving to reduce risk of death from Covid by over 90 percent, but Big Pharma does NOT want anyone to know that. Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on experimental vaccines that cause blood clots, myocarditis and severe, chronic inflammation. Sources for this article include: Pandemic.news CarbonHealth.com WND.com Expose-news.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Though they have not been in the news much lately due to many other distractions, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are still a very serious problem in the United States. And it appears they are about to become even more of a problem thanks to billions of dollars of investments by the federal government. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), using American tax dollars, has introduced a new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities bioengineering and biotechnology program that combines two of the globalists top agendas: changing the climate of the planet with a new economic order, and recreating the entire food supply into the image of science. It is not enough, apparently, for Big Biotech to control most major crop commodities, including corn and soy, the vast majority of which are genetically engineered (GE). Now, they are going after animals like bison and possibly even hemp crops. According to the USDA, the effort will expand markets for Americas climate-smart commodities, leverage the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production, and provide direct, meaningful benefits to production agriculture, including for small and underserved producers. Secretary Tom Vilsack announced back in September that $2.8 billion will be thrown at 70 different projects under the first pool of partnerships. In the end, more than $3 billion will be spent in pilots that will create market opportunities for American commodities produced using climate-smart production practices. GMO bison and hemp? Just say NO! Two projects in particular that we would like to draw your attention to are regenerative bison and hemp with new genetics. The USDA is spending $7 million and $5 million, respectively, on these two apparent GMO projects. Verified Regenerative Bison Products, as the first project is called, aims to introduce altered American bison to tribal lands in the heartland of Oklahoma. The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes will reportedly be involved. The project will develop a demonstration program on tribal lands, implementing and expanding multiple climate-smart markets and practices in production of American bison, and will showcase the benefits of regenerative bison production to rangeland, ranchers, and climate, the USDA explains. It will also create a new entity to maintain standards of regenerative bison production, track climate benefits and payment for those benefits through the supply chain, and establish consumer trust. What, exactly, is meant by the word regenerative in this context? We would like to know the answer to that question because it sure sounds a whole lot like biotechnology and GMOs, seeing as how that is the explicit aim of the USDAs Climate-Smart Commodities program. The other aforementioned project involving hemp is described as a scaling up of the hemp supply chain to create carbon negative feedback for fuel and fiber. This project will reportedly take place in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas, and is being spearheaded by Lincoln University. Here is how that project is described: This project will help with commercializing and marketing climate-smart hemp crops while driving soil carbon sequestration and climate resilience. The project aims to provide effective valuation and monetization of environmental services, including carbon dioxide removal via implementation of new genetics and management practices to increase sustainability of hemp as an annual crop in the U.S. What, exactly, do they mean by new genetics in this context? This one seems even more self-explanatory than the bison project in that mad scientists are planning to tamper with the sacred hemp plant, which is already regenerative and good for the planet, possessing the natural ability to clean up soil, eradicate pests, and improve public health. There is no need for GMO hemp, in other words, but the USDA is on a mission to destroy the natural food supply and replace it with patented, privately-owned fake food that generates massive profits for a select few while impoverishing and ultimately killing everyone else. If you enjoyed reading this story, you can find more stories like it at Frankenfood.news. Sources for this article include: USDA.gov NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The same public relations firm that was hired by pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Moderna to promote Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines throughout the plandemic is also embedded within the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we now know. Weber Shandwick was awarded a $50 million contract to join the CDCs Division of Viral Diseases team, reports indicate. Its purpose is to boost health communication, as that term is loosely defined. At the very same time, Weber Shandwick has been a Pfizer partner since at least 2006, having worked with the company to elevate its public profile. It also partnered with Moderna in June following the success of that companys mRNA (messenger RNA) Chinese Virus injection. What this means is that the same company actively promoting private pharmaceutical interests is also working within a so-called public government agency to direct health policy. This is what is known as a conflict of interest. (Related: Remember when the CDC was caught removing covid jab injury reports from VAERS?) CDC spends YOUR tax dollars promoting covid jabs and flu shots From covid jabs alone, vaccine corporations including Pfizer and Moderna raked in $34 billion in profits last year. This equates to $1,000 a second, according to estimates this is a lot of cash for something that has never been proven to do anything other than damage the body and lead to early death. As more boosters are rolled out, even more cash will flow into Big Pharmas coffers. And this would not be possible without the help of Weber Shandwick and its influence on both the CDC and Big Pharma. The United States already purchased some 171 million doses of the all-new bivalent boosters being pushed for the latest variants and sub-variants of the Omicron variant, which many refer to as the Moronic variant. Children as young as five years old are eligible for bivalent boosting. We know from an employees LinkedIn account that Weber Shandwicks involvement in this rollout comes from the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). So excited to be starting a new role today! the employee wrote on the social media platform. Im joining Weber Shandwick as an Account Director supporting a contract I know well, at the CDCs NCIRD! Another employee responded to this person by stating: Welcome back to the team! Weber Shandwick has also taken cash from the government in exchange for helping it to promote seasonal flu shots. Some $50 million in taxpayer dollars was spent on that deal, which was forged in 2020, the same year the Fauci Flu appeared. Its responsibilities included distributing social media posts and articles promoting vaccines, and sending press releases to the media, reports En-Volve.com about what Weber Shandwick does for these clients. It was also involved in paid media placement, a common euphemism for advertising. It is important to note that Weber Shandwick appears to have been working for both Pfizer and Moderna at the very same time for their jab campaigns, even though the two are competitors. This, combined with its CDC contracts, represents multiple conflicts of interest all at once. This new reporting that CDC had a contract with the same PR firm representing the manufacturers of the COVID-19 vaccine raises serious concerns, wrote Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), adding that he has repeatedly questioned federal officials about conflicts of interest issues. The American people deserve transparency and these conflicts of interest will be thoroughly investigated by our committee next year, Paul added. Right now, Weber Shandwick is the worlds second-largest PR firm, according to Provoke Media. The latest news about Fauci Flu shots can be found at ChemicalViolence.com. Sources for this article include: En-Volve.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) It is now a crime in the United Kingdom to display ones Christian faith in areas dubbed as abortion safe zones. Reports indicate that violators who are caught praying, reciting scripture, or crossing themselves near one of the countrys abortion centers could face a prison sentence of up to six months. The new rules aim to deter Christians from having any influence whatsoever on women who enter abortion clinics with the intent of murdering their unborn children. It was already a crime under previous rules to engage in Christian behavior near an abortion clinic. Fines of up to 1,000 (~$1,100) were imposed on violators, we are told. Now, however, a Christian could find himself in the clink for expressing such behavior anywhere in the vicinity of baby murderers, who wish to have their consciences left alone as they enter and leave the abortion clinic. (Related: Satanic religious groups claim that abortion is one of their holy sacraments.) People who recite scripture, genuflect, sprinkle holy water on the ground or cross themselves if they perceive a service-users is [sic] passing by will be considered guilty of violating the new law. Christian persecution ramping up in age of rampant Satanism It was not enough, in other words, for Christians to have to pay hefty fines for violating the senses of women getting abortions by their presence. The UK now wants them to be thrown in prison as an additional punishment. The amendment will alter the Truss Governments Public Order Bill and comes with the support of a number of Conservative Party MPs, including former Cabinet Office minister Andrew Mitchell and former Home Office minister Caroline Nokes. Left-wing Labour MPs also support jail time for Christians caught practicing their religion outside an abortion clinic, including one who described such persecution as being necessary to protect a womans right to abortion. It is unclear why this is suddenly an issue, especially considering the fact that abortion access has never been easier throughout the UK. Just last year alone, some 214,256 abortions were performed in England and Wales, which is the highest number ever recorded beating a previous record of 209,917 in 2020. These figures are apparently not high enough for many in the abortion industry who want to see even more babies murdered. This is why they are now pushing to make abortion decriminalized up until the moment of birth across the UK. Physicians at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists say infanticide needs to be legalized in order to prevent cruel investigations into women who get them illegally. It is our belief that prosecuting a woman for ending their pregnancy will never be in the public interest, said Dr. Edward Morris, president of the organization. In the comments, one person pointed out that it is a misnomer to call abortion clinics safe zones when they are inherently unsafe for the victim babies who are murdered within them. While Christianity is persecuted, Islam is protected, noted another about the double standard of the law in the UK and elsewhere. Meanwhile, Muslim child groomers caught in the vicinity of a school will only be asked to move on because the police are too frightened of being labelled as racists, noted someone else. And in Cologne, the daily Muslim call to pray will now be heard throughout the city. We are watching the demise of Western civilization. To this, another responded that Muammar Gaddafi warned about this back in 2006, stating on Al Jazeera TV that Islam would eventually conquer Europe without firing a shot. The latest news about abortion can be found at Abortions.news. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The Dutch governments new climate agenda will force thousands of farmers out of business. The new agenda involved state-forced buyouts of around 500 to 600 farms as early as next year. In simpler terms, the Netherlands is forcing the farmers to sell their land to the government. Our criminal government has announced [on Wednesday, October 5] that theyll be speeding up the theft of our farmers land. [Around] 500 to 600 farmers will be forced to sell their land to the state in the next year. The farmers have announced new protests, so stay tuned, tweeted Dutch political commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek. Tens of thousands of Dutch farmers have since taken to the streets to oppose the new climate agenda of their government. However, official government narrative insists that this transition is necessary to reduce animal-based agriculture and the dangerous emissions from the meat industry. Many suspect that this narrative is just a cover for an old-fashioned land grabbing. There is no space left in the Netherlands. So, what will they need to do? They will need to seize some of the land of these farmers in order to house new Dutch people, the newcomers to our country, Vlaardingerbroek explained. So, that is what this is really about. And of course, theres also the element of our elites not wanting us to have independence or control over our food supply and they obviously also dont want us to eat meat. So, the farmers are standing in the way of their plans and thats why theyre being targeted right now. Dutch campaigner Willem Engel also thinks that the Dutch government is forcefully seizing farms under the guise of climate protection. He said that the government is not seeking to eliminate about a third of its farms for environmental reasons. The goal is to construct the Tristate City, which is envisioned to become a megalopolis with a population of around 45 million and extending to areas of Germany and Belgium. Engel added that the so-called nitrogen crisis is fictional and a purely political issue made to reshape the countrys landscape. Dutch agricultural group says expropriation is a bad idea Slashing the number of livestock by 30 percent is one of the most radical plans of its kind for the Dutch government to address its nitrogen crisis. (Related: Dutch farmers group vows to continue protests, calls into question science behind nitrogen fertilizer ban.) Livestock manure releases ammonia when mixed with urine. It then becomes a nitrogen compound that could potentially be dangerous if it gets into lakes and streams via farm runoff. Moreover, excessive nitrogen can damage sensitive natural habitats by encouraging algae blooms that deplete oxygen in surface waters. The Netherlands has one of Europes largest livestock industries with over 100 million cattle, chickens and pigs. It is also one of the continents biggest meat exporters. We are a relatively small country with a lot of inhabitants, industry, transport and agriculture, so we are reaching the limits of what nature can take, said Rudi Buis, a spokesperson for the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. There is a high level of urgency for us to tackle the nitrogen compound problem. This means that in the near future, choices must be made. But the Netherlands Agricultural and Horticultural Organization (LTO) said in a statement that expropriation is a bad idea. Instead, the LTO proposed a plan to fund farming innovation and voluntary farm relocation or closure. First, it is a land grab which does not fit with good governance, LTO pointed out. The other reason is very practical. Expropriation takes five to seven years before you have results, and in many cases longer. We dont have this time, and it is of course far more expensive. Visit GreenTyranny.news for more news like this. Watch the video below about Dutch farmers opposing government overreach. This video is from the TNTVNEWS channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Netherlands to SHUT DOWN 11,200 farms to meet climate goals. Ireland joins Netherlands in demonizing natural nitrogen, targeting farmers for destruction as part of global food scarcity scheme. Tensions escalate as Dutch farmers protest after police discharged firearms over threatening situation. Sources include: Expose-News.com CounterCurrents.org Brighteon.com (Natural News) A stunning new investigative report lays out in detail how the FBI spends tens of millions of taxpayer dollars every single year paying off political operatives to help push left-wing Democrat political narratives. The report, by American Greatness investigative journalist Julie Kelly, notes that the bureaus grift is expended through the Confidential Human Source (CHS) program, which is appropriate given that the agency rarely, if ever, has to disclose its sources in courts of law or any other forum so the American people who are funding the program can stay informed. Describing the CHS program as a cash-flush operation now primarily used to bolster Democratic Party narratives instead of detecting and preventing crime, Kelly goes on to say that the FBI spends an average of $42 million per year to pay informants and does so with absolutely no financial or legal accountability. Confidential human sources are paid in cash; they can offer their services for a variety of reasons including financial need or to obtain a change in immigration status. FBI agents are required to keep at least one informant on the books, an FBI whistleblower told me; successfully using a CHS to bust up a crime is one way to get promoted, she wrote. However, she noted further that ongoing federal trials related to the phony Trump-Russia hoax, the January 6 false flag operations, and the fednapping case involving Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are providing a fresh look at the manner in which the FBI acquires its snitches largely to advance a leftist political agenda. She writes: After numerous investigations over the course of more than six yearsnot to mention an obsessive fixation by the national mediathe scandal known as Russiagate produced another bombshell revelation during the perjury trial of Igor Danchenko, the key source for the Steele dossier. The FBI offered to pay Christopher Steele, its author, up to $1 million in cash if he could verify the dossiers declarations about Donald Trumps alleged ties to Russia. He could not. Of the dossiers fabricated claims about then-GOP nominee Donald Trump, roughly 80 percent of them came from Danchenko. Steele, himself a British intelligence operative, had to know he was being played by Danchenko, who was just found not guilty on several counts of misleading and lying to the FBI, charges that were brought by special counsel John Durham, appointed by then-Attorney General Bob Barr during the final days of Trumps term. And in fact, as Kelly notes, Steele himself was still an operative, but for Democrats, not the British government. Described for years as a former British intelligence officer, Steele, in fact, was a private consultant with several paymasters in 2016. Hillary Clintons campaign and the Democratic National Committee retained Steele to write his dossier that alleged shadowy connections between the Kremlin and Trump associates. At the same time, Steele was lobbying the U.S. government on behalf of Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oligarch who ran afoul of the Obama Administration, she wrote. When the $1 million cash offer was made to him in October 2016, Steele was working as an informant for the FBI as well. He moved seamlessly between the bureau, other government agencies including the State Department, and the national news media almost until Election Day. Steele met with journalists and editors in the fall of 2016 to spin the dossiers content as legitimateand some outlets took the bait, Kelly added. In fact, most did; the Trump-Russian collusion lie became so pervasive in the American mainstream media that to this day, tens of millions of Americans who were lied to about it still think Trump was/is in bed with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Eventually, the FBI cut Steele loose, ironically Kelly points out, in October 2020, the same month Barr named Durham special counsel. Its unclear exactly what Danchenko did as an informant. Was he used as a behind-the-scenes leaker to give oxygen to the Russiagate hoax in the media? Did the bureau hire him as an informant to protect him, and the FBI, from the prying eyes of investigators? Kelly noted. Either way, its clear the FBI didnt hire these informants because the government had cause to suspect Trump was in cahoots with Russia to rig the 2016 election. To the contrary, the informants manufactured the falsehood, giving FBI partisans and the news media fabricated evidence to sabotage Trump with the FBIs imprimatur, she added. The FBI has become a full-fledged entrapment agency whose primary purpose is as a legal cudgel against Trump-supporting Americans. Sources include: AmGreatness.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The Iranian government has admitted for the first time that it plans to sell hundreds of short-range ballistic missiles and drones made from stolen U.S. technology to Russia as Moscows forces continue to run out of munitions following the months-long invasion of neighboring Ukraine. According to Reuters, which cited two Iranian diplomatic officials and two senior Iranian figures, a deal between Tehran and Moscow was reached on Oct. 6. Then, Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, along with two senior officials from Irans powerful Revolutionary Guards and an official from the Supreme National Security Council traveled to Russias capital for talks about when the weapons could be delivered. The Russians had asked for more drones and those Iranian ballistic missiles with improved accuracy, particularly the Fateh and Zolfaghar missiles family, one of the Iranian diplomats, who was briefed about the trip told the news outlet. An unnamed Western official also confirmed that the deal had been inked to provide the short-range surface-to-surface missiles, including the Zolfaghar, and a number of drones as well, with Reuters adding: One of the drones Iran agreed to supply is the Shahed-136, a delta-winged weapon used as a kamikaze air-to-surface attack aircraft. It carries a small warhead that explodes on impact. Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar are Iranian short-range surface to surface ballistic missiles capable of striking targets at distances of between 300 km and 700 km (186 and 435 miles). 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 sellers 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 told Reuters. Russian forces targeted Ukraines civilian infrastructure with dozens of missiles last week after an attack blew up a portion of a vital bridge Europes longest connecting the Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, to the mainland. Ukrainian military officials have reported that some of the attacks occurred with Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones in recent weeks as well, though Irans foreign ministry has rejected those reports as baseless. Also, Vladimir Putins government denied that his forces are using Iranian drones to attack Ukrainian forces and targets. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, asked by Reuters if Russia was using Iranian drones in Ukraine, said the government had no information regarding their use. Russian equipment with Russian nomenclature is used, he said. All further questions should be directed to the Defence Ministry. The U.S. State Department, meanwhile, also said that Iranian drones were used to strike targets during rush hour in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv earlier this week. A European diplomat said it was his countrys 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, Reuters reported. Said the diplomat: Drones and missiles are a logical next step. 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 a European security official in remarks to Reuters. I cannot give you the exact time, but soon, very soon those will be shipped in two to three shipments. Meanwhile, Iranian leaders have problems of their own, as protests and demonstrations stemming from the arrest and death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in mid-September. She was arrested by the Guidance Patrol (Irans morality police) for wearing an improper hijab, a violation of Irans mandatory hijab law while visiting Tehran from Saqqez. Witnesses said the patrol officers beat her severely when taking her into custody. #BREAKING Iran Revolution continues on its 35th night. This is the city of Tabriz, where mostly young protesters are shaping a crowd.#Iran #IranRevoIution #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/QssxzRGeLn Shayan X ?? (@RealShayanX) October 20, 2022 Sources include: CNN.com Reuters.com (Natural News) A new poll from The New York Times and Siena College has found that nearly 60 percent of American voters no longer trust the mainstream media and believe it represents a major threat to democracy. Twenty-five percent see the corporate-controlled media as a minor threat, the poll further found, which only leaves 15 percent of voters who still believe that the information being reported as news poses no threat at all. As you might expect, the results are sharply divided along partisan lines with the vast majority of Donald Trump voters in 2020, 87 percent, not trusting the media at all and perceiving it as a threat. Only 33 percent of Joe Biden voters said the same thing. Overall, 71 percent of American voters say that democracy the United States is actually a constitutional republic is under threat by the media. (Related: We have been saying this for years.) Interestingly, only 7 percent of voters see media reporting as a major threat to the upcoming midterm election. Apparently, most voters are not at all worried about the media influencing the outcome. More than one in four registered voters already do not trust 2022 midterm election results Gallup also recently conducted a survey, which it does annually, to gauge how Americans view major news organizations. Just 34 percent of respondents in that poll see Western media as reporting fully, accurately and fairly on current events. This figure is only slightly higher than the 2016 figure, suggesting that most voters remain highly skeptical of what the corporate-controlled media reports on a variety of relevant subjects. The new NYT Sienna College poll was conducted from October 9 through October 12. It involved 793 registered voters and comes with a margin of error of four percentage points. Poll respondents were also asked if they believe that other entities such as the Supreme Court and the federal government are a threat to democracy. Nearly one in three said they see the Supreme Court as a major threat to democracy while the same number view the federal government the same way. Nearly 40 percent of respondents view Joe Biden as a major threat to democracy, while another 22 percent consider him a minor threat to democracy. Donald Trump, meanwhile, is still perceived by nearly half of all registered voters as a major threat to democracy. More voters see Democrats and the Democrat Party as a major threat to democracy than Republicans and the Republican Party, though. Very few, conversely, see electronic voting machines as a major threat to democracy. More than half of all registered voters are not okay with voting by mail, the survey further found, recognizing that fraud is much easier when using a drop box as opposed to voting in person. Amazingly, nearly 30 percent of all registered voters say they already distrust the results of the 2022 midterm election, which are sure to be fraudulent just like the 2020 election results were. The survey is a response-rate-adjusted stratified sample of registered voters on the L2 voter file, the NYT reported. The sample was selected by The New York Times in multiple steps to account for differential telephone coverage, nonresponse and significant variation in the productivity of telephone numbers by state. First, records were selected by state. To adjust for noncoverage bias, the L2 voter file was stratified by statehouse district, party, race, gender, marital status, household size, turnout history, age and homeownership. The proportion of registrants with a telephone number and the mean expected response rate were calculated for each strata. The mean expected response rate was based on a model of unit nonresponse in prior Times / Siena surveys. To learn more about mainstream media deception, visit Propaganda.news. Sources for this article include: TheHill.com NaturalNews.com NYTimes.com Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - Digital abuses are "one of the most serious threats to peace and security in our countries and are all the more difficult to combat because they are multiform," warned Senegalese President Macky Sall at the opening Monday of the 8th edition of the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security (Natural News) Once again, it turns out that the alternative media outlets like ours, for instance were 100 percent right about the most life-changing health event of our lifetimes thus far: the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only did the alternative media report early and correctly that the virus was likely the product of experimental research that leaked, accidentally or otherwise, from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, but we were also out front questioning the veracity of reports that claimed the vaccines were highly effective at preventing the spread of the disease. Turns out, we were right about that, too. You may recall not long ago the left-wing hatred and insanity people throughout the Western world faced who did not want to take a vaccine. Deemed anti-vaxxers, many were shunned, canceled online, and fired from their jobs. They were made to feel worse than second-class citizens, and many were deprived of their basic legal and constitutional rights, all because they attempted to exercise some caution about a vaccine that was experimental and proven to be highly dangerous for millions of people. But as it turns out, the skeptical anti-vaxxers were justified in their refusal to take the jab, mostly because the claim being pushed by governments and the mainstream scientific community that the vaccines prevented the spread of COVID-19 was a lie, according to a comprehensive investigative report published this week in Tablet Magazine: Vaccine mandates were mainly rationalized through the belief that the higher the rate of vaccination, the less the virus would spread. For example, during oral arguments for Bidens health care worker mandate, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Elena Kagan claimed that health care workers had to get vaccinated so that youre not transmitting the disease. But recently, on Oct. 10, 2022, a Pfizer spokesperson told the European Parliament that the vaccines had never actually been tested for preventing transmission. While this was presented on social media as breaking news, the fact that the vaccines were not tested for this purpose has been documented extensively ever since Pfizer and Moderna received their original Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). On Dec. 10, 2020, in a Food and Drug Administration meeting where the first mRNA vaccines were authorized, an adviser to the agency, Dr. Patrick Moore, said: Pfizer has presented no evidence in its data today that the vaccine has any effect on virus carriage or shedding, which is the fundamental basis for herd immunity. Despite the information that was presented for individual efficacy, Moore added that we really, as of right now, do not have any evidence that it will have an impact, social-wide, on the epidemic. Also, the FDA EUA press release from December 2020 confirms that there was no evidence that the vaccine prevents transmission of SARS-COV-2 from person to person. Put another way, most people were led to believe the vaccines prevented the spread of the virus because they were told that was the case by liars who wanted to mislead the masses so they could impose their will. This was also done, of course, with the help of the deep states allies in the mainstream media and on the major social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, all of whom censored or took down content that questioned the accepted official narratives on COVID. For anyone content with their vaccination status, this might not be a big deal. Yes, the vaccine information that was provided in 2021 wasnt entirely accurate, but you might still feel that getting vaccinated was the right decision, Tablet Magazine noted, before pointing out: However, being misinformed about potential benefits and risks is an enormous deal for, say, a male college athlete who got vaccinated because he wanted to protect his elderly family members, but who then developed myocarditis. The COVID-19 pandemic, which led to crippling economic shutdowns and massive shifts in wealth, was a scam from start to finish. And we still have not felt all of the effects of the bad policy decisions, including keeping kids out of school for two years. Sources include: TabletMag.com FDA.gov (Natural News) Besides Capital Police and the FBI leading Trump supporters and undercover FBI dressed as Trump supporters into the Capital building on Jan 6, 2020, theres much more to the supposed insurgence and staged insurrection that previously known. It may have ALL been staged, as we witness complete and utter fake panic from the Democrats holding the highest offices in the building that day. Its all captured on video as proof, and anyone can see that the two stooges are method acting to launch the narrative that would be plastered as headlines for years to come. Far-Leftist Nancy Pelosi has been exposed, as she panics on the telephone saying people are pooping on the House Floor on January 6th, 2020, and that it could take 3 days or more to clean up all the poo-poo that they are making all over there in the Capital. Heres more from Fancy Nancy, who may be suffering from as much dementia as hair-sniffing Sleepy Joe: Lets pretend for a moment it were the Pentagon or the White House, or some other entity that was under siege, and let me say you can logistically get people there as you make the plan. Meanwhile, the Chief of DC Capital Police and VP Pence reassure Nancy by live telephone that the House and Senate will be able to reconvene in roughly an hour. This is what Pelosi and Schumer did not want to hear or have video recorded during the staged panic session for MSM. Pre-staged camera crews turn out to be Nancy Pelosis relatives, recording panic-style calls for military intervention to save their lives Released on CNN and now gone viral, video proof that Pelosi and Schumer staged phone calls to black-face KKK-sympathizer ex-VA-Governor Ralph Northam (among others), just days after they refused to bring in National Guard for protection. Yes, Nancys son-in-law helped camera crews, including filming done by Nancys daughter Alexandra, video-record their calls for help, to clean up the poop off the Democrat-run House floor and stop Orange Man from instigating all those pesky white nationals from storming the Capital. This comes after the entire election was corruptly flipped for Sleepy Joe using fake ballots, tampered voting machines, and 2,000 mules working all the ballot drop boxes in the swing states. Supposedly, 200 state police and a unit of the National Guard were to be sent by ex-Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to save Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer from Trump Supporters on January 6th, but were they really? In other words, the insurrection narrative was not only pre-planned through conspiracy to commit treason by the Democrat politicians, but was videotaped by their own insurrectionist relatives to try to help make their narrative seem real for the news later. Are they all just crisis actors trying to overthrow the Republic themselves? Did they? Washington DC is run by dictators and tyrants right now, who have innocent Americans locked up in their jails and prisons, with no right to a trial, labeling them as domestic terrorists so nobody else will challenge the fake and falsified elections ever again. Its simply scare tactics on the biggest scale, and the whole insurrection was obviously planned, staged, recorded, and manipulated so the most evil politicians on the planet could take over and control our nation. Bookmark Censored.news to your favorite websites for truth about January 6th and fixed election news thats being censored from the rest of media as you read this. Sources for this article include: TheGatewayPundit.com Censored.news NaturalNews.com (Natural News) An insider who claims to be a former intelligence official is warning that Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines cause cancer, and the government is covering up the truth. Cancer rates are skyrocketing in the age of Operation Warp Speed, according to seven out of the 11 International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes tracked by the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, and it all began around the first week of April 2021. Other diseases are soaring, too, but for the purpose of this article we will focus primarily on the Big C. There is a clear and undeniable correlation between higher rates of cancer and the introduction of Fauci Flu shots in early 2021. As the very first candidates were receiving their injections, the health care system suddenly began to see a surge in new cases of cancer, the data shows. (Related: Marvel Comics is pushing cancer-causing covid injections on children through its comic books.) This date of inception is no coincidence in that it also happens to coincide with a key inflection point regarding a specific body-system intervention in most of the U.S. population, reported The Ethical Skeptic. CDC redefines cancer deaths as covid deaths Dr. Jennifer Brown, who publishes articles to Substack, shared a graph showing the normal cyclical wave pattern of cancer over the years. From January 2015 to early 2021, the wave looks generally normal then everything changes. Suddenly, the pattern broke upward like a stock after a good news rumor and has never really stopped increasing since. We should be at or near a seasonal nadir, Brown writes. Instead, we are at an all-time CA [cancer] excess, and heading up. Keep in mind there is substantial lag to CA reporting, so this likely under-represents true excess. At no point in at least the past seven years has anything like this occurred with regard to cancer. As we said, cancer rates usually only go up and down seasonally, staying within a general range but no longer. Most Americans have no idea about any of this because the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is hiding cancer death statistics by re-categorizing them as covid deaths. Just like everything else over the past nearly three years, every death no matter the cause is now being labeled a covid death. This is one of the ways that government officials and their puppet masters are able to conceal the truth. The set dynamics are complex, but the principle is straightforward, reports explain. When a death cert lists Cancer as the UCoD [underlying cause of death] and COVID as MCoD [main cause of death] the UCoD & MCoD are being swapped, and COVID is being listed as the UCoD 100% (425/wk). This results in 20% of all COVID deaths each week, also happening to be persons dying of Cancer which is egregiously higher than it should be. This is clear over-attribution = equates to exactly the difference between the Cancer and All Other ICD-10 code lag curves. Problems arise, however, once covid mortality is no longer a substantial enough figure to conceal excess mortality then what? In essence, the CDC is swapping the underlying and main causes of death in its official datasets which, to some degree, hides the fact that cancer deaths are currently through the roof. According to his analysis, the COVID shot is killing 7,300 Americans per week. COVID, meanwhile, is killing 1,740 people, Newspunchs Sean Adl-Tabatabai. So, what will the CDC blame when COVID disappears and they can no longer swap the underlying and main cause of death designations? The human health fallout from Operation Warp Speed has only just begun. To keep up with the latest, visit Genocide.news. Sources for this article include: Newspunch.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Former top Trump advisor Steve Bannon has been handed a jail sentence after he upset the highly partisan Jan. 6 Committee by ignoring their subpoena under a claim of executive privilege. This travesty of politicized justice took place on Friday when a federal judge overseeing the case sentenced Bannon to four months of hard prison time and a fine of $6,500. He was found guilty in July of being in contempt of Congress the same charge that Barack Obamas attorney general, Eric Holder, was guilty of after he, too, ignored a congressional subpoena. But of course, he wasnt about to arrest and charge himself, and naturally, Obama didnt force him to comply because Democrats dont hold themselves accountable and believe they are above the law. I want to say one thing I respect the judge, the sentence he came down with today is his decision. Ive been totally respectful to this entire process on the legal side, Bannon said after the sentencing, according to Fox News. The report continued: Bannon was released pending appeal, which he and his legal team promised to make. If an appeal is not made, Bannon must surrender voluntarily by Nov. 15, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols ruled. Bannon predicted his political opponents will be voted out on Election Day. The Justice Department had recommended a six-month prison sentence and a $200,000 fine for the former Trump aide due to his failure to comply with a subpoena to appear before the House Select Committee investigating Jan. 6. I want to thank all you guys for coming, Bannon said upon entering the courthouse Friday. Remember this illegitimate regime, their judgment day is on the eighth of November when the Biden administration ends. I want to thank you all for coming. And remember, take down the CCP. Thank you, he added quickly, a reference to the Chinese Communist Party, or more specifically, the Chinese government. Prosecutors sought a longer sentence of six months, claiming he engaged in bad behavior by refusing to appear for questioning before the Democrat-controlled committee that has not interviewed a single witness in defense of former President Donald Trump and isnt going to. From the moment that the Defendant, Stephen K. Bannon, accepted service of a subpoena from the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, he has pursued a bad-faith strategy of defiance and contempt, federal prosecutors argued on Monday. The Committee sought documents and testimony from the Defendant relevant to a matter of national importance: the circumstances that led to a violent attack on the Capitol and disruption of the peaceful transfer of power. In response, the Defendant flouted the Committees authority and ignored the subpoenas demands, they argued further. BANNON: This illegitimate regime, their Judgement Day is on 8 November. When the Biden Administration ends. pic.twitter.com/HB80gfLS9R ShapiroExposed.com (@JackPosobiec) October 21, 2022 Noted former White House official and Revolver News editor Darren Beattie on Twitter following Bannons sentencing: Steve Bannon is a living legend and force of nature in politics and media One of the few irreplaceable talents in the arena And one of the few tough enough to face the storm our illegitimate Regime visits on its most effective critics. Steve Bannon is a living legend and force of nature in politics and media One of the few irreplaceable talents in the arena And one of the few tough enough to face the storm our illegitimate Regime visits on its most effective critics Darren J. Beattie ? (@DarrenJBeattie) October 19, 2022 Republicans look on pace to sweep back into power in Congress next month during the midterm elections, and one of the things GOP leaders plan to do first is to disband the Jan. 6 Committee. Maybe they shouldnt. It might be a better idea to replace it with Republican lawmakers and go after all of the liars and deep state operatives who set up the Jan. 6 false flag attack on the U.S. Capitol Building. Then again, Bidens politicized DoJ wont act on their subpoenas. Hide and watch. Sources include: FoxNews.com Revolver.news (Natural News) Switzerland is set to destroy nine million expired doses of Modernas mRNA Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Another 5.1 million doses are due to meet the same fate by February 2023. Reuters noted that the wastage reflects the Swiss strategy of ordering more vaccines than it needed to ensure its population of around 8.7 million would get sufficient supplies, even in the event of supply bottlenecks or quality issues. With this deliberately chosen strategy, it was accepted that too much vaccine would be procured and that some of the procured doses would have to be sold, passed on or possibly destroyed, the Swiss government said in a statement. (Related: Were the chips clogging the needles? Moderna recalls thousands of COVID vaccine doses in Europe.) Quoting Swiss authorities, Reuters reported that the landlocked country has obtained 31.9 million vaccine doses from Moderna and other suppliers. Of this total, 16.1 million were used by the country while another 3.2 million were passed on to others. Just under 70 percent of the Swiss population and neighboring Liechtenstein have been injected with at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose a rather low rate compared to those in many other countries in Western Europe. This was not the first time the landlocked European country was forced to destroy doses of Modernas COVID-19 vaccine. Back in September, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced that 10.3 million doses of the mRNA vaccine would be destroyed after they expired. It said that 2.5 million doses were stored at a Swiss Armed Forces logistics base, and 7.8 million doses were kept in an external storage depot in Belgium. Moreover, the FOPH confirmed an initial report by the Swiss news site Beobachter that the Moderna doses earmarked for destruction were worth about 280 million Swiss francs ($280.56 million). Other countries also destroying excess vaccine doses a waste of money Switzerland is not the only nation that has destroyed millions of expired COVID-19 vaccine doses. A July 2022 report by the Gateway Pundit revealed that Canada destroyed 13.6 million expired doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, attributing it to a lack of domestic and international demand. More than half of all the doses went to waste after Ottawa was unable to find any foreign countries willing to accept the vaccines. A statement by Health Canada, the countrys ministry of health, said the AstraZeneca vaccine doses were not accepted due to limited demand for the vaccine and recipient country challenges with distribution and absorption. The expiration of 13.6 million doses follows the expiration of 1.2 million AstraZeneca doses reported in April and May, it noted. Most of the expired doses never left the manufacturers warehouses. An unknown, but smaller number of doses also expired after distribution to provincial governments. According to the statement, reports of blood clotting linked to the adenoviral vector shot began to emerge in Europe which coincided with the arrival of four million AstraZeneca vaccine doses in Canada. This led Norway and Denmark to pause, and ultimately halt, the vaccines use. Other countries soon followed, and Canada halted the vaccines use in under-55 just as it began to arrive in large numbers. Public confidence in the shot collapsed, and its fate in Canada was sealed by the large-scale arrival of Pfizers vaccine weeks later. Canadian epidemiologist Dr. Bruce Aylward, an adviser to the World Health Organization, remarked that a glut of doses of an unpopular vaccine in countries without the infrastructure to quickly deliver them was a recipe for mass rejection and expiration. Watch Steve Bannon expound on Dr. Naomi Wolfs revelation about Moderna destroying 30 million doses of its COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Croatian MEP Kolakusic: EUs purchase of excess COVID-19 vaccine doses is biggest corruption scandal in history. German government orders 554 million COVID-19 doses for its population of just 83 million people. Why did Canada, population 37 million, just order 293 million covid vaccine doses? J&J forced to toss 60 million covid vaccine doses due to contamination. Sources include: Reuters.com MedicalBuyer.co.in TheGatewayPundit.com BMJ.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Blame anything but the Covid vaccines for causing healthy people to suddenly suffer heart attacks. Thats the mantra across the entire medical profession and all of mainstream media, as we are seeing the absolute worst and most absurd excuses splattered across the news. Besides the millions of spike protein prions that are clogging the vascular system, causing massive heart stress, what else could possibly be causing all these cases of myocarditis and pericarditis that lead to out-of-the-blue heart attacks for perfectly healthy kids, teens, athletes, military members, pilots and more? When the pandemic pharma tyrants really took hold of America, with lockdowns, masks, quarantines, PCR tests, social distancing and the mass-media-fear-frenzy, it became more than obvious it was all about selling everyone on getting Covid-vaccinated. Meanwhile, natural health advocates KNEW the so-called vaccines would be very scary, but not many people, bar a few scientists who would later blow the whistle, knew what the technology of them really meant. Now, scientists and doctors alike have revealed the truth about the clot shots, while healthy folks who get them are suffering from vascular clots and heart damage that happens so soon after getting the Fauci Flu jabs, it just cant be explained away anymore. Still, the vaccine industrial complex, partnering with all of MSM (fake news mainstream media) is pulling out all the stops to come up with reasons why sudden heart attacks are happening across the globe to the vaccinated masses who dont have a clue as to why. Wuhan virus vaccines greatly increase the risk of heart attack, among people of all ages and all health conditions. Top 5 sad and sorry excuses for Covid-vaccine-induced heart attacks #1. Video Games #2. Cold Showers #3. Referee Whistles #4. Covid-19 #5. SIDS and SADS (Sudden Infant/Adult Death Syndrome) Video games have been around for about 40 years, and no parent ever filed a claim or lawsuit saying it gave their child or teen a heart attack, but now that the Covid clot shots are causing strange rubbery clots, myocarditis and pericarditis, the mainstream media is claiming that researchers have suddenly discovered video games get children so excited they suddenly die of a heart attack. According to what seems to be a faked study that was published in Heart Rhythm, somebody concluded that, Electronic gaming has recently been reported as a precipitant of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia in susceptible individuals. Sure. Of course, no mention if those kids studied just got a Wuhan virus gene mutation injection, or two, or three. Thats not all, now, since the Covid-vaccine-scamdemic, suddenly cold showers are killing off healthy athletes and military members by the numbers. Watch out for all that cold water, so that must mean no more swimming in the pool or ocean when the water is a little chilly, and if its raining outside and its cold out too, its best to avoid walking to your car or the office, for fear of sudden heart attack. Another sorry excuse to cover for the China Flu vaccine-induced heart attacks. Are you an athlete who takes care of your body by eating organic food and drinking filtered water? If you have a healthy heart thanks to all of your regular exercising and eating clean, now the vaccine industry says that those pesky referee and umpire whistles can kill you instantly by sending you into cardiac arrest, because theyre so loud and abrupt, even though youve heard them a thousand times your whole life, now suddenly theyre deadly. Watch out. Next, why not blame Covid-19 for everything that happens to anyone? Did someone you know die of cancer, diabetes, heart disease or dementia in the past two years? MSM and the vaccine industrial complex (VIC) most likely blamed Covid. It gets worse. The clot shots are causing heart attacks and strokes because they clog the blood with billions of clingy spike protein prions, so now the VIC is blaming Fauci Flu for wait for it wait for it heart disease and strokes. Yes, they are. Read it for yourself in this diabolical report. Lastly, any child, teen, young adult, military member or pilot who happens to die for no apparent reason out of the blue, well, that simply cant be explained by MDs, immunologists or even cardiologists, because theyre NEVER allowed to blame vaccines, especially the Covid jabs, for health damage, or theyll lose their medical license. Its as simple as that. So what to blame? They call it sudden adult death syndrome. Remember SIDS? Thats when babies die from too many vaccines and the medical establishment blames the parents for shaking the baby too much while yelling at it (a.k.a. shaken baby syndrome). Now, somebody must be shaking adults too hard and killing them, or its just the toxic Fauci Flu jabs. Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on experimental vaccines that cause blood clots, myocarditis and heart attacks, even in healthy people. Sources for this article include: Pandemic.news NaturalNews.com Health-desk.org TheGatewayPundit.com TimesNowNews.com (Natural News) A watchdog organization has identified hundreds of instances of alleged illegal behavior committed by Hunter Biden gleaned from content found on the laptop he abandoned in 2019 at a computer repair shop in Delaware. The group, Marco Polo, headed up by a one-time aide to former President Donald Trump, said that it found 459 violations of state and federal laws and regulations and that a final report documenting the allegations serves as a legal road map for state and federal authorities, should anyone chose to pursue them. The timing of the reports release, coming two weeks before the midterm elections, has a certain symmetry to the laptops initial introduction to the public, the Daily Wire reported earlier this week. In 2020, days before the election, the New York Post published news of the laptops existence, as well as bombshells from it, but social media suppressed the story after the FBI had warned companies of so-called misinformation. Garrett Ziegler, Marco Polos 26-year-old founder, said that the team of cyber sleuths he put together were thorough, producing a report that is heavy at nearly 1 gigabyte in large part due to all of the screenshots contained in it. Ive been focusing on this for 13 months, Ziegler told The Daily Wire. It was really a thing of necessity. I recognized how rich the material was. It requires utter focus. It is so hard to write something comprehensive about it and do anything else on the side. Theres been some phenomenal writing so far on the sex and degeneracy, he added, however: The focus of the report is on crimes I had a compulsion to log every crime, even the state-level statutes. The mission is simple: Hold Republicans feet to the fire. We dont want to hear that Republicans need another year to do an investigation. Ive done that here. Our number one goal is to ensure that Republicans dont waste time. The investigation has been done. This report is a simple but extremely thorough roadmap for who needs to be subpoenaed for which timeframes and for what types of crimes. he continued, according to The U.S. Sun, noting that the report includes 140 alleged business-related crimes, 191 sex-related offenses and 128 drug-related crimes. Right now people still dont know the entirety of whats on the laptop in terms of crimes, which is what my non-profit cares about. This report finally answers that question, so Republicans cant go back and say they still need to look at whats on the laptop. All were seeking is the equal application of the law, Ziegler continued in his interview with The U.S. Sun. So far, this saga has been one of the greatest examples of double standards in American legal history. People have gone to prison for decades based on Joes own policies for doing exactly what Hunter did. Meanwhile, Hunter is living at a beachside estate in Malibu, he added. When the New York Post first reported on the laptops contents, those details were scandalous enough. But it appears as though they were just the tip of the iceberg. In the opening summary of the Marco Polo report, the group blames the politicized Justice Department and FBI including under then-President Trump for failing to do anything with the evidence on the laptop in order to protect a Democrat top officials likely knew was going to become the next president. The Department of Justice (DOJ), specifically the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), took possession of an Apple laptop previously used by Hunter Biden (Hunter) on 12/09/2019, following months of back-and-forth with a computer repair shop owner named John Paul Mac Isaac, the summary states. This Report would not have been necessary if law enforcement had done its job. Dereliction of duty is nothing new for the FBI, as its government-sponsored cover-up occurred with Anthony Weiners devices. Additionally, besides a few notable exceptions, news outlets and think tanks in America have been unwilling to investigate and expose the hundreds of crimes and conflicts of interest on the Biden Laptop whichas you will readdefinitively implicate the sitting president, Joe Biden, it adds. Sources include: MarcoPolo.org The-Sun.com DailyWire.com A partial solar eclipse will unfold this Tuesday, allowing astronomy lovers and stargazers to witness the amazing sight. The eclipse would be visible in portions of the Northern Hemisphere. October has been an exciting month for stargazers. During the first week, the Full Hunter's Moon on October 9, showed a mesmerizing sight from afar. The name was a term associated with the year of hunting. Meanwhile, the Orionid Meteor Shower emerged on October 20, 20, and October 21, giving a magnificent sight of the meteor showers. According to the report published in Phys.Org, the IMCCE institute of France's Paris Observatory said that the partial solar eclipse is set to start in Iceland (0858 GMT) and end at India's coast (1302 GMT). The report added that the partial solar eclipse would cross North Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, adding that Tuesday's eclipse would be the 16th century's partial solar eclipse. Also Read: NASA Rover catches Amazing Image of Cat Loaf Rock on Mars Meanwhile, France's Paris Observatory explained that the eclipse would be partial, and the Moon's shadow would not show touching the Earth's surface, noting that the Moon, around 82%, would cover the Sun. Paris Observatory astronomer Florent Deleflie told AFP that the coming partial solar eclipse would not be spectacular, but the eclipse serves as an important astronomy event for astronomers. Ultimately, the report advised that astronomy lovers who will witness the partial solar eclipse should be cautious not to look at the Sun as the prolonged exposure could result in eye damage. According to NASA, a solar eclipse happens as the Moon orbits the Sun and Earth. It allows the eclipse to emerge, and the Moon casts a shadow. The Moon could block the Sun's light, unable to reach Earth. Types of solar eclipse NASA added that solar eclipse has three main types: total solar eclipse, partial solar eclipse, and annular solar eclipse. A partial solar eclipse emerges as the Sun shows a small dark shadow visible to its surface when the Earth, Moon, and Sun are not aligned. Meanwhile, the total solar eclipse emerges when the Earth, Sun, and Moon are in the direct line, allowing astronomy lovers to witness a dark sky. Ultimately, the Annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon appears to be farthest from Earth, which the Moon appears to be smaller. Moreover, NASA explained that studying eclipses are important. Solar eclipses allow scientists to look into the Sun's corona using advanced instruments. Also Read: Hunter's Moon Shines Brightly in the Sky Viewing the Partial Solar Eclipse Although it would be a partial solar eclipse, it is a golden moment for astronomy events. The report added to be cautious during the eclipse and avoid looking at the Sun as it can damage your eyes. Set a good location to view the amazing sight, noting the important time of the eclipse. Wear protective sunglasses that could be enough to protect your eyes. On Online, you can also watch the partial solar eclipse in videos if you miss it! Capture the best moment of the eclipse and share it with your friends. Related Article: Astronomers Say Eclipse Season to Set After Autumn's First Meteor Shower For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News. TOPSHOT - Lightning strikes over the French Riviera city of Nice, Southerneast France, on late Septembe 30, 2022. (Photo : Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images) Two white-blue blobs of light can be visibly seen in the Earth's atmosphere in a photo shared by NASA's Earth Observatory. The 'mysterious' blue blobs were seen hanging around in the night sky captured by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) passing over Southeast Asia, NewsWeek reported. One is located over the Gulf of Thailand, and the other far on the horizon near the South China Sea. While 'mystical' as they appear, the two blobs are believed to be a result of two separate phenomena: lightning and the moon. As annotated by the NASA Earth Observatory, there is a lightning storm over the Gulf of Thailand, while the Moon appears just above Earth's limb on the upper right edge. Lightning strikes are usually not visible from the ISS, but this one was because of the gap in the clouds. "Light Show Near the Limb" The first blob of light, which is visible at the bottom of the image, was caused by a gap in the cloud top and lightning that did not reach the ground, as opposed to regular cloud-to-ground lightning strike, Tero Mielonen, a senior scientist at the Atmospheric Research Centre of Eastern Finland of the Finnish Meteorological Institute, told Newsweek. "Most of them remain within the cloud, but sometimes they have visible channels that extend out into the air around the cloud (also above), but do not reach the ground," he said. Meanwhile, the second blue blob in the photo was the light of the moon viewed through the Earth's atmosphere, caused by the scattering effect of the Earth's atmosphere. This is the same reason why daytime sky appears blue. In this case, the moonlight appeared to have the same color as the electrical storm occurring below. Also read: Researchers Debunk Idea on Using Glass to Halt Sea Ice Loss Blue Light According to LiveScience, the orientation of Earth's natural satellite in relation to the ISS allows sun's light to be reflected back and pass straight through the Earth's atmosphere, converting it into a bright blue blob with a fuzzy halo. Other large thunderstorms can also produce similar electrical phenomena called transient luminous events, Mielonen said. This includes Sprites, the most common ones, Elves, and Red Sprites. "A single lightning strike can contain from 100 million to 1 billion volts and billions of watts of energy," Mielonen said. "There are approximately 40 000 thunderstorms and 3 million flashes around the globe every day." In the color spectrum of visible lights, blue light in particular has the shortest wavelength, therefore it tends to most likely scatter and become more visible to the human eye. This is why the moon turned blue in the image. A glowing web of artificial lights coming from Thailand can also be seen the same photo, and other prominent sources of light pollution emitted from Vietnam and Hainan Island, the southernmost region of China, outlined by the lights of its coastal cities. Parallel to the Earth's curvature is an orange halo commonly known as 'Earth's limb' seen at the edge of the planet's atmosphere. Related article: Man Attempts the World's First Swim Across the Red Sea to Tackle Climate Change New York, US (PANA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for renewed hope and conviction in global solidarity in his message for United Nations Day, being celebrated on Monday Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The US Embassy and Britsh High Commission in Nigeria are warning of likely terrorist attacks in Nigeria, and asked their citizens to be alert and review personal security plans Khaama Press, September 10, 2022 The Taliban members reportedly mutilated a traffic enforcers ear in Aybak city, the provincial capital of Samangan province in central Afghanistan, after the traffic officer stopped their car to avoid traffic congestion. A video that has also been made public and is making the rounds on social media shows the traffic officer wearing a blood-stained uniform. The Taliban reportedly cut off the traffic officers ear after he stopped the vehicle transporting their troops to ease a traffic bottleneck. At the same time, it is also reported that Taliban forces have shot a woman in Takhar province in northern Afghanistan. According to the reports, the Taliban forces shot a 43-year-old woman, who is said to be a mother of 4 children in Takhar provinces Dasht Qala district. Qandigul, a mother 4, is reported to have been shot by the Taliban forces in Abi Naw Abad village in the Dasht Qala district of Takhar. The Taliban authorities have not yet responded to the situation by making a statement or a comment, despite the fact that the cause or reason for the Talibans shootings of the woman in Takhar has not yet been disclosed. Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in the middle of August of last year, the situation of womens rights and other human rights has deteriorated, alarming human rights organizations and the international community. As a result, the Taliban have been sanctioned, and excluded from international engagement, and their regime has not been recognized. VOA, October 17, 2022 The Taliban have imposed yet more restrictions on girls' education in Afghanistan as the group barred girls from choosing certain subjects in the countrys national university entrance exam this year. The form given to female students at the exam, received by the VOA Afghanistan Service, shows that female students did not have the option of choosing civil engineering, journalism, veterinary, agriculture and geology in this years exam held at the beginning of this month. I wanted to pursue journalism and looked to pick it, but it was not an option, said 19-year-old Haseena Ahmadi, who took this years university entrance exam in the western Herat province. Ahmadi added that omitting the subjects is a "tactic" used by the Taliban to stop women from pursuing higher education. The Taliban, who seized power last year, banned girls secondary education in the country, but female students were allowed to return to universities and continue their studies in gender-segregated classes. According to Save the Children, 80% of secondary school girls in Afghanistan were denied attending school. The majority of secondary school girls about 850,000 out of 1.1 million are not attending classes, the report said. The United Nations called the Taliban's ban on secondary education "shameful" and called on the group to reopen the girls' school. Abdul Qadir Khamosh, the Talibans head of the university exam, acknowledged that some of the subjects were excluded. In an interview with the BBCs Pashto service, Khamosh claimed that in some of the regions, women did not show interest in these subjects, and that is why the decision was made. Female students who took the exam, however, told VOA that the subjects they wanted to choose were not among those listed during the exam. I wanted to select engineering, but it was not an option, and I had to choose another subject, said 18-year-old Huda, who did not want to reveal her real name for fear of reprisals. We were very stressed, she said. Nargis Mommand Hassanzai, a former lecturer at Kabul University, told VOA that these restrictions are affecting girls mental health and forcing families to leave their country. She added that a student can only succeed in a field that she likes to pursue. Hassanzai said the Taliban use religion or culture as an "excuse" to justify women's rights violations. Before the Talibans takeover, some 3.5 million girls were going to schools, and about 30% of the civil servants and around 28% of parliamentarians were women. However, the Talibans return to power curbed womens rights and freedoms. Gender apartheid Human Rights Watch called the Talibans new limitations on female students "concerning. Its deeply concerning to hear reports that the Taliban are now limiting what subjects girls and young women can study at [the] university level, and [are] banning girls and young women from most subjects, Heather Barr of Human Rights Watch told the VOA Afghan Service. She added, however, that this is not "surprising." Since seizing power last year, the Taliban have barred women from working in most government agencies and restricted them from working in the private sector in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, this new policy seems consistent with the type of gender apartheid that the Taliban are imposing increasingly across the country, said Barr. The U.S. announced last week a visa restriction on some of the current and former Taliban members who are responsible for, or complicit in, repressing women and girls in Afghanistan through restrictive policies and violence. The Taliban called the new U.S. sanctions an impediment to the development in their relations with the Taliban. More pressure Afghan womens rights activists have repeatedly called on the international community to use its political leverage to pressure the Taliban to grant women their rights. Shukria Barakzai, former Afghan ambassador to Norway, told VOA that the world should stand with Afghan women protesting for their rights. I think we, Afghan women, are not receiving the political support that is needed, Barakzai said. In the past year, Afghan womens protests did not stop for a single day. They are raising their voices every day. She added that the world does not want to hear those voices anymore. Columnist Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich). Workers hoist wind turbines in Taranto Port in Italy in January. [Photo/Xinhua] Eyes now on National Congress to show where country's path lies There is nothing quite like a crisis to expose the weaknesses in systems and societies. Last year, a number of countries promised to lessen reliance on fossil fuels and announced ambitious net-zero targets. The backpedaling on many of these commitments has been furious ever since the Russia-Ukraine conflict triggered a dip in supplies and a hike in natural gas prices. The United Kingdom has since lifted a ban on fracking, and analysis from energy think tank Ember Climate shows that European Union member states will invest $50 billion into the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure this winter. "As with any global event, the Ukraine conflict has shifted priorities toward an agenda other than climate change," said Ajay Gambhir, a climate economist at Imperial College London. "This brings risks that mitigation action will be delayed." It remains to be seen if Europe's pivot to fossil fuels represents a short-term blip or a long-term blow to international efforts to curb global warming. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, China must perform its own balancing act between energy security and green ambitions. Amid the global energy crisis, climate observers are paying close attention to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China to find out if the country plans to reaffirm its climate commitments and emissions targets, or recalculate them. Workers assemble photovoltaic modules on the roof of a Chinese factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in January last year. [Photo/Xinhua] So far, so good Recent signs have been promising. At a United Nations climate change round table in New York on Sept 21, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China plans to "unswervingly follow the path of ecological priority, green and low-carbon development". And an independent analysis from the Climate Action Tracker, or CAT, shows that China is on course to meet several key climate targets early. In 2020, China pledged to peak emissions by 2030 and reduce carbon intensity or emissions per unit of GDP by over 65 percent in 2030 from 2005 levels. CAT projects that China is likely to "comfortably overachieve its targets without substantially increasing its current mitigation efforts". It could achieve peaking by, or slightly after, 2025, and reduce carbon intensity by 67 percent by 2030. "China has a track record of setting ambitious climate targets which it meets ahead of schedule," said British economist Nicholas Stern, who is chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics. "It is a sign of the importance that China attaches to setting ambitious but credible targets." Stern said it has been "apparent for some time" that China's annual emissions of greenhouse gasses could peak well before 2030 by "accelerating its transition away from fossil fuels, particularly coal". "China's economy would benefit from the investments in low-carbon growth that would be required to peak emissions in 2025," he said. "And it would be a demonstration of leadership and signal the seriousness of China's intent to achieve carbon neutrality." All part of the plan A chief reason China has been able to keep targets in sight is that climate commitments have been embedded in its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). China's five-year plans are a set of social and economic initiatives that act as a blueprint for national development strategies for the period. The five-year plan is arguably one of the most important documents in the world when it comes to climate change. Transformative measures on energy consumption and emissions in the last three five-year plans have led to unprecedented surges in green development. China invested $758 billion in renewable energy capacity between 2010 and mid-2019, which was equivalent to a third of the global total, according to United Nations data. The 14th Five-Year Plan set binding targets for emissions peaking, carbon intensity and energy consumption, and also promoted low-carbon transformation in industry, construction, transportation and other key areas of the economy. Last year, China's national energy consumption per unit of GDP fell by 2.7 percent year-on-year, and carbon dioxide per unit of GDP fell by 3.8 percent, according to analysis from the Center for China Study, or CCS, which is a think tank connected with Tsinghua University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. CCS Director Hu Angang said that China is "spurring the green renewable-energy revolution", with clean energy accounting for 25.5 percent of total energy consumption last year, up 1.2 percentage points year-on-year. China will once again overachieve on renewable targets, according to the CAT, which found that growth in nonfossil energy shares and solar and wind capacity installations will "surpass the country's official nationally determined contribution targets". The proliferation of renewables over the past decade in China has occurred at such a scale that it has influenced global markets, bringing down the cost of clean power in comparison to fossil fuels. "China has already helped to accelerate the global uptake of solar by reducing the costs of manufacturing," Stern said. "The global market for renewable energy is expanding rapidly, and China is likely to remain a global leader in both the supply of and demand for renewable technologies." Stern said that the transition away from coal and toward renewables is essential, from both an environmental and financial perspective, since emissions-heavy power sources run the risk of becoming stranded assets. "China clearly recognizes the need to accelerate its transition away from coal as a source of energy because of the huge damage it inflicts through air pollution and climate change," Stern said. "Any new investments in fossil fuel infrastructure risk financial loss as they are likely to be replaced by zero-carbon alternatives before making a return. China's power system needs urgent reform to allow it to more quickly replace expensive coal with cheaper renewables." Overseas impact From an international perspective, China's coal policy is set to have a notable impact on driving the green transition. Last year, China pledged to end financing for building coal plants overseas, which CAT estimates will result in the cancellation of 43 gigawatts of new coal projects across Asia. CCS Director Hu said that green projects within the Belt and Road Initiative are also helping to drive down emissions beyond China's borders. "China is helping developing countries, especially small island countries, African countries and LDCs (least developed countries), to enhance their capacity and capability to cope with climate change and reduce the adverse effects of climate change," Hu said. Stern said that increased collaboration with other large economies must also drive China's climate agenda. "It is critically important that China and the United States, as the world's two largest emitters of greenhouse gasses, are able to work together on tackling climate change," he said, adding that the United States has now passed a landmark bill to massively increase investments in clean energy. Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate change, said in August that the US is fully responsible for the current halt in China-US climate cooperation. In a news conference on Sept 20, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that China remains receptive to working with the US on climate change. The two nations signed a joint declaration to address the global climate crisis at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, or COP26, in Glasgow in November. "If China and the US can manage their bilateral relations well, reduce impediments and negative factors and jointly respond to climate change, public health and food and energy security challenges, people of both countries and the world at large will enjoy more benefits," Wang said. VOA, October 18, 2022 A large group of women activists in Afghanistans capital Tuesday staged a protest rally against the expulsion of dozens of female students from a Kabul University hostel by Taliban authorities. The demonstrators, including students, gathered outside the university campus, chanting, Education is our red line and silence is treason. Rally participants accused the Islamist Taliban-led ministry of higher education of expelling at least 40 female students over the past few days from the school, one of the countrys oldest and most revered institutions. A ministry statement confirmed on Sunday that several women had been removed from the dormitory for violating university regulations, but it shared no further details. The students were punished for attending a protest rally against the attack on the Kaaj education center, Lilia Baseem, who attended Tuesdays rally, told VOA. She referred to the September 30 suicide bombing of the private school in a western Kabul neighborhood that killed 53 people, including 46 girls and women. Another 110 people, mostly women, were wounded. The carnage outraged female activists and students who had taken to the streets in several major cities, including Kabul, shortly after the attack to condemn it and seek justice for the victims. The Taliban said an investigation was under way, but the Islamist rulers have not yet shared its outcome and no group has claimed responsibility. The Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in August 2021 and subsequently formed a men-only interim administration to govern the war-torn country. The regime, however, has yet to be formally given legitimacy by any country mainly over human rights concerns and a lack of political inclusiveness. The hardline group has imposed a series of restrictions on women since coming to power, limiting their access to work and education. Most public sector female employees have been instructed to stay at home and women journalists must appear on TV with a face covering. While public and private universities across the country are open to women in a strictly gender-segregated system of education, the Taliban, in violation of their public pledges, have barred teenage girls in grades seven through 12 from attending school. The group reneged on repeated pledges that it would lift the ban in March. The backtracking prompted the U.N. Security Council weeks later to reinstate foreign travel restrictions on two Taliban education ministers. Dozens of members of the government have long been subjected to targeted U.N. travel and asset freeze curbs. Tuesdays demonstration comes a day after reclusive Taliban chief Hibatullah Akhundzada appointed Nada Mohammad Nadeem as the new acting minister of higher education. The official announcement gave no reason. Nadeem has replaced Abdul Baqi Haqqani, who was among the ministers barred by the United Nations from traveling abroad. The international community has persistently pushed the Taliban rulers to reverse policies and practices that are restricting the human rights of Afghans, particularly those of women and girls. The radical group has defended its polices, saying they are in line with Afghan culture and Islamic injunctions. Last week, the United States announced a new visa restriction policy as punishment for current or former Taliban leaders and others believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, repressing Afghan women and girls through restrictive policies and violence. Washington called on its allies to follow suit. The Taliban rejected the U.S. move as an obstacle in the development of bilateral ties. Last week, Akhundzada reiterated in an audio message apparently in response to new U.S. sanctions that his government "is ready to engage with the world within the within the framework of Sharia and the interests of our people. Sharia is Islamic law. He added that regardless of foreign pressure, Afghan scholars are reviewing all laws introduced over the past 20 years by former U.S.-backed rulers in Kabul to bring them in line with Sharia. Taliban officials said their supreme leader was speaking to a gathering in the southern city, Kandahar, regarded as the groups ideological headquarters. The Taliban government has also blocked young girls from taking university entrance exams this year for a wide range of subjects, including civil engineering, journalism, veterinary studies, agriculture and geology, deeming them difficult for women to handle. The education system in Afghanistan has worsened since the Taliban returned to power more than a year ago, jeopardizing childrens futures, particularly girls, according to the latest report by Save the Children. "The majority of secondary school girls about 850,000 out of 1.1 million are not attending classes, the organization said. A recent PLoS Global Public Health journal study discusses the associations between chilblains and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Study: COVID-toes: An ecological study of chilblains and COVID-19 diagnoses in Victoria, Australia. Image Credit: lungfu01 / Shutterstock.com Background The COVID-19 pandemic has caused global public health and economic disruptions. In addition to the typical respiratory symptoms, some COVID-19 patients experience cutaneous manifestations, particularly chilblains. Chilblains, an inflammatory dermatologic condition, can affect the body's acral regions and frequently occurs in middle-aged adults and women. Previously, chilblains were not considered to be associated with infections until the COVID-19 pandemic. One study reported that 45% of individuals with skin eruptions had COVID-19-like respiratory symptoms, while other studies have not found serologic evidence of COVID-19 in those with chilblains. Chilblains have been concomitantly reported with COVID-19 in a Californian epidemiologic study and numerous European case series. However, the mechanisms of chilblain in COVID-19 remain unknown. One systematic review concluded that increased expression of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor utilized by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to gain entry into host cells in the skin might cause cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19. A skin biopsy is needed to confirm the chilblain diagnosis histologically; however, there is a lack of consensus on whether chilblains in COVID-19 share similar histological characteristics as idiopathic chilblains. About the study In the present study, researchers assess the temporal association of chilblains with COVID-19 in an ecologic framework. Data were obtained from the population-level analytics and reporting (POLAR) system. Primary health networks (PHNs) in Eastern Victoria contributed to this study with over 500 general practices (GPs) and a catchment of more than three million patients. Data for this study were processed according to POLAR's data de-identification decision-making framework. The authors conducted the retrospective cohort analysis between January 2017 and September 2021, in which inclusion criteria were diagnoses of chilblain, COVID-19, or suspected COVID-19 in any Victorian GP. Patients' ages and the date of diagnosis were extracted and de-identified. Data on local minimum temperature were obtained from the Bureau of Meteorology and aggregated to yield average minimum temperature data. A zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression was performed for data modeling. A multivariable model was created using diagnoses of COVID-19 and suspected COVID-19 and weekly minimum temperature to predict chilblains. Additionally, lead and lag models were generated for the data to examine possible lags in the association between COVID-19 and chilblains. Finally, the relationship between chilblains and COVID-19 was evaluated across age groups, including those between 0-16, 17-49, and over 50. Study findings A total of 6,846 chilblain diagnoses were reported from January 2017 to September 2021 across the three PHNs. Chilblain distribution across the age groups was similar to that of the general population in Victoria. Moreover, 3,687 COVID-19 diagnoses and 4,688 suspected COVID-19 diagnoses occurred in the same period. The median, minimum temperature was 8.12 C in Victoria. The maximum and minimum temperatures remained consistent each year; however, the maximum temperature was slightly lower in 2021, likely due to the end of data collection in September. Chilblain presentations peaked every winter, coinciding with the falling temperature throughout the study. COVID-19 and suspected COVID-19 diagnoses followed the peak in chilblain diagnoses in 2020 but lagged in 2021. There was a significant association between chilblains and temperature decrease, with a risk ratio of 1.33 per 1C. When the 95th percentile of the diagnoses of COVID-19 and suspected COVID-19 was compared to the 50th percentile, the risk ratios of chilblains were 5.72 and 3.23, respectively. Additionally, a secondary model generated using temperature as the predictor of chilblains yielded a risk ratio of 1.37 per 1 C. However, this model was inferior to that using the diagnoses of COVID-19 as covariates. In analyses using lead and lag models, there was no meaningful relationship between COVID-19 and chilblains in GP settings. A stronger association of COVID-19 and suspected COVID-19 with chilblains was noted in those between 0-16. Conclusions The authors found an increase in chilblain diagnoses in the participating PHNs, which might be significantly correlated with the circulation of COVID-19 in Victoria. Using temperature alone for modeling was insufficient to predict chilblains; thus, the diagnoses of COVID-19 were necessary to explain the surge in chilblains throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In summary, the study demonstrated a significant relationship between chilblains and COVID-19 in Victorian GPs in the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings emphasize the potential of using primary care data to increase clinician awareness of the potential for chilblains in COVID-19 patients. A recent Food Microbiology journal study explores the viability of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on food items and what treatments may inactivate the virus from these products. Study: Viability of SARS-CoV-2 on lettuce, chicken, and salmon and its inactivation by peracetic acid, ethanol, and chlorine dioxide. Image Credit: AstroStar / Shutterstock.com Background SARS-CoV-2, the causative pathogen of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, is a betacoronavirus that primarily spreads through respiratory droplets and aerosols. The seafood market in Wuhan, China, is considered the initial source of SARS-CoV-2. About 55% of China's COVID-19 cases detected in December 2019 were associated with this market. Several studies have linked other COVID-19 outbreaks with virus-contaminated frozen foods and food packaging materials. These observations have raised global concern over food safety during the pandemic. In the current study, scientists assess the viability of SARS-CoV-2 on three food items stored at different temperatures. They also determine the potency of three disinfectants in inactivating the virus on food items. Study design Three food items were selected for the viral viability test: lettuce, chicken, and salmon. The food items were then contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 and stored at 20 C (room temperature), 4 C (refrigerated), and -40 C (frozen). For the virus inactivation test, food-grade ethanol, chlorine dioxide, and peracetic acid were selected as disinfectants. Except for ethanol, which was used at 30%, 50%, and 70% concentrations, the other two disinfectants were used at three different concentrations, including the recommended concentration and half and twice the recommended concentration. Viability of SARS-CoV-2 on food items The lowest viability of SARS-CoV-2 on food items was observed at room temperature. No detectable viral titers were obtained on any food items after 48 hours of contamination. Among various food items, the highest half-life of SARS-CoV-2 was observed on salmon, followed by chicken and lettuce. A significant induction in viability was observed at 4 C. The highest viability at 4 C was observed on salmon, where SARS-CoV-2 remained infectious for up to 14 days following contamination. On lettuce and chicken, SARS-CoV-2 remained detectable for up to 10 days. A five- to nine-fold induction in the virus half-life was observed at 4 C compared to that observed at room temperature. The highest half-life was observed on salmon, followed by chicken and lettuce. At freezing temperatures, SARS-CoV-2 remained viable for up to four weeks on the tested food items. Significant induction of more than 30-fold in the viral half-life was also observed on each food item. Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by disinfectants Short-term exposure of one minute to 70% ethanol effectively inactivated SARS-CoV-2 on lettuce but failed to do the same on chicken and salmon. The inactivation of the virus on chicken and salmon was observed after a five-minute exposure to 70% ethanol. No significant virus-inactivating effect was observed for chlorine dioxide at all tested concentrations and exposure periods. At the highest concentration and exposure time, chlorine dioxide was found to reduce viral infectivity to a certain level only on lettuce. In contrast to chlorine dioxide, peracetic acid showed significantly higher potency in inactivating SARS-CoV-2 on food items. Specifically, peracetic acid completely inactivated the virus at twice the recommended concentration on each tested food item. Study significance The study findings indicate that the viability of SARS-CoV-2 on food items increases more than 30 times at freezing temperatures compared to room temperature. In addition to storage temperature, viral viability also depends on the type of food. Two viral variants have been studied here, including SARS-CoV-2 S and SARS-CoV-2 L. SARS-CoV-2 L shows higher viability on food items than SARS-CoV-2 S. However, peracetic acid was identified as a highly effective disinfectant that can completely inactivate both viral variants on food items. The highest potency of peracetic acid was observed at two times higher than the recommended concentration. However, no antiviral efficacy of chlorine-based disinfectants was observed in the study. In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers in the United States explored a novel technique to improve representation in viral genomic surveillance. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) evaded detection in the early phases of transmission due to the lack of regular viral genomic surveillance, allowing the virus to proliferate unchecked. In addition, poor surveillance over the ensuing months allowed SARS-CoV-2 variants to appear undetected. In light of this, minority groups have experienced a higher burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and fatalities due to social and racial inequities. Study: A collaborative approach to improve representation in viral genomic surveillance. Image Credit: Studio.c / Shutterstock About the study In the present study, researchers aimed to increase the capacity of microbial genome sequencing at universities using a new variant surveillance model. From 22 July 2021 to 12 April 2022, six partner clinics associated with the study in Louisiana gathered 405 rapid antigen-positive clinical specimens from people living in nine parishes, including Allen, Bienville, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Morehouse, Ouachita, Union, and Webster. More than 90% of the samples contained data related to demographics and vaccination status of the individuals. In Georgia, Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) samples were gathered from Mercer Medicine (MM) community clinics and student health centers in the counties of Bibb, Chatham, DeKalb, and Fulton. If Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis revealed a positive result, samples were sent for Illumina sequencing. The Jackson State University (JSU) Health Services Center in Mississippi served as the collection location. The Center supported the neighboring community's testing and immunization activities and acted as the principal COVID-19 testing facility for university students, staff, and visitors. Geographic coverage of SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance in Louisiana, Georgia, and Mississippi. Map of the surveillance region with parishes (Louisiana) or counties (Georgia, Mississippi) where at least one specimen was sequenced by the network indicated in red. The team subsequently completed the surveillance loop by disseminating the variant data, weekly wastewater surveillance findings, and other COVID-19-related health data via a dashboard created for the people of north Louisiana. A matched subset of 16 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples was sequenced to verify the effectiveness of Nanopore MinION sequencing. Results Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today Non-White or people belonging to two or more races accounted for 60% of the study sample donors as opposed to 41% of the sample parishes. Despite representing just 3.1% of the population in northeast Louisiana, Hispanic donors accounted for 8.4% of specimens and 13.8% of the total cases reported by the Louisiana Department of Health. Hispanic individuals were also significantly more likely to develop COVID-19. The genomes were eventually retrieved from 272 PCR-positive specimens out of the 405 specimens collected in Louisiana, 389 of which showed detectable SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA). SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance in Louisiana. (A) Number of variants sequenced over time in Louisiana overlaid with number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. (B) Number of sequences uploaded and latency for new sequencing entities established at Grambling State University (GSU) and Louisiana Tech University (Tech). The team discovered two new BA.5 subvariants with immune escape mutations. With 100% consensus sequence identity observed in 13 of the 16 samples along with 99.9% sequence identity in three of 16 samples, the results demonstrated efficient accuracy of the Nanopore sequencing procedure and analysis pipeline. Within the gene that encoded the replicase auxiliary protein NSP13, the three samples shared the same discordant basecall, namely, T by Illumina sequencing and G by Nanopore sequencing at position 17,259. The reference SARS-CoV-2 genome also possessed a G at this location. The evidence for the E1264D mutation found in the samples analyzed using the Illumina methodology was significant. In homopolymeric tracts, nanopore basecalling accuracy declined, but it was unclear why this discordance was present. The team discovered that the Omicron specimens' mean Cq values were considerably more significant than those of the Delta specimens. This supported earlier observations that Omicron infections, as opposed to Delta infections, had lower viral gene copy numbers as indicated by real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) or lower infectious viral loads as determined by focus-forming assay. However, this variation was not statistically significant. In addition, the mean Cq value of unvaccinated people with no prior illness was 1.06 cycles lower than that of completely vaccinated people who did or did not have a prior history of infection. Overall, the study findings showed that fostering collaborations between academic teams and neighborhood health clinics and instituting genomic surveillance capacity at rural academic institutions resulted in an effective strategy for enhancing pandemic preparedness. *Important Notice bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers in the United States assessed the efficiency of protection mediated by antibodies against symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at low serum-neutralizing titers. Study: Antibody-mediated protection against symptomatic COVID-19 can be achieved at low serum neutralizing titers. Image Credit: Lightspring / Shutterstock Background All human correlates of protection (CoP) investigations conducted to date have been complicated by the existence of other types of immunity elicited by vaccination and natural infection. Since there are no standardized serological assays, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine-induced neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers must be normalized to those noted after convalescence, enabling the determination of only relative protective titers instead of absolute ones. The high levels of serum neutralization provided by these treatments have prevented the determination of a protective neutralization threshold, despite clinical research showing that monoclonal antibodies transferred passively can protect against COVID-19 when there is no other type of protection present. About the study In the present study, the team performed a Phase 2/3 clinical investigation to assess the efficiency of a half-life extended human monoclonal antibody (adintrevimab) for preventing symptomatic COVID-19. The team altered employed two amino acids (M428L/N434A or LA) to alter the Fc region of ADG2 to form ADG2-LA or adintrevimab to increase the binding affinity of ADG2 to the neonatal Fc receptor in the lysosome and extend in vivo serum half-life. Previous research has demonstrated that these two mutations enhance binding to human FcRn. In addition, research in rhesus macaques has demonstrated that the N484A variation considerably reduces clearance compared to the wild-type. The team assessed the pharmacokinetics of adintrevimab in naive cynomolgus macaques after a single 10 mg/kg intramuscular (IM) injection or intravenous (IV) infusion to determine whether the increase in FcRn binding translated to a longer serum half-life in vivo. The effect of the LA alteration on binding to recombinant C1q, FcgRI, FcgRIIa, FcgRIIb, and FcgRIIIa. The team also used effector function assays in vitro to evaluate antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) facilitated by monocytes and neutrophils (ADNP), antibody-mediated complement deposition (ADCD), and antibody-dependent natural killer cell activation and degranulation (ADNKA). Adintrevimab was advanced into a Phase 1 study to evaluate its safety and pharmacokinetic properties. Additionally, a Phase 2/3 prevention study was performed with the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) cohort to determine whether a single 300 mg dose can suppress the progression of symptomatic COVID-19 in adults SARS-CoV-2-naive. All patients in the Phase 2/3 study who were baseline seronegative with a negative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were included in the primary analysis cohort. Results Lab Diagnostics & Automation eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today The study results showed limited clearance and an average half-life of 19.7 days after IV infusion compared to the eight to 10 days corresponding to nonFc modified IgGs in NHPs. Following a single 10 mg/kg IM dosage, systemic exposure showed good relative bioavailability and a 22.2-day half-life. The LA alteration provided adintrevimab a longer half-life in NHPs as a result. Comparable levels of ADCD, ADCP, ADNKA, and ADNP activity were induced in vitro by ADG2 and adintrevimab. Additionally, their binding affinities towards C1q and human Fcg receptors were similar. This suggested that the LA modification improved FcRn binding without significantly affecting Fc-mediated effector activities. Finally, the team demonstrated that in vitro tests for hydrophobicity, polyreactivity, and thermal stability showed that the LA modification had no appreciable impact on the molecule's biophysical characteristics. Adintrevimab showed a relative risk decline of 71% against placebo in the pre-SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant cohort concerning the primary outcome of the diagnosis of RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 through three months. An 84% relative risk decline compared to the placebo in RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis through six months was found in a post-hoc analysis of a sample of pre-Omicron patients randomized before 15 June 2021. In addition, a higher percentage of events was observed in the placebo group than in the adintrevimab group throughout the third and sixth months compared to months zero through three, which caused improved effectiveness through day 180. The team also observed that the Omicron PrEP population's efficacy declined more quickly. The normalized Delta serum neutralizing titers on days 90 and 180 were 1:3880 and 1:2454, and these values were linked to 71% and 84.4% lower risks of developing symptomatic Delta infection, respectively. Adintrevimab's median serum concentrations on days 28, 60, and 90 were 31.2, 27.1, and 23.28 mg/L, respectively. These values corresponded to serum neutralizing titers against Omicron BA.1 of 1:29, 1:25, and 1:21, respectively. This indicated that adintrevimab offered significant defense against symptomatic COVID-19 even at serum nAb titers as low as about 1:30. Overall, the study findings showed that protection against symptomatic COVID-19 can be obtained at low serum nAb titers of the order of 1:30 with the use of both monoclonal antibodies and vaccines. *Important Notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Several times a month, Jim Maybach drives 5 miles from his house in Hay Creek, Minnesota, toward the Mississippi River. When he reaches Red Wing, a city of nearly 17,000 people, the 79-year-old retired engineer stops to pick up a senior whom he then delivers to an appointment, such as a dentist visit or an exercise class. When the appointment ends, Maybach is there to drive the person home. It's a route and routine he repeats a handful of times each month. Maybach is unpaid, a volunteer among a cadre organized by Faith in Action in Red Wing, a nonprofit that relies on retirees to ferry residents to essential services. The riders, mostly seniors, are people who don't have immediate access to transportation, especially in rural areas where public transit options are either limited or nonexistent. There are several such programs serving rural counties in Minnesota, but, as with other services across the country, their existence has become precarious because the number of volunteer drivers has steadily declined, according to transportation advocates. Volunteers either get to a point where, because of age, they can no longer drive, or the costs associated with their volunteerism are no longer sustainable. For decades, Congress has refused to increase the rate at which the drivers' expenses can be reimbursed. Experts say that with public transit in rural areas already insufficient and the long distances that residents in rural communities must travel to access health care, a decimated volunteer driver network would leave seniors with even fewer transportation options and could interrupt their health management. Already, social service organizations that rely on volunteers have begun to restrict their service options and deny ride requests when drivers aren't available. Recognizing the need for drivers in their community is often what got volunteers to sign up in the first place, but as car insurance and gas costs increase, the commitment is not "the attractive win-win that it once was," said Frank Douma, director of state and local policy and outreach for the Institute for Urban and Regional Infrastructure Finance at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Volunteers, like Maybach, are eligible for a reimbursement of 14 cents per mile, which generally doesn't come close to covering the cost of gas and wear and tear on a vehicle. And while the Internal Revenue Service increased the business rate from 58.5 cents per mile to 62.5 cents per mile in June, it did not raise the charitable rate because it is under Congress' purview and must be set by statute. The charitable rate was last changed in 1997. Despite the long-standing charitable rate, United Community Action Partnership, a nonprofit that runs a volunteer driving program in southwestern Minnesota, had for years been reimbursing drivers using the business rate. The program's administrators didn't realize the IRS could count volunteers' reimbursements that exceed the charitable rate as income. The organization experienced its "first major drop" in the number of volunteer drivers before the covid-19 pandemic, after it found out about the IRS rule and told volunteers about the tax implications of higher reimbursement rates, said Shelly Pflaum, the driving program's administrator. And although the nonprofit continued to reimburse at the business rate, the remaining drivers were frustrated that as gas prices spiked in the spring, the rate remained only 58.5 cents per mile, which did not cover the cost of gas or maintenance. "When you're paying nearly five dollars for gas, it is no longer helping," Pflaum said. "So, there were some concerns: 'With what I'm spending to drive my vehicle, this is no longer reasonable for me I can't afford to volunteer' essentially is what it was coming down to." The IRS business rate bump in June was enough to convince most drivers to stay, but Pflaum said she lost a volunteer who had been driving for nearly 20 years. The issue of unequal rates has gained bipartisan attention in Congress, with the introduction of two bills both sponsored by Minnesota representatives who propose increasing the charitable mileage reimbursement rate to the business rate. Similar proposals have been made in Congress before and failed. According to 2018 research by the Volunteer Driver Coalition, Minnesota had 1,900 volunteers that year who collectively served 77,000 riders. One persistent hurdle that volunteers face is convincing their auto insurers that they are, in fact, volunteers and not drivers-for-hire like Lyft or Uber drivers. Otherwise, the insurers could require them to buy more expensive insurance meant for commercial ride-hailing drivers. An AARP Public Policy Institute analysis found that, as of September 2020, seven states had implemented laws barring insurance providers from denying or canceling insurance or increasing rates because the driver is a volunteer. Only two states had differentiated for-hire drivers from volunteers in insurance statutes at that time. Last year, Minnesota passed legislation that distinguished volunteer drivers from drivers-for-hire. Legislators also reduced the drivers' potential in-state tax liability. In southeastern Minnesota, the driver shortage prompted a program at the nonprofit Semcac to cut back on the types of rides it offers. It limits users to two nonmedical trips per month. "We would allow more if we had the drivers to do those, but we dont want to take the drivers on nonmedical rides and then somebody doesnt get to their doctor appointment," said Jessica Schwering, operations manager at Semcac. "Theres way more of a need than what we can provide for, and it's only getting worse." If Semcac cannot arrange a driver for a community member in need of a ride, the person must look for an alternative, such as a ride from a family member, or have their health insurance provider find one. Semcac has partnered with certain insurance providers to get their clients to medical and dental appointments. Not all volunteer driver programs have this structure. Schwering manages 53 drivers spread across six rural counties. About half of them are in Winona County, a nearly 650-square-mile swath southeast of Minneapolis along the Mississippi River. She estimates that the average driver is 80 years old. Schwering said volunteers who stop driving for her nonprofit most often cite medical reasons, such as not getting cleared by their doctor. Douma, from the University of Minnesota, said the average age of volunteers is also a factor in the decline. "When the baby boomers were retiring, they were driving people from the Silent Generation and the Greatest Generation, who were less numerous than baby boomers, so you had more people available to do the driving for fewer people," he said. "But now that the baby boomers are aging, those who may be most eligible to drive them are Gen X and thats a much smaller generation." Jim Maybach started driving for Faith in Action after retiring in 2011. Six years later, his wife, Judie, now 78, joined him after she retired from nursing. They have trouble imagining stopping anytime soon. Still, their volunteer program has begun planning a new recruitment strategy to bring in a much younger base, stay-at-home parents. "We were just trying to think, 'Well, who else can we get?'" said Katherine Bonine, executive director of Faith in Action. "Because when we have our senior citizens, weve had some transfer from being a volunteer into a recipient as they grow older and their driving capabilities change." In a recent study published in PLoS ONE, researchers explored the manifestation of erectile dysfunction (ED) after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) recovery. Background Persistent sexual dysfunction following COVID-19 infection, also known as sexual long COVID syndrome, is a serious issue that could impair the quality of life. Research on this syndrome is still insufficient. One study showed that ED remained prevalent six to nine months after COVID-19 recovery. However, additional post-COVID-ED research is also required to address variations in sociocultural situations or post-recovery times. About the study In the present study, researchers examined the erectile function and its antecedents three months following COVID-19 recovery. The King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital conducted an observational cohort study of hospitalized male COVID-19 patients. The team enrolled all male patients between 18 and 70 years who tested positive for COVID-19 with nasopharyngeal swab specimens and who reported having engaged in sexual activity in the previous two weeks between May and July 2021. To stop the spread of the virus, the examination was done over the phone or online with patients who could not read or write. The same questionnaires were used to appraise each individual three months after their recovery. Age, education, body mass index (BMI), underlying diseases, marital status, and history of nicotine and alcohol usage were recorded at baseline. The COVID-19 vaccine and hospitalization treatment details were retrieved. The International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5) was used to evaluate each participant's erectile function during and three months after being diagnosed with COVID-19. The Thai Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) were used to assess depression and anxiety, respectively. Additionally, reports of penile morning erections from people were compiled. Thai IIEF-5 is a self-rated test with five questions focusing on sexual intercourse satisfaction and erectile function in the Thai population. It is a common evaluation tool for diagnosing and evaluating EDs. Its scores could be divided into five categories: severe, moderate, mild to moderate, mild, and no ED. The Thai PHQ-9 was used to assess depressive symptoms such as sad mood, loss of energy and interest, problems sleeping and eating, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty focusing, psychomotor irregularities, and thoughts of self-harm or death. The severity of generalized anxiety disorder is measured using the GAD-7 scale. The measured symptoms included anxiety, unrestrained and excessive worrying, difficulty falling asleep, irritability, restlessness, and fear that something terrible might occur. Results Between May and June 2021, a total of 153 of 654 hospitalized male COVID-19 patients reported being sexually active and qualified for the research. The initial assessment included the collection of the history of COVID-19 treatment up until discharge. A second evaluation fully completed by 141 participants was obtained three months following the COVID-19 infection. Between the first and second evaluations, there were no appreciable differences in mean age, BMI, or other variables. Most study participants had education levels below a bachelor's degree, were married or in relationships, and were employed. At baseline, mental health status concerning depression and anxiety, erectile function, and self-reported normal morning erection was assessed. After examination of symptoms three months after COVID-19 recovery, the team observed remarkable differences in all aspects except the incidence of anxiety and self-reported normal morning erection. All participants whose IIEF-5 findings were ED-positive underwent a logistic regression to identify ED-related factors at three months. Age and comorbidities were significant ED risk factors and were assessed. The team noted that males aged 40 years and older and having major depression at the time of infection had a significant association with ED after three months after COVID-19 infection. On the other hand, being overweight and suffering from hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus were almost significant. Since ED is a dynamic disorder that changes over time, there are currently no gold standards for classifying ED associated with COVID-19. Hence, the team divided all participants into four groups: those with no ED, transient ED, persistent ED, and later onset ED. The most typical ED was persistent ED, which was associated with severe depression during infection. Following recovery, a statistically considerable difference was observed in self-reported normal morning erection. Conclusion The study findings revealed that the prevalence of ED was still quite high even though it dramatically improved three months after COVID-19 recovery. Additionally, male patients older than 40 or experiencing major depressive disorder during COVID-19 were more likely to test positive for ED three months later. In the years following the end of the pandemic, doctors and patients would benefit from future studies concentrating on ED management, particularly in persistent ED. In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers investigated whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) originated naturally from an animal-to-human spillover or synthetically during coronavirus (CoV) research experiments. Researchers often utilize the in vitro genome assembly (IVGA) method to synthetically construct CoV variants in laboratories. The technique involves restriction enzymes for generating deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) building blocks that can then be assembled orderly to create the viral genome. For the synthetic generation of viruses, the viral genome is engineered to eliminate or incorporate stitching regions known as restriction sites (RS). RS modifications could serve as IVGA fingerprints, and to prevent pandemics in the future, an understanding of SARS-CoV-2 origin is critical. About the study In the present study, researchers investigated whether the origin of SARS-CoV-2 was natural or synthetic using a common IVGA method for ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus infectious clones. The full-length RNA genome was reconstructed in DNA by IVGA for the creation of infectious CoV versions. Two distinctive endonuclease enzymes were used for assembling the viral genome, with two sites of an enzyme flanking the site of interest to enable efficient manipulation of the flanking region without reassembling the whole viral backbone for every variant. The team computed random RS distributions that could be anticipated in unmodified viruses upon digestion of a broad spectrum of natural CoV genomes with a comprehensive list of restriction endonuclease enzymes. MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV) reverse genetic system was engineered for IVGA by removing the existent BglI sites, inserting six additional BglI sites, and evenly spacing type IIS RS. Additions and removals were performed through synonymous-type mutations, creating seven fragments, of which the longest was 5721 base pair (bp) long, or covering 19% of the MERS genome. The analysis focused on SARS-CoV-2 BsaI/BsmBI sites compared to RS maps of all CoVs. Mutation analysis was performed by generating 100,000 random in silico mutants for RaTG13 and BANAl-20-52. Phylogenetic inference analysis was performed with pairwise whole-genome alignments between RaTG13 and SARS-CoV-2 and BANAL-20-52 and SARS-CoV-2 digested by BsaI/BsmBI. Github repository data of engineered CoVs were used for the analysis, and CoV spike (S) gene open reading frames (ORFs) were obtained from the NCBI Gene database. Google Scholar was searched to create a completely representative list of examples of infectious CoV clones limited between 2000 and 2019. Results Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today The synthetic SARS-CoV-2 fingerprint was anomalous among wild-type (wt) CoVs and common among lab-assembled viral organisms. SARS-CoV-2 RS map was consistent with those reported previously for synthetic CoV genomes, satisfied all criteria essential for an efficient reverse genetic system, significantly differed from its closest relatives by a high rate of synonymous but in the synthetic-appearing identification sites, and the fingerprint was unlikely to have evolved from its close relatives. In the RS map analysis, the IVGA SARS-CoV-2 fingerprint showed (i) incorporation and/or elimination of unique endonuclease enzymes (BsmBI, BglI and BsaI); (ii) digestion by selected enzymes resulting in five to eight fragments; (iii) the largest fragment being 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. 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Videos show the activists dousing one of the artists works, Grainstacks, with a thick yellow substance that covered the paintings warm red hues. The oil on canvas is one of 25 paintings the artist made around 1890 of stacks of hay in the fields near his house in Giverny, France. The activists, a man and a woman, each glued a hand to the wall by the painting. Then, the woman shouted in German that the world was in a climate catastrophe, and all you are afraid of is tomato soup or mashed potatoes in a painting, referring to a similar attack this month in London by activists who threw cans of tomato soup on a painting by Vincent van Gogh. In videos posted online, liquid can be seen dripping from the paintings frame as one of the activists speaks. The Museum Barberini in Potsdam, Germany, which had Grainstacks on exhibit, said in a statement that the activists were associated with Last Generation, an advocacy group devoted to climate change issues. Home to Stay! The Complete Ray Bradbury EC Stories Drawn by a whos who of talent, including Joe Orlando and Wallace Wood, this hardcover collection features adapted stories from the celebrated science-fiction writer Ray Bradbury. The tales can be dense voluminous captions and lengthy word balloons, often in the same panel but potent. One of them, about a blind woman and her faithful dog, seems out of place until a sad and gruesome twist. Another surprise is how Bradbury got into comics, which is told in a back-page essay. In 1952, he was notified about an unauthorized adaptation of his short story Mars Is Heaven! in EC Comics. He did not have the $2,000 in legal fees needed to sue at the time, so he opted instead to write a letter to EC suggesting that they simply forgot to send him a check for the work. They promptly paid him, and a partnership was born. Fantagraphics. The collection started as a collaboration between the organ and composition departments of Trinity College London, where Whitehead was teaching at the time. After getting a few established composers on board (Giles Swayne and Judith Bingham were early supporters), it became clear to Whitehead that the project was worth seeing through completely. That started what Whitehead called an archaeological expedition searching for the hymns and plainchants Bach intended to set but that have since disappeared or gone out of fashion. The research also involved consulting multiple existing editions of Bachs Orgelbuchlein, to which Whitehead and the projects academic adviser, John Scott Whiteley, have contributed a new discovery: a single held note, added to the tenor voice in the penultimate bar of Wer nur den lieben Gott lasst walten (BWV 642), that is currently omitted from modern editions. Whitehead organized thousands of notes contributed by 118 composers, all of which are separated into themed volumes. (The third, Catechism, Penitence and Communion, was released at the end of September.) Coming up with an assignment for contributors was difficult; leaving it at something modern in your own style that reflects the ethos of the Orgelbuchlein seemed too sparse, Whitehead said. The key to success, Whitehead said, was to find a single idea pursued to the ultimate degree. He added, Many composers manifestly told me they found it a very difficult task indeed. Whitehead also sought contributions from figures outside the world of contemporary composition: figures like Andreas Fischer and John Butt, who are more commonly associated with research or performance. A variety of responses followed accordingly. Andrew Keelings chorale, for example, took inspiration from reggae; James ODonnell contributed a deft Brahms imitation; the baritone and composer Roderick Williams chose to reflect the quotidian in what Whitehead described as a wonky tango. Eight months into the conflict, Russia is steadily losing territory and President Vladimir Putin is facing growing unease at home. Russia is likely to lose western Kherson by the end of the year, the institute said. In their statement, Britain, France and the U.S. said: The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation. We further reject any pretext for escalation by Russia. Today, Russia appeared to double down on its claims, with Russian news media quoting the head of the defense ministrys radiation, chemical and biological defense forces, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, as saying that Ukraine was planning to carry out a false-flag operation to blame Russia for using a weapon of mass destruction. For much of the summer, employees reliably turned up at a Starbucks near Boston University. But instead of going inside to serve coffee, they sat outside in lawn chairs as part of a strike over what they said was retaliation for unionizing. When passers-by inquired how long the strike would last, workers responded, As long as it has to. Ultimately, they shut the store for more than two months, until satisfied that Starbucks would not impose new scheduling requirements in union stores that they said would force some of them to quit. Starbucks said it had told union stores for weeks that there would be no such change and denied retaliating against union supporters. The walkout was one of dozens at unionized Starbucks locations in recent months, meant partly to re-energize a labor organizing effort whose momentum has stalled since the spring and has so far yielded no contract. When workers at three Buffalo-area locations filed for union elections in August 2021, it appeared to catch the company off guard. The campaign spread rapidly, unionizing roughly 250 stores. A protester unfurled two banners on a highway overpass in central Beijing on Oct. 13, denouncing Xi Jinping as a despotic traitor. Chinas censors went to great lengths to scrub the internet of any reference to the act of dissent, prohibiting all discussion and shutting down many offending social media accounts. The slogans didnt go away. Instead, they caught on inside and outside China, online and offline. Encouraged by the Beijing protesters extremely rare display of courage, young Chinese are using creative ways to spread the banners anti-Xi messages. They graffitied the slogans in public toilets in China. They used Apples AirDrop feature to send photos of the messages to fellow passengers iPhones in subway cars. They posted the slogans on university campuses all over the world. They organized chat groups to bond and shouted Remove Xi Jinping in front of Chinese embassies. This all happened while the Communist Party was convening an all-important congress in Beijing and putting forth an image of a country singularly united behind a great leader. The aftermath of the Beijing protest made me feel, for the first time, hopeful, said an organizer of an Instagram account known as Citizens Daily CN, which posts photo submissions of sightings of anti-Xi messages. In this era of oppressive silence, theres anger in silence, hope in despair. Young people like him are emerging as unexpected rebels against Mr. Xi, who over the weekend became Chinas most powerful leader since Mao Zedong by securing a norm-breaking third term and stuffing the partys leadership with loyalists. Sauvignon blanc rules in the Marlborough region of New Zealand, where you can find world-class wines. Now a nonalcoholic version offered by Giesen Group of New Zealand, a decades-old winery, in the region on the north tip of the South Island, is available in the United States. Their nonalcoholic sauvignon blanc has refreshing acidity, braided in with notes of citrus and herbs. Less typical among nonalcoholic whites is pinot grigio, and here, too, Giesen succeeds with a wine that delivers nice minerality and a scintilla of tropical fruit. Wine at lunch? Go ahead. Giesen 0% New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Giesen 0% New Zealand Pinot Grigio, $16 for 750 milliliters, Boisson.co. Some restaurant owners go into the business with an implicit idea of giving their neighbors a deeper view of where theyre from. This was a major inspiration for Basir Ghiasi, who came to New York from Soviet-occupied Afghanistan, and his son, Mohamed, who began plans to open an Afghan restaurant in Brooklyn last year after the Taliban retook control of Kabul. Theres no country right now, its ruled by a bunch of terrorists, so how can I help keep the culture alive? Mohamed Ghiasi said to a reporter for Brooklyn Magazine after Dunya Kabab House opened in March. And the best way I know is through food. Most reasons for getting into the restaurant business are, on some level, personal. At least Mr. Ghiasis is understandable: If your family was from Afghanistan, would you really want the world to believe that the Taliban represents the best your culture has to offer? On a recent night at the Dining Room at RH Guesthouse New York a restaurant from the home-design company formerly known as Restoration Hardware the server began her tableside spiel with a paean to the surroundings: Welcome to our very beige space. The room, she explained, was built from white oak and Italian travertine. Each table, chair and light fixture was custom made. The hearth was carved from a single slab of stone. Creating the space which looks like a high-end art museum without any of the art took nearly seven years, she said. The food got a brief mention. Theres a grilled avocado topped with caviar ($52); a burger with cheese and caramelized onions ($38); and a grilled maitake mushroom served over fried potatoes ($36). Most of it was enjoyable. Not much was memorable. Guests snapped photos not of their meals, but of the Italian wool velvet chairs and the coffered ceiling. As part of the agreement filed in court on Monday, the Central United Talmudical Academy will be subject to an independent monitor for the next three years, after which prosecutors will dismiss the charges. The school will be able to submit a list of potential monitors for the government to approve. The school has more than 2,000 male students enrolled at one location and 2,500 female students at separate buildings nearby. It is the flagship organization of a powerful faction of the Satmar group of Hasidic Judaism run by Grand Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum. The faction operates several other schools in Brooklyn and the lower Hudson Valley. The Williamsburg school received about $10 million in government funding in the year before the pandemic, according to a Times analysis of city, state and federal funding records. During a hearing on Monday, U.S. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis said he was deeply concerned about the behavior the yeshiva admitted to engaging in. It is my hope that this is a new beginning, he added. Judge Garaufis implored two school representatives, Cheskel Berkowitz and Yoel Weisz, to follow through on the promises the school had made to eliminate any financial impropriety, for the good of the community. The federal investigation into the school, led by the U.S. attorneys office for the Eastern District of New York, stemmed from a criminal case against two of its former leaders, Elozer Porges and Joel Lowy. Both men pleaded guilty in March 2018 for their roles in a conspiracy to defraud the government through school nutrition programs. During that case, the investigators found evidence of other fraud and broadened the scope of their inquiry, the federal authorities said. Despite the economically disastrous impact the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage will have on Europe, Western media still holds its tongue about it. by Patrick Lawrence Absolutely remarkable, Western medias determination to ignore the recent Baltic Sea detonations, which knocked out the Nord Stream I and II gas pipelines. A major piece of Europes energy infrastructure, the joint property of Germany and Russia, has been destroyed. Any chance that Russian gas transmissions westward will be resumed is off the table. The Continent is now sent on a desperate search for new sources of natural gas, inevitably at higher prices. I cannot think of many stories that are more significant. The Western press and broadcasters have reported next to nothing about this momentous development since the September 26 explosions.And it is now clear that the medias silence reflects a larger silence. On October 14, Reuters reported that Sweden has declined to participate in a joint investigation with Germany and Denmark. German television reported that the Danes also dropped out. Now we have a German minister stating his government knows who is responsible for the attack but cannot say who it is. In all three cases, the explanation is the same: This matter is too sensitive to pursue and doing so risks national security. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R), European Parliament President David Sassoli (C) and President of the European Council Charles Michel attend a press conference on the future of Europe at the Parlamentarium in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 31, 2020.[ Photo: Xinhua/Zheng Huansong] So: There will be no joint investigation of the Nord Stream I and II incident. And whatever Sweden and the others may discover on their own, they have no intention of telling the world about it. Unless you are given to parlor games that never end, it is nearly impossible to avoid concluding that the U.S. was either directly responsible for the Nord Stream I and II sabotage or supervised those who were. If national security is at issue, it is plain that the Russians had nothing to do with it and equally plain that the culpable entity is nominally allied with Germany but has no fundamental respect for its interests. It is notable that Stockholm and Copenhagen have decided to shut up about what happened off a Danish island close to Germanys Baltic Sea coast. It is shocking that Berlin has done so. Somebody just blew up a project worth 11 billion, $10.8 billion, that Germany set in motion and in which it has a majority share. In effect, the Federal Republic has chosen to stand with what is almost certainly a state actor as said actor impugned its sovereignty and destroyed not only its property but also its energy-sourcing alternatives. What are we looking at here? My answer comes with a long storythe truly big story Western media have left unreported. It is the story of how Europe has bowed supinely to Americas dictates since the Cold War decades, even when this does the Continent harm. Lately, it is the story of the disastrous toll the U.S.led campaign against Russia via its proxy in Ukraine is taking on European societies and economies. And now we must wonder whether the story that began long ago turns out to end with the destruction altogether of Europe as an independent pole of power with a voice of its own andjust as important, to my mindof Europe as an idea and an ideal. We are risking a massive deindustrialization of the European continent, Belgiums prime minister, Alexander De Croo, told the Financial Times recently. Europes creeping economic ruin is the most immediate, tangible casualty of the war in Ukraine the U.S. provoked and the sanctions regime against Russia the U.S. leads and the European Union backs. The nearly incredible refusal of Germany and its neighbors to stick up for themselves on the pipeline question suggests that the larger consequence is the final collapse of all pretense that Europe is other than a collection of vassal states subservient to the U.S., even at the expense of their own citizens. Think about this the next time the Biden administration bangs on about the sanctity of Ukraines sovereignty. I was long among those who wondered with a certain measure of hope when Europeans would speak up and act according to what they determined was best for themselves. I spent decades at this. Yes, I remember thinking, the Continent is done with the Cold War binary Washington forced on the world. Yes, I thought more recently, Europeans will refuse to support the sanctions Washington imposed on Russia after the U.S.cultivated coup in Ukraine in 2014. German businesses didnt want them. The Greeks and Italians didnt either. But when they came up for renewal every six months, as required by E.U. rules, they went through anyway. Then Emmanuel Macron came along. When he hosted the Group of 7 in Biarritz three years ago, the French president tried on his de Gaulle act, declaring that Russia was inevitably part of Europes destiny and the Continent must find its own relationship with its vast eastern neighbor. Yes, I said again, failing to see that Macron is little more than a squeaky weather vane mounted grandly atop the European barn. No was the answer in these and many other cases. This topic came up some years ago during an interview I did with Perry Anderson, the British writer and publisher. Why cant Europe find its voice? I asked. Anderson had an interesting reply. The last generation of European leaders with any experience of acting independently of the U.S.Churchill, Anthony Eden, de Gaulle, et al.passed into history during the early part of the Cold War, Anderson astutely pointed out. No generation since has any experience other than as dependents sheltering under the American security umbrella. They know nothing else. They have never spoken in voices of their own. This is not to say Europe has been entirely at ease. By the midCold War years there were signs aplenty that Europeans were restive within the transAtlantic relationship as Washington had fashioned it. De Gaulle withdrew French forces from the NATO command in 1963. Three years later he ordered NATO to close all its bases on French soil. Three more years after that, in 1969, Germany premiered its Ostpolitik. Another year on, Willy Brandt became the first German chancellor to meet an East German leader, Willi Stoph. Let us not forget what was going on in the streets. If you do not understand les evenements of 1968 in Paris and elsewhere as in part a protest against the American-imposed world order, you do not understand 1968. But Washington, flush with its post1945 primacy in global affairs, had learned well by this time how to coerce its friends with a toothy American grin and whatever was required by way of money, bribes, fixed elections, political subterfuge, and all the rest. It had a nasty gift for force-marching Europeans to keep them in line with the Cold War crusade, their barely submerged disquiet notwithstanding. So were those of us who wanted to see a freestanding Europe, in its way a bridge between West and East, so often disappointed. And so came my question to Perry Anderson only a few years ago: How come this? And here we are with methane bubbling up in the Baltic Sea from what the BBC reports to be a breach of 50 meters, 164 feet, in the Nord Stream pipelines. Assuming American culpability of one or another kind in this crimeas I do not care for parlor games, I make this assumption pending evidencethere is a straight line between Washingtons capricious abuses of European sovereignty during the Cold War and the events of September 26. A nation that licenses itself to intrude into Europes affairs without more than murmured protests is a nation that will think little of wrecking an expensive piece of European infrastructure. And a Continent that bowed down for decades during the Cold War is a Continent that dares not say a word about it. Europes goose seems cooked on the energy side now. Saad alKaabi, the Qatari energy minister said in an Oct. 18 interview with the Financial Times that for Europe to go without Russian gas will doom it indefinitely to economic decline and widespread suffering. If zero Russian gas flows into the EU, he said, I think the problem is going to be huge and for a very long time. PostNord Stream Europe is now at the mercy of hard-bargained contracts in the open market, where it will never match the price at which Russian gas would have flowed under the Baltic Sea to Germany. Or it can make agreements with Turkey, as Recep Tayyip Erdogan arranges with Moscow to turn Turkey into a depot for Russian energy exports. Lets put it this way: You dont want to buy a used car from the Turkish president, never mind a multibillion-dollar energy supply. And leave it to the Americans. Macron, Robert Habeck, who is vice-chancellor and climate minister in the Scholz government, and other European leaders are already complaining that American LNG due to arrive at European terminals is priced four times higher than what it goes for in the U.S. market. It has been clear since the Nord Stream question broke into the open during the Trump administration that capturing the European natural gas market from Russia was part of what drove Washingtons vicious opposition to the completion of Nord Stream II. But we have to think in larger terms to explain so bold a move as the Baltic Sea detonations. This is another part of the story that extends far back. As much as Washington feared the Russian bear, it fretted at least as much and possibly more about all those European impulses to achieve a stable settlement with the SovsOstpolitik, what was called convergence, a third way, and other such notions. The true enemy was a threat greater than the Soviet Union: It was the gravitational pull of the Eurasian landmass and the perfectly logical thought that a sovereign Europe would find its destiny as its westernmost flank. Preventing this by whatever means has been a submerged feature of Washingtons transAtlantic policy for decades. This is why a gas pipeline took on so immense a significance for the U.S. and why whatever means just computed out to a gross international crime and a full-frontal attack on European interests. To turn the gaze forward, the most discouraging aspect of the Nord Stream incident is a tie between two grim realities. On the one hand, it seems clear now the U.S. is emboldened to do anything it likes to the Europeans to preserve its power over them, and on the other it seems just as clear the Europeans will take it in the way of the Stockholm syndrome. Patrick Lawrence is a longtime columnist, essayist, critic, and lecturer. He was a correspondent abroad (writing as Patrick L. Smith) for many years, chiefly for the Far Eastern Economic Review, the International Herald Tribune, and The New Yorker, and chiefly in Asia. His most recent books are Somebody Elses Century: East and West in a Post-Western World (Pantheon) and Time No Longer: America After the American Century (Yale). His next book is tentatively titled After Exceptionalism. His website is patricklawrence.us. Originally published in Scheer Post Richard Davey, who oversees the subway for the authority, said officials had struggled to hire enough people to clean the system, but have been making progress lately. Some of the new workers will clean trains, while others will tend to stations. Pandemic restrictions have also been loosened, moving officials to revisit the closure of the restrooms. The circumstances for Covid have changed, Mr. Davey said. We feel comfortable that we can begin to reopen. Among the subway systems 472 stations, 69 have bathrooms. Mr. Davey said the authority will reopen the bathrooms at the 161st StreetYankee Stadium, 14th Street-Union Square, Jay StreetMetroTech, FlushingMain Street and Fulton Street stations as well as three others that officials have yet to identify. The authority said it picked stations that are spaced out in Queens, the Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn and that are in good shape. There are roughly 1,160 public bathrooms for New York Citys eight million residents, mainly in public parks, subway stations, city buildings such as libraries and public pools, according to The Need for Public Bathrooms, a 2019 booklet by Julie Chou, Kevin Gurley and Boyeong Hong. The Parks Department is the largest provider of public bathrooms in New York. Even before the pandemic, open public bathrooms in the subway were hard to come by and were regarded with distaste by many New Yorkers. The facilities were often unclean and vandalized and attracted homeless people. Although the announced reopenings would make up a small fraction of the systems total restrooms, advocates for subway passengers said it was a welcome return that could lead to more facilities being restored. Declining student enrollment is one reason some superintendents are abandoning admissions screening. Since 2019, citywide enrollment in grades six through eight has fallen by about 20,000 students. The declines mean that some middle schools, once highly competitive, can no longer fill all of their seats. Everyone is in agreement that it doesnt make sense to have these screeners because we still have so many empty seats, Carry Chan, the superintendent of District 1, which includes parts of the Lower East Side and the East Village, said at a recent meeting of the districts Community Education Council. The majority of the districts nine middle schools used selective admissions before the pandemic. Now, Ms. Chan said that while we are struggling with enrollment and trying to obviously attract as many students as possible, restoring those policies would represent a barrier to those efforts. Across the borough in District 3, made up of the Upper West Side and sections of Harlem, school leaders reached similar conclusions as the overall applicant pool for their middle schools shrank by about 200 students over the past three years. In the fall of 2020, six of the districts 11 middle schools that once used screens filled all of their seats; only three did last year. The historic issue is that there has been a scarcity of what many families consider quality seats, the District 3 superintendent, Kamar Samuels, said at a Community Education Council meeting last week. Because of the current environment, thats been significantly removed. Integration was already a priority in the district. All middle schools there were required in 2018 to set aside a quarter of seats for low-income and lower-performing pupils. Almost all of the areas middle schools have met that target, though some have struggled to enroll a more diverse set of children. Elsewhere, the shift to a random lottery during the pandemic also led to a slightly more even mix of student groups in each school. Within the citys 50 most-selective programs, for example, the share of students learning English as a new language rose from 3 to 7 percent last year. New York City has a unique set of legal requirements, known as right to shelter, that require it to provide shelter to anyone who asks. Groups such as Legal Aid believe that requirement applies to migrants as well as traditional shelter seekers; Adams has suggested that the city should review certain aspects of that requirement when it comes to migrants. The mayor has said repeatedly that he does not want to compromise the health and safety of New Yorkers seeking shelter because of the demands of the migrant population. When he announced that he was declaring a state of emergency because of the influx of asylum seekers, the mayor said that the city must continue to prioritize the needs of long-term residents even as this crisis unfolds. As a candidate a year ago, Adams ran on a platform of focusing on New Yorkers of color living outside of Manhattan and struggling with issues such as affordable housing. The majority of homeless shelter residents are Black or Latino. When he was running for office, the mayor argued that he understood the challenges those New Yorkers were facing because he had faced the same challenges, such as potential homelessness, while growing up. Jeff, Adams is under fire for something that sounds like Politics 101 not consulting people like City Council leaders who opposed the tent shelter on Randalls Island. He has now been mayor for nearly 10 months. Broadly speaking, how is he getting along with the Council? The relationship between the mayor and the City Council has been bumpy. Some members of the City Council have said that they dont feel as if the mayor and his administration view them as partners while dealing with the migrant crisis. Council members rejected the mayors plans to build a tent city on Orchard Beach, citing the potential for flooding, and also criticized plans to open the encampment on Randalls Island for the same reasons. They also oppose a potential plan to place migrants on a cruise ship. Adams has accused the Council of being overly critical as he seeks to deal with a difficult crisis. He has claimed, without evidence, that some Council members asked for shelters not to be placed in their district, but he has declined to name anyone and has tried to place the criticism into a political context. The far right is doing the wrong thing. The far left is doing nothing, he said this month, referring to Governor Abbott of Texas on the one hand and to left-leaning Council members on the other. Critics say Adams should have moved faster on affordable housing, but it takes time to build buildings. Has the production of affordable housing slowed in the 10 months he has been mayor? What do his critics say he should have done in the short term? To the Editor: Re 2020 Election Skeptics Crowd the Republican Ticket Nationwide (front page, Oct. 15): It is inevitable that many Republican election deniers running for office in November will be elected, especially in red states and districts, but I am just as worried about the election deniers who will lose. Will they accept their losses or, like Donald Trump, refuse to concede and charge that their election was rigged? Even worse, and again emulating Mr. Trump, will they incite their supporters to storm the offices where votes are being tabulated and/or where elections are being certified? This could be especially problematic in districts and states that take a long time to count absentee and mail-in ballots. Democracy requires that losers accept their losses. Unfortunately, 2020 election deniers care more about winning at any price than they do about democracy. I envision violence breaking out at county election boards and state offices from Maine to California. I just hope that local police departments are better prepared than the Capitol Police were on Jan. 6. Richard Kavesh Nyack, N.Y. The writer is a former mayor of Nyack. To the Editor: The number of election skeptics running should not come as a surprise to anyone. When we allow partisan politicians to gerrymander their states into electorally safe districts, the real voting occurs in the primaries. Extremists tend to win in the primaries, so this system almost guarantees that extremists, from both ends of the political spectrum, will be elected. The West End is challenging territory for a seating designer. Many of the London theaters Simpson caters for are Victorian jewel-boxes: tight, ornate spaces built with more attention to gradations of social class than to comfort. Originally, according to David Wilmore of Theatresearch, a company that restores historic theaters in Britain, they would have had a few front rows of luxurious armchairs known as fauteuils for their wealthiest patrons. Everyone else sat on wooden benches. When middle-class visitors were finally accorded seats, Wilmore said, theaters preserved their old sightlines by forcing the sitters bolt upright part of that Victorian strictness in all areas: You jolly well better sit up and listen! That wont do for seats that now often cost hundreds of dollars to occupy. A recent tour of Kirwin & Simpsons works in Grays, a working-class town east of London, included a room filled with rolls of multicolored cloth and a shed where five men were busy screwing, stapling and gluing sleek maroon seats for the forthcoming Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York. One warehouse is filled with emergency replacements, so that if a seat rips at, say, the Victoria Palace Theater the London home of Hamilton a new, perfectly matching one can be installed within hours. Each theater needs many types of seats. The new, 602-capacity @sohoplace has 12 types, according to Simpson, all removable to allow different styles of staging, but some tricky older spaces require far more. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which has tracked congressional races for decades, identified 86 races nationwide that are particularly competitive, and 10 of them are in California, concentrated in the Central Valley and Orange County. Three California districts are viewed as tossups: the 22nd in the San Joaquin Valley and the 27th in northern Los Angeles County, both of which currently have Republicans in office; as well as the 13th, a new district in the Central Valley that doesnt have an incumbent. I spoke to Jennifer about which races shes watching most closely and what we should be paying attention to as the election nears. Heres our conversation, lightly edited: Were saying that 10 or so districts in the state are competitive. How exactly is that measured? These are almost all places where Biden won very narrowly, and these are also all regions in California that really have flipped back and forth between Republicans and Democrats in the last 10 years. The easiest place to think about this is Orange County, which for a long time was thought of as the big Republican bastion in California. And then in 2018, Democrats won several of those seats in what we thought of as the blue wave. And then Republicans won some of them back in 2020. Now, all those seats once again are real tossups. Why are so many of the tight races in the Central Valley? The 22nd Districts David Valadao, for example, is considered one of the most endangered House Republicans in the country. A former Minneapolis police officer who helped to pin George Floyd down as he gasped for air under the knee of another officer pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Monday, forgoing a trial in exchange for an agreement to drop a more serious murder charge. J. Alexander Kueng, a rookie officer who had joined the Minneapolis Police Department with what he said were hopes of improving it from within, placed his knee on Mr. Floyd for several minutes in May 2020 while Mr. Floyd protested that he could not breathe and eventually lost consciousness. The death of Mr. Floyd, who was Black, set off protests around the world over racism and police abuse. and led to federal civil rights charges against the officers who were at the scene when he died. Mr. Kueng, who also is Black, is already serving a three-year prison sentence in the federal case, after a jury convicted him of failing to provide aid or to intervene as another officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on Mr. Floyds neck for more than nine minutes. Mr. Kueng had knelt on Mr. Floyds torso. As part of Mr. Kuengs plea agreement, the Minnesota attorney generals office and Mr. Kuengs lawyers agreed that they would recommend a sentence of three and a half years in federal prison, time that would be served concurrently with his state sentence. He said that once #MeToo exploded in 2017, Mr. Weinstein had become the smoldering radioactive core of a nuclear meltdown. He was Hollywoods Chernobyl, Mr. Werksman said. Dozens of witnesses are expected to appear in court. Over the course of the trial, about 80 witnesses are expected to take the stand, including at least four women whose claims of sexual assault in Los Angeles County are the basis for charges against Mr. Weinstein. Lauren Young, a model and actress, has disclosed through her lawyer that she also is among the Jane Does. During Mr. Weinsteins 2020 trial, she testified that he had trapped and assaulted her in a bathroom. The other Jane Does remain anonymous. Many of the other witnesses will be identified only by their first names and last initials. The first witness, referred to as Jane Doe 1, began testifying late Monday. In 2013, she was a model and actress based in Italy, and in town for the Los Angeles Italia Film Festival and the Academy Awards. Fighting tears, she described how Mr. Weinstein showed up to her hotel room uninvited, asked her for a massage and then asked her to perform sexual acts. I was asking him, please, to leave, the woman said. Lisa B. Lench, the Los Angeles County Superior Court judge presiding over the case, also has allowed four witnesses who, under California law, are permitted to appear to establish a defendants pattern of behavior. Prosecutors said in earlier hearings that five Jane Does would testify, in addition to the four witnesses allowed to appear to attest to a behavioral pattern. But on Monday, prosecutors said that eight of these women would testify and did not mention Jane Doe 5. It was not immediately clear whether the charges related to her would remain. Entering Monday, the charges against Mr. Weinstein included four counts each of rape and forcible oral copulation, involving five women in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. Mr. Weinstein also faced one count of sexual penetration with a foreign object by force and two counts of sexual battery by restraint, according to the March 2021 indictment. The anonymous 12-person jury was seated Thursday, consisting of nine men and three women. They were chosen from a pool of more than 150 people, and questioned by both the defense and prosecution about their familiarity with Mr. Weinsteins New York trial and their knowledge of the #MeToo movement. A committee of Pennsylvania state lawmakers issued a report on Monday charging that Larry Krasner, the district attorney of Philadelphia, had contributed to a catastrophic rise in violent crime with his pursuit of progressive criminal justice policies, but stopped short of calling for Mr. Krasners impeachment, as many had expected. The interim report by the House Select Committee on Restoring Law and Order harshly criticized Mr. Krasner for declining conviction rates in cases involving illegal gun possession, and for having purged the district attorneys office of institutional knowledge by dismissing experienced prosecutors and putting up roadblocks to the committees investigation, which began over the summer. State Representative John Lawrence, the committees chairman, said in a statement that the committees work was ongoing. The investigation into the historic crime and violence in Philadelphia and recommendations for possible solutions will continue in earnest over the coming weeks, Mr. Lawrence, a Republican, said. Republicans control both the states House and, by a narrower margin, its Senate. In a statement attached to the report, Mr. Krasner, who was re-elected to office in Philadelphia last year by a nearly 40-point margin, defended his work as a prosecutor and denounced the committee for seeking political points right before an election. Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution asserts that members of Congress shall not be questioned in any other Place for any Speech or Debate in either House. The clause, broadly interpreted, is meant to protect senators and House representatives from criminal prosecutions or civil lawsuits related to their legislative work. The idea is that you dont want members of the legislature to be harassed or intimidated by politically hostile forces in other branches of the government, said Randy Beck, a constitutional law professor at the University of Georgia School of Law. It says you cant be questioned in any other place, which I think broadly means courts or executive agencies. Like other parts of the Constitution, the clause has roots in the English Bill of Rights of 1689, which established several principles to protect citizens and members of Parliament from interference from a monarch. It includes the declaration that the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament. Why do prosecutors want Mr. Graham to testify? Prosecutors are particularly interested in questioning Mr. Graham about his November 2020 phone calls with Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state. Mr. Raffensperger has said that during those calls about the presidential election, Mr. Graham suggested rejecting mail-in votes from counties with high rates of questionable signatures. Mr. Graham is not a target of the investigation, but his calls are under scrutiny as part of the inquiry into aggressive efforts by Mr. Trump and his team to overturn his electoral loss in Georgia. Mr. Grahams lawyers have argued that he made the calls to look into allegations of voting irregularities in Georgia before voting to certify President Biden as the winner of the election, part of his role as a legislator. They have also argued that Mr. Graham was reviewing election-related issues in his role at the time as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. A recent round of North Korean ballistic missile tests revealed that a new method for launching ballistic missiles had been developed. This one involved the use of an underwater launch tube placed in lakes and used to launch SLBMs (Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile). North Korea later claimed that this lake based SLBM launch involved a production model of their SLBM using a nuclear warhead that successfully detonated above the water. This is called an air burst and is the most efficient way to use a nuclear weapon. But there was no nuclear warhead on this SLBM because no radioactivity could be found where the missile landed. North Korea already has land and railroad train silos for its ballistic missiles. Air delivery (by fighter-bomber) was never an option because North Korean warplanes are so old and unmaintained as to be useless for combat, plus the air defenses for South Korea and Japan outmatch the best planes even China can field. In late 2021 commercial satellite photos indicated that North Korea attempted to launch an SLBM from their lone submarine modified to do that. This was apparently successful. At the same time North Korea apparently completed construction of a 3,000-ton diesel-electric sub that can carry three SLBMs. Satellite photos show that this boat has not yet been used for a SLBM test. North Korea has Gorae (Whale), a smaller (1,500 ton) diesel-electric sub modified t0 include a single ballistic missile launch tube in the sail. This sub was used as early as 2016 for SLBM tests but most SLBM tests were still launched from an offshore underwater platform. North Korea used their smaller Gorae, which is one of a kind and used for the North Korean Polaris SLBM, a copy of the Russian Cold War R-27 but with a solid fuel motor. The Gorae is still in service and work continues on getting the SLBM to work reliably while the new 3,000-ton missile sub awaits any last-minute modifications from tests carried out using the smaller Gorae. North Korea recently declared that it had changed its policy on the use of nuclear weapons and that from now on it would use its nuclear weapons without warning if it believed it was about to be attacked. This ominous declaration had more to do with the dismal shape of the North Korean nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them. North Korea has conducted six nuclear weapons tests between 2006 and 2017. The last one, in 2017, appeared to be the largest one yet indicating a yield of over 100 KT (equivalent to tons of conventional explosives or a kiloton) and described as a hydrogen bomb. The first nuclear test was in 2006 (less than one KT) but the first one that was truly successful occurred in 2013 (6 KT) and despite the fact that the test was not a complete success, the nuclear bomb program continued with two tests in 2016. In late 2015 Kim Jong Un claimed that North Korea had developed a hydrogen (fusion) bomb. Foreign experts openly expressed skepticism given that North Korea didnt really have a reliable fission type nuclear bomb yet. You need an efficient fission bomb to trigger the fusion reaction that makes the H-Bomb so much more destructive than a fission bomb of the same weight and size. Nuclear test number four in January 2016 was described by North Korea as a fusion (H-bomb) test when it clearly was not, or not a successful one. That would be in contrast to the 2013 test which appeared to be seven KT and a complete detonation. The second test was a two KT weapon in 2009. Western intelligence believed that the original North Korean nuclear weapon design was flawed, as the first two tests were only a fraction of what they should have been. The first one was less than a kiloton and called in the trade, a "fizzle." The second test was less of a fizzle and apparently a modified version of the original design. North Korea needed more tests to perfect their bomb design and was still years away from a useful nuclear weapon even though the second bomb appeared to be more effective. The third test in 2013 was considered overdue and that may have been because more time was spent designing and building a smaller device that could fit into a missile warhead. The second 2016 test is still something of a mystery. U.S. intelligence agencies have collected air samples (as have most other neighboring countries) from the test which can tell much about the design of the bomb. The January 2016 nuke appeared to be the same as the 2013 one. The second 2016 test in September appeared to be a better design and was about ten KT. The 2017 test was the largest (in KT) yet and North Korea insisted it was a fusion bomb. Air samples were collected for weeks and it took even longer to analyze the samples and come to some useful conclusion. The sheer size of the 2017 test (100 kilotons) indicated either an enhanced (some fusion involved) fission bomb or a true fusion device (generally about 50/50 fission/fusion). Enhanced fission designs have been around and in use since the late 1940s, and fusion ones since the middle 1950s. After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 a lot of Russian nuclear weapons designers and technicians were out of a job and the pensions of the retired ones were suddenly worth a lot less. The security for nuclear weapons designs, especially much older ones, became a lot more relaxed. There were plenty of opportunities to obtain previously unavailable tech. North Korea's nuclear weapons development always had an air of desperation. North Korean Leader (since 2011) Kim Jong Un insisted reliable nukes and ballistic missiles to carry them were essential to keep his socialist dictatorship in power and capable of extorting food and other aid from South Korea, Japan and the United States. That is not working either as all three of these nations have increased their ABM (antiballistic missile) defenses and the number of offensive weapons for destroying North Korean nuclear weapons, delivery systems and military capability in general. All three of these target countries had tried, for years, to help North Korea with lots of food and economic aid but it was never enough for the Kim dynasty that had ruled the north since 1945. A decade ago, South Korea, the last nation offering aid to North Korea, gave up that approach and recognized North Korea as hostile and not likely to change as long as the Kims were in charge. North Korea is undergoing another cycle of mass hunger and starvation deaths brought on by so much of the North Korean economy dedicated to the nukes and ballistic missiles. U.S. students in most states and across almost all demographic groups have experienced troubling setbacks in both math and reading, according to an authoritative national exam released on Monday, offering the most definitive indictment yet of the pandemics impact on millions of schoolchildren. In math, the results were especially devastating, representing the steepest declines ever recorded on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the nations report card, which tests a broad sampling of fourth and eighth graders and dates to the early 1990s. In the tests first results since the pandemic began, math scores for eighth graders fell in nearly every state. A meager 26 percent of eighth graders were proficient, down from 34 percent in 2019. Fourth graders fared only slightly better, with declines in 41 states. Just 36 percent of fourth graders were proficient in math, down from 41 percent. The exchange has come to light as Democrats remain enraged about Justice Alitos opinion, and as many Americans question the legitimacy of the conservative court. In a Gallup poll released last month, 58 percent of Americans said they disapproved of the job the Supreme Court was doing. In a case similar to Mr. Kennedys, Senator Susan Collins, a Maine Republican who supports abortion rights, said she felt betrayed by Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, who in seeking her support as a court nominee in 2018 persuaded her that he was no threat to Roe. Ms. Collins voted to confirm him. Four years later, he sided with Justice Alito to overturn the ruling. I feel misled, Ms. Collins said in an interview in June. Justice Kavanaugh had told Ms. Collins, according to contemporaneous notes taken by multiple staff members in the 2018 meeting, to start with my record, my respect for precedent, my belief that it is rooted in the Constitution and my commitment to the rule of law. He added that I understand precedent and I understand the importance of overturning it. Some longtime court watchers say that nominees like Justice Kavanaugh and Justice Alito are more guilty of selective truth-telling than lying, and that if justices say they believe in precedent, it should not be considered absolute. A listener could easily but wrongly infer that Roe would be safe before a Justice Alito, as Alito would certainly know, said Stephen Gillers, a professor at New York Universitys School of Law who specializes in legal ethics and reviewed the segments from Mr. Kennedys diary. Alito would also know that a listener would be misled. No serious court watcher can doubt that what Alito said in Dobbs he deeply believed in 2005. And long before then. Ted Kennedy: A Life covers the liberal senators 77 years from birth to death, and the exchange with Justice Alito is in a section on President George W. Bushs Supreme Court appointments. The diary has a fuller account of the exchange than is in the book, including this segment: I believe that there is a right to privacy. I think its settled as part of the liberty clause of the 14th Amendment and the Fifth Amendment, Mr. Kennedy quoted Judge Alito as saying. Mr. Kennedy continued with this recollection of Judge Alitos words: So I recognize there is a right to privacy. Im a believer in precedents. I think on the Roe case thats about as far as I can go. A tale of two suburbs Republican operatives are focusing instead on winning back what is proving to be more fertile territory this year: the nearby Second Congressional District, held by Representative Angie Craig. Also a former business executive, Craig holds positions that are almost identical to Phillipss. But she is much more conventional in style, which might help explain her plight. While Phillips seems almost driven to prove that No Labels-style centrism does not have to be boring and poll-tested, Craig appears determined to hunker down and play by the old rules. That caution has made her more vulnerable to the gale-force national winds bearing down on generic Democrats in swing districts across the country. But the deeper differences between their two districts are more important, which says a lot about how Americas two major political parties see their shifting fortunes in suburbia in these midterms often, but wrongly, described as an undifferentiated campaign battleground. On the surface, the two districts look similar, with income levels that are roughly the same. But Craigs, which stretches to the Wisconsin border, is larger and less dense. It includes more blue-collar and rural voters, and has long been the more culturally conservative of the two. The biggest gap may be in education levels: Nearly 52 percent of residents in Phillipss district have at least a college degree, while only 42 percent of those in Craigs do, a figure more comparable to other swing districts nationally. Phillipss district is slightly more diverse, too: Nearly 13 percent of residents there were born abroad, versus just over 9 percent in Craigs district. Those subtle distinctions are enough to give Republicans an opening. So while both seats have swung toward Democrats in the Trump era, Craigs race has become one of the most hotly contested and most expensive campaigns in the country, with more than $10 million pouring in from outside Republican groups. By contrast, Phillips and his opponent have spent about $200,000 combined essentially nothing. ANCHORAGE Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a centrist Republican facing a tough re-election campaign, plans on ranking Representative Mary Peltola, a Democrat, first on her ballot this November, crossing party lines to back the incumbent in her race to serve a full term in the House. Sitting in a quiet backstage corner behind exhibitions and vendors at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention this weekend, Ms. Murkowski confirmed to The New York Times on Saturday her support for Ms. Peltola, who earlier this year overcame a chaotic field of four dozen candidates to finish the remainder of Representative Don Youngs term after he died in March. Ms. Murkowski declined to say whether or how she would rank Ms. Peltolas challengers: Sarah Palin, the former Republican governor and vice-presidential candidate, or Nicholas Begich III, a conservative member of an Alaskan liberal dynasty, both registered Republican candidates, or Chris Bye, a libertarian. Under Alaskas new ranked-choice system, voters can rank their preferred candidates, which are counted until at least one candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote. Ms. Murkowski brushed off the significance of her comment, describing it as Lisa being honest and adding that she was primarily focused on her own race, where she is fending off Kelly Tshibaka, a right-wing challenger endorsed by former President Donald J. Trump and the states Republican Party. Ms. Murkowski has also retained broad support from Alaska Native voters in the state, and they proved crucial to her write-in campaign in 2010. (Ms. Peltola told The Washington Post she also planned on voting for Ms. Murkowski, and they posed together for a photo at the convention.) Mr. Grahams lawyers said that he was reviewing election-related issues in his role as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee at the time. On Thursday, a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, in Atlanta, refused to block a trial judges ruling that Mr. Graham could be required to answer some but not all questions from the grand jury. The panel based its ruling on the Constitutions protection of members of Congress in its speech or debate clause. For any speech or debate in either house, the clause says of senators and representatives, they shall not be questioned in any other place. The panel, which included two judges appointed by President Donald J. Trump, drew a distinction between Mr. Grahams activities in investigating supposed irregularities in the 2020 election and some of his other statements and conduct. Though the lower courts are divided over whether an informal investigation by an individual legislator acting without committee authorization is ever protected legislative activity under the speech and debate clause, the panel said, it would assume that the clause applied to such inquiries made by Mr. Graham. But some other questions, the panel said, were fair game. Activities that fall outside the clauses scope include, for example, cajoling executive officials and delivering speeches outside of Congress. ST. LOUIS Messiah Miller was sitting in algebra class on Monday morning when he heard the first gunshot. Maybe it was just noise from the construction site across the street, he and his classmates reassured themselves. Then they heard an urgent message from the principal over the intercom: Miles Davis is in the building. That is the code that informs students and teachers at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School that an active shooter had breached the building; it sent students in the algebra class scrambling to hide. Messiah texted five people, including his mother, to tell them that he loved them. We heard more shots, and they were getting closer and closer, said Messiah, 16. Then he jiggled our door. But he didnt come in. When the case reached the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the states highest court for criminal matters, Mr. Garza did something surprising. He joined lawyers for Mr. Escobar in urging the court to order a new trial, one that would exclude the evidence he had come to doubt. But the appeals court upheld Mr. Escobars conviction this year in a short unsigned opinion that did not acknowledge the prosecutions changed position. On Friday, the Supreme Court is scheduled to consider whether to take up Mr. Escobars appeal. Mr. Garzas office has once again filed a brief supporting the inmate whom it had sent to death row. You have both the state and the defense agreeing that the evidence that the jury relied upon to sentence a person to death was flawed, Mr. Garza said. I hope at the very least that they take that seriously. Mr. Escobar was convicted in 2011 of murdering Bianca Maldonado Hernandez, who lived in the same apartment complex. The prosecution presented some circumstantial evidence, including cell tower records and a partial fingerprint, but the centerpiece of its case was evidence from the Austin Police Departments DNA lab. At a later court hearing on a challenge to Mr. Escobars conviction, a juror said that the DNA evidence had been crucial. NAIROBI, Kenya Representatives of the Ethiopian government and rebel forces in the countrys Tigray region arrived in South Africa on Monday for their first formal peace talks, a much-anticipated effort to resolve the almost two-year civil war that has ravaged Africas second-most-populous nation. The mediation, led by the African Union, has new urgency because the conflict in Tigray has intensified, raising fears that the humanitarian crisis and widespread atrocities that have left thousands dead, millions displaced and hundreds of thousands hungry will only get worse. The Ethiopian military and its Eritrean allies captured several major towns from Tigrayan forces in recent days, too, advancing toward the regional capital, Mekelle, and leaving Tigrayan leaders with a weaker hand in the delicate negotiations. The talks have taken months to organize and were scheduled to start earlier this month but ran into logistical and organizational challenges including a high degree of mistrust on both sides. The negotiations are now set to begin on Tuesday after the mediators finalized the framework for the talks on Monday, according to a senior Western official with knowledge of the process. JOHANNESBURG South Africas president has introduced long-anticipated measures to tackle endemic corruption, subjecting even himself and his cabinet to closer scrutiny of their personal spending and lifestyles. But some analysts question whether reforms that would help the government regain the trust of a fed-up public will ever be carried out. President Cyril Ramaphosa, speaking on national television Sunday evening, said that his government would, among other things, establish a permanent anticorruption unit in the national prosecutors office, create transparency in the granting of public contracts and increase protections for whistle-blowers. As a country, he said, we are emerging from a dark and difficult period. But Mr. Ramaphosa deferred much of the work to root out corruption to Parliament and other government entities. He also did not say how he would tackle some of the most controversial issues closest to home, like what to do about senior officials within his government who have been accused of corruption. Its so unserious, its almost a joke, William Gumede, a professor of public management at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, said of the presidents proposals. If he wanted to show that he was serious about dealing with corruption in his orbit, Professor Gumede added, Mr. Ramaphosa should have suspended the ministers accused of corruption. Ricardo Barros, a conservative congressman who is helping to push the bill to criminalize faulty polls, said the legislation would force polling companies to be more careful with their findings. Under the proposed law, only polls that err outside their margin of error would face liability. If youre not sure of the outcome, then place a margin of error of 10 percent, he said. It loses credibility, but it doesnt misinform voters. The problem is that today its always being presented as an absolute truth. Lawmakers in both the House and Senate have also gathered enough signatures to open congressional investigations into the polling firms, although the leader of the Senate is expected to move to block that chambers investigation. Alexandre Cordeiro Macedo, the head of Brazils federal antitrust agency and an appointee of Mr. Bolsonaro, tried to go further than Mr. Barros in taking aim at polling firms. Before Mr. Moraes intervened and stopped the inquiry, Mr. Cordeiro Macedo had accused top polling companies of collusion based on what he said was the statistical improbability that they all had underestimated Mr. Bolsonaros support by such a significant margin. He claimed that the scenario was about as likely as winning the lottery several times. But Alexandre Patriota, a statistics professor at the University of Sao Paulo, disputed that, saying proving collusion based solely on that single measure would be nearly impossible. Even if all the institutes got it wrong in the same way, this is not an indication of a cartel, he said. To have a hint of malice, you need something more than numbers. There was a violent incident between new Russian recruits on October. Men recently mobilized were on a firing range when two Moslem recruits opened fire on the Slavic (ethnic Russians) recruits and killed eleven and wounded fifteen before they were killed. The two shooters were Moslem and sought to avoid hitting other Moslem troops. About ten percent of the men mobilized for army service during late September were Moslem. Currently about 20 percent of the Russian population consists of ethnic minorities, most of them Moslem. These Russians do not want to die for Russia or even live in Russia. Many Moslems were conquered and incorporated in the Russian empire over the last few centuries. Most of them formed their own nations when the Soviet Union fell apart in 1991. There was still a significant minority of Moslems remaining and most would prefer to be anywhere but Russia. During World War II the percentage of Moslems in combat units was low early in the war because Russia did not trust large groups of armed Moslems. In the closing months of the war, most Moslem, and often non-Slavic, troops were found in combat units. Slavic troops had made up most of the combat troops until then but by the end of 1944 the army had to replace losses with Moslem troops. The loyalty of these non-Slav troops was assured by the fact the Russians were winning and about to enter Germany, where all the troops were allowed to loot and rape civilians when they werent killing the few remaining German troops. After 1945 the Russian army returned to its policy of keeping most non-Slav men out of combat units. There were plenty of support units where Moslem recruits could safely (for Slavic troops) serve out their conscription service. This discrimination against non-Slav soldiers continued after the Soviet Union dissolve but there were some changes. In 2014 Russia changed its mind about keeping young men from the Caucasus out of the military. In a surprise move the Russian army announced that it would allow young men from the Caucasus to volunteer for military service and be conscripted as well. This had been promised at the end of 2012 but nothing happened, until the end of March announcement. Why the change? The Caucasus is one of the few places in Russia where a lot of the young men want to join the military. Thats because while conscription is generally unpopular in Russia, there are some areas where mandatory military service is seen as an opportunity, not something to be avoided. Yet young men in Chechnya have not been subject to conscription since 1992, even though the Chechens generally did quite well in the military. The Russian Army no longer wanted them after 1991 because thats when Chechnya went into rebellion and the attitudes of young Chechen men changed. Chechen recruits had always been a lot of trouble for their commanders and in the early 1990s that got worse as many began to claim they were devout Moslems and demanded that the army provide them with special (halal) food, prayer rooms in the barracks, and extra time off for prayer. The usual punishments (beatings or even imprisonment) did not faze the Chechens. If beaten by NCOs or other soldiers, they would get organized to eventually inflict retribution. If sent to prison the misbehaving recruits would join groups of Chechen prisoners who tended to rule the prisons they were in and were often feared by the guards. After the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, the Russian military simply stopped trying to draft Chechens or accept them as volunteers. Those who wanted to serve had to take up legal residency in some other part of Russia and be able to get a good conduct reference from local police before the recruiters would accept them. After 2010 the provincial government in Chechnya instituted their own conscription (which is technically illegal) where those young Chechens who wanted to serve could do so in two special military units that only operated in Chechnya. Less than two hundred men were involved initially and local army commanders were willing to cooperate (or too scared to refuse). The national government tried to reinstate conscription for Chechnya in 2001, but that effort ended after the few recruits taken proved to be as troublesome as ever and were released from the military. The provincial battalions proved to be a success and that played a part in allowing Chechens back into the regular army. There are similar, but less severe, problems with two neighbors of Chechnya (Dagestan and Ingushetia), so starting in 2009 fewer and fewer people were drafted there either. Most of the people in these two areas are not ethnic Chechens but they have some of the same bad attitude and behavior problems. Most other ethnic groups in the Caucasus (Ossetians, Adygeans, Kabardians, Cherkess, Balkars, and Karachays) continue to be conscripted or allowed to volunteer for military service. Now everyone is, except for those with criminal records or connections with known Islamic terrorists. Dagestan and Ingushetia pointed out that there were many loyal and effective Moslems in the local security forces and this helped get the military ban rescinded. The army has long had reasons for not wanting recruits from some parts of the Caucasus. Even before 1991, the Russian dominated army warned company (units of about a hundred troops) commanders to not allow more than ten Chechens in their unit. Experience had shown that ten or more Chechens (or other men from the Caucasus) would form a very tight, tough, and disciplined clique that would prey on the other troops in the company and cause all manner of discipline and crime problems. If you found yourself with more than ten Chechens it was best to try and transfer some of them out. That is no longer a major problem, but company commanders are still warned to be wary of troops from the Caucasus. While the Chechens were the worst in this respect, the other Caucasus nationalities came close. But these days, the young men want to join the army and get a few years military experience, so they can qualify to become a "contract" soldier. These troops are paid a lot more and are considered "professional troops." Commanders actually prefer contract soldiers from the Caucasus, although many will admit that it's still not wise to have more than ten of them in an infantry company. This admiration of the military qualities of troops from the Caucasus probably played a role in lifting the restrictions. Another reason probably has to do with the loyalty of Caucasus troops already in the military and the usefulness of local pro-Russian militias in the Caucasus. Finally, the army learned how to check character references of Caucasus recruits, and this proved effective in keeping the troublemakers out. Another factor is the method used to pacify Chechnya in the 1990s. The Chechens tried, throughout the 1990s, to maintain their independence from Russia in the aftermath of the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. The Chechens could not govern themselves, and Chechnya became a hideout for numerous criminal gangs who did whatever they wanted. This involved starting a kidnapping, robbery and extortion crime wave all over southern Russia. In 1999, Russia, now led by Vladimir Putin, invaded to reassert its authority and reduce Chechen criminality in southern Russia and the Caucasus. Several years of bloody fighting followed, until a majority of the population agreed to shut down the gangsters. Since then, Chechnya has been at peace, at least by local standards. As Russia had done before, they sought out and selected a Chechen clan leader who was willing and apparently able to rule Chechnya for the Russians. The first Chechen president of the Chechen Republic (as areas where minorities predominate are called) was Akhmad Kadyrov, the father of the current president Ramzan Kadyrov. Akhmad took power in 2003, having convinced Putin that the Kadyrov clan could do the job. Akhmad was assassinated in 2004, something his son and heir Ramzan took to heart. Ramzan convinced Putin that the assassination was always a risk that came with the job in the Caucasus and that although he was young (28 when his father was killed) he could do the job. Putin installed Ramzan as president and sent more money to rebuild Chechnya. This involved much of the money used to keep other clans in line. Ramzan proved more adept at this then his father has ruled 2007, after spending a few years as second-in-command. Ramzan Kadyrov is very much Putins man and has been consistently loyal, even after Putin invaded Ukraine. Kadyrov has supplied small but very effective and loyal Chechen units to fight in Ukraine. He does thus by making sure his men are qualified and are paid more than any other Russian troops, and paid on time too. Chechens are not afraid of dying in combat and are much feared by opponents. They are not invincible and have suffered casualties. The Ukrainian respect but do not fear the Chechens. If Ukrainian troops encounter Chechens, they change their tactics. The Chechens are a nuisance but there are not enough of them to change the course of the war. This bothers Kadyrov because he knows that losing all of Ukraine would put his patron in danger of being replaced and Kadyrov could lose his job and his life if that happened. In 2003, when Akhad Kadyrov took over running Chechnya, many of the criminals and Islamic militants fled to neighboring "republics" (as the semi-autonomous ethnic provinces in Russia are called); mainly Ingushetia to the west, and Dagestan to the east. Dagestan was able to handle the influx of Chechen gunmen, at least at first. But in Ingushetia the violence kept getting worse. Some of the violence was just criminal activity, because tiny (population half a million) Ingushetia has an unemployment rate of over 50 percent. But there are also Islamic radicals who used to operate in Chechnya. And then there are a lot of guns in the hands of the population, so it's often difficult to tell who shot who and why. The Russian government blames a lot of the unrest on local officials who, while pro-Russian and dominated by former KGB officials, are generally inept and corrupt. As these things go, the federal government won't intervene unless the gangs based in Ingushetia began raiding southern Russia. Corruption and feuds (between clans and ethnic groups) causes a lot of the violence, which is organized and focused via gangs of Islamic radicals. Most of the 4.4 million people in Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan are Moslem, and never much liked Russians. Although the Russians have reduced the violence over the last 20 years, it persists, much to the embarrassment of the national government. This volatile mixing of organized Russians and unruly Caucasus minorities has been a problem for centuries, ever since the Russian empire reached the Caucasus two centuries ago. Many of the largely Moslem Caucasian tribes saw it as their right to raid the wealthier Christian Russians. The Russians fought back, escalating to Cossacks and eventually the army and violence has persisted ever since. During World War II the Russians mistrusted the Chechens so much that they moved most of the Chechen population to Central Asia in 1944, killing many in the process. Over the next two decades those exiles were allowed back to the Caucasus but both Russians and Chechens have not forgotten. What's surprising is that there aren't more Islamic terrorist attacks by Russian Moslems. Some 14 percent of Russians are Moslem, but only some of those in the Caucasus, where a few percent of the Russian population live, are really into Islamic radicalism and terrorism. Relations between Slav Russians and the various ancient peoples of the Caucasus, which includes Christians Georgians and Armenians, as well as Moslem Chechens and dozens of other distinct ethnic groups, have been bad for centuries. But as the Russians discovered in the 1990s, even allowing Chechens to be independent did not solve the problem. Letting the Ingush government run its own finances also proved overly optimistic. As a new right-wing government takes office in Italy, its leaders are moving quickly to reaffirm support for Ukraine and dispel concerns that they could undercut Europes united front against Russia. Antonio Tajani, the new foreign minister and a former president of the European Parliament, wrote on Twitter on Saturday that his first phone call on the job was to his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba. I reaffirmed Italys full support to Ukraine in defense of freedom and against Russian invasion, Mr. Tajani wrote. There will be no peace without justice. And justice means Ukraines independence. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was sworn in on Saturday as the leader of the most right-wing Italian government since World War II, has long expressed unwavering support for Ukraine. But questions have been raised over her coalition partners, including Silvio Berlusconi, the 86-year-old billionaire and former prime minister, who is a longtime personal friend of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. As Rishi Sunak prepared to become Britains third prime minister this year, curiosity about his wealth hovered in the publics mind like thought bubbles filled with crisp British pound notes. Just how rich is he? The Times of London estimated this year that Mr. Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, were worth more than $800 million, placing them among the 250 wealthiest British people or families. The source of their wealth? Technology and hedge fund, the report said. Whatever the true numbers (the Sunaks could not be reached for comment and would hardly tell their exact fortune if they did), questions have swirled about whether, given his wealth, the multimillionaire and prime minister could relate to ordinary Britons grappling with a cost-of-living crisis. He is, after all, about to oversee tough measures to pull the country out of a deep financial hole and avoid a recession. In August, Mr. Sunak confronted the questions about his personal wealth head-on, saying that while he was fortunate to be in his situation, he wasnt born like this. He added, I think in our country, we judge people not by their bank account; we judge them by their character and their actions. KYIV, Ukraine The first city to fall to Russias invasion of Ukraine was in turmoil on Monday as its Moscow-appointed officials began fleeing across a river to safer territory, while Russian soldiers appeared to be digging in for a fight against advancing Ukrainian forces. Government offices in Kherson have been emptied of essential equipment. Civilians have been told by proxy officials loyal to the Kremlin to take documents, money, valuables and clothes and evacuate, according to Ukrainian officials, videos on social media and accounts from Ukrainian activists who have spoken to residents. And months after residents began complying with Moscows demands that they adopt a new currency, some merchants in Kherson had a new message for customers: No more rubles. Within a week of invading Ukraine on Feb. 24, the Russian military had the city of Kherson, in the south, firmly in hand. And late last month, the Kremlin went even further, announcing that it had annexed the entire Kherson region and three others, even as its forces were losing ground there. President Vladimir V. Putin said they were now part of Mother Russia, a claim rejected by most world leaders. KAMIANKA, Ukraine Little moved in the village of Kamianka, except for a cat bolting from under the rubble of a destroyed house and metal roofing banging in the wind. Serhii, a livestock farmer, sat slumped beside the burned ruins of his home. I came here in case I could find anything and to clear up a bit, he said. But there is nothing, he said, gesturing with a sweep of his arm at the wreckage. The scale of the destruction is staggering across hundreds of towns and villages recently vacated by Russian troops in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine. The few residents who have traveled back into the war zone to check on their property, like Serhii and his wife, Iryna, often stand speechless with dismay before the devastation. Throughout Ukraine, the war had destroyed or damaged about 120,000 houses and 16,000 apartment buildings by the end of September, according to the Kyiv School of Economics, which estimated overall physical damage at $127 billion. The World Bank, European Union and Ukrainian government have estimated recovery costs at about $350 billion. Image A destroyed military vehicle in Arkhanhelske, in the Kherson Region. Credit... Nicole Tung for The New York Times KYIV, Ukraine The civilian administration installed by President President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in the strategically important southern port city of Kherson began to crumble on Monday, with proxy officials abandoning the government headquarters as Ukrainian forces continued to make progress advancing on the city. Ukrainian officials, videos on social media and accounts from Ukrainian activists who have spoken to residents offered a glimpse of the chaotic situation on the ground in Kherson: Merchants are refusing to be paid in Russian currency, government offices have been emptied of essential equipment and civilians have been told by proxy officials loyal to the Kremlin to take documents, money, valuables and clothes and flee the city. Accounts from Ukrainian officials and activists suggested the occupation administration was in disarray and the humanitarian situation was growing dire. The reports were difficult to verify independently because internet and other communication services in Kherson have been almost completely severed, in what Ukrainian activists said was a deliberate effort by Russian officials to thwart Kyivs military. But even as the situation in Kherson appeared to be increasingly unstable, Ukrainian officials said Moscows troops were preparing to stay and fight for a city that Mr. Putin illegally claimed as Russian territory less than three weeks ago. There was no evidence that Russian soldiers were preparing for a mass withdrawal, Gen. Kyrylo O. Budanov, the head of Ukraines military intelligence service, said in an interview published Monday by a Ukrainian news outlet, Ukrainska Pravda. He added that the Kremlin proxy officials moves to evacuate civilians and pull their own workers out of the city could be an effort to ready Kherson for urban combat by Russian troops. They are not preparing to exit now, General Budanov said of Russian soldiers. They are preparing to defend. Serhii Khlan, the exiled deputy governor of the Kherson region, said Moscows forces and local proxies are engaged in intense pillaging, stealing everything with archaeological and historical significance. While his claims could not be independently verified, looting by Russian forces in other parts of the country has been widely documented. General Budanov said the largest Russian bank operating in the city, Promsvyazbank, was withdrawing and clearing out the cash from its vaults. He also claimed that occupation officials were emptying hospitals of patients as part a crazy information campaign designed to show audiences in Russia that Moscow cares about civilians. In other words, they are creating the illusion that everything has gone, he said. At the same time, on the contrary, they are bringing in new military units there and preparing the streets of the city for defense. Located on the west bank of the Dnipro River, Kherson is the gateway to both Russian-held Crimea in the south and Ukraines Black Sea ports to the west, including Odesa. Its loss would be a severe military and symbolic blow for Mr. Putin, who has rejected requests from his commanders on the ground that they be allowed to retreat from the city. While the billboards declaring Kherson is forever with Russia are still standing, local leaders loyal to the Kremlin said this weekend that all departments and ministries of civil administration must be moved across the Dnipro River to territory seen as safer from advancing Ukrainian forces. Occupation officials also said they would relocate as many as 60,000 civilians. Moscow claims that as many as 20,000 people have fled, but Ukrainian officials put the figure at closer to 1,000 and say that most are pro-Kremlin collaborators. Image People who fled their homes in southern Ukraine were staying at a center for displaced people in Zaporizhzia on Sunday. Credit... Ivor Prickett for The New York Times Kyiv has imposed a blackout on detailed information about its southern offensive, aiming to maintain an element of surprise as its forces fight to reclaim towns and villages around Kherson, which Russia seized in the first weeks of the war and is the only provincial capital in Ukraine to fall since Moscows invasion. The Ukrainian militarys southern command said on Monday that since it launched its counteroffensive at the end of August, its forces have retaken 90 towns and villages where more than 12,000 people were still living. Russias hold on Kherson appears increasingly precarious. Last week, the top Russian commander in Ukraine, Gen. Sergei Surovikin, said the situation in Kherson was already difficult and that he was not ruling out difficult decisions, although he did not elaborate. TEL AVIV He was barred as a teenager from serving in the Israeli Army because he was considered too extremist. He admires a hard-line rabbi who wanted to strip Arab Israelis of their citizenship. Until recently, he hung a portrait in his home of Baruch Goldstein, who shot dead 29 Palestinians in a West Bank mosque in 1994. Itamar Ben-Gvir, a rising far-right lawmaker, has long occupied the fringes of Israeli politics and been widely vilified for his extreme views. But now, as Israel prepares for its fifth election since 2019, and with the polls predicting a deadlock, he is likely to become a major player in Benjamin Netanyahus bid to regain power in the vote on Nov. 1. At a recent election rally for Mr. Ben-Gvir in southern Tel Aviv, supporters of Mr. Netanyahu were cheering on a candidate they knew would be critical for him. We are from the same side, said Limor Inbar, 58, an activist from Mr. Netanyahus Likud party. We share the same ideology. Saudi officials have denied that the production cut represented an alignment with either side in the Ukraine conflict, saying they were safeguarding their own economic interests, as well as those of the group. They pointed out their ties to Ukraine, which include a recent $400 million aid package. Another point of tension between the Biden administration and the Saudi leadership is the 2018 killing by Saudi agents of the Saudi-born dissident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a United States resident at the time of his death. But ultimately, the Biden administration has done little so far to dissuade companies like JPMorgan and Blackstone, which have longstanding business relationships in Saudi Arabia, or smaller companies hoping to attract investments from deep-pocketed funders in the kingdom by attending this weeks forum. The conference is not only the venue for a parade of business deals, but many investors recognize how important it is to the Saudis to show up in person and shake hands as the kingdom tries to transform itself into a global hub for business and tourism. American presidents have for decades maintained good relations with Saudi Arabia despite widespread accusations of human rights violations, and the countrys enormous oil wealth has kept U.S. and other Western businesses engaged. The interest in this years conference only underscores how Saudi Arabias $620 billion sovereign wealth fund and increasingly open markets have become powerful sources of global influence. Tycoons and investors are happy to mingle with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto Saudi leader, in light of the enormous opportunities he can offer. Many of them have ignored his escalating crackdown on domestic dissent or say their focus is on his efforts to open up the countrys economy and loosen social restrictions. Those business relationships will probably remain intact barring drastic changes in U.S. policy like severing diplomatic ties or imposing sanctions on the Saudis, which analysts see as unlikely. A 19-year-old man and a 56-year-old grandmother-of-three in Thailand have been making international news headlines after getting engaged to be married. Wuthichai Chantaraj, 19, met his fiance, Janla Namuangrak, 56, almost 10 years ago, when the woman moved next to his family home in the Akat Amnuay district of Thailands Sakhon Nakhon province. Their first real interaction occurred when Janla asked the 10-year-old boy to help her move some potted plants, and from that day on Wuthichai would often drop by the divorced womans house to play and help her with chores. The two describe their early relationship as a friendship, but when Wuthichai turned 17, he started developing feelings for Janla, and they eventually became a couple. They only announced their romance to their families at the start of this year, and their love story has been making headlines in Thailand ever since. Photo: Jose Chomali/Unsplash Wuthichai has been like a superhero for me. He helped me every day. Then when he was older we started to have feelings for each other, 56-year-old Janla told Viral Press. I was surprised because I have known him since he was a child. When we told people we were in love, they thought it was crazy. My children were shocked. But he makes me feel young again and we have stayed together. Were happy. We will get married. Ever since making their relationship public, Wuthichai and Janla have been going on dates in the town, holding hands and kissing like two people in love. They know that the 37-year-old gap between them is hard to accept for some people, but claim that their happiness is all that matters. The 56-year-old grandmother was previously married to a man who gave her three children, all of whom are now in their 30s. Apparently, neither they nor Wuthichais family have objected to their relationship. At the beginning of 2022, Wuthichai and Janla got engaged in a traditional arm-tie ceremony during which the 19-year-old pledged a dowry of 6,000 baht ($157). When the news of the unusual love story broke out in Thailand, back in January, people suspected that Wuthichai was only interested in the womans material possessions, but it was soon revealed that Janla Namuangrak had been living in a shabby house, and didnt have much to her name. Its the first time in my life I felt like I wanted to make sure someone was living comfortably, Wuthichai said. I saw her shabby house and found myself thinking of ways to help her live in a better condition. She is a hardworking woman and also honest. I admire her. Despite all the controversy around their relationship, the two love birds continue to show off their romance both in news interviews and on social media and are convinced that many of their critics are just envious. Online reactions to this unlikely love story have been mixed, with some people declaring that its the two partners business and that if the sexes were reversed no one would have any problem with it. At the same time, some people have been accusing the 56-year-old woman of grooming the young man for years. The Government of Turks & Caicos Islands has hired FGS Global for the development of a crisis management strategy to reduce the reputational impact suffered from a wave of violence that has rocked the Caribbean archipelago of 58K people since September. There have been 15 fatal shootings since early last month, including Kent Carter, first VP of the NAACP Arlington branch. The vacationing Carter was shot on Oct. 2 after a gunman fired into his vehicle. Another passenger also was murdered, and three others were injured. The UK Royal Navy sent a ship with specialized police to TCI on Oct. 2 to help deal with the gang violence brought on by drug trafficking, turf wars and retribution, according to the Associated Press. TCI is a British overseas territory. The WPP unit will respond to requests to mitigate negative impressions as a result of a recent tourist incident and preceding and ongoing incidents of violence in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The objective of FGS Globals engagement is to help the islands leaders maintain the reputation of the island as a safe, secure resort destination. It is responsible for crisis counseling, reputation management and media relations assistance, including writing and distributing statements to North American, Canadian, Caribbean and ethnic press. The firm prepared remarks for TCI premier Washington Misick and other leaders regarding police investigations and steps to address the mayhem. FGS Global began work for T&C on Oct. 5. The one-month agreement carries a fee of $42K. Vickee Jordan Adams, partner; Kirsti Hastings, managing director; Benjamin Waldron, director; and Lalaine Vergara, associate, handle the TCI business. Natalie Kessler The Hoffman Agency hires Natalie Kessler as EVP in its global talent marketing practice. Kessler joins the agency from Adobe, where she was most recently global talent marketing and employee brand leader. In her new post, she is tasked with establishing and leading the consultancys talent acquisition service, which will offer services ranging from creating employee propositions to digital marketing campaigns anchored by microsites to activating employees as brand ambassadors. The practice will emphasize technical professionals. Matthew Briggs, Kari Hulley PAN Communications promotes Matthew Briggs and Kari Hulley to SVP. Briggs has been with the agency since 2009, most recently serving as a VP. As the agency content lead, Matthew spearheads firm-wide content training, content development, and strategy for its roster of technical content specialists. Before joining PAN as a VP in 2018, Hulley was a VPat InkHouse. As SVP, she will lead a dedicated team and will also serve as general manager of the agencys San Francisco office. PAN has also promoted Kathryn McMahon Arrigg from director to VPt. Each of these leaders brings invaluable experience, knowledge and mentorship to their teams, says PAN EVP Healthcare Dan Martin. Kristen Hall CBS Studios brings back former VP of communications Kristen Hall in the EVP of communications position. Hall left CBS Studios in 2018 for Amazon, where she was most recently director of original series publicity. In her new post, she will report to CBS executive vp of communications Chris Ender, leading all publicity and communications strategies for the studio. She has an amazing passion for the business and its artistic process along with a clear vision for how it works together with publicity and earned media to help drive success, said Ender. The October 8th explosion on the Kerch Strait bridge was apparently one of several attack plans developed by Ukrainian and British special operations personnel. This planning began back in April and several plans were developed. One involved cruise missiles hitting concrete pillars supporting the bridge where it consisted of a long span over the shipping channel. A similar attack plan called for divers to approach at night and place explosives on these pillars. In both cases the key central span would be destroyed and cut road and rail traffic for months while repairs were made. The Russians were apparently aware of this vulnerability and soon after the invasion began defenses around the central span were increased to defeat or disrupt missile or underwater attack. This did not deter the Ukrainians who continued to consult with their British counterparts on other plans for destroying key portions of the bridge. Ukraine wants the bridge gone because it enables easy access to Crimea by the Russians and restricts the size of ships that can enter that portion of the Ukrainian coast. In 2019 the railway link across the new Kerch Strait bridge connecting Russia with Crimea was opened for service. This enabled the bridge to move 13 million tons of freight and 14 million passengers a year. The bridge cost nearly $4 billion and is mainly a prestige and diplomatic project as it enables Russia to control the Sea of Azov. In April 2018 Russia declared the Sea of Azov, reached from the Black Sea via the 4.5-kilometer-wide Kerch Strait, was now under Russian control. The Crimean Peninsula, when it was part of Ukraine, was separated from Russia by the Kerch Strait. Maximum depth of the strait is 18 meters (59 feet) and there had long been talk of building a bridge between Crimea and the Kerch Peninsula (now and always part of Russia). After Russia seized Crimea in 2014, proposals that a bridge be built actually turned into reality. The Kerch Bridge opened in March 2018, at least the highway part, the sturdier railroad section took longer to complete. With that Russia declared the Sea of Azov under Russian control and no foreign ship could enter with Russian permission. The Russians seized ships trying to reach the Ukrainian ports of Berdiansk and Mariupol that are on the shore of the Sea of Azov. Russia was putting these two ports out of business. Ukraine accused Russia of violating international law as well as a 1990s Russia-Ukrainian treaty that prohibited the seizure of Crimea or building the bridge and restricting access to the Sea of Azov. The problem with the bridge is that it only allows about 30 percent of the large bulk carrier ships that visit Ukrainian ports to get into the Sea of Azov. Taking down that portion of the bridge would reopen the Sea of Azov to large ships. The October 8th dawn attack on the bridge was only partially successful. This attack involved a special bomb weighing several tons carried by a truck crossing the bridge. It was a suicide mission for the driver and the explosives went off short of where they were intended to detonate for maximum damage. It is unclear if this was a driver error or timing error on the detonator. If the bomb had gone off at another point, three deck sections would have dropped into the water rather than one. With one span down the Russians were able to make temporary repairs and resume limited vehicle traffic within a day. The explosion did ignite adjacent railroad cars carrying fuel. The light from these fires could be seen from a long distance. The fire weakened the structure but the Russians were unsure of how much. They continued running normal rail traffic. Fully restoring the highway span is taking longer, limiting vehicle traffic until it is completed. If three deck spans had gone into the water, vehicle traffic would have been halted for weeks and limited traffic only for months. Russian leader Putin was furious about this attack and regarded it as yet another unpredictable and effective Ukrainian innovation that Russian forces were unable to cope with. If the railroad portion of the bridge collapses, Russia is one step closer to losing Crimea to the advancing Ukrainian forces. The rail line just to the north of the two road lines was much more important as only it could carry the vast quantities of fuel required by Russian aircraft based in the Crimea, plus the supply and armored vehicles in the Kherson area to the north. The Russians had declared the bridge essential for the defense of Crimea and the support of military operations north of Crimea. At the time of the bridge attack the Ukrainian offensive was making progress in capturing all the Russian occupied territory north of Crimea. Once that is done, the only supply route into Crimea will be the Kerch bridge. The Ukrainian advance also brings Ukrainian HIMARS trucks close enough to launch attacks on the Kerch bridge. The new Russian commander of forces in southern Ukraine admitted that his depleted ground forces were unable to halt the advance. While admitting to the worst-case scenario, the new commander does have some units he can depend on and is deploying them to slow the Ukrainians down as much as possible. The recent partial mobilization declared by Russia in mid-September was only able to put about two-thirds of the men it expected into uniform. Most of those new troops were dismayed to find themselves sent to Ukraine after a few days or weeks of training and with inadequate equipment. When these new troops reached southern Ukraine, they found the supply situation worse and they were assigned to depleted (by casualties and desertion) units led by uninspiring officers. These are the units that are unable to halt the Ukrainian advance. Russia is putting some new troops through longer training but the equipment shortage is everywhere and few Russian troops are really enthusiastic about fighting to keep Ukrainians from taking back their territory. While the recent Kerch bridge attack was not a complete success, it was demoralizing for many Russians who had been told a successful attack on the bridge was unlikely and the Ukrainians were not going to take back as much territory as they have in the last ten weeks. LAST August, Vhi, as proud partners of parkrun in Ireland, launched the More Than Running campaign, highlighting the various health benefits that participating in parkrun can bring to all its participants. As part of the launch, they ran an Instagram competition for the best photo from the parkruns around the Country. Mountlucas Parkrun were the national winners of this competition, and they were presented with a box of goodies from the Vhi. Also, last Saturday morning, Martin Lawlor celebrated his 50th parkrun, supported on the day by his family and friends. Mountlucas Parkrun also welcomed a large group of participants from Gracefield GAA who had participated in a Couch to 5K as part of their Healthy Club Project. Last Saturday was the culmination of their training and they braved the elements and finished the 5k with smiles on their faces. Mountlucas Parkrun is based at Mountlucas wind farm outside Daingean, so why not turn up at 9.30am on Saturday mornings to see what it is all about. See www.parkrun.ie/mountlucas to register and for more details Gardai have launched an investigation after a man was seriously injured in an assault in a town in the Midlands. Gardai in Portlaoise are appealing for witnesses following the assault of a male on Coote Street, Portlaoise, Co. Laois in the early hours of Sunday morning, October 23. At approximately 1.20am on Sunday morning, a male in his 40s was walking on Coote Street when he was approached by a group of four people and assaulted. The male was seriously injured during the incident. He is currently being treated for his injuries, which are understood to be non-life threatening, in St. James Hospital, Dublin. No arrests have been made in relation to this incident, at this time. Gardai are appealing to any person who may have witnessed this incident to contact them. Any person who was in the vicinity of Coote Street between 1.20am and 1.30am on Sunday morning, particularly any road users who may have camera footage (including dash cam), is asked to contact investigating Gardai. Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 867 4100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. SOME people who have installed air to water heap pump systems in their homes have been shocked by the electricity bills, a meeting of Offaly County Council was told. Cllr Clare Claffey said she had heard of a man who could not afford to pay his bill so he was staying in bed from Monday to Wednesday. The Social Democrats representative was reacting to an increase in the number of houses in Offaly which had been retrofitted to improve their insulation and make them more energy efficient. That's fantastic, air to water[heat pump], and everything is great, except that he now cannot afford the electricity, said Cllr Claffey. Previously, added the Banagher councillor, the man might have been able to have heat from his stove or cook on a stove but he mentioned something about cornflakes a couple of times a day. She said: I just thought that was really, really sad and asked if anyone was checking that people could afford the new heating system before it was installed. Cllr Harvey, Fianna Fail, asked if it was policy that all council houses in Offaly would have heat pumps. I've heard horror stories of the electricity bills afterwards that are unreal, said the Tullamore councillor. The council's housing official, John Cunningham, said up to 80 residential units had been completed under the retrofitting programme and we haven't had any complaints. Mr Cunningham said the retrofitting followed a fabric first approach where the insulation on the house must be considered first. He agreed there had been horror stories. The heat pump will not work unless the house is properly insulated, he said. Where people have taken out boilers and just replaced them with heat pumps... they create horror stories and give the thing a bit of a bad name. However, he also pointed out that energy prices in general were rising. While the price of electricity is increasing, the price of solid fuel is also increasing. The price of oil is also increasing so it is a relative calculation. Overall, he said the council's experience from its retrofitting programme was that the heat pump solution was positive and among other things, it eliminated the hard work of carrying ashes around. The longer term benefit was that the pumps were the solution in order to be sustainable. Sharon Kennedy, director of service, said that council tenants were not compelled to have their houses retrofitted. If they are not of a mind to co-operate with the scheme it's not forced upon them, said Ms Kennedy. Cllr John Leahy said anyone getting a new house under the council social housing programme was doing very well because they were getting a home with an A energy rating which would cost between 260,000 and 280,000. The Independent member said that was fantastic but a private borrower would have to be on a salary of 80,000 to be able to afford a mortgage for a similarly priced house. The Kilcormac councillor said the average annual disposable income for an Offaly person was between 30,000 and 55,000 and many of them were on the council housing waiting list too but did not qualify for help. So we've a whole cohort of people that we can do nothing about in this chamber. That's where the real crisis is, said Cllr Leahy. A member of Fine Gael, Cllr Noel Cribbin, hit out at Cllr Claffey, saying he believed the Government was doing a brilliant job and had announced a lot of aid for people affected by cost of living rises. The Edenderry councillor joined the meeting of the council by a Zoom link from Australia. A big hello to you all from the sunny south of Australia here. 24 degrees here today and I have the shades on me today, said Cllr Cribbin. He said many factors were making it difficult to resolve the housing crisis, including Putin and Covid but Offaly was nonetheless on course to exceed its target for social housing provision. Addressing Cllr Claffey and that poor unfortunate person who wanted to stay in bed all day, he said the Government in the biggest budget ever in the history of the State had ensured 1.4 million houses would be helped with double payments, assistance for living alone and 600 in ESB credits. He said of the individual referred to by Cllr Claffey: If he's living alone he's on over 300 a week. So there should be enough money there to pay an ESB bill. Cllr Cribbin said it was amazing that anyone could find fault with retrofits and echoed Cllr Leahy's point about the cost of providing new energy efficient social homes. People on social welfare are getting them for 40 or 50 a week, he remarked. A 15 euro Luke Kelly commemorative coin has been launched by President Michael D Higgins. The silver proof coin is the final coin in the modern musician series of silver proof coins, which also featured coins dedicated to Rory Gallagher and Phil Lynott. The coin was launched by Mr Higgins at St Laurence OTooles National School in Dublin, the former school of the musician. It is limited to 3,000 pieces and will retail at 64.99 euro. President Higgins this morning spoke at the launch of @centralbank_ie's commemorative 15 coin in honour of Luke Kelly in St Laurence O'Toole's National School in Dublin, "Luke didnt just sing about Dublin as it was but he spoke about life as it might be" pic.twitter.com/AGLzIL77fm President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) October 24, 2022 The coin, which is struck in .925 sterling silver to proof quality, features an image of Kelly singing, in tribute to his distinctive voice, together with an impression of a banjo. The design by Mary Gregoriy was selected following a design competition. She previously designed commemorative coins featuring James Joyce in 2013 and WB Yeats in 2015 for the Central Bank. Central Bank acting deputy governor Mark Cassidy said: We are delighted to issue this coin to commemorate the late and much-loved Luke Kelly. It is especially fitting to be at his former school, St Laurence OToole National School, for this launch and we are immensely grateful to the staff and pupils for welcoming us today for this special occasion. Lukes impact on and musical contributions to Irish culture were seminal and he continues to be held in warm regard by generations of people in Ireland. This coin celebrates his legacy and provides a fitting tribute to his memory. The launch of the Central Bank of Ireland commemorative coin was postponed from 2020 due to the pandemic. Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe also attended the launch. It is available to purchase from collectorcoins.ie/lukekelly from Monday at 2pm and retails at 64.99 euro. The issue is limited to 3,000 coins with a limit of one coin per transaction. AN event held along the banks of the River Brosna in Clara during the summer months, is the Offaly winner of a National Heritage Award. The awards recognise the efforts of individuals, families and community groups to ensure the preservation, protection and promotion of Ireland's built, natural and cultural heritage. The County Award category is presented to the most successful heritage event or project from each local authority. The National Heritage award is for a Literary and Music Festival in Clara, when community groups from Ballycumber, Pullough, Ferbane and Clara came together to celebrate the cultural and natural heritage of the river. The event which took place at Clara House, was organised by the Clara Heritage Society. The festival featured a musical performance inspired by the river. It also showcased spoken word, poetry, and childrens workshops. The festival, which was supported by the Tidy Towns groups in the four communities, took place on Saturday, August, 20. It featured a performance from the Brosna Suite, which was composed by Carole Nelson in collaboration with local musicians and inspired by the river. The Brosna Suite was a Creative Ireland funded project in 2021, and each new performance is a unique improvisation and collaboration. Liz Kelly also featured on the harp and violin, and other musicians were invited to join. Poems depicting life along the river, and those from the Hogan collection and chosen by individuals featured. Minister Pippa Hackett also performed a poem. The head of the UKs data watchdog has vowed to fine firms falling short on cybersecurity after warning complacency within companies is the biggest cyber risk businesses face. The warnings come after the UKs Information Commissioners Office (ICO) today fined British construction firm Interserve 4.4m over its failure to protect its employees data from cyberattacks. [...] Fintech firm Moneyhub said it was eyeing up a London listing today as it bagged 35m in fresh funding from investors including Legal & General and Lloyds Banking Group. Scottish Power has launched a broadside against ministers' handling of the sale of Bulb, the nationalised utility, accusing them of "distort[ing] competition" in the energy retail sector. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Russia Today has been accused of inciting genocide after a presenter said Ukrainian children who saw Moscow's forces as occupiers under the Soviet Union should have been drowned. David Tennant surprised Doctor Who fans as he reprised his role as the Time Lord - with the actor set to star in three special episodes before handing over control of the Tardis next Christmas. Dozens of people have been killed by government air strikes while celebrating at a concert in Myanmar, rebel groups have claimed. A Scottish MP said Rishi Sunak will be just as bad for the people of Scotland after Boris Johnson pulled out of the race to become the next prime minister. Johnny Depp will embark on a UK tour with his band the Hollywood Vampires next summer, it has been announced. Russia fired missiles and drones into the Ukrainian-held southern town of Mykolaiv, destroying an apartment block, and said the war was trending towards "uncontrolled escalation" in a flurry of telephone calls to Western defence ministers. The strike on the shipbuilding town about 35 km (22 miles) northwest of the front line in Kherson came as Russia ordered 60,000 people to flee the region "to save your lives" in the face of a Ukrainian counter offensive. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Lesego Chombo edged out nine other finalists to be crowned Miss Botswana 2022 on Saturday, October 22 at the Fairscape Precinct in Gaborone. Lesego Chombo edged out nine other finalists to be crowned Miss Botswana 2022 on Saturday, October 22 at the Fairscape Precinct in Gaborone. The 24-year-old all-rounder beauty from Maun holds a law degree from the University of Botswana and is currently a practicing attorney at the High Court of Botswana. She will now prepare to represent her country at the 71st Miss World pageant, whose date and venue are yet to be announced. Tshepo Nthaga and Sebaga Manyapetsa were named the first and second princesses, respectively. Last year's winner Palesa Molefe passed the crown to her successor at the end of the event which was also attended by the reigning Miss World from Poland, Karolina Bielawska. For her Beauty With A Purpose (BWAP) project, the new Miss Botswana aims to create a conducive environment for the development of underprivileged children. During her birthday in July, she hosted a recreational outing for 70 children in need. The event consisted of medical checks, educational activities introduction to instrument playing, art lessons, validation sessions, and more. Photos: Lesego Chombo / Instagram Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - Ten Burkinabe soldiers were killed in an attack by unidentified gunmen on a military base in Djibo (Sahel) on Monday, the Burkinabe army said, adding that it killed at least 18 suspected terrorists in response Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - The current economic crisis is a threat to peace and security, Senegalese head of state Macky Sall warned here Monday, saying "these exceptional circumstances call for exceptional measures" Photo: (Photo : Getty Images/Stringer) A video showing a former Mississippi daycare worker scaring kids under her care while wearing a horror mask like the one from the "Scream" movie and screaming on their faces went viral and has brought about child abuse charges against five daycare workers. When the viral video reached the authorities, and they saw how terrified the kids of Lil' Blessings Child Care and Learning Center were, they decided to take action. In a statement given by Monroe County Sheriff Kevin Crook, he stated that the County Prosecuting Attorney and the District Attorney met with the parents of the involved kids Monday and enlightened them of the possible criminal charges they could file against the former daycare workers. Parents were also given a chance to open up and share information they had gathered with investigators. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office named the offenders in the felony case Sierra McCandless, Oci-Anna Kilburn, Jennifer Newman, Shyenne Shelton, and Traci Hutson. They each face three counts of felony child abuse for their role in the horrifying incident while two charges of failure to report abuse and simple assault against a minor, both misdemeanors, were charged against Hutson. Actions taken Further, the Monroe County, Ms. Sheriff's Department updated the public in a Facebook post with their actions. They stated that on Tuesday, at least one set of parents had already filed charges for felony child abuse at Monroe County Justice Court. The next day, Wednesday, a Judge issued warrants against the five daycare workers after multiple sets of parents filed charges on behalf of their children. All five suspects were in custody in Monroe County Jail within two hours of receiving the warrants. On the morning of Thursday, four suspects on felony charges made an initial appearance, and Justice Court Judge Sarah Stevens set their bonds. McCandless and Kilburn's bonds were each set at $20,000 and Newman and Mills at $15,000. According to the Sheriff's department, the case is open and ongoing. The felony charges will be presented to the Grand Jury, which will decide if the evidence is enough for prosecution. Read Also: How Child Abuse Affects Individuals In Later Life Outraged parent "I was in complete shock of what I witnessed. Whether they had a mask on or a mask off, their behavior was unacceptable. My blood pressure was raised. It broke my heart for my child. I was angry. I hope you're enjoying jail and I hope you realize what you have done is serious. It is not a joke and it is nothing to laugh at," expressed Katelyn Johnson, a mom of a child who attends Lil' Blessings. Sheila Sanders, the daycare facility owner, cannot be reached for comments about the charges of her former workers. However, Sanders has previously stated that she fired the employees involved immediately after learning about the incident, which she said she was unaware of until she saw the viral video. She also told the newspapers that she does not condone their behavior and action and never has. Related Article: 40 Moms Accused of Child Abuse by Colorado Social Worker File a Class-Action Lawsuit Photo: (Photo : Sasin Tipchai) Jessica Hamzelouarchive, a contributor to Technology Review, says that reproductive technology could lead to infants with four or more biological parents, prompting many to reconsider parenthood. She once attended a meeting in Amsterdam that scientists and ethicists hosted and learned a lot about being a parent. Reproductive technologies are transforming and changing many different things and the perspective on how one makes a family. Some would think about the impact of technology on the baby and how it can affect their health or well-being. Parenthood is the main goal of individuals wanting to be parents. Heather Draper, a bioethicist at the University of Warwick, says that the major intent of assisted conception is the creation of parents and not the creation of the child. Hamzelouarchive emphasizes that advances in reproductive technologies force many to rethink parenthood, even at the genetic level. In vitro fertilization (IVF) allows one to use eggs and sperm donated by others who may not have the ability to conceive. However, it's not just IVF as technologies that also result in babies with three genetic parents are already being used, and others allow four or more genetic parents to be available shortly. Read Also: Ultimate Guide to Children's Vomit: What Are the Causes and Treatments Technology that led to the birth of a three-parent baby As technology advances, the contributor learned in the Amsterdam meeting that a new technology led to the birth of a three-parent baby. This means the baby's mother carried certain genes for a potentially fatal disease in her mitochondria, components of the cell that gives energy. To sustain this, the doctor, along with his colleagues, will use mitochondrial DNA from the woman's egg and her partner's sperm. This will technically result in three genetic parents, although the donated mitochondrial DNA was only made up of a small fraction of the total DNA. It also implies the cutoff or the percentage of a baby's DNA one needs to contribute to be considered as a parent. This technique is commonly done to help parents prevent passing down any mitochondrial diseases to their children. In most cases, the person contributing mitochondrial DNA who is an unrelated donor will have no further contact with the baby. However, in some cases, mitochondrial DNA represents a crucial genetic link to a child. Thus, if two women want to have a baby together, they might use one of their eggs and search for a sperm donor. In such cases, the baby is still genetically related but only to one of the women. The other woman's mitochondrial DNA can also contribute to her genetic link to the baby but a much smaller one. Having four or more parents Other technologies on the horizon might enable other individuals wanting to have a baby to share genetic parenthood of a baby. Many scientists are working hard to turn blood cells and human skin into sperm and egg cells in the laboratory. They aim to work hard and somehow make possibilities for biological parenthood expand even further. A same-sex couple wanting to have genetically related kids can turn one man's skin into an egg cell and fertilize it with the sperm of his partner to make an embryo. Hence, the same technology that makes another sperm of an egg cell from an embryo can also be used. One can do this with sex cells from two couples which ultimately creates an embryo that will have four genetic contributors. Related Article: How Breast Milk Is Developed Over Time Depending on Genetics and Food Consumed? Photo: (Photo : Bill Pugliano/Getty Images) A Michigan family of four who had not been seen or heard for days after the dad called 911 and exhibited paranoid behavior has been found safe in the state of Wisconsin, cops announced on Sunday, October 23. According to WOOD of Grand Rapids, the police found the Cirigliano family at around 11 a.m. Sunday in Steven's Point, Wisconsin. Authorities interviewed all four family members and determined that they were safe. The police department said that the family is still of the opinion that people are after them, but the elements of the investigation do not meet the criteria for them to be placed under protective custody. The department added that the family member requiring full-time care is now being cared for by other family members. Police issued missing persons alert after family's disappearance Fremont and Michigan State police previously said that family members had not heard from Anthony and Suzette Cirigliano, who are both 51 years old, or their two sons, Brandon, 19, and Noah, 15, since October 16. Their phone was also turned off, with their disappearances prompting both police departments to issue missing persons alert, according to NBC News. According to police, the family was last spotted at a gas station in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in Gulliver. Cops said they were buying fuel and food. State police said that Anthony Cirigliano had displayed paranoid behavior on October 16, the last day other family members had heard from them. Fremont Police Chief Tim Rodwell said that Anthony called 911 that day. When officers arrived at the home, he was talking about issues or information about the attacks on September 11th. Police officers made sure everyone in the family was safe and OK. They also spent about an hour talking with the couple. Rodwell said that Anthony's views were abnormal to say and to make a police report of. Read Also: Michigan Family Now Missing for Days in Abnormal Disappearance Dad showed extremely abnormal behavior Before the officers left, they told both Anthony and Suzette to call the cops with any other issues, and they would be there to help. Rodwell said investigators did not have any evidence of foul play in a statement last week. He did say that everyone who knows the Cirigliano family was shocked by their sudden disappearance. He said they described the family's disappearance as extremely abnormal behavior from Anthony and Suzette. Rodwell said an elderly relative suffering from dementia was found walking the neighborhood on Monday. The family was taking care of her before they vanished, according to ABC 7 Chicago. State police said that the two teen sons who disappeared have autism. The family hails from Fremont, a town of around 4,500, located about 35 miles north of the city of Grand Rapids. Rodwell told the media outlet that the Ciriglianos had lived there for four years now. The family lived in the Jasper County area of South Carolina before that. Related Article: Parents Worry After Florida Schools Ask Female Student-Athletes About Their Menstrual History Photo: (Photo : Pexel/ Polina Kovaleva) Parents who could not find the right school for their son on the autism spectrum decided to build a school that would welcome students like their son. They made this happen in just seven months. Josh and Maegan Cahoon started a school from the ground up at Virginia Beach after facing difficulties finding the right school for their son Maverick who is on the spectrum, The Virginian Pilot reported. "Maverick is on the spectrum, and we couldn't find the right fit. We tried self-contained classes, but he didn't need that much help. When we tried inclusion classes, he was overstimulated. It was like putting a square peg into a round hole. He needed something in-between, and we knew there were other children just like him," the mother of three expressed. Maverick Learning Center The Cahoons named the school after their son Maverick, a word which especially means an individualistic who does not concur with the crowd. The term is also synonymous with free-spirited, original, or one-of-a-kind. The Maverick Learning Center recently opened in September in the Hilltop area. They describe it as an "inclusive educational center," offering small group tutoring for Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) homeschooled children in Virginia Beach. The school welcomes and serves students on the autism spectrum. For the time being, it is accepting children from kindergarten to fifth grade and is soon planning to cater to middle school and high school grades. Its mission is to deliver a safe and effective learning environment for students, not only with ASD but also for those who have developmental delays. They are committed to protecting the self-esteem and confidence of these students while prioritizing a personalized educational experience. Their goal is for families challenged with ASD to find a community and a safe place, especially for their own "mavericks." Read Also: Autism And Evolution: Study Finds Links Between Autism, Evolutionary Gene Selection To Make Humans Smarter No need to 'fit in' Maegan emphasized that the school allows children to be who they are while being safe, without needing to try to fit in a certain type of crowd. She was determined to build a school after realizing that for families like theirs, the options are clear, either sit around for ten years or so while waiting for someone to sympathize with the struggles ASD kids and families are battling out or build what they need for their son and others themselves. And so, in a phone call with her husband one day in February, she opened up the idea, and Josh was immediately on board. They found a 4,200-square-foot former medical office on First Colonial Road, which needed a whole renovation to transform it into a safe and efficient learning environment. Josh, being a contractor, made it all easier for them. He was able to do the renovations during evenings and weekends. In just seven months, a school was built. It was said that the paint was not even that dry when the first students came in. The school's educational curriculum was created with the help of special education teachers, therapists, school administrators, and other ASD parents. This resulted in a "sensory friendly space," where there is a "calm room," and other areas for therapy and outdoor activities. Andrea Birch, a teacher in the school for kindergarten toddlers to second graders and a parent of a daughter with special needs associated with communication, expressed how grateful she was now that there is "more than one option" for kids like her daughter. She further stated that the school truly offers support for the "in-between kids," and a significant community for their daily lives. Related Article: Children With Autism at Higher Risk of Developing Mental Health Conditions, Study Proves Photo: (Photo : Steveriot1) Round Rock in Texas had traffic-choked intersections after massive, blunt, and different campaign slogans stood out from clusters of candidate signs that said: "Teach ABCs + 123s, Not CRTs & LGBTs," per Yahoo News. A blood-sport politics have come to the school board elections in Round Rock, a rapidly growing and diversifying suburb of Austin. Parents are now forming political action committees, canvassing door-to-door, and sparring on social media. Many groups, such as national interest groups, unions, and political parties, are weighing in on what have historically been nonpartisan contests. The slogan belongs to Don Zimmerman, one of the five conservative school board candidates who billed the "One Family" slate. The parents railed against the so-called "political correctness" in schools, "leftist" educators' unions, "pornography" in school libraries, and lastly, the LGBTQ-friendly policies. One of the group's main targets is the critical race theory (CRT), which argues that racism and prejudice are embedded within U.S. laws and institutions. Moreover, public schools and institutions across the nation have stated they are not teaching the college-level theory but added that it had become a catch-all term for critics of policies that promote equity and inclusion. Read Also: How Reproductive Technology Forces Almost Everyone to Reconsider Parenthood Battle in Round Rock has echoed the country Zimmerman runs against the incumbent, Tiffanie Harrison, a progressive and the first-ever Black woman elected to the Round Rock school board. Harrison and her followers named the challengers the "hate slate," accusing them of inciting division. In response, Zimmerman labeled his critics as "bigots" and "trolls" on social media and added that his slate is attempting to elevate the district's academic standards. The battle in Round Rock had echoed around the country and served as an outgrowth of a surge of activism, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when parents got furious over mask and vaccine mandates that disrupted the school board meetings from Florida to Alaska. Currently, the vexation is being harnessed by various conservatives nationally. Republicans such as Governor Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida had put "parental rights" at the center of the November re-election bids. Moreover, grassroots groups such as Moms for Liberty have also lobbied legislatures, and PACs (Political Action Committees) such as the 1776 Projects have raised funds nationwide to support hand-picked school board candidates. "Round Rock school district is ripe for political tension" Exerted efforts only determined how Republicans, who have obtained control of the majority of state legislatures and governor's offices in the country and now appear on the verge of seizing at least one chamber of the Congress in the U.S. midterm elections on November 8, are currently seeking to consolidate power on the community level. Ryan Girdusky, who pioneered the 1776 Project, estimated that approximately 70 percent of his school board candidates have triumphed in elections held so far this year. He referred to conquests in Democratic-leaning enclaves like Miami as the outcome of how their own concerns cross party lines. Additionally, the individuals and citizens reorganize and reorient their own lives around their children as they do not prefer their kids being messed with. The "Round Rock school district is ripe for political tension" as tech companies like Apple and Dell have conveyed an influx of skilled workers, many of whom were Asians and other diverse groups. Furthermore, new residents have now moved from nearby liberal Austin. Harrison told the outlet that people need to make tough decisions as that's only the beginning and start seeing the community's division. On the other hand, Zimmerman spoke for the conservative slate and said that the current board's COVID policies have gradually led to extensive learning loss. Related Article: New Rule Approved by SBOE Requires Schools to Notify Parents if Bathroom Is Not Separated by Biological Sex Photo: (Photo : FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) Experts said the death of a teen in the Las Vegas area from a rare brain-eating amoeba should prompt caution and not panic among people who enjoy rivers, springs, and freshwater lakes, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Brian Labus, a former public health epidemiologist, said the naturally occurring organism called Naegleria fowleri, dubbed the brain-eating amoeba, gets people's attention because of its name. He made it clear that it is a very rare disease. Investigators believe the teen victim was exposed to the amoeba in the warm waters at Lake Mead. The southern Nevada health district did not identify the teenager who passed away but said he might have been exposed to the microscopic organism during the weekend of September 30th in the Kingman Wash area on the Arizona side of the Colorado River reservoir behind the Hoover Dam. Rare amoeba case recorded in Nevada The district publicized the teen's case on Wednesday following confirmation of the cause of death from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Labus said that the CDC had recorded just 154 cases of infection and death from the amoeba in the United States since 1962, almost half of which were tallied in Texas and Florida. Only one case was reported in the state of Nevada before this week. Labus said he would not say there is an alarm to sound for this. He added that people need to be smart about it in places where this rare amoeba lives. The district and the Lake Mead national recreation area noted that the amoeba only infects people by entering the person's nose and migrating to the brain. The disease is almost always fatal. News releases from the two agencies said that it could not infect people if swallowed and is not spread from person to person. Both agencies advised people to avoid jumping or diving into warm bodies of water, especially during the summer, and to keep their heads above water in hot springs or other untreated geothermal waters. Read Also: 25% of Maternal Deaths in the US in 2020 and 2021 Are Due to COVID-19 Professor says illness is 99 percent preventable Dennis Kyle, a professor of infectious diseases and cellular biology, told the Guardian that it is 97 percent fatal but 99 percent preventable. He said people could protect themselves by not jumping into water that gets up their noses or using nose plugs. The amoeba in question causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis. It is a brain infection with symptoms resembling encephalitis or meningitis that initially includes fever, headache, nausea, or vomiting. The symptoms then progress to stiff neck, seizures, and coma, which can lead to death. Symptoms can start one to 12 days after exposure to the amoeba, and death usually happens within about five days. There is no known effective treatment for this illness, and according to Kyle, a diagnosis almost always comes too late for the patient. Related Article: Long Waiting Lists and High Costs Hinder Many Children's Access to Mental Health Care Changi Airport Group (CAG) has introduced a service that enables passengers to pre-book slots for security screening. ChangiQ is accessible via the iChangi app. It is intended to reduce the waiting time in queues and ensure that passengers can enjoy the dining, shopping and play options at Changi Airport. Passengers with a booking can use the special lane for security. The service is currently only available to passengers traveling on Singapore Airlines but Changi is looking to add other airlines progressively. ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write(' ') } // --> ') } else if (width >= 425) { console.log ('largescreen'); document.write('') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> Alongside this initiative, the airport has launched Changi Bingo, a game available in the transit area to keep passengers entertained while they are in transit. Players can receive an exclusive voucher once they have completed a set of activities. This game has been designed to encourage passengers to get acquainted with the airport and explore various transit locations that they may not have previously been aware of. To start, passengers launch the iChangi app and select Changi Bingo under the Travel tab. After keying in their flight details, passengers will be asked to complete three tasks in at least two of these three categories: shop and dine, explore and travel. For instance, a passenger may select a visit to Shilla Duty Free, under the shop and dine category, complete the stated activity and scan a QR code at the destination, which grants them one Changi Bingo card. Upon completion of three selected activities at the various task locations, passengers can unlock a bonus reward that can be redeemed at a store in transit. The Ghana Union of Traders Association has suspended its strike action. This is contained in a press release signed by the General Secretary of the Association, Alpha A. Shaban. The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has ended its strike after two days and urged its members to reopen their shops today, Friday. According to the release, the decision comes on the back of a meeting with the King of the Ga State, Mantse Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II who has promised to take the matter up to the appropriate authorities for urgent solution. The release also stated that the leadership of the Association was given the opportunity to meet the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, and lay their grievances and recommendations before him. GUTA had been protesting because of Ghanas forex challenges and the rising cost of doing business. 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 Digital transformation is forcing many industries to evolve their business models to suit new market realities. The most fascinating thing is that customers are driving this changenot companies. Todays customers expect content that complements their lives anytime, anywhere. For Angela Mensah-Poku, who is the Director of Digital Transformation and Commercial Operations at Vodafone Ghana, the only way businesses can keep up with this new breed of customers is by providing unmatched customer experiences both online and offline. "Our strategy is to balance both our traditional and digital customer experiences. This viewpoint has inspired us to evolve our channels in deliberate ways. Customers must enjoy the same excellent experience no matter where they choose to interact with us," she says. To achieve that, Vodafone Ghana has been steadily upgrading the customer experience both online and at its retail shops. The most recent upgrade is the Accra Mall outlet, which has been moved to a much larger space in the banking area of the mall. When it comes to digital, Vodafone Ghanas channels simplify customer interactions online in flexible and convenient ways. MyVodafoneApp is a unique self-care mobile app that allows customers to buy voice and internet bundles, send money, top up their accounts, track transactions, raise concerns, and more. MyVodafoneApp centralises all customer interactions and inquiries. It is available for free in both the Google Play Store and the App Store. The telecommunications company has also unveiled TOBi, a first-of-its-kind virtual assistant that performs customer care roles and offers customers advice on products, services, and enquiries around the clock. The machine-learning chatbot responds to simple questions via social media and MyVodafoneApp. TOBi continues to improve because it listens to and learns from customer feedback. Over the years, Vodafone Ghana's focus on digital transformation has helped it connect with customers and meet their expectations for a smooth experience, no matter what their limitations were. "We strive to make our customer experience more inclusive and convenient for customers with health conditions or impairments. Its about creating experiences that bring our humanity and empathy to the forefront. Thats what allows us to produce innovations like SuperCare," Angela explains. In 2017, Vodafone Ghana started its groundbreaking SuperCare project to help people with speech and hearing problems by giving them specialised services and help. Customers with speech or hearing impairments can use the SuperCare customer support line. Trained specialists in customer service are always on hand to assist customers. By dialling *494#, a hearing-impaired customer can request either a video or WhatsApp call, and get the help they need. The Vodafone SuperCare service is a first in Ghana. Vodafone Ghanas commitment to reshaping the customer experience extends to its mobile money platform as well. Today, payments for all Vodafone services are simple and free thanks to Vodafone Cash, Vodafones mobile money platform. Customers can also use the platform to purchase airtime and bundles and pay for utilities. Vodafone has also waived charges on transfers to other mobile money users across platforms, which has brought great relief to customers. Recently, Vodafone Cash added an overdraft feature that lets customers borrow money to complete certain transactions without getting turned down because they don't have enough money in their accounts. In an age where, more than ever before, the customer is king, Vodafone Ghanas unique view of digital transformation has enriched its engagement with customers over the years. Looking forward to 2023 and beyond, Angela is excited and optimistic but acknowledges that theres still a lot to be done. "We are empowering customers to access our products and services while enjoying convenience no matter where they interface with us. The next step involves a lot more listening to unearth insights about our customers changing needs. In the meantime, our customers can keep expecting more innovations wherever they interact with us. We remain committed to providing an unmatched customer experience for our customers." 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 U.S. Government, through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has commissioned the Volta Regional Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) in Ho. This is the fourth center to be opened in Ghana since 2021. The operations center represents a collaboration between the governments of the United States, South Korea, and Ghana. The $200,000 Volta Regional Public Health Emergency Operations Center is the fourth regional center commissioned in Ghana three other centers have already opened in Kumasi, Sekondi, and Tamale. Representing the United States, CDC Country Director Dr. Tony Ao joined Volta Regional Minister Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, Ghana Health Service Director General Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, and the Republic of Korea Ambassador to Ghana Lim Jung-taek in the commissioning of the Volta Regional Public Health Emergency Operation Center (PHEOC) in Ho on October 13. Public health emergency operations centers play an integral role in the coordination of responses to public health threats, such as Marburg virus disease, COVID-19, polio, and monkeypox. These recent outbreaks underscore the need for a network of regional coordination centers to improve data sharing that drives decision-making, informs national policy, and allows rapid response to new emergencies, said Dr. Ao. Photo: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Country Director Dr. Tony Ao (center left) commissions the Volta Regional Public Health Emergency Operations Center with partners from the Republic of Korea and Ghana. A PHEOC serves as the central command center and brings together important stakeholders and experts for coordinated responses to public health events and threats, like COVID-19, polio, and Ebola. It provides real-time data analyses and visualizations that promote evidence-based decision making. Regional PHEOCs are a part of a sustainable approach to building a resilient and responsive public health infrastructure in Ghana and will link with the national PHEOC for mutual and timely sharing of critical pandemic and health emergency information. These centers are a clear example of how strong partnership can advance the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) through leadership of the regional authorities and Ghana Health Service and technical assistance from CDC with support from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The GHSA is a group of 70 countries (including Ghana, the Republic of Korea, and the United States), international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector companies that have come together to achieve the collective vision of a world safe and secure from global health threats posed by infectious diseases. Establishing a network of PHEOCs is one of the key strategies of GHSA. CDC plays a leading role in implementing the GHSA through its work to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. The U.S.-Ghana bilateral partnership has grown stronger through technical expertise and critical infrastructure that has allowed Ghana to rapidly respond to epidemics and save lives. From vaccines to oxygen equipment to long-term health infrastructure investment and coordinated health information, the United States Government has made a decades long commitment to Ghanas public health systems. This includes life-saving initiatives such as GHSA, the U.S. Presidents Malaria Initiative (PMI), and the U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). For more information about U.S. CDCs support in Ghana, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/ globalhealth/countries/ghana/ default.htm About U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC is the United States leading science-based, data-driven, service organization that protects the publics health. For more than 70 years, CDC has used science to protect the publics health in the United States and globally. CDC supports the Government of Ghana by providing technical assistance to strengthen capacity for disease outbreak response, laboratory system strengthening, public health emergency preparedness, and infectious disease surveillance. 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 The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has been awarded Cyber Security Regulator of the year at the 12th Ghana Information Technology & Telecom Awards (GITTA). The CSA was established on October 2021 by section 2 of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) to regulate cybersecurity activities in the country; to promote the development of cybersecurity in the country and to provide for related matters. Cybersecurity Regulation in Ghana The dependence on digitalisation to transform Ghanas economy comes with increased risk of cyber threats and attacks on Critical infrastructure, businesses and individuals. The current digitalised and interconnected environment means that a single cybersecurity incident can affect an entire organisation, a whole nation and the world at large. As cybercrimes increase, cybersecurity services, establishments and professionals have become a critical solution for mitigating cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities within Ghanas fast developing digital ecosystem. It is therefore necessary that the industry is regulated to ensure that there are appropriate guidelines for practitioners and so that practitioners can be held accountable for their actions as part of efforts to control cybersecurity risks and to protect the interests and safety of Children, the Public, Businesses, and Government. Globally, regulatory compliance has become one of the most effective and reliable strategies to mitigate cyber risks within the industry. The implementation of cybersecurity regulations is imperative to deal with both existing and emerging cyber threats which have the potential to undermine the digital dividends expected from our digital economy. The Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) provides the regulatory framework to promote cybersecurity development in the country. The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has thus commenced a number of regulatory activities including the protection of Critical Information Infrastructures, pursuant to Section 35 to 40 of Act 1038; licensing of Cybersecurity Service Providers pursuant to Sections of 49 to 56 and regulations on cybersecurity incident reporting and response, pursuant to Sections 41 to 48 of the Cybersecurity Act, 2022. Plans are advanced to ensure that starting January 2023, businesses, firms and individuals will not be able to offer cybersecurity services unless the entity or the individual is licensed or accredited by the Authority. Similarly designated Critical Information Infrastructure Owners will be subjected to mandatory audit and compliance checks against the Directive for the Protection of Critical Information Infrastructures which was adopted on October 1, 2021. In order for these regulations to be effectively enforced, the Cyber Security Authority has since the beginning of the year held collaborative meetings on the implementation of the Act with key stakeholders to ensure mutual understanding and commitment to implement the provisions of the Act. The internet offers several opportunities for improving the lives of children through access to information which is beneficial to their education, health and social wellbeing. Many children are, however, becoming prone to criminal online practices which are detrimental to their development. The Cyber Security Authority, as a regulator, is committed to ensuring the protection of children online per its mandate in the Cybersecurity Act 2020. In furtherance of the mandate, the Child Online Protection Framework has been revised to ensure the utmost safety of our children online. The Cyber Security Authority is being guided by the Governing Board and also through the Joint Cybersecurity Committee to approach cybersecurity regulations from a collaborative perspective. To improve awareness amongst key stakeholders on the regulatory provisions of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) and to create a culture of cybersecurity regulatory compliance, as well as effective operations and management of reporting and responding to cybersecurity incidents among stakeholders especially the sectoral Computer Emergency Response Teams,. Subsequently, the 2022 edition of the National Cyber Security Awareness Month, which is celebrated in October every year is being organised under the theme, Regulating Cybersecurity: A Public-Private Sector Collaborative Approach, to build synergy among public and private sector institutions and stakeholders to effectively regulate the countrys cybersecurity. This was a follow up the previous years awareness month which was organised under the theme, Ghana's Cybersecurity Act, 2020; Its Implications and the Role of Stakeholders to mark the introduction of the landmark cybersecurity legislation to provide the legal backing to the countrys cybersecurity development. The Authority, working with other stakeholders, has so far engaged industry professionals, critical information infrastructure owners, the Bank Of Ghana and the Ghana Association of Banks, Civil Society Organisations, parents and children, international partners among others. Collaborations underpin the activities of the Cyber Security Authority in the execution of its mandate. This has reflected in the inauguration of the Joint Cybersecurity Committee (JCC) under Section 13 of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020, to collaborate with Authority and other sector-institutions represented on the Committee for the implementation of relevant cybersecurity measures. The Industry Forum is also set to be established under Section 81 of the Act, as a platform to periodically bring private sector industry players together to discuss matters of common interest. Dr. Antwi-Boasiako receives Top 20 Tech Leaders Award The Ag. Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, has received Top 20 Tech Leaders Award at the 12th Ghana Information Technology & Telecom Awards (GITTA). Prior to his appointment on October 1, 2021, he served as the National Cybersecurity Advisor and Head of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) from July 2017 to September 2021 He led the institutionalisation of Ghanas cybersecurity development which progressed from 32.6% in 2017 to 86.69% in 2020, according to the ITUs Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI), with Ghana ranked 3rd in Africa and 43rd globally. In 2011, Dr. Antwi-Boasiako founded e-Crime Bureau, the first cybersecurity and digital forensics firm with a state-of-the art e-Crime Lab to be established and operated in West Africa. Since 2014, He has served as an Expert with the Council of Europes Global Action on Cybercrime Extended (GLACY+) Project. In June 2021, he was recognised as the worlds 20th most Influential Security Executive in the Cybersecurity Category by IFSEC Global. He currently serves on the Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT). He is a Bureau Member of the Cybercrime Convention Committee (T-CY) and is the Government of Ghanas representative on ECOWAS Regional Technical Committee (RTC) on Cybersecurity. He is a Member of the Governing Boards of the National Information Technology Agency and the Cyber Security Authority. . 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 pollution of water bodies in the Eastern Region due to the activities of illegal miners has adversely affected water quality in the area. The situation has compelled the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to use more chemicals for the treatment of water to make it wholesome for human consumption. One of the heavily polluted water bodies is the Birim River. The region depends on water mainly from the Densu River, the Volta River and now heavily polluted Birim River. The Eastern Regional Chief Manager of the GWCL, Asomani Kweku Nyarko, in an interview with the Daily Graphic at his Koforidua office last Tuesday said since the company had to use more chemicals such as chlorine and alum, among others, which was making them incur huge losses. He said before the illegal mining (galamsey) menace, the company was using 19 milligrammes of chemicals per litre of water but currently, it was using 103 milligrammes of chemicals per litre of water. PURC tariffs In view of the situation, Mr Nyarko indicated that the company had not been able to charge the Public Utility Regulatory Commission agreed tariffs due to shutdowns of its treatment plants as a result of pollution of the water by galamsayers. Apart from that, he stated that the frequent destruction of the pipelines by construction firms made it impossible for the company to regularly supply water to consumers. Consumers, he indicated, were therefore, unwilling to pay bills because they were not getting the water as required and that had affected the company's finances. That, he said, was because the company could only produce 50 cubic metres of water instead of the required 95 cubic metres of water for consumers out of the required 100 cubic metres. He stated that the company's inability to produce more for human consumption was bringing dissatisfaction to consumers because GWCL could simply not meet their demand. Mr Nyarko also pointed out that a lot of water was being thrown away as waste (bi-product) due to the level of pollution. Equipment replacement He said the unfortunate situation was that the bad nature of the raw water had compelled the company to be replacing its water treatment equipment every five years instead of 15 years. The Eastern Regional GWCL boss noted that such replacements had also been making the company incur financial losses. With regard to the water situation in the New Juaben South and New Juaben North municipalities as well as some parts of the Abuakwa North Municipality, Mr Nyarko said those areas relied on water from the Volta and the Densu rivers through treatment plants at Bukonor (Volta River) and Koforidua (Densu River). Akim Oda, Nkawkaw, Nsawam At Akim Oda, he said the towns water treatment plant, which had not been functioning properly due to the recent torrential rainfall, had been repaired and now water was flowing from the town to Akwatia, Kade and adjoining communities. He added that Akim Swedru and its surrounding villages would soon get their share of treated water. He also explained that the Akim Oda Water Treatment Plant was underutilised because demand for water was less than the capacity, while the supply lines in the Krobo enclave were being improved. Speaking to the situation at Nkawkaw and on the entire Kwahu Ridge, Mr Nyarko indicated that while consumers at Nkawkaw relied on water from boreholes which were being improved, those on the Kwahu Ridge depended on water drawn from the Afram River and treated at the Kotoso Water Treatment Plant. Within Nsawam and its environs, he stated that the area had a peculiar water supply situation because it was heavily built, as a result of which the company had to embark on demand management. Mr Nyarko explained that in view of that Nsawam had to be provided with water for four days within the week, while the environs got water for three days within a week. Consumers speak out In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Bernice Ofori from Klow Town, a suburb of Koforidua, said she was not happy about the irregular flow of water to her rented premises, adding that while GWCL periodically shut down the taps, her landlord also did that on specific days such as Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. According to her, the landlord's action was to prevent water wastage by children in the house and that had been causing a lot of inconvenience to the household. Isaac Mensah, a resident of Kukurantumi in the Abuakwa North Municipality, also told the Daily Graphic that the flow of water to the community had not been frequent and that had been adversely affecting both domestic and commercial activities. Source: graphic.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 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has backed the One-District, One-Factory initiative, under the broader industrialisation agenda of government, as a basis for developing a home-grown infrastructure that is capable of withstanding the uncertainties of exogenous shocks to the Ghanaian economy. In this regard, the President pointed out that the Eastern Region, alone, has seen seventeen (17) completed 1D1F enterprises, with another sixteen (16) at various stages of completion and soon to be commissioned, as well as another four(4) at the project conception stage. The performance and success of the completed 1D1F projects across the country, with regards to minimizing unemployment and shoring local production, has thus far, been a clear indication of President Akufo-Addos long-held belief that Ghanas path towards self-reliance is largely premised on the countrys determination to industrialise. According to the President who began a three-day tour of the Eastern Region on Friday, the whole purpose of the policy means having factories and enterprises here in Ghana, which will substitute the ones that are coming from abroad. That is the whole purpose of the policy. Instead of importing XYZ, you're going to have them made here. He added that, when we said we wanted to implement 1D1F and certain strategic industrial policies, we were told it couldn't be done, but today everyone is talking about how important it is for the Ghanaian economy to lessen it's dependence on foreign goods and foreign services. Now people are beginning to understand that indeed we had the foresight, we knew exactly what we needed to do to bring substantial progress, real progress not intermittent progress, but substantial progress which is going to be strong and resilient. That is what I've noticed is ongoing, he added. President Akufo-Addo indicated further that, by the time we are through, then the commitment of a 1D1F would have been established. And we can only strengthen the industrial development of the country, which is very important to note that foreign import dependence will not inure to our growth. We have the panacea, the solution, and Government is working towards it. President Akufo-Addos 1D1F initiative is meant to change the nature of Ghanas economy from one which is dependent on import and export of raw materials to one which is focused on manufacturing, value addition and export of processed goods from raw materials that are largely found in the districts across the country. Source: graphic.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 Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, the Minister for National Security, has commended officers of the various security agencies for sacrificing to maintain and ensure peace and tranquillity in the Country. He said the fact that Ghana was recognised as the most peaceful and secured country in the sub-region and considered the second most powerful and secured country in Africa, was an achievement all Ghanaians should be proud of. If our investment drive has been successful, that has fed into it. Investors come because they know that there is peace and tranquillity in our country. Let us, as Ghanaians never forget that the peace and tranquillity that we have is the result of sacrifices being made by our gallant troops. I want to take this opportunity to salute and thank them and to let them know how much we in government appreciate the work that they are doing for us, the National Security Minister said. Mr Kan Dapaah gave the commendation in Bolgatanga at a brief ceremony to hand over motorbikes and pick-up vehicles to four security agencies in the Upper East Region to boost their operations. The beneficiary agencies were the Ghana Immigration Service which received one pick-up vehicle and 10 motorbikes, the Ghana Armed Forces had a pick-up vehicle and 15 motorbikes. The Ghana Police Service had a pick-up vehicle and 20 motorbikes, while the National Investigations Bureau, got two pick-up vehicles and five motorbikes. Mr Kan Dapaah said even though it was not the primary responsibility of the Sector to provide vehicles to the security agencies, the Ministry took the initiative from its budget to support the agencies to function effectively. He noted that some of the agencies, especially the Ghana National Fire Service, and the Ghana Prison Service had not benefitted, and gave the assurance that they would soon receive their share of the vehicles. The National Security Minister said the security challenges in the Upper East Region were peculiar, and needed a lot of attention to handle, and commended members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) for the successful management of the security challenges in the Region. He said the conflict in Bawku required careful management, In recent times, the reports that I get from Bawku indicate that to a large extent, we are able to get the two sides to work together. That is necessary and can only be achieved through the commitment, loyalty, and determination of the security agencies, especially the REGSEC, Mr Kan Dapaah added. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Nine more people have tested positive for the Ebola virus at Ugandas national referral hospital Mulago in the capital Kampala. This brings the number of positive cases at the facilitys isolation unit to 14. Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng has said that the positive cases are contacts of an individual from Kassanda, one of the most affected districts, who recently died at Mulago hospital. Seven of the new positive cases are from one family. The others are a health worker and his wife. The health worker is from a local clinic in an area just outside the city, where he treated one of the now-positive cases. There is growing concern that the outbreak could get out of hand as more cases continue to be reported in the capital. There is an ongoing quarantine in the two most affected districts of Mubende and Kassanda, but cases have continued to rise. Last week, officials inspected health facilities in Kampala and Entebbe region to check on their readiness to handle Ebola cases. It has been over a month since an outbreak of the Sudan strain of Ebola was first reported in Ugandas central region, in a rural part of Mubende district. Official figures show there are currently 75 positive Ebola cases in the country, 28 of whom have died. These are only confirmed cases, and do not include figures for probable cases or deaths. Source: BBC 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 At least 23,000 people have fled their homes since Thursday following fresh clashes in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between government soldiers and the M23 rebels, the UN says. Among those displaced recently, about 2,500 people have fled to neighbouring Uganda, the UNs humanitarian affairs agency said. In total, more than 390,000 have been displaced in Congo's Rutshuru area since March. The AFP news agency reports that the M23 rebels took Ntamugenga village, around 15km (nine miles) from Rutshuru town, during Sunday clashes. A statement from the army said it controls the situation on all the fronts. It added that four civilians were killed and 40 others including children were injured in the clashes. Each side accuses the other of starting the fighting on Thursday. The army accused Rwandan forces of invading DR Congo disguised as M23 rebels. Rwanda has continuously denied supporting the rebels. Source: BBC 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 is pleading with Ghanaians that he is going to turn the deteriorating economy around for the better. According to him, Ghanaians should be confident in him that he will very soon turn things around. Have faith in me, I will ensure that I turn the economy around. This too shall pass, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said at the St Mark Anglican Church, Kyebi to end his Eastern Regional tour. On his part, Rt Rev. Felix Odei Annacy, the Anglican Bishop of Koforidua, advised the president to seek Gods direction to resolve the economic crises. Have a personal interaction with God. Seek God fervently. Read your Bible. You will have all the answers to resolve the economic crunch. The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, expressed discontent at galamsey and its devastation to the Atewa Forest and asked that the financiers be dealt with. The young boys dont have money to buy excavators. The financiers are there. Doing galamsey is bad. Why would you go into the Atewa Forest with an excavator? Go to school, collecting 100 Ghana wont be sustainable for the future. Ghanaians are currently facing economic challenges just as other countries are also doing. The Cedi has recently been classified by Bloomberg as the worst-performing currency against the US Dollar. Currently, the Cedi is trading at above GH14 to a dollar at some forex bureaus. The depreciation rate is a contributory factor for the ongoing shop closures ordered by the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA). According to the group, the fast depreciation of the Cedi is eroding their profits and also increasing the cost of doing business. 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 Former Afigya Kwabre South constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party(NPP), Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, known in public life COKA wants all hands on deck in fighting illegal mining in Ghana. COKA who appears worried over the recent spate in illegal mining(galamsey) has made a clarion call on Ghanaians to come together and fight the menace which has almost become a canker in the country. Speaking on a radio interview on Monday, October 24, 2022, he saidWe all have a role to play, as far as galamsey is concerned. None should be left out. Winning this war is not a mans business. It requires collective effortschiefs, media, civilians, everybody; I mean all hands on deck. We must also not be party central. Lest we lose the fight.He maintains that mining is not a bad venture. However, it becomes problematic when the right procedures are not followed in acquiring license and in mining the mineral. Joel,-(pointing to the host of the program), were not saying its wrong of mine, No! What we insist is for people in this business to go through the right channels. Were losing our farms and water bodies to galamsey, that should be a source of worry. When it comes to galamsey, were all guilty until we stand up to it and fight it head on. Im confident with this approach well win together, he said. Recently, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and the President, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo have called for a non-partisan approach to fighting illegal mining in the country. Source: Purefmonline.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, on Saturday, October 22, 2022 as part of his three-day tour of the Eastern Region commissioned the Nsawam Skills Acquisition, Vocational and Reformation Camp Prison. The edifice comprises fully furnished 320-capacity dormitory blocks for the inmates, a skills training centre in carpentry, tailoring, a state-of-the-art ICT Lab, Administration block, a Chapel (which shall also serve as classroom), a Kitchen, a dining hall, laundry, inmates washrooms, seven sentry posts, two mechanised boreholes, offices, an infirmary, a visitors lounge, a shop, CCTV Installations, and other ancillary and recreational facilities. Constructed by the Church of Pentecost, in furtherance of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) detailing the respective roles of the Ghana Prisons Service and The Church of Pentecost, this is the second to be commissioned, after the maiden one at Ejura was handed over to the Ghana Prisons Service a year ago. Addressing the gathering, President Akufo-Addo stated that this is an example of the collaboration between the Church of Pentecost and the government. We saw it during the height of the COVID crisis, when the church made available its facilities in the Gomoa Fetteh area, and also organised food for the needy at the time. It shows the commitment of this church towards contributing to resolving the socio-economic problems of our nation. All Ghanaians should therefore join me in saying a big ayekoo to them. He indicated that the church of Pentecost, by what it has done here today, has demonstrated exceptional leadership in its desire to maintain and grow a partnership with the state to address the problems of our nation. The second of such facilities that are being constructed by the Church of Pentecost, and there are 3 others as Apostle Nyamekye indicated in the pipeline, per my understanding, and at least 2 of them will be commissioned by the end of this year. He said, I can say with confidence that this ceremony is the highlight of my 3-day working visit to the region. I say so because we're witnessing today, a very important example of the collaboration that we seek in this country, between government and several stakeholders in our nation, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations and independent institutions in our nation. Apostle, your leadership of the church has already been commended by the General secretary, I want to add my voice to that commendation, about the sterling work that you're doing in the name of Christ and the Christian community in our country, it's exceptional and we must recognise it. Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, said, the Ejura Prison camp project constructed last year is already yielding some dividends. Currently, thirty-six (36) inmates are being trained in different trades (Tailoring, Kente Weaving, Leatherworks, Carpentry, and Metalworks). A good number of the inmates have already been trained at the workshop and have since been discharged. He said this vision of the Church is hinged on a three-pronged approach, one of which is partnering with Government for the socio-economic development of the nation. As a church, we believe that we have not only been called to worship God but to also, serve Gods purpose within the society. It is from such a conviction that we are gathered here to commission this prison camp project, he added. Apostle Nyamekye noted that prison overcrowding is one key contributing factor to poor prison conditions around the world. It is also arguably the biggest single problem facing prison systems. Such overcrowding and associated challenges prevent prisons from fulfilling their proper functions. The Ghana Prisons Service, he stated, is experiencing acute overcrowding in its holding facilities across the country. Available statistics at the time of crafting our vision 2023 strategic document in 2018, indicated an overcrowding rate of 50.43% (i.e., 50.43% beyond the normal capacity). As of last Thursday, 20th October 2022, there were a total of 14,957 inmates in our prisons, as against the maximum capacity of 9,850. Using the Nsawam medium security prisons as a case in point, Mr. President, this holding facility was built to hold a total of 850 prisoners, but currently, the facility is holding 3,187 prisoners. This represents over 275% above the required capacity. Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Managing Editor of Daily Searchlight Newspaper, Ken Kuranchie says the export and import structure of the countrys economy is the cause of fast depreciation of the cedi against major currencies. He intimated that answers to the devaluation of the cedi is at the department of economics at the University of Ghana. There is a book there called Economy of Ghana 101. Every politician should read it. We should go to the people at the economic department of the University of Ghana, get the book and read it, the managing Editor advised. He stressed the challenges with the cedi are embedded in the book adding that the issues dealt with in the book have to do with the countrys import and export structure of the economy. Meanwhile, he said he believes that the cedi is heading towards its natural place. You know every animal has a habitat and the cedi is heading towards its natural habitat. When Kwame Nkrumah gave us the cedi its value was comparable to the pound sterling. But by the time we got towards the later part of Rawlings tenure one dollar was 10,000 cedis Mr. Kuranchie told Starr News. According to him, the situation then informed former President Kuffuors decision to introduce what is called the redenomination. Mr. Kuranchie, however, added that the redenomination about 16 years ago by former President John Agyakum Kuffuor was not helpful and his government could not explain why cedi was equivalent to dollar after the redenomination. So until we sit and answer that question and address it and begin to passionately deal with that problem. The cedi will continue to head to its natural place and we are heading to a very deep and dark place. The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has said Ghanaians should not panic over the high depreciation of the Cedi. The woes of the Ghana Cedi continue to deepen as the currency has depreciated and reaching GHC17.5 to 1$. But, Ken Ofori Atta believes the economy will bounce back soon and the Cedi stabilized following measures being put in place by the government. It is a bit perplexing but as you know, typically we go to market at the beginning of the year and get our 2 billion, this we were not able to do. We were able to get our 750 from AfroExim and in the summer August or so things stabilized a bit. Then we moved on traditionally as we do with the ASL (Annual Syndicated Loan) of COCOBOD and that came in very strongly. So its a bit perplexing to see where its going. Of course, typically in October, people are importing for Christmas, and maybe theres a rush for that. But my expectation is that once we also conclude with the Fund that will lead to the Funds disbursement early next year. With the support we are getting from countries like Germany, France etcetera, we are confident that well get the resources needed. So we really will want people not to panic or be rushing for that pressure on the currency. I think it is unnecessary and we are in good shape, Mr Ofori Atta said in an interview in Washington. 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 Viral videos of traders hooting, booing and jeering at President Nana Addo Danqua Akufo-Akufo emerged on social media few days ago when he was touring the Ashanti region. This generated discussions with some suggesting that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) were the masterminds. Social commentator Bernard Allotey Jacobs says those hooting at the President were not traders. "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. Speaking to this on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Kwamena Duncan, former Central Regional Minister says those accusing the NDC may be justified because "it is not beyond their doing". "They speak as if they know the minds of everyone in the Ashanti Region . . . you think that a political party which is so desperate . . . looking for power and using all kinds of means to do that; you think that it is beyond them to mobilise (people) and get them positioned somewhere and video themselves? You think that NDC, this is beyond them? Then their rented press will pick it up; all to bring a dampener on the visit of the President . . . but the President will not be distracted," he stated. Listen to him in the video below 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 South Africa: Government making headway in uprooting corruption at DLTCs Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, says government is making headway in uprooting malfeasance and corruption at driving licence testing centres (DLTC). Working with law enforcement authorities, we are making headway in uprooting malfeasance and corruption, Mbalula said. Addressing media in Pretoria on Monday, Mbalula said over the last year, the department has been working with MECs and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to implement a number of interventions that are intended to address the root causes of systemic and operational challenges. At the core of these interventions is a seamlessly integrated value chain, guided by a single standard, under the leadership of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), Mbalula said. Mbalula said various measures have been implemented, which include the introduction of online services and online payments, the rollout of smart enrolment units across all DLTCs, and the centralisation of the management of booking slots. The National Assembly [has] passed the National Road Traffic Amendment Bill, which... provides us with more instruments to aggressively tackle the intractable challenge of corruption that continues to bedevil the vehicle and driver licensing system. The regulation of driving schools, through this legislation, will enable closer scrutiny of the conduct of these schools and ensure that uniform standards are applicable to all driving schools." Mbalula said stricter rules are being introduced to address cheating by learners and wayward behaviour by instructors. The prevalence of criminal conduct, ranging from the cloning of vehicles to the fraudulent issuing of driving licences, is a matter of concern that is receiving our most urgent attention, Mbalula said. Mbalula said the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) has until 31 March 2023 to complete investigations into corruption at DLTCs and table a final report. Our government is committed to fighting corruption. This investigation has allowed the department to act on corrupt officials at driving licensing centers and other entities within the transport sector. South Africans continue to place their trust and confidence on government officials to deliver services without unduly benefiting themselves from the public purse." In its investigation, the SIU has so far identified the drivers of the systemic and operational challenges that give rise to corruption. The SIU has since presented an interim report, identifying a number of administrative actions that should be taken by the various authorities. The SIU was mandated by the President, through Proclamation R37 of 2017, to investigate matters in respect of the following: Registration of motor vehicles. Licencing of motor vehicles. Testing and issuing of roadworthy certificates. Testing and issuing of driving licences, learners permits, licences, professional driving permits and issuing of operator fitness cards. Conversion of foreign licences to South African licences. Head of the Special Investigating Unit, Advocate Andy Mothibi, said the SIU was authorised to investigate the entering of, changing, tempering with or manipulation of data or information on eNatis. Mothibi said the SIU is estimated to conclude its investigation by 31 March 2023. The SIU continues to receive allegations from whistleblowers. The SIU will continue to investigate and further engage with the RTMC and the Department of Transport where there is a need to amend the current Proclamations or process a new Proclamation, Mothibi said. The SIU made findings and recommendations with regard to DLTCs and other entities, which are being implemented. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-10-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Brief introductions of members of CPC central leading bodies EditorChen Zhuo Time2022-10-24 09:58:18 BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The following are the brief introductions of the members of the central leading bodies of the Communist Party of China: Xi Jinping Xi Jinping, male, Han ethnicity, was born in June 1953 and is from Fuping, Shaanxi Province. He began his first job in January 1969 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in January 1974. Xi graduated from School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tsinghua University where he completed an in-service graduate program in Marxist theory and ideological and political education. He holds a Doctor of Law degree. Xi is currently General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, President of the People's Republic of China (PRC), and Chairman of the PRC Central Military Commission. Li Qiang Li Qiang, male, Han ethnicity, was born in July 1959 and is from Ruian, Zhejiang Province. He began his first job in July 1976 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in April 1983. He received a graduate education at the Central Party School and holds an executive MBA degree. Li is currently a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee. Zhao Leji Zhao Leji, male, Han ethnicity, was born in March 1957 and is from Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. He began his first job in September 1974 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in July 1975. He received a graduate education at the Central Party School. Zhao is currently a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau. Wang Huning Wang Huning, male, Han ethnicity, was born in October 1955 and is from Laizhou, Shandong Province. He began his first job in February 1977 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in April 1984. Wang graduated from Department of International Politics, Fudan University where he completed a graduate program in international politics and was awarded a Master of Laws degree. He holds a professional title of professor. Wang is currently a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Deepening Reform. Cai Qi Cai Qi, male, Han ethnicity, was born in December 1955 and is from Youxi, Fujian Province. He began his first job in March 1973 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in August 1975. Cai graduated from School of Economics and Law, Fujian Normal University where he completed an in-service graduate program in political economy. He holds a Doctor of Economics degree. Cai is currently a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, a member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, and Chairman and Leading Party Members Group Secretary of the Organizing Committee for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Ding Xuexiang Ding Xuexiang, male, Han ethnicity, was born in September 1962 and is from Nantong, Jiangsu Province. He began his first job in August 1982 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in October 1984. Ding graduated from School of Management, Fudan University where he completed an in-service graduate program in administrative management. He holds a Master of Science degree and a professional title of professor-level senior engineer. Ding is currently a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, Director of the CPC Central Committee General Office, and Secretary of the Working Committee of the Central Party and State Institutions. Li Xi Li Xi, male, Han ethnicity, was born in October 1956 and is from Liangdang, Gansu Province. He began his first job in July 1975 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in January 1982. Li graduated from Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Northwest China Teachers' College where he completed an undergraduate program in Chinese language and literature. He holds an executive MBA degree. Li is currently a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, and Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee. Ma Xingrui Ma Xingrui, male, Han ethnicity, was born in October 1959 and is from Yuncheng, Shandong Province. He began his first job in March 1988 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in January 1988. Ma graduated from Flight Dynamics Research Laboratory, Harbin Institute of Technology where he completed a graduate program in general mechanics. He holds a Doctor of Engineering degree and a professional title of professor. Ma is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, Secretary of the CPC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee, and First Political Commissar of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Wang Yi Wang Yi, male, Han ethnicity, was born in October 1953 and is from Beijing. He began his first job in September 1969 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in May 1981. Wang graduated from Department of Asian and African Languages, Beijing Second Institute of Foreign Languages where he completed an undergraduate program. He holds a Master of Economics degree. Wang is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, State Councilor, a member of the Leading Party Members Group of the State Council, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Yin Li Yin Li, male, Han ethnicity, was born in August 1962 and is from Linyi, Shandong Province. He began his first job in September 1987 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in June 1983. Yin graduated from Semashko Research Institute of Social Hygiene, Economics and Public Health Management, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences where he completed a graduate program in health economics and health management. He holds a Doctor of Medical Science degree. Yin is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Fujian Provincial People's Congress. Shi Taifeng Shi Taifeng, male, Han ethnicity, was born in September 1956 and is from Yushe, Shanxi Province. He began his first job in May 1974 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in June 1982. He graduated from Law Department, Peking University where he completed a graduate program in basic theories of law. He holds a Master of Laws degree and a professional title of professor. Shi is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, a member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat, Vice Chairman of the Education, Science, Culture, and Public Health Committee of the 13th National People's Congress, and President and Leading Party Members Group Secretary of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Liu Guozhong Liu Guozhong, male, Han ethnicity, was born in July 1962 and is from Wangkui, Heilongjiang Province. He began his first job in August 1982 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in November 1986. Liu graduated from Department of Metal Materials and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology where he completed a graduate program in pressure processing. He holds a Master of Engineering degree and a professional title of assistant engineer. Liu is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, Secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress. Li Ganjie Li Ganjie, male, Han ethnicity, was born in November 1964 and is from Changsha, Hunan Province. He began his first job in July 1989 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in December 1984. Li graduated from Institute of Nuclear Technology, Tsinghua University where he completed a graduate program in nuclear reactor engineering and safety and was awarded a Master of Engineering degree. He holds a professional title of senior engineer. Li is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, a member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat, Secretary of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial People's Congress. Li Shulei Li Shulei, male, Han ethnicity, was born in January 1964 and is from Yuanyang, Henan Province. He began his first job in December 1984 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in September 1986. Li graduated from Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Peking University where he completed a graduate program in modern Chinese literature and received a Master of Arts degree. He holds a professional title of professor. Li is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, a member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat, and Deputy Head of Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee in charge of routine work. Li Hongzhong Li Hongzhong, male, Han ethnicity, was born in August 1956 and is from Changle, Shandong Province. He began his first job in August 1975 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in December 1976. Li graduated from Department of History, Jilin University where he completed an undergraduate program in history. He holds a professional title of economist. Li is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and Secretary of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee. He Weidong He Weidong, male, Han ethnicity, was born in May 1957 and is from Dongtai, Jiangsu Province. He joined the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in December 1972 and the Communist Party of China (CPC) in November 1978. He received an undergraduate education at the Central Party School. He is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and serves as Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission. He holds the rank of general in the PLA Ground Force. He Lifeng He Lifeng, male, Han ethnicity, was born in February 1955 and is from Xingning, Guangdong Province. He began his first job in August 1973 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in June 1981. He graduated from Department of Public Finance and Economics, Xiamen University where he completed a graduate program in public finance. He holds a Doctor of Economics degree. He is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, Vice Chairman and Leading Party Members Group member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Director and Leading Party Members Group Secretary of the National Development and Reform Commission. Zhang Youxia Zhang Youxia, male, Han ethnicity, was born in July 1950 and is from Weinan, Shaanxi Province. He joined the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in December 1968 and the Communist Party of China (CPC) in May 1969. He graduated from the Basic Department of the PLA Military Academy and received a junior college education. Zhang is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China. He holds the rank of general in the PLA Ground Force. Zhang Guoqing Zhang Guoqing, male, Han ethnicity, was born in August 1964 and is from Luoshan, Henan Province. He began his first job in September 1985 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in July 1984. Zhang graduated from School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University where he completed an in-service graduate program in quantitative economics. He holds a Doctor of Economics degree and a professional title of senior engineer at the research fellow level. Zhang is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, Secretary of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Liaoning Provincial People's Congress. Chen Wenqing Chen Wenqing, male, Han ethnicity, was born in January 1960 and is from Renshou, Sichuan Province. He began his first job in July 1984 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in March 1983. Chen graduated from Department of Law, Southwest China Institute of Political Science and Law where he completed an undergraduate program in law. Chen is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, a member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat, and Minister and CPC Committee Secretary of the Ministry of State Security. He is a General Police Commissioner. Chen Jining Chen Jining, male, Han ethnicity, was born in February 1964 and is from Lishu, Jilin Province. He began his first job in April 1998 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in June 1984. Chen graduated from Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London where he completed a graduate program in environmental systems analysis. He holds a Doctor of Engineering degree and a professional title of professor. Chen is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, Mayor of Beijing, and Executive Chairman and Leading Party Members Group Deputy Secretary of the Organizing Committee for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Chen Min'er Chen Min'er, male, Han ethnicity, was born in September 1960 and is from Zhuji, Zhejiang Province. He began his first job in August 1981 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in September 1982. He received a graduate education at the Central Party School. Chen is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and Secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee. Yuan Jiajun Yuan Jiajun, male, Han ethnicity, was born in September 1962 and is from Tonghua, Jilin Province. He began his first job in July 1987 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in November 1992. Yuan graduated from No.501 Division, Fifth Institute, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Industry where he completed a graduate program in spacecraft design and was awarded a Doctor of Engineering degree. He holds a professional title of research fellow. Yuan is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, Secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress. Huang Kunming Huang Kunming, male, Han ethnicity, was born in November 1956 and is from Shanghang, Fujian Province. He began his first job in December 1974 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in October 1976. Huang graduated from School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University where he completed an in-service graduate program in public administration. He holds a Doctor of Management degree. Huang is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. Liu Jinguo Liu Jinguo, male, Han ethnicity, was born in April 1955 and is from Changli, Hebei Province. He began his first job in December 1976 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in September 1975. He received an undergraduate education at the Central Party School. Liu is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat, Deputy Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, and Vice Chairman of the National Commission of Supervision. He is a Level-I Deputy General Supervisor. Wang Xiaohong Wang Xiaohong, male, Han ethnicity, was born in July 1957 and is from Fuzhou, Fujian Province. He began his first job in July 1974 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in December 1982. He received an undergraduate education at the Central Party School. Wang is currently a member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat, Minister and CPC Committee Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, and Deputy Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee under the CPC Central Committee. He is a General Police Commissioner. Government intends to construct a health facility at Agbogbloshie according to the Executive Director of Ghana's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Henry Kokofu. However, renowned journalist and host of Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' has doubts following delay in completing La General Hospital. It may be recalled that La General Hospital was pulled down in March 2020, to pave way for the construction of an ultra-modern one. Two years on, no work has been done. Agbogbloshie hospital The EPA boss, Henry Kokofu contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's Kokrokoo programme indicated that all is set for the construction of Agbogbloshie hospital to begin. "Do you know government has already made plans to construct a hospital at Agbogbloshie? The permit and everything have already been taken care of" he pointed out. In reaction, however, Kwami Sefa Kayi said: "I doubt it will happen because it's been two years and La General Hospital has still not been completed". Listen to Kokofu's response in the video 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 Pro NPP Pressure group, the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) is deeply worried about Ghanas economic crisis and want President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to act quickly to save the country. The group in a statement copied to Peacefmonline.com indicated that the Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori Attah has done little to salvage the situation, hence, the need for him to be fired or reassigned. Mr President, also critical is the mass belief by Ghanaians that the minister of finance is doing very little to shore up confidence in the market. A portion of their statement reads. AFAG also raised concern about the depreciation of the Ghanaian cedis to the American dollar to them, it's purely artificial. Mr President, it is our considered opinion that the current speed of the cedi depreciation is borne out of mischief of speculators, and purely artificial. Read below the full statement Mr PRESIDENT SPEAK & ACT NOW The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) is a public interest advocacy group but shares a lot of centre-right positions on issues which often than not are in sync with the ideological philosophy of the New Patriotic Party( NPP), over the years have been quiet out of goodwill to Government. However, in view of recent developments, we are forced to depart from our current position on national development. Mr President, it is our considered opinion that the current speed of the cedi depreciation is borne out of the mischief of speculators, and is purely artificial. Although it will reflect an extent of challenges with the balance of payment as a result of post covid and Ukraine war, there is some panic buying, a lack of confidence and a high degree of uncertainty in the financial market. Mr President, there is a certain conspiracy theory that points to the central bank supervision on the forex market as weak, it is the belief that highly placed persons in the central and commercial banks with profit motives auction dollars at an interbank rate which is obviously cheaper to the black markets who then sell it on the market at very high rates. It is also the belief that businessmen in the subregion are contributing to the volatile situation by coming into Ghana to sell their currency and buy dollars for cheap in Ghana thereafter, sending it to their countries( where dollars are quite expensive). Mr President this is among others. Mr President, also critical is the mass belief by Ghanaians that the minister of finance is doing very little to shore up confidence in the market. Nonetheless, but arguably so, there is a widespread perception of him not doing much coupled with his attack on the IMF. It is the belief of the finance minister that, going to the IMF has a dire effect on the economy and that Ghana won't seek any support from the IMF. AFAG finds it, inconsistent of him, therefore, to lead the IMF negotiations or remain in office now that the government is seeking a bailout. Mr President, it is time to present an economic recovery plan to the nation. IMF intervention would not be enough to salvage the situation. Over the period, you have not also addressed the country. We find this highly unusual based on how in the past you have fostered cooperation from Ghanaians through your frequent addresses during the covid crisis. We will need you to reduce anxiety in the system and let Ghanaians know of the "whys" and "hows". RESOLUTION: The minister of finance must be reassigned some forex restrictions targeted at persons undermining the system from the central bank through the commercial banks to the unlicensed forex operators investigate the banks and prosecute officials engaged in forex trading impose import restrictions on selected items engaging multinational companies, and business ventures contributing to the capital flight. restricting the export of forex to a certain level at least in the next 6 months. Ensuring that traders who export US dollars from Ghana in the year have imported about an equal amount to the country. Encourage Ghanaians to understand why the current rates are artificial and how they will trade at a loss when the market settles and the cedi benchmarks to the US Dollar at its real value. Signed AFAG LEADERSHIP Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Chad Eveslage Wins Record-Breaking 20th Anniversary Five Diamond for 2nd WPT Title October 24, 2022 Mike Patrick The illustrious history of the World Poker Tour (WPT)s flagship tournament, the Five Diamond World Poker Classic added one of its most epic chapters Sunday. The $10,400 buy-in tournament attracted 569 entries, which surpassed the $5 million guarantee by offering up a $5,519,300 prize pool. After a record-breaking 399 hands at the official final table, Chad Eveslage defeated Steve "Cuz" Buckner heads-up to win his second plaque on the Mike Sexton Champions Cup and a $1,042,300 top prize. Play began at noon local time and lasted until almost midnight before Eveslage finally finished off his pesky opponent after a back-and-forth heads-up match that lasted just under four hours, despite accelerated 30-minute blind levels once heads-up play began. Eveslage defeated a tough final table that also included Belgian star Michael Gathy, who had come back from under four big blinds on Day 4 to eventually finish in third place, and Day 2 and 3 chip leader Brian Kim, who finished fourth. The champion was quick to praise those two opponents in particular when asked about how it felt to win a second WPT title. It feels very good. I feel very fortunate. I had never played with (Gathy). I was so impressed. I havent been that impressed with another poker player in a while. He was really, really tough," said Eveslage. "And then Brian, I had never heard of him really, but he was like (Eveslage gave a look of amazement). Its crazy that theres so many good players out there, and to win two (WPT titles), Im pretty sure Im not that much or any better than either of them, so I just feel super blessed. Eveslage previously topped a 1,199-entry field to win the $5,000 WPT Venetian in July 2021 for $910,370. He also claimed his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold bracelet this past summer in Event #8: $25,000 High Roller for $1,415,610. 2022 Five Diamond World Poker Classic Final Day Results PLACE NAME COUNTRY PRIZE 1 Chad Eveslage United States $1,042,300 2 Steve Buckner United States $690,000 3 Michael Gathy Belgium $505,000 4 Brian Kim United States $377,000 5 Albert Calderon United States $283,000 6 David Kim United States $216,000 7 Zach Donovan United States $166,000 Action of the Day: Donovan is First Elimination to Set Official Final Table Zach Donovan Zach Donovan entered the final table with 960,000 chips, the second-shortest stack remaining, but on the tenth hand of the day, he was the first player sent to the rail, finishing short of the official six-handed WPT final table. In level 25, with blinds of 30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 big blind ante, Donovan moved all in for 790,000 from the hijack. Brian Kim called from the big blind to put Donovan at risk. Donovan held but was in terrible shape against Kims . After a runout of , Donovan was eliminated in 7th place for $166,000. From there, the tournament shifted back to 60-minute levels, with each player receiving a fresh stack of eight 30-second time extension chips. David Kim Eliminated in 6th Place David Kim The next elimination wouldnt come until midway through level 27 at blinds of 50,000/100,000/100,000 when David Kim, who entered the day as the short stack was sent home in sixth place. Kim raised under the gun to 200,000 and was called by Gathy in the big blind. After Gathy checked the flop, Kim bet 150,000 and got check-raised by Gathy to 375,000. Kim, called, then on the turn, Gathy moved all in for a bit over a million effective. After over a minute in the tank, Kim called off to put himself at risk holding for top pair with a jack kicker. Gathy however turned over for a flopped two pair. The river couldnt save Kim and he was sent home with $216,000. Check out the WPT Hub on PokerNews here! Calderon Out in 5th Place, Buckner Takes Over Top Spot in POY Race Albert Calderon Shortly after Kims elimination, the field was thinned to four as the chip leader to start the day, Albert Calderon was busted by Eveslage. The action came on the 100th hand of the official final table with Eveslage raising to 225,000 on the button and Calderon calling in the big blind. On the flop, Eveslage continued in position for 225,000 and was check-raised to 500,000 by Calderon. Eveslage called to see the on the turn. Calderon then jammed for 3,150,000, which was more than two times the size of the pot. Eveslage called, revealing for top two pair. Calderon could only show for a pair of aces with a flush draw. The on the river gave Calderon two pair as well, but his were inferior to Eveslage who raked in the huge pot moving him into second place in chips behind only Gathy who now held over ten million. Calderon took home $283,000 for his fifth-place finish, but a major side note to the hand was the ascension of Buckner into the 2022 WPT Player of the Year lead. Now with at least 650 POY points locked up, Buckner passed Ray Qartomy for top spot in the race by 50 points. He now had the opportunity to extend his lead if he could get even deeper in the tournament. Buckner Needs a Miracle to Survive Steve Buckner Midway through level 28, Buckners run for the Five Diamond title and any further Player of the Year points were in deep jeopardy as he was all in and dominated versus Gathy. Buckner had moved all in preflop from the button for 1,825,000 with and was called by Gathy in the big blind with . The flop gave Gathy an even bigger lead in the hand, as the board paired Gathys ace and left Bucker needing runner-runner to survive. Runner number one came on the turn with the , giving Buckner a gutshot draw to Broadway. Runner number two then slid in on the river with the , giving Buckner his straight. Buckners familiar call of LETS GOOOOOO echoed throughout the Bellagio poker room as the pot was pushed to him, doubling him up to just under four million chips. Eveslage Wins Massive Pot to Eliminate Kim in 4th Place Brian Kim Buckners survival skills would prove fruitful, as late in level 29 with blinds of 75,000/150,000/150,000 he laddered up with the stunning elimination of Brian Kim in 3rd place. After Eveslage opened to 300,000 from the cutoff and Buckner called on the button, Kim moved all in for 4,525,000 from the big blind. Eveslage then moved in for more and Buckner folded. Kim showed versus Eveslages and a nine million chip coinflip was underway. The board came , giving Eveslage top two pair on the flop, and sending Kim to the rail in fourth place. The sudden finish had to be disappointing, but its another great result for Kim, whos had an outstanding year. His fourth-place payout of $377,000 marked his best-ever live cash, surpassing the $323,000 he earned for his 23rd place finish in the 2022 WSOP Main Event. Kim also took down a $5,300 WSOP online High Roller just last week for a bracelet and $119,000. Buckner Makes Gathy the Short Stack With play now three-handed and Buckner with new life, the difference among the stacks began to close in level 30 with Buckner continuing to rebuild and then passing Gathy. In a limped blind versus blind pot, Buckner led out from the small blind for 350,000 on a flop. Gathy called in the big blind, then on the flop, called a 1,000,000 chip bet from Buckner. The river brought the and Buckner now moved all in for just over four million. This time, Gathy folded and Buckner proudly showed for a flopped jack-high straight. The pot gave Buckner 7,325,000 in chips to Gathys 6,300,000, while Eveslage had both his opponents covered with 14,800,000. Gathy Falls in 3rd Place Michael Gathy Gathy said at the end of Day 4 that he felt like he was freerolling after coming back from under four big blinds to make it to the final day with the third biggest stack. He took that freeroll deep into the final table but after dropping to the short stack three-handed, he couldnt quite recover. In Gathys final hand, he raised to 500,000 on the button, then faced an all-in from Eveslage in the small blind for 6,300,000 effective. Gathy called to put himself at risk and was pipped. Eveslage held to Gathys , and after the board came , bringing no help to Gathy, the Belgians day was done in third place for $505,000, leaving Eveslage and Buckner to duel for the title. River Deja Vu for Buckner Steve Buckner vs. Chad Eveslage In his runner-up finish to Chance Kornuth at WPT Choctaw, Buckner got his queen-ten in against Kornuths queen-nine in a pot that if hed held, would have won him that tournament. Kornuth would however river a flush on Buckner, leaving him with crumbs, then winning the title shortly after. Sunday, Buckner got it in good again for the win, but once more was denied on the river. With blinds now a massive 500,000/1,000,000/1,000,000 in Level 37, Eveslage moved all in for just over 12 million with and was snap-called by Buckner with . The board ran clean through the turn for Buckner and he was again one card away from the win. But the on the river had other ideas, giving Eveslage a pair of aces and a massive pot that all but sealed Buckners fate again. Buckner would get his last 3,100,000 chips in on the next hand with against Eveslages and again fortune favored Eveslage who flopped a pair of fives on the board to win the tournament. The World Poker Tour (WPT) will return to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida this November for the WPT Rock N Roll Poker Open (RRPO), which will culminate with the $3,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em Main Event taking place from November 25-30. *Images courtesy of WPT/Joe Giron. Did You Know the World Poker Tour is Online? The launch of WPT Global means that poker players around the world now have the chance to win their way to WPT events, win prizes and enjoy exciting games such as Poker Flips. As one of the world's largest cash game poker networks, WPT Global is available in over 50 countries and territories around the world. WPT Global offers a large deposit match bonus: 100% on deposits up to $1,200 (using any payment method). New players depositing a minimum of $20 automatically receive this match bonus which is unlocked in $5 increments (credited straight to the cashier) for every $20 of rake contribution. Both tournaments and cash games count towards bonus unlocking; new players have 90 days from the date of first deposit to unlock and claim their full bonus amount. Sharelines On Sunday, @chadeveslage won the 20th anniversary of the @WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic. Chris Burke Wins 2022 MSPT Deadwood Shootout ($89,725); Reichard 3rd to Take POY Lead October 24, 2022 Kirk Brown The Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) returned to historic Deadwood, South Dakota for the 2022 MSPT Deadwood Shootout at Silverado-Franklin Casino. The $1,100 buy-in, $100K GTD Main Event was one to remember as a total of 422 entries (210 from Day 1a; 212 from 1b) were tallied, generating a total prize pool of $407,840. On Sunday, 56 players returned for Day 2 action, and after the dust settled, it was Chris Burke who came out on top to win the $89,725 top prize and his first MSPT title. Burke has made a few MSPT final tables over the years, but the win was his biggest score to date. "Man you know, I just had a feeling, said the Waubay, South Dakota native after his win. This was especially true in regards to a pivotal pot he played against Josh Reichard when he made a huge call. Howard's first MSPT cash came back in 2015 when he finished fifth at Grand Falls Casino for $12,513, and since then he has accumulated around $50,000 in MSPT earnings. 2022 MSPT Deadwood Shootout Final Table Results Place Player Nationality Prize 1 Chris Burke United States $89,725 2 Justin Barnum United States $55,467 3 Josh Reichard United States $40,376 4 Josh Evans United States $29,772 5 Nick Marchiando United States $22,431 6 Dave Ouellette United States $17,129 7 Aaron Raap United States $13,459 8 Terence Reid United States $10,604 9 Wesley Cannon United States $7,749 With 45 slated to get paid, only 11 players had to be eliminated before the money was reached. Among those to leave empty-handed was Ryan Remington, Josh Kieval, and Ashly Hafdew, just to name a few. Once Adam Wilbur bubbled in 46th place, the race to the final table began. Among those to fall along the way, albeit with a payday, were Louis Anderson (10th - $6,525), bracelet winner Chad Himmelspach(22nd - $3,304), Dylan Meier (23rd - $3,304), Deadwood Champ Gerald Cunniff (24th- $3,303), Richard Dixon (25th- $2,855), and 2018 MSPT player of the year Aaron Johnson (39th - $2,243). Final Table Action MSPT Deadwood Shootout Final Table Reichard entered the final table with a stack of 3.1 million, well ahead of the rest of the field as second place was only at 1.2 million. It didn't take long before Wesley Cannon dropped out in ninth place after running his ace-queen into Nick Marchiandos ace-king. Soon afterward, Burke won a massive pot off of Reichard when Burke called an all-in raise on the flop with just second pair and held, this was a pivotal moment as Burke then began to stack chips quickly. After the dinner break, Terence Reid hit the rail after getting it all in with king-jack against Evans pocket fives and failed to improve. The next player to be sent home was Day 1a chip leader Aaron Raap, whose ace-jack came up just short of Burkess ace-queen. Dave Ouellette was next on the chopping block after his king-jack was beaten by Burkes pocket nines. Shortly after, Marchiando departed in fifth place after his king-queen couldn't hold up to Reichards pocket aces. Four-handed play didn't last long before Josh Evans got it in with ace-eight but was dominated against Burkes ace-ten with both a ten and an eight on the board. Wisconsin's Josh Reichard Becomes Tenth Player Inducted Into MSPT Hall of Fame Reichard Takes POY Lead Three-handed action saw the two big stacks Reichard and Burke get it all in preflop after the latter jammed into ther former. Reichard tank-called with pocket sevens against Burkes ace-queen. The six-jack-ten flop was safe for Reichard, but a king came on the turn to give Burke a Broadway straight and left Reichard drawing dead as he exited in third. Reichard's deep finish moved him ahead of Dan Bekavac on the MSPT Season 13 Player of the Year Leaderboard. Reichard now has 5,125 points while Bekavac sits with 4,850. However, with five stops still remaining on the 2022 schedule, it's still anyone's game. MSPT Hall of Famer Josh Reichard Going into heads-up play, Burke had over 9 million of the total 10.5 million chips in play. The battle between Justin Barnum and Burke lasted a whole three hands before Barnum ripped it in with eight-ten suited against Burke with ace-deuce. Barnum flopped an eight and was looking good until the river came the ace from space to eliminate him in second for $55,467 and awarded Burke the title and trophy. Barnum, who just placed second in the MSPT Main Event San Diego, when asked about his experience as runner-up again, said It was really great being here in South Dakota with both the poker and the beautiful nature and surroundings the dealers and staff were awesome...I placed second, again, but one of these times the cards are gonna fall my way and I'm gonna get that trophy. Congratulations to Chris Burke on becoming the 2022 MSPT Deadwood Shootout champion! The MSPT will now head to Iowa's Riverside Casino from October 27-30 for a $1,100 buy-in, $300K GTD Main Event. That will be followed by two events at Venetian Las Vegas in November, a stop at Minnesota's Running Aces Casino from December 1-11, and then a season-ending Main Event at Venetian from December 28-30. Click here for more on the MSPT's remaining schedule. Check out the MSPT Hub on PokerNews here! Sharelines Chris Burke topped 422-entry field to win @msptpoker @SilveradoCasino Deadwood Shootout for $89,725. Derrick Plumage Becomes First Back-to-Back RGPS Main Event Champ October 24, 2022 Liam Gannon The RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) Council Bluffs $600 Main Event at Horseshoe Hotel and Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa attracted 576 entries and offered up a $299,520 prize pool. On Sunday, the returning 73 players were whittled down to a final winner. It was only three months ago that Derrick Plumage won his first RunGood Main Event ring in the $420 Contender Weekend Main Event In Council Bluffs for $51,888. Now, after a relatively quick final table, Plumage dominated to go back-to-back winning $56,931 in the process. He now stands alone as the first RGPS Main Event champion ever to win two titles back to back, earning himself over $100,000 over the course of the year. It still doesnt feel real, the 40-year-old father and family man said after winning the event. Last time I was second in chips going into Day 2, made it to the final table, did not knock out many people until the last two. This time around I came in second in chips, made it to the final table, and knocked out seven of eight players. The chip leader of the first flight of the tournament possessed a dominating presence at the final table. Leaves me some room for improvement, he joked about only knocking out seven players of the final eight he could have. Throughout the day, he was surrounded by a close group of friends on his rail that were with him the first time he won the main, and they stayed with him for a while. If I had to pick one person to highlight, it would be my buddy Dave, Plumage remarked. The long hours he spent at the casino during the week, his friends were with him every step of the way. My buddy Dave, I couldnt do it without him. RGPS Council Bluffs Final Table Results Place Name Prize 1 Derrick Plumage $56,931 2 Mark Homan $39,896 3 Keith Jeffrey $25,669 4 Loren Hackman $18,271 5 Mo Nuwwarah $14,018 6 Doug Hawley $11,532 7 Matthew Palmer(US) $9,525 8 Yoel Gonzalez $7,588 9 Daniel Hamm $5,691 Day 2 Action Day 2 kicked off to a quick start, with many players dreams of rings being dashed quickly out the gate. Players who fell short of the final table included Blair Hinkle (46th-$1,198), Nathan Steuer (34th-$1,557), Bernard Lee (20th-$2,666), and Grant Hinkle (18th-$3,145). The final table was reached when Mark Kastorys king-six offsuit could not improve against Mark Homans ace-king. He ended his run in tenth place for $4,762. Derrick Plumage Wins Weekend RGPS Contenders Horseshoe Council Bluffs Final Table Action The RGPS Iowa Final Table. First to go at the final table was Daniel Hamm, who took home $5,691 for his efforts. He moved in his short stack of 825,000 from first position with jack-ten against the pocket queens of Mo Nuwwarah. Although Hamm flopped a gutshot straight draw, he was unable to improve and his quest for a ring ended in ninth place. Shortly after, Yoel Gonzalez got into a preflop raising war with Plumage. He eventually got in his 1,400,000 with king-queen of hearts, up against Plumages ace-ten offsuit. The board ran out as no favor to Gonzalez and he collected $7,588 for his eighth-place finish. Matthew Palmer came to the final table with one of the shorter stacks and was unable to win a single pot at the final table. In his final hand, he found his king-jack failing to hold up against Plumages queen-ten and he ended in seventh place, collecting $9,525 for his efforts. Doug Hawley came to the final table with the shortest chip stack, but a timely double and some patience rewarded him with a few ladders. When the time came, he called with ace-six against Plumages shove who had king-ten. All seemed peachy until the river where Plumage made a straight and Hawley shook everyones hands, wishing them luck, and ended his run in sixth place for $11,532. Former PokerNews reporter Mo Nuwwarah seemed poised to take control of the tournament when he got involved in a 7,000,000 pot with ace-king offsuit against Plumages ace-queen suited. The flop gave Nuwwarah top pair top kicker, but the river completed Plumages flush, and Nuwwarah left the tournament area quickly, collecting $14,018 for his fifth-place finish. Mo Nuwwarah Shortly after, Loren Hackman tried his luck at racing against Plumage when he got his short stack in with king-five offsuit and Plumage called him with ace-two offsuit. The board gave Hackman no favors and he left in fourth place, collecting $18,271, and leaving the other three to battle for their spot on the podium. It was the start-of-final-table leader Keith Jeffrey who fell first when he moved all in with an ace-high flush draw, only to get called by Plumages two pair. The flush draw did not come home and Jeffrey collected $25,669 for his impressive third-place finish. Heads up only last two hands, the second of which saw Plumage move all in from the button with ace-seven, only to get called in the big blind by Mark Homan with ace-queen. The flop and river each had a seven on it and Plumages three sevens won him the tournament. Homan finished in second place for $39,896. Since Plumage already owned a seat for the Pro-Am, Homan won his seat for the Pro-Am coming this winter on top of his second-place finish. The next RGPS will actually be on the high seas as the RGPS CardPlayer Cruise Royal Caribbean will take place October 29-November 6. From there, the tour will head to San Diego's Jamul Casino November 15-20 followed by a season-ending visit at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Northern California from November 25-December 5. Click here for more information on all future stops. Check out the RGPS Hub on PokerNews here! Sharelines Derrick Plumage went back-to-back in the @RGPokerSeries @HorseshoeIowa Main Event for $56,931! Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Justice Clarence Thomas intervened on his own and temporarily blocked an order requiring Sen. Lindsey Graham to testify in Georgia criminal case. CNN reported: Justice Clarence Thomas on Monday agreed to temporarily freeze a lower court order requiring the testimony of Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham in front of an Atlanta-area special grand jury investigating efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state. Thomas acted alone because he has jurisdiction of the lower court that issued the original order. Thomas move is an administrative stay that was most likely issued Monday to give the Supreme Court justices more time to consider the dispute. If the Supreme Court is legitimately considering whether Lindsey Grahams efforts to overturn an election for Donald Trump fall under protected speech because participating in a coup is part of his congressional duties as a senator, then the Supreme Court will be legitimizing election losers to attempt to overthrow governments. Lindsey Graham was not acting in a senatorial capacity when he asked Georgia election officials to use the states signature verification laws as a pretext to throw out legitimate votes for President Biden in 2020. There is no guarantee that the Supreme Court will take the case, but even granting the freeze means that Thomas has put the court on dangerous ground. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The Fetterman campaign is warning that Dr. Oz and Donald Trump are planning to defy the will of voters and steal the US Senate seat in Pennsylvania. Fetterman campaign spokesman Joe Calvello responded to a Rolling Stone report that Trump plans to sue if Oz loses in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA: Donald Trump, Dr. Oz, and the GOP will do whatever it takes to try and steal this race on Election Night. Trump has already said he needs people like Oz in office to challenge the 2024 election. Trump is trying to steal the 2022 election for Oz so that Trump can steal the 2024 election for himself. Dr. Oz needs to immediately disavow these efforts, respect the will of the voters in 2022, and pledge to vote to certify the results of the 2024 election, not challenge the results on behalf of Donald Trump. Trump is using Oz as a dress rehearsal for stealing Pennsylvania in 2024. Trump has said that he needs Oz in office to help him steal the next presidential election. As usual, Trump and his party are telegraphing what they are going to do after election day before they do it. Trump telegraphed what he would do if he didnt win in 2016. He did the same thing in 2020, and now that he has an iron grip on the Republican Party, he is doing it again in 2022. Pennsylvania is being set up to be the epicenter of post-election chaos in 2022, and the one way to stop Trump and Oz is to ensure that the Senate elections outcome is not close. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print This midterm looks so close that its going to come down to which party turns out the vote and gets their votes counted. That means closing arguments are more important than ever. While candidates need to make closing arguments specific to their area, the party and those supporting democracy need to blast the airwaves and internet with ads making closing arguments before its too late. As I said years ago, the issue is national security. Trumps theft of top secret classified documents and his sharing of the documents with guests at Mar-a-Lago is an ongoing and catastrophic attack on our national security. If Republicans take control of Congress, they still stop investigating and we wont know who, if anyone, has seen other nations nuclear secrets. Do you trust Donald Trump with our national security? Because thats what it means to give Republicans control of Congress. Trump breached our national security while he was president several times that we know of. There is no reason to think the man who instigated a domestic terrorist attack on his own country has become less selfish since losing the most secure election in history. Democrats should be hammering the message that Republicans arent protecting our country and are instead palling around with hostile foreign leaders from Saudi Arabia and Russia, who are price gouging the American public at the pump because they are aligned with the Republican Party. To what end? Neither country is pro-democracy. Indeed, the United States is facing the greatest danger its faced since the 1850s, and its coming from the Republican Party leaders. Democrats should run ads with real crime data showing Trump-voting states had murder rates 40% more than Biden-voting states and Republican-led areas more dangerous and defunding the police never actually happened. Many police are *more* funded than they were before Biden took office. Why are Republicans lying to you and trying to scare you? Democrats should have an image reinforcing that Republicans beat police with our flag. Republicans are running on crime because they are the experts at crime. Their party leader attests to that fact. No other president has incited a terrorist attack against their own country. Yet Congressional Republicans justify and enable this attack, pretending its justified. What else are they capable of? Do you like the idea of having your Social Security waiting for you when you retire? Republicans plan to refuse to pass the debt ceiling unless Democrats make cut to spending and Republicans have made it clear that Social Security and Medicare are on their wish list of things to kill. Senators Rick Scott, Lindsey Graham, Mitch McConnell, Marco Rubio, Ron Johnson et al have all said that they want to cut Social Security. They will hurt their own country to do so, just like they did under President Obama. The same party that cried about the country being shut down during the pandemic has deliberately shut the country down before over temper tantrums that the People were getting some help from the government, and they will do so again. Do you want the country to shut down so Republicans can cancel your Social Security? How will that impact your job or business or kids schooling? And lastly, personal freedom is on the ballot. Do you believe in individual liberty? Do you think petty, vengeful men like Donald Trump should be allowed to determine what medical care we get? Vote for a Republican means voting to elevate an incel-style approach to the world, full of hate and smallness because they arent picked by the cool kids without cheating. Free-speech organizations describe the Republican-led book removal push as the biggest such assault in decades. Do we believe in banning books like To Kill a Mockingbird and Maus: A Survivors Tale, which detailed the horrors of our racial judicial system and of the Holocaust? Because the Republicans do. Republicans call it choice, but it comes down to the fact that they dont trust teachers to be able to decide what books are important for understanding the world and being prepared for a good job. What might they be trying to hide from children and why are they so intent on indoctrinating kids that they are banning books? The biggest question is why are Republicans lying so much in their ads? Why are they trying to scare voters into casing a ballot for them instead of making a case based on their own policy platforms? Because when youre scared, your brain doesnt work as well as it does otherwise. A scared brain can short circuit without further thought into fight or flight, in this case, voting based on fear instead of what is actually good for your family. Democrats and pro-democracy groups need to run ads based on these closing arguments and they need to start it now because Republican fear-based ads are relentless and they have dragged popular Democrats down in the polls already. People who would have won easily. They are also making the unconscionable candidate more easily tolerated by Republican voters, which is the point given the horrific slate of Republican candidates this midterm. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print New polls in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin show Democrat John Fetterman leading in Pennsylvania, and Mandela Barnes statistically tied with Sen. Ron Johnson in Wisconsin. CNN did both polls and reported: In the race for retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomeys seat in Pennsylvania, Democratic state Lt. Gov. John Fetterman stands at 51% support to Republican candidate Mehmet Ozs 45% support among likely voters, an advantage narrowly outside of the surveys margin of error. . But across both states, the Democratic candidate holds a broad edge among character and integrity voters: Barnes tops Johnson 56% to 41% among that group, while Fetterman outpaces Oz 65% to 29% in that group of Pennsylvania likely voters. The hundreds of millions of dollars that Republicans have spent on negative ads against Fetterman have done their job. They have driven up Fettermans negatives. The problem for Republicans in Pennsylvania is that Fetterman still leads Oz in favorability, rating 48%-38%. Where Republicans could end up paying a heavy price is by letting Trump select nominees that are like himself. If character and integrity matter to voters, Republicans could be in trouble in their bid to take over the Senate. Ron Johnson has become a conspiracy Trump cultist, and Oz has shown himself to be a conman who has not been able to charm Pennsylvania voters. Mandela Barnes has a real chance to defeat Ron Johnson. Barnes had a strong debate against Johnson and pulled no punches. Pennsylvania remains the best chance for a Democratic Senate pickup. Ohio, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Utah, and Iowa are other states where Republican-held seats could change hands. Democrats have a path to expanding their Senate majority, but it starts with a Fetterman victory in Pennsylvania. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Analysis: These people want to steal your vote, your liberty, your most basic freedoms to achieve their goal of the autocratization of the United States. Its popular on the left to sneer at Donald Trump and Sarah Palin, his precursor to populist greed, as being stupid and therefore ill-suited to the jobs they seek. But this assumption misses the much more dangerous and important point that these folks dont care about governing. What the left sees as stupidity is actually laziness and a wily, singular focus on self-interest. Some of these folks, members of the misnamed House Freedom Caucus, are set to play a major role in our political future, in the legislation and oversight roles that their jobs are supposed to enjoin. Neither Donald Trump nor Sarah Palin, nor for that matter Marjorie Taylor Greene or Lauren Boebert, want elected positions so they can govern. There is no interest in governing, therefore no need to know anything. What they want is power. Sarah Palin started this most recent reboot of the charismatic con artist, which Donald Trump used to his own advantage and propelled himself to the White House on the movement Palin built, because Palin had burned her star out with her own greed, corruption, lies and refusal to actually work. Palin was spotted by the MUCH repentant Steve Schmidt, but more importantly to the point of this column, the Vice Presidential vetting was managed by Rick Davis and greenlit by A.B. Culvahouse (its not just Schmidt saying this, this is a documented fact you can imagine why he is sick of being saddled with the Palin albatross). Schmidt told me the process went a bit like this: We should look at Palin. My next sentence was I dont know anything about her. She was vetted by AB Culvahouse. Im not sure why I am sentenced to be blamed for his incompetence. The VP vetting was managed by Rick Davis who was Paul Manaforts long time business partner. Together they worked for the Kremlin in Ukraine. This was the person in charge of the VP selection process. I took over the campaign from him in July 2008 except for the VP responsibilities. RICK DAVIS, Paul Manaforts business partner. See the thread? This has nothing to do with Sarah Palin or Donald Trump they are the mere figureheads behind the Oz threat to democracy. When people blame underlings for the rise of these tyrannical self-dealers, they miss the point. There will always be someone to blame, someone who isnt the actual power behind the throne. The largely hidden power, the Oz. People are also prone to looking back and asking who would ever think this person was a good idea? But that is precisely the point. These folks put on a good show in the beginning. Sarah Palin appealed to a lot of Alaskans when she ran for governor, she had a populist take on politics, she seemed above party takes, she had a (we know now to be misunderstood) reputation for taking on the oil companies! It wasnt until the national scrutiny of a presidential campaign that Palins craven entitlement to power without doing the work was revealed. These folks appeal to the conservative base, now a decade into being primed for being conned. Why does this history matter now? Because its always the same. Its always a new candidate, a new campaign manager, a new person taking the heat when the truth comes out. That is how this cycle of dangerous politics survives. The new puppet gets pushed by the same interests. Donald Trump has also burned his star out. Unlike mainstream media, I dont come into a red area for a week to get the vibe I actually live here, among Trump supporters, and the enthusiasm for him has gone way down only the Q believers are left. Some who still have his signs up tell me they dont want him to run again because theyre tired of the drama. An election cant be won with only Q, just like Palin dragged McCain down into the ditch even though those who supported her were absolutely feverish with cultish love for her, down to fetishizing her shoes. Thinking these dangerous people are stupid is a fatal flaw of the left. It feeds the elite narrative and ignores the appeal of these charismatic snake oil salespeople. And the truth is, everyone wants a hero. Even people on the Left. Its just that the left values government and the good work it is supposed to do for The People, while the Right has been conditioned by the co-option of churches and politicizing of abortion and guns to vote for a government that serves the interests of those who want the government to do little to nothing, save for our military. government that does little is a government that enables greed by bad actors, a government that takes us back to the Wild West where those with power won. A government without oversight. The people being suckered by these charismatic abusers never realize that they are being used, or maybe some of them do as they face judges for their violent engagement against police on January 6th, when they acted on the lies Donald Trump told them. But most wont ever get it. They wont get it because they live in a different world, cushioned by addicting conspiracies and media lies. Some of these people are good people. The Left is just a prone to falling into that hole, but what saves them at this point in time is their belief in science and facts, as part of the ideology. But still we can see the movement as a whole seeing certain charismatic, appealing politicians as the answer, when the answer is actually always ideas over personality. Charismatic puppets like Trump and Palin and Greene and Boebert distract people from the real danger. All of these people appear stupid (and actually one of them is ignorant and all of them play willfully ignorant on TV), but that is a deceptive haze over an authoritarian bent. None of these people want to govern. They do not believe in basic freedoms, like elections, which this country was founded upon. The irony is that being seen as stupid did more damage to Sarah Palin than the truth of her rage, abusive behavior, and sense of religious delusion that she was chosen by God to be president. The public at large cant seem to handle nuance and complication, but this movement has become too dangerous to write off as stupid now. The idea that Palin, Trump, or in the current election, Herschel Walker are stupid actually helps these people by lowering expectations for them. Since they are viewed by some as stupid, the bar is lowered, making it easier for them to become normalized and obtain power. These people are lazy, not stupid. They know they dont need to learn anything, because the goal has never been to do the job they seek or have. Sarah Palin showed that more effectively than most when she quit her position as governor half way through her term. We need to finally accept that these folks dont have the same goals as Independents, sane Republicans, and Democrats that is, the goal of good governance in order to fight them effectively. And fight them back at the ballot box we must, for their goal is to (to borrow a phrase from Palin) fundamentally change America. They appeal to religious beliefs and nationalistic patriotism, like all autocrats. These two items are essential in the fascist takeover kit. These people want to steal your vote, your liberty, your most basic freedoms to achieve their goal of the autocratization of the United States. They arent stupid; theyre a threat to our national security and the very foundations of our country. They need to be kept out of power and exposed for their craven self-interest until their white supremacist, neo-Nazi movement finally fades. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Joe ODea is a Republican trying to make an improbable run for U.S. Senator from Colorado. As such, he has sensibly followed the Youngkin gubernatorial model in similarly presumed-blue Virginia. He is trying to keep Trump out of his senate race as Youngkin did as Virginias governor. ODea has been successful enough in keeping Trump out and distancing himself that he caught Trumps attention. Now, it looks like Trump hopes that the Republican ODea will lose. Just last week, Trump said of ODea, MAGA doesnt Vote for stupid people with big mouths. Good luck Joe! Clearly, Trump wants the GOP cleared out of all the most loyal. Making things interesting, Ron DeSantis has come out in favor of ODea, which of course, infuriates Trump. From Mediaite: Hello this is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. America needs strong leadership and desperately, said DeSantis in a robocall, according to The Washington Examiner. Thats why Im endorsing Joe ODea for U.S. Senate. Colorado, please vote for Joe ODea. Trump shared The Washington Examiner piece on his social media site TRUTH Social and wrote, A BIG MISTAKE! ODea has said that Trump should not run in 2024, though he said he would vote for him if he were the GOP presidential nominee. Last week, ODea said he would actively campaign against Trump, whom he called a black eye for the United States. Thats a little further than Youngkin went. Of course, ODea is running uphill in Colorado for the Senate. But that is the dynamic. It is either Trump or, as far as Trump is concerned, you are without a party. You are a RINO. Interestingly, DeSantis is getting involved. ODea has very little shot of winning, so DeSantis isnt likely trying to swoop in and play the role of savior. If one has to guess at DeSantiss motivation, it would likely be nothing more than setting himself apart from his fellow Floridian in Trump. DeSantis hasnt been shy in looking for opportunities to prove that hes his own man, but he is doing so by avoiding a direct confrontation with trump. A DeSantis versus Trump race would likely be competitive though Democrats would gain very little if Trump is defeated. As DeSantis has shown through his gimmicks, DeSantis is every bit as cruel as Trump, and, if anything, the Ivy League grad (including law school) would be far more effective. Look at what hes done to consolidate power in Florida. DeSantis would likely be a better leader in a national emergency though thats a low bar. Regardless, poor ODea has very little shot, and hes already had the true MAGAs told to turn against him per Trumps order, and now independents are likely turned off by DeSantis. Youngkin won by avoiding both Trump and DeSantis. ODea would probably prefer the same indifference. Too late. And it is harder to hide running for the Senate. An Aiken County man charged in a sexual assault case involving a minor will spend 25 years in a state prison. Pedro Cervantes Rodriguez, 75, of North Augusta, was sentenced Oct. 18 to serve 25 years from a sexual assault case involving a North Augusta minor, according to Aiken County Second Judicial Circuit records. The trial for Cervantes Rodriguez began Oct. 17 and ended with a guilty verdict, according to Ashley Hammack, assistant solicitor with the Second Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office. Cervantes Rodriguez was arrested and charged on March 13, 2018, with one count of third degree sexual conduct with a minor to commit/attempt a lewd act for a victim under 16 years old and over 14 years old and first degree criminal sexual conduct with minor or attempt for a victim under 11 years old, the office said. The charges stemmed from incidents that occurred from the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018, the office said. Cervantes Rodriguez will serve his sentence with the South Carolina Department of Corrections and will have to register as a sex offender, court records said. Early voting for the midterm elections began Monday morning in South Carolina and, shortly before 1 p.m., the line to vote early stretched out the door of the Aiken County Government Center. Nancy Quarles, Mary Weber and Steve and Debbie Wall were among those to vote Monday. Quarles said she came out to vote Monday because it was a beautiful day and she wanted to exercise her right to vote. She said she didn't have a particular race she wanted to vote in, she wanted to vote in them all. There are three local contested races on the ballot for the Nov. 8 election: the Second Congressional District race between Republican incumbent Joe Wilson and Democrat Judd Larkins, the S.C. House District 83 race between Republican incumbent Bill Hixon and Democrat Jerico "J.D." McCoy, and a school board race. There are also eight statewide races on the ballot including U.S. senator, governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, superintendent of education, state treasurer, attorney general, comptroller general and agricultural commissioner. Weber said she was planning to be a poll watcher on election day. She said she was interested in voting in the contested Aiken County Board of Education race between incumbent Brian Silas, Dr. Leona Guyton and Dr. Connie Rendleman. That district, No. 3, includes an area between Aiken and North Augusta that includes Graniteville and the Midland Valley area, and goes to the border of North Augusta and Beech Island. The Walls were new to voting in South Carolina, having moved from Illinois about a year ago. Steve said it was a very easy process to vote in the Palmetto State and Debbie said it seemed like the early voting process was very sophisticated. "It went quick," Steve continued. "[We] didn't have to stand in line for more than five minutes and [we] moved right through." Debbie said they decided to vote early because they didn't want to wait in line on Nov. 8. Steve added they were also completing some paperwork for a deed transfer so it made sense to combine the trips. They said they weren't interested in a particular race. Early voting was not without problems Monday. The Associated Press reported that the state election commission's website, SCVotes.gov, where people can go to get sample ballots or find voting locations, had crashed. However, it appeared to be operating normally as of 4 p.m. The South Carolina Election Commission reported Monday that approximately 40,000 people had voted early Monday, nearly double the record set on June 10 which was the last day of early voting for the June 14 primary. Early voting will continue until 6 p.m. on Nov. 5. Early voting hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Early voting will take place at the Aiken County Board of Voter Registration and Election offices and the North Augusta Public Safety Station II. The voter registration and election offices are on the first floor of the Aiken County Government Center located at 1930 University Parkway. North Augusta Public Safety Station II is located at 501 Five Notch Road. People who wish to vote early are asked to bring one of four types of photo identification: South Carolina driver's license, South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles identify card, U.S. Passport or federal military identification. Absentee voting by mail is still allowed for qualified voters including people who have disabilities or who are attending people with disabilities, who are 65 or older, who are members of the military or married to someone who is in the military, who are in the hospital, who aren't going to be in their county of residence on Nov. 8, who have employment obligations, or who are in a jail awaiting a trial. People who want to vote absentee are required to apply by phone, mail or at the county voter registration office. The phone number of the Aiken County Voter Registration and Elections office is 803-642-2028. The mailing address is P.O. Box 3127, Aiken, SC 29802. After receiving their application, people are asked to return it to the voter registration office by mail or in person by 5 p.m. Friday. Once people receive their ballot, they're asked to return it to the election office by 7 p.m. on Nov. 8. Ballots returned by mail should be mailed no later than one week prior to election day to help ensure timely delivery. Absentee voters are still required to have the ballot signed by a witness and to have a photo identification if they return their ballot in person. People will need to bring a photo ID to vote early or if they vote on election day. Acceptable forms of photo ID are a driver's license or DMV ID card, a military ID, voter registration card with photo or a passport. 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 Despite the pandemics disruptions, South Carolina students scores on a national test largely held steady in 2022. The newly released results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly known as the nations report card, showed South Carolina performed in line with the national average in most major academic benchmarks. While this might seem like a remarkable achievement for a state that's frequently rated one of the worst-performing in the nation for public K-12 education, the closing gap between the Palmetto State's and the nation's test scores are largely a result of many states across the country performing poorly. Donate to our Investigative Fund to support journalism like this Our public service and investigative reporting is among the most important work we do. Its also the most expensive reporting we do. We cant do it without your support. Donate Now Nationally, math scores suffered most, falling by record levels for fourth and eighth graders. For eighth graders, math scores fell by 8 points in the academic year ending in 2022 compared with 2019, the last year the nation's report card was released. Fourth graders' math scores dropped by 5 points during the same period. Reading scores also fell, but not as substantially, falling by 3 points for both eighth and fourth graders from the 2018-19 to the 2021-22 school year. Molly Spearman, S.C. superintendent of education, said that the results confirm more work needs to be done to adequately prepare students for college and their careers. The results we see nationwide were perhaps expected but are no less concerning for educators who anticipated the consequences school closures would have on student achievement, Spearman said. Sign up for our Education Lab newsletter. Email Sign Up! The last set of scores from the test came out in 2019, prior to COVID-19s spread. In the years that followed, students, teachers and staff juggled remote learning, losing loved ones, quarantining and classroom absences, financial difficulties and more, all while trying to continue learning. In South Carolina, eighth grade math scores fell 7 points and reading scores fell 5 points. Fourth graders fared a little better, with their math scores falling by 3 points and reading scores improving by half a point. More Coverage To read more in-depth stories from The Post and Couriers Education Lab, go to postandcourier.com/education-lab. 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. Sherry East, president of the South Carolina Education Association, encouraged people to not get too focused on standardized test scores. She added that, ultimately, the states steady scores amid the nationwide declines are a testament to how hard educators worked to keep students on track. We never stopped teaching during the pandemic, East said. The past two years have been difficult to say the least, but educators pivoted to a different way of teaching and educators in South Carolina made sure our students were taken care of. If there were ever a company to shine glorious light on a Black female artist whose meteoric rise was then utterly tamped down, it may well be Dance Theatre of Harlem. And if there were a team to help shine that light through a new commission, the combined efforts of the Charleston Gaillard Center and the International African American Museum come together to offer a fitting space for revisiting our countrys untold narratives, notably including those focused on women. There was more on offer, too, electrifying the Martha and John M. Rivers Performance Hall when Dance Theatre of Harlem opened their two-night engagement there. The evening of three works launched with verve and charge in Balamouk, the 2018 work of choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa that demonstrated the outsize capabilities of the company. Set to France-meets-Eastern Europe music, a full-on fervor was unleashed with the klezmer-inflected French band Les Yeux Noir, as well as Melbourne artist Lisa Gerrard and French composer Rene Aubry. From the get go, the 10 dancers burst into action in a flaming orange, yellow and lime torrent of energy and command. Moving closely together in a flurry across the stage, they showed off both enviable classical ballet chops and a mastery of other modes of movement. Balletic arches dipped deep into boldly bent knees. Grace and gusto zestfully coexisted. As often, one member or another spun frenetically from the cluster, as if the grip of centrifugal force was loosened sufficiently to cast him or her out in a brief, dazzling solo. And still the flurry forms, in a persistent forward motion that crackles with kinetic energy. The tone shifted significantly in the following work. The 2019 ballet Passage by choreographer Claudia Schreier sources the music of acclaimed contemporary composer Jessie Montgomery, who often draws from folk in her lyrical works. The piece was performed live (and splendidly) by the Charleston Symphony. Created in recognition of the 400th anniversary of a series of events in American history, Passage explores the first documented arrival of enslaved Africans. On a blue stage with filtered light shining down as if under water, Passage is at once mournful and majestic. A dozen-strong ensemble, outfitted in white, moves as if they were up against a mighty and ominous current, leaning, falling and one another lifting up as the arduous journey continues. A lone male dancer falters, curling up on the stage floor, surrounded by the others, who together forge a gorgeous terrible beauty from their struggle. Passage is a standout, a testament to the capacity of dance to move an audience through the complex trajectory of the human experience, and, even in the most terrible circumstances, to mine its beauty. The work offers rich context for the newly commissioned work that mines the 20th century Black experience, again giving voice to an African American artist, Hazel Scott, who lost hers in the United States, a country she had ardently embraced. Sounds of Hazel is the Southern premiere of the co-commission by Charleston Gaillard Center, part of the Gaillards three-year dance initiative, and International African American Museum, mounted ahead of the museums 2023 opening. For the work, choreographer Tiffany Rea-Fisher creates a linear narrative thread beginning with Scotts Trinidad roots and rhythms inhabiting the dancers, to happening Harlem, through to her grandly silver-sequined and swinging to La Vie En Rose while taking up residence in Paris, far from the America she so loved during the McCarthy Era. Through it, Scott dazzles, with the dancer portraying her merrily tickling tandem sets of ivories as Scott was known to do, in recordings of Scott performing Chopin waltzes in Broadway Rhythm, in a finale featuring the artists rendition of The Jeep is Jumpin by Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges. It samples recordings from Scotts son, who lends insight to her abiding connection with Trinidad, as well as from Scott herself, offering reflections on her love for America, despite its flaws. Her words moved many in the Gaillard audience, which spanned backgrounds and age brackets, to respond with yes to its transcendent, fraught truths. At the Gaillard, a strong, soulful evening with Dance Theatre of Harlem brilliantly, bravely mined joy, unbridled, then tested, in a memorable evening conceived, in some part at least, expressly for Charleston. Orange wine is far from new to the wine world, but it is new to many restaurant and bar patrons in Charleston. According to Chris Rollins of Bar Rollins, the latest wine bar to pop up in downtown's East Side neighborhood, "everyone's been asking about it." Rollins said he can't keep enough orange wine in stock. It's easily the No. 1 seller. "It's been on the radar for the last three or four years or so, and every year it's getting more and more popular," said Rollins, who used to work at Graft. But what is it? Well, simply put, it's a white wine made in the style of a red wine. And no, there are no actual oranges used in the making, though the flavor profile can lean tangy. Rollins suggested orange wine was probably the very first wine made because of the method used. That includes leaving the skins of the grapes on during fermentation for prolonged "skin contact" or maceration. This process can draw out tannins, naturally occurring compounds that taste bitter and astringent and leave your mouth a little dry. The resulting color of the wine gives it its name. But just like a white or red, orange wine can span the spectrum of flavors. "There's not one style of taste," he said. "It can be anywhere from aromatic and tropical and perfumed to something super dry and grippy to something that almost tastes like cider or stuff thats super clean and refreshing." Some winemakers dont think of orange wine as its own category, added Rollins. It's just how they make their white wines. At Bar Rollins, it's given its own classification on the menu, right alongside white, red and sparkling. Bethany Heinze, co-owner of new Cannonborough bistro Vern's, said orange wine was gaining popularity in Los Angeles almost a decade ago when she lived there. She said it went hand-in-hand with the natural wine movement, which promoted grapes grown without pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals. "It's this exposure to a new realm within the wine world that's a little less familiar," said Heinze. "People have become more adventurous in their buying habits and taste overall, which has meant they're more open to new flavors." Heinze describes making orange wine like making tea; the grape skins and stems are the tea leaves, and the fermentation process is like steeping your tea. Vern's has stocked orange wines ranging from those with orchard fruit flavors to herbal and earthy tones. The more savory orange wines are Heinze's favorites, and she said they pair better with savory foods, like Vern's campanelle pasta, roast chicken or steak. "I love introducing people to orange wine," said Heinze. "The discovery factor is fun, and it's a category of beverage that's really satisfying. It can stand alone in a glass before dinner or pair well with a meal. There's so much complexity to it." Not all Charleston wine bars and restaurants have caught up to the trend, but those that have are seemingly quite excited to spread the word: orange wine is in, it's good and you need to try it. At Bar George by the Terrace Theater on James Island, you can order orange wine by the glass or bottle. Gulp Hablo's orange wine was in stock in mid-October, a Spanish organic variety with aromatics of orange blossom, tropical jackfruit and apricot. Pair with raw oysters, Peruvian chicken or a pina dog if you're hungry. Or just enjoy it alone. It might just be a new happy hour staple. GEORGETOWN Early voting began Oct. 24 across Georgetown County ahead of the Nov. 8 General Election. Georgetown County opted for the default hours of 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for its four early voting stations. State law allows for up to seven, but county elections director Aphra McCrea said the county elections department did not see a need for so many. Early voting takes place from Monday, Oct. 24 until Saturday, Nov. 5. Voting stations will be closed Sunday, Oct. 30. Obviously, we were going to have one on the Waccamaw Neck, McCrea said. You have the majority of your voting population there. The county office, were already equipped to handle early voting. And then we placed two in our rural areas. Central location is key for the countys rural areas, McCrea said, which is why the department placed stations in Andrews and the Choppee area to draw in voters from surrounding communities. Much of the countys population is concentrated on the Waccamaw Neck, a peninsula east of the Waccamaw River, and the county seat of Georgetown. As far as equipment and staffing are concerned, McCrea said neither will be a problem when early voting kicks off on Oct. 24. We are fully staffed and we have (an) adequate amount of equipment, McCrea said. None of those areas are sparse. Registered Georgetown County voters can cast early ballots at any of the four stations regardless of their registered precinct. The stations are located at the Georgetown County Office of Voter Registration and Elections (303 N. Hazard St., Georgetown), the Andrews Regional Recreation Center (220 S. Cedar Ave, Andrews), the Northwest Regional Recreation Center (8259 Choppee Rd., Georgetown) and the Litchfield Exchange (14363 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island). Absentee Voting Absentee voting allows qualified voters to cast a ballot by mail prior to Election Day, according to the South Carolina State Election Commission website. Qualified absentee voters include: Persons with employment obligations which prevent them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons attending a sick or physically disabled person which prevents them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons confined to a jail or pretrial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial which prevents them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons who will be absent from their county of residence during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons with physical disabilities. Persons sixty-five years of age or older. Members of the Armed Forces and Merchant Marines of the United States, their spouses, and dependents residing with them. Persons admitted to a hospital as an emergency patient on the day of the election or within a four-day period before the election. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Oct. 28. To vote absentee: Call or visit your county voter registration office to be mailed an absentee application. You must provide your name, date of birth and last four digits of your Social Security Number when making your request. Complete, sign and return the application by U.S. mail or personal delivery to your county voter registration office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline on October 28. After you receive and vote your ballot, be sure to sign the voters oath and have your signature witnessed. Anyone age 18 or older can witness your signature. A notary is not necessary. Return your ballot by mail or personal delivery as soon as possible. Ballots must be received by the county voter registration office by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8. Ballots returned by mail should be mailed no later than one week prior to election day to help ensure timely delivery. You must present Photo ID when returning an absentee ballot in person. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an unprecedented toll on U.S. physicians, with nearly two-thirds suffering at least one symptom of burnout, according to a recent survey. Charleston health systems have seen this impact and are responding with programs to help all health care workers deal with it. The survey, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found that 63 percent of the 2,440 physicians surveyed had at least one symptom of burnout, up from 38 percent in 2020 and 44 percent in 2017. It was the highest level since the survey, normally conducted every three years, started in 2011. The authors decided to do a "mid-cycle evaluation" due to reports of the impact the pandemic was having medical staff. Since 2020, measures of emotional exhaustion among those physicians increased nearly 40 percent and those that assess depersonalization, a loss of compassion for patients and for the work shot up 61 percent. That was not true at the beginning of the pandemic but built up over time from wave after wave of patients, said Dr. Jane Appleby, chief medical officer for Trident Health in Charleston. "Initially during the pandemic, health care providers were really galvanized around this challenge of fighting a new disease process, a common enemy. There was some energy around that," she said. "And over time, the entire community, both health care providers and the patients and families we serve, have become really fatigued with the prolonged challenges of the pandemic. Part of that had to do with an unwanted politicization of medicine and certain practices during the pandemic and the subsequent fallout, said Dr. Elizabeth Kline, a thoracic surgeon and medical director for well-being for Roper St. Francis Healthcare. Many physicians felt they were "giving their all only to be really treated poorly by family members who were pretty stressed," she said. "The pandemic took everyone by storm. Those were hard times." Particularly during the delta variant wave last fall and winter, there were a lot of deaths, especially among younger patients, and "maybe not having time to rebound from that" before the next one came added to the stress, Appleby said. Alarmed by the survey results, American Medical Association President Jack Resneck Jr. said there is "an urgent need to attend to physicians who put everything into our nations response to COVID-19, too often at the expense of their own well-being." Roper began that process in January with the AMA's Joy in Medicine, a comprehensive program to look at increasing work satisfaction among physicians and reducing burnout. Part of that is peer support, colleagues reaching out to help others like them shoulder the load, Kline said. Someone who has done your work, who knows what it takes, "really has empathy and understands what you are going through," she said. "It not only helps people in times of crisis but it also helps people make their community and keep their community woven together." Building and emphasizing that sense of community also is one way Trident, and parent company HCA Healthcare, have been helping physicians respond, Appleby said. It comes from that sense of "connection to purpose, connection to a higher service, something bigger than us," she said. "When we are serving others, that helps us feel better, it helps to fill our compassion bucket, so to speak." It also helps that now that some COVID guidelines are being relaxed, colleagues can gather and talk face to face again, and some collegial gatherings have restarted, Appleby said. "Its hard when youre isolated and you have your head down and youre just working," she said. "All of the video conferencing might be efficient, but it really doesnt promote that human connection that keeps us all going." Medical University of South Carolina uses surveys throughout the year and saw the toll the pandemic was having. One of the ways it responded is the MUSC Resiliency Program, said Tenelle Jones, a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed addictions counselor with the program. Part of that effort is countering the feeling of isolation, she said. "This program was to help them recognize they are not alone and to relieve some of the suffering, the high-energy anxiety suffering, the low energy and depression that weve experienced and weve witnessed as well," Jones said. MUSC encourages that team building as well, urging colleagues to gather at the beginning of the shift to start with a positive outlook and to talk up accomplishments, she said. A big piece of addressing burnout is looking at work/life balance, Kline said. For many people, work does not end when they head for home, she said. Part of that is "really trying to get a handle on how much your people are doing outside of work, how much they are logged on to the computer when they have already been logged on for eight hours that day," Kline said. Restoring the balance to home life changes things. "Were always looking to make the work less so you get your work done at work and not at home," she said. "Thats a big deal. Part of it has to do with having enough staffing so you can take vacations and when you leave, somebody else is there to do your work and youre not taking it home with you." Jones, who has created a series on "Living Your Best Work Life," said her approach is more of integration. "I dont teach balance, I teach harmony, how do you harmonize and integrate all of these important areas in your life in a way where you feel like you are being present and meaningful in qualitative ways," she said. Part of that is finding time for self-care not just off the clock but when you are on the job, Jones said. It can be taking a break, taking intentional breaths, or something as simple as walking outside. "I am always encouraging (people), if you can go outside for 10 minutes and just let the sun hit you, then that is better than being in the building and you dont even know that the sun has come up today," Jones said. CONWAY Early voting began Oct. 24 throughout Horry County ahead of the Nov. 8 General Election. Horry County's polls are open in seven locations, and all of the locations are open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Early voting takes place from Monday, Oct. 24 until Saturday, Nov. 5. Sandy Martin, Horry County director of voter registration and elections, didn't note any challenges or difficulties in setting up early voting this year. Martin said the county chose to open seven poll sites ahead of the Nov. 8 General Election because the county only had four sites open for early voting in the primary election, and they started getting complaints about how they did not have an available early voting site in Myrtle Beach. So, for early voting this election, officials added voting locations in Myrtle Beach, Aynor and Morris to try and better serve the whole county. Martin said officials were not anticipating any problems with equipment or staffing prior to early voting starting. In Horry County, the early voting centers include: Voter Registration and Elections Office at 1515 Fourth Ave., Conway; Aynor Town Hall, at 600 S Main St., Aynor; Horry County Memorial Library, at 2250 Carolina Forest Blvd, Myrtle Beach; Grand Strand Senior Center, at 1268 21st Ave N, Myrtle Beach; North Strand Rec Center, at 120 State Hwy 57 S, Little River; South Strand Rec Center, at 9650 Scipio Lane, Myrtle Beach; Loris Public Safety Center, 3909 Walnut St, Loris. Absentee Voting Absentee voting allows qualified voters to cast a ballot by mail prior to Election Day, according to the South Carolina State Election Commission website. Qualified absentee voters include: Persons with employment obligations which prevent them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons attending a sick or physically disabled person which prevents them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons confined to a jail or pretrial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial which prevents them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons who will be absent from their county of residence during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons with physical disabilities. Persons sixty-five years of age or older. Members of the Armed Forces and Merchant Marines of the United States, their spouses, and dependents residing with them. Persons admitted to a hospital as an emergency patient on the day of the election or within a four-day period before the election. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Oct. 28. To vote absentee: MYRTLE BEACH Myrtle Beach couple Gregg and Karen Oberlander always dreamed of having a family of their own. Then, their dream came true in an unexpected way. "With one phone call, everything changed," Karen said. "It was kind of surreal to have them, and then to go home and try to figure out new routines and adjustments." The couple, who then lived in Ohio, got married in 1994 and struggled for years to have biological children. In 2001, Karen learned about foster care through her teaching job, and she and Gregg saw it as a potential avenue to expand their family. Within several weeks, around Christmastime, the child-free Oberlanders brought home their first foster children two twin babies and a toddler, all girls. The twins ended up staying with them for 4 years. The twins' mother, who was a teenager when the girls were fostered to the Oberlanders, still keeps in contact with the couple, thanking them for helping her family. "We never communicate without her saying, 'I will always be thankful for what you did for us. In my darkest time, you were there to help me take care of my kids,'" Karen said. "Who wouldn't want to feel that purpose in their life?" The Oberlanders moved to South Carolina in 2017, and have continued fostering children. To date, they have fostered at least 137 youths of all age ranges. Also, they have adopted three children of their own, growing their family in a way they had not originally planned. "If you have a heart for giving and a heart for helping others, then this is probably something you could do and probably do well," Gregg Oberlander said. "But, if you're in it for any other reason, it's going to be a struggle for you." Children are taken into foster care when they cannot safely remain in their homes for a variety of reasons. They may be placed in a licensed family-like foster home, like the Oberlanders, or in a group care facility. Some children are also placed with family members. Statewide, there are nearly 4,000 children in foster care at any given time, and at least 64 percent of the children are placed in family-like foster homes, according to data from the S.C. Department of Social Services. However, the Palmetto State is experiencing a severe shortage of available families to provide these homes. As of May, 2,189 foster families were still needed to provide available foster homes, according to the S.C. Department of Social Services. Although foster families are needed for children of all ages, there is a particular shortage of those who will foster pre-teens and teenagers. Every county in the state is experiencing this shortage, with Richland, Greenville and Charleston seeing the biggest shortfalls. Specifically, Richland needs 230 families, Greenville needs 176 families and Charleston needs 151 families. For Horry County, the state's third largest county, 95 foster families are needed to address the county's need. Then, nearby, 16 families are needed in Dillon, 13 are needed in Marion and nine are needed in Georgetown. John Connery is the project director for the S.C. Youth Advocate Program, a nonprofit that works closely with the S.C. Department of Social Services. The organization specializes in licensing, training and supporting families, who provide therapeutic foster homes for children with more serious emotional, behavioral, psychological and/or development issues. Connery said this shortage of available foster parents has persisted for several years, but it is difficult to pinpoint the exact reason for it. "People are busy these days. Lots of families have both parents working," Connery said. "You really have to have it in your heart to want to do this. It's not something that you just do on a whim because when you take a child, you're the parent for that child." He added it can be difficult to find families willing to foster teenagers, since many families only want to foster babies, even though babies are frequently rehomed with their family members and not often placed into foster homes. "The thought of trying to manage a teenager that is a stranger that you take into your home, I think most folks sort of balk at that," Connery said. Also, there are existing myths that may deter people from being foster parents, like the myths that you are not allowed to foster if you are unmarried, if you already have children or if you are LGBTQ+. Connery emphasized that these are just myths and are not true. To become a foster parent, one just needs to be at least 21 years old and go through a vetting process with state agency officials. This includes a state fire marshal inspection of the home to ensure it meets state standards. Connery added that part of the process is checking the individual's finances to ensure that they are not financially struggling. "We don't want to place kids in a situation where, financially, the family's not in a position to take care of themselves before they even have a child placed with them," he said. Regardless of why it started, this shortage of foster parents is limiting the potential pool of available families that can take in a foster child, which makes it more difficult to find available foster homes for children in their home counties. Connery said this leads to more disruptions in the child's life, since the child must be taken to a foster home out-of-county if a match cannot be made in their home county. "Ideally, it'd be great if we had enough families in each county so that a kid could even stay in the same school, not have to change, and have less disruptions going on in their life," Connery said. "Sometimes, we have to do temporary placements and then move a child, which is not a good thing." Connery previously worked as the state director for the S.C. Department of Mental Health, and he said that it can be harmful to a child's emotional and social wellbeing if they are not able to be placed in a suitable foster home. "One of the worst things is these kids that end up getting bounced around in a number of different foster homes, which can lead to attachment disorders where, as they grow, they can't really trust and form relationships, which does not make for good adults in society," Connery said. This existing shortage of foster families is becoming even more significant, as the holiday season soon approaches a famous time for spending quality time with loved ones at home. Connery said that it improves the social and emotional wellbeing of foster children to have an available foster home during the holiday season, since it helps provide a sense of normalcy for them. "We're trying to normalize their living situation, which helps them overcome the trauma of what's happened to them," he said. Foster parents receive a certain stipend from the state for each child in their care. The rates range from $619 each month ($20.64 a day) to $764 a month ($25.47), depending on the age of the child being fostered in that home, according to the S.C. Department of Social Services. However, Gregg and Karen Oberlander disagreed with the notion that foster parents are solely money-driven. "There could be families that are like that, but it's hard work," Karen said. "And if you did figure out what would be a payroll rate for the financial assistance, it is not worth all that hard work to do it for the money. You really need to have a passion for the kids." "Money won't get you through hard times," Gregg said. The Oberlanders said they have fostered children who have initially struggled with bonding due to their long history of being in the system, along with their past traumatic experiences of abuse and neglect. When that happens, the duo shows the children respect and tries to connect with them in their own ways Karen through nurturing behavior, and Gregg through making jokes and they adjust according to how the child responds. "It's kind of fun when kids come in they want nothing to do with you, and they don't even want to sit down to a table and eat with the rest of the family but over time, they'll start coming around, and they'll ask to eat with everybody else," Gregg said. "It's rewarding when you see that progress being made because you're helping to change their life," Karen said. "It doesn't get any better than that." The couple encouraged others to give fostering a try. "Talk to somebody else who has fostered and do research. It's so important," Karen said. "The need is so great, and it's such a great thing to do. For us, it's like our mission field." For more information about fostering, visit scyap.com, call 1-800-882-5513, or email, info@scyap.com. Hours before a former Berkeley County sheriff was arrested in Goose Creek on a drunken driving charge, authorities suspect he hit another car in North Carolina and drove away. Henry Wayne DeWitt was arrested Oct. 18 by Goose Creek police and charged with second-offense driving under the influence and having an open container of alcohol in his truck. He was released from the county jail the next day on a personal recognizance bond, records show. North Carolina highway patrol is investigating a hit-and-run collision that happened that same day near Waynesville, a small town 30 miles southwest of Asheville. First Sgt. Christopher Knox, a spokesman for the agency, said DeWitt had been identified as the owner and operator of the vehicle that fled the collision. Charges had not been filed as of Oct. 24. DeWitt, 71, served as Berkeley County's top law enforcement officer from 1994 until February 2015, when he resigned amid a pending DUI charge. He was convicted of the offense in 2016. DeWitt serves as a trustee and board chairman for the Berkeley Electric Cooperative. He received nearly $35,000 in compensation while serving as secretary and treasurer for the board in 2020, according to the most recent tax records available for the public utility. In 2021, he became board chairman for the state's largest electric cooperative, spokeswoman Libby Roerig said. The board was scheduled to meet Oct. 24, but DeWitt's arrest was not a topic on the agenda, she said. DeWitt did not respond to questions about the collision, his DUI arrest or whether he planned to continue serving on the board. A woman called 911 at about 10:45 a.m. Oct. 18 to report that her SUV was struck by another vehicle near a Lowe's home improvement store in Waynesville. In a recording of the call, the woman pleads with the SUV's driver not to pursue the fleeing vehicle while she speaks with the dispatcher. "Babe, do not follow him," she says. "I'm scared." The victims, who do not identify themselves during the call, describe the suspect vehicle as a black Ford F-150 truck with a specific South Carolina license plate. No one was hurt in the collision but they feared the driver would escape. "He's going to leave though and get back on the damn highway," the SUV driver says during the call, referring to the nearby Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. Knox said a crash report is awaiting approval from a supervisor, but the investigator identified DeWitt as the owner and driver of the pick-up truck. S.C. Department of Motor Vehicle records confirm the pickup truck is registered to DeWitt. The former sheriff owns a house in Franklin, N.C., about 40 miles southwest of Waynesville, according to property records. Hours after the North Carolina incident, DeWitt was arrested in Goose Creek while driving the same truck. City police responded just after 4 p.m. Oct. 18 to U.S. Highway 176 and Callen Boulevard in reference to a possible drunk driver. They found DeWitt leaning against the rear of his truck. Officers could smell alcohol on him and noticed his slurred speech and "glossy eyes," according to an incident report. A friend of DeWitt's was also at the scene and told officers they were driving back from Elloree, a town in Orangeburg County. The friend, who followed in a separate vehicle, saw DeWitt pull his truck to the side of the road and went to check on him. DeWitt's tire had blown out at some point during the drive, the report states. DeWitt told one officer he hadn't been drinking that day and another he had, according to the report. He refused to take a field sobriety test. "I'm good," he said. Officers arrested DeWitt on the drunken-driving charge and searched his truck. They found tonic water from Food Lion in a blue cooler and an open bourbon bottle in the passenger side, the report states. His retired sheriff's badge was also in the truck. DeWitt was previously arrested in December 2014 after he allegedly slammed his county-owned truck into the rear of a sedan in Goose Creek before fleeing the scene. Hanahan police officers located DeWitt's vehicle about 4 miles from the crash scene. Officers pursued DeWitt at speeds over 100 mph. He swerved over the road and ran a red light before he finally stopped. A field sobriety test determined he was under the influence. DeWitt ultimately pleaded guilty in 2016 to DUI and failing to comply with lawful directions. He was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to serve 60 hours of community service, according to court records. A 30-day jail sentence was suspended on each charge. DeWitt said in court at the time he attended an outpatient rehabilitation program and had been sober for nine months. Ali Rockett and Ema Rose Schumer contributed to this report. Discussion about the Union Pier redevelopment plan has largely focused on the buildings and such to be constructed on the 40 acres of high ground and ideas such as smaller lots sizes and buildings that reflect the granular and diverse character of the city. Read moreCommentary: What are unique challenges, opportunities at Union Pier? SPARTANBURG The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the emergency landing of a single-engine plane around 5 p.m. Oct. 23 in Spartanburg, the agency said in a statement. Four people were aboard the plane, a Piper PA-28, when it experienced engine issues shortly after departing Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, according to the statement. The pilot made an emergency landing on John B. White Sr. Boulevard near Kensington Drive and Southport Road, damaging some roadside poles. No injuries were reported. The Spartanburg Police Department responded to the scene and identified the pilot as a South Carolina man. The front of the aircraft appeared to be smoking and the back wing appeared to be damaged, according to a police report. The pilot told police he was flying at an altitude around 1,200 feet when he heard a loud boom and noticed the plane was losing power, according to the report. Police said he struck a utility line that Duke Energy later fixed. According to FAA records, the plane is registered to A1 Aviation LLC in Delaware. President Biden premised his cancelation or forgiveness of student loans of up to $20,000 per person on the financial harms of the pandemic. However, a Wall Street Journal editorial duly noted that the government had halted student loan payments since 2020, holding borrowers harmless. A month before he declared the pandemic over, Biden extended that student loan pause through Dec. 31. Bidens plan, as he calls it, is blatantly unconstitutional. Its not unfair to say that everything about it is wrong. The only question is whether any party has legal standing to challenge it. Indeed, Biden has altered the plan since the original announcement to exacerbate the standing issue for possible challengers. At last word, the estimated cost of the plan was $400 billion. Thanks to an Eighth Circuit order on Friday, the plan is temporarily on hold while a panel of the court considers the standing issue raised in the lawsuit brought by six states in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. The Wall Street Journal has a good editorial on the Eighth Circuit order. Bidens plan amounts to a sort of royal decree. Things arent supposed to work this way. Indeed, Biden himself seems to be confused about the source of his authority. I cant find the source of the clip posted by RNC Research below and cant add the context around it. Taking it at face value, this is big-time delusional. BIDEN on his student loan debt bailout: "It's passed. I got it passed by a vote or two." What is he talking about? Congress never voted on it. pic.twitter.com/62Ov7znOfZ RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 23, 2022 Professor Turley takes it straight and comments on it below. He calls it a bizarre boast, which seems to me euphemistic. At the least, a bizarre boast is an understatement. I recently wrote a column contesting Biden's off-base boast that the Supreme Court and a lower court declared that they were "on Biden's side" on his massive loan forgiveness. Now, the President has made an even more bizarre boast that he actually got the plan passed in Congress. Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) October 24, 2022 Biden traveled to Delaware State University to talk up his plan last week. The White House has posted the transcript here. He omitted any discussion of the legal issues underlying it. However, he made up for it in attitude: I will never apologize for helping working- and middle-class Americans as they recover from the pandemic, especially not to the same Republicans officials who voted for a $2 trillion tax cut that mainly benefitted the wealthy Americans and the biggest corporations that wasnt paid for and racked up our deficit. I dont want to hear it from MAGA Republicans officials who had hundreds of thousands of dollars of debts, even millions of dollars in pandemic relief loans forgiven who now are attacking attack me for helping working-class and middle-class Americans. My team at the White House posted a vizio [sic] a video of those folks online. You should check it out. I will only add this quotable quote: But despite what Republican officials say, we can afford student relief. Thats because the first two years of my administration thats because of the historic deficit reduction, the very deficit reduction the Republicans voted against. In Minnesota, as in other states, concerned parents have banded together to try to wrest control of the public schools away from teachers unions, in order to improve the quality of education and to stop left-wing indoctrination. Earlier this year, we started a 501(c)(4) organization called the Minnesota Parents Alliance to lead those efforts in our state. Today the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Star Tribune both posted stories on the MPA and Minnesotas school board races. The Pioneer Press article is long, and is titled Social issues bring wave of conservative candidates to MN school board races. Is educational quality now a social issue? The Pioneer Press piece is reasonably fair and includes an account of MPAs founding: In Minnesota last year, the Center of the American Experiment a prominent think tank and member of the State Policy Network, which promotes conservative positions like an opposition to public-sector unions and support for voucher laws that help parents redirect tax dollars toward private school tuition toured the state to fight against an alarming rewrite of the K-12 social studies standards for Minnesota schools. We filled rooms all across the state, said the Centers spokesman, Bill Walsh. All true so far. When the tour was over, the Center seized on the momentum by holding a candidate school where around 30 school board candidates heard about critical race theory, school funding and how to get elected. When few of their candidates won last fall. A number of the candidates who attended our training session won, as did a number of other insurgents. But that was only the beginning. This year, we had time to get organized. the Center made plans for a spinoff nonprofit that would focus on school board elections. Cristine Trooien, a Mound woman who helped run a school board campaign last year, would become the founder of the Minnesota Parents Alliance, with Center president John Hinderaker and chairman Ron Eibensteiner joining her on its three-person governing board. MPAs web site is here. Its voter guide, which endorses around 120 candidates, is here. The press, in an effort to support Education Minnesota and the liberals who run the schools, try to make school board races about social issues and the culture war. It is true, of course, that liberals have used the public schools to wage war on American culture and history, and on normal values. But the main focus of the Minnesota Parents Alliance and its endorsed candidates is educational excellence. With only 36 percent of Minnesotas 11th graders able to do math at grade level, the quality of the states schools has reached crisis levels. MPAs voter guide says: Minnesota Parents Alliance identifies and endorses school board candidates across the state who are aligned with our mission of prioritizing academic achievement, equality and parental rights in their school district. While liberals prefer to talk about George Floyd and LGBTQ+ issues, the Pioneer Press article acknowledges the central role of academic achievement in the conservative insurgency: The [MPA] voter guide includes brief statements from 104 of the 115 candidates. According to a Pioneer Press analysis of those statements: * 60 candidates mentioned a desire for schools to focus on academic achievement or just teach the basics. * 45 discussed wanting to take politics, bias or activism out of schools or to stop schools from indoctrinating children. * 45 cited parent empowerment as a value. * 17 were unhappy with the way schools are handling matters related to race, gender, equity or sexuality. * Nine expressed opposition to mask mandates or other measures schools took to protect students and staff from the coronavirus. American Experiments polling indicates that by a wide margin, Minnesotans want the public schools to prioritize academic excellence, not politics, equity or culture war issues. Thus, a lot of the MPA-endorsed candidates are going to win, even though only a handful are incumbents. The Star Tribune story is a bit of a mystery. It was posted early this morning, but the story was soon replaced by a 404 error messageThe page you requested could not be found. The story went up for a while later in the day, but now is gone again. The reporter told Cristine Trooien that he thinks the story is being held for tomorrow. We will see. In any event, I have the Strib article on my phone and so can write about it. The headline is, Culture war issues drive debate in some hotly contested school board races. Like the Pioneer Press, the Strib doesnt want to publicize the fact that parents are unhappy with the quality of their childrens education. Hence the culture wars. The Strib introduces the Minnesota Parents Alliance this way: In New Ulm, a slate of conservative candidates is railing against LGBTQ-friendly policies. Have you noticed that liberals never rail? Its a tell. Two of those candidateswere endorsed by a parents association backing conservative school board candidates across the state. Cristine Trooien of Mound founded the Minnesota Parents Alliance, reaching out to parent groups on Facebook, after the lackluster performance of conservative school board candidate slates in 2021. I think the reporter is whistling past the graveyard. In 2021, the movement to assert parental control over the schools had barely begun. This year, and in years to come, we will see candidates who represent educational quality win lots of races against the formerly all-powerful teachers union and its defense of the indefensible status quo. Trooien declined an interview, but she said via email that prerequisites for an endorsement are that candidates commit to bolstering academic achievement, equal and inclusive treatment of all students and respecting parental rights. It is notable that the teachers union, and the liberal establishment as a whole, views these principles as an existential threat to their hegemony. I expect good results for conservatives on November 8, including in many school board races. It is not what reporters and editors at the Pioneer Press and the Star Tribune intended, but I suspect that most readers of todays articles will track down the MPA voter guide to see what candidates they should vote for in their school district. The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, Beni Lar, has called on policymakers in Nigeria to prepare for a post-fossil fuel-dominated world. She said Nigerian policymakers should be alarmed by the advancement in technology in the area of renewable energy, which makes the future of fossil fuel bleak. Mrs Lar stated this on Friday during an oversight visit to the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) and the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP). In a statement issued on Sunday, the lawmaker urged the ECN to leverage available resources to reposition the nation as a hub for renewable energy. Mrs Lar explained that ECN, as the sole government body charged to drive the UN climate change Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals in energy sources and usage, must provide policy to guide Nigeria in the post-fossil fuel world. With over four decades of operational existence, this energy think-tank has a strategic role of preparing and guiding the nation into the post-crude oil dominance era that now steers us in the face. The several quantum leaps in the advancement of science and technology are leaning towards renewable and more climate-friendly energy sources should alarm leaders in the Nigerian project particularly the ECN as the future of fossil fuel looks very bleak, she said. Mrs Lar also stated that the committee had further resolved to vigorously and strategically yielded all legislative resources to ECN to birth new, reliable and futuristic sources of foreign exchange earner. In his presentation, the Director General of ECN, Jidare Bala, a professor, lamented the lack of intervention funds from the government since 2009. He also disclosed that the commission is indebted to the tune of N4.7 billion for constituency projects. He said the commission has written to the federal ministry of finance requesting that the debt should be taken over by the Debt Management Office (DMO). I will like to recall some of the challenges that we have. I have told you about our debt, heavy debt of about N4.7 billion owed contractors for constituency projects executed from 2009 to date 2012 but since 2013 we have not incurred any debt. The second is inadequate physical infrastructure at the headquarters. You can see this building is small and we have about 731 staff and if we have our way, we have already had our design where our car park is, we want to have a twelve storey building to be called Nigeria Energy House, Mr Bala said. Climate Change Despite years of diversification rhetoric, Nigeria still depends on earning from oil as the main source of foreign currency. However, the recent flooding ravaging several states across the country has elevated climate change as one of the main talking points ahead of the 2023 general elections. Last week, the presidential candidate of the ruling APC, Bola Tinubu, during an interactive session at the Arewa House, caused a stir when he stated that Nigeria would not cut down emissions unless the western countries pay compensation to mitigate the cost of alternative energy sources. However, in his manifesto, Mr Tinubu said our renewable energy plan shall be based on Nigerias commitment to carbon neutrality by 2060. PREMIUM TIMES had reported that Nigerian lawmakers also met with their African counterparts ahead of the COP27 conference in Egypt. The lawmakers also made case for compensation for African nations. NOTAP Speaking on NOTAP, Mrs Lar said the agency is critical for the advancement of technology in Nigeria. May I rightly observe that NOTAP occupies a critical place in the scientific advancement of Nigeria or its continued development. At this point, I wish to state without equivocation that the current DG has repositioned the office towards the realisation of its lofty objectives, she said. In his presentation, Director General of NOTAP, Danazumi Ibrahim, explained there is high involvement of indigenous IT companies in software deployment because of local content law. He told the committee that the agency is facing shortage of staff due to the embargo placed on employment by the federal government. Some members of the committee observed that the equipment used by the agency for most of its research are obsolete as they demanded comprehensive details of all expenditure. The committee requested the two agencies to provide details of their budget performance, sources of revenue, indebtedness, and internally generated revenue. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A Nigerian cleric has advised women not to abandon their marriage in search of peanuts abroad. The cleric, Ekenedilichukwu Nwafor, who is the vicar in charge of the Church of The Pentecost, Awka, Anglican Communion, gave the advice during a sermon, titled Walking the Walk on Sunday in Awka. He said most women in professional fields like medicine and nursing now abandon their marriages without agreements with their husbands to travel to Canada and other western nations in search of money. Mr Nwafor said such acts can break up marriages and scatter the orderliness that should be in homes, thereby making the children vulnerable. The vicar said such acts have led to a life of adultery amongst the couple involved, the children indulging in acts of incest, and turning into lesbians and homosexuals, amongst other ills. Mr Nwafor said that as Christians who confess with their mouth, women should walk the talk at all times and places and in all circumstances. He said God raised the marriage institution to build a godly society where parents, in agreement, build a healthy home that would produce a sane society. The economic situation is harsh now but it is not enough reason for marriages to be abandoned for materialism. We should allow the holy spirit to run our lives in all things, knowing that he cares for his people and should be able to live as Christians. READ ALSO: Women are the builders of homes so they should not create a vacuum in homes because of little shakes in their finances, family, and offices, he said. He admonished parents to be guided by Gods word to walk the talk as commanded by the word of God. Walk the talk by way of parenting. God commanded in 1st Peter 5 verses 1 to 5, that as a parent you are advised to live by example to your children in all ramifications, he summed up. Mr Nwafor urged youths to respect their parents and carry out their directives as recorded in the book of Ephesians 6 verses 1 to 3. All these promises of God will rest upon us if we walk the talk in all circumstances of life, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, today (October 5) announced a proposed set of new labour market reforms that will replace Flexi Permits. The changes will increase protections for expatriate workers and streamline processes involved with registering for work or change of employment, reported BNA. The new measures represent the next step in Bahrains strong track record of leading regional reform in this area. In 2017, Bahrain secured Tier-1 Status in the US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report, which ranks it alongside countries such as France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany across a range of areas. The reforms, which would be implemented by Bahrains Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), include: 1.The establishment of new labour registration centres and an online registration portal to increase ease of worker registration 2.Guaranteed Labour Market Regulatory Authority representation for any disputes between employee and employer 3.New measures to link work permits to vocational and occupational standards to increase safety and protections in places of work Under the reforms, which will be implemented by the Kingdoms Labour Market Regulatory Authority, inspections to identify employers engaged in illegal activity will be increased to safeguard the rights of employers, workers, and the Kingdom's business community, said the BNA report. The changes will also provide a more robust structure to allow employers to have greater flexibility to pay and source labour, driving growth of the private sector which sits at the heart of the Kingdoms ongoing development, it added. The House of Representatives will host an education summit in November to address the challenges in the tertiary education sector. Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila disclosed this on Monday during a meeting between the leadership of the House, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the representatives of the federal government on the implementation of the agreement on the recently suspended strike. The ASUU delegation was led by its President, Emmanuel Osodeke, while the federal government delegation was led by the Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Okolieaboh Sylva. The speaker said the summit will address the challenges confronting the sector and proffer lasting solutions that will end the perennial industrial action by the lecturers. This ASUU strike is becoming perennial, our education is in disarray and the House is organising a summit on the education sector. The notice will be out. All these issues are to be addressed. The summit will be starting in November, he said while reacting to concerns of ASUU to end the perennial strike. Mr Osodeke said the strike was called off without an agreement but that the union acted on trust. He stated that the agreement on incorporating the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to address the peculiarity of the university system is a temporary arrangement, hence, there is a need for a final agreement. The strike we called off, our members did it based on trust in us and the way the speaker has intervenedthree meetings now. It was on that basis we were able to convince them. What we agreed on the issue of IPPIS and UTAS is a temporary measure, he said. Mr Osodeko also spoke on the inability of universities to generate money through investment. He said the Tertiary Single Account (TSA) is preventing universities from investing their funds. He stated that the University of Lagos used to invest its funds in the past but that TSA has ended it. The greatest problem universities have is this TSA. In those days, Unilag had one of the best investments in the world. They invest money and make profits. But today, no university can invest money because of the TSA. Thus distorting the revenue of most agencies. These things that these foreigners tell us to do, they dont do in their countries. Because of the peculiarity of universities, we agreed that let some of these universities take care of their funds and use it for investments and make a profit. You have universities that have N10 billion in their accounts and are not yielding profit because of TSA, he said. Reacting to the concern, Mr Gbajabiamila said there is an agreement to amend the National Universities Commission (NUC) to allow universities to invest their money. In his remarks, Mr Sylva said the government will compile a list of peculiarities of the university system and adjust the platform accordingly. I think it is high time we met to have a comprehensive list of all the peculiarities of ASUU and their members. Whatever the number, whatever the complication may be, we should be able to clear this. We have to continue to pay ASUU and their members. What we will do is look at what we have at the moment so that we can continue to pay them. We are accommodating all the material peculiarities. I am a new face in this negotiation, he said. Following the comments, they went into an executive session to address some of the issues. Background ASUU accused the federal government of refusing to implement a 2009 agreement on matters bordering on increased funding of universities and increasing lecturers salaries. Specifically, ASUU is requesting the release of revitalisation funds for universities, payment of its members earned academic allowances, the release of whitepapers from the reports of the presidential visitation panels as well as the deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as the preferred payment platform for university workers. The union rejected the IPPIS which the government uses to pay civil servants salaries, arguing that the platform is fraudulent and does not recognise the peculiarities of the universities. The matter came to a crisis point when the union embarked on an initial four weeks strike on 14 February, asking the government to honour the agreements it had entered with the union in 2009. Following its inability to resolve the dispute with ASUU through negotiations, the federal government, through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, referred the matter to the National Industrial Court (NIC) for resolution. Amid the impasse, the House of Representatives held several meetings with the union and federal government. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The United Nations (UN) has called on the Nigerian government to prioritise peace and health promotion to achieve real and lasting developments across the country. The WHO country representative, Walter Mulombo, made the call in Abuja on Saturday during a peace walk organised by the UN System in Nigeria to commemorate the United Nations 77th anniversary. Speaking on behalf of the UN agencies, Mr Mulombo said the government in collaboration with the citizens need to see the prioritisation of healthcare as a veritable tool for fostering peace, stability, and economic development. He said the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that if the country continues to consider health as a consumption good, it will miss the target. If we dont position health in our policies, strategies, and interventions, as a requirement for all developmental efforts, then we are likely to face the same thing we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health is a human right and not a privilege. This is one of the things the UN is doing by carrying along that message to the highest level so that leaders Presidents and Heads of Government can understand that health is a priority, he said. He said the UN is an organisation established to put mechanisms in place for lasting peace, solidarity, and cooperation. UN Day The UN Day is observed on 24 October every year to commemorate its official creation in 1945. The 2022 domesticated theme: The UN and Nigeria: Partnership for Peace, Prosperity and Sustainable Development draws attention to the need for peaceful co-existence and its impact on development. Mr Mulombo said the UN was formed 77 years ago after the devastating World War II to promote international peace and prosperity. Nigeria is an active member of the UN and over the years has made significant contributions to peacekeeping operations. Nigeria has supported development initiatives for her people and has been an active partner in global multilateralism, he said. In his remark, the High Commissioner of Canada, James Christoff, said the walk is an opportunity to unite with colleagues across the international community and the UN community, in solidarity to promote peace. Mr Christoff said the UN Day creates an opportunity to show the importance of cooperation in making the world a better place. Prioritising peace The WHO country representative said addressing security challenges is key to achieving a peaceful nation. He explained that there cannot be security without peace while calling on the present administration to tackle the insecurity challenges in the country. We need to remember that we are all committed to peace, we are all committed to silencing that weapon and we are all committed to giving equal opportunity to every citizen in the entire world, he said. He urged all member-states to respect their commitments to silencing the weapons. In his speech to mark the day, UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres said the UN is the product of hope. Mr Guterres said now, more than ever, there is a need to bring to life the values and principles of the UN Charter in every corner of the world, especially by giving peace a chance and ending conflicts that jeopardise lives, futures, and global progress; by working to end extreme poverty, reduce inequalities, and rescue the Sustainable Development Goals; by safeguarding our planet, including by breaking our addiction to fossil fuels and kickstarting the renewable energy revolution. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Logis, an agri-logistic free trade zone that is being constructed in Panama. Once completed, Logis will be the largest free trade zone of its kind in Central and Latin America. The MoU will see DMCC and Logis work together to exchange knowledge and expertise to support the continued development of thriving commodities marketplaces in both free zones. The MoU was signed by Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, and Sandro Salsano, President of Salsano Group and majority shareholder of Logis. New trade corridor Sulayem said: This partnership with Logis is a major opportunity to open a vibrant new trade corridor with Latin America. Panama stands as the gateway between Central and South America and Logis is perfectly positioned to host the largest free zone of its kind in the region especially where agriculture commodities trade is concerned. We are therefore hugely excited about bringing our mutual experiences to the table and moving this relationship forward over the next few years. Salsano said: It is a great honour to partner with the leading number 1 ranked Free Trade Zone in the world. I have known Ahmed and his team for many years. I admire his vision, leadership and his teams execution skills. Salsano Group also plans to expand in the Middle East and we are excited to partner with a strategic market leader like DMCC. Expanding trade The MoU will also see DMCC and Logis explore opportunities to expand trade between the members of their respective free zones. Both parties will also share market insights, analysis, and forecasts to support the development of commodities trading in both free zones. The UAE and Panama have long-standing diplomatic and bilateral relations across various sectors. At the back of the rapidly growing economic ties between Dubai and Latin America, and during a webinar organised last year by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industrys representative office in Panama, the Panamanian Minister of Private Investment Jose Alejandro Rojas has called on UAE companies to leverage Panama as a global gateway to expand their footprint in Latin America. Hence, with their strategic locations at the heart of international trade, there are significant opportunities to further expand trade between Panama and the UAE.-- TradeArabia News Service The House of Representatives Committee on Finance has summoned the Managing Director of Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET), Nnaemeka Ewelukwa, over power agreements. Mr Ewelukwa is to answer questions bordering on the $30 million per month Azura power deal and $10 million per month Arco Gas agreement. The committee issued the summon following the failure of Mr Ewelukwa to appear before the committee at the ongoing 2023 budget defence. Mr Ewelukwa was asked to appear before the Committee on Thursday. Abba Aliu, the general manager, corporate services, who represented the NBET MD at the budget defence, informed the lawmakers that the MD was on annual leave. He said that the MD commenced the leave last week Friday. The Chairman of the Committee, James Faleke (APC, Lagos), said the letter of invitation was delivered on Wednesday, and Mr Ewelukwa embarked on leave on Friday to avoid appearing before the committee. He saw our letter and decided to go on leave because of item five the issue of Azura and Arco gas. He cannot plunge this country into this kind of debt and run away. He must come here and face us. In line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we hereby summon the managing director of NBET to appear before this committee on Thursday, unfailingly, he ruled. Earlier, the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Saidu Abdulahi (APC, Niger), said the MD ought to have suspended his leave to appear before the committee to defend the budget of its agency and answer questions on the power deals. I dont think this excuse is tenable. Chairman, you would recall that we received the budget from Mr President on a Friday which is not our parliamentary day but to underscore the importance of this particular exercise, we all turned up in numbers to receive the budget from the president, he said. In this case, we wrote a letter to the commission and I am sure the MD did receive the letter before he proceeded to his leave. So if he attaches so much importance to what we are doing, he would have excluded himself for just one day to be here. More importantly, because of item number five on the letter, we must insist that the MD of NBET appears even if it is for a day. He must appear to defend the budget before we pass the budget, he said. Also speaking, Taiwo Oluga (APC Osun) said the MD is notorious for avoiding appearing before committees. I think the MD is trying to avoid the parliament. This is not the first time. To be on record, that the MD would be avoiding this committee, she said. We should insist until the MD is available to address this committee and to address the country as a whole because there are sensitive issues that he needs to talk to us about. So avoiding the parliament will not help the issue, he said PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the same committee had in August queried the $30 million per month Pull Call Option Agreement (PCOA) reached with investors on the Azura power plant. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Oyo State government said it was not responsible for the non-completion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project as claimed by Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Works and Housing. Wasiu Olatubosun, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, made the clarifications in a statement on Monday in Ibadan. Mr Fashola had on Thursday declared that the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was suffering delay because of the drainage channel being constructed across the road by the Oyo State Government in its Ibadan axis. The minister made the statement at the inaugural edition of President Muhammadu Buharis Administration Scorecard 2015-2023 Series, organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture. Mr Fashola said that the 127.6 kilometres expressway had recorded a lot of progress, appealing to motorists and commuters to endure the delays being encountered at the Ibadan and Lagos axis, respectively. The Oyo State Government is building a drainage channel across the road, so we are having difficulties because the contractor has slowed down and we have to slow down too. We do not want to finish the road and come back to destroy it for the drainage channel construction, he had said. Reaction Reacting, Mr Olatunbosun said it was imperative to set records straight as a government committed to ensuring that the good people of Oyo State enjoy the dividends of good governance. First, we need to clarify that two major projects, the dualisation of the 8.2 km Agodi-Gate-Old Ife-Adegbayi Junction Road and a few projects under the World Bank assisted Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP) interface with the 127.6 km Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project at CH 115-117, CH 117 and CH 125, he said. In real terms, this stretch is less than three kilometres. Secondly, we would have expected that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing would have reached out to us to find out how long we would need to complete the aforementioned projects being that Oyo State has been in communication with the Ministry. In fact, just about a year ago, we had requested permission from the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (through the Director of Federal Highways) to dualise the underpass at CH 115 -117. We were advised to make sure that the diversion routes are completed before embarking on the diversion. We complied 100 per cent. Also, it is on record that the majority of the 22km stretch of the Lagos-Ibadan Express Road between the old Tollgate Ibadan-Ojoo is still in progress. Earthwork between Iwo Road Interchange and Ojoo has only just commenced, while work between the Old Ibadan Tollgate and Onipepeye is still in progress and characterised by road diversions. With all these works yet to be done, why is the Federal Minister blaming the Oyo State Government for delaying the project? Mr Olatunbosun said. He said if the Minister had reached out to the state government, they would have told him that the contract for work on the dualisation of Agodi-Gate- Old-Ife Road-Adegbayi Junction, including an underpass interface with the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at Onipepeye, had to be terminated at 60 per cent in September. According to him, this was due to the slow pace of work by the contractor, whose contract was awarded under the previous administration. He said: Oyo State Government is in the process of re-awarding the remaining 40 per cent with a February 2023 delivery date. We have also provided 500m diversions of the main expressway lanes from the impacted site to allow traffic flow on both sides. Similarly, the IUFMP projects also have four-month completion schedules. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Kano State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has organised a debate among the leading governorship candidates in the state on healthcare The state chairman of NMA, Abdullahi Sulaiman, announced this on Monday while briefing journalists on the activities lined up to mark this years physician week. He said the debate will be conducted on Thursday, October 27th, at Bristol Palace Hotel, Kano. In line with this years physician week, we felt, it is an opportunity to reach out to gubernatorial candidates and brief them on health matters in Kano state. And for them to showcase their plan to electorates as we are on the verge of the 2023 general election. The proceedings of the debate will assist us in drafting an agenda for the people of Kano. We will conclude the meeting with extraordinary meeting and young doctors day on Saturday, Mr Sulaiman said. According to him, the governorship candidates invited are Nasiru Gawuna of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ibrahim Khalil of the African Democratic Congress,(ADC); Ishak Ishak of the Labour Party (LP); Salihu Tanko Yakasai of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP); and Abba Kabir Yusuf (NNPP). Kano State government has 533 doctors on its payroll Mr Sulaiman lamented the brain drain in the healthcare sector in the state. He blamed it on the poor condition of service and remuneration of healthcare workers. He said the Kano State government has only 533 medical doctors on its payroll. From the breakdown available to me now. We have 1,063 doctors in Kano state. Out of this number 533 are working under the Kano state government (even though most of them are house officers or undergoing internship), we have 400 in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, 96 in National Orthopedic Hospital Dala and 84 doctors working in other private and specialised hospitals, Mr Sulaiman. He said many doctors leave the state civil service for jobs at Federal Government hospitals and other states with better welfare packages. He also appealed to the Federal Government to improve the welfare of medical doctors to check the mass exodus of doctors abroad. He said about 10,296 doctors that are trained in Nigeria are currently working in the United Kingdom. Mr Sulaiman said if the government would address the pay disparity between state and federal health workers, it would mitigate the problem of internal and external brain drain. If the government would address pay disparity between state and federal government, that would stop doctors from going to Ghana, Uganda, and South Africa, among others. You know, Nigerian doctors go to even African countries, not only the UK or Europe. This is to show you how bad the situation is. People would want to work with state government than federal if the salary doesnt have disparity, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A middle-aged man on Monday jumped from the Gbodofon bridge into the Osun river in Osogbo, Osun State. The man, identified as Saheed Oladeji, jumped into the river in an apparent suicide attempt. He was, however, rescued by a joint operation of residents, the Osun Ambulance Services, and the State Fire Services. The incident happened barely four days after a woman jumped into the river from the same bridge. Her body is yet to be found. Witnesses told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Oladeji jumped into the river at around 7 a.m. before some passers-by alerted fire service officials. The firefighters arrived at the scene immediately and used a rope to pull the man out of the river. READ ALSO: A source in the area who requested not to be named said it is the third suicide attempt by Mr Oladeji. Mr Oladeji was rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment after he was pulled out of the river. In a short video recorded after he was rescued, Mr Oladeji said he lives alone in Osogbo while his wife and children live in Lagos. Yemisi Opalola, the police spokesperson in the state, did not respond to calls and messages sent to her phone. Ibraheem Adekunle, the spokesperson of Osun State Fire Service, however, confirmed the incident. We received a distress call, and men immediately moved to the scene. We rescued the man. He had already jumped into the river, Mr Adekunle said. People said the latest attempt by the man, who gave his name as Saheed Oladeji, was his third attempt to take his life, he added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Soldiers on Sunday afternoon killed two siblings for allegedly smuggling bags of foreign parboiled rice in Ogun State, witnesses have said. The incident happened at Owode, Yewa South Local Government area of the state. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that trouble started when the soldiers accosted one of the brothers who was reportedly in possession of smuggled rice. A source told PREMIUM TIMES that during the ensuing altercation between the man and the soldiers, some people called his younger brother, popularly known as Saheed Elegusi. Saheed rushed to the scene and the two of them were shot dead by the soldiers. We dont know when soldiers become customs officers, said the source who requested anonymity to avoid being attacked by soldiers. The killing sparked an angry protest by the youths in the community after the soldiers had fled. The youths protest continued on Monday when they set bonfires on the Sango-Idiroko road and halted vehicular movements. READ ALSO: Abimbola Oyeyemi, the police spokesperson in the state, confirmed the incident. He said the mob had killed an officer of the Nigerian Air Force, in retaliation. Yes, the incident happened yesterday. I think it was caused by an argument between them (the two brothers) and men of the Nigerian Army. We are still investigating, the police spokesperson said. But do you know that the people killed an Air Force officer who was just passing on his own? He was just going on his own, he had nothing to do with the crisis. They just mobbed him and killed him because he was in uniform. Anyway, investigation is ongoing. The Commissioner of Police has directed the Homicide section to take over the matter. The situation has been brought under control. The area is calm now. The DPO of Owode and some other policemen were able to move into the scene quickly. But unfortunately, the Air Force officer was killed. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate, will offer four flights a week between Muscat and Phuket, one of Thailands most popular resort islands, starting from November 15, 2022. The flights will operate on (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). The Tuesday flight from Muscat will depart at 09:40 and arrive in Phuket at 18:50. The Thursday flight from Muscat will depart at 22:50 and arrive in Phuket on Sunday at 08:00. The first flight on Saturday will depart Muscat at 09:40 and arrive in Phuket at 18:50, while the second flight will depart at 22:50 and arrive on Sunday at 08:00. Economy Class tickets start at RO299 ($774) and Business Class tickets start at RO650, inclusive of taxes. Guests travelling to Muscat and Phuket should ensure they are aware of official requirements to enter or transit through the country, an Oman Air statement said, adding that guests can also book a customised Phuket holiday package through Oman Air Holidays. TradeArabia News Service A LIMITED SELECTION OF 360 BOTTLES TO BE RELEASED WORLDWIDE 20th of October. MIKOOW, Poland, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the successful launch of Dictador Wixarika, the first edition of the TOTEM collection, Dictador is now launching their second edition, MOPA MOPA. TOTEM was established to preserve cultural diversity, encourage traditionalism in art, and honor indigenous artisans and their techniques, dating back centuries. Dictador TOTEM, Mopa Mopa collection. With rare wines and spirits reaching increasingly large values and attracting global investment, Dictador is pioneering aged rum for collecting connoisseurs. The brand owns the world's largest stock of aged rum, up to 45 years old, allowing Dictador to release a range of innovative, yet fine and rare editions unrivaled by competitors creating an entirely new luxury category for prestige rums and distributing its award-winning products to more than 80 countries around the world. The limited edition, Dictador MOPA MOPA collection, is an exceptional demonstration of the artistry, technique, and thought devoted to the development of these collectible rum bottles. There are only 360 bottles within MOPA MOPA and each bottle has been hand-decorated by Colombian artists. This collection represents this historic, ancient art form but is also a symbol of the love and respect these artisans have for their homeland and its rich culture. The inspiration for these bottles stems from the ancient tradition of using Mopa Mopa, a native South American phenolic resin, used for centuries in cultural contexts by artisans in the region of Pasto, Colombia, to decorate ceremonial drinking cups known as 'Qeros.' The process involves a complex cycle of production whereby sheets of flexible resin are extracted from trees of the genus Elaeagia, which grows in mountainous regions of western South America. This is done without harming the tree during the process. The trek to collect the resin is always done on foot and typically takes up to 5 hours to reach the destination point. Resin gatherers will then set up campsites in the wilderness for 8 to 15 days as they comb through patches of trees for viable harvest. In total, the resin gatherers will collect between 6-9 kilos of Mopa Mopa which will then be sold to varnish masters at a central location closer to town. Mopa Mopa is sacred because of the beauty it makes possible but also because of the effort involved in sourcing it and the rarity of it - the harvest only happens twice a year between May and November. Because the artistry of Mopa Mopa is so intricate and time-consuming, it cannot be automated for mass production. As a result, the people involved are crucial in the making of these limited-edition bottles. Like many indigenous processes, the harvesting of Mopa Mopa and the ancestral knowledge of the Pasto varnish application process is under threat of being lost due to deforestation and agricultural encroachment. It is because of the passion and commitment of these local people that this artform has been kept alive. Starting at 3,600 4,800 EUR the limited-edition bottles are available for sale on Dictador's online store. About Dictador: For more than 40 years, Dictador has been creating ultra-premium, aged rum in the heart of Cartagena, Colombia. In the experienced hands of third generation rum producer and master blender, Hernan Parra, this Colombian distillery has meticulously perfected the manufacturing process while maintaining family recipes and techniques. Dictador has the world's largest stock assets of aged rum, up to 45 years old, allowing the brand to release a range of innovative, yet fine and rare editions unrivaled by competitors creating an entirely new luxury category for Fine Rums. Due to its geographical location, Colombia is one of the three largest sugarcane producers in the world, ensuring both high quality and large harvests. Cartagena and its surroundings are famous for being the first sugarcane production areas in South America. The location of the distillery provides a magical balance between weather and land, enabling the production of a unique palette of award-winning rum that is now distributed in more than 80 countries across the globe. For more information, please visit: www.dictador.com / @the_dictador Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1927172/Dictador_Mopa_Mopa.jpg SOURCE Dictador Armed Forces Accelerate Transition to Business World Acclimation TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- True business agility begins with Servant Leadership. None are more equipped than members of the Armed Forces. AgileDad has partnered with Barrymore Hotel and the Scrum Alliance to present this 100% Free Scrum Certification Offering Nov. 17-22, 2022. Each two-day workshop offers one of the following industry leading Scrum Alliance certifications: Certified ScrumMaster and Certified Scrum Product Owner. Veterans acquire skills to transition at free AgileDad Workshop. These November sessions are certain to fill very quickly and we encourage all interested to register at AgileDad.com as seats are limited to 25 per session! V. Lee Henson, President of AgileDad and Certified Scrum Trainer remarked, "These brave men and women made the decision to defend our freedom and civil liberties. We are honored as a company to give back and offer these workshops to save veterans thousands of dollars and help them transition into the world of business with the best likelihood of securing a great job quickly, and succeeding in their responsibilities within their role." Dave Nolan, Project Manager over Amazon Logistics and Military Veteran added, "I was transitioning from the military three years ago and was fortunate to attend AgileDad's Certified Scrum Product Owner Workshop. CSPO was my first exposure to the Scrum framework. I learned so much that I went back to achieve my advanced certification. The lessons learned transcend from the military to the business sector. I wish I had attended earlier in my career. Lee and the team at AgileDad are huge supporters of the military community, and I recommend this course to any transitioning service member. Lee is an outstanding instructor, and anyone interested in developing their Project Management toolbox must attend." Since 2007 AgileDad has offered a humanized, pragmatic approach to Agile Project Management. This specific workshop is next up in the "AgileDad Serves Those Who Serve Others" series. Our goal is to give back to those who do so much to help us be successful in all walks of life. Any who are unable to attend this offering or those who work in a different field are certainly welcome to register for any AgileDad course or workshop at a discounted rate just by mentioning they read this article. Media Contact: V. Lee Henson 866-410-1616 [email protected] SOURCE AgileDad Green Choice flights help travelers reduce their carbon footprint LOS ANGELES, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CheapAir.com, a boutique travel booking site, formally launches a new flight feature "Green Choice" today, allowing travelers to see and book the most fuel-efficient itinerary. This new flight option identifies the most fuel-efficient choices for each leg of a trip and is available for any itinerary, including one-way, roundtrip, and multi-city. The feature also tells travelers how much carbon dioxide is burned per person in an economy seat. "CheapAir.com is committed to doing its part when it comes to sustainable travel," said Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com. "To help offer practical solutions when it comes to reducing one's carbon footprint while traveling, we are proud to provide the visibility of carbon emissions rates by flight. This information helps individuals make thoughtful travel decisions." Another factor to consider when booking sustainable is nonstop flights and mixing-and-matching airlines. These flights will typically be the most fuel efficient and the greenest flights may require flying two different airlines. CheapAir.com can seamlessly combine any combination into one convenient itinerary that maximizes green travel choices, making it easy for travelers to more responsible travel decisions. Flying economy is also a simple way for travelers to reduce their carbon footprint as business and first class take up more space on an airplane, resulting in less efficient travel. For example, for 10 major US domestic flight routes less than 1,000 miles, the best Green Choice flight on CheapAir.com averaged 48% lower emissions than the highest emitting logical itinerary for that same route. To learn more on sustainable travel options, including CheapAir.com's newest Green Choice feature, click here. About CheapAir.com Headquartered in California, CheapAir.com is powered by a team of 50 travel enthusiasts who use cutting-edge technology and superior customer service to simplify the way people shop for travel. Our proprietary airfare shopping engine provides an easy-to-understand view of flight and fare options from across the web, to make trip planning easy and joyful. Only CheapAir provides full apples-to-apples comparisons so you can see and book across different airlines and different flights, not just the lowest fares, but also the best value flights based on quality, comfort, and inflight amenities. For expert travel advice, deals and inspiration, connect with us on Facebook or Twitter. CEO Jeff Klee started CheapAir.com in 1989 from his college dorm room after getting a crash course in the airline industry while planning a backpacking trip through Europe on a student's budget. CheapAir.com still takes a creative approach to helping travelers to find the best trips. Along with its sister company, AmTrav for Business Travelers, CheapAir has helped over five million people buy plane tickets with confidence. SOURCE CheapAir.com DUBLIN, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Aviation Analytics Market by Component (Services, Solutions) Deployment (On-premise, Cloud), Application, End-user (MROs, Airlines, Airports, OEMs), Business Function, and Region (North America, Europe, APAC, RoW) - Forecast to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The aviation analytics market is projected to grow from USD 2.5 billion in 2022 to USD 4.7 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 13.0% from 2022 to 2027. Aviation analytics is an evolving technology, which is increasingly being used to arrive at actionable insights for various business functions. The aviation analytics market is highly competitive, with many existing analytical solution providers and increasing niche players who have a significant regional reach. The mobility & functionality segment of the aviation analytics market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during forecast period. The growing need to modernize aircraft fleet and airport operations in order to improve flight safety is a major factor driving the demand for aviation analytics in flight risk management. Based on end user, the airport segment is projected to lead the aviation analytics market across the forecast period Growing preferences for air travel and demand for passenger convenience and safety are driving the demand for aviation analytics solutions in airports. Sales and marketing, inventory management, customer experience, and wealth management are some of the major functions of aviation analytics solutions deployed in airports. Airports are segmented into three categories, small, medium, and large airports. The North American region is estimated to account for the largest share of the aviation analytics market in 2022 The adoption of aviation analytics solutions is higher in North America as compared to other regions. This is mainly because of the presence of various developed economies such as Canada and the US. The region also has been benefiting from low oil prices, improved efficiency in aircraft operations, and a steady labor market over the years. Reasons to Buy this Report This report is expected to help market leaders/new entrants by providing them the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall aviation analytics market and its segments. This study is also expected to provide region-wise information about the applications wherein aviation analytics solutions are used. It also aims at helping the stakeholders understand the competitive landscape of the market, gain insights to improve the position of their businesses, and plan suitable go-to-market strategies. This report is also expected to help them understand the pulse of the market and provide them with information on key drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities influencing the growth of the aviation analytics market Market Dynamics Drivers Advancement in Cloud-Based IT Solutions for Data Collection Demand for Optimized Business Operations Through Application of Structured Analytical Solutions Growing Emphasis on Identifying New Market Opportunities by Analyzing Customer Behavior and Preferences Reduced Maintenance Costs and Downtime by Employing Predictive Analytics Restraints Lack of Appropriate Analytical Skills Opportunities Cloud-Based Real-Time Data Collection and Analytics Incorporation of AI-Based Analytics Solutions for Critical Functions in the Aviation Industry Challenges Requirement for Diverse Data Models Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 5 Market Overview 6 Industry Trends 7 Aviation Analytics Market, by Component 8 Aviation Analytics Market, by Deployment 9 Aviation Analytics Market, by Business Function 10 Aviation Analytics Market, by Application 11 Aviation Analytics Market, by End-user 12 Regional Analysis 13 Competitive Landscape 14 Company Profiles 15 Appendix Companies Mentioned Aeroficial Intelligence Atheer Air Aviation Intelligence Beep Analytics Booz Allen Hamilton Capgemini General Electric Graymatter Software Services Hexaware Technologies Honeywell International IBM Corporation Ibs Software Services Ifs Ab Innodatatics Inc. Lufthansa Technik Mercator Mu Sigma Oracle Corporation Ramco Systems Sap Se Sas Institute Sita Swiss Aviation Software Winair Zestiot For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/45y4kq Media Contact: Laura Wood | +353-1-481-1716 | [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets ST. LOUIS, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, communications and data networking products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services, today reported record net sales in the third quarter of 2022. Graybar's net sales for the third quarter totaled $2.8 billion, a 20.6 percent increase compared to the same period in 2021. Net income attributable to Graybar for the quarter was $126.1 million, up 69.7 percent from the same period last year. For the first nine months of the year, the company reported net sales of $7.8 billion, a 21.7 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Net income attributable to Graybar through three quarters increased 76.5 percent to $355.9 million. "I am pleased with Graybar's performance so far this year, and I congratulate our employees on achieving a new quarterly net sales record," said Kathleen M. Mazzarella, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Graybar. "Customer demand for our products and services remains steady, and our financial condition is strong. This allows us to invest in our business and pursue new opportunities that strengthen our position as a leader in supply chain innovation." Graybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high quality electrical, communications and data networking products, and specializes in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of 300 North American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands of manufacturers, helping its customers power, network, automate and secure their facilities with speed, intelligence and efficiency. For more information, visit www.graybar.com or call 1-800-GRAYBAR. Media Contact: Tim Sommer (314) 578-7672 [email protected] SOURCE Graybar FARMINGTON, Conn., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Otis Worldwide (NYSE: OTIS), the world's leading company for elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service, has appointed Nelda Connors to its Board of Directors, effective October 28, 2022. "We are pleased to welcome Nelda to the Otis Worldwide Board of Directors," said Judy Marks, Otis Chair, CEO & President. "Nelda's leadership experience and expertise, especially in industrial and technology sectors, make her a valuable addition to our Board. I look forward to working with Nelda as we build a taller, faster, smarter world." Otis Worldwide has appointed Nelda Connors to its Board of Directors, effective Oct. 28, 2022. Connors has held executive and management roles in diversified industrial and automotive sectors, including President and Chief Executive Officer of Atkore International Inc., formerly the Electrical and Metal Products division of Tyco International, and Vice President at Eaton Corporation, where she held several positions in operations, continuous improvement and general management. Connors currently serves as the CEO of Pine Grove Holdings, a woman- and minority-owned, privately held investment company she founded that acquires and operates small-to-middle market businesses primarily focused in power generation, software as a service, advanced material and specialty logistics and transportation. "It's an honor to join Otis, a world-renowned company that touches the lives of billions every day," said Connors. "I look forward to working with the Board to oversee Otis' long-term strategy and help the company deliver value for all stakeholders." Connors currently also serves on the Boards of Directors for Boston Scientific, Baker Hughes and Zebra Technologies. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton. She has been named to the Forbes 50 over 50 for Investment, Inc.'s Most Influential Corporate Directors, Savoy's Power 300 Most Influential Black Corporate Directors and Black Enterprise's Top 75 Powerful Women in Business. With the addition of Connors, the Otis Board now has 10 directors. She will join the Board's Audit and Compensation Committees. Otis values diversity across multiple dimensions in its workplace including gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, background, perspective and experience and similarly its Board seeks candidates who enhance Board diversity. With Connors, six of the 10 members of the Board are women, racially/ethnically diverse or both. To learn more about Otis and its Board of Directors, visit www.otis.com. About Otis Otis is the world's leading elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service company. We move 2 billion people a day and maintain more than 2.1 million customer units worldwide, the industry's largest Service portfolio. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 68,000 people strong, including 41,000 field professionals, all committed to meeting the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. For more information, visit www.otis.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @OtisElevatorCo. Media Contact: Investor Relations Contact: Katy Padgett Michael Rednor +1 860-674-3047 +1 860-676-6011 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Otis Worldwide Corporation Preclinical data shows efficacy in animal models of ulcerative colitis Human pharmacokinetic data show oral formulation releases PL8177 in colon CRANBURY, N.J., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Palatin Technologies, Inc. (NYSE American: PTN), a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class medicines based on molecules that modulate the activity of the melanocortin receptor system, today announced that John Dodd, Ph.D. presented the poster "Efficacy of the Melanocortin Receptor Agonist PL8177 as a Potential Therapy for Gastrointestinal Inflammatory Diseases" at the American College of Gastroenterology annual meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. The data presented demonstrated that in animal models of ulcerative colitis, oral PL8177 was efficacious in reducing colonic damage and inflammation. In addition, in a Phase 0 human pharmacokinetic study, the oral formulation of PL8177 was released in the colon and importantly, did not enter into systemic circulation. The detailed PL8177 preclinical data has been accepted for publication in an upcoming peer reviewed scientific publication. The poster can be found on Palatin's website www.palatin.com. "We are very proud of the quality of our research and clinical development work and for the opportunity to present at such an important meeting," stated Carl Spana, Ph.D., President and CEO of Palatin. "The presentation summarizes the data that supports the potential of PL8177 as a treatment option for ulcerative colitis patients as an alternative therapy to immunosuppressive treatments, which have significant safety and tolerability concerns." An oral formulation of the melanocortin-1 receptor agonist (MC1r) PL8177 is being evaluated in the Phase 2 clinical study PL8177-205 in patients with ulcerative colitis. An interim assessment is currently expected to occur in the first quarter of calendar year 2023, with final topline data anticipated in the third quarter of calendar year 2023. Additional trial information, including inclusion and exclusion criteria, can be found at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ via the identifier NCT05466890. About PL8177 PL8177 is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide with demonstrated efficacy in multiple animal inflammatory bowel disease models. PL8177 is a potent, selective agonist at the human melanocortin receptor-1 (MC1r), with sub-nanomolar affinity binding and EC 50 functional values. Palatin data demonstrates that the oral formulation of PL8177 was protected from degradation in the stomach and small intestine and delivered to the large intestine and colon over an extended period. In addition, orally administered PL8177 had a significant effect on resolving inflammation in a rat bowel inflammation model. PL8177 in oral formulations has demonstrated repeated, robust efficacy in ulcerative colitis disease models. MC1r is found on epithelial cells and resident macrophages of the colon which are accessible from the lumen of the colon. Orally administered PL8177 is not systemically absorbed. PL8177 has the potential for excellent efficacy without safety concerns. About Ulcerative Colitis Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease of the large intestine (colon), with inflammation and ulcerations that can cause significant abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, loss of appetite and other symptoms. An estimated 1 million individuals in the United States are affected by ulcerative colitis, with over 350,000 diagnosed with moderate-to-severe disease. Existing treatments are not effective in a substantial portion of patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis, with certain severe cases resulting in surgical removal of the colon. About Melanocortin Receptor Agonists and Inflammation The melanocortin receptor ("MCr") system has effects on inflammation, immune system responses, metabolism, food intake, and sexual function. There are five melanocortin receptors, MC1r through MC5r. Modulation of these receptors, through use of receptor-specific agonists, which activate receptor function, or receptor-specific antagonists, which block receptor function, can have medically significant pharmacological effects. Many tissues and immune cells located throughout the body, including the gut, kidney and eye, express melanocortin receptors, empowering our opportunity to directly activate natural pathways to resolve disease inflammation. About Palatin Palatin is a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class medicines based on molecules that modulate the activity of the melanocortin receptor systems, with targeted, receptor-specific product candidates for the treatment of diseases with significant unmet medical need and commercial potential. Palatin's strategy is to develop products and then form marketing collaborations with industry leaders to maximize their commercial potential. For additional information regarding Palatin, please visit Palatin's website at www.Palatin.com and follow Palatin on Twitter at @PalatinTech. Forward-looking Statements Statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements about future expectations of Palatin, such as statements about PL8177 clinical trials and results, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Palatin intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause Palatin's actual results to be materially different from its historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Palatin's actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements for reasons including, but not limited to, results of clinical trials, regulatory actions by the FDA and other regulatory and the need for regulatory approvals, Palatin's ability to fund development of its technology and establish and successfully complete clinical trials, the length of time and cost required to complete clinical trials and submit applications for regulatory approvals, products developed by competing pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, commercial acceptance of Palatin's products, and other factors discussed in Palatin's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Palatin is not responsible for updating for events that occur after the date of this press release. SOURCE Palatin Technologies, Inc. With a surge of RSV cases across the country, Dr. Noze Best is providing parents peace of mind with its battery-powered nasal aspirator designed by the Director of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta ATLANTA, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Noze Best, an emerging tech company focusing on pediatric wellness, is helping families battle RSV with its flagship product, the NozeBot. It's the first portable and rechargeable hospital-grade nasal aspirator developed in the U.S. for children. Designed from the brand's mission to help infants and toddlers breathe better, the NozeBot's innovative features take the stress out of snot. RSV is a highly contagious virus that can lead to respiratory illness in babies, including lung infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia. While RSV can begin with cold-like symptoms such as coughing, running nose, and fever, parents should know it can become much more severeeven life-threatening. RSV is the leading cause of hospitalizations in infants under age one and results in 57,000 hospitalizations in children under age five. "RSV is infecting children earlier and more aggressively this year than in the past when we typically see it during the winter months. Currently, at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, 25% of children that tested for RSV are positive, and many are hospitalized, particularly the young ones and NICU warriors," said Steven Goudy, Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Dr. Noze Best. "Since babies breathe primarily through their nose, suffering from nasal congestion the worst, having a good nasal suction device like the NozeBot is critical." Additionally, to educate parents about pediatric illnesses and provide valuable doctor-approved tips, tricks, and must-know information, Dr. Noze Best is publishing weekly articles on its platform, " The Doctor Is In ." About Dr. Noze Best Dr. Noze Best is a fast-growing tech startup founded in 2016 by Dr. Steven Goudy, Pediatric ENT, and father of three, to bring relief to families battling upper respiratory discomfort and illness. Known for its flagship product, the NozeBot, Dr. Noze Best's mission is to provide innovative wellness solutions to help infants and toddlers breathe better and give parents peace of mind. Inspired by the needs of children in the Down syndrome community, Dr. Noze Best donates 1% of all sales to the National Down Syndrome Congress and other Down syndrome-related organizations. For more information, visit www.drnozebest.com . Contact: Ashley Foster Social Media Manager 772-204-3398 [email protected] SOURCE Dr Noze Best MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, Oct. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Republic of Uruguay (" Uruguay ") previously announced an offer to purchase for cash (the " Tender Offer ") its bonds of each series of Global Bonds listed in the table below (collectively, the " Old Bonds " and each Old Bond, a "series" of Old Bonds), subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Offer to Purchase, dated Thursday, October 20, 2022 (the " Offer to Purchase "). Uruguay has instructed HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. (in such capacity, the " Billing and Delivery Bank "), to accept subject to proration and other terms and conditions contained in the Offer to Purchase, valid preferred tenders and non-preferred tenders in aggregate principal amounts of Old Bonds as set forth below. The Tender Offer expired, as scheduled, on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at 12:00 noon New York time for non-preferred tenders and at 2:00p.m. New York time for preferred tenders. The maximum purchase amount is (i) US$47,097,875 principal amount for the 2024 USD Bonds (as defined below), (ii) US$101,235,382 principal amount for the 2027 USD Bonds (as defined below), and (iii) US$368,813,810 principal amount for the 2031 USD Bonds (as defined below). The aggregate principal amount of preferred and non-preferred tenders of Old Bonds and the aggregate principal amount of preferred and non-preferred tenders of such Old Bonds that have been accepted are shown in the table below. Appropriate adjustments will be made so that purchases are made in the minimum denominations set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Old Bonds Aggregate Principal Amount of Preferred Tenders Aggregate Principal Amount of Preferred Tenders Accepted Aggregate Principal Amount of Non-Preferred Tenders Aggregate Principal Amount of Non-Preferred Tenders Accepted 4.500% Global Bonds due 2024 ("2024 USD Bonds") US$47,097,875 US$47,097,875 US$1,411,125 US$0 4.375% Global Bonds due 2027 ("2027 USD Bonds") US$101,235,382 US$101,235,382 US$23,277,808 US$0 4.375% Global Bonds due 2031 ("2031 USD Global Bonds") US$465,262,798 US$368,813,810 US$3,399,281 US$0 In accordance with the Offer to Purchase, the purchase price to be paid per U.S.$1,000 principal amount of each series of Old Bonds tendered and accepted pursuant to the Tender Offer will be equal to the fixed price indicated in the table below (the " Purchase Price "). Old Bonds Outstanding Principal Amount as of Thursday, October 20, 2022 ISIN CUSIP Common Code Purchase Price (per US$1,000 Principal Amount) (1) 2024 USD Bonds US$673,077,931 US760942AZ58 760942AZ5 096139942 US$1,001.25 2027 USD Bonds (2) US$1,527,225,004 US760942BB71 760942BB7 131158840 US$980.00 2031 USD Bonds US$2,441,342,673 US917288BK78 917288BK7 193934854 US$938.75 (1) In addition, investors will receive Accrued Interest, as described in the Offer to Purchase. (2) Holders of 2027 USD Bonds whose bonds are validly tendered and accepted pursuant to the Offer will receive Accrued Interest, in the ordinary course from the trustee, on the Settlement Date. Accordingly, the Billing and Delivery Bank will only pay such holders the Purchase Price for the 2027 USD Bonds. Holders of Old Bonds held through the Depository Trust Company (" DTC ") that have been validly tendered and accepted pursuant to the Tender Offer must deliver their accepted Old Bonds to the relevant Dealer Manager (as defined below) no later than 3:00 p.m., New York time, on the Settlement Date. Holders of Old Bonds held through Euroclear Bank SA/NV (" Euroclear ") or Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme (" Clearstream ") that have been validly tendered and accepted pursuant to the Tender Offer must deliver their Old Bonds to the Billing and Delivery Bank, at the latest, using the overnight process, one day prior to the Settlement Date and must not use the optional daylight process. The Settlement Date is expected to occur on Thursday, October 27, 2022 subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Failure to deliver Old Bonds on time may result (i) in the cancellation of your tender and in you becoming liable for any damages resulting from that failure, (ii) in the case of preferred tenders (a) in the cancellation of any allocation of Uruguay's new U.S. dollar-denominated Global Bonds due 2034 (the " New Bonds "), as applicable, in the New Bonds Offering (as defined below) in respect of your related indication of interest and/or (b) in the cancellation of your tender and in your remaining obligated to purchase your allocation of New Bonds in respect of your related indication of interest and/or (iii) in the delivery of a buy-in notice for the purchase of such Old Bonds, executed in accordance with customary brokerage practices for corporate fixed income securities. Any holder whose tender is cancelled will not receive the purchase price or accrued interest. All Old Bonds that are tendered pursuant to tender orders placed through a Dealer Manager and are accepted as instructed by Uruguay will be purchased by the Billing and Delivery Bank in such amounts as Uruguay shall determine and subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer to Purchase. Only the Billing and Delivery Bank will be liable for the payment of the purchase price and accrued interest, if applicable, for Old Bonds validly tendered and accepted by Uruguay. Uruguay will not be liable under any circumstances for the payment of the purchase price and accrued interest for any Old Bonds tendered in the Tender Offer by any holder. The Billing and Delivery Bank shall only have the obligation to sell to Uruguay the Old Bonds validly tendered and accepted for purchase that the Billing and Delivery Bank has actually purchased pursuant to the Tender Offer on the Settlement Date. Tender orders that are not for permitted tender amounts have not been accepted. Subject to the conditions to settlement of the Tender Offer, Old Bonds accepted for purchase will be settled on a delivery versus payment basis solely with the Billing and Delivery Bank on the Settlement Date, in accordance with customary brokerage practices for corporate fixed income securities. Uruguay has agreed to apply a portion of the net proceeds of its new bonds offering announced on Thursday, October 20, 2022 (the " New Bonds Offering ") to purchase the Old Bonds accepted pursuant to the Tender Offer from the Billing and Delivery Bank at the applicable purchase price plus accrued interest. The Tender Offer is subject to the dealer manager agreement relating to this Tender Offer not being terminated prior to or at the time of the settlement of the Tender Offer. Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Santander Investment Securities Inc. acted as Dealer Managers for the Tender Offer. Morrow Sodali International LLC is the information agent in connection with the Tender Offer (" Information Agent "), and questions regarding the Tender Offer may be directed to the Information Agent or any of the Dealer Managers using the contact information below: Morrow Sodali International LLC Attention: Debt Services Team 333 Ludlow Street, South Tower Stamford, CT 06902 Email: [email protected] Telephone: +1 203 609 4910 (Stamford) / +44 20 4513 6933 (London) Offer Website: https://projects.morrowsodali.com/Uruguay Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc. 1301 Avenue of the Americas, 17th Floor New York, New York 10019 United States of America Attention: Debt Capital Markets/Liability Management Toll free: +1 (866) 807-6030 Collect: +1 (212) 261-7802 HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. 452 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10018 United States of America Attention: Global Liability Management Group Toll Free: +1 (888) HSBC-4LM Collect: +1 (212) 525-5552 Email: [email protected] J.P. Morgan Securities LLC 383 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10179 United States of America Attention: Latin America Debt Capital Markets Toll Free: +1 (866) 846-2874 Collect: +1 (212) 834 7279 Santander Investment Securities Inc. 45 East 53rd Street New York, New York 10022 United States of America Attention: Liability Management Group Collect: +1 (212) 940-1442 Toll-free: 1+ (855) 404-3636 Important Notice This announcement is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell the Old Bonds. The Tender Offer will be made only by and pursuant to the terms of the Offer to Purchase, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time. The distribution of materials relating to the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer, and the transactions contemplated by the New Bonds Offering and Tender Offer, may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Each of the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer is made only in those jurisdictions where it is legal to do so. The New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer are void in all jurisdictions where they are prohibited. If materials relating to the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer come into your possession, you are required to inform yourself of and to observe all of these restrictions. The materials relating to the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer 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 New Bonds Offering or the Tender 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 New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be made by the Dealer Manager or such affiliate in that jurisdiction. Owners who may lawfully participate in the Tender Offer in accordance with the terms thereof are referred to as "holders." Stabilization/FCA No securities are 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 any Member State of the European Economic Area ("EEA"). For these purposes, 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"); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (as amended, 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 Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended or superseded, the "Prospectus Regulation"). Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the "PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling any securities or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore any offering or selling of any securities or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation. No securities are 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 (the "UK"). For these purposes, (a) a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("EUWA"); (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA") and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement the Insurance Distribution Directive, 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 UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or (iii) an investor who is not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the UK 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 securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities. Consequently, no key information document required by the PRIIPs Regulation, as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK PRIIPs Regulation"), for offering or selling securities or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore any offering or selling of securities or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation. The expression "UK Prospectus Regulation" means the Prospectus Regulation, as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. Neither this communication nor any other offer material relating to the Tender Offer is being made, and this communication has not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the FSMA. This announcement is for distribution only to persons who (a) are outside the United Kingdom; or (b) have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the "Order"); (c) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") of the Order; or (d) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being "relevant persons"). This announcement is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR AFTER THIS MESSAGE ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM. SOURCE The Republic of Uruguay SUZHOU, China, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Transcenta Holding Limited ("Transcenta") (HKEX: 06628), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company with fully-integrated capabilities in discovery, research, development and manufacturing of antibody-based therapeutics, announces that Transcenta is invited to participate the 10th TEMTIA meeting in Paris, France, November 7 to 10 and present preclinical data of TST003, Transcenta's first-in-class, high affinity humanized monoclonal antibody targeting Gremlin1. Details of the speech are as follows: TopicTST003, a first-in-class anti-Gremlin1 monoclonal antibody, blocks EMT and displays potent single agent anti-tumor activities in PDX models of multiple difficult-to-treat solid tumors Date & Time: 9 November 2022, 3:30 pm-3:45 pm (Paris time) Speaker: Dr. Xueming Qian, CEO, Transcenta TEMTIA is an international meeting dedicated to the study of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT process is triggered when epithelial cells loosen cohesiveness and adopt an individualized motile phenotype in link with the progressive loss of epithelial features. EMT was originally defined in the context of developmental stages and contributes to cancer progression and metastasis. EMT has shown to be an important mechanism for resistance to cancer therapies including checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. About TST003 TST003 is a high affinity monoclonal antibody targeting Gremlin1, a member of TGFb superfamily. Gremlin1 protein is a highly conserved secreted protein and has shown to play important roles during development. Gremlin1 is highly upregulated in multiple solid tumors. Gremlin1 protein promotes epithelial mesenchymal transition. TST003 has shown promising single agent activities in patient-derived xenograft tumor models of multiple difficult-to-treat solid tumors resistant to checkpoint inhibitor including castration resistant prostate cancer and microsatellite stable colorectal cancer. TST003 also enhanced the anti-tumor activity of checkpoint inhibitor in syngeneic tumor model. TST003 has received FDA clearance for entering clinical testing in September, 2022. About Transcenta Holding Limited Transcenta (HKEX: 06628) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company with fully integrated capabilities in antibody-based biotherapeutics discovery, research, development and manufacturing. Transcenta has established global footprint, with Headquarters and Discovery, Clinical and Translational Research Center in Suzhou, Process and Product Development Center and Manufacturing Facility in Hangzhou, and Clinical Development Centers in Princeton, US and in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou of China, and External Partnering Center in Boston and Los Angeles, US. Transcenta has also initiated the construction of the Group Headquarters and the second high-end biopharmaceutical facility with ICB as its core technology in Suzhou Industrial Park. Transcenta is developing ten therapeutic antibody molecules for oncology and selected non-oncology indications including bone and kidney disorders. For more information, please visit www.transcenta.com and https://www.linkedin.com/company/transcenta. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Transcenta, are intended to identify certain of such forward-looking statements. Transcenta does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly. These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections and understandings of the management of Transcenta with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond Transcenta's control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, Transcenta's competitive environment and political, economic, legal and social conditions. Transcenta, the Directors and the employees of Transcenta assume (a) no obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements contained in this site; and (b) no liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements does not materialize or turn out to be incorrect. SOURCE Transcenta Holding Limited Former U.S. Surgeon General, National Urban League CEO among leaders to dialogue about health, economic equity in the U.S. and New York. NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in data-driven journalism and analysis, will convene stakeholders with shared interest in issues related to financial and health equity and spotlight solutions for New York and beyond for the inaugural "The State of Equity in America" forum, on November 16, 2022 at 75 Rockefeller Plaza in New York. At this exclusive, invite-only event, thought leaders and experts from business, government, health, the nonprofit world and other sectors will come together for a two-session program highlighting economic inequities (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM) and health inequities (1:00 PM - 5:00 PM) in America, with a special focus on New York. The morning program will include a discussion of the challenges of a post-COVID economy in New York and in the United States including the housing crisis and what can be done to help those in lower income brackets move forward. The afternoon program will highlight health disparities among the underserved and ways to work together to improve health equity for New Yorkers and across America. John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll, will present findings from a recent Harris Poll/U.S. News survey that will shine a light on Americans' concerns and perceptions as they relate to these important issues. Confirmed participants include: Financial Equity (morning) Darren Walker , President, Ford Foundation , President, Ford Foundation Maria Torres-Springer , Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development, New York City , Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development, Jennifer Jones Austin, Esq. , CEO, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies , CEO, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies Denise Scott , President, Local Initiatives Support Corporation President, Local Initiatives Support Corporation Kathryn S. Wylde , President and CEO, Partnership for New York City , President and CEO, Partnership for Richard Mack , CEO and Co-Founder, Mack Real Estate Group , CEO and Co-Founder, Mack Real Estate Group Barika X. Williams , Executive Director, Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development , Executive Director, Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development Beth Ferreira , Partner, FirstMark , Partner, FirstMark Felix V. Matos Rodriguez, Ph.D. , Chancellor of The City University of New York , Chancellor of The Hope Knight , President, CEO and Commissioner of Empire State Development , President, CEO and Commissioner of Empire State Development Shamina Singh , Founder and President, Center for Inclusive Growth, Mastercard; Executive Vice President of Corporate Sustainability, Mastercard Health Equity (afternoon) Regina Benjamin , M.D. , former United States Surgeon General , former United States Surgeon General Marc H. Morial , President and CEO, National Urban League , President and CEO, National Philip O. Ozuah, M.D., Ph.D , President and CEO, Montefiore Medical Center , President and CEO, Montefiore Medical Center Wayne J. Riley , M.D. , President, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University , President, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Selwyn M. Vickers , M.D. , President and CEO, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , President and CEO, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Steven J. Corwin , M.D. , President and CEO, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital , President and CEO, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Charles Phillips , Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Recognize , Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Recognize Deborah Phillips , Executive Director, Black Directors Health Equity Agenda , Executive Director, Black Directors Health Equity Agenda Ali Shirvani-Mahdavi , Ph.D., Vice President of Health Equity Analytics, Optum "The financial and health effects of COVID-19 revealed deep fractures in our economy and exacerbated health disparities that are a major challenge to ensuring the health and vitality of individuals and entire communities, especially those that are underserved," said Eric Gertler, executive chairman and CEO at U.S. News. "At 'The State of Equity in America' forum, U.S. News is convening industry and thought leaders to learn from and collaborate with each other to drive solutions for health and economic equity in the United States." Partners of the event include Mastercard , Optum , Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose and Black Directors Health Equity Agenda . Media interested in attending "The State of Equity" in America forum should contact Jessica Lewis Young ([email protected]) and connect with the forum on Twitter and LinkedIn using #USNEquity. About U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C. SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P. WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VoteFacts.com News Reports today launched a public-access website to provide citizens and organizations concerned about the health of American democracy with information they can use to monitor the most consequential legislative actions in Congress, track individual lawmakers' voting records and hold representatives and senators accountable on Election Day. Focusing on dozens of headline-worthy roll-call votes during the two-year span of the current 117th Congress, VoteFacts.com presents a wealth of legislative detail to help constituents make choices in next month's House and Senate elections that reflect their values. The coverage will continue in the 118th Congress and beyond. Strictly nonpartisan and fact-based in its coverage, VoteFacts.com provides a truth check against the misinformation about Congress and its members that often inflames political discussions, especially in campaign attack ads and candidate debates, where incumbents' voting records and the substance of major bills in the news are routinely distorted or falsified. To establish trust with readers buffeted by some politicians' claims of alleged "fake news," the website notes that its reporting staff is accredited by the U.S. House and Senate daily press galleries and obeys the strict professional and ethical rules for holding a congressional press card. VoteFacts.com organizes its coverage in alphabetical order under topics including Abortion, Biden Agenda, Democracy, Equality, Foreign Affairs, Guns, Immigration, Labor/Workplace and Law Enforcement, allowing readers quick access to concisely presented information. "Whether they spend 10 minutes or two hours on the website, constituents will be able to educate themselves about the key points of bills in the headlines and members' voting records," said Editor Richard G. Thomas. "Our launch fills a void in U.S. political journalism," Thomas said, "because no other professional news organization offers a public website devoted exclusively to congressional voting, not as mere data but as a complete news story that respects the desire of constituents for accountability information about their federal lawmakers' most fundamental democratic duty -- the casting of votes to settle arguments on bills and policies that affect the quality of everyday lives." The parent company of VoteFacts.com is Thomas Voting Reports, the longest running independent news service in Washington, with its staff having been accredited by the daily press galleries on Capitol Hill since 1973. For nearly a half-century until June 2021, more than 720 daily newspapers -- including the New York Times Regional Newspapers, Washington Post, Cox Newspapers, Ottaway Newspapers, Philadelphia Inquirer, Richmond Times Dispatch, Seattle Times, Houston Chronicle and numerous other publications in towns and cities of all sizes in the 50 states and Puerto Rico -- were paid subscribers at one time or another to our news reports on key actions and votes in Congress. The company is now in transition to a nonprofit business model to support its free-of-charge website. VoteFacts.com is based at the open-source publishing platform Newspack.pub, an affiliate of WordPress.com and the Google News Initiative. CONTACT: Richard G. Thomas, (540) 227-4487 SOURCE VoteFacts.com News Reports DUBLIN, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Industrial Hearables Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global industrial hearables market reached a value of US$ 260.32 Million in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach a value of US$ 1,598.36 Million by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 35.32% 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. Industrial hearables are wearable computing earpieces that assist users in giving voice input and returning audible results. They rely on audio processing techniques for eliminating or amplifying noise, audio masking, directional hearing, and noise cancellation. They are widely used in heavy-duty industries, such as manufacturing, construction, mining, agriculture, aerospace, and logistics, wherein noise control is a concern. Presently, leading manufacturers are offering industrial hearables with in-built optical sensors capable of measuring heart rate and temperature. These hearing aids can be used to detect falls and send warning messages as accidental falls pose a significant health risk to older adults. Industrial Hearables Market Trends: In an industrial workplace, workers are usually exposed to potentially damaging noises, which can cause deafness and other hearing problems. This, coupled with the growing focus on the health and safety of workers, represents one of the key factors escalating the demand for industrial hearables around the world. The emerging trend of smart industrial workplaces and advancements in manufacturing facilities are also driving the adoption of wearable digital devices for active noise control. Moreover, the integration of machine learning (ML), microphones, and artificial intelligence (AI) enable communication over larger distances. They also protect hearing in noisy industrial environments while supporting communication between employees, which, in turn, is influencing the market worldwide. Furthermore, these hearables can be equipped with customizable solutions for voice control and hands-free documentation. In line with this, vendors are introducing smart hearables interconnected via wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular network. Additionally, with the introduction of 5G networks, the reliability of mobile data transmission can be improved, thereby providing lucrative growth opportunities to market players. Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being 3M Company, Eartex Ltd, EERS Global Technologies Inc, Firecom, Fujikon, QuietOn, Sensear Pty Ltd., Setcom Corporation, Silentium, Sonetics Corporation and TechnoFirst. Key Questions Answered in This Report: How has the global industrial hearables market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global industrial hearables market? What are the key regional markets? What is the breakup of the market based on the type? What is the breakup of the market based on the connectivity technology? What is the breakup of the market based on the application? What is the breakup of the market based on the distribution channel? What is the breakup of the market based on the end user? What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry? What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry? What is the structure of the global industrial hearables market and who are the key players? What is the degree of competition in the industry? Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Key Industry Trends 5 Global Industrial Hearables Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Type 7 Market Breakup by Connectivity Technology 8 Market Breakup by Application 9 Market Breakup by Distribution Channel 10 Market Breakup by End User 11 Market Breakup by Region 12 SWOT Analysis 13 Value Chain Analysis 14 Porters Five Forces Analysis 15 Price Analysis 16 Competitive Landscape 16.1 Market Structure 16.2 Key Players 16.3 Profiles of Key Players 16.3.1 3M Company 16.3.1.1 Company Overview 16.3.1.2 Product Portfolio 16.3.1.3 Financials 16.3.1.4 SWOT Analysis 16.3.2 Eartex Ltd 16.3.2.1 Company Overview 16.3.2.2 Product Portfolio 16.3.3 EERS Global Technologies Inc 16.3.3.1 Company Overview 16.3.3.2 Product Portfolio 16.3.4 Firecom 16.3.4.1 Company Overview 16.3.4.2 Product Portfolio 16.3.5 Fujikon 16.3.5.1 Company Overview 16.3.5.2 Product Portfolio 16.3.6 QuietOn 16.3.6.1 Company Overview 16.3.6.2 Product Portfolio 16.3.7 Sensear Pty Ltd. 16.3.7.1 Company Overview 16.3.7.2 Product Portfolio 16.3.8 Setcom Corporation 16.3.8.1 Company Overview 16.3.8.2 Product Portfolio 16.3.9 Silentium 16.3.9.1 Company Overview 16.3.9.2 Product Portfolio 16.3.10 Sonetics Corporation 16.3.10.1 Company Overview 16.3.10.2 Product Portfolio 16.3.11 TechnoFirst 16.3.11.1 Company Overview 16.3.11.2 Product Portfolio For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/reqlpy Media Contact: Laura Wood | +353-1-481-1716 | [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 132nd China Import and Export Fair ("Canton Fair") has signed Global Cooperative Partnership agreement with the Union of Food Enterprises of Kazakhstan ("the Union") at a virtual ceremony and hosted a "Trade Bridge" event focusing on Central Asia market on October 19. The signing ceremony was joined by Wen Zhongliang, Deputy Secretary General of Canton Fair and Deputy Director General of China Foreign Trade Centre, and Marina Sabralieva, Deputy Chairman of the Union. The Union has over 100 member companies who are committed to promoting business operations in the food sector and helping enterprises to strengthen their business ties with foreign partners. Canton Fair's agreement signals the beginning of better trade and cooperation opportunities for Chinese and Kazakh food enterprises. Taking the cooperation as an opportunity, a special "Trade Bridge" matchmaking event for Central Asian partners was hosted from October 19 to 21, which invited more than 100 representatives of industrial and commercial institutions, buyers and suppliers from China and Central Asian countries to attend online. About 40 professional buyers from the textile and garment, machinery, and food industries of 5 Central Asian countries, and more than 50 suppliers from over 10 Chinese provinces, conducted targeted trade negotiations by country, industry, time, and group. In the first session of the event, 10 buyers, including Asian Agricultural Company of Kazakhstan, successfully connected with 18 leading Chinese suppliers, such as HUZHOU SFR CHAIN TRANSMISSION CO., LTD. to further expand cooperation. Otabek Babaev, a veteran Canton Fair buyer from Uzbekistan, said that he has organized many economic and trade delegations to participate in the Canton Fair. It is no exaggeration to say that no other exhibition can rival with Canton Fair - the scale of the trade show as well as the abundant number of exhibits is very memorable. Central Asian buyers have been actively attending the Canton Fair for a long time, with about 1,500 people attending each session of the trade show. Canton Fair is playing an important role in promoting economic and trade cooperation between China and Central Asian countries, and it will continue to support and facilitate close relationship for enterprises from both sides. For more information, please register at https://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en-US/register/index?utm_source=rwyx#/foreign-email or contact Canton Fair at [email protected]. SOURCE Canton Fair DUBLIN, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Cord Blood Banking Services Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global cord blood banking services market reached a value of US$ 1.48 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach a value of US$ 2.83 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 11.41% 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. Cord blood banking is a procedure of collecting and storing life-saving stem cells from the umbilical cord and placenta for future use. It uses hematopoietic stem cells that are present in the cord blood of the baby to develop it into red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets. It aids in the treatment of cancer, blood diseases and immune system disorders as cord blood banking is less complicated, painful and risky for the donor compared to the collection of stem cells from bone marrow. As a result, it finds extensive applications in hospitals, research institutes, and specialty clinics. The growing prevalence of different cancers, such as lymphoma and leukemia, due to longer working hours, stressful lives, and excessive smoking and alcohol consumption represents one of the key factors driving the market. Moreover, there is an increase in the utilization of cord blood banking services for the treatment of immunodeficiency disorders across the globe. This, coupled with the increasing awareness among individuals about the benefits and wide availability of cord blood banking service providers, is propelling the growth of the market. In addition, governments of several countries are extensively investing in research and development (R&D) activities to facilitate clinical trials of cord blood stem cells. In line with this, the growing number of patients with damaged bone marrow worldwide is positively influencing the market. Besides this, the rising diagnostic screening of cord blood in private centers as per guidelines and regulations of regulatory authorities is offering lucrative growth opportunities to industry investors. Additionally, the expanding healthcare industry is strengthening the growth of the market. Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Alphacord LLC, Americord Registry LLC, ATCC, California Cryobank, Cordlife Group LImited, Cryo-Cell International Inc., Global Cord Blood Corporation, LifeBank, LifeCell International Pvt. Ltd., National Cord Blood Program, Norton Healthcare Inc., Perkinelmer Inc. and StemCyte India Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd. Key Questions Answered in This Report: How has the global cord blood banking services market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global cord blood banking services market? What are the key regional markets? What is the breakup of the market based on the component? What is the breakup of the market based on the storage services? What is the breakup of the market based on the application? What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry? What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry? What is the structure of the global cord blood banking services market and who are the key players? What is the degree of competition in the industry? Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Key Industry Trends 5 Global Cord Blood Banking Services Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Component 6.1 Cord Blood 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Cord Tissue 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Storage Services 7.1 Public Cord Blood Banks 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 Private Cord Blood Banks 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by Application 8.1 Cancer Disease 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 Diabetes 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Blood Disease 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 8.4 Immune Disorders 8.4.1 Market Trends 8.4.2 Market Forecast 8.5 Metabolic Disorders 8.5.1 Market Trends 8.5.2 Market Forecast 8.6 Others 8.6.1 Market Trends 8.6.2 Market Forecast 9 Market Breakup by Region 10 SWOT Analysis 11 Value Chain Analysis 12 Porters Five Forces Analysis 13 Price Analysis 14 Competitive Landscape 14.1 Market Structure 14.2 Key Players 14.3 Profiles of Key Players 14.3.1 Alphacord LLC 14.3.1.1 Company Overview 14.3.1.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.2 Americord Registry LLC 14.3.2.1 Company Overview 14.3.2.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.3 ATCC 14.3.3.1 Company Overview 14.3.3.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.4 California Cryobank 14.3.4.1 Company Overview 14.3.4.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.5 Cordlife Group LImited 14.3.5.1 Company Overview 14.3.5.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.5.3 Financials 14.3.6 Cryo-Cell International Inc. 14.3.6.1 Company Overview 14.3.6.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.6.3 Financials 14.3.7 Global Cord Blood Corporation 14.3.7.1 Company Overview 14.3.7.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.8 LifeBank 14.3.8.1 Company Overview 14.3.8.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.9 LifeCell International Pvt. Ltd. 14.3.9.1 Company Overview 14.3.9.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.10 National Cord Blood Program 14.3.10.1 Company Overview 14.3.10.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.11 Norton Healthcare Inc. 14.3.11.1 Company Overview 14.3.11.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.12 Perkinelmer Inc. 14.3.12.1 Company Overview 14.3.12.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.12.3 Financials 14.3.12.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.13 StemCyte India Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd. 14.3.13.1 Company Overview 14.3.13.2 Product Portfolio For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/f2xhv Media Contact: Laura Wood | +353-1-481-1716 | [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets 365 CEO, Joe Hessling, Among the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs at 2022 Builders and Innovators Summit TROY, Mich., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 365 Retail Markets ("365"), a leading provider of self-service commerce technology to the food service industry and portfolio company of Providence Equity Partners, today announced that Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) has recognized 365 Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Joe Hessling, as one of the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2022 at its Builders and Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California. 365 CEO, Joe Hessling, Among the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs at Goldman Sachs' 2022 Builders and Innovators Summit Tweet this 2022 Goldman Sachs Builders & Innovators Summit Goldman Sachs selected Hessling from multiple industries to be honored at the two-day event held this month. In 2009, Hessling founded 365 Retail Markets, which grew to become the global leader in unattended retail technology. The company offers a best-in-class platform for micro markets, vending, food service and hospitality. In addition to being a serial entrepreneur having launched various successful businesses in a variety of industries, Hessling is also a member of the National Automatic Merchandising Association Board of Directors, where he also recently served as chairperson. "It is continually rewarding to witness our 365 team take what began inside my garage and grow it into the industry-leader that 365 has become," said Hessling. "However, being recognized among 2022's Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs is such a distinguished honor, and I am thankful for the opportunity." "We're delighted to recognize Joe Hessling as one of the most exceptional entrepreneurs of 2022," said David M. Solomon, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs. "The honorees have made extraordinary contributions to a wide range of fields." In addition to honoring the most exceptional entrepreneurs, the Summit consisted of general sessions and clinics led by seasoned entrepreneurs, academics and business leaders, as well as resident scholars. About 365 Retail Markets 365 Retail Markets is the global leader in unattended retail technology. Founded in 2008, 365 provides a full suite of best-in-class, self-service technologies for food service operators including end-to-end integrated SaaS software, payment processing and point of-sale hardware. Today, the company's technology solutions autonomously power food retail spaces at corporate offices, manufacturing and distribution facilities, and more, in order to provide compelling foodservice options for consumers. 365's technology solutions include a growing suite of frictionless smart-stores, micro markets, vending, catering, and dining point-of-sale options to meet the expanding needs of its customers. 365 continuously pioneers innovation in the industry with superior technology, strategic partnerships and ultimate flexibility in customization and branding. 365 is a portfolio company of Providence Equity Partners. For more information about 365 Retail Markets, visit www.365retailmarkets.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn Press Related Questions, please contact Sophia Anthony at [email protected]. Media Contacts 365 Retail Markets Gale Henderson [email protected] www.365RetailMarkets.com SOURCE 365 Retail Markets, LLC Newly subdivided and now available for lease or sublease, former Pep Boys retail spaces range from 6,400 to 15,700 square feet. MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A&G Real Estate Partners is marketing for either lease or sublease 81 storefronts next to Pep Boys Service Centers across the United States. "This is a great opportunity to move into buildout-ready, prime commercial space," said A&G Co-President Andy Graiser. "Created by subdividing Pep Boys' high-visibility locations, these storefronts are a strong fit for a wide array of local, regional and national operators." Ranging in size from 6,400 to 15,700 square feet, the shuttered storefronts previously were home to Pep Boys' aftermarket parts business. Ranging in size from 6,400 to 15,700 square feet, the shuttered storefronts previously were home to Pep Boys' aftermarket parts business. The 101-year-old retailer has discontinued retail parts sales in these spaces to focus on its co-located Pep Boys Service Centers (more information is available at PepBoys.com). "With ample parking, these 81 storefronts are well-located in their respective markets," said A&G Senior Managing Director Mike Matlat. "Food stores, fitness centers, medical clinics and other retail uses, just to name a few possibilities, can hit the ground running with good frontage, a clean box and ready access to their target customers." The subdivided storefronts are located in 24 states: Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Pep Boys operates more than 7,500 service bays in more than 900 locations in 35 states and Puerto Rico. It is part of Icahn Automotive Group, which invests in and operates businesses involved in aftermarket parts distribution and service. New York-based real estate services and advisory firm A&G has saved its 750-plus clients more than $10 billion in occupancy costs and has sold $12 billion in real estate and leases on their behalf. For the past three years running, Global M&A Network has named A&G "Real Estate Restructuring Firm of the Year." For more information, contact Mike Matlat, (631) 465-9508, [email protected]. Press Contacts for A&G: Jaffe Communications (908-789-0700), Elisa Krantz, [email protected] SOURCE A&G Real Estate Partners LYSAKER, Norway, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aker ASA will publish its financial results for the third quarter of 2022 on Friday, November 4, 2022, at 07:00 CET. The company will host a webcast presentation of the results the same day at 09:00 CET. Aker ASA Q3 2022 webcast presentation: Date: Friday, November 4, 2022 Time: 09:00 a.m. CET Format: Live webcast Language: English Link: https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/hegnarmedia/20221104_2/ The Q3 2022 report and presentation will be made available at www.akerasa.com and www.newsweb.no. For further information, please contact: Christina Chappell Schartum, Head of Communications and Investor Relations mobile: +47 905 32 774 [email protected] This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5 -12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. SOURCE Aker ASA X-day delivery guarantee, free shipping, and free returns for selected international orders HANGZHOU, China, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AliExpress, global retail online marketplace part of Alibaba Group, announced new measures to enhance customers' experience on the platform ahead of 11.11 Global Shopping Festival. The new measures include a series of logistical upgrades and curated retail pages to enhance the customer shopping experience. AliExpress Elevates Customer Experience ahead of 11.11 Global Shopping Festival A Themed Shopping Experience: AliExpress Keeping-warm Selection "This year's 11.11 Global Shopping Festival is an important milestone for AliExpress and an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to continually improve the customer experience. Through our ongoing efforts in logistics infrastructure, AliExpress has upgraded its delivery guarantee, introduced free shipping and free returns for the first time, providing our customers with more flexibility" said Gary Topp, European Commercial and Marketing Director, AliExpress. "With shifting consumer demands, we want to prioritize what matters to our customers by creating dedicated themed shopping pages and extending product offerings." X-day Delivery Guarantee AliExpress, currently available in over 200 countries and regions, continues to offer X-day delivery across key local markets including Spain, France, UK, and South Korea during 11.11 Global Shopping Festival. AliExpress now offers two-day local delivery in Spain and France with local warehouses. For selected cross-border orders, AliExpress supports 10 working days delivery for Spain and France, 12 working days for the UK and three working days for South Korea. More than 5 million products on the platform supports X-day delivery in this year's 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, with an increase of 100% year-over-year in Europe. Additionally, AliExpress will introduce "On-time Guarantee" for selected products. This service will be applicable for products labelled with "X-day delivery", which AliExpress will automatically reimburse USD$1 coupon per order if packages arrive late. Enjoy Free Shipping for All Orders For any orders made during 11.11 Global Shopping Festival in Spain, France, Poland, the UK, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, and South Korea, AliExpress will offer free shipping for all 11.11 products. AliExpress continues expanding its capability of last-mile delivery in Europe. With a total of more than 36,000 AliExpress-branded pickup points currently available in Europe, AliExpress formed a new partnership with InPost in Spain to further improve the e-commerce shopping experience. Introduce Free Returns for the First Time during 11.11 Global Shopping Festival To further enhance flexibility in their shopping, AliExpress will introduce free returns for all products marked with a "free return" label. 15-day free return is offered to customers in Europe including France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal, and in South Korea when they purchase products with a "free return" label. Customers can return unused or brand-new items within 15 days after purchase without any additional shipping surcharges. They will receive a full refund once merchants confirm the items are undamaged. A Themed Shopping Experience: AliExpress' Keeping-warm Selection AliExpress stays ahead of customers' needs by offering a dedicated themed shopping page comprised of a carefully selected range of energy-saving and cost-effective warming products to help customers stay warm and shed financial burdens this winter. The shopping page features a wide range of high-quality products to keep customers warm, including low-voltage products with less power consumption such as heaters, electric blankets, electric heating lamps and electric hot water bottles. This product category gained popularity across the European regions that electric appliances increased by 130% in the past week year-over-year and thermal underwear have increased by more than 300% over the past few months year-over-year. Special discounts and flash sales will be offered during the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival. About AliExpress Launched in 2010, AliExpress (www.aliexpress.com) is a global marketplace serving consumers from around the world and enabling them to buy directly from manufacturers and distributors in China and around the world. In addition to the global English-language version, the AliExpress platform is also available in 17 other languages. AliExpress is a business of Alibaba Group. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1926578/AliExpress_Elevates_Customer_Experience_ahead_of_11_11_Global_Shopping_Festival.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1926579/A_Themed_Shopping_Experience_AliExpress__Keeping_warm_Selection.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1198977/AliExpress_Logo.jpg SOURCE AliExpress First Acquisition for Allied Universal Event Services Business Will Allow Company to Enhance Service in Key Markets for Major Events SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Universal, the leading security and facility services company, is continuing its strategic expansion with the acquisition of Century Event Security & Staffing based in Orlando, Fla. Century Event Security & Staffing provides comprehensive security and event services in Las Vegas and Orlando, two of the nation's top exhibition industry cities. This acquisition increases Allied Universal's ability to staff major events in these popular event destination locations with access to several thousand employees. "This important acquisition, a first for our event services business, aligns with our strategic growth strategy by providing additional operations and qualified staff in two of the nation's most prominent cities for exhibitions and events," said Steve Jones, Allied Universal Global Chairman and CEO. "I'm thrilled to welcome Century Event Security & Staffing employees to our team. With our promote from within culture, the opportunity for growth is limitless." Century Event Security & Staffing Chief Financial Officer Marty Stein added: "We are excited to join the world's premier security provider. Becoming part of an organization with the resources, technology and depth of service that Allied Universal offers enables us to continue providing even more value to the customers and communities we serve in the event services market space." During the first half of 2022, Allied Universal announced 10 acquisitions three in North America and six internationally. In 2021, Allied Universal acquired 10 companies, including G4S. These acquisitions are consistent with Allied Universal's growth strategy and expanding international presence. About Allied Universal Allied Universal, a leading security and facility services company, provides proactive security services and cutting-edge smart technology to deliver tailored, integrated security solutions that allow clients to focus on their core business. Through a global workforce of approximately 800,000 people, we leverage best practices in communities all over the world. With revenue at approximately $20 billion, we are supported by efficient processes and systems that can only come with scale to help deliver our promise locally: keeping people safe so our communities can thrive. We believe there is no greater purpose than serving and safeguarding customers, communities, and people in today's world. Allied Universal is There for you. For more information, please visit www.aus.com. SOURCE Allied Universal SCR to run 18 special trains between various destinations 28 Nov 2022 | 7:27 PM Hyderabad, Nov 28 (UNI) In order to clear extra rush, South Central Railway (SCR) will run Special Trains between various destinations. see more.. Kerala CM to inaugurate Huddle Global conference on Dec 15 28 Nov 2022 | 6:32 PM Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 28 (UNI) Showcasing Keralas vibrant startup ecosystem before a wide gathering of global stakeholders and opening up plenty of opportunities for startups in the state, the third edition of the two-day Huddle Global conference of Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) will commence at beach tourism hub in Kovalam here on December 15. see more.. Thousands throng Tiruchanoor 28 Nov 2022 | 6:16 PM Tirupati, Nov 28 (UNI) Thousands of devotees took a dip in the Tiruchanur temple tank when priests immersed the idol of Sudarshana Chakra into the holy waters during Panchami Theertham on Monday, the last day of Karthika Brahmotsavam of Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple at Tiruchanoor near here. see more.. IISER develops Artificial Photosynthetic systems for Solar energy capture 28 Nov 2022 | 6:00 PM Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 28 (UNI) Researchers from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Thiruvananthapuram and IIT Indore have studied and developed a new artificial light-harvesting system that can efficiently capture light for power conversion by mimicking photosynthesis, the process by which plants absorb sunlight and produce sugars. see more.. "Living with borderline personality disorder is exhausting. This painting shows me every day searching for happiness to find that Beautiful Rainbow with all the colors, but I'm facing the wrong direction and all I see are dark gray clouds in a storm." Kristyn from Arizona NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kristyn is one of 1.6% in the U. S. population affected by borderline personality disorder (BPD) a highly stigmatized mental illness contributing to the increase in self-harm and suicidality in our society. Up to 75% of people diagnosed with BPD experience a suicide attempt, and sadly, 10% succeed. Emotions Matter's 2022 Art Show Highlighting the Lived Experience of Borderline Personality Disorder Emotions Matter, a 501c3 non-profit was founded in 2015 to advocate for, educate and support people diagnosed with BPD to achieve recovery. It seeks to change public opinion of this disorder by highlighting the severity of its symptoms as expressed by people with lived experience through art in a new ground-breaking exhibit. What: Emotions Matter BPD Art Show, "Living on the Borderline" When: Wednesday, October 26, 2022, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Where: St. Bartholomew Church, 325 Park Avenue, New York City Online: https://emotionsmatterbpd.org/art-show "Living on the Borderline" features 22 artists from around the country who submitted 34 original artworks which will be displayed online and featured in an in-person gallery event. Each work is accompanied by a personal statement by the artists explaining how the submission reflects their BPD journey. All participants identify with lived experience as either those with the disorder, or family members impacted by it. Themes communicated express the internal and external symptoms of BPD as well as its impact on relationships, self-identity and recovery. "I was diagnosed with BPD about 5 years ago. I still have struggles but creating and drawing is one outlet that has helped me the most. I know I can always rely on that to release so much built-up tension," says Jenna from Michigan. Event is free to the community. Sponsors for this event include New York-Presbyterian Hospital, the Francesco and Mary Giambelli Foundation, McLean Hospital, Silver Hill Hospital and the National Education Alliance on Borderline Personality Disorder. Emotions Matter, a 501c3 non-profit was founded in 2015 to advocate for, educate and support people diagnosed with BPD to achieve recovery. For more information, www.emotionsmatterbpd.org. SOURCE Emotions Matter, Inc. It is estimated there are more than 41,000 airports in the world. While it would be impossible to visit them all, component supply specialist Artemis Aerospace ranks their top six must-see runways. WISTON, England, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Barra Airport, Isle of Barra, Scotland The only runway in the world where scheduled flights use a tidal beach for take-off and landing, Barra Airport in the Outer Hebrides is as unique as it is spectacular. Surrounded by rolling hills, the sandy beach is underwater at high tide, meaning flight times vary according to the tides. Barra Airport - Artemis Aerospace explores six of the world's most beautiful runways (PRNewsfoto/Artemis Aerospace) Skiathos Alexandros Papadiamantis Airport, Greece Named after a Greek novelist and native, the short and narrow airport on the picturesque island of Skiathos is a popular destination for plane spotters, who can experience close range take offs and landings from the small stone beach and adjacent public road located at the tip of the runway. Nestled in the Mediterranean and surrounded by hills on both sides, the runway was built using reclaimed land. Pilots need to be specially rated to operate here due to the length and confines of the runway. Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla, Nepal Perhaps more infamous as one of the world's most dangerous airports, Tenzing-Hillary Airport, also known as Lukla Airport, is the main gateway for trekkers visiting Mount Everest Base Camp. Elevated at 9,334 ft, the airport is surrounded by majestic mountains with snow-capped peaks that are often shrouded in cloud, making it an awe-inspiring sight for visitors. Santos Dumont Airport, Rio de Janeiro The second major airport serving Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Santos Dumont Airport is located in arguably one of the most scenic coastal cities in the world. Surrounded by mountains, and water that is peppered with lush green islands, the airport overlooks the wide sandy beach of Copacabana with Corcovado and the iconic Cristo Redentor statue visible in the distance. The famous outline of Sugarloaf Mountain, which is on the runway's direct approach path, makes it tricky for pilots to navigate. Venice Marco Polo Airport Although the runway is located on the mainland near to Tessera, passengers flying into Venice's Marco Polo Airport will get breathtaking views of the lagoon and the abundant beautiful historical buildings. The lagoon and part of the city are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making this visually stunning city a must-see on many travellers' bucket lists. Donegal Airport Voted the most scenic airport in the world for three years in a row, Donegal Airport exudes the rugged charm and wild landscape that is synonymous with Ireland's coastline. Located on an archipelago and flanked by stretches of clear blue water and soft sand, the runway approach is a visual display of striking and dramatic natural beauty. www.artemisaerospace.com Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barra_Airport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skiathos_International_Airport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenzing-Hillary_Airport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santos_Dumont_Airport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice_Marco_Polo_Airport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donegal_Airport Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1923968/Barra_Airport.jpg SOURCE Artemis Aerospace Increasing Elderly Population, Surging Applications of Artificial Implants To Replace Missing Biological Structures, Growing Awareness of Implantable Technologies Among Patients & Doctors, High Usage of Prosthetic Implants, And Rapid Adoption of Metallic Implants Are Factors Driving Market Revenue Growth NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global artificial implants market is estimated to expand at 5.6% CAGR and reach a valuation of US$ 260 billion by 2032, as per industry analysis by Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider. Most parts or functions of the body can be supplemented or replaced by artificial implants. There has been a noticeable growth in the number of elderly persons globally in recent years. Numerous chronic diseases are more likely to affect senior folks. Dental disorders, endovascular illnesses, orthopedic disorders, and cardiovascular diseases are a few of these conditions. They are likely to contribute to a rise in the usage of artificial implants, such as artificial joints, eyes, and kidneys. Download Sample Copy of Artificial Implants Industry Report https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=7791 Demand for artificial implants, which are substitutes made with both mechanical and robotic components that are used as prosthetics to replace broken body parts such as the hands, legs, and limbs, is growing along with the number of disabilities. Cardiac implants are mechanical circulatory support systems that support the circulation of blood from the heart to the body's other organs. Huge demand for cosmetic dentistry and technological advancements in artificial implants are the main drivers for market expansion. Neurological and sensory implants are used to treat various neurological conditions as well as diseases affecting the brain and the main senses. Dental implants are the only option for replacing a missing tooth permanently. The industry is evolving rapidly as a result of the increased knowledge of the benefits of dental implants. Due to this, the dental implants sector is receiving a rising number of research grants for the development of novel implant designs and other developments that will help solve ongoing difficulties relating to implants. Key Takeaways from Market Study The global artificial implants market is currently valued at US$ 150 billion . . Market in Japan is projected to progress at a CAGR of 2.5% over the forecast period (2022-2032). is projected to progress at a CAGR of 2.5% over the forecast period (2022-2032). Sales of knee implants are forecasted to expand at a CAGR of 3% from 2022 to 2032. Market in Germany is set to increase at a CAGR of 3.5% through 2032. Get Customization on this Report for Specific Country - https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=7791 Competitive Landscape Leading companies are working to boost their revenue share in the market by developing novel products. Major market participants can increase their geographic reach and their current product portfolio through mergers and acquisitions. For instance: In 2022, Impulse AM, a posterior interbody fusion implant made of porous titanium and created via 3D printing, was introduced by DeGen Medical, Inc., a spinal implant firm that specializes in augmented reality and patient-specific therapies. Exactech Inc. Smith & Nephew Plc Sonova Holding AG GS Medical LLC Abiomed, Inc. Bicon, LLC Biotronik SE & Co. KG Boston Scientific Corporation Cochlear Limited Dentsply Sirona DePuy Synthes Companies Institut Straumann AG Winning Strategy Key manufacturers of artificial implants are putting great emphasis on product innovation to improve their brand portfolio, boost their presence, and meet consumer needs. In 2021, to help ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) and hospitals become more financially sustainable, Orthopedic Implant Company introduced its wrist fracture plating technology, the DRPx System, which received Food and Drug Administration approval. More Valuable Insights on Offer Fact.MR, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the global artificial implants market, presenting historical demand data (2017-2021) and forecast statistics for the period of 2022-2032. The study divulges essential insights on the market on the basis of product type (cardiac implants, spinal implants, knee implants, hip implants, dental implants, cochlear implants), biomaterial (metallic, ceramic, polymers & natural, others), and end user (hospitals, clinical research institutions, others), across five major regions (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and MEA). Purchase this Report Through Secured Paypal Payment Gateway https://www.factmr.com/checkout/7791 Segments of Artificial Implants Industry Research By Product Type : Cardiac Implants Spinal Implants Knee Implants Hip Implants Dental Implants Cochlear Implants By Biomaterial : Metallic Ceramic Polymers & Natural Others By End User : Hospitals Clinical Research Institutions Others By Region : North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Browse Latest Healthcare Industry Reports By Fact.MR Artificial Eyes Market: Recent developments in the field of artificial eyes are expected to trigger an evolution, with continuous redesigns and redevelopments for achieving excellent satisfaction levels and outcomes for patients. Artificial Heart Market: The global market for artificial heart is expected to generate significant revenue with huge growth over the forecast due to the rise in the aging population, which in turn drives the high demand for artificial heart in the healthcare sector. Artificial Organs Market: Demand for artificial organs is likely to grow significantly owing to the rise in lifestyle diseases that lead to the need for organ transplantation in particular for the heart and kidneys. Artificial Iris Market: Due to the increasing demand for artificial iris implants in the North American region manufacturers are mainly focused on clinical trials and the development of new iris implants to take advantage of the current market opportunity. About Fact.MR Fact.MR is a market research and consulting agency with deep expertise in emerging market intelligence. Spanning a wide range from automotive & industry 4.0 to healthcare, technology, chemical and materials, to even the most niche categories. We are committed to deliver insights that help businesses gain deeper understanding of their target markets. We understand that making sense of the vast labyrinth of data can be overwhelming for businesses. That's why focus on offering insights that can actually make a difference to bottom-lines. Specialties: Competition Tracking, Customized Research, Syndicated Research, Investment Research, Social Media Research, Business Intelligence, Industry Analysis, Thought Leadership. Contact: Mahendra Singh US Sales Office 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583, +353-1-4434-232 E: [email protected] Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/713666/FactMR_Logo.jpg SOURCE Fact.MR LAKE ELSINORE, Calif., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IGEN Networks Corporation (OTC: IGEN) (CSE: IGN), a leading innovator of software solutions for the consumer automotive and commercial fleet industries, today announced an exclusive marketing agreement with the Association of Credit Union Executives of Puerto Rico (ASEC). This agreement will enable ASEC and Credit Unions to generate new revenue streams in marketing IGEN's CU Trak and FamilyShield to their members and families. In conjunction with the U.S. Department of Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, which has granted $13.2M to 105 Credit Unions and Cooperatives for Technical Assistance in 2022 thus far, the CDFI Fund will provide the financial assistance to Credit Unions to utilize CDFI qualified technologies for the benefit of their members. "On behalf of the Board of Directors of ASEC, it is with great pleasure to announce our partnership with IGEN Networks Corporation. As we strive to transform our Credit Unions in Puerto Rico to utilize innovative products like CU Trak, IGEN Networks is the perfect partner to help us get there. We look forward to a long-term relationship," said Aurelio Arroyo, President of the Board of ASEC. "Since the first time I interviewed Abel I. Sierra over our radio station a couple of years ago, I knew CU Trak would be a game changer for our Credit Union community in Puerto Rico. Now that the pandemic is behind us, we are much better position to promote CU Trak and with the support of the Board of Directors we look forward to expanding the use of IGEN technologies for all Credit Unions in our beautiful island of Puerto Rico," said Dahlia Torres, Executive Director of ASEC "IGEN Networks sponsorship and participation at ASEC's annual meeting in Punta Cana, Dominion Republic was a huge success. Although Credit Unions have heard of similar technologies in the past, no company has ever focused on addressing the specific technology needs of Credit Unions and automotive financing like we have. IGEN has developed products like CU Trak with ASEC in Puerto Rico in anticipation of further expansion into Latin America and further partnerships with ASEC affiliated organizations like the CUNA Mutual Group," said Abel I. Sierra, Chief Operating Officer of IGEN Networks Corporation. About IGEN Networks Corporation IGEN Networks Corporation creates software services for the consumer automotive and commercial asset management industries enabling their customers to better manage their assets and protect their families. IGEN is a fully reporting company in both Canada and the United States. It is publicly traded on the OTC Markets under the symbol IGEN, and listed on the CSE under the symbol IGN. For more information, please visit: www.igennetworks.net Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities law. The terms and phrases "goal", "commitment", "guidance", "expects", "would", "will", "continuing", "drive", "believes", "indicate", "look forward", "grow", "outlook", "forecasts", "intend", and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by IGEN in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that IGEN believes are appropriate in the circumstances, including but not limited to statements regarding investment liquidity, financing options and long term goals of the Company, general economic conditions, IGEN's expectations regarding its business, customer base, strategy and prospects, and IGEN's confidence in the cash flow generation of its business. Many factors could cause IGEN's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to competition; IGEN's reliance on key personnel; IGEN's ability to maintain and enhance its brand; and difficulties in forecasting IGEN's financial results, particularly over longer periods given the rapid technological changes, competition and short product life cycles that characterize the mobile application industry. These risk factors and others relating to IGEN that may cause actual results to differ are set forth in the under the heading "Risk Factors" in IGEN's periodic filings with the British Columbia Securities Commission and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on IGEN's forward-looking statements. IGEN has no intention and undertakes 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. Contact: Abel I. Sierra IGEN Networks Corporation Email: [email protected] Call us: (855)912-5378 SOURCE iGen Networks Corp. SAN DIEGO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear said the Federation was committed to continuing delivering wins on behalf of the trucking industry. "Since taking this job, I've made it clear that your association's primary objective is winning winning on behalf of the members and this great industry, no matter who the electorate sends to Washington," Spear said. "We don't get paid to point fingers. Partisanship is not a crutch. You're doing your job under the toughest circumstances." In his remarks, Spear cited ATA's significant legal victories in federal court over the state of Rhode Island on the issue of tolling and over the Biden Administration on the government's proposed employer-based vaccine mandate as evidence of ATA's commitment. "These two court victories are impactful and historic. No matter the size of your business large, medium or small had either of these two policies become reality, our industry and the countless businesses and consumers we serve would have suffered," he said. "We assembled the best team. We developed the best legal strategies. We exercised every option with patience and precision. And we won. That's what you expect of your association, and candidly that's what you deserve. This is why we fight." Spear also pointed to ATA's role in helping to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including important investment in the nation's roads and bridges as well as critical workforce development language like a pilot program of younger commercial drivers as significant wins for the industry. "Leading up to its enactment, ATA testified 25 times before the House and Senate. Providing answers to questions, reams of ATRI reports and actionable data; and, a steady narrative that resonated with both Republicans and Democrats," he said. "Good outcomes take time, and this bill was no exception." Looking ahead, Spear said the association would continue to fight on behalf of the industry, citing new efforts to increase the number of women in the industry, develop smart emissions standards and continue to fight against lawsuit abuse. "With six states having already enacted lawsuit abuse legislation, the ATA federation is using its reach in every state to put the plaintiffs' bar on defense," he said. "We now have 11 more state associations preparing legislation that will further shape a landscape where jury decisions are driven by facts, not Powerball payoffs. The plaintiffs' bar's preoccupation with nuclear verdicts and putting companies and hardworking men and women out of a job is now strengthening the foundation and resolve of our federation." American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward. SOURCE American Trucking Associations AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ATN is based in Agoura Hills, CA, and was founded by Josef Meyer in 2002. Before launching ATN, Meyer worked for ASAP Models, learning the ropes of the event staffing world from those who would become his mentors, Arlene and Barre Rosenstock, owners of ASAP. After a short time, Meyer knew he wanted to start an event staffing agency one with nationwide capabilities, which at the time, few existed. Coming from a background in online retail, Meyer realized that advancing technology and the internet could turn that dream into reality. With the blessing and support of the Rosenstocks, Meyer launched Across the Nation Promo, Model, and Staffing (now ATN Event Staffing) on October 20, 2002, and a few years later, acquired ASAP Models. During the first few years, Meyer focused on building a proprietary nationwide online database to streamline the staffing process, which was pioneering during the early 2000s. In doing so, he knew he could take on more clients in more cities across the nation and move away from the cumbersome staffing process, which consisted of Rolodexes and comp cards. His vision turned into reality, and now after two decades of experience, ATN has earned the reputation as the most dedicated, passionate, and reliable event staffing agency available. ATN now boasts 24 full-time employees in five time zones and has the largest talent database in the industry, with over 400,000 registered staff throughout the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. "I have always described ATN as a startup," Meyer said. "Regardless of if we were 5, 10, or 20 years old, the feeling has always been to have sustained and manageable growth. I can humbly say we continue to accomplish this objective. Even during the pandemic, when the live events industry shuttered for almost a year, we were able to assess and plan for continued growth once things opened back up. "The only way we've been able to get to this point is with the relationships we've fostered. Incredibly grateful for the relationships we've built with our clients and brand ambassadors. More than anything is the amazing internal team we've built. I'm so appreciative of this group. This moment is even more special to share with those whose given countless care, effort, and time over the last 20 years." Over the last two decades, ATN has staffed and managed tens of thousands of events, including experiential and event marketing activations, mobile marketing tours, conferences, trade shows, corporate events, and more. About ATN Event Staffing ATN specializes in bringing brands to life by offering custom event staffing solutions for the experiential and event marketing industry. ATN provides brand ambassadors, promotional models, trade show representatives, conference staff, street teams, and other talented individuals to create brand awareness and drive loyalty through meaningful and engaging interactions. With an extensive database of over 400,000 vetted field staff, ATN can successfully staff and execute small and large-scale marketing events throughout the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. ATN is headquartered in Agoura Hills, CA, and has offices in Los Angeles, Honolulu, Seattle, Denver, Tulsa, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Orlando. To learn more, please visit www.atneventstaffing.com. Contact: Lisa Major [email protected] SOURCE ATN Event Staffing NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Technavio has been monitoring the automotive rear-view mirror market, operating under the consumer discretionary industry. The report estimates the market to register an incremental growth of USD 3.71 billion at a CAGR of 7.69% during the forecast period with 55% of the growth to originate from APAC. Major Automotive Rear-view Mirror Market: Vendor Landscape Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Automotive Rear-view Mirror Market 2022-2026 The global automotive rear-view mirror market is characterized by the presence of a few large, medium, and small-scale vendors. Vendors compete in terms of cost, value, inventiveness, standing, brand recognition, and distribution. Continental AG, Ficosa Internacional SA, FLABEG AUTOMOTIVE GLASS GROUP GMBH, GENTEX CORPORATION, Honda Lock Co., Ltd., Magna International Inc., MEKRA LANG GMBH and CO.KG, Murakami Corporation, SL Corporation, and TOKAIRIKA, CO, LTD. are a few of the major competitors in the market. These suppliers cover a wide geographic area, have significant production facilities, and hold sizeable market shares. The market's rivalry is heightened by the high level of product differentiation among competitors. The extensive marketing strategies and launch of new products in the domain have routed a major strategy to address the demand from the end-user segments. Vendors are also expected to gain certifications for their products to gain consumer confidence and increase their market share during the forecasted period. Request Free Sample Report. Automotive Rear-view Mirror Market 2026: Segmentation Analysis Vehicle type Passenger vehicles The introduction of numerous additional features in automobiles is being driven by consumers' increased need for comfort and safety in passenger cars. The fast electrification of various passenger automobile components has also accelerated the introduction of new technologies that improve convenience, comfort, and safety. In the passenger automobile market, side-view dimming mirror use is additionally anticipated to rise throughout the course of the projection year. It is anticipated that significant suppliers would use economies of scale to spread the auto-dimming side-view mirror technology to mid- and entry-level automobiles. As a result, this segment is expected to move toward mirrorless camera technology to replace traditional mirrors during the forecast period. Commercial vehicles Geography APAC The global market for vehicle rear-view mirrors is expanding at the quickest rate in APAC, which will help the region further solidify its position in the industry. The principal nations in the region are China , India , South Korea , and Japan . Automobile adoption in APAC is very high. Due to their prominent position, these vehicles have adopted the use of rearview mirrors. , , , and . Automobile adoption in APAC is very high. Due to their prominent position, these vehicles have adopted the use of rearview mirrors. Additionally, as compared to other regions during the projected period, the region's passenger car category is anticipated to grow more quickly, supporting market expansion. The use of advanced mirrors including auto-dimming, power-fold featured side-view mirrors, and mirrors with indicators is also anticipated to generate revenue as consumer preferences move from mileage to aesthetics and advanced features. Europe North America South America Middle East And Africa To know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, Buy Sample Report. Automotive Rear-view Mirror Market 2026: Scope Analysis Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The automotive rear-view mirror market report covers the following areas: One of the major market trends for automobile rear-view mirrors fostering market expansion is the incorporation of various technologies. A collision avoidance system's blind spot detection monitors the traffic directly behind and in front of the vehicle. The technology keeps the alert system active until the user's vehicle is in front of the vehicle in the neighboring lane. To monitor the area of the road behind and next to the user's vehicle, the system uses either radar or ultrasonic sensors as well as cameras on the back and sides of the vehicle. Such developments are a growing trend that will accelerate the market's expansion during the anticipated time frame. Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights! Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000. Related Reports Automotive OBD Dongle Market by Vehicle Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The report extensively covers the automotive OBD dongle market segmentation by vehicle type (passenger cars and commercial vehicles) and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and the Middle East and Africa). Automotive Reconfigurable Instrument Cluster Market Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis - 2022-2026: The report extensively covers the automotive reconfigurable instrument cluster market segmentation by product (partially reconfigurable instrument cluster and fully reconfigurable instrument cluster) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and the Middle East and Africa). Automotive Rear-view Mirror Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 7.69% Market growth 2022-2026 $3.71 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 6.6 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 55% Key consumer countries US, China, Japan, South Korea, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Burco Inc., Continental AG, Ficosa Internacional SA, FLABEG Automotive Glass Group GmbH, Gentex Corp., ICHIKOH INDUSTRIES LTD., Konview Electronics Corp. Ltd., Magna International Inc., MEKRA Lang GmbH and Co. KG, Minda Industries Ltd., Murakami Corp., OMNIVISION Technologies Inc., Sanjay Techno Products Pvt. Ltd., Shenzhen Germid Co. Ltd, SL Corp., Tata AutoComp Systems Ltd., Valeo SA, Tokai Rika Co. Ltd, Honda Lock Mfg. Co. Ltd., and Sakae Riken Kogyo Co. Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Vehicle 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 Vehicle Type 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on Vehicle Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on Vehicle Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Vehicle Type Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Vehicle Type Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Vehicle Type 5.3 Passenger vehicles - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Passenger vehicles - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Passenger vehicles - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Passenger vehicles - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Passenger vehicles - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Commercial vehicles - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on Commercial vehicles - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Commercial vehicles - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on Commercial vehicles - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Commercial vehicles - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by Vehicle Type Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Vehicle 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 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 43: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 44: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on APAC - 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 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 51: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.6 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 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 64: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 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 (%) 7.10 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 72: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 73: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.11 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.12 South Korea - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on South Korea - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Data Table on South Korea - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 80: Chart on South Korea - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 81: Data Table on South Korea - 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 Continental AG Exhibit 89: Continental AG - Overview Exhibit 90: Continental AG - Business segments Exhibit 91: Continental AG - Key news Exhibit 92: Continental AG - Key offerings Exhibit 93: Continental AG - Segment focus 10.4 Ficosa Internacional SA Exhibit 94: Ficosa Internacional SA - Overview Exhibit 95: Ficosa Internacional SA - Product / Service Exhibit 96: Ficosa Internacional SA - Key offerings 10.5 FLABEG Automotive Glass Group GmbH Exhibit 97: FLABEG Automotive Glass Group GmbH - Overview Exhibit 98: FLABEG Automotive Glass Group GmbH - Product / Service Exhibit 99: FLABEG Automotive Glass Group GmbH - Key offerings 10.6 Gentex Corp. Exhibit 100: Gentex Corp. - Overview Exhibit 101: Gentex Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 102: Gentex Corp. - Key news Exhibit 103: Gentex Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 104: Gentex Corp. - Segment focus 10.7 Honda Lock Mfg. Co. Ltd. Exhibit 105: Honda Lock Mfg. Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 106: Honda Lock Mfg. Co. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 107: Honda Lock Mfg. Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 10.8 Magna International Inc. Exhibit 108: Magna International Inc. - Overview Exhibit 109: Magna International Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 110: Magna International Inc. - Key news Exhibit 111: Magna International Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 112: Magna International Inc. - Segment focus 10.9 MEKRA Lang GmbH and Co. KG Exhibit 113: MEKRA Lang GmbH and Co. KG - Overview Exhibit 114: MEKRA Lang GmbH and Co. KG - Product / Service Exhibit 115: MEKRA Lang GmbH and Co. KG - Key offerings 10.10 Murakami Corp. Exhibit 116: Murakami Corp. - Overview Exhibit 117: Murakami Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 118: Murakami Corp. - Key offerings 10.11 SL Corp. Exhibit 119: SL Corp. - Overview Exhibit 120: SL Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 121: SL Corp. - Key offerings 10.12 Tokai Rika Co. Ltd Exhibit 122: Tokai Rika Co. Ltd - Overview Exhibit 123: Tokai Rika Co. Ltd - Product / Service Exhibit 124: Tokai Rika Co. Ltd - Key offerings 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 125: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 126: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 127: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology Exhibit 128: Research methodology Exhibit 129: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 130: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 131: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio The AI Solution Is Also Now Available In Brazil, Completing Global Roll Out NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America today announced that it has enhanced its accounts receivables matching solution Bank of America Intelligent Receivables with additional reporting and new forecasting capabilities, providing clients with insights based on historical trends and their customers' behaviors. The bank also announced that it has completed the global roll out of Intelligent Receivables with the product's launch in Brazil. Intelligent Receivables uses artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced data capture technology to bring together payment information and associated remittance detail from various payment channels, whether electronic or paper based. With its ability to grab data from multiple sources (including emails and attachments), Intelligent Receivables will seek to match payments to outstanding invoices and thereby help to meaningfully reduce the costs normally associated with manual processing while speeding up the posting of revenue. "The new capabilities are a natural extension of a tool that constantly interacts with data," said Liba Saiovici, head of Global Receivables in Global Transaction Services (GTS) at Bank of America. "The new dashboards give clients a more comprehensive view into their total collections and outstanding receivables from which they can dig further to better understand their customer's behavior around timeliness and preferred mode(s) of payment." Around the world, Intelligent Receivables is increasingly being used by large and medium sized companies in nearly all industries. Bank of America has made continual improvements to the tool since it was launched in 2017, and last year added new language processing capabilities, including Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Thai. Portuguese is also available to support clients in Brazil. As an indicator of client engagement, Intelligent Receivables last year processed ~43 million invoices[1], a ~50% increase from the year earlier. "The growth in adoption of Intelligent Receivables is a testament to the tool's impact on a company's bottom line," said Fernando Iraola, co-head of Global Corporate Sales GTS and head of Latin America GTS at Bank of America. "We're confident that clients will see even greater value from using the tool with its new reporting and receivables forecasting capabilities." 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. "Bank of America" is the marketing name used by certain Global Banking and Global Markets businesses of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, other commercial banking activities, and trading in certain financial instruments are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. 2022 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts. www.bankofamerica.com Reporters May Contact: Louise Hennessy, Bank of America Phone: 1.646.858.6471 [email protected] MAP# 667404 [1] Rolling 12 months, August 2022. Source: BAC third quarter earnings SOURCE Bank of America Corporation Bezyl's personalized toolbox to build mental health support for patients and their caregivers, now includes Scout Clinical's patient navigator services and Atlas Clinical Academy to make life easier for every participant and their families in clinical trials PHOENIX, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bezyl, Inc. a global, digital mental health company, announced today that it is collaborating with Scout Clinical and Atlas Clinical Academy to enhance its personalized mental health digital app and support system to patients participating in clinical trials. Impact Analytics Raises Additional $10M Investment Following Banner Year in Consumer, Retail and Manufacturing Tweet this Bezyl adds travel support and training with Scout Clinical and Atlas Clinical Academy to further improve the mental strength of clinical trial participants, enabling continued participation and long-term follow-up Grounded within a secure communications platform, the Bezyl app makes it easier for patients to ask for help from friends, family, and caregivers, plus any other supportive sphere curated to each clinical trial. Additionally, it provides access to useful and easy-to-navigate resources and trainings specific to the patients' needs these now include Scout Clinical and Atlas Clinical Academy. Bezyl's aim is to strengthen the mental health of clinical participants, thus retain their participation in clinical trials, maintain treatment compliance, and even improve long-term follow-up after the treatment phase of a clinical trial has ended. Founder and CEO of Bezyl, Inc., Esther Howard, shared her personal inspiration behind the development of the Bezyl app: "When one of my best friends died of colon cancer, she talked openly about her struggle with mental health. She was about to die and leave her daughter without a mother and husband without a wife; she desperately needed the mental strength to make each of her final days the best possible. She told me the thing that would help her improve her mental health, would be if it was easier for her to ask for help from the people in her life, and if they knew how to offer help". Moved by the words from her friend, Esther set out to simplify communication and make seeking and offering help easier and, in turn, build mental strength in a world that so desperately needs it. As part of this new partnership, Scout Clinical will offer travel and patient reimbursement, and Atlas will build and house curated training for clinical trial participants as an option to include within the Bezyl mental health app. "Esther's story and her drive to improve access to mental health support for clinical trial participants and their care partners is contagious. From our first meeting I knew that Bezyl's vision and goals were aligned with Scout and Atlas. We are proud to be a part of this initiative to improve the experience of clinical trial participants and increase awareness of the impact of participating in a trial on individual mental health." KimberLee Heidmann, Founder, Scout Clinical, President, Atlas Clinical Academy. "When I heard about the work Esther and team were doing to support patients and their caregivers, I was immediately inspired to partner Scout Clinical and Atlas Clinical Academy with Bezyl. A close friend recently passed from cancer, and she expressed the need for support but was unsure the best way to ask. She also knew the people around her were not sure what would be helpful. Given this, it was a no-brainer to include Bezyl within our offering to support patients and their families" Melissa Coloton, EVP Business Development, Scout Clinical "Our ultimate mission is to end the global mental health pandemic by helping people help each other," said Esther Howard, founder, and CEO, Bezyl, Inc. "Patients participating in clinical research, especially cancer patients, can finally benefit from realizing the full strength from their network of supporters." In addition to supporting patients, earlier this year, Bezyl released a Ukrainian-specific version of its app to help Ukrainians build personal networks of support and find access to much needed humanitarian relief. About Bezyl Bezyl is the only global, personalized digital mental health company that provides a simplified communication platform to help people help each other improve their mental strength. Asking for help is easier using Bezyl's proprietary technology that directly connects individuals to their designated spheres of support. Learn how the app works at bezyl.com. About Scout Clinical and Atlas Clinical Academy Scout Clinical and Atlas Clinical Academy are both a part of the Meeting Protocol Worldwide family of brands and have over 25 years of global experience in the life sciences industry. Scout offers a customizable scope of patient services, including patient travel and reimbursements, tailored to fit the needs of individual studies. A team of dedicated patient liaisons working in tandem with the Scout Portal, a cloud-based web app, make it easier for patients to "stick with it". Atlas Clinical Academy is a virtual environment for clinical trial collaboration and education, but it's more than just another LMS. Atlas offers custom solutions to fit what your study needs. Whether it's tailored content to drive site and patient engagement, interactive learning environments, or in-depth trial collaboration, Atlas builds a system just for you, so you can keep your people on the same page. To learn more about the Meeting Protocol family of brands, visit meetingprotocol.com. SOURCE Bezyl, Inc. BRUSSELS, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced a series of initiatives and a call for proposals to advance locally-led innovation that supports work by scientists and researchers in developing economies. The announcement was made at the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting earlier today. This year's meeting focuses on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the need for high-impact R&D platforms, partnerships, and policies that effectively bridge the gap between innovation and equitable access. The meeting brings together researchers from around the world to share work, learn about cutting-edge advances in the health care field, and collaborate with other investigators. "Health equity shouldn't just be a statement of why we do this work. It should guide how we do it," said Kedest Tesfagiorgis, deputy director of Global Partnerships & Grand Challenges at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "When we support locally led innovation, we maximize impact by bringing different kinds of knowledge and perspectives to the fore." As part of the Grand Challenges Global Call to Action , a 10-year initiative announced at last year's meeting to help ensure scientists and institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) play a central role in shaping the global R&D agenda, the foundation announced two new Grand Challenges initiatives: Pathogen Genomic Surveillance and Immunology in Asia : This is an invitation for proposals from investigators in South and Southeast Asia to design and pilot a genomic surveillance program or develop capacity for immunology and immune sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 to inform epidemic response. Up to $300,000 per year for up to two years will be available for each project, with potential additional funding for projects that include a focus on monoclonal antibody discovery. This is an invitation for proposals from investigators in South and to design and pilot a genomic surveillance program or develop capacity for immunology and immune sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 to inform epidemic response. Up to per year for up to two years will be available for each project, with potential additional funding for projects that include a focus on monoclonal antibody discovery. Building Data Modeling Capacity for Gender Equality : This is an invitation for proposals from investigators in low- and middle-income countries for projects aimed at addressing disparities and gaps affecting women and girls in health. This initiative is focused on innovative approaches to modeling that advance gender equality. Each project will receive up to $500,000 over one to three years. "Societies measure what they value, and for most of history, society hasn't valued women. This means we're trying to tackle global health and development challenges with missing information," said Anita Zaidi, president of the Gender Equality division at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "It is long past time to put women and girls at the center of the data modeling that guides our solutions." In partnership with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), the foundation will also provide grants to researchers investigating and detecting emerging pathogens in LMICs. Researchers will receive up to $200,000 each for up to two years, as well as operational support and technical training from the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub (CZ Biohub). This funding commitment builds on a 2018 partnership between the foundation, CZI, and the CZ Biohub that is focused on building metagenomics capacity in LMICs through a Global Grand Challenges initiative. The 2022 Grand Challenges Annual Meeting in Brussels is hosted by Global Grand Challenges and the European Commission, and co-sponsored by Grand Challenges Canada, USAID, Wellcome, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The two-day event features dozens of leaders from across the global health innovation landscape, as well as Gates Foundation leadership, including Bill Gates (co-chair and trustee); Anita Zaidi; and Trevor Mundel (president, Global Health Division). The plenary sessions will be posted shortly after the meeting at grandchallenges.org/annual-meeting . About Grand Challenges The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recognizes that solving the most pressing challenges in global health and development requires more of the world's brightest minds working on them. The Grand Challenges family of initiatives seeks to engage innovators from around the world to solve these challenges. Grand Challenges initiatives are united by their focus on fostering innovation, directing research to where it will have the most impact, and serving those most in need. To learn more, visit grandchallenges.org . About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all peopleespecially those with the fewest resourceshave access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Co-chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates and the board of trustees. Media contact: [email protected] SOURCE Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation The current Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, elected in May, has generally shown a positive attitude toward his country's ties with China by taking action to correct his predecessor's wrongs. But upgrading Australia's bilateral security agreement with Japan is not in line with that positive trend. The upgraded Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation that Albanese signed with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Perth covering military, intelligence and cybersecurity cooperation, is another move to strengthen security ties between the two countries. It follows the reciprocal access agreement that then Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison signed with Kishida in January, which removed obstacles to holding joint military exercises in either country. Kishida said that the upgraded agreement had been developed under an "increasingly harsh strategic environment", and that it "will chart the direction of our security and defense cooperation in the next 10 years". Expounding on this, the Associated Press said that the new bilateral security agreement reflects "the deteriorating security outlook for their region driven by China's increasing assertiveness". But this is a harsh and prejudicial judgment arrived at by viewing the regional situation through the prism of Washington's "Indo-Pacific strategy". It is not China's "assertiveness", but the United States' ambition to contain China's rise with the aid of its allies that has caused the "deteriorating security outlook for their region". It has made a series of moves aimed at getting its regional allies to more actively support its bid to maintain its hegemony in the region, notably bringing them into the fold of the transatlantic alliance. In June, Australia and Japan, along with the Republic of Korea and New Zealand, participated in the NATO Summit in Madrid. Commenting on this new development, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "We have always believed that the development of relations between countries should be conducive to world peace and stability, and should not target or harm the interests of third parties. The Asia-Pacific region is not within the geographic scope of the North Atlantic. Countries and peoples in the Asia-Pacific region firmly oppose any words or deeds that introduce military blocs and provoke separatism and confrontation." In his National Day speech on Aug 21, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned that the geopolitical tensions between the United States and China are affecting the security situation in the Asia-Pacific region. He said that, "Our region has enjoyed peace for a long time, and it is difficult for us to imagine that the situation will be different. But look at how the situation in Europe has deteriorated, how suddenly and quickly". The risks of any misjudgments are clear, and the anxiety triggered by China's bilateral security cooperation agreement with the Solomon Islands shows how easy it is for suspicions and mistrust to lead to misinterpretations of intentions. China has repeatedly stressed that it stands ready to work with Australia to properly manage differences, and steer the sound and steady development of bilateral relations. On Sept 22, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and the two agreed that the two sides would make joint efforts to develop a stable, mutually beneficial and productive relationship through candid communication and constructive exchanges on the basis of mutual respect. Creating a favorable environment for the sound development of China-Australia relations would be in the interests of both countries and the region as a whole. Canberra should not let itself be swayed in the wrong direction by Washington. As has been observed, "The Pacific is big enough to hold China and the US." It is also big enough to hold China, the US, Japan, Australia and all the other countries in the region. UW in the News State, national and international media frequently feature the University of Wyoming and members of its community in stories. Here is a summary of some of the recent coverage: Environmental News Network published UWs release noting that a rare species of sagebrush found only in southeast Wyoming survives primarily through pollination by bees. Madison Crawford, a recent UW masters degree recipient from Newcastle, led the new research on the Laramie chickensage. Ramesh Sivanpillai, a senior research scientist in the Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center at UW, was tapped by the International Charter Space and Major Disasters to be the project manager for its Hurricane Fiona response efforts in the Dominican Republic, according to The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T). The U.S. Geological Survey initiated the response and nominated Sivanpillai as the project manager, according to UWs media release. Front Line Genomics and ScienceDaily featured tardigrades -- also known as water bears -- and the advanced research on the microscopic creatures being conducted by UW molecular biology Assistant Professor Thomas Boothby. In a CS-T article, republished in The Laramie Boomerang, UWs Matt Kauffman, unit leader of the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, talked about his areas migration research for an article that focused on the state being a migration research leader. The Bozeman Daily Chronicle carried a Billings Gazette article that cited UWs Wyoming Migration Initiatives studies into wildlife migration patterns. The article noted that the studies informed a recently published report highlighting the importance of wildlife corridors in the western U.S. The Jackson Hole News & Guide published a story about the purported sighting of 12 wolverines at one location in the Tetons this year. The article includes comments from Joe Holbrook, an assistant professor in UWs Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources. Holbrook expressed skepticism at the report. In another Jackson Hole News & Guide article, Lusha Tronstad, lead invertebrate zoologist with the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database at UW, was quoted about the decline of the Teepe Glacier in Grand Teton National Park. Tronstad studies insects that live in alpine streams fed by glaciers. Cowboy State Daily included comments from UW economist Rob Godby for an article that focused on Gov. Mark Gordons working group that came up with proposals for actions the state could take to ease the pain at the pump for Wyoming consumers. Luke Wilde, a doctoral student in the Kauffman Lab of the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at UW, talked with Cowboy State Daily about Deer 255, a mule deer doe that continues to break migration records. Greg Nickerson, an associate research scientist in the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, also was interviewed. K2 Radio reported on the Wyoming Department of Educations Wyoming Teacher Apprenticeship Initiative. Mentors for the teachers will be trained through the 18-month-long Wyoming Teacher-Mentor Corps program, an initiative led by the UW College of Education. UW student Hazel Homer-Wambeam, from Laramie, who is Jewish, will discuss her journey to being selected as Miss Wyoming. She will be interviewed online for a segment titled Jewish Miss Wyomings Fight Against Antisemitism in a program next month hosted by American Jewish University. The American Law Institute (ALI) recently announced that it has elected 32 new members -- including UW College of Law Professor Jacquelyn Bridgeman. She also is the director of UWs School of Culture, Gender and Social Justice. ALI is a private, independent, nonprofit organization that publishes guidelines to further its mission to clarify, modernize and improve the law to promote the better administration of justice. UWs Mark Clementz, a paleobiology professor, commented in a widely published article about a giant, hairy blob of a sea creature that washed up recently on a beach in Oregon. Based on the photos, Clementz surmised that the blob was a decomposing baleen whale carcass, according to Outdoors and Nature World News. The Powell Tribune noted the UW American Heritage Centers archive explaining how the Great Western Sugar Co. in Lovell used the newspaper in the 1920s to address Mexican field workers in their native tongue. At that time, The Powell Tribune published a special section printed entirely in Spanish, the article noted. Wyoming Business Report published two UW releases announcing a networking webinar and a Cheyenne event that focused on the basics of starting a business. Laramie Live published UWs release noting that the annual community Safe Treat will return to campus Thursday, Oct. 27. UWs student-led Ethics Club is accepting nominations for SparkTank, a College of Business initiative that awards funds to local nonprofit organizations. The Laramie Boomerang published UWs release about the program, noting that the nomination deadline is Nov. 16. The Sheridan Press interviewed UWs Eric Webster, the Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station director, for an article on precision technology, which experts say is the future of agriculture, especially as producers face a challenging economic future due to drought and water shortages. UW plant sciences Professor Andrew Kniss was quoted in a Genetic Literacy Project piece focusing on herbicide-resistant weeds often referred to as superweeds. KIDK-TV, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, noted that UW is among collaborators in a Utah State University-led project that is introducing a new niche agricultural industry to the Intermountain West -- locally sourced maple and boxelder syrup. The awards program is among a weekend full of curated events on a mission to celebrate and empower the Black community through the lens of love. LOS ANGELES, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Love, Inc. the Black-owned media company and home of the highly-acclaimed BLACK LOVE docuseries announced today the introduction of its inaugural "Black Love Honors Brunch," hosted by director and award-winning actress Niecy Nash-Betts. The awards program will honor the contributions of culture-shifting figures who are dedicated to championing love in all its forms across six categories: Self Love, Partnership, Community Impact, Wellness, Storytelling, and Icons with honorees including Viola Davis & Julius Tennon, Kendrick Sampson, Lauren London, Erica & Warryn Campbell, and DeVon Franklin. Black Love Weekend, which focuses on Black love and Black joy, will kick off with the return of the 5th Annual Black Love Summit on Nov 12th followed by the invite-only Black Love Honors Brunch on November 13th. Sponsors include Goldman Sachs, Puma, and Confluential Films. "As we continue to navigate the next decade of the new millennium, our mission has become even more important. This is why we have decided to expand the Black love experience through the addition of our exclusive Black Love Honors Brunch," said Codie Elaine Oliver, Co-Founder & CEO of Black Love, Inc. "Though the past two years have pushed the media, consumer brands, and non-Black communities to observe the need for Black people to proclaim our lives, our joy, and our love out loud, there is still room for understanding. Through Black Love Weekend we are emphasizing our commitment to strengthening and celebrating the Black community through the lens of love 365 days a year while also creating a safe space where Black love can thrive." The Black Love Summit will include signature conversations featuring Russell & Nina Westbrook, Jeannette Reyes & Robert Burton, Melanie Fiona, Melvin Gregg, Algee Smith, Adrian Holmes, Chance Brown, Mattie James as well as Black Love creators, Tommy & Codie Elaine Oliver. The weekend will also encompass a special Black Love Music Lounge hosted by Charles Kuykendoll's international traveling RnB HouseParty featuring a special performance by Coco Jones. Following the premiere of the final installment of the BLACK LOVE docuseries this summer, Black Love, Inc., continues to expand its reach and message through a series of live events, digital video series , and exciting partnerships that contextualize and amplify the realities of the Black love experience. The media company recently premiered the fourth season of its digital series Couch Conversations with Kevin "KevOnStage'' & Melissa Fredericks as the new hosts and introduced two new shows to its podcast network. To learn more or purchase tickets for the Black Love Summit, please visit www.blacklove.com/summit/ . To ensure the safety of in-person attendees a valid vaccination card or negative COVID-19 test will be required. Follow the brand on Instagram ( @blacklove) and Facebook ( @BlackLoveDoc ). About Black Love, Inc. Black Love Inc. is the premier 100% Black-owned partner for celebrating 360 degrees of Black Love. The media company, founded by Codie & Tommy Oliver, is a hub for Black couples and singles to have transparent conversations around relationships, parenthood, dating, and more with an OTT app, podcast network, documentaries, and live events. Black Love, Inc. With an active and growing millennial community, Black Love, Inc. garners a monthly social reach of 70M+. To learn more about Black Love, please visit www.blacklove.com or download the Black Love+ App . About RnB HouseParty RNB HouseParty was an original idea from host Charles "Beloved" Kuykendoll back in college. He was tired of the typical Phrat parties where everyone strolled and those who weren't Greek stood around and watched people stroll. Previously partnered with RevoltTV, AT&T, Blavity, Jeep, AFROTECH, and Martell Cognac, RnB HouseParty has successfully hosted over 30 events across the US in only 3 years. Media Contact: Kayla Lawerence, [email protected] , 908.943.7014 Chelsea Auguste, [email protected] , 908.588.2602 SOURCE Black Love, Inc. PANAMA CITY, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. (NYSE: BLX) cordially invites you to participate in its upcoming conference call to discuss its 3Q22 results. Date and time: Wednesday, November 2, 2022 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time Presenting for Bladex: Mr. Jorge Salas, Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Ana Graciela de Mendez, Chief Financial Officer To participate, please dial: +1 888 686 3653 (U.S. Participants) +1 718 866 4614 (From outside the U.S.) Passcode: 877068 This event will be webcast live at www.bladex.com Bladex's Third Quarter 2022 Earnings Release will be announced on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 after the market closes and will be available on the Bank's corporate website, along with the webcast presentation. About Bladex: Bladex, a multinational bank originally established by the central banks of Latin-American and Caribbean countries, began operations in 1979 to promote foreign trade and economic integration in the Region. The Bank, headquartered in Panama, also has offices in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, the United States of America, and a Representative License in Peru, supporting the regional expansion and servicing of its customer base, which includes financial institutions and corporations. Bladex is listed on the NYSE in the United States of America (NYSE: BLX), since 1992, and its shareholders include: central banks and state-owned banks and entities representing 23 Latin American countries, commercial banks and financial institutions, and institutional and retail investors through its public listing. Contact Information: Carlos Daniel Raad Chief Investor Relations Officer E-mail address: [email protected] Tel: +507 210-8563 SOURCE Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. (Bladex) NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 50% of the market's growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. China and India are the key markets for the blow molded plastic bottles market in APAC. Increasing industrial activities will facilitate the blow molded plastic bottles market growth in APAC over the forecast period. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Blow Molded Plastic Bottles Market 2022-2026 The blow molded plastic bottles market size is set to grow by USD 14.96 billion from 2021 to 2026, according to Technavio. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will accelerate at a CAGR of 3.49% during the forecast period. The growing demand for packaged beverages is driving the blow molded plastic bottles market growth. However, the growing global demand for pouch packaging solutions is challenging market growth. Get a comprehensive report summary that describes the market size and forecast along with research methodology. The FREE sample report is available in PDF format Blow Molded Plastic Bottles Market Type Outlook (Revenue, USD bn, 2021-2026) PET - size and forecast 2021-2026 PE - size and forecast 2021-2026 Blow Molded Plastic Bottles Market End-user Outlook (Revenue, USD bn, 2021-2026) Food and beverage - size and forecast 2021-2026 Household - size and forecast 2021-2026 Personal care - size and forecast 2021-2026 Others - size and forecast 2021-2026 Blow Molded Plastic Bottles Market Geography Outlook (Revenue, USD bn, 2021-2026) APAC - size and forecast 2021-2026 Europe - size and forecast 2021-2026 - size and forecast 2021-2026 North America - size and forecast 2021-2026 - size and forecast 2021-2026 Middle East and Africa - size and forecast 2021-2026 and - size and forecast 2021-2026 South America - size and forecast 2021-2026 Technavio's library includes over 17,000+ reports covering more than 2,000 emerging technologies. Subscribe to our "Basic Plan " at Just USD 5000 and get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights. Key Vendors and their Offerings Alpha Group - The company offers blow-molded plastic bottles that are manufactured using stretch blow molding technology (SBM) at the Zywiec site in Poland , under the brand name ALPLA. - The company offers blow-molded plastic bottles that are manufactured using stretch blow molding technology (SBM) at the Zywiec site in , under the brand name ALPLA. Amcor Plc - The company offers blow-molded plastic bottles with an evident finish suitable for pharmaceutical applications including ophthalmics and oral doses, under the brand name Amcor. - The company offers blow-molded plastic bottles with an evident finish suitable for pharmaceutical applications including ophthalmics and oral doses, under the brand name Amcor. Berry Global Group Inc.- The company offers blow-molded plastic bottles of different sizes and shapes with the option of different openings, under the brand name of Berry. The company offers blow-molded plastic bottles of different sizes and shapes with the option of different openings, under the brand name of Berry. Comar LLC - The company offers blow-molded plastic bottles that have custom designs for applications such as prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical packaging, under the brand name Comar. - The company offers blow-molded plastic bottles that have custom designs for applications such as prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical packaging, under the brand name Comar. Gerresheimer AG - The company offers to blow-molded plastic bottles that are standardized and customized for the food and beverage industry as well as nutritional supplements, under the brand name of Gerresheimer. - The company offers to blow-molded plastic bottles that are standardized and customized for the food and beverage industry as well as nutritional supplements, under the brand name of Gerresheimer. Graham Packaging Co. LP Greiner Packaging International GmbH North American Plastics Ontario Plastic Container Producers Ltd. PCE Inc. Plastipak Holdings Inc. Resilux NV Silgan Holdings Inc. Streamline Plastics Inpress Plastics Ltd. Container Corporation of Canada Dow Inc. Garrtech Inc. Gemini Group Inc. Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. Buy Full Report Related Reports: Transparent Plastic Market by Type and Geography Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The transparent plastic market share should rise by USD 17.56 billion from 2022 to 2026. The market is driven by increasing demand from developing countries. Recycle Market Share for Plastic Bottle Industry by Grade Type and Geography Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The report extensively covers market segmentation by grade type (PET, HDPE, PP, and others) and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America). 52% of the market's growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. Blow Molded Plastic Bottles Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 3.49% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 14.96 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 3.38 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 50% Key consumer countries US, China, India, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Alpha Group, ALPLA Werke Alwin Lehner, Amcor Plc, Berry Global Group Inc., Comar LLC, Container Corporation of Canada, Dow Inc., Garrtech Inc., Gemini Group Inc., Gerresheimer AG, Graham Packaging Co. LP, Greiner Packaging International GmbH, North American Plastics, Ontario Plastic Container Producers Ltd., PCE Inc., Plastipak Holdings Inc., Resilux NV, Silgan Holdings Inc., Streamline Plastics, and Inpress Plastics 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 Type Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user 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 Type 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 25: Chart on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 26: Data Table on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Type Exhibit 27: Chart on Comparison by Type Exhibit 28: Data Table on Comparison by Type 5.3 PET - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 29: Chart on PET - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Data Table on PET - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 31: Chart on PET - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 32: Data Table on PET - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 PE - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 33: Chart on PE - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Data Table on PE - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 35: Chart on PE - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 36: Data Table on PE - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by Type Exhibit 37: Market opportunity by Type ($ million) 6 Market Segmentation by End-user 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 38: Chart on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 6.2 Comparison by End-user Exhibit 40: Chart on Comparison by End-user Exhibit 41: Data Table on Comparison by End-user 6.3 Food and beverage - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on Food and beverage - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Food and beverage - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 44: Chart on Food and beverage - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on Food and beverage - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.4 Household - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on Household - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Household - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Chart on Household - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on Household - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.5 Personal care - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on Personal care - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 51: Data Table on Personal care - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Chart on Personal care - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Personal care - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.6 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 55: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 57: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.7 Market opportunity by End-user Exhibit 58: Market opportunity by End-user ($ million) 7 Customer Landscape 7.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 59: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 8 Geographic Landscape 8.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 60: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 8.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 62: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 63: Data Table on Geographic comparison 8.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 64: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 65: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 66: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 67: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 68: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 69: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 70: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 71: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.5 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 72: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 73: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 74: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 75: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.6 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 76: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 77: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 78: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 79: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.7 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 (%) 8.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 84: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 85: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 86: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 87: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 88: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 89: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 90: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 91: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.10 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 92: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 93: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 94: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 95: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.11 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 96: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 97: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 98: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 99: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.12 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 100: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 101: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 102: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 103: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 104: 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 105: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 9.4 Market trends 10 Vendor Landscape 10.1 Overview 10.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 106: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 10.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 107: Overview on factors of disruption 10.4 Industry risks Exhibit 108: Impact of key risks on business 11 Vendor Analysis 11.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 109: Vendors covered 11.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 110: Matrix on vendor position and classification 11.3 ALPLA Werke Alwin Lehner Exhibit 111: ALPLA Werke Alwin Lehner - Overview Exhibit 112: ALPLA Werke Alwin Lehner - Product / Service Exhibit 113: ALPLA Werke Alwin Lehner - Key offerings 11.4 Amcor Plc Exhibit 114: Amcor Plc - Overview Exhibit 115: Amcor Plc - Business segments Exhibit 116: Amcor Plc - Key news Exhibit 117: Amcor Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 118: Amcor Plc - Segment focus 11.5 Berry Global Group Inc. Exhibit 119: Berry Global Group Inc. - Overview Exhibit 120: Berry Global Group Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 121: Berry Global Group Inc. - Key news Exhibit 122: Berry Global Group Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 123: Berry Global Group Inc. - Segment focus 11.6 Comar LLC Exhibit 124: Comar LLC - Overview Exhibit 125: Comar LLC - Product / Service Exhibit 126: Comar LLC - Key offerings 11.7 Gerresheimer AG Exhibit 127: Gerresheimer AG - Overview Exhibit 128: Gerresheimer AG - Business segments Exhibit 129: Gerresheimer AG - Key news Exhibit 130: Gerresheimer AG - Key offerings Exhibit 131: Gerresheimer AG - Segment focus 11.8 Graham Packaging Co. LP Exhibit 132: Graham Packaging Co. LP - Overview Exhibit 133: Graham Packaging Co. LP - Product / Service Exhibit 134: Graham Packaging Co. LP - Key offerings 11.9 Greiner Packaging International GmbH Exhibit 135: Greiner Packaging International GmbH - Overview Exhibit 136: Greiner Packaging International GmbH - Product / Service Exhibit 137: Greiner Packaging International GmbH - Key offerings 11.10 PCE Inc. Exhibit 138: PCE Inc. - Overview Exhibit 139: PCE Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 140: PCE Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 141: PCE Inc. - Segment focus 11.11 Plastipak Holdings Inc. Exhibit 142: Plastipak Holdings Inc. - Overview Exhibit 143: Plastipak Holdings Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 144: Plastipak Holdings Inc. - Key offerings 11.12 Silgan Holdings Inc. Exhibit 145: Silgan Holdings Inc. - Overview Exhibit 146: Silgan Holdings Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 147: Silgan Holdings Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 148: Silgan Holdings Inc. - Segment focus 12 Appendix 12.1 Scope of the report 12.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 149: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 150: Exclusions checklist 12.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 151: Currency conversion rates for US$ 12.4 Research methodology Exhibit 152: Research methodology Exhibit 153: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 154: Information sources 12.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 155: 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 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 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 Can accomdate nearly one million square feet of new buildings Aggregate development in Florida now exceeds nearly $235 million PLANT CITY, Fla., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Brennan Investment Group ("Brennan"), a private real estate investment firm that acquires, develops, and operates industrial facilities throughout the United States, has acquired approximately 110 acres of industrial land located in Plant City, Florida. The site, located on the I-4 corridor, is between Tampa and Lakeland in east Hillsborough County and just three miles south of I-4. The site consists of approximately 70 net usable acres and is zoned industrial. It can accommodate approximately 950,000 square feet of Class A industrial product. The project will consist of two phases: Phase I will be a 665,000 square foot cross-dock distribution building (600' x 1100') and Phase II will be a 285,000 square foot rear-load distribution building (300' x 950'). The design features first class amenities that exceed market standards including 40' clear heights, ESFR sprinkler systems, abundant automobile parking and loading positions, and an oversized truck court to facilitate trailer parking. Brennan expects to commence construction of Phase I mid-2023. "This was a complicated transaction that included the sale of a 45-acre portion of the site to a large national distribution company, simultaneous with our closing. Plant City is one of the most robust markets in Central Florida with numerous million square foot users including Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Lowes and City Furniture," said Bobby Krueger, Jr., Acquisitions Analyst at Brennan Investment Group. "With few remaining sites, we are in a prime position to serve the large distribution users coming into Plant City and Central Florida." "This great site combined with the ever-improving demographics of Central Florida, make us confident that this project, like our past projects, will meet or exceed our expectations," said Robert Krueger Sr., Brennan's Managing Principal for the State of Florida. About Brennan Investment Group Brennan Investment Group, a Chicago-based private real estate investment firm, acquires, develops, and operates industrial properties in select major metropolitan markets throughout the United States. Since 2010, Brennan Investment Group has acquired over $4 billion in industrial real estate. The company's current portfolio spans 27 states and encompasses 52 million square feet. Brennan Investment Group co-invests with private and institutional capital to achieve outstanding risk-adjusted returns. The firm's management team is among the most accomplished in its industry, having invested in over 4,000 properties covering more than 60 cities throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. For more information on Brennan Investment Group, go to brennanllc.com. CONTACT: Ursula Walendzewicz, [email protected], 8476308722 SOURCE Brennan Investment Group, LLC BELLEVUE, Wash., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Browne Family Vineyards is bringing the best of Walla Walla wine country right to the heart of Bellevue with the grand opening of its new tasting room on Old Main Street this Thursday, October 27. The space will offer daily wine flights, wines by the glass, small bites and provide space for events, such as movie and karaoke nights, as well as offer curbside pickup and local delivery. While Browne Family Vineyards wines are widely distributed throughout the Pacific Northwest, there will be a selection of tasting room exclusive wines including single vineyards, unique varietals, small lot offerings and the latest label addition to the Browne Family Vineyards City Series Red Blends Bellevue. It will also be a home for wine club members living on the Eastside and a place to build a community with the Browne family, proprietors Andrew and Courtney and their children. The Bellevue tasting room will also carry Browne Family Spirits, carefully crafted by Aaron Kleinhelter, a born and raised Kentuckian who has bourbon in his veins. Aged a minimum of four years, the lineup will also be available this December at the new Browne Family Spirits distillery and tasting room in Spokane, Washington. Browne Family Spirits will launch with eight offerings: the Monogram collection of finely crafted and aged bourbons, the First Look Reserve collection of approachable spirits and the First Look Lab Series featuring delicious infused flavored bourbons. "The excitement and vitality of downtown Bellevue with its vibrant energy and mix of business and commerce is what really attracted us to this fantastic location," Proprietor Andrew Browne said. "We've had overwhelming support from our loyal community and we're truly excited to bring them a place to call home in Bellevue. Thanks to our friends and family here, we've also enjoyed great success around the Puget Sound and are the among the fastest growing brands for Washington state wines over $20." "I'm thrilled to bring the heart and hospitality of Browne Family Vineyards from Walla Walla to Bellevue and to welcome our wine club members," said proprietor Courtney Browne. "The opening of the Bellevue tasting room represents a home coming of sorts. Andrew previously lived in the area and raised his two sons, Pavin and Riley, here." Renowned for exceptional quality and Bordeaux-style red wines since 2005, Browne Family Vineyards was built as a legacy to Proprietor Andrew Browne's grandfather, William Bitner Browne. Browne's grandfather was a World War II hero and attorney who built the foundation of his life on integrity and excellence. He continues to be the driving spirit behind everything Browne does today and why winemaker John Freeman goes to such great lengths to create the best wines each vintage from its estate vineyards in the Spring Valley district of Walla Walla and across the Columbia Valley. Since its inception, Browne Family Vineyards has been awarded more than 100 scores of 90 points or higher from critical wine trade publications. Seattle's Mallet Design Build is leading the design of the tasting room. Working in high-end hospitality, retail and residential, Mallet Design Build collaboratively partnered with the Browne Family Vineyards team to create a warm and intimate setting for family and friends to make lasting memories and immerse themselves in the brand story. Located at 10245 Main Street in Bellevue, the new Browne Family Vineyards tasting room will be open 7 days a week: 11 a.m. 8 p.m. Sunday Thursday and 11 a.m. 9 p.m. Friday Saturday. Browne Family Vineyards Tasting Room Locations 10245 Main Street Bellevue, WA 411 First Avenue South Seattle, WA 2508 N Proctor Street Tacoma, WA 31 E. Main Street Walla Walla, WA About Browne Family Vineyards Browne Family Vineyards is a family-owned winery committed to world-class wine production in the heart of Walla Walla, Washington. Inspired by the greatness of one man, William Bitner Browne, late grandfather of proprietor Andrew Browne, the winery is a dream that has been many years in the making. In 2022, Browne Family Vineyards introduced Browne Family Spirits, an exclusive spirits collection of handcrafted, local-sourced spirits and bitters, available at Browne Family Distillery in Spokane and Browne Family Vineyards' Bellevue location. Browne Family Vineyards is dedicated to building meaningful relationships with our customers and partners through innovative new wines, exciting collaborations, and customer nirvana. Visit www.brownefamilyvineyards.com or follow them on Instagram @brownefamilyvineyards. SOURCE Browne Family Vineyards DataBank launches its grand opening of its sixth state-of-the-art Salt Lake area data center in the Silicon Slopes metro area, between downtown and Utah's "Silicon Slopes." DALLAS, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DataBank , a leading provider of enterprise-class colocation, connectivity, and managed services, invites enterprises, IT, and cloud organizations to the grand opening of its newest Salt Lake City data center, SLC6 - Granite Point . Register for the SLC6 Data Center Grand Opening, which will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. on December 1. The Grand Opening celebrates DataBank's latest mission-critical IT infrastructure expansion in Utah and the Salt Lake City market, meeting the growing demand for increased capacity and mission-critical IT infrastructure. "We are pleased to open this new facility, providing additional capacity to the Salt Lake City market," said Tony Qorri, vice president of data center construction. "At the time of the grand opening, the facility will have 50,00 square feet of white space and 11MW of power. With additional space and power coming online in 2023, SLC6 will offer a total of 100,000 square feet and 22MW of power with ample raised flooring, access to multiple carriers, and a 66MW substation." DataBank's SLC6 Grand Opening Ceremony will feature appearances and remarks by the DataBank leadership team, community leaders, and DataBank partners. During this networking opportunity, complimentary refreshments, gifts, and more will be available for registered guests. Experience our Data Center Evolved model by taking a tour of this new facility during the event. AGENDA 10:00 Welcome reception 10:30 Opening remarks 11:00 Facility tours 01:00 Networking and celebration This grand opening is not open to the public. Advance reservations will be required and interested people can register here. SLC6 resides on DataBank's Granite Point Campus , strategically located between downtown Salt Lake City and Utah's "Silicon Slopes" in Bluffdale at 14870 S Pony Express Road, Bluffdale, UT 84065, across from DataBank's SLC3 and SLC4 data centers. The 23-acre campus is tethered to DataBank's SLC1 data center and carrier hotel by direct fiber and is ideal for West Coast workloads requiring a stable and scalable location. Learn more about DataBank at databank.com . Follow the latest news on LinkedIn and stay up to date with the latest news and updates. About DataBank DataBank enables the world's largest enterprises, technology, and content providers to consistently deploy and manage their infrastructure, applications, and data on the right platform, at the right time, and in the right place. Our colocation and edge infrastructure footprint consists of 60+ data centers and 20 interconnection hubs in 30+ markets, on-ramps to an ecosystem of cloud providers, and a modular edge data center platform with virtually unlimited reach. We combine these platforms with contract portability, managed security, compliance enablement, hands-on support, and a guarantee of 100% uptime availability, to give our customers absolute confidence in their IT infrastructure and the power to create a limitless digital future for their business. To learn more or tour a facility, visit databank.com or call 1(800) 840-7533. SOURCE DataBank Increase in demand for quality healthcare services and solutions, surge in demand for improved patient safety and patient care, and rise in government initiatives to promote healthcare IT drive the growth of the global clinical risk grouping solutions market. PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Clinical Risk Grouping Solutions Market by Product (Data Visualization Tools, Data Analytics), by Deployment (Private Cloud, Public Cloud, Hybrid Cloud), by End User (Healthcare service providers, Helthcare payers): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031". According to the report, the global clinical risk grouping solutions industry generated $0.4 billion in 2021, and is anticipated to generate $1.6 billion by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 14.6% from 2022 to 2031. Download Free Sample Report (290 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/8556 Prime determinants of growth Increase in demand for quality healthcare services and solutions, rise in acceptance of mHealth and telehealth practices, surge in demand for improved patient safety and patient care, increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and hypertension, and rise in government initiatives to promote healthcare IT drive the growth of the global clinical risk grouping solutions market. However, the high cost of clinical risk grouping solutions restricts the market growth. Moreover, rise in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) for the development of advanced healthcare devices present new opportunities in the coming years. Covid-19 Scenario The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic had a positive impact on the global clinical risk grouping solutions market, owing to implementation of stringent lockdowns in many countries which led to the introduction of work from the home model in many businesses sectors. In addition, there is an increase in demand for virtual access to data which drives the growth of the market. The data visualization tools segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period Based on product, the data visualization tools segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for more than three-fifths of the global clinical risk grouping solutions market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This is owing to increase in demand for patient safety and care. However, the data analytics segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 15.4% from 2022 to 2031, due to the rise in demand for advanced analytics tools. Purchase Inquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/8556 The private cloud segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period Based on deployment, the private cloud segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for around two-thirds of the global clinical risk grouping solutions market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Growth of online sales platforms for all types of products is proving to be a driving factor for the branded sneaker market. This is owing to the rise in the number of private service providers, and facilities provided by service providers. However, the hybrid cloud segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 17.5% from 2022 to 2031, due to the rise in demand for hybrid cloud deployment models. The healthcare service providers segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period Based on end user, the healthcare service providers segment accounted for the largest share in 2021, contributing to nearly 90% of the global clinical risk grouping solutions market, and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. This is owing to the rise in the number of healthcare service providers, and an increasing number of private service providers. However, the healthcare payers segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 16.0% from 2022 to 2031, due to the rise in demand for advanced healthcare IT services. North America to maintain its dominance by 2031 Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2021, accounting for nearly half of the global clinical risk grouping solutions market, and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period. This is attributed to a rise in the demand for advanced healthcare IT services, well-developed healthcare infrastructure, and the presence of key players in the region. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 15.7% from 2022 to 2031. This is owing to the presence of growing IT services, improvements in the healthcare infrastructure, and the presence of a high population base in the region. Other regions discussed in the report include Europe and LAMEA. Leading Market Players: - Conduent Inc, 3M Corporation, Corporation, Optum, Inc, Cerner Corporation, Nuance Communications, Health Catalyst, Inc, HBI Solutions, Johns Hopkins University , , Lightbeam Health Solutions, Dynamic Healthcare Systems The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global clinical risk grouping solutions market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. 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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/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 CHICAGO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clinical Trial Supplies Market is projected to reach USD 5.7 billion by 2027 from USD 3.6 billion in 2022, at a CAGR of 9.7% during the forecast period of 2022 to 2027 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Factors such as growing R&D expenditure in biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical companies and the growing number of clinical trials conducted globally. However, during the forecast period, the growing cost of clinical trials and drug development is expected to restrain the growth of this market. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=172240059 Browse in-depth TOC on "Clinical Trial Supplies Market" 246 - Tables 39 - Figures 264 - Pages The logistics and distribution segment accounted for the largest share of the services segment in the clinical trial supplies market in 2021. On the basis of the service, the clinical trial supplies market is segmented into manufacturing; packaging, labeling, and blinding; comparator sourcing; logistics & distribution; storage & retention; and other services. In 2021, Logistics & distribution services accounted for a share in the market. During the forecast period, this segment is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR. Logistics & distribution and storage & retention are seen to be the leading segments with respect to the growth rate during the forecast period as a result of growing decentralization of clinical trials. The oncology segment accounted for the largest share of the therapeutic area segment in the clinical trial supplies market in 2021 On the basis of therapeutic area, the clinical trial supplies market is divided into oncology, CNS & mental disorders, cardiovascular diseases, digestive disorders, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, immunology, blood disorders, and other therapeutic areas (respiratory disorders, dermatological disorders, rare diseases, ENT diseases, Nephrology). In 2021, Oncology accounted for the largest segment in this market. Factors such as increasing number of research studies on cancer therapeutics and the growing companies focusing on cancer drugs into the market. During the forecast period, the oncology segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=172240059 The Asia Pacific region is the fastest-growing region of the clinical trial supplies market in 2021. On the basis of region, the clinical trial supplies market is broadly segmented into North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. During the forecast period, the Asia Pacific market is projected to register the highest growth. Factors such as emerging number of players, regulatory framework, huge population base and cost-effectiveness in Asia Pacific regions is driving the growth in the market. This is attracting the attention of a majority of pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and biotechnology giants to consider conducting their clinical trials in Asia Pacific countries. Key players in the Clinical trial supplies market include Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), Marken (US), Catalent, Inc. (US), Eurofins Scientific (France), and PRA Health Sciences (US). Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=172240059 Browse Adjacent Market: Pharmaceuticals Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: CRO Services Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Clinical Trial Imaging Market - Global Forecasts to 2026 eClinical Solutions Market - Global Forecasts to 2026 Clinical Trial Management System Market - Global Forecasts to 2025 ePrescribing Market - Global Forecasts to 2025 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/clinical-trial-supplies-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/clinical-trial-supplies.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets The company's academy has granted more than 2,600 scholarships in more than 100 partner universities across Brazil, Rockenbach told Verb.Company. With the program's recent expansion to more countries, the journey is just getting started. NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alexis Rockenbach, co-founder and CEO of Compass UOL, told Verb.Company he has a plan to avoid the next big crash by training young people to think about the future. He has already hired the first 5,000 and he is now expanding the scholarship program of his company's academy to other countries. Alexis Rockenbach, of Compass UOL, allocates at least 50 percent of academy openings to women and minorities. Tweet this Alexis Rockenbach, co-founder and CEO of Compass UOL. They've come a long way. When Rockenbach started his digital consultancy, he and his co-founders took five years to draw their first salary to give the business runway. To pay the bills, he started teaching computer science at a local university while landing their first customers. At one point he realized that his corporate customers needed something that his students had: passion about the future. And that's why he set up Compass Academy, to plug the talent gap in the information technology industry. Against so many oddsfinancial and political instability in his home country of Brazil, yet a vast powerhouse of potentialRockenbach's vision paid off. The internal academy he created to put the idea into practice now provides 70 percent of new hires to the company, helping them grow to 5,000 employees by partnering with 100 universities in six countries. It's a major feat when you consider the cutthroat competition for technology hires worldwide. In the U.S. alone, technology association CompTIA says the industry had 3.6 million job postings in 2022 and already pays 125% of the national average salary. Here is what sets Compass, a digital transformation company, apart from competitors. Most companies are fighting to recruit the best talent, which leads to a more competitive environment and high attrition rates. Compass has opted for a different approach. CompTIA also estimates that for each industry job there are 4.8 additional tech jobs in other industries like manufacturing, retail, and services. Clearly companies are poaching tech talent from each other. "Instead of getting hires willing to take a risk, companies are hiring people with everything to lose," Rockenbach said. Societies worldwide are then left discussing the legs of metaverse avatars or the annoyance of shifting charging cables while speculative tech bets plummet. Rockenbach explained that "to succeed with technology, companies need not just crazy new ideas but crazy new people to implement them." To nurture a diverse talent pool, Rockenbach dedicates at least 50 percent of academy openings to women and people of minorities. Candidates then join a paid training program in one of forty tracks like ecommerce, mobile apps, blockchain, and others. The 60 percent of graduates who follow their passion by joining Rockenbach's company are more than enough to give them an edge. For example, they created a program with customer Natura & Co., owner of The Body Shop and other beauty brands, and the University of Amazonia, to use technology for rainforest sustainability. Rockenbach doesn't see the academy graduates who decide for other companies as a loss. "We are recreating the bridge between business and academia that made Silicon Valley, at the scale of an industry that now spans the globe. It's the work of a lifetime and I'm grateful every day that I get to do it," he told Verb.Company. How it started With more than 2,600 scholarships granted in over 180 editions and over 100 partner universities across Brazil, and more recently Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico, Compass Academy is on a successful and sustainable journey that is just getting started. Officially launched in 2013, Rockenbach's concept of Compass Academy dates to the early days when he cofounded the company in 1996. Armed with a degree in Computer Science, he took on much larger rivals in Brazil and the U.S. At the time he juggled his work as a startup businessman with his job as a professor at the University of Passo Fundo, his alma mater and where he first imagined the ideas he brought to fruition a decade later. It was then, too, he started recruiting among the most promising students. Many continue to be a part of the company more than 25 years later, holding leadership and management positions, such as Fernando Marcondes, a former student and now the director of Compass Academy. For over a decade now, the academy has committed itself to a strategic effort to build a consistent and sustainable network of knowledge development. It leads several initiatives that integrate the greatest technology companies in the world and a wide range of partner universities. These partnerships offer the academy a much stronger capacity to stay ahead of the curve in the delivery of knowledge on cutting-edge technologies. It enables them to provide disruptive digital innovation to the market, with the transformation it brings to society at large. Through the partnership with Natura & Co and the University of Amazonia, Compass has been offering scholarships and job opportunities in the technology field in the Amazon region, integrating global corporations and local educational institutions to prepare professionals for the market with a focus on sustainability. Sustainable economy, collective growth It is not a stretch to say that each region in Brazil represents a country within a country, which makes for very rich if unequal contrasts. In recognition of that, since 2020 the company has strengthened its policy to reflect the country's demographics and diversity inside the program and company, with an ongoing commitment to gender, ethnicity, and wage equality. In each edition of the academy scholarship program, 50 percent of openings are saved for women, and an additional variable percentage to non-whites, set according to the official figures of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, or IBGE. In Rockenbach's view, people and creativity are the company's main assets, and their development means collective growth. That's why his company fosters local development, creating learning and working opportunities, and stimulating knowledge exchange and continuous growth, thus developing a sustainable culture and economy. Into the future In 2022, Rockenbach led the expansion of the Scholarship Program. The Compass Academy team created a Latin American edition, with the goal of diversifying even more its cultural and talent pool with people from elsewhere. With the support of a group of higher education institutions with presence in countries like Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico, Compass launched its first regional edition, enrolling 189 students. And Rockenbach has now ensured not only the continuity but the exponential growth of this project. In partnership with AWS, he has already secured support for 2023, with 1,000 scholarships to be funded by AWS in addition to another 2,000 already confirmed by Compass, signaling for the following years even greater records and transformed lives. "I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur, because I've always believed that our market is filled with opportunities," Rockenbach said, "I've always believed that we could find excellent talent outside these large urban areas and people who wanted to stay in their city of origin." His company, he added, "created opportunities in these regions so that people could have the chance to work with cutting-edge technologies, earn good wages, and develop their careers on another level, generating decentralized wealth." SOURCE Verb.Company; Compass UOL PARIS, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Agilauto, Credit Agricole Group's brand specialised in the financing and sale of cars in France, will offer the French manufacturer Hopium's hydrogen-powered sedan as part of programs for its private and business customers. On the Paris Automotive Week, CA Consumer Finance, a subsidiary of the Credit Agricole Group and leading partner of the French economy, and Hopium, the first French manufacturer of high-end hydrogen-powered vehicles, have signed an agreement for a provisional order of 10,000 vehicles, which production is scheduled to start in 2025. In addition, Hopium intends to recommend Credit Agricole Consumer Finance's solutions to its individual and professional customers. "We are proud to support a French manufacturer of hydrogen-powered vehicles like Hopium and thus to contribute to the transformation towards green mobility of which Credit Agricole wants to become the leader in France and Europe," says Stephane Priami, CEO of Credit Agricole Consumer Finance. "We are delighted with this agreement with a leading financial partner. This will enable us to strengthen our commercial strategy with a projected order of 1.2 billion euros. This is part of the French and European industrial revival in the production of clean vehicles," says Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hopium. "I would like to thank Credit Agricole Consumer Finance's teams for their trust and support with this groundbreaking order for 10,000 Hopium Machina. This announcement, which occurs at the closing of the Paris Automotive Week, is a strong signal that underlines the central role of hydrogen in tomorrow's mobility," declares Olivier Lombard, CEO of Hopium. ABOUT CREDIT AGRICOLE CONSUMER FINANCE Credit Agricole Consumer Finance, Credit Agricole S.A.'s consumer credit subsidiary, distributes (in France, mainly through its Sofinco brand) a wide range of loans and related services through all distribution channels: direct sales, point-of-sale financing (automotive and household equipment) and partnerships. Alongside major retailers and institutions in the 19 countries where it operates, CA Consumer Finance offers its partners flexible and responsible solutions tailored to their needs and those of their customers. Excellence in customer relationships, empowered teams for customers and commitment to society are the pillars that make CA Consumer Finance a group working every day in the interest of its 15 million customers and society. As of 30 June 2022, CA Consumer Finance managed 96.6 billion in outstanding loans. Learn more: www.ca-consumerfinance.com ABOUT HOPIUM Hopium is the first French manufacturer of high-end hydrogen-powered vehicles and a key player in the field of zero emission mobility. Established in 2019, Hopium was founded by racing driver Olivier Lombard, winner of the 2011 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans competition and the most experienced hydrogen racer in the world. The race acted as an open-air laboratory which made it possible for Olivier Lombard and his team to reflect on new mobility solutions to meet contemporary environmental challenges. Bringing together leading partners and experts in the sectors of fuel cells, automotive engineering and advanced technologies, Hopium aims to restore the dialogue between mankind, nature and technology, in a search for a perfect balance. www.hopium.com Follow us on Instagram, Linkedin, Youtube, Twitter. ISIN: FR0014000U63 Mnemonic: ALHPI HOPIUM'S CONTACTS: [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1928007/Hopium_Credit_Agricole_Consumer_Finance_Logo.jpg SOURCE Hopium, Credit Agricole Consumer Finance >>Gigster, the leading provider of blockchain development services, announced a new "Crypto as a Service" solution to answer growing demand for crypto payment gateways and custodial wallet solutions. AUSTIN, Texas , Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gigster , the leading blockchain service integrator and development service provider, today announced a new service to allow companies to rapidly set up crypto payment gateways and custodial wallets for their customers. This new "Crypto as a Service" solution meets a growing consumer demand for companies to support crypto as a payment option. Major brands and retailers already accept cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. Crypto payment options offer lower fees, more security, and faster transactions, while also opening the brand up to the broader Web3 market. Many brands have also found facilitating crypto payments serves as an excellent marketing tool. However, the costs and development skills required have been a barrier to entry for some companies until now. New "Crypto as a Service" solution meets a growing consumer demand for companies to support crypto as a payment option. Tweet this Gigster's new Crypto as a Service solution provides all the support and technical development resources needed to fulfill and exceed customer demand in an agile and scalable way. Their solution offers white label crypto payments, automated tax reporting, and custodial wallet development. Using Gigster's proven and fully-managed development teams, companies can complete their crypto payment project in as little as three weeks. "In an increasingly - and nearly exclusive - digital world, it's important to embrace all types of consumer convenience, including crypto payments," said Gigster's Director of Blockchain, Cory Hymel. "As more consumers and retail brands move to Web3 and the Metaverse, supporting crypto payments is an important step all companies should take to remain connected to this market." Gigster currently leverages top Web3 development talent from around the world and data-driven project management platform to deliver thousands of blockchain projects on-time and on-budget. Their service offerings include blockchain wallet development, NFT marketplaces, blockchain technology consulting, and dApps development. "As consumer demand increased, developing crypto payment options and custodial wallets became one of our most common and successful projects," said Hymel. "We've now packaged that project into a fully-managed solution to make accepting crypto payments easy, fast, and cost-effective." For more information on Gigster, please visit www.gigster.com or follow @trygigster on Twitter. SOURCE Gigster Cloud-native SaaS product enhances location intelligence for indoor incident response SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DATAMARK, the public safety geographic information systems (GIS) team of Michael Baker International, announced today the release of Inside, a new cloud-native Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution designed to enhance indoor location intelligence and enable mission-critical decision making in real-time during public safety incident response. Inside software is powered by Esri, a global leader in GIS technology, and allows users to create, interact with and manage valuable indoor data for emergency dispatchers, first responders and school safety personnel. Inside product features include: Enhanced location intelligence in 2D and 3D: Inside software operationalizes indoor data by creating a common operating picture for facility, school and public safety stakeholders. It allows users to visualize buildings in 2D and 3D to garner spatial awareness and enhance emergency planning capabilities. Inside software operationalizes indoor data by creating a common operating picture for facility, school and public safety stakeholders. It allows users to visualize buildings in 2D and 3D to garner spatial awareness and enhance emergency planning capabilities. Smart floorplans for safer futures : Users can increase locational confidence by applying Inside software to update, manage and visualize accurate, up-to-date indoor mapping data. Additionally, users can collaborate with other agencies and public safety departments to ensure location intelligence is available when needed the most. : Users can increase locational confidence by applying Inside software to update, manage and visualize accurate, up-to-date indoor mapping data. Additionally, users can collaborate with other agencies and public safety departments to ensure location intelligence is available when needed the most. Precise indoor incident location: Inside software allows users to access authoritative indoor mapping data, enabling first responders to collaboratively plan time-sensitive entry and exit routes through an accessible user interface, efficiently access data about equipment, such as automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and fire extinguishers, and locate incidents with accuracy. "We know that many incidents happen inside, yet for most facilities, indoor mapping data is either unavailable or completely outdated," said Ashley Buzzeo, Associate Vice President of Product at DATAMARK. "Our team spoke to hundreds of clients about the gap in indoor intelligence and was inspired to develop a product to meet this need in the public safety community. We created Inside software as a solution that takes highly accurate data beyond the front door of a facility and into the hands of responders and stakeholders." Inside software has the power to create safer spaces and peace of mind for building occupants by integrating highly accurate indoor data with tools to facilitate effective exit planning, easy access to emergency assets and improved incident response. For additional information on Inside software and the benefits of indoor mapping for emergency response, visit DATAMARK's guide on the subject here: https://datamarkgis.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-indoor-mapping-for-public-safety-professionals/ About DATAMARK As trusted advisors in public safety, DATAMARK brings comprehensive, real-world expertise in police, fire, EMS and 9-1-1 leadership roles to Next Generation 9-1-1 transitions. The DATAMARK team leads the industry by shaping rules and legislation, and by building a suite of products and services that ensure accurate emergency response location data in life-critical situations. DATAMARK empowers its team and stakeholder partners to foster trusted relationships and cultivate data integrity for informed decision making. DATAMARK, the public safety GIS team of Michael Baker International, has decades of proven experience in mission-critical government addressing projects. The team works with clients to solve their complex needs, from data quality checks and addressing to workflow analysis and more. Learn more about the company at www.datamarkgis.com and follow DATAMARK on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook . About Michael Baker International Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services spanning four distinct Verticals: Infrastructure, Design-Build Services, Federal Programs and Services and Consulting and Technology Solutions (CTS). The firm's Practices encompass all facets of infrastructure, including design and civil engineering for diverse bridge, highway, water, rail and transit and aviation projects, as well as planning, architecture, environmental and construction and program management. For more than 80 years, the company has been a trusted partner to clients, providing comprehensive services and solutions, delivering expertise and quality, and embracing emerging technologies and the latest innovations like intelligent transportation, engineered models and public safety software as a service (SaaS). The firm's more than 3,500 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to Making a Difference for clients and communities through a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement while Reimagining Michael Baker to become a full-service engineering and consulting firm over the next five years. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/. Contact: Julia Covelli [email protected] (866) 293-4609 SOURCE DATAMARK Experienced executive to join the NWS board as it executes growth plan DURHAM, N.C., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Network Wireless Solutions (NWS or the "Company"), a rapidly growing solutions and logistics provider to carriers and telecommunications contractors, backed by Grain Management, LLC ("Grain"), today announced the appointment of industry veteran Denita Willoughby to its board of directors. Denita Willoughby has over 25 years of experience in senior level management and executive experience in the telecommunications, technology, utilities, and financial services industries, bringing business strategy development and operational excellence to Fortune 200 companies. Willoughby will add her expertise to an already remarkable trajectory as the business continues to scale its operations in the US and Canada. Xavier Williams, CEO of NWS said, "We are privileged to be welcoming Denita to the board and are excited to draw upon her experience, vision, and dedication to excellence as we tackle our growth plans throughout North America. Having a team member with Denita's proven expertise creates even more traction as we move to execute NWS' vision for the future." In her prior positions at Southern California Gas Company, San Diego Gas & Electric, and AT&T, Willoughby led the development of business strategy and operational efficiencies in supply chain, fleet and facilities' operations, external affairs, the introduction of communication and technology products, and the management of multi-billion-dollar real estate portfolios. She has also led and served on several executive, nominating, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) committees and was named one of the most powerful and influential women in California by California Diversity Magazine. Willoughby is currently the CEO of The Willoughby Group, a consulting firm that focuses on business development. "It's an honor to join NWS' board of directors and contribute to the growth plans to support mission-critical operations across the telecom industry," said Willoughby. Willoughby joins the board alongside Williams and current members including Michael McKenzie, Managing Director, Grain Management; Nikola Trkulja, Managing Director, Grain Management; Michael Millegan, communications industry veteran; NWS President, John Hamilton; and NWS founder, Jeff White. About NWS Since 2012, NWS has provided a wide array of mission-critical services to the wireless telecommunications industry. The company has established itself as a critical partner to carriers, project managers, and general contractors through its expertise, quality of service, and ability to develop and deliver custom cabling solutions and equipment exactly when needed. By combining extensive industry knowledge, a disciplined focus on customer service, and high-quality materials, NWS is a proven partner to keeping cell sites running smoothly. For more information visit www.nwswireless.com. About Grain Management Grain Management, LLC is a leading global investment firm that focuses on broadband infrastructure and technology companies that connect the world to the information economy. Founded in 2007, Grain invests exclusively in the global telecommunications sector, employing a rigorous, data-based process buoyed by deep industry expertise to identify investment opportunities in key areas of telecommunications infrastructure, including fiber networks, wireless spectrum, and cell towers. For more information visit www.graingp.com. Contacts: NWS Public Relations Bill Elkin [email protected] Grain Management Public Relations [email protected] SOURCE Grain Management, LLC More than 6 out of 10 women say they're cannabis curious and are more likely to consider using cannabis if it's doctor-recommended ELLICOTT CITY, Md., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As more states legalize cannabis, it's no surprise that 62 percent of women in the U.S. say they're cannabis curious, according to a new survey from Blissiva , makers of a line of doctor-formulated cannabis-infused products designed for women. The survey, which was conducted in October 2022 among more than 1,000 American women, reveals that while women are interested in learning about the health benefits of using cannabis, they are more open to using cannabis if it's recommended by a doctor. Canna-Curiosity "I have high hopes that more people will learn about the endocannabinoid system," said Dr. Leslie Apgar. Tweet this Blissiva's new national survey uncovers facts about women's canna-curiosity. The upcoming midterm elections signal an increased interest in cannabis among Americans with five states Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arkansas and Maryland voting on recreational use in November. While the survey shows women are overwhelmingly canna-curious, they perhaps aren't aware of how cannabis can specifically target common health issues, such as menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms, and more education is needed. More than 6 out of 10 (62%) of women say they're cannabis curious, with millennial women (74%) being the most often to express curiosity compared to other generational cohorts. Although the majority of adult women of every age expressed as well (Gen Z women: 61%; Gen X: 62%; baby boomers: 52%). More than half of women (52%) are interested in cannabis as a solution to anxiety and mental health issues. Just over half (55%) of women are interested in using cannabis to provide relief from aches and pains. Half of women (50%) are interested in using cannabis to relax. More than 1 in 3 Gen X women (33%) are interested in cannabis as a solution for perimenopause and menopause symptoms. "Around menopause women start to complain about weight gain, increased anxiety, and trouble sleeping, but what many women don't realize is cannabis can be very effective at treating these and other menopause symptoms," said Dr. Leslie Apgar, OB-GYN and cofounder of Blissiva. "Cannabis is calorie-free, can reduce anxiety and help you achieve more restful sleep, which is associated with cellular repair, immune function, growth and recovery." Grass or A Glass? As an OB-GYN with more than 20 years of experience treating women, Dr. Apgar says that cannabis consumption has fewer negative side effects when compared to drinking a glass of wine or another type of alcohol. Almost half (47%) of women say when they want to unwind, they are open to cannabis instead of a glass of wine or another alcoholic beverage. Younger generations are even more open to choosing cannabis. In fact, around three in five Gen Z women (59%) and millennial women (61%) reported they were open to cannabis instead of a glass of wine or alcoholic beverage when they want to unwind. "Cannabis is a good alternative or balanced compliment to alcohol, as it doesn't have any calories or sugar and is very helpful at treating anxiety. It can help you relax and recover without the hangover," said Dr. Apgar. Prescriptive Acceptance As more states legalize cannabis, the social acceptance will likely increase, and the stigma will fade. Until then, the survey results show that while women are cannabis curious, they're still hesitant and need guidance when it comes to usage. More than 3 in 5 (63%) women say they would be more open to using cannabis if a doctor recommends it. Three in five (60%) women say they are comfortable talking to their doctor about cannabis. Dr. Apgar empowers women to speak to a medical professional about alternative treatments when traditional methods aren't helping. However, she warns that not all medical professionals have extensive knowledge of cannabis. "Don't be discouraged if you need to talk to more than one doctor to get the support you need." High Hopes Dr. Apgar calls cannabis "a game-changer" for people who've struggled to find the right treatment for their health issues. She has found that cannabis can play a valuable role in supporting individuals with anything from minor aches and pains to serious issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or opioid addictions. "I've found that every cannabis user regardless of any 'recreational' or 'medical' label, is using it to heal something," said Dr. Leslie Apgar. "I have high hopes that more people will learn about the endocannabinoid system, which is our most primitive nervous system, and discover how cannabis can support them on their health and wellness journeys." For more information on Blissiva's doctor-formulated cannabis-infused products and why cannabis matters, visit www.blissiva.com. Survey Methodology Blissiva/Greenhouse Wellness commissioned Atomik Research to conduct a national online survey of 1,012 women across the United States. The margin of error fell within +/- 3 percentage points with a confidence interval of 95 percent. The fieldwork for the online survey took place between October 3 and October 6 of 2022. Atomik Research is an independent, creative market research agency. About Blissiva Blissiva, founded by Gina Dubbe and Dr. Leslie Apgar, is a women-owned company specializing in producing and distributing cannabis products specifically formulated for the female body. Blissiva's line of cannabis-infused products includes the Balance Pen, which helps women combatting anxiety find relief, and the Soothe Pen, which provides liberation from chronic pain without side effects like grogginess. The company's tagline "Gyno-Created, Goddess-Approved", is a nod to the company's founders and the medical viability of the product. For more information, visit www.blissiva.com. SOURCE Blissiva CHICAGO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Signature Market is projected to grow from an estimated USD 5.5 billion in 2022 to USD 25.2 billion by 2027, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 35.6% from 2022 to 2027, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Growing transition from the use of paper-based transactions to digitally signed workflows and strict regulations and data privacy compliances implemented are some of the factors driving the market growth. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=177504698 Browse in-depth TOC on "Digital Signature Market" 315 - Tables 45 - Figures 266 - Pages By deployment mode, on-premises segment to account for a larger market size during the forecast period The on-premises installation of digital signature solutions includes resources being deployed in-house and within an organization's IT infrastructure. With the purchase, the software is licensed, and it resides within the premises of the organization. The organization has the responsibility to maintain the deployed solution and the related processes. The organization deploying an on-premises digital signature solution bears several costs including those for the hardware, software, and services deployed. Apart from maintenance, the costs also include those for updating and upgrading the systems at regular intervals to maintain the efficiency of the software and the equipment deployed. Organizations dealing in sensitive and confidential data have the requirement of maintaining greater levels of security and privacy. This factor is particularly useful for industries such as BFSI and government and these end users are the key adopters of digital signature solutions. This need to maintain compliance with regulations and laws is expected to boost the growth of on-premises digital signature solutions. Organizations rely on the on-premises deployment mode to get full control over the digital signing process, and control and secure data in an efficient way. By vertical, BFSI to grow at highest CAGR during the forecast period The BFSI vertical is rapidly undergoing digital transformation. However, with the increasing digitalization comes the risk of fraud and cybercrimes. With the process of mitigating the risk of fraud, digital signature solutions help provide protection to the sensitive customer data. BFSI organizations need to provide good customer experiences based on digital consumer behavior and preferences. Digital signatures help increase efficiency and allow businesses to collaborate across borders. Digital signatures help eliminate paper-based processes; identify internal users or workflow processes; enable signing of a huge volume of documents; provide authenticity, traceability, and control; reduce time delays, and increase accuracy of completion rates. Digital signature solutions help speed up transactions and maintain audit trails of signed agreements and consent forms. They also help comply with several regulations such as the electronic Identification Authentication and Trust Services (eIDAS) in Europe and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) and the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN Act) in the US. Several financial institutions are increasingly adopting digital signature solutions. For example, more than 80% of the population in Sweden use the BankID system. The BankID smart card allows citizens for digital identification, signing documents, and helps conduct transactions. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=177504698 By region, North America to account for the largest market size during the forecast period North America is the expected to be the largest contributor in terms of the global Digital Signature Market size. The presence of key vendors, the increasing digitalization initiatives being taken up by end users, and the regulations related to digital signatures being implemented in the region have contributed to the Digital Signature Market growth in the region. North America is the most advanced region in regard to security technology adoption and infrastructure. Digital tools present immense potential to advance transparency, strengthen inclusion, and inspire innovation. However, it presents significant risks to privacy and security. The growing concerns for protecting critical communication infrastructure and sensitive data have increased government intervention in recent years. Several government mandates are present for securing electronic documents. The US is a highly regulated country with stringent laws and offers multiple opportunities for digital signature providers to cater to a wide range of customers across industries. The E-Sign Act is a federal law that grants legal recognition to electronic signatures and records if all parties to a contract choose to use electronic documents and sign them electronically. The key industry players engage in partnerships and collaborations to expand their presence in the Digital Signature Market. The increasing digitalization, presence of key digital signature vendors, and the strict regulations implemented in the region has driven the growth in the Digital Signature Market. Key Players The major vendors in the Digital Signature Market are Adobe (US), OneSpan (US), Thales (France), DocuSign (US), Ascertia (UK), Zoho (India), GlobalSign (US), Entrust (US), DigiCert (US), IdenTrust (US), Secured Signing (New Zealand), Symtrax (US), AlphaTrust (US), Notarius (US), Actalis (US), ComSignTrust (Israel), SignWell (US), SIGNiX (US), RNTrust (UAE), Bit4id (Italy), LAWtrust (South Africa), SigniFlow (UK), vintegrisTECH (Spain), Signicat (Norway), and Signority (Canada). Browse Adjacent Market: Information Security Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Workplace Safety Market - Global Forecast to 2026 IDaaS Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Anti-money Laundering Market - Global Forecast to 2026 Multi-Factor Authentication Market - Global Forecast to 2026 Zero Trust Security Market - Global Forecast to 2026 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/digital-signature-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/digital-signature.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets TAINAN, Taiwan, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The performance of quantum information tasks relies on the resource of "quantum steering," a quantum correlation that sits between quantum entanglement and Bell nonlocality, and plays a central role in one-sided device-independent (1S-DI) quantum information processing and hybrid quantum networks. An international team of researchers investigate, in a new study, the complete classification problem of quantum steerability using local filters in relation to the concept of measurement incompatibility. Their findings could enhance the performance of quantum networks. However, as quantum networks become more complex, they produce significant noise, degrading quantum steering and compromising performance. To address this issue, it is necessary to solve an open problem related to quantum steering, namely the classification of steerable state assemblages. Recently, the "steering distillation problem" has been solved where a strong connection has been shown between steerability and "measurement incompatibility," a fundamental concept in quantum physics that refers to the impossibility of measuring certain physical variables simultaneously, such as position and momentum. Additionally, recent studies have shown that a state assemblage is unsteerable only if the steering equivalent observables (SEO) are jointly measured. However, a question regarding the transformation of state assemblages into one another through local filters remains unanswered. A group of international researchers led by Prof. Yueh-Nan Chen from National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan, set out to study the classification problem of quantum steerability using local filters and its connection with measurement incompatibility. "We wanted to study the classification of quantum steerability while trying to understand how to choose the maximal steerability within a class," says Prof. Chen, explaining the motivation behind their study. Their study was published in Nature Communications on August 25, 2022. In their investigation, the team focused on three features distillation, convertibility, and classification, and considered the following scenario: a quantum bipartite state, AB , is shared by two parties, Alice and Bob. Between them, Bob is the trusted party who only deals with the inputs and outputs and cannot interpret measurements on the state locally. On the other hand, Alice applies all controlled operations on the state and remotely steers Bob's state. It is then assumed that Alice makes a measurement x on the state and obtains a result a. Bob receives this information thereafter. They aimed to use a local filter K to see how much steerability can be distilled using this filter and explored the classification of two or more assemblages belonging to the same SEO, which were then classified into the same class. They found that the SEO was responsible for establishing the equivalence classes of state assemblages and related transformations through local filters. Further, the SEO incompatibility corresponded to the optimum steerability over a class. Additionally, they demonstrated the necessary existence of a bipartite state, AB that offers steerability to an assemblage equal to the incompatibility of the measurements on the untrusted party (Alice). Finally, they looked at the best success rates and probabilities for distillation and dilution in the single-shot scenario. The study, thus, successfully linked two fundamental concepts in quantum physicsthe classification of quantum steerability related to measurement incompatibility and the maximal steerability in a class being the same as the representative measurement incompatibility. "Our work can be used to enhance the performance of 1S-DI quantum information processes for applications in quantum key distribution and quantum random generation. Further, it could bridge the connection between Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering and the generalized Heisenberg uncertainty principle," highlights Prof. Chen, discussing the potential long-term applications of their work. Reference DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32466-y Title of original paper: Complete classication of steerability under local lters and its relation with measurement incompatibility Journal: Nature Communications Media Contact: Yu-Ting Chen +886 6 2757575 ext. 80921 [email protected] SOURCE National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) This is primarily focused on high risk and post incarcerated young women DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Khanna's Returning Youth Initiative, is organizing a press conference on October 24, 2022, at 2pm EST at Daytona Beach, Florida. The founder of the initiative, Dr. Khanna, will be discussing about young women's empowerment and care that the initiative will offer. The chairman of the initiative, Mr. Clem Yeboah, will join to highlight the importance of young women's rights. This press conference will be attended by several national dignitaries and reporters. This press conference is hosted at the Attorney Daniel M. Leising's office at Daytona Beach, Florida, and will be broadcasted on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86186333951 and YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCNey0Ydt4xlgyZezxa8CslQ at 2PM EST. Please join Dr. Khanna on this Zoom link at 2PM on Monday. This press conference will be hosted by Gary Scarano and moderated by Valli Anderson. Today's growth of women's incarceration increased substantially and more importantly it is concerning how little attention and resources have been given to meet the reentry needs of justice-involved women. Women have distinct needs, including the treatment of past trauma and substance use disorders, and more broadly, escaping poverty and meeting the needs of their children and families. In recognition of these differences, and to reduce the harms of incarceration and the likelihood of re-incarceration, Dr. Khanna's Returning Youth Initiative implemented a solution driven care empowering post incarcerated women to restore their lives and renter the society with proper social and economic recognition. The initiative also focuses on preventing high risk young women from incarceration by providing them beneficial solutions. About Dr. Khanna's Returning Youth Initiative: It is a 501(c) (3) non-profit charity organization registered in the state of New York, providing young adults with a pathway to be reintegrated into society pursuing a productive life. The initiative is designed as a self-sustaining entity by having its own businesses, or partnering with several entities that will provide training, staffing, and entrepreneurship financing. This model strengthens the participants to create jobs, remain employed and become an entrepreneur. Currently, the initiative is operating in Montana, Florida, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii. Its goal is to establish centers in all 3,142 counties in United States. ReturningYouth.com For Press & Media Inquires Dr. Surajit Khanna, Founder [email protected] 213-799-5749 SOURCE Returning Youth Initiative Launches global search for cultural brand ambassador with a $10,000 payday PARSIPPANY, N.J., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sampling Mexico's sizzling street tacos, inhaling the bold aroma of Turkish coffee, uncovering the tangiest chimichurri in Argentina it's a job any foodie would covet and now, it could be yours. Ramada by Wyndham, one of the world's most well-known hotel brands, is searching for its first-ever Chief Eats Officer ("CEO"), a newly created role that will take one lucky job-seeker around the globe as they help the brand uncover and share some of the world's best culinary and cultural delights. Best of all, the gig comes with a $10,000 payday and bragging rights as the most mouth-watering job ever. Ramada by Wyndham has launched a global search for its first-ever Chief Eats Officer (CEO), a first-of-its kind gig for the brand that comes with a $10,000 payday. Known for its diverse portfolio of award-winning hotels in more than 63 countries around the globe, Ramada helps travelers sample the world. The appointed "CEO" will be tasked with uncovering the culture and cuisine throughout five different continents and creatively showcase their finds on the brand's social media and marketing channels. In exchange, the selected candidate will receive $10,000 and a $150 daily travel stipend to help them make the most of their globetrotting adventure. The "CEO Comp Package" also includes paid accommodations and air travel, an upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Diamond membership and bucket-list travel experiences. "Food is the key that opens the door to new cultures, which is what Ramada by Wyndham is all about, inspiring travelers while connecting them to new global experiences," said Stephanie Kendrick, brand leader and VP of Operations, Ramada by Wyndham. "Our lucky CEO will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in the best Ramada and its many destinations have to offer, all while bringing along a global audience to share in every moment of their life-enriching adventure." About the Role: The Chief Eats Officer's responsibilities include traveling the world for up to three weeks and documenting a curated list of must eats on social media. The CEO's creative content and experiences will be featured on Ramada's brand website and social media channels to help inspire other travelers to sample the world with Ramada. Responsibilities: Visit up to eight countries over the course of a three-week trip. Document travel and culinary adventures in real-time with unique photo, video, and written content. Inspire others around the world by sharing your experiences on your social media channels. Qualifications: Active and proficient on various social media accounts (TikTok and Instagram preferred). Fluent in spoken and written English. At least 21 years old with a valid passport. Availability to travel for up to three weeks during summer 2023. Self-confessed foodie. Strong writing skills (required for blog writing). Comfortable working remotely and on deadline. Must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 based on the requirements stated by each country to be visited. Applicants must be a resident of Argentina , Australia , Canada , Germany , India , Mexico , New Zealand , Thailand , Turkey , United Kingdom , or the United States . The Perks: $10,000 payday. payday. $150 daily travel stipend for up to three weeks. daily travel stipend for up to three weeks. Round trip economy air transportation. Paid hotel accommodations for up to three weeks at Ramada by Wyndham hotels. Upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Diamond level membership for one year. How to Apply: Post a public video via TikTok tagging @RamadabyWyndham and #RamadaCEO describing what makes you the ideal candidate for the job. Video submissions should be at least 2 minutes and candidates are encouraged to demonstrate food and travel flair, as well as storytelling skills and social savviness. Applicant's applying via TikTok must follow @RamadabyWyndham to be considered. Alternatively, candidates may email their video to [email protected] . . Please include your country of residence in video. If applying via email, please include handles to active personal social media accounts. Accounts must be public to be considered. Applications must be submitted and received by 11:59 p.m. ET on November 14, 2022 , in English, by adults 21 years and older. Individuals must be available to travel internationally for up to three weeks between May- August 2023 . Entries must comply with the official rules. Ramada by Wyndham will select the winning "CEO" on or around the week of December 19, 2022. No purchase is necessary to enter. For more information, including official rules, visit www.ramada.com/ceo . About Ramada by Wyndham With more than 900 hotels globally, travelers are bound to find Ramada by Wyndham, one of the world's most recognized hotel brands, wherever their travels take them. Guests choose Ramada to not only sample the world but for the brand's passionate team members and full-service hospitality as well as functional meeting space, comfortable guest rooms, free Wi-Fi, and casual dining options. Visit www.ramada.com for more information. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram. For development opportunities, visit www.wyndhamdevelopment.com. About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world's largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,000 hotels across over 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of approximately 819,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 23 hotel brands, including Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada, Microtel, La Quinta, Baymont, Wingate, AmericInn, Hawthorn Suites, Trademark Collection and Wyndham. The Company's award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty program offers over 95 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com. SOURCE Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Smart, self-healing technology in Florida helped to automatically restore more than 160,000 customer outages during powerful storm ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As Hurricane Ian made its way across Florida, Duke Energy's grid improvements were already on the job helping to combat power outages from the storm. Smart, self-healing technology helped to automatically restore more than 160,000 customer outages and saved nearly 3.3 million hours (nearly 200 million minutes) of total lost outage time. "Hurricane Ian is a strong reminder of the importance of grid hardening and storm preparedness to help keep the lights on for our customers," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "Self-healing technology is just one of many grid improvements that Duke Energy is making to avoid outages, restore service faster and increase reliability for our customers." Much like the GPS in your car can identify an accident ahead and reroute you around the incident to keep you on your way, self-healing technology is like a GPS for the grid. The technology can quickly identify power outages and alternate energy pathways to restore service faster for customers when an outage occurs. Additionally, self-healing technology provides a smart tool to assist crews in the field with power restoration after a major storm like Ian, helping reduce outage impacts and freeing up resources to help restore power in other locations. Three days after Hurricane Ian exited the state, Duke Energy Florida wrapped up restoration of approximately 1 million customers. This progress enabled the company to deploy more than 550 Duke Energy workers from throughout Florida, as well as contractors from across the country, to help restore power for Lee County Electric Cooperative customers. Crews worked in Cape Coral and Pine Island, one of the hardest-hit areas in the storm's path and completed power restoration for the majority of customers on Pine Island within approximately one week after arriving to the island. Prior to Ian in 2022, smart, self-healing technology had helped avoid nearly 250,000 extended customer outages in Florida, saving around 285,000 hours (17.1 million minutes) of total lost outage time. Duke Energy currently serves around 59% of customers in Florida with self-healing capabilities on its main power distribution lines, with a goal of serving around 80% over the next few years. Self-healing technology video. Self-healing grid system animation video. 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. 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 and at least a 50% carbon reduction from electric generation by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The 2050 net-zero goals also include Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 emissions. 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' "America'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 . Media contact: Audrey Stasko Media line: 800.559.3853 Twitter: @DE_AudreyS SOURCE Duke Energy Joining this global network will enable first-in-class renewable energy technology to be implemented faster NAPLES, Fla., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Ecolution Power Company (Ecolution) announced it has joined NVIDIA Inception , a program that nurtures startups revolutionizing industries with technology advancements. Ecolution is focused on driving the next generation of clean and renewable energy through transportation. Its MARS technology captures kinetic energy from moving vehicles to turn them into moving power plants, which can then distribute energy to global power grids. NVIDIA Inception will allow Ecolution to further develop its revolutionary technology and grow its business through new connections. The program will also allow Ecolution to collaborate with industry-leading experts and other AI-driven organizations. "We are thrilled to be a part of the NVIDIA Inception program," said Johanne Medina Then, Co-Founder and CEO of Ecolution Power Company. "Inception will accelerate the business to help us support the world in its efforts to move towards a net-zero carbon footprint. It is an exciting opportunity for Ecolution, and the team looks forward to connecting with some of the brightest minds in our industry." NVIDIA Inception helps startups during critical stages of product development, prototyping and deployment. Every NVIDIA Inception member gets a custom set of ongoing benefits, such as NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute credits, marketing support and technical assistance, which provides startups with the fundamental tools to help them grow. Ecolution has signed letters of intent with two U.S. cities: Amarillo, Texas, and St. Paul, Minnesota. These agreements entail Ecolution connecting its technology to Amarillo's waste management vehicles and St. Paul's train depot to capture wasted energy and put it back into their cities. Agreements like these are an important step forward in the decarbonization of the country and a move in the direction of full renewable energy adoption. About Ecolution Ecolution is seeking to become the global transportation industry's largest source of clean energy. Since its inception in 2016, the minority-owned company's experienced team of entrepreneurs developed and patented an innovative method of recycling 'wasted' kinetic energy from moving vehicles, entitled MARS, invented by Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder Johnny Then-Gautier. Unlike regenerative braking, this technology requires no engine. The development of the prototype will enable municipalities, power, and logistics companies to assess the benefits of the invention. A lead investor in Ecolution Power Company is Brown Venture Group, LLC, a venture capital firm exclusively for Black, Latino, and Indigenous technology startups. For more information, visit www.ecokwh.com SOURCE Ecolution Power Company 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. SwitchMed in Rimini at IEG's major event to promote sustainable economic approaches in the Mediterranean From 9 th to 10 th November 2022 , stakeholders, entrepreneurs, start-ups, political and financial institutions from 8 Mediterranean countries will gather to create synergies and accelerate environmental and social innovations Focus on the Blue Economy with #EYESONBLUE, the award ceremony for the most innovative projects for water issues and the conference on fish food systems RIMINI, Italy, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecomondo, an international reference for the circular economy. "This year," announces Corrado Peraboni, CEO of IEG, "the Italian Exhibition Group show, scheduled from 8th to 11th November at Rimini Expo Centre will be hosting " SwitchMed Connect " on the 9th and 10th, a leading biennial European Union -funded event that promotes circular economy approaches in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia, held in Italy for the first time." "To mark the occasion," Global Exhibition Director, Alessandra Astolfi, adds, "the main Mediterranean stakeholders of the entire green ecosystem will be attending our prime event in green technologies to enable synergies, exchange know-how and speed up environmental and social innovations." "We are very grateful to Ecomondo to host our flagship event" states Enrique de Villamore, Director of MedWaves, responsible for the implementation of the event, adding "SwitchMed Connect is a unique opportunity to bridge the two shores of the Mediterranean around the needed transition to Circular Economy in the region". SwitchMed, founded in 2013 by the European Union, is the result of collaboration between the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) , the Economics Division of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and MedWaves , the UNEP/MAP Regional Activity Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production. "SwichMed Connect" will see the Mediterranean's leading start-ups, entrepreneurs, sector operators, political and financial institutions gathered at Ecomondo to promote and accelerate the transition to sustainable consumption and production models in the southern Mediterranean. The second day will feature the #EYESONBLUE ceremony awarding prizes to the 3 best entrepreneurs and their innovative Blue Economy projects. The contest is jointly organised by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) , EU Neighbours South and the SwitchMed programme. The programme includes "SwitchMed: sustainable and circular fish food systems for a Blue Economy in the Mediterranean" and conferences on transversal topics: textile and fashion industry, access to sustainable finance, circularity of plastics and open-eco innovation. Calendar of events here Ecomondo 2022, now at its 25th edition and a forerunner on circular economy and sustainable development topics, will also be a partner of the first Mediterranean pavilion at COP27 , the annual meeting of countries that have signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, scheduled to take place in Sharm el-Sheikh from 6th to 18th November 2022. Italian Exhibition Group Press Contacts: Press Office Manager: Marco Forcellini, [email protected] International Press Office Coordinator: Silvia Giorgi, [email protected], +39-0541-744814 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/723307/Italian_Exhibition_Group_Logo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1847948/Ecomondo_Logo.jpg SOURCE Italian Exhibition Group BOGOTA, Colombia, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC) informs that at the extraordinary General Shareholder's Meeting held on October 24, 2022, its Board of Directors was appointed as follows: Non-Independent Representatives: Monica de Greiff Lindo Gonzalo Hernandez Jimenez Independent Representatives: Gabriel Mauricio Cabrera Galvis Carlos Gustavo Cano Sanz Saul Kattan Cohen Sandra Ospina Arango Luis Santiago Perdomo Maldonado Esteban Piedrahita Uribe Sergio Restrepo Isaza Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent, with more than 18,000 employees. In Colombia, it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and Mexico, and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile, and the telecommunications sector. This press release contains business prospect statements, operating and financial result estimates, and statements related to Ecopetrol's growth prospects. These are all projections and, as such, they are based solely on the expectations of the managers regarding the future of the company and their continued access to capital to finance the company's business plan. The realization of said estimates in the future depends on the behavior of market conditions, regulations, competition, the performance of the Colombian economy my and the industry, among other factors, and are consequently subject to change without prior notice. This release contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward -looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration, and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. For more information, please contact: Head of Capital Markets Tatiana Uribe Benninghoff Email: [email protected] Head of Corporate Communications Mauricio Tellez Email: [email protected] SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A. CHICAGO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Edge AI hardware market is projected to grow from 1,056 million Units to reach 2,716 million units by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.8% during the forecast period according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Key opportunities for the edge AI hardware market include the growing demand for IoT-based edge computing solutions and the rising adoption of 5G networks to bring IT and telecom together and dedicated AI processors for on-device image analytics. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=158498281 Browse in-depth TOC on "Edge AI Hardware Market" 142 Tables 69 Figures 244 Pages Wearables in devices is expected to have highest CAGR during the forecast period The increasing use of wearables among consumers is becoming more common as people are shifting from conventional wearables to smart and sophisticated ones. This has opened a huge opportunity for the edge AI hardware market players. Smart wearables and health trackers could further accelerate the growth of the edge AI hardware market for wearables. GPU is expected to have highest CAGR during the forecast period The market for GPU is expected to grow with the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Constant research and development from companies such as NVIDIA and Intel to improve graphics quality, make it more user-friendly, and deploy computer vision algorithms is driving the market for GPU. For instance, NVIDIA introduced a new gaming GPU with Ampere architecture and 2nd generation of NVIDIA RTX. Inference in function to have the largest market size during the forecast period. The development of low-power and high-performance processors and the increasing demand for IoT applications have led to a growing interest in edge AI. Reduction in latency as data does not need to be sent on the cloud is a major factor driving the edge AI market. Performance and memory consumption are the keys to the successful implementation of edge AI. Once the ML model is trained, it is deployed on the device for inference to classify, recognize, and process new inputs. The cost of computation resources is lower for inference than training on the device. On-device inference can lead to high responsiveness, which is a major factor for the growth of the market for edge AI hardware products designed to draw inferences. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=158498281 China to grow with the highest CAGR in Asia Pacific region during the forecast period China is the largest market for edge AI hardware in Asia Pacific. Devices such as smartphones, industrial robots, and automobiles hold a huge growth potential for the edge AI hardware market in Asia Pacific. The region is becoming a center of attraction for major investments as it holds significant business expansion opportunities. Various AI processor start-ups in China are raising funds to grow in the edge AI hardware market. For example, ThinkForce (China) raised around USD 68 million, and DeePhi (China) raised around USD 40 million. The report profiles key players in the edge AI hardware market and analyzes their market shares. Players profiled in this report are Apple (US), MediaTek (Taiwan), Qualcomm Technologies (US), Huawei Technologies (China), and Samsung Electronics (South Korea), Intel (US), NVIDIA (US), IBM(US), Google (US), Microsift (US), AMD (US), Micron Technology (US), Imagination Technologies (UK), Cambricon Technologies (China), Tenstorrent (Canada), Blaize (US), General Vision (US), Mythic (US), Zero ASIC (US), Applied Brain Research (Canada), Horizon Robotics (China), CEVA (US), Graph core (UK), SambaNova (US), Hailo (Israel), Veridify Security (US). Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=158498281 Browse Adjacent Market: Semiconductor and Electronics Market Research Reports &Consulting Related Reports: Artificial Intelligence Market by Offering (Hardware, Software, Services), Technology (Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing), Deployment Mode, Organization Size, Business Function (Law, Security), Vertical and Region - Global forecast to 2027 Artificial Intelligence (Chipsets) Market by Technology (Machine learning, Natural Language Processing, Context Aware Computing, Computer Vision), Hardware (Processor, Memory, Network), End-User Industry, and region - Global Forecast to 2026 Mobile Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market by Application (Smartphones, Cameras, Drones, Automotive, AR/VR, Robotics, Smart Boards, and PCS), Technology Node (10nm, 20 to 28nm, 7nm and Others), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023 Artificial Intelligence in Marketing Market by Offering (Hardware, Software, Services), Technology (Machine Learning, Context-Aware Computing, NLP, Computer Vision), Deployment Type, Application, End-User Industry, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2025 Vision Processing Unit Market by End-Use Application (Smartphones, ADAS, Camera, Drones, AR/VR Products), Vertical (Consumer Electronics, Automotive, Security and Surveillance), Fabrication Process and Geography Global Forecast to 2024 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/edge-ai-hardware-market.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/edge-ai-hardware.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Fastest Growing Hispanic Media Platform targeting Conservatives reaches a big national milestone MIAMI, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- El American Inc. , the leading Hispanic conservative news platform that promotes free markets and America's Founding Principles, announced today it reached a record 19 million people during the month of September. Overall, the fast growing platform, which now boasts over 1.3 million social media followers and 100,000 daily newsletter subscribers, had its best month on record. "The current economic climate has spurred young Latinos into action, in most cases for the first time in their lives, to get involved with politics. Our latest figures clearly indicate the growth of the Latino Conservative in America, and a rising tide of engaged and politically active voices eager to make a positive change based on their values and the American dream," said Jorge Granier, El American's founder and CEO. The company will now focus its sights on continued growth in the English language audience with established Hispanic influencers in the US and promote new and up and coming voices within the Latino Conservative and Libertarian movements. El American turns two reaching a record 19 million Hispanics during the month of September Tweet this Founded in late 2020, after the contentious election season, El American has assembled a team of award-winning journalists, writers, and influencers, and has reached over 1 billion interactions across its social media accounts since inception. Through its site elamerican.com and with an active presence on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, GETTR, and TikTok, El American reaches across the key 18-55 demographic within the Hispanic audience. For more information on El American, visit: https://elamerican.com https://elamerican.com/aboutus/ https://elamerican.com/we-are-el-american/ ABOUT EL AMERICAN El American is the bilingual digital media platform focused on providing information, opinion, analysis and real journalism to the fastest growing audience in the United States: Hispanics. Founded by two Hispanics and proud American citizens, El American targets conservative and libertarian Hispanics across the U.S. Twitter: @ ElAmerican_ Instagram: @ elamerican_ TikTok: @ elamerican_ Facebook: @ ElAmerican1 SOURCE El American NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The electric head scalp massager market size is set to grow by USD 516.69 million from 2021 to 2026, according to Technavio. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period. The increasing use of electric head scalp massagers to reduce anxiety and promote hair growth is driving the electric head scalp massager market. However, low penetration in emerging economies can challenge the market's growth. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Electric Head Scalp Massager Market 2022-2026 View a comprehensive report summary that describes the market size and forecast along with the research methodology. The FREE sample report is available in PDF format Electric Head Scalp Massager Market 2022-2026: Vendor Analysis and Scope To help businesses improve their market position, the electric head scalp massager market provides a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the market. Some of these vendors include Breo Technology USA LLC, Comfier, Cotsoco, Lumi Therapy Co., OSIM International Pte. Ltd., Panasonic Holdings Corp., and Xiaomi Inc. The report also covers the following areas : Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights. Subscribe now to our most popular "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000. View 100 reports and download 5 reports monthly! Electric Head Scalp Massager Market 2022-2026: Segmentation Product Handheld: The handheld segment will be the largest contributor to market growth during the forecast period. A handheld massager works on heat therapy and helps relieve anxiety and headache by maintaining proper blood circulation in the targeted area. Handheld electric head scalp massagers are easily available at affordable prices. The growth of the handheld segment is attributed to factors such as increasing customer awareness, rising disposable income, and the proliferation of technologically advanced products. Many players operating in the global electric head scalp massager market are spending on product innovations so that they can offer a wider range of products to customers. Helmet Geography APAC: APAC will account for 33% of the market's growth during the forecast period. Moreover, market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in other regions. China and India are the key countries for the electric head scalp massager market in APAC. and are the key countries for the electric head scalp massager market in APAC. North America Europe Middle East And Africa South America Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a FREE PDF Sample Report Electric Head Scalp Massager Market 2022-2026: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period of 2022-2026 Detailed information on factors that will help the electric head scalp massager market grow during the next five years Approximation of the electric head scalp massager market size and its contribution to the parent market Forecasts on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the electric head scalp massager market Analysis of the competitive landscape of the market and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will impede the growth of electric head scalp massager market vendors Find more key highlights of the market. Buy Now to gain access to detailed market information Related Reports Electric Massager Market by Product, End-user, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025: This report extensively covers segmentation by product (back massager, handheld massager, neck and shoulder massager, leg and foot massager, and eye care massager), end-user (commercial and residential), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, and South America). 38% of the market's growth will originate from North America during the forecast period. The market share growth by the back massager segment will be significant. Electric Toothbrush Market by Distribution Channel and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025: This report extensively covers segmentation by distribution channel (retail outlets and online stores) and geographic (North America, Europe, APAC, and South America). 47% of the market's growth will originate from North America during the forecast period. The market share growth by the offline segment will be significant. Electric Head Scalp Massager Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.6% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 516.69 million Market structure Concentrated YoY growth (%) 5.2 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 33% Key consumer countries US, Canada, China, India, Germany, and Italy Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Breo Technology USA LLC, Comfier, Cotsoco, Lumi Therapy Co., OSIM International Pte. Ltd., Panasonic Holdings Corp., and Xiaomi 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. Browse Consumer Staples Market Reports Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Product Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 09: Parent market Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 12: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2021 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026 Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.7 Market condition Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026 5 Market Segmentation by Product 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Product Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Product Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Product 5.3 Handheld - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Handheld - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Handheld - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Handheld - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Handheld - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Helmet - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on Helmet - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Helmet - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on Helmet - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Helmet - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by Product Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Product ($ 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 Italy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Italy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on Italy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Chart on Italy - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on Italy - 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 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 83: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 84: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 85: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.14 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 Breo Technology USA LLC LLC Exhibit 93: Breo Technology USA LLC - Overview LLC - Overview Exhibit 94: Breo Technology USA LLC - Product / Service LLC - Product / Service Exhibit 95: Breo Technology USA LLC - Key offerings 10.4 Comfier Exhibit 96: Comfier - Overview Exhibit 97: Comfier - Product / Service Exhibit 98: Comfier - Key offerings 10.5 Cotsoco Exhibit 99: Cotsoco - Overview Exhibit 100: Cotsoco - Product / Service Exhibit 101: Cotsoco - Key offerings 10.6 Lumi Therapy Co. Exhibit 102: Lumi Therapy Co. - Overview Exhibit 103: Lumi Therapy Co. - Product / Service Exhibit 104: Lumi Therapy Co. - Key offerings 10.7 OSIM International Pte. Ltd. Exhibit 105: OSIM International Pte. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 106: OSIM International Pte. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 107: OSIM International Pte. Ltd. - Key offerings 10.8 Panasonic Holdings Corp. Exhibit 108: Panasonic Holdings Corp. - Overview Exhibit 109: Panasonic Holdings Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 110: Panasonic Holdings Corp. - Key news Exhibit 111: Panasonic Holdings Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 112: Panasonic Holdings Corp. - Segment focus 10.9 Xiaomi Inc Exhibit 113: Xiaomi Inc - Overview Exhibit 114: Xiaomi Inc - Business segments Exhibit 115: Xiaomi Inc - Key news Exhibit 116: Xiaomi Inc - Key offerings Exhibit 117: Xiaomi Inc - Segment focus 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 118: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 119: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 120: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology Exhibit 121: Research methodology Exhibit 122: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 123: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 124: 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 New Jersey's only hospital to achieve a 3-star rating for transcatheter aortic valve replacement ENGLEWOOD, N.J., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Englewood Health has been recognized by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons with a 3-star ratingthe highest possible quality ratingfor transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This mark of distinction reflects the accomplishments of the Structural Heart and Valve Program at Englewood Health in treating patients with valve disease using innovative, minimally invasive procedures. Englewood Health is the only hospital in New Jersey to achieve this honor. "We whole-heartedly congratulate the interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, and other practitioners and clinical staff who work together to perform this life-saving procedure," said Warren Geller, president and CEO of Englewood Health. "It is the incredible expertise and collaboration of this team that ensures the best possible outcomes for our patients." This recognition comes just months after Englewood Health received the American College of Cardiology's Transcatheter Valve Certification, another national honor for excellence in TAVR procedures. Englewood Health was one of the first hospitals in the country to begin offering TAVR, a minimally invasive heart valve replacement procedure, following its FDA approval in 2011. "To date, our Structural Heart and Valve Program has performed over 1300 TAVR procedures, with the best possible success rates and outcomes for our patients," said Joseph De Gregorio, MD, executive director of cardiovascular services at Englewood Health. TAVR is used to treat aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the heart valve that often leads to symptoms such as shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and fatigue. During the procedure, a thin tube is used to guide a new, artificial aortic valve into the heart to replace the damaged valve. "TAVR offers patients relief from their aortic stenosis symptoms, as well as shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery times than open-heart surgerythe traditional method of valve replacement," said Ramin Hastings, MD, medical director of the Structural Heart and Valve Program and interventional cardiologist at Englewood Health. TAVR was originally offered as an alternative treatment for patients who were not candidates for open-heart surgery due to their age or risk for complications. Since then, the number of patients who stand to benefit from the use of TAVR has grown significantly. "The indications for TAVR have expanded over time given the safety of the procedure and the benefits from a patient recovery and quality of life standpoint," said Adam Arnofsky, MD, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Englewood Health. Englewood Health's TAVR program has also expanded to include lower risk patients and is growing at a rate of 10 percent each year. With each additional procedure performed, their wealth of experience grows, yielding even better results for patients. Media Contact: Office of Communications Englewood Health 201-894-3499 [email protected] SOURCE Englewood Health SAN DIEGO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ESET, a global leader in digital security, today announced that Brent McCarty, president of ESET North America, has been named Executive of the Year for the San Diego Business Journal and Cyber Center of Excellence's Cybersecurity Stewardship Awards. Now in its second year, the awards recognize a local leader, as well as public, private and nonprofit organizations, driving innovation, workforce development, and community resiliency in San Diego. Since he joined four years ago, McCarty has grown the ESET's stewardship in the San Diego region and increased the company's focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. He has also led the transformation of ESET to enable an accelerated North American growth rate significantly improving the company's North American presence. In the community, Brent and his team helped create and launch CCOE's Cybersecurity Awareness Program, donating employee cybersecurity awareness training free to local small businesses. He and ESET, a founding member of CCOE, also support the San Diego Police Foundation with SafetyNet, an innovative program that empowers students, educators, parents and other San Diegans to recognize cyber dangers that lurk in the online world. "With local businesses concerned about increased cyber threats due to conflicts abroad, Brent and ESET have worked tirelessly to help educate consumers and businesses alike on potential vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks and how to prevent them," said Lisa Easterly, president and CEO, CCOE. "Since Brent came to ESET and San Diego a few short years ago, we have been impressed with his leadership and commitment not just to ESET's customers, but to the local community." For 30 years, ESET has helped organizations and governments stay protected from the world's most advanced cybersecurity threats with security solutions that are underpinned and strengthened by real time cybersecurity intelligence that protects against previously unseen threats and sophisticated APT group activity. ESET's multilayered security and investment in research bolstered by hundreds of researchers in 13 R&D centers around the world is what sets it apart from other digital security companies. "I am honored to be recognized by the San Diego Business Journal and CCOE with this prestigious and important award," said McCarty. "At ESET, we live and breathe cybersecurity, and we work constantly to identify never-before-seen threats and track sophisticated threat group activity. This has helped us produce superior products that are developed with our latest cyber intelligence in mind. But we are also driven by community service. The more we can make people aware of online threats, the safer we will all be." ESET's continued investment in innovation and partnerships has fueled the company's growth in NORAM and garnered high rankings with industry analysts. Earlier this year, ESET announced that it partnered with Intel to bring superior ransomware protection to ESET's business products enhancing the company's endpoint security with hardware-based ransomware detection. To better protect businesses on their digital journey, ESET also recently launched ESET Inspect Cloud, a sophisticated cloud-based tool that enables the ESET PROTECT platform to evolve into an Extended Detection and Response (XDR) solution for enterprise-grade security and risk management capabilities. For more information on ESET and its world-leading digital security solutions, visit https://www.eset.com/us/ About ESET For more than 30 years, ESET has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure and consumers worldwide from increasingly sophisticated digital threats. From endpoint and mobile security to endpoint detection and response, as well as encryption and multifactor authentication, ESET's high-performing, easy-to-use solutions unobtrusively protect and monitor 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company that enables the safe use of technology. This is backed by ESET's R&D centers worldwide, working in support of our shared future. For more information, visit www.eset.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. SOURCE ESET Timeshares provide flexibility and guaranteed vacations every year. The average cost of a timeshare is nominal compared to a lifetime of hotel stays. Accommodations at timeshare resorts are larger, with private bedrooms, fully equipped kitchens, spacious living room areas, and more amenities. The Tesla's will add to Westgate's amenities offered at the property. The average stay at a timeshare is a week, making the need for transportation a must. By having on-demand EVs on site, guests will find it more convenient to get around during their stay, eliminating the expensive and inconvenient need of traditional rental cars. 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 hotel 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 10 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 EV Mobility: EV Mobility is the leading all electric vehicle car-sharing platform, providing electric vehicles on-demand through an easy-to-use mobile app. EV Mobility offers EVs as an amenity for luxury hotels, multi-family apartments, and commercial buildings. Through the app, residents or guests access electric vehicles located in their building or hotel, while properties benefit from the added value they can now offer to residents or guests of a low-cost, zero emission electric vehicle on demand. The all-electric car-sharing service began in Los Angeles in 2021 and is presently expanding across other cities. Evmobility.com SOURCE EV Mobility Dallas-based agency ranks 13 on list overall, number 5 in the West/Southwest DALLAS, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eyeful Media, a woman and minority-owned digital marketing agency, has been named to the 2022 Adweek list of fastest-growing agencies. The Dallas-based agency ranked number 13 on the list overall, number 6 for digital agencies, and number 5 in the West/Southwest. Additionally, they ranked number 5 for both minority-led agencies and women-led agencies. Eyeful Media experienced a 323% two-year growth rate from 2019 to 2021, entirely driven by word-of-mouth growth. Founder and CEO Antonella Pisani attributes this growth to her values-focused team, strong company culture and disruption of the traditional client-agency relationship, which has led to an 86% client retention rate and 76 NPS. "We are thrilled to receive this recognition from Adweek," adds Pisani "Our team is passionate about setting a high bar for ourselves and performance, while remaining open to learning something new every day. Eyeful Media couldn't have done this without our team members making this possible." Eyeful Media specializes in helping mid-sized companies increase their online revenue and improve their digital presence. They manage paid search and shopping ads, SEO optimization and copywriting, and offer digital strategy services to mid-market clients and private equity firms. "We believe in driving high-value outcomes with low overhead and low ego. Our deliverables are pragmatic, and we welcome our clients to bring us their challenging business problems," adds Pisani. The agency has experienced exponential growth and brings a fresh approach to the traditional agency model by hiring only experienced holistic marketers and eliminating the account management layer often found in digital marketing agencies. Eyeful Media only hires marketers in the USA, with an average of 13 years digital experience, and does not outsource or use any offshore support. The team is fully remote across 16 states and made up of 40% minorities. They also attribute their explosive growth to their focus on core values, implementing a people-first culture, and being a good corporate citizen as its top priorities - including donating 5% of profits to charity. Eyeful Media prides itself on its intellectually stimulating environment, which allows for team members a balanced life and social responsibility and higher than average employee retention rates. Adweek compiles the fastest-growing agencies list from companies that must have been rounded in or before 2019, have at least $250,000 in revenue in 2019 and earned revenue in 2019, 2020 and 2021. About Eyeful Media Eyeful Media is a female and minority-owned digital marketing and consulting firm focused on performance marketing and digital strategy for mid-market companies. The team is composed entirely of proven marketers with an average of 13 years of hands-on digital experience. For more information, please visit https://www.eyefulmedia.com/ . About Adweek Adweek is the leading source of news and insight serving the brand marketing ecosystem. First published in 1979, Adweek's award-winning coverage reaches an engaged community across platforms including print, digital, events, podcasts, newsletters, social media and mobile apps. As a touchstone of the advertising and marketing community, Adweek is an unparalleled resource for leaders across multiple industries who rely on its content to help them do their jobs better. SOURCE Eyeful Media NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest market research report titled file integrity monitoring market the file integrity monitoring market is anticipated to rise by USD 277.58 million, representing a 12.57% increase with a CAGR of 13.09%. File Integrity Monitoring Market: Vendor Offerings Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global File Integrity Monitoring Market 2022-2026 The market is fragmented and the vendors are deploying various organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including: AT&T Inc.: The Company offers file integrity monitoring which provides an important layer of protection for sensitive files, data, applications, and devices by routinely scanning, monitoring, and verifying the integrity of those assets. The Company offers file integrity monitoring which provides an important layer of protection for sensitive files, data, applications, and devices by routinely scanning, monitoring, and verifying the integrity of those assets. Cimcor Inc.: The Company offers file integrity monitoring that detects changes to critical files including system, application, and configuration files. The Company offers file integrity monitoring that detects changes to critical files including system, application, and configuration files. LogRhythm Inc.: The Company offers file integrity monitoring which provides enriches your security analytics, alarms unauthorized changes, and identifies abnormal behavior. The Company offers file integrity monitoring which provides enriches your security analytics, alarms unauthorized changes, and identifies abnormal behavior. New Net Technologies LLC.: The Company offers file integrity monitoring that provides auditing every attempt to access or modify files or folders that contain sensitive information. The Company offers file integrity monitoring that provides auditing every attempt to access or modify files or folders that contain sensitive information. Paessler AG: The Company offers file integrity monitoring that delivers a blend of cross-generational threat defense techniques, including multiple server security capabilities and integrity monitoring. Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Get Free Sample Report. File Integrity Monitoring Market: Segmentation Analysis End-user BFSI The BFSI segment's market share growth in file integrity monitoring will be significant during the forecast period. As a customer-focused industry, the BFSI sector has been undergoing massive digitalization over the past ten years. The BFSI sector is being redefined by digitalization, which is also altering how organizations operate. Banks and other businesses are under pressure to provide seamless customer experiences due to technological improvements and an increase in the number of tech-savvy clients. Government Healthcare Education Others Geography North America North America will account for 39% of the market's growth over the forecasted timeframe. The US is the primary market for file integrity monitoring in North America . This region's market will expand more quickly than those in other areas. The region's demand for file integrity monitoring services will support the expansion of the North American file integrity monitoring market. will account for 39% of the market's growth over the forecasted timeframe. The US is the primary market for file integrity monitoring in . This region's market will expand more quickly than those in other areas. The region's demand for file integrity monitoring services will support the expansion of the North American file integrity monitoring market. Europe APAC Middle East And Africa South America Deployment Cloud On-premise To know additional highlights and critical points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, Buy Sample Report. Parent Market Analysis Technavio categorizes the global file integrity monitoring market as a part of the global systems software market within the global IT software market. External factors influencing the parent market's growth potential in the coming years have been thoroughly investigated in our research analysis. To know more about the levels of growth of the File Integrity Monitoring Market throughout the forecast period, Download a free sample. File Integrity Monitoring Market Value Chain Analysis The end-to-end understanding of the value chain is essential in profit margin optimization and evaluation of business strategies. The data available in our value chain analysis segment can help vendors drive costs and enhance customer services during the forecast period. The value chain of the File Integrity Monitoring Market includes the following core components: Inputs Inbound logistics Operations Outbound logistics Marketing and sales Service Support activities Innovation To unlock information about vendor drive costs and customer service, download a free sample report. File Integrity Monitoring Market Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will assist file integrity monitoring market growth during the next five years Estimation of the file integrity monitoring the market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the file integrity monitoring market across North America , Europe , APAC, Middle East and Africa , and South America Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights! Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000. Related Reports: Global Technical Support Outsourcing Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The report further entails technical support outsourcing market segmentations by Type (Helpdesk and call center) and Geography (APAC, South America, Europe, North America, and the Middle East and Africa). Demand Side Platforms (DSP) for Programmatic Advertising Market by Deployment and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The report extensively covers the demand side platforms (DSP) for programmatic advertising market segmentation by deployment (cloud and on-premise) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and the Middle East and Africa). File Integrity Monitoring Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 13.09% Market growth 2022-2026 $277.58 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 12.57 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 39% Key consumer countries US, China, India, Japan, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled AT and T Inc., BeyondTrust Corp., Cimcor Inc, CISO Platform, Excel Controlinkage Pvt. Ltd, HelpSystems LLC, Ionx Solutions LLP, LogRhythm Inc., Microsoft Corp., Nagios Enterprises LLC., New Net Technologies LLC., Paessler AG, Qualys Inc., SolarWinds Corp., Splunk Inc., Tanium Inc., Trend Micro Inc., Trustwave Holdings Inc., Zoho Corp., and Netwrix 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 End-user Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Deployment 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 End-user 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 25: Chart on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 26: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by End-user Exhibit 27: Chart on Comparison by End-user Exhibit 28: Data Table on Comparison by End-user 5.3 BFSI - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 29: Chart on BFSI - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Data Table on BFSI - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 31: Chart on BFSI - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 32: Data Table on BFSI - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Government - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 33: Chart on Government - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Data Table on Government - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 35: Chart on Government - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 36: Data Table on Government - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 37: Chart on Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 38: Data Table on Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 39: Chart on Healthcare - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 40: Data Table on Healthcare - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.6 Education - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 41: Chart on Education - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 42: Data Table on Education - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 43: Chart on Education - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 44: Data Table on Education - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 45: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 46: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 47: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 48: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.8 Market opportunity by End-user Exhibit 49: Market opportunity by End-user ($ million) 6 Market Segmentation by Deployment 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 50: Chart on Deployment - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 51: Data Table on Deployment - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Deployment Exhibit 52: Chart on Comparison by Deployment Exhibit 53: Data Table on Comparison by Deployment 6.3 Cloud - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on Cloud - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 55: Data Table on Cloud - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Chart on Cloud - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 57: Data Table on Cloud - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.4 On-premise - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on On-premise - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 59: Data Table on On-premise - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 60: Chart on On-premise - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 61: Data Table on On-premise - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.5 Market opportunity by Deployment Exhibit 62: Market opportunity by Deployment ($ 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 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 80: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 81: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 82: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 83: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 84: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 85: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 86: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 87: Data Table on South America - 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 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 92: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 93: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 94: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 95: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.10 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 96: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 97: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 98: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 99: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.11 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 100: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 101: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 102: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 103: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.12 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 104: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 105: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 106: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 107: Data Table on Japan - 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 AT and T Inc. Exhibit 115: AT and T Inc. - Overview Exhibit 116: AT and T Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 117: AT and T Inc. - Key offerings 11.4 Cimcor Inc Exhibit 118: Cimcor Inc - Overview Exhibit 119: Cimcor Inc - Product / Service Exhibit 120: Cimcor Inc - Key offerings 11.5 HelpSystems LLC Exhibit 121: HelpSystems LLC - Overview Exhibit 122: HelpSystems LLC - Product / Service Exhibit 123: HelpSystems LLC - Key offerings 11.6 LogRhythm Inc. Exhibit 124: LogRhythm Inc. - Overview Exhibit 125: LogRhythm Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 126: LogRhythm Inc. - Key offerings 11.7 Netwrix Corp. Exhibit 127: Netwrix Corp. - Overview Exhibit 128: Netwrix Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 129: Netwrix Corp. - Key offerings 11.8 New Net Technologies LLC. Exhibit 130: New Net Technologies LLC. - Overview Exhibit 131: New Net Technologies LLC. - Product / Service Exhibit 132: New Net Technologies LLC. - Key offerings 11.9 SolarWinds Corp. Exhibit 133: SolarWinds Corp. - Overview Exhibit 134: SolarWinds Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 135: SolarWinds Corp. - Key offerings 11.10 Trend Micro Inc. Exhibit 136: Trend Micro Inc. - Overview Exhibit 137: Trend Micro Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 138: Trend Micro Inc. - Key offerings 11.11 Trustwave Holdings Inc. Exhibit 139: Trustwave Holdings Inc. - Overview Exhibit 140: Trustwave Holdings Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 141: Trustwave Holdings Inc. - Key offerings 11.12 Zoho Corp. Exhibit 142: Zoho Corp. - Overview Exhibit 143: Zoho Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 144: Zoho Corp. - Key offerings 12 Appendix 12.1 Scope of the report 12.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 145: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 146: Exclusions checklist 12.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 147: Currency conversion rates for US$ 12.4 Research methodology Exhibit 148: Research methodology Exhibit 149: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 150: Information sources 12.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 151: 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 HAUGHTON, La. -- More stories of bullying are surfacing after a Benton teens suicide. Another family is planning to file a lawsuit against Bossier Schools in an unrelated incident that happened on Platt Elementary. Holly Klosterman said her son Cody, 7, endured bullying at his school in September. But while the bruising has faded, the pain hasnt gone away. When I asked him what happened he said he was attacked by a bully at the playground under the slide," said Klosterman. On Sept. 19, Holly Klosterman claims her son came home from school beat up and bruised. They started to trip me, kick me punch me, and they kicked me in the arm pit," said Cody. Klosterman says she took him to the emergency room, and he was diagnosed with a mild concussion. A report from a follow-up visit to a doctor the next week showed he was treated for a nightmare disorder and anxiety. He told one of his classmates, which this boy overheard, that he had a crush on his best friend that was a boy. And then the extreme name-calling began, derogatory F-bombs continuously. Youre weak, youre small, youre tiny," said Klosterman. Klosterman hired an attorney, who said after the attack on the playground it wasn't the teachers or others on campus but a bus driver who noticed Cody was not acting like himself. The most alarming part was that he had been attacked on the playground and there was no supervision and that there was nothing done after the incident," said Amira Makke, Klosterman's attorney. Makke is representing the Klosterman family and says she is gathering information for the case and working to get the video from the playground. Klosterman says this isnt the first time Cody was bullied. Klosterman said she has called his teacher before because of ugly things being said to Cody. The teacher was like, 'Do you know the childs name?'" said Klosterman. "I was like, 'No I dont.' She was like, 'Ill talk to Cody.' She did not ask Cody who was bothering him. The day of the attack, Klosterman called the sheriffs office; however they told her there wasnt anything they could do. Apparently in Louisiana theres a law for age of culpability for a child and their actions when it comes to assault and things of that nature. So, if a child is of the age of 10 and below, they are below the age of culpability," said Klosterman. Bossier Parish sheriffs detectives told KTBS they investigated the bullying complaint then closed the case. They say its not a criminal issue; its a school issue. Makke says they are planning to sue. Its not a settlement they want but a change in the Bossier Schools' system. Bossier Parish has already had lawsuits against them for almost identical issues with children in elementary school being beat up on playgrounds, not being supervised as they should have and nothing's being done as regards to disciplinary issues against the assailant," said Makke. The spokeswoman for the school district says they cannot comment on any sort of bullying investigation. And now that the case is in litigation, there is nothing that can be released, including video KTBS 3 News requested of the playground where Klosterman says the attack happened. RELATED REPORT: Benton teen's suicide death puts the spotlight on bullying Klosterman's allegations falls in the shadow of a Bossier teens death by suicide. The family of Levi Creech, 14, blame bullies for his death on Aug. 27. Levi was a ninth-grader at Benton High School. Levis parents met with school counselors on three occasions to discuss the bullying of their son. The Creech family has hired attorney Ron Miciotto to represent them in an anticipated lawsuit against the parents of the bullies and the school district. ----- If you or someone you know is being bullied, here are some numbers to call. If a crime is being committed or someone is in immediate harm: Call 911 For someone who is thinking of suicide: Call 988 or 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). The roundtables bring together a diverse coalition of national organizations and advocates to prioritize equitable access to the prevention, screening, early detection, and diagnosis of cancer. WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the White House unite to launch the ACS National Breast Cancer Roundtable and the ACS National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer on Monday, October 24th. The roundtables are in response to President Biden's relaunch of Cancer Moonshot, which aims to cut the death rate from cancer by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years and improve the experience of people and their families living with and surviving cancer. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden will host the launch. "The American Cancer Society and its partners are answering President Biden's call to mobilize in the fight to end cancer as we know it," said Dr. Karen Knudsen, MBA, Ph.D., CEO of the American Cancer Society. "We're at a point where we can change the trajectory of cancer by eliminating cervical cancer in our lifetime and significantly reduce devastating disparities in breast cancer mortality, but we need to act now." The ACS-led roundtables provide the nation with an effective and proven model to catalyze change and investment across the cancer continuum by utilizing an 'all-hands-on-deck' approach. In bringing together scientists, the medical community, leading public health agencies, the private sector and community organizations, the President's goal can be achieved by accelerating our efforts to improve cancer outcomes. The ACS National Breast Cancer Roundtable aims to accelerate progress across the breast cancer spectrum through strategic partnerships to eliminate disparities and reduce mortality. The group will be chaired by Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer at the American Cancer Society; Dr. Olufunmilayo F. Olopade, UChicago Medicine and Dr. John Williams, President's Cancer Panel, Breast Cancer School for Patients. The ACS National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer is a coalition of organizations dedicated to cervical cancer elimination in our lifetime. It will engage key organizations to institute policy and systems changes to improve prevention, screening, and treatment and to reduce barriers to care, eliminate disparities, reduce harms, and promote new technologies. This roundtable will be chaired by Deborah Arrindell, Health Policy American Sexual Health Association; Dr. Akiva Novetsky, Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College and Dr. Debbie Saslow, American Cancer Society. Among the special guests attending the roundtable launch will be breast cancer advocates Wendy Raquel Robinson and Mary J. Blige. They will be joined by breast cancer and cervical cancer survivors. "These roundtables will bring together leading organizations and experts to drive progress and improve the lives of people living with cancer, as well as support their families," said Kamal, who is serving as the ACS Breast Cancer Roundtable tri-chair. "We are the recognized leader for cancer roundtables, and we are well positioned to quickly make a collective impact against cancer and close the gaps in disparities." "We are at an exciting turning point when it comes to cervical cancer and breast cancer innovation. We know we can save more lives from these diseases by prioritizing equitable access to lifesaving services to detect breast and cervical cancers early and treat them effectively," said Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society's advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN.) "ACS CAN is committed to amplifying the roundtable work through public policy to reduce health disparities in breast and cervical cancer by advocating at the state and federal levels for increased funding for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which provides screenings and treatment to under and uninsured women. If we are going to end cancer as we know it, for everyone, we must increase access to screening and innovative care for all." "Cervical cancer is a mostly preventable cancer, which makes it relatively unique as a cancer. Despite this, 13,000 people a year in the US are diagnosed annually with cervical cancer and globally it is one of the most common and most deadly cancers," said Novetsky. "We must ensure that people feel comfortable getting the preventative care that they need and that these are readily accessible to all people while minimizing the financial and time burden." The urgency to increase progress against breast and cervical cancer is underscored by recent ACS data and analysis that found 287,850 new cases of breast cancer and 43,250 deaths are expected in 2022, with an additional 14,100 new cases and 4,280 deaths from cervical cancer. Finding breast cancer early and getting state-of-the-art cancer treatment are two of the most important strategies for preventing deaths from breast cancer. The data also underscores the focus on health equity. Black women have lower breast cancer incidence than white women but 40% higher breast cancer mortality. This racial disparity has persisted unabated since 2011. Similarly, Black women are 18 percent more likely than white women to be diagnosed with cervical cancer yet have a 52 percent higher chance of dying than white women. The rate of cervical cancer, which is almost completely preventable through screening and vaccination, is 32% higher in Hispanic women in the continental U.S. and Hawaii and 78% higher in Puerto Rico compared to non-Hispanic white women. Once again, access to high-quality prevention, early detection and treatment would reduce this burden. The roundtables align with the President's Cancer Panel Report - Closing Gaps in Cancer Screening: Connecting People, Communities, and Systems to Improve Equity and Access. Additionally, the roundtables are consistent with the ACS National Consortium for Cancer Screening and Care recommendations to accelerate the adoption of evidence-based cancer screening intervention and policies through coordinated efforts from roundtables and coalitions. About The American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 100 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SOURCE American Cancer Society New investment program targets up to 30 underrepresented entrepreneurs in underserved sectors and geographies across Africa SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Flourish Ventures , a global venture capital firm investing in mission-driven fintech entrepreneurs, today announced the launch of affiliate Madica , a structured investment program for pre-seed stage technology companies in Africa. Aiming to serve mission-driven and under-represented founders, the new sector-agnostic program will invest capital in tech startups and offer founders tailored mentorship and world-class company-building support. Over the next three years, Madica, seeks to back 25-30 African entrepreneurs with up to $200,000 each, coupled with multi-year programmatic support. Emmanuel Adegboye, head of Madica (pictured on the left) launches new pre-seed Africa fund spun out from Flourish Ventures. He celebrates with new Board members, Efayomi Carr, principal, Flourish Ventures, Ameya Upadhyay, venture partner, Flourish Ventures and Arjuna Costa, managing director, Flourish Ventures (left to right), The new investment program aims to address systemic challenges faced by early-stage founders in Africa, such as limited access to capital, industry networks, mentorship, and structured training. A central element of the program will be a carefully curated panel of seasoned African operators who will mentor Madica founders. Based on the belief that strong mentorship is a central feature of the most vibrant startup ecosystems, Madica will provide this mentor community with rewards tied to company success. To further cultivate this sense of community, Madica intends to share a part of its financial returns with the broader ecosystem. In pioneering some of these unique features in an investment program, Madica hopes to promote a vibrant and more equitable funding environment on the continent. Madica, short for 'Made In Africa', is an Africa-wide initiative and invites founders from across the continent, including those outside the large tech hubs of Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and South Africa. Further, Madica will prioritize companies led by local founders, women, and those focused on frontier sectors to shore up gaps in funding on the continent. For example, African-educated CEOs raise significantly less than their foreign-educated counterparts in both number of deals (44%) and in amount (28%). Start-ups with a female CEO fare far worse, as they are overlooked in favor of start-ups led by male CEOs, with 93% of the 2021 funding in Africa going to the latter. "Although investment is booming on the continent, funds are often disproportionately targeted at a few well-networked entrepreneurs and skewed towards the more prominent tech hubs," said Emmanuel Adegboye, Head of Madica. "Unlike other programs, Madica is sector-agnostic and intends to double down on providing hands-on support, extensive resources, access to networks and more. This is why, in addition to $6M of investment capital, we have reserved an equal amount for programmatic support. We encourage founders across the continent to apply for our program. We believe Africans have an unmatched entrepreneurial spirit, and one of Madica's core goals is to ensure a level playing field for every African founder." To be eligible for the program, mission-driven start-ups must: have a minimum viable product (MVP) have founder(s) who are engaged full time have received little or no institutional funding Ameya Upadhyay, Venture Partner at Flourish Ventures, added, "Madica is an investment in the African venture ecosystem, with the audacious goal of creating a broader systemic shift. Through Madica, we intend to develop a cadre of mentors, create world-class programming, crowd-in follow-on capital and leverage Flourish's global presence to extend the reach of local networks. These will eventually benefit other participants in the ecosystem startups, investors, and policymakers." Upadhyay said, "We hope that Madica can help change the narrative around African startups lower the perception of risk, attract more capital, inspire more founders, and garner more media attention" Madica operates an open application process so founders can apply without an introduction. The program will work with partners such as incubators, accelerators, and angels to identify and support entrepreneurs. All applicants will undergo the same evaluation procedure, and investments will be made on a rolling basis throughout the year. Applications are now open, and interested start-ups can find out more and apply by visiting Madica's website . Madica will be attending AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2022 October 26-28 in Lusaka, Zambia to meet founders, network with the African tech community and talk more about their innovative program. About Madica Launched in 2022, Madica is an Africa-focused pre-seed investment program empowering underrepresented and underfunded mission-driven founders on the continent. The sector-agnostic platform, affiliated with Flourish Ventures, aims to empower entrepreneurs with the provision of funding and also democratising access to world-class company building support. About Flourish Ventures Flourish backs entrepreneurs whose innovations advance financial health and prosperity for individuals and small businesses. A leading early-stage global venture capital firm, Flourish has more than $500M under management and deploys patient capital with a long-term perspective. The Flourish team partners with more than 70 global fintech founders and industry thought leaders in research, policy and regulation to help foster a fair, more inclusive economy. SOURCE Flourish Ventures Services Leading Eyelash Extension Franchise Welcomes Shant Assarian as Brand President PITTSBURGH, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Deka Lash, the pioneering beauty brand specializing in eyelash extensions and brow services, is pleased to announce the appointment of franchise veteran Shant Assarian to its leadership team as the company's President. Assarian comes to Deka Lash from Mathnasium, where he served in various C-Suite roles. He was instrumental in driving growth and success through increasing unit revenue and profitability, advancing the technology and resources provided to franchisees, and turning the young brand into a leader in the supplemental education market. "Shant is bringing experience and expertise to an already talented team as the company moves into its next phase of growth. The depth of his experience will complement our team and enable our company to meet strong consumer demand and provide a best-in-class business model, technology, and support for our franchisees" said Deka Lash CEO Jennifer Blair. "He is passionate about franchising and has the proven ability to operate in a fast-growing environment, leveraging his financial, operational, and analytical expertise." The brand that started in Blair's living room has now grown to 125 studios across North America. The company anticipates it will have 140 studios by year end and is projected to have 200 studios open by the end of 2023. Deka Lash's proven business model and exceptional reputation sets up the brand for strident growth domestically and beyond. "I'm excited to be with Deka Lash. It's an incredible brand with extraordinary potential and amazing people throughout the organization all the ingredients necessary to achieve dramatic success," said Assarian. "Everyone is passionate about what we do because it's rewarding. From the Studio Owners to the Lash Artists building their careers in the growing beauty industry, to the members who are redefining everyday luxury." Deka Lash offers studio owners a tested and proven professional training program, a proprietary studio design, a personalized customer experience, and an industry leading membership program that goes beyond standard packages. For franchise opportunities visit https://www.dekalashfranchise.com/ About Deka Lash Deka Lash is a beauty company on a mission to help you uncover the most confident and empowered version of yourself through customized lash and brow services, high-end products, and an elevated experience each and every time you walk through its doors. Founded in 2012 by Jennifer and Michael Blair, the modern retail studios, which apply semi-permanent, custom eyelash extensions by highly trained Lash Artists, provide a variety of looks and styles to choose from. The concept began franchising in 2016 and is currently operating 125 studios throughout North America. To learn more about the Deka Lash franchise opportunity, visit https://www.dekalashfranchise.com/ SOURCE Deka Lash Ensuring Commitment to Solving Bay Area Youth Homelessness BERKELEY, Calif., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Larkin Street Youth Services and Fred Finch Youth & Family Services publicly announced the historic handover of the Turning Point transitional homelessness facility in Berkeley, California. All youth participants and program staff have been successfully transitioned to Larkin Street's care and supervision. The Fred Finch Board of Directors initiated this transfer to a provider specializing in the homeless youth population, so that the agency could strategically strengthen its focus by continuing services for its longstanding core areas of expertise, including mental health services, residential treatment and care of youth diagnosed with developmental disabilities, and the foster youth population. "Turning Point has set a standard serving hundreds of young adults as they secure permanent housing, achieve gainful employment, and pursue the option of higher education," said Thomas Alexander, President & CEO of Fred Finch. "We are confident in Larkin Street's ability to carry on this mission." Supported by funding from the City of Berkeley and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Larkin Street has also committed to making critical capital improvements to the Turning Point facility without increasing its size or neighborhood presence. "Fred Finch and Larkin Street have done incredible work in our region to support transitional age youth," said Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin. "The transition of operations at Turning Point will ensure that this vital program continues to provide young people experiencing homelessness opportunities to access secure permanent housing." The acquisition of Turning Point by Larkin Street Youth Services will build on its mission to meet the needs of young people experiencing homelessness throughout the Bay Area. It will further the organization's reach to the East Bay as its first brick-and-mortar service hub outside San Francisco. "We are committed to the simple idea that no young person should find themselves without a safe and stable place to call home, and if it does happen, it should be rare, brief, and one time only," said Sherilyn Adams, Executive Director of Larkin Street. Under the new leadership of Larkin Street, the Turning Point program will continue providing participants with the following services, which is staffed 24 hours a day: Transitional housing for youth ages 18-24 for up to 24 months Case management and life-skill training Health and wellness services, including individual and group therapy Educational supports, including GED testing and college placement Employment supports, including internship and job placements Notably, the transition of operations from Fred Finch to Larkin Street comes at a pivotal moment for the City of Berkeley and its neighboring communities. A recent HUD-authorized survey indicates youth ages 18 24 represent 11.8% of individuals experiencing homelessness in Berkeley, a marked increase from 7% in 2019, further underscoring the need for services like Turning Point. ABOUT FRED FINCH Since its founding 131 years ago, Fred Finch Youth & Family Services has been a leader in treating children and families across systems of care. With our main campus located in Oakland, we provide daily innovative, effective services supporting children, youth, young adults, and families to heal from trauma and lead healthier productive lives. We provide innovative, effective services to support participants and their families to reach their goals. For more information, please visit www.fredfinch.org . ABOUT LARKIN STREET YOUTH SERVICES Larkin Street Youth Services is an internationally recognized leader in providing effective housing, education, employment, and health services to at-risk, homeless, and runaway youth. Larkin Street reaches ages 12 to 24 across San Francisco and has served over 75,000 youth since 1984. Three out of four who complete the full range of Larkin Street programs successfully exit to stable housing. For more information, please visit www.larkinstreetyouth.org . Contact: Marcus Young 415-505-2524 [email protected] SOURCE Fred Finch BEIJING, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Xi Jinping was elected general secretary of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the committee's first plenary session held on Sunday, according to the communique of the plenary session. The session, presided over by Xi, was attended by 203 members of the 20th CPC Central Committee and 168 alternate members. Xi was also named chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission at the session. The members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee elected at the session are Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi. Zhao and Wang were members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee. Li Qiang, Cai and Li Xi have served as Party chiefs of municipal CPC committees in Shanghai, Beijing and the Provincial CPC committee of Guangdong Province since 2017. Ding has been director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee since 2017. Analysts said the new central leadership of the Party with a strong core leadership, demonstrated solid unity, which is a key advantage and essential element for the Party to handle complex challenges and accomplish new great missions in the future, and to withstand "dangerous storms" in a turbulent world together. Also elected at the first plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee were members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee at the session, which endorsed the members of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat nominated by the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. The session named the members of the Central Military Commission, with Zhang Youxia and He Weidong as vice chairmen. The session approved the secretary, deputy secretaries and members of the Standing Committee of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) elected at the first plenary session of the 20th CCDI. Remarks of confidence After the plenary session concluded, Xi led the Party's new central leadership to meet Chinese and foreign journalists on Sunday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and delivered a speech at the meeting with the press. Xi said China will open its door wider to the rest of the world. "We'll be steadfast in deepening reform and opening up across the board, and in pursuing high-quality development," Xi said when meeting the press, noting that a prosperous China will create many more opportunities for the world. Just as China cannot develop in isolation from the world, the world needs China for its development, Xi said. Through over 40 years of relentless reform and opening-up, China has created the twin miracles of fast economic growth and long-term social stability, he said. Chinese analysts said it shows that both the CPC's and Chinese people's determination on reform and opening-up is unchanged, and the Party will unwaveringly insist on the successful policy and strategy, which is a message of confidence and certainty not only to the Chinese economic development, but also to the world in turbulence and global recovery. The Chinese economy has great resilience and potential, Xi said. "Its strong fundamentals will not change, and it will remain on the positive trajectory over the long run." Humanity's shared values Xi on Sunday also expressed China's commitment to promoting the building of a human community with a shared future. "We will work with peoples of all other countries to champion humanity's shared values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom to safeguard global peace and promote global development, and keep promoting the building of a human community with a shared future," Xi said when meeting the press at the Great Hall of the People. Xi's remarks further highlight the core ideas of China's diplomacy since the 18th CPC National Congress, emphasizing the stability and continuity of major diplomatic policies, which drew a sharp contrast with certain countries that emphasize their own absolute security and maximize their own interests, building up small blocs, Su Xiaohui, deputy director of Department of International and Strategic Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday. "It shows that our diplomacy is not based on selfish and zero-sum mentalities, and the idea of promoting a human community with a shared future is winning and will win more support from the international community, especially from developing countries," Su said. At this critical moment for the world to learn what China's core leadership will do, experts noted that China's core diplomatic ideas were incorporated in Xi's first address since he was elected general secretary of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, indicating that China will uphold those common values of humanity by highlighting fairness and justice. Keep Party invincible "A political party can only become invincible if it remains committed to self-reform, even though it has had a glorious past," Xi made the remarks when meeting the press at the Great Hall of the People. The revolutionary travails and tempering of the past century, and especially of the first decade of the new era, have made the CPC stronger and more dynamic, Xi said. Zhang Shuhua, director of the Institute of Political Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday that "Facing an increasingly complex international environment, the CPC underscores a strong leadership, showing its capability to organize, unite and execute." Political authority, consistency and certainty of the leadership are important for a major power to prevent the risk and handle the crisis in a turbulent world, and the CPC provides crucial advantages for China to overcome challenges in the future and to win the tough competition and confrontation launched by a few countries, experts said. SOURCE Global Times Research finds people living with IBS who experience greater condition control report more positive HCP relationships PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Union , the leader in social health, has been accepted to present research about irritable bowel syndrome symptom control, relationships with healthcare professionals and perceived quality of care at the 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, also known as ACG 2022. The research, in the form of a poster titled "IBS Patients Report a Lack of Symptom Control, HCP-Prescribed Options," will be presented from 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 25. Leveraging findings from Health Union's IBS In America 2020 survey of 1,930 people living with irritable bowel syndrome, the research aimed to better understand how people living with the condition who report a lack of symptom control perceive their quality of care and relationships with healthcare professionals. The research reveals that 40% of survey respondents considered their condition severe and 55% considered their IBS moderate. Despite the availability of various IBS treatments, only 12% of survey respondents felt their IBS was under control with their current treatment plan. Respondents who considered their IBS under control were more likely than those who didn't to report satisfaction with the care received from their HCP and to say their HCP clearly explains treatment options. The research authors are Health Union's Samantha Costa, director of community development; Shayna Yeates, associate director of community development; and Amanda Lipski, associate director of insights engagement and operations. In addition to being presented in person, the poster will also be available via the conference's virtual ePoster Hall, along with a three-minute narration. ACG 2022 brings together the top gastrointestinal professionals from around the world to communicate the latest clinical information on timely topics in gastroenterology and hepatology. The conference - a hybrid event this year with both in-person and virtual attendance options - runs Oct. 21-26 at the Charlotte (NC) Convention Center. About Health Union Health Union is the proven industry leader driving and amplifying social health. As the premier social health company, only Health Union encourages the dynamic, real-time action people take to find meaningful connections and share information that impact their health journey. The company reaches millions of people through the largest portfolio of condition-specific online health communities (e.g., Migraine.com, MultipleSclerosis.net, LungCancer.net) and health leaders - addressing virtually every condition and providing the information, connection and support they need. SOURCE Health Union Elected officials and local business leaders join M&T executives EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- M&T Bank officially opened a new Multicultural Banking Center in East Hartford last week on October 18. The branch joined more than 100 existing such centers across M&T's footprint, part of the bank's ongoing efforts to provide a distinctive M&T experience shaped by the preferences and perspectives of customers in culturally diverse communities. M&T's Multicultural Banking Centers are intended to serve as community hubs where customers can receive banking services in their preferred language and with an understanding of their culture. The centers create opportunities for businesses, nonprofits and community members to attend networking events, financial literacy classes, collaborate on community projects, and more. The East Hartford branch employs bilingual, Spanish and English fluent bankers hired from within the surrounding community. M&T offers a 10% bilingual premium pay to employees who have successfully passed their fluency assessment. "It's important for our customers to not only have bankers that speak their language, but also to have bankers that look like them and understand their cultural attributes and banking behaviors," said David Femi, Head of Multicultural Banking & Diverse Market Strategy, M&T Bank. "We are a community bank through and through, and it is our mission to take every possible step to ensure we're meeting the needs of our customers. A significant element of that is to have people who live in their communities serving their friends, family, and neighbors. Our teams in our designated Multicultural branches will serve the cultural and linguistic needs of our customers and communities. We've seen this successful and differentiated multicultural model thrive elsewhere, and we're thrilled to bring this first branch to Connecticut in our new, expanded footprint." "We are thrilled to be bringing additional banking services to the East Hartford community. Our multicultural banking centers make a big difference in people's lives," said Michael Weinstock, Hartford Regional President, M&T Bank. "Our cultural understanding in banking closes divides and financially empowers diverse populations which in turn uplift communities. It is incredibly powerful for customers to be able to enter a new bank branch and be greeted by someone who not only speaks their language, but also understands their community, because they're members of that community. This is a milestone for M&T Bank to open this first of what will be more Multicultural Banking Centers across Connecticut." "East Hartford's strength is its wonderful blend of people who live here which brings with it a diversity and varied life experience. It's what makes this city so special. But residents often face difficulties caused by language barriers, so what M&T is doing is smart business, but also great for the community," said Michael P. Walsh, Mayor of East Hartford. State Representative Henry Genga, who represents East Hartford, also celebrated the ribbon cutting event by providing a citation from his office, marking the importance of the commitment by M&T Bank to the East Hartford community. The new 2,750-square-foot banking center is located at 957 Main St in East Hartford. The branch is full-service, offering the complete suite of consumer and business deposit and lending products, including residential mortgages. The East Hartford location also features a drive-up teller and ATM services. About M&T M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. Media Contact: Max Reiss [email protected] Equal Housing Lender. 2022 M&T Bank. Member FDIC. SOURCE M&T Bank Corporation BOSTON, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Graphene is a two-dimensional material that could potentially have a significant impact on next-gen technology, but it could be argued that nobody agrees about what exactly that material is with manufacturers offering a range of materials with different characteristics, all sold under the umbrella term "graphene". The true description of graphene is that of a single atomic layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal array. However, the nanocarbon material landscape is much more complicated than this simple statement, with single-layer, few-layer, multi-layer, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and both graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) all to be considered as types of graphene. IDTechEx has been investigating the nanocarbon industry for more than a decade. They have released the latest version of their graphene report, "Graphene Market & 2D Materials Assessment 2023-2033", which includes granular 10-year volume and value forecast segmented by end-use applications for graphene, player profiles and benchmarking studies. This article will focus on the attempts to implement standardization within the graphene industry and the issues affecting this endeavor. As part of this long-standing investigation into the nanocarbon industry, IDTechEx has regularly spoken with leading members of the graphene industry, and one clear takeaway from many discussions was the need for reliable standardization. Customers stated that various suppliers providing graphene materials that were interchangeable in the application stage would increase their confidence in scaling up the production of their graphene-enhanced products. The majority of graphene manufacturers gave an impression of desiring standardization to ensure all products being sold as "graphene" are indeed graphene. This removal of graphitic material from the graphene industry would negate the possibility of potential customers receiving inadequate material and losing faith in the enhancement that graphene could offer. The current state of affairs requires regulatory approval to sell materials into certain regional markets, with governing bodies including EPA, FDA, and REACH. An example of the benefit of achieving such accreditation can be seen with NanoXplore, who announced in August of 2021 that they had entered into a consent order with the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act. This consent order permits NanoXplore to provide its graphene material as an additive for a range of composite materials, such as plastics and elastomers, "with no annual volume limitation". This announcement came on the back of a supply and distribution agreement with Gerdau Graphene, supporting the ability to expand industrial-scale graphene applications into the Americas. NanoXplore have also been active in establishing the "Graphene REACH registration consortium" in Europe alongside AGM and the Sixth Element, and have since been joined by other companies such as First Graphene, etc. It could be considered beneficial for all within the industry if regional regulatory bodies referenced a uniform standard when setting their individual regulations. Several players have come together in a consortium to develop an International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) approved framework for commercially available graphene materials. Technical Committee (TC) 229 has been established with respect to nanotechnologies and is tasked with developing standards across a range of parameters. It is not a straightforward project with numerous variables that must be accounted for beyond the obvious physical dimensions such as lateral size, thickness, number of layers, and aspect ratio. In total, the ISO/TC 229 will endeavor to establish base values for 19 measurable characteristics within a graphene material including the aforementioned physical dimensions but also accounting for other criteria such as oxygen content, functionalization, and structural defects. Some GNPs fall outside the scope of the ISO definition of graphene but still bring value to the nanocarbon market given the low cost of manufacturing and value-add as a composite additive. However, despite this effort to achieve a globally accepted standard for graphene and its derivative materials, it is noted by IDTechEx that a standard is only as valuable as the number of regional regulatory bodies that adhere to said standard. The benefit of an accepted standard could see confidence in the industry soar with respect to both quality of product and ability to procure said product from several suppliers, with a potential for subsequent growth in production of graphene-enhanced products. With applications ranging from biotech to composites to next-generation electronics, we need to agree on how to define the material that could shape the world of tomorrow - today. IDTechEx draws a comparison with the current process of achieving regulatory approval from the EPA for CNTs. In April 2022, a bipartisan group of Michigan members of Congress sent a letter to the EPA on behalf of GM and LG, urging the approval of CNTs to be expedited, with a proposed opening of a manufacturing facility in Michigan dependent on approval being granted. Achieving regulatory approval is not a quick or easy process, and at times can be prohibitively expensive. These are all barriers to achieving standardization for a young industry such as graphene, but the example of CNTs shows that the involvement of one or more multinationals can accelerate the process due to existing capital and lobbying capability. For more details on the range of applications available via the various types of graphene materials, see the IDTechEx market report "Graphene Market & 2D Materials Assessment 2023-2033" at www.IDTechEx.com/Graphene. For the full portfolio of advanced materials research from IDTechEx, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research/AM. About IDTechEx IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.IDTechEx.com . Media Contact: Natalie Fifield Digital Marketing Manager [email protected] +44(0)1223 812300 Social Media Links: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/IDTechEx LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/idtechex/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IDTechExResearch Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/478371/IDTechEx_Logo.jpg SOURCE IDTechEX RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- iGan Arabia is pleased to announce that two of its leading portfolio companies have been selected to present at the upcoming flagship FII conference taking place this week in Riyadh. Over the course of three days with more than 500 International speakers, the conference will host four immersive summits and 180 sessions led by global leaders. Six thousand delegates will address the most pressing economic questions of our time to shape the future of the global economy. Moleculight and Retispec have been selected by FII to showcase their products as key innovations addressing important healthcare challenges for the region. Moleculight has developed the first-ever wound assessment device to provide real-time imaging of bacteria distribution at the point of care. MolecuLight i:X and DX imaging systems are point-of-care handheld imaging devices for the real-time detection and localization of bacterial load in wounds and digital wound measurement. The Company has seen a 240% increase in 12-week wound healing rates doubling the current standard of care. Retispec is an AI-Imaging company focused on early detection of neurodegenerative diseases through a simple eye exam. The Company recently announced the launch of a unique initiative to screen for Alzheimer's disease in community settings and is backed by the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative (DAC). Retispec was One of Twelve Select Recipients of the Inaugural Global Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative Grant Program for Healthcare System Preparedness. This year was the most competitive on record for the FII technology partnership program with more than 80 companies in the selection process representing the best of global innovation. Both Moleculight and Retispec were chosen for their disruptive solutions that will improve patient outcomes while lowering overall healthcare costs. About iGan Arabia: iGan Arabia is a US$250M regional fund to drive MedTech innovation across the Middle East and North Africa region. The Fund is investing in AI/Cloud-enhanced medical devices and digital health technologies and will help accelerate the GCC as a world-class MedTech hub. The Fund was launched in 2022 by iGan Partners, Canada's leading healthcare technology investors and Faisal Belhoul, a Dubai-based investments professional and entrepreneur. SOURCE iGan Arabia SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The largest and most advanced IVF clinic group in India, Indira IVF, will be rolling out the latest in Artificial Intelligence technology across their 100+ clinics in India in November 2022. This AI technology, called Life Whisperer, has been tested in a number of international clinical studies and been shown to help patients get pregnant sooner and more affordably. Life Whisperer analyzes images of patient embryos to assess their quality, supporting the embryologist in selecting the embryo most likely to lead to a successful outcome. Life Whisperer, a product of AI healthcare company Presagen, uses AI to assess two embryo quality metrics. Life Whisperer Viability assesses how likely an embryo is to lead to a pregnancy, and Life Whisperer Genetics non-invasively assesses embryo genetic integrity. Life Whisperer is currently authorized for sale in over 40 countries worldwide, with India as a key market. Life Whisperer is backed by extensive scientific evidence, clinical data, and numerous recent publications, including two in Nature Scientific Reports, two in Human Reproduction, and a recent paper in Reproductive Biomedicine Online (RBMO), and is regularly presented at global fertility meetings conducted by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Indira IVF's Chief of International Business and New Initiatives Mr Srinivas Madabusi said "We are delighted to be able to include this new technology for all our patients as part of their IVF cycle at no additional cost. This will ensure couples can receive the best IVF treatment possible, and the greatest chance of starting a new family sooner." Presagen's CEO Dr Michelle Perugini said "We are very excited to be working with Indira IVF group, helping them integrate the most technically advanced and well-tested AI technology into their IVF treatment procedures." Each patient who uses Life Whisperer will also receive a report of the AI results on their embryos, not only as a keepsake but also to provide additional transparency and confidence around their IVF procedure. Indira IVF and Presagen have a long-term partnership to continue furthering the advancement of AI in fertility, collaborating to build additional AI technology with the aim of improving IVF outcomes for patients in India and globally. About Indira IVF Indira IVF is India's largest infertility speciality clinics chain with 114 + centres across the country, supported by a passionate workforce of over 2,500 people. Indira IVF performs about 33,000+ IVF procedures a year the highest number in the country. As a responsible leader, Indira IVF constantly strives to dispel the stigma, taboo, myths, and misinformation about infertility. Indira IVF is also committed to developing and grooming talent for fertility treatments. Through Indira Fertility Academy, it collaborates with like-minded organisations and institutions to further this cause. Having perceived the potential of Indira IVF in the sector, TA Associates, a leading global equity firm from the U.S., invested in the organisation in 2019. Indira IVF was founded in the year 2011 in Udaipur, Rajasthan by Dr Ajay Murdia. For more information log onto https://www.indiraivf.com/ Life Whisperer Life Whisperer is a world-leader in the application of AI in IVF. The Life Whisperer Viability and Genetics AI-based embryo assessment tools are the first to be commercialized in a series of applications that encompass the complete IVF journey. Life Whisperer aims to improve IVF success rates at every point and, as a result, reduce time-to-pregnancy, making IVF more affordable and accessible to patients globally. Life Whisperer is being used in IVF clinics around the world. Presagen Presagen is an AI healthcare company that is changing the way clinics, patients, and medical data from around the world are connected through AI. Its platform, The Social Network for Healthcare, connects clinics and patients globally, and enables collaboration and data sharing to create scalable AI healthcare products that are affordable and accessible for all. The decentralized network democratizes the creation of AI products, promotes collaboration through incentives, and protects data privacy and ownership. With a focus on improving Women's Health outcomes globally, Presagen's first product, Life Whisperer, is being used by IVF clinics globally to improve pregnancy outcomes for couples struggling with fertility. With a vision of creating the largest network of clinics, patients, and medical data from around the world, Presagen is driving the future of AI Enhanced Healthcare. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1832001/Presagen_Logo_Black_Text_Logo.jpg SOURCE Presagen If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Led by Gradient Ventures and Fly Ventures with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners and TSVC. The funding will be used to accelerate growth through key hires. SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InfinyOn , a real-time event streaming company, raised a $5M round of seed funding, led by Gradient Ventures and Fly Ventures , with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners , TSVC , and others. Real-time event streaming adoption is gaining momentum as an integral component of delivering exceptional customer experiences and enhanced operations. With products built on modern cloud-native architecture, InfinyOn seeks to become a trusted partner for organizations seeking to kick off and expand their data-in-motion journey. "We live in an event-driven world, where users communicate with businesses on multiple channels in real-time. Car vendors roll out services to detect accidents then call drivers and passengers to ensure everyone's safety. E-commerce vendors track packages to inform customers of their location, medical devices track blood sugar levels and make recommendations to users," said A.J. Hunyady, co-founder and CEO of InfinyOn. "Organizations need to react to situations in real-time so they can give their users the best experience." InfinyOn built a real-time event streaming platform with in-line computation capabilities powered by WebAssembly that enables organizations to deploy and operate large-scale multi-channel data pipelines from edge to Cloud. InfinyOn gained traction across various industries, and now ranks as a top vendor on G2's list for Event Stream Processing Software products. InfinyOn leverages Fluvio Open Source , a programmable platform for data-in-motion built in Rust , an up-and-coming programming language known for strong safety, small footprint, and low memory. With well over 1,000 Github stars , Fluvio is gaining popularity within the developer and open source communities. "Legacy data platforms built in the Java era generate large binaries, require lots of memory, and are challenging to operate from edge to core. These also lack in-line processing capabilities for real-time decisions," said Sehyo Chang co-founder and CTO of InfinyOn. "We simplify data architectures by removing the need for ETL tools, provide a more cost-effective platform with up to 80x reduction in memory and deliver maximum security with a memory safe solution." "We integrate healthcare data coming from different sources: IoT, patient inputs, and physicians. With InfinyOn we can do it rapidly and efficiently with a modern tool. It is written in Rust which makes it easier for the team to integrate compared with Kafka." said Nammu CEO, Chris Brucker. InfinyOn makes it easy to extract, shape, and transform data from multiple sources and compute an outcome in real-time. While still in Beta, early adopters see compelling advantages in a proof of concept with InfinyOn compared to alternative solutions. Aside from ease of use and the speed of development, vendors see significant reductions in the total cost of ownership compared to other vendors. "The ability to create data pipelines that collect events from our vending machines and notify suppliers in real-time is game-changing," said Cory Hewitt, CEO of Gimme . "Our customers want more ways to use the data in their database in making informed decisions about product inventory and product ordering at the warehouse level. More data requests equals more server demand. So we're investing in powerful, scalable tools, like InfinyOn to queue and organize all these new data requests." About InfinyOn InfinyOn, a real-time event streaming company, has architected a programmable platform for data in motion built on Rust and enables continuous intelligence for connected apps. Founded in 2019 by A.J. Hunyady and Sehyo Chang, InfinyOn aims to accelerate organizations' journey to the real-time economy . SmartModules enable enterprises to program their data pipelines as they flow between producers and consumers for real-time services. Its Cloud product lets enterprises quickly correlate events, apply business intelligence, and derive value from their data. To learn more, please visit infinyon.com . About Gradient Ventures Gradient Ventures, Google's AI-focused venture fund, helps founders build transformational companies. The fund focuses on helping founders navigate the challenges in developing new technology products, using the latest best practices in recruiting, marketing, design, and engineering so that great ideas can come to life. Gradient was founded in 2017 and is based in Palo Alto, California. For more information, visit www.gradient.com. Media contact Grant Swanson 408-624-7001 [email protected] SOURCE InfinyOn PITTSBURGH, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a new line of bandages, braces, and limb supports to better camouflage or blend in with the specific wearer," said an inventor, from Riverside, Calif., "so I invented MY SHADE. My aesthetic design would not bring attention to the wound, injury, or prosthetic." The invention provides an improved design for bandages, braces, or limb supports. In doing so, it enables the user to better match the product to their natural skin tone. As a result, it would not garner a great deal of attention and it could help to reduce embarrassment. The invention features a discreet design that is easy to use so it is ideal for the general population including African Americans, Asians, Latinos, whites, etc. Additionally, it is producible in design variations. The original design was submitted to the Orange County sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 21-OCM-1533, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp PITTSBURGH, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I disliked how unorganized my things could be when traveling," said the inventor from Westland, Mich. "I thought of this idea to help provide frequent travelers with a convenient and safe way to pack clothing for easy travel." She invented EZ-TRAVEL that is comprised of a transparent unit which would allow security screeners to quickly and easily view the housed items. This would provide a foldable, convenient and safe means to pack clothing and valuables. It could save travelers time and lead to a more enjoyable vacation or business trip. Additionally, this could help reduce the incidence of overpacking that may result in additional fees due. The original design was submitted to the National sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 21-OSK-357, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp Invisible Fence Brand donates $10,000 to help keep pets in their forever homes as part of their fourth annual From Shelter to Forever Home Donation Contest KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Invisible Fence Brand hosted its fourth annual nationwide From Shelter to Forever Home Donation Contest. The mission of this contest was to bring awareness to lost pets. The contest kicked off on July first, in honor of National Lost Pet Prevention Month. As a pioneer pet containment industry, Invisible Fence asked the community to unite around this cause. Raising Awareness for Lost Pets Invisible Fence offers the most premier dog fence on the market including professional installation, Perfect Start Plus Training and exclusive Boundary Plus Technology According to the American Humane Association, approximately ten million dogs and cats are lost in the U.S. every year (American Humane). Through the From Shelter to Forever Home Donation Contest, Invisible Fence Brand's goal was to raise awareness of how you can reduce the number of missing pets and help increase the shelter's return-to-owner rates. Throughout the months of July and August, the public was invited to nominate their local animal shelters for a chance to win a grand prize of $10,000, donated on behalf of Invisible Fence. The shelter or rescue with the most nominations will win the monetary donation. This year included a second-place raffle prize, allowing more shelters to help lost pets in their communities. "We're thrilled to have been able to host our fourth-annual From Shelter to Forever Home Donation Contest again this year," said Ed Hoyt, Vice President, and General Manager of Invisible Fence Brand. "We were able to connect and engage with over 2,000 shelters nationwide. Their hard work to support local pets is recognized and much appreciated. Thousands of shelter and rescue organizations across the U.S. have been rallying for nominations and the votes are finally in! With over 30,000 nominations and shelters from 50 different states, this was no easy race. After two months of nominating shelters and raising awareness for lost pets, the winners have finally been named. Coming in as runner-up, the shelter that will receive the $3,000 donation is Berkeley Animal Center in Moncks Corner, SC. Their mission is to ensure all animals in their care are treated with dignity and respect while finding safe and loving lifelong homes. In 2020 alone, more than 5,600 animalsfrom dogs and cats to rabbits, horses, goats, chickens, and morewere brought to the Animal Center to receive necessary shelter and care. Finally, the grand prize winner who will receive $10,000 is The Animal Pad in San Diego, CA. The Animal Pad is a non-profit, all-breed dog rescue that focuses on saving dogs from high-kill shelters and the streets of Southern California and Mexico. Their goal is to build, operate, and maintain a no-kill animal sanctuary that provides animals necessary vet care, foster homes, rehabilitation, and adoptions into loving homes. Preventing Lost Pets Before They Become Lost In addition to hosting this contest to raise awareness for lost pets, Invisible Fence is also a resource for pet owners to learn about tips, products, and solutions that help prevent their pets from escaping. Since 1973, Invisible Fence has protected over 3,000,000 cats and dogs with their outdoor containment solutions, including Traditional Containment Systems, Boundary Plus Technology, and GPS Satellite Technology. "Our 50 years of expertise and exclusive technology is only part of what makes Invisible Fence the safest and most secure wireless dog fence on the market," said Hoyt. "It is our animal behaviorists approved Perfect Start Plus Training Protocol that ensures a safe, stress-free adjustment for your pets to learn their boundaries and be confident in the yard." Taking preventative measures like installing an Invisible Fence system and recovery measures like microchipping and identification tags are the best ways to keep your pet within safe boundaries and living happily at home. Invisible Fence asks the community to continue spreading the word about what you can do to prevent lost dogs and cats in your community. Visit the Invisible Fence blog for tips to help keep your pets from getting lost. For additional information about Invisible Fence, call (800) 578-3647 or visit InvisibleFence.com. Follow Invisible Fence Brand on Facebook. About Invisible Fence Brand Invisible Fence pioneered the pet containment industry in 1973, making it their mission to provide safe boundaries inside and outside of the home. The Radio Systems Corporation owned company predominantly sells pet containment, avoidance and access solutions across the U.S. and Canada. In addition to offering award-winning products like Boundary Plus Technology, Authorized Dealers provide professional installation, Perfect Start Plus Training and integrated solutions that have protected more than three million pets to date. Invisible Fence also founded the Project Breathe Program in 2006, donating more than 32,000 pet oxygen masks to fire departments and first responders. For more information on Invisible Fence or to find a local dealer, visit InvisibleFence.com or follow the company on Facebook. Contact: Courtney Gross Email: [email protected] Phone: (270) 217-7981 SOURCE Invisible Fence Brand After eight years in leadership roles at Vaniam Group, Herzog's appointment demonstrates agency's continued focus on client service, operational excellence, and healthy growth CHICAGO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vaniam Group has named Jennifer Buffington Herzog, MPH, to be the organization's President. Having served in increasingly senior leadership roles within the company since 2014, Ms. Herzog will continue to oversee many of the company's client-facing departments, while also driving greater alignment across business development, client service, and operational excellence. She will report directly to Deanna B. van Gestel, Vaniam Group's founder and CEO, and she will partner with the Executive Committee to develop and implement Vaniam Group's strategic vision. Herzog's appointment demonstrates Vaniam Group's focus on client service, operational excellence, and healthy growth. Tweet this Jennifer Buffington Herzog, MPH, President of Vaniam Group "Jen is the perfect fit to lead Vaniam Group into the future," said Ms. van Gestel. "Having envisioned and built several of our core offerings, she knows precisely how to enable our clients' success while also profitably scaling our own middle market business. With deep connections across both the pharmaceutical industry and clinical practice, she champions meaningful collaboration between the scientific, medical, and biopharmaceutical communities. Furthermore, Jen possesses the expertise and disposition necessary to lead and motivate our employees around our shared vision for success. I am excited for the future: for Vaniam Group, for our employees, and for our clients." Ms. Herzog stated: "I am honored to be appointed President of Vaniam Group, a company that has well earned its reputation as the premier independent communications agency in the oncology and hematology community. Over the past eight years, I have seen this company blossom from a boutique firm to an elite global healthcare communications agency with hundreds of employees focused on the people we serve and connect our biopharma clients, healthcare practitioners, and ultimately, the thousands of individuals who are diagnosed with cancer every single day. I am inspired by our dedicated staff, and I am eager to work with them in my new role to build on this success. As we look ahead to 2023 and beyond, we are well positioned to innovate, understand the rapidly evolving treatment landscape, communicate complex scientific data with clarity, and grow our business in sustainable and healthy ways." Ms. Herzog has more than 20 years of experience across oncology healthcare marketing, medical communications, and account management. She has successfully led multiple teams in all phases of the pharmaceutical lifecycle, spanning early development, launch, label expansion, and established product. She has been a cornerstone leader at Vaniam Group since 2014, with roles including Vice President, Senior Vice President, and Executive Vice President. About Vaniam Group Vaniam Group is a people-first, purpose-driven, independent network of healthcare and scientific communications agencies committed to helping biopharmaceutical companies realize the full potential of their compounds in the oncology and hematology marketplace. Founded in 2007 as a virtual-by-design organization, Vaniam Group harnesses the talents and expertise of team members around the world. For more information, visit www.VaniamGroup.com SOURCE Vaniam Group LLC Record-setting growth attributed to community focused culture and a full service menu that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Just Love Coffee Cafe, the rapidly expanding full service neighborhood coffeehouse, announced franchise units operating in 23 states with an additional 85 under development. The Tennessee-based cafe best known for its artisan, fair trade, and organic coffees, craft beverages, waffles, and a full service menu, reported doubling its franchise units since initially opening with three stores in 2018. The brand has solidified its footprint in Tennessee with 10 locations but has since spanned the U.S. with franchises opening in Arizona, Colorado, Mississippi, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina Utah, and Minnesota. Franchise Development Director Kevin Bauerle said the phenomenal growth can be attributed to several factors that make Just Love Coffee different from the average coffee shop. New franchise owner Scott Lentini says his new location in Matawan, New Jersey, is receiving enthusiastic responses from customers who love the cafe's specialty, hand-roasted coffee selections and the full-service breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu. Franchise owner Brent Jackson recently celebrated the grand opening of his new Just Love Coffee Cafe location in Tupelo, Mississippi. "Just Love Coffee represents the pinnacle of what American coffee culture aspires to be," said Bauerle. "Not only do we serve high end, specialty roasted coffee that is roasted in small batches by hand, but we have a welcoming atmosphere that beckons our customers to return to socialize, work, or grab a meal any time of day or evening. Most customers are surprised that we offer complete meals rather than a few snacks or pastries available at many coffee shops." Just Love Coffee's spiraling growth is also due to the brand's aggressive franchise development plan that often places new units in small, underserved markets that have populations of 10,000 or less. Susan and Michael Norris are new franchise owners in Plainview, Nebraska, where the population is 1,350, but say a poll revealed the locals can't wait until the coffee shop opens in early 2023. "We polled a lot of people in the area, and they are excited to have a community focused coffee shop here," said Susan Norris, who is refurbishing a historic building dating back to 1892 that was once served as an opera house, a pool hall, and a dry goods store. "There are no other coffee shops within a 45-mile radius, so we are not worried at all about competition." Franchise owner Brent Jackson in Tupelo, Mississippi, celebrated his unit's grand opening on September 29 and has been amazed at the outpouring of love and support he has received from the community. True to Just Love Coffee's mission of giving back and supporting charitable causes, the Tupelo location hosted a Le Bonheur 5K Pumpkin Fun Run to benefit St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. And new franchise owner Scott Lentini in Matawan, New Jersey, said he is seeing a similar enthusiastic response from his customers who are accustomed to large chain coffee shops in neighboring metropolitan areas. "Right away, they are aware that we have something special, unique, and different," said Lentini, who runs the business with his family. "We have only been open for a few weeks, but we have events, giveaways, prizes, and we have a great atmosphere where people can hang out or work any time of day or evening. The fact that we have a full kitchen and people don't have to leave to get meals somewhere else is a huge plus." Bauerle added there is no end in sight for the brand's franchise development with plenty of territories open at fantastic prices and rights of first refusal. He confirmed the brand is on track to open an additional 40 locations by the end of the first quarter next year. "No matter where you find a Just Love Coffee location, you will see we are dedicated to giving back to the communities we serve, treating customers with generous hospitality, and creating a fun experience," said Bauerle. "We are always looking for franchise owners who are community minded and want to make a difference." For more information about Just Love Coffee franchise opportunities, visit www.justlovecoffeefranchise.com. ABOUT JUST LOVE COFFEE Founded in 2009 by current CEO Robb Webb and his wife, Emily, the company's "Eat, Drink, and Love" mantra grew out of a need to make the world a better place. The brand serves fair trade, organic, or direct trade coffee only, and has been named a finalist three times for Roaster of the Year by Roast Magazine. In addition to specialty hand roasted, artisan coffees and hand crafted beverages, the company's "Cause Coffees" are extremely popular, and include a Lifesaver Blend, which supports first responders, Roots of Love, which supports foster care and adoptive families, Serve Strong, which supports the Armed Services and their families, Essential Blend, which supports healthcare workers and their families, and Spectrum Blend, which supports individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. For more information, visit www.justlovecoffee.com. Contact: Rhonda Price (561) 371-9407 [email protected] SOURCE Just Love Coffee Cafe KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Kansas City Life Insurance Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.14 per share on Oct. 24, 2022. The dividend will be payable on Nov. 9, 2022, to stockholders of record on Nov. 3, 2022. Kansas City Life Insurance Company (OTCQX: KCLI) was established in 1895 and is based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Company's primary business is providing financial protection through the sale of life insurance and annuities. The Company operates in 49 states and the District of Columbia. For more information, please visit www.kclife.com. SOURCE Kansas City Life Insurance Company THE COLLECTION INCLUDES 6LPS, NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN PHOTOS, DESIGNED BY KAWS "TO THE MOON" TOUR HEADS TO EUROPE NOVEMBER 12 LOS ANGELES, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GRAMMY Award-winning multiplatinum sonic visionary, artist, producer, and director Kid Cudi proudly presents the Man On The Moon Trilogy Box Set, which will be available for pre-order as of 10/22 and delivering, on Friday November 4, 2022 exclusively through Kid Cudi's webstore via Republic/ UMe. Pre-order HERE. This is a limited-run product that will sell out! KID CUDI BLASTS OFF WITH FIRST-EVER MAN ON THE MOON TRILOGY BOX SET FOR NOVEMBER 4 For the first time ever, this expansive collection boasts all three entries of his influential, critically celebrated, and chart-topping epic Man On The Moon Trilogy. Adding another dimension to this must-have for collectors, 21st century world renowned fine artists KAWS personally designed the limited-edition box set packaging. Beyond spanning 6 vinyl LPs, the package includes a booklet with rare never-before-seen photos. Check out the full track listing below. In tandem with the Man On The Moon Trilogy Box Set, it's no surprise that Cudi and KAWS also teamed up to deliver fans an exclusive merchandise capsule. The line is comprised of signature heavyweight tees and crewnecks that highlight the box set art across 5 styles. Much like the box set itself, this capsule will only be available for a limited time. Get them HERE. The Man On The Moon Trilogy Box Set follows the release of Entergalactic, Kid Cudi's eighth full-length studio album and new animated NETFLIX special. Both the Entergalactic LP and film dropped this past September 30. Cudi recently completed the North American leg of his To the Moon 2022 World Tour. He will finish up with a European run next month stopping at The O2 in London, Verti Music Hall in Berlin, AFAS Live in Amsterdam, Palais 12 in Brussels, and the Zenith in Paris, with Milan closing out the tour at Fabrique on November 22. All remaining dates are below. Cudi stands on the precipice of a major moment once again. 2020's Man On The Moon III: The Chosen crash landed at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 as his fifth Top 10 debut on the respective chart, while the single "Tequila Shots" is now platinum. However, he initially blasted off into history with Man on the Moon: The End of Day in 2009. It has since gone double-platinum, garnered three GRAMMY Award nominations, and seized a spot on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time." A year later, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager claimed #3 on the Billboard Top 200 and went platinum. "To The Moon" Tour 2022 (remaining dates) Sat Nov 12, 2022 Berlin, Germany Verti Music Hall Sun Nov 13, 2022 Amsterdam, Netherlands AFAS Live Tue Nov 15, 2022 London, UK The O2 Thu Nov 17, 2022 Brussels, Belgium Palais 12 Sun Nov 20, 2022 Paris, France Zenith Tue Nov 22, 2022 Milan, Italy Fabrique TRACKLISTING: Man On The Moon: The End Of Day In My Dreams (Cudder Anthem) Soundtrack 2 My Life Simple As Solo Dolo (Nightmare) Heart Of A Lion (Kid Cudi Theme Music) My World [feat. Billy Craven ) Day 'N' Night (nightmare) Sky Might Fall Enter Galactic (Love Connection Part I) Alive (Nightmare) [feat. Ratatat] Cudi ZOne Make Her Say [feat. Kanye West , Common] Pursuit Of Happiness [feat. MGMT, Ratatat] Hyyerr [feat. Chip Tha Ripper ] Up Up & Away Man On The Moon T.G.I.F. [feat. Chip Tha Ripper ] Is There Any Love [feat. Wale] Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager Scott Mescudi Vs. The World [feat. CeeLo Green] REVOFEV Don't Play This Song [feat. Mary J. Blige ] We Aite (Wake Your Mind Up) Marijuana Mojo So Dope Ashin' Kusher Erase Me - Main [feat. Kanye West ] Wild'n Cuz I'm Young The Mood MANIAC Mr. Rager These Worries [feat. Mary J. Blige ] The End [feat. GLC, Chip Tha Ripper , Nicole Wray ] All Along GHOST! Trapped In My Mind Man On The Moon III: The Chosen Beautiful Trip Tequila Shots Another Day She Knows This Dive Damaged Heaven On Earth Show Out [feat. Skepta, Pop Smoke] Solo Dolo, Pt. III Sad People Elsie's Baby Boy (flashback) Sept. 16 The Void Lovin' Me [feat. Phoebe Bridgers ] The Pale Moonlight Rockstar Knights [feat. Trippie Redd] 14 Da Kidz Lord I Know SOURCE Universal Music Enterprises RYE BROOK, N.Y., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) announced today that Kite, a Gilead Company has signed a two-year agreement to join LLS as the National Presenting Sponsor of Celebration & Community at Light The Night events across the U.S. helping raise critical funds to provide support for patients and their families. Light The Night events occur in over 120 cities across the U.S. each fall, bringing together thousands of supporters from the blood cancer community. Walks for 2022 are well underway and open for registration here. "Partnering with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is an honor," said Mary Lynn Carver, VP of Public Affairs and Patient Advocacy for Kite. "The Light The Night events bring the blood cancer community together to celebrate treatment progress and remind us of how far we still have to go to envision a world one day without the devastation of blood cancer." Light The Night events bring together survivors, supporters, as well as individuals who have lost loved ones to blood cancer, all carrying illuminated lanterns for a memorable and moving evening. "The right community can offer you hope, connection, and crucial resources," said LLS President and Chief Executive Officer Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D. "Through Light The Night, LLS is bringing light to the blood cancer community and this wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our incredible partners like Kite, a Gilead Company." The funds raised through Light The Night are used to support LLS's mission priorities: Research, Education & Support and Policy & Advocacy. To become part of the Light The Night community, visit www.lightthenight.org. Blood cancer patients and their families should contact the LLS Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., ET. About Kite Kite, a Gilead Company, is a global biopharmaceutical company based in Santa Monica, California, with manufacturing operations in North America and Europe. Kite's singular focus is cell therapy to treat and potentially cure cancer. As the cell therapy leader, Kite has more approved CAR T indications to help more patients than any other company. For more information on Kite, please visit www.kitepharma.com. Follow Kite on social media on Twitter (@KitePharma) and LinkedIn. About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. For additional information visit lls.org/lls-newsnetwork. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For LLS Contact: For Kite Contact Name: Kristin Hoose Name: Anna Padula Phone: (914) 821-8973 Phone: (215) 760-2928 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) present a significant security threat to enterprise data and this niche has become one of the fastest-growing segments of the cybersecurity industry, according to industry analyst and researcher Richard Stiennon . In the webinar Latest Trends in API Security and Learn How to Stay Ahead of Attackers , held October 20, 2022, Stiennon and API security expert and founder of Resurface Labs , Rob Dickinson, discussed the numerous vulnerabilities that exist with APIs and how companies can update their security strategy and tactics to effectively respond to API-based attacks. Smart, simple API security APIs present an inherent security risk due to their architecture, and because of the limited visibility organizations have on the number and types of APIs in both their internal systems as well as their publicly facing applications. Security attacks using APIs are increasing, and the industry is responding in kind. "Vulnerabilities in data sharing between applications are readily becoming more apparent as the use of APIs continues to proliferate," states Stiennon. "As enterprise security teams move to target this specific threat to their data, the API security sector continues to see dramatic increases in both revenue and number of product offerings." As part of the discussion, Stiennon presented findings from his third-quarter report on the direction of the API security industry. The webinar also provided specifics on how APIs are being exploited and practical solutions on how to mitigate this exposure. The design of APIs requires that companies look outside conventional security measures. According to Dickinson. "To safeguard data, companies need to look beyond traditional perimeter tools. APIs generate phenomenal amounts of traffic, and the API economy is showing no indication of slowing. To protect against the exploitation of rapidly proliferating API vulnerabilities, companies must improve their visibility, detection, and response to API-based attacks. Beyond traditional perimeter-based security approaches, organizations must be able to detect malicious API activity generated by attackers masquerading as paid, authenticated users. This is a critical risk for organizations in the new API-centric world of doing business." Individuals interested in accessing the full webinar can find it on Resurface Labs website or using the following link: https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/16487/562021?utm_source=KatzcyConsulting&utm_medium=brighttalk&utm_campaign=562021. About Resurface Labs Mapped to OWASP Top10, Resurface alerts on threats with complete data security patterns and behaviors. Resurface operates at runtime and is the only API security solution engineered for deep inspection at scale. Efficiently handling millions of API calls, Resurface detects and alerts on active attacks with complete datasets. Resurface Labs Inc is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. About IT-Harvest Richard Stiennon is Chief Research Analyst for IT-Harvest, the firm he founded in 2005 to currently cover the 2,850 vendors that make up the IT security industry. He has presented on the topic of cybersecurity in 31 countries on six continents. He published Curmudgeon: How to Succeed as an Industry Analyst in 2020. In 2019 he published Secure Cloud Transformation: The CIO's Journey. He also wrote Surviving Cyberwar (Government Institutes, 2010) and Washington Post bestseller, There Will Be Cyberwar. He is a member of the advisory board at several technology startups and sits on the boards of Anitian and QuickHeal. Stiennon was Chief Strategy Officer for Blancco Technology Group, the Chief Marketing Officer for Fortinet, Inc., and VP Threat Research at Webroot Software. Prior to these positions, he was a Research VP at Gartner. He has a BS in Aerospace Engineering and an MA in War in the Modern World from King's College, London. Follow @cyberwar on Twitter. Media Contact: Pat Clawson, 720-804-0324, [email protected] SOURCE Resurface Labs LGA Forges Strategic Partnership with iPipeline to Transform its Business Through Access to Real-Time, Data-Driven Insights and Benchmarks EXTON, Pa. and FREDERICK, Md., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- iPipeline and Legal & General America (LGA) have embarked on a data integration initiative which will help the life insurance provider strengthen distribution wallet share, product underwriting, decisioning, and pricing capabilities across its organization. This strategic relationship will enable LGAa top five U.S. term life insurance provider--to tap into iPipeline's extensive real-time industry data, as well as its distribution network, to improve speed at all points of the insurance process -- from quote to delivery. By using InsureSight, iPipeline's data and case analytics, LGA will be able to competitively benchmark its sales and market performance, providing them with real-time insight at a more granular level. "Legal & General America is a forward-thinking life insurance provider, and we are proud that our innovative solutions can offer insights which can bring the firm even closer to its distribution partners," said David Libesman, Vice President of Data Analytics at iPipeline. "The depth and breadth of our anonymized industry data enables us to quickly identify any bottlenecks in the process while focusing on continuous improvement. This ability, coupled with iPipeline's case analytics tools, will empower LGA with actionable intelligence for effectively meeting the evolving needs of distributors, agents and advisors, extending their market reach, and helping more families protect their financial futures." This innovative solution supports Legal & General America as it strives to create a brighter tomorrow for more individuals, families and businesses with access to critical life insurance protection through an easy digital application and some of the most affordable coverage options in the marketplace. "With iPipeline's high-quality data, we can leverage real-time information to gain valuable insights, which we use to extend our evolution as a strategic, data-driven organization," said Shawn Homan, Vice President of Sales Operations and Strategy at Legal & General America. "With InsureSight, we can dive into the metrics to see the how we are performing against the market, or slice and dice the data to compare our actions to custom benchmarks. These insights allow us to make the most meaningful decisions so we can maximize the impact for those we serve, from distributors to hardworking individuals and families that need the protection life insurance affords." For more information about iPipeline, visit ipipeline.com. To learn more about LGA, visit lgamerica.com. About iPipeline iPipeline is building a comprehensive digitized ecosystem for the life insurance and wealth management industries, which will enable millions of uninsured or under-insured Americans to secure their financial futures as part of a holistic financial planning experience. The firm is working to optimize all application and processing workflowsfrom quote to commissionand consolidating them within one of the most expansive straight-through processing platforms, significantly reducing paper, saving time, and increasing premiums and placements for insurance agents. iPipeline is also committed to offering premier subscription-based tools to help financial institutions and advisors automate and digitize financial transactions, comply with regulations, and seamlessly incorporate life insurance and annuities into client accounts. The iPipeline digital ecosystem incorporates one of the industry's largest data sets to enable advisors and agents to optimize their businesses. Since its establishment in 1995, iPipeline has facilitated 1.5 billion quote responses, $32 billion in savings on printing and mailing costs, the collection of 55 billion premiums, and the protection of 25 million lives. iPipeline operates as a unit of Roper Technologies (NYSE: ROP), a constituent of the S&P 500 and Fortune 500 indices. For more information, please visit https://www.ipipeline.com/ . About Legal & General America Legal & General America is part of the worldwide Legal & General Group. For over 70 years, the Legal & General America companies have been in the business of providing financial protection through life insurance for American families. The Legal & General America companies are Banner Life Insurance Company and William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York. With more than $57 billion in new coverage issued in 2020, LGA is a top five US term life insurance provider and ended 2021 with $780 billion of coverage in force with 1.4 million U.S. customers. LGA shares Legal & General's independent financial strength ratings: A+ Superior from A.M. Best and AA- Very Strong from Standard and Poor's and Fitch. For more information, please visit https://www.lgamerica.com. Media Contacts: Laura Simpson JConnelly for iPipeline 973-713-8834 [email protected] Audrey Wayne KemperLesnik for Legal & General America 312.837.1522 [email protected] CN 10202022-1 SOURCE iPipeline; Legal & General America Liberty National Founder, Mark Schmidt, Supports Education and Foster Youth SAN DIEGO, Calif., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Residential developer Liberty National Corporation and its Founder, Mark Schmidt, recently donated $10,000 to Cal Coast Cares Foundation. Established by California Coast Credit Union as a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit, the foundation supports educational initiatives across San Diego and Riverside Counties. With this donation, Liberty National Corporation and Mark Schmidt continue their long history of support for students and foster youth across the Southern California region. Founded in 2015, Cal Coast Cares Foundation provides grants for teachers and scholarships for college-bound high school seniors in San Diego and Riverside Counties. The organization also offers a special program for current or former foster applicants, including fast-tracking first-year recipients to allow them to easily qualify for a second-year scholarship. The foundation's grants to teachers are provided for projects in the STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Arts, and Math) topics. Grants have helped with educational purchases like hydroponic greenhouses, robotics materials, chemistry kits, and more. Nickie Behdin, Manager, Foundation & School Partnerships at California Coast Credit Union, states, "We're grateful to Liberty National for their generous donation to support local teachers and students. Because of our wonderful supporterslike Liberty Nationalwe've been able to increase the number of scholarships and grants provided each year." Mark Schmidt, Founder of Liberty National Corporation, states, "Cal Coast Cares Foundation is making a huge impact in the lives of students and teachers across the region. I'm particularly enthusiastic about the foster youth program. It provides an added level of certainty and support, which is so critical considering the uncertainties many foster youth face." About Liberty National Corporation Liberty National is a multi-family residential developer based in San Diego, CA. The company specializes in site acquisition, entitlements, and finance. The company is a long-term investor in its communities, choosing to hold and maintain many of the apartment communities it builds from the ground-up. The company ensures that all properties are built to the highest standards of craftsmanship. Liberty National currently has properties in planning and development in multiple states. For more information, visit: libertync.com. Media Contact: Beth Binger BCIpr Mobile: (619) 987-6658 [email protected] SOURCE Liberty National Corporation GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global value retailer MINISO (NYSE: MNSO; HKEX: 9896), offering a variety of design-led lifestyle products, recently staged the #PlantForPanda# campaign, as part of the Company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts. The charity campaign, launched on MINISO's social media channels, saw the brand's global consumer community come together for the worthy cause of planting a bamboo forest in a panda habitat in China, as part of a conservation drive. The First Batch of Bamboo Has Been Planted in the Qinling Giant Panda Habitat Miniso Launched a CSR Campaign to Plant 50183 Clumps of Bamboo for Giant Pandas In collaboration with the China Green Foundation, MINISO launched the campaign in 14 countries. By sharing panda-related posts with the hashtag on social media platforms and participating in campaigns in MINISO stores, fans showed their support for pandas. MINISO will convert the support into donating bamboo forests which will be planted in Qinling Giant Panda Habitat in Shaanxi, a northwestern Chinese province. As a result, MINISO received overwhelming feedback for the initiative from the brand's lovers and panda fans globally, whose support, as of Oct. 7, has allowed the company to plant 50,183 clumps of bamboo. MINISO has already planted the first batch of bamboo and plans to finish planting the rest of the bamboo forest by the end of next spring. Giant pandas are known as picky eaters with a preference for high-quality and specific bamboo varieties. Planting bamboo can not only feed the pandas but also help to bridge up their fragmented habitats that have been divided by human activities, allowing pandas to eat, move and breed more freely. After decades years of conservation efforts, giant pandas are now classified as "vulnerable" in terms of risks of extinction and are no longer "endangered." However, it's still necessary to manually plant and grow suitable bamboo for the survival of pandas, as bamboo resources are constantly shrinking, which is widely believed to continue to pose a threat to panda protection. In a bid to raise awareness for panda conservation and bamboo planting, MINISO launched this campaign in late September on Weibo, China's major microblogging platform, as well as on Instagram with the hashtag #PlantForPanda# to extend the outreach of the charity move. By Oct.7, the hashtags had drawn in interaction with more than 25,000 netizens. Meanwhile, MINISO also launched an offline charity campaign that took place through Sept. 29 to Oct. 7 at the Company's brick-and-mortar stores, with nearly 600,000 consumers participating in the event. MINISO has long been committed to fulfilling its CSR duties and has launched charity initiatives covering various kinds of social issues. For example, earlier this year, the Company partnered with Peruvian NGO ECOAN to plant a tree in the Andes mountains for each certain figure item it sold. The project was joined by entities from 37 countries and regions and has donated 115,000 plants. Also, for the past eight years, MINISO has launched more than 50 charity events and taken concrete actions to help support children, women and those who suffer from serious illness and disasters. Earlier this year, as part of its "Penpen2PENPEN" education charity drive, the Company encouraged consumers to donate pens to disadvantaged children. In order to scale up the education initiative, the brand also partnered with local non-profit organizations in various markets, including Malaysia, Bolivia, Thailand and Vietnam, to donate stationery, food, medical supplies and cash. About MINISO 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/. SOURCE MINISO SAN RAMON, Calif., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumin Digital (Lumin) has announced a partnership with BioCatch , the pioneer behavioral biometric technology enabling advanced fraud prevention. This partnership provides Lumin's rapidly growing network of financial institutions access to BioCatch's cutting-edge solutions and innovation labs that continuously monitor emerging fraud trends to help protect against current and new threats. BioCatch analyzes a user's physical and cognitive digital behavior to distinguish between genuine users and cybercriminals to detect fraud and identity theft. Many of the world's largest financial institutions leverage this technology to help protect their customers from digital banking fraud and other types of criminal activity, including sophisticated social engineering voice scams. BioCatch technology allows Lumin clients to monitor for risk continuously throughout every online session, analyzing actions like mouse movements, typing cadence, or interaction with the screen. Leveraging machine learning to deliver a risk score, BioCatch identifies and alerts the financial institution about genuine or fraudulent behavior and ensures customers are provided with a secure and seamless digital experience. "According to The True Cost of Fraud study, online banking accounted for 33% of U.S. banks' fraud costs in 2021, up from 26% in 2020, while mobile transactions accounted for 29% of costs, up from 20% the year prior," said Sean Weadock, chief product officer of Lumin Digital. "Every $1 of fraud loss costs U.S. financial services firms an average of $4.00. BioCatch's technology will reduce the amount of fraudulent activity that occurs, saving the institution money and freeing up employee resources from fraud and cyberattack investigations." "Today, smaller financial institutions can promise the same consumer fraud protections as the large global banks," says Jay Whoriskey, Sr Director Global Partners and Alliances. "BioCatch is committed to supporting Lumin's banking customers and expanding the standard in digital banking by providing best-in-class fraud protection and seamless user experiences. The explosion of new consumers of digital banking services over the last year has accelerated the need for technologies that can offer strong fraud protection with minimal disruption to users." About Lumin Digital Lumin Digital is a PSCU-majority-owned fintech company specializing in digital banking solutions. Through a fundamentally different approach to technology, service, and people, we're creating the next generation of financial solutions each and every day. Lumin helps credit unions and financial institutions build and deploy next-gen digital experiences that help to continually serve, engage, and grow their membership base. While other platforms are partially adapted or retrofitted for the cloud, Lumin is 100% cloud-native. It was built specifically for the cloud environment, allowing us to more fully realize the advantages it offers. It's a difference that financial institutions and their users will see and feel almost immediately. For more information, visit lumindigital.com. About BioCatch BioCatch is the leader in Behavioral Biometrics, a technology that leverages machine learning to analyze an online user's physical and cognitive digital behavior to protect individuals online. BioCatch's mission is to unlock the power of behavior and deliver actionable insights to create a digital world where identity, trust and ease seamlessly co-exist. Today, BioCatch counts over 25 of the top 100 global banks as customers who use BioCatch solutions to fight fraud, drive digital transformation and accelerate business growth. BioCatch's Client Innovation Board, an industry-led initiative including American Express, Barclays, Citi Ventures, and National Australia Bank, helps enable BioCatch to identify creative and cutting-edge ways to leverage the unique attributes of behavior for fraud prevention. With over a decade of analyzing data, more than 80 registered patents, and unparalleled experience, BioCatch continues to innovate to solve tomorrow's problems. For more information, please visit www.biocatch.com . SOURCE Lumin Digital Under the terms of the partnership, Lunit will collaborate with SEHA to conduct an evaluation trial of its AI-based radiology later this year SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lunit (KRX: 328130.KQ) today announced that it signed a collaboration agreement with the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), part of Pure Health, the UAE's largest healthcare network. The signing ceremony took place at Lunit's Seoul headquarters on September 29. Attending officials included Lunit CEO Brandon Suh and Radiologist Dr. Afra Rashed Saeed Almesaied Alneyadi. Lunit and SEHA officials attend a collaboration agreement signing ceremony at Lunits Seoul headquarters on September 29. Following the agreement, Lunit and SEHA will proceed with a proof of concept (POC) of the Lunit INSIGHT suite, the company's AI solution for radiology, at medical institutions across the Middle East. The POC will include SEHA's trial of the Lunit INSIGHT CXR, an AI solution for chest X-ray analysis, and the Lunit INSIGHT MMG, an AI solution for mammography analysis, for evaluation. SEHA is a comprehensive healthcare network under the UAE's largest healthcare provider Pure Health, a brand of scientific innovation that combines imagination and advances in technology. Established in 2007, the independent public joint stock company currently operates 14 hospitals and primary healthcare clinics with a total of more than 3,000 beds. According to Data Bridge Market Research, the medical imaging market in the Middle East, which surpassed USD 20 billion in 2021, is projected to exceed USD 30 billion by 2029, with an expected CAGR of 5.5% from 2022 to 2029.[1] SEHA was recently invited by the Korean Hospital Association (KHA) and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) to attend the "K-Hospital Fair 2022" in South Korea, held between September 29 to October 1. "Lunit entered the Middle Eastern market following our supply contract with Roche and Microsoft Azure in March to export Lunit INSIGHT MMG," said Brandon Suh, Chief Executive Officer at Lunit. "Through this exciting collaboration with SEHA, we expect to further expand our business in the Middle East." "Through this MOU, we will work with Lunit to implement Korea's world-class medical AI imaging solution during the POC experiments," said Dr. Afra Rashed Saeed Almesaied Alneyadi, Radiologist, at SEHA. "Our goal is to provide better medical services to our patients by improving SEHA's medical image analysis program." About Lunit With AI, Lunit aims to 'conquer cancer,' one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Lunit is an AI software company devoted to developing AI solutions for precision diagnostics and therapeutics, to find the right diagnosis at the right cost, and the right treatment for the right patients. Lunit, a portmanteau of 'learning unit,' is a deep learning-based medical AI company devoted to developing advanced medical image analytics and data-driven imaging biomarkers via cutting-edge technology. Founded in 2013, Lunit has been acknowledged around the globe for its advanced, state-of-the-art technology and its application in medical images. Our technology has been recognized at international AI competitions surpassing top companies like Google, IBM, and Microsoft. As a medical AI company that values building clinical evidence, our findings are presented in major peer-reviewed journals and global conferences including ASCO and AACR. Lunit is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea with offices in representatives in the U.S.A., Netherlands, and China. [1] Middle East and Africa Medical Imaging Market Industry Trends and Forecast to 2029, Data Bridge Market Research (2022.06) SOURCE Lunit Trading on NYSE American Expected to Commence Under Ticker Symbol "MNK" on October 27, 2022 DUBLIN, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (OTCMKTS: MNKPF) ("Mallinckrodt" or the "Company"), a global specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that it has received approval to list its ordinary shares on NYSE American. Trading of the Company's ordinary shares on NYSE American is expected to occur under the ticker symbol "MNK" beginning on October 27, 2022. Siggi Olafsson, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our listing on NYSE American marks an important step toward executing on our strategic priorities and business objectives. We are confident that Mallinckrodt is well positioned to drive sustainable growth and create long-term shareholder value while advancing therapies for underserved patients with severe and critical conditions." Mallinckrodt's listing is subject to meeting all NYSE American requirements at the time of listing. Trading on the OTC Pink Current Market will cease concurrent with the NYSE American listing. About Mallinckrodt Mallinckrodt is a global business consisting of multiple wholly owned subsidiaries that develop, manufacture, market and distribute specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. The Company's Specialty Brands reportable segment's areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, hepatology, nephrology, pulmonology, ophthalmology and oncology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; analgesics; cultured skin substitutes and gastrointestinal products. Its Specialty Generics reportable segment includes specialty generic drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com. Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the Company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website. CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELATED TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Statements in this release that are not strictly historical, including statements regarding Mallinckrodt's listing on NYSE American, future financial condition and operating results, legal, economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting Mallinckrodt's businesses, and any other statements regarding events or developments Mallinckrodt believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, may be "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those suggested or indicated by such forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. The "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of Mallinckrodt's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended July 1, 2022 and April 1, 2022, and other filings with the SEC, all of which are on file with the SEC and available on Mallinckrodt's website at http://www.sec.gov and http://www.mallinckrodt.com, respectively, identify and describe in more detail the risks and uncertainties to which Mallinckrodt's businesses are subject. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date hereof and Mallinckrodt does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by law. CONTACTS Investor Relations Daniel Speciale Global Corporate Controller and Chief Investor Relations Officer 314-654-3638 [email protected] Derek Belz Vice President, Investor Relations 314-654-3950 [email protected] Media Michael Freitag / Aaron Palash / Aura Reinhard Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher 212-355-4449 Mallinckrodt, the "M" brand mark and the Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals logo are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company. Other brands are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company or their respective owners. 2022 10/22. SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc Five scientific abstracts spanning clinical and health economic outcomes research will be presented at the ACG Scientific Meeting, showcasing the breadth of Mallinckrodt's commitment to HRS patients with rapid reduction in kidney function1 DUBLIN, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (OTCMKTS: MNKPF), a global specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that five scientific abstracts on the clinical and health economic outcomes of treatment with TERLIVAZ (terlipressin) for adult patients with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) involving rapid reduction in kidney function,1 will be presented at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Scientific Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina from October 21-26. TERLIVAZ is the first and only FDA-approved product indicated to improve kidney function in adults with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) with rapid reduction in kidney function,1 an acute and life-threatening condition requiring hospitalization.2 Please see Limitation of Use and Important Safety Information, including Boxed Warning, below. The findings from one of the abstracts, presented by Dr. R. Todd Frederick, Department of Transplant, California Pacific Medical Center, CA, provide insight into the effect of terlipressin on renal and circulatory dysfunction in patients with HRS, relative to placebo.3 Additional information on Dr. Frederick's study and the full list of Mallinckrodt's presentations can be found below. "We look forward to sharing a range of new data, among those an ACG Award-Winning abstract that has received Presidential Poster recognition, highlighting the importance of additional treatment options for patients with HRS, like terlipressin. These findings not only have important implications for morbidity and mortality, but also help to shine a light on the persistent clinical and economic burden HRS patients in the U.S. face, and their need for additional options," said Khurram Jamil, Vice President, Hepatology, Clinical Development & Critical Care. "With the recent FDA approval of TERLIVAZ, we are hopeful that we are one step closer to improving outcomes for these critically ill patients." These studies are sponsored by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and include: Abstract D0501: Clinical and Economic Burden of Patients With HRS-AKI Treated With Current Standard of Care: Retrospective Analysis of Real World Data4 Presenter: Xingyue Huang , PhD , PhD Presentation Dates: October 23, 2022 ; 5 7PM ET ; 5 October 24, 2022 ; 10AM 12PM ET & 3 5PM ET ; & 3 October 25, 2022 ; 10AM 12PM ET & 3 5PM ET ; & 3 Location: Crown Ballroom Crown Ballroom Presidential Poster Recognition & ACG Award-Winning Abstract Oral Abstract 22: Terlipressin Treatment of Patients With Hepatorenal Syndrome Type 1 Decreased the Need for Renal Replacement Therapy in Transplant Recipients: A 12-Month Follow-Up of the CONFIRM Study5 Presenter: K. Rajender Reddy , MD, FACG K. , MD, FACG Presentation Date: October 25, 2022 ; 9AM 9:10AM ET ; Location: Hall C2 Abstract D0499: Treatment Response to Terlipressin Plus Albumin Varies by Precipitating Factor in Patients with Hepatorenal Syndrome Type 13 Presenter: R. Todd Frederick , MD R. , MD Presentation Date: October 25, 2022 ; 10AM 12PM ET ; Location: Crown Ballroom Abstract D0474: Impact of Terlipressin on Serum Sodium Levels in Patients With Hepatorenal Syndrome Type 1 (HRS-1): CONFIRM Study6 Presenter: Nikolaos Pyrsopoulos, MD, MBA, PhD, FACG Nikolaos Pyrsopoulos, MD, MBA, PhD, FACG Presentation Date: October 25, 2022 ; 10AM 12PM ET ; Location: Crown Ballroom Abstract D0505: Increasing Burden of Hepatorenal Syndrome and Acute Kidney Injury Among Hospitalized Patients With Chronic Liver Disease is Associated With High In-Hospital Mortality and Increased Healthcare Resource Utilization7 Presenter: Robert Wong , MD, MD, FACG , MD, MD, FACG Presentation Date: October 25, 2022 ; 10AM 12PM ET ; Location: Crown Ballroom Find more information on the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Scientific Meeting website. Terlipressin is one of the most studied pharmacological agents in HRS with more than 70 published manuscripts and presented abstracts on clinical data to date.8 It has been approved outside the U.S. for more than 30 years and is available on five continents for its indications in the countries where it is approved.9,10 About Hepatorenal Syndrome (HRS) Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) involving rapid reduction in kidney function1 is an acute and life-threatening condition that occurs in people with advanced liver disease.2 HRS is classified into two distinct types a rapidly progressive type that leads to acute renal failure where patients are typically hospitalized for their care and a more chronic type that progresses over weeks to months.2 HRS involving rapid reduction in kidney function is estimated to affect between 30,000 and 40,000 Americans annually.11,12 If left untreated, HRS with rapid reduction in kidney function has a median survival time of approximately two weeks and greater than 80 percent mortality within three months.13 INDICATION AND LIMITATION OF USE TERLIVAZ is indicated to improve kidney function in adults with hepatorenal syndrome with rapid reduction in kidney function. Patients with a serum creatinine >5 mg/dL are unlikely to experience benefit. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION WARNING: SERIOUS OR FATAL RESPIRATORY FAILURE TERLIVAZ may cause serious or fatal respiratory failure. Patients with volume overload or with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) Grade 3 are at increased risk. Assess oxygenation saturation (e.g., SpO 2 ) before initiating TERLIVAZ. Do not initiate TERLIVAZ in patients experiencing hypoxia (e.g., SpO 2 <90%) until oxygenation levels improve. Monitor patients for hypoxia using continuous pulse oximetry during treatment and discontinue TERLIVAZ if SpO 2 decreases below 90%. Contraindications TERLIVAZ is contraindicated: In patients experiencing hypoxia or worsening respiratory symptoms. In patients with ongoing coronary, peripheral, or mesenteric ischemia. Warnings and Precautions Serious or Fatal Respiratory Failure: Obtain baseline oxygen saturation and do not initiate TERLIVAZ in hypoxic patients. Monitor patients for changes in respiratory status using continuous pulse oximetry and regular clinical assessments. Discontinue TERLIVAZ in patients experiencing hypoxia or increased respiratory symptoms. Manage intravascular volume overload by reducing or discontinuing the administration of albumin and/or other fluids and through judicious use of diuretics. Temporarily interrupt, reduce, or discontinue TERLIVAZ treatment until patient volume status improves. Avoid use in patients with ACLF Grade 3 because they are at significant risk for respiratory failure. Ineligibility for Liver Transplant: TERLIVAZ-related adverse reactions (respiratory failure, ischemia) may make a patient ineligible for liver transplantation, if listed. For patients with high prioritization for liver transplantation (e.g., MELD 35), the benefits of TERLIVAZ may not outweigh its risks. Ischemic Events: TERLIVAZ may cause cardiac, cerebrovascular, peripheral, or mesenteric ischemia. Avoid use of TERLIVAZ in patients with a history of severe cardiovascular conditions or cerebrovascular or ischemic disease. Discontinue TERLIVAZ in patients who experience signs or symptoms suggestive of ischemic adverse reactions. Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: TERLIVAZ may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. If TERLIVAZ is used during pregnancy, the patient should be informed of the potential risk to the fetus. Adverse Reactions The most common adverse reactions (10%) include abdominal pain, nausea, respiratory failure, diarrhea, and dyspnea. Please click here to see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning. ABOUT MALLINCKRODT Mallinckrodt is a global business consisting of multiple wholly owned subsidiaries that develop, manufacture, market and distribute specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. The company's Specialty Brands reportable segment's areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, hepatology, nephrology, pulmonology, ophthalmology, and oncology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; analgesics; cultured skin substitutes and gastrointestinal products. Its Specialty Generics reportable segment includes specialty generic drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com. Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website. CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELATED TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This release includes forward-looking statements with regard to TERLIVAZ, including its potential impact on patients. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: satisfaction of regulatory and other requirements; actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities; changes in laws and regulations; issues with product quality, manufacturing or supply, or patient safety issues; and other risks identified and described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" section of Mallinckrodt's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC, all of which are available on its website. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date hereof and Mallinckrodt does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by law. CONTACT Media Inquiries Heather Guzzi Senior Vice President, Green Room Communications 973-524-4112 [email protected] Investor Relations Daniel J. Speciale Global Corporate Controller & Chief Investor Relations Officer 314-654-3638 [email protected] Derek Belz Vice President, Investor Relations 314-654-3950 [email protected] Mallinckrodt, the "M" brand mark and the Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals logo are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company. Other brands are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company or their respective owners. 2022 Mallinckrodt. US-2201018 10/22 References 1 Terlivaz (terlipressin) for injection [prescribing information]. Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. 2 National Organization for Rare Disorders. Hepatorenal Syndrome. Available at: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/hepatorenal-syndrome/. Accessed October 13, 2022. 3 RT Frederick. Treatment Response to Terlipressin Plus Albumin Varies by Precipitating Factor in Patients With Hepatorenal Syndrome Type 1. Presented at American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Scientific Meeting. October 2022. 4 X Huang. Clinical and Economic Burden of Patients With HRS-AKI Treated With Current Standard of Care: Retrospective Analysis of Real World Data. Presented at American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Scientific Meeting. October 2022. 5 KR Reddy. Terlipressin Treatment of Patients With Hepatorenal Syndrome Type 1 Decreased the Need for Renal Replacement Therapy in Transplant Recipients: A 12-Month Follow-Up of the CONFIRM Study. Presented at American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Scientific Meeting. October 2022. 6 N Pyrsopoulos. Impact of Terlipressin on Serum Sodium Levels in Patients with Hepatorenal Syndrome Type 1 (HRS-1): CONFIRM Study. Presented at American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Scientific Meeting. October 2022. 7 RJ Wong. Increasing Burden of Hepatorenal Syndrome and Acute Kidney Injury Among Hospitalized Patients With Chronic Liver Disease Is Associated With High In-Hospital Mortality and Increased Healthcare Resource Utilization. Presented at American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Scientific Meeting. October 2022. 8 Data on File Ref-05488. Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. 9 Data on File Ref-05482. Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. 10 FDA Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee. Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Terlipressin Advisory Committee Briefing Document NDA #022231. July 2020. 11 C Pant, B S Jani, M Desai, A Deshpande, Prashant Pandya, Ryan Taylor, R Gilroy, M OIyaee. Hepatorenal syndrome in hospitalized patients with chronic liver disease: results from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2002-2012. J of Investig Med. 2016; 64:33-38. 12 United States Census Bureau: Quick Facts. Available at: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045218. Accessed October 13, 2022. 13 Flamm, S.L., Brown, K., Wadei, H.M., et al. The Current Management of Hepatorenal SyndromeAcute Kidney Injury in the United States and the Potential of Terlipressin. Liver Transpl. 2021;27:1191-1202. https://doi.org/10.1002/lt.26072. SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc Highly rated project-based school district prepares students for a global economy IRVING, Texas, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In the last decade, statistics show enrollments at public charter schools more than doubled from 1.6 million to 3.4 million in 2019. With parents comparing schools and searching for those that can deliver a high-quality education, charter schools such as Manara Academy District are filling a void by offering challenging curriculums, a low student-teacher ratio, and an international focus that prepares students for a global economy. Manara Academy District recently announced that its campuses at Irving Elementary, Manara Leadership Academy, and Arlington STEM collectively achieved a Superior "A" rating from Charter FIRST and a District Rating of "A" in school progress from the Texas Education Association (TEA). Manara Academy District, which includes Irving Elementary, Manara Leadership Academy, and Arlington STEM, achieved a Superior "A" rating from Charter FIRST and a District Rating of "A" for school progress from the Texas Education Association. With an impressive teacher-student ratio of 1:15, students receive individual instruction and encouragement without the distraction of overcrowded classrooms. Manara Academy's "A" rating (TEA) in School Progress, is due in part to students growing by at least one year academically as compared to similar districts. Manara Academy's focus on instructional and curricular revisions resulted in a district accountability rating of a "B," with a score of 89. "We are grateful to receive the validation that comes with these excellent ratings," said Manara Academy District Superintendent Denise Sudan. "This is a tribute to our dedicated teachers, staff, students and families who are always striving to excel and achieve more in the classroom." Founded in 2009, this year the district's three campuses total more than 500 at Irving Elementary, Manara Leadership Academy, and Arlington STEM. With an impressive teacher-student ratio of 1:15, students receive plenty of individual instruction and encouragement without the distraction of overcrowded classrooms. In addition, one does not need to look far to notice the international flair, as more languages are offered than can be verified anywhere else in the Texas school system. "We truly feel Manara Academy District offers students the best preparation for an ever-changing global economy," said Sudan. "I do not believe you can go anywhere else and find students learning everything from Arabic, French and English, while exploring the multitude of diverse home languages spoken in our classrooms and hallways such as Bengali, Somali, Spanish, and Urdu. We are proud to have so many multilingual students." Manara Academy's unique culture centers around the mantra "Experience the B.L.U.E.," which stands for Believe, Lead, Unite, and Excel. The overall vision is for children to become lifelong, enthusiastic learners, surrounded by their senior level student peer role models, and adults such as teachers, parents and family. "We believe that a positive character driven culture helps all of our students thrive," said Sudan. "In our welcoming, inclusive environment, students learn important values such as integrity, respect, and compassion for others. We also have extracurricular activities and volunteer opportunities for students and parents that cultivate a desire to help others in our communities." For more information about Manara Academy District, visit www.manaraacademy.org . ABOUT MANARA ACADEMY DISTRICT With its district location at 8113 Ridgewood Drive, Suite 202 in Irving, Manara Academy District is a top-rated, public charter school district. As one of the most diversity supporting schools offering project-based learning and foreign language programming in Texas, the district has a Superior "A" rating from Charter FIRST and a "B" rating from the Texas Education Association. The Superintendent is Denise Sudan and Board Members are Dr. Ehap Sabri, Sadak Shaikh, Dr. Ali Shaqlaih, Jaszeer Mohammed, Brandy Schott, and Iyad Al-Nachef. For more information about enrollment, career opportunities, or school programs, visit www.manaraacademy.org . Contact: Rhonda Price (561) 371-9407 SOURCE Manara Academy District Southwest Florida International Airport Fully Operational and Rental Cars Available, Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa Open for Business MARCO ISLAND, Fla., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- While other parts of South Florida bore the brunt of Hurricane Ian, the beaches, restaurants, retail and hotels on Marco Island sustained minimal damage. Currently, many first responders are being housed at the Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa, but as they transition home, the popular resort destination is open for business and ready to welcome guests back immediately. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), which serves as a key gateway to Marco Island and the region, and other south Florida airports are fully operational and have resumed regular flight schedules. "The Hilton Marco Island and its property were fortunate not to incur any significant damage during Hurricane Ian, and for the past few weeks has been proud to provide shelter, meals, and other services needed by the many wonderful first responders assisting with the recovery of the affected communities," said James Garcia, General Manager, Hilton Marco Island Resort & Spa. "We thank these men and women for their tireless efforts." "People might assume this is not a good time to travel to Marco Island, but the exact opposite is true. The return of visitors not only supports our local and regional economy, but also generates jobs and reassures the people who work on Marco Island and in the surrounding region that they are not alone, and that they are supported," added Garcia. The award winning, 310-room Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa in Southwest Florida is close to Naples and 55 minutes away from Fort Myers International Airport. The Hilton Marco Island features amenity-rich guestrooms including furnished balconies that enjoy unobstructed views of the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors looking to relax and unwind can enjoy the luxury beachfront resort along with Marco Island Water Sport, the Marco Island Beach, and local restaurants. HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES OF MARCO ISLAND, TAKEN THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 17th, CREDITED TO OLSHAN PROPERTIES, CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/uv6mijev0650wxw8k84lz/h?dl=0&rlkey=j83wi1cc3jvu6b55ppfwwutvo SOURCE Olshan Properties The beachfront new-build project in Uvero Alto is expected to feature 349 guest rooms BETHESDA, Md. and PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott International, Inc. today announced the signing of a management agreement with Grupo Puntacana and MAC Hotels to begin construction on the W All-Inclusive Punta Cana in Uvero Alto, an adults-only all-inclusive luxury property in the Dominican Republic. This hotel is expected to be the first W Hotels property in the market and one of the first W All-Inclusive resorts globally. W All-Inclusive Punta Cana Uvero Alto is anticipated to feature 349 guest rooms with balconies and plunge pools, as well as several suites. With immersive and dynamic adult-focused programming, plans for the resort include a spa with 11 treatment rooms, a retail area, three pools with pool bars and eleven food and beverage destinations. "Punta Cana is the perfect destination for both the W Hotels brand and an all-inclusive luxury resort," said Laurent de Kousemaeker, Chief Development Officer, Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International. "We look forward to bringing the vision for this fun adult playground to life with Grupo Puntacana and MAC Hotels." Today's agreement is a result of the diversification and growth strategy of Grupo Punta Cana. The pioneering work of the company has contributed to the development of more than 40,000 hotel rooms in the area. "The signing of W Punta Cana Uvero Alto demonstrates our strong commitment to tourism development in Uvero Alto. This project is set to elevate the hotel supply in the region and generate about 600 new jobs," stated Frank Elias Rainieri, President and CEO, Grupo Puntacana. For MAC Hotels, the original developer of this project, the investment represents its third project in the country. MAC has evolved its hospitality strategy in which the company has traditionally been both an owner and the operator for all of its projects until now. "Today's signing with Grupo Puntacana and Marriott International allows us to move up to the next stage in our company's growth and development, and we thank both Marriott and Grupo Puntacana for the confidence they have shown us. We are excited to provide an unparalleled experience for guests coming to the beaches of Punta Cana," stated Begona Amengual, CEO, MAC Hotels.The project is expected to break ground in the coming months with an anticipated opening date in 2025. CONTACT: [email protected] SOURCE GRUPO PUNTACANA BALTIMORE, Md., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) recently announced that Anna S. Sholl, Esq., has been named Executive Director of the MSBA - the home to Maryland's legal profession - representing 40,000+ lawyers, judges, paralegals, law firm administrators, law students, and more. The MSBA Board of Governors voted to name Sholl as the next Executive Director, effective November 1, 2022. Sholl, an attorney and active member of the Maryland legal community, has been with the MSBA since 2018, most recently serving as the association's Chief Operating Officer (COO). Anna Sholl, Executive Director, Maryland State Bar Association Sholl will lead the MSBA's staff and manage the day to day operations of the MSBA, finalize implementation of the MSBA's existing strategic plan, and work with volunteer leaders to build an association poised to support the future of the legal profession. Sholl graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law, summa cum laude, and is an attorney admitted to practice in Maryland. As an attorney, Sholl has experience in both small and large firms, where her practice included general/commercial litigation and family law. While in law school, Sholl participated in the Community Development Clinic as a student attorney helping to advise clients on issues related to the development of tax exempt organizations and cooperatives. Sholl's appointment is the culmination of a multi-month effort chaired by search committee members, Judge Pamila Brown - District Administrative Judge, District Court of Maryland, Howard County, Mr. Harry Johnson - Litigation Partner at Whiteford, Taylor and Preston, LLP, Ms. M. Natalie McSherry - principal at Kramon & Graham, P.A., and Mr. James Nolan - partner at Council, Baradel, Kosmerl & Nolan, P.A., - all past presidents of the MSBA. "We are beyond pleased that the next chapter of the MSBA will be led by Anna Sholl, a proven leader with an exceptional knowledge of this association and an excellent track record of delivering results, strategic thinking, collaboration with stakeholders, and inspiring her team," said David Shapiro, President, Maryland State Bar Association. "The MSBA has made tremendous progress over the past five years - much of that under Anna's watchful eye - and Anna's selection as Executive Director positions the MSBA to continue to build our value for our members, adapt and respond to a rapidly-evolving legal profession, and deliver on our mission on behalf of the legal profession and the public we serve." "When we brought Anna on board in 2018, she came to us with a wealth of knowledge, tactical strategy, and legal experience,'' said Victor Velazquez, outgoing Executive Director, Maryland State Bar Association. "Over these past four years, Anna has proven to be a critical component of the organization and her leadership and forward-minded thinking are essential to the continued success of the MSBA." "I'm honored and humbled to have the opportunity to lead the Maryland State Bar Association," said Sholl. "The association is poised to further develop its strategic road map and build on the tremendous momentum of the past five years. I look forward to working with our talented team and exceptional volunteer leaders to bring the MSBA to the next level as we represent our noble legal profession across the state of Maryland." SOURCE Maryland State Bar Association Mathematics scores declined for both fourth- and eighth-graders in nearly all districts and states WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A majority of states saw scores decline for fourth- and eighth-graders in mathematics and reading between 2019 and 2022, according to the latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as The Nation's Report Card, released today by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The national average score declines in mathematics for fourth- and eighth-graders were the largest ever recorded in that subject. "The results show the profound toll on student learning during the pandemic, as the size and scope of the declines are the largest ever in mathematics," said NCES Commissioner Peggy G. Carr. "The results also underscore the importance of instruction and the role of schools in both students' academic growth and their overall wellbeing. It's clear we all need to come togetherpolicymakers and community leaders at every levelas partners in helping our educators, children, and families succeed." There were no improvements in mathematics in any state or large urban district, and eighth-grade mathematics scores declined in 51 participating states and jurisdictions since the assessment was last given in 2019, the year prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Eighth-grade mathematics scores did not change in Utah or the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity schools. "Eighth grade is a pivotal moment in students' mathematics education, as they develop key mathematics skills for further learning and potential careers in mathematics and science," said Daniel J. McGrath, acting as NCES associate commissioner for assessment. "If left unaddressed, this could alter the trajectories and life opportunities of a whole cohort of young people, potentially reducing their abilities to pursue rewarding and productive careers in mathematics, science, and technology." "Despite the countless obstacles that students faced over the course of the pandemicincluding instability at home, decreased access to resources, teacher shortages, cyberbullying, and an uptick in violence once schools reopenedwe also see pockets of remarkable resilience across the country, particularly in the country's urban districts," said Commissioner Carr. "But academic recovery cannot simply be about returning to what was 'normal' before the pandemic, as the pandemic laid bare an 'opportunity gap' that has long existed. It also showed how every student was vulnerable to the pandemic's disruptions. We do not have a moment to waste." The data from The Nation's Report Card released today offer the first look at the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on what the nation's fourth- and eighth-graders know and can do using a common measure of student achievement and the first student-level achievement data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Schools, Puerto Rico, and 26 large urban districts that volunteered to participate in the assessment. National Results Nationally, the average mathematics score for fourth-graders fell five points since 2019 (from 241 to 236), while the score for eighth-graders dropped eight points (from 282 to 274). In reading, average scores for both grades fell three points (from 220 to 217 at fourth grade and from 263 to 260 at eighth grade). The percentage of students performing below the NAEP Basic level increased across both subjects and grade levels. In mathematics, 25 percent of fourth-graders were below the NAEP Basic level in 2022 (an increase from 19 percent in 2019) and 38 percent of eighth-graders were below NAEP Basic (an increase from 31 percent in 2019). In reading, the percentage of fourth-graders below the NAEP Basic level increased from 34 percent in 2019 to 37 percent in 2022, and the percentage of eighth-graders below NAEP Basic increased from 27 percent in 2019 to 30 percent in 2022. The NAEP Basic achievement level represents partial mastery of the prerequisite knowledge and skills that are fundamental for performance at the NAEP Proficient level, which represents competency over challenging subject matter. The NAEP Basic level is the least stringent of the three achievement level goals for American students that are set by the National Assessment Governing Board. Declines were most widespread on the eighth-grade mathematics assessment, where scores declined across most racial and ethnic groups and for students across the performance distribution (lower-, middle-, and higher-performing students). Fourth-grade mathematics scores declined for all racial and ethnic groups except native Hawaiian-Pacific Islander students. In eighth-grade reading, scores declined only for White students among the racial/ethnic groups, by four points. Scores declined in fourth-grade reading for American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, and White students. State Results A majority of states saw lower scores, on average, across grades and subjects since 2019. There were no improvements in fourth- and eighth-grade mathematics, as average fourth-grade mathematics scores declined in 43 states and jurisdictions and did not change in 10, and eighth-grade mathematics scores declined in 51 states and jurisdictions and remained steady in two. There were no improvements in fourth-grade reading, as average fourth-grade reading scores declined in 30 states and jurisdictions and did not change in 22. At eighth grade, reading scores declined in 33 states and jurisdictions, did not change in 18, and rose in one (the Department of Defense Education Activity). MATHEMATICS READING GRADE 4 GRADE 8 GRADE 4 GRADE 8 INCREASE 0 0 0 1 Department of Defense Education Activity NO CHANGE 10 Alabama, Illinois, Iowa, Department of Defense Education Activity, Wisconsin, Hawaii, Nebraska, South Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia 2 Utah, Department of Defense Education Activity 22 Louisiana, Alabama, Hawaii, South Carolina, Department of Defense Education Activity, Florida, Arizona, Illinois, Alaska, New Hampshire, Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, California, Georgia, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Iowa, Rhode Island, Montana, Washington, Arkansas 18 Hawaii, Nevada, Alaska, California, New York, District of Columbia, Texas, New Jersey, Louisiana, South Dakota, Arizona, Utah, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota DECREASE 43 South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Tennessee, Ohio, Michigan, Utah, California, Kansas, Washington, Vermont, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, Massachusetts, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Missouri, Nevada, Alaska, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Mississippi, Maine, Oklahoma, Oregon, Minnesota, New York, New Mexico, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, Delaware, Puerto Rico 51 Idaho, Alabama, Alaska, Iowa, Nevada, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, California, Louisiana, New York, Montana, Texas, Indiana, North Dakota, Florida, South Carolina, Illinois, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Missouri, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Ohio, Connecticut, Washington, New Mexico, Maine, North Carolina, Vermont, Kansas, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico 30 Ohio, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana, Kansas, New Jersey, Missouri, Vermont, Tennessee, North Carolina, Connecticut, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland, Oregon, District of Columbia, Idaho, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Maine, Delaware, Virginia 33 Rhode Island, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, Florida, Arkansas, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Michigan, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Nebraska, Vermont, Washington, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, Connecticut, West Virginia, North Carolina, Kansas, Oregon, Delaware, Oklahoma, Maine District Results NCES also reports student achievement for selected large urban school districts through the NAEP Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) program. Fourth- and eighth-graders in 26 urban districts participated in the mathematics and reading assessments in 2022. A useful benchmark for comparing the progress of the urban districts participating in NAEP is the average score for the "Large City" groupthe NAEP classification for cities with populations of 250,000 or more. Since the last assessment in 2019, the average fourth-grade reading scores for large city schools declined three points; and in mathematics, the average score for large city schools declined 8 points for both fourth and eighth grades, reflecting the national pattern. However, unlike for the nation and most states, the large city average score did not decline for grade 8 reading. Other district findings included: Average scores for fourth-grade mathematics did not change in three districts: Hillsborough County ( Florida ), Dallas , and Austin . Fourth-grade mathematics scores declined for the other 23 participating urban districts. ( ), , and . Fourth-grade mathematics scores declined for the other 23 participating urban districts. Average scores for eighth-grade mathematics did not change in four of the districts: Los Angeles , Miami-Dade , New York City , and Philadelphia . Eighth-grade mathematics scores declined for the other 22 participating urban districts. , , , and . Eighth-grade mathematics scores declined for the other 22 participating urban districts. Average scores for fourth-grade reading held steady in a majority of the participating districts (17): Austin , Hillsborough County ( Florida ), Los Angeles , Dallas , Miami-Dade , the District of Columbia Public Schools, San Diego , New York City , Houston , Philadelphia , Milwaukee , Albuquerque, Chicago , Boston , Jefferson County ( Kentucky ), Fort Worth , and Denver . Fourth-grade reading scores declined for the other 9 participating urban districts. , ( ), , , , the Public Schools, , , , , , Albuquerque, , , ( ), , and . Fourth-grade reading scores declined for the other 9 participating urban districts. Average scores for eighth-grade reading increased in one district: Los Angeles . Eighth-grade reading scores held steady in a majority of the participating districts (21): New York City , Miami-Dade , Clark County ( Nevada ), Duval County ( Florida ), Dallas , Baltimore , Fort Worth , Milwaukee , Albuquerque, Philadelphia , Chicago , Atlanta , the District of Columbia Public Schools, Denver , Hillsborough County ( Florida ), Houston , San Diego , Boston , Austin , Charlotte-Mecklenburg , and Detroit . Eighth-grade reading scores declined for the other four participating urban districts. Learning Opportunities and Teacher Confidence During the Pandemic NCES collected information on how the pandemic affected student learning experiences and opportunities as part of the 2022 NAEP administration. Across both subjects and grades, higher percentages of higher-performing students (students performing at or above the 75th percentile) had access to key educational resources than lower-performing students (students performing below the 25th percentile) during remote learning in the 202021 school year, including the following: Access to a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet all the time; A quiet place to work at least some of the time; Their teacher available to help with schoolwork at least once or twice a week; and For eighth-graders, real-time video lessons with their teacher every day or almost every day. NCES also collected information on teacher confidence in performing remote instruction tasks, including addressing knowledge and skill gaps that may have occurred due to pandemic-related school closures. Fifty percent of teachers or fewer reported feeling "quite" or "extremely" confident in their ability to address learning gaps: At fourth grade, 11 percent of students had teachers who reported being "extremely confident" in addressing knowledge and skills gaps, while 35 percent of teachers in mathematics and 36 percent of teachers in reading reported being "quite confident." At eighth grade, 14 percent of students had teachers who reported being "extremely confident" in addressing knowledge and skills gaps, while 35 percent of teachers in mathematics and 36 percent of teachers in reading reported being "quite confident." About the Assessment Since 1969, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as The Nation's Report Card, has been the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students in public and private schools in the United States know and are able to do in various subjects. In 2022, NCES administered the NAEP mathematics and reading assessments to fourth- and eighth-graders in public and private schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity schools, Puerto Rico (mathematics only), and in 26 urban districts. The assessments were administered between January and March of 2022. Results for states and districts are for public schools only. Approximately 224,400 fourth-graders from approximately 5,780 schools and 222,200 eighth-graders from approximately 5,190 schools participated in the 2022 mathematics and reading assessments. Representative samples of schools and students are drawn from each state, district, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity schools. Visit https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ to view the report. The National Center for Education Statistics, a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, is the statistical center of the U.S. Department of Education and the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education in the U.S. and other nations. NCES fulfills a congressional mandate to collect, collate, analyze, and report complete statistics on the condition of American education; conduct and publish reports; and review and report on education activities internationally. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is a congressionally authorized project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The National Center for Education Statistics, within the Institute of Education Sciences, administers NAEP. The commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics is responsible by law for carrying out the NAEP project. Policy for the NAEP program is set by the National Assessment Governing Board, an independent, bipartisan board whose members include governors, state legislators, local and state school officials, educators, business representatives, and members of the general public. NAEP has been reporting information about what students across the country know and can do in major school subjects since 1969. CONTACT: Grady Wilburn, NCES, [email protected], (202) 245-8159 OR James Elias, Hager Sharp, [email protected], (202) 355-4417 SOURCE National Center for Education Statistics Mattamy's Gaines floorplan earns Silver award in the Homebuilder Association of Raleigh-Wake County's prestigious annual event CARY, N.C., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Mattamy Homes, North America's largest privately owned homebuilder, is pleased to announce the company collected a Silver Award in the Raleigh-Wake County region's 2022 Parade of Homes. Mattamy Homes earned their Silver Award for the Gaines floorplan at the Bedford at Flowers Plantation community in Clayton, NC in the event's Category 3 (homes in the $470,000$540,000 price range) out of 14 total categories in the Homebuilders of Association of Raleigh-Wake County event, held throughout October. Mattamy Homes earned a Silver Award for the Gaines floorplan at the Bedford at Flowers Plantation community in Clayton, NC at the Raleigh-Wake County region's 2022 Parade of Homes. (CNW Group/Mattamy Homes Limited) "We are proud of this recognition, which confirms Mattamy Homes' commitment to creating quality products across all categories in such a robust, historically competitive housing market," says Bob Wiggins, President of Mattamy's Raleigh Division. "It's clear that our designers' skills and tastes remain on the forefront of what today's homebuyers want." Mattamy's award-winning floorplans over the years have included contemporary, open-concept living spaces with thoughtfully realized details throughout like gourmet kitchen, apron sinks, upper cabinetry in laundry rooms, distinct tile flooring, accent walls, innovative arrangement of rooms and balanced relationships between space, air and light. It all adds up to a comfortable, inviting experience with up-to-the-minute style and feel. The winning Gaines floorplan features crown molding on the first floor, a first-floor study, a first-floor guest room, a second-floor owner's suite with private bath oasis, a large kitchen with eat-at island and walk-in pantry adjacent to the Great Room, and a covered, screened-in porch. The expansive pantry was a favorite of the visiting judges. This home is currently available for sale at $503,067 and can be viewed online at MattamyHomes.com. Hundreds of homeowners toured Mattamy Homes' entries at the three-week event. "Thoughtful floorplans with sophisticated architectural details are the hallmarks of every new Mattamy home," said Wiggins. "We also pride ourselves in building new homes in outstanding lifestyle communities with an array of family-friendly amenities all convenient to the best the Raleigh area has to offer, including the Research Triangle's world-class employers. We're thrilled about the recognition this award offers, of course, and we look forward to next year's Parade of Homes." Since 2011, Mattamy divisions across the United States have been recognized with more than 100 Parade of Homes awards. About Mattamy Homes Mattamy Homes is the largest privately owned homebuilder in North America, with 40-plus years of history across the United States and Canada. Every year, Mattamy helps more than 8,000 families realize their dream of homeownership. In the United States, the company is represented in 11 markets Dallas, Charlotte, Raleigh, Phoenix, Tucson, Jacksonville, Orlando (where its US head office is located), Tampa, Sarasota, Naples and Southeast Florida and in Canada, its communities stretch across the Greater Toronto Area, as well as in Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton. Visit www.mattamyhomes.com for more information. About the Homebuilders Association of Raleigh - Wake County The Homebuilders Association of Raleigh-Wake County is the largest single-county and second-largest HBA in the nation. Members include new-home builders, remodelers, developers, suppliers and sales and marketing professionals. The association provides members with a wide range of resources and information on issues involving the homebuilding industry, such as land use, economic and legal matters. The HBA also provides opportunities for business development, education, professional growth and networking. SOURCE Mattamy Homes Limited CLEVELAND, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rebecca Cooper has joined the Cleveland office of McDonald Hopkins LLC as an Associate in the Business Department and Tax and Benefits Practice Group. Before joining McDonald Hopkins, Cooper worked in the national tax office of a large national certified public accounting and business advisory firm, where she focused on buy-side tax due diligence, tax controversy, state and local tax, and individual and pass-through entity tax compliance. Cooper also has experience counseling small businesses and entrepreneurs in not-for-profit, tax, and employment matters through her internship with the University of Akron School of Law's SEED Clinic. Cooper earned her J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law, where she served as managing editor of the Akron Law Review's symposium edition. She earned her M.S. of Accountancy with a concentration in financial forensics from the University of Akron College of Business. She graduated magna cum laude with her B.S. in accounting and mathematics from the University of Mount Union. Cooper can be reached at 216.348.5736 and [email protected]. About McDonald Hopkins Founded in 1930, McDonald Hopkins is a business advisory and advocacy law firm with locations in Baltimore/Annapolis, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, and West Palm Beach. With more than 50 service and industry teams, the firm has the expertise and knowledge to meet the growing number of legal and business challenges our clients face. For more information about McDonald Hopkins, visit mcdonaldhopkins.com . CONTACT: Cynthia Stewart McDonald Hopkins LLC 600 Superior Avenue, East, Suite 2100 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Phone: 216.348.5733 Email: [email protected] SOURCE McDonald Hopkins Merge grows ARR 26X in the past 12 months as demand for software integrations booms SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Merge, the Unified API for B2B integrations, today announced the close of a $55 million Series B funding round led by Accel, with participation from existing investors NEA and Addition. This brings the company's total funding to $75M. Over the last 12 months since the Series A fundraise, Merge has rapidly grown annual recurring revenue by a factor of twenty six as SaaS companies expand their use of Merge's Unified API. Merge provides the tools to transform how B2B companies realize customer-facing integrations. Startups often struggle in building these integrations due to development costs, long-term maintenance needs, and lack of experience working with each API platform. In response, Merge has announced an expansion of its free Unified API for early-stage startups that are building their first integrations. The expanded Free plan allows companies to offer integrations to their first five customers, and then transitions to a flat monthly cost for the next fifteen. This plan will create new opportunities for startups to more quickly achieve product-market fit and to rapidly expand their addressable market. "Our growth over the past year shows how much of a need there is in the market for Unified APIs that make building product integrations easier," said Merge co-founder Shensi Ding. "We're really excited that now, with our Free plan, startups can offer their first integrations no matter what size or scale they are." Over 3,000 companies use Merge to add integrations to their SaaS apps. Merge powers integrations for customers such as TripActions, Ramp, Drata, AngelList, Ripplematch, and Apollo. These customers use Merge for a wide variety of integration use cases, from pulling HR data to onboard customer accounts, to programmatically creating new hiring candidate workflows, to posting accounting transactions, and updating tickets that track a project's progress. "As a vital partner to Drata, Merge serves as a crucial layer between our platform, our customers, and their tech stack," said Daniel Marashlian, Drata Co-Founder and CTO. "Merge's Unified API integrations for HRIS, ATS, and Ticketing enable us to drive new business and support our customers in achieving and maintaining compliance with full visibility into their overall security posture." "We've heard for years how difficult it is to build third-party integrationsdoing so is difficult, costly, and impossible to maintain. Merge addresses this long-standing friction with ease, affordability, and a genuine understanding of what startups and enterprises need," says Ben Fletcher, partner, Accel. Fletcher has joined Merge's board of directors. "It was impressive to hear from developers, product managers, and executives, the simplicity in how Merge solved such a difficult problem." In the past year, Merge has rapidly grown its product to support enterprise customers around the world: Expanded its Unified APIs, adding Ticketing and CRM to existing support for HRIS, ATS (recruiting), and Accounting. Added 100+ integrations, surpassing 150 in total, across each of the 5 Unified APIs. Released support for writing and updating data back to API providers, not just reading data, to increase integration use cases that are now possible. Secured HIPAA and ISO 27001 certifications, in addition to pre-existing SOC 2 Type 2 certification, as the company expands its enterprise customer base. Expanded into Europe , adding support for multi-tenant hosting in the EU in addition to its single-tenant hosting in clouds around the world. Merge earned recognition as a Forbes Cloud 100 Rising Stars in August and Business Insider Top Up-and-Coming Fintechs in September. The company plans to use the funding to continue to expand the team from 60 today to over 100 next year, investing in both R&D and GTM teams. ABOUT MERGE: Merge provides the tools to transform how B2B companies realize customer-facing integrations. With Merge's Unified API, developers integrate just once and give their customers access to over 150 HR Information Systems (HRIS), Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), Accounting, Ticketing, and CRM integrations. Merge takes charge of the entire lifecycle of integrations and adds new platforms every week. Merge is backed by $75 million in funding from Accel, NEA, and Addition. Merge was founded in 2020 by Shensi Ding and Gil Feig and is proudly built in San Francisco and New York City. Contact: Tim Turpin Spark PR [email protected] SOURCE Merge BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael K. Rosner, MD, is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Trusted Healthcare Professional in the Medical field for his outstanding career in Neurosurgery and in acknowledgment of his work at George Washington University Hospital. Michael K. Rosner, MD A board-certified neurosurgeon, Dr. Rosner has been practicing since 2003. He has been with George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., for seven years and is affiliated with George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates. As a professor of neurological surgery, he is currently the interim chair of the GW Department of Neurological Surgery. Dr. Rosner leads the neurological surgery department's activities as the GW academic health care enterprise continues its journey to pre-eminence as a health care provider in the nation's capital. As part of the leadership team of the GW MFA and SMHS, he is responsible for growing the clinical and academic footprint of the department and bolstering the department's local, national, and global reputation. Dr. Rosner has several clinical and research interests in spinal column disorders and neuro-trauma. His clinical interests include complex spine disorders such as scoliosis and kyphoscoliosis of all age groups, degenerative spinal pathology, revision spine surgery, deformity correction, spinal oncology, minimally invasive spine surgery, and neuro-trauma. His current management style utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to managing spinal column disorders. Before embarking on his professional journey, Dr. Rosner received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. A graduate of the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1995, he completed a surgical internship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. the following year. After a research fellowship at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in 1999 and residency training in neurological surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2002, he completed a fellowship in complex and reconstructive spine surgery at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL in 2003. After fellowship training, Dr. Rosner was a staff neurosurgeon at Walter Reed and deployed in 2003 to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. He was subsequently deployed in 2005 to the 86th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2006, he was selected as Chief of Neurosurgery at Walter Reed. Later, he was chosen as the Integrated Chief of Neurosurgery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Retiring from the U.S. Army in 2015, Dr. Rosner was honored to serve our country during his active-duty years. Dr. Rosner attributes his success to his military background. As a professor of neurosurgery and interim department chair, the doctor enjoys teaching and mentoring medical students and residents. He will likely become the official chair of the neurosurgery department this year. He hopes to build up the department, as he did at Walter Reed. Among his awards and honors, Dr. Rosner was the Spinal Deformity Education Group (SDEG) Traveling Fellow in 2004 and received the General Hayes Award for the outstanding attending surgeon who exemplifies devotion to the NNC Neurosurgical Residency Program in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2013. He was awarded the General Chennault Award in 2009 as the most outstanding teaching faculty at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Board-certified through the American Board of Neurological Surgery, Dr. Rosner is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. He is also a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the Society of Neurological Surgeons, the Scoliosis Research Society, and the North American Spine Society. The recipient of several research grants, Dr. Rosner is the principal investigator of numerous laboratory and clinical research studies. He has published many peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters and has been actively involved with organized neurosurgery on the national level. He served on the Executive Committee of the AANS/CNS Spine Section and was previously chair of the SRS research committee. On a personal note, Dr. Rosner is married to Dr. Inger (Lerra) Rosner, a board-certified urologic oncologist working at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute. They have three sons and live in Bethesda, MD. Outside of work, Dr. Rosner enjoys spending quality time with his family. For more information, visit www.gwdocs.com/profile/michael-rosner. For more information, visit www.gwdocs.com/profile/michael-rosner. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who Commissioner Mike Morath, Dr. Margaret Spellings & Dr. Adolph Brown III to keynote premier education event AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Esteemed public school consulting firm MoakCasey is preparing for the 2022 Texas Assessment Conference (TAC). This year's event includes keynotes from Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath, former U.S. Secretary of Education and CEO of Texas 2036 Dr. Margaret Spellings, critically acclaimed clinical psychologist Dr. Adolph Brown III, and panel of Texas superintendents and legislators. "We are thrilled to have a hand in planning the Texas Assessment Conference this year. As experts in school finance and accountability, we know how important this conference is for education organizations, school district leaders and college and university staff," said Dr. Buck Gilcrease, MoakCasey CEO. "This year's more comprehensive program will make the 37th Texas Assessment Conference the best one yet, and we're grateful to our organizing partners for their help in creating a more interactive, collaborative agenda." Following this year's theme - "Uniting Powerful Teams to Drive Student Performance," MoakCasey, the Texas Assessment Association (TAA), Texas Statewide Network of Assessment Professionals (TSNAP), Texas Association of Collegiate Testing Personnel (TACTP) and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) have designed an interactive experience for attendees to gain a comprehensive understanding of assessment and accountability practices. Sessions featuring best practices, collaboration across teams, assessment & accountability, and college & career readiness will come together supporting this year's conference theme. TAC remains the only statewide conference dedicated to providing the latest assessment, testing and accountability information in elementary, secondary and post-secondary education. In addition to assessment related sessions, TAC attendees will receive updates on assessment guidelines from state agencies and policymakers. The conference will be held at Kalahari Resort and Conference Center in Round Rock on November 7-9. Participants can register on the TAC website: https://txassessmentcon.org/. Onsite registration will also be available during the conference. ABOUT MOAKCASEY MoakCasey serves as an independent source of high-quality, data-driven public education information that is instrumental to school district leaders and policymakers. In its 25th year, the firm provides up-to-the-minute research and analyses of issues impacting public school finance, accountability and assessment, economic development and other areas of education to help clients smoothly navigate the intricacies of the Texas Legislature. For more information about the firm visit www.moakcasey.com Media Contact: Jennifer Kendall The Mach 1 Group 480-518-5075 [email protected] SOURCE Moak Casey New facility nearly doubles Guadalajara footprint with $130M investment in world-class manufacturing technologies and engineering talent Factory-of-the-future automation, robotics and advanced production processes meet surge in demand for Electric Vehicle solutions Extended global network of engineering expertise elevates customer-first focus while driving market innovation and supply chain optimization LISLE, Ill., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Molex, a global electronics leader and connectivity innovator, today announced a major expansion of its global manufacturing footprint with the opening of a new factory in Guadalajara. The new 60,000 square-meter facility nearly doubles Molex's footprint and manufacturing space in Guadalajara, with the potential to increase capacity by an additional 100,000 square meters to support advanced engineering and large-scale production for automotive, transportation and industrial customers in North America and around the world. Molex expands North American manufacturing capabilities with opening of second state-of-the-art factory in Guadalajara, Mexico to meet the unprecedented demand for interconnect solutions for tomorrows electric vehicles Molex expands North American manufacturing capabilities with opening of second state-of-the-art factory in Guadalajara, Mexico to meet the unprecedented demand for interconnect solutions for tomorrows electric vehicles "Our history in Mexico spans more than 50 years, earning Molex a strong reputation for developing world-class facilities and engineering talent to deliver customer-focused solutions," said Mike Bloomgren, SVP, president, Transportation & Industrial Solutions, Molex. "The opening of a new factory in Guadalajara dedicated to transportation customers further enhances our ability to effectively and economically address the most complex challenges in automotive connectivity, battery management, vehicle safety and zonal architectures." Investing in Factory-of-the-Future Capabilities Molex has invested $130 million in developing this state-of-the-art facility, which features new tools, technologies and processes to meet unprecedented demand for interconnect solutions for tomorrow's Electric Vehicles (EV), Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and connected vehicles. The fully integrated plant incorporates factory-of-the-future capabilities, including advanced production-line automation, autonomous robots, cutting-edge molding and assembly tools, as well as complete engineering and operations to optimize product development, supply chain management, quality testing and volume manufacturing. The availability of onsite reliability and metrology lab testing will empower local engineers to improve product designs and speed development cycles. A cornerstone of Molex's customer-centric approach, these local labs reduce rework costs and time at critical product-development stages. The use of innovative tests, simulations and analyses are designed to deliver industry-leading quality, streamline product certifications and accelerate time to market. As part of Molex's overarching commitment to this region, an amenity-rich environment has been created to attract and retain highly skilled, local engineering talent. The company plans to grow its headcount from 200 employees to 300 by the end of the year. Moreover, the new Guadalajara plant complements the global footprint and customer focus of Molex's Transportation & Industrial Solutions division, which includes facilities and technical centers in Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Philippines, Poland, South Korea and the United States. Customers Benefit from Supply Chain Optimization Molex's Guadalajara expansion strategically shortens supply-chain cycles by enabling the local team in Mexico to expedite supply-and-demand decisions to mitigate product development and manufacturing risks. The opportunity to increase and align multiple, geographically dispersed supply sources improves Molex's overall resiliency in addressing changing market dynamics and disruptions on behalf of automotive customers globally. Automotive Experience Counts Molex plays a vital role in the automotive industry, delivering the reliability, quality and innovations needed to ensure flawless connectivity for a vast array of applications. Dedicated automotive facilities across three continents enable Molex to offer unparalleled support to 30 of the largest global vehicle OEMs and hundreds of Tier 1 and 2 automotive suppliers. Continuous collaboration across the company aligns technology and talent in automotive, data communications, industrial and mobile consumer electronics to deliver the most diverse product portfolio on the market, encompassing ADAS, connected mobility, digital cockpits, electrification, high-speed networking, infotainment systems, vehicle antenna systems, noise cancellation sensing, vehicle-to-everything communications (V2X) and zonal architectures. About Molex Molex is a global electronics leader committed to making the world a better, more-connected place. With presence in more than 40 countries, Molex enables transformative technology innovation in the automotive, data center, industrial automation, healthcare, 5G, cloud and consumer device industries. Through trusted customer and industry relationships, unrivaled engineering expertise, and product quality and reliability, Molex realizes the infinite potential of Creating Connections for Life. For more information, visit www.molex.com. SOURCE Molex Incorporated Chubb's Fifth Annual Report on Personal Cyber Risk reveals progress, but poor cyber-security behaviors persist WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, the Chubb annual study on cyber risk finds that more people are taking concrete steps to protect their personal information and data from cyber-attacks. While the progress is encouraging, poor cyber-security behaviors remain far too common, according to the 2022 survey. The Chubb Fifth Annual Study on Personal Cyber Risk, which is based on a public opinion poll of 1,605 adults in the U.S. and Canada, was conducted by Dynata. Key findings include: People are getting better about protecting themselves from cyber risks. In 2022, more than half of Americans and Canadians (51%) reported using multi-factor authentication to log into their online accounts, which is twice the level found in the 2021 survey. What's more, nearly 80% say they prefer to use multi-factor authentication. Adoption of practices such as regularly clearing browser histories and using password protection apps, pop-up blockers and malware protection were also up significantly from 2021. People have trouble keeping track of their passwords and are annoyed when they have to change them. Three in five (61%) report having trouble keeping track of their passwords. A similar share (63%) gets annoyed when they are forced to update their passwords. Pet passwords still predominate. The good news: three out of four people report updating the password for their primary bank account in the last 12 months, and 70% have voluntarily updated a password for a digital account without being required to by the provider. The bad news: half are still including the name of their pet or another identifiable name or date in the new password. Nearly 85% of high-net worth Americans and Canadians use such identifiable terms or dates in their passwords more than three times the rate of middle-income respondents (27%). The wealthy are most likely to be the target of a cyber-attack involving money. In the last year, nearly 30% of high-net worth respondents reported falling victim to a cyber-attack that involved their money. That's twice the average for all income groups and seven times the frequency cited by middle-income respondents. Mass affluent and high net worth consumers were twice as likely as the members of the middle class to have fraudulent charges made on their credit card. "Our fifth annual report on personal cyber risk has a compelling narrative: Awareness of and concern over cyber threats is high and growing. At the same time, people are annoyed and frustrated by taking actions to protect themselves online. Thankfully, the gap between awareness and action has started to narrow," said Ana Robic, Division President, Chubb North America Personal Risk Services. "While the progress is encouraging, risky behaviors are still too prevalent. Individuals and families should remain vigilant in defending themselves against cyber perils and know that there are risk management solutions to help ensure protection in the event of a personal cyber incident." Additional findings include: People are worried about catastrophic cyber-attacks. Americans and Canadians are concerned about the threat of large-scale cyber-attacks that could cause widespread damage and chaos. Nearly nine in 10 (87%) are concerned that there will be a significant cyber-attack on the power grid in the U.S. Large majorities are worried about the threat of a cyber-attack waged by a hostile foreign country (85%) and cyber-attacks on a nuclear power plant, chemical factory or water supply (84%). People are pretty sure their devices are eavesdropping on them. Four out of five respondents (79%) believe their virtual assistants and streaming devices can listen to their conversations. Another 11% aren't sure. In addition, two out of three respondents (67%) believe they have received an advertisement based on a conversation they've had that was captured by a virtual assistant or streaming device. Wealthy and affluent people are most likely to believe this. Personal cyber insurance is becoming more common. About two in five (39%) currently have a personal cyber insurance policy. Wealthy consumers are much more likely to have this coverage. But an equal share of people is unfamiliar with personal cyber insurance, including 19% who are not at all familiar with the protections that personal cyber coverage offers individuals and families. People understand that not all cyber risks are equal. 90% of respondents believe the app from their primary bank is secure. That's much higher than for personal finance (68%) or peer-to-peer payment apps (70%). Less than half of consumers are confident in the security of other apps, such as social media (48%), fitness (48%), and online dating (40%), which ranked lowest among the app categories cited in the survey. A related finding: consumers most fear the breach of their financial information. More than half (53%) say a breach of their financial information is the most concerning type of breach. Download the full survey report, including detailed findings and data with graphics, here. To learn more about Chubb's personal cyber protection policy, visit here. About the Survey This is the fifth survey by Chubb measuring U.S. and Canadian consumers attitudes and behaviors toward cyber. The online survey was conducted by Dynata, a leading global provider of first-party consumer and professional data. The survey was fielded in the U.S. and Canada from August 29-September 19, 2022. The results are based on 1,605 completed interviews. To qualify for the study, respondents were screened to be 18 years of age or older, have a minimum household income of $50,000, and use at least one internet connected device. 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 more than 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 coverages and services through licensed insurance brokers across Canada. For additional information, visit: chubb.com/ca. SOURCE Chubb The Instituto Coordenadas para la Gobernanza y la Economia Aplicada in its working group on North Africa, concludes in its latest study Morocco places the Sahara at the heart of its social and economic development strategy. Since 2015, Rabat has invested $8 billion to turn the Sahara region into a major economic hub as a bridge between sub-Saharan Africa and Europe . MADRID, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Contrary to the much-abused cliche, Morocco has demonstrated its strategic commitment to the Sahara's development. For Rabat, the promotion of the region's well-being and economic progress are major objectives that cut across the country's own development plans. With the aim of accelerating the Sahara's development and socio-economic integration, Morocco launched an ambitious $8 billion project in 2015. The New Development Model for the Southern Provinces, as the project has been dubbed, revolves around infrastructures aimed at structuring the territory of the Sahara region which includes the Tiznit-Elaayoune-Dajla motorway and the Lamhiriz fishing and the Dakhla Atlantique ports. The programme includes creating a maritime freight line between Casablanca and Dakhla, establishing nautical connections between the Canary Islands and Tarfaya and Laayoune. Additionally, the program also features the construction of a University Hospital Centre in El Ayoun and a Technopolis in Fum El-Ued, demonstrating Morocco's strong commitment to the region and its inhabitants. Morocco's objective is to make this region the logistical and economic bridge between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. By the end of 2018, 48% of the objectives had already been achieved, giving a strong perceived boost to socio-economic momentum, increasing the creation of companies, jobs and attracting investment. The region's renewable energy potential, both solar and wind, is driving much of the investment. This reality, which aims to contribute to the four large solar power plants and up to eleven wind farms, will make Morocco a leader in renewable energy on the continent. Morocco will not only achieve energy self-sufficiency but also be able to export a significant percentage of the EU's energy needs. Some international actors such as the African Union and the European Union, faced with the Western Sahara issue, are significantly holding back the region's development potential, both in social and economic terms. Because of this, the actions of the United States and Spain in defense of the resolution of the conflict through the political route provided by autonomy within the framework of the Alawi kingdom are so important and provide the impetus for progress, stability and improvement in this area. It is not just economic development; it is the people living in the Sahara that are at stake. SOURCE Instituto Coordenadas Over half a million dollars raised and donated in the past five years CARROLLTON, Texas, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MY SALON Suite has raised $123,744 in benefit of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through the brand's Suite Relief Fund , an annual fundraiser held throughout September in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The salon suite franchise surpassed its initial goal of raising $120,000 through generous donations from clients, members, franchise partners, vendors and the Suite Management Franchising team. Continued support through donations helps St. Jude provide treatment, travel, housing, and food to the more than 400,000 kids with cancer around the world each year, at no charge to their families. "At MY SALON Suite, we believe in the beauty of giving back, and I am extraordinarily proud of our community for raising over $120,000 for St. Jude for the second year in a row," said Stacy Eley, president of Suite Management Franchising. "Year after year, we continue to surpass our fundraising goals to help St. Jude carry out their life-saving mission. As MY SALON Suite continues to grow and expand our efforts, we look forward to continuing to make a difference." Suite Management Franchising, the parent company of MY SALON Suite and Salon Plaza, launched the Suite Relief Fund in 2017 and began its partnership with St. Jude the following year. Over the last five years, more than half a million dollars has been raised and donated for St. Jude through the Suite Relief Fund. Additionally the Suite Relief raises funds for other causes, including aiding MY SALON Suite Members affected by natural disasters through the Professional Beauty Association's Disaster Relief Fund. Aid has been disbursed to MY SALON Suite Members affected by Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Ida, Hurricane Ian, recent St. Louis flooding and other natural disasters. Over $30,000 from the Suite Relief Fund has recently gone towards aiding Fort Myers, Florida Members in the wake of Hurricane Ian. During MY SALON Suite's annual convention, an additional $1,300 was raised for Suite Relief through a raffle, with roughly half of the prize money going towards providing a Fort Myers-based franchisee with gas and grocery gift cards to give to his Members who are struggling after Hurricane Ian. MY SALON Suite is a salon suite franchise that focuses on providing stylists and beauticians a personal space to build their business. They decorate their suite, use their own branding, set their hours, prices, and manage their own client lists and business. In addition, the MY SALON Suite franchise owners serve as landlords who recruit and rent space to health and beauty professionals. In June 2021, Suite Management Franchising, LLC, the parent company of MY SALON Suite and Salon Plaza, was acquired by Propelled Brands. Propelled Brands is using its unparalleled resources, support, and training to accelerate growth and expand Suite Management Franchising's footprint across the country. For more information about the MY SALON Suite franchise, visit https://www.mysalonsuite.com , or contact . About Suite Management Franchising Suite Management Franchising, the parent company of MY SALON Suite and Salon Plaza, is a salon suite franchise created for entrepreneurial-spirited individuals interested in diversifying their portfolio while living a semi-absentee lifestyle. Founded to inspire and empower the modern-day salon owner, the company offers a unique opportunity for a diverse range of beauty and health professionals to run their businesses successfully. Salon members are provided ongoing training, support, and a strong referral network to help their business generate a six-figure income. Featured in Entrepreneur magazine's "Top New Franchise" list, the brand is widely recognized for its rapid expansion and noteworthy success. A strategic alliance partnership with Propelled Brands, the nation's largest family-owned collection of salons, continues to propel the brand's growth. With 225 locations in 35 states across the United States and Canada, the franchise concept plans to add 200 franchise partners and 500 salons in the next three years. For more information about Suite Management Franchising, visit mysalonsuite.com/franchise. To learn more about MY SALON Suite and Salon Plaza, visit mysalonsuite.com and salonplaza.com . SOURCE MY SALON Suite WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will provide live coverage of the launch and docking of a Roscosmos cargo spacecraft carrying about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the multi-national Expedition 68 crew aboard the International Space Station. The unpiloted Progress 82 mission is scheduled to launch at 8:20 p.m. EDT (5:20 a.m. Baikonur time) Tuesday, Oct. 25, on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Coverage will begin at 8 p.m. on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website. The Progress spacecraft will dock to the space-facing side of the Poisk module two days later, on Thursday, Oct. 27. NASA TV coverage of rendezvous and docking will begin at 10:15 p.m., with docking scheduled for about 10:49 p.m. The International Space Station is a convergence of science, technology, and human innovation that demonstrates new technologies and enables research not possible on Earth. NASA recently recognized 21 years of continuous human presence aboard the orbiting laboratory, which has hosted 263 people and a variety of international and commercial spacecraft. The space station remains the springboard to NASA's next great leap in exploration including missions to the Moon under Artemis and ultimately, human exploration of Mars. Learn more about the International Space Station, its research, and crew, at: https://www.nasa.gov/station SOURCE NASA ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the National Assessment Governing Board and the National Center for Education Statistics released the results of the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation's Report Card. The results include scores for grades 4 and 8 in mathematics and reading and provide the most comprehensive picture to date of the pandemic's impact on student achievement. These results follow the findings released in September for the nation's nine-year-olds. National PTA President Anna King issued the following statement in response to the results: "The NAEP results are disappointing to see, but also not surprising due to the disruptions to education from the COVID-19 pandemic. The results underscore the critical need for families and schools to work together to support our students' success. There could not be a more urgent time for strong family-school partnerships. "Decades of research shows that when families are engaged and families and schools work together, students attend school more regularly, earn better grades, enroll in higher-level programs and have higher graduation rates. Family-school partnerships also help schoolsresearch suggests it is equally as important as school leadership and a rigorous curriculum in predicting school improvement. Parents, guardians and other caregivers must be key partners in their children's educational success, now more than ever. "National PTA urges parents to get a better understanding of what their child is expected to learn at their grade level and where their child is academically; talk to their child's teacher about what they notice regarding their child's learning and schoolwork; and provide their child's teacher and school with information about how their child is doing at home and stressors in their child's life. "Our association urges teachers to provide families with information on how their children are doing at school, the learning goals for the school year and what is expected of them at their grade level. Schools should also engage families in more transparent and productive ways and ensure their voices are at the table for educational policy and funding decisions. "We also urge Congress to provide funding to support family engagement initiatives in schools and communities across the country, as well as build on key provisions included in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015, to provide schools with guidance and tools needed to meaningfully share power with parents, welcome and communicate effectively with all families, and meaningfully collaborate to support student success. "By investing in family engagement and engaging in open, ongoing, two-way communication, families, teachers and schools can better work together and support students' success. "For over 125 years, PTA has connected families, teachers and administrators; helped families to actively engage in their children's education; and helped strengthen partnerships between families, teachers and schools. Our role is even more essential today, and our association remains committed to this critical work to ensure every child succeeds and reaches their full potential." In support of our mission, National PTA recently updated its National Standards for Family-School Partnerships to provide better support for schools and their communities as they address changes in educational and family engagement trends, shifts in community demographics, and the need for enhanced transparency and more equity-centered practices. The updated Standards will be released in November and will provide critical guidance and best practices for strong partnerships that will make a real impact for all students, families and schools. National PTA will host a virtual townhall Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. EST to discuss these updates. The townhall will be streamed live on National PTA's Facebook page and Twitter and YouTube accounts. About National PTA National PTA comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. For more information, visit PTA.org. SOURCE National PTA MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pure Capital Solutions' (OTC: PCST) wholly owned subsidiary Nova Space Inc. announces a formal partnership with the Keystone Space Collaborative (KSC), to provide KSC members with exclusive access to a new member portal housing courses and other resources to help current and future space industry professionals stay competitive and support the growing demand for a local skilled space workforce focused in the Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia Tri-State region. "Our intention with the Keystone Space Collaborative has always been to create the connections necessary to make our region a space industry powerhouse. This new partnership and platform takes our ability to do that to a new level," said Justine Kasznica, Keystone Space Collaborative Board Chair. "We're thrilled to offer these new benefits to our members and continue building on these exciting opportunities our organization can offer our network and the region as a whole." The tri-state region has already made a substantial impact in the space economy, supporting well over 1,000 organizations actively developing new technology and supporting current DoD, NASA and private space missions. The tailored curriculum roadmap, created by government clients and the space experts at Nova Space Inc., consists of free and discounted courses on topics including: Orbital Mechanics Mission Design Launch and Propulsion The Space Environment Communications "Today's employers, across industries, are faced with a new challenge stemming from the pace of innovation and the short lifespan of many day-to-day skills," said Christopher Allen, Nova Space COO. "From the software suites our employees use, to new market disruptors changing business models, to the speed in which professionals are changing careers, employers must establish a learning culture in the organization to support the rapid acquisition and mastery of new skills." In addition to the asynchronous, experiential digital earning course catalog that is aimed at helping individuals become competent and confident space professionals, the portal will enable KSC members to: Access the KSC's growing collection of articles, whitepapers, and webinars Participate in social learning events with the KSC's Industry Council and other KSC members Access the KSC's one-of-a-kind interactive Ecosystem Map that identifies industry stakeholders and entities in the region Browse and post regional opportunities and job listings on an interactive, professional "matchmaking" forum "This partnership is a significant step forward in identifying the human aspect to growth of the space industry. By providing a spectrum of training and professional development opportunities to members, the Keystone Space Collaborative is supporting workforce development across the region, and Nova Space is proud to lead this initiative," said Joseph Horvath, Nova Space CEO. The KSC adds a strategic partner to the list of professional organizations already working with Nova Space including the Space Foundation and AIAA, establishing Nova Space as the globally recognized industry leader in award-winning Space professional development and education. ABOUT NOVA SPACE INC: Nova Space is already well known for its signature space professional-development programs, designed to support the growth of space industry professionals, entrepreneurs and business leaders, commercial companies, and governmental organizations. The founders of the company have more than five decades of combined experience in space operations, astronautics, and custom learning development in both commercial and government settings. To learn more, visit novaspaceinc.com. ABOUT THE KEYSTONE SPACE COLLABORATIVE: Founded in 2021, the Keystone Space Collaborative is the tri-state's premier space organization committed to attracting, growing and amplifying the next generation of space industry businesses and talent in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. By convening people passionate about space, the Collaborative aims to attract more opportunities for job creation, inclusive prosperity, and growth in this fast-growing sector. To learn more, visit keystonespace.org. ABOUT PURE CAPITAL SOLUTIONS, INC. Since 2006, Pure Capital Solutions, Inc has been assisting small to medium sized businesses by investment and consulting. We have provided short-term financing, factoring, loans, and consulting using our diverse expertise. We also directly invest in our subsidiaries and help them grow. Learn more by visiting purecapitalsolution.com. SOURCE Pure Capital Solutions Unprecedented rate of first-action allowances indicates superior patent portfolio quality for wireless power technology firm CHICAGO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NuCurrent today announced that it has been named one of the Most Innovative Companies in Chicago by Crain's Chicago Business. Crain's determines the list in partnership with Ocean Tomo, an intellectual property advisory, investment-banking and consulting firm, which evaluates the patents produced by all Chicago area companies each year and ranks the companies based on patent quality. PopSockets PopPower 2 Wireless Charger is the world's first to leverage the MP-A24 Qi Design Specification. 2022 marks NuCurrent's third year on the Most Innovative list based on patent quality. This year, NuCurrent earned this recognition for its continued focus on Near-Field Communication (NFC) Wireless Charging technology. NFC Wireless Charging is a fast-advancing method of wireless power transfer that leverages the prevalent data protocol (NFC) to simultaneously deliver high data speeds and small amounts of power, with NFC Wireless UART as an added benefit. This technology is appropriate for small, space-constrained devices such as wrist-wearables, earbuds and smart glasses. "We're honored to be recognized as one of Chicago's Most Innovative Companies for the third time, especially after just receiving our 100th issued patent from the USPTO last week," said CEO Jacob Babock. "Wireless power and data, is an incredible technology for transformative feature enablement the world can expect to see more never-before-seen products and user experiences brought to market by NuCurrent at an increased rate in the coming year." About NuCurrent NuCurrent supplies Fortune 1000 companies and other high-flying product developers with wireless power technologies and product integration expertise. Our core technologies span magnetics, software and systems simulation. We have generated over 180 patents granted and pending globally, and unparalleled internal tools that enhance speed to market, improve product performance and mitigate major development risks. Our broad systems integration expertise supports manufacturers of appliances, smartphones, wearables, hearables, consumer electronics, medical devices, robotics, IoT, sporting equipment and other emerging product categories. NuCurrent solutions are based on inductive and inductive resonant wireless power transfer which offers convenience, safety, efficiency, and enhanced user experience. Founded in 2009, we are a venture-backed company based in Chicago with offices in Hong Kong, San Diego and Bangalore. More information at www.nucurrent.com Media Contact Amaya Adams Sr. Marketing Program Manager (312) 637-3511 [email protected] SOURCE NuCurrent The unprecedented philanthropic initiative lets brands use Paul Newman's name, image, and likeness but only if they promise to "give it all away." WESTPORT, Conn., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- We live in the age of celebrity endorsements. These days, pop stars can earn upwards of $50 million just by posing next to a soda can in a 30-second commercial. Athletes might take home $25 million by agreeing to endorse a cereal and can earn $160 million for wearing a pair of sneakers. This trend nods to the fact that the commercialization of one's "personal brand" is a key factor for achieving personal financial success in the 21st century. Forty years ago, legendary actor, racecar driver, and philanthropist Paul Newman put his face forward too, but in a radically different way than what we see from many others today. When The Hustler and Cool Hand Luke star established the food company Newman's Own in 1982 and put his iconic blue eyes and megawatt smile on bottles of salad dressing, he declared that the company would give away 100% of its profits. Some 40 years later, Paul Newman's decision to "give it all away" has become the stuff of legend in the world of philanthropy. His company has sold millions of food products over the years, and recently reached a remarkable milestone: Paul Newman and Newman's Own have donated $600 million to charitable causes since its founding. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Newman's Own and this incredible giving milestone, Newman's Own is now inviting other brands to get in on "Newman's Deal." In a groundbreaking philanthropic effort that aims to inspire like-minded brands to take a page from Paul Newman's philanthropic playbook, Newman's Own will take the unprecedented step of giving away Paul Newman's image to brands who want to use his iconic visage to attract new consumers. But the deal isthese brands must agree to follow Paul's lead and give away 100% of the profits from the limited-edition products to help kids. A short film showcasing Newman's Deal and the legendary history of Newman's Own 40-year commitment to giving away 100% of its profits from the sale of its food and beverage products is featured on NewmansDeal.com. Interested brands are encouraged to review the limited-time-only licensing application and apply at NewmansDeal.com. Brands chosen as a "Newman's Deal" partner will have permission to use an image or a collection of images of Paul Newman or his signature. The library of iconic photos available feature Newman across his career as a Hollywood actor, racecar driver, and lifestyle and fashion icon. The photo(s) and signature, along with a Newman's Own "100% Profits to Help Kids" stamp of authenticity can be leveraged by brand partners across product labeling and marketing channels to drive sales, verifying the product's commitment to "give it all away" to help kids. Applications will be accepted from October 24-November 24, 2022, and brands will be notified by January 31, 2023, if they are selected. "For 40 years, Paul Newman's face has been a symbol of radically good philanthropy," said Nicole Malcolm-Manyara, CMO of Newman's Own, Inc. "We're thrilled to offer more of Paul Newman through 'Newman's Deal' and we encourage more brands to give it all away just as Paul did when he decided to emblazon his face on a bottle of salad dressing. This limited time offer to use Paul Newman's likeness is the perfect way to celebrate his inspiring legacy, particularly as we unveil a new Newman's Own brand identity and Newman's Own Foundation focuses its mission to help children facing adversity." The announcement of "Newman's Deal" arrives on the heels of a head-to-toe brand refresh for Newman's Own products, which includes the rollout of a new logo, vibrantly illustrated packaging, and an inspiring new brand platform and tagline 'Radically Good' supported by the largest advertising campaign to date from Newman's Own. The new tagline "Radically Good" was inspired by Paul Newman's radically good commitment to "give it all away." The new packaging is rolling out now, starting with the company's fan-favorite pizzas. For the first time and in recognition of the Foundation's new mission, select products will feature heartwarming stories of the many children and families who have directly benefited from Newman's Own, helping consumers better connect with the impact they're making when they purchase the company's products. The campaign will appear in various out-of-home executions in New York City and Chicago and will include digital and social media advertising. The cleverly worded out-of-home advertisements will highlight Newman's Own commitment to giving away 100% of its profits, with copy noting how the brand turns pizza lovers into philanthropists and doesn't support a cause to sell more food it sells more food to support a cause. The brand is also running a billboard in New York City's Times Square to announce the "Newman's Deal" offer and attract the attention of interested brands and consumers who will be encouraged to get their favorite brands to apply for Newman's Deal. "For the next forty years and long after that, Newman's Own food company and Newman's Own Foundation will be focused on our mission to nourish and transform the lives of children facing adversity by embracing Paul Newman's ethos of giving it all away," Malcolm-Manyara said. "We hope that by launching 'Newman's Deal', we'll provide incentives for other brands whether they sell clothing, footwear, personal care, home goods, or anything else to follow in Paul's footsteps by donating 100% of their profits to help kids. We can't wait for other brands to discover the tremendous benefit that comes from doing radically good work." About Newman's Own, Inc. Newman's Own, Inc., founded by Paul Newman in 1982, offers great tasting, high-quality food and beverage products for families and their pets. Products include salad dressings, pasta sauces, frozen pizza, salsa, refrigerated drinks, cookies, popcorn, and olive oil as well as dog treats. Newman's Own, Inc., continues Paul Newman's founding commitment to "give it all away," with 100% of its profits going to Newman's Own Foundation, which helps children who face adversity. Press Contact: JULIE HENDRICKS [email protected] SOURCE Newman's Own, Inc. LOS ANGELES, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hot Foot Films and screenwriter Frank Sacks announced they are knee deep into development and casting of the next great physical action comedy. Written by Sacks and producer of HBO's "Extreme Justice" and writer of "Nico the Unicorn," the "Hot Foot!" script has also attracted the talents of award-winning Canadian director, Graeme Campbell, along with casting producer JP Stanley and Chelsea Fenton (PGA). Scripts currently going out to international sales agents for film partners attending the American Film Market. "Hot Foot" will be filmed in 2024 on location in both Maui and Los Angeles with post-production in Toronto. Hot Foot Films Newspaper clipping from The Honolulu Advertiser taken by John Tilchen January 19, 1972 Hot Foot: The Synopsis It is 1972 in Waikiki. 24-year-old Spencer Shepherd arrives with more hope than dollars in his pocket, planning to open a new retail store selling waterbeds and exotic pillows to the locals. Within hours of opening the doors though, two local surfer kids decide to steal the store's advertising icon sitting out front on the sidewalk. The "Hot Foot" is a giant foot-shaped pillow, representing the "hang ten" culture of the times. But what the thieves don't know is the Hot Foot is an ancient messenger from the future. Spencer, along with his new employee Lynn Gold and mutual friend Moki Harada, leap into action, calling more reporters and setting off a media frenzy that includes a pillow-sales bonanza and an overnight island sensation as the real story turns the foot into an icon and a tsunami wave of news. But despite all that, the Hot Foot pillow is still missing. And the theft has unleashed the legend of an Ancient Hawaiian messenger determined to track down the thieves. Hot Foot: The Director Graeme Campbell's first feature film "Murder One" had a successful North American theatrical release, leading to other films like "Journey Into Darkness: The Bruce Curtis Story" (aka "Deadly Betrayal"), a TV movie which won six Gemini Awards including Best TV Movie, and Best Director. Graeme's extensive television credits include: "Outer Limits," "Degrassi," "Instant Star," "Eleventh Hour" as well as numerous movies and miniseries for television including "Saying Yes to Christmas" for Lifetime, "An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving" for the Hallmark Channel, and "Everest" for CBC. Graeme also directed "Nico the Unicorn," released worldwide on streaming platforms. The book was also adapted by Sacks and published by St. Martin's Press, NY. Hot Foot: The Producers JP Stanley , Executive Producer and Casting Director: Stanley has worked with globally recognized brands and artists such as Apple, Mariah Carey , Samsung, Jonas Brothers , LG, Netflix, Billie Eilish, Pepsi, Lexus, Maserati, A.J. Mitchell, Frito Lay , USPS, Wendy's, Geico, Grubhub, Hyundai, and more. He has also worked in the casting department on several feature films including Hulu's " The United States vs. Billie Holiday ," Netflix's "Work It, Carter," and "They Cloned Tyrone." Stanley has cast several award-winning short films such as "American Oxygen," and "Escape." Stanley has worked with globally recognized brands and artists such as Apple, , Samsung, , LG, Netflix, Billie Eilish, Pepsi, Lexus, Maserati, A.J. Mitchell, , USPS, Wendy's, Geico, Grubhub, Hyundai, and more. He has also worked in the casting department on several feature films including Hulu's " vs. ," Netflix's "Work It, Carter," and "They Cloned Tyrone." Stanley has cast several award-winning short films such as "American Oxygen," and "Escape." Chelsea Fenton , (PGA) Producer's Guild of America: Chelsea has produced six feature films including the upcoming "The Mattachine Family," and "MFA" (SXSW World Premiere). She has produced for Buzzfeed, Funny or Die, and Ripley's "Believe It or Not! Carnival of Curi-Oddities." For more in-depth information on development and production news, visit www.HotFootFilms.com. Media Contact: Frank Sacks, Screenwriter/Producer [email protected] 310-597-9888 SOURCE Hot Foot Films GitOps for Spinnaker, Other New Capabilities Announced at Spinnaker Summit 2022 DETROIT, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OpsMx , the leader in intelligent continuous delivery, today announced a suite of services and product capabilities for enterprise users of the Spinnaker continuous delivery (CD) platform. The Spinnaker Center of Excellence provides custom development services to existing Spinnaker users who need to implement new features or customizations or accelerate open source community development. OpsMx also added new features to bring the GitOps model of application deployments to Spinnaker. The new OpsMx Spinnaker as a Service frees DevOps teams from the operational burdens of a CD platform. These announcements were made by Gopal Dommety, CEO and co-founder at OpsMx, during his keynote presentation at Spinnaker Summit 2022. "Spinnaker has proven to be the most robust, scalable, and open CD solution available today," said Dommety. "These new services and capabilities delivered by OpsMx will help our customers extend their Spinnaker investment forward into the future." Over the last twelve months, OpsMx has consistently been one of the top three contributors to the Spinnaker open source project, continuing to advance innovation in software delivery. The services and capabilities in this announcement include: OpsMx Spinnaker Center of Excellence As enterprises expand their use of Spinnaker, they sometimes require capabilities that are not available in open source. The OpsMx Spinnaker Center of Excellence (COE) is a dedicated team of Spinnaker and DevOps engineers who work with large Spinnaker users on a contract basis to develop new features and customizations. Some of the world's largest Spinnaker users are already working with the OpsMx Spinnaker COE to get Spinnaker tasks, large and small, off their "to do" list. Past OpsMx Spinnaker COE projects that are now available in open source Spinnaker include Google Cloud (GCP) Cloudrun support (release 1.30), GCP load balancer auto scaling (1.29), and Clouddriver sharding (1.28). The Spinnaker COE is currently accepting new customers. As enterprises expand their use of Spinnaker, they sometimes require capabilities that are not available in open source. The OpsMx Spinnaker Center of Excellence (COE) is a dedicated team of Spinnaker and DevOps engineers who work with large Spinnaker users on a contract basis to develop new features and customizations. Some of the world's largest Spinnaker users are already working with the OpsMx Spinnaker COE to get Spinnaker tasks, large and small, off their "to do" list. Past OpsMx Spinnaker COE projects that are now available in open source Spinnaker include Google Cloud (GCP) Cloudrun support (release 1.30), GCP load balancer auto scaling (1.29), and Clouddriver sharding (1.28). The Spinnaker COE is currently accepting new customers. Open Source Stormdriver Large-scale Spinnaker deployments have been held back by the performance limitations of Spinnaker Clouddriver service. Stormdriver is a new service for Clouddriver specially developed by the OpsMx Spinnaker COE to provide global scaling and security. OpsMx will be contributing Stormdriver to the Spinnaker open source project. Michael Graff , Principal Engineer and Spinnaker Hacker at OpsMx, will be presenting Stormdriver at Spinnaker Summit 2022. Stormdriver is available to OpsMx customers today. Large-scale Spinnaker deployments have been held back by the performance limitations of Spinnaker Clouddriver service. Stormdriver is a new service for Clouddriver specially developed by the OpsMx Spinnaker COE to provide global scaling and security. OpsMx will be contributing Stormdriver to the Spinnaker open source project. , Principal Engineer and Spinnaker Hacker at OpsMx, Stormdriver at Spinnaker Summit 2022. Stormdriver is available to OpsMx customers today. GitOps with Spinnaker using Keel Service Keel service is an optional component of Spinnaker that enables GitOps, allowing users to declaratively define their desired infrastructure and application release. OpsMx is now offering support for Keel service and will be extending it to allow GitOps deployments in AWS to other cloud environments. Keel service is an optional component of Spinnaker that enables GitOps, allowing users to declaratively define their desired infrastructure and application release. OpsMx is now offering support for Keel service and will be extending it to allow GitOps deployments in AWS to other cloud environments. Spinnaker Argo Integration Development teams are increasingly embracing Argo for GitOps in Kubernetes environments. OpsMx is integrating Argo and Spinnaker to provide a unified solution that adds the controls of Spinnaker to the developer-friendliness of Argo. This integrated solution will be generally available in Q1 2023. Development teams are increasingly embracing Argo for GitOps in Kubernetes environments. OpsMx is integrating Argo and Spinnaker to provide a unified solution that adds the controls of Spinnaker to the developer-friendliness of Argo. This integrated solution will be generally available in Q1 2023. Spinnaker as a Service Spinnaker users who want to focus on delivering software, not running Spinnaker, can now access Spinnaker in a SaaS delivery model from OpsMx. OpsMx provides software lifecycle management, ongoing operations, and 24x7 support. A free trial of Spinnaker as a Service is available. Together, these announcements ensure that Spinnaker customers can continue to build on their past investments as their application environments evolve. About OpsMX OpsMx simplifies and intelligently automates software delivery, enabling hundreds of thousands of developers at Google, Cisco, Western Union, and other leading global enterprises to ship better software faster. Incorporating open source Argo and Spinnaker, OpsMx is the first open, unified platform for deploying applications in container, virtual machine, and multi-cloud environments. The company's 150 employees serve customers from offices in Silicon Valley, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, with funding from Dell Technologies Capital and Foundation Capital. For more information, visit www.opsmx.com . All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered own SOURCE OpsMx Inc. - Deal grows Oxford's San Diego Life Science Business to 900,000 square feet across 16 buildings - SAN DIEGO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Oxford Properties Group ("Oxford"), a leading global real estate investor, asset manager and business builder today announced the purchase and long-term lease back of Ionis Pharmaceuticals' ("Ionis") 18.4-acre life science campus and corporate headquarters. Located in the established San Diego life science submarket of Carlsbad, the campus features approximately 250,000 square feet of existing life science and office space. As part of the transaction, Ionis will lease the properties for a minimum of 15 years. Aerial image of Ionis Pharmaceuticals' 18.4 acre campus in Carlsbad, San Diego, CA. (CNW Group/Oxford Properties Group) The transaction follows on from Oxford's entrance into the San Diego life science market in February this year via a US$464 million acquisition of a 13-building portfolio. It builds on Oxford's already robust global life sciences portfolio and growing West Coast presence with high quality assets in the Bay Area and Seattle. The acquisition grows Oxford's existing San Diego life science portfolio to 900,000 square feet of income-producing properties, which will increase to over 1.2 million square feet upon completion of its development pipeline in the local market. Founded in 1989, Ionis is a publicly traded biotech company and a leader in discovering and developing RNA-targeted therapeutics. Ionis currently has three marketed medicines and a premier late-stage pipeline highlighted by industry-leading cardiovascular and neurological franchises. It has a long history of R&D successes and has delivered multiple breakthroughs in antisense technology. "Our team continues to create sustained yet highly-targeted growth against one of our highest conviction global investment strategies, to build a global life science business of scale," said Chad Remis, Executive Vice President, North America at Oxford. "Today's acquisition adds another leading life sciences company to our business as well as high quality income-producing assets to our growing portfolio plus complements our development pipeline in San Diego. The transaction perfectly encapsulates the purpose of our life science business; by investing Oxford's capital and capabilities to own, build and manage this highly technical real estate infrastructure we are able to free up the resources of life science firms to better focus on what they do best research and create the life changing therapeutics of tomorrow. We look forward to working with Ionis as they continue to advance their science for the benefit of society at large." "Ionis has long maintained a strong financial foundation to support our business objectives. While we have a healthy cash balance, we also have near-term capital needs to scale our organization to deliver on our growth initiatives. This transaction will provide us with significant cash proceeds while allowing us to conduct our day-to-day operations as we normally do. We have worked closely with Oxford to create a bespoke solution that can accommodate our future growth and retain flexibility as our business evolves," said Elizabeth L. Hougen, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Ionis. The Ionis campus features three assets of one and two storeys and comprises approximately 250,000 square feet across 18.4 acres. The buildings are all modern vintage, with the oldest completed in 2011 and the most recent in 2021. They feature chemistry labs, biology labs and R&D support systems as well as modern office space. The campus is located in Carlsbad, part of the prominent San Diego North County life science cluster and home to leading firms such as Novartis, Thermo Fisher and Genentech. The North County has become highly sought after by life science firms in recent years, which has dropped the vacancy rate to 3.6%1. San Diego has defined itself as one of the most important life science markets globally. Nearly 40% of its population holds a bachelor's degree or higher, rapidly outpacing the national average of 28%, and its universities graduate more STEM talent than any other region in the US. Its ecosystem is anchored by renowned research institutions and non-profits including San Diego State University, UC San Diego, Scripps Research and the Sandford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. San Diego's life science market has witnessed record demand over recent years, leading to significant and sustained rental growth with asking rents growing by 34% in 2021. "Our purchase of the Ionis campus adds to Oxford's significant presence in a top three global life science market that is characterized by high barriers to entry," said Tycho Suter, Vice President of Investments at Oxford. "We have long-term conviction in the San Diego life sciences market, which is supported by its strong STEM presence and a highly-skilled labour force as well as world-renowned research and academic institutions. Together, it creates a highly innovative ecosystem that captures research funding, venture capital and business growth to the region." Oxford has invested in the life science industry since 2017. It has built substantial expertise in the sector while deploying capital through a variety of equity and credit investments as well as cultivating a significant development pipeline. Since the start of 2021 alone, Oxford has invested over US$3 billion in global life sciences and has identified a further US$5 billion of follow-on development opportunities. Oxford's life science business now operates across the top 10 North American life science markets and in leading European markets through holdings in Cambridge, London and Paris. About Oxford Properties Group Oxford Properties Group ("Oxford") is a leading global real estate investor, asset manager and business builder. It builds, buys, and grows defined real estate operating business with world-class management teams. Established in 1960, Oxford and its portfolio companies manage approximately C$80 billion of assets across four continents on behalf of their investment partners. Oxford's owned portfolio encompasses office, logistics, retail, multifamily residential, life sciences, hotels and credit in global gateway cities and high-growth hubs. A thematic investor with a committed source of capital, Oxford invests in properties, portfolios, development sites, debt, securities and real estate businesses across the risk-reward spectrum. Together with its portfolio companies, Oxford is one of the world's most active developers with over 100 projects currently underway globally across all major asset classes. Oxford is owned by OMERS, the Canadian defined benefit pension plan for Ontario's municipal employees. For more information on Oxford, visit www.oxfordproperties.com __________________________________ 1 From Q2 2022 San Diego Life Science Marketbeat, Cushman & Wakefield, pg 3 SOURCE Oxford Properties Group CLAYTON, Mo., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Perimeter Solutions (NYSE: PRM) ("Perimeter" or the "Company"), producers of PHOS-CHEK long-term fire retardant and other high-quality firefighting products and lubricant additives, announced today it will release its financial results for the third quarter 2022 on Friday, November 4, 2022, before the market opens. The Company will host a conference call to discuss these results at 8:30 a.m. ET on the same day. The presentation will be led by Vice Chairman Haitham Khouri, CEO Edward Goldberg and CFO Charles Kropp. The live webcast of the call can be accessed through Perimeter's investor relations website at https://ir.perimeter-solutions.com/ and as follows: When : Friday, November 4, 2022, at 8:30 AM (ET) Dial-in Number : 877-407-9764 (Toll-Free), 201-689-8551 (Toll) (No access code needed) Conference Name : Perimeter Solutions Third Quarter 2022 Earnings Call Materials Available At: https://ir.perimeter-solutions.com/ Replay Available : Friday, November 4, 2022 to December 4, 2022 (11:59 PM ET) Replay Number : 877-660-6853 / 201-612-7415, Access ID: 13733937 Internet Access : https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=OkYD7XFV About Perimeter Solutions Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Perimeter Solutions (NYSE: PRM) is a premier global solutions provider, producing high-quality firefighting products and lubricant additives. The company develops products that impact critically important issues of life issues where there often is no room for error and the job doesn't offer second chances. At Perimeter, we characterize the solutions we develop as 'Trusted Solutions that Save' because it underscores what we are trying to accomplish for our customers and the world at large. Perimeter Solutions produces major brands known throughout the world like PHOS-CHEK and FIRE-TROL retardant, foam concentrates and gel products; AUXQUIMIA and SOLBERG firefighting foam concentrates; and BIOGEMA extinguishing agents and retardants. For more information on how we use our experience, responsibility, and integrity to deliver trusted solutions that help improve firefighting performance, visit: www.perimeter-solutions.com. Investor Relations Contact: [email protected] Media Contact: Resource Advantage Barbara A. Mecchi-Knoll [email protected] SOURCE Perimeter Solutions - Bespoke Publicis Groupe solution will bring differentiated activation capabilities that accelerate the Spirit & Wine leaders' conversion and growth - NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Premium spirits and wine leader Pernod Ricard USA is pleased to announce the selection of Publicis Sante, a bespoke solution within Publicis Groupe, as its new media agency of record for its robust portfolio of brands spanning Spirits, Wine, and RTDs. Publicis Sante will help Pernod Ricard accelerate their ambition of delivering optimized omnichannel experiences and personalization at scale, to accelerate conversion and growth. "We've been impressed with Publicis Sante's ability to enrich our proprietary data and insights and translate them into precision content and context that drives impact for our brands," said Kristen Colonna, Vice President of Marketing Accelerator, Pernod Ricard USA. "We're so excited to work with a team who can support our modern marketing machine, and create cutting-edge, cross-functional solutions that both mirror our competencies and bring differentiated analytics, activation and optimization offerings to drive continued growth and positive ROI from media and marketing." The agency appointment comes as Pernod Ricard continues their journey of building out an internal Marketing Accelerator capability. This function spans media, content, data, and technology, and is purposefully built to harness Pernod Ricard's predictive insights and analytics about what drives consumer choice and apply them to omnichannel experiences that drive business growth. Pernod Ricard USA will tap Publicis Groupe's expertise in building bespoke client solutions and will work closely with the OmniMedia team as well as The Mix, Pernod Ricard's internal content agency. "We have seen significant success and lift in metrics across the board from contextual targeting and dynamic creative optimization and have been impressed by Publicis Sante's ability to act as a strategic thought leader in this space", said Jenny Hermanson, Senior Director, OmniMedia. "We're honored Pernod Ricard has trusted us with this partnership," said Sean Peters, Chief Strategy Officer of Publicis Media. "Pernod Ricard has a truly unique set of assets powerhouse brands, cutting edge in-house capabilities, a depth of proprietary research, tech, and more. We're thrilled to leverage our Power of One model to deliver even greater outcomes from their marketing investment." Pernod Ricard partnered with MediaLink throughout this review process, who said "Working closely with Kristen and the Pernod Ricard team over the last few months, we recognized how exciting a journey this is for any partner. Pernod Ricard have worked to break down the silos between media, content, and data, and this centralized ownership unlocks the ability to architect very compelling omnichannel experiences. This represents a great opportunity for an agency to effectively complement and augment this modern marketing organization." About Publicis Groupe Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris FR0000130577, CAC 40] is a global leader in communication. The Groupe is positioned at every step of the value chain, from consulting to execution, combining marketing transformation and digital business transformation. Publicis Groupe is a privileged partner in its clients' transformation to enhance personalization at scale. The Groupe relies on ten expertise concentrated within four main activities: Communication, Media, Data and Technology. Through a unified and fluid organization, its clients have a facilitated access to all its expertise in every market. Present in over 100 countries, Publicis Groupe employs around 96,000 professionals. About Pernod Ricard USA Pernod Ricard USA is the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S., and the largest subsidiary of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard SA., the world's second largest spirits and wine company. Pernod Ricard employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide, is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI) and is part of the CAC 40 index. The company's leading spirits include such prestigious brands as Absolut Vodka, Avion Tequila, Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky, The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Kahlua Liqueur, Malibu, Martell Cognac, Olmeca Altos Tequila, Beefeater Gin, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, Monkey 47 Gin, Plymouth Gin, Seagram's Extra Dry Gin, Malfy Gin, Hiram Walker Liqueurs, Midleton Irish Whiskey, Powers Irish Whiskey, Redbreast Irish Whiskey, Aberlour Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Lillet, Jefferson's Bourbon, Smooth Ambler Whiskey, Rabbit Hole Whiskey, Pernod and Ricard; such superior wines as Jacob's Creek, Kenwood Vineyards, Campo Viejo and Brancott Estate; and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines as Perrier-Jouet Champagne, G.H. Mumm Champagne and Mumm Napa sparkling wines. Pernod Ricard USA is headquartered in New York, New York, and has more than 1,000 employees across the country. As "creators of conviviality," we are committed to sustainable and responsible business practices in service of our customers, consumers, employees and the planet. Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to consume its products responsibly and has an active program to promote responsible drinking. For more information, visit: https://www.pernod-ricard-usa.com. Pernod Ricard Contact: Lisa DiCarlucci Director, Corporate Reputation E: [email protected] SOURCE Pernod Ricard USA DAEJEON, South Korea, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PharmAbcine Inc. (KOSDAQ: 208340ks), a clinical-stage biotech company focusing on the development of next-generation antibody therapeutics, announced today that the Company is invited at upcoming Jefferies 2022 London Healthcare Conference. Jefferies is scheduled to be held in London from November 15-17, 2022. Details of the events are as follows: Event: Jefferies 2022 London Healthcare Conference Date: November 15-17, 2022 Event Calendar: https://www.jefferies.com/IdeasAndPerspectives/ConferenceList/Investment-Conferences/159 Jefferies London Healthcare Conference is one of the largest healthcare-dedicated conference in Europe. In the past conference, over 550 companies and 3,000 attendees from Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia have joined the event. At Jefferies, Dr. Jin-San Yoo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PharmAbcine, will hold meetings with registered members of the investor community to look for investment opportunities and discuss the current trends in drug development and healthcare sector. The registered members will include leading global executives, institutional investors, and private equity investors. To schedule a one-on-one meeting with PharmAbcine, contact the assigned Jefferies representative. About PharmAbcine Inc. PharmAbcine is a clinical stage public company developing next generation IgG based therapeutics to treat cancer, neovascular eye diseases, and vascular related unmet needs. The Company's main pipeline assets include olinvacimab, the lead asset in clinical stage, and IND-ready preclinical assets with first-in-class potential such as PMC-309 and PMC-403. Olinvacimab, the Company's lead asset, is undergoing a Phase II trial in combination with MSD's pembrolizumab for mTNBC patients in Australia. The Company entered the Phase II study to reconfirm the encouraging result from Phase Ib olinvacimab-pembrolizumab trial, delivering 50% ORR, 67% DCR and clean safety profile. PMC-309, a novel anti-VISTA-antagonizing IgG in pan pH, is an immune checkpoint regulator that targets MDSC (myeloid derived suppressor cells) and M2 macrophages which play pivotal role in maintaining immunosuppressive TME (Tumor Microenvironment). The Company plans to submit Clinical Trial Application for a Phase I study in late 2022. PMC-403 is a novel TIE2-activating antibody that stabilizes dysfunctional leaky disorganized pathological vessels and can be used for vascular-related eye disease, such as wet AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration). The Company expects to submit an IND for a Phase I ophthalmology clinical trial in the second half of 2022. One of other early-stage assets, PMC-005, is an anti-EGFRviii IgG that only binds to EGFRviii expressed on cancer cells and can be applied to various modalities including CAR-T, CAR-NK, CAR-Macrophage, T cell/NK cell engager, and Radio-Immunotherapy For additional information about PharmAbcine, visit http://www.pharmabcine.com or follow on Youtube and Linkedin. For licensing deals, joint venture, co-development, and collaboration in research or antibody discovery inquiries, please contact: Business Development Team E-mail: [email protected] Office line: +82 70 4279 5100 For investor relations and public relations inquiries, please contact: IR/PR Team Sungjun Park, Associate E-mail: [email protected] Office line: +82 70 4270 2637 SOURCE PharmAbcine LOS ANGELES, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Polaris Dawn, the first of the Polaris Program's three human spaceflight missions, announced today the extensive suite of science and research experiments the crew and SpaceX will conduct throughout the mission. The selected projects are designed to advance both human health on Earth and on future long-duration spaceflights. Polaris Dawn Selects 38 Science and Research Experiments to Advance Human Health and Space Exploration Polaris Dawn Selects 38 Science and Research Experiments to Advance Human Health and Space Exploration Polaris Dawn Selects 38 Science and Research Experiments to Advance Human Health and Space Exploration Polaris Dawn Selects 38 Science and Research Experiments to Advance Human Health and Space Exploration "The mission profile of Polaris Dawn affords us some great opportunities to expand our collective knowledge about the human body in space and associated applicability here on Earth. Our science and research agenda will enhance the body of knowledge for future long-duration spaceflight which will take us back to the Moon and on to Mars; as well as progress our knowledge and understanding for humankind here on Earth. The Polaris Dawn team along with the exceptional science and research team at SpaceX cast a wide net to find the best experiments to fly with us. We greatly appreciate all of the submissions and enormous support of the work. Polaris Dawn is the first mission in the Polaris Program and our goal is to continue to find the best research out there for our future spaceflights," stated Jared Isaacman, mission commander. SpaceX is targeting no earlier than March 2023 for Falcon 9's launch of the Polaris Dawn mission from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Over the course of five days, Dragon and the Polaris Dawn crew will endeavor to travel to 1,400 km the highest Earth orbit ever flown and attempt the first-ever commercial spacewalk. Many of the selected research projects take advantage of this unique mission profile, including the relatively high-radiation levels due to the high-altitude orbit and exposure to hard-vacuum during the spacewalk. Such projects include but are not limited to: Use of ultrasound to measure changes to the eye's structure in microgravity; track organ blood flow patterns to monitor nutrient absorption, toxin filtration, and blood clot prevention; and to test innovative just-in-time training modules to allow successful use of this tool without extensive training. Wearing a contact lens embedded with microelectronics that will allow the crew to continuously monitor changes in the shape and pressure of the eye, a first for a human spaceflight mission. Collected data will contribute to the understanding of spaceflight associated Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS), a condition that can cause degraded vision and poses a risk for human performance during a mission. Investigating the effects of microgravity, magnetic, and fungal influences on root growth of low-Earth orbit germinating plants to help inform plant growth procedures for food viability and sustainability in lunar or Martian gravitational environments as well as deep-space exploration. Additionally, the research will provide actionable physical and genetic data relative to plant growth utilizing gravitropism, fungal volatiles, and magnetic fields to improve food production here on Earth. Determining how the body processes common pharmaceuticals in orbit to continue testing theoretical evidence that space changes the efficacy and potential safety of these drugs. The effects of spaceflight on the stability of pharmaceuticals will also be evaluated; Expanding on-orbit medical capabilities, including the development of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedures for use in the Dragon spacecraft, and demonstrating the use of a fiberoptic camera to image and better understand how spaceflight fluid shifts may affect airway management in a medical emergency; Brain mapping via a portable MRI within hours of splashdown, giving unique insight into how the brain is affected by microgravity and how it readapts, contributing to studies of the brain's involvement in Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS); Validation of a continuous glucose monitoring device to increase access to space for a more diverse population of future astronauts; and Measurement of the high-energy neutron radiation environment to which the crew will be exposed to help inform and improve space radiation exposure prediction models. Polaris Dawn and SpaceX will collaborate with 23 institutions on the selected experiments, such as the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), University of Texas, Houston, University of Augusta, University of Colorado Boulder, Baylor College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. For a full list and description of the selected science & research experiments and associated institutions, visit Polaris Dawn's Science and Research site. While each experiment was selected for inclusion in the mission profile, additional testing and qualification requirements are underway. A final list of approved-to-fly experiments will be published closer to launch. Media Contacts: Sarah Grover Communications Director for the Polaris Program [email protected] About the Polaris Program and Polaris Dawn The Polaris Program is a first-of-its-kind effort to rapidly advance human spaceflight capabilities while continuing to raise funds and awareness for important causes here on Earth. The program will consist of up to three human spaceflight missions that will demonstrate new technologies, conduct extensive research, and ultimately culminate in the first flight of SpaceX's Starship with humans on board. All missions will be commanded by Jared Isaacman, an accomplished pilot and astronaut who lead Inspiration4, the world's first all-civilian mission to orbit that helped raise over $240 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Polaris Dawn is an important first mission as part of this effort, continuing to raise awareness and money for St. Jude in addition to advancing healthcare access and connectivity to disconnected communities around the world. Polaris Dawn endeavors to reach the highest Earth orbit ever flown, attempt the first-ever commercial spacewalk, conduct extensive research to further our understanding of human health on Earth and during future long-duration spaceflights, and test Starlink's laser-based communications in space. To learn more about the Polaris Program, visit www.PolarisProgram.com and follow along on Twitter (@PolarisProgram) and Instagram (@PolarisProgram). SOURCE Polaris Dawn For aeronautics and defense, military, government, and critical infrastructure applications, proteanTecs' unique deep data analytics solutions enable a zero trust supply chain with secure lifetime operation and counterfeit detection and prevention. proteanTecs' Supply Chain Security module calculates and assigns a unique IC signature, providing authentication and monitoring throughout electronic systems' full lifecycle. This embedded signature empowers manufacturers and customers to track and secure each device from production line to in-field operation, and assure its authenticity, performance, health and integrity. proteanTecs technical experts will be attending the PAINE 2022 conference to meet with strategic customers and prospects. To schedule a meeting, email [email protected] About proteanTecs proteanTecs is a leading provider of deep data monitoring solutions for advanced electronics in the Datacenter, Automotive, Communications and Mobile markets. Based on Universal Chip Telemetry (UCT), the company provides system health and performance monitoring, from production to the field. By applying machine learning to novel data created by on-chip UCT agents, the company's analytics platform delivers predictive insights and visibility, leading to new levels of quality, reliability and scale. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Israel with offices in the U.S., India and Taiwan. For more information, visit: www.proteanTecs.com. SOURCE proteanTecs KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Main Line Women's Healthcare ("Main Line") operated by Regional Women's Health Group, LLC is notifying individuals of a data privacy event. This notice provides information about the incident, Main Line's response, and resources available to help protect your information from possible misuse. What Happened? Main Line recently learned that certain patient information was saved by an employee via their personal mobile device during the course of their work between February 7, 2022, and June 14, 2022. Upon discovery, Main Line took steps to suspend the employee and cut off access to patient information. Main Line launched a full investigation to determine what patient information may have been saved by this individual without authorization. On September 7, 2022, Main Line determined information related to certain patients was impacted by this event. Main Line mailed notice to patients who may have been impacted by this event. What Information Was Involved? The information that may have been at risk during this event varies per individual but includes patient names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, medical diagnosis/treatment information, and health insurance information. What Main Line is Doing. Main Line takes this incident and the security of personal information in its care seriously. Upon learning of this incident, Main Line investigated and responded to the incident, assessed the security of relevant patient data and identified affected individuals. Main Line is working closely with law enforcement and assisting in their investigation. As part of its ongoing commitment to the security of information, Main Line is also reviewing existing policies and procedures to reduce the likelihood of a similar future incident. What Affected Individuals Can Do. Individuals are encouraged to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing account statements and monitoring free credit report for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Additional details can be found below in the attached Steps You Can Take to Help Protect Your Personal Information. For More Information. Main Line understands that you may have questions about this incident that are not addressed in this letter. If you have additional questions, please call 877-607-8386 Monday through Friday, between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM Eastern time. (excluding major holidays). You may also write to Regional Women's Health Group, LLC at 227 Laurel Road Echelon One, Suite 300, Voorhees, NJ 08043. S TEPS Y OU C AN T AKE TO H ELP P ROTECT P ERSONAL I NFORMATION Monitor Your Accounts Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. You may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of your credit report. Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended "fraud alert" on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer's credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer's credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer's identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below. As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a "credit freeze" on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer's express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report. To request a security freeze, you will need to provide the following information: Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.); Social Security number; Date of birth; Addresses for the prior two to five years; Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill; A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver's license or ID card, etc.); and A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if you are a victim of identity theft. Should you wish to place a credit freeze, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below: Equifax Experian TransUnion https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit- report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/ https://www.transunion.com/credit-help 888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 833-395-6938 Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016 Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094 Additional Information You may further educate yourself regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps you can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov ; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. You can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. You have the right to file a police report if you ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, you will likely need to provide some proof that you have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and your state Attorney General. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement. SOURCE Regional Women's Health Group Relativity commits to financial and developmental partnership with Corliss High School CHICAGO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Relativity, a global legal and compliance technology company, today announced an extension of its partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to deliver early college and career programming to Corliss STEM High School. Relativity has been a CPS partner for over 10 years, and is focusing this year on building the Corliss STEM programming. The partnership with Corliss STEM High School will include financial investments and dedicated early career development initiatives. Over the coming years, Corliss and Relativity will work together to increase the number of early college credits that Corliss students earn by graduation, sponsor interactive on-site STEM Days for freshmen and sophomores, provide summer learning opportunities for Corliss students to learn more about legal and technology careers, and more. This last year alone, Relativity has donated $175,000 to Corliss and $75,000 to CPS' Legal Pathways Career and Technical Education Program that serves students across the District. Additionally, the Corliss-CPS partnership remains focused on the far southside of the City, near Chicago State University, also a Relativity partner, paving the way for individual and community success. "Partnerships advancing career pathways provide vital opportunities for high school students to earn college credit and take part in internships, apprenticeships, and other hands-on learning experiences," said Megan Hougard, CPS Chief of College & Career Success. "It's not an overstatement when we say that this is the future of education." Relativity selected Corliss STEM High School to deepen its CPS partnership given the school's history of innovation and commitment to community outcomes. Corliss was one of five founding members of the 2012 CPS Early College STEM Schools (ECSS) initiative put in place to connect K-12, higher education and the business community to students who are interested in filling high-demand job vacancies in STEM/STEAM fields in Chicago. Early College STEM schools leverage external partnerships to prepare students for the technology careers of the future. Through Early College STEM programming, students get access to industry expertise, while learning a 21st Century STEM Curriculum, increasing opportunities to gain internship experience, and earn several hours of college credit or complete an associate degree while still in high school. "In partnering with Corliss STEM High School, we seek to enable their continued reflection of the Pullman District's legacy of innovation and contribution to our greater society," said Colleen Costello, Head of Social Impact at Relativity. "We're thrilled to witness the staff and students at Corliss further their mission of becoming a connector in the community and look forward to the new heights that Corliss graduates will be able to reach." Students from Corliss will attend the 13th annual Relativity Fest, an event for the e-discovery and compliance communities, taking place in Chicago October 26-28, 2022. This will expose students who are interested in the intersection of law and technology to experts in the field and judges from all over the globe. About Children First Fund Children First Fund (CFF), the Chicago Public Schools Foundation, is the philanthropic and partnership arm of Chicago Public Schools (CPS). It serves as a knowledge hub and liaison between CPS and its community of partners, securing and organizing resources that advance CPS' mission to provide a high-quality public education that prepares every child in every neighborhood for success in college, career, and civic life. For more information, please visit https://www.childrenfirstfund.org or find us on social @ChiFirstFund. About Relativity Relativity makes software to help users organize data, discover the truth and act on it. Its SaaS product RelativityOne manages large volumes of data and quickly identifies key issues during litigation and internal investigations. The AI-powered communication surveillance product, Relativity Trace proactively detects regulatory misconduct like insider trading, collusion and other non-compliant behavior. Relativity has more than 300,000 users in approximately 40 countries serving thousands of organizations globally primarily in legal, financial services and government sectors, including the U.S. Department of Justice and 198 of the Am Law 200. Relativity has been named one of Chicago's Top Workplaces by the Chicago Tribune for 10 consecutive years. Please contact Relativity at [email protected] or visit http://www.relativity.com for more information. SOURCE Relativity Conservation tactics to protect the species have fallen short of ensuring its survival WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The official population estimate of 340 individuals released today by the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, underscores the continued vulnerability of this critically endangered species. Additional actions by governments, industry, conservation groups and other stakeholders are needed swiftly to pull the species back from the brink of extinction. The new population estimate indicates the species is still heading in the wrong direction. A separate recent study also suggests that just 72 reproductive females remain, a demographic that is essential to the recovery of this dwindling population. In 2017, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) declared an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) due to the elevated number of mortalities in the species in US and Canadian waters. Vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear continue to be the primary causes of death and injuries to right whales. Earlier this month, NOAA officially added 36 whales with moderate and severe (sub-lethal) injuries to the UME, alongside the previously included 34 dead and 21 seriously (lethally) injured whales. Now a total of 91 individual right whales are included in the UME, which represents approximately 27% of the current population estimate. These latest numbers, which reflect a more accurate UME count based on new, peer-reviewed scientific and veterinary protocol, appear to indicate that actions taken to date to save the North Atlantic right whale have proven insufficient to stem the species' slide toward extinction. While no mortalities were observed over the most recent period, threats including an overall decline in health exhibited by shrinking physical size, increased calving intervals, reduced calf survival, and a decreasing number of reproductive females are troubling signs for a population that once numbered in the tens of thousands prior to the advent of commercial whaling. According to IFAW veterinarian Dr. Sarah Sharp, "The loss of even one individual represents a major blow to the recovery of the species as a whole. Take for example, the case of the right whale mother known as Snow Cone. Suffering from chronic entanglement for over 18 months, Snow Cone shocked the scientific community by successfully giving birth while entangled. She was later spotted without her calf, and the latter is likely to have died. Snow Cone herself was recently spotted in dire physical condition with a new entanglement that will very likely end her life. These latest population numbers confirm that the species continues to teeter on the verge of functional extinction and current measures to save it are falling short. Nevertheless, there is hope on the horizon. Solutions do indeed exist. From expanded vessel speed restrictions to regulation of fishing and implementation of on-demand gearfurther mortalities are preventable if aggressive, well-targeted risk mitigation measures are implemented immediately." IFAW and other stakeholders are working to meet the needs of whales and a healthy ocean ecosystem by partnering with fishermen and mariners to advance pragmatic solutions. "Ensuring the right whale survives and protecting the livelihoods of fishermen are fundamental," said Kathleen Collins, Marine Campaigns Manager for IFAW. "It is not a question of 'either or'. IFAW takes a multi-disciplinary approach to achieving both. Lasting solutions must be based on ensuring collective best interest, mutual collaboration and a willingness to advance existing technology to achieve long-term change in and on the water. Whales and fishermen thriving togetherthat is the end game. Today's numbers and challenges remain grim, but we need to get there." About The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW): The International Fund for Animal Welfare ( IFAW ) is a global non-profit helping animals and people thrive together. We are experts and everyday people, working across seas, oceans, and in more than 40 countries around the world. We rescue, rehabilitate, and release animals, and we restore and protect their natural habitats. The problems we're up against are urgent and complicated. To solve them, we match fresh thinking with bold action. We partner with local communities, governments, non-governmental organizations, and businesses. Together, we pioneer new and innovative ways to help all species flourish. See how at ifaw.org. About The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium: Started in 1986 as a collaborative data sharing group, the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium (NARWC) has grown to include more than 200 individuals from various research and conservation organizations, shipping and fishing industries, technical experts, U.S. and Canadian government agencies, and state and provincial authorities, all of whom are dedicated to the conservation and recovery of the North Atlantic right whale. The Consortium is internationally recognized and has been identified as a model for establishing other species-related consortia. Press Contacts: North America Rodger Correa US Communications Director m: 202.834.6637 e: [email protected] SOURCE International Fund for Animal Welfare PRINCETON, N.J. and SYRACUSE, N.Y., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced wireless network engineering specialists, RIVA Networks (RIVA)in partnership with JMA Wireless (JMA)has been awarded a contract to add private 5G capabilities to the legacy cellular networks at the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), Rome Research Site (RRS). RIVA's qualifications and experience, combined with JMA's private 5G solution, will deliver a next-generation network to continue the modernization of United States Department of Defense (DoD) installations. JMA will provide a private 5G network powered by XRAN, the world's-only 100% software Radio Access Network (RAN) solution, along with technical support for AFRL in Rome, NY. This includes delivering a complete 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) network with 4G and 5G Sub-6GHz and 5G millimeter wave radios. RIVA will provide the engineering services to integrate JMA's 5G network with AFRL's existing legacy cellular networks to provide 5G mobile services. Across the entire military, the DoD is aggressively engaging in programs to propel American 5G leadership. This mission-critical technology is compatible with any standard smartphone and paves the way for an increased use of mobile devices for federal agencies. The DoD intends to utilize the enhanced security protocols built into 5G to protect critical data, planning, and infrastructure. According to RIVA's Program Manager Jeff Lieb, "Based on testing and lessons learned over the last few years, JMA was selected as the best manufacturer to meet USAF/AFRL's specific requirements." "RIVA is the ideal partner as we deploy the world's most advanced private 5G network," said Rishi Bhaskar, General Manager at JMA. "As the only U.S.-based company that designs, codes and manufactures our 5G products right here at home, we are proud to be part of the all-American team helping to restore the wireless-industry leadership our nation has lacked for so long." For further information please contact: Jeff Lieb Program Manager Mission Systems RIVA Networks Inc. [email protected] John Puskar Vice President, Communications and Government Relations JMA Wireless [email protected] About RIVA Networks RIVA Networks Inc. is a small business, engaged in the design and development of wireless security hardware and software. Their rapid product development domain experience includes all levels of hardware design, prototyping, testing and comprehensive software development engineering. For more than 20 years RIVA has provided products and engineering services to the DoD, the IC and law enforcement; with more than 200 deployable and test lab cellular systems sold to the USG. As the leader in secure wireless technology, RIVA Networks is uniquely capable of addressing the complex and dynamic Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) requirements of defense transformation. www.RIVA-Networks.com About JMA Wireless Founded in 2012, JMA is restoring U.S. leadership in wireless technology at a critical time in the transition to 5G. Based in Syracuse, New York, JMA makes the world's most advanced and only all-software-based 5G platform, which it designs, codes, and manufactures in the United States. JMA's cutting-edge technologymost notably a revolutionary software solution called XRANis ushering in a new era of innovation and connectivity for businesses, workers, and ultimately consumers. For more information, visit www.jmawireless.com . SOURCE JMA Wireless VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) ("Rock Tech" or the "Company") and Transamine Holdings and Investments Limited ("Transamine") are pleased to announce that they have entered into a definitive agreement to form a joint venture entity called "RTT Lithium SA" ("RTT"). RTT shall identify, pursue, and secure the supply of and to establish a new route for lithium-bearing spodumene for the Company's planned European lithium converters. RTT is expected to offer spodumene producers a single resilient and transparent off-take option by providing feedstock to Rock Tech, which intends to supply lithium to customers in the European automotive sector. Rock Tech and Transamine agreed to form a joint venture to offer a new route for spodumene to Rock Tech's German converter (CNW Group/Rock Tech Lithium Inc.) "RTT is expected to provide Rock Tech with the capacity to secure a deep pipeline of potential raw material sources and is an important step in advancing the Company's diversified sourcing strategy," said Markus Bruegmann, the Company's Chief Executive Officer. "Transamine is a partner with 70 years of expertise in the global non-ferrous raw materials trading space and has the liquidity and access to financing necessary for potential purchase financing." Jean-Pierre Adamian, Director of Transamine explained, "We intend to create a new and reliable solution for spodumene concentrate producers to, via Rock Tech, supply the European lithium market as part of a supply chain that is transparent, traceable and ESG compliant, from mines to the off-take market. This will also help us to grow in a strategic market of critical raw materials." RTT will be a 50/50 joint venture company to be based in Geneva, Switzerland, which is expected to be formed end 2022. In connection with the joint venture, Rock Tech and Transamine have entered into a definitive agreement to establish the terms governing the formation and operations of RTT. Pursuant to the definitive agreement, RTT will manage the procurement of spodumene concentrate from global mining companies and spodumene producers and arrange related logistical and storage services, Transamine will provide related financing and Rock Tech will support the identification of spodumene producers, marketing activities, and will be primarily responsible for ESG auditing and compliance. Future deliveries of spodumene concentrate by RTT to Rock Tech will be governed by long-term feedstock supply agreements to be entered into between RTT and Rock Tech. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Dirk Harbecke Chairman ABOUT ROCK TECH Rock Tech is a cleantech company on a mission to produce lithium hydroxide for EV batteries. The Company plans to build lithium converters at the door-step of its customers, to guarantee supply-chain transparency and just-in-time delivery. To close the most pressing gap in the clean mobility story, Rock Tech has gathered one of the strongest teams in the industry. The Company has adopted strict ESG standards and is developing a proprietary refining process aimed at further increasing efficiency and sustainability. Rock Tech plans to source raw material from its own mineral project in Canada as well as procuring it from other responsibly producing mines. In the years to come, the Company expects to also source raw material from discarded batteries. Rock Tech's goal: to create a closed-loop lithium production system. www.rocktechlithium.com. ABOUT TRANSAMINE Founded in 1953, Transamine SA is an independent and privately held commodities trading company specializing in non-ferrous raw materials. Transamine is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has offices throughout key markets including Australia, South Africa, India, the United States and China. Transamine is a full-service company providing worldwide raw material sourcing, marketing, finance, and investment and specializes in all aspects of non-ferrous raw materials production and trade. Transamine recently added lithium, mostly in form of spodumene, to its traditional activity and will maintain the highest standard of conduct to promote fundamental principles such as sustainability, environment, and social responsibilities. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION The following cautionary statements are in addition to all other cautionary statements and disclaimers contained elsewhere in, or referenced by, this press release. Certain information set forth in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which information is based on Rock Tech's current expectations, estimates, and assumptions in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends. All statements other than statements of historical facts may constitute forward-looking information. Often, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words or phrases such as "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and all other indications of future tense. All forward-looking information set forth in this press release is expressly qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements referred to in this section. For example, forward-looking information contained in this press release includes: expectations regarding the relationship between Rock Tech and Transamine, including future actions to be taken by the parties and the anticipated benefits thereof; statements regarding RTT, its operations and functions, including the formation of such joint-venture entity, that it will enter into long-term supply agreements with Rock Tech and expectations regarding its future activities, its role in and impact on Rock Tech's strategy and its benefits to the Company, Transamine and spodumene concentrate producers; the Company's expectations regarding its planned and prospective activities and projects, including RTT and the Company's proposed lithium converters, the Company's intentions with respect to the development and timing thereof and statements regarding future plans, actions, and schedules relating to such activities, projects and related development; statements and expectations regarding the electric vehicle industry; Rock Tech's opinions, beliefs and expectations regarding the Company's business strategy, development and exploration opportunities and projects; and plans and objectives of management for the Company's operations and properties. Forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions of the Company and in certain cases, third party experts, that are believed by management of Rock Tech to be reasonable at the time they were made. This forward-looking information was derived utilizing numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: the formation and operation of RTT in a manner consistent with management's expectations; the supply and demand for, deliveries of, and the level and volatility of prices of, feedstock and intermediate and final lithium products; that all required regulatory approvals and permits can be obtained on the necessary terms in a timely manner; expected growth, performance and business operations; future commodity prices and exchange rates; prospects, growth opportunities and financing available to RTT and the Company; general business and economic conditions; the costs and results of exploration, development and operating activities; RTT's ability to procure supplies of spodumene concentrate and other equipment necessary for its business; and the accuracy and reliability of technical data, forecasts, estimates and studies. The foregoing list is not exhaustive of all assumptions which may have been used in developing the forward-looking information. While Rock Tech considers these assumptions, estimates and factors to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results. In addition, forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond Rock Tech's control, that may cause actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to be materially different from that which is expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to vary materially include: the failure to form RTT on the anticipated timing or at all or, if formed, to realize the anticipated benefits of the joint venture; RTT and the Company's ability to access funding required to invest in available opportunities and projects (including, in the case of the Company, the Company's proposed lithium hydroxide converters) and on satisfactory terms; the current and potential adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing geopolitical hostilities; the risk that Rock Tech will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due; changes in commodity and other prices; Rock Tech's ability to attract and retain skilled staff and to secure feedstock from RTT and third party suppliers; unanticipated events and other difficulties related to the construction, development and operation of the Company's proposed lithium hydroxide converters and/or the operations and activities of RTT; the cost of compliance with current and future environmental and other laws and regulations; title defects; competition from existing and new competitors; changes in currency and/or exchange rates and the market prices of Rock Tech's securities; Rock Tech's history of losses; adverse impacts of climate change; and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in Rock Tech's public disclosure documents available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, including those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Rock Tech's most recently filed Management Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form, respectively. Such risks and uncertainties do not represent an exhaustive list of all risk factors that could cause actual events, results, performance and/or achievements to vary materially from the forward-looking information. SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc. Major Investment in Future Growth and Customer Experience #1 Airstream Travel Trailer Dealer in U.S. Central Region for Four Consecutive Years FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RV Retailer, LLC ("RVR") announced the grand opening of a new dedicated Airstream dealership facility in the Austin, Texas market. This is the first phase of a two phase project that will deliver two stand-alone facilities in the Austin market with over 50,000 square feet of sales and service space including 46 service bays across the full-service dealership facilities. RV Retailer, LLC (RVR) Opens Brand New Exclusive Airstream Dealership in Austin, Texas #1 Airstream Travel Trailer Dealer in U.S. Central Region for Four Consecutive Years Jon Ferrando, Chief Executive Officer and President of RVR stated, "We are excited to open an exceptional brand-new Airstream of Austin dealership facility at a great location on 22 acres on I-35. The new dedicated world-class Airstream facility is one of the finest in the country to rival our flagship Airstream of Tampa location. Our team has delivered as the #1 Airstream dealer in the U.S. Central Region for four years in a row and this new facility will help them achieve even greater heights in sales and service." "We thank the Airstream leadership team for their partnership and support," added Jon Ferrando. "The Airstream of Austin store will have 18 service bays and almost 20,000 square feet of building space including a beautiful showroom." "We are proud that our Airstream of Austin store has the most Master Sales Certified associates for Airstream in the state and is routinely acknowledged as a Five Rivet Dealer the highest distinction bestowed by Airstream. They will now have a world class facility to complement this incredible group of associates and their accomplishments," said Larry Hall, President of RVR's Central Region. "The City of Buda is one of the fastest growing in Texas with 145% population growth from 2010-2020. We appreciate all the support on this development project from the City of Buda Mayor and City Council, Buda Economic Development Corporation, and Chamber of Commerce," added Jon Ferrando. To learn more about ExploreUSA, Airstream of Austin, and RV Retailer, please visit: https://www.exploreusa.com/, https://www.airstreamofaustin.com/ or https://rvretailer.net/ About RV Retailer, LLC RV Retailer, LLC is a leading recreational vehicle retail company in the United States with a focus on providing an outstanding experience for recreational vehicle customers in new and used sales, service and parts, and customer financial services. RV Retailer has 106 RV stores in 33 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. Regional store brands include: RV One Superstores, Motor Home Specialist, ExploreUSA, Floyd's RV, Harper's Camperland, Sonny's Camp-N-Travel, Cousins RV, Camper Clinic, RV Outlet USA, Lifestyle RVs, Family RV Group, Northgate RV, Tom's Camperland and Blue Dog RV, which sell a wide range of new and used RV brands with thousands of RVs in inventory. RV Retailer has a great management team led by founder Jon Ferrando, Chief Executive Officer and President. Jon Ferrando was instrumental in building America's largest automotive retailer from start-up to over $20 billion in revenue. RV Retailer's leadership team has over 250 years of automotive and RV retail industry experience. SOURCE RV Retailer, LLC WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With a $3 million donation from the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, a high-level, international coordinating group of scientific organizations has been established to take concrete steps to support Ukraine's scientists and research community with the aim of rebuilding a successful global science and innovation system in Ukraine. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the Polish Academy of Sciences will act as secretariats for the coordinating group, which initially includes representatives from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the All European Academies, the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Australian Academy of Science, the French Academy of Sciences, the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, and the Royal Society of the United Kingdom. This $3 million pledge from the Breakthrough Prize Foundation follows a $1 million donation it made earlier this year to the NAS' Scientists and Engineers in Exile or Displaced (SEED) initiative, which has been helping Ukrainian scientists and engineers maintain their livelihoods and dignity during the current upheaval by remaining employed and connected to the global scientific community. As the war in Ukraine continues, the global research community is increasingly concerned about immediate and lasting damage to the Ukrainian science enterprise and global research. Millions of Ukrainians including hundreds of researchers have been forced to flee their country, and much critical science infrastructure in Ukraine has been damaged or destroyed. While science institutes inside the country are still functioning, some researchers have joined the Ukrainian military, and others who remain have lost financial support due to wartime cuts in funding. In addition, researchers who have left Ukraine including more than 200 researchers who have been placed temporarily in Polish research institutions also need financial support and opportunities to continue their research. The Ukrainian Science, Innovation, and Research Coordinating Group will provide a venue for participants to support Ukrainian researchers, share insights and best practices, identify areas that might benefit from additional collaboration, and highlight areas of potential overlap or redundancy. The group's initial efforts will focus on making tangible progress on the action steps developed after a meeting in Warsaw in early June. "The world needs Ukrainian science, and Ukrainian science needs support," said Yuri Milner, founder of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation. "It's an honor to collaborate with such distinguished partners on this important and timely initiative." "As the war grinds on, it is no accident that Ukraine's research infrastructure which is so critical to the nation's future continues to be targeted by the Russian military," said NAS President Marcia McNutt. "With the help of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, the international scientific community is coming together not only to provide much-needed support to Ukrainian researchers during the war but also to ensure that the Ukrainian research enterprise is ready to help rebuild the country and contribute to global science when the war ends." The Breakthrough Prize Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing the world's great scientists, advancing cutting-edge scientific research, and helping to create a knowledge culture in which everybody, especially the next generation, can be inspired by the big questions of science. The Breakthrough Prize, renowned as the "Oscars of Science," recognizes the world's top scientists in the fields of life sciences, fundamental physics, and mathematics. Each prize is $3 million. The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is an annual global video competition for students to inspire creative thinking about science. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution that was established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It recognizes achievement in science by election to membership, and with the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine provides science, technology, and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations. SOURCE The Breakthrough Prize Foundation CHICAGO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Shapiro+Raj, the largest independent minority-owned Future-Forward Insights Consultancy, is ranked at #21 Most Innovative Research Company in the 2022 Global GRIT report. This is the fifth consecutive year in the top-25 for the firm. This 5-year record as a Top 25 Most Innovative Research Firm is nothing short of incredible for our team. Tweet this Zain Raj, CEO + Chairman Shapiro+Raj has been purposefully built to disrupt the research and consultancy industry by integrating innovative insights and analytics with cutting-edge brand marketing and commercial strategy capabilities. Our next-gen, tech-empowered methodologies deliver agility and responsiveness that amplify insights both latitudinally and longitudinally. "To place in the global top-25 most innovative firms five years in a row, is testament to our perfect blend of humanity and technology. I am super proud of our integrated team of social scientists, data analysts, brand strategists, and creative ideators, that help our clients shape the future. Our patent pending Techmanity approach helps our clients find growth in ways that help them transform categories. This is true innovation," said Zain Raj, CEO + Chairman. In addition to the #21 rank in the innovative research agency category, Shapiro+Raj also placed at #1 in the strategic consultancy category. This is another testament of the operating model, approach, and impact. "This 5-year record as a Top 25 Most Innovative Research Firm is nothing short of incredible for our team. We aim to be the company that our clients adore, our competitors respect, and our people love. These key tenets guide our work every day, as we continue to pioneer innovative approaches, methods, and tools to support our client needs in real time," said Amir Kapadia, COO. About Shapiro+Raj As a leading Future-Forward Insights Consultancy, Shapiro+Raj helps clients spark transformative outcomes to consistently drive growth. Shapiro+Raj is a Future-Forward Insights Consultancy that works with Fortune 10-500 clients to future-proof their business by finding new and unusual ways to grow in today's continually reshaping landscape. The company is a Nationally Certified Minority Business Enterprise. Based in North America, Shapiro+Raj is headquartered in Chicago with an office in New York, and Pune, India. For more information on current announcements contact Shapiro+Raj at (312) 965-2319 or visit https://www.shapiroraj.com/. SOURCE Shapiro+Raj Find, sip, and gift the best drinks for everyone on your list in one shot. CHICAGO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tastings.com, the official review site of the Beverage Testing Institute, is gifting savvy holiday revelers with their Holiday Gift Guide that features hundreds of award-winning adult beverages to help them better plan their parties and upgrade their gift giving, all while impressing their friends, family, and co-workers with tasty drink discoveries. 2022 Tastings.com Holiday Gift Guide The Tastings.com Holiday Gift Guide is a colorful, eye-catching flip book that features top-rated and perfect-for-presents spirits, wines, beers, ready-to-drink cocktails, sakes, ciders, and mixers from BTI's expert reviews in 2022. The guide also serves up some delicious holiday-inspired drinks that are perfect for around the house and a few personal holiday stories from their expert panelists. Considered the nation's leading adult beverage testing and review organization, BTI taste tests thousands of beverages annually, is an organizational member of ASTM International (Formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials), adheres to their scientifically-based blind tasting standards, and is universally recognized for independence, integrity, and consistency. Ratings and reviews from BTI have catapulted brands like Grey Goose and Pappy Van Winkle into the pantheon of the world's most successful brands. Julian P. Van Winkle has said of BTI, "Every time we received a high rating from BTI over the years, interest increased for our brand. We owe a lot to Beverage Testing Institute for our success." Their Tastings.com Holiday Gift Guide makes finding and purchasing unique wines, beers and spirits super simple and virtually foolproof. With just a click on a product from the guide you go to the full review page on Tastings.com where their "Buy-It-Now" button allows consumers to buy any item featured in the guide via links to retailer sites. Throughout the guide you will find "Best Buy" beverages that offer exceptional score to price ratios, so that you can drink like a connoisseur without spending a ton of coin. According to Andrew Moldenhauer, BTI's Director of Content & Education, "Because BTI assembles dozens of leading experts to assess products based on consumer appeal, quality, and typicity, you know that the Tastings.com Holiday Gift Guide is a great way to elevate your home tastings and discover many of the best and most interesting products in their categories without having to sift through advertising spin or just rely on one writer's sense of taste." Items featured in the Holiday Gift Guide were blindly judged and scientifically vetted based on merit alone by BTI's panels of beverage industry experts. The guide features many of BTI's recently announced "Best of Year Awards" like Larceny Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (2022 Best Straight Bourbon Whiskey), Evan Williams Egg Nog Cream Liqueur (2022 Top 2 Cream Liqueurs), and Le Chemin Du Roi NV Brut Rose (2022 Best Champagne Brut Rose), Grand Marnier (France) Cuvee Du Centenaire Liqueur (2022 Best Flavored Brandy Liqueur ), Philip Mead Traditional Sweet Mead (2022 Top 2 Traditional Meads) and the Midleton Dair Ghaelach Kylebeg Wood Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (2022 Best Whiskey of the Year). Put a bow on it and call it a wrap with Tastings.com's 2022 Holiday Gift Guide. Beverage suppliers and marketers that would like to be considered for next year's gift guide, should submit their brands now for BTI's 2023 beverage reviews here: Spirits, RTDs, and Mixers Wines, Ciders, Meads Beers To learn more about BTI visit https://bevtest.com/ Contact: Andrew Moldenhauer 773.930.4080 [email protected] SOURCE Beverage Testing Institute New research shows that women CEOs more often articulate concepts of diversity, empathy, adaptability, and transformation NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) today released a research report that contributes to a better understanding of the leadership style of women leaders during times of economic uncertainty and workplace transformation. The new report, " Women CEOs: Leadership for a Diverse Future ," found that women CEOs more frequently use terms associated with positive communication and more often articulate concepts of diversity, empathy, adaptability and transformation. This study suggests there is a transformation among women's leadership styles: today's women CEOs are more aligned with the concept of authentic leadership, which draws from and mirrors the diversity of society. Women's leadership styles also tend to benefit a broader range of stakeholders within and outside companies. "Women CEOs, since the outbreak of the pandemic, steadily increased their use of words corresponding to leadership styles built around diversity, empathy, adaptability, and transformation, according to our language analysis," said Daniela Brandazza, Senior Director, S&P Global Ratings. "During times of economic uncertainty and workplace transformation, we believe this research provides data and insights to help us examine leadership styles that can contribute to a more equitable, productive, and sustainable working culture" Key findings of the report include: According to our language analysis of 6,831 corporate leaders of over 5,801 companies in the S&P Global Broad Market Index, women CEOs, since the outbreak of the pandemic, steadily increased their use of words corresponding to leadership styles built around diversity, empathy, adaptability and transformation. Diversity replaced accountability as the most important trait of women CEOs' leadership styles by 2022. A transformational style that tends to inspire beyond expectations in emphasizing a vision that goes beyond self-interest emerged as the fourth most prevalent. Consistently for the past two years, women CEOs have exhibited a more positive communication style, as observed in their more frequent use of words like "growth", "continue", "good", and "customer". Both women and men CEOs continue to express negative sentiment at comparable frequency in their communication over the period. Women are still significantly underrepresented as CEOs globally, but slightly increased their share to 5.4% in 2022, compared with 5% in 2021. Both the real estate and health care sectors continue to lead with larger percentages of women CEOs. This article revisits S&P Global's 2021 study about leadership during COVID-19, which concluded that while women CEOs' leadership style is different from male peers, it proved to be just as effective in terms of the financial performance of their companies. Both reports build upon #ChangePays , S&P Global's ongoing series of reports on women's economic participation and impact. S&P Global conducted this research in collaboration with the LARGEPA Research Laboratory in Management Sciences at Paris Pantheon-Assas University, and used language analysis of earning call transcripts of 6,831 men and women corporate leaders of over 5,801 companies in the S&P Global Broad Market Index covering corporations with the largest global market capitalization. Read the full report here. About S&P Global S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world's leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world's leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today. Media Contact Christopher Krantz Senior Director, Communications +44 79 7663 2658 [email protected] SOURCE S&P Global Sumitovant Biopharma to Acquire all Outstanding Shares of Myovant for $27 Per Share in Cash Combination Provides Expertise and Resources to Address Unmet Patient Needs in Women's Health and Prostate Cancer Agreement Unanimously Recommended by Special Committee of Myovant's Independent Directors and Approved by Board NEW YORK and BASEL, Switzerland and OSAKA, Japan, Oct. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sumitovant Biopharma Ltd. ("Sumitovant"), in conjunction with parent company Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. ("Sumitomo Pharma"), and Myovant Sciences ("Myovant") (NYSE: MYOV) announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Sumitovant will acquire all outstanding shares of Myovant not already owned by Sumitovant for $27.00 per share in cash. This corresponds to a total transaction value of $1.7 billion on a fully diluted basis, and a total company value of $2.9 billion on a fully diluted basis. Sumitovant currently beneficially owns 52% of the issued and outstanding shares of Myovant as more particularly described in Sumitovant's Schedule 13D/A filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The purchase price represents a premium of approximately 50% to Myovant's closing share price on September 30, 2022, the last day of trading prior to Sumitovant's initial non-binding proposal, and a premium of approximately 55% to the 60-day volume weighted average price of Myovant's shares through September 30, 2022. The agreement has been approved by the boards of Sumitovant and Sumitomo Pharma and unanimously recommended by a Special Committee of the independent directors of Myovant and, acting upon such recommendation, approved by its full board of directors with the Sumitovant designated directors recusing themselves and abstaining from the deliberations and vote. "This transaction represents an industry-leading opportunity to combine unique expertise, platforms, and resources to successfully commercialize products in Myovant's program and to accelerate development of a robust pipeline addressing patient needs in women's health and prostate cancer," said Myrtle Potter, CEO of Sumitovant. "We look forward to harnessing the combined strength of our talented teams to bring needed therapies to patients sooner and are confident both Myovant and its employees will benefit from the greater resources Sumitovant can provide to further support business growth and career opportunities overall." "Myovant's two products, ORGOVYX and MYFEMBREE have substantial potential. We believe the combination of Sumitovant and Myovant will strengthen Myovant's product capabilities and help continue to deliver innovative therapies addressing unmet patient needs in prostate cancer and women's health," said Hiroshi Nomura, CEO of Sumitomo Pharma. "By making Myovant a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitovant, we believe that we will be able to accelerate implementation of management strategies that make full use of cash flow generated by ORGOVYX and MYFEMBREE for sustained growth of the Sumitomo Pharma Group." "We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Sumitovant and Sumitomo Pharma that recognizes the remarkable success Myovant has achieved," said David Marek, CEO of Myovant. "With the expertise and resources of Sumitovant to best support Myovant, and our employees, we can do more to expand the impact of our differentiated therapies, advance our clinical programs, and work to remove barriers to access quality care for the patients we serve." "After careful consideration and consultation with our legal and financial advisors, the Special Committee believes that this transaction provides immediate and compelling value to Myovant's minority shareholders, as well as positioning the Company for continued growth, and is in the best interest of Myovant and its shareholders," said Mark Guinan, Chairman of the Special Committee. Transaction Details The transaction is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2023, subject to customary closing conditions, including obtaining the requisite regulatory approvals and approval by Myovant shareholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares not beneficially owned by Sumitovant and its affiliates. The transaction will be financed through a combination of cash on hand and external debt financing. A financing commitment has been received from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition. Upon completion of the transaction, Myovant will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitovant and Myovant's shares will no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Advisors J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as financial advisor and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is serving as legal counsel to Sumitovant and Sumitomo Pharma. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as financial advisor to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Myovant and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Special Committee. About Sumitovant Biopharma Ltd. Sumitovant is a technology-driven biopharmaceutical company accelerating development and commercialization of new potential therapies for patients with rare conditions and other diseases. Through our proprietary computing and data platforms, scientific expertise and diverse company portfolio, Sumitovant has supported development of multiple FDA-approved products and a robust pipeline of early- through late-stage investigational assets addressing unmet patient needs in pediatrics, urology, oncology, women's health, specialty respiratory and infectious diseases. Sumitovant is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Pharma. Please visit our website www.sumitovant.com for more information on Sumitovant and our portfolio. About Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. Sumitomo Pharma is among the top-ten listed pharmaceutical companies in Japan, operating globally in major pharmaceutical markets, including Japan, the U.S., China, and other Asian countries with about 7,000 employees worldwide. Sumitomo Pharma defines its corporate mission as "To broadly contribute to society through value creation based on innovative research and development activities for the betterment of healthcare and fuller lives of people worldwide." Additional information about Sumitomo Pharma is available through its corporate website at https://www.sumitomo-pharma.com. About Myovant Sciences Myovant Sciences aspires to redefine care for women and men through purpose-driven science, empowering medicines, and transformative advocacy worldwide. Founded in 2016, Myovant has executed five successful Phase 3 clinical trials across hormone-sensitive oncology and women's health leading to five regulatory approvals in the United States and Europe. Myovant and its partners continue to file for additional indications of its lead products as well as continue further development of pipeline assets. Sumitovant Biopharma Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., is Myovant's majority shareholder. For more information, please visit www.myovant.com. Forward Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expectations about the proposed transaction involving Myovant, Sumitovant and Sumitomo Pharma. Statements including words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "plan," "will," "may," "look forward," "intend," "guidance," "future" or similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. Risks and uncertainties related to the proposed transaction include, but are not limited to, the risk that the parties may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in the merger within the expected timeframes or at all and to successfully integrate Myovant's operations into those of Sumitovant; such integration may be more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected, the risk that the proposed transaction does not close, due to the failure of one or more conditions to closing or otherwise; the risk that required Myovant shareholder approvals of the proposed transaction will not be obtained or that such approvals will be delayed or conditioned beyond current expectations; the risk that the necessary regulatory approvals may not be obtained or may be obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; uncertainty as to the timing of completion of the proposed transaction; risks related to the disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction and possible difficulties in maintaining customer, supplier, key personnel and other strategic relationships; and potential litigation relating to the proposed transaction that could be instituted against Myovant, Sumitovant or their respective directors or officers, including the effects of any outcomes related thereto; and the possibility of unexpected costs and liabilities related to the proposed transaction. Additional risks and uncertainties related to Myovant and its business include, but are not limited to, the success and cost of Myovant's commercialization of its approved products and product candidates, if approved; the impact on Myovant's business, financial results, results of operations and ongoing clinical trials from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to development programs, including the success and anticipated timing of Myovant's ongoing and future clinical and non-clinical studies, and uncertainties relating to the success of Myovant's clinical trials for its product candidates and any future therapy or product candidates; uncertainties surrounding the regulatory landscape that governs Myovant's products and product candidates, including risks related to regulatory approval, including the timing and status of anticipated future regulatory submissions and Myovant's ability to, obtain and maintain, regulatory approvals for its product candidates; the ability to obtain, maintain, and enforce intellectual property protection for Myovant's products and product candidates; risks related to significant competition from other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies; and other risks and uncertainties listed in Myovant's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including under the heading "Risk Factors" in Myovant's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the SEC as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other filings with the SEC. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to Sumitovant and Sumitomo Pharma as of the date of this communication and speak only as of the date of this communication. Myovant, Sumitovant and Sumitomo Pharma disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as may be required. Additional Information and Where to Find It This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed acquisition of Myovant by Sumitovant and Sumitomo Pharma. In connection with the proposed acquisition, Sumitovant, Sumitomo Pharma and Myovant intend to file relevant materials with the SEC, including amended Schedule 13D filings and a transaction statement on Schedule 13E-3 with respect to Sumitovant and Sumitomo Pharma and a proxy statement on Schedule 14A with respect to Myovant. The definitive proxy statement and Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement will be sent to Myovant's shareholders and will contain important information about the proposed transaction and related matters. SHAREHOLDERS OF MYOVANT ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING SUMITOVANT'S AND SUMITOMO PHARMA'S TRANSACTION STATEMENT, MYOVANT'S PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain the documents free of charge at the SEC's web site, http://www.sec.gov, and Myovant shareholders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement and Schedule 13E-3 through the Investor Relations page of Myovant's website, www.myovant.com. Participants in the Solicitation Sumitovant and its directors and executive officers, Sumitomo Pharma and its directors and executive officers, and Myovant and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the holders of Myovant common stock in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Myovant is set forth in the proxy statement for Myovant's 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on July 28, 2022. Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interest of such participants by reading the proxy statement regarding the acquisition when it becomes available. Media / IR Contacts: Sumitovant Biopharma Maya Frutiger VP, Head of Corporate Communications [email protected] Sumitomo Pharma Corporate Communications TEL: +81-6-6203-1407 (Osaka); +81-3-5205-3725 (Tokyo) Myovant Sciences Uneek Mehra Chief Financial and Business Officer Myovant Sciences, Inc. [email protected] Noelle Cloud Dugan Vice President, Corporate Communications Myovant Sciences, Inc. [email protected] SOURCE Sumitovant Biopharma Ltd.; Myovant Sciences, Inc. BOSTON, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SVB Securities, an investment bank dedicated to serving the innovation economy, today announced the addition of Roger Knight as Senior Managing Director. He will cover the infrastructure software sector, continuing to build out the team's full suite of capital markets and advisory services and will be based in the firm's New York office. "We are excited to welcome Roger to our growing Technology Investment Banking team to enhance our coverage of the infrastructure software sector," said Jason Auerbach, Global Head of Technology Investment Banking. "His deep expertise and long-standing technology investment banking career are a valuable addition to SVB Securities and our clients." Knight joins from Lincoln International, where he was most recently a Managing Director in the Technology, Media, and Telecom Group. He has nearly two decades of experience in advising infrastructure software companies on corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions, having spent his entire career in the investment banking technology sector. "SVB Securities has built a prestigious reputation serving clients across the innovation economy," said Knight. "I'm looking forward to joining this accomplished team of investment bankers and continuing to deliver strong results for our clients." SVB Securities' Technology Investment Banking team connects technology companies and entrepreneurs with the capital they need to develop critical digital advancements and solutions. The team has a collective 200 years of senior-level experience in Technology Investment Banking, focusing on M&A advisory, private placements, and capital markets in the technology sector. To learn more, visit: https://www.svbsecurities.com/ About SVB Securities SVB Securities is a leading investment bank dedicated to the innovation economy. The firm provides healthcare and technology companies and investors with differentiated sector knowledge, deep expertise, and an extensive suite of capital market and advisory solutions. SVB Securities is one of SVB's core businesses alongside Silicon Valley Bank, SVB Capital and SVB Private. SVB Securities is a member of FINRA/SIPC. Learn more at svbsecurities.com. [SIVB-L] SVB Securities Contact: Diane Vieira (617) 918-4097 Prosek Partners for SVB Securities Contact: Amalia Lytle (646) 818-9271 SOURCE SVB Securities Industry leaders support Cost Basis Interchange to solve compliance and reporting challenges with an automated solution powered by TaxBit. SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TaxBit, the leading tax and accounting software for digital assets, announced Cost Basis Interchange (CBI), the industry's first automated solution to compliance and reporting challenges across cryptocurrency and digital assets. Founding CBI partners include Binance.US, FTX US, Gemini, Paxos, ZeroHash, BlockFi, PrimeTrust, Okcoin, Uphold, Coinme, CoinList, Ledn and other leading platforms. In traditional equities and securities, regulations require the sharing of cost basis and acquisition information when assets are moved between brokers. However, no such requirements have existed for cryptocurrency and digital assets where transfers happen at a much higher frequency. For the first time, this industry-leading solution brings a mechanism that offers accurate transfer matching and portability of cost-basis information between brokers (and non-brokers), supporting decentralized and smart contract protocols to enable compliance at scale. "At Binance.US, we operate with a compliance-first mindset. As the digital asset industry continues to evolve and more regulation is introduced, it is important to ensure we have the right tools and processes in place so that our customers can continue their financial journey effortlessly," said Jasmine Lee, Chief Financial Officer at Binance.US. "We look forward to partnering with TaxBit on a seamless and automated solution for the compliance and reporting challenges the industry faces." CBI addresses cost basis and transfer statement reporting for digital asset brokers as required in the upcoming Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Under the IIJA, digital asset brokers will be required to exchange cost-basis information on a broker-to-broker level and require an entirely new transfer of cost-basis to the IRS in the broker-to-non-broker context (i.e., any off-platform wallet address). CBI offers a new level of innovation and compliance at scale built to support the evolution of the digital assets industry. It achieves this by providing an accurate, automated solution to eliminate missing cost basis data gaps for all transfers and creating a single, accepted industry standard data model and API. "As a market leading exchange, FTX US is committed to ensuring compliance and delivering great user experiences. We're excited to join the Cost Basis Interchange to help democratize access to accurate tax data across the industry." - Alfarida Mohammed, SVP, Compliance at FTX US This compliant ecosystem for sharing cost-basis between brokers and IRS Transfer Statements for all non-broker transfers provides an easy way for exchanges to classify broker and non-broker wallet addresses. TaxBit has built transfer matching and cost-basis technology into its tax engine and currently provides cost-basis sharing on all transfers across the TaxBit ecosystem of products. "Paxos is building the open financial system. We are excited to join the Cost Basis Interchange and partner with TaxBit and other platforms to create an industry standard that enables mainstream adoption of digital assets." - Zach Kwartler, Principal Product Manager at Paxos "With the launch of CBI, digital asset brokers now have a forward-looking solution to address not only compliance needs but also one of the industry's largest user experience challenges - missing cost basis. CBI is one seamless API that makes cost basis interoperable." - Austin Woodward, Founder & CEO of TaxBit TaxBit is the most secure option on the market through SOC 1, SOC 2, ISO 27001 & GSA-approved contract holders. TaxBit's goal is to remain a trusted, agnostic 3rd party with the most rigorous data privacy and security certifications to provide all clients peace of mind. To learn more visit - https://taxbit.com/cbi. About TaxBit Designed by CPAs and tax attorneys, TaxBit is the leading tax and accounting enterprise solution for the tokenized economy. TaxBit's platform serves the industry's top exchanges, institutional investors, governments, and individuals. TaxBit has raised over $235M from the world's-top investors to enable widespread digital asset adoption by automating the regulatory hurdles of tax and accounting compliance at scale. TaxBit has HQ in Salt Lake City and Seattle. To learn more visit: www.TaxBit.com , Twitter , LinkedIn . Media Contact Agency Partner: Peter Padovano M Group Strategic Communications (For TaxBit) +1 646.859.5953 [email protected] Corporate Contact: Michelle O'Connor TaxBit VP of Communications (801) 332-9105 [email protected] SOURCE TaxBit Former Healthcare Research Analyst and Investment Banker Expands Firm's Operational Depth and Sector Expertise SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Telegraph Hill Partners (THP), a leading venture capital and growth equity firm dedicated exclusively to life science and healthcare investing, today announced the addition of Raymond Falci to its investment team as a Venture Partner. Mr. Falci has over 25 years of experience researching and advising companies in healthcare. Beginning his career as a Wall Street equity research analyst, Mr. Falci was named to Institutional Investor's All-Star Team for five consecutive years. His coverage included healthcare information technology and other sectors within healthcare and pharmaceutical services. Mr. Falci then spent 12 years as a healthcare investment banker at Cain Brothers where he co-led the firm's corporate finance team and advised companies in healthcare IT and a wide range of healthcare services. Mr. Falci received a bachelor's degree in engineering from the Cooper Union, a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University and an MBA from The Wharton School. "We have valued Ray's perspectives over the 15 years we have known him and are delighted to have him join our team. During the course of his career, Ray has worked with hundreds of innovative growth companies and has added value to several of our own. The breadth of his knowledge and experience will be invaluable as we deploy our new fund. Ray's expertise in capital markets and strategic planning will be a tremendous benefit to our portfolio companies" said Matt Mackowski, Chairman of THP. Mr. Falci will be located in New York, focused on sourcing new investment opportunities and supporting the growth plans of existing THP portfolio companies. In addition to his role with THP, Mr. Falci will continue to serve on the board of VNS Health as well as teach his digital health class at Columbia Business School. About Telegraph Hill Partners Telegraph Hill Partners, founded in 2001 and based in San Francisco, CA, invests in commercial stage life science, medical technology and healthcare companies. THP manages $1.4B across five funds and closed on THP V with capital commitments of $525M in June 2022. Further information may be found at www.telegraphhillpartners.com SOURCE Telegraph Hill Partners NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Termite Control Market size is expected to grow by USD 1.2 billion from 2021 to 2026. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.48% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. The increasing demand from the agriculture sector is driving the termite control market growth. However, factors such as the increasing availability of DIY termite control products may challenge market growth. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Termite Control Market 2022-2026 Find a comprehensive report summary that describes the market size and forecast along with the research methodology. The FREE sample report is available in PDF format Termite Control Market 2022-2026: Segmentation Termite Control Market is segmented as below: Application Commercial Residential Agriculture Others Geography North America Europe APAC Middle East And Africa South America Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. Buy Full Report Termite Control Market 2022-2026: Revenue-generating Product Segment The termite control market share growth in the commercial segment will be significant during the forecast period. The commercial segment was the largest segment of the global termite control market in 2021 and will continue to remain the largest segment during the forecast period. The stringent regulatory requirements to keep the threat of termite infestation under control lead to the high demand for termite control services from the commercial sector. Audits are mandatory by many government authorities for certifications, such as ISO 9001 and ISO 22000, in the commercial sector. Such factors in the commercial segment will boost market growth during the forecast period. Termite Control Market 2022-2026: Scope The termite control market report covers the following areas: Termite Control Market 2022-2026: Vendor Landscape The global termite control market is fragmented due to the presence of a significant number of global and regional vendors. These vendors are included in the report based on their offerings to the global termite control market. They are identified based on their revenue, market dominance, geographical presence, product portfolio, and financials. Vendors compete based on several factors, such as quality, price, service, brand image, distribution, and marketing. Regulations compelling the use of eco-friendly products and techniques have brought more competition to the industry. Therefore, the launch of new eco-friendly termite control products will intensify the competition in the market in focus during the forecast period. We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the termite control market, including Annex Pest Control, Anticimex International AB, Aptive Environmental LLC, Arrow Exterminators Inc, BASF SE, China National Chemical Corp. Ltd., Dodson Pest Control Inc., Dow Inc., Dynamic Sanito SEA Pte. Ltd, Ecolab Inc., FMC Corp., Green Pest Solutions, Lifecycle Pest Control and Sanitization services, Lloyd Pest Control, Massey Services Inc., Nikkei Inc., Pelsis Ltd., Rentokil Initial Plc, Rollins Inc., SANIX Inc., and Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000 that enables you to download 5 reports and view 100 reports per month Termite Control Market 2022-2026: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2022-2026 Detailed information on factors that will assist termite control market growth during the next five years Estimation of the termite control market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the termite control market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of termite control market vendors Related Reports: Pest Control Services Market by Application, End-user, and Geography Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The increase in demand for insurance-based pest control services is driving the growth of the global pest control services market. Significant costs associated with pest control services are propelling many vendors in the market to create insurance-based pest control services for both residential and commercial customers. There is a growing interest from customers in including pest control coverage as a standard feature in home insurance plans. Automated Pest Monitoring System Market by End-user and Geography Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The automated pest monitoring system market share for the agriculture sector is expected to increase by USD 103.2 million from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 9.28%. Termite Control Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.48% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 1.20 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 4.77 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 42% Key consumer countries US, China, India, Germany, and France Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Annex Pest Control, Anticimex International AB, Aptive Environmental LLC, Arrow Exterminators Inc, BASF SE, China National Chemical Corp. Ltd., Dodson Pest Control Inc., Dow Inc., Dynamic Sanito SEA Pte. Ltd, Ecolab Inc., FMC Corp., Green Pest Solutions, Lifecycle Pest Control and Sanitization services, Lloyd Pest Control, Massey Services Inc., Nikkei Inc., Pelsis Ltd., Rentokil Initial Plc, Rollins Inc., SANIX Inc., and Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table Of Contents : 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market Overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by 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 Agriculture - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 36: Chart on Agriculture - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Agriculture - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 38: Chart on Agriculture - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Agriculture - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.6 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 40: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 42: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.7 Market opportunity by Application Exhibit 44: Market opportunity by Application ($ million) 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 45: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 46: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 48: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 49: Data Table on Geographic comparison 7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 51: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.4 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 (%) 7.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 59: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 60: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 61: 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 62: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 64: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: 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 66: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 68: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 69: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.8 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 (%) 7.9 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.10 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 80: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 81: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.11 France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 83: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 84: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 85: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.12 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 86: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 87: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 88: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 89: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 90: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 8.1 Market drivers 8.2 Market challenges 8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 91: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 8.4 Market trends 9 Vendor Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 92: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 9.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 93: Overview on factors of disruption 9.4 Industry risks Exhibit 94: Impact of key risks on business 10 Vendor Analysis 10.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 95: Vendors covered 10.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 96: Matrix on vendor position and classification 10.3 Anticimex International AB Exhibit 97: Anticimex International AB - Overview Exhibit 98: Anticimex International AB - Business segments Exhibit 99: Anticimex International AB - Key offerings Exhibit 100: Anticimex International AB - Segment focus 10.4 Aptive Environmental LLC Exhibit 101: Aptive Environmental LLC - Overview Exhibit 102: Aptive Environmental LLC - Product / Service Exhibit 103: Aptive Environmental LLC - Key offerings 10.5 Arrow Exterminators Inc Exhibit 104: Arrow Exterminators Inc - Overview Exhibit 105: Arrow Exterminators Inc - Product / Service Exhibit 106: Arrow Exterminators Inc - Key offerings 10.6 BASF SE Exhibit 107: BASF SE - Overview Exhibit 108: BASF SE - Business segments Exhibit 109: BASF SE - Key news Exhibit 110: BASF SE - Key offerings Exhibit 111: BASF SE - Segment focus 10.7 China National Chemical Corp. Ltd. Exhibit 112: China National Chemical Corp. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 113: China National Chemical Corp. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 114: China National Chemical Corp. Ltd. - Key offerings 10.8 Ecolab Inc. Exhibit 115: Ecolab Inc. - Overview Exhibit 116: Ecolab Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 117: Ecolab Inc. - Key news Exhibit 118: Ecolab Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 119: Ecolab Inc. - Segment focus 10.9 FMC Corp. Exhibit 120: FMC Corp. - Overview Exhibit 121: FMC Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 122: FMC Corp. - Key offerings 10.10 Massey Services Inc. Exhibit 123: Massey Services Inc. - Overview Exhibit 124: Massey Services Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 125: Massey Services Inc. - Key offerings 10.11 Rentokil Initial Plc Exhibit 126: Rentokil Initial Plc - Overview Exhibit 127: Rentokil Initial Plc - Business segments Exhibit 128: Rentokil Initial Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 129: Rentokil Initial Plc - Segment focus 10.12 Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. Exhibit 130: Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 131: Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 132: Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 133: Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. - 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 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 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 ATLANTA, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aaron's Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) today released its third quarter 2022 financial results. Complete financial results are available at investor.aarons.com. Highlights of those results are included below and in the attached supplement. Consolidated Results: Revenues were $593.4 million , an increase of 31.2%, benefiting from the BrandsMart acquisition , an increase of 31.2%, benefiting from the BrandsMart acquisition Net loss was $15.6 million ; Adjusted net earnings 1 were $9.7 million ; Adjusted net earnings were Adjusted EBITDA 1 was $35.2 million , a decrease of 34.3% was , a decrease of 34.3% Loss per share was $0.51 ; Non-GAAP EPS1 was $0.31 Key Items: Aaron's Business same-store revenues decreased 7.7% compared to an increase of 4.6% in the prior year quarter BrandsMart product sales 2 decreased 0.5% compared to an increase of 9.6% in the prior year quarter decreased 0.5% compared to an increase of 9.6% in the prior year quarter E-commerce revenue grew year-over-year by 11.1% at the Aaron's Business and by 18.0% at BrandsMart 2 The Aaron's Business opened its 200th GenNext location in October Aaron's will host an earnings conference call tomorrow, October 25, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. ET. Chief Executive Officer Douglas A. Lindsay will host the call along with President Steve Olsen and Chief Financial Officer C. Kelly Wall. A live audio webcast of the conference call and presentation slides may be accessed at investor.aarons.com and the hosting website at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/576928281. A transcript of the webcast will also be available at investor.aarons.com. About The Aaron's Company, Inc. Headquartered in Atlanta, The Aaron's Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) is a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions of appliances, electronics, furniture, and other home goods across its brands: Aaron's, BrandsMart U.S.A., BrandsMart Leasing, and Woodhaven. Aaron's offers a direct-to-consumer lease-to-own solution through its approximately 1,300 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform. BrandsMart U.S.A. is one of the leading appliance retailers in the country with ten retail stores in Florida and Georgia. BrandsMart Leasing offers lease-to-own solutions to customers of BrandsMart U.S.A. Woodhaven is our furniture manufacturing division. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com, aarons.com, and brandsmartusa.com. ____________________ 1. Item is a Non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information" and supporting reconciliation tables in the attached supplement. 2. This metric is unaudited and includes a comparison to a period in which the BrandsMart business was not owned by The Aaron's Company, Inc. SOURCE The Aaron's Company, Inc. Uliduergong (transliteration) sentry post in Keketuohai, Xinjiang. BEIJING, Oct.24 Uliduergong (transliteration) sentry post in Keketuohai, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is known as the "isolated island in the forest sea". In September 2022, with the completion of military energy project, the post got connected to the microgrid and has had eternal lights. The troops therein have finally bid farewell to the life with low-power diesel engines to generate power. Uliduergong sentry post is located in a remote area, with only one road connecting with the outside world. One can only get there by horse or on foot. For this project, a construction office under the PLA Xinjiang Military Command had contacted an army aviation brigade to send helicopters to transport the building materials in batches. As of the moment, inside a kitchen among the row of the sentry posts wooden houses, refrigerator, soybean milk machine and rice cooker were arranged in order with the indicator lights flashing. Cook Lin Xiaoming was preparing lunch. "With the new power system, we don't need to use wood to cook anymore," he said. "The new-generation solar power generation system can realize stable power supply and energy storage, and ensure normal power consumption for at least 3 days even under adverse weather conditions," said Wang Fanfan, head of the construction office under the PLA Xinjiang Military Command. The commanding officer of the sentry post introduced that with a stable power supply, soldiers can play chess and watch movies at night, bidding farewell to the days of counting stars at night. The days on guard are no longer boring, and life here becomes warmer. NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The City College of New York (CCNY") and Carver Federal Savings Bank ("Carver"), a certified Minority Depository Institution ("MDI"), celebrated the launch of the Bank's first campus ATM with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 18, 2022. The Carver ATM is located on the first floor of the North Academic Center and has been serving CCNY's students, staff, and faculty since July 2022. CCNY - Carver ATM Ribbon-Cutting The City College of New York Logo CCNY President Vincent Boudreau and Michael T. Pugh, President and Chief Executive Officer of Carver Federal Savings Bank, said a few words at the event, followed by a Student Rush Event for CCNY students with games, giveaways, and a raffle for two $500 gift cards. "Carver Federal Savings Bank is a historic institution and a contemporary force for community development in Harlem and beyond," said CCNY President Vincent Boudreau. "Like Carver, CCNY is in the business of securing stable and prosperous futures for a rising class of New Yorkers. As we assist our studentsan important part of that rising classwith learning to manage their personal finances, Carver will be an essential partner for CCNY. The ATM that we inaugurated is a tangible symbol of that partnership, and an important contribution to our banking infrastructure on campus." Given the alignment of these two historic Harlem-based institutions' missions, this ATM partnership is a natural fit for both organizations. Over time, CCNY and Carver hope to expand their relationship to reach more students through expanded banking access and financial education training. "The City College of New York is a mainstay in the community, uplifting students in Harlem and beyond for more than 150 years," said Michael T. Pugh, President and Chief Executive Officer of Carver Federal Savings Bank. "As a community bank reinvesting $0.80 of each deposited dollar into the diverse communities we serve, Carver is deeply committed to collaborating with higher education to increase student banking access and expand economic empowerment. Likewise, our institution has an existing initiative to assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities ("HBCUs") with financial education, and Carver has supported financial education to more than 16,000 individuals to help close the wealth gap in historically underserved communities over the past several years." About the City College of New York Since 1847, The City College of New York has provided a high-quality and affordable education to generations of New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. CCNY embraces its position at the forefront of social change. It is ranked #1 by the Harvard-based Opportunity Insights out of 369 selective public colleges in the United States on the overall mobility index. This measure reflects both access and outcomes, representing the likelihood that a student at CCNY can move up two or more income quintiles. Education research organization DegreeChoices ranks CCNY #3 nationally for social mobility. In addition, the Center for World University Rankings places CCNY in the top 1.8% of universities worldwide in terms of academic excellence. Labor analytics firm Emsi puts at $1.9 billion CCNY's annual economic impact on the regional economy (5 boroughs and 5 adjacent counties) and quantifies the "for dollar" return on investment to students, taxpayers and society. At City College, more than 15,000 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in eight schools and divisions, driven by significant funded research, creativity and scholarship. This year, CCNY launched its most expansive fundraising campaign, ever. The campaign, titled "Doing Remarkable Things Together" seeks to bring the College's Foundation to more than $1 billion in total assets in support of the College mission. CCNY is as diverse, dynamic and visionary as New York City itself. About Carver Bancorp, Inc. Carver Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: CARV) is the holding company for Carver Federal Savings Bank, a federally chartered stock savings bank. Headquartered in Harlem, NY, Carver was founded in 1948 to serve African-American communities whose residents, businesses, and institutions had limited access to mainstream financial services. The U.S. Treasury Department has designated Carver as a Community Development Financial Institution ("CDFI") because of its community-focused banking services and dedication to its local community's economic viability and revitalization. Carver is one of the largest African- and Caribbean-American managed banks in the United States. The Bank recently expanded its online presence to include consumer checking and savings accounts across nine states, from Massachusetts to Virginia, and Washington, D.C. For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.carverbank.com. Be sure to connect with Carver on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. SOURCE Carver Federal Savings Bank As midterm election campaigns enter their crucial final days, The Paley Center for Media convenes esteemed journalists, scholars, and news producers to explore how the media are covering the midterm elections during a time when most Americans are skeptical of news media and both political parties. A special emphasis will be placed on examining the level of fairness vs. bias in the coverage of the election and how this balance can possibly influence the results of an election. The program will feature distinguished panelists Jeff Greenfield , Michael Goodwin , Rachel Bovard , and Todd Zwillich . Marie Hardin will moderate this session. , , , and . will moderate this session. The in-person event is taking place at The Paley Museum in New York City on Monday, October 24 at 6:30 pm ET on at This program is made possible by the continued support of James P. Jimirro . NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Paley Center for Media will host The Media and the Midterms as part of the ongoing James P. Jimirro Media Impact Series. This event will explore how news media are covering the midterm elections at a time when most Americans are skeptical of both political parties as well as the media's ability to cover politics without bias. The in-person event will take place at 6:30pm ET tonight, Monday, October 24 at The Paley Museum located at 25 West 52 Street in New York City. James P. Jimirro, Founding President, The Disney Channel and Walt Disney Home Video, will present opening remarks. The discussion will feature Jeff Greenfield, Award-Winning Journalist; Michael Goodwin, Political Columnist, The New York Post; Rachel Bovard, Senior Director of Policy, Conservative Partnership Institute; and Todd Zwillich, Deputy DC Bureau Chief, VICE News. Marie Hardin, Dean of Bellisario College of Communications, Penn State University, will moderate this panel. Just as the campaigns enter their energized and crucial final days, The Paley Center for Media convenes a panel of esteemed journalists, scholars, and media experts to explore, in real time, how the media - print, television, and digital - are covering the midterm elections. The panelists will examine the ever-changing media landscape and analyze how the press is navigating the current climate of media-skepticism among most Americans. The event will also place a special emphasis on examining the level of fairness vs. bias in news coverage and how this balance can possibly influence the results of an election. The Paley Center has a decades-long history of hosting programs that examine the media's vital role in educating, informing, and making an impact on journalism, politics, and public policy. The James P. Jimirro Media Impact Series casts light on the role of media in influencing general thought and behavior. Designed to reach media professionals, students, and the public at large, the series encourages careful consideration of the media's impact on society and, accordingly, fosters more critical viewing and reading. Previous events in The James P. Jimirro Media Impact Series have included high profile journalists and political strategists including James Carville, Michael Goodwin, Sean Spicer, Frank Luntz, Michael Steele, Michelle Malkin, Lesley Stahl, Brian Stelter, Ari Fleischer, Joe Lockhart, Rich Lowry, Amy Holmes, Rick Klein, and Seema Nanda. To purchase tickets for The Media and the Midterms event, please visit here. # # # About The Paley Center for Media The Paley Center for Media is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms, drawing upon its curatorial expertise, an international collection, and close relationships with the media community. The general public can participate in Paley programs in both New York and Los Angeles that explore and celebrate the creativity, the innovations, the personalities, and the leaders who are shaping media. The public can also access the Paley Center's permanent media collection, which contains over 160,000 television and radio programs and advertisements. Through the global programs of its Media Council and International Council, the Paley Center also serves as a neutral setting where media professionals can engage in discussion and debate about the evolving media landscape. Previously known as The Museum of Television & Radio, the Paley Center was founded in 1975 by William S. Paley, a pioneering innovator in the industry. For more information about the Paley Center and to learn about the Paley Center's acclaimed programming, please visit www.paleycenter.org. SOURCE The Paley Center for Media BEACHWOOD, Ohio, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ARC Health, a Thurston Group portfolio company, has announced the acquisition of The Ross Center, a world-class mental health group serving patients in Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia and New York City. Formed in 2021, ARC Health is a mental health specialty services organization supporting psychiatry, psychology, and therapy practice owners in multiple locations throughout the country. The Ross Center is a premier mental health practice, delivering a full spectrum of sophisticated psychiatric and psychological services that result in meaningful changes for clients and their families. Founded 30 years ago with a mission to serve those with disabling anxiety, the practice has expanded to include treatment for patients suffering from OCD, panic attacks, insomnia, PTSD and a variety of other mental health conditions. Co-partner and Medical Director Mary E. (Beth) Salcedo, MD, said Ross Center's 60 psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists "combine evidence-based clinical treatment with exceptional personal service to help people overcome anxiety, depression, and a wide variety of mental health challenges as quickly and easily as possible." "We use the latest research-proven treatment methods and medication to help our clients feel better, faster. Our therapists are extensively trained in cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy action-oriented treatments that improve symptoms quickly," said Dr. Salcedo. A national leader in the mental health field, Dr. Salcedo has been president of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), a distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, chief resident of the George Washington University school of Medicine, and featured on the Today Show, the Wall Street Journal New York magazine, and other media outlets. The Ross Center co-partner and Clinical Director Greta Hirsch, PhD, PMH-C, explained they are looking forward to the partnership with ARC Health. "Our interests align with ARC Health because of their focus on quality in every aspect of the partnership. We see this as a huge opportunity for us to access a wealth of clinical resources from across the country with other national partnerships whose interests, culture and values align with ours, said Dr. Hirsch, who has been featured in stories published in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and New York magazine. The Ross Center expands ARC Health's footprint into the New York and DC metropolitan areas key geographies for the fast-growing Mental Health Services Organization, noted Vincent Morra, ARC Health CEO. Earlier this year, ARC Health acquired practices in Connecticut, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Minnesota, building on their base of practices in Ohio. "Ross Center emphasizes compassionate care and state-of-the-art treatment, which makes it an ideal fit for our group. We look forward to working with Drs. Salcedo and Hirsch and their excellent team of professionals," Morra said. Physician Growth Partners acted as the exclusive advisor to The Ross Center in the transaction. About ARC Health ARC Health is a premier group of mental healthcare practices who have come together as partners while maintaining their individual identities. Their forward-thinking and supportive partnership of mental healthcare providers is geared toward increasing success via a collaborative network. The ARC Health business model is pioneering the space with a unified, provider-centric approach that reinforces clinical autonomy while also joining together as equity-owning partners. About Thurston Group Thurston Group is a private equity firm that focuses on building industry-leading companies in the healthcare and related business services sectors. Thurston has an extensive track record of partnering with physicians and building fast-growing healthcare businesses, including ARC Health, Smile Doctors, US Endo Partners, US Oral Surgery Management, South Georgia Dental Management, Gen4 Dental Partners, Options Medical Weight Loss and U.S. Orthopedic Partners. Over its 35-year history, Thurston Group has returned more than $4B of invested capital. Contact: Dana Hayes III +1-312-255-0077 SOURCE: Thurston Group Ross Center ARC Health Thurston Group SOURCE ARC Health DUBLIN, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Male Hypogonadism Market By Drug Delivery, By Therapy, By Type: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global male hypogonadism market was valued $ 3,072.86 million in 2020 and expected to reach $ 5,085.03 million by 2030, with a CAGR of 5.1% from 2021 to 2030. Hypogonadism is characterized as lack of testosterone level or lack of spermatozoa production, or both. It is caused owing to the disorder related to the testes (primary hypogonadism) or the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (secondary hypogonadism). Both can be inherited or acquired, due to ageing, hormonal disorders or medicines. In addition, various congenital enzyme abnormalities result in various degrees of androgen resistance in target organs. Hormone levels corroborate the diagnosis. The treatment for gonadotropin-releasing hormone, gonadotropin, or testosterone replacement differs depending on the aetiology. The factors that drive the global male hypogonadism market are increase in cases of hypogonadism, surge in awareness of hypogonadism, and rise in number of treatment options. In addition, hypogonadism is prevalent in the geriatric population as well as in patients with diabetes and obesity. As a result, increase in population and rise in the incidence and prevalence of chronic disorders, such as diabetes and obesity drive the growth of the market. According to clinical research, testosterone levels in males aged 60-80 years are 20 percent and 80 percent lower, respectively, than testosterone levels in young men. Hypogonadism is most common in men aged above 60. In countries like Japan, China, and the U.S. there is surge in demand for male hypogonadism treatments, owing to increase in geriatric population and surge in infertility rates. The male hypogonadism market is segmented on the basis of therapy, drug delivery, type, and region. Depending on therapy, it is divided into testosterone replacement therapy and gonadotropin & gonadotropin-releasing hormones therapy. The gonadotropin-releasing hormones therapy segment is segmented into luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GNRH). According to drug delivery, it is fragmented into topical gels, injectable, transdermal patches, and others. As per the type, it is classified into Klinefelter's syndrome, Kallmann syndrome, pituitary disorders, and others. Region wise, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and LAMEA. Major key players operating in the global male hypogonadism market are Allergan PLC., Bayer AG, Eli Lily & Company, Endo Iternational PLC., Ferring Holdings SA, Finox Biotech, Merck & Co. Inc., Pfizer, Perrigo Company PLC., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Key Benefits For Stakeholders This report provides a quantitative analysis of the market segments, current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the male hypogonadism market analysis from 2020 to 2030 to identify the prevailing male hypogonadism market opportunities. The market research is offered along with information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities. Porter's five forces analysis highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to enable stakeholders make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer network. In-depth analysis of the male hypogonadism market segmentation assists to determine the prevailing market opportunities. Major countries in each region are mapped according to their revenue contribution to the global market. Market player positioning facilitates benchmarking and provides a clear understanding of the present position of the market players. The report includes the analysis of the regional as well as global male hypogonadism market trends, key players, market segments, application areas, and market growth strategies. Key Topics Covered: CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 2: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CHAPTER 3: MARKET OVERVIEW 3.1. Market definition and scope 3.2. Key findings 3.2.1. Top investment pockets 3.3. Porter's five forces analysis 3.4. Top player positioning 3.5. Market dynamics 3.5.1. Drivers 3.5.2. Restraints 3.5.3. Opportunities 3.6. COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the market CHAPTER 4: MALE HYPOGONADISM MARKET, BY DRUG DELIVERY 4.1 Overview 4.1.1 Market size and forecast 4.2 Topical Gels 4.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 4.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region 4.2.3 Market analysis by country 4.3 Injectables 4.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 4.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region 4.3.3 Market analysis by country 4.4 Transdermal Patches 4.4.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 4.4.2 Market size and forecast, by region 4.4.3 Market analysis by country 4.5 Others 4.5.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 4.5.2 Market size and forecast, by region 4.5.3 Market analysis by country CHAPTER 5: MALE HYPOGONADISM MARKET, BY THERAPY 5.1 Overview 5.1.1 Market size and forecast 5.2 Testosterone Replacement Therapy 5.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 5.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region 5.2.3 Market analysis by country 5.3 Gonadotropin and Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Therapy 5.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 5.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region 5.3.3 Market analysis by country CHAPTER 6: MALE HYPOGONADISM MARKET, BY TYPE 6.1 Overview 6.1.1 Market size and forecast 6.2 Klinefelters Syndrome 6.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 6.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region 6.2.3 Market analysis by country 6.3 Kallmann Syndrome 6.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 6.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region 6.3.3 Market analysis by country 6.4 Pituitary Disorders 6.4.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 6.4.2 Market size and forecast, by region 6.4.3 Market analysis by country 6.5 Others 6.5.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities 6.5.2 Market size and forecast, by region 6.5.3 Market analysis by country CHAPTER 7: MALE HYPOGONADISM MARKET, BY REGION CHAPTER 8: COMPANY LANDSCAPE 8.1. Introduction 8.2. Top winning strategies 8.3. Product Mapping of Top 10 Player 8.4. Competitive Dashboard 8.5. Competitive Heatmap 8.6. Key developments CHAPTER 9: COMPANY PROFILES 9.1 Allergan plc 9.1.1 Company overview 9.1.2 Company snapshot 9.1.3 Operating business segments 9.1.4 Product portfolio 9.1.5 Business performance 9.1.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.2 Pfizer Inc. 9.2.1 Company overview 9.2.2 Company snapshot 9.2.3 Operating business segments 9.2.4 Product portfolio 9.2.5 Business performance 9.2.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.3 Bayer AG 9.3.1 Company overview 9.3.2 Company snapshot 9.3.3 Operating business segments 9.3.4 Product portfolio 9.3.5 Business performance 9.3.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.4 Eli Lilly and Company Ltd. 9.4.1 Company overview 9.4.2 Company snapshot 9.4.3 Operating business segments 9.4.4 Product portfolio 9.4.5 Business performance 9.4.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.5 Endo International plc. 9.5.1 Company overview 9.5.2 Company snapshot 9.5.3 Operating business segments 9.5.4 Product portfolio 9.5.5 Business performance 9.5.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.6 Merck & Co., Inc. 9.6.1 Company overview 9.6.2 Company snapshot 9.6.3 Operating business segments 9.6.4 Product portfolio 9.6.5 Business performance 9.6.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.7 Ferring 9.7.1 Company overview 9.7.2 Company snapshot 9.7.3 Operating business segments 9.7.4 Product portfolio 9.7.5 Business performance 9.7.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.8 Finox Biotec 9.8.1 Company overview 9.8.2 Company snapshot 9.8.3 Operating business segments 9.8.4 Product portfolio 9.8.5 Business performance 9.8.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.9 Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. 9.9.1 Company overview 9.9.2 Company snapshot 9.9.3 Operating business segments 9.9.4 Product portfolio 9.9.5 Business performance 9.9.6 Key strategic moves and developments 9.10 Perrigo Company plc 9.10.1 Company overview 9.10.2 Company snapshot 9.10.3 Operating business segments 9.10.4 Product portfolio 9.10.5 Business performance 9.10.6 Key strategic moves and developments For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7cmwd4 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets OTTUMWA, Iowa, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tech company Timekettle was recently invited to attend the Ottumwa Community School District Board Meeting in the U.S of Iowa to showcase its innovative AI translator earbuds, facilitating non-English speaking students to learn English and other curriculums. This award-winning product is the most powerful translator earbuds in the world and Ottumwa Schools are among many schools using it across the U.S. The joint effort by technology and educational institutions plays a significant part in providing equal access to all students. Co-founder of Timekettle Alex Qin with students wearing translator earbuds in Ottumwa School District The language barrier is a common challenge faced by English Language Learners (ELLs) and English as a Second Language (ESL) in multicultural classrooms, especially in English-speaking countries with high percentages of immigrants where school performance of students highly relies on proficiency in English. An effective way to communicate with ELLs is crucial for the Ottumwa school district, whose over 20% of its 5, 000 students speak 45 languages. The best solution available is Timekettle's translator earbuds WT2 Edge, tiny yet powerful, which can translate up to 40 languages and 93 accents in real time, enabling natural and long-lasting conversations. And it's not solely for language teaching but for math, science, etc. The goal is to flatten the learning curve in the initial stage, the quicker the students get proficient in English, the more confident they will be in achieving good grades. Timekettle's world-first translator earbuds are embedded with the industry-leading HybridComm system, which subverts the shackles of conventional translation products - handheld translators and translation Apps are not user-friendly because people need to pass the device back and forth to each other - by adopting an entirely different technical design to advance products in speech processing, simultaneous interpretation, and AI translation. Currently, there are hundreds of WT2 Edge in use in the Ottumwa school district. The Co-founder of Timekettle, Alex Qin said, "Timekettle will keep upgrading its hardware and software in Google Play to optimize the capability for Chromebook and user experiences in educational settings." About Timekettle Established in 2016, Timekettle is an industry-leading translation solutions provider recognized by winning numerous international awards such as CES Innovation Award, iF Design Award, and TechCrunch. As the top-selling brand in the Translator Device industry, Timekettle now serves about 300,000 users worldwide. For more information, please visit https://www.timekettle.co/ or contact [email protected] . SOURCE Shenzhen Timekettle Technologies. Co., Ltd. Transit Wireless will utilize existing dark fiber pathways to help bring connectivity to Manhattan from Long Island with over 10 unique river crossings NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Transit Wireless, a BAI Communications company and leading 5G wireless infrastructure provider, announced receipt of an Information Services Franchise (ISF) license from the New York City Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI/DoITT). This license allows Transit Wireless to build broadband infrastructure in NYC's public right-of-way, expanding fiber communications capabilities to fiber network operators, local businesses, universities, hospitals, multi-unit housing developments, and other businesses or areas needing connectivity. "This opportunity is a great alternative to the ECS pathway," says Transit Wireless VP of Sales and Strategic Partnerships Martin Cassidy. "With this license, we can now structure a network that allows businesses to connect from Long Island access points to Manhattan, enabling rapid growth or redundancy solutions throughout the five boroughs." The existing 160 miles of fiber installed in the MTA's New York City subway system utilizes a carrier-grade, 864-strand count fiber optic network that links to five strategically located Base Station Hotels (BSH) across all NYC boroughs. Under the recently announced plan to expand Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity throughout the entire MTA subway network, Transit Wireless will add an additional 418 miles of 1728-strand fiber. "This state-of-the-art fiber connectivity delivers secure, 5G-ready, upgradeable solutions that enable seamless connectivity," says Cassidy. "The network provides a reliable and cost-effective solution in unique locations," he says. With this access to additional bandwidth and a simplified network architecture that delivers increased reliability and efficiency, Transit Wireless helps bridge the connectivity gap in underserviced New York City areas. About Transit Wireless Transit Wireless, a BAI Communications company, is a leading 5G, neutral host infrastructure company that provides fiber solutions, analytics, and cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity to large projects and high occupancy venues, including the New York City subway system. Transit Wireless and its majority shareholder BAI Communications, finances, designs, builds, operates, and maintains wireless and neutral host cellular and Wi-Fi networks to connect millions of consumers each day. Transit Wireless' subway network is an award-winning public-private partnership (P3) with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and provides service to all Tier One wireless carriers. Women-led, Transit Wireless is proud to be an inclusive and DEI-focused New York communications and technology industry leader. Learn more about Transit Wireless on our website or connect with us on social media: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram. CONTACT: Scott Christiansen, [email protected] SOURCE Transit Wireless Comprehensive CNAPP coverage for Kubernetes and containers in a single solution WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Uptycs , provider of the first unified CNAPP and XDR solution, today announced enhanced Kubernetes and container security capabilities. These new features provide threat detection for container runtime correlated with the Kubernetes control plane attacks alongside scanning of container images in registries for vulnerabilities, malware, credentials, secret keys, and other sensitive information. According to the latest Cloud Native Computing Foundation survey, 96% of organizations are either using or evaluating Kubernetesthe highest percentage since the surveys began in 2016.1 Yet many organizations are not prepared to detect threats against these new deployments. "Kubernetes-orchestrated clusters are essentially 'clouds within clouds.' The monitoring and visibility of the Kubernetes logs, network flows and application behaviors within the cluster should be baselined and analyzed for indications of compromise," recommends Gartner.2 Organizations can detect attacks against their Kubernetes deployments by adopting a shift up approach to cybersecurity, in which telemetry emanating from Kubernetes clusters and containers, laptops, and cloud services is normalized at the point of collection, but processed, correlated, and analyzed in a data lake. Unlike siloed endpoint and cloud security solutions, Uptycs protects the entire arc of cloud-native application development, from the developer's laptop to container runtime. "Threat actors know a developer's laptop is often just one hop away from cloud infrastructure," said Ganesh Pai, co-founder and CEO of Uptycs. "Uptycs correlates risk signals from the modern attack surface for lightning-fast, contextualized detection and response. We do this with our unique, telemetry-powered approach and Detection Cloud. It's a shift up approach to cybersecurity that brings together multiple teams and types of IT infrastructure into a unified data model and UI." "Our security team is organized around six domains including threat detection and response, risk and compliance, application security, data security, infrastructure security, and enterprise security," said Anwar Reddick, Director of Information Security at Greenlight Financial. "Having a single solution like Uptycs that traverses these domains, and contextualizes threat activity across multiple asset types like Kubernetes, cloud services, and laptops improves cross-domain collaboration and insights. As a result, we've dramatically shortened our threat investigation time." New Kubernetes and container runtime security features include: Kubernetes threat detections - Combines anomalous Kubernetes actions with actions on a granular container lever, Uptycs is able to observe in real-time and store the behavior for investigation; this reduces mean time to detection (MTTD), collects forensic evidence for investigation, and determines the full scope of the incident as it happens - Combines anomalous Kubernetes actions with actions on a granular container lever, Uptycs is able to observe in real-time and store the behavior for investigation; this reduces mean time to detection (MTTD), collects forensic evidence for investigation, and determines the full scope of the incident as it happens Registry scanning - Enables the ability to look for vulnerabilities in container images in a registry; Uptycs supports many registries including AWS ECR, Azure Container Registry, DockerHub, and jFrog Artifactory - Enables the ability to look for vulnerabilities in container images in a registry; Uptycs supports many registries including AWS ECR, Azure Container Registry, DockerHub, and jFrog Artifactory Secret scanning - Provides the ability to look for private keys, credentials, and other secrets stored in container images - Provides the ability to look for private keys, credentials, and other secrets stored in container images NSA/CISA hardening checks - Ensures that Kubernetes deployments are set up per the updated hardening guidance provided by the U.S. National Security Agency and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. For example, ensuring that pod security and network security policies are in line with guidance Uptycs fills in security visibility gaps with a single solution to protect container-based applications, whether they are run on-premises or in the cloud, from bare-metal to a serverless deployment. With Uptycs, customers can identify vulnerabilities early in the process, verify secure configurations, ensure compliance posture against standards like CIS benchmarks for Linux and Docker, and continuously monitor the runtime in production. Uptycs was recognized as a Sample Vendor for Container and Kubernetes Security in the Gartner Hype Cycle for Application Security, 2022 and the Gartner Hype Cycle for Network and Workload Security, 2022 . In addition, Uptycs was recognized as a Sample Vendor in the report from Gartner, Emerging Tech: CIEM Is Required for Cloud Security and IAM Providers to Compete . Uptycs will be at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon from October 24 - 28, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. To learn more, please stop by booth #G29 or visit: https://www.uptycs.com/lp-kubecon-2022-request-a-meeting Resources Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Note: All new features will be available to Uptycs customers in Q4, 2022. About Uptycs Your developer's laptop is just a hop away from cloud infrastructure. Attackers don't think in silos, so why would you have siloed solutions protecting public cloud, private cloud, containers, laptops, and servers? Uptycs reduces risk by prioritizing your responses to threats, vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, sensitive data exposure, and compliance mandates across your modern attack surfaceall from a single platform, UI, and data model. This includes the ability to tie together threat activity as it traverses on-prem and cloud boundaries, thus delivering a more cohesive enterprise-wide security posture. Looking for acronym coverage? We have that, too, including CNAPP, CWPP, CSPM, KSPM, CIEM, CDR, and XDR. Start with your Detection Cloud, Google-like search, and the attack surface coverage you need today. Be ready for what's next. Shift your cybersecurity up with Uptycs. Learn how at: https://uptycs.com 1 Cloud Native Computing Foundation, CNCF Annual Survey, February 2022 https://www.cncf.io/reports/cncf-annual-survey-2021/ 2 Gartner, "How to Make Cloud More Secure Than Your Own Data Center," Neil MacDonald, Tom Croll, April 2021 https://www.gartner.com/document/3970177 SOURCE Uptycs HOBART, Australia, Oct. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NGOs call on governments attending the 41st annual meeting of the Commission for Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to take urgent action to agree key measures that will safeguard Antarctica's iconic wildlife, as part of an essential plan to ensure the health of the planet. Photo credit: John B. Weller The accelerating climate emergency is having significant impacts on the region and the many species that live and breed there. This meeting taking place from 24th October-4th November will further discuss proposals to protect nearly 4 million square kilometers by establishing large-scale marine protected areas (MPAs) in the region, as well as proposals to promote stronger krill fishery measures that will avoid long-term harm and depletion of wildlife and habitats. "Although small, krill play an outsize role in the functioning and health of Antarctica. Almost every single animal species in Antarctica either directly relies on krill for survival or feeds on another species that eats krill. Worryingly, we have seen a concentration of krill fishing in recent years, with most of the catch taken from small, nearshore areas. CCAMLR must agree on measures to ensure that this fishing does not compete with the feeding grounds of krill predators, including penguins and whales," said Andrea Kavanagh, director of the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project's Antarctic and Southern Ocean protection work. "Highly concentrated industrial krill fishing is having an impact in the Antarctic. There is growing bycatch of humpback whales and other non-target species, and there is evidence that fishing is overlapping with large aggregations of iconic wildlife feeding on krill. Emerging research is revealing that Antarctic krill play an important role in the global carbon cycle and their worth in the ecosystem is valuable not only to wildlife, but also humanity. It's critical that CCAMLR step up to the challenge and deliver on their remit to implement an ecosystem-based management approach that is highly precautionary," said Emily Grilly, Antarctic Conservation Manager of WWF. It is ten years past the deadline CCAMLR had set itself to establish a network of MPAs in the region. To date only two MPAs have been agreed, and for years CCAMLR has been plagued with difficulties to get full consensus of its members to agree to further protection. This includes three large-scale MPA proposals that have been the subject for discussion and negotiation for years. Currently, 24 of the 26 CCAMLR members support the establishment of these MPAs. "Many CCAMLR Members are becoming increasingly frustrated at how consensus is being used to block proposals without good faith discussions and an attempt to compromise and find a common solution. We need to find ways to get past this current impasse. It is not an option for CCAMLR to fail. There is too much at stake," said Claire Christian, Executive Director of the Antarctica and Southern Ocean Coalition. "The oceans are in crisis, biodiversity is being lost at an alarming rate and the climate emergency deepens every day. We must protect at least 30% of the world's oceans by 2030 to help remedy this but bodies like CCAMLR, responsible for protecting the oceans, have failed in their duties for years. Our oceans can't afford more delay and inaction. Creating three large ocean sanctuaries in the Antarctic this year is the scale of action we need to see around the world to reach the goal of protecting a third of the oceans by the end of this decade," said Laura Meller of Greenpeace's Protect the Oceans campaign. Media contact: [email protected], Tel: +1 202 520 5670 [email protected], Tel: +34 696 905 907 SOURCE Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition The RELIEVE-HF trial of the Ventura Shunt System includes patients with reduced and preserved left ventricular function etiologies for heart failure CAESAREA, Israel, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- V-Wave, announced today the completion of enrollment in RELIEVE-HF, a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled, multi-center pivotal clinical trial. The RELIEVE-HF study is assessing the safety and effectiveness of the V-Wave Ventura Interatrial Shunt for the treatment of heart failure (HF) with the potential to reduce future hospitalizations as well as improve symptoms and quality of life for HF patients. The study enrolled 508 advanced HF patients on maximally tolerated guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT), who were randomized 1:1 to either the Ventura Shunt treatment arm or a sham control arm. Patients were enrolled in 101 hospitals from 11 countries. The primary analysis of the randomized cohort will take place after the last patient enrolled completes 12 months of follow up, with primary effectiveness follow-up ranging from 12 to 24 months. RELIEVE-HF also included an open label roll-in arm with a cohort of an additional 97 patients, for a total of 605 patients inclusive of both the randomized and roll-in study arms. The roll-in arm patients all received the Ventura device and to date, no procedure- or device-related major adverse cardiac or neurological events have been reported. "RELIEVE-HF is the gold standard in being the most comprehensive trial of interatrial shunting in HF to date." Tweet this V-Wave Ventura Interatrial Shunt HF is the end-stage of most forms of heart disease, affecting more than six million US patients and 60 million people worldwide. Despite advances in HF therapy, premature death, recurrent hospitalizations, and deteriorating quality-of-life remain a large burden to patients, their families, and healthcare systems worldwide. The most common reason for hospitalization is breathlessness from fluid buildup in the lungs known as pulmonary congestion, which is driven by elevations of blood pressure in the left atrium of the heart. The Ventura Shunt is an investigational device that has received Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA and CE Marking in the EU. The shunt is implanted during a standard minimally invasive catheter-based procedure. Patients typically are discharged after an overnight stay. The shunt is designed to create a small amount of blood flow from the left atrium to the right atrium sufficient to lower elevated left atrial pressure while protecting the right heart from failing due to blood volume overload. "We believe that an optimally sized shunt implanted in a population with a risk profile most likely to show benefit, has the best likelihood of being a winning combination," said Dr. Neal Eigler, MD, CEO of V-Wave. "We will await completion of follow-up and only then unblind the study to perform the primary analysis for safety and effectiveness." "RELIEVE-HF is the gold standard in being the most comprehensive trial of interatrial shunting in HF to date. We are testing this therapy in patients with both reduced and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction who are at high risk to suffer HF-related events, " said Dr. William T. Abraham MD, the company's Chief Medical Officer. "We are grateful to the investigators and coordinators at all participating sites for their ongoing dedication in identifying and enrolling patients to help us expand our understanding of interatrial shunting as a treatment for HF. Moreover, we are most appreciative of our global Executive Committee members: Joann Lindenfeld, Josep Rodes-Cabau, Gregg Stone, Stephan Anker, Saibal Kar, Michael Zile, John Gorcsan and Richard Holcomb, who have made enormous contributions to the design and execution of the RELIEVE-HF study." About RELIEVE-HF See NCT03499236 at https://clinicaltrials.gov. About V-Wave Ltd. V-Wave is a privately held medical device company with offices in Israel and the U.S. For more information, please visit www.vwavemedical.com. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements related to clinical development and potential regulatory approval of V-Wave's products. All forward-looking statements and other information included in this press release are based on information available to V-Wave as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements or information. The company's actual results could differ materially from those described in the company's forward-looking statements. CAUTION: Investigational device. Limited by Federal (or United States) law to investigational use. The V-Wave Ventura Interatrial Shunt System is not available for sale in the United States or other countries. Contact Elizabeth Fry [email protected] SOURCE V-Wave Ltd. Results published in JAMA Oncology and presented at ASTRO demonstrate clinical feasibility of proton Flash therapy First experience of proton Flash therapy in the clinic appears promising for future clinical trials PALO ALTO, Calif. and CINCINNATI, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company, and the Cincinnati Children's/University of Cincinnati Medical Center Proton Therapy Center, today announced clinical trial results from FAST-01 (FeAsibility Study of Flash Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Symptomatic Bone Metastases), the first clinical trial of ultra-high dose rate Flash therapy and the first-in-human experience of proton Flash. The clinical trial, informed by years of preclinical work, was designed by experts at Varian and multiple centers in the FlashForwardTM Consortium, including the Cincinnati Children's/University of Cincinnati Medical Center Proton Therapy Center, and the results have been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Oncology (JAMA Oncology). The research findings were also presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO) 64th Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Based on clinical workflow metrics, treatment efficacy, and safety data, researchers concluded that ultra-high dose rate proton Flash therapy is feasible in a clinical setting. Data surrounding the first experience in humans showed the desired therapeutic benefit in line with expectations and consistent with what conventional radiotherapy, the standard of care, would deliver and no significant toxicity. The clinical trial involved the investigational use of Varian's ProBeam particle accelerator modified to enable and control the delivery of radiation therapy at ultra-high dose rates, allowing the entire dose to be delivered in less than one second. The trial was conducted at the Cincinnati Children's/University of Cincinnati Medical Center Proton Therapy Center and was led by John C. Breneman M.D., Medical Director, John P. Perentesis, M.D., Research Director, Anthony Mascia, Ph.D., Chief Physicist, and Emily Daugherty, M.D., Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology. The related publication was authored by the foregoing individuals and other authors. "The unique Flash research at our proton therapy center in Cincinnati has far-reaching implications for how we treat cancer in children and adults, now and in the future," said Dr. Perentesis. "The FAST-01 trial has been an exciting step forward in exploring what is possible in Flash therapy delivery," said Dr. Mascia. "Working with Varian has been critical from a workflow efficiency standpoint and maximizing the potential of the ProBeam system from a performance standpoint. We look forward to continued collaboration as this research program advances." "Varian is committed to streamlining the cancer care pathway, and empowering care teams to deliver more efficient precision therapy to patients. We're pleased that the FAST-01 clinical data further support the potential of Flash therapy to transform cancer care," said Ricky Sharma, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Varian. "We look forward to further exploring this potentially groundbreaking form of therapy and demonstrating the benefits for cancer patients in future clinical trials." The FAST-01 clinical trial enrolled 10 participants between the ages of 27 and 81 who underwent palliative Flash therapy to bone metastases in the extremities. Endpoints were evaluated by clinical workflow feasibility, treatment-related side effects, and efficacy of treatment as assessed by measuring pain relief of trial participants. Eight of 12 sites (67%) treated had pain relief, and six of 12 sites had a complete response (no pain). There were no Flash-related technical issues or delays, and all adverse events were mild and consistent with those expected from conventional radiotherapy. "We are extremely encouraged by the results from the FAST-01 clinical trial, and we're eager to advance our Flash research pathway," said Dr. Daugherty, who presented the results at ASTRO. "We owe a debt of gratitude to our trial patients who have contributed to the Flash research program. They have without a doubt helped us advance this important program for the benefit of future cancer patients." "Thanks to support and close collaboration with the FlashForward Consortium including two of our key research collaborators Dr. Charles Simone from the New York Proton Center and Dr. Jeffrey Bradley from the Emory Winship Cancer Institute we continue to advance Flash therapy as an integrated, end-to-end solution. As we look ahead, we see exciting opportunities to further develop and expand this important research," said Agam Sharda, Vice President of Flash Solutions at Varian. "Varian remains committed to building out the technology and organizational platforms that will empower our fellow Consortium members to conduct Flash therapy research at scale." About Flash Therapy Flash therapy, an experimental treatment modality delivering radiation therapy at ultra-high dose rates in typically less than one second, may be over 100 times faster compared to conventional radiation therapy. The concept of ultra-high dose rate radiation delivery has been studied for many years. Dedicated research and development by the team at Varian and the clinical collaborators in the FlashForward Consortium has led to the advancement of Flash therapy to clinical trials. The FlashForward Consortium, a group with over 30 member institutions from around the world, includes over 200 experts in radiation oncology, translational science and medical physics. Visit the FlashForward Consortium website for more information. About Varian At Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company, we envision a world without fear of cancer. For more than 70 years, we have developed, built and delivered innovative cancer care technologies and solutions for our clinical partners around the globe to help them treat millions of patients each year. With an Intelligent Cancer Care approach, we are harnessing advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics to enhance cancer treatment and expand access to care. Our 11,000 employees across 70 locations keep the patient and our clinical partners at the center of our thinking as we power new victories in cancer care. Because, for cancer patients everywhere, their fight is our fight. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com and follow @VarianMedSys on Twitter. About the Cincinnati Children's/ University of Cincinnati Medical Center Proton Therapy Center The Cincinnati Children's/ University of Cincinnati Medical Center Proton Therapy Center, which opened in 2016, is one of only 40 in the United States. The Cincinnati center incorporates a $24 million, one-of-a-kind research facility, which includes a fully operational proton treatment room dedicated for just research along with integrated laboratories. The unique capabilities of the research center were instrumental in Cincinnati developing the world's first clinical trial of FLASH proton therapy. In addition, children and adults from around the world seek treatment for more than 30 types of cancer in two clinical therapy rooms at the center. Press Contact: Katie Villany [email protected] SOURCE Varian Visier's second acquisition of the year focuses on jobs and skills ontology to help organizations build the workforce of the future VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Visier , the globally recognized leader in people analytics and on-demand answers for people-powered business, today announced that it has acquired the assets of Boostrs, a robust API-first skills mapping engine. By integrating Boostrs data into Visier, organizations will be able to turn scattered internal and external workforce data into powerful talent intelligence, creating a clear picture of the skills they haveand needto meet the challenges of an ever-changing world. "Boostrs has built an incredibly powerful jobs and skills mapping engine that we're excited to make available to our customers," said Ryan Wong, co-founder and CEO of Visier. "Adding Boostrs to Visier's technology stack gives our customers an essential linkage for closing the gap between the skills they have and the skills they need to survive and thrive in changing market landscapes." Who is Boostrs? Headquartered in Paris, Boostrs is a world-class skills intelligence engine that helps organizations acquire, develop, deploy and retain the skills needed to win. Founded in 2017, the company has specialized in helping companies unshackle talent and prepare their workforce for the future. Boostrs helps organizations understand the underlying skills behind each job so they can recruit and retain the right talent, identify career paths for their people, and connect employees with learning opportunities to advance the business and the individual. The Boostrs technology enables Visier to provide broader and deeper insights and benchmarks for skills across the talent lifecycle, including key areas in: Recruiting & Retention : Recruit for skills that lead to quality hires, and retain those hires through custom career and learning paths through a focused internal talent mobility strategy. : Recruit for skills that lead to quality hires, and retain those hires through custom career and learning paths through a focused internal talent mobility strategy. Learning and Development: L&D programs designed to upskill and reskill, with succession planning and promotion readiness. L&D programs designed to upskill and reskill, with succession planning and promotion readiness. Compensation: Clear benchmarks for skills and job level compensation, extending beyond job titles and offering clearer insights into skills based compensation planning. With the addition of Boostrs to its product portfolio, Visier becomes the most comprehensive platform available for understanding the human truth of an organization from every dimensionand the ability to use these insights to help both people, and organizations, thrive together. This is the second technology acquisition Visier has made this year, following the Yva.ai acquisition which was announced in May 2022. In addition to the acquisition of Boostrs technology assets, Visier has hired 10 Boostrs engineers and data scientists, who will continue to work in Paris and Romania, with the Paris office becoming a Visier satellite office. This adds to Visier's global workforce, which now spans France, Germany, UK, Canada and the United States. The Boostrs technology is available now from Visier, with further expansions planned. More details about Visier can be found at www.visier.com About Visier Visier is the recognized global leader in people analytics, providing on-demand answers to people-powered businesses. Behind every great brand, product, or idea is the Human Truth, and the Visier People Cloud reveals the fundamental questions and actionable truths capable of elevating your employeesand your businessto new heights. Founded in 2010 by the pioneers of business intelligence, Visier has over 25,000 customers in 75 countries around the world, including enterprises like BASF, Bridgestone, Electronic Arts, McKesson, MerckKGaA, Uber, and more. Visier is headquartered in Vancouver, BC with offices and team members worldwide. For more information, visit www.visier.com . SOURCE Visier This new operating system brings new personalization options, security upgrades, and more easy-to-use features for a smoother, uninterrupted experience SHENZHEN, Oct. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- vivo has officially launched the new Funtouch OS 13 for users in overseas markets. Based on the newly released Android 13, this upgraded operating system combines vivo's design-driven value with new and improved personalization options, upgraded privacy and security features, and new control features for a smoother, uninterrupted experience. vivo not only strives to provide users with an effortless experience, but also seeks to empower them to express their creativity and uniqueness through their devices. Add a touch of personalization to your screen Add a touch of personalization to your screen Add a touch of personalization to your screen The Funtouch OS 13 allows users more visual control of their home screen. With the monochrome icon feature, users can now change the color of their home screen icons to match their wallpaper, system, and app interfaces, truly unlocking their creativity and self-expression. On top of that, the new system allows users to customize colors on their system's UI and built-in apps, including their notification panels, volume control, calculator, and clock. It can utilize the color from the users' preferred wallpaper and theme to determine the appropriate color tint, applying it to the app interface to transform the device with a more personal look and feel. Further protection and security The new app pinning feature helps keep sensitive data secure, providing users greater peace of mind regarding their security and privacy. When another person uses the device, the two-level pinning function keeps the chosen app in view and prevents access to other apps on the device. This feature enables greater flexibility, allowing the owner to set parameters and control the allowed actions within the pinned app when other people are using the device. This update also allows users to hide photos and videos as well as selectively choose various applications' access to specific photos, thereby preventing unwanted viewing on their devices and further enhancing privacy protection. Enhanced controls and easy-to-use features to provide greater convenience To create a more streamlined experience for vivo users, the Funtouch OS 13 also features improved application management, the iManager, which can specifically help monitor app usage time. If the CPU usage is too high, users can shut that application down with one tap. iManager can also prevent overheating by reducing the number of active applications and adjusting CPU frequency based on the Phone cooling feature. In addition to weather updates, the dashboard also features an AQI card for health-conscious users who wish to instantly check the latest information concerning air quality with a detailed PM2.5 index available. With vivo's well-known premium mobile photography experience, new photo and video upgrades are to be expected. The professional viewfinder makes photography easier with a new stabilization ring that helps mitigate the effects of shaky hands. The new OS has also refined the video editing process, enabling users to mute the sound of the video while editing the footage and even make precise volume adjustments on each segment of the video, thus facilitating the creation of professional-grade videos. In terms of accessibility controls, enhancements have been made with color correcting and inversion, as well as the option to remove animations for users with specific needs, such as visual impairments. The Funtouch OS 13 will be available from October 24, 2022, starting with the X80 Pro. vivo will gradually bring Funtouch OS 13 to more users around the world with the most innovative experiences yet seen. About vivo vivo is a technology company that creates innovative products based on design-driven values, with smart devices and intelligent services at its core. The company aims to build a bridge between humans and the digital world. Through unique creativity, vivo provides users with an increasingly convenient mobile and digital life. Following the company's core values, which include Benfen*, user orientation, design-driven value, continuous learning, and team spirit, vivo has implemented a sustainable development strategy with a vision of developing into a healthier, more sustainable world-class corporation. While bringing together and developing the best local talents to deliver excellence, vivo is supported by a network of R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Xi'an, focusing on the development of state-of-the-art consumer technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial design, imaging system and other up-and-coming technologies. vivo has also set up an intelligent manufacturing network (including those authorized by vivo), with an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million smartphones. As of now, vivo has branched out its sales network across more than 60 countries and regions and is loved by more than 400 million users worldwide. *"Benfen" is a term that describes the attitude of doing the right things and doing things right which is the ideal description of vivo's mission to create value for society. Stay informed of the latest vivo news at https://www.vivo.com/en/about-vivo/news SOURCE vivo KEY WEST, Fla., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Warren Henry Auto Group, one of Florida's leading automotive groups, is pleased to announce the addition of Vespa and Piaggio scooters to its dealership in Key West, Keys Auto Center. Key West is the ideal location to host the iconic Italian scooter brand, bringing a fun, convenient, and sustainable method of transportation to this vibrant community. Vespa Primavera 50 Vespa has been the scooter of choice since 1946 and is perfect for a vacation destination like the Keys. It's an easy mode of transportation, especially in crowded Key West where millions of people visit each year and where there is limited parking. It's also a brand that embodies freedom, individuality, and style, which is the hallmark of Key West. While the addition of Vespa in Key West will be beneficial to the community, it will be equally as valuable to the Warren Henry organization. "We are continuously growing our portfolio of luxury and premium brands," said Larry Zinn, Executive General Manager of the Warren Henry Auto Group. "We see tremendous opportunity for Vespa and the potential to be one of the largest dealers in the country." The new Vespa dealership is located at Key Auto Center, 1618 N Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, and is one of only a handful of dealers in South Florida. About Warren Henry Auto Group Established in 1976, Warren Henry Auto Group is one of the longest-standing, private, family-owned dealership groups in Florida. The company comprises of nearly 500 employees, 6 different retail locations, and 17 luxury and premium brands including Jaguar, Land Rover, INFINITI, Audi, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Hennessey, Koenigsegg, Toyota, Ford, Lincoln, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, Icon, and Vespa. Grounded in its original core values and vision, the company prides itself on providing exceptional customer service, creating a superior work environment for its employees, and supporting local causes in the communities it serves. Warren Henry Auto Group has received numerous awards and accolades including being named Best Dealership to Work for by Automotive News, honored by J.D. Power for Dealer of Excellence, and recognized by the South Florida Business Journal Philanthropy List. The company's headquarters is located at 2300 NE 151st Street in North Miami. For more information, call (305) 690-6006 or visit www.warrenhenryauto.com. SOURCE Warren Henry Auto Group VERO BEACH, Fla., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Watercrest Senior Living Group celebrates recognition on the 2022 Argentum & Lument Report of Largest Senior Living Providers in the country. Currently ranked as number 88 in the nation, Watercrest Senior Living Group has risen 12 spots on the list, after a ranking of number 99 in the 2021 report. Watercrest Senior Living Group celebrates recognition as one of the nation's top 100 largest senior living providers as reported in the 2022 Argentum & Lument Report. Watercrest improved their position by 11 spots in a year Argentum quoted as 'one of the most turbulent years in the senior living industry.' Watercrest Senior Living Group recently celebrated their ten year anniversary as a senior living provider developing, owning and operating independent, assisted living and memory care communities throughout the Southeastern United States. Watercrest principals, Marc Vorkapich, CEO and Joan Williams, CFO, opened their first senior living community in 2015 and rapidly expanded to today's total of sixteen communities in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia. The 2022 Argentum & Lument Largest Providers Report gives data and information from one of the most turbulent years ever experienced in the senior living industry. The report highlights changes among providers, survey results, and upcoming provider growth. Watercrest Senior Living Group was reported as one of only 19 providers in the top 100 to improve their position by 10 or more positions this year. Watercrest achieved its position as one of the largest senior providers in the nation offering 1,669 senior living units with 1,018 employees in 15 communities encompassing independent, assisted living and memory care. "Celebrating our fourth consecutive year as one of the nation's largest senior living providers reinforces Watercrest Senior Living Group's reputation as a best-in-class senior living operator," says Marc Vorkapich, principal and CEO of Watercrest Senior Living Group. "We believe wholeheartedly that a company's real value is in its people. Together we foster a culture where our fellow associates are appreciated for their unique contributions. Inspiring a culture built on trust develops a foundation for compounding growth and success." About Watercrest Senior Living Group Watercrest Senior Living Group was founded to honor our mothers and fathers, aspiring to become a beacon for quality in senior living by surpassing standards of care, service and associate training. Watercrest senior living communities are recognized for their luxury aesthetic, exceptional amenities, world-class care, and innovative memory care programming offering unparalleled service to seniors living with Alzheimer's and dementia. A five-time certified Great Place to Work, Watercrest specializes in the development and operations of assisted living and memory care communities and the growth of servant leaders. For information, visit www.watercrestseniorliving.com. About Argentum Argentum is the leading national association exclusively dedicated to supporting companies operating professionally managed, resident-centered senior living communities and the older adults and families they serve. Since 1990, Argentum has advocated for choice, independence, dignity, and quality of life for all older adults. Visit www.argentum.org. SOURCE Watercrest Senior Living Group BEIJING, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 2022, Waterdrop has stepped up offline brokerage, and offered offline brokers with multiple development directions including organization development mode, independent agent mode, and community outlet mode, in an effort to build an elite service team. It has also launched WFind (Waterdrop Family Insurance Needs Diagnosis) to drive professional operation by brokers. These moves indicate a clear new direction for Waterdrop, i.e. further integrating online and offline insurance business, making the work easier and more efficient for brokers with the aid of technologies, and driving the professionalism of brokers across the industry. Implementing Offline Business Requires Empowering Brokers in Sales Leads, IP and Technology Waterdrop spent two years exploring offline brokerage and launched the business after mode validation in 2021. Besides traditional offline brokerage, it also set up outlets. In June 2022, its first community outlet staffed by independent insurance agents opened in Wuhan. The community outlet mode is built on independent agents in which customer traffic and operating cost are replaced by rent costs. Each outlet is supplied with an independent agent, providing customers with risk diagnosis, insurance planning, product recommendation, claims aid, and some other services. The outlet mode makes it easier for brokers to enhance customer stickiness and build trust through neighborhood effects. Ms. Jia Li, Waterdrop Vice President, commented, "Besides considering major and educational backgrounds, Waterdrop focuses more on the learning ability, self-motivation, and entrepreneurship of broker candidates in recruitment, because customers pay greater attention to the professionalism of insurance brokers. Brokers need to have a broad vision, an overall idea of industrial and product trends, and a deep insight into the updates of industrial peers. Only in that way can they act openly and transparently, and select products adapted to customer needs out of hundreds of products." Li Jia said, compared with the traditional offline mode, instead of putting excessive emphasis on social networking, Waterdrop works to empower brokers in leads, IP, and technologies to make the job easier for brokers. For example, it helps brokers build personal IP and private domain traffic pools through community operation, live-streaming, and mini videos. During the IP building process, with the growth of customers who come for advice, brokers will also enter a growth loop step by step. What Are the Critical Factors That Empower Offline Brokers to Acquire Targeted Customers? How to precisely match leads is a longstanding issue in the industry. Previously, offline brokers received complex leads and had to screen manually; currently, with the help of technologies, offline brokers can match leads precisely and thus increase operating efficiency. First, Waterdrop will group customers according to their willingness to purchase insurance. For example, Waterdrop will automatically identify the customers who have purchased short-term insurance and retained for more than six months as those with a higher level of purchase intention, and view the customers who seek for advice actively as having a higher level of intention. Then, the CRM system will match them with brokers based on locations, customer needs, and brokers' backgrounds and track records, etc. After customer allocation, Waterdrop has SOPs in place for each link of the following process, having customers' WeChat, visiting customers, interpreting insurance terms, sorting customer policies, assessing risks, developing support plans, comparing products, and providing follow-up services. TWaterdrop also launched the "Waterdrop Insurer" APP to help brokers improve working efficiency and experience. The APP offers tools like marketing content creation, customer needs analysis, family insurance plan, product comparison, request for proposal, same-screen interaction, and AI video generation, leading in the industry in helping brokers enhance customer acquisition and management efficiency. Li Jia said, "In addition to tools, long-term persistence is most important to brokers. Tools shall be fully leveraged to learn about customer preferences. Waterdrop highlights brokers' input in content platforms like Zhihu, Douyin, Kuaishou, WeChat Channels, and Xiaohongshu. It pushes various communication materials to brokers every day, who can modify them as they like and post them on social media platforms. This is a great process of popularizing insurance knowledge among customers. But it's noteworthy that IP building requires long-term self-motivation of brokers. In the short run, the private domain built by brokers may produce little effect. But through repeating day by day, the private domain traffic will see network expansion in the long run." According to Li Jia, the Company's offline team recorded a per capita production capacity of RMB43,000 in September. An outlet in Wuhan even signed 36 policies in August 2022. Building the System Valuable to Brokers and Customers Is the Core of Offline Business Li Jia said, "Our brokers are supposed to be professional, which requires long-term accumulation. Besides technologies and tools, we also empower them with a standard operation methodology named WFind." WFind is the family insurance needs diagnosis system recently launched by Waterdrop. It differs from the product-oriented operation mode in the market, as it's a customer-oriented methodology that empowers brokers to diagnose customer needs like doctors based on customers' family population, income and expenditure gap, and future expectation and thus ensures the delivery of scientific insurance solutions. The WFind system includes six steps, i.e. analyzing family income and expenditure and financial conditions, identifying family insurance needs, learning about risk exposure, designing insurance portfolio solutions for customers, comparing products from multiple perspectives, and helping customers find the solutions that suit them best. The system not only helps brokers complete the upgrade from product sellers to professional brokers, but also promotes customer-centric delivery of services by brokers in a more professional, objective and neutral manner. Based on the gaps in family income and expenditure, pension, and educational fund, the WFind system recommends insurance content correspondingly to help customers make well-informed purchase choices. That will also improve customers' perception of the professional quality of brokers and enhance trust between both sides. Based on the WFind system, Waterdrop requires all brokers to provide 3-5 products in each category based on customer needs for them to choose from. That will give play to customers' initiative and maximize the value of independent choices. Generally speaking, Waterdrop and the whole insurance industry are confronted with challenges. But the harder the time is, the more patient and confident the industry as a whole should be to find the solution together. Waterdrop's innovation and exploration in offline channels also serve as a fresh example of revolutionary significance for the insurance industry in its efforts to integrate online and offline operations and expand service boundaries. About Waterdrop Inc. Waterdrop Inc. (NYSE: WDH) is a leading technology platform dedicated to insurance and healthcare service with a positive social impact. Founded in 2016, with the comprehensive coverage of Waterdrop Insurance Marketplace and Waterdrop Medical Crowdfunding, Waterdrop aims to bring insurance and healthcare service to billions through technology. For more information, please visit www.waterdrop-inc.com. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to 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," "aims," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "likely to," and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Waterdrop's beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Waterdrop's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Waterdrop does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. SOURCE Waterdrop Inc. Hurt Park Renovation Supports Georgia State University's Explosive Growth ATLANTA, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Opening to the public in 1940, the new and improved public park setting of Atlanta's Hurt Park, developed by HGOR and additional project partners, recently celebrated its reopening on August 23rd. A key driver in the design centered around supporting Georgia State University's explosive growth. With the realization that Hurt Park, owned by the City of Atlanta and managed by GSU, is only a portion of the University's grand vision, many individuals are thrilled to welcome vibrancy back to the park. Newly revitalized park provides vibrancy, safety and connectivity opportunities Pedestrian Graphic Analysis showing Hurt Park in relation to GSU facilities Hurt Park, downtown Atlanta's first public park since the 1860s was one of Atlanta's main attractions throughout the 40s and 50s, playing a prominent role in the area's morphing into a thriving city center. Its notable characteristics included the Fountain of Light, an electric water display featuring a dazzling array of lights and waterspouts. Since the beginning, GSU, known as one of the nation's most diverse campuses ranking #4 out of 106 in a 2021 study, has wanted to renovate Hurt Park to keep students safe. With the tremendous growth of the student population skyrocketing to more than 52,000 across their six Atlanta campuses and the contribution of $2.8 billion in economic impact that the University's existence has meant for metro Atlanta, the desire for renovations became even more of a priority. Renovations included: Fountain cleaning and restoration (new mechanics and electrical systems and new fountain lighting) Incorporating required ADA-compliancy features Cleaning, repairing and repointing fountain wall and stairs Adding necessary safety elements: handrails on stairs and increased lighting Integrating concrete stage 30" above front seating and seating area improvements Remodeled pedestrian walkways widened for 20' x 30' stage Enhanced surrounding greenspaces Re-grading central lawn providing stage-like atmosphere and proper drainage components Electrical capabilities meeting WiFi data requirements Other safety endeavors included ensuring the park's lighting follows the proper codes and fixtures meet the City of Atlanta's standards was facilitated by installing mobile-use switches while confirming the alignment with GSU facilities and removing outdated lights. To improve park visibility, HGOR worked with an arborist to create a clear line of sight, as many of the trees had become overgrown. The overall restoration plan prepared Hurt Park for installing security cameras - completing its safety initiative. The newly restored Hurt Park offers a greenspace with modernized elements aligning with the growing area and GSU's campus and provides enhanced socialization opportunities for the student population. Additional masterplan improvements will likely solidify the campus as a leading force in higher education and drive Atlanta's economy through future development. It will allow Georgia State University students to unite in group activities and create meaningful new traditions. ABOUT HGOR HGOR is an Atlanta-based planning and landscape architecture firm that provides holistic design approaches backed by decades of experience in cross-disciplinary innovation. Founded in 1992, HGOR exceeds client expectations by developing people-centric, innovative, cost-effective, and strategically planned design solutions. CONTACT: Christi Burton [email protected] 404.929.3370 WWW.HGOR.COM SOURCE HGOR The all-natural pie company expands into healthy frozen snack category with three flavors of almond butter and fruit sandwiches SALEM, Ore., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Willamette Valley Pie Company has announced their latest innovation the creation of natural snack brand BerryFields. This is the second product launch this year for the company known for frozen fresh, ready-to-bake pies, cobblers, crisps, hand-pies and IQF frozen fruit. In March, WV Pie Co. released a new line of Non-GMO Project Verified pies and hand-pies with all-butter crusts in tandem with a complete brand refresh. Designed for busy families who want to be able to provide homemade-quality sandwiches for their kids, BerryFields is the only brand to hand-make delicious wholesome snacks with the same care as you would at home using simple, all-natural ingredients loaded with farm-fresh fruit, allergy-friendly almond butter and tucked in a soft pastry made with real butter. Designed for busy families who want to be able to provide homemade-quality sandwiches for their kids, BerryFields is the only brand to hand-make delicious wholesome snacks with the same care as you would at home using simple, all-natural ingredients loaded with farm-fresh fruit, allergy-friendly almond butter and tucked in a soft pastry made with real butter! Willamette Valley Pie Company CEO Austin Kelly explains, "Since vertically integrating from a family farm in 2001, there is nothing more important to us than using real, sustainably sourced and clean label ingredients you can feel good about giving to your family. And as a father myself, I know the real need for delicious and convenient options that aren't packed with artificial ingredients." He continues, "We felt there was a gap in current market offerings and knew that BerryFields could be a natural extension of what we were already accomplishing and providing at Willamette Valley Pie Company." BerryFields almond butter and fruit sandwiches combine both convenience and flavor for something the whole family will love. Each sandwich has four grams of protein and simple, farm-fresh non-GMO ingredients. Best of all, they fit perfectly in your hand, fuss-free and no utensils needed for on-the-go hungry tummies! Whether you choose BerryFields for a snack or a meal, you can trust that each sandwich is filled with wholesome, natural ingredients you can find in your own cupboard. Craveable, and incredibly convenient, BerryFields sandwiches go right from freezer to lunchbox, thawed and ready when lunch time rolls around. They are currently offered in three flavors: Mixed Berry A delicious melody of farm-fresh Blackberries, Strawberries and Oregon's Berry Favorite , the Marionberry, complimented with the protein-rich almond butter tucked in a soft pastry made with real butter. , the Marionberry, complimented with the protein-rich almond butter tucked in a soft pastry made with real butter. Strawberry Strawberries blended into a smooth fruit layer, complimented with protein-rich almond butter tucked in a soft pastry made with real butter. Grape Grapes fresh from the vine complimented with the protein-rich almond butter tucked in a soft pastry made with real butter. Berryfeilds sandwiches are Non-GMO Project Verified and can currently be found in Whole Foods Stores nationwide for $6.99. For more information, please visit berryfieldsandwiches.com and use their store locator to find BerryFields in a store near you. About Willamette Valley Pie Company Willamette Valley Pie Company, LLC. is one of the original all-natural pie companies. With nearly 100 years of family farming history in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, vertically integrating in 2001 to make delicious pies and desserts was an obvious next step for the company. Made with non-GMO, local and sustainably sourced ingredients, Willamette Valley Pie Co. now offers 9-inch fruit and cream pies, 5-inch mini pies, as well as a variety of hand pies, cobblers, crisps, and IQF frozen fruit. Their new product line includes the first 100% all-butter crust pies in the market, featuring fan favorites like the Dutch Caramel Apple Pie, Triple Chocolate Cream and scratch made Key Lime Pies incorporate farm fresh ingredients you would use at home. Willamette Valley Pie Co. continues to be committed to bringing families and communities together around the table and through their fundraising program. For more information about Willamette Valley Pie Co., visit www.wvpie.com , or @wvpie on Instagram and @WVPIECO on Facebook. MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Kovacs BLAZE PR [email protected] (310) 395-5050 SOURCE WV Pie Co. BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I Love to Write Day," founded by Delaware freelance writer and author John Riddle, is a grassroots campaign that has spread globally, inspiring people of all ages and walks of life to spend time writing every November 15, said author Tom Madden. Madden's latest book WORDSHINE MAN about how to make writing inviting will be among many books awarded as prizes, along with "What Makes Trump Tick" by Peter Ticktin who was a classmate of the former president of the United States at the New York Military Academy when they were both 18. Riddle said he came up with the idea for "I Love to Write Day" when he was on his way to teach workshops at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer's Conference in Asheville, North Carolina. "When I stopped at a diner for lunch, I wrote the words I Love to Write Day and a few months later, the grassroots campaign was launched," said Riddle. Over the years there have been numerous success stories from the thousands of writers, authors, teachers, librarians and other people who have participated in I Love to Write Day. The Governors of nine states have officially proclaimed November 15 as I Love to Write Day, urging their residents to celebrate the day by writing. I Love to Write Day was officially entered into the Congressional Record in 2008 by Delaware Senator Tom Carper. "My goal for I Love to Write Day remains the same as it did the day I launched it," said Riddle. "People of all ages are encouraged to write something: a poem, a letter to the editor, an essay, start a novel, finish a novelthe possibilities are endless!" As part of the 20th anniversary, Riddle will be publishing the "I Love to Write Day Creative Writing Journal," which will be available on Amazon on Nov. 1st. It features 30 creative challenges, plus tips on how to be creative from over 80 writers, authors, artists, musicians, actors and even a few pirates from all around the globe. Besides a writer of countless articles, blogs and five published books, Madden is founder and CEO of the international public relations firm TransMedia Group. For more information about I Love to Write Day, visit ilovetowriteday.com Media contact: Adrienne Mazzone 561-908-1683; [email protected]. SOURCE I Love to Write Day ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Xoran Technologies presented TRONthe latest innovative addition to Xoran's suite of truly mobile CT systemsat a series of high-profile neurosurgery, spine, and critical care events this month. "... envision how our [CT] systems will revolutionize patient access to safer, more successful procedures." - Xoran CEO Tweet this Xoran CEO Misha Rakic and VP of Sales and Marketing Laura Dennis From the Society of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS) in Las Vegas directly to the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) in San Francisco, and then North American Spine Society (NASS) in Chicago, and finally Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) in San Antonioboth the compact, fluoro-CT TRON and the head CBCT xCAT IQdemonstrated high image resolution and fast workflow in low-dose systems. "It was great to witness the overwhelmingly positive response from the neuroscience clinical community at recent industry meetings," says Xoran Senior Commercialization Advisor Rob Korn. "With the recently FDA-cleared TRON, Xoran is leveraging twenty-plus years of technology innovation and design to further increase our focus on the neuroscience and spine markets. The customer feedback on both the xCAT IQ and TRON for intraoperative and critical care use at these recent, high-profile meetings has been extremely exciting and encouraging." Coming off its immense 2021 success at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting where Xoran introduced the vTRONa veterinary, full-body, open bore, mobile CT solutionXoran looks next to this year's RSNA in Chicago. There, Xoran will present its truly mobile, point-of-care CT solutions in addition to its partnership with Farber Specialty Vehicles to have a TRON installed in a compact vana future solution for community health initiatives, and ambulance and military front-line situations. "What's so exciting about these tradeshows is the optimistic response from surgeons and future strategic partners. These relationships are the core of our innovation," says Xoran CEO Misha Rakic. "When they see our affordable, mobile devices the ideas start flowing and they can envision how our systems will revolutionize patient access to safer, more successful procedures. Indeed, it all starts with CT. Whether it be surgical navigation, robotics, or the next 'new thing,' having CT to update surgical planning, or to avoid risky patient transport to radiologyXoran's products provide the solution." About Xoran Technologies Since 2001, Xoran is the pioneer and medical market leader in low-dose radiation, cone beam CT systems specifically designed for the patient's point-of-care. Providers rely on our industry leading office-based and mobile CT systems to diagnose and treat patients. Xoran is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Visit xorantech.com. 2022 Xoran Technologies, LLC SOURCE Xoran Technologies, LLC Amman, Oct 24 : Jordan and North Macedonia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in various sectors. Following their discussions in Amman on Sunday, capital of Jordan, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and North Macedonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani signed a cooperation protocol, which will be a framework for the two countries' future cooperation, according to a statement by Jordanian Foreign Ministry. They stressed large room for economic, tourism, commercial and cultural cooperation between the two countries, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the statement. The two ministers also agreed to examine the feasibility of regular flights between the two countries and facilitate the issuance of visas. They also emphasised the need to enhance cooperation to combat terrorism, which poses a common threat, and discussed a number of regional issues, mainly the Palestinian issue. Tehran, Oct 24 : Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said that foreign "pressures and propaganda" will not disrupt the determination of the Iranian nation and government in treading the path of progress. Amir-Abdollahian made the remark in a phone call with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad, in which the two sides discussed bilateral ties and regional and international issues of common interest, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a press release published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website. He also promised that the Iranian nation and government will continue to "support the stability and security of the regional countries (and) oppose foreign interference". For his part, Mekdad said the West seeks to create crises against independent countries including Iran, adding the West and the United States do not want to see Iran's development, progress and independence, but rather its devastation and dependence. "Everyone saw what the US and its allies did to Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan," he noted. Protests erupted in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in a hospital in the capital Tehran days after she collapsed in a police station. The protests soon turned violent, with the Iranian government accusing Western countries, such as the United States and Britain, of meddling in Iran's internal affairs by supporting the unrest in the country. On Saturday, a senior Iranian judiciary official said a legal case will be filed in a Tehran court against the United States for having a "role in the recent riots" in Iran. "Because of the involvement and direct role of the United States in the recent riots, it was decided to file a legal case in the Tehran court to determine the damages and issue the necessary verdict against this country," the official IRNA news agency quoted Kazem Gharibabadi, the Judiciary chief's deputy for international affairs and secretary of the country's High Council for Human Rights as saying. Lucknow, Oct 24 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will celebrate Diwali among the forest dwelling Vantangiya community in Gorakhpur district. Yogi will also announce various development projects worth Rs 80 crore for the various gram panchayats where the community resides. A state government spokesperson said: "The Chief Minister has been working tirelessly for the upliftment of the Vantangiya community and has been celebrating Diwali with them since 2009. This year too, he will be spending with them and will lay the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 37 crore and also inaugurate projects worth Rs 43 crore." Yogi will also lay the foundation stone for a liquid waste management project and common service centres for 62 village panchayats worth Rs 2.5 crore. The work will be carried out by the Panchayati Raj Department. Along with this, he will inaugurate development works worth Rs 21.1 crore for 24 village panchayats completed through the performance grant. The Chief Minister will also launch projects worth Rs 1.3 crore carried out under Purvanchal Development Fund and Rs 20.4 crore under the Rapid Economic Development Plan. The Vantangiya community comprises people brought from Myanmar during the colonial rule to plant trees for afforestation. Soon after taking over the reins of power in the state, Yogi had directed the officials to initiate steps for bringing members of the community into the social mainstream. Nearly 23 Vantangiya villages in Gorakhpur and Maharajganj are now on the path to development. There are 461 families which reside in village Jungle Tinkonia 3. Under various state government schemes, they have been given rights to the land on which their houses have been built. Besides, they also receive benefits under other welfare schemes. A Gorakhnath Hindu Vidyapeeth and Composite School has been established here along with an Anganwadi centre. "Yogi Adityanath started focusing on developing these villages after he became an MP for the first time in 1998 and learnt that the Naxals were trying to gain a hold here. He immediately started the work of setting up schools and hospitals here to provide development to the otherwise marginalised community," the spokesman said. Meanwhile, the Vantangiya community is preparing to welcome the Chief Minister into their homes on Diwali. They are cleaning their homes and women are rehearsing songs in Yogi's honour, officials said. Latest updates on Diwali Festival 2022 Lucknow, Oct 24 : The Yogi Adityanath government has decided to book those found selling fake platelets for dengue patients under the Gangster Act. The decision comes days after a patient died in Prayagraj after he was injected 'mosambi' juice instead of platelets by a private hospital. The hospital has been sealed and ten persons have been arrested in this connection on Sunday. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shailesh Kumar Pandey said those arrested committed the crime in an organised way. He said action against them will be taken under the Gangster Act. "Their call details are being scanned and action will also be taken against those whose names will surface in the fake platelets racket," he added. All those sent to jail after being produced before the magistrate, were identified as Raghvendra Patel, Sunil Pandey, Sarfaraz, Dilip Shukla, Pradeep Patel, Yogeshwar Singh, Praveen Patel, Vikas Kumar, Abhishek and Dilip Patel. Police claimed that Raghvendra, Sarfaraz, Sunil and Dilip Shukla, who were allegedly the kingpin of the racket, worked in a private laboratory and would take plasma from blood banks after payment of fee and sell them to persons in need after packing them in platelet pouches. "They were aware that it is hard to differentiate between plasma and platelets," the police said. The other six gang members, mostly students who lived on rent while preparing for competitive examinations, would get Rs 500 for each delivery of plasma and would sell platelets to the needy. During interrogation, the accused revealed that many more were involved in the racket. "One of the accused Ajay would procure plasma with help of one Pradeep Maurya, a hospital staff. Both are absconding. Ajay's arrest will reveal if staff at blood banks were involved in the racket," police said. Police believe that gangs were active outside blood banks, including at SRN and Beli hospital. "Platelet pouches seized from the accused carried the stamp of Beli hospital," police said. Meanwhile, the manager of Global hospital, doctors and staff are still at large. Investigations revealed that they had fled even before the deceased contractor Pradeep Pandey's wife Vaishnavi, got a case registered against them at Dhumanganj police station. Police are waiting for the forensic report of platelet samples transfused in Pradeep's body. "Those arrested so far had not supplied the platelets at Global hospital. Those behind it are yet to be identified," SSP Prayagraj said. Barabanki, Oct 24 : A man in Uttar Pradesh has lodged an FIR against his neighbour accusing THE LATTER of eloping with his wife and forcing her to change religion. Station House Officer (SHO) of Asandra, Nitesh Srivastava, said that they received a complaint from one Sunil Kumar alleging that his wife had eloped with his neighbour Sohail Khan and is missing from October 19. He also said in the complaint to the police that he suspects that Sohail was forcing his wife to change her religion. Sunil, in his FIR, stated that he was informed by some villagers that she was last seen while being taken to a 'mazaar' by Sohail. Police said an FIR under the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act has been lodged along with kidnapping a woman to compel her for marriage. In the past too, Sunil had alleged that his wife was kidnapped and abducted by Sohail on September 17, but he got timely information and intervened hence was able to save his wife. Sunil further alleged on October 19 when he returned from work, he could not find his wife. He called her parents and also his other relatives but found no trace of her. Thereafter, on October 22, he lodged the case. The SHO said that efforts are on to trace the accused and the woman. Kaushambhi : , Oct 24 (IANS) A magisterial probe has been ordered into the death of an undertrial prisoner at Kaushambi district jail. The district magistrate will probe the case. The deceased was in jail in connection with a case of rape lodged against him. According to reports, the undertrial prisoner was a resident of the Karari area of Kaushambi. He was tense over the case lodged against him and feared that he might get convicted for the crime. Primary investigations by jail officials revealed that he came outside from barrack number two and went behind the canteen. After loitering for some time, he prepared a noose from a 'gamchha' and hanged himself from a tree branch. It is worth mentioning that the jail premises is under strict CCTV surveillance. However, no one noticed when the undertrial went behind the canteen and hanged himself. Senior officials have taken serious note of the negligence. District Magistrate Sujeet Kumar said further action will be taken after receiving the report. Washington, Oct 24 : A person was taken into custody after a US military base outside Washington, D.C. reported a "barricade situation". According to US police code, barricade situation means an incident where a person maintains a position of cover or concealment and ignores or resists law enforcement personnel, and it is reasonable to believe the subject is armed with a dangerous or deadly weapon, reports Xinhua news agency. The incident took place place at Fort Belvoir, a US Army installation in the state of Virginia, on Sunday morning, reports Xinhua news agency. It was "resolved peacefully" as of 3 p.m. with the involvement of law enforcement agencies such as Federal Bureau of Investigation, the base said in a Twitter post. Fort Belvoir is located about 30 km southwest of Washington D.C. Seoul/Manila, Oct 24 : Korean Air Co. said Monday its flight KE631 with 173 people on board overran the runway while landing at Cebu International Airport in the Philippines a day earlier but no injuries were reported. The flag carrier expressed its "genuine" regret as it always prioritizes safety in all of its operations, reports Yonhap News Agency. "A thorough investigation will be performed together with the local aviation authorities and Korean authorities to determine the cause of this event," Korean Air President Woo Kee-hong said in a statement. The company remains committed to standing behind its promise of safe operations and will do its very best to institute measures to prevent any recurrence, he said. Passengers have been escorted to three local hotels and an alternative flight is being arranged, the statement said. The A330-300 plane, carrying 162 passengers and 11 crew members, attempted to land twice in bad weather and on the third attempt overran the runway at 11.07 p.m. on Sunday, the statement said. Currently, the Cebu airport is temporarily closed due to the stalled aircraft and other flights to Cebu are being diverted to nearby airports or returning to their points of origin. Airport authorities said in a statement the incident necessitated the temporary closure of the runway to allow for the safe removal of the aircraft. "For now, all international and domestic flights to and from MCIA are cancelled until further notice," the statement added. New York, Oct 24 : An Indian-American lawmaker has slammed the Seattle police for not investigating repeated 'feces attacks' on her house, which she says is "politically-motivated". City Council member Kshama Sawant, 49, said an unknown suspect has thrown plastic bags filled with human excrement into her yard multiple times starting this month. "As a socialist City Council member who has participated in Black Lives Matter protests, I am being told that my case of six threatening incidents involving human excrement doesn't merit even a serious investigation, let alone protection," she wrote in a letter to Mayor Bruce Harrell, Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz, and the City Council. A threatening email was also sent to Sawant's office, calling her "the queen of s**t" and inviting her to "sit on your throne of human excrement", according to local media reports. A social activist and an organiser, Kshama claimed that when her husband informed the police about the fourth attack on October 8, they responded, "what do you expect us to do?" and did not open an investigation. She added that the cops also refused to put a police detail in front of her house for protection, a TV station reported. The Seattle police said it has not found any evidence linking the case with the city or state standards for hate crime laws. However, they said that they will follow available leads should new information arise. In a blog post last week, the Seattle police asked the public to help them track down the suspect but they left out the victim's name, identifying her just as a "politician". "The department takes incidents involving public officials seriously, and investigators have canvassed for evidence, gathered information from witnesses and reviewed everything collected thus far," the post read. Witnesses have described the suspect as an Asian man approximately 5-feet-4 inches tall. "Most concerning is the very high likelihood that this extreme and hostile behaviour is politically motivated, and could turn into more serious and dangerous harassment," she wrote in her letter. She blamed Seattle's "Democratic Party establishment" for supporting Seattle Police's apathy and said she was filing a complaint with the Office of Police Accountability, the New York Post reported. According to a KIRO-TV report, Kshama was at the forefront of the city's "Defund the Police" movement over the last few years and had proposed cutting the department's budget by $85 million in 2020. Pilibhit : , Oct 24 (IANS) Farmers in Pilibhit are claiming that they have suffered crop losses to the tune of Rs 100 crore. A recent survey of the same by the commissioner of Bareilly division, Sanyukta Samaddar, claims that the damage to crops in Pilibhit district is around Rs 4.5 crore. Farmers are now demanding a fresh survey to assess the losses. A farmer leader said, "We have incurred heavy loss due to the incessant rainfall. If the state government had been fair enough in its intentions, the manual survey of the damage would not have been conducted." He slammed the state government for its promptness in satellite monitoring of crop residues' burning but lack of use of technology in assessing the damage to crops. It is noteworthy that more than 1,300 villages across 18 districts have been affected by floods in UP due to incessant rainfall this month. The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) has called a meeting with farmers at Neuria town in Pilibhit on October 28 to raise this issue. RLD leader Manjit Singh said, "In Pilibhit, the paddy crops have been cultivated in an area of 1.35 lakh hectares this year. The farmers normally harvest at least 50 quintals of paddy per hectare meaning thereby that the total produce would have been on par with 67,50,000 quintals if the weather conditions had been normal. If the average damage to crop is assessed at merely 7 per cent, although the actual loss was much higher, it comes to 47,200 quintals of paddy which is valued at Rs 96.39 crore at the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 2,040. The damage to other crops, including the sugarcane is an additional loss to farmers." Chennai, Oct 24 : Actor and director Sasikumar, best known for having made the cult classic 'Subramaniapuram', said that he no longer stays in Chennai and that he has relocated to his native place near Madurai. The actor, who will next be seen playing the lead in 'Naan Mirugamai Maara', said: "I have moved back to my native place because as you all know, I was going through a difficult time and I wanted to be with my family and my people. So, I relocated to my native place which is near Madurai." The actor discloses that he comes to Chennai only if there is important work or shooting. "I get to stay with my family. That's the big advantage. Also , all my films get invariably shot at Theni, Kambam and the surrounding regions - all of which are near my native place. "That apart, now communication is also much easier, thanks to advancement in technology. Even script narrations are done on zoom or skype and there are facilities in Madurai to dub." The director-actor said that a busy actor and director in the Tamil film industry moving out of Chennai to relocate to his native place might come across as something new to those present here but that this was how things were in the Malayalam film industry. "This is new to us but if you see the Malayalam film industry, all actors and techinicians stay in their respective places. They come down for shooting and then return to their native places," he said, disclosing that he will be returning to direction soon. New York, Oct 24 : Priyanka Chopra welcomed Diwali with a shoutout to Jennifer Rajkumar, the first Indian American woman to be elected Member of the New York State Assembly, who lobbied to get Diwali declared a public school holiday in New York City from 2023. Rajkumar, whose 2020 Assembly race was endorsed by California Congressman Ro Khanna, represents certain neighbourhoods in the Queens and also chairs the sub-committee on diversity in law. New York City, incidentally, is home to more than 2,00,000 people of Indian origin. Chopra, who's best-known in the U.S. for her performance in the FBI drama series 'Quantico', reposted a video to her Instagram Story where Rajkumar announced the news. Along with the video, Chopra wrote: "After all these years! My teenage self living in Queens is crying tears of joy. #representationmatters." Last Diwali, Chopra, who'll be seen soon with Richard Madden in the sci-fi television series 'The Citadel', had posted pictures of the celebrations at her home, with her husband, Nick Jonas, attired in Indian clothes. Latest updates on Diwali Festival 2022 Amritsar, Oct 24 : A 'green' fireworks display and LED lighting marked the celebrations of Bandi Chhor Diwas and Diwali as thousands of devotees flocked to the Golden Temple complex here early Monday. The eco-friendly fireworks display was a spectacular event owing to pollution concerns. The complex, where the holiest of Sikh shrines, the Harmandir Sahib is located, was illuminated with LED lights, giving it a glittering look. There was festive spirit at the shrine complex in this Sikh holy city as thousands of people came here to offer prayers and seek blessings. Jathedar (chief) of the Akal Takht, Giani Harpreet Singh, read out his message to the Sikh community on the occasion. The domes, buildings and floors of the shrine complex were cleaned and lit up for the occasion. The day is celebrated in the Sikh religion as Bandi Chhor Diwas (prisoner liberation day). On this day, the sixth Sikh guru, Sri Guru Hargobind, returned to Amritsar after being released along with 52 princes from imprisonment by the Mughal emperor Jahangir from Gwalior prison in 1619. According to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), to stop Sikh faith from flourishing, Mughal emperor Jahangir imprisoned Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib at Gwalior Fort. Jahangir fell ill and could not get well despite efforts. To get rid of his illness, Sufi Saint Sain Mian Mir advised Jahangir to release Guru Hargobind Sahib. The Guru refused to be released alone. Jahangir said whoever can come out holding palla (end portion of robe) of imprisoned Guru, can be released. The Guru got a special robe stitched, holding which 52 imprisoned kings got released from jail. Upon his arrival at Amritsar, Guru Hargobind Sahib was welcomed by Sikhs by lighting earthen lamps. "This day is celebrated as Bandi Chhor Diwas with Khalsa's grandeur. Bandi: Prisoner, Chhor: Release and Diwas: Day," says the SGPC, the mini parliament of the religion. Elsewhere in Punjab, markets wore a festive look on the occasion of Diwali, but traders said that sales were down. People thronged various markets in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala and other towns. Latest updates on Diwali Festival 2022 New Delhi, Oct 24 : In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of students who have pursued higher education outside India, especially, in some of the top immigrant-friendly nations such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland. As per the records, in the last 14 years, the number of students who moved to immigrant-friendly nations has increased four times. Reasons why Indian students immigrate Ajay Sharma, President, and Founder, of Abhinav Immigration Services Private Limited, said: "These immigration-friendly countries have world-class universities, courses, teaching staff, and facilities. They offer excellent education and provide them with a platform for global exposure and opportunities for employment with attractive salaries. After completing their education, students can even apply for permanent residency, a pathway to citizenship. Having a permanent resident status in these nations means you have access to free universal education for your children at public-funded schools till the age of 18, including healthcare facilities and medical services. A variety of social security perks range from pension to unemployment allowance, disability allowance to child aid and support care, and more. Countries like Canada, the US, and Australia are some of the top contenders when it comes to Indian students choosing a place for long-term residence. Presence of a large Indian diaspora. Recent changes in immigration policies prefer overseas Indian students over the skilled labour workforce." Here are some of the top Immigration-friendly countries for Indian students shared by Ajay: Canada As per IRCC data, Indian students comprise one of the largest populations of overseas students in Canada. The number of Indian students in Canada pursuing higher education has increased by 350 per cent between the academic years of 2015 to 2016 and 2019 to 2020. From January to November 2021, near to 1,30,000 Indian students were permitted to study in Canada. Australia Recently, Australia has gone ahead to increase post-study work rights for Indian students from two to four years for some bachelor's degrees, to three years from five years for Master's degrees, and to four years from six years for PhDs. Official data suggests that over 90 per cent of Indian students have returned to Australia to continue their education on campus. New Zealand New Zealand has started offering scholarships to Indian students, a reason why it has become one of the most preferred study destinations in the world. Be it world-class facilities for innovation and research, globally recognised qualifications, or affordability, a significant number of Indian students have moved to Australia in recent years. There has been a 400 per cent surge in the number of Indian students admitted to universities and colleges in NZ. It also offers student-friendly policies like post-study work permits, part-time work options, and hassle-free admissions. Ireland Studying in Ireland means that once you become a resident, you get access to the European Union. Their world-class study institutions, impressive courses, and some of the top global companies housed there with exciting employment potential make it a top choice for Indian students. Germany Indians have been, for the longest time, the greatest source of highly skilled immigrants and overseas students for Germany. More than 33,000 Indian students have chosen Germany for studies making them the second largest community at many German study destinations, as per the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). (N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.in) --IANS Srinagar, Oct 24 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kargil on Monday to celebrate Diwali with the soldiers guarding the borders of the country. Keeping his Diwali tryst with the soldiers alive, Modi landed in Kargil amid chilling cold to celebrate the festival of lights with the soldiers. The morning temperature was near the freezing point in Kargil. Since his days as the chief minister of Gujarat, Modi has been visiting the soldiers on national festival Diwali to identify with them and share their joy. Last year he celebrated Diwali in Nowshera border town of J&K's Jammu division. In 2020, he shared the joys of the Diwali festival with soldiers in Jisalmer, Rajasthan. In 2019, Modi went to Rajouri district in J&K on Diwali while in 2018 he was in Uttarakhand to celebrate Diwali with the Army and ITBP soldiers. In 2017, the Prime Minister celebrated Diwali with the BSF soldiers in Gurez border town of J&K. Similarly in 2016 he went to Himachal Pradesh. Modi celebrated Diwali in Punjab with soldiers in 2015, and in 2014 he went to the World's highest battlefield, Siachen glacier to be with the soldiers on Diwali. Latest updates on Diwali Festival 2022 Islamabad, Oct 24 : Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to embark on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia starting from Monday to attend the "Davos in the desert" summit -- an initiative of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to expand the Kingdom's role beyond oil in the global economy. Hundreds of delegates from around the world including government officials, business leaders and even CEOs of American companies are attending the two-day Future Investment Initiative summit in Riyadh. The conference will kick off on Tuesday, The Express Tribune reported. Official sources confirmed that the Prime Minister is visiting Saudi Arabia on the invitation of Crown Prince. He will attend the two-day conference and is scheduled to meet the Saudi leadership, Express Tribune reported. The Davos in the desert is taking place at a time when Saudi Arabia and the US clashed over Riyadh's move to cut oil supplies despite request by President Joe Biden to the contrary. US officials have not not invited to the investment summit, according to the organisers. However, 400 CEOs from different American companies will be in attendance. A strong Chinese delegation will be in Riyadh highlighting Saudi Arabia's push to diversify its options and look beyond the West. Pakistan considers the conference as an opportunity to draw world's attention towards the climate-induced floods. Meanwhile, the Saudi Crown Prince is expected to travel to Islamabad next month on a crucial visit Pakistan is hoping will lead to yet another financial bailout package from the oil-rich Arab nation. Though officials are tight-lipped and not sharing details of the visit, sources confirmed to The Express Tribune that the two countries were in touch to prepare for the visit. Austin, Oct 24 : Texas Governor Greg Abbott celebrated Diwali with prominent members of the Indian-American community at his official residence in Austin, the state capital. "Tonight, Cecilia & I celebrated Diwali at the Governor's Mansion. We welcomed friends as we lit Diwali lamps & celebrated the victory of light over darkness, goodness over evil, & hope over despair. Happy Diwali to those celebrating the Festival of Lights!," Abbott tweeted and shared pictures from the event. The couple was dressed in ethnic Indian attire as they welcomed guests, and also lit the traditional lamp to mark the festival. Diwali is annually celebrated at Abbott's official residence in Texas, which is home to the second-largest Indian-American population in the US. It was only in 2020 that the event was cancelled due to Covid. Indian-Americans were true partners in the growth of the Texas economy and have enhanced the values of Texas, Abbott said according to local media reports. "We are glad they have called Texas their home," he said. The event was attended by Consul General of India in Houston, Aseem Mahajan, Arun Agarwal, vice-chair of Texas Economic Development Corporation, and Dr Satish Nayak, who serves on Texas medical board as governors' appointee. Members from the Indian Association of North Texas and US India Friendship Council also marked their presence. Xi Jinping, the 'Core leader has unveiled his new Politburo Standing Committee inducting with four new loyalists, retiring Li Keqiang and Wang Yang, in his unprecedented third term. Elimination of four Politburo Standing Committee members, the highest decision-making body in China, from the list of members of the new Central Committee, which oversees the partys 97 million members indicates Xis complete overhaul of top hierarchy. The Central Committee, with around 200 full members, reports to the 25-member Politburo (now reduced to 24 members), which is headed by the Politburo Standing Committee. All these bodies have majority of Xi's men (No women). Historically, whenever a dictator's ambition exceeded the bounds of worldwide toleration, it resulted in catastrophe for the nation and its people, who had given him encouragement through their mute toleration. Xi maintains tight control despite China's economy performing relatively poorly compared to its last three predecessors, the unpopular "zero covid" policy, the failing BRI, infrastructure failures, the unfavourable international environment, and some discernible protest. He also disproves those who advocated the implosion theory for China and even imagined a coup against him. He would have naturally made some shrewd decisions in his favour to acquire the level that no one other than Chairman Mao Zedong did in China. Xi has risen, but the question remains, "Is China rising?" Xi: An Overambitious Dictator? Reminding China about century of humiliation, Xi began his tenure by selling dreams to lift Chinese out of poverty and toward a developed society with Chinese characteristics and set timetables. In that he pushed through Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a crusader to lead global infrastructure development, with recent offer to build an 'open global economy'. It has increased global footprints/investments of China, hoping it to serve as growth engine for his country to fulfil Chinese dream to build a "moderately prosperous society and realize national rejuvenation". Internationally he tried to project himself as the crusader for new and just international order, to check the hegemony of West especially US (Despite junking the ruling of PCA and violating UNCLOS), and now declared 'new choice for humanity' based on 'scientific socialism' and 'Chinese wisdom'. He did everything possible to make himself great, under the banner of 'Making China Great'. He now promises 'incomparable glory' to China and seems to assume that Chinese people will accept him, without worthwhile checks and balances. Post 19th Congress of CPC, China enshrined the "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" and ideas like BRI in the Chinese constitution. The 20th Congress of CPC has added "new achievements" under Xi's leadership, as "new developments" in the past five years to it. He continues to hold all levers of power through number of crucial appointments to include Chairman of reorganised CMC, Politburo Standing Committee and the President (to be formally endorsed in March 23 in Annual Legislative Session), with his loyalists holding top hierarchy, to rein PLA for him. His anti-corruption drive was most popular amongst masses seeing powerful people in jail, besides systematically eliminating the entire dissenting elements and possible competitors. Is the Pot Really Boiling? Proponents of 'Implosion Theory' for China will like to believe that the disgruntlement stoked by economic slowdown, Zero Covid policy pressures at grassroot level, banking failures, bankruptcy of infrastructure giants triggering housing scams, coupled with the strictest possible personal surveillance measures has created a pressure cooker kind of situation with very strong lid on top. The legal system stands hostage to party leadership to give strength to the boiling pot theory. After assuming power in 2012 with a GDP growth of 7.9 per cent, Xi oversaw China's subsequent economic decline. His detractors in the CPC believe that his actual accomplishments do not merit his ascension to the rank of Mao, but the unsatisfied elements and lobby groups are kept in control by his extensive surveillance because questioning Xi 'The Core' is anti-national and results in imprisonment. Dissent has no place in "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," according to Xi, who has made this clear by establishing the watchdog body "National Supervisory Commission" and putting the National Security Law into effect. Xi is aware of the internal difficulties mentioned above, as well as the fact that China has highly educated society with many of its citizens touring other democratic nations, who increasingly understand the realities of freedom. Significant internal concerns surround some of his actions, such as imposing restrictions on religious practises and forcing abortions on Uyghurs in Xinjiang, requiring Christians to replace images of Jesus Christ with those of Xi Jinping in order to receive government benefits, engaging in social engineering and mental profiling, and using force to try to suppress democratic ideas. Smart Management of Boiling Pot! In order to quell internal dissent, Xi has deftly constructed a narrative of himself as a crusader against Western hegemony, reminding everyone of centuries of humiliation, igniting nationalism within the country by playing the victim card to responses to his aggressive actions in the Taiwan Strait, South and East China Seas, and Himalayas, and the need to unite under his strong leadership as the national need, overriding all other concerns. In his opening statement to the 20th Congress, his overemphasis on "security" and "struggle" supports the notion that China is the victim of external aggression. It is possible to interpret Xi's actions, forcing students to read Xi's thoughts (the equivalent of Mao's Red Book), as an attempt to brainwash people into blindly believing in him. His propaganda machinery has been able to build a narrative that despite certain pitfalls, the Chinese system of governance is better than more chaotic democracies which remain embroiled in protests, recording slower growth in last few decades. Dealing Uyghurs with iron hand he has also built a narrative to majority of Han Chinese staying in South-eastern half of the country that he has been able to give them secure environment with hardly any terrorist activities, unlike most democratic countries. The strict censorship of media and internet, mental profiling, electronic isolation of thoughts and the fear of harsh crackdown on dissenters has helped him to minimize unrests/disagreements. Xi has been able to manage that the 'Hate America' sentiments echo more strongly than 'anti- Xi' sentiments in China. His military expansion and built up has also been projected as 'Making China strongest ever' as a lead over other predecessors since Mao's era. In fact, Xi has pushed his country to a state where there is only one leader and rest everyone else is a worker. Future of China under over-ambitious Xi CPC's 20th Congress applauding Hong Kong's transition from "chaos to governance" and adding "opposing and containing Taiwan independence" to its constitution convinces Xi that his aggressive posture has paid him well and might continue to serve his interest well. His reiteration that PLA would be a world class army by centenary 2027 with a strong system of strategic deterrence and new domain forces indicates growth of strategic arsenal to improve deterrence against US led West. The Chinese dream of "Rejuvenation" and Xi Jinping's goal of a "Prosperous Developed Society" with a "War Winning Modern PLA" by 2049 could have been achieved if he had not gone into overdrive with his aggressiveness, opening multiple fronts to oust the US as the world's superpower by unfairly exploiting pandemic. In accordance with Xi's plan for 'Making China Great Again', China accelerated its incremental encroachment strategy in its peripheral regions. This gave him the confidence to aggressively use the pandemic to accomplish all of his goals ahead of schedule without having the means to defend its international shipping outside of its eastern seaboard. Although the US did not respond to his fire power demonstration around Taiwan during Nancy Pelosi's visit, China is still affected by restrictions on semiconductor chips, microprocessors, and other trade restrictions. With the kind of global anger he has generated against his regime in last few years, the world has realised the need for diversification of global factory, along with economic distancing from China. Xi realises it, is evident from his statement "China cannot develop without the world, and the world also needs China". Xi appears to be advocating for capacity building to fight against economic coercion of West and desire for alternate financial system. Notwithstanding above, Xi has done well for himself, but pushed his country on a collision path with democracies, which might lead to its decline unless Chinese people wake up and shake up CPC to protect their dreams. How does it affect India? In CPC's 20th Congress "Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military" was also added to the party's constitution, making it the only leader with military term named after him in the constitution. Xi Jinping's pitch for shaping security posture deterring and managing conflicts and winning local wars impact India and Taiwan directly. His attempt to stir up nationalism out of the Ladakh standoff was confirmed by the film about the Galwan episode being shown to all delegates, which appears to have helped him calm down domestic rage. The overplaying of the Taiwan problem follows the same logic. He will be inspired to maintain a tough posture on both fronts as a result. From Indian perspective, notwithstanding Xi Jinping's rhetoric, this is the time when Beijing is under maximum external and internal pressure since last few decades. If Beijing continues with its arrogance, it will invite further pressure. India should push for border settlement or demarcation of LAC now, as the political cost of resolving the border/LAC may be lesser than maintaining an active front with India for China. India should not settle down with token disengagement, because unless the LAC is demarcated the stand-offs will continue. For the time being India should not blink at the borders and continue capacity building. (Major General S.B. Asthana is a strategic and security analyst, a veteran Infantry General. He is the Chief Instructor, United Service Institution of India. The views expressed are personal) Islamabad, Oct 24 : The Shehbaz Sharif government has succeeded in persuading Saudi Arabia to revive a major project shelved during the PTI government and establish a state of the art deep conversion refinery along with a petrochemical complex in Pakistan. A high-powered delegation of the kingdom, headed by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, is coming to Pakistan in the last week of November during which a formal announcement is expected in this regard, The News reported. The Pakistani side, according to the report, made huge efforts to persuade the kingdom to honour the MoUs and invest in the South Asian nation. Islamabad also put its weight behind Riyadh, which has locked horns with Washington over the cut in oil supply in the international market, The News reported. In February 2019, during the visit of Mohammad Bin Salman to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia signed MoUs for an investment of $21 billion in various sectors of the economy, including for the project of a deep conversion refinery and petrochemical complex with an investment of $12 billion. The Saudi oil giant Aramco also conducted a study in this regard which found that setting up a refinery in Gwadar was not feasible. However, it can be established at Hub, Balochistan, or near Karachi, the official said, The News reported. Later, when the ties of Imran Khan's government got strained with Saudi Arabia, the top decision-makers of the kingdom virtually put MoUs of $21 billion on the backburner signed in February 2019, the official said. Now in the latest scenario, the official said, the Ministry of Petroleum is working on an upgrade of the draft for the refining policy to allure investment for setting up new refineries. The government is making up its mind to offer the investors profitability at 14-15 per cent against the offer of 9 per cent, earlier offered in the draft for refining policy prepared by the PTI government, apart from increasing the tax holiday's scope. The government also wants investment from China for a refinery and to this effect, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during his upcoming visit to China, will offer Beijing to set up a refinery in Pakistan. New Delhi, Oct 24 : Vidisha Srivastava, who has joined the cast of 'Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai' to play Anita bhabhi, is all set to celebrate Diwali in Kolkata with her family to witness Kali puja and be part of Ganga Aarti at Ramakrishnapur Ghat. She said: "This year my Diwali celebration is going to be grand and much more as I am celebrating it in Kolkata. There, on the day of Diwali, I will be witnessing the Kali Puja celebrations which is one of the best in the country." "Also, my husband and I will go for the Ganga Aarti at Ramakrishnapur Ghat and will float earthen lamps or Diya into the river wishing good health for your near and dear ones." For her, Diwali is all about family and friends and this year she will be visting her in-laws. "We will be decorating our Kolkata house with beautiful and colourful diyas and lights along with rangoli. In addition to that, we will be hosting a small get-together with friends. My husband and I intend to drive around to check out Diwali lighting across the city, as I have heard it is so much fun to watch," she told IANS. On her style statement for the festival, she comments: "Diwali is a official time to refresh my wardrobe and it is an occasion to shine. My Diwali shopping is already done. I am planning to wear a ruffle red sari with some matching pieces and accessories that will lend a regal look. Beautiful ruffle patterns with flares and twisted swirls are the standout features of this sari." She wraps up the conversation with a meaningful message for her fans: "Exchanging gifts and spreading joy is the essence of Diwali and my message to everyone this Diwali is to support small artisans as we have so many diverse and indigenous crafts with many options. "We make it a point to buy local handicrafts from local artisans every year during festivities. Also, I don't propagate bursting crackers as it is harmful to our environment and sound of crackers scares animals." Austin : , Oct 24 (IANS) Alpine Renault's Fernando Alonso has dropped from seventh to 15th in the classification for the 2022 US Grand Prix Formula 1 race, following a protest against his car by rivals Haas. The stalwart was involved in a dramatic accident with Lance Stroll on the Circuit of The Americas' back straight, with the Spaniard getting airborne after making contact with the rear of Stroll's Aston Martin before miraculously continuing on. All was not well with Alonso's right-hand mirror, however, which shook violently before detaching itself, as the two-time champion charged through the field to take P7 at the flag. However, a protest on Sunday night by Haas against both Alonso's car and that of Red Bull's Sergio Perez -- which suffered front wing endplate damage early on in the race -- was deemed admissible by the stewards, according to formula1.com. And while the stewards opted not to act in the case of Perez's car, Alonso's Alpine was deemed to have been in an unsafe condition following the crash -- with a 30-second post-race penalty imposed on Alonso (a 10-second mid-race stop-go penalty no longer being feasible), dropping him from seventh to 15th. The stewards noted that they were "deeply concerned that Car 14 (Alonso) was not given the black and orange flag (shown to a competitor judged to have suffered mechanical damage that requires immediate attention in the pits), or at least a radio call to rectify the situation, despite... two calls to Race Control by the Haas Team. "Notwithstanding the above, Article 3.2 of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations is clear -- a car must be in a safe condition throughout a race, and in this case, Car 14 was not. This is a responsibility of the Alpine Team." Arguments from Alpine that similar damage on the cars of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix had not received any warning were also considered immaterial. The stewards also noted that Haas "had been given the black and orange flag on three occasions this year for situations involving their car being in an unsafe condition" -- the most recent of those occasions coming at the Singapore Grand Prix, according to the report. It's not yet clear whether Alpine will consider an appeal against the penalty -- which saw Alonso's team-mate Esteban Ocon promoted into the final points-paying position of P10, as Haas driver Kevin Magnussen jumped to eighth. Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 24 : Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan told media persons here on Monday that he would speak to original journalists and not to CPI-M cadres masquerading as journalists. An infuriated Governor was responding to queries by journalists before entering a public programme here. It is to be noted that the Governor of Kerala directed nine Vice Chancellors of the universities in the state to put in their papers on Monday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had lashed out against the Governor and said that he was trying to the use the powers that he doesn't have. With the Chief Minister and Governor entering into a war of words, the situation in Kerala is in for a major confrontation between them. Ahmedabad, Oct 24 : Two persons were killed in separate accidents on S.G Highway in the city, sources said on Monday. The victims' families have lodged complaints against two drivers for driving rashly and snuffing out two lives late on Sunday evening. In the first incident, Chandkheda area's resident and railway employee Mukesh Goswami was headed towards Pakwan square, when a truck hit him from the rear at the SG highway. Mukesh was rushed to Sola Government hospital, where he succumbed to his head injuries. A complaint has been lodged with the SG Highway traffic police station against the unidentified truck driver. On Sola bridge, a pillion rider was hit by a hot concrete mixer truck on Sunday evening, killing one Sourabh Gaur on the spot, while his friend Sonu Oza suffered minor injuries. Traffic police are looking for the two errant truck drivers. With the help of CCTV footage, police will track down both the drivers soon, said a police station officer. Suva, Oct 24 : Wishing the Indian community in Fiji on Diwali, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said that this year's celebration is special as the world has won over the Covid pandemic. "I thank God we live in a country where we can so openly share in the celebrations of all our fellow Fijians... Fijians of all backgrounds have been draped in colourful sarees, salwar kameez and kurtas and workplaces have been decorated," Bainimarama said in a video message posted on Twitter. A significant number of Fiji-Indians celebrate Ramlila and Diwali with traditional rituals, and they are part of the main events held on the islands. Like their Indian counterparts, people of Fiji celebrate Diwali with elaborate lighting and candle decorations. It is also a national holiday in the country. "This Diwali is special because we celebrate with the assurance that our resilience has prevailed over the pandemic and with the happiness that our recovery is here. Light has won over darkness. Good has won over evil." Diwali in Fiji is a five-day festival, starting with Dhanteras, then Hanuman Jayanti and Narak Chaturdashi, followed by Diwali, and then Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj celebrations. Indians make around 38 per cent of Fiji's population and as of 2021, roughly 3.20 lakh Indians live in the South Pacific nation, according to the Union Ministry of External Affairs. They have mostly descended from 'Girmitiyas', or indentured labourers, brought to the islands by British colonial rulers between 1879 and 1916 to work on Fiji's sugar plantations. The vast majority of Indo-Fijians trace their origins to Bihar and South India. Latest updates on Diwali Festival 2022 Chennai, Oct 24 : Tamil Nadu police are on high alert after a 25-year-old youth was killed in a car explosion at Ukkadam. Jameesh Mubin was killed in the explosion triggered by a gas cylinder burst in front of the Kottai Easwaran temple at Ukkadam on Saturday. The body was charred beyond recognition and police had to resort to other methods to identify him. After identifying the deceased as Jameesh Mubin, the Coimbatore police conducted a search at his residence and found a huge stock of explosives. The police also claimed that the NIA had interrogated the youth for his involvement with ISIS and other Islamic organisations. The police, however, refused to comment whether Mubin was trying to trigger a deliberate explosion as marbles and nails were found scattered at the accident site. Tamil Nadu Director General of Police C. Sylendra Babu reached Coimbatore on Sunday morning and conducted a high-level meeting with top police officers of the region. Sources in the police told IANS that explosive materials like potassium nitrate, aluminum powder, sulfur, and charcoal were retrieved from his house and the police are not ruling out the possibility of a planned attack using the two cylinders in the car of which one had exploded. Six special cells of the police teams have been deployed to crack the case and sources in the police told IANS that identifying the body was a herculean task. DG of Tamil Nadu Police told mediapersons that Mubin had tried to get away from the police check post and this would have triggered the explosion. New Delhi, Oct 24 : 'Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin' actress Aishwarya Sharma is quite excited about her first Diwali post-marriage with her co-star Neil Bhatt. She talks about her Diwali plans and the rituals she will be following during the festival. Neil and Aishwarya tied the knot on November 30, 2021, in an intimate ceremony that was attended by their friends and family. Aishwarya said: "I'll be here in Mumbai and it will be my first Diwali after marriage so I'm very excited. I really hope we get a day off that day because we're shooting regularly. I want to do everything which I used to do in my home town. I really miss those days. We do Lakshmi puja over there. It's a five-day celebration, starting from Dhanteras till Bhai Dooj." She added: "I personally love making rangoli and will definitely be making one at our place this year too." Aishwarya is fond of sweets and said that it is difficult for her to decide which one she likes. She added that she is fond of sweets prepared by her mother at home. She went on: "I have a sweet tooth and I like all kinds of sweets, especially the ones that my mother makes at home like shakarpara, gulab jamun and ghevar. If I chose one favourite sweet dish, it would be unfair to the other sweets I mentioned. I love them all equally. I can't do partiality!" About what she is going to miss this year, she said: "This time I'll be missing home a lot as this will be my first Diwali without them. At the same time, I am really happy too as this is my first Diwali with my husband." "I really wish we get time to shop this year but honestly, I don't have any so I'm not shopping especially for Diwali. I just want to wish all my fans a happy Diwali and please have a safe Diwali." Latest updates on Diwali Festival 2022 Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 24 : Kerala BJP state president K. Surendran has asked the CPI-M leadership not to threaten Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who was discharging his responsibilities as the Chancellor of Universities. The Kerala BJP president while addressing the mediapersons at Kozhikode on Monday said the Governor "was not an orphan and that BJP would extend support". In the context of the CPI-M and Left Democratic Front announcing a Raj Bhavan march on November 15, Surendran said, "Chief Minister's residence Cliff House is not far off from the Raj Bhavan and added that the party would extend support to the Governor." Surendran said that the words used by the Chief Minister against the Governor were derogatory and added that the BJP won't be a mute spectator in the CPI-M's and Left Front's move against Arif Mohammed Khan. Chennai, Oct 24 : Actor Ken Karunas, who shot to fame with his exceptional performance in Vetrimaran's critically acclaimed superhit 'Asuran', with Dhanush in the lead, said that he has been perfecting his carrom board skills for over a year for his role in the director's eagerly awaited film 'Rajan Vagaira'. 'Rajan Vagaira' is the prequel to Vetrimaran's superhit film 'Vada Chennai', also featuring Dhanush in the lead. The prequel will focus on the life story of Rajan (played by director Ameer in 'Vada Chennai'), who's an important character in the first film. Ken plays the young Rajan in 'Rajan Vagaira'. He said: "Rajan is portrayed as an exceptional carrom board player in the film. I play the younger version of Rajan and therefore, I have been practising carrom board for over a year and a half for this role." Vetrimaran, who, after completing 'Viduthalai', is busy with 'Vaadi Vasal', will thereafter move on to 'Rajan Vagaira'. Ken will next be seen sharing screen space with Dhanush in Venky Atluri's upcoming bilingual film, 'Vaathi'. Hyderabad, Oct 24 : The BJP in Telangana received another jolt ahead of Munugode by-election with former Rajya Sabha member Rapolu Ananda Bhaskar set to switch loyalties to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). He is likely to join the ruling party in a day or two. Anand Bhaskar met Chief Minister and TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao and informed him that he is resigning from BJP and is keen to join TRS. Bhaskar was a member of Rajya Sabha between 2012 and 2018 when he was in Congress. A prominent leader from Padmashali community and senior journalist, Bhaskar said he was resigning from BJP due to anti-people policies of its government at the Centre. He was all praise for the chief minister for taking numerous measures for the development of the handloom sector and also welfare of the weavers in the state. He also expressed his displeasure over the imposition of GST on the handlooms and textiles by the BJP government at the Centre, terming it as an attempt to weaken the sector. Bhaskar hoped that KCR would play a key role in national politics through the Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the new name adopted by the TRS. Bhaskar's resignation is the latest in a series of setbacks received by BJP ahead of the November 3 by-election to Munugode Assembly constituency. He is the fourth leader to quit BJP and join the ruling party in the last one week. After former MP B. Narsiah Goud quit TRS and joined the BJP, the saffron party has lost four leaders. For three of them, it was home coming as they were earlier associated with TRS. Former MLA Bhishmaiah Goud was the first to quit the saffron party and return to TRS fold. On October 21, senior leader Dasoju Sravan and former chairman of Telangana Legislative Council, K. Swamy Goud joined the TRS. Sravan had quit TRS in 2014 to join Congress while Swamy Goud had resigned from TRS in 2020 to join BJP. Mumbai, Oct 24 : Irish-British actor and talk show host, Graham Norton, who has returned with the 30th season of his popular eponymous show, said he would like to invite Hollywood star Brad Pitt to the show's notorious red couch. Talking about his wish to invite Brad Pitt to the dream sofa, Norton said: "Brad Pitt, for starters. He's never been on the show, and he's been in lots of great movies. He seems genuinely lovely, and he's a big star. "In the end, as much as you can have fun with somebody slightly obscure, the thing that fuels the engine of our show is big stars, and he's one of the biggest." Norton said he would use Miriam Margolyes's skills more generously. "We would also have a little bit of Miriam Margolyes. We use her sparingly, but she never disappoints. And I like Chris Pratt. He is really lovely and good fun to have on. Also, Jennifer Lawrence. She's very unguarded and not second-guessing herself, which is a lovely thing in a guest." Opening up on how he feels when stars are on their guard on the sofa, Norton said: "Some American stars who haven't had a great time with the British press consider me a journalist and they're not relaxed - they worry I'm going to try to trip them up or ask a terrible question. And it's only at the end of the show, you see them going, 'Oh, I could have relaxed and enjoyed myself'." He added: "I ran into Kevin Costner at an event this summer and he was saying, 'I'd really like to come back on your show.' He had been very nervous coming on the first time, not just of me, but also of a British audience. But he'd had a great time. That's gratifying." New episodes of 'The Graham Norton Show' are available for streaming on Lionsgate Play every Saturday. Kolkata, Oct 24 : As cyclone Sitrang is moving closer to West Bengal, the Sundarbans area in the coastal region of South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas has been identified as "most vulnerable to devastation". During cyclone Amphan in May 2020, cyclone Yaas in May 2021, as well as in May 2009 (cyclone Aila), Sundarbans was badly hit. According to the IMD office in Kolkata, Sitrang is currently 380 km away from Sagar Island -- the point of the confluence of river Ganga and Bay of Bengal. The cyclone is expected to make landfall in between Tinkona Island and Sandwip in Bangladesh on early Tuesday morning. Coastal districts of West Bengal like South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore are likely to witness gusty wind and heavy rainfall from late Monday evening. The speed of wind could be between 70-80 kmph in these coastal districts. Light to medium rainfall is also expected in the Gangetic pockets of Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia and Murshidabad. However, as per the IMD office, the impact would be negligible in the state capital Kolkata which might witness sporadic rainfall as long under the cyclone impact. The conditions are expected to improve gradually. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during cyclone Yaas and cyclone Amphan, had stayed at her office in the state secretariat of Nabanna overnight and monitored the entire situation from a control room there. However, this time, she would be staying at her home at Kalighat area in south Kolkata owing to the annual Kali Puja rituals at her residence. Officials said the Chief Minister would be monitoring the situation from her home apart from interacting with the state administration and issuing necessary instructions. An integrated control room has already been opened up at Nabanna, which will be manned by six secretary-level IAS officers. Six most vulnerable districts have been identified. Besides, the districts' respective District Magistrates, a secretary-level officer will be in charge of each district for coordinating with the chief minister. New Delhi, Oct 24 : The Italian Embassy Cultural Centre will host a week-long Pier Paolo Pasolini retrospective in collaboration with the India Habitat Centre (IHC) from November 2-9, where seven of his best-known films (six feature films and one short film) will be screened. The year 2022 marks the centenary year of the great cultural Italian personality Pasolini. A poet, writer, director, screenwriter, playwright and columnist, he is considered one of the greatest Italian artists and intellectuals of the twentieth century. He was outstanding in many areas. However, he contributed majorly as a filmmaker, painter, novelist, linguist, translator and essayist. A keen observer of the society's transformation post World War II until the mid-1970s, he was critical towards the rising Italian consumer society. He started his film career as a screenwriter and famously collaborated on master Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini's film "Nights of Cabiria". The retrospective will be presented by film critic Murtaza Ali Khan who will also be introducing Pasolini to the audiences while touching upon the importance of his cinema. Sharing his thoughts on the filmmaker's legacy, Dr. Andrea Baldi, Director, Italian Embassy Cultural Centre said: "Pasolini was one of the most brilliant Italian intellectuals of the 20th century. Celebrating Pasolini now is paying tribute to his capability of understanding where humanity was going and a way to say -- 'We must stop and think where we are going.' This is the reason, we decided to start the screening with his short film 'Sana'a's Walls' wherein he explains clearly his position towards the changes brought about by the human race. We will start on November 2, the day, in 1975, when he was killed outside Rome." Hyderabad, Oct 24 : The charred body of a man was found near a crematorium in the city under suspicious circumstances on Monday, police said. Locals found the body near Ali Talab Shamshan under KPHB police station limits of Cyberabad Police Commissionerate. They suspect it to be a case of human sacrifice. The victim is yet to be identified. He is believed to be aged between 25 and 35 years. Locals say 'kshudra puja' was performed nearby. Police believe that he was murdered and the body was set afire after pouring petrol on it. Police found a mobile phone and bag near the body. The body was shifted for autopsy. The Clues team visited the spot and collected some clues. A police officer said they were investigating if he was killed at the same spot or he was murdered at some other and the body was brought near the crematorium and set on fire. Jammu, Oct 24 : A Commandant of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in J&K's Udhampur district was arrested on Monday for sexually harassing a female officer under his command, police said. Police said that an Assistant Commandant, posted in Battal Ballian area of Udhampur, lodged an FIR against her Commandant, Surinder Singh Rana for sexually and mentally harassing her. An FIR under sections 354-A (Making sexually coloured remarks amounting to sexual harassment), section 354-D (Seeking sexual favour) and section 509 (intentional insult) of IPC was registered against the commandant. "He was arrested and later released on bail by the court," police said. New Delhi, Oct 24 : Delhi Police has arrested two active inter-state thieves who had stolen several bikes from Delhi's Okhla, Govindpuri, Saket and Kalandi Kunj areas. The accused have been identified as Tanuj alias Tiger (20) and Adil (23), both members of notorious village Aali auto-lifters gang. Police said that they have also recovered six stolen bikes and a bunch of master keys from their possession. "To curb the incidents of auto thefts, the team of Anti-Auto Theft Squad was tasked to identify and apprehend the thieves," Chandan Chowdhary, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) South, said. The CCTV footage around the area of the previous incident were monitored. It was observed that 3-4 thieves operated during night to steal two wheelers, and took away bikes "One of the accused, Tanuj, who was seen in several such CCTV footages was identified and on October 23, after receiving specific inputs, Tanuj and Adil were nabbed near CNG gas Pump, MG Road," said the DCP. "Their faces were matched with the available photographs of the bike thieves recovered from CCTV footages and it was noticed that the duo was the same persons who indulged in a group of bike theft in Saket area reported on October 16," said the official. "During interrogation, the accused revealed that after stealing bikes they used to dispose of them to receivers. Police have also recovered six bikes from their possession and some of them were hidden in a park," said the DCP. Kolkata, Oct 24 : A major fire broke out at the congested Bantala Leather Complex in eastern Kolkata on Monday afternoon, and 11 people trapped on the roof of the burning building were rescued safely by fire services personnel. There is no report of any casualty so far although the fire is to be brought under total control. The fire broke out at around 3.30 p.m. and seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot. Later, eight more fire tenders were sent and full-fledged operations to extinguish the fire started. A hydraulic ladder has been brought to the spot to be used in the fire-fighting. Because of the gusty winds as an impact of the approaching Cyclone Sitrang, the fire- fighters were facing problems in quickly bringing the fire under control, while the presence of inflammable items there added to problem. Fortunately, because of the ongoing festival holidays most of the offices in Bantala Leather Complex were closed and the number of people there lesser than normal days, a fire officer present at the sport said. The fire fighters are, however, trying to find if anyone is trapped in the building. Although the reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained, fire officers say that a short circuit in all probability led to it. New Delhi, Oct 24 : Certainly, some critique put him on a par with Deng Xiaoping or even Mao Zedong. Some years ago, Xi Jinping had made a classic statement - "One must build a good cage. If the cage is too loose, or is very good but the door is not closed, and one is free to go in and out, then that is of no use." Now, the Communists party in China moves on to a new central task -- to achieve 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 modernisation. The mega Chinese goal is tied to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China -- which would be 2049 -- but Xi has pushed the date for "basically" realizing this goal forward to 2035. Conveniently, that leaves the door open for Xi to still be in command of the party at the big celebration 13 years from now. Marxists in once upon a time Red forte Tripura - used to often say the line from a play. The line of the play was of course penned obviously with a pro-Left liberal sentiment: "Every war or struggle is for power; and power can never do good to anybody". The economic policy that Xi has put forward contains a similar sort of contradiction. The central idea of the "dual circulation" policy is that China should increase its trade surplus with the wider world, while simultaneously becoming more dependent on its domestic economy to drive consumption. Many economists think that this will be a hard balance to manage. But, in a sense, the strategy should not be seen as an exercise in economics but in politics. It mirrors precisely the idea of being highly connected to the world while closed to it physically. But compared with real openness, it is one that would leave both sides poorer. "China remains connected to the outside world largely through the virtual environment, in particular social media and video apps. Yet the vision of the world created within the country is very partial. State media pumps out images of the west still devastated by the virus," says an article 'The Guardian'. China, Xi - And Peace in India's North East This is one of the most perilous periods in international history. There's something big happening everywhere -- China, Ukraine, Indo Pacific and of course Britain where Liz Truss had the shortest stint ever in history as Prime Minister. On the last day of Communists Party Congress in China on Saturday, Oct 22, former President Hu Jintao, was 'removed' unceremoniously and by force by so-called 'unnamed Chinese communist agents'. Both China and the Chinese communists have many admirers in India and also in the northeast closer home as well. To them New Delhi 'could not be trusted' but Xi Jinping's polity should be applauded. China is that country which has seen almost 30 years of 9 and 10 per cent of average growth even till fiscal 2016-17. This was surely an unprecedented performance by any country at the global stage. Importantly, during this period, around 50 per cent of global growth came from China and India was by default and otherwise part of the beneficiary list. The drop in Chinese growth rate had impacted global trade and commerce too. In fact, the global trade shrunk as a result of the negative impact on China's own growth graph. At one time even India benefited and the country's global trade was growing at an average of seven percent a year. The politics of China and also the other global challenges make a lot of sense even in the neighbourhood. It would impact now and it impacted regional politics even in the past. In the context of northeast India, Mon and Tuensang were the battlefields of various ultra groups. In the eighties, Indian security force reports used to suggest that communist China's help and logistic support was crucial at least for one camp Even the church lobby was unhappy. One such internal security analysis had said that the league of western Christian countries led by the US and the United Kingdom were bemused while the Indian jawans reportedly watched from a distance what they called a snake-mongoose fight. But enough water has flown in river Dhansiri near Dimapur since then. 'Christ' and his principles and values are now a public pledge. 'Nagaland for Christ' - as they put it. However, it is altogether a different chapter that violence and threats pursue at different levels. According to the annual report of the Ministry of Home Affairs, 2020, incidents of insurgency in six out of eight northeastern states declined by 80 per cent since 2014 and civilian deaths were down by 99 per cent. The year 2020 also had recorded the lowest insurgency incidents and casualties among civilians and security forces in the last decades. This was the year of the Galwan valley conflict nevertheless. But around September 2020, in a retort to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement aimed at China that -- the era of expansionism is over -- the rebels also had issued a joint statement saying, as the entire world has made up its mind against expansionism, the people of West Southeast Asia are also countering the expansionism of India. One must study these statements based on the availability of Chinese-made arms in the Northeast. In 2020, when it was realised at the Government of India level that the Naga peace talks had been stalled, as expected the apprehension was Chinese hands. On September 18, 2020, there was a clear setback to all efforts for reconciliation as the NSCN-IM issued a statement from its headquarters saying a separate Naga flag and constitution "must form a part of the Indo-Naga political solution". Given the contest, one source had said even during the UPA regime in 2011-12, Chinese agents including a woman posing as a TV journalist reportedly visited the headquarters of the NSCN-IM near Dimapur and held a three-hour-long meeting with top NSCN-IM leaders. On September 28, 2022, NSCN-IM issued a statement alleging that the government of India has "hindered" the peace parleys. It also said, "therefore there is an imperative need for third party intervention" in Naga talks. New York, Oct 24 : "Friends" star Matthew Perry continues to share candid moments from his long journey to sobriety and the struggles he endured during his run on the long-running NBC sitcom even as he was yo-yoing between addictions to Vicodin and alcohol, reports CNN. In an excerpt from his much-anticipated new book "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing", the American Canadian actor recounts how a visit from co-star Jennifer Aniston to his trailer made him realise his secret behaviour, when it came to alcohol, wasn't so secret. "I know you're drinking," she said. Perry, now 53, writes in the memoir, in an excerpt published by the 'Times' of London: "I had long since gotten over her -- ever since she started dating Brad Pitt, I was fine -- and had worked out exactly how long to look at her without it being awkward, but still, to be confronted by Jennifer Aniston was devastating. And I was confused." Continuing his account of the visit by Aniston, Perry recalls asking her: "How can you tell? ... I've been trying to hide it." Elsewhere in the excerpt, according to CNN, Perry mentioned how he "never" worked high or drunk (although he "certainly worked hungover"). He said he was largely able to function as part of the uber-successful 'Friends' ensemble, thanks to his castmates and how they would "group around (him) and prop (him) up" like an injured penguin being supported by the other penguins. But that day in Perry's trailer, Aniston told him plainly that he wasn't getting away with anything. "We can smell it," she said, "in a kind of weird but loving way, and the plural 'we' hit me like a sledgehammer," Perry writes. "I know I'm drinking too much," I said, recalls Perry, "but I don't exactly know what to do about it." "By the end of season three, I was spending most of my time figuring out how to get 55 Vicodin a day -- I had to have 55 every day, otherwise I'd get so sick. It was a full-time job: making calls, seeing doctors, faking migraines, finding crooked nurses who would give me what I needed," Perry writes. "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing" by Matthew Perry will be published by Headline on November 1. New Delhi, Oct 24 : Indian Army chief, General Manoj Pande visited military stations in north Bengal and border areas of Sikkim on Sunday and Monday. He wished all ranks on the occasion of Deepavali and also reviewed the security situation along the northern borders of Sikkim. He appreciated the troops for maintaining a high level of operational efficiency and morale. The Army chief, who was accompanied by Eastern Command chief, Lt Gen R.P. Kalita, and Trishakti Corps commander, Lt Gen Tarun Kumar Aich, expressed satisfaction at the pace of infrastructure development along the border areas. On arrival at Sukna military station on Sunday, Gen Pande interacted with the troops over a programme, showcasing India's cultural heritage and unity in diversity, organised on Deepavali eve. He lauded the troops for the dedication and wished all ranks and the families on the occasion of Deepavali. He also complimented the Mountaineering Team that summitted Mt Jonsang and Mt Domekhang and the Shooting Team of Trishakti Corps that came first in the Skill at Arms competition recently held at Mhow. On Sunday, the Army chief, accompanied by Eastern Army Commander and the Trishakri Corps Commander, visited forward areas in north and east Sikkim. Reviewing the operational situation and preparedness of the field formations deployed along the northern borders in Sikkim sector, he expressed his satisfaction and exhorted the troops to maintain readiness for all types of challenges. Greeting the soldiers on the occasion of Deepavali, he presented and shared sweets with them. Pune, Oct 24 : In a bizarre development, the Pune district court last week put up a notice barring women from "arranging" their hair in the open courts as it "disturbed" the court's functioning. Coming during the ongoing court vacations, the October 20 notice - which drew a rage of protests on the social media - was quietly withdrawn after a couple of days. The Registrar's notice, issued "By Order" read: "It is repeatedly noticed that women advocates are arranging their hair in open court which is disturbing the functioning of the court. Hence, women advocates are hereby notified to refrain from such act." Pune criminal lawyer Vijayalaxmi Khopade wondered what is the whole point of such a notice and said women may be forced to quickly "arrange" their hair if it is falling on their face and it is not a "disturbing act" by any standards. The order drew a spate of comments and protests on the social media including by senior counsel Indira Jaising who said: "Wow now look! Who is distracted by women advocates and why." Author Mini Nair asked: "Wonder when they will ask us to cease existing???", and another Twitteratti wondered whether should they (women) all go bald? Celeb photographer Atul Kasbekar said: "LoLa Men getting distracted to this extent by a woman's mane is fascinating." Khalida Parveen's comment was: "Seriously, it's a joke.. Usually men fix their hair. Even they carry a small comb in their pockets." London, Oct 24 : Rishi Sunak, 42, a Conservative party politician who is of Indian descent, will be the next Prime Minister of Britain. It marks a meteoric rise in British public life, for he became a Member of Parliament only seven years ago. It will be the first time a non-white will occupy the position of head of government in the UK -- a major post in international affairs, since Britain is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council as well as a constituent of the G7 -- the most industrialised countries in the world. The only other contestant in the field Penny Mordaunt dramatically withdrew her candidature only a couple of minutes before nominations closed with a tweet. Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of the Conservative Parliamentary Party and the returning officer responsible for conducting leadership elections, confirmed 'we have received only one valid nomination'. He then declared: 'Rishi Sunak is therefore elected leader of the Conservative party.' There was no immediate comment from Sunak. Born in Southampton to a doctor father and chemist mother, he studied at the private school Winchester College, Oxford University and Stanford University in the United States. His professional career was that of an investment banker and hedge fund manager. He worked as a waiter at a Bangladeshi-owned Indian restaurant in Southampton during his school holidays. While at university he undertook an internship with the Conservative party at its headquarters in London. He was elected a member of parliament from the rural seat of Richmond in Yorkshire in 2015. His first government responsibility was that of parliamentary under-secretary of state for local government. Prime Minister Theresa May appointed him for this in January 2018. Then prime minister Boris Johnson -- who on Sunday night dropped out as a potential contender in the just concluded race -- appointed him chief secretary to the treasury in July 2019. Thereafter, Johnson promoted to cabinet as chancellor of the exchequer in February 2020. In July 2022, Sunak resigned from the government citing differences on policy with the prime minister, thereby hastening Johnson's downfall. Mordaunt was leader of the House of Commons in the outgoing government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, who was forced to quit on her 45th day in office -- the shortest period any premier in the United Kingdom has served. Sunak was expected to be granted an audience by King Charles III imminently to be formally invited to form a government. His immediate task will be to stabilise the British economy after the damage caused to it by Truss. However, while new prime minister's emergence was welcomed by markets and the British pound gained in strength, he will inherit a deeply divided Conservative Parliamentary Party. The 'STOP RISHI' MPs hailing from supporters of Johnson, Truss and Mordaunt could make life difficult for the new occupant of 10 Downing Street. Christopher Chope, MP representing Christchurch in the county of Dorset told The Guardian newspaper: 'We have a parliamentary party which is completely riven, and its's ungovernable.' Sunak's shortcoming is his lack of experience in politics. But he also faces a problem from a section of the Conservative party who do not even consider him to be Indian or American (because he held a resident card in the US). A caller to a chat show on LBC radio station over the weekend categorically maintained, 'Rishi Sunak isn't British', much to the anchor's horror. Sunak's wife is Indian, Akshata Murthy, a businesswoman who is also the daughter of N.R. Narayana Murthy, one of the founders of the Bangalore-based INFOSYS software company. The couple have two daughters. Kolkata, Oct 24 : The financial crisis being faced by the West Bengal government has adversely impacted the careers of thousands of cadets of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) from the state. West Bengal, with over a lakh NCC cadets, features among the top states so far as enrollment in this organisation is concerned. State governments are supposed to bear 25 per cent of the total expenses involved in training and other activities of these youngsters. Major General Uday Shankar Sengupta, additional director general, West Bengal & Sikkim Directorate, NCC, stated how camps for 'B' and 'C' Certificate examinations for senior cadets can't be organised in West Bengal as the state is not releasing adequate funds. As many as 50,000 cadets will not be able to appear for their 'B' and 'C' Certificate examinations in 2023 as adequate number of camps were not organised this year. "This is a serious issue. Cadets aspire to appear for their 'B' and 'C' Certificate examinations and get good scores as it helps them in joining the Indian Armed Forces as officers. Those who have high scores in the 'B' and 'C' Certificate examinations (both) and graduate with more than 55 per cent marks do not need to sit for the written test for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination. They directly appear for the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. This is a great advantage," said Maj Dr B B Singh, PRO, NCC, West Bengal. However, there is a rider attached. To appear for the 'B' Certificate examination, a cadet has to attend at least one camp. To appear for the 'C' Certificate examination, a cadet has to attend at least two camps. As adequate camps couldn't be organised in 2022, cadets from West Bengal won't be able to appear for the 'B' and 'C' Certificate examinations in 2023. "This is a sad state of affairs. Cadets from this state have so much potential. They bag honours every year during the Republic Day NCC Camp in New Delhi. With a bit of help, they can join the Armed Forces as officers. As cadets, they regularly receive training from the Army, Navy and Air Force and have a distinct advantage over others who appear for the SSB interview. It is strange that a state government can distribute hundreds of crores to Durga Puja organisers but can't release due funds to the NCC. That too, in a state where educated youth are looking for job opportunities," a senior Army officer said. The NCC has taken up this matter with the state government. According to an official in the West Bengal finance department: "There is a paucity of funds. There are even Dearness Allowance (DA) demands by state government employees that we haven't been able to meet. A lot of funds from the Centre under several schemes have also been held up. We are looking into this matter." Maj Singh, who is also a school headmaster, has been motivating youngsters, including girls and those from marginalized sections of society, to join the NCC and work hard towards a career in the Armed Forces. "The NCC disciplines the youth and channelises their energy in a positive direction. During the Durga Pujas, they proudly don their uniforms and help the police in managing traffic. They are always ready to serve. You will hardly find any NCC cadet involved in any anti-social activity. I am worried that this attitude by the state will end up creating disillusionment among youngsters," he said. Mumbai, Oct 24 : In a shocking tragedy on Diwali day, a leopard mauled a 16-month-old girl at the Aarey Colony, and she died later at a BMC hospital, officials said. Confirming the incident, Sanjay Gandhi National Park Director G. Mallikarjun said it happened around 6 a.m. at the Unit No. 15 inside the forested Aarey Colony in Goregaon east. A leopard pounced on and seriously injured the victim, Eitika Akhilesh Lot, even as locals raised an alarm. The bleeding and seriously hurt child was rushed to the Seven Hills Hospital but she succumbed to her injuries soon afterwards. At the time of the incident, she was reportedly going to a local temple along with her mother. After performing an autopsy, the toddler's body was handed over to her distraught family which completed the last rites later in the day, even as the police are probing the matter. Shaken by the tragedy, the forest authorities said they have installed 12 camera traps in the area of incident to monitor the leopard movements and patrolling has started from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park along with Aarey volunteers groups. On account of Diwali, many children would be enjoying themselves in the open spaces, lighting up crackers, and the SGNP staff are appealing to the people to exercise caution and not allow the kids to venture outside during night or early morning. This is the second incident of its kind in Aarey Colony in October and earlier this month, a 4-year-old boy was attacked and killed by a leopard during the Navratri festival, and around a dozen persons have suffered leopard attacks in the past one year. Latest updates on Diwali Festival 2022 Jammu, Oct 24 : Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Anil Chauhan, accompanied by White Knight Corps Commander, Lt Gen Manjinder Singh, on Monday visited forward posts in Rajouri sector of Jammu & Kashmir and celebrated Diwali with soldiers posted on the frontlins. The CDS also laid a wreath at Naman Sthal, the war memorial of Naushera Sector and paid his respects to the bravehearts who had laid down their lives in the service of the nation. Gen Chauhan was briefed by field commanders on the current operational situation and security scenario along the Line of Control (LoC). He also reviewed the development of defence infrastructure and operational preparedness undertaken despite challenging terrain and weather conditions in the region. Addressing the troops, he exhorted them to inculcate professionalism and carry forward the rich tradition of courage and valour of the Indian Army. He also emphasised the need for operational preparedness of the highest order. New Delhi, Oct 24: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau is looking into the Inder Kumar Gujral Punjab Technical University's (PTU) multi-crore scam pushed under the carpet in 2020. According to sources, documentary evidence has been provided to the VB indicating large-scale bungling in payments to the private owners of distance education centers, arbitrary appointments and favouritism shown to consultants by a former Vice-Chancellor. The then Vice-Chancellor Kahan Singh Pannu IAS (now retired) had in May 2017 appointed Surjit Singh Dhillon IAS (retd) to inquire into the alleged scam pertaining to the period of his predecessor. The inquiry officer submitted his report in August 2017, following which an FIR was registered in January 2018 by the VB's Jalandhar office. Out of 10 accused, only the then VC Rajneesh Arora was arrested. He remained in judicial custody for 84 days before being bailed out. For over 2-years, VB did not make any material progress in the case and transferred it to Hoshiarpur and then to Ludhiana after a few months for reasons best known to the then officers of VB at the helm. In June 2020, the investigating officer of the case DSP Dalbir Singh filed a cancellation report in the court dismissing the findings of the inquiry officer Dhillon. Complainants who brought out the scam were not joined in the investigation for their statements and evidence in their possession. The inquiry officer Dhillon looked into 19 allegations of misappropriation of funds and appointments made by flouting recruitment rules. As many as 11 allegations against the then VC were rejected while he could not decide on three issues for want of record which was not provided by the university. On the remaining 5-issues, the inquiry officer indicted the university management. He held the appointments of Vishvadeep assistant registrar, Geetika Sood legal officer, Sumeer Sharma assistant director, and Maginder Singh Bedi assistant training officer, as violative of recruitment rules. The issue of giving the undue financial benefit of over Rs 24 crore to Parveen Kumar, a Delhi-based consultant, was left out for further investigation as no record was made available regarding services provided by him to the university. The VB did not carry forward its investigation into the transfer of this large amount and left it buried there. The proceedings of the BOG meeting dated November 6, 2015, agenda item number 59.17 had directed the VC to do away with the services of the consultant Parveen Kumar of NITiit, Delhi, who was paid Rs 24.37 crore for a period of 6 months. The expenditure of Rs 5.60 lakh for installing solar lights in Kapurthala police lines was uncalled for, said the inquiry report. But no recovery to date has been made of this amount from those responsible for spending it in a wrongful manner to please the police officers tasked with investigations into the scam. The inquiry officer indicted the VC, who first arbitrarily suspended and then terminated the services of Dr. N P Singh, dean of student welfare, by using his emergency powers even as the board of governors (BOG) refused to approve his action. Penal action was recommended against the VC, but to date nothing has been done on this count. The BOG meeting dated December 11, 2015, in its agenda item number 60.6 had recorded that the action of VC, against Dr. N.P. Singh, was not justified and blatantly wrong. All his service benefits were restored with retrospective effect. However, the VB in its cancellation report filed hurriedly said that all actions of the VC were approved by the BOG. It termed the scam a creation of different groups in the PTU staff, who were fighting with each other. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Bengaluru, Oct 24 : Bengaluru, India's Silicon Valley, was overjoyed after Rishi Sunak, the son-in-law of tech giant Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy, made it to the post of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Monday. The first Indian-origin Prime Minister in waiting has a Bengaluru connection in the form of his wife Akshata, the daughter of Narayana Murthy. Bengaluru and Karnataka which is celebrating the festival of lights with fervour, erupted in joy after Sunak's historical victory. T.V. Mohandas Pai, former Director of Infosys and current Chairman of Manipal Global Education, said that this is a time that every Indian should be happy as a person of Indian-descent is becoming the Prime Minister of the UK. He, however, stressed that Sunak's prime loyalty would be towards the UK, and for him, India is another country. "India should not think that it will be benefitted. Rishi is the citizen of the United Kingdom." "We should see the development, feel proud and respect it, and we should be silent," Pai stated. Niraj Patil, former Mayor of the London Borough of Lambeth, told media that it is a matter of pride for every Indian. It is a great day, historical day for Karnataka as Sunak is the son-in-law of Infosys founder Narayana Murthy. Sunak's in-laws Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murthy are celebrities in their own right. Narayana Murthy is the founder of Infosys and Sudha Murthy commands huge respect for her philanthropy and literary pursuits. Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 24 : Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has issued notice to nine Vice Chancellors of the universities in the state, directing them to respond before 3 p.m. on November 5 on why they have not put in their papers as directed by him. The Governor at a press conference said that he had directed the Vice Chancellors to resign before 11.30 a.m. on Monday (today - October 25), and has now issued showcause notice. The notice has sought reason from the VCs behind their refusal to resign. He said that the Supreme Court has directed the Kerala Technical University Vice Chancellor to resign from the post as her appointment was not in compliance with the UGC norms. He also said that some Vice Chancellors were "really good" but need to abide by the Supreme Court verdict. The Governor said that the process of appointing Vice Chancellors has to be started again and added that those who have been given showcause notice can re-apply and come back to the post. He said that he had acted after taking necessary legal advice. The Governor also said that he had sympathies for the Vice Chancellors but the Supreme Court verdict was against them and said that the verdict of the apex court regarding the Kerala Technical University was crystal clear. He also said that the Supreme Court had not given relief to anyone. The Kerala Governor also came out heavily against the ministers of the state and added that many of the ministers had "crossed the limits" in attacking him. He said that he had never told that he would dismiss them, adding three ministers of the state had requested a personal appointment with him on October 22 but when he asked them to give that in writing they did not respond. In a sarcastic tone, the Governor welcomed the agitation before the Raj Bhavan announced by the ruling Left Front on November 15, and said that he would make necessary arrangements to provide them tea and other refreshments. In an oblique reference to the Chief Minister, the Governor said that "it was not me who had asked the media to get out", adding he has high respect for the media. He, however, said he would not allow party cadres masquerading as mediapersons in his press conference. The Governor did not allow reporters of several media outlets having "inclination" towards different parties and organisations attend his press conference. Khan also said that it was not he who had used the name media syndicate. Kochi, Oct 24 : The Kerala High Court on Monday held that the letter issued by Governor, and Chancellor, Arif Mohammed Khan, directing the Vice Chancellors (VC) of nine state universities in Kerala to resign was no longer valid since the Governor himself later issued show cause notices to them. The court, therefore, ruled that the VCs can continue in their posts till the Governor passes a final order after following the procedure under law. "Till such time as the Chancellor issues a final order against any of the petitioners, the petitioners remain as Vice Chancellors subject to the law," the order from Justice Devan Ramachandran, who was directed by the Chief Justice to hold a special sitting on Diwali, a holiday for the High Court. The court said that the Governor, in issuing the letter, did not give adequate notice to the VCs. "This court has great reservation about the letter issued by the Chancellor because it asks the VCs to resign with as little notice as possible and that they ceased to be VCs as on October 24, 2022," the order said. Since show cause notices have now been issued to the VCs, the communication asking them to resign is no longer relevant, it added. "It obviously means that they are still in service and after an evaluation, they can be removed as per law if required," the court ruled. However, the court made it clear that every issue, including the jurisdiction of the Chancellor, is left open. "The arguments of the petitioner that Chancellor does not have jurisdiction to even issue the show cause notices is left open and the remedies to impugn the same are left open to the petitioners," it said. On Sunday, the Governor had sent letters to the nine VCs, directing them to hand in their resignations by 11.30 a.m. on Monday. The letter was supposedly sent in light of the decision of the Supreme Court that came last setting aside the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technological University. A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and C.T. RavikumarAhad found that the search committee formed to pick the VC was not properly constituted and also that one only name was sent to the Governor as opposed to a list of names as is required as per the UGC regulations. Subsequently, the Governor sent the now contentious letters to the Vice Chancellors of the University of Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kannur University, APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, University of Calicut, and Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University. The court also made it clear that the law has clearly been settled by the Supreme Court judgment. The day saw huge protests launched by the Left-leaning student and teachers organisations against the Governor. Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said all this was done by the Governor and the Pinarayi Vijayan government in tandem and his Congress have taken a position based on issues. "When the Governor did a wrong, we pointed it out and when he did a right thing, that also we pointed it out....," he said. Meanwhile Vijayan, while speaking at a public meeting, lashed out at the Governor and said that he just does not have the powers at all to do anything and if he thinks he can fiddle with an elected government, then he is wrong. Soon after the high court directive came, angry youth wing workers of the CPI-M got near to the official residence of Khan and shouted slogans against him, warning that he is barking up the wrong tree as Kerala is different and he just will not be able to go forward to implement the agenda of the Sangh parivar forces in universities. Hyderabad, Oct 24 : Telangana Governor Tamilisai Sounderarajan on Monday claimed she has extensive powers and approving the Bills passed by the State Legislature comes under her purview. The remark came amid criticism of the Governor by the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) over the delay in approving the Bills passed by the Legislative Assembly. She said she would act within her purview and would soon take a decision on the Bills sent for her approval. Replying to a query, Tamilisai made it clear that she is not against anybody. The Governor interacted with the media persons during Diwali celebrations at Raj Bhavan. The row about the Bills further widened the chasm between the Governor and the state government. Six amendment Bills and two new Bills passed by the Assembly were already sent to the governor for her approval. These include Bills relating to university recruitment common board, Municipality Act amendment Bill, Forest University Bill and Azamabad Industrial Area Bill. TRS leaders have found fault with the Governor for delaying the assent to Bills. Deputy Speaker T. Padma Rao Goud targeted her for not clearing the files sent by the government for her approval. "The government makes many decisions for the welfare of the people and development of the state but the files pertaining to these are being delayed. She is governor of Telangana and not governor of some other country like Pakistan," the TRS leader remarked. On completion of three years in office last month, she had alleged that the TRS government humiliated her by not following the protocol and by not allowing her to unfurl the national flag at a public event on the Republic Day. A couple of days ago, she launched a direct attack on Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, While talking to reporters in Chennai, she remarked that her visit to flood-hit Bhadrachalam forced the chief minister, who was sleeping in his bungalow, to rush to the temple town. It may be recalled that the differences cropped up between the Governor and the TRS government when she did not approve the state Cabinet's recommendation to appoint P. Kaushik Reddy as member of state Legislative Council under the Governor's quota. When she delayed clearing the file, the TRS government later had to send Kaushik Reddy to the upper House of the state Legislature under MLA quota. Colombo, Oct 24 : Eight former Tamil rebels, including three sentenced for the attempted assassination of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, were released on Presidential pardon for Diwali celebrations. President Ranil Wickremesinghe granted amnesty to eight Tamil prisoners under the powers vested in him to grant amnesty to a person convicted by country's court and allowed to celebrate Diwali with their family members in northern Sri Lanka. Former President Kumaratunga had consented to release the three prisoners who were serving long years of sentences after they were convicted for her attempted assassination during an election rally in 1999. The attempted assassination was carried out by exploding a powerful bomb during the final election rally of Kumaratunga in December 1999 in Colombo. Though saved, Kumaratunga lost one eye in the blast that killed 26 and wounded 80. The release of former members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has come in the wake several discussions between Tamil MPs and the President on several occasions. Before the release, investigations had been carried out on the prisoners and criminal records with the participation of Justice Ministry and the Attorney General, who had originally indicted them, the President's Office said in a statement. Following the end of war in May 2009, Tamil political parties had been urging all the elected governments to grant public amnesty to nearly 100 prisoners who had been detained without prosecution and imprisoned for long years. Latest updates on Diwali Festival 2022 New Delhi, Oct 24 : Two firemen were injured while four people were rescued after a fire broke out at a factory in Delhi's Gandhi Nagar area on Diwali evening on Monday, official said. A fire official said that a call about fire in a factory in gali number 12, Raghubar Pura-2 in Gandhi Nagar area was received at around 6.50 p.m., following which 10 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. "Fire is under control and 4 people have been rescued so far from the third floor of the factory," Delhi Fire Service (DFS) Director Atul Garg said. Further details were awaited. Chennai, Oct 24 : Police in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore on Sunday raided the house of the brother of Al Uma chief, Basha as part of the investigation related to the early morning car blast that killed a 25-year-old engineering graduate. Police had said that a gas cylinder had exploded in the car, leading to the death of Jameesha Mubin. However, on verifying the antecedents of Mubin, police found that he was questioned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2019. Police conducted raids at his house and found that raw materials for making explosives, including potassium nitrate, were stocked in his residence. Further investigation has led to the police conducting raids at the residence of Nawab Khan, the brother of Al Uma founder Basha, who was the main architect of the 1996 bomb blasts at Coimbatore in which 56 people were killed and more than 200 injured. Sources in the Coimbatore police told IANS that the team is questioning the son of Nawab Khan, Thalka. Police sources also told IANS that more than six people are in the custody of the local police and sleuths from the central agencies are also investigating the car blast and the subsequent death of Mubin. Krishnamoorthy, a wayside vendor at Ukkadam street near Easwaran Kovil where the car blast took place Sunday morning, told IANS that "God saved us. It seems to be a terror act aimed at street vendors and around 130 shops on the street. If it had happened on the Deepavali eve, it would have been a major tragedy." Hyderabad, Oct 24 : Harassment by a loan app agents drove another man to suicide in Telangana on Monday. Dasari Shekhar, 35, hanged himself at his residence in Kothakota town in Wanaparthy district. His wife complained to the police that he was upset after loan app agents threatened to post his nude photograph to his relatives and friends. Shekhar had taken Rs 4,000 loan from a loan app. Though he had repaid the loan along with the interest, the app administrators continued harassing him to pay additional interest. They had sent messages to his relatives that he defaulted on a loan repayment. According to family members, he paid about Rs 30,000 as interest but they continued to harass him. According to police, the app agents sent him his morphed photograph showing him naked and threatened to post the same to his relatives and friends and post on social media. On a complaint by Shekhar's wife, police registered a case and took up investigation. This the latest in a series of such incidents reported from various parts of the state in recent months. About a dozen people have committed suicide since 2021. Last month, a 35-year-old man in Hyderabad had committed suicide. In his suicide, he had appealed to authorities to block all loans apps. Rajesh had borrowed money and the loan recovery agents were harassing him to repay it. His family members alleged that the agents were sending rude messages and sharing his nude picture. New Delhi, Oct 24 : The process of giving permanent appointment to teachers working on ad hoc basis in colleges affiliated to Delhi University that are funded by the Delhi government has started, an official said on Monday, adding over 5,000 teachers would be appointed on permanent basis. The appointments are also being made to the post of Assistant Professor in Shivaji College that has a total of 101 vacancies. Interested applicants can apply online through Delhi University website till November 7. There has been a demand for permanent appointment of teachers in the Delhi University colleges since a long time. In many colleges of the varsity, more than 50 per cent of teachers had been appointed on an ad-hoc basis. The Delhi Teachers' Association (DTA) had sent a proposal to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia that a special Assembly session be called to discussion the issue of the permanent appointment of teachers in the 28 colleges funded by the Delhi government. The AAP government in Punjab has already issued a notification to ensure regularisation of the working of teachers. In view of this, the teachers in Delhi have also demanded adopting the formula of the Punjab government on the stabilisation of job. According to the DTA, about 4,000 "temporary" teachers and employees are working in the 28 colleges of Delhi University for more than 10 years. In the 28 Delhi government-funded colleges, the number of ad-hoc teachers in 2006-2007 was 10 per cent whereas currently, these colleges have 60 to 70 per cent of ad hoc teachers. The colleges are -- Motilal Nehru College, Satyawati College, Sri Aurobindo College, Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, Swami Shraddhanand College, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee College, Vivekananda College, Laxmibai College, Kalindi College, Rajdhani College, Shivaji College, Maharaja Agrasen College, among others. According to DTA, there has not been any permanent appointment there since a long time, adding there are some colleges with no permanent teacher in their department. These ad hoc teachers who are mostly in the age group of 35-45 years, have been working for more than a decade. Also, these teachers are not provided any medical benefits, leave travel concession etc. Similarly, ad-hoc female teachers also do not get maternity leave. Bengaluru, Oct 24 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday expressed happiness after Indian-origin British Conservative party politician Rishi Sunak made his way to the post of UK Prime Minister. Talking to reporters at Shiggaon in Karnataka's Haveri district, Bommai said the British people had ruled India for over 200 years, and they would have never expected such a "big development". "Today, Indians are on all fronts, and have got elected as MPs in several countries. Now, Rishi Sunak has got elected as the new UK Prime Minister. The wheel of fortune has turned completely," he opined. Sunak, who has roots in India, is married to Akshata Murthy, daughter of Infosys founder Narayana Murthy. Sunak is all set to become the first Asian and Indian-origin Prime Minister of the UK in his second attempt at the top post. Kolkata, Oct 24 : Candidates protesting against West Bengal teachers recruitment scam in at Esplanade in the heart of central Kolkata resorted to a unique protest on the auspicious occasion of Kali Puja on Monday. One of the woman agitators, dressed like Goddess Kali, considered in Hindu mythology as eliminators of evil forces, came to the protest dais and the other protesters worshipped her praying for punishment of the scamsters. The protester posing as Goddess Kali, kept her tongue out while carrying a dummy katar (sword) in her hand. On the other hand, instead of replicas of human skull replicas, she was carrying the pictures of former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and the West Bengal Board of Primary Education's (WBBPE) former President, Manik Bhattacharya. While Chatterjee is currently in judicial custody, Bhattacharya is in the custody of Enforcement Directorate (ED) over their alleged involvement in the multi-crore teachers' recruitment scam. On Monday, while the protesters were staging such a unique protest, the CPI-M Politburo member and the party's West Bengal state Secretary, Mohammad Salim, along with some of his associates, reached the protest venue and expressed solidarity with them. "All the eligible candidates who were deprived of their appointment letters to provide space for ineligible candidates against monetary conditions should be appointed immediately. Those ineligible one who got jobs paying money even after submitting blank optical mark recognition sheets should be terminated from their services immediately. Those within the system who resorted to such corruption should be punished for their misdeeds," Salim said. In a sudden police action late on Thursday night, the protesters, who were agitating in front of the WBBPE office at Salt Lake against recruitment scam, were forcefully removed from the area. The development evoked strong criticism not just from the opposition political parties but also from intellectuals, celebrities, and the civil society. Jakarta, Oct 25 : Rescuers recovered 13 bodies and rescued 263 people as a fire broke out on a passenger ship in the waters off East Nusa Tenggara province in central Indonesia on Monday. Among the survivors, some suffered from injuries, said Saidar Rahmanjaya, head of the operation unit of the provincial search and rescue office. "The total death toll stood at 13 now," he told Xinhua news agency over phone. He said that the search and rescue operation was halted now and it would resume on Tuesday. Rahmanjaya, who is also the field coordinator of the search and rescue operation, said that the rescue operation involved people from his office, another passenger ship and sailors from the area. He declined to give the number of missing persons in the accident, stressing that he would focus on the rescue operation. The evacuation of the passengers and the crew members of the ship was immediately carried out after the fire broke out, Putu Sudayana, head of the provincial search and rescue office, told the news agency over phone. However, he said that huge waves hampered the evacuation of the passengers of the ship. The ship, Shantika Lestari, caught fire when it was sailing in the waters off Kupang city, the capital of the province, according to Richard Pelt, a senior official of the provincial disaster management and mitigation agency. The ship departed from a seaport in Kupang city and was heading to the Alor district of the province, he told the news agency. Colliers announced its support for the expansion of Vermont Holding, a major fashion retailer carrying some leading global brands. Colliers helped find exclusive premises and successfully negotiate lease terms for the new Vermont Store located in Pragues U Prasne brany Street, renowned for its long history and strategic central location. [] "Firefly provides us with greater visibility into our entire cloud footprint. With Firefly, we can see how the asset was created, who changed it, and its current state." Firefly, an innovator that is forging new ground for managing multi-cloud infrastructure, today announced it has joined the partner program for GitLab Inc., The One DevOps Platform, as a Technology partner. This strategic partnership enables DevOps teams to manage their complete cloud footprint, alongside their application code, with greater visibility and control. Managing cloud infrastructure using IaC With the surge of cloud-native applications, the burden of managing infrastructure has increased significantly. More companies are using multi-cloud providers and, according to a CNCF survey, 96% of those surveyed are using or consider using Kubernetes. To meet the challenge of governing complex infrastructure, organizations have been codifying their cloud assets (such as K8s clusters, AWS security groups, IAM, S3 storage, and more) into infrastructure as code (IaC) using tools like Terraform, Pulumi, and Helm. IaC helps teams more efficiently manage, deploy, and govern cloud infrastructures. In a DevOps environment, it helps developers be more self-sufficient to efficiently provision the cloud resources they need, while employing guardrails for consistency, reliability, and reduced risk. Once codified as IaC, these cloud resources can be version controlled and governed with the same rigor as application software all within a DevOps platform like GitLab. This approach is typically called GitOps. AppsFlyer, a global leader in marketing measurement, analytics, and engagement, uses Firefly and GitLab together to manage more than 250,000 cloud resources and dozens of SaaS integrations. Eliran Bivas, cloud native platform leader says, Firefly provides us with greater visibility into our entire cloud footprint. With Firefly, we can see how the asset was created, who changed it, and its current state. We use GitLab to apply version control to our infrastructure code and to automate policies governing any changes. Bolstering GitOps with visibility into entire cloud footprint Managing your cloud infrastructure as IaC, using a GitOps approach, can improve governance and control. The shortcoming is that it can only address cloud resources that have been codified. You cant manage what you cant see, and Firefly has found that on average, our customers have 76% of their cloud assets unmanaged. This problem was very clear to AppsFlyer. Firefly enabled AppsFlyer to uncover unmanaged resources that were deployed manually or by automated systems like the Cloud Security Posture Manager. Bivan says, Firefly quickly turned unmanaged cloud resources into codified assets, saving us over 200 hours of engineering time while improving our IaC coverage. For companies that are cloud-forward, with multiple cloud service providers and often hundreds or even thousands of cloud service accounts, achieving governance for their cloud infrastructure is very difficult. Cloud and Kubernetes management tools are often siloed only addressing part of the cloud footprint. Some focus on inventory or on FinOps (the cost and utilization of cloud resources), others focus on drift or security. Most focus on custom applications developed via DevOps teams. Yet reliability is paramount when managing the cloud infrastructure. Its important not only for DevOps teams, but also for mission critical business processes that are using Commercial Off-the-shelf SaaS applications, an area often overlooked. Beyond GitOps: CloudOps Fireflys partnership with GitLab takes GitOps principles even further, applying the automated and policy-driven software management technique to the entire cloud footprint - including unmanaged assets and SaaS infrastructures, essentially enabling an automated and governed CloudOps. Uncovering your cloud assets and codifying them is only the beginning. Configuration drift and misconfigurations happen, and ensuring that the actual state of infrastructure reflects the known and recorded infrastructure state is an ongoing effort. Trend Micro's report reveals that infrastructure misconfigurations or failures are responsible for up to 70 percent of security events. Firefly can help here too. Firefly continuously identifies potential drift, alerting the user to choose the correct configuration: either the desired IaC state file or the actual cloud configuration. Changes are automatically captured in a GitLab merge request for visibility, traceability and policy enforcement. The GitLab CI pipeline ensures that change approval policies are followed. Better together Fireflys Cloud Asset Management solution compliments and extends the GitLab GitOps solution to cover even more of your cloud infrastructure with governance of CloudOps. GitLab is excited to build a strong partnership with Firefly, said Mike LeBeau, Senior Alliance Partner Program Manager at GitLab. Firefly has expertise using Continuous Integration (CI), together with cloud infrastructure management, making them a great fit for the GitLab Partner Program. Our integration enhances governance, transparency and control for our customers, making their DevOps journey more secure." For more information on Firefly, visit http://www.gofirefly.io. About Firefly Firefly is a privately held company headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel with customers globally from start-ups to Fortune100s. Firefly offers a Cloud Asset Management solution that enables DevOps and SRE teams to rediscover their entire cloud footprint, understand which parts of it are codified vs unmanaged, detect drifts, and manage a single inventory of all their cloud resources across Multi-cloud, multi-accounts and Kubernetes deployments. Firefly provides peace of mind by avoiding costly downtime, minimizing risk of failure by mitigating drifts, and replacing manual effort with automated processes that enable faster feature release with less effort and more consistent results. With 30 miles of beautiful, coast-lined, bike path right out our back door, and Los Angeles gas prices currently at $7.00 per gallon, deciding to sell the Serial1 Harley-Davidson eBike was a no brainer for us, explained Glenn Bartels Bartels Harley-Davidson, a world famous motorcycle dealer, known as "The shop of the stars" due to the number of A-List, Hollywood celebrities who frequent the establishment is now selling Harley-Davidson's latest eBikes. https://www.bartelsharley.com/--serial1bikes-ebicycle The Serial1 Electric bicycle - powered by Harley-Davidson is one of the industries top performing electric bicycles. Whether youre a Harley-Davidson enthusiast looking to add the latest product line to your garage, or a serious eBike commuter doing your part to save the environment, this Serial1 ebike powered by Harley-Davidson will be an enjoyable ride for everyone. Imports of ebikes have nearly doubled in the past year. The U.S. imported nearly 790,000 electric two-wheelers in 2021 according to import data estimates, up from 463,000 in 2020. April, 2022 New research estimates that while 608,000 electric cars and trucks were sold in 2021, more than 760,000 e-bikes were also purchased that same year. Bartels Harley-Davidson, a family owned and operated business, has been selling the famed Milwaukee, Wisconsin based manufacturers big HOGs for nearly 40 years. With 30 miles of beautiful coast-lined bike path right out our back door, and gas prices currently at $7.00 per gallon, deciding to sell the Serial1 Harley-Davidson ebike was a no brainer for us, explained Glenn Bartels, who now frequently commutes on the new Serial1 Rush City Speed. "I especially like the Enviolo continuously variable, electronically adjustable rear hub in the Rush City model," he continues. For Tech Geeks: https://enviolo.com/enviolo-technology/ Range from fully charged is estimated between 50-100 miles depending on how much "juice verse your pedal power is used. Starting at $3,799.00 for the Mosh City, all the way up to $5,699.00 for the top of the line Rush City Speed- all Serial1 bikes feature: Gates Carbon Drive belt LED Headlight LED Tail Lights LED Brake Lights LED Signature Light Mobile App Connectivity Integrated USB-C Charger Removable Battery Four power modes https://serial1.com/products/rush-cty-speed?variant=39950624063558 It is encouraging to find such an enthusiastic early response, which we hope will continue to bear out as companies use it more actively to process applications for new trials. Arriello, a leading global provider of Regulatory, Quality, Safety/PV and Clinical advisory and process support services, has found surprising evidence of strong, early engagement with EMAs new definitive, centralized registration system for clinical trials, CTIS, despite its use not being mandatory for new clinical trials until after January 31, 2023. Already, over 90% of pharma and biotech companies polled across the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and the US say they are registered in the CTIS; 40% have submitted a clinical trials application (CTA); and just over 17% have applications pending, according to the survey, conducted in August among 400 relevant Director and/or relevant Functional Heads in Pharma, Biotech and CRO companies. The new platform and portal are designed to streamline the submission, assessment and approval of trials across EU markets, under the new Clinical Trials Regulation (CTR) which became applicable at the end of January 2022 and will be mandatory for all new clinical trials from January 31, 2023. The online Censuswide survey, split evenly across the four geographical markets, found that early experiences of the process to be positive a step in the right direction toward the long-promised aim of easier clinical trial harmonization in Europe. With the deadline for compliance with CTR and CTIS use looming, it is to be expected that teams will increasingly default to the new platform and process, to remove the risk of having to transition to it part way through a trials program. Overall, 92% of respondents said their organization was planning a clinical trial through the centralized EMA system over the coming six months, with Switzerland then Germany recording the highest responses (98% and 96% respectively). Speed & efficiency among the key benefits Of the high proportion of organizations that had already registered a trial through the CTIS, more than a third (37 percent) reported they had found the experience faster/shorter than expected, and 31 percent said the process had been easier than expected. Three-quarters of companies had registered a trial through the CTIS found assessment deadlines had been achieved, rising to 99% of US organizations. All respondents appeared to have a good grasp of and appreciation for the intended benefits of CTR and the CTIS, ranked as: 1. Faster approvals an expected advantage for 35% of respondents (rising to 40% in the US) 2. Benefits of a wider group experience cited by 33% 3. Efficiency of scale cited by 30% 4. Harmonization of processes 28% 5. Greater transparency 28% (rising to 40% of US respondents while falling to 16% of Swiss respondents) 6. Fostering innovation & research 26% (falling to 16% of Swiss respondents) 7. Supporting more uniform decisions 25%. Issues to iron out Experiences of the new portal havent been pain-free, though there was no obvious single point of concern. Source of friction to date include: Issues of organizational structure cited by 38% of respondents overall, rising to 43% of US respondents Training/information overload cited by 36% Transition point identification an issue for 35% Fear of the unknown cited by 33% A lack of clearly defined process steps cited by 33%. Swiss respondents were least likely to have significant issues, and the UK participants responses were most evenly spread across the different barriers. German and US respondents expressed most concern about organizational and process issues. Commenting on the findings, Kieran ODonnell, Vice President, Global Drug Safety at Arriello, said, The response of the industry to the new consolidated EMA clinical trials platform to date is overwhelmingly positive, much more so than anecdotal evidence had suggested. This shows just how much this resource is needed in the European market which many companies have found hard to navigate up to now, due to its diverse requirements. It is encouraging to find such an enthusiastic early response, which we hope will continue to bear out as companies use it more actively to process applications for new trials. The full survey findings are free to download from the Arriello web site, here. They will also be discussed at a fireside chat at Bio Europe on Monday 24th at 09:30 am. About Arriello Arriello has been providing risk management and compliance services to the life sciences sector since 2008. These services include market consultancy, global regulatory affairs strategy and implementation, full and local pharmacovigilance solutions, clinical drug safety and quality and compliance auditing systems. Headquartered in Ireland, with European operations in Central Europe, our technical team has a combined experience of over 130 years working across the EU, US, LATAM, MENA, CIS, APAC regions and South Africa. More at http://www.arriello.com and @Arriello Media contact: Carina Birt Sarum Life Sciences for Arriello carina@sarumlifesciences.com +44 7970 006624 Google Sign-In and automatic report export to Google Sheets are already available for Precoro users. "We are delighted to announce Precoro integration with Google, as it's something that our users have been waiting for. We always plan our product updates according to their requirements and try to meet their expectations in the best possible way. The main purpose of Precoro and Google integration is to simplify procurement operations for our users and improve their overall experience with the platform. We'll continue to work on other integrations so that our users have everything they need for a convenient procurement process," said Andrew Zhyvolovych, CEO of Precoro. Precoros integration with Google Sheets aims to streamline the process of obtaining and analyzing reports throughout ones entire company. It allows users to generate different types of reports in Precoro, schedule them to export to Google Sheets, and share them with other employees. The ability to access Precoro with the Google Sign-In option will save users time and eliminate the need to enter their passwords each time they want to carry out some actions on the platform. Learn more about Precoro and Google integration by following this link. Precoro is a comprehensive solution for procurement and spend management. It allows users to optimize procurement processes, eliminate error-prone manual work, monitor budgets, and focus on large-scale goals. "We were able to discuss product features wed like to see in the future on Denon and Marantz receivers and learn about how to better optimize product performance during our installations." Stereo East Home Theater recently hosted the engineering team from Sound United, the parent company of global audio/video brands Denon and Marantz. Stereo Easts President, Mr. Gary Montagna, and Vice President, Mr. Dan Green, met with Denon Sound Master, Mr. Yuuki Takahashi, Category Director, Mr. Yoshinori Yamada, and their team of sound experts during their trip from Japan. As a top dealer for Denon and Marantz products, Stereo Easts sales and technical teams are more than familiar with the ins and outs of AV receivers and are uniquely qualified to share feedback directly with the Sound United engineering team. Weve been selling and supporting Denon and Marantz receivers for decades, and we were excited to talk shop with their sound quality experts, says Mr. Montagna. Mr. Green elaborates, We always appreciate it when manufacturers take the time to visit us, but the opportunity to talk with the very experts tasked with product development made this meeting invaluable. We were able to discuss product features wed like to see in the future and learn about how to better optimize product performance during our installations. Stereo East Home Theater was voted as the Readers Choice Best Home Audio/Video Company in 2022 for the Frisco/Plano, Allen/McKinney, and Prosper/Celina markets by Living Magazine. Stereo East has also been recognized within the custom integration industry; the company won the Spotlight Award from Snap AV/Control4, the GoldenEar Dealer of the Year Award, and most recently, the Sony Diamond Dealer Award. All of these honors are a reminder of great deal of trust our clients and vendor partners place in our ability to design and install systems that are not just impressive but also functional, Mr. Montagna explains. Stereo East Home Theater is an authorized dealer and integrator for notable brands such as Sony, Epson, Samsung, Control4, Denon, Marantz, GoldenEar, Bowers & Wilkins, and more. Stereo East has served the DFW area for nearly 40 years and offers custom home technology solutions for everything from home theaters to automation to networking. At their showroom in Frisco, Texas, clients are encouraged to experience the endless options available to truly customize a new or existing home. Eastvantage was named the winner of a Gold Stevie Award for Achievement in Sales or Revenue Generation category in the 19th Annual International Business Awards (IBA). Joeri Timp, Managing Director of Eastvantage, personally received the companys award during the first live IBA awards ceremony since 2019 held at the InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel on Saturday, October 15. The International Business Awards is the worlds premier business awards program. All individuals and organizations worldwide public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small - are eligible to submit nominations. More than 3,700 nominations from organizations in 67 nations and territories were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories. Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 300 executives worldwide who participated in the judging process in June and July. Eastvantages #everybodysells 360+ business development cycle strategy topped the nominations for the Achievement in Sales or Revenue Generation category. The category judges commended the company for its accomplishments. Your campaign #everybodysells 360 works tremendously, proven by your 2021 results on EBITDA, 12% revenue growth, and reached the highest annual income in its 11 years of operations amid the pandemic, remarked one judge. We are truly honored by this recognition from international business peers. The strategy has aligned all stakeholders with our focus on operational excellence. We are grateful to our team for their commitment and to our clients for their continued confidence, said Timp. The higher focus on complex and digital services is expected to contribute high value to the business. Our direction is to further expand globally and be the IT Managed Services partner of choice, shared Kamal Asarpota, CEO of Eastvantage. With a stronger team aligned with our goals, we are positive of continued growth, he added. Already, the company has opened up additional delivery centers in the Philippines, India, Bulgaria, and Vietnam. It has also recently engaged a US-based Business Strategy Advisor for its diversification in North America. The Stevie Award recognition is one of the world's most coveted prizes in the business world. Since 2002 the Gold Stevie Award has been conferred for achievement in business to organizations and individuals in more than 60 nations. About Eastvantage Eastvantage provides business solutions to global companies, enabling offshore operations from its locations in the Philippines, India, Bulgaria, and Vietnam. The management team of Eastvantage brings a wealth of global insights and local knowledge in the areas of digital transformation, customer experience, and business support. Combining expertise with a hands-on approach to managing client relationships, Eastvantage makes outsourcing simple and seamless. Find out more about our flexible solutions at http://www.eastvantage.com. About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com. Houston BOMA and the Downtown District have encouraged building owners and managers to participate by lighting their buildings in purple on November 11 to bring much-needed attention to the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the many deserving Purple Heart Medal recipients. The National Flag Foundation (NFF) has partnered with the Military Order of the Purple Heart (the only Congressionally Chartered Purple Heart Organization in our Country) to honor the 240th Anniversary of the Purple Heart Award. To celebrate, the NFF is planning a LIGHT TO UNITE night on Veterans Day, November 11, 2022. Houston BOMA and the Downtown District have partnered with the National Flag Foundation to promote the initiative. As part of the initiative, Houston BOMA and the Downtown District have encouraged building owners and managers to participate by lighting their buildings in purple (or, if not possible, red, white, and blue) on November 11 to bring much-needed attention to the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the many deserving Purple Heart Medal recipients who find themselves in need on multiple levels. Participating buildings will be joining dozens of other buildings and organizations across the nation in this display of solidarity and unity for those that served and paid a dear price to preserve the freedoms we all enjoy daily. Houston BOMA is hosting a LIGHT TO UNITE opening ceremony at Wells Fargo Plaza, 1000 Louisiana Street, on November 11 at 11:15 AM. Representatives from participating buildings, public officials, local media, veterans, and the general public will be invited to see the United States Marine Corps Color Guard present the colors to commemorate the occasion. For more information or for photos from the event, please contact Shannon Roberts at 713.255.9183 or sroberts@houstonboma.org. To learn more about the LIGHT TO UNITE initiative, please see the launch video. The Houston Building Owners and Managers Association (Houston BOMA) is the premier commercial real estate association for commercial building owners, property managers, engineers, and vendors in the greater Houston area. Contact: Shannon Roberts, Houston BOMA Director of Communications & Marketing Ph: 713.255.9183 | Email: sroberts@houstonboma.org ### Germany plans to introduce Israel's Arrow 3 anti-missile system. By Lan Shunzheng The defense ministers of 14 NATO countries and Finland recently decided to form a unified alliance for air defense procurement and deployment named the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), which, spearheaded by Germany, aims to build a European air and missile defense system through unified procurement of relevant equipment and missiles. This shows NATOs attempt to arrive at Europes independent defense through a meandering route. According to the news release by NATO, the ESSI enables all participating countries to jointly develop an air defense system that uses available and synergetic solutions. German defense minister Christine Lambrecht said they are looking at several options, including Israels Arrow 3 missile defense system, Americas Patriot, and Germanys IRIS-T SLM air defense system, with a view to building a multi-tiered air defense system. It is predicted that ESSI will use missiles to deploy an integrated defense system to enhance Europes air defense anti-missile capability. NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana said the initiative aims to enable European allies to procure these much-needed capabilities better and faster and to optimize their costs. It should also bring synergy among allies Realizing common defense has been a long-term goal Europe has never given up. After the end of the Cold War, EU members have been trying to build a force outside the US-controlled NATO that can elucidate the security position of European countries and carry out the EUs defense and security policies. Most EU members believe that if they have to always follow Americas lead on security affairs, they cannot become politically strong. Only by building an independent defense can Europe stand up on its feet as a key political force on the global stage and will it be able to independently command military actions in response to international crises without NATOs involvement. Main EU members like France and Germany have serious divergences with the US on issues including the Iraqi War, which further firms up their resolution to build their own armed forces. The Maastricht Treaty of 1992 vowed to develop an independent military arm for Europe, the Helsinki meeting in 1999 decided to form a European Rapid Reaction Force, and the European Defense Agency was set up in June 2004 Europe has taken a series of measures for defense independence, but this has been a rough road due to America and NATOs restrictions and suppression. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has in a way accelerated the EUs defense integration as it intensifies many EU members sense of insecurity, which will in the short term help them unite and act in unity for defense integration while shelving their divergences. Soon after the breakout of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the EU summit held from March 24 to 25, 2022 approved the EUs Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, which marked another milestone in the process of the unions defense integration as it set the goal of reinforcing EUs common defense capabilities and provided specific actions. Russia waged large-scale missile and UAV attacks against Ukraine following the explosion of the Crimean Bridge, which catalyzed the formation of ESSI. The importance of air-defense anti-missile capability is self-evident in modern warfare. If ESSI is able to integrate Europes capabilities in that domain, that would be a major step forward toward defense independence on the continent. Although American military products are still squeezing the EUs defense industry (both Arrow 3 and Patriot are closely related to the US), the union will definitely develop its own products to gradually dilute and replace American elements in the future. Besides, ESSI is spearheaded by Germany, the main advocate of the EUs defense integration. German chancellor Scholz, French president Macron and Chairman of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen are all dedicated to that goal. If ESSI succeeds, it will undoubtedly further cement Germanys position as the bellwether for Europes defense independence. (The author is a special researcher at TECHXCOPE) Editor's note: Originally published on thepaper.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. KEMI Logo At a time in which most businesses are struggling to hire and retain employees, keeping available workers healthy and on the job is imperative. Yet, the Bureau of Labor Statistics cited 2.7 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2020, within the private industry alone. Many of these injuries, and the personal and professional difficulties that they caused, could have been prevented. Thats why Kentucky Employers Mutual Insurance (KEMI), the states leading provider of workers compensation insurance, recognizes employers for their commitment to workplace safety annually. This year, KEMI will present 28 Kentucky organizations with the 2022 KEMI Destiny Award. The Destiny Awards are presented to policyholders that best exemplify KEMIs motto, Control your own destiny. The awards symbolize what can be accomplished when organizations work together to improve workplace safety. Policyholders that earn the KEMI Destiny Award effectively demonstrate their ability to manage a formal safety program, provide on-site training and regular safety meetings for employees, and display an ongoing commitment to safety from all levels throughout their organizations. The following businesses were selected as winners after meeting a stringent set of criteria set forth by KEMI: Adair County Board of Education Asbury University Asbury Theological Seminary Barren County Board of Education Bell County Board of Education Big Rivers Electric Corporation Brandenburg Telephone Company Corbin Independent Schools Eastern Kentucky University Edmonson County Board of Education Elizabethtown Board of Education Frankfort Plant Board Glenwood Electric Hancock County Board of Education Hibbs Electromechanical Hilton Kennedy Company Louisville Hinkle Holding Company Independence Fire District Industrial Field Maintenance KI USA Corporation Merkle Lawn Care Company Metcalfe County Board of Education Northern Kentucky Water District Ray St Clair Roofing Storm Security The Corken Steel Products Company Union County Board of Education Warren County Board of EducationDestiny Award winners are part of an elite group of organizations that have emphasized safety each day and demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the health and well-being of Kentuckys workforce, remarked Jon Stewart, President and CEO of KEMI. Some have received the Destiny Award multiple years, and we appreciate the opportunity to work shoulder-to-shoulder with them and all policyholders to elevate safety programs throughout the commonwealth. KEMI offers the public free safety resources through worksafeky.com, a website anyone can access. It has and array of safety articles, best practices and helpful links. ### About KEMI Kentucky Employers Mutual Insurance (KEMI) is the leading provider of workers compensation insurance in Kentucky with more than 20,000 policyholders in all 120 counties. We are rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best for our financial stability. "Torre is when everything goes according to plan. Its our reason for doing what we do. Its where we start and where, on rare occasions, we end up. said Joao Roquette, president of Esporao Group. Torre do Esporao is the ultimate expression of the singularities of the harvest year and the expertise of those who make the wine. A testament to the art of the blend, underpinned by a philosophy to neither echo the past nor be bound by vintage style, it represents Esporaos ambition to make the finest wines that nature can provide, in a responsible, inspiring way. The 2017 vintage is a blend of four varieties (40% Aragonez, 30% Touriga Franca, 25% Alicante Bouschet, 5% Touriga Nacional) from five vineyards and represents an evolution from power to finesse. Torre do Esporao is named for a monumental medieval tower (torre in Portuguese) at Herdade do Esporao in Alentejos Reguengos de Monsaraz sub-region. Fruit for the 2017 vintage comes from five individual vineyards. Three are located at Herdade do Esporao Canto de Ze Cruz, planted to Aragonez in 1980; Rochedo, planted to Touriga Franca in 2005; and Badeco, planted to Touriga Nacional in 1988 (likely the oldest extant Touriga Nacional vineyard in Alentejo). The remaining two vineyards, both sources for Alicante Bouschet, are Palmeiras, planted in 1996 at nearby Herdade dos Perdigoes (also in Reguengos de Monsaraz), and the Machuguinho Vineyard, planted in 2003 at Propriedade dos Lavradores in Alentejos Portalegre sub-region. "Torre is when everything goes according to plan. Its our reason for doing what we do. Its where we start and where, on rare occasions, we end up. We always need to keep in mind that this is what we want to do, to aim as high as we possibly can, to dream and then to chase after that dream, said Joao Roquette, president of Esporao Group. The 2017 vintage started with a hot, dry spring. Summer temperatures began warm, followed by lower August and September temperatures, resulting in perfect fruit for a concentrated red. All grapes, except the Alicante Bouschet, were trodden underfoot in marble lagares, yielding juice with more color, flavor, and finesse. Final blending took place in May 2019, followed by bottling in July 2019. The tradition of late release gives purchasers the benefit of longer aging in perfect cellar conditions ahead of shipment. The result is a wine that stands out for its character, sophistication, aromatic complexity, subtlety, and density. A wine worth waiting for! Torre do Esporao 2017 / SRP: $300.00 (750 ml) / $600.00 (1.5 L) NOW Wine Imports: NOW Wine Imports in Livingston, NJ, is the U.S. import arm established by Portuguese powerhouse Esporao in June 2017. Led by industry veteran Frank Paredes, NOW Wine oversees U.S. distribution and marketing for the entire Esporao portfolio, Herdade do Esporao in Portugals Alentejo region, Quinta dos Murcas in the Douro, and Quinta do Ameal in northern Portugals Vinho Verde DOC. Esporao Group: One of Portugals premier wine companies, with wines sold in 50 countries, Esporao is also an eco-wine tourism pioneer, starting with its namesake Herdade do Esporao property in Alentejo. In 2008, Esporao acquired Quinta dos Murcas in the Douro, followed by Quinta do Ameal in Vinho Verde in 2019. Tourism opportunities exist at all three. The portfolio also includes estate-produced olive oils and Sovina Craft Beer. https://www.esporao.com/en/ The San Francisco Halloween Pub Crawl Over 10,000 people are expected to attend Crawloween, with over 40 participating bars and restaurants. CrawlSFs three-day Halloween event takes place at over 50 bars in Polk Gulch, Russian Hill, North Beach, Nob Hill, The Tenderloin, The Marina and Cow Hollow and features drink specials at every bar, a costume contest, DJs and free party bus rides. CrawlSF, a local marketing and events company, has produced events in the San Francisco Bay Area since the company was founded in 2003. Beginning as a small event startup that was initially inspired by large, East Coast bar crawls attended by the founder, Matt Seliga, has now grown into a successful, San Francisco-based company that produces numerous annual events that attract tens of thousands of people throughout the year. CrawlSF has produced many popular events including The LepraCon St. Patricks Day Pub Crawl, Streets of San Francisco New Years Eve (Fort Mason Festival Pavilion), Summersalt Music Festival, Crawltiki, San Francisco Mardi Gras, The North Beach Bar Run, Wintersalt Music Festival, The San Francisco Burger Brawl, Taste San Francisco, SweaterCon and more. 2022 brings the 10th Annual San Francisco Halloween Pub Crawl, which is expected to bring well over 15,000 people over 3 days to celebrate Halloween in SF. Participating Bars include California Jacks, R Bar, Mayes Oyster House, Del Mar, El Lopo, Mcteagues Saloon, Tupelo, Lush Lounge, Tope, Barley, The Boardroom, Shanghai Kellys, Northstar Cafe, Nicks Crispy Tacos, Wreck Room, Bamboo Hut, Zekis Bar, Outre, Emperor Nortons Boozeland, Shovels, Silver Cloud, Amsterdam Cafe, Comet Club, Trade Routes, Nitecap, Westwood, Gino & Carlo, Tony Niks, Campus, Chief Sullivans, The Outsider, Jaxson, Geary Club, Blue Light and more. The Pub Crawl will take place on Friday, October 28, Saturday, October 29 & Monday, October 31. Tickets for Crawloween range from $12 to $45 with prices rising as the event date gets closer. Ticket price includes access to drink specials at all participating bars, free cover at all bars, a costume contest, party favors, free party bus rides, DJs and more. Full details for the event are available at: https://www.crawloween.com About CrawlSF A local San Francisco company that launched in 2003, CrawlSF was created after the founder, Matt Seliga, relocated from Baltimore to the San Francisco Bay Area for a job in Biotech. As a new transplant to San Francisco (and after feeling the effects of the high cost of living in San Francisco), Matt worked in his spare time to bring the pub crawl concept to San Francisco, which allowed him to meet new people and earn some extra money on the side. Ultimately leaving his Biotech career behind in 2008, Matt has mainly focused on building the CrawlSF brand. Also the Co-Founder of Eye Heart SF, M Ride and Pinchit.com, Matt has developed several businesses in the marketing and events vertical. Since 2003, CrawlSF has produced over 200 Bay Area events with well over 300,000 attendees and CrawlSF.com serves as a guide for locals and visitors who are looking for things to do in the San Francisco Bay Area. The company is owned and operated by Matt and his wife, Caitlin. CrawlSF Signature Events include: LepraCon SF (St. Patricks Day Pub Crawl) SanFranCinco (Cinco De Mayo Pub Crawl) The San Francisco Fourth of July Pub Crawl & Hot Dog Eating Contest Crawltiki (San Francisco Tiki Party Pub Crawl) Crawloween (Halloween Pub Crawl) SweaterCon (Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl) For more information on CrawlSF, please visit https://www.crawlsf.com HARTMANN USA and Corstrata announce their collaboration to support home health and other in-home providers in caring for wound patients at a time when the incidence of complex chronic wounds is increasing while access to wound care nurse specialists is becoming more challenging. At the core of a successful wound care program is access to both highly effective advanced wound dressings as well as clinical expertise to implement evidence-based treatment protocols and monitor wounds to closure. According to a recent study published by top-50 accounting firm BerryDunn, National Healthcare at Home Best Practices and Future Insights Study, 100% of Home Health Centers of Excellence (those Home Health agencies in the top 10% for quality and patient satisfaction and with a positive financial surplus) have a wound-certified specialist on staff. This collaboration will increase access to Corstratas team of virtual board-certified wound nurses (WOC nurses) and HARTMANNs suite of advanced wound care products to improve clinical and financial outcomes for in-home providers that care for patients with chronic wounds. HARTMANN has been providing advanced wound dressing solutions globally for over 150 years and has evolved with its broad portfolio of high-quality, cost-effective products that provide home health clinicians with a simplified, consistent approach for effectively managing wounds. Corstrata provides virtual wound and ostomy care management nationwide across multiple provider settings, including home health, skilled nursing facilities, hospice, and emerging hospital-at-home solutions companies. According to Jon Procopio, Managing Director of HARTMANN USA, Patient care is our priority. HARTMANN strives to enable the progression of the wound towards complete healing that patients deserve and strengthen the confidence that healthcare professionals need to provide wound care. We have a nationwide team of dedicated account and customer care representatives specifically trained for consultation, education, and support in offering clinical and business solutions. Now, with Corstrata, we will enhance access to clinical expertise related to wound care through their team of certified WOC nurses. "The Corstrata team is excited about this important collaboration with HARTMANN to create access to Corstratas virtual WOC nurses for customers and the patients they serve. With up to one-third of all home health and hospice patients having a chronic wound, it is critical for clinicians to provide evidence-based care to both prevent and heal wounds," says Joseph Ebberwein, co-founder and Chief Financial Officer of Corstrata. "At this time when agencies are struggling with critical staffing shortages, including WOC nurses, and increasing financial challenges, having a strong wound program is essential. This collaboration between Corstrata and HARTMANN provides a path to success." According to Katherine Piette, Corstrata's CEO, the decision to collaborate with HARTMANN is an easy one. "Our virtual WOC nurses rely on our provider customers having access to highly effective advanced wound dressings to accelerate wound healing and reduce the overall cost of patient care, " Piette says. "HARTMANN has a unique suite of advanced dressings that are being used by some of the top home health providers in the U.S. with impressive results. We are excited about the opportunity to improve the level of wound care provided for this ever-growing cohort of complex wound patients. Our clients can access clinical support from Corstrata when needed without the cost of hiring their own WOC nurse, a costly and often frustrating proposition. This collaboration will equip providers with turn-key wound solutions that they have been missing in their clinical care delivery at a crucial time in the industry." About HARTMANN The HARTMANN GROUP is one of the leading providers of wound treatment and skin integrity solutions around the world. Wound dressings and maintaining healthy skin have been at the heart of HARTMANN from the beginning when we introduced the worlds first antiseptic wound dressing over 150 years ago. Overall, HARTMANN looks at rich legacy. Every day, healthcare professionals and patients rely on HARTMANN brands in the segments of Incontinence Management (e.g. MoliCare), Wound Care (e.g. Zetuvit) and Infection Management (e. g. Sterillium). This is expressed in our brand promise of Helps. Cares. Protects. In 2021, the HARTMANN GROUP reported Group sales of EUR 2.3 billion. For the latest information on HARTMANN, follow @HARTMANN_GROUP on Twitter. To learn more about the HARTMANN GROUP, click here. To learn more about HARTMANN USA, click here. About Corstrata Corstrata is a virtual care solution that utilizes technology to provide access to scarce certified wound and ostomy nurses at the patient's bedside in post-acute provider settings, including home health, hospice, skilled nursing facilities, and emerging hospital-at-home providers. Corstratas team of WOC nurses provides consultations with provider staff at the patients bedside, either through HIPAA-compliant video or through review of store-and-forward wound images, to improve clinical and financial outcomes for providers. For the latest information on Corstrata, follow @Corstrata on Twitter. To learn more about Corstrata, click here. At a ceremony held during the National Business Aviation Association conference last week in Orlando Florida, Alerion Aviation was awarded Platinum Elite designation by the Air Research Group /US aka ARGUS. Alerion is one of four air carriers worldwide to achieve this significant milestone. Platinum Elite is the aviation industrys first continuous monitoring safety evaluation system. As the worldwide leader in specialized aviation services ARGUS helps organizations improve their operational and business decision-making practices. The ARGUS Platinum Elite rating signifies the highest levels of dedication to world-class safety standards are met and provides customers with increased visibility and peace of mind when it comes to selecting a provider for private jet travel. The ARGUS Platinum Elite standard represents the highest commercial business aviation standard in the world. For Alerion it represents validation of continuous adherence to the highest standards by the organization. Alerion clients and employees now have validation of the commitment to operating to the highest levels of safety and operational processes, not just during biannual audits, but continuously. This also allows Alerion to combine their data and experience with other great operators and ARGUS to collectively propel business aviation standards to the highest sustainable levels. Alerion Aviation has partnered with ARGUS in providing exceptional standards in operational safety and is one of only a handful of companies with an ARG/US Platinum Elite rating. We are committed to the highest standards of operational safety for our customers and industry partners. We are extremely proud to be partnered with ARGUS and their 25 years of leadership in benchmarking operating standards, said Bob Seidel, CEO of Alerion Aviation. For over 26 years, Alerion Aviation has demonstrated its commitment to safety and has established itself as a leader in private jet operations. Achieving the ARG/US Platinum Elite rating and IS-BAO stage 3 requires an unrelenting attention to details, dedication to the highest operational standards, and personal commitment to excellence you will find in every member of the Alerion team. We are proud to provide our management and charter customers with the highest levels of safety in your private sky. About Alerion Aviation Alerion Aviation provides an unmatched level of service, safety, and privacy for private jet charters as well as aircraft management, maintenance, and worldwide aviation consulting. It manages and operates 19 midsize, super-mid, and heavy jets, all available for charter. The company's commitment to safety has garnered prestigious, third-party ratings, including the ARGUS Platinum Elite Rating, Wyvern and IS-BAO Stage 3 certification. For more information, please call (855.fly.alrn) or visit flyalerion.com. GoNetspeed expanding high-speed fiber internet services to Lockport in 2023. Paul Griswold, SVP of Global Marketing and General Manager of NY Operations, says, As the need for speed increases and technology continues to advance, we are excited to bring faster, more reliable fiber connectivity to homes across Western NY. GoNetspeed is excited to announce that it is expanding its Fiber to the Home (FTTH) services into Lockport in 2023. GoNetspeed is investing over $6.5 Million into the Lockport region and will provide service to 10,000 total homes. Offering a high speed, residential fiber internet solution at an affordable cost, GoNetspeed offers a free Wi-Fi 6 router (which delivers speeds that are 40% higher than Wi-Fi 5), no installation charges, no contracts, and plans starting at 250/250 speeds for $49.95 a month. Lockport is a portion of the companys expansion throughout Western NY, cumulating in 38,0000 homes that will be serviceable across the Buffalo region. Visit https://ny.gonetspeed.com/. to check availability. This 100% fiber optic network will offer internet service with symmetrical speeds, meaning that both download and upload are equally fast. GoNetspeed offers no data caps, no throttling, and the fastest residential Internet speeds available, ranging from 250 Mbps to 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps). Unlike cable Internet or DSL, fiber optics provide unlimited scalability by creating a network that is future proof and can scale for growth. Paul Griswold, SVP of Global Marketing and General Manager of NY Operations, says, As the need for speed increases and technology continues to advance, we are excited to bring faster, more reliable fiber connectivity to homes across Western NY. Offering the newest technology for residents in these areas is a boost for everyone the future is all about faster Wi-Fi and were here for it. To learn more about the company or stay up to date with construction updates, please visit https://ny.gonetspeed.com/. # # # About GoNetspeed GoNetspeed, a high-speed fiber Internet provider serving residential and business customers in Connecticut, Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and West Virginia,. GoNetspeed is owned by Oak Hill Capital (Oak Hill) which is supporting the companys expansion plan to build nearly 2,000 miles of fiber and bring fiber to approximately 200,000 locations in its footprint. In 2021, six legacy companies OTELCO, OTTC, Upstate Fiber Networks, Lantek, GoNetspeed, and Icon combined forces to bring decades of fiber optic technology & experience together, to create something new for your residences and businesses. GoNetspeed, a name with strong recognition where communities have already benefited from its investments in fiber technology and exceptional customer service, fulfills Oak Hills vision to bring together over 100 years of telecom expertise and a passion for customer service to accelerate fiber network deployment throughout their combined footprint. For more information on the company, or to inquire about service at your home, business, or community, please visit https://ny.gonetspeed.com/. In collaboration with Collegis, we will work with higher education leaders to help them bring together data to create new, successful ways to enhance learning experiences and improve institutional performance." Collegis Education, a higher education managed services provider, today announced a new partnership with Google Cloud to help colleges and universities leverage data to make informed decisions, create a more unified student experience, and enable student success. Combining Collegis more than 25 years of experience providing hundreds of schools with comprehensive technology and enrollment services and Google Clouds Student Success Services, the two leaders will build new offerings to support colleges and universities as they collect, connect, and activate data to improve performance. U.S. colleges and universities are faced with market challenges, ranging from declining enrollments and the increased national discourse about the value of higher education, to a growing need to provide a frictionless student experience. Yet, they dont always have the resources available to overcome these complex problems. In addition, the data they hold often remains siloed and not integrated across departments or the entire enterprise. Together, Collegis and Google Cloud can help schools integrate their data to develop a comprehensive view and optimize their processes, programs, and services to help students achieve their goals. All data is kept private and secure leveraging Google Cloud Services, and institutions have full control and possession over their data. Schools have dedicated people who are stretched thin and lack the time and resources to solve the current and evolving market challenges they are facing. Our Collegis subject matter experts can collaborate with their teams and help them leverage their investments in technology by integrating data across the entire institution to drive decision making, said Jamie Cowie, president and CEO, Collegis Education. With our best practices on integrating systems and leveraging the Google Cloud Platform, colleges and universities will have tools to power continuous improvement by leveraging data across the entire institution to drive better insights, inform decisions and, ultimately, increase ROI. Collegis collaborates with colleges and universities to leverage the power of data by partnering with them to bring holistic solutions to their institutions. Collegis expertise provides the perfect complement to Google Clouds Student Success Services, a set of tools that aims to unlock student success with personalized assistants, real-time insights, collaboration tools and more. Using built-in artificial intelligence (AI) models and analytics to gather data and use it for decision-making, this bundle of services benefits institutions, their staff and, most importantly, their students by improving remote and in-person learning, increasing student engagement, and modernizing the learning experience. Successfully integrating and analyzing data will provide colleges and universities with insights to inform decisions to transform the student experience, said Steven Butschi, Head of Education, Google Cloud. In collaboration with Collegis, we will work with higher education leaders to help them bring together data to create new, successful ways to enhance learning experiences and improve institutional performance. About Collegis Education Using a proactive and data-driven approach, Collegis Education empowers institutions to make a broader impact by providing insights that help grow enrollments, improve student outcomes and optimize expenses. Currently, Collegis Education supports schools and programs serving more than 40,000 students nationwide. For more information, visit CollegisEducation.com and follow Collegis on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Approximately half of the cases I perform are revising other surgeons work. To be recognized for my ability to perform revision plastic surgery is an honor. Beverly Hills board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Gary Motykie, has won Best Botched Patient Enhancement at the 2022 Aesthetic Awards. Being selected as a winner in the Botched Revision category is especially exciting for me because you have to earn a previously botched patients trust and confidence in order to perform their revision surgery, says Dr. Motykie. Approximately half of the cases I perform are revising other surgeons work. To be recognized for my ability to perform revision plastic surgery is an honor. No patient wants to have to go through with revision plastic surgery. I know the process can be intimidating, added Dr. Motykie. Im so grateful that I can be the surgeon that can help patients achieve the results they truly desired from their initial surgery. Dr. Motykies state-of-the-art office, on-site surgical center, and medical spa are at 9201 W. Sunset Blvd, GF-1A in West Hollywood. Dr. Motykie is known for pioneering facial rejuvenation surgery and natural-appearing body enhancement surgery. This year my team and I have narrowed in on promoting extraordinary outcomes by incorporating stem cells into the recovery process for patients. I believe stem cells make recovering from revision surgery easier on the patient. Dr. Motykie recently joined TikTok - he regularly uploads videos about plastic surgery trends, speculates on celebrity plastic surgery, and discusses plastic surgery procedures. He has amassed more than 4 million views in less than one month. In addition to his West Hollywood flagship location, Dr. Motykie owns a medical spa, Motykie Med Spa Barrington, in the northwest Chicago suburb of Barrington, Illinois. About Dr. Gary Motykie: Dr. Gary Motykie is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon who is highly skilled in breast surgery, body contouring, rhinoplasty, and facial rejuvenation as well as numerous other cosmetic surgical procedures. Dr. Motykie has more than 50,000 subscribers on YouTube where he uploads videos discussing celebrity plastic surgery, plastic surgery secrets and procedures, and other cosmetic innovations. Patients and fans can view his surgical transformations on his Instagram, @DrGaryMotykie, which boasts more than 165,000 followers "Todays announcement is an exciting milestone for our heart failure patients...it provides another novel approach that is proven to minimize heart failures damaging effects and restore a patients overall quality of life," -- Dr. Satish Muluk, director of AHN Division of Vascular Surgery. Vascular surgeons from Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) Cardiovascular Institute, the flagship academic medical center of Allegheny Health Network (AHN), announced today the first successful implant of a new neuromodulation device used as an alternative therapy for patients with progressive heart failure (HF) who may not be receiving adequate relief from medical therapies. The device, titled Barostim Baroreflex Activation Therapy, is from Minneapolis-based med tech company CVRx and is the worlds first FDA-approved HF device to use manipulation of the nervous system to reinvigorate the heart and improve its function. The implant procedure took place in early September under the clinical direction of Satish Muluk, MD, vascular surgeon and director of AHN Division of Vascular Surgery and Srinivas Murali, MD, heart failure specialist and System Chairman of the AHN Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. Heart failure is a condition that causes the muscle in the heart wall to slowly weaken and enlarge, preventing the heart from pumping enough oxygenated blood throughout the body, explained Dr. Muluk. The symptoms of heart failure are often progressive, and the condition can worsen on medical therapy alone. Todays announcement is an exciting milestone for our heart failure patients throughout western Pennsylvania as it provides another novel approach that is proven to minimize heart failures damaging effects and restore a patients overall quality of life. According to the American Heart Association, heart failure is one of the most common reasons people over the age of 65 are admitted to the hospital. Its a chronic condition with symptoms ranging from shortness of breath and extreme fatigue to lightheadedness and fluid retention, among others. Approximately six million Americans are currently living with heart failure and research indicates the number of individuals living with cardiovascular disease will likely surge to 12.9 million by 2060. From a local perspective, the leading cause of death in Allegheny County is heart disease, above cancer, accidental injuries and cerebrovascular disease. Furthermore, heart disease in the Greater Pittsburgh population tracks notably higher than the state average, according to the PA Department of Health. To date, the prescribed course of management involves a multidisciplinary approach involving medical therapies, lifestyle enhancements and surgical interventions ranging from minimally invasive implantations of pacemakers and defibrillators to more aggressive management paths of open-heart surgery to implant a left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) or heart transplantation. Unlike other HF treatment options, Barostim does not require any hardware implantation in the heart but uses an electrode thats placed on the patients carotid artery within the neck during a minimally-invasive outpatient procedure. The electrode provides continuous electrical stimulation to the bodys carotid baroreceptors, the bodys natural mechanism that regulates cardiovascular function. Barostims stimulation triggers both the bodys sympathetic (fight or flight response) and parasympathetic (rest and digest response) nervous systems to create a unique balance that in turn better regulates the function of a patients heart, kidney and vascular system. Unlike a pacemaker, Barostim stimulates the nervous system to address a neuro-hormonal imbalance which is the root cause of heart failure. In many instances, the baroreceptors in heart failure patients have lost their vigor and so this device kick starts the nervous system into high gear restoring neuro-hormonal balance which in turn improves cardiovascular performance, explained Dr. Murali. Patients can go home on the same day as the procedure, and our team gradually adjusts the output of the device over the next few weeks to specifically tailor electrical stimulation to achieve optimal improvement of the patients symptoms. The Journal of the American College of Cardiology published a study (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2020.05.015) from cardiovascular researchers demonstrating the overall effectiveness of Barostim in a controlled patient population living with heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction. Four patient cohorts were created from 408 randomized patients with select groups receiving baroreflex activation therapy and medical management or solely optimal medical management. Results showed Barostim patients were able to walk about 65 yards further in six minutes and had three times greater improvement in quality-of-life scores when compared to patients on medications alone. Providing innovative treatment options for heart failure patients is an important endeavor and we congratulate Drs. Muluk and Murali and Allegheny General Hospital on a successful Barostim implantation, said Nadim Yared, President and CEO of CVRx. We look forward to continuing to support Allegheny General Hospital to help more patients live fuller lives. For more information or to make an appointment with AHN Cardiovascular Institute, visit ahn.org. ### About the Allegheny Health Network: Allegheny Health Network (AHN.org) is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region. The Network is composed of 14 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, Health + Wellness Pavilions, multiple employed physician organizations, home and community based health services, a research institute, and a group purchasing organization. The Network provides patients with access to a complete spectrum of advanced medical services, including nationally recognized programs for primary and emergency care, trauma care, cardiovascular disease, organ transplantation, cancer care, orthopedic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, womens health, diabetes, autoimmune disease and more. AHN employs approximately 21,000 people, has more than 2,600 physicians on its medical staff and serves as a clinical campus for Drexel University College of Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against Logical Innovations, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The Los Angeles employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action lawsuit against Logical Innovations, Inc. alleging the company violated the California Labor Code. The lawsuit against Logical Innovations, Inc. is currently pending in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. 22STCV31929. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here. According to the lawsuit filed, Logical Innovations, Inc. allegedly failed to provide employees with timely off-duty meal and rest breaks. Additionally, the company failed to provide employees with overtime wages from missed meal breaks. This resulted in a loss of wages for Plaintiff and others. Logical Innovations, Inc. allegedly failed to reimburse employees for required business expenses. California Labor Code 2802 expressly states that "an employer shall indemnify his or her employee for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of his or her duties..." During employment, Plaintiff and other California Class Members were allegedly required to use their personal cellular phones, personal vehicles and personal home offices as a result of and in furtherance of their job duties. For more information about the class action lawsuit against Logical Innovations, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County, and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and other types of illegal workplace conduct. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** Dwight R. Barnes, an artist, writer, and born-again Christian, has completed his new book The Lightning Tree: A Spiritual Journey: a gripping story of faith, family, and adversity that he gathered through numerous visits with Maggie B. Nolan Moss, who was in her nineties at the time. Barnes, a journalist by trade, faithfully recorded and recalled Mosss stories of her families struggles, a story that he feels privileged to be able to share. I consider myself fortunate, in that I have had many rewarding and memorable experiences in my life, some might even qualify as extraordinary. But, I can say with certainty the time I spent with Ms. Maggie B. was without doubt some of the most memorable, Barnes said. Published by Page Publishing, Barness book is a deeply moving and inspirational story of the Nolan Moss clan, a close-knit black family of fifteen souls bound together by love, living on the edge of existence, struggling to eke out a living, plowing the hard red clay on a small plot of ground in the isolated backwaters of Tallassee, Alabama. The head of the family is Charlie Nolan Moss, the patriarch, a devout man of strong character, proud, fiercely independent, and deeply spiritual. He is bound and determined by the grace of God to provide for and protect his family despite the ever-present threats and challenges that are a part of everyday life in the racist and repressive atmosphere of the Jim Crow South. Yet despite all his efforts, vigilance, and prayers, bad things still happen. Readers who wish to experience this extraordinary first-hand accounting of one of the most tumultuous times in American history can purchase The Lightning Tree: A Spiritual Journey at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Reader House, 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. Dallas Car Crash Lawyer Jerry Andrews Named Super Lawyer for 2023 The Law Office of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C., is pleased to announce that Attorney Andrews has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for the fourth time. After nearly 30 years as a practicing attorney, Mr. Andrews has developed strong courtroom skills that have helped him win millions of dollars for his personal injury clients over the years. His excellent record in achieving the victories his injured clients need makes Andrews stand out amongst his peers. Super Lawyers is a professionally reputable organization that recognizes elite attorneys, basing their accolades on peer recommendation and independent evaluation. Being recognized as a Super Lawyer shows that an attorney is regarded as a leader in their area of focus and has a proven record of providing skilled advocacy and outstanding service to clients. Andrews is uniquely qualified to pursue complex personal injury cases in part because he is certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is also a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and serves as the President of the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association. His involvement in the legal community demonstrates a commitment to high professional standards. Since being admitted to the bar in 1991, Andrews has focused his efforts on serving clients who have been injured due to another partys negligence or wrongdoing. He represents victims of motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, workplace accidents, and more, with significant skill in helping those who have suffered severe injuries. About The Law Office of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. The Law Office of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. is a personal injury law firm in Houston, Texas. Attorney Andrews focuses his practice on motor vehicle accidents including car accidents, commercial truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents. He also represents those who have been affected by medical malpractice, construction site accidents, and dangerously defective products. To learn more about the Law Office of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C., please visit: https://www.dfwinjurylawyer.com/. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment, call 214-221-5800. Bill Michael, a shareholder in Greenberg Traurig, LLPs Minneapolis and Miami offices, was recognized by Minnesota Lawyer and Finance & Commerce as a 2022 Minnesota ICON. Bill was selected for his ability to lead others, his achievements in the courtroom, and his mentorship efforts. According to the publications, the awards pay tribute to the titans of the boardroom and the courtroom, recognizing leaders who have left their indelible mark on Minnesotas business and legal communities. A panel of judges with legal and business expertise selected 2022 class of 15 honorees who will be recognized during an award ceremony at The Lumber Exchange in Minneapolis Dec. 8. It is an honor to be recognized as a Minnesota ICON along with the other outstanding attorneys and business professionals. Any success I have is a direct result of the support of wonderful people I have had the pleasure of working with throughout my career both in the military and in the legal profession, Bill said. Bill serves as a co-chair of Greenberg Traurigs Global Trial Practice. He is a former federal prosecutor and experienced trial lawyer, having served as lead counsel in more than 100 jury trials in federal and state courts across the country and is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He represents individuals and corporations in complex federal white collar and regulatory defense and internal investigations across a wide range of sectors. Bill advises clients in matters involving health care fraud, internal investigations, qui tam actions, money laundering, conspiracy, environmental matters, criminal antitrust, securities fraud, criminal tax, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). In addition, he is routinely brought in as lead trial counsel on various civil trials throughout the country. About Greenberg Traurigs Minneapolis Office: Established in 2019, Greenberg Traurigs Minneapolis office provides clients with an innovative, business-minded perspective along with strong location connections to business, industry, and government. The offices core capabilities include commodities and structured finance, restructuring and bankruptcy, corporate trust and structured products litigation, finance and financial services litigation, complex commercial litigation, white collar crime and internal investigations, products liability and mass torts, environmental litigation, intellectual property, tax, and agribusiness. 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. Harris Teeter is thrilled to announce a hiring event scheduled for Thursday, October 27. Harris Teeter is ready to hire hundreds of new associates in roles across all departments for full-time, regular employment. Harris Teeter is eager to add qualified associates to its retail operations, which include roles such as produce clerks, bakery clerks, plus hourly and salaried leadership roles. The event will take place from 2 p.m. 7 p.m. at all Harris Teeter locations. "While many companies are hiring for seasonal workers only, Harris Teeter is proud to hire full-time, permanent associates who are seeking a career with a purpose," said Lauren Furr, Director of Learning and Development & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. "We are eager to welcome new associates to the Harris Teeter family who will help us live our purpose to enrich lives: one meal, one family, one associate, and one community at a time." Harris Teeter offers resources, benefits and training to support and develop associates and make their lives easier including: Health & Wellness Medical benefits for full-time associates Free counseling sessions available 24/7 as well as other mental health resources Life insurance Financial 401(k) plans with a company matched contribution Saving plans and flexible paycheck delivery options Profit sharing twice a year Continuing Education Assistance Partnerships with Queens University and the University of Phoenix to help associates further their educational opportunities Educational leave of absence for associates who wish to continue employment with Harris Teeter while away at college Vacation, Personal Hours & Associate Perks Paid vacation days, paid personal days plus paid days for jury duty and bereavement Flexible scheduling Associate-only discounts on select grocery items If interested in joining the Harris Teeter team, visit any Harris Teeter location on Thursday, Oct. 27 between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. An applicant should go to the Customer Service Desk upon arrival and ask to speak to an interviewer about a position with Harris Teeter. The team will interview every candidate and discuss job opportunities in that location. The company encourages all interested applicants to explore available jobs on the Harris Teeter Careers website and apply online. This step is preferred but not mandatory for an interview. About Harris Teeter Harris Teeter, with headquarters in Matthews, N.C., is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR). The regional grocery chain employs approximately 35,000 associates and operates stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida and the District of Columbia. Leading carriers are creating an integrated, full-service digital experience that supports small firms with the content and tools they need to make informed coverage decisions," said Beth Robertson, managing director of Keynova Group. Keynova Group, the principal competitive intelligence source for digital financial services firms, today announced the results of the 2022 edition of its Small Commercial Insurance Scorecard. The Hartford attained top honors for its digital user experiences catering to small businesses, ranking first in overall score in Keynova Groups evaluation of the desktop and mobile offerings of the 10 largest U.S. small business insurers. The annual Scorecard highlights how carriers are advancing digital product information, policy acquisition, support and servicing to meet the unique needs of small firms. "The digital experience for small businesses acquiring and servicing insurance policies remains widely disparate across carriers and even within various aspects of a single carriers prospect and policyholder journey, said Beth Robertson, managing director of Keynova Group. Leading carriers are creating an integrated, full-service digital experience that supports small firms with the content and tools they need to make informed coverage decisions. Decision Support Emerging in the Small Business Digital Quote and Bind Experience Digital quoting and binding are becoming more prevalent for small businesses shopping for policies, driving the need for online educational information and decision support tools. Among the reviewed small commercial insurance carriers, 70% offer digital quoting for business insurance and 50% now support quoting for four or more small commercial policy types directly on their web or mobile sites. More than half (60%) of the carriers also enable digital binding for small business policies. To help business owners with their many decisions about coverage, 70% of the reviewed carriers provide coverage assessment tools on their sites, and one-third offer estimator tools that summarize coverage options and highlight anticipated premiums. Another 40% now offer industry-specific insurance videos and/or podcasts, while both Hiscox and The Hartford offer live chat support for small businesses as they review policy-related content on the public site. Carriers Evolving to Enable Full-Service Digital Policy Management Though still less prevalent than for personal lines policyholders or for small businesses using banking services, small commercial insurance carriers are moving to provide a more comprehensive digital policy management experience to small business users. Currently, 50% of the reviewed carriers enable small business policyholders to report or track claims within the same interface they use to manage policies. 40% support online workers compensation audits, while 30% offer single sign-on for both personal and small business policies. The Hartford stands out by enabling business or workers compensation policyholders to make online changes to their coverage, and Progressive enables online changes to some aspects of its commercial auto policies. Additionally, 30% of carriers now facilitate digital adoption by automatically enrolling new small business policyholders in digital account management. Finding the Right Blend of Self-Service and Agent Support is Crucial To realize customer experience gains from their investments in digital servicing and claims management, carriers can do more to help prospective and current small business customers tap into the digital resources available to them, while still feeling supported by live agents. As innovators in this area, State Farm and The Hartford provide demos highlighting key aspects of digital policy management, although features of this nature could benefit from expanded availability. Interactive customer service that is accessible through digital channels is also valuable: Hiscox offers co-browsing and public site chat, The Hartford provides live chat and callback in both public and authenticated areas, and Travelers offers secure chat for claims. Language accessibility is another important part of optimized self-service, and 70% of reviewed carriers now offer Spanish-language educational content for small firms while just 30% offer Spanish-speaking support agents. About the Small Commercial Insurance Scorecard Keynova Groups annual fact-based Small Commercial Insurance Scorecard evaluates the online and mobile offerings of 10 of the leading U.S. small business insurers including Allstate, Chubb, GEICO, Hiscox, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, Progressive, State Farm, The Hartford, and Travelers. Evaluating approximately 300 objective criteria and measuring competitive digital capabilities and user experience elements, the Scorecard identifies evolving trends and actionable insights that influence digital strategies for carriers serving small firms. For more information about Keynova Groups 2022 Small Commercial Insurance Scorecard, please visit https://www.keynovagroup.com/scorecards/#insurance. About Keynova Group Keynova Group is the leading competitive intelligence firm providing trusted benchmarking insights and analysis of consumer and small business digital financial services, including banking, credit card, home lending, and insurance. Keynova Groups Scorecards have served as the go-to source for leading financial services firms to obtain reliable competitive intelligence and actionable insights since 1999. The firms proven methodology and highly detailed results help its clients maximize the value of their digital channels to deliver a premier experience to customers and prospects. Betrayed By God: an influential autobiographical work that will help readers facing similar struggle, Betrayed By God is the creation of published author Kimberly Rouse. Rouse shares, This book takes you on a journey through this little girls childhood and the abuse and abandonment she endured well into her adulthoodlosing her dad at a young age, being catapulted into forty years of trauma through that one event, being emotionally abandoned by her mother and sexually abused by her mothers boyfriend, and then being sent off three thousand miles from her home, because after all Russell didnt do anything wrong (according to a paper written by one of her sisters), only to grow up feeling like trash that had been thrown away by the one person she felt should love her the most. She felt unloved, unworthy, hated, and rejected. She also felt betrayed by God and didnt realize it until God gave her the title to this book. Then God came to her one day in her womanhood, and He saw her. He saw her brokenness and began mending the pieces of her soul together. He saw her need for love, and He loved her back to life. He saw her need to feel accepted, and He accepted her into His family. He saw her need to feel valuable, and He gave her pricelessness in Him. He saw her abandonment, and He gave her a relationship with Him. This book paints the beautiful story of a woman completely broken by life and the new life God gave her, turning her from being gloomy, depressed, heartbroken, and empty to being part of His royal family and allowed to sit at the Kings table, even in the presence of her enemies. This book is certain to be one you will find amazing and awe-inspiring all the way to the very end. It will leave you feeling full of hope and realizing that you too are not betrayed by God. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Kimberly Rouses new book encourages a sense of purpose and connection with God. Rouse brings readers a powerful message in hopes of reaching those in need of Gods healing grace. Consumers can purchase Betrayed By God at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Betrayed By God, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. If you would like to know more about the Dreamfields lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047. The Southern California labor law attorneys at Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC, filed a class action complaint against Dreamfields Brands, Inc., Dreamfields California, LLC and Dreamfields Security, Inc. (hereinafter, collectively, "Dreamfields"), for allegedly failing to provide meal and rest breaks. The class action lawsuit, Case No. CVRI2203871, is currently pending in the Riverside County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. According to the lawsuit, Dreamfields allegedly violated California Labor Code Sections 201, 202, 203, 204, 210, 226.7, 246, 510, 512, 558, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198 and 2802 by failing to: (1) pay minimum wages; (2) pay overtime wages; (3) provide required meal and rest periods; (4) reimburse for required business expenses; (5) provide wages when due; and (6) provide accurate itemized wage statements. As a result of their rigorous work schedules, Dreamfields' employees were allegedly unable to take off duty meal breaks and were not fully relieved of duty for meal periods. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges employees were from time to time interrupted during their off-duty meal breaks to complete tasks for Dreamfields. Employees were allegedly required to perform work as ordered by Dreamfields for more than five (5) hours during a shift without receiving an off-duty meal break. Further, the lawsuit alleges Dreamfields failed to provide employees with a second off-duty meal period each workday in which these employees were required by Dreamfields to work ten (10) hours of work. Dreamfields' policy allegedly caused employees to remain on-call and on-duty during what was supposed to be their off-duty meal periods. Employees therefore allegedly forfeited meal breaks without additional compensation and in accordance with Dreamfields' strict corporate policy and practice. If you would like to know more about the lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047. Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC are labor and employment law firms with offices located in California that dedicate their practices to fighting for employees who have been wronged by their employers due to unfair employment practices. Contact one of their attorneys today if you need help with workplace issues regarding wage and hour, wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination, and harassment. -THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT- Lightbridge Academy, the fast-growing early education and child care franchise, aims to reach 150 centers by 2025 and has identified several markets across the country as primed for the concept. One of the brands growth markets is Houston, Texas, for example, a market with the capacity for about 30 to 35 centers. Recently, the team signed its first agreement in Houston a three-unit deal with experienced entrepreneurs and multi-brand franchisees Samit Darne, Bhautik Patel and Premal Dhebariya. Houston has such vast areas continuing to expand, said Jim DiRugeris, Senior Vice President of Franchise Sales. Only the Dallas and Phoenix metro areas grew more aggressively. Young families are continuing to move from other states to Texas. So it's a great opportunity to enter the market and serve these Houstonian families. Houston has seen major growth over recent years. According to the census, Houston is currently growing at a rate of 0.88% annually and its population has increased by 1.40% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 2,313,238 in 2020. The number of children under the age of five has also increased in the area, with home construction booming as more and more families move into the suburbs and need child care. With its expansion into Texas, Lightbridge Academy is filling a need for high quality child care, as nearly two-thirds of the nations working families are already having trouble finding child care, according to the research and advocacy organization Children at Risk. In addition to that statistic, upward of 4 million child care slots could be permanently lost if more is not done to stabilize the industry. The child care industry in Texas has an estimated impact of $8.7 billion on the states economy, according to a 2019 report from the nonprofit policy think tank the Committee for Economic Development (CED). Maintaining this piece of the economic puzzle is critical to the states economic health and provides ample opportunity for Lightbridge to make a difference in the lives of working parents and their children. DiRugeris stated that the team is experiencing strong interest in Lightbridge from those researching child care franchising in Texas because of the brand's high quality educational curriculum and program but also because of the services and technology available to support busy working parents. We utilize industry-leading technology to create a more secure and healthier learning environment and a deeper connection between home and school. One of the services we offer is the ParentView internet monitoring system, and along with an e-Communication app, we provide a real-time and ongoing connection for families, said DiRugeris. With center-wide air purification and filtration and facial recognition security systems, we set the Gold Standard for health and safety in the child care industry along with the high-quality educational child care program that families expect. Now, in line with this recent three-unit signing, DiRugeris said the team is currently looking for real estate to start the process of opening the first center in the market. Lightbridge Academy utilizes a customized technology platform and analytic modeling to perform extensive research. The proactive approach to market planning and site selection has helped identify prime areas to locate centers. As a result, the brand is focusing on establishing a presence in the flourishing markets of Katy, Cypress, The Woodlands, Atascocita and Pearland. With 25 years of child care operations and 10 of those years in franchising, Lightbridge Academy is highly experienced in expanding into major markets like Houston, DiRugeris said. We are thrilled to welcome our first multi-unit franchise partners in the area and are looking forward to teaming up with other passionate and qualified entrepreneurs eager to become The Solution for Working Parents in the communities they serve. Learn more about franchise opportunities at https://LightbridgeAcademyFranchise.com/. About Lightbridge Academy: Established in 1997, the company was founded as a family business based on core values and a Circle of Care philosophy that places equal importance on the needs of children, their families, teachers, center owners and the community. Lightbridge Academy provides quality early education and child care programs to children aged six weeks through kindergarten. The company currently has over 140 child care centers either open or in development throughout Florida, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. In response to COVID-19, Lightbridge Academy launched The Lightbridge Promise as the Gold Standard for health & safety in the child care industry. In 2020, the company was featured on the Inc. 5000 ranking, Franchise Times Top 200+ awards, and on Newsweeks 2021 list of Americas Best Customer Service. In 2022, Lightbridge Academy was featured for the 7th year on Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 and for the 2nd year on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies. Analytics expert Dr. Angela Baldasare joins nonprofit National University National University, one of the largest nonprofit universities in the United States that serves more than 40,000 students, today announced the appointment of Dr. Angela Baldasare as deputy chief of staff and vice president for strategic institutional research and planning. In this role, Dr. Baldasare will serve as the institutions subject matter expert in higher education analytics, working with leaders across the university to harness the power of research and analytics to power a wide range of strategic initiatives across the organization. "Over the past decade, Angela has proven herself as one of the most effective and strategic institutional data leaders in higher education, said Dr. Mark D. Milliron, president and CEO of National University. Her perspective is grounded in deep empathy for the students and communities we serve. She also brings deep expertise in translating insights into strategies and impact that improve the lives of students, making her an ideal addition to our team. A nationally-recognized leader in institutional research, analytics and business intelligence, Dr. Baldasare brings more than two decades of experience of building and leading teams that are using analytics to improve outcomes in education and promote social good. During more than eight years with the University of Arizona (UA), Dr. Baldasare served as the assistant provost for institutional research, following four years as the founding director of divisional assessment for student affairs and enrollment management. During her time at UA, the universitys pioneering efforts to use data science and analytics to drive student success helped drive retention rates to an all-time high, resulting in national recognition through an American Public Radios Marketplace segment. More recently, Dr. Baldasare served as senior principal strategic consultant at Civitas Learning, the education technology firm well-known that pioneered the application of predictive analytics and data science to improve student retention, progression and completion. There, Angela was a leader with the firms services team, helping leaders to implement data-enabled advising technologies and apply analytics to improve outcomes and educational experiences for students. National University has developed a well-earned reputation as an institution committed to meeting the needs of the whole studentfrom classroom and career to finances and family life, Baldasare said. Im thrilled to join a team of educators and student success experts who are helping to set a new standard for learning-centered innovation. Prior to launching a career in higher education administration, Baldasare spent a decade in nonprofit and public sector leadership working to advance social impact in areas such as higher education, disease prevention, public safety, and child welfare. About National University: National University, a veteran-founded nonprofit, has been dedicated to meeting the needs of hard-working adults by providing accessible, affordable, achievable higher education opportunities since 1971. As San Diegos largest private nonprofit university, NU offers over 75 online and on-campus programs and flexible four-week classes designed to help students reach their goals while balancing busy lives. Since its founding, the NU community has grown to over 30,000 students and 190,000 alumni around the globe, many of whom serve in helping industries such as business, education, health care, cybersecurity, and law and criminal justice. National Universitys merge with Northcentral University will be complete in November 2022, growing the institution by over 10,000 students and 80 graduate and doctoral programs. Learn more at NU.edu. As a sixth-generation jeweler that has been in business for over 165 years, we have been touched by the warm welcome weve received from the vibrant and gracious community of Downtown Frederick. Nelson Coleman Jewelers, the ninth-oldest jewelry retailer in the United States, is opening its newest store in Frederick, Maryland. Located at 11 W Patrick Street in historic Downtown Frederick, the sixth-generation jeweler is known for their striking pieces, jewelry education, and passion for helping others. Amanda Coleman-Phelps, Nelson Coleman Jewelers owner and CEO, joined the company in February 2004. Coleman-Phelps is the visionary behind Nelson Coleman Jewelers' evolving culture and inviting environment. They chose Frederick for their newest location because of the vibrant downtown atmosphere and overall growth of the area in recent years. As a sixth-generation jeweler that has been in business for over 165 years, we have been touched by the warm welcome weve received from the vibrant and gracious community of Downtown Frederick. We are in business to enrich the lives of every individual we meet. Now that circle will expand, and we are thrilled to see it grow and be a part of an amazing city. Their dedication to helping others happens through The Chris Coleman Enrichment Program. The company's charitable giving arm is named after the current CEOs father, who retired from the company in 2021. When any customer makes a purchase at Nelson Coleman, 10% of full-purchase priced items is given to an organization of the customers choice. Whether it's a non-profit, local school, animal rescue, or homeless shelter, where their clients hearts are is where the jewelers donation goes. The Chris Coleman Enrichment Program is our funds-in-action commitment to help our clients support causes they are passionate about. I am proud to continue my fathers mission to serve others and spread that message as far as possible to our new Frederick friends and neighbors, Coleman-Phelps shared. With plans to open in late 2022 or early 2023, the company is actively hiring employees for its new location across from the Weinberg Center. Part- and full-time positions are available. The company is seeking experienced team members interested in connecting with others and helping them along their jewelry journey for life. An official grand opening event is being planned for later this year. To learn more about official opening events and detail, please contact Sarah Goggins at sgoggins@nelsoncoleman.com. To learn more about open positions, visit https://nelsoncoleman.com/join-our-team/. ### Nelson Coleman Jewelers is in the business of enriching the lives of individuals in their community. For 166 years, the sixth-generation family business has taken a holistic and educational approach to support and guide customers through the jewelry buying process. Headquartered in Towson, MD, with retail locations in Towson, Woodbridge, VA, and a new location opening soon in Frederick, MD, Nelson Coleman is committed to listening and learning how they can best serve each and every client and their community through their interactions, outreach, and the mission of The Chris Coleman Enrichment Program. Right now, consumers are both uncomfortable with where prices are, and in many cases, unable to make the math work. Strategic price cuts and incentives are sometimes proving effective at pulling back in some of the skittish consumers. In other cases, the quest carries on. Ali Wolf, chief economist Today, the experts at Zonda, the housing industrys foremost advisors, released the New Home Market Update report for September 2022. The housing market has entered a wait-and-see phaseconsumers are trying to decide if it makes sense to buy today or wait. As a result, many potential shoppers have moved to the sidelines. This is captured in total sales activity. Zondas New Home Pending Sales Index posted a 25.9% decline year-over-year in September, with levels roughly 3.0% below the same month in 2019. Many builders are also responding to the uncertainty by pausing on new land deals and slowing overall starts. Zondas statistics show that 81% of builders intend to slow starts for the rest of this year, if they havent already. Nearly 89% of builders are planning to slow starts next year as well. We are on a quest to find what well call the strike price a price where consumers see the value in the home and/or community and re-enter the market, said Ali Wolf, Zondas chief economist. Right now, consumers are both uncomfortable with where prices are, and in many cases, unable to make the math work. Strategic price cuts and incentives are sometimes proving effective at pulling back in some of the skittish consumers. In other cases, the quest carries on. The PSI is down double-digits in many markets The New Home Pending Sales Index, a leading residential real estate indicator based on the number of new home sales contracts signed across the country, came in at 113.2, representing a 25.9% decline from the same month last year. The index is currently 35.0% below cycle highs. On a month-over-month basis, seasonally adjusted new home sales increased 5.9%. Like last month, the PSI was up in just one of our select markets year-over-year -Baltimore. Sales in the market were also up month-over-month. The metros that performed the worst year-over-year were San Francisco (-64.9%), Phoenix (-61.3%), and Sacramento (-54.1%). On a monthly basis, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Washington, DC were the best-performing markets. Minneapolis increased 22.3% relative to last month. Home prices are still up from last year, but the level of appreciation is slowing National home prices increased year-over-year across entry-level, move-up, and high-end homes. Prices rose 12.7% for entry-level to $340,369, 10.8% for move-up to $529,050, and 8.7% for high-end homes to $906,157. High-end price growth increased to a new high. Supplementing our data with a monthly survey Zonda conducts, there were roughly 30% of homebuilders across the country that reported lowering prices month-over-month in September. Incentives are increasingly common in todays housing market given the slower sales. 53.7% of active projects are offering to-be-built incentives, up from last month. The average incentive dollar amount is $10,169 or 2.0% of the list price. Quick move-in inventory is rapidly increasing There are currently 13,383 actively selling communities tracked by Zonda, down 8.6% from last year. On a month-over-month basis, the national figure slipped 1.4%. Total community count is 30.5% below the same month in 2019. Sacramento (+9.3%), Las Vegas (+8.8%), and Riverside/San Bernardino (+8.0%) grew community count the most year-over-year. Relative to last year, the biggest community count declines were in seen Baltimore (-28.7%), Atlanta (-23.7%), and New York (-21.3%). Community count in 8% of our select markets rose month-over-month, 0% were flat, and 92% fell. National quick move-ins (QMIs) totaled 25,543, up 126.7% compared to last year and 6.1% higher month-over-month. Total QMIs are 10.4% above 2019 levels. QMIs represent homes that can be occupied within 90 days and are important to watch as the market shifts. On a metro basis, all of Zonda's select markets increased QMI count year-over-year. The markets posting the biggest gains were Cincinnati (+1,186.7%), Tampa (+929.4%), and Raleigh (+483.5%). Cincinnati has surpassed 2019 levels of QMIs, but Tampa and Raleigh remain below. Salt Lake City, Jacksonville, and Cincinnati have seen the most growth in QMIs compared to the same time in 2019, up 322.9%, 146.1%, and 87.4%, respectively. Zonda tracks 60% of the production new home market across the United States. Given the proprietary database, Zonda is uniquely positioned to capture trends and changes in the new home market. Methodology The Zonda New Home Pending Sales Index (PSI) is built on proprietary, industry-leading data that covers 60% of the production new home market across the United States. The reported number of new home pending contracts are gathered and analyzed each month. Released on the 15th business day of each month, the New Home PSI is a leading indicator of housing demand compared to closings because it is based on the number of signed contracts at a new home community. Zonda monitors 18,000 active communities in the country and the homes tracked can be in any stage of construction. The new home market represents roughly 10% of all transactions, allowing little movements in supply to cause outsized swings in market activity. As a result, the New Home PSI blends the cumulative sales of activity recently sold out projects with the average sales rate per community, which adjusts for fluctuations in supply. Furthermore, the New Home PSI is seasonally adjusted based on each markets specific seasonality, removes outliers, and uses June 2016 as the base month. The foundation of the index is a monthly survey conducted by Zonda. It is necessary to monitor both new and existing home sales to establish an accurate picture of the relative health of the residential real estate market. Visit ZondaHome.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook for more information. About Zonda Zonda provides data-driven housing market solutions to the homebuilding industry. From builders to building product manufacturers, mortgage clients, and multifamily executives, we work hand-in-hand with our customers to streamline access to housing data to empower smarter decisions. As a leading brand in residential construction, our mission is to advance the home building industry, because we believe better homes mean better lives and stronger communities. Together, we are building the future of housing. Local and state officials from the Commonwealth joined Superintendent David DiBarri, the Northeast Metro Tech School and Building Committees, and representatives from PMA Consultants, DRA Architects, and Gilbane Building Company to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the 380,000-SF Northeast Metro Tech High School. Once complete, the new facility will expand enrollment and serve approximately 1,600 students, upgrading career and technical labs and significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the existing school. With a laser focus on safety, Gilbane will construct the new school adjacent to the current, occupied facility without interruption to ongoing operations. Designed by DRA Architects, with PMA Consultants serving as owners project manager, the new Northeast Metro Tech will accommodate students from 12 member communities in Massachusetts, who supported the building project at the ballot box last year. During ceremonial remarks, former Massachusetts Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo noted the importance of the project, saying, This is a celebration because I see this school, and all the vocational schools throughout this state, as being major engines for the economy of Massachusetts. Throughout the ceremony, current culinary students served hors doeuvres they had prepared and communications students helped with event poduction, preparing gifts, greeting guests, and designing promotional material. Were excited to mark the official start of this amazing project with the Northeast Metro Tech community, said Mike OBrien, senior vice president and business unit leader for Gilbane in Massachusetts. This new school will provide students with a top-notch vocational education and were looking forward to being a part of that as we use this building project as a living classroom for the NEMT student body, ensuring the construction of their new school provides applicable learning experiences. Northeast Metro Tech is slated for completion by 2026. About Gilbane Building Company Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build and facility management services for clients across various markets. Founded in 1870 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has more than 46 office locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.gilbaneco.com. Portable telemetry for on-site use and remote telemetry for home use are the logical next steps in this era of virtual care. Telehealth is only growing in popularity and effectiveness. Now is the time for hospitals to augment their current telehealth practices with robust yet adaptable technology. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed hospital operations. As facilities limited non-COVID care, medical providers turned to telehealth solutions to treat patients.(1) Patients and providers relied on a patchwork of videoconferencing systems, patient portals, and rudimentary home health equipment to manage non-emergency care. Value-based care means flexibility in clinical capability, says The Virtual Telemetry Company, InfoBionic, CEO Stuart Long. Portable telemetry for on-site use and remote telemetry for home use are the logical next steps in this era of virtual care. Telehealth is only growing in popularity and effectiveness. Now is the time for hospitals to augment their current telehealth practices with robust yet adaptable technology. The pandemic revealed two major findings about telehealth. 1) First, patients appreciate the convenience of home access to medical information and communication with providers. 2) Second, the technology for remote healthcare is insufficient for the needs of patients. Providers and healthcare facilities are racing to upgrade systems to use telehealth more effectively in the near future. Remote telemetry for monitoring patients vital functions is a top technology priority. Industry analysts predict that the market for remote cardiac monitoring devices will grow from $6.48 billion to $11.49 billion annually by 2030.(2) Companies like InfoBionic are stepping up to provide the next generation of remote telemetry tools. Telemetry refers to any system that allows medical staff to monitor patients without being present in the room. Hospital systems regularly use telemetry to monitor patients. Patients in an ICU, for example, might be one of the most sophisticated stationary cardiac monitors that are remotely monitored 24/7 and incorporate that several life critical vital signs. In contrast, staff would use different telemetry systems designed to monitor patients with less acute needs, but the patient would still occupy a designated step-down or progressive care telemetry bed with continuous monitoring. These latter systems monitor fewer vital signs and are not intended for severely ill or the highest acuity patients. Further, they can be limited in their portability and often are confined to just these areas of the hospital, thereby making it difficult to transport patients to non-telemetry areas of the hospital like radiology or cardiology. Hospitals have a limited number of beds that can accommodate the high- and mid-level telemetry that patients need. As a result, patients may remain in the ICU longer than necessary due to a lack of step-down beds. For many patients, monitoring is the only service they need from a hospital. Advanced mobile telemetry would allow hospitals to accommodate patient needs in any bed. InfoBionics MoMe ARC Platform* is being designed to be the first platform on the market to deliver that level of acuity, agility, and adaptability in virtual cardiac care. We envisioned an entirely portable and adaptable system for cardiac monitoring, says Long. The monitors themselves are not tethered to a single area of a facility, allowing uninterrupted use even when a patient moves between departments. The next generation MoMe* is being designed specifically for hospital telemetry to provide a step-down level of telemetry for any bed or location that would need an easy-to-deploy mobile telemetry monitor. Further, it builds on our core expertise to enable a seamless hospital-to-home patient transition where continuous monitoring from real-time to near real-time is essential for meeting the demands of virtual care monitoring. For more information about InfoBionic, visit their website at https://infobionic.com/. *This product has not been approved by the FDA for sale in the US. About InfoBionic InfoBionics digital technology has transformed the clinical efficiency and economics of cardiac remote patient monitoring. The companys MoMe ARC platform has removed the roadblocks hindering remote diagnosis and clinical decision-making. The Massachusetts-based team of seasoned entrepreneurs have had successful careers in healthcare, IT, medical devices, and mobile technology and bring specific expertise in remote monitoring and cardiology. More recently, working side by side with the healthcare and medical technology communities, including its own competitors, InfoBionic has developed MoMe Now, the first virtual telemetry system for high-acuity patients in remote, virtual, or hospital-at-home care environments. Visit https://InfoBionic.com/ References: 1. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Trends in Use of Telehealth Among Health Centers During the COVID-19 Pandemic United States, June 26November 6, 2020. February 2021. 2. Acumen Research and Consulting. Cardiac Arrhythmia Monitoring Devices Market Analysis - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends and Forecast 2022 - 2030. June 2022. Hundreds of employees participated in volunteer opportunities impacting over 20 nonprofits. I am so excited to see how well Building CommYOUnity brought SAFE employees and the community together. SAFE Credit Union Community Impact Manager Amanda Merz Putting together bags for families with kids facing cancer. Sorting food at regional food banks. Creating kitchen kits for refugees new to the Sacramento region. Serving meals to mothers and children getting their lives back on track. Staffing fundraisers. Writing letters to those in hospice. These were just some of the activities many of SAFE Credit Unions 750 employees participated in during the credit unions Building CommYOUnity Month in September. We had a tremendous response from our employees as we put out the call to make a difference during the entire month of September, says SAFE Credit Union Community Impact Manager Amanda Merz. Hundreds of employees participated in volunteer opportunities impacting over 20 nonprofits. I am so excited to see how well Building CommYOUnity brought SAFE employees and the community together. Volunteerism is a part of the award-winning culture at SAFE. Each employee receives 16 hours of paid time off each year to volunteer. Employees are encouraged to volunteer on their own or with their co-workers. When I was lining up nonprofits for SAFE to volunteer for in September, I made sure to find a wide range of organizations, activities, and even locations, says Community Impact Specialist (and Perfect Cents Podcast co-host) Brit Kelleher. SAFE launched its Building CommYOUnity Week two years ago, but this year decided to extend it to a full month to make a bigger impact on the community. Employees say they loved the experience. To me, volunteering is about giving back to the community, says Human Resources Coordinator Taylor Morgan. SAFE says they care about our people, and that is so true. But our people are more than our employees and members. They are the people in the community who we want to give back to. The nonprofits enthusiastically appreciate the support. Weve had an incredible partnership with SAFE with volunteers coming many times, says Karen Edwards, Community Engagement Manager at Saint Johns Program for Real Change. We love having SAFE come volunteer. About SAFE SAFE Credit Union is a leading financial institution in Northern California with over $4.5 billion in assets and more than 242,000 members. SAFE is a not-for-profit, state-chartered credit union with membership open to businesses and individuals living or working in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Sutter, Butte, Nevada, Solano, San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Yuba, Amador, and Alameda counties. Insured by NCUA. http://www.safecu.org. SGF presents 19 studies at this years American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Scientific Congress & Expo, including a prize paper and 8 oral presentations. Year after year, the SGF research team is proud to participate in the ASRM Scientific Congress and Expo and collaborate with reproductive scientists from the U.S. and around the world to improve outcomes for those facing infertility." Shady Grove Fertilitys (SGF) physician-scientists will present 19 research abstracts during the 2022 American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Scientific Congress & Expo as part of the practices commitment to advancing knowledge and improving assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment outcomes. This years research by SGF presented at ASRM covered many important topics care including optimized outcomes for frozen embryo transfers, third-party reproduction, male fertility, and fertility preservation for patients with cancer, to name a few. Hosted in Anaheim, California, the 78th ASRM Scientific Congress & Expo takes place October 22 through 26, 2022, and attracts more than 8,000 national and international physicians and professionals distinguished academicians, clinicians, and scientific investigators in the field of human reproduction. The theme of the ASRM 2022 meeting is Genes, Gametes, and Genetics: What Will the Future Hold? SGF is one of only a few private practice fertility centers in the country to employ a full-time dedicated research team, which operates under Director of Research, Kate Devine, M.D., a board certified reproductive endocrinologist who sees patients at SGFs Washington, D.C., K Street location. Dr. Devine serves as faculty to fellows at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) training to become reproductive endocrinologists and to residents at Georgetown School of Medicine training to be obstetrician/gynecologists. Dr. Devine also serves as the Executive Medical Director and Chief Research Officer at US Fertility, the largest network of physician-owned and physician-led fertility practices in the United States, of which SGF is a founding partner practice. Year after year, the SGF research team is proud to participate in the ASRM Scientific Congress and Expo and collaborate with reproductive scientists from the U.S. and around the world to improve outcomes for those facing infertility, shares Dr. Devine. Our research efforts offer hope to those struggling to conceive and push us to continue providing innovative, evidence-based care to fertility patients. As a premier IVF and fertility center of excellence, SGF demonstrates a sustained commitment to clinical research and clinical education. Many of the studies presented at the meeting this year resulted from collaborations between SGF and academic institutions. SGF physicians act as clinical instructors and research mentors to physicians in training from NIH, Georgetown University, Eastern Virginia Medical School, University of South Florida, and University of Colorado. SGF is proud to be training the next generation of physicians in reproductive medicine, shares Eric Widra, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, SGF. Our valuable and unprecedented partnership with our four fellowship programs fuels our research initiatives and gives back to all fertility patients. SGFs national retrospective cohort study of ovarian response and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in cancer patients undergoing fertility preservation treatment compared to patients who are electively freezing their eggs has been selected as the Fertility Preservation Special Interest Group Prize Paper Prize Paper. The research, led by University of Colorado fellow Ivy Lersten, M.D., alongside her mentor, SGF Colorado physician Cassandra Roeca, M.D., found that the relationship between the number of eggs retrieved or cryopreserved and AMH did not differ for fertility preservation versus elective egg freezing groups. This research can provide reassurance for patients undergoing fertility preservation treatment following a cancer diagnosis. At SGF, we know the importance of innovative, evidence-based fertility care, shares Dr. Roeca. With this new information, we can better counsel patients and reassure them that their cancer diagnosis does not have to mean the end of their family-building dreams. In addition to oral and poster presentations, several SGF physicians and nurses hosted symposiums, interactive sessions, roundtable discussions, and post-graduate courses. Jerrine Morris, M.D., an SGF physician who joined the practice this fall, will lead a roundtable discussion, symposia, and session that all dive into bringing diversity and equity to reproductive healthcare. To learn more about ongoing research being conducted at SGF, visit http://www.shadygrovefertility.com/research. About Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) SGF is a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence with more than 100,000 babies born from 30+ years of continuous innovation and patient-centered fertility care. With 50 locations, including the newest location in Raleigh, North Carolina, as well as throughout CO, FL, GA, MD, NY, PA, TX, VA, D.C., and Santiago, Chile, SGF offers patients in-person and virtual physician consults, delivers individualized care, accepts most insurance plans, and makes treatment affordable through innovative financial options, including 100% refund guarantees. SGF is among the founding partner practices of US Fertility, the largest physician-led partnership of top-tier fertility practices in the U.S. Call 1-888-761-1967 to schedule a new patient appointment or visit ShadyGroveFertility.com for more information. Heather Ayris Burnell grows book collections, readers and garlic. As a childrens author, Washington State librarian, and a garlic farmer, she gets books into kids' hands and garlic on tables across the U.S. with her family-run garlic farm. Burnell works with the North Central Washington Libraries as the branch librarian at the Oroville Branch, in Oroville, Wash. She is also the author of the picture books Kick! Jump! Chop! The Adventures of the Ninjabread Man and Bedtime Monster, and the chapter book series Unicorn and Yeti. The series seventh title, Stuck on You, will be out December 6. PW spoke with Burnell about her roles as a librarian and childrens author, the influence her library work has on her writing, and the life lessons shes learned from being a farmer. How long have you been a librarian? When did you begin? I started working at the Oroville branch about 15 years ago as a substitute librarian. I filled in for the branch librarian when they needed itand I came in whenever they needed an extra pair of hands. When the branch librarian retired, I took over the position, an Ive been in this role for the last five years. As branch librarian in a small rural library, I get to do everything from programming and storytime to outreach and community engagement to readers advisory, and working the desk, and much more. When did you first become a writer, and what made you decide to start writing books for kids? Ive been writing my whole life. I could read from a very young age, so Ive always liked reading books. But I think that something about first grade flipped a switch for me, and I just liked writing things down. At my elementary school, I had a lot of different opportunities to create stories. I remember making books in class, including poetry books. Id create covers made with cloth and tie the pages together. I also took part in community cookbook and historical writing contests, and I got my writing in a couple of small publications. This felt very special to me at that age. As a teen, I didnt write for any real purpose except to relax, which I did mostly through journaling. Id write about what was on my mind, and occasional stories. At that time, I was writing for myself. I didnt really think about writing for publication until I had a family of my own. And, it occurred to me, I could be a writer. Naturally, I headed to my library, and checked out many craft books on writing for children and publishing, and it kind of went from there. It took a while to learn what I needed to know. If writing has taught me anything, its that good things take timeand that the time it takes is worth it. Every day seems to hold a lot of story potential that I have scarcely tapped into. Can you tell us how your stories about a sparkly unicorn and a furry yeti came to be? These stories began with a singular story about a unicorn, which was first a picture book. Many revisions later, I thought about What is the opposite of a unicorn? And a yeti popped up in the story. As my readers can tell you, Unicorn is sparkly, happy, outgoing, and enthusiastic. And Yeti does things in a different way. Like when he says, Okay, I dont brush my fur very much. He doesnt have to be fancy like Unicorn because hes more realistic and down to Earth. And, while the two characters are different, they show readers that we dont have to be the same to be friends and work together. How did you find a home for Unicorn and Yeti? After working on the initial picture book manuscript, my agent, Sean McCarthy, suggested that I try creating an early reader story collection. I loved the idea because many of my favorite books growing up were early reader type books (e.g. Arnold Lobel, Syd Hoff, and P.D. Eastman). In addition, Id always wanted to write early readers because they are often the first books that a child reads to themselves. So, of course, I said, OK, Ill do that! I came up with a few stories about Unicorn and Yeti who are complete opposites. What else can you tell us about Unicorn, Yeti, and the series? In my original Unicorn story, Unicorn was an imaginary friend to a little girl, and I liked the idea of imaginary friends being real. I had a Unicorn that was an imaginary friend, too. So this series takes this story one step further. In the series, Unicorn and Yeti may be imaginary characters, but theyre true friends. Each book has three stories in it about the two of them that can be read independently of each other. Whats nice about the books being split into separate stories is that readers can read one story at a time and feel accomplished. Or, they can read all the stories in a row. While the stories are related, readers dont have to read one story before reading the others. The adorable artwork is done by Hazel Quintanilla, and the color-coded speech bubbles help reinforce comprehension. And, when readers are through reading a book, theres a place in the back where they can draw and be inspired to write stories of their own. I wrote the first six books between 2019 and 2022. Its been a quick turn around. But its a great way to keep the excitement going for emerging readers. How has being a librarian influenced your childrens stories? While prepping for my story times every week, I sometimes notice holes where I cant find a book on a particular subject, or I cant find enough good read alouds for a theme. And, I think to myself, Maybe I should write a story about this or that. Also, as a librarian, I am always reading lots and lots of new picture books. I think this gives me an advantage of seeing what makes a good picture book and/or early reader. On top of that, being around books all day is inspiring, hopeful, and fun! Theres just so much possibility! Books can open up our world, teach us about empathyand so many things that we dont know. Speaking of learning, what lessons have you learned from garlic farming? Its a lot like writing. Growing garlic is a process that you need to be in for the long haul. You plant one year and harvest the next. You have to trust that under all of that dirt something is taking shape. When the garlic tops start to emerge, theres joy and hope; but you have to keep working. You water and weed and worry. You may work until your muscles ache and your hands dont want to move. You come back again and again to see what more you can do. And you also wait, patiently, until finally it is time to harvest. Its all hard work. And with the harvest, more work has begun! You learn something new every season, and get better at what you do with each crop. It feels a lot like process of creating a book. Whats next for Unicorn and Yetiand for you? And what are your hopes for these stories? Of course, I hope that some readers feel that sparkle with Unicorn and Yeti books that leads them to find their love of reading, but most of all, I hope that readers just have fun reading them! Ive just turned in my manuscripts for books eight and ninethat equals 27 Unicorn and Yeti stories! Moving forward, writing Unicorn and Yeti stories and working at the library are taking most of my time these days, but Im doing my best to work on other early reader and picture book ideas. And there are always so many possibilities for new stories. With being librarian, living in the mountains off grid for a time, and my farm lifeevery day seems to hold a lot of story potential that I have scarcely tapped into. Click Here to go to PublishersWeekly.com The research, 5G Monetisation: Business Models, Strategic Recommendations & Market Forecasts 2022-2027 , forecasts that over 600 million new 5G subscriptions will be created next year. Furthermore, it predicts this increase in revenue to $315 billion will be driven by the accelerating migration of cellular subscriptions to 5G networks owing to operator strategies that minimise or remove any premium over existing 4G subscription offerings.Despite the growth of the Internet of Things, Jupiter expects revenue from consumer connections, for applications such as mobile video, will continue to be the cornerstone of 5G operator revenue increase. Over 95% of global 5G connections in 2027 will be connected personal devices such as smartphones, tablets and mobile broadband routers, noted research co-author Olivia Williams.Going further out, the report sees the growth of 5G networks maintaining steadily with over 80% of global operator billed revenue attributable to 5G connections by 2027. Jupiter also believes that just like how the communications industry demonstrated its robustness against the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the growth of 5G will also be resilient against this economic downturn owing to the vital importance of mobile Internet connectivity. Dont look now, but two weeks before the midterm elections, the 2024 presidential race is already in full swing. While the lions share of the attention is on the Republican field, the rumor mill is also speculating about potential successors to President Joe Biden, who turns 80 next month. High atop any pundits list is California Governor Gavin Newsom. In many ways, he is the ideal candidate for a party searching for its next leader. Tall, handsome and with an enviable head of hair, the 55-year-old Newsom is a relative baby compared to his partys aging infrastructure. He has beaten back a GOP recall effort, and as governor of the nations largest state, he presides over the worlds fifth largest economy with a $3.4 trillion gross state product. But above all else, Newsom is the embodiment of the green energy that courses through the veins of Democratic party faithful. In fact, his candidacy would represent the most aggressive, radical environmental record, even when stacked against the likes of Washington Governor Jay Inslee, California Senator Kamala Harris, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who all boast credible environmental bona fides. Like Biden, Newsoms actions as Governor have been nothing short of declarations of war on fossil fuel and traditional energy solutions. To wit: He invoked orders to consider climate change when making investment decisions for California pensions in 2019. In 2022, he declared that all new passenger vehicles sold in California by 2035 be electric, and just last week, continued his war on oil companies by calling for a windfall profits tax. The results havent been pretty. Californians pay the highest cost per-gallon for gas in the nation (averaging over $6.15 per gallon, versus the U.S. average of $3.90 in mid October). This is part of an intentional plan by Newsom and eco groups to make the cost of transitioning to electric vehicles look palatable. With an average EV costing north of $60,000, it isnt an easy sell. A proposed high-speed rail development from San Francisco to Orange County, championed by Newsom since his days as San Francisco mayor, is a decade behind schedule with over $10 billion already spent with no go-forward plan in sight, and a cost estimate jumping from $33 billion to $110 billion for the megaproject. Newsoms presidential campaign would also no doubt attempt to initiate additional clean air and clean water standards. In 2020, he and his state sued the EPA for delaying state-driven standards for clean air, all designed to punish Californians who contributed to the climate crisis with personal vehicle use. Simply put, to Newsom, if you drive a gas- or diesel-powered car or truck, youre a problem that should be eliminated. Should Newsom try for the White House, and bring his extreme environmental beliefs with him to the campaign trail, Americans would be wise to summarily reject both. Especially in rural America, including my home state of Alaska, much of our transportation is in areas without superhighways or near mega-cities and their mass transit systems. Newsoms war on gas-powered autos would likely mean rural areas could find all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, snowmachines and tractors next up on the chopping block. Newsom has attempted to make California the shining example of a green-energy-powered state. However, in the face of high temperatures and low-wind weather, Newsom turned tail and re-engaged natural gas and diesel-powered plants to add capacity to the grid. Newsom knows wind and solar wont exclusively cover his states needs, but that doesnt stop him from forcibly phasing out traditional energy solutions. America is learning the hard way the consequences of demonizing and vilifying traditional energy producers. Biden and team have put our national security in the hands of OPEC and other hostile foreign nations. In California, things are even worse, and its citizens are fleeing in droves the states population has declined year over year. This trend could be Newsoms undoing. Transporting California values on the rest of the nation is hardly a winning campaign message, and the misguided green agenda lies at its core. Rick Whitbeck is the Alaska State Director for Power The Future, a national nonprofit organization that advocates for American energy jobs. Contact him at Rick@PowerTheFuture.com and follow him on Twitter @PTFAlaska. As soon as Maryland legislators proposed an advertising tax that targeted out-of-state digital businesses, they were warned that their tax scheme was almost certainly unconstitutional. They went ahead with the tax anyway, even overriding Governor Larry Hogans veto to do so. And now, just months after going into effect, a Maryland judge has done what legislators were warned would happen. Even before the legal issues, there are plenty of reasons why Marylands digital advertising tax should never have made it through the legislative process. Marylands digital advertising is structured as a gross receipts tax, meaning that it would apply to all digital advertising revenue from Maryland sources, not just profits. This means that at the top bracket, businesses selling advertising services in Maryland would need a profit margin of at least 10 percent just to break even. Gross receipts taxes are a suboptimal means of raising revenue, as they arbitrarily punish low-margin businesses over high-margin businesses, but most have rates of fractions of a percent not up to 10 percent. On top of that, the tax was intentionally structured to fall primarily on out-of-state businesses. The brackets that a business pays are determined not by their Maryland-sourced digital advertising revenue, but by their worldwide revenue from digital advertising, with the first bracket starting at $100 million. In other words, it would be nearly impossible for a business operating entirely inside Maryland to be affected by the tax. The tax would fall almost entirely on businesses located out-of-state. This is one reason why Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge Alison Asti found the Maryland tax to be unconstitutional. By targeting out-of-state businesses, Maryland was in effect exporting tax burdens to businesses in other states. This is a textbook violation of the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, which prohibits states from imposing undue burdens on interstate commerce. Another reason Judge Asti decided as she did was the federal Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act (PITFA), which prohibits states from imposing taxes on digital goods and services that do not apply to their traditional counterparts. Maryland does not tax traditional advertising services (rightly, as advertising is generally an intermediate, business-to-business activity), so a tax that applies exclusively to digital advertising services is a clear violation of PITFA. Lastly, Judge Asti determined that Marylands tax violates the First Amendment. Courts both within Maryland and at the federal level have consistently ruled that taxes that target the news media violate the First Amendment. In this case, digital advertising is a key source of revenue for online media outlets, a revenue source that would be threatened by the tax. Judge Asti therefore determined that the tax violates the First Amendment. States considering their own digital advertising taxes had been watching the fate of Marylands legal battles to determine whether to move forward on similar discriminatory taxes. Hopefully, states will take this as a sharp rebuke against following in Marylands wake. State legislators should view the digitization of the economy not as an opportunity to grab at new sources of revenue, but merely as new expressions of traditional goods and services. States should not require judicial oversight to treat digital goods and services the same as they would treat their traditional counterparts. But as long as they are considering it, taxpayers can celebrate states taking one on the chin for stepping well outside the bounds of fair tax policy. One notification and two minutes to be real became part of a daily ritual for nearly 50 million more people worldwide this September alone. In just the last month, BeReal, an anti-Instagram social media platform, has experienced a 2,254% increase in monthly active users since January, according to Sensor Tower Store and Consumer Intelligence data. But, how real actually is BeReal? A relatively-new student organization is on the up-and-up the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers strives to support and uplift the Hispanic engineering community at the University of Georgia. The SHPE also provides networking opportunities for members to reach their engineering career goals and creates a community for students to grow connections with other Hispanic UGA students. 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. You are the owner of this article. Hu's removal may not have been deliberate, but that way it happened showed the extent of Xi's power, analysts say Former Chinese President Hu Jintao, front row second from right, talks to his predecessor as party leader Xi Jinping, right, as he is assisted to leave the hall during the closing ceremony of the 20th National Congress of China's ruling Communist Party at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. Chinese government censors on Monday limited keyword searches for former president Hu Jintao, who was unceremoniously removed from the ruling Chinese Communist Party congress over the weekend. Seated at the leaders rostrum on Saturday, a confused-looking Hu was physically lifted from his seat by a security guard and firmly escorted past leader Xi Jinping, whom he tried to talk to, and out of the hall. The incident prompted rampant speculation that Hu's removal was a political statement from Xi and to show the total destruction of Hu's political faction, which is closely linked to the Communist Party Youth League. Xi was later voted in for an unprecedented third five-year term in office, making him the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. No discussion of the incident was allowed on Chinese social media platforms after the event, while keyword searches for "Hu Jintao," "Granddad Hu" and "Xi Jinping" were blocked, or only showing very limited results. A keyword search for "Hu Jintao" on the Weibo social media platform on Monday resulted in just a couple of generic posts from the party congress, which ran from Oct. 16-22 in Beijing, with comments turned off on both. State news agency Xinhua later tweeted that Hu had turned up to the session despite feeling "unwell," and was escorted out due to his health. Some messages managed to get around censors for a brief time by referring to Hu as a "former principal" who had been sent out by the current principal. Clues from photos Ming Chu-cheng, professor of political science at National Taiwan University, said important clues could be found in news photos of the incident, broadcast by the Spanish-language channel ABC Internacional. "In the first photo, Hu Jintao is about to open the file [on the desk in front of him], but [outgoing Politburo standing committee member] Li Zhanshu stops him," Ming told a recent discussion forum in Taiwan. "In the second photo, Li Zhanshu takes the file away from Hu Jintao, who tries to take it back, but Li won't let him." In the third and fourth photos, party leader Xi Jinping indicates to the security guard that Hu should leave. Hu is escorted out, but tries to talk to Xi on his way out. "Xi doesn't give him the time of day," Ming said, saying that Xi's behavior was rude according to Chinese culture's veneration of elders. "The leaders ... on either side stay expressionless throughout ... they didn't dare show any expression due to Xi's power." But he added: "I think it was likely an emergency of some kind [rather than a premeditated gesture target the Youth League faction]." Former Chinese president Hu Jintao leaves his seat next to Chinese President Xi Jinping during the closing ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China October 22, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang Wu Guoguang, a senior research scholar at the Center for China Economics and Institutions at Stanford University, agreed that Xi's treatment of Hu was disrespectful. "Regardless of why he was leaving, the least the leaders on the rostrum could do would be to at least get up, shake hands, and say goodbye," Wu said. "There was a total absence of that etiquette." "Why do former leaders come at all? Generally, as a platform for them to show unity with the current leader, but ... the [treatment] of Hu Jintao shattered those illusions," he said. U.S.-based popular science writer Fang Zhouzi said via Twitter that the man who escorted Hu outside the hall was Xi's personal bodyguard. The man following along behind was named by the Associated Press's Beijing correspondent Dake Kang as Kong Shaoxun, deputy director of the Communist Party's general office, which is in charge of practical arrangements, housing and other services for leaders past and present. Japanese journalist Akio Yaita, Taipei bureau chief for the Sankei Shimbun, said rumors of a coup attempt were far-fetched. "It's more likely that Hu Jintao had an opinion on the ... amendments to the party charter," he said. "Hu's departure showed that Xi Jinping rules over everything, but also made public contradictions within the party." After Hu left, the party charter was amended to enshrine Xi Jinping as a "core" party leader. Protests Signs of anti-Xi protest were largely confined to overseas cities during the party congress, with 1,000 people turning out in London on Sunday to protest Xi's rule and the beating of a Hong Kong protester by Chinese consular officials in the northern city of Manchester. A video clip circulating on social media on the evening of Oct. 23, after Xi announced a new leadership line-up packed with his most loyal allies, showed two young women walking through a Shanghai street carrying a banner that read, "We don't want," repeated several times. The banner appeared to be a reference to the "Bridge Man" banner protest on the eve of the party congress, which called for elections, not leaders, and an end to COVID-19 lockdowns, as well as for Xi Jinping to step down. As the young women walked past the camera on Xiangyang North Road in Shanghai's Jing'an and Xuhui districts, someone could be heard playing the Internationale -- a tune that played a prominent part in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest movement -- on a kazoo. One of their companions commented: "We've always wanted to do this." Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. New leadership makes a military invasion of democratic Taiwan look more likely, analysts say Chinese President Xi Jinping waves at an event to introduce new members of the Politburo Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. China's ruling Communist Party leader Xi Jinping began a third five-year term in office on Sunday, packing the all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee with his close political allies, in a consolidation of personal power not seen in Beijing since the personality cult surrounding Mao Zedong. The first plenary session of the party's 20th Central Committee re-elected Xi to the post of general secretary, breaking with decades of political precedent by granting him a third term after his predecessors were limited to two. Former Shanghai party chief Li Qiang has succeeded outgoing economic reformer Li Keqiang as Xi's second-in-command and therefore most likely candidate for premier, while Xi stalwarts Zhao Leji and Wang Huning remain in the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee. They have been joined by newly promoted former Beijing party chief Cai Qi, former party general office director Ding Xuexiang and former Guangdong party chief Li Xi, all of whom were formerly members of the Politburo. New members of the Politburo Standing Committee, front to back, President Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi arrive at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Xi also revealed an all-male politburo for the first time since 1997, following the retirement of former vice premier Sun Chunlan. No woman has ever sat on the Politburo Standing Committee. All but Li Xi have previously worked under Xi as he made his way up through party ranks, either in Zhejiang or Shanghai, and were promoted after that point, indicating that it was his favor that propelled their careers. The party congress also amended the Communist Party's constitution to enshrine Xi and his personal brand of political ideology as a "core" leader, giving Xi free rein to take China in whichever direction he chooses, analysts told RFA. No obvious successor Former 1989 student protest leader Wang Dan said there is nobody with enough of their own political capital to serve as an obvious successor to Xi. "It's obvious looking at the line-up that Xi will also want a fourth term," Wang told Radio Free Asia. "He has made no arrangement whatsoever for a successor." "There won't even be a fourth term: he's going to do this until he dies," he said. Xi himself was clearly identified as a successor to president Hu Jintao, under whom he served as vice president for five years before taking the reins of the party at the 18th congress in 2012. Xi's third term as president will likely be confirmed at the National People's Congress annual session in March 2023. A screen shows live news coverage of China's President Xi Jinping speaking after introducing China's new Politburo Standing Committee, at a restaurant in Foshan city, in China's southern Guangdong province on October 23, 2022. (Photo by JADE GAO / AFP) Chinese political commentator Chen Daoyin said Li Qiang forms the cornerstone of Xi's power in the new leadership line-up. "It could be said that Xi Jinping has absolute trust in him, and that Li Qiang is absolutely loyal to Xi Jinping," Chen told RFA. "This absolute loyalty manifests itself in his absolute implementation of Xi's political line." "Li Qiang has been widely criticized internationally for the damage he caused with the Shanghai lockdown, but his unwavering implementation of Xi's zero-COVID policy reflects his loyalty," he said. Protests at home and abroad Xi's smooth transition to an unprecedented third term in office has been marked by rare public protest, including against his zero-COVID policy, both at home and overseas. On the eve of the congress, a lone protester dubbed Bridge Man unfurled a banner with anti-Xi slogans on a highway overpass before quickly getting carried off by police. Chinese authorities were quick to shut down social media accounts circulating images of the banner, but photos and videos of the incident got wide attention among Chinese living overseas. In London, more than 1,000 protesters braved torrential downpours to march to the Chinese Embassy on Sunday, using the slogan "Not my president!" and showing placards with Xi crowned as emperor, to protest the beating of fellow activist Bob Chan by Chinese consular staff in Manchester on Oct. 16. One protester carried a sign on their back and head that read "To CCP: Don't pull my hair," protesting the involvement in the melee of Chinese Consul General Zheng Xiyuan, who said he thought it was his duty to pull Chan's hair, as he had "insulted my leader" with a cartoon poster of Xi Jinping. A protester in London wears a devil mask of Chinese leader Xi Jinpings face in this Oct. 23, 2022, photo. (Credit: RFA London Correspondent Amelia Loi) A protester who gave only the surname Auyeung, who was wearing a satirical devil mask of Xi Jinping's face, said he was there out of anger over the Oct. 16 attack. He said the protests, as well as the summary removal of a reluctant Hu Jintao from the rostrum at the CCP 20th party congress in Beijing on Saturday, had showed the world that Xi still faces "huge opposition." Similar protests took place in a number of other British cities on Sunday. "Digital totalitarianism" But analysts said the new line-up means Xi is highly likely to continue with the highly authoritarian style of government already developed during his past 10 years at the helm. "This is digital totalitarianism with Chinese characteristics," Chen Daoyin said. "He will have far greater enforcement powers than during the Mao era ... [and can] achieve a state of total and absolute control and security." "[China's more aggressive] 'wolf warrior' foreign policy is unlikely to change," he said. Feng Chongyi, an associate professor at the University of Technology in Sydney, agreed. "Cai Qi, Li Qiang, Ding Xuexiang and Wang Huning are all basically his stenographers," Feng said. "They have no ability or experience when it comes to running the country." "Their main selling point is that they execute Xi's orders at all costs," Feng said, citing Cai Qi's mass evictions of migrant worker communities in Beijing, and Li Qiang's "messing up China's most economically developed city." Feng said the current Politburo standing committee lacks anyone with the technical knowledge to manage the economy. "This shows that [Xi] no longer cares about such things," he said. Feng said Xi is fully expected to break with the past four decades of economic reform and opening up begun by late supreme leader Deng Xiaoping in 1979. "It was [former premiers] Zhu Rongji and Wen Jiabao who really understood the economy, who steered economic growth, and enabled Xi Jinping to realize his dream of power," he said. "But now he wants to go back to the 'common prosperity' of the Mao era, robbing the rich to help the poor: not creating wealth but destroying it." "There is now a much greater risk of economic collapse," Feng said. Hu Jintao escorted out Feng said former President Hu Jintao's peremptory dismissal from the dais at the 20th party congress on Saturday was likely linked to his finding out that his only ally, Hu Chunhua, wouldn't be on the Politburo standing committee. A confused-looking Hu Jintao was physically lifted from his seat by a security guard and firmly escorted from the dais, while attempting to engage Xi in conversation. "Hu Jintao insisted on attending the closing session of the Party's 20th National Congress, despite the fact that he has been taking time to recuperate recently," state news agency Xinhua said in a tweet about the incident. "When he was not feeling well during the session, his staff, for his health, accompanied him to a room next to the meeting venue for a rest. Now, he is much better," it said. Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, looks on as former Chinese President Hu Jintao, standing at center, touches the shoulder of Premier Li Keqiang, center, as he is assisted to leave the hall during the closing ceremony of the 20th National Congress of China's ruling Communist Party at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Wang Dan said the "total withdrawal of economic technocrats" from the new leadership team was striking. "This means that the Cultural Revolution is coming," Wang said in a reference to more than a decade of political turmoil under Mao Zedong from the late 1960s until the fall of the Gang of Four in 1976. "Economic development will no longer be the main focus," he said. "There isn't a single member of the Politburo standing committee who has held a long-term economic portfolio." "Instead, struggle will be the focus, because these are all party-builders," Wang said. "Li Qiang's appointment sends a very strong message ... that [Xi] doesn't care about someone's record, only about their loyalty." "Even Mao Zedong [only] had a portion of his officials who were truly loyal to him; Xi's are his minions," he said. Independent scholar Wen Zhigang said "political struggle" will now replace economic prosperity as the main party line, as the concept has been written into the newly amended CCP charter. "[The CCP] has replaced the philosophy of economic construction of the past four decades with the philosophy of [political] struggle," Wen told RFA. "This will be the new party line and the new program, which is why Li Keqiang and all the other heirs to Deng Xiaoping's economic development line have all been purged." Wen said political purges will likely intensify within party ranks, along with growing attacks on the private sector. China's foreign policy will become less easy to predict, and involve a standoff with U.S. power and influence in the Taiwan Strait and Western Pacific region. "Taiwan cant avoid war Xi's new term in office begins amid growing concern that he will make good on his threat to annex the democratic island of Taiwan by military force, and sooner rather than later. "From the perspective of Xi's new team, resolving the Taiwan issue will be the central task, and the most important task of the next 5-10 years," Wang said. "Taiwan can't avoid war ... the most important thing is to prepare for it." Taiwan has never been ruled by the Communist Party, nor formed part of the People's Republic of China, and its 23 million people have no wish to give up their sovereignty or their democratic way of life, according to recent opinion polls. A combination picture shows Chinese leaders Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi meeting the media following the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China October 23, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang A combination picture shows Chinese leaders Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi meeting the media following the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China October 23, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang British writer Hao Wang said Xi is unlikely to want to talk to the Taiwanese government, as Beijing has ruled out negotiating with Taipei on an equal footing. "Xi Jinping doesn't want to talk to Taiwan; he just wants minions who will enforce his will and his fifth column [of Party infiltrators] there to comply with his directives." Wang told RFA. "It's about the one-way execution of the emperor's will." Wang said Taiwan doesn't seem worried enough despite global perceptions that the country is in danger. "It's time to stop imagining and move to immediate action," he said. The Communist Party also renewed Xi's post as chairman of the Central Military Commission and listed his new vice chairmen as Zhang Youxia and He Weidong, a veteran of the People's Liberation Army's 31st Army in the southeastern province of Fujian, across the Taiwan Strait from Taiwan. "He Weidong and Zhang Youxia ... are both from the army, so no balance has been struck between the different branches of the military," Wang said. "These are purely political [appointments]." "He Weidong is a military commander who has been in charge of the Fujian frontline for a long time and has carried out operations against Taiwan," he said. "Zhang Youxia ... someone with combat experience in Vietnam, has been brought in alongside him, which would greatly enhance any military deployment or use of force against Taiwan." - Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie Experts see scant checks and balances on the Chinese leader within Communist Party ranks. Residents wear masks wait at a bus stop near skyscrapers in the Central Business District in Beijing, Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. China's economic growth picked up in the latest quarter but still was among the weakest in decades as the ruling Communist Party tries to reverse a slump while enforcing anti-virus controls and a crackdown on debt in its vast real estate industry. Ruling Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping's next five years will likely see more hard-line policies out of Beijing on the economy, foreign relations, human rights and public dissent, analysts told RFA. Germany-based ethnic Mongolian rights activist Xi Haiming said the fact that Xi had packed the Politburo Standing Committee with his close allies showed that he can now act as he pleases. "This is the last madness," Xi Haiming told a recent political forum in Taiwan. "Xi has emerged, naked, as Emperor Xi, as a dictator." "Too many people in China are lining up to be his eunuchs, kowtowing to him, waiting for the emperor to ascend to the throne." A senior Chinese journalist who gave only the surname Geng, for fear of political reprisals, said China is now firmly back in the Mao era. "This 20th National Congress is the beginning of the Mao era," Geng said. "People used to say it was the 9th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party that was bad, because it hailed Mao Zedong as the red sun." Twitter commentator Cai Shenkun said Xi will now likely take China further away from Deng's market reforms. "The reform and opening up started by Deng Xiaoping will be totally abandoned," Cai tweeted. "The state-owned economy will replace the market economy, and we will see an erosion of the private sector in every field under [Xi's] common prosperity." "The middle class will soon disappear altogether ... and freedom of speech will be further squeezed," Cai wrote. "Even our limited freedom to travel will be gone forever." Overseas current affairs commentator Wen Zhigang said the old system of "collective leadership" in which power is shared among the party leader, the National People's Congress chair and the premier, is well and truly dead. "Collective leadership no longer exists, and the leader sits, aloof ... a leader of the people who is above the party," Wen said, adding that Xi used the word "people" 17 times in his closing speech to the party congress. "'People' is used as code for political legitimacy," he said. Former Chinese president Hu Jintao leaves his seat during the closing ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China October 22, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang Russian President Vladimir Putin sent congratulations to Xi on his re-election as Communist Pary general secretary, adding that the result confirmed Xi's high level of political authority and the unity and cohesion of the party he leads. Putin said he was willing to continue a dialogue with Xi on the development of the bilateral "comprehensive strategic partnership." North Korean leader Kim Jong-un also congratulated Xi on the conclusion of the party congress, North Korean state news agency KCNA reported, describing his re-election as "an epoch-making milestone." "China doesn't need North Korea but North Korea desperately needs China. This said, North Korea is useful to China as a strategic distraction for the U.S.," saidHarry Harris, former Ambassador to the South Korea. "China has sided with North Korea, such as vetoing additional UN sanctions against North Korea and actually defying the implementation of US sanctions against North Korea." Gary Samore, former White House Coordinator for Arms Control and Weapons of Mass Destruction, said that Xi is focused on China's competition with the United States and developing China's capabilities. "That suggests that China is likely to be less cooperative with the U.S. and the Republic of Korea in dealing with North Korea's nuclear and missile program." Rockier Relations? Meanwhile, Oriana Skylar Mastro of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University said the next five years will likely be even rockier for U.S.-China relations, and other countries with security concerns in the region. "Xi Jinping has been relatively clear since he took power in 2013, where his goals were in terms of promoting territorial integrity, is trying to define that and resolving a lot of these territorial issues, enhancing their position in Asia to regain their standing as a great power," she said. "It had already been decided that there was going to be conflict with the United States if China wanted to be number one in Asia." Denny Roy of the East-West Center in Hawaii said China will likely continue to push for increased global influence and standing. "This is a continuation of a reassessment reached late in the Hu Jintao era, and which Xi Jinping has both embraced and acted upon," Roy said. "There is no hint of regret about Chinese policies that caused alarm and increased security cooperation among several countries both inside and outside the region, no recognition that Chinese hubris has damaged Chinas international reputation within the economically developed world, and no sense that damage control is necessary due to adverse international reaction to what has happened in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea," he said. "Instead, Beijing seems primed to continue to oppose important aspects of international law, to resist the U.S.-sponsored liberal order, and to extol PRC-style fascism as superior to democracy." Human rights crisis William Nee, Research and Advocacy Coordinator at China Human Rights Defenders, agreed, saying that human rights defenders will continue to be "systematically surveilled, persecuted and tortured in prison." "China is experiencing a human rights crisis ... There are crimes against humanity underway in the Uyghur region, with millions of people being subjected to arbitrary detention, forced labor, or intrusive surveillance," Nee told RFA. "The cultural rights of Tibetans are not respected. And now, Xi Jinping's Zero-COVID policy is wreaking havoc on China's economy, and particularly the wellbeing of disadvantaged groups, like migrant workers and the elderly." Meanwhile, Xi's new leadership line-up is a stark indicator of the lack of checks and balances on his power from within party ranks, analysts said. "The era of [former leaders] Deng, Jiang, Li and Hu is over, and [Xi Jinping] reigns supreme," overseas current affairs commentator Zong Tao told RFA. "The Chinese economy will now be experiencing the expansion of the state sector at the expense of the private sector," he said. "It's all about red genes and a red regime." Wu Guoguang, a senior research scholar at the Center for China Economics and Institutions at Stanford University and the author of a book on party congresses, said Xi has more say over who gets to be premier -- his second-in-command Li Qiang -- even that late supreme leader Mao Zedong did. "Xi Jinping wields greater power to appoint his preferred premier than Mao Zedong did," Wu told RFA. "Li Qiang, as the No. 2 figure in the Communist Party, will soon be premier, which shows us that Xi Jinping wields more power from the top than Mao did," he said. While rival factions like former president Hu Jintao's Youth League faction still exist, they no longer present much of an obstacle to Xi, Wu said. However, new factions could yet form from among Xi's trusted bureaucrats, he said. "Factions will naturally form within the administration, because these leaders have different experiences and come from different backgrounds, and have different networks," Wu said. "They will keep using the people they trust, who are capable, and there are faint signs of this happening," he said. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Around 80 junta troops stormed a village in Sagaing regions Yinmarbin township, killing nine Peoples Defense Force (PDF) members and one local. Troops burned the bodies and left them in a pile, locals said. A further four people were injured and two PDF members were arrested. The Monywa District-based Battalion-13 PDF, nicknamed the Aung San Generation, were in Shwe Hlan village when junta troops raided it at 4:00 a.m. on Friday, dressed in plain clothes to blend in with locals and local PDF members, who dont wear uniforms. After returning from a battle, they [the PDF] spent the night in the village. The junta troops raided the houses where they were staying. They were shot dead while they were asleep without having time to defend themselves, a Shwe Hlan resident told RFA. Four of them were injured, the rest are free except for Ye and Mi Nge, who were arrested. Ye is 24-years-old and Mi Nge is 21. The dead PDF members were aged between 18 and 27. Residents said the arrested men were taken away in a Mil Mi-24 military attack helicopter on Friday evening but they did not know where they were headed. There are nearly 200 houses with more than 500 residents in Shwe Hlan village and eight were burned down by junta forces, forcing residents to flee to safety. Calls to Sagaing region State Administration Council spokesman, Aye Hlaing have gone unanswered. The SAC has not released any statement on the attack. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council says the two should resolve their differences peacefully. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the 20th National Congress of China's Communist Party in Beijing, Oct. 16, 2022. The Taiwanese government has condemned Beijings old mindset after the Communist Party of China (CPC) passed a constitutional amendment vowing its goal of fully, faithfully, and resolutely implementing the policy of One Country, Two Systems. The Party Constitution is the CPCs charter - the most important document by which all 96 million members must abide. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), the governmental administrative agency responsible for cross-Strait relations, said in a statement that the CPC's new leadership should break from the mindset of confronting or even invading Taiwan and resolve its differences with Taiwan in a peaceful, equitable and realistic manner. Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the shared responsibility of both sides of the strait, the MAC said in the statement quoted by the official Central News Agency (CNA). The CPC adopted several revisions of its Party Constitution at the closing ceremony of the 20th National Congress on Saturday to reflect Xi Jinpings new ideas, new thinking, and new strategies, according to the Resolution on Party Constitution amendment. Amongst new strategies on national defense and the armed forces put forward by Comrade Xi Jinping, the Taiwan issue is being featured prominently as the CPC pledges to build a strong military with Chinese characteristics, making sustained and steady progress with the One Country, Two Systems policy, advancing national reunification Delegates attend the closing ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, Oct. 22, 2022. CREDIT: Tingshu Wang/Reuters Hard line on Taiwan The Communist Partys revised Constitution, which came into immediate effect, includes statements on elevating the armed forces to world-class standards and resolutely opposing and deterring separatists seeking Taiwan independence. The new language is seen as a step up in aggression from the previous amendment to the CPC's Party Constitution, adopted at the 19th National Congress in 2017, which only pledged to strengthen the unity among all nationals, including people in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and overseas and to facilitate the national unification. It confirms President Xi Jinpings hard line policy on Taiwan, which Beijing considers one of Chinas provinces that should be reunified with the mainland. In his opening speech at the twice-in-a-decade Congress, held in Beijing from Oct. 16 to Oct. 22, Xi said the CPC will unswervingly advance the cause of national reunification. Xi outlined the official policy towards Taiwan that includes a firm warning on the use of force directed solely at interference by outside forces and the few separatists seeking 'Taiwan independence' and their separatist activities. Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he believed that there had been a change in approach by Beijing in relation to Taiwan and Beijing was determined to pursue reunification on a much faster timeline than previously thought. U.S. chief of naval operations Adm. Mike Gilday meanwhile said he couldnt rule out that China may make a move on Taiwan this year or the next. Members of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences were also punished for causing disunity in the party. UPDATED at 10:25 a.m. EDT on 10/24/2022. Vietnam's ruling party has issued a disciplinary warning to a senior figure in the council that develops its political ideology, state media reported. Central Inspection Commission of Vietnams Communist Party issued the warning to Nguyen Quang Thuan, who is vice chairman of the party's Central Theoretical Council. Voice of Vietnam radio and other state media reported late last week that Thuan was punished for mistakes made as secretary of the Party Committee and as president of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences between 2016 and 2019. However, the reports did not announce specific action against Thuan and whether he could face criminal charges. The academy he used to preside over is considered the leading research institution in social sciences and humanities in Vietnam, according to the Association of Asian Social Science Research Councils. Other senior members of the academy were also disciplined, including Phung Ngoc Tan, former acting head of the Organization Department. He was expelled from the party. Among others facing discipline were Pham Van Duc, former vice president of the academy; Vo Quang Trong, former director of the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology; Tran Minh Tuan, former head of the Organization and Personnel Department and former deputy director of the academy. It is the latest disciplinary action against top members of the academy. On Sept. 30, Bui Nhat Quang, the academy's president, was warned by the Politburo over allegedly causing internal disunity and frustration among cadres and party members. The Politburo said his actions harmed the reputation of the party and the academy. It criticized management of the academy and use of financial resources. The Politburo subsequently revoked Quang's membership of party Central Committee. This story has been updated to provide sourcing and make edits throughout. A member of his order says authorities may want to influence upcoming church leadership elections. Father Truong Hoang Vu, a Catholic priest assisting disabled veterans who fought for the South during the Vietnam War, has been temporarily banned from leaving the country, he said Monday, ahead of church leadership elections. Vu, a member of the Can Gio Redemptorists Church under the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City, told RFAs Vietnamese service that he was stopped by security at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport prior to boarding an 8:45 a.m. flight to Manila, where he had planned to change planes and proceed on to the United States. I was temporarily banned from leaving the country while on a business trip to the U.S., he said in an interview by phone. Authorities told him the ban was for social order and safety reasons. He was instructed to contact the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department with any inquiries about his exit suspension, but said he had no plans to do so as it will just be a waste of time. Vu runs a program at the church named "Paying Tribute to Disabled Veterans of the Republic of Vietnam," referring to the short-lived country formed in the wake of the 1954 division of Vietnam with Ho Chi Minh City formerly known as Saigon as its capital. It was reunified after North Vietnamese troops seized control of Saigon in April 1975, at the end of the war. Vietnams government provides no social benefits to the disabled veterans of the Republic of Vietnam, who are estimated to number around 20,000 individuals, according to Vietnamese state media. Unable to work, many are forced to earn a living by selling lottery tickets or begging. The program Vu oversees was created to provide material assistance to the veterans on holidays, as well as occasional checkups from volunteer doctors, nurses, and social workers. Its funding comes from both inside and outside Vietnam. Vu hopes to provide New Years gifts to more than 6,000 disabled veterans of the former republic between December 2022 and March 2023, and said he was traveling to the United States to seek funding for the campaign. Influencing Redemptorist elections While the government has shown little interest in supporting the veterans of its former enemy, Father Le Ngoc Thanh of the Long Xuyen Redemptorist Church suggested that Vus exit suspension could be related to this weeks election of the Provincial Conference of the Redemptorists. The key thing is that [authorities] want to influence the Redemptorists 2022 annual meeting, which starts on Tuesday, he said. This meeting will elect the new Conference of the Redemptorists in Vietnam for the term beginning in 2023. Thanh said that by blocking Vus travel, authorities were sending a message to the conferences delegates that they should select a moderate leader who will be more receptive to efforts by the government to exert control over the Redemptorist order. He said officials had recently contacted several delegates with messages of support for the existing Redemptorist leadership and calling for the selection of similar candidates in the coming term. Vu is one of six priests banned from leaving Vietnam over the past few years. Others include Fathers Le Xuan Loc and Nguyen Ngoc Nam Phong from the Ky Dong Redemptorist Church, Father Dinh Huu Thoai from the Ba Ria Vung Tau Diocese, Father Le Ngoc Than from the Long Xuyen Redemptorists Church, and Father Pham Trung Thanh the former Provincial Superior in Vietnam. All were suspended from traveling abroad for national security or social order and safety reasons. Father Thanh told RFA that Ho Chi Minh City police seized his passport in 2015 and have yet to return it to him. Translated by Anna Vu. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Ukraine and its allies have adamantly rejected Russia's claims that Kyiv is developing a "dirty bomb" to use against Moscow's forces, and Ukraine's foreign minister says he has invited experts to visit Ukrainian facilities to see for themselves that Ukraine has nothing to hide. Russia's claims that Kyiv is planning to deploy a so-called dirty bomb -- a conventional warhead laced with radioactive, biological, or chemical materials -- came in a series of calls between Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his counterparts from several NATO countries. 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. Britain, France, and the United States issued a joint statement on October 23 dismissing the claim after Shoigu's calls with their defense ministers in which the Russian minister presented no evidence for the claim. "Our countries made clear that we all reject Russia's transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory," according to the statement. But Russia doubled down on its assertions, which come after weeks of military defeats for Russia in southern and eastern Ukraine. "According to the information we have, two organizations in Ukraine have specific instructions to create a so-called dirty bomb. This work is in its final stage," Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov said on October 24. Later the same day, the chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, spoke by phone with British Chief of Defense Staff Tony Radakin, who rejected Russia's allegations that Ukraine is planning actions to escalate the conflict. "The military leaders both agreed on the importance of maintaining open channels of communication between the U.K. and Russia to manage the risk of miscalculation and to facilitate de-escalation," the Defense Ministry said in a statement. Gerasimov also held a phone call with his U.S. counterpart, General Mark Milley, to discuss the risks of the use of a dirty bomb in Ukraine, according to the Kremlin-controlled RIA Novosti news agency. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg weighed in on Moscow's repeated allegation on October 24 , saying NATO also rejects it. Stoltenberg said he had spoken with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace "about Russia's false claim that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory." "NATO Allies reject this allegation. Russia must not use it as a pretext for escalation. We remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine," he said on Twitter. Moscow's claims that Ukraine could employ a dirty bomb raised concern that Russia could use such a device and blame Kyiv. A senior U.S. military official said the United States has seen no indication that Russia has decided to use nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons in Ukraine, including a dirty bomb. The official, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, also said the Ukrainians are not building a dirty bomb. U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price also said the United States has not seen any indication that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon but said there would be consequences for Russia whether it used a dirty bomb or any other nuclear weapon. "It would certainly be another example of [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin's brutality, if he were to use a so called 'dirty bomb.' There would be consequences for Russia whether it uses a 'dirty bomb' or a nuclear bomb. We've been very clear about that," Price told reporters. He did not provide details about those consequences. Ukraine earlier called the accusation that Kyiv was building a dirty bomb absurd, and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog accepted his request to send experts to Ukraine to refute Moscow's claim. Kuleba said he invited the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to "urgently send experts to peaceful facilities in Ukraine which Russia deceitfully claims to be developing a dirty bomb." Kuleba said Ukraine has always been transparent and has "nothing to hide." The IAEA said later on October 24 that it was preparing to send inspectors to two Ukrainian sites. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirmed in a statement that both locations are under IAEA safeguards and have been visited regularly by the agency's inspectors. The IAEA "is aware of statements made by the Russian Federation on [October 23] about alleged activities at two nuclear locations in Ukraine," Grossi said, adding that both were already subject to its inspections and one was inspected a month ago and no undeclared nuclear activities or material were found. "The IAEA is preparing to visit the locations in the coming days," it added. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Kuleba in a phone call on October 23 that the world would "see through any attempt by Russia to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation [of the war]." Blinken and Kuleba discussed the U.S. and international commitment to continue supporting Ukraine with "unprecedented security, economic and humanitarian assistance for as long as it takes, as we hold Russia accountable," the State Department's call readout said. They further noted ongoing efforts to manage the broader implications of the Kremlins war in Ukraine, it added. With reporting by AFP 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. ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- More than 20 activists and politicians are languishing in prison cells in Kyrgyzstan after a weekend crackdown threatened a fresh cycle of turmoil in Central Asias most restless country. The October 23 raids targeted an array of public figures from former security bosses to rights advocates who had one thing in common -- their opposition to a controversial border deal with Uzbekistan. Any such border agreement would be a landmark for two countries whose leaders could barely stand to be in the same room less than a decade ago. But it would require Kyrgyzstan to cede control over a strategic reservoir called Kempir-Abad. Opposition to the agreement in the Uzgen district -- where the reservoir is located -- has been stubborn and persistent, going back more than a year to when it was first mooted. Critics say Uzbekistan should be able to use the dam's water but the reservoir's land should remain a part of Kyrgyzstan. On October 22, a public committee "in defense of Kempir-Abad" was formed, with a rally in Bishkek then called for October 24. Committee members didn't have to wait long for a reaction. One video filmed at rights defender Rita Karasartovas home on October 23 showed a man in plainclothes and another in police uniform attempting to force their way through her gate as Karasartova -- wearing a bathrobe -- demanded to see their identification. On October 24, Kyrgyz Ombudswoman Atyr Abdrakhmatova said her institute was aware of 21 arrests and expressed concern at the detentions. The Interior Ministry said it was carrying out an investigation into alleged preparations for an "organized mass riot." Civil activist Dinara Oshurahunova told RFE/RL that many of the detained had already been accused in the case and could face between five and 10 years in prison if found guilty. Along with Karasartova, who was seen being taken to court in handcuffs on the evening of October 24, other high-profile detainees include Azimbek Beknazarov, nicknamed "the Bulldozer" for his role in Kyrgyzstan's 2005 and 2010 revolutions, former provincial governor Bektur Asanov, and ex-constitutional court judge Klara Sooronkulova. Aidanbek Akmatov, a journalist who has worked for RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, was also arrested. A Taste Of His Own Medicine? For populist President Sadyr Japarov and his dominant ally, national security committee head Kamchibek Tashiev, the Kempir-Abad reservoir is a sore topic. That is not least because it is the kind of issue they would have jumped on during their days in opposition, which ended when the pair rose to power during a political crisis two years ago. Land, water, and mineral resources are all trump cards for political populists in Kyrgyzstan. After honing this art as government opponents, the duo now faces stiff domestic challenges. But critics say they could have saved themselves the fierce backlash if they hadn't been so clumsy. Nursultan Akylbek, a Bishkek-based activist who hails from Uzgen, told RFE/RL the government failed to consult with the local population prior to striking a deal with Uzbekistan last year that would have seen the reservoir on Kyrgyz territory pass to Uzbek control. After the first wave of unrest over the agreement, Tashiev addressed locals in a stadium and assured them Kempir-Abad would not be given to Uzbekistan, Akylbek recalled. "Now we see troll factories attacking critics of the deal, arrests, and political persecution instead of political dialogue. We know that this doesn't lead to anything good," Akylbek noted. On October 24, dozens of activists marched to protest against the border agreement and the arrests. The marchers were not detained. Similar-sized rallies in support of the government were held in Uzgen and Jalal-Abad. In his first comments on the arrests, Japarov said he could not interfere with the judicial process but could consider presidential pardons in the event of convictions. Activists and politicians were using Kempir-Abad as "an excuse to cling to power," he said in an interview with the state media outlet Kabar, claiming some of the detained had asked him for government positions. Revolving Doors For much of its three decades of independence, Kyrgyzstan has resembled a Greek tragedy, with periodic crackdowns on opponents, civil society, and the media exacerbating the unrest that the panicked leaders were trying to quell. That led the fiercely independent Kyrgyz people to rise up and oust the offending regimes. Japarov himself spent three years in jail, until the post-vote chaos of October 2020 that saw him suddenly released into the political fray and fast-tracked into the presidency. Sooronbai Jeenbekov, who left the presidency to make way for him as Japarov's supporters massed in Bishkek, was the third Kyrgyz president to leave office during a political crisis. Japarov has always insisted his incarceration on hostage-taking charges was a fabrication and that the sentence was punishment for his opposition to the foreign company that operated Kyrgyzstans largest gold mine, Kumtor. But it didnt take long for the new government to imitate this practice, with former prime ministers among those arrested during Japarov's first full year in power. For those bold actions, among other populist measures, Japarov and Tashiev still retain strong popular support. Polling conducted by the International Republican Institute in April 2022 showed 85 percent of the population backing the direction the country was moving in. By August and September of this year that figure had fallen to 76 percent. The Kempir-Abad issue appears to have woken up a marginalized political opposition. Adahan Madumarov, a popular lawmaker who hails from a village close to the reservoir, was a member of the public committee set up to oppose the agreement in its current form. The eloquent politician known for his pro-Russia views was not targeted in the raids. But a member of his Butun Kyrgyzstan partys political council was questioned by police in connection with the movement to save Kempir-Abad on October 24, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported. Lawmaker Chingiz Aidarbekov, a former foreign minister, was last week removed from his position as chair of the parliaments International Affairs Committee after refusing to sign off on a committee motion backing the agreement. Some of the politicians arrested over the weekend were thought to have long ago faded from relevance. Writing on Twitter, one news site editor asked why Japarov had chosen to breathe life into political corpses. But it is not just Kempir-Abad where Japarov is having problems. More than a year after authorities seized control over the Kumtor mine -- a move that he had called for while in opposition and which has undoubtedly boosted his standing -- the president and his team are facing criticism over a perceived lack of transparency in the mines operations. The potential exploitation of a giant iron deposit as a means of paring down debts to China represents another hot potato for the government. In August, 19-year-old blogger Yrys Zhekshenaliev was charged with inciting mass disorder after posting a video clip of a politician railing against plans to develop the deposit, called Zhetim-Too. Speaking to reporters at a court hearing, Zhekshenaliev couldnt help but comment on the irony: Im sitting in the same cell Japarov sat in. 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 4 Civilians from Kherson arrive at the Dzhankoi Railway Station in Russian-occupied Crimea to await transport to Russia on October 21. Analysts say one reason for the official calls for people to leave the city over the past several days is fears that pro-Ukrainian residents could help Ukrainian forces if they advance into the city. Russia's assault on Ukraine continues eight months after the February 24 invasion. Amid setbacks on the battlefield, the Kremlin has taken a series of steps in an effort to gain the upper hand -- or avoid losing the war. Author and analyst Mark Galeotti, an honorary professor at the UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies, joins host Steve Gutterman to take stock. Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's new newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods. To subscribe, click here. I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I'm drilling down on two major issues: Will the European Union slap more sanctions on Russia and Belarus? And is Brussels really ready to up its game when it comes to financing Ukraine? Brief #1: Piling On The Pressure What You Need To Know: The European Union is slowly edging closer to a new set of sanctions aimed at Russia and Belarus, just a few weeks after it signed off on its eighth package of restrictive measures since the start of the war in Ukraine in late February. Prompted by the recent missile attacks on various Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, EU foreign ministers discussed the issue when they met in Luxembourg on October 17. There was a "rather broad consensus, without any concrete dissenting voices," to continue piling on the pressure, according to one senior EU official familiar with the talks. A few days later, EU leaders met in Brussels and signed off on summit conclusions. They stated that "the European Union has further reinforced its restrictive measures against Russia and stands ready to continue to do so," after having been addressed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy via video link. The president implored them to move swiftly toward the ninth installment of punitive measures against Moscow and Minsk. Deep Background: The truth is that if a new round of sanctions is adopted anytime soon, it won't be particularly hard-hitting. Partly this has to do with the fact that the bloc has covered a lot of ground already, slapping asset freezes and visa bans on 1,239 individuals and 116 entities. It has also targeted Russian coal, steel, wood, and closed its airspace to Russian flights -- just to mention a few measures adopted in the last nine months. But the other and more significant reason is that there are political realities that could curtail Brussels' ambitions. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has increased his rhetoric against EU sanctions in recent weeks and started a "national consultation" with his fellow Hungarians -- basically, surveys are mailed out and the answers to the leading questions will be used to show support for the government's position. With soaring energy prices, it also seems inconceivable that any more measures will be taken regarding energy. Ninety percent of Russian crude oil imports will be banned across the EU as of early December after a protracted decision was made in the summer. Don't, however, expect the bloc to ban the remaining 10 percent. Similarly, the EU likely won't impose further sanctions on gas, and Russia's Gazprombank will continue to avoid being excluded from the SWIFT payment system. It looks like the same goes for nuclear, as some member states are still maintaining extensive cooperation with the Russian state nuclear agency Rosatom. An import ban on liquefied petroleum gas products such as propane and butane has been considered before -- and, this time, it might just fly, largely because, all in all, it doesn't cause a great deal of damage. Drilling Down So, what can be included in a potential new package? The use of Iranian drones by Russia in Ukraine already prompted Brussels to blacklist three Iranian officials and the manufacturer, Shahed Aviation Industries, last week. More could follow. Also, don't rule out that an export ban on all unmanned aerial vehicles, in addition to the already targeted military ones, will come into force. Much of the future sanctions work will be about "closing loopholes" in already existing measures, essentially adding to an ever-growing list of various items that can't be exported to Russia -- be it filters, plastics, or lasers, to give just a few examples. This is often a cat-and-mouse game, in which even a small component change can give the product a different industrial code, enabling it to get around sanctions. It's often not headline-grabbing stuff, but this type of nitty-gritty work is "a death by a thousand paper cuts for Russian industry," as one EU diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, put it to me. Expect that there might be a push to act on items that were proposed in previous sanctions rounds but for various reasons didn't pass. This time around, will Belgium be OK with a ban on diamond imports? And will Cyprus green-light a prohibition on selling EU property to Russian citizens? Are some maritime nations ready to restrict access not only to Russian-flagged vessels but also to those owned or operated by a Russian individual or company? Is there now enough evidence to sanction the cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab and de-SWIFT the largest Russian private bank, Alfa-Bank? Work is already under way in the European Commission to propose ways on how to legally recover frozen Russian assets in the bloc and use them to support Ukraine's reconstruction efforts. EU leaders and officials will have to decide what to do with the 17.4 billion euros ($17.2 billion) worth of assets seized from sanctioned individuals and entities in the 27 member states. Belarus was spared in the previous sanctions round on October 6, but with EU leaders last week calling out Minsk for permitting Russian armed forces to use Belarusian territory, more restrictive measures could be on the horizon. The idea is to "mirror" the sanctions already imposed on Moscow and then apply a similar package on the regime of Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka. One of the chief aims of the sanctions would be to prevent Belarus from becoming a hub for Russian sanctions circumvention. Details still need to be worked out but, for example, there is a ban on importing timber placed on both countries. In addition, there is also a ban on importing wooden furniture from Russia, but there is no similar measure on Belarus. Closing those loopholes might mean a raft of new measures targeting Belarus. Brief #2: How To Help Kyiv What You Need To Know: EU leaders are also looking for other ways to help Ukraine, besides sanctioning its enemies. Having signed off on a mission to train Ukrainian soldiers earlier this month and pledged more funds for arms going to Kyiv, attention will now turn to how to financially support the beleaguered country through the winter and next year. Ukraine's government has estimated that it would need $3.5 billion per month next year, with the United States already promising to pledge $1.5 billion per month. The big question is, can the EU match that? Deep Background: Regarding this issue, there are two events to watch out for in the coming weeks: Firstly, there will be an international expert conference in Berlin on October 25 dedicated to the recovery, reconstruction, and modernization of Ukraine. The conference is being co-hosted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and, with Germany currently holding the rotating G7 presidency, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Several officials have been keen to point out that it is not "a donors or a pledging conference" but rather an important meeting to chart a way forward in supporting Ukraine. Secondly, a document by the European Commission on future financial support for Kyiv is scheduled to be issued the next day, October 26. Initially, it was slated to come weeks before the Berlin conference, but a lack of clarity -- both on how much Brussels can offer and how to raise it -- has pushed the date back and could push it back even further. Drilling Down To understand the hesitancy, look no further than the 9 billion euro macro-financial assistance that Brussels promised to Ukraine back in May. Of that 9 billion euros, only 3 billion has reached Kyiv's coffers so far. There is agreement that another tranche of 3 billion will be disbursed in 2022, but disagreement on when the final payment should be dispersed. There are indications that Germany is pushing for the final 3 billion euros to instead be rolled into a new and, as of yet unpublished, EU financial package for Ukraine for 2023. According to several sources familiar with the discussion, Kyiv's financing needs for the rest of 2022 have already been covered. EU leaders discussed the matter at their summit in Brussels last week and agreed to conclusions that stated: "The European Council calls for the timely provision of the remaining 3 billion euros in macro-financial assistance for Ukraine. It invites the Commission to present, and the Council to work on, a more structural solution for providing assistance to Ukraine." How to define "timely provision" is, of course, a key question. Perhaps more importantly, there is a reference to "a more structural solution." The crux of this matter is if the money should come in the shape of loans or grants, or a combination of both. Germany once again has played a key role here as the economic motor of the club by pushing for grants, as it is reluctant to provide guarantees for more loans. Berlin has also argued that countries that have already provided bilateral support could see their contributions under a new joint package lowered. As an example, Berlin pointed to a 1 billion euros grant given by Germany within the framework of the G7. The European Commission hopes to solve the issue of member states slowing down the process by borrowing on capital markets and using the EU's budget as a guarantee. This would mean that EU member states, as the main contributors to the EU budget, are indirectly becoming guarantors of the loan. So don't expect this one to be solved any time soon! Looking Ahead After much speculation in recent weeks, a decision was finally made over the weekend that Tirana will host the next EU-Western Balkans summit, slated for December 6. There has been a push to have the gathering in the Western Balkans, making it the first time ever that such a summit would be held outside the European Union. Keep an eye out for developments surrounding Operation Althea, the EU's military deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina that has been in operation since 2004. Every year, the United Nations must renew its mandate. This year, several EU diplomats have told me, on the condition of anonymity, that this might be a problem, as Russia has voiced objections. A decision is needed by November 2, so the end of October will see some frantic diplomacy to make sure the mission doesn't fall apart. An UN diplomat in New York, who wished to remain anonymous, said that "work on a technical rollover is still ongoing. Thats all for now. I really hope you enjoyed the first edition of Wider Europe. To subscribe, click here. Please feel free to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have. You can also follow me on on Twitter @RikardJozwiak. And you can always reach us at newsletters@rferl.org. Until next time, Rikard Jozwiak Stargems, which was founded by Shailesh Javeri in 1981, has diversified into manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing and tendering or auctioning of diamonds and diamond jewellery. It is also one of the leading players in the manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing of jewellery. The company recently established a Synova DaVinci Diamond Factory in Botswana, a country that is well known for producing rough diamonds and is strongly encouraging local benificiation. Stargems managing director Vishal Shah told Rough&Polisheds Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that the acquisition of the DaVinci system, a first in the Southern African region, demonstrates their desire to add value to rough diamonds in the region. The technology, which was also recently introduced in Dubai, cuts and polishes diamonds quicker and with swag. Below are excerpts from the interview. Stargems was the first company to set up a Synova DaVinci Diamond Factory in Botswana. What is unique about it? The acquisition of this unparalleled technology reflects our commitment and vision for diamond beneficiation in Botswana and the entire Southern African region. DaVinci substantially allows reduced production times and pipelines as well as a strongly reduced footprint. This in turn will create increased manufacturing flexibility in terms of demand and location. What is the main difference between the DaVinci system and the conventional method of cutting rough diamonds? The DaVinci Diamond Factory combines three major operations, cutting, bruting, and faceting. It carries out all the essential manufacturing workflows, including the entire rough-to-polish process. The innovative five-axis [computerised numerical control] technology with water jet guided laser can transform rough diamonds into brilliant cut diamonds with up to fifty-seven facets in a single, automated process. Moreover, the system also does fancy shaping. Image credit: Stargems Why did you choose to set up the Synova DaVinci Diamond Factory in Botswana? Ours is a technology-driven company that specializes in polishing large-sized natural diamonds that requires precision and at the same time maximise yield. DaVinci was chosen over other laser equipment as it incorporates the latest technology coupled with speed and versatility that will ensure higher production without compromising quality and yield. Needless to state, it will be a first for Botswana and Stargems, to proudly own the state-of-the-art machine giving the company a head start over its peers. How favourable is the diamond polishing policy in Botswana? Botswana's diamond policy has been drafted in a manner that finely balances the government's objective of beneficiating its natural resources as well as offering a level playing field for its investors. This motivates the younger generation to choose the industry as a career. How many carats of diamonds will you be processing per month? Initially, Stargems is expected to process 2000-3000 carats of diamonds. Where will you be sourcing your rough diamonds? Stargems will potentially be sourcing rough from DeBeers, and ODC as well as rough imports from other subsidiaries. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished However, despite this growth the market share of goods from Vietnam in the EU market is still quite modest. The reasons behind this need a comprehensive study. Two-way trade Since August 2020, when EVFTA officially took effect, much expectation was raised about the growth of exports from Vietnam to the EU countries. In the last two years, although the world economic situation has remained rather volatile, EVFTA brought in many positive results. According to Mr. Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Industry and Trade, EVFTA has introduced a robust two-way trade and brought in advantages that support the business community on both sides to develop trade activities. According to data from the General Department of Customs, within the second year of the implementation of EVFTA until July 2022, the total import-export turnover between Vietnam and the EU countries reached USD 61.4 bln, an increase of 11.9% compared to the first year when the agreement came into effect. In this, exports reached USD 45 bln, up 17% and imports reached USD 14.6 bln, up 0.2%. In the first eight months of 2022, the two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and the EU countries reached USD 42.4 bln, up 14.85% over the same period last year. Goods exports from Vietnam to the EU market mostly recorded a good growth. The structure of export products also expanded and diversified when key commodities saw an impressive growth such as in machinery and equipment, which were up by 34.8%. Textiles and garments saw a growth rate of 41.2%, and the turnover of many agricultural, forestry, and fishery products also increased at a high rate such as coffee went up by 54.4%, seafood saw growth of 41.9%, and vegetables and fruits increased by 18%. At first glance these figures look quite positive, but in terms of the market share of various goods from Vietnam in the EU market, they are still quite modest. Mr. Ta Hoang Linh, Director of the European-American Market Department, said the total import turnover of all goods to the EU market is about USD 2,500 bln per year, while export of goods from Vietnam to this market account for only about USD 40 bln, which is less than 2% of the total import demand in the EU market. Even if we consider each industry group, the market share is not much better. For instance, the EU is committed to opening the door to vegetable and fruit produce from Vietnam by eliminating 94% of the total 547 tax lines on vegetables and fruits and vegetable products after EVFTA came into effect. However, vegetables and fruits from Vietnam only account for 1% to 2% of the entire EU import demand. Similarly, the market share of many other items such as textiles and garments and seafoods also account for just 4% in the EU market. EVFTA is being considered as a great advantage for Vietnam in exporting goods to the EU as only four Asian countries have signed Free Trade Agreements with the EU, while in the ASEAN region there are only Vietnam and Singapore that are participating. Although the EU is currently promoting FTA negotiations with a number of other countries in the ASEAN region, the process from negotiation stage to signing the final agreement and taking effect is rather lengthy. Therefore, in the medium term, the enterprises in Vietnam still hold an advantage. Nonetheless, the reasons why products and goods from Vietnam continue to hold just a small market share in the EU needs to be studied. Benefits of free trade When it comes to Free Trade Agreements, the main concern is the percentage of businesses that understand and are taking advantage of agreements such as EVFTA. According to Mr. Ngo Chung Khanh, deputy director of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department, only about 8% of businesses have quite understood EVFTA so far. Therefore, Mr. Ngo Chung Khanh believes that state agencies must innovate and step-up propaganda, instead of sending long and boring promotional documents. Agencies can produce short, interesting videos focused on the industries and products that businesses can offer. The Ministry of Industry and Trade can coordinate with other ministries to upgrade their portal on FTAs. State agencies must make efforts, otherwise without efforts it will be difficult for enterprises to learn and receive the benefits offered by FTAs. Another reason to be seen is why the market share of Vietnamese products is still low in the EU because Vietnamese exporters mainly send goods to traditional markets such as France, Germany, and Italy. However, there are many markets with high growth potential such as Poland, Finland, and Denmark that have not received much attention from enterprises in Vietnam. Therefore, to make the best use of EVFTA is to increase market share. First and foremost, businesses that want to boost exports to the EU must ensure green and sustainable products as currently the EU countries are leading the world in implementing green goals. The experiences of the Loc Troi Company clearly demonstrate this fact. In the last few months, the Loc Troi Company exported 1,000 tons of rice under the brand name Com-Rice Vietnam to two major French retail chains. Mr. Nguyen Duy Thuan, General Director of the Loc Troi Group, said that in addition to the very active support of the trade deal with France, the company had also prepared for years in advance to meet the strict standards of European buyers. Since 2016, the Loc Troi company set about transforming its cultivation methods and improving its processing and packaging activities, so as to meet the strict standards of the EU market. The Loc Troi Group replanned the planting area, ensured traceability and high environmental standards, and more importantly successfully applied a carbon-free production and farming model. Until now, Vietnam still has many businesses and industries that have not yet met with the requirements asked by the EU market or have only partially met with these requirements. The main requirement of the EU is to offer green products and environmentally safe products. Faced with this reality, Mr. Ta Hoang Linh has suggested that businesses change their internal workings by cooperating with European businesses, investing in innovation in technology, and using machinery and equipment that is more suitable to increasing their competitiveness. Export markets need to adopt the latest technologies and move towards green and sustainable produce, similar to what the garment industry is doing right now. uc Manh Da Nang is a fast-growing favourite on the Vietnam tourist trail. (Photo: baodanang.vn) It spotlighted Ho Chi Minh City as a metropolis vibrating with energy, innovation and traffic, describing the city as the economic heart of the country and the main hub of the southern region. A freewheeling, cosmopolitan metropolis, the dynamic cityscape draws together old and new Vietnam in the most compact of spaces, representing the past as well as the future, it said, adding Ho Chi Minh City was honoured with the title of Asias Leading Business Travel Destination.Meanwhile, founded over 1,000 years ago, Hanoi remains a jewel in the Vietnam tourism crown, it said.The capital city is rich in history, with the streets of its rambling Old Quarter dating back to the 14th century. Wandering these tree-lined lanes, past crumbling colonial facades, will transport you back in time, it said.However, the city is today about much more than the past, according to the website which adds that the ancient city is being invigorated with modern cafes, world-class restaurants and cool art galleries.Hanoi Department of Tourism took the title of Asias Leading City Break Destination at the World Travel Awards.According to Breaking Travel News, with broad beaches, fantastic street food, the fabled Hai Van Pass and a growing collection of cafes, restaurants and bars, Da Nang is a fast-growing favourite on the Vietnam tourist trail.The warm sands of My Khe beach sweep south from the mountainous Son Tra peninsula, playing host to some of the top luxury resorts in the country.Da Nang is a dream destination for foodies, with scores of seafront eateries and street food stalls, it commented.Da Nang Tourism Promotion Center was honoured with the title of Asias Leading Festival & Event Destination at the World Travel Awards.Also honoured by the World Travel Awards is Moc Chau which took the title of Asias Leading Regional Nature Destination earlier this year.A rural district in the northwest of the country, the area remains undisturbed by mass tourism. Home to the famous tea hills which roll across the highland landscape, the region provides some of the most awe-inspiring scenery anywhere in the country, the website underlined.It noted that Vietnam has fully reopened to tourists earlier this year, allowing visitors to be free to discover and enjoy various wild nature destinations like limestone mountains, green terraced rice fields and white sandy beaches. Vietnamplus 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! Under its base case average global warming of between 2.2 degrees celsius and 2.4 degrees by mid-century, there would be a 6.5 million tonne shortfall in supply. To meet accelerated zero-carbon targets (limiting the rise in temperatures to 1.5 degrees) Wood Mackenzie says 9.7 million tonnes of mine supply would be needed over the next decade from projects that have yet to be sanctioned; an increase in supply never previously achieved. Low-carbon copper demand over the next 20 years, it said, would be equivalent to more than 60 per cent of the current size of the copper market and the extra production required from new projects for emissions-reducing technologies would be equivalent to nearly a third of current refined copper consumption. The increasing popularity of electric cars is ramping up demand for copper. Credit:Bloomberg That would require about $US23 billion ($36.1 billion) of investment a year in new projects, or 64 per cent more than the average annual spend over the past 30 years and would underpin a rise in the copper price to more than $US11,000 a tonne within five years, the consultancy said. The copper price today is about $US7500 a tonne. The prospect of those sorts of price rises would normally induce increased supply and the scramble to do so is already on, with a particular but not exclusive focus on exploration in South America. Rising capital and operating costs for new copper projects, the scarcity of new world-class deposits, the time and cost it takes to approve new projects in developed economies and the political and economic risks of developing new mines in developing economies, however, make an increase in supply of the magnitude Wood Mackenzie believes will be required challenging, to say the least. Declining grades and rising costs in existing large-scale mines exacerbate the size of that challenge, as do increasing environmental obstacles, costs and delays for new mines or expansions of existing projects. In the resource sector, timing is everything because the sector, and commodity prices, are so volatile and cyclical and the capital costs so substantial. Wood Mackenzie says electric vehicles will be by far the largest single contributor to increased copper demand about 55 per cent of it with EVs using more than three times the copper as internal combustion vehicles. It said demand for copper from the EV segment will grow by 9.6 million tonnes over the next 20 years. To that would be added the usage of copper in the continuing expansion of the renewable energy technologies and, of course, growth in the existing non-climate related demand. Loading The disconnect between the current and near-term outlook for the metal, where the gloomy economic settings weigh heavily on the metal arguably the most sensitive to economic conditions, and what forecasters are saying about the supply needed to meet carbon emissions reduction targets is a challenge for a resources sector that has been burned in the past by assuming that prices in supply-constrained commodities can only trend up. After the end of the last China-inspired commodity boom last decade, the new-found financial disciplines of the miners has contributed to the relative dearth of new large-scale copper projects, along with the paucity of world-class new projects. It is the prospect of the copper shortage, for instance, that attracted BHP to Oz Minerals earlier this year. Its probably the unwillingness to overcapitalise that prospect in a volatile environment that caused Mike Henry to describe Oz Minerals as a nice to have rather than a must have and why Oz Minerals, which flatly rejected BHPs offer, and BHP appear far apart in perceptions of value. If the Wood Mackenzies and S&P Globals are proven right in a decade or twos time a failure to acquire Oz Minerals would look like a missed opportunity for BHP, albeit not a company-reshaping one. On the other hand, Oz Minerals shareholders may not want to wait a decade, or two, to realise the potential latent value of their resources. In the resource sector, timing is everything because the sector, and commodity prices, are so volatile and cyclical and the capital costs so substantial. All the miners will be trying to finesse their exposures to coppers potential and reduce their risks by gaining that exposure as cheaply as possible or by paying somewhat more if the risks are reduced by actual, rather than hypothetical, demand levels. Russia is reponsible for about five per cent of the worlds copper supply. The war in Ukraine has put a big question mark on future production. Credit:Bloomberg That caution, given the sectors not-so-distant-past, is understandable. If the forecasters are right, however, and there is an acceleration towards a zero-carbon future, it will exacerbate the extent of the supply shortfalls and their impact on copper prices. The current tightness of the copper market might be alleviated to some degree as projects in the existing pipeline (factored into the Wood Mackenzie and S&P analyses) enter the market. An oddly dark freckle and the chutzpah of a small Australian skin cancer charity has lured one of the worlds best-known photographers to Sydney to create his first large-scale artwork since 2016. American artist Spencer Tunick is famed for photographing crowds of thousands in the nude on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, in New Yorks Times Square and atop a melting Swiss glacier. Now hes returning to Sydney and recruiting 2000 volunteers to strip off at sunrise at an undisclosed beach in late November. About 5200 Sydneysiders bared it all in Tunicks installation on the steps of the Opera House in 2010 in partnership with Mardi Gras. Credit:Jeff McBride This is a real coming out for my work again, Im really honoured that I was asked to do this special project, Tunick said from his New York studio. I havent done a work of more than 1000 people since 2016. Its really difficult to get that many people. The project was the brainchild of Scott Maggs, founder of Skin Check Champions. The Australian Institute of Company Directors had some solid names lend their support to the launch of its cyber-security principles a very hot topic following the Optus and Medibank hacks including the federal minister in charge Clare ONeil and the Cyber Security Co-operative Research Centre CEO Rachael Falk. So its less than ideal when an online conference on Monday to launch the principles was true story hacked, leaving the institutes boss Mark Rigotti and LinkedIn, the platform hosting the event with a bit of a PR problem. Thousands of would-be participants began to get antsy when they tried to log on for a 1pm start and the conference didnt go live on schedule. As the comments from the waiting participants began to mount, a fake Eventbrite link which many unsuspecting users clicked upon was posted in the LinkedIn chat function asking for credit card details, leading the institute to plead with participants not to try to use any links posted in the chat. When an AICD link appeared to the event, some users who hadnt learnt their lesson the first time round tried to follow it only to complain that it didnt work and eventually, about 30 minutes into the debacle, the institute bowed to the inevitable and cancelled the event. A nurse has told a Sydney court that a corrective services officer appeared distressed after he shot a prisoner who was attempting to escape custody outside Lismore Base Hospital in 2019. The officer, known by the pseudonym Officer A, is on trial for murder in the NSW Supreme Court after he shot 43-year-old Dwayne Johnstone in the back when the shackled prisoner began to flee while being led to a van just after 7.30pm on March 15, 2019. Dwayne Johnstone (centre), pictured with his family, was shot dead in 2019. A jury has heard that Officer A let off three shots after shouting at Johnstone to stop. Two of them were aimed towards Johnstone, one fatally hit him in the back. Officer A has pleaded not guilty to Johnstones murder. On Monday, nurse Elissa Rapmund told the court she was being escorted to her car by security at the end of her shift when she heard loud shouting and multiple gunshots from behind her. PETER YELDHAM: April 25, 1927September 20, 2022 Peter Yeldham was an award-winning scriptwriter but his own life would have made a classic rags-to-riches movie, a feel-good story to lift our spirits through the long nights of COVID-19. From an early age my father, who died last month aged 95, wanted to be a writer. He defied his father who wanted him to matriculate and join a bank. Instead, Peter left Knox Grammar School at 16 to chase his dreams. Our imaginary script would start here with a cloud of extreme paternal displeasure which lasted decades. Author Peter Yeldham in his home office. My fathers first attempt to strike out on his own was his abortive attempt to be a jackaroo in Charleville, Queensland. He horseriding skills were underwhelming (ie awful) and his first job was to ride the two-miles to the mailbox for the daily delivery. His second job was to slaughter a lamb. There was no third job. This story is part of a series examining how billions of dollars are being rorted from Medicare each year. See all 24 stories . A lack of political will has contributed to the poor regulation of Medicare, and the role of the powerful medical lobby raises questions over the regulators independence. Built on a complex honour system that relies on medical professionals billing their patients correctly, Medicares integrity and future is in serious doubt. More political will is needed to overhaul the lax oversight of this essential scheme. The Medicare watchdog detects only a tiny fraction of the billions of dollars lost each year as a result of fraud, errors and over-servicing, as our investigative series by Adele Ferguson and Chris Gillett shows. The Professional Services Review (PSR) each year examines just 0.07 per cent of the 150,000 medical professionals the regulator is responsible for monitoring. With an annual budget of $9 million a year and 27 full-time staff to monitor Medicare billing, the PSR is critically understaffed and under-resourced to do its job. Each year, the PSR examines only about 100 cases of potential fraud. Repayment orders in the 2021-22 financial year totalled $24.6 million a pathetically small amount. He delivered a sober message to a cheering crowd of about 6000 at the Sports and Entertainment Centre, speaking of the legacy of apartheid: a lack of housing, unemployment, low wages, a poor health system and a chaotic education system. Nelson Mandela arrives at Melbourne Town Hall on a tour of Australia in 1990. Credit:Craig Golding Nelson Mandela ended the public side of his Australian visit last night with an appeal for help to build a new South African social and political system. An appeal for help in building new South Africa First published in The Age on October 26, 1990 The effects of these conditions will remain with us long after apartheid is dead and gone. Mr Mandela said that in Melbourne there were many South African exiles. Doubtless they are now imbued with the values of respect, equality, justice and peace which you so amply demonstrate, he said. Soon we shall call them back to come home and assist in the building of a new South Africa. Mr Mandela was entertained by performers from different origins, including Aborigines who moved from traditional music and dance to a rock ballad. His welcome was tumultuous, with flags and placards waving and cries of Viva, Mandela. The applause persisted until he broke with the program and mounted the stage. Police believe a metal pole was used in the fatal assault of a 15-year-old boy beaten in a suspected vigilante attack while walking home from school. Its understood Cassius Turvey was walking with friends along Lloyd Street in Middle Swan around 4.30pm on October 13 when a car full of strangers pulled up alongside him and began accusing him of smashing car windows. Turveys family believe he was wrongly targeted in a case of mistaken identity. WA Police Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen Cleal alleged Jack Brearley, 21, jumped out of a black ute and ran towards the teens before bashing Turvey with the pole. If you happen to wander among the sculptures on the sea cliffs in coming weeks, you might encounter a work called Rise in Marks Park, the expanse of green space that separates Bondi and Tamarama. Unless you look closely, you could miss a small plaque on that sculpture and its florid inscription, a brief excerpt from a mothers lovingly handwritten letter to her son: Johno, I miss you terribly, the old Homestead just isnt the same when someone is missing especially you. John Russell, aged about 21. Ten years later, in 1989, his body was found at the base of the sea cliffs at Bondi, beneath Marks Park. Credit: John Russell was 19 years old and away working in Queensland when his mother, Pam, wrote that letter in 1977. She couldnt have known then that, 45 years later, her words would adorn a public sculpture. Nor could she have predicted the terrible events that inspired this monuments creation. Pam Russell did not live for long enough to learn of the violent deaths of gay men in the same park, or that her son would be one of them. John was 31 when, in November 1989, his body was found at the base of a cliff on the Bondi side of Marks Park. Police soon dismissed it as an accidental death, as they had the disappearance four months earlier of another gay man, 24-year-old WIN TV newsreader Ross Warren, from the Tamarama side of the park. In 2005, the then deputy state coroner, Jacqueline Milledge, described the police efforts in these cases as disgraceful, lacklustre and shameful. The commissioner overseeing the states 36 prisons has conceded that hundreds of prisoners are living in substandard conditions after a delegation of United Nations inspectors cut short its tour of correctional facilities to which access was denied. Commissioner Kevin Corcoran on Monday said he was very concerned about 400 prisoners at Goulburn Correctional Centre living in inadequate facilities that failed to meet state standards. Corrective Services Commissioner Kevin Corcoran. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer It is very, very difficult because those conditions are really not conducive to rehabilitation, he told a budget estimates hearing. It follows harsh criticism from the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, which was prevented from accessing NSW court cells and prisons and Queensland mental health wards on a planned 12-day tour of detention facilities. Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has promised to pause Victorias contentious electric vehicle tax and invest $50 million to boost the uptake of low-emissions cars if elected in November. Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle motorists in the state are charged a road usage tax of 2.6 or 2.1 for every kilometre they drive based on annual odometer readings. The Coalition has made an election pledge to boost electric car uptake in Victoria. Credit:AP Before the tax came into effect, leading carmakers such as Volkswagen and Hyundai joined 25 organisations, including Environment Victoria and the World Wildlife Fund, calling on the Andrews government to reconsider the levy, concerned it would discourage ownership of electric vehicles in Australia. Guy, who owns an electric vehicle, has vowed to pause the tax until 2027 at a cost of $82.2 million over the next four years. Joe Biden has admitted he could drop dead tomorrow and that it is legitimate for voters to be concerned about his health. Biden, 79, is expected to run for the White House again in 2024. Already the oldest-ever US president, he would be 86 if he completed a second term. President Joe Biden says he should be judged on his performance, not his age. Credit:AP Republican critics have seized on Bidens verbal gaffes to claim that he lacks the mental capacity to serve another term in office. Speaking to US broadcaster MSNBC, Biden was pressed on his own mortality by interviewer Jonathan Capehart. I could get a disease, I could drop dead tomorrow, Biden said. PHILIPSBURG:--- In commemoration of Toastmasters International's 98th anniversary, Division I of District 81 recognized Distinguished Toastmasters (DTM) Rolande Tobias, Valerie Brazier & Brenda Maynard for their contributions as District Directors of District 81, Caribbean toastmasters. The event was held at the Government Administration Building on Saturday evening in celebration of Toastmasters International Day. Division I comprises all clubs on St. Maarten, St. Martin, Statia & Martinique, and DTM Cheryl York is the Division Director. District Directors oversee all clubs in the territories of the Caribbean. Serving in the function for a period of one year, District Directors apply effective communication and leadership skills to lead their respective district teams to achieve excellence in fulfilling Toastmaster's tagline of where leaders are made. Members achieve individual goals as they hone their communication and leadership skills, while all levels from Area to Division to District achieve set goals based on member achievements. DTM Rolande Tobias served as District 81 Director from 2012-2013 and brought the District to number 7 in the world out of 89 districts. DTM Valerie Brazier served as District 81 Director from 2014-2015 and brought the District to number 5 in the world out of 97 districts, while DTM Brenda Maynard served as District 81 Director from 2020-2021 and brought the district to number 3 in the world out of 124 Districts. All three Directors brought the District to the highest ranking of President & Smedley Distinguished District during their tenure; a feat that very few districts in the world have been able to achieve. As one of the smallest territories in District 81, St Maarten is proud to have produced three of the top performing District Directors across the Caribbean; stated Division Director Cheryl York, who oversaw the coordination of Saturday evenings very successful event. Tobias, Brazier, and Maynard have served as trailblazers placing St Maarten firmly on the Toastmasters International worldwide map. As a result of their achievements, toastmasters membership has grown in St. Maarten with prominent members including two former Prime Ministers; Sarah Wescot-Williams and Leona Romeo also have been members of the organization; DTM Cheryl York stated. DTM Tobias also received an award as the longest-serving active Toastmaster in St Maarten with over 23 years of active membership. Recognition is a very important aspect of the Toastmasters program in addition to the communication and leadership skills development and was central at the meeting with clubs, areas, and divisions in District 81 also receiving awards for the achievements during the past Toastmasters year. Toastmasters is the worlds leading Communication and Leadership organization with over 280.000 members in 14.700 clubs across 144 countries in the world. PHILIPSBURG:---The Electronic Conference is going to take place on the island of St Kitts in less than one month. Most of the Speakers are now published on their website www.bitcoincash22.com. Prime Minister of St Kitts & Nevis Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew will be a guest speaker and will share his insights on the BitcoinCash Legal Tender panel with the leader of the United party of St Maarten. Member of Parliament Hon. Rolando Brison. MP has already started the discussion in the parliament of St Maarten on how BitcoinCash can be used as a legal tender and is the first elected member of parliament in the world to be paid his salary in BitcoinCash. There will be a local day conference pass for residents who wish to attend. It will include lunch. Besides premium pass gives them access to a gala dinner at Carambola on the 12th and a catamaran trip the day after. There is also a grand merchants dinner meet-up on the 11th night to welcome all the attendees. This way the existing merchants get to meet and greet the BCH TEAM. There is also a luxury pass for those who want the experience of being a Star. A limo will pick up the attendees right from the aircraft and will escort them to a 7-Star Private Lounge. There are other panels for discussions on citizenship by crypto in which the founder of Bitcoin.com Roger Ver who is responsible to bring BCH adoption to the islands along with Developer & Hotelier John Zuliani will give their opinion on how easy it is to apply for citizenship with crypto. St Kitts & Nevis offers a variety of Citizenship by investment options for the entire family where one can get a second passport and travel visa-free to 150 + countries including Europe/UK, etc. Development Panel has experts like John Nieri and Chris Troutner along with Dejan Roljic from Go Crypto speaking on payment processing. The Future of BitcoinCash panel will be quite interesting with crypto investor Mike Komaransky, and CEO of Unizen Sean Noga. John Swingle, who is a crypto lawyer, will have a presentation on scaling layers and banking problems. Not to forget the white paper written by Satoshi Nakamoto mentioned bitcoin to be used as payments transactions and commerce for buyers & sellers. Global Merchant adoption panel will discuss this with Ryan Giffin from Florida. Bitcoin Jason from Australia and Sunny Gehani from the Caribbean & India, Sunny has onboarded more than 500 merchants globally this year including major brands, franchises, and institutions like KFC, Burger King, Levis, Hilton, Nahar Medical Center, and also a BitcoinCash themed coffee shop coffee and crypto. Sunny Gehani who is the main organizer of this event also is a citizenship by investment consultant and his team has so far delivered more than 100 successful second citizenships to families from the Middle East, India, Africa, the USA, China, and many other countries. He is opening Offices in Mumbai, Dubai, Jordan, and Africa soon. PHILIPSBURG/LAS VEGAS:--- A delegation from St. Maarten attended Routes World in Las Vegas in the second week of October 2022. Routes World is the premier airlift and planning event. The delegation, a collaboration between the Princess Juliana International Airport and the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau, aimed to promote the destination of St. Maarten and restore the existing airline network of St. Maarten. Bringing together a range of airlines, airports, and tourism authorities, including some of the largest carriers from North -, Central - and Latin America, Routes World offers the opportunity to meet face-to-face with some of the most influential aviation professionals from across the globe. The first Routes World in the Americas since 2014, this years event saw a higher than usual participation by Caribbean islands. The St. Maarten delegation, during the 3-day conference, met with numerous airline network planners, including Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, KLM, British Airways, JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic, Sun Country, LATAM, Avianca, Spirit Airlines, Breeze, and Flair Airlines, to discuss existing service, as well as new route opportunities. Most of the airlines expressed that they are still in recovery mode since the pandemic, while still faced with crew shortages. The outlook, however, is positive, with increases and the possibility for new routes being explored for Winter 2023 - 2025. For the year 2022, St. Maarten visitor numbers are estimated to finish between 90-95% (recovery compared to 2019) since there are some down movements due to crew shortages. The St. Maarten Tourism Bureau, in its updates, stressed the important role it plays in supporting and attracting new airlifts, increasing seat capacity to the destination, and opening new markets. Some of the key marketing strategies for the destination remain the repositioning of the destination by targeting a more discerning and higher spending tourist, diversification of the market, further extending the high season, expounding on competitive and convenient airlift services which play a critical role in further developing existing source markets and the opening of new potential markets within the region and globally. We are very pleased with the meetings that were held with the airlines, as it has opened up communication with new potential ones, and also strengthened the existing ones for us to further develop our airlift to the destination and establish year-round visitors to St. Maarten, says Director of Tourism May-Ling Chun. In addition, the delegation also met with other destination and airport representatives. In the bigger picture our unique selling point is our product, as a hub, and the surrounding islands served by our national carrier, WINAIR explained Brian Mingo, the Airports CEO. This we need to capitalize on, to attract more airlifts, yet keep it in the boutique segment. Having a great airlift program will reassure a greater recovery for our future and help prepare us to reopen with excellence, concluded Mingo. Third Quarter Production Griffin Mining Limited (\Griffin\ or the \Company\ https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/griffin-mining-ltd/ ) is pleased to announce its production results for the three months to the 30th September 2022. These results were achieved despite the enforced suspension in operations at the Caijiaying Mine from 23rd September 2022, as announced on 20th September 2022, due to the Plenary Session of the Communist Party Central Committee and the Chinese Communist Partya?s 20th Party Congress. Overview Mining and processing were maintained at the equivalent annualised rate of over 1.3 million tonnes of ore per annum, all extracted from Zone III, up until the suspension in operations from 23rd September 2022 Recommencement of Operations at the Caijiaying Mine. The relevant Chinese authorities have advised the Company that operations at the Caijiaying Mine may resume on the 26th October 2022. It is anticipated that operations will commence, as previously announced, on the 1st November 2022 once government restrictions have been fully eased and explosives received. Chairman Mladen Ninkov commented, aDespite being suspended for a quarter of the month of September, the Caijiaying Mine continues to show its resilience and produce excellent results when extrapolated on an annualised basis. We all look forward to the re-start of operations and a clear run of production through the remainder of 2022 and 2023. A Congratulations to all involved in achieving these results and the care and maintenance of the Caijiaying Mine during the closed period.a About Griffin Mining LimitedA Griffin Mining Limiteda?s shares are quoted on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange (symbol GFM). Griffin Mining Limited owns and operates through its 88.8% owned Joint Venture in ChinaA the Caijiaying Zinc Gold Mine, a profitable mine producing zinc, gold, silver, and lead metals in concentrates. For more information, please visit the Companya?s website griffinmining.com. This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 Athens (Greece), 24 October 2022 (SPS) - The European Forum, held in the Greek capital, Athens, endorsed Sunday its final statement, following various workshops and discussion sessions on various European and international issues over the past three days, with the aim of defining the priorities of this European bloc, which includes the forces of the Left, the Green and the Progressives of the continent. Besides the road map for action at the European level, the statement identified among the most important elements of foreign policy the question of Western Sahara, supporting the struggle of the Sahrawi people for freedom through a fair referendum to enable it to determine its own future. This position came in the wake of strong interventions during the workshops and discussion sessions by parliamentarians, party leaders and European political figures, who praised the struggle of the Sahrawi people as an example of sacrifice for freedom and justice. The speakers also focused on the role of the Sahrawi Republic as a state in ensuring security and stability in the region, which is the logic that Europe must deal with in its policy towards North Africa and the Sahel. The Polisario Front participated in the work of the European Forum at the official invitation of the organizers of the Forum, with a delegation led by its representative in Spain, Abdullah Al-Arabi, accompanied by member of the representation in Europe and the European Union, Basiri Moulay Al Hasan, where the delegation was warmly welcomed by the participants and had the opportunity to meet with many European parties and personalities taking part in the event. 062/T A report by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that covers the eight months since the onset of the Ukraine war notes that 2.65 million Ukrainians moved across Romania during this period and over 86,500 Ukrainians chose to settle down in Romania. Also, the Foreign Ministry reports that the government of Romania has constantly responded to Ukraine's requests, providing - among others - fuel, medicines, food and ambulances. Thus, through the international humanitarian hub opened in Suceava on March 9 on the border with Ukraine, Romania facilitated 56 humanitarian transports from countries such as Italy, France, Bulgaria, Austria, Slovenia, Cyprus, Greece, Germany or the Republic of North Macedonia. According to the report, Romania recently co-sponsored, alongside another 75 UN member states, the General Assembly's Resolution of October 12 condemning Russia's attempted illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories (titled "Territorial Integrity of Ukraine - Defending the Principles of the UN Charter), passed by a large majority of 143 UN member states. Also, on September 13 Romania submitted the Declaration of Intervention in the proceedings brought by Ukraine against the Russian Federation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), having as subject the dispute over genocide accusations in connection with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. At the same time, on September 16 Romania submitted to the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) a request to intervene in favor of Ukraine in the lawsuit brought by this state before the Court against the Russian Federation on February 28, 2022 on the serious mass violations of human rights committed by the Russian Federation as part of the military aggression conducted on Ukraine's territory ever since February 24, 2022. On March 2, 2022 Romania joined another 42 states in notifying the International Criminal Court regarding the investigation of the crimes of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of Ukraine. Also, the government of Romania approved the Foreign Ministry's proposal to donate 100,000 euros to the Trust Fund of the International Criminal Court to support investigations into international crimes committed in Ukraine. On October 15, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the grant of a voluntary contribution by Romania to NATO funds dedicated to strengthening Ukraine's resilience and defense capacity (the Voluntary Fund regarding the Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine), of up to 400,000 US dollars. The Foreign Ministry emphasizes Romania's extensive involvement in facilitating the transport and transit of Ukrainian grains to international markets, by setting in place complex measures to expand transit capacities, including the logistic capacities of the ports of Constanta and Galati, that allowed the export, up until now, of over 5.2 million tons of Ukrainian grain, plus over 5.5 million tons of other goods produced in Ukraine. AGERPRES The trend of increasing trade exchanges continued in the first seven months of 2022, with the total volume of bilateral trade reaching, on July 31, the value of 1.5 billion US dollars, an increase of 30.5% compared to the same period last year, say the representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the City of Bucharest (CCIB), in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Monday. The Romanian export amounted to 600 million US dollars (+33.6%), and the import from Ukraine 900 million US dollars (+28.6%). "Ukraine is an important commercial and economic partner of our country, with a special potential for economic cooperation, as there is an important tradition of its relations with Romania," the press release states. In 2021, bilateral trade registered a record volume of 2.4 billion USD, up 40.5% from the previous year, due to imports from Ukraine worth 1.6 billion USD (+50%), volume record, while the export was only 800 million US dollars (+25.5% compared to 2020). The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the City of Bucharest, Iuliu Stocklosa, met, at the headquarters of the organization, with the delegation of the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company from Izmail, led by Dmytro Moskalenko, managing director, with the participation of diplomats from the Economic and Commercial Section of the Embassy of Ukraine in Romania, Anna Honcharova, first secretary and Oleg Balika, second secretary. Dmytro Moskalenko made a brief presentation of the company he leads, mentioning the technical potential and the desire to cooperate with Romanian companies in order to promote water transport, as the most efficient from an economic point of view. In the second part of the meeting, there was an exchange of technical and economic information regarding the opportunity to collaborate with the Ukrainian company by using the Sulina Commercial Port, Iuliu Stocklosa being the president of the Board of Directors, as a point of transshipment of goods, especially grain and edible oil from Ukraine from river barges to sea vessels, as well as oil products necessary for the Ukrainian economy from sea vessels to barges.AGERPRES Social Democratic Party (PSD) Chairman Marcel Ciolacu says he respects Vasile Dincu's decision to resign from the National Defence Ministry (MApN) office and thanks him for the activity he carried out within the Ministry. "I respect Vasile Dincu's decision and I thank him for his activity within the National Defence Ministry. I have already had a discussion with Prime Minister Ciuca and I asked him to take over the MApN interim office, because Romania has the obligation to ensure stability on the Eastern Flank of NATO," Ciolacu wrote on his Facebook page, told Agerpres. National Defence Minister Vasile Dincu announced he stepped down from office. "T|his morning, I tendered my resignation as the National Defence Minister to Romania's Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca," Dincu worte on his Facebook page. The chairman of the Social-Democratic Party (PSD), Marcel Ciolacu, does not rule out the possibility that the social democrats will give up the position of Minister of National Defense in favor of the National Liberal Party (PNL), told Agerpres. Asked, on Monday, at the Palace of the Parliament, if there is a possibility that the PSD will cede the Ministry of National Defense to the liberals, Ciolacu said: "Anything is possible in politics. (...) Let's not enter an area of assumptions. I said that anything is possible, it can be negotiated. Always when there is a coalition we also have such dialogues". Ciolacu did not want to discuss possible names from the PSD that could take over the Defense portfolio, but said that from the profile of the candidates there should be a condition that they have served in the army. "We still have a few years to choose from among those who joined the army," he said. The Minister of National Defence, Vasile Dincu, is invited to participate, on Monday, in the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies, within the "Government Hour" debate, told Agerpres. The debate was requested by the USR (Save Romania Union) parliamentary group and is titled: "Through repeated blunders and the amplification of Russian propaganda, the Minister of Defence brings prejudices to Romania and its relationship with EU and NATO partners." Minister Dincu was supposed to come last week to participate in the plenary sitting to give explanations regarding his statements made about the war in Ukraine, but he announced that he was leaving for an official visit to Georgia. Vasile Dincu stated, on October 8, that negotiation represents the only chance for Russia to make peace with Ukraine. "The war will continue, (...) the only chance for peace may be the negotiation with Russia. Of course, it would be a complex negotiation. (...) The countries of the world, NATO, the United States should negotiate security guarantees for Ukraine and a peace with Russia. Ukraine alone will not be able to negotiate with Russia, because the political class in Ukraine at this moment cannot afford to assume (...) the loss of territories, an unjust loss, ultimately, of territories," Dincu told a Prima TV private television channel broadcast. Later, President Klaus Iohannis underscored that only Ukraine will decide "when, how and what to negotiate" in the context of the war, pointing out that this is the official position of Romania and the EU, and some politicians from our country must "read the press more frequently to find out these positions." Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca then announced that he was waiting for Minister Dincu to return to the country from the NATO ministerial meeting to have "a very open discussion" about his opinion on the war in Ukraine. However, following the discussion that took place at the Victoria Palace, the spokesperson for the Executive, Dan Carbunaru, specified that one of the topics addressed was "calibration of public communication" at the MApN level in a governmental context. In his turn, Leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Marcel Ciolacu said it was ridiculous to try to change the Minister of Defence, Vasile Dincu, or to try to change a member of Government, for a statement regarding the negotiation of peace between Ukraine and Russia. The Ministry of Finance (MF) borrowed, on Monday, 428.5 million RON from the banks, through an issue of benchmark state bonds, with a residual maturity of 119 months, at an average yield of 9.68% per year, according to data published by the National Bank of Romania (BNR). The nominal value of the issue was 200 million RON, and the banks subscribed 693.2 million RON. An additional auction is scheduled for Tuesday, through which the state wants to attract 30 million RON at the yield set on Monday for the bonds. The Ministry of Finance (MF) has planned, in October 2022, loans from commercial banks in the amount of 3.4 billion RON, to which the amount of 465 million RON can be added through additional sessions of non-competitive offers, related to bond auctions. The total amount, of 3.865 billion RON, is 760 million RON less than the one that was scheduled in September, of 4.625 billion RON, and will be intended for refinancing the public debt and financing the state budget deficit.AGERPRES The first container ship, AS Fatima, is being loaded in the largest port in Georgia - Batumi and will depart for the port of Constanta, as a regular line, on the route Piraeus-Batumi-Constanta-Varna-Piraeus, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Transport Bogdan Mindrescu announced Monday on his Facebook page, told Agerpres. "The discussions held with the President of the Republic of Georgia, Ms. Salome Zourabichvili, also yielded the first concrete results: today, October 24, 2022, the first container ship, AS Fatima, is being loaded in the largest port in Georgia - Batumi and will leave for the port Constanta as a regular line on the Piraeus-Batumi-Constanta-Varna-Piraeus route," noted Mindrescu. According to him, there are two such ships - AS Fatima (1284 teu) and Contship Jet (1267 teu) that will arrive at the port of Constanta on this route. At the invitation of the President of Romania, the President of Georgia paid an official visit to Romania on October 11 and 12, which took place in an anniversary context, this year, with Romania and Georgia marking 30 years since the re-establishment of diplomatic relations. The President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, met on October 12, in Constanta, with representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Secretaries of State Bogdan Stelian Mindrescu and Constantin Gabriel Bunduc, with the mayor of Constanta, Vergil Chitac, and with General manager of the Port of Constanta Administration Florin Vizan, the president of the Constanta County Council, Mihai Lupu, and the Prefect of the Constanta County, Silviu Cosa. The Harghita County Council is launching an extensive public consultation regarding the coexistence between Romanians and ethnic Hungarians, the residents of the county being invited to complete a questionnaire with questions related to inter-ethnic relations, informs CJ Harghita, in a press release. The County Council developed an inter-ethnic cooperation program, the purpose of which being to assess the inter-ethnic relations, to develop a map of the problems and to find solutions, so as to reach the establishment of a peaceful coexistence, based on tolerance, appreciation and mutual respect. "The purpose of the program is to evaluate the ethnic relations and to develop a map of the problems by organizing various meetings and events, involving local actors from the economic, cultural, social environment and from the civil society. At the same time, the development of a cooperation closer ties between the Harghita County Council and local authorities, organizing meetings and creating programs to discuss problems and propose solutions, contributing to the drawing up of a coexistence map. Also, the program aims to collect good practices and positive examples that strengthen inter-ethnic relations," the release of the Harghita County Council's Press Office reads. A first stage of the program is the launch of an opinion survey, with the aim of collecting people's opinions, experiences, perceptions and examples of good practices. "Your answers will be confidential and anonymous," is the message at the beginning of the questionnaire. The questionnaire includes, among others, questions related to the relationship between Romanians and ethnic Hungarians, to the experiences that the respondents had, and they were asked to propose measures to improve inter-ethnic relations. "Following the results, a good coexistence guide will be developed that will establish and ensure the long-term dynamics of relations between the ethnic groups in Harghita county, which can be applied in other multi-ethnic communities as well," the press release states. The questionnaire is available, for Romanians in the county, by accessing the link https://www.survio.com/survey/d/A9H4F7B6W8H6N7X7O, and for the ethnic Hungarian residents, at the address https://www.survio.com/survey/d /D9M3G1I5E9K6F6X0A. All those who live in Harghita or who have lived in this county and wish to answer the questions can do so until November 30. The chairman of the Harghita County Council, Borboly Csaba, has made several attempts to develop a code of inter-ethnic coexistence, but these have not materialized so far.AGERPRES Chamber of Deputies Speaker, Social Democrat leader Marcel Ciolacu said on Monday that a set of proposals regarding local taxes and fees will be tabled to the responsible minister for discussion, hinting that high-end homes might be taxed more, told Agerpres. "We'll see if a tax increase on certain categories is appropriate. (...) The Association of Romanian Municipalities and the mayors' associations suggested a derogation until 2025 from the notaries' real estate tax guide, but I think that, amid the ongoing crisis, very expensive homes might be taxed more," Ciolacu explained. On October 10 Marcel Ciolacu declared that the Social Democrat municipal mayors do not agree with the amendment passed by the Senate regarding the increase of property taxes, and that they will come up with their own proposal. "It is my understanding that they will also send an official note of the Association of Romanian Municipalities. This increase on property taxes that helps local budgets was set in place three months ago, by ordinance, through amendments to the Tax Code that clearly stated that the notaries' grid shall apply. The mayors countered that technically this cannot be done, so that this amendment was proposed, to increase taxes by up to 50 percent, but keep the coefficient the same. In other words, this was a decentralization that left it at the mayor's discretion whether or not to increase the tax. The taxes can also remain the same. With the notaries' real estate tax guide, things were very clear, the determinant criterion was the location of the property. We cannot compare the municipality of Buzau with Bucharest City. Now we are looking for another formula that is applicable and fair," Ciolacu explained back then. The General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPF) informs that on Sunday, a number of 89,448 people entered Romania through border points throughout the country, of whom 8,058 were Ukrainian citizens, decreasing by almost 16 percent compared to the previous day, told Agerpres. According to a release sent to AGERPRES on Monday, approximately 189,600 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with more than 45,900 means of transportation, completed the control formalities at the border crossing points nationwide, both on the way in and on the way out. As of 10 February 2022 (the pre-conflict period), a number of 2,656,793 Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania. In the relevant areas - the border crossing points and the "green border," the border policemen discovered 43 illegalities (15 offenses and 28 contraventions) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens, with the amount of fines enforced exceeding 20,400 RON. On Sunday, a number of 23 foreign citizens were not allowed to enter the country because they didn't meet the requirements stipulated by the law, while a number of 26 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave the country for various legal reasons. The Romanian Cultural Institute awarded the prize for the best translation of a book from Romanian literature to translators Marian Ochoa de Eribe and Eta Hrubaru for the Spanish translation of the volume "Anthology of Poetry" by Mircea Cartarescu, published at Editorial Impedimenta, Spain. The prize was awarded at the International Festival of Literature and Translation (FILIT) in northeastern Iasi, on Sunday, at the Vasile Alecsandri Theatre, ICR informs in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Monday. "For many years already, the Romanian Cultural Institute has been supporting the translation of Romanian literature outside the country, thus contributing to its visibility beyond the borders. Through the Translation prize, awarded for the first time this year at FILIT, the ICR aims to compensate for some of the fundamental discretion of the translators' profession and to reward the most notable achievements of those who have chosen to dedicate themselves to literature written in the Romanian language," said the President of the ICR, Liviu Jicman, quoted in the press release. Alina Cantacuzino, translator and cultural manager, Bogdan Cretu, writer and literary critic, and Bogdan Ghiu, writer and translator, were part of the jury assembled by the ICR to choose the award-winning volume. Marian Ochoa de Eribe studied philology at the University of Deusto. She arrived in Romania in 1993, following a competition for a Spanish language and literature lectureship in Eastern Europe at Ovidius University in Constanta. She translated into Spanish authors such as Panait Istrati ('Chira Chiralina' and 'Mos Anghel' - 2008, Editorial Pre-Textos), Mircea Eliade ('Romanul adolescentului miop' - Diary of a Short-Sighted Adolescent and 'Gaudeamus' - 2009, Editorial Impedimenta) and Mihail Sebastian ("Women" - 2008, Editorial Impedimenta). As for her creative activity, it was mainly focused on the study of Spanish social poetry. Eta Hrubaru (Florica Hrubaru) is a graduate of the Faculty of Philology, French-Romanian section, within the University Al. I. Cuza in Iasi, professor and head of the Department of Romance Languages at the Ovidius University of Constanta, Romanian language lecturer at the University of Ljubljana (2001-2004), founding member and president of the Association of Researchers in French Linguistics, collaborator in specialised publications.AGERPRES A new monkeypox case has been confirmed in Romania, the Ministry of Health announced on Monday, told Agerpres. It is about a 54-year-old man from Bucharest having been diagnosed with the disease. His health is currently good and he is in isolation, according to the ministry. So far, 42 patients have been diagnosed with monkeypox in Romania. According to the National Institute of Public Health, a total of 10 people have been vaccinated against monkeypox. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel received the farewell visit of His Excellency Mr Nikoloz Nikolozishvili, Ambassador of Georgia to Bucharest, at the patriarchal residence on October 20, 2022. The Georgian Ambassador thanked the Patriarch of Romania for the warm welcome at the conclusion of his diplomatic mission in Bucharest and expressed his delight that the signing of the joint declaration establishing a strategic partnership between Romania and Georgia on the occasion of the official visit to Romania on October 11, 2022, by the President of Georgia, Mrs Salome Zourabichvili, was among the significant accomplishments during his tenure. The Romanian Patriarch highlighted Georgias spiritual wealth, particularly the Orthodox Christian one. In this context, he emphasised the significance of nurturing and expanding religious, cultural, and economic ties between the two nations and sister Orthodox Churches, notably through promoting student exchanges and pilgrimages. Simultaneously, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel and Ambassador Nikoloz Nikolozishvili discussed the present issues facing Georgian communities in the diaspora as well as Georgias European destiny. On October 15, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel presided over a Te Deum service at the Cathedral of Alba Iulia commemorating the 100th anniversary of the coronation of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie. The celebration began with the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the centennial of the Coronation on the west side of the cathedrals bell tower. The Archbishop of Alba Iulia, Irineu, blessed the plaque. Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, and Prince Consort Radu of Romania attended the thanksgiving prayers. Several hierarchs were also present, notably Metropolitan Laurentiu of Transylvania and Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj, Maramures, and Salaj, according to basilica.ro. In a speech, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel emphasised that the Royal Coronation in Alba Iulia signified the consecration of the Great Union of the Romanian people. It is an opportunity to recall the crucial role of this city symbol in the birth, cultivation, and transmission of the consciousness of national unity and identity of the Romanian people, a mission enshrined by the achievement here of the first union of the three Romanian countries under the rule of Michael the Brave in 1600, and the Great Union of Transylvania with Romania, on December 1, 1918, Patriarch Daniel said. His Beatitude underlined in his message that collective memory is short, particularly when a nation experiences collective traumas: wars, oppressive totalitarian regimes, critical periods, such as the communist period, which manipulated consciences through aggressive atheistic propaganda, attempting to destroy faith and erase the historical truth of the contribution of the Romanian kings to the realisation of the ideal of freedom and unity of the Romanian people. In comparison to other European peoples, Romanians have fewer places of memory associated with the past. Alba Iulia is one of these locations! the Romanian Patriarch stated. A visible, physical monument intended to preserve alive in our memory and that of our descendants the respect and gratitude for the sacrifice of our predecessors who gave their lives for the realisation of the independence and unity of the Romanian people. The message of Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca was then given by the Prime Ministers envoy. The ceremony concluded with the discharge of tricolour fireworks atop the Cathedral of the Coronations bell tower. Queen Maries statue was unveiled and consecrated in Citadel Square in the afternoon. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel sent a message on the 30th anniversary of the reactivation of the Metropolis of Bessarabia. The festivities took place in the Church of St. Andrew Durlesti, in Chisinau, last Thursday, October 20. We assure all the Orthodox faithful of the Republic of Moldova that the Romanian Orthodox Church, as a spiritual mother who never abandons her children, through the worthy hierarchs and priests of the three Bessarabian dioceses, will continue to be at their side, supporting them both through her permanent prayers and through the support of concrete pastoral, social-philanthropic and cultural activities in the Metropolis of Bessarabia, Patriarch Daniel underscored, according to basilica.ro. The Metropolis of Bessarabia cultivates steadfast love for the Romanian peoples ancestral Church The Metropolis of Bessarabia was established following the Great Union of the Romanian people in 1918, specifically in 1925, when the Archdiocese of Chisinau was elevated to the status of Metropolis, with His Eminence Gurie Grosu as its first Metropolitan. Upon the advent of the Soviet authority in Bessarabia in 1944, however, Metropolitan Efrem Enachescu was forced to vacate his episcopal see. Thus, the Metropolis of Bessarabia halted operations for over half a century without the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church recognising its dissolution. The declaration of independence by the Republic of Moldova on August 27, 1991, permitted the faithful of this Metropolis who remained loyal to the Romanian Orthodox Church to organise an eparchial assembly and decide on September 14, 1992, to reactivate the Metropolis of Bessarabia. On December 19, 1992, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church took note, with blessing, of the reactivation of the Metropolis of Bessarabia and, by a Patriarchal and Synodal Act, recognised this Metropolis as autonomous and observing the old calendar, its leadership being assumed by His Eminence Petru Paduraru, who would in 1995 receive the title of Archbishop of Chisinau, Metropolitan of Bessarabia and Exarch of the Territories. In that Decree, it was stated: by reactivating the Metropolis of Bessarabia, a holy act of truth and justice is being committed today, which renews the fullness of the communion of ancestral faith and Romanian feeling. After a decade of persecution by the Moldovan authorities and refusal of recognition of its legal existence, the Metropolis of Bessarabia won a famous case at the European Court of Human Rights on December 13, 2001, which led to the official recognition of the Metropolis of Bessarabia by the Moldovan authorities in 2002 with the support of several specialists, including internationally renowned foreign lawyers. The legal recognition obtained 20 years ago has led to a certain freedom in its liturgical, pastoral and administrative activities. After recognition by the State, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru obtained registration with the competent Moldovan authorities of the four dioceses of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, namely the Archdiocese of Chisinau and the Diocese of Balti (formerly Hotin Diocese) in 2004, as well as the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia (formerly of Cetatea Alba-Ismail) and the Orthodox Diocese of Dubasari and all Transnistria (formerly the Romanian Orthodox Mission in Transnistria) in 2006. In the Centennial Year 2018, at His Eminences request and proposal, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church elected His Grace Antonie as Bishop of Balti and His Grace Veniamin as Bishop of Southern Bessarabia to strengthen the ecclesiastical life in the Metropolis of Bessarabia. In addition, in 2018, clergy and lay members from all three Bessarabian dioceses were appointed to the National Church Assembly in recognition of the specific relevance of Romanians along Romanias borders. In the same year, 2018, at the proposal of the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, the Holy Synod approved the canonisation of Saint Dionysius (Erhan), Bishop of Cetatea Alba and Ismail, a holy offspring of the Bessarabian land in the 20th century, the first canonisation carried out in the Romanian Orthodox Church at the proposal of this Metropolitan Synod. The three-decade anniversary of the reactivation of the Metropolis of Bessarabia (1992-2022) is thus an occasion to thank God for the gifts bestowed upon the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful of the Romanian Orthodox Church on the left bank of Prut River, as well as a day of gratitude for all those who contributed to the reactivation and recognition of the Metropolis of Bessarabia by the authorities of the Republic of Moldova, as well as to numerous liturgical, pastoral, missionary, construction, educational, philanthropic and cultural activities. At the same time, this anniversary is an opportunity to emphasise the importance of the dignity and unity of the nation, language, and faith among Romanians on both sides of the Prut River, as well as an opportunity for reflection, evaluation, and the launch of new initiatives to promote and develop the spiritual and cultural values of Romanians in the Republic of Moldova through peaceful dialogue, cooperation, and respect for freedom and human dignity. Thanks to the fervour and devotion of His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia and his two suffragan hierarchs, Their Graces Antonie of Balti and Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia, the faithful feel the joy of living the ancestral faith of the Romanian people and their profound ethnic identity in the Romanian Orthodox churches of the Republic of Moldova. The permanent values of the Orthodox faith and Romanian culture are promoted, Romanian traditions are passed on, and the Romanian language is cultivated through their participation in the liturgical life, cultural events, and social-philanthropic actions organised by the parishes of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, all of which contribute to the preservation of the cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and ecclesial identity of the Orthodox Romanians in Bessarabia. His Eminence Metropolitan Petru, in particular, has demonstrated pastoral care and special attention to Church life by constantly striving to increase the number of places of worship and clerical and monastic personnel, to build, strengthen, and repair numerous places of worship, social centres, and administrative buildings, and to carry out cultural-educational and social-philanthropic programmes in close collaboration with the Diaconia Social Mission. His Eminences example has been followed in recent years by His Grace Bishop Antonie of Balti and His Grace Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia, with notable results. Approximately half of the Metropolis of Bessarabias places of worship and church structures are now undertaking construction or repair works, mural painting or restoration, equipping and beautifying works. Furthermore, various immovable properties (land and buildings) have been bought to establish places of worship or organise administrative offices and social-pastoral centres. These construction initiatives were made possible by a number of meritorious priests who accompanied His Eminence Metropolitan Petru from the start, as well as other Church ministers, many of whom went on to found significant places of worship. Many of these programmes are also financially sponsored, to the extent possible, by the Romanian Patriarchate in collaboration with many Romanian dioceses and with the assistance of the Romanian State. The effervescence of spiritual life in the Metropolis of Bessarabia was also expressed via the components of the Romanian Patriarchates Basilica Media Centre, particularly in the framework of the year 2021, declared by the Holy Synod as a Solemn Year of the Pastoral Care of Romanians Abroad. Numerous interviews, news articles, feature stories, and television and radio broadcasts have been conducted with figures from the Republic of Moldovas religious and cultural life. The Romanian Patriarchates Trinitas TV station is working on an anniversary film for the Metropolis of Bessarabia. We assure all the Orthodox faithful of the Republic of Moldova that the Romanian Orthodox Church, as a spiritual mother who never abandons her children, through the worthy hierarchs and priests of the three Bessarabian dioceses, will continue to be at their side, supporting them both through her permanent prayers and the support of concrete pastoral, social-philanthropic and cultural activities in the Metropolis of Bessarabia. We congratulate His Eminence Petru, Archbishop of Chisinau, Metropolitan of Bessarabia and Exarch of the Territories, Their Graces Bishop Antonie of Balti and Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia for their diligent and extensive work, for their dedication to the Romanian people, and for organising these spiritual, missionary and cultural events marking the 30th anniversary of the reactivation of the Metropolis of Bessarabia. As a sign of gratitude, appreciation and blessing, we are offering orders and distinctions to several clergy and lay people today. We pray to the Most Holy Trinity to protect and bless with perfect health, help, peace and joy all the hierarchs, clergy, monastics, founders, supporters and lay faithful of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, as well as all those present here, giving them all peace and joy, health and salvation, cultivating the spirit of unity and brotherhood, communion and solidarity, for the preservation and promotion of the values of faith and culture of the Romanian people, for many blessed years! Daniel Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church Almost 60 farmland owners in the hamlet of Angofa near Sighisoara and in the village of Viscri in Brasov are participating in the Life TransilvaCOOPERATION pilot project, financed by the LIFE Programme of the European Union and implemented by the ADEPT Transilvania Foundation, which aims to preserve grasslands rich in biodiversity, through traditional agricultural practices that generate consistent income for farmers from superior quality products. The vice-president of ADEPT Transylvania Foundation, Razvan Popa, says that the TransilvaCOOPERATION project implemented in Angofa and Viscri comes exactly on the environmental side and is based on three European strategies, such as biodiversity strategy, green deal and farm-to-fork strategy. "Our goals are to develop certain systems where farmers collaborate to implement certain environmental measures and not only, including extensive agricultural practices that do not have an impact on flora or fauna. It could be seen that more and more farmers give up grasslands and plow for large crops or for oil crops, where the profit is much higher. That's why we try to develop certain transdisciplinary models where we look at the marketing side, the social side, the environmental side and the agricultural side and we want to try certain models and then transfer them on to farmers," Popa says. In Angofa there are large farms of over 100 hectares - in total 800 ha are included in the programme -, while in the Viscri area there is an association of small farmers, which manages 1,000 hectares, so the ADEPT Foundation decided to develop a farm-model where farmers can learn a series of good practices. "We also have concrete activities in which we even intervene with innovative equipment, where we remove brushwood or make certain mowing systems or certain grazing systems. We will then pass on all this knowledge through the two regions where the farmers will visit, those from Angofa will go to Viscri, those from Viscri will come here and will be able to see these extensive systems," said the representative of the ADEPT Foundation. The farm in Angofa was taken over by the ADEPT Foundation in 2017 and, although the hamlet is no longer inhabited, all the meadows were destroyed in terms of vegetation, being excessively grazed by a large number of sheep. Since 2017, action has been taken, including now, through the new TransilvaCOOPERATION project, for the improvement of biodiversity and the development of ecotourism in the Angofa area. The value of the Life TransilvaCOOPERATION project is 596,275 euros and runs until 2023. Among the objectives of the project is the mapping of habitats, species and land use in the Angofa and Viscri areas, including specific landscape elements, such as wetlands or ponds, forest curtains, isolated trees, extremely important elements for wild flora and fauna, but also from an aesthetic point of view, at landscape level. In addition to the development of two maps, for the two areas, Angofa and Viscri, which will represent the habitats, species and land use, the project organizes concrete actions to restore the habitats on an area of at least 240 hectares of meadows provided for by the EU Habitats Directive to improve their conservation status, from unsatisfactory to favorable. For this reason, British experts, such as Freddie Harvey Williams, whom I found on the spot, are constantly performing analyzes and taking soil samples, in order to determine how the soil evolves in the area of influence of the project and which is the growth rate of habitats and different species. The initiators of the project intend to develop an innovative software that will allow the generation of maps based on the management practices adopted, a fact that will allow farmers to visualize how landscapes and ecosystem services are transformed as a result of their decisions. Farmers will also benefit from a free application, which will provide them with relevant information about land management and animal husbandry, as well as solutions for increasing household income, by diversifying activities.AGERPRES Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca took note of Vasile Dincu's resignation from the National Defence Ministry (MApN) office, Government's Spokesperson Dan Carbunaru informed, told Agerpres. He added that the Executive will come back with details regarding the interim of the MApN leadership. National Defence Minister Vasile Dincu announced on Monday he stepped down from office. "This morning, I tendered my resignation as the National Defence Minister to Romania's Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca," Dincu worte on his Facebook page. He also attached the text of the resignation sent to Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, in which he called out "the impossibility of collaborating" with President Klaus Iohannis. The President of the Economic Committee in the Senate, Daniel Zamfir, requests that Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca renegotiate, during his visit to Brussels this week, the energy measures for Romania assumed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), told Agerpres. "It is unacceptable to assume that at the end of this year, two more coal-fired energy groups will be closed, at Turceni and Rovinari, 660 MW, hoping that at some point, in the following years, some gas groups will be opened. Those who drew up the PNRR in terms of energy proved that they do not know the reality (...). Romania cannot afford in this geopolitical context to give up another 660 MW," said Zamfir. He stated that the power plants that the Ministry of Energy committed to close have the highest international economic standards. "There is no difference between the Rovinari and Turceni power plants and other power plants in Germany, Poland and other countries. All coal-fired power plants meet the environmental conditions and have the necessary approvals for a very good operation," Zamfir said. The leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) group in the Senate, Radu Oprea, mentioned that Germany has a deadline of 2035 and has "an energy mix" comparable to Romania's, in terms of the share of raw materials used. "If Germany can, also Romania should be able to," said Radu Oprea. The senators of the Economic Committee recently visited the Oltenia Energy Complex and the Hunedoara Energy Complex. Zamfir stated that he will send an information regarding the energy situation to President Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca and the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu. Romania will reach the milestone of 25,000 registered electric cars by the end of the year, with Dacia Spring still topping preferences, according to a study conducted by Lektri.co, sent on Monday to AGERPRES. According to the Lektri.co index, between January and September 2022, 8,375 new electric vehicles were registered, bringing the total units in Romania to 21,258, told Agerpres. At the same time, the last month of Q3 recorded the highest number of electric cars this year. With an increase of over 250pct compared to the same month last year, there were 1,373 such cars recorded in September 2022. Dacia Spring continues to be on top of Romanians' preferences, with 642 units registered in September alone. In total, in the current year, 4,168 Dacia Spring units were registered, an increase of almost 50pct compared to 2021, being followed by the Tesla Model 3, with 651 registrations in 2022. In the general top, Dacia Spring stands out with 7,234 units, Renault ZOE coming in second with 2,084, followed by VW E-UP, with 1,175 units. The high-end segment (which includes Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche models) saw 82 new registrations in the first nine months of this year. Regarding the charging infrastructure, if we consider only public chargers, without restrictions, the most used are AC Type 2 and CCS/CHAdeMO fast-chargers. According to the Plugshare portal, there are 2,896 public chargers in Romania, and the number of public charging places has reached 1,313. As part of its NATO commitments Romania will train Ukrainian paramedics, including in tactical wartime medicine; the relevant agreement was signed on Monday by representatives of the Interior Ministry's Emergency Department and of NATO's Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Center (EADRCC), the government said in a release. In response to Ukraine's request for international assistance with the strengthening of the resilience of its national public health system, EADRCC and the Romanian state developed a project for the training of 197 Ukrainian rescuers from the national emergency system. "It is a new important contribution of Romania to supporting Ukraine with the most important elements needed in the unprovoked war of aggression waged by Russia on Ukrainian soil. Romanian support is granted in the most direct and timely manner, targeting rescuers of all categories who must intervene both away from the battlefront, in the regions hit by long-range Russian airstrikes, and on the front line, where they are faced with a range of wounds and sufferings specific to war and direct confrontations with conventional infantry and artillery weapons. Once again, Romania respects its commitments within the Alliance," Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said as cited in the release. According to the agreement signed on October 24, paramedics will receive training in basic and tactical medicine, as well as courses for qualified first aid instructors. "The project is worth an estimated 450,000 euros, which is provided by the NATO Trust Fund, and Romania will ensure free of charge training at the Mobile Emergency Resuscitation and Extrication Service Centers in Targu Mures and Oradea," the release states. AGERPRES One of Romania's largest organisations of freight haulers based in Arad has asked the Government for "relentless lobby" to help Romania joining the border-free Schengen Area, saying that haulers lose between 18 and 22% of their turnover due to blockages at the border with Hungary, while haulers prefer seeking employment by Hungarian companies to avoid queuing at the border for up to 10 hours. Chairman of Europa 2002 Hauler Employers' Association (APTE 2002) Adrian Pop told AGERPRES on Monday that Romanian haulage companies have to face additional expenses compared with competing companies elsewhere in Europe because of shipping being slowed down by customs checks at the Schengen border, told Agerpres. APTE 2002 is the largest organisation of freight haulers in western Romania representing about 2,200 companies that have over 15,000 lorries. "In all these years when Romania's accession to Schengen was postponed, freight haulage companies lost between 18 - 22% of their turnover. At the border with Hungary, sometimes you have to queue for 10 - 12 hours, and that means wasted driving shift, which is 9 hours. If a lorry is stuck at the border that driving shift does not make money, it only makes losses. In Romania, more than 66,000 lorries are shipping to the European Community, so we can imagine the significant losses amassed by haulers," said Adrian Pop. He believes that Romania's efforts to convince the Netherlands to accept Romania's integration into the Schengen area must continue. "I don't want to comment on foreign policy, but lobbying must not be abandoned for a moment in order to remove the last reservations from countries like the Netherlands," said Pop. He added that Hungary is responsible for "crises" created "artificially" at the border with Romania. "Hungary is artificially creating crises when entering its soil from Romania because it does not allocate enough border check staff, which results in the queues of lorries forming every day," said Pop. Owner of a freight haulage company from Arad Dorin Pop told AGERPRES that in some years he had losses of 30% of turnover due to the border traffic congestion, and on the other hand he has difficulties in hiring haulers as they refuse foreign trips precisely because of the long waiting times at the Schengen border. "I have done an analysis of the effects of border traffic blockages and I can tell you that we had years with losses of up to 30% of the turnover. A lorry stuck for 9 hours could travel 600 kilometres during the same time. Freight arrives late, which leads to large penalties and the risk of losing contracts. We find it very difficult to hire haulers for foreign trips, they prefer to work in Hungary to avoid the border queues. If they get stuck at the border (...) they can't earn as much money as in a Schengen country," said Pop. The manager believes that Romania's joining the Schengen area next year "would automatically lead to the development of Romanian haulage companies". As many as 305 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were recorded in the last 24 hours in Romania, up 99 from the previous day, with over 6,000 RT-PCR and rapid antigenic tests performed, the Health Ministry informed on Monday, told Agerpres. Of the new cases, 64 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 - 95, Cluj County - 29, and Hunedoara County - 20. The highest 14-day notification rate is in Bucharest City - 0.91, followed by Cluj County - 0.71, and Timis County - 0.64. As of Monday, 3,283,658 cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Romania. - Hospitalisations - As many as 824 people with COVID-19, down three from the previous reporting, including 52 minors, are hospitalised in Romania at specialist care facilities. Out of the total number of hospitalised patients, 96 are in intensive care. Of the 96 patients admitted to ICU, 87 are unvaccinated against COVID-19. - Deaths - According to the ministry, two Romanians, both men, are reported dead in the last 24 hours. Of the two deaths, one was recorded in the age group 60-69 years and one in the age group 70-79 years. Both deaths were in patients with comorbidities, and one death was in a vaccinated patient. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 67,165 people diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 infection have died in Romania. President Klaus Iohannis has convened the meeting of the Supreme Council for the Country's Defense (CSAT), which will take place on Tuesday, starting at 14:00, at the Cotroceni Palace, a release by the Presidential Administration from 11 October reads, told Agerpres. According to the source, topics related to the security situation in the context of Russia's aggression against Ukraine - implications for Romania and improving the country's energy resilience to ensure security in the field through operational adaptation and the development of new energy production capacities, in the context of the war in Ukraine are included on the agenda of the meeting. Moreover, the agenda includes a report on the measures adopted by Romania to implement the sanctions regime established internationally between October 2021 and September 2022, but also measures regarding the modernization of the Romanian Army. During the meeting, other current topics in the field of national security will be analyzed, the Presidential Administration said in the press release. President Iohannis will also participate, on Tuesday, in the ceremony organized on the occasion of the Romanian Army Day, at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Carol I Park, where he will also deliver a speech. The Ministry of European Investments and Projects (MIPE) loaded the third installment on the social cards offered through the "Support for Romania" program, its total value being over 590 million RON, the money reaching approximately 2.4 million Romanians, the institution states in a statement sent to AGERPRES on Monday. "The Ministry of Investments and European Projects made the payments for loading the social vouchers offered through the "Support for Romania" program with a new tranche of 250 RON, the third, for a number of 2,358,359 Romanians. We remind you that they are 4 installments, totaling 1,000 RON, offered once every two months, until the end of this year. Thus, until Wednesday, all beneficiaries will have their cards loaded, to be able to purchase food and hot meals. The total value of the amount sent by MIPE, from non-reimbursable European funds, amounts to 590,384,250 RON," the document states. The cards can only be used by the beneficiaries. In exceptional cases, in which the beneficiary cannot go to the economic operators to use the aid, then they can entrust the vouchers to a close person, but only together with the identity document. Apart from the social vouchers offered through the "Support for Romania" program, in November, the Ministry of Investments and European Projects will ensure the delivery of a new tranche of food packages for disadvantaged people. The first aid, provided through the Operational Program Aid to Disadvantaged Persons (POAD), was delivered in January 2020, when people from vulnerable groups received another 1.18 million packages. Since then, four such tranches have been delivered. The Transilvania University of Brasov will receive approximately 7 million euros, through Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), for the digitization of education and research processes, the institution's management informs on Monday, told Agerpres. According to UniTBv representatives, the value of the project basically represents the total budget of the Brasov university for 4-year research, which, in recent years, amounted to more than 1.5 million euros annually. The vice-rector responsible for research, Prof. Dr. Carmen Buzea, specified that the project financed by PNRR has an implementation period of 3 years, and its basic pillar is the development of the university's digital infrastructure with the aim of improving teaching and research activity. Regarding the digitization project financed by PNRR, the director of the University's Research and Development Institute, Prof. Monica Raileanu Szeles, explained that, mainly, it consists in the acquisition of digital systems and equipment, which will be directed to the 20 research centers within the Institute in the field of engineering and medical sciences. For the other students, from the faculties with a socio-human profile, three laboratories will be equipped with high-performance computer equipment, which can be used jointly by these students, together with those from the technical profile. Among the equipment that will be purchased are virtual reality systems, scanners and 3D printers, digital detection and analysis devices, integrated measurement systems, characterization and data processing, medical simulation equipment, an integrated line for the development of sensors and nanosensors with applications in medicine, environment, agriculture, etc., as well as software packages. The project will be implemented between October 2022 and December 2025, and its budget is 34,753,711 RON, of which the PNRR non-refundable amount is 29,204,799 RON and 5,548,912 RON VAT. Transilvania University of Brasov has over 20,000 students in all study cycles and over 1,000 teaching staff in the 18 faculties. Two convoys carrying French defence equipment arrived in Romania on Sunday evening at the Nadlac border crossing point in Arad County, told Agerpres. The first convoy was composed of light armoured fighting vehicles and the second of heavy armoured fighting vehicles, the Romanian Defence Ministry (MApN) wrote in a Facebook post. The two convoys were met by French Colonel Alexandre de Feligonde of the NATO Battle Group together with Colonel Tiberiu Cojocaru of the Headquarters Multinational Division South - East. The vehicles will add to the equipment of the NATO Battle Group Forward Presence (BGFP) deployed in Cincu. The logistical operation to deploy equipment from the Mourmelon-le-Grande base in France to Cincu on wheels over a distance of more than 2,000 kilometres began on October 18 and is called Operation "Balaur", inspired by the eponymous mythological character from Romanian legends. BGFP Romania was established in May by transforming NATO multinational elements of the NATO Response Force deployed in the country. Upon France's proposal to take over the role of a NATO framework nation, the French battalion deployed in Romania, considered the spearhead of NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), forms the BGFP on the national soil integrating, on a rotational basis, troops from Belgium and the Netherlands. The Minister of National Defense, Vasile Dincu, announced on Monday that he resigned from his position, told Agerpres. "This morning, I submitted my resignation from the position of Minister of National Defense to the Prime Minister of Romania, Nicolae Ciuca," Dincu wrote on Facebook. ST. LOUIS Missouri voters will decide in November whether they want to allow recreational cannabis in the state, an issue that has typically come with promises of leafy, green economic uplift. If voters legalize pot for recreational use, some local cannabis businesses say their workforce would increase, or even double. And unlike the rest of the economy, still wracked with staffing shortages, it appears theres a supply of candidates eager to work in the industry. We are seeing a huge demand for people who want to work in this space, said John Pennington, co-founder and CEO of Rock Hill-based retailer and manufacturer Proper Cannabis. Experts and industry officials credit the legalization of recreational marijuana with growing jobs from Colorado to Illinois. In Missouri, advocates say much the same: And while the numbers are hard to pin down and unlikely to be transformative, marijuana businesses will certainly have to scale up if voters approve Amendment 3. States that have legalized recreational marijuana have generally seen some swift hiring at first, said Alison Felix, a senior policy adviser at the Denver branch of the Kansas City Federal Reserve. Theyre looking to hire, open retail stores, grow product and manufacture edibles. You immediately need to hire quite a few workers, Felix said. Then as the industry starts to mature, which can certainly take several years, you see it growing at a much more moderate pace. Proper Cannabis would likely increase its overall headcount by 20% to 40%, Pennington said. Today the company employs about 160 people between its headquarters and three dispensaries, Pennington said, plus 15 or so contracted, full-time security employees. The dispensary chain SWADE has 50 employees across its five local stores, said Jack Haddox, director of retail operations. Should the amendment pass, Haddox said hed expect to double his employee count. The best estimates Precise employment counts for the industry do not exist, Felix and another researcher at the Kansas City Federal Reserve wrote in an analysis released earlier this month. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics doesnt have specific categories for jobs in cannabis growing, manufacturing or retail. A bureau spokesperson said marijuana store employees, for example, would likely be reported in the all other miscellaneous store retailers category. That segment employs about 3,600 people in Missouri, as of last year. But it also includes employees of art supply shops, candle stores and hot tub retailers. In Illinois, recreational marijuana has been legal since 2020. The state Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office found in a 2021 survey that marijuana companies employed 7,500 people statewide, up from 6,000 the year prior, according to a spokesperson from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Felix also found that recreational marijuana added thousands of jobs per year in Colorado, especially in the first few years after legalization. For Missouri numbers, most people in the industry refer to the facility agent IDs issued in the state, a license of sorts required for each person who has regular access to a medical marijuana facility. As of September, there were about 9,500 active facility agent IDs in Missouri, up from 5,000 a year earlier. If taken as a rough proxy for jobs, that would place the industry at about 0.3% of Missouris total employment, Felix wrote in the analysis. Still, its likely a high estimate. In Missouri, agent IDs are required for all owners, officers, managers, employees, support staff and volunteers. They are also required for any contractors who would have access to a facility for more than two weeks. As for the future, Missouri is in a tight labor market with historically low unemployment, so there is not a massive pool of prospective employees waiting to enter the workforce, said Joe Haslag, an economics professor at the University of Missouri who has studied the marijuana industry here. And theres little evidence that legalizing recreational marijuana has led to expansive population growth in states like California and Colorado, he said. Haslag expects that any effects on employment would come from people moving from other industries into the marijuana business. In other words, he forecast substitution, rather than expansion. A therapist, a florist, a retail worker Still, local marijuana businesses report a steady stream of applicants. Haddox, of the SWADE dispensaries, said the company has gotten over 5,000 applications for 50 jobs over the past year and a half. SWADE offers $18.75 an hour for a 32-hour work week. Dan Gummow, general manager at the Proper Cannabis dispensary in South County, said he recently received 300 applications for one part-time position. Patient care specialist jobs at Proper Cannabis start at $15 per hour, plus tips. Its competitive, Gummow said. Dont give up if you dont get an interview right away. Even graduates of St. Louis Universitys new cannabis science certificate program, he said, wouldnt necessarily get a job at Proper. (But it would help. That definitely gets you an interview, he said.) The jobs have attracted workers from a range of backgrounds, from nurses and teachers to bartenders and restaurant servers. Over the summer, Proper Cannabis internship program drew college students from majors like agriculture, business, human resources and psychology. When Gummow reviews job applications, he looks for customer service experience. Pharmacy technicians are great candidates, he said, because they are used to dealing with the regulations and procedures that come with working with controlled substances. The patients they work with are often seeking help for anxiety, depression and general pain. Some are undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. People open up their whole worlds to us, said Nathan Bischan, lead patient care specialist for Proper Cannabis South County. Especially our regulars. I know some patients more than I think their family does. Sometimes Bischan feels like a therapist. But, he added, the job is also sort of like working at a craft beer company, because of the sense of community, and the customer-driven work. And sometimes the staff joke that they are glorified florists. The day-to-day work involves a lot of red tape, Gummow said, because the industry is so tightly regulated. But otherwise, at the end of the day its pretty much like working at any retail store. We just sell cooler stuff, he joked. The researchers found that the death rate for COVID-19 was 2.8-fold and sevenfold higher for adults aged 85 years and older compared with those aged 75 to 84 and 65 to 74 years, respectively (1,645 versus 589.8 and 234.3 per 100,000 population, respectively). For all race and Hispanic-origin groups, age-adjusted death rates for COVID-19 were higher for men than women in adults aged 65 years and older. In 2020, there was variation observed at the state level in the age-adjusted death rates due to COVID-19 in the population aged 65 years and older from 90.5 to 872 in Hawaii and New Jersey, respectively. Overall, 38.9 percent of COVID-19 deaths among adults aged 85 years and older occurred in a nursing home or long-term care facility, compared with 19.2 and 9.7 percent among those aged 75 to 84 and 65 to 74 years, respectively. ST. LOUIS A gunman entered a south St. Louis high school on Monday with a long gun and multiple high-capacity magazines, shooting a teenage girl and a health teacher to death and injuring several others before police shot and killed him, authorities said. Police identified the suspect late Monday as Orlando Harris, 19, a graduate last year of the school, Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, at Arsenal Street and South Kingshighway near Tower Grove Park. One survivor heard the shooter say he was tired of everybody in the school. Police said the damage could have been far worse. The shooters gun jammed at one point, one student said, giving kids time to escape. And police found more than a dozen 30-round magazines on him. Authorities did not release the names of the woman and the teenage girl who died. But relatives of the woman identified her to the Post-Dispatch as 61-year-old Jean Kuczka, who taught health and physical education. Kuczka, a mother of five, lived in the Dittmer area of Jefferson County. And family and friends said sophomore Alexzandria Bell, 15, loved art and dance and was constantly smiling. Four other students were shot and injured two in the leg, one in the arm, and one in the hands and jaw. Two more students suffered abrasions, and a girl fractured her ankle. Interim St. Louis police Commissioner Michael Sack said Monday evening that he was extremely proud of the police response. The call for an active shooter came in at 9:11 a.m., and the shooter was shot 14 minutes later on the schools third floor. He said a security officer saw the man trying to enter the building, and police were alerted. Several parents and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones also commended the police response. This could have been much worse, Sack said. Sack refused to say how the gunman got into the building but said all doors were locked. The building has metal detectors and seven security officers. Sack said the gunman had no criminal history. There are two magnet high schools on the campus Central Visual and Performing Arts, with about 400 students, and Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience, with about 300 students. David Williams, a math teacher at the school, said the school principal came over the loudspeaker around 9 a.m. and said the code phrase that indicates a shooter in the building. Williams heard multiple shots outside his classroom, and one of the windows on the classroom door was shot out. He then heard a man say, You are all going to (expletive) die. Police havent said how many shots were fired inside the school. Elijah Pohlman, a 15-year-old sophomore, said it was chaos when the code came over the loudspeaker. He said he texted his parents that he loved them, then heard four gunshots and took off running. He said he almost ran into a body in the hallway on his way out. I dont even know how to deal with it, he said later. Im scared. Raymond J. Parks, a dance teacher at the school, said he was about to teach a ballet class when he saw the shooter wearing all black with a long gun out of the corner of his eye. Parks said the man pointed the gun at him but did not fire for some reason. Taniya Gholston, 16, was in the dance class when the shooting started. He said like, Im tired of this damn school, and, Im tired of everybody in this damn school, she said. Taniya said the shooters gun eventually jammed and that she was able to run for safety. Ranaiyah Cole was in the dance class too, stretching, when she heard a gunshot. We hid in a corner behind a mat, said Ranaiyah, 16. Once the gunman ran off, Ranaiyah and her classmates darted out of the school and to a vacant Walgreens building. Nylah Jones, a ninth grader at the school, said she was in math class when the shooter fired into the room from the hallway but could not get into the classroom. Students piled into the corner of the room and tried not to move as the shooter banged on the door, she said. Ryane Owens, 18, a senior at CVPA, said students thought it was a drill at first. Then we heard noises. Once you heard the boom, said teacher Michael De Filippo, all the chuckling and laughing in the back of the room stopped. Taniya Lumpkin was in speech and debate class at the time. She said a staff member told them to close and lock the door as they do for an intruder drill, but they didnt know if it was real or not. Next thing you know, we just heard gunshots, Taniya said. First single shots rang out, then multiple, then single again, she said. Jamiah Hampton, 16, was in vocal class on the fourth floor of the building when she heard gunshots on the third floor. I heard one big one, and then there were so many I stopped counting, she said. Im confused why people are so cruel. By 9:30 a.m., the area around the school was blocked off by police, ambulances and a SWAT van. Students and staff streamed from the buildings with hands in the air, filing up Hereford Street toward the Schnucks grocery store on Arsenal, where hundreds of evacuees gathered. There, students and their parents reconnected, hugging and crying. One boy was consoling his mother. Im glad its over. My friends are alive. Its OK, Mom. Its OK, Im here, he said. Earlier Monday, Mayor Jones and Rep. Cori Bush spoke at the first news conference of the day. Its so unfair, Jones said, choking up. Im heartbroken for these families. Our children shouldnt have to experience this. Bush said it is vital to get help if you need it in the shootings aftermath: If you dont know who to talk to, you can call our office, she said. Its OK to not be OK. In Washington, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the shooting with reporters: In the wake of Newtown, Parkland, Buffalo, Uvalde and countless other shootings in communities across the country, we need additional action to stop the scourge of gun violence, calling on the U.S. Senate to approve an assault weapons ban and take other commonsense actions. St. Louis Public Schools announced late Monday evening that classes will be canceled Tuesday at Central Visual and Performing Arts and Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience high schools in the wake of Mondays shooting. CVPA was Southwest High School for decades until 1992. ST. CHARLES COUNTY A Dardenne Prairie woman who stabbed and killed her mothers longtime boyfriend was sentenced last week to 18 years in prison. Judge Michael Fagras on Oct. 17 sentenced Abigail Lawrence to 18 years in prison in the fatal stabbing of 62-year-old Kevin Hoffert in December 2019. The sentence includes 15 years for second-degree murder and three years for one count of armed criminal action to run consecutively. Police said Lawrence stabbed Hoffert once in the chest, puncturing his heart and lung. Lawrence was convicted in August after a jury rejected her claim of self-defense in the case. Authorities said Hoffert had been in a long-term relationship with Lawrences mother. His obituary said he was a New Jersey native. According to court filings, Lawrence had lived in St. Charles for much of her life and had worked as a certified cosmetologist before her arrest. An original version of this story included an incorrect date for the murder. This version has been updated. ST. LOUIS Police on Tuesday identified the 30-year-old man who was killed Sunday evening near the border of St. Louis Central West End and Fountain Park neighborhoods. St. Louis police were called about 7:15 p.m. Sunday to Delmar Boulevard and Euclid Avenue and found Michael Davenport with a gunshot wound to the head. Davenport was pronounced dead at the scene. A 26-year-old suspect turned himself in to police and officers took the man's gun, police said. As of Tuesday, police had not released the man's name. ST. LOUIS Local health experts offered guidance for families embarking on an overwhelming task: counseling St. Louis-area students through the aftermath of Mondays shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. Pediatricians and counselors advised parents and guardians to acknowledge their own emotions and recognize that they can be be affected even if theyre not directly connected to CVPA. I think all parents in the St. Louis area, today, are feeling kind of rattled and scared, said Dr. T. Eric Spiegel, an associate professor of psychiatry at Washington University. Spiegel advised parents to begin by expressing their emotions freely to a partner or other trusted adult. That will help them work through some of their own pain and figure out a plan for talking about it with their child. Parents dont want to be so overwhelmed with their own distress that their child feels like they cant express their own feelings. We, as parents, may not know the extent that weve been affected by something until we start talking about it, said Spiegel, who is also the medical director for inpatient behavioral health services at BJC HealthCare Childrens Hospital. Then you can say, OK, Ive gotten that out of my system in a way, or Ive taken care of myself. And now I can feel competent to take care of my kids and do that in a way that is thoughtful. For very young kids, in kindergarten or earlier, Spiegel said, caregivers might decide to say nothing or to say something very simple. For example, they could say that a dangerous person was at a high school, people were hurt, and police and other helpers stopped it. Its natural for people who take care of kids to tend toward calming and reassuring them, which is good, said Dr. Ken Haller, a professor of pediatrics at St. Louis University School of Medicine and a pediatrician at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon. But its also important for us to even let kids know that we are scared, we are angry, we are sad, Haller said. Sometimes when we comfort kids, it can come across as, Dont feel bad. In times of tragedy, Haller said, it is normal, natural and healthy to feel terrible. Adults overarching message to their children should be: I will be here for you. Some children and adults might feel motivated to take action, Haller said. For children and caregivers, that could mean getting involved in advocacy around school and gun safety. For teachers and students, that could mean making cards for people affected by the incident at the school. Some children might be curious and want to find out as much information as possible about the shooting, Spiegel said. Parents might want to explain that they need to know a certain amount but that learning more will likely make them upset and wont be helpful. Debra Emery, a psychologist at Cardinal Glennon, said parents shouldnt make any assumptions about what their child has or hasnt heard about the events. This information spreads pretty quickly, Emery said. Kids are pretty perceptive, too. All it takes is a television being on somewhere or overhearing a conversation. Emery said it can be helpful to ask children and teenagers questions like: How much information is helpful to hear about this? How do you know? How do you stay connected to your friends without getting too much detail about these upsetting topics? A lot of teens really respect being asked, Emery said. Adults can counsel their children against learning about these events from social media, where they will be more likely to encounter misinformation and extreme emotions and opinions. Parents might also plan to have these discussions earlier such as over dinner, rather than right before bedtime so that the children can switch to a lighter activity afterward. Parents should keep closer track of their children after the incident, experts said, and look for signs of depression such as nightmares, changes in eating habits, social isolation or other changes in behavior. Children involved in such traumatic situations sometimes have physical complaints, like headaches or stomach aches. Some may experience changes in their academic habits, like difficulty concentrating. They may have strong reactions to reminders, like loud noises, friends who were present during the incident or the school itself. St. Louis-area school officials might strategize for how they want to communicate to students about Mondays events. The topic will almost certainly come up organically in area classrooms, and it is a good idea for teachers to give students space to express their emotions and talk about how they feel about being at school. Taking a break from the instruction of the day in the St. Louis area, today or tomorrow, in high schools, seems like a really good idea to me, Spiegel said. If youre experiencing behavior that isnt typical for you, such as sleeplessness or loss of appetite or notice it in someone else, thats a signal to ask for help. To speak with a clinician free of charge, call Behavioral Health Responses 24/7/365 Crisis Line and Youth Connection Helpline. Call 988, 314-469-6644 or 314-819-8802 (youth). Youth can also chat online at www.bhrstl.com or text BHEARD to 31658. ST. CHARLES COUNTY A driver has been arrested on suspicion of DWI after a man and woman were killed early Sunday in a two-car crash on Interstate 70 in St. Charles County. Steven Anderson, 59, and Kristi Anderson, 61, both of West Des Moines, Iowa, were killed about 2:20 a.m. on I-70 westbound east of Lake Saint Louis Boulevard. The crash happened when a 2022 Chevrolet Corvette was too closely following the Toyota Prius driven by Steve Anderson in a careless and imprudent manner, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol. Both vehicles swerved off the road and into an embankment. Both Steven and Kristi Anderson were not wearing seatbelts and were ejected from the car, according to the Highway Patrol. They were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Corvette, a 55-year-old man from O'Fallon, Missouri, was not listed as injured by the highway patrol. He was arrested on suspicion of DWI causing death, according to a patrol report. The man was booked into the St. Charles County jail about an hour after the crash as troopers continued to investigate. The jail said he was released early Monday; no charges had been filed. The Post-Dispatch is not identifying him because he has not been charged. Cpl. Dallas Thompson of the Missouri Highway Patrol said Monday that the man was released from jail without charges because prosecutors are waiting for results of the toxicology tests and a completed crash investigation. Kim Bell of the Post-Dispatch staff contributed to this report. Elected officials issued statements on social media in the wake of the shooting inside a St. Louis high school. Mayor Tishaura O. Jones: Our schools and other places of learning should be safe period. The gun violence epidemic facing our students, teachers, and staff is a public health crisis. U.S. Rep. Cori Bush: The tragedy at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School marks the 40th school shooting this year. 2022 was already the year on record with the highest number of school shootings occurring in a single year. This is unconscionable and inexcusable. Gov. Mike Parson: Our office has been briefed on this tragedy. State Public Safety officials are coordinating with local law enforcement and have offered any state resources necessary to assist with the investigation. ... Teresa and I are praying for the victims, their families, and the entire community. Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner: We will know more in the coming days, but one thing that is clear is that lockdown procedures which St. Louis Public Schools administrators, teachers and students at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and first responders followed as this attack unfolded were essential in preventing further violence. I am personally grateful to each of them and share my deepest condolences. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell: Thank you to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police officers who were nothing short of heroic in their response to these tragic shootings. Although this tragedy did not occur in St. Louis County, if there is any way we can help or any assistance we can offer, we are here for our St. Louis city family. U.S. Senate candidate Trudy Busch Valentine: I am heartbroken this morning to see reports of a school shooting in south St. Louis. As mother and grandmother myself, Im shocked and praying for all those affected students, parents, faculty, and in the community. Im grateful to brave law enforcement for their quick response. Attorney General Eric Schmitt: Our hearts are with the students at the Central Visual and Performing Arts School and their families as they seek to heal from this senseless tragedy, and we commend the brave men and women of law enforcement for their quick and decisive action. Alderman Megan Green: The school building had locked doors, metal detectors, and on-site security. Police response was swift and professional. There was still a shooting. ... It is unconscionable that our Republican legislature has tied our hands. We are prohibited from doing more to get guns off the street. ... No children should have to live with the constant threat of gun violence. Alderman Jack Coatar: Todays trauma will affect our entire community, most notably our students, our teachers, and our first responders directly involved. We support you. We care for you. Our hearts are with you. But that does not scratch the surface of what we need to do to keep our children safe. Our state and federal governments need to act. The complete lack of action in Jefferson City and Washington is normalizing children being killed at school. U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner: Just devastated about the senseless loss of life at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in the city of St. Louis. I am grateful for the swift response of our law enforcement. U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt: Tragic news from Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis. Thank you to law enforcement officers who quickly responded. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley: Devastating news in St. Louis. Im grateful for the swift response of local law enforcement. My office is in contact with local authorities and we stand ready to offer all assistance possible. Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade: My heart is broken for the children and their families in St. Louis who have had their lives forever changed for the worse. (The Missouri Legislature) can and must do better to address the epidemic of gun violence killing Missourians. State Sen. Karla May: This morning, hundreds of parents in St. Louis received the phone call that every parent fears there has been a shooting at your childs school. We do not yet know the status of those physically injured, but we know the trauma inflicted today will affect these children and families for decades to come. State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge: ... The horror today illustrates the continued need for Jefferson City to act. We must pass laws that will prevent tragedies like today, not enable or exacerbate them. I know myself and several colleagues have offered solutions that have fallen on deaf ears in the past. State Rep. LaKeySha Bosley: The City of St. Louis has suffered innumerable tragedies carried out with firearms, but the attack on the children of our community today has chilled me to the bone. No one should have to tolerate the trauma that students and educators faced today. ST. LOUIS In a break from tradition, voters across Missouri Tuesday began casting absentee ballots for the Nov. 8 general election without adhering to various authorized excuses for not showing up on Election Day. Missouri Voters Guide for today's elections The Post-Dispatch and the League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis present this guide to the candidates and races on the Nov. 8 ballot. The change applies only to people voting absentee in person at election offices or satellite locations the final two weeks before an election. The old rules still must be followed by those voting absentee in person earlier that period began Sept. 27 or doing so by mail. The change is part of an election law overhaul passed in May by the Missouri Legislature. Among other provisions is a controversial requirement that voters must show a government-issued photo ID at polling places. That was upheld by a circuit judge this month, but opponents are appealing. Eric Fey, Democratic director for the St. Louis County Election Board, said the board has expanded its satellite advance voting locations to six to accommodate a possible increase in absentee balloting due to the no-excuse rule. Its hard to predict how many people will utilize it, Fey said. We know from other states that have early voting that many voters have a general desire to get it out of the way in advance. The older procedure allows people to vote absentee only if they meet one of several requirements outlined in state law. Among those are incapacitation or confinement due to illness or disability, absence from their home county on Election Day, being on active duty in the military and working for an election agency. Notarization is required in many cases. The Legislature this year added first responders, health care workers and law enforcement personnel to those qualifying to vote absentee by mail or in person beginning six weeks before an election. In St. Louis County, no-excuse absentee voting kicked off Tuesday at Election Board headquarters at 725 Northwest Plaza Drive in St. Ann. Beginning Thursday, the six satellite locations will begin operating as well. They are the North County Recreation Complex, 2577 Redman Road, North County; the University of Missouri-St. Louis Millennium Student Center, 17 Arnold Grobman Drive; the St. Louis County Library Mid County Branch, 7821 Maryland Avenue, Clayton; the librarys Daniel Boone Branch, 300 Clarkson Road, Ellisville; St. Louis Community College Meramecs business administration building, 11333 Big Bend Road, Kirkwood; and St. Johns United Church of Christ, 11333 St. Johns Church Road, Green Park. The board office and the satellite sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the next two Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 7. Fey and election officials in St. Louis and St. Charles County said traditional absentee voting so far was lagging behind that for the last nonpresidential November election in 2018. A Jefferson County election official said the absentee pace there was more typical. As of Friday morning, Fey said, St. Louis County had received 8,256 mail-in ballots and 1,684 cast in person. That was down about 15% from 2018, he said. I really dont know what to attribute that to, he said. Maybe people are waiting for no-excuse to start or theres not as much interest as in 2018. Fey said the expansion to six satellite absentee voting locations occurred before the Aug. 2 primary to get people acclimated to the pre-November change in rules. In St. Charles County, Elections Director Kurt Bahr, a Republican, attributed the slow absentee voting pace so far to voter apathy. It seems that the campaigns are lackluster, especially in St. Charles County, he said. Bahr said no-excuse absentee votes can be cast at the County Election Authority office at 397 Turner Boulevard in St. Peters from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the next two Saturdays. He said single-day satellite voting will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Augusta library, 198 Jackson Street, Augusta; on Wednesday at the Lake St. Charles retirement complex, 45 Honey Locust Lane, St. Charles; and on Thursday at the Rivers Pointe Fire Station No. 2 at 1300 Le Sieur Street in Portage des Sioux. St. Louis already has had some experience with the no-excuse procedure prior to its special election on Sept. 13, just weeks after the new law took effect. Gary Stoff, Republican election director for the city Election Board, said because overall turnout was very low 6.1% of registered voters it didnt provide a good barometer for use of the no-excuse rule. The only thing on the ballot was a primary for aldermanic president, but with only two candidates running, both qualified for the general election. In the run-up to the November election, Stoff said, no-excuse voting will be available at the election board office, 300 North Tucker Boulevard, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The city will open three satellite voting locations on Tuesday: the Buder library, 4401 Hampton Avenue; the Julia Davis library, 4415 Natural Bridge Avenue; and Schlafly library, 225 North Euclid Avenue. Those locations will be open from noon to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays before the election, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and next Monday and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays. The new law allows voters without proper photo IDs to cast a provisional ballot, which will be counted if they return later that day with one or if election officials verify the voters signature with the signature in voter registration records. The Republican-led Legislature enacted the photo ID law as a way to ensure election integrity. Critics such as the American Civil Liberties Union say the new requirement disenfranchises residents, including people of color and people with disabilities. The ACLU has said it will appeal the court ruling upholding the law. Another lawsuit targets other parts of the new law. Critics havent targeted the no-excuse absentee voting provision. Democrats in the Legislature pushed that provision as a compromise for not attempting to block the photo ID requirement. The law, however, says if the photo ID provision is declared invalid, the no-excuse absentee voting measure also would no longer be in effect. Missouri Voters Guide for today's elections The Post-Dispatch and the League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis present this guide to the candidates and races on the Nov. 8 ballot. ST. LOUIS Vic Johnson saved about $200 by following his go-to mechanic, Mohammad Raza Hassani, from the shop where he used to work to Hassanis new business in south St. Louis. Hassani was fast, reliable and honest, Johnson said. And in doing so, Johnson became part of Hassanis journey from refugee to entrepreneur. I didnt want anyone else working on my car, said Johnson, 21, as Hassani repaired a control arm and wheel on his red Dodge SRT. Hassani, 32, came here with his wife and two young boys last year. He speaks limited English. Still, in March, he opened Raza Auto Sales and Repairs, at 3750 Bates Street. And now hes the first refugee to win one of ten $15,000 entrepreneurial grants funded by attorney Jerry Schlichter, whose Afghan Support Program aims to help some of the roughly 700 refugees to come to the area amid the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan last year. At the same time, the effort aims to lure more refugees here in a bid to reverse decades of population loss in the region, perhaps even replicating successes of the Bosnian immigration to south St. Louis in the 1990s. We will do this one business at a time, said Arrey Obenson, president and CEO of the International Institute, a partner in the support program. One family at a time. Hassani beat out 29 applicants and three other finalists, including a photographer looking to open a studio, a salesman hoping to build an online carpet- and curtain-selling business, and a former chicken farmer seeking to sell halal poultry meat from local farms. Hassani said hell use the grant to buy a new hydraulic jack, a device used to lift cars to allow mechanics safe access, and hire two more mechanics he employs four now likely other Afghan refugees. The shop has a four-door garage but only two jacks. This is going to open the door to almost double the business, said Ali Ahmadi, 28, an apprentice at the shop. Ahmadi, whose family came to the U.S. when he was 8, said he had struggled to get experience working at larger auto shops. Hassani offered him a better opportunity. Courage and hard work Hassani never had the chance to strike out on his own until he came to the U.S. His family left their home in the Helmand province of Afghanistan in the 1990s amid turmoil and civil war that erupted following the withdrawal of Soviet troops. Hassani is Hazara, a minority ethnic group persecuted by the Taliban. Hassani largely grew up in Quetta, Pakistan, watching his father, a mechanic, at work. By his teens, he was working with him. Every day, I go to the shop, Hassani said. First I go to watch, then slowly I start working. Hassani worked his way up to foreman, learning how to repair a wide array of cars, trucks and heavy machinery over his 15-year career, including stints fixing bulldozers and other equipment for a U.S. military contractor. But discrimination of Hazaras was present in Pakistan, too. After a friend of his was killed in a terrorist attack, Hassani took his family to India, then to Indonesia. He was granted entry into the U.S. about July of last year. I kissed the ground and said, Thank you, God, Hassani said. They moved in with a relative of Hassanis wife here in St. Louis. Hassani walked down South Grand Boulevard to look for work, finding a mechanics shop that hired him after a trial period. He moved on to a larger auto shop in St. Louis County a month later. But his dreams were bigger. I know about this job, Hassani said. I say, if I open my own business, I can bring two, three people to work with me. An Afghan auto dealer connected Hassani with two Afghan businessmen who owned a defunct mechanics garage. Hassani cleaned it up with money he had saved and rents the building for his business. Checking out tow trucks and forklifts One recent day, Hassani dropped off his sons at school before opening up shop. In a small, rundown office space, he boiled water in an electric kettle and poured cups of tea. The parking lot outside was jam-packed with cars in disrepair that he plans to fix and sell, or salvage for parts. Haroon Ikram, 34, stood waiting. It was at least the fourth day hed come by for Hassanis help; Hassani had always been busy with customers. Ikram, who came to the U.S. from Afghanistan as a child refugee, has had his ups and downs trying to start his own business. Then, last year, he opened Faith Towing, named after his young daughter. But he wanted Hassanis advice before shelling out $54,000 for a second tow truck, a used one hed found for sale in Farmington. His approval means to me a lot because I know how good of a mechanic he is, Ikram said. Hassani finally had time to go with Ikram. But they made a stop before driving south, to a nearby business that hired Hassani to repair a forklift. Hossein Agha, owner of game-builder Arcades Market on South Grand Boulevard, watched as Hassani inspected the old Komatsu model, to figure out what kind of engine pump he needed to buy. It was the second forklift Hassani repaired for Agha, who met Hassani shortly after he arrived in the U.S. Agha knows what it takes to make it as a small businessman. He built his arcade game manufacturing company over decades after coming to the U.S. from Iran in the late 1970s. Theres plenty of people, Agha said, who are here years and years and they cry about how they dont have money or they dont have this or that. Theres plenty of money to be made, he said. If you want to work. Contact: Annie J Mbale Project Manager 314-615-8184 St. Louis Mosaic Project St. Louis, MO (October 14th, 2022) - The St. Louis Mosaic Project is proud to announce that St. Josephs Academy will be its 109th ambassador school. As a partner of the St. Louis Mosaic Project, St. Josephs Academy will continue to enforce and celebrate a welcoming environment to its foreign-born students and families. St. Josephs Academy has been able to create an inclusive school culture by having foreign-born staff and faculty, as well as hiring multilingual staff and faculty. In addition to its effort to create a welcoming environment for foreign-born students, the school participates in regional fairs and bazaars with international themes and partners with international academic organizations. St. Josephs Academy also offers a tiered Global Education program and provides insights into multinational interests. St. Josephs Academy Commitment to Global Education Through all aspects of the tiered Global Education program, St. Josephs Academy empowers women to become Global Leaders with strong values necessary to make a profound impact in the world. Global Education at St. Josephs Academy is tied to the mission and core values of the school. It is the schools goal that the students involved in Global Education develop these competencies and carry them throughout their lives. This program offers a more globally-focused curriculum, provides outside learning opportunities that empower global citizenship, and offers a multitude of local, national, and international travel experiences tied to the core values of the school. St. Joseph's Academy Commitment to Diversity: St. Josephs Academy has a commitment to Diversity, Culture, and Climate (DCC), and the school encourages its community to recognize and acknowledge that all people are created in the image of God with each person bringing unique gifts to the community. The school also engenders empathy, understanding, and curiosity to develop a deeper awareness of equity and inclusion as it relates to gender, race, faith, socioeconomic circumstances, and sexual identity, as well as individual talents and learning styles in a college preparatory environment. About St. Josephs Academy Located in Frontenac, Missouri, St. Josephs Academy is a college preparatory high school sponsored by St. Joseph Educational Ministries. Since its founding in 1840 by the sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the school has been committed to developing values-driven women leaders. The schools mission is to provide quality Catholic education for young women in an environment that challenges them to grow in faith, knowledge, and respect for self and others. The community expects these young women to make a profound impact in the world. For more information about the St. Josephs Academy, please visit https://www.sja1840.org/ About the St. Louis Mosaic Project: The St. Louis Mosaic Project began in 2012 under the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and the World Trade Center-St. Louis. Its goals are to make St. Louis the fastest growing US major metropolitan area for immigration by 2025 and to increase the foreign-born regional population by 25,000. St. Louis Mosaic Project aims to be a cultural mosaic because this community believes that immigrants invigorate our region, drive innovation, and take us back to our roots. The St. Louis Mosaic Projects goal is to transform St. Louis into the fastest growing metropolitan area for immigration by 2020 and promote regional prosperity through immigration and innovation. The St. Louis Mosaic Project was launched in 2012 in response to an economic impact report, outlining St. Louis to be lagging in immigrant growth as well as highlighting the economic benefits of increasing its foreign-born population. The Mosaic Project is a regional initiative that is professionally managed by St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, World Trade Center St. Louis and a 22-member committee. For more information contact Betsy Cohen at ecohen@worldtradecenter-stl.com or visit www.stlmosaicproject.org Pocket Cinema Camera 4K Used With Australias First High School LED Virtual Production Studio Blackmagic Design today announced that Livingstone Christian College used Blackmagic Design cameras and switchers as part of Australias first LED based virtual production high school studio. Fremont, CA( ) Livingstone Christian College, based in a suburb near Brisbane and Gold Coast, Australia, first opened its doors in 2002 and has since grown to a community of more than 1,300 students from prep to year 12. As part of the schools arts program, film and TV production teacher Kenji Lee, aka Mr. Chen, built a virtual production workflow aimed at giving students the ability to learn and create on the same tools that Hollywood uses. Lee is the founder and managing director of the multicultural youth filmmaking organization One Song Foundation and is a Queensland TeachX and Australian Educator Awards finalist. Lee, together with the schools Head of Arts Gavin Coles, began building the studio in early 2022 with support from the HTC VIVE Taiwan and Australia team led by Raymond Pao, senior vice president of business solutions. Since he joined the school, Lees students have created a number of film productions, including consent and anti bullying short films, social impact music videos during the pandemic and most recently a sci fi film using the virtual production workflow. We want to have the students create films that change the way people think but also prepare them for a career in filmmaking if that is what they want to do. And virtual production is the future of filmmaking so it makes sense to teach it, Lee explained. Lots of universities are thinking about building LED walls and are starting to teach virtual production. But high schools have not seen the potential yet. At Livingstone we mirror the universities and get the students learning hands on with the technology that is being used by professionals. Blackmagic products are great for this because they are affordable, high quality and are easy to learn, Lee continued. The schools virtual production set up includes access to a 16x9 LED screen, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4Ks and ATEM Mini Pro for keying and syncing images with Unreal Engine. The products are used in conjunction with the HTC VIVE Mars CamTrack system, which provides accurate camera tracking and real time compositing for virtual production. Blackmagic Designs DaVinci Resolve is used for LUT creation and color correction. For their first virtual production project, students created a spaceship background shown on the LED screen. Pocket Cinema Cameras 4Ks captured both wide and closeup action, with camera feeds ingested into the ATEM Mini Pro. It was important that the students get hands on with every aspect of virtual production and learn that it was not just standing in front of an LED wall. You have to make sure every piece of gear on set is in sync and understand how lighting, props and actors impact timing. It could be very intimidating for students if the technology was too complicated. The Blackmagic products were a perfect fit, he continued. Since their first virtual production, Lee has worked with the students to create several new projects using the same set up, including music videos and musical theatre performances. The Pockets genlock features make them invaluable for virtual production. They are easy to set up, so instead of spending time on trying to figure out how to make the cameras work the students are able to focus on their own creativity, Lee said. And even though they are easy to use and learn on, the cameras get you the most amazing cinematic images so there is no sacrificing the quality of work. Press Photography Product photos of Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, ATEM Mini Pro, DaVinci Resolve and all other Blackmagic Design products are available at www.blackmagicdesign.com/media/images About Blackmagic Design Blackmagic Design creates the worlds highest quality video editing products, digital film cameras, color correctors, video converters, video monitoring, routers, live production switchers, disk recorders, waveform monitors and real time film scanners for the feature film, post production and television broadcast industries. Blackmagic Designs DeckLink capture cards launched a revolution in quality and affordability in post production, while the companys Emmy award winning DaVinci color correction products have dominated the television and film industry since 1984. Blackmagic Design continues ground breaking innovations including 6G-SDI and 12G-SDI products and stereoscopic 3D and Ultra HD workflows. Founded by world leading post production editors and engineers, Blackmagic Design has offices in the USA, UK, Japan, Singapore and Australia. For more information, please go to www.blackmagicdesign.com Applied Materials, Inc. today announced the appointment of Kevin March to serve on its Board of Directors. A semiconductor industry veteran, Mr. March brings more than 30 years of finance and business operations expertise to Applied and will serve on the Boards Audit Committee. Kevin has a long, well-regarded track record of building shareholder value, and we are excited to have him join the Board, said Tom Iannotti, Chairman of the Board of Applied Materials. Kevins strong financial leadership and deep semiconductor industry experience will benefit Applied as the company continues to scale its operations to support future growth. Mr. March is a retired, longtime executive of Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI). He most recently served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the company from 2003 to 2017. Mr. March joined TI in 1984, and during his 33-year career at the company, he held numerous roles in finance, operations and business management across corporate and business unit functions. Mr. Marchs leadership was instrumental in shaping TI into a focused semiconductor company, including his role in the formation of the companys global Analog Semiconductor segment, which became the worlds largest analog semiconductor business. Mr. March also developed TIs capital management strategy. Mr. March is a member of the board of the United Way Foundation of Metropolitan Dallas. He holds an MBA in finance and accounting, along with a bachelors degree in economics and business, from the University of Pittsburgh. Otis Worldwide (NYSE: OTIS), the world's leading company for elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service, has appointed Nelda Connors to its Board of Directors, effective October 28, 2022. "We are pleased to welcome Nelda to the Otis Worldwide Board of Directors," said Judy Marks, Otis Chair, CEO & President. "Nelda's leadership experience and expertise, especially in industrial and technology sectors, make her a valuable addition to our Board. I look forward to working with Nelda as we build a taller, faster, smarter world." Connors has held executive and management roles in diversified industrial and automotive sectors, including President and Chief Executive Officer of Atkore International Inc., formerly the Electrical and Metal Products division of Tyco International, and Vice President at Eaton Corporation, where she held several positions in operations, continuous improvement and general management. Connors currently serves as the CEO of Pine Grove Holdings, a woman- and minority-owned, privately held investment company she founded that acquires and operates small-to-middle market businesses primarily focused in power generation, software as a service, advanced material and specialty logistics and transportation. "It's an honor to join Otis, a world-renowned company that touches the lives of billions every day," said Connors. "I look forward to working with the Board to oversee Otis' long-term strategy and help the company deliver value for all stakeholders." Connors currently also serves on the Boards of Directors for Boston Scientific, Baker Hughes and Zebra Technologies. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton. She has been named to the Forbes 50 over 50 for Investment, Inc.'s Most Influential Corporate Directors, Savoy's Power 300 Most Influential Black Corporate Directors and Black Enterprise's Top 75 Powerful Women in Business. With the addition of Connors, the Otis Board now has 10 directors. She will join the Board's Audit and Compensation Committees. Otis values diversity across multiple dimensions in its workplace including gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, background, perspective and experience and similarly its Board seeks candidates who enhance Board diversity. With Connors, six of the 10 members of the Board are women, racially/ethnically diverse or both. To learn more about Otis and its Board of Directors, visit www.otis.com. SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) today announced unaudited financial results for its third quarter 2022, which have been posted as a letter to stockholders to the investor relations section of its website. Please visit the Calix investor relations website at https://investor-relations.calix.com to view the third quarter 2022 financial results in our letter to stockholders, along with accompanying supplemental financial information. A conference call to discuss these results with Chairman, Carl Russo, President & CEO, Michael Weening and CFO, Cory Sindelar, will be held tomorrow, October 25, 2022, at 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time / 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Interested parties can listen to a live webcast of the conference call by visiting the Calix Investor Relations website. The conference call is also available via teleconference by dialing (877) 407-4019 or international (201) 689-8337 with conference ID# 13732923 or participants can also click this link for instant telephone access to the event. The link will become active approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the conference call. The conference call and webcast will include forward-looking information. A replay of the conference call will also be available on the Calix investor relations website following the completion of the call. The call will be archived on the Events page of the Calix investor relations website. 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. Category: Earnings View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005902/en/ Investor Inquiries: Jim Fanucchi VP, Investor Relations [email protected] (408) 404-5400 Source: Calix, Inc. TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- dynaCERT Inc. (TSX: DYA) (OTCQX: DYFSF) (FRA: DMJ) ("dynaCERT" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has been invited to exhibit at the Canadian Utility Fleet Forum (CUFF) hosted by the Canadian Utility Fleet Council from October 24, 2022, to October 26, 2022, in Toronto (Canada). dynaCERT will be exhibiting at CUFF its proprietary patented HydraGEN Technology which is designed to reduce fuel consumption and reduce Carbon Emissions for utilities that desire to reduce their Carbon Footprint and GHG emissions. CUFF is the only trade show that brings together fleet decision makers from across Canada driving safety and reliability with utility equipment manufacturers in North America. Fleet representatives and suppliers exchange ideas, best practices, as well as discussions on shared challenges to find solutions that benefit the safety of the Canadian Utility Workers. Chris Walsh, President of the Canadian Utilities Fleet Council and Fleet Engineer at Hydro One indicates that the Canadian Utility Fleet Council promotes the interests of the "Utility Fleet Sector" by providing a united voice to Government, Standards Bodies and Regulators. The Council acted to develop and administer the Utility Fleet Equipment Mechanic certification which has and will continue to elevate trades person competency to the highest in the world. Annually, the Council presents the "Utility Fleet Forum" bringing together fleet decision makers from across Canada to plot the future course of industry. In the past, the Council has been responsible for sending a representative to ISO meetings to contribute in the development of International standards for vehicle mounted aerial devices. The participation of the Canadian Utility Fleet Council has led substantial progress in improving what had originally been a European dominated standard with potentially serious negative consequences for North American fleets. The Canadian Utility Fleet Council also recently met with representatives of Natural Resources Canada to lobby to the Federal government for funding and their participation in the development of environmentally friendly hybrid trucks. Ed Cordeiro, Director of Sales, Americas, of dynaCERT stated, dynaCERT is very pleased to participate at the Canadian Utility Fleet Forum where our HydraGEN Technology is welcomed because it was designed to provide a global solution to reduce pollution. dynaCERT has received the Smart Sustainable Company Rating Seal. This honourable distinction of dynaCERT and its HydraGEN Technology as it applies to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and United Nations Global Compact Principles, has been evaluated as high, the highest global ranking in its category. About CUFF For registration at CUFF please see: https://www.cufconline.com/ About dynaCERT Inc. dynaCERT Inc. manufactures and distributes Carbon Emission Reduction Technology along with its proprietary HydraLytica Telematics, a means of monitoring fuel consumption and calculating GHG emissions savings designed for the tracking of possible future Carbon Credits for use with internal combustion engines. As part of the growing global hydrogen economy, our patented technology creates hydrogen and oxygen on-demand through a unique electrolysis system and supplies these gases through the air intake to enhance combustion, which has shown to lower carbon emissions and improve fuel efficiency. Our technology is designed for use with many types and sizes of diesel engines used in on-road vehicles, reefer trailers, off-road construction, power generation, mining and forestry equipment. Website: www.dynaCERT.com. READER ADVISORY Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. In particular, information relating to the Canadian Utility Fleet Forum and the Canadian Utility Fleet Council cannot be independently verified. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance of achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; the uncertainty of the emerging hydrogen economy; including the hydrogen economy moving at a pace not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements; and the other risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the release. On Behalf of the Board Murray James Payne, CEO View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005309/en/ Jim Payne, CEO & President dynaCERT Inc. #101 501 Alliance Avenue Toronto, Ontario M6N 2J1 +1 (416) 766-9691 x 2 [email protected]dynaCERT.com Investor Relations dynaCERT Inc. Nancy Massicotte +1 (416) 766-9691 x 1 [email protected]dynaCERT.com Source: dynaCERT Inc. BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Enviva Inc. (NYSE: EVA), the worlds leading producer of sustainably sourced wood biomass, announced today that President Thomas Meth will participate in a fireside chat hosted by Raymond James analyst Pavel Molchanov. They will be joined by Dr. Puneet Dwivedi, Associate Professor of Sustainability Sciences at the University of Georgia, to discuss harvesting and merchandising aspects of working forests in the U.S. Southeast. Date: Wednesday, October 26 Time: 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time To attend the fireside chat, please email [email protected] to request a registration link or contact a Raymond James representative. Enviva also noted that it has added new content to the Sustainability section of its website available at www.envivabiomass.com. About Enviva Enviva is the worlds largest producer of industrial wood pellets, a renewable and sustainable energy source produced by aggregating a natural resource, wood fiber, and processing it into a transportable form, wood pellets. Enviva owns and operates ten plants with a combined production capacity of approximately 6.2 million metric tons per year in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi, and is constructing its eleventh plant, in Epes, Alabama. The Epes plant is projected to add 1.1 million MTPY approximately an 18% increase to Envivas production capacity, and is expected to be the worlds largest wood pellet production plant once constructed. Enviva sells most of its wood pellets through long-term, take-or-pay off-take contracts with creditworthy customers in the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Japan, helping to accelerate the energy transition and to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like steel, cement, lime, chemicals, and aviation fuels. Enviva exports its wood pellets to global markets through its deep-water marine terminals at the Port of Chesapeake, Virginia, the Port of Wilmington, North Carolina, and the Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and from third-party deep-water marine terminals in Savannah, Georgia, Mobile, Alabama, and Panama City, Florida. To learn more about Enviva, please visit our website at www.envivabiomass.com. Follow Enviva on social media @Enviva. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005808/en/ INVESTOR CONTACT: Kate Walsh Vice President, Investor Relations [email protected] +1 240-482-3856 MEDIA CONTACT: [email protected] +1 301-657-5560 Source: Enviva Inc. A new 24-month subgroup analysis looked at sustained clinical response in participants who received up to two doses of RBX2660 across age, sex, race, and number of prior CDI episodes Two post hoc analyses of RBX2660 reviewed physical, mental, and social health-related quality of life (HRQL) data from PUNCH CD3 clinical program An oral presentation of an ad hoc efficacy and safety analysis of Phase 3 data on first recurrence and comorbidities receives the American College of Gastroenterologys Outstanding Research Award in Colon Category SAINT-PREX, Switzerland & PARSIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ferring Pharmaceuticals today announced the presentation at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting of seven analyses for RBX2660, an investigational microbiota-based live biotherapeutic studied for its potential to reduce recurrent C. difficile infection (CDI) after antibiotic treatment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005022/en/ Data was presented from a post hoc subgroup analysis (24-Month Sustained Clinical Response and Safety of RBX2660 in Participants with Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection: Subgroup Analysis; Poster number E0100) on the long-term efficacy and safety of RBX2660 in the PUNCH CD open-label Phase 2 trial. Participants in the trial were 18 years of age or older with either two or more episodes of rCDI treated with standard-of-care antibiotics after a primary CDI episode or two or more episodes of severe CDI requiring hospitalization. Treatment success was defined as the absence of CDI diarrhea for eight weeks after completing study treatment. Among the 142 participants treated with RBX2660 (evaluable population), sustained treatment response through six, 12, and 24 months after treatment, respectively, was achieved by 98%, 97.9%, and 93.5% of participants under 65 years of age and by 96.8%, 93.1%, and 88% of participants 65 years of age and older. Similar sustained response rates were observed in participants categorized by sex, race, and number of prior CDI episodes. The analysis also showed that treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported by a similar percentage of participants across demographic subgroups between 6-12 months (range: 31%-43%) and 12-24 months (range: 23%-37%). Most TEAEs were gastrointestinal and mild to moderate in severity. C. difficile infection represents a significant public health burden that can cause an unrelenting cycle of recurrence, impacting a persons long-term health, said Elizabeth Garner, M.D. M.P.H., Chief Scientific Officer, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, U.S. Two additional analyses reviewed data from the PUNCH CD clinical program and included post hoc analyses suggesting an improvement in health-related quality of life (HRQL) for patients treated with RBX2660. HRQL impact was based on the Clostridioides difficile Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (Cdiff32), a validated disease-specific instrument with three domains (physical, mental, and social), and a total score (all range from 0-100 with 100 being the best possible). The first analysis (Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with One Prior Episode of Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection: Results from the RBX2660 Phase 3 Randomized, Placebo-Controlled rCDI Trial [PUNCH CD3]; Poster number E0349), was a post hoc analysis of HRQL within an eight-week period for a subgroup of participants in the PUNCH CD3 trial who experienced a first recurrence. The analysis included 66 participants (76.7%) with Cdiff32 data at baseline and at week 8 (43 RBX2660, 23 placebo). Unadjusted analyses showed greater HRQL improvements with RBX2660 versus placebo for total score (13.55.7, p The second post hoc analysis (Health-Related Quality of Life of Week 8 Responders and Non-Responders: Results from the RBX2660 Phase 3 Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection [PUNCH CD3]; Poster number E0348) included responder participants with no recurrence (n=178; 125 RBX2660, 53 placebo) and non-responder participants with C. difficile recurrence (n=7; 3 RBX2660, 4 placebo) in the PUNCH CD3 trial. Among responders, improvements from baseline to week 8 were statistically significant (all p These two analyses suggest the potential for RBX2660 to help improve the health-related quality of life for patients with recurrent CDI, said Paul Feuerstadt, M.D., F.A.C.G., A.G.A.F., Yale University School of Medicine. Additional ACG 2022 Data Presentations Four additional analyses were presented at ACG 2022, which looked at the efficacy and safety of RBX2660 across different populations, including participants with underlying comorbidities. These analyses included the following: An ad hoc analysis of PUNCH CD3-OLS (An Interim Analysis of a Phase 3, Open-Label Study Indicates Efficacy and Safety of RBX2660 in Patients with Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection; Session number 56). PUNCH CD3-OLS is an ongoing, open-label phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of RBX2660. Enrolled participants were 18 years of age or older with medically documented rCDI, including first recurrence patients and broad eligibility criteria. After standard-of-care antibiotics, participants received a single dose of RBX2660. At the time of this analysis, 483 participants had received RBX2660. Treatment success was defined as remaining recurrence-free for 8 weeks after treatment and was achieved by 74.6% of participants whose outcomes could be analyzed (300/402), which is consistent with a 2021 ad hoc analysis. Among the RBX2660 responders (n=300) who completed six months of follow-up (n=262), 84% (220/262) remained CDI recurrence-free. TEAEs were reported by 69% of RBX2660-treated participants. Most TEAEs were mild to moderate in severity and gastrointestinal in nature, with diarrhea and abdominal pain the most commonly reported. This oral presentation received the American College of Gastroenterologys Outstanding Research Award in Colon Category. Infection; Session number 56). PUNCH CD3-OLS is an ongoing, open-label phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of RBX2660. Enrolled participants were 18 years of age or older with medically documented rCDI, including first recurrence patients and broad eligibility criteria. After standard-of-care antibiotics, participants received a single dose of RBX2660. At the time of this analysis, 483 participants had received RBX2660. Treatment success was defined as remaining recurrence-free for 8 weeks after treatment and was achieved by 74.6% of participants whose outcomes could be analyzed (300/402), which is consistent with a 2021 ad hoc analysis. Among the RBX2660 responders (n=300) who completed six months of follow-up (n=262), 84% (220/262) remained CDI recurrence-free. TEAEs were reported by 69% of RBX2660-treated participants. Most TEAEs were mild to moderate in severity and gastrointestinal in nature, with diarrhea and abdominal pain the most commonly reported. This oral presentation received the American College of Gastroenterologys Outstanding Research Award in Colon Category. An ad hoc analysis from PUNCH CD3-OLS (Efficacy and Safety of RBX2660 in Reducing Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection in Patients with Underlying Gastrointestinal Comorbidities; Poster number D0099) involving a subgroup of participants from a modified intent-to-treat population (n=402) who had GI comorbidities (gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, irritable bowel disease, unspecified colitis). Among participants in this subgroup population, treatment success defined as remaining free of CDI recurrence for eight weeks after treatment was found among 75% of those treated with RBX2660. Additionally, six month adjudicated results found 84% of RBX2660-treated participants across GI comorbidity subgroups remained CDI recurrence free. A sustained clinical response through six months was maintained in RBX2660 participants with and without GI comorbidities. Overall, adverse events and TEAEs were similar between participants with and without GI comorbidities. Most TEAEs were mild to moderate in severity and GI in nature (predominantly diarrhea and abdominal pain). Infection in Patients with Underlying Gastrointestinal Comorbidities; Poster number D0099) involving a subgroup of participants from a modified intent-to-treat population (n=402) who had GI comorbidities (gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, irritable bowel disease, unspecified colitis). Among participants in this subgroup population, treatment success defined as remaining free of CDI recurrence for eight weeks after treatment was found among 75% of those treated with RBX2660. Additionally, six month adjudicated results found 84% of RBX2660-treated participants across GI comorbidity subgroups remained CDI recurrence free. A sustained clinical response through six months was maintained in RBX2660 participants with and without GI comorbidities. Overall, adverse events and TEAEs were similar between participants with and without GI comorbidities. Most TEAEs were mild to moderate in severity and GI in nature (predominantly diarrhea and abdominal pain). A prespecified post hoc analysis of PUNCH CD3 (Efficacy and Safety of RBX2660 in Patients After First Recurrence of Clostridioides difficile Infection - Results from a Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study; Poster number D0100), looked at the efficacy and safety of RBX2660 in a subgroup of participants with only one rCDI episode prior to study enrollment (86 of 276), who received a single blinded dose of RBX2660 or placebo. Treatment success, defined as remaining free of CDI recurrence for eight weeks after treatment, was achieved by 79.2% (42/53) of those treated with RBX2660 versus 60.6% (20/33) of those treated with placebo. Participants were monitored for recurrence through six months and the majority of responders remained recurrence free during this time period (RBX2660: 91% [38/42]; placebo: 85% [17/20]). TEAEs were reported by 54.7% (29/53) of RBX2660-treated participants and 33.3% (11/33) of placebo-treated participants, with mild events, mostly gastrointestinal, accounting for the difference. Infection - Results from a Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study; Poster number D0100), looked at the efficacy and safety of RBX2660 in a subgroup of participants with only one rCDI episode prior to study enrollment (86 of 276), who received a single blinded dose of RBX2660 or placebo. Treatment success, defined as remaining free of CDI recurrence for eight weeks after treatment, was achieved by 79.2% (42/53) of those treated with RBX2660 versus 60.6% (20/33) of those treated with placebo. Participants were monitored for recurrence through six months and the majority of responders remained recurrence free during this time period (RBX2660: 91% [38/42]; placebo: 85% [17/20]). TEAEs were reported by 54.7% (29/53) of RBX2660-treated participants and 33.3% (11/33) of placebo-treated participants, with mild events, mostly gastrointestinal, accounting for the difference. A post hoc subgroup analysis of the PUNCH CD3 trial (Efficacy and Safety of RBX2660 in Patients with Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection Grouped by Age and Underlying Comorbidities; Poster number D0098), which assessed results from a modified intent-to-treat (mITT) population (n=262) grouped by age and underlying comorbidities using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) severity scores - mild, moderate, or severe. The CCI is a commonly used index that incorporates 16 conditions and age to estimate the risk of long-term mortality based on comorbidity burden, with severe CCI scores equating to a higher risk of death. Treatment success was defined as remaining CDI recurrence-free eight weeks after treatment. In the total mITT population, 71% of RBX2660-treated participants achieved treatment success compared with 62% of placebo-treated participants. The analysis found a greater percentage of RBX2660-treated participants remained recurrence-free compared to placebo-treated participants in most subgroups: About C. difficile infection C. difficile infection (CDI) is a serious and potentially deadly disease that impacts people across the globe. The C. difficile bacterium causes debilitating symptoms such as severe diarrhea, fever, stomach tenderness or pain, loss of appetite, nausea, and colitis (an inflammation of the colon).1 Declared a public health threat by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requiring urgent and immediate action, CDI causes an estimated half a million illnesses and tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S. alone each year.1,2,3 C. difficile infection often is the start of a vicious cycle of recurrence, causing a significant burden for patients and the healthcare system.4,5 It has been estimated that up to 35% of CDI cases recur after initial diagnosis and people who have had a recurrence are at significantly higher risk of further infections.6,7,8,9 After the first recurrence, it has been estimated that up to 65% of patients may develop a subsequent recurrence.8,9 About RBX2660 RBX2660 is an investigational microbiota-based live biotherapeutic studied for its potential to reduce recurrence of C. difficile infection after antibiotic treatment. RBX2660 has been granted Orphan and Breakthrough Therapy designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). RBX2660 was developed by Rebiotix, a Ferring company. About the PUNCH CD3 Clinical Trial (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03244644) PUNCH CD3 is a Phase 3, prospective, multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of RBX2660 vs. placebo in preventing rCDI. The study included adults ages 18 or older who had at least one recurrence after a primary episode of CDI. Participants were followed up to 8 weeks for the efficacy analysis, and up to six months for the safety analysis. About the PUNCH OLS Clinical Trial (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02589847) PUNCH OLS is a Phase 2, prospective, multi-center, open-label study assessing the efficacy of RBX2660 compared to antibiotic-treated historical control. The study included adults ages 18 years or older who had at least two documented recurrent episodes of CDI after a primary episode and completed two rounds of standard oral antibiotic therapy or experienced at least two documented episodes of severe CDI resulting in hospitalization. The primary efficacy endpoint (treatment success) was defined as the absence of C. difficile associated diarrhea without the need for retreatment for CDI and was determined at the eight-week office visit. A secondary outcome was the safety profile of RBX2660 including adverse events and CDI occurrence through 24 months after treatment. A post hoc analysis evaluated RBX2660 responders who remained CDI occurrence free up to 24 months after treatment. About Ferring Pharmaceuticals Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a research driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group committed to helping people around the world build families and live better lives. Headquartered in Saint-Prex, Switzerland, Ferring is a leader in reproductive medicine and maternal health, and in specialty areas within gastroenterology and urology. Ferring has been developing treatments for mothers and babies for over 50 years and has a portfolio covering treatments from conception to birth. Founded in 1950, privately owned Ferring now employs around 6,000 people worldwide, has its own operating subsidiaries in more than 50 countries, and markets its products in 110 countries. Learn more at www.ferring.com, or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. Ferring is committed to exploring the crucial link between the microbiome and human health, beginning with the threat of recurrent C. difficile infection. Ferring is working to develop novel microbiome-based therapeutics to address significant unmet needs and help people live better lives. Connect with us on our dedicated microbiome therapeutics development channels on Twitter and LinkedIn. References: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What Is C. Diff? 17 Dec. 2018. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/cdiff/what-is.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Biggest Threats and Data, 14 Nov. 2019. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/biggest-threats.html Fitzpatrick F, Barbut F. Breaking the cycle of recurrent Clostridium difficile. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2012;18(suppl 6):2-4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 24 June 2020. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/pdf/threats-report/clostridioides-difficile-508.pdf Feuerstadt P, et al. J Med Econ. 2020;23(6):603-609. Riddle DJ, Dubberke ER. Clostridium difficile infection in the intensive care unit. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2009;23(3):727-743. Nelson WW, et al. Health care resource utilization and costs of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection in the elderly: a real-world claims analysis. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2021;27(7):828-838. doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2021.20395. Epub 2021 Mar 11. Kelly, CP. Can we identify patients at high risk of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection? Clin Microbiol Infect. 2012;18(suppl 6):2127. Smits WK, et al. Clostridium difficile infection. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016;2:16020. doi: 10.1038/nrdp.2016.20. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005022/en/ For more information Lisa Ellen Director, Brand Communications +1-862-286-5696 (direct) [email protected] Source: Ferring Pharmaceuticals HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE), a leading global provider of data, technology, and market infrastructure, today announced the launch of real-time physical crude pricing from Link Data Services (Link Data), in cooperation with Link Crude Resources (Link), one of the largest brokers of physical North American crude, bringing additional transparency to the North American crude market. Today ICE has launched live calculations of the volume weighted average price for 12 grades of oil traded in the Permian; Cushing, Oklahoma; Houston and Louisiana Gulf Coast, including WTI in Midland and Houston. Link real-time pricing is available via WebICE from today, October 24, 2022, and on ICE Connect soon after. ICE has always been focused on bringing transparency to energy markets, said Jeff Barbuto, Global Head of Oil Markets at ICE. Link are one of the most active brokers of North American physical crude with unique insight into the U.S. Gulf Coast physical crude oil market. Pricing for crude oil on the water in the Gulf Coast has never been more relevant to global oil markets. Were excited to work with Link and other industry participants to bring new transparency to the market. Since its inception, Links goal has been to provide market participants with reliable price transparency for the physical crude market, said Scott Nelson, Commercial Director at Link Data. With the expansion of the Brent complex to include Midland WTI, the demand for streaming North American crude pricing data has become truly global. Utilizing ICEs global energy network, this real-time transaction information and pricing data will reach a wider and more diverse segment of the energy industry than ever before. This increased transparency, particularly as other brokers join this initiative, will further add to the utility of these instruments for the global trading community. The agreement with Link further establishes ICE within the Gulf Coast. One of the crude grades assessed by Link Data is WTI at the Magellan East Houston terminal (also referred to as MEH-WTI). In January 2022, ICEs Midland WTI American Gulf Coast futures contract (HOU) began trading, having been created with Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MMP) and Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: EPD) to establish a benchmark for pricing Midland quality WTI on the Gulf Coast. Underpinned by over 4 million barrels per day of supply capacity from Midland into Houston and deliverable at the Magellan East Houston (MEH) and Enterprise Crude Houston (ECHO) terminals, the HOU contract is attracting liquidity as buyers and sellers in the Houston market start to price their barrels off HOU. The HOU contract reached a single day volume record of 12,265 contracts and an open interest record of 10,014 contracts on October 18, 2022. A total of 20,377 contracts have gone to physical delivery through the contract since January 2022, equivalent to 20 million barrels. For information on Link real-time pricing and how to access it, and for brokers interested in contributing data for real-time pricing by ICE, please contact [email protected]. About Intercontinental Exchange Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE) is a Fortune 500 company that designs, builds and operates digital networks to connect people to opportunity. We provide financial technology and data services across major asset classes that offer our customers access to mission-critical workflow tools that increase transparency and operational efficiencies. We operate exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange, and clearing houses that help people invest, raise capital and manage risk across multiple asset classes. Our comprehensive fixed income data services and execution capabilities provide information, analytics and platforms that help our customers capitalize on opportunities and operate more efficiently. At ICE Mortgage Technology, we are transforming and digitizing the U.S. residential mortgage process, from consumer engagement through loan registration. Together, we transform, streamline and automate industries to connect our customers to opportunity. Trademarks of ICE and/or its affiliates include Intercontinental Exchange, ICE, ICE block design, NYSE and New York Stock Exchange. Information regarding additional trademarks and intellectual property rights of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and/or its affiliates is located here. Key Information Documents for certain products covered by the EU Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products Regulation can be accessed on the relevant exchange website under the heading Key Information Documents (KIDS). Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 -- Statements in this press release regarding ICE's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see ICE's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in ICE's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the SEC on February 3, 2022. Category: Exchanges ICE- CORP Source: Intercontinental Exchange View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221023005079/en/ ICE Media Contact: Rebecca Mitchell [email protected] +44 7951 057 351 ICE Investor Contact: Katia Gonzalez [email protected] (678) 981-3882 Source: Intercontinental Exchange COLLEGE PARK, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), an industry leader in quantum computing, today announced that the company will release its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 on Monday, November 14, 2022 after the financial markets close. IonQ will host a conference call at 4:30 PM Eastern time that same day to discuss its results and business outlook. The call will be accessible by telephone at 877-407-4018 (domestic) or 201-689-8471 (international) using passcode 13733574. The call will also be available live via webcast on the Companys website here, or directly here. A telephone replay of the conference call will be available approximately 2 hours after its conclusion at 844-512-2921 (domestic) or 412-317-6671 (international) with access code 13733574 and will be available until 11:59 PM Eastern time, November 28, 2022. An archive of the webcast will also be available here shortly after the call and will remain available for 90 days. About IonQ IonQ, Inc. is a leader in quantum computing, with a proven track record of innovation and deployment. IonQ's current generation quantum computer, IonQ Forte, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems, including IonQ Aria, a system that boasts industry-leading 23 algorithmic qubits. Along with record performance, IonQ has defined what it believes is the best path forward to scale. IonQ is the only company with its quantum systems available through the cloud on Amazon Braket, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, as well as through direct access through IonQ. IonQ was founded in 2015 by Christopher Monroe and Jungsang Kim based on 25 years of pioneering research. To learn more, visit www.ionq.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005020/en/ IonQ Media Contact: Tyler Ogoshi [email protected] IonQ Investor Contact: [email protected] Source: IonQ New Solution Helps Predict and Reach Free Cash Flow Targets to Improve Financial Resilience Against Market Volatility SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kyriba, (the Company), a global leader of cloud-based finance and IT solutions, today announced the launch of Liquidity Planning, a totally reimagined cash flow planning and forecasting solution. Liquidity Planning unifies FP&A, working capital and treasury data across multiple scenarios, giving CFOs data, insight and actionability to accurately manage the cash lifecycle and improve the accuracy of free cash flow projections. Forecasting has changed. CFOs must plan liquidity and free cash flow against multiple risk scenarios and they are demanding data and analytics to deliver forecast accuracy in real-time, said Bob Stark, Global Head of Market Strategy at Kyriba. The cost of ineffective forecasting has risen to unprecedented levels, with CFOs losing millions because they lack the tools to manage enterprise liquidity. Innovation from Kyribas Liquidity Planning Platform Long Term Planning : Consolidated forecast planning, integrating FP&A, Treasury, A/P and A/R to extend forecast horizons by at least 12 months to more efficiently reach Free Cash Flow objectives. : Consolidated forecast planning, integrating FP&A, Treasury, A/P and A/R to extend forecast horizons by at least 12 months to more efficiently reach Free Cash Flow objectives. Forecast Scenario Modeling : Simultaneously manage multiple cash forecasts in parallel and model against liquidity planning and risk scenarios. : Simultaneously manage multiple cash forecasts in parallel and model against liquidity planning and risk scenarios. Liquidity Analytics: Real-time data visualization and simulation for cash, investing, borrowing and counterparty analysis to improve liquidity resilience against economic volatility. According to a recent report from IDC, only 20% of finance leaders have confidence in forecasts beyond one month and 5% beyond three months.1 This is Kyribas fourth product innovation announced in the past three months to support CFOs during a time of unprecedented volatility and uncertainty. Liquidity Planning is complemented by Cash Management AI, FX Portfolio VaR Analysis and Commodities Risk Management. Meet Kyriba at the AFP conference for live booth presentations, October 24-26 in Philadelphia, booth number 717. About Kyriba Corp. Kyriba empowers CFOs, Treasurers, and their IT counterparts to transform treasury, payments, working capital, and connectivity solutions to activate liquidity as a dynamic, real-time vehicle for growth and value creation. Kyriba is a secure, scalable SaaS platform that leverages artificial intelligence, automates payments workflows, and enables thousands of multinational corporations and banks to maximize growth, protect against loss from fraud and financial risk, and reduce operational costs. With over 2,500 clients worldwide, including 25% of Fortune 500 and Eurostoxx 50 companies, Kyriba manages more than 1.3 billion bank transactions per year, and 250 million payments for a total value of $15 Trillion annually. Kyriba is headquartered in San Diego, with offices globally. For more information, visit www.kyriba.com. 1 A New Practice Area Emerges for CFOs: Enterprise-wide Liquidity Management View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005324/en/ Kyriba Media Contacts: Americas Daniel Shaffer [email protected] +1 858-263-2219 EMEA Caroline Peyrat [email protected] +33 633 372 920 Source: Kyriba CALGARY, Alberta & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- RS Technologies Inc. (RS), a portfolio company of Werklund Growth Fund L.P. (Werklund), and New York-based Energy Impact Partners (EIP) today announced an equity investment of more than CA$150 million to accelerate the continued expansion of RS Technologies industry-leading utility structure manufacturing business in North America. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005205/en/ RS designs, engineers, and manufactures composite poles, crossarms, structures and related products for the electric utility transmission and distribution sectors. The companys products offer greater fire and storm resiliency, safer operation, and lower total life-cycle costs relative to traditional wood, steel or concrete products. Achieving a service life of up to 120 years, RS products are installed at more than 460 utility customers across 28 countries in some of the most severe weather regions in the world. With the companys deep materials science capabilities, RS is the only composite structure manufacturer using 100% polyurethane resin, enabling the creation of custom formulations that address various applications and outperform alternatives. The companys PowerON line of composite poles is becoming the industry standard to mitigate the impacts of extreme fire and storm events and speed up grid restoration efforts. We are experiencing enormous demand from electric utilities working to update their systems to withstand more severe weather events such as those recently impacting the southeast U.S. and the Canadian Maritimes, said George Kirby, CEO of RS Technologies. This investment from Energy Impact Partners ensures that we can address todays grid modernization needs and build capacity to be ready for future events. We are very excited to partner with RS and enable their continued growth in providing advanced composite infrastructure solutions for a more sustainable grid. The company has already built and scaled an impressive business while having an incredibly positive impact on communities, and we look forward to working with the team and Werklund to continue their growth and expand into additional solutions for the utilities of the future, said Steven Kantowitz, Partner at EIP. Our significant investment in RS reflects EIPs commitment to taking action in building a more resilient infrastructure, one of the pillars of our investment strategy. Energy Impact Partners was founded in 2015 by industry veterans on the premise of advancing the global energy transition. EIPs collaborative model screens and scales innovative businesses across the energy landscape. With a core of influential utility partners, EIP has assembled an ecosystem of more than 30 corporations and industrials from key sectors such as the built environment, transportation, technology, industry, and finance all with a common goal to progress the global economy towards a more resilient and sustainable future. The focus on resiliency and reliability, as well as the ability to drive value through their utility partnerships, makes EIP an ideal partner as RS continues to expand and grow. Having invested early in RS, we are extremely proud of the entire RS team for building the unparalleled leader in composite electric utility structure manufacturing, said SeeHon Tung, Managing Director, Private Investments at Werklund Family Office Inc. Werklund Growth Fund L.P. retains majority ownership of RS. This transaction enables RS to supply at scale, helping to fortify electric grids with mature products that will last for generations. We are thrilled to welcome EIP into the RS family. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as placement agent to RS Technologies. About RS Technologies Inc. RS designs, engineers, and manufactures composite utility poles and related products for the electric transmission and distribution sectors. By applying superior resin formulation, stringent quality processes, and dedicated utility servicing, RS is the global leader in composite utility structure design and manufacturing. The companys PowerON poles unique modular designs satisfy hardened grid requirements from basic 40-foot distribution to 345kV transmission lines with engineered confidence. Utilizing a controlled manufacturing environment, RS can match supply to utilities needs whether it is general replacement, restoration, new builds, or multi-year whole grid hardening programs. RS has manufacturing facilities in Tilbury, Ontario, Canada and St. George, Utah, USA. More information on RS and PowerON Poles is available at RSpoles.com. About Energy Impact Partners Energy Impact Partners LP is a global investment firm leading the transition to a sustainable future. EIP brings together entrepreneurs and the world's most forward-looking energy, technology and industrial companies to advance innovation. With approximately $3 billion in assets under management, EIP invests globally across venture, growth, private equity, credit, and infrastructure and has a team of over 80 professionals based in its offices in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Palm Beach, London, Cologne, and Oslo. For more information on EIP, please visit www.energyimpactpartners.com. About Werklund Based in Calgary, Alberta, Werklund Family Office Inc. is one of Canadas largest single-family offices managing the philanthropic, financial and business affairs of David Werklund and the Werklund family. With a history of entrepreneurialism, operational excellence and bold investments, Werklund is a fixture within the Canadian ecosystem of private company funding. The Werklund family is proud to sponsor growth in business as well as charitable donations to the community. More information is available at www.werklund.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005205/en/ Media Felicia Finney [email protected] (202) 977-8756 Source: RS Technologies Inc. FILE PHOTO: Pumpjacks are seen during sunset at the Daqing oil field in Heilongjiang province, China August 22, 2019. Picture taken August 22, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer By Laila Kearney NEW YORK (Reuters) -Oil settled lower in choppy trade on Monday as data showing demand from China remained lackluster in September and a strong U.S. dollar weighed, while weakening U.S. business activity data eased expectations for more aggressive interest rate hikes and limited price decline. Brent crude futures for December delivery settled at $93.26 a barrel, down 24 cents, 0.3%, after rising 2% last week. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude lost $84.58 a barrel, losing 47 cents, 0.6%. Both benchmarks had fallen by $2 a barrel earlier in the session. Although higher than in August, China's September crude imports of 9.79 million barrels per day were 2% below a year earlier, customs data showed on Monday, as independent refiners curbed throughput amid thin margins and lacklustre demand. "The recent recovery in oil imports faltered in September," ANZ analysts said in a note, adding that independent refiners failed to utilise increased quotas as ongoing COVID-related lockdowns weighed on demand. Uncertainty over China's zero-COVID policy and property crisis are undermining the effectiveness of pro-growth measures, ING analysts said in a note, even though third-quarter gross domestic product growth beat expectations. Ongoing strength in the U.S. dollar, which was up again for part of the trading session following another suspected foreign exchange intervention by Japan, also posed problems for oil prices. A stronger dollar makes oil more expensive for non-U.S. buyers. "Further dollar strength would weigh on WTI values with a test of our expected downside at the 79.50 mark likely by weeks end," said Jim Ritterbusch of Ritterbusch and Associates. Oil prices regained some ground after data that showed U.S. business activity contracted for a fourth straight month in October, with manufacturers and services firms in a monthly survey of purchasing managers both reporting weaker client demand. POSITIVE SIGNAL S&P Global said its flash U.S. Composite PMI Output Index, which tracks the manufacturing and services sectors, fell to 47.3 this month from a final reading of 49.5 in September. That weakening could indicate that the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate increases to fight inflation have been working and may persuade it to slow its rate hike policies, a positive signal for fuel demand, said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures group. "The miss on the PMI number is a sign that the economy may be slowing a bit, which turns out to be bullish," Flynn said. Brent rose last week despite U.S. President Joe Biden announcing the sale of a remaining 15 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserves, part of a record 180 million-barrel release that began in May. Biden added that his aim would be to replenish stocks when U.S. crude is around $70 a barrel. But Goldman Sachs said the stocks release was unlikely to have a large impact on prices. "Such a release is likely to have only a modest influence ( (Adttional reporting by Noah Browning and Florence Tan; Editing by Marguerita Choy, David Holmes and Cynthia Osterman) FILE PHOTO: Chinese President Xi Jinping votes during the closing ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China October 22, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang By Medha Singh (Reuters) -U.S.-listed shares of Chinese companies slumped on Monday after President Xi Jinping's new leadership team sparked investor concerns that ideology-driven policies would be prioritized at the cost of private sector growth. Ecommerce giants Alibaba, JD.com as well as internet behemoth Baidu crashed between 14% and 17%, even as the benchmark S&P 500 edged higher. The iShares MSCI China ETF tanked 10%, tracking its steepest one-day drop ever. "The concern is that the Chinese government is continuing to move to a more socialist economic model under Xi which may require Chinese companies to place ever more focus on social goals rather than profitability," said Rick Meckler, a partner at Cherry Lane Investments in New Vernon. "By consolidating power, Xi is likely to face little opposition to this form of nationalization of corporate interests." Earlier in the day, Hong Kong stocks slumped 6.4% to 13-year lows and China's blue-chip shares slid 2.9% as investor worries over the direction of the world's second largest economy overshadowed upbeat third-quarter growth data. Xi secured a precedent-breaking third leadership term on Sunday and introduced the new Politburo Standing Committee stacked with loyalists. "While there were no new announcements on the policy front, the departure of perceived pro-stimulus officials and reformers ... and replacement with allies of Xi, suggest that 'Common Prosperity' will be the overriding push of officials," strategists at TD Securities said. Music streaming provider Tencent Music, e-commerce platform Pinduoduo and mobile game publisher Bilibili shed between 16% and 33%. Electric vehicle firms Nio Inc, Xpeng and Li Auto fell between 23% and 30%. The EV makers were also weighed down by Tesla cutting starter prices for its Model 3 and Model Y cars in China for the first time this year, indicating signs of softening demand in the world's largest auto market. (Reporting by Medha Singh in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Bansari Mayur Kamdar ; Editing by Maju Samuel and Sriraj Kalluvila) MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk is considering investing in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, which borders Texas, two people with knowledge of the matter said on Monday. Musk recently held a meeting in the state with Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia along with other local officials and Ken Salazar, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, one of the sources said. Musk is looking in particular at Santa Catarina, a municipality on the outskirts of state capital Monterrey, one of Mexico's biggest and wealthiest cities, the person added. The sources did not detail what Musk's potential investment may entail. A spokesperson for the Nuevo Leon government declined to comment. Neither Tesla, the U.S. embassy, nor a representative for Santa Catarina immediately responded to requests for comment. Musk's visit to Nuevo Leon was originally reported by Mexican media. Several outlets published photos of Musk apparently from the visit, including one in which he appears with Garcia's wife, Mariana Rodriguez. Garcia posted several of the media articles on his Instagram account, in one case tagging Rodriguez's account and writing, "Look, look," without further comment. Tesla, based in Austin, Texas, has its own lane at the U.S.-Mexico border crossing in Nuevo Leon to facilitate trade for local suppliers, the state government said in August. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon and Dave Graham in Mexico CityEditing by Matthew Lewis) TORONTO, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alkaline Fuel Cell Power Corp. (NEO: PWWR) (OTCQB:ALKFF) (Frankfurt: 77R, WKN: A3CTYF) (AFCP or the Company), a diversified investment platform developing affordable, renewable, and reliable energy assets and cleantech, is pleased to announce that the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA), a national industry association focused on advancing the use of clean hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, has elected AFCPs CEO, Frank Carnevale, to its Board of Directors, effective October 13, 2022. AFCP joined the CHFCA as a Small Business Member in August of 2022. Comprised of industry, academia, research agencies and other stakeholders, CHFCAs goal is to champion the Canadian hydrogen and fuel cell sector as one of many solutions designed to help tackle the worlds most critical energy challenges. In addition, CHFCA focuses on arming businesses, investors, media, the general public and other stakeholders with fulsome knowledge about the opportunity and potential for hydrogen and fuel cells to play a key role in the energy transition. The position and mandate of CHFCA are well aligned with AFCPs own mission to bring PWWR to the People through our combined heat and power (CHP) technology that offers reduced emissions with improved energy efficiency, while also simultaneously developing hydrogen-powered micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems along with off-grid and back-up power generators featuring zero CO 2 emissions to help meet global net-zero targets. The CHFCAs Board of Directors plays an active role in providing its management with valued oversight as well as overseeing its financial and governance policies. In addition to his experience serving as AFCPs CEO, Mr. Carnevale brings extensive experience with managing investments in cleantech and PropTech platforms, including originating over $2.5 billion in transactions in energy and utilities sectors. Taking on this position with the nationally recognized and widely respected CHFCA serves to further elevate AFCPs position as a thought leader within the hydrogen and fuel cell sector. I am very excited to have the opportunity to contribute to the CHFCAs esteemed Board of Directors, and be a positive driver of change in the energy space, says Frank Carnevale, Chief Executive Officer of Alkaline Fuel Cell Power Corp. I intend to use this opportunity to assist educating key stakeholders on the benefits of hydrogen and the use of stationary fuel cells for residential and small building applications. The energy transition is a necessary evolution to achieve the international target of net-zero by 2050, and ensuring that small energy customers have the best opportunities to have affordable, renewable and reliable power, is a critical component of success for customers and AFCP. About the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA) The Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA) is a national association that supports industry, academia, government agencies, financial organizations and other stakeholders focused on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and products. As the collective voice of Canadas world-leading hydrogen and fuel cell sector, the CHFCAs mission is to strengthen Canadian leadership, raise awareness of the benefits of the technology, and accelerate the adoption of its members products and services in Canada and abroad. The CHFCA currently has more than 170 members across Canada and regional branches in British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario. You can also follow CHFCA on Twitter at @PoweringNow or visit www.chfca.ca for more information. ABOUT ALKALINE FUEL CELL POWER CORP. (NEO: PWWR) AFCP is a diversified investment platform developing affordable, renewable, and reliable energy assets and cleantech. We bring Power to the People today, combining a stable revenue stream with a future- forward vision to commercialize our advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology to meet the massive global market need, and ultimately generate compelling returns for investors. AFCP operates through two global entities: Fuel Cell Power NV, a wholly owned subsidiary in Belgium, and PWWR Flow Streams (PWWR Flow), an AFCP brand in Canada. Fuel Cell Power NV is focused on the development, production and commercialization of micro- combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems and off-grid and back-up power generators based on advanced alkaline fuel cell technology that generates zero CO2 emissions. Fuel Cell Power NV is working through milestones to deliver a commercialized alkaline fuel cell in 2024. is focused on the development, production and commercialization of micro- combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems and off-grid and back-up power generators based on advanced alkaline fuel cell technology that generates zero CO2 emissions. Fuel Cell Power NV is working through milestones to deliver a commercialized alkaline fuel cell in 2024. PWWR Flow is focused on the development, ownership and operations of combined heat and power (CHP) assets. PWWR Flow assets deliver efficiency improvements of over 20% with reduced costs to customers in multi-residential and commercial applications. PWWR Flow has contracted existing CHP assets in Toronto, Canada, and has an additional pipeline of potential contracts valued at over $50 million currently in development. AFCP is well positioned to deliver Power to the People in the global energy transition while offering a diversified cleantech growth platform for investors. Further information is available on the Company website at https://www.fuelcellpower.com/ , and the Company encourages investors and other interested stakeholders to follow it on: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Common shares are listed for trading on the NEO under the symbol PWWR, the OTC Venture Exchange OTCQB under the symbol ALKFF and on the Frankfurt Exchange under symbol 77R and WKN A3CTYF. For further information, please contact: Frank Carnevale Chief Executive Officer +1 (647) 531-8264 [email protected] Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking 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 forward-looking statements or information. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, believes or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might, occur or achieve. Forward-looking statements in this news release may include, but are not limited to, the Warrant Amendments and timelines associated therewith, the Option Amendments and timelines associated therewith, the Special Meeting, statements with respect to the Companys technology, intellectual property, business plan, objectives and strategy. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. NEITHER THE NEO EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE NEO EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. TORONTO, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global design and technology firm, Arcadis IBI Group (Arcadis IBI or the Company) has announced the launch of a new scholarship for Indigenous students in collaboration with Indspire, an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Metis Peoples. The scholarship will provide funds to post-secondary students learning architecture, engineering, urban planning, or Indigenous languages across Canada. Since 2004, Indspires Building Brighter Futures program has provided more than $153 million in financial support to First Nations, Inuit and Metis students across Canada to assist the completion of their post-secondary education. Arcadis IBI Groups collaboration with Indspire will support the next generation of Indigenous students to influence the way our communities are designed and built. As part of Arcadis IBIs commitment to the Principles of Reconciliation in Canada, the Company is committed to providing opportunities for Indigenous students within the AEC industry. Arcadis IBI looks forward to supporting and celebrating the educational goals and achievements of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis students from across our shared lands through Indspires Building Brighter Futures Program, said Director and Sr. Practice Lead, Architecture and Chair, Indigenous Engagement Steering Committee, Heather Semple. The next Indigenous scholarship application deadline is November 1, 2022, with additional submission dates on February 1, 2023 (visit our scholarship page for more information). To learn more about Arcadis IBIs commitment to Indigenous communities, please visit our Indigenous Engagement and Relations webpage. This scholarship marks one of many endeavours Arcadis IBI has taken to enhance its work towards the Truth and Reconciliation Committees Call to Action 92, which calls on corporate entities to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework, said Chief Operations Director and Chief Diversity Officer, Audrey Jacob. Alongside launching an Indigenous-focused scholarship supported by Indspire, Arcadis IBI will continue its Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging scholarship recognizing the contributions of the Black community to the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) disciplines. These ongoing initiatives are important examples of Arcadis IBIs Global Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategy and Policy in action. About Arcadis IBI Group IBI Group is a technology-driven design firm with global architecture, engineering, planning and technology expertise, working across disciplines to shape the way people live, move, learn and heal. On September 27, 2022, IBI Group joined Arcadis, a global leader in the delivery of sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets. Our digitally driven expertise will transform our industries and provide our clients with innovative, future-focused technology-enabled solutions alongside human-centric design excellence. Together, were a stronger and more resilient business of passionate thinkers, designers and engineers across 70 countries. The combined strength of Arcadis IBI Group provides unprecedented opportunities to offer new client solutions, while defining the resilient cities of tomorrow, together. About Indspire Indspire is an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada. With the support of its funding partners, Indspire provides financial awards, delivers programs, and shares resources so that First Nations, Inuit, and Metis students will achieve their highest potential. In 2021-2022, Indspire provided more than $23 million through 6,612 bursaries and scholarships to First Nations, Inuit, and Metis students across Canada. Media Contact:Andrea Berry Global Communications [email protected] Source: Arcadis IBI Group Inc. PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inigo, a one-stop-shop for complete GraphQL security, analytics, and productivity at scale, today announced that it is a new member of the GraphQL Foundation, the community-led organization dedicated to promoting widespread adoption of GraphQL and accelerating the development of its surrounding ecosystem. As a proud GraphQL Foundation member, Inigo joins a select group of companies invested in the long-term success of GraphQL, including AWS, Meta, Twitter, Goldman Sachs, and PayPal. As the provider of a platform-agnostic GraphQL API management platformbuilt to help organizations easily adopt and secure GraphQLInigos goals closely align with those of the GraphQL Foundation. Inigo supports every open source and commercial GraphQL server available today, closing existing support gaps while empowering developers to achieve the full potential of GraphQL no matter which server they prefer to use. The GraphQL Foundation is the preeminent force for bringing GraphQLs many evolving benefits to the attention of developers, said Shahar Binyamin, CEO, Inigo. Were excited to join the GraphQL Foundation as a new member alongside some extraordinary organizations, and to help more developers and organizations unlock GraphQLs transformative potential. At the same time, were proud of Inigos growing role within the GraphQL ecosystem, as our platform enables users to supercharge their GraphQL visibility, operations, security, and success. Inigos GraphQL visibility and analytics provide the clear metrics that teams require to understand and master their GraphQL deployments and usage patterns. The platforms monitoring and observability tooling similarly enables developers to efficiently operate and scale their preferred GraphQL servers, while real-time data guides detection and avoidance of break change incidents. Inigos CI/CD tools remove the need for developers to grapple with difficult customized builds and fixes, improving the developer experience and enabling focus to remain on core product development. Developers can also work more efficiently because of the platforms high-throughput and low-latency, and get started quickly with Inigos easy plug-and-play integration that makes the platform ready in 20 minutes or less. Importantly, Inigo simplifies GraphQL security with automated safeguards designed to secure attack surfaces from all cyberattacks. The platform allows developers to directly control GraphQL vulnerability protections, and security architects to leverage schema-based access control and declarative configurationachieving introspection separation with field and argument granularity. About Inigo Inigo is a plug-and-play GraphQL API management platform that works seamlessly with any GraphQL serverproviding immediate security, compliance, analytics, and continuous delivery to boost API adoption and enable companies to scale with confidence. Inigo offers the best GraphQL experience for developers, DevOps, and security architects by eliminating development, operational, and security challenges via simple-to-use tools. Inigo empowers teams to work faster, scale easier, and prevent vulnerabilities while fully optimizing their GraphQL projects. Inigo is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. ContactKyle Peterson[email protected] Source: Inigo VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NINE MILE METALS LTD. (CSE: NINE, OTCQB: VMSXF, FSE: KQ9) (the Company or Nine Mile) is pleased to announce that drilling has commenced at the Companys California Lake VMS Project utilizing track-mount drill rigs operated by Lantech Drilling. The Company originally announced the drill program on September 20, 2022. Nine Mile will announce further drilling updates over the coming weeks. About Nine Mile Metals Ltd.:Nine Mile Metals Ltd. is a Canadian public mineral exploration company focused on VMS (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag and Au) exploration in the world-famous Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick, Canada. The Companys primary business objective is to explore its three VMS Projects: Nine Mile Brook VMS Project; California Lake VMS Project; and the Canoe Landing Lake (East West) VMS Project. The Company is focused on exploration of Minerals for Technology (MFT), positioning for the boom in EV and green technologies requiring Copper, Silver, Lead and Zinc with a hedge with Gold. ON BEHALF OF NINE MILE METALS LTD. Charles MaLettePresident, Director & SecretaryT: 604-428-5171E: [email protected] Forward-Looking Information:This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of Nine Mile. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of Nine Mile. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as will, may, would, expect, intend, plan, seek, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, potential, continue, likely, could and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include that Nine Mile will announce further drilling updates over the coming weeks. Although Nine Mile believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because Nine Mile can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release. Source: Nine Mile Metals Ltd. RICHMOND, British Columbia, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The BC Bird Trail is thrilled to officially unveil its brand new mobile app today, designed to make it easier - and more fun - for birders of all levels to explore birding across BC. Now available for download via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, The BC Bird Trail Mobile Experience arrives at the peak of the fall birding season, offering the perfect companion for your next outdoor birdwatching adventure. Designed with nature lovers and bird enthusiasts of all levels in mind, The BC Bird Trail Mobile Experience is a free app optimized for iPhone and Android users. Novice and experienced birders alike are encouraged to use the app for inspiration to explore new regions of BC, and to earn points and badges when they check-in at iconic birding hotspots across the province. As users earn points, they can also track their progress alongside other birders using the apps leaderboard for a fun, interactive, and improved birdwatching experience. The launch of this all-new mobile experience compliments the recent expansion of The BC Bird Trail earlier this fall, which includes the brand new Sea to Sky Bird Trail spanning the communities of Squamish and Whistler, as well as two new independent Bird Trail Outposts in Langford and Osoyoos. Were all particularly excited for amateur wildlife explorers and seasoned birders, from BC and beyond, to interact with this new and improved birdwatching tool developed by our team at The BC Bird Trail Mobile Experience, says Ceri Chong, Director, Destination and Industry Development at Tourism Richmond. With birdwatching continuing to grow in popularity year over year - especially amongst a younger, more diverse demographic than ever before - this new app is an excellent resource and intuitive guide for making the most of each and every birding adventure for birdwatchers of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels. By launching this free mobile experience in collaboration with The Number Creative, The BC Bird Trail is proud to further their mandate of inviting all people to experience the diverse and inclusive world of birding in BC. Those that live a mobile-first lifestyle will enjoy the apps accessibility and ease of use, and be able to utilize it as a go-to companion for exploring The BC Bird Trails self-guided itineraries throughout participating communities. Additionally, the immersive in-app gamification features are designed to make anyones overall birding experience fun. Whether you are an aspiring or seasoned birder, an outdoor enthusiast, or a tourist traveling in British Columbia, here are the key features of The BC Bird Trail Mobile Experience App that will be of interest: Self guided itineraries for communities throughout all regional Bird Trails (Central Vancouver Island, Columbia Valley, Fraser Valley, Sea to Sky, and South Fraser to start) and two standalone Outposts (Langford and Osoyoos) throughout British Columbia An easy-to-use guide for tracking your birding progress as you make stops through your self-guided itinerary The ability to plan trips in advance based on curated recommendations by the experts at The BC Bird Trail and Destination BC Recommended local attractions, restaurants, and more, curated by local experts The opportunity to track progress by earning points and badges as users visit new regions and discover curated itineraries across the province. Get it now: Download the free BC Bird Trail Mobile Experience from the Apple Store or Google Play Store today. The BC Bird Trail Mobile Experience was created in partnership with The BC Bird Trail, Birds Canada, The Number Creative, and over 20 tourism partners throughout the province. To learn more, visit https://bcbirdtrail.ca/. Take off with The BC Bird Trail on social media: About The BC Bird TrailLaunched in September 2020, The BC Bird Trail is the leading source of information on attractions, activities, and accommodations related to birdwatching in the province for novice birders, seasoned veterans and more while promoting personal responsibility, sustainability, and mindfulness. The BC Bird Trail reaches a total of five regions across British Columbia including Central Vancouver Island, the Columbia Valley, the South Fraser, the Fraser Valley, and most recently, the Sea to Sky region, in addition to two Bird Trail Outposts in Langford and Osoyoos. Learn more at BCBirdTrail.ca. Media Contact Sonam Ram[email protected] thesocialagency.ca A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f0987ba8-2579-4e56-8d34-c2538c0bdc54 The BC Bird Trail Mobile Experience The BC Bird Trail Mobile Experience is the perfect companion piece for your next outdoor adventure, now available to download for Android and iPhone users. Source: The BC Bird Trail Octane, an organization leading the Southern California technology and medical technology business ecosystem, today announced that the 2022 Medical Innovation Forum will be held on Oct. 27-28 at the Irvine Marriott in Irvine, California. The two-day event will feature the most visionary speakers from the medical technology sector, showcase the latest advances, and offer access to unparalleled educational opportunities and the potential to network, explore synergies and foster long-term partnerships with fellow professionals. Investors looking for untapped opportunities will benefit from one-on-one, private meetings organized with fully vetted, early stage companies that are at the cutting edge of innovation in the medical field in Southern California. Southern California is one of the countrys most dynamic and promising markets, and Octane aims to create more than 55,000 technology jobs by 2030 here, said Octane CEO Bill Carpou. The Medical Innovation Forum is a key component of this larger vision and especially pertinent given the pandemic, rising health costs and aging demographics in many parts of the world. This event puts Southern California on the map and showcases how much innovation is taking place in the region. We hope to play our part in paving the way for more technological development, higher investments and fostering deeper regional networks. To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/UaSAp About Octane Octane is building the SoCal of tomorrow by connecting people, resources and capital to fuel technology growth in Southern California. Its members represent technology executive leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, academicians and strategic advisors, all working together to fuel innovation in the OC. The organization has helped more than 800 companies via the LaunchPad SBDC accelerator. LaunchPad companies have received more than $2.1 billion in investment and equity exits. Octane annually welcomes more than 7,000 people to its programs and events. More than 2,000 business leaders throughout the region are Octane members. For more information, visit www.Octaneoc.org. About BioMedWire BioMedWire (BMW) is an information service that provides (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) BioMedNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, BMW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. BMW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in todays market, BMW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. BMW is where news, content and information converge. To receive SMS text alerts from BioMedWire, text Biotech to 844-397-5787 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only) For more information please visit https://www.BioMedWire.com Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the BioMedWire website applicable to all content provided by BMW, wherever published or re-published: http://BMW.fm/Disclaimer BioMedWire (BMW) San Francisco, California www.BioMedWire.com 415.949.5050 Office [email protected] BioMedWire is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork FILE PHOTO: China's and U.S.' flags are seen printed on paper in this illustration taken January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration By Jonathan Stempel, Sarah N. Lynch and Karen Freifeld NEW YORK (Reuters) -U.S. prosecutors said on Monday they have charged two Chinese nationals with trying to obstruct prosecution of a Chinese telecommunications company that a person familiar with the matter identified as Huawei Technologies Co Ltd . Prosecutors said the case is representative of a broader pattern of unlawful influence efforts by China, and announced they had also charged 11 people in two other cases with spying for Beijing or intimidating Chinese dissidents. In the case involving the alleged efforts to tamper with the Huawei investigation, prosecutors said two Chinese intelligence officials attempted to recruit a U.S. law enforcement agent to work as their spy. However, the recruit was actually working as a double agent for the United States. Chinese nationals Guochun He and Zheng Wang were charged with trying to interfere in the prosecution, the prosecutors said. Court documents did not name the company, but the complaint referenced the same dates in which the U.S. unsealed its charges against Huawei, in 2019 and 2020. A spokesperson for Huawei could not be reached for comment on Monday. China's embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In addition to the case against the two Chinese nationals accused of interfering in the Huawei prosecution, the Justice Department also announced charges in two other schemes. The second case charges four Chinese nationals out of New Jersey with running a decade-long intelligence campaign, while the third accuses seven others of waging a harassment campaign against a U.S. resident in a bid to convince him to return to China. Of the 13 people charged, 10 are Chinese intelligence officers and Chinese government officials. All but two of the suspects remain at large. Washington does not have an extradition treaty with China. "The Justice Department will not tolerate attempts by any foreign power to undermine the rule of law upon which our democracy is based," Attorney General Merrick Garland told a news conference. Huawei was indicted in 2018 for allegedly misleading HSBC and other banks about its business in Iran, which is subject to U.S. sanctions. In 2020, other charges were added to the case, including conspiring to steal trade secrets from six U.S. technology companies and helping Iran track protesters during anti-government demonstrations in 2009. The firm has pleaded not guilty. The complaint against He and Wang alleges they tried to obtain confidential information concerning witnesses, trial evidence and any potential new charges the company could face. It alleges they tried to recruit someone from a U.S. law enforcement agency who they thought would help them spy for China. The recruit, referred to only as "GE-1," was actually working as a double agent for the United States under FBI supervision, the complaint says. Since October 2021, He and Wang paid the recruit $14,000 plus $600 worth of jewelry, in exchange for what they believed was confidential information about the Justice Department's investigation and criminal prosecution of the company, the complaint said. According to court papers, He and Wang first started trying to access nonpublic information about the Justice Department's investigation when the company was initially charged in 2019. But their activity escalated in the summer of 2021, with He asking GE-1 about the details of meetings with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York as prosecutors were discussing preparations for the jury trial. In response, GE-1 passed He a piece of paper that appeared to be marked as classified. That page purported to discuss a plan by federal investigators to arrest two of the company's China-based executives. In exchange for that page, He paid GE-1 $41,000 in bitcoin, the complaint says. Later that same year, GE-1 also passed along a second page that also purportedly discussed legal strategy, including the use of several cooperating witnesses in the prosecution. "Each of these cases lays bare the Chinese governments flagrant violation of international laws, as they work to project their authoritarian view around the world," FBI Director Chris Wray said on Monday. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel and Karen Freifeld in New York and Sarah N. Lynch in Washington; additional reporting by Doina Chiacu, David Brunnstrom and Jacqueline Thomsen; Editing by Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis and David Gregorio) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 24, 2022) - Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc. (CSE: VEGI) (OTCQB: VGGIF) (FSE: 77I) ("Boosh" or the "Company") a premier plant-based brand in the "better for you" food sector, is pleased to announce new board member, Mike Lund increasing the Board of Directors from four to five. Mike Lund To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7944/141702_MikeL_BioPic1.jpg Additionally, Mike will serve as a consultant in the areas of sales growth and operations. Consulting fees will paid through the issuance of common shares of the Company quarterly in arrears at a deemed price equivalent to [the discounted market price at the time of issuance]. Mike is a seasoned executive with over 35 years of experience in retail, consumer packaged goods, food manufacturing and global agribusiness. He has held leadership roles within retail at Loblaws, Sobeys and McKesson; was President of a private food manufacturing business; and had international commercial responsibilities in the agribusiness sector with Bunge. Mike is a strategic leader who has a detailed understanding of brand building, sales and operations from the perspective of both retailers and brand owners. His experience provides a unique perspective of the requirements of launching and growing brands from field to fork in the North American retail environment. "As we continue to grow Boosh and Beanfields sales throughout North America we are thrilled to have Mike on board to leverage his vast experience in both retail and consumer packaged goods to support our growth," states CEO and Founder, Connie Marples. "We are extremely optimistic about the trajectory we are on and his experience will be invaluable to the team." Connie Marples Founder/CEO [email protected] Telephone: 778 840 1700 www.Booshfood.com www.beanfields.com About Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc.: Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, Boosh Food (www.booshfood.com) offers high quality, non-GMO, gluten free, 100% plant-based nutritional comfort foods for the whole family. Through a separate subsidiary, Beautiful Beanfields, (www.beanfields.com) the Company owns Beanfields, a plant-based chip brand sold in over 7,000 stores throughout North America. Boosh, good for you and good for planet earth. The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Company's expectations concerning the size of the Financing, its ability to close the Financing in whole or in part or at all and its plan for the proceeds of the Financing. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141702 Presentation on Tuesday, October 25 at 12:30 PM Pacific Time (3:30 PM Eastern) Oxnard, California--(Newsfile Corp. - October 24, 2022) - Cure Pharmaceutical Holding Corp. (OTCQB: CURR) ("CURE"), a broad wellness platform technology company that develops proprietary wellness, nutraceutical, and topical delivery systems, announced today that it will be presenting at the 12th annual Invitational on Tuesday October 25 at 12:30 PM Pacific Time (3:30 PM Eastern) at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel. Nancy Duitch, CEO will be giving the presentation. "15 years ago, we set out to create an event that could benefit our entire industry. It wasn't fast or easy, but we were honorable in our dealings, and worked our tails off to ensure a wonderful time for everyone involved. Today, our community could not be larger, stronger, and more united, as we go through these difficult and turbulent times together. The Main Event is about learning, connecting, and enjoying each other, and it is a hell of a lot more fun than sitting next to your computer," stated Chris Lahiji, Founder of LD Micro. "As part of our renewed commitment to shareholder value and investor communication, we are really looking forward to the LD Micro conference as an opportunity to unveil to investors our new company identity and rebranding strategy and give some more details about our high margin revenue growth strategy, continued progress on additional non-dilutive deals and continued development of new products and patents,"stated Nancy Duitch, CEO of CURE. "Since the announcement of our $20 million non-dilutive deal and significantly positive management and Board of Director additions this summer, our team has been working diligently on several initiatives aligned with our guiding vision of enhancing shareholder value and on utilizing our proprietary technology that differentiates us from our competition, producing quality high-margin products with improved safety, efficacy, and consumer experience. We are really looking forward to having our senior executives and some board members interact with our investors and prospective investors during the presentation, one on one meetings and conference social events. We would also like to encourage those investors who cannot attend in person to watch the presentation virtually by registering free at the link below to watch live." Event: LD Micro Main Event XV Date: Tuesday October 25 Time: at 12:30 PM Pacific Time (3:30 PM Eastern) Register to watch the virtual presentation here. 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 Cure Pharmaceutical Holding Corp. Cure Pharmaceutical Holding Corp. is a broad wellness platform technology company that develops proprietary wellness, nutraceutical, and topical delivery systems. The technology, which is based on fifteen current patents, offers a number of unique immediate- and controlled-release delivery vehicles designed to improve product efficacy, safety, and consumer experience for a wide range of active ingredients. The Company will continue down the path of creating new technologies that will be part of its incubator strategy in order to monetize its IP. As a vertically integrated platform company, CURE looks to partner or license its IP technology with wellness companies worldwide. 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 Statement This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which statements are subject to considerable risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including statements regarding the future growth and success of our organization. We have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by using words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expected," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "should," "will," or "would," and similar expressions or the negative of these expressions. Forward-looking statements represent our management's current expectations and predictions about trends affecting our business and industry and are based on information available as of the time such statements are made. Although we do not make forward-looking statements unless we believe we have a reasonable basis for doing so, we cannot guarantee their accuracy or completeness. Forward-looking statements involve numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements predicted, assumed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Some of the risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements are described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as well as in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by applicable law, we expressly disclaim any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, whether to conform such statements to actual results or changes in our expectations, or as a result of the availability of new information Contacts: Investor Relations Hanover International Inc. [email protected] (760) 564-7400 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141493 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 24, 2022) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) ("FDR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a letter agreement (the "Letter Agreement") dated October 19, 2022 between FDR and Orea Mining Corp. ("Orea") to acquire from Orea, its option (the "Option") to acquire up to 75% of the Antino Gold Project (the "Project") in Suriname by acquisition from Nana Resources N.V. ("Nana") of up to 75% of the shares in the capital of Lawa Gold N.V. ("Lawa") which is the registered owner of 100% of the Antino Gold Project pursuant to an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") dated March 16, 2022, as amended, among Orea, Nana and Lawa. In connection with the acquisition of the Option, FDR also intends to complete a concurrent equity financing (the "Financing") to raise gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000 in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Antino Gold Project The Antino Gold Project is a resource definition stage gold exploration project located in southeastern Suriname, within the Guiana Shield Gold Belt (Figure 1). The project is approximately 275 km from the capital city of Paramaribo and is accessible by air to the Antino Camp airstrip or by barge along the Maroni/Lawa River bordering French Guiana. The 238 square kilometer property holds Rights to the Exploitation of Gold (Suriname mining titles), and all necessary permits for exploration, drilling and small-scale mining have been obtained. Figure 1 - Map of the Guiana shield showing the location of major gold deposits and occurrences. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/141644_8e83d44544268a06_002full.jpg The Project covers a significant area of alluvial and small-scale saprolite open pit gold mining with ~500,000 oz reported produced to date[1]. Alluvial gold was first discovered in the Antino area in 1891, with small-scale open pit mining operations commencing in 1999. The current and historical mining is mainly in two areas known as the Upper Antino and Buese Camps, where open pit operations are limited to the weathered saprolite layer. The ongoing permitted mining activity in the area provides significant infrastructure and support for exploration and drilling programs. Local operators can provide already on-site accommodations, communications, exploration equipment, heavy machinery, and personnel resulting in future work by Founders Metals to be very cost-effective. Past exploration on the property was conducted by Canadian junior exploration companies during 1993-97 and 2006-08, including over 32,000 meters of drilling. The exploration programs pre-date most of the open pit mining. Initial exploration work completed by Orea includes GIS compilation of historical exploration and drilling data, an airborne high-resolution LiDAR topographic and orthophoto survey, reprocessing the 1994 maiden airborne geophysical survey data, and geological/structural mapping of the gold mineralized zones exposed in open pits and core re-logging. This recent exploration has provided Founders with a comprehensive dataset for planning future drilling focused on expanding the known gold mineralization and testing other highly prospective targets on the property. The Assignment Under the Letter Agreement, Orea agreed to assign (the "Assignment") and the Company agreed to accept the assignment of all of Orea's rights and obligations under the Option Agreement, subject to approval of the Exchange, in consideration for payment of $1,000,000 (the "Purchase Price") to Orea to be satisfied by: (a) payment of $250,000 in cash upon signing of the Letter Agreement; (b) on the earlier of January 31, 2023 or upon completion of the Assignment (the "Closing"), payment of $500,000 by issuance of common shares of FDR ("FDR Shares") at a price of $0.50 per FDR Share, which shall be subject to a four month statutory hold period in accordance with the policies of the Exchange and applicable securities laws; and (b) payment of $250,000 in cash on the earlier of Closing or December 31, 2022. The Closing and issuance of FDR Shares in satisfaction of payment of the Purchase Price (the "Consideration Shares") shall be subject to the policies of the Exchange and applicable securities laws, and such Consideration Shares shall be subject to a four month statutory hold in accordance with applicable securities laws. There are no finders fees in respect of the proposed Option acquisition or related transactions, and the Company is arm's length to each of Orea, Nana and Lawa. The Closing of the Assignment shall occur on the date following receipt of Exchange approval for the Assignment on or before March 31, 2023. The Option to acquire up to 75% ownership of the Project and become operator of the Project under the Letter Agreement and Option Agreement is completed in three stages: First Option Stage - 51% Ownership Interest Option to acquire an initial 51% interest in the Project within three years of the Commencement Date by: making cash payments totaling US$1,650,000, of which only US$350,000 is payable within the first year; issuing common shares of the Company having a value of CAD$323,000 (of which CAD$95,000 may be settled in cash); incurring a minimum of US$6,000,000 in exploration expenses; and completing a geological technical report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101-Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), containing a minimum of 500,000 oz Au in any category. Second Option Stage - Additional 19% for a 70% Total Interest Option to acquire an additional 19% interest in the Project, for a total of 70% within two years of completion of the First Option Stage by: making cash payments totaling US$1,500,000; issuing common shares of the Company having a value of CAD$19,000; incurring a minimum of US$10,000,000 in exploration expenses; and completing a preliminary economic assessment technical report prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. In the event that the Company does not proceed with the completion of the Second Option Stage, the Company will transfer its interest in the Project back to the optionor. Third Option Stage - Additional 5% for a 75% Total Interest Option to acquire an additional 5% in the Project, for a total of 75%, within three years of completion of the Second Option Stage by: incurring a minimum of US$10,000,000 in exploration expenses; and completing a bankable feasibility study technical report prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. Upon successful earn-in of the Project, the Company and the optionor, Nana, will form a joint venture with the objective of accelerating the project into commercial production. Qualified Person Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., is a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101-Standards for Disclosure of Mineral Projects, and has reviewed, approved and verified the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. About Founders Metals Inc. Founders Metals Inc. is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing gold exploration projects in the Guiana Shield. Founders is a member of the Metals Group of companies, an award-winning team of professionals who prioritize technical excellence, careful project selection, and uncompromising corporate governance. The team has a recognized ability to capitalize on investment opportunities and deliver shareholder returns. For further information, please contact: Nick Stajduhar, Director Telephone: +1 (780) 701-3216 Email: [email protected] FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of the word, "will" 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. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information relating to the anticipated date for filing the annual financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2022 and related management's discussion and analysis. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. The Company cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws, or as otherwise may be disclosed in this news release. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. 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. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. securities laws. [1] Flemming, A, (2006) Technical Report, Antino Gold Project, Suriname South America. Prepared for New Sleeper Gold Corporation and available under its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141644 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 24, 2022) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: VGANF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a Quick Serve Restaurant ("QSR") and Consumer Packaged Goods ("CPG") wellness company bringing delicious foods and retail brands to customers, is pleased to announce that its Natural Holy Crap Cereal SKU has gained 90 additional retail store locations. Federated Co-op already distributes Holy Crap Cereals; and has decided to expand its listings with the addition of our most popular flavour. "I am continually impressed with our team and their focus on expanding our retail distribution to accelerate organic growth," said Shawn Moniz, CEO of Happy Belly Food Group. "We continue to execute and deliver on our sales-oriented strategy. It is through these efforts that we see a natural expansion of relationships with retailers and distributors. Retailers adding distribution of our product lines for Holy Crap Cereal and Oatmeal have been extremely positive. In Ontario for example, we have listed our products in close to 100 net new retail locations in the past 3 months alone, and we continue to receive positive feedback from customers and consumers across the country. I am confident in our team's ability to continually expand the availability of our great tasting and organic line of products. As consumers try our cereals, our growth continues to accelerate." Image 1 To view an enhanced version of Image 1, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/141638_9cab4b52e4b6faa4_001full.jpg About Federated Co-op As a wholesaler, FCL supplies high-quality grocery items across all departments to its members' retail locations. FCL develops private-label products - everyday essentials and innovative new offerings - and programs supporting local food products. With over 1,500 locations FCL supplies local retail co-operatives with all of the bakery, deli, produce, meat and pharmacy products required for a full-service grocery supermarket. FCL provides Co-op Convenience Stores throughout Western Canada with the procurement, merchandising, marketing and operational support they need to reach consumers who are on the move looking for convenience food and beverage items. About Holy Crap Foods Inc. At Holy Crap Foods Inc. our mission is to create products that create a healthy gut through simple, quality ingredients that ultimately feed the connection between gut and mind. Holy Crap is an organic, gluten free, non-gmo high fiber breakfast cereal for today's consumer that expects their food to work hard for them. Our great tasting cereal helps maintain a healthy gut which creates a happy mind. About Happy Belly Food Group Brands To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/141638_9cab4b52e4b6faa4_002full.jpg Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: VGANF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a Quick Serve Restaurant ("QSR") and Consumer Packaged Goods ("CPG") wellness company bringing delicious foods and retail brands to customers. It offers a growing number of CPG and QSR brands through its portfolio of Holy Crap Foods, YamChops, LumberHeads Food Co., Lettuce Love Caf, and Heal Wellness. For more information please visit: www.HolyCrap.com, www.YamChops.com, www.LumberHeads.com, www.HealWellness.ca, www.LettuceLoveCafe.com and www.HappyBellyFG.com. Happy Belly Food Group Shawn Moniz Chief Executive Officer FOR FUTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: www: www.happybellyfg.com or email [email protected] Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include the future performance of LumberHeads Food Co. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Happy Belly described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141638 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 24, 2022) - Neptune Digital Assets Corp. (TSXV: NDA) (OTCQB: NPPTF) (FSE: 1NW) ("Neptune" or the "Company"), a cryptocurrency leader in Canada, is announcing that the Company's common shares were approved for trading on the OTCQB under the symbol "NPPTF" on October 24, 2022. The common shares will continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "NDA" and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol 1NW. The Company's common shares had previously been quoted on the OTC Pink Market. "Neptune continues to build the business and grow operations in a cost-conscious manner in spite of the crypto bear market. Getting the US OTCQB listing is one more step in the direction of positioning the Company for the next bull run. Neptune has sufficient financial means to take advantage of the bear market discounts and acquiring assets with cash raised at the peak of the last bull cycle, it's business as usual for Neptune Digital," stated Cale Moodie, Neptune's Chief Executive Officer. The OTCQB Venture Market is the premier marketplace for early-stage and developing U.S. and international companies. The OTCQB Venture Market quality standards provide a strong baseline of transparency, as well as the technology and regulation to improve the information and trading experience for investors. About Neptune Digital Assets Corp. Neptune Digital Assets (TSXV: NDA) is one of the first publicly-traded blockchain companies in Canada and is a cryptocurrency and blockchain infrastructure leader with operations across the digital asset ecosystem including Bitcoin mining, proof-of-stake mining, blockchain nodes, decentralized finance (DeFi), and other associated blockchain technologies. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Cale Moodie, President and CEO Neptune Digital Assets Corp. 1-800-545-0941 www.neptunedigitalassets.com Forward-Looking Statements This release contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans", "proposes" or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to, the statements with respect to the timing of trading of the Company's common shares on the OTCQB, the potential benefits of listing on the OTCQB, the Company's strategy to position itself for the next period of economic growth and the future outlook of the crypto currency market generally. Forward-looking statements and information are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that, while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict, that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, including but not limited to: the inherent risks involved in the cryptocurrency and general securities markets; the Company's ability to successfully mine digital currency; revenue of the Company may not increase as currently anticipated, or at all; the Company may not be able to profitably liquidate its current digital currency inventory, or at all; a decline in digital currency prices may have a significant negative impact on the Company's operations; the volatility of digital currency prices; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, currency fluctuations; regulatory restrictions, liability, competition, loss of key employees and other related risks and uncertainties. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141612 As the December 2022 deadline to implement the latest Safeguards Rule amendments approaches, 2Secure Corp introduces a comprehensive FTC compliance service for auto dealerships in New Jersey. Ocean Township, New Jersey--(Newsfile Corp. - October 23, 2022) - Following the May 2022 Safeguards Rule guidance issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 2Secure Corp announces a compliance service for car dealers in New Jersey. More details can be found at https://www.2secure.biz NJ Car Dealership FTC Safeguards Compliance Service Announced By 2Secure Corp To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/141511_2f592c226488c800_001full.jpg The new service helps auto dealership owners and managers implement the necessary steps by December 9, 2022. The latest amendments require all financial institutions under FTC's jurisdiction, which includes car dealerships, to address specific technical and procedural issues related to personal and consumer information protection. 2Secure Corp's announcement also comes as Ponemon Institute publishes its latest study, which found that the cost of non-compliance could go up to $14 million per data breach. As such, the cybersecurity firm now offers a comprehensive service to help New Jersey car dealership owners avoid these costs. "The main points covered by the amendments to the Safeguards Rule include the appointment of a Qualified Individual, risk assessments, implementation of risk-management safeguards, staff training, third-party monitoring, information security system updates, incident response plans, and annual reporting to senior management," explains 2Secure Corp CEO, Yigal Behar. As part of the new service, 2Secure will provide Qualified Individuals for auto dealership businesses and take the necessary measures to comply with all other requirements under the revised Safeguards Rule. To implement safeguards for risk management, the firm will provide access control reviews, data monitoring and encryption, third-party app assessments, multi-factor authentication systems, secure customer information disposal, information system updates, logs for authorized and unauthorized activity, and safeguards monitoring and testing. Staff training and incident response plans are also provided as part of the FTC compliance service. 2Secure experts train the auto dealership's personnel so they can avoid the most common cybersecurity mistakes. The firm also provides an incident response plan - a formal written document that specifies the staff members assigned to the incident response team and outlines the incident resolution approach. With the latest announcement, 2Secure is introducing a cost-effective FTC compliance solution for auto dealerships across New Jersey. Led by Yigal Behar, a cybersecurity expert with over 24 years of experience, the firm specializes in ransomware attack simulation, penetration testing, and internal and external vulnerability assessments. Interested parties can learn more at https://www.2secure.biz/ftc-safeguards-financial-institutions-rule Contact Info: Name: Yigal Behar Email: [email protected] Organization: 2Secure Corp Address: 1309 Allaire Ave, Ocean Township, NJ 07712, United States Phone: +1-646-560-5083 Website: https://www.2secure.biz To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141511 BOGOTA, Colombia, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC) informs that at the extraordinary General Shareholder's Meeting held on October 24, 2022, its Board of Directors was appointed as follows: Non-Independent Representatives: Monica de Greiff Lindo Gonzalo Hernandez Jimenez Independent Representatives: Gabriel Mauricio Cabrera Galvis Carlos Gustavo Cano Sanz Saul Kattan Cohen Sandra Ospina Arango Luis Santiago Perdomo Maldonado Esteban Piedrahita Uribe Sergio Restrepo Isaza Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent, with more than 18,000 employees. In Colombia, it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and Mexico, and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile, and the telecommunications sector. This press release contains business prospect statements, operating and financial result estimates, and statements related to Ecopetrol's growth prospects. These are all projections and, as such, they are based solely on the expectations of the managers regarding the future of the company and their continued access to capital to finance the company's business plan. The realization of said estimates in the future depends on the behavior of market conditions, regulations, competition, the performance of the Colombian economy my and the industry, among other factors, and are consequently subject to change without prior notice. This release contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward -looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration, and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. For more information, please contact: Head of Capital MarketsTatiana Uribe BenninghoffEmail: [email protected] Head of Corporate CommunicationsMauricio TellezEmail: [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ecopetrols-board-of-directors-appointment-301657820.html SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A. BRONX, N.Y., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Albert Einstein College of Medicine has appointed national diversity innovator and emergency medicine physician Lynne M. Holden, M.D., senior associate dean for diversity and inclusion (D&I). Dr. Holden, a member of Einstein's faculty since 1996, is an accomplished leader both within her medical discipline and in her efforts to help diversify the medical workforce. "Through her dedication to medical education and D&I, both at Einstein and nationally, Dr. Holden has made a meaningful and positive impact on the lives of thousands of young men and women," said Gordon F. Tomaselli, M.D., the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean at Einstein and executive vice president and chief academic officer at Montefiore Medicine. "She has clearly demonstrated her abilities and leadership by succeeding in a range of positions at the College of Medicine over the past two decades, making her the ideal person to fill this crucial position at Einstein." Dr. Holden, who is professor of emergency medicine at Einstein and an attending physician at Montefiore Health System, has worked extensively with medical students, residents, and faculty at the College of Medicine. In recognition of her teaching excellence, she was elected to the Leo M. Davidoff Society, which honors teachers who have made significant contributions to the education of Einstein medical students. She has served as a co-chair of the admissions committee, taught in the Introduction to Clinical Medicine course for first-year medical students, and held the position of associate residency director/site director at Montefiore. She continues to serve on the EM residency admissions committee. As vice-chair for diversity, equity, and inclusion for the department of emergency medicine, Dr. Holden spearheaded the development of the Social EM Program, which fosters activities that expose residents to the social determinants of health in the Bronx and empowers them to create empathetic solutions through research and community service. Since 2006, she has directed the Emergency Department Clinical Exposure and Mentoring Program, which has provided educational and experiential learning through volunteering and shadowing for 1,800 New York City undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students. "I am honored to take on the role of senior associate dean for D&I at Einstein," said Dr. Holden. "I look forward to working with my colleagues to help increase diversity, enhance inclusion, and advance equity for our current and prospective students, staff, postdocs, and faculty, as well as our community members." Dr. Holden is co-founder and president of Mentoring in Medicine, Inc., (MIM), a national non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing students to become healthcare and science professionals in order to help eliminate health disparities. Since its establishment, MIM has reached more than 58,000 students from elementary age through medical school, along with parents and educators. MIM alumni include 478 physicians from diverse backgrounds. The organization has also introduced 8,000 students, kindergarten through 12th grade, to biomedical and healthcare careers through class presentations, stage plays, and workshops. Dr. Holden's numerous honors include a 2007 Maybelline NY-Essence Empowerment through Education Award, a 2009 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leader award, and the 2019 Distinguished Community Service Award from the United Hospital Fund. She has published the results of her work extensively and has appeared widely in the media as an expert in mentoring and diversity in medicine. Also on the national level, Dr. Holden is active with the American Board of Emergency Medicine as a senior national oral board examiner and as the National Medical Association's (NMA) immediate past section chair for EM. She serves on several national committees that address workforce diversity in medicine, including the American Association of Medical Colleges' Action Collaborative for Black Men in Medicine (in partnership with the NMA) and the American Association of Medical Colleges Pathways Program Advisory Group. She is chair of the K-Grad Working Group within the Roundtable on Black Men and Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. She is also a board member and on the education committee of the Friends of the National Library of Medicine. Dr. Holden is a graduate of Howard University and of Temple University School of Medicine. Following an internship at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, she began her residency in emergency medicine at Jacobi Medical Center, and later served as chief resident. After a brief stint as an attending physician at Kings County Hospital, and as assistant clinical professor at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, both located in Brooklyn, Dr. Holden returned to the Bronx to join Einstein and serve as an attending physician at Jacobi and Montefiore. She rose through the academic ranks at Einstein to become a full professor in EM, the fifth African American female in the United States to achieve this distinction at an academic medical center. About Albert Einstein College of Medicine Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2021-22 academic year, Einstein is home to 732 M.D. students, 190 Ph.D. students, 120 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and approximately 250 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 1,900 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2021, Einstein received more than $185 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health. This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in cancer, aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. For more information, please visit einsteinmed.org, read our blog, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and view us on YouTube. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lynne-holden-md-named-senior-associate-dean-for-diversity-and-inclusion-at-albert-einstein-college-of-medicine-301657488.html SOURCE Albert Einstein College of Medicine MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pure Capital Solutions' (OTC: PCST) wholly owned subsidiary Nova Space Inc. announces a formal partnership with the Keystone Space Collaborative (KSC), to provide KSC members with exclusive access to a new member portal housing courses and other resources to help current and future space industry professionals stay competitive and support the growing demand for a local skilled space workforce focused in the Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia Tri-State region. "Our intention with the Keystone Space Collaborative has always been to create the connections necessary to make our region a space industry powerhouse. This new partnership and platform takes our ability to do that to a new level," said Justine Kasznica, Keystone Space Collaborative Board Chair. "We're thrilled to offer these new benefits to our members and continue building on these exciting opportunities our organization can offer our network and the region as a whole." The tri-state region has already made a substantial impact in the space economy, supporting well over 1,000 organizations actively developing new technology and supporting current DoD, NASA and private space missions. The tailored curriculum roadmap, created by government clients and the space experts at Nova Space Inc., consists of free and discounted courses on topics including: Orbital Mechanics Mission Design Launch and Propulsion The Space Environment Communications "Today's employers, across industries, are faced with a new challenge stemming from the pace of innovation and the short lifespan of many day-to-day skills," said Christopher Allen, Nova Space COO. "From the software suites our employees use, to new market disruptors changing business models, to the speed in which professionals are changing careers, employers must establish a learning culture in the organization to support the rapid acquisition and mastery of new skills." In addition to the asynchronous, experiential digital earning course catalog that is aimed at helping individuals become competent and confident space professionals, the portal will enable KSC members to: Access the KSC's growing collection of articles, whitepapers, and webinars Participate in social learning events with the KSC's Industry Council and other KSC members Access the KSC's one-of-a-kind interactive Ecosystem Map that identifies industry stakeholders and entities in the region Browse and post regional opportunities and job listings on an interactive, professional "matchmaking" forum "This partnership is a significant step forward in identifying the human aspect to growth of the space industry. By providing a spectrum of training and professional development opportunities to members, the Keystone Space Collaborative is supporting workforce development across the region, and Nova Space is proud to lead this initiative," said Joseph Horvath, Nova Space CEO. The KSC adds a strategic partner to the list of professional organizations already working with Nova Space including the Space Foundation and AIAA, establishing Nova Space as the globally recognized industry leader in award-winning Space professional development and education. ABOUT NOVA SPACE INC: Nova Space is already well known for its signature space professional-development programs, designed to support the growth of space industry professionals, entrepreneurs and business leaders, commercial companies, and governmental organizations. The founders of the company have more than five decades of combined experience in space operations, astronautics, and custom learning development in both commercial and government settings. To learn more, visit novaspaceinc.com. ABOUT THE KEYSTONE SPACE COLLABORATIVE: Founded in 2021, the Keystone Space Collaborative is the tri-state's premier space organization committed to attracting, growing and amplifying the next generation of space industry businesses and talent in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. By convening people passionate about space, the Collaborative aims to attract more opportunities for job creation, inclusive prosperity, and growth in this fast-growing sector. To learn more, visit keystonespace.org. ABOUT PURE CAPITAL SOLUTIONS, INC. Since 2006, Pure Capital Solutions, Inc has been assisting small to medium sized businesses by investment and consulting. We have provided short-term financing, factoring, loans, and consulting using our diverse expertise. We also directly invest in our subsidiaries and help them grow. Learn more by visiting purecapitalsolution.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nova-space-inc-announces-new-professional-development-platform-in-partnership-with-the-keystone-space-collaborative-to-support-talent-pool-for-the-booming-space-economy-301656557.html SOURCE Pure Capital Solutions SHANGHAI, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Oct 13th-14th, the 2022 AWS Summit China with the theme of "Build with Freedom, Explore the Infinite" (official Chinese name: ) kicked off. Tech experts and enterprises gathered at the summit to share their advanced practices and insights in cloud computing from a global perspective, where Shoplazza's CTO, Bing Xia, gave a speech about its AI-powered recommendation technology for cross-border eCommerce. The summit hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS) is its largest annual technology event in China and a benchmark in the global cloud computing field. As a globally leading shopping cart SaaS company, Shoplazza was invited to the summit to share its excellent practices with advanced product features and technology. Shoplazza has provided 360,000+ merchants worldwide with various enterprise-level solutions such as well-crafted eCommerce store themes, automated order management and operations, multi-channel marketing campaigns, and secure and easy-to-follow payment processes. In recent years, branding has played a vital role in eCommerce. More and more cross-border merchants have engaged in the DTC model and transferred to a refined business operation and management to grow the business. And the "AI-powered recommendation" is one of the crucial features to implement in the online store. "On a global scale, AI-powered recommendation is an essential technology to integrate for improving sales revenue and customers' shopping experience." Bing, CTO of Shoplazza, said, "But it is tough for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to implement the AI solutions designated for large-sized companies. SMB merchants have to put extra effort and time into manually optimizing the product recommendation, which takes a lot of time and reduces operational efficiency. Furthermore, it is not easy for customers to be satisfied with what they see in recommendations. Based on this situation, we aim to provide a technology solution for the AI-powered recommendation that can be applied to all merchants of any size, lower the cost and improve efficiency." Bing explained the AI and machine learning system of Shoplazza in 5 stages, including (1) data pull, (2)trigger, (3)pre-ranking, (4) ranking, and (5) re-rank. Shoplazza puts its best effort into data processing to ensure each process runs efficiently and smoothly. However, stand-alone TensorFlow cannot be trained quickly due to the massive amount of data that needs to be processed, such as transaction amount and user access. In addition, distributed machine learning on Spark has several flaws, like slow training and high cost. To solve the pain points, Shoplazza uses the data flow and computing power of Amazon EMR and Amazon SageMaker and combines all the processes, including sampling, featuring training, and estimation for Shoplazza's recommendation system data flow. This combined procedure for the data flow enables more efficient data processing and machine learning capabilities. "Based on the samples generated, model training is performed in the SageMaker platform, and the real-time reasoning is deployed. When the user requests recommendations, the prediction can splice user features and product features in real-time and display the feature extraction plug-in to generate samples as requesting SageMaker to get the score and displaying the sorting result to the webpage." Bing introduced the detailed data flow implementation of AI-powered recommendations with SageMaker. With Amazon EMR and Amazon SageMaker, Shoplazza eases the management of big data and machine learning infrastructure, integrating the data analysis and machine learning for cost-efficient results." Up to 300 GB of training data only takes 2 hours to complete, the time is reduced by about 10 hours, and the performance of the product recommendation system is improved by 6 times. To serve our merchants better, we continue to implement and develop AI technology for them to achieve global success." Bing said. Bing added, "AI and machine learning are the most transformative technologies in the world today, and they are significant in enhancing customer experience and improving enterprise productivity. In the future, Shoplazza will continue to work with AWS to integrate machine learning from recommendations to product search, content understanding, merchant selection, eCommerce risk control, and other business operations. Technological innovation will solve the merchants' struggles during store operations." As a globally leading eCommerce SaaS platform, Shoplazza will continue to dedicate itself to providing innovative solutions and sharing successful practices for market expansion. At the same time, Shpplazza will continue to stay "Open to More", perfect its partner ecosystem and collaborate with AWS to empower cross-border merchants to "Start Anywhere" with all-in-one solutions for going global through advanced technology, product innovation and modern data strategy. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shoplazza-shared-innovative-practices-in-the-age-of-ai-at-aws-summit-china-301657417.html SOURCE Shoplazza To provide tailored, precise solutions and bring the value of molecular imaging to patient care BARCELONA, Spain, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- United Imaging Healthcare (UIH), a global innovator in advanced medical imaging, debuts at the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) Congress from October 15-19, 2022, in Barcelona with its groundbreaking PET/CT, uEXPLORER. As the sponsor of EANM "22 Young Authors" Award, UIH takes on the responsibility of pushing forward the innovation of molecular imaging and nuclear medicine. The world's first total-body PET/CT, uEXPLORER is an ultra-high-resolution digital PET/CT with a 194cm axial PET field of view (FOV) that enables the entire body to be scanned in one bed position. The system offers total-body dynamic scanning, allows ultra-low patient dose, and produces ultra-high image resolution, changing how whole-body PET/CT imaging has traditionally been performed. "This disruptive technology is co-developed by UC Davis and UIH. As nuclear medicine and molecular imaging equipment is becoming more and more complex, we believe it is time to collaborate between industry and academia to quickly find tailored, precise solutions and bring the value of molecular imaging to oncology, cardiology and neuroscience for high quality patient care," emphasized Prof. Li Hongdi, CTO of UIH and CEO of UIH America, at the satellite symposium. He also announced that together with Yale University and UC Davis, UIH is working on the next-generation human brain PET scanner, the NeuroeXplorer (NX), which will lead to dramatic expansions in the study of brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders. The symposium also featured speeches from Dr. Olivari Laura and Dr. Doraku Joniada, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiometabolic Therapy IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Negrar di Valpolicella (VR), Hospital Negrar, Italy. As one of the most advanced centers for oncological treatment, Negrar introduced its first digital PET/CT, the uMI 780 from UIH, in June of this year. "Our treatment decisions are steered by the information provided by the medical device. So finding the ideal equipment was important for us, since it would be our first digital PET/CT in our center," stressed Dr. Olivari Laura. "I remember that when we took a close look at UIH's PET/CT, we were aware immediately that it is a machine that could change our daily practices. This PET/CT is capable of responding to any kind of radiotracer being used in clinical or research practices, which sheds lights on studies like neurodegenerative disease, inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, etc.," added Dr. Doraku Joniada. UIH's AI-enabled MI products continue to power clinical and research studies. For example, based on the digital PET/CT uMI 780, UIH partnered with Sunway Medical Centre, a well-known private hospital in Malaysia, to advance molecular imaging solutions in cancer diagnosis. BAMF Health also installed its uEXPLORER this year and completed its first total-body prostate PET. UC Davis has shown how total-body PET imaging can assess the immunological response to COVID-19 infections. In the past 11 years, UIH has achieved rapid growth. Fresh off the heels of its IPO, the company hit another landmark, shipping its 20,000th global installation recently. "Europe has a very mature healthcare market with fierce competition. We have put much investment in the European market. In 2019, for example, we established our subsidiary in Warsaw and now have a well-equipped local team including marketing, training, and after-sales service for hundreds of clients across Europe," highlighted Vice President of International Business and General Manager for Europe, Lukasz Mizerka. The EANM Annual Congress is the most valuable Nuclear Medicine Meeting worldwide which aims to improve public health and promote science and education. Each year, nearly 7,000 participants and 180 companies use the possibility to discuss the newest trends and findings in the field of Nuclear Medicine. About United Imaging Healthcare Founded in 2011, United Imaging Healthcare is dedicated to providing global customers with high-performance medical imaging products, radiotherapy equipment, life science instruments and intelligent digital solutions. With our mission, "To Bring Equal Healthcare for All" and our vision, "Leading Healthcare Innovation", UIH is committed to creating more value for our customers and constantly improving the global accessibility of high-end medical equipment and services through in-depth cooperation with hospitals, universities, research institutions, and industry partners. So far, UIH's products are serving over 9,600 hospitals and research institutions in 53 countries and regions worldwide, including China, the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, India, Southeast Asia, etc. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-imaging-healthcare-attends-european-association-of-nuclear-medicine-congress-with-uexplorer-the-worlds-first-total-body-petct-301657046.html SOURCE United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd. By Elizabeth Piper, Alistair Smout and William James LONDON (Reuters) -Rishi Sunak will become Britain's first prime minister of colour on Tuesday after he won the race to lead the Conservative Party, tasked with steering a deeply divided country through an economic downturn set to leave millions of people poorer. One of the wealthiest politicians in Westminster, Sunak, 42, will become the country's youngest leader in modern times - and its third in less than two months - as he takes over during one of the most turbulent eras in British political history. He replaces Liz Truss, who only lasted 44 days before she said she would resign, needing to restore stability to a country reeling from years of political and economic turmoil and seeking to lead a party that has fractured along ideological lines. He told his lawmakers in parliament on Monday that they faced an "existential crisis" and must "unite or die". He told the country it faced a "profound economic challenge". "We now need stability and unity, and I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together," he said. The multi-millionaire former hedge fund boss will be expected to make deep spending cuts to try to rebuild Britain's fiscal reputation, just as the country slides into one of the toughest downturns in decades, hit by the surging cost of energy and food. A recent mini budget by Truss, which triggered her downfall, pushed up borrowing costs and mortgage rates, and sent investors fleeing. British government bonds rallied aggressively in the run-up to Sunak's victory, and extended their gains on Monday. Sunak, who will be appointed prime minister by King Charles on Tuesday, will also have to work hard to hold Britain's dominant political party together after some accused him of treachery earlier this year when he resigned from the cabinet of former leader Boris Johnson, triggering his downfall too. Other Conservatives say he is too rich to understand the day-to-day economic pressures building in Britain, and worry whether he could ever win an election for a party that has been in power for 12 years. "I think this decision sinks us as a party for the next election," one Conservative lawmaker told Reuters on condition of anonymity. PERMA-CRISIS Britain has been locked in a state of perma-crisis ever since it voted in 2016 to leave the European Union, unleashing a battle at Westminster over the future of the country that remains unresolved to this day. Johnson, the face of the Brexit vote, led his party to a landslide victory in 2019, only to be driven out of office less than three years later after a series of scandals. His successor Truss lasted just over six weeks before she too was forced out. Historian and political biographer Anthony Seldon told Reuters that Sunak had the most difficult economic and political inheritance of any British leader since World War Two, and would be constrained by the mistakes made by his predecessor Truss. "There is no leeway on him being anything other than extraordinarily conservative and cautious," he said. He added that Sunak had shown composure when he became finance minister just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit Britain. Amid the turmoil, polls show that Britons want an election. The Conservatives do not have to hold one until January 2025. Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the opposition Labour Party, said the Conservatives had "crowned Rishi Sunak as prime minister without him saying a single word about how he would run the country and without anyone having the chance to vote." Labour has held record leads in opinion polls of more than 25 points ever since Truss's budget sent shockwaves through financial markets. Economists and investors welcomed Sunak's appointment, but questioned whether he can tackle the country's finances while holding the party's warring factions together. Many Conservative lawmakers appeared relieved that the party had at least selected a new leader quickly. Penny Mordaunt, who lost out to Sunak, said his election was an "historic one and shows, once again, the diversity and talent of our party," she said. "Rishi has my full support." Veteran lawmaker Crispin Blunt told Reuters after Sunak met lawmakers in a room in parliament: "The party will remain united, not least because we don't have a choice. In there, he showed a capacity to marshal the whole party." INDIAN ORIGIN The first real test of unity will come on Oct. 31, when finance minister Jeremy Hunt - the fourth person in the role in four months - is due to present a budget to plug a black hole in the public finances that is expected to have ballooned to up to 40 billion pounds. The task will be helped by a recovery in the bond market, with the 30-year gilt, which suffered unprecedented losses after the mini-budget on Sept. 23, now recovered to levels close to those seen early on that day. Sunak's appointment is another first for Britain - he will become the country's first prime minister of Indian origin. His family migrated to Britain in the 1960s, a period when many people from Britain's former colonies moved to the country to help it rebuild after World War Two. Sunak attended Oxford University and Stanford University where he met his wife Akshata Murthy, whose father is Indian billionaire N. R. Narayana Murthy, founder of outsourcing giant Infosys Ltd. Among the many messages of support, he received "warmest congratulations" from Indian leader Narendra Modi. (Writing by Kate Holton, additional reporting by Sachin Ravikumar, Muvija M, William James, Paul Sandle, James Davey, Andy Bruce; Editing by Angus MacSwan, Hugh Lawson and Toby Chopra) Eight Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drones and more than 150 airmen have started a yearlong deployment to southern Japan and will begin surveillance flights within weeks, according to U.S. and Japanese officials. Members of the 319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron held an assumption-of-command ceremony Sunday at Kanoya Air Base to kick off their mission, U.S. Forces Japan spokesman Air Force Maj. Thomas Barger said by phone Monday. Kanoya is a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force base near the southern tip of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japans four main islands. The drones will start flying from Kanoya sometime after the end of this month, a Kyushu Defense Bureau spokesman said by phone Monday. Its customary in Japan for some government officials to speak to the media without identifying themselves. This strategic location combined with the MQ-9s capability will allow the Japan-U.S. alliance to see and monitor vast areas, the 319ths commander, Lt. Col. Alexander Kelly, told airmen, local officials and members of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, in a video of the ceremony posted online by the Department of Defense. The newly activated unit traces its lineage to the 319th Fighter Squadron of World War II. It was inactivated in 1977 as the 319th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., said 374th Operations Group commander Col. Jun Oh in another video of the ceremony. The Kanoya deployment will share technology to help the U.S. and Japan overcome mutual challenges, he said. MQ-9s will support Japanese and U.S. intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance priorities throughout the Indo-Pacific, he said. The Reaper is primarily a surveillance aircraft but can carry an inventory of weapons, including Hellfire missiles and Paveway laser-guided bombs, according to the Air Force. The Reapers at Kanoya will be configured for surveillance and cant be equipped with weapons, according to a document from Japans Ministry of Defense posted on the Kanoya city website. Kanoya Mayor Shigeru Nakanishi signed off on the drone deployment in July, citing its importance to national defense, despite residents concerns about potential accidents or crimes involving U.S. personnel. Kanoya is already home to P-3C Orion maritime surveillance planes and UH-60J Black Hawk and SH-60K Seahawk helicopters of the Maritime Self-Defense Force. U.S. aircraft such as Marine Corps KC-130 tankers and Osprey tiltrotor aircraft visit the base during training. The Reapers, made by General Atomics of San Diego, can carry 3,000 pounds of ordnance and first saw combat in Afghanistan in 2007 and in Iraq the following year. The U.S. has employed them on numerous missions throughout the Middle East and Africa. The Air Force began deploying RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance drones to Misawa Air Base in northern Japan in 2014 and has flown them out of Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo in recent years. The Navy deployed its MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance drones to Misawa last year and to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, south of Hiroshima, this year. WASHINGTON A crash involving a pair of cargo vehicles during a training exercise near the headquarters of the Pennsylvania National Guard left one soldier dead and three others injured, Guard officials said Monday. The accident occurred Saturday at Fort Indiantown Gap in southeastern Pennsylvania. The installation, about 25 miles northeast of Harrisburg, is a National Guard training center and serves as the headquarters of the Pennsylvania National Guard. The states Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is also headquartered at Fort Indiantown Gap. Officials at the installation said the troops were aboard two cargo trucks, known as Light Medium Tactical Vehicles, as they conducted a supply mission exercise between ranges in a remote part of the training area. Spc. Mackenzie L. Shay, 20, was killed in the crash. Shay was an Army petroleum supply specialist assigned to the 28th Infantry Divisions G Company in the 128th Brigade Support Battalion. Three other troops were injured but not seriously, Guard officials said. They were all treated and released at a hospital in Hershey about 10 miles to the southwest. Our thoughts and prayers are with Spc. Mackenzie Shays family, friends and colleagues after this tragic accident, Army Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, adjutant general of the Pennsylvania National Guard, said in a statement. Our priority right now is taking care of the family and soldiers, ensuring they have all the resources they need during this critical time. The training accident is under investigation. The base, formerly known as the Edward Martin Military Reservation, was built in 1931 and later demobilized close to 500,000 U.S. troops following the end of World War II before they returned to civilian life. In July, Fort Indiantown Gap welcomed its first cadet class from the Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy, an educational program designed to help at-risk youth as part of the National Guards Youth ChalleNGe Program. The academy is based at the installation. The 18th Airborne Corps is testing a policy that would prevent soldiers from being released from in-patient mental health facilities on holidays or weekends, leaders of the Army unit said. The policy is designed to better support a soldiers recovery effort and help prevent suicide attempts, said Command Sgt. Maj. T.J. Holland, the corps top enlisted leader. It also includes a contract on what the soldier, the soldiers leaders and the medical provider are responsible for when the soldier is released. What we've seen when we release a soldier before a weekend or holiday is they go back to the isolation area and they start revisiting those thoughts and practicing those same behaviors that brought them to the dark place before they sought help, he said. The policy is one of two coming to the corps that aim to make certain that soldiers who have been hospitalized for suicidal ideations are supported as they reintegrate into their daily life, Holland said. A second requirement will have each soldier take part in a reintegration event within 24 hours of being released from a hospital. The event could be anything that the soldier enjoys doing, such as a cooking class or another activity that the person identifies as important to him or her. We need to find out what drives that soldier to serve and why they enjoy life. Those are the things we should seek out as far as a reintegration event, Holland said. The proposed policies come after the military has spent years grappling with an increasing rate of suicide deaths among its troops amid outcry from members of Congress and others. The Defense Department has spent millions of dollars in recent years on multiple efforts to attempt to understand what causes service members to harm or kill themselves. The department has taken some steps to increase troops access to mental health professionals, combat the longstanding stigma that seeking help was a sign of weakness and better train its troops on firearms safety, defense officials have said. Among the efforts, the Pentagon was mandated by Congress to create an independent review committee to study the issue. The committee began work in May and is expected to produce a comprehensive report on military suicide by February. Since 2018, the Defense Department has been required to release an annual report on suicide in the military to better understand the scope of the losses and document prevention efforts. The latest annual report was released last week and showed the Armys efforts to prevent suicides among its ranks stagnated last year as the other service branches saw a decline in self-inflicted deaths. The Pentagon reported an active-duty suicide rate of about 24 suicide deaths per 100,000 service members for 2021, down from about 29 self-inflicted deaths per 100,000 troops in 2020. But the Army rate remained at about 36 deaths per 100,000 soldiers, which is the same as 2020, according to the annual report. The new policies being tested by the 18th Airborne Corps will impact roughly 92,000 soldiers who are assigned to the unit at 13 installations. What I want to do is create the environment where the leadership acknowledges their responsibility my responsibility that I have to care for my soldiers, Holland said. I feel very passionately and strongly that we're going to impact a lot of soldiers lives. We're going to get into the prevention. Should a soldier miss an appointment and cant be reached, Holland said the unit will use an Army policy change made in 2020 to begin efforts to locate the soldier quickly. The change was enacted alongside the December 2020 release of the Fort Hood Independent Review Committees report that found there were no established procedures for first-line supervisors when a soldier fails to report. Former Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy appointed the committee after Fort Hood soldier Spc. Vanessa Guillen went missing in April 2020 and was found dead more than two months later. It was apparent to the [committee] that [noncommissioned officers] had little guidance on how to handle or even what facts should be considered suspicious circumstances, according to the committees report. The committee reviewed several cases for its report, including that of Sgt. Elder Fernandes, who was released from Fort Hoods inpatient program for suicidal ideations in August 2020 and died by suicide less than a week later. Upon release from the hospital, a member of his unit left him on the doorstep of a friends house, and he was never seen alive again. While the unit had made some attempts to reach Fernandes, it was 48 hours later when Army Criminal Investigation Division agents were contacted. The Armys missing-persons policy now focuses on bringing in law enforcement during the first 48 hours to reach soldiers who might be at risk of harming themselves. Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston tasked Holland in June with reviewing how to improve policy regarding the time that soldiers are released from in-patient mental health care after statistics showed the propensity for self-harm can increase during that time. Holland said he presented his plan to Grinston in August as part a monthly meeting of the Armys top command sergeants major to discuss prevention of harmful behaviors. As the corps tests these changes, Grinston said hes watching to see if it reduces suicides and improves the environment for soldiers. Thats the benefit of our monthly meetings on prevention: we can try something and if it works, try it somewhere else. Then we really have a solid case for Army implementation, Grinston said. To get the policy on release dates to move forward, Holland said hes coordinated with Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg, N.C., and the Defense Health Agency, which manages military hospitals. For soldiers who are treated at off-base facilities, Womack has agreed to pay for their stay to be extended should a release date fall before a weekend or holiday, he said. Craig Bryan is a clinical psychologist and Air Force veteran whose book Rethinking Suicide: Why Prevention Fails and How We Can Do Better has been used by senior Army leaders to help shape changes in prevention efforts. He said the time after someone is discharged from a hospital is a crucial time for the persons recovery. In the month immediately following inpatient discharge, it's actually the highest risk period for suicide for anyone engaged in the health care system. The risk of suicide is anywhere from 100 to 300 times higher in the first month post discharge. The first seven days matter the most, Bryan told a conference of commander sergeants major during a June meeting of the Armys top enlisted personnel. At the time that a soldier is released from a hospital, Holland said there now will be a contract signed that outlines responsibility to make certain that every element of support is transferred with the soldier. Follow-up appointments with their care provider will be scheduled within 24 hours of leaving a hospital and again at about the 10-day mark. Fort Campbell, Ky., which is under the 18th Airborne Corps command, already has a policy in place not to release soldiers before a holiday or weekend. The reintegration event policy will be new for other units within the corps. For that, Holland said he had to ensure units can access existing funding through the Armys recreation programs. The corps now has two soldiers receiving care at in-patient facilities and Holland said they will test the policy changes with these soldiers as they are released. From here, Grinston said hes watching for a positive effect to determine how and when to implement the policies across the entire Army. If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, dial 988 and then press 1 for the military and veteran crisis line, or text 838255. The U.S. and Spain will soon launch negotiations on a new defense pact for an expanded naval presence in Spain, while elsewhere in Europe, the Army plans to set up additional units by next year, according to officials. Spains foreign minister, Angeles Moreno, told the countrys parliament last week that a bilateral defense agreement with the U.S. must be updated to allow for an expansion at the U.S. Navys base in Rota. Moreno said negations on the pact would soon begin, Spanish media reported Wednesday. The talks are connected to the June announcement at the NATO Summit in Madrid that the U.S. will increase the number of destroyers based in Spain from four to six. While an official timeline for the ships arrival in Spain hasnt been set, U.S. military commanders have put 2025 or 2026 as target years. Some other U.S. military moves announced in Madrid are running up against lengthier timelines. Upcoming Army unit additions in Europe include a short-range air defense battalion, engineer brigade headquarters and short-range air defense battery, all of which are expected to be activated in the summer or fall of next year, U.S. Army Europe and Africa said Friday. Earlier this month in the German town of Sembach, the command stood up the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, which now oversees multiple artillery units based in Europe. And in September, the 95th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion was activated in Baumholder, Germany, to support logistics efforts on the Continent, USAREUR-AF said. The expansion of the U.S. military mission in Europe coincides with Russias war on Ukraine, which has ushered in a wave of American reinforcements. There are now roughly 100,000 U.S. troops operating in Europe, drawn from a mix of permanently based and rotational units. That is up from about 80,000 before Russias late February invasion. This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, May 18, 1967. It is republished unedited in its original form. Tom Dreiling one of the two Stars and Stripes correspondents mentioned in the article was on patrol with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines when they were ambushed by North Vietnamese Army forces. A claymore mine killed the platoon leader just minutes after Dreiling took a photo of him. When the article was published originally, none of Dreilings photographs ran with it. To conform with embed policies, Stars and Stripes is not publishing any photographs identifying the platoon leader. CON THIEN, Vietnam U.S. air strikes and artillery opened a path Tuesday to embattled Marines who were pinned flat for two days by North Vietnamese mortar attacks and human wave charges near the DMZ. Many Marines lay wounded for nearly 40 hours before medevac helicopters were able to land. In the battle which started Saturday four miles south of the DMZ, the Marines lost 26 killed and 232 wounded. Marines said they killed more than 200 crack North Vietnamese troops, including many who charged a Marine perimeter before dawn Monday near Con Thien. The North Viets shouted in perfect English, "Cease fire, we are Marines." The Marine company had pulled back to a churchyard after it met stiff Communist resistance after a sweep north along Route 561 toward Con Thien. Reports from two Pacific Stars & Stripes correspondents with the Marines said the U.S. company was pinned down by heavy mortar fire all day Monday and part of Tuesday. The North Vietnamese, believed to be from the 812th North Vietnamese Army Regt., mortared the churchyard each time the Marines tried to evacuate the wounded. Correspondent Ray Belford reported that 11 Marines were killed and 77 wounded at the position Monday. Belford said the North Vietnamese were cutdown within 10 yards of the U.S. lines. The Communists struck again Tuesday as U.S. helicopters tried for a second day to ferry out wounded Marines. One helicopter was shot down as it approached the perimeter, but its crewmen were rescued. Air strikes and artillery cleared the North Vietnamese from the area by Tuesday morning and the Marines were pulled out. A Marine combat correspondent was reported killed. From Con Thien, S&S correspondent Tom Dreiling reported other Leathernecks were fighting pitched battles with a North Vietnamese force surrounded by companies from four Marine battalions. Dreiling said a patrol of the 1st Bn., 9th Marines, ran into heavy enemy machine gun fire when it moved down Route 561 Tuesday morning to pick up bodies of two Marines. A few hours later the U.S. troops fought for three hours to drive back a Communist force who fired mortars and claymore mines from bunkers near the road. The command post at Con Thien was hit by mortars, recoilless rifle fire and artillery Monday night. At nearby Gio Linn, 2 miles below the DMZ, the North Vietnamese launched mortar attacks Monday and Tuesday. A command bunker was hit but no one inside was hurt. Sixteen Marines at the two bases were wounded. After the artillery attack the Marines fired on two North Viet trucks near the Communist gun positions north of the Ly Ly River and one of the trucks was destroyed. Meanwhile, in Operation Union, 35 miles south of Da Nang, 5th Marines with air and artillery support, killed 22 North Vietnamese in a company that mortared the Marine position Monday afternoon. Six Marines were killed and 33 wounded. In another action Monday, 14 Marines were wounded when a U.S. 2 1/2-ton truck hit a large mine while carrying Leathernecks on a mine-sweeping mission along Highway 1, 22 miles southwest of Hue. (Tribune News Service) The World War II fleet submarine USS Bowfin will reopen to the public at Pearl Harbor on Saturday after returning from dry-dock maintenance. The 80-year-old submarine serves as an exhibit at the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum. In September it was temporarily closed and towed from Pearl Harbor to Pacific Shipyards International at Honolulu Harbor for scheduled dry-dock maintenance. Shipyard workers cleared the sub's hull of sea growth and removed old paint. After a series of inspections, the submarine's superstructure was repaired and reinstalled, and the hull got a fresh paint job. "We are very excited for the return of the USS Bowfin to our campus and look forward to reopening her to the public," said Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association Executive Director Chuck Merkel. "We want to thank our museum visitors for their patience and understanding while the Bowfin was away. The inspections and repairs that were completed are essential to ensure the submarine remains safe and suitable for public display and will allow the Bowfin to tell her story far into the future." Its previous dry-dock maintenance was completed in 2004. Christened on Dec. 7, 1942, one year after the Japanese navy's surprise attack on Oahu, Bowfin earned the nickname the "Pearl Harbor Avenger." Upon commissioning on May 1, 1943, it conducted nine war patrols in the Pacific theater during World War II where it targeted Japanese shipping lanes. The war took the Bowfin and its crew to the waters of the Philippines, Vietnam and the home islands of Japan itself. It was decommissioned in 1947 but reactivated to serve during the Korean War. Afterward, the Bowfin served as a Navy Reserve training sub until it was finally decommissioned for good in 1971 and donated to the Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association in 1979. The vessel opened to the public in April 1981 and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986. The Bowfin is one of the best-preserved remaining Balao-class World War II submarines. It was used in 1987 as a floating set to portray three different submarines in the television miniseries "War and Remembrance." (c)2022 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit at www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Con Thien Valley, Vietnam, May 16, 1967: Alpha Company of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, supported by tanks, moves out on a platoon-sized sweep. Attacked by North Vietnamese Army troops, the Marines suffered several casualties. Read the article published about the ambush and see more of Dreiling's images here. 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. Some assignments we digitize give us poignant glimpses into what it means to cover a war, and how survival sometimes can come at the cost of somebody else's life. The world might not want to hear it, but Kim Jong Un might be right. There will never be such a thing as our abandonment of the nuclear weapons or denuclearization, Kim declared last month. The position of our state as a nuclear nation has become irreversible. Decades of pursuing the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula have failed. After North Korea last month declared itself a nuclear weapons state, its time for the U.S. and its allies to accept this reality and learn to live with it. Thats the first step to reducing the risk of accidental confrontation that could lead to all-out nuclear war. The idea is reaching the mainstream. Jeffrey Lewis, a leading nuclear weapons expert, has called on Washington to contemplate the unthinkable and accept North Koreas nuclear statehood, citing the increasing risks of a flashpoint as South Korea and Japan talk up first-strike capability. Washington should think about the return were seeing on our stubborn continued insistence on denuclearization as the desired near-term end-state, agrees Ankit Panda, a senior fellow in the nuclear policy program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. We have a far more acute interest on the Korean Peninsula, which is averting the use of nuclear weapons by North Korea. A rethink is needed. For one thing, the U.S. administration already has shown an admirable willingness to abandon the failed policies of previous administrations. From ending the war in Afghanistan, casting off decades of naive Democratic Party policy on China or deescalating the War on Drugs with a reform of cannabis policy, President Joe Biden has discarded ideas he previously promoted. And to describe the goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as a bust would be generous. Beyond condemning millions to poverty after 30 years, the U.S. has little to show for its punishing economic sanctions. Pyongyang has built itself a formidable arsenal: enough fissile material for dozens of nuclear bombs, and a demonstrated capacity for its missiles to hit U.S. bases on Guam or the American mainland itself. More nuclear tests are feared soon, which would be the first in five years. Kim said last month he wont budge even after 100 years of sanctions. Absent a very dangerous policy of regime change, Kim is going to remain in charge, and in any event doesnt have a way to climb down from nuclear weapons. The window for military action against North Korea closed during the Clinton administration, when the U.S. considered a preemptive strike. It chose negotiation instead, which Pyongyang used as cover to speed development of its nuclear and missile programs. North Koreas new nuclear doctrine, unveiled in September, has further upped the ante, pledging automatic nuclear strikes on its enemies if its command-and-control leadership is threatened. Such a doctrine is a logical reaction to South Korea talking up its ability to deal a fatal blow to the Norths leadership, Panda says. Indeed, far from the stereotype of the crazy North Korean leader, Kim is being perfectly logical in seeking to keep his regime in one piece. Russias invasion of Ukraine has put that in stark relief. Ukraine famously agreed to give up the nuclear weapons on its territory (though they were not under its control) after the fall of the Soviet Union, in exchange for security guarantees from the U.S., U.K. and Russia. Time has shown how valuable those assurances were. Iraqs Saddam Hussein and Libyas Moammar Gadhafi are other examples of leaders who abandoned their nuclear pursuits, only to meet gruesome ends. Kim could not be sure of any guarantee that Washington might give in return for denuclearization especially when its U.S. policy that has been most inconsistent. Flipping between dovish Democratic and hawkish Republican positions on Pyongyang (or in the case of Donald Trumps administration, between fire and fury and love letters in the space of a few years) has resulted in head-snappingly inconsistent carrot-and-stick approaches. Meanwhile, through a cycle of bait-and-switch negotiations and threats, Kim has managed to keep the U.S. and South Korea distracted enough to complete his nuclear state. Hes on his fourth South Korean leader and third American president. Hes less than half Bidens age; time is on his side, assuming he can avoid the heart problems that felled his father and grandfather. Of course, there are significant risks. Pyongyang has proven not to be a trustworthy negotiating partner. Being seen to reward its obstinacy might embolden rogue regimes elsewhere. Even a tacit acceptance of North Koreas position could also lead to another bout of proliferation. The South Korean public is already roundly in favor of also possessing nuclear weapons. Japan is understandably far more opposed but how might it react surrounded by four nuclear-armed states? But doggedly pursuing a failed policy that has only become more unrealistic over the years isnt getting the U.S. and its allies anywhere and the risk of accidental confrontation is only running higher. Gearoid Reidy is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Japan and the Koreas. He previously led the breaking news team in North Asia, and was the Tokyo deputy bureau chief. CAIRO Sudan's ruling military sacked a commander in the southern Blue Nile province after two days of fierce tribal clashes there last week killed at least 230 people and injured 250 others, the army announced Monday. The unrest added to the woes of a country mired in civil conflict and political chaos. Fighting in Blue Nile, which borders Ethiopia and South Sudan, reignited earlier this month over a land dispute, pitting the Hausa tribe, with origins across West Africa, against the Berta people. The tensions escalated Wednesday and Thursday in the town of Wad el-Mahi on the border with Ethiopia. The violence comes ahead of the first anniversary of Sudan's military coup that upended the nation's short-lived transition to democracy. It has also drawn criticism of the powerful-military, with a Sudanese pro-democracy group accusing the ruling generals of not protecting ethnic groups in the province. Sudan's military spokesman, Col. Nabil Abdalla, said that Maj. Gen. Rabei Abdalla Adam was named as the commander for Blue Nile, replacing Maj. Gen. Ramzi Babaker who was removed from his post over the weekend. The appointment was a part of the military's efforts to "address the regrettable security events," the spokesman said. The military also established a fact-finding mission to investigate the clashes, Abdalla said. Fath Arrahman Bakheit, the head of the Health Ministry in Blue Nile, said Monday the death toll, including scores of women and children, had risen to at least 230. He said the casualty numbers became clearer late Saturday after the first humanitarian and medical convoy managed to reach Wad el-Mahi. Local authorities announced a nighttime curfew in the town, and deployed enforcements to the area to prevent further unrest. In Damazin, the provincial capital of Blue Nile, protesters angered over the clashes stormed the headquarters of the local government and a military facility on Sunday, local media reported. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said protesters blocked the main highway linking Damazin to the capital of Khartoum. It said three more people were reportedly killed during the protests, which spawned skirmishes. OCHA said the violence has spread to other areas including the towns of Geisan and Kurmuk, where protesters burned down government buildings. Pro-democracy groups have called for mass anti-coup demonstrations on Tuesday in Khartoum and elsewhere across Sudan to mark the coup anniversary. The military takeover removed a Western-backed government that ruled as part of a deal between the military and civilians following the removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in a popular uprising in April 2019. Internationally backed talks between Sudan's pro-democracy movement and the military made progress in recent weeks in efforts toward setting up a civilian-led government to be in charge through elections, which are to be held within 24 months, according to a draft by the Sudanese Bar Association, which has mediated the talks. On Monday, more than a dozen countries, including the United States, Britain, France and other European nations, urged Sudanese leaders in a joint statement to "prioritize national interest over narrow political calculations to engage constructively in dialogue." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Monday on the anniversary of the coup that the U.S. honors the people of Sudan for demanding a democratic government. "The Sudanese people have shown themselves as unshakeable in their aspiration for a civilian-led government that shows respect for their dignity and is responsive to their needs," he said. CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa A Japanese court sentenced an American base worker on Okinawa to a 1 year suspended prison sentence Friday after he pleaded guilty to importing liquid cannabis by mail. Joseph Castro, 34, of Ginowan, was charged with violating the countrys Cannabis Control Act and Customs Law. The charge was based on a package intercepted Nov. 9 by Japanese customs officials at the Kawasaki Higashi post office in Kanagawa prefecture, a spokeswoman from Naha District Public Prosecutors Office told Stars and Stripes by phone Monday. The package contained 1.26 grams, or about the weight of a jelly bean, of liquid cannabis, the spokeswoman said. The Naha District Public Prosecutors Office spokeswoman confirmed Castro is an employee of a U.S. base on Okinawa but declined to say which one. Castro pleaded guilty Friday in Naha District Court, according to a report Sunday in the Okinawa Times newspaper. Castro conspired with an unidentified individual to ship the cannabis on Nov. 2 through Los Angeles International Airport and then Narita International Airport near Tokyo, the spokeswoman said. Liquid cannabis is a concentrated extract made by soaking marijuana plants in a solvent like alcohol. Police in Urasoe city forwarded the case against Castro to prosecutors without arresting him, the spokeswoman said. A Urasoe police spokesman declined comment on the case. No further information on Castro was available from the Naha prosecutors office and Marine Corps Installations Pacific did not return an email seeking further information Monday. Judge Tetsuro Sato suspended Castros sentence for three years, meaning Castro will likely not serve jail time unless convicted again in Japan, a spokeswoman from Naha District Court told Stars and Stripes by phone Monday. Some government officials in Japan speak to the media on condition of anonymity as a requirement of their employment. CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa Takeharu Onagas bid to become the next mayor of Naha city, based on his opposition to plans for a U.S. military airfield elsewhere, failed at the ballot box Sunday. Onaga, 35, the son of former Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga, lost to his fathers former secretary Satoru Chinen, 59, by just over 10,000 votes out of 119,423 cast, according to the Naha city website Monday. Chinen served as vice mayor of Naha city from 2015 until he resigned this year to run for mayor, a campaign spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Oct. 17. Onaga was building a political career similar to his fathers. He previously served on the Naha City Council and Okinawa Prefectural Assembly, according to his campaign website. He ran his mayoral campaign on a platform to stop construction of a new runway being built into Oura Bay at Camp Schwab that will one day replace Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, even though neither base is in Naha, Okinawas capital city. His father as governor also opposed the plan to move the Marine aircraft north from urban Ginowan to rural Henoko. Takeshi Onaga served as Naha mayor from 2000 until his 2014 election as governor, an office he held until his death from pancreatic cancer at age 67 in August 2018. Chinen focused his campaign on his eight years experience as vice mayor and providing support and subsidies for children, students, new parents, the elderly and social workers, according to his candidate bio on the Naha city website. Naha city is in need, and we cant wait, Chinen said in a video posted to his Twitter account early Monday morning, shortly after victory was declared. I would like to work hard from tomorrow to meet the expectations of the citizens. Serious concerns over critically low water levels in the Mississippi River system led port authorities to limit vessel drafts near a key export hub, potentially adding a further headache for shippers already contending with delays and skyrocketing costs. The depth of ships drafts, or the distance between the waterline and the deepest point of the boat, are now limited to 41 feet upriver of the port of Baton Rouge, the nations eighth-largest by tonnage, the U.S. Coast Guard said late Friday. Thats down from 45 feet, a level at which vessels are encountering problems as spreading drought in the U.S. midwest dries up the waterway, a critical freight artery. The move is an attempt to head off possible safety hazards as shippers contend with a backlog of barges and ocean vessels tasked with picking up and delivering core commodities such as grains, petroleum, coal, metals and fertilizer. The Mississippi typically moves more than 500 million tons of freight a year valued at more than $100 billion, according to government data. As of Saturday morning, there were four waterway closures on the river, the Coast Guard said, with a queue of more than 2,700 barges and vessels waiting at points in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky. On Friday, the Coast Guard said there were more than 1,800 barges and vessels stuck along the river because of low water levels. The new draft limits apply to vessels moving to and from facilities upstream of mile marker 228, which includes Exxon Mobils massive Baton Rouge oil refinery, one of the nations largest. A shallower draft may also limit how much cargo can be put on ships carrying corn and soybeans from the U.S. to buyers around the world, further increasing the cost to export crops during the harvest season. The situation may get worse the current forecast is calling for water levels to steeply decline further, according to the Coast Guard. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been dredging various sections of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to open up the channels. Diego Lasarte contributed to this report. ___ 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. ATLANTA Mold reports in barracks rooms at Fort Stewart skyrocketed in the weeks since thousands of the installations soldiers returned to the coastal Georgia Army post after a rapid deployment to Europe, forcing officials there to take a more intense look at what is causing the spike in fungus growth. Since late July, soldiers at Fort Stewart and its smaller offshoot Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah have filed some 1,063 work orders for mold growth in barracks rooms, according to data provided by post officials. In the previous nine months, only about 120 such mold reports were filed to Fort Stewarts Public Works directorate, the data showed. That rapid increase in mold reports amid southeast Georgias swampy summer months convinced Fort Stewart leaders to take a more methodical approach to dealing with the problem, said Bill McGovern, a public works technical engineer at Fort Stewart. Instead of simply going and cleaning up the mold, now were assessing what was the root cause of the mold colonization or infestation, [and] were using better cleaners, McGovern, who leads Fort Stewarts mold response teams, said Friday. All of that, and really focusing on the education aspect of it for barracks managers, facilities managers, our mold team getting [away from] This is how weve always done this, and moving to, This is how were going to educate people and use simple problem-solving steps to go ahead and get to the root cause and treat more than just the symptoms. Mold reports flooded into DPW as thousands of soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division filed back to Fort Stewart beginning in early August after their near no-notice emergency deployment to Europe after Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, McGovern said. Many of those soldiers returned to rooms filled with mold, which grew unchecked in their empty rooms while they were away, he admitted. McGovern pledged Fort Stewart officials would work harder in the future to enter unoccupied rooms including those of soldiers deployed overseas or for training throughout the U.S. more often to check for mold growth. Ideally, he said, someone would enter those rooms every three to four days. The installation has also begun outfitting rooms on the installation with portable dehumidifiers, placing more than 2,500 in rooms so far, he said. Mold growth in barracks at Fort Stewart have made national headlines in recent weeks as soldiers shared photos on popular social media platforms of moldy barracks walls, ceilings and personal belongings, spurring 3rd Infantry Division officials last month to declare a mold stand-down day for several units to discuss soldiers moldy barracks rooms. While the issue has garnered Fort Stewart media attention, officials there said the issue was not on the scale of the moldy barracks at Fort Bragg, N.C., where officials made a sudden decision in the summer to condemn 13 aging barracks buildings and to move the roughly 1,200 soldiers living in them. Barracks issues have the attention of the services top leaders, Army Sec. Christine Wormuth has insisted multiple times in recent weeks. She pledged last month to boost the Armys about $1 billion annual barracks budget for new construction, renovations and annual upkeep, admitting the service had underinvested in its barracks for years. This month, Wormuth ordered Army-wide inspections of all its barracks and offices spaces worldwide for problems including mold. Fort Stewart officials have begun preparations to carry out Wormuths orders, said Lt. Col. Matt Fontaine, a spokesman for the Armys 3rd Infantry Division, which is headquartered at Fort Stewart. On Friday, Peter Hoffman, the civilian aid to the Army secretary for coastal Georgia, toured one of Fort Stewarts barracks where mold problems have been reported. Hoffman, a retired Army colonel, said he was pleased with the mold response efforts that he saw Friday and would report to Wormuth with his observations and recommendations. It's not an easy solution. It's not an easy fix, Hoffman told reporters after visiting the barracks. We have old barracks, we have weather here in this region that would lead to mold growth. And so it has to be taken care of in a number of ways, and [I] saw today that, that is just what's happening here. Fort Bragg completed its efforts last week to remove the 1,200 soldiers formerly living in its condemned 1970s-era Smoke Bomb Hill barracks, which will now be torn down or refurbished during the coming years. However, Fort Stewart has not moved any soldiers out of any mold-infested rooms on post, Fontaine said Friday. Like Fort Bragg, most of Fort Stewarts mold problems have occurred in 1970s-era buildings known as Volunteer Army barracks, or VOLAR, which included dated designs and infrastructure that do not meet current service building standards. Those VOLAR buildings on Fort Stewart are scheduled to be renovated during the next decade, according to Col. Manny Ramirez, Fort Stewarts garrison commander. Installation officials have also sought additional funds in the coming years to build new barracks buildings, Ramirez said. Since the Sept. 12 mold stand down, DPW mold teams have found 667 cases in barracks rooms, remedied 515, and 152 cases remain open, according to the Fort Stewart data. Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield have about 6,700 barracks rooms, of which about 5,700 are occupied, Fontaine said. None of the rooms in which soldiers were living had reached the worst levels of mold contamination a Level 3 outbreak with more than 25 square feet of mold growth, McGovern said. Most of the rooms were categorized as Level 1 mold growth, meaning they had less than 10 square feet of mold spread, he said. The rest of the occupied rooms at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield were classified as Level 2 contaminations, with 10 to 25 square feet of mold growth. McGovern said most Level 1 growth can be handled by soldiers, who have been given brief courses on mold remediation, which advises the use of hydrogen peroxide to kill small amounts of mold. In all, Fort Stewart has identified 10 cases of Level 3 growths in barracks rooms, which have all occurred in empty rooms, he said. Its a very small population that gets to the [Level 3], McGovern said. We've been very fortunate. We have not had an occupied room get up to that Level 3 theyve all been unoccupied rooms. Its important we get into those unoccupied rooms to see [because] if theyre left unattended, they will probably be a Level 1, 2, 3 fairly quickly. The key is to stop mold growth as quickly as possible and fix any infrastructure or other problems that contribute, like leaky pipes or problems with heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems, he said. Hoffman said his visit Friday alleviated some concerns that he had developed since Fort Stewart mold issues began making headlines last month, noting the Army had been dealing with such problems since he entered the service in the 1990s. He expressed confidence in leaderships response to the issue and endorsed officials pledges to find long-term solutions to moldy barracks rooms. Walking through the barracks, it's clear that we probably underinvested in our barracks over a long period of time, and that's being addressed over the coming years there's going to be a lot more investment, significant investment in fixing the barracks, but that's not going to happen overnight, Hoffman said. And in the meantime, everything that [I] saw today is going to help make sure the soldiers are taken care of and living in a safe and healthy environment. A group of 30 House liberals is urging President Joe Biden to dramatically shift his strategy on the Ukraine war and pursue direct negotiations with Russia, the first time prominent members of his own party have pushed him to change his approach to Ukraine. The letter, sent to the White House on Monday and obtained by The Washington Post, could create more pressure on Biden as he tries to sustain domestic support for the war effort, at a time when the region is heading into a potentially difficult winter and Republicans are threatening to cut aid to Ukraine if they retake Congress. In a letter led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the 30 Democrats call on Biden to pair the unprecedented economic and military support the United States is providing Ukraine with a "proactive diplomatic push, redoubling efforts to seek a realistic framework for a ceasefire." The Democrats are specifically concerned that the United States is not engaging in regular dialogue with Russia as part of its effort to end a protracted war that has caused thousands of deaths and displaced 13 million people. The Biden administration has been adamant that it is up to Kyiv whether and when to negotiate with Russia, arguing that Ukrainians as a free people should decide their fate. But some Russia experts say Moscow will only negotiate with the United States, a fellow superpower. The lawmakers say that opening must be seized given the war's spreading devastation, adding, "The alternative to diplomacy is protracted war, with both its attendant certainties and catastrophic and unknowable risks." The liberal Democrats note that the war's disastrous consequences are increasingly felt far beyond Ukraine, including elevated food and gas prices in the United States and spikes in the price of wheat, fertilizer and fuel that have created global food shortages, not to mention the danger of a nuclear attack by Moscow. White House spokesman John Kirby, responding to the lawmakers' letter, said the administration "appreciates their very thoughtful concerns" but reiterated that the Ukrainians must be central to any diplomatic overtures. "We're not going to have conversations with the Russian leadership without the Ukrainians being represented," Kirby said during a briefing with reporters. "Mr. (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy gets to determine because it's his country what success looks like and when to negotiate." He added, "We'd all like to see this war end today, and quite frankly it could end today if Mr. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin did the right thing and pulled his troops out." The lawmakers are at pains to differentiate themselves from the Republicans who are also challenging Biden's approach to Ukraine. Some conservatives are now questioning U.S. aid to Ukraine because of its cost and, in a few cases, voicing apparent sympathy for Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We are under no illusions regarding the difficulties involved in engaging Russia given its outrageous and illegal invasion of Ukraine," the Democrats' letter states. "If there is a way to end the war while preserving a free and independent Ukraine, it is America's responsibility to pursue every diplomatic avenue to support such a solution that is acceptable to the people of Ukraine." The letter was signed by some of the best-known and most outspoken liberal Democrats in Congress, including Reps. Jamie Raskin (Md.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Cori Bush (Mo.), Ro Khanna (Calif.) and Ilhan Omar (Minn.). For now, their position remains a minority in the Democratic Party, which has overwhelmingly supported Biden's denunciations of Russia and his spearheading of a global coalition to funnel massive support to Ukraine. Biden has framed the conflict as part of his broader view that the world is witnessing a historic confrontation between authoritarianism and democracy. Not even every member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus joined in Monday's call for a change in strategy. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) indicated he supported providing Ukraine enough aid and weapons to win the war outright. "The way to end a war? Win it quickly. How is it won quickly? By giving Ukraine the weapons to defeat Russia," Gallego wrote on Twitter on Monday. The liberals' appeal for a shift in strategy comes amid some of the most significant U.S.-Russian diplomatic engagement in some time, as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently talked with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, for the first time in months. The two spoke by phone Friday and again on Sunday at Shoigu's request, Austin wrote on Twitter. Despite Biden's success so far in rallying support for Ukraine, he now faces the prospect of cracks in the coalition as Europe heads into a difficult winter, gas prices remain high at home, Putin threatens nuclear actions and both sides appear to be digging in for the long, bloody haul. In the United States, most of the challenges to date have come from the right, as some conservatives question spending billions of dollars on the faraway war. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) who would be likely to become speaker if the Republicans retake the House on Nov. 8 signaled last week that a GOP-led house would oppose more aid to Ukraine. "I think people are going to be sitting in a recession, and they're not going to write a blank check to Ukraine," he told Punchbowl News. "They just won't do it." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), speaking Monday at an international summit on Russia's aggression against Ukraine, downplayed the possibility that U.S. aid to Ukraine would end if Republicans take the House. "I believe that the support for Ukraine and the people of Ukraine will not stop," Pelosi said, adding that "support for Ukraine is bipartisan, it is bicameral." But the liberals' letter suggests pressure may now start coming from the left as well albeit for different reasons creating a political pincer movement that would make it harder for the president to blame opposition to his Ukraine policy solely on Republicans. When asked how long the United States can be expected to pour billions into the war effort, Biden and his top aides frequently say, "as long as it takes." But privately, U.S. officials say neither Russia nor Ukraine is capable of winning the war outright, suggesting a fundamental change in dynamic would be required if the conflict is to end in the foreseeable future. For now, Biden's aides have ruled out the idea of pushing or even nudging Ukraine to the negotiating table, saying it is a matter of principle that nations get to decide their own fate. They say they do not know what the end of the war looks like or when it might happen, insisting that it is up to Kyiv. But a growing number of lawmakers and foreign policy experts are challenging that position, arguing that Russia will not take any negotiations seriously unless the United States is at the table, given its leadership of the West and its investment in Ukraine's war effort. "The risk of the strategy is it has no conception of an endgame," said George Beebe, director of grand strategy at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, adding, "It's a recipe for continuing this war." The Quincy Institute, which advocates for diplomatic solutions to international conflicts, is one of several groups that endorsed the liberal lawmakers' letter after seeing an early version. Behind the liberals' concern is the reality that the war only seems to be escalating. Russia last month illegally annexed four Ukrainian territories, a move condemned by more than 140 countries at the United Nations. Putin has also repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons, prompting Biden to warn that the world faces the most serious "prospect of Armageddon in 60 years." "President Biden said quite accurately that if present trends continue, we could be headed toward the most dangerous crisis we've faced since the Cuban missile crisis. The question then is, what do we do about that?" said Beebe, who served as director of the CIA's Russia analysis team and as special adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney. "Simply saying it's up to Ukraine to decide is abdicating the responsibility America's leaders have to safeguard the security in all of this." Congress so far has provided the White House with nearly all the money and weapons it has requested for Ukraine, but surveys suggest that public support for the war effort is softening. A Pew Research poll found that the share of Americans who are extremely or very concerned about a Ukrainian defeat fell from 55 percent in May to 38 percent in September. Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, 32 percent say the United States is providing too much support for the war, up from 9 percent in March. In all, the United States has authorized upward of $60 billion in aid to Ukraine. The Senate voted to finalize more than $40 billion in new military and humanitarian assistance in May, the largest investment in Ukraine thus far. All Democrats in both chambers supported that package, but signs of a small but notable GOP dissent were evident, as 57 of 212 House Republicans and 11 of 50 Senate Republicans voted against the aid. Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, said that neither Russian nor Ukrainian leaders are likely to agree to negotiated compromises right now. The United States has argued that Russia flagrantly violated the United Nations charter by invading its neighbor, which complicates any negotiations because it would put the burden on Washington to explain how any compromise respects the U.N. charter. Still, Haass, who has held various high-level diplomatic positions in the U.S. government, said it is up to the United States to define what success could look like and to outline acceptable outcomes. "One of the norms at stake is that territory is not to be acquired through the use of force. For those who favor the United States pushing for a deal, the burden is on them to explain how does the United States do that in a way that's consistent with that principle," Haass said. "At the end of the day, the United States cannot subcontract out its foreign policy to Ukraine or anybody else. We never do that." The letter's signatories indicated that for now they will still support Ukraine aid packages, but it remains unclear whether that would continue if Biden does not soon pursue a diplomatic track. "We agree with the administration's perspective that it is not America's place to pressure Ukraine's government regarding sovereign decisions," the letter says. "But as legislators responsible for the expenditure of tens of billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars in military assistance in the conflict, we believe such involvement in this war also creates a responsibility for the United States to seriously explore all possible avenues." (Tribune News Service) Its edible, the stuff being produced in Stephen Techtmanns lab. Or its meant to be. It doesnt smell bad, he said, a bit like a yeast extract or the Australian food spread Vegemite. But he hasnt tasted it. First, he wants to know its safe, free from anything that might be toxic. It is, after all, made from plastic. Techtmann, a microbiologist at Michigan Technological University, and collaborators from Michigan Tech and the University of Illinois, are in the midst of a project that seems half-miraculous: turning plastic waste into edible protein. It does kind of seem sci-fi to be able to say that were going to convert plastic into something that you can eat, Techtmann said. The secret ingredient is microbes that can feed on plastics component parts, including a substance that resembles synthetic crude oil. We would never want to feed plastic to people, Techtmann said, but we can use microorganisms to produce biomass or proteins using plastic as an input. And so what were trying to do with this is to take plastic, break it down, feed it to microorganisms and then recover those microbial cells as a food product. The organization interested in the technology is the U.S. Most of the funding, some $7.2 million, comes from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, better known as DARPA, whose past endeavors are at least partly responsible for the existence of the internet, GPS technology, self-driving cars and, on a less victorious note, the chemical defoliant Agent Orange. Microbes are Techtmanns specialty. Five years ago, he received a DARPA Young Faculty Award for devising a way to track the past movements of ships based on the microbes found in their bilge water (different ports around the world have different microbial signatures.) But it was his work on oil spills, begun in 2010 after the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, that laid the groundwork for the plastics project. What we were doing there was trying to be proactive and really check to see if there are bacteria in different places around the ocean that we can use to help clean up potential oil spills, he said. After he arrived at Michigan Tech in 2015, he started doing similar work in the Great Lakes because of the issues surrounding Line 5 and some of the concerns about a potential spill there. But he began to wonder if there was a more proactive approach, a way of preventing environmental damage rather than responding to it. Then, in the fall of 2019, DARPA put out a solicitation for project proposals. Like much of the world, (the Department of Defense) has a significant plastic waste footprint, said Seth Cohen, a program manager in DARPAs Biological Technologies Office, and its one that wed like to both mitigate and make useful, potentially. On average, each deployed member of the U.S. armed forces produces more than a pound of plastic waste per day, he said, largely water bottles and the packaging for meals. Portable systems that can turn plastic waste into useful projects like lubricants and food isnt just good for soldiers in combat, he said, but it could be a way to avoid conflict by providing food security and stability to maybe undernourished populations. The first step, Techtmann said, was looking at samples from relatively mundane places like mud from streams or compost from a nearby farm to see if there were any of these bacteria in these natural places that could do this. Microbes mostly dont feed on plastic, but some do feed on the components of plastic. So part of the work of making plastics into something edible is making them into something microbes can eat. David Shonnards focus is on the plastics used in the bags that contain the meals ready to eat. With a heating process called pyrolysis, the Michigan Tech chemical engineer can reduce polypropylene into a wax, a gas and an amber liquid thats something like synthetic crude oil. Natural microbes have been adapted over the years, over the millennia really, to metabolize crude oil, he said, but it was still a eureka moment to discover that they would also eat the synthetic stuff. To me, thats just incredible, he said, something that the microbes have never seen before ever. And theyre growing on it. Rebecca Ong is also working on breaking down plastics, though shes using a chemical process not entirely dissimilar from what microbes use to break down plastics in nature. Her process is faster. The microbes will be both the consumers and the consumed. After they eat the deconstructed plastic, grow and multiply, theyll become the food. The idea is that theyll be dried into a powder that could be mixed into smoothies, added to animal feed, maybe someday even 3D printed into something that looks like a steak. Theyve gotten the process to work in the lab, said Ong, a chemical engineering professor at Michigan Tech, and to work pretty quickly, too. But the team still isnt getting the yields they want. What were trying to do in the next few months is get that yield up, she said, and to make sure that all the components of the system fit within a three cubic-meter space, small enough to be deployed on the back of a truck in combat zones or disaster relief operations. What makes the project compelling, Techtmann said, is that it has the potential to address two big challenges, plastic waste and food insecurity, all at once. I think what were doing is really cool, and were potentially going to contribute to helping to solve some of these problems, he said, but its going to take a lot of other people and a lot of energy and a lot of expertise. 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit mlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) pushed back against the GOP suggestion that the United States has given a "blank check" of humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, insisting that support for the Eastern European country defending itself from Russia remains strong in Washington. "I believe the support for Ukraine and their courage will not stop," she said Monday at a joint news conference in Zagreb, Croatia, with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. "It is bipartisan, bicameral and it starts in the White House with our president." She added: "We have never given a blank check to Ukraine." Last week, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) signaled that if Republicans win the House in the midterm elections, they would cut back aid to Ukraine despite the geopolitical and moral imperatives of aiding the nation in its fight against Russia and Vladimir Putin. Pelosi also said Iran is making "a big mistake" by assisting Russia in its war against Ukraine. U.S. officials have said that Russia has purchased scores of drones from Iran and that Iranian forces are helping hit infrastructure, civilians and military targets across Ukraine. "I think Iran is making a big mistake," Pelosi said. "If you're concerned about Iran, you should be concerned about Iran supplying Russia with this technology." She added, "Iran has upped the ante." Pelosi is in Zagreb, Croatia, representing the United States at the First Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform, where bilateral meetings will focus on Russia's aggression against Ukraine since the invasion in February as well as its illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. She expressed the United States' unwavering support for Ukraine. "As Speaker, it is my privilege to join our European allies and other partners from around the globe in Croatia to deliver an unmistakable statement of our solidarity with the Ukrainian people," she said in a statement late Sunday. "Vladimir Putin is waging an unprovoked, all-out assault on Ukraine: from the ongoing occupation of Crimea to his attempt to annex additional territories to his desperate and escalating targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure." "This week, America joins our democratic partners to reaffirm the country's pledge to stand with the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom and to hold Russia accountable until victory is won." Pelosi also met Monday with Gordan Jandrokovic, speaker of the Croatian parliament, and she is scheduled to deliver remarks Tuesday. McCarthy, who could become House speaker in January, signaled last week that the GOP will probably oppose more aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia if it wins the House majority. "I think people are gonna be sitting in a recession, and they're not going to write a blank check to Ukraine," he told Punchbowl News. "They just won't do it." The majority of congressional Republicans and Democrats have previously united in authorizing billions of dollars in U.S. military and humanitarian assistance to Kyiv as a geopolitical and moral stand against Putin's aggression, but McCarthy indicated that could change next year. Eleven Republican senators and 57 House GOP members opposed the legislation, arguing that more needs to be done to account for how the money is spent and to trace weapons and equipment sent to the battlefield. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) pushed back on the growing isolationist view in the GOP, insisting that if Republicans win the majority in the Senate next month, they will be steadfast in their support of Ukraine. He also alluded to Iran and its role. "A Republican majority in the Senate will focus its oversight on ensuring timely delivery of needed weapons and greater allied assistance to Ukraine, rebuilding and modernizing our military capabilities, standing up to terrorist states like Iran, and shoring up our defenses in Asia to deter Chinese aggression," he said in a statement Friday. Pelosi highlighted Ukraine's success in limiting Russia's invasion under Democratic leadership due in part to support from the United States something she said will need continued support from the U.S. to be maintained. "Working with historic speed, strength and unity, the United States and our allies have imposed devastating consequences on Russia and delivered game-changing aid to Ukraine," she said. "Our ironclad solidarity with the heroes of Ukraine has been decisive so far, and it will be even more crucial as winter approaches." Pelosi made a surprise visit to Kyiv in May, where she told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the U.S. is committed to "be there for you until the fight is done." The visit came two days after President Biden unveiled a sweeping $33 billion spending package that provided military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. "We are on a frontier of freedom, and your fight is a fight for everyone," Pelosi told Zelenskyy, while leading Democratic lawmakers on the first official congressional delegation there since the war began. Months later, Pelosi led a congressional delegation to Taiwan, where she said that the United States' solidarity with Taiwan was "crucial," a visit that angered China and roiled the U.S. relationship with the Asian nation. There is "a struggle between autocracy and democracy in the world" right now, Pelosi said at an August news conference. "Indeed, we take this trip at a time when the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy," she wrote in a Post column. "As Russia wages its premeditated, illegal war against Ukraine, killing thousands of innocents even children it is essential that America and our allies make clear that we never give in to autocrats." WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) The State Department determined in recent days that Eyvin Hernandez, a 44-year-old deputy public defender from Los Angeles, is being wrongfully detained in Venezuela, U.S. officials and friends of the Hernandez family told McClatchy and the Miami Herald. Hernandez was vacationing in Colombia in March of this year when he traveled to the countrys border region with Venezuela and was apprehended by armed men, according to his family. Ever since, he has been in the custody of Venezuelas military intelligence unit, the DGCIM, in a section of the countrys most notorious prison. The determination makes Hernandez the only known U.S. citizen officially designated as wrongfully detained in Venezuela after a major prisoner swap earlier this month secured the release of seven other American prisoners, in exchange for two prominent Venezuelans convicted on U.S. drug trafficking charges. The Bureau of Consular Affairs at the State Department handles most cases of Americans detained abroad. But U.S. citizens who are determined to be wrongfully detained, using criteria set by Congress, get enhanced attention from the U.S. government, including resources from the office of the special envoy for hostage affairs, which harnesses tools from across government agencies to secure their release. A week before his designation, McClatchy and the Miami Herald reported on frustration among his friends and family that the State Department had not acted on his case six months into his detention. At least five other U.S. citizens are in Venezuelan custody and suspected of being held for political purposes. 2022 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Tribune News Service) Chaddley Sergent was a motherless child birthed into a volatile life of lawlessness. Adopted in secret as a baby, he spent his childhood in a violent and dysfunctional household, watching his drug-addled adoptive mother get beaten by the men in her life. Oftentimes, the men would turn their ire on Sergent when, as a young boy, he intervened to protect the only mother he knew. "I had a crazy life, man," he recalled. "Messed up childhood, a lot of abuse, a lot of violence. Seen a lot of things that a kid wasn't supposed to see." By the time Sergent was 13, he already had a rap sheet and was hardened by the streets of Baton Rouge and New Orleans, where he'd been raised. And by the time he was 19, his reputation on those streets had already extended beyond prison walls. He was incarcerated for aggravated battery, criminal property damage and weapons charges in Louisiana, state Department of Public Safety and Corrections records show. He also has convictions awaiting him in Mississippi. Prior to being transferred to the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in May 2018, he'd been booted from a handful of other Louisiana prisons for serious infractions like fighting corrections officers and fellow prisoners, carrying shanks, and having inappropriate relations with female correctional officers. "My life was purely based on violence. I ain't have nothing to live for," he said. "I was sentenced to 30 years and I knew I still had to go to Mississippi to do another maybe 40. So in my mind, I'm like, 'Man I got 100 years.'" Resigned to chaos, it was at Hunt where Sergent was introduced to a new lifestyle hinged upon sobriety, discipline and structure. Several months before he arrived, a handful of inmates at the St. Gabriel prison began a veterans mentorship program. It started with a small group of prisoners with military combat experience who were trained to be trauma healers. Now the program has spread to four tiers in one of the dormitories and includes over 130 participants. "We meet people where they are and walk them through their recovery process," said Austin Bernard, one of the program's leaders. "Our intent is to take broken people, like we were, help them become whole, help them learn to mentor to other people, and ultimately to go home and stay home." Sergent was no easy sell. He didn't think the program was for him. He was ousted from the veterans dorm and sent to the hole three times for breaking prison rules. He tried to fight founding member John Thomas after Thomas had him placed back in the dorm a fourth time. Eventually, Sergent bought into the mantra and has become a bridge between the veterans dorm and prisoners in the lockup's general population. "When I realized he (Thomas) was serious, I gave him the same loyalty that I gave partners that have died outside of prison since I've been in here," Sergent said. A new model Hunt was the first prison in the state to receive an American Legion charter when veterans memorial Post No. 432 was founded in December 2018. A number of Legion officials and state delegates were on hand Thursday night, during a banquet inside Hunt's cafeteria celebrating what prison leaders say is a one-of-a-kind treatment program. "To see some of these guys come to the program as a disciplinary problem, then graduate and actually become mentors to the next generation, that's what's great about this program," said Donnie Bordelon, who took over as the prison's warden in August after former warden Kirt Guerin was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Since the program began in 2018, some 26 participants have been released from prison. None of them have returned. Those on hand Thursday relished in the unique treatment model's zero-percent recidivism rate. Veteran inmates also gave out value awards during Thursday's affair to prisoners who've exemplified some of the principles of military training. Anthony Bailey, an inmate who transferred to Hunt last November, won an award for standing up for everybody. "I challenge the knuckleheads," he said. Bailey was recently denied parole after being incarcerated more than 20 years, and said that could have been a setback. But he remains a voice of positivity, trying to urge his tier-mates to stop doing drugs, misbehaving and preying on weaker inmates. "I try to change everyone in here because you have so many younger people that are in here that are still stuck on stupidity," he said. "This program really shows you what being a man is about. It's chasing the prison dorm by dorm." Transforming with love John Thomas came up with the idea for peer mentorship classes where prisoners could teach other inmates a regimented way of life rooted in the seven core values he learned in the Armed Forces: respect, loyalty, duty, honor, integrity, personal courage and selfless service to others. Shortly after graduating high school, Thomas joined the Army and did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a combat soldier between 2003 and 2005. He survived two Humvee explosions and was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and complex post-traumatic stress disorder. He came to Hunt prison in 2013 after being sentenced to 12 years for an attempted rape in Lafayette. Investigators tied Thomas to a pair of unsolved 2006 rapes in Delaware after police took his DNA samples from the Louisiana case. He got 37 years for the sexual assaults in Delaware. Shortly after he arrived at Hunt, Thomas attended a spiritual retreat in the prison chapel and said he broke free from the "demonic spirits" manifesting within. God gave him the vision to help other prisoners break free from their trauma, he said. "Only God could change someone that was as bad as me." The two-year program is designed to teach participants to become mentors and take leadership roles. Each of the participants live together in the same quarters and group leaders often hold members accountable for violating prison rules. According to prison officials, 65 former troubled offenders involved in the program are now prison trusties in the prison, and 71 former offenders have gone at least a year without a rule infraction. Thomas is now the program coordinator and has watched his brainchild grow from tier to tier and a groundbreaking mix of veterans and non-veteran inmates working together in brotherhood. "There are vets dorms and vets programs in other prisons, but none that are doing the things that we're doing," he said. "What's unique about us is we take troubled non-veteran guys from restrictive housing and we bring them in our program. We show them how to live by our example. We sleep right next to them." Sergent, 28, now mentors to a wide range of young inmates; he's earned a handful of certifications and he's a representative on an inmate advisory council. He also created a program that teaches anger management, substance abuse training and general awareness. He has hopes he may be getting out of prison one day, and he thanks the veterans program for his transformation. "For the veterans program to work, they had to take non-veterans too and teach them the discipline, the duty, respect and honor. Everything," he said. "John told me, 'You can reach out and touch others that I can't touch because you come from that lifestyle. By me changing you, now you're able to do that for them.'" Lawton Searcy, who has overseen all of Hunt Correctional's faith-based programs since 2014, played a key role in working with Thomas to get the veterans program up and running. He helped with the research and provided resources, then spent three years convincing one of the former wardens to greenlight the effort. Now there's a waiting list of over 80 prisoners waiting to get a bed in the vet's dorm. At Thursday night's banquet, a tear came to Searcy's eye as he looked out over the cafeteria filled with prisoners in the program. "I remember how a lot of these young men came in here: emaciated by drugs, brain fog, no sense of purpose or direction. Then a few months to a year or two later, you see that same individual. He's got a big smile on his face, a spring in his step, he's put on weight. They are actually happy even being incarcerated because they have found peace with their past and that gives them hope for the future. This is the most awesome thing I've ever been involved in." (c)2022 The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La. Visit at www.theadvocate.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Detective Sergeant Michael Redmond told Blanchardstown District Court that at around 7.40pm on the night, gardai were alerted to an incident where gunshots were fired in the area of Whitechapel Grove. A man has pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court today to the attempted murder of two gardai at a siege and shoot-out in west Dublin last year, where two detectives were shot. Daniel Goulding (39) of Whitechapel Grove, Clonsilla, Co Dublin, this morning pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of two detective gardai at his family home on May 25, 2021. The two detectives received non-fatal limb injuries to the feet and one to the hand during the incident which lasted for up to two hours. Today at the Central Criminal Court, Goulding spoke only to answer "guilty" to both charges when read to him by the registrar. Michael Bowman SC, for Goulding, said a psychiatric report on his client had only been received by the defence on Friday. Mr Bowman also requested that a governor's report be prepared from Cloverhill Prison. Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the matter to November 21. At a previous hearing of the case, a court heard Goulding had been receiving psychiatric treatment for several years. Daniel Goulding In September of last year, Detective Sergeant Michael Redmond told Blanchardstown District Court that at around 7.40pm on the night, gardai were alerted to an incident where gunshots were fired in the area of Whitechapel Grove. Two detectives arrived at the scene and almost immediately came under fire from an upstairs bedroom of Mr Gouldings home. They then took cover behind an unmarked patrol car which was struck a number of times. The detectives were shot in their left legs and one of them was struck in his left hand. A Garda Armed Support Unit arrived with other units, including negotiators, and a number of homes were evacuated. A barricade incident developed and after two hours of negotiations, firearms were surrendered from the house. Det Sgt Redmond said members of the public were also exposed to the incident. Goulding was originally charged with unlawful possession of two 63 PM RAK sub-machine guns with intent to endanger life, and unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9 mm pistol and 74 rounds of ammunition. The media have been ordered not to report the names of the injured detectives. Emily Stewart initially denied the charge but changed her plea to guilty as the Dublin District Court hearing was about to get under way today An ex-model has received a suspended sentence for punching a woman who tried to help after discovering her screaming loudly at a Luas stop in Dublin. Emily Stewart (26) of Howth Road, Clontarf, Dublin, was accused of assault causing harm to the woman (25) at the Bluebell stop on Naas Road, Dublin 12, on July 20, 2021. She initially denied the charge but changed her plea to guilty as the Dublin District Court hearing was about to get under way today. The incident happened at 9.30 pm, close to a Luas tram stop. The victim, a young woman, told the court she had been walking home from the gym with a friend when she heard the accused talking loudly, but she could not understand her. Stewart was screaming and she tried to help. The victim, Ms Yume Gall, told the court she went to see if she [Stewart] needed help, but the defendant started fighting with her friend. The court heard Stewart went back to her car, and it looked like she was going to leave; however, she got out when she saw the victim taking pictures. She was screaming when she saw we were calling the guards, and I was taking pictures, and she was aware they were of her car, she said. Stewart then punched her. The victim and the defendant had not been known to each other. She told the court she had been trying to help and could not understand it. The punch landed between her eyebrows and left her sore; however, she did not seek medical attention or have injuries. Stewart replied no comment when arrested and charged under caution. She did not address the court and broke down in tears as the judge proceeded to sentence. The court heard she had 12 prior previous convictions, including two for assault causing harm and three less serious assaults. Simon Donagh BL, defending, asked the judge to note his client was apologetic for the totally inexcusable assault on the injured party. Counsel said Stewart was on methadone at the time but is now "much better" and pregnant. He handed in two letters on her behalf and said Stewart accepted she was wrong. He asked the judge to note the time gap since her last assault in 2017. Judge Gerard Jones told Stewart it was a totally unjust and unfair attack on a member of the public, adding, this young lady was trying to help. He imposed a three-month sentence but suspended it on condition she kept the peace and did not re-offend in the next year. Breaking the terms would result in going straight to prison, he warned. Legal aid was granted earlier after the court heard the accused was not working. The family, originally from the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq had been living in Galway city A young Kurdish family were killed in a horrific collision when a man diagnosed with psychosis drove erratically on the wrong side of the M6 motorway and struck their car, an inquest has heard. Dr Karzan Sabah Ahmed, his wife Shahen Qasim Faris and their eight-month-old baby girl Lina suffered catastrophic injuries in the fatal collision, which also claimed the life of the driver of the other car Jonasz Lach. The horrific incident happened on August 19th, 2020. The family, who was originally from the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq had been living in Galway city while Karzan was completing a PhD in Environmental Science at the University of Galway. However, they had plans to relocate to Carlow where Karzan had taken up a role with Teagasc, the Agricultural and Food Development Authority. When the tragedy occurred the family were returning from Carlow having viewed an apartment they wished to rent. An inquest into their deaths held today in Gort Co Galway returned a verdict of accidental death in relation to the young family. Coroner Dr Richard Joyce returned an open verdict in relation to the death of Mr Lach, as he said it was not known if he intended to end his life. Evidence from a pathologist heard Mr Lach had traces of antipsychotic medication and cannabis in his bloodstream at the time of his death. The inquest heard evidence from other witnesses that Mr Lach drove erratically and at great speed while weaving between lanes to avoid oncoming cars on the M6 motorway for nearly 2 km before colliding with the Sabah family. A garda witness said dash cam footage showed Mr Lach had also flashed his lights at oncoming motorists as he drove the wrong way between junction 15, where he entered the motorway and where the crash happened at Poolboy, in Ballinasloe. Ewa Ciastko, the partner of Mr Lach, wept throughout her evidence as she told coroner Dr Richard Joyce she never at any point believed Mr Lach, the father of her two children, would harm himself or others. However, the inquest heard evidence of three significant psychotic episodes suffered by Mr Lach, one in 2018, another in 2019 and a third in July 2020. On one occasion in 2019, Mr Lach was pursued by gardai in Cork after driving the wrong way down a one-way street. To escape the gardai, he jumped into the river and had to be rescued. On that occasion, he was held overnight in a psychiatric unit but discharged himself the next day and walked as far as Nenagh in Co Tipperary before his partner found him distressed. Ms Ciastko agreed with her solicitor that when she found Mr Lach in Nenagh, his feet were in a desperate condition after walking the long distance. However, she told the coroners court that after this incident, Mr Lach took his prescribed medication as directed, and his mood stabilised, and he was much improved within two weeks. In 2018, Mr Lach returned to Poland to attend a family members funeral, where he was arrested for punching a police officer. While in prison, he suffered an acute psychiatric episode and was later diagnosed with cannabis-induced Schizo affective disorder. More to follow Kinahan and Hutch gang rivals have finances and personal lives laid bare in court as CAB fights to strip former friends of their assets Barry Finnegan was described as a senior member of the Kinahan crime group This photograph shows the stunning 1.2-acre gated compound complete with horses and a vast warehouse which the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) claim Browning built after amassing a fortune from criminality. Gym-owner Browning was described in court by CAB as the Kinahan cartels principal man in Ireland. The Sunday Worldcan reveal ties between Browning and one of Dublins most-feared criminal gangs were aired for the first time during the court proceedings. Ross Brownings 1.2 acre gated compound, with horses and vast warehouse The case detailed how one of Brownings closest associates, convicted drug mule Ian OHeaire, acted as a link between him and the notorious Gucci Gang. The mob, based in West Dublin, is headed up by a young criminal known as Mr Flashy and are responsible for a wave of violence. CAB say OHeaire was used to buy a property at the centre of the case, which saw the bureau go after 1.7m of assets tied to senior Kinahan mobster Browning. CAB are seeking to seize a range of assets, including two properties, plots of land, cars, jewellery and luxury watches it claims were bought with money from Browning. Mr Flashy OHeaire, whose Finglas home was raided in 2018 as part of the major CAB offensive against Browning, was one of a number of criminals whose dealings were laid bare during several cases this week. The court heard how OHeaire is linked to the Gucci Gang. The Sunday World understands that he had been supplying volatile crime boss Mr Flashy and his associates with drugs. OHeaire was previously jailed in Australia after a near-death experience in the sky. The Finglas man told officers in Australia that he had swallowed 27 balloons filled with cocaine before embarking on a trip half-way around the world in order to pay a gambling debt. Two cases which reached court this week showed how gardai have been working constantly to disrupt the gangs and strip them of their riches, and also highlighted the close ties of the rival factions in the deadly Hutch-Kinahan feud. Loyal Hutch henchman James Mago Gately and Kinahan associate Barry Finnegan were among the rivals who worked together prior to the murder of Gary Hutch in September 2015, which kicked off the bloody gang war. Barry Finnegan was described as a senior member of the Kinahan crime group Gately, who twice escaped assassination attempts by the Kinahans, also had his financial and business records exposed this week as he sought legal aid to fight in a separate CAB case against him. He had worked as a barber and ran a sweet shop, but what wasnt mentioned in court was that he had once worked with Barry Finnegan. They had run a business together in Dublins north inner city before each threw their lot in with opposing factions. Finnegan was named in the CAB case against Browning as the partner of Ross Brownings sister Cheryl. He was described as a senior member of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group. It is not the first time Finnegan was referred to in a CAB case, having previously been named in 2017 as an associate of Liam Byrne and a suspect in the murder of Eddie Hutch Snr. Just how the former criminal colleagues had turned on each other was also shown by the fact that a motorbike found at an escape chute at Brownings home was registered to Stephen Fowler. Fowler, who had previously been jailed over an 880,000 cannabis grow-house, was convicted last year for his role in a plot to kill Hutch rival Mago Gately after offering a safe-house to assassin Imre Arakas. Stephen Fowler Paddy Cummins - IrishPhotodesk.i Browning had been part of the Kinahan gang well before the feud shootings started, having come to Garda attention during Operation Shovel in 2010. He was one of several people arrested in the multinational police operation aimed at the gang, but which ultimately failed. Browning was described by CAB this week as being at the heart of a 1billion crime gang and was its principal representative in Ireland. CAB says Browning had tried to hide his criminal cash by using family members to disguise his interest in various properties, vehicles and jewellery. As well as his sister, Ross Brownings mother, Julie Conway, was also referred to in his CAB case this week, as she resides in one of the targeted properties with her partner, ex-garda David OBrien. She says home renovations, worth around 330,000 according to CAB, were funded by all me and Dave including 40,000 loans from St Raphaels Garda Credit Union. Julie Conway also claimed that she acquired two small plots of land in Rush, Co. Dublin, with money that she had also borrowed. CAB has also claimed that a house purchased in 2012 in Deanstown Road, Finglas, by Brownings grandfather William Conway for 56,000 was also acquired, and renovated, with the money from Browning. CABs claim that the property was renovated at a cost of over 200,000 was disputed. It is claimed that the property was paid for by money William Conway got after being made redundant from his bar management job, and from an award he received from the State. The monies from the sale of that house to mobster Ian OHeaire were used by Mr Conway to acquire lands in Garristown, North County Dublin, the court heard. OHeaire, a relative of Mr Conway and Browning, said that he bought the house from William Conway in 2013 for 120,000. OHeaire who disputes CABs claims about the proceeds of crime being spent on the property, claims that he paid for the house out of funds he says he received in a personal injuries award. The travel history of people connected to CAB targets has also proven to be an area where financial experts can follow the money trail.As CABs counsel in the Browning case, Benedict O Floinn, said in court this week, it is not the destination that matters its who pays for it. It was stated by CAB that Julie Conway used a credit card to book flights for various people connected to the Kinahans. This included a flight from the US for a Kinahan relative in 2014 to attend the funeral of Daniel Kinahans mother, Jean Boylan. Other flights booked included one for David Rock, who it was stated was a suspect in the murder of Eddie Hutch Sr, and another for a relative of convicted killer James Quinn, who is serving life in Spain. James Quinn is in prison in Spain SOLARPIX.COM Similarly, Mago Gatelys travel and holidays came in for scrutiny, and CAB revealed how he and partner Charlene Lam had enjoyed eye-watering foreign travel. Mago Gatelys partner Charlene Lam They went on two cruises, including one that started in Singapore in which they had a cabin complete with a balcony, visiting Korea, Japan and China. Claiming to be too broke to pay for legal representation, Mago Gately said he now has to rely on his partner to make ends meet. She pays the mortgage on their 125,000 Coolock home which CAB says was renovated to the tune of 440,000. Objecting to the application counsel for CAB, David Dodd, said should people with means be granted legal aid, it undermines the system. Mr McNab (31) died from his injuries at the scene of a serious assault at an address in the Barna Square area of Rathcoole on Friday evening. Detectives investigating the murder of Ryan McNab have charged a 24-year-old man with murder. Mr McNab (31) died from his injuries at the scene of a serious assault at an address in the Barna Square area of Rathcoole on Friday evening. The 24-year-old man is expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court on Monday. As is normal procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service. The family of Mr McNab have said they are "absolutely heartbroken by what has happened. They described him as a loving son, brother, and daddy and a Glentoran and Liverpool fanatic. We will miss him so much, especially his beautiful little girl Ryleigh. The family added: We would be so grateful if people could respect our privacy at this difficult time while we try to come to terms with what has happened and please refrain from sharing any footage or images. Mr McNabs death is one of three murders to have occurred in the Rathcoole area in the last 18 months. All tenants living in the 35 flats at Tathony House, Bow Bridge, Kilmainham were served on Wednesday with eviction notices to vacate the property by the start of next June. Resident, James OToole, who was served with an eviction notice to leave his one-bed flat Dozens of renters living in a Dublin apartment block have been served eviction notices as the building is being sold. All tenants living in the 35 flats at Tathony House, Bow Bridge, Kilmainham were served on Wednesday with eviction notices to vacate the property by the start of next June. James OToole, who has lived in a one-bed property in the building since 2009, said he is terrified to go back into the current rental market in Dublin with limited supply available. The eviction notice says that he wants to sell the building. He just wants to cash out, Mr OToole told Independent.ie. We got a six-page document handed into each door. Everyone got it. Because Im here since 2009 Im entitled to 224 days, and my immediate neighbour is entitled to 224 days as well. Ive been given the appropriate amount of time but Im still looking at daft.ie and there is nothing to rent. Were all aware of the housing situation, its a bit terrifying I think people were just shocked." Mr OToole said he may be forced to move further out of Dublin to find suitable accommodation due to the lack of one-bedroom apartments and the soaring cost of rent in the city. Im here 13 years and Im terrified first of all, you might not find somewhere because the rents are so expensive. I might have to leave Dublin 8 which is where Ive grown up. Im originally from this area and Ive always lived here. Im 48 and I would not like to live in a bedsit or a studio, where everything is in one room. Thats how I used to live in the 90s. The flats are registered with the Residential Tenancies Board, however, the residents are seeking to approach the local authority to enforce the Tyrrelstown Amendment to stop the eviction. The Tyrrelstown Amendment was introduced in January 2017 with the aim to prevent situations where a large number of residents in a single development are served with termination notices simultaneously by a landlord in order to sell the development. However, there are currently two loopholes which allow landlords to terminate tenancies under the Tyrrelstown Agreement. These are if the landlord can prove that the market value of the property would be lowered by 20pc if the tenants remained in situ, or if the application of the agreement would cause hardship to the landlord. I dont understand how the Government let that loophole why is it so easy to get out of Tyrrelstown Agreement? said Mr OToole. It is understood the landlord has followed the proper eviction procedures set out by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) and residents were issued with leave-by dates according to the length of their tenancies. Mary Lou had phoned me three months after the election and said Sinn Fein would lend me the 12,126 debt which I owed elsewhere Former Sinn Fein TD Violet-Anne Wynne received 12,000 from the party after it emerged she left a housing charity out of pocket. Rural Resettlement Ireland (RRI) took a case against Ms Wynne over the failure to pay rent but the housing charity no longer existed when details of the TDs debt emerged after her election to the Dail in February 2020. At the time, RRI founder Jim Connolly suggested Ms Wynne should make a donation to charity, which she said she would be willing to do. Speaking to Shane Ross for his book Mary Lou McDonald A Republic Riddle, Ms Wynne revealed the party lent her money for unpaid rent. Mary Lou had phoned me three months after the election and said Sinn Fein would lend me the 12,126 debt which I owed elsewhere. We reached an agreement, but the other problems persisted, she said. Violet-Anne Wynne resigned from Sinn Fein earlier this year. Seven months later, in December 2020, Ms Wynne sought another meeting to discuss her debt. This went badly, according to Mr Rosss book. I had a pre-Christmas 2020 meeting with Mary Lou. I explained all the difficulties which I faced. Mary Lou heard everything including my personal circumstances, Ms Wynne said. The first-time TD outlined her insecure housing situation and told the party leader about her sick partner and five children. At the time of the meeting, Ms Wynne was making repayments of 1,000 a month on the debt. She added: She didnt take my problems seriously. She took notes and promised to look at what could be done. I was watching her facial expressions. I felt I didnt get enough over to her. I feel, as a woman, that she let me down. I feel her feminism is a facade. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA PA Ms Wynne now has a sixth child and is struggling to find permanent housing in her Clare constituency. She recently tweeted that she and her family were homeless. In February, she resigned from the Sinn Fein party, claiming she has been isolated and subjected to psychological warfare. A Sinn Fein spokesperson said the loan was made to Ms Wynne in line with Standards in Public Office regulations and insisted it must be paid back in full. Sinn Fein is not in the business of providing loans. In this exceptional case a loan was provided to Violet-Anne Wynne in line with the Standards in Public Office (Sipo) criteria, a spokesperson said. In line with that criteria, the loan was made on a commercial basis and must be paid back in full. The party said Sipo must be informed if a loan is defaulted on and said it is accounted for in their annual accounts under the heading Debtors. The spokesperson said Ms McDonald has never received any loans from the party. It comes after the Sunday Independent reported that Ms McDonalds husband Martin Lanigan has threatened to sue Mr Ross over his book about the Sinn Fein leader. Mr Lanigans solicitors wrote to the former minister claiming imputation in the book is groundless and untrue, and said their client has a reasonable expectation of privacy as to his financial affairs. Mr Lanigan is demanding an apology, financial compensation and legal costs, or says he will issue legal proceedings without further notice. A digger-driving stevedore from Tauranga has paved the way for port workers to get better conditions, after years of legal battles. George Lye persevered through three Employment Court judgements and multiple Employment Relations Authority decisions and recently won a personal grievance against the port logistics company ISO, which required him to be available 24-7 with little certainty about what shifts he works. The Employment Relations Authority ordered ISO to pay Lye thousands in compensation - $22,500 for failing to compensate him for requiring him to be permanently available for work and $15,000 for loss of dignity suffered as a result of his inability to plan any aspect of his life with certainty. Lye has a young son from a previous relationship, and in her June decision, ERA member Nicola Craig says his work situation prevented him from making a commitment to see him on a regular basis because "he is never able to confidently say whether or not he will be at work". "Mr Lye frequently feels he is letting his son down because he cannot commit to arrangements with him. There is a frustrating sense of not having control over his own life." Craig says Lye has suffered from a lack of agreed hours as well as the lack of reasonable compensation for his availability. Maritime Union national secretary Craig Harrison says Lye's case will be instrumental in changing waterfront workers' conditions. On the back of the ERA decision, he says the union has negotiated a new collective employment agreement with ISO that compensates workers for time they are expected to be available for work. Harrison says the agreement improves rostering, availability, and included solid increases in wage rates. The agreement is "ground breaking", and sets a new standard in the stevedoring industry, he says. "Put simply, these innovative improvements will mean waterfront workers have the opportunity for work life balance, dignity, and the ability to plan their personal and family life." Harrison says there has been a massive problem getting workers into the industry, as unsocial conditions, lack of a career path, and a high risk environment have made it unattractive. The union plans to use the new collective agreement as the basis for a Fair Pay Agreement in the ports sector and recently appointed a national organiser who will be visiting all ports in New Zealand in the coming months. The Maritime Union has presented Lye with a Solidarity Award. -Amy Williams/RNZ. Water safety advocates are fearful for this summer's toll on the back of the worst year in a decade for drownings in Aotearoa. So far this year, 68 people have died in preventable drownings. Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Daniel Gerrard says this is already 80 per cent of the 10-year average of fatalities. With tourists set to return this summer for the first time since Covid-19, and two thirds of drownings occurring in summer, there was concern the toll for this year could rise. Gerrard said after the lockdown period, the number of deaths rose sharply to 90 in 2021 - 10 above the 10-year average. While the causes were multi-faceted, people were taking more risks, he said. "We have had numerous fatalities in the underwater and rock-fishing space." Maori men over represented Of the 90 fatalities last year, Maori accounted for 28 deaths, and 76 were men. Gerard says many of these occurred in the Far North in isolated communities difficult to connect with. Kai gathering is a predominant cause and social issues are contributing, he says. "People are needing to put food on the table and taking risks and going out in conditions they shouldn't be." Poorly serviced gear, going out solo, and alcohol were other factors. "We have to build a collective responsibility but also put it back on people and get them to ask themselves 'is that extra paua exactly what I need? Or maybe I'll wait 'til next time'," says Gerard. Over the past 10 years, 89 per cent of fatal beach drownings in Aotearoa New Zealand have been male. Surf Life Saving New Zealand says that's more than 300 people, and enough is enough. Photo: RNZ. Agency support Water Safety New Zealand is predominantly funded by the Lottery Grants Board, Sport NZ and ACC to the tune of $4 milllion. "It is always a challenge. It is a difficult equation to make a big impact to so many groups with such a small pot of cash," says Gerard. Front-line services do amazing work but it's being done at the bottom of the cliff, he says. "More support needs to go into preventative measures such as education, our youngsters need to be exposed to specific environments." There had been very little investment in the prevention space, he says. With tourists set to return this summer, it's imperative to address water safety, he says. "We have got to get some clear messages out to them." Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson. Solutions Auckland Council regional parks manager Scott De Silva says council had installed safety signage based on recommendations from experts. These utilise symbols to notify of risks. "With over 200 languages spoken in Auckland, internationally known and tested symbols have been recommended by water safety experts." Signage has been placed at higher risk locations including the west coast of Tamaki Makaurau. "We continue to encourage people to do their research before shore and rock fishing including; wear life jackets, fish to the conditions and do not undertake risky behaviour," says De Silva. Council worked with and supported several organisations, such as Surf Lifesaving Northern Region and Drowning Prevention Auckland, to promote safe swimming, he says. "There are learn to swim programmes run through our facilities and specific programmes such as the West Coast Rock Fishing Safety Project which includes the provision of Angel Rings, across Auckland's west coast. "Angel Rings and PRE [public rescue equipment] is also installed at other regional parks such as Waitakere Ranges, Wenderholm and Hunua Falls." Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King. Safeswim principal Holly Foreman says their website allows users to access real-time information on the water quality and swimming conditions of various beaches across Auckland. "The benefits of checking before heading out mean users can make an informed decision on whether it's currently safe to swim at a specific beach or if it would be better to head elsewhere." Gerard says sign placement is also crucial. "If someone's climbed over the rocks to go fishing and there is a sign there, research shows that has no impact at all, it's where you place the sign, maybe where they buy bait, but we need to have consistent messages." Ultimately, it's all about thinking before jumping in, he says. "Don't be afraid to go up and say 'hey, mate, maybe it's not the best time to go in right now'." Swimming season arrives Surf lifeguards are rolling out volunteer beach patrols this Labour weekend. Labour Weekend is the traditional start to the patrol season for most areas of the North Island, across Auckland and the beaches in Northland, Waikato, Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty. Surf Life Saving New Zealand is urging beachgoers to choose a beach where there are lifeguards and to swim between the flags. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson. Chief executive Paul Dalton says NIWA is predicting a strong marine heatwave summer, so they in turn were expecting another busy season. "Last year, our patrols rescued 726 people, and despite a record number of drownings across the country, there were zero drownings between our red and yellow flags." Too often men underestimated the conditions and overestimate their ability, Dalton says. "This 'she'll be right' attitude gets too many men into trouble in the water, often with fatal consequences." In the past 10 years, there have been 357 beach and coastal fatal drownings in New Zealand. "Each fatality leaves whanau and communities devastated. Our drowning toll is something every New Zealander should see as a national tragedy and one we all have a responsibility to address." Safety Tips: Choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags. Watch out for rip currents. If caught in a rip, remember the 3R's: Relax and float, Raise your hand and Ride the rip. Read and understand the safety signs. Ask a surf lifeguard for advice as beach conditions can change regularly. Know your limits. Always keep a very close eye on young children in or near the water. Keep children within arm's reach at all times. Get a friend to swim, surf or fish with you. When rock fishing, always wear a lifejacket and shoes with grip. If in doubt, stay out! If you see someone in trouble in the water, call 111. -Jonty Dine/RNZ. Dahlia bulbs could be hard to come by next season because of concern about a viroid which affects potatoes and tomatoes. Most imported dahlia bulbs come from the Netherlands, and the Ministry for Primary Industries says the Netherlands can no longer provide Pest Free Area (PFA) certification for the potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd). Biosecurity New Zealand animal and plant health acting director Lisa Winthrop says this exotic pest is a threat to New Zealand's potato, tomato and avocado industries, and is known to be present on dahlia bulbs overseas. Biosecurity New Zealand has been working with the Netherlands to provide a solution to allow the import of Dahlia bulbs, says Winthrop. Kings Plant Barn general manager Chris Hall says previously, importers only needed to get one field tested for the whole nursery to be approved, but now they may need to test the numerous varieties individually. "The cost is now prohibitive for the grower to do this," Hall says, "because New Zealand is the only country demanding this, so they have decided to probably not bother and sell them elsewhere. Because the demand for dahlias worldwide is huge at the moment." There were a few local backyard growers of dahlias in New Zealand, but Netherlands was the main supplier of dahlia bulbs, he says. The removal of the PFA for PSTVd by the Netherlands also affects plants from the chrysanthemum, diascia, persea, petunia, and solanum genera - none of which have been imported since 2020. -RNZ. Bay of Plenty Police are appealing for any information from anyone about a kayaker who has been reported overdue on Lake Rotorua. Police are concerned for his wellbeing, says a post on the Bay of Plenty and Waikato Police Facebook page. "Two Coastguard vessels are currently looking for the man, with the search focused around the Mokoia Island area. "The man is in a black and yellow blow-up kayak and is wearing a dark green jacket. It's not known if the man was wearing a life jacket. "We ask anyone with information to get in touch by calling 105, quoting the event number P052355407." New Zealand firefighters are preparing for another round of industrial action next month. The first one hour stoppage is planned for November 4, with others planned for November 7, 11 and 14. Firefighters first lot of strike action was back in August to protest against resource issues, understaffing and low wages, in which some local firefighters are working upwards of 100 hours per week. Read more here. In a statement on the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union website, national secretary Wattie Watson says the NZPFU and Fire and Emergency New Zealand have been in bargaining for 16 months and FENZ is yet to put up a reasonable offer for settlement. Recently the parties have been in a mediated facilitation process with former Employment Court Judge Graeme Colgan. Judge Colgan has recently released a report with recommendations for the settlement of the collective agreement negotiations to the parties. The NZPFU believes there is a solid foundation of principles in the report to reach a fair and reasonable settlement. Watson says they are due to meet with FENZ on October 27. As the first of the notified strike does not occur until after October 27 meeting, the ball is in FENZs court to genuinely demonstrate it will value and respect the work of all of our members and the critical role they have in protecting the community. FENZ cehief executive Kerry Gregory says they recognise Judge Colgan's recommendations as a key step towards settling a new collective agreement and rebuilding of trust and confidence with career firefighters and their union. Our aim is for a collective agreement thats fair for our professional firefighters, as well as being affordable and sustainable for Fire and Emergency so that our career firefighters can continue to serve our communities. I had hoped the firefighters union would have respected Mr Colgans recommendation that strike strategies should be held off while both parties work through the recommendations and focus on reaching settlement instead of escalating strike action and putting New Zealanders at risk. I urge them to reconsider and put all their focus into this opportunity for us, our career firefighters and all involved to find a way forward and focus on our shared commitment to serving the community. What this means for you Fire and Emergency will continue to respond during this hour, but in city areas well have significantly fewer firefighters and we will take longer than usual to respond to some emergencies, says a statement on the FENZ website. We also may not attend less serious events like private fire alarms where there is no evidence of a fire, small rubbish fires or animal rescues. Part of the organisations contingency planning includes not responding to less serious incidents in career zones during the hour of the strike. For example, this would include private fire alarms where there is no evidence of a fire, small rubbish fires or animal rescues. This will ensure our resources are focused where they are needed most. Volunteers from almost 600 fire stations nationally will respond to emergencies as they do now and provide the services they are trained to do. The below map shows the areas primarily covered by NZPFU members (career firefighters). The red dots are career stations, where NZPFU members will stop work. The yellow dots are composite stations, which are staffed by career and volunteer firefighters. The blue dots represent volunteer stations. You can also help in the following ways: Do NOT call 111 unless it is a genuine emergency. If there is a fire, get out and dial 111. Dont go back in. Volunteer firefighters reassurance The United Fire Brigades Association, which is the largest association representing New Zealands firefighters, is reminding New Zealanders that 85 per cent of the countrys frontline firefighters will remain on deck during Novembers strike action. Volunteer firefighters make up 85 per cent of New Zealands frontline fire services and are the first responders across 93 per cent of New Zealands land mass, says a statement from UFBA. The NZPFU, which represents 1739 employed firefighters, has issued strike notices announcing four one-hour work stoppages from November 4. The UFBA membership comprises 14,000 members including both paid and volunteer firefighters. Its chair, Hon Peter Dunne, says their 12,000 volunteer firefighter members want the public to know theyll continue to turnout for their communities during the strike action. Volunteer firefighters are not part of this industrial dispute between the union and Fire and Emergency New Zealand they have not and do not go on strike. That means the majority of New Zealand will continue to be in safe hands during the planned industrial action. 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. Tanu3000 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Bangalore Posts: 38 Thanked: 67 Times Re: Maruti Grand Vitara Review This is my first post on the Maruti Grand Vitara thread here. To give you a background of our garage, I own a VW Taigun GT+ which I acquired a few months back (Replacing a 7 year old Polo 1.2 MPI). My wife owns a Maruti Baleno AT that she daily drives to her office in Peenya. We love both our cars for what they represent/provide (Taigun: Best safety & performance/price, Baleno: Perfect city car for Bangalore), and are aware of both their shortcomings (Taigun: Subpar Interiors, Baleno: CVT Whine). That being said, I had visited our local NEXA showroom (Kalyani Motors, JP Nagar) to check out the Grand Vitara. I was acutely interested in the interior fit/finish of the car, in order to see how my Taigun could possibly be improved. My observations below are based on just the display vehicle (Mild Hybrid Alpha variant MT). I did not take a test drive, as I wasnt interested in acquiring the car as such. 1. Exterior: The car looks imposing from the outside. it looks longer than its actual 4.34 meter length and wider too. This car will have a respectable footprint on the road. It does have an MPV silhouette (due to its length and comparatively shorter height) though. 2. The driver seat: My first impression was a bit claustrophobic, my Taigun is more airy and the driver doesnt feel as cooped up. I did appreciate the spacious footwell, where the 3 pedals and the dead pedal were very well spaced out. Coming higher up, I realized under thigh support is very inadequate. I could fit my entire palm between the seat edge and the underside of my knee (I am 5ft 9 Inch). The side bolstering on the seat bottom was too much and they were squeezing my legs together. My left leg was seriously limited by the center console. The window switches on the driver side were oddly angled towards the driver, which I found to be a rather ergonomic. I do struggle at times with the window switches in my Taigun while I am driving. But the downside was, the right side door arm rest too was angled and made resting your right elbow a bit odd. The seat back felt fine, I dint have any complaints on it. 3. The dashboard: The car on display had a pretty nice combination of deep brown and black dashboard setup. The deep brown was soft touch and was made of a nice finished leatherette material. The black plastic on top was another story. It had a rough grain which looked cheaper than the dashboard plastic on wife's Baleno. The steering wheel too had similar issues, a lovely leatherette finished wheel to hold on to held back by a horn pad which looked like a direct pick from the swift (No offense to dzire owners, but the Grand Vitara costs thrice as much as the swift and deserves a better part bin). I must still mention the soft touch leatherette portions, as they were real nice and encompassed the entire cabin (Front and Back). 4. The rear seat: The width of the cabin seemed similar to my Taigun, so seating 3 in the back would still be a squeeze. This is excarberated by the comparatively low ceiling, which makes the reat seat feel cramped (In comparison to my Taigun). The panaromic sunroof is a life saver here by getting in more light from above. But I do have my reservations about the material used to cover it. With the cover on, it was letting the showroom lights into the cabin. I do not know how effective it would be on sunny days on the outside. And I believe some one else has mentioned this, but there is a sag to the sunroof cover as well. The seat finishing was on par (Better than the Taigun GT+), less bolstering, so 3 can be more comfortable in the rear seat. Very short seat rear pockets though, you cannot store long/high items in it. 5. Switchgear: The switches on the dashboard, lights, door pad are all sub par. I would equate them with the switchgear on my Taigun (Which is also sub par). This seems to be an issue due to the part bin being shared across the maruti range . I detested the interior lights as well (Warm White) vs the white interior lights on my Taigun. The Maruti Grand Vitara is a very attractive package on paper (High fuel economy, all possible features, respectable performance etc). But frankly I was not impressed by it in person. The design is not seamless (subjective) and the execution has inconsistencies (Lovely steering wheel vs budget grade horn pad). All its features and design elements seem to be shoe horned together to ensure Maruti Suzuki can check as many boxes on the brochure as possible. But all the checkboxes dont flow together in real life. Our biggest disappointment was that the car is not as spacious as it appears to be on the outside. My Taigun looks much smaller from the outside, but feels much larger on the inside. I had gone to Nexa with my father in law who is a die hard Maruti Suzuki customer (He owns a Baleno). He felt let down as well . All this for an asking price of 24.7 lakhs OTR Bangalore. 1.5 lakhs more than the Taigun GT+. Hope my perspective helps somebody else on our forum. Cheers. Hi Folks,This is my first post on the Maruti Grand Vitara thread here. To give you a background of our garage, I own a VW Taigun GT+ which I acquired a few months back (Replacing a 7 year old Polo 1.2 MPI). My wife owns a Maruti Baleno AT that she daily drives to her office in Peenya. We love both our cars for what they represent/provide (Taigun: Best safety & performance/price, Baleno: Perfect city car for Bangalore), and are aware of both their shortcomings (Taigun: Subpar Interiors, Baleno: CVT Whine).That being said, I had visited our local NEXA showroom (Kalyani Motors, JP Nagar) to check out the Grand Vitara. I was acutely interested in the interior fit/finish of the car, in order to see how my Taigun could possibly be improved. My observations below are based on just the display vehicle (Mild Hybrid Alpha variant MT). I did not take a test drive, as I wasnt interested in acquiring the car as such.1.The car looks imposing from the outside. it looks longer than its actual 4.34 meter length and wider too. This car will have a respectable footprint on the road. It does have an MPV silhouette (due to its length and comparatively shorter height) though.2.: My first impression was a bit claustrophobic, my Taigun is more airy and the driver doesnt feel as cooped up. I did appreciate the spacious footwell, where the 3 pedals and the dead pedal were very well spaced out. Coming higher up, I realized under thigh support is very inadequate. I could fit my entire palm between the seat edge and the underside of my knee (I am 5ft 9 Inch). The side bolstering on the seat bottom was too much and they were squeezing my legs together. My left leg was seriously limited by the center console. The window switches on the driver side were oddly angled towards the driver, which I found to be a rather ergonomic. I do struggle at times with the window switches in my Taigun while I am driving. But the downside was, the right side door arm rest too was angled and made resting your right elbow a bit odd. The seat back felt fine, I dint have any complaints on it.3.The car on display had a pretty nice combination of deep brown and black dashboard setup. The deep brown was soft touch and was made of a nice finished leatherette material. The black plastic on top was another story. It had a rough grain which looked cheaper than the dashboard plastic on wife's Baleno. The steering wheel too had similar issues, a lovely leatherette finished wheel to hold on to held back by a horn pad which looked like a direct pick from the swift (No offense to dzire owners, but the Grand Vitara costs thrice as much as the swift and deserves a better part bin). I must still mention the soft touch leatherette portions, as they were real nice and encompassed the entire cabin (Front and Back).4.The width of the cabin seemed similar to my Taigun, so seating 3 in the back would still be a squeeze. This is excarberated by the comparatively low ceiling, which makes the reat seat feel cramped (In comparison to my Taigun). The panaromic sunroof is a life saver here by getting in more light from above. But I do have my reservations about the material used to cover it. With the cover on, it was letting the showroom lights into the cabin. I do not know how effective it would be on sunny days on the outside. And I believe some one else has mentioned this, but there is a sag to the sunroof cover as well. The seat finishing was on par (Better than the Taigun GT+), less bolstering, so 3 can be more comfortable in the rear seat. Very short seat rear pockets though, you cannot store long/high items in it.5.The switches on the dashboard, lights, door pad are all sub par. I would equate them with the switchgear on my Taigun (Which is also sub par). This seems to be an issue due to the part bin being shared across the maruti range . I detested the interior lights as well (Warm White) vs the white interior lights on my Taigun.The Maruti Grand Vitara is a very attractive package on paper (High fuel economy, all possible features, respectable performance etc). But frankly I was not impressed by it in person. The design is not seamless (subjective) and the execution has inconsistencies (Lovely steering wheel vs budget grade horn pad). All its features and design elements seem to be shoe horned together to ensure Maruti Suzuki can check as many boxes on the brochure as possible. But all the checkboxes dont flow together in real life.Our biggest disappointment was that the car is not as spacious as it appears to be on the outside. My Taigun looks much smaller from the outside, but feels much larger on the inside.I had gone to Nexa with my father in law who is a die hard Maruti Suzuki customer (He owns a Baleno). He felt let down as well. All this for an asking price of 24.7 lakhs OTR Bangalore. 1.5 lakhs more than the Taigun GT+.Hope my perspective helps somebody else on our forum.Cheers. In context: French authorities have imposed the maximum possible fine against Clearview AI, a biometric startup selling its controversial facial recognition technology to governments and law enforcement worldwide. The company must delete the data already acquired on French citizens or face an additional 100,000 fine per day. Clearview AI received yet another fine for its biometric profiling activities in Europe, this time for illegally collecting and using data belonging to French citizens without their knowledge. The Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertes (CNIL), France's data protection authority, imposed a 20 million euros penalty against the American company after a lengthy investigation and an unfruitful cooperation attempt. Clearview markets facial recognition tools to companies, individuals, and law enforcement, boasting its algorithm can detect any individual with "99% accuracy" in a database with 30+ billion images of faces. The company scrapes the entire public internet (including social networks) to obtain these images --an perfectly legal activity in Clearview CEO Hoan Ton-That's opinion. Clearview's "bias-free" methods could be perfectly legal, yet the biometric company has been battling with fines and cease-and-desist orders in several countries. The CNIL's latest decision comes after a two-year investigation initiated in May 2020, when the French authority received complaints from individuals about Clearview facial recognition software. Another warning about biometric profiling came from the Privacy International organization in May 2021. In December 2021, the CNIL cooperated with European counterparts to share the results of independent investigations, finally ordering Clearview to stop reusing photos available on the internet. Clearview didn't express any interest in complying, so CNIL's final decision was to impose the maximum financial penalty against the company: 20 million euros. The company will have to delete the data already collected on French citizens, with a further 100,000 fine for every day of delay after a two-month grace period. The CNIL notes that it found Clearview AI guilty of several breaches of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The violations include unlawful processing of personal data (GDPR Article 6), individuals' rights not being respected (Articles 12, 15, and 17), and lack of cooperation with the data protection authority (Article 31). The CNIL judgment is the third decision against Clearview's activities after state authorities recently fined the company for unlawfully collecting biometric data in Italy and Greece. It likely won't be the last. The New York-based corporation continues to sell the idea that its dystopic facial database can "help communities and their people to live better, safer lives." TL;DR: The European Council has affirmed its "common charger directive" after overwhelming EU parliamentary approval. The regulation only needs to be formally signed by the presidents of the EU and EC. It will mandate that small chargeable electronics, including laptops, adapted the USB-C charging standard. It kicks in in 2024 for most equipment and in 2026 for laptops. The European Council (EC) officially approved its USB-C mandate on Monday. The President of the European Parliament and the President of the European Council only need to sign off on the rule. Earlier this month, the European Parliament passed the common charger directive in a landslide vote of 602-13. Electronic manufacturers will have to design devices sold in the European Union with USB-C charging by the fall of 2024. Laptop makers have until the spring of 2026 to comply with the EC's directive. "We all have at least three mobile phone chargers at home. Looking for the right charger, either at home or at work, can be quite annoying," said Czech Minister for Industry and Trade. "On top of this, these chargers amount to 11,000 tons of e-waste every year. Having a charger that fits multiple devices will save money and time and also helps us reduce electronic waste." The regulation also requires manufacturers to allow customers the choice of purchasing devices with or without chargers included. Apple and others have already begun shipping phones without chargers. This stipulation of the rule does not force them to include chargers. Instead, it wants products that currently bundle in a charger by default to offer an "unbundled" option. The Council will evaluate this part of the directive for four years. After that, it may make unbundling mandatory. Common charger adopted "'@EUCouncil has given its final approval to the common charger directive. This means that in 2024, a USB-C port will become mandatory for many electronic devices such as mobile phones ", tablets, and headphones More ' --- EU Council Press (@EUCouncilPress) October 24, 2022 The Brazilian government is looking to pass similar legislation, but it might be a moot point. The EC has been arguing for roping OEMs into a unifying charging standard for over a decade. Since most manufacturers have already adopted USB-C on their own, Apple seems to be one of the last holdouts, preferring its Lightning port over the more common connection. However, the Cupertino giant has already moved several devices to USB-C. Furthermore, recent reliable rumors confirm that it is planning to phase out the Lightning port on its remaining devices --- primarily the iPhone. According to the directive, it will also have to shift its AirPods, Magic Mouse, and Magic Keyboard to USB-C within 24 months. So by the time Brazil adopts anything official, the world may have already made the transition. Additionally, the Brazilian government recently demanded Apple to revert back to bundling chargers in with iPhones. So its copycat move toward forcing a USB-C standard seems counter intuitive to its stance on unbundling. The UC went far from naming names. Even though Apple and its Lightning port seem like apparent targets, the mandate should apply to other small electronic devices like vapes, portable GPS units, cameras, and similar products using micro USB and Firewire chargers. Image credit: Tony Webster An update to the famed autonomous gun turret, the RAPIDFire, was recently showcased by its makers in the Euronaval 2022 event, delivering new features for its defense technology for all. The latest delivery of the United States and French companies, Nexter, and Thales, brings new information for what it worked on for the past month, with the new turret capable of better features. The RAPIDFire turret can now target and bring down enemy drone swarms, leaning toward the new age of warfare and defense needs. RAPIDFire Turret Delivers New Design and Features for All (Photo : Nexter) A French company, the Nexter Group, announced via a press release that they, and a partner company, Thales, developed an update for its automated gun turret which features new technology for all. Its RAPIDFire turret for naval boats and warships is now capable of targetting multiple bogeys at once, and eliminating them once confirmed hostile. According to Interesting Engineering, the companies announced their new technology via the Euronaval 2022 showcase last week, delivering the new tech to its audience and the world. It can counter close surface threats, as well as aerial ones which come within the vicinity of the turret, up to 4,000 meters. Read Also: Razor's Edge Ventures Exceeds Initial $250M Target and Closed at $340M for Third Defense,Security Startup Investment Nexter, Thales Turret Can Take Down Drone Swarms The new defense system can target and bring down drone swarms that come near it, readily available with its rack of 140 ammunition on its turrets. The company said that its turrets are accurate and can take down hostile vehicles or technology with its Anti Aerial Airburst (A3B) munitions. Nexter and Thales' technology can effectively eliminate threats without casualties or causing collateral damage to nearby areas for naval boats. Defense Technology Available in the World Many develop defense technology in the world, and known Big Tech companies are also delivering different innovations for military partners or recipients would deliver for all. One of these companies is Microsoft, particularly with the latest army goggles which it delivered for the US, but failed to bring its features and fell shorthand. General Motors is also one to deliver for the US military, centering on its Ultium battery packs which center on electric mobility for the transportation system of the troops. Different developments bring the world many of its needs in terms of warfare and defense requirements, necessary for yet unknown fights to happen when tensions arise. Japan is also one to manufacture defense technology for all, with readily-available fighter jets that can export to countries that need it. The new RAPIDFire turret from Nexter and Thales aims to bring technological advancement for weaponry to the seas, equipping the military's naval boats with arms to defend against drone swarms. The latest automated gun turret is capable of massive things for its users, soon to be available for many to include for their needs. Related Article: HACM: US Air Force Chooses Raytheon Technologies to Develop Air-Breathing Hypersonic Missile This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Isaiah Richard 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tesla is currently preparing its final touches with its Cybertruck before it begins production next year as the company transitions from the development stage to the tooling stage. (Photo : ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images) The Telsa Cybertruck is on display at the recently reopened Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, July 1, 2020. - California Governor Gavin Newsom announced July 1, 2020 that the state would be shutting down indoor operations for restaurants, zoos, museums and several other sectors effective immediately due to concerns over the recent spike in COVID-19 cases. Tooling for Cybertruck Before it begins production in mid-2023, Review Geek reported that Tesla is in the final preparations for Cybertruck, as they begin the phase for tooling the vehicle. This phase is also conducted for the machines and production lines for it to manufacture. The Cybertruck will be produced at Giga Texas based on the announcement during Tesla's Q3 earnings call. This announcement from the company was delighted by many of its fans and customers as the production has been delayed several times. The delays were not only caused by economic issues but also to supply chain challenges. Despite it being produced in Giga Texas, Not a Tesla App reported that the company will be manufacturing its battery packs at the Fremont factory. As per the report, Giga Texas is not ready to mass produce battery cells and cell pack manufacturing, which is why it was moved to Fremont. Although Giga Texas is part of Tesla's application to be a manufacturer of batteries and cathode. The only problem is that despite the construction already starting, the factory may still not be ready when Cybertrucks started its production. The same report also revealed that IDRA's new Giga Press will be used for the Cybertruck. This has a clamping force of 9,000 tons and is comprised of 54 pieces. Approximately, it weighs 170,995 pounds. It is expected to come to Austin, Texas as it already arrived in Houston only last week. Tesla has been getting its supply from IDRA Group for quite some time now. It provides the company with giant manufacturing machines weighing 6,000 tons. Through these, Tesla was able to manufacture single pieces for Model Y. For the Cybertruck, a 9,000-ton Giga Press will soon be received at Giga Texas to manufacture the Cybertruck. Also Read: Cybertruck Delayed? Tesla '2022' Removed From Website Prototype Closely Spotted In February this year, the company was spotted working with a new prototype for Cybertruck, which was taken through a drone shot at the Fremont factory, as reported by Electrek. During these times, fans and customers were really expecting an update on the production of this vehicle as it was delayed several times. The statement from the company that it will be produced "hopefully" in 2023 was also questioned by people as Telsa tends to be unsure about the vehicle's situation during that time. Looking back on it, the company has been improving on giving detailed updates. Related Article: Tesla Cybertruck Prototype Closely Spotted by Drone Shot at Fremont Factory | What's New This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Inno Flores 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google's Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro releases brought the long-anticipated Face Unlock feature that is available in most smartphones now, and it is a way to authenticate security using one's facial identity. From its fingerprint scanning technology, Google seems to have a new focus now, centering on security software to unlock the smartphone. However, reports are now claiming that it is not as secure as Google said, especially with missing hardware tech necessary to protect the device's security, with a way to turn it off. Google Pixel 7, 7 Pro Face Unlock Feature (Photo : Google) Google Pixel 7 renders from I/O 2022. Android Central said that Google's Pixel 7 devices might not have the level of security that the company advertised for all with its Face Unlock feature. It is because the company only uses the front camera and its software to authenticate the device and unlock it for the user, not having the special hardware for it. Unlike previous Google Pixel devices, particularly the Pixel 4, the old device featured the Soli radar which would be helpful in this situation to help its Face Unlock give users the kind of tech they need. The first time it was available is with the Pixel 4, but Google removed it for subsequent releases, not until 2022 released the latest smartphone in their lineup. Read Also: Google's My Ad Center Now Accessible-Here's How to Turn Off Targeted Ads How to Turn Off Pixel 7 Face Unlock? Having no hardware for the facial recognition feature may be tricky, as it means that people may be able to dupe or hack the system and access the device. With that, users may turn it off for their Pixel 7 devices via the Settings feature. Go to Settings, and scroll down to Security to access the options for Face Unlock. Access the Face and Fingerprint unlock settings, and tap Delete face model on your device. Deleting all the face models would disable the feature altogether, and users are now set to unlocking via their fingerprint, PIN code, or password. Follow the steps above to bring back the feature should they want to return to the previous setting. Google's Pixel 7 Lineup The new Google Pixel 7 features many add-ons to the device, with new functions to take advantage of for its overall upgrade to the device that will allow users to get the most out of it. The previous ads teased the Pixel 7's new Macro Focus for the Pixel 7 Pro, as well as the Cinematic Mode for both variants of the smartphone. All-in-all, the current reviews of the Pixel 7 affirms that Google's latest smartphone is a good buy and a significant upgrade from old devices from the company. Still, it features a minimal design change for its looks but does not necessarily mean that the new Pixel smartphone is not worth the upgrade. While the Pixel 7's main upgrade is with the camera, it still embodies the Android 13 along with the latest features that come with it, elevating the smartphone experience. The new Pixel 7 brought the world a wave of new features and experiences with the device, as well as its much-awaited Face Unlock features which are not exactly beneficial one in terms of security. People may still use it, as Google promised a security feature with its software tricks that can detect a person's face and distinguish it without its needed hardware, but it is something that would depend on their preference. Related Article: Pixel 7: Google Offers Trade-In Up to $1,000 for iPhone 13 Pro Max-Where to Get Best Value? This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Isaiah Richard 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Korean Air plane got stuck at a Philippine airport for overshooting a runway. Although no injuries were reported, the plane remained stuck in the grass. All 173 Passengers were Not Injured During the Incident According to the story by NBC Washington, there were 162 passengers and 11 crewmembers aboard the flight. The passengers and crew members used the emergency slides to exit the aircraft while reporting no injuries. The incident caused multiple flights to be canceled, and even the Mactan-Cebu International Airport had to remain closed due to the runway being unusable. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport is referred to as one of the busiest airports in the country. Korean Air President Vowed to Take Steps to Stop a Recurrence The president of Korean Air issued a public apology and vowed that from now on, they would take steps for a recurrence to be prevented. Woo Keehong, the president of Korean Air, said that the airlines always prioritize safety in their operations and regret the stress and inconvenience that the event has caused their passengers. As for the plane, its nose reportedly received heavy damage while the front underbelly was sheared off. The front landing wheel of the plane was no longer visible as its front tipped towards the grassy area. Authorities Assessed Whether It Is Safe for Other Aircrafts to Fly Out Safely While the emergency slides at the sides of the plane can be seen, another more alarming sight is the ripped-open hole that was spotted at the top of the plane near a front door, as also noted in an article by Nikkei Asia. The Philippine officials said that the first thing they would do would be to siphon the remaining fuel before they started to remove the aircraft from the end of the runway. Authorities also assessed whether other aircraft that remained started at the airport could finally fly out safely. Dozens of Cancelled Flights Include 50 Coming from Cebu Pacific Among the dozens of canceled flights to and from the Cebu province include those of Philippine Airlines, which announced over 50 canceled domestic flights. An official investigation of the incident is still happening as of press time. As per a statement by Korea Air Lines Co., the Airbus A330 came from South Korea's Icheon and tried to land twice before overrunning the runway during its third attempt. The Philippines Civil Aviation Authority assured that all passengers were safe and that the ground personnel attended to them. Read Also: Rivian R1T Camp Kitchen Has Been Discontinued: Here's Why No Fatal Passenger Crash by Korean Air was Recorded Since 1997 Reuters noted that the Airbus SE A330 tried twice to land in poor weather, resulting in it overrunning the runway. As per the article, Cebu airport shared on its Facebook that it had closed the runway temporarily for the plane to be removed, which resulted in the cancellation of all domestic and international flights until further notice. As per the publication, there has been no fatal passenger crash by Korean Air since 1997, according to data from the Aviation Safety Network. Related Article: Subaru Plans Self-Driving Cars That Can Pilot a Car When Its Data Connection is Lost By 2025 This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian B. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Climate change-related disturbances to Earth's atmosphere make it more difficult to remove hazardous debris from Earth's orbit, according to a new study. As reported first by Space.com and Phys.org, recent research by the British Antarctic Survey found that when carbon dioxide levels rise, the upper atmosphere becomes less dense. As a result, objects orbiting near Earth have less pull and float for longer. This could be good for satellite operators, who recently noticed their satellites disintegrating more quickly than ever due to deteriorating space weather. Meanwhile, space junk and abandoned satellites slowly descending through the atmosphere will continue to clog their orbits for a longer period. This could mean a greater chance of hazardous collisions that could produce a plethora of dangerous debris. Computer Simulations of the Atmosphere According to a statement from the British Antarctic Survey, the alarming changes in air density will be detectable at altitudes between 56 and 310 miles (90 and 500 kilometers) and will take place even under scenarios with minimal greenhouse gas output. These conclusions were established by Ingrid Cnossen, a research fellow at the British Antarctic Survey, using computer simulations of the entire atmosphere. She examined the past 50 years of atmospheric evolution and contrasted it with predictions using hypothetical future emission scenarios. The model, which projected Earth's upper atmosphere 50 years into the future using predictive methods, showed twice as much thinning as observed over the previous 50 years. "Space debris is becoming a rapidly growing problem for satellite operators due to the risk of collisions, which the long-term decline in upper atmosphere density is making even worse," Cnossen said in a statement. "I hope this work will help to guide appropriate action to control the space pollution problem and ensure that the upper atmosphere remains a useful resource into the future." The U.S. Global Surveillance Network now monitors 30,000 objects larger than 4 inches (10 centimeters) in Earth orbit. Additionally, the European Space Agency estimates that roughly a million 0.4-inch-wide (1 cm) particles are currently speeding around the Earth. Read also: FCC New Rules Require Satellites To Be Deorbited Within 5 Years of Completion to Avoid Space Junk Risks Can Space Junk Kill Someone? The likelihood of fatalities from falling rocket debris over the next ten years has been calculated by a recent study that was published in Nature Astronomy. The authors calculated the locations of rocket debris and other space junk when they fell back to Earth using mathematical modeling of rocket part inclinations and orbits in space and population density below them, as well as 30 years' worth of satellite data. The researchers found slight but significant harm from space junk falling back to Earth in the next ten years. However, this is more likely to occur in southern latitudes instead of northern ones. The study found that the chances of a rocket body crashing are around three times higher at the latitudes of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jakarta, Indonesia, or Lagos, Nigeria, than in New York, Moscow, and Beijing, Russia. The risk to human life from uncontrolled rocket reentries over the following ten years was also evaluated by the authors as a "casualty expectation." According to the researchers, there is a 10% chance that rocket debris will lethally hit someone on Earth. But at the same time, they said that it is still a conservative estimate. Related Article: NASA, US Congress Files Bill to Address Space Junk Threats This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The breach at Medibank, an Australian health insurance provider, started with the theft of the credentials of an employee with high-level access to the organization, according to The Guardian's source. These data were then sold on a cybercrime forum written in the Russian language. Due to a cyber issue, the firm informed its clients on Oct. 13 that it had temporarily shut down two services. It then revealed that hackers had told them about the missing 200GB of consumer data from Medibank's servers. The "negotiation" from the hacker contained 100 records with personal information such as names, addresses, dates of birth, Medicare numbers, phone numbers, and details regarding medical claims such as diagnoses, treatments, and locations of medical services. Related Story: Cyberhackers Leak Massive Database of Students from LA School District Information From the Insider Medibank has spent the previous two weeks investigating the attack's origins. The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have both joined the probe. The insider, who was not authorized to talk publicly, speculated that the assault began when a hacker obtained credentials from an employee at Medibank with administrative access and then offered them for sale on a Russian-language cybercrime forum. Subsequently, another hacker or gang of hackers allegedly purchased the credentials and went into Medibank's network, setting up not one but two backdoors in case the first one was detected. Inside Medibank, there's a widespread belief that the attacker scanned the whole network and internal systems, not just the customer database, before using a proprietary tool to extract data from the database and compress it into a zip file they later retrieved from the network. Thereafter, Medibank discovered the unusual activities, discovered the two backdoors, and sealed them; thus, the source said. In addition, the insurer was warned by the ASD that it might be the target of a ransomware assault that ultimately never materialized. It has not yet been made public when exactly the data were stolen or when the hack was originally initiated. The number of Medibank's clients whose information may have been exposed remains unknown. Multi-factor authentication might have been broken or just ignored. The Recurring Scam Australian Strategic Policy Institute's head of international cyber policy, Fergus Hanson, identified the fraud, which included the theft and sale of high-level credentials. Given this, it is possible that hackers might write software to script out the data automatically. Hanson is optimistic about telling The Guardian that the incident is preventable. "Could they have done better? Yes, maybe they could have done better. Is every organization gripped up to deal with this? Well, absolutely not. [But Medibank] are in a really privileged position, handling people's healthcare data, so I think there is a genuine case to answer there." The Optus data breach, which exposed up to 10 million consumers, the Woolworths data breach, and the Vinomofo data breach are just a few of the high-profile data breaches that have occurred in Australia in the last month Medibank is the latest. Related Article: Australian Authorities Demand that Optus Pay Costs on Massive Data Breach This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Trisha Kae Andrada 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Stark divide in UKs regional tech sector could hold back future growth London, the South East and East of England perform well, but the new report notes the necessity for levelling up in Northern Ireland, Wales and North East LONDON, 24 October 2022: Future economic growth could be held back because of the stark regional divides in the UKs technology sector, says techUK in a new report published today. The technology trade association has published the second iteration of the Local Digital Capital Index (LDC Index), which measures the strengths of the UKs regional digital ecosystems, and concludes that a technology sector concentrated and reliant on the South of England isnt sustainable for the wider UK economy. The trade body has called on the Government to work with the industry in order to secure future growth in the sector, create jobs and invest at a local level. The LDC Index assessments are made across six components: digital infrastructure, finance and investment, skills, digital adoption, research and development, and trade. The findings present a picture of a nation digitally divided; techUK notes that there is a split between rural and urban areas but also between the South and the North and UK nations. techUKs Index found that Greater London and the South East scored consistently well across the various components. More localised data also found that the biggest tech investment hubs such as London, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Bath and Bristol predictably show a strong digital ecosystem across multiple components. However, Northern Ireland, Wales and the North East of England dont perform as well, even though digital connectivity is relatively strong in the North East. The lack of a consistently strong digital ecosystem across the UK poses a threat to the growth of the country. The technology sector has been growing exponentially, leading to more jobs and higher wages, and the Index shows that further investment is essential to tap into the digital ecosystems of those local areas currently falling behind to ensure their growth and for the benefit of the citizens. Recommendations to Government techUK strongly calls for closer collaboration between local and central government and the tech industry to fill these gaps, and has listed ten recommendations to government to achieve urgent levelling up across the UKs nations and regions: Ensure that Project Gigabit reaches all areas of the UK, particularly rural communities. Investment Zones announced by the Government must also be tech zones to attract people to work, base their business in them and secure new future investment. Improve skills data to ensure that activity, such as funded digital bootcamps, and comparisons of these activities are consistent across the UK. Digital actions and activities should be identified in future Levelling Up bids and projects made by local councils to help address regional divides and exclusion. Data should be shared more regularly on initiatives such as Help to Grow Digital to allow local activities to support national schemes. Conclusive and consistent data to measure data ecosystems across the UK. Government should look to running a testbed with a Combined Authority to build a working model that can be adopted UK wide. Devolved Government and elected Mayors should publish and regularly update their digital strategies. Central Government cant do this alone and needs to empower more local activity and accountability. Finance and investment regionally lag behind London. Improved access to venture capital (VC) and angel investment, better signposting to support and test new proposals, such as the creation of new ringfenced regional funding in partnership with elected Mayors focused on digital outcomes and supporting vital national infrastructure. Implement changes to the standard industrial classification (SIC) and standard occupation classification (SOC) to better mirror the tech sector and changing occupation, to better tracking and data capture. Local collaboration to ensure digital connectivity reaches all areas of the UK and Mayors and Combined Authorities have an important role to play. There is a stark divide in the UKs local, regional and national tech scenes. If we want to back the UKs future economic growth, that cant be allowed to continue. The technology sector has been growing exponentially and has the potential to add an extra 41.5 billion to the UK economy, however, for that to happen it needs to be strong across the whole of the UK. In the Local Digital Capital Index, we strongly encourage Government to work with the tech industry to ensure we achieve the levelling up, boost local communities and the overall economy. Julian David CEO, techUK Having a data tool like the Local Digital Capital Index enables policy makers, businesses and civic leaders to make choices grounded in evidence. Our six critical components span infrastructure, skills, finance and investment, trade, adoption, and research and development. Taken together, they paint a picture of opportunity and challenge. Particularly through these times of great hardship for so many, I am hoping the findings help both those in power and those who need a voice on the ground take positive steps for change. Professor Kerensa Jennings FRSA BT Group Director, Data Platforms Against the backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis, it is more important than ever that local communities can harness the potential of a growing digital industry to ensure their future prosperity. Using our experience at developing innovation and skills, we aim to work with other industry partners and third sector organisations to help develop local, place based digital skills pipelines. We call this 'Innovating Up. Kulveer Ranger, SVP Atos and techUK Board Member techUK Building Stronger Local Economies Her murder occurs amid extremely violent attacks against the residents of Molleturo who are resisting illegal and legal mining. On Monday, Ecuador's Alliance of Organizations for Human Rights (AODH) reported that groups involved in gold mining murdered environmental activist Alba Bermeo, a 24-year-old woman who was five months pregnant at the time of the crime. This murder occurred on the night of Oct. 21 in San Pedro de Yumate, a town belonging to the Molleturo parish, near the EcuaGoldmining S.A. mining concession. The victim and her brother were traveling from Guayaquil to Molleturo in a crane. During the journey, the crane was intercepted by an unknown person who asked them to tow a truck that was loaded with gold. Since the crane driver and the environmental activist did not accept the request, the stranger shot them. #SeVieneLaConsulta| Cientos de quitenas y quitenos caminan desde la Cruz del Papa hacia el @cnegobec para entregar mas de 300 mil firmas que respaldan la Consulta Popular por un #QuitoSinMineria. #EnVivohttps://t.co/n2NaB9fZg8 pic.twitter.com/dl1bR4hv9D Alianza de Organizaciones por los Derechos Humanos (@DDHH_Alianza) October 24, 2022 The tweet contains images of the march that accompanied the presentation of 300,000 signatures of citizens who support a popular consultation for the Metropolitan District of Quito to be declared a mining-free area. "The murder of the environmental defender occurs amid extremely violent attacks against this community, which have been denounced to the authorities. This is the third attack with firearms against the residents of Molleturo, who are resisting illegal and legal mining," the AODH said in a statement. In this regard, local outlets recalled that another environmental activist and her son were attacked in their home on Oct. 1. Days later, another Molleturo resident was injured in her leg. Despite the seriousness of these events, neither the Azuay government, nor the Police, nor the Prosecutor's Office have taken measures to provide protection to environmental defenders in Molleturo. They have also done nothing to prevent illegal mining," Rop News commented. [Pick] I took care of you all my life... Son in his 40s who murdered his mother for nagging him Questions about Alzheimer's disease or related disorders can be sent to Dana Territo, author of "What My Grandchildren Taught Me About Alzheimer's Disease," at thememorywhisperer@gmail.com. Decarbonisation may be a priority for all businesses at the moment, but for the aviation sector the issue is particularly acute. The global aviation industry is responsible for about 2.5 per cent of the worlds carbon emissions a bigger contribution than Australia - and if the aviation industry was a country, it would be one of the worlds 10 worst polluters. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines were scrambling to adopt various measures to combat emissions and soothe growing guilt among passengers about travelling, including voluntary carbon offset schemes and investing in sustainable jet fuel. But now, with travellers again flocking to the skies after two years of on and off lockdowns, sustainability experts believe the best way for the sector to meaningfully cut emissions is by taxing frequent flyers. That could be good news for carbon-conscious travellers, but also a problem for Australian airlines and passengers. Aviation accounts for about 2 per cent of global CO emissions, but its share will rise if pre-pandemic growth trends resume. Credit:AP A white paper released by the International Council on Clean Transportation published last month argues a levy on the most frequent of frequent flyers would be a more equitable way to decarbonise aviation than a widespread carbon tax on all flights, which would send ticket prices soaring. The federal government has activated emergency provisions to marshal all relevant agencies and departments behind its response to the Medibank cyberattack, in a sign of its growing concern about the escalating incident which may have affected up to 4 million Australians. The move to activate the national coordination mechanism (NCM), a framework set up during the COVID-19 pandemic, comes after Medibank on Tuesday admitted hackers may have obtained the private medical records of customers of its flagship brand. The company had previously insisted that only its smaller, budget brand ahm and international student customers were affected. This is a distressing development and Medibank unreservedly apologises to our customers, it said in a statement to the ASX confirming the widening scale of the attack. The opposition has called on Cybersecurity Minister Clare ONeil (bottom right), to reveal what information the government had from Medibank under chief executive David Koczkar (top right). Credit:Louis Trerise, Louise Kennerley, Arsineh Houspian Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil told parliament on Tuesday that she had activated the NCM which means all the necessary Commonwealth agencies and departments have been corralled to deal with the attack. These include the Australian Federal Police, Australian Signals Directorate, Australian Cyber Security Centre, Department of Home Affairs, Services Australia and the Department of Health. What we can see is Medibank is just as complex and urgent as some of what was dealt with [during the pandemic], ONeil said on Tuesday. When it comes to the personal health information of Australians, the damage here is potentially irreparable. Wagering entrepreneur Matthew Tripps fledgling gambling group Betr is out of the race for the West Australian wagering licence just hours before the state government was due to make its final decision. Betr was selected as the preferred bidder for the $1 billion WA TAB licence two weeks ago, beating out Tabcorp and Entain but it has withdrawn its bid at the 11th hour. It is understood Betr had a late dispute with the state government over branding. Betr chief executive Matthew Tripp. Credit:Jesse Marlow The turnaround - first reported by The Australian - leaves Tabcorp as the most likely candidate to win the licence, despite chief executive Adam Rytenskild previously telling investors the green giant would not overpay to secure a licence. Its understood neither Tabcorp nor Entain will be upping their bid as a result of the report. Tabcorp would present the lowest transition risk given it runs all other totalisers in the country. Its understood the Tabcorp bid was substantially lower than Betrs. Earlier today I asked our national environment and climate editor Nick OMalley what the leadership of Rishi Sunak as British prime minister would mean for climate change policies. Britain under Boris Johnson had ambitious plans for cutting greenhouse emissions, but Liz Truss had used her campaign period and short time in office to take aim at renewable energy and champion fracking. Rishi Sunak at COP26 in Glasgow last year when he was chancellor of the exchequer. Credit:Alberto Pezzali One of Truss first acts as prime minister after the mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II was to advise King Charles III not to go to the next round of United Nations climate talks. COP27 will be held in Egypt in a few weeks, after Britain hosted COP26 in Glasgow last year. Three generations of royals the late queen, her son Charles, and grandson William played a pivotal role at the Glasgow meeting. As chancellor of the exchequer (akin to treasurer) under Johnson as prime minister, Sunak also gave a speech at COP26 to lay out plans to make Britain the worlds first net-zero aligned financial centre. Charles was often criticised for political interference when he was Prince of Wales, in contrast to the late queen, who was praised as a model monarch for keeping her opinions private. Yet the queen used her video address to COP26 to explicitly endorse her familys environmental activism, following the footsteps of her late husband, Prince Philip. Heres what OMalley had to say about Sunak: I find it hard to share the relief of the Cranbrook school council president that the $125m five-storey facilities upgrade at the school will, among other things, finally overcome the educational disadvantage of having only a 25-metre pool that wasnt very good for water polo. I have no objection to the existence of wealthy non-government schools, no interest in the level of fees they charge and only passing bemusement at their competing to attract clientele through the provision of lavish capital works. Cranbrook is spending $125m on its facilities upgrade but the building bonanza in NSW private schools alone in the past five years has reached $1.5 billion. Credit:Brook Mitchell But I have a fundamental objection to such schools which enjoy charitable taxation status, have massive investments, raise millions of dollars in donations, can pick and choose which students they accept and charge fees approaching the national minimum wage receiving public funding. While the hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars flowing from governments to such schools cannot be spent directly on facilities, they cover much of the recurrent cost of teachers salaries. This permits a substantial component of school fees to be spent on the servicing of loans for capital works. It is this which has fuelled the building bonanza in private schools in the past five years, which in NSW alone amounts to $1.5 billion. A NSW District Court jury has been discharged after failing to reach verdicts on 11 charges of child sexual abuse against a Mosman swimming instructor, who has been acquitted of 10 counts. Kyle James Henk Daniels, 24, pleaded not guilty to 21 charges of child sexual abuse and faced a 10-week trial in Sydney. The Crown alleged he had a sexual interest in young girls and acted on it by touching the vaginas of nine students during lessons at Mosman Swim Centre in 2018 and 2019. Kyle Daniels outside Downing Centre court on Monday afternoon. Credit:Nikki Short During his two days in the witness box, Daniels repeatedly said, it did not happen. The Downing Centre District Court jury resumed deliberations on Monday on the remaining 12 charges - five counts of indecent assault and seven of intentionally sexually touching a child - related to five girls, aged between five and 10. Kyle Daniels silently exited the NSW District Court on Monday, leaving prosecutors to consider whether the Mosman swimming instructor should face a third trial on 11 child abuse charges. Three-and-a-half years after his highly publicised arrest on Sydneys northern beaches, the 24-year-old was acquitted of 10 out of 21 charges after a lengthy retrial which had run since mid-August. Kyle Daniels leaves Downing Centre District Court after the jury in his second trial was discharged. Credit:Nikki Short On Monday morning, after returning the last of their not guilty verdicts, the jury was at an impasse on five counts of indecent assault and six counts of intentionally sexually touching a child, related to five different girls at Mosman Swim Centre. There remains no prospect of resolution on these counts, a jury note read. A Brisbane senior constable has been charged after he allegedly used excessive force against a member of the public in Fortitude Valley. Queensland police on Monday released a statement regarding the 46-year-old officer, who was charged in relation to an incident on August 4. The officer has been stood down and was served with a notice to appear in court on November 9. In keeping with our commitment to high standards of behaviour, transparency and accountability, we have undertaken to inform the public when an officer faces serious allegations of misconduct, police said. This does not mean that the allegations against the officer have been substantiated. Read more on integrity in government. See all 27 stories . The state government-appointed municipal monitor of the Greens-run City of Yarra has quietly stepped down after finding improvements in governance and culture at the council. Yehudi Blachers final report into the council was published over the weekend, almost a month after he submitted his report on September 28 and then left the council. Council monitor Yehudi Blacher. Credit:Daryl Gordon Residents slammed the report as anaemic and underwhelming, while council insiders questioned whether a monitor was really needed in Yarra and asked why there was a one-month delay in publishing his report. Blachers report found an improvement in the quality of discussions at councillor briefings and praised the councils updated code of conduct as a sensible addition. Twenty-five new state schools will be built in Victoria by 2026, and almost 90 existing schools will be expanded or upgraded, the Andrews government has pledged in a $1.6 billion funding announcement. The school building promise, made one month and two days before the state election, is overwhelmingly targeted at Melbournes fastest growing outer suburbs. Premier Daniel Andrews and Carrum MP Sonya Kilkenny at Seaford North Primary School on Monday. Credit:Penny Stephens Eight of the planned new schools will be built in the outer south-east, six in the outer west and seven in the north. One will be built in inner suburban Fishermans Bend, two near Geelong and one near Wodonga. Read more on integrity in government. See all 27 stories . Public trust in Victoria Police has hit a new low after a succession of corruption, sexual abuse and misconduct scandals, with more than one in five Victorians reporting they no longer have confidence in its integrity. The collapse in public support for the force comes despite the state government providing record-setting boosts to funding that made Victoria Police the largest and most well-funded law enforcement agency in the country. Police used a range of non-lethal crowd-control measures to disperse protesters at an anti-lockdown rally last year. Credit:Justin McManus But Victoria Polices growth in power and its successes in fighting crime and community outreach have been mirrored by a rising number of self-inflicted scandals that have hurt its reputation. In recent years these have included the mass faking of breathalyser tests, the revelation of the Lawyer X scandal, the leaking of photographs of transgender former football coach Dani Laidley and regular reports of officers in trouble for assaulting civilians, sexual abuse and misconduct in office. They have also been required by the government to enforce unpopular lockdown restrictions on civilians, including a ban on playgrounds and shutting down protests that would have been permitted at any other time. Read more of our Victorias Agenda coverage on the health system. See all 17 stories . Community health centres fear they have been left out of the Victorian election health funding blitz, and public health advocates say it is a wasted opportunity to reduce demand on emergency departments. The former federal Whitlam government started the non-profit community health model in the 1970s to provide free or low-cost access to general practitioners and wraparound services, such as dentists, disability care and physiotherapy at each site for vulnerable residents. Acting cohealth chief executive Chris Turner said even a modest investment in community health could stop some people needing emergency care. Credit:Wayne Taylor The Victorian Healthcare Association said the state should recognise its community health centres, after other states abandoned the model, and provide adequate funding to create a seamless health system. Thats the promise that Victoria can fulfil if Victoria actually did it properly, said Juan Paolo Legaspi, deputy chief executive of the association. Press notes describe Kate Tarker's new play Montag at Soho Rep as a "domestic thriller, a sleep deprivation comedy, and a rebellion celebration under threat of annihilation." The production, directed by Dustin Wills, is certainly that, and a rebellion celebration in more ways than one: it's one of the last shows to be produced under the tenure of current and longtime Soho Rep directors Sarah Benson and Meropi Peponides. Here, Tarker celebrates them and tells us what to expect from this brand new work. Kate Tarker ( Tricia Baron) What was the inspiration for Montag? Can you talk a little bit about the development of the play from when you started until now? I wanted to write a story about a transformational female friendship, and I wanted to set it in the world I grew up in, sandwiched in between a small German town and a US Military Base community. Identity felt slippery and multiple in that space. Individual friendships sometimes felt like foreign policy. I'd been circling around this impulse for some time, but receiving a commission from Soho Rep gave me so much more space to examine it, and it let me decide early on who I wanted to make this piece with. My long-term collaborators and close friends, director Dustin Wills and composer Dan Schlosberg, both have backgrounds in opera, and I ended up shaping the play with them in mind. Press notes describe the piece as a "domestic thriller, a sleep deprivation comedy, and a rebellion celebration." I know what the first and third are, but what is a "sleep deprivation comedy"? (Because as a constantly sleep deprived person, that's what sold me.) Early on in my process I was thinking a lot about stoner buddy comedies, and the bizarre, elaborate schemes characters often come up with while they're stoned. I ended up losing interest in pot as a plot element for Montag, but I found I could make a lot of the same strangeness come to pass by making my characters very, very tired. When we meet best friends Faith and Novella, they're on day seven of almost no sleep, and we get to see the culmination of oddball decisions they made in the six days leading up to this one. We also get to see them slowly breaking down. A scene from Kate Tarker's Montag at Soho Rep ( Julieta Cervantes) Do you see a thematic line between Thunderbodies and Montag, and if so, can you talk a little bit about it? Formally speaking, these plays are polar opposites: Thunderbodies was a maximalist explosion, Montag is more like a whispered secret in the dark. But in both plays I'm interested in the catharsis of laughing at what hurts the most, and in fully embracing the freedom, mess, and play of having a body. I'm also exploring some overlapping obsessions in both plays. These include the military and gender, language and power, violence and presence. This is your latest show at Soho Rep, which recently announced that two of its leaders are stepping down. How has working with them, and the company in general, helped shape your goals for yourself as a dramatist? It's such an honor to have this play going up during Sarah Benson and Meropi Peponides's final season at Soho Rep. Together with Cynthia Flowers, they've led their theater with an extraordinary commitment towards meeting artists' practical needs and supporting their visions. I mean, really, they commit upfront to producing every play they commission. That's practically unheard of in the American theater. For me, the result was that with Montag, I wrote a more ambitious and ferocious version of my play than I could have done without their support. First produced by the McCarter Theater Center in Princeton, New Jersey, in 2011, Sarah Treem's The How and the Why makes its New York City premiere at the Sheen Center through the company Good Egg, more than a decade later during a sociopolitically interesting time. By "interesting" I mean, of course, fraught and even frightening. The Supreme Court's recent overturning of Roe v. Wade has put a woman's right to bodily autonomy in more jeopardy than ever before, thus offering a fascinating extra-textual backdrop for a two-hander about two generations of women scientists confronting stark differences in feminist perspective and life experience while contemplating fundamental questions about reproductive behavior. The title of Treem's play, as Rachel (Arielle Goldman) explains, comes from evolutionary biologist Ernst Mayr in boiling down the two basic perspectives from which all biologists approach the issues they're studying: the ways things happen ("how") and the reasons they happen in the first place ("why"). The main issue that obsesses Rachel is menstruation: specifically why women are subjected to periods in the first place. Her theory that periods are defense mechanisms against the toxicity of sperm is a truly radical one. Or so it seems to Zelda (Karen Leiner), the older scientist to whom she explains her thought process, and who, a generation earlier, conceived of the "grandmother hypothesis," which suggested an evolutionary reason for why women continue to live long past menopause. The reason Rachel is meeting with Zelda, however, is more personal in nature, as is gradually revealed over the course of the two conversations that make up Treem's play. We eventually discover that Rachel is, in fact, the adopted daughter of Zelda, whom she gave up to pursue her scientific work. But more than just being about scientific and familial questions, The How and the Why is also about differences between generations. Whereas Rachel is a generally ultra-progressive millennial who, among other things, questions the institution of marriage, Zelda still holds on to some more traditional ideas about not only marriage, but feminism in general, especially regarding how to navigate the still-male-dominated field of science. Treem best known for her television work as a co-creator of The Affair and a writer for In Treatment infuses these two characters with enough detail for the play to be compelling even at its most jargon-filled. That isn't to say she isn't above some distinctly writerly plot manipulations here and there: Certain revelations in the second half feel less organic to these two individuals than borne more out of a misguided need for heightened drama. And yet, even such failures aren't enough to dull the edge of the genuinely provocative issues their conversations raise and the pathos of the challenging emotions these characters' pasts and presents dredge up. Treem's writing is also sharp enough to transcend some of director Austin Pendleton's rather odd staging choices. Rachel may describe Zelda's office as "very masculine," a characterization that Treem echoes in her own stage directions. That doesn't necessarily come across in Anya Klepikov's minimalist set design, though, however elegantly and intimately lit by Ryan Metzler. Pendleton's blocking of the dive-bar-set second half also occasionally strains credulity (his decision to have Leiner get up and grab two batches of popcorn in the middle of the scene briefly took me out of the scene). Most baffling of all is his use of bright flashes of light to demarcate ostensible moments of insight for both characters (one for Rachel in the first scene, one for Zelda in the second), but which only serve as momentary distractions instead. At least Pendleton doesn't get in the way of his two performers. Though Leiner, at least at the preview performance I attended, still evinced a slightly shaky handle on her lines, she nevertheless nails the vibe of a slightly aloof, reflective personality who has lived long and hard with the choices she has made in her life. By contrast, Goldman is commandingly youthful, open, and vulnerable playing a character with strong opinions who is nevertheless still taking some uncertain first steps in navigating the scientific world. All by themselves, they make the talk in The How and the Why feel genuinely weighty and full of import: an extended conversation worth eavesdropping on. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Wingate students urged to see value of voting in off-year elections Batavia, NY (14020) Today Cloudy. A shower of rain or wet snow possible. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low near 30F. Winds light and variable. ICE agents carry out an operation to arrest illegal aliens in Philadelphia on Sept. 25, 2019. (ICE) 175 Illegal Aliens Arrested in Nationwide Sting, Including Some Accused of Murder In a national sting operation that lasted through August and September, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 175 illegal aliens, all of whom had multiple DUI offenses and some who are being accused of murder by vehicle. The agency said the nationwide law enforcement effort began on Aug. 20 and ended on Sept. 30, according to an Oct. 19 press release. In addition to DUI convictions, agents arrested illegal immigrants with criminal histories that include assault, child cruelty, domestic violence, fraud, homicide by vehicle, hit-and-run, and larceny. More than 11,000 people in the U.S. died as a result of crashes involving a drunk driver in 2020, said Corey A. Price, executive associate director of ICEs enforcement and removal operations (ERO). An enforcement operation focusing on individuals who have previously been convicted of DUIsome resulting in death or serious bodily harmis vitally important to public safety, Price added. ERO continues to remove unlawfully present individuals who are negatively affecting the safety of our communities. @ICEgovERO arrests 175 during national operation targeting noncitizens convicted of DUI and related criminal convictions for serious bodily injury, death, hit and run or property damage. Read more: https://t.co/VgRllkRwBj pic.twitter.com/M4gyxQ0bPY ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (@ICEgovERO) October 19, 2022 Among those arrested were nationals of Mexico and El Salvador, ICE said. The individuals were taken into custody in a number of states, including sanctuary states such as New York and California. One such illegal alien, a 40-year-old man from Mexico, was arrested for first-degree homicide in Norcross, Georgia. The individual remains in ICE custody pending prosecution and deportation proceedings. Another example involved a 35-year-old Salvadoran national who has been convicted of second-degree vehicular manslaughter. He was arrested in Bellport, New York. ICE is in charge of enforcing immigration law in the U.S. interior, and ERO is an arm of the agency. Record-Low Numbers The agencys deportations and arrests have hit record lows under the administration of President Joe Biden, which narrowed ICEs criteria for enforcement in 2021. The implementation of that guidance coincided with a sharp drop in arrests and deportations. In fiscal year 2021, during which Biden took office, ICE conducted 74,082 arrests, including 1,506 illegal aliens with homicide-related offenses and 12,025 with aggravated felony convictions. That fiscal year, only 59,011 illegal immigrants were deported. That is down dramatically in comparison to fiscal year 2020, which was under the administration of President Donald Trump, when ICE conducted 103,603 arrests and removed 185,884 illegal immigrants, according to a report (pdf). The agency noted that in 2020, almost one-third fewer were arrested and deported than the previous year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fiscal year 2019, the last full year that did not include the COVID-19 pandemic, ICE arrested 143,099 illegal immigrants and deported more than 267,000 individuals. As the nation faces record-breaking numbers of illegal aliens at the southern border, Tom Homan, who served as acting director of ICE during the Trump administration, previously told The Epoch Times that the border crisis is by design, claiming it was created on purpose. The Biden administration could easily stem the flow of people to the southern border, but doesnt want to, Homan alleged. They know how to fix this, but they dont want to fix it, he added. From NTD News By Cathy Hobbs From Tribune News Service Looking for extra seating for a living space or to add a finishing touch to a bedroom? Why not consider adding a bench? Benches can provide both function and aesthetics to nearly any space. From custom upholstery to millwork and those of different sizes, shapes and fabrics, benches can serve as the ideal accompaniment to nearly any room of the home. Looking for opportunities to incorporate a bench into your space? Here are some dos and donts. Dos Do use a bench in an entry area. A bench can provide both function as well as an aesthetic design element to highlight an entry area. Do consider adding a bench as an additional seating element in a social area, such as a living or family room. Benches can especially work well in areas in which the desire is to not obscure or obstruct a view. A bench helps to both frame this living space and provide additional seating. (Handout/TNS) Do consider a pair of benches areas where flexibility or having modular elements is a consideration. A faux fur bench adds a surprise element of texture to this bedroom. (Handout/TNS) Donts Dont place benches in areas where they can obstruct room flow, windows or doorways. Dont compete with current furnishings. Choose a bench in a material or finish that is complementary to existing decor. A velvet bench adds a finishing touch of elegance to this bedroom. (Handout/TNS) Dont ignore the opportunity to create custom sized or produced benches to provide seating opportunities for odd sized or shaped areas or spaces. A long bench helps to add an industrial vibe to a loft space. (Handout/TNS) Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at cathyhobbs.com. 2022 Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A doctor prepares the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Halifax, England, on July 31, 2021. (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images) Another Study Finds COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Turns Negative Within Months The effectiveness of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines turns negative against severe COVID-19 months after administration, according to a new study. A single dose of the Pfizer vaccine was pegged at minus 121 percent effectiveness on day 84 and minus 85 percent effectiveness on day 98. A second Pfizer dose held up better, but still dipped below 50 percent at day 98, researchers concluded. A single dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine turned negative at day 70 and a second dose turned negative at day 84, according to the paper, which was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. Negative effectiveness means that a vaccinated person is more likely to experience a condition than an unvaccinated person. Pfizer and AstraZeneca didnt respond to requests for comment. Researchers reached the estimates by analyzing health records from roughly 12.9 million people in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The study period was from Dec. 8, 2020, to June 30, 2021one of the reasons that boosters, which werent available until later in 2021, werent included. Steven Kerr, a senior research fellow at the University of Edinburghs Usher Institute, and the other researchers theorized that the negative estimates stemmed from behavioral differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated populations. We believe that the most likely explanation is that vaccination caused recipients to believe they were protected, leading them to change their behaviour in ways that increase their chance of contracting the infection, they wrote. These changes in behaviours should initially have been outweighed by the protection offered by the immune response stimulated by the vaccine, but as time progressed the protection is likely to have diminished such that the impact of behavioural changes may have become dominant. The researchers provided no evidence for the theory. The group also stated that its possible that the protection one enjoys after recovering from COVID-19 may have played a role, pointing to one of many papers that have concluded that natural immunity is superior to vaccination. Part of Growing Trend The study is the latest to estimate negative vaccine effectiveness, although others have examined effectiveness against infection. Researchers with Moderna said in a recent paper that vaccine effectiveness against infection turned negative after several months against BA.2.12.1, BA.2, BA.4, and BA.5, which are all subvariants of the Omicron coronavirus variant. Another paper, which analyzed vaccine effectiveness against infection among children aged 5 to 11, estimated that Pfizers vaccine turned negative after 18 or 20 weeks, depending on whether the children had also been infected with COVID-19. Researchers in Qatar, examining the effectiveness of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, estimated in June that their effectiveness turned negative over time. And another paper, published in May by U.S. scientists, determined that the effectiveness of Pfizers vaccine turned negative for 12- to 15-year-olds after five months. A cow on the bank of a farm dam in Gunnedah, northwest New South Wales on May 4, 2020. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) Australia Joins UN Methane Reduction Scheme, Pledges Funding for Flatulence Pill The Australian Labor government has signed on to the United Nations Global Methane Pledge that commits to cutting emissions of gas by 30 percent by 2030. The move follows in the footsteps of 120 other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. Under the voluntary pledge, the government will roll out a series of actions to cut down methane in sectors such as energy, waste, and agricultureflatulence and belching from livestock is the number one source of methane, according to scientists. By joining the Pledge, Australia will join the rest of the worlds major agricultural commodity exporters, including the United States, Brazil, and Indonesia, in identifying opportunities to reduce emissions in this hard-to-abate sector, said Chris Bowen, the minister for climate change and energy, in a statement on Oct. 23. Chris Bowen, Labor Partys minister for energy and climate change, speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on June 16, 2022. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) Unlike New Zealand, the government has promised not to legislate or introduce any new taxes on livestock numbers to encourage take-up from farmers. The move has received support from Fiona Simon, president of the National Farmers Federation, who said the agriculture sector was committed to sustainability. Farmers are already leading the charge on climate action in Australia and have earned a seat at the table, and the strong assurances and partnership provided by the government mean the pledge will not negatively impact on farmers or the agriculture sector, she said. Cutting Cow Flatulence, Belching the Key A big part of the governments methane pledge will be investment in the Methane Emissions Reduction in Livestock (MERiL) program that will provide $5 million (US$3.14 million) in funding to accelerate the development of methane-reducing pills that can be mixed in with feed and fed to livestock. Currently, 11 projects will receive $250,000 to $750,000 funding grants. The CSIRO, Australias leading scientific research body, is at the forefront of development, with its FutureFeed already being sold worldwide. Based on trials at the University of California, Davis and in Europe, around 20 grams of FutureFeed per day can cut methane from livestock by 80 to 99 percent. Methane accounts for around 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gases, with a single cow estimated to belch around 220 pounds of methane a year. The gas is considered worse for the environment than carbon dioxide, with the Australian Department of Climate Change and Energy saying it absorbs heat 84 times faster over a 20-year period. Yet opposition MPs have been critical of the methane pledge, with Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton saying Australia was already doing its fair share on environmental issues. I think Australia does a lot in the environmental spacea lot more, frankly, than, say, China or India does in terms of their own emissionsand sending our country broke or sending our farmers broke is not the solution, he told 2SM radio. I think [Climate Change Minister] Chris Bowen needs to be very clear here because, before the election, he gave an indication to farmers that he wasnt going to do this, and now he is. Nationals MP Keith Pitt of the regional seat of Hinkler called it an attack on the agriculture industry. There is 10 times the number of feral pigs in Australia than domestic, he previously told The Epoch Times. This is an underhanded attack on our resources sector and agriculture. If it was about science, well, the flatulence for feral animals should be included, but its not. Australia contains some of the worlds largest feral animal populationspartly due to the lack of large land predatorswhich do not come under government moves to cut methane emissions. The country is estimated to contain 400,000 wild horses, five million donkeys, 150,000 water buffalo, one million camels, and 24 million feral pigsin comparison, the United States contains just six million feral pigs. The methane pledge comes amid a wider push to reduce emissions across the country by the Labor government, including a 43 percent emissions reduction target by 2030. Protesters rallied at the Chinese consulate in Sydney on Oct. 23 to support the Hong Kong protestor who was beaten at the Chinese Consulate in Manchester. (Aus Hong Kong Connex) Australians Rally to Support Hong Kong Protester Beaten at Manchester Consulate Protesters rallied at the Chinese consulate in Sydney on Sunday to support the Hong Kong protestor who was beaten at the Chinese Consulate in Manchester. Started by Aus-Hong Kong Connex, an organization founded in April to help Hong Kong migrants new to Australia, the protest was organized to condemn the beating of a Hong Kong resident in the UK by the Chinese consulate in Manchester, England and urge the UK government to take actions. On Oct. 16, the day of the 20th national congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Hong Kong residents in the UK held a protest outside the Chinese Consulate General in Manchester to protest against the CCP and its leader Xi Jinping. Among protesters displaying banners reading Heaven Will Destroy the CCP outside the Chinese consulate, Bob Chan, a 30-year-old man from Hong Kong, was dragged into the consulate and beaten by several staff members in riot gear, causing him to be hospitalized with injuries. On Oct. 19, 2022, the Hong Kong resident who was involved in the Chinese Consulate in Manchester incident held his first public press conference. He said at a press conference that he was dragged into the Chinese consulate and beaten by several men, causing him to be hospitalized with injuries. (Ben Stansall/AFP) Chan was trying to stop the staff from taking a large poster depicting a caricature of Chinese leader Xi Jinping as an emperor wearing no clothes. The incident has sparked international condemnation. British lawmakers have urged the UK government to expel Chinese diplomats who were involved in the beating. Four Chinese diplomats were named to be involved in the attack, including Zheng Xiyuan, the Chinese consul general in Manchester, who admitted to beating people on Oct. 20 but did not admit any wrongdoing. He also stated that attacking the protestor was his duty. Say No to Violence: Protest Organizer Ms. Lam, the deputy chair of Aus-Hong Kong Connex, said they organized the protest in Sydney to show their support for a fellow Hong Konger. There was a call for people over Hong Kong, people all over the world in many major cities, to gather before the Chinese Consulate to stay no to the violence that has [been] done in the Manchester Chinese Consulate, she said. We think all Hong Kong people should say no to this kind of violence. Lam believed that it was the first time a protestor was dragged into a Chinese consulate and beaten by the staff members, and she doesnt think the response by the UK government is satisfactory. They should, within a couple of days or one week, already declare that this is unlawful, she told The Epoch Times. I hope that the UK Government [can] stand firm and take care [of] these unnormal acts of violence, and I hope there will be investigations. If they [are] found guilty, they will be charged They need to be bound by the law. Ms. Lam, the deputy chair of Aus-Hong Kong Connex spoke at the rally. (The Epoch Times) Kerry Wright, a teacher, writer, and humanitarian, spoke at the rally. Is it a shock when a protester is hauled into a consulate and beaten up by the consular in the UK? A shock to us all? Of course. Human rights matter. The Universal Declaration [of Human Rights] matters, she said. I hope Hong Kong is returned to the country where people live in love. Whether or not you like going to mainland China or whether or not you want to go to other parts of the world is irrelevant. Kerry also condemned the Chinese communist regime for other human rights violations, such as the imprisonment of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang area and children being forcibly separated from their parents and being told to change their religions in Tibet. This world is not just about money. Its about peoples well-being, she said. I think as a teacher, an Australian teacher, thats what I want to say from my heart and soul. I admire every one of these people who has come out here on a Sunday. Protestors played Glory to Hong Kong, a symbol song of the pro-democracy movements in Hong Kong and held pictures of the same caricature of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which Bob Chan was trying to protect outside the Chinese consulate in Manchester. Some also hung slogans of Peng Lifa, the man who dressed as a construction worker and unfurled banners at an overpass in Beijing days before the CCPs 20th national congress. The banners criticized the CCP, calling out the regimes Zero COVID approach and calling for democracy. We dont want PCR tests; we want to eat. We dont want lockdowns; we want freedom. We dont want lies; we want dignity. We dont want the Cultural Revolution; we want reform. We dont want a leader; we want votes. We dont want to be slaves; we want to be citizens, the banners read. Lily Zheng contributed to this report. Han Yutao holds a flyer he distributed on his school campus on Oct. 18, 2022, expressing his support for the Beijing Siton Bridge incident that occurred in China. The Chinese police visited his family in Beijing on the next day. (Provided by interviewee) Beijing Police Threaten a Chinese Students Family Because He Supports Bridge Mans Protest in the US A student in Bellevue College didnt hide his identity when he supported a protest that occurred on Oct. 13 in China. The Chinese police immediately visited his family in Beijing. I wont keep silent, he said. Han Yutao, (Thomas) arrived the United States to attend college in September. In an interview with the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times on Oct. 21, he expressed his desire to expose the evilness of the communist regime. On Oct. 13, days before the regimes national congress was to start, a man hung banners protesting Xi Jinpings policies and lit a fire on the heavily guarded Sitong Bridge in Beijing. Inspired by the incident, Thomas was encouraged to voice his support on the U.S. school campus. But the next day, his brother called him from Beijing on the 19th, and reproached him, What have you done in the United States? The police visited his family, and obtained his contact information in the United States from his mother. No More Silence Han admired the courage of the bridge man in Beijing and tweeted his support online. But I was embarrassed by my own act. Why cant I reveal my true identity to show my support? he said. He explained, Hes brave. I dont think I have the courage to do what he did. But, I am now in America, so I should not fear the CCP. I cant keep silent. Han Yutao publicly expresses his support for the Beijing Sitong Bridge protest on the campus of Bellevue College, Washington, on October 18, 2022. The Chinese police visit his family in Beijing the next day. (Provided by interviewee) If evil dares to show its face, why cant justice? he said. He decided to make flyers of support and distribute them on campus. He also made an online video that showed his face in which he said I oppose Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Soon after, he received a call from his brother who said the police had visited his family. The police did not say why they were there. His brother said to him, Dont be a traitor those people were paid, you werent. Thomas said: My mother also said that I have put them into a dangerous situation. I dont know if they were threatened. But I am not mad at what they said to me. I just listened quietly. The Evil Regime The 23-year-old is a Beijing native. Han explained that he has learned about the CCPs evil nature since he was young. Both his grandmother and great-aunt were victims of the CCPs persecution because of their belief in Falun Gong. Falun Gong is an ancient cultivation practice, rooted in Chinese history and culture, that follows the universal principles of truth, compassion, and tolerance. In 1999, the CCP initiated a persecution campaign against Falun Gong adherents just as it persecuted all true religions in China, including Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and so forth. Because of the persecution, his great-aunt, who was in her 70s, died soon after she was released from two years of imprisonment in a labor camp. Thomas still remembers how the police ransacked his grandmas home without a search warrant. Some of his relatives were also monitored by local police, They cant visit Beijing because of their belief in Falun Gong, he said. His parents were participants in the 1989 Tiananmen student protest. They survived because they stayed home when Beijing imposed martial law. A relative who is a police officer told him how Beijing residents were killed during the June 1989 massacre. But they did not tell me anything about it until after I learned the fact myself. I dont understand why they keep these significant issues from children, he said. He and his parents have traveled to 12 countries, and hes aware of the free societies and the meaning of universal values. I have wanted to leave China since junior high, he said. Han Yutao holds a flyer he distributed on the campus of Bellevue College, Washington, on Oct. 18, 2022, that expresses his support for the Beijing Sitong Bridge protest. (Provided by interviewee) The Lockdown Confirms His Plan The zero-COVID policy in China woke him up and confirmed his thoughts about going abroad. In the first couple months of lockdown, he consciously stayed home, he said. But gradually he realized the restrictions were not going to end. The scanning of a QR code to go places became mandatory. He said, Some people in the black security guard uniform started to show up, they shouted at you and gave orders constantly, I realized that I couldnt stand it. Finally, when his community was totally locked down, an online map showed the area labeled in red (indicating a high risk area), and iron fences were set up around the perimeter. He said: Its like a concentration camp is built upon you, and one of these days it will be my turn. Its a very horrifying feeling, he said. He said it was then he realized, China is not a place for humans. Fear encircled him, and all he could do was pray every day. It helped me a lot, otherwise I might have a mental breakdown, he said. Luckily, his application to study abroad was granted and he received admission to the school. Being a Christian, he wants to be true to his own conscience. He said, I wont keep silent. Seeing all the bad deeds of the CCP, not saying a word about it I cant continue like this. He plans to come up with more slogans and distribute flyers in the city. The Epoch Times called the Western District police station in Thomas hometown. The officer who answered said that hes not aware of the matter and he did not know Han Yutao. Biden Falsely Claims Student Debt Forgiveness Program Was Approved by Congress President Joe Biden has falsely said that his administrations new student debt relief program was approved by Congress as a piece of legislation. Its passed, Biden said. It passed by a vote or two. The program, which provides up to $20,000 in relief to tens of millions of student debt holders, was an action by the Executive Branch. Biden announced the executive action in August with Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, a Biden appointee. Biden, 79, was speaking during a forum hosted by NowThisNews. Joshika Kumaran, a college junior, took the microphone and asked the president to fix what she described as a broken education system, pointing to how many graduates hold student debt and arent able to pay it off for years after graduating. What can your administration, working with Congress, do to help break this vicious cycle that is hurting the future of young people seeking an education for a better life? she asked. Biden said that the issue stems from tuition becoming more expensive and aid not rising to keep the costs in check. We have to do three things, Biden said. One, he said, was to point out that colleagues in many cases, are raising tuition without any good reason to raise that, raise those tuitions. Another was to encourage state legislators to pass legislation that would bolster the amount of money students can receive in aid. The third, he said, was to forgive debt. Thats when he started talking about the new program, which was slated to start erasing loans this month but is currently paused on orders from a U.S. appeals court. Ive just signed a law thats being challenged by my Republican colleagues, Biden started, adding after criticizing Republicans: What weve provided for is, if you went to school, if you qualify for Pell Grant, you qualify for $20,000 in debt forgiveness. Secondly, if you dont have one of those loans, you just get $10,000 written off. Its passed, I got it passed by a vote or two, and its in effect. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Kumaran then noted that the forgiveness scheme was actually implemented by the Executive Branch, while expressing concern that another administration could reverse the program and re-saddle us with the same debt. What does a sustainable solution look like? That cant be reversed with a new administration, she said. Biden said he was confident he would be in office for another six years, referring to his possibly winning again in 2024. He also floated making sure people have free and reduced access to community college and early education at 3 years of age. I pushed it. I havent gotten it passed yet, he said. So theres a lot of things we can do to increase the prospects of being able to have a better-educated public, where youre not indebted and have sort of a weight around your neck for a long, long time. Biden Says He Wants to Limit Gun Owners to 8 Bullets in a Round President Joe Biden said on Oct. 23 that hes pushing a limit on gun owners having more than eight bullets in a round. Its unclear exactly what Biden meant because a round contains the bullet, propellant, and cartridgeand many people use the term bullet and round interchangeably. He appears to have made a verbal miscue and meant that he wants a federal restriction on magazine capacity, which is consistent with gun control measures that he and other Democrats have previously pushed. My legislation says there can be no more than eight bullets in a round, he told NowThis News on Oct. 23. The guys doing these mass killings, they have magazines, they call them, that can hold up to 100 bullets in it. Thats just like having an automatic weapon, which were not allowed to have by the way, supposedly. Biden didnt elaborate on how magazine capacity correlates to whether a firearm is semiautomatic or fully automatic. Later in the interview, Biden also falsely claimed that AR-15 rounds travel five times the speed of an ordinary bullet. For years, Biden and Democrats have sought to criminalize what they describe as high-capacity magazines, which doesnt have a clear definition. Legislation introduced last year in the Senate would ban magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, mirroring regulations in places such as New York state and California. The Department of Justice (DOJ) wrote in a 1999 report (pdf) that a 1994 federal ban on such magazines didnt lead to a significant drop in shootings or murders. Democrats counter that barring the ownership and sale of such magazines would trigger a drop in mass shootings. We cannot clearly credit the ban with any of the nations recent drop in gun violence, the DOJ also stated in 2004. Should it be renewed, the bans effects on gun violence are likely to be small at best and perhaps too small for reliable measurement. Earlier this year, Biden signed a gun control measure into law, representing the most sweeping gun law in decades. It came about a month after a mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left nearly two dozen people dead. Key provisions of the legislation include expanding federal background checks for buyers between the ages of 18 and 21, adding incentives for states to adopt so-called red flag laws, expanding access to mental health programs, and enhancing school security in a bid to prevent mass shootings. The measure will also help provide $750 million in funding as an incentive to enforce red flag laws in the 19 states and the District of Columbia that have them, making it easier to temporarily confiscate guns from people who are deemed to be a danger to themselves or others. Tom Ozimek contributed to this report. U.S. President Joe Biden announces the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day for the next six months from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, as part of administration efforts to lower gasoline prices, during remarks in the Eisenhower Executive Office Buildings South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, on March 31, 2022. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Bidens Drawdowns From Strategic Oil Reserve Are Illegal, Cause Irreversible Damage: Oil Investor and Attorney An energy industry insider and an attorney said that President Joe Biden is using the strategic oil reserve illegally for political gain and causing irreversible damage. The White House announced on Oct. 18 that there are about 400 million barrels of crude oil remaining in the strategic petroleum reserve. It means the Biden administration has eliminated 34 years of strategic oil reserve stockpiling and pushed the reserve level down to its 1984 level. Jay Young, the founder and president of King Operating Corporation, believes that Biden is reducing the strategic reserve improperly for political gain. Young came from a family with over 100 years of combined experience in the oil and gas business. His company invests $100 million a year in finding and improving oil production facilities. He drained a third of our strategic reserves because he wants to win an election. And thats not what the strategic reserves are supposed to be used for. Theyre used for war and in times when we couldnt get enough oil because of the war. Thats what the strategic reserve is used for, he told The Epoch Times. Biden is using it like a Ponzi scheme, he added. 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) Irina Tsukerman, an attorney and analyst, holds the same view as Young. Hes abusing his power and hes overreaching his authority on this matter because he believes that American voters will vote against Democrats in midterm elections largely on basis of gas prices. So he believes that if you provide additional supply quickly, people do not blame the Democrats for the high gas prices, she said. Tsukerman is a member of the American Bar Associations Energy and Environment Committee. She said Bidens moves violated the Energy Policy and Conservation Act and are illegal. According to the act, strategic oil reserves can be released to the market only when theres an emergency and it caused high energy prices. The Epoch Times reached out to the White House for comment. The White House announced in March that the Energy Department would release 1 million barrels of crude oil per day from the reserve for six months, a total of 180 million barrels. The last batch of 15 million barrels will be delivered in December. Biden denied that he was releasing for political gains though the timing of the drawdowns closely match the midterm election campaign period. Its not politically motivated at all. Its motivated to make sure that I continue to push on what Ive been pushing on. And that is making sure theres enough oil thats being pumped by the companies so that we have the ability to be able to produce enough gas that we need here at home, oil we need here at home, and, at the same time, keep moving in the direction of providing for alternative energy. Thats what Ive been doing, he told reporters on Oct. 19. Nobody Has 180 Million Barrels Oil Just Laying Around Young said Bidens moves are not wise and will put the United States in an unfavorable situation because its almost impossible to refill the reserve at lower prices. Its very hard for the United States to replace the oil reserve anytime soon. The price will be unreasonably high even if the country succeeds in doing it. Nobody has 180 million barrels of oil just laying around that we can replace that oil. If we can find the oil, oil prices are so sensitive on demand, were gonna pay higher prices, he said. Running low on oil reserves will put America in a vulnerable situation and give leverage to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and terrorists, Tsukerman said. We wont have the reserve that we need to handle every emergency. It sends a signal to terrorists, criminals, and bad actors that were low in emergency oil supply, she said. It also sends a signal to foreign actors to manipulate oil supplies. The president of the National Black Farmers Association, John Boyd Jr., in an Interview with NTD's "Facts Matter," on June 1, 2022. (Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Black Farmers Association Chief Accuses Biden of Breaking Promises John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA), is accusing the Biden administration of going back on its promises given to minority farmers and not doing enough to assuage the challenges they are facing. In an interview with NTDs Capitol Report, Boyd criticized the administration for repealing a $4 billion debt relief program aimed at black farmers and other farmers of color. We went from 120 percent debt forgiveness, which means 100 percent of your loan will be written off, and 20 percent to pay the taxes to some sort of loan modification. And the administration broke his promise The president failed to do what he promised to Americas black and other farmers of color, he said. In April 2021, the Biden administration tried to forgive $4 billion worth of debt accumulated by farmers of color through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Between May and September that year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) promised 14,120 farmers of color $2.4 billion in debt relief. However, the program was challenged through lawsuits arguing that the racial criteria used in the USDA debt forgiveness were unconstitutional. Boyd said that Biden has also broken his promise to have a FaceTime meeting with him. Neither has the agriculture secretary held a meeting to discuss any of the issues faced by farmers of color, he said. Boyd called on the administration to stop foreclosures of farms and asked for a full farm moratorium from the administration. Boyd also pointed out that farmers of color, including himself, voted for Biden. But things might change in the upcoming elections. The president went back on his word to help black farmers in this country. And were going to look at that during election time. And were also going to take a strong look at that during this reelection campaign, Boyd said. Helping Chinese, Not Americans Boyd also criticized the Biden administration for spending money to aid farmers in other nations while dismissing the concerns of American farmers. The White House gave farmers of Ukraine $250 million for infrastructure. Black farmers have been asking for infrastructure aid for almost four decades and are yet to receive help in this regard, Boyd said. The debt relief measure is something Boyd claims he has been requesting for three decades. Many farms are falling into foreclosure and countries like China are buying these farms at auctions, the NBFA chief said. China is a nation that still supports slavery and must not be allowed to buy land on American soil, he insisted. Boyd highlighted the issue of Chinese purchases of American farmland in an interview with Fox News in September. When this farm leaves, these lands leave American farmers hands, they wind up in the hands of the Chinese government that were never going to get back. Weve given China just about everything, from our fuel to now, to our land, he said. Steve Lance Follow Steve Lance is the host of Capitol Report, a political news show based in Washington aimed at providing a direct channel to the voices and people who shape policy in America. Capitol Report features all of the political news of the day with expert interviews and analysis. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink leaves after a meeting about climate action investments with heads of sovereign wealth funds and French President at the Elysee Palace in Paris on July 10, 2019. (Ludovic Martin/AFP via Getty Images) Blackrock-Backed Firm Wins Contract to Build Super Battery in Australias Most Populous State BlackRock-backed battery storage company Akaysha Energy has been chosen to build a Super Battery in Australias most populous state New South Wales. Its partnership with the U.S. investment giant began in August after BlackRock invested A$1 billion (US$701 million) into the Melbourne-based energy firm. The firm already has nine projects underway across Australia, including the 1,600 megawatt Orana battery in Wellington, central-west NSW, which can store around eight hours of electricity. The states energy minister has called the Waratah Super Battery the biggest network battery in the southern hemisphere that will be built on the site of the old Lake Munmorah Power Station around 100 kilometres north of Sydney. Nick Carter, managing director of Akaysha, said the company won the project due to its talented team. The team itself are all made up of experienced industry professionals that have worked on lots of battery projects before, he said in comments obtained by ESD news. We had fantastic backing from BlackRock to support us throughout the process. Meanwhile, NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean said the Super Battery will be a shock absorber for the electricity grid and will provide 700 megawatts of standby capacity when wind or solar farms are not producing. Matt Kean, NSW Minister for Energy ahead of the opening of the national trail walk at the Royal National Park in Bundeena, New South Wales, Australia on Sep. 14, 2019. (Jenny Evans/Getty Images) The Waratah Super Battery will drive up to A$1 billion in private investment in new energy storage and associated network upgrades, generating more than 100 jobs in the Hunter and Central Coast regions, Kean said in a statement. The battery will ensure electricity consumers in Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong have access to more energy from existing generators while new transmission connections are developed. The battery will hopefully replace the lost capacity from the closure of the Eraring coal-fired power station in August 2025. The NSW government is one of many state authorities in Australia that have announced ambitious climate change policies aimed at decarbonising their economies. NSW aims to reach net-zero by 2050 and has policies to encourage electric vehicle take-up and development of hydrogena technology not mature enough for widespread use. Is It Worth It? Yet concerns have been raised that the billions (or trillions) required to build new renewable energy sources and transmission infrastructure may not outweigh the actual benefits for households and businesses. How will such a large-scale rebuild of the whole system affect the electricity price, and consequently the cost of living, and Australias productivity and competitiveness? The answer to that is not clear, wrote Peter Castle, an Australian oil and gas engineer in The Epoch Times. Replacing generation capacity with storage capacity is good in theory, but the required storage volumes are staggering, and the choice of technology that may achieve it is unclear. At the same time, some experts say climate change advocatesincluding scientists and media commentatorshave misrepresented the condition of the environment to support their agenda. California-based eco-modernist Michael Shellenberger says the environment is, in fact, in the best shape ever. He said there was more coral in the Great Barrier Reef than there has ever been in 36 years. At the same time, the area of land burned by forest fires had declined by 25 percent globally since 2003an area the size of Texas. The death rate from natural disasters has crashed; we have four times as many people as we did in the world 100 years ago. The death toll has declined about 90 percent in the United States, he told CPAC Australia. Ralph Goodale gestures during a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Aug 6, 2019. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) Canada Wont Make Veiled Threat Over Irish Border, UK Envoy Goodale Says Canadas envoy to the United Kingdom says Ottawa will not make a veiled threat and suspend trade talks over concerns Britain may be breaching the agreement that stopped decades of conflict in Ireland. Last week, the Irish political party pushing to unify the island asked Ottawa to halt negotiations for a post-Brexit trade deal. Sinn Fein argued London is undermining the agreement that brokered peace between Catholics and Protestants. But Ralph Goodale, Canadas high commissioner in London, said the federal government has no plans to suspend talks. We think its more helpful and more practically useful to offer to help to find the right answer, rather than perhaps a veiled threat, Goodale said in an interview last week. The 1998 Good Friday Agreement largely stopped three decades of armed conflict over the status of Northern Ireland, which is a region of Britain. The deal maintained a largely invisible border between the territory and the Republic of Ireland, which remains part of the European Union. Experts argue the lack of a hard border has helped prevent conflict. The invisible border was supposed to remain in place under an agreement Britain signed with the EU when it left the bloc in 2020, with customs checks instead taking place between mainland Britain and its region of Northern Ireland. But this spring, the British government tabled legislation curtailing those rules. The European Commission argues Britain is violating international law, while the U.S. government has delayed trade talks, citing those concerns. Goodale said Ottawa wont follow the Americans and noted that Canadians like Gen. John de Chastelain played a pivotal role in reaching the 1998 agreement. We say to the United Kingdom on every occasion that we feel very strongly about this, Goodale said. NDP MP Charlie Angus hosted John Finucane, a Sinn Fein MP in the U.K. parliament, on his visit to Ottawa last week and said he supports the Belfast MPs calls for Canada to hit pause on trade negotiations. I dont think theres any need to tiptoe around the complete failure of the British government, Angus said. He argued Canada has more sway with the U.K. than the Americans do. Brexit has left England much weaker, and weve also seen just a real lack of maturity from their political leadership on this. Angus said he is working with the Catholic political party because his Irish relatives, both Catholic and Protestant, hated sectarianism. The stakes are high. I mean, we do not want to return to a hard border. And we do not want to return to the violence that traumatized a generation of people in Northern Ireland, he said. Meanwhile, Goodale said Canada stands ready to help Britain resolve its border issue, suggesting that Canadas unmilitarized border with the United States could yield some ideas. We offer constructive assistance, wherever we could be of help in finding the solution to the tensions that have worked their way back into the relationship, he said. By Dylan Robertson Residents queue to undergo nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 in Anyang, in central China's Henan Province, on Jan. 26, 2022. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Chinese Father Successfully Fights to Get Life-Saving Treatment for His Quarantined Son Viral video shows 9-year old's dad desperately confronting isolation facility guards A Chinese man who was brave enough to confront quarantine facility guards saved his sons life. In a video clip that went viral on Chinese social media, the 9-year-olds father is seen demanding medical attention for his son outside of an isolation facility. Father and son were both locked down in the schoolconverted to a quarantine facilityin Chinas central Henan Province. Due to his fathers persistence, the boy was finally taken to a local hospital where he received medical treatment. Using the pseudonym Mr. Zheng, the father of the boy spoke with The Epoch Times Chinese language edition on Oct. 20. He criticized local authorities for the inhumane quarantine policies. The ordeal began, Zheng said, when his family was sent to Wanji High School in Ruzhou city, Henan Province. Neither of us was positive for COVID-19 when we were taken to the isolation facility, Zheng said, we were only close contacts with someone who was suspected to be positive [for COVID-19]. Poor Conditions in Isolation Facility The video shows the poor sanitary and living conditions in the isolation facility. Zheng told The Epoch Times that after his family members were isolated in the school, where over 1,000 people were kept, they developed fevers. The conditions in the school were too poor, Zheng said. He said entire families were locked down in the makeshift quarantine facility. Families with three or four members are isolated in the school. Eight people share one room, which used to be students dormitories. A video clip obtained by The Epoch Times shows rooms with bunk beds, crowded corridors, shared public toilets and showers, and people fighting for food. Zheng said that his family was isolated in different rooms. He and his son shared a room with several other families. The next morning after we arrived, a child in our room developed a high fever. Then, on that night, two people had a fever. On the third day, four people had a fever. On the fifth day, all the other six people had a fever. The following day, my son and I had a fever, too, Zheng said. Zheng said he didnt understand why they couldnt be quarantined at home, where they had better living conditions and could avoid cross-infection. If we had stayed at home, it definitely wouldnt have been like this, he said, adding that they were all healthy before they were taken to the school. Locked Down, Inadequate Medical Treatment Many people in the facility began to show symptoms, including high fevers, but little medical treatment was given to them, according to Zheng. After six days in lockdown, Zheng said, they had only taken two PCR tests. Zheng said there was no adequate medical treatment for the sick. Antipyreticsfever-reducing medicineswere given out once a day, but even those were in short supply. Volunteers who worked at the isolation facility sometimes managed to buy antipyretics, which they prioritized for patients with severe symptoms. Zheng saw that patients were not allowed to leave the quarantine facility even if they were in critical condition. He became determined to do everything he could to get medical treatment for his son, who had developed a high fever. Desperate Father On the fifth day of isolation, both Zheng and his son had fevers. Zheng could bear it, but his sons fever was spiking. My sons body temperature was very high for the whole night. So I went to get him some antipyretics, and by the morning, the antipyretics were basically finished, but his fever still stayed, Zheng said. At one point the boys fever reached 104. Unable to get medical help for his son, and seeing that they would not be allowed to go to the hospital, Zheng angrily quarreled with security guards, as seen in the video clip. His persistence saved his sons life. The boy was finally taken to the hospital, where he received medical treatment. His sons temperature is normal now, Zheng said. Alleged Deaths in Ruzhou Lockdown Make Headlines Not all Ruzhous residents are so lucky. The city made international headlines this month with reports of at least two people dying from lack of medical attention in quarantine facilities. Guo Jingjing was also isolated in the Wanji high school quarantine facility. The 16-year-old reportedly died on Oct. 18 after her familys pleas for medical help were ignored. Her father claims she was healthy when she was taken to the isolation facility. After finally being taken to the hospital, her family claims she was left unattended and died. Fifty-six-year-old veteran Wang Xinglin was taken to a makeshift isolation facility at Ruzhou No. 1 High School on Oct. 17. He died in the isolation facility on Oct. 21 after his symptoms went untreated, his niece disclosed on WeChat. Wangs niece told the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times on Oct. 21 that Wang was living by himself before he was taken to the isolation facility, as his children were working in other cities and his wife was out of town for a visit. She said that Wang seldom left his home and was unlikely to be positive for COVID-19 or even to be in close contact with a COVID-19 patient. People Are Rising Up as Harsh Zero-COVID Measures Continue Xi Jinping secured an unprecedented third term as Chinas leader, at the 20th national meeting of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the Chinese regime announced on Oct. 23. On Oct. 16, in a speech delivered to 2,000-plus delegates at the meeting, Xi defended the CCPs zero-COVID policy and argued that the approach protected peoples lives and economy. He did not mention the economic damage and widespread suffering caused by the harsh policies. To adhere to the party line, local Chinese authorities literally lock residents in their homes with wires or locks. Deaths are reported in heart-rending online posts, but the information is removed quickly by Chinese authorities. A Chinese citizen recently called on her fellow compatriots to stand up against the harsh COVID policies. If everyone said no to the CCP, what would the result be? said Ms. Liu (a pseudonym) in an interview with The Epoch Times. A rare protest took place in Beijing on Oct. 13, three days before the CCPs national meeting. Activist Peng Lifa unfurled two banners on the citys Sitong Bridge, demanding an end to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) draconian zero-COVID policies and the removal of Xi Jinping as Chinas top leader. Zhao Fenghua, Li Jing, and Nong Ning contributed to this report. People walk across a bridge with a stocks indicator board in the financial district of Lujiazui in Shanghai on Oct. 17, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) Chinese Markets Fall as Xi Stacks CCP With Loyalists News Analysis News that Chinese communist leader Xi Jinping would assume a third term in power sent markets into a dive on Oct. 24, marking a broader pessimism that the leaders policies will have negative consequences for the global economy. Investors in the Chinese market wiped nearly 10 percent off the value of internet giants Alibaba and JD.com and 7 percent off Tencent. Hong Kongs benchmark Hang Seng Index fell by more than 4.5 percent, and a sub-index of Chinese internet giants listed in Hong Kong and Shanghai tracked a 2 percent fall as foreign investors sold more than $1.3 billion in Chinese shares. The economic fallout has brought the value of Chinas yuan and stock market to the lowest levels seen since the 2008 financial crash in Hong Kong. The market turmoil comes just one day into Xis precedent-breaking third term as head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It suggests that the private sector was blindsided by his overhaul of the Partys Politburo Standing Committee, the regimes highest decision-making body. There have been numerous warning signs that the Chinese economy is becoming increasingly fragile under his rule, including weakening exports, decreasing demand for Chinese goods, and a crashing housing market, all of which have been exacerbated by his constant lockdowns of major cities due to COVID-19. However, the trigger for the rapid market fall this week appears to be Xis unexpected move to further appoint authoritarian-minded loyalists to positions of power, raising fears that there will be no balance of powers within the CCP. Contrary to hopes that he would at least make a nod to balancing factional powers within the Party, reform-minded Premier Li Keqiang and Vice Premier Wang Yang lost their seats at the seven-men Politburo. Xi filled those seats with his own proteges, including Beijing Party chief Cai Qi and Shanghai Party chief Li Qiang. The latter had ordered weeks of COVID-19 lockdowns earlier this year in the Chinese financial hub, despite their devastating impact on the economy. Hes now tipped to become Chinas next premier. The selloff reflects investors fears that Xis centralization of power within the CCP will prioritize the state at the cost of the private sector and that the regimes authoritarian practices will ultimately harm the Chinese economy in the long term. Reuters contributed to this report. The U.S. Capitol is shown in Washington on June 5, 2003. Both houses of the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives meet in the Capitol. (Stefan Zaklin/Getty Images) Congressional Gridlock After Midterms May Not Be All That Bad for Markets, Says Economist A wave of Republican victories in the coming midterm elections will lead to a divided Congress, likely stalling President Joe Bidens soft infrastructurehealthcare and childcareagenda, according to an American economist. The House is very much tilting red and the Senate races have certainly narrowed in recent weeks. So, it will be very much gridlock in Washington, which tends to not be all that bad for markets because it means status quo and no major initiatives, Carl Riccadonna, chief U.S. economist at BNP Paribas, told The Epoch Times. A blue wave is the least likely scenario. Riccadonna shared his views this week during a bank press conference in New York. Republicans, who currently hold 50 U.S. Senate seats, need just one more to gain a majority. Thirty-four of 100 seats are contested and winners will serve six-year terms. Whats at stake is the possibility of a 2.0 version of the Democratic agenda weve seen in the first two years under President Biden, versus a more likely scenario, which is legislative gridlock for the next two years, Riccadonna said. When asked to elaborate, he said a 2.0 version of the Democratic agenda would include the continuation of investments in infrastructure, healthcare, and childcare. Last year, Congress approved the $550 billion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the expanded federal Child Tax Credit provided families with up to $350 per child between July and December 2021. In a blue wave scenario, you would see more fiscal support for those types of initiatives, which would mean more borrowing and more treasury issuance, Riccadonna added. The only risk scenario to a red wave that concerns Riccadonna is an unexpected shock, such as a new COVID variant that could pose a large threat. A divided Congress is going to be much slower to ride to the rescue unless things are really, really severe, and so thats the fallout, he said. Construction Starts on Saudi Arabias 650-Foot-Wide Smart Linear City That Will Run on 100 Percent Renewable Energy Construction has begun on Saudi Arabias dystopian 650-foot-wide and 100-mile-long so-called smart linear city in the countrys Tabuk Province, video footage shows. The footage was released by the Saudi Arabia-based Ot Sky aerial photography company on Oct. 20. It shows dozens of excavators digging a wide linear trench in the desert to begin laying the foundation of the city, also known as The Line, which is the first to be developed as part of the $500 billion Neom city project in Saudi Arabia. According to its official website, The Line is a civilizational revolution that puts humans first, providing an unprecedented urban living experience while preserving the surrounding nature. It also redefines the concept of urban development and what cities of the future should look like. The linear city will feature no roads, vehicles, or emissions and will run on 100 percent renewable energy, while 95 percent of the land will be preserved for nature, according to officials. Built 1,600 feet above sea level, its eventually set to accommodate 9 million people who will live in vertically layered communities and be able to access everything within a five-minute walk. Theres also set to be a public transport network that will enable residents to travel throughout the entire mirror-encased city in just 20 minutes. Neom is the brainchild of Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman, who first announced the mega-city project in 2017. A Civilizational Revolution In a July statement announcing the designs for The Line, the crown prince said Saudi Arabia is committed to a civilizational revolution that puts humans first based on a radical change in urban planning. We cannot ignore the livability and environmental crises facing our worlds cities, and NEOM is at the forefront of delivering new and imaginative solutions to address these issues, he said. NEOM is leading a team of the brightest minds in architecture, engineering, and construction to make the idea of building upward a reality. According to the U.N. World Tourism Organization, Neom will also have the worlds first independent international zone, its own regulatory framework, and an autonomous judicial system, although the latter will be subject to independent regulations and legislation. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly come under fire from human rights organizations and U.N. bodies over its laws that restrict political and religious expression and human rights violations, including executions, the alleged torture of prisoners and detainees, and unlawful interference with privacy. The 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an outspoken critic of the government, has also been tied to the crown prince. However, Saudi officials have rejected any links to the crown prince and Khashoggis death, while also denying reports of human rights abuses. COVID Added to the Childhood Vaccine Schedule: No Science, No Rationality, No Morality Commentary In a ghastly new crime against Americas children, particularly those in Democratic states and cities, the CDC voted on Oct. 20 to add COVID mRNA vaccines to the childhood immunization schedule, paving the way for mandates by left-wing school districts. The CDC and media fact-checkers were quick to point out that the CDC cannot impose a national child vaccine mandatebut this is a galling straw-man argument, likely betraying the CDCs insecurity about what theyve just done. As the CDC knows, judges have routinely cited deference to the childhood immunization schedule as an adequate basis to uphold vaccine mandates by school districts. The addition of COVID vaccines to the childhood immunization schedule therefore legalizes mandates imposed by left-wing school districts at the local level, while shielding companies like Pfizer from liability, ensuring that no amount of harm caused by the vaccines will cut into their profits. According to a recent study in JAMA, Pfizers COVID mRNA vaccine resulted in hospitalization in one out of every 500 children under the age of five. While this is in line with the rate of hospitalization from other vaccines, the difference is that those vaccines confer benefits against diseases that are actually harmful to children. By contrast, it has long been known that COVID presents virtually no risk to healthy children. According to CDC data, COVIDs total mortality rate for all children 0-17 years is approximately 0.002 percent, and just 0.0001 percent for those children 0-17 years without comorbidities. This means the CDC just gave its imprimatur for mandates of a vaccine that results in a one-in-500 rate of hospitalization, ostensibly to protect against a virus for which the rate of mortality in healthy children is one-in-1,000,000. Furthermore, its an open question whether COVID vaccines really protect against even that minuscule rate of mortality in children. According to a recent study in NEJM, children aged 5-11 who had a prior infection but were NOT vaccinated had a lower risk of being reinfected than did vaccinated children who had a prior infection. After five months, protection against reinfection for the vaccinated children was negative. For this reason, many governments including those of the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland have suspended their recommendations for child COVID vaccinations. To speculate as to what may be motivating these CDC officialsaside from sheer greed and groupthinkthey may feel justified by the fact that although COVID, in reality, poses virtually no risk to children, many parents in left-wing enclaves believe COVID is extremely harmful to children. They believe COVID is extremely harmful, studies have shown, largely because their governments imposed draconian lockdowns knowing they would cause such clear and indelible harms to children. Thus, the circular logic goes, because their governments would not have caused so much harm to children if they werent trying to protect them from something extremely dangerous, COVID must be extremely dangerous. CDC officials may feel that the harms caused to children by COVID vaccines are outweighed by the psychological benefit of setting these parents minds at ease. This is the psychic break by which the monstrous decision to emulate Chinas totalitarian lockdowns across the western world can lead to the indefensible mandating of injections for children with very real harms, but little-if-any benefit, under an indefinite state of emergency more than two years later. Originally published on the authors Substack, reposted from the Brownstone Institute Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. CRT Is Being Taught in US Schools, Despite Denials: Study A new study has determined that critical race theory (CRT) concepts are being taught in U.S. schools, despite denials from some individuals or groups. Zach Goldberg and Eric Kaufmann from the Manhattan Institute commissioned a study on a nationally representative sample of 1,505 18- to 20-year-old Americansa demographic that has yet to graduate from, or only recently graduated from, high school, asking the students whether they were taught in class or heard from an adult at school about four CRT-related concepts. Of the cohort, 82.4 percent reported having attended public schools. The four concepts are America is a systematically racist country, in America, white people have white privilege, in America, white people have unconscious biases that negatively affect nonwhite people, and America is built on stolen land. Of these, the majority of respondents said they were taught or heard from an adult at school about at least one of the concepts62 percent, 69 percent, 57 percent, and 67 percent, respectively. The respondents also were asked whether they were taught or heard from an adult about two gender-related concepts: America is a patriarchal society and gender is an identity choice, regardless of the biological sex you were born into. Majorities responded affirmatively to both53 percent and 51 percent, respectively. The study also asked the students whether they were taught that discrimination is the main reason for differences in wealth or other outcomes between races or genders or that there are many genders, not just male and female. Overall, excluding those who didnt know, 62 percent were taught that discrimination is the main reason for outcome gaps and a third were taught that there are many genders, Goldberg and Kaufmann said. The findings presented have been a preview of the study, and a complete Manhattan Institute report from the study will be published in the upcoming months. An outgrowth of Marxism, CRT interprets society through a Marxist dichotomy of oppressor and oppressed, but replaces the class categories with racial groups. Proponents of CRT say that systemic racism and white supremacy persist in all aspects of American lifedespite progress in civil rights throughout U.S. historyand demand the implementation of anti-racist policies, such as race-based redistribution of wealth and power along perceived lines of racial inequity. Opponents argue that CRT and its concepts are needlessly divisive and ironically racist. People hold up signs during a rally against critical race theory (CRT) being taught in schools at the Loudoun County Government Center in Leesburg, Va., on June 12, 2021. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) CRT has become a contentious topic of discussion in American society in recent years, with concerns flagged over CRT-related concepts in U.S. schools starting in about 2021. Parents across the United States have raised concerns and called on their school boards to halt the teaching of CRT-related concepts. Some schools have denied that theyre teaching CRT-related concepts, and multiple left-leaning individuals, groups, and media outlets have also denied that its being taught at schools. Denials A Semantic Distraction Goldberg said the lefts CRT is a legal theory taught only in [university] law programs retort is essentially a semantic distraction. The question is not whether students are being assigned the scholarship of Crenshaw, Delgado, and other CR theorists, he wrote on Twitter. Rather it is whether schools are uncritically promoting or passing off the assumptions and narrative of contemporary left-wing racial (and gender) ideology as settled truths. Data from the study show most of the students68 percentwerent taught opposing arguments or were taught that there are no respectable opposing arguments to the CRT-related or gender-related concepts noted in the study. Importantly, this rate does not meaningfully vary by race, political orientation, or high school type. No evidence, then, suggests that this response reflects respondents political biases. Instead, the data suggest that large majorities in all groups have been given the impression that the concepts they were taught are beyond reproach, Goldberg and Kaufmann wrote. If this isnt indoctrinationunwitting or otherwisethen what is? The left has also presented the argument that conservatives are using CRT as a catch-all phrase to attack teachers efforts to teach about certain periods in U.S. history that involve slavery and segregation, the authors noted. But strong connections exist between the cultural radicalism of CRT and the one-sided, decontextualized portrayal of American history and society that Democratic activists endorse, Goldberg and Kaufmann said. The study also determined that being taught a given concept is robustly (i.e., net of a large battery of controls) positively associated with endorsing it and that the volume of CRT-related classroom exposure robustly predicts blaming white people for racial inequality, viewing white people as racist and mean, and support for equity-oriented policies like affirmative action, Goldberg wrote on Twitter. He said the findings from the study are hardly consistent with the CRT is not being taught in schools narrative. Even assuming exposure is overestimated in the current data, its safe to say that a sizable share of the pre-college student population is being subjected to this stuff, Goldberg wrote. We argue that schools and/or educators that want to teach such concepts should be given the choice of either teaching the diversity of thought surrounding them or being barred from teaching them altogether. Full stop. Bill Pan contributed to this report. Dahua Technology CCTVs Found to Be Able to Identify Uyghurs and Tibetan Faces In Hong Kong and mainland China, CCTV cameras are almost everywhere. The Chinese mainland company Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co. Ltd. was recently found by the Internet Protocol Video Market (IPVM), a U.S. video surveillance research organization, that four types of its surveillance cameras have the capability to identify race, skin color, and Uyghurs or Tibetan faces. Dahua Technology denied the accusation and claimed that it would never develop products that identify ethnic groups. Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co. Ltd. has long been accused of helping the CCP set up a surveillance network to persecute the Uyghurs in Xinjiang Region. In October 2019, it was placed on the sanctions list by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The U.S. government has criticized Dahua Technology for its repression of Xinjiang Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other members of the Muslim minority, in acts such as arbitrary mass detentions and using high-tech surveillance for alleged human rights violations and abuses. On Oct. 17, 2022, IPVM published an article claiming four Dahua Technology surveillance cameras, including DH-IPC-HF8249F-FD, DH-IPC-MFW8449-ZHM-D47-LI-0832, DH-CP835-AU1F-LZF2070, and DH-SDT-5A404-C2F, are all capable of identifying gender, age, race, skin color, facial expression, Uyghurs or Tibetan faces. And even the product introduction on the website also mentions such functions. Develop the Uyghur Warning System IPVM pointed out that the Dahua Technology surveillance cameras can identify Uyghurs from within a crowd, and issue Uyghur Warnings to the CCP police, helping them to arrest Uyghurs quickly. This is the online police model touted by Dahua Technology to enhance the polices prediction, early-warning, and prevention capabilities. IPVM criticized this racial warning technique as evil and must stop. The IPVM said that Dahua Technology was awarded nearly $1 billion in contracts for large-scale Xinjiang police projects, including the construction and operation of surveillance facilities in Xinjiang police stations. In November 2020, Dahua Technology replied to the South China Morning Post by email, denying that their products had a race-tracking function. In February 2021, Dahua Technology was found to have software development tools that included tracking functions for Uyghurs, and the company later changed its claim to have never provided ethnic detection products or services in Xinjiang, China. In August 2021, Dahua Technology changed its claim again to have never developed a product or solution designed to identify or otherwise target any specific ethnic group. In August 2022, Dahua Technology finally acknowledged the authenticity of the Uyghur Warning work but claimed that the document was a historic internal software design requirement document. The company had never implemented or put it into commercial use. Recently, Dahua Technology admitted to IPVM the authenticity of the introduction of the four camera product webpages but declared that it was deeply troubled and concerned about the introduction on its own website and already launched an investigation. The company claims that the investigation found that the relevant web page was published before 2018, and they have never developed racial identification features for commercial use, and even claims to never develop products and solutions identifying or discriminating against any single ethnic group. Widespread Use of Technology as a Totalitarian Tool On October 13, the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS) held a meeting to launch its new book Surveillance State: Inside Chinas Quest to Launch a New Era of Social Control. The book mentions that tech firms are authorized by the CCP to produce vast CCTV networks, including artificial intelligence (AI) software capable of instant analysis, to form widespread surveillance systems that are not bound by Chinas legal system and emerging digital privacy codes. Dahua Technology is one of the top ten surveillance technology companies in China. HK MTR to Install Dahua CCTVs In August 2021, the Epoch Times reported on the installation of Dahua Technology CCTV cameras at the Hong Kong MTR stations. The MTR Corporation replied at the time that the CCTVs within the station area have a video recording function but no face recognition function. There have always been strict procedures and guidelines for recording video clips and processing related information so obtained. In general, CCTV video clips will be destroyed after 28 days. For the relevant practices, reference has always been made to the guidelines of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data. Wong Ho-wah, the convener of the Open Data Group of the Hong Kong Internet Governance Forum, responded at the time that he understood the concerns of Hong Kong citizens about the Dahua Technology equipment. Because of the alleged involvement of race-related facial recognition, the public would be worried that a similar situation would happen in Hong Kong. When you see Hikvision, Dahua, or even just a 360-degree fisheye lens, you will naturally think of the facial recognition system. Wong also pointed out that the brand of CCTVs is not the most important, the key is how it is being used. Even if you use other brands to record video, if the pixels are clear enough, you can also put the video on the computer for video analysis and processing. He believes that institutions and people who use CCTVs should have corresponding ethics and should not use artificial intelligence (AI) excessively or indiscriminately. A child's dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is seen in Washington on Nov. 3, 2021. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo) Danger Signal: Leaked Hospital Email Reports Increase in Stillbirths, COVID-19 Vaccine Suspected An email recently shared with The Epoch Times that was sent out to the healthcare staff of a hospital system in Fresno, California, reported an increase in demise patients, or stillbirths, that is expected to continue, according to the email. There were 22 demise patients in August [2022], which ties the record number of demises in July 2021, and so far in September there have been 7 and its only the 8th day of the month, a managing nurse wrote. The managing nurse went on to write that she hopes the trend doesnt continue indefinitely. I know of a few more that are scheduled to deliver in the week ahead, so unfortunately the process is going to be very familiar with all of you, the managing nurse said. The staff member who leaked the email told The Epoch Times that since the rollout of the vaccines, the fetal death (stillbirth rate) has skyrocketed from its pre-COVID-19 vaccine average of one to two every three months in her hospital alone. The staff member spoke to The Epoch Times on condition of anonymity due to fear of losing their job. The Epoch Times reached out to the head nurse who wrote the email to request a statement on why there has been a rise in what she called demise patients, but there has been no response. Hospital email on demise patient. Page 2 of a redacted hospital email on demise patients. (Obtained by The Epoch Times) Extreme Danger Signal Dr. James Thorp, a Florida-based OB-GYN who specializes in maternal-fetal medicine, told The Epoch Times that the content of the email is consistent with worldwide data hes reviewed. It is also consistent with the data from our recently published study, the VAERS database, UK Yellow Card, World Health Organizations VigiAccess, European Medicines Agencys EudraVigilance, World Council of Health, and even from Pfizers own internal documents from their 5.3.6 postmarketing data (pdf) that they attempted to suppress for 75 years, Thorp said. Dr. James Thorp. (Courtesy of Dr. James Thorp) The study in which Thorp was involved found a significant increase in 14 serious side effects, including fetal malformation, fetal cardiac arrest, and stillbirth for women who took the COVID-19 vaccine compared to the influenza vaccination. The study called for a moratorium on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy. In addition, its consistent with 1,366 peer-reviewed publications (pdf) in just 15 months documenting severe complications and death after the COVID-19 vaccines, Thorp said. Let that sink in: the peer-reviewed publications documenting severe adverse events after the COVID-19 vaccines in just 15 months dwarfs all other such reports from all other vaccines administered on all of the planet earth over the past century, Thorp said. According to the national U.S. fetal death rate (stillbirths) per 1,000 births, there was a decline in rates from 5.89 in 2018 to 5.74 in 2020, convincingly suggesting that COVID-19 infections did not increase stillbirth rates in 2020. This is depicted in a graph Thorp put together examining the rates observed in the two institutions using the combined delivery rates of 9,000 per year from the two institutions listed in the email. Using 22 stillbirths observed in July 2021 and August 2022, the adjusted stillbirth rates per 1,000 births are depicted on the graph with red triangles (29.3 per 1,000). This is clearly an extreme danger signal, Thorp said. The statistical probability of this occurring by chance alone is zero, and this could potentially be likened to a very rare 20-sigma event. Thorp pointed to the medical boards that have been promoting the COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women as safe while those same boards denounced other early-treatment options such as ivermectin as misinformation. Thorp claimed there is strong circumstantial evidence that the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG), the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), and the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) fraudulently colluded and committed RICO violations to push dangerous untested experimental gene therapy in pregnancy while placing an unethical, illegal, immoral, and unconstitutional gag order on every physician and nurse in the United States. The ABOG, ABMS, and FSMB did not respond to The Epoch Times request for comment. Dr. Kimberly Biss, an OB-GYN in St. Petersburg, Florida, reported in a video statement that since the COVID-19 vaccines were made available, shes seen a 50 percent increase in miscarriages and infertility in her practice. And I would say theres probably about a 25 percent increase in abnormal pap smears, as well as cervical malignancies in our area, Biss said. Completely Safe for Pregnant Women In 2021, the medical community, along with media outlets, acted in a coordinated effort to push the vaccine that they said was safe and effective, despite the fact that it had only been released that year. Dr. Terry Thomas, an OB-GYN with Associates in Womens Health in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, said in a 2021 press conference that it is completely safe for pregnant women to receive the vaccine at any point during pregnancy. More specifically, she said the COVID-19 vaccines dont cause miscarriages. The Epoch Times reached out to Associates in Womens Health to get a statement from Thomas on what shes seen in terms of stillbirths since the COVID-19 vaccines were introduced and if shes changed her medical opinion, but neither Thomas nor the hospital have responded. Educator Scott Slivken helps his students solve math problems as he holds virtual office hours with his sixth grade students at the KIPP DC's Northeast Academy from his apartment in Washington on April 7, 2020. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images) Decades of Student Progress Wiped Out; National Math and Reading Scores at Historic Lows: Report National math test scores in fourth and eighth grades showed the biggest drop since a national testing program began in 1990, and the reading level for the same grades reverted to a level from three decades ago. Eighth-grade math performance has dropped eight points since 2019, and about a third of students in both grades cant read at the minimum required level, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report. NAEP, also known as the Nations Report Card, is the only national and continuing assessment program administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the Department of Education. The Nations Report Card is the gold standard for measuring student academic achievements. The results released on Oct. 24 were based on tests administered in the spring. Peggy Carr, the National Center for Education Statistics commissioner, presents national math and reading test results of fourth and eighth graders of the Nations Report Card in Washington, on Oct. 24, 2022. (Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Peggy Carr, the NCES commissioner who presented the math and reading test results, said the eight-point decline in eighth-grade math was troubling and significant. According to her, a two and three-point drop is considered significant at the national level. She began her presentation with contexts of the testing results: the pandemic, reduced in-person learning, and increased mental health needs of students. She said she would have to talk to reading experts to find out why students reading performance lost 30 years of progress. Bottom fourth-grade math performers have shown more significant drops since 2019. For eighth-graders in all percentiles, the performance declines are even. (National Assessment of Educational Progress; Screenshot via The Epoch Times) We are talking about a really serious erosion of childrens capacities to read and count in the next generation of the workforce, Beverly Perdue, former governor of North Carolina and chair of the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets policies and achievement levels for the Nations Report Card, said during a media event at the National Press Club in Washington on Oct. 2. So this becomes a global economic issue for America. U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona called the results appalling and unacceptable. This is a moment of truth for education, he told reporters in a pre-release briefing on Oct. 21. In a statement, Perdue said students learning gaps predatedbut were exacerbated by the pandemic. Dr. Vicki Alger, a policy adviser for the Heartland Institute, agreed. We should be careful not to make COVID school closures the whole story. School closures made an already bad situation worse. Alarming proportions of students are still not proficient in the core subjects of math and reading, she told The Epoch Times. Were also seeing the continuing pattern of lower proficiency rates among eighth-graders compared to fourth-graders. We would expect to see childrens subject-level mastery improving the longer theyre in school, but were still seeing the opposite instead. Virginia Takes Actions The Nations Report Card also provides a platform for peer comparisons across states. Virginia saw the sharpest decline in the nation in fourth-grade reading scores, 13.6 points since 2017 and three times the national average. Impact of raising and lowering standards in fourth-grade reading performance (Source: Virginia state Superintendent Jillian Balows presentation) We must acknowledge the glaring reality that we face together: our nations children have experienced catastrophic learning loss, and Virginia students are among the hardest hit, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said at a press event in Richmond on Oct. 24. We also must clearly recognize that the underpinnings to this catastrophic performance were decisions that were made long before we had ever heard of COVID-19. He said the reason for Virginias decline was lowered standards and expectations and gave examples of recent events: the 2017 accreditation standard revision and the lowering of standards for math (2019) and reading (2020) in the Commonwealths Standard of Learning tests. As a result of lowered standards, Virginias honesty gapa performance gap between the state and national levelgave parents the false impression that students were doing well, said Jillian Balow, Virginias superintendent of public instruction. Youngkin announced new policies, including investing $30 million in learning loss recovery, $3 million in enhancing teacher recruitment and retention, and releasing the learning needs dashboard for students not performing at grade level so parents and teachers could monitor learning recovery status. He also challenged Virginia school divisions to spend the $2 billion remaining federal K-12 funds. Youngkin said that local school divisions would be required to submit updated spending plans for federal spending funds by Dec. 31. Chief of the Defence Staff Wayne Eyre arrives to appear before the House of Commons standing committee on National Defence in Ottawa, Oct. 18, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) Defence Chief Was Warned About Legality of Militarys COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate: Memo The commander of the Canadian Armed Forces was warned by his senior legal and medical advisers last year that requiring all troops to be vaccinated against COVID-19 was unnecessary and that doing so may not constitute a legal order. The message was delivered to chief of the defence staff Gen. Wayne Eyre in an August 2021 briefing note, two months before then-defence minister Harjit Sajjan directed him to impose a vaccine requirement for all troops. In two separate interviews with The Canadian Press, the defence chief described the briefing note as one of several legal opinions received before handing down his order in October 2021. We get lots of legal opinions out there, but we cant allow one legal opinion from stopping us from doing the right thing, Eyre said. And here, the right thing is ensuring our operational readiness so that we can protect Canada and Canadian interests around the world. However, Catherine Christensen, the Edmonton lawyer who obtained the briefing note through the Access to Information Act, argued the document shows Eyres order was driven by politics. The Aug. 27, 2021, briefing note was presented to Eyre by Maj.-Gen. Trevor Cadieu, who was one of the defence chiefs strategic advisers at the time. It was prepared in close collaboration with senior medical, legal, political and public affairs officers and it incorporates legal analysis from the Department of Justice. Citing concerns about a fourth wave of COVID-19 driven by the Delta variant, the advisers noted the benefits of vaccination in preventing the spread of disease, adding vaccine mandates may be effective in increasing coverage rates. They also described the purpose of a broader federal vaccine mandate would be not only to protect public health, but also for the federal government to demonstrate leadership and assist in economic recovery. On Aug. 13, 2021, the Liberal government had announced a vaccine mandate for federal public servants, as well as workers and travellers in federally regulated transportation sectors. The memo suggested a universal mandate was unnecessary to protect the health of the Canadian Armed Forces, given that more than 90 percent of Armed Forces personnel were already vaccinated at that time. The early analysis noted the level of legal risk for a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy would depend on the final details, as well as the strength of the public health rationale and how the policy will be implemented. It said that would include any accommodations and mitigation measures for those either unable or, notably, unwilling to be vaccinated, which it recommend to help defend against Charter challenges. The advisers also warned that Armed Forces members could try to push back against the vaccine mandate on safety grounds. At that time, Health Canada had authorized COVID-19 inoculations under a special interim order due to the emergency nature of the pandemic. Prior to full approval of the vaccines under Canadas Food and Drug Regulations, CAF members ordered to receive COVID-19 vaccination might argue that they are being ordered to accept a new and potentially dangerous medical substance into their body, the note said. The interim order, which expired in September 2021, allowed the government to authorize vaccines faster than normal where the benefits were deemed to outweigh the risks. In their note, Eyres advisers cited the case of former Sgt. Mike Kipling, who was charged in 1998 under Section 126 of the National Defence Act, which allows the military to charge members who wilfully and without reasonable excuse refuse an order to get a vaccine. Kipling had been ordered to take an anthrax vaccine while serving in Kuwait, but refused because he considered the drug unsafe. The vaccine was unlicensed for use in Canada. A military judged eventually ruled in favour of Kipling, agreeing his Charter rights were infringed. The Forces appealed and a new court martial was ordered, but the military decided to drop the proceedings. Eyre was told military personnel who refused a vaccination order could be similarly charged under military law, but there is a significant risk in ordering CAF members to accept COVID-19 vaccination, as it may not constitute a legal order. The memo also said a mandate for the Armed Forces would not only be punitive in nature, but would also be counter to the successful efforts made to date to encourage maximum voluntary uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. The advisers suggested the military share its voluntary approach with other federal departments as a best practice. The advisers concluded by expressing support for the federal governments intent to bring in a proof-of-vaccination policy, but again cautioned that the rollout would need prudent planning that kept in mind the challenges they described. Eyre first ordered all Armed Forces members to attest they had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on Oct. 6, 2021. Rather than charging those who refused to comply, the military forced about 300 non-compliant Armed Forces members out of uniform using an administrative process called a 5F release that declares them unfit for service. About 100 troops have left voluntarily. Hundreds more had permanent censures put on their files. Outside the military, most federal employees were allowed to go on leave without pay and returned to their positions after the mandate was suspended in June. The Armed Forces vaccination policy does allow exemptions for medical reasons, religious beliefs or any other grounds of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act, to be determined on a case-by-case basis. In late April, a parliamentary committee heard that more than 1,300 members had requested exemptions, but nearly 1,000 had been denied. Retired lieutenant-colonel Rory Fowler, who is now a lawyer specializing in military cases, said the decision to use 5F releases instead of charging unvaccinated troops means the Armed Forces doesnt have to defend the legality of the order in court. And while troops can file a grievance, it currently takes about three years for a case to be heardwith the defence chief serving as the final authority. Christensen, who is representing a number of those unvaccinated troops who lost their jobs, said she believes the briefing note explains why the military is using 5F releases instead of charging those who refuse to comply with Eyres order. They didnt want their mandate or their order for everyone to be vaccinated to be challenged in court, said Christensen. She said Eyre had the power to order everyone to be vaccinated. Full stop. Then if they did not want to be vaccinated, they had to come up with a reasonable excuse at court martial. (Eyre) didnt do that. Fowler has previously raised concerns about the military trying to punish soldiers without involving the courts in other situations, and believes there are legitimate questions about the legality of the vaccine order. What I believe is it should be tested, he said. Eyre and his office have not said exactly why that decision was made. His office said in a statement that administrative measures and the administrative review process was considered the most appropriate approach. Asked if the decision to avoid the courts was the result of concerns about the legality of his order, Eyre said: Not at all. We had numerous legal opinions. The defence chief also said that while Sajjan directed him to include the Armed Forces in the broader federal governments mandate, I was in agreement at that time, I issued the order. Make no mistake, its my order. By Lee Berthiaume A crowd is shown along Main Street USA in front of Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on March 12, 2020. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP) Disney Sued by Annual Passholders Over Pandemic-Era Changes to Reservation System Walt Disney World passholders have filed a lawsuit against the company over a parking reservation system that had been implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit was filed Oct. 18 at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida Orlando Division by two plaintiffs who have been Disney passholders for several years. Both individuals claim to have bought premium passes without blockout dates, which refer to days when passholders are not allowed to visit the parks due to high attendance. In 2020 during the pandemic, a park reservation system was added by the company, and the system is still in effect. According to the lawsuit (pdf), the two plaintiffs believed the new reservation system would be temporary and would end once concerns about the pandemic eased. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, passholders were not subjected to the reservation system. But since Disney continued to follow the system, they were forced to reluctantly agree to the new terms, the lawsuit states. Disney has altered the Platinum Pass and Platinum Plus Pass terms so dramatically that they do not even resemble the original agreement bargained for by Plaintiffs. By implementation of the Park Pass System, Disney has effectively subjected Platinum Plus Passes and Platinum Passes to Blockout Dates, because the pass holders are subject to days and times in which their passes cannot be used, the lawsuit states. The plaintiffs have requested a jury trial and are seeking class-action status. In a statement to News 6, Disney said the company had been upfront with the passholders about updates made to the services and offered refunds if required. Disney accused the lawsuit of mischaracterizing the passholder program. The Epoch Times has reached out to Disney for comment. Past Case, COVID-19 Lawsuit A similar case was filed against Disney in California in 2021 by a passholder who claimed to have bought a Magic Key Pass without blockout dates but was later restricted from visiting the park. In March 2022, Disney tried to have the lawsuit dismissed, but a federal judge allowed the case to move forward. In another lawsuit against Disney, three employees accused the company of refusing to grant exemptions to its COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Three employees who requested exemptions on religious grounds were punished and fired, according to the lawsuit. Chinese leader Xi Jinping (front) delivers a speech as (L-R) Liu Yunshan, Zhang Dejiang, Li Keqiang, Yu Zhengsheng and Wang Qishan stand at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Nov. 15, 2012. (Feng Li/Getty Images) Dozens of Senior Officials Purged Under Xis Anti-Corruption Campaign Xi wants to eliminate his political rivals, expert says News Analysis Since Xi Jinping took office in late 2012, many high-level officials have reportedly been dismissed amid his anti-corruption campaign. One China expert says that the campaign was aimed at targetting Xis political rivals. The number of officials who were removed from their posts and the amount of money they embezzled is just the tip of the iceberg, China expert Li Yanming told the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times on Oct. 18. The Chinese Communist regime is essentially a gang, using privileges and benefits to maintain the bureaucracy. As of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) 20th Congress this month, at least 88 senior officials were allegedly punished for various crimes and misappropriating more than 100 million yuan (about $14 million), according to statistics based on official data from Beijings top disciplinary agency, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). Nine officials were charged with bribery involving over 1 billion yuan (about $140 million), and they include Zhang Zhongsheng, former vice mayor of Luliang city in Shanxi Province; Zhou Yongkang, former member of the Standing Committee of the Central Politburo; Lai Xiaomin, former chairman of Huarong Asset Management; Yang Xianjing, former inspector of the Department of Land and Resources of Anhui Province; Bao Shengrong, former deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Erdos Party Congress; Gao Fubo, the former chairman of Jilin Trust Co., Ltd.; Li Jianping, former secretary of the Party Working Committee of Hohhot economic and technological development zone in Inner Mongolia; Chen Shulong, former vice governor of Anhui Province, and Cai Guohua, former chairman of HengFeng Bank, who ranked the highest in corruption at $10.3 billion (about $1.4 billion). These officials allegedly committed crimes such as bribery, abuse of power, and embezzlement. Li said that most of these officials were loyal to former CCP leader Jiang Zemin and his close ally Zeng Qinghong. They have monopolized state-owned resources such as minerals found in Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, and Guangxi. The amount of corruption by powerful families such as Jiang Zemin and Zeng Qinghong might be in the trillions, Li added. A coal miner works on coal seams in an open pit coal mine in Chifeng of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, on Aug. 19, 2006. (China Photos/Getty Images) Corruption in Inner Mongolia Inner Mongolia is an important energy security base in China. It is called the hometown of open-pit coal mining and is known for its abundant mineral resources. Its southwestern city Erdos makes up one-third of the regions coal resources and nearly one-sixth of Chinas proven reserves. On Feb. 28, 2020, Xi launched an investigation into the regions coal industry. In May 2021, Guo Chengxin, retired former Party secretary and director of the coal bureau of Erdos, pleaded guilty in court for his role in a bribery scheme involving more than 200 million yuan (about $28 million). Guo had overseen the approval of coal projects for eight years, with shares in several coal companies, according to Chinese state media. In April 2019, Xing Yun, a former member of the Standing Committee of Inner Mongolia, was expelled from the CCP for corruption and bribery involving more than 400 million yuan (about $57 million) and for violating Party rules such as abuse of power and immoral lifestyle. In addition to the coal industry, Inner Mongolias banking and insurance systems, including Baoshang Bank, were allegedly involved in embezzling public funds. Baoshang Bank is the first joint-stock commercial bank established in 1998 in Baotou city of Inner Mongolia. In February 2021, the bank went bankrupt due to heavy debts, according to public information. On May 12, 2021, Xue Jining, Party secretary and director of the Inner Mongolia Bureau of Banking Supervision, was tried in court for taking more than 400 million yuan (about $57 million) in bribes following the arrest of the banks deputy director, Song Jianji, and three other Party committee members in the same bureau. Ma Ming, former vice chairman of the Peoples Political Consultative Conference of Inner Mongolia, was sentenced on Feb. 17 to life imprisonment for taking 160 million yuan (about $20 million) in bribes, and all of his personal property was confiscated. Xis Goal Is to Take Down Political Rivals Getting rid of corruption is not the only reason why Xi targets these officials, said Li, indicating that Xis primary goal is to eliminate the various forces within the CCP that influence his political decisions. Zhou Yongkang in a courtroom in Tianjin where he was sentenced to life in prison on June 11, 2015. (CCTV via AP) The case of Zhou Yongkang is a significant example. Zhou was sentenced in 2015 for allegedly misappropriating over 1.6 billion yuan (about $200 million), violating Party discipline, and leaking Party and state secrets. He Pin, founder of New York-based Mirror Media Group, told VOA on Dec. 6, 2014, that it is well proven that Zhous biggest crime was organizing a coup before the CCPs 18th Congress in 2012 in an attempt to prevent Xi from taking power. Zhou is widely known as a loyal follower of Jiang. According to He, Zhou has placed many of his people throughout the political, legal, military, and financial systems, thus exerting influence over the CCPs policymaking, which Xi deemed as a threat to his authority. The entire number of cadres involved is probably at least 200 officials at the vice provincial and ministerial level or above, with direct or indirect relations with Zhou, He said. Michael Nichols stands in front memorabilia from his previous jobs in law enforcement, firefighting, and military at his home in King Ferry, N.Y., on Oct. 13, 2022. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) EXCLUSIVE: Retired Police Sergeant, Oath Keeper Helped Rescue Capitol Police on Jan. 6 At the Moment the World Needed It I can help. Amid the bedlam of 10,000 voices chanting, singing, and shouting on the east terrace of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, those three words cut through the haze like a lighthouse beam. The target of the message was U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Tarik Khalid Johnson, 46, who scanned the crowd for someone to help with an urgent mission. The speaker was retired New York police sergeant Michael Joseph Nichols, 46, an Oath Keeper who knew all about riots and making decisions under fire. Their missions success depended on a partnership of exhausted, besieged Capitol police and a group of Oath Keepers, a patriot organization that would soon be the target of an unrelenting war on alleged domestic terror by the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI. Nichols and his wife Whitney, 33, had no intention of being at the Capitol on the afternoon of Jan. 6. After hearing President Donald Trumps speech at the Ellipse, they wanted to return to their Virginia hotel. But blocked streets and the herding of crowds by police put them at the bottom of the east steps of the Capitol at around 3 p.m. Before the afternoon was over, Nichols, an Oath Keeper named Steve, and others would go into the Capitol at the request of a desperate lieutenant and rescue 15 riot-gear-clad officers and one uniformed officer trapped inside. It was a good deed, to be sure. Unbeknownst to the participants, however, it would later punch a hole in the governments narrative that the Oath Keepers purpose that day was to violently overthrow the U.S. government and forcibly keep Trump in office at any cost. U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Tarik Khalid Johnson asks Oath Keepers Steve (center) and Michael Nichols (right) for help rescuing police officers trapped inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Rico La Starza/Special to The Epoch Times) Lt. Johnson and Nichols approached each other by chance at the ground level not far from the east steps. I went right up to him and said, How can I help you get control of this situation? It doesnt look good over here, Nichols told The Epoch Times during a series of interviews. If you can help me move aside these people, Id appreciate it, Johnson said on the video, pulling on his COVID mask. I just need to get these other officers out. Nichols and Steves facial expressions instantly changed when they heard police officers were in need of assistance. Oh, theyre trying to get out? asked Steve, a retired medevac helicopter pilot and Army veteran. I can do that, Nichols said. Ill go with you. I can help. Nichols started heading for the steps, then turned around and flashed his gold retired-sergeants shield and reiterated, I can help. Johnson handed him a bullhorn and the group moved out for the steps. What was about to take place would have been largely lost to history if Rico La Starza, 30, a Florida-based videographer, had not approached at just the right time. I happen to look over and I see a Capitol Police officer with a Trump hat on and I go, Well, thats interesting, La Starza told The Epoch Times. Lets go figure out whats going on there. As the men began climbing the stairs to the giant Columbus Doors, the crowd was treated to the suspicious droning of the still-unidentified and never-indicted masked man who researchers dub the Scaffold Commander, who stood unmolested for hours high above the crowd, bellowing that patriots should go into the Capitol. Johnson grabbed Nichols left hand with his right and they started working through the crowd. Steve kept his right hand on Johnsons back. Im with you brother, La Starza said to Steve as he brought up the rear. La Starza trailed the trio with his camera and kept a watchful eye on Lt. Johnsons holstered service weapon. I realize nobodys even watching this guys gun, La Starza said. So my plan is Ill just fall back a little bit, hang back like a foot or so. If any of these guys try to grab his gun, I can do something about it. Previous Attempt Failed A short time before Nichols and Steve approached the Columbus Doors, Oath Keepers members Roberto Minuta, 38, and Joshua James, 35, were asked by a different Capitol Police official if they would help get officers who wanted to leave out of the building. He said we can have this area, theyre trying to get their guys out, Minuta told The Epoch Times. We followed behind law enforcement into the foyer through the Columbus Doors, he said. So our intention was to help get the cops out. They said they wanted out. As Oath Keepers, we work alongside law enforcement, Minuta said. I mean, a lot of [members] are law enforcement. So its not uncommon for us to interact with them and offer help or ask if they need anything. Retired police sergeant and Oath Keeper Michael Nichols uses a bullhorn to ask people to make way for the police officers they were extracting from the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Directly behind him is Capitol Police Lt. Tarik Johnson. (U.S. DOJ/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Seeing a gathering of police, Minuta and James headed toward the Rotunda. I started yelling from behind him, Lets go! Get these cops out of here! Come on, let him out. Get him out of here. The last thing I said was, Let them out. I was loud, though, Minuta said. Because youre in a crowd full of people. Theres pepper spray and tear gas. It was intense. So I was yelling. I was aggressive. But thats what we went in there forto get the cops out. James got into a tangle with one of the police officers. You want out? he shouted, just before the officer struck him on the left shoulder. James then lost his [expletive], Minuta said, and began pulling the officer and shouting, Get out of my Capitol! Get out! This is my [expletive] building. This is not yours! Minuta theorized that Jamesa combat veteran with a Purple Heartgot triggered by the hit and shove from the officer, causing him to lash out in a fight-or-flight response. It was uncharacteristic of Jamesand the Oath Keepers, Minuta said, recalling they specifically discussed earlier that day not to get into any skirmishes with law enforcement. I got crushed, Minuta said, and pushed into the Rotunda. I couldnt even breathe. I was like, This is bad. Someone from the group of rioters shut the door to the Rotunda behind me. I screamed, Dont shut those doors! James, whose family wrote on social media that he agreed to a plea deal to avoid a threatened life prison sentence, pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy and agreed to testify if called on by prosecutors. With the police rescue gone south, Minuta escaped through the Columbus Doors shortly before Nichols and Lt. Johnson arrived to make their rescue attempt. Its a little bit of a blur how I ended up seeing officers coming out and standing in a line and holding a line for them to come down the stairs, Minuta said. Michael Nichols stands in the backyard of his home in King Ferry, N.Y., on Oct. 13, 2022. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Tip of the Spear As Nichols climbed the stairs with Lt. Johnson, he drew on his more than 17 years of experience as a decorated police officer in the Southern Tier of New York State, 20 years as a volunteer firefighter, and years as a military policeman in the U.S. Army in Bosnia-Herzegovina and at other duty stations. Nichols was used to being at the tip of the spear. One of those times came in the late summer and fall of 1996 when Nichols got up-close experience with combat violence. A bomb almost ended his Army deploymentand his life. We drove through the ZOS [zone of separation] again, he wrote in his journal. Destruction everywhere. Hundreds of houses and buildings, blown away. I saw a car this afternoon that had been blown up by something just before we passed by it. Michael Nichols in the gun turret of a U.S. Army Humvee in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1996. (Courtesy of Whitney Nichols) Last night some kid shot off a 9mm outside our camp at checkpoint one, he said. When MPs gave chase, the kids ran into a field. One of the kids stepped on a personnel mine and blew up. Six weeks later, a teenager tried to take out Nichols and his watch partner as they sat in their High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, popularly known as a Humvee. While [Specialist Duane] Brucker and I were working checkpoint, some kid threw a bomb at our truck. The force of it knocked me back in the gun turret and shook the whole truck, Nichols wrote in a journal entry. In a letter home to his parents, Nichols added, It was very loud and the guy in the truck with me thought I had been shot. Nichols had long had to think on his feet during rescue operations. A six-year member of the Cortland Police Department SWAT team, he was called on Oct. 14, 2006, to a home where an armed, distraught father was holed up with his 5-week-old infant son. The mans wife had just disclosed a one-year extramarital affair. The man, 32, later said he felt boxed in and that my life was over. The man had an AR-15 rifle, a Mossberg 500 12-gauge shotgun, and more than 400 rounds of ammunition. Elsewhere in the home, he had a Marlin .22-caliber bolt-action rifle, a Winchester 270 rifle, and a .50-caliber muzzleloading rifle. The AR-15 and the Mossberg lay on the bed near him, along with handfuls of loaded magazines and three boxes of shotgun shells. The baby was asleep in his portable crib, oblivious to the unfolding drama. I could hear people outside and doors slamming, so I thought the police were just going to come in after me without even getting a hold of anyone to talk to me, the man later told police. Sgt. Michael Nichols of the Cortland Police Department in southern New York state. (Whitney Nichols/Special to The Epoch Times) He was feeling desperate, telling his mother in a phone call he felt like going postal. He started thinking to myself whether I should surrender or blow my head off, noting, The guns were next to me but I never picked one up and put it to my head. Amid the high-stakes confusion, the man saw a possible way to solve the crisis. He told the two patrol officers who had positioned themselves on the stairs to get out of his house. He said he would only speak to Mike Nichols. I have known Mike Nichols since the 7th Grade in school and I knew he wouldnt let anything stupid happen to me, the man later said. Nichols was not on duty at the time, but dispatch located him and he raced to the scene on Elm Street in Cortland. Within five minutes he was on the phone with the desperate man. I told Mike I wanted to do the right thing and come out, the man said, but I had to feed my son one last time. The man called his mother and said he was going to surrender, but only to Nichols. I knew he wouldnt be trigger-happy and blow my head off, he told his mother. Nichols stood alone near the front door. The man emerged, handcuffed in the front and holding his infant son in a car seat. Nichols was right in front of me, then reached out and grabbed me, he said after the incident. Mike hugged me and told me I did the right thing and we would see this through. Were Oath Keepers As Nichols, Lt. Johnson, and Steve reached the 17-foot-high bronze Columbus Doors at the Capitol on Jan. 6, the crowd reluctantly moved aside. Were Oath Keepers, Steve said as they walked past. Nichols said he noticed some of the people around the entrance were loud and extremely aggressivenothing like the crowds he had been in the rest of the day. He worried about bringing a group of officers out through these doors with such hostile agitators. The inner set of doors opened long enough for the trio to enter. Nichols was pulled inside and before he could get his bearings, he saw a police officer with a closed fist ready to throw a haymaker at him. Blue! Blue! Blue! he shouted, a code to identify himself as a police officer. Lieutenant Johnson confirmed, Hes with me, Nichols said. Oath Keeper Steve (right) hangs onto U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Tarik Johnson as they move into the Capitol to free 16 trapped police officers on Jan. 6, 2021. (Rico La Starza/Special to The Epoch Times) To the right side of the entrance, Nichols saw a group of Capitol Police in riot gear. Some were bent over and seemed sick to their stomachs, he said, likely from pepper spray used on police and spectators outside the Columbus Doors. Others looked almost terrified, Nichols said. Using the bullhorn handed to him by Lt. Johnson, Nichols told the group they were going to link up and leave the Capitol. He told them to stay connected to the person in front and dont stop until the group cleared the bottom of the stairs. Nichols noted that the doors into the Great Rotunda were closed and locked. All he saw in the foyer were police, so the fear he observed did not make sense. Why was everyone so afraid? They were dressed as if members of the hard squad, wearing heavy protective tactical gear. He looked into their eyes and said he came to believe they were exhausted. I asked what the plan was and if we were going to take the stairs back, Nichols said. Johnson said he just needed to get his guys out. I said, Ok everyone leaving get behind me and hold onto the guy in front of you. Dont let go, and dont stop moving until we get through this crowd. We made sure everyone that was leaving was ready and then moved out. The same agitators outside the Columbus Doors were screaming obscenities. Nichols shouted back, Make a hole! A woman took the bullhorn mic and told the protesters not to interfere. We dont do this [expletive], she said, prompting one of the agitators to reply, [Expletive] you! As the officers passed by, the woman gave each of them a hug. A man in the crowd shouted, The cops are leaving! Let them go! He then told the officers, Thank you. God bless. Capitol Police are escorted down the Capitol steps through the crowd to safety by members of the Oath Keepers at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. Oath Keeper Roberto Minuta is at right, with goggles on his head. (Courtesy of Roberto Minuta) A Quick-Reaction Force? As Nichols, Lt. Johnson, Steve, and the police officers began the slow parade down the east steps, more Oath Keepers emerged from the crowd to help clear the way. Brian Ulrich, 44, of Guyton, Georgia, got out in front of Nichols by a few steps and signaled for protesters to stand aside. Ulrich is one of six Oath Keepers to take a deal from prosecutors, pleading guilty earlier this year to seditious conspiracy. He was joined on the steps by Oath Keeper Ricky Jackson of Georgia, who does not face any Jan. 6 charges. Minuta, who had been on the patio outside the Columbus Doors after abandoning his rescue effort, hustled down the steps to lend assistance. Minuta faces a late November trial with three other defendants on charges of seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, and other counts. Just to the right of him was Jonathan Walden, of Birmingham, Alabama, and his 82-pound security K-9, Warrior. Walden is charged with two Jan. 6-related crimes. A young man in a MAGA cap near the bottom of the steps put his hand on the shoulder of each police officer and said, Thank you, according to a video shot by journalist Stephen Horn. Whitney Nichols said she views her husband, Steve, and the other Oath Keepers on the steps as a true quick-reaction force (QRF) because they were trying to extract people from the building. Thats a stark contrast to how prosecutors view the Oath Keepers QRFs that were standing by in Virginia on Jan. 6. Prosecutors trying five Oath Keepers defendants in Washington said the QRFs were there to attack the Capitol by force to keep Trump in office. Defense attorneys insist the QRFs only would have been used if Antifa attacked the Oath Keepers or Trump supporters in D.C. Weapons were only for use if Trump invoked the Insurrection Act and called up a militia to protect the White House from feared attacks by Antifa, numerous Oath Keepers have said. Several of the riot officers thanked Nichols and Steve for helping to get them out of the Rotunda foyer. The U.S. Capitol Police department, however, was anything but thrilled about the whole thing. An internal-affairs investigation aimed at Lt. Johnson was opened. He was eventually suspended from his job and has since left the USCP. Some fellow officers complained to the USCP Office of Professional Responsibility because Johnson wore a bright red MAGA cap while the rescue operation took place. He was criticized for letting Nichols hold and use the department bullhorn, and for a radio dispatch in which he said he obtained permission from the crowd to bring officers out of the building. According to a USCP internal report obtained by The Epoch Times, a protester gave the MAGA cap to Johnson the first time he emerged from the Rotunda foyer with a couple of riot police, just minutes before he encountered Nichols and Steve. At least two fellow officers tried to take the cap away from Lt. Johnson, but he put it back on both times. He told OPR investigators that people in the crowd listen to me when the hat was on his head, and he viewed the cap as his protective helmet. Lt. Tarik Johnson talks to a group of Oath Keepers about a group of officers trapped in the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Rico La Starza, Archive.org/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Media stories on La Starzas video of the rescue operation said the MAGA cap was a ruse by Lt. Johnson to fool Trump supporters into helping him. Nichols and his wife disagreed, based on what they said Johnson told them. He told me he had it because he voted for Trump and he wanted the crowd at the Capitol to understand that the people inside were also Trump supporters, Whitney Nichols told the FBI in 2021. That could cast a new light on the criticisms peppered throughout the investigation report, which at least partially contradicted Johnsons explanations for the rescue operation. Several officers were highly critical of Johnson and his actions. In reply, Johnson told the OPR agents he was motivated by one thing: to safely get officers out of the Capitol because they were vastly outnumbered and in harms way. Nichols said he found the Capitol Police response unfair to Lt. Johnson, whose actions he deemed heroic. He adapted to the environment, put the officers and peoples safety before his own, and succeeded in defusing a tense situation that could have resulted in a mass-casualty incident, Nichols said. He read the crowd and with no alternative means, put together a rescue operation using members of the crowd and himself to extract 16 officers who had radioed for help due to being stuck between an angry group and the building. Nichols said he tried to stay in touch with Lt. Johnson after Jan. 6. They spoke on the phone a couple times, Nichols said, and have exchanged text messages on occasion. During one call not long after Jan. 6, both men were in tears reliving what they both went through. Johnson thanked Nichols and Steve for helping him. La Starza said he was impressed by Lt. Johnsons calm leadership on Jan. 6. Hes the leader people pray for, La Starza said. Quick on the feet and willing to go through flames for his team. The Epoch Times asked U.S. Capitol Police for comment on the OPR report, but did not receive a reply by press time. The Backlash Begins After Nichols and his wife returned home to New York state, the Jan. 6 backlash began. They were shunned by friends and heavily criticized by some family for even being at the Capitol. We literally have footage of people just slowing down and flipping us off, Whitney Nichols told the FBI. And we have two little girls. Some extended family lashed out and threatened to call child protective services, claiming their attendance in Washington was evidence they were unfit parents. Whitney Nichols said she lost clients from her small business. Other family and friends severed ties with the couple. Michael Nichols talks with his wife Whitney, as their daughter Carter stands by, at their home in King Ferry, N.Y., on Oct. 13, 2022. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) We lost all the friends we had at the time, Mike Nichols said. It was very nasty, a side of people you really dont expect. The father of one of their friends penned a derisive song about them with the line, I Think Its Time I Call the FBI, then posted it on YouTube, they said. A short time later, an FBI agent showed up on the Nichols front deck. Clad in a black trench coat, blue dress pants, blue shirt, and salmon-color tie, the agent wanted to know if the Nichols had any plans to return to the Capitol or to gather at or attack any state capitols. They told him no. The stress was evident in Mike Nichols voice. Its not a very trusting time right now, so excuse my feelings, as the world is making us feel like we did something wrong, he said, according to a video Whitney Nichols made of the FBI visit. The news makes it seem like going to our Capitol was a crime. The agent asked if they knew Lt. Johnson before Jan. 6. He wanted to know if they planned the visit to Washington with any groups or other individuals. Personally, I dont see anything wrong with what took place in the context of that video, the agent said. He was not thrilled with being recorded, but Whitney said she wanted a record of all that was said. I know youre recording me right now. Is that accurate? the agent asked. Im not stupid, I know its been done. Mike Nichols said the video would not be shared with anyone. He asked the agent if they should turn off the recording. No, he said, because Im open and honest and transparent with what Im here for. While the agent seemed to be reassuring based on his analysis of La Starzas videowhich had briefly been posted on YouTubethe couple wondered if they were now a target. Michael Nichols and his wife Whitney Nichols walk in the backyard of their home in King Ferry, N.Y., on Oct. 13, 2022. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Memories of Hardship The strain of the January FBI visit brought back vivid memories of hardships from across more than 17 years of Nichols police work. The kinds of days that burned into his brain are always with him, he said, including one year-long stretch during which he was called to the scene of the deaths of six children. On July 18, 2008, Nichols responded to the Tioughnioga River near a highway overpass for a possible body in the water. When he reached the river, Nichols saw what appeared to be a young child under the water. He jumped in and quickly realized it was an unconscious teenager in the fetal position. As a patrolman and later sergeant, Michael Nichols handled traumatic and heartbreaking cases. (Courtesy of Whitney Nichols) Nichols struggled to get the boy onto shore because the youths body was slippery. He started resuscitation efforts and before long was relieved by emergency medical technicians from the Cortland Fire Department. The boy did not make it. Nichols had to guard the body and the scene while waiting for the medical examiner. He said he will never forget the boy. An investigation later found the teen had been huffing a can of compressed air, a common way of getting high. The boy went on a rope swing and lost consciousness when he hit the water. Another call brought Nichols to the home of a friend with two twin boys. One was found unresponsive in his bed. Life-saving efforts by Nichols and EMTs failed. Again, Nichols had to guard the scene and the body for more than an hour while waiting for the medical examiner. There can be a cumulative effect of trauma in the life of any first responder. From his earliest days in the U.S. Army, Nichols sought to be someone who would lend a hand, save a life, and even save the world if he could. I cant find a way to fix it all, he wrote in 2002. The strain caught up with him in 2004. Exacerbated by alcohol, trauma from many things he witnessed, and no clear way to forgive himself for not living up to his own expectations, he hit the wall. He awoke in the hospital, wondering why God had spared himand where his path would lead next. During a year-long medical leave, Nichols learned a lot about himself. Through the trials, though, he never lost his core beliefs. I am here to help others and to make a difference somewhere, he later wrote in his journal. I may not know where it is yet, but I can feel in me that there is more to why I am here than is physically visible. A page from one of Michael Nichols journals at his home in King Ferry, N.Y., on Oct. 13, 2022. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) More Visits by Federal Agents The Nichols family received two more visits from federal agents in 2021 regarding their time at the Capitol. An agent from the Department of Homeland Security who stopped by in March told them they were free to attend a rally and exercise their First Amendment rights. Nichols expressed frustration with the general backlash he and Whitney experienced. We all saw what happened that day. I was witness to what happened that day, he said. And since that day took place, weve been called radicals and racists and all kinds of things, and all we did was the right thing. Nichols said the two agents told him they were not given access to the Capitols security videos by the Department of Justice, nor were they aware the FBI had visited the home in January 2021. Retired police sergeant and Oath Keeper Michael Nichols talks to an FBI agent outside his New York home on Sept. 27, 2021. (Whitney Nichols/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) The last visit of the FBI to the Nichols home came in September 2021, with an agent from Syracuse, who said he was trying to fill in some gaps and get some clarifying details. Before the agent even reached the house, Whitney shouted to him. I had called out to them from the bathroom window that they need to stop investigating people like us and go start looking into Nancy Pelosi, she said. And I think that threw them off guard. Were not here to accuse you of anything, the agent said from behind his Oakley tactical sunglasses. Quite the contrary. I watched that video. You look like you helped out those Capitol Police officers who were in a jam that day, right? Im not here to question anything else other than just try to figure out some additional details about when you guys went down there. Nichols was visibly impatient with the repeated visits, breaking into an occasional profanity and criticizing the FBI for some of its tactics investigating Jan. 6. His demeanor caused a plainclothes New York state trooper along on the visit to do a splitting maneuver, casually positioning himself to the right and just behind Nichols, ostensibly in case he had to do a takedown and arrest. After a few minutes, the trooper returned to his spot near the FBI agent. Ill share with you what actually happened at the Capitol from a first-hand account, Nichols said. I provided statements to give to your last partner that he didnt want. Im happy to help out. But if youre here to try to get me jammed up for something, I cant allow that to happen. Then I need to reach out and like protect myself. The agent did not take any of the information Nichols offered. Nichols said he still wonders what the visit was about. The next day, the same FBI agent was in a neighboring county, arresting a local man on misdemeanor charges for being at the Capitol on Jan. 6. The FBI declined to comment on the case, referring all questions to the Department of Justice, which has a standing practice of not commenting on cases outside of court filings. Michael Nichols at his desk where he often writes in his journal at home in King Ferry, N.Y., on Oct. 13, 2022. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Reasons for Hope Sitting at an old-fashioned wooden desk in his home office, Nichols often takes pen in hand and shares his thoughts. He has been doing this for more than 35 years, filling untold pages with memories. One day, he said, it will become a book. The working title is Remember This Day Forever. That is especially fitting for Jan. 6, which he recalls mostly as a good day of patriotism and friendship. Even the chaos on the east steps led to good that he believes speaks to the true heart of the Oath Keepers. What it became is now a January day which will never be forgotten and will always be twisted, he wrote in his journal on Jan. 6, 2022. I choose to remember the good and wonderful moments of truth. Helping Lt. Johnson and saving countless lives was an honor. Thank you, Lord, for bringing our paths together at the moment the world needed it. Whitney Nichols has done plenty of reflecting in the nearly two years since Jan. 6. Despite the deep troubles in the world, she has an optimism that is contagious. Sitting at her kitchen table in August, she told The Epoch Times she and Mike learned just the day before they are expecting their fourth child. I have to have hope for my children, she said. Oath Keepers member and retired police sergeant Michael Nichols with daughters Meredith and Carter. (Whitney Nichols/Special to The Epoch Times) She said her love and admiration for her husband of eight years has grown dramatically because of what he did on Jan. 6. Theyve taught their children to love America. Our children have flags under their car seats and wave them out the windows as we drive the countryside, she said. Were for America. We believe in freedom, Meredith says from the back seat on the way to our homeschool co-op. Amid the fear and lies being peddled these days, there is still a purity that exists in our world. If you spend even five minutes with our children, you begin to live and breathe that wholesome goodness. Just like them, Mike continues to wave the American flag with vigor and pride, she said. This is who he is, at his core, despite what the world has tried to do to so many strong Americans like him. There is a resiliency coursing through the veins of all us who value family, truth, and honor, and our love is what will ultimately conquer all. Carter Nichols (L), 5, Whitney Nichols (2L) holding 1-year-old Sawyer, Meredith Nichols (C), 6, Riley VanLiew (2R), 15, and Michael Nichols (R) at their home in King Ferry, N.Y., on Oct. 13, 2022. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) US President Joe Biden speaks about student debt relief at Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware, on Oct. 21, 2022. (Oliver Contreras/AFP via Getty Images) Federal Monthly Deficit Jumps 562 Percent as Bidens Student Relief Costs Hit The Treasury Department said Friday that the monthly federal deficit in September was over 500 percent higher than in the comparable month last year, with the unusually large jump due to President Joe Bidens student debt relief costs being booked in one fell swoop. The federal agency said in a statement (pdf) that the monthly deficit in September 2021 was $64.9 billion. Last month, that figure ballooned to an eye-popping $429.7 billion, an increase of around 562 percent. The deficit surge is because, in September, the government booked the full expense of Bidens student debt relief program, effectively compressing three decades worth of costs into a single month. The move to reflect the entire cost as a one-time item came as little surprise, with a senior administration official telling the Wall Street Journal at the beginning of October to expect as much. Including the cost of the student debt relief in the budget for the 2022 fiscal year, which ended at the end of September, means that those costs wont be reflected in the 2023 fiscal year. Some economists said booking the full expense now makes for good optics for the Biden administration in that it gives the president more leeway to claim deficit reduction next year. My cynical answer is they did it this way so next year they can say the deficit is lower, economist Marc Goldwein of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget told The Washington Free Beacon. If instead they put it in the 2023 fiscal year, it would look more obvious that theyre increasing the deficit, he said. The federal budget deficit totaled $1.38 trillion this year, including the $400 billion or so in student debt relief. Thats down from $2.78 trillion in fiscal 2021. Tacking on student debt cancellation costs this year means that, if spending stays roughly constant, the Biden administration is looking at a deficit of around $1 trillion next year, which would be a further reduction from this years $1.4 trillion. The annual deficit roughly halved in size in the 2022 fiscal year because of the end of spending tied to COVID-19 pandemic relief and higher tax revenues as more Americans found jobs. Biden has attributed the deficit drop to his policies. Despite what Republican officials say, we can afford student relief, Biden said at the White House on Oct. 21. Folks, in just 20 months since Ive been in office, we cut the deficit in half. Republicans have criticized Bidens student loan cancellation scheme as unfair, calling it a giveaway that puts blue-collar workers and those who didnt attend college at a disadvantage. Biden administration officials have argued that forgiving student debt will make it easier for borrowers to achieve life milestones like buying a home and starting a family. The National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF) once estimated the student debt cancellation scheme would impose a burden of between $386 billion and $405 billion in net costs on taxpayersequivalent to every single American taxpayer having to pay around $2,500. A study from the Wharton business school at the University of Pennsylvania found the price tag could be between $469 billion and $520 billion. The Biden administrations own estimates are lower, at around $380 billion. The Treasury statement showed that outlays on the Department of Education for September were $445.6 billion, which is $412.1 billion more than Augusts $33.5 billion. The roughly $400 billion difference is in line with estimates for the price tag of Bidens student debt relief. Former Premier Criticises Labors Push for Public Ownership of Victorias Power Network Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has called out the former Liberal governments privatisation of the energy grid in Victoria as the Labor government heads toward the election with a promise to renew the public ownership of part of the Australian states power network. On Oct. 20, the premier said his Labor government would spend $1 billion (US$628 million) to revive the State Electricity Commission (SEC), which was privatised under the Kennett government in the 1990s, if it won the state election in November. Under the new plan, the state government will take a 51 percent stake in the SEC, and the remaining 49 percent will be designated for superannuation funds. The SEC will be directed to spend the $1 billion fund on building renewable energy projects to provide 4.5 gigawatts of power aimed at replacing the closure of the Loy Yang coal-fired power plant in the region. Former Premiers Criticism In a series of social media posts, Jeff Kennett, who was the 43rd Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999, said Andrews was sending the state broke and now targeted superannuation funds. Every major (government) project is late on delivery and grossly over cost. Now he wants to raid your savings. This must be stopped, Kennett posted on Twitter. Daniel Andrews is quickly sending Victoria broke. Now he wants to raid your superannuation funds to invest in a new energy company which the government owns. Every major govt project is late on delivery and grossly over cost. Now he wants to raid your savings This must be stopped Jeff Kennett (@jeff_kennett) October 22, 2022 In addition, the former premier defended his governments record of privatisation, which he said was to solve the mounting debt left by the previous Labor Cain/Kirner government. We returned Victoria to surplus budgets after two years and reduced your debt from $33bn to $5bn and improved all services, he wrote. In an interview with the Australian Financial Review, Kennett said Andrews would put the state into a poor financial position. The state is heading towards $200 billion of debt, and the interest payments on that debt are going to be much higher, he said. Just the last few weeks, he has been spending like a drunken sailor, with billions on new hospitals and infrastructure projects while people are dying because the existing system is broken. It will take yearsdecadesto repay all the spending; we will be crippled with debt and repayments. It just shows how irresponsible he is prepared to be. Andrews Response During his speech to announce $35 million in extra funding for childrens cancer research on Oct. 23, the premier called Kennetts comments hysterical abuse and criticised his privatisation policies. It was a mistake to sell our energy companies privatisation has failed, he told reporters. These coal-fired power stations have made $23 billion out of all of us. Thats what these private companies have made over that period since Mr Kennett sold off our electricity assets to the highest bidder. A general view of the Loy Yang power plants in Traralgon, Australia, on Aug. 17, 2022. (Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images) At the same time, Andrews touted the SEC project, saying it was a positive, optimistic agenda for the future. The SEC is coming back, and its going to be better than ever. Its going to be 100 percent renewable, its going to put downward pressure on bills, its going to cut emissions, and its going to create 60,000 jobs, he said. Meanwhile, as the state election draws near, the Coalition has promised to abolish seven taxes under its long-term economic plan, including a levy on taxi and rideshare fares. Its only a dollar, but it makes a big difference to many Victorians who are getting rideshare to and from work each week, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said. Daniel Y. Teng contributes to this article. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel speaks during a press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington on Nov. 9, 2020. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images) RNC Files 73 Election Integrity Lawsuits Ahead of 2022 Midterms The Republican National Committee (RNC) has filed 73 lawsuits on election issues during the 2022 midterm election cycle, according to its chair. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel confirmed that the committee filed its 73rd lawsuit of 2022 last week, against officials in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The RNC has filed a new lawsuit against Kalamazoo, MI. Michiganders deserve election transparency, and we are going to court to get it. This is our 73rd case of election integrity litigation this cycle with more to come, she wrote on Twitter. Some advocacy groups hailed the bevy of legal challenges. After the shortcomings of the last election, a proactive and pre-emptive legal strategy is critical to the election integrity voters deserve in 2022, 2024, and beyond, Michael Bars, executive director of the Election Transparency Initiative, told Fox News on Oct. 24, adding that there have been significant strides to try to bolster voters trust in the U.S. election system after allegations of fraud in 2020. The lawsuits come after widespread complaints about the security of the 2020 election in which former President Donald Trump and his allies said there was significant fraud in key battleground states. The lawsuits are part of a multimillion-dollar investment into building an election integrity operations infrastructure that draws on its legal, political, data and communications resources, RNC spokesperson Gates McGavick told the outlet. It reported that the six dozen lawsuits were filed in 20 states. In recent days, the RNC has had some success in court. A New York judge recently struck down a law that would have added noncitizens to voter rolls. A court in Michigan also found that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, updated an election manual to impose new restrictions on poll observers and challengers without going through the correct rulemaking process. Court of Claims Judge Brock Swartzle ruled that Bensons office must either remove a May manual or amend specific sections that he said violate state and federal law. An executive branch department cannot do by instructional guidance what it must do by promulgated rule, the judge wrote last week. This straightforward legal maxim does most of the work in resolving these three consolidated cases. After his order, the RNC and McDaniel described it as a victory for the rule of law. Bensons office indicated that the state will appeal Swartzles decision. This ruling is a massive victory for election integrity, the rule of law, and Michigan voters, McDaniel said. Jocelyn Benson not only disregarded Michigan election law in issuing this guidance, she also violated the rights of political parties and poll challengers to fully ensure transparency and promote confidence that Michigan elections are run fairly and lawfully. Harmony Montgomerys Father Arrested on Murder Charge CONCORD, N.H.Harmony Montgomerys father killed the 5-year-old girl in December 2019 by repeatedly striking her in the head with a closed fist, authorities said Monday as they announced charges in a case that came to light when her mother reported she hadnt seen her in over two years. Adam Montgomery, 32, is charged with second-degree murder, falsifying physical evidence, and abuse of a corpse between December 2019 and March 2020, officials said at a news conference in Manchester, where Harmony lived with her father and stepmother. He also is charged with tampering with a witness by attempting to cause his wife to provide false testimony. He is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Manchester. Authorities did not say whether the girls body had been found or provide details on what they believe Montgomery did with it. An attorney for Adam Montgomery did not immediately comment. Police first became aware that Harmonywhose case unleashed public grief and anger as it highlighted cracks in the child welfare systemmight be missing when they received a call from her mother, Crystal Sorey, in November 2021. She had been trying to locate the girl for months, police said. Sorey said she last saw her daughter during a phone video conversation around Easter 2019. I am in shock at this point, it hasnt really hit me yet, Sorey said in a text message Monday to The Associated Press after news of the charges against Montgomery. Manchester Police Public Information Officer Heather Hamel holds two reward posters, that show missing girl Harmony Montgomery, in Manchester, N.H., on Jan. 4, 2022. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via AP) Nobody wanted to listen to me, this couldve all been avoided, but now were faced with the biggest battle my family will ever face! she wrote. State Attorney General John Formella said at the news conference that he wanted to extend deepest sympathies to those who knew and loved Harmony. We understand that todays news, while significant for purposes of this investigation, is yet another difficult moment for those who loved Harmony and those who have followed this case, Formella said. Authorities said Aug. 11 that the case had become a homicide investigation. They said they believed Harmony was killed in Manchester, the states largest city, in early December 2019. Police said they contacted Adam Montgomery, who had custody of Harmony, and other family members by the end of December 2021. According to court documents, police told him that Harmony had not been seen in more than two years and there was concern over whether she was still alive. Harmonys father and stepmother, who have since pleaded not guilty to charges related to her well-being, told police that Adam brought Harmony to be with Sorey in Massachusetts around Thanksgiving 2019. Adam Montgomery was in court last month as his lawyers argued that some of the statements he made to police should be suppressed. They said he told police multiple times that Ive got nothing else to say when questioned further about his daughters whereabouts and said he didnt want to talk to them, yet police kept asking him questions. He faces a trial next month in an unrelated case on stolen weapons charges. Bail for Kayla Montgomery was recently revoked after she didnt appear at a hearing on charges against her, including that she lied to state health officials about having Harmony Montgomery in her care. Harmony was born in Massachusetts in 2014. Her parents were unmarried, were no longer together and had a history of substance use, according to a report this year by the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate. Adam Montgomery was in prison when she was born. She was blind in one eye and had behavioral needs, and went into the custody of child protective services in Massachusetts when she was 2 months old. She was moved between the homes of her mother and her foster parents multiple times, the report said, causing significant trauma and harm. Adam Montgomery was awarded custody of Harmony in February 2019. Harmonys case led to vigils and the creation of social media sites. Police offered cash rewards for information and dedicated a 24-hour tip line to the case. I ask that in memory of Harmony that we all make every effort to do something nice for a child today, Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg said at the news conference. He added, Just take a few moments out of your day to say something nice to a child, give him or her a hug, some special words of encouragement. By Kathy McCormack We already know from data put out by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that more than three-quarters of Americans arent getting enough exercise. Unfortunately, this news does not capture nearly enough media attention and is a much greater problem than most people realize. Jonathan Landsman, creator of NaturalHealth365, says, I really wish more people would make exercise a regular part of their lives. Its really not that hard, especially when you consider that: federal guidelines for weekly physician activity are pretty low, set at only 2.5 hours a week! So, when it comes to developing a fatty liver, theres a relatively new study which seems to suggest that physical inactivity is more dangerous than most people would imagine. In fact, the research published in the Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics journal indicated that exercise and physical fitness, as opposed to weight loss, seemed to offer greater improvement in patients dealing with fatty liver disease. Want to Avoid Developing a Fatty Liver? Its Time to Get Physical First, lets be very clear: when left untreated, fatty liver disease has the potential to result in serious complications, such as metabolic syndrome, cirrhosis, liver failure and heart problems. And, this is a global problem. For example, the prevalence of cirrhosis (worldwide) from autopsy studies estimate that 4.5% to 9.5% of the population are victimized by this condition. In other words, more than 50 million people are suffering with chronic liver disease. In the past, treatment for fatty liver has primarily focused on telling people to lose weight with doctors suggesting that patients lose between 7-10% of their body weight. However, this new study highlighted that increasing physical activity as a result of aerobic exercise may actually be more important for improving liver function versus just having weight loss goals. This study conducted at the St. James Hospital in Dublin found there were improvements in biopsy-measured liver outcomes among patients who underwent an aerobic exercise-only intervention, even when significant weight loss did not occur. The study suggests that fitness is linked to improvements in liver biopsies, and the benefits of aerobic exercise on both cardiometabolic and liver outcomes is quite clear, according to researchers. In as little as 12 weeks, patients saw benefits, including an improvement in their cardiorespiratory fitness, something researchers now believe is a clinical vital sign. Making Exercise Part of Your Daily Life for Better Health For patients with fatty liver disease, and even those without it, making exercise part of daily life is essential for better health. Regular aerobic exercise helps improve muscle health, metabolic function, blood circulation and oxygen transportation throughout the body. If youre not physically active, aerobic exercise (walking, jogging or bicycle riding) is a good place to start and will have a significant effect on your overall wellbeing. Naturally, a good strength training routine (2-3 times per week) also provides benefits. But, dont forget, the key is consistency! If youre one of the 77% of Americans not getting enough exercise, you dont have to jump into 250 minutes a week immediately. Start with small goals and make small improvements week after week. As an example, try doing 10 minutes of walking per day, and increase your time by 10% per week for the next 12 weeks. Before you know it, youll be feeling the positive changes. As Jonathan Landsman often says, being physically fit is one of the best things youll ever achieve. Republished from NaturalHealth365 Sources for this article include: Eurekalert.org NaturalHealth365.com Time.com Worldgastroenterology.org Protesters march down Whitehall, London, England, on Oct. 23, 2022, carrying a banner asking for CCP officials that assaulted Bob Chan to be deported. Bob Chan was dragged into the grounds of the Manchester Consulate and beaten up during a Hong Kong pro-democracy protest on 16 Oct. 2022. (Martin Pope/Getty Images) Hongkongers in Over 10 Cities in UK and Canada Protest Against the Attack at Chinese Consulate in Manchester On Oct. 16, staff from the Chinese consulate in Manchester, UK, beat peaceful pro-democracy protesters from Hong Kong, causing outrage among Hongkongers around the world. On Oct. 23, Hong Kong people in more than a dozen cities around the world launched a solidarity action, condemning the violence of the Chinese Communist Party officials and urging the British government to prosecute the people involved or deport them. The venues for parades and rallies included London, Manchester, Birmingham, Reading, Nottingham, Sheffield, Bristol, and Brighton in England and Toronto and Calgary in Canada. Reading Human Chain in Solidarity with Manchester City Hongkongers On Oct. 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (BST), the organization, named Reading UK Stands with Hong Kong, initiated an Anti-Violence Human Chain Action held on Broad Street in the city center. More than 170 Hong Kong people participated. Many participants prepared their own English language messages to brief passers-by about the beating incident at the Chinese consulate in Manchester and called on them to express their concern to the MPs. Reading Human Chain participants briefed passers-by about the beating incident at the Chinese consulate in Manchester (Shan Lam/The Epoch Times) Some participants held tablet computers and played clips of the beating incident at the CCP consulate that day, and some people made posters of the footage of the CCP Consul General in Manchester, Zheng Xiyuan, admitting to participating in the attack during his interview. Many locals in the UK stopped to read the posters displayed by the participants, learned about the situation from the volunteers present, and even applauded and sent blessings to the Hongkongers. Participants of the Reading Human Chain brief passers-by about the violence at the CCP consulate in Manchester (Shan Lam/The Epoch Times) The host of the conference used a loudspeaker to narrate the incident in English, pointing out that a number of British MPs had asked the British government to expel the Chinese diplomats involved in the incident. She believes that as the relevant consulate personnel has diplomatic immunity, Zheng Xiyuan, the consul general of the Chinese Communist Party in Manchester, has not been prosecuted by the British government even if he has publicly admitted that he had pulled the hair of Hong Kong protesters that day. In addition, the host also mentioned that the CCP was recently revealed to have three overseas police stations in the UK, but the British government has not taken any response, so she called on the public to express their concerns about the incident to MPs. A reporter from The Epoch Times interviewed a number of local British people at the scene. Most of them did not know about the beating incident at the Chinese consulate in Manchester and were very surprised by the incident. Some even expressed their concern to MPs by email. One of the locals, Ana, denounced the incident as disgusting and unbelievable and hoped that the British government could prosecute the relevant persons in accordance with the law as soon as possible or expel them from the country. Reading resident, Ana expressed support for the demands of Hong Kong people (Shan Lam/The Epoch Times) 1,500 March to Embassy in London At 4 p.m. on the same day, Hong Kong Aid, Good Neighbour Church England, Hong Kong Liberty, Free Tibet and other organizations co-organized a parade in central London. The procession started from 10 Downing Street to the Chinese Embassy in London, passing through Londons Chinatown and Oxford Street. About 1,500 people participated in the parade. After the parade started, the Ukrainian demonstrators next to the starting point of the Hongkongers cheered for the Hong Kong parade participants. The Ukrainian side shouted Free Hong Kong, while the Hong Kong team responded with Stand With Ukraine. The two sides cheered each other up. Lilith, a former member of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, said in an interview with The Epoch Times that she came out to protest to speak out for the Manchester City incident and, at the same time, hoped to rally the people of Hong Kong. She believes that the incident has been elevated to a diplomatic level, and the British government should expel the relevant Chinese consulate staff. But she worries that even if the CCP removes the staff involved, the CCP will still be able to send other staff to enforce the law overseas. Protesters march through Chinatown in support of Bob Chan on Oct. 23, 2022, in London, United Kingdom. Bob Chan was dragged into the grounds of the Manchester Consulate and beaten up during a Hong Kong pro-democracy protest on Oct. 16, 2022. (Martin Pope/Getty Images) Earlier, a human rights organization pointed out that the CCP had infiltrated the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and other places. Lilith estimates that the CCP may not be restrained because of the Manchester City beating incident. The CCP has been recklessly carrying out large-scale oppression and arrests, ignoring world values. When the parade reached Trafalgar Square, there was a sudden strong wind and heavy rain, and there was also thunder and lightning. The parade was carried out under heavy rain. a current affairs commentator Gordon Poon who participated in the parade pointed out in an interview with the Epoch Times that even with the torrential rain, nearly 1,000 people still participated in the parade. He believes that Hong Kongs people are close-knit and disciplined, and when they advocate non-violent protest, even if the parade passes through Chinatown, there will be no conflict. Despite the storm, there were still many Hongkongers who took to the streets. Gordon said he was very excited and believed that no matter where the Hong Kong people were, they would never give up and surrender. Some protesters described the wind as similar to typhoon signal No. 8 in Hong Kong, and some recalled that during the anti-extradition movement in Hong Kong, the Civil Human Rights Front held a parade on Aug. 18, 2019. The weather was also bad on that day. There were still 1.7 million Hong Kong people that took to the streets to protest. Our reporter observed at the scene that after the strong wind and heavy rain, the number of people in the parade decreased by nearly one-third. When the parade passed through Chinatown, a suspected Chinese male staff member of the Chinese restaurant Lido gave his middle finger to the parade. When he was discovered by the marchers and the British police, he immediately returned to the restaurant. At this time, eggs were thrown on the signboard of the Lido restaurant. Some protesters claimed that the male staff member or other Little Pinks did it, while others pointed to the protesters. There was a disturbance for a while. A member of the public comes out from a Chinese restaurant to remonstrate with the protesters as they pass through Chinatown on Oct. 23, 2022, in London, United Kingdom. (Martin Pope/Getty Images) Mainland Chinese Also Participated in the Parade After the parade arrived at the London embassy, people in the crowd were invited to speak. During the parade, several mainland Chinese women who participated in the parade held up banners and shouted the protest slogan Peng Zaizhou, a mainland protester demonstrated on a bridge in Beijing and spoke through a loudspeaker. One of the speakers, Kuai Kuai, revealed in an interview with The Epoch Times that he was from Wuhan and came to the UK five years ago. She was angry about the beating incident in Manchester, so she participated in the march. She believed that the CCPs way of dealing with things was too much. Regarding the Chinese Overseas Police Station, she worries that even though she lives in the UK, she might lose her freedom and live in the fear under the CCP; she is also worried that the British government will relaunch nuclear projects in cooperation with the CCP. Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters gather in St Peters Square, Manchester, England, on Oct. 23, 2022. Demonstrators rallied in support of Bob Chan, who was dragged into the grounds of the Manchester Consulate and beaten up during a Hong Kong pro-democracy protest on Sunday, 16 Oct. 2022. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) UK Political Parties Show Concern On Oct. 16, on the day of the 20th National Congress of the CCP, about 30 to 40 Hong Kong residents in the United Kingdom gathered outside the Chinese consulate in Manchester, England, to oppose the tyranny of the CCP. Police officers were also on patrol at the time. At about 4 pm, a group of people from the consulate general came out, kicking and tearing at protesters signs. A Hong Kong man was dragged into the consulate and attacked by the consulate personnel. Finally, the police entered the consulate and rescued the Hong Kong person. Police have launched an investigation into the matter, and no arrests have been made so far. On Oct. 18, a British MP raised an urgent question about the incident. British Foreign Minister Jesse Norman responded that the Foreign Secretary had summoned the Charge daffaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in London to express the British governments deep concern over the incident and Ask them to explain the behavior of the consulate staff. RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki is seen during a news conference in Ottawa on April 20, 2020. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) House Committee Votes to Re-Question RCMP Commissioner, Former Minister Over Political Interference Allegations The House of Commons public safety committee voted 65 Monday to re-question both RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki and former Public Safety Minister Bill Blair over allegations of political interference in the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting investigation. The allegations resurfaced last week after the Mass Casualty Commission (MCC) made public a phone-call recording of Lucki telling RCMP staff that Blair had requested for investigation details regarding which guns were used in the mass shooting to be publicly released. Its very clear based on the audio recording and what was said in committee that someone is not telling the truth, and that would be either the head of our RCMP or the former minister of public safety, said Conservative MP and public safety critic Raquel Dancho during a public safety committee meeting on Oct. 24. I would be pretty shocked if the minister was not willing to make time in his schedule to come defend himself, she added. The same for the RCMP. The phone call, which took place on April 28, 2020, about 10 days after a gunman shot and killed 22 people in the area of Portapique, Nova Scotia, Lucki told staff she had to apologize to both Blair and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau because the gun details were not included in a same-day press conference and news release. At the same time, the federal government had pending gun-restriction legislation. On May 1, 2020, the government announced a ban on 1,500 types of assault-style firearms. Powerful People Both Lucki and Blair have previously denied allegations of interference in the mass shootings investigation in past appearances before the public safety committee. At no time did I ask Commissioner Lucki to reveal that information. At no time did I direct her in any way on communications, Blair told Dancho during a committee meeting on July 25. During the same meeting, Lucki said, I was not interfered with, I was not directed, and I did not cross any line. Several Liberal MPs during Mondays public safety committee meeting voiced opposition to re-questioning Blair and Lucki, with MP Pam Damoff saying the newly released phone-call recordings change nothing. I would think a written explanation from the [RCMP] commissioner would suffice, Damoff said. Liberal MP Taleeb Noormohamed said re-questioning Lucki and Blair is simply a case of political opportunism. It is ultimately, I dont think, in the interest of the country to waste time by bringing in the commissioner of the RCMP to rehash exactly what we already know, he said. On Oct. 21, the Conservatives called for both Lucki and Blair to resign from their respective positions, following the release of the phone-call recordings. On Monday, Dancho said both Lucki and Blair appear to have misled the committee in July. These are powerful people, she said, adding, They need to be held accountable by this committee on behalf of Canadians. The idea that the minister of public safety at the time saw the death of 22 people, including a pregnant woman, as an opportunity to get his legislation passed is disgusting. First Lady Jill Biden leaves the Church of the Society of Jesus in Quito, Ecuador, on May 20, 2022. (Erin Schaff/Pool via Reuters) Hunter Is Innocent: Jill Biden Defends Stepson Amid Potential Criminal Charges First lady Jill Biden publicly defended her stepson Hunter over the weekend, claiming in an interview that he is being wrongly investigated and declaring his innocence. The first lady made the comments in an interview with NBC News published on Friday amid a federal investigation into the younger Bidens allegedly illegal purchase of a firearm in 2018. Everybody and their brother has investigated Hunter, Jill Biden said. They keep at it, and at it, and at it. I know that Hunter is innocent. I love my son, and I will keep looking forward. According to a report by The Washington Post published earlier this month, federal investigators believe they have gathered enough evidence to charge Hunter Biden, 52, with tax crimes and a false statement related to a gun purchase in relation to his purchase of a firearm in 2018. The younger Biden allegedly answered no when asked whether he was an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance. The question appears on the Firearms Transaction Record (Form 4473), which is issued while buying a handgun. Lying on that form is a federal violation punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. U.S. Attorney David Weiss, a Trump appointee, will reportedly make the final decision on whether or not to charge Hunter Biden. President Joe Biden himself shared his public support for his son earlier this month during an interview with CNN, while also referencing Hunter Bidens battle with drug addiction. President Joe Biden (L) waves alongside his son Hunter Biden after attending mass at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Johns Island, S.C., on Aug. 13, 2022. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images) Im Proud Of My Son Im proud of my son, President Biden said. This is a kid who got, not a kidhes a grown manhe got hooked on, like many families have had happen, hooked on drugs. Hes overcome that. Hes established a new life. This thing about a gunI didnt know anything about it, Biden continued. But turns out that when he made an application to purchase a gun, what happened was you get asked a question, are you on drugs, or do use drugs? He said no. And he wrote about saying no in his book. Hunter Biden spoke candidly about his addiction to drugs in 2018 in his memoir, where he revealed that he was using large amounts of crack cocaine at the time of the gun purchase. Hunter Bidens actions, which also include his business dealings with Ukraine, Russia, and China while his father was the vice president, have raised concerns among critics and Republican lawmakers, and have remained something of a dark cloud over the Biden administration. Despite this, the president has stood by his son while the White House has consistently declined to comment on any investigations into the younger Biden. Frank Fang contributed to this report. Whether figurative or literal, storms are the strongest forces that test mental and physical ability. When we courageously persevere and fight through these storms, we can conquer our fears and prove our strength. In her allegorical short story Maine to the Rescue, Laura E. Richards highlights the courageous perseverance of the young girl Maine during a terrible blizzard. Though it is not clear when she wrote this story, it seems that Richards based it on the Great Blizzard of 1888 that plagued the northeastern coast of the United States. All the girls at Miss Waylands School discuss the intense snow outside. Virginia complains that it should not be snowing in March, while Massachusetts is as calm as usual, and Maine is jubilant to see such substantial snowfall. However, the storm soon grows worse. All the girls, except Massachusetts and Maine, grow anxious. Even Miss Wayland says, There has never been such a storm [in New York] in my lifetime! Despite the heavy snowfall, incredible winds, and dropping temperatures, the school is a safe haven against this blizzard. As they sit at tea, they recognize a sound behind the wind. It is a child! But no one can tell where the cry is coming from, due to the heavy snow. Without hesitation, Maine volunteers herself to go find the child: It is a child! [] I am going of course [] If [the weather] were freezing, I wouldnt cry. She dresses herself in the warmest clothes and snowshoes. Then, with a ball of twine, she flashes out the door. Once outside, Maine is confronted by a strong wind. The wind throws her, but with determination she stands up, sets her teeth, folds her arms tightly, and stooping forward, measures her strength once more with that of the gale. Maine fights the wind, snow, and confusion until she stumbles upon little Benny Withers. Though she cannot see much through the blinding snow, she puts him on her back and trudges forward. Against All Odds Walking blind with a child on her back, Maine, against all odds, returns the boy to his home. Yet she does not stay in the Withers warm house. She plunges back out into the blinding blizzard. Using her twine, Maine successfully tracks her steps backward to the school, where the girls welcome her back with joy! She is covered in snow, her face is scarred, and she is stiff. Nevertheless, she is cheerful and ready to go back out again. Richards shows that even though Maine endures the harshest winds, snow, and ice, she remains steadfast. She remains cheerful and hopeful all the time, never allowing her courage or perseverance to fail. In his novel Puddnhead Wilson, Mark Twain writes: Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fearnot absence of fear. We must not be afraid to test our strength and face our fears. When we are confronted by the many seemingly impossible storms in our lives, we must have courage like Maine. For with such courage, we can fight, persevere, and conquer our fears. We can battle storms and achieve the impossible. Impure Puritans Commentary Two books have recently been published with the words The New Puritans in their titles. From the UK comes Andrew Doyles The New Puritans: How the Religion of Social Justice Captured the Western World, while Noah Rothman of the United States has produced The Rise of the New Puritans: Fighting Back Against Progressives War on Fun. As their titles indicate, both authors seek to explain the increasingly oppressive cancel culture prevailing on both sides of the Atlantic as the recrudescence of a 17th-century British religious cult that is now mainly remembered for its members who were the first European settlers in New England in 1620 and, a generation later, spearheaded the English revolution, which ended with the beheading of King Charles I. With all these New Puritans about, the new king must have thought twice before deciding to be called Charles III. Both books are persuasive in making the comparison between the woke ideology and a species of religious fanaticism that was a precursor of those 20th-century totalitarianisms that sought to dictate how everybody should live. But Rothmans emphasis on the progressives war on fun is the least of it. Its the war on anybody and everybody who might stand in the way of the ongoing progressive revolution that worries me. Non-conformists among the early American Puritans were expelled from their communities, planted in the midst of the North American wilderness, and denied the protection of their lawsthe equivalent in the 17th century of the Lubiyanka prison, or the Gulag that awaited dissidents in Soviet Russia. Our New Puritans have their own version of ostracization from decent society in whats come to be called the cancel culture, the apologists for which think of it as no more than a social sanction and tend to deny that it involves any deprivation of the rights of ordinary citizens. Such a view can only be maintained by a determined ignorance of the way in which the machinery of government and the law have been mobilized against those who are regarded as ideological heretics. The vindictive prosecutions of Lewis Scooter Libby, Conrad Black, and Gen. Michael Flynn should have prepared us for the Justice Departments hounding of Jan. 6 demonstrators, now re-labeled insurrectionists, throughout the countrythe converse of its lack of interest in the much more destructive and lethal riots by progressives in the wake of George Floyds death in 2020. But of course, its the desperate quest of the Justice Department, the FBI, and local prosecutors to find anything at all for which former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted that is the best evidence of the quasi-religious fervor motivating todays New Puritans. Cardinal Richelieu, back in the days of the old Puritans, is supposed to have said, If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them which will hang him. In the same way, our legal establishment knows that the hated Trump must be guilty of something, they just havent managed to figure out what it is yet. Now, the man charged with exposing this corruption of the highest law-enforcement authorities in the land has been defeated in court for a second time, with the acquittal by a jury in my home town of Alexandria, Virginia, of Igor Danchenko on a charge of lying to the FBI. Earlier, a D.C. jury had acquitted Michael Sussmann, a lawyer working for Hillary Clinton, on a similar charge. Whether one believes both men lied to the FBI or not, in both cases the FBI seemingly was unconcerned, since the information gave them the pretext they needed to pursue their jihad against Trump. For this reason, optimistswho want to believe that Lady Justice still has her blindfold on and that juries (at least those in the national capital area) are not so fed up with the rule of law as the Justice Department isare now blaming John Durham for not having gone after the FBI itself, rather than its stooges. The jury can be forgiven for doubting the FBI was duped, wrote an editorialist for The Wall Street Journal. The moral of the story of the Durham trials is simple, wrote John Solomon of Just the News. Jurors wont convict an FBI informer for providing the bureau a story that the bureau seemed to want even in the face of contradictory evidence. I would like to believe this too, but I cant avoid the suspicion that a jury of my progressive neighbors is actually more sympathetic to the New Puritan view that the former president is no longer entitled to the protection of the nations laws, and that the FBIs crusade to brand him an outlaw by any means necessary must therefore be justified. Im afraid that, just as the FBI wanted to believe Danchenkos stories, so did the jury want to believe the FBI and to conclude, as Philip Bump of The Washington Post did, that, As has long been apparent, the hoax wasnt the Russia investigation. The hoax was trying to present the Russia probe as a hoax. The Wall Street Journal editorial, mentioned above, thought it no great matter that the jury failed to convict because Durham still has a report to write for the attorney general on his investigation in which he can knit together the information hes been relaying piecemeal through court filings, thus educating the public about what really happened, and why. Of course, the highly political Merrick Garland is under no obligation to make the report public, but he wouldnt dare suppress it. Would he? Durham, says the Wall Street Journal is the only reason America has had a glimpse of the FBI abuses. Any attempt to squelch his report would compound the scandal. But, as Bump among many others in the media would no doubt reply, What scandal? Didnt the Durham probe, like that of Inspector General Michael Horowitz before it, just prove that the FBI and the Justice Department were blameless? As in so many other instancessuch as Joe Bidens alleged influence-peddling through his son Hunter when he was vice presidentthe real scandal is that there is no scandal. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F10) carrying EOS-03, an Earth Observation satellite, taking off from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India, on Aug. 12, 2021. (Indian Space Research Organization via AP) India Successfully Launches Rocket Carrying 36 Satellites Into Orbit The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said Sunday that it had successfully launched its heaviest rocket carrying 36 satellites owned by London-based satellite company OneWeb into orbit. The LVM3 rocket was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 12:07 a.m. local time carrying 36 OneWeb satellites and weighing 5,796 kilograms in total, according to the agency. ISRO said the satellites detached successfully from the rocket and were dispensed in nine phases over a period of 1 hour and 15 minutes. Todays event is very historic to the country and the Indian Space Programme. This is the first-ever commercial launch of LVM3 with the heaviest payload to [low earth orbit], ISRO chairman Somanath S. said in a statement. This will pave way for more launches in the future. The interaction with OneWeb was so seamless, right from the receipt of the satellites till injection, he added. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO on the successful launch of the LVM3 rocket, which he described as Indias heaviest launch vehicle. LVM3 exemplifies Atmanirbhata [and] enhances Indias competitive edge in the global commercial launch service market, Modi said in a tweet. Atmanirbhata refers to Indias self-reliance. The liftoff from southern India was the first launch for OneWeb since breaking with the Russian Space Agency in March because of Moscows invasion of Ukraine. OneWeb now has 462 satellites flying, which is more than 70 percent of what the company said it needs to provide broadband services around the world. Despite this years disruption, OneWeb said it remains on track to activate global coverage in 2023 with a planned constellation of 648 satellites. Its already providing service in the northernmost latitudes. It was the 14th launch of OneWeb satellites and relied on Indias heaviest rocket, normally reserved for government spacecraft. All of the previous OneWeb flights were on Russian rockets, including the first launch in 2019. The Associated Press contributed to this report. In this handout photo provided by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, a damaged portion of the Korean Air Lines Co. plane lies after it overshot the runway at the Mactan Cebu International Airport in Cebu, central Philippines, on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines via AP) Korean Air Plane Overruns Philippine Runway, 173 People Safe MANILA, Philippines A Korean Air plane overshot the runway while landing in bad weather in the central Philippines late Sunday, but authorities said all 173 people on board were safe. The airport on Mactan Island in Cebu province was closed indefinitely due to the stalled aircraft, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said. Photos it released showed the front underbelly of the plane partly ripped away, but the airline and aviation agency didnt give details on the damage. All passengers are safe and being attended by ground personnel, the Philippine aviation agency said in a statement. The Airbus A330 from Incheon, South Korea, attempted to land twice before overrunning the runway on the third attempt, Korean Air Lines Co. said in a statement. It said all passengers evacuated on the planes escape slides. The airline said its trying to find the cause of the incident. At least four incoming flights were diverted to Manila and a nearby airport, the Philippine aviation agency said. In this photo provided by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, a damaged portion of the Korean Air Lines Co. plane lies after it overshot the runway at the Mactan Cebu International Airport in Cebu, central Philippines, on Monday Oct. 24, 2022. (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines via AP) Firefighters train their hoses on a Korean Air Lines Co. plane after it overshot the runway at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu, central Philippines, early Monday Oct. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Juan Carlo De Vela) In this photo provided by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, a damaged portion of the Korean Air Lines Co. plane lies after it overshot the runway at the Mactan Cebu International Airport in Cebu, central Philippines, on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines via AP) Less Than 1 in 100 Million Chance That COVID-19 Has Natural Origin: New Study News Analysis A new study on the origins of the pandemic, Endonuclease fingerprint indicates a synthetic origin of SARS-CoV2, published on the preprint server bioRxiv, concludes that it is highly likely that the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 originated in a laboratory. The odds of a natural origin, according to the study, are placed at less than 1 in 100 million. Unlike previous studies that analyzed qualitative aspects such as virus features, the new study for the first time assesses the likelihood of a laboratory origin on a quantitative basis. This breakthrough methodology allowed the authors to present objective findings that appear to exceed any previous studies. Significantly, the new study does not rely on any of the known evidence pointing toward a lab origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. For instance, it does not take into consideration the highly unusual Furin Cleavage Site that makes the virus particularly virulent and which it is widely thought to have been inserted into the virus at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Nor does it factor in the huge coincidence that the pandemic started on the door steps of the worlds premier coronavirus laboratory. The P4 laboratory on the campus of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on May 13, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) Instead, the authorsValentin Bruttel, a molecular immunologist at the University of Wurzburg in Germany; Alex Washburne, a mathematical biologist at Selva Science; and Antonius VanDongen, a pharmacologist at Duke Universitytook a novel approach that assesses the genesis of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from an entirely new angle. The authors examined tiny fingerprints left behind in the process in which viruses are assembled in laboratories. While use of seamless genetic engineering techniques in creating viruses in laboratories typically conceals evidence of manipulation, the new study developed a statistical process for uncovering such hidden evidence by comparing the distribution of certain strands of genetic code in wild viruses and lab-made viruses. When viruses are constructed in a lab, they are typically assembled by piecing together various virus parts. According to a blog post from Washburne that accompanied the release of the study, it is like taking Mr. Potato Head from the movie Toy Story and replacing his arms with the arms of GI Joe to help us study things like whether GI Joe arms provide any clear benefit for an important task in the virus life cycle like lifting weights. In other words, one of the main purposes of manipulating viruses is to better understand which parts of viruses make them particularly infectious, lethal, or transmissible. A related purpose is to develop bioweapons but the authors of the new study reject the idea that that is why SARS-CoV-2 was made. They believe that the virus was assembled in a lab via common methods used to assemble infectious clones pre-COVID. A recent experiment at Boston University is an example of piecing together virus parts. Researchers created a COVID-19 variant that killed 80 percent of exposed mice using the backbone of the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 virus and replacing its spike gene with that from the Omicron variant. Put another way, the Boston lab created a COVID-19 version of Frankensteins monster by piecing together different parts from different variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Piecing together viruses in labs is subject to limitations. The genetic information for SARS-CoV-2 is contained in 30,000 base pairs of RNA nucleotides. However, the 30,000 base pairs are not pieced together all at once. Instead, laboratory viruses are assembled from a collection of smaller strands of base pairs that are later glued back together as chimeras, or compounds. Enzymes are used to cut viruses apart at certain points along the DNA strand (laboratories use DNA instead of RNA as it is more stable; the assembled DNA is then added to bacteria that create RNA viruses). Enzymes are proteins that cut through DNA strands at specific recognition sites. These recognition sites, or cutting sites, are the genetic sequences within DNA strands that are sought out by the enzymes. Enzymes are like biological scissors that cut only at particular cutting sites marked by sequences that are recognized by particular enzymes. Since cutting sites look like normal sequences of nucleotides, they can be found on RNA strands of naturally occurring viruses as well as on lab-made viruses. This is why this form of genetic engineering leaves no seams or obvious fingerprints. However, there is an important difference between cutting sites on wild-type and lab-made viruses that the authors exploited. Naturally occurring cutting sites are not necessarily located where scientists want them to be. Laboratories therefore routinely insert cutting sites in favorable locations and remove them from unfavorable locations. While naturally occurring cutting sites and cutting sites added in a lab are biologically indistinguishable, Bruttel, Washburne and VanDongen hypothesized that they could detect a very subtle but identifiable fingerprint by plotting the distribution of the cutting sites on the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They would then compare this to the distribution of such sites on wild-type SARS viruses, as well as on other, pre-pandemic lab-made SARS viruses. They carried out their analyses for the most commonly used enzymes (biological scissors) which, according to a series of pre-pandemic publications from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, were also used for experiments in the Wuhan lab. A researcher at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan in Chinas central Hubei Province feeds a bat with a worm in a 2017 video. (Screenshot) The results of the new study are stark. While cutting sites on wild-type SARS viruses are randomly distributed, they tend to be regularly spaced on pre-pandemic lab-made viruses, as well as on SARS-CoV-2. So the authors found that regular spacing suggests that the location of the cutting sites was manipulated in a lab. The new study also compared the length of the longest segments seen in wild-type viruses and lab-made viruses. The longest segments in wild-type viruses are far longer than any found in lab-made viruses, including in SARS-CoV-2. The findings again pointed to a lab origin for COVID-19. The longest segments in lab-made viruses were found to be unusually short. As previously noted, the process of genetically engineering viruses requires scientists to use several shorter segments, which are then pieced together. Natural viruses are not pieced together and thus the length of segments is randomly determined and includes very short and very long segments. Bruttel, Washburne, and VanDongen estimate that the odds that the SARS-CoV-2 virus arose naturally lie between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1,400. However, this estimate only factors in the distribution of cutting sites. The authors also observed a concentration of mutations within the cutting sites that was extremely unlikely in wild coronaviruses and nearly universal in synthetic viruses. The estimate drops to a 1 in 100 million chance that SARS-CoV-2 was a naturally-occurring virus if these mutations are factored in. When considering additional criteria, such as the fact that the sticky ends where the viruses are glued back together all happen to fit perfectly, the authors estimate the odds of a natural origin to be even lower. The authors conclude that SARS-CoV-2 was assembled in a lab using common methods for assembling viruses. The authors do not speculate on which lab the virus escaped from. In response to the new study, Kristian Andersen, the leading author of the Proximal Origin paperthe Dr. Anthony Fauci-led effort to dispel the lab leak theorywent on Twitter to slam the new study as kindergarten molecular biology. Andersens criticism is that cutting sites are common in naturally occurring SARS viruses. However, this criticism does not explain the very unusual placement of cutting sites in SARS-CoV-2. Kristian Andersen briefs reporters in San Diego on Dec. 30, 2020. (AP Photo) The Proximal Origin paper itself, which boldly proclaimed that our analyses clearly show that SARS-CoV-2 is not a laboratory construct or a purposefully manipulated virus, has been dismissed after it emerged that Andersen and his co-authors had relied on an obsolete database for their findings. Notably, Andersen told Fauci privately that SARS-CoV-2 looked engineered, while publicly pushing the natural origin narrative. Fauci was director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the time. He will resign from the position in December. Andersen and a group of other scientists who receive funding from Faucis NIAID also co-authored another natural origin paper that declared their analyses provide dispositive evidence for the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 via the live wildlife trade. That paper, too, has since been criticized for its reliance on faulty data. While there is still no dispositive evidence on either side of the origin debate, it is noteworthy that the papers from natural origin advocates tend to make grand claims of indisputable evidence. In contrast, the authors of the new study have invited criticism and debate of their findings and are engaging with such criticism online. Although it is too early to reach a final verdict on the new study, which is still subject to peer review, its methodology offers for the first time a path to solving the COVID-19 origin puzzle without having to rely on data that is being withheld by the Chinese Communist Party. Man Punches 8-Months Pregnant Woman in Stomach in Tustin Crime Spree: Police TUSTIN, Calif.A 28-year-old man is in custody after allegedly carrying out a violent crime spree in Tustin that included punching the stomach of a woman eight months pregnant, attacking an elderly woman, and sexually assaulting another woman, police said Sunday. Sean Anthony Aguilera of Orange committed a total of five assaults within about two hours Friday evening, according to Lt. Ryan Coe of the Tustin Police Department. Aguilera was arrested Friday on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, sexual assault, robbery, and attempted kidnapping. Bail was set at $500,000, Coe said, with his arraignment tentatively set for Tuesday. Sean Anthony Aguilera, 28, of Orange. (Courtesy of the Tustin Police Department) Aguileras alleged crime spree started with an attack on an elderly woman at 6:50 p.m. Friday in the 300 block of West Sixth Street. A witness called the police to report a male assaulted the woman, who ran away. Officers could not locate her or the suspect, who would later be identified as Aguilera, Coe said. About an hour later, a female victim called the police to report that she had been sexually assaulted by a suspect matching Aguileras description in the 4200 block of Newport Avenue. Dispatchers noted the suspects description matched that of the earlier call. The victim screamed and was able to get away from the suspect as he fled southbound, Coe said. The victim did not sustain any physical injuries. A third attack was reported about 10 minutes later in the 1100 block of Walnut Avenue. Another female victim called 911 and stated the same suspect had attempted to get into her vehicle as she was leaving her apartment complex, he said. The victim was able to drive away from the suspect and was not injured. At about 8:15 p.m., a security guard reported a man fitting Aguileras description had just assaulted him near the 14600 block of Newport Avenue and attempted to steal his portable radio, the lieutenant said. The security guard resisted and told police that he fled southbound on Newport Avenue. Several minutes later, a woman who is eight months pregnant called the police to report that the suspect now identified as Aguilera punched her in the stomach and ran toward Kenyon Drive. She was examined at the scene by paramedics and did not appear to suffer any serious injuries, Coe said. Moments later, officers arrived and located Aguilera. Although no weapons were found on his person, he was booked into the Orange County jail for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, sexual assault, robbery, and attempted kidnapping, Coe said. A possible motive for the attacks was not provided. Police believe Aguilera acted alone, according to Coe. Anyone with information about Fridays attacks or similar incidents was asked to call detectives at 714-573-3246 or email ehaug@tustinca.org. CCP leader Xi Jinping (front) leads members of the Party's new Politburo Standing Committee, the nation's top decision-making body, as they meet the media in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 23, 2022. (Noel Celis / AFP via Getty Images) Meet the 7 Men Who Will Rule China Led by Xi Jinping, the seven men strode on the red carpet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 23, revealing the new generation of Chinas ruling elites. These powerful officials are members of the Politburo Standing Committee, the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) top decision-making body. Current leader Xi heads the committee again after closed-door meetings at which roughly 370 hand-picked Party representatives rubber-stamped the committees members. The lineup at the conclusion of the 20th Party Congress demonstrates Xis further consolidation of power, with all four newly appointed members being his proteges and allies. The following are the members who will run the Party for the next five years. Xi Jinping Chinas leader Xi Jinping (L) waves with Li Qiang (R), a member of the Chinese Communist Partys new Politburo Standing Committee, as they meet the media in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 23, 2022. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images) Xi confirmed his third five-year term as Party general secretary, a feat that no one since Mao has accomplished. Mao ruled the country for 27 years until his death in 1976. Xi also retained his position as head of the Central Military Commission and is almost certain to remain the Chinese leader, which will be unveiled after the rubber-stamp legislative meetings next spring. He had already scrapped term limits by revising the constitution in 2018. The lack of a possible successor to the 69-year-old leader suggests he may intend to extend his term further, which would normally end in 2027. When Xi first joined the Standing Committee in 2007, it was clear from his age and from the makeup of the committee that he would replace then-Party leader Hu Jintao when Hus term ended in 2012. Now, five of seven of the Standing Committee members, including Xi, are over 65, with Ding Xuexiang, now 60, being the youngest. It means none of them would be young enough to take over the Partys top position in 2027. The CCPs decades-long norm is that those who are 68 or older at the time of the Congress would retire. Li Qiang Li Qiang, Shanghai Communist Party secretary, applauds as he is introduced as a member of the CCPs Politburo Standing Committee, in Beijing on Oct. 23, 2022. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) Taking over the Partys No. 2 position is Li Qiang, Shanghais Party chief. The financial hubs most powerful position is often seen as a stepping stone to the CCPs top decision-making body. Lis predecessor, Han Zheng, was promoted to the Standing Committee in 2017. But earlier this year, speculation abounded that Lis political career was doomed because of the COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai. Confined to their homes for two months, the citys 25 million residents struggled to obtain food and medicine, which angered the public and provoked numerous small-scale protests. The political rise of Li shows Xi Jinpings criteria is the connection with him, absolute loyalty to him, and obedience to him, said Feng Chongyi, a professor of China studies at the University of Technology Sydney. The 63-year-old is Xis close ally. When Xi was a Party secretary of Zhejiang Province, Li was in charge of Wenzhou, a major city within Zhejiang. In 2004, Li was promoted to secretary-general of Zhejiang, becoming Xis right-hand man. After Xi took the helm at the 18th National Congress in 2012, he promoted Li to governor of Zhejiang Province. Three years later, Li became Jiangsu Province Party secretary, the top position in the rich, coastal province that abuts Shanghai. In 2017, Li became Party secretary of Shanghai. Now, Li is widely expected to be the next premier. Zhao Leji Zhao Leji, the head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, at a media meet-and-greet of the CCPs Politburo Standing Committee, in Beijing on Oct. 25, 2017. (Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images) Anti-corruption czar Zhao Leji is one of two people maintaining their positions on the Standing Committee. Zhao most recently headed the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the driving force behind Xis campaign to rid the Party of political enemiesnamely officials still loyal to former CCP leader Jiang Zemin. The 65-year-old also led the Partys Organization Department, a powerful body responsible for appointments of senior officials. Zhao helped promote many of Xis allies, according to the Brookings Institute. Zhao started his political career in the northwestern Qinghai Province, where he was born, and worked his way up in the provincial bureaucracy. He became Qinghais Party secretary in 2003. Zhao then served as the Party chief of Shaanxi Province before arriving in Beijing in 2012. Wang Huning Wang Huning (C), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CCPs Central Committee, attends the opening session of the National Peoples Congress in Beijing on March 5, 2018. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images) Another person who retains a position in the Partys top governing body is Wang Huning, a veteran theorist. The 67-year-old Wang is a rare political figure who has served three Party chiefs amid fierce political infighting and the once-in-five-year reshuffles. He [Wang] is not loyal to any leader, Feng told The Epoch Times. He is just a theorist that the Party found useful. The former professor and dean of the law school at Fudan University defined core ideologies for the three leaders, from Jiang Zemins Three Representatives, to Hu Jintaos Scientific View on Development, to Xi Jinping Thoughts. Wang Hunings presence also indicates to me that the ideological bent of the Party and Xi will continue and even deepen, Dylan Loh, assistant professor at Nanyang Technology University, told Reuters. Cai Qi Cai Qi, Beijing Party secretary, stands as he is introduced as a member of the CCPs Politburo Standing Committee, in Beijing on Oct. 23, 2022. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images A newcomer to the elite standing committee, Cai Qi has known Xi for more than two decades. Cai worked under Xi when he held top posts in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. After Xi took power, Cai was promoted to Beijing before he became the citys Party boss in 2017. In the same year, he joined the Politburo, despite public anger over his forced eviction of migrant workers on Beijings outskirts. On Oct. 30, Cai takes over as First Secretary of the Secretariat, overseeing the Partys propaganda and ideology work. Ding Xuexiang Ding Xuexiang, a new member of the Politburo Standing Committee, in Beijing on Oct. 23, 2022. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images) As Xis right-hand man, Ding Xuexiangs elevation to the Standing Committee is no surprise to observers, although he has never been a provincial-level Party secretary. Dings ties to Xi could date back to 2007. When Xi briefly served as Shanghais Party secretary, Ding was the citys secretary-general and Xis top aide. In 2013, just a few months after Xi took office, Ding moved to Beijing first as the deputy director of the General Office, then as leader of the powerful office that manages the top leaderships administrative affairs. The 60-year-old has accompanied Xi on many trips abroad. [Ding] has probably spent more time with Xi Jinping than any other official over the past five years, Neil Thomas, a senior analyst for China and Northeast Asia at the Eurasia Group, told Reuters. Li Xi Li Xi, Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, is introduced as a new member of the Politburo Standing Committee, in Beijing on Oct. 23, 2022. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images) Li Xi, Party chief of the southern economic powerhouse Guangdong Province, is also a new face on the Standing Committee. The 66-year-olds bond to Xi could be traced to indirect links to Xis late father, Xi Zhongxun, who was a Party revolutionary, according to the Brookings Institute. Li spent most of the first three decades of his career in northwest China, in the provinces of Gansu and neighboring Shaanxi. In 2015, Li was promoted to Party chief of northwestern Liaoning Province. As Party secretary of Liaoning, Li Xi was known for his tough stance against corruption and his enthusiastic support for Xis call for more strict enforcement of Party discipline, Cheng Li, director of the John L. Thornton China Center at The Brookings Institution, told Reuters. At the conclusion of the 20th Party Congress, Li will succeed Zhao Leji to lead the anti-graft agency. Analysts suggest that Lis political advancement reflects Xis plan to intensify his anti-corruption drive over the next five years. I suppose [the anti-corruption work] after the 20th Party Congress would be fierce, said Zheng Xuguang, a U.S.-based Chinese commentator and economist. It could be a ferocious purge. Luo Ya, Ning Haizhong, Annie Wu, and Reuters contributed to this report. Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Zhao Ziyang (C) uses a megaphone to address the student hunger strikers at dawn in one of the buses at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on May 19, 1989. (Xinhua/AFP via Getty Images) Memorial Tributes to Ex-leader Zhao Ziyang, Who Opposed the Tiananmen Massacre, Shared Online Before the 20th Congress In the days leading up to the opening of the 20th congress, several old articles and videos commemorating former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Zhao Ziyang were circulated on Chinese social media. The timing, ahead of the CCPs most vital conference, could be a sign of civil dissatisfaction with the authorities in Chinese society and within the CCP, said New Zealand-based Chen Weijian, editor-in-chief of Beijing Spring, a monthly magazine focused on the Chinese democracy movement, headquartered in New York. In 1989, Zhao, then general secretary of the party, was stripped of his post for opposing the militarys massacre of a student democracy movement that occurred at Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Zhao later earned a good reputation among the Chinese people for taking such a strong stand. Chen told The Epoch Times there are some open-minded leaders in the party from time to time, but there is another rule in the CCP: All those who are open-minded and really have reform ideas will be beaten down sooner or later, and the hardliners will prevail in the end. U.S. President Ronald Reagan (R) and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang, both holding umbrellas, walk arm in arm, as Reagan escorts him to his car through the rain after a meeting in the Cabinet Room in the White House, in Washington, on Oct. 1, 1984. (AFP/AFP via Getty Images) A video released on the Chinese social media Weixin site on Oct. 11 presents a historical record of Zhao, then Premier (1980-1987), and shows him answering questions from foreign reporters before meeting with then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan on April 27, 1984, at the Great Hall in Beijing. Zhao replied to all the questions posed by American reporters, some of which were quite sensitive to the Chinese political environment. For example, President Reagan was a fierce opponent of communism, and he often denounced China in harshest terms, how do you feel about him coming here? How serious do you think this obstacle is now that the United States will continue to sell weapons to Taiwan? and What message will President Reagans visit send to the Soviet Union? After Reagans visit to China, U.S.China relations developed relatively steadily and there was a short period of friendship. Accompanying this short video, an 8,000-word article was posted recalling some of the events of Zhaos life. This memorial article was originally published in 2006, the first anniversary of Zhaos death. It was written by Zhou Qiren, a Chinese economist and senior think-tank scholar of Zhao. Zhou had worked at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, where he helped the rulers formulate rural policies, thus, had occasion to meet with Zhao. At that time, the CCP was in a period of so-called reform and opening up and needed to change its planned economic model. Another article written by Tian Jiyun, former vice chairman of the Standing Committee, was also widely shared on WeChat, a Chinese social platform. The article was originally published in 2008 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the reform and opening up policy. After the Cultural Revolution, the CCP was forced to carry out reforms to renew its own life. The article reviewed some of the historical circumstances of that time. Tian believes that Zhao and Hu Yaobang, another former general secretary of the party, played a crucial role in promoting the economic reform policy. The article had been released in 2016 in the magazine Yanhuang Chunqiu, but the magazine was shut down amid an internal Communist Party crackdown, and all historical references, including those on the official website, were removed. Student displays a banner with one of the slogans chanted by the crowd of some 200,000 pouring into Tiananmen Square in Beijing on April 22, 1989, in an attempt to participate in the funeral ceremony of former Chinese Communist Party leader and liberal reformer Hu Yaobang during an unauthorized demonstration to mourn his death. (Catherine Henriette/AFP via Getty Images) In January 1987, liberal reformer Hu Yaobang was forced to resign his post as General Secretary of the party under the continuous criticism of the patriarchs, who blamed Hus connivance with the intellectuals for the student movement that happened at the University of Science and Technology of China in 1986. Zhao succeeded Hu and was confronted with a wider pro-democracy demonstration in 1989. Zhao was accused of splitting the party because he disagreed with then-CCP head Deng Xiaopings crackdown on students. After the Tiananmen Massacre, Zhao was removed from all party positions. He then spent the last 16 years of his life under house arrest. When Zhao died in 2005, his ashes were not buried in the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing, reserved for senior CCP officials. It was not until 2019 that Zhaos ashes were buried in a civilian cemetery in a suburb of the Chinese capital. A member of the U.S. Air Force receives the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, on Dec. 29, 2020. (U.S. Air Force/Jordan Garner) Military Officers Injured After Taking COVID-19 Vaccine Call for End to Pentagons Vaccine Mandate In March, Lt. Col. William P. Anton, along with several other service members, submitted a 100-page report to members of the U.S. House and Senate. The report included statements from various military pilots and other injured service members concerned about the Department of Defense (DoD) vaccine mandate and its alleged negative effects on their health and the nations security. Having served in the military for more than 20 years, Anton said that he is shocked and frustrated to have only received lukewarm responses from a couple of senators and their staffers. For the most part, there hasnt really been any action, Anton told The Epoch Times, using a pseudonym for fear of reprisals. Injuries to my fellow service members are happening right before our eyes and we know the solution [stopping the mandate], but no one is doing anything about it, Anton said. As more injuries come to light, Anton said hes disappointed in senior military and civilian leadership. They are each in their own way aware of the ill health effects on our service members or the negative impact on our militarys readiness, and yet they remain silent, he said. They justify their silence as obedience to military orders because that is easier than to acknowledge their own lack of moral courage. Anton has spoken to senior leaders who dont want to risk their next promotion. We are clearly promoting the wrong type of officers as promotions were not the motivation that defined the character traits of past military leaders who served sacrificially, won wars, and preserved freedom for another generation, he said. In the military, Anton said, people are willing to die for their country and the men and women standing right next to them. While current senior leadership may be willing to lay down their lives for others, he is concerned that they are not willing to lay down their careers to speak out on whats going on. Dying for the country is merely a platitude coming out of leadership now, he said, adding that ignoring the negative effect of the vaccine on the military is undeniable proof of that attitude. The DoDs objective to defend this nation with a healthy and ready force cannot be reached through these supposed vaccines, as they do not prevent transmission or infection, Anton said. Thus, preserving the health of the nations service members should take priority as more injuries come to light, he added. Grounded But Hopeful Chief Warrant Officer (CW4) Aaron Murphy (a pseudonym) is a command pilot in the Armys most advanced multi-role combat helicopter, the Boeing AH-64 Apache. He has over 15 years of flying service. When the [defense secretary] made it mandatory, I went out and got the vaccine like I did all the other vaccines in the past, Murphy told The Epoch Times, using a pseudonym over privacy concerns. Admittedly, he waited as long as possible to get it, allowing some time to note any adverse reaction for others who had already taken the vaccine. Because I thought it was valid at the time, I chose to take the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine on Aug. 24 [2021]. Within four minutes of the injection, I felt a tingle go up my arm, into my neck, and into my head, and immediately felt like I was going to pass out, he said. In addition, his blood pressure plummeted. After about an hour of lying there with my feet propped up, I was finally able to get back up and walk out to my vehicle, trying to shake it off as if it were no big deal, Murphy said. However, he said he couldnt make it through the remainder of the workday and made the decision to go home. The next day, he experienced a fever, a sore back, and significant fatigue, and was under the impression that these were all normal symptoms after taking the vaccine. On his commute to work the following day, he began to experience stroke-like symptoms. I couldnt breathe, as my breaths were too rapid, and the dizziness and mental confusion were overwhelming, he said. It was honestly a feeling of impending doom. Shortly after reaching out to his wife in distress, Murphy was able to compose himself enough to make it to work. But was still struggling to breathe and to tell my boss that I was going home, he said. Fatigued, dizzy, and in denial that I should have gone to the emergency room, I spent the next few days in bed, hoping I could sleep it off. A few days later on a Sunday morning, he said he was sitting in church when it happened all over again. I was short of breath, dizzy, and turning pale, so my wife took me home, he said. For the next several months, I felt like I was on a boat. He has also been bothered by abnormal fatigue and a reduction in cardiovascular exercise capacity ever since, Murphy said. By October 2021, Murphy was able to schedule an appointment with a neurologist who ordered tests involving magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and magnetic resonance venography (MRV). According to the radiologist, the MRI and MRA came back normal, he said. However, the radiologist was unable to observe my left transverse sinus vein [with the MRV scan], he added. Murphy had been grounded from flight since August 2021, and without a medical diagnosis for the problem, he began to attribute his symptom to vertigo. And as a result, a primary care physician ordered physical therapy. After three months of physical therapy, he showed improvement. I was thinking we found it, and vertigo was the issue. By March this year, Murphy was medically cleared for flight. I flew from April through July, but that came to an unexpected end, he said. While another neurologist agreed that my MRI and MRA looked fine, a second look at my MRV in August of 2022 led him to diagnose me with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). There was a thrombosis, or blood clot, in his left transverse sinus vein beneath the brain that was previously undetected, according to the diagnosis letter, which was viewed by The Epoch Times. The neurologist in the diagnosis wrote that the thrombosis is a possible result of the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine. According to Johnson & Johnson, thrombosis can be caused by the vaccine, affecting the cerebral vein and other blood vessels. Murphy has been grounded and non-deployable since July because of the blood-thinning medication prescribed to him. He has been directed to continue the medication in the months ahead, and schedule an additional MRV in December for analysis. If the clots disappear and hes able to pass neurological function exams, Murphy said, he is hopeful he can return to flight status. Still Standing But Uncertain Prior to the vaccine mandate in January 2021, Army Lt. Col. Allyn York (a pseudonym) said he saw the writing on the wall and knew it would be coming. In August of that year, the veteran of 20 years took the vaccine to comply with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austins mandate. York considered himself diligent in researching the available vaccines. I inherently didnt trust the mRNA vaccine, so I chose the Johnson & Johnson, based on the information that it used traditional virus-based technology and seemed like the safest one available, he told The Epoch Times, using a pseudonym over privacy concerns. Ive taken every vaccine the Army has offered, but Ive never had one knock me out like this, he said. At his wifes direction, he hydrated himself and took aspirin to combat the symptoms of fever and fatigue. However, within a week, York felt like he was having a heart attack. I had chest pains, issues in my left shoulder, tingling in my fingers and feet, and muscle spasms, he said. I never thought I was about to die, but its really unpleasant when youre dealing with issues of the heart. He said physicians arenT typically assigned to organizations outside of a wartime environment, but he was fortunate his unit has physicians available. I was told to see a doctor right away because it could be a case of myocarditis, he said. And when I did, the doctor sent me to the emergency room, concerned about blood clots. Screening revealed swelling in the connective tissue of my chest, but I wasnt sure that was the full story, as I continued to feel like someone shoved a stick in the middle of my heart, York said. Nonetheless, over the next couple of months, I just kind of dealt with it. He continued to exercise, and by November 2021, his symptoms faded away. He was advised to have an echocardiogram and other tests due to a concern about myocarditisa type of inflammation of the heartparticularly because York may have needed to be in the position to refuse vaccine boosters or seek a medical waiver, and required adequate documentation to do so. Based on the results of a month-long heart study and the fact that I continue to run and exercise regularly, Im being told that I had what would be considered a mild case of myocarditis that could have resolved itself, York said. The Epoch Times has viewed documentation that confirms this diagnosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted increased reports of myocarditis since April 2021 after vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, but not the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Even though Im still experiencing some strange chest phenomena, and I cant say Im not unconcerned, my future is in Gods hands, York said. He currently awaits further testing by a cardiologist. Anton, Murphy, and York emphasized that their views dont reflect those of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Armed Forces. Neither the Department of Defense nor Johnson & Johnson returned requests for comment from The Epoch Times. Early voting for the midterms started in Virginia on Sept. 23. An absentee ballot dropbox inside the Fairfax County Government Center, an early voting site, in Fairfax, Va., on Oct. 7, 2022. (Terri Wu/The Epoch Times) Millions Cast Votes During Midterms as More States Open Early Voting More than 7 million Americans have cast votes, either in-person or by mail-in ballot, as of Oct. 24 as more states are slated to open early polls this week. Early in-person voting started on Oct. 24 in some areas in South Carolina and in Texas. Several counties in Florida also have begun early voting. Former President Donald Trump held a large rally in Texas over the weekend in support of Republican congressional candidates, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Seventeen days from now, the people of Texas are going to defeat Beto ORourke, Trump said over the weekend. And were going to keep Greg Abbott, a wonderful man, a great man, a great governor. The U.S. Elections Project, run by the University of Florida, shows early voting has begun in about three dozen states. Some 7.5 million people have cast ballots, with 5.8 million mail-in ballots being cast and 1.6 million people voting during the early in-person phase. Florida, California, Georgia, and Michigan currently are leading the way, the data show. Several states with key elections, including Nevada, havent reported early voting tallies. Analysts and officials in some states say that the turnout is higher than during the 2018 midterms. Its clear that we are above the 2018 midterm at the same point in time in states where we have comparable data to look at, University of Florida professor Michael McDonald told ABC News earlier this week. We can see the sorts of indicators that would suggest that were in for a high-turnout election, much like we had in 2018. And 2018 was the highest midterm turnout rate since 1914. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffenspergers office echoed those sentiments. Fridays total marks a 51 percent increase from day five of 2018 midterm Early Voting and is only 18 percent less than the total of day five of Early Voting in the 2020 Presidential election, his office said in a statement. Georgia has had record Early Voting turnout since the first day of Early Voting this year, surging to nearly twice the number on the first day of Early Voting in 2018. Whats at Stake Democrats have held both chambers of Congress and the presidency for the past two years, but might not have such consolidated power for much longer. Republicans are favored to win the House in the Nov. 8 midterm elections, bolstered by frustration over the economy and advantages in the redistricting process that takes place every 10 years; the outlook is murkier for the GOP in the Senate. Several races in key battleground states are tight, leading Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) earlier this year to declare the chances of his party winning a majority are just 50-50. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Canadian flag sits on the uniform of a member of the Canadian Armed Forces in this file photo. (The Canadian Press/Lars Hagberg) MPs Hear Veterans Recollection of Call Where He Was Offered Assisted Death When Asking for Health Care A veteran who was allegedly offered medically assisted death over the phone by a Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) worker has released details of the controversial conversation, according to a witness testifying before a House committee looking into the matter. Mark Meincke, a retired corporal, told the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs on Oct. 24 that the anonymous veteran who was allegedly offered unsolicited medical assistance in dying, or MAiD, by VAC reached out to Meincke with details of the controversial phone conversation. Meincke is currently the host of Operation Tango Romeo: Trauma Recovery Podcast for Military, Veterans, First Responders, and Their Families. Meincke said the veteran did not record the initial phone call wherein he was offered MAiD, but he provided Meincke with recordings of two subsequent phone conversations he had with VAC wherein the government department apologized to the veteran for having offered him unsolicited MAiD. During his original phone call with the VAC service agent, somehow in that conversation he was told, Weve done it [MAiD] before and we can do it for you, and the one that weve done it for and has completed MAiD, we are now supporting his wife and two children,' Meincke said. In August, Global News first reported that a VAC agent allegedly offered unsolicited MAiD to the veteran, who was seeking medical treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury. Legally, a patient must make a voluntary request for MAiD that is not the result of outside pressure or influence in order to be eligible for it. Devastated According to Meincke, the veteran questioned the VAC agent over the phone about why he was being offered assisted death without having first expressed interest in it. She said, Oh, just by the way, if up the road you have suicidal thoughts its better than blowing your brains out against the wall,' Meincke said. That is what he told me she said. Before the initial phone call, Meincke said the veteran had been feeling good about life and wasnt struggling with suicidal thoughts. Post-phone call, he left the country because he was devastated, Meincke told the committee. Its called sanctuary traumawhere the place you go to for help steps on your neck. And thats what happened here. Several MPs asked if Meincke could provide them with the veterans identity and make the phone-call recordings public, but he refused. Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay and the departments deputy minister Paul Ledwell told the committee on Oct. 20 that the departments investigation into the allegations is still ongoing while calling the incident a single isolated situation. VAC Assistant Deputy Minister Steven Harris added that the controversial phone call was not recorded by the department since it was outgoing, from the agent to the veteran. Harris said only incoming calls to the departments main call centre are automatically recorded. Meincke told the committee on Oct. 24 that he believes the VAC witnesses on Oct. 20 gave false testimony about the phone-call recordings. I dont believe the call was not recorded, he said. I dont think its even possible. And even if that was true, somehow, there would be notes. Theres always notes. Conservative MP Blake Richards said during the committee meeting on Oct. 20 that it seems odd the phone call was not recorded. It seems to me as though just about every call we make to any large organization these days, theres a recording of it, Richards said. Its odd to me that only a call to the general number would be recorded and none of the other interactions would be. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh rises during question period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on May 11, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang) NDP Unlikely to Withdraw Support for Liberals Regardless of Result of Emergencies Act Inquiry, Says Singh NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said it is unlikely that his party will retract support for the Liberal government even if the Public Order Emergency Commission concludes that the federal governments invocation of the Emergencies Act to deal with the Freedom Convoy protest earlier this year is unjustified. Speaking in an interview with CTV News, Singh said his party will reserve judgement on the issue until all the facts have been publicized by the commission, which is holding a series of public hearings from Oct. 13 until Nov. 25 to look into the Liberal governments invocation of the act on Feb. 14. Simply because it was the wrong decision wouldnt be enough for us to break, or to force the country into an election, Singh told CTV News. The government invoked the Emergencies Act in response to the countrywide protests and border blockades against the federal COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. Through the act, the police were given additional powers to remove the protesters in escalated operations, though some border blockades had already been cleared at the time. In a Feb. 17 House debate about the unprecedented invocation of the Act, Singh had raised concerns that the measure could be misused by the government, but nonetheless decided to support the Liberals given their views of the protest. Then-Conservative interim leader Candice Bergen criticized the NDP at the time for supporting the Liberals in their use of the emergency measure. I want to remind especially the New Democrats of this, who are supporting the Liberals in this sledgehammer approach: History will not be kind to the leader of the NDP or his members on this particular question, she said. Commissioner Paul Rouleau said on the first day of the inquiry that the main questions the commission will try to answer are why the government declared a public order emergency, how it used its powers, and whether those actions were appropriate. Singh told CTV News that he doesnt want to presuppose what Rouleau will conclude in his report that is scheduled to be submitted to the House of Commons and Senate by Feb. 20, 2023, but his party has been supportive of getting to the bottom of whether the act should have been invoked. Weve always said we want to get to the bottom of if it was the only option, if there was other options, if there were better approaches that could have been taken. And we completely support a full and transparent investigation into that, he said. The NDP reached an agreement with the federal Liberals in March to keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in power until 2025, asking in exchange for the Liberals commitment to move forward NDP agendas including a national pharmacare and dental plan. Singh, however, noted that his party always have the right to withdraw support for the Liberals, whether its because of any potential revelations from this inquiry, or the government following through on their deal in the coalition. Noe Chartier and Peter Wilson contributed to this report. New Email Reveals Answer to Establishments Efforts to Oust Trump New detail in Danchenko trial exhibits suggests that FBI intentionally targeted Trump on false Russia collusion charges News Analysis An FBI email previously not known to the public has revealed that the bureau planned to make Igor Danchenkothe primary source for British former spy Christopher Steeles Trump dossiera confidential human source (CHS) before it had even interviewed him. The revelation, which was discovered as a result of special counsel John Durhams case against Danchenko, indicates that the FBI deliberately targeted 2016 presidential candidate and later President Donald Trump with claims it already knew at the time to be false. The emailof which only the subject line has been made publicwas first uncovered by an internet sleuth who goes by the moniker Walkafyre and was included in hundreds of unused exhibits from Danchenkos trial. The FBI used Danchenkowho was acquitted last week on all charges of lying to the FBIin its investigation of Trump, despite knowing that Danchenko had helped fabricate the dossier. With the benefit of this new information, a renewed examination of the timeline between the Nov. 8, 2016, presidential election and the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller on May 17, 2017, reveals that the FBIwith the help of the Obama administration and Washington establishment figuresexecuted a concerted campaign to oust a sitting president. Email Reveals FBIs Plan for Danchenko The newly discovered email was sent by FBI agent Kevin Helson to unknown recipients on Jan. 12, 2017. The emails heading reads Plan to Convert Danchenko into CHS. This email is critical for several reasons. It shows that the FBI intended to hide Steeles main source behind CHS status after they had previously discovered Steele couldnt back up the claims in his dossier despite their offer of $1 million to him for any corroboration. As a CHS, Danchenko also would be shielded from any external investigationsincluding those of Congress. Of equal importance, Helsons email also proves that the FBI planned to convert Danchenko into a CHS before the FBI had even interviewed Danchenko. Had they thought the dossier was real, there would have been no reason to hide Danchenko. Instead, the FBI wouldve been touting the existence of a crucial source. The FBI proceeded to make him a CHS despite interviewing him several weeks later, in late January 2017, when Danchenko disavowed the claims in the dossier, saying during his interview that it was based on rumors and bar talk made in jest. It had previously been assumed that the FBI only decided to make Danchenko a CHS after he had been interviewed. This move by the FBI also directly coincided with President Barack Obamas wishes expressed during a Jan. 5 White House intelligence briefing on the dossier that he wanted to withhold information from the incoming Trump administration. That the efforts to effectively hide Danchenko started even before Danchenko had disavowed the dossier is critical evidence of the early commencement of the FBIs efforts against Trump. Had the FBI not done everything it could to conceal Danchenkos existence by bestowing him with CHS status, the truth about the dossier would have likely been revealed and the effort to oust Trump would have collapsed. Lastly, the plan to grant CHS status to Danchenko coincides with a remarkable sequence of events that took place on the same day Helsons email was sent. Establishing TrumpRussia Collusion Narrative To fully understand the significance of the FBI granting CHS status to a person the agency hadnt yet spoken to, we need to go back to Election Day. The unexpected election of Trump on Nov. 8, 2016, prompted an unprecedented response from the intelligence community and Washington establishment. The effort to undermine Trump and his administration began almost immediately after his victory. On Nov. 9, 2016, FBI agent Peter Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page exchanged texts that referred to a secret society the day after Trumps victory. Page texted Strzok saying, Maybe this should be the first meeting of the Secret Society. Strzok responded to Page saying, Too hard to explain here. Election related. The next day, Strzok texted Page saying, Bill [Priestap, head of FBI Counterintelligence] just sent a two hour invite to talk strategy. In early December 2016, the CIA told congressional leaders that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency, a claim that was a crucial convergence point between the FBIs and CIAs narratives. Although then-CIA Director John Brennan had been working behind the scenes by pushing information to the FBI, up to that point, it had been primarily the FBI driving the collusion narrativefor instance, by spying on Trump campaign aide Carter Page through a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant. The CIAs congressional briefings prompted Obama to direct the CIA, the FBI, and the National Security Agency (NSA) to draft an intelligence community assessment (ICA) on Russian interference in the election. While the reported date of Obamas order was Dec. 9, 2016, the actual order may have been given much earlier, as both the CIA and FBI had been in the process of preparing reports on Russian interference. The FBI quickly jumped on board with Obamas ICA plan. Priestap and special agent Jonathan Moffa were assigned to the ICA project on behalf of the FBI. However, the FBI didnt appear to be interested in presenting an analytical work product. Their real goal appeared to be the inclusion of the Steele dossier in the ICA, which would give the dossier much-needed credibility. Up to that point, no media organization had published the dossier or any of its lurid allegations. If Trump was to be unseated, the dossiers breathless claims needed to be made public. Notably, as Durham revealed during Danchenkos trial, by that time, the FBI already knew that the dossier was completely uncorroborated. On Oct. 3, 2016, the FBI offered dossier author Christopher Steele up to $1 million to provide any evidence that would substantiate his allegations against Trump. Steele wasnt able to do so. However, instead of ending its investigation, the FBI escalated efforts to tie Trump to the Russia collusion narrative. The FBIs offer of $1 million to Steele for corroboration would later be hidden from Congress, congressional inquiries, Trump officials, and the courts. According to a 2019 Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General report on the FBIs abuses in the Carter Page FISA warrant case, FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe personally pushed his agents on Dec. 16 to include the dossier in the ICA. McCabes demand preceded the identification of Steeles primary sub-source. As Durham reported last week, that sub-source, Danchenko, who, by his own account, was responsible for at least 80 percent of the dossier, was identified by the FBI a few days later on Dec. 20. When FBI agent Moffa asked McCabe whether to limit what was included to information concerning Russian election interference or to also include allegations against candidate Trump, McCabe told him to include the allegations, due to concerns over possible Russian attempts to blackmail Trump. That was an early indication that, contrary to what FBI Director James Comey would later repeatedly claim, the FBI was already targeting Trump personally in December 2016. On Dec. 19, lead counterespionage agent Peter Strzok texted Lisa Page, who was McCabes personal legal counsel, that he needed to talk to someone about using his [expletive] in the ICA. The name of the person that Strzok wanted to talk to is redacted and remains unknown. After Danchenko was identified on Dec. 20, the FBI for the first time told the CIA that it wanted to include the dossier in the ICA. On Dec. 28, according to records published by the Senate Intelligence Committee, Comey personally made a push with both the CIA and the NSA for the dossier to be included in the ICA. Comey vouched that Steele was a credible person with a source and sub-source network in position to report on such things. Comey didnt mention that Steele had failed to back up his information, even after being offered $1 million. With Comeys push, the other two agencies tasked with producing the ICAthe CIA and NSAagreed to include a two-page summary of the dossier at the back of the official report from the three agencies. This had the effect that Comey and McCabe had soughtto legitimize the dossier. On Jan. 5, 2017, top intelligence officials, including Comey, Brennan, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and NSA Director Michael Rogers briefed Obama on the ICA report. Following the official meeting, Comey stayed behind to brief Obama on the dossier. It was at this meeting that Obama stated that he wanted his team to be mindful to ascertain if there is any reason that we cannot share information fully as it relates to Russia with the incoming Trump administration. The next day, Comey and other officials including Clapper briefed President-elect Trump and his national security team on the ICA. During this portion of the meeting, the Steele dossier was mentioned in passing. A member of Trumps teamreported to have been Lt. Gen. Michael Flynnasked whether the FBI had dug into Steeles sub-sources. If the questions were indeed posed by Flynn, it may have precipitated his subsequent demise at the hands of Comey. Once again, Comey would stay behind to brief Trump more fully on the dossier. Comey would later tell CNNs Jake Tapper that he only briefed Trump on the salacious parts of the dossier because that was the part that the leaders of the intelligence community agreed he needed to be told about. News of the intelligence briefing to Trump was leaked hours later to the media. Efforts Begin in Earnest After January 2017 Briefings On Jan. 3, 2017, Attorney General Loretta Lynch signed Section 2.3 of Executive Order 12333 into effect. This unprecedented new order significantly relaxed longstanding limits on dissemination of information gathered by the NSAs powerful surveillance operations, granting broad latitude to the Intelligence Community with regard to interagency sharing of information. On Jan. 10, 2017, following his Jan. 5 briefing to Obama and his abbreviated briefing to Trump on Jan. 6, Comey testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee. During the hearing, Comey was asked by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) if the FBI was investigating relationships between associates of Trump and the Russian government. Comey stated that he could neither confirm nor deny an active investigation, thereby setting the media frenzy of TrumpRussia collusion into motion. The Steele dossier would be released by BuzzFeed on the same day. The day after Comeys testimony, the Senate Intelligence Committee opened an investigation into Russian interference and the Trump campaign. Its report proved to be politically driven and much of it has been discredited. Concerned over increasing leaks to the media, Trump had actually conducted a sting of sorts during his briefing from top intelligence officials on the ICA and the Steele dossier on Jan. 6, 2017. In order to identify the people leaking classified information to the press, Trump did not tell his staff that IC officials, including Clapper and Comey, were about to brief him. As noted earlier, after the briefing, information from the meeting was leaked almost immediately to the pressleading Trump to conclude the leaks were coming directly from officials within the Intelligence Community. Trump disclosed this sequence of events during a Jan. 11, 2017, press conference. After receiving a call from Trump regarding the leaks, Clapper was forced to issue a statement condemning intelligence community leaks following Trumps unexpected press conference. Despite Clappers official condemnation of leaks, according to a March 22, 2018, House intelligence report, Clapper later admitted that he confirmed the existence of the dossier to the media, acknowledged discussing the dossier with CNN journalist Jake Tapper, and conceded that he might have spoken with other journalists about the same topic. Crucially, the report noted that Clappers discussion with Tapper took place in early January 2017, following the briefing by leaders of the Intelligence Community to Obama and Trump on the Steele dossier. Leaks from the Intelligence Community would remain prevalent throughout Trumps term. Events on Day Danchenko Was to Be Made CHS On Jan. 12, 2017, the same day that Helson sent his email regarding Danchenko, and just a day after Trumps surprise press conference, DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz announced his initiation of a review of actions taken by the FBI in the leadup to the 2016 presidential election. It isnt known whether Horowitz was ever briefed about Danchenkos CHS status or the million-dollar bounty. His report mentions neither. By design or by accident, Horowitzs investigation effectively tied up any outside probes into the FBIs actions for two years. It was on the same day, Jan. 12, that Flynns Dec. 29, 2016, call with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak was leaked to David Ignatius at The Washington Post. The leaker was never found, possibly because the leak came from within the FBI itself. Ignatiuss article, which further pushed the TrumpRussia collusion narrative, portrayed Flynn as undermining Obamas fresh Russian sanctions during his call with Kislyak. The article also raised the possibility that Flynn had violated the Logan Act, an obscure, 200-year-old law. Interestingly, it was Vice President Joe Biden who first suggested using the Logan Act against Flynn at the Jan. 5 White House meeting with Comey. Flynn, who is believed to have been the person who asked Comey probing questions about the dossiers sources, appears to have been the Intelligence Communitys first target in its effort to oust Trump. On Jan. 19, 2017, the day before Trumps inauguration, Obamas top intelligence and law-enforcement deputies met to talk about Flynns conversation with Kislyak. Flynn would be sworn in as Trumps national security adviser on Jan. 22, 2017, and was subjected to an ambush interview by Strzok at the behest of Comey two days later. Comey later bragged about the Flynn ambush having been his brainchild. Acting Attorney General Sally Yates increased the pressure on the Trump administration regarding Flynn through a series of conversations with White House counsel Don McGahn. Yates told McGahn that she believed that Flynn was compromised with respect to the Russians. Flynn resigned on Feb. 13, 2017, the same day that Yatess claim was published by The Washington Post. In 2020, declassified transcripts of Flynns call with Kislyak revealed that Flynn never once talked about sanctions. Just like the dossier, the charges against Flynn had been fabricated. One other event transpired on Jan. 12, the first renewal of the Carter Page FISA warrant, which had been based on the fabricated Steele dossier and claimed that Steeles source was Russia-based when, in reality, he was a former Brookings Institution employee living in Washington. FBI Escalates Probe Despite Dossier Disavowal During a three-day period at the end of January 2017, Danchenko was eventually interviewed by the FBI. Danchenko said there were major inconsistencies between what he told Steele and what was in the dossier. Danchenko told the FBI that he had passed on bar talk and rumors to Steele and never intended for completely unverified information to be used in a dossier. He also admitted that he had never met the dossiers key source who was alleged to be responsible for every major allegation against Trump, including the well-developed conspiracy of cooperation between Trump and the Kremlin, that Russia passed hacked DNC emails to Wikileaks, and the infamous pee tape story. Because Danchenko was given CHS status by the FBI, proof that the Steele dossier was fabricated was completely shielded from congressional and other investigations. We know with certainty that Danchenko formally received official CHS status no later than March 2017, but we now also know from the newly discovered unused trial exhibit that the FBI had planned to extend CHS status to Danchenko well before he was even interviewed by the FBI. Efforts to ensnare Trump in a Russia collusion narrative received a major boost on Feb. 27, when former President George W. Bush proclaimed we all need answers on the Russia collusion allegations. Bush added that he trusted Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) to decide whether a special counsel should be appointed. Then, on March 2, Trump-appointed Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russia inquiry, dealing Trump a huge blow. Sessions inexplicably failed to assess, or even ask for evidence indicating whether the inquiry was legitimate. Sessions recused himself without ever finding out about Danchenko, that he had disavowed the dossier, or that Steele had failed to provide any evidence despite being offered $1 million for doing so. Trump hit back on March 4, when he famously wrote on Twitter that he knew that the Obama administration had spied on his campaign. Not knowing how much Trump knew, FBI leadership panicked. In direct response to the tweet, on March 6, the FBI sent three of its most senior officialsMcCabe, Priestap, and Strzokto brief the DOJ on the FBIs Trump investigation. Notes of the briefing, which included incoming Trump administration officials, were disclosed by Durham earlier this year revealing that the FBI failed to mention Danchenko, Danchenkos disavowal of the dossier, or the million-dollar reward to their DOJ counterparts. Instead, they made it appear as if the dossier, which they referred to as Crown reporting, had checked out and that the Russia collusion investigation was therefore going full steam ahead. Additional briefing notes from March 8, which were also exposed by Durham, show that Comey himself subsequently lied to the so-called Gang of Eight congressional leaders. Similar to the DOJ briefing, Congress wasnt told that Steele couldnt back up his dossier despite the huge reward offer, and also wasnt told about Danchenko. The FBIs efforts culminated in Comeys March 20 public announcement that the Trump campaign was being investigated for Russia collusion. It was that announcement that opened the door to Muellers appointment as special counsel. As with his previous, non-public announcements, Comey concealed that the dossierand with it the predicate for his investigationhad collapsed. Case Against Trump Based on Fabrications While its been claimed by some media outlets that the dossier wasnt central to the allegations against Trump, the Intelligence Communitys efforts to ensnare Trump, the Carter Page FISA application, as well as the March 6 and 8 briefing notes, all rely almost entirely on the dossier. Additionally, we know that Comey insisted that a summary of the dossier be attached to the ICA that was presented to Obama. These actions prove beyond any doubt that the case against Trump was based on a fabricated document. The day after Comeys testimony, on March 21, then-House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) met with a source. Following this meeting, Nunes informed Trump that he believed Trump and his staff were illegally surveilled and unmasked, a process of revealing redacted names of U.S. citizens that are incidentally collected during surveillance or intelligence gathering on foreigners. Nunes demanded that the CIA, FBI, and NSA disclose the nature of the unlawful surveillance he had uncovered. For his efforts, an ethics investigation of Nunes was opened and he was forced to recuse himself from the Russia collusion investigation on April 6. The next day, the Carter Page FISA warrant was secretly renewed, proving that Nuness claim was correct. During his entire tenure as House Intelligence Committee chairman, Nunes was never told about Danchenko, his CHS status, or the million-dollar bounty. On May 9, 2017, Trump fired Comey from his position as FBI director and McCabe became acting director. Following Comeys firing, DOJ official Bruce Ohr had a phone call with Steele, during which Steele expressed concern that they will be exposed because of Comeys firing. Steele was undoubtedly worried that without Comey covering for him, his dossier lies would be exposed. It isnt known whether Steele was aware that the FBI had already successfully concealed Steeles collaborator, Danchenko, from any scrutiny or investigation. Several days later, on May 12, Ohr and Steele began a series of exchanges via text message, with Ohr conveying a request from McCabe that Steele be reengaged by the FBI. On May 16, Comey leaked memos about Trump to The New York Times through his friend, Columbia Law School professor Daniel Richman. Comey would later acknowledge that he did so to spur the appointment of a special counsel. The next day, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller, a former FBI director, as special counsel. As we can now see with hindsight, the FBI covered up Danchenko in early 2017. In doing so they ensured that they could continue using the fabricated Steele dossier to justify their investigation of Trump and his associates while also ensuring that no one would find out about Danchenko. In turn, the appointment of Mueller ensured that the FBIs misdeeds were covered up. Significantly, the many efforts to ensnare Trump, from the framing of Flynn to the medias relentless airing of dossier smears and the Washington establishments push for a special counsel, couldnt have happened unless Danchenko was kept hidden by the FBI. It was perhaps the most critical part of the effort and, as we have now learned, it happened much earlier than had been known. Jeff Carlson Follow Jeff Carlson is a co-host of Truth Over News on EpochTV. The sun behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, on Nov. 22, 2019. (Angus Mordant/Reuters) Northeast US Rationing Heating Oil as Winter Approaches The Northeastern United States is so short on heating oil that the fuel is being rationed in some areas, local officials said. Chris Herb, president of the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association, told the Boston Herald and Bloomberg News that some heating oil wholesalers in Connecticut are saying that retailers have been placed on allocation, which means they can only get a limited amount of fuel due to low availability. Retailers then have to ration the fuel to their customers, Herb said. The Epoch Times has contacted the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association for comment. Theres just no incentive to store large amount of product, said Michael Ferrante, president of the Massachusetts Energy Marketers Association, according to Bloomberg. Sam Livieri, vice president of New Haven-based Apple Oil, told the outlet that we are praying, and I mean it, for a warm winter. Prices for the precious fuel have skyrocketed in recent weeks. Data provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows the average price of a gallon of residential heating oil in Connecticut was $5.79 last week. Thats more than 20 cents from the previous week and more than $1.10 from the week before that when prices were $4.64 in early October, data shows. Prices for the fuel are also elevated around the Northeast, according to local Connecticut news outlet The Day, which interviewed a local man, Vincent Ukleja, who said hes paying $5.19 per gallon of heating oil and spent more than $600 to fill up half his tank. Were on a fixed income, and last year, when the prices were sky-high, we barely made it through, said Ukleja, 68, adding that hes spent far more this year than in previous years. Richard Funaro, spokesperson for the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General, blamed Russias invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, according to The Day. Echoing complaints issued by the Biden administration, Funaro suggested that price gouging might be occurring. There is no running away from whats happening with the war in Europe and its impact on all fuels. This is not just isolated to heating oils, Herb also told the paper. Republicans, however, have targeted the Biden administrations energy policies, including a series of executive orders issued by President Joe Biden last year to kill the Keystone pipeline, scrap a significant amount of new oil drilling leases, and ending some fuel subsidies. Theyve said that instead, the current administration should reimplement the Trump administrations Energy Independence policy. Oil industry officials have also said the current White House has created a climate that discourages investment in new refineries and technology. In this file image from video, Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes talks to The Epoch Times. (The Epoch Times) Oath Keepers Founder Stewart Rhodes Tests Positive for COVID-19 Seditious conspiracy trial might go past midterm elections: judge WASHINGTONOath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes has tested positive for COVID-19, Judge Amid Mehta announced on Oct. 24 at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse. Rhodes, one of five defendants in the Oath Keepers seditious conspiracy trial, contracted COVID-19 over the weekend, according to his attorney, Edward Tarpley. The D.C. Detention Center is keeping Rhodes in total isolation, allowing him no phone calls or contact with his lawyers. Mehta had hoped to finish the trial before Nov. 7, but now, most probably, it will last past the midterm elections. The judge said that the D.C. Detention Center, where Rhodes is being held, has a 10-day quarantine policy when someone gets infected with the disease. However, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) policy, Mehta told the court it might be possible to adhere to five days of quarantine instead. Another defense lawyer, Philip Linder, suggested that Rhodes could be provided with a phone and join the trial online via Zoom call. Mehta is considering this option. The judge denied Linders idea to have the courthouse U.S. marshals physically escort Rhodes to the court and put him in a separate room so that his lawyers could send him notes and other communication during the trial while attending via Zoom call. Mehta responded that there was no way that he would let the U.S. marshals come into contact with infected Rhodes. We will be in recess until tomorrow morning, Mehta announced. Depending on Rhodes length of quarantine, the trial delay could push closing arguments and the verdict past the mid-terms. Jeffrey Nestler, one of the prosecutors attorneys, told the court last week that the government intended to take a break during the fourth week and not call any new witnesses. D.C. federal courthouse lifted the mandatory mask mandate last week. However, Mehta still required it in the courtroom where the Oath Keepers trial is taking place to exclude any chance of having COVID-19 during an already long trial. Last week, Mehta dismissed one of the 16 jurors who tested positive for COVID-19. The other jury members who received negative results had no concerns about continuing to attend the trial. The U.S. government has charged Rhodes, Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, and Thomas Caldwell with multiple crimes, including seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, aiding and abetting, conspiracy to prevent an officer from carrying out any duties, destruction of government property, civil disorder, and tampering with documents. Police respond to an active shooter incident at Methodist Dallas Medical Center in Dallas on Oct. 22, 2022. (Liesbeth Powers/The Dallas Morning News via AP) Official: Dallas Shooter Was Attending Birth at Hospital DALLASThe 30-year-old man charged with capital murder in the fatal shooting of two Dallas hospital employees was on parole and had been given permission to be at the medical facility for the birth of a child, a Texas prison official said Sunday. Nestor Hernandez was granted leave to be with his significant other at Methodist Dallas Medical Center during her delivery Saturday, according to Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman Amanda Hernandez. She said hed been sentenced to prison for aggravated robbery and was released on parole last October, but did not provide additional details on the circumstances of the shooting. Authorities have said Hernandez opened fire at the hospital around 11 a.m. Saturday and killed two staff members before being shot and injured by a hospital police officer. The victims have not been publicly identified and its unclear what led to the shooting. Hernandez, who was wearing an ankle location monitor at the time, was taken to another hospital for treatment, hospital officials said Saturday. He was not listed Sunday in Dallas County jail records and it was not immediately clear whether he has a lawyer. The Texas prison systems Office of Inspector General is working with police to investigate the shooting, Amanda Hernandez said. Dallas police and a hospital spokesman declined Sunday to provide additional information on the shooting. It follows hospital shootings in September in Little Rock, Arkansas, that killed a visitor and one in June in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that left four dead. A migrant family from Venezuela illegally crosses the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass, Texas, at the border with Mexico on June 30, 2022. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images) Operation Lone Star: More Than 100,000 Apprehended in Rio Grande Valley Alone Texas National Guard soldiers have apprehended or encountered more than 103,000 illegal foreign nationals in the Rio Grande Valley alone since Operation Lone Star launched last year. According to Texas Military Department Task Force East data, these individuals all entered Texas illegally in between ports of entry after being guided by cartel operatives to cross the Rio Grande River into Texas. During a recent enforcement action at the southern border, a Texas National Guard soldier stationed near Laredo described an encounter with nine people whod entered Texas illegally after theyd crossed the Rio Grande River in between ports of entry and were trespassing on a private ranch. Soldiers had tracked the group through the brush and helped Border Patrol agents apprehend them. Oftentimes, well get a group that will disperse in areas like this, 2nd Lt. Joshua Helton, Alpha Company Platoon Leader, Task Force Center said in a video published to educate the public. Every night is different. Usually during the weekdays, well get multiple groups, and we have to be smart and maneuver from one point to the other and maneuver our assets as well to make sure we get in position for other groups. Every day we come into work and notice that a lot of Border Patrol sections are understaffed, so I feel that having our presence here definitely helps, Staff Sgt. Joel Martinez, Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry said in an announcement released by Gov. Greg Abbotts office. We go into a local gas station, and the locals are always thanking us for doing what we do here. Also actively involved in OLS are Texas Department of Public Safety officers working to thwart human smuggling activity on highways to and from border towns. In Webb County, in Laredo, for example, in one traffic stop, DPS Criminal Investigations Special Agents discovered 11 Guatemalans (eight men and three women) hidden inside a tractor-trailer, attempting to be transported north. This is a common occurrence, law enforcement officials have explained to The Center Square. Sheriffs and their deputies as well as police officers in counties throughout Texas are regularly apprehending smugglers hiding people inside of trailers, 18-wheelers, in car trunks, and truck beds. In another instance in Webb County, DPS troopers stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation when five male foreign nationals bailed out and ran into the brush. They were later apprehended, and the driver was arrested and charged with human smuggling. Farther north in Brooks County, DPS troopers stopped another vehicle for a traffic violation. The driver was attempting to smuggle three people from Mission to San Antonio and was arrested for human smuggling. Since Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021, Texas law enforcement officials have apprehended more than 317,000 foreign nationals in the U.S. illegally. Theyve made more than 21,000 criminal arrests, with more than 18,600 felony charges reported. DPS has also seized over 342 million lethal doses of fentanyl, enough to kill everyone in the United States. Texas has also bused over 8,200 people to Washington, D.C., since April, over 3,400 to New York City since Aug. 5, and more than 1,000 to Chicago since Aug. 31. By Bethany Blankley Opponents of Freedom Convoy Made Violent Threat Against Police, Ran Disinformation Campaign: Internal Email The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) said on Jan. 26 that it was being targeted by a disinformation campaign by detractors of the Freedom Convoy and also threatened with violence, an internal email reveals. Then-OPS chief Peter Sloly wrote to his team that there was information from his organizations corporate communications and the Ottawa Police Association (OPA) that there is a disinformation campaign from the counter demonstration element targeting OPS and OPA as being complicit in support of the trucker demonstration. The email was entered as evidence before the Public Order Emergency Commission on Oct. 24. The commission is examining the Liberal governments invocation of the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14 to clear cross-border protests and blockades demanding the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. Aside from the campaign targeting police elements, Sloly also reported in his email on a threat made against the OPS from a convoy detractor. A male counter demonstrator calling into our Comms Center threatening to attack our officers and facilities, Sloly wrote. Intelligence Sloly relayed the account as part of a series of points he raised internally in reaction to an email from an Ottawa resident expressing concern about the convoy. The residents email, sent to both Sloly and Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, alleged that the convoy will be violent, while Sloly said intelligence they had received so far didnt indicate there would be violence on the part of the convoy. I lay awake tonight as I read Twitter posts from the Extreme right vowing attacks on Rideau Hall this weekend, says the email from the sender whose name was redacted. Some are calling for action akin to the happenings in Washington on Capitol Hill, the email added, in reference to the Jan. 6, 2021, events. Based on that email, Sloly asked his team to review all available information given that a briefing note the day prior had indicated there was no intelligence indicating the Freedom Convoy demonstration would be violent. The emails were presented to OPS Deputy Chief Steve Bell as he was testifying before the commission. Bell became acting chief when Sloly resigned on Feb. 15. Bell said the information about a threat to Rideau Hall was assessed by the Joint Intelligence Group which includes the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the RCMP. This was information that was taken in, assessed, evaluated, and put towards our threat assessment, and ultimately this didnt bear to be accurate. There was no threats made against Rideau Hall. Bell was in charge of intelligence with the OPS before the Freedom Convoy arrived in Ottawa on Jan. 28. While appearing before the commission, he defended the OPS assessment that the protest would not stretch much beyond the initial weekend. Lawful and Peaceful: Ottawa Interim Police Chief Defends Initial Stance on Freedom Convoy The Freedom Convoy was extremely lawful and peaceful before arriving in Ottawa, hence the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) adopted an adequate position at the time, its interim chief said on Oct. 24. Their behaviour as its described within the intelligence reports and reports we had back [then] was that they were extremely lawful, that there was no antisocial behaviour that they were engaged in, and [these were] the observations for a number of days, Steve Bell told the Public Order Emergency Commission. Beyond that, the organizers clearly stated on many occasions and through the route, the [OPP Project] HENDON reports, that their intention was to be lawful and peaceful once they came to our city. Bell, who was in charge of the OPSs intelligence collection and analysis before becoming interim chief on Feb. 15, was questioned by commission counsel Frank Au on what intelligence the force had on the convoy and why it had assessed that the protest would not last long. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) had been producing intelligence reports through its Project HENDON from the early days of the convoy in January and sharing them with the OPS. It assessed that protesters would remain in Ottawa for an extended period given that some were driving from Western Canada, they had substantial funding, and their demands would likely not be met. The Freedom Convoy and associated cross-Canada protests and blockades called for the lifting of federal COVID-19 restrictions. Even though Bell was in charge of OPS intelligence, he told the commission he had no recollection of receiving HENDON reports before Jan. 27, a day before trucks arrived in Ottawa. Truckers and protesters arrived in Ottawa on Jan. 28 and were dislodged during the weekend of Feb. 18 after the Liberal government invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14. The commission, which is examining the invocation of the act, is currently in its public hearings phase. Expect Very Large Crowds Bell was asked by Au whether it could have been assessed that protesters planned to stay for longer given how far they drove. Thats an inference we would now make, he said. There was nothing to identify that that would occur within the intelligence, Bell said, in reference to the size of the protest and the negative consequences for Ottawa residents. While Bell defended how the OPS perceived and consequently prepared for the convoy before its arrival, he admitted more thought should have been put into the potential for a prolonged protest. An intelligence assessment prepared by his subordinates and published on Jan. 28 said the convoy had increased funding and was a truly organic grassroots event that is gathering momentum largely from the widespread population. Expect very large crowds, said the assessment. Bell said one aspect missing from the report was specifically around the fact that there may be some members of the convoy who would stay on for a longer period of time than we were planning for. I dont believe we had enough information to substantiate the level of risk that it created, he said. Based on the intelligence we had, we didnt have legal authority to deny the protesters from a protest. All of the activity had been lawful and peaceful and there was no indication of anything contrary to that. A man looks for salvageable belongings from his flooded home in the Shikarpur district of Sindh Province, Pakistan, on Sept. 1, 2022. (Fareed Khan/AP Photo) Pakistan Requires Financial Reforms After Catastrophic Flood: World Bank Pakistan will need to implement economic reforms and international assistance to recover from the catastrophic floods that killed over 1,500 people and destroyed millions of homes, a World Bank official said. Martin Raiser, World Bank vice president for South Asia, said on Sunday that Pakistan is in dire need of help from the international community. Pakistan was hit by unprecedented floods last month, triggered by heavier-than-usual monsoon rains that began in June. More than 30 million people were affected, while crops and bridges were destroyed. Victims of heavy flooding from monsoon rains stand beside their tents at a relief camp in Dasht near Quetta, Pakistan, Sept. 16, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Arshad Butt) Raiser said the Pakistani government must take internal measures to revive its economy as citizens were already burdened by the high cost of power. This is why the [authorities] are facing losses in distribution and the prices are high, he said in an interview with local outlet Geo TV. Raiser recommended Pakistan adopt reforms in the energy sector. Pakistan Needs Huge Sums of Money Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan requires huge sums of money to reconstruct infrastructure damaged by floods. He said that his country was not seeking a debt rescheduling but additional funds. There is a gapand a very serious gapwhich is widening by the day between our demands and what we have received, Sharif said in an interview with the Financial Times on Oct. 19. Flood victims gather to receive food handout in a camp, following rains and floods during the monsoon season in Sehwan, Pakistan, on Sept. 14, 2022. (Akhtar Soomro/Reuters) Pakistan has an external debt of over $130 billion, $30 billion of which is owed to China. Pakistan has asked China to rollover its $6.3 billion debt which is due to mature in the next eight months, The Indian Express reported. Pakistans foreign exchange reserves stood at $7.5 billion. The economic impact of the floods is expected to reach $32.4 billion and Pakistan needs at least $16.2 billion for rebuilding of infrastructure, local outlet The News reported. Pakistans Finance Minister Ishaq Dar earlier called for greater policy support from international donor agencies, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Asian Development Bank, and the World Bank. The Asian Development Bank on Oct. 21 approved $1.5 billion in financing for Pakistan, while the IMF released $1.1 billion in funds in August as part of a $6 billion loan package signed in 2019. The United Nations upped its initial flood appeal from $160 million to $816 million to help flood victims in Pakistan, which Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described as having been devastated by a level of climate carnage beyond imagination. Pakistan is on the verge of a public health disaster, Guterres said in a statement on Oct. 7. He pointed out that the subsequent cholera, malaria, and dengue fever would be far more deadly in Pakistan than floods. Wildlife is full of surprises. A 61-year-old Finnish photographer happened to capture a group of chubby bear cubs peeking out from behind trees as if they were playing hide and seek. The mischievous expressions on the cubs faces make these photos even more amusing. The cubs, aged around four months, were venturing out with adult bears in a forest in Finland. Valtteri Mulkahainen, from Sotkamo, Finland, who has been photographing bears for around ten years, knew to hide patiently to snap these perfect images of the cubs seemingly playing hide and seek and practicing their climbing skills. (Courtesy of Caters News) (Courtesy of Caters News) (Courtesy of Caters News) (Courtesy of Caters News) (Courtesy of Caters News) Mulkahainen said that wild bears can be photographed, as long as a person can manage to respect their space. The safest way is to sit quietly and take photos from a hiding place. I care about animals and their natural surroundings, Mulkahainen said. People really like to see photos of bears. I really like little bearsthey are like little children. They play and frolic like children. They really make me laugh. (Courtesy of Caters News) (Courtesy of Caters News) (Courtesy of Caters News) (Courtesy of Caters News) Caters News Agency contributed to this report. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at: https://www.theepochtimes.com/newsletter U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks during a press conference about how the Inflation Reduction Act will lower health care and prescription drug costs at Southeast Health Center Clinic in San Francisco, California, on Aug. 24, 2022. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Pelosi Refuses to Say Whether Shell Run for Speaker If Democrats Win the House Amid discussions about the Democratic Partys aging leadership, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Sunday declined to say whether she will seek another term as House Speaker if Democrats keep control of the lower chamber. Appearing on the CBS program Face the Nation, Pelosi was asked about what she meant by her earlier remark on potential new, younger leadership for her party. In response to Rep. Elissa Slotkins (D-Mich.) call for new blood in the congressional leadership, Pelosi said there is a need for generational change, but in some cases, theres no substitute for experience. Will you remain in leadership in the new Congress? CBS host Margret Brennan asked. Im not talking about that. Im here to talk about how we win the election, Pelosi replied. When pressed again, Pelosi insisted that they move on to another topic. Im not here to talk about me, she told Brennan. Im here to talk about the future, Americas working families, for the children. Its always about the children. In 2018, Pelosi cut a deal with a group of House Democrats who opposed her long-time leadership to limit herself to four years as House Speaker, vowing to mentor and advance new members into positions of power. In the years that followed, however, Pelosi repeatedly dodged questions about whether she is still committed to the promise. Slotkin, 42, is among the younger Democrats who argue that older members should step down from leadership positions. She said on NBCs Meet the Press earlier this month that her party needs new blood in the Congress. I have been very vocal, including with my own leadership in the House, that we need a new generation. We need new blood, period, across the Democratic Party, in the House, the Senate and the White House, the two-term congresswoman said. Ive said I think we need new leaders. I would love to see some Midwestern leaders in there, she added. Thats been important to me, is to reflect the middle of the country. Were here too. But I do think new blood is a good thing. Meanwhile, there are also Democrats who believe that Pelosi will serve another term as speaker if Democrats hold onto the Housean unlikely scenario according to election forecasters. If she wins, she stays, said Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.), a 13-term congressman who is retiring, reported The Hill. If she doesnt, I think there will be a serious discussion as far as what succession looks like then. Pelosi turned 82 in March. The next two ranking House Democrats, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Md.) and Majority Whip James Clyburn (S.C.), are all over 80 years old. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 25, 2022. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Pompeo Could Run for President Even If Trump Makes 2024 Bid Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has no qualms about running for the 2024 presidential race even if former president Donald Trump makes his bid, he said in an interview with CBS. When asked whether he would stay out of the race if Trump seeks a nomination, Pompeo replied, Not because of that. If he does intend to run for president, a decision will be announced by next spring. If Trump wins the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, Pompeo said he will vote for him. Pompeo was the Secretary of State and CIA director under the Trump administration. For someone like me, thats a very serious thing. And one has to conclude that they are best suited to lead this nation forward. And if we conclude it is the right time and its the right thing for me to do, well run, he said. I will make the case to the American people that Im the right leader and that the American people get to make their decision. Pompeo also warned that GOP candidates who refuse the results of the upcoming November elections would be making a mistake. It is important that everyone has confidence in American elections, he said. So, American leaders need to instill confidence. Pompeo battled for stronger security measures like mandating ID cards to make sure that elections are transparent and trustworthy. The former secretary of state had earlier blasted the Biden administrations decision to raid Trumps Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, warning in a tweet that executing a warrant against an ex-POTUS is dangerous. The apparent political weaponization of DOJ/FBI is shameful. AG must explain why 250 yrs of practice was upended w/ this raid, he said. GOP Presidential Candidates In addition to Trump and Pompeo, other GOP members believed to be potential candidates for the 2024 presidential elections include Governor Ron DeSantis from Florida, Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas, former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, and Senator Ted Cruz from Texas. Trump still commands massive support among Republican supporters. A Harvard-Harris poll from July asked respondents who they would vote for if a Republican presidential primary for the 2024 election were to be held at the time. The former president came out at the top spot, with 52 percent saying they would support Trump in the 2024 primary election. DeSantis came in at the second spot, with only 19 percent of the vote. No other candidate garnered double-digit support. Pence came in third with seven percent support, with Haley getting five percent support to secure the fourth spot. Trump is yet to formally announce his 2024 presidential bid. In an interview with CBS, Trumps 2016 campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said she expects the former president to announce his decision after the November midterms, by Thanksgiving. Republican gubernatorial candidate, state Sen. Darren Bailey speaks at an election-night party in Effingham, Illinois on June 28, 2022. (Jim Vondruska/Getty Images) Pritzkers Challengers Oppose COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for School Kids Some of Illinois gubernatorial candidates are getting their stance on record about whether COVID-19 vaccines should be mandated to attend public school. An advisory panel with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved adding COVID-19 vaccines to the list of child vaccines for the 2023 schedule. States establish vaccine requirements for school children, not [the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices] or CDC, the CDC said on Twitter. Thats prompted concerns there could be a future state mandate for children to get the vaccine in order to go to school. Governors and gubernatorial candidates from other states have been announcing their positions on the issue ahead of the Nov. 8 elections. Illinois state law says immunizations shall be required in accordance with rules created by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The agency wouldnt say Friday if they plan to make such rules after the CDCs recommendations. Incumbent Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker previously had a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for college students and staff, and K-12 staff, but has since relaxed those. His office and campaign did not return messages seeking comment. He didnt take questions at a public campaign event Thursday. The governor has previously said the state will reflect CDC guidance on issues surrounding COVID-19. I think theyre doing good work on this, Pritzker said of previous CDC guidance changes this past summer. Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey said on Twitter his administration will oppose mandating COVID vaccines for schools and called the incumbent Democrat the mandate candidate. As Governor, my administration will oppose mandating COVID vaccines for grade school, college and employment, Bailey said on Twitter. We all know the mandate candidate, J.B. Pritzker, will force it on your kids because he thinks the government knows better than parents. Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Scott Schluter said he opposes all mandates and such decisions should be up to individuals. In virtually all situations, health care should be a decision between a patient and their doctor, Schluter told The Center Square. I dont think the government really needs to be involved in those decisions at all. If there are COVID-19 vaccine mandates for children to attend school, Schluter foresees political consequences. A lot of people have had enough, they are well past their tipping point when it comes to mandates and government involvement in their life and intrusion into their decision making and I think what youll see is a lot more school choice pop up, Schluter said. A list of IDPH Immunization Requirements for 2021 linked from the Illinois State Board of Education produced a page not found error. IDPHs link for Ages 0-18 Immunization Schedule goes to the CDCs 2022 documentation. By Greg Bishop The roadway to the entry of All American Asphalt in Irvine, Calif., on Dec. 9, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Protesting of Irvine Asphalt Plant Continues, City Postpones Settlement As some Irvine residents continue to protest smells emitting from the All American Asphalt Plant in north Irvine, the city councilwhich is seeking the plants relocation through a lawsuithas asked for outside legal counsel to review their options, which also include taking over the location by eminent domain. A legal settlement in response to the city filing a public nuisance lawsuit against the plant in 2020 has been proposed, but it does not force the plant to relocate, only requiring it to indicate where it could do so. If the city agrees on a new location, the agreement states it would have to purchase the new site and pay for the construction of a new plant there, with costs estimated at up to $100 million footed by the city. Councilors have also considered condemning the property, shutting it down, and taking over the site by eminent domain, which could cost the city between $100 and $500 million. All American Asphalt in Irvine, Calif., on Dec. 9, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Several residents of three nearby neighborhoodsEastwood Village, Northwood Point, and Orchard Hillswant the plant to close, saying its emissions are harmful and the odors decrease the quality of life. Dennis Lo, an Orchard Hills resident, told The Epoch Times anything short of closing the plant down is not enough. Whatever we said was never taken into consideration, Lo said. We told him this is not acceptable, that we are disappointed, but [Chi] went ahead and presented [it]. Residences near the plant were built decades after the construction of the asphalt plant was approved by the county in the 1990s. The city and developers approved these homes to be built knowing there was a threat to customers. In my view, they should be held responsible for this, Lo said. The system is designed to fail the residents. Leslie Tan, a resident of Eastwood Village, told The Epoch Times its inconvenient to live near the plant because her children cannot bike or walk to school due to the air quality. Tan also said she purchased several air purifiers to combat the odors in her home. The South Coast Air Quality Management Districtan agency that oversees sources of air pollution in the regionconducted a health risk assessment in August and concluded the plant did not present elevated health risks to nearby residents. However, advocates from Non-Toxic Neighborhoodsa nonprofit founded by plant opponent Kim Kontetold The Epoch Times the assessment was conducted based on 2016 reports from the plant, rather than the most up-to-date data. Konte, who formerly lived in Northwood Point, additionally said she was concerned the fumes emitted by the plant are cancer-causing. According to Chi, the city has not conducted a study regarding a possible correlation between the plant and cancer, but said the air quality agency has and said the plant doesnt produce the highest cancer risk in the city, but another facility in town did. The issue will again be heard by the Irvine City Council in December. The Census Bureau hasn't explained how it got the 2020 Census so wrong. (hapabapa/Getty Images) Rep. Troy Nehls Demands Investigation Into Major Census Errors That Hurt Republican States Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) is demanding answers and a probe into major errors by the U.S. Census Bureau that hurt Republicans. The agency miscounted the populations of a total of 14 states, costing Republicans several House seats while granting some Democratic states representation that they shouldnt have. In an Oct. 21 letter obtained by The Epoch Times, Nehls questioned the agency over these errors. Five predominantly Republican-led statesArkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennesee, and Texaswere undercounted. Arkansas saw the largest undercount at more than 5 percent. Texas was undercounted by 1.92 percent, depriving the state of another congressional seat and electoral vote. In Florida, there are enough voters that the state should have received two more congressional seats than it actually got. At the same time, the bureau substantially overcounted several Democrat-led states, including Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Colorado, and Delaware. While Republican states lost three seats, overcounted Democrat states kept or got new seats because of the error. Minnesota and Rhode Island each kept a seat that, by population, they shouldnt have, while Colorado gained a seat that it shouldnt have. By contrast, only two Republican-led statesOhio and Utahwere slightly overcounted. Neither received seats because of the miscount. Illinois was also miscounted. In total, Republicans not only have less representation but also less sway in presidential elections than theyre meant to have. Moving forward, Democrats can expect three more electoral votes than they deserve, while Republicans can expect three fewer than they deserve. Nehls Demands Answers In a letter to Census Bureau Director Robert L. Santos, Nehls demanded answers. It has come to my attention that the U.S. Census Bureau significantly undercounted the populations of [states] which primarily vote Republican, and overcounted the populations of [states] which primarily vote Democrat. As a result, these blue states will now have more representation in Congress, more votes in the Electoral College, and may well receive more federal funds than they should, Nehls wrote. These results are deeply concerning for the legitimacy of our Democracy, he wrote. Nehls contended that these results werent merely the result of simple human error. I do not believe this was a coincidence, as the Bureau has failed to provide any explanation for this severe undercounting and overcounting, he wrote. Nehls expanded on this statement in comments to Just the News, accusing the Census Bureau of being politically motivated. This wasnt a coincidence, because things like this dont just happen, he said. The bureaucrats in Washington have an agenda. They want Democrats in power and wont let anything get in their way. We must get to the bottom of what happened. Nehls closed out his letter with a series of questions to the director of the bureau. The Texas Republican asked Santos to give a specific explanation of the errors, as well as the steps being taken by the agency to understand the cause of the inaccuracy. Nehls further queried Santos about the agencys plans to ensure that these errors dont happen again. He also asked Santos to explain the wide divergence from the 2010 censuss results, which were much less error-riddled. In 2010, the census saw a statistically insignificant error rate of only 0.01 percent, Nehls noted. In another question, he asked the director if the agency had received instructions from the White House to take different measures than it did in 2010. Nehls noted that his own home state was cheated out of an additional member of Congress while states like Minnesota and Rhode Island kept seats they should have lost if not for overcounting. For the sake of a legitimate democracy, we must ensure that the necessary changes are made to prevent this from happening again, he wrote. Nehlss office told The Epoch Times that the Census Bureau has confirmed receipt of the letter, but that his office is still awaiting responses to the questions. After announcing the results of their post-election survey, census officials said they were disappointed by the errors, but insisted that fully accurate counts are difficult. The agency stated that these difficulties were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Achieving an accurate count for all 50 states and D.C. is always a difficult endeavor, and these results suggest it was difficult again in 2020, particularly given the unprecedented challenges we faced, Santos said. It is important to remember that the quality of the 2020 Census total population count is robust and consistent with that of recent censuses. However, we know there is still more work to do in planning future censuses to ensure equitable coverage across the United States, and we are working to overcome any and all obstacles to achieve that goal. Although the count is now confirmed to have been off, coming out to as much as a six-vote discrepancy, theres little that can be done to correct the errors. The census has already been wrapped up for the decade and wont be recounted until 2030. Slovenian former foreign minister and presidential candidate Anze Logar talks to the press after voting in the presidential election at one of the polling stations in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Oct. 23, 2022. (Jure Makovec/AFP via Getty Images) Right-Wing Politician Takes Lead in Slovenias Presidential Race, to Face Runoff LJUBLJANAA right-wing former foreign minister, Anze Logar, won most votes in the first round of Slovenias presidential election on Sunday, preliminary results based on a partial vote count on the election commission website showed. Logar secured 34 percent of the vote while Natasa Pirc Musar, a lawyer, won 26.88 percent, based on around 80 percent of ballots cast, and they will face a run-off on Nov. 13. Although the role is mostly ceremonial, the president is commander in chief of the armed forces and also nominates several top officials, including the central bank governor. Most of those nominations also have to be confirmed by parliament. The new president of Slovenia, a member of the European Union and NATO, will replace Borut Pahor, a former fashion model who served two terms and is often referred to in public as the Instagram president for his use of the social network. Logar, 46, is a member of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) of former Prime Minister Janez Jansa, who moved Slovenia to the right while in power. Pirc Musar, a 54-year-old former TV presenter, is vying to become the first female president of the small ex-Yugoslav republic. A Ukrainian tank moves near the front line in Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on Oct. 21, 2022. (Carl Court/Getty Images) Russia May Use Dirty Bomb Pretext to Escalate Ukraine War, Western Countries Warn The United States, the UK, and France have rejected Russias allegation that Ukraine is planning to use a so-called dirty bomb in the ongoing conflict and have accused the Kremlin of trying to use the allegation as a pretext for further escalation. As Ukrainian forces advance into Russian-occupied Kherson Province, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu phoned Western counterparts on Oct. 23 to tell them that Moscow suspected Kyiv of planning to use a dirty bomb. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attend the opening of the Army 2022 International Military and Technical Forum in the Patriot Park outside Moscow, on Aug. 15, 2022. (Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) In an Oct. 24 joint statement, the foreign ministers of France, the UK, and the United States said the countries reject Russias transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation, the statement reads. We further reject any pretext for escalation by Russia. The ministers reiterated their countries steadfast support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russias ongoing aggression and vowed to continue supporting Ukraines efforts to defend its territory for as long as it takes. Counter-Accusations Shoigu made the allegation in a series of telephone calls with counterparts from the UK, the United States, France, and Turkey. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Shoigu voiced concerns about possible Ukrainian provocations involving a dirty bomb, or an explosive device that spreads radioactive contamination. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Shoigu that he rejected any pretext for Russian escalation in Ukraine, according to the Pentagon. Likewise, UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace strongly rejected Russias claims and warned Moscow to not try to use it as a pretext for its own efforts to step up the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting with the U.S. secretary of state in Kyiv on Sept. 8, 2022. (Genya Savilov/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) The Ukrainian government has accused the Kremlin of planning a false flag attack. In an overnight address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russian accusation was a sign that Moscow was planning such an attack itself and would blame Ukraine. If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means one thing: Russia has already prepared all this, Zelenskyy said. So when today the Russian minister of defense organizes a phone carousel and calls foreign ministers with stories about the so-called dirty nuclear bomb, everyone understands everything well, understands who is the source of everything dirty that can be imagined in this war. PA Media and Reuters contributed to this report. Salman Rushdie Lost Use of One Eye and Hand Following New York Attack, Agent Says Salman Rushdie, a British-American author and longtime critic of Islam, has lost sight in one eye and movement in one hand as a result of a violent attack against him in western New York two months ago. In an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais, Andrew Wylie, a book agent for Rushdie, gave an update on the 75-year-old novelists recovery from the Aug. 12 knife attack at a literacy event. State police reported at that time that Rushdie was stabbed at least once in the neck and at least once in the abdomen. [His wounds] were profound, but hes [also] lost the sight of one eye, Wylie said. He had three serious wounds in his neck. One hand is incapacitated because the nerves in his arm were cut. And he has about 15 more wounds in his chest and torso. So, it was a brutal attack. A former Muslim, Rushdie became a controversial figure when he published The Satanic Verses, a novel inspired by the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and deemed blasphemous by many Muslims across the world. In 1989, just months after the books publication, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or religious order, calling on Muslims to kill Rushdie, along with anyone involved in the spread of his work, for blasphemy. In the decades following the order, Tehran and organizations affiliated with the Islamic Republic have raised the bounty on Rushdies head to more than $3 million, forcing the author into hiding under the protection of the British government. Meanwhile, bookstores that sold The Satanic Verses were fire-bombed in Western countries. A Japanese translator of the book died in a 1991 knife assault. An Italian translator and a Norwegian publisher managed to survive murder attempts. When asked about the latest attack, Wylie said this was the most dangerous scenario that Rushdie could have faced. I think the attack was probably something that Salman and I have discussed in the past, which was that the principal danger that he faced so many years after the fatwa was imposed is from a random person coming out of nowhere and attacking [him], said Wylie, who serves high-profile clients such as horror-fiction writer Stephen King and President Donald Trump. So, you cant protect against that because its totally unexpected and illogical. It was like John [Lennons murder]. Rushdies assailant has since been identified by state police as 24-year-old New Jersey man Hadi Matar. A native-born American of Lebanese descent, Matar reportedly lauded Irans Islamic regime and Shiite extremist groups on his social media accounts. Matar also reportedly carried a fake drivers license with the name Hassan Mughniyah, a pseudonym combining the names of Lebanons notorious terrorists Hassan Nasrallah and Imad Mughniyah. The former remains the leader of the Hezbollah terrorist group, while the latter was killed in 2008 in a joint operation of the CIA and Israels Mossad. In August, a grand jury indicted Matar for attempted murder and assault. He has pleaded not guilty. The attack against Rushdie also prompted the Biden administration to condemn the Iranian regime, which was celebrating the attempted murder. Iranian state institutions have incited violence against Rushdie for generations, and state-affiliated media recently gloated about the attempt on his life, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. This is despicable. A lab technician working on a neutralising antibody test on the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus at a Bio Safety Level (BSL) 3 laboratory at the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) in Seoul on March 11, 2020. (Ed JONES / AFP) (Photo by ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images) Scientists Enthusiastic About New Gender, Non-Binary Quotas for Research Funding The Australian Academy of Sciences has thrown its support behind a new quota system dealing with gender inequities in the distribution of research grantsdespite repeated concerns from commentators that gender quotas do not produce meaningful outcomes. In a new intervention, the countrys health and medical research funding body, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), has pledged to provide an equal number of Investigator Grants to women and men. The NHMRC also said that non-binary researchers would be explicitly included for the first time. The Investigator Grant scheme is the NHMRCs largest funding scheme and annually awards around $370 million in funding. The NHMRC also noted that between 2019 to 2021, male applicants received 35 percent more grants and 67 percent more funding (around an extra $95 million per year) compared to females. STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) have traditionally been male-dominated fields. Despite good progress, gender inequities persist across the health and medical research sector, said Prof. Anne Kelso, CEO of the NHMRC, in a statement. Kelso said disparities in the funding of men and women in the Investigator Grant scheme proved there were barriers to women seeking funding. The changes announced today will provide more encouragement and opportunities for women and non-binary researchers to apply for, and win, these significant grants, she said. Meanwhile, Anna-Maria Arabia, CEO of the Academy of Sciences, called the move game-changing, saying gender quotas removed barriers to women entering the research workforce. Importantly, this intervention sends a strong message to both women and girls that they can pursue a successful and fulfilling career in research, she said in a statement. Gender Quotas Still a Contentious Topic Arguments for gender quotas are criticised for not considering mens and womens inherent differences and life goals. The gender gap is especially obvious in many vocations and exists for a variety of reasons, beyond just sexism, according to Nicole Russell, a freelance writer who has contributed across several media outlets. However, instead of encouraging women to exceed expectations in these fieldsor to admit perhaps that men and women are innately wired differently, possess different strengths, and make different life choices regarding familysome occupations are simply lowering the bar to ensure a gender quota, regardless of merit, is met, she wrote in The Epoch Times. While former feminist and now mens rights advocate, Bettina Arndt, said this problem was playing out in fields like firefighting with life-threatening results. A senior firefighter described the hazards for his team when they were distracted from their essential task of managing a hazard reduction to orchestrate an ambulance rescue for a young female firefighter on the point of collapse, she wrote in The Epoch Times. The firefighting literature shows that retention rates are poor for female recruits, with a survey of volunteer firefighters showing reasons for dropping out, including equipment being too heavy and stowed too high on trucks and problems with their protective gear. Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word Commentary Its been more than obvious since April 2020 that lockdowns were far too costly for individuals and society and could never earn a rational public-health defense. And the evidence was rolling in from one year later that the vaccine mandates were similarly indefensible. Both tactics had in common the enormous use of state coercion that flew in the face of every principle of civilized government. As we are constantly told, both people and government were panicked, and needlessly so. As it turns out, the infection fatality rate was not 23 percent, as the WHO had said early on, or 1 percent as Fauci told the Senate in March 2020, but rather 0.035 percent for anyone under the age of 60 (which is 94 percent of the population). COVID has been highly transmissible and with it the resulting protection of natural immunity. The correct policy should have been to maintain all social and market functioning while the actual vulnerable population protected itself as it awaited widespread immunity. Thats how every generation for 100 years has handled infectious disease: as a medical and not political matter. In other words, politicians and officials the world over made enormous and obvious errors, just not later but from the outset. This is not really worth arguing any more. The evidence is now 2.5 years deep. Insisting on 85 percent coverage of an ineffective vaccine was also an egregious error because people are not stupid and knew that they did not need this vaccine, especially since it protects not against infection or transmission and its approval bypassed all normal standards of clinical trials. Where are the apologies? Sorry seems to be the hardest word. Faced with enormous failure, the machinery that did this to us has generally refused to say the simple word. Its the hardest thing for people with power to admit their fallibility. Even though the whole world knows what they did and vast and increasing numbers are aware of the utter failure, the political class still insists on living in a fantasy land of its own creation. There are exceptions. Prime Minister Imran Khan apologized for lockdowns in April 2020. Ramazan Mubarak to Muslims across the world. We in Pakistan must use this holy month to ask Allah for forgiveness for neglecting the poor & vulnerable in our society. We as a nation have been elite-centric in our policies, with no thought for these people, incl in the pandemic Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 24, 2020 Ron DeSantis of Florida has repeatedly said that the lockdowns were an enormous mistake and will never happen again so long as he is in charge. Thats very close to being an apology, though many residents are still awaiting the magic word. Also in 2020, Norways prime minister Erna Solberg went on Norwegian television to say that she and others panicked and took many of the decisions out of fear. Thats close to being an apology. So far as I know, thats about it. Until Saturday, Oct. 22. The new Premier of Alberta Canada Danielle Smith has offered an apology to Albertans who were discriminated against because of their COVID-19 vaccination status. I am deeply sorry for any government employee that lost their job and I welcome them back if they want to come back. Premier Danielle Smith has just offered an apology to Albertans who was discriminated against because of their COVID-19 vaccination status. I am deeply sorry for any government employee that lost their job and I welcome them back if they want to come back. pic.twitter.com/eybO19v79n Rachel Emmanuel (@Emmanuel_Rach) October 22, 2022 Glory be! Thats precisely what we are looking for. Not just from a few but from all. The near absence of such apologies is driving the massive political realignment the world over, as furious voters demand admission of wrongdoing and justice for the victims. They are not forthcoming and therefore the anger is only rising. The storm clouds are gathering around the impossibly arrogant Anthony Fauci, with a new hit movie making the rounds and a judge demanding that he be deposed in a powerful lawsuit filed against his hypercritical collusion with social media companies to censor truth. Now nearly three years into this disaster, the worry that humanity would just accept the outrage and move on is proving unwarranted. People are discovering that there is plenty of dissent out there, and it stretches across the partisan divide. The resulting cultural and political realignments will echo long into the future, like other major upheavals of the past. Think of the big historical events that echoed for generations in American politics. The struggle over slavery. World War I. Prohibition. The New Deal. World War II. The Cold War. The last one I know well, having come of age in the latter years. In retrospect, the long episode of the Cold War was packed with mythology. Still, the struggle was expressed in ideological terms of freedom vs. communism. The alliances that lined up remained for decades and impacted cycle after cycle of political controversy at home and abroad. For strange reasons of timing and loss of principle, the woke left found itself mixed up in lockdown politics and then the vaccine mandate. Many of them lined up with policies that violate the very rights they had spent decades defending. So much for the Bill of Rights, the freedom of movement, the appreciation for the classless society, bodily autonomy, and so on. The left lost its soul during these years, and thereby alienated multitudes of sane lefties who watched in horror as their own tribe abandoned them in favor of the authoritarianism they had long decried. Lockdown/mandate vs. not: this has the capacity to be a theme that will resonate far into the future. It also unites people on the political right again with small business, genuine civil libertarians, and champions of religious liberty. It permits the left to again find its voice for human rights and freedoms. For that matter, they do not have to be activists; they only need to be people who do not want their houses of worship padlocked, their business closed and bankrupted, their speech curtailed, or their bodily autonomy violated. It also put the emphasis on the correct point: the protection of American liberties not from some shadowy foreign enemy but from our own governments. It also draws in the left that has long been suspicious of the place of big business, and, in this case, rightfully so. The largest corporations such as Google, Amazon, and Meta (Facebook), for all the good that they achieve in this world, have leaned decisively in favor of lockdowns. Same with Big Media. The reason is not just that they are harmed less by lockdowns and, in many cases, actually benefited from them. Its because the people ruling these companies enjoy ruling-class lives, and they see the world through them. Lockdowns were the favored policy for cultural and political reasons, which is itself a scandal. There is another group of powerful people in a position to dedicate themselves to the anti-lockdown/anti-mandate cause: parents. In an astonishing act of despotic ignorance, governors closed schools down all over the country, with zero medical benefit and grotesque levels of abuse for children and parents. These are schools for which people pay heavily in property taxes, while parents using private schools pay twice. Governments shut them down, robbing parents of their money and smashing their settled lives. Many children in this country lost two years of education. Many families with two incomes had to drop one of them in order to babysit their children at home as they pretended to learn on Zoom while being denied access to peers. Then once schools were operating normally, the CDC approved without evidence the COVID vaccine as an addition to the childhood schedule. Parents are not this dumb. They will never go for it. They will pull the kids out of public school and into private and homeschooling, causing a real crisis for one of the most settled institutions in American life. Then you have the problem of colleges and universities. Rightly or wrongly, parents and students make extreme financial sacrifices to pay for college in the hopes that the right education and degree sets people up for a lifetime of success. Whether this is true or not, parents are risk-averse with their childrens future so that they do whatever is necessary to make it happen. Then one day, the kids were locked out of the universities that they pay to attend. No parties. No study sessions. No going to other peoples rooms. No in-person instructions. Many thousands of students in this country have been fined and harassed for noncompliance. Theyve had masks forced on them even though their risk from the virus approaches zero, and the memory of this humiliation will last a full lifetime. Then came the vaccines, forced on college students who did not need them and are most vulnerable to adverse events. Why have the people put up with this? Under normal conditions, they never would have. None of this would have been possible. The one reason they did this time: fear. Fear of getting sick and dying or, if not dying, experiencing permanent health effects. This emotion can last far longer than one might think. But eventually emotions do catch up with facts, among which is that the danger of severe outcomes was wildly exaggerated and the lockdowns and mandates achieved nothing in terms of disease mitigation. You mean all this suffering and horror was for naught? Once that realization dawns, fear turns to anger, and anger to action. If you understand that dynamic, you can see why the architects of lockdowns from Dr. Fauci to the CDC are doing their best to delay that dawning, with daily doses of alarmism designed to keep people languishing in fear and ignorance. The fear however is breaking. We will reflect on all the incredible health theater to which weve been subjected for two and a half years, the hopping around people to stay 6 feet away, the silly ban on restaurant menus, the on-again-off-again mandatory masking of the people, the curfews and capacity limits, and well realize that the people who passed on all these emergency measures were just making things up in order to appear decisive and precise. We will look back and feel mortified at how we treated each other so brutally, how so many turned into rats hungry to get our friends and neighbors in trouble with the compliance police, how we willingly believed so many untrue things and practiced such preposterous rituals out of a belief that we were avoiding and thus controlling the enemy pathogen we couldnt see. None of this will soon be forgotten. Its the trauma of our lives. They stole our freedom, our happiness, our way of life, and attempted to replace them all with a stern regime with puritan sensibilities that rivaled the Taliban, forcing the whole population to hide their faces and live in fear of the American Mandarins who then came after the whole population with needles and woefully vetted shots. Karma is already turning on the whole gang of coercive totalitarians here and abroad. While the virus is invisible, the people who dreamed up and enforced lockdowns and mandates who wrecked the country are highly visible. They have names and careers, and they are right to be very worried about their futures. The sociological basis of the Catholic institution of auricular confession is to habituate people into the psychologically most difficult practice of admitting error, asking forgiveness, and pledging not to do it again. Saying it out loud within earshot of others is harder still. Every religion has some version of this because doing so is part of becoming a responsible human being. The best approach is a simple word: sorry. So rare but so powerful. Why wont more follow the lead of Danielle Smith and just say it? From the Brownstone Institute Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. General view at the opening of the UN Human Rights Council's 44th session in Geneva on June 30, 2020. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) South Koreas Failed Reelection to UN Human Rights Council Prompts Public Debate The recent loss of South Koreas bid for reelection to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has prompted a wave of contentious debates and criticism in the countrys local media. In particular, it was the first time since the establishment of the Council in 2006 that South Korea lost its reelection. The announcement was made at the U.N. General Assembly on Oct. 11 that South Korea was one place short of securing its reelection with 123 votes, coming in fifth behind Bangladesh (160), the Maldives (154), Vietnam (145), and Kyrgyzstan (126). The UNHRC holds an election every year for about one-third of the seats in the 47-member Council, and there were four seats available for eight candidates from the Asia-Pacific region this year. One of the leading newspapers in South Korea, Dong-a Ilbo, suggests that the countrys loss of Council membership means it no longer has access to a global stage for discussing resolutions about the Korean Peninsula and other human rights issues. Chosun Ilbo, the oldest daily newspaper in South Korea, has described the countrys reelection loss as a diplomatic tragedy in an article published on Oct. 12. Furthermore, an official from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the U.N. told Chosun Ilbo that the election result was completely unexpected, and that it would be nearly impossible to know who didnt vote for South Korea as it was a secret ballot. Before the election, more than 140 countries had expressed their support for South Korea orally and in writing, but the results were revealed to be a dozen votes short, said the official. Officials from South Koreas Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said that the country was unable to select and concentrate as the government was participating in 14 international organizations elections simultaneously, according to JoongAng Ilbo, one of the largest newspapers in the country. However, Oh Joon, former South Korean Ambassador to the U.N., believes that there were different causes for the failed re-election. The reason for this defeat is not so much that the Korean government is not qualified in terms of human rights, but because the Korean government has already served as a member many times, he told JoongAng Ilbo. Moon Administration Was Submissive to North Korea: Officials According to an article titled, South Korea loses UN Human Rights Council seat, published by The Korea Times on Oct. 12, South Korean conservatives raised concerns before the election that the previous administrations stance of being submissive to North Korea could prevent the country from being re-elected to the UNHRC. In particular, Joo Ho-young, People Power Party floor leader, wrote on his Facebook before the election that the failure has already been expected. [Under the Moon administration], South Korea did not participate in joint proposals for U.N. resolutions condemning the Norths human rights crimes since 2019, while the [then-ruling] Democratic Party of Korea used its majority in the National Assembly to pass a law that bans sending anti-North leaflets across the border, which undermines freedom of expression. [The previous administration] abandoned the coalition for human rights and freedom for the sake of a handshake with the North, said Joo Ho-young. Chosun Ilbo reported that some officials from the South Korean diplomatic community believe that the outcome of this election could be a reflection of how the international community perceives the Moon Jae-in administrations performance on global human rights issues over the past five years. In particular, Moons administration, in an attempt to further its Peace Initiative with North Korea, refused to co-sponsor UNHRCs annual resolution condemning North Koreas human rights violations for four consecutive years from 2019 to 2022. Furthermore, Moons administration passed the Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act, also known as the Anti-leaflet law, in December 2020 to prevent South Koreans from sending materials opposing the Kim Jong Un regime to North Korea. The law went into effect on March 30, 2021, amid criticism. JoongAng Ilbo, in an article published on Oct. 12, also noted that Moons administration adopted a position of ambiguity on issues such as Russias invasion of Ukraine and Beijings suppression of Uyghurs and Hong Kong. Despite the former administrations soft approach to foreign policy, however, according to an article titled, Reasons for S. Koreas Loss of UN Human Rights Council Membership, published by Dong-a Ilbo on Oct. 14, the outcome of this re-election presents a challenge for Yoons administration as Yoon tries to uphold value-based diplomacy. In particular, the article noted that the emergence of a new Cold War geopolitical environment in the world, alongside the failed reelection, poses an imminent threat to South Koreas ability to continue serving as a key pillar in the international community. Sudan Official: Deaths From Southern Tribal Clashes at 220 CAIROTwo days of tribal fighting in Sudans south killed at least 220 people, a senior health official said Sunday, marking one the deadliest bouts of tribal violence in recent years. The unrest added to the woes of an African nation mired in civil conflict and political chaos. Fighting in Blue Nile province, which borders Ethiopia and South Sudan, reignited earlier this month over a land dispute. It pits the Hausa tribe, with origins across West Africa, against the Berta people. The tensions escalated Wednesday and Thursday in the town of Wad el-Mahi on the border with Ethiopia, according to Fath Arrahman Bakheit, the director general of the Health Ministry in Blue Nile. He told The Associated Press that officials counted at least 220 dead as of Saturday night, adding the tally could be much higher since medical teams were not able to reach the epicenter of the fighting. Bakheit said the first humanitarian and medical convoy managed to reach Was el-Mahi late Saturday to try to assess the situation, including counting this huge number of bodies, and the dozens of injured. In such clashes, everyone loses, he said. We hope it ends soon and never happens again. But we need strong political, security and civil interventions to achieve that goal. Footage from the scene, which corresponded to the APs reporting, showed burned houses and charred bodies. Others showed women and children fleeing on foot. Many houses were burned down in the fighting, which displaced some 7,000 people to the city of Rusyaris. Others fled to neighboring provinces, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Overall, about 211,000 people have been displaced by tribal violence and other attacks across the country this year, it said. Authorities ordered a nighttime curfew in Wad el-Mahi and deployed troops to the area. They also established a fact-finding committee to investigate the clashes, according to the state-run SUNA news agency. Angry protesters on Sunday took to the streets of Damazin, the provincial capital Blue Nile, to denounce the tribal violence and the governments response to the clashes, local media reported. Some protesters stormed the headquarters of the local government. Footage shared online show plumes of smoke rising from the building. The online news website, Monte Carro, reported that protesters also stormed a military facility in Damazin. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The fighting between the two groups first erupted in mid-July, killing at least 149 people as of earlier October. It triggered violent protests and stoked tensions between the two tribes in Blue Nile and other provinces. The latest fighting comes at a critical time for Sudan, just a few days before the first anniversary of a military coup that further plunged the country into turmoil. It triggered nearly weekly anti-coup protests in the capital of Khartoum and elsewhere across the country. Since the coup in October 2021, at least 118 people have been killed in a heavy crackdown on protests, including one protester who was shot dead when security forces violently dispersed a demonstration Sunday in Khartoum, according to the Sudan Doctors Committee, which is part of the pro-democracy movement. The militarys takeover derailed the countrys short-lived transition to democracy after nearly three decades of the repressive rule of Omar al-Bashir, who was removed in April 2019 by a popular uprising. In recent weeks the military and the pro-democracy movement have engaged in talks to find a way out of the ongoing situation. The generals agreed to allow civilians to appoint a prime minister to lead the country through elections within 24 months, the pro-democracy movement said last week. However, the violence in Blue Nile is likely to slow down such efforts. Protest groups, who reject the deal with the ruling generals, have been preparing for mass anti-military demonstrations called for Tuesday, the anniversary of the coup. By Samy Magdy Supreme Court Blocks Subpoena of Sen. Graham The U.S. Supreme Court blocked on Oct. 24 a subpoena of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) for his testimony to an Atlanta-area grand jury thats investigating possible illegal interference in the 2020 election. Justice Clarence Thomas, a George H.W. Bush appointee, entered the order. He stayed the subpoena pending further order of the undersigned or of the Court. Graham asked the nations top court on Oct. 21 to intervene in the case. A district judge had ordered him to testify, and an appeals court recently upheld the order. Graham has argued that hes protected by the U.S. Constitutions speech or debate clause. The appeals court panel partially agreed. It stated that Graham cant be questioned over his investigatory fact-finding on telephone calls to Georgia election officials but can be questioned about other matters, including his contact with officials on Donald Trumps 2020 campaign. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, a Democrat, has said that Graham possesses unique knowledge regarding the Trump campaigns efforts to influence post-election activities in the county and elsewhere in Georgia. Grahams lawyers said a stay was needed to prevent the questioning from happening. The district courts refusal to quash or at least stay this impermissible questioningand the Eleventh Circuits cursory acquiescence, while misquoting the Speech or Debate Clause, failing to invoke or apply the standard for a stay, and without so much as mentioning sovereign immunitycries out for review, they wrote in the emergency application to Thomas, who fielded the matter because he oversees the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. Grahams constitutional immunities will be lost, and his statutorily guaranteed appeal mooted, the moment the local Georgia prosecutor questions him, they wrote. Thomas didnt say why he stayed the subpoena but did say he reviewed Grahams application before deciding to intervene. Thomas also asked Fulton County officials to respond to Grahams application by Oct. 27. The Finger on the Trigger Commentary I pulled the trigger was a bold confession by mass shooting suspect Robert Crimo III following the tragic shooting of seven unarmed people at last years Fourth of July picnic in Highland Park, Wisconsin. One might think Crimos chilling admission would force many to deeply consider what drove the 21-year-old to take the lives of seven innocent strangers, to question the culture and circumstances that produced a sick young man capable of unthinkable manslaughter, or to heed the cries of family members coping with unbearable tragedy. Unfortunately, before we could blink, our more meaningful thoughts were silenced by deafening calls for more gun control, assault weapons bans, and police defunding. This is certainly not the first time public debate about the weapon employed by a gunman eclipsed any meaningful discussion about the shooters motives, the victims, or our law enforcements ability to enforce the law. Too often, our elected leaders and mainstream media are quick to shift the public focus of gun violence from the gunman to the firearm. I contend that our culture has a firearm much deadlier than the rifle that claimed seven peoples lives in Highland Park. In the last six decades of political discourse around mass shootings, our state and nations leaders have amassed a weapon of mass destruction: a politically motivated gun-control debate in which the far left would seek no solution beyond more firearm regulations and scaling back our Second Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution. This is a debate with little room for identifying and uprooting the underlying problem. It includes no compassion for finding resolve for victims and no patience for embracing loved ones struck by tragedy. Most importantly, the debate has failed to stop mass shootings from claiming the lives of innocent men, women, and children. We are now forced to grapple with a difficult question: Are we to believe it is better to blame weapons rather than the people using those weapons? Are we to consider the fatal device more than the person and circumstances that pull the trigger? Of course not. Evil is evil, regardless of the tool it employs. Clever attempts to legislate our way out of that evil has done nothing to address the underlying problem. Dont take my word for it. Consider that since 1982, California has witnessed more mass shootings than any other state on record. In that 40-year period, our state legislature has passed more than 111 laws banning certain firearms, restricting gun usage, regulating firearm transactions, and screening consumers. That is 40 years of new promises to end mass gun violence, and 40 years of new shootings that claim the lives of innocent members of the public. It is 40 years of eloquent speeches about the effect of new gun control measures, and 40 years of faith-based communities facing open gunfire at worship services. Those who remain unconvinced that more restrictive firearm measures do little to reduce mass shootings should consider the following comparison. Simple logic might suggest that Californiaa state with the toughest gun control laws in the nationwould have fewer mass shootings than a state with the least restrictive gun control measures: Arizona. Surprisingly, California has about the same number of mass shooting deaths per million people as Arizona each year. Thats a sobering reminder that more law does not necessarily result in less crime. Any genuine effort to reduce crime begins with our law enforcements ability to enforce the law. By now, it should be blatantly evident that the problem is not that we do not have enough gun control laws. The problem is that the laws we have in place are not being enforced. What we need is crime control. Following the aftermath of the Sacramento mass shootings that claimed the lives of six just three months ago, I had the opportunity to speak with a Sacramento police lieutenant about the challenges of preventing mass shootings. I was shocked to hear that two days prior to the shooting, the police officer arrested a man with 10 firearms on his person8 being assault weapons and the others, two handguns. That man was released 24 hours later due to exceptions and loopholes under state law. What saddened me most was to hear the lieutenant express that these catch-and-release arrests happen all too often. After researching the law further, I am even more convinced that the problem is not that we do not have enough penalties in California. The problem is that we have a judicial system that seems to work against the very law enforcement we task with enforcing those penalties. Beyond supporting our law enforcement, we must be willing to think outside the box and support less traditional methods to stop mass shooting deaths. We can support mass shooting survival trainings for our children, youth, and the public at large. The trainings sponsored by organizations like School Safe are credited with saving the lives of mass shooting survivors throughout the nation. Through intensive mass shooting reaction trainings across the country, more survivors are coming forward attesting to the life-saving skills acquired in the trainings. Trainings, screenings, and law enforcement are key to limiting mass shootings, but solutions cannot last if we fail to examine the conditions creating the underlying problem. At the heart of the problem is an inconvenient fact: We, as a society, are not ready or willing to have a sincere discussion about the sickness in our culturea sickness that produces a teenager capable of opening gunfire on innocent children at a grade school, and a culture where a young man like Dylann Roof might open fire on unarmed Christians in a worship service on any given Sunday. We need to discuss the hatred that causes a young man like Robert Crimo III to shoot at innocent strangers at a parade, and the sickness that distinguishes us from our counterparts internationally as a nation home to more than 70 percent of mass shootings worldwide. Indeed, the unseen evil that drives shooters to commit such atrocities has caused some to consider mental health resources to address the internal problems beyond our reach. From school psychiatry, early intervention, and diversion programs, to mental health screenings for gun owners, mental health cannot be absent from any solution to limit mass shootings. In spite of our collective shortcomings, I am reminded of the matchless resilience of the human spirit and our collective means to overcome seemingly impossible odds. I am reminded that our collective light can outshine any darkness when we are united behind a single cause for humanity, rather than our individualistic and political motivations. Our sustained efforts to combat mass shootings can outlast any unseen evil that wages war against us. The bottom line is that you and I owe a duty to each and every innocent life taken by mass gunfire, and to their families, to collectively address the underlying problem behind mass shootings. Until that day, together we must resist the temptation to willingly overlook the sickness of evil in our culture. We must reject the mainstream and unconscious narrative that weapons are to blame more than human beings. Until we do that, we will never prevent mass gun slaughter or manage to truly heal our culture. Instead, we will find ourselves intently watching for the employed weapon with each new mass shooting, only to miss the finger on the trigger. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. In Kentucky just after the Civil War, the HaydenColby feud leads to Jed Colby being sent to prison for 15 years for murder. The Haydens head for Nevada, and when Colby gets out of prison, he heads there also seeking revenge. The head of the Hayden family tries to avoid more killing, but the inevitable showdown has to occur, complicated by Lynn Hayden and Ellen Colbys plans to marry. Credit: Public Domain Movies Feature Films: Cinema collection: http://epochcinema.com Epoch Original content: http://epochoriginal.com Feature Films: https://www.theepochtimes.com/featured-films * 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 Russian analyst Igor Danchenko walks to the Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria, Va., on Oct. 11, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) 7 Takeaways From Trial of Igor Danchenko, Key Source for Anti-Trump Dossier The trial of Igor Danchenko, a key source for the anti-Donald Trump dossier, ended in Danchenkos acquittal. But a number of revelations emerged during the trial about Danchenko, dossier author Christopher Steele, and the FBI. FBI Paid Danchenko Nearly $220,000 Filings just before the trial showed Danchenko was a confidential human informant for the FBI. The arrangement started in March 2017 and ended in October 2020, just before the 2020 presidential election. Danchenko was paid $219,000 during that time, Kevin Helson, one of his handling agents, testified. Helson, who declined an offer to join the Crossfire Hurricane investigation into alleged links between Trump and Russia, submitted approvals for each payment. As part of the arrangement, Danchenko was given an immunity letter. Your client agrees to supply complete and truthful information and testimony to all persons in this matter, as well as in any other proceeding, including court proceedings, related to or growing out of this investigation. Your client must answer all questions concerning the subject matter of this investigation and must not withhold any information. Your client must neither attempt to protect any person or entity through false information or omission nor falsely implicate any person or entity, the letter stated. Helson said Danchenko proved useful, providing information that was used in at least 25 investigations. He lamented losing Danchenko as a source. Helson asked for a lump sum payment of $346,000 for Danchenko due to him being terminated and because of fears surrounding his safety. The Department of Justice rejected the request. Danchenko May Have Committed Immigration Fraud Danchenko came onto the FBIs radar in 2008 after allegedly offering a colleague payment in exchange for classified information. The bureau opened an investigation, but closed the probe when it believed he left the country. But Danchenko actually never departed the United States, which meant he overstayed his visa, special counsel John Durham said. Are you aware of the fact that he was supposed to depart the country and didnt? Durham asked Helson. No, Helson said. When the bureau began seeking to turn Danchenko into a source, experts at the bureaus human validation unit recommended the Washington Field Office determine whether Danchenko committed immigration fraud, Helson confirmed. Yes, they commended that, he told Durham. Did you do that? Durham wondered. No, Helson said. Helson also ignored other recommendations, including a recommendation to examine Danchenkos motives, allegiances, and vulnerabilities; a recommendation to give Danchenko a polygraph; and a recommendation to assess Danchenkos financial situation. Under cross-examination, Helson agreed that he had issues with at least one of the people on the validation unit, and that he sent text messages complaining that the report containing the recommendations was poorly written. He said he did not feel that the recommended actions were necessary. Millian Also an FBI Source Millian was also at one point an informant for the FBI, according to FBI analyst Brian Auten. Mr. Millian, at one time, had been a source, Auten testified under questioning by Durham. Millian declined to comment about the statement to The Epoch Times. Auten also sent an email to colleagues in August 2017 saying that the bureau was conducting surveillance when Millian showed up in a vehicle, Durham said during a sidebar. The fact that the bureau was surveilling one person, not Millian, and Millian was in a car, when he was the president of the Russian Chamber of Commerce, is completely irrelevant to these proceedings, Durham said. The judge ruled against admitting the email. Theres no sign that Millian, a pro-Trump businessman, ever communicated with Danchenko, who reached out in 2016 as he gathered information for the dossier. Millian was for years believed to be Source E in the dossier, but charging documents in the Danchenko case largely quashed those rumors. The documents triggered major corrections from the Washington Post, one of the main news outlets that promoted the theory. Information Danchenko attributed to Millian ended up in the warrants for spy applications the FBI submitted to the secretive U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. The court approved a warrant and three renewals for agents to spy on Carter Page, a former Trump campaign associate. Millian was listed on the government witness list but prosecutors said he did not want to travel to the United States due to concerns about the safety of himself and his family. Neither Steele Nor Danchenko Provided Corroborative Information The dossier was rife with unsubstantiated allegations. Steele was offered $1 million to prove any of the claims in the document, Auten testified. Mr. Steele was offered anywhere up to a million dollars for any information, documentary, physical evidence, anything of that sort which could help to prove the allegations, Auten said. At any time when you were overseas meeting with Steele in early October, did he provide anything? he was asked. He did not, Auten replied. The offer was made when Auten and others with the FBI met with Steele in Rome, Italy in October 2016. Steele was slated to be paid $15,000 for the meeting but the payment never went through, according to a previous investigation (pdf). Auten compared the offer to those made to people when the FBI wants to solicit information from anybody who might know details that could lead to a successful prosecution. If Steele provided information that led to a successful prosecution, Mr. Steele would be able to earn potentially up to a million dollars, Auten said. Steele, Auten said, also did not provide any corroborative information after the meeting. Danchenko also did not provide evidence for the claims for which he was responsible, agents testified during the trial. Danchenko conveyed to Steele that the information he was providing rumor and speculation, according to his lawyers. Danchenko recounted that to FBI agents. Danchenko never claimed that he was going to be able to corroborate anything that was in the dossier, correct? Stuart Sears, one of the lawyers, said while questioning Helson. Thats correct, Helson said. And he said it was unlikely you were going to be able to corroborate anything that was in the dossier, correct? Sears asked. He basically said that the bureau or the U.S. Government is going to have to figure that out, Helson said. Christopher Steele, former British intelligence officer in London, UK, on March 7, 2017. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP) Former special counsel Robert Mueller testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on July 24, 2019. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Muellers Team Was Investigating Dossier Special counsel Robert Muellers team investigated the dossier, even though Mueller told members of Congress in 2019 that examining the dossiers veracity was outside my purview. But testimony during the trial indicated otherwise. Helson, Danchenkos handling agent, said questions that were posed to Danchenko about the dossier actually came from Muellers team. They came from the Mueller investigative team, particularly Ms. Anderson, Helson testified. Amy Anderson was an analyst at the FBI headquarters assigned to assist Mueller. I would speak to Agent Helson, and we would discuss what might be interesting for us to know. And then he would go and speak to his source, Anderson testified. I was assigned to attempt to validate the Steele dossier, she also said. I was asked to either verify the reporting or determine that it was not accurate. Anderson and Brian Auten, another Mueller team member, even traveled to Cyprus to interview Olga Galkina, an associate of Danchenko. Galkina has denied being a source for the dossier but FBI agents determined she was. Brittany Hertzog, another FBI agent assigned to Muellers team, said that one of her jobs was to investigate the dossier. As an intelligence analyst, we were trying to identify the sourcing for the claims in the dossier and, specifically, the national security threat with regards to the Russian influence piece, she said. Dossier Source Says He Lied The dossier was compiled by Steele for Democrats, including Hillary Clinton. Some of the information in the dossier came from Charles Dolan, a longtime Clinton associate, via Danchenko. Dolan testified during the trial that he was not being truthful when he wrote the email that contained the information. I had a drink with a GOP friend of mine who knows some of the players and got some of what is in this article, which provides even more detail. She also told me that Corey Lewandowski, who hates [Paul] Manafort and still speaks to Trump, regularly played a role. He is said to be doing a happy dance over it, Dolan wrote to Danchenko. I lied. I got it off cable news, Dolan said on the stand. Mr. Danchenko had brought me some business. I wanted to tell him that his sources were good. The woman was on cable news. Dolan was deeply connected to Russia, including working with Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also had a business connection with Galkina, to whom he was introduced by Danchenko. FBI Blocks Investigation Into Dolan Hertzog and Anderson both said they wanted to investigate Dolan, but were blocked by their superiors. I was concerned about a national security threat, especially as it related to Mr. Dolans connectivity to the sources and sub-sources of the dossier, as well as his connectivity to any Russian government officials, Hertzog testified. But the team was instructed not to take further action on the matter, Hertzog said. She wanted further investigation of Dolan so she serialized it in case files. Anderson said that, after she learned of Dolans connections to Galkina and Danchenko, I wanted to look into him. She recounted compiling a report in a manner that would allow the bureau to take investigative steps such as subpoenaing Dolans emails. Anderson submitted the report to her superior, special agent Joe Nelson. The report sat for approximately three to four weeks, Anderson said. I was told to closewell, it was never opened. So I was told it was not going to be opened, she said. And who told you that? Anderson was asked. Joe Nelson, she said. Were you given any specific reason why it was not to be opened? a prosecutor asked. A defense lawyer objected, and the judge sustained the objection, so Anderson could not answer. Zachary Stieber Reporter Follow Zachary Stieber covers U.S. and world news for The Epoch Times. He is based in Maryland. Former U.S. President Donald Trump greets supporters during a campaign rally at Minden-Tahoe Airport in Minden, Nev., on Oct. 8, 2022. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Trump Asks Supreme Court to Take Up Florida Social Media Censorship Case The states law is needed to make 'platforms state their censorship policies and apply them consistently,' brief says Former President Donald Trump is urging the Supreme Court to hear a case from Florida that asks the court to decide if states have the power to regulate how social media companies moderate content on their platforms. Last week, 16 states also asked the high court to take up the case. The case is important because it pits the right of individual Americans to freely express themselves online against the right of social media platforms to make editorial decisions about content. Republicans and conservatives have complained for years about being censored by the platforms. They were furious when platforms banned Trump in January 2021, blocked a New York Post article about Hunter Bidens laptop, and silenced dissenting opinions about the origins of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus and on treatments for the disease it causes. Democrats and liberals, on the other hand, say the platforms dont do enough to suppress so-called hate speech and alleged misinformation. Trump filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of Floridas appeal of a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit that blocked portions of Senate Bill 7072, which requires policy transparency and protects user access to social media platforms. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, signed the law on May 24, 2021, saying it makes sure real Floridians across the Sunshine Stateare guaranteed protection against the Silicon Valley elites. DeSantis is seeking reelection on Nov. 8. Many in our state have experienced censorship and other tyrannical behavior firsthand in Cuba and Venezuela. If Big Tech censors enforce rules inconsistently, to discriminate in favor of the dominant Silicon Valley ideology, they will now be held accountable. Under the law, platforms are forbidden to ban political candidates and must make public and consistently apply their moderation rules. Booting candidates can lead to fines of up to $250,000 a day. But the 11th Circuit struck down part of the law, finding that with minor exceptions, the government cant tell a private person or entity what to say or how to say it. Even the biggest platforms are private actors whose rights the First Amendment protects [and] their so-called content-moderation decisions constitute protected exercises of editorial judgment. Separately, Trump is the lead plaintiff in three separate class-action lawsuits pending against Twitter Inc., YouTube LLC, and Meta Platforms Inc., which operates Facebook. The legal actions claim the social media companies are violating the Florida law. Trump argues in his brief (pdf) filed Oct. 21 in Moody v. NetChoice LLC, court file 22-277, that platforms are common carriers that may not discriminate against users. NetChoice is a coalition of trade associations representing social media companies and e-commerce businesses. Floridas law is an attempt to ensure that platforms state their censorship policies and apply them consistently, the brief said. Recent experience has fostered a widespread and growing concern that behemoth social media platforms are using their power to crush political opposition. This concern is heightened because Platforms often shroud decisions to exclude certain users and viewpoints in secrecy, giving no meaningful explanation as to why certain users are excluded while others posting equivalent content are tolerated. The Florida law doesnt force the platforms to carry or ban any messages and imposes no rules as to what is and is not permissible. The law merely ensure[s] that whatever rules the Platforms adopt are fully disclosed and consistently applied, the brief stated. Trumps filing comes as a majority of U.S. states are looking at legislation that would regulate social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook in the public interest. Texas also enacted a law that imposes limitations on the ability of social media companies to moderate speech on platforms and mandates that the companies provide disclosure to the public. On Sept. 16, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit found that Texas HB 20 was constitutional, rejecting, in its words, the idea that corporations have a freewheeling First Amendment right to censor what people say. The Texas law does not chill speech; if anything, it chills censorship, the ruling states. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, a Republican, told the Supreme Court in her brief regarding her states law that the irreconcilable divide between courts of appeals warrants this Courts review. Social media has become the modern public square, Moody wrote, citing a report saying that in the United States, 240 million people use social media and almost half of American adults use social media to get their news. US Students Math and Reading Scores Drop Several Points Compared to 2019: Nations Report Card Fourth and eighth grade students math and reading scores showed no improvements across any U.S. states between 2019 and 2022, with the majority seeing a decline in scores, according to a new report published on Oct. 24. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report found that the average math score among fourth graders in 2022 was 236 out of 500, a decrease of 5 points compared to the 2019 average of 241. The 2019 scores were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent surge in remote learning, and the 2022 scores were lower than all previous assessment years dating back to 2005. Among eighth graders, the average math score in 2022 was 274 out of 500, a reduction of 8 points compared to the 2019 average of 282 and lower than all previous assessment years dating back to 2003. NAEP is a branch of the Department of Education. The report, also titled The Nations Report Card, is based on testing among a sample of fourth and eighth grade students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Department of Defense schools, and 26 participating urban districts. The mathematics report evaluates students knowledge and skills in mathematics and their ability to solve problems in mathematical and real-world contexts, as well as their reading comprehension skills via literary and informational texts, according to NAEP. Students follow along remotely with their regular school teachers online live lesson while separated by plastic barriers at STAR Eco Station Tutoring & Enrichment Center in Culver City, Calif., on Sept. 10, 2020. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) Students Performing Below Basic Level The NAEP also found that fourth and eighth grade average reading scores both declined by 3 points compared to 2019.students Among fourth graders, the average reading score of 217 was lower than all previous assessment years dating back to 2005. For eighth graders, the average reading score of 260 was lower than all previous assessment years going back to 1998. The reading scores among fourth and eighth graders declined in most states and jurisdictions compared to 2019. Additionally, the percentage of students below the NAEP basic levelwhich is the lowest level of academic achievementalso increased. NAEP defines basic as partial mastery of prerequisite knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work at each grade. In 2022, 25 percent of fourth graders performed below the basic level in math, which was an increase of 5 percentage points compared to 2019 and marked a larger percentage increase than all previous assessments since 2003. For eighth graders, that figure stood at 38 percent, 7 percentage points more compared to 2019. In reading, the percentage of students below the NAEP basic level increased by 3 percentage points in both grades compared to 2019. The report also found that students who performed better on the test were more likely to have constant access to a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet; a quiet place to work at least some of the time; and a teacher who was available to help with schoolwork at least once or twice a week. A teacher at King Elementary School sits in an empty classroom teaching her students remotely during the first day of classes in Chicago on Sept. 8, 2020. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Appalling and Unacceptable In a press call prior to the release of the report, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona called the test results appalling and unacceptable, while calling on teachers and leaders to urgently help pandemic-affected students catch up on their education. A once-in-a-generation virus upended our country in so many ways, and our students cannot be the ones who sacrifice the most in the long run, Cardona told reporters. We must treat the task of catching our children up with the urgency that this moment demands. Overall, the report found that declines in math and reading were seen among fourth and eighth graders in all regions of the United States, although schools operated by the Department of Defense saw no significant change in results. Finally, it found that over 80 percent of students at each grade level had teachers who were confident in their ability to teach their students in 2022, although just 50 percent of teachers were confident they would be able to help students address learning gaps that may have occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show the profound toll on student learning during the pandemic, as the size and scope of the declines are the largest ever in mathematics, Peggy Carr, the commissioner of the National Center of Education Statistics, said in a press release. The results also underscore the importance of instruction and the role of schools in both students academic growth and their overall well-being. Its clear we all need to come togetherpolicymakers and community leaders at every levelas partners in helping our educators, children, and families succeed. Students cross the street on their way to school in Mississauga, Ont., on April 1, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette) Wake-Up Call: US Officials Sound Alarm After Massive Drop in Child Test Scores Fourth- and eighth-graders had the largest-ever decline in math this year in nearly every state, according to a national educational assessment, drawing warnings from White House officials. Across the country, math scores saw their largest decreases ever. Reading scores dropped to 1992 levels. Nearly four in 10 eighth graders failed to grasp basic math concepts. Not a single state saw a notable improvement in their average test scores, with some simply treading water at best. Those are the findings from the National Assessment of Educational Progressknown as the nations report cardwhich tested hundreds of thousands of fourth and eighth graders across the country this year. It was the first time the test had been given since 2019, and its seen as the first nationally representative study of the pandemics impact on learning. In 2022, the average fourth-grade mathematics score decreased by 5 points and was lower than all previous assessment years going back to 2005, according to the Nations Report Card commissioned by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, published Monday. Math scores were worst among eighth graders, with 38 percent earning scores deemed below basic. Thats worse than 2019, when 31 percent of eighth graders scored below that level. The average eighth-grade mathematics score decreased by 8 points compared to 2019 and was lower than all previous assessment years going back to 2003, the report further said. In 2022, fourth- and eighth-grade mathematics scores declined for most states/jurisdictions as well as for most participating urban districts compared to 2019. Several major districts saw test scores fall by more than 10 points. Cleveland saw the largest single drop, falling 16 points in fourth-grade reading, along with a 15-point decline in fourth-grade math. Baltimore and Tennessees Shelby County also saw precipitous declines. COVID Blame Game Officials and media outlets blamed the COVID-19 pandemic, which left millions of children learning from home for months or more, for the drop. The results released Monday reveal the depth of those setbacks and the size of the challenge facing schools as they help students catch up. And some officials U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona suggested that COVID-19 contributed to the drop in test scores, but he did not mention the widespread lockdowns, stay-at-home orders, and virtual learning mandates that were imposed on children in 2020 and 2021. Numerous studies have shown that children have the lowest risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms, hospitalization, or death. A student shows her negative COVID-19 test result from her cellphone for entry to Olive Vista Middle School on the first day back in Sylmar, Calif., on Jan. 11, 2022. (Frederic Brown/AFP via Getty Images) If this is not a wake-up call for us to double down our efforts and improve education, even before it wasbefore the pandemic, then I dont know what will, Cardona told CNN on Monday morning. Throughout the pandemic, top teachers unions, including the American Federation of Teachers, pushed for stay-at-home orders. According to a report commissioned by the National Right to Work Committee in 2021, school closures and virtual learningchampioned by teachers unionscaused widespread negative impacts on children, including a spike in child suicide attempts. The NAEP test is typically given every two years. It was taken between January and March by a sample of students in every state, along with 26 of the nations largest school districts. Scores had been stalling even before the pandemic, but the new results show decreases on a scale not seen before. Peggy Carr, the head of the U.S. Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, explained that what were seeing is (lower performing) students dropping even faster, and were also seeing students who were not showing declinesstudents at the top, meaning students at the higher performing levelsthey were holding steady before the pandemic or even improving. But she stipulated to CNN that now all the students, regardless of their ability, are dropping. That is the point we need to be taking away from this report. The Associated Press contributed to this report. While Texas TV Host Tracks Drag Queen Shows, Lawmakers Plan to Outlaw Minor Attendees A conservative television host in Texas is so dedicated to tracking shows where drag queens twerk and disrobe around children that shes willing to hide under a wig to expose them. Sara Gonzalez looks for events that either target children or simply allow them to attend. Whenever I go to any of these events, I wear this ridiculous pink wig and try to blend in with the scene, she said. As I was seeing how grotesque they were, I became very passionate about stopping [them]. The Dallas resident hosts a daily roundtable news program called The News and Why It Matters thats broadcast on Blaze TV. Just last week, Gonzalez captured video at the Ebb and Flow diner in Plano of a dancer lifting their dress to show white panties while gyrating suggestively for cash donations in front of a little girl. My belief is that the Left are specifically targeting Texas because they know if they can do it here, they can do it anywhere, Gonzalez told The Epoch Times. They dont think anyone will hold them accountable and they continue to get worse and worse, and more provocative. As reported in The Epoch Times, the video went viral after Gonzalez posted it on Twitter. On that same day, the mother of two young boys announced the launch of Defend Our Kids TX by the Texas Family Project (TFP) with the stated goal of ending child exploitation. We are forming a coalition of parents and patriots who want to take their power back by making sure that we have our own people at these events making their voices heardwhether it be outside or inside the venue, Gonzalez said. On their website, Defend Our Kids TX includes a submission form in which the public can alert the organization of scheduled drag shows that invite the participation of children with marketing taglines such as all-ages or family friendly. The Austin-based TFP is a pro-family organization that is fighting child sex change operations, the use of puberty blockers or cross sex hormones on minors, and the sexualization of children in schools. Chris Hopper, TFP president, recently added exposure to drag queen shows to that roster because he perceives them as a tool to prepare children to be receptive to more progressively explicit sexual content. You cant go to a playground at your local park and wear a thong or lingerie that shows off your breasts and nipples and dance on the monkey bars and expect not to have the cops called on you, he said. So, why would a restaurant in Plano or Houston be any different? Under Section 43.21 of the Texas Penal Code, the display or distribution of obscenity can be charged as a misdemeanor, or a third-degree felonydepending on circumstances. But thats not enough to hold private establishments accountable for failing to protect children from sexually explicit dance routines in which men dressed as women gyrate and strip for an audience. As a result, Hopper is working with State Rep. Bryan Slaton (R-Mineola), Rep. Nate Schatzline (R-Fort Worth), and Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) to introduce legislation in January that would outlaw the presence of minors at drag queen shows. It requires a business hosting such an event to only allow patrons who are 21 and older, Hopper said. New legislation is needed because Texas sexually oriented business laws have been watered down by activist courts, according to Glenn Hegar, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts who is up for reelection in November. Unfortunately, while the text of the current statute might appear to give me an avenue to designate these as sexually oriented businesses, the reality is more complex, Hegar told The Epoch Times in a statement. This is exactly why Texas laws need to be updated and strengthened. For example, despite the Comptrollers authority under Chapter 102, Subchapter B of the Business and Commerce Code, the courts have ruled that naked bodies with a thin layer of latex paint sprayed on them are considered clothed. Sexually oriented businesses are also defined differently in Subchapter A and Subchapter B. While Subchapter B governs bars, restaurants, and strip clubs, Subchapter A covers adult movie theaters and bookstores. I share the frustration as it is clear that children should not participate in, nor attend these events, Hegar added. We absolutely need additional provisions in Texas law to protect children. These provisions are needed not just in the tax code, but also in the penal code. White House Says Unprecedented Illegal Immigration Driven by People Fleeing Falling Regimes The unprecedented level of illegal immigration at the U.S.Mexico border largely stems from people fleeing regimes in three countries, the White House said Oct. 24. What were seeing, this new migration challenge, is driven by people who are fleeing falling regimes and economic collapse in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and also Cuba, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a press briefing in Washington. Jean-Pierre appeared to be the first White House official to react after the illegal immigrant arrests at the border in fiscal year 2022 shattered the 2021 number, which had set a new record. For the first time in U.S. history, more than 2 million arrests were recorded in a fiscal year, after a record-high 227,547 apprehensions in September. Statistics from Customs and Border Protection show that the number of Venezuelan, Nicaraguan, and Cuban nationals have spiked in recent months, coming in 245 percent higher in September versus the same month in 2021. The Biden administration is trying to pivot to deal with the new reality, Jean-Pierre said. We are hard at work at driving towards a regional solution to manage this new challenge, she said, pointing to joint actions undertaken by the United and Mexico this month. New Venezuela Policy Effective Oct. 12, any Venezuelans who enter the United States between ports of entry and are captured are returned to Mexico. At the same time, a new process introduced by the administration enables up to 24,000 Venezuelans who meet certain conditions to enter the country. These actions make clear that there is a lawful and orderly way for Venezuelans to enter the United States, and lawful entry is the only way, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a Biden appointee, said in an earlier statement. Those who attempt to cross the southern border of the United States illegally will be returned to Mexico and will be ineligible for this process in the future. Eligibility hinges on having a supporter present in the United States who can provide financial backing and other support, meeting vaccination requirements, and passing screening. A removal order from the previous five years, crossing between ports of entry since Oct. 12, having illegally entered Mexico or Panama, or having not met the vaccination requirements make a Venezuelan ineligible. Just 127 Venezuelans were encountered per month from fiscal years 2014 to 2019 but that number has risen dramatically since then, reaching over 25,000 in August and 33,000 in September. The new process has already cut the number of illegal entries by Venezuelan nationals by more than 85 percent, the administration said on Saturday as the United States accepted the first Venezuelans who were authorized to enter the country. The administration also said it was issuing new H-2B permits, largely used by farmworkers, to people from northern Central American countries and Haiti. We are doing the work every day to make sure that we deal with what were seeing in the southern border, Jean-Pierre said. Critics disagree, saying the Biden administration policies are fueling the sharp increase in illegal immigration that has taken place since former President Donald Trump left office. New reports showed at least 2 MILLION migrant encounters in FY22. This is the highest number in history but it doesnt even account for the hundreds of thousands of gotaways. Our border is in crisis and the White House is in denial, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said in a statement. Make no mistakethis is an INVASION at our southern border. The party in power is exacerbating this national security crisis with lax border policies, Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) added. Republicans have said they plan to try to increase border enforcement if they flip the House of Representatives and/or the Senate in the upcoming midterm elections. An Alpine wild horse mare stands guard beside an injured stallion in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests on Oct. 17, 2022. At least 36 wild horses have been shot to death in the past two months, and the case remains unsolved. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times) Mystery Deepens as 36 Alpine Wild Horses Are Shot and Killed in Arizona Horse killings put spotlight on tensions between wild horse advocates, government, and ranchers ALPINE, Ariz.Dyan Albers Lowey has made every effort lately to spend quality time with her horses on her small family ranch in Alpine, Arizona. She says its good to be around live things these days, especially after being around so much death. For Lowey, the unsolved killing of 36 Alpine wild horses on U.S. Forest Service land near her property is the stuff of nightmares. Now, she wants answers and charges against the perpetrator(s) for animal cruelty. Wild horse advocate Dyan Albers Lowey stands next to one of at least 15 Alpine wild horses found shot and killed in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests on Oct. 17, 2022. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times) I am so mad someone took it upon themselves to get rid of them, Lowey said. Lowey expressed her anger as a member of the Alpine Wild Horse Advocates (AWHA), a group of volunteers who are the field monitoring eyes for the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. Within this three million-acre natural preserve, whitetail deer and pronghorn, elk, and bighorn sheep roam the meadows and forests, along with herds of grazing cattle, which the U.S. Forest Service allows by permit. On Oct. 3, AWHA volunteers discovered between 15 and 25 wild horses shot to death in the forest near the Arizona-New Mexico border. Four horses with gunshot wounds were still alive. Lowey said the Forest Service used a backhoe to bury some of the horses in mass graves. The bullet wounds Ive seen look like somebody [with] experience hunting big game, Lowey told The Epoch Times on a recent inspection of the kill sites. Lowey frowned as she stood over the fly-ridden carcass of one stallion decomposing under a canopy of Ponderosa pine, with a large bullet entry wound on its left side. The horses name was Crook. Multiple Shooters? Lowey believes Crook and all the other wild horses shot to death in the forest were victims of multiple shooters. To take down a whole family of horses standing together, you need multiple shooters. Because the minute a rifle goes off, they scatter, she said. That leads me to believe there was a truckload of people. AWHA volunteers discovered two wild horses shot to death in April. They found that another horse had been killed in the same manner in September. They didnt see a connection at first. But all of that changed with the October discoveries. And the killing spree was far from over. A pair of Alpine wild horses graze in the sun in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest on Oct. 17, 2022. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times) This past week, volunteers found a dozen more Alpine wild horses shot to death, bringing the death toll to 36 amid cries of outrage among wild horse advocates. Nutrioso, the lead stallion in the band, survived the massacre, according to an AWHA Facebook post. Nutriosos band found, all shot to death, except for poor Nutrioso, left all alone, grieving close by all of their slain and tortured bodies, the message read. Included was a $35,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the slaughter. In the meantime, the Forest Service is working with local officials and law enforcement to confirm the facts of the reported killings. The agency will share information as it becomes available. We will have to decline to comment on ongoing investigations, Jeffrey Todd, public affairs officer for the Forest Services Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, told The Epoch Times. Bryan Swanty of the Navajo County Sheriffs Office said his agency supports the Forest Service investigation and assists as requested. Todd said the Forest Service is authorized to remove all feral livestock from the forest. An Alpine wild horse named Springer was among the dozen found shot to death in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in mid-October. (Courtesy of Destini Rhone) The unauthorized livestock (horses) on the Alpine and Springerville Districts of the Apache National Forest are feral horses, Todd said. The Forest Service said the policy to remove the wild horses is a necessary step to ensure that the Apache National Forest is healthy and sustainable for years to come. These feral horses cause substantial problems for not only native plants and animals but they also destroy watersheds and negatively impact ecosystems. Competing Species According to the Forest Service, the wild horses pose an imminent threat to several federally-listed and threatened species, including the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse. On March 17, 2021, the Center for Biological Diversity filed suit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Forest Service, claiming that poor management to ensure the protection of the mouse violated the Endangered Species Act. Using passive traps, the Forest Service rounded up over 80 wild horses and will sell them at online auctions through Dec. 15. The last online sale took place Oct. 8-12 through Rail Lazy H. Lowey said that some horses sold for as little as $50. She fears that many of them will end up in slaughter factories in Mexico to be sold as meat in Europe and Asia. For this reason, she adopted Hope, an Alpine mare yearling, for $150. A map of a section of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests shows the exact locations of Alpine wild horses found shot to death on Oct. 3, 2022. (Courtesy Dyan Albers Lowey) Castaway Livestock Volunteer field monitors estimate the current size of the Alpine herd at around 400 horses. The animals do not receive protection under the 1971 Wild Horse and Burro Act because they are designated as unregulated livestock. However, wild horse advocates like Lowey dispute the governments use of the label. Based on historical articles, they consider the wild horses a domestic lineage dating back centuries. Arizona State Historian Marshall Trimble wrote there is sufficient historic[al] evidence to state the Alpine wild horses have been in the Apache Forest since the time of the first explorers. A federal judge disagreed and, on July 29, ruled that 18 wild horses seized by the Forest Service should not be released back into the Apache Forest as unregulated livestock. Alpine wild horse advocates say the governments goal is to remove the Apache Forest herd altogether. Wild horse advocate Dyan Albers Lowey recently adopted Hope, one of the surviving yearlings of wild horse shootings in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in October 2022. (Courtesy Dyan Albers Lowey) The Forest Service is not protecting them; the hunters are shooting them. They are under attack from both sides, said SRWHMG president and founder Simone Netherlands. They are being removed, and they are being killed. Thats why we need to protect them, Netherlands told The Epoch Times. They shot babies. What kind of a monster do you have to be? We dont think its one person. Tensions Rise The shootings have only made tensions worse between wild horse advocates and local ranchers, who see the wild horses as outsiders competing for limited resources. Local ranch manager Billy Wiltbank says that wild horse advocates have unfairly demonized small ranch owners on social media. Still, he doesnt believe a local rancher or group of them did the shootings, although somebody got mad enough to [shoot wild horses]. They needed a scapegoat, and its the ranchers. To me, I know my friends didnt do it. I know my family didnt do it. Who would be so angry? Wiltbank said. I cant stomach random killing. To be clear, I hope they catch who did it. Wiltbank said the present Alpine herd most likely grew from a small band that escaped the nearby White Mountains Apache Reservation years ago. He said no known bands of wild horses roamed the Apache Forest before then. I grew up gathering our horses down there. I grew up gathering cattle there, Wiltbank told The Epoch Times. It started in the late 90s, when we quit fixing fences because the pastures were taken away [by the Forest Service]. I watched it grow, moving gradually east to the lake. They just gradually kept growing, gradually kept moving. He said that just because theyre there, doesnt mean they belong there. More to the point, it makes no sense for ranchers to kill the wild horses when the governments plan is to remove them anyway, Wiltbank said. Does it look bad? Yeah. Its a horrible, ugly thing, but theyre not going to go all NCIS on it. These horses have no protection. Most local ranchers agree that rounding up the Alpine horses and removing them is a humane solution. But wild horse advocates want them hereperiod, Wiltbank said. Scott Beckstead, an equine welfare specialist, and director of campaigns for Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, said the Alpine horse shootings are the latest example of wanton cruelty against wildlife. Wild horse advocate Dyan Albers Lowey walks away from a mass grave on Oct. 17, 2022. At least four Alpine wild horses are buried in the grave following a recent mass shooting of wild horses. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times) He said at least 40 Heber wild horses had been shot and killed in western states since 2018. I dont know whether or not theres a seasonality to those shootings. We do know that it is elk season. Now and then, we hear about horses shot during hunting season, and the speculation is they are mistaken for deer by hunters, Beckstead said. Thats not what happened to these Alpine horses. Beckstead said the Apache Forest slaughter was a carefully planned, premeditated, carefully executed hunt for these wild horses. The Arizona State Veterinarian and the Arizona Department of Agriculture are conducting necropsies on the dead horses in hopes of identifying suspects. Beckstead said the wild horse shootings coincide with the killing of wolves in Washington and Oregon. Were seeing the killings of two species hated by ranchers who graze their livestock on public lands, he told The Epoch Times. Im not going to say its a particular rancher or even that it is a rancher doing this. But it is someone who resents these species for the competition that they pose for livestock or the threat of predation in the case of wolves to livestock. Follow the Money In Nevada, authorities are investigating the shooting deaths of a least five wild horses on federal land in September 2021. The Bureau of Land Management has offered a $10,000 reward for information on the shootings leading to an arrest and conviction. BLM law enforcement has received additional phone calls and is following up on all leads, said Chris Hanefeld, a spokesman for the BLMs Ely office. As to the person or persons responsible, I would not hazard a guess. Im not aware of any issues [regarding] wild horses within our local ranching community. This particular incident does not appear connected with past shootings elsewhere in the western states, Hanefeld told The Epoch Times. Despite substantial rewards, no one has come forward with information in the Apache Forest case. Lowey said the issue boils down to the fact that Alpine wild horses arent a significant source of revenue. An Alpine wild horse watches cautiously from the brush inside the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests on Oct. 17, 2022. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times) They dont bring the Forest Service money in grazing allotments. They dont do anything but compete with other wildlife [cattle] for grazing, which does bring in revenue to the state. Lowey said wild horse advocates had proposed using birth control with the Alpine herd as a remedy for population growth, but federal authorities werent interested. The alternative is to change the law to guarantee federal protection for the horses. We built this country on the backs of horses. We built a civilization on the backs of horses. We owe them more than calling them a feral species and eradicating them, Lowey said. That release could not be found. The Federal Government has returned to the Court of Appeal in Abuja to counter the judgement that discharged the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, of charges of terrorism levelled against him. The government is praying the Appellate Court to grant a stay of execution of the judgement which its delivered of October 13. Recall that the court had voided the rendition of Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria on account of breach of local and international laws, and further free Nnamdi Kanu from terrorism charges slammed on him by the government. A notice of appeal marked CA/ABJ/CR/625/2025 and sighted by newsmen indicated that a 3-panel of the Court would determine the Federal Governments motion on notice. Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, who is billed to lead the legal team of Kanu, has arrived in court in company of Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, another senior lawyer in the team. It was observed that heavily armed policemen have been stationed at the entrance of the Court subjecting all incoming vehicles and their occupants to screening to avoid security breaches. Meanwhile, the three justices who discharged the leader of the separatist group, Nnamdi Kanu, have been transferred to new divisions. These Justices include Jummai Hanatu Sankey, Oludotun Adetope-Okojie and Ebiowei Tobi. This was contained in a memo dated October 17th, which was signed by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem. The memo emphasized that the new posting for the justices was with immediate effect and that they were expected to report to their new stations by October 21. According to the memo, the presiding justice, Jummai Hanatu Sankey, who previously was in the Gombe Division of the court, has been transferred to Awka Division, whereas Justice Oludotun Adetope-Okojie who delivered the lead judgement, was moved to Owerri, while Justice Ebiowei Tobi, the third member of the court panel was transferred to Gombe. Bypass abandoned hotel to be demolished PHUKET: The abandoned hotel on the bypass road at the site of a landslide last week will be demolished, officials have confirmed. constructionSafetytransport By The Phuket News Monday 24 October 2022, 10:54AM The decision flies in the face of officials repeatedly claiming that since the buildings have stood at the site for more than 30 years, they pose no danger to people passing below. According to official reports, the owner of the land has now agreed to demolish the buildings. of note, the official reports make no mention of any requests by officials to have the buildings demolished, and make no mention that officials now consider the buildings to be a danger to passing motorists. The northbound lanes past the abandoned hotel were closed after a landslip occurred right in front of the structures first last Wednesday, and again last Thursday (Oct 19-20), spilling mud, dirt and debris, including a large tree, onto the lanes of the usually very busy road. No people were injured in either incident. News that the buildings will now be demolished came after a meeting chaired by Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan yesterday (Oct 23). Vice Governor Amnuay described the decision as a way to prevent future landslides in the area. Representatives of the landowner joined the meeting, Vice Governor Amnuay confirmed. The company is willing to demolish [the buildings] and will send the matter to Ratsada Municipality and the Phuket Provincial Office of Public Works and Town & Country Planning to request permission to demolish the buildings on October 25, 2022, then the demolition will be done immediately. It will take about two weeks, Vice Governor Amnuay said. The northbound lanes of the road remain closed past the landslide site. All traffic now operates past the site by sharing the southbound lanes. Cruise tourists arrive in Phuket PHUKET: Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew led a delegation of high-ranking officials to welcome ashore passengers from the Spectrum of the Seas cruise liner as they made landfall in Patong this morning (Oct 24). patongtourismeconomics By The Phuket News Monday 24 October 2022, 03:30PM The Spectrum of the Seas arrived in Patong Bay this morning, becoming the first cruise ship to visit Phuket since the COVID-19 tourism shutdown in 2020, Governor Narong noted. Built in Germany, the Quantum Ultra class cruise ship is operated by Royal Caribbean International. The ship was delivered in April 2019 and is currently based out of Singapore. This is another good sign for tourism, Governor Narong said. The ship can accommodate up to 4,900 passengers, but this time around it is carrying around 4,500 people, which creates another way to stimulate the economy of Phuket. And after this, there will be more cruise ships continuously arriving, he added. Nanthasiri Ronnasiri, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Phuket Office, noted that the 4,594 passengers on board comprised 55 nationalities from around the world. The top five [passengers on board the ship] are from Singapore, Malaysia, India, the Philippines and Indonesia, Ms Nanthasiri said. More than 800 people will come ashore on a One Day Trip, which will benefit Phuket and stimulate tourism travel greatly, she added. Ms Nanthasiri said people arriving in Phuket on ships and yachts were considered to be a tourism segment with high spending potential. In 2019, there were a total of 154 cruise ship visits to Phuket, altogether bringing a total of 485,598 passengers, she noted. Phuket is ready to welcome tourists traveling by cruise ships, especially the tourism service sector, such as spa attractions and shopping operators, which cater to the lifestyle aspects of this group of tourists, Ms Nathasiri said. This will be an important opportunity to generate income for Phuket in another way [other than tourists arriving by flights,. and we are looking forward to more cruise ships arriving in the near future, she added. Dangerous land excavation investigated in Kathu PHUKET: Officials are investigating whether excavation of a hillside land plot in Kathu was legal following a landslide at the site nearly falling onto monks dwellings at the base of the hill in Moo 7, Baan Bang Thong, last Wednesday (Oct 19). environmentnatural-resourcescrimeSafety By The Phuket News Monday 24 October 2022, 12:03PM The landslide stopped short of directly damaging the monks accommodation, called the Bang Thong Monastery in Thai, but left the road right in front of the buildings covered in mud and debris. Large trees were among the debris that stopped short on the steep slope just tens of metres from the dwellings. Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan and Kathu Mayor Chai-anan Suthikul inspected the site last Wednesday. The runoff from the excavated land caused the small creek at the base of the steep slope to rise to dangerous levels with very fast-flowing water. A layer of mud still covers the car park area at the monastery. (Located here.) The investigation into the excavated land now launched involves a slew of government offices and agencies, noted an official report yesterday (Oct 23). Officals returned to the site yesterday (Oct 23) to continue their investigation, said the report. Officers from the Phuket Provincial Office, the Phuket Provincial Land Office, the Phuket Provincial office of the Office of Natural Resources and Environment, the Kathu District Office, Kathu Municipality, the Royal Forestry Department and even the Phuket branch of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) have joined the investigation, the report noted. Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Sompratch Prabsongkram had informed Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew of the investigation, the report added. According to the report, the investigation follows people complaining that the excavation of the land had caused the landslide and runoff. If anything is found illegal with the site, officials will take serious action, said the report. Mr Sompratch said that from the initial investigation, it was found that no permission had been granted for land to be excavated at the site. So Kathu Municipality was assigned to investigate the complaint, he said. The Phuket Land Office is to investigate whether the land ownership document presented by people on behalf of the person claiming to own the land was also to be investigated to determine whether it is genuine. Forestry Department officials are to check whether or not the land claimed is within any protected forest area, he added. Mr Sompratch said that flooding and landslides had occurred in many areas across Phuket following the heavy rains last week. Governor Narong has ordered officials to investigate the sites and take strict legal action where any offences had been committed, he said. If officials have been neglectful, there will be measures to punish them as well, he said. Thailand to benefit from Xis ascension, say academics BANGKOK: Maintaining neutrality and a balanced foreign policy amid rising tensions among global powers will help Thailand benefit from Chinas new administration, which comprises mostly reform-minded executives, according to academics. ChinesetourismCOVID-19 By Bangkok Post Monday 24 October 2022, 09:53AM People watch a live broadcast of Chinas President Xi Jinping speaking during the introduction of the Communist Party of Chinas Politburo Standing Committee, on a screen at a shopping mall in Qingzhou yesterday (Oct 23). Photo: AFP They were expressing their views after Chinese leader Xi Jinping yesterday (Oct 23) secured a third five-year term as general secretary of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) with a new leadership dominated by loyalists. Piti Srisangnam, director for academic affairs at Chulalongkorn Universitys Asean Studies Centre, told the Bangkok Post that most of the newly-elected senior members of the CCPs Central Committee favour reform. This is a signal that China is now ready to emerge as a global economic power that will focus on joining development initiatives with other countries, Mr Piti said, adding this will benefit Thailands leading role in Asean. China has rivals on the global economic stage, he said. Even though Thailand has close ties with China, it does not take sides in conflicts, and this should benefit the country if China eases travel curbs and allows its citizens to travel abroad. With small numbers of COVID-19 fatalities and infections as well as amicable ties with China, Thailand will always be among the top destinations for Chinese visitors, he said. China has been implementing its stringent zero-COVID policy of lockdowns, movement restrictions, and mass testing to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Piti said the policy now shows gradual signs of loosening, with lockdowns in certain areas instead of whole cities. Foreign arrivals in China only need to quarantine for seven days at a government facility and then an additional three days in home isolation, down from a period of up to 21 in quarantine and seven more days of home isolation. A Chinese-made COVID-19 mRNA vaccine was also approved by Indonesia for emergency use in September, Piti said. It is possible that China will ease travel restrictions and reopen further next year, and Thailand will be among the first destinations for Chinese tourists, he said. Aksornsri Phanishsarn, an expert on Chinas economy at Thammasat Universitys faculty of economics, told the Bangkok Post that Xi declared he will carry on with what he initiated during his previous two terms. These include restructuring Chinas economy with a focus on strengthening growth from within, scaling down dependence on technology from other countries, reducing its export-to-GDP ratio to 1819%, boosting spending of its more than 400 million middle-class consumers and making other countries rely more on the Chinese market, Ms Aksornsri said. Unfazed by the economic and social challenges from the zero-COVID policy, Xi also insisted China will stick to the policy, saying the measure has saved Chinese lives, she said. She said curbs are expected to be eased only after vaccination rates among elderly people in China have increased. China, she said, will have to continue developing its mRNA vaccines to deal with new strains. China also needs to ensure its public health system is equipped to accommodate COVID-19 patients, particularly those requiring intensive care, she said. Aksornsri said Chinese tourists cannot be expected to visit Thailand in large numbers in the upcoming high season as long as the quarantine requirement for arrivals into China remains in place. Before the pandemic, many Chinese tourists in Thailand were first-time travellers and budget travellers, she added. We should turn our attention to upmarket tourists. They may not come in large numbers but they will include businessmen and investors. China is seeking to invest in Thailand, particularly in the electric vehicle industry, she said. an attractive young woman wears a paper face mask to protect herself from the H1N1 Virus, isolated on white, with room for your text Westerly, RI (02891) Today Mostly cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 54F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear skies. Low near 30F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Plans to cap revenue generated by green energy firms are a 'threat to the investment needed to safeguard the country's energy security', an industry body has claimed. The Government's Energy Prices Bill, which will be debated in the House of Lords today, contains proposals for a revenue cap on low-carbon energy makers such as wind and solar farms. Storm: The Government's Energy Prices Bill contains proposals for a revenue cap on low-carbon energy makers such as wind and solar farms Revenues above this cap will be taxed at a much higher rate. But Energy UK said the proposals are a 'de facto windfall tax' on green energy firms, which would be 'more punitive than that levied on oil and gas producers'. Energy providers that rely on fossil fuels will see only their profits, not revenues, taxed at a higher 25 per cent rate and will also benefit from an 80 per cent investment allowance giving them a 91p tax saving for every 1 they invest. Energy UK's Adam Berman, said: 'It's astonishing the Government has proposed a scheme that would penalise investment in clean, cheap, low-carbon generation in favour of polluting oil and gas extraction.' Profit warnings from UK companies have hit their highest level since the financial crisis, according to EY. A total of 86 statements downgrading profit forecasts were issued by companies over the third quarter of 2022 the largest number for July to September since 2008. This is up from 51 over the same time last year, and 64 in the second quarter of this year. Warning: A total of 86 statements downgrading profit forecasts were issued by companies over the third quarter of 2022 the largest number for July to September since 2008 It comes as companies are battling with rising costs, especially energy bills, driven by the aftermath of Covid and the war in Ukraine. At the same time, the cost-of-living crisis is causing consumers to cut back on spending. The acceleration of profit warnings was particularly notable among consumer-facing businesses such as shops, travel firms and food producers, EY said. Jo Robinson, a partner at the firm's consultancy arm EY-Parthenon, said: 'Businesses are facing an unprecedented combination of headwinds including rising costs, slowing demand and excess supply.' Companies including Next, Primark-owner Associated British Foods and The Hut Group have all shaved down their profit guidance in recent weeks. Mary Lou McDonald has said every citizen has a right to defend and vindicate their good name, as it emerged her husband has threatened to sue the author of a biography on the Sinn Fein leader. It has been reported that solicitors acting on behalf of Martin Lanigan issued a letter to Shane Ross in relation to his recently published book. It is understood the legal action is related to a chapter in the book, entitled Mary Lou McDonald: A Republican Riddle, about the purchase and renovation of their family home in Cabra, Dublin. Asked about the legal letter on Monday, Ms McDonald said: Obviously, our system relies on two things freedom of expression, freedom of the press and also the right of every citizen to defend and vindicate their good name. And my husband is a private citizen and I think those rights for private citizens are especially important. Mr Ross told the Sunday Independent at the weekend that he was surprised to receive the letter. He said that there was no allegation in the book of impropriety, but that the book asked reasonable questions, which should be answered. He said he intended to fully defend any proceedings. In a statement to the Sunday newspaper, Mr Ross said: I was surprised to receive the letter from the solicitor for Mary Lous husband last week. I had corresponded with Martin when writing the biography, asking to interview him for the book. I also contacted Mary Lous office seeking to put questions to her. Unfortunately, I received no response in either case. I believe it is perfectly appropriate that the ownership of all politicians properties held jointly with their partners should be transparent and do not in any way accept that the subject is a breach of privacy. There is no allegation in the book of impropriety over the refurbishment of their house be either Martin Lanigan or Mary Lou. Indeed, it is explicitly stated on page 184: There is nothing to suggest that Mary Lou has ever been involved in anything untoward or has been other than a person of impeccable financial integrity, but she ruthlessly demands transparency of others. The book seeks similar transparency, asking reasonable questions which should be answered. They have been asked before and have never been addressed. He added: It is essential that freedom of speech is not curtailed in the political arena by means of threats of legal action or by misguided claims that privacy has been breached. It comes as some senior ministers accused Sinn Fein of using legal threats as a strategy to stifle debate. Both Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar questioned the partys use of legal letters. Last week, Mr Varadkar said that three elected Fine Gael members have received legal letters from Sinn Fein figures. He questioned whether the legal action was something more strategic. Sinn Fein has previously said that the party does not fund any cases taken by its elected representatives. Legal actions are funded by those who have no option but to vindicate their good names in the face of false accusations made by others, a party spokesman said. The Irish Government is considering doubling the monthly payment for people taking in Ukrainian refugees to 800 euro. The proposal to raise the payment from 400 euro was discussed as Government ministers met on Monday evening over emergency accommodation for Ukrainians and refugees arriving in Ireland. Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan and Minister for Housing Darragh OBrien were among those taking part in the Cabinet sub-committee meeting. It came after about 43 Ukrainian refugees were left without state accommodation in recent days after they arrived in Ireland. Government sources confirmed to PA that the payment increase is being considered, although it would first have to be signed off by Cabinet. A Government spokesperson said the Cabinet sub-committee agreed that several measures were required in order to ease pressure on accommodation and services. This includes accelerating work on all possible additional accommodation options, launching an urgent call for vacant properties/holiday homes and providing additional resources at local level in recognition of those communities at the forefront of the response. Speaking in Co Cavan ahead of the meeting, Mr Martin said there has been an extraordinary response by the Irish people. He said the war in Ukraine has brought about an unprecedented level of migration to the country. The country has never had to deal with so many people fleeing war in its history, Mr Martin added. The numbers that have arrived in such a very short space of time have been unprecedented. We are looking at 58,000 Ukrainians have come into the country now. Well over the mid-40s getting accommodated by the state. Others finding accommodation. We now have 15,000 in direct provision. This is not a normal domestic policy where you can say well do X, Y and Z in a planned way. This is very much a consequence of war. If you look at where we were last week. We were at an EU Council meeting in Brussels. What was the issue? Energy. Why? Because (Russian president Vladimir) Putin has weaponised energy, and he is weaponising migration. The bombing of energy infrastructure is about that. He wants to make life so miserable for Ukrainians throughout this winter that he wants to create a further wave of migration out of Ukraine. That is what is at issue here. It is important that Europe stands together. Ireland continues to show its solidarity against (Vladimir) Putins war. That means we have to double down and do better again in terms of what we are doing to accommodate people fleeing war from Ukraine. It is very difficult for Ukrainians, it is very difficult for people generally. It is not just an Irish phenomenon, it is a phenomenon across Europe. Other countries and cities are facing similar situations. Mr Martin acknowledged that the system to cater for refugees could be better. We can do things better in terms of some of our systems in respect of payments and so on but also securing additional accommodation, he added. There had been proposals around reconfigurating a whole range of properties that had been identified already, which if brought to realisation quickly could provide very significant numbers of places, he added. Mr Martin also said there is a legal and moral obligation on Ireland to take in refugees. This is part of a European-wide protection collective, he said. I believe the moral one is the strong one, but it is also a legal one and we are working with other European member states. We are all in this together across Europe. There is not the facility for one country to opt out. That challenges ourselves to be part of that European solidarity. Speaking to reporters in Belfast, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said the emergency accommodation crisis is a huge failure of government policy. Ms McDonald said there has been a failure to plan and a failure to provide adequate accommodation. It is quite disgraceful that it has come to this, she added. I mean, the Government knew, and in fact predicted that we would have far greater numbers of Ukrainians seeking refuge in Ireland, and yet they have failed comprehensively to prepare and to provide for those people. And just remember, this is part and parcel of a wider failure to provide housing and accommodation for the wider population. [October 24, 2022] Edgecore to Highlight its Field-Proven Open Network Solutions at the Fyuz TIP 2022 Summit in Madrid Edgecore Networks, the leader in open networking solutions, today announces its participation at Fyuz, the Telecom Infra Project's (TIP) 2022 Summit in Madrid, Spain, from October 25th to 27th. At the summit, Edgecore will highlight its complete range of open networking solutions, from access and aggregation to core networks. These open networking solutions offer greater choice of software from a rich partner ecosystem, providing flexibility in deployment and reduced costs for telecom operators. With the introduction of 5G mobile networks, carrier and cloud service providers need to upgrade their network infrastructure to address the major growth in traffic driven by new innovative services and an increased number of users. As a leader in open network solutions, Edgecore offers core, metro, and aggregation routers based on the Broadcom StrataDNX family of chipsets with deep buffer designs, capable of handling the most demanding use cases, and delivering the quality, reliability, and features expected by operators. In fact, some of the largest Tier-1 operators in the world have already deployed thousands of Edgecore aggregation routers in their networks. These field-proven solutions provide the high-performance, high capacity, and scalability that operators require for delivering powerful new services to customers. Edgecore has been an early participant in TIP, a community that includes hundreds of companies working together to create and deploy open network solutions in telecom networks. Edgecore is a key contributor to the TIP Open Optical & Packet Transport (OOPT) project and was involved in the design of Cassini, the industry's first modular open-source packet transponder, which has seen successful deployment in several networks worldwide. In addition, Edgecore has been actively involved in the TIP OpenWiFi project, a community-developed, open Wi-Fi software system that includes both a cloud controller SDK and access point firmware, both designed and validated to work seamlessly together. Edgecore is committed to driving the adoption of open network solutions, which is key to achieving TI's goal of accelerating the pace of innovation in the telecom industry. Heimdall Siao, President of Edgecore said, "As a longtime active contributing member of TIP, Edgecore is excited to participate in the Fyuz TIP summit in Madrid. Edgecore believes in the positive collaboration among the members of TIP, and is always eager to promote open networking solutions as a flexible and reliable answer for telecom operators. Being a leader in open networking, Edgecore is able to offer a wide range of solutions with a complete turnkey ecosystem of hardware and software choices that are ready for deployment in the most demanding of network environments." Kristian Toivo, Executive Director, TIP said, "Edgecore shares TIP's ambition for the adoption of open and disaggregated networks. Through the introduction of Edgecore's switches, operators will be able to leverage software and open source developers to deliver more innovation and choice in how its network is built." At the Fyuz TIP 2022 Summit, Edgecore will outline the following solutions: Access Routers - A complete cell site router series for different deployments that conform to TIP DCSG (CSR200-64G, CSR300 series - 300G, CSR440 - 800G). - A complete cell site router series for different deployments that conform to TIP DCSG (CSR200-64G, CSR300 series - 300G, CSR440 - 800G). Aggregation Routers - AGR100 series (800G), AGR400 series (2.4T) with carrier-grade reliability and multirole capabilities. - AGR100 series (800G), AGR400 series (2.4T) with carrier-grade reliability and multirole capabilities. Core Routers - COR550 4T (Jericho2) 100GbE disaggregated core router for telecom and data center applications, and fabric router COR580 9.6T (Roman), a cost-effective, flexible fabric switch for carrier core router applications. - COR550 4T (Jericho2) 100GbE disaggregated core router for telecom and data center applications, and fabric router COR580 9.6T (Roman), a cost-effective, flexible fabric switch for carrier core router applications. Cassini AS7716-24SC - The industry's first open network packet transponder, purpose built to enable network operators to easily migrate existing metro and long-haul Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) networks, adding new 200G coherent optical interfaces to extend inter-datacenter and Layer 3 services, all in an open network platform. About Edgecore Edgecore Networks Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Accton Technology Corporation, the leading networking ODM. Edgecore Networks delivers wired and wireless networking products and solutions through channel partners and system integrators worldwide for data center, service provider, enterprise, and SMB customers. Edgecore Networks is the leader in open networking, providing a full line of open 1G-400G Ethernet switches, core routers, cell site gateways, virtual PON OLTs, optical packet transponders, and Wi-Fi access points that offer choice of commercial and open source NOS and SDN software. For more information, visit www.edge-core.com. About the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) The Telecom Infra Project (TIP) is a global community of companies and organizations working together to accelerate the development and deployment of open, disaggregated, and standards-based technology solutions that deliver the high quality connectivity that the world needs - now and in the decades to come. Find out more at telecominfraproject.com. All trademarks, service marks, registered marks, or registered service marks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221023005002/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] Lumin Digital Partners with BioCatch to Enhance Fraud Detection Services SAN RAMON, Calif., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumin Digital (Lumin) has announced a partnership with BioCatch , the pioneer behavioral biometric technology enabling advanced fraud prevention. This partnership provides Lumin's rapidly growing network of financial institutions access to BioCatch's cutting-edge solutions and innovation labs that continuously monitor emerging fraud trends to help protect against current and new threats. BioCatch analyzes a user's physical and cognitive digital behavior to distinguish between genuine users and cybercriminals to detect fraud and identity theft. Many of the world's largest financial institutions leverage this technology to help protect their customers from digital banking fraud and other types of criminal activity, including sophisticated social engineering voice scams. BioCatch technology allows Lumin clients to monitor for risk continuously throughout every online session, analyzing actions like mouse movements, typing cadence, or interaction with the screen. Leveraging machine learning to deliver a risk score, BioCatch identifies and alerts the financial institution about genuine or fraudulent behavior and ensures customers are provided with a secure and seamless digital experience. "According to The True Cost of Fraud study, online banking accounted for 33% of U.S. banks' fraud costs in 2021, up from 26% in 2020, while mobile transactions accounted for 29% of costs, up fro 20% the year prior," said Sean Weadock, chief product officer of Lumin Digital. "Every $1 of fraud loss costs U.S. financial services firms an average of $4.00. BioCatch's technology will reduce the amount of fraudulent activity that occurs, saving the institution money and freeing up employee resources from fraud and cyberattack investigations." "Today, smaller financial institutions can promise the same consumer fraud protections as the large global banks," says Jay Whoriskey, Sr Director Global Partners and Alliances. "BioCatch is committed to supporting Lumin's banking customers and expanding the standard in digital banking by providing best-in-class fraud protection and seamless user experiences. The explosion of new consumers of digital banking services over the last year has accelerated the need for technologies that can offer strong fraud protection with minimal disruption to users." About Lumin Digital Lumin Digital is a PSCU-majority-owned fintech company specializing in digital banking solutions. Through a fundamentally different approach to technology, service, and people, we're creating the next generation of financial solutions each and every day. Lumin helps credit unions and financial institutions build and deploy next-gen digital experiences that help to continually serve, engage, and grow their membership base. While other platforms are partially adapted or retrofitted for the cloud, Lumin is 100% cloud-native. It was built specifically for the cloud environment, allowing us to more fully realize the advantages it offers. It's a difference that financial institutions and their users will see and feel almost immediately. For more information, visit lumindigital.com. About BioCatch BioCatch is the leader in Behavioral Biometrics, a technology that leverages machine learning to analyze an online user's physical and cognitive digital behavior to protect individuals online. BioCatch's mission is to unlock the power of behavior and deliver actionable insights to create a digital world where identity, trust and ease seamlessly co-exist. Today, BioCatch counts over 25 of the top 100 global banks as customers who use BioCatch solutions to fight fraud, drive digital transformation and accelerate business growth. BioCatch's Client Innovation Board, an industry-led initiative including American Express, Barclays, Citi Ventures, and National Australia Bank, helps enable BioCatch to identify creative and cutting-edge ways to leverage the unique attributes of behavior for fraud prevention. With over a decade of analyzing data, more than 80 registered patents, and unparalleled experience, BioCatch continues to innovate to solve tomorrow's problems. For more information, please visit www.biocatch.com . View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lumin-digital-partners-with-biocatch-to-enhance-fraud-detection-services-301657382.html SOURCE Lumin Digital [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] Mastercard Teams up With Marvel Studios' Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to Spotlight Small Business Superheroes Mastercard announced today its collaboration with Marvel Studios' "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever", in theaters November 11, to spotlight Black excellence and the irrepressible strength of Black women - both on and off the screen. With Priceless experiences, digital engagements and shoppable content that supports and celebrates the superpowers of Black business leaders, Mastercard is honoring the film's inspiring message that the spirit of Wakanda is all around us. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005272/en/ "Through representation and access to tools and resources, Mastercard is proud to honor the Black women-owned businesses that strive for success despite the systemic inequalities they face every day," said Rustom Dastoor, EVP of Marketing and Communications, Mastercard North America. "When we see role models that look like us, which the film so impactfully demonstrates, it expands our sense of what's possible, including a more diverse, inclusive economic future." In a Wakanda-inspired commercial spot and supporting campaign, Egypt Otis, the owner of Comma Bookstore & Social Hub - a Flint, Michigan small business that specializes in Black and Brown literature, art and music - stars as a real-life superhero by being a role model to a young shopper. The girl realizes through her imagination and interaction with Egypt that superheroes are all around us, igniting excitement for the film, her ambition for the future, and the belief that she herself has that same potential. "To serve as the face of possibility for aspiring Black women and young girls makes me feel like a superhero of sorts - just for living my truth," said Otis. "Mastercard's Strivers Initiative has provided me the resources and platform to help my business thrive and further empower our community, which to me is truly priceless." Mastercard's support of the film is an extension of the company's $500 million commitment to helping close the racial wealth and economic gap in the U.S. by supporting Black women-owned businesses through its Strivers Initiative, and partnerships with HBCUs and youth groups around the country, as well as Mastercard's sustained efforts to build a more inclusive digital economy by providing the digital tools to help small businesses get online and thrive. In celebration of the film, select small business owners and youth groups will enjoy exclusive screenings in New York City and Atlanta ahead of the film's release. Designed to create a multisensory experience, the screenings will feature film-inspired decor, photo opportunities, celebratory food and drink options, a Hall of Heroes video installation honoring attendees and other entrepreneurs, free branded swag and more. Separately, Mastercard is launching various Priceless engagements and shoppable activations, including: Mastercard Small Biz Marketplace (Instagram): Consumers can discover a reimagined shoppable social experience of exclusively Black women-owned small businesses and products from across the country with opportunities to shop, share & support them directly on Instagram. Social Content Community Series: Unlocking even more consumer power, Mastercard will feature Talia R. Boone, founder of Los Angeles based immersive floral wellness service Postal Petals, Jean Brownhill, founder of online contractor network for Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises Sweeten Enterprise, and Mandy Bowman, founder of the Black-owned business marketplace Official Black Wall Street - in a content series across social platforms, that illustrates their journey to success and impact they make through their business. The Mastercard Small Business Metaverse: in November 2022, Mastercard will launch an immersive virtual reality experience in Meta Horizon Worlds to connect consumers to a world where they can discover a variety of Black-owned small businesses and participate in activities designed to bring to life their unique stories and entrepreneurial journeys. This will be both a space for consumers to engage and learn about new products, and for Mastercard to host custom content bringing together leading entrepreneurs with the next generation. Marvel Studios' "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" releases in theaters November 11. For more information, please visit: www.marvel.com/movies/black-panther-wakanda-forever. Through mastercard.com/smallbiz visitors can learn the financial tools, benefits and education that helps small businesses thrive and Start Something Priceless. ABOUT MARVEL STUDIOS' BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER: In Marvel Studios' "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M'Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba), fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T'Challa's death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. Introducing Tenoch Huerta Mejia as Namor, king of a hidden undersea nation, the film also stars Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena and Alex Livanalli. "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore, opens in U.S. theaters Nov. 11, 2022. ABOUT MASTERCARD (NYSE: MA) Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all. www.mastercard.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005272/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] Toshiba Encourages Entries for World's Largest K-12 Science Competition Toshiba America Business Solutions encourages K-12 students across the United States and Canada to bolster their science skills while earning top prizes by participating in the 31st annual ExploraVision competition. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005046/en/ The competition, which Toshiba sponsors and the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) administers, helps inspire future scientists by challenging students to embrace problem-solving, critical thinking and teamwork while envisioning solutions to real-life issues. ExploraVision participants may also win U.S. EE Savings Bonds worth up to $10,000 (at maturity), Chromebooks as well as other top prizes. Students have until Jan. 31, 2023, to participate by registering at ExploraVision.org. Since launching in 1992, ExploraVision has helped instill a lifelong passion for STEM in nearly 450,000 students across the United States and Canada. "While partnering with Toshiba for the past 31 years, we've cultivated the development of innovators, scientists, and engineers by encouraging and challenging students to expand their imaginations to create viable solutions to real-life challenges," says NSTA President Elizabeth Mulkerrin, Ed.D. "The ExploraVision competition highlights the amazing potential of students today. The caliber of the projects and the ingenuity that comes out of this competition serves as an inspirational reminder of what can come from nurturing students' natural curiosity in science." ExploraVision challenges teams of two to four students to identify a problem our world faces while designing a unique solution utilizing scientific principles and technologies that currently or may exst in the next 10 years. An autonomous remotely operated vehicle filtering microplastics from the world's oceans as well as a shoe designed for preventing diabetic foot ulcers represent two 2022 ExploraVision-winning ideas. Winning ExploraVision teams as well as their teachers, mentors and parents/guardians will gather in Washington, D.C. on a weekend in June 2023 to present their ideas to Toshiba and NSTA executives as well as other VIPs. The group additionally has the opportunity to visit Capitol Hill to meet members of Congress. "Toshiba has a passion for furthering the development of tomorrow's innovators, scientists and engineers," states Toshiba America Business Solutions President and Chief Executive Officer Larry White. "Our 31-year collaboration with NSTA and continuous support of ExploraVision represents Toshiba's commitment and investment to encourage and foster students' interest in STEM pursuits." Teachers seeking to add project-based learning to their classrooms may visit https://www.exploravision.org/lesson-plans-for-teachers to receive free downloadable STEM lesson plans. Click-to-Tweet: Toshiba Encourages Entries for World's Largest K-12 Science Competition About Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc. Toshiba America Business Solutions (TABS) is a workplace solutions provider delivering an extensive portfolio of industry-recognized workflow and document management products for businesses of all sizes across the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. TABS supports the diverse needs of today's professionals through award-winning e-STUDIO multifunction printers, label and receipt printers, digital signage, managed print services, and cloud solutions. Toshiba continuously focuses on the clients and communities it serves, is committed to sustainability and is recognized as a Wall Street Journal Top 100 Sustainable Company. To learn more, please visit business.toshiba.com. Follow TABS on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. About NSTA The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is a vibrant community of 40,000 science educators and professionals committed to best practices in teaching science and its impact on student learning. NSTA offers high quality science resources and continuous learning so that science educators grow professionally and excel in their careers. For new and experienced teachers alike, the NSTA community offers the opportunity to network with like-minded peers at the national level, connect with mentors and leading researchers, and learn from the best in the field. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005046/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] ERADICATE phase 3 study results highlight the potential role of ceftobiprole in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) Late breaker presentation at IDWeek 2022 First double-blind registrational phase 3 study in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia Ceftobiprole non-inferior to daptomycin, meeting primary endpoint and demonstrating similar secondary efficacy outcomes Basel/Allschwil, Switzerland, October 24, 2022 Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd (SIX: BSLN), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to meeting the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections, reported today that data from the successfully completed phase 3 ERADICATE study1, evaluating ceftobiprole in the treatment of adult patients with bacterial bloodstream infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, (SAB), have been presented at the scientific conference, IDWeek 2022, which took take place in Washington, D.C. from 19 to 23 October. Dr. Marc Engelhardt, Chief Medical Officer of Basilea stated: The positive results from ERADICATE together with previous positive phase 3 study results in acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections and community-acquired pneumonia support the broad utility of ceftobiprole for treating serious bacterial infections and enable us to proceed with an NDA submission of ceftobiprole in the U.S. Dr. Thomas Holland, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and chair of the ERADICATE Data Review Committee, who presented the data at IDWeek, said: More than 15 years after the last approval of a new antibiotic for SAB in the U.S., ERADICATE is the first double-blind registrational study for Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. ERADICATE included patients with a broad spectrum of underlying conditions and complications of SAB. Ceftobiprole showed comparable efficacy to daptomycin and it was also well tolerated. This supports ceftobiprole becoming a new treatment option for complicated SAB, which remains an area of high medical need. The randomized, double-blind, multicenter phase 3 study ERADICATE was a global study, performed in 60 study centers in 17 countries from August 2018 to March 2022. 390 patients were randomized to ceftobiprole or daptomycin, with or without intravenous aztreonam for coverage of Gram-negative pathogens, for up to 42 days of treatment. Patient characteristics in the 387 patients included in the modified intent-to-treat (mITT) population were balanced between the ceftobiprole and daptomycin treatment groups. As presented at IDWeek, ceftobiprole met the primary endpoint by demonstrating non-inferiority versus daptomycin, with or without aztreonam. The overall success rate, assessed by a blinded independent Data Review Committee consisting of five experienced U.S. infectious disease specialists, was 69.8% with ceftobiprole, compared to 68.7% with daptomycin, in the mITT population at 70 days post randomization. The statistically adjusted difference between ceftobiprole and daptomycin for overall success was 2.0% (95% confidence interval: -7.1% to 11.1%) and thus well within the pre-specified non-inferiority margin of 15%. Results for the primary efficacy outcomes were consistent in key subgroups including in patients with MSSA or MRSA bloodstream infections at baseline, and in various categories of underlying conditions such as skin and skin structure infections, abdominal abscesses, chronic dialysis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, definite right-sided infective endocarditis and in patients with persistent SAB. Secondary efficacy outcomes such as the overall success rate in the clinically evaluable population (77.9% in the ceftobiprole group, 77.8% in the daptomycin group), microbiological eradication (82.0% in the ceftobiprole group, 77.3% in the daptomycin group), all-cause mortality (9.0% in the ceftobiprole group, 9.1% in the daptomycin group) and the emergence of new SAB complications (5.8% in the ceftobiprole group, 5.6% in the daptomycin group) were also similar between the two treatment groups at 70 days post-randomization in the mITT population. The median time to Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream clearance for MSSA was 3 days with ceftobiprole and 4 days with daptomycin, and 5 days for MRSA for both ceftobiprole and daptomycin. Emergence of resistance under treatment was observed in three patients on daptomycin. No emergence of resistance under treatment was observed with ceftobiprole Both treatments were well tolerated. The overall rate of adverse events was similar between the ceftobiprole and daptomycin groups. In line with the known safety profile of ceftobiprole, gastrointestinal disorders were more frequent with ceftobiprole compared to daptomycin, mainly driven by mild to moderate nausea. Basilea is planning to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) for ceftobiprole to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) around year-end 2022. Ceftobiprole at IDWeek 2022/strong> LB2302 - Late Breaking Clinical Trials - Ceftobiprole Compared to Daptomycin With or Without Optional Aztreonam for the Treatment of Complicated Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia (SAB): Results of a Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind Trial (ERADICATE) Thomas L. Holland, Sara E. Cosgrove, Sarah B. Doernberg, Oleksandr Pavlov, Ivan Titov, Boiko Atanasov, Maziar Assadi Gehr, Marc Engelhardt, Kamal Hamed, Daniel Ionescu, Mark Jones, Mikael Saulay, Jennifer Smart, Harald Seifert, Timothy C. Jenkins, Nicholas A. Turner, Vance G. Fowler Jr. For further information please visit https://www.eventscribe.net/2022/IDWeek/. About ceftobiprole Ceftobiprole medocaril, the prodrug of the active moiety ceftobiprole, is a cephalosporin antibiotic for intravenous administration, with rapid bactericidal activity against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This includes methicillin-susceptible and resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, MRSA) and susceptible Pseudomonas spp.2 The brand is currently approved and marketed as Zevtera and Mabelio in a number of countries in Europe and beyond for the treatment of adult patients with hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP), excluding ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP), and for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP). Basilea has entered into license and distribution agreements in Europe, Eurasian countries, Latin America, China, Canada, Israel, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. About the ceftobiprole phase 3 program The ceftobiprole phase 3 program comprised two phase 3 studies, which were conducted under Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreements with the U.S. FDA. The first study of the program, ERADICATE, compared the safety and efficacy of intravenous ceftobiprole medocaril with intravenous daptomycin (with or without intravenous aztreonam) in the treatment of complicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.1 The second study, TARGET, was a randomized, double-blind, multicenter phase 3 study, which enrolled 679 patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and compared the safety and efficacy of intravenous ceftobiprole medocaril with intravenous vancomycin plus intravenous aztreonam.3 The TARGET study was conducted at more than 30 clinical centers in the U.S. and Europe and reported positive results in 2019. Basileas ceftobiprole phase 3 program is funded in part (up to USD 136.4 million, which is approximately 70% of the total potential program costs) with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under contract number HHSO100201600002C. About Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia is a leading cause of bloodstream infections, responsible for a broad variety of complications and has been associated with significant morbidity and a mortality of 20 to 40%.4, 5 Several studies have demonstrated that MRSA bacteremia is associated with a significantly higher mortality rate compared with MSSA bacteremia.6, 7 Infections of the inner lining of the heart or heart valves (infective endocarditis) and bone infections (osteomyelitis) are common complications of SAB. About Basilea Basilea is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Switzerland. We are committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative drugs to meet the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections. We have successfully launched two hospital brands, Cresemba for the treatment of invasive fungal infections and Zevtera for the treatment of bacterial infections. In addition, we have several preclinical anti-infective assets in our portfolio. Basilea is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Please visit basilea.com. Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information, please contact: Peer Nils Schroder, PhD Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd, Allschwil Hegenheimermattweg 167b 4123 Allschwil Switzerland Phone +41 61 606 1102 E-mail [email protected] [email protected] This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com. References ERADICATE: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03138733 K. Hamed, M. Engelhardt, M. E. Jones et al. Ceftobiprole versus daptomycin in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a novel protocol for a double-blind, Phase III trial. Future Microbiology. 2020 (1), 35-48 Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) Zevtera: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9164/smpc [Accessed: October 23, 2022] TARGET: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03137173 J. S. Overcash, C. Kim, R. Keech R et al. Ceftobiprole Compared With Vancomycin Plus Aztreonam in the Treatment of Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections: Results of a Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind Trial (TARGET). Clinical Infectious Diseases 2021 (73), e1507-e1517 A. G. Jensen, C. H. Wachmann, F. Espersen et al. Treatment and outcome of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a prospective study of 278 cases. Archives of Internal Medicine 2002 (162), 25-32 J.-L. Wang, S.-Y. Chen, J.-T. Wang et al. Comparison of both clinical features and mortality risk associated with bacteremia due to community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2008 (46), 799-806 S. I. Blot, K. H. Vandewoude, E. A. Hoste et al. Outcome and attributable mortality in critically ill patients with bacteremia involving methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Archives of Internal Medicine 2002 (162), 2229-2235 S. E. Cosgrove, G. Sakoulas, E. N. Perencevich et al. Comparison of mortality associated with methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a meta-analysis. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2003 (36), 53-59 Attachment Press release (PDF) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] Proemion Announces 33.5M Growth Investment from Global Technology Investment Firm Battery Ventures Proemion, the multinational technology company creating hardware-enabled software solutions to connect mobile machines with humans, the cloud, and each other, today announced a 33.5M growth investment from Battery Ventures, the global technology-focused investment firm. In July, Battery announced new, global funds capitalized at a combined $3.8B. Family-owned since its founding in 1987, Proemion creates connectivity solutions with proprietary telematics control units and accompanying cloud-based software. Proemion customers include original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and mixed-fleet companies who use Proemion's telematics solutions to operate machinery more efficiently through the use of remote diagnostics and analytics. Specifically, the technology allows customers-who operate in industries including construction, agriculture, logistics, and natural resources-to better manage equipment, plan maintenance, save fuel costs, monitor CO 2 emissions, and more. The predictive capabilities of Proemion telematics allow global customers to increase productivity with robust, cloud-based remote diagnostics while reducing operational costs and downtime. With this growth investment from Battery-and anticipated future capital infusions from Battery and the founders-Proemion will expand international operations, execute other organic-growth initiatives and pursue acquisitions. As part of this transition, Robert Thomas Michaelides, current Proemion COO, will assume the role of chief executive officer. "We are extremely proud of the business we've built and are now thrilled to unveil the next chapter of Proemion, with the partnership and support of the Battry Ventures team," said Robert Michaelides Sr., who founded Proemion more than three decades ago. "As an experienced investor with specific expertise in software and industrial technology, including in Europe, Battery was a very attractive partner for us, and we look forward to working together over the long term." Added Robert Thomas Michaelides, now Proemion's CEO, "As technology adoption in our industry accelerates, the landscape of equipment manufacturing and maintenance is shifting in turn, with a focus on remotely connecting machines with humans. With this investment, we can further scale, bringing our platform to more OEMs and partners around the world." "The ability to maintain fleets more efficiently and plan for machine maintenance and service also helps Proemion's customers manage supply-chain disruptions, which have become more prevalent lately," noted Battery Ventures Private Equity Partner Dave Tabors. "Industrial applications of advanced technologies, such as Proemion's telematics capabilities, are becoming more in demand today as OEMs, mixed-fleet operators, and other manufacturers seek to improve operational efficiency," said Tabors, who has joined the company's board of directors. "We see a tremendous amount of opportunity in this sector and look forward to partnering with the founding family to bring Proemion's solutions to a global scale." As part of the investment, Battery's Max-Julian Kaye is also joining Proemion's board. About Proemion Founded in 1987, Proemion creates CAN devices and connectivity solutions for businesses of all sizes. Its mission is to empower people to make the best data-driven decisions, connecting their machines for success. Proemion has global offices in Fulda, Germany, Dayton, Ohio, and Seoul, South Korea. For more information, please visit: www.proemion.com or follow us on LinkedIn. About Battery Ventures Battery partners with exceptional founders and management teams developing category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, enterprise infrastructure, consumer tech, healthcare IT, and industrial technology and life-science tools. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at all stages, ranging from seed and early to growth and buyout, and invests globally from offices in Boston, San Francisco, Menlo Park, New York, London, and Tel Aviv. Follow the firm on Twitter @BatteryVentures, visit our website at www.battery.com and find a full list of Battery's portfolio companies here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221023005045/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] NATO clears BlackBerry SecuSUITE for global NATO secure communications NCI Agency assessment grants high level security certification to BlackBerry SecuSUITE BRUSSELS, Oct. 24, 2022 /CNW/ -- BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) announced today that the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) has awarded security accreditation to BlackBerry's SecuSUITE for Government for global use in official NATO secure communications. The NCI Agency supports communications and work between NATO's member nations. The classified nature of information handled by the NATO network means that it is critical that all communications remain secure, combatting efforts to electronically eavesdrop on conversations. The NCI Agency has awarded SecuSUITE security accreditation for high level secure communications, which allows the global NATO network to extend SecuSUITE as a solution of choice for conducting secure voice and messaging communications. "Security is imperative in times of peace and conflict, and we need to be confident that calls and messages sent within the NATO alliance remain completely confidential at all times. This is particularl true of secure communications, where our cyber-defense strategy has a particular focus. BlackBerry SecuSUITE enables our teams to use their smartphones for secure, encrypted contact inside and outside of the network, whatever their location," said Jean-Paul Massart, Chief NATO Digital Workplace at NCI Agency. SecuSUITE multi-platform technology protects against eavesdropping threats to national security communications of global governments and sensitive business communications of enterprise executives. End-to-end encryption of voice calls and text messages secures one-to-one calls, group calls and messaging across international networks. SecuSUITE also ensures that calls from foreign networks to any standard mobile or VoIP phones are also protected. "Recent world events have emphasized the importance of watertight communications security. Information in the wrong hands can be dynamite and the NATO alliance is keenly aware of how important it is to secure their mobile communication flows to protect its people and operations. Receiving NATO accreditation underlines NATO's trust in our technology and we're honored to continue our support for the organization's work," said Christoph Erdmann, SVP Secusmart at BlackBerry. SecuSUITE has a history of Common Criteria certifications based on National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP) Security Protection Profiles and continues to be available under the U.S Commercial Solutions for Classified Component List. BlackBerry Secusmart will be demonstrating SecuSUITE at NATO Edge 2022, 25-27 October, at the Lotto Expo in Mons, Belgium. More information on BlackBerry SecuSUITE is available here. About BlackBerry BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments around the world. The company secures more than 500M endpoints including over 195M vehicles. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the company leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety and data privacy solutions, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint security, endpoint management, encryption, and embedded systems. BlackBerry's vision is clear - to secure a connected future you can trust. BlackBerry. Intelligent Security. Everywhere. For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow @BlackBerry. Trademarks, including but not limited to BLACKBERRY, EMBLEM Design and QNX are the trademarks or registered trademarks of BlackBerry Limited, its subsidiaries and/or affiliates, used under license, and the exclusive rights to such trademarks are expressly reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. BlackBerry is not responsible for any third-party products or services. Media Contact: BlackBerry Media Relations +1 (519) 597-7273 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nato-clears-blackberry-secusuite-for-global-nato-secure-communications-301656553.html SOURCE BlackBerry Limited [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] GoCardless launches Protect+ to help businesses fight fraud and retain revenue The introduction of its second 'payment intelligence' product comes as merchants facing economic headwinds look for ways to address lost revenue LONDON, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GoCardless , a global leader in bank payment solutions, has launched Protect+ , an end-to-end fraud prevention solution that detects fraudulent activity and protects merchants from potential losses through enhanced payer verification, 24/7 fraud monitoring and chargeback challenges. With Protect+, merchants will be able to improve their overall percentage of successful payments, significantly reduce the costs associated with managing payer fraud, and protect both their revenue and reputation. With 54% of businesses globally citing fraud as a 'top threat'1 and 75% saying the current economic conditions motivate them to reduce the amount of revenue they lose due to fraud2, the introduction of Protect+ offers an alternative to existing fraud prevention options, which many merchants find frustrating due to high costs (27%), the time required to administer (26%) and poor customer experience (21%). Protect+, the second 'payment intelligence' product from GoCardless, combines data from the billions of transactions processed on its global bank payment network with custom parameters set by merchants to match their risk appetite. Protect+ detects and prevents three types of fraud: Identity fraud , when a fraudulent payer uses stolen or purchased bank account details (that may be valid or invalid). , when a fraudulent payer uses stolen or purchased bank account details (that may be valid or invalid). No intent to pay , when a fraudulent payer uses their own bank account, but has no intention to pay for the goods or services received. , when a fraudulent payer uses their own bank account, but has no intention to pay for the goods or services received. Unfair chargebacks, when a fraudulent payer uses their own bank account, but submits a chargeback after receiving the service or goods. The launch of Protect+ comes as businesses around the world face a particularly challenging time. In a global survey covering the UK, US, France and Germany, 91% of merchants reveal the cost of running their business is higher than it was a year ago, rising to 96% in the US. Asimilar proportion (87%) are actively looking to cut costs. In all four markets, the most popular tactic businesses would consider to improve their financial position over the next six months is to renegotiate more favourable terms with suppliers, with 43% saying it's "one of the first things" they'd consider, increasing to 51% for US businesses. This is followed closely by addressing sources of lost revenue, such as finding ways to increase conversion or reduce revenue lost to fraud (38%)3. Duncan Barrigan, Chief Product Officer and Chief Growth Officer at GoCardless, said: "We're excited to launch Protect+ to help businesses not only weather the current macroeconomic climate, but also put themselves in a stronger position for the future. Protect+ identifies fraudulent payers and stops them in their tracks, protecting a company's reputation, revenue and the experience for genuine payers. And because Protect+ is built into our global bank payment network, you can manage your payments and protect against fraud, all on one platform." Clare Bennett, Product Manager at Capital on Tap, said: "We've been closely involved in the development and pilot of Protect+, specifically for chargebacks which is very important to us as a company. So far we've been able to dispute 26 charges at a value of 36k, which we would have lost without GoCardless. We believe Protect+ will be a vital part of our payment strategy in the years ahead, helping to ensure we protect our revenue to power our growth." Protect+ follows the launch earlier this year of another fraud prevention tool, Verified Mandates, which combines the Account Information Services (AIS) capabilities of open banking with direct debit to provide account verification at the point of sign-up. Protect+ is also the second product in the 'payment intelligence' suite from GoCardless, a set of services which use proprietary machine learning models to optimise the way companies collect and retain their bank payments -- ensuring more successful payments, lower failure rates and less fraud. The first payment intelligence product, Success+ , automatically optimises failed payment retries. Since launch, Success+ has helped businesses recover, on average, 70% of payments that initially fail. Notes to Editors For more information, contact: Linda Yang, Head of PR, GoCardless [email protected] +44 7533575155 About GoCardless GoCardless is the global leader in direct bank payment solutions, making it easy to collect recurring and one-off payments directly from customers' bank accounts through direct debit and open banking. The GoCardless global bank payment network and technology platform take the pain out of getting paid for 75,000 businesses worldwide, from multinational corporations to small businesses. Each year GoCardless processes more than US$30 billion of payments across more than 30 countries. GoCardless is headquartered in the UK, with additional offices in Australia, France and the United States. For more information, please visit www.gocardless.com and follow us on Twitter @GoCardless. 2022 GoCardless Ltd. All Rights Reserved. GoCardless is a registered trademark of GoCardless Ltd in multiple countries. Third party trademarks mentioned above are owned by their respective companies. Unless explicitly identified as such, nothing in this press release should be construed to the contrary, or as an approval, endorsement or sponsorship by any third parties of GoCardless Ltd. or any aspect of this press release. 1 Survey of 500 recurring-payment businesses in the UK, US, France and Germany administered online through Attest during February 2021 2 Survey of 500 business decision-makers in the UK, US, France and Germany administered online through Attest during September 2022 3 Ibid Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1927138/GoCardless_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gocardless-launches-protect-to-help-businesses-fight-fraud-and-retain-revenue-301657056.html SOURCE GoCardless [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] Houlihan Lokey Strengthens European Healthcare Team With Experienced Senior Hire Houlihan Lokey (NYSE:HLI), the global investment bank, announced today that Rainer Hepberger has joined the firm as a Managing Director in its European Healthcare team. He will be based in the firm's London office. Mr. Hepberger joins with more than 15 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Houlihan Lokey, he spent nine years at William Blair, most recently as a Managing Director in European Healthcare Investment Banking. Between 2018 and 2020, he was a Managing Director in Raymond James' Healthcare team, based in Munich. During his career, Mr. Hepberger has advised on more than 50 M&A transactions across Benelux, DACH, the UK, Scandinavia, Spain, and Israel. "We are delighted to welcome Rainer to Houlihan Lokey. He joins the European Healthcare team, led by Paul Tomasic, which has already established itself as one of the leading healthcare teams in the region. Rainer's arrival not only strengthens the healthcare team in Europe, but also adds further depth and expertise to our global medtech coverage. He also shares our focus on superior client outcomes and has an outstanding track record. This appointment underscores our commitment to have one of the market-leading healthcare teams in Europe and to be the leading global healthcare advisory practice," said Mark Francis, Global Head of Houlihan Lokey's Healthcare Goup. "Rainer brings a deep level of healthcare expertise, insights, and relationships-particularly in medical technology, healthcare distribution, and outsourcing-which will be invaluable to our practice and our clients across Europe, most notably in the Benelux and DACH regions. With Rainer, our team will comprise 20 professionals, which is one of the largest dedicated healthcare teams in Europe. I am confident that Rainer will help us to continue to build on the team's success," commented Paul Tomasic, Head of European Healthcare. "Houlihan Lokey is a proven leader in mid-cap M&A, combining unrivaled sector knowledge with a comprehensive service offering and truly global reach. These attributes, together with a strong corporate culture and unwavering client focus, made this an exciting opportunity for me. I look forward to working with Paul and colleagues across the firm to help our clients continue to grow and thrive," commented Mr. Hepberger. Houlihan Lokey's Healthcare Group is among the largest of its kind in investment banking, with more than 75 financial professionals in New York, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, Sydney, Japan, Milan, Zurich, and London. In 2021, the Healthcare Group was ranked as the No. 1 M&A advisor for US healthcare transactions under $1 billion, based on data from Refinitiv. About Houlihan Lokey Houlihan Lokey (NYSE:HLI) is a global investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. The firm serves corporations, institutions, and governments worldwide with offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. Independent advice and intellectual rigor are hallmarks of the firm's commitment to client success across its advisory services. Houlihan Lokey is the No. 1 investment bank for all global M&A transactions, the No. 1 M&A advisor for the past seven consecutive years in the U.S., the No. 1 global restructuring advisor for the past eight consecutive years, and the No. 1 global M&A fairness opinion advisor over the past 20 years, all based on number of transactions and according to data provided by Refinitiv. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221021005180/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] dynaCERT Invited to Exhibit at the Canadian Utility Fleet Forum dynaCERT Inc. (TSX: DYA) (OTCQX: DYFSF) (FRA: DMJ) ("dynaCERT" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has been invited to exhibit at the Canadian Utility Fleet Forum ("CUFF") hosted by the Canadian Utility Fleet Council from October 24, 2022, to October 26, 2022, in Toronto (Canada). dynaCERT will be exhibiting at CUFF its proprietary patented HydraGEN Technology which is designed to reduce fuel consumption and reduce Carbon Emissions for utilities that desire to reduce their Carbon Footprint and GHG emissions. CUFF is the only trade show that brings together fleet decision makers from across Canada driving safety and reliability with utility equipment manufacturers in North America. Fleet representatives and suppliers exchange ideas, best practices, as well as discussions on shared challenges to find solutions that benefit the safety of the Canadian Utility Workers. Chris Walsh, President of the Canadian Utilities Fleet Council and Fleet Engineer at Hydro One indicates that the Canadian Utility Fleet Council promotes the interests of the "Utility Fleet Sector" by providing a united voice to Government, Standards Bodies and Regulators. The Council acted to develop and administer the Utility Fleet Equipment Mechanic certification which has and will continue to elevate trades person competency to the highest in the world. Annually, the Council presents the "Utility Fleet Forum" bringing together fleet decision makers from across Canada to plot the future course of industry. In the past, the Council has been responsible for sending a representative to ISO meetings to contribute in the development of International standards for vehicle mounted aerial devices. The participation of the Canadian Utility Fleet Council has led substantial progress in improving what had originally been a European dominated standard with potentially serious negative consequences for North American fleets. The Canadian Utility Fleet Council also recently met with representatives of Natural Resources Canada to lobby to the Federal government for funding and their participation in the development of environmentally friendly hybrid trucks. Ed Cordeiro, Director of Sales, Americas, of dynaCERT stated, "dynaCERT is very pleased to participate at the Canadian Utility Fleet Forum where our HydraGEN Technology is welcomed because it was designed to provide a global solution to reduce pollution. dynaCERT has received the Smart Sustainable Company Rating Seal. This honourable distinction of dynaCERT and its HydraGEN Technology as it applies to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and United Nations Global Cmpact Principles, has been evaluated as "high", the highest global ranking in its category." About CUFF For registration at CUFF please see: https://www.cufconline.com/ About dynaCERT Inc. dynaCERT Inc. manufactures and distributes Carbon Emission Reduction Technology along with its proprietary HydraLytica Telematics, a means of monitoring fuel consumption and calculating GHG emissions savings designed for the tracking of possible future Carbon Credits for use with internal combustion engines. As part of the growing global hydrogen economy, our patented technology creates hydrogen and oxygen on-demand through a unique electrolysis system and supplies these gases through the air intake to enhance combustion, which has shown to lower carbon emissions and improve fuel efficiency. Our technology is designed for use with many types and sizes of diesel engines used in on-road vehicles, reefer trailers, off-road construction, power generation, mining and forestry equipment. Website: www.dynaCERT.com. READER ADVISORY Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. In particular, information relating to the Canadian Utility Fleet Forum and the Canadian Utility Fleet Council cannot be independently verified. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance of achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; the uncertainty of the emerging hydrogen economy; including the hydrogen economy moving at a pace not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements; and the other risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the release. On Behalf of the Board Murray James Payne, CEO View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005309/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] International Students Experienced Intangible Cultural Heritage Items in Chongqing CHONGQING, China, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from iChongqing: Yubei District, located in the Northwest of Chongqing, China, is rich in cultural tourism resources. So far, there have been 103 intangible cultural heritage items in the region, demonstrating the remarkable achievements in the protection work in this field. Recently, students from Pakistan, Ethiopia, and other countries of hongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications arrived at the Chongqing Bayu Folk Museum in Yubei District. They appreciated the exquisite ancient beds, Sichuan opera performances, Jiang's Wood Carvings, Li's Sugar Paintings, experienced the making of Tan's Dough Sculpture, tasted the Diancha, enjoyed Zhou's Two-Finger Massage, and practiced Zhao's Martial Arts. This cultural tour provides students abroad with unexpected experiences and a wealth of information. Watch the video (Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iki6DTOoUOc&t=187s) to see how they were drawn to the intangible cultural heritage of Yubei, Chongqing. Like, share, and subscribe. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/international-students-experienced-intangible-cultural-heritage-items-in-chongqing-301657107.html SOURCE iChongqing [October 24, 2022] IHS Towers Announces Carbon Reduction Roadmap; Includes 50% Emissions Intensity Reduction Target by 2030 IHS Holding Limited (NYSE: IHS) ("IHS Towers"), one of the largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world by tower count, has today announced its Carbon Reduction Roadmap. The Carbon Reduction Roadmap provides a comprehensive strategy for decreasing IHS Towers' emissions, including a goal to reduce the Scope 1 and Scope 2 kilowatt-hour emissions intensity of its tower portfolio by 50% by 2030, using 2021 emissions data as the baseline1. Under Project Green, the next significant step of its Carbon Reduction Roadmap, the company expects to spend $214 million in capex towards these efforts between 2022 and 2024, and to deliver annual Recurring Levered Free Cash Flow (RLFCF) savings of $77 million in 2025. This, in turn, is expected to generate an implied return on investment of 30%. As a result, and as previously mentioned in second quarter results, IHS Towers is raising its 2022 capex guidance. The company now expects to spend $645-685 million (previously $545-585 million), including $110 million of the $214 million spent for Project Green, as it is also taking this opportunity to narrow its former range based on actual spend year-to-date. Savings will be achieved by connecting more sites to the electricity grid and via the deployment and integration of battery storage and solar panel solutions. In scope for Project Green are IHS Towers' operations in Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Kuwait, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zambia where reliance on diesel generators has been traditionally greater. Sam Darwish, IHS Towers Chairman & CEO, commented "We believe that our business model is inherently sustainable in that we deliver shared infrastructure solutions in emerging markets that promote digital connectivity and inclusion and improve the lives of the communities we serve. However, I believe that the true benefits of mobile connectivity can only be realized if we and our sector continue to develop in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. Our Carbon Reduction Roadmap is the next step in our journey to reduce our carbon footprint by setting tangible emissions targets." IHS Towers has also taken this opportunity to revise its corporate values and incorporate a new fifth Sustainability value that focuses on health and safety, security, and the environment, to ensure that these topics are further embedded throughout the business. These values are our guiding principles that help foster teamwork and ensure we achieve our shared business goals. Carbon Reduction Roadmap Webcast Additionally, a conference call and webcast to discuss the Carbon Reduction Roadmap will take place today, October 24, at 10.00am ET (3pm UK time). The conference call dial-in numbers are +1 (646) 307-1963 (US) or +44 20 3481 4247 (UK/International). The call ID is 4777557. To register for the webcast please click here. The Carbon Reduction Roadmap is available to download via the IHS Towers website here. Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by relevant safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements (or their equivalent) of any applicable jurisdiction, including those contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms suh as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "could," "intends," "targets," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "forecast," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, including our anticipated results for the fiscal year 2022, industry and business trends, business strategy, plans, market growth and our objectives for future operations. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: non-performance under or termination, non-renewal or material modification of our customer agreements; volatility in terms of timing for settlement of invoices or our inability to collect amounts due under invoices; a reduction in the creditworthiness and financial strength of our customers; the business, legal and political risks in the countries in which we operate; general macroeconomic conditions in the countries in which we operate; changes to existing or new tax laws, rates or fees; foreign exchange risks and/or ability to access U.S. Dollars in our markets; regional or global health pandemics, including COVID 19, and geopolitical conflicts and wars, including the current situation between Russia and Ukraine; our inability to successfully execute our business strategy and operating plans, including our ability to increase the number of Colocations and Lease Amendments on our Towers and construct New Sites or develop business related to adjacent telecommunications verticals (including, for example, relating to our anticipated fiber businesses in Latin America and elsewhere) or deliver on our sustainability or environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy and initiatives, such as our Carbon Reduction Roadmap (Project Green), including plans to reduce diesel consumption, integrate solar panel and battery storage solutions on tower sites and connect more sites to the electricity grid;; reliance on third-party contractors or suppliers, including failure or underperformance or inability to provide products or services to us (in a timely manner or at all) due to sanctions regulations, due to supply chain issues or other reasons; increases in operating expenses, including increased costs for diesel; failure to renew or extend our ground leases, or protect our rights to access and operate our Towers or other telecommunications infrastructure assets; loss of customers; changes to the network deployment plans of mobile operators in the countries in which we operate; a reduction in demand for our services; the introduction of new technology reducing the need for tower infrastructure and/or adjacent telecommunication verticals; an increase in competition in the telecommunications tower infrastructure industry and/or adjacent telecommunication verticals; our failure to integrate recent or future acquisitions; reliance on our senior management team and/or key employees; failure to obtain required approvals and licenses for some of our sites or businesses or comply with applicable regulations; environmental liability; inadequate insurance coverage, property loss and unforeseen business interruption; compliance with or violations (or alleged violations) of laws, regulations and sanctions, including but not limited to those relating to telecommunications regulatory systems, tax, labor, employment (including new minimum wage regulations), unions, health and safety, antitrust and competition, environmental protection, consumer protection, data privacy and protection, import/export, foreign exchange or currency, and of anti-bribery, anti-corruption and/or money laundering laws, sanctions and regulations; fluctuations in global prices for diesel or other materials; disruptions in our supply of diesel or other materials; legal and arbitration proceedings; reliance on shareholder support (including to invest in growth opportunities) and related party transaction risks; risks related to the markets in which we operate; injury, illness or death of employees, contractors or third parties arising from health and safety incidents; loss or damage of assets due to security issues or civil commotion; loss or damage resulting from attacks on any information technology system or software; loss or damage of assets due to extreme weather events whether or not due to climate change; failure to meet the requirements of accurate and timely financial reporting and/or meet the standards of internal control over financial reporting that support a clean certification under the Sarbanes Oxley Act; risks related to our status as a foreign private issuer; and the important factors discussed in the section titled "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (filed on August 16, 2022). The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to us as of the date of this press release, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements. You should read this press release and the documents that we reference in this press release with the understanding that our actual future results, performance and achievements may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise. About IHS Towers: IHS Towers is one of the largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world by tower count and is the largest independent multinational towerco solely focused on the emerging markets. The Company has nearly 40,000 towers across its 11 markets, including Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Kuwait, Nigeria, Peru, Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia. For more information, please email: [email protected] or visit: www.ihstowers.com 1 IHS will review the baseline for this target as we expand into new markets, or encompass growth, or as needed to reflect significant changes in our organization. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221023005105/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] AV-Comparatives takes a deep dive into LSASS Security - not all is well! INNSBRUCK, Austria, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Windows' Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) is one of cybercriminals' targets when launching targeted attacks on an organisation's network. In this blogpost, we discuss the significance of this process to targeted attacks. From the perspective of an attacker, the LSASS process on a Windows machine is often key to getting useful credentials from domain users, and using them to move laterally within the targeted network. There are several different methods, including custom-designed malware, that can be used by attackers and red teams to extract credentials from the LSASS process. Protection against LSASS credential dumping Depending on the installed security product and applicable policy, it could be easier or harder for an attacker to get hold of Windows user credentials by dumping the address memory of LSASS. Some security products include specific hardening measures to protect the LSASS process and prevent credential dumping. However, it may not always be possible to use these more restrictive policies in some organisations' environments, as they might cause problems with some legacy apps or apps that are not well programmed. Hence, it is advisable for IT administrators to test a product's hardening settings, to see if they have any unwanted side-effects. Furthermore, blue teams should still assume that determined attackers will find a way to dump the LSASS process, even if the installed security products use specific code to harden the LSASS process against attacks. That isto say, they may still be able to extract user credentials from the LSASS process. In addition to the specific LSASS-hardening measures, security products may prevent credential dumping by means of e.g. the antivirus module; this may detect the malware used, or other files created by the malware, or use behavioural detection to block the malicious actions. In some cases, the security product may not block the attack, but will at least produce an alert, thus warning the system administrator that the malicious actions should be investigated. Some business security products have their LSASS hardening measures activated by default. Examples are Avast Ultimate Business Security, Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security Enterprise, and Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response Expert. Microsoft also provides two features specifically used to protect the LSASS process, namely PPL (Protected Process Light) and ASR (attack surface reduction) rules. PPL is enabled by default on Windows 11, but currently not on Windows 10; it is included in the Professional, Enterprise and Education variants of Windows 10/11. The ASR rules can be used in organisations' networks in conjunction with Microsoft Defender, and currently need to be proactively configured on either OS. Test of credential-dumping protection in security products Given the importance of preventing LSASS credential dumping, in May 2022 AV-Comparatives tried out some business security products to determine how well their hardening measures protected against attacks on LSASS. Below we list some examples of products (made by Avast, Bitdefender, Kaspersky and Microsoft) that showed effective protection against the 15 attacks used in our test, with their respective LSASS hardening measures enabled. The table above includes results for the following products (with LSASS protection settings enabled): Avast Ultimate Business Security, Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security Enterprise, Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response Expert and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Microsoft asked us to publish the results of an additional test of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint that we ran without their LSASS protection features (PPL and ASR) enabled. This was done to determine if the attacks listed above would be detected by other Microsoft security features. For each test case, AV-Comparatives checked to see if the attack was correctly attributed to the MITRE ATT&CK tactics and techniques with regard to LSASS in the case of detections or active alerts by the security product. In cases where the attack was prevented by the security product, the lab checked to see which information about the threat was provided in the admin console. The methodology and other details of this test can be found in this PDF. For additional information, please read also this blog entry from Microsoft. E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +43 720115542 Contact: Peter Stelzhammer SOURCE AV-Comparatives [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] iGan Arabia's leading portfolio companies selected to present at the flagship 6th Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 24, 2022 /CNW/ -- iGan Arabia is pleased to announce that two of its leading portfolio companies have been selected to present at the upcoming flagship FII conference taking place this week in Riyadh. Over the course of three days with more than 500 International speakers, the conference will host four immersive summits and 180 sessions led by global leaders. Six thousand delegates will address the most pressing economic questions of our time to shape the future of the global economy. Moleculight and Retispec have been selected by FII to showcase their products as key innovations addressing important healthcare challenges for the region. Moleculight has developed the first-ever wound assessment device to provide real-time imaging of bacteria distribution at the point of care. MolecuLight i:X and DX imaging systems are point-of-care handheld imaging devices for the real-time detection and localization of bacterial load in wounds and digital wound measurement. The Comany has seen a 240% increase in 12-week wound healing rates doubling the current standard of care. Retispec is an AI-Imaging company focused on early detection of neurodegenerative diseases through a simple eye exam. The Company recently announced the launch of a unique initiative to screen for Alzheimer's disease in community settings and is backed by the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative (DAC). Retispec was One of Twelve Select Recipients of the Inaugural Global Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative Grant Program for Healthcare System Preparedness. This year was the most competitive on record for the FII technology partnership program with more than 80 companies in the selection process representing the best of global innovation. Both Moleculight and Retispec were chosen for their disruptive solutions that will improve patient outcomes while lowering overall healthcare costs. About iGan Arabia: iGan Arabia is a US$250M regional fund to drive MedTech innovation across the Middle East and North Africa region. The Fund is investing in AI/Cloud-enhanced medical devices and digital health technologies and will help accelerate the GCC as a world-class MedTech hub. The Fund was launched in 2022 by iGan Partners, Canada's leading healthcare technology investors and Faisal Belhoul, a Dubai-based investments professional and entrepreneur. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/igan-arabias-leading-portfolio-companies-selected-to-present-at-the-flagship-6th-future-investment-initiative-in-riyadh-301657148.html SOURCE iGan Arabia [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] Sixth Annual Indigenous Connectivity Summit to Provide Sustainable Solutions to Bridge Indigenous Connectivity Gap in North America With Indigenous communities in the U.S. and Canada lacking access to fast, affordable Internet, a newly established Indigenous-led organization will lead the push for digital equity WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2022 /CNW/ -- The Internet Society, in partnership with Connect Humanity, will co-host the sixth annual Indigenous Connectivity Summit, bringing together Indigenous community members and leaders, network operators, researchers, and policymakers with a common goal: connecting Indigenous communities in the United States and Canada to fast, affordable, and sustainable Internet. Indigenous communities are among the most underserved in terms of Internet access in North America. Less than one quarter of Indigenous Communities in Canada have access to broadband speeds; in the U.S. 18 percent of Tribal reservations have no access at all. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, both the Canadian and U.S. federal governments have committed billions of dollars in funding to close the connectivity gap in these communities. It is vital that Indigenous people are involved at all stages from development through implementation of broadband projects that directly affect their communities. It is why this year's summit marks a significant milestone, as it transitions to a truly community-led event, under the aegis of the newly created Indigenous Connectivity Institute . Established by Connect Humanity, the Indigenous Connectivity Institute was formed to ensure Indigenous communities have the capacity, support, knowledge, and financial resources needed to drive digital equity solutions in their respective communities, on their own terms, and under their own leadership. It is led by an advisory committee of Indigenous connectivity advocates from across the United States and Canada, including many past summit participants. "The Internet Society has been organizing the Indigenous Connectivity Summit since 2017, but it has always been our goal to transition leadership of the event to the Indigenous communities themselves. Partnering with Connect Humanity and the Indigenous Connectivity Institute will further the goal of developing community-led solutions that will bridge the digital divide for Indigenous people across North America," said Sharayah Lane, Senior Advisor, Community Connectivity at the Internet Society and advisory committee member of the Indigenous Connectivity Institute. The summit will be held in-person, from October 24th through October 28th, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and will feature workshops, presentations, lightning talks and panel discussions on a number of issues Indigenous communities face as they work to access the Internet on their own terms. Topics include broadband mapping, spectrum sovereignty, building off-grid networks and capacity building, among others. An important outcome of the summit will be a set of policy recommendations jointly developed by participants that will guide advocacy efforts moving forward. These recommendations will be released in the weeks following the event, and, if implemented would support Indigenous communities to drive their own connectivity solutions under their own leadership. The COVID-19 pandemic shined a glaring light on the vast number of underserved communities that are unable to access or afford reliable broadband, spurring government action. n the United States, the 2020 CARES Act earmarked $1 billion for broadband infrastructure improvements on Indian reservations; the American Rescue Plan Act allocated $17 billion nationwide for broadband improvements; and the 2022 Infrastructure Act directed $2B for a Tribal Broadband Connectivity Fund. Canada, however, lags behind. While the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's Broadband Fund has increased to CAD$750 million over five years to bring Canadians up to speed, it still isn't enough. The last round of applications alone received nearly 600 submissions totaling over $1.5 billion in funding requests. "Following the COVID-19 crisis, the U.S. and Canadian governments, as well as the philanthropic community, are finally starting to invest in closing connectivity gaps which disproportionately impact Indigenous communities," said Mark Buell, Director of Indigenous Programs for Connect Humanity. "But to make sure these funds are targeted toward the communities that need it most, Indigenous people need to be at the center of the development of policies, funding programs and infrastructure projects that affect their communities. The Indigenous Connectivity Institute is building the knowledge, community, and advocacy capacity so that Indigenous Peoples can build a digital future on their terms. And this year's summit will shape policy that will help turn the tide on decades of under-investment in Indigenous communities." Driving Change in North America The Internet Society, a global nonprofit organization working to promote an open, globally connected, secure and trustworthy Internet, established the Indigenous Connectivity Summit in 2017. Over the past six years, the summit has evolved beyond a gathering of stakeholders to become a strong, community-led movement focused on finding, advocating, and building practical solutions to improve access in Indigenous communities across North America. The summit has had consequential impact to date: It has trained 350+ participants as part of both the pre-summit Community Networks and the Policy Advocacy trainings. The summit has also introduced new network training opportunities, including the Tribal Broadband Bootcamp , which has trained 100 Indigenous leaders on building networks in their own communities. , which has trained 100 Indigenous leaders on building networks in their own communities. Since 2017, the summit has issued 90 policy recommendations, along with inclusive federal and regulatory guidelines for applicants, which have been reflected in such reports, policies and legislation as the 2019 Arctic Council's report Improving Connectivity in the Arctic , rural development strategies and funding criteria in government programs in Canada and the United States . rural development strategies and funding criteria in government programs in and . Eighteen Indigenous Community Networks have been supported in both the United States and Canada , including Pu'uhonua o Waimanalo in Hawai'i, and projects in progress in Winnipeg's North End and in Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories . and , including in Hawai'i, and projects in progress in North End and in Ulukhaktok, . In 2020, the Internet Society assisted tribes navigating the Tribal Priority Window (TPW), providing free advice and support to tribes, including webinars and application walk-throughs. More than 400 tribes applied for a license through the TPW, and as of August 2021 , 270 tribes have been issued licenses. (TPW), providing free advice and support to tribes, including webinars and application walk-throughs. More than 400 tribes applied for a license through the TPW, and as of , 270 tribes have been issued licenses. In 2019, the summit was recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives for "working to strengthen the digital bonds between America's Native communities." Registration for the summit is open ; it will be the first in-person event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but will be streamed live online for those unable to be there. Learn more about the 2022 Indigenous Connectivity Summit here . About the Indigenous Connectivity Institute The Indigenous Connectivity Institute is a community of leaders working to close the digital divide by sharing knowledge, shaping policy, and helping people learn the skills to build and run their own internet networks. Dedicated to solving the unique challenges faced by Indigenous Communities in Canada and the United States, the Institute is the first organization dedicated to digital equity in First Nations, Inuit, Metis, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities. About the Internet Society Founded in 1992 by Internet pioneers, the Internet Society is a global non-profit organization working to ensure the Internet remains a force for good for everyone. Through its community of members, special interest groups, and 120+ chapters around the world, the organization defends and promotes Internet policies, standards, and protocols that keep the Internet open, globally connected, and secure. For more information, please visit: Internetsociety.org . About Connect Humanity Connect Humanity is a non-profit fund advancing digital equity by investing in community connectivity providers. It helps underserved communities identify the right solutions to meet their connectivity needs and provides funding and technical assistance so they can build the internet infrastructure, tools, and skills they need to participate fully in a digital society. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sixth-annual-indigenous-connectivity-summit-to-provide-sustainable-solutions-to-bridge-indigenous-connectivity-gap-in-north-america-301656959.html SOURCE THE INTERNET SOCIETY [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] Scale Computing Partners with Mako Networks to Provide Reliable, Scalable, and Secure Edge Networking Solutions Scale Computing, a market leader in edge computing, virtualization, and hyperconverged solutions, and Mako Networks, a leader in secure, cloud-managed networks for distributed enterprises, today announced a partnership to deliver intelligent, reliable, and simple-to-manage total edge solutions. The partnership enables a complete, secure, edge infrastructure that includes robust, reliable compute, and standards-compliant network devices (including PCI DSS), simplified enterprise edge deployment and management, and full-stack support. "With most edge locations lacking on-site technical staff, Mako Networks and Scale Computing have developed systems for automating deployment and updates to both networking and applications, as well as a supporting software stack to process data at the edge of the network, closest to where that data is actually created and utilized," said Craig Theriac, VP, Product Management, Scale Computing. "Autonomous operation, monitoring, and self-healing properties make on-site intervention a thing of the past." Scale Computing provides an edge computing platform that is easy to use, easy to manage, and easy to deploy. SC//Platform brings simplicity and scalability together, replacing the existing infrastructure, and providing high availability for running workloads in a single, easy-to-manage platform. Regardless of your hardware requirements, the same innovative software and simple user interface give you the power to run infrastructure efficiently at the edge. SC//Fleet Manager allows users to centrally monitor and manage hundreds or thousands of distributed edge infrastructure deployments with few or no on-site IT personnel. The Mako System from Mako Networks consists of the Mako CMS hosted cloud management application and a range of managed Mako networking devices tailored to the distributed enterprise. This is a PCI-certified, cloud-managed, carrier-independent networking solution that makes it easy to connect and manage thousands of global sites in a high-performance SD-WAN business network that is secure, reliable, scalable, and cost-effective. Cloud VPNs, VLAN segmentation, and next-gen firewalls protect sensitive data, while high availability redundancy and failover options enable seamless connectivity and business continuity. Together, Scale Computing and Mako Networks deliver a solution that is simple to deploy, ensures high availability for applications and networking, is PCI DSS certified, is based on SD-WAN, and provides a complete remote management system required for today's distributed enterprise edge, resulting in PCI-certified security, flexible scalability, cost-saving efficiency, and standardized platforms and management across all locations. "We're excited to partner with Scale Computing. Their low-touch, remotely-managed edge computing solution is perfectly aligned with Mako's similar edge networking and security platform. The combination is truly groundbreaking," said Jason Kubasak, CEO, Mako Networks. "This combined solution gives multi-site organizations all of the capabilities they need to run critical applications locally with the same security, ease of maintenance, and performance that they have come to expect from the cloud." To learn more about reliable, scalable, and secure edge computing solutions, please visit https://www.scalecomputing.com/mako-networks or meet the Scale Computing team at The Channel Company's NexGen event this week in Orlando, Florida. About Scale Computing Scale Computing is a leader in edge computing, virtualization, and hyperconverged solutions. Scale Computing software eliminates the need for traditional virtualization software, disaster recovery software, servers, and shared storage, replacing these with a fully integrated, highly available system for running applications. Using patented HyperCore technology, the self-healing platform automatically identifies, mitigates, and corrects infrastructure problems in real-time, enabling applications to achieve maximum uptime. When ease-of-use, high availability, and TCO matter, Scale Computing is the ideal infrastructure platform. Read what our customers have to say on Gartner Peer Insights, Spiceworks, TechValidate and TrustRadius. About Mako Networks Mako Networks develops technology to deliver simple, secure, PCI-certified networks for distributed enterprises. Operating internationally from offices in the United States, UK, Australia and New Zealand, Mako integrates centralized cloud management and reporting, true SD-WAN, secure Wi-Fi, HA Fast Failover, Mako VPN Cloud, next-generation firewalls and end-to-end PCI DSS certification in one easy-to-manage system. For more information, visit makonetworks.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005157/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] Lithuania Insurance Industry Report 2022: Governance, Risk and Compliance - ResearchAndMarkets.com The "Lithuania Insurance Industry - Governance, Risk and Compliance" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Lithuania Insurance Industry report provides detailed analysis of the insurance regulations for life, property, motor, liability, personal accident and health, and marine, aviation and transit insurance. The report specifies various requirements for the establishment and operation of insurance and reinsurance companies and intermediaries. The report brings together the publisher's research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on prevailing insurance regulations, and recent and upcoming changes in the regulatory framework, taxation and legal system in the country. The report also includes the scope of non-admitted insurance in the country. Key Highlights The Lithuanian insurance industry is regulated by the Bank of Lithuania (LB). Solvency II came into force in Lithuania on January 1, 2016, and introduced new risk management standards for insurers. Composite insurance is not allowed in Lithuania. However, companies from EU and EEA member states are allowed to operate in both classes of insurance. Motor third-party liability insurance and civil liability insurance for construction designers and audit firms are key compulsory classes of insurance. Insurance premium tax (IPT) is not levied on insurance products The report provides insights into the governance, risk, and compliance framework pertaining to the insurance industry in Lithuania, including: An overview of the insurance regulatory framework in Lithuania. The latest key changes, and changes expected in the country's insurance regulatory framework. Key regulations and market practices related to different types of insurance product in the country. Rules and regulations pertaining to key classes of compulsory insurance, and the scope of non-admitted insurance in the country. Key parameters including licensing requirements permitted foreign direct investment, minimum capital requirements, solvency and reserve requirements, and investment regulations. Details of the tax and legal systems in the country. Key Topics Covered: Legislation Overview Supervision and Control Legislation Compulsory Insurance Non-Admitted Insurance Regulations Company Registration and Operation License Foreign Direct Investment / Ownership Minimum Capital Requirements Solvency Margins Reserve Requirements Statutory Return Requirements Fee Structure Taxation Tax on Insurance Premium Corporate Income Tax Corporate Capital Gains Tax Value Added Tax Legal System Policy Practice For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/v0jxex View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005593/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] Nubeva Announces Sale of Ransomware Reversal Solution to City Government Customer SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nubeva Technologies (TSX-V: NBVA, OTCQB: NBVAF) today announced the sale of its breakthrough ransomware reversal system to a city government in Florida. The city, which wished to remain anonymous, selected Nubeva as part of its cyber resilience and business continuity strategy specific to ransomware attacks. The use of Nubevas technology by this Florida city illustrates the rising need forand recognition ofa proactive approach to ransomware threats, said Steve Perkins, Nubeva CMO. As we see in the news, local governments like Suffolk County, NY , and Fremont County, CO , are increasingly targeted by ransomware, and the stakes are especially high as their data affect public services and consumer safety. It is clear the public sector requires solutions to provide resilience from attacks, and Nubevas technology fills that void. Nubevas Ransomware Reversal solution equips the Florida city with ransom-less decryption protection at a time when cyberattacks have disrupted many sectors in the state of Florida, including hospitals , unemployment websites , and city government . The average downtime resulting from a ransomware attack is 24 days, said Perkins. What are the downstream effects if a key public service, such as the police force or emergency medical services, is down for 24 days or more? Organizations need the ability to quickly recover their data, systems, and operations after an attackand Nubevas Ransomware Reversal solution provides that. Nubevas technology captures ransomware encryption keys at the moment of attack, enabling victim organizations to decrypt locked files without paying the ransom, typically within 48 hours of the attack. Additionally, Nubevas software collects vital metadata on the attack to aid in incident response, significantly aiding triage, investigations, and threat removal. Nubevas software is available to end-user enterprises, managed security service providers, incident responders, and cybersecurity solution manufacturers. More details on Nubevas ransomware reversal and retrieval abilities are available here . About Nubeva Technologies Nubeva Technologies provides next-generation decryption solutions for faster, lower-cost recovery from ransomware attacks. Its mission is to reduce downtime costs and damages so that businesses never pay ransoms again. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the Company's business plans and the outlook of the cybersecurity industry. Although the Company believes in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments, and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release, and the Company assumes no responsibility to update them or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances other than as required by applicable securities laws. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations, or statements made by third parties regarding the Company, its subsidiaries, their securities, or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable). 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. For additional information or to schedule interviews, contact: Steve Perkins Chief Marketing Officer, Nubeva [email protected] (714) 261-9948 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] Aptean Expands Capabilities for Wholesalers and Distributors in the UK Through Acquisition of Merlin Business Software Limited ALPHARETTA, Ga., Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Aptean , a global provider of mission-critical enterprise software solutions, announced the acquisition of Merlin Business Software Ltd., a provider of enterprise business solutions tailored to wholesalers and distributors, including those serving the industrial supply, building supply and food and beverage industries. Merlin was formerly a subsidiary of Cromwell. Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Chesterfield, England, Merlins configurable and modular enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution delivers full end-to-end business process functionality for customers, helping them to lower costs and increase efficiency. Merlins software can be deployed either in the cloud as a Subscription as a Service (SaaS) or on-premise. Its intuitive interface and over 40 configurable modules are supported by a customer-focused team of experts. The addition of Merlin will enhance Apteans ability to support wholesalers and distributors in the UK. We are excited to expand capabilities for wholesalers and distributors to our ERP offerings in the UK, said Duane George, GM of EMEA and APAC at Aptean. Merlins talented and experienced team delivers tailored software supported by exceptional customer service. Like Aptean, Merlin is committed to meeting customer needswith focused expertise. Aptean and Merlin share the same mission, to support customers with flexible, integrated solutions designed to meet the unique needs of their business. We are excited to go forward together and are confident that as part of Aptean, our business will thrive, said Clive Mallender, MD of Merlin. About Merlin Founded in 1976, Merlin Business Software is a provider of bespoke enterprise business solutions tailored to meet the needs of wholesalers and distributors. Merlin is headquartered in Chesterfield, England. To learn more visit: www.merlinbusinesssoftware.com. About Aptean Aptean is one of the worlds leading providers of purpose-built, industry-specific software that helps manufacturers and distributors effectively run and grow their businesses. With both cloud and on-premise deployment options, Apteans products, services and unmatched expertise help businesses of all sizes to be Ready for Whats Next, Now. Aptean is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. To learn more about Aptean and the markets we serve, visit www.aptean.com. Aptean and Ready for Whats Next, Now are Registered Trademarks of Aptean, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. For Media Inquiries Please Contact Nicole ORourke Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer [email protected] (770) 715-0362 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f3d2dff2-783d-42fd-be0a-e93e7022f21d [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] CNCF Announces First Products Certified Under Cloud Native Network Function Certification Program Recently launched CNF Certification Program gains steam with the release of first four products as certifiably cloud native. DETROIT, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), which builds sustainable ecosystems for cloud native software, today announced the the first set of certified products as part of the Cloud Native Network Function (CNF) Certification Program. The CNF Certification Program, which was announced in May 2022, helps Communication Service Providers (CSPs) and other telecommunications organizations identify which Network Equipment Providers (NEPs) follow cloud native best practices. The first four participants to achieve certification include F5, Juniper Networks, MATRIXX Software and PANTHEON.tech. By utilizing these certified products and solutions, CSPs can adopt Kubernetes and cloud native tools with greater confidence, speeding their time and value to market as they continue to embrace software-defined networking and modern-day infrastructure best practices. CNFs are applications that implement or facilitate network functionality in a cloud native way. CSPs and other telecom organizations are migrating away from traditional Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) and Physical Network Functions (PNFs) toward CNFs and Kubernetes-based infrastructures that provide service reliability while lowering capital and operating expenses and encouraging cross-cloud compatibility. In a recent CNCF Microsurvey , more than 50% of respondents said they would convert between 76% and 100% of their PNF and VNF infrastructure to CNF. The next biggest group of respondents, 23.81%, said they will migrate between half and 75% of their infrastructure to CNF. When asked why they were moving to CNFs, the reason cited most often was the technology's ability to help teams quickly roll out new features, updates and upgrades through existing DevOps processes, as part of a wider corporate move to cloud native would. CNFs ease that transition by enabling more flexible deployment, management, configuration and operations of services. CNFs also eliminate vendor lock-in and dependencies, while supporting portability, performance and scale. What concerned survey respondents most about the use of CNFs and Kubernetes was consistency across platforms and applications, which is why the CNCF's CNF Certification Program will be such a critical tool. Indeed, the single most significant perceived benefit to CNF certification among respondents to the CNCF microsurvey was interoperability, followed by deployment simplification and a through line for industry best practices. "CNFs help telecom providers break down the siloed resources and specialized solutions built up through the use of VNFs," said Priyanka Sharma, executive director of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. "With that said, it can be a challenging transition, which is why it's critical for organizations to make use of solutions that have been certified to follow cloud native best practices. By leveraging products from Certified CNF vendors, telecom providers can ensure the interoperability and neutrality necessary for building out true cloud native infrastructure. Some of the world's largest telecom organizations, including Huawei , Nokia , T-Mobile , and Vodafone , already use Kubernetes and other cloud native technologies, and this program will make it esier for others to do the same." While many network certifications test Kubernetes platform properties and Cloud Native Network Function (CNF) connectivity, CNCF's CNF Certification Program gives insights into a CNF's installability, interoperability, and resilience. The certification also promotes workload self healing as a highly desired, cloud native property. The CNF Certification Program utilizes CNCF's CNF Test Suite and supports any product that runs in a certified Kubernetes environment, regardless of vendor implementation. The CNF Test Suite is an open source test suite for telcos to validate how well they are following cloud native principles and best practices, like immutable infrastructure and declarative APIs. CNCF will be sharing more information and best practices around the CNF Certification Program and other telecom-focused initiatives at the Cloud Native Telco Day on October 24 in Detroit, Michigan, co-located with KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America 2022. Additionally, in-person attendees can register for the Intro to the CNF Certification Program Lightning talk, also on October 24. To learn more about the CNF Certification Program or get involved in CNCF's Telco initiatives: Book an in-person meeting with the CNF Certification team at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America 2022 via Calendly . . Read CNCF's recent blog , "Testing cloud native best practices with the CNF Test Suite." , "Testing cloud native best practices with the CNF Test Suite." Join the conversation on Slack (#cnf-certification). (#cnf-certification). Attend CNF Test Suite Office Hours on Tuesdays at 14:15 UTC . on Tuesdays at . Join the CNF Working Group meetings on Mondays at 15:00 UTC . Supporting Quotes: "At Juniper Networks, we have long believed that industry standards are the way to go for open competition that improves product quality and benefits both vendors and customers. CNCF's CNF certification ensures cloud native products are equally and fairly tested in standard and independent environments, and Juniper believes this initiative will greatly contribute to the overall quality, performance and adoption of cloud native solutions across the industry," said Ben Baker, Senior Director, Data Center and Cloud Marketing at Juniper Networks. "Promoting openness while reducing complexity for customers is one of our main areas of focus and an important component of the CNCF's CNF certification program. We're very happy F5 BIG-IP Next Edge Firewall is F5's first certified CNF, and we look forward to continued collaboration with the CNCF. The certification program plays a valuable role to ensure cloud native best practices, to improve vendor interoperability, and ultimately to reduce complexity in order to accelerate CNF deployments for our customers and our community," said Ahmed Guetari, VP of Products for Service Providers at F5. "The main issue in the CNF landscape today is that there are a lot of interpretations of what CNF actually is. With the CNF Certification Program this ambiguity is eliminated and we finally have a common denominator for all: platform teams, vendors, CNF teams. It brings the telco world to the next level from standardization that does not fit well in OSS and Cloud Native realm to testing and certification," said Vuk Gojnic, squad leader for the Kubernetes Engine at Deutsche Telekom. "Cloud native best practices and open source values are at the heart of the DISH Wireless network. The CNCF CNF Certification is an exciting community-led initiative to accelerate the evolution of cloud native network functions and the CNF Test Suite is a valuable tool to cultivate a growing ecosystem of new CNFs. As a primary user of CNFs, we look forward to advancing the use of the CNF Test Suite in our continuous testing environments, contributing our lessons learned to the project, and applying it across our extensive list of CSP partners," said Brian Mengwasser, VP of Marketplace and Apps Design, DISH Wireless. "We are very pleased to have our product recognized as one of the very first CNCF Certified CNFs. We believe the Cloud Native Network Function Certification Program will play a key role in enabling broad telecom adoption of cloud native best practices and technologies. By choosing from CNCF Certified CNFs, service providers can more confidently speed their transitions to cloud native 5G networks and more quickly gain the benefits of speed, agility, and resilience," said Marc Price, CTO, MATRIXX Software. "I am thrilled to announce that lighty.io , a lightweight OpenDaylight distribution, has passed the CNF Certification program. As one of the largest contributors to the OpenDaylight LFN's project, PANTHEON.tech supports cross-project collaboration. With great help from the CNCF community, we can now officially declare OpenDaylight as cloud-native ready," said Miroslav Miklus, CPO of PANTHEON.tech. Additional Resources CNCF Newsletter CNCF Twitter CNCF Blog Learn About CNCF Membership Join the CNCF conversation on Slack About Cloud Native Computing Foundation Cloud native computing empowers organizations to build and run scalable applications with an open source software stack in public, private, and hybrid clouds. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) hosts critical components of the global technology infrastructure, including Kubernetes, Prometheus, and Envoy. CNCF brings together the industry's top developers, end users, and vendors and runs the largest open source developer conferences in the world. Supported by more than 800 members, including the world's largest cloud computing and software companies, as well as over 200 innovative startups, CNCF is part of the nonprofit Linux Foundation. For more information, please visit www.cncf.io . The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Media Contact Jessie Adams-Shore The Linux Foundation [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cncf-announces-first-products-certified-under-cloud-native-network-function-certification-program-301657188.html SOURCE Cloud Native Computing Foundation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] Virtual Interactive Technologies Corp. will develop and publish a category-first metaverse gaming experience to complement its proprietary slate of original games Denver, Colorado, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virtual Interactive Technologies Corp., (OTC: VRVR) ("VRVR" or the "Company"), an American multi-platform video gaming developer and publisher, announces it is continuing to develop its proprietary slate of original games, to now include a unique next-generation metaverse game providing experiential immersion gaming experiences that it will publish on leading mobile and web platforms. The Company is now a next-generation original games and metaverse developer and publisher, that creates digital immersion experiences by harnessing the latest technologies, including Blockchain and digital assets. The Company is building a metaverse that replaces traditional boring financial experiences with a new paradigm, "global Prosperity space" (gPs). This new asset class dynamically augments global and local realities and builds communities of aligned financial values, virtuous economies, and a trusted network. The result would be a metaverse game combining the glamorous world of Wall Street, High-Speed trading, community building, quantified self, and NFTs a pure adrenaline rush! In addition, the Company continues to build on its successful proprietary game catalog that includes Duane Lee "Dog" Chapman, of the "Dog The Bounty Hunter" fame, Carmageddon Max Damage, Carmageddon Crashers, Interplanetary: Enhanced Edition, Catch & Release, and Worbital. The Company is continuing its innovative and targeted strategy to maximize shareholder value. It believes that being the developer and publisher of its own proprietary immersive gaming experiences is the best way to create long-term susainable revenue streams. About Virtual Interactive Technologies Corp. Virtual Interactive Technologies Corp (OTC: VRVR) or ("the Company") is a next-generation game and metaverse developer publisher that creates experiential immersion experiences by harnessing the latest technologies, including Blockchain and digital assets. The Company's newly launched brand, Extrosive, is building a metaverse that replaces traditional boring financial experiences with a new paradigm, "global Prosperity space" (gPs). This new asset class dynamically augments global and local realities and builds communities of aligned financial values, virtuous economies, and a trusted network. The result would be a metaverse game for the glamorous world of Wall Street, High-Speed trading involving community building, quantified self, and NFTs a pure adrenaline rush! In addition, the Company continues to build on its successful catalog that includes Carmageddon Max Damage, Carmageddon Crashers, Interplanetary: Enhanced Edition, Catch & Release, and Worbital. The Company also entered into a joint development partnership with Duane Lee "Dog" Chapman, of the "Dog The Bounty Hunter" fame, to develop and promote multiple games across several platforms. For Additional Information: Investor Relations [email protected] Safe Harbor Statement / Forward-Looking Statements Statements included in this press release, which are not historical in nature, are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements relating to the future performance of the Company are subject to many factors including, but not limited to, the customer acceptance of the products in the market, the introduction of competitive products and product development, the impact of any product liability or other adverse litigation, working capital and availability of capital, commercialization and technological difficulties, the impact of actions and events involving key customers, vendors, lenders, competitors, and other risks. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the terms "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "may", "objective", "plan", "possible", "potential", "project", "will", and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information, or otherwise. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Boomi Recognized as Global Leader in Cloud Computing in 2022 Stratus Award Boomi, the intelligent connectivity and automation leader, today announced it won the prestigious Stratus Award for 2022. The Business Intelligence Group named the award-winning integration platform as a service (iPaaS) leader as a top organization offering unique solutions while leveraging cloud technologies. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005273/en/ Boomi Recognized as Global Leader in Cloud Computing in 2022 Stratus Award (Photo: Business Wire) "Boomi is at the forefront of the cloud, helping to drive practical innovations in the cloud," said Maria Jimenez, Chief Nominations Officer of Business Intelligence Group. "The cloud is now part of the fabric of society, and we are thrilled that our volunteer judges were able to help promote all of these innovative services, organizations, and executives." The Business Intelligence Group recognizes superior performance and talent in business, and measures performance across multiple domains. Business executives - with knowledge and experience in the industry relevant to the specific award - determine winning companies whose achievements stand above their peers. With its low-code, cloud-native, open, unified platform, Boomi helps enterprises automate and streamline workflows, unlock data, and integrate systems for better business outcomes. "With our cloud-first, intelligent, scalable platform, Boomi helps enterprises meet the demands of the future," said Jim Sears, Vice President, Global Technology Organization at Boomi. "As we continue to grow rapidly and move at the speed of light, we're honored that the Business Intelligence Group recognized our accomplishments. We remain thankful to our global customers who trust Boomi to lead them on their digital transformation journeys." As a category-leading, global software as a service (SaaS) company with the largest customer base among integration platform vendors, Boomi touts a growing user community of more than 100,000 members and one of the largest arrays of global systems integrators (GSIs) in the iPaaS space. The company recently added world-class leaders, and expanded its global footprint in Japan to meet demand across Asia-Pacific. The company boasts a worldwide network of approximately 800 partners, including Accenture, Deloitte, SAP, and Snowflake; and works with the largest hyperscaler cloud service providers. Boomi has been poitioned as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Integration Platform as a Service (EiPaaS) for eight consecutive years. Recently included on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest growing private companies for 2022 and winner of two International Stevie Awards for Company of the Year and Product Innovation, Boomi has earned the Gold Globee Award in the Platform as a Service (PaaS) category, the Merit Award for Technology in the Cloud Services category, and garnered a prestigious 5-star rating in the CRN Partner Program Guide, a definitive list of the most notable programs from industry-leading technology vendors that provide innovative products and flexible services through the IT channel. Boomi has also won numerous awards for being an employer of choice, including a recent listing as one of Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces. Additional Resources ? Learn more about the Boomi AtomSphere Platform ? Explore the Boomiverse Community ? Follow Boomi on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube Gartner Disclaimer: Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Integration Platform as a Service, Eric Thoo, Keith Guttridge, Bindi Bhullar, Shameen Pillai, Abhishek Singh, September 29, 2021. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. GARTNER and Magic Quadrant are registered trademarks and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Note: Boomi was recognized as Dell Boomi from 2014 to 2019. About Boomi Boomi aims to make the world a better place by connecting everyone to everything, anywhere. The pioneer of cloud-based integration platform as a service (iPaaS), and now a category-leading, global software as a service (SaaS) company, Boomi touts the largest customer base among integration platform vendors and a worldwide network of approximately 800 partners - including Accenture, Capgemini, Deloitte, SAP, and Snowflake. Global organizations turn to Boomi's award-winning platform to discover, manage, and orchestrate data, while connecting applications, processes, and people for better, faster outcomes. For more information, visit http://www.boomi.com. 2022 Boomi, LP. Boomi, the 'B' logo, Boomiverse, and AtomSphere are trademarks of Boomi, LP or its subsidiaries or affiliates. All rights reserved. Other names or marks may be the trademarks of their respective owners. About Business Intelligence Group The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry and business award programs, business executives-those with experience and knowledge-judge the programs. The organization's proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and then rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005273/en/ [October 24, 2022] Godspeed Capital-Backed SilverEdge Partners with Counter Threat Solutions SilverEdge Government Solutions ("SilverEdge") today announced it has partnered with Counter Threat Solutions, LLC ("CTS"), a leading provider of all source and counterintelligence analysis, identity intelligence, and enterprise IT and data management solutions, which include sophisticated software development and engineering and niche ServiceNow capabilities. The partnership furthers SilverEdge's objective of serving as the cyber, software, intelligence, and technology solutions provider of choice for the U.S. Intelligence Community ("IC"). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005352/en/ "We are excited to welcome the CTS team to the SilverEdge family," said Robert Miller, CEO of SilverEdge. "By combining CTS' capabilities with SilverEdge's existing cybersecurity, software, and intelligence solutions, we are increasing our cleared workforce to approximately 450 engineers and technical staff whose primary focus is to provide our intelligence customers with the tools required to support critical mission needs." Founded in 2015 and based in Reston, Virginia, CTS provides technology solutions and related services to key U.S. intelligence agencies. Led by CEO Theresa Keith, a U.S. Army intelligence veteran with more than 20 years of experience in the IC, CTS employs more than 100 technical and mission support specialists, nearly 100% of whom hold high-level security clearances. The company will continue to operate with its current leadership under the SilverEdge platform. Theresa Keith said, "We are thrilled to be joining SilverEdge, whose tremendous resources, qualified team, and extensive capabilities will enable us to continue to grow our business rapidly and provide additional opportunities for our people. Our team looks forward to working together as part of SilverEdge, contributing our specialized expertise to xpand our shared capabilities, and growing our talent pool to serve national security interests and our IC customers." Douglas T. Lake, Jr., Founder & Managing Partner at Godspeed, remarked, "The addition of CTS to SilverEdge's comprehensive suite of offerings further enhances the growth potential of the platform as it continues to scale into the leading technology and cybersecurity solutions provider for critical U.S. Intelligence agencies and select mission-oriented Department of Defense customers." Nathaniel Fogg, Partner at Godspeed, added, "Following SilverEdge's recent acquisition of QVine, bringing CTS on board alongside will help to further bolster our commitment to the Intelligence Community. We welcome Theresa and her team to SilverEdge and are excited to be partnering with them." CTS was advised by the McLean Group. Latham & Watkins LLP acted as legal advisor to Godspeed. About Counter Threat Solutions Counter Threat Solutions, LLC ("CTS") is a leading technology services and solutions company providing mission-focused subject matter experts in all source and counterintelligence analysis, enterprise IT and data management, and identity intelligence services to the U.S. intelligence and defense communities. Learn more about CTS at www.ctstruenorth.com. About SilverEdge SilverEdge is a next generation provider of innovative and proprietary cybersecurity, software, and intelligence solutions for the Defense and Intelligence Communities. SilverEdge's seasoned team of cybersecurity experts, software developers and engineers, and intelligence analysts identify tomorrow's challenges today and work to empower America's defenders with the tools and solutions needed to address our National Security Community's toughest challenges. SilverEdge is based in Columbia, MD. For more information, please visit the SilverEdge website at www.silveredge-gs.com. About Godspeed Capital Godspeed Capital is a lower middle-market Defense & Government services, solutions, and technology focused private equity firm investing alongside forward-thinking management teams that seek an experienced and innovative investment partner with unique sector expertise, operational insight, and flexible capital for growth. While a typical investment will involve companies generating approximately $3 million to $30 million of EBITDA, Godspeed Capital has significant support to complete larger transactions through strategic co-invest relationships. The firm focuses on control buyouts, buy-and-builds, corporate carve-outs, and special situations. For more information, please visit the Godspeed Capital website at www.godspeedcm.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005352/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions Announces Winners of Sixth Annual Legal Innovator Awards The winners of Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions' sixth annual Legal Innovator Awards were announced earlier this month during the ELM Amplify 2022 user conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. ELM Solutions clients Novartis and The Cincinnati Insurance Company were honored for their commitment to innovation in the pursuit of more efficient and predictable legal services. The annual Legal Innovator Awards recognize ELM Solutions clients who have successfully leveraged technology to transform legal operations. Novartis is a leading global medicines company, using innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. The company worked with a cross-functional ELM Solutions team to configure Passport to support an improved invoice review process and enhanced relationships with outside counsel. This resulted in greater efficiency while also promoting case management techniques internally. The Cincinnati Insurance Company is a recognized leader in the property and casualty (P&C) and life insurance industry. The organization - and its in-house Legal Resource Control Unit (LRCU) - was recognized for its Passport implementation project, which enhanced its legal bill review and reporting capabilities, while also developing a robust scorecard for use in outside counsel performance reviews. Additionally, the project enabled more efficient reporting capabilities and the ability to provide other business partners with valuable data. "We are gratified to be able to recognize these clients for the tremendous spirit of innovation and partnership they have brought to the legal operations function," said Barry Ader, Vice President of Product Management and Marketing at Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions. "Their innovative use of the Passport solution demonstrates the power of technology to transform the way that corporate legal departments are doing business, yielding new efficiencies and additional insights into outside counsel relationships." ELM Solutions, part of Wolters Kluwer GRC, is a market-leading global provider of enterprise legal spend and matter management, contract lifecycle management and legal analytics solutions. The company provides a comprehensive suite of tools that address the growing needs of corporate legal operations departments to increase operational efficiency and reduce costs. Corporate legal and insurance claims departments trust its innovative technology and end-to-end customer experience to drive world-class business outcomes. The other legal solutions business of Wolters Kluwer GRC is CT Corporation. The division's banking and regulatory compliance businesses are Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions and Wolters Kluwer Finance, Risk & Regulatory Reporting. Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions was named a leader in both the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Enterprise Legal Spend Management 2020 Vendor Assessment and IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Enterprise Matter Management 2020 Vendor Assessment. The company's award-winning products include Passport, one of the highest rated ELM solutions in the latest Hyperion MarketView Legal Market Intelligence Report and TyMetrix 360, the industry's leading SaaS-based e-billing and matter management solution. CLM Matrix, meanwhile, was named a "strong performer" in The Forrester Wave: Contract Lifecycle Management For All Contracts, Q1 2021 report. ELM Solutions' LegalVIEW portfolio of legal analytics solutions is based upon the industry's largest and most comprehensive legal spend database, with more than $150 billion in invoices. # # # About Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk & Compliance Governance, Risk & Compliance is a division of Wolters Kluwer, which provides legal and banking professionals with solutions to help ensure compliance with ever-changing regulatory and legal obligations, manage risk, increase efficiency, and produce better business outcomes. GRC offers a portfolio of technology-enabled expert services and solutions focused on legal entity compliance, legal operations management, banking product compliance, and banking regulatory compliance. Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2021 annual revenues of 4.8 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,800 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005204/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] DE-CIX and FirstLight Partner to Offer Transport to Peering at DE-CIX New York DE-CIX, the world's leading Internet Exchange (IX) operator and home to the largest carrier and data center neutral interconnection ecosystem on the planet, welcomes FirstLight to its North American Transport Partner program. FirstLight is a leading service provider in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, offering a full suite of digital infrastructure solutions over its fiber optic network, including high quality connectivity, security solutions, cloud services, managed services, and more. The partnership leverages an interconnection agreement to enable FirstLight's customer's seamless access to DE-CIX New York, the largest carrier and data center neutral and Open-IX certified IX operating on the entire Eastern Seaboard. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005017/en/ FirstLight joins DE-CIX North America's Transport Partner program offering the opportunity for more networks to gain access to the market's leading multi-service interconnection platform without additional colocation requirements. With this partnership, customers can now leverage FirstLight's transport network for turnkey access to DE-CIX New York at 325 Hudson Street. Additionally, DE-CIX's interconnected global IX fabric enables organizations that operate their own network - including universities, research and educational institutions, government agencies and more - the ability to leverage aprivate transport connection to reach DE-CIX to directly peer with content providers, ISPs, carriers, enterprise businesses and more. "We are delighted to have FirstLight with their expansive footprint and services offer turnkey connectivity to DE-CIX New York," comments Ed d'Agostino, VP and General Manager of DE-CIX North America. "Many networks in New York and New England already use FirstLight's transport to reach us. And now, with their new network throughout Pennsylvania, FirstLight can offer colleges, universities, ISPs, and businesses throughout Pennsylvania easy connectivity to DE-CIX." "FirstLight is thrilled to expand our role in the DE-CIX New York interconnection ecosystem," comments Kurt Van Wagenen, President and CEO of FirstLight. "We're committed to providing organizations with access to the high-quality connectivity and solutions they need to thrive in our digital world. Enabling seamless, low latency access to the world's largest neutral IX operator is a benefit to all of our customers." The interconnection partnership opens up access to DE-CIX from nearly any point on the FirstLight network, enabling access from tens of thousands of more locations. To learn more about FirstLight and its wholly-owned 25,000+ miles of fiber network, spanning six states throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets, visit: www.firstlight.net. For information about peering, direct cloud access, private connections, and more, visit: www.de-cix.net. About DE-CIX North America DE-CIX North America Inc., established in 2013, is a wholly owned subsidiary of DE-CIX International AG, the international arm of DE-CIX, the world's leading Internet Exchange operator. Together, the DE-CIX Internet Exchanges in New York, Dallas, Chicago, Richmond and Phoenix create the largest neutral interconnection ecosystem in North America. DE-CIX is providing network and data center-neutral peering and interconnection services in North America. With access to DE-CIX North Americas' Internet Exchanges, customers gain more control of their networks and access to world-class content providers, as well as IP transit, Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Blackholing services to mitigate the effects of DDoS attacks. DE-CIX New York is the 5th largest Internet Exchange in the US. It is carrier and data center-neutral and Open-IX certified. The IX platform is distributed across major carrier hotels and data centers throughout each metro region it serves. DE-CIX operates more access points than any other Internet Exchange in North America. For more information, please visit https://www.de-cix.net/north-america. About FirstLight FirstLight, headquartered in Albany, New York, provides fiber-optic data, Internet, data center, cloud and voice services to enterprise and carrier customers throughout the Northeast connecting more than 13,000 locations in service with more than 125,000 locations serviceable by our more than 25,000-route mile network. FirstLight offers a robust suite of advanced telecommunications products featuring a comprehensive portfolio of high bandwidth connectivity solutions including Ethernet, wavelength, and dark fiber services as well as dedicated Internet access solutions, data center, cloud and voice services. FirstLight's clientele includes national cellular providers and wireline carriers and many leading enterprises, spanning high tech manufacturing and research, hospitals and healthcare, banking and financial, secondary education, colleges and universities, and local and state governments. To learn more about FirstLight, visit www.firstlight.net, or follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005017/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] VEON's Kyivstar CTO Crowned Telco Executive of the Year Telco Community Votes Volodymyr Lutchenko as Telco Executive of the Year in Network X Awards Kyiv, Ukraine, 24 October 2022 - Kyivstar, the largest mobile operator in Ukraine, announces that Volodymyr Lutchenko, Chief Technology Officer has been named Network Xs Telco Executive of the Year. The award recognises the outstanding achievements of an individual telco executive, voted for by industry peers, and acknowledges Volodymyrs extraordinary accomplishments over the past year. On declaring Volodymyr the winner, Network X expressed, Volodymyr has been recognised by his industry peers as being a trailblazer in the telecoms industry. His determination to keep networks connected, as well as the bravery of his Kyivstar colleagues in the field, has guaranteed essential communications for the people of Ukraine. Building such a resilient network and conducting repairs in such dangerous circumstances has afforded a lifeline to Ukrainians. The Network X Telco Executive of the Year award is bestowed upon an individual who has championed innovation and demonstrated excellence in telecoms. The shortlist was decided by influential telco executives, with Volodymyrs win decided by the public within the 5G, Broadband and Telco Cloud community. "In this unprecedented time for Ukraine, we are proud that Kyivstar was able to preserve and provide people with vital communication and Internet services. Thanks to Volodmyr and his team, 93% of the company's telecom network is working as usual, and we are not only restoring what was destroyed, but also developing, building new communication facilities, helping the country to overcome the challenges of wartime, said Oleksandr Komarov, Kyivstar President Lutchenko took over the technical direction of Kyivstar in October 2021. Under his leadership, a set of technical measures have been implemented to protect the company's telecom infrastructure from the threats of war. Already in 2022, his team have completed the construction of 439 new LTE base stations, upgraded 6,200 existing base stations to increase the speed of mobile Internet, provided 1,280 bomb shelters throughout Ukraine and created more than 600 modular houses connected to the internet for internally displaced people. As well as this he is also responsible for protecting the company's network from phishing and DDoS attacks, the number of which increased during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine to 200% compared to last year. "Being able to keep people connected is an honor and I am very grateful to my industry peers and the telecom community for choosing me for this award. To my team at Kyivstar, I would like to express my gratitude for the tremendous work you have all done to keep mobile networks operating across Ukraine in such dangerous conditions", said Vladimir Lutchenko. ends About Kyivstar Kyivstar is Ukraine's largest provider of electronic communications services, serving 26.2 million mobile phone subscribers and over 1 million subscribers to the Home Internet as of the end of 2021. The company provides services based on a wide range of mobile and fixed technologies, including 4G. Today more than 90% of Ukraine's population lives in the LTE coverage area of Kyivstar. The company provides the highest average mobile data transfer speeds among Ukrainian mobile operators, as confirmed by Ookla's Speedtest research. The company's customers have access to mobile, fixed-line Internet, convergent solutions, innovative Big Data, IoT, Cloud solutions, mobile financial services, digital TV, etc. Kyivstar has been operating in Ukraine for 24 years and is recognized as the largest taxpayer in the communications market, the best employer, and a socially responsible company. For more information: [email protected], www.kyivstar.ua. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] FOX News Channel to Present a Town Hall With Ohio U.S. Senate Candidates Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) and Republican J.D. Vance FOX News Channel (FNC) will host a town hall with Ohio U.S. Senate candidates Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) and Republican J.D. Vance on Tuesday, November 1. Co-moderated by FNC's chief political anchor Special Report's Bret Baier and The Story anchor and executive editor Martha MacCallum, the forum will take place in Columbus, Ohio from 6-7 PM/ET. The event will feature a live audience of bipartisan Ohio voters and focus on key issues facing the swing state ahead of the midterm election on November 8. MacCallum will host a preview of the town hall during The Story at 3 PM/ET on Tuesday. Since joining the network, Baier and MacCallum have played critical roles in coverage of every major political event across all of FOX News Media's platforms. Throughout FNC's Democracy 2022 election coverage, the duo have provide viewers with the latest in political news and analysis. Additionally, their respective programs, Special Report with Bret Baier (weekdays, 6 PM/ET) and The Story with Martha MacCallum (weekdays, 3 PM/ET), dominate their cable news timeslots, outpacing CNN and MSNBC across the board. FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service and has been the number one network in basic cable for the last six years and the most-watched television news channel for more than 20 consecutive years, currently attracting more than 50% of the cable news viewing audience according to Nielsen Media Research. Notably, Nielsen/MRI Fusion has consistently shown FNC to be the network of choice for more Democrat and Independent viewers, with the most politically diverse audience in cable news. Additionally, a 2021 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report stated FOX News leads the news industry in both brand loyalty, engagement, and expectations while a 2022 Brand Keys poll showed FNC dominating morning and evening news in customer loyalty engagement. Owned by Fox Corporation, FNC is available in nearly 80 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top 15 programs in the genre. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005760/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] Trusting Heart Blood Center Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Opening of its Third Platelet Collection, Manufacturing and Distribution Facility BEAVERTON, Ore., Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trusting Heart Blood Center (THBC) held a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 20, 2022, to commemorate the opening of its new platelet donation and manufacturing site in Beaverton, Oregon. This is the third THBC center established in the United States, joining the first center in Edina, Minnesota, opened in late 2020, and the second center in Raleigh, North Carolina, opened in March of 2022. Additional THBC facilities are planned to open across the United States in the near future. As patients across the U.S. continue to experience the postponement of vital treatments as a result of rising blood and platelet shortages, Trusting Heart is proud to have taken another step forward in working to solve this endemic problem with our new site in Beaverton, said Eric Rosa, of Trusting Heart Blood Center. This ribbon-cutting marks the official beginning of the newest chapter in our mission towards combatting the ever-growing blood platelet shortage. Our paid blood donation model is a proven means of restoring blood component supply chain integrity, and we look forward to reducing sourcing risks for an increasing number of hospitals throughout the Pacific Northwest. We are grateful for the opportunity to be a beacon of hope, trust, and to improve quality of patients lives in this community, and we thank the greater Portland area welcoming us with open arms. Building a community of recurring, impassioned donors by offering a first-in-class experience with state-of-the-art facilities and by responsibly compensating donors for their time, THBC is reimagining the typical platelet donation experience to recruit and maintain a new generation of blood donors. Platelets collected at THBC can supplement and diversify hospitals supplies with 100% pathogen-reduced, single-donor apheresis platelets. By partnering with hospitals and donors, THBC sends safe, donated platelets to communities where they are used within days, helping patients struggling with diseases like cancer or undergoing major surgeries. The new faility is located at 11350 SW Canyon Rd, Suite 201 in Beaverton, Oregon. Individuals interested in joining the THBC mission and becoming donors can find more information on our website. About the Platelet Shortage Each day, hospitals around the U.S. require an average of 7,000 platelet doses, and with the national blood and platelet shortages, a significant number of hospitals are struggling to meet this demand. The majority of platelet transfusions at hospitals are used to prevent bleeding in certain cancer patients and those undergoing cardiac surgeries and organ transplants. Platelets have a shorter shelf life than blood alone and must be transfused within five to seven days from collection, driving a continuous need. Exacerbated by industry challenges to the effective recruitment of blood donors, hospital demand for platelet units continues to exceed available supply. About Trusting Heart Blood Center Do Good. Get Paid. Save Lives. Building a community of recurring, impassioned donors by offering a first-in-class experience with state-of-the-art facilities and by responsibly compensating donors for their time, THBC is reimagining the typical platelet donation experience to recruit and maintain a new generation of blood donors. Platelets collected at THBC can supplement and diversify hospitals supplies with 100% pathogen-reduced, single-donor apheresis platelets. By partnering with hospitals and donors, THBC sends safe, donated platelets to communities where they are used within days, helping patients struggling with diseases like cancer or undergoing major surgeries. Our donors give back to the community, and we believe in giving back to them. Individuals interested in becoming donors can find more information at our website here, or call (844)-222-7001. Company Contact: Trusting Heart Blood Center [email protected] (844) 222-7001 Media Contact: Mike Tattory LifeSci Communications [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] Maryland Students, Navy Pilots to Hear from NASA Astronauts in Space WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pilots from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland, and students across southern Maryland will have an opportunity this week to hear from NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The space-to-Earth call will air live at 11:35 a.m. EDT Thursday, Oct. 27, on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website. NASA astronauts Josh Cassada, Nicole Mann, and Frank Rubio will answer prerecorded questions from aviators and local K-12 students. Cassada and Mann both attended U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, more than 90 graduates of which have gone on to become NASA astronauts. The downlink will bring together test pilots and students from across the region, who will join remotely through live watch parties and NASA and aviation-focused STEM activities. Media interested in covering the event should contact Brittany Dickerson at: [email protected] or 301-757-0322. For more than 21 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the space station, testing technologies, performing science, and developing the skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Astronauts living in space aboard the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through the Near Space Network Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS). As part of Artemis, NASA will send astronauts to the Moon, to prepare for future human exploration of Mars. Inspiring the next generation of explorers the Artemis Generation ensures America will continue to lead in space exploration and discovery. To find out which astronauts graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maryland-students-navy-pilots-to-hear-from-nasa-astronauts-in-space-301657558.html SOURCE NASA [October 24, 2022] Napa Valley Vintners Fundraising Begins for Reforestation and Wildfire Resiliency Efforts SAINT HELENA, Calif., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting now, wine enthusiasts around the world can contribute to environmental efforts to protect the future of Napa Valley. In the spirit of coming together to do good, members of the Napa Valley Vintners have put together a fund-a-need campaign alongside five exceptional fund-a-forest experiences that take place in Napa Valley in 2023. "The climate and biodiversity crises are upon us, and Napa Valley has seen the impacts firsthand." "Anyone who has an interest in Napa Valley's natural environment and beauty has an opportunity to contribute. We recognize this is a crisis, but we are also comforted to know that we have ways to mitigate and minimize damage caused by wildfires for our entire community," said Bart Araujo, Co-Chair of the Collective Napa Valley Vintage Celebration and co-proprietor of Accendo Cellars and Wheeler Farms. Guests will experience once-in-a-lifetime experiences featuring Michelin-starred chefs, extraordinary tastings and access to Napa Valley's legendary winemakers including: Prized Pairing: PROMONTORY and three-Stared Mchelin Chef Kyle Connaughton PROMONTORY and three-Stared Mchelin Chef A Perfect Evening on Pritchard Hill: Chef Elliot Bell , Chappellet Vineyard, Continuum Estate, David Arthur Vineyards, Gandona Estate and OVID. Napa Valley Chef , Chappellet Vineyard, Continuum Estate, David Arthur Vineyards, Gandona Estate and OVID. Innovation and Collaboration in Napa Valley : James Molesworth of Wine Spectator, Burgess Cellars, Chimney Rock Winery, Matthiasson, Trois Noix, Chef Gerald Sombright and Executive Chef Casey Thompson of Folktable of Wine Spectator, Burgess Cellars, Chimney Rock Winery, Matthiasson, Trois Noix, Chef and Executive Chef of Folktable Leading Ladies of Wine: Cathy Corison , Gina Gallo , Helen Keplinger , Francoise Peschon and Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson , , , Francoise Peschon and Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson 6-Star Supernova Dining: Araujo family and Michelin three-Starred chefs Thomas Keller and Christopher Kostow November 5 during the live fundraising weekend. Proceeds will help protect the Napa community by meaningfully addressing our most urgent wildfire and environmental stewardship efforts. NVV will support Napa County Firewise Foundation and Napa County Resource Conversation District, and is making the commitment to: Establish and maintain protective firebreaks over 100 miles Restore our forest health and resiliency by planting trees through the Million Tree Napa program "The climate and biodiversity crises are upon us, and Napa Valley has seen the impacts firsthand. Now is the time to improve forest health for our well-being and future," said Lucas Patzek, Executive Director of Napa County Resource Conservation District. Those wishing to contribute can do so now at CollectiveNapaValley.org. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/napa-valley-vintners-fundraising-begins-for-reforestation-and-wildfire-resiliency-efforts-301657560.html SOURCE Napa Valley Vintners [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] CIRI Will Reunite the IR Community at the 2023 Annual Conference The Canadian Investor Relations Institute (CIRI), Canada's national association representing investor relations professionals, is pleased to announce that the 2023 Annual Conference will be held in person on May 28-30, 2023 at the Hilton Toronto. This Conference will draw on investor relations, ESG and capital markets experts to deliver an engaging event that examines the transformational change the investor relations role has undergone. "After several years of virtual events, including our annual conference that is the educational and networking event for Canadian IROs each year, it will be invigorating to reunite the IR community in person to explore how practices have evolved and to shape the future of the profession," said Yvette Lokker, President & CEO, CIRI. "This event will allow the IR community to connect, share experiences and learn from one another through an interactive, in-person program." Building on past success, this event will include all the elements that make the Annual Conference a hallmark affair for Canadian IROs including: general and breakout sessions; panel discussions; interactive roundtables; opportunities to engage with suppliers; and fun and interactive social events that facilitate peer-to-peer connections. With theshift to in person, the rates to attend the event are $1,295 for members and $1,895 for non-members. An early bird discount of $100 is available until February 17, 2023. To register, click here. Service providers interested in attending the 2023 Annual Conference must register as an exhibitor or sponsor. To learn more about exhibiting and sponsoring, click here. More details will be available on the soon-to-be-launched Annual Conference website. About CIRI CIRI is a professional, not-for-profit association of executives responsible for communication between public corporations, investors and the financial community. CIRI contributes to the transparency and integrity of the Canadian capital markets by advancing the practice of investor relations, the professional competency of its members and the stature of the profession. With close to 500 members and four Chapters across the country, CIRI is the voice of IR in Canada. For further information, please visit CIRI.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221024005945/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2022] Cboe Global Markets and SBI Holdings, Inc. Sign Memorandum of Understanding CHICAGO, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), a leading provider of global market infrastructure and tradable products, and SBI Holdings, Inc. ("SBI"), a pioneer of internet financial services in Japan, today announced the companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MoU") whereby they have agreed to discuss potential business collaboration opportunities in the areas of traditional and digital finance. The MoU between Cboe and SBI lays the foundation for the potential exchange of resources and information with respect to pursuing cooperation and planned joint business initiatives between the two firms in equities, digital assets, and other financial products and services, subject to any applicable regulatory approvals. The MoU creates the opportunity for Cboe and its Japanese equities market, Cboe Japan (formerly Chi-X Japan), to potentially reach additional investors and expand its presence in the Asia Pacific financial markets, and for SBI to leverage Cboe's expertise in equities and digital assets in an effort to expand its offering and global distribution network. "Cboe is pleased to enter into this memorandum of understanding with SBI and we look forward to working together to leverage the expertise of our respective companies in mutually beneficial ways," said Ed Tilly, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Cboe Global Markets. "SBI's diverse business across financial services, including its leadership position in Japanese equities, will provide the opportunity for Cboe to expand our presence in the region, bringing innovative technology, products and services to even more investors. Further, our recent expansion into digital assets through Cboe Digital, a market and clearinghouse based on the exchange principles of transparency and regulatory compliance, supported by a network of intermediaries, providing client-driven solutions that help institutions fully embrace this emerging asset class, will provide SBI the opportunity to grow its global network for providing products and services in the digital asset space." Yoshitaka Kitao, Representative Director, Chairman, President and CEO of SBI Holdings stated, "I recognize that Cboe and SBI Group have a lot in common; both led the reform of the financial industry and have aggressively entered into the field of digital finance by utilizing cutting-edge technology. The chemistry between the two companies will bring about new waves of changes to the Japanese financial market and promote regulatory reforms in Japan that will benefit investors in Japan, especially, the retail investors, and ultimately contribute to solving the long-standing social issue of 'shifting from savings to investment'." Headquartered in Tokyo, SBI has significantly grown its business as a pioneer of internet finance service in Japan through its financial services businesses that include brokerage, banking, insurance, and asset management. In the proprietary trading system (PTS) business, SBI has contributed to the establishment of a fair and stable trading market as the major shareholder of Japannext Co., Ltd., which is Japan's largest proprietary trading business operator. Recently, SBI has begun proactively engaging in the expansion of its business in the field of digital finance through the use of distributed ledger technology such as security tokens and striving to create a global corridor that supports the consistent function of issuance, distribution, and custody for security tokens. About Cboe Global Markets, Inc. Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE), a leading provider of market infrastructure and tradable products, delivers cutting-edge trading, clearing and investment solutions to market participants around the world. The company is committed to operating a trusted, inclusive global marketplace, providing leading products, technology and data solutions that enable participants to define a sustainable financial future. Cboe provides trading solutions and products in multiple asset classes, including equities, derivatives, FX, and digital assets, across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more, visit cboe.com. Media Contacts Analyst Contact Angela Tu Tim Cave Kenneth Hill, CFA +1-646-856-8734 +44 (0) 7593-506-719 +1-312-786-7559 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] CBOE-C Cboe, Cboe Global Markets, Cboe Volatility Index, and VIX are registered trademarks of Cboe Exchange, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may," "might," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue," and the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. All statements that reflect our expectations, assumptions or projections about the future other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the loss of our right to exclusively list and trade certain index options and futures products; economic, political and market conditions; compliance with legal and regulatory obligations; price competition and consolidation in our industry; decreases in trading or clearing volumes, market data fees or a shift in the mix of products traded on our exchanges; legislative or regulatory changes or changes in tax regimes; our ability to protect our systems and communication networks from security risks, cybersecurity risks, insider threats and unauthorized disclosure of confidential information; our ability to attract and retain skilled management and other personnel; increasing competition by foreign and domestic entities; our dependence on and exposure to risk from third parties; fluctuations to currency exchange rates; factors that impact the quality and integrity of our indices; the impact of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic; our ability to operate our business without violating the intellectual property rights of others and the costs associated with protecting our intellectual property rights; our ability to minimize the risks, including our credit and default risks, associated with operating a European clearinghouse; our ability to accommodate trading and clearing volume and transaction traffic, including significant increases, without failure or degradation of performance of our systems; misconduct by those who use our markets or our products or for whom we clear transactions; challenges to our use of open source software code; our ability to meet our compliance obligations, including managing potential conflicts between our regulatory responsibilities and our for-profit status; our ability to maintain BIDS Trading as an independently managed and operated trading venue, separate from and not integrated with our registered national securities exchanges; damage to our reputation; the ability of our compliance and risk management methods to effectively monitor and manage our risks; our ability to manage our growth and strategic acquisitions or alliances effectively; restrictions imposed by our debt obligations and our ability to make payments on or refinance our debt obligations; our ability to maintain an investment grade credit rating; impairment of our goodwill, long-lived assets, investments or intangible assets; the accuracy of our estimates and expectations; litigation risks and other liabilities; and operating a digital asset business and clearinghouse, including the expected benefits of our ErisX acquisition, cybercrime, changes in digital asset regulation, losses due to digital asset custody, and fluctuations in digital asset prices. More detailed information about factors that may affect our actual results to differ may be found in our filings with the SEC, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and other filings made from time to time with the SEC. We do not undertake, and we expressly disclaim, any duty to update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cboe-global-markets-and-sbi-holdings-inc-sign-memorandum-of-understanding-301657722.html SOURCE Cboe Global Markets, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Once again the local discourse turns nasty . . . MEAN JEAN'S OFFICE ENDURES THREATS AFTER DROPPING CASE AGAINST WOMAN WHO SHOT FIREFIGHTER DEAD!!! Here's what they had to say . . . "Our office has received numerous phone calls with offensive racist and sexist language. These phone calls also include violent threats to our employees and the elected prosecutor. Our employees are public servants who offer their careers and lives. They work hard to uphold the rule of law. The rule of law required that this case be declined." Read the statement in full on their website . . . Notice that there's an MP3 included that's pretty explicit, breathy and hateful . . . Filled with N-word garbage . . . Racist, threatening messages come to Jackson County prosecutor's office More nasty behind the scenes chatter and a glimpse at the scary words sent to the courthouse: The prosecutors office shared one of the voicemails directed at Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, which included racist and sexist slurs. Were going to burn your f---ing house, the called said. Were f---ing coming for you. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . New details released after callers threaten Jackson County prosecutor KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office has released additional details after receiving racist, threatening calls regarding the fact that charges will not be filed in the fatal shooting of an off-duty firefighter. The prosecutor's office wrote and shared a statement Monday, which includes a link at the end to an .mp3 of one of the voicemails the office received. Jackson Co. Prosecutor's office threatened after firefighter's death KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Jackson County Prosecutor's office said it is being threatened after charges were not filed against a woman in a deadly shooting involving a Kansas City, Missouri, firefighter. The numerous threats began Monday morning, according to the prosecutor's office. Jackson County Prosecutor's Office receives threats after decision not to file charges in KC firefighter's death The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office said it has received racist and threatening messages after it announced last week that no charges would be filed in the shooting death of off-duty Kansas City firefighter Anthony Santi.Prosecutors said they received several phone calls Monday "with offensive racist and sexist language," which included violent threats to employees and the prosecutor. Developing . . . Here's the latest local murder report following another violent local weekend . . . And quite a few shootings, fights and property crime that DIDN'T make the news. Check-it . . . Homicide 3200 block of Quincy Tonight at about 10:15 PM officers were dispatched to the 3200 block of Quincy in regard to sound of shots. While officers were in route the call was updated to a shooting. As officers arrived they were directed toward an adult male who had been shot and was unresponsive. Officers began CPR at that time. EMS arrived and pronounced the victim deceased. We do not have any suspect information and are asking for the publics help. Detectives and crime scene personnel have responded to the scene and are actively canvassing for witnesses and processing the scene for evidence. If you have any information please call the Homicide Unit at 234-5043. If you wish to remain anonymous you can call the TIPS hotline at 474-TIPS, with up to a $25,000 reward for an arrest in this case. ############## Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . One dead following shooting in Kansas City KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Kansas City police are investigating a deadly shooting that happened late Sunday night. One person died in the shooting, which happened at 10:17 p.m. in the 3200 block of Quincy Drive. There's no information at this time about the victim. No suspect has been apprehended as of yet. KCPD investigating fatal shooting in 3200 block of Quincy KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting in the 3200 block of Quincy. Police say officers were first called to the scene around 10:15 p.m. Sunday on a call of the sound of shots. While en route, the call was upgraded to a shooting. Developing . . . Right now angel Elsa inspires this peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines for our most loyal denizens of the discourse . . . Check www.TonysKansasCity.com news gathering . . . Kansas City Brush Fire Beat Down Crews from 10 fire departments still working on mulch fire along I-470 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Firefighters from 10 different agencies are still putting out hot spots from a large mulch fire that got out of control Sunday. The blaze can be seen easily from the highway. Kansas City Scout warns drivers in the area to be prepared to stop if using I-470. Local Esquire Overruled North KC lawyer disbarred after accusing judges of lying, committing crimes TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A North Kansas City lawyer has been disbarred after he accused federal judges of lying and committing crimes. The Kansas Supreme Court says that in Case No. 124 . . . Culture In The Dotte Debuts Open-mic fundraiser to benefit the Alcott Arts Center The Alcott Arts Center helps to nurture artistic talent, provide a place to teach, learn, exhibit and perform in an environment that bolsters their community and brings people of diverse cultures for a common cause: the arts. Angel Fashions New Gear Elsa Hosk excites fashion fans with her bodycon dress Former Victoria's Secret Angel Elsa Hosk maybe have hung up her wings, but the 33-year-old model still loves to engage with her fans and her micro mini dress debut carried an exciting message for fans. First Family Sticks Together Jill Biden's reality-denying protests that Hunter's 'innocent' "Everybody and their brother has investigated Hunter," First Lady Jill Biden told NBC News last week. "They keep at it, and at it, and at it," yet "I know that Hunter is innocent." Message: President Joe Biden's wife is as big a liar as he is, and they both want the prosecutors who work for Joe to close this thing down as quietly as possible. MAGA Takes The Stand?!? Jan. 6 panel will not rule out taking live testimony from Trump, Cheney says Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., on Sunday did not rule out the possibility of the House Jan. 6 committee taking live televised testimony from former President Donald Trump. Trump has not publicly indicated how he would respond to the subpoena for his testimony and documents, issued by the committee Friday. Far East Power Play Underway In Mao's footsteps: Xi Jinping puts himself at core of China's government Xi Jinping has eliminated key rivals from China's leadership and consolidated his grip on the country on the final day of a Communist party meeting at which former president Hu Jintao was led away unexpectedly from the main stage. Hu's departure was a rare moment of unscripted drama in what is usually carefully choreographed political theatre. Euro-Trashed By Nukes??? 'We are and should be worried' of Putin's nuclear threat, Ukrainian general says: Exclusive The commander of Ukraine's ground forces General Oleksandr Syrskiy, in an exclusive interview with ABC News' Chief Foreign Correspondent Ian Pannell, said the world should be worried about Russian President Vladimir Putin's threat to use nuclear weapons. Cinematic Final Act Teased 'I'm deadly serious': why filmmaker Michael Moore is confident of a Democratic midterm win or the past month, Academy Award-winning documentary maker Michael Moore has been emailing out a daily missive "Mike's Midterm Tsunami of Truth" on why he believes Democrats will win big in America's midterm elections next month. Moore calls it "a brief honest daily dose of the truth - and the real optimism these truths offer us". Law Stays Winning Over Sacraments . . . The Seal of Confession could be latest casualty of sex abuse crisis LEICESTER, United Kingdom - A new report in the United Kingdom is recommending legislation that will mandate the reporting of child abuse, and specifically says no exemptions should be given for sacramental confession, which could lead to a clash with a central tenet of Catholic teaching. Cowtown Drama Debuts . . . KC Public Presents a Streamlined & Innovative "Faustus" - KC STUDIO Joshua Gleeson and Kitty Corum in "Faustus" (KC Public) As part of its mission to engage in "radical hospitality" through theatre, Kansas City Public Theatre chooses to stage its productions in unconventional and publicly accessible locations. Their current run of Faustus is mounted at the Fountain City Winery in the West Bottoms, a venue that... Autumn Arrives Again FORECAST: Wind advisory issued with gusts up to 45 miles per hour expected Temperatures are starting off in the mid- to upper-60s with a few folks still feeling 70s this morning. The main weather feature you'll notice today will be the wind. We're already measuring wind speeds between 15 and 20 miles per hour at KCI and that is expected to increase to near 25 or 28 miles an hour with some gusts as strong as 45 miles per hour. And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Im having trouble paying my rent. Are flexible payment options that split it in two a good idea? Similar to buy now, pay later opinions, Zenbase pays your landlord on the first of the month, allowing you to pay your rent in installments. Police are appealing to the public for help in finding a missing woman who was last seen in North York. The Minister of the Armed Forces of France, Sebastien Lecornu, after talking with Russian defense chief Sergei Shoigu, will soon talk with his Ukrainian counterpart. This is stated in the press release of the French ministry posted on Twitter, Ukrinform reports. The release states that on October 23, Lecornu had a conversation with his Russian colleague Sergei Shoigu at the latter's request, during which Shoigu claimed that he was "concerned over a dirty bomb attack on the territory of Ukraine in order to blame Russia for this." In this regard, the statement reads: "The Minister of Armed Forces recalled that France rejects any form of escalation, including nuclear escalation. France calls on Russia to stop its aggressive war against Ukraine, and does everything possible to promote de-escalation." Lecornu also emphasized that France is determined to contribute to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, together with its allies. "The ministers agreed to maintain contact. In the near future, the minister of the armed forces will have a conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart," the communique states. As reported, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu, held phone calls with the top defense officials of France, Turkey, and Great Britain, during which he "expressed concern" in connection with the alleged possible use of the so-called "dirty bomb" by Ukraine. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba of Ukraine has decried the Russian claim, stating that his country is committed to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, adding that Russia traditionally blames others for what it plans to do itself. Over the past 24 hours, Ukraines Defense Forces have repelled attacks by the invaders in the areas of Zemlianka and Chuhunivka of Kharkiv region, as well as Soledar, Bakhmut, Andriivka, Klishchiivka, Novomykhailivka, Maryinka, Nevelske, Pervomaiske, and Avdiivka of Donetsk region. Thats according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports. The enemy is trying to hold the temporarily captured territories, improve their tactical position, focus efforts on restraining the actions of Ukraines forces in certain directions, and at the same time continuing offensive missions in the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions. According to available reports, the Russian Federation is training part of the mobilized servicemen at the combined military training grounds and in the training for certain military specialties. The enemy is shelling the positions of Ukrainian troops along the contact line and conducting aerial reconnaissance. Over the past day, the Russian occupiers have launched missile and air strikes on the infrastructure and civilian homes, violating the norms of International Humanitarian Law, the laws and customs of war. Over the past day, the Russians carried out two missile and 28 air strikes, as well as 65 attacks involving multiple rocket launchers. Civilian infrastructure objects were targeted in Bakhmut, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, and Novotavrycheske of Zaporizhia region. The situation in the Volyn and Polissia directions has undergone no significant changes. Throughout October, measures to inspect mobilization resources have been ongoing in Belarus. Special groups have been set up at local executive bodies to clarify personal data of potential conscripts. A threat of missile and air strikes against the critical infrastructure of Ukraine from the territory of Belarus remains in place, including involving Iranian-made one-way attack drones. The enemy opened fire in multiple directions: in the Slobozhansky direction using tanks, mortars, barrel and jet artillery, in the areas of Hryhorivka, Krasne, Ohirtseve, Staritsa, Petro-Ivanivka, Figolivka, Khatne, Chervona Zorya, and Chuhunivka; in the Kupyansk and Lyman directions using tanks and artillery of various calibers, in the areas of Berestivka, Hrekivka, Zarichne, Kovalivka, Makiivka, Yampolivka, Kamianka, and Bilohorivka; in the Bakhmut direction from tanks, mortars, barrel and jet artillery, in the areas of Bakhmutske, Bakhmut, Bilohorivka, Vesele, Zelenopillia, Klishchiivka, Kurdyumivka, New York, Ozaryanivka, Opytne, Soledar, Spirne, and Yakovlivka; in the Avdiivka region from tanks and artillery of various types, in the areas of Avdiivka, Opytne, Vodiane, Nevelske, Krasnohorivka, Kostyantynivka, Pervomaiske, Novomykhailivka, Maryinka, Prechistivka, Novopil, Novosilka, and Zaliznychne; in the Novopavlivka and Zaporizhia directions from barrel and jet artillery in the areas of Velyka Novosilka, Vremivka, Vuhledar, Gulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Malynivka, Mykilske, Olhivske, Pavlivka, and Shevchenko. In the South Buh direction, the enemy opened fire in the populated areas near the contact line. Among them are Shevchenkove, Ternovi Pody, Myrne, Novohryhorivka, Kvitneve, Kiselyvka, Blahodativka, Novopoltavka, Bilohirka, Davydiv Brid, and Trifonivka. The infrastructure in Nikopol and Ilyinka of Dnipropetrovsk region was directly affected by jet and barrel artillery fire. According to updates, the destruction of three BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher systems, as well as the evacuation of about seventy wounded Russian servicemen on October 22 in Mykhailivka, Zaporizhia region, has been confirmed. In the town of Enerhodar, the Russian occupiers rotated personnel servicing the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. Further, the facts of physical and moral pressure exerted on ZNPP staffers in order to force them to sign contracts with Russias Rosatom Corporation are being recorded. In addition, the invaders banned the employees from leaving for the territory controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. Ukraines Air Force in the past day made 11 sorties. It has been confirmed that 11 weapons and equipment clusters have been destroyed. Ukraines air defense units shot down 12 Shahed-136 kamikaze drones. Over the past day, Ukrainian missile and artillery forces hit four enemy control points, five manpower and weapons clusters, four ammunition depots, an anti-aircraft missile system, an artillery firing position, and other important enemy objects. Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov has stated that Ukrainian nuclear sites are open to international organizations, in particular the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The minister wrote this on Facebook in a response to claims by Russia that Ukraine could allegedly use a dirty bomb. Reznikov noted: A guilty conscience gives itself away. Today the Russian federation at the top international level gave an official illustration to this proverb. Lies about a dirty bomb that Ukraine is supposedly preparing to use is an element of the Kremlins usual tactics. The one where Russian criminals are trying to preemptively blame the victim of aggression for their own crime. According to him, this has happened repeatedly since 2014. After 24 February, Russia has been openly threatening to use nuclear weapons. In spring, they deliberately provoked disaster at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, and now they are blackmailing the world with a disaster at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Their missiles pose a threat to other Ukrainian nuclear facilities, he wrote. Reznikov stressed that unlike Moscow, Ukraine has always been extremely responsible in matters of nuclear safety. Even today, Ukrainian nuclear sites are open to the IAEA. It is easy to make sure that Russian statements are nonsense, he noted. The best response to Russian accusations is decisive steps to increase pressure on the criminal terrorist regime in Moscow, as well as active assistance to Ukraine with means that will help cleanse our land from the scourge quicker. So that no one would even think of committing a nuclear crime in Europe, Reznikov said. He added that the attitude towards land in Ukraine has always been special. Today from the reaction of our soldiers and all our people I can see how sincerely they strive to free Ukrainian land from Russian dirt. From projectiles, remnants of equipment, garbage left behind by the Russian hordes. It is not even a military need; it is a mental one. Therefore, even theoretically, it is impossible to imagine that Ukraine is capable of doing something that could cause the long-term contamination of our land. This is nonsense, the defense minister said. He thanked Ukrainian partners who adequately perceive this dangerous Russian twaddle. As reported by Ukrinform, on October 23, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said he had held phone talks with Frances defense minister Sebastien Lecornu, Turkeys Hulusi Akar, and Britains Ben Wallace. During the talks, Shoigu expressed concerns over the alleged possible use of a dirty bomb by Ukraine. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia's statements about the alleged use of a "dirty bomb" by Ukraine indicate that Russia has already prepared all this. Therefore, the world must react to that in the toughest possible way. iy Russian forces currently strike not military facilities, but only civilian ones. Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, said this in an Interview with the Ukrainska Pravda media outlet, Ukrinform reports. "Everything Russia is doing now is an act of terrorism. Its main goal is to sow panic, fear, uncertainty about the future. Panic and fear are the main weapons of terror," said Budanov. According to him, the Russians are trying to inflict serious losses on the Ukrainian energy sector and stop electricity exports from Ukraine in order to affect the economic sector as well. "In general, as they say, plunging Ukraine into complete darkness and cold winter is their dream. However, this will not happen, all our services operate properly. Their dreams will not come true. There are indeed complications, but nothing critical yet. By the way, an interesting point: during the entire previous period [of the war], the Russians mostly hit military targets, and less number of civilian targets. And now they do not hit military objects at all, but only civilian ones, he said. He emphasized that this once again confirms that Russia is a terrorist state and uses terrorist methods to achieve its goals. "In addition, even the very name of the Iranian-made drone Shahed-136 is is about that. They love symbolism and use the symbol of terror," Budanov emphasized. As reported by Ukrinform, between October 10 and 20, Russia launched missile strikes and kamikaze drone attacks across Ukraine, damaging more than 400 facilities in 16 regions, including dozens of energy infrastructure objects. iy Germany will deliver three more IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine as soon as possible, and each of them can protect a large city. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this in a speech at the opening of the 5th German-Ukrainian Business Forum on the reconstruction of Ukraine in Berlin on Monday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. Scholz noted that the Russian invasion on February 24 became a terrible point in history in general and, first and foremost, in the history of Ukraine and Ukrainians. "We support your country politically, financially, economically, humanitarianly, and with weapons. Yes, we are also talking about this at the economic conference. [...] Russia's attacks on civilian infrastructure show that everything must be done to rebuild and protect Ukrainian cities, villages, bridges, streets and railroad tracks. Therefore, I am very glad that our anti-aircraft missile systems and anti-aircraft self-propelled units, and now also IRIS-T, are in Ukraine. [...] This [IRIS-T] system can protect a large city. We will deliver three more such systems to Ukraine as soon as possible," Scholz said. He said that Germany, together with its partners, would support Ukraine for as long as it takes. "This applies to wartime as well as reconstruction. You can rely on Germany, the EU and other friends in the world," he said. On October 11, Germany supplied Ukraine with the first IRIS-T air defense system. On October 14, the Ukrainian Air Force said the system was already on combat duty. The IRIS-T SLM is the most advanced German-made air defense system. It is not even in service with the German Armed Forces yet. The system was developed by Germany's defense company Diehl Defence. The system is designed to destroy cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as aircraft, helicopters and UAVs. Commander of Ukraines Ground Forces Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi believes that the threat of a repeated offensive by Russian troops in the northern direction remains in place, but this will only lead to negative consequences for the Russian army. The general said this in an interview with ABC News, as reported by Ukrinform Syrskyi, in particular, noted that Russia's activity in Belarus really reflects possible preparations for an attempt to transfer hostilities to new territories. "Of course they are getting ready for escalation of the battle and switching the conflict to other combat zones," he told ABC News. "They are getting ready for action aimed at weakening our groupings and, to my mind, the possible purpose of that would be to cut or degrade our lines of communication and supplies." However, the colonel general believes that a repeated offensive in the north will bring Russia no desired result. "They risk stepping on the same rake twice and hitting themselves in the face," he added. As for the southern direction, Syrskyi refused to comment on the battles for Kherson, noting that he believes in the success of our Armed Forces. According to him, the threat of the Russian Federation blowing up the Kakhovska HPP dam should not be underestimated. Asked if he believed Putin would stop if Ukraine succeeded in liberating all of its territory, Syrskyi said it didn't matter, and that the quickest way to end the war was to push Russian troops out of Ukraine as quickly as possible. "We have no other option, we have to go forward, move straight to our state borders," he said, adding that victory would only be when Ukrainian flags were flying over all Ukraine's borders, "including Ukrainian Crimea." As reported by Ukrinform, Syrskyi believes that there is a possibility that Russia will deploy nuclear weapons in a war with Ukraine. The Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksii Reznikov, in a call with his Israeli counterpart Benny Gantz discussed the ways of developing bilateral cooperation. Thats according to a press release by Ukraines Ministry of Defense posted on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. "I had a call with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz. We discussed the security situation in Ukraine, as well as ways to further develop our bilateral cooperation," Reznikov said. The ministers also discussed the provision of humanitarian and medical aid. Read also: Zelensky believes that Israel will still support Ukraine in protecting its sky As Ukrinform reported earlier, on October 18, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz and leader of the country's opposition party, Benjamin Netanyahu, expressed their reluctance to change Israel's stance on sending defense aid to Ukraine. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the government in Kyiv has repeatedly asked Tel-Aviv to provide defensive weapons, in particular air defense systems. Minister of Diaspora Affairs of the Israeli government, Nahman Shai, spoke in favor of providing such military aid to Ukraine. Photo: Oleksii Reznikov / Facebook Over the eight months of war, Ukraine has been breaking the so-called worlds second-strongest army, and from now on Russia will only be a beggar, begging for help including from Iran. Thats according to President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, who spoke in his address to the nation Monday evening, according to Ukrinform. He noted that today, October 24, marks exactly eight months of Russias full-scale war against Ukraine "What has been achieved throughout this time? Weve defended the independence of our state and Russia cannot change that. Step by step, we are liberating Ukrainian land. Now Donbas, Kharkiv region, and Kherson region are in the news. But Zaporizhia region and Crimea will also be there: time will come and all of Ukraine will be free," Zelensky said. The president added that Ukraine is breaking the so-called worlds second-strongest army, and from now on Russia will only be a beggar. "Theyre begging for something in Iran, trying to squeeze something out of Western nations inventing various nonsense about Ukraine. Russian potential is being wasted on a war against our country and the entire free world. There used to be gas influence its no longer there. There used to be military influence its evaporating. There used to be political weight - now its isolation. There used to be ideological ambitions now it's just disgust," Zelensky said. He added that this is a very important change in the configuration in this part of Eurasia: the more of its potential Russia loses now, the more real freedom will be gained by all peoples both around Russia and within its borders. Ukraine will be the first. "The realization of failure is getting stronger in Russia, but keeping this in mind, we have no right to relax. We still have to walk the path to Ukrainian victory. It is a difficult path to go through this winter, which will be the most difficult one in our history, to do the necessary part of the work in the fall, winter, and spring, in order to get the results the state needs, to maintain maximum mobilization of our partners for the sake of the fight for freedom, and not allow our common enemy to split the global pro-democracy coalition this is what we are all doing Ukrainians, Europeans, people of the whole world who value freedom," said Zelensky. As reported, on February 24, Russia began a new stage of its war on Ukraine that had been launched in 2014, a full-scale invasion. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and German Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner discussed the increase in funding security assistance to Ukraine and the need to expel Russia from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). As the Government portal reports, the parties discussed the German government's proposal to increase the budget for security assistance to Ukraine from EUR 697 million to EUR 2 billion in 2023. Shmyhal thanked Lindner for supporting this initiative. Prime Minister Shmyhal and Minister of Finance of Ukraine Serhiy Marchenko informed the German side about the urgent need to restore the energy infrastructure. Further financial cooperation in the long term and Germany's support for the allocation of the EUs macro-financial assistance were also touched upon. Shmyhal thanked the Federal Republic of Germany for supporting sanctions against the aggressor and emphasized the need for adopting a decision to expel Russia from FATF. As reported, Shmyhal makes a working visit to Berlin. ol Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko held an online meeting with Minister of Energy of Belgium Tinne Van der Straeten who pledged to continue to provide support for the Ukrainian energy sector. Galushchenko informed his colleague about the massive shelling of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure. He emphasized that energy workers were trying to promptly carry out repair and restoration works to return electricity and heat to the homes of Ukrainians as soon as possible, the press service of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine reports. Van der Straeten assured Galushchenko that Belgium would continue to support Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression, providing the necessary assistance, including at the energy front. In particular, the next humanitarian cargo will take into account the needs of the energy sector and will be sent to Ukraine by the end of October. The Ministry of Energy noted that Belgium had already sent three shipments of humanitarian aid for the electricity sector with a total weight of more than 31 tonnes to Ukraine and also provided direct aid with goods for the Ukrainian gas sector. The ministers also discussed coordination and support in ensuring energy security in Europe during the heating season in view of Russian energy blackmail. As reported, Japan is ready to provide assistance to Ukraine in rebuilding the energy infrastructure damaged or destroyed as a result of military operations. ol The top diplomats of the USA, France, and Britain made a joint statement, condemning Russia's false attempts to accuse Ukraine of preparing to deploy a "dirty bomb" on its own territory. The text of the joint statement was published on the website of the U.S. Department of State, Ukrinform reports. "We, the Foreign Ministers of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, reiterate our steadfast support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russias ongoing aggression. We remain committed to continue supporting Ukraines efforts to defend its territory for as long as it takes," the statement emphasizes. At the same time, it is noted that the heads of defense agencies of the three states previously spoke with Russian defense chief Sergei Shoigu, at the latters request. The statement also says all three countries expressed a single position, namely that they "reject Russias transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory." In addition, the Western nations have warned the Russian Federation that they will expose any attempt by the Kremlin to use these accusations as a pretext for escalation. "We further reject any pretext for escalation by Russia," the joint statement underlines. As Ukrinform reported earlier, on Sunday the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, discussed with the head of the U.S. State Department Antony Blinken the false narratives, spread by the Russian Federation, about the "dirty bomb" plot, as well as the supply of air defense equipment to Ukraine. There will be no negotiations with Russia, and the latter will definitely end up in isolation. Thats according to the head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office, Andriy Yermak, who made the statement via Telegram, Ukrinform reports. "Russia's dirty blackmail looks very primitive. Dirty manipulation involving the Zaporizhia NPP, dirty intimidation involving the Kakhovska HPP, a dirty terrorist attack against Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka, as well as a dirty war against the civilian population and terror amid defeats on the battlefield... A dirty state named Russia with rather primitive constructions," Yermak emphasized. According to the chief of the Presidents Office, "everyone has long stopped being afraid of Russia because they are weak cowards who dream of negotiations to stop their collapse." "The whole world is seeing this. There will be no negotiations. And everything dirty will remain with the Russian Federation in isolation, in which it will definitely end up," the head of the Zelenskys staff emphasized. As Ukrinform reported earlier, on Sunday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, discussed with the head of the U.S. State Department Antony Blinken the false narratives, spread by the Russian Federation, about the "dirty bomb" plot, as well as the supply of air defense equipment to Ukraine. Kyiv is working on several options for the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute those guilty of aggression against Ukraine, but its mandate will cover the crime that began with Russia's temporary occupation of Crimea back in late February 2014. Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Anton Korynevych said this during a discussion program as part of the first parliamentary summit of the International Crimea Platform in Zagreb on Monday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. Korynevych noted that Russia's aggression actually began in February 2014 with the temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. "Since this crime, which began in 2014, continues now, we are sure that one of the possible answers is the creation of a special tribunal to bring to justice those guilty of aggression against Ukraine. The creation of this tribunal, its work and mandate, its jurisdiction will relate to the crime of aggression against Ukraine, which began in Crimea, and this will be the correct legal responsibility for Russian leaders for all that they have committed and are committing since the end of February 2014," Korynevych said. He said that the creation of the special tribunal is a priority for the Ukrainian government. According to him, Ukraine has several options as to how this tribunal can be established. "The first option is the creation of a special tribunal based on a multilateral agreement between countries. This means that Ukraine and the governments of other states can sign and ratify the agreement on the creation of such a tribunal and its statute, which will be an appendix to this agreement," Korynevych said. In addition, he said, the special tribunal can be established on the basis of an agreement between Ukraine and international organizations, for example, the UN, which can adopt a relevant resolution, or Ukraine can conclude a corresponding agreement with regional European organizations, for example, the EU or the Council of Europe, since the current Russian aggression has caused a war in Europe, the largest since the Second World War. "We can conclude an agreement between many parties or between Ukraine and international organizations. Ukraine is working to prepare a draft of such an agreement and is ready to cooperate with international partners. These drafts are being developed so that, regardless of which option is chosen, we can adjust these documents and begin the creation of the tribunal," Korynevych said. The first parliamentary summit of the International Crimea Platform is taking place in Zagreb, Croatia, on October 24-25. Delegations from more than 50 countries and institutions are invited to participate in the event, with about 400 politicians from all over the world expected to attend. Ukraine also invited representatives of countries that are not members of the platform, in particular from South America, Africa and Asia. On September 22, President Volodymyr Zelensky set up a working group chaired by the head of his office, Andriy Yermak, to deal with the issue of creating a special international tribunal to prosecute those guilty of aggression against Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky regrets that Israel is sticking to its decision not to help Ukraine protect its sky but believes that such support will still be provided. Every time we in Ukraine, at the meetings of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, discuss Russian missile and drone terror, we also talk about our partners who already help or can help us protect the sky. Unfortunately, the words Israel, Israeli do not sound at that moment, Zelensky said in his address to the Haaretz Democracy Conference participants. Zelensky noted that the decision not to provide weapons to Ukraine had been made by Israel back in 2014 when Russia began aggression against Ukrainians. According to him, this is a decision "not to annoy" the Kremlin, not to help Ukraine for real. I emphasize - we have been asking Israel for help since 2014. But such is the continuance of politicians. Although if we had immediately secured our skies when faced with a missile and drone threat, Russia would not even have a motive now to go to Iran and offer it something in exchange for assistance in terror. But that's what happened, the President stressed. He said that Ukraine was now constantly subjected to Russian terrorist attacks, and the disgusting sound of Iranian drones was heard in the Ukrainian sky every night. Zelensky shared a story that happened in Kyiv on October 17 when yet another Russias terrorist attack with the use of an Iranian drone destroyed half of a residential building and killed five people, including a young couple expecting a child. It [the building] stood for 120 years. It was built by Ioselian Lev, then entrepreneur, the head of a synagogue. The building withstood World War I, waves of terror and World War II. It saw so much and was destroyed by an Iranian drone. Like many, many other objects in Ukraine, the President noted. The Head of State believes that the RussiaIran alliance could be made meaningless if the democracies act together. He emphasized that many democratic countries were already helping Ukraine but the country needed Israels assistance as well. I thank the people of Israel for the understanding and help, in particular, medical aid that we received from your society! I am grateful to you and all the Israeli media that spread the truth about this war and condemn Russian terror! I am thankful to all of your people who took to the streets after the start of the full-scale war, and we saw - we are supported in the Promised Land. I believe that we will see support in the sky as well, Zelensky said. As reported, Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, whose Likud party is expected to win the upcoming parliamentary elections, according to opinion polls, declared his readiness to consider the issue of providing weapons to Ukraine if he again assumes the post of prime minister. ol MISSOULA The University of Montana welcomed more than 1,351 first-year students to campus this fall, marking the largest incoming class at the states flagship university in six years. In addition to this 6% increase over 2021, there are an additional 74 first-year students that came to UM with some college credit. The number of first-year students on campus this fall is 1,425. This is the second consecutive year of sizable growth among the incoming class at UM, putting the University on a strong growth path in the years ahead. With 8,094 in total, there are more students enrolled at the UM main campus than last year. UM continues to show a strong enrollment trajectory, said UM President Seth Bodnar. With the number of first-year students increasing, the improved retention rate among our students since 2018 and continued growth on our main campus, UM is now firmly in a cycle of growth. In addition to incoming student headcount growth, UM also has grown exponentially in the number of students it serves through employer partnerships that arent reflected in the traditional census headcount. Since launching in 2021, UMs AccelerateMT has enrolled more than 758 students in Missoula College and short-term academic programs across the state that are taught in conjunction with local businesses to meet the emerging needs of Montanas growing economy. AccelerateMT is embedded at UM and serves as the economic and workforce development partner for employers across the state. AccelerateMTs proven track record of providing rapid training to meet key workforce needs made it an ideal partner as we seek to strengthen Montanas pipeline of skilled workers, said Laurie Esau, commissioner of the Montana Department of Labor & Industry. The success we see today will help ensure a robust Montana workforce for years to come. With the large number of students at UM this fall, the Universitys fall tuition revenue is nearly $40 million, 12.4% higher than the same period in 2021. UM is on sound financial footing, said Paul Lasiter, UMs vice president for operations and finance. We are well positioned to continue making critical investments in our students and our campus infrastructure for years to come. UM reported a total student headcount of 9,955 for the fall 2022 census. Within the headcount, there is a graduate professional program that has seen a significant decrease over the past year including a 143-student reduction in the Physical Therapy partnership program with Rehab Essentials. Since 2008, UM has partnered with Rehab Essentials to provide a bridge program for physical therapists across the world who seek mid-career graduate degrees. Now in its twelfth year, the clinical doctorate degree academic partnership program is one of the most successful in the country, with nearly 2,000 graduates who are now UM alumni, said Reed Humphrey, dean of the UM College of Health. As the pool of physical therapists wishing to bridge to a doctoral degree naturally declines, the number of enrolled students in this program was expected to decrease. Through the same academic partnership, UM is expanding its international reach and also launched this fall a similar bridge curriculum for occupational therapists. This expansion is expected to grow enrollment in the years ahead. Missoula College reports a total student headcount 1,215, a 2% decrease from 2021. UMs two-year affiliate still maintains a 3% increase in its total student population from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Overall, the student retention rate held steady at 74% This figure measures the rate that students persist between their first and second year at UM. Since Bodnar started as president in 2018, the student retention rate at UM has risen 6%. Other highlights from the fall 2022 enrollment census at the UM main campus include: 710 first-year Montana students, an 8.4% increase over 2021. 610 Native American students, a 2.2% increase over 2021. This growth builds on the 23% Native American student growth at UM from 2018 to 2021. 279 student veterans, a 6.5% increase over 2021. 250 law school students, a 1.6% increase over 2021. 192 early admit and dual-enrollment students, a 35% increase over 2021. UMs fall 2022 census report is available online. ### Contact: Dave Kuntz, director of strategic communication, 406-243-5659, dave.kuntz@umontana.edu. A nine-year-old boy at a site for internally displaced people that lacks most basic services in Lahj, southern Yemen. UNHCR/YPN Geneva Over recent months, funding shortfalls have forced UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to make cuts to its lifesaving aid to refugees and other forcibly displaced people in a number of operations across the world. Without an injection of at least US$700 million before the end of the year, UNHCR fears that the next round of cuts in assistance will be catastrophic for people in need. Already, many operations have had to scale back essential programmes to cope with tighter funding. In Uganda, which is experiencing an Ebola outbreak, UNHCR is unable to procure enough soap and hygiene kits to help combat the deadly disease. In Chad, water supply in camps has been cut due to fuel shortages. In Lebanon, 70,000 extremely vulnerable refugee families no longer receive their safety net help from UNHCR. This is a real, immediate emergency call with peoples lives and livelihoods on the line, said Dominique Hyde, Director of UNHCRs Division for External Relations. Needs are rising due to a confluence of war and violence as well as economic and geopolitical crosswinds. While donors have once again been generous, new wars especially in Ukraine and unresolved crises mean that funding is not keeping up with the needs of millions of the worlds most vulnerable people. The danger is that further cuts will push families to make irreversible choices such as taking on unmanageable debt, or sending children to work rather than school or, disastrously, offering a daughter for early marriage to reduce the numbers of mouths to feed at home. Desperation can also push families to embark on dangerous journeys further afield. UNHCR is particularly concerned about the funding gaps in the Middle East as winter approaches. Further cuts in cash assistance will impact 1.7 million people in Lebanon, Jordan and Yemen, with thousands of families unable to cover the cost of heating or warm clothes. The displaced in other countries will also suffer, as the unmet funding needs will result in cuts to services for rape survivors and care for mothers and babies in Ethiopia, or shelter for displaced people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The situation is also acute in countries like Bangladesh and Colombia. People forced to flee already pay the price for conflicts that have ravaged their homelands. Further suffering this year and next can be reduced with swift international action, Hyde added. While donors, especially private companies, foundations and individuals, have contributed record levels of funding to the agency this year, UNHCR has underlined that the ripple effects of the Ukraine crisis are affecting its ability to deliver equitably around the world. Since highlighting the funding gap in 12 particularly underfunded operations earlier this year, UNHCR has received an additional US$400 million. This has been critically important to maintaining operations. Yet even with this injection of funds, needs continue to grow and the gap remains at US$700 million. I appeal to all donors to help us save lives by finding these resources in the coming days and weeks - millions of people depend on it, Hyde said. Notes for editors: UNHCRs Underfunded Report can be accessed here: https://reporting.unhcr.org/underfunded-report-2022. A data visualization, Out of the Spotlight, showing how the funding gap is increasing hardship for forcibly displaced people in different parts of the world is also available here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/8ca0005f48fc4f29b4dfd519824def54 For broadcasters, news organizations and other media professionals, a multimedia content package is available here: b-roll and photos For more information on this topic, please contact: Four-year-old Odette suffered machete wounds in February 2022 during an attack on the internal displacement site where she lived with her family in Plaine Savo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. UNHCR/Helene Caux The consequences of Russias invasion of Ukraine for refugees and internally displaced people have reached well beyond Europe. The war has pushed up food and fuel prices and disrupted supply chains at a time when millions of forcibly displaced people were already struggling with the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather, and long-running conflicts. But just as needs are increasing, the costs of delivering humanitarian assistance to forcibly displaced people have also risen exponentially another consequence of the war in Ukraine. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi warned recently that without an injection of US$700 million in additional funding before the end of the year, UNHCR will be forced to cut vital aid to forcibly displaced people across the world. Today, UNHCR is releasing a new data visualization Out of the Spotlight which looks at the mounting hardships refugees and internally displaced people are facing in forgotten corners of the globe, and how those hardships could multiply unless funding shortfalls can be bridged. In 12 countries where UNHCR works, most of them in Africa and the Middle East, the situation is particularly serious. Forcibly displaced people are already being forced to choose between buying medicines for elderly relatives or food for their children. The data visualization looks at several countries where the triple burden of conflict, COVID and climate change had already drained displaced peoples reserves and made them more reliant on humanitarian assistance, even before the war in Ukraine sent shock waves through the global economy. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, decades of conflict have pushed 27 million people into hunger and created the largest internal displacement crisis in Africa, with over 5.5 million people having fled their homes. Continued violence in the east has newly displaced hundreds of thousands of people this year, but funding for the humanitarian response has not kept pace. UNHCRs operations in the country were only 40 per cent funded by the end of September. See also: Funding shortfall forces UNHCR to cut vital programmes in DR Congo Such shortfalls leave UNHCR facing tough decisions about which essential programmes to cut. Some of the devastating consequences for forcibly displaced people are outlined in the data visualization: from less cash assistance for refugees in Iraq and Jordan to less money to educate refugee children in Uganda, or even to provide soap. People forced to flee already pay the price for conflicts that have ravaged their homelands. Further suffering this year and next can be reduced with swift international action, said Dominique Hyde, Director of UNHCRs Division for External Relations. I appeal to all donors to help us save lives by finding these resources in the coming days and weeks - millions of people depend on it. The data visualization, Out of the Spotlight, is available here. (Photo : IM Academy Launches New IMpowered Bundle at Zurich Event) Online education platform IM Academy has been focused on expanding its international reach and launching new programs in 2022. From Oct.1- 4, it continued this push, holding an IM Beyond event in Zurich. At the event, IM Academy announced the launch of its new IMpowered Bundle, which is designed to offer the Academy's members more flexible options when deciding which markets and strategies to study. IM Academy offers several options for students to pursue online financial education. These include the FRX Academy for the foreign exchange market, the DCX Academy for digital currencies, the ECX Academy for e-commerce, the TBX Academy for intraday scalping strategies, and the SFX Academy for the stocks and futures market. TBX and SFX were launched in 2022, along with the Academy's TLX travel and lifestyle membership program. IM Academy has sought to streamline these opportunities with the goals of keeping pricing low and enabling students to progress through academies at a manageable pace. It had previously offered members the chance to bundle simultaneous membership in several academies through its Elite Academy, but with these goals in mind, the IMpowered Bundle will replace the Elite Academy option, offering students increased flexibility as they pursue financial education online. What Is IMpowered? The IMpowered Bundle is a membership option that allows IM Academy members to sign up for two academies together at a discounted rate. The bundle also enables members to add additional academies beyond the initial two at a discounted rate, but adding more than two academies is optional for IMpowered members. For individuals who want to sign up for more than one academy, the IMpowered Bundle offers the convenience of adding additional academies and accessing their corresponding proprietary tools, scanners, and strategies at no additional cost. These resources are not automatically included if students sign up for a second base academy without IMpowered. Students can also sign up for the GoLive package of their preference, which enables them to engage in live online discussions with IM Academy educators, and they can bundle any of IM Academy's programs, including TLX. IM Beyond and IM Academy's International Reach The Zurich event was IM Academy's fourth IM Beyond event of 2022, following events in Palm Beach, Florida, Barcelona, Spain, and Phoenix. While IM Academy is primarily focused on online financial education, these in-person events provide an opportunity for the Academy's community, including students, executives, and independent business owners (IBOs), to network and share inspiration and ideas. They also provide a platform to launch and explain new offerings. Prior to the IMpowered Bundle's launch in Zurich, IM Academy educators, including the "Fibonacci Queen," Carolyn Boroden, discussed IM Academy's newest program, the SFX Academy, at the IM Beyond Phoenix event in September. SFX is designed to educate students on stocks and futures markets and highlights Boroden's expertise in Fibonacci market engagement strategies, which utilize pattern-based ratios and a close analysis of time frames to analyze market pivot points. In addition, IM Mastery Academy co-founders Christopher Terry and Isis Terry, who serve as CEO and CFO respectively, often make appearances at these IM Beyond events. At both the recent IM Beyond Phoenix event and IM Beyond Zurich, Christopher Terry and Isis Terry delivered keynote addresses, with Isis Terry hosting a womens' night panel in Zurich. These appearances give Christopher Terry a chance to motivate individuals involved with the Academy and explain his approach to education and leadership, which is based on building a positive self-concept and cultivating an awareness of learning opportunities. "We are conscious about the food we eat and the things we drink. We are conscious about getting enough sleep, but are we conscious about the thoughts and ideas we permit to enter our mind? Whatever you feed your mind today will affect you tomorrow. If your thoughts and intentions are pure, so will your actions," said Terry in a recent Instagram post. "If you're feeding your mind with negativity, it will show up in your activity. We have a choice of how we are going to respond. We have a choice if we are going to consciously protect our mind. Always be positive, think positive, and act positive." This is a message that Terry espoused throughout his European speaking tour in the summer of 2022, which saw the CEO connect with IM Academy students and IBOs in over 12 countries across the continent. Founded in 2013 in the U.S., IM Academy continues to expand its international scale, in part thanks to Terry's commitment to connecting with individuals at these events across the world. As IM Academy continues to reach more students at this scale, it's paying careful attention to feedback from individuals with experience learning at the various academies, and this is the origin of the IMpowered Bundle. It's a response to the need for flexibility that's central to the mission of an online platform like IM Academy. The bundle, along with the new program offerings, signal IM Academy's continual evolution as it moves toward completing its first decade of operations in 2023. Note: IM Academy is an educational forum for analyzing, learning, and discussing general and generic information related to markets and strategies. IM Academy does not provide personalized recommendations or views as to whether a market approach is suited to the financial needs of a specific individual. Before deciding to participate in the forex or other markets, you should carefully consider your objectives, level of experience, and risk. Most importantly, do not risk money you cannot afford to lose. You should take independent financial advice from a professional in connection with, or independent of, research - and verify any information you find on the IM Academy website. QUETTA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Oct, 2022 ) :Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Qudus Bizenjo on Monday expressed his grief and sorrow over the sad demise of prominent Journalist Arshad Sharif. In his message, the CM said that Arshad Shairf was one of the credible journalists of the country. His services in the field of journalism will always be remembered. "May his soul rest in peace and may his family have the courage to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude," LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Oct, 2022 ) :French Ambassador Nicolas Galey called on Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi at his office on Monday and discussed matters of mutual interest. It was agreed to further promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of education, tourism, protection of historical places and information technology. The chief minister said that excellent friendly relations exist between Pakistan and France and thanked the ambassador for French assistance during the coronavirus pandemic. He said there was need to promote trade and economic relations between the two countries on a sustainable basis. Some French companies were working in Punjab and the province has a very favorable environment for investment, he added. The French investors should take advantage of investment opportunities in Punjab; they would be provided with all possible facilities, the chief minister promised. It was possible to increase bilateral trade by exchanging trade delegations and the delegation of French educational institutions would be welcomed in Punjab, the CM added and disclosed that he took admission to the French cultural centre in Lahore to learn the French language in the 1970s. The French ambassador said that a delegation of French educational institutions would visit Punjab soon. The French government would continue to cooperate with the Punjab government for protection of tourism and historical places and this cooperation would be further promoted. Mrs Camelia Galey, wife of the ambassador, head of the economic department Laruent Choption, political consular Sokrarith Henry, Hussain Elahi MNA, chief secretary, Principal Secretary to CM Muhammad Khan Bhatti and others were also present. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Oct, 2022 ) :President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed profound shock and grief over the death of senior journalist Arshad Sharif. The president termed the death of Arshad Sharif a "great loss to journalism and Pakistan". He prayed that may the soul of Arshad Sharif rest in peace and may his family, which includes his followers, have the strength to bear this loss. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the death of Arshad Sharif. "I am deeply saddened by the shocking news of journalist Arshad Sharif's tragic death," he said. He extended condolences to the bereaved family of Arshad Sharif. "May Allah SWT grant him a place in Heaven. My deep condolences and prayers for the bereaved family," he said. (@FahadShabbir) KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Oct, 2022 ) :Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety & Information Secretary of PPP-P Shazia Atta Marri has expressed her grief and sorrow over the sad demise of senior Journalist and Ancherperson Arshad Sharif. In her condolence message here on Monday, she said that it was shocking to learn about the sad demise of journalist Arshad Sharif. "We extended ours heartfelt sympathies and condolences with the bereaved family of late Arshad Sharif," She added. She prayed for the eternal peace of departed soul and prayers for the bereaved family for bearing this irreparable loss. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Oct, 2022 ) :The UAE Pakistan Assistance Programme (UAE PAP) has announced the results of the UAE Polio Vaccination Campaign carried out in Pakistan from 2014 to the end of September 2022, highlighting that the campaign succeeded in administering 647,758,365 doses of vaccination against polio in nine years in Pakistan. The move follows the directives of President UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the follow-up of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, to offer humanitarian and development aid to Pakistan, support its health sector and launch-related prevention programmes in the country. In 2014, the campaign targeted 3 million children, bringing the number to 17 million children per month during 2022. Since 2011, Sheikh Mohamed donated US $376 million to humanitarian and charity efforts aimed at providing vaccines and financing polio eradication campaigns, most notably in countries targeted by his initiative, which are Pakistan and Afghanistan. During the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the UAE Polio Vaccination Campaign managed to provide 192,181,646 doses of the vaccine from July 2020 until September 2022. The campaign's geographical coverage comprised 85 difficult to reach high-risk areas in Pakistan, and its scope included 35 areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, where local children received 326,953,462 doses of the vaccine, as well as 33 areas of Balochistan Province where children received 94,850,025 doses of the vaccine, 14 areas of Sindh Province where children received 192,241,029 doses and three areas in Punjab Province where children received 33,713,084 doses. The programme noted that the field efforts to launch vaccination campaigns in various Pakistani provinces saw the participation of more than 103,000 doctors, observers and members of vaccination teams, as well as over 82,000 security personnel and coordination teams, who were focused on delivering vaccines to the targeted children. The campaign also allocated special vaccination teams to provide vaccines to more than 597,000 Afghan refugee children in 22 refugee camps. Speaking on the occasion of World Polio Day, marked on 24th October, Abdullah Khalifa Al Ghafli, Director of UAE PAP, attributed the outstanding success of the UAE Polio Vaccination Campaign to the wise leadership's support for the campaign's field efforts, as the UAE is distinguished by its vision and efforts in implementing humanitarian and development projects directed at protecting underprivileged peoples and communities from diseases, epidemics, crises and disasters. The UAE's support for various global programmes and efforts to eradicate diseases is one of the most important factors that contribute to the success of the United Nation programmes for health care and had a direct and significant positive impact on improving the quality of life and the future of hundreds of millions of people across the world, he was quoted as saying by WAM-Emirates news agency. Al Ghafli highlighted that the UAE's global initiatives have contributed to creating positive global humanitarian alliances and strategic partnerships between governments and UN agencies, including the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and global charity organisations, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Thus, the initiative raised the level of success rate in reaching the targeted children and increased the achievement rate in the countries targeted by vaccination campaigns. He then lauded the efforts and sacrifices of vaccination teams comprising doctors, nurses and security personnel who faced dire field conditions and challenges, contributing to the programme's success and outstanding achievement. (@FahadShabbir) Witnesses have come forward to tell AFP of the "absolutely terrible, terrible day" of violence that left 50 dead during widespread protests last week against the decision by Chad's military ruler to extend his junta's grip on power N'Djamena, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Oct, 2022 ) :Witnesses have come forward to tell AFP of the "absolutely terrible, terrible day" of violence that left 50 dead during widespread protests last week against the decision by Chad's military ruler to extend his junta's grip on power. The unprecedented clashes between security forces and young demonstrators in the capital N'Djamena and elsewhere also left more than 300 injured. There had been calls for several days for peaceful protests last Thursday -- to mark the date when the military had promised to hand over power in the unstable Sahel country. Junta head Mahamat Idriss Deby, a 38-year-old five-star general, has been in power since his iron-fisted father -- was killed in an operation against rebels in April 2021. He has since angered many at home and embarrassed backers abroad by hanging on to power for a further two years. The evening before Thursday's bloodshed, 75-year-old retired teacher Djim Toide said he "saw security forces vehicles parked on a roundabout near my house". "I thought they were conducting routine checks. Then at about four in the morning I started to hear gunshots." The building where he lives in the southern Moursal district of N'Djamena "filled with smoke". - 'Live bullets' - "Things calmed down for a bit. And then the shooting started again," he told AFP. "So I went out into the street to see what was happening. I saw youths running all over the place chased by the security forces." He said the road was blocked with hastily erected barricades. Protesters were throwing stones and the police were firing tear gas. Remadji Allataroum, a student at N'Djamena university, said she was woken at 2:00 am by protesters blowing whistles. "The protesters came out of nowhere. They filled the streets, chanting 'justice! equality!'," she said. Allataroum, who lives in the capital's southern Abena district, said the atmosphere became palpably tense at around 6:00 am, when police intervened and "scuffles" broke out with protesters. The security forces retreated briefly at around 7:00 am. "The protesters seized the opportunity to put up roadblocks. They started burning tyres and kept chanting," she said. Then the police returned. "They started firing live bullets and two protesters were hit in the head. They fell down dead right in front of me. "It was an absolutely terrible, terrible day. "Things only started to calm down a bit at the end of the afternoon," she recalled. - Crying out for help - As on every workday morning, journalist Bertrand Teyane had been due on Thursday to go into the office. "But everywhere was shut off by the demonstrators' roadblocks," he told AFP. He said he saw "clashes between police and young protesters". Teyane, who has three children of his own, said he heard "two women crying out for help in the street" near his house. "I decided to go outside to see what was happening and I'd only got a few metres (yards) when I saw two lifeless bodies stretched out on the ground. "One was covered in the national blue, yellow and red flag. The other was just lying there covered in blood. He'd been hit in the stomach." Teyane said that by mid-afternoon there was an air of desolation about the capital -- burnt-out wrecks of motorbikes and a car near the American embassy, police driving around in convoys "toting semi-automatic rifles". "Around 5:00 pm, I heard gunshot and I thought to myself, 'It's starting up again'," he said. "I didn't dare go home until the firing stopped."yas-dwi-tg/lad/gil/bp The European Union has provided over 270,000 euros ($266,000) in humanitarian relief to the victims of the armed conflict that broke out on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in mid-September, the EU delegation to Tajikistan said on Monday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th October, 2022) The European Union has provided over 270,000 Euros ($266,000) in humanitarian relief to the victims of the armed conflict that broke out on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in mid-September, the EU delegation to Tajikistan said on Monday. "The aid will contribute to support about 12,000 people in some of the worst affected areas in Kyrgyzstan's Batken province and in Tajikistan's Sughd province, Rasht valley and Lakhsh districts. The EU funding supports the Red Crescent Society of Kyrgyzstan's and the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan in distributing much-needed cash grants to enable affected families in both countries - especially those who lost their homes," the delegation said in a statement. In addition, the EU will provide health and hygiene promotion activities, as well as hygiene products and psychological support, according to the statement. The delegation specified that over 150,000 people were forced to flee their homes over the lack of access to water and roads. The clashes between Kyrgyz and Tajik troops damaged hundreds of houses, public facilities and infrastructure. Large-scale clashes on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border flared up on September 14. On September 16, Kyrgyzstan announced that the fighting had spread across the entire border line, accusing Tajikistan of shelling and escalating the situation. 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, officials of the two countries signed a protocol where both countries agreed to cease the border fighting and facilitate the process of border delimitation and demarcation. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th October, 2022) European Council President Charles Michel on Monday congratulated former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak after he was confirmed as prime minister, and called for cooperation to solve common problems. "Congratulations to Rishi Sunak on becoming the UK's Prime Minister. Working together is the only way to face common challenges ... and bringing stability is key to overcoming them," Michel said on Twitter. Earlier in the day, Sunak became the head of the ruling Conservative Party, and as such, the country's next prime minister. Sunak will become the third UK prime minister to hold the office this year. On October 20, Liz Truss announced her resignation as UK prime minister, less than two months after her appointment as Boris Johnson's successor, becoming the shortest-serving head of government in UK history. (@ChaudhryMAli88) SEOUL (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th October, 2022) The South Korean military will participate in the US-led multinational exercise Cyber Flag for the first time this week, the country's national defense said on Sunday. The ministry specified that a total of 18 specially selected military personnel from the different branches of troops would take part in this exercise. "Our military's participation in the Cyber Flag exercises is an important opportunity to strengthen cyber threat readiness among allies and forge mutual partnerships," Gen. Kim Han-sung, the commander of the Cyber Operations Command in Seoul, said. The US Cyber Command has been conducting annual exercises to bolster the defensive skills of Washington and its allies for cyberattacks. The 2022 Cyber Flag will be held from October 24-28, with the participation of 25 countries, including the United States, South Korea, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and US President Joe Biden agreed to "deepen and broaden cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, and cyber security" during their first summit in May. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th October, 2022) The South Korean Navy on Monday launched a large-scale exercise in the Yellow Sea, with the participation of the army, air force and the coast guard, as well as the US troops, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported on Monday. The exercise will last four days as part of a larger annual ongoing Hoguk drills that run from October 18-28. The exercise in the Yellow Sea aims to enhance the military's combined and joint maritime operational capabilities against foreign provocations with a focus on improving capabilities of maritime counter special operation forces and responses to North Korea's provocations near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), de facto inter-Korean maritime border, the report said. The exercise involves more than 20 warships, including destroyers and frigates equipped with the Aegis combat information and control system, helicopters, F-15K and F-16 fighter jets, as well as A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft of the US Air Force. The South Korean military said on Monday morning that it fired about 20 warning shots at a North Korean ship that crossed the NLL near the island of Baengnyeongdo at 03:42 a.m. local time (18:42 GMT on Sunday). Meanwhile, the North Korean military said that a South Korean warship violated the western sea border by 2.5-5 kilometers (1.5-3 miles) around the same time and therefore was subjected to fire. Seoul has repeatedly warned Pyongyang that artillery shelling within buffer zones in the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea is a clear violation of the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement. The inter-Korean military agreement was signed at the summit between the leaders of the two countries in September 2018. The agreement was aimed at preventing military confrontation on the Korean Peninsula and in particular, established buffer zones based on the Military Demarcation Line on land and on the NLL at sea. A Sweden-funded ship carrying 50,000 tonnes of Ukrainian grain has left Ukraine for Yemen, Johan Forssell, the Swedish minister for foreign trade, said on Monday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th October, 2022) A Sweden-funded ship carrying 50,000 tonnes of Ukrainian grain has left Ukraine for Yemen, Johan Forssell, the Swedish minister for foreign trade, said on Monday. "Today the 1st ship delivering Ukrainian wheat funded by (Sweden) left #Ukraine," the minister tweeted. According to Frossell, the total of 50,000 tonnes of grain will be delivered to famine-threatened Yemen. "50,000 MT of (wheat) will be transported to #Yemen, where the famine risk has increased," the minister added. On July 22, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey signed a UN-brokered initiative to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships with food and fertilizer exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that most of the ships carrying Ukrainian grain did not make it to the world's poorest countries and ended up in Europe. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th October, 2022) Switzerland has received five applications from Russian nationals demanding that the country's government remove them from the sanctions list, media reported, citing the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, education and Research (EAER). The list of those who submitted applications has not been disclosed, the Blick newspaper reported, adding that Russian entrepreneur Alexander Pumpyansky has reportedly appealed the introduced sanctions. The entrepreneur and his father, Dmitry Pumpyansky, until March 10, 2022, were the members of the directors board of Russian steel manufacturer for the oil and gas industry TMK. Switzerland has repeatedly joined EU sanctions against Russia in response to Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine despite its proclaimed neutrality. In August, the country's largest party with parliament representation, the Swiss People's Party, said that the sanctions imposed by Switzerland against Russia violated the country's commitment to neutrality and, therefore, its constitution. Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss congratulated on Monday ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak on his election as country's prime minister, expressing her support for him MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th October, 2022) Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss congratulated on Monday ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak on his election as country's prime minister, expressing her support for him. "Congratulations (Sunak) on being appointed as Leader of the Conservative Party and our next Prime Minister. You have my full support," Truss tweeted. The chief of the UK Defense Staff, Tony Radakin, in a conversation with Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, said that it was important to keep open channels of communication in order to promote de-escalation MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th October, 2022) The chief of the UK Defense Staff, Tony Radakin, in a conversation with Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, said that it was important to keep open channels of communication in order to promote de-escalation. "The military leaders both agreed on the importance of maintaining open channels of communication between the UK and Russia to manage the risk of miscalculation and to facilitate de-escalation," the UK Defense Ministry said in a statement. Radakin also stated that London would continue to support Kiev. (@FahadShabbir) The use of violence to advance political goals in Libya is "unacceptable," United States Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Jeffrey DeLaurentis said on Monday UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th October, 2022) The use of violence to advance political goals in Libya is "unacceptable," United States Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Jeffrey DeLaurentis said on Monday. "It must be made clear to Libya's leaders that the use of violence to advance political goals is unacceptable," DeLaurentis told the UN Security Council. "The United States remains deeply concerned about the potential for further fighting, following the clashes in Libya in August." DeLaurentis said all states have a clear responsibility to discourage any Libyan actions, destabilize the security situation and threaten the 2020 ceasefire agreement. Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy suggested during the UN Security Council meeting that there may be a way out of the deadlock in Libya. "One of the possible ways to break the deadlock in Libya is an agreement on or draft of a constitution and the conduct of nationwide elections," Polyanskiy said. In late August, fighting erupted in Tripoli between detachments loyal to the head of the Government of National Unity of Libya, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, and a rival administration under Fathi Bashagha, who was elected by parliament. Following the fight, the United Nations said it is worried that the stalemate in the electoral process poses a threat to security in Libya. Kenyas Catholic Bishops over the weekend led prayers for an end to drought, hunger, and insecurity facing parts of the country. This was at the ordination of the new Bishop of the Diocese of Maralal, Hieronymus Joya. Rose Achiego Ande Nairobi, Kenya. Prayers for an end to drought, hunger, and insecurity in Kenya dominated the liturgy during the ordination and installation of the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Maralal, Hieronymus Joya, which took place at Allamano grounds of the Cathedral. Pray for Maralal In his homily, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan, Archbishop Bert Van Megen called on the faithful to pray for Kenyans who are facing starvation due to prolonged drought in the north eastern parts of the country which also includes areas of the Diocese of Maralal. Pray for the people of Maralal who are facing the severe consequences of drought. Thousands of people in the north are struggling with their lives, having sleepless nights on how to feed their children and themselves, he said adding that others were thirsty and sick, yet desperately looking for ways to feed their families. Catholic faithful in traditional dress at the ordination in Maralal Diocese. Starvation and death Archbishop Megen noted with concern that some of these people who are largely pastoralists had lost their animals and sources of livelihood while searching for greener pastures for their flock. He prayed to God to provide rains so as to bring to an end the suffering of the people in the regions where drought had caused the death of people and animals, malnutrition in children, starvation, and diseases. The Good Lord should make it rain in the Diocese. A faithful and gracious Lord full of mercy makes it rain over the good and evil. Shower oh heavens from above and let the skies rain down righteousness! Lord Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, give us safety, pour out water on the thirsty land and streams and dry grounds. Oh God give us safety and security that banditry attacks and stealing and murdering may come to an end so we may live in a secure and safe country, prayed the Nuncio. Be a servant leader (l) Archbishop Martin Kivuva with the new Bishop Hieronymus Joya (r) Archbishop Megen expressed confidence in the newly ordained Bishop Joya, that he is well versed with the challenges of the Catholic Diocese of Maralal given the fact that he had served in the diocese as pastoral coordinator. He hailed him as a realist, urging him to be a servant leader who endures suffering and challenges. You have to go through pain and challenges in order to come to joy and consolation. A good leader should be blameless, not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not violent, not addicted to alcohol, and not greedy for money. The leader in Gods Church needs to be hospitable, filled with goodness, prudent, upright, one who has self-control and is rooted in the word of God, he said. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Mombasa, Martin Kivuva congratulated Bishop Joya for joining KCCB. The Syriac Catholic Monastery of St Ephrem in southern Turkey has been reconsecrated, a century after it was requisitioned by the state. By Joseph Tulloch The Monastery of Mor Efrem (St Ephrem) in Mardin, southern Turkey, an area which was once the heartland of Syriac Christianity, has once again opened its doors to believers. Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan, head of the Syriac Catholic Church, presided over the reconsecration of the building, and celebrated its first Divine Liturgy in a hundred years. Founded in 1881, the Syriac monastery was seized by the Turkish army during the First World War. It briefly returned to the Church after the war ended, before being transformed into a military hospital in 1922. In more recent times, it had served as a prison and a warehouse. The ceremony Patriarch Younan consecrated the church according to the Syriac rite on 13 October, anointing the altar, walls, and doors with oil of chrism, before celebrating the Divine Liturgy. In his homily, he drew attention to a Syriac phrase , or Look at Him and trust in Him inscribed above the large cross behind the altar, encouraging the congregation to keep their gaze on Jesus and put their faith in Him. The ceremony was attended by Syriac Catholic prelates from across Turkey and the Middle East, the Apostolic Nuncio to Turkey, and Syriac Orthodox bishops and clergy. Archbishop Orhan Sanl, Patriarchal Vicar of Turkey, gave a speech before the ceremony began, thanking all those who had made the re-opening of the monastery possible, including members of the laity who had volunteered their time. Ancient history, current struggles The area that is now southern Turkey (along with parts of the Middle East) has been home to communities of Syriac Christians, also known as Assyrians, since the first centuries of Christianity. Many still speak Neo-Aramaic, a language directly descended from that spoken by Jesus Himself. Their numbers have dwindled enormously over the centuries, however, often in the face of violent persecution. Hundreds of thousands were killed by government and local forces during the First World War. Some countries including Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands say the violence was genocide. Today, Assyrian Christians represent only a tiny fraction of Turkeys population. Pope Francis holds a private audience with President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, to discuss the strong ties with the Holy See, as well as issues fo possible further collaboration, particularly on the issue of welcoming refugees. By Joseph Tulloch Pope Francis on Monday morning received Mr Nicos Anastasiades, President of the Republic of Cyprus, in an audience in the Vatican. The pair expressed their gratitude for the good existing bilateral relations between the Holy See and Cyprus, and discussed the possibility of further collaboration on areas of mutual concern, such as the reception of refugees. Also on the agenda were the reunification of Cyprus and the situation of the Mediterranean region more broadly, according to a statement from the Holy See Press Office. Following his meeting with the Pope, Mr Anastasiades met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations. Exchange of gifts The Pope gave Mr Anastasiades an icon of "Jesus the Good Shepherd, who knows His sheep and the smell of His flock", telling the President that he chose the gift because "you know your people with your heart, you are close to the people." The Holy Father also presented Mr Anastasiades with a collection of papal documents. In return, the Cypriot President gave the Pope a silver cup, modelled after those used in Cyprus in ancient times. Pope Francis meets with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, for their third private audience in the Vatican, and discusses the desire to promote peace in a world overtaken by war, especially the war in Ukraine. By Deborah Castellano Lubov Pope Francis received French President Emmanuel Macron in the Vatican on Monday. This marks their third private audience since the start of the pontificate. Pope Francis and French President Emmanuel Macron War in Ukraine According to a brief statement from the Holy See Press Office, the conversations were cordial and were especially focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine. "During the cordial discussions, which took place in the Secretariat of State," it said, "the parties focused on matters of an international nature, starting from the conflict in Ukraine, with special attention to the humanitarian situation." "Particular consideration," it continued, "was given to the region of the Caucasus, the Middle East, and Africa." After meeting with Pope Francis, President Macron met with Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and Multilateral Organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. Exchange of gifts The audience with the Pope in the Apostolic Palace lasted almost an hour, and there was the customary exchange of gifts. The Pope gifted a collection of his works, as well as a bronze medallion representing Saint Peter and the colonnade. The papal documents included this year's Message for Peace, the Document on Human Fraternity, and the book on the Statio Orbis of 27 March 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Pope and President Macron of France exchange gifts The French President gifted the Pope a first edition, in French, of the book For Perpetual Peace by German philosopher Emmanuel Kant. On Sunday, President Macron was among the opening speakers at the Rome-held Spirit of Assisi event, sponsored by the Community of SantEgidio. The three-day annual peace event, whose theme this year as war wages on in Ukraine is The Cry for Peace, will conclude with the speech and participation of Pope Francis on Tuesday at the Colosseum at the prayer for peace. Past encounters On Sunday evening, President Macron also met with Italy's new Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni. The French president had previously visited the Pope on 26 November 2021 and 26 June 2018. During those meetings, issues of major concern were the situation of refugees and migrants, climate change, and the Middle East. Over the years, the Pope and French President have had several phone calls, including when the Pope expressed his condolences for the 2020 stabbing attack at the Notre Dame Cathedral de Nice, where three people were killed; and when the French President contacted the Pope to emphasize the significance of his Apostolic Visit to Iraq in 2021, marking the first-ever visit of a Pope to the war-torn Middle Eastern country. Two prisoners sentenced to death in Japan have appealed against the country's policy of giving only two hours' notice before executions are carried out. By Alastair Wanklyn - Tokyo, Japan Two prisoners sentenced to death in Japan have launched an appeal against how the country applies the death penalty. Japan gives prisoners on death row only one or two hours' notice of their hanging, a policy that authorities say safeguards the victims emotional stability. Campaigners say it deprives prisoners of their legal rights, as well as the chance to say goodbye to family or receive Church ministry. Listen to Alastair Wanklyn's report Harrowing testimony The case, brought by two anonymous death row prisoners in Osaka district court, contains harrowing testimony. When the prison officer opens the door of the prisoners room and announces the execution, the prisoner is immediately detained and taken to the place of execution, the case quotes death row prisoner Hiroshi Sakaguchi as writing to lawyers. The prisoner is tied up, handcuffed, and taken to the execution table in the same clothes, where he is hanged with a noose. We, the condemned, are not allowed to object to the execution. Other testimony takes the form of an audio tape recorded in 1955, which shows the final hours of an unnamed prisoner at a time when notice periods were longer. In the tape, the man receives three days notice of his upcoming execution and spends the time making affectionate farewells to inmates and his visiting sister, who sobs. The tape includes sound of the man being hanged as Buddhist priests chant sutras. Japan now has tightened the notice period to one to two hours, giving prisoners insufficient time to contact anyone outside the prison or even to reflect on their upcoming death. Criticism of the policy Takeshi Kaneko, a lawyer acting in Osaka for the two anonymous prisoners, says the policy is wrong. If you give notice on the day, you cant prepare well, Kaneko said. Its only due to the convenience of the authorities that they let the prisoner know on the morning of the day. That is a mistake. Moreover, the policy denies prisoners the chance to contact a lawyer, and therefore the right of appeal. At least one prisoner was executed while an appeal was underway. Japans Justice Ministry has never said why or when it adopted immediate executions. It says only the policy ensures the prisoners emotional stability. Campaigners believe it may be an attempt to prevent suicide. One death-row inmate killed himself in 1975, and the policy may date from that time. Secrecy surrounds executions The uncertainty points to the secrecy surrounding executions in Japan. The Justice Ministry announces a victims name and conviction but nothing else, citing non-disclosure and privacy rules. Some prisoners are held for more than a decade on death row before being killed on an apparently arbitrary date. The secrecy means there is almost no public debate in Japan about the death penalty or how it is applied. Campaigners believe many people are even unaware that all prisoners are hanged, a policy unchanged since the 19th century. Since only two pieces of information are disclosed by the authorities, this is a situation in which it is impossible to discuss the death penalty system, Kaneko said. Hoping for a wider discussion The current court case does not seek to overthrow the death penalty. The lawyers are challenging one small part of the procedure as a way to start a wider discussion. Id like to ask everyone what they think about the death penalty, Kaneko said. Should the notice period be 30 days, 90 days, or even longer? Since theres no discussion in Japan, we can raise awareness of the problem. Kaneko recommends that Japan consider following procedures in the United States, where prisoners in some states are given freedom to meet guests, write letters and eat a last meal of choice. This retains some of their dignity and offers a measure of healing. If Japan adopted advance notice, it might allow prisoners a final tea ceremony and a chance to write haiku poetry, the Osaka court case argues. International commitments In 1979, Japan became a member of the Covenant on Civil Liberties, which prohibits painful and humiliating methods of execution. The Committee on Civil Liberties, which oversees implementation of the covenant, has several times expressed concern that death row inmates are executed without prior notice, and that their families cannot prepare themselves. This, it says, is cruel. Meanwhile, the legal team in Osaka fears retribution against the two prisoners in this court case. They could be executed any day, for an undisclosed reason. Because of that, the court is not being told their names. The Group of Seven (G7) of the world's leading economies has condemned Russia's alleged kidnapping of the leadership of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Their concern comes as Ukraine suffers massive blackouts following Russian strikes on critical infrastructures. By Stefan J. Bos The G7 fears Russia undermines the safety of Europe's largest nuclear power plant after its leadership disappeared. In published remarks, the G7's Nonproliferation Directors General group said they "condemn Russia's repeated kidnapping of the [Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant] ZNPP leadership and staff." It added that they urge Russia "to immediately return full control of the" plant to what the G7 called "its rightful sovereign owner, Ukraine." Russian forces have been in control of the nuclear plant since the early days of their invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24th. There has also been concern about fighting around the plant and Russian missile and drone strikes on critical infrastructures. In addition, footage has emerged of a Ukrainian uniform-wearing violinist performing for people gathered in a shelter in the western city of Rivne amid ongoing blackouts and water shortages following Russian strikes. Read also 23/10/2022 Pope calls for prayers for Ukraine, recalls World Mission Day Speaking after the Angelus, Pope Francis recalls that today is World Mission Day, and he encourages us to support missionaries with prayer and concrete solidarity. He also invites ... Households divided The video by the Ukrainian defense ministry shows dozens of people, including one or more children sitting nearby. Several are holding up torches as the man plays. Other regions are also facing similar challenges. For instance, Kyiv's energy grid operator announced a series of "stabilization" power cuts following Russian strikes this weekend. It said households in the capital with a pre-war population of nearly 3 million are divided into three groups that will be "disconnected for a certain period of time." The energy operator added that the blackouts should last "no more than four hours" but may be longer "due to the scale of damage to the power supply system." It underscored broader concerns in a nation where more than a million households were left without electricity after strikes on energy facilities across Ukraine ahead of winter. President Volodymyr Zelensky has now urged residents to be mindful of their energy use and to limit their use of appliances that require a lot of power. Plane crash Russia is also suffering setbacks on the battlefields and closer to home. In the latest known incident, the regional governor acknowledged that a Russian fighter plane crashed into a residential building in the Siberian city of Irkutsk. Igor Kobzev said the aircraft hit a two-story house and that its two pilots had both been killed. However, he added that there had been no other casualties. Footage included in the post showed emergency workers moving among the wreckage and working to put out fires at the site. It is the second such incident in six days. Last Monday, at least 15 people were killed after a fighter plane hit an apartment block near the Ukrainian border in the southern city of Yeysk. The crashes and other reported issues with military equipment have raised questions among defense experts about the preparedness of Russia's army for the war in Ukraine. But with fighting continuing in Ukraine, the human suffering seems far from over. Southeast Asian foreign ministers will hold a special meeting in Indonesia on Thursday to discuss the Myanmar peace process, Cambodia's foreign ministry said on Sunday. The talks at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat in Jakarta will cover the implementation of a five-point peace "consensus" agreed with Myanmar's military rulers last year to try to end conflict in the country, ministry spokesman Chum Sounry told Reuters. Myanmar has been trapped in a cycle of violence since the army ousted Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in February 2021, detaining her and thousands of activists and launching a bloody crackdown on protests and dissent. The meeting will seek to come up with recommendations on how to push forward the peace process ahead of an ASEAN summit next month, he said by text message. Cambodia is the current chair of ASEAN. ASEAN, of which Myanmar is a member, has been leading peace efforts but some countries in the 10-nation bloc have become increasingly exasperated by the lack of progress by the junta implementing the plan, which includes engaging with opponents and a cessation of hostilities. Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said last month ASEAN needed to decide by November whether the peace consensus was still relevant. Rights groups say the long-awaited rules Thailands government approved this month for screening foreigners seeking refuge from persecution in their home countries are likely to leave many worthy applicants in the lurch. The United Nations refugee agency says Thailand currently hosts about 5,000 urban refugees and asylum seekers, though some rights groups say the real number may be much higher. Thailand currently makes no official distinction between refugees or asylum seekers and other foreigners in the country illegally, leaving those seeking sanctuary at constant risk of arrest and a forced return home, where they may face arrest, torture or death. Authorities often give refugees the chance to lay low or move to third countries, but forced more than 100 ethnic Uyghurs back to China in 2015 and four wanted political dissidents back to Cambodia, where they were promptly arrested, late last year. Right now, they [refugees] are always at risk of arrest and deport[ation], said Naiyana Thanawattho, executive director of rights group Asylum Access Thailand. Like most other countries in Southeast Asia, Thailand has not ratified the U.N.s refugee convention. In 2016, though, it did pledge to establish a program granting protected persons status to foreigners with a legitimate fear of persecution back home, giving them the legal right to stay in Thailand. The Cabinet approved the outlines of the plan, a so-called National Screening Mechanism, in 2019, with specific criteria for vetting applicants to come later. The Cabinet approved those criteria Oct. 5. The rules for refuge The criteria will not be official until published in the Royal Gazette in the coming weeks and may still be tweaked between now and then. But the Cabinets summary of what it approved says the program is for those unable or unwilling to return to their countries of origin due to potential harm. There must be credible reasons to believe the person may be harmed upon returning, it adds. Said harms include physical attacks, threats to life or freedom, torture, enforced disappearance, or other severe human rights violations. Thai citizens or permanent residents, migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar, and anyone covered by unspecified Interior Ministry protocols would be barred from the program. Applicants would also have to pass a health screening, a criminal background check, and a review of their personal and political behavior." Anyone who makes it through could still be rejected for unspecified national security reasons and will have no right to know exactly why. Rights groups say they welcome the broad definition of what can count as harm. They are also glad the rules make it clear that the U.N., nongovernmental groups and lawyers can help people through the application process. They are worried, though, about the many reasons the criteria give for turning applicants down. Refugee advocates fear that, with all the possible exemptions, the program could be the mechanism that screens people out instead of screening people in, said Waritsara Rungthong of the Refugee Rights Litigation Project, a local legal aid group. Some people, they have many status at the same time, she said. For example, just because you are a migrant worker doesnt mean you are not also a refugee. Advocates say some refugees may have fled Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar out of genuine fear for their safety and taken up work once in Thailand to support themselves or come strictly for the work at first and only later fallen afoul of their home governments for something theyve said, done or posted online from abroad. Rights groups are also unsure about exactly who falls within the groups covered by the Interior Ministry protocols the criteria mention. They fear the groups may include refugees children either born in Thailand or born abroad but attending school here. Both groups are eligible for some form of government-issued ID. A dearth of detail Advocates are anxious, too, over the lack of specifics about exactly what national security concerns might disqualify someone who has cleared all other hurdles, and about what sort of political behavior might raise red flags with the authorities. They are worried the vague phrasing could lead to inconsistent decisions on who to approve or reject, and that the government may use national security as an excuse to trade favors with other countries that want their dissidents back. Both the National Screening Mechanism the Cabinet approved in 2019 and the vetting criteria it OKd this month say that the decisions of the screening committee are final. Despite that, Thai law allows government orders to be appealed to the countrys Administrative Court, which runs alongside but separate from its civil and criminal courts. Because the programs rules do not spell that out, though, some rejected applicants may give up, said Kornkanok Wathanabhoom of Fortify Rights, a nongovernment group focused on Southeast Asia. They [the rules] did not clarify, and the applicant, they dont know about the administrative law, so they [may] never know that they have the right to appeal to the Administrative Court, she said. Government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri did not reply to VOAs requests for an interview about the rights groups concerns. Even so, all three rights workers said the program, if and when it finally takes effect, would be a welcome improvement on the status quo and the ever-present fear of forced repatriation that refugees now live with. Besides letting successful applicants stay in Thailand legally, the program would give them the right to use the countrys public schools and hospitals. While the rules dont yet say so, advocates hope theyll be allowed to work as well. Its still better than nothing, said Naiyana. With this step there will be people who will be considered properly, hopefully properly, and going through the process and get the status, and then they can live more safely, she said. And that is our aim ... to see that people can enjoy their human rights, they can move freely, they can work, their children can go to school, they can live with dignity and make a decision of what their future would be. One month after Albania cut diplomatic relations with Iran following a cyberattack, Albanias prime minister arrived Sunday in Israel for a three-day visit that includes meeting with Israeli cyber defense officials. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said he and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama discussed common challenges facing the two countries, with an emphasis on the Iranian threat. Lapid said Israel will do its best to help in efforts against Iran, something it see as a national interest and an historical obligation. Lapid tweeted a photo of the Israeli delegations meeting with the Albanian side headed by Rama, and said they agreed the two countries will work together to combat cyber threats posed by Iran. Rama was also scheduled to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and the head of Israel's National Cyber Directorate. Albania severed diplomatic ties after blaming Iran for the July cyberattack that hit Albanias government websites and services. Albania also blamed Iran for a second cyberattack in September against the countrys police computer systems. North and South Korea say they exchanged warning shots near a disputed area off their west coast, the latest flareup of military tensions on the Korean Peninsula. South Koreas military said it fired warning shots at a North Korean merchant ship that crossed the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto Korean sea border, at 3:42 a.m. Monday. About 90 minutes later, North Korea fired 10 shells from a multiple rocket launcher system in response to a South Korean military vessel that crossed the border, according to a North Korean military statement posted on state media. Seoul says Mondays incident occurred near Baengnyeong, a heavily militarized frontline island controlled by South Korea. According to South Koreas military, the North Korean ship returned northward after the warning. North Korea has never recognized the NLL and its ships sometimes cross the border, resulting in tense standoffs at sea. In recent weeks, North Korea has also conducted provocative artillery shelling near the sea border. Prepping for a 'provocation' Monday, after the incident, South Koreas military announced it would hold major exercises in the sea off its west coast in preparation for enemy provocation. The exercise, part of wider, annual defense drills, involves South Korean destroyers, frigates, attack helicopters, and fighter jets, according to South Koreas Ministry of National Defense. The U.S. Air Force will also participate, it added. "If the enemy provokes us, we will punish them as we have trained. We must protect our territorial waters," said Ryu Hyo-sang, commander of the Second Fleet of South Korea's Navy, who oversees joint naval exercises in the West Sea. More missile tests, displays of might Tensions have grown as North Korea has conducted an unprecedented barrage of missile tests this year. There also are concerns the North could soon carry out its seventh nuclear test since 2006. In response, the United States and its ally, South Korea, have increased displays of military strength and ramped up joint defense exercises that had been scaled back in recent years. The moves have raised concerns that the two Koreas, still technically in a state of war after their 1950s conflict ended only in a truce, are entering a particularly dangerous phase of their relations. North and South Korea held historic talks in 2018, leading to several agreements that reduced military tensions in shared border areas. But North Korea, frustrated by the lack of progress in parallel nuclear talks with the United States, soon walked away from both sets of negotiations. This year, North Korea has tested a record-high 41 ballistic missiles, passed a new law underscoring its status as a nuclear weapons state, and boasted of its ability to conduct strikes with tactical nuclear weapons. While North Korea appears intent on provoking a sense of crisis, to what end is not clear. According to analysts, Pyongyang has a longstanding strategy of periodically ratcheting up tensions in order to create leverage ahead of negotiations with the United States and its allies. But North Korea has consistently rejected recent U.S. and South Korean offers of dialogue. In September, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said there would be absolutely no denuclearization, no negotiation and no bargaining chip to trade. North Korea has many other possible motivations for conducting weapons tests, including developing new capabilities, demonstrating deterrence, and signaling resolve to its own people. Authorities in Cameroon say they are struggling to contain a cholera outbreak in an overcrowded refugee camp on its northern border with Nigeria. In the past week, three people have died in the Minawao refugee camp and at least 81 have been infected from the bacteria, which spreads through dirty water and food. The camp was designed to hold fewer than 15,000 refugees but currently has more than five times that number. The camp located on Cameroons northern border is home to 76,000 Nigerians who have fled Boko Haram terrorist attacks. Helen Ngoh, spokesperson for UNHCR Cameroon says the U.N. body needs support to contain the ongoing wave of infections and to prevent future outbreaks in the refugee camp. "In Minawao specifically UNHCR needs at least 450,000 U.S. dollars to be able to increase portable water supply and also to be able to cover an existing gap of 900 latrines and to be able to improve waste management in the camp as well. All of these needs are extremely urgent at this point," she said. UNHCR says it is investigating suspected cases and treating patients free of charge. The refugee agency says it is also finding out if the disease has spread to host communities. Ngoh said several hundred humanitarian workers have been deployed to the camp and host communities to educate refugees on prevention measures, which she said are basically respecting hygiene rules. Nigerian refugee Special Bulama is among aid workers raising awareness about the outbreak and teaching civilians good hygiene practices. Bulama says he has personally spoken about the disease to scores of families in the camp. "We are telling the refugees to take care of themselves, they must boil water before they take [drink], they must wash their hands with Sabulu [soap], keep their latrines very safe because flies can take this disease to their food or to their water. We are telling them to help us to avoid this problem of cholera," he said. Cameroon's Ministry of Public Health has confirmed the outbreak. Government health officials say at least 22 people have died of cholera in several villages on Cameroon's northern border with Nigeria and Chad. Humanitarian workers and health officials say many more people may be infected or are feared dead in difficult to access villages within the past two weeks. The U.N. reports that up to October, more than 1,000 cases of cholera were reported in Nigeria. Cameroon says hospitals in border localities are overwhelmed. Officials in Cameroon say they are engaged in discussions with Nigeria and Chad to jointly combat cholera, a bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration, usually spread through contaminated water. It can be fatal if not treated. Cyclone Sitrang slammed into densely populated, low-lying Bangladesh late Monday, killing at least five people as authorities fearing heavy rain and storm surge rushed to move hundreds of thousands out of the system's path. Sitrang, packing winds of 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour, made landfall along the Chittagong-Barisal coast around 9 pm (1500 GMT), government meteorologist Abul Kalam Mallick told AFP. The storm was moving swiftly over the country's southern region and its outer bands were already affecting Dhaka, hundreds of kilometers away from the Bay of Bengal, with trees uprooted and roads flooded in the capital. Mallick said some coastal towns had received nearly 294 milimeters (12 inches) of rainfall. At least five people had been killed in the districts of Barguna, Narail, Sirajganj and the island district of Bhola, disaster ministry control room spokesman Nikhil Sarker told AFP. "The casualties may rise as we are hearing from our officials from some other districts as well," he said. Cyclones the equivalent of hurricanes in the North Atlantic or typhoons in the Northwest Pacific are a regular and deadly menace on the coast of the northern Indian Ocean where tens of millions of people live. But scientists say climate change is likely making them more intense and frequent, and Bangladesh is already rated by the United Nations as one of the countries most affected by extreme weather events since the turn of the century. Most worrying for authorities was the predicted storm surge of up to three meters (10 feet) above normal tide levels, which could inundate areas home to millions of people. About 33,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, controversially relocated to a storm-prone island in the Bay of Bengal, were advised to remain indoors. The newly formed silt island of Bhashan Char, where Bangladesh has been relocating Rohingya refugees to alleviate overcrowding in their refugee camps, was expected to be hit by heavy rains and strong winds. "The Bhashan Char shelters are protected by a 19-foot-high embankment. Still, we asked people to stay at home," a senior security officer told AFP from the island. The government had hoped to evacuate about 2.5 million other people ahead of the storm, the country's disaster management minister Enamur Rahman told reporters earlier Monday. "The evacuation has already begun from the morning," the minister said, adding that more than 7,000 shelters have been readied in an effort to keep casualties to a minimum. At least 250,000 people had already been evacuated from coastal districts to cyclone shelters by the afternoon, two regional administrators told AFP. Tens of thousands of volunteers were mobilized for the effort, said a spokesperson for the local chapter of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. "We have already evacuated the most vulnerable people, especially those who live in remote islands and riverbanks and those who live in flimsy houses," Aminul Ahsan, regional administrator of Barisal, told AFP. "In some places we have used force to bring people to cyclone shelters. It is for their own safety," another regional administrator said. The Red Crescent Society has mobilized tens of thousands of volunteers to help villagers evacuate, spokesman Shahinur Rahman said. In the neighboring eastern Indian state of West Bengal, several thousand people were being evacuated as a precaution, with more than 100 relief centers opened, officials said. "A special squad is making a round-the-clock vigil along the coastline of the state," West Bengal government minister Arup Biswas said. "Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea. Ferry services have also been suspended," he said. In 2020, Cyclone Amphan, only the second "super cyclone" ever recorded over the Bay of Bengal, killed more than 100 people in Bangladesh and India, and affected millions. Last year, more than a million people were evacuated along India's east coast before Cyclone Yaas battered the area with winds gusting up to 155 kilometers an hour equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane. The 1970 Bhola cyclone, one of the world's worst natural disasters, killed several hundred thousand people in Bangladesh then known as East Pakistan and India. In recent years, better forecasting and more effective evacuation planning have dramatically reduced the death toll from such storms. Delegations to African Union-mediated peace talks on the war in Ethiopia's Tigray region meet in South Africa today despite a renewed offensive that saw federal forces re-take a few towns from Tigrayan forces. The Ethiopian government put out a statement saying it viewed the talks as an opportunity to peacefully resolve the conflict. For their part, the leadership of the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, or the TPLF, also confirmed their attendance, with a member of the central committee, Kindeya Gebrehiwot, tweeting that the delegation had arrived in South Africa Sunday. The Tigray delegation is being led by one of the regions top generals, Tsadkan Gebretensae, spokesman Getachew Reda, an official familiar with the talks told Reuters. The Tigrayans arrived on a U.S. military aircraft, accompanied by the U.S. special envoy to the Horn of Africa, Mike Hammer, the official told Reuters. Officials from host country South Africa were remaining mum on the much-anticipated negotiations, and their exact location is unclear. It is also unclear whether media will be addressed at their conclusion, or a statement released. Clayson Monyela, a spokesman for South Africas Department of International Relations and Cooperation, told VOA the department had no authority to speak on the talks and referred any questions to the African Union, which is organizing them. A spokesperson for the AU could not immediately be reached. The talks come as fighting on the ground intensified, with the Ethiopian government saying they had continued taking control of major urban centers in the past few days. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned last week that the situation was spiraling out of control, while World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, himself a Tigrayan, warned of the possibility of genocide. Thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced since the conflict broke out in late 2020. The U.S. has expressed hope that the peace talks in South Africa will lead to a cessation of hostilities. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday he had spoken to South African counterpart Naledi Pandor on how to make the peace talks successful. From the Vatican over the weekend, Pope Francis tweeted: I follow the persistent situation of conflict in Ethiopia with trepidation. May the efforts of the parties for dialogue lead to a genuine path of reconciliation. Peace talks between Ethiopian government officials and representatives from the leadership of the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front are due to begin Monday in South Africa. Just ahead of the talks, Ethiopian federal forces took two more towns in Tigray previously under Tigrayan forces control. Humanitarian sources told VOA that federal Ethiopian troops and allied Eritrean forces have taken control of the towns of Axum and Adwa, the latest in a series of setbacks for forces led by the rebel Tigray Peoples Liberation Front. Tigrayan forces retreated from Adwa after suffering heavy losses, one of the sources said. Last Tuesday, pro-federal government forces captured Shire in northwest Tigray, a major urban hub that hosts hundreds of thousands of people displaced by two years of fighting. The government has vowed to take control of the Tigray region's airports and federal institutions. The news comes as negotiators for the federal government and the Tigray forces arrive in South Africa for peace talks convened by the African Union. Diplomats have urged the parties to agree to a cease-fire, with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken sounding the alarm Friday over reports of significant loss of life, destruction, indiscriminate bombardment, and human rights abuses in northern Ethiopia. More than half a million people have been displaced in northwest Tigray alone since the fighting resumed on August 24, with tens of thousands more uprooted in the neighboring Amhara region. Ethiopian and Eritrean forces took control of the historic town of Adwa in the embattled Tigray region, a humanitarian worker said Sunday, ahead of the start of anticipated peace talks between the warring parties. Ethiopian and Eritrean military units captured Adwa Saturday as Tigray forces retreated from the town after suffering major losses," the aid worker told The Associated Press. An airstrike hit Adwa Friday, causing an unspecified number of civilian casualties, according to the worker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of safety concerns. Losing Adwa is the latest setback for Tigray's fugitive leaders, who have lost control of a string of towns in recent days. Ethiopia's federal government said Tuesday it had captured the major town of Shire, home to a camp for internally displaced people, and vowed to take control of Tigrays airports. Eritrean troops are fighting on the side of Ethiopias federal army in the Tigray conflict. South Africa is set to host peace talks, convened by the African Union, that one Ethiopian government official had said would begin Oct. 24. But the African Union itself has not released details about plans for the talks, if and when they start. The talks were meant to begin earlier in October but were postponed because of logistical and technical issues. Western diplomats and others have welcomed news of talks, urging the parties to agree to an immediate cease-fire. Sunday, Pope Francis told a crowd in St. Peters Square that he was following with trepidation the persistent situation of conflict" in the Horn of Africa nation. May the efforts of the parties who are involved in dialogue and the search for the common good lead to a concrete path of reconciliation," he said. The U.N. Security Council discussed the conflict in Ethiopia at a closed meeting Friday but didnt issue a statement because of divisions among its 15 members. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was deeply concerned by reports of significant loss of life, destruction, indiscriminate bombardment and human rights abuses since fighting reignited in the Tigray region in August. Thousands of protesters gathered Saturday in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, for a government-sponsored rally to condemn perceived interference by outsiders in Ethiopias internal affairs. A statement from the federal governments communication service Sunday praised the protesters who raised your voice for the sovereignty and honor of Ethiopia. The conflict, which began nearly two years ago, has spread into the neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara as Tigrays leaders try to break the blockade of their region. When humanitarian officials in Haiti try to describe their concerns over a new, fast-spreading cholera epidemic, they struggle to find words strong enough: "alarming," "chaotic," even "a catastrophe." A sizable part of the island's population has been isolated and unable to access health care either by serious fuel shortages or by the brutal armed gangs that control vast areas. And without health care, cholera patients, who suffer acute diarrhea, can die of dehydration in just hours. "It's a catastrophe. We're overwhelmed," Doctor Jean William Pape told AFP. His NGO, called Gheskio, operates two of the country's 15 cholera treatment centers. In one of them, in the capital of Port-au-Prince, "we have 80 beds, and they're all occupied," he said. "Due to the fuel shortage, people in the slums have told me there have been several deaths in their areas, because it wasn't possible to transport the sick people." An armed gang has for weeks been blockading a key fuel terminal at Varreux, north of the capital, aggravating the country's paralysis. The return of cholera U.N. peacekeepers introduced cholera to Haiti in 2010, ultimately resulting in thousands of deaths. But, until the latest outbreak, no case of the disease had been reported in Haiti since 2019. As of Wednesday, 33 cholera deaths and 960 suspect cases have been logged by the health ministry. And that number could seriously understate the problem, according to Bruno Maes, the UNICEF representative in Haiti. The situation is all the more frustrating, experts say, given that even serious cholera cases are easily treatable with a few days of rest and rehydration and that there is a cholera vaccine. That vaccine, however, is only effective for around five years, and the last big targeted vaccination campaign in Haiti was in 2017. Roughly half of all cases here have involved children younger than 14, who are particularly vulnerable when their immune systems are weakened by poor nutrition due to poverty. "Many of them are very badly nourished," said Pape, the doctor, adding it was difficult to find their veins to administer solutions intravenously. The U.N. estimates that 4.7 million Haitians, nearly half the country's population, suffer from acute food insecurity. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) operates four centers with a total of 250 beds and some 20 oral-rehydration clinics, deputy mission chief Moha Zemrag told AFP. He said a priority is securing access to potable water in gang-controlled areas like the Brooklyn neighborhood in the capital's Cite Soleil commune, which has had no fresh water for three months. Cholera is caused by the ingestion of water or food contaminated with a bacteria called vibrio cholerae. The high risk of kidnapping by the gangs has prevented aid groups from entering these areas to disinfect homes and buildings with chlorine. While MSF has established a system of shuttles to safely bring its personnel to treatment centers, fuel shortages could make this impossible "in a few weeks," Zemrag said. Concern is also growing for rural dwellers, who, without access to fuel, may have to walk days for help. Early cases have been detected in the southern region of Nippes and in Artibonite to the north. Armed groups now blockade highways leading both to the north and south, Maes said. "Port-au-Prince is literally surrounded, strangled," he said. UNICEF's offices have been pillaged, and shipments of medication have been blocked at the port. The return of cholera has revived nightmarish memories of the epidemic introduced by blue-helmeted U.N. peacekeepers in 2010, after a major earthquake ravaged the country. The disease claimed more than 10,000 lives from then until 2019. But conditions today are different, said Sylvain Aldighieri, deputy director of public health emergencies with the Pan American Health Organization. "For now, we're not seeing an explosion (in cases) as we observed during the first months" of 2010, he said. He said the authorities have "10 years' experience with cholera" and the key now is to "reactivate the mechanisms" that worked before. Doing so, however, presents challenges. The U.N. on Friday imposed sanctions, including an arms embargo, on several gangs. But it remains divided on whether to send a new international force to the country. Such a force, said Aldighieri, might be able to establish "humanitarian corridors for difficult zones," and help free supplies now blocked in ports. At the moment, he added, airplanes carrying additional supplies are expected in the coming days. Kenya's museums and partners are conserving and promoting indigenous seeds after the government lifted a ban on genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, for farming. The museum says the native seeds are at risk because of the GMO seeds, which the government and some farmers say will help them to produce more crops faster as the region suffers a historic drought. Victoria Amunga reports from Nairobi, Kenya. Videographer: Jimmy Makhulo The trial of four former Kenyan police officers charged with murdering two Indian nationals and their Kenyan driver began Monday in Nairobi. The Indian men, Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan and Mohamed Zaid Sami Kidwai, were in Kenya to work on the electoral campaign of President William Ruto, who was elected in August. Kenyan media report the officers were taken into custody by police in late July. The remains of the victims were found in a forest last week. The four officers were members of a Special Services Unit that Ruto disbanded this month for allegedly carrying out extrajudicial killings and disappearances. Kenya's Independent Policing Oversight Authority says the unit is suspected in the disappearance of more than 100 people this year alone. Addressing a news conference Monday, authority chairperson Anne Makori said the unit is suspected of torturing victims and dumping their bodies in Kenya's Yala River. "In January 2022, the authority launched investigations into incidences in which 25 dead bodies were found dumped in River Yala on diverse dates. Having attended all postmortem examination, the general emerging trend as the course of death was determined as: out of the bodies, 12 had injuries," Makori said. The authority continues to investigate other disappearances connected to the unit. In addition to murder charges, the four ex-officers on trial are accused of abuse of office and conspiracy to commit felonies. If found guilty, they could face up to life in prison. Kenya's police oversight authority is investigating the shooting death of well-known Pakistani investigative journalist Arshad Sharif at a checkpoint on Oct. 23. Police say the shooting of the 50-year-old journalist was a case of mistaken identity. The officers said they mistook the vehicle, driven by Sharifs brother, for one connected to a child kidnapping in Nairobi. When the car didnt stop at the checkpoint, they shot at the vehicle. The Kenya Union of Journalists spoke out against the killing of Sharif. Its secretary-general, Charles Eric Oduor, said that police "should not have killed the journalist. They should have found a way of arresting him in the event that they were following this car." He added that the members of the union, "condemn that in the strongest terms possible. And we believe that once we get the facts, this police officer in the next few days should be arraigned in court and charged with murder." Sharif fled Pakistan in August due to death threats and a series of controversial sedition charges against him and several other journalists. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he spoke to Kenyan President William Ruto about the journalists death and requested that Kenyan authorities provide fairness and transparency in the investigation. Anne Makori, chairperson for Kenyas Independent Policing Oversight Authority, said her agency is looking into the incident and that "Our rapid response team has already been dispatched." Oduor said that he has doubts about the circumstances in which Sharif was killed and said "we believe we will have a current investigation other than what the police are telling us." In the week before Sharif was killed, Ruto disbanded a special police unit accused of abuse and the extrajudicial killings of civilians. Four officers in the unit were arrested and arraigned in court on Oct. 24 in connection with the disappearances of two Indian nationals and their Kenyan driver. However, a report released in 2020 by the IPOA said most cases involving police abuses and killings go without a successful conviction. 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.: U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner "does not expect miracles" at her appeal hearing on Tuesday against a nine-year Russian jail term for having cannabis oil in her luggage, her lawyers said in a statement, according to Reuters. The twice Olympic gold medalist was arrested on February 17 at a Moscow airport with vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, which is banned in Russia. She was sentenced on August 4 to nine years in a penal colony on charges of possessing and smuggling drugs. Griner's lawyers, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, said she would take part in Tuesday's hearing by video link from the detention center where she has been held, and that they expected a verdict the same day. 10 p.m.: 9:42 p.m.: 8:54 p.m.: Kyiv on Monday accused Russia of purposefully delaying the arrival from Turkey of more than 165 cargo ships heading to Ukrainian ports to be loaded with grain, Agence France-Presse reported. Russia's inspectors "have been significantly prolonging the inspection of vessels... As a result, more than 165 vessels have been stuck in a queue near the Bosphorus Strait and this number continues to grow daily", the Ukrainian foreign ministry said "We have reason to believe that the delays in Russia's inspections of the Grain Initiative's vessels are politically motivated," it added. 8:03 p.m.: 7:09 p.m.: A Ukrainian mortar team takes pride in accurate strikes, even at a distance and at night, aided by drones that provide the exact location of Russian troops and military equipment. The team leader, a former life insurance sales manager, says the targeting data helps his fellow soldiers remain at a safe distance during artillery duels in the Donetsk region. But, he adds, they need to move quickly after firing. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has this report. 6:17 p.m.: 5:09 p.m.: Ukraines top soccer club on Monday urged FIFA to remove Iran from the World Cup because of the countrys alleged military support to the Russian invasion, The Associated Press reported. Shakhtar Donetsk chief executive Sergei Palkin accused Iran of direct participation in terrorist attacks on Ukrainians, suggesting his own countrys team should play in Qatar instead as a replacement. This will be a fair decision that should draw the attention of the whole world to a regime that kills its best people and helps kill Ukrainians, Palkin said in a statement one day before his team plays at Celtic in the Champions League. The White House said Thursday that the U.S. has evidence that Iranian troops are directly engaged on the ground in Crimea supporting Russian drone attacks on Ukraines infrastructure and civilian population. And the head of Ukraines intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov, said in a published interview on Monday that Russian forces had used about 330 Iranian-built Shahed drones as of Saturday and that more had been ordered. 4 p.m.: A senior Russian official says that authorities have taken steps to boost weapons production amid the fighting in Ukraine, The Associated Press reported. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russias Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, said he visited the countrys top tank factory in the Ural Mountains city of Nizhny Tagil on Monday to discuss ways of increasing output. Medvedev noted that foreign observers have predicted that Russia would run out of its weapons stockpiles soon, adding that such forecasts were bound to fail. He said that production of weapons and equipment from tanks and cannons to precision missiles and drones is increasing many fold. You just wait, he said. 3:18 p.m.: Norwegian police on Monday placed into custody two more Russians on suspicion of taking photographs of a restricted military installation in northern Norway, The Associated Press reported. Prosecutor Steffen Ravnasen told Norwegian broadcaster NRK the Russian citizens - a man and a woman in their 30s - were arrested Saturday near Bjerkvik which houses Norwegian Armed Forces military facility and barracks. Norway is a member of NATO. Ravnasen said the pair, who were in a car with Russian number plates, is suspected of illegally taking photos. The case has been referred to Norways domestic security agency PST which handles similar cases that involved Russians allegedly taking photos or flying drones illegally. In recent weeks, several Russian citizens have been detained in Norway including four Russian nationals three men and one woman who were seen taking photos in central Norway of objects covered under a ban on photography. They have since been released. 2:30 p.m.: 2:10 p.m.: Swedens center-right government will fulfil all requirements under a deal with Turkey to join NATO and will concentrate external relations to its immediate neighborhood while dropping the previous administrations feminist foreign policy, the countrys top diplomat said Monday, according to the Associated Press. Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said the new government shares Turkeys concern about the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey, Europe and the United States. There will be no nonsense from the Swedish government when it comes to the PKK, Billstrom told the Associated Press in an interview. We are fully behind a policy which means that terrorist organizations dont have a right to function on Swedish territory. Turkey stalled Sweden's and Finlands historic bids to join NATO over concerns that the two countries Sweden in particular had become a safe haven for members of the PKK and affiliated groups. 1:50 p.m.: Amid the ruins of two Ukrainian towns recently recaptured from Russian forces, the local population is cold and traumatized. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has this report. 1:30 p.m.: Iran will not remain indifferent if it is proven that its drones are being used by Russia in the Ukraine war, the Iranian foreign minister said Monday, amid allegations the Islamic Republic has supplied drones to Moscow to attack Ukraine, Reuters reported. "If it is proven to us that Iranian drones are being used in the Ukraine war against people, we should not remain indifferent," state media cited Hossein Amirabdollahian as saying. However, Amirabdollahian said defense cooperation between Tehran and Moscow will continue. 1:20 p.m.: U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday that Iran is making a big mistake by supplying Russia with drones that are targeting Ukraines infrastructure, the Associated Press reported. Weve been trying for a while now to have a nuclear agreement with Iran so that we can make the world a safer place and now theyre going off aiding the Russians and making the world a less safe place, Pelosi said in Zagreb, Croatia. The United States and key Western allies have accused Russia of using Iranian-made drones to attack civilians and power plants in Ukraine. Iran has denied it is supplying Russia with the explosive-laden missiles but the distinctive triangle-shaped drones have been seen. Pelosi was in Croatia to attend an international forum aimed at supporting Ukraines independence in the face of the Russian aggression. 1:05 p.m.: 12:45 p.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday called on Israel to join the fight against Russia and repeated a request for Israeli air defense systems, Reuters reported. "Isn't it time for your state to choose who you are with as well?" Zelenskyy said in a video speech to a conference for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. "Is it with the democratic world, which is fighting side by side against the existential threat to its existence? Or with those who turn a blind eye to Russian terror, even when the cost of continued terror is the complete destruction of global security," he said. Israel has condemned the Russian invasion. But it has been wary of straining relations with Moscow, a power broker in neighboring Syria where Israeli forces frequently attack pro-Iranian militia, and wants to ensure the wellbeing of Russia's Jews. 12:30 p.m.: 12:15 p.m.: The United States has no indications that Russia has decided to employ a nuclear weapon, biological weapon or chemical weapon, a U.S. military official told reporters on Monday, despite U.S. concerns about false Russian warnings of a Ukrainian dirty bomb plot, Reuters reported. The remarks followed calls between the U.S. defense secretary and his Russian counterpart on Sunday and a call on Monday between the top U.S. and Russian generals. 11:50 a.m.: Ukraines top diplomat is urging the U.N. nuclear watchdog to immediately send an inspection team to the country to counter Moscows claim that Kyiv is preparing a provocation involving a dirty bomb, The Associated Press reported. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Monday he made the request in a call with Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Kuleba said Grossi agreed to send a team of inspectors, adding that unlike Russia, Ukraine has always been and remains transparent. We have nothing to hide. The U.S., Britain and France said in a joint statement that they reject Russias transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. 11:35 a.m.: Russian military Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov and British Chief of Defense Staff Tony Radakin spoke by phone on Monday to discuss what Moscow called the possibility that Ukraine could use a "dirty bomb" with radioactive material, the Russian defense ministry said, according to Reuters. It gave no further details of the call, which followed a series of conversations on Sunday in which Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Western defense ministers that Moscow believed Ukraine was preparing to detonate such a device. VOAs national security correspondent Jeff Seldin reported on Mondays phone call, sharing on Twitter a statement by Britains Ministry of Defense which said Radakin spoke with Gerasimov and that he "rejected Russias allegations that Ukraine is planning actions to escalate the conflict, and he restated the UKs enduring support for Ukraine." 11:20 a.m.: The Russian military says it has readied its forces for the possible use of a dirty bomb by Ukraine in a false flag attack to be blamed on Russia. That claim that has been strongly rejected by the U.S. and its allies, The Associated Press reported. Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian militarys radiation, chemical and biological protection forces, said Monday that Russian military assets already had been prepared to operate in conditions of radioactive contamination. Speaking at a briefing, Kirillov claimed that a dirty bomb explosion could spew deadly radiation at distances of up to 1,500 kilometers (900 miles). Ukraine has rejected Moscows claims as an attempt to distract attention from its own plans to detonate a dirty bomb, and its Western allies also dismissed the Russian claims as transparently false. 11:05 a.m.: 10:50 a.m.: Ukraines top diplomat is urging the U.N. nuclear watchdog to immediately send an inspection team to the country to counter Moscows claim that Kyiv is preparing a provocation involving a dirty bomb, The Associated Press reported. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Monday he made the request in a call with Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Kuleba said Grossi agreed to send a team of inspectors, adding that unlike Russia, Ukraine has always been and remains transparent. We have nothing to hide. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu alleged in phone calls with his counterparts from the United States, Britain, France and Turkey that Ukraine was preparing a provocation involving a dirty bomb a device that uses explosives to scatter radioactive material. The U.S., Britain and France said in a joint statement that they reject Russias transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. 10:25 a.m.: Ukrainian forces are piling pressure on Russian troops in the southern region of Kherson that Moscow occupied at the start of its invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Losing control of the region would be another big setback for President Vladimir Putin. Reuters has published an explainer about why the region is strategically important for the course of Russia's war in Ukraine. 9:50 a.m.: 9:40 a.m.: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says rebuilding Ukraine will be a task for a generation that no country, donor or international institution can manage alone, The Associated Press reported. Scholz spoke at a German-Ukrainian business forum on Monday, a day before he and the head of the European Unions executive Commission host a gathering of experts to help mobilize international support for Ukraines reconstruction. The chancellor pointed to the EUs decision in June to make Ukraine a candidate to join the bloc. He said that this decision also sends a signal to private investors: anyone who invests in rebuilding Ukraine today is investing in a future EU member country that will be part of our legal community and our single market. Scholz said its important not just to repair destroyed energy plants and networks, but to make them more efficient ultimately allowing an expansion of Ukrainian electricity exports to the EU and a step-by-step transition to climate neutrality. He stressed the need for more transparency and an even more determined fight against corruption as Ukraine strives ultimately to join the EU. 9:20 a.m.: Ukraine estimates the cost of post-war national reconstruction at nearly $750 billion so far, Reuters reported Monday, citing Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. He made the comments in a speech to a German-Ukrainian business forum at which he touted the investment potential of the Ukrainian agriculture sector and thanked Berlin for providing Kyiv with air defenses. Shmyhal told the forum that rebuilding will be a forward-looking process. He added that in the process of transformation, incredible opportunities for European companies will open up in the energy sector, in agriculture, in the military sector, in IT and all other (areas), The Associated Press reported him as saying. 9:05 a.m.: Ukraines military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov says that Russian forces arent going to pull back from the key southern city of Kherson any time soon, The Associated Press reported. He said in an interview published Monday that the Russians are beefing up their defenses in the city amid a parallel effort to evacuate officials and encourage civilians to leave. In many aspects, its an information operation and a manipulation, Budanov said, adding that the evacuation effort has created an illusion that the game is lost. At the same time, they are bringing in new military units and preparing the streets of the city for defense, he added. 8:40 a.m.: A new poll shows that most Ukrainians consider it necessary to continue armed resistance against Russia, the Kyiv Independent reported Monday. 8:10 a.m.: Romanian Defense Minister Vasile Dincu resigned on Monday, saying he could not collaborate with the country's president, amid pressure weeks after he said Ukraine's only chance to end the war was to negotiate with Russia. European Union and NATO state Romania shares a 650-kilometer (400 mile) border with Ukraine, is host to a U.S. ballistic missile defense system and, as of this year, has had a permanent alliance battlegroup stationed on its territory, Reuters reported. Some 2.65 million Ukrainians have fled to Europe through Romania in the eight months since the war started. "My gesture (resignation) comes as it is impossible to cooperate with the Romanian president, the army's commander-in-chief," Dincu said in a statement. "I think my withdrawal from the post is necessary so as to not harm decisions and programs which require fluid command chains and to not block a series of projects which are absolutely necessary for ... the ministry and the army." In early October, Dincu said Ukraine needed international allies to negotiate security guarantees and peace with Russia, sparking criticism from President Klaus Iohannis and leaders of the ruling governing coalition. He later said his comments were taken out of context. Iohannis said Ukrainians were paying with blood in the war and only they could decide what and when to negotiate, a position held by Romania and the EU. 7:50 a.m.: Ukraines presidential office said Monday that at least six civilians were killed and another five were wounded by Russian shelling of several Ukrainian regions over the previous 24 hours, The Associated Press reported. The city of Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region has come under the most intense attacks. The Russians have been shelling power plants, schools and hospitals, subjecting the elderly and the disabled to suffering and death in the cold and darkness, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said in televised remarks. The southern Mykolaiv region also came under Russian shelling that targeted energy facilities. Kyiv and seven other regions planned rolling blackouts Monday as authorities worked to fix the damage to energy facilities inflicted by the Russian bombardment. Ukrainians were again asked to avoid using energy-hungry home appliances in an effort to lower the load on electricity networks. 7:25 a.m.: Ukraine's national anti-corruption agency declared former central bank governor Kyrylo Shevchenko a wanted man on Monday along with two employees of the Ukrgazbank lender, on suspicion of embezzling more than $5.42 million (200 million hryvnia). Shevchenko abruptly resigned this month citing health problems, but later saying he had faced political pressure after an old embezzlement case against him was reawakened immediately after his departure, Reuters reported. Shevchenko assumed the post in July 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, promising to maintain the bank's independence and to cooperate with the International Monetary Fund. In resigning, he noted the bank's successes since the start of Russia's invasion on February 24 this year, including the uninterrupted operation of the financial system and its prevention of panic on the foreign exchange market and of large-scale capital outflow to protect reserves. 7:05 a.m.: A U.N. spokesperson said on Monday that "much more needs to be done" to clear a backlog of more than 150 ships involved in a Black Sea grain-export deal, and Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations had all acknowledged the problem. "There are currently over 150 vessels waiting around Istanbul to move and these delays have the potential to cause disruptions to the supply chain and port operations," said Ismini Palla, U.N. spokesperson for the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The agreement, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July, paved the way for Ukraine to resume grain exports from Black Sea ports that had been shut since Russia invaded, Reuters reported. Moscow also won guarantees for its own grain and fertilizer exports. 6:45 a.m.: French President Emmanuel Macron and Pope Francis held nearly an hour of private talks on Monday, with the crisis in Ukraine and prospects for peace there expected to have been their main topic of discussion. Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte, arrived at the Vatican and was greeted with an honor guard of Swiss Guards in the San Damaso courtyard before taking an elevator to the official papal study in the Apostolic Palace. The Vatican said their private talks lasted 55 minutes. Both sides were expected to issue statements later. Macron is in Italy to attend an international conference organized by Italy's Sant'Egidio Community, a worldwide peace and charity group. He and the pope will jointly close the conference at a special ceremony at the Colosseum in Rome on Tuesday, Reuters reported. Opening the conference on Rome's outskirts on Sunday, Macron said he believed there was a chance for peace in Ukraine, even as Russia warned the conflict could escalate. As Macron meets Pope Francis, abuse victims urge swifter reparations. 6:20 a.m.: 6 a.m.: China's exports to sanctions-hit Russia rose at a double-digit pace for the third consecutive month in September, bucking the trend of weakening external demand elsewhere amid the Russia-Ukraine war and a global economic slowdown, Reuters reported. Reuters calculations based on Chinese customs data on Monday showed shipments of Chinese goods to Russia rose 21.2% from a year earlier in dollar terms, slowing from a 26.5% increase in August yet outperforming China's overall export growth of 5.7% by a large margin, as interest rate hikes to curb red-hot inflation in major economies weakened demand for Chinese goods. Top exports to Russia included smartphones, generator sets, excavators and containers. Imports from Russia jumped 55.2% compared with a 59.3% increase in August, partly driven by a 22% annual rise in oil imports, the customs data showed. Oil supplies from Russia totaled 7.46 million tons, equivalent to 1.82 million barrels per day (bpd), compared with 1.96 million bpd in August. As Western nations have shunned Russia, cooperation with Beijing has become increasingly important for Moscow. Bilateral trade has surged to $136.09 billion in value in the first nine months, up 32.5%. 5:30 a.m. Russian authorities in the occupied territory of Kherson continue to encourage residents to flee in anticipation of a Ukrainian counter-offensive, according to The Guardian. The Russian-installed deputy head of the region Kirill Stremousov said about 25,000 people have been evacuated since Tuesday. 4:30 a.m.: A Russian TV presenter apologized on Monday for calling for Ukrainian children to be drowned, as Russia's state Investigative Committee said it was probing his remarks, Reuters reported. In a show last week on state-controlled broadcaster RT, presenter Anton Krasovsky said Ukrainian children who saw Russians as occupiers under the Soviet Union should have been "thrown straight into a river with a strong current" and drowned. Ukraine said on Sunday that RT was an inciter of genocide and should be banned worldwide. Margarita Simonyan, the channel's editor-in-chief, said she had suspended Krasovsky because of his "disgusting" comments, adding that no one at RT shared his views. Krasovsky said in a social media post he was "really embarrassed." 4 a.m.: The Russian-installed administration of Ukraine's Kherson region said on Monday it was organizing some local men into militia units, Reuters reported. In a notice on Telegram, the occupation authorities said men had the "opportunity" to join territorial defense units if they chose to remain in Kherson of their own free will. However, men in other occupied Ukrainian regions such as Donetsk have previously been compelled to join and fight with the armies of Russia's proxies in the war with Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin last week declared martial law in the occupied regions, empowering their Russian-installed administrations to step up mobilization. Compelling civilians to serve in the armed forces of an occupying power is defined as a breach of the Geneva Conventions on conduct in war. Russian authorities have ordered civilians to evacuate from Kherson, one of four Ukrainian regions Russia said it had annexed last month even as Kyiv's forces have made significant military gains. Russia and its proxies in Kherson have stepped up the urgency of their warnings to leave in the face of Ukraine's counter-offensive. "It's vital to save your lives," Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov said in a video message on Sunday. 3:15 a.m.: Two Russian Indigenous Siberians were so scared of having to fight the war in Ukraine, they changed everything to take a small boat across the treacherous Bering Sea to reach American soil, Alaskas senior U.S. senator said after talking with the two. The two, identified as males by a resident, landed earlier this month near Gambell, on Alaskas St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Strait, where they asked for asylum. They feared for their lives because of Russia, who is targeting minority populations, for conscription into service in Ukraine, Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Saturday during a candidate forum at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage. It is very clear to me that these individuals were in fear, so much in fear of their own government that they risked their lives and took a 15-foot skiff across those open waters, Murkowski said when answering a question about Arctic policy. Thousands of Russian men fled the country after Putin announced a mobilization in September to call up about 300,000 men to bolster Russias depleting forces in Ukraine. 2:30 a.m.: Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Renikov said he would be talking Monday with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin about another act of Russian nuclear blackmail and response of the Free World. The foreign ministers of the United States, Britain and France reiterated their support for Ukraine in a statement late Sunday, and said their defense ministers made clear to Russias Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu their rejection of Russias transparently false allegations. For Austin, his phone call Sunday with Shoigu was the second between the two ministers in three days. The Pentagon said Austin rejected any pretext for Russian escalation and reaffirmed the value of continued communication amid Russias unlawful and unjustified war against Ukraine. 2 a.m.: Russia continues to use Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) against targets throughout the Ukrainian territory, the British Ministry of Defense said on Monday. Russia is likely using the Iranian Shahed-136 UAVs to infiltrate Ukrainian air defenses and as a substitute for Russian-manufactured long-range precision weapons that are becoming increasingly scarce, the ministry said in its update on Twitter. Ukrainian efforts to contain the UAVs have been successful, the ministry said. 1 a.m.: Ukraine rejected Russia's allegations that Ukrainian forces might detonate a radioactive device, and accused Russia of planning to carry out such an act and blame it on Ukraine. Russian lies about Ukraine allegedly planning to us a dirty bomb are as absurd as they are dangerous, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during his nightly address Sunday that Russia was the only one in the region capable of using nuclear weapons. If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means one thing: Russia has already prepared all this, Zelenskyy said. I believe that now the world should react in the toughest possible way. 12:05 a.m.: U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress, will attend a forum in Zagreb this week aimed at supporting Ukraine's independence and the return of the Crimean peninsula to Kyiv, her office announced on Sunday, according to a Reuters report. "Discussions will be centered on the international community's efforts to support the Ukrainian people while holding Russia accountable for its documented war crimes and attempted illegal annexations," Pelosi's office said in a statement. Pelosi, who visited the war-torn country earlier this year, has been a strong supporter of providing aid and military assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded it on February 24. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Nigerian authorities have called for calm and vigilance after the U.S. Embassy in the capital, Abuja, issued a security alert warning of an elevated risk of terror attacks, specifically in Abuja. The embassy urged Americans in Nigeria to avoid nonessential travel and crowds, and to stay alert. The U.S. Embassy warned Sunday that government buildings, places of worship, schools, markets, shopping malls, bars, and hotels, could soon be attacked. It urged American citizens in Nigeria to avoid nonessential travel and keep their mobile phones charged. The embassy also said it would reduce working hours as a result but did not respond to a request for further comment on the matter. Abuja-based security expert Senator Iroegbu said the warning is not surprising. "We don't know the extent of intelligence that they have, but it's still in line with the security realities." Nigerian authorities have struggled to halt a stream of terror attacks and abductions across the country. The situation is especially worrying in the north where Islamist militant groups and armed gangs who routinely kidnap people for ransom are active. In July, heavily armed men breached the security of a correctional facility in Abuja and freed more than 800 inmates. More than half of them were later recaptured but hundreds remain on the loose, including 64 high-profile terrorism suspects. Islamic State West Africa Province claimed responsibility for the attack. Iroegbu said the threat to security has grown in Abuja, also known as the Federal Capital Territory, since the prison break. "Even the military admitted there are sleeper cells of ISIS and other Boko Haram elements even with FCT and other surrounding states, and that these sleeper cells can be activated anytime. And since then, there's no news Im aware of that the presence of these sleeper cells have been unraveled and neutralized." Nigerian Kelvin Obumuke said he had an appointment at the embassy Monday to discuss a travel issue. The sudden security threat upended those plans. "I was actually about boarding my flight when I received this email stating this and telling me of the cancellation of my appointment," Obumuke said. "I was livid considering the emergency with which I needed to come to Abuja and how I had to purchase a premium ticket because I needed to be here today." Nigerias Department of State Services responded to the U.S. Embassy's security warning in a statement Sunday urging citizens to stay calm but cautious. Authorities also assured citizens that security forces would mobilize to avert any threat to national security and encouraged members of the public to report suspicious acts of criminality to the authorities. North and South Korea say they have exchanged warning shots near a disputed area off their west coast, the latest indication of heightened military tensions on the Korean Peninsula. South Koreas military said it fired warning shots at a North Korean merchant ship that crossed the Northern Limit Line, the de facto Korean sea border, at 3:42 a.m. Monday, local time. About 90 minutes later, North Korea fired 10 shells from a multiple rocket launcher system in response, according to a North Korean military statement posted on state media. The North Korean ship crossed the NLL near the South Korean island of Baengnyeong but returned north after the warning, South Koreas military said. North Korea does not recognize the NLL and its ships sometimes cross the border, resulting in tense military incidents. Neither side reported any clashes in Mondays incident. Tensions have grown as North Korea conducts an unprecedented barrage of missile tests this year. There are also concerns the North could soon carry out its seventh nuclear test since 2006. In recent weeks, North Korea has conducted provocative artillery shelling near the inter-Korean sea border and boasted of its ability to conduct strikes with tactical nuclear weapons. In response, the United States and its ally, South Korea, have increased displays of military strength and ramped up joint defense exercises that had been scaled back for years. The moves have raised concerns that the two Koreas, still technically in a state of war after their 1950s conflict ended only in a truce, are entering a particularly dangerous phase. North and South Korea held historic talks in 2018, leading to several agreements that reduced military tensions in the shared border areas. But North Korea, frustrated by the lack of progress in parallel nuclear talks with the United States, soon walked away from both sets of negotiations. This year, North Korea has tested a record-high 41 ballistic missiles. It also has passed a new law underscoring its status as a nuclear weapons state and declaring it will never abandon its nuclear arsenal. Progressive Democratic lawmakers Tuesday retracted a letter, sent earlier this week to U.S. President Joe Biden, urging him to shift the U.S. approach to the war in Ukraine by directly negotiating with Russia. In a statement on Tuesday, Representative Pramila Jayapal, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, took responsibility for the mistaken release. "The letter was drafted several months ago but unfortunately was released by staff without vetting, she explained. Thirty House Democrats signed the letter, news of which was first reported by The Washington Post, telling Biden that diplomatic efforts should also be a part of the U.S. approach to ending the war that has taken a catastrophic toll on the Ukrainian people as well as threaten global food supplies and poverty crises through rising fuel and grain costs. "As legislators responsible for the expenditure of tens of billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars in military assistance in the conflict, we believe such involvement in this war also creates a responsibility for the United States to seriously explore all possible avenues, including direct engagement with Russia, to reduce harm and support Ukraine in achieving a peaceful settlement," the lawmakers wrote. But Tuesday morning, Representative Sara Jacobs, a caucus member, tweeted, Timing in diplomacy is everything. I signed this letter on June 30 but a lot has changed since then. I wouldnt sign it today. Representative Mark Pocan, a former co-chair of the caucus, also tweeted, This was written in July & I have no idea why it went out now. Bad timing. Second, it was trying to get to a cease-fire & diplomacy as others were banging war drums, not criticizing Biden. At a June 2022 press conference, Biden acknowledged the possibility of diplomatic negotiations when asked if Ukraine would have to cede territory to Russia to end the conflict. "It appears to me that at some point along the line, there's going to have to be a negotiated settlement here. And what that entails, I don't know," Biden told reporters. In the original letter, the lawmakers specified it was not the place of the United States to pressure Ukraine into accepting a settlement, writing that any "framework would presumably include incentives to end hostilities, including some form of sanctions relief, and bring together the international community to establish security guarantees for a free and independent Ukraine that are acceptable for all parties, particularly Ukrainians." The U.S. has sent nearly $60 billion in humanitarian, economic and military aid to Ukraine since Russia's unprovoked invasion in February. Our message is being conflated by some as being equivalent to a recent statement by [House Minority] Republican leader Kevin McCarthy threatening an end to aid if Republicans take over, Jayapal said in the retraction letter. The proximity of these statements created the unfortunate appearance that Democrats, who have strongly and unanimously supported and voted for every package of military, strategic and economic assistance to the Ukrainian people, are somehow aligned with Republicans. McCarthy, who is poised to become House speaker if Republicans win control of the chamber in the November midterm elections, said continuing U.S. aid to Ukraine is not assured, given domestic economic concerns. "I think people are going to be sitting in a recession, and they're not going to write a blank check to Ukraine," McCarthy told U.S. political news outlet Punchbowl News last week. Not all Republican leaders agree. In a statement last Friday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called for more U.S. aid to Ukraine. "The Biden administration and our allies need to do more to supply the tools Ukraine needs to thwart Russian aggression," he said. "It is obvious this must include additional air defenses, long-range fires, and humanitarian and economic support to help this war-torn country endure the coming winter." Progressive Democrats praised Bidens approach to the conflict in their original letter, and in her retraction, Jayapal said, Every war ends with diplomacy, and this one will, too, after Ukrainian victory. One of Pakistans most prominent investigative journalists was shot dead in Kenya in what police described as a case of mistaken identity, police in the East African country and relatives confirmed Monday. Arshad Sharif, 50, was shot in the head Sunday night after his driver allegedly breached a roadblock that had been set up by police to check on motor vehicles on the highway between Magadi town and the capital, Nairobi, a prominent Kenyan newspaper reported. The slain journalist, with two million Twitter followers, fled Pakistan in August, citing death threats and multiple court cases launched against him and several other journalists on controversial sedition charges. Sharif hosted a popular political talk show Power Play for years on one of Pakistans leading television channels, the ARY news, before leaving the country. The news of Sharifs death spread fast in Pakistan where condolences and condemnations started pouring in from across the country. Journalists, opposition politicians, lawyers, and rights groups described his death as shocking and disturbing, urging the Pakistani government to swiftly investigate circumstances surrounding the deadly incident in Kenya. I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist [Arshad Sharif] today, as per police he was shot in Kenya, Javeria Siddique, the wife of the slain journalist wrote on Twitter. Prime Minister Sharif said on Twitter he was deeply saddened and offered condolences and prayers for the family of the deceased journalists. A Foreign Ministry statement said that officers from the Pakistan diplomatic mission in Nairobi had reached the location and identified the body of Sharif. His family has been assured of all possible assistance by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it said, promising to facilitate expeditious repatriation of mortal remains of the journalist in coordination with Kenyan authorities. France-based Reporters Without Borders, known by its French acronym RSF, condemned Sharifs murder as gruesome and utterly disturbing, calling for an International investigation. The killing of Arshad Sharif is all the more baffling since he had just left his home country to Kenya in order to escape harassment and arrest. In May, he was charged with spreading hate against the military, the global watchdog said in a statement. Journalist Sharif was believed to be very close to the Pakistani security and intelligence agencies. He would often broadcast exclusive information focusing on alleged corrupt practices of top government officials, particularly those part of the coalition government of incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (not related to the deceased journalist). He also used to frequently embed Pakistani troops on counterterrorism missions. But in recent months Sharif had become a harsh critic of the Pakistani military leadership and the government. There were growing calls for Pakistani authorities to swiftly investigate the journalists killing and the circumstances that forced him to go into exile. A long, grim record of violent tactics to silence journalists explain why the reported murder of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya has sent shock waves through the journalist community, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan [HRCP] wrote on Twitter. The government must pursue an immediate, transparent inquiry into the circumstances of his death. Obviously, there should be a transparent investigation, Steven Butler, the senior program consultant at the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists told VOA. Pakistans populist former prime minister Imran Khan, who was ousted from power through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April this year, called for a proper judicial investigation into the circumstances that led to the killing of Sharif. Shocked at the brutal murder of Arshad Sharif who paid the ultimate price for speaking the truth his life. He had to leave the country & be in hiding abroad but he continued to speak the truth on social media, exposing the powerful. Today the entire nation mourns his death, the deposed prime minister wrote on Twitter. We have descended into a state of brutality, unknown in civilised society, indulged in by the powerful against those who dare to criticise & expose wrongdoings, Khan said but did not elaborate. The former prime minister was ousted from power in April this year in a parliamentary no-confidence vote collectively moved by opposition parties. Critics often dubbed the slain journalist sympathetic to Khan, who blames without evidence Prime Minister Sharif and the military for colluding with the United States to topple his government. Washington and Islamabad deny the charges. Hamid Mir, a top ranking Pakistani political talk show host, took to the Twitter to question the Kenyan police version about the late Sunday incident. "Why they never fired on the tire of the vehicle? Why they never targeted the driver? Why they shot Arshad Sharif directly in the head?, wrote Mir, who has 7.6 million followers on the social media platform. Pakistans government and the military have been lately under increasing criticism for allegedly stifling media freedom and political dissent, charges officials reject as unfounded. South Africa will overhaul its anti-corruption strategy and ensure the independence of prosecutors, President Cyril Ramaphosa said Sunday, responding to recommendations from a state inquiry into alleged corruption under his predecessor. A judicial commission of inquiry was established to examine allegations of high-level graft during former President Jacob Zuma's nine years in power from 2009 to 2018. "The people of South Africa are tired of corruption and want it to end," Ramaphosa said in a live television broadcast. "As a country, we are emerging from a dark and difficult period." The inquiry found Zuma had allowed businessmen close to him - brothers Atul, Ajay and Rajesh Gupta - to plunder state resources and influence policy, commonly known as 'state capture' in South Africa. The Guptas deny any wrongdoing and have left the country but face extradition proceedings in Dubai. Zuma denies wrongdoing and at one stage refused to cooperate with the inquiry, leading to his imprisonment in July 2021 for contempt of court. Inquiry reports said investigations, which implicated ANC politicians and company executives, found rampant graft across key economic sectors including state-owned companies such as power utility Eskom and freight and logistics group Transnet. Evidence uncovered by the inquiry can be used by authorities to pursue criminal charges. Ramaphosa said of plans to overhaul South Africa's anti-graft strategy: "Through the implementation of the actions contained in this response, we can start a new chapter in our struggle against corruption." In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ramaphosa said his response outlined steps government will take to catch suspects and other reforms. Ramaphosa, who served as deputy state president under Zuma, testified at the inquiry that he chose to "remain but resist" rather than resign when allegations surfaced. Sudan's military government has withdrawn the accreditation of a consumer protection group that took it to court over internet cuts during last year's military coup, the group said Sunday. The Sudanese Consumer Protection Society (SCPS) asked a court last year to order the government to restore internet services blocked during the October 25 coup, a power grab that has derailed a fragile transition to civilian rule. A court had twice ruled that the internet should be restored, to no avail, before services eventually resumed on November 18 last year. Yasir Mirghani, head of the SCPS, told AFP he was handed on Sunday a decision dated October 9 to revoke the group's permit after 24 years of operations. A copy of the order, which has been seen by AFP, stipulated the "deregistration, seizure of assets and property, and the freezing of assets and accounts of the Sudanese Consumer Protection Society in all banks within and outside Sudan," but did not list the group's alleged violations. Sudan has been in turmoil since army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ousted the mainstream civilian bloc from a power-sharing government a year ago, triggering widespread international condemnation. The power-sharing administration had been established in 2019 after the military ousted longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir amid enormous street protests. Since last year's coup, the protest movement has revived but been met by force that has killed at least 117 people, according to pro-democracy medics. At least 10 Burkina Faso soldiers died and around 50 were wounded Monday in an assault in the northern city of Djibo, the army said. The "terrorist attack" hit the 14th regiment at a base in Djibo, which has been under a jihadi blockade for three months, the army said. "The preliminary toll is 10 soldiers fallen during fighting and about 50 injured and being treated," the statement said. "On the enemy side, at least 18 bodies of terrorists have been counted during mopping-up operations which are still underway." Air support had been called in to back up the operations. A security source told AFP the pre-dawn raiders had fired shells at the Djibo barracks. "Other strategic installations in the town were also targeted," the source added. Djibo's population of some 30,000 has been cut off for three months with jihadis controlling the main roads after blowing up bridges. An attack on a supply convoy heading for Djibo September 26 left 37 dead 27 of them were soldiers. Seventy truck drivers are still missing. The attack helped trigger the latest coup in Burkina just four days later, led by young army captain Ibrahim Traore. He became interim president October 14, vowing to win back territory from the jihadis. It was the west African nation's second coup in eight months. "We are confronted with a security and humanitarian crisis without precedent," Traore said at his swearing-in. "Our aims are none other than the reconquest of territory occupied by these hordes of terrorists. Burkina's existence is in danger." Traore toppled Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who had seized power in January, forcing out Burkina's last elected president, Roch Marc Christian Kabore. The motive for both coups was anger at failures to stem a seven-year jihadi insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives and driven nearly 2 million people from their homes. A gunman opened fire Monday inside a high school in the Midwestern U.S. city of St. Louis, Missouri, killing two people and wounding six others before police fatally shot the suspect. St. Louis Police Commissioner Michael Sack told reporters the two deaths were a teacher and a teenage girl at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. He said the other victims suffered gunshot or shrapnel wounds. Sack said police officers ran to the gunfire and exchanged fire with the shooter, which he said helped to end the shooting before more people were hurt. Students at the school told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that many of them barricaded themselves in their classrooms to stay safe. David Williams, a math teacher at the school, told the paper that the school principal came over the loudspeaker around 9 a.m. and said the code word that indicated a school shooter was in the building. St. Louis Public Schools said on Twitter that the shooter was quickly stopped by police inside CPVA. The suspected shooter has not been identified but was described by police as a man about 20 years old. Authorities said they did not yet know the shooters motive. Central Visual and Performing Arts High School specializes in the visual and performing arts and has a student body of around 380. The violence was the latest such shooting to take place at a U.S. school. One of the deadliest school shootings took place in May when a gunman killed 19 children and two adults in Uvalde, Texas. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said lawmakers must take measures to stop gun violence. Every day that the Senate fails to send an assault-weapons ban to the presidents desk or waits to take any other common-sense action is a day too late for families and communities impacted by gun violence," Jean-Pierre said. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. White House officials said Monday that the U.S. has "no reason to change our strategic nuclear posture" in response to Russia's allegation that Ukraine plans to detonate such a device and blame it on Russia, as a pretext for escalation in Ukraine. Moscow reiterated its claims Monday that it is Ukraine that is planning to detonate "a dirty bomb" something Kyiv has strongly denied and Washington has echoed. "There's absolutely nothing to the Russian allegation that the Ukrainians are planning or preparing to set off a dirty bomb," John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, told reporters Monday. He added that the U.S. was not changing its nuclear posture in response to these claims. "I am not going to hypothesize today about potential responses one way or the other," he said, when asked how Washington would react if a dirty bomb were used. "We have made it clear to Russia publicly and privately, I might add that the consequences for the use of nuclear weapons would be severe and significant." White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre added that Ukraine has offered up its nuclear energy facilities for inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency. "We welcome this commitment to transparency," she said. The head of Russia's nuclear, biological and chemical protection troops, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, said in a media briefing that Russian forces are "preparing to work under radioactive contamination." As Ukraine advances into Kherson, pressure is mounting on Russia, which told 60,000 people there "to save your lives" and flee a Ukrainian counteroffensive. In calls Sunday with his French, British and Turkish counterparts, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed the "rapidly deteriorating situation," and leveled accusations that Ukraine is planning on using a "dirty bomb." In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of France, Britain and the United States said they had all rejected the allegations and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine against Russia. "Our countries made clear that we all reject Russia's transparently false allegations that Ukraine [is] preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory," they said. "The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation." The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, held a phone conversation with Russian General Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the Russian General Staff, the defense ministry said in a statement. It also said both sides agreed on the importance of maintaining open channels of communication. Ukraine has rejected Russian allegations that Ukrainian forces might detonate a radioactive device and accused Russia of planning to carry out such an act and blame it on Ukraine. "Russian lies about Ukraine allegedly planning to use a 'dirty bomb' are as absurd as they are dangerous," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during his nightly address Sunday that Russia was the only one in the region capable of using nuclear weapons. "If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means one thing: Russia has already prepared all this," Zelenskyy said. "I believe that now the world should react in the toughest possible way." Meanwhile Russia is continuing its rhetoric against Ukraine. A "dirty bomb" is a device that uses conventional explosives to scatter radioactive material. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission says most dirty bombs "would not release enough radiation to kill people or cause severe illness," but could create panic and contaminate property. Nuclear bombs, by comparison, have explosions that are millions of times more powerful, according to the NRC. Iran drones U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday that Iran was making the world less safe by supplying Russia with drones to be used against targets in Ukraine. "I think Iran is making a big mistake," Pelosi said after meeting Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. "First of all, we have to be able to counter the drones ... it is a dangerous technology and it must be stopped," she said. Pelosi arrived in Zagreb Monday to attend "The Crimea Platform Summit" on Ukraine's independence and the return of the Crimean Peninsula to Kyiv since its annexation by Russia in 2014. "We've been trying for a while now to have a nuclear agreement with Iran so that we can make the world a safer place, and now they're going off aiding the Russians and making the world a less safe place," Pelosi said. Russia's invasion of Ukraine entered its eighth month Monday. Pelosi has been a strong supporter of providing aid and military assistance to the country since Russia invaded February 24 in what it has called a "special military operation." Iran has denied supplying drones to Russia for use in Ukraine and condemned a call by Britain, France and Germany for the United Nations to investigate whether Russia used Iranian-made attack drones. Iran will not remain indifferent if it is proved that its drones are being used by Russia in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was reported as saying by Iranian state media Monday. "If it is proven to us that Iranian drones are being used in the Ukraine war against people, we should not remain indifferent." He also said that the defense cooperation between Tehran and Moscow will continue. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Ukraine branded the Russian state-controlled RT media outlet as an inciter of genocide Sunday after a presenter said Ukrainian children who saw Russians as occupiers under the Soviet Union should have been drowned. In a show broadcast last week, RT presenter Anton Krasovsky said children who criticized Russia should have been "thrown straight into a river with a strong current." Krasovsky a pro-war commentator on Russian TV who has been sanctioned by the European Union was responding to an account by Russian science fiction author Sergei Lukyanenko about how, when he first visited Ukraine in the 1980s, children told him they would live better lives were it not for Moscow occupying their country. "They should have been drowned in the Tysyna [river]," Krasovsky said in response. "Just drown those children, drown them." Alternatively, he said, they could be shoved into huts and burned. In a short segment of the interview, which was shared on social media, Krasovsky also laughed at reports that Russian soldiers had raped elderly Ukrainian women during the invasion. "Governments which have still not banned RT must watch this excerpt," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet that linked to a clip of the interview. "Aggressive genocide incitement [we will put this person on trial for it], which has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Ban RT worldwide," Kuleba added. Russian state television, heavily controlled by the Kremlin, has been a vocal cheerleader of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Presenters have routinely dismissed reports of Russian war crimes and many have used airtime to call on Russian President Vladimir Putin to adopt an even more aggressive approach to the invasion. The Kremlin denies its forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine. The United Nations is accusing Australia of breaching its human rights obligations after it suspended a tour of detention facilities. U.N. inspectors say authorities in the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland have denied them access into various detention facilities. Australia ratified the United Nation's Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture in 2017. Inspectors from the U.N. subcommittee on prevention of torture arrived in Australia last week to carry out unannounced visits to state, territory and federal prison facilities over 12 days. In a June 2022 statement, the U.N. said the committee would visit Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador and Turkey in the second half of 2022. The committees task is to protect people deprived of liberty innot only prisons but police stations, psychiatric institutions, closed refugee camps and immigration detention centres. However, authorities in the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland have New South Wales corrections minister Geoff Lee told reporters Monday that people cant just wander through at their leisure the states prisons and that the U.N. should be off to Iran looking for human rights violations there. The U.N. has now said that Australia has breached its obligations under the torture protocol. Dr. Alice Edwards, who is a U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Monday that Australian authorities were going against an international system of scrutiny. It is a disappointing outcome all round. I think, perhaps, what New South Wales in particular has failed to appreciate is that this is part of an international system," said Edwards. "It is bigger than them and I also warn states they ignore minor infractions at their peril. Australia's federal government has urged all state governments to comply with the U.N. inspections. It is reported, however, that disagreements over funding between federal and state officials for independent monitoring programs that are part of the U.N.s torture protocol could be to blame for why inspectors were denied access to some detention centers. Campaigners have insisted that independent oversight of incarceration in Australia is essential because of the number of vulnerable detainees with a disability, mental health issues or drug problems. The U.N. Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture is made up of independent experts. So far in 2022, they have visited Argentina, Brazil, Lebanon, Ecuador, Turkey and Tunisia. The U.N. inspectors have planned visits to Croatia, Madagascar, Nicaragua, and Palestine during the first half of 2023. NAIROBI, KENYA Kenya's police oversight authority is investigating the shooting death of well-known Pakistani investigative journalist Arshad Sharif at a checkpoint on Oct. 23. Police say the shooting of the 50-year-old journalist was a case of mistaken identity. The officers said they mistook the vehicle, driven by Sharifs brother, for one connected to a child kidnapping in Nairobi. When the car didnt stop at the checkpoint, they shot at the vehicle. SEE ALSO: The Kenya Union of Journalists spoke out against the killing of Sharif. Its secretary-general, Charles Eric Oduor, said that police "should not have killed the journalist. They should have found a way of arresting him in the event that they were following this car." He added that the members of the union, "condemn that in the strongest terms possible. And we believe that once we get the facts, this police officer in the next few days should be arraigned in court and charged with murder." Sharif fled Pakistan in August due to death threats and a series of controversial sedition charges against him and several other journalists. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he spoke to Kenyan President William Ruto about the journalists death and requested that Kenyan authorities provide fairness and transparency in the investigation. Anne Makori, chairperson for Kenyas Independent Policing Oversight Authority, said her agency is looking into the incident and that "Our rapid response team has already been dispatched." Oduor said that he has doubts about the circumstances in which Sharif was killed and said "we believe we will have a current investigation other than what the police are telling us." In the week before Sharif was killed, Ruto disbanded a special police unit accused of abuse and the extrajudicial killings of civilians. Four officers in the unit were arrested and arraigned in court on Oct. 24 in connection with the disappearances of two Indian nationals and their Kenyan driver. However, a report released in 2020 by the IPOA said most cases involving police abuses and killings go without a successful conviction. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share If Giorgia Meloni had expected a straightforward passage to becoming Italys first woman prime minister, she hadnt counted on her coalition ally Silvio Berlusconis enduring desire to control. Italys three-time premier started undermining her far-right government even before its ministers were named. But Meloni has something to learn from Berlusconi too. He provides a cautionary tale for all populists how quickly their promise of change can turn rancid because of recklessness and corruption. Berlusconi, who is celebrating 28 years in front-line politics, is the archetype of the modern populist. He is the template for figures from Donald Trump to Boris Johnson, and Meloni herself. He feted his return to Italys Senate nine years after having been kicked out for a tax-fraud conviction by assailing Meloni, the new leader of their coalition after the Brothers of Italy party she co-founded won far more votes than Berlusconi or Matteo Salvinis League last month. Clearly piqued by his waning political influence, he attacked Meloni personally, describing her as self-important, bossy, arrogant and ridiculous in notes to his party loyalists that were leaked to media. He then undercut her authority by cozying up to his old chum Vladimir Putin. In a 48-hour spectacle of self-aggrandizement, he threw into doubt her positioning as a responsible member of the European Union and its pro-Ukraine policy against Putin and, ultimately, the longevity of her government. By the weekend, when Meloni was heading to President Sergio Mattarella to gain his official go-ahead to form a government, senior bankers told me they were expecting it would last no more than six to nine months. Advertisement The sight of 86-year-old Berlusconi, botoxed and perma-tanned, rekindling a bromance with Putin and seeking to assert his will over the 45-year old Meloni has revealed him to be still, unequivocally, unfit for office. But the arc of his extraordinary and appalling political career holds lessons for new leaders. Its instructive to remember when Berlusconi burst onto the political stage, his millions of supporters believed his novelty and entrepreneurial chutzpah would reform Italys sclerotic economy. Instead, his attention to personal profit for his own business, his corruption and sexual antics, his desire to be loved by the electorate made him unable to tell hard truths and apply his popularity to policy. Ultimately, the promise of Berlusconi died in a bonfire of vanities, and Italys economy sank further into decline. A rundown of Berlusconis failures bears retelling as his political offspring populate governments around the world. Advertisement His most sensational transgression was the lurid saga of his sex parties, which made bunga-bunga a term of derisionheard around the world. A conviction of his paying for sex with an underage woman was overturned on appeal. Still, the shameful spectacle of a prime minister being put on trial in Milan, sullied not only Berlusconis reputation, but Italys. Berlusconis fraud and tax trials resulted in convictions that were later overturned and then timed out by a statue of limitations on five separate occasions, undermining rule of law in the country which already had a shaky reputation among foreign investors. But his greatest defect was to do virtually nothing to stem the decline of Italys economic competitiveness and growth of its debt load. Its been left to successive technocratic prime ministers, including most recently Mario Draghi, to try too late to implement reforms. Instead, Berlusconi used his enormous political power and influence to help his private media empire Mediaset, and add to his familys wealth, by rewriting media and competition laws. The 2004 Gasparri law eased antitrust rules to allow Berlusconi to become the dominant private media owner across TV, print and advertising. Stunningly, the very same senator behind that bill, Maurizio Gasparri, this month submitted a proposal to amend the civil code that could pave the way for abortions to be classified as murder, a key aim of Melonis new right-wing government. Despite it all, Berlusconi abides. Winning 8% of the vote in last months election put him in the position of kingmaker. Thats because it is also true that he created the survival blueprint for the modern populist. A pliant media apparatus helped create the myth of Berlusconi and then helped to maintain in. And old dogs stick with old tricks. It is striking that part of Berlusconis argument with Meloni was his desire to have one of his people in the justice ministry not coincidentally at a time when he faces new trials over corruption. Advertisement The other secret of his success is the immovable nativist base that he has tapped. His Forza Italia! (Go, Italy!) partys vision promised an Italy full of easy economic (and sexual) success, and laissez-faire government where the demonized other (in Berlusconis case communists and magistrates) was to blame for all Italians problems. Meloni is familiar with Berlusconis playbook. The electoral success of her Brothers of Italy party owes much to Berlusconis use of media and nativist might. Her success comes after an adept campaign on law and order railing against threats to the natural family and the so-called LGBTQ+ lobby. Shes also keeping power in the family, giving a key ministry of agriculture and food sovereignty to her brother-in-law. But as she forms a government its time she heeded Berlusconis failures too. Especially the damage he has done and can still do by looking out for himself. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Melonis Ship of State Heads for Choppy Waters: Rachel Sanderson Italy May Find November Is the Cruelest Month: Marcus Ashworth Meloni Will Keep Jousting With Salvini. Just Wait: Maria Tadeo This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. 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 Credit Suisse executives really dont want to sell shares to fund the restructuring theyre due to reveal on Thursday. The good news for shareholders: They shouldnt need to do so. A string of rumored asset sales ought to get them mostly over the line. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The Swiss bank launched a strategic review in the summer its third since 2015 and said this time it was definitely going to get out of big parts of investment banking and markets, which have brought scandals and billions in losses in recent years. But shutting down such operations can be like decommissioning a nuclear power station: slow, costly and dangerous. The best route through is to find enough money to cover restructuring costs up front and get someone else to take capital-intensive assets away. Shareholders then get to see the remaining business clearly and value it appropriately. For Credit Suisse, restructuring costs are estimated at $4 billion or more by analysts. Paying for this with a share sale would be horribly dilutive for existing investors: The stock is trading at more than a 70% discount to its book value. Axel Lehmann, chairman, and Ulrich Koerner, chief executive officer, are desperate to avoid that. Advertisement Instead, they are looking at a yard sale of disposable assets, according to reports, from a posh hotel in Zurich to a stake in a rebranded First Boston advisory firm. Some of these sales wouldnt be simple, but this is clearly a better way to raise funds. The value of these bits and pieces, put together from news reports, analyst estimates and my own calculations, adds up to a possible more than $5.75 billion in proceeds or capital freed up on Credit Suisses balance sheet. If it can realize even half of this, it would be well on the way to paying for its overhaul. The biggest chunk comes from Credit Suisses Securitized Products Group, the profitable unit that creates and trades bonds made up of mortgages and buyout loans. The bank said it would look for investors to put capital into this unit while continuing to run it. Ive been skeptical that this makes sense, and Kian Abouhossein, analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co., agreed in a recent note, saying an outright sale would be better. That would free up about $2.8 billion in capital, according to Abouhossein. Pimco and Apollo Global Management are among several bidders potentially interested, according to Bloomberg News. Advertisement The next biggest business is Credit Suisse Asset Management, which Bloomberg Intelligence values at $2.5 billion to $3 billion. This should be a core business for the Swiss bank because it fits with wealth management and private banking Credit Suisses main focus. So it shouldnt sell the whole thing, but it could offload a minority stake, say 25%, as Deutsche Bank did successfully with DWS Asset Management. That would bring in up to $750 million. Credit Suisse has also considered selling a stake its advisory business, which helps companies with deals and fund raising, according to Bloomberg news. This could be the rebranded First Boston, but again its a service that ties in with its super-rich clients so only a minority stake sale seems possible. The unit has about $2.3 billion of capital and produces a return of 13%, according to JPMorgans Abouhossein. Assuming the capital is essentially its book value, those returns suggest a market valuation of $3 billion, so a 25% stake brings in $750 million. The business isnt simple enough to work easily as a partial public listing in the way that asset management could, so it is more suitable for a large private investor who would have limited ability to resell their stake. Next is SIX Group, in which Credit Suisse owns a 15% stake, according to a company release. The parent of Switzerlands stock exchange is owned privately by a host of Swiss and foreign banks. Using SIXs operating profits after tax and a price-earnings multiple of 20 times, in line with Deutsche Boerse and several US exchanges companies, that stake could be worth nearly $600 million. Advertisement An easier and completely obvious thing to sell is Credit Suisses 90% stake in the Mandarin Oriental Savoy Zurich. This isnt the 19th century; a serious bank has no business owning a trophy hotel. Thats worth about $400 million, according to reports. It has just sold its 8.6% stake in publicly listed Allfunds Group, a technology company that produces data, analytics and research for wealth managers. The rise and fall in its share price has added distracting volatility to Credit Suisses earnings. That stake brought in $330 million. Lastly, there is Credit Suisses small Swiss finance and leasing business, Bank Now AG, which has equity capital of nearly $300 million. Ill just factor that in at its capital value. All of these add up to serious potential value. There are other possible sales, but with very little information, its hard to put numbers on what they might bring in. To be sure, these are rough and ready figures; buyers might be prepared to bid much more or much less depending on the competition. But the upshot is Credit Suisse has options. And if it really needs more money, Bloomberg News reports a potential convertible bond issue as I proposed last month. That should cover the remaining costs of bringing about the change the bank desperately needs. Advertisement More From Bloomberg Opinion: Credit Suisses Gulf Suitors Need to be Smarter: Anjani Trivedi Bonds Will Determine Where Bear Market in Stocks Goes Next: Jonathan Levin Credit Suisse Isnt the Lehman Moment Youre Looking For: Paul J. Davies This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Paul J. Davies is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering banking and finance. Previously, he was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Starting in the 1940s, Turkey, wary of Moscow, positioned itself as an ally of Washington and soon after joined NATO, the military alliance founded to protect Europe against Soviet attack during the Cold War. Since coming to power in 2003, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has gradually reinvented Turkey as a power in its own right thats free to make new friends, even if it upsets the old ones. The policy faces a major test with the war in Ukraine. Erdogan has condemned Russias invasion of the country, but refrained from joining western sanctions against Moscow and welcomed Russian companies, investment and tourists into Turkey. As the conflict drags on and the stakes grow for all involved, its likely to prove increasingly difficult for Erdogan to maintain the balancing act. 1. Whats changed? During much of the Cold War, Russia was the hostile neighbor that forced Turkey to seek powerful allies to help defend its territory. In the past decade, its been courting some of Washingtons adversaries -- Russia, China and Iran -- while remaining inside NATO. Seeking a major role in world affairs, Erdogan has opened dozens of diplomatic missions in Africa and Latin America and vowed to make Turkey the first NATO member to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a China-led international security group that originally focused on Central Asia but is now expanding toward the Middle East. Russia has become a major economic partner, supplying almost half of Turkeys natural gas imports and a record 4.7 million tourists to the country last year. In 2019, Turkey acquired Russian S-400 surface-to-air missiles in defiance of its NATO allies. Russian state company Rosatom is building a $20-billion nuclear power station on Turkeys Mediterranean coast and Turkeys government has asked it to construct another. Advertisement 2. Whats Erdogans beef with western governments? Erdogan has bristled at a series of perceived snubs by his western allies. When the US in 2014 began to supply weapons to Kurdish militants in Syria, who were helping in the effort to combat Islamic State, Turkey -- which is fighting its own conflict with affiliated Kurdish separatists -- saw the move as a betrayal. In 2016, decades of negotiations on Turkey joining the European Union stalled. Turkey took delivery of the Russian missile system in 2019 after dropping talks to acquire a comparable U.S. weapon, the Patriot, because of Washingtons refusal to share technology. Following the missile deal, the government of US President Donald Trump barred Turkey from buying F-35 fighter jets. Washington officials were worried that the Russian missiles could be used to collect intelligence on the stealth capabilities of the F-35. The US and many of its allies have grown increasingly wary of dealing with Erdogan, who has resorted repeatedly to anti-western rhetoric and accused allied countries of supporting an attempt to topple his government in 2016. Trumps successor Joe Biden has criticized Erdogan for being authoritarian. 3. Whats behind the diplomatic pivot? Advertisement Erdogans Justice and Development party emerged from an anti-western, Islamic political movement that has long accused western nations of thwarting Turkish aspirations for a self-sufficient defense industry and strong economy. Suspicion deepened following the failed coup attempt, which Erdogan said was masterminded by a self-exiled Turkish cleric based in the US. Washington has refused Turkeys request to extradite him. On a visit to New York in September, Erdogan called for an overhaul of the United Nations Security Council with its five permanent members. By saying the world is bigger than five, we advocate a multipolar, multicentric, multicultural, more inclusive and fairer global order, he said. Rather than burning bridges, the idea is to win more leverage with historical allies by showing that Turkey has alternative partners. 4. What difference has the Ukraine war made? Erdogans doctrine is on display in the Ukraine conflict -- supporting the Kyiv government, while cultivating ties with Moscow. Hes condemned Russias annexation of four Ukrainian provinces and barred Russian ships and aircraft from Turkish-controlled sea and air routes. A company headed by Erdogans son-in-law has sold dozens of armed drones to Ukraine. But Erdogan has refused to join sanctions targeting Russia, accused some western allies of provoking the war and warned them not to underestimate Russia. He met with Putin four times between July and October and positioned Turkey as a mediator, brokering a deal to allow grain shipments to resume from Ukraines Black Sea ports and a prisoner swap. Advertisement 5. Has Erdogans approach benefited Turkey? It seems to be providing economic benefits, at least for now. Russias investments are helping to shore up Turkeys troubled economy, which Erdogan needs to stabilize before seeking re-election next year. In August, Erdogan and Putin agreed to expand economic cooperation. Erdogan asked for price discounts for imports of Russian energy, and requested to pay for them in Turkish lira, according to Turkish officials. 6. What are the risks? Erdogans approach challenges western efforts to forge a unified international front and persuade Moscow to change course on Ukraine. But if the US tries to punish Erdogan, it could jeopardize relations with an important partner in the volatile Middle East. Turkey hosts US nuclear warheads at an air base close to Syria and an early-warning radar thats part of NATOs ballistic-missile defense capabilities. Its also absorbed millions of refugees from the Middle East and Asia and acted as a buffer for that flow to Europe. If Erdogan tilts Turkey toward Russia, he could endanger Turkeys most important military alliance and scupper a potential deal for Turkey to buy US-made F-16 warplanes and upgrade other military equipment. The US may impose further sanctions on Turkey. The mere threat of such penalties prompted five Turkish banks to abandon a Russian card payment system in September. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share You have to hand it to Mark Zuckerberg. In the face of criticism about the radical strategic shift he has chosen for Facebook, he is stubbornly focused on turning it into a metaverse company. Other tech billionaires may lash out at dissent, but Zuckerberg remains stoic, tuning out the noise to give earnest interviews and presentations about his virtual-reality vision. But while he can get away with ignoring the criticism, the CEO of Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. should reassess his priorities over the coming months as the US approaches potentially tumultuous midterm elections. He needs to turn his attention back to Facebook, or risk letting misleading videos about election fraud proliferate, potentially disrupting the democratic process yet again. Zuckerberg could start by doing what thousands of managers before him have done, and reconsider his tasks. Advertisement The metaverse project is still in its infancy: While Facebook has about 3 billion active users, Horizon Worlds, the VR platform that serves as the foundation of metaverse experience, has just 200,000, according to internal documents revealed by the Wall Street Journal. Zuckerberg has been upfront in saying that Metas metaverse wont be fully realized for five years or more. All the more reason, then, that his passion project can afford to lose his attention for a few months, or at least during critical moments for democracy. So far he has shown no sign of shifting his focus. Facebooks core election team no longer reports directly to Zuckerberg as it did in 2020, according to the New York Times, when Zuckerberg made that years US election his top priority. He has also loosened the reins on key executives tasked with handling election misinformation. Global affairs head Nick Clegg now divides his time between the UK and Silicon Valley, and Guy Rosen, the companys head of information security, has relocated to Israel, a company spokesperson confirmed via email. Advertisement Researchers who track misinformation on social media say there is little evidence Facebook is better at stopping conspiracy theories now than it was in 2020. Melanie Smith, who heads disinformation research at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a London-based nonprofit, says the company hasnt improved data access for outside researchers trying to quantify the spread of misleading posts. Anecdotally they still proliferate, she said. Smith said that she found Facebook groups recruiting election poll watchers seemingly for the purpose of intimidating voters on Election Day. She also pointed to a video posted by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz on his Facebook page, saying that the 2020 election had been stolen. The video has been viewed more than 40,000 times at the time of writing. Although it was posted a month ago, it doesnt have a fact-check warning label. Smith additionally cited recent Facebook posts, shared hundreds of times, inviting people to events to discuss how Chinese communists are running local elections in the US, or posters stating that certain politicians should go to prison for their role in the stolen election. Posts made by candidates tend to spread particularly far, Smith said. Advertisement Meta has said that its main approach to handling content through the 2022 midterms will be with warning labels. But warnings labels arent very effective. For more than 70% of misinformation posts on Facebook, such labels are applied two days or more after a post has gone up, well after it has had the chance to spread, according to a study conducted by Integrity Institute, a nonprofit research organization run by former employees of big tech firms. Studies have shown that misinformation gets 90% of its total engagement on social media in less than one day. The problem, ultimately, is the way Facebook shows people content most likely to keep them on the site, what whistleblower Frances Haugen has called engagement-based ranking. A better approach would be quality-based ranking, similar to Googles page rank system that favors consistently reliable sources of information, according to Jeff Allen, a former data scientist at Meta and co-founder of the Integrity Institute. Facebooks growing emphasis on videos stands to make the problem worse. In September 2022, misinformation was being shared much more often via video than through regular posts on Facebook, Allen said, citing a recent study by the Integrity Institute. False content generally gets more engagement than truthful content, he added, and so tends to be favored by an engagement-based system.(1) Advertisement In 2020, Facebook deployed break glass measures to counteract a surge of posts saying the election was being stolen by then-President-elect Joe Biden, which eventually fed into the storming of the US Capitol on Jan. 6. Meta shouldnt have to resort to such drastic measures again. If Zuckerberg is serious about connecting people, and doing so responsibly, he should come out of his virtual reality bubble and re-examine the ranking system that keeps eyeballs glued to Facebooks content. At a minimum he could communicate to his employees, and the public, that he is once again making election integrity a priority. The metaverse can wait. More From Bloomberg Opinion: If Musk Owning Twitter Is a Security Risk, What About Tesla?: Liam Denning Musk Gutting Twitter Would Be a Threat to Us All: Tim Culpan Advertisement Zuckerbergs $1,499 Headsets Wont Help Meta: Parmy Olson (1) Allens study showed that video content on Facebook in September 2022 had a misinformation amplification factor of 14 for videos, while it was 4.2 for regular posts. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Parmy Olson is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology. A former reporter for the Wall Street Journal and Forbes, she is author of We Are Anonymous. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Some epidemiologists and demographers predict the trend of older, sicker and poorer people dying at disproportionate rates will continue, raising hard questions about the trade-offs Americans are making in pursuit of normalcy and at whose expense. Its less than two years since Moderna brought its coronavirus vaccine to the world, but the companys global chief executive Stephane Bancel is already turning his mind to another medical mystery: cancer. The boss of the $US51 billion ($81.3 billion) Boston-based biotech, which emerged from relative obscurity in 2020 to become one of the best-known brands of the pandemic, is waiting on data from the companys phase 2 trials of a personalised cancer vaccine. Moderna chief executive Stephane Bancel. Credit:AP Its a long shot, but I like our chances, he told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age when visiting Melbourne last month. It is a science fiction type of science, which is, you make one [vaccine] for every human being based on the sequence of cancer cells. If Lachlan Murdoch is a media Goliath, then Crikey just might be his David. Murdoch, one of the worlds richest and most powerful men, is suing Private Media, the publisher of news website Crikey over a column that he says falsely suggested he illegally conspired with Donald Trump to incite the deadly January 2021 US Capitol riot. The case has piqued public interest for the same reasons that many high-profile defamation cases do, but Murdochs position as one of the heads of the worlds most powerful media empire makes him a very different plaintiff to all others. And in bringing this case, Murdoch have may laid a trap for himself, or at least for the Australian publications his family owns. Lachlan Murdochs defamation case against Crikey could come back to bite his media empire. Credit:Getty Murdoch sued after Crikey waged a public campaign where it took out full-page advertisements and billboards that baited Murdoch to either sue them or back down after the publisher had refused to apologise for its article. It is one thing for a news website to stand by its journalism, but repeatedly publicly daring a billionaire to sue is like stomping barefoot on a bullants nest: eventually youll get stung. And so they did. The ads were so prominent and continuous that Murdoch felt he had no alternative but to sue. While none of this is all that remarkable in the peculiar galaxy of defamation litigation, what is unprecedented is the rock and hard-place between which Murdoch now finds himself. Desperate for a miracle, a friend emailed the famed Australian neurosurgeon on his behalf, saying: The doctors in Delhi have told him [Barman] that no treatment is possible and they were hoping that a Western doctor can offer his son a lifeline. He and his wife Sangeeta were devastated when their son was diagnosed with an incurable and inoperable diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). A second neurosurgeon confirmed the diagnosis. Mikolaj Barman (centre) was diagnosed with a very rare type of tumour a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). He is pictured with his father, Prasanta, and his mother, Sangeeta. Credit: In mid-September 2018, Barman, an engineer from Assam in India, was worried when his son, four-year-old Mikolaj, appeared to have difficulty walking. There should be some regulation to stop this. If someone is giving false hope, then its like a scam, said Prasanta Barman, who is plagued by guilt, following the horrific outcome of the futile surgery Teo performed on his only child. Several families, including those with young children who were left in a vegetative state, have spoken out about the dreadful price they paid for the hope Dr Teo sold them. Controversial neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has charged families extraordinary amounts of money for ultimately futile operations that have catastrophically injured patients, a joint Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and 60 Minutes investigation can reveal. This story is part of an in-depth series investigating controversial neurosurgeon Charlie Teo. See all 14 stories . The following day, replying to Barmans questions about the prognosis and risks, Teos office emailed, saying: If all goes as planned, the surgery should be curative as we should be able to remove the entire thing. This means that prognosis would be excellent He should hopefully live a long and happy life. On September 27, 2018, Barman was elated when what seemed like a lifeline was offered. Dr Teo has reviewed the scans and suggested urgent surgery, he said there is a very high likelihood of cure if he does the surgery before radiation, the email from Teos office in Sydney said. In 2021, Teo had restrictions placed on his ability to perform brain stem operations and faces a disciplinary hearing over two poor surgical outcomes, one of which was a DIPG. In the media, he is often portrayed as a maverick, motorbike-riding outsider fighting against both the medical establishment and his colleagues who, he suggests, are jealous of his superior skills. Teo, 64, is arguably Australias best-known neurosurgeon. He is renowned for his aggressive surgical style, especially in cases other surgeons deem inoperable, and he has many grateful patients who laud his successes. Souweidane, head of paediatric neurosurgery at the Weill Cornell Medicine Brain and Spine Centre in New York, has been researching DIPGs for more than two decades. He said surgery is not and has never been an option for this uniformly fatal brain tumour and that it would be incomprehensible for anyone to attempt this. Asked if there was any clinical or research data anywhere in the world that shows a benefit from resecting DIPGs, one of Americas pre-eminent paediatric neurosurgeons, Professor Mark Souweidane, said bluntly: Absolutely not, doesnt exist. Kieran said any attempt at resection or removal of a DIPG could only result in neurologic devastation and eventual death either from the surgery or your tumour. Its not just a question of if you are going to die, its really when youre going to die. It is the only tumour in paediatrics where, from the day youre diagnosed, youre already considered palliative, leading American paediatric oncologist Mark Kieran told the joint investigation. However, there is no chance of a happy ending with a DIPG, the most lethal of all childhood cancers . There is no cure and the average life expectancy from the time of diagnosis is between six and 18 months. Barman sent another email to Teo asking the famous neurosurgeon to double-check the two MRIs to make sure about the certainty of the operation because the opinion of the two Indian neurosurgeons was that there is no treatment for this type of tumour. This is very rare. And once detected, weve got only eight to 12 months in our hand, Barman recalled. He was informed that the operation would cost $150,000 at Prince of Wales Private Hospital in Sydney or $80,000 in Singapore, of which $40,000 would have to be in Teos bank account before surgery. Barman explained to Teo that he had no medical insurance, so he would have to meet all the costs himself. To go in and remove that area would remove the very part of the brain that keeps you alive. The professor explained that because the aggressive tumour has infiltrated the pons, the part of the brain that decides when you breathe and when your heart beats, any attempt at resection will result in devastating consequences for the child. There should be some regulation to stop this. If someone is giving false hope, then its like a scam. Barman drained his savings and his retirement fund, Mikolajs school helped and friends donated money for the operation on October 11, 2018. Photos taken the night before the operation showed the happy, lively boy in his hospital bed surrounded by colourful balloons, playing with his toys. However there is hope. A renowned Australian neurosurgeon, Dr Charlie Teo, believes he can successfully remove the tumour using a pioneering technique. With this treatment, Mikolajs prognosis would be excellent, and he will hopefully live a long, normal life, read the crowdfunding page. That same day, Barmans friend set up a GoFundMe page to help with the steep costs for the operation to remove Mikolajs DIPG in Singapore. When he read Australian press reports describing Teo as a miracle worker, Barman was reassured that the much-hyped doctor could deliver the cure he was offering. But Teo begged to differ. Our diagnosis and recommendation remains the same and we think we can cure Mikolaj with surgery, said the emailed response from Teos office to Barman. His father told him, There will be a big fight tomorrow, theres something inside your brain, something inside your head, so that bad things will be taken out, and after that youll be OK again. Barman wiped away tears as he recalled what were to be among his sons last words. Mikolaj told his parents he was ready for battle and, punching the balloons, the little boy said, I will fight like this. Teo only met the young child for the first time as he was being wheeled into the operating theatre at Singapores National University Hospital and only half an hour before the operation, he broke the news to Mikolajs parents that the tumour was diffuse, meaning that it had spread, and for the first time he suggested that he may not be able to remove it all. Although the Barmans were alarmed at this last-minute news, they felt it was too late to back out. After a 10-hour operation, Teo spent 10 minutes telling the parents that hed removed 85 per cent and that it appeared to be benign. With that, Teo was gone, and they never saw him again. However, after the operation the pathology results revealed that the tumour was not benign. It had the H3K27M mutation, which is the defining molecular marker for the devastating DIPG. According to Souweidane, if a biopsy comes back consistent with an H3K27M mutation, my opinion, and I think the consensus of most neuro-oncology individuals, is going to be not to resect, not to offer surgical therapy. Before surgery, if Teo doubted the two previous diagnoses of a DIPG, he could have done a biopsy to be certain. But he didnt, and rather than delivering a miracle, Teo left the Barmans with a nightmare. Their once happy and playful little boy would never walk, talk, or eat on his own again. With the medical costs piling up in Singapore, the Barmans had to pay $40,000 to hire an air ambulance to fly Mikolaj back to India, where he languished in intensive care for months. Mikolajs care cost nearly $250,000 and the rest of his short life was spent in a room staring at a ceiling, his only means of communication was blinking his eyes. There was no hope. For a DIPG, there is no hope. So why give the false hope in the first place? Prasanta Barman Ten months after the catastrophic operation, the inevitable happened: the aggressive tumour returned and Mikolaj died. Mikolajs MRI scans were shown to several neurosurgeons who immediately identified the tumour as a DIPG. When told that an unnamed surgeon, offering a cure, had performed a resection, they were horrified. Barman is racked by guilt at what he put his son through. There was no hope. For a DIPG, there is no hope. So why give the false hope in the first place? he asked. Bellas battle Mikolaj Barman was not the only one. A year after Mikolajs death, another family was facing the dire diagnosis of a DIPG. In April 2020, doctors at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle told Gene Howard and Sarah Higginbottom that their seven-year-old daughter, Bella, had a DIPG and that there was nothing that could be done except to provide radiation as part of palliative care. Gene and Sarah Howard with their daughter Bella. Credit: Howard refused to accept that there was no cure and, in desperation, he turned to the high-profile Charlie Teo. Teos notes after the initial consultation reveal that he agreed that this is likely to be a DIPG. Bellas grandmother Mariza Howard, who was at the consultation, recalled Teo telling them there was a tiny chance the scan might be wrong. Teo offered to do a biopsy and, while doing that, if there were parts of the tumour he thought he could remove to buy Bella more time, he would. I was just a little perplexed how an operation that could save someones life [was] contingent on a payment of money the very next day. Mark Ramsland, a Howard family friend At this point we were all in tears because there was no hope and then we got this possibility of hope, a doctor out there offering something, recalled Gene, a tradesman from Shoal Bay. Instead of waiting for conclusive biopsy results, Teo wanted to operate the very next day. The Howards leapt at the chance to extend Bellas life. However, there was a catch. The surgery would cost $100,000 and $50,000 had to be in Teos bank account that night. We were trying to figure out how to get it ourselves, but even to get a loan it takes weeks, even friends that have lots of equity for them to get a loan it takes weeks, said Gene who, in desperation, even tried to sell his kidney. I wasnt ever stopping until we got that money, he said. Sarah and Gene Howard in the bedroom of their daughter Bella who died of DIPG. Credit:Peter Stoop Mark Ramsland, a friend of the Howard family and their solicitor and cancer survivor himself, was troubled at the haste for the surgery, the absence of an oncologist, and the extraordinary amount of money that had to be in Teos account that night. I was just a little perplexed at how an operation that could save someones life needed to be contingent on a payment of money the very next day, the solicitor said. Genes boss loaned him the money and the operation occurred at Prince of Wales Private Hospital in Sydney the next day. Just how much of the tumour Teo removed would vary. Immediately after the surgery, Gene Howard was ecstatic when told by Teo hed removed 95 per cent of the tumour which, in his opinion, was low-grade and slow growing. The operation report recorded a greater than 50 per cent resection and, in a report dated June 2, 2020, Teo wrote that naysayers would say he hadnt removed any. Experts in this area told the joint investigation that even if 99.9 per cent of the tumour was resected, which would likely result in immediate death, a resection is pointless as the cancer has already spread and it will come roaring back. The cancer cells are going to continue to grow, Kieran said. They basically are going to take over the entire brain because they dont respond to surgery, they dont respond to radiation, and they dont respond to any currently known chemotherapy. Unfortunately, we do not cure kids with DIPG. Three days after the operation, the pathology results came back. Bellas tumour had the H3K27M mutation and the diagnosis was a DIPG. But in his report, Teo cast doubt on the validity of the H3K27M mutation as an indicator. While radiation is the accepted treatment to relieve the symptoms, Teo advised against this. In his report, he noted that he had counselled the Howards that many neuro-oncologists and reputable neurosurgeons would be aghast at this course and would be strongly recommending radiotherapy plus or minus chemotherapy but that Jean [sic] is fully aware of the two completely different options and that it was his choice not to have the radiation. Teo offered the Howards a second operation at the same price as the first, but as the Howards were driving back to Shoal Bay after Bellas 12-week scan, Teo rang with some shattering news. He told Gene to pull over and get out of the car. Mate, this is really bad. The scans come back, its grown ... probably three times as big as what it originally was, Teo told him. Sarah said she cried the entire way home. Bella deteriorated quickly and required 24-hour care. In January 2021, eight months after diagnosis, Bella died surrounded by her devastated family. Her official cause of death was recorded as a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. In a written response to questions put to Teo about his DIPG operations, a spokesman said: Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) /Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG) is the most aggressive childhood brain cancer. It is incurable and is truly inoperable. Dr Charlie Teo has never operated on a pure DIPG/DMG, and has never recommended surgery on such a tumour. While Teo declined a request for an interview with the joint investigation, he told The Daily Telegraph on Saturday that the debate around inoperable brain stem tumours was a complicated one and misinformation was rife, even among neurosurgeons in Australia and around the world. The article also stated, Virtually every intrinsic primary brainstem tumour is labelled as DIPG because there is no real definition and no one wants to talk or think about having to operate on them, he said. Thats why all these authorities are saying Teo is operating when he shouldnt. No, they have got it all wrong, Teo told the Telegraph. In August 2021, seven months after Bella Howard died, the NSW Medical Council was so concerned about Teos operations on brain stem tumours, including a DIPG, that they placed restrictions on his practising certificate. In November 2021, Healthscope, which runs 41 private hospitals, withdrew Teos accreditation at Prince of Wales Private Hospital, where he has worked for years. In September, Teo was due to face a two-day disciplinary hearing after a lengthy investigation by the Health Care Complaints Commission. However, it was postponed to a date to be fixed as one of the hearing days became a public holiday due to the death of the Queen. Rather die than go blind Joe Leslie, a Brisbane engineer, discovered he had a slow-growing brain tumour in 1996. After several operations over the years, in 2018 doctors told him that there was nothing more they could do to treat his brain tumour and estimated he had two years to live. Having heard of the renowned brain surgeon, Joe and his wife, Kathy, a nurse, sought a second opinion. At the consultation, Teo assured the Leslies that he could remove the tumour. He dismissed concerns raised by the Queensland doctors that because of the position of the tumour, any attempt to remove it would leave him blind. Kathy Leslie said Teo told them not to worry, it was unlikely that that would happen as hed been doing these surgeries for ages and he was way better than other surgeons. She recalled Teo saying: the other surgeons were jealous of him because what he could achieve and he was a lot better than what they were saying and he could achieve great things. For Joe, the one thing he impressed upon Teo was that he didnt want to go blind. He would rather have passed away than go blind, that was his big thing, his wife said. Kathy recalled being anxious about the decision to proceed. It wasnt my life. It was Joes decision because it was his life, but my gut feeling was telling me maybe we should just go off and enjoy what weve got. Teo assured them Joe would be back at work in no time. Having paid Teo $35,000 from their retirement savings, Joes surgery was scheduled to start at 3pm. Due to complications with a previous operation, his surgery didnt start until 9pm and didnt finish until 5am the next day. Kathy was worried about the surgery starting so late at night. She told the joint investigation she was told Teo had to fly to Singapore the next day, so it had to be done then. What was so important that he had to get on that plane and go, rather than giving quality of care? she posed. Following the surgery, Joe was blind. And what Kathy Leslie couldnt have known was that Teo was jetting off to Singapore to operate unsuccessfully on another patient, four-year-old Mikolaj Barman. There were serious post-operative complications, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaking out of his nose. Joe spent six weeks in and out of hospital in Sydney before returning to Brisbane, where he spent months in a public hospital. Joe Leslie lost more than his eyesight. The 65-year-old is brain-damaged, confused and requires 24-hour care. He didnt have the capacity to provide consent to be interviewed. The life he lives now, the old Joe, the Joe that we knew, would be horrified what his life has come to, his wife said. Loading Kathy Leslie, who has had to go back to work to support the family, is angry at what she believes is the false hope Teo gave them. Doctors take an oath of Do no harm. This has done more harm than good: emotionally, physically and mentally. The strain you put on families when you do operations like this is a lot more than if you would lose someone. Yes, you did the operation. Yes, you took the tumour, but what quality of life did you leave him with? Kathy said. She wanted to know if Teo would want to live the nightmare that Joe is living. Thats what I would like him to say Is the quality of life you want for yourself? Why do you do it to other people then? Do you know more? Email: kmcclymont@smh.com.au The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here. Are you craving an adventurous Second Act but worried about how to finance it? Especially if youre female. Unequal pay and unfair pensions leave women in a much worse financial position than men as we face retirement. So how can we indulge our travel lust without breaking the bank? The answer is a new trend called grey hostelling. I discovered this phenomenon when my girlfriend invited me for a break in the historic Portuguese seaside city of Porto. I pictured myself sipping vinho verde on the balcony of some plush hotel, overlooking the Douro River as it sweeps into the Atlantic. So you can imagine my horror when our taxi drew up outside a youth hostel. I immediately got out my compact and made my girlfriend look into the mirror. See those things on your face? Theyre wrinkles, not pimples. We are way too old to stay here. Kathy Lette: After four days in the historic Portuguese seaside city of Porto, Im a hostel convert. One of the best things about getting older is never again having to slum it in youth hostels. Years of youthful backpacking has left me forever hostile to hostels. Most establishments were so crummy the staff stole towels from the guests. Bedrooms were so cramped, the cockroaches were hunchbacked and the bed bugs were round-shouldered. There was so much dust beneath those soggy bunk beds, the mice got around on stilts. I still have nightmares about peeling stray pubes off communal soap with cringing fingers. I glanced up at a pockmarked tenement so decrepit it was clearly only still standing because the woodlice had linked arms. With limbo-low hopes, I followed my soon-to-be-ex-friend up the rickety stairs, but was pleasantly surprised to enter a spacious, comfy sitting room. The high windows overlooked Portos big, broad river, where multicoloured houses cluster like barnacles up steep banks to a city summit bristling with church spires. When Perth lifestyle blogger Bernadette Bosanac learnt she would lose her Dalkeith home to settle her estranged husbands multi-million-dollar tax debt, she thought there was no hope. That was until she was contacted by Sydney lawyer Pier Paolo Parisi, who offered to file a challenge in the High Court without payment from her. Bernadette Bosanac and her Dalkeith home. Ms Bosanac, who operates a spray-tan business, had won her trial in the Federal Court in March 2021, where she was also represented without payment. She was found to be the sole owner of the sprawling five-bedroom, four-bathroom home on a 1163-square-metre block in one of Perths most prestigious suburbs. Dozens of new Perth homeowners are being forced to have their plumbing ripped out and re-done around two years after moving in due to pipes bursting and causing flooding and mould. BGC Housing Group customer Kristy, who did not want her surname published, said her Banksia Grove family home was uninhabitable, with the builder paying them $150 a day to live somewhere else while they repair the damage and replace the Iplex polybutylene piping. The piping after being removed from a Perth home. She is one of an estimated 50 customers considering a class action against the builder, claiming homes built in 2019 and 2020 are only now starting to realise the damage. We got the keys to the house in April 2020. On the 10th July 2022, I woke up to hear water gushing through the wall near my living room, she said. An emergency workforce has been hired to deliver faster payments to Australians suffering from floods and other natural disasters in a $588 million federal budget plan that prepares for more pressure from events caused in part by climate change. Services Australia has gained at least 2000 workers to take calls for help from victims of natural disasters and ensure resources are in place to deal with the workload during summer. Residents ship sandbags in Echuca, one of many towns battling floods across Australia in the past week. Credit:Jason South With major floods spreading over large parts of Victoria and NSW, the federal move adds permanent staff to the agency that fields requests for assistance such as the $1000 Australian government disaster recovery payment. Government Services Minister Bill Shorten said the natural disasters of the past three years had shown that the government needed a ready to go workforce rather than assembling the teams in a rush after each emergency. One of the most important differences between the Liberal Party and the Labor Party is a historical one. Labor traces its roots to the trade union movement of the late 19th century; it does not point to any one great figure as its founder. The Liberal Party, by contrast, is unquestionably the creation of a single man, Robert Menzies its founder and longest-serving leader and Australias longest-serving prime minister. Both sides of politics acknowledge this: Paul Keating, in a savage speech, once spoke of his desire to destroy Menzies creation. Liberal Party founder Sir Robert Menzies with his portrait painted by Ivor Hele in 1954. Credit: The political machine Menzies assembled from the wreckage of non-Labor politics in the mid-1940s became Australias most successful party 19 wins out of 30 elections since 1946, including seven of the last 10. And so, whenever the party engages in one of its periodic bouts of soul-searching about its future direction, it is invariably Menzies whom the protagonists of every point of view invoke to their cause. His posthumous approval is the ultimate court of appeal. Recently, we have seen right-wing elements attempt to conscript Menzies name and memory to justify positions which are actually antithetical to his beliefs, and to the purposes for which the Liberal Party was founded. Whether this was done through ignorance or deliberate falsehood I suspect an unattractive combination of both it was much in evidence at a conference of conservative activists in Sydney recently, modelled on the Trump-influenced American Conservative Political Action Committee or CPAC. The star turn at the conference was chief Brexit rabble-rouser Nigel Farage. A number of prominent National Party politicians, including Matt Canavan, also spoke, although the only sitting Liberal politician given a speaking slot was an obscure South Australian backbencher in the Cory Bernardi mould. So let us set the record straight about what Menzies believed and what he meant the Liberal Party to be. Nick Cater, Director of the Menzies Research Centre, has written, accurately: The Whigs, not the Tories, were Menzies political antecedents; his thinking drew from classical liberalism, the post-Enlightenment reforming forces in Britain and Australia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. More than 4000 extra university places will be made available for aspiring teachers, with students from disadvantaged, rural and First Nations backgrounds prioritised as the federal government attempts to turn around a nationwide teacher shortage. Overall, 20,000 Commonwealth-supported university spots for domestic students will be created in the next two years in areas experiencing skill shortages, including teaching, nursing, IT, health and engineering. More than 4000 Commonwealth-supported teaching-degree places will be created in the next two years. Credit:iStock The federal government said the extra places would be made available to students under-represented in universities, including those from poorer backgrounds, First Nations people, and those from rural and remote areas. The commitment, to be confirmed in this weeks federal budget, honours a Labor promise made from opposition in December last year. It will cost up to $485.5 million over the next four years, with the extra spots made available next year and in 2024. If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means only one thing: that Russia has already prepared all of it, Zelensky said in a televised address on Sunday evening. Ukraines top diplomat, Dmytro Kuleba, said his country neither has dirty bombs nor plans to acquire them. Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian positions from a US-supplied M777 howitzer in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region on Sunday, October 23. Credit:AP The French Ministry of the Armed Forces said Shoigu told his counterpart, Sebastien Lecornu, that the situation in Ukraine was rapidly worsening and trending towards uncontrollable escalation. Shoigus call with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin was the second in three days. A US official familiar with Sundays call said Russian allegations of a Ukraine provocation came up. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a private call. The mention of the dirty bomb threat in Shoigus calls seemed to indicate the threat of such an attack has risen to an unprecedented level. It appears that there is a shared feeling that the tensions have approached the level that could raise the real threat for all, said Fyodor Lukyanov, the Kremlin-connected head of the Council for Foreign and Defence policies, a Moscow-based group of top foreign affairs experts. Russian broadcaster suspended Ukraine has branded the Russian state-controlled broadcaster RT as an inciter of genocide after a presenter said Ukrainian children who saw Russians as occupiers under the Soviet Union should have been drowned. Within hours, Margarita Simonyan, the channels editor-in-chief, said she had suspended the presenter, Anton Krasovsky, because of his disgusting comments, adding that no one at RT shared his views. In his show broadcast last week, Krasovsky said children who criticised Russia should have been thrown straight into a river with a strong current. Krasovsky is a pro-war commentator on Russian television who has been sanctioned by the European Union. He was responding to an account by Russian science fiction author Sergei Lukyanenko about how, when he first visited Ukraine in the 1980s, children told him they would live better lives were it not for Moscow occupying their country. They should have been drowned in the Tysyna [river], Krasovsky said in reply. Just drown those children, drown them. Alternatively, he said, they could be shoved into huts and burned. In a short segment of the interview on social media, Krasovsky also laughed at reports that Russian soldiers had raped elderly Ukrainian women during the invasion. Governments which have still not banned RT must watch this excerpt, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter, linking to a clip of the interview. Kherson offensive Elsewhere, Russian authorities reported they were building defensive positions in occupied areas of Ukraine and border regions of Russia, reflecting fears that Ukrainian forces may attack along new sections of the 1000-kilometre front line of the war, which enters its ninth month on Monday. In recent weeks, Ukraine has focused its counteroffensive mostly on the Kherson region. Their relentless artillery strikes cut the main crossings across the Dnieper River, which bisects the southern region, leaving Russian troops on the west bank short of supplies and vulnerable to encirclement. Kirill Stremousov, the deputy head of the Russian-installed regional administration in Kherson, said Sunday in a radio interview that Russian defensive lines have been reinforced and the situation has remained stable since local officials strongly encouraged all residents of the regions capital and nearby areas on Saturday to evacuate by ferry to the rivers east bank. The region is one of four that Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed last month and put under Russian martial law on Thursday. Kherson city has been in Russian hands since the early days of the war, but Ukraines forces have made advances toward reclaiming it. About 20,000 Kherson residents have moved to places on the east bank of the Dnieper River, the Kremlin-backed regional administration reported. The Ukrainian military said Sunday that Russias military also withdrew its officers from areas on the west bank, leaving newly mobilised, inexperienced forces. The Ukrainian claim could not be independently verified. As Ukraine presses south after liberating the Kharkiv region in the north last month, authorities in the western Russian provinces bordering north-eastern Ukraine appeared jittery. The governor of Russias Kursk region, Roman Starovoit, said Sunday that two defensive lines have been built and a third one would be finished by November 5. Loading Defensive lines were also established in the Belgorod region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said. He posted pictures on Saturday of lines of pyramid-shaped concrete to block the movement of armoured vehicles. More defensive positions were being built in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, Yevgeny Prigozhin, a millionaire Russian businessman, said. Prigozhin owns the Wagner Group, a mercenary military company that has played a prominent role in the war. He said his company was constructing a Wagner line in the Luhansk region, another of the Ukrainian provinces Putin illegally annexed last month. Prigozhin posted images Wednesday showing a section of newly built defences and trench systems southeast of the town of Kreminna. The British Defence Ministry said on Sunday the project suggests Russia is making a significant effort to prepare defences in depth behind the current front line, likely to deter any rapid Ukrainian counteroffensives. Loading Russias forces captured Luhansk several months ago. Pro-Moscow separatists declared independent republics in the region and neighbouring Donetsk eight years ago, and Putin made controlling all of both provinces a goal at the wars outset. The Institute for the Study of War, a think tank in Washington, said Sunday that Russias latest strategy of targeting power plants appeared aimed at diminishing Ukrainians will to fight and forcing the government in Kyiv to devote more resources to protecting civilians and energy infrastructure. It said the effort was unlikely to damage Ukrainian morale but would have significant economic impacts. It is way better than it was. It is no harder than we thought it would be, said Tim Persico, the executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, who has said he wished there was more money to fund Perez. We are in a midterm in a tough economic climate against an extremely well-resourced opponent. It is supposed to be hard. It is not supposed to be a straight line. Loading President Biden also tried to tamp down any sense of Democratic panic Friday, when he predicted fortunes would again improve before the November 8 elections. Its been back and forth with them ahead, us ahead, them ahead. Back and forth. And the polls have been all over the place. I think that were going to see one more shift back to our side in the closing days, he said at the White House. I think that were going to see one more shift back to our side in the closing days. Unlike the Senate, where a handful of high-profile races will decide control, the next House majority will be slotted together like a jigsaw puzzle on Election Day, with the pieces chosen by retirements, redistricting, recruiting failures, national mood and regional concerns. The GOP is all but certain to pick up at least a few of the five seats they need to take control through new district lines and a few more from flagship races where Democrats have all but stopped spending. But Democrats also find themselves in a position to topple some Republican incumbents. Loading The real open questions are the dozens of races where polling offers no clear signal. Far more Democratic seats sit on a knife edge than Republican ones, subject to unknown factors like turnout and voter whims over the coming weeks. Predicting the exact outcome has been made even more difficult because polling in 2020 largely failed to see the strong night Republican House candidates had. On the other hand, recent special elections this cycle have shown Democrats outperform expectations. The election is so close that we are just past the point of national polling having the ability to tell us where we are. It is going to go race by race at this point, said Simon Rosenberg, a Democratic strategist who has worked with the DCCC. The big remaining question is whether the Democratic overperformance of public polls in recent elections carries on to current voting. Loading For the moment, Republicans have the momentum, with Democratic margins in Senate races across the country eroding over the last month and alarming polls coming out of Democratic strongholds like Washington and New York that show statewide Democrats with only single-digit advantages. Generic polling averages, which test whether voters prefer an unnamed Republican or Democrat for Congress, have also begun to move toward Republicans, currently standing 8 to 10 points more favourable for the GOP than at this point in 2020. The issues that heavily favour Republicans, like the economy and crime, keep gaining importance with voters the closer we get to Election Day, said Michael McAdams, the communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee. That has created a dire situation for Democrats. The shift has happened even as Democrats have devoted enormous amounts of money to advertising on the issue of abortion and the Supreme Courts June decision overruling abortion rights in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organisation. Loading The entire issue set is working against us. It is really hard for a Democrat in a marginal district, said another Democratic House strategist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to speak frankly. There was a lot of attention on abortion immediately post-Dobbs. As time has passed the immediacy has dissipated. The everyday reality of buying gas and buying groceries has overtaken it. The reality of gas prices has become an obsession of sorts for the Democratic leaders, who have seen their fortunes rise and fall with the numbers posted daily at roadside stations. Prices peaked nationally in mid-June at over $US5 a gallon ($7.94 for 3.78 liters), on the backs of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, before falling to $US3.65 in mid-September and then ticking back up to $US3.91 in mid-October, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Last week, they fell slightly again, prompting Biden to announce, We are moving in the right direction. ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Allentown School District Board of Directors approved a separation and release agreement with Superintendent John Stanford and will now appoint an interim superintendent. Stanford's resignation is effective Oct. 28. According to the Allentown School District website, a special board meeting has been called by the Board of School Directors of the School District of the City of Allentown. The Special Board Meeting will be held on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. The post online writes "the purpose of the meeting is to hire and appoint an Acting Superintendent, and any other business that may come before the Board." Stanford formally accepted the position Sept. 23, 2021, and began employment in November 2021 with a deal that was supposed to run through June 30, 2026. His annual compensation was $230,000. Stanford is the sixth superintendent in the district since 2011, including interim and acting superintendents. Ballot drop boxes opened for the first time Monday in Lehigh County, after a lawsuit kept them closed last week. Previously, the drop box outside the Lehigh County Government Center was closed with a sign telling voters to come inside, but now voters can finally drop off their ballots 24-7. We asked one voter how he felt about it. "This is a democracy, and making it easier for people to cast legal votes is the right thing to do in my opinion," said Rob Hodges. The lawsuit, filed by the group America First Legal, called for election monitors to be stationed outside drop boxes to make sure people weren't dropping off multiple ballots, but the Judge said a sign telling people the law was enough. It's a decision that the group Power Pennsylvania was celebrating outside the County Government Center Monday. "It seems like there are those who will do anything to keep individuals, especially in the Black and Brown communities, from voting, but we are here to take a stand and say that we're going to vote come rain, come shine, come sleet or hail, we're going to cast that ballot without fail," said Rev. Melanie Debouse. "Folks should go out and vote, and we should not be putting barriers, obstacles in front of folks," said Rev. Gregory Edwards. The group is also trying to get more people to the polls. Lehigh County currently has fewer registered voters per capita (65%) than neighboring Northampton County (73%). Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure said enthusiasm has been high. "As of today, we've had 38,000 mail-in ballot requests that have been sent out, and we've had about 24,000 of those ballots actually returned, which I think is another thing that demonstrates interest," said McClure. Power Pennsylvania hopes to get that same energy in Lehigh County. "If you're watching this and you're in Allentown, come out and vote rain or shine. Your voice and your vote matter," said Rev. Edwards. The deadline to register to vote is midnight Monday. You can do that online on the Pennsylvania Department of State website. Remember, if you're using the drop boxes, sign and date the back of the envelope, and only drop off your own ballot. Concannon Miller, a Lehigh Valley accounting firm for 60 years, will soon go by a new name. The local company will become part of CLA, also known as CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, the eighth-largest accounting firm in the U.S. The deal is effective as of Nov. 1. Minneapolis-based CLA did not disclose the terms of the transaction. The larger firm is enhancing its service in two states by adding staff at Concannon Miller's Hanover Township, Northampton County, and St. Petersburg, Florida, offices. For Concannon Miller, incorporated in 1962, the deal is all about growing. "We felt it was time to look at the future of the firm and what our opportunity for growth was, for our people as well as for our clients," Andrea Brady, a Concannon shareholder and board member, said Monday. "We just felt that now was the time to look for that growth. We put in a lot of due diligence to find a great fit and that's how we chose CLA." Concannon Miller's 130-plus employees will continue to work with local clients. "We're going to keep our existing locations," Brady said. "The only change clients should see is the name on the letterhead. We will be serving our same local clients with the same local teams." Those local teams will be growing. Concannon Miller/CLA is looking to add new team members immediately, Brady said. "We're joining CLA for the opportunity for growth for our people and for our clients, and we're hoping to expand in the Lehigh Valley market," she said. "We have open positions." Concannon Miller is big locally and comes in 191st in the U.S in Inside Public Accounting's rankings, based on net revenue of $22.7 million. CLA's annual net revenue was reported at $1.45 billion, more than 60 times as much as Concannon Miller's. CLA has 121 locations and employs about 7,500 people. The firm was created in 2012 via the merger of two midwestern companies. Despite the size difference, Concannon Miller President Ted Witman said in the earlier joint statement that the two firms operate the same way. "We take our clients' needs to heart and commit to fully understanding their business and their goals, both professional and personal," he said. "CLA shares this promise, which is a key reason behind our decision to join the firm." Concannon Miller serves many McDonald's Corp. franchisees, and is a full-service tax, accounting and consulting firm serving manufacturers, distributors, small businesses, families and not-for-profit groups, according to the joint statement. BENSALEM, Pa. - How much do endorsements in political campaigns matter? "Campaigns act on the assumption that they do matter quite a bit," said Dr. David Barrett, a political science professor at Villanova University. "The evidence based on what political scientists have studied shows that the in most cases they matter very little, if at all." "It depends on the election," said Dr. Glenn Ricketts, a political science professor at Raritan Valley Community College. "It depends on the candidate." "At best, they only make a marginal difference," said Dr. John Kincaid, Robert B. and Helen S. Meyner Professor of Government and Public Service at Lafayette College. "There are few exceptions." Still, you see these seals of approval everywhere. In PA's First Congressional district, incumbent Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick has dedicated his whole campaign's Twitter feed to them, only posting about endorsements, for the last month. "His principal campaign is based on being bipartisan and able to work across party lines, so he wants a broad range," said Dr. Kincaid. Veteran and Democratic candidate Ashley Ehasz just secured the Philadelphia Inquirer's support. "This is the first time a challenger candidate has been endorsed by the Inquirer over him," said Ehasz. "Getting an Inquirer endorsement or a Planned Parenthood endorsement signals to voters that hey, this is someone that matches the values of the district." Many political experts agree whether it's another politician, group, publication or celebrity, endorsements could mean the most in close races, when voters may be on the fence or may not know a lot about who's on the ballot. "Police Organizations when they do an endorsement and they do a message based on, for example, crime rates...it's fair to say that that can have some impact," said Dr. Barrett. Among endorsers, there's also this mindset, "if endorse a candidate, and the candidate wins, they're in a position to ask for some favors," said Dr. Ricketts. 69 News reached out to Fitzpatrick's campaign and did not receive a response at the time of this report. SCRANTON, Pa. - The attorney for Pennsylvanias former top law enforcement officer is arguing that a drunken-driving case against her should be dismissed due to lack of evidence. The (Scranton) Times-Tribune reports that the defense wants prosecutors barred from presenting results of a field sobriety test of former attorney general Kathleen Kane as well as testimony about her refusal to submit to a blood alcohol test. Kane, the first woman and first Democrat to be elected attorney general in the state, is awaiting trial in Lackawanna County Court on DUI and careless driving charges in a minor Scranton accident in March. She denies she was intoxicated, saying her car slid on ice. NORRISTOWN, Pa. - The second man convicted in a deadly drive-by shooting in Montgomery County has learned his fate. Chong Ling Dan was sentenced Monday to life in prison for his role in the shooting death of Ebony Pack in her car in 2020, said the county district attorney's office. He and another man, Ricky Vance, were found guilty in September of first-degree murder. Vance is also serving a life sentence. Pack, 30, was shot and killed while stopped at a red light on her drive home from work on Nov. 28, 2020, authorities said. A third man, Terrance Marche, who is believed to be the gunman, is still on the run, and believed to be in Honduras. Investigators had said Dan was jealous of Pack because she was his ex-girlfriend's new love interest. DALLAS (AP) A man fatally shot two Dallas hospital employees over the weekend, opening fire after accusing his girlfriend who had just given birth of infidelity, authorities said. Jacqueline Pokuaa, a 45-year-old social worker, and Katie Annette Flowers, a 63-year-old nurse, were killed in Saturday's shooting at Methodist Dallas Medical Center, according to police and hospital officials. Authorities have said Nestor Hernandez, 30, opened fire around 11 a.m. while at the hospital for the birth of a child by his girlfriend. Hernandez, who was on parole from prison and had been granted permission to be at the hospital while wearing an ankle monitor, was shot and wounded by a police officer, authorities said. In my opinion, this is a failure of our criminal justice system," Dallas police Chief Eddie Garcia said at a news conference Monday. "A violent individual such as this should not have been on ankle monitor and should have remained in custody. Hernandez has been charged with capital murder but it wasnt clear Monday if he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf. He was not listed among people being held in the Dallas County jail and authorities said that after the shooting he was treated at Methodist and then taken to another medical faculty for further treatment. Hernandez arrived at the hospital around 10:20 a.m. to visit the woman in delivery and began to strike her repeatedly in the head with a handgun, Garcia said. According to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by WFAA-TV, Hernandez started hitting his girlfriend after accusing her of infidelity. Hernandez then started making ominous calls and sending text messages to his family, told his girlfriend that they were both going to die and said whoever comes in this room is going to die with us, according to the Dallas TV station's account of the affidavit. He shot Pokuaa when she came into the room to attend to the woman, then shot Flowers after she looked in the room upon hearing gunfire, Garcia said. Hospital police Sgt. Robert Rangel saw Flowers get shot, called for backup and took cover outside the room where Hernandez was reloading his gun, the chief said. When Hernandez emerged, Rangel shot him in the leg and, after a standoff, police took him into custody, Garcia said. Garcia said the woman Hernandez struck was treated for her injuries and that a newborn child who was in the room was not hurt. Hernandez was released from prison on parole last October after having been convicted of aggravated robbery, according to Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman Amanda Hernandez. She said he was given permission to be with his significant other at the hospital during her delivery. Authorities haven't released any information on how Hernandez came to have a gun while on parole for a felony conviction. Methodist Medical System Police Chief Glen Fowler said Monday that the hospital wasn't given any notice of his criminal history or that he was being tracked with an ankle monitor. That's not something we normally inquire about for a parent, Fowler said. This is an extremely horrific, out-of-the-norm situation. I wish that we would have known, but that is not some information that was provided to us beforehand. Garcia said Hernandez was sentenced to eight years for aggravated robbery, serving six before he was released on parole last year. In March 2022, he was arrested for a parole violation, then in April released to his parole officer. In June, Garcia said, Hernandez was arrested by police in a Dallas suburb for another parole violation, taken to a county jail and then turned over to the custody of Texas prisons, which released him this September with the ankle monitor he was wearing during the shooting. Dallas County records show that Nestor Hernandez has been arrested repeatedly since 2011, including on charges of aggravated robbery, burglary and the unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. There has been impassioned debate on theatre social media recently around the thorny subject of trigger warnings. JMK Award-winning director Indiana Lown-Collins's shatteringly powerful revival of this 2015 two-hander probably justifies the employment of these content alerts more than almost anything else I've seen in recent years. Jack Thorne's script deals, unsparingly, with stillbirth and the resultant grief and physical and emotional traumas that accompany it. Visceral and hard-hitting, but also humane and humorous, The Solid Life of Sugar Water may well provide catharsis for many, although there is precious little comfort in it. Lown-Collins takes Thorne's words, so forensically brutal and precise that they may as well have been written with a scalpel rather than a pen, and dresses them up in an elegantly stark staging that runs in striking but appropriate contrast to the messiness of the emotions and feelings of the young couple at the core. The intimacy of the in-the-round configuration is further embellished and enhanced by the use throughout of creative captions (one of the characters, Alice, is Deaf as is Katie Erich, the actor playing her), which mostly function as subtitles beamed up on the front of the Orange Tree's circle but which sometimes explode in a sensory-challenging jumble of verbiage. It's inclusive, consistently compelling, and hammers home the power and truth contained in Thorne's intense, occasionally very funny, text. The piece was first presented by Graeae, the company that champions Deaf and disabled actors and creatives, and while the disabilities of the beautifully drawn characters here undoubtedly inform them, they aren't the sole point of the play. Before it becomes a harrowing examination of the process and aftermath of losing a baby, it's a quirky, modern, sort-of love story, albeit an eye-wateringly sexually explicit one. A major accomplishment of Thorne's writing is how he has created a couple who are thoroughly engaging theatrical company but who, between them, have some unattractive, all too credible, characteristics that round them out without actively turning the audience off them. Alice is spiky and judgemental, while Phil's lovable, eccentric exterior masks an unappealing tendency to make laddish assumptions about women and their bodies: he confides to us at one point that he considers Alice to be a 7 (out of 10). Despite all this, it becomes impossible not to care. Actors Katie Erich and Adam Fenton are as likeable as they are unapologetic for their characters' failings, presenting them with an unflinching clarity as well as startling emotional acuity. The script requires them to jump between time periods and, consequently, various heightened emotional states with whiplash speed, and both performers acquit themselves with devastating accuracy. The way the facial tics and bodily spasms of Fenton's Phil become more extreme at moments of high anxiety, or how Erich, as Alice, abandons verbal speech in favour of sign language when recounting a particularly painful memoryit all haunts and hurts. Much of the story is told as direct address to the audience, and the actors have tremendous chemistry with each other, and with us. The controlled brilliance of direction and acting is nowhere better demonstrated than in an astonishing sequence that juxtaposes an intense orgasm for Phil with Alice's howling, enraged agony as she is forced to give birth to their lifeless child. It's staged as a brutal, revolving tug-of-war with a bedsheet that splits in two at the key moment (Ica Niemz's design is dominated by a double bed atop a neon-lined abyss sinking deep into the stage floor). It succeeds in being simultaneously distressing, horribly absurd, and entirely riveting. This is strong meat yet supremely delicate when it needs to be, and a vital, remarkable piece of theatre. It's short, sharp, shocking, and infused with a troubled humanity that lingers long in the heart and mind. ST. LOUIS At least three people were killed, including the suspect, and seven more were injured after a shooting Monday morning at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School in south St. Louis. A woman died at a hospital, and a teen girl was pronounced dead inside the school, both of gunshot wounds. The suspect, a male not yet identified but estimated to be in his 20s, was pronounced dead at a hospital. The shooting was reported after 9 a.m. at South Kingshighway and Arsenal Street. David Williams, a math teacher at the school, said the school principal came over the loudspeaker around 9 a.m. and said the code word that indicates a school shooter in the building. Williams heard multiple shots outside his classroom, and one of the windows on the classroom door was shot out. He then heard a man say, "You are all going to (expletive) die." Raymond J. Parks, a dance teacher at the school, said he was about to teach a ballet class when he saw a man wearing all black with a long gun out of the corner of his eye. Parks said the man pointed the gun at him but did not fire for some reason. Nylah Jones, a ninth grader at the school, said she was in math class and the shooter fired into the room from the hallway but could not get into the classroom. Students piled into the corner of the room and tried not to move as the shooter banged on the door, she said. Ryane Owens, 18, a senior at CVPA, said students "thought it was a drill at first. Then we heard noises." "Once you heard the boom," said teacher Michael De Filippo, "all the chuckling and laughing in the back of the room stopped." Taniya Lumpkin was in speech and debate class at the time. She said a staff member told them to close and lock the door as they do for an intruder drill, but they "didn't know if it was real or not." Next thing you know, we just heard gunshots, Nylah said. First single shots rang out, then multiple, then single again, she said. Taniya Gholston, 16, another student at CVPA, said the shooter's gun eventually jammed and that she did not recognize him. She said she heard him say something about being "sick of this (expletive) school." Ja'miah Hampton, 16, was in vocal class on the fourth floor of the building when she heard gunshots on the third floor. "I heard one big one, and then there were so many I stopped counting," she said. "I'm confused why people are so cruel." Dakota Willard, 14, who attends Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience also housed in the CVPA building said he saw what looked like one person, a girl, down at the end of the hallway that joins the two schools. He said it looked like she was trying to run away by the way she was lying on the floor. What I saw was traumatizing, Willard said. Im OK. I dont need any special help. Tonya Neal, a certified nursing assistant at SLU Hospital, said she has a daughter and a niece who attend school there. At 9:19 a.m., she received a text from her daughter that read, Mom, I love you. She didn't realize until later that there was an active shooter at the school. She said her daughter and niece are safe. By 9:30 a.m., the entire area was blocked off by police, ambulances and a SWAT van. Students and staff streamed from the school with hands in the air, filing up Hereford Street toward the Schnucks on Arsenal, where hundreds of evacuees gathered. Hundreds of people gathered in the Schnucks parking lot, where students and their parents were hugging each other. One boy was consoling his mother. Im glad its over. My friends are alive. Its OK, Mom, its OK, Im here, he said. Keisha Acres, mother of sophomore Alexandria Bell, said she was still looking for her daughter at 10:30 a.m. CVPA was Southwest High School for decades until 1992. At least one main entrance to the building has metal detectors. Several parents commended police response to the incident. Trailblazers in social work From addressing white poverty to the injustices of apartheid, the Department of Social Work has held individuals, families and communities together. The Department of Social Work at Wits has achieved many feats since its birth in 1937 and stands proud with a litany of achievements, luminaries and rebels whove championed change. Alumni include feminists, struggle icons and social agents such as former first ladies, Mama Winnie Madikizela Mandela and Zanele Mbeki founder of the Women's Development Bank, which was established to offer microfinance to poor South African women; and Dr Motlatjie Anne Letsebe, former deputy director-general in the presidency. On Thursday, 20 October 2022, the Department hosted a ceremony to celebrate its 85th anniversary and contribution to various structures of society. The event was attended by alumni, including members of the first group of African students who registered in the Department after a long struggle with the then ruling government. Lestebe who read for her Higher Diploma in Advanced Social Work Practice in the late 1970s went down memory lane and recalled the bravery displayed by Professor Cecil Muller, credited for opening doors for African students to pursue higher degrees in the field. She managed to get funding from Anglo American to establish the Centre of Social Development at Wits. Through the Centre, we were categorised as employees so that we could receive funding and attend classes in the evening. She was a phenomenal woman. She was a rebel rouser and she did all the things that people thought shouldnt be done, said Lestebe of Muller. Letsebe and her class were only able to register as students just before they completed their studies. Mullers persistence deserves recognition added Monica Dube, founder of Dube and Pottas Inc., which employs 34 social workers operating in medical practice. As with other academics at Wits, Muller played a role in supporting detainees and students hounded by apartheid police, as Dube once found herself. In earlier years, the report titled The Poor White Problem in South Africa: Report of the Carnegie Commission" published in 1932 around the poverty among white South Africans, also informed the departments mission to produce graduates who were ready for the job and challenges facing society. The report focused on the economic, psychological, educational, health, and social aspects of white poverty. Proud Moments and the future Boasting about the academic and research achievements, Dr Busisiwe Nkala-Dlamini, Head of the Department told students and guests that the Department was the first in the country to acknowledge the need for a transformed curriculum. In 1983 the Department made a conscious decision to include African perspectives in the curriculum. They did this by publishing and using the material in their teaching. They were, however, cognisant that there was not sufficient literature. This is one of the agendas, high on the list of the department, to produce African perspective literature and prescribe it in teaching. As a leading research-intensive university we are building and shaping cadres, who will use their research and practice to build a strong democratic ethos in society. Nkala-Dlamini said the department was committed to quality teaching and had a high number of PhDed lectures. Eleven out of 12 teaching staff hold PhDs a significant achievement as the quality of staff and research output impacts teaching quality. Staying ahead of the times, the Department achieved a major milestone in 2019 when it was accredited as the first department in the country to provide masters in the field of school social work. The first cohort was enrolled in 2021 and will graduate in 2022. Alumni heaped praise on the Department for preparing them well for the world of work and dealing with clients. PhD candidate and Top 200 Young South African nominee Aldridge Munyoro attested to this and read feedback from graduates who stated that the Social Work In-Practice module was beyond excellent. Social work gave me everything, said Mbeki a successful development activist and social entrepreneur. The methodology, from case-work, group work, social policy, research this is what I have used everywhere. She encouraged young graduates to use their skills beyond social work and not to wait for government employment. This call supported earlier speakers and social workers from different industries and times who reflected on the contribution of social work to various sectors. Prof. Jean Triegaardt spoke about the evolving profession in South Africa, Dr Letsebe reflected on social work in the public sector, Mrs Vicky Mkhize on the distinct contributions to the private sector and Ms Tasneem Bhula on the contributions of social work in the non-government sector. Wits scientists contribute to the largest data-driven COVID-19 response consortium of African scient Wits scientists, Drs Florette Treurnicht, Jinal Bhiman, Catherine Scheepers and Mrs Ramuth Magalutcheemee, a PhD student from Mauritius) from the Department of Virology in the School of Pathology, made significant contributions to SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 genomics surveillance in South Africa. Drs Nicole Wolter and Anne von Gottberg who are affiliated with the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the Wits Faculty of Health Sciences are also leading SARS-CoV-2 genomics surveillance in South Africa, especially for genomics data from other provinces besides the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Ongoing genomics surveillance led to participation in a continent-wide collaboration for which the study outcomes will be published in the journal Science and are entitled A continent-wide collaboration on genomics surveillance show the power of African science and how the majority of COVID-19 variants were introduced into Africa. The study highlights the rapid growth of genomics surveillance in Africa with over 100 000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes analysed to characterise variants in real-time since the start of the pandemic. More than 300 authors from Africa and elsewhere collaborated on this study forming the largest consortium of African scientists and public health institutions working to support data-driven COVID-19 response in Africa. This is a great example of how the large investments, collaborations and capacity-building strategies in genomic surveillance on the African continent promoted timeous public health response in real-time. The 1st author, Houriiyah Tegally, a Bioinformatician highlighted the impact of this collaboration as We witnessed small countries with no previous genomics experience become empowered in sequencing and bioinformatics methods and start to actively participate in regular pathogen genomic surveillance for SARS-CoV-2. Mrs Magalutcheemee, a PhD student in the Department of Virology at Wits and a leading scientist in the National Central Health Laboratory in Mauritius assisted with the implementation of SARS-CoV-2 genomics surveillance using the Oxford Nanopore MinION portable next-generation sequencing system with subsequent utilisation of the same platform for influenza virus genomics to meet outputs towards her PhD, but ultimately this collaboration allowed her to the establishment of capacity for other respiratory virus genomics surveillance in her country. Choitso (R) picks grapes at a vineyard in Markham, Tibet Autonomous Region. [China Daily] It's not difficult to meet a grassroots delegate to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China at the hotel where they are staying this week. After all, 33.6 percent of the 2,296 delegates come from the front line of work and production. Among these glowing faces who could not help but show their excitement to attend the congress, some are farmers or workers from the agriculture sector. Though all suited up for the event in the capital, they were still concerned about the cornfields or vineyards at home because usually they were busy with the autumn harvest at this time of year. When I asked them who they represent, Li Zhonghua, head of an agricultural cooperative in Tieling, Liaoning Province, told me he would rather define himself as a new farmer with advanced technology and production. New farmers such as Li have become an important force in promoting rural vitalization in recent years. Figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs show that by the end of 2020, about 10 million people had returned home for rural entrepreneurship and the number is estimated to exceed 15 million by 2025. With modern techniques, new farmers know how to integrate the strengths of villagers and solve problems in rural areas such as inefficient productivity and weak industry. When Li saw the highlights on agricultural cooperatives and new farmers from the No 1 Central Document issued in 2012, he returned to Changtu, a major grain-producing county in Tieling, and opened a cooperative to provide farmers with agricultural machinery. Starting with two high-quality harvesters and four tractors, the cooperative has realized large-scale grain production in the county with comprehensive machinery operations. Li brought machinery that freed farmers from tedious work and greatly increased productivity. Now, machines from his cooperative are able to sow over 66 hectares and harvest 100 hectares of farmland per day. With the technical support of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the cooperative has increased corn yields through new planting skills and is working on a conservative farming system that can save resources and protect the environment. New farmers like Li understand that sustainable grain production has to respect the natural rules and be environmentally friendly. While some of the new farmers started with traditional farming but learned to upgrade the mode of production with new technology, some younger rural entrepreneurs seem to be more familiar with market rules and are good at branding their agricultural products. Choitso attracted me with her beautiful eyes that are typical for Tibetan women. The 33-year-old is Party secretary of Zangdong Treasure Wine Company in Markham county, Chamdo. The wine company was founded by her father but remained a family workshop until her elder brother returned home after attending a "Tibet class" in Tianjin for middle school, which allows Tibetan students to pursue education in inland cities. Among the first herders to start up businesses in rural areas, her brother was aware of the importance of building a company and a brand to boost the local wine industry. Choitso herself also joined the family's company after quitting her job as a local public servant. She believed the natural advantages of her hometown in growing grapes can develop a promising industry that involves more local people. I was impressed by videos posted on Choitso's Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. She was harvesting green grapes in the vineyard, introducing Dameiyong wine in ethnic costumes, and dancing and traveling around the beautiful plateau. She said she was trying to get more young people to understand the industry and, more importantly, come and stay in her hometown to become new farmers. The number of new farmers sounds like a lot, but there is still a gap based on current needs in rural areas, especially in regions such as Tibet, several delegates in the sector told me. Loving agriculture and the countryside is a "must" for new farmers. They need to shoulder the responsibility of creating more job opportunities and boosting rural entrepreneurship, ensuring that farmers really benefit from the industry. Apart from cultivating more new farmers through college education, passing on advanced techniques and ideas to local farmers and hand-by-hand training also work to transform talent in rural vitalization. (Source: China Daily) Lovingly known as the Sunshine State, Florida attracts millions of visitors each year, and with its warm and sunny climate, it is not difficult to understand why. With its great beach areas, stunning nature, lively nightlife, and rich cultural heritage, Florida is indeed one of the very best places in the United States. This article looks at the 10 Most Beautiful Cities in Florida. Fort Lauderdale The beautiful settings of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Fort Lauderdale is a beautiful place to explore with its alluring beaches and tranquil waterways. Just some 40 kilometers from Miami, the city of Fort Lauderdale is on Floridas Atlantic Coast and serves as the seat of Broward County. Affectionately called the Venice of America, this urban center of nearly 183,000 residents has some 265 kilometers of inland waterways spanning the entire city. As the home of the Port Everglades Seaport, upwards of four million tourists pass through the city every year. And with over 100 marinas, visitors and residents in Fort Lauderdale can enjoy plenty of opportunities for sailing. Meanwhile, in the charming Las Olas Boulevard, a variety of tasty restaurants, shopping outlets, and unique galleries make the city an excellent place for social fun. Read MoreFort Lauderdale Orlando Skyline of Orlando, Florida with a view of Lake Eola. Orlando is surely the most well-known tourist destination in Florida. Millions of visitors arrive in this city each year as it is home to both Walt Disney World and the Universal Studios Resort. But beyond these major attractions, Orlando also has plenty of other great offerings for its tourists and residents alike. With a bustling art scene that includes numerous galleries, museums, and naturally tasty and eclectic restaurants, this city of 307,000 inhabitants truly has something for everyone. Orlando also has several quieter green park spaces, perfect for an escape from all the excitement of its theme parks. Here the beauty of palm trees and other flora can be experienced in a most charming and relaxing setting. Read MoreOrlando, Florida Miami The gorgeous skyline of Miami, Florida. One of Floridas most famous cities, Miami is a major center of finance, international trade, the arts, and Hispanic culture. A must-visit for any Florida tourist, Miami has the largest Hispanic population in America and offers one of the most culturally rich scenes in the entire country. Home of the Port of Miami, the worlds busiest cruise port, millions of people who visit Miami can enjoy the citys beautiful beaches and famed sunshine, and splendid cultural climate. With its landscape filled with beautiful historic buildings, modern skyscrapers, museums, restaurants, shops, and plenty of tall palm trees, Miami truly offers a great blend of the past and the present. But even if one is just interested in soaking up the sun, this city offers it in great quantities with sweltering summers and warm winters. Read MoreMiami, Florida Boca Raton The beautiful city of Boca Raton as viewed from above. Situated on a 75-kilometer coastline on the Atlantic Ocean known as the Palm Beaches, the city of Boca Raton is just 80 kilometers from Miami. From a Spanish colonial settlement to todays famous resort town, this city of 97,422 residents is a treasure for authentic natural beauty and unique historic character. With its pristine beach areas and beautiful green park spaces, Boca Raton is a welcome place for all ages, where a warm and sunny climate make it desirable year-round. Additionally known for its special architectural styles, including the historic Old Town Hall, the town offers tourists many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and unique culture alike. At the Mizner Park shopping district, one can savor a variety of high-end restaurants, shops, and luxury apartments all along a most beautiful boulevard lined with majestic palm trees. Read MoreBoca Raton, Florida Tampa The stunningly beautiful skyline of Tampa. Tampa is Floridas third most populated metropolis with some 384,000 residents and is indeed a sprawling city with plenty of natural beauty and cultural allure. With its beautiful views of the Hillsborough River, the eponymous Tampa Bay, and its endless rows of plant and tree life, Tampa truly is a place of great style. On the social side, the city is home to great museums and other attractions, including the Tampa Bay History Center, the Tampa Museum of Art, the Florida Aquarium, and Zoo Tampa, to name but a few. And, of course, a visit to the historic neighborhood of Ybor City is a must, where great restaurants, bustling nightlife, and even charming trolley rides are on hand. Read MoreTampa, Florida Sarasota Aerial view of Sarasota and its beaches and marina. Sarasota is a city with a thriving arts and culture scene which, coupled with the ever-present Florida sun, makes it a most welcome place for tourists and residents alike. Situated on the States southwest coast and home to just under 55,000 inhabitants, Sarasota has an abundance of fascinating museums, galleries, shopping centers, and great restaurant options ideal for family vacations or a solo trip. Experience the famed Chalk Festival or catch some movies at the Sarasota Film Festival. This city never disappoints in its cultural offerings. And naturally spending time outside is always a good idea, where great beaches and hot sun make any holiday here a worthwhile place to remember. Read MoreSarasota, Florida Pensacola Aerial view of the beautiful city of Pensacola. The westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle, Pensacola, is near the border with Alabama and is a perennial favorite destination for spring break. With a population of 54,000 residents, the city was the first Spanish colonial settlement in the area in 1559 and continues to have a most special historic character. Situated on Pensacola Bay, inhabitants and visitors have excellent access to gorgeous beaches, hot summer days, and a nice variety of tasty seafood restaurants, while art and history enthusiasts will too have something to enjoy. Visit the Pensacola Museum of Art, the National Naval Aviation Museum, or the historic Saenger Theatre. Built in a Spanish Baroque style in 1925, this and other cultural places in Pensacola ensure that this city will create a most memorable vacation along with its sunny weather. Read MorePensacola, Florida Tallahassee Downtown Tallasassee. Floridas State capital, the city of Tallahassee, is surprisingly overlooked by many who visit the Sunshine State. Yet this beautiful government and college town is indeed a most charming and welcoming place that offers all who visit and live there some of the best in Florida life. The city is home to the campuses of Florida State University and Florida A&M University and many important government buildings, including the historic Capitol Building (1845). Tallahassee also gives off a quaint Deep South atmosphere near the border with the State of Georgia, which can contrast nicely with all the government business and school life. Including a great range of galleries, museums, restaurants, popular festivals, and of course, the famed Florida sun, Tallahassee is a place not to be overlooked. Read MoreTallahassee, Capital Of Florida St. Augustine The city of St. Augustine, one of America's historically rich cities. The oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in North America, the city of St. Augustine is one of Americas most historically fascinating destinations. With its links to the Spanish colonial era, this town and its population of 14,000 residents is like a living museum. Indeed with a veritable treasure trove of firsthand experiences with history, heritage buildings, forts, and an alluring old-world charm, St. Augustine is a charming vacation spot. And for an encounter with unique pirate history, head down to the Pirate & Treasure Museum, where an expansive collection of pirate artifacts is housed. St. Petersburg The colorful skyline of St. Patersburg along the Tampa Bay. Right on the edge of the Tampa Bay peninsula, St. Petersburg has been affectionately called Floridas Sunshine City due to its astonishing average of 360 days of sun per year! Named after the Russian city of the same name and colloquially known as St. Pete, the city offers a pleasant climate of moderate temperatures and comfortable proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. In this town of some 258,000 residents, one can enjoy a great assortment of galleries, museums, eclectic dining options, shopping centers, and a thriving arts scene. Here, visitors can stop by the central historic district and marvel at its beautiful murals or spend an afternoon at the Salvador Dali Museum. And naturally, one can always go sailing, swimming, and sunbathing in this most beautiful Florida metropolis. A beacon of great culture, art, cuisine, history and warm weather, Florida earns its name as the Sunshine State. For anyone wanting to explore some of the very best cities in the United States, Floridas urban centers must top their list. These great cities offer plenty of fun in the sun and superb cultural surroundings, making them and the State of Florida everything a traveler could wish for. Read More9 Most Charming Small Towns In Florida Over the course of the 20th century, the sea level rose globally by around 7.5 inches. The UN warns that it could rise three feet more by the end of the 21st century. Not only is the rising ocean an escalating challenge for the low-lying, small island states, but violent weather patterns, including increased frequency of unexpected storms, are beating down on these already-vulnerable nations and further submerging them underwater. Rising sea levels and changing climate are effects of global warming, primarily caused by the human hand of the most-polluting countries. Many island nations lack protection against natural disasters and share the fragility of a subsistence economy based on tourism and financial dependence on international trade. Violent natural forces also hinder communications and infrastructure development, putting basic human survival into question. Some of the low-lying Pacific Islands are home to a protective barrier of coral reefs, now quickly waning under the rising ocean, leaving people and land increasingly vulnerable to climate change and the rising sea each day. These eight countries helplessly pend global warming effects, with a grim future of being literally washed off the map entirely. Read More6 US Regions That Could Disappear Underwater By 2050 Marshall Islands Aerial view of the atolls of the Marshall Islands. The Republic of the Marshall Islands is a tiny Micronesian state with an area of 181 square kilometers over five islands with 29 atolls in the Pacific Ocean. Captain John Marshall discovered the isles in 1788, while they only gained independence from the United States in 1990. Presently, with its population of 60,000, some residents are facing impending submergence by the sea level rise that has already begun. It is most visible in some of the atolls and tracts of land swallowed by the ocean in the capital city of Majuro. It is likely that within the next century, irrevocable consequences of global warming will threaten the very existence of the country. Kiribati Villages in Kiribati are highly vulnerable to sea level rise. The Republic of Kiribati covers three million square kilometers in the Pacific Ocean, northeast of Australia, over 33 coral atolls, and one island. The Spaniards first discovered these atolls. Later, the British ruled here, with the independent country of Kiribati emerging only in 1979. Today, Kiribati authorities are highly concerned by the rising sea level that is slowly submerging the nation's coasts and forcing people to relocate. The country has an average elevation of only three meters above sea level and is already losing its villages under the rising sea. The saline water is also inundating the freshwater resources of the atolls, leading to crop failures. According to estimates, this densely populated island nation could be underwater by the end of the century, leaving thousands of helpless climate migrants behind. Fiji A home in Fiji completely ravaged by a cyclone. Such extreme weather events combined with sea level rise worsen the chances of survival of such nations. The tourist-paradise destination Republic of Fiji covers 1.3 million square kilometers of territory over 330 islands in the Pacific. The islands were originally colonized by Southeast Asians, settled by the Europeans in the 17th century, and under British ownership until 1970 when Fiji declared independence. Fijian Islands are daunted by a double force, slowly pushing the isles to the bottom of the ocean. Despite this, the islands' population increased by 0.56% from the previous year to 929,766 residents in 2022. Along with sea level rise, extreme weather conditions are also hitting Fiji hard. Inclement weather put Fiji under mercy in 2009 with a rainstorm that resulted in 19 human casualties and 9,000 evacuees. The cane plantations were also significantly damaged, along with the cities' infrastructure that provided for tourism, greatly hindering Fiji's other main source of income. In 2016, Fiji was hit by Tropical Cyclone Winston, which impaired industry and left residents scrambling for food. The former home to over 100 locals, the village of Vunidogoloa is now a tropical forest, with a town square covered in tropics, rotting rodents in abandoned houses, and salt water seeping up from the earth as far as 300 feet away from Natewa Bay. It was the first village to relocate to a newly-built town nearby due to the effects of climate change, and Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama knows that it won't be the last. He says that at least 40 more villages will be forced to face the consequences of rising sea levels in the next few years. The changing climate of intense storms and floods that pounded Fiji makes the government anticipate losing at least 5% of assets in GDP, and more with each year. Samoa Tourist cottages along the sea in an island in Samoa. Tourism, the mainstay of the economy of Samoa, is threatened by rising sea levels. The Independent State of Samoa comprises seven islands covering under 3,000 square kilometers, with many surrounding coral reefs. It was settled by the Europeans in the early 18th century, with the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom sharing parts of the territory in the 19th century, and Samoa gaining independence from New Zealand in 1962. Today, global warming is playing a cruel card on this small nation. Rising water temperature has wasted large sections of the coral reefs here through a process called coral bleaching. The loss of these protective barriers has allowed the rising sea to inundate the land of Samoa, adversely affecting the country's tourism and agricultural sectors. Read MoreWhat Is Coral Reef Bleaching? Solomon Islands Villages like the one in the image in the Solomon Islands can easily disappear during a natural disaster like tsunami or cyclone. The Solomon Islands is an extensive chain of 990 isles spread through the Solomon and Santa Cruz archipelagos in the Indian Ocean. The islands were discovered early on in 1568 by the Spaniards, then owned by Britain, and received independence in 1978. Altogether, they comprise some 30,000 square kilometers of scenic paradise that could soon find itself underwater. Six islands have already sunk below the surface, with more following suit. Despite this, Solomon Islands' population has been steadily increasing over the years to almost 728,000 inhabitants at the present day. The authorities are alarmed by the disappearing country and the future of its residents, as it appears that global warming will seriously impede their survival within just the next few decades. The Maldives Coral bleaching due to warming sea in the Maldives makes the islands more susceptible to rising sea levels due to the absence of the protective action of the coral reefs. The Maldives is a famously-affordable tourist destination, officially known as the Republic of Maldives, with the capital city of Male. The nation occupies an area of 298 square kilometers south of India with incredible scenery. Few know of its rich history, having changed hands multiple times, and shared between the Portuguese, Dutch, and British until independence in 1965 while retaining vibrant culture from each nationality. The low-lying Maldives, with a maximum "peak" at 2.3 meters and "boasting" the lowest average altitude in the world of just 1.5 meters, is most threatened by rising sea levels. It is very likely that many of the 1,200 islands will start dipping into the ocean soon, which will halt its economy's mainstay, tourism. The rising sea level, at alarming rates around the nation, is also endangering the coastal livelihood of the 562,335 residents and forcing many to relocate. The Maldives partnered with another vulnerable nation, the Bahamas on an international campaign to alert others and save themselves. It focused on the moral issues regarding suffering by the mostly-poor nations with little hard power, which made the campaign victorious and shaped the global 2015 Paris Agreement. Tuvalu The vulnerable island nation of Tuvalu as seen from aircraf. The small country of Tuvalu is composed of four coral reefs, five atolls, and three islands in the Pacific Ocean. Despite its meager size, the nation is a perfect candidate to represent those who do the least harm and suffer the most. The country is one of the lowest pollution producers in the world, home to just over 12,000 residents, and falling victim to global warming caused by the more emission-producing countries. Tuvalu is set comparatively low to the sea level and lacks natural boundaries, making it helpless against storms and sea level rise. The archipelago was discovered by the Spaniards around 1568, owned by the British, and achieved independence in 1978. Together with its neighbor Vanuatu, Tuvalu suffered-through Hurricane Pam, which worsened its precarious situation and alarmed the government of its near-future survival. In fact, the authorities are very demanding with the Kyoto Protocol compliance, accentuating the "innocence" of the hindered island through the fault of most-polluting countries. Vanuatu Vanuatu low elevation threatens this island nation's very existence. The Republic of Vanuatu is an archipelago of 12,000 square kilometers in area, set in the South Pacific Ocean. Vanuatu was discovered by Spanish explorers in 1606 and obtained independence from Britain and France in 1980 as a new state. According to the UN, the nation holds "the most vulnerable" "world record" in terms of natural disasters. The forces of nature persistently threaten to wipe Vanuatu off the map, making it highly likely that the 83 volcanic islands of Vanuatu will disappear soon. Cyclone Pam was responsible for destroying nine of each ten buildings in the capital. Vanuatu's high rate of cyclone formation is burdened further by the main threat of rising sea levels that quickens the disappearance of the already-vulnerable state. Its rising population today faces forceable relocation after a turn disaster proves "doomsday" to all. Read MoreThese 9 Cities Could Disappear By 2030 With so many nations, human lives and well-being under threat, it becomes clear that there is a need to take immediate action to address such threats. However, since climate change is a global problem, every nation needs to make commitments and keep the same if the issue is to be resolved. Else, world maps will have to be constantly modified to omit nations lost to the sea in the coming decades. Maryland is much more than its famous blue crabs. Often overlooked by some of its neighbors in the American Northeast, Maryland is home to a plethora of interesting history and culture that is an integral part of the American story. Here are five interesting historical facts about Maryland. 1. Where Maryland Gets Her Name Calvert and his family would leave a long-lasting legacy in Maryland. Photo credit: Pro Church Media via Unsplash. Late to the age of colonialism, the British largely missed out on South and Central America. In order to gain a foothold in the New World, much of Britain's early colonial efforts concentrated on the Eastern Seaboard of what is now the United States. Chartered by an Englishman named George Calvert, the founding of Maryland was a religious venture. Calvert was a Catholic convert and had envisioned that his new-found colony would be able to serve as a sanctuary for persecuted Catholics back in England. As a not-so-subtle nod to his faith, George named his colony after one of the most renowned Catholics in England, the Queen. Queen Henrietta Maria openly practiced Catholicism despite how unpopular it was among the nobility. To honor her dedication and bravery Calvert dubbed his colony Maryland. 2. Maryland Fought On Both Side Of The Civil War Brother against brother. Photo credit: Chris Chow via Unsplash. Despite the fact that Maryland still practiced slavery at the outbreak of the Civil War, it never broke away from the Union. But that did not stop its citizens from seeking out their own loyalties. Due to its unfortunate geographical location between the North and South, Maryland hosted some of the bloodiest battles of the war. Around 80,000 Marylanders fought in the American Civil War with the lion's share of soldiers backing the Union army. However, nearly 20,000 men joined the Confederate cause. There were many instances throughout the war where regiments from both the Union and Confederacy fought one another in battle. There is no place where the phrase "brother against brother," was more true than in Maryland. 3. The Origins Of The National Anthem Fort McHenry in all its glory. Photo credit: Joshua Woods via Unsplash. The "Star Spangled Banner" was first written by a Maryland lawyer called Francis Scott Key. Key found himself trapped in a barrage of British ordinance during the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. The British navy was shelling Baltimore with such ferocity that Key was almost certain that they would take the city by morning. But when the sun rose a tattered American flag still swayed in Fort McHenry, the military fort in Baltimore. Inspired, Key felt he had no choice but to write a patriotic anthem about the stalwartness and determination of the city's brave defenders. The song quickly became popular but the "Star Spangled Banner" only became the national anthem of the United States in 1929. 4. Abolition And Freedom One of Fredrick Douglass's many statues. Photo credit: Faheem Jackson via Pexels. Maryland in many ways was the epicenter of the Civil War both on and off the battlefield. Two of the most famous abolitionists of the time Fredrick Douglass and Harriet Tubman were both born into slavery in Maryland. After a harsh early life, both escaped from their masters and found freedom in other states. Fredrick and Harriet worked tirelessly to push for the abolition of slavery and the advancement of Black Americans. The reach and achievements of these two individuals extended far past the state of Maryland, influencing people and countries all over the world. 5. A Flag Like No Other Maryland still holds on to its British roots. Image credit: Michael Wheeler via Creative Commons Out of all the state flags in America, there is none other quite like Maryland. Breaking away from the typical blue backdrop centered with a state symbol, Maryland goes in another direction. Maryland's flag actually dates back to British rule and its status as one of the original thirteen colonies. The flag can trace its roots all the way back to the coat of arms of George Calvert and his family. While other states did away with their old flags, deemed to be too old-fashioned and "British", Maryland stuck with tradition. Seeing as Calvert was one of the key founders of the state, those who came after him thought it should only be fitting that his family heraldry stays as the flag of Maryland. Today, Calvert's family symbol is still seen flying high above the Maryland state capitol building in Annapolis. Summary Maryland does not have the flashing lights of places like New York and California but it makes up for that with a rich history of its own. As one of the original thirteen colonies of the United States, Maryland is home to countless historical landmarks and dozens of legendary Americans. Two alleged Chinese spies are charged with trying to obstruct US Huawei investigation, Pictured is a Huawei booth at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, on January 9, 2019. Calls for unused council owned farmland in Wrexham to be put to use Councillors are to put the current use and plans for Wrexham Council owned farms under the microscope. The issue will be looked at by the authoritys Customers, Performance and Scrutiny committee after it was raised by Grosvenor Cllr Marc Jones (Plaid). Cllr Jones would like to see currently unused council owned farmland be put to use either to produce food or renewable energy, or as starter farms for people looking to get into the industry. Before the meeting, he had received a joint response from the councils Chief Officer for Housing Julie Francis and Lead Member for Finance and Performance, Council leader Mark Pritchard (Ind). They stated that out of the nine farms owned by Wrexham Council, the three that are vacant are being earmarked for sale. But members of the scrutiny committee felt other options need to be explored before they are sold off. At the October meeting, Cllr Jones presented his request for the topic to go to scrutiny. He said: This council has a shortage of land for a variety of uses. I know there is a demand for storage, and Ive also had an enquiry about creating a film stage from an industry expert. Although this could come to nothing, rental values per week for that sort of facility amount to thousands per week, not per year. I also think we have to look at the more mundane and practical as well. I know the farmers unions and young farmers are very keen to see councils retain their land, as this is often the only way that young people and people with no connection to farming are able to get into the industry. We should be opening things out to the people of Wrexham, to ask what can we do with this land? Members were supportive of the issue to going to scrutiny and were keen to explore how to make the best of the council assets. Chirk North Cllr Frank Hemmings (Lab) said: I saw on TV that the average age of farmers is very high so this is an ideal opportunity where we could be encouraging young people. People have to start somewhere. Bronington and Hanmer Cllr Jeremy Newton (Con), a farmer himself, added: I totally agree. Council farms all over the country were originally designed as starter farms for people to come into agriculture who didnt have the financial backing of family to do it. Over many, many generations there has been huge amounts of innovation from people not involved in agriculture coming in via the starter farms. I think its very, very important that the land is not sold off and Id even say put the farmhouses back into use so there are small farms available for people to come into the industry. Holt Cllr Michael Morris (Con) was also supportive of taking the topic to scrutiny, stating the issue had gone nowhere for a number of years, and suggested scoping exercise where councillors actually visit the farms to see their scale and background. Members agreed to table the topic to come to scrutiny in December or January. By Rory Sheehan BBC Local Democracy Reporter UK to get 3rd Prime Minister in three months Rishi Sunak set to be confirmed at 2pm Rishi Sunak looks highly likely to become the next Prime Minister later today. Nominations for the Conservative Party leadership election close at 2pm today, with candidates requiring the support of at least 100 Conservative MPs, with Sunak well ahead and appearing to be the only person who will remain in contention and therefore win. Penny Mordaunt appears to have around 24 public declarations of support, well below the 100 mark created by the Conservative party for the competition. Another widely tipped contender Boris Johnson commented for the first time about the race last night, who at the time had 57 MPs declaring support publicly. In his statement he claimed 102 supporters a figure widely questioned and appeared confident of victory, There is a very good chance that I would be successful in the election with Conservative Party members and that I could indeed be back in Downing Street on Friday however said he was pulling out as you cant govern effectively unless you have a united party in parliament. As we reported over the weekend Wrexhams MP Sarah Atherton backed Boris Johnson: Wrexhams MP Sarah Atherton says Im backing Boris tonight in the race to become the UKs next Prime Minister pic.twitter.com/ovtULseGia Wrexham.com (@wrexham) October 22, 2022 Clwyd Souths Simon Baynes backed Rishi Sunak: That means both local MPs have now declared how they stand with Clwyd Souths Simon Baynes MP backing Rishi Sunak https://t.co/73AqhiSz3v Wrexham.com (@wrexham) October 22, 2022 King Charles III is in London so is able to receive an outgoing Prime Minister and welcome a new one as soon as this afternoon or evening. No General Election takes place with a new Prime Minister, which if they do not call one, means one will take place in January 2025 at the very latest. National Steel Car (NSC) is the largest manufacturer of railway rolling stock in Canada, with annual revenues of hundreds of millions of dollars. Its manufacturing plant in Hamilton, Ontario is a death trap for the close to 1,500 workers who labour there. Over the past two years, three workers have died on the job due to accidents that were entirely preventable. The World Socialist Web Site recently spoke to a worker at the plant about the horrendous working conditions and how workers can fight back. The worker requested anonymity prior to giving the interview. We encourage National Steel Car workers wishing to share their experiences at the plant and discuss the way forward in the struggle against the brutal working conditions presided over by management and their partners in the United Steelworkers (USW) bureaucracy to write to NSCRFC@gmail.com. This past June, 51-year-old welder Quoc Le was killed in a horrific workplace accident, the third fatality at the facility in less than three years. NSC executives and owner Greg Aziz have served no jail time for these deaths or even been the subject of a criminal investigation, and the United Steelworkers has for decades failed to seriously challenge the deadly working conditions NSC workers are subject to. Workers protesting outside National Steel Car in Hamilton, Ontario on Thursday, June 9 [Photo: Hamilton and District Labour Council ] The worker, who was in the plant when Le died, told us what it was like to hear the news: I wasnt on that line, but I was in the lunchroom with some coworkers. One of them gets a call from two guys who are on Les linetheres been an accident, and someones dead. I shouted, The third one? Other guys took off running towards the accident because this has happened before. It was pouring rain that night. It was about 8:30 in the evening. We go running down the other side of the plant. By that time the cops and the ambulance are already there. I never actually saw it. So afterwards, they all came back. One coworker actually saw Quoc Le get crushed. They tried to lever the bulkhead off, but they couldnt do anything. He was dead anyway. According to the worker, Les death, like many that came before, was completely preventable. It was the by-product of relentless speedup, a negligent safety culture, and indifference on the part of the union bureaucracy. In this case, faulty crane equipment is the suspected immediate cause of the incident. The biggest problem that night was, as usual, they had a couple of call-ins, he continued. Le, I think, wasnt supposed to be on that job, but they moved him. They were behind at lunch, so theyre rushing to get things done. If they get no-shows, they just try to find a warm body. I know this because it has happened to me a lot. I dont want to blame the guy, but I dont think he should have ever been up there in the first place. He was not regularly on that job. Ive done that job. I know how to put on a bulkhead. The chains were rated for seven tons. The piece weighed two. They didnt lift up the entire car. They put just enough tension on the end so they could level it. Then the guy has gotta go up there, and they usually use the chain as a failsafe. So, he goes up there, he tack welds the bulkhead, then he comes back down. Somehow a component attached to the crane hook broke while he was up there. He never saw it coming. It fell over on him before he could even tack it properly. Something else funny is going on there because that shouldnt have happened. The worker described Quoc Le from accounts given by those who knew him. All the three guys who died, I knew of, but not personally, he said. Le was on the opposite shift. I recognized him but didnt know him personally. Apparently, he had a side business. He worked here before that. He fixed phones and stuff, but his business didnt do well, so he had to come back. But he would help people. Theyd come to him with issues with their phones and hed help them out. For a minimal fee, not as expensive as youd get somewhere else. He was a really nice guy. Two kids. NSC: An industrial slaughterhouse As a veteran employee of NSC, the worker told the WSWS that he, like many of his colleagues, has seen his share of tragedy and suffering at the plant. In September 2020, Fraser Cowan, a crane operator, was killed on the job. Just seven months later in April 2021, painter Collin Grayley died. The company was slapped with meager fines and pledging each time to make the workplace safer. So frequent are the fatalities that workers have dubbed the company National Coffin and National Death Car. I know how Fraser was killed, because one of the guys I know was there watching the whole thing happen, the worker explained. It was pretty gruesome. All industrial cranes should have a safety hook. Fraser went to move something, and by accident he lowered the crane with the remote. The crane went down, unhooked itself, because there was no latch on it, and this thing fell on him. Its 700 pounds and it fell on him and squished him. Only in the last five months have they put something in place for that, but its way too late to save Fraser. Apparently, they had orders from the Ministry of Labour to do something about the cranes before, and they never did. In Grayleys case, I cant talk about it other than rumours that Ive heard. He was on a Skyjack. It used to be a two-man job. He had some health issues, but he was there alone, passed out with his hand on the lever, and it just kept going up. If it had been a two-man job he probably would still be alive. Ironically, this was the last shift in April 2021 before we all got sent home again for three weeks because the COVID rates were so high. Grayleys was the last shift out. And he was killed at around 11:30 at night. The fatality rate at NSC is jaw-dropping, but these kinds of conditions prevail at thousands of workplaces across Canada. This includes the associated rail industry, where grueling work schedules and the gutting of rail and maintenance crews produce regular injuries and deaths. Here at NSC we work under a thinly disguised piecework system called incentives, explained the worker. So, they push quantity, quantity, quantity, at the cost of safety and quality. Maybe the workers build enough to make the piecework incentive, maybe they dont. But the company is counting on guys pushing themselves to the limit, doing things they wouldnt normally do. Theres someone who was promoted to president or vice president of production five years ago. And he introduced these things called super lines. So, you have a production line, but youll double up the production, with the same manpower. It got so bad guys were working through their lunch just to get the piecework. Not even going to the bathroom but peeing where they worked. Quality got so bad that they had to do a bunch of field repairs because the seams were cracking. Its because you cant work like that. You burn out fast. When it comes to how the company just skates by the lawwell, the company has the right to appeal every decision, so they hold it up for as long as they want. They just play the paperwork and legal game. They go, Thisll cost too much money right now, and they hold off for six months, until they finally get a government ultimatum. Workers at NSC are routinely exhausted, injured, and on the verge of breakdown. I worked on a line some time ago, the same one where Le was killed, the worker recalled. It was two ten-hour shifts. Intermodal cars. They wanted nine units, three full cars, per shift. The shift was 6 in the morning to 4, and 7:30 to 5:30. The machinery was going so hard it was breaking down all the time. We would go, eat our lunch, run back down. Guys going like robots, and if they got 15 minutes to themselves to eat, in a ten-hour period, that was it. And the absentee rate was terrible. It was the middle of summer with all the heat. It was awful. There are always trips, falls, sprained ankles, high absenteeism. You can just tell guys are glassy-eyed. Theyre burned out. Thats where the biggest mistakes happen, because they havent got their wits about them. A lot of near misses that could have been terrible but didnt happen because someone just got out of the way in time. Day rate is about $24 an hour to start. Thats what you make without the piecework. If you dont make the incentive, thats about $400 or $500 a week you lose. But the company could pay everyone the day rate plus piecework and still be extremely profitable. But its more profitable for them to push more cars out, and throw crumbs at the workers, than to actually pay people decent. Then theres the pensions. In 2012, during contract negotiations, it came out that the pension fund was wildly underfunded. It was an old-school defined-benefit plan. So basically, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario said to the owner, Greg Aziz, youre breaking the law. You can either finance this or get charged. Every hire since 2012 is not on the old defined-benefits plan that I and other senior workers are on, but a defined contributions plan, tied to the stock market. Basically, an RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) with high fees. Fast forward ten years. There are now more people on the new plan than the old plan. And Aziz is gonna go, Well why dont we just wind up the old plan. The rumour is that next year, when we go to negotiate the next contract, the old plan is going away, even for us old-timers. Theyre talking in the union behind closed doors about how theyll push this through. National Steel Cars owner is a financial swindler who was once charged with defrauding a retirement fund of millions of dollars. He stands in the mold of other carpetbaggers like American billionaire Warren Buffett. Its very hard to find out the companys profits, because its private, the worker explained. I do know that in 2020, with all the time offand we werent running at full capacitythey made half-a-billion in revenue. The line I was on was doing five cars a day. Lets say thats 100 thousand per car, a lowball number. Thats a million dollars a day revenue, five million a week. If we leave it up to the old union organizations, nothings gonna change The worker spoke about his anger over the USWs refusal to wage any struggle to defend workplace safety against NSCs rapacious profiteering. Miles Sullivan, the Director of USW District 6, made a big speech criticizing safety at the plant after Les death, explained the worker. He correctly said that NSC is putting profits ahead of workers. Thats true. I expect that of the company. What I dont expect is an organization that is reportedly here for the working class to do little to nothing about it. Somebody like Sullivan goes almost up to saying its the system of profit thats responsible but stops there and doesnt point that out. When Collin Grayley and Fraser Cowan died, the unions approach was basically, leave it up to the Ministry of Labour. Leave it up to the legal process. That wed have to wait this out until we get something. See where that got us? During the last negotiations, a lot of people wanted to reduce the time spent in the training or second tier. From 2,200 hours, just cut it in half. Well, the union didnt do that, they maintained that. And to rub salt into the wound, they extended the hours needed to become a union member by 80 hours. What kind of union signs a contract where you create a tier system without labeling it one, and makes it harder to join the union? I wouldve thought the idea for any local is you want more members, faster. But they didnt do that. Oh, but dont forget to pay your dues. If you look at the relationship between the union and the company, sure it looks adversarial now, because of the recent death. But in reality, both sides seem to have a similar agreement on wage increases and stuff like that. So, it seems to me that its almost like theyre not negotiating sessions, theyre sellout strategy sessions, and they go, How can we get enough just enough to keep guys quiet, and maintain company profitability, and well make sure everythings going good on the floor, and you guys just run your company and well do it that way? These are the conditions that have convinced the NSC worker of the necessity of establishing a rank-and-file committee in the plant, which will place power in the hands of workers on the shop floor. If youre on one side of a national border, the light bulb should be going off, he commented. You cant fight an international corporation on a national basis. Its not gonna work, because they just move. So, if you provide an organization and a forum for workers to deal with these things regardless of borders, that would be a more powerful way of organizing than just doing it the old way with, you know, my old Canadian union local that doesnt do much, and that US union local that doesnt do much. The unions are the worst at waving the flag and confusing workers and trying to blame people in Mexico or somewhere else. Blaming them for the problems and sellouts caused by the unions themselves! Not blaming the people who actually own the companies. Meanwhile, they push these sellout contracts to, you know, save jobs. Thats where these rank-and-file committees come in, because if we leave it up to the old organizations, nothings gonna change. I know people get despondent about whats going on, and whats happened, and how theyve been treated, but I dont think they understand their power collectively. And if they did, we could basically do something to change things. If we got a rank-and-file committee going at National Steel Car and got guys to realize its people just like them who are finally doing something and taking action over all the problems theyve had with the union and the company before, I think it would have a huge impact. On Saturday night, nurses at Ascension Saint Josephs Medical Center of Joliet held a rally in front of the hospital with more than 100 in attendance. They were protesting the dire staffing shortages at the hospital, as well as the escorting of three nurses off the premises the night before for raising concerns about the staffing in the emergency department. According to Pat Meade, treasurer for the St. Joseph Nurses Association, the three nurses have since been suspended by the health system. John Fitzgerald, a staff representative for the nurses at St. Joes hospital, explained at the gathering that the nurses on Friday night requested adequate coverage for the shift. The nurses were told that some managers would be available to cover part of the shift but would not stay the whole night. When the nurses said that wasnt adequate, security was called on them and they were marched out of the hospital. Fitzgerald added that the hospital has had several sentinel eventsevents that have led to patient deaths or permanent or temporary harmdue to unsafe staffing. My understanding is that there were at least two sentinel events in this hospital that derive from unsafe staffing in this past week. Many of them center on issues of medication error, which is an unfortunate reality across the country. Hospitals have sought to pin the blame on nurses, as in the case of former Vanderbilt nurse RaDonda Vaught. In attendance at the rally was Timothy Nelson, an Ascension spokesman, who offered a perfunctory PR statement claiming, [St. Joes was] committed to working in partnership with our nurses, while also respecting the terms of our labor contract. In doing so, we are conducting a thorough investigation of recent events. According to their agreement in July 2020, Amita, now Ascension Saint Joseph, would improve staffing guidelines on certain units and consult with the union on staffing issues by the end of 2020. Nurses were facing patient ratios of lower than one nurse to 12 patients. According to the Illinois Nurses Association, hospital guidelines required the unit be staffed with at least 10 nurses, but generally, safe staffing ratios in emergency rooms are much lower than other areas. On Friday night, only four were available to render care for more than 50 patients. One of the tenets in health care is the need to call for help when it is necessary for a patients safety. The ejection and suspension of the nurses not only violates this, but also appears to be a violation of the nurses contract and hospital safety protocols. Hannah Puhr, a day shift Emergency Room (ER) nurse spoke at length on behalf of the night shift nurses. They were scheduled to have four staff members when they should have had anywhere from 12 to 14 last night. There were 51 patients in the ER at that time. If you do the math, its incredible and dangerous. We were very concerned about it. This has been happening for months and years and enough is enough. We are sick of it. We care about our patients, and we dont want to be making do when our patients are suffering. Puhr then made an appeal to her colleagues and media representatives at the rally. We are asking for help. We are asking for staff. We are asking for resources so that we can care for this community and that we can have a functioning hospital, and we are ready to do it. We are ready to do the hard work. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse Katherine Soprych recalled that recently she had come to work and was told that the nurse-to-patient ratios would be one to four. Although they were able to negotiate to one to three, it is a dangerous situation when patients can suddenly become unstable and require close and vigilant monitoring. Standard practice has dictated no more than two patients for one critical care nurse. St. Joes nurses conducted a 16-day strike more than two years ago demanding improvement in staffing shortages, but these issues have still not been resolved after the strike was contained and isolated by union officials. At the time, the World Socialist Web Site called on the nurses to expand the strike, which took place in the initial months of the pandemic. At the time, we wrote, Rather than expanding the struggle for safe staffing levels by spreading the strike to other sections of the hospital and health care workers in Chicago and beyond, the union officials said the INA and other unions were appealing to the Illinois state legislature to pass House Bill 2604, the Safe Patient Limits Act pushed by state Democrats, which would supposedly hold hospitals in general accountable for staffing ratios. The objections raised by the three nurses on Friday is the spontaneous action by the rank-and-file to a dangerous and untenable situation. And the response by the health care system was predictable and an offense to the working class. The actions of the three nurses must be applauded and nurses everywhere must mobilize to demand their reinstatement. A fire at a refugee shelter in the town of Gross Stromkendorf near Wismar, Germany last Wednesday caused the near complete destruction of the former hotel. The fire broke out with 14 refugees in the building, including young children from Ukraine and three caregivers. It was only by chance that no one was injured. Refugees arriving at Berlin Central Station [Photo: WSWS] It took the 120 firefighters deployed several hours to extinguish the blaze. Initial estimates put the damage to the building in the high six-figure range. The roof collapsed entirely. Only the outer walls remain standing, according to a district spokesman. Although the course of events remains to be fully clarified, it is assumed the attack was arson based on radical right-wing motives. The State Security Service has taken over the investigation. Only two days prior to the fire, the shelter, operated by the German Red Cross, had been defaced with swastikas. The incident has prompted revulsion among the population. Images of the house in flames inevitably recall memories of the arson perpetrated against Turkish families in the cities of Molln and Solingen and the riots in Rostock-Lichtenhagen 30 years ago. That was where, in August 1992, a fascist mob attacked a housing complex for foreigners with over a hundred residents and, with the police looking on, unleashed a multi-day racist pogrom. Since then there have been repeated attacks of refugee housing facilities. Official figures from 2020 registered more than 1,600 attacks against refugees and asylum seekers shelters. As recently as August a refugee shelter in Leipzig was attacked; again, it was only luck that no one was injured. Suspected right-wing extremists had thrown incendiary devices at a refugee shelter housing 220 people. Earlier this month another attempted arson at a shelter for 147 Ukrainian refugees in Apolda, Thuringia was only barely prevented by firefighters. State and federal politicians rushed to condemn the incident in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The state's prime minister, Manuela Schwesig (Social Democrats, SPD), toured the scene on Thursday. She tweeted afterwards that there must be harsh consequences if the suspicion of arson is confirmed. Similar comments were sounded by her party colleague, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD). People who found shelter with us from Putins war had to be rescued from the flames. If arson is confirmed, this is an inhumane crime that will be prosecuted with all severity, she wrote on Twitter. We condemn this presumably racially motivated attack in the strongest possible terms, said regional Green Party co-chair Katharina Horn. The sheer hypocrisy is intolerable. The fact is that the attack is the direct result of anti-refugee agitation engaged in by all establishment parties accompanying their war policies abroad and attacks on the domestic population. The most recent examples are the statements made by Christian Democratic (CDU) party leader Friedrich Merz and by Faeser herself. At the end of September, Merz referred to Ukrainian refugees as social tourists on Bild TV. He complained of alleged commuting back and forth between Ukraine and Germany, collecting social security benefits. Merz went on to warn of a wave of refugees from Russia if the German government did what the federal minister of the interior has proposed, namely to provide access to the Federal Republic of Germany to practically all conscientious objectors to the mobilization in Russia. Merz engaged in tactical backpedaling when struck by a storm of indignation, but his refugee-baiting, in the style of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), is widespread among the ruling class. Unsurprisingly, Boris Palmer, the mayor of the city of Tubingen, who is known for his far-right outbursts, immediately backed Merz. Palmer was a longtime member of the Green Party, though he has suspended his membership. Parts of the opposition CDU and its Bavarian sister party CSU also explicitly support Merzs statements. In a letter to Merz, the so-called Values Union demands an immediate entry stop for all unauthorized persons. They call for the Bundeswehr (German military) to help seal the borders. The signatories speak of hundreds, if not thousands of people entering the country every day. Merz should not have backpedaled on his criticism, say the Values Union politicians. Refugees arriving at Berlin Central Station [Photo: WSWS] Faeser, who as recently as last month had called Merzs statements shabby and scoring political points at the expense of Ukrainian women and children who fled Putins bombs and tanks, played the refugee policy firebrand herself in the days before and after the attack. She said she had concerns due to rising numbers of refugees and called for a tougher approach. Last week, at a conference with representatives of the Western Balkan states, Faeser called for a stronger curb on illegal migration via the so-called Balkan route. Serbia must change its visa practices, now and not someday, she demanded. At the same time, she announced a bundle of measures to be taken. Border controls with Austria and the Czech Republic, for example, are to be continued. After very serious talks, the two border countries promised to step up border controls at their national boundaries. The SPD-led state government in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has been responsible for implementing a particularly rigid deportation policy since 2015. Schwesig is seen as an outspoken proponent of faster asylum proceedings and deportations. Even in 2020, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, 521 deportations were ordered. In 199 cases, a voluntary departure was organized. Until the end of last year, Schwesig led an SPD-CDU coalition, and though the coalition partner changed to the Left Party after the last state elections, the politics have remained the same. Deportations continue unabated; there, as in other German states, the Left Party fully supports the right-wing and inhumane refugee and immigration policies of the other parties. Berlin, where the Left Party governs with the SPD and the Greens, is notorious for its nighttime raids in which refugees are deported as quietly as possible. In the state of Thuringia, where the Left Party heads the government, almost 100 people, including 37 children, were deported in the second half of 2021 alone. Millions of ballots have already been cast in the United States in mid-term elections that culminate on November 8, this years Election Day. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are at issue, along with 34 seats, one-third of the US Senate, and 36 state governorships. Heavy voting has been reported in those states that provide for early voting at the polls, and a heavy volume of mail-in voting as well. Voters turn in their ballots on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, in Minneapolis. With Election Day still more than six weeks off, the first votes of the midterm election were already being cast Friday in a smattering of states including Minnesota. [AP Photo/Nicole Neri] In Georgia, with contests for both US Senate and the states governor, election officials reported a record-breaking week of early voting, with 729,029 ballots cast over five days, compared to 488,1777 in 2018, the previous mid-term election. In Michigan, with contests for governor, attorney general and secretary of state, election officials said they responded to nearly 1.8 million requests for absentee ballots and more than 641,000 ballots have already been returned, compared to only 346,000 mail votes in the entire 2018 election. A New York Times account cited huge increases in both early voter turnout (up 70 percent in Georgia and 50 percent in Florida) and requests for absentee ballots (up 114 percent in North Carolina). It cited one estimate that 5.5 million people had cast ballots through October 21, of whom 51 percent were Democrats, 30 percent Republicans and 19 percent independents. This margin, as in 2020, reverses the traditional Republican lead in absentee balloting, when it was previously restricted to the elderly. Mail voting was made widely available 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, and was disproportionately used by Democrats since Republican candidates and the Trump administration downplayed the pandemic and disparaged legitimate fears of voting in person. The surge in mail ballots means that in many states, as in 2020, the outcome of numerous contests will not be known immediately because of delays in vote-counting. This is particularly the case in states where the election machinery is controlled by the Republicans, who have blocked efforts to count mail-in ballots before Election Day in order to create the impressionas Trump sought to do in 2020that they have a wide lead in the vote. As in 2020, but with greater preparation, many Republican candidates are expected to declare victory as soon as initial vote totals are tabulated, and then raise cries of vote-rigging and stolen election when the later counting of mail ballots begins to cut into their leads. One of the most flagrant election denialists, Kari Lake, the Republican candidate for governor of Arizona, summarized this method in an interview during the week on CNN. We want to know that our legal vote counted, she said. We want to know the winner on election night. We dont want to be counting for 10 days. In the context of the procedures adopted in many states, knowing the winner on election night would amount to declaring the Republican candidate a winner based only on the in-person vote totals and discarding all uncounted mail-in ballots. This is not an individual tactic, but a method spearheaded by the fascist wing of the Republican Party headed by Donald Trump. According to a report published this weekend in Rolling Stone, In recent months, Trump has convened a series of in-person meetings and conference calls to discuss laying the groundwork to challenge the 2022 midterm election results In these conversations, pro-Trump groups, attorneys, Republican Party activists, and MAGA diehards often discuss the type of scorched-earth legal tactics they could deploy. The magazines report says Trump has focused particularly on the city of Philadelphiawhere the population is largely African American and Jewishthe traditional bastion of the Democratic Party in statewide contests. Trump was said to blame the city for his defeat in Pennsylvania in 2020, although his numbers there were no different than in 2016. He actually lost the state because of a shift in the heavily populated suburban areas outside the city. Given the number of closely contested races for the Senate, the House and state governorships, the prospect for the post-election period is one of mounting political crisis, involving not only control of the House and Senate, where the Democrats now have tiny margins, but also control of major states such as Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Arizona. Any of these contests could well erupt into politically motivated violence, since the Republican Party is now dominated by election denialists who claim the 2020 election was stolen, and the Democratic Party has done little or nothing to alert the American people about the grave danger of such attacks. The congressional investigation into the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol has not led to the prosecution, let alone imprisonment, of Trump or any of his top aides who organized and inspired the fascist-led assault in an effort to keep Trump in the White House. Ample evidence has been collected and presented by the committee, but it brought itself to seeking Trumps own testimony only last week, sending him a notice to respond after the November 8 election, when many members of the committee may have been voted out of office and the committee itself may be a lame duck, with an incoming Republican majority determined to abolish it. There are few sights as pathetic as Biden & Co. pleading for bipartisan agreement with their Republican friends and colleagues while the majority of Republican candidates for top offices in the electionthe House of Representatives, US Senate, state governors, attorneys general and secretaries of statedeny that Biden was legitimately elected president. Even before they contest the outcome of the election, Republican state governments are seeking to disrupt and suppress voter turnout in urban areas they presume will vote Democratic. In Houston, Texas on Thursday, local officials sought election monitors from the federal Department of Justice in response to the announcement by the state government, headed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott, that it would send election inspectors to the Houston area. A letter from the secretary of states office said the inspectors would oversee ballot counting and tabulating at county and city offices, not precinct-level voting: These inspectors will perform randomized checks on election records, including tapes and chain of custody, and will observe the handling and counting of ballots and electronic media. The inspectors will be accompanied by a task force from the state attorney generals office. This is particularly inflammatory, since Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was the organizer of a series of legal challenges to Bidens 2020 election victory, at one point even claiming the right of the Texas state government to dictate election practices in other states. Beyond such interference with the administration of vote-counting, there have already been threats of violence against voters casting mail ballots. In Arizona, armed and masked individuals dressed in tactical gear, fully disguised, were seen by a local television reporter near a mail ballot drop box in Mesa, Arizona. In the same town, one voter told the Washington Post he had encountered people filming people using a drop box and photographing license plates. They had accused him and his wife of being a mule, i.e., transporting a mail ballot to drop off for someone else. Other forms of harassment and threats of violence have been directed against election officials. In Nevada, of the states 17 county election supervisors, 10 have quit or announced they are leaving office. Eight of 12 people in the states election staff have left. The registrar of voters in Washoe County (Reno), the states second-largest, quit after threats of violence. An election worker walks through voting booths to help as people vote at a polling place June 14, 2022, in Las Vegas. [AP Photo/John Locher, File] Several states have sought to legitimize claims of vote fraud and intimidate voters by prosecuting individuals who mistakenly cast ballots in 2020 when they were not eligible to vote under reactionary and anti-democratic state laws, particularly when the voters were former felons. Two such cases were dismissed last week in Texas and Florida on procedural grounds because Republican officials had acted outside their jurisdiction. Two weeks after audio recordings were released exposing racist comments by Los Angeles, California City Council members Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon, both politicians have rejected calls from outraged community members to resign from their positions. Since audio of the October, 2021 backroom meeting held at the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor offices was made public, protesters have demonstrated outside City Hall and the home of de Leon, the former president pro tempore of the Californian State Senate and a 2016 speaker at the Democratic National Convention, demanding his and Cedillos resignations. A tent encampment set up by protesters demanding a resignation from Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de Leon is seen near his home in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022. 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 didn't object or joined in the offensive banter. [AP Photo/Jae C. Hong] Last Tuesday, police in riot gear manhandled and assaulted protesters gathered outside City Hall. In a blatantly undemocratic action, the police prevented the public from entering the Council chamber as members held a virtual meeting. The police cited the danger of COVID-19 exposure as a pretext to block entry. With the November mid-term elections just over two weeks away, the exposure of the reactionary logic of the racial and identity politics promoted by the Democrats, compounded by the refusal of Cedillo and de Leon to resign, has exacerbated an already severe crisis within the Democratic Party in Los Angeles, the countrys second most populous city, and California, the most populous state. In an attempt at damage control, President Joe Biden has personally intervened and called on all the Council members involved in the leaked discussion to resign. Other leading Democrats, including the current mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Karen Bass, who is running to replace Garcetti as mayor, have also called on de Leon and Cedillo to resign. Former Council President Nury Martinez and L.A. County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera resigned shortly after the contents of the hour-long meeting were exposed. The conversation, filled with racist remarks, revealed the crass and money-driven social character of the Democratic Los Angeles City Council and the highest levels of the trade union bureaucracy. The discussion concerned redistricting, the process by which the politicians representing the citys elite divide the population into racial enclaves and distribute the spoils of government power. On the tape, Martinez insulted nearly every ethnicity in Los Angeles and even fellow Council member Mike Bonin, who is gay and has an African-American son. At one point Martinez called Bonin a little bitch who was raising his son like a white person. The City Council president offered to beat the two-year-old African-American child, whom she called, in Spanish, a little monkey. De Leon joined with Martinez in insulting Bonins son. After Martinez said Bonin was using his son as a fashion accessory, de Leon compared it to when Nury brings her Goyard bag or the Louis Vuitton bag. De Leon continued to attack Bonin, who is white, calling him the fourth black member of the council and complaining that he wont f*cking ever say peep about Latinos. He continued, Hell never say a f*cking word about us. None of Martinez or de Leons comments drew a rebuke from others in the meeting. Since last Tuesdays City Council meeting, de Leon has embarked on a media tour, giving multiple interviews insisting that he will not resign his well-paid position, supposedly in the interests of his constituents. If I were to step down, then [my constituents] would have no voice in City Hall, de Leon, who drew a government salary in excess of $217,000 in 2021, claimed in a Friday interview with ABC7 Los Angeles. In another interview Sunday with NBC4 Los Angeles, de Leon said the only way he would step down is if he were forced out in a recall election. De Leons seat, which he assumed in October 2020, will not be up for re-election until 2024. Cedillo, who is also refusing to step down, lost his primary earlier this summer and will be leaving the Council in December. Deadline reported this month that Council members make over $228,000 in annual salaryor more than $8,700 every two weeks. It added, De Leon and Cedillo are continuing to collect paychecks as long as they stay in office. The Los Angeles Times reported last week that spokespersons for the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor have demanded that the Los Angeles Police Department open an investigation into the unknown person, or persons, who leaked the audio and prosecute them. Federation of Labor spokesperson Justin Wesson previously told the Times that the recordings were illegal. Exemplifying the thuggish character of the trade union apparatus, the Federation claimed it had been responsible for getting the Reddit user who initially posted the audio file of the meeting suspended from the social media platform. Wesson, who has not responded to recent interview requests from the Los Angeles Times, is the husband of Alexis Wesson, chief of staff for former council president Martinez. The crisis within the City Council and the Democratic Party as a whole is finding expression in the mayoral race. Rick Caruso, Republican-turned-Democrat and billionaire real estate magnate, has used Basss connections to several of the people on the call and her decades in the Democratic Party to cast himself as the outsider willing to take on the racist establishment. Caruso has been endorsed by Elon Musk and Kim Kardashian and praised for his plans to hire thousands of police to attack homeless people. According to recent polls, in the wake of the scandal, and with the benefit of a multi-million-dollar ad campaign, Caruso has managed to close the gap with Bass. In recent interviews, Bass has been at pains to denounce her fellow Democrats. Speaking to student journalists at Boyle Heights Beat, Bass admitted, Ive known Kevin for almost 20 years, Ive known Gil for 40 years. Nury and Ron [Herrera] are relatively new to me. So it hurts when you hear people you know Ron and Nury were involved in my campaign. Bass added that she met Gil... when we were barely out of our teens, adding, We have long histories together. Asked what she thought of the fact that de Leon has yet to resign, she said it broke her heart, and that Kevin and I served in the State Assembly together. Bass made no attempt to explain why or how her long-time colleagues were so saturated with racism and elitism. That is because she herself is a part of the same social layer, consumed with racial politics as a means of advancing selfish self-interest and dividing the working class. Last week, New York City opened up a massive new encampment for refugees and other migrants arriving by the busload from Texas and other southern border states. The barracks-like facility on a desolate island in the East River continues the inhumane treatment of migrants crossing the southern border of the US. The city has tallied more than 20,000 migrants arriving in recent months, many of whom made a desperate trek from Venezuela in an attempt to escape crippling poverty, exacerbated by years of US sanctions that have bankrupted the country. Approximately three-quarters of the migrants processed in New York remain in the shelter system, trapped in immigration limbo and unable to work despite having entered legally while seeking asylum. The bulk of the refugees were placed on buses by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The fascistic maneuver by the Republican governor is aimed at stoking up anti-immigrant hysteria as part of the Republican Partys midterm election campaign. The arrival of the migrants in a city of nine million and a regional economy the size of South Koreas has triggered a political crisis for the Democratic Party administration of Mayor Eric Adams. Since the first buses arrived, the citys shelter system has been unable to fulfill its legal responsibility to provide safe and decent housing. Migrants who lined up at the overwhelmed Mens Intake Center in midtown Manhattan were left to sleep on the street or on the floor of offices. 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 on Randalls Island, Oct. 18, 2022, in New York. [AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews] Any illusions that the political establishment in the Democratic Party stronghold of New York City would treat immigrants humanely crumbled with Adamss initial choice of Orchard Beach as the location for his tent city. The isolated, windswept location in the Bronx, surrounded by 2,700 acres of park land, was abandoned after the site flooded during a minor rainstorm. The new location, on Randalls Island, is, if anything, even more isolated and foreboding. Up to 1,000 migrants will be housed in a facility built in a track and field stadium parking lot. There are no permanent residences on the island, which hosts a sewage treatment plant, a psychiatric hospital, training facilities for the New York Police Department and a few buildings sheltering homeless residents. Last Wednesday, the Adams administration led reporters on a tour of the newly constructed camp, attempting to spin the facility as a welcoming intake center to process migrants on the way to more permanent housing. The camp has two sleeping areas filled with dozens of rows of cots lined up head to toe. Initially, it will sleep up to 500 single men, with the possibility of doubling the number housed under the tarp roofs. In addition, the site contains a recreation area, a cafeteria and trailers with bathrooms and showers. Mayor Adams presented the camp as a temporary stop with the goal of limiting stays to four days. However, when questioned during the press tour, an official with New York Health and Hospitals Corporation, which jointly runs the site along with the citys Emergency Management Office, admitted that there is no limit on how long people will stay. The severe shortage of affordable housing in New York, combined with a shelter system that cannot cope with demand, renders this goal almost meaningless. The grossly inadequate character of the tent city on Randalls Island is demonstrated by Mayor Adams need to sidestep New Yorks constitutional requirements to guarantee shelter for all that meets basic standards. To evade this requirement, Adams declared a state of emergency on October 7. With cold weather approaching and the coronavirus pandemic poised to surge, the city is herding refugees like animals into tents, separated from much of the outside world. To oversee and assist in the operation, Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul has deployed 147 members of the New York National Guard. Members of the New York National Guard stand outside the Randalls Island Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, New York City's latest temporary shelter for an influx of international migrants being bused into the city by southern border states. [AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson] The human toll of the brutal treatment of refugees is exemplified by the case of a young asylum seeker from Colombia who committed suicide last month. The woman, a mother of two, killed herself in a shelter in Queens after being trapped for more than three months in New Yorks broken system. Following the tragedy, Gothamist interviewed several residents of the shelter who explained that they were left to fend for themselves, with no support from social services. They were prevented from even speaking to fellow shelter residents. We just got here, and the idea is to make connections, not to be locked inside and have to cross the street to have a conversation, one resident said. It drives you to solitude; you cant connect with anyone. They described feeling like prisoners. The horrific plight of refugees in New York City exposes the bipartisan character of the anti-immigrant policies being carried out nationwide. The Republican Party continues to spearhead the assault on immigrants, attempting to scapegoat migrant workers for the economic calamity facing broad masses throughout the US. In a speech in Texas Saturday night, Donald Trump praised Governor Abbott for shuttling thousands of refugees to New York City. Trumps rant, which featured his customary call for the death penalty for drug smugglers, sought to blame immigrants for drug-related deaths. Trump and Abbott are far from outliers in the Republican Party, which peddles the racist and anti-Semitic Replacement Theory and conjures up imaginary voting fraud by undocumented immigrants. Nor is Abbott alone in shipping migrant workers and asylum seekers to Democratic-run cities in the North in order to whip up the most backward and fascistic sentiments among the Republican base. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has boasted of sending more than 1,500 migrants to Washington D.C. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ordered two state-chartered planes to pick up migrant asylum seekers from Texas and fly them to Marthas Vineyard in Massachusetts. Yet despite a difference in rhetoric, the policies of the Democratic Party converge with those of the Republicans. President Biden has continued Trumps use of emergency health provisions under Title 42 to deny asylum seekers the right of entry to the US, despite having declared that the pandemic is over. On October 12, Biden began implementing a deal with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to summarily deport Venezuelan refugees to Mexico, in contravention of asylum rights enshrined under international law. Recently released statistics reveal that Bidens border policies have led to 856 deaths on the southern border during fiscal year 2022, which ended on September 30. The horrific toll is the deadliest ever recorded. The number of arrests on the southwestern border also reached record levels in 2022, with 2.4 million migrants detained. That figure is more than twice the number in 2019, the last full year of the Trump administration. Mayor-elect Eric Adams (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Mayor Adams, a former New York City cop who ran for election as a law-and-order candidate, cheered on Bidens closure of the border to asylum seekers, saying on Thursday, The president responded. They did a decompression strategy. His spokesperson similarly lauded Biden for stemming the flow of immigrants to New York. Adams previously referred to migrants arriving in New York as an assault on our city that undermined the economy. The Democratic Partys adaptation to the fascistic scapegoating of immigrants by the Republicans illustrates that the defense of the rights of immigrants and refugees is impossible through the two parties of big business. Both parties uphold the interests of US imperialism, which has carried out a policy of social and economic devastation in Latin America, the Middle East and beyond. Both seek to divide the working class on the basis of immigration status, national origin, race and other factors. The refugees arriving in New York have undertaken a perilous journey of thousands of miles through jungles and deserts and over mountains, all in an effort to find work and provide a better life for their families. Their struggle to overcome repression and poverty aligns with the strivings of workers in the US, who confront similar attacks on their living standards and democratic rights at the hands of the same corporate-financial class enemy. The defense of immigrants is not simply a question of compassion, but fundamentally a class issue. The brutality and violence inflicted on immigrants will increasingly be deployed against all sections of the working class, native-born included, as workers come into more open conflict over jobs, living standards and democratic rights. Workers everywhere must have the right to live and work in the country of their choice. It is the task of the working class internationally to take up a struggle to make this a reality. For more information on the campaign of Will Lehman for UAW president, visit WillForUAWPresident.org. For months after the start of the United Auto Workers (UAW) election campaign, Jacobin magazine, associated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), maintained a complete silence. The magazine did not publish a single article on what is the most significant election in the UAWs history, not only because it is the first direct election of the UAW leadership, but, more importantly, because a rank-and-file socialist, Will Lehman, is running for president. On October 10, under the headline After Decades of Corrupt, Antidemocratic Rule, UAW Members Are Finally Electing Their Leaders Jacobin finally broke its silence, reposting an article from Labor Notes, written by Barry Eidlin and Jane Slaughter. The most significant fact about the article, however, is that, while promoting the candidacy of long-time UAW bureaucrat Shawn Fain, it does not even mention Lehmans campaign. This is not confusion on the part of Jacobin and Labor Notes. The lineup is very clear. It is a lineup of the UAW apparatus, which is an organization of the ruling class to police the working class, on the one hand, and Will Lehmans campaign, which is the conscious articulation of a movement of the rank and file against the whole bureaucratic setup, on the other. Jacobin and Labor Notes stand firmly on the side of the apparatus. While the article details the record of concessions contracts imposed by the UAW, it presents this series of betrayals as simply the product of some bad leaders, and everything will be resolved if some other officials take their place. At the heart of the [corruption] scandal, they write, and the embrace of concessions and labor-management partnership that led to it, lies one entity: the Administration Caucus (AC). Jacobin and Labor Notes speak for a section of the apparatus that is looking to advance its own position within the bureaucracy and sees in the corruption scandal an opportunity to elevate their positions (and therefore their salaries). Thus, they complain that membership [in the Administration Caucus] is a requirement for advancing up the unions hierarchy, from local official to international rep to assistant regional director to regional director. This is why they are backing Fain, a longtime member of the Administration Caucus who has spent the past 10 years as a top staffer at the unions national Solidarity House headquarters in Detroit. The UAW apparatus (and the ruling class) intended for the election to remain confined to the candidates that they hand-picked. The campaign of Will Lehman upended these calculations, providing a mechanism for rank-and-file workers to express their interest in opposition to the entire UAW bureaucracy. The campaign is winning growing support among workers, who have begun forming rank-and-file election committees to promote it as widely as possible. The response of the apparatus, therefore, is to try to suppress the vote and prevent workers from knowing who is running. The corporate media has done its part by simply acting as if no election is taking place. The major newspapers, including the New York Times, are simply not reporting it. The pseudo-left publications like Jacobin and Labor Notes have toed the line, writing virtually nothing about the election, even though they are backing a candidate in it. Significantly, the Labor Notes report published in Jacobin does not even mention the presidential debate sponsored by the Monitor featuring Fain, Lehman, incumbent UAW President Ray Curry and the other two candidates, Local 163 Shop Chairman Gibby Gibson and Stellantis autoworker Brian Keller. During the debate, Fain opposed the call by Lehman to abolish the UAW apparatus, lining up instead with the other candidates who pledged to work with the corrupt UAW bureaucracy if elected. In an unintentional self-exposure, after detailing the efforts by the UAW bureaucracy to ram through sellout contracts over rank-and-file opposition, Labor Notes writes, It is remarkable that industrial workers continue to resist, such as with the 2015 contract rejection at Chrysler and the recent defiance of the International at Volvo Trucks and John Deere. What Labor Notes does not mention is that at Volvo and John Deere in particular, the campaign against the imposition of sellout contracts by the UAW was spearheaded by rank-and-file committees in a direct rebellion against the UAW bureaucracy. During the entire course of the Volvo strike, Jacobin and Labor Notes remained virtually silent, in effect lining up with the efforts of the UAW to stamp out this incipient rebellion. Labor Notes was founded in the 1970s by a constellation of ex-leftists, including one of the authors of the article endorsing Fain, Jane Slaughter. From its inception, it has promoted the concept that a progressive section of the bureaucracy can be discovered and then pressured to enact reforms. Again and again, the supposed reformers became leaders of the apparatus, imposing concessions and suppressing opposition just as ferociously as those they replaced. As a model for its campaign in the UAW, Slaughter and Eidlin cite the campaigns backed by Labor Notes in the Teamsters union, writing, [Teamsters for a Democratic Union] first got a candidate elected to the Teamster presidency fifteen years after it was founded, suffered a setback, and organized for sixteen more years before members again threw the dinosaurs out. They do not give the names of the Teamsters presidents they backed: Ron Carey and Sean OBrien. Carey, a longtime bureaucrat prior to his election as president in 1991, oversaw a series of concessions contracts, including at UPS, before having his re-election in 1996 invalidated as a result of a massive corruption scandal. OBrien, hailed by Labor Notes as a great reformer, had been a long-time supporter of the union apparatus led by Teamster President James P. Hoffa and had once even been suspended for thuggish threats made against supporters of TDU. OBrien is currently overseeing efforts by the Teamsters union to ram through agreements covering rail workers in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), which is part of the Teamsters. At the recent convention of the BLET, OBrien denounced rank-and-file workers for complaining about the betrayals of the union to outsiders. Jacobin, Labor Notes, and the DSA speak for sections of the upper-middle class that are deeply hostile to a genuine movement of the rank-and-file. Thus, while they write about the need for class struggle unionism and a rank-and-file strategy, when there is actually a rank-and-file movement developing in opposition to the apparatus, they ignore and oppose it. And while these pseudo-left groups routinely denounce the WSWS as sectarian for refusing to support factions of the trade union apparatus and the Democratic Party, what they really fear is the growth of a movement in the working class that would threaten the considerable investment accounts of the upper-middle class. For these services, members of pseudo-left organizations have obtained lucrative positions within the trade union apparatus. Among these is Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants CWA and a member of the DSA, who pulls in $172,979 annual salary from her post. Again, the choice is starkly posed; on the one side, the UAW apparatus and its various defenders, and on the other side, the interests of the working class, articulated in the campaign of Will Lehman. Over 100 workers and supporters attended an online meeting held Sunday by the campaign of Mack Trucks worker Will Lehman for president of the United Auto Workers (UAW). The meeting was held to rally autoworkers against the wave of plant closures and layoffs being carried out by the auto corporations with the assistance of the UAW bureaucracy. Mack Trucks worker and candidate for UAW president Will Lehman [Photo: WSWS] In his opening remarks, Lehman stated: Were holding this meeting today because our jobs and livelihoods are under attack. The corporations are once again attempting to restructure the global auto industry at the expense of workers. He continued, We cannot allow our jobs to be destroyed for corporate profit. Im running for UAW president in order to organize the mass movement of workers to stop the corporate attacks and secure our interests. Thats why Im calling for workers to form rank-and-file factory committees, so that we can transfer power to the shop floor and abolish the UAW apparatus that blocks us from fighting. Stellantis recently announced that it was eliminating the third shift at the Chrysler Warren Truck Assembly plant in Detroit, Michigan. The Stellantis Belvidere Jeep plant in Illinois has seen thousands of layoffs and the elimination of two shifts since 2019. The Ford Romeo Engine Plant north of Detroit, which employs over 1,000 workers, is scheduled to close next year, a result of the sellout agreement negotiated by the UAW in 2019. Other plants, such as Ford Chicago Assembly and Belvidere, are threatened with layoffs and even closures. This assault on jobs is an international phenomenon, with Ford having shut down plants and laid off workers in Saarlouis, Germany and Chennai, India earlier this year. Stellantis has also announced that it will cut the second shift at the Windsor, Ontario plant in Canada in June 2023. In reference to this, Lehman stated that the corporations claim that there is no money for decent wages and full benefits for all workers, but what they really mean is that they dont want to give up any of their profits. Ford, GM and Stellantis alone have taken in over $65 billion in profits since the start of 2020. He continued, The needs of workers must come first, not corporate profit. The corporations do not have a right to close plants and destroy our livelihoods. The corrupt UAW bureaucracy has allowed things to get to this point. Every time the companies threaten to close plants, the UAW officials tell us theres nothing we can do but accept concessions. Therefore, my campaign calls for the full mobilization of all rank-and-file workers in the UAW, including preparations for a national strike, in order to halt any further layoffs or concessions. Lehmans call for workers to form rank-and-file committees to fight back against their exploiters encountered a powerful response from those attending. One worker who is employed at a non-unionized plant in Flint, Michigan, stated that the plant management was neglecting even the most basic sanitary needs of the workers, forcing them to bring their own personal toilet paper, for instance. Another worker from the Ford Chicago Assembly Plant brought up the issue of worker safety. She recalled an incident in which a worker died after having a seizure and striking his head. The first aid team that arrived 20 minutes later was not properly trained to use a defibrillator: When this co-worker passed away on the line, people were told to get working! She recalled numerous instances in which the forklift she was driving lost power in the middle of a crowded factory, a serious potential hazard. She continued, My son comes to me and tells me that he has anxiety when I go to work he said because I never know if youre coming home. Another worker at the same plant who is diabetic spoke about the lack of COVID-19 precautions. Many of the workers asked about how they could form rank-and-file committees, even if they work in other industries that are non-unionized. In response to a logger from the Northeast, Lehman stated, It doesnt matter what industry youre in. If you recognize that the points were advancing in this campaign are accurate and are the way forward for society in general, we definitely want you involved. Email in. Let us know your story. In reference to a comment from a worker at the CNH plant in Burlington, Iowa, World Socialist Web Site Labor Editor Jerry White, who was moderating the discussion, stated: The CNH workers are not fighting this battle alone. The workers at Warren Truck, at Chicago Assembly, at John Deere, those who are outside of the auto industry and outside of the United StatesThis is a struggle of the international working class. A strong vote will send a powerful signal that a fight is possible. Lehman ended the meeting with a call for the workers attending to support his campaign by donating, speaking to their co-workers about his platform and finally, voting for him. Workers will have until November 18 to mail in their ballots. If you are a UAW member and have not received your ballot, contact Wills campaign. For more information and to get involved, visit WillforUAWPresident.org. In one week, a second round of Brazils presidential elections will take place between current fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro and former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of the Workers Party (PT). Lining up with the most traditional representatives of the Brazilian bourgeoisie, the parties of the pseudo-left have expressed their support for the PT candidate. From the Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL) to the Stalinists of the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) and Popular Unity (UP), and the Morenoites of the Unified Socialist Workers Party (PSTU), all are calling for a vote for Lula on October 30. Lula campaigning in Rio de Janeiro [Photo: Marcio Menasce] Amid the explosion of the world capitalist crisis, growing social inequality and the deepest political crisis in Brazil in four decades, the pseudo-lefts support for the PT is a vote for the ruling class to intensify levels of exploitation and break the ability of the working class to resist. The last four years of Bolsonaros administration have revealed that a dictatorial project has a fertile base of support in the bourgeoisie, the upper echelons of the state, and especially among the armed forces and the police. Aided by these reactionary forces, Bolsonaro has attempted to cultivate a fascist movement politically associated with the military and the legacy of the brutal 1964-85 US-backed dictatorship in Brazil. He has made systematic advances against democratic forms of rule, including by preparing an electoral coup should he be defeated at the polls next Sunday. The PT and Lula are incapable of even minimally confronting the mortal threats posed to the Brazilian working class. On the contrary, they represent and defend the same economic, social, and political system that produces mass misery and the destruction of democratic rights: capitalism. Lulas candidacy has as its main thrust the defense of the interests of the financial elite and big business under an explosive global scenario of economic recession and the drive to world war. The PT and its capitalist backers argue that Bolsonaro is responsible for institutional instability that is harmful to the business environment and repels international investors. The incompatibility of these capitalist goals with the most basic interests of the working class prevents the PT from making any meaningful social appeal. Challenging Bolsonaro for support within the right-wing camp, Lula is competing with Bolsonaro over who best embodies the ideals of religion, the fatherland, and its military. At the same time, through the trade union federations, the PT is cultivating instruments to defend capital and repress workers struggles in the workplaces. In recent years, the unions have overseen the implementation of massive attacks on the working class in Brazil: job and wage cuts, plant closures, destruction of labor rights, and, most recently, the homicidal COVID-19 policies in the workplaces. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), in the last decade more than a million industrial jobs were slashed and the average industrial workers salary was reduced from 3.5 to 3 minimum wages. As the CUT and Forca Sindical union federations explain in the Industry Plan 10 that they presented as a program proposal for Lulas potential government, their goal is not to promote struggles to achieve gains for the working class at the expense of the capitalist profits. On the contrary, they propose the creation of multipartite bodiescomprised of the companies, unions and the statethat will regulate labor powers value in favor of the competitiveness of national capitalism. These anti-worker organizations, unions in name only, update the tradition of corporatism, inaugurated in Brazil by Getulio Vargas Estado Novo, that fostered a state-controlled unionism inspired by the police state model of the fascist trade unions. The PT and the corporatist unions are not, in any real sense, workers organizations. Without a definitive break with them and their national-bourgeois political perspective, the Brazilian working class is unable to confront the increasing attacks on its living conditions and democratic rights. The sabotage of this necessary political advance is the fundamental role played by the pseudo-left organizations. Faced with the global resurgence of class struggle, they desperately seek to sever the ties of Brazilian workers to the international working class and redirect them to the union bureaucracy and the bourgeois state. The return of PSOL to PTs coalition In order to fully support a return of Lula to state power, the PSOL refused to launch its own presidential candidate for the first time in its history. Founded in 2004 by parliamentarians expelled from the PT for voting against an assault on pensions by Lulas first administration, the party presented itself over the last two decades as the official left opposition to the PT. The distinctive political trait of the PSOL was its explicit denial of the relevance of the working class in modern society and the promotion of middle-class identity politics in vogue in the universities. As a result, the party has forged itself as a central instrument for the current right-wing shift of the ruling class. Adapting itself to the fascist moods resurging in bourgeois politics, in the 2020 elections the PSOL launched dozens of candidates from police and military backgrounds and allied itself locally with far-right parties such as the Christian Social Party (PSC). Guilherme Boulos, who ran in 2018 as the PSOLs presidential candidate, used his platform, this time running in the second round for mayor of Sao Paulo, to call for an anti-Bolsonaro front that would attract sectors of the old Brazilian right. In 2021, the PSOL acted alongside the PT to disorient mass demonstrations that exploded in opposition to the Bolsonaro governments homicidal COVID-19 policies. They sought to transform the protests into mere instruments for the consolidation of their alliance with the right. PSOL president Juliano Medeiros attacked as sectarian voices anyone outraged at being forced to march alongside right-wing parties like the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB). These criminal political services earned Medeiros and Boulos a prominent position in organizing Lulas campaign and negotiating with the right-wing politicians and capitalist associations that gave him support. The rapid lurch by the PSOL to the right exposes, above all, the various Pabloite tendencieslongtime renegades from Trotskyismthat claimed that the PSOL would be a vehicle for building socialist politics in Brazil. Among such tendencies are different supporters of the Pabloite Unified Secretariat; the Morenoites of the International Workers Unity (IWU-FI), the International Socialist League (ISL) and the Trotskyist Fraction (FT-CI); and the state capitalists of the International Socialist Alternative (ISA) and the International Marxist Tendency (IMT). Some of these tendencies concluded that the PSOLs blunt support for Lula since the first round undermined its false image of political independence with which they seek to sell themselves to youth and workers seeking an alternative to capitalism. In response, they declared support and launched their candidates through the PSTU-led electoral front, named Revolutionary Socialist Pole. The Revolutionary Socialist Pole: a new fraudulent alternative of the pseudo-left On its website Esquerda Diario, the Revolutionary Workers Movement (MRT) promoted the Revolutionary Socialist Pole as a political front that stands for class independence. They claimed that it would fulfill a central role for the necessary process of reorganization of the Brazilian left in the face of the even greater challenges ahead. The idea that the PSTU and its Revolutionary Socialist Pole stand for the political independence of the working class is yet another fraud promoted by the Morenoites of MRT. For the past seven years, the MRT called for building the PSOL, claiming that it would fulfill the same role they attribute to the PSTU today. Despite its title, A socialist program for Brazil! the electoral program presented by the PSTU in the current elections revealed their clear orientation to the bourgeoisie and its state. In one of its points, they state: We defend democratic liberties, but not bourgeois democracy. We will only defend that regime in the event of an attempted military coup. The idea that the threat of a fascist coup can be countered by defending Brazils rotting bourgeois democracy is radically contrary to the tradition of Trotskyism. Trotsky directly linked the crisis of bourgeois democratic forms of rule to the deadly crisis of the capitalist system itself, and explained that it could only be confronted through the international socialist revolution. Attacking the same program advocated by the PSTU today, Trotsky wrote in 1929: Democracy stands or falls with capitalism. By defending a democracy which has outlived itself, Social Democracy drives social development into the blind alley of fascism. The anti-Trotskyist position presented by the PSTU is not just a theoretical slip. It is firmly based on the reactionary tradition of Morenoism upon which it stands. That was precisely the criminal policy supported by Nahuel Moreno and his Revolutionary Workers Party (PRT) on the eve of the bloody 1976 military coup in Argentina. By publicly supporting the right-wing government of Isabel Peron and the formal bourgeois democracy established by the Argentine ruling class in 1973 through its process of institutionalization, Morenos PRT acted to disarm the working class and pave the way for the fascist military coup. Consistent with this reactionary program, the PSTU appealed resolutely to the repressive apparatus of the ruling class in the elections. It is also necessary to have policy for the armed sectors of the state, it declared in the program it presents as socialist. The PSTU has run military police officers as its candidates, among them Sergeant Guimaraes for congressman, and even for state governor of Espirito Santo, Captain Sousa. The reactionary defense of the bourgeois state by the PSTU springs not only from its own political history but also from its material bonds to the corporatist unions, which confront the effects of capitalist globalization with a bankrupt nationalist perspective. Throughout the 26 pages of its program, the PSTU argues that the crisis faced by Brazilian workers should be solved through the defense of sovereignty and a break with imperialism. According to the PSTU, it is not world capitalism that faces a mortal crisis, but the country [that] is in decay due to the rule of the multinationals, which force Brazil to have its economic center determined by the world market. In other words, imperialist capitalism does not need to be confronted through the unification of the global working class under the perspective of international socialism. Countries like Brazil can simply break from imperialism and develop their economies separately from the world market. This is a shameless replay of the Stalinist policy of socialism in one country, which Trotsky defined as a reactionary utopia. It is 10 times more reactionary today in the face of the profound integration achieved by the global productive forces. This reactionary ideology reflects the PSTUs practice in the unions it controls. In 2020, the party promoted through the Metalworkers Union of Sao Jose dos Campos a chauvinist campaign titled Embraer for the Brazilians. Re-statification now, which brought together the main leaderships of bourgeois parties like the PT and the Democratic Labor Party (PDT), and appealed to the supporters of national sovereignty within the Brazilian military. They argued against the sale of the company, which manufactures commercial and military aircraft, to the US-based Boeing on the grounds of defending the strategic interests of the Brazilian nation. The very essence of this nationalist program is, in fact, the quest for an accommodation to imperialism. This is demonstrated by the unconditional alignment of the International Workers League (IWL-FI), which has the PSTU as its main section, to the strategic interests of US imperialism in the global arena. Fervently supporting US-NATO in its proxy war against Russia over Ukraine, the IWL-FI dismisses the threats of a nuclear exchange and demands taking the war until the end. It declares in one of its statements: We believe that it is absolutely correct to mobilize to demand that the governments (especially the imperialist countries) give the Ukrainian resistance arms and all the necessary materials (ammunition, food, medicine) directly and unconditionally. For the political independence of the working class and the construction of the Socialist Equality Party in Brazil The global crisis of capitalism, answered by the ruling class with a turn to world war, dictatorial regimes and destruction of living conditions of the masses, opens, at the same time, a new revolutionary epoch. The explosive political situation in Brazil, an acute expression of the international crisis, has no progressive solution within the national framework of capitalist politics. To confront it, the working class must be mobilized as an independent, internationally unified political force under the banner of world socialist revolution. The development of that independent political movement in the working class does not pass through the national amalgamations of the political heirs of Stalinism and Pabloism. On the contrary, it demands a conscious repudiation of their treacherous political traditions. To forge the revolutionary leadership demanded by the socialist tasks of the 21st century, the working class must settle accounts with its own history of colossal revolutionary victories and defeats over the last century. It must build in Brazil and elsewhere Socialist Equality Parties based on the program and history of the Trotskyist movement embodied in the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI). Nearly a month after the catastrophic landfall of Hurricane Ian in Florida, thousands of residents remain displaced and financially devastated while little to nothing has been done by federal or state authorities to alleviate the burdens on residents and enable them to rebuild. The official death toll from Ian now stands at 140 with 129 deaths recorded in Florida, five deaths in each of Cuba and North Carolina and one death in Virginia. Financial losses from floods and storm surges amount to well over $67 billion. Naples, Fort Myers and other locations in the states southwestern region bordering the Gulf of Mexico have suffered the most extensive destruction from one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the US. As of last week, some 476 people remained at two shelters in Lee County. More than 5,000 residential properties have been destroyed, while 13,052 have incurred major damage. Most of those living in shelters are unable to rely on second homes, relatives or rental properties while awaiting financial assistance. In addition to residential destruction, Ian is responsible for between $787 million and $1.56 billion in agricultural losses in Florida, according to a preliminary estimate. The hurricane rammed into around five million acres of agricultural lands. Among the most significantly impacted were Floridas citrus crop, along with vegetables, melons and livestock. Florida leads the nation in orange production for juice but the industry has been battered in recent years by hurricanes such as Irma in 2017 and now Ian. The recurrence of violent storms and their escalating ferocity point to the indifference and inaction of governments, which refuse to heed the warnings of climate scientists regarding global warming and its consequences for human life and the environment. The storm has made many homeless, unemployed and stranded, including newcomers to the states most devastated parts who are without connections or resources. One single mother of two young boys from Fort Myers told the media she did not have a car or formal lease before the storm, while her roommate, who was critical in meeting the $1,200 rent, died shortly before the storm hit. A high water vehicle drives through a flooded neighborhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in North Port, Fla., Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. [AP Photo/Gerald Herbert] President Joe Biden has maintained a stony silence in the wake of Ian following a brief visit to Florida earlier this month during which he made a point of appearing with the fascistic Republican Governor Ron DeSantis to demonstrate his bipartisanship. DeSantis, meanwhile, has denounced all critics who have pointed to the lack of preplanning and preparation for the hurricane and the dearth of aid for those impacted. DeSantis thanked Biden for helping facilitate good coordination with the White House and with FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency], while working class families are having to wait long hours to get in touch with FEMA officials and many have gotten little to no response. DeSantis traveled to Punta Gorda on Saturday and announced that the Florida Housing Finance Corporation would disperse a measly $5 million to help residents pay their overpriced insurance deductibles. The agencys executive director, Trey Price, admitted that Hurricane deductibles are larger than typical deductibles for home damages, and that many people impacted arent prepared to put up thousands of dollars to begin with. According to estimates from the financial services company Fitch Ratings, insured losses from the storm are expected to range from $25 billion to $40 billion. Data posted on the Florida Office of Insurance Regulations website revealed that the first batch of insurance claims from Ian has already surpassed $474 million. A press release that accompanied DeSantis speech noted that the US Army Corps of Engineers had thus far allotted 7,000 households Blue Roofs to prevent any further damage to homes. However, as the release indicates, this is only a temporary solution for impacted low-income families. The press release was also significant in regard to the regions selected by the DeSantis administration for assistance. Counties such as Lee and Charlotte are heavily Republican and were therefore prioritized for electoral purposes. But no substantial assistance is being offered to residents of Orange County, a largely Democratic county, which suffered more than $200 million in damage due to Ian, including damage to 1,231 residential properties estimated at $46 million. DeSantis signed an executive order Thursday extending early voting and mail ballot access for voters in three Republican counties affected by Ian, while leaving out entirely residents in Orange and other Democratic-leaning counties in the states central region, which also suffered severe damage. Meanwhile, some regions in Florida impacted by Ian are seeing the spread of deadly flesh-eating bacteria that thrive in the states floodwaters. According to the Florida Department of Health, the state has seen 64 cases of vibrio vulnificus and 11 deaths from the bacterium in 2022. Lee County accounts for 45 percent of the cases so far. Bacteria counts are known to increase during the warmer summer and early fall months. Hurricanes like Ian exacerbate their presence in Floridas coastal waters due to sewage spills. Of the 64 infections so far this year, 26 have occurred in Lee County since the hurricane made landfall. Twenty-seven of Floridas 64 cases have occurred since the hurricane. Lee County, the home of Fort Myers and Sanibel Island, has reported 29 confirmed cases and four deaths so far this year, after reporting five cases and one death last year and no cases in 2020. The skin infection itself, necrotizing fasciitis, is especially dangerous for people who are immunocompromised. The bacteria can enter the body through an open wound or scratch and produce life-threatening complications such as sepsis, organ shock and organ failure. Death from the disease occurs in about one in five cases and generally comes a day or two after the victim has fallen sick. According to Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College, The Gulf Coast is the epicenter of disease like this. You have a mix of climate change, poverty and aggressive urbanization, all contributing to the exacerbation of vibrio infections and an increase of other diseases like dengue, zika and parasitic infections. Methodist Dallas Medical Center in the Oak Cliff neighborhood in Dallas, Texas. [Photo by Michael Barera / CC BY-SA 4.0 On Saturday, Methodist Dallas Medical Center confirmed two health care workers, including at least one nurse, were shot and killed near the labor and delivery area of the hospital earlier that morning. While details remain scant at this time, the shootings appeared to have been the act of an unstable individual. The Methodist Health System Family is heartbroken at the loss of two of our beloved team members. Our entire organization is grieving this unimaginable tragedy, a statement from the health systems executive board read. Our prayers are with our lost co-workers and their families, as well as our entire Methodist family. We appreciate the communitys support during this difficult time. The statement added that out of an abundance of caution, police staffing would be increased at the hospital campus, including for mothers and babies. The Methodist Health System said it recently installed new camera systems, bolstered physical security measures and held ongoing active-shooting training for employees. Dr. Serena Bumpus, CEO of the Texas Nurses Association (TNA), released a statement Saturday, calling the shooting at Methodist unacceptable. No person should fear for their life for merely going to work, especially a nurse or health care worker whose passion it is to help others heal, Bumpus said in the statement. Dallas police responded to reports of a shooting at the hospital at roughly 11:15 a.m. According to an arrest warrant obtained by local news station WFAA, the suspect, identified by police as 30-year-old Nestor Hernandez, was at the hospital to visit his girlfriend and their newborn child. The warrant stated Hernandez began acting strangely after accusing his girlfriend of cheating on him. He then searched the room, as if trying to see if anyone else was in the room, before brandishing a handgun and striking his girlfriend with it. Police claim Hernandezs girlfriend reported that he made statements such as, We are both going to die today, and Whoever comes in this room is going to die with us. A health care worker then entered the room and was fatally shot by Hernandez. According to police, another employee and a Methodist Hospital police officer were in the hallway and heard the gunshot. The second health care worker was shot after looking into the room. Police state the hospital officer shot Hernandez, wounding him in the leg, and detained him. Hernandez was then stabilized and taken to another hospital for treatment. Dallas police have not released any further information on the incident but said they were conducting an ongoing investigation. Notwithstanding the grave tragedy that occurred, police and the media have seized upon the incident to blame the alleged perpetrator for broader social issues for which the social system is ultimately responsible. Multiple articles on the shooting have prominently featured Hernandezs alleged criminal history. Police state Hernandez appeared in Dallas County courts on multiple charges as a young manincluding a robbery in 2012, and delinquent conduct constituting the felony offense of assault of a public servant in 2009before ultimately accepting an eight-year plea deal on an aggravated robbery charge he faced in 2015. Hernandez was out of prison on probation and wearing an ankle monitor at the time of the shooting. In a tweet on Saturday, Dallas Police Department Chief Eddie Garcia called the shooting a tragedy and an abhorrent failure of our criminal justice system. Yet, as is generally the case with such horrific events, absent from the press coverage is any discussion concerning the socio-environmental conditions that give rise to such outbursts of violence. If the police are to be believed, Hernandezs statements before the shooting suggest he was mentally unsound that Saturday morning. While the media is quick to report Hernandezs eight-year incarceration, no mention is made of Americas inhumane prison system, which does little more than perpetuate cycles of violence. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic must also be examined. Along with normalizing mass death, the ruling elites policies have served to foster complacency and anti-scientific beliefs among some backward sections of the population. In this atmosphere, cases of violence towards health care workerswho work in this field under conditions of short-staffing, grueling hours and inadequate compensationhave risen significantly. According to Dr. Bumpus statement, which cites data from the US Department of Labor, while incidents of workplace violence have been increasing across all workgroups in recent years, nurses experience 12.7 violent events per 10,000 full-time workers annually. The statement adds that two nurses were assaulted every hour in the second quarter of 2022, translating to 57 assaults per day. Today marks one year since the World Socialist Web Site and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) hosted a powerful webinar titled, How to end the pandemic. The event brought together a panel of leading scientists and workers to present the case for the global elimination of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The speakers warned that unless this strategy were adopted, millions more people would needlessly die. In the year since the webinar was held, over 386 million people have officially been infected and 1,581,168 have officially died from COVID-19 globally. Due to inadequate testing and data collection throughout the world, these figures are known to be vast undercounts. Experts estimate that the majority of the worlds population has now been infected with COVID-19, including billions of infections in the past year, while the number of excess deaths attributable to the pandemic stands at 21.7 million people. Since the October 24 webinar, there have been roughly 6 million excess deaths, according to The Economist. The October 24, 2021 webinar was viewed by several thousand people from over 100 countries throughout the world. It took place after a series of global school strikes initiated by British parent Lisa Diaz in opposition to the reckless reopening of schools. The webinar marked a major milestone in the fight of the international working class to stop the needless suffering and death from COVID-19. The webinar was held exactly one month before the emergence of the highly infectious and immune-resistant Omicron variant caused an unprecedented wave of infections globally. Over the past year, the waves of infection produced by this new variant and its subvariants were seized upon by world governments to scrap all remaining mitigation measures and embrace the homicidal herd immunity strategy pioneered by the far right in 2020. The world now stands at the beginning of yet another surge of the pandemic, driven by numerous escape variants that evolved from Omicron. These variants are the most immune-evasive and infectious to date, and threaten to cause massive numbers of infections, reinfections, hospitalizations and deaths globally. At the end of the October 24 webinar, WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North stressed the warnings made by the panel of scientists and called on all viewers to take action to stop the pandemic. The significance of this summation and the entire webinar have only deepened over the past year, and the scientific case for a global elimination strategy must still be brought into the working class in every country. David North concludes the webinar How to end the pandemic In his summation, North stated, Our aim was to review the science, for there to be a clearer understanding of how this virus spreads, the significance of aerosols as opposed to droplets, how all talk of mitigation separated from a strategy of elimination is ineffective and in fact nothing more than an apology for so-called herd immunity. Moreover, it was our aim to demonstrate, and the scientists have shown this, that the policy of elimination cannot be regional, it cannot be national, it must be global. Now, I think its easy enough at this point to identify the interests which block the implementation of an eliminationist strategy. There is an old saying, that if geometric axioms impinged on material interests, an attempt would be made to refute them. And so, we must ask, what are the material interests which block the implementation of policies which science has demonstrated are necessary? Its the interests of profit, its the interests of private wealth accumulation. We cant get around the fact that we live in a society which hails the mindless, ridiculous, useless extravagance of a ruling elite which cant think of any other better way to use its money than to blast itself into space. Thats not how resources should be used. All these resources ultimately come from the working class. And here we come to the other side of the equation. We know that there exist social forces which oppose the implementation of the necessary policies. What are the social forces in whose interests science works? Is there a class in society whose interests intersect with scientific truth? That class is the working class, the great mass of people. Now if theres one critical change thats taken place since our last webinar on August 24th, and a cause for great encouragement, it is the fact that were now beginning to see the working class move on a world scale. And there are many similarities in this situation to previous global crises. In its coverage of the pandemic, the World Socialist Web Site has often made the comparison between the pandemic and World War I, the great catastrophe which erupted suddenly in the summer of 1914. To everyones surprise, everyone thought this would rapidly be over, the boys would be back by Christmas, they werent back by Christmas. The dying began in massive numbers and it continued, and it continued, not just for one year, not just for two years, but into the third year. And by that third year, popular opposition began to emerge. Strikes began to break out over the war, over social questions, over deteriorating economic conditions at home. And finally, in the most important events of all, in the Russian Revolution, which the great American radical Max Eastman describes so well in the film Tsar to Lenin as the beginning of the end of the World War. The initiative taken by Lisa Diaz, the efforts made by workers in rank-and-file committees to take control of their own struggles, and also to take control of the fight against the unsafe conditions in their factories, in the schools, is an indication of a profound change. Because in the end, if this pandemic is to be stopped, it will be stopped by the intervention of a social force which has a direct and pressing and urgent interest in ending it, and thats the working class. The World Socialist Web Site, the Socialist Equality Party, the International Committee of the Fourth International with which it is affiliated, firmly believe that the working class has the power to bring about a change in this situation. It needs policies, it needs an understanding. This is the role, of course, that science plays. And again, I want to express my appreciation for all the scientists, those who are here with us today and the many others working in the background, who are trying desperately to come up with answers to this crisis. But in the final analysis, science cannot stand alone. It requires the support of a powerful social force, and that is the working class. Howard, quite appropriately, quoted from Engels. His close associate, of course, was Karl Marx, who famously wrote in the 11th Thesis on Feuerbach, The philosophers have only interpreted the world, though the point is to change it. Well, we can now say, paraphrasing those famous words: The scientists have explained the pandemic. They have shown how it is transmitted and how that transmission can be stopped. But the challenge of the working class is to end it. And so, I would like to urge as we conclude this event, that all those of you who want to become involved in this fight, please contact us. The address to which you may make contact is on the screen. This fight must be carried forward on an international scale. Again, let me reiterate the point, this virus does not attack individuals. The evil genius of this virus, if one could, in a certain sense, attribute genius to what is in fact an unconscious biological process, but the character of this virus is that it attacks society. It depends not on infiltrating just an individual. It must spread through communities. And therefore, it can only be fought at the level of society, not at the level of the individual. And here again, the working class and its historical role, finds the most acute expression. The working class is an international class. It acts socially. Its power is expressed not individually, but through collective action. And that collective action, that collective force, must be brought to bear to bring an end to this pandemic, to stop the dying, and to change the conditions in society which allow such tragedies to occur. The pandemic which we are now going through is a powerful, powerful warning. Its not the only threat we face. Others lurk not all that far ahead in the future. Some are already in the process of development. Climate change and, of course, the ever-present and growing danger of war, to which so much of our global resources are directed, uselessly, preparing for mass killing rather than for the development of society, the development of civilization, and the creation of a world in which we can all live in peace, in brotherhood and friendship, concentrated on the future, the future of our children and our grandchildren. Again, to all the scientists, public health, teachers, activists who participated, thank you very much. To all of you who are listening, watching this program, dont stand on the sidelines. Get involved. This is a life-and-death struggle. The world we live in will not survive unless there is a fundamental reordering of society, away from private wealth, the accumulation of private fortunes, anarchy in production. It is a fight for the future. It is a fight for socialism. Thank you very much, and good evening. We encourage all of our readers to watch the entire event below and to share this page, which has chapters for each of the speakers, as widely as possible. To get involved in the fight to end the pandemic, fill out the form at the bottom of this page. How to end the pandemic 25 years ago: US-China summit Jiang Zemin On October 26, 1997, the US-China summit began, demonstrating the falsity of two of the most time-worn myths of the twentieth century: that the American ruling class stood for democracy, and that the Chinese Stalinist regime had anything to do with socialism. President Jiang Zemin was the first Chinese leader to visit the United States since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Jiang headed one of the worlds most brutal and repressive regimes. Accordingly, he received public lectures on human rights at a joint press conference with US President Clinton and a breakfast meeting with congressional Republicans and Democrats. But these exchanges were only a fig leaf for the real business of his visit: deepening Beijings economic ties with corporate America. Congressmen and journalists politely asked him whether his government harvested the organs of political prisoners after shooting them, and then corporate CEOs queued up to sign lucrative contracts, cashing in on the low-wage exploitation of the Chinese working class. In New York, Jiang Zemin rang the bell to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange, visited the headquarters of IBM where Chairman Louis V. Gerstner greeted him in Mandarin, then hosted a dinner at the Waldorf Astoria for a guest list of 200 corporate executives. In Los Angeles, he was toasted by California Governor Pete Wilson, Mayor Richard Riordan, and an array of West Coast capitalists. In the balance of American ruling class politics, the torrent of corporate money easily outweighed all the hypocritical rhetoric about human rights. Jiang Zemin announced $3 billion in orders for Boeing, the biggest US exporter, and agreed to cut tariffs on another $1.8 billion in US exports of computer and telecommunications equipment. The Chinese government also announced that it would end nuclear cooperation with Iran, a diplomatic gesture which allowed the Clinton administration to lift a ban on commercial nuclear power contracts with China, which had been in effect since 1985. American companies like Westinghouse, General Electric and Combustion Engineering stood to benefit the most as they placed bids on an estimated $60 billion in Chinese contracts. Jiang Zemins enthusiasm as he toured citadels of capitalism like the New York Stock Exchange was not just a diplomatic display. One of the principal subjects of discussion at the White House was Beijings efforts to stave off a collapse of the Hong Kong stock market, for which it was then directly responsible after the handover of control of the former British colony the previous July. 50 years ago: Yemen peace treaty and unification pact signed in Cairo Map depicting the Yemen Arab Republic, North Yemen, in orange, and the Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen, South Yemen, in blue. Yemen occupies the lower portion of the Arabian Peninsula, astride the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait. On October 28, 1972, representatives from the Yemen Arab Republic, known as North Yemen, and the Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen, South Yemen, met in Cairo to sign a treaty to end a border war between the two countries that had broken out three weeks earlier. The treaty would bring about an unsteady ceasefire, while also stating an intent to work towards reunification. Tensions between the two Yemens had been ongoing since the British seized the southern portion around Aden from the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century. In 1962, coinciding with the wave of Arab nationalist revolutions throughout the Middle East, civil war erupted in North Yemen between monarchists backed by Saudi Arabia, Britain and other imperialist countries, and Arab nationalists backed by Egypt and the Soviet Union. Simultaneously, an Arab nationalist formation in the British-controlled south, the National Liberation Front, began a guerilla struggle against the colonial government. In 1967 the British Army withdrew and the NLF assumed power, forming the Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen in the south. The North Yemen war, meanwhile, spiraled into a drawn-out proxy war between Egypt, armed with warplanes from the Soviet Union, and Saudi Arabia, which received major arms and funds from Britain and the US. The Egyptian army withdrew its troops from Yemen in 1967 after brokering an agreement with Saudi Arabia to end its support of the monarchist faction. The war ended with the victory of the Arab nationalists and the establishment of the Yemen Arab Republic. In Yemen, as was proven time and again throughout the Arab world, nationalism offered no solution to the basic democratic task of uniting the Arab masses over the boundaries imposed by colonialism. In September 1972 the new government in north Yemen, the Yemen Arab Republic, backed by imperialism, launched an attack on the South, Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen. The South, using Soviet-built weaponry, repelled the invasion. 75 years ago: First India-Pakistan war begins over control of Kashmir On October 27, 1947, the newly established Indian state airlifted troops to the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, sending them into battle against forces aligned with Pakistan. The move initiated the first of four India-Pakistan wars, under conditions of the mass devastation caused by the partition of the Indian subcontinent. Only months before, in August 1947, the Indian and Pakistani states had been formed. They emerged out of the formal decolonization of the subcontinent by British imperialism. The British authorities ensured that India remained within the framework of global imperialism. They promoted the communalism of the native ruling elite, in a bid to divide the masses along ethnic and religious lines and to ensure the stability of capitalist rule. The partition immediately resulted in widespread displacement and violence. In Jammu and Kashmir, uprisings and guerilla warfare rapidly developed against the state government. While its population was majority-Muslim, it was ruled by a Hindu monarchical regime, creating conditions for communal conflict. Maharaja Hari Singh initially declared that his state would remain independent of India and Pakistan. Islamic forces launched a rebellion in the Poonch area, which Singhs forces would quickly lose control of. Those involved in the fighting included Pakistani Army servicemen on leave, rebellious state troops and tribal bands. Singh issued a request to the Indian state for military assistance. It responded by insisting that this was contingent on the transfer of Kashmir to direct Indian control. Singh complied and troops were dispatched. The war would rage over the following 14 months, with a series of offensives and counter-offensives. The regular Pakistani army would increasingly become involved in the conflict on the side of the rebel forces fighting the Indian divisions. The conflict would claim an estimated 20,000 military casualties. That included the deaths of 1,103 Indian troops and almost 2,000 local forces loyal to Singh. Pakistani deaths are estimated at 6,000, with some 12,000 injuries. More broadly, it set the pattern for decades of ongoing hostilities between the Pakistani and Indian states, which have erupted in three subsequent wars and eventually became a potential flashpoint for nuclear conflict. 100 years ago: Fascists seize power in Italy Mussolini, second from left, in Naples during the March on Rome On October 30, 1922, over 30,000 members of fascist squadristi fighting groups entered the Italian capital of Rome in a triumphant march as their leader, Benito Mussolini, assumed the powers of state. The fascists had massed outside of the city on October 28 after Mussolini had declared at the fascist congress in Naples on October 24, Our program is simple: we want to rule Italy. Mussolini had already made several public declarations that he would attempt to seize power. The international press had been broadcasting these threats for weeks. The acting Prime Minister, Luigi Facta, had declared a state of siege, but the King, Victor Emmanuel III, had refused to sign the order that would have mobilized troops. On October 29, the King asked Mussolini to form a government. In the coming months, Mussolini would brutally suppress democratic rights and drive working class organizations underground. In December, fascists would massacre as many as 24 left-wing workers in Turin. Mussolini would prepare Italian imperialism for a bloody intervention in Ethiopia and ultimately in the Second World War on the side of German imperialism. The ascension of the fascists to power in their notorious March on Rome was a defeat for the working class, not only in Italy, but internationally. The revolutionary momentum that had been built up in the working class in the two red years of 1919-20, when workers seized factories and formed self-defense militias, had been dissipated by the trade unions and the Socialist Party, handing over the initiative to the fascists. In his speech of October 20, 1922, to the Moscow Organization of the Russian Communist Party, Leon Trotsky made the following analysis: In September 1920 the working class of Italy had, in effect, gained control of the state, of society, of factories, plants and enterprises. What was lacking? A trifle was lackinga party was lacking, which would, resting upon the insurrectionary working class, have engaged in an open struggle with the bourgeoisie for those remnants of material forces still in the latters hands, destroying these forces, seizing power and thus consummating the victory of the working class. In essence the working class had already conquered or virtually conquered, but there was no organization capable of definitively consolidating this victory and so the working class found itself hurled back. The party split into segments, the proletariat was smashed; and since then, throughout 1921 and 1922 we have been witnessing the most frightful political retreat of the working class in Italy under the blows of consolidated bourgeois and petty-bourgeois gangs, known as the Fascists. Childrens hospitals in many parts of the US are straining under the weight of unusually high numbers of children infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory viruses. Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia are currently experiencing this spike, with 71 percent of US pediatric beds full across the country, the highest occupancy levels seen by hospitals in two years. Nearly three-quarters of pediatric beds are now occupied, according to data from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), although the agency does not specify the reason for hospitalization. This compares to about two-thirds of pediatric hospital beds being full on an average day over the past two years. More than 94 percent of pediatric beds are occupied in Rhode Island, Delaware and Washington D.C., while Maine, Arizona, Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Missouri report 85 to 90 percent of beds occupied. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is limited to facilities that report such data, meaning that the situation is likely more dire than official figures. RSV began surging in late summer, months before its typical season, which runs from November to early spring. According to the CDC, the US has been reporting about 5,000 cases per week. This is on par with last year, but far higher than October 2020, in the first autumn of the coronavirus. This surge in cases is especially troubling given the threat of a surge in COVID-19 cases in the coming fall and winter months and the elimination of virtually all mitigation measures to fight the deadly virus. Other viruses contributing to the bed emergency include parainfluenza, adenovirus and human metapneumovirus. Jesse Hackell, chair of the committee on practice and ambulatory medicine for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), told the Washington Post, Its very hard to find a bed in a childrens hospitalspecifically an intensive care unit bed for a kid with bad pneumonia or bad RSV because they are so full. The CDC says that most children catch RSV at some point before they turn two. Symptoms are similar to the common cold and include runny nose, decreased appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever and wheezing. RSV usually resolves in a week or two with rest and fluids. In some children, particularly young infants, however, RSV can lead to serious problems such as dehydration, breathing trouble, as well as serious illnesses such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia. Dr. Juan Salazar, physician in chief at Connecticut Childrens Medical Center in Hartford, told the Hartford Courant, Ive never seen this level of occupancy beyond our capacity for a sustained period of time as Im seeing it right now. Salazar said the hospital is trying to hire pediatric nurses and is talking to the National Guard and the Federal Emergency Agency about emergency measures, such as tent facilities, to treat pediatric patients. Salazar said beginning in June there has been a steady increase in children being admitted at Connecticut Childrens with respiratory viruses, including RSV, rhinovirus and flu. Our hospital is full right now, he said. All the beds are taken and currently we have about 15 kids waiting to be admitted in the Emergency Department that dont have a bed to go to in the units, and at times as many as 25 children with RSV have been waiting for a bed. Salazar and other doctors point to children born in the past three years being protected from respiratory pathogens due to separation from other children, social distancing and masking. Extremely low COVID-19 and flu vaccination rates also pose a real danger. Salazar said another theory is that children exposed to COVID-19 have weakened immune systems. He told the Post that its possible that even if babies contracted asymptomatic or mild cases of COVID-19, the percentage of infection-fighting B-cells might have dropped, creating a certain level of immunosuppression when they are hit with a new virus. As the full extent and severity of Long COVID among young children is not known, and the government does not take the syndromes debilitating impact seriously, health care providers are essentially flying blind in the face of the RSV outbreak. Dr. Thomas Murray, associate medical director for infection prevention at Yale New Haven Childrens Hospital, also in Connecticut, said RSV is common for children under three, but they are seeing significantly more cases this year. He told the Courant that Yale New Haven is seeing one to three cases of children admitted with COVID-19 and 30 admitted with RSV each day. He said RSV cases seen in the Emergency Department jumped from 57 in the week beginning October 10 to 106 the following week, though not all were admitted. While RSV is most dangerous for children under three and the elderly, adults who come down with the infection may be unaware that they have been infected and may unwittingly pass it on to the more vulnerable. Infants and toddlers are always putting toys or other items in their mouths, potentially passing the virus on to other children. Unlike SARS-CoV-2, RSV is often spread through surfaces in addition to being airborne. Several hospitals in the Washington D.C. area have been near capacity for weeks. On one day last week, 18 children were waiting for a room in the ICU at Childrens National. The University of Rochester-Golisano Childrens Hospital in Rochester, New York, is seeing 20 to 30 more patients a day as a result of a crush of patients with respiratory illnesses, about of fifth of whom are infected with RSV. Rainbow Babies & Childrens Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, went on diversion for a few days in early October as a consequence of the RSV surge, meaning it could not take emergency admissions. While it is taking patients again, it is still inundated with RSV cases. Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston is the largest pediatric medical center in the US. As of October 21, the hospital had more than 40 RSV inpatients, including several children in the ICU. RSV cases usually spike in December or January in Texas. James Versalovic, pathologist in chief at Texas Childrens, said the early surge of RSV this year could be attributed to how different viruses interact. Speaking about how the pandemic may have changed children born in the last three years, he told the Post, Their immune systems and immunity may have been altered in ways that were just beginning to appreciate. He said that the pandemic has changed peoples pattern of susceptibility to respiratory viruses. CNN reports that at Cook Childrens Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, nearly half the urgent care unit is filled with RSV cases. Hospital spokesperson Kim Brown said that between October 2 and 8, there were 210 cases there, rising to 288 a week later. In Austin, Texas, Dell Childrens Medical Center, St. Davids Childrens Hospital and Austin Public Health said in a joint statement October 22 they were seeing a spike in respiratory illnesses and that emergency departments were inundated with children suffering from symptoms of flu-like illnesses. As pediatric hospitals see their emergency departments, hospital beds and ICUs filling up with RSV patients, in the coming months hospitals across the country are seeing a triple threat of RSV, influenza and COVID-19 as state and federal governments abandon any mitigation efforts to stop the spread of these potentially deadly viruses. Medical centers will be hard pressed to recruit sufficient numbers of nurses, doctors and other health care workers to deal with a deluge of patients, both young and old. Health care workers and ancillary staff are leaving the profession in droves due to short-staffing, overwork and low pay. The coming fall and winter will be a medical catastrophe unless the working class takes immediate action to counter the criminal herd immunity policies of the government and for-profit health care institutions. Teachers in Iran are in the midst of a two-day sit-down strike protest against the brutal state repression meted out against young people participating in anti-regime demonstrations over the past six weeks. The protests began following the death in police custody September 16 of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained by the Islamic Republics morality police for improperly wearing the hijab. The protests have been fuelled by a disastrous social and economic crisis, which is the product above all of the Western imperialist powers imposition of crippling sanctions on Tehran. While they were initiated in areas of the country with Kurdish majorities, the ethnic group to which Amini belonged, the protests have involved people from all the countrys ethnic and religious groups. The protests have been predominantly led by young people and have retained a heterogeneous social character. Initially, the protests were centred on university campuses, but in recent weeks high school students have joined them in significant numbers. The teachers strike is the largest organised intervention of the working class in the anti-government protest movement to date, following a brief strike earlier this month by oil workers at a facility in southwestern Iran. Iranians protest 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini's death after she was detained by the morality police, in Tehran, Sept. 20, 2022. [AP Photo/Middle East Images, File] Irans bourgeois-clerical regime has launched a vicious crackdown on the protests, with unofficial sources placing the death toll at around 200. According to Amnesty International, 23 of those deaths were children. The deputy to the commander-in-chief of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi, commented, The average age of most detainees is 15 years. The Iran-based Asia newspaper reported that 42 percent of detained protesters are under 20; 48 percent are aged between 20 and 35; and 10 percent are over 35. In a statement announcing the teachers strike, the Coordinating Council of Teachers Syndicates, a union independent of the regime-aligned shoora (workers councils), cited the brutal treatment of children and young people as its motivation for the job action. The Coordinating Council emerged from the repeated strikes and protests teachers have mounted since 2018 against low-wages and poor working conditions. The statement declared, We teachers will be present at schools but will refrain from being present in classes. It continued, The rulers must know that ... Irans teachers do not tolerate these atrocities and tyranny and proclaims that we are for the people, and these bullets and pellets you shoot at the people target our lives and souls. It pledged to continue our protest until the peoples right to protest is recognised, all pupils are unconditionally freed and return to schools, the system stops killing the people and children, and stops answering the peoples rightful demands with bullets. According to the Council, teachers in at least 15 cities, many of them in Kurdish-majority speaking areas, including Kermanshah, Sanandaj, Mahabad and Marivan participated in the strike. Teachers in Hamedan, in the north-west, Shiraz in the south-west, Lahijan and Bandar Anzali in the Caspian Sea province of Gilan, and Nayshapoor in the north-east also joined the sit-down strike. Media controlled by or close to the Iranian government appear to have blacked out all mention of the teacher protest. The teachers council posted pictures of teachers with hand-written protest signs on social media. Slogans included Dont make schools into garrisons, Prison is no place for students, and in Kurdish Women, Life, Freedom. It also reported the arrest of several strike leaders, among them Pirouz Nami, its secretary-general in Khuzestan province. Protesting Iranian teachers. The placard reads: "Nationwide Sit-in of Educators10/23/2022" [Photo: Coordinating Council of Teachers Syndicates/Telegram] Elements within the regime are increasingly concerned about the scope of the protest movement and its sustained character. According to Iranian lawmaker Ahmad Alirezabeigi, the hardline Basij state militia, which has played a leading role in suppressing protests, believes the country is in jeopardy. He admitted that minors have been recruited to assist in the repression. According to one newspaper account, 17 Basij members and seven armed officers were killed during the first month of protests. In Tehran alone, over 800 Basij members have been injured, according to Irans official IRNA news agency. Solidarity protests have been held internationally. In one of the largest over the weekend, an estimated 80,000 people marched in the German capital of Berlin. The demonstration was dominated politically by Kurdish nationalist and Iranian exile groups who directed their appeals for solidarity to the German Foreign Ministry. For their part, the imperialist powers are cynically seeking to exploit the protests for their own predatory ends, which are primarily to weaken, if not overthrow, the regime in Tehran and bring Iran more directly under the sway of Western imperialist domination. With breath-taking hypocrisy, the US and European imperialist powers seized over the past week on reports that Iran has dispatched drones and military personnel to support Russias invasion of Ukraine to ratchet up pressure on Tehran. The ambassadors to the United Nations from Germany, France, and Britain issued a joint letter, which Washington subsequently supported, demanding that the UN conduct an investigation into allegations that Iranian-built drones have been used in Ukraine and that Iranian military trainers are active in Crimea. The letter asserted that the three European imperialist powers, which are de facto war parties in Ukraine, would stand ready to support the Secretariat in conducting its technical and impartial investigation. Who are these imperialist warmongers to lecture anyone about sending weapons to a raging military conflict? Their governments not only deliberately provoked the Russian invasion in February 2022 but have sent tens of billions of dollars in high-powered weaponry to Ukraine and Eastern Europe in order to prolong the war and inflict a devastating defeat on Russia so it can be subjugated to the imperialist powers as a semi-colony. These weapons shipments have played the decisive role in producing tens of thousands of casualties on both sides of the conflict, giving the lie to the incessant proclamations by the imperialist warmongers of support for the Ukrainian people. The blather about an impartial investigation, overseen by governments responsible for crashing the Iranian economy and creating much of the social and economic devastation driving the protest movement, is a smokescreen aimed at creating the conditions for the imperialist powers to bully the Iranian regime into making concessions to their predatory ambitions. Washington, Berlin, Paris, and London may seek in this way to break the logjam that has hit the talks on reviving the nuclear accord with Iranthe so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action unilaterally abrogated by US President Donald Trump in 2018. But a supposedly diplomatic solution to the conflict is not the only possibility. If the reports of Iranian involvement in supporting Russias reactionary war in Ukraine turn out to be true, it will open up yet another front in which the US-NATO war on Russia could escalate into a global conflagration. Preparations for an aggressive US-led strike on Iran are already well advanced, as shown most recently by President Bidens July tour of the Middle East to rally a motley coalition consisting of the Saudi Arabian autocracy, the Gulf sheikhdoms, and Israel to confront Tehrans economic, political, and military presence in the region. The Iranian regime, riven by factional conflicts and increasingly backed into a corner by the sustained protests and growth of strikes, has no answer to the imperialist onslaught. A reform faction, which held the presidency from 2013 to 2021, advocates reaching a modus vivendi with the US and European imperialists to facilitate Irans integration into the world market, a perspective that suffered a devastating blow due to the fate of the nuclear accord. In particular, their hopes that the European imperialists would offer Tehran economic and financial support in the face of Washingtons blowing up of the deal proved to be a disastrous miscalculation. The other faction, of which President Raisi is a proponent, proposes closer economic and security relations with the bankrupt Russian and Chinese capitalist regimes. This was the motivation behind Irans recent decision to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation security alliance as a full member. Such a course would prove no less devastating for the Iranian workers and rural toilers. With the US and its European allies determined to carve up Russia and seize control of its natural resources and preparing openly for a catastrophic war with China over Taiwan, Iran would be drawn inexorably into a third world war that would be fought with nuclear weapons. For Iranian teachers, other workers, and young people entering into struggle against the widely despised bourgeois-clerical regime, the urgent task is to fight for the political independence of the working class from all factions of the ruling elite. The struggle against the ruthless state repression of the protests triggered by Aminis death is doomed to defeat if any confidence is placed in appeals to the imperialist powers and their institutions to protect democracy and human rights, as shown by the fate of numerous societies that have fallen victim to predatory imperialist wars on precisely such pretexts over the past three decades. What is above all necessary is for workers to wage their struggle on the basis of the perspective of permanent revolution developed by Leon Trotsky and realised by the Russian working class, under the leadership of the Bolshevik Party, in October 1917. As Trotsky insisted, in countries of belated capitalist development the bourgeoisie is incapable of securing basic democratic rights. Freedom from imperialist oppression, the separation of church and state, civil equality, and the radical restructuring of agrarian relations in favour of the rural masses can and will only be realized through the struggle for workers power and socialism in opposition to all factions of the national bourgeoisie. For Iranian workers, this poses the need of unifying their struggles with the upsurge of worker strikes and protests against the deepening social crisis and price rises across the Middle East and internationally and taking their place in the global fight to build a movement of the working class against imperialist war. Concerns are mounting that South Africas public broadcaster is lurching closer to a catastrophic collapse as it continues to operate without a board amid a period of financial instability. Although public pressure groups warned in June that the process to select and appoint a new board at the South African Broadcasting Corporation should begin, the countrys parliament committee failed to begin the process in a timely manner, and the SABC boards five-year term expired on Oct. 15. More from Variety The parliaments portfolio committee on communications is now trying to shift the blame to the countrys State Security Agency (SSA) for allegedly failing to vet the 34 shortlisted candidates fast enough. The committee only kickstarted candidate interviews in mid-September. Once shortlisted candidates are vetted, more time will elapse as political parties spar over which 12 names to recommend as the new board. The final decision will be made by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Justice Molafo, a spokesperson for the parliament committee, told Variety that security vetting of the shortlisted names hadnt been completed as of Sept. 27. There were delays from the SSA, so the committee thought it was appropriate to wait until the SSA had finished their vetting. The process has been a bit slow but out of the 34 candidates, 20 have been vetted now. The committee is waiting for 14 names. An SABC spokesperson told Variety on Friday that the appointment of SABC board members is a parliamentary process and, as such, the SABC will await finalization of this process. The three executive directors of the SABC have always ensured that the daily operations of the public service broadcaster are successfully executed and the public is served as per the public service mandate, said the spokesperson. Story continues She did not respond to Varietys questions about whether a board-less broadcaster is perceived as a concern, whether execs have been told when a new board will be in place, or the possible timeframe for the appointments. A huge danger Uyanda Siyotula, national coordinator of the SOS Coalition public broadcasting lobby group, said the board-less SABC faces uncertainty and potential destabilization. The group warns that the delay in appointing a SABC board, which goes against the countrys broadcasting act, stalls the implementation of turnaround strategies that would benefit the broadcaster. The SOS Coalition is adamant that suggestions that the broadcasters CEO, COO and CFO act on behalf of the board until one has been appointed, are prohibited from happening. The executives will be [accountable] to themselves and be granted board powers, said Siyotula, which is unconstitutional. William Bird, director of Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), told Variety on Friday that its embarrassing for the SABC to not have a board. The problem that the SABC is board-less is firmly, squarely, exclusively before the door of parliament [its an] abject, abysmal failure. Yet again, parliament has let the people of South Africa down and [is risking] plunging another public institution into deep crisis and all entirely avoidable. Bird said what should happen is that parliaments committee should gather today, work through the night if necessary, have their discussions, and come out with their selected, recommended 12 and send that to the president. This absolute codswallop that they have to wait for a security agency and leave the blame at SSAs door is astonishing, said Bird. Theres no provision for it in the broadcasting act. Bird also cautioned against suggestions of an interim board for the SABC. Extraordinary and extreme pressure are being placed on the SABCs senior executives and that is just grossly and spectacularly unfair, especially when its completely avoidable, he said. Massive challenges continue Without a board in place, the struggling SABC, Africas largest public broadcaster, has to contend with massive ongoing challenges. In its latest 2021/2022 financial earnings, the broadcaster reported a net loss of R201 million ($10.9 million) as it continues to waste millions in write-offs on buying content it fails to air before licensing rights expire. The countrys auditor-general warned of a possible SABC collapse and raised concerns about the broadcaster as a running concern. Meanwhile, only 18% of registered SABC TV license holders still pay the annual fee out of the TV households the broadcaster knows of. There are millions more who cant be traced by the broadcaster, and are likely watching without a license. Over the last 18 months, SABC has also been facing a drastic ratings slide in the linear viewership of its three terrestrial TV channels SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 as the government switched off analogue transmitters without the proper digital migration of television households. Producers who arent getting paid on time by SABC for delivery of their shows have also increasingly begun moving over to pay-TV rival MultiChoice and M-Net, as well as commercial free-to-air challenger e.tv, which is basking in a ratings surge. Meanwhile, streamers like Netflix are drastically upping their local content slate, with producers saying they feel more respected in the commissioning and creative process. It comes as SABC execs are currently busy with a multi-city roadshow to try and allay fears within the production community, and win back trust from the countrys content creators. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The Arizona Coyotes are coming home finally after a six-game road trip to begin the regular season and an exhibition tour that included stops at minor league rinks in Tucson, Wichita, Tulsa and Boise. Each of those venues were larger than Mullett Arena, the Coyotes new 5,000-seat temporary home at Arizona State in Tempe where the NHL franchise will open a four-game homestand on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. Coyotes president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez has promised an intimate, unique, first-class experience, but reiterated the arrangement is a stopgap measure after Glendale, the teams former home of nearly two decades, terminated its lease at the newly renamed Desert Diamond Arena. Were very excited about this opportunity, Gutierrez said about playing at ASU, but it is a temporary solution, and everybody should understand that. Were not making any misrepresentations. We have a bigger goal in mind. That bigger goal in mind is about a mile down the street from where well be playing for the next several years, and were excited about that as the permanent solution. Coyotes President & CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez during the media day press conference at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale on Sept. 21, 2022. Coyotes team owner Alex Meruelo plans to build a $2.1 billion hockey arena and adjoining entertainment and residential complex on 46 acres of city-owned land at Rio Salado Parkway and Priest Drive, just west of Tempe Town Lake, on a site long used as a landfill. The area is prized for its central location in the Valley, close to major highways and many of the franchises season ticket holders, and because it is the last significant tract of undeveloped land in Tempe. It also sits directly under a major flight path, less than two miles east of Sky Harbor International Airport. Tempe Mayor Corey Woods said earlier this month the deal could be decided soon, perhaps by the end of the year. But Phoenix and airport officials have balked at the plan from the start and have threatened litigation to stop the project. They cite a desire to protect area residents from excessive aircraft noise that could lead to complaints that limit airport operations and growth. Story continues Supporters have called this a specious argument. Phoenix not only owns Sky Harbor, but Footprint Center, the 30-year-old downtown home of the NBAs Phoenix Suns and WNBAs Phoenix Mercury, which stands to lose business from hosting concerts and other events to a new arena in Tempe. Airport officials have denied an ulterior motive. The Coyotes hope to open the new arena in 2025. Heading into Friday's home opener for the Coyotes, here is a review of some of the key issues with the proposal. Information includes comprehensive ongoing reporting by The Republic's Sam Kmack, who covers local government in the cities of Scottsdale and Tempe. October 14, 2022; Tempe, Ariz; USA; ASUs new multipurpose arena, the Mullett Arena. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Breen-Arizona Republic Negotiations in progress The Coyotes proposed entertainment district includes a 16,000-seat hockey arena, a team practice facility open to the public, restaurants, shops, two hotels, a 3,500-person theater for smaller shows, a private medical office campus and more than 1,600 residential units. The residential component, according to the Coyotes, is integral to the projects financial success. The proposal includes a 30-year non-relocation agreement and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has guaranteed the arena would host an All-Star game and draft. In June, the Tempe city council voted 5-2 in favor of negotiating with the Coyotes. The developer is another Meruelo-owned company, Bluebird Development, LLC. Public vs. private funding The Coyotes describe the entire project as privately funded, although the financing plan relies on $215 million in new taxes generated on-site to reimburse Meruelo for land clean-up which requires removing 1.5 million tons of trash and to cover public infrastructure costs. Another $215 million in projected new tax revenue would be retained by Tempe, according to the proposal. The Coyotes have said the entertainment district will have a $13 billion economic impact over 30 years, create nearly 7,000 permanent jobs and that Meruelo will invest $40 million of his own money to begin work on the site as soon as development is approved. What about tax breaks? The Coyotes are asking Tempe for a 30-year property tax exemption on the arena, practice facility and theater, comparing them to other regional professional athletic venues like State Farm Stadium, Footprint Center and Chase Field, which are permanently tax exempt because theyre owned by government entities. The Coyotes also seek an eight-year property tax exemption on the hotels, retail, office and residential space, which is in line with exemptions Tempe has granted for other projects. Arizona Rep. Athena Salman, a Democrat who represents Tempe and is critical of the plan, has said these requests amount to $649 million in tax abatements. Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo speaks to the media at a news conference announcing his new ownership at Gila River Arena in Glendale on Thursday. Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo speaks to the media at a press conference announcing Meruelo's new ownership of the Coyotes at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz. on July 31, 2019. Meruelo's business practices Meruelo, a Cuban-American billionaire, began his career working in his fathers tuxedo shop and turned around a failing pizza chain before expanding into several other industries, including real estate development and construction. He also owns two casinos, the Sahara Las Vegas and the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, as well as a sports gambling company, Meruelo Gaming. Meruelo became the Coyotes majority owner in July 2019 and was hailed as a potential savior for the franchise, but his financial wherewithal and business practices have come under scrutiny. An investigation by The Athletic published in February 2021 detailed significant upheaval within the Coyotes organization and numerous financial disputes between the team and its employees, contractors and vendors, including unpaid rent at its former arena in Glendale. Late last year, the Coyotes were penalized for being late on a $1.3 million sales tax payment to the state, which the team attributed to human error. The Coyotes promised to share all financial information with Tempe officials during negotiations. Pushback from Phoenix, Sky Harbor Phoenix has threatened litigation to stop the Coyotes project based on its interpretation of an often-overlooked pact it reached with Tempe in 1994. The intergovernmental agreement (IGA) dictates flight paths and, Phoenix argues, bars residential construction in designated high-noise areas nearby. But that isnt clearly spelled out in the policies, which appear to make an exception for soundproofed apartments like those the Coyotes plan to build. Public records obtained by The Arizona Republic, including a letter showing Phoenix previously supported a housing development in a high-noise area in Tempe, appear to undermine the argument, as do 21 residential projects with 4,800 apartments developed around Tempe Town Lake and west of the airport within the same noise level zone as the Coyotes project since 1999, according to attorney Nick Wood. The concerns are similar to those Phoenix raised 20 years ago when the Arizona Cardinals proposed a football stadium in Tempe on a site just north of where the Coyotes plan to build their arena. The Cardinals proposal was later dropped in favor of building in Glendale. This month, Sky Harbor mailed 100,000 fliers to residents in Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale warning the Coyotes proposed apartments could lead the airport to abandon its current flight paths in favor of more efficient routes, which could shift excessive aircraft noise to existing neighborhoods. Woods, Tempe's mayor, denounced the mailings as an alarmist tactic and disputes the Coyotes project violates the agreement with Phoenix. The Coyotes have said they will seek no exemptions from the Federal Aviation Administration, which opposes the project but has stopped short of claiming it violates any rules. Jason Wolf is a sports enterprise and investigative reporter for The Arizona Republic. Reach him at jason.wolf@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @JasonWolf. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: As Coyotes prepare for Tempe debut, what to know about new arena plans Giancarlo Granda, Jerry Falwell, Jr. and Becki Falwell Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty; Shannon Finney/Getty Giancarlo Granda, Jerry Falwell Jr. and Becki Falwell Giancarlo Granda, the former Miami pool attendant at the heart of a sex scandal involving Jerry Falwell Jr. and his wife Becki, is shedding new light on his side of the story. Granda was 20 when his sexual relationship with Becki began after meeting the Falwells while the couple visited the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami in 2012. He has previously claimed that during his affair with Becki, her husband Jerry watched them and filmed the encounters. The Falwells have denied those claims; they say that Jerry had no involvement. The scandal became public in August 2020, when Reuters published an explosive report about Granda's account of his relationship with the couple. Later that month, Falwell Jr. stepped down as president of Liberty University. In his new book, OFF THE DEEP END: Jerry and Becki Falwell and the Collapse of an Evangelical Dynasty, Granda shares his recollections of what happened. Read an excerpt from the book, which is available Tuesday, below. The Falwells' Claims In a January 2022 interview with Vanity Fair, Jerry claimed that as the relationship between the couple and Granda deteriorated and Granda grew desperate, he texted Jerry to say he would "take the kamikaze route" and would tell people that Jerry participated in the affair. For his part, Granda has denied the accusation that he tried to blackmail them. While speaking with Vanity Fair, Becki admitted to making sex tapes with Granda. "I had a big Canon camera. A couple of times I put it on the dresser and Giancarlo agreed to it," Becki told the magazine. RELATED: 'Pool Boy' Giancarlo Granda Claims Jerry Falwell Jr. Filmed Him Having Sex with Wife in 'God Forbid' Trailer Becki said she decided to end their sexual relationship in 2014 after Granda became serious with a girlfriend named Angelina, but that he remained part of their life due to professional ties with Jerry. Story continues In late August 2018, the Falwells invited Granda and his family to stay at their farm, hoping it would be an opportunity to say goodbye, according to the Vanity Fair article. However, Becki claimed that during that trip Granda approached her in a bedroom after texting that the Wi-Fi wasn't working at the guesthouse, then pushed her onto a bed and pressured her to have sex. "I kept saying no. I didn't want to do it. But I was scared to death of him too, because he was still holding everything over me, so we had sex," she said in the Vanity Fair interview. When it was over, she told the magazine, "He left and I went into the room and just cried." An Excerpt from Granda's New Book In an exclusive excerpt from his new book out Tuesday, Granda recalls his very different memories of the August trip, claiming that the tapes were the Falwells' "unspoken form of blackmail," and that Jerry encouraged the affair, taking sexual pleasure from filming Becki with Granda. Off the Deep End William Morrow Off the Deep End When the Falwells found out I was moving to DC, and that my sister and mother would be helping me, Jerry and Becki insisted we all come spend the weekend with them and stay in the guesthouse. Lynchburg is three and a half hours from Washington, so this would be our next to last stop. Late on Saturday, August 25, we pulled up to at the Falwells' front gate and I used the access code Becki had texted me. We didn't see them that night, since they were babysitting their granddaughter. The next morning we all went out for brunch and Jerry and Becki gave us a tour of the Liberty campus, which they were proud to show off. I had my dog Logan with me, and as we were walking into a building, an employee ran up to stop us from entering with a dog, even though he was on a leash. Becki turned around and simply nodded, and the woman apologized profusely and returned to her desk. Another reminder that the beautiful, sculpted grounds and endowed architecture was all a part of their private kingdom. At one point, while we were showing my mom and sister the property, Jerry and Becki took me aside and encouraged me to find some time to slip away up to the house later so we could have sex. This time, I told them no. I had a girlfriend now, and they needed to respect that. This caught them off guardespecially after our recent Miami encounter. They had assumed everything was back to normal now; in retrospect, it's probably why they invited me to the farm in the first place. That night, my mother, sister, and I all turned in early, since we planned to leave bright and early the next morning. But as I was settling in at the guesthouse, Becki texted me an excuse so I could come back up to the main house for a hugher euphemism for sex. RELATED: 'Pool Boy' Giancarlo Granda Claims Jerry Falwell Jr. Filmed Him Having Sex with Wife in 'God Forbid' Trailer Becki: Wi-Fi working? (No answer from me.) Becki: Hopefully you can come down by yourself later so we can hug goodbye . . . just hug. I was totally caught off guard. Me: ;) Becki: Well??? Will you? You can say you have to call Angelina. Me: We shall see. Me: You gotta earn it;) Becki: Please. Me: I love you! DT [don't text] ("I was totally caught off guard" refers to my early rebuff.) Jerry Falwell Jr. and Becki Steve Helber/AP/Shutterstock Becki Falwell and Jerry Falwell Jr. Eventually, just like the last time, I gave in. They were relentless, and in my diminished state, I felt somehow like I owed them. I vowed that this would be the last time. Even though my relationship with Angelina looked perfect from the outside, things were rocky, and we had broken up two or three times in the recent past. Relocating to different cities while on different academic tracksme to DC and graduate school, her to Cambridge to go to law schoolwas not helping. I secretly didn't think it was sustainable, and I wasn't convinced we were compatible to begin with. It seemed to me like a turning point, and that's always when your defenses drop and insidious ideas take hold. That was Becki. She was ruthless, and skilled in the art of seduction, or at least of exploiting a power differential to get what she wanted. I was adrift; I actually had no home. And so eventually she wore me down, and I did what she asked. 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. And then there were the tapes. Beyond my own complicity and moral failings, there was the fact that the Falwells had half a dozen tapes of Becki and me having sex, and those were just the ones I knew about. Aside from the embarrassment and chaos they could unleash, they also represented an unspoken form of blackmail, since implicitly, I had to do whatever they wanted. And what they wanted was to keep having sex. This eventually would reach a breaking point, and it turned this was it. When our story finally went public, I said they had been blackmailing me the whole time, and I stand by that, even if they might not articulate it the same way. They always had these tapes hanging over my head, and for every second of that time, I carried a gnawing fear in the pit of my stomach that this would be my downfall. It almost was. I excused myself and went up to the house to use the Wi-Fi. Jerry and Becki both greeted me at the front door, and we walked to the living room. Becki closed the curtains so no one could see us, and within seconds, we were on the couch making out, and then quickly, having sex. Jerry was sitting in the recliner just to our left, and once again he filmed us on his iPhone. Then he began to masturbate. RELATED: Jerry Falwell Jr. and Wife Becki Open Up About Pool Boy Sex Scandal: 'I'm Partly to Blame,' He Says After we finished, Becki seemed happy, and I was spent. I walked back down to the guesthouse, reflecting on what I'd done. I felt terrible, and angry, most of all with myself for sliding back into this position yet once again. What's the worst that can happen? seemed to be my motto at twenty. Now seven years later, and I had my answer. Or so I thought. The guesthouse loomed before me. It was already way creepy in the best of times: a deconsecrated church, dating back to the nineteenth century, where it's always pitch-black outside at night. I went to sleep and reflected on my new life, which couldn't come soon enough. Then sometime between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m., there was a loud banging on the window. I woke up yelling from a deep sleep, in turn waking up my mom and sister. I went to the window and peered out, but there was no one there. The next morning at breakfast, Jerry took me aside and confessed that it was him at the window: since both cell service and Wi-Fi were out, Becki had sent him down with an invitation to come back for round two. He said he ran away when I started shouting. He would have been pretty tanked up at that point in the evening, and he made a joke about it in front of everyone, but it fell flat. The whole breakfast was pretty awkward. I noticed my mother watching Becki, and she leaned over to me at one point and whispered, "She's being flirtatious with you." I couldn't argue with her. Adapted from OFF THE DEEP END: Jerry and Becki Falwell and the Collapse of an Evangelical Dynasty by Giancarlo Granda and Mark Ebner, published by William Morrow. Copyright 2022 by Giancarlo Granda. Reprinted courtesy of HarperCollins Publishers. There is no plan to require the COVID-19 vaccine for school attendance in Kansas, as the CDC puts the shots on the childhood vaccination schedule. Kansas officials have reiterated they have no plans to require the COVID-19 vaccine for school attendance, despite a move by federal officials to place the shots on the childhood vaccination schedule last week. The action, taken by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, does not compel Kansas or any other state to require the shots for school attendance, despite fears from some conservatives immediately after the decision. Many states, including Kansas, consider the committee's recommendations when making the decision as to which vaccines to require, but it is not a given that including an immunization on the schedule will mean it will be required to attend Kansas schools. More:Kansas hits 9,000 deaths from COVID-19, including 13 children; flags won't be lowered this time For instance, the CDC recommends adolescents receive the two-dose vaccine against human papillomavirus, also known as HPV, but the shot is not compulsory for students to attend classes in Kansas, nor is the annual flu shot. Anywhere from five to eight vaccines are required for school attendance, depending on the grade and age. That includes vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella, Hepatitis B, tetanus and chickenpox and that list has only been updated three times in the past 40 years. KDHE says 'no plans' to add COVID vaccine requirement There are no plans to add the COVID-19 vaccine to that list, Matt Lara, a spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said in an email. "KDHE is not planning to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the childhood vaccination schedule for Kansas children," Lara said. "We do not anticipate any other impact to the state following the ACIP meeting last week." If a vaccine is to be required, the agency would have to follow the typical rulemaking process, allowing for public comment and legislative input. A list of vaccines to be required for the next school year is usually provided to districts in February. Story continues Gov. Laura Kelly had previously said it was "premature" to have any discussions about the merits of requiring the COVID-19 vaccine until it was fully approved for all ages by the Food and Drug Administration and, even then, she did not commit to her administration making it mandatory. The FDA has granted full approval for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for kids 12 years and older. There is no timeframe for full approval for younger age groups. More:COVID vaccine requirement for Kansas students? Gov. Laura Kelly says it's premature to speculate. Derek Schmidt criticizes Laura Kelly veto over school COVID vaccine bill Still, Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who is Kelly's Republican opponent in the governor's race this fall, said in a statement that "no Kansas student will ever be forced to receive a COVID vaccine in order to attend school not on my watch. "The choice to give a child the COVID vaccine should be made by that childs parents and the parents alone, Schmidt said. He also took Kelly to task for vetoing Senate Bill 34, which would have barred the KDHE secretary from requiring any vaccine or test that had not received full FDA approval and Schmidt said he would support such a measure. It is likely that such a proposal or even a further reaching measure will be considered when lawmakers return to Topeka in January. More:Kansas Republicans on mission to fulfill COVID special session promise with stronger legislation Bills considered this year would have banned the KDHE secretary from requiring the COVID-19 vaccine at all, while another would have given the power to require shots for school attendance to the Legislature. Another measure, Senate Bill 541, would have prevented school districts from requiring people to report their vaccination status on all vaccines. Few states have moved yet to require the vaccines in schools. Washington, D.C., has made the COVID-19 shots mandatory for ages that have received full FDA approval, while a similar measure in California won't take effect until at least 2023. More:Only 4.4% of youngest Kansas children vaccinated against COVID: 'It's certainly sad. It's tragic' According to KDHE data, 56.9% of all children age 12-17 have gotten at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, though those numbers drop precipitously for the youngest kids, with only 6.7% of children ages 5 and younger receiving the shot. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: COVID vaccine won't be required for Kansas schools after CDC vote Leslie Jordan's Will & Grace costars are speaking out after his death. Among the many tributes that poured in on Monday for the funnyman in the hours after news of his sudden, unexpected death, costar Megan Mullally who played frenemy Karen Walker on NBC's Must See TV sitcom wrote, "My heart is breaking." She continued, "i really can't believe it. leslie jordan was, hands down, one of the greats. people use that expression a lot, and i'm not sure it's always applicable. there aren't that many people who are truly great at anything. but leslie was flawlessly funny, a virtuoso of comedy. his timing, his delivery, all apparently effortless. you can't get any better than that." "i was just with him last month," she wrote of joining him at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. "i just had to barely unleash him and he went off on a series of absolutely hilarious stories that had the very large audience in hysterics for a solid hour." RELATED: Leslie Jordan Dead at 67 Mullally continued that Jordan "truly seemed so happy. how brilliant it was that millions of people were able to discover the real leslie and his love of life and unparalleled story-telling abilities on instagram. he had so much to share, and it meant so much to him that finally he'd found a vehicle through which to share it. he was absolutely unique. one of a kind. thank you to all of his fans! he really loved you all and was so genuinely appreciative of you." "and so," she concluded. "love you, leslie. miss you already. and one thing i know for sure there will never ever be another you." WILL & GRACE - Leslie Jordan as Beverley Leslie, Megan Mullally as Karen Walker Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty RELATED: Cardi B, Michelle Pfeiffer and More Pay Tribute to Leslie Jordan: 'Legend Is Not a Large Enough Word' Sean Hayes, who played Jack McFarland, echoed Mullally's sentiment. "My heart is broken," Hayes captioned a photo of himself and Jordan. "Leslie Jordan was one of the funniest people I ever had the pleasure of working with. Everyone who ever met him, loved him." Story continues Continued Hayes, 52: "There will never be anyone like him. A unique talent with an enormous, caring heart. Leslie, you will be missed, my dear friend." Eric McCormack, who played Will Truman, honored Jordan on Twitter. "Crushed to learn about the loss of @thelesliejordan, the funniest & flirtiest southern gent I've ever known," McCormack wrote. "The joy and laughter he brought to every one of his #WillandGrace episodes was palpable. Gone about thirty years too soon. You were loved, sweet man." Crushed to learn about the loss of @thelesliejordan, the funniest & flirtiest southern gent Ive ever known. The joy and laughter he brought to every one of his #WillandGrace episodes was palpable. Gone about thirty years too soon. You were loved, sweet man. Eric McCormack (@EricMcCormack) October 24, 2022 Jordan played Beverly Leslie on the '90s sitcom and revived the role in the show's 2017 reboot. He even won a 2006 guest actor Emmy for the part. Beverly was one of many characters that aided in his rise to fame, as did his scene-stealing appearances in American Horror Story and, most recently, Call Me Kat. RELATED: Call Me Kat's Leslie Jordan Finally Feels Seen at 65 Thanks to Instagram Jordan rose to social media fame during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown thanks to for his widely praised, wholesomely hilarious Instagram content. At the time, Jordan told PEOPLE his presence on the social media platform allowed people to see his true personality. "People knew me from my characters, but I'm amazed that, people discovered me as me. They loved me," he said. "And they came back." WILL & GRACE -- "Friends with Benefits" Episode 23 -- Pictured: (l-r) Megan Mullally as Karen Walker, Leslie Jordan as Beverley Leslie Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Jordan's agent David Shaul confirmed to PEOPLE that he died in a car crash on Monday morning after an apparent medical emergency. "The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan," Shaul shared in a statement to PEOPLE. "Not only was he a mega talent and joy to work with, but he provided an emotional sanctuary to the nation at one of its most difficult times. What he lacked in height he made up for in generosity and greatness as a son, brother, artist, comedian, partner and human being. Knowing that he has left the world at the height of both his professional and personal life is the only solace one can have today." Haunted hotels via YELP Yelp Ever wondered what it would be like to lodge with a ghost? Now's your chance! Lovers of the paranormal will surely have heard about Colorado's Stanley Hotel, the inspiration for Stephen King's The Shining; and the Night Stalker's rumored hangout, the Hotel Cecil in Downtown L.A. But mega review site Yelp dug through its archive of millions of real hotel guest reports to compile a list of the hotels with the most incidents of supernatural events around the country many whose scary stories are less widely known. Here are some under-the-radar stays to book this spooky season if you dare. The Marshall House in Savannah, Georgia Haunted hotels via YELP YELP Located in downtown Savannah, the Marshall House offers an immersive stay surrounded by local architecture and culture with a chilling twist. According to the hotel's official website, which has its own page dedicated to the hotel's haunted happenings, guests have supposedly heard children running down hallways, witnessed sinks turning on by themselves and spotted ghost-like figures on the premises. After staying at the hotel, one Yelp user couldn't stop raving about its "charm" in a review, but they were also quick to point out that the room felt like it was moving at times. "Wonder if that's something spiritual," they wrote. For the ultimate haunted experience, the hotel recommends booking a room on the fourth floor as it has the most reported paranormal activity. Guests can also take a local ghost tour to learn more about the roots of the hauntings. The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant in San Diego, Calif. Haunted hotels via YELP Yelp This historic Cosmopolitan Hotel dates back to 1827 and is one of the oldest buildings in San Diego County, according to the official website. Decked out with antique decor from the Old West era, the hotel has supposedly harbored a few paranormal oddities throughout the centuries. In a Yelp review, one user claimed to have heard horses galloping outside at 3 a.m., while multiple users said they woke up suddenly after having "weird" dreams. Another user "begged" to switch rooms after they "instantly felt something strange" upon check-in. Story continues A different review suggested rooms 4, 5, 10 and 11 for bookings, as they are the "most active" in terms of ghost sightings in the hotel. DeSoto House Hotel in Galena, IL Haunted hotels via YELP Yelp In the heart of downtown Galena lies the local landmark DeSoto House Hotel, which once welcomed historic figures like Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. Established in 1855, the hotel has been home to many strange happenings according to guests who have stayed there. A former guest advises those seeking a spooky stay to book rooms on the third floor, as people are often heard partying on the phantom floor above (the building only has three levels). They also say that the hallways have a "delightfully sinister curve" leaving guests wondering what, or who, might be waiting for them around the bend. While the hotel has not confirmed whether it's haunted or not, it does say, "if one listens closely enough, one can hear the DeSoto's rich heritage whispering of historic conversations and music from grand balls of days gone by," on their official website. Jerome Grand Hotel in Jerome, Arizona Haunted hotels via YELP YELP The Jerome Grand Hotel was once a hospital that dates back to 1926. It was then converted into a hotel in 1996. Once occupied by multiple patients, the eerie place has been described as a "hotbed of spirit activity" by one former guest. Another user wrote, "I felt like I was being watched" immediately after checking in. They also said the hotel has a photo album on display with spooky figures captured in the background. The map that indicates which rooms are situated in the old hospital wings, like the sanitarium, add to the spookiness. Multiple Yelp users recommend booking Jerome's ghost tours to get the full history of the haunted hotspots in the Arizona town. Miami Biltmore Hotel in Miami, Florida Haunted hotels via YELP YELP While it may look like a luxury hotel from the outside, the Miami Biltmore Hotel supposedly hosts various spirits who may have been trapped there since its opening in 1926. In a detailed review, one former guest said they experienced a number of paranormal oddities without knowing that the hotel is allegedly haunted. They said a strong rose scent would waft into their room and the radio would often change stations on its own. The strangest occurrence was perhaps when the terrace doors started shaking at random. "While I was in the elevator I met a nice young man who asked me what floor to press," the user wrote. After pressing the ninth floor, the young man said he "woke up in the middle of the night to his bed shaking" in his room on the eighth floor. "He then told me that the hotel was known to be haunted," the user continued. For more information, check out Yelp's full list of the "Most Haunted Hotels in the U.S." Oct. 23Outside Republican groups have reportedly canceled millions in TV ads supporting Don Bolduc's campaign, leaving Sen. Maggie Hassan with an even bigger advertising advantage. On Friday, tracking firm AdImpact Politics reported that the Senate Leadership Fund, a political action committee aligned with Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), had canceled more than $5 million in advertising reservations on Boston and Portland television stations that reach New Hampshire viewers. The Senate Leadership Fund had booked the airtime earlier this month, just as the National Republican Senatorial Committee, an arm of the national Republican party, pulled out of the state. The shift baffled some political observers in New Hampshire after a poll last week, commissioned by Bolduc's campaign, showed a narrower gap between Hassan's support and Bolduc's. "Seems odd given recent polling showing race within the margin," tweeted longtime Republican leader Tom Rath. Others wondered whether Bolduc's campaign released the poll Friday knowing the Senate Majority Leadership Fund was pulling out. The shift will mean Bolduc is relying more on grassroots fundraising, less-expensive online advertising and in-person events to meet voters. Bolduc has scheduled several town hall-style events across the state this week and has been a frequent sight at non-political community events through the fall. For her part, Hassan has an agenda packed with rallies for supporters and visits to small businesses and is set to campaign with Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in southern New Hampshire in the coming days. Primary is prologue? Bolduc faced a fundraising disadvantage leading up to September's Republican primary as well. But he was able to prevail in the primary despite having little formal campaign infrastructure and being outspent by opponents working with seasoned New Hampshire political operatives. In the crowded Republican primaries for House and Senate races this year, Federal Election Commission records released last week show the candidates who spent the most weren't victorious. Story continues State Senate Majority Leader Chuck Morse raised $1.7 million for the campaign that saw him run a close second to Bolduc, who took in only about $800,000 through Sept. 30, according to FEC filings. With five candidates seriously campaigning, Bolduc also had to capture a much narrower slice of votes than usual to prevail. Bolduc won with a little more than 37% of the primary vote, with a margin of just over 2,000 votes over Morse. The filings aren't a perfect picture of who spent the most, as the filing period ended a little more than two weeks after the Sept. 13 primary. None of the candidates who won those primaries not Bolduc, not Republican nominee Karoline Leavitt in the 1st Congressional District and not nominee Robert Burns in the Second Congressional District were neither the most prolific fundraisers in the races nor the candidates who spent the most. Leavitt was outraised and outspent by Matt Mowers and Gail Huff Brown in the 1st District primary. Huff Brown and Mowers both raised more than $1 million Mowers raised almost $1.8 million before they were knocked out of the race on Sept. 13. As of Sept. 30, Leavitt had taken in just shy of $1 million. In the 2nd District, Burns trailed Keene Mayor George Hansel in fundraising, though his candidacy may have been buoyed by a September ad funded by Democratic groups, which suggested Burns was more conservative and Trump-like than Hansel. jgrove@unionleader.com While the U.S. has brought out the pumpkins whether carved, spiced for lattes, baked into bread or all of the above Mexico is preparing for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) or, in certain parts of the countrys Yucatan region, Hanal Pixan, the Mayan version of Dia de los Muertos. And contrary to popular misconceptions, Halloween has nothing to do with Mexicos celebrations on Nov. 1 to 2. Particularly not with Hanal Pixan, which means food for the souls, and is a time families prepare special meals to honor ancestors theyve lost. More from WWD Sometimes it gets a little confused, the Hanal Pixan and the Dia de los Muertos with Halloween because its so close, says Sergio Zarate, executive chef at Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun All-Inclusive Spa Resort, where one of the meals in particular is prepared for guests. In previous roles, Zarate was private chef to the royal family of Bahrain. But I think, and the way we Mexicans look at it, it is kind of more like a Thanksgiving because its remembering from our past, our families and all those who have died, and its a way to honor them. For Hanal Pixan, a large feast is offered for the souls departed and placed on an altar, often alongside other tokens, like photographs of loved ones, marigold flowers and candles. The idea is that those passed on will be ushered home during this period to eat and be honored by their family. Hanal Pixan, according to Zarate, whos from Mexico City, is celebrated more in the in the rural towns, in los pueblitos con la familia [in the little towns with the family]. One of the traditional Mayan meals on the menu is mukbil pollo. In Mayan, muk means to bury and bil means to stir or mix. The dish, when done traditionally, is assembled above ground and then buried for cooking. As Zarate says, its kind of like a very old school barbecue, but its all covered in plantain leaves and its left there to cook overnight. Story continues The result is what the chef describes as a sort of large tamale filled with a mixture of chicken, pork, local epazote (a Central American herb) and spices. Chef Sergio Zarate While guests at Grand Fiesta Americana have a chance to sample it prepared in an oven, the Mayan women who work alongside Zarate would prefer the dish prepared underground, in keeping with tradition. We cook it here in the ovens but it still comes out good, he says. We couldnt cook it under the sand the hotels right on the beach, so the sand is very humid and it wouldnt come out properly anyway. The main point, Zarate says, is to maintain tradition. With all this globalization and all these people coming from the small towns and living in bigger cities, they want to embrace the new culture, he says. Its like theyre losing touch with tradition, which is, in my opinion, what we have. Its our roots. Below, Zarates recipe for mukbil pollo (for oven preparation, unless you have access to mountainside terrain to dig into). Mukbil Pollo This delicacy is prepared for the celebration of the Day of the Dead. It is believed that through this dish we can get a connection between the world of the living and the world of the dead. Known as Hanal Pixan (food for the souls) Yucatecan people wait for this season to create this masterpiece of the culinary world. Made of nixtamalized corn [a traditional preparation where dried kernels are cooked and steeped in an alkaline solution, usually water and food-grade lime], lard, chicken and a bunch of condiments that form a kind of enormous tamal, wrapped in banana leaves, then buried and cooked slowly using the heat of incandescent stones. Chef Sergio Zarate Ingredients: Corn dough 2 kg (4.4 lbs) A bit of corn flour 100 gr (3.5 oz) Lard 200 gr (7 oz) 1 whole chicken 200 gr (nearly half a pound) ground pork 1 cup xpelon beans (can also be substituted with black beans) Achiote paste 50 gr (1.75 oz) Salt (to taste) 2 red tomatoes julienned 1 large onion 1 sprig epazote (also known as Mexican tea, a Central American herb with notes of oregano, anise, citrus and mint) 4 bay leaves 4 garlic cloves Habanero peppers (to taste) Banana leaves (previously washed and rinsed) Start cooking the chicken in cold water, add bay leaf, whole black peppercorn, half onion and two cloves of garlic and a pinch of salt. Once everything is cooked, set aside the meat and separate the broth. Pour the broth into a skillet. (You will need about four cups.) Dissolve the achiote in the broth and add a bit of salt; add some corn flour to the broth to make a thick sauce, called Mayan kol, in which the chicken will finish cooking. Mix the corn dough with the lard, add salt achiote paste to give the dough that special color. Add the xpelon (or black) beans. To make the corn dough base, cover the bottom of a roasting pan with the banana leaves, put masa (dough) on the leaves, giving it the shape of the pan. Save some masa for the end, in order to form the cover of the dish. Shred the chicken and saute with the remaining onion, garlic, julienned tomatoes and epazote leaves. Finally, put the lid of masa on top, wrap the whole with the banana leaves. Preheat the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for about an hour and a half. Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. In the era of his undisputed commercial sovereignty, Elton Johns record sales were so spectacular that its easy to overlook some of the detail. Its often noted that he became the first artist ever to debut at No.1 on the Billboard album chart, with Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy. Less often repeated is the fact that he did it again with his follow-up, Rock Of The Westies and, perhaps most remarkably of all, that album was released just five months later, on October 24, 1975. Why spoil a good pun? The title was a typical example of Eltons humor, and a description of an album made West of the Rockies. For the third studio album in a row, he and his musical retinue decamped to the Caribou Ranch in Colorado strictly speaking, south-east of the Rocky Mountains, but why spoil a good pun? The new challenge was to follow an album that Elton has continued to describe as his best-ever. Rock Of The Westies resumed the song-by-song approach that had preceded the deeply autobiographical Captain Fantastic, and was made with both familiar accomplices and new studio blood. Davey Johnstone and Ray Cooper retained their roles in the group, but Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson were replaced on bass and drums, respectively, by the American Kenny Passarelli and Eltons old friend Roger Pope. It almost goes without saying that all nine new songs were John-Taupin collaborations, and that Gus Dudgeon was in the producers chair once again. A widespread winner The album was introduced by the bouncy lead single, Island Girl, which came out a month earlier. The Caribbean flavour to the lyrics was mirrored by the instrumentation, with Cooper on marimba as well as conga and tambourine. The song was a widespread winner, with Top 20 placings in the UK and Australia, but really rang the bell in the US, where it went to No.1 in just its fourth week on the Hot 100. Aptly, the record it succeeded was Bad Blood, by Neil Sedaka, whose career had been spectacularly revived by his deal with Eltons Rocket Records, and whose single featured guest vocals by the label boss. Outside of his North American deal with MCA, Rock Of The Westies would be Eltons last studio album on DJM, before he himself switched to Rocket. Story continues Island Girl stayed at the US top spot for three weeks, providing the perfect curtain-raiser for Rock Of The Westies. Cooper, now in his percussive pomp, played a suitably extravagant array of instruments throughout, also including cowbell, jawbone, castanets, bell tree, vibraphone, shaker, wind chimes, maracas, and kettle drums. Johnstone was much in evidence on electric guitar and Kiki Dee sang backing vocals on most of the record. Growing some funk of his own Rock Of The Westies opened, boldly, with a medley featuring three separate song elements, Yell Help, Wednesday Night,and Ugly. Frequent accomplice James Newton Howard played Hohner clavinet, ARP synthesiser and harpsichord, and was much featured elsewhere on electric piano and synthesizer. Soul trio Labelle provided backing vocals. The ensuing Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future) had been Eltons preference as a single instead of Island Girl. It featured detail from Johnstone on voice bag, the device that found fame as a vocoder the following year on Peter Framptons Show Me The Way. Island Girl was followed by the two songs that formed the only other single from the set, which came from opposite ends of Johns repertoire. Grow Some Funk Of Your Own (which had an additional writing credit for Johnstone) was an out-and-out rocker with a humorous Taupin lyric about an amorous tourist being told in no uncertain times where to go by a possessive boyfriend. I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford) was a fine ballad that was generally underrated, but helped the double-A-side to a No.14 peak in the US. The second half of the album featured another extended rocker, Street Kids, among a number of lesser-celebrated Elton entries that also included the pensive, midtempo Hard Luck Story. That song had previously been recorded by Dee, another Rocket signing. Feed Me was a more soulfully-rendered piece, with the lush harmonies that pervaded much of the album, and the closing Billy Bones And The White Bird gave it an upbeat finale with a Bo Diddley beat and heavy percussion. Reaching new heights Rock Of The Westies debuted at No.1 in America on Billboards November 8 chart, succeeding Jefferson Starships Red Octopus. Its three-week rule gave Elton a remarkable total of 15 weeks atop the chart, including five with Elton Johns Greatest Hits and seven (in total) for Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy. Listen to the best of Elton John on Apple Music and Spotify. Three days before Rock Of The Westies release, he received a star on Hollywoods Walk Of Fame, as part of Elton John Week. He was now reaching heights previously achieved solely by The Beatles, the only previous music act to play at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Eltons famous concert there on October 26 had him playing in Dodgers uniform, suitably besequinned. The following March, in London, he became the first rock star since The Beatles to be immortalised in wax at Madame Tussauds. Buy or stream Rock Of The Westies. For the latest music news and exclusive features, check out uDiscover Music. uDiscover Music is operated by Universal Music Group (UMG). Some recording artists included in uDiscover Music articles are affiliated with UMG. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during calls with Western defense chiefs on Sunday warned that Ukraine is preparing to use a radioactive dirty bomb in an alleged provocation amid the ongoing war. American officials said the claims were transparently false and possibly a pretext for Russia to launch the type of attack it was supposedly worried about. Shoigu reportedly made the claims in calls to his counterparts in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Turkey. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in the Sunday call rejected any pretext for Russian escalation and reaffirmed the value of continued communication amid Russias unlawful and unjustified war against Ukraine, according to a readout from the Pentagon. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also spoke Sunday with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, rejecting Shoigus transparently false allegations and expressing confidence that the world would see through any attempt by Russia to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation, according to a readout of the call. A readout of Shoigus call with British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace notes that the Russian minister alleged that Ukraine was planning actions facilitated by Western countries, including the UK, to escalate the conflict in Ukraine. Wallace, like Austin, reportedly refuted the allegations and warned that Russia shouldnt use the allegations as pretext for greater escalation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday accused Shoigu of conducting a phone carousel to spread the allegations. Where Ukraine is, life is never destroyed. But wherever Russia comes, it leaves behind mass graves, torture chambers, destroyed cities and villages, mined land, destroyed infrastructure and natural disasters, Zelensky said in a daily address. So when today the Russian Minister of Defense organizes a phone carousel and calls foreign ministers with stories about the so-called dirty nuclear bomb, everyone understands everything well. [Everyone] understands who is the source of everything dirty that can be imagined in this war. Story continues Zelensky said the Russia allegation means one thing: Russia has already prepared all this. Russias warning of dirty bombs is only the latest remarks from Moscow to draw warnings of a false flag operation. Russia has also said that Ukraine is manufacturing biological weapons with U.S. support, a claim that drew warnings from the U.S. that Russia might use such weapons in the war. And over the past week, Ukrainian officials and experts studying the war have warned that Russias claims that Ukraine might destroy a key dam on the Dnieper River near Kherson indicates Moscow is preparing to blow up the bridge. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Floor-to-ceiling glass-encased hotel rooms have traditionally been found only in urban, high-rise buildings. Until now. Seth and Tori Bolt, owners of Bolt Farm atop Whitwell Mountain in Whitwell, Tennessee, have created the ultimate best-of-both-worlds scenario with their newest endeavor: a Mirror Cabin mountainside village. These glass cabins drop a modern, sleek 200-square-foot hotel room in the middle of the woods with nothing separating the natural beauty of the outdoors from the climate-controlled interior but a sheet of two-way mirrored glass. What elevates the Mirror Cabins above mere glamping is the seamless environment the unobstructed views bring to the experience, and in this case, the finishing touches the Bolts have become known for, such as engaging all of the five senses with music, scent diffusers and, of course, the breathtaking views. All-inclusive: Kids stay free at these 10 family-friendly all-inclusive resorts Las Vegas' Sahara hotel celebrates 70 years: Take a peek into the property's past Bolt Farm Treehouse near Whitwell, Tenn., has recently added mirrored cabins to their 55-acre nature retreat atop Whitwell Mountain. The mirrored cabins are the first of their kind in the United States. Before the makers of these Mirror Cabins, a company based in Estonia called OOD, would sell their mirror pods to the Bolts, they had to come see the property for themselves. Jacque Baumer, head of U.S. for OOD Group and Jaak Tiik, co-founder of OOD Group and the designer of the hotel units, traveled to Whitwell to ensure the setting was right for their product. "We were impressed with both the beautiful location with its stunning views and gorgeous rock outcroppings, as well as with the attention to detail and the level of care that the Bolt Farm Team put into their guests' experience," Baumer said. "We have now sold more than 200 houses in over 20 countries, but we are new to the U.S. market, so it is very important to us that the first locations showcasing our product share our vision of offering quality nature experiences in beautiful locations without compromising on any comforts. After all, being a mirror product, we only look as good as our surroundings." Story continues Bolt Farm Treehouse owners Seth and Tori Bolt, seen here on Sep 22, 2022, have recently added mirrored cabins to their 55-acre nature retreat atop Whitwell Mountain in Whitwell, Tennessee. The mirrored cabins are the first of their kind in the United States. She added that while some units have been sold to private customers in the U.S., Bolt Farm Treehouse is the first vacation rental location that will have the company's mirror houses available for booking. The other dwellings at Bolt Farm Treehouse, along with its sister property in Walhalla, South Carolina, include treehouses and domes, both offering views of the Sequatchie Valley from the Bolt property atop the steep escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau just outside Chattanooga. There are two treehouses, eight domes and five mirror cabins on the Tennessee property. Bolt Farm Treehouse owners Seth and Tori Bolt, seen here on Sep 22, 2022, have recently added mirrored cabins to their 55-acre nature retreat atop Whitwell Mountain in Whitwell, Tennessee. The mirrored cabins are the first of their kind in the United States. "This rift valley we are on, you can actually see it from space," Tori Bolt said. "Our view is of an identical mountain and plateau 6 miles away on the other side of the valley. Its really a rare geographical feature and that was intriguing to us." Since the Bolts opened their Tennessee location in June of 2021, they have experienced a 97% occupancy rate in the treehouses and domes. The couple recently added 37 acres to Bolt Farm, bringing the property to 55 acres atop Whitwell Mountain, which feels far away from everything but is only 30 minutes from Chattanooga, two hours from Nashville and 2 hours from Birmingham, Alabama, Atlanta and Knoxville. We spent the day with the Bolts at the Tennessee property and came up with four things you need to know about Bolt Farm and the Mirror Cabin experience. 1. Relax and stay put or relax and get out The root of every dwelling at Bolt Farm is to provide relaxation and an opportunity to reconnect with nature. Each unit offers stunning views and as much outdoor patio space as indoor space to encourage guests to sit and read, enjoy the view or seek inspiration. Whether your vehicle of choice is a patio lounge chair, hammock or Adirondack chair, all are available to fuel relaxation. Bolt Farm Treehouse owners Seth and Tori Bolt take in the view from their cabins atop Whitwell Mountain in Whitwell, Tennessee on Sep 22, 2022. They have recently added mirrored cabins to their 55-acre nature retreat. The mirrored cabins are the first of their kind in the United States. But if sitting isn't your speed, the area boasts multiple activities to get you connected to the outdoors via land, water or air. The Bolt property has hiking trails, waterfalls, a cave and an adjoining 5,000-acre nature preserve. Off the property but close by is Flying Camp Paragliding, Savage Gulf State Park, which has miles of hiking trails, Buntlington Farms for horseback riding, ATV tours with Mud Miners, and boat rentals from Hales Bar Marina. "Some guests come just to stay and to be, to recharge or disconnect," Seth Bolt said. "We encourage our guests to disconnect from technology because something magical happens when you are overwhelmed by the beauty of nature and you have some quiet time. Some folks will stay during the week and do a little 'work from dome' escape and change up their scenery." 2. You can be a Mirror Cabin pioneer Seth Bolt, who has traveled the world with his band NEEDTOBREATHE, first encountered a mirror cabin in Scandinavia. He and Tori Bolt stayed in one in Mexico, but the Mirror Cabins at Bolt Farm are among the first of their kind in the United States. "We view the architecture as part of the experience," Seth Bolt said. "Our tree houses are five-sided; they are not a box. The domes are a hemisphere. The Mirror Cabins are completely reflective. All of those things are a nice catalyst to allow people to become immediately inspired because of the environment they are in. We are big believers that our environments shape who we are." These Mirror Cabins are made of recyclable thick soundproof glass that reflects 97% of UV rays for comfort and energy-efficiency. 3. Cabins come with indoor and outdoor amenities Once you inside the Mirror Cabin, the space includes a bed, countertop with seating, a small kitchenette, heated floors and a full bathroom with rainfall shower surrounded with mirrored glass, creating the feeling of a shower in the woods. The Bolts have stocked each cabin with an analog record player with Bluetooth speaker, fresh coffee beans, a hand grinder and a French press, and yummy shower soaps and lotions. The cabin does come with privacy blackout curtains, since you can see in when the cabin is illuminated on the inside after dark. The curtains double as a movie screen for the projector mounted above the bed so guests can stream their favorite movies. "Part of our process is we live in the structure before anyone else stays in it," Seth Bolt said. "We make it comfortable enough that wed be thrilled to live in it full time. That proves to us we know people will have an epic week or weekend living in it as well." Outside, the Mirror Cabins feature their own private patios complete with a fire pit, patio seating, hot tub, barbecue grill and pizza oven. 4. You need to plan ahead The Mirror Cabins are mostly booked through the end of the year. The Bolts recently opened dates for 2023, so to be among the first to experience this unique woodsy hotel room, you need to plan ahead. Rates start at $395 (excluding taxes and fees) a night and have a two-night minimum during the week and a three-night minimum on weekends. There are also optional VIP experiences that can be themed for romance, birthdays or proposals. Bolt Farm Treehouse housekeeper Kathy Stewart cleans the outside of a mirrored cabin on Sep 22, 2022, in preparation for the first guests to arrive. The company has recently added 5 mirrored cabins to their 55-acre nature retreat atop Whitwell Mountain in Whitwell, Tennessee. The mirrored cabins are the first of their kind in the United States. These 'Elevated Experience' packages include items such as a pizza kit to make your own wood-fired pizza, Bolt Farm Treehouse scented candle, campfire starter kit, ingredients to make s'mores, bottle of wine and Bolt Farm coffee mugs. Prices range from $149 to $299 for the extra packages. The cabin kitchenettes come stocked with cooking essentials, but owners recommend arriving with groceries, hiring a private chef to do the cooking for you, or visiting one of the area restaurants, such as Top of The Rock Brewery in nearby Jasper, Tennessee, The Chef's Restaurant in Whitwell, or Whitebird or Hennen's in Chattanooga. The Bolts have created a unique environment that allows guests to be both immersed in nature and surrounded by comfort. "We understand how difficult it can be to find a travel experience where you can reconnect and have a top-of-the-world experience," Seth Bolt said. "We've done that here with intentional design, epic views and the best Southern hospitality you could ask for." Melonee Hurt covers growth and development at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. Reach Melonee at mhurt@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What to know about Tennessee's first Mirror Cabins Film and TV studio MRC is shelving a completed documentary focused on Kanye West in the wake of his recent anti-Semitic comments. CEOs Modi Wiczyk and Asif Satchu and COO Scott Tenley announced the decision in an open letter published Monday, which condemned the artist now known as Ye for "mainstreaming" anti-Semitism in the modern era. "This morning, after discussion with our filmmakers and distribution partners, we made the decision not to proceed with any distribution for our recently completed documentary about Kanye West," the letter began. "We cannot support any content that amplifies his platform." "Kanye is a producer and sampler of music," the statement continued. "Last week he sampled and remixed a classic tune that has charted for over 3000 years the lie that Jews are evil and conspire to control the world for their own gain. This song was performed acapella in the time of the Pharaohs, Babylon and Rome, went acoustic with the Spanish Inquisition and Russia's Pale of Settlement, and Hitler took the song electric." Kanye West attends the Fast Company Innovation Festival - Day 3 Arrivals on November 07, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for Fast Company) Brad Barket/Getty Images Studio shelves completed Kanye West documentary in light of anti-Semitic remarks West has "now helped mainstream" this message, the trio said. "The silence from leaders and corporations when it comes to Kanye or anti-Semitism, in general, is dismaying but not surprising. What is new and sad is the fear Jews have about speaking out in their own defense." The executives wrote that the following "lies" fuel anti-Semitic rhetoric: "If you support Israel's right to exist, you are a racist. If you are a Jew, you support Israel's right to exist. Therefore, if you are Jewish, you are a racist." And, "as leaders of this company (a Jew, a Muslim, and a Christian), we feel duty bound to say to all of you this is a pernicious, terrible use of false logic," the trio said. "If you hear or encounter the perpetuation of these intolerances and falsehoods, please let us know," Wiczyk and co. concluded. "It is totally unacceptable. And to those who are afraid to use their voice, hopefully this encourages you to do so." Story continues The studio declined to comment on West's involvement in the documentary. The rapper was also recently the subject of the Netflix documentary jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy. A Netflix source confirmed to EW that jeen-yuhs will remain available to stream, noting the distinction between the subject and creator of the project, that there is no anti-Semitism in the doc, and the fact the streamer has other projects about figures who become controversial but it is not customary to pull the titles. Earlier this month, West made numerous remarks about Jewish people on social media including a screenshot conversation with Sean "Diddy" Combs that appeared to claim that Combs is being manipulated by Jewish people that led to restrictions on Instagram and Twitter. He also made controversial comments during his Fox News interview with Tucker Carlson, wherein he insinuated that Donald Trump's former senior advisor Jared Kushner, who is Jewish, brokered peace treaties in Israel in order "to make money." Balenciaga, the fashion powerhouse that collaborated with Ye on his Yeezy Gap line, has since cut ties with the embattled rapper, as has his talent agency CAA. Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. Related content: WASHINGTON Associate Justice Clarence Thomas on Monday temporarily blocked a grand jury in Georgia from subpoenaing Sen. Lindsey Graham over his involvement in the state after the 2020 election while the Supreme Court considers his appeal. Graham, a South Carolina Republican and close ally of former President Donald Trump, on Friday had asked the Supreme Court to intervene to block the subpoena. The high court asked for additional written arguments in the litigation by Thursday evening. Thomas' temporary stay will hold any action in the case until those briefs are reviewed. Thomas handles emergency appeals from Georgia and can act on the request himself or refer it to the full court. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) speaks during a news conference to announce a new bill that would enact a national ban on abortions after the 15-week mark. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit had ruled Thursday in favor of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who wants to question Graham about phone calls he made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in the weeks after the election. Willis has until Thursday evening to respond to Graham's emergency appeal to the high court. Contributing: Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court temporarily pauses Sen. Lindsey Graham subpoena battle Tim Burton Having been famously fired (then re-hired) by Walt Disney Studios for creating what they believed was too scary of a kids movie with his 30-minute short Frankenweenie, the king of spooky Tim Burton has had quite a tumultuous relationship with the studio. Although their collaborations on Alice In Wonderland and the stop-motion Frankenweenie indicated some of their past issues were resolved, a certain flying elephant may have ended things between Burton and Disney for the foreseeable future. The Dumbo director spoke about his falling out with the company while attending the Lumiere Festival in France, where the filmmaker was honored with the Prix Lumiere award this past weekend. Read more My history is that I started out there. I was hired and fired like several times throughout my career there, said Burton, per Deadline. The thing about Dumbo, is thats why I think my days with Disney are done, I realized that I was Dumbo, that I was working in this horrible big circus and I needed to escape. That movie is quite autobiographical at a certain level. If there were ever a group of movies to break someone creatively, its pretty unsurprising that Disneys recent live-action remakes would be at the front of the pack. Yet, Burton also noted that he just doesnt feel all that compelled by the studios current slate of all things superheroes and Star Wars shows. Its gotten to be very homogenized, very consolidated. Theres less room for different types of things, he said, before adding that its highly unlikely we would see him doing a darker MCU film, a la his 1989 Batman. I can only deal with one universe, l cant deal with a multi-universe. Thankfully, there are no multiverses of madness in Burtons upcoming Netflix series Wednesdayjust plenty of the directors beloved gothic imagery mixed in with Jenna Ortegas Wednesday Adams being her usual chaotic self. Story continues More from The A.V. Club Sign up for The A.V. Club's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images ANCHORAGE, AlaskaWhen Alaska politicians dutifully trek to the annual convention of Alaska Natives each election season, they come to gladhand, take selfies, and trot out their shaky Yupik and Inupiaq greetings to an appreciative crowd. But on Saturday, Republican hopeful Kelly Tshibaka came to the U.S. Senate candidate forum with one goal: throwing every possible punch at Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Tshibaka, a 43-year old America First hardliner and Harvard-educated attorney, executed her goal with a prosecutors single-minded determination. Before a packed crowd, she teed off on the $1 trillion infrastructure bill, which Murkowski helped write, as a fatally flawed boondoggle. She decried having Alaskas voice used to push through radical nominees and red-flag gun control, references to Murkowskis recent Senate votes. And she all but stated that Murkowski was bought and paid for by special interests and dark money. Bipartisan Group of Female Senators Condemn NYTs Coverage of Sinemas Fashion If Murkowski was fazed, she only showed it briefly. Onstage, Tshibaka repeatedly suggested that the incumbent lacked the influence to deliver fully for Alaskaemphasizing in particular that Murkowski lacked the chairmanship of the powerful Natural Resources Committee. In fact, Murkowski hadnt failed to win that postshe held it so long that, under Senate GOP rules, she had to give it up. The reason I am no longer the chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee is because I've been there for six years, Murkowski said. And six years? Pretty good. At that line, the vastly pro-Murkowski crowd erupted in applause. As a reflection of the state of the race between Murkowski and Tshibaka, the display was, in fact, pretty good. With three weeks to go until Election Day, Murkowskithe dealmaking centrist with a penchant for frustrating both parties and a relentless parochial focus on Alaskais favored to cement her reputation as her states ultimate political survivor. Story continues After two decades in office, Murkowski has built up a vast reserve of ill will among Alaska Republicans. Tshibaka may have bet that, after the senators vote to impeach Donald Trump for Jan. 6, her long-running ability to defy partisan politics and get away with it had run out. While Tshibaka is running a hard-edged and aggressive campaign that leans into partisan fights, the audience for them in Alaska may prove limited as it appeared to be at the Alaska Native convention. In an interview on the sidelines of the convention this weekend, Murkowski allowed a concern that her famously independent and idiosyncratic home state might be growing as polarized as the rest of the country. These are more partisan times, there is no doubt about that, Murkowski said. As much as I like to think that Alaska is where we can be insulated by stuff that goes on in the Lower 48, because geographically we're not connected there. we are part of that, and our politics are also part of that. For some candidates, they feel like theres a partisan set of talking points that if youre a Republican, this is the script, she continued. And I think we see some of that reflected in Kelly Tshibakas approach. Donald Trump Endorses Homophobic, Twilight-Hating Murkowski Rival A Murkowski victory in November which is seen as likely by Alaska political insiders, could have implications that reverberate well beyond the borders of the Last Frontier, affecting the battle for the future of the GOP and the future of one of Americas most politically unusual states. Like so many other Republicans before her, Murkowski might have been replaced with yet another MAGA warrior if Alaska hadnt changed its election system. For 2022, the state did away with closed party primaries, a structure that likely would have doomed Murkowski. In the August open primary, she placed first, with 45 percent of the vote to Tshibakas 38 percent. In November, voters will rank the three Senate candidatesMurkowski, Tshibaka, and one Democrat, Pat Chesbroin order of preference, with their second choices earning their votes if no candidate gets a majority of support on the initial ballot. That system, called ranked choice voting, could not be more favorable to Murkowski, who has survived challenge after challenge in Alaska by winning over a diverse array of voters. The changes are a big reason why many insiders expect Murkowski to fend off the spirited challenge from Tshibaka. Murkowski acknowledges those reforms critical role in allowing her to compete as fiercely as she has. I have always been a coalition builder, she told The Daily Beast. In any campaign that Ive been part of, its been about, how do we broaden our community herenot just catering to a partisan base. GOP Sen. Murkowski: House Was Right to Impeach Trump But the other reason Murkowski is favored to win adds a dimension of intrigue and significance for what the race means for the future of the GOPand its far more uncomfortable for the longtime senator. While Tshibaka has resorted to attacking Murkowski anywhere and any way she can, Murkowski has had a powerful ally doing the dirty work for her: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Through his Senate Leadership Fund PAC, McConnell is spending north of $6 million to blanket Alaska with ads attacking Tshibaka on her ethical record. While Tshibaka has raised a considerable amount of money for her campaign, she has little outside help, and is badly outgunned on local TV airwaves, where the ads attacking her are ubiquitous. After her appearance in Anchorage on Saturday, a fuming Tshibaka told reporters that McConnells involvement in the race was nothing less than fundamentally un-American and an absolute desecration of democracy. Asked what she thinks of the relentless barrage of negative ads, Murkowski was careful in her answers. Thats partially because its illegal for a candidate to send any kind of explicit message to an outside super PAC. But its also because they undercut the sober, issues-based campaign that Murkowski herself is trying to run. You get the media people who say negative works, and that's what you see out here, Murkowski said. I talked to people who really wish it weren't that way. I wish it werent that way. I feel like as a candidate, I've got an obligation to tell people what I've done and what I hope to do, and let them then make the decision as to whether or not we continue with that. GOP Senator Disturbed by McConnells Total Coordination With White House But asked if she would rather the ads not run, Murkowski declined to answer. I am a really bad person to ask about that, she said. You should probably talk to my comms team, because I am so busy doing my day job and doing the campaigning. Notably, she also ventured a defense of the ads content. I recognize, though, that some of the things that SLF has put up, you may view them as negative, but theyre factual. With McConnells relationship to Trump and the MAGA wing already abysmal, his all-out effort to protect Murkowski threatens to drive the rift even wider. The Kentuckian has also quickly become persona non grata among the GOP base in Alaska, which has long despised the incumbent Republican. Loran Baxter, a retired civil engineer from Anchorage who was in the convention audience supporting Tshibaka, supported an effort in his local Republican Party precinct to formally censure the Kentucky senator. He was especially upset given that SLF has triaged GOP candidates running in other states, like Arizona and New Hampshire, where defeating incumbent Democrats could return Republicans to the majority. Its really, really frustrating, because the swamp runs deep, Baxter told The Daily Beast. Theres a lot of Republicans in the swamp, too. Asked whether she worries GOP dollars spent in Alaska could sway the majority elsewhere, Murkowski had a simple response: Mitch doesnt do anything by accident. There are decisions that are being made about where his Leadership Fund spends money, and, in my view, theyre probably pretty well researched, with an absolute goal towards the end, she said. Meanwhile, Tshibaka has leveraged McConnells involvement to cast doubt on Murkowskis reputation as an independent thinker. She described his thinking to reporters as, Murkowski is a vote that I can control, shes somebody I can move this way and that way. But McConnell knows better than anyone else that Murkowski has, historically, been one of the likeliest senators to buck the party line. According to ProPublica, in this session of Congress, she has voted against the majority of Senate Republicans on 332 votes, or 41 percent of the time. In 2017, she had a hand in one of the biggest failures of McConnells careerthe defeat of the bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. It could be, ultimately, that the GOP leader has the same relationship with Murkowski that many Alaska voters dowhich, perhaps more than anything else, could explain why she is poised to return to Washington for another six years. Even on those votes that she takes that I disagree with her on, I trust that she weighs all the sides, and decides what she thinks is best for Alaska, said Debra OGara, an attorney and Alaska Native from the town of Petersburg. Asked if she thought enough Alaska voters felt similarly, OGara had a quick answer: yes. Alaska, she said, is not dumb. 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. WASHINGTON Before voters head to the polls, parties head to court. A bevy of lawsuits are pending in state and federal courts in the run-up to the November midterm election, in which voters will decide control of Congress and choose who gets to occupy three dozen governor's mansions. Many of those suits have origins in laws approved in response to false claims of widespread fraud in 2020. "It's pretty common to see both sides of the aisle throw down lawsuits in the weeks leading up to an election," said Sylvia Albert, director of voting and elections for Common Cause. "What's different about litigation this year is it's directly tied to the 2020 election and the 'big lie,' meant to discourage voters from coming out to cast a ballot, and to lower their confidence in the outcome of our elections." Here's a look at some of the litigation in play. What's happening in court ahead of the midterm election? Dozens of lawsuits are cropping up in battleground states across the country, many challenging laws approved after the 2020 election. The Brennan Center for Justice was monitoring nearly 100 cases in early October. Many of the lawsuits deal with the way absentee ballots are handled. Conservatives say changes are needed to ensure faith in elections but progressives see an effort to disenfranchise voters who are more likely to vote for Democratic candidates. It's not clear how many of the cases will be resolved before voters head to the polls on Nov. 8. Additional litigation after the voting is over is virtually guaranteed. Where are the election lawsuits? Virtually everywhere, including in states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada and Arizona that will likely determine which party controls the Senate next year. Some of the cases, including one in Pennsylvania dealing with absentee ballots, may still change the rules for how certain types of ballots are cast. Other cases, such as a consolidated lawsuit in federal court in Georgia, are unlikely to have an impact before Nov. 8. Story continues Voters cast their ballots on Sept. 23, 2022, in Minneapolis Will the Supreme Court weigh in? In many ways, it already has. The Supreme Court jumped into redistricting disputes this year in North Carolina, Alabama and Wisconsin. In February, a 5-4 majority allowed Alabama to rely on a congressional map that a lower court said likely denied Black voters in that state an additional opportunity to elect their preferred candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. A month later, it tossed out a map of Wisconsin's state legislative districts that included an additional majority-Black district. Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter More: Do you have questions about the 2022 midterm election? USA TODAY is here to help More: Supreme Court delves into Alabama brawl over race, redistricting and Voting Rights Act But it's also the case that the Supreme Court has been hesitant to jump into voting cases as Election Day approaches. In 2006, the high court signaled that courts shouldn't tinker with an election at the last minute, an idea known as the Purcell principle. "My sense is that, this close to the election, unless it is people being overtly denied access to a polling location or absentee ballots, we're not going to see any big decisions" from the Supreme Court, said Caren Short, director of legal and research for the League of Women Voters. Pennsylvania: Litigating the date Pennsylvania Republicans have been fighting for years over a provision in state law that requires voters to sign and date absentee ballot envelopes. The question is whether voters who fail to date the envelope or who mark down the wrong date will have their votes counted. State election officials have provided guidance to counties that those ballots should be counted as long as they are received on time. The Republican National Committee and a group of voters are asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to intervene and invalidate the state guidance before the Nov. 8 election and to segregate any ballots already received that have a missing or incorrect date. On Friday, the court agreed to decide the case and ordered the parties to submit briefs in coming days. "The time for the court to act is now," the suit asserts. Without intervention, Republicans argue, counties may provide "unequal treatment of otherwise identical ballots." The fight has already made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court twice this year. The high court sided with Republicans on Oct.11, vacating a ruling from the Philadelphia-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit that the ballots must be counted. The Keystone State is home to one of the nation's highest profile Senate contests between Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz. A Michigan voter inserts her absentee voter ballot into a drop box in Troy, Mich on Oct. 15, 2020. Wisconsin: Bearing witness Several groups in Wisconsin are duking it over the details of a requirement that absentee voters attest to their eligibility in the presence of a witness. State law requires the witness to provide their address on a certificate on the envelope of the ballot. The problem? Nobody agrees on the definition of "address." For years, election clerks in the Badger State would fix an incomplete address provided by a witness adding a zip code if it was missing, for instance. But a state court in September blocked counties from using previous guidance the state provided on how to handle incomplete addresses. That court order has thrown the process into disarray with some counties uncertain about whether or not to count the ballots at issue. Purcell: Time is running out to block voting restrictions ahead of 2022 midterms Explainer: How the Supreme Court is already influencing the midterm elections Guide: A look at the key cases pending before the Supreme Court The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is one of at least two groups now asking a state court to clarify what the law means by a "missing" address. The answer to that question, the group asserts, "holds the fate of numerous Wisconsin voters." The Biden administration has filed a brief in the case. Wisconsin voters will decide a tossup governors race between incumbent Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican nominee Tim Michels. Incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican, faces Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes in another tight contest. The cases "point to the likelihood of contentious recount/certification processes and further litigation if there are indeed close races," said Robert Yablon, a professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School. Poll workers Ron Jezowski (R) and Peggy Langdale adjust a table with a voting machine during midterm primary elections on June 14, 2022 in West Columbia, South Carolina. Georgia: Warming the line It won't be decided before the November midterm, but an ongoing federal lawsuit in Georgia over a law signed by Gov. Brian Kemp last year is nevertheless one of the most closely watched election cases anywhere in the nation. Among other provisions, the law prohibits the distribution of food and water to voters near polling places, a practice known as line warming. Supporters say they hand out food and water to fatigued voters to ensure they stick out the long lines that can develop at some polling places. Opponents say some groups are doing more than providing sustenance: They're indirectly advocating for candidates. U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., left, casts his ballot on the first day of early voting in Atlanta on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben Gray) ORG XMIT: PNA309 Several lawsuits were consolidated into one case before U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee, who ruled in August that the plaintiffs had a strong argument that at least part of the ban violated the First Amendment's protection of free speech. But, Boulee ruled, the request to temporarily block the state law came too close to the election and so he denied it. That means the law will remain in place for the midterms as the litigation continues. Peach State voters will decide a Senate race between Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, and Republican Herschel Walker and a governor's race between Kemp and Democrat Stacey Abrams, running to become Georgia's first Black female governor. Contributing: Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Rio Lacanlale, Reno Gazette Journal This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A look at some notable election lawsuits pending before midterms U.S. officials are flatly rejecting as false repeated Russian claims being made to senior western officials that Ukraine is preparing to use a radioactive "dirty bomb" in Ukraine, saying at the same time they are not seeing any indications that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons. In this weekend's phone calls to top officials at the Pentagon, Russian military leaders indicated that the alleged Ukrainian use of a dirty bomb would be a justification for an escalation in the conflict, a U.S. official told ABC News. Over the weekend, in an unprecedented series of phone calls to senior defense officials in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Turkey, senior Russian defense officials repeatedly claimed that Ukraine was possibly preparing to use a dirty bomb. A dirty bomb is an explosive device paired with radioactive material that is intended to widely disperse radiation over a wide area while a nuclear weapon is a device that uses nuclear fission to produce a massive atomic or thermonuclear explosion. "Obviously, we're concerned about these allegations that the Russians raised, them, not us," John Kirby, the National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications told reporters on Monday. "They're the ones that made a public issue of this." "We reject the false allegation that the Russians made in the phone call that they placed at their request to (Defense) Secretary Austin, that the Ukrainians were planning to use a dirty bomb," said Kirby. "We just reject that allegation. It's just not true." PHOTO: Ukrainian soldiers fire the Russian positions with the mortar in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Oct. 21, 2022. (Libkos/AP) On Sunday and Monday, in a rare move, Russian defense minister Sergey Shoygu and Russia's top military commander Gen. Valery Gerasimov initiated phone calls to their American counterparts and, according to Russia's defense ministry, raised their concerns that Ukraine was preparing to use a dirty bomb. Those calls, and similar calls to other western leaders, resulted in a joint statement by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France rejecting the Russian claim as a pretext to escalate tensions in Ukraine. Story continues "Our countries made clear that we all reject Russias transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory," said the statement. "The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation. We further reject any pretext for escalation by Russia." A U.S. official said that, in this weekend's calls to top officials at the Pentagon, Russian military leaders described any alleged Ukrainian use of a dirty bomb as a justification for an escalation in the conflict, presumably a reference to the use of nuclear or chemical-biological weapons. However, U.S. officials pointed out repeatedly on Monday that they are not seeing any indications that Russia's military is making preparations for the use of nuclear weapons. "We continue to see nothing in the way of preparations by the Russian side for the use of nuclear weapons and nothing with respect to the potential use for a dirty bomb at this point," said Kirby. "We're watching this as closely as we can." "We have seen in the past that the Russians have, on occasion, blamed others for things that that they were planning to do," said Kirby. Meanwhile in Moscow, the Russian government continued to say that Ukraine was preparing to use a dirty bomb. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed that Russia was in possession of information alleging that Ukraine was preparing dirty bombs at locations in Kyiv and central Ukraine. Earlier, the Russian defense ministry had published a map indicating that Ukraine was preparing a dirty bomb at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant that has seen constant shelling for weeks. US says Russia's 'dirty bomb' claims are pretext for escalation in Ukraine originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The commander of Ukraines ground forces General Oleksandr Syrskiy, in an exclusive interview with ABC News' Chief Foreign Correspondent Ian Pannell, said the world should be worried about Russian President Vladimir Putin's threat to use nuclear weapons. Late last month, Putin issued a thinly veiled threat that Russia would resort to using nuclear weapons in its war against Ukraine following a series of setbacks for Moscow on the battlefield. "We are and should be worried," Syrskiy told ABC News. You can watch more of Ian Pannell's full interview with General Oleksandr Syrskiy on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Monday. The Ukrainian general is confident that his country is winning the fight against Russia, despite the challenges of war. MORE: Russia-Ukraine live updates: 33 missiles fired at Ukraine PHOTO: Ukrainian Col. General Oleksandry Syrskiy is interviewed by Ian Pannell of ABC News. (ABC News) "Of course, I think we are winning. Because first and foremost, we are winning the psychological battle," Syrskiy said. "We have success on the battleground, but the war is difficult." PHOTO: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, listens to Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskiiys report during his visit in Izium, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Sept. 14, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) PHOTO: Ukrainian Col. General Oleksandry Syrskiy is interviewed by Ian Pannell of ABC News. (ABC News) Syrskiy, the commander of the Army of the Armed Forced of Ukraine, won the battle of Kyiv in the spring and the battle of Kharkiv in September. The successful surprise counteroffensive rapidly liberated thousands of square miles of occupied territory, forcing the Russians back towards their border. Last month, Putin accused Ukraine of terrorism after an explosion destroyed parts of a bridge connecting occupied Crimea to Russia, a vital supply route for Russian forces. "There hasn't been any wars at that scale in Europe, or elsewhere in the world, since the Second World War. And we understand that this war is about the survival of our people and our state and this is why we have no other option but to win," Syrskiy said. 'We are and should be worried' of Putin's nuclear threat, Ukrainian general says: Exclusive originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Netflix - Netflix "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below." Netflix's new limited series, From Scratch, has it all: romance, travel, and prime cooking content. Oh, and it will make you cry buckets. From Scratch, which dropped on Oct. 21 and now ranks no. 2 on the streamer's charts, follows a young artist named Amy (played by Zoe Saldana) in Florence. She meets a chef named Lino, (played by Eugenio Mastrandrea) and they embark on a passionate affair. They fall madly, deeply in love, and they eventually decide to move to Los Angeles together, so that Amy can pursue her art career. Lino initially struggles in the U.S. and feels that "the city has no center. But their love seems to overcome the culture shock, the trailer hints. They make it work, prioritizing each other's artistic dreams while starting a family together. The show is happy ending material...until Lino gets sick. Like, really sick. Warning: this show is a major tear-jerker, so grab the tissue box and don't let it go! You'll be kept on your toes throughout the entire series and prepare for your heartstrings to be yanked in every which way. If you're not a fan of surprises, you've come to the right place. Here is everything to know about Lino and whether or not he dies in From Scratch. Who is Lino? Lino is a Sicilian chef who Amy meets while studying abroad in Italy. After falling in love with Amy, Lino moves to America with her and starts to live out his dream of owning his own restaurant, per Distractify. Lino is based on a character from Tempi Locke's memoir, From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home, according to Decider, . Locke wrote about her personal experience with love and the loss of her husband Saro Gullo, who died in 2012. Lino and his health issues are said to be based on Saro's experience. What happens to Lino? While living in America, Lino is diagnosed with a cancer tissue called leiomyosarcoma in his knee, per Distractify. He then goes through chemotherapy and gets knee surgery to stop the cancer's growth. Both procedures make it difficult for Lino to stand, walk, and cook. Story continues Although it initially seems like Lino could make a full recovery, his cancer comes back seven years later after many rounds of chemo, an experimental trial, and surgery, per The Cinemaholic. This time, the cancer has spread to his lungs. Amy and their adoptive daughter, Idalia, stand by him the whole time. Netflix - Netflix Does Lino die at the end of 'From Scratch'? Sadly, yes. After frustrating encounters with many doctors, Amy and Lino decide to put him on hospice and keep Lino at home. The cancer spreads, and he dies surrounded by those he loved, according to Vulture. The final few episodes are absolutely heartbreaking. In the end, Amy and Idalia return to Italy to visit Lino's family. His mother helps Amy to realize that Lino gave her a home and a family across the globe while reminding her of the place where they first found love. Tune in to Netflix to fall in love with all the From Scratch characters. I guarantee you'll be both starved for some delicious Italian cuisine and sobbing by the second episode...but in a good way. You Might Also Like MILAN Gruppo Florence is bulking up its knitwear division. The luxury manufacturing pole said Monday it has acquired majority interests in Maglificio Leonello Spagnol and Maglificio Erika, building up its knitwear hub currently comprised only of Metaphor, based in the Carpi district. More from WWD Both located in northeast Italy, Leonello Spagnol was founded in the 60s in Montebelluna and generated 26.5 million euros in revenues last year, while Maglificio Erika, headquartered in Gazzo Veronese, in the Veneto region since 1985, posted sales of 30 million euros last year. As is customary for Gruppo Florences acquisitions, the founding families and controlling shareholders have agreed to maintain minority ownership of the companies they run. Maglificio Leonello Spagnols headquarters. Francesco Trapani, Gruppo Florences president and chairman of VAM Investments, welcomed the two new companies on board while Gruppo Florence chief executive officer Attila Kiss touted the firms families for their business acumen. Gruppo Florences mission is to value Made in Italy within a context thats ever more challenging and provide luxury brands with high-quality products, as well as excellent services and reliability on delivery time, with sustainability top of mind, Kiss said. Gruppo Florence which is controlled by private equity fund VAM Investments, Fondo Italiano dInvestimento and Italmobiliare and has sales in the region of 350 million euros owns controlling stakes in 19 companies, including Metaphor, which produces high-end knitwear; informal outerwear manufacturers Emmegi and Giuntini; jersey specialist Manifatture Cesari; Ciemmeci, a company that specializes in the production of leather and fur pieces; Antica Valserchio, and knitwear firm Melys. Maglificio Erikas headquarters. As reported, in May the group acquired majority stakes in Bergamo, Italy-based ready-to-wear manufacturer Cam; Confezioni Elledue, a specialist in casual outerwear based in Tuscany; Turin-based Frediani, which produces luxury outerwear; Parmamoda, which manufactures rtw, and Pigolotti, a family-run specialist in jersey combined with precious textiles such as cashmere and silk. In June, it added jersey specialist Barbetta and hatmaker Facopel to its roster of companies. Last month, it entered the shoe arena, acquiring footwear specialists Lorenza Calzaturificio and Novarese, as well as Officina Ciemmeci, a spin-off company founded by the owners of Ciemmeci Fashion. That company, which is already owned by Gruppo Florence, specializes in washing, dyeing and a wide range of mechanical treatments on textiles and leather. Click here to read the full article. Massimo Sestini - Courtesy of Stefano Ricci S.p.A. They say travel broadens the mind. That clearly includes fashion designers. One-off shows in far-flung, exotic places have become something of a fixture on the big-brand fashion calendar over the past few years. It got under way well before the pandemic but it has redoubled in the past year, with brands vying with each other to come up with ever more memorable backdrops against which to present their new collections. Last spring, Gucci showed mens and womens together in Puglia. Just couple of days later, Kim Joness Dior Men showed in Venice Beach to assorted press and influencers. Just a week ago, Florentine mens brand Stefano Ricci went one up on both and staged three nights of cocktails, dinners, and excursions in Luxor, Egypt. Several hundred of Riccis most faithful and spendiest customersalong with a handful of international presswere ushered from one mind-blowing moment to the next against the backdrop of 3,000-year-old temples, the Nile, and of course the famous tombs across it in the Valley of the Kings and, nearby, the lesser-known Valley of the Queens. In the background were 400 crew including four tailors, 45 models, and 200 chefs (flown in from Florence, Italy, naturalmente). Massimo Sestini - Courtesy of Stefano Ricci S.p.A. Logistics aside, there was nothing random or merely triumphant about selecting Luxor (in antiquity, Thebes) as a location for the Florentine brands 50th anniversary celebrations. As a Florentine brand, Ricci draws on an already-rich local Italian culture dating back to the Renaissance and beyond. But for him, Ancient Egypt represents something otherworldly in the almost-spiritual pursuit of beauty and luxury, something he has been at pains to foster in the mens collections at Stefano Ricci since he started out in 1972 with a collection of silk ties. Ancient Egypts history and archaeology has held a special place in his heart since the inception of his brand, so much so that Ricci published a book called simply Luxor of Egypt almost twenty years ago, to celebrate the rich artistic culture of the ancient Egyptians. The book was signed in gold ink with a foreword by then-Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and created with the assistance of Egypts own archeological superstar Zahi Hawass. Ricci had the limited edition run printed for gifting to friends and customers, though you can pick one up occasionally for around $500. Daytimes on the Nile were spent Indiana Jonesing about in the more famous tombs, including Tutankhamuns and a bevy of Rameses. A high point was a breakfast lecture from Zahi Hawass himself. Hawass, we learned, is hot on the trail of one of the most sought-after and, as yet, unidentified tombs, that of Queen Nefertiti. Dinner in the Temple of Luxor, a vast complex marooned in the bustling modern city, seemed like the high point of festivities, until the finale. In a fashion show spanning an hour, 90 looks in ten groups of models sashayed down the steep entrance ramp of the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, built into the high cliffs of Deir el-Bahri around 1470 BCE, a thousand years before the Parthenon in Athens. The modern temple was reconstructed from of its ruins in the 1990s. Massimo Sestini - Courtesy of Stefano Ricci S.p.A. The collection ran from opulent brocaded evening wearits cloths woven at an ancient 18th century silk weaver in the heart of Florence, the Antico Setificio Fiorentino, which was saved and is now owned and operated by the Ricci familythrough patrician tailoring to what can only be described as mega sportswear with bells on, reflecting more casual tastes in clothes, even amongst Riccis most affluent customers. That much of this diverges sharply from the prevailing streetwear dominated looks on other runways is key. Massimo Sestini - Courtesy of Stefano Ricci S.p.A. And that is exactly how Riccis customers want it. Servicei.e., giving the customers what they want, rather than leading them by the noseis the Ricci familys unique selling proposition. After faltering in key markets like Russia and China during the pandemic, sales are, by all accounts, bouncing back not least in the USA, where the brand is about to unveil its latest flagship on Madison Avenue. This being a proudly Italian brand, you could not really expect to get away without a little opera, which was furnished live, mid-show, by friend of the brand, tenor Andrea Bocelli. Given the locale, there was a spot of Aida, naturally, but also the stirring Nessun Dorma from Turandot, which echoed powerfully off the cliffs above to add to the grandeur. You Might Also Like Sangita Patel celebrates Diwali in an outfit by Canadian-Indian designer Mani Jassal. (Photo via Instagram/manikjassal) Sangita Patel is celebrating the "Festival of Lights." On Sunday, the "ET Canada" host took to Instagram to share a video of herself celebrating Diwali a traditional Hindu festival by performing a dance with a Diya lamp. Patel wore a pink and beige floral lehenga by Canadian Indian designer, Mani Jassal. "Happy Diwali," Patel captioned the post for her 140,000 followers. "Festival of Lights just brings so much joy. Maybe because of the zero calories sweets shared with family and friends." "But its light over darkness and happiness over despair," the 43-year-old continued. "Tomorrow light a candle, a Diya, and take a moment to reflect on your blessings." Patel also praised Jassal for crafting a "masterpiece." "Can we just take in the masterpiece lehenga from the one and only Mani Jassal. Im always floating in her designs!" she wrote. In the comments, fans loved Patel's "beautiful" video and thanked her for representing a Canadian-Indian fashion designer. "Happy Diwali! Love to see that you're giving some shine to an Indian-Canadian designer as well. That look is absolutely stunning on you!" an Instagram user commented. "This is so special." Another added: "Looking absolutely stunning! Happy Diwali to you and your family!" "I want that outfit so bad! Looks so beautiful on you," someone else wrote. "Oh my gosh! This lehenga on you!" commented another, alongside a flame emoji. "Now I want it." "That lehenga is absolutely stunning!" a fan chimed in, while another added, "looking fabulous, Sangita! Happy Diwali." Sangita Patel spoke to Yahoo Canada about fitness, beauty and finding self-confidence. (Photo via Instagram/sangita.patel) Recently, Patel spoke to Yahoo Canada about her career, confidence and her "Fitness Tuesday" Instagram posts. In the interview, the 43-year-old specifically opened up about being promoted to co-host of "ET Canada" alongside Cheryl Hickey. Story continues "It was a wonderful moment. I'm a woman of colour, and we don't get to see a lot of South Asian women like myself on television. Growing up there was no one like me on TV, really," she said. "And the idea that two females are co-hosting a national television show is incredible and has never been done in Canada. "I see it as a platform for representation and I am so honoured to be part of it," added Patel. Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Its costing nearly $2,000 a day for St. Landry Parish government to finance the housing of prisoners who have been placed elsewhere while they await criminal court proceedings. Thats not counting the additional expenses says Parish President Jessie Bellard, that it takes to transport, feed and provide medical services for those accused of crimes and are now temporarily incarcerated at facilities primarily in north Louisiana. Overall, Bellard says, St. Landry is spending about $2 million annually from American Rescue Act money to assist with the costs of prisoners, a state-mandated expenditure that is placing an ongoing financial strain on parish government. If it wasnt for the ARA money that we are receiving, we would have to borrow in order to pay for the prisoners. We can use (ARA revenues submitted to the parish for COVID relief) since governments can use the money under federal and state guidelines, for operational expenses, Bellard said. Right now were fine with the expenses because we have the ARA. That money however runs out in 2024. After that we will figure out what we have to do next, Bellard added. The parish jail operates daily at 242-prisoner maximum capacity, Bellard said during a Thursday afternoon interview. Parish president Jessie Bellard and Finance Director Amanda Cain speak at the St. Landry Parish Council meeting wherein Bellard revealed his proposed budget for the American Rescue Plan Act money the parish will receive. RELATED:A growing number of juveniles are being accused of crimes in St. Landry. There's not enough room to hold them. This week, there are another 90 inmates awaiting trial or the disposition of their cases. Those prisoners have been relocated in LaSalle and other parishes, but that situation comes with a high cost, said Bellard. Bellard said parish government is paying other jail facilities approximately $20 daily for expenses related to each St. Landry Parish prisoner who are in other facilities. What might help? The Parish Council has given the Bellard administration approval to begin renovating a former commercial building located across the street from the parish jail into a prisoner trustee dormitory. Story continues Bellard said plans for the dorm will include a less restrictive atmosphere for those awaiting their release. Right now we have the architectural plans drawn up and we are awaiting the completion of those. When the project is completed, we think we can accommodate about 60 trustees inside the dorm. That will help take a burden off our parish jail and also save us some money, Bellard said. Total costs for the completion of the trustee dorm are pending, Bellard added. St. Landry Parish District Attorney Chad Pitre said his prosecutors are working to help decrease the strain on the parish jail. Pitre, who took office in 2021, inherited a criminal docket with at least 4,000 cases awaiting removal or trial. Theres a lot of crime here for a parish this size. If you notice, we are now bringing some of these cases that have been pending for several years to trial and hopefully that will decrease the burden that is being placed on the parish administration, Pitre said during a recent interview. The DAs office received three convictions during criminal trials conducted in state district court during the past three weeks. Two of those cases, Pitre pointed out, dated back to 2019. St. Landry Parish District Attorney Chad Pitre FOR SUBSCRIBERS:St. Landry's DA set out to decrease the criminal docket. COVID-19 complicated things. What does the budget say? Parish government finance director Caryn Fulop presented a monthly budget statement to the parish council Wednesday night, which indicates that by Aug. 31, the administration had already spent about $45,000 more than anticipated for reimbursement of prisoners medical costs, overall expenses, jail intake revenue and state inmate feeding. The parish jail maintenance fund reviewed and approved by council members also reflects a $500,130 deficit. Nearly half of that deficit ($205,655) comes from an annual jail maintenance tax, estimated to provide $697,270 annually. Despite what the budget statement shows, Bellard said, hes not worried about the parish-wide collection of the jail maintenance property tax. The money is going to be there. We are using an accrued accounting system and you will see that by the end of the year and when we start on preparing the new budget, that all the property taxes for the jail (in 2022) will have been collected, Bellard noted. A $200,957 capital outlay expenditure is also included as part of the jail maintenance budget. In addition, there is another listed cost of $69,218 in natural disaster expenses. Bellard said on Thursday that he is not sure how to explain the capital outlay and natural disaster expenditures. Parish government Bellard said, has also paid more than $50,000 for medical support for prisoners in 2022. We have a staff of nurses paid out of our Health Unit budget who are working seven days a week to take care of the prisoners medical needs, Bellard pointed out. Nurse staffing costs have amounted to $45,281, while workmans compensation costs for the nurses have totaled $5,680, according to the budget summary report. This article originally appeared on Opelousas Daily World: St. Landry Parish jail inmates housed elsewhere costs thousands Western countries have accused Russia of plotting to use a threat of a bomb laced with nuclear material as a pretext for escalation in Ukraine. It comes as Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu phoned Western counterparts on Sunday to tell them Moscow suspected Kyiv of planning to use a so-called dirty bomb. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of France, Britain and the United States said they had all rejected the allegations and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine against Russia. Our countries made clear that we all reject Russias transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory, they said. The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation. In an overnight address, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky had said the Russian accusation was a sign Moscow was planning such an attack itself and would blame Ukraine. If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means one thing: Russia has already prepared all this, Zelensky said. Key Points Russian spy chief blames West for nuclear tension Russian TV presenter apologises for saying Ukrainian children should be drowned Kyiv and west denounce Russias dirty bomb claim Russian strikes rain down on Mykolaiv Russian-installed administration creates local militia in Kherson Kyiv accuses Russia of blocking full implementation of grain deal French, US and Britain foreign ministers reject Russias allegations of dirty bomb Ukrainians brace for bitter winter as Russian blitz on energy plants intensifies 19:09 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Discarded water heaters, empty propane canisters and scraps of steel rebar, are the key ingredients needed to fight Ukraines imminent plunge into a bitterly cold darkness, writes Bel Trew. That is according to Evgeny, 35, a former territorial defence member who is now back in his motorcycle garage in Kyiv, recovering from injuries sustained in the war. Story continues In a tiny backstreet workshop, the wounded engineer and his team of three mechanics are busy welding makeshift pot belly stoves in a haze of sparks. The squat grubby creations could be life savers: President Volodymyr Zelensky warned this weekend that there will be rolling power cuts across the country after officials estimated 40 per cent of Ukraines energy infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed by Russian drone and missile strikes which started two weeks ago. Ukrainians brace for bitter winter as Russian blitz on energy plants intensifies Kyiv and west denounce Russias dirty bomb claim 07:55 , Emily Atkinson The war in Ukraine is trending towards uncontrolled escalation, a Moscow official has claimed following a series of phone calls to western defence officials. Without evidence, Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu also claimed that Ukraine was planning to detonate a dirty bomb conventional explosives laced with radioactive material as a means of intensifying the conflict. Ukraine does not possess nuclear weapons, while Russia has said it could protect its territory with its nuclear arsenal. Mr Shoigus claim was denounced by Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba, who referred to the accusation as absurd and dangerous, adding: Russians often accuse others of what they plan themselves. The west similarly rejected Moscows warning about a dirty bomb. In a joint statement, Britain, France and the United States said: The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation. Apartment block destroyed as Russian strikes rain down on Mykolaiv 07:58 , Emily Atkinson Russia launched a series of missiles and drones into the Ukrainian-held southern town of Mykolaiv on Sunday, which struck and destroyed an apartment block. The strike on the shipbuilding town about 35 km (22 miles) northwest of the front line in Kherson came as Russia ordered 60,000 people to flee the region to save your lives in the face of a Ukrainian counter offensive. No fatalities have been recorded. Russian-installed administration creates local militia in Kherson 08:12 , Emily Atkinson Russian-installed officials in the Kherson region of Ukraine have announced the formation of a local militia, saying that all men remaining in the city can join. Moscow authorities have ordered civilians to evacuate from Kherson, one of four Ukrainian regions Russia said it had annexed last month even as Kyivs forces have made significant military gains. Will Russias Iranian drones prompt Israel to arm Ukraine? 08:29 , Emily Atkinson A direct and public plea for weaponry is pushing Israels balancing act to breaking point, writes Bel Trew Will Russias Iranian drones prompt Israel to arm Ukraine?| Bel Trew Russia continuing to use Iranian UAVs, says MoD 08:49 , Emily Atkinson Russia is continuing to Iranian unscrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) against targets in Ukrainian territory, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in its daily intelligence update. Moscow is likely using the Iranian Shahed-136 UAVs to infiltrate Ukranian air defences and as a substitute for Russian-manufactured long-range precision weapons that are becoming increasingly scarce, its Twitter post reads. Ukrainian efforts to contain the UAVs have been successful, the MoD said. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 24 October 2022 Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/jVDRARAQjJ #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/rWoxv4qHni Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) October 24, 2022 Kyiv accuses Russia of blocking full implementation of grain deal 09:15 , Emily Atkinson Seven vessels carrying grain bound for Asia and Europe sailed off from Ukrainian ports on Sunday, but Kyiv has accused Russia of blocking the full implementation of Black Sea grain deal. Russia is deliberately blocking the full realisation of the Grain Initiative. As a result, these (Ukrainian) ports in the last few days are working only at 25-30 percent of their capacity, Ukraines Infrastructure Ministry said in a Telegram statement. One of the ships had been chartered by the UN World Food Programme, carrying 40,000 tonnes of wheat from Chornomorsk and bound for Yemen. It is very important that today the sixth vessel sailed from our port with foodstuffs chartered in the context of the UNs World Food Programme, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. This ship is bound for Yemen with wheat. Ethiopia, Yemen and Afghanistan these three countries have already received foodstuffs thanks to our exports and the UNs food programme. Russian TV presenter apologises for saying Ukrainian children should be drowned 09:41 , Emily Atkinson A Russian TV presenter has apologised for calling for Ukrainian children to be drowned, as Moscows investigative committee said it was investigating his remarks. In a show last week on state-run broadcaster RT, presenter Anton Krasovsky said Ukrainian children who saw Russians as occupiers under the Soviet Union should have been thrown straight into a river with a strong current and drowned. Ukraine said on Sunday that RT was an inciter of genocide and should be banned worldwide. Margarita Simonyan, RT editor-in-chief, said she had suspended Krasovsky because of his disgusting comments, adding that no one at RT shared his views. France joins Ukraine in condemning dirty bomb claim 10:13 , Emily Atkinson The French government has joined Ukraine in condemning Russias accusation that Kyiv was planning to detonate a dirty bomb as a disinformation campaign. Taking to Twitter this morning, Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said he had spoken with his French counterpart Catherine Colonna to coordinate his next steps in countering Russian lies and averting any false flag operations. Ms Colonna called the Russian claim transparently false. I spoke to my French counterpart @MinColonna. We both condemned Russias dirty bomb disinformation campaign. We also coordinated next steps in our work with other countries and within the UN and IAEA to counter these lies and avert any false flag operations by Russia. Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) October 24, 2022 J'ai egalement parle cette nuit au ministre ukraikien des Affaires etrangeres des allegations de la Russie, a l'evidence fausses. Also spoke with @DmytroKuleba last night re.Russia's transparently false allegations. https://t.co/1CcJPdFPLm Catherine Colonna (@MinColonna) October 24, 2022 Fears over Russian threat to Norway's energy infrastructure 10:43 , Emily Atkinson Norwegian oil and gas workers normally dont see anything more threatening than North Sea waves crashing against the steel legs of their offshore platforms. But lately they have noticed a more troubling sight: unidentified drones buzzing in the skies overhead. With Norway replacing Russia as Europes main source of natural gas, military experts suspect the unmanned aircraft are Moscows doings. They list espionage, sabotage and intimidation as possible motives for the drone flights. The Norwegian government has sent warships, coastguard vessels and fighter jets to patrol around the offshore facilities. Norways national guard stationed soldiers around onshore refineries that also were buzzed by drones. Fears over Russian threat to Norway's energy infrastructure Watch: Russian TV presenter says Ukrainian children should be drowned in a river 11:04 , Emily Atkinson UN calls for grain export backlog to be cleared 11:30 , Emily Atkinson Much more needs to be done to clear the backlog of more than 150 ships involved in a Black Sea grain-export deal, a UN spokesperson has said. There are currently over 150 vessels waiting around Istanbul to move and these delays have the potential to cause disruptions to the supply chain and port operations, said Ismini Palla, UN spokesperson for the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The agreement, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July, paved the way for Ukraine to resume grain exports from Black Sea ports that had been shut since Russia invaded. Moscow also won guarantees for its own grain and fertiliser exports. Romanian defence minister resigns after suggesting Ukraine should negotiate with Russia 11:56 , Emily Atkinson Romanias defence minister has resigned saying he could not collaborate with the countrys president just weeks after he said Ukraines only chance to end the war was to negotiate with Russia. My gesture (resignation) comes as it is impossible to cooperate with the Romanian president, the armys commander-in-chief, Vasile Dincu said in a statement. I think my withdrawal from the post is necessary so as to not harm decisions and programs which require fluid command chains and to not block a series of projects which are absolutely necessary for ... the ministry and the army. Kremlin says West essentially stole gold and forex reserves via sanctions 12:20 , Emily Atkinson A Kremlin official has accused the west of having essentially stolen its gold and forex reserves via sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine. Asked about the EU proposal to pass frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: In general, a part large of our assets have been essentially stolen by specific Western countries. Lavrov approaches UN for Ukrainian grain data 12:45 , Emily Atkinson Russia has asked the UN for data on the destination and end-consumers for Ukrainian grain shipments. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that corrections to a deal to unblock Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea would depend on this information. It comes after a UN spokesperson earlier said much more needs to be done to clear the backlog of more than 150 ships involved in a Black Sea grain-export deal. West rejects Russias dirty bomb claims but fears grow of major escalation in Ukraine war 13:09 , Emily Atkinson Western officials, including UK foreign secretary James Cleverly, have strongly refuted claims from Moscow that Ukraine plans to use a dirty bomb, and instead have accused Russia of plotting to use a threat of a missile laced with nuclear material as a pretext for escalation of the war. With Ukrainian forces advancing into Russian-occupied Kherson province, Moscows defence minister Sergei Shoigu phoned Western counterparts to tell them his country suspected Kyiv of planning to use a dirty bomb. That claim was also backed up on Monday by Moscow, with officials claiming Kyiv was in the final stage of creating such a weapon. West rejects Russias dirty bomb claims as fears rise of escalation in Ukraine war Russian spy chief blames West for nuclear tension 13:40 , Emily Atkinson A Russian spy chief has accused the West of inciting nuclear tensions with Moscow, but refused to say if Vladimir Putin would use weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine. Sergei Naryshkin, head of the SVR Foreign Intelligence Service, denied there had been any nuclear sabre-rattling on Russias side. Asked by the BBC if he could confirm that Russia would not use nuclear weapons in Ukraine or engage in other provocative actions, such as exploding a dirty bomb, or blowing up a dam, Mr Naryshkin said:We are, of course, very concerned about Western rhetoric about the possibility of using nuclear weapons. Yesterday Russias defence minister talked by phone with his colleagues from Turkey, the US and France. He told them about the possible plans of the Ukrainian leadership to use a so-called dirty nuclear bomb. Politically motivated Russian inspections causing grain backlog, says Kyiv 14:04 , Emily Atkinson Russian inspections that have been creating significant delays for the export of Ukrainian food products via the Black Sea were politically motivated and a cause for concern, Kyiv has said. We have reason to believe delays in Russias inspections of the grain initiative vessels are politically motivated, the foreign ministry said in a statement. Moscow baselessly accuses Kyiv of colluding with UK over dirty bomb claim 14:57 , Emily Atkinson The Kremlin has baselessly accused Kyiv of contacting the UK about the possibility of creating a dirty bomb. Reiterating the broadly refuted accusation that Ukraine was considering deploying explosives laced with radioactive material, the Russian defence ministry said: For this, Ukraine has an appropriate production base and scientific potential. So, in Ukraine there are nuclear industry enterprises that have stocks of radioactive substances that can be used to create a dirty bomb, it said in a Telegram post, Ukraine does not possess nuclear weapons, while Russia has said it could protect its territory with its nuclear arsenal. Russian fighter jet fatally crashes into Siberian residential building days after similar crash near Ukraine 15:34 , Emily Atkinson A Russian fighter jet has crashed into a residential building in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, in the second such fatal incident this week. The two pilots were killed after the Sukhoi Su-30 plane hit a multi-storey building in the regional capital which housed two families, officials said. The five residents were not home at the time of the plane crash, Irkutsk governor Igor Kobzev claimed. Power was knocked out to 150 homes in the vicinity, as firefighters sought to control the resulting blaze from the crash, which initially affected some 200 square metres, Mr Kobzev said. Andy Gregory reports: Russian fighter jet fatally crashes into Siberian residential building Cost of Ukraine reconstruction at 663bn, says Kyiv 16:02 , Emily Atkinson Reconstruction costs across war-torn Ukraine currently stand at 663bn, Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal claimed at business forum with German officials this morning. It is unclear how reconstruction will be paid for, with cities such as Mariupol and Bucha having been razed to the ground by Russian artillery. Russian, US chiefs of staff discuss risk of dirty bomb in Ukraine - RIA 16:27 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian military chief of general staff Valery Gerasimov and the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff Mark Milley spoke by phone on Monday and discussed the possibility raised by Moscow that Ukraine might use a dirty bomb, RIA news agency reported. The call took place shortly after a similar conversation between Gerasimov and his British counterpart. The foreign ministers of France, Britain and the United States said earlier they all rejected Russias transparently false allegations. Ukraine said the Russian accusation was a sign that Moscow was planning such an attack itself and would blame Kyiv. Accusing Russia of planning 'dirty bomb' attack is 'not serious conversation' - Lavrov 16:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that accusing Moscow of planning an attack with a radioactive dirty bomb, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy did on Sunday, was not a serious conversation, the Interfax news agency reported. Lavrov was reported to have made the remarks to journalists at the Valdai Discussion Club think tank. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov (APA/AFP/Getty) Russia says its forces are preparing to work under radioactive contamination 17:13 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russias defence ministry said on Monday that it had prepared its forces to work in conditions of radioactive contamination, after Moscow accused Ukraine of planning to detonate a dirty bomb - something Kyiv has strongly denied. The remark was made by the head of Russias nuclear, biological and chemical protection troops, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, in a media briefing. No indications Russia has decided to employ a nuclear weapon, US official 17:35 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The United States has no indications that Russia has decided to employ a nuclear weapon, biological weapon or chemical weapon, a US military official told reporters on Monday, despite U.S. concerns about false Russian warnings of a Ukrainian dirty bomb plot. The remarks followed calls between the U.S. defense secretary and his Russian counterpart on Sunday and a call on Monday between the top US and Russian generals. President Zelensky asks Israel to join fight against Russia 18:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday called on Israel to join the fight against Russia and repeated a request for Israeli air defence systems. Isnt it time for your state to choose who you are with as well? Zelensky said in a video speech to a conference for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Is it with the democratic world, which is fighting side by side against the existential threat to its existence? Or with those who turn a blind eye to Russian terror, even when the cost of continued terror is the complete destruction of global security, he said. Israel has condemned the Russian invasion. But it has been wary of straining relations with Moscow, a power broker in neighbouring Syria where Israeli forces frequently attack pro-Iranian militia, and wants to ensure the wellbeing of Russias Jews. Israel, which will choose a new government in an election on Nov. 1, has limited its assistance to deliveries of humanitarian aid and defensive equipment. Most recently it offered to help Ukrainians develop air attack alerts for civilians. Zelenskiy said that was not enough and asked that Israeli leaders reconsider sending air defenses as well. He has made the same appeal a number of times since the war started in February. No indications Russia has decided to employ a nuclear weapon, US official 18:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The United States has no indications that Russia has decided to employ a nuclear weapon, biological weapon or chemical weapon, a US military official told reporters on Monday, despite US concerns about false Russian warnings of a Ukrainian dirty bomb plot. The remarks followed calls between the US defense secretary and his Russian counterpart on Sunday and a call on Monday between the top US and Russian generals. US house speaker Pelosi says Iran making big mistake supplying Russia with drones 18:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Monday that Iran was making the world less safe by supplying Russia with drones to be used against targets in Ukraine. I think Iran is making a big mistake, Pelosi said after meeting Croatias prime minister Andrej Plenkovic. First of all we have to be able to counter the drones... it is a dangerous technology and it must be stopped, she said. Pelosi arrived in Zagreb on Monday to attend a forum aimed at supporting Ukraines independence and the return of the Crimean peninsula to Kyiv. Weve been trying for a while now to have a nuclear agreement with Iran so that we can make the world a safer place and now theyre going off aiding the Russians and making the world a less safe place, Pelosi said. Iran has denied supplying drones to Russia for use in Ukraine. Pelosi, who visited the war-torn country earlier this year, has been a strong supporter of providing aid and military assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24 in what it has called a special military operation. The Crimea Platform summit, which is being held in the Croatian capital of Zagreb, will hear from Ukrainian government officials and outside experts focusing on Crimeas reintegration after Moscows annexation of the Eastern European peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. Iran says it will not remain indifferent if proven Russia uses its drones in Ukraine 19:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Iran will not remain indifferent if it is proven that its drones are being used by Russia in the Ukraine war, foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was reported as saying by Iranian state media on Monday. If it is proven to us that Iranian drones are being used in the Ukraine war against people, we should not remain indifferent, Amirabdollahian said, before adding that the defence cooperation between Tehran and Moscow will continue. Ukrainians brace for bitter winter as Russian blitz on energy plants intensifies 19:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Discarded water heaters, empty propane canisters and scraps of steel rebar, are the key ingredients needed to fight Ukraines imminent plunge into a bitterly cold darkness, writes Bel Trew. That is according to Evgeny, 35, a former territorial defence member who is now back in his motorcycle garage in Kyiv, recovering from injuries sustained in the war. In a tiny backstreet workshop, the wounded engineer and his team of three mechanics are busy welding makeshift pot belly stoves in a haze of sparks. The squat grubby creations could be life savers: President Volodymyr Zelensky warned this weekend that there will be rolling power cuts across the country after officials estimated 40 per cent of Ukraines energy infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed by Russian drone and missile strikes which started two weeks ago. Ukrainians brace for bitter winter as Russian blitz on energy plants intensifies Nato allies reject Russias dirty bomb allegation, says Nato's Stoltenberg 20:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday said Nato allies reject Russias allegation that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory, adding that he just had a call with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his UK counterpart Ben Wallace on the matter. Nato allies reject (Russias) allegation. Russia must not use it as a pretext for escalation, Stoltenberg said. US says Russia would face consequences for using dirty bomb or a nuclear bomb 20:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain There would be consequences for Russia whether it uses a so-called dirty bomb or a conventional nuclear weapon, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Monday. Washington and other Western countries have accused Russia of plotting to use a threat of a device laced with nuclear material as a pretext for escalation in Ukraine. Asked if Washington would treat the use of a dirty bomb the same as any other nuclear bomb, Price said there would be consequences for Russia either way. Whether it uses a dirty bomb or a nuclear bomb. Weve been very clear about that, Price told reporters. Ukraine war headed for uncontrolled escalation as dirty bomb fears grow 21:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Western officials, including UK foreign secretary James Cleverly, have strongly refuted claims from Moscow that Ukraine plans to use a dirty bomb, and instead have accused Russia of plotting to use a threat of a missile laced with nuclear material as a pretext for escalation of the war. With Ukrainian forces advancing into Russian-occupied Kherson province, Moscows defence minister Sergei Shoigu phoned Western counterparts to tell them his country suspected Kyiv of planning to use a dirty bomb. That claim was also backed up on Monday by Moscow, with officials claiming Kyiv was in the final stage of creating such a weapon. However, in a joint statement, the foreign ministers of France, Britain and the United States said they rejected the allegations by Russia. Read more here: Ukraine war headed for uncontrolled escalation as dirty bomb fears grow Two spies from the People's Republic of China attempted to interfere in a criminal investigation by the US Department of Justice into a prominent Chinese telecommunications company, US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Monday. The two agents, Guochun He and Zheng Wang, were working for the benefit of Huawei, reports Bloomberg. According to a complaint seen by the outlet, He and Wang attempted to bribe a law enforcement official to provide them with information on the Justice Department's investigation. The two began cultivating a relationship with the employee, who is not named in the lawsuit, in 2017. They allegedly sought to obtain details about witnesses, evidence and possible additional charges that could be filed against Huawei. He and Wang kept paying the employee for more information not knowing that they were working with an FBI double agent. The two are accused of obstructing the Justice Department's prosecution against Huawei. It's unclear if they have been arrested. "This was an egregious attempt by PRC intelligence officers to shield a PRC-based company from accountability, and to undermine the integrity of our judicial system," said Garland. "The Justice Department will not tolerate attempts by any foreign power to undermine the rule of law upon which our democracy is based. We will continue to fiercely, protect the rights guaranteed to everyone in our country." On Monday, Garland also announced charges against Chinese nationals in two other cases. In the first, the attorney general said four individuals three of whom were Chinese intelligence agents, according to the Justice Department attempted to steal technology from the US. The other case involves an incident where Chinese operatives carried out a multi-year campaign to force a US resident to return to China. "As these cases demonstrate, the government of China sought to interfere with the rights and freedoms of individuals in the United States and to undermine our judicial system that protects those rights. They did not succeed," Garland said. "Each of these cases lays bare the Chinese government's flagrant violation of international laws as they work to project their authoritarian view around the world, including within our own borders." LAGOS (Reuters) - The United States and Britain on Sunday warned of a possible terrorist attack in Nigeria's federal capital Abuja, especially aimed at government buildings, places of worship and schools, among other targets. Nigeria is fighting an Islamist insurgency mainly in the northeast, but in July the Islamic State claimed responsibility for a raid on a prison in Abuja, which freed around 440 inmates, raising fears that insurgents were venturing from their enclaves. The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria said "there is an elevated risk of terror attacks in Nigeria, specifically Abuja" and added that shopping malls, law enforcement facilities and international organisations were among places at risk. "The U.S. Embassy will offer reduced services until further notice," the embassy said in an alert to citizens in Nigeria. The United Kingdom government warned that its citizens in Nigeria should stay alert due to an "increased threat of terrorist attack in Abuja." "Attacks could be indiscriminate and could affect western interests, as well as places visited by tourists," it said. Insecurity, which has spread across Nigeria, is a major issue for voters when they go to the polls next February to elect a new president to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. Nigeria's foreign affairs ministry was not immediately available to comment. (Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Daniel Wallis) A week after a Hong Kong national was assaulted at the Chinese consulate in Manchester, England, hundreds in the U.K. gathered in separate local protests to denounce China and demand freedom for Hong Kong. The Manchester protest, called Say No to China, took place at St. Peters Square at around 4 p.m. on Sunday, the Manchester Evening News reported. The event began with the playing of God Save the King outside Central Library, followed by Glory to Hong Kong. Over the next two hours, various speakers came forward to voice their support for Hong Kongs independence from China. Attendees reportedly carried signs with phrases such as Expel China, Free Hong Kong and even Hang Xi Jinping. Similar signs were raised during the protest that took place outside the Chinese consulate on Denison Road in Manchesters Rusholme last week. The demonstration resulted in a violent scuffle that saw several masked people drag a protester by his hair and beat him up on the grounds of the consulate. More from NextShark: Video of 7-year-old girl in China crying because her father 'works too hard' goes viral 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, the pro-Hong Kong independence protester who was assaulted, said at a news conference in the British Parliament on Wednesday. I held onto the gates where I was kicked and punched, I could not hold on for long. I was eventually pulled onto the ground of the consulate. Last week, Consul-General Zheng Xiyuan, one of Manchesters most senior Chinese diplomats, admitted to pulling Chan by the hair but claimed his actions were a call of duty. He also alleged that Chan "refused to let go" of a staff member and thus plunged into the property himself. More from NextShark: Bae Suzy K-drama Anna' outrages Chinese viewers with scene about counterfeit watch Similar protests took place on Sunday elsewhere in the U.K., including London, Nottingham and Reading. Videos posted on Twitter show Londoners battling a rainstorm to reach the Chinese embassy in their city and deliver their message. Story continues Meanwhile, some demonstrators reportedly expressed gratitude for the Greater Manchester Police, who have been praised since pulling Chan away from the Chinese consulates grounds. The force continues to investigate the incident. Let me be clear that if the police determine there are grounds to charge any officials, we would expect the Chinese Consulate to waive immunity for those officials, Foreign Office Minister Jesse Norman said on Thursday. If they do not, then diplomatic consequences will follow. More from NextShark: China sentences ringleader of brutal attack on women at Tangshan restaurant to 24 years in prison Featured Image via Tom Molloy (@TOMolloyMEN) Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Cuppa With Kumi Host Reveals Anxiety, Fear of Being Targeted By Racism During COVID-19 Outbreak (Reuters) -An 80-year-old Georgia man illegally parked on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, saying he wanted to deliver documents to the Supreme Court, was arrested on Wednesday after three guns were found in his van, police said. Tony Payne of Tunnel Hill, Georgia, was taken into custody three weapons-related charges, the U.S. Capitol Police said in a written statement. Two passengers in the van were detained but not arrested. Capitol Police officers spotted the white van parked illegally near the U.S. Supreme Court building at around 3:45 p.m. EST. When they approached, the three occupants said they had come to deliver documents to the court. Related video: Small vehicle apparently driven onto State Capitol grounds in September Payne told officers that he had weapons in the van and a search turned up two handguns and a shotgun, along with a pipe and containers, Capitol Police said. Capitol Police said dozens of people are arrested each year for bringing weapons onto Capitol grounds. (Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Sandra Maler) Arshad Sharif FAcebook Authorities in Kenya are investigating the mysterious police shooting of a controversial Pakistani journalist. Kenyan police say Arshad Sharif, 50, died when his car came under fire at a roadblock in Kajiado, near Nairobi on Sunday night. Police say his brother, who was driving the car, blasted through the roadblock and that Sharif was shot in a case of mistaken identity. Supporters of the journalist, who left Pakistan in May after being charged with sedition after exposing alleged government corruption, believe he was targeted. Media reports suggest the car was hit by nine bullets, including one that struck Sharif in the back of the head and exited through the front. Local police say they were being extra vigilant because of reports of a child kidnapping by someone driving a car with KDJ license plates. The car Sharif and his brother were in had KDG plates, according to local press reports. But several journalists, including investigative journalist Brian Obuya, say that Sharifs body was actually found several miles from where the police claim they errantly shot at the car. #ArshadSharif was a wanted man. Wanted by some "top officials" in #Pakistan . After running into exile in Dubai, Arshad would later travel to Kenya, sources saying he had been "traced there" only to be "mistakenly" killed in Kenya pic.twitter.com/It0PsPJGH8 Brian Obuya (@ItsBrianObuya) October 24, 2022 Sharif left Pakistan after interviewing a fellow journalist about what they perceived to be government corruption in the ouster of Prime Minister Imran Khan in April. Sharif had reported that the incoming government had worked to undermine democracy in the regime change. The news outlet Dawn reported that Sharif had been charged with disrespecting state institutions and attempting to spread hate in the army. Sharif left for Kenya shortly after charges were filed. Story continues Sharifs wife, Javeria Siddique, who is also a journalist, confirmed the killing on Twitter. I lost friend, husband and my favorite journalist @arsched today, as per police he was shot in Kenya, she tweeted. I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist @arsched today, as per police he was shot in Kenya. Respect our privacy and in the name of breaking pls don't share our family pics, personal details and his last pictures from hospital. Remember us in ur prayers. pic.twitter.com/wP1BJxqP5e Javeria Siddique (@javerias) October 24, 2022 Khan tweeted his concern for transparency. A proper judicial investigation must be instituted to examine his own statements plus evidence that other sources have, the former prime minister tweeted Monday. We have descended into a state of brutality, unknown in civilised society, indulged in by the powerful against those who dare to criticise & expose wrongdoings. A number of international organizations, including Reporters Without Borders, have responded with skepticism to reports the shooting was accidental. Any journalist who crosses the red lines dictated by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)an intelligence agency offshootis liable to be the target of in-depth surveillance that could lead to abduction and detention for varying lengths of time in the state's prisons or less official jails, the group said recently. A petition set up by Sharifs lawyer has called for an international inquiry into the shooting. The judicial commission may also be directed to liaison with national agencies and the Kenyan agencies and probe into the heinous act which had led to the unwarranted cold-blooded murder of Arshad Sharif, the petition stated, according to Dawn. 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. 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. Soldiers at a ceremony in Almaty as Collective Security Treaty Organization peacekeeping forces start a gradual withdrawal from Kazakhstan on January 13. Pavel Pavlov/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images In recent weeks, border disputes in the Caucasus and Central Asia have escalated into clashes. The fighting has erupted as Russia devotes more attention and resources to its war in Ukraine. Actors in those regions see Moscow's setbacks as "an opportunity," one expert told Insider. As Russia concentrates its military power in Ukraine, it may be losing control in its Central Asian backyard. Several Central Asian countries that were once a part of the Soviet Union have fought border clashes in recent weeks. And the Russian troops that once kept the peace between those feuding neighbors? They're being deployed to Ukraine, where they are suffering heavy losses. "Russia is already pulling forces out" of Central Asia, Jeff Mankoff, a non-resident senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Insider. "So Russia's capabilities as far as keeping a lid on things in the region are reduced." The most recent signs of trouble came in September, when Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan fought over a disputed border region in clashes that included tanks and artillery. In addition to hundreds of military and civilian casualties, more than 100,000 people were displaced. Kyrgyz troops look for unexploded shells in a village near the Kyrgyz-Tajik border on September 20. VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO/AFP via Getty Images But the biggest flashpoint remains the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which erupted again in September. In a six-week war in the autumn of 2020, Azerbaijan captured the region after Azerbaijani forces, with help from Israeli and Turkish drones, decimated Armenian forces. The problem for Moscow is that these warring nations belong to the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a sort of Russian-led version of NATO that comprises Belarus as well as Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. In early 2022, 2,500 CSTO troops most of them Russian were send to oil-rich Kazakhstan, where they helped the government put down widespread protests against corruption and repression. Russian troops were also stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh as peacekeepers to protect Armenians in the region after the 2020 war. Story continues Weakening Russian influence Putin at a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in response to unrest in Kazakhstan on January 10. Kremlin Press Office/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Russia's complicated history with Central Asia goes back centuries. While Westerners tend to think of "Pax Russica" in terms of Russian dominion over Eastern Europe, Tsarist explorers and armies conquered the patchwork of mostly Muslim kingdoms across Central Asia in the 18th and 19th centuries. The region broke away after the Tsarist empire collapsed during World War I. After the Russian Civil War, the Soviets waged a bloody campaign to reabsorb Central Asia, which tended to be conservative and anti-Communist. Russian leaders, including Vladimir Putin, inherited this colonialist mindset, seeing Central Asia (and Ukraine) as part of the Russia sphere. The former Soviet states of Central Asia were also accustomed to Moscow being the big stick in the region. Russia is perceived as "kind of the main security provider throughout much of the region," Mankoff said. "It's partially just a reflex on the part of leaders who are themselves products of the Soviet system to look to Moscow to sort out internal and inter-state problems." Russian peacekeepers at a checkpoint in Nagorno-Karabakh in November 2020. KAREN MINASYAN/AFP via Getty Images To some extent, the deployment of Russian troops, or threat to do so, has tamped down conflicts. "The presence of Russian forces and this almost instinctual deference to Russia has meant that the Kyrgyz-Tajik conflict, for instance, has been less explosive than it might have been otherwise," Mankoff said. "With the weakening of Russian influence, that conflict now risks becoming worse." Russian influence in the region was already receding: Azerbaijan, for example, had broken from Moscow's orbit and forged close ties with Turkey. Nonetheless, Moscow wants to maintain Central Asia as a barrier against terrorism, drug trafficking, and other ills that it fears might spread into Russia from Afghanistan and other troubled states. "For Russia, the big issue with Central Asia since the Soviet collapse has been to keep it as a buffer against bad things coming from the south," Mankoff said. Fallout from the Ukraine war will only exacerbate Moscow's headaches. For example, more than 200,000 Russians have fled to Kazakhstan since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, including men seeking to evade being drafted into an unpopular war. A volunteer welcomes Russians to Kazakhstan at a border crossing on September 27. STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images The influx of relatively wealthy Russians into poor Central Asian countries has caused housing prices to soar. Tensions will also rise as Russian refugees accustomed to viewing Central Asia as a colonial backwater interact with local populations. Lurking in the background is China, whose influence is spreading across the region increasingly at Russia's expense. "Especially for some of the younger people who have access to more sources of information, or who have traveled more, their perception of Russia and Russian capabilities is going to take a hit," Mankoff said. "That is going to have implications for how willing they are to push back against Russia within their own country." Mankoff said that for now the conflict between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan was the one to watch but that others may arise, pointing to the presence of ISIS in Afghanistan in particular. "The various actors who are interested in changing the status quo in one way or another see an opportunity for the Russian reverses in Ukraine and the drawdown of Russian forces," Mankoff said. 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 American student test scores plunged by historic levels during the coronavirus pandemic, prompting soul-searching among education figures to chart a future path for the countrys schools. New results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, better known as the Nations Report Card, revealed steep declines in math and reading scores among U.S. fourth- and eighth-graders that President Joe Bidens top schools official described as unacceptable. Education experts anticipated grim news from the nationally-representative exam, which students took earlier this year for the first time since Covid-19 upended their classes and everyday lives. Separate federal testing data released last month confirmed the worries of educators and politicians. But the scale of the latest test score drops between 2019 and this year particularly in math for children who are now high school freshmen and a longer trend of stagnating performance prompted deep concern among officials who issued renewed calls to bring students back up to speed. The results in todays Nations Report Card are appalling and unacceptable, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told reporters. This is a moment of truth for education. How we respond to this will determine not only our recovery, but our nations standing in the world. Statistics released Monday defy easy explanations and standard political partisanship. Declines afflicted states and major cities whether they were led by Republicans who pushed to quickly reopen schools amid the pandemic or Democrats who urged a more cautious return to normal classes. Federal testing officials insist the results reveal no singular correlation between scores and remote or in-person learning. There are no winners. There are no losers. There are losses among all states and all grades, said former North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue, chair of the National Assessment Governing Board, in an interview. There was really hardly any difference between a poor, economically deprived rural community and a very sophisticated ZIP code, Perdue said of the countrys math scores. The pandemic hit us all. Story continues The nations average math score for fourth-graders fell by five points since 2019 (from 241 to 236, out of a possible 500). Eighth-graders national average math score dropped by eight points (from 282 to 274, out of a possible 500). Average reading scores for both grades fell, less dramatically, by three points. Scores in a group of large urban school districts fell by similar margins. Californias statewide average eighth-grade math score dropped by six points since 2019. Florida and Illinois dropped by seven points. Average math scores for older students dropped by 11 and six points, respectively, in New Jersey and New York. These mathematics results are historic, National Center for Education Statistics Commissioner Peggy Carr told reporters. They are the largest declines in mathematics we have observed in the entire history of this assessment. Education experts describe math scores as most responsive to teaching and classroom learning, partly because families and community members are more comfortable helping students read outside of school hours. But Carr said it will take more research to learn the precise extent of remote schooling and other factors on the scores. We cannot find anything in this data that says that the results we are looking at can be solely, primarily attributable to differences in how long students stayed in remote learning, Carr said. That doesn't mean it didn't have an effect. Cardona will visit a Maryland elementary school Monday to promote the use of federal stimulus dollars to help students recover. The department will also issue renewed suggestions for how educators and local leaders can use the money to address lost learning. Fresh debates over the structure and progress of American schooling are sure to follow. This is not the result simply of a horrible three years for students, this is a result of a realized generational decline, Perdue said. If people get this data, look at it, and think 'It's all because of the pandemic, then that could very well be a nearly fatal mistake for decision-making. A LIMITED SELECTION OF 360 BOTTLES TO BE RELEASED WORLDWIDE 20th of October. MIKOOW, Poland, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the successful launch of Dictador Wixarika, the first edition of the TOTEM collection, Dictador is now launching their second edition, MOPA MOPA. TOTEM was established to preserve cultural diversity, encourage traditionalism in art, and honor indigenous artisans and their techniques, dating back centuries. Dictador TOTEM, Mopa Mopa collection. With rare wines and spirits reaching increasingly large values and attracting global investment, Dictador is pioneering aged rum for collecting connoisseurs. The brand owns the world's largest stock of aged rum, up to 45 years old, allowing Dictador to release a range of innovative, yet fine and rare editions unrivaled by competitors creating an entirely new luxury category for prestige rums and distributing its award-winning products to more than 80 countries around the world. The limited edition, Dictador MOPA MOPA collection, is an exceptional demonstration of the artistry, technique, and thought devoted to the development of these collectible rum bottles. There are only 360 bottles within MOPA MOPA and each bottle has been hand-decorated by Colombian artists. This collection represents this historic, ancient art form but is also a symbol of the love and respect these artisans have for their homeland and its rich culture. The inspiration for these bottles stems from the ancient tradition of using Mopa Mopa, a native South American phenolic resin, used for centuries in cultural contexts by artisans in the region of Pasto, Colombia, to decorate ceremonial drinking cups known as 'Qeros.' The process involves a complex cycle of production whereby sheets of flexible resin are extracted from trees of the genus Elaeagia, which grows in mountainous regions of western South America. This is done without harming the tree during the process. The trek to collect the resin is always done on foot and typically takes up to 5 hours to reach the destination point. Resin gatherers will then set up campsites in the wilderness for 8 to 15 days as they comb through patches of trees for viable harvest. In total, the resin gatherers will collect between 6-9 kilos of Mopa Mopa which will then be sold to varnish masters at a central location closer to town. Mopa Mopa is sacred because of the beauty it makes possible but also because of the effort involved in sourcing it and the rarity of it - the harvest only happens twice a year between May and November. Story continues Because the artistry of Mopa Mopa is so intricate and time-consuming, it cannot be automated for mass production. As a result, the people involved are crucial in the making of these limited-edition bottles. Like many indigenous processes, the harvesting of Mopa Mopa and the ancestral knowledge of the Pasto varnish application process is under threat of being lost due to deforestation and agricultural encroachment. It is because of the passion and commitment of these local people that this artform has been kept alive. Starting at 3,600 4,800 EUR the limited-edition bottles are available for sale on Dictador's online store. About Dictador: For more than 40 years, Dictador has been creating ultra-premium, aged rum in the heart of Cartagena, Colombia. In the experienced hands of third generation rum producer and master blender, Hernan Parra, this Colombian distillery has meticulously perfected the manufacturing process while maintaining family recipes and techniques. Dictador has the world's largest stock assets of aged rum, up to 45 years old, allowing the brand to release a range of innovative, yet fine and rare editions unrivaled by competitors creating an entirely new luxury category for Fine Rums. Due to its geographical location, Colombia is one of the three largest sugarcane producers in the world, ensuring both high quality and large harvests. Cartagena and its surroundings are famous for being the first sugarcane production areas in South America. The location of the distillery provides a magical balance between weather and land, enabling the production of a unique palette of award-winning rum that is now distributed in more than 80 countries across the globe. For more information, please visit: www.dictador.com / @the_dictador Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1927172/Dictador_Mopa_Mopa.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dictador-launches-mopa-mopa-the-newest-addition-to-dictadors-totem-series-301657064.html DETROIT (Reuters) - Indonesia is in discussions with Ford Motor Co and Hyundai Motor Co to establish operations related to electric vehicles in the Southeast Asian country, Indonesia Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, told an audience in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. Ford, nickel miner Vale Indonesia and China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt said in July they had signed a non-binding memorandum of cooperation to build a plant in Indonesia to extract nickel chemicals. Hartarto said Indonesia also is in discussions with Hyundai and South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution over battery and EV investments. "We have raw materials for EV battery technologies," Hartarto told an audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Indonesia's large supplies of nickel, as well as semiconductor production capacity, "can support the U.S. auto industry," he said. (Reporting By Joe White, Editing by Franklin Paul) ReportLinker It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6. 7% from 2022 to 2028. Gamma ray spectroscopy is a fast and nondestructive analytical technique that is used to identify several radioactive isotopes of the sample. New York, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Gamma Ray Spectroscopy Market Forecast to 2028 COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Type, End-User" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06353524/?utm_source=GNW The measured energy and known energy of gamma rays, which are produced by radioisotopes, are compared to determine the identity of an emitter. Gamma ray spectroscopy is required in applications such as space research, nuclear facilities, and mineral exploration. The gamma ray spectroscopy market size is expected to grow due to its increased demand in the medical industry as the technique is used to destroy tissues, and cancerous cells, among others. Germanium and silicon-based detectors are a proven solution for gamma ray detection and have improved the measurement capability of gamma ray detectors.The HPGe detectors are considered one of the best solutions for gamma ray spectroscopy due to germaniums high efficiency for radiation compared to silicon. This is because germaniums atomic number is much higher than silicon and its average energy, i.e., 2.9 eV, which is necessary to create an electron-hole pair, is lower than silicon, i.e., 3.6 eV. Germanium has a sensitive thickness of centimeters. Thus, it can be used as a total absorption detector for gamma rays. Hence, the increased usage of HPGe detectors is contributing to the gamma ray spectroscopy market growth. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Gamma Ray Spectroscopy Market Growth According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected China, India, Australia, Japan, and other major economies in Asia Pacific.The COVID-19 pandemic had prolonged effects on the regions economy and supply chains. For instance, in Q1 and Q2 of 2020, The East Asian electronic manufacturing unitsVietnam, South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailandfaced supply chain disruption due to the pandemic.In the last quarter of 2020, Asian Pacific focused on space technology and the geospatial information industry, as there were instances where gamma-ray spectroscopy devices were in demand in this sector. For example, in 2021, as per The Ministry of Finances annual budget, India allocated US$ 1.86 billion to the Department of Space to produce the launch vehicle, transfer technologies, and market space products. Such instances are likely to enhance the gamma ray spectroscopy market size. In 2022, gamma-ray spectroscopy devices are expected to receive high demand from the growing nuclear energy industry, especially in India, from 2021 to 2022. For instance, in June 2021, CAEN S.p.A (a provider of the power supply systems and front-end/data) announced the expansion of its Indian subsidiary as CAEN S.p.A India Private Limited. Such developments in nuclear modules are likely to contribute to the expansion of the gamma ray spectroscopy market in the coming years. The US National Science Foundation, the US Department of Energy, and Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACYT), Mexico, are operating a High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) observatory.It is a gamma ray astrophysics facility to detect high-energy electromagnetic radiation, and it also complements several other observatories for gamma rays around the world. Further, the region has the presence of several prominent gamma ray spectroscopy market players, including AMETEK Inc; Mirion Technologies, Inc.; and Sander Geophysics Limited. The European Commission (EU) has proposed various policies to ensure the EUs supply security, resilience, and technological leadership in semiconductor-based technologies and applications. In 2021, the EU recorded samples of gamma spectra of plutonium and uranium using several gamma spectrometers to develop programs for data evaluation. Asia Pacific countries, such as China, Taiwan, and South Korea, are most actively involved in manufacturing electronics and semiconductors. Companies, such as Shenzhen Jiechuangfeng Technology Co., Ltd and Taixng Suxig Co., Ltd., are among the well-recognized gamma ray spectroscopy market players. In the Middle East and Africa, the countries are focusing on investments and strategic initiatives that are likely to drive demand for gamma-ray spectroscopy devices over the next few years. For instance, in 2020, as a part of the Vision 2030 reform agenda, Saudi Arabia announced its plan to invest US$ 2.1 Bn in the space program. Such investments and strategic initiatives are anticipated to drive the gamma ray spectroscopy market during the forecast period. Further, in January 2020, the representatives of South & Central America and the Caribbeans 15-member state regulatory bodies met to identify the challenges concerning protection and safety from radiation.Further, the members decided to introduce concrete project activities to strengthen the radiation safety infrastructure. Such activities are expected to support the gamma ray spectroscopy market in the region. CAEN S.p.A.; Mirion Technologies, Inc.; AMETEK Inc; Linde PLC; Sander Geophysics Limited; NVIATech instruments; ANTECH; NATS, Inc.; Geomatrix Earth Science Ltd; and ATOMTEX are a few gamma ray spectroscopy market players. The market players are following organic and inorganic growth strategies to sustain the competitive edge. For instance, in November 2021, ATOMTEX and LARSA Scientific shared a stand at the International Laboratory and Analytical Exhibition ArabLAB. Guests of the stand were mostly interested in the following laboratory equipment AT1320? Gamma Activity Monitor, AT1315 Gamma Beta Spectrometer, AT1329 Sample Counter, field AT6101DR Spectrometer, and stationary area monitors AT2327 Alarm Dosimeter. The overall size of the gamma ray spectroscopy market has been derived using both primary and secondary sources.To begin the research process, exhaustive secondary research has been conducted using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the gamma ray spectroscopy market. The process also serves the purpose of obtaining an overview and forecast of the gamma ray spectroscopy market size with respect to all market segments.Also, industry participants and commentators have conducted multiple primary interviews to validate the data and gain more analytical insights. Participants typically involved in the market study include VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, national sales managers, external consultants, such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders, specializing in the gamma ray spectroscopy market. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06353524/?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 Johnny Depp of The Hollywood Vampires performs at The Greek Theatre on May 11, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Johnny Depp with Hollywood Vampires Johnny Depp's Hollywood Vampires band has added a string of UK concert dates to its upcoming 2023 tour. In a video posted to social media on Monday, the 59-year-old actor announced the rock group which also features Alice Cooper, Joe Perry and Tommy Henriksen will be performing at six arena venues across England in July 2023 with special guests Seether and The Tubes. Tickets go on presale for the supergroup's fan club on Tuesday at 10 a.m. BST, then venue presales launch Wednesday at 10 a.m. BST for Glasgow, Manchester and London and the following day at 10 a.m. BST for all other venues. General on-sale tickets become available Friday at 10 a.m. BST. Information regarding tickets can be found at Hollywood Vampires' website. RELATED: Johnny Depp Reunites with His Hollywood Vampires Band for Overseas Tour Dates After Defamation Trial The new tour dates, along with previously announced European concerts set to take place in June 2023, were originally planned for 2021 before Hollywood Vampires canceled all their shows due to pandemic travel restrictions. "We kept trying to make it happen, but unfortunately due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 travel restrictions, it is just not possible," wrote the band in a March 2021 statement. Hollywood Vampires formed in 2012 and has since released two albums, 2015's Hollywood Vampires and 2019's Rise. Earlier this month, Depp and Jeff Beck, who released an album together over the summer, began their U.S. tour (which goes through November and has stops in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville and more) at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. just over four months since a verdict was reached in his Virginia defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard. His attorneys from the Fairfax, Virginia, trial, Camille Vasquez and Benjamin Chew, attended the show and posed for photos backstage wearing VIP passes. RELATED VIDEO: Johnny Depp Dating Lawyer Joelle Rich from His U.K. Libel Trial 'but It's Not Serious': Source On June 1, the jury sided mostly with Depp and awarded him more than $10 million in damages. They found that Heard, 36, defamed him in her 2018 op-ed about domestic abuse, though she didn't mention him by name in the article. Additionally, Heard won one of her defamation counterclaims, awarded $2 million in damages. They are both appealing the verdicts. Story continues Earlier this month, Depp spoke to SiriusXM about how it's felt to play concerts again for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic. "Jeff very simply and kindly and his wife, Sandra just took me into their house, and I lived with them for months and months and months. Then, we went on the first tour together," he said. "For me, having had to deal with other things at the same time, once those things are down the road and you drop into the tour, it's like you're home." RELATED: Johnny Depp Performs at D.C. Concert with His Amber Heard Trial Lawyers in Audience See the full list of Hollywood Vampires' upcoming tour dates below. June 10, 2023 - Istanbul, Turkey - Life Park June 20, 2023 - Oberhausen, Germany - Rudolf Weber-ARENA June 21 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Rockhal June 23 - Grenchen, Switzerland - Summerside Festival June 24 - Paris, France - Zenith La Villette June 27 - Hamburg, Germany - Stadtpark June 28 - Zitadelle Spandau, Berlin - Citadel Music Festival June 30 - Zitadelle Mainz - Summer in the City July 1 - Sperken, Austria - Castle Clam July 5 - Scarborough, UK - Open Air Theatre July 7 - Swansea, UK - Swansea Arena July 8 - Manchester, UK - AO Arena July 9 - London, UK - The O2 July 11 - Birmingham, UK - Utilita Arena July 12 - Glasgow, UK - OVO Arena Election software company Dominion Voting Systems last year filed multiple defamation lawsuits against conservative news outlets, alleging the networks had parroted false claims that Dominion had switched millions of votes from Donald Trump to Joe Biden. The claims are unsubstantiated. But with defamation notoriously difficult to prove under America's strict legal standard, what are the chances of the court siding with Dominion? It all depends on whether or not the company can prove the networks knowingly or recklessly spread false information. "We told them. We told them in real time. Others told them. Government officials told them. Partisan government officials told them. People inside the Trump administration told them," Dominion CEO John Poulos said during a recent "60 Minutes" interview. "This is not a matter of not knowing the truth. They knew the truth." In this Sept. 16, 2019, file photo, a Dominion Voting Systems voting machine is seen in Atlanta. Dominion Voting Systems is filing a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News, arguing the cable news giant falsely claimed in an effort to boost faltering ratings that the voting company rigged the 2020 election, according to a copy of the lawsuit. What is Dominion Voting Systems? According to a lawsuit filing, Dominion was founded in 2002 in Poulos basement in Toronto and, until recently, was one of the fastest-growing technology companies in North America. The company supplied machines in 28 states, both red and blue. But after Dominion became a household name, the company says various state legislators have stated their intent to reassess their contracts with the company. The company noted in a lawsuit that Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin said the state canceled its reassessment and bid process for a $100 million-plus contract with Dominion due to the damage to voter confidence done by those who willfully spread misinformation and disinformation. Dominion lost another $10 million contract in Stark County, Ohio in March 2021. Projections from 2021 showed a profit loss of over $600 million over eight years. Why is Dominion Voting suing Fox news, others? Dominion has filed eight defamation lawsuits against various organizations and individuals including Fox News, Newsmax, One America News Network and attorneys Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell. Story continues The cases include a $1.6 billion lawsuit filed against Fox News in March 2021, claiming the cable news network broadcast "verifiably false yet devastating lies" claiming Dominion had committed election fraud. Fox News has denied the allegations and says it covered both sides of the story. We are confident we will prevail as freedom of the press is foundational to our democracy and must be protected, in addition to the damages claims being outrageous, unsupported, and not rooted in sound financial analysis, serving as nothing more than a flagrant attempt to deter our journalists from doing their jobs, the network said in a statement. Courts have denied various motions to dismiss the lawsuits. Hiring reaches a turning point: Should bosses hire now or see if a recession hits the economy? What is Dominion looking for in damages? Dominion's lawsuits claim the networks "irreparably damaged" the company and destroyed the enterprise value of a business worth potentially more than $1 billion "before the viral disinformation campaign." The eight lawsuits are seeking more than $10 billion total in damages. "Live news is challenging," Roy Gutterman, an associate communications and law professor at Syracuse University told USA TODAY. "If this case ends up going in the plaintiff's side, I think news organizations that do live broadcasts might want to be careful with the things that they put on the air." A monitor showing Dominion Voting Image Cast Central display tab is seen as Cobb County Election officials count ballots on a machine, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020, in Marietta, Georgia. What are the odds Dominion wins its lawsuit? In order to win its cases, Dominion must prove actual malice and show the news organizations knowingly or recklessly disregarded the truth. It's hard for plaintiffs to prove actual malice in most cases against news organizations, according to Lyrissa Barnett Lidsky, a law professor and chair in U.S. constitutional law at the University of Florida. Since most news outlets tend to strive to get the facts right, Lidsky said most errors tend to come from negligence, not actual malice. But experts say Dominion may have enough to prove actual malice. "Its pretty rare for a plaintiff to win a defamation lawsuit against a news organization," Lidsky said. "What makes this case really unusual is that there's lots and lots and lots of evidence that the narrative was being spun without a lot of regard for the truth." How much do Amazon delivery drivers make: Annual and hourly wage breakdown You can follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter @bailey_schulz and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter here for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dominion Voting CEO says Fox News, others 'knew the truth' New Riyadh Studio set to open at 9:00 AST on Tuesday, October 25th at I Mall, Riyadh RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCID), setting new standards with the longest-range, fastest-charging electric car on the market, today announced the opening of its first Studio in the Middle East, located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The luxury retail space will invite customers to experience the brand and its products in the heart of Riyadh's Al Nakheel District. With a direct-to-consumer model, every Lucid Studio offers a digitally oriented premium experience tailored to each customer's preferences, whether they visit in person, make enquiries entirely online, or combine the two. Lucid Air Dream Edition "The launch of our first Studio in the Middle East marks yet another step towards Lucid's mission to inspire the adoption of sustainable energy on a global scale, and I'm delighted this brand-new studio is set to open here in Saudi Arabia," said Peter Rawlinson, Lucid's CEO and CTO. "Saudi Arabia recognizes the seismic transition toward automobile electrification and it looks to the future to secure a better world for generations to come with Saudi Vision 2030." Lucid's Riyadh Studio will allow customers to fully experience the brand and gain information about its products in a location that underscores the company's unique design aesthetic. Exploring a Lucid Studio, visitors will get a vision of how the company draws inspiration from the beauty, innovation, and diversity of its home, the state of California. "We are incredibly excited to be celebrating this milestone today, opening our Studio in Riyadh is another positive step of our journey in Saudi Arabia," said Faisal Sultan, Vice President and Managing Director of Lucid Middle East. "Our in-depth knowledge of the region and our strategic partnerships enable us to deliver products catered to our customer base in the Middle East, and we're delighted to be able to meet their growing demands for electric cars in our journey to combat climate change." Story continues Earlier this year, Lucid announced plans for a full production factory at King Abdullah Economic City ("KAEC") in Saudi Arabia. Lucid plans to establish operations at KAEC for re-assembly of Lucid Air vehicles that are pre-manufactured at the company's U.S. AMP-1 Manufacturing Facility in Casa Grande, Arizona, and, over time, for production of complete vehicles. At its peak, the company expects to manufacture up to 155,000 vehicles per year at the KAEC facility. In April 2022, Lucid announced an agreement with the Government of Saudi Arabia, under which the Government will purchase up to 100,000 vehicles over a ten-year period, with an initial commitment to purchase 50,000 vehicles and an option to purchase up to an additional 50,000 vehicles over the same period. About Lucid Group Lucid's mission is to inspire the adoption of sustainable energy by creating advanced technologies and the most captivating luxury electric vehicles centered around the human experience. The company's first car, Lucid Air, is a state-of-the-art luxury sedan with a California-inspired design that features luxurious full-size interior space in a mid-size exterior footprint. The Lucid Air Grand Touring features 819 horsepower and an estimated 830 kilometers of range. Customer deliveries of Lucid Air, which is produced at Lucid's factory in Casa Grande, Arizona, are currently underway to U.S. customers. Media Contact International: media@lucidmotors.com Regional: Ibrahim Anabtawi, Brunswick Group: LucidKSA@brunswickgroup.com Trademarks This communication contains trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights of Lucid Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries and other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. Forward-Looking Statements This communication includes "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 may be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "will," "shall," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target," "continue," "could," "may," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict" or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding plans and expectations with respect to Lucid's Riyadh studio, including studio experience, Lucid's plans, strategies, and expectations regarding its future manufacturing capabilities and facilities in Saudi Arabia, including future production capacity, Lucid's expectations regarding the Government of Saudi Arabia's commitment to purchase vehicles, and the promise of Lucid's technology. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this communication, and on the current expectations of Lucid's management. These forward-looking statements are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and may differ from these forward-looking statements. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Lucid. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Part II, Item 1A of Lucid's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, as well as other documents Lucid has filed or will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If any of these risks materialize or Lucid's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Lucid currently does not know or that Lucid currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Lucid's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Lucid anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Lucid's assessments to change. However, while Lucid may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Lucid specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Lucid's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Lucid Air at the new Lucid Studio in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Lucid Motors crosses the pond to open reservations for the Lucid Air luxury EV in multiple European markets. (PRNewsfoto/Lucid Motors) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lucid-announces-opening-of-its-first-middle-east-studio-in-riyadh-saudi-arabia-301657000.html SOURCE Lucid Group Paul Gessing There are numerous important issues on New Mexicans ballots as early voting kicks off on Oct. 22. Amendment 2 has not received the same attention as Amendment 1 which relates to pre-K and early childhood spending, but voters will be asked to vote on this important issue also. Amendment 2 would, if adopted, further weaken New Mexicos anti-donation clause by allowing the Legislature to appropriate state funds for infrastructure that provides services primarily for residential use such as internet, electric, natural gas, water, and wastewater. The anti-donation clause goes back to New Mexicos founding. At that time and throughout the decades leading up to it railroads were among the dominant economic interests in the nation. Before adoption of anti-donation clauses government bonds were often given to railroads. These often failed, leaving states and municipalities in debt while enriching the railroad robber barons of the day. Those days are behind us, but special interest groups are always finding new ways to fleece taxpayers of more of their hard-earned money. While infrastructure includes the aforementioned infrastructure items, as with all constitutional amendments the Legislature will finalize the text of the law if it passes muster with voters. Allowing taxpayer funding for private gain could create problems, especially leading to what most New Mexicans would call corruption. In 2005, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported that a state senator slipped $50,000 into that years Christmas Tree (capital outlay) Bill to pave a private road in Pecos where his friend, a registered lobbyist, happened to live. San Miguel County and the Village of Pecos did not request the appropriation and protested that using public dollars to pave a private road is illegal. That kind of shady deal wont be illegal anymore if Amendment 2 passes. Rather, because the Legislature and people of the state will have expressed support for it, this kind of activity could spread rapidly throughout New Mexico government. Story continues Rather than further weakening New Mexicos anti-donation clause, wed like to see it strengthened and restored. Over the years the effectiveness of the clause has been undermined by bipartisan advocates of corporate welfare. Specifically, the Legislature allowed local governments to provide land, buildings or infrastructure for facilities to support new or expanding businesses. While the theory behind corporate welfare, that is, giving businesses special benefits to get them to come to New Mexico may seem like a good way to bring businesses to the state, the economists of all political stripes agree that such efforts ultimately harm taxpayers, lead to corruption of government officials, and are inefficient and thus prone to failure. New Mexico has a long history of failed corporate welfare efforts. Remember Eclipse Aviation which received $100 million of your tax dollars under Bill Richardson only to go bust? Spaceport America was built for the express benefit of billionaire Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic, and received $250 million in taxpayer subsidies. The facility has been open for 11 years now and has yet to launch a single paid space tourism flight. When given the chance voters often oppose corporate welfare. Last November Albuquerque voters rightly saw the proposed New Mexico United stadium as nothing short of corporate welfare and overwhelmingly rejected taxpayer financing for it at the ballot box. Now, the team is moving toward building its own stadium, likely with private financing. New Mexicos anti-donation clause is an important protection for New Mexico taxpayers against the unholy alliance of powerful special interests and big government. Government already has plenty of tools available to generate economic development including adopting better tax and regulatory policies for all. Amendment 2 would take New Mexico in the wrong direction. More from Paul J. Gessing: Paul J. Gessing is president of New Mexicos Rio Grande Foundation. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Gessing: New Mexico should strengthen, not weaken anti-donation clause Owen Farrell and Jonny May have withdrawn from the England squad through injury. England are spending five days at a training camp in Jersey to prepare for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series with England Rugby announcing on Monday that Farrell and May will no longer travel. Farrell suffered a concussion in Saracens 22-20 Gallagher Premiership win over Exeter at the weekend, while May sustained an elbow injury as Gloucester beat London Irish 22-21 on Friday night. Injured duo Henry Arundell and Will Stuart will still travel as they nurse foot and knee injuries, respectively. Farrell will follow return to play protocols as Sales Tom Roebuck earns a first call-up, with Adam Radwan and Henry Slade also recalled. Charlie Atkinson, who has recently been linked with Leicester, will join up with Eddie Jones ranks as a training player England face Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa at Twickenham between November 6-26. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 24, 2022 / Edison International Edison International, Monday, October 24, 2022, Press release picture By Casey Wian, ENERGIZED by Edison Writer As Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand surveys his city's otherwise pristine oceanfront landscape, he can't help but notice an unmistakable scar that has bothered the former airline crew chief since before he was elected to public office in 2009. An AES gas-fired power plant surrounded by dirt, weeds and overhead power transmission lines sits next to a landmark sign that welcomes visitors to fish, boat and dine at King Harbor. There is an ocean view, but it's hardly picturesque. Now, thanks to an agreement with Southern California Edison, Brand and the city are preparing to transform the parcel at the top of the power line transmission corridor into a welcome sight for residents and visitors. The electric company often receives requests from local governments or private businesses that want to use what can appear to be unwanted land that SCE owns under its transmission lines. "People want to purchase the land, they want to license it, they want to build on it," said Larry Chung, SCE vice president of Local Public Affairs. In the past, SCE saw that demand as a potential revenue stream and, in some cases, leased the land for storage facilities, shipping container yards or other uses. But now that the impacts of climate change require a more aggressive effort to transition to clean energy and the widespread electrification of buildings, transportation and much of the economy, SCE is likely to need the land soon. "The reason we own that land is in case there are future projects to improve the grid, make it more resilient or add battery storage," Chung said. "We need that land to serve our customers." "It would be hard to undo projects if SCE must go back later when we need the land for transmission purposes," said Diane Forte, SCE Government Relations manager in Local Public Affairs. "When considering a land use proposal, SCE's Land Management and Government Relations departments work together throughout the decision-making process to assess both the political landscape and the impact of the proposal on our future business needs." Story continues SCE continues to work with local governments such as Redondo Beach to allow passive, temporary use of its land for walking or bike paths and other beautification projects. These projects benefit communities but retain the flexibility to be converted for energy storage or other grid-related projects when necessary. "We want to be a good partner with the city," said Roger Jung, the SCE land manager who negotiated the revocable five-year license agreement with the city. "Our secondary land use program allows third parties to use our property for low-intensity uses such as parks, trails, horticulture and other things that aren't permanent." In addition to the fee, Redondo Beach will be responsible for maintenance of the property, including weed abatement, debris removal and homeless activity mitigation. "We were happy to work with Southern California Edison, and I know our community will enjoy this land and the view," Mayor Brand said. "We do everything we can to increase the utility of our land for the residents of cities in our service area, as long as there are no permanent structures," SCE's Chung said. "It's a win-win." For more information about SCE's secondary land use program, visit sce.com/partners/real-estate-and-locations. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Edison International on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Edison International Website: http://newsroom.edison.com/ Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Edison International View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/721817/Preserving-Land-for-Future-Clean-Energy-Projects SINGAPORE-NEW YORK-LONDON --News Direct-- Public Relations Global Network Following its 2022 Asia Summit Conference and Fall Member Meeting in Singapore, the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today it has added New Zealand-based Alexander PR Ltd. to its global network, enhancing its ability to serve clients throughout the world. Following the addition of five new member agencies earlier this year, the latest move marks the 30th anniversary of the global agency network, further expanding its presence in the burgeoning Asia-Pacific region. The addition raises the number of member agencies in the network to 53 and adds local PR and communications expertise in the southwest Pacific area from Alexander PRs office in Auckland, New Zealand. The newest PRGN member, Alexander PR, is a full-service public relations agency specializing in reputation management. The firm assists boards, CEOs, business owners and marketing decision makers with reputation, strategy, content and commercial opportunities. New Zealands Alexander PR is a global leader in public relations, said PRGN President David Fuscus. Under the leadership of Kate and Dwayne Alexander, the firm serves a stellar client base with innovative and pioneering communications. The Public Relations Global Network is proud to welcome Alexander PR as the 53rd member of the worlds leading public relations network. Joining the global PRGN family is a significant milestone for us and one that we know will benefit both our team and clients, said Kate Alexander, co-founder of Alexander PR. We pride ourselves on client service and results within a collaborative, supportive company culture, all of which is rewarded by longevity and tenure a number of clients and staff have been with us for more than 15 years. Having established a reputation for award-winning work in New Zealand and internationally, we are greatly looking forward to expanding our global footprint and working with like-minded peers in the Public Relations Global Network. Story continues In addition to joining PRGN, Alexander PR added another three accolades to its 11 international awards at the SABRE Awards Asia-Pacific 2022 held in Singapore earlier this month, including the coveted Diamond SABRE Award CEO of the Year (Rhiannon McKinnon) Addressing gender equity through financial wellbeing Kiwi Wealth with Alexander PR; Geographic Global (led out of Asia-Pacific with work in other regions) Changing the world with the 4 Day Week 4 Day Week Global with Alexander PR; and Best Micro Asia-Pacific Agency to work for Alexander PR. Founded in 2005, the team led by experienced communication veterans Kate and Dwayne Alexander, Alexander PR is best known locally for its strategic crisis, issues and reputation management as well as for numerous national and international campaigns. Among its most notable clients, alongside 4 Day Week Global, Kiwi Wealth, and HERA, are trustee company and philanthropy management leader Perpetual Guardian, life insurer Partners Life, property data and analytics provider CoreLogic New Zealand, accommodation group Sudima Hotels, multinational energy and automation digital solutions specialist Schneider Electric New Zealand, Crimson Education, Cambridge Assessment International Education and a dozen other global stock exchange listed firms. About the Public Relations Global Network Founded in 1992 by a group of visionary public relations leaders, with approximately 1,000 professionals in 62 locations, PRGN is one of the worlds largest international public relations networks.PRGN partners are independent, local, owner-operated public relations and marketing communications firms that share expertise and resources, while providing broad-based comprehensive communications strategies to clients worldwide.Companies or organizations interested in the services of PRGNs local agency network can visit the Agency Directory or contact PRGNs executive director Gabor Jelinek at gabor.jelinek@prgn.com for more information.Independent agencies interested in joining the network can visit the member recruitment section of the PRGN website for more information or email its membership chair, David Wills, Senior Vice President of Media Profile, at david.wills@mediaprofile.com About Alexander PR Alexander PR and The Content Place assist boards, CEOs, business owners and marketing decision makers with reputation, strategy, content and commercial opportunities. We are a New Zealand-based, full-service public relations agency with global reach, specialising in reputation management. Having established a record of high performance and market-leading results in a global landscape, Alexander PR combines traditional public relations expertise with forward-thinking digital marketing and content creation strategy to help clients achieve their bottom-line objectives. We specialise in building media relationships and achieving results in earned, owned, and sponsored media to enhance our clients reputations. With a sound understanding of what makes a business tick, the team at Alexander PR brings its specialist knowledge and profile-building experience to the partnership to achieve real, measurable outcomes for clients. Whether it is quality media coverage, brand positioning or ad-hoc crisis communication you need, the team has the know-how and expertise required. For more information on the services we offer, refer to our services page. The Alexander PR team provides comprehensive 24/7 crisis and issues management services and expertise. Our professionalism, relationships with media and industry experts, confidential support, and years of experience in crisis management across all sectors are the tools we use to protect clients, their reputations, and their businesses. Learn more at https://companycrisis.co.nz/ Our comprehensive services include specialist content marketing curator The Content Place, a separate division of Alexander PR and a full-service content marketing and book publishing provider which supports clients objectives for achieving targeted media wins in their desired channels and platforms. The Content Place provides access to the best business, tech, financial and consumer writers, videographers and photographers in New Zealand. We have built relationships with these quality people over many years and can help you create, share your story, and achieve business outcomes. We are your content marketing place. Learn more at https://alexanderpr.co.nz/the-content-place Contact Details Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) Gabor Jelinek +36 30 162 8910 gabor.jelinek@prgn.com Company Website https://prgn.com View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/public-relations-global-network-expands-asia-pacific-presence-with-addition-of-new-zealand-agency-alexander-pr-966039876 PNG0201N Afghan refugees 4 Canadas population is growing and getting younger thanks to immigration both vitally important points given our need to add to our working age population, address labour shortages and grow the industries of tomorrow within our borders. Yet even as we make some progress in these areas through immigration, the truth is that Canadas brand as a welcoming nation of opportunity for immigrants is at risk, which in turn puts our shared economic prosperity in doubt. Being welcoming in this case doesnt just mean accepting newcomers. It means ensuring that when immigrants arrive, they can thrive and participate fully in society and the economy. On this score, Canada has work to do. Consider a recent survey of 500 newcomers to Canada by Angus Reid Institute and Publicis Media that showed almost half intend to leave Canada or are considering leaving. For too many, Canadas cost of living and the housing market are challenges. We must urgently address these and other vital issues to get the full and needed benefit of immigration. In a recent address I gave at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax, I recalled the story of my father who came to Canada as a Croatian refugee in 1961. It was a time when one could knock on doors and, with some skills and a willingness to work hard, land a job that paid a good wage. He and my mother, who immigrated three years later, could slowly but surely get ahead. They were able to save and buy a home in just a few years. In many respects, they lived the dream. Canada welcomed them and provided opportunity. Their story is the story of millions of immigrants who have enriched our country socially, strengthened our workforce and economy, and contributed to building the Canada we know today one with a global voice, and significant potential. But we must keep the dream alive if we expect to continue to grow. Today, that dream is at risk for a number of reasons, including housing affordability, and the fact that, while work is plentiful, many jobs simply do not pay enough for people to get ahead. Others require accreditations that should be more easily recognized but are not, so immigrants end up working in roles far below their skill level, unable to contribute as much as they want and as much as Canada needs. Story continues Without immigration, Canadas working age population would be shrinking by 150,000 people every year. This would present significant challenges that all Canadians would feel since 60 per cent of GDP growth comes from population growth. We also face an aging population, coupled with a pandemic that accelerated retirements. A recent Statistics Canada survey showed that Canadas median age has been increasing steadily since 1971 a trend just reversed this year through immigration. Businesses struggle to find workers, and across the country we need bright minds and capable people to help build our reputation in the new economy and power the industries of tomorrow. This all has immediate impact by reducing our economic output. It also has longer term ramifications. If our economy doesnt keep pace with global peers, over time well lose our draw as a new home for immigrants and influence on the international stage. Businesses are struggling to find workers. So how do we ensure Canada builds its reputation as a welcoming nation of opportunity? How do we address those threats to ensure that my parents dream, one that so many around the world share, remains achievable? First, we must ensure housing is affordable, because a place to live is essential to the dream of building a life in Canada. This is true for newcomers and for those saving for a home and looking to start out in life. We can consider how we lend and look at options to make entering the housing market easier, but supply is a large part of the challenge. We can think creatively about density, and about building more rental housing as a pathway to homeownership. In addition, government land could be used strategically to ease the supply crunch. Second, we must ensure newcomers can participate meaningfully in the labour market with a job that suits their skills and also meets the needs Canada has. That means moving faster to recognize skills and accreditations. We can do this. As our health-care worker shortages became more acute, weve seen some provinces move to fast-track accreditation of foreign-trained nurses. But we shouldnt be waiting for a crisis to act. Third, we must ensure all newcomers have an opportunity to earn a living wage. For example, CIBC recently raised our minimum wage to $20 an hour for entry level roles, with a commitment to get to $25 by 2025. We did this recognizing the importance of attracting talent, but also the importance of providing a wage that can contribute meaningfully to household finances. We hope this is an example that others will follow. And fourth, we need to think bigger about immigration. We may need to increase Canadas target from the current 400,000 people a year to give us the population density, human capital and capacity to be a leader in the new economy. But we cant consider accelerating our immigration if we cant provide homes, an affordable cost of living and the right jobs and wages to those arriving now. We need to remain a welcoming nation of opportunity where newcomers can build their lives and leave their legacy. Our shared prosperity depends on it. Victor Dodig is president and CEO of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. Jasper Kenzo Sundeens reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund . For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com. Gov. Jay Inslee speaks about the latest round of COVID-19 vaccines in his office at the state capitol in Olympia Wednesday, November 3, 2021. Inslees plan announced in September to offer $1,000 to state workers who get their updated COVID-19 booster was met with mixed reactions among Washingtonians.(Ellen M. Banner / The Seattle TImes) Washington state has settled a lawsuit against the company for allegedly price fixing the cost of chicken. (Toby Talbot / The Associated Press) Welcome to the privacy policy of Yedioth Internet and Yedioth Ahronoth Ltd. In this privacy policy, we will explain how we use the information we receive or collect, about the internet surfers and users of our applications and websites: ynet website (at: www.ynet.co.il), the premium ynet + site, winwin, ynetnews, other websites related to the ynet site, the ynet application, the ynet+ application, and the Yehdioth Ahronoth newspaper application (hereinafter the Websites"). If you do not agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy, please immediately stop browsing the Websites and any other use of the Websites. General This privacy policy is binding, and it will apply to any viewing or browsing, uploading of content, or any other use of the Websites, by any person, and by any means, application or device (hereinafter - Use and the Website Users ). There is no legal obligation to consent to the transmission, collection, production or other use of the information. In respect to any browsing or other use of the Websites, you voluntarily agree to this Privacy Policy in its entirety, and to the saving, transmission and production of the information, to the processing and transfer of the information, and any other use of the information as set forth in this policy. In respect to any surfing or other use of the Website, you represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years of age, or that you use the Websites with the approval of one of your parents (or a guardian responsible for you), and with his agreement to this Privacy Policy in its entirety. You may contact us by telephone at +972-3-6082222 or at Yedioth Internet Customer Service Department, 1 Noah Moses Rishon Le Zion; Fax number: 03-6932466 (note: for customer service); or by email at service@y-i.co.il regarding any questions about this Privacy Policy, and for the purpose of exercising your rights, or in any other matter relating to the information or information security The privacy policy refers to both women and men, and it is worded in the male gender for convenience only. This Privacy Policy was last updated in the month of August 2019. Types of Information that we Collect on the Websites, and How we Use the Information In some of the Websites we will request that you enter details, in the framework of a registration process, or so that you may use various services: games, promotions, sale and purchase of products, forums, various networking activities, etc. (hereinafter - the " Services "). We will store the information you enter in our databases and use it for these purposes : 1. Full name, identity certificate number, telephone number, contact details, address, email address We will use this information to contact you, to enable you to use the various Websites and Services and to improve your experience of using these Websites and Services, to send you updates and direct mail, marketing information, newsletters, and promotional offers that may be of interest to you, for analysis purposes, segmentation and improvement of the Services and in to enable you to post information on Websites (as part of Services that offer this option). 2. Details of Means of Payment In some of the Websites we will request that you enter your credit card details, or other means of payment. We will use this information, however, only for making purchases on the Websites, and for no other purpose or matter. 3. Details of products that you purchased or sold, pictures, talkbacks and other content that you will publish on the websites On some of the Websites, you can post and upload messages, photos, comments (talkbacks), and other content. We will use this information to enable you to publish the content and use the Websites, for monitoring, management, analysis, segmenting and improving the experience of using the Websites, to tailor the content and advertisements displayed to you, for marketing purposes, and in order to enable you to publish information on the Websites that permit this. Information that we collect about you: We produce and store information about users of the Websites and use it for these purposes: 1. Offers and Services that interested you, monitoring surfing habits, usage data, information and advertisements you have viewed, web pages you have browsed, products you have purchased, fields of interest We will use this information to tailor the content and advertisements displayed to you to your preferences and interests, in order to send you updates and direct mailing, marketing information, and advertising offers that may be of interest to you, as well as for monitoring, segmenting, managing and improving your experience using the Websites. For further details regarding our use of cookies and other monitoring means, see the section regarding cookies hereafter in this policy. 2. Location data, course of traffic, IP address, device ID number, device type and settings, language, browser type We will use this information to tailor the content and advertisements displayed to you to your preferences and interests, to send you updates and direct mailing, marketing information, and advertising offers that may be of interest to you, as well as for monitoring, segmenting, managing and improving your experience using the Websites. If you use our application, location data will be collected even when the application is not running (by using GPS signals or other information sent from the device where the application is installed). You can prevent the collection of location data from your device at any time by changing the settings in accordance with the device manufacturer's instructions. 3. Information from advertisers and from our business partners We may receive information about you, from our advertisers and business partners, and of other entities and companies in the Yedioth Ahronoth group. We will use this information in order to tailor the content and advertisements displayed to you to your preferences and interests, to send you updates and direct mailing, marketing information, and advertising offers that may be of interest to you, as well as for monitoring, segmenting, managing and improving your experience using the Websites. 4. Information from social networks: details, pictures and profile picture, age range, gender, email address and ID number (given to each user), and additional information, according to your agreement with social networking sites You can use some of the Websites through a link to your Facebook account, or links to accounts on other social networks. In these cases, information about you may be transmitted to us according to the terms of use and permissions you have set in your accounts. We will use this information to tailor the content and advertisements displayed to you, your preferences and interests, to send you updates and direct mailing, marketing information, and advertising suggestions that may be of interest to you, as well as for monitoring, segmenting, managing and improving your site experience. The information identified about you will be collected, produced and stored in our databases. Our Websites include links to sites that we do not control (hereinafter - the "Linked Sites"), which may collect, use and produce information about their users. Providing details, and any other use of the Linked Sites, is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy of the Linked Sites, and they are not under our control or responsibility. Saving and processing information about you is based on the need to enable you to use the Websites and to provide you with the Services, on your consent, or on our legitimate interests in operating the Websites. Transferring Information to Additional Entities Transferring Information to Third Parties: For the purposes and uses set forth in this Privacy Policy, and to support and operate the Websites (including through " Cloud Services "), we may transfer information about you, to companies and other entities in the Yedioth Ahronoth Group, as well as to other entities and various service providers - in Israel and abroad. We may pass on information to third parties, also in these cases: 1. In the event that you publish the information (in a sale notice, content on your behalf, or in any other publication that you upload to one of our Websites); 2. In order to tailor third-party advertising and various content for you. 3. If you purchase products or Services from our trading and content partners, or participate in the activities of these entities, we will transfer to our partners the information they need about you to complete the purchase process or management activity, and maintain contact with you; 4. In the event that you violate the Terms of Use of the Websites, or the provisions of the subscription agreements to Websites or for Services, or if you perform any actions that appear to be in violation of the law; 5. In case a dispute arises between you and us, or if we receive a judicial order or regulatory instruction, instructing us to provide the information; 6. In the event that we organize the activities of the Websites in the framework of another corporation, or merge with another entity, or merge the activities of the Websites with the activities of another entity - provided that the other entity assumes the provisions of this Privacy Policy. The third parties to whom we may transmit information are: 1. Our trading and content partners, as well as companies and entities in the Yedioth Ahronoth group, including the various service providers and consultants of the companies and entities in the group. 2. Entities that will be exposed to the details that you publish on the Websites (for example talkbacks or advertisements to sell a product). 3. Entities that a judicial body or any regulatory body may order to grant them access to information. 4. Any entity who shall purchase the activities of the Site, or shall merge with a corporation from Yedioth Group, provided that it is subject to this Privacy Policy. In any event that we transmit information about you outside the borders of Israel, the transfer of the information will be performed in accordance with the terms of the law and this policy. Direct Mailing and Advertising Notifications We will use the contact information you enter (by registering for Services or to the Websites, by purchasing or selling products, uploading and publishing content on your behalf, or in any other case where you enter contact information), in order to keep in touch with you, to offer and send you various marketing content from various entities, direct mailing, newsletters , updates, advertising, and to notify you of various notices regarding Services and the Websites (hereinafter - " Mail "). The Mail will be sent to you via e-mail, pop-up notifications or push notifications, SMS messages, and any other means of communication. If you do not wish to receive advertising mail, you may contact us and request that your name be removed from the mailing list, by clicking on a link that appears in each e-mail message sent to you, or by contacting: Yedioth Customer Service Department, 1 Noah Moses Street Rishon Lezion ; or by email, at service@y-i.co.il, or by contacting the service call center at number: 972-3-6082222. We will remove your information from the mailing list, in accordance with your request, the Telecommunications Law (Bezeq and Broadcasting), 5742- 1982, and the Privacy Protection Law, 5742- 1982. If you use our applications, we will send you warnings, updates and push notifications, including sounds, even when the application is not in use, through the device servers on which the application is installed. You may, at any time, cancel or update the possibility of receiving push notifications by changing the application settings on your device. Until when will we keep the information about you We will keep the information about you during the period that you use our Websites or Services, and afterwards for the purpose of providing the Services, and sending offers and updates, or other mail, in accordance with the terms of this policy. We will also keep the information about you during the period required to protect and maintain our legal rights, as well as in order to comply with regulatory requirements, the prevention of deception or fraud, enforcement of this Privacy Policy and Terms of Use of the Websites. Your Rights in the Information 1. The right to review the information You are entitled to review information that was collected about you, that is stored in our databases, and which is identified and associated with you. It is not possible to review information which is not identified and associated with you. 2. The right to amend information If you have found that the information stored about you is not correct, complete, clear or updated, it is possible to contact us, in a detailed request to amend or delete the information. To exercise these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided at the beginning of this document. We will review your application and respond according to the deadlines set in the law. If we refuse your request, you can appeal to the Magistrate's Court, in accordance with the provisions of the law. 3. The right to cancel consent You are entitled, at any time, to cancel your consent to receive direct mail, by contacting us with an appropriate request. For additional details, see the chapter on direct mail and advertising notifications. 4. Additional rights regarding information You may be entitled to additional rights regarding information about you: rights to delete information, to limit and stop the processing of information, to transfer information to other entities. Inquiries about these issues, or regarding other matters related to this Privacy Policy, can be referred to us through the contact information that appears at the beginning of this document. We will review your inquiry and we will respond accordingly. Even if we delete, amend information, or grant your request in any other manner, we will in any case continue to keep information we require for managing the Websites and our businesses, including documenting operations, as well as information required to defend and protect our legal rights, or for complying with regulatory requirements, to prevent deception or fraud, and for the enforcement of this Privacy Policy and Terms of Use of the Websites. For complaints regarding your rights or regarding this Privacy Policy, you can contact the Privacy Protection Authority at the e-mail address: PPA@justice.gov.il Securing and Protecting Information We invest a lot of effort to protect information and implement various information security systems and procedures. However, our protection and information security systems are not completely immune to all unauthorized penetration or access, and they do not provide absolute protection . We will not be held liable for any damage you may incur as a result of such penetration, unauthorized use, or theft of information from our databases or Websites. Any use of the various Websites, of content uploaded to Websites and content related to them - could expose you to a variety of dangers associated with using the internet: computer or mobile phone penetration, viruses, malware, etc. Use of the Websites, of the various Services, and the content uploaded to the Websites or the content related to them is under your sole responsibility. We recommend that you install adequate security software and security means before using the Websites and the Services. Cookies, Monitoring and Control systems and Advertising by Third Parties The Websites and Services include and use "cookies", "web beacons" pixels, and other systems that collect information and monitor the use of the Websites. "Cookies" are strings of letters and numbers that are stored in the computer's memory (or device) which allows to store information about you. Some cookies will expire when you finish surfing and close your browser software, and others will be saved in your computer (or device) memory. The cookies contain information about your surfing habits, the pages you have visited, the length of time you spent on the Websites, where you came from to the Websites, sections and information you wish to see when entering the site, monitoring your surfing and activity habits, details of your ISP, IP address, device location, and more. The cookies are used for various purposes: gathering statistics, verifying details, adjusting the site to your personal preferences, monitoring surfing habits and activities, surfing history, characterizing your usage of the Websites, improving the service and user experience, advertising and marketing tailored to your preferences, information security, and other purposes. Some cookies are necessary for the proper operation of the site, some are used for control, evaluation and analysis purposes, and some are used to personalize the marketing and advertising content displayed to you. Some of the cookies and other systems that operate on the Websites are operated by third parties or as part of the service provided by those third parties in the framework of the Websites. Any use made by these third parties, cookies, web beacons, or any other similar technology, is governed by their privacy policy. Deleting Cookies and Stopping the Use of Them: You can delete, or completely stop using cookies by changing the settings in your internet browser. Disabling cookies may harm your possibility of using from using some of the Websites and Services, as well as the quality of surfing and other operations on other websites. In some cases, deleting cookies will require you to re-enter your username and password before logging in to the various Services. For more details about cookies, and the different options for disabling or deleting cookies, please refer to these links, depending on the type of browser you use: Google Chrome browser: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?hl=en Microsoft Internet Explorer Browser: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/278835/how-to-delete-cookie-files-in-internet-explorer Mozilla Firefox browser: https://support.mozilla.org/en/kb/%D7%9E%D7%97%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%AA%20%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%92%D7%99%D7%95%D7%AA Apple Safari Browser: https://support.apple.com/en-il/guide/safari/manage-cookies-and-website-data-sfri11471/mac Setting Cookie Settings in the Websites: You can determine and set what types of cookies will be activated during your use of the Websites, and which cookies you refuse to accept. To set and adjust cookie settings on your site, according to your preferences, click here: http://optout.networkadvertising.org Publisher Common ID Opt-Out The Publisher Common ID is a cookie that can be utilized by multiple advertisers in order to provide relevant advertising. You may opt-out of receiving this id. To opt-out Publisher Common ID settings click here: Opt-Out For more information and other external Opt-Out options: NAI https://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/ DAA http://optout.aboutads.info/ Other systems that operate in the Websites: Other systems operate in the Websites which collect information about users, monitor their activities, and some of them also help manage the advertisements on the Websites, including: pixels, "web beacons" and other means. These tools monitor site usage, scope of use, frequency of use, access sources, and other details. The information collected through these tools is designed to tailor the content and advertisements displayed to you to your preferences and to the fields of your interest, as well as for the purposes of analyzing, managing and improving the experience of using the Websites, segmenting research and monitoring. Some of the advertisements shown to you on Websites are run by third parties. The use of these tools by companies to monitor the activity of surfers is detailed in the privacy policies of those companies. One of the systems that operates in Websites is the Google Analytics system, which collects information about users' surfing habits. For more details on this system, please see these links: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=iw, and: http://www.google.com/analytics/terms/us.html. For options on limiting this system, see the link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout Another system operating on the Websites is Taboola, which collects information about users' surfing habits, and the content offered for viewing is tailored to their preferences. For more details on this system, please see the link: https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=ynet-ynet-:&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=thumbnails-c:Below%20Main%20Column%20Thumbnails Changes in the Privacy Policy We will update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The binding version of this Privacy Policy is the latest version displayed on the Websites, and you accept and agree to the Privacy Policy including all of its clauses, including any amendments and updates thereof. If we make any material changes to this Privacy Policy, an appropriate notice will be posted on the Websites home pages. Please review this page from time to time to check the latest and most binding version of this Privacy Policy. The newly established observation and smoking area at Terminal 2B has opened. Passengers traveling to non-Schengen countries can thus choose to spend the rest of their time in the open air after passport control. The 200 m terrace is currently welcoming passengers with a minimum of functional furnishings and will be given a final design, complete with benches and greenery, at a later stage. With this early opening, Budapest Airport aimed to meet the needs of passengers as quickly as possible. In response to feedback from passengers, the airport operator started preparing the observation and smokers terrace in September 2021. Taking into account the load-bearing capacity of the terminals roof structure, the new terrace was built on the roof of Terminal 2B with a separate, load-bearing steel structure. The main works were completed in just under six months, and the facility opened to passengers already in mid-September. The terrace provides an excellent view of the terminal apron and also has a covered (non-smoking) section, to allow passengers to enjoy the view even in bad weather. Source: Bud.hu Hungary has been granted exemption from the European Union's gas price cap, "which will therefore not jeopardise secure gas supplies" to the country, Hungarys prime minister said. Speaking on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels in the early hours of Friday, Viktor Orban said we have managed to protect Hungarys interests, the prime minister wrote in a Facebook message. Orban said the European Commissions energy proposals had posed the greatest danger for Hungary. Adopting them would have risked a stoppage of gas deliveries to the country within days, he said. That threat, he said, had been averted: Hungary was not left alone and managed to negotiate a fair deal. We agreed that even if a gas price cap were introduced in Europe, it would not impact the long-term agreements without which Hungarys gas supplies would be made impossible overnight, Orban said. Participants in the summit also agreed that if there were joint gas purchasing in Europe, it would not be mandatory for Hungary. Thats important because we can only bring domestic energy prices down with more sources of supply at our disposal, with more competition on the Hungarian energy market, he added. YORK A very generous donation from a local church as well as donated labor and materials from local businesses have resulted in a new fitness area at the York Police Department. York Police Captain Russ Coffey explained, We value and appreciate every one of our employees who are working hard, long hours and under a tremendous amount of stress at times. In looking at different ways to help improve their work environment and quality of life, we identified that an employee wellness program would be beneficial in many facets. We know that wellness programs help with employee physical and mental health, employee productivity and morale, as well as help with employee retention and recruitment. Additionally, we understand that the physical and mental health of police officers is important to help us keep our community safe. However, funding the project remained a challenge. When I was approached by a donor, inquiring if there were projects at the police department which needed financial assistance to complete, different ideas were brought forward, Captain Coffey said. Ultimately, the members of the First Christian Church decided to help the police department with the implementation of a wellness program as they felt it would be beneficial to the officers as well as the community as a whole. Captain Coffey said the department sought expertise from people with years of experience in the fitness and wellness industry. After outlining our goals, they made recommendations on the amount of space needed, the type of flooring, ventilation concerns and the various times of equipment. This required minor renovations in the basement. Two local businesses A+ Construction and Jensen Lumber contributed to the project in the areas of labor and materials. Captain Coffey said officers also donated their time to help. The renovations in the basement included the moving of a wall and moving the locker room to a different space. Then came the revamping of the floors, walls, etc. Once the fitness room was completed, we brought in Jared Kallio with RPE Fitness, who is helping employees by providing guidance in working out, how to reduce stress and maintain a healthy life, Captain Coffey said. Moving forward, we hope to continue to grow and expand on this project as we continue to look at the various avenues of employee wellness. This is something that weve wanted to do for a long time, as it is good for officers physical and mental health. The officers are utilizing the new space, its a great addition to the station. We want to thank everyone who contributed to this project. Without the financial donation and other contributions, none of this would have been possible. YORK Dustin Braddock, 27, of Geneva, has been sentenced to jail in a case involving the possession of methamphetamine. He was sentenced this past week in York County District Court. The case began in May when deputies with the York County Sheriffs Department were on regular patrol, shortly before 10 p.m., doing a security check at the west entrance to Recharge Lake. When doing so, they saw a vehicle parked there which was occupied by Braddock. In talking with him, a deputy could see a light bulb that had been converted into a smoking device commonly used to ingest methamphetamine. Deputies said in the court documents, It is important to note this public area has had previous encounters of underage drinking, drug use and sexual assaults. A probable cause search of the vehicle resulted in the following being found, according to court documents: a glass bulb used for smoking methamphetamine, a marijuana pipe, a bag containing 4.2 grams of marijuana, concentrated THC, a straw used for snorting controlled substances, a reusable straw with a burned end used for crushing or smoking controlled substances, a glove containing methamphetamine and objects with methamphetamine residue. Initially, he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony and possession of one ounce or less of marijuana. Those were modified to one count of attempt of a Class 4 felony, which is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Braddock pleaded no contest to the remaining charge. This week, he was sentenced to a term of six months in jail, with credit for 101 days already served. OMAHA The former Sarpy County CASA director charged with two counts of theft in state court now has been indicted on five charges of mail fraud in federal court. The charges against Paula Creps, 51, pertain to her alleged scheme to defraud the county CASA chapter and its nonprofit arm, Lift Up Sarpy County. (CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates; the group helps abused and neglected children.) Documents filed this week in U.S. District Court of Nebraska allege that Creps fraudulently obtained at least $44,884.95 from Lift Up Sarpy over a period of at least three years, from about March 2019 to July 2022. The indictment states that Creps used a credit card provided by Lift Up Sarpy for CASA expenses to pay for personal expenses such as utility bills and taxes and to register or repair vehicles and obtain concert tickets. The indictment also states that Creps used the credit card to purchase gift cards. She then allegedly used the gift cards to pay for personal expenses such as a luau and shuttle service in Hawaii. The indictment states that Creps completed payment record forms that falsely stated she had used the credit card and gift cards for the benefit of children, their families or both. Creps allegedly claimed she had used her own money to pay for goods and services as well as advertising and other expenses covered by grant funds. She then requested reimbursement. But the indictment states that those transactions did not occur and Creps knew it, yet created fraudulent receipts and attached them to check request forms. At the state level, Creps is facing felony charges of theft by deception of at least $1,500 but less than $5,000 and unauthorized use of financial transaction device of at least $1,500 but less than $5,000. Tom Strigenz, the Sarpy County public defender who is representing Creps in her state case, said Creps has pleaded not guilty in that case. The county fired Creps in July. No attorney representing Creps at the federal level is listed. She could not be reached for comment. She is due in court next month. An unexpected rush occurred at the footbridge of Anand Vihar Metro Station on October 23 where people were seen neglecting every safety measure as the tightly-packed crowd stood for hours in long queues with heavy loads of luggage over their heads. A massive crowd assembled at Anand Vihar Bus Stop and Metro Station to leave for their hometowns for the auspicious festive season of Diwali and Chhat Puja. People had to stand in queues for hours to enter the bus stand from the Metro Station, and almost all had heavy luggage on their heads. No one was wearing masks to maintain the highest degree of safety protocols amid the health crisis. People complained about the hike in fares and stated that the trains for short distances are unavailable. "I have to go to Bulandshahr. I was in the queue for half an hour. It usually happens during festivals. I put my phone and money inside the bag in my pocket because in such a rush the possibility of getting robbed increases, let's see if I would get a bus," said one of the passengers, Satyapal who was waiting for the bus to his hometown. Also read: Diwali to bring MASSIVE hike in automotive sales, car and bike dealers witness high bookings "The bus fare doubled during this festive season but I could not even go by train. The festival trains run only for long distances," said Vijendra Singh Thakur, another commuter at the Anand Vihar bus stand. The people leaving for their hometowns avoided wearing masks and did not even bother to follow any safety protocol amid the health crisis in the city. Last week, 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 Covid-appropriate behaviour across the country. Besides, the coronavirus, the country, especially the national capital New Delhi has another challenge of rising pollution levels even before the festive season began. A day before Diwali, the Delhiites woke up under a blanket of the smoggy sky as the air quality remained in the "poor" category with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 266. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the AQI index in the overall Delhi region was in the `poor` category at 266, `very poor` category in the Delhi University area at 329, `poor` quality in Mathura Road and Lodhi Road at 293 and 218 respectively on Sunday morning. The levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 were recorded at 110 in the `poor` and 237 in the `moderate` category respectively. Such high levels of pollution and smog levels become a cause of severe health diseases and ailments as they affect the breath. Meanwhile, the Delhi government has banned the production, storage, sale, and bursting of crackers this year as well as fines and jail terms in case of violation. In a bid to reduce vehicular pollution, the Delhi government also announced the `Red Light On Gaadi Off` campaign. Under the campaign, public representatives and officials will motivate commuters to turn their vehicles off at red lights in a bid to curb vehicular pollution. The air quality in the national capital is also affected because of stubble burning in surrounding Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan in the winter. As Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) continue to breathe toxic air, the Chairman of Fortis Escorts Heart Institute Dr. Ashok Seth said that the pollution not only damages the lungs but it also affects our hearts. (With inputs from ANI) An unusual incident took place where a Korean Air Lines Co. plane carrying 173 passengers overshot a runway during landing due to bad weather conditions in the central Philippines late Sunday. Soon after the incident, the Korean airlines plane got damaged and has remained stuck in the grass at a Philippine airport after it overshot a runway in rainy weather. Dozens of flights have been cancelled and Mactan international airport, one of the country's busiest, remained closed due to the stalled aircraft at the end of its lone runway. The front underbelly of the plane was sheared off and its nose was heavily damaged. No injuries were reported among the 11 crew members and 162 passengers who had to use the emergency slides to escape. The plane lay tipped forward on a grassy area with its front landing wheel not visible and emergency slides deployed at the doors. Dozens of flights to and from Cebu province were cancelled, including those of flag carrier Philippine Airlines, which initially announced more than 50 cancelled domestic flights. A Philippine investigation of the accident was underway. Also Read: Russian Sukhoi Fighter Jet crashes into residential building in Southern Siberia "The Airbus A330 flying from Incheon, South Korea, attempted to land twice before overrunning the runway on the third attempt, Korean Air Lines Co. said in a statement. "All passengers are safe and being attended by ground personnel," the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said in a statement. A Korean Air plane slid off the runway while landing at Cebu international airport in the Philippines on Sunday, shutting down the country's second busiest airport All 173 passengers and crew were evacuated safely, with minor injuries reported pic.twitter.com/xzwnNzKeb3 AFP News Agency (@AFP) October 24, 2022 However, passengers and cabin crew onboard have been reported safe and authorities further stated that all on board were safe but the airport was closed due to the stalled aircraft. The aircraft is believed to be an Airbus A330. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines stated that the Airbus A330 from Incheon city in South Korea overshot the runway at Mactan Island in Cebu province prompting the indefinite closure of the airport. All passengers are safe and being attended by ground personnel, the Philippine aviation agency said in a statement. At least four incoming flights were diverted to Manila and a nearby airport, it said but did not immediately give other details like if the aircraft sustained any damage. A statement from the South Korea-based airline said the plane attempted to land twice in poor weather, and on the third attempt overran the runway. It said all passengers made an emergency evacuation via the aircraft's escape slides as local emergency workers were dispatched to the area. (With inputs from agencies) The Ukraine-Russia war has brought out the negative side of what a war looks like. There are several videos on Ukrainian social media showing the destruction caused by fighter jets and cruise missiles. Among those videos is also a rather rare video showing the launch and explosion of a missile. The incident is rare because modern aerial warfare involving fighter jets usually has long distances and high speeds making it hard to capture on a video camera. However, one of the videos on social media shows a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet launching an air-to-air missile. The missile launched from the MiG-29 fighter jet can be seen making a series of maneuvers and exploding probably after hitting its target. Moreover, the video also has the sound of the loud explosion of the missile. After the explosion, a woman in the background can be heard screaming. The woman says, "Wow, [it got] shot down!" Also read: Korean Airlines plane gets stuck in grass after overshooting runway, here's what happened to passengers The video was posted on October 22, 2022 and bears the watermark of the Odesa Info Telegram channel. According to the description, which has been attached to numerous reposts, the intercept occurred over Odesa and a Russian cruise missile was shot down. However, the video quality is insufficient to determine what type of target was intercepted. ! pic.twitter.com/S5aZk5ZoEM ) (@TrueDonbass) October 22, 2022 Another similar video, posted on October 22 by the Ukraine Now Telegram channel, shows a fighter jet launching a missile that veers left and explodes. According to the video's description, it was shot in Chernivtsi Oblast in southwestern Ukraine. A post on the Chernivtsi Oblast administration's Telegram channel by Ruslan Zaparaniuk confirmed that a Ukrainian aircraft did indeed shoot down a missile over the Dnistrovskyi district. According to the post, the missile's remains landed in a lake. According to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, Russia conducted a cruise missile strike on October 22 that included 17 Kh-55 (X-101) missiles launched by Tupolev Tu-160 and Tu-95 strategic bombers, as well as 16 3M-54 Kalibr missiles launched by ships stationed in the Black Sea. According to the statement, 18 of the 23 missiles were shot down. Some of these shootdowns were most likely captured in the videos mentioned above. New Delhi: Dream Girl's director Raaj Shaandilyaa and his partner producer Vimal Lahoti celebrated Diwali and distributed Diwali gifts and essentials to the girls' orphanage in the city. He spent quality time with these girls providing them with the much-needed feeling of togetherness and bonding of a family which made their Diwali special. The girls also sang songs from his famous movie Dream Girl and he promised to show a special screening of the movie Dream Girl at the orphanage and many more movies in the future. Raaj will even continue to boost their morale in the time ahead. At the end of a lovely day, the director left with a heart overflowing with love and delight. Diwali 2022: Diwali, popularly known as the festival of lights, is a wonderful time to meet your family and friends and celebrate together. On this day, people dress up in the best way possible and decorate their homes using lights and diyas. As per Hindu belief, Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya from 14 years of exile with wife Sita and brother Lakshman on this day after slaying Ravana. While we celebrate this auspicious day with our family and loved ones, some of us are away from their house for several reasons. Thus, if you are wondering how to send best wishes and love on this day, here we are to help you out. We have compiled a list of wishes and messages that you can share with your loved ones. Diwali 2022: Wishes 1. May the divine light of love brighten each and every day of your life. Wish you and your family a very Happy Diwali. 2. May success and prosperity fill your life forever with the light of beautiful diyas and holy chants. Have a Happy Diwali!!! 3. Warm greetings on the auspicious occasion of festival of lights to you. May this auspicious day bring into your life many more opportunities to prosper and grow. 4. On the occasion of Deepavali, sending you the blessings of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi. I pray to god that all your wishes come true, and you live all your dreams in the coming year Happy Diwali!!! Diwali 2022: Whatsapp Status 1. May the celebrations of Diwali fill this upcoming year of your life with many new hopes and opportunities. Warm wishes on Diwali to you. 2. Let us make it a memorable Diwali by celebrating it with the people who mean the most to us in this world. Warm wishes on Diwali to all. 3. On the occasion of Diwali, I extend my warm wishes to you and your loved ones. May you have a prosperous and high-spirited season full of festivities. 4. Wishing you and your family a very prosperous and Happy Diwali. May Maa Laxmi and Lord Ganesh bless you with all that you deserve. 5. Diwali is the time to celebrate, time to spend with close ones. I wish you the best of Diwali wishes and lots of happiness. Diwali 2022: Messages and Greetings A massive fire in an electric vehicle showroom in Andhra Pradesh's Parvatipuram district destroyed up to 36 electric bikes. The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday at Manam Motors in Palakonda town. The fire destroyed e-bikes and batteries stored in the showroom for special Diwali discounts. Firefighters rushed to the scene and extinguished the fire. Officials believe the fire was started by a short circuit. According to a police officer, the exact cause will be determined after an investigation. According to the showroom management, the fire caused a loss of about Rs 50 lakh. A huge fire in an e-bike showroom in Hyderabad last month resulted in the death of eight persons. The fire from the showroom located in the basement of a multi-storey building had spread to a hotel on the top floor, killing eight persons and injuring nine others staying in the hotel. Also read: Diwali 2022: Pollution-free electric cars to buy under Rs 25 lakh in India - Tata, MG, and more Previously, there have been many electric scooter fire incidents after which the government introduced a few safety norms for EVs. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) introduced a set of new safety standards. The modifications imposed strict limitations on battery pack design, onboard chargers, and thermal propagation resulting from internal cell short-circuiting that causes fire. According to a release, the updated standards took effect on October 1, 2022. The announcement of the change to the AIS 156 and AIS 038 Rev.2 standards for the relevant categories of electric cars, which took effect on October 1, 2022, is included in the release. "Based on the recommendations of the expert committee report, the ministry on August 29, 2022, has issued an amendment to AIS 156- Specific requirements for motor vehicles of L category with electric power train, and amendment 2 to AIS 038 Rev. 2 - Specific requirements for Electric Power Train of motor vehicles of M category and N category (motor vehicle with at least four wheels used for carrying goods which may also carry persons in addition to the goods)," the release said. With inputs from IANS The Home Ministry has canceled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licenses of two non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT), led by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. The reason for this has been found to be in violation of FCRA rules. With the cancellation of the license, both these organizations will not be able to receive donations from abroad. According to some media reports, the Home Ministry gave this information on Sunday. However, no official statement had been issued in this regard till the time of writing this news. Allegations Against NGOs Sources said that this action has been taken on the basis of an inquiry by an inter-ministerial committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2020. In this regard, an official said that after the investigation against Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust, the FCRA license has been canceled by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Investigators had probed allegations of money laundering, misappropriation of funds and falsification of documents while filing income tax returns while receiving money from abroad, including China. Trustees of NGOs Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi is the chairperson of RGF and RGCT. Other trustees of the RGF include former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Suman Dubey and Ashok Ganguly. While the trustees of RGCT include Rahul Gandhi, Ashok Ganguly, Bansi Mehta and Deep Joshi. All About the NGOs According to the website of RGF, it was established in 1991. From 1991 to 2009, RGF worked in many important areas: the health, science and technology and the education sectors, besides helping women, children and disabled people. RGCT was established in 2002 to meet the development needs of the underprivileged sections of the country, especially the poor living in villages. According to the RGCT's website, it works through two development initiatives: Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojana (RGMVP) and Indira Gandhi Eye Hospital and Research Center (IGEHRC) in Haryana, besides Uttar Pradesh, among the least developed states in the country. Both RGF and RGCT have their offices at Jawahar Bhawan, Rajendra Prasad Road near Parliament Complex in New Delhi. These NGOs came under scanner after the Ministry of Home Affairs in July 2020 set up an inter-ministerial committee headed by an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer to probe possible violations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), Income Tax Act and FCRA. A total of three organizations affiliated to the Congress were investigated. The third of which is the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. But nothing has been said about it yet. Their FCRA licenses have been suspended following malpractices in two organizations. Apart from this, legal action can also be taken against the operators of the organizations for the irregularities, but it depends on the level of the disturbances. Congress Reacts The Congress has targeted the central government over the action against the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) and the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT), saying that this action has been taken to divert the attention of the people from the main issues of the country. The Congress's remarks came after the central government canceled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FRCA) licenses to Sonia Gandhi-led organisations- RGF and RGCT- for alleged violation of the law. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "They (Centre) have repeated old allegations against RGF and RGCT. This has been done to defame the Congress and divert the attention of the people from daily issues." Cyclone Sitrang is approaching Bengal very fast. In the next 12 hours, Sitrang will take the form of a severe cyclone with more strength. After that, it will move further north and north-west. According to weather office sources, the cyclone is currently 380 km away from Sagar Dwip (Sagar Island is an island in the Ganges delta, lying on the Continental Shelf of the Bay of Bengal about 100 km (54 nautical miles) south of Kolkata.) The cyclone will cross between Tinkona and Sandwip near Barishal, Bangladesh on Tuesday morning. At present, Sitrang is 580 km away from Bangladesh. Impact on Kali Puja A cyclone formed from a very deep depression on Sunday night. Since then, the weather has changed in South Bengal, including Kolkata. It has started raining sporadically since early morning. A gust of wind was blowing towards it. Clouds of disaster in the sky of Kalipuja due to the impact of the cyclone. There is a danger that the excitement of the festival of lights will be ruined due to rain from Monday morning. According to the Meteorological Department, the amount of rain may increase during the day. As a result, the joy of lighting fireworks in the evening can be dampened. Warnings Issued A rain forecast has been issued for the districts of South Bengal on Monday and Tuesday due to the impact of the cyclone. Alipur Meteorological Department has issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rain in the two 24 Parganas on Monday. There is a possibility of heavy rain in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, and Medinipur on Monday. Wind gusts of 50 to 60 km per hour may occur in East Medinipur, two 24 parganas. The maximum wind speed may be 90 km per hour during the evening and night. On the day of Kalipuja, gusty winds of 30 to 40 km per hour will blow in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, West Medinipur. As the day progresses, the wind speed will also increase. The maximum wind speed can be 60 km per hour. A heavy rain warning has been issued in the two 24 Parganas, Nadia on Tuesday. Light to moderate rain may occur over Kolkata and adjoining areas. The storm may intensify on Tuesday. Wind gusts of 70 to 90 km per hour may occur in the two 24 Parganas. The maximum speed can be 100 km per hour. On Tuesday morning, East Medinipur may have a wind speed of 60 to 70 km per hour. The maximum speed can be 80 km per hour. Gusty winds of 40 to 50 km per hour will blow in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, West Medinipur on Tuesday. The maximum wind speed can be 60 km per hour. The sea will be rough due to the effect of the cyclone. Fishermen have been banned from going into the sea till Tuesday. Fear of Damages According to the weather office, two 24 Parganas are likely to be the most affected by the cyclone. Especially in the Sundarbans area, there is fear of extensive damage. In addition to two 24 parganas, East Medinipur may also suffer damage, said the Meteorological Department. According to weather office sources, the house may collapse due to the storm. Power poles can also collapse. It may cause damage to unpaved roads. Residents in the Sundarbans area have been advised to move to safer places. It is advised to stay in a safe shelter during a storm. In addition, heavy rainfall can cause waterlogging in low-lying areas. Vegetables and crops are feared to be damaged. Stay Away from Coastal Areas It has been advised to stop ferry services in the Sundarbans area. Tourists are prohibited from entering the sea in the Digha, Mandarmani, Shankarpur and Bakkhali areas. The sea has been rough in Digha since Monday morning. Tourists are prohibited from entering the sea. Monitoring is going on. The administration is campaigning on the mic to warn the common people in coastal areas. As an early warning, the state administration has ordered primary schools in coastal districts to be prepared as shelter camps. These instructions are given mainly to East Midnipur, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, West Midnipur districts along the sea coast. Sitrang- Its Origin The name Sitrang is given by Thailand. Pronounced, 'C-wave'. Sitrang is actually a surname of a native of Thailand. It means leaf in Vietnamese. Sitrang is one of the 169 cyclones listed by the Meteorological Department for 2020. According to the Meteorological Department, there will be a period of disaster from Monday morning to Tuesday afternoon. According to the weather office, the intensity of the storm will gradually decrease after noon on Tuesday. The Meteorological Department also said that the weather conditions will improve from Wednesday. Sunny skies will be seen again on Thursday. However, even if the cyclone turns towards Bangladesh, the residents of the three districts of the state, i.e. two 24 Parganas and East Medinipur, are trembling with the fear of how much Sitrang will wreak havoc in the end. Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday appealed to the people to "stay alert" as there is a high chance of rain on Tuesday due to cyclone Sitrang. The India Meteorological Department has issued an alert regarding Cyclone `Sitrang`."There is a high chance of rain on October 25. There is an appeal to the people to avoid going out unnecessarily or to the sea areas including the Sundarbans. The state govt has made arrangements," said CM Mamata Banerjee. "Cyclone Sitrang centered at 1730 IST near late 20.7N and long 90.1E 230 km E-SE of Sagar Island. Likely to continue to move N-NE wards and cross the Bangladesh coast b/w Tinkona Island and Sandwip close to Barisal during the midnight today and early hours of October 25 2022," IMD tweeted on Monday night. Ahead of the `Sitrang` cyclone, Civil defence teams are deployed at Bakkhali Sea Beach in South 24 Parganas. Tourists are not allowed to visit the beach and the shops have also been closed. "We are fully prepared for the cyclone," said Disaster management official Anmol Sasmor. Under the influence of Sitrang cyclone, widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rain at isolated places is very likely to occur over Tripura on Monday and Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said on Monday. "Under Sitrang influence, widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms/lightning/heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rain at isolated places is very likely to occur over Tripura on 24th & 25th October 2022," IMD had said in a press release." `Sitrang` lay centred at 11:30 IST near lat 19.3N and long 89.5E about 300 km southeast of Sagar Island," IMD had tweeted."Likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and cross the Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip close to Barisal around the early hours of October 25," IMD added. "The cyclonic storm "Sitrang" pronounced as "Si-Trang" over east-central & adjoining areas of west-central and northwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 21 kmph during the past six hours and lay centred at 08:30 hours IST of today, the October 24 over northwest and adjoining the central Bay of Bengal near latitude 18.30N and longitude 88.90E, about 380 km south of Sagar Island and 520 km south-southwest of Barisal (Bangladesh)," stated IMD. Ayodhya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh and performed darshan and pooja of Lord Rama here on the eve of Diwali. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, "I had the privilege of worshipping Lord Shri Ramlala on this holy land of Ayodhya. I wished for the progress of the nation and well-being of all the countrymen." The Prime Minister inspected the site of Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. He also interacted with people associated with the project. "Inspected the ongoing construction works in Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. It is going to be a wonderfully grand complex, which will attract devotees from all over the world," he said in another tweet. PM Modi offers 'aarti' at Saryu River, Ayodhya Modi inaugurated the `Deepotsav` celebrations in Ayodhya on Sunday. He also offered `aarti` at New Ghat, Saryu River in Ayodhya. Earthern lamps lit up on the banks of the Saryu river in Ayodhya as part of the Deepotsav celebrations. 'Largest display of oil lamps' lit at 'Ram ki Paidi' A new Guinness World Record for the `largest display of oil lamps` was set when more than 15.76 lakh earthen lamps were lit at the `Ram ki Paidi` during the Yogi government`s Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is on a visit to Ayodhya for taking part in the Deepotsav celebrations, on Sunday said the idea of "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas" is inspired by the values and the rule of Lord Ram. Prime Minister performed the Rajyabhishek of the symbolic Bhagwan Shree Ram in Ayodhya. Addressing the gathering here, PM Modi said, "Shri Ramlala`s `Darshan` and then `Rajyabhishek` of King Ram, this good fortune is obtained only by the grace of Lord Ram. When Shri Ram is consecrated, the ideals and values of Lord Rama become firm in us. Lord Ram is the inspiration behind Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas - he took everyone along, did not leave anyone behind." From the teachings of `Kartavya Bal` by Lord Shri Ram, Prime Minister said the country has come up with the `Kartavya Path` to honour his governance and establish India`s identity globally. "Lord Rama is called Maryada Purushottam. Maryada teaches us to have respect and to give respect. And Maryada is the realization is the duty itself. Ram does not leave anyone behind. Ram does not turn his face out of duty. Ram, therefore, embodies the spirit of India, which believes that our rights are self-evident by our duties. This Deepawali has come at a time when we have completed 75 years of independence. `Sankalp Shakti` of Lord Ram will take India to new heights," he added. Prime Minister arrived in Ayodhya for taking part in the Deepotsav celebrations. He was welcomed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel. Speaking at the occasion, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "Deepotsav of Ayodhya started six years ago with the guidance and inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This festival of Uttar Pradesh became a festival of the country. Today, it is touching new heights of success." This year, Eknath Shinde Group has organized a 'Diwali Pahat' program in Thane. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attended this program today . He gave a good verbal lashing while talking about this. "Like India-Pakistan, we also played a match three-and-a-half months ago and won", he said. He also wished the people of the state on the occasion of Diwali. Chief Minister's Remarks Today we are celebrating the match that India won against Pakistan on Diwali day. If you have seen on TV, just as we won the match yesterday, our 'Shiv Sena of Balasaheb' played and won the same match three-and-a-half months ago. Maharashtra and the whole country saw that match. We have made a small effort to bring people together. So as soon as we came to power, first we give permission to celebrate our traditions, culture, festivals. Gram Panchayat Election Eknath Shinde further added, "Frankly speaking, these things are necessary along with development. If a man's mind is happy, he can move forward. A period of transformation has now begun in this state. Everywhere I go today, we get an enthusiastic response. These things also make me feel satisfied and happy. Its results were also seen in the Gram Panchayat elections." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday celebrated Diwali in Kargil with the soldiers guarding the borders of the country. Keeping his Diwali tryst with the soldiers alive, Modi landed in Kargil amid chilling cold to celebrate the festival of lights with the soldiers. The morning temperature was near the freezing point in Kargil. In today's DNA, Zee News' Rohit Ranjan makes an analysis of PM Narendra Modi's special connect with Diwali and act of celebrating it with soldirs. Since his days as the chief minister of Gujarat, Modi has been visiting the soldiers on national festival Diwali to identify with them and share their joy. Last year he celebrated Diwali in Nowshera border town of J&K`s Jammu division. In 2020, he shared the joys of the Diwali festival with soldiers in Jisalmer, Rajasthan. In 2019, Modi went to Rajouri district in J&K on Diwali while in 2018 he was in Uttarakhand to celebrate Diwali with the Army and ITBP soldiers. In 2017, the Prime Minister celebrated Diwali with the BSF soldiers in Gurez border town of J&K. Similarly in 2016 he went to Himachal Pradesh. Modi celebrated Diwali in Punjab with soldiers in 2015, and in 2014 he went to the World`s highest battlefield, Siachen glacier to be with the soldiers on Diwali. Modi said that those who indulge in corruption will not be spared, however influential or strong they may be. Addressing jawans in Kargil on the occasion of Diwali, he said that such corrupt forces for many years blocked progress, but now all those gaps are being filled. Modi`s comments have come at a time when the Government has cancelled the FCRA licence of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, leading to political sparring between the Congress and BJP. Modi further said that following the Government`s Atmanirbhar Bharat plan, all the three defence forces will now make 400 weapons indigenously. He said that soon soldiers would be able to use modern indigenous weapons while the Government is preparing state of the art infrastructure in frontline areas to strengthen the country`s defence. Kargil, the PM said, has been witness to all victories against Pakistan and also reminisced about his visit there during the Kargil conflict in 1999. He said that in today`s global perspective, Diwali symbolises end of terrorism and therefore, it is imperative to spread the message of peace on the occasion. Modi had reached Kargil earlier in the morning, to celebrate Diwali with personnel posted there. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that those who indulge in corruption will not be spared, however influential or strong they may be. Addressing jawans in Kargil on the occasion of Diwali, he said that such corrupt forces for many years blocked progress, but now all those gaps are being filled. Modi`s comments have come at a time when the Government has cancelled the FCRA licence of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, leading to political sparring between the Congress and BJP. Modi further said that following the Government`s Atmanirbhar Bharat plan, all the three defence forces will now make 400 weapons indigenously. He said that soon soldiers would be able to use modern indigenous weapons while the Government is preparing state of the art infrastructure in frontline areas to strengthen the country`s defence. Kargil, the PM said, has been witness to all victories against Pakistan and also reminisced about his visit there during the Kargil conflict in 1999. He said that in today`s global perspective, Diwali symbolises end of terrorism and therefore, it is imperative to spread the message of peace on the occasion. Modi had reached Kargil earlier in the morning, to celebrate Diwali with personnel posted there. New Delhi: The Vice Chancellors of 9 universities of Kerala have approached the Kerala High Court challenging Governor Arif Mohammad Khan's order to tender their resignation. The court will be holding a special sitting on Monday (Oct 24) at 4 pm to consider the petitions as per ANI. Meanwhile, Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan Chief Minister has slammed the state Governor Arif M Khan for ordering the resignations of VCs of nine universities in the state. In a statement to ANI, Vijayan said, "Governor (Arif M Khan) is misusing Chancellor post to exercise more powers than he holds. It's undemocratic & an encroachment on VCs' powers. Governor post is not to move against govt, but to uphold constitution's dignity. He's acting as a tool of RSS." This strong reaction came after Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Sunday demanded that the VCs of 9 varsities resign by 11:30 AM on Monday. Even the Supreme Court had ruled that the appointment of Rajasree M S as the Vice Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Thiruvananthapuram was 'illegal'. Kerala: VCs of 9 universities asked to resign The apex court had quashed the appointment of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University Vice Chancellor Dr Rajasree M S, saying that as per the University Grants Commission, the search committee constituted by the state should have recommended a panel of not less than three suitable persons among eminent people in the field of engineering science to the chancellor but instead it sent only one name. Kerala | Governor (Arif M Khan) is misusing Chancellor post to exercise more powers than he holds. It's undemocratic & an encroachment on VCs' powers. Governor post is not to move against govt,but to uphold constitution's dignity. He's acting as a tool of RSS: CM Pinarayi Vijayan https://t.co/8jnItwf6Rc pic.twitter.com/P4tD6AekEQ ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2022 Letters directing Vice Chancellors of 9 Universities of Kerala to tender their resignation by 11:30 am on 24 October 2022 have been issued. Letter also emailed to VCs & Registrars of varsities concerned as per the Kerala Raj Bhavan. (With agency inputs) Vishakhapatnam: The Indian Coast Guard has asked the fishermen to return with their boats as the fear of Cyclone Sitrang grips. In an attempt to ensure safety of the people, the Indian Coast Guard Ship Sagar is making efforts to keep the fishing boats at sea."#CoastGuard Region East remains committed to ensure safety of fishermen. Amidst the fury of developing cyclone in #BayofBengal, @IndiaCoastGuard Ship Sagar maintains its efforts to ensure safety of all fishing boats at sea. All fishing boats being shepherded to return harbour," Defence PRO Visakhapatnam tweeted. (sic) #CoastGuard Region East remains committed to ensure safety of fishermen. Amidst the fury of developing cyclone in #BayofBengal, @IndiaCoastGuard Ship Sagar maintains its efforts to ensure safety of all fishing boats at sea. All fishing boats being shepherded to return harbour. pic.twitter.com/pAxGTiQVO8 Defence PRO Visakhapatnam (@PRO_Vizag) October 24, 2022 The scientist of India Meteorological Department (IMD) Umashankar Das told ANI that the north coastal Odisha is expected to get some heavy rainfall. "Heavy to very heavy rainfall expected over West Bengal and a few northeastern states, particularly Tripura, Meghalaya, and south Assam," IMD Scientist Umashankar Das told ANI in Bhubaneswar. He further said that the cyclone `Sitrang` is moving north-northeastwards at a speed of 15kmph since last six hrs. "The cyclone is expected to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hrs and then continue its movement and is likely to cross Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip early morning tomorrow," he said. According to the IMD, the cyclonic storm `Sitrang` was then situated about 520 km south of Sagar Island and 670 km south-southwest of Barisal in Bangladesh. "To move north-northeastwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm in the next 12 hrs. To cross the Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip," the IMD said. At 3.17 am on Monday, the cyclone was 520 km south of Sagar Island in West Bengal and 670 km south-southwest of Barisal in Bangladesh, as per IMD. The forecasting agency further said, "It is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours. Continuing to move north-northeastwards thereafter, it is very likely to cross Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip close to Barisal around October 25 early morning." In the wake of Cyclone Sitrang, it had issued an advisory pertaining to the suspension of offshore activities in the north Bay of Bengal from October 24-25 along with issuing a warning of the possible impact of the storm in North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts of West Bengal. "Due to the cyclonic storm over West Central Bay of Bengal and adjoining East Central Bay of Bengal and its likely intensification into a severe cyclonic storm, fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea till 25th Ocober 2022," IMD`s statement said. Predicting the possible damages, the department said that thatched huts would likely be damaged. As per its advisory, the department suggested major damage to Kutcha and minor damage to Pucca roads and waterlogging in the Corporation and Municipality low-lying area. The release from the department said that wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph and gradually increasing becoming 60-80 mph gusting to 90 kmph is likely over North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts on Monday. The administration has deployed civil security forces to protect the river banks of South 24 Parganas in West Bengal and it is also making arrangements to move people along the river banks to safer places. In the Chunokhali Basanti area of South 24 Parganas, the river embankment repair work is going on before the storm. Civil defence forces are being deployed by the administration in the Gangasagar area of the state. Abhishek Banerjee returned home after undergoing complex eye surgery. His plane landed at Kolkata airport on Monday morning. Abhishek was picked up from the airport by 8 am. He returned home after 25 days of going to America for treatment. Trinamool All India General Secretary underwent eye surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in America on October 12. Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh also shared Abhishek's post-surgery photo on Twitter. Surgery was done on the left eye. Kunal informed us that the surgery was successful, and Abhishek is also fine. However, he has been kept under observation. The Trinamool MP returned to Kolkata after 12 days of eye surgery on Monday. The left side of his glasses was scratched. The one on the right, however, is normal. It was already known from close sources that Abhishek wanted to return to Kolkata before Kalipuja. He returned to the city on the morning of Kalipuja on Monday, making that assumption come true. However, it will be watched whether he will be seen sitting in the puja at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Kali Puja at night or not. Every year Abhishek sits in the puja yajna. However, according to the advice of the doctors, Abhishek will have to take special care of his eyes for a few days now. Special care should also be taken to avoid dust and heat in the left eye. So maybe he will not be seen near the Kali Puja home-yajna this time, according to close sources. Incidentally, Abhishek was seriously injured in a road accident in October 2016 while returning from a party meeting in Murshidabad. The Trinamool MP's car rammed into a roadside milk van on the Durgapur Expressway near Singur and overturned. Abhishek was rescued unconscious from the overturned car. In that accident, the 'orbital bone' (the bone that holds the eye) was broken under the MP's left eye. Since then, he has been suffering from problems with that eye for a long time. He also had to go to Dubai several times due to treatment. Abhishek has undergone surgery on that eye several times before. Treatment was also done in Singapore and Hyderabad. But there was no solution. After that, Abhishek was scheduled to go to America for eye surgery in March 2020, but due to the Covid-19 situation, it was postponed by two years. But the doctors advised Abhishek as it would not be advisable to leave this surgery for a long time. So he went to America in October. On October 12, two experienced surgeons of Johns Hopkins Hospital operated on Abhishek's left eye for more than five hours. Karnataka PGCET 2022: The Karnataka Examinations Authority, (KEA) will close the online registration for Karnataka PGCET 2022 tomorrow, October 24. Additionally, this is the last day to pay the charge. The PGCET Karnataka application form can be filled out by eligible candidates at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea, the KEA's official website. The application entry must be finished by October 26 at the latest for those who have paid the price. Those may apply for the PGCET 2022 if they have a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% (45% for candidates from the restricted categories). The admission exam is open to candidates from inside and outside of Karnataka. The PGCET exam dates have been announced by KEA in a website notification. The notice states that KEA PGCET 2022 would be held on November 19 from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm for M.E., M. Tech., and M. Arch admission. On November 20, the PGCET for MCA (10:30 am12:30 pm) and MBA (2:304:30) will take place. The admit card for PGCET 2022 applicants will be available for download on the KEA website starting on November 7. Karnataka PGCET 2022: Important dates Events Date Last date to pay registration fee October 24, 2022 Last date to complete online application entry October 26, 2022 Karnataka PGCET admit release date November 7, 2022 Karnataka PGCET 2022 exam November 19 and 20, 2022 Karnataka PGCET 2022 application: Heres how to fill out the form Visit the official website- cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea On the KEA Home page, click on the Admission section and then on PGCET 2022 Click on the PGCET 2022 MBA online application link Click on the new user and select from Yes or No Now enter the required details and submit User ID and password will be sent to registered mobile number Pay the registration fee through any of available methods Login using the ID and password sent to registered mobile number and complete the application entry process Download and take the printout of filled in application for future reference The necessary paperwork must be submitted at KEA, Bangalore, on October 29 between 11 am and 1 pm if the applicant is applying for special category admission to state colleges. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (October 24) congratulated the United Kingdom PM-designate Rishi Sunak. Extending his wishes to UK's first Indian-origin prime minister Modi said he is looking forward ook forward to working closely together on global issues, and implementing Roadmap 2030. PM Modi also extended special Diwali wishes to Indians living in UK as the two countries transform the "historic ties into a modern partnership." "Warmest congratulations @RishiSunak! As you become UK PM, I look forward to working closely together on global issues, and implementing Roadmap 2030. Special Diwali wishes to the 'living bridge' of UK Indians, as we transform our historic ties into a modern partnership," PM tweeted. Warmest congratulations @RishiSunak! As you become UK PM, I look forward to working closely together on global issues, and implementing Roadmap 2030. Special Diwali wishes to the 'living bridge' of UK Indians, as we transform our historic ties into a modern partnership. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 24, 2022 Indian Origin former UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak became UK's prime minister on Monday (October 24). Replacing former PM Liz Truss, Sunak became the first Indian-origin prime minister of the UK. Along with being the first Indian-origin UK PM Sunak now also holds the title of becoming the youngest UK prime minister in modern history at the age of 42 years. Mohali: Locals in Punjab`s Zirakpur congratulated Britain`s Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak for becoming the first Indian-origin Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. "It feels proud to see an Indian-origin becoming a PM of that country, which ruled us for over a century," a resident said. "My friends DS Gill and Amar Singh Rana living in England, are feeling very proud. Because of Rishi`s performance. They support Rishi Sunak because of his performance as the Finance Minister. They are proud indeed," Raja Singh, Rashtriya Janshakti Party general secretary, a resident of Zirakpur said. "Today our NRIs are very happy because one of them is going to become the Prime Minister of that country, which ruled not one but many countries," Singh added. Another resident told ANI that Rishi Sunak has done so much for Britain. He had made certain predictions about the economy, which turned true. This is also true that Rishi Sunak going to be the PM of Britain. "This is a proud moment for me, and not just for me it is a moment of pride for every Indian, living in any corner of the world," he added. "We have always been hearing this that England gave this to India, gave that, but for the first time India is going to give something to England," Zirakpur local said further. Adding that for the first time Indians will contribute to England`s development. Sunak is born in Southampton to parents of Indian descent who migrated to Britain from East Africa. Rishi Sunak`s grandparents are from Punjab, India. An Oxford, and Stanford University alumnae, Sunak is famously married to Akshata Murty, the daughter of NR Narayana Murthy, the billionaire businessman who founded Infosys. Swapna Suresh, the main accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case, has accused former CPIM ministers of seeking sexual favours. Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the gold smuggling case, has leveled sexual harassment allegations against three prominent leaders of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist in Kerala. Her latest allegations have sparked a new political controversy in the state. In an interview given to a news channel, Swapna Suresh accused former minister Kadakampally Surendran, former speaker of assembly P Sreeramakrishnan and former finance minister Dr Thomas Isaac of sexual harassment. She said the incident happened when she was acting secretary to the Consul General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Thiruvananthapuram. At the same time, these three top CPI(M) leaders were part of the previous Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left government in Kerala. Speaking to a TV channel, Suresh said on Friday, "Former Assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan and former Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran asked me to have sex with them. They had approached me about this. He has behaved immorally to some extent over the phone, even face to face, behaved like this. All this does not suit people in such positions." Swapna added, "The then Finance Minister Dr. Thomas Isaac had also asked me to have sex. That was definitely an indirect advance. He definitely invited me. According to me, he made indirect advances and the other two were very direct. Pathetic, frustrated and unethical people." The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in the state on Sunday dismissed allegations of sexual harassment leveled by Swapna Suresh against three senior CPI(M) leaders. At the same time, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) alleged that the Left Front always tries to save its members. At a press conference here, state secretaries of the CPI(M) and CPI said the accused's fresh allegations in the gold smuggling case are "baseless". CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan said, "Therefore, there is no need to answer their every allegation. She has been making allegations in the past as well and this is a continuation of that." Opposing Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan's order for the resignation of Vice Chancellors in 9 varsities, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said he has no such authority. Yechury accused the Governor of trying to "control the higher education system" so that the ruling party (BJP) can "propagate Hindutva ideology. He said, "They want to appoint RSS workers there&control the higher education system so that they are able to propagate Hindutva ideology in educational institutions. It'll be challenged in court as Constitution doesn't permit Governor to issue any such order." He further said, "Governor has no authority to give such a direction. This is arbitrary, illegal & politically motivated. They want to control & destroy the higher education system of Kerala." Vice Chancellors move to Kerala HC Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellors of 9 universities of Kerala have approached the Kerala High Court challenging Governor Arif Mohammad Khan's order to tender their resignation. The court will be holding a special sitting on Monday (Oct 24) at 4 pm to consider the petitions as per ANI. Kerala CM criticises Governor over varsity row Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan Chief Minister has also slammed the state Governor Arif M Khan for ordering the resignations of VCs of nine universities in the state. In a statement to ANI, Vijayan said, "Governor (Arif M Khan) is misusing Chancellor post to exercise more powers than he holds. It's undemocratic & an encroachment on VCs' powers. Governor post is not to move against govt, but to uphold constitution's dignity. He's acting as a tool of RSS." VCs of 9 varsities told to resign today This strong reaction came after Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Sunday demanded that the VCs of 9 varsities resign by 11:30 AM on Monday. Even the Supreme Court had ruled that the appointment of Rajasree M S as the Vice Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Thiruvananthapuram was 'illegal'. (With agency inputs) Kargil: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who landed in Kargil on Monday to celebrate the festival of light with soldiers said Diwali means the "festival of end of terror" and that Kargil had made it possible. Addressing soldiers Prime Minister said, "For me, all of you have been my family for years now. It is a privilege to spend Diwali with our brave jawans in Kargil." "The forces are the pillar of India`s security. From this victorious land of Kargil, I wish the countrymen and the world a very happy Diwali. There has not been a single war with Pakistan where Kargil has not hoisted the flag of victory. The meaning of Diwali is end of Atank (terror) and Kargil made it possible," he said. "In Kargil, our forces crushed terror. I was fortunate enough to be a witness. I was shown my old photos here, and I am grateful for that," he added. The Prime Minister has been celebrating the festival with soldiers for several years now. In 2019, the Prime Minister celebrated Diwali with soldiers in the Rajouri district along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. He had called soldiers as his family and lauded them for guarding the borders even during festivals. He had exchanged Diwali greetings with the Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel at Pathankot Air Force Station. Also Read: Diwali 2022: 'If anyone dares to look at us with evil eyes, our armed forces...,' says PM Modi In 2018, Prime Minister Modi celebrated Diwali with jawans of the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), at Harsil in Uttarakhand. Following that he had offered prayers at the Kedarnath shrine. In 2017, the Prime Minister celebrated the festival of light with army soldiers and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in the Gurez Valley of Jammu and Kashmir`s Bandipora District. Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated #Diwali with members of the Armed Forces in Kargil, today pic.twitter.com/crr5BO21lY October 24, 2022 In 2016, the PM went to Himachal Pradesh to celebrate the festival with Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel at an outpost. He visited the Punjab border to celebrate Diwali with soldiers in 2015. In 2014, Prime Minister Modi spent Diwali in Siachen with soldiers. Notably, PM Modi has been visiting soldiers on Diwali, ever since he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. The auspicious occasion of Diwali is here and the one-hour special session of Muhurt trading will be held this evening on stock exchanges including 30-share BSE Sensex and 50-share NSE Nifty. While Diwali is a holiday for the stock market, the normal market open time for the special session is 6:15 pm while the Muhurat trading will close at 7:15 pm. The set-up cut-off time for Position Limit/ Collateral value has been kept till 7:25 pm and the same is the trade modification end time. According to the NSE, all trades executed in this Diwali Muhurat trading session shall result in settlement obligations. Investors often look to invest in shares that yield better returns and on the occasion of Diwali, Zee Business panellists recommended some stocks during the 'Patakha Shares' show. Stock market experts Sandeep Jain and Rakesh Bansal recommended many shares on the show and five of them are listed below: Also Read: Diwali 2022: What is Muhurat trading, significance and its history? Check Muhurat trading 2022 timings 1. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders: The current share price of the company is Rs 637 apiece as it gained around 1.6 per cent in the last five trading days. According to Jain, the company has zero debts and has paid a dividend of 37.9 per cent. 2. ITC: ITC shares closed at Rs 344.85 apiece on Friday as it gained around 2.21 per cent in the last five trading days. Sandeep Jain said ITC holds a strong position in FMCG and has maintained its margins. He suggested a target of Rs 390/410 in the next three to six months for the shares. 3. State Bank of India: The largest public sector lender has yielded a better return in the past few months. The current share price is Rs 561.65. Rakesh Bansal said that SBI currently commands a 25 per cent market share in home loans and deposits. The expert suggested a target of Rs 900 for the bank in the next 12 months. Also Read: Diwali Bonus: Now THIS state announces 4 per cent hike in Dearness Allowance for around 5 lakh employees 4. Asian Paints: The current share price of Asian Paints is Rs 3,098 apiece. According to Rakesh Bansal, Asian Paints is the market leader in the paint industry and the company's dividend payout is also good. He suggested a target of Rs 3689 for the shares in the next 3 months. 5. Vedanta: The current share price of Vedanta is Rs 279.95. Sandeep Jain said that Vedanta is a good buy in the metal sector as the company has a market cap of Rs 15,500 crore. He suggested a target price of Rs 330/350 in the next six months. New Delhi: From cow dung dhoop cones to bottle cork T-lights, Raqesh Bapat has curated some of the best sustainable products for this Diwali for people who want to give back to the environment. Earlier this year, actor & keynote advocate of sustainable living, Raqesh Bapat introduced DIY kits to make your own Ganpati idol out of organic clay through his new entrepreneurial venture under the name the Earth Canvas and Co. This Diwali, the actor comes back with a bigger & better plan as he promotes sustainable products alongside creating opportunities for Womens self-help groups, in & around his hometown, Pune. Currently shooting for his next, the actor launches a website curating some of the best environment-friendly products available at one stop, majorly produced out of industrial waste. Raqesh shares, ' This is not some business model, but this is the product of my passion, equally supported by my family because I have a vision & I'm taking baby steps towards it. It is funny, the way we are living on this planet like we have another one to go to. What I've learnt in my quest to understand the idea of sustainability better is, that there is no such thing as Away, when we throw anything away, it has to & must go somewhere. You'll find dhoop cones made out of cow dung, festive lights for Diwali made out of bottle corks & such items of utility. The response we got for the Ganpati DIY kits was an eye-opener that there are many out there who want to try & make a difference so we came together with something for Diwali as well.' Not just being kind towards the environment, but this idea has turned around the lives of many women, Raqesh shares, 'We aim to curate and create affordable as well as premium sustainable art & utility merchandise and also create skilling & job opportunities for women through sustainable art by launching Skill development program for women from self-help groups near Pune to train them in creating weaves from agricultural & plastic waste that can be used for making artifacts & linked to market places, creating livelihoods.' New Delhi: "Friends" star Matthew Perry continues to share candid moments from his long journey to sobriety and the struggles he endured during his run on the long-running NBC sitcom even as he was yo-yoing between addictions to Vicodin and alcohol, reports CNN. In an excerpt from his much-anticipated new book "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing", the American Canadian actor recounts how a visit from co-star Jennifer Aniston to his trailer made him realise his secret behaviour, when it came to alcohol, wasn't so secret. "I know you're drinking," she said. Perry, now 53, writes in the memoir, in an excerpt published by the 'Times' of London: "I had long since gotten over her -- ever since she started dating Brad Pitt, I was fine -- and had worked out exactly how long to look at her without it being awkward, but still, to be confronted by Jennifer Aniston was devastating. And I was confused." Continuing his account of the visit by Aniston, Perry recalls asking her: "How can you tell? ... I've been trying to hide it." Elsewhere in the excerpt, according to CNN, Perry mentioned how he "never" worked high or drunk (although he "certainly worked hungover"). He said he was largely able to function as part of the uber-successful 'Friends' ensemble, thanks to his castmates and how they would "group around (him) and prop (him) up" like an injured penguin being supported by the other penguins. But that day in Perry's trailer, Aniston told him plainly that he wasn't getting away with anything. "We can smell it," she said, "in a kind of weird but loving way, and the plural 'we' hit me like a sledgehammer," Perry writes. "I know I'm drinking too much," I said, recalls Perry, "but I don't exactly know what to do about it." "By the end of season three, I was spending most of my time figuring out how to get 55 Vicodin a day -- I had to have 55 every day, otherwise I'd get so sick. It was a full-time job: making calls, seeing doctors, faking migraines, finding crooked nurses who would give me what I needed," Perry writes. "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing" by Matthew Perry will be published by Headline on November 1. NEW DELHI: Actors Ajay Devgn and Kajol's daughter Nysa Devgn looked sizzling hot as she attended another Diwali party on Sunday (October 23) night. The star kid was papped sitted inside her car with a friend and looked stunning. Nysa, who was recently spotted at the Diwali bash hosted by Bhumi Pednekar in a golden lehenga, was this time spotted wearing a printed green lehenga. Nysa Devgn, however, avoided contact with camerapersons and continued talking to her friend. Meanwhile, a few users noticed that Nysa looked a bit different and suspected that she got a nose job done. Another user trolled the star kid writing if she got the plastic surgery done. "Iss ki bhi plastic surgery ho gai," he wrote. "She looks totally changed. Wonders money can do," another wrote. Watch her video below: Only recently, Nysa was seen at Bhumi Pednekar's Diwali bash, looking her glam best. She opted for a golden saree and was seen giggling with her pals in the car. Nysa is currently studying International Hospitality at Switzerland's Glion Institute of Higher Education. She is yet to enter the glamorous world of showbiz yet. However, this has certainly not kept her away from the limelight. She often sets the internet on fire with her sensuous pics and videos. Kajol and Ajay Devgns daughter, Nysa is stealing limelight with her gorgeous personality. Nysa Devgn often trends on the internet with her bold and senuous photos and videos. Her party pictures stole limelight quite few times lately. NEW DELHI: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and his son Aryan Khan attended a Diwali bash hosted by producer-writer Amrit Pal Bindra in Mumbai on Sunday (October 23) night. In several videos shared by the paparazzi on Instagram, Shah Rukh and his son Aryan were clicked arriving at the venue in a white luxury car. While Aryan was captured on the front seat of his car, Shah Rukh was on the back seat which was completely covered with a black drape. Unlike other celebrities who happily posed for the shutterbugs, Shah Rukh Khan apparently tried to avoid the media and entered the venue in a car that had its windshield covered with black curtains. Take a look at the video below: It is no secret that Bollywood celebrities have been busy attending star-studded Diwali bashes in the past week. In the last few nights, several grand Diwali parties have been thrown in Mumbai which saw attendance of all A-listers from the tinsle villa. B-Town cutest couple Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif also arrived at Amrit Pal's Diwali bash twinning in black. Katrina Kaif was happily seen greeting the paps as she arrived at the venue. Actor Janhvi Kapoor arrived at the party with her ex-boyfriend Shikhar Pahariya. She wore a silver saree and smiled at the paparazzi. Ananya Panday and Sara Ali Khan arrived at the party together. Sara Ali Khan wore a multi-coloured ethnic outfit while Ananya opted for a red saree with a matching blouse. Several other celebrities including Shanaya Kapoor, Rhea Chakraborty, Angira Dhar, Anand Tiwari, Neha Dhupia with Angad Bedi, and Akansha Ranjan were also spotted at the bash. CHENNAI: Actress Shruti Haasan, who is now shooting for her international film, 'The Eye', in Athens and Corfu, has thanked the unit of the film for their sweet gesture of getting her crackers to ensure that she does not miss celebrating Deepavali. Taking to Instagram to post a picture of her bursting crackers, Shruti wrote, "Wishing you and yours light and prosperity! Tomorrow is the start of amazing things for all of us. "I thought I was away from my family on this special day and realised I found a lovely new film family in these beautiful people who took the time and effort to make Diwali so special!" "I'm so so filled with gratitude and never take these amazing moments for granted... there is magic and light in all places and all you have to do is open your heart and mind. Thank you to the amazing team of 'THE EYE' for this heart warming memory." Directed by Daphne Schmon and written by Emily Carlton, the film, backed by Fingerprint Content, is being co-produced by Agronauts productions, Greece's biggest and most established production house. Watch: A happy Rishi Sunakn arrives at 10-Downing Street, London after being announced as next UK Prime Minister. His party members, already present at the venue, welcomed him with a round of applause. The Prime Minister-in-waiting said that he was "humbled and honoured" to be elected leader of the Conservative Party with the support of his fellow MPs but stressed there are major economic challenges ahead. Sunak was on Monday chosen leader of the party, and the Prime Minister, as his only challenger Penny Mordaunt dropped out of the race shortly before the deadline for nominations, due to lack of necessary support (the backing of 100 MPs). Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is considering a second stab at the job, on Sunday evening announced that he had decided not to run again. Keyword corner when will rishi sunak speak, rishi sunak speech today, rishi sunak vermogen, rishi sunak kimdir, rishi sunak address today, rishi sunak nereli, is rishi sunak punjabi,britain prime minister, prime minister of england, rishi sunak pochodzenie New York: Salman Rushdie has lost sight in an eye and his one hand is incapacitated following the brutal knife attack on the acclaimed Mumbai-born author in August, his literary agent said. Rushdie, who faced Islamist death threats for years after writing "The Satanic Verses" book, was stabbed in the neck and stomach on stage in front of a stunned audience by 24-year-old New Jersey resident Hadi Matar, a US national of Lebanese origin. The attack on the 75-year-old Booker Prize-winning author came as he was getting ready to speak at a literary event at the Chautauqua Institution in Western New York. Salman Rushdie was 'profoundly' wounded in brutal attack Rushdie's wounds "were profound, but he's [also] lost the sight of one eye... He had three serious wounds in his neck. One hand is incapacitated because the nerves in his arm were cut. And he has about 15 more wounds in his chest and torso. So, it was a brutal attack," his literary agent Andrew Wylie told the Spanish-language newspaper El Pa's in an interview. When asked if Rushdie was still in the hospital, Wylie said he cannot give any information about the celebrated author's whereabouts. "He's going to live, that's the more important thing," he said. The 'fatwa' issued against Rushdie He was asked if the attack on Rushdie so many years after the fatwa was issued against him meant that "we're living at a particularly dangerous time for freedom of expression in the world." "I think the attack was probably something that Salman and I have discussed in the past, which was that the principal danger that he faced so many years after the fatwa was imposed is from a random person coming out of nowhere and attacking [him]," Wylie replied. "So, you can't protect against that because it's totally unexpected and illogical. It was like John Lennon's murder," he said. India had condemned the attack India had condemned the "horrific attack" on the celebrated novelist and wished him a speedy recovery. "India has always stood against violence and extremism. We condemn the horrific attack on Salman Rushdie and we wish him a speedy recovery," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at his weekly media briefing in August. The attack on Rushdie triggered global condemnation and an outpouring of support for the author. Rushdie spent years in hiding after Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a 'fatwa' in 1989 calling for his death following the publication of his novel 'The Satanic Verses'. Following the attack, Iran denied any links with the attacker. Rushdie was born in Mumbai in 1947. He was sent to boarding school in England before studying at the University of Cambridge. In 2007, he was knighted for services to literature. Press Release October 22, 2022 Villanueva to CSC: Let's end endo in government Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva is calling on the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to address the high number of Job Order (JO) and Contract of Service (COS) employees in government and provide them with security of tenure especially if they have civil service eligibility. "We have been raising the issue of unfilled positions in government during budget hearings since we became a senator in 2016, and the number of JOs and COS workers in government remains a problem. It's about time that we address the issue of contractualization in government," Villanueva said. He added that while there are 170,688 unfilled government positions, the government has 642,077 employees under JO or COS, representing 26.07% of all government workers. According to the data from the CSC, the top government agencies with the highest number of JO and COS employees are Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) (22,457), Department of Education (DepEd) (12,465), Department of Health (DOH) (8,188), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) (7,340) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) (5,487). Data also shows that these agencies have the following unfilled positions: DPWH (3,180), DepEd (47,034), DOH (21,038), DSWD (381) and DENR (2,430). The Senate Majority Leader noted that despite the high number of unfilled positions in different government agencies, most JO and COS employees are not qualified to apply for a permanent position in government because they do not have any civil service eligibility. For his part, Villanueva filed Senate Bill No. 568 which will institutionalize the Skills Certificate Equivalency Program (SCEP) and grant civil service eligibility for graduates of technical and vocational education and training courses who are National Certificate (NC) holders issued by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The Senator, an advocate for workers' rights, also filed Senate Bill No. 131 or the Civil Service Security of Tenure Act which will provide permanent appointment and automatic civil service eligibility to all casual and contractual government employees who have rendered at least five years in service in the national government and six years in the local government units and have at least a satisfactory rating for at least three years. Villanueva also lauded the move of the CSC to give "preferential rating" for JOs and COS in the next civil service examination which will put into consideration their number of years in service. "This is a welcome development on the part of the CSC to secure jobs for JO and COS workers in the government. Let's end endo in government once and for all," Villanueva ended. Tapusin ang endo sa gobyerno, hirit ni Villanueva Nanawagan si Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva sa Civil Service Commission (CSC) na tugunan ang mataas na bilang ng mga empleyado sa gobyerno na kabilang sa Job Order (JO) at Contract of Service (COS), at gawaran sila ng security of tenure lalo na kung sila ay may civil service eligibility. "Pag-upo pa lang natin noong 2016 bilang senador, paulit-ulit na nating pinapalitaw kada budget hearing ang isyu na ito ng mga JOs and COS workers sa gobyerno. Panahon na para wakasan ang kontraktwalisasyon sa pamahalaan," sabi ni Villanueva. Sinabi ng senador na habang ang pamahalaan ay may 170,688 na hindi napupunuang mga posisyon, kasalukuyang naman itong may 642,077 na empleyado sa ilalim ng JO at COS, na kumakatawan sa 26.07% ng kabuuang bilang ng mga manggagawa sa gobyerno. Ayon sa datos ng CSC, ang mga ahensyang may pinakamataas na bilang ng mga empleyadong JO at COS ay ang Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) (22,457), Department of Education (DepEd) (12,465), Department of Health (DOH) (8,188), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) (7,340), at Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) (5,487). Lumalabas din sa datos ng CSC na ang mga ahensyang ito ang may pinakamataas na bilang ng mga unfilled positions: DPWH (3,180), DepEd (47,034), DOH (21,038), DSWD (381) and DENR (2,430). Sinabi ng Senate Majority Leader na bagaman mataas ang bilang ng mga unfilled positions sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno, hindi naman kwalipikado dito ang karamihan sa mga empleyadong JO at COS sapagkat wala silang civil service eligibility Kaugnay nito, naghain si Villanueva ng Senate Bill No. 568 na nagtatatag ng Skills Certificate Equivalency Program (SCEP) na nagkakaloob ng civil service eligibility para sa mga graduate ng technical and vocational education and training courses na may National Certificate (NC) mula sa Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Bilang tagapagsulong ng kapakanan ng mga manggagawa, nag-file din ang senador ng Senate Bill No. 131 o Civil Service Security of Tenure Act na nagbibigay ng permanenteng appointment at automatic civil service eligibility sa lahat ng kaswal at kontraktwal na empleyado sa pamahalaan na nanilbihan ng hindi bababa sa limang taon sa national government, at hindi bababa sa anim na taon sa mga local government units, na may satisfactory rating o mas mataas pa sa nagdaang tatlong taon ng serbisyo. Pinuri naman ni Villanueva ang pagbibigay ni CSC ng "preferential rating" para sa mga empleyadong JO at COS sa susunod na civil service examination, na may konsiderasyon sa bilang ng taon ng serbisyo. "This is a welcome development on the part of the CSC to secure jobs for JO and COS workers in the government. Tapusin na natin ang endo sa gobyerno," sabi ni Villanueva. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS. Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will not stand for the Conservative Party leadership, Daily Mail reports. In a statement, he insisted he had secured the 100 nominations needed to get onto the ballot paper. The former prime minister said he had reached out to leadership rivals Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt to see if they could work together in the national interest, but it had not proved possible. The news means that Boris Johnson will not become Prime Minister for a second time. It leaves the former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt as the remaining candidates. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS. The northwestern regional headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces announced the launch of military exercises in the northwest of the country in West Azarbaijan Province, Mehr News Agency reported citing an official statement from the military. The exercise is being held in the general area of Pasve and Piranshahr in order to improve the combat readiness of the units for night operations. Pasve and Piranshahr are close to the Turkish border. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS. Former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak has been elected as the new Prime Minister of Great Britain, ARMENPRESS reports, citing "RIA Novosti", member of the Conservative Party Graham Brady announced. "I can confirm that we received only one nomination that had power. And so, Rishi Sunak was elected leader of the Conservative Party," said the politician. Sunak became the only candidate for the post after House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt announced she was withdrawing her candidacy. The northwestern regional headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces announced the launch of military exercises in the northwest of the country in West Azarbaijan Province, Mehr News Agency reported citing an official statement from the military. October 24, 2022, 14:40 Iran launches military exercises near border with Turkey STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 24, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: The exercise is being held in the general area of Pasve and Piranshahr in order to improve the combat readiness of the units for night operations. Pasve and Piranshahr are close to the Turkish border. The Cayuga Museum of History & Art seeks clothing objects for an upcoming exhibit, "Fabrication: Telling Stories Through Clothing." It will be the first major exhibit at the Auburn museum to focus explicitly on clothes, including styles during certain time periods and stories clothes tell about the people who wore them. The exhibit will take place from March to December 2023. The community is invited to contribute their clothing and stories, particularly Irish, Polish and Ukrainian immigration stories, as well as those of people in the African American community. Clothing can include fashionable items like dresses, uniforms, and casual items. Photographs that clearly depict clothing is sought as well. Items from the 1800s to the 1910s and the 1940s to the 1970s are sought in particular. All items will be secured, covered under the museum's insurance policy and returned at the end of the exhibit. For more information, or to arrange loaning a clothing item, photograph or story, call Kirsten at the Cayuga Museum at (315) 253-8051 or email megan@cayugamuseum.org by Dec. 1. The leaves are turning, the weather is cooler, its getting dark out earlier and now we have more time to stay inside and read. This months Book Report features two books about strong women facing difficult times in their lives. Susan Elia MacNeal's Maggie Hope World War II mysteries is one of the few series I will always read, and her latest book, Mother Daughter Traitor Spy, is a fantastic standalone novel. The last Maggie Hope novel, The Hollywood Spy," had Maggie in WWII Los Angeles, where she tangled with Nazis. Mother Daughter Traitor Spy tells the story of Veronica and her mother Violet during WWII. When Veronica makes a bad personal choice, she loses her job in New York, and she and her widowed mother move to Los Angeles, closer to her uncle. Veronica unintentionally finds herself as secretary for someone who is heavily involved in the Nazi movement in the United States. Meanwhile, Violet's lovely embroidery catches the eye of a Nazi leader's wife, and soon she is designing and sewing clothes for many of the women's friends. Horrified by the things they are hearing, Veronica and her mother go to law enforcement and end up working as spies for the U.S. military. I found myself wanting to know more about this time period in Los Angeles after reading The Hollywood Spy," and was so pleased to see that Susan Elia MacNeal was continuing to tell us more about this intriguing time in history in Mother Daughter Traitor Spy," based on the lives of a real mother-daughter team. As I read this terrific story, I could not help but see the connections between what was happening politically in the 1940s and what is happening in our country in the last few years, and that adds to the importance of this book. I didnt realize how many followers the Nazis had in America prior to and during WWII; it was eye-opening and honestly frightening. Mother Daughter Traitor Spy is a must-read for historical fiction fans. Another author whose work I never miss is Anne Leigh Parrish. Her previous novels (Our Love Will Light the World," The Amendment and A Winter Night) dealt with families living in the Finger Lakes region in contemporary settings. Her latest novel, An Open Door," is an historical novel set in the aftermath of WWII. When we meet Edith she is a young woman working at the United Nations in New York City, and married to Walt, who is studying to be a lawyer and living in Boston. Edith enjoys her freedom working in New York and living with her husband's widowed aunt. Many people question why a married woman would choose to live and work in a different city than her husband, including her husband, who pressures Edith to return to Boston. After having watched her mother being stifled by her marriage to Ediths overbearing father, she did not want to live a similar life. When she returns to Boston, Edith intends to continues her Ph.D. studies in literature, but women at that time were discouraged from such a higher level of education. She saw that the problem was what the world expected women to be, which was always less than a man. Unhappy in her marriage and with her life in general, Edith wished that knowing where you didnt belong meant knowing where you did. When an opportunity to buy the neighborhood bookstore (along with two other people) comes along, she sees this as a chance to do something more meaningful and fulfilling with her life. Ediths life begins to revolve around the bookstore, and as someone who works in a bookstore, I so enjoyed reading about the joys, and the trials and tribulations, of owning one. No one writes characters better than Anne Leigh Parrish, and Edith is no exception. Parrish takes the reader into the heart and head of her characters so brilliantly that we relate and understand them, even when they do things with which we disagree. Edith is not perfect, and she does things that people will find objectionable. Parrish writes so beautifully, I found myself returning time and again to her words, like this quote from her mother: One thing Ive learned is that kind people love kindly; careless people love carelessly; cruel people love cruelly. She always gives her readers something deep to ponder. I give An Open Door my highest recommendation. According to Irakli Pavlenishvili, a member of the "Anti-corruption Movement", they will work with international partners to include the members of the ruling team - Irakli Kobakhidze and Tea Tsulukiani - in the list of those sanctioned due to election fraud.As he said while talking to journalists, the object of international sanctions should be all those who falsified the elections."There is a person in the Ministry of Culture who took an important part in the falsification of the 2020 parliamentary elections and 2021 municipal elections. Yesterday, a new detail became known to the public - the falsifier himself, who had a confrontation with other falsifiers, made public the evidence we have been talking about in recent years. We observed and saw how the will of the Georgian people was forged.As for Tea Tsulukiani, who moved from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Culture, the personal information of Georgian citizens was known to the "Georgian Dream" party, "Georgian Dream" and State Security Service. The responsibility of the Ministry of Justice is clear, it is the Ministry of Justice that has access to our personal data. They were responsible for protecting personal data, but they did not protect it, handed it over to the ruling party, and sacrificed it. Therefore, the question of his responsibility should arise. We intend to contact the data protection inspector to start an investigation regarding Thea Tsulukian.Also, we are working with international partners on the issue of sanctions, where one of the directions is to undermine Georgian democracy. Excavating the main root of what the ruler can do is falsifying elections, and restricting the expression of the nation's free will, therefore Irakli Kobakhidze, Tea Tsulukiani, and the forgers should be objects of international sanctions, we will share the evidence with our partners. These forgers should be punished", said Pavlenishvili.Minister of Justice Rati Bregadze said that Ukraine's sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili's family and entourage "such type of decisions are completely incomprehensible and are not favorable towards Georgia".According to Bregadze, the representatives of the National Movement hold high positions in Ukraine, and "it is clear that the Ukrainian government probably takes their advice into account"."Such decisions towards Georgian citizens are completely incomprehensible, and we have seen this before when one of the high-ranking officials directly called for Georgia's involvement in the war, and Georgia did not understand all of this, and on the contrary, we try to maintain peace as much as possible, protect our national interests, stand by the Ukrainian people. And when similar decisions are made in Ukraine, it doesn't matter who makes them, it's completely incomprehensible to us, and we think it's not good for Georgia, when Georgian citizens are subjected to similar sanctions without any explanation, and this is completely A trend decision.I, in this case, do not expect anything [Ivanishvili's sanction], I state my position that similar types of decisions against Georgian citizens, which are not accompanied by any justification, are uniquely tendentious.We have repeatedly talked about the fact that the representatives of the United National Movement hold high positions in Ukraine, this is also completely incomprehensible to us, and it is clear that the Ukrainian authorities probably take into account their advice, which has nothing to do with the law, and when someone makes a similar decision, they should be kind and agree with it. give reasons. Therefore, it will not be appropriate to make more comments on such frivolous decisions," said Bregadze. It's a busy election year, with statewide races and congressional campaigns receiving the most attention. But in Cayuga County, there is an important proposition, county-wide races and even some town-level offices to fill. Statewide races In the race for governor, Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and her running mate, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, face Republican challenger Lee Zeldin, a Long Island congressman, and his running mate, Alison Esposito, a former deputy inspector with the New York Police Department. Hochul and Delgado will also appear on the Working Families line, while Zeldin and Esposito have the Conservative line. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, a Democrat, is seeking reelection against Republican challenger Paul Rodriguez, a financial expert with experience working for Wall Street firms. DiNapoli is also running on the Working Families line. Rodriguez is on the Conservative line. Early voting in Cayuga County: Dates, places and times to vote Before Election Day, Cayuga County voters will have an opportunity to vote early and in person. State Attorney General Letitia James is hoping to win a second term as the state's top law enforcement officer. She has the Democratic and Working Families lines against Michael Henry, a New York City attorney who will appear on the Republican and Conservative lines. For each of the statewide offices, the winner will serve a four-year term. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer is also up for reelection. Schumer, a Democrat, has served as Senate majority leader since 2021. He has represented New York in the Senate since 1999. Schumer's main opponent is Republican and Conservative candidate Joe Pinion, a political commentator and entrepreneur. An independent candidate, Diane Sare, is also on the ballot. The winner of the Senate election will serve a six-year term. Countywide races Cayuga County was kept whole in congressional and state senate redistricting. The county is in the newly drawn 24th Congressional District and 48th state Senate District. The 24th district race pits U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, who is on the Republican and Conservative ballot lines, against Democratic challenger Steven Holden. The winner will serve a two-year term in the House of Representatives. In the 48th district, there are three candidates: State Sen. Rachel May (Democratic and Working Families), Onondaga County Legislator Julie Abbott (Republican) and Justin Coretti (Conservative). Coretti is an attorney from Owasco. The winner receives a two-year term in the state Senate. Three county-level offices are also on the ballot, with Republican and Conservative candidates running unopposed. Brittany Grome Antonacci, who serves as acting Cayuga County district attorney, is seeking a full term as the county's top prosecutor. Dr. Adam Duckett is vying for another term as Cayuga County coroner, while Sheriff Brian Schenck is seeking his second term in office. The terms for each office last four years. Ballot propositions Voters will need to flip over their ballots to vote on two ballot proposals this year. The first is a statewide environmental bond act. Voters will be asked if they want to approve the sale of up to $4.2 billion in state bonds to fund environmental projects. The second is a proposition regarding the future of the Cayuga County Legislature. The proposal calls for reducing the size of the legislature from 15 to 11 seats. The change would take effect at the next local election in 2023. What else? Cayuga County has been divided into three state Assembly districts. Voters in the towns of Ira, Sterling and Victory have one candidate on the ballot Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, a Republican, who is running unopposed in the newly drawn 120th Assembly District. Voters in the city of Auburn and towns of Brutus, Cato, Conquest, Mentz, Owasco, Sennett and Throop are in the 126th Assembly District. The candidates are Assemblyman John Lemondes, a Republican seeking a second term in the Assembly, and Democratic challenger Bruce MacBain, a former educator. The towns of Aurelius, Fleming, Genoa, Ledyard, Locke, Montezuma, Moravia, Niles, Scipio, Sempronius, Springport, Summerhill and Venice are in the 131st Assembly District. Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan, a Republican, is running unopposed. Four candidates are running for two seats in the 7th Judicial District, which includes all of Cayuga County. The Democratic candidates are attorneys Maroun Ajaka and Roman Misula. On the Republican side, Yates County Court Judge Jason Cook and attorney James Vazzana are running for the judicial seats. There are several town-level offices on the ballot across the county. In Brutus, Republican Justin Lasher is the lone candidate running to fill a vacancy on the town board. Donna Gilfus, a Republican, is running in Fleming to fill a vacant seat on the town board. Shannon Armstrong has been cross-endorsed by both major parties in her bid to serve as clerk/collector in Genoa. In Locke, there is a contested race for highway superintendent. Brian Weir has the backing of the Republican Party, while Jody Lewis is running on the independent Locke Party line. The town of Mentz needs to fill a vacancy on its town board, but no candidates are on the ballot. Voters can write in a candidate for the board seat. Multiple town seats are on the ballot for Montezuma voters. David Corey has the Democratic and Republican lines to run for town supervisor. Marie Cronin, a Republican, is running for town clerk. Cary Eldridge, a Democrat, is the lone town justice candidate. There are no candidates to fill the vacant highway superintendent seat, but voters can write in someone for the position. Kathleen Wilde, a Republican, is the lone candidate for clerk/collector in the town of Springport. Two candidates are vying to fill one vacancy on the town board in Throop. Donna Adams has the Democratic line, while Ernest B. Thurston, Jr. is on the Republican line. In Venice, Melanie Quinn, a Republican, is the lone candidate for town justice. LOS ANGELESThe SayUncle Network has debuted five new releases from its most popular sites. The Hitchhiker, from Latin Leche, presents a man driving around when he stops to pick up a sexy stranger (Cain Gomez) for what he hopes will be an incredible ride. To watch the scene, click here. Timber Adams is next in Missionary Boys Eternal Partners, where he plays a bishop who makes a commitment to an elder (Jack Waters) by eagerly consummating his forever love. To watch, click here. Other scenes are: Military Workout Turns Naughty, from Military Dick, where soldiers Frank Bauer and Gabriel Chiappe offer each other a helping hand while training. The Recreation, from Therapy Dick, features a therapist (Brody Kayman) who helps a new client (Emrys Angel) put together the pieces of his sex life. Ill Teach You Respect, from Bully Him, opens with Johnny Ford as he waits for his massage therapist, only to be surprised by a backdoor sneak attack from Dylan Hayes. The SayUncle Network offers fans a selection of more than 2,500 movies, 930-plus models, and over 50 series of unique all-male content. For more information, please visit SayUncle.com or follow the brand on Instagram and Twitter. Pictured: From left, Brody Kayman and Emrys Angel. The Washington Commanders had a great day defeating Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers 23-21 Sunday afternoon. But their radio broadcast didnt go off without a hitch. Early in the second quarter, play-by-play voice Bram Weinstein threw the broadcast to a commercial break, but the feed remained live for an additional 40 seconds. Believing the break was already underway, broadcaster Julie Donaldson could be heard saying, There is a lot of Green Bay here today, to note the crowd of Packers fans who invaded Daniel Snyders FedEx Field. Shortly after Donaldsons fair analysis, Weinstein asked, are we gonna break? followed by a producer adding, dont say anything. It took about 15 additional seconds before the broadcast made it into their long-awaited commercial break. Prior to the above audio being made available, the mistake gained traction on social media with the sentiment that the broadcasts producer said dont say anything in response to Donaldsons comment about Packers fans. However, after hearing the clip, it didnt seem like the producer was responding to Donaldson as if acknowledging the well-traveled Packers fanbase was some sort of damning statement that needed to be censored. The dont say anything, rather, was a way of noting they were supposed to be in break, but for some reason they werent yet, so stay quiet. Hot mic blunders are never a good look, but I thought the Commanders radio crew handled this one pretty well. Aside from the 40 seconds of awkward silence and random comments to briefly present an amateurish sound, no one said anything disciplinary, and the producer did a decent job of quickly informing the announcers their mics were still hot. There were a lot of traveling Packers fans at FedEx Field Sunday afternoon, but it didnt stop the Commanders from notching a big win. [Washington Commanders Radio Network; Commanders logo photo from Geoff Burke/USA Today Sports] Fire and rescue departments in southeast Nebraska kept busy much of Sunday into Monday morning as fires raged through the area. In Gage County, all but two fire departments were dispatched to battle four separate fires that were going on at the same time. Lisa Wiegand, Gage County Emergency Management Director, said the first was a rekindle of a brush fire located at 86th and Ash roads, the second was around eight miles east of the first fire near South 38th Road, the third was a combine fire near 89th and Plum roads, the final fire was another rekindle at on East Linden Road. Firefighters from Hallam, Crete, Cortland, Clatonia, Firth, Pickrell, Wymore, Diller, DeWitt and Odell all worked the fires in Gage County. We kind of got completed at 4 a.m. (Monday) Wiegand said. "The two hottest fires, we had some rekindling (Monday) morning. A lot of posts were lost as fence lines fell and hay bales ignited, so were going to see this rekindling until we get moisture, which is typical with the wind speeds weve got. Area departments also assisted with fires in southern Lancaster County, where evacuations were ordered. The first evacuation orders came around 2:44 p.m., when a fire that had started at the Lancaster-Gage County border threatened areas in Lancaster County south and west of Southwest 12th Street and Saltillo Road. Wiegand added that all things considered, Gage County was lucky. She said there was structural damage in Gage County, while multiple residences in Lancaster County were lost. We did have some loss of machinery, but when it got into (Lancaster County) there were three residences lost and at 1:30 this morning they did have some structure fire there. We did have to treat some firefighters for smoke inhalation, not in Gage County though. Crete fire did have some injuries reported. She added the departments did an admirable job of working together and quickly responding. Hats off to all responders and law enforcement, Wiegand said. Our dispatchers, they communicated and patched the communities together and deployed the departments. It was good teamwork, now we hope to get some moisture. Montanans medical expenses should be more transparent upfront, Gov. Greg Gianforte said during a Friday stop in Billings, promising to make the issue a priority in the 2023 Legislature. Gianforte said hes already working with lawmakers to craft more affordable and transparent health care options. He made the comments after touring the construction site of the Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine. We want to increase medical billing transparency. What if before a procedure, you knew what youd have to pay? What if your provider or your insurer provided you with a cost estimate? We must ensure Montanans will have access to important pricing information prior to receiving services, Gianforte said. With greater transparency on costs in advance, Montanans can make better health care decisions that work for them and their family. The governor said the transparency plan would require some help from the federal government in the shape of market-based reforms, which have for years been at the base of the Republican counter response to the now 12-year-old Affordable Care Act. Typically, the proposals focus on shifting away from government intervention and subsidies in healthcare, allowing private business to come up with alternatives. One of the alternatives offered by Gianforte earlier in the day during a segment with conservative talk radio host Aaron Flit was direct primary care, in which individuals, without the involvement of insurance, make monthly payments for primary care rather than being billed for individual services. In return, those paying in receive care relating to their general health, prevention, and common illness. Direct Primary Care is something Gianforte has long advocated for and Montana law has accommodated. The governor also touched on the work of Montanas government and Congressional delegation to eliminate barriers for telehealth, which has saved rural residents time and money delivering health services in communities that otherwise may have little to no professional care. On transparency, Gianforte said the point is to make sure people know what the costs are and who will pay those costs. He likened it to knowing the true cost when buying a pickup truck. I wouldnt expect to go off the lot without knowing what its going to cost. We have many medical procedures that cost a lot more than a pickup truck does. And yet, its hard to understand what it costs and whos paying for it. So increased transparency allows patients to work with their medical provider to make the right choice for themselves, Gianforte said. I think it applies across the whole spectrum, as well, both prescription drugs as well as medical services. And I look forward to working with the Legislature to figure out whats right for Montana, in conjunction with our medical community as well. The Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine should benefit Montanans by producing medical staff who train in Billings and choose to remain in Montana after graduating. Medical professionals tend to remain in the communities where they learn, Gianforte said. Montana needs more medical professionals. Gianforte opened his comments by recognizing a shooting in the emergency room of Billings Clinic last weekend and the trauma inflicted on medical workers on shift at the time. A woman being treated at the ER shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, pulled a gun on herself, firing one round into her head before a Billings Police officer shot her. The woman survived. Even as officers arrived, the woman allegedly picked up the handgun and ignored commands to stop. What happened Sunday night was troubling and traumatic, Gianforte said. Its a reminder that our health care workers are on the frontlines, every day, serving our communities. They see patients, as well as their friends and family, at their most vulnerable, and it takes a toll on them. No nurse or doctor or provider should fear for their wellbeing simply by showing up for work and doing their best to care for patients. Firefighters in western Montana have pulled a doe and her fawn from the icy Clark Fork River in sub-zero temperatures. Missoula firefighter Brett Cunniff says the deer darted up the bank and ran away after they were rescued Friday morning, so crews hope they're OK. Someone reported the deer had fallen through the ice at about 7:30 a.m. The National Weather Service says the temperature at the time was minus 3 degrees Fahrenheit. Fire crews used a ladder and ropes to pull the animals to safety. Cuniff says such rescues are not uncommon, but they usually involve dogs. He says he's never been involved in rescuing a deer before. Voters in a vast legislative district spanning a large swath of southwestern North Dakota as well as the Standing Rock Indian Reservation will decide who will hold their two House seats from a field of three distinct candidates. They include a former tribal chairman, a young dairy farmer and a longtime incumbent. The District 31 House race features Democrat Mike Faith, of Fort Yates, and Republicans Dawson Holle, of St. Anthony, and Rep. Karen Rohr, of Mandan. In the district's Senate race, incumbent Don Schaible, R-Mott, is running unopposed for reelection. District 31 encompasses Grant and Sioux counties and parts of Morton and Hettinger counties. The Standing Rock Indian Reservation shares geography with the district. Faith Faith, who was Standing Rock Sioux tribal chairman from 2017-21, touts his experience including 22 years on the tribal council, 28 years on the tribal school board and eight years on a federal Farm Service Agency county committee. "Within that area you work a lot with the townships, the county, the state, federal, other agencies," Faith said. He also cites his experiences working with Natural Resources Conservation Service cost-share projects and managing the tribe's buffalo for 17 years. He did not seek another term as tribal chairman, citing his health and also stress from the coronavirus pandemic. He said he decided to run for House to "get back to a true representation." Faith said his priorities are veterans, home and health care, elderly care, agriculture, education, infrastructure, mental health, rural fire and emergency services, and energy -- particularly renewable resources. "I think it's time that we support and strengthen renewable resources out here in North Dakota," he said. "We have abundance of that through the solar, the wind, thermal energy. With that said, I think we put a lot of undue stress on our existing resources, so it's not a fix-all bringing in renewable, but it may be the future and it would help offset the demand right now of oil and coal. It's not meant to take over anything." Holle Holle, who won the most votes in the June Republican primary for the district's House race, is a dairy farmer and University of Mary business student. At 18, he cites his qualifications for office as his interest in transparency with constituents, his agriculture background and also his youth -- which he said would allow him to be a voice for his generation on bills. Holle said he's encountered people who "wanted new blood and new change ... so I wanted to run and bring new perspectives to the Legislature." He also said constituents "want someone who is transparent with them, and they want someone who understands what the district wants and understands how they vote." Holle would be the youngest state lawmaker if elected. His primary victory knocked off longtime incumbent Rep. Jim Schmidt, R-Huff. Holle's priorities if elected would be to fortify the state's dairy industry, to emphasize North Dakota oil and gas, and to protect veteran affairs. He said he is opposed to abortion and supports gun rights. Rohr Rohr, a board-certified nurse practitioner first elected in 2010, is seeking her fourth term. She declined a Tribune interview. Rohr is vice chair of the House Human Services Committee and sits on the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee. The North Dakota Department of Transportation has scheduled public meetings Tuesday on two highway projects planned in the region. The purpose is to provide the public with information about the projects on state Highways 32 and 14. People who want to request special accommodations for either meeting should contact Heather Christianson, Civil Rights Division, NDDOT, at 701-3282978 or civilrights@nd.gov. TTY users may use Relay North Dakota at 711 or 1-800-366-6888. Highway 32 DOT plans a major rehabilitation of Highway 32 from the South Dakota border to the south junction of N.D. 11, with widening for about 10.3 miles. The meeting is from 5-7 p.m. at the Civic Center at the corner of Third Avenue and First Street in Havana. It will have an open house format with a formal presentation at 6 p.m. Written comments must be mailed by Nov. 9 to HDR Engineering Inc., Attn: Matthew Huettl, Project Manager, 51 Broadway N., Suite 550, Fargo, ND 58102 or emailed to matthew.huettl@hdrinc.com with Public Input Meeting in the subject line. Highway 14 DOT plans a major rehabilitation and roadway widening of Highway 14 from Sterling to Wing. The meeting is from 6-8 p.m. at the Wing Theater in Wing. It will have an open house format with a formal presentation at 7 p.m. Written comments must be mailed by Nov. 9 to Brent Muscha, PE, at 4733 Amber Valley Parkway S., Fargo, ND 58104 or emailed to Brent.Muscha@ApexEngGroup.com with Public Input Meeting in the subject line. Creating communities that can attract a talented workforce will be the focus of the 2022 Main Street ND Summit set for Tuesday and Wednesday at the Bismarck Event Center. The annual event is part of Gov. Doug Burgum's Main Street Initiative to revitalize and spur growth in the state's communities. This year's theme is "Inspiring Community-Driven Workforce." Our team worked diligently to ensure all (speakers) were not only relatable to North Dakota, but also had a proven track record of success and influence in providing solutions that could help communities as they address workforce needs, said Shawn Kessel, chief operating officer and deputy commissioner for the state Commerce Department, which hosts the event. This year's speakers include Anthony Melchiorri, host of Travel Channels "Hotel Impossible," "Five Star Secrets" and "Extreme Hotels"; Amanda Brinkman, chief brand officer at Deluxe and creator, producer, and host of "Small Business Revolution"; and officials with business management consultant company Think 3D. Burgum also is scheduled to speak. Breakout sessions will cover a range of topics relating to workforce. Sessions will be led by a variety of national, state, and local leaders who will provide advice, resources and personal insight on ways to attract and retain a talented workforce. The agenda and registration is at msnd.link/summit-2022. Admission this year is free. Free admission allows a vast variety of residents of all ages from both large and small communities across the state the ability to attend, Commerce Community Development Director Maria Effertz Hanson said. To attract the best and brightest workforce, we need to come together and share why people should call North Dakota home." The Paper: October 24 marks the United Nations Day and the 77th anniversary of the UN. As a UN founding member and a permanent member of the Security Council, how does China view the UNs role in todays world? No long ago, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres observed that the United Nations Charter and the ideals it represents are in jeopardy. Do you have any comment? Wang Wenbin: Congratulations to the UN on its 77th anniversary. Seventy-seven years ago today, the UN Charter officially came into force and hence the founding of the UN, which opened a new chapter for international relations. As the most universal, representative and authoritative inter-governmental organization, the UN has shown its abiding commitment to multilateralism and played an irreplaceable role in upholding world peace and promoting common development. As a permanent member of the Security Council and the first to put its signature on the UN Charter, China has all along upheld the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, defended the UNs central role in international affairs and served as a firm builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. China follows the path of peaceful development. We have been committed to the political settlement of hotspot issues. We launched the Global Security Initiative. We take an active part in the UN peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs) and the international arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation processes. China has sent over 50,000 peacekeepers to UNPKOs. We are the second largest contributor to the UN regular budget and peacekeeping assessments. We have supported the UNs work in various fields through establishing the Peace and Development Trust Fund with the UN. Those are all part of Chinas contribution to world peace and development. China is among the first countries to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals. We are actively implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, deepening South-South cooperation and doing what we can to support other developing countries sustainable development efforts. We launched the Global Development Initiative to revitalize the global development partnership, deepen practical cooperation in eight key areas and help speed up the realization of the 2030 Agenda. We have actively participated in international affairs. China is a member of almost all universal inter-governmental organizations and a party to over 600 international conventions and amendments. We facilitated the conclusion of the Paris Agreement, announced our targets for carbon peaking and neutrality, and provided more than 2.2 billion doses of COVID vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations, contributing to the response to global challenges. Today, our world, our times, and history are changing in ways like never before. Humanity faces unprecedented challenges. China believes that all countries need to act in the true spirit of multilateralism, and safeguard the international system with the UN at its core, the international order underpinned by international law and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China is ready to work with all other countries to support the UN in playing a more active role in the noble cause of peace and development for humanity, advance humanitys common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, promote world peace and development, and strive to pursue a shared future for the human community. Reuters: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that hes going to visit China next month. Can China confirm this and the details of his visit and whether or not French President Emmanuel Macron will accompany him? Wang Wenbin: I have no information to offer for the time being. Xinhua News Agency: The recently-concluded Plenary of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in October declared in an open statement the removal of Pakistan from its grey list. Do you have any comment? Wang Wenbin: China welcomes the decision of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to remove Pakistan from its grey list and would like to send congratulations to Pakistan. This has been made possible thanks to Pakistans effort to firmly follow through on its political commitment and continuously improve and enhance its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) system over the past five years despite the difficulties. This also shows international support and recognition of Pakistans endeavor in this regard. We look forward to Pakistans positive contributions to advancing international counterterrorism cooperation and protecting the security of the international financial system. AFP: The Vatican said over the weekend that it had renewed an agreement with China on the appointment of bishops. Can you confirm this and provide any details on the agreement? Wang Wenbin: On October 22, after friendly consultations, China and the Vatican agreed to a two-year extension of the provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops. The two sides will continue to maintain close communication and consultation, work for the sound implementation of the provisional agreement and continuously advance the process of improving relations. Bloomberg: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese signed a bilateral security agreement on Saturday. Does the foreign ministry have any response? Wang Wenbin: Bilateral exchanges and cooperation need to be conducive to mutual understanding and trust among countries in the region and regional peace and stability, rather than target any third party or undermine their interests. The Asia-Pacific region does not need military blocs, still less groupings that could provoke bloc confrontation or stoke a new Cold War. People in the region will be on heightened alert and stand against any act that undermines regional peace and stability and hurts regional solidarity and cooperation. If you thought childrens lift-the-flap books were a modern phenomenon, think again! We recently acquired Mother Shipton: an exceptionally rare and early lift-the-flap book, with hand-coloured illustrations and a publication date of 1771. This type of book is known as a harlequinade or a turn-up book. Invented in the 1760s and inspired by theatrical pantomime, they took their name from the stock pantomime character Harlequin. They were produced specifically to amuse and entertain children, and were an important landmark in childrens publishing. Inside front cover and title page of Mother Shipton So how do harlequinades work? This is the tricky bit: Theyre made up of two engraved sheets. The first sheet is folded perpendicularly into four sections and the second sheet creates the flaps. Together, they fold up like an accordion. A verse and picture on each section of the flap tells the story. When the flap is turned either up or down the reader sees that half of the new picture fits onto the half of the un-raised flap, so the act of lifting one flap after the other creates a surprise unfolding of the story. Demonstrating how the flaps work on Mother Shipton. What is this harlequinade about? This harlequinade tells the traditional pantomime story of Harlequin and Columbine. It also features Mother Shipton, a soothsayer and prophetess. Mother Shipton became a popular folklore character from the 16th century onwards, appearing in cheap street literature such as chapbooks and ballads. However, this little book isnt as light-hearted as you might think. The colour illustrations depict Harlequin as a Black character. Harlequin was a stock pantomime figure who traditionally wore a black mask but the racial connotations going on here are undeniable, particularly against the backdrop of 18th century Britain and its colonies, built as they were on a racialised system of enslaved labour. Georgian theatregoers and harlequinade readers wouldve undoubtedly associated the black-masked Harlequin with an African identity. In fact, some pantomimes at the time explicitly made that connection, such as Furibond, or, Harlequin Negro (1807). Elsewhere, playwright and East India Company employee James Cobb referred to Harlequin as the Blackamoor Gallant in his The Hurly Burly; or, The Fairy of the Well. The line between wearing a black mask and blackface was undoubtedly blurred, if not indistinguishable. It is easy to see the relationship between Harlequin and the racist tradition of blackface minstrels that would develop in Britain and North America. Harlequin meeting Old Mother Shipton What about this particular copy? Harlequinades were popular, cheap (6d, or 1 shilling coloured) and, with so many movable parts, it is no wonder that so few survive today. Devoted former owners often repaired these little books at least once. This harlequinade was patched up as early as 1783, according to a partially legible ownership inscription on the inside front cover: 'Bo[ught] in London Apr[il] [?]. Mended June 17th 1783. Fillongley [Warwickshire?] by Th[omas?] M. Rann'. There are only two other copies of this 1771 Mother Shipton harlequinade in existence, both in North American libraries, and this is only the third harlequinade to enter the British Librarys collections. It is also the earliest; the other two are The Witches, or Harlequins trip to Naples, 1772, and The Comical Tricks of Jack the Piper, 1772 (BL C.135.f.19(1,2)). Maddy Smith Curator, Printed Heritage Collections Further reading: Worrall, David. Harlequin Empire: Race, Ethnicity and the Drama of the Popular Enlightenment. Taylor & Francis, 2015. Speaight, George. 'Harlequinade turn-ups', Theatre Notebook, a Journal of the History and Technique of the British Theatre, 1991, v.44, no.2, p.70-84. This summer, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich cited a 158-year-old Arizona law that states any one who provide "medicine, drugs or substance, or uses or employs any instrument or other means whatever, with intent thereby to procure the miscarriage of such woman, unless it is necessary to save her life, shall be punished by (imprisonment) in the state prison for not less than two years nor more than five years." What are other territorial laws that continue to haunt American democracy? Territorial law in Arizona also indicated that no Black person, Native American, or a person of Asian or Mexican descent could testify against a white person. Anti-miscegenation laws eliminated marriages between whites and non-whites: "The marriage of a person of Caucasian blood with a Negro, Mongolian, Malay or Hindu is null and void." The statute also indicates punishment for trying to get around these laws; no one "may not evade the laws of this state relating to marriage by going to another state or country for solemnization of the marriage." Finally, during Arizona Territorial times, ten years old was the age of consent. These are the time's reactionary politicians, and their supporters want to return. Slave patrols, border rangers acting with impunity, a legally imposed color line, and a patriarchal social system threaten people's lives caring for others. What does this mean going forward? As Article 22 Section 2 of the Arizona Constitution legislates, "All laws of the Territory of Arizona now in force, not repugnant to this Constitution, shall remain in force as laws of the State of Arizona until they expire by their own limitations or are altered or repealed by law; Provided, that wherever the word Territory, meaning the Territory of Arizona, appears in said laws, the word State shall be substituted." Given that "repugnant to the Constitution" is a subjective phrase, these are the terms of order under review. Last week, Ye openly gloated that Adidas can't end its sponsorship of him in the wake of his antisemitic remarks: "I can say antismitic things, and Adidas can't drop me. Now what? Now what?". This weekend, Nazis marched in support of him in Los Angeles. This week, the German apparel giant faces a boycott in the face of its near-total silence on the matter. On Thursday, the Anti-Defamation League urged the company to break ties with West. "In light of Kanye West's increasingly strident antisemitic remarks over the past few weeks, we were disturbed to learn that Adidas plans to continue to release new products from his Yeezy brand without any seeming acknowledgment of the controversy surrounding his most recent remarks," they wrote in a statement. They continued, "We urge Adidas to reconsider supporting the Ye product line and to issue a statement making clear that the Adidas company and community has no tolerance whatsoever for antisemitism." A few major outlets have been running Yeezy sponcon/PR since this kicked off. Madness! If your byline is under that, get it taken off. "But Adidas can't say or do anything because of contracts" is not the right answer. The pain Adidas suffers from doing something cannot be greater than the pain others suffer from it doing nothing. This is because Adidas cannot refer its legal pain to others, but others can refer pain to Adidas in ways its lawyers aren't paid to see coming. Although it hasn't been a complete catastrophe, calling Disney's management of the Star Wars franchise a success would be gloriously disingenuous. Ever since Disney got their mitts on George Lucas's sci-fi cash cow, the studio has been seemingly intent on cutting as many corners as possible in its attempts to profit off Star Wars. From creating a sequel trilogy without a concrete plan in place to failing to reunite Luke, Leia, and Han in at least one scene, Disney has botched the Star Wars brand so badly that the company has been actively rehabbing the property for years. When Disney first took a stab at bringing Star Wars back to the silver screen, the company enlisted the talents of JJ Abrams. Now that the studio wants to revivify the brand, they're looking toward Abrams's frequent collaborator Damon Lindelof to helm a new Star Wars project that is rumored to have Captain Marvel director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy attached. A 35-year-old Buffalo driver accused of striking two pedestrians in the 400 block of East Amherst Street was arrested and charged Sunday with first-degree vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated. The accused is Schvonne Mushat, who allegedly struck two males from Buffalo, ages 37 and 58, in an overnight incident. Both victims were taken to Erie County Medical Center, where they remained late Sunday. Buffalo police spokesman Michael J. DeGeorge reported that the older man was in serious condition while the other man was being treated for non-life threatening injuries. DeGeorge did not provide the names of the victims on Sunday. He said police are still investigating. Beginning Saturday, the two public libraries in Niagara Falls will not only lend books, but also screwdrivers, rakes and hammers, Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino reported. The Tool Library service will offer a variety of small tools to anyone with a Nioga Library System library card in good standing who visits the Earl Brydges or LaSalle branches. Tools also are available to neighborhood groups, civic associations and block clubs. The Tool Library is supported by Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity and the Niagara University Levesque Institute for Civic Engagement, which donated $20,000 in tools. The Niagara Falls Library also plans to hold free instruction sessions on home improvement projects. The first one at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Earl Brydges Library, 1317 Portage Road, will be a workshop on hanging drywall led by Claudia Folsom, construction manager for Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity. For at least the third time since 2007, New York State officials are proposing to rebuild a decrepit bridge that runs over the Allegheny River on Seneca Nation territory in Cattaraugus County. But replacement of the Red House Bridge will come more than a decade too late for the family of Patricia John. The 47-year-old Seneca woman died in March 2012 after falling through a gaping hole in the bridge. This is long overdue, but I think the new bridge is going to be built this time, Josh Jimerson, a Seneca Nation Tribal Council member who is Johns son, told The Buffalo News on Friday. This has been hard on my family. I have two younger sisters who have basically had to grow up without a mother. The state said it hopes to replace the rusty bridge roughly 68 miles south of Buffalo and 7 miles southwest of Salamanca by the end of next summer. The cost of the project, which will also include road repairs on old Route 17 near the bridge, is estimated at $15 million. In a document recently posted on its website, the state Department of Transportation said it hopes to begin work next spring and finish it by the end of next summer. John fell to her death while walking on the bridge on the night of March 30, 2012, according to the Cattaraugus County Sheriffs Office. She plummeted 25 feet after falling through a hole that sheriffs investigators measured at 10 feet long and three feet wide. I remember walking over that bridge while we were investigating her death. There were a number of holes that were large enough for a person to fall through, recalled Ronald Lott, a captain with the Sheriffs Office. Absolutely a very dangerous situation. The tragedy resulted in a lawsuit that the state settled in 2019, paying $850,000 to Johns survivors. During the litigation, a judge ruled that the state is responsible for the Red House Bridge and its upkeep. Built about 90 years ago, the bridge had not received any safety inspections or upgrades since the 1980s, according to Cheryl Meyers Buth, an attorney for Johns family. State attorneys argued in court that part of the blame for that rested with officials of the Seneca Nation, who were reluctant to allow DOT inspectors onto their territory to examine the bridge. As The News reported in February 2020, state officials initially stated their plans to replace the bridge in 2007, estimating the cost at $11 million. In January 2020, the state announced a second plan to replace the bridge, this time saying the work would be done in 2022 and estimating the cost at $16.5 million. The latest plan for replacing the bridge will be discussed by DOT officials at an informal open meeting for area residents. That will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the Seneca Allegany Community Center, 3677 Administration Road, Salamanca. When asked why the project has been delayed since 2007, a DOT spokesman noted that the bridge is on Seneca Nation land. As this bridge is located within Seneca Nation of Indians Allegany Territory, site-specific arrangements and other details needed to be finalized before the project could be progressed, the spokesman said. He said the DOT expects to put the project up for bidding in 2023, but added that it would be premature to give specific construction timelines for the project. Jimerson said he believes past delays were caused by a combination of factors, including opposition to the project by some area residents and disagreements between the state and Seneca Nation. We saw a terrible tragedy followed by a decade of inaction. It's beyond time for this bridge replacement, Seneca Nation President Matthew Pagels said. Whatever the reasons for the years of delay, this project and the safety of our people needs to be a priority moving forward. Our community cannot live in fear and danger of another tragedy. Officially, the bridge is not open, and guardrails prevent trucks and cars from using it, but people walk over the bridge on a regular basis, said Brandon Crouse, the Seneca Nations chief marshal in the Allegany Territory. The holes have been patched up since the accident, but the bridge is in a very dilapidated condition, Crouse said. He added that emergency vehicles have to use alternate routes in the area because the bridge is not open to them. Jimerson lives about 15 minutes from the bridge. He said the bridge offers very pretty views of the river, but added that he seldom goes there. It brings sadness every time I drive by it, he said. Jimerson said he is going to be watching very closely to make sure the bridge project this time moves forward. Gov. Kathy Hochul claimed that shootings in New York State are falling faster than in the rest of the country. Hochul, a Democrat, is running for re-election against Republican U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, who has accused her of being soft on crime. In a speech about public safety, she said that compared to last year, shootings are down. "Shootings across the state of New York are down 10% from one year ago," she said. "And we're outpacing the rest of the country as you know, this is a national phenomenon, the gun violence, national phenomenon we are outpacing the country, where on average across America, the drop is only 2%." We wondered whether this comparison is correct, and whether New York outpaces the rest of the country. We approached the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services for the source of Hochuls claim. The first part of the claim, that shootings dropped 10%, comes from the states Division of Criminal Justice Services. The agency collects data about shootings from 20 major police departments across upstate and Long Island: Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Hempstead, Jamestown, Kingston, Middletown, Mt. Vernon, Nassau County, Niagara Falls, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Schenectady, Spring Valley, Suffolk County, Syracuse, Troy, Utica and Yonkers. Notably, New York City is not among its list. Between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31, 2022, and the same period in 2021, shooting incidents in which at least one person was injured or killed dropped 10%, according to the report, known as the Gun Involved Violence Elimination Initiative, or GIVE. The report showed 840 such incidents in 2021 and 756 incidents in 2022. The number of people injured or killed in these incidents decreased by 10.8%, but the number of people who died in gun violence incidents grew by 4.1%. The report also found a 25.6% increase in shootings involving injuries or deaths in 2022 compared with the average of the previous five years, 2017 to 2021. We asked Christopher Herrmann, an assistant professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, about Hochuls claim. He called the states report on shootings a reliable source. Herrmann, who previously analyzed statistics for the New York City Police Department, said shootings are also down in New York City, where shootings fell 12.6% in the first nine months of 2022 compared with the same period in 2021. The number of shootings there have continued to fall. The second part of the governor's claim, that shootings are down 2% nationwide, comes from a New York Times newsletter, according to Janine Kava, director of public information for the Division of Criminal Justice Services. The newsletter on Sept. 23 reported a 2% decrease in shootings, and it linked to the Gun Violence Archive, a national database of shooting incidents. The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit, collects data on shootings from more than 7,500 sources, including police departments and local news outlets. Its searchable database has information on each shooting with details such as where the incident happened and how many people were injured or died. We spoke with the archives executive director, Mark Bryant, who said that Hochuls claim of a 2% drop in shootings across the country is correct. "Everything weve seen this year lines up to about 2%," Bryant said. He noted that New York City has seen fewer shootings, despite some headline-grabbing crimes. But he warned against comparing results from two different data sets that contain different types of data. For example, the Gun Violence Archive tracks all incidents involving a gun, but the states GIVE report does not. Murder-suicides with a firearm are included in the states report, but suicides, officer-involved shootings and accidental shootings are not. The Gun Violence Archive includes all of these categories. However, anyone searching the database can filter them out. The GIVE report includes busy police departments upstate and on Long Island but does not include all departments, while the Gun Violence Archive records shooting data regardless of jurisdiction. We searched the Gun Violence Archive for all incidents in which at least one person was injured or died in a shooting, and we found the decrease in these incidents in New York State between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31, 2021, and the same period in 2022, was 3.8%, not 10%. Our search included accidental deaths and suicides, which were likely outside the purview of Hochuls remarks, made during a speech to law enforcement. When accidental deaths, suicides and officer-involved shootings are removed from the Gun Violence Archive search results for New York State, the decline in shootings between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31, 2021, and the same period in 2022, is 3%. We approached the Hochul administration with the search results from the Gun Violence Archive and our finding that New York States decline in shootings compared to the decline in the rest of the country is much narrower than Hochul makes it seem in her statement. In the absence of a nationwide, federal database that uses consistent definitions for reporting gun violence, the state used the Gun Violence Archive data cited by The New York Times to provide perspective on the issue, as the increase in gun violence since 2020 has not been limited to New York State, said Kava, a spokesperson for the states Division of Criminal Justice Services. The administration noted New York Citys decline in shootings, 13.6% as of Oct. 16, and sent data from three other big cities, year over year, where shootings have fallen slightly or not at all. The decline in shooting victims is 2% in Los Angeles. Shootings increased elsewhere, by 2.3% in Baltimore and by 1.34% in Philadelphia. The administration stands by the data Hochul cited, Kava said. Our ruling Hochul claimed New York State is doing better than the rest of the country in the number of shootings, saying they dropped 10% in New York and 2% in the rest of the country. A state report of 20 police agencies does show a 10% drop in shooting incidents. A different database shows a 2% drop in shootings across the country. But comparing these results can be misleading, because they dont contain all of the same types of shooting incidents, and the state report includes only some geographic areas. Independent of each other, Hochul cited reliable statistics. In New York, shootings appear to be down more than in the rest of the country, though its not clear by how much. Comparing New York with the rest of the country, as she did, mixes data sources and can give a misleading impression about where New York stands. The Gun Violence Archive, the source for her claim of a 2% drop across the country, shows a much smaller drop in New York state during the same period a 3% or a 3.8% drop, depending on which types of shootings are counted. We rate her statement Half True. An online threat posted last week against a student at Hutchinson Central Technical High School led to the seizure of guns and the arrest of three people Sunday, including a 16-year-old who police and prosecutors say threatened a classmate. It's the kind of case that, starting next month, will be handled by a new specialized unit at the Buffalo Police Department that will investigate cases involving threats to mass gatherings, racially and ethnically motivated extremism and other crimes. In this latest school case, Buffalo detectives obtained a court order under the state's red flag law and searched a home on Florida Street, where two guns were recovered. Red flag laws take away firearms from people who may do harm to themselves or others. Police getting trained in red flag law to keep guns away from future mass shooters The state is working with Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit, anti-gun violence organization, to teach law enforcement officers about red flag laws. The local case also comes amid a surge in the usage of what are known as extreme risk protection orders: There have been more of these orders issued under the state's red flag law over the last four months than there were in the first 33 months the law was in effect, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday. From the time the state red flag law went into effect in August 2019 until June 1, 2022, 1,552 orders had been issued statewide, according to the governor's office. Between June 1 and Sept. 30, 1,908 orders were issued, Hochul's office said. Tips from members of the Hutch Tech community about the online threat made Wednesday triggered an investigation by Buffalo police and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said during a news conference Monday. Investigators identified a suspect and applied for the protection order on Saturday, police said. Eighth Judicial District Administrative Judge Kevin Carter, who signed the order, also granted police the right to conduct a search for firearms, according to Buffalo police. Police served the order and executed the search Sunday morning. Officers recovered a loaded 9 mm pistol and a single-shot Derringer. No one in the home had a gun permit, police said. The 16-year-old, whose name was withheld, was initially charged with making a terroristic threat and two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The gun charges were upgraded to felonies on Monday in Youth Part of Erie County Court, District Attorney John Flynn said. The teen was released on conditions, including having to wear an ankle monitor, Flynn said. Crystalann Lott, 38, was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a firearm, police said. Bishara Lott, 50, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He is prohibited from carrying a firearm based on a past felony conviction, which led to the higher charges, police said. Buffalo police seizing twice as many ghost guns so far this year Shootings are down 40% in Buffalo, but guns remain a big problem, Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia told the Common Councils Police Oversight Committee. Authorities would not say how the teen may be related to the two adults. Gramaglia thanked the Hutch Tech community for sharing the information, the likes of which often get passed around among family members, school staff and others but doesn't always make it into the hands of police, he said. An FBI agent with the Safe Streets Task Force will be embedded with the Buffalo Police Department's new Threat Management Unit, said Michael Stansbury, acting special agent in charge of the FBI's Buffalo Field Office. The unit also include four detectives and one detective sergeant, Gramaglia said. The positions are part of 14 new detectives added in the most recent city budget, he said. The new unit will be responsible for the filing of extreme risk protection orders, as well as investigating hate crimes and mass casualty events, the commissioner said. Its possible that the business success of Buffalo-based startup accelerator 43North has been so overwhelming that weve neglected to heap praise on a key element thats been apparent since it held its first competition in 2014: Inclusion. Consider four of the five 2023 competition winners. Agape Wellness, an app that helps couples communicate (an area where help is clearly needed), is founded by Kadie Okwudili. AMPAworks, which makes small shelf cameras that can save hospitals, pharmacies and surgery centers hours of time, is cofounded by Bianca Gonzalez. Nhat Nguyen came up with Otrafy, an artificial-intelligence powered supplier of management software for food manufacturers. Phood founder Alex Parmley has created a platform that lets college students use their dining dollars on meal delivery services, groceries and at local restaurants. Two of these winners are women. None of them is white. Its possible to review the previous eight competitions and find the same trends. Its no accident. President of the accelerator, Colleen Heidinger, said recently, Diversity has been important for this organization since day one. Board Chair Mike Wisler expanded on the theme: Everything we do, we do with an eye towards being inclusive, creating equitable opportunity for all and changing the trajectory for those who have been overlooked or passed by. Clearly, diversity and success go hand in hand. Squire technologies, a 2017 winner, recently raised $60 million in venture capital at a $750 million valuation. ACV Auctions won in 2015 and became Buffalos first billion dollar start-up. As for overall impact, 43North has invested $35 million in 59 companies, created nearly 1,100 jobs in the Western New York region and has a portfolio valuation of $4.4 billion. As the 43North rules state, these companies are required to move their companies to Buffalo for a year beginning in January. Not every 43North winner over the years has stayed in Buffalo beyond that year and not every 43North company has achieved long-term success. But the ones who have stayed have enriched the region all the more, bringing tangible benefits like jobs and innovative technologies along with intangible benefits like broader thinking and openness to new ideas. Research indicates that diversity enhances creativity. It encourages the search for novel information and perspectives, leading to better decision-making and problem-solving. Even simply being exposed to diversity can change the way you think. Its emphasis on diversity may be 43Norths greatest gift. Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing. Nick Langworthy is the Republican candidate for the 27th Congressional District, which is about to become the 23rd Congressional District. The seat currently is held by Republican Chris Jacobs, who nixed his plan to run for re-election after being ostracized by his party for taking the shocking, blasphemous position of supporting gun legislation. That Representative Jacobs only took this position after two horrific mass killings, one here in Buffalo and one at a school in Texas, mattered not one iota to the party he had faithfully represented. Enter Nick Langworthy and Carl Paladino, two radical Trump devotees vying for the nomination. (Mr. Langworthy's only selling point, in my opinion, is not being Carl Paladino.) After he won the primary, Langworthy's campaign signs began popping up with the pithy slogan "Stop Biden". Hmm, I thought, how very vague. Stop Biden from...what, exactly? Is that his platform? Upon perusing his website, I saw that he had expounded on his vision. His entire platform, it appears, is to "Stop Biden and Pelosi". Great, thanks for clearing that up. In the October 18 edition of the Buffalo News, a letter writer to Everybody's Column laments the Democratic candidates focusing on the abortion issue and Trump, without, he indicates, discussing any other topics. My concern about Nick Langworthy is similar, except he discusses no issues at all. But wait, why isn't there a Democratic challenger for this race? Turns out there is, although one might never know that from following the local press. His name is Max Della Pia. I suspect that the Democratic Party has made no effort to support him, as that Congressional seat almost always is won by a Republican, with now-governor Kathy Hochul being a rare exception. Still, voters always deserve a choice. They also deserve the chance to be well-informed, and the media have an obligation to provide information by covering all candidates in an election. The Democratic Party also has a responsibility to promote its candidate, at least to the point where voters recognize his name. Jill Monacelli Lancaster An article in The Buffalo News, Zeldin campaign seizes on shooting outside his home, proffered a cynical view about political opportunism. In my opinion, what happened to congressman and gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldins family is further evidence of crime migrating at an alarming rate into safe neighborhoods across New York State. This has been Zeldins message since he announced his candidacy. The incident should definitely be included in the campaign and the familys trauma should not be trivialized. I have been active in my own communitys efforts to preserve and improve our quality of life and to sustain and grow our local businesses. Sadly, we have seen an increase in crime, including shooting incidents and theft. On my street, neighbors have been reporting suspicious activity for months. We have witnessed young women getting picked up and dropped off in front of what was previously a single-family residence. Recently, one young women was found unresponsive in the house. A drug overdose is suspected. Under these circumstances, it is important to note how grateful we are for the efforts and support of the Buffalo Police Department in the face of legal restraints and staff shortages. Still, this situation has profoundly impacted our neighborhood. As compassionate people, we mourn the young womans death. Beyond that, her death and previous behavior has brought the devastating effects of the drug epidemic along with potential criminal activity to our doorsteps. Where once we felt safe, we are now afraid. Is this our new normal? Joann Liggio Steinmetz Buffalo My grandfather, Joseph Apruzzese, was born in 1893 and emigrated to America when he was 16 years old. He used to tell us stories of his village, on the hill overlooking the Adriatic Sea, called Vico del Gargano. His son Michael, my father, always regretted that he had never gone to Italy to see his fathers village. A year after my fathers death, I came to Italy to see my daughter, who had moved near Genoa two years ago with her Italian husband. Helped by her fluency in Italian and stick shifts, we drove the winding road from the coastal highway, off the typical tourist path, into the hills of the Gargano mountains. Vico, located in Puglia on the spur of the Italian boot, is famous for its production of olive oil and believed to have been founded in the 900s. Vico is nicknamed the village of love because its patron saint is St. Valentine, who was chosen to protect the citrus groves during the winter month of February. Words cannot express the feeling of being in my grandfathers ancient village. I wore my fathers favorite hat and felt his spirit with me as I walked along the winding cobblestone streets of my grandfathers childhood town. I wanted to soak in the feeling of history, tradition and inheritance. Old Town, on the outside, appeared to be the same as when my grandfather lived there. Within the stone castle walls, buildings kept their historic integrity on the outside with modern renovations on the inside. Most have been converted into private residences or B&Bs. Cafes, shops and churches line the narrow streets. I found the small apartment where my grandfather was born and pictured his parents and their three sons, Giuseppe, Vincenzo and Pasquale, living in the probable two-room space. I lit candles for my father and grandfather at the 14th-century church where we believed my grandpa had been baptized. I walked down the hill to the ancient spring-fed fountain surrounded by woods. I ran my fingers along the tiles of the well where my great-grandmother washed clothes. Coincidently or with universal synchronicity, it was the Feast of St. Michael, my fathers name. It was very emotional to imagine my grandfather as a boy, possibly walking in the religious procession on the streets of the old town where I was now walking. The unexplainable energy of bringing my fathers spirit to his roots on the day of his namesakes feast could not be denied. This was not my first visit to Vico. Years ago, I had reconnected with cousins in the area. This visit was more of an opportunity to step back in time with my dad and grandfather. I slowed down and absorbed the ambiance of just being there. I journaled about my feelings and remembered my grandfather and the stories he told. I showed my father (via his hat) the places his father had walked and played in the time before coming to America with a borrowed $50 in his pocket. Grandpa had worked in the coal mines, served in World War I, then became a plasterer in Cleveland, where he met my Sicilian grandmother, and my father and aunt were born. In later years, the family moved to the valley outside Los Angeles, where grandpa built a ranch of fig, plum and olive trees. It was my first home. In Vico, gazing out over the olive groves toward the sea, inhaling a citrus scent and hearing the language of my ancestors, I felt a homecoming. Workforce Readiness Google Partners with 4 Universities to Offer First-Ever Specializations to Complement Its Career Certificates Google announced it is partnering with Columbia University, the University of Michigan, Arizona State University, and the University of Illinois' Gies College of Business to offer new industry specializations in growing fields to complement its Google Career Certificates. These specializations are designed for those in continuing education programs and will give them additional skills in high-demand fields. Offered on the Coursera online learning platform, the specializations include construction management, public sector data analytics, financial analysis, and sustainability analysis. Courses were reviewed for industry applicability by companies in the Google Career Certificates employer consortium, such as Ford and Verizon. Upon completion, learners earn a certificate that can be shared with prospective employers. "Google is thrilled to offer Google Career Certificate graduates additional pathways to great jobs through our collaboration with some of the world's leading universities," said Lisa Gevelber, founder of Grow with Google, in a statement. "These new courses provide a unique opportunity for people to learn from experts at Google and renowned university faculty to learn the skills needed for growing industries." "ASU, together with Google, is reimagining how we serve learners from all backgrounds and stages in life who are looking for career advancement opportunities," commented Maria Anguiano, executive vice president of Learning Enterprise at Arizona State University. "This career education program is driven by learner and industry needs for sustainability skills that are backed by robust academic expertise. Now, individuals don't have to choose between learning from world-renowned scholars and gaining job skills that can be applied immediately at work. They can do both and succeed on their own terms." The new offerings are part of the Grow with Google program. Started in 2017, it now includes 8,500-plus partner organizations and has helped more than 9 million Americans grow their skills in high-growth fields such as data analytics, digital marketing and e-commerce, among others. Google Career Certificates do not require a degree or experience and can be completed within 3-6 months of part-time study, the company said. Read more about the Grow with Google program here. Learning Tools McGraw Hill Intros Social Media-Style Study App McGraw Hill has launched a new 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 it's available. For more information, visit the McGraw Hill site. Learning Spaces Arizona State University Partners with Zoom to Bring Innovation Lab to Tempe Campus ASU's Zoom Collaboration Studio Arizona State University has partnered with Zoom Video Communications to launch Zoom's first-ever Innovation Lab on the Tempe campus. The lab initiates a five-year strategic partnership that will combine the university's learning assets with Zoom's technology to create new learning and collaboration opportunities for students. The Zoom Innovation Lab will combine ASU's expertise, research, networks and learning assets with Zoom's technology to "create solutions that better connect society," with a focus on "improving access to world-class learning opportunities, telehealth and more," the university explained in a news announcement. "Students will lead much of the development of the products, with guidance from Zoom technology partners," ASU added. Projects supported by the lab include: The Learning Futures team at ASU Enterprise Technology is developing a "digital twin" virtual campus called ASUniverse that students can access via web browser or VR headset, and working to incorporate Zoom communication tools into the experience. ASU Luminosity Lab, partnering with Phoenix Children's, is exploring a telehealth app to enable doctor/patient visits in a virtual in-patient room setting. Project work will take place in a new Zoom Collaboration Studio within the Tempe campus's Creativity Commons, which offers interdisciplinary collaboration space, a green-screen room, recording studios, and various Zoom-enabled technologies. Other initiatives already underway include enhanced classroom and distance learning solutions, smart stadium experiences, and more, the university said. The university looks to these partnerships to develop "a talent pipeline between ASU and Zoom for students to gain access to internships, job opportunities and career development to help create the next generation of leaders." Read more here about the Zoom Innovation Lab at ASU. In the early morning hours of July 26, many St. Louis-area residents awoke to floodwater filling their homes, or to the din of blaring car alarms from vehicles getting overtaken by murky brown water. Too much rain was falling far too fast. The weather system dumped more than 9 inches on St. Louis about a quarter of the citys annual average compressed largely within a few hours. That same week, torrential rain storms settled on Eastern Kentucky, where up to 16 inches fell and water rushed into peoples homes so swiftly that many didnt get out in time. Forty people were killed in eastern Kentucky. Two people died in St. Louis. Longtime residents in both regions, no strangers to severe storms and flooding, said theyd seen nothing like it before and theyre right. The rainfall totals obliterated previous records in each area by a margin that was difficult for some experts to fathom topping St. Louis single-day record by more than two inches, for instance. It was yet another example that rain isnt falling the way that it used to, with both the magnitude and intensity of extreme rain events increasing throughout recent decades, across a large part of the country. The late-July storms that devastated St. Louis and eastern Kentucky helped showcase the risks wrought by a climate that is growing hotter and wetter and more prone to dumping massive rains and flash flooding on communities whose creeks, streams and drainage systems are not equipped to handle such volatile waters. The shifting trends and escalating flood risk raises urgent questions about societys readiness to cope with the change, as spiraling and once-unheard-of rainfall extremes become more frequent. We are not doing enough. This last flood sure proves it, said Bob Criss, a Washington University emeritus professor who studies regional flooding. This problem is not going to get better. Weve got to make it better. More fuel to work with In the wake of Julys floods, the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk a journalism partnership that includes more than 14 newsrooms asked climate data nonprofit Climate Central to analyze 50 years of rainfall patterns. Findings showed that the eastern half of the U.S. is getting far wetter on average, with some areas including parts of the Mississippi River Basin now receiving up to 8 more inches of rain each year than 50 years ago, based on data from the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Climate change models show further increases are likely in coming years, said Climate Central data scientist Jen Brady, who helped with our analysis. And when it rains, it pours, based on data on rainfall intensity. In other words, not only is more rain falling, but its also falling harder in many places, like St. Louis, according to further analysis from Climate Central. The trend is largely tied to heat. As greenhouse gases from fossil fuels heat the Earth, that warming extends to the oceans and the Gulf of Mexico a primary source of the atmospheric moisture for the Eastern U.S. Warming oceans produce more water vapor, and a warming atmosphere can hold more moisture, which can then deliver more precipitation in short windows of time. Were getting warmer and were getting wetter, said Pat Guinan, Missouris state climatologist and a professor at the University of Missouri. We are in an unprecedented wet period. Recent decades have given rise to a stark divide seen across the continental U.S., with the western half of the country becoming increasingly arid and prone to drought, while the eastern half is faced with exceptional moisture, often delivered in bursts. The Midwest is one region absorbing the brunt of all that water. Since 1958, the Midwest has seen a 42% increase in the amount of precipitation that falls during the most extreme events, said Ken Kunkel, a professor at North Carolina State University who studies extreme rainfall and is a lead scientist behind the National Climate Assessment. The future will be characterized by more extreme events, simply because our source of water vapor will be hotter, said Kunkel. The system will have more fuel to work with. That helps drive risks of high water even in certain places set apart from increasingly flood-prone major rivers, with widespread flash flooding as a separate and in some ways greater danger. At this point, no community in the country is safeguarded from flooding, said Laura Lightbody, director of the Pew Charitable Trusts flood-prepared communities project. Were seeing it flood in more places than ever expected before. Dont just blame the weather Flash flood risk is shaped by more than weather alone. Pavement-heavy urban areas and places with constricted rivers or hilly topography compound the threat and are especially vulnerable. Around St. Louis, even an inch and a half of rain in an hour can trigger localized flash flooding, with small urban tributaries reacting to rainfall far faster and more dramatically than the regions major rivers. In St. Louis County, for example, creeks can rise as much as 10 feet in an hour. Meanwhile, in one Appalachian town, the North Fork Kentucky River shattered its previous height record by more than six feet in Julys flooding, rushing in fast enough to destroy the U.S. Geological Survey sensor designed to monitor the river. That explosiveness means flash floods can present a far more sudden threat to people and property than the gradual rise of rivers carrying water collected from afar. You can get caught by rapidly rising water and its hard to anticipate, Kunkel said. Flash floods have received extensive help becoming even more dangerous in many densely developed and heavily populated urban settings, say other experts, like Criss, who has shifted his research focus more toward flash floods, in recent years. Such flood risks can vary widely from place to place, but can be especially pronounced in small, flashy watersheds that are unusually sensitive to bursts of incoming water. One of the epicenters of damage near St. Louis, for example, occurred along the upper stretches of the River Des Peres, a highly urbanized waterway that experts like Criss have identified as the most flash flood-prone system in Missouri, and have long voiced concerns over. The river essentially acts as an urban drainage ditch, converted largely into a straightened concrete sleeve that can be easily overwhelmed with water funneled its way during storms delivered more quickly and plentifully by all the surrounding pavement and other impervious surfaces. Its a combination that doesnt mix well with more extreme precipitation facing people and property with heightened flash flood risks. Intense rainfall is just making it all the worse, said Criss. [But] I dont want to just blame the weather all the time. That makes it like were not responsible. ... There is plenty we can do in our local communities to improve the way we build and treat our creeks. Experts cite examples of precautions that range from pursuing buyouts of high-risk properties, limiting and corralling runoff, building water storage projects, and better floodproofing homes and basements. Some similar risk factors are at play in rural Appalachia another epicenter of this summers flood damage. There, rugged terrain leaves homes to be built almost exclusively along rivers and at the foot of mountains. Water travels quickly along the steep slopes to the residents below. The regions history of strip mining and mountaintop removal also contributes to the danger, since the damaged land is often unable to soak in water as it naturally would. Even remediated mine lands often consist of compacted soil and grass, which arent nearly as effective for flood mitigation as the forest that once occupied the land. Its like pouring water on a tabletop, explained Mary Cromer, of the Appalachian Citizens Law Center, who recently sat before members of Congress and painted the destructive picture of the flooding that put the law center and most of her town of Whitesburg under water. More rainfall presents urgent challenges and imperatives: How can a city retool the built environment to withstand stronger flooding? How do people get out of harms way? Most existing structures were built to withstand conditions and expectations based on what used to happen not the climate trends happening today, nor future projections. Historical data is no longer a good predictor of the future, Kunkel said. As a result, he adds, were not building things to the level of resilience that wed expect. In freshly flooded places around the U.S., various forms of recovery are underway a process that could take a long time. In Kentucky, residents were told to expect years of rebuilding. But some, like Cromer, point to the continued threat posed by climate change giving the difficult rebuild the grim possibility of becoming a Sisyphean task, poised to repeat itself, unless certain changes and precautions go into place. We know flooding like this will happen again, she said. WASHINGTON (BP) Christian convert Muhammad Kace, serving a 10-year prison term in Indonesia for blasphemy, was convicted of insulting the Prophet Muhammad in hundreds of YouTube videos after his conversion in 2014. Kace is among at least 67 Christians and others arrested in 2020 under Indonesias blasphemy laws in prosecutions that have increased dramatically since Indonesias transition to democracy in 1998. Indonesia is among seven Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that maintain blasphemy laws in violation of international civil and political rights laws, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said in a new report on blasphemy laws among the 10 ASEAN members. The death penalty, imprisonment and monetary fines are among punishments levied. Laws against blasphemy are detrimental to religious freedom, which guarantees to all people the right to embrace the full range of thoughts and beliefs, including those that others might deem blasphemous, and the freedom to speak or write about them publicly, Elizabeth Cassidy, USCIRF director of research and policy, said in an Oct. 21 podcast reviewing the report. In addition to Indonesia, ASEAN members Brunei, Burma, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand criminalize blasphemy and use the laws to punish religious speech, USCIRF said in its update. But blasphemy laws are not enforced in all seven nations that maintain such legislation, USCIRF said. When we look at where blasphemy is an ongoing and systematic issue, as this report indicates, USCIRF Policy Analyst Patrick Greenwalt said Oct. 21 in a podcast on the report, it really is a major factor at first in Indonesia and Malaysia, and to a lesser extent, Burma and Thailand. Still, the majority of blasphemy cases occur in Muslim-majority nations including Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Yemen, Bangladesh and Kuwait, USCIRF has said in previous reports. Among ASEAN nations, most Indonesian blasphemy cases stand on the Electronic Information and Transaction Law (known as the ITE Law), regulating electronic communication including social media, USCIRF said in its report. Cases cited in the report include that of Cepdika Eka Rismana and his wife, arrested in May for desecrating a Quran and posting it on social media. In Malaysia, where secular and Sharia laws prohibit blasphemy, ethnic Malays are constitutionally mandated to identify as Muslim, USCIRF said in its report. In Thailand, the military-dominated government has supported the Knowing Buddha Organization, which promotes the declaration of Buddha as the law of the land, and the strengthening of blasphemy laws. While Indonesia and Malaysia are strict in their enforcement, Greenwalt said Singapore and the Philippines have not enforced blasphemy laws. The dual traditions of a floating Christmas tree and luminaries along the shore of Childrens Lake have been canceled this holiday season due to the rehabilitation project at the Boiling Springs destination. The annual tree lighting ceremony typically held the first Sunday night in December will be replaced by an afternoon with Santa at Spring Meadows Park organized by members of the Boiling Springs Civic Association. Plans are to put up a Christmas tree in the gazebo near Childrens Lake and to decorate the gazebo, First Street and the Bubble with seasonal greenery, said Darlene Benoit, tree lighting ceremony chairperson. The tree in the gazebo will be lit up every night through the first week in January, she said. Im just looking forward to celebrating Christmas with everyone. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission closed Childrens Lake to the public in September so the lake could be drained and work started on a project that includes the construction of a new dam and retaining wall, along with an upgrade of the boat launch and fishing area. The project is expected to be completed by the summer/fall of 2023. As a result, there is no water to float the tree and the area around the lake is now a construction zone, making it impossible to place the luminaries at the traditional venue. The construction company is concerned about liability issues, so we thought it was best for all the volunteers to not do anything, said Rachel Andreoli, luminary committee chairperson. Its sad to lose the tradition for the community but, in the end, were all working toward a better lake. Benoit agreed. Next year, well have a much prettier lake to float the tree on, she said. Were making a sacrifice at this point so that, in the future, the lake will be more stable and more beautiful. The project is expected to be completed by next summer or fall. Luminaries Since 1992, the association and its supporters have worked together to celebrate the lighting of the luminaries. Every year the same families and organizations go out on a particular night to light each candle. More recently, association members added to the tradition by posting the names of those to honor or remember on a bulletin board by the lake. South Middleton Township and association members sought solutions for the this years holiday tradition, but logistical issues made it impractical to go with an alternative, Andreoli said. We did kick around some different options, but the trouble is the luminaries and the lake are tied together. There just isnt a place where it makes sense to do it. There was some discussion about moving the luminaries to either South Middleton Park or Spring Meadows Park, she said. The wind that cuts through those parks is just going to blow everything over. There also are challenges associated with getting the word out to all the volunteers that the venue for the luminaries was going to change, Andreoli said. The parks are not a gathering point like the lake is. Santa relocation For years, it has been the tradition for a donated tree to be secured to and floated on a raft in the middle of the lake. Obviously, we cant float a tree on the lake this year, Benoit said. We can get it in the lake, but we cant get it out. So, instead of the floating tree and the lighting ceremony, Santa will visit with local children at Pavilion Five of Spring Meadows Park the afternoon of Dec. 4. We will have a Santas Village running from 1 p.m. to 4/4:30 p.m., Benoit said. Santa will be arriving by fire truck at 2 p.m. The Boiling Springs Bubblers Christmas Ensemble is going to be entertaining us with Christmas carols. We are planning on having an ornament-making activity, a letters-to-Santa activity and a petting zoo. The local fire company will have hot chocolate while F&M Bank plans to donate chocolate chip cookies. A Harrisburg woman wearing body armor and carrying a loaded rifle may have intended to hold a pastor hostage Sunday morning, State Police at Carlisle reported in its affidavit of probable cause. Amber Leiann Espigh, 31, of Harrisburg, faces charges of felony risking catastrophe, unlawful body armor, harassment, firearms not to be carried without a license, carrying a loaded weapon, criminal mischief and terroristic threats, as well as misdemeanor simple assault, disorderly conduct and defiant trespass in connection with the incident Sunday morning at Bethel Assembly of God Church off the Holly Pike in South Middleton Township. Police reported in an affidavit that Espigh arrived at the church in camouflage tactical pants and body armor with a loaded rifle magazine attached. She had been seen kicking a sign outside and was asked to leave the property multiple times. A victim reported that Espigh refused to leave, put a round in the chamber of the rifle and pointed it at him, and then pointed the firearm at numerous other people while standing in front of the church, according to the affidavit. The church went into a lockdown and police were called. A responding trooper reported that Espigh indicated she was at the church because of a possible crime occurring, and that she was checking the church for a priest, the affidavit said. Once Espigh found the person she was looking for, she was going to hold him hostage, and police also indicated in their criminal complaint that she may have intended to also hold a nurse hostage. According to the affidavit, police got her consent to search her vehicle, and police found a Walther PPS 9 mm pistol, for which she did not have a license to carry. Espigh was arrested and remains in Cumberland County Prison on $50,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 2. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank, have discussed issues of technical support for local SMBs, Azernews reports. The discussion took place during a meeting between Small and Medium Business Development Agency Board Chairman Orkhan Mammadov with ITFC's representatives, who are on a visit to Azerbaijan. During the meeting, the parties also exchanged views on such issues as trade facilitation and access to financing for SMBs. The Islamic Trade Finance Corporation was established by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in 2006. Azerbaijan joined the corporation as a member of IsDB. Azerbaijan joined the Islamic Development Bank on 4 July 1992. Since Azerbaijans membership in 1992, IsDB has been approving economic and social infrastructure projects, mostly in energy, water and sanitation, and urban services, and improving access to finance. SCRANTON The attorney for Pennsylvanias former top law enforcement officer is arguing that a drunken-driving case against her should be dismissed because prosecutors did not present sufficient evidence. The (Scranton) Times-Tribune reports that defense attorney Jason Mattioli also seeks to bar prosecutors from presenting results of a field sobriety test of former attorney general Kathleen Kane. He further wants to bar video purportedly showing her drinking before her arrest and testimony about her refusal to submit to a blood alcohol test. Kane, 56, the first woman and first Democrat to be elected attorney general in the state, is awaiting trial in Lackawanna County Court on charges of driving under the influence and careless driving in connection with a minor accident March 12 in Scranton. Kane has denied that she was intoxicated, maintaining that the crash occurred because she made a wide turn to avoid a snowbank and slid on the ice. The motions come three months after a magisterial district judge found sufficient evidence to send the case to county court a ruling Mattioli is appealing and mirror many of the arguments he raised at the hearing in July. The arresting officer said he smelled alcohol coming from the car, which the defense said came from another person in the vehicle, but did not detect alcohol coming from her. The defense also cites statements from seven other law enforcement officers, six of whom said they did not smell alcohol or witness signs of intoxication on Kanes part. Mattioli said the field sobriety test was an unwarranted fishing expedition and established protocols werent followed. He also said his clients refusal to submit to a blood test should also be barred because she was not advised of the legal consequences of such a refusal. Kane, who served jail time for leaking secret investigative files and lying about it, acknowledged in May that she violated her probation when she was arrested on the DUI charge. She was sentenced to two months to a year, but was given credit for time served and was scheduled to be directly paroled to a residential alcohol treatment center. Kane resigned as attorney general after being convicted in 2016 of perjury, obstruction and other counts for leaking grand jury material to embarrass a rival prosecutor. She served eight months of a 10-to-23-month sentence before being released in 2019. It was a crowning moment for Xi Jinping when he stepped onto a red-carpet stage on Sunday to begin his norm-shattering third term as Chinas supreme leader. Xi, 69, has emerged from the ruling Communist Partys five-yearly congress with more power than ever, stacking his partys top tiers with longtime proteges and staunch allies. That loyal inner circle has not only strengthened Xis hold on power but also tightened his grip over Chinas future. To an extent unseen in decades, the countrys trajectory is shaped by the vision and ambition of one man, with minimal room for discord or recalibration at the partys apex of power. In the eyes of Xi, China is closer than ever to achieving its dream of national rejuvenation and reclaiming its rightful place in the world. But the path ahead is also beset with high winds, choppy waters, or even dangerous storms a dark warning Xi made at both the start and the end of the week-long congress. The growing challenges have stemmed from a grim and complex international situation, with external attempts to suppress and contain China threatening to escalate at any time, according to Xis work report to the congress. Observers say Xis answer to that darkening outlook is to intensify the fierce defense of Chinas national interests and security against all perceived threats. Xi is likely to tightly control and be involved in all major foreign policy decisions. His packing of the top Chinese leadership with loyalists will allow him to better control and exert influence, said Bonny Lin, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) China Power Project. What he decides to do and how he goes about doing it will have a profound impact on the world. China and the West Xi steps into his next era in power facing a significantly different landscape to his previous two terms. The relationship between China and the West has changed dramatically with US-China relations cratering over a trade and tech war, frictions over Taiwan, Covid-19, Beijings human rights record and its refusal to condemn Russias war in Ukraine. Story continues Xis work report, a five-yearly action plan delivered during the congress, pointed to drastic changes on the international landscape, including external attempts to blackmail, contain, blockade, and exert maximum pressure on China terms often used by Chinese diplomats to decry US actions. The new Politburo Standing Committee members assemble in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. - Tingshu Wang/Reuters It is clear that Xi sees China having entered a period primarily of struggle in the international arena rather than a period of opportunity, said Andrew Small, author of No Limits: The Inside Story of Chinas War with the West. An expectation that ties will deteriorate further is resulting in a China that is far more openly engaged in systemic rivalry with the West greater assertiveness, more overtly ideologically hostile positions, more efforts to build counter-coalitions of its own, and a bigger push to shore up Chinas position in the developing world, he said. These pressures are also likely to impact Beijings close relationship with Moscow. While China has sought to appear as a neutral actor in the war in Ukraine, it has refused to condemn Russias invasion and instead blamed the West for the conflict a dynamic that also may be unlikely to change. (Xi) already seems to have written off many of the costs that result from (that relationship) for Chinas relations with the West, and Europe in particular, Small said. Threat posed to Taiwan At the opening of the congress on October 16, Xi won the loudest and longest ovation from the nearly 2,300 handpicked delegates inside Beijings Great Hall of the People when he vowed to reunify the mainland with Taiwan a self-governing democracy Beijing claims as its own, despite having never controlled it. China would strive for peaceful reunification, Xi said, before giving a grim warning that Beijing would never promise to renounce the use of force. The wheels of history are rolling on towards Chinas reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Complete reunification of our country must be realized, Xi told the congress to thundering applause. Under Xi, Beijing has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan, sending warplanes and conducting military drills near the island. Following Chinas tacit support for Russias invasion of Ukraine, concerns have only grown over Beijings plans for Taiwan. Chinese warplanes conduct exercises close to Taiwan in August 2022. - Li Bingyu/AP Lin at CSIS said Xis work report does not reveal any major change in Beijings policy toward Taiwan, but the leadership reshuffle in the Chinese military could provide clues about his desire to make more progress on unification with the island. He Weidong, former commander of the Peoples Liberation Armys Eastern Theater Command, which oversees the Taiwan Strait, was unexpectedly promoted to vice chairman of the Central Military Commission despite having never served on the body before. This suggests Xi is taking very seriously the possibility of a military crisis or conflict and wants to ensure that the PLA is ready, Lin said. I do not believe Xi is set on using significant force against Taiwan, but he is taking steps to prepare to do so. Xis work report also outlined an ambition for China to become more adept at deploying its military forces on a regular basis, and in diversified ways, to enable it to win local wars. Xi evidently wants the PLA to be capable of winning a war to seize control of Taiwan if he chooses to do that, whether or not his calculations are that this is actually a risk worth taking. That is always the top priority, said Small, who is also a senior transatlantic fellow with the German Marshall Fund think tank. Small pointed to a number of risk junctures for an escalation in the Taiwan Strait in the coming years, including the islands next presidential election in 2024. The fact remains, though, that the PLA has not been seriously battle tested in decades, and one of the issues in the period ahead will be whether they can effectively prepare themselves for this, he said. The global stage Speaking in a televised address on Sunday after announcing his new leadership team the partys Politburo Standing Committee Xi pledged that Chinas door to the world would only get wider and the countrys development would itself create more opportunities for the world. China cannot develop in isolation from the world, and the world also needs China for its development, he said. But China today is more physically closed off than its been in decades. Xi continues to back a costly zero-Covid policy that keeps borders heavily restricted and regularly sends its cities into lockdown dragging down Chinas economic growth. The stakes are high for how the worlds second-largest economy navigates these challenges, especially at a moment where the risk of global economic recession looms. Xis apparent interest in integrating domestic and international security could translate to policies like sanctions against foreign companies, (and) more red tape when there is foreign investment in Chinese technology companies, according to Victor Shih, an expert on elite Chinese politics at the University of California San Diego. And while Xi has said that furthering Chinas international standing and influence, including by backing global development, is among his main objectives for the next five years, Beijing may no longer be able to rely on the same level of economic engagement to do so in a more divided world. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com During their meeting this month, the Leadington Board of Aldermen discussed the possibility of creating a logo for the city, similar to the way Park Hills has a logo with the citys shield featured. Mayor Joe Davis shared 10 possible logo designs with the board after speaking with the Park Hills-Leadington Chamber of Commerce. Davis said the organization is interested in having something other than just City of Leadington printed on documents. Both the organization and City Clerk Deborah McCarver played around with designs, and came up with 10 possibilities. Davis said this was not a rush, but the chamber just thought it would be nice for the city to have something other than City of Leadington on flyers. The topic was tabled, and will be brought up in a future meeting. During the monthly report from the fire department, Graham brought up the fact of 911 is eventually going to switch to a digital radio. The switch could cost the dispatch center up to $4.1 million and could also cost the city a decent amount of money. During the last chiefs' meeting he attended, the idea of a grant writer was brought up for departments in both St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve counties. Graham said the grant writer alone would cost the city $1,000. Another cost the city would have to handle will be 5% of the cost of however many radios they receive. The first numbers I heard on the radios, if I outfit every one one of my guys with the radio and then the five that I need for the trucks, and one for the fire house, were going to be around $140,000, said Graham. Davis explained to the board if the city only has to pay 5%, it would only be nearly $7,000 out of the citys pockets, rather than paying the full $140,000 for the fire department alone. Davis asked if Graham could look into seeing if the police department could piggyback into this, as the police department will eventually have to make the switch as well. I know theres been lots of complaints, you know, even over the last couple years, said Davis, out here on Highway 67 of not getting complete calls or dispatches. Graham said there is no rush to do anything now, but just wanted to inform the board of the upcoming change. The department responded to 20 calls last month. After approving the minutes from the previous meeting and September financials, the board heard from about the preliminary audit report from Lori Crump with Maloney, Wright and Robbins. According to Crump, when comparing last years assets to this years, this years audit is higher by about $93,000. The audit also shows the sales tax has increased this year by $54,000. After all the additions and subtractions had been figured, Leadingtons general revenues had increased by $84,000. Crump did warn the board to make sure the city pays attention to what money is being spent versus what is actually budgeted. Davis explained items had come up which were not originally planned to be in the budget, but joked the city was now ahead of schedule for next year thanks to Crumps help. In other business, the board: Discussed the Bullpen parking proposal. Discussed the Missouri Municipal League dues, and the price increase. Heard from Police Chief Jerry Hicks, who said the department has responded to a total of 242 calls last month. Hicks also spoke to the board to approve using a $1,550 grant from Walmart to use on a handheld radar and extra camera for the evidence room for a total of $895 while the rest of the money would go to paying off vests. Hicks' request was approved. Heard from Maintenance Department Supervisor Kenny Horton, who is working on filling potholes in the city. Horton also informed the board of someone who would seal the parking lot at city hall, first by filling in the cracks to ensure the parking lot survives the winter before being completely sealed during spring. The next meeting is set for Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. Members of the Sons of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution and Children of the Revolution gathered earlier this month for a grave marking ceremony at the gravesite of Revolutionary War Veteran and Missouris first Speaker of the House James Caldwell. The grave is located at Parkview Cemetery, just north of Farmington on Weber Road. A local resident and member of the Spirit of the St. Louis Chapter of the SAR, Kevin Hulsey, found the stone while visiting a family members grave and shared the information with Marlyn Mauk, a member of the Sarah Barton Murphy Chapter of the DAR. Together, they spent a couple of years researching Caldwell. Caldwell was born in Virginia on July 4, 1763. In the spring of 1778 at the age of 15, Caldwell enlisted in the Virginia Militia to fight in the Revolutionary War as a substitute for his father, Samuel Caldwell. His first tour of militia duty was spending 15 days pursuing hostile Indians who had burned Farlows fort in Culbersons Bottom in Virginia, an area now part of Summers County, West Virginia. This campaign was under Captain Archibald Woods. His next tour was a year later in the spring of 1779 where, under the command of Captain Thomas Wright, he was stationed at the home of William Lafferty in about the same area. In the fall of 1779, he moved to Kentucky (not yet a state, and still a part of Virginia), but returned to Virginia in the spring of 1780. In 1781, Caldwell served again under Woods in the drafted militia in the same area stationed in the home of Thomas Shelton for one month. He served the next month in the same place as a substitute for a Mr. Richards. Later in that year, he served a month in the same area, stationed in the home of William Lacy again and under the command of Woods. Caldwell had stated that in the fall of 1781, he took up permanent residence near Stanford, Kentucky, and was involved in the many hard tours that it is out of my power to recollect their duration and date of service under the famed Colonel William Whitley. In 1782, Caldwell was drafted and served one month in under Captain John Woods and was stationed at Estells Station near what is now Richmond, Kentucky. Caldwell then served another month in the same situation as a substitute for Henry Boyers under the command of Colonel Benjamin Logan. In the fall of 1782, Caldwell was then drafted again and rendezvoused at Bryans Station to serve with company officers Captain Andrew Kinkead, Lieutenant William Young and Ensign John Bryan. The Battalion Commandant was Colonel John Logan and the Regiment Commandant was Benjamin Logan, all serving under the renowned General George Rogers Clark. The company Caldwell was in joined the main army at Cincinnati, Ohio, and marched to Chillicothe, Ohio. Caldwell states they killed 16 warriors and took women and children as prisoners. He spent six weeks on this tour. After the Revolutionary War, Caldwell was involved in various tours against Native Americans until serving as a company commander in the disastrous Battle of Pumpkin Fields on Oct. 22, 1790, in the Northwest Indian War in which Federal Troops and militia engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the Miami Tribe of American Indians, losing 200 men. Caldwell stated that of the 22 of his company, 11 fell or were killed and three wounded. Twenty-two years after signing up to help create a new country with 12 years of off-and-on warfare on the frontier, the warrior settled down and turned politician. Caldwell had married Meeke Perrin in Lincoln County, Kentucky, on Nov. 30, 1786. In 1800, he was elected to the Kentucky General Assembly from Harrison County and served in the legislature until 1807. In 1810, the Caldwells moved to a farm in Libertyville. At the time, Libertyville was in Ste. Genevieve County, prior to the formation of St. Francois County in 1821. Other members of Caldwells family had previously moved to Missouri, including his half-brother Kinkead Caldwell, known as the first settler and a founder of Franklin County whose home is near Washington. The book, History of Caldwell and Livingston Counties, Missouri states that the Territorial Legislature began its session in St. Louis on Dec. 5, 1814, and James Caldwell of Ste. Genevieve County was elected speaker. Kinkead Caldwell was also elected to serve as representative. In 1820, Caldwell was elected to the first Missouri House of Representatives and was named speaker. In 1822, he was elected to the Missouri State Senate and then lost a reelection bid in 1824 to James Kerr his son-in-law. On Nov. 4, 1833 at the age of 70, Caldwell appeared before the County Court of St. Francois County to apply for a Revolutionary War Pension. The application enumerates his service during the Revolutionary War starting at the tender age of 15 as a substitute for his father. In his statement of his Revolution War Service, Caldwell noted that I was and always considered myself as a minute man ready to march against the enemy whenever they were known to be amongst us during which time I did many hard tours that it is out of my power to recollect their duration and date of service" James Caldwell died on Sept. 6, 1836. Assisting with information about Caldwell were Marlyn Mauk of the Sarah Barton Murphy Chapter of the DAR; Kevin Hulsey; C. Leon Harris of revwarapps.org; Travis Trokey, director, Farmington Library; Robert J. Mueller, the State Historical Society of Missouri; Nathan Elwood, administrator-Missouri Legislative Library; Nancy Suthoff, legislator assistant for State Representatives Mike Henderson and Dale Wright; and the research of Arthur B. Caldwell. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is reminding those visiting the 400-million-year-old Tower Rock Natural Area in Perry County to explore nature safely, and to be respectful of the area and its neighboring land. The roughly 32-acre natural area is comprised of upland oak-pine and mixed hardwoods. It features a vertical geologic formation known as Tower Rock in the river channel. During average river stages, the formation is perched out in the middle of the Mississippi River and is accessible only by boat. But during extremely low river stages (typically below 1.5 feet at the Mississippi River Chester gauge) this large limestone outcrop is accessible by foot. Southeast Regional Administrator Matt Bowyer said this seasons dry weather created conditions that have attracted numerous visitors to the area over the past few weeks. We want folks to enjoy Tower Rock, he said. But the parking lot of the actual area is relatively small, so space is limited. If you are parking along the county road to access the area, please remember to not further restrict access to other visitors or neighboring landowners. To ensure a safe and rewarding visit, MDC reminds visitors who access the area of these key points: Do not block the county road when parking your vehicle. The nearby railroad tracks are active; vehicles should not be parked near them, and please do not walk on them. Please also allow trains plenty of room to pass. Access via Highway A and the adjoining county roads could be busier than normal; please travel with extreme caution. Do not disturb the colonies of vegetation (especially on the rock formation) as many of them have taken years to become established on the area. Please be careful when exploring. Due to safety concerns, Bowyer said he advises visitors to not climb the rock formation. The Mississippi River is still a very dangerous waterbody, even during low conditions, he said. Please use caution. And as always, pack out what you pack in. Do not leave litter behind. Tower Rock typically rises about 60 feet above the average river level. Much of the rest of the natural area is connected to the mainland along the river, and features a small trail up the hill to gain a better view of the nearby river and the tower. The area was designated a Natural Area in 1972 and purchased by MDC in 1973. Anyone with information pertaining to vandalism or other suspicious activity at Tower Rock Natural Area is asked to contact Cpl. Christopher Doran at 573-517-9056. Discover more quick facts, area regulations, and things to do at Tower Rock Natural Area online at https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/tower-rock-natural-area. For the second weekend in a row, a series of shots rang out early Sunday morning on Charlottesvilles Downtown Mall, this time leaving one person dead and two hospitalized at the University of Virginia Medical Center, according to Charlottesville Police officials and social media accounts. Police say the incident occurred around 1 a.m. and in the 200 block of West Main Street. They arrived to find three people shot. Police did not release identities or genders, but social media accounts agree that one man and two women were struck and that the man later died. Police appear to believe that those shot and their assailants likely knew each other. We would like the public to know that this incident poses no immediate threat to our community, officials said in a terse and short press release on Sunday. This is currently an ongoing investigation. Police asked anyone with information to contact Det. Sgt. Stayments at (434) 970-3939, or CrimeStoppers at (434) 977-4000. Last Saturday afternoon, two teenagers were shot near the Charlottesville Omni Hotel. Three teens were arrested on Thursday in relation to the shooting that has left one boy still in the hospital. They are being charged in juvenile court and are between the ages of 14 and 17, according to the Charlottesville Commonwealths Attorney Joe Platania. Because of their ages, their names will be not be released and their trials will not be open to the public. They teens are all in custody at the Blue Ridge Detention Center and face felony charges, according to Platania. Sunday mornings shooting occurred less than three blocks away from last weeks as Saturday revelry on the Downtown Mall was wrapping up. Video footage uploaded to social media by a downtown merchant an estimated 100 yards from the shooting showed several people walking down the mall when a series of shots ring out. First, a volley of two shots ring out and people pause for a minute. Then a second volley of three shots follow and people begin running away from the gunfire. That volley is then followed by about eight shots in quick succession as people can be heard screaming at others to run. Eze Amos, a Charlottesville-based documentary photographer and photojournalist, took photographs of police, fire paramedics and rescue personnel treating the wounded on site and posted them on social media accounts. No arrests have been made in the Sunday death or shootings. The area has seen an increase in reports of shots fired and of shootings. The Oct. 15 shooting in near the Omni Hotel parking lot just off the mall occurred around 5:15 p.m., a time when throngs of people are beginning to arrive on the mall to visit music venues, restaurants, bars and stores. Early the next morning, Oct. 16, police responded to shots fired on Hardy Drive. No one was hit or injured, but police are looking to see if the events are connected. The shootings this weekend and last weekend are not outliers. Several incidents, including one that ended in fatality, have occurred in the city in the past two months. 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. Daquain Maurice Anderson was shot near Court Square about 3 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17. Anderson later died of gunshot wounds at UVa Medical Center. 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 when someone opened fire on their on their car. The men were taken to UVa Medical Center. 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. The girl hid behind a car as the other car drove quickly by. Platania said after the last downtown shooting that he disapproved of the rise in people shooting at each other, both locally and across the country. He called on the community for vigilance. It will take broad community partnerships to turn the tide and stem the violence, he wrote, adding that a young age doesnt excuse gun violence. If our office identifies individuals who make the choice to arm themselves and hurt others, he wrote, they will be arrested, prosecuted, and incarceratedregardless of their age. A Corvallis city councilor chosen to fill a temporary vacant seat is defending her position against the challenger she overcame during the appointment process. Ward 2 Councilor Christina Jancila won a 5-4 council vote against Briae Lewis, clinching the outcome on a tie-breaking vote from Mayor Biff Traber. The Ward 2 position will ultimately be filled by whoever wins the Nov. 8 election. Mayoral candidate Charles Maughan, former councilor of Ward 2, moved out of the boundary, leaving the council to appoint someone for the remainder of the year. A Corvallis resident since 2016 and previously from Arizona, Jancila is new to public office. In Arizona, she advocated for the legalization of marijuana, which happened four years after she left. As a social worker, she felt the state was too oppressive against marginalized people. When I found out marijuana was legalized in Oregon, I said, Im going to sell my house and open up a dispensary, Jancila said. I didnt even know anybody, I just said, What the heck, Im going to give it a try. And here I am. 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. Now in business, Jancila owns Corvallis dispensary and pizzeria Marie Janes Cannabis Connection, among other properties. She has compared the business world with serving on the council, saying her experience with customers and budgets can be applied on the dais. Gripped with concern about the lack of humane treatment for homeless people in Oregon, she began following the issue locally. That led her to get involved with the joint city-county advisory board on homelessness known as Home, Opportunity, Planning and Equity, or HOPE. When I came here, I saw the issue with homelessness, Jancila said. It shook me to my core. It was so overwhelming. Giving second chances is a big part of Jancilas character. For example, she supports Gov. Kate Browns push on clemency for certain inmates convicted as juveniles, saying they arent the same people they were 20 years before. And if not for second chances for her business from her landlord, neighbors and elected officials at several turns, she believes her business wouldnt have gotten off the ground. Homelessness is an issue that is often a hot subject discussed at Albany City Council and among the citys residents. Heres how the 2022 Albany council and mayoral candidates plan to tackle the issue. Mayor Current Mayor Alex Johnson II is running against William Tally, and both have different takes on how to approach homelessness. Johnson sees homelessness as an issue tied to affordable housing. He hopes to make housing more accessible at every income level. He also hopes to ease housing insecurity and homelessness by supporting local nonprofits. They are our family, they are just in a different situation than us, he said. Johnson sees homelessness a result of a multitude of factors: addiction, escaping violence, mental health issues. He hopes to garner support by rallying nonprofits with various specialty resources. On the other hand, Tally believes resources for unhoused people may be too accessible. He believes resources need to be incentivized to get people to transition to being self-sufficient. He argues resources need to be more remote, so they arent too convenient, he said. They have my empathy, but I see a number of them that dont care, he said. Tally, who described his professional career as working in chemistry, is concerned over the cleanliness of sites and litter left by people experiencing homelessness. Tally said he wishes there could be a fine imposed on people who give money to unhoused people because he believes they will buy liquor, and people should only donate food rather than cash. Ward 1 In Ward 1, incumbent Dick Olsen is facing challenges from Greg Hamann, Steph Newton and Matthew Prudell. They all have their own philosophies that guide their ideas on how to address homelessness. Its easy for Olsen, a City Hall fixture for 50 years, to understand how people can fall into homelessness with the high cost of medical bills and insurance, he said. Too many people struggle just to get by. He supports projects that remedy homelessness, like the tiny home projects, he said. Hamann, formerly the president at Linn-Benton Community College, sees homelessness as an issue that isnt going to be solved overnight. Its multifaceted, with housing, mental health and other factors, he said. But having an adopted son who experienced homelessness has given Hamann perspective. Seeing homeless people as bad people isnt going to get us anywhere, he said. Instead, the unhoused should be viewed as people in challenging situations, he said. Hamann believes the city should work with those on the front lines of the issue to find the right solutions. I dont think we are going to make a lot of progress finding fault, he said, The only solution worth having is one we share. Newton also sees homelessness as a multifaceted issue and a challenge. It requires forward thinking, she said. Part of the issue would be increasing the housing supply for lower income individuals, said Newton, whos sat on several city commissions and panels. She believes there needs to be multiple responses for the various challenges, Newton said. For example, sometimes an unhoused person is experiencing a mental health crisis. The response there should be a team of professionals to address that, she said. She would like to see Albany implement something like CAHOOTS, Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Street, created in 1989 in Eugene. The CAHOOTS program is a community-based policing initiative that involves a mental health first response for mental health crises, homelessness and addiction. The model involves two-person teams consisting of a medic and crisis worker. We need to see people as humans, Newton said. Prudell, who is crafting his campaign around a singular issue ridding the local water supply of fluoride rides his bike and sometimes interacts with Albanys unhoused population, he said. The correct response should be tailored to the needs of the individual, he said. Some may need a push in the right direction, while a few may be terminal. Prudell believes there needs to be an incentivized reward system to get people to reenter society, he said. He believes people should have basic needs like food and shelter, but we shouldnt feed the bears, he said. Prudell acknowledged homelessness is a very complicated issue with no easy answers. If Im elected, I would use my ability to talk to people who deal with them to determine what kind of help they need, he said. Ward 2 Candidates Jackie Montague and Josiah Blaisdell are running for Ward 2, which represents roughly central and southwest Albany. Montague, a senior process leader who works at ATI Specialty Alloys & Components, believes homelessness goes hand-in-hand with housing affordability. But she realizes the immediate needs for food and shelter and says those things should be concentrated on first. She believes in partnering with local agencies in the city, she said. Low-barrier shelters are important for the city, Montague said in reference to the expansion of Albany Helping Hands. Low-barrier shelters take in unhoused people who are still struggling with addiction. Expanding shelter access gets more people off the street, she said. Educator Blaisdell, who uses they and them pronouns, also believes there needs to be more shelter access, but for them that also means accommodating a percentage of the unhoused many people may have a hard time wrapping their brains around sex offenders, they said. After speaking with Oregon State Police, Blaisdell believes that many of Albanys homeless are sex offenders. After personally getting over the ick factor, Blaisdell realized there needs to be a place for unhoused sex offenders because many shelters bar them from receiving beds. The policy results in unhoused sex offenders sharing public spaces, like parks, with residents, Blaisdell said. As a parent, that makes them uncomfortable. Blaisdell believes Albany can follow in the footsteps of Eugene by having special housing services to get sex offenders off the streets. Ward 3 Candidates Bessie Johnson, Bryan Munson and Ramycia McGhee are running for Ward 3, which represents eastern Albany. Incumbent Bessie Johnson doesnt want people to be afraid to live in their homes because of unhoused people, she said. We need to find some place to do with them, but I dont believe in enabling, she said, adding she believes some dont try. Bessie Johnson is interested in holding conferences with other cities to see how they implement solutions. Operations and engineering manager Munson believes in the use of community programs like Jackson Street and Helping Hands, but that some people just need to be incarcerated. Munson wants to prevent Albany from becoming unkempt, because he believes unhoused encampments can bring an unfavorable odor. He believes we are in a housing crisis where there are no options left for the working class. You have section 8 housing versus mansions, he said. 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. <&underline>English professor McGhee refers to people experiencing homelessness as home-challenged. McGhee believes in affordable housing that goes beyond single-family homes. That isnt attainable for everyone, and Albany needs affordable apartments, she said. She believes there should be more shelters and transitional housing in Albany to keep up with the need for shelter. Everyone should have a place to live and a hot meal, McGhee said. Editor's note: This article was edited to correct Jackie Montague's occupation. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijans Central Bank (CBA) and Chinas Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation, Azernews reports. The memorandum envisages creating a legal basis for cooperation between the two institutions, strengthening relations, and enhancing the exchange of information and experience in the finance sector. The document provides for the exchange of experience and information, the organization of training and seminars, and consulting services between the CBA and the CBIRC in the banking and insurance sector. Moreover, the memorandum will serve to ensure mutual cooperation between supervisors, provide technical support, exchange experiences on global approaches to regulations, boost cooperation at the international level, as well as promote the development of the banking and insurance systems of both countries. The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on April 2, 1992. Azerbaijan is Chinas key trade partner in the South Caucasus region. In 2021, China became Azerbaijans 4th largest trading partner, with a trade turnover amounting to $1.7 billion. Azerbaijan has a trade mission in China, trade and wine houses, trade branches in trade networks and measures are continuously taken to develop cooperation. In addition, there are companies with Chinese capital operating in Azerbaijan. Successful investment cooperation is underway. Meanwhile, negotiations are underway with China on a number of industrial projects. Azerbaijan was one of the first countries to support China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative. In its second major announcement in a matter of days, Chilean telecoms giant Entel has said it plans to sell the assets of its fibre optic business but continue offering internet services. The business, which provides services to homes, will be sold to local company ON*NET Fibra in a deal worth $358 million. The agreement is part of a deal that will enable Entel to continue offering internet services for residences on ON*NET's network. ON*NET Fibra deploys and operates the first wholesale fibre optic infrastructure network in Chile. This is described as an open and neutral network that can be used by all current and future operators. ON*NET Fibra was launched in July 2021 when KKR, a leading global investment firm, purchased a 60% stake in Telefonica's fibre optic network in Chile. Entel was quoted as saying: "By selling our network, rather than leaving the fixed market, we are increasing coverage rapidly to offer our internet services to the home at efficient costs and without the need to invest the sums required for a fibre deployment with this coverage. Once the deal is approved by Chile's economic regulator, probably in the first half of 2023, ON*NET Fibra is expected to reach more than 4.3 million homes in 2024. Entel has operations in Chile and Peru and has more than 20 million mobile subscribers. Last week Entel Corp said it was planning to integrate Ericssons Private 5G solution within its offering, and partner with communications service providers to deliver it. The news that the U.S. Government will be sending two million dollars in humanitarian aid to the Cuban people through independent NGOs has sparked criticism from, or at least skepticism among, several members of civil society and the dissident community on the island, according to RadioTV Marti. In statements to the U.S. media DIARIO DE CUBA contributor Boris Gonzalez Arenas asserted that ''although the aid is necessary, guarantees are needed so that the government does not benefit from it,'' he said. "This is a buffer measure; that is, in Pinar del Rio right now they have been without electricity for three weeks; in Pinar del Rio right now they are enduring prehistoric conditions, and that must be resolved," Gonzalez Arenas said. "Castroism has created not only a system of institutions, but also a fake civil society such that, if the United States puts money there, or the European Union, Castroism is bound to steal it, but the citizens of Pinar del Rio do need that assistance that the United States can give them now," he said regarding the government's possible diversion of the humanitarian aid. According to art historian and activist Carolina Barrero, the fact that Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez publicly thanked the U.S. government for the aid it extended shows that the "criminalization of the regime by those who receive aid from U.S. cooperation agencies has NO credibility or validity. It never has. The logic of that criminalization is part of a totalitarian, polarizing and deceitful fiction,'' she wrote on her Facebook profile. More direct in her criticism was activist and Havana resident Adelth Bonne Gamboa who stated that: ''it is clear to me that the US government supports the Cuban dictatorship with total impudence, incoherence and impunity. (...)'' to which she added ''it makes me very angry, when I think of all those who have taken to the streets all this time, of the many political prisoners (...) that, now, those who are supposedly helping us fight against our executioners, are giving them aspirin to relieve the pain that it took us many many blows, prisoners, and even deaths, for almost 70 years, to inflict,'' the activist stated on her Facebook profile. Meanwhile, art historian Anamely Ramos questioned the work of the Red Cross, which will be one of the organizations in charge of channeling U.S. aid into Cuba: ''The Red Cross apparently responds to the call of the United States and not to a part of Cuban civil society, just as the Cuban regime itself asks for and accepts aid from the United States rather than from members of Cuban civil society in exile.'' ''These details are also part and parcel the original evil, because Cuban civil society, which opposes the dictatorship, and whose organizations and groups do great work, which is sometimes very dangerous, to expose and act against the multiple human rights violations in Cuba, is not recognized and tended to,'' said the former member of the San Isidro Movement. In addition to these criticisms, US humanitarian donations to Cuba came to 12,104,977 dollars in the first half of this year, a figure higher than the total amount provided in 2021, 11,074,090 dollars, according to a report by the US-Cuba Economic and Trade Council. In general, Havana administrates humanitarian aid with very little transparency and, in most cases, ends up selling the donated products to the Cuban population. There are several reports that donations of food and other products from Mexico, Russia or Vietnam have been put on sale, in some cases even at MLC stores, which are only accessible by Cubans whose relatives or friends send remittances in foreign currency from abroad. Mark Culver and Doug Sinquefield have 22 days left in elected office, but they used Mondays Houston County Commission meeting the last for them to bid farewell. Today is not the last day, but it feels like it, Culver said. There was applause, standing ovations, jokes, and a little emotion as the chairman and District 2 commissioner said their public goodbyes. New members of the Houston County Commission who dont have any party opposition in the Nov. 8 general election will be sworn into office on Nov. 16. Mondays meeting was attended by both Culver and Sinquefields family members as well as, department heads, county employees, and other elected county officials. Former Dothan mayor Mike Schmitz, Grow Dothan chairman Bob Woodall, and Sonny Brasfield, the executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, also attended. At the end of the meeting, Culver presented Sinquefield with a plaque before Commissioner Brandon Shoupe helped unveil Culvers official portrait that now hangs on the same wall as those of past commission chairs. Sinquefield, a local farmer and Army veteran, was first elected in 2010 and has represented District 2 for 12 years on the county commission. I knew when I met Doug Sinquefield, he was one of the good ones, Culver said. Hes been a professional partner on the Houston County Commission with everyone that weve served with. Sinquefield thanked Culver and others for all they did over the years to help him serve as a county commissioner. He thanked his wife, Mary, for her support through the good and bad times during the last 12 years he has served in elected office. Im looking forward to the future, Sinquefield said. I want to stay involved and do things. I just love the people of Houston County. I want to get where Im like Bob Woodall; Im going to wear no socks. Both Sinquefield and Culver took time to thank Houston Countys employees. You cant name all the employees of this great county every one of you Houston County employees have meant so much to me, Sinquefield said. We have built relationships and friendships, and thats friendship for life. I appreciate all of you Houston County employees for your dedicated service to making it happen for the people of Houston County and serving the people of Houston County. Culver has spent the last 36 years on the Houston County Commission. He was the first Republican elected to local office and he was re-elected as a district commissioner in 1990 and 1994. He was appointed chairman in 1997 and was elected chairman in 1998. Monday marked Culvers 824th meeting hes had more than 1,600 meetings if you count administrative meetings. As he spoke, Culver said he couldnt help but think about his mother and grandparents and the other people who helped and supported him over the years. He said he remembers the days when commissioners shared a four-drawer file cabinet in an office at the Houston County Courthouse and when the commission voted to purchase the county administration building on North Oates Street. He remembers when he lost control of a meeting a room full of people in opposition to a proposed site for a new jail. Attendees stood and sang We Shall Overcome. The piece of land where the jail is currently located became available after that meeting, moving the facility away from the controversial site. He remembers George Jones coming to a commission meeting for a proclamation naming George Jones Day in Houston County. Culver said saying thank you to employees, supporters, family, and citizens just didnt fully capture how he feels as he approaches his last day in office. Sometimes we question God when he speaks to us, and more often we dont realize when God is speaking to us and calling, Culver said. I absolutely believe that me being here today is a God thing in my life. Theres no way that theres any other sane explanation for anybody doing this for 36 years, and feeling as blessed as I do today after nine terms. Also during Mondays meeting: - Commissioners voted to amend the countys subdivision regulations, including a provision that increased the minimum amount of road frontage required to be exempt from the countys subdivision requirements from 30 feet to 100 feet. - The commission accepted property on Ennis Road from the City of Dothan for a public safety building. The property is near the Wiregrass Public Safety Center. The city will use a portion of the building, which will house the countys Homeland Security equipment. - County commissioners voted to swap maintenance responsibility on roads with the City of Dothan, effective Jan. 1. Maintenance will be swapped on 9.55 miles of city roads Woodham Road, Geiger Road, McAllister Road, West Grey Hodges, Huskey Road, and Dunn Road with 9.15 miles of current county roads South Park Avenue, Taylor Road, Campbellton Highway, Murphy Mill Road, Bethlehem Road, and Fortner Street from Honeysuckle to State Road 605. By Trend The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) intends to increase the share of cashless payments in the total turnover to 55 percent by 2022-2026, Executive Director at the CBA Farid Osmanov told Trend. According to him, within Azerbaijan's Socio-Economic Development Strategy for 2022-2026, both in the banking and insurance sectors, capital market, digital transformation and the payment ecosystem, the CBA intends to implement projects aimed at further strengthening, expanding and increasing digital payments and opportunities in the country. As part of the implementation of these initiatives, two priority areas have been identified: financial stability and financial inclusiveness. In order to ensure financial stability, we can talk about projects aimed at strengthening the security of making payments through national payment systems and international standardization. So, Central Bank aims to annually increase payments by national payment systems by five percent. In the field of expanding financial inclusiveness, the Central Bank is taking measures to increase its share of cashless payments. CBA intends to increase its share of cashless payments in total turnover by 55 percent by 2026, Osmanov said. He noted that Central Bank is implementing a number of measures in order to accelerate digital transformation in the financial market, expand financial inclusiveness as well as provide banking services for clients on digital platforms and ensure access to financial services. "Thus, for example, as part of digital payments for 2021-2023 strategy, the CBA is working in five following directions: expanding digital payment solutions, supporting and simplifying the procedure for entering the financial technology market, establishing a risk-based control procedure and appropriate framework, expanding financial inclusiveness in particular, minimizing the difference between cities and regions and stimulating the adoption of payment decisions," Osmanov said. "In addition, the CBA is implementing a project aimed at simplifying the implementation of instant payments (Ani Pay). From this point of view, the bank is working to inform the population and business from January through September 2022, payments through the Ani Pay system increased by 2.2 times, and the number of transactions - by 3.4 times compared to the same period in 2021," he stated. "Along with this, Central Bank wants banking processes to comply with international standards, and for this purpose, work is underway to implement the ISO 222 standard. I note that most of the information components of the national payment system of Azerbaijan have been brought into line with this standard. CBA believes that these works will be fully completed by the end of 2022 - the beginning of 2023. The introduction of this standard will allow us to simplify the automation of payment processes and increase the efficiency of reports," Osmanov informed. "Here it's about the introduction of Open Banking in the country. The Central Bank, with the support of an international financial corporation, prepared a roadmap for 2021. This roadmap provides for the implementation of various activities in the period 2021-2025. Implementation of Open Banking will simplify entry into the market for fintech companies, ensure the availability of financial services, simplify integration with banks and provide a number of other benefits. I want to note that the preparation of relevant standards is being prepared by CBA. In particular, the bank is coordinating in this direction with the Bank Association and the Financial Technology Association," he said. In addition, according to Osmanov, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) carries out work on the development of digital manat [countrys national currency] in cooperation with international think tanks, financial organizations, and banks. "Central Bank works with International Monetary Fund. Step-by-step work is underway to form the concept of digital currency. CBA is also conducting research to assess possible risks. I want to emphasize that these processes require a long period of time. Despite this, CBA continues cooperating and studying international experience and global concepts of digital currency," he stated. Speaking on mechanisms for supporting and controlling the ecosystem of online payments, he said that the adoption of the law On payment systems and services will determine the mechanisms in this area. "CBA prepared and agreed upon the bill On payment systems and services with the relevant state bodies and submitted it to the Azerbaijani government. During the preparation of this bill, the focus was made on international practice and leading technologies. Besides, the bill was formed on the basis of the directive on payment services and systems of the EU. I want to note that with the adoption of this bill, consumer protection mechanisms will be defined in the payments ecosystem and at the same time, a legal framework will be created to control the activities of organizations and operators of payment systems, as well as third-party service providers (which give information about accounts and intermediary services on payment transactions)," Osmanov said. "This bill will enable us to create enhanced user authentication mechanisms. The bill also covers control measures for Open Banking. Measures of a special control regime will also be reflected in the law. This is about tools for supporting and monitoring fin-tech organizations, start-up projects and other players," he added. "The bill also reflects issues regulating the activities of financial organizations, issues of ensuring safe and reliable payment systems and their efficient operation. It also reflects the rights of a paying agent (a legal entity or an individual entrepreneur engaged in accepting payments from individuals). Thus, the paying agent will receive the authority to legally carry out intermediary services, that is, payment transactions on behalf of banks, non-banking organizations and other financial institutions. The formation of a legislative framework for monitoring and controlling the activities of financial players will increase financial inclusiveness in Azerbaijan, Osmanov informed. He noted that Azerbaijan is open to new financial and financial technology companies. CBA is in constant communication with PayPal and Samsung Pay. I would like to note that the current legislation of Azerbaijan does not prevent foreign financial organizations from entering the market. The decision to enter any foreign organization on the market is made directly by these organizations themselves in accordance with their strategy and business plans, Osmanov stressed. He also informed that specialists of CBA and international financial corporations are preparing strategic programs on cybersecurity. During its preparation, international practice was taken as the basis. Its not only about the technical strengthening of the infrastructure, but its also planned to conduct educational activities aimed at increasing knowledge. Besides, in order to form a clearer program, the regulator conducts appropriate surveys and assesses the activities of financial market players. In the near future time, well be able to approve this program, Osmanov concluded. FORT RUCKER On the evening of Oct. 9, two servicemembers and their families were each driving in opposite directions on the same highway in Florida, with no idea their paths would intersect at a point of crisis. U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Nigel P. Huebscher, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot assigned to the Officer Training Branch, Directorate of Training and Doctrine, at Fort Rucker, was traveling north on Florida State Route 79, returning to the Wiregrass area from his familys trip to Mexico Beach. Florida Air National Guard Major Bradley J. Vaughn, a senior air defense officer at the 601st Air Operation Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, and his family were headed south, back to the Panama City Beach area from a trip to Aplin Farms. They both stopped that Sunday around 5 p.m., just north of Bonifay. As the Huebscher family passed a small house, they noticed flames on the porch area and going up the side of the house. They turned their vehicle around and pulled up to a gate in the driveway. Huebschers wife Devi immediately called 911. Surveying the scene, he noticed the gate to the property was locked, and the fence had two rows of barbed wire atop it. Huebscher jumped the gate and ran up to the house, where he saw a large pile of rags burning on the wooden porch, with a gas can nearby. He grabbed the gas can and flung it away from the house. An elderly woman met him at the door, but when he asked if anyone else was in the home, she seemed confused, mumbled a response, and she tried to go back inside. He got the impression there was someone else in the house, and he steered the woman down the steps and away from the home. He entered the small house and found an elderly man in a bed sound asleep. He woke the man, who was then confused to see a stranger in his home. Huebscher repeatedly told the man the house was on fire, and eventually he got out of bed and walked toward the door, with Huebscher also pushing him along. By the time they reached the door, the smoke was thick black inside the home, and the exterior was engulfed in flames. As the fire came across the open doorway, the man started to turn around and go back toward his bedroom. By this time, the Vaughn family had also arrived on the scene, and saw that the elderly woman needed help. From the time that we pulled over to the time that I got to the house, the house fire had gotten exponentially worse. As I hopped out of the truck there was a little bit of smoke, but I could make out the front porch and the front door. But as I got done helping the woman get to the gate, with all the flames and smoke I couldnt tell where the front door was anymore, said Vaughn. He heard Devi, who was on the phone with 9-1-1, yelling to him, My husband went in the house! Vaughn got as close as he could to the house but the flames and heat were too intense to try to go inside, and he could hear things popping on the inside of the house, as if ammunition had been ignited. Huebscher, who was still inside with the homeowner, suddenly shoved the man and himself through the doorway, out of the house. Out of nowhere, a blockbuster movie, all of a sudden I see this man come tumbling out he was flying out through the smoke with an old man, and they both kind of spill out in the smoke and fall, Vaughn said. The house exploded and a fireball shot out, with flames quickly scorching the yard. Huebscher recalled stumbling forward in the yard, and the elderly man fell down and was still in harms way. At that instant Huebscher saw Vaughn run into the flames to get the man to safety. Watching Vaughn go into that fire was probably the bravest thing Ive ever seen, Huebscher said. I got the guy out of the house, but he would have died on his front yard if werent for Brad Vaughn. Others arrived on the scene and offered assistance. Together they helped move the man, and Vaughn checked the mans breathing, his eyes, and asked him some questions to clarify if anyone else was in the home. I felt better that we got everybody out Nigel got everybody out, Vaughn said. As they moved the man again, they had to avoid a live power line that had been seared by the fire and fell into the driveway. Vaughn retrieved bottled waters from his familys camping gear. As the emergency responders took over the scene, Vaughn and his family eventually departed, while Huebscher remained on the scene to relay information to the responders. If Nigel had not stopped and gone in when he did, I dont think either of those people would have made it out, said Vaughn. I was the second one there. I would have got there, we would have called 9111, and I would have watched that house burn down, just wondering, hoping, praying there was no one inside. Thankfully, everyone survived. The residents of the home were taken by ambulance for medical assessment. They later learned the man was airlifted for medical treatment for burns and is expected to fully recover. The two servicemembers, who were in civilian clothes that day, later linked up via social media and learned each others service affiliation. Everyone who helped, including other good Samaritans who stopped to help with initial first aid, and assist the couple to safety, all deserve credit, Huebscher said. In his mind the events of that evening seemed to slow down, but in reality everything happened very quickly. I think that whole event was a matter of seconds really, Huebscher said. Thirty seconds to a minute earlier and Id never have seen the flames. Thirty seconds to a minute later and Id never got out of the house. Timing was everything in this case. Huebscher said his wife Devi thought she would never see him again when he went into the burning house that day. It wasnt until the next day that the gravity of the situation caught up with him. It was just the right thing to do, Huebscher said. Mayor Travis Cook of Bonifay, who is also a volunteer firefighter, said the Bonifay Fire Rescue team members were grateful for the servicemembers actions. In my opinion, there is no such thing as a coincidence. I wholeheartedly believe God places each and every person at specific locations at specific times for specific reasons, Cook said. If not for the selfless, heroic efforts of these two men, I believe this would have been a fatal fire for the homeowner. On Bonifay Fire Rescues Facebook page later that night, Jennifer Yancey, the daughter of the elderly man reached out to the people who saved her father and stepmother. Thank you for whoever stopped and got her attention, and to all the firefighters and emergency personnel! You will never know how much it means to me and my family, she posted. This article which was first published on the U.S. Armys website Monday and republished by the Eagle with permission. Representations of cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Dash, Ethereum, Ripple and Litecoin are seen in this illustration picture taken June 2, 2021. Photo by Reuters/Florence Lo Although cryptocurrencies are not legal tender in Vietnam, they are being traded often and therefore, should be regulated, says Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. At a National Assembly meeting on drafting laws against money laundering, Chinh and several lawmakers discussed transactions in virtual currencies and how to prevent such currencies from being used to launder money. Since Vietnam has not recognized virtual currencies as legal tender, the government agreed that it shouldn't be in the bill that is to be submitted to the National Assembly, but Chinh said he had reservations. "I'm a little worried about virtual currencies because though they haven't been recognized, people are still trading in it," he said. Several National Assembly members pointed out that in addition to cash, gold and foreign currencies, there were many other tender being transacted popularly, like virtual currency. Trinh Lam Sinh, deputy head of the An Giang National Assembly delegation, cautioned that many people were trading in virtual currencies that could be used to finance a variety of crimes, including terrorist actions. In the discussion on virtual money and digital currencies, Nguyen Manh Hung, standing member of the National Assembly Economic Committee, said money laundering via cryptocurrency was an existential issue. Dao Hong Van, NA deputy from Hung Yen Province, agreed with Hung, saying that if the amended draft law against money laundering does not regulate virtual money and virtual currency transactions, "there will be a loophole for money laundering." Organizations and individuals, for example, can use real money to purchase cryptocurrencies then convert it into legal money abroad, he said, implying that cryptocurrencies will make it simple to transfer money abroad without being controlled by the state. Nguyen Minh Duc, deputy chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee, said that the way transactions are done with virtual currencies is quite similar to online games where people try to use illegally-obtained money to buy virtual currencies, which they can then exchange for cash. Several delegates then suggested that that the draft amendments to the money laundering law include rules on virtual currencies and related transactions. International airfares for Christmas and Tet holidays have surged by 30-70% from pre-pandemic levels as airlines struggle to resume all flights. Oanh in Ho Chi Minh City has not been able to find affordable tickets to Asian locations like in previous years for flights during December and Vietnams Lunar New Year celebration Tet in January next year. A low-cost ticket from HCMC to Kansai has risen 70% from 2019 to VND9 million ($362), and up to VND15 million among other airlines, she said. Kim, a tourism employee in District 1, said that ticket prices to Taiwan, the Philippines and Myanmar for December have surged 20-30% from before the pandemic. Tickets to other Asian destinations like Singapore, Thailand, and South Korea have surged by 30-70% from two years ago. Vietnamese airlines say they have only been able to resume 50-70% of pre-pandemic flights and, therefore, price hikes are needed to cover costs. Vietnam Airlines Group, which include Pacific Airlines and Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO), has resumed 60-70% of flights compared to 2019 as demand remains unstable and some countries still impose Covid-19 measures and have not fully reopened. Geopolitical tensions and visa policies also affect its plan to increase the number of flights, a media representative said. The same price hike is seen in other countries. Singapore flights to the Philippines have risen by 78% from 2019, to Thailand 47% and to Indonesia 43%, according to booking platform Traveloka. The average price of a flight to Malaysia has increased 50% from 2019 and to Bangkok 25%, according to booking platform Expedia. Some airlines forecast prices to continue rising due to fluctuating fuel costs and because airlines need revenue to recovery from Covid-19 impacts. Wind turbines are seen at Quang Tru Province on October 4, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Tao More than half of the 35 Danish business executives accompanying Crown Prince Frederik during his official visit to Vietnam on November 1-2 are in the wind power industry. They include officials from Orsted Vietnam Llc, a subsidiary of the largest offshore wind power company in the world, and Vesta Mind Systems and Force Technology. There will also be representatives of three investment funds: the Danish governments IFU, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and EKF. Denmark is one of five biggest foreign investors in Vietnam with US$1.32 billion. Analysts point out that Vietnams commitment to reducing net emissions to zero is attracting more Danish companies. Vietnam is among the top 10 countries globally in solar power production, and renewables now account for over 11% of its electricity output. Vietnam-Denmarks total trade was at over $554 million in the first nine months, as Vietnams exports jumped by 51.8% year-on-year to $384.7 million. October 23, 2022 | 04:36 pm PT The newest pollution kid on the block in Vietnam is visual, a recent disturbing phenomenon in major urban centers graffiti. As if the air, water and noise pollutions were not enough. Every closed door, window, wall or slab of concrete is a blank canvas just waiting to be baptized by self-proclaimed "artists" armed with cans of spray paint, a smug attitude and nothing better to do with their time. Areas that have fallen victim to this vandalism look like the economically depressed and often violent neighborhoods of my home country, stark places of victimization, deprivation and human suffering. Walking or driving by these dystopian scenes in Hanoi, where I live, or HCMC, which I visit on a regular basis, leaves me with feelings of unease, sadness, and anger. During a recent trip to the south, I was struck by two distressing and ubiquitous sights: building for rent signs, a legacy of the pandemic and graffiti. This defacing of public and private property, virtually unheard of 10 years ago, is an indication of decline and a loss of control. It is a sign that parts of our community no longer belong to us, the people, but rather to a group of twenty something delinquents who relish the thought of sticking it to the authorities and trying to be cool at the same time. Public declaration of war If nothing is done to stop this nightly faux-artistic rampage, cities like Hanoi and HCMC will continue to lose their charm. We must declare war on these cretins who do their dirty work under cover of darkness and with impunity, in most cases. They are not rebels creating something of value but visual polluters who are making Vietnam ugly - one surface at a time. Their "work" is a blight on the cityscape and a stain on a civilized society. Spray painting what is not theirs is not making a statement; it's a crime against property and an assault on the aesthetics of the places we call home. One attorney said that those who spray painted two of 51 HCMC metro cars may not be aware of the seriousness of the act. Maybe they did it for the sake of beauty and did not intend to destroy property or make a statement. Seriously? These are not naughty children who need a firm hand and a good scolding, but young adults who are well aware of what they're doing. Some say that society should create areas for these budding artists to "express themselves." For example, designated zones that double as outdoor art galleries. They would have their outlet for artistic expression. Or beautifying utility boxes with drawings of flowers and trees. This misses the point entirely. Graffiti vandalism as seen on walls of buildings in HCMC's District 1. Photo by Mark A. Ashwill Most graffiti "artists" are not interested in either option. The fact that it's forbidden and illegal is part of the thrill, after all. It's what gets the adrenalin flowing. It's the drug that lures them onto the streets night after night. Stop indulging and start arresting these arrogant, self-indulgent smart a*. Make public examples out of them. Make the punishment severe enough that it will act as a deterrent to other members of this dysfunctional community. In Singapore, which places a premium on law and order and frowns upon anyone sullying their fair city-state, caning is one of the punishments for graffiti. In a highly publicized case in Singapore in 2015 two young Germans were sentenced to nine months in prison and three strokes of the cane for spray-painting graffiti on a train. Vietnam must act swiftly to reverse this visual tide of disgrace. These miscreants, domestic and imported, scurry around like urchins on a twisted mission in the depths of night when most people are sound asleep. Later, after hours of exhausting, exhilarating and sometimes risky spraying and scrawling on other peoples property without permission, they sit back, relax, and yack about their "achievements" with fellow graffiti "artists," drink and cigarette in hand. Some are proud of their "art" and even view it as a contribution to urban culture. Such are the towering heights of their delusion. The pathetic reality is that most of these artist wannabes would fail miserably as "artists" in the real world - in contrast to the parallel universe they inhabit, where they are folk heroes and influencers, respected, admired and despised, much to their delight. Since "graffiti artist" is not something they can put on their resume to impress prospective employers, their experiences, such as they are, will fade into memories of a misspent youth. Fight fire with fire The solutions to this growing problem are simple and less expensive than painting surfaces with an anti-graffiti coating that makes it easy to remove spray paint. (This is a costly but effective option for those individuals and companies that can afford it.) First, install more motion-activated lights and security cameras at strategic locations as a deterrent. Graffiti "artists" are aware of their immediate environment, including the presence of police, security guards and cameras. They are unlikely to launch into a 30-minute orgy of spray painting a virgin surface if they think someone or something may be watching. Secondly, create a national database of previous offenders, including photos. Then apply facial recognition software using videos obtained from these cameras. Theres nothing quite like catching a criminal in the act. The heavy hand of the state is completely justified under these circumstances. Thirdly, activate neighborhood watches and send out more official patrols. Use the money from the fines collected to support some of this activity. Fourthly, infiltrate their groups via social media and other means. Like other members of their generation, memories aren't enough. (Their answer to the philosophical question "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" would be a resounding no.) They feel compelled to brag about their exploits, taking photos and making videos of their misdeeds to share on social media. Find this evidence and use it against them. No secrets, boys and girls. Finally, drastically increase the amount of the fines for those who are apprehended and include prison time for convicted repeat offenders. The perps should also be required to cover the cost of cleaning up their messes. For that matter, reward people who report the riffraff. They can supplement their income and perform a public service at the same time. In case youre wondering, a 19-liter jug of Elephant Snot Graffiti Remover will set them back VND15.4 million ($652.89). Krud Kutter is priced at a more modest VND5.5 million ($234.35) for the same amount. Graffiti removal, which has spawned another industry, does not come cheap. Foreigners, who are guests in Vietnam and here at the pleasure of the government, should also be fined and given a warning. If they're caught a second time, they should be deported and placed on a travel blacklist. Let them "express themselves" at home, if they dare, or in another unsuspecting country in which anything goes. They are violating the terms of their visa and besmirching Vietnamese culture. A constructive note Paintings on a wall in Hanoi's Cau Giay District. Photo by Mark A. Ashwill Just to show that Im not all stick and no carrot, heres another suggestion for those graffiti vandals who may be inclined to shift from the dark to the light side and make some money at the same time. Individuals, companies and the government could commission artists to create street art, or graffiti, including scenes of beauty that also carry a message. Finalists could be selected through a competition and create designs based on the preferences of the client. While its true that graffiti is not in the same league as other serious societal problems, it has become a widespread quality of life problem that we as a community must tackle head-on and solve. We must not let the petty criminals win. Vietnam is our country, whether we are Vietnamese nationals or foreign transplants. Property owners, both private and public, should not have to tolerate destruction of what belongs to them. As citizens, we have a right to an environment that is pleasing to the eye, heart, and soul. Int'l air passengers to Vietnam in October down 60% Passengers at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Chieu Foreign air passenger numbers through 22 Vietnamese airports in October fell 61.8% against pre-pandemic levels to 1.3 million amid slow international tourism recovery. There was a total of 7.2 million air passengers in October, down 23.3% against October 2019, according to statistics from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam. Domestic passengers dropped 0.8% between the periods. Vietnamese carriers only served 3.5 million passengers in October, falling by 20% against pre-pandemic levels. Vietnam reopened its borders to foreign tourists in mid-March this year. Aviation officials expect the number of international passengers going through Vietnamese airports this year to reach 10 million, or around 24% of pre-pandemic levels. They expect the number of air passengers to increase during the year-end tourism season and the Lunar New Year holiday. People walk at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, March 25, 2022. Photo by Reuters/Heo Ran The only travel firm to bring Vietnamese tourists to South Korea's Gangwon under a visa-free policy via commercial flights has stopped receiving new bookings until the end of this month. "The only Vietnamese travel agency designated by South Korean authorities to bring visa-free passengers to Gangwon Province via commercial flights operated Fly Gangwon stopped taking new bookings from Sunday to rearrange management issues," the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) in Vietnam told VnExpress. This means Vietnamese tourists from Hanoi and Ho chi Minh City now cannot fly to Yang Yang County in Gangwon Province on regular weekly flights operated by Fly Gangwon under the visa-free program resumed on June 1. Fly Gangwon launched its first direct routes from Hanoi and HCMC to Yangyang on Oct. 13-14. In Yangyang, a popular destination for surfers, visitors can stay for 15 days without a visa, but need to book tours through agencies designated by Gangwon Province. Late last week, a Korean tourism forum posted on its Facebook page, saying Fly Gangwon stopped receiving Vietnamese passengers to Yangyang under the visa exemption policy as Gangwon authorities had halted the program after a trial period. South Korea had become a favorite tourist destination for Vietnamese before the pandemic. The country received over 80,000 Vietnamese tourists in January-August, a far cry from 2019's figure of 550,000. Widespread protests continue in Iran following the death in so-called morality police custody of twenty-two-year-old Mahsa Amini, arrested because of her improper hijab. For more than a month, demonstrators have taken to the streets in scores of Iranian cities and towns; many demonstrations led by women and joined by their fathers, brothers, and husbands. Students from universities across the country also have risen up in peaceful protest against government repression. The response by the Iranian government has been brutal and increasingly fatal. Iranian authorities have killed hundreds of Iranians in their violent crackdown, including dozens of children. Amnesty International found that at least 82 people were killed in Zahedan in Sistan and Baluchistan province alone, as security forces fired with live ammunition on peaceful protesters there. In addition, thousands of people have been arrested, including reporters, journalists, students, and prominent cultural figures. The Iranian government has also disrupted access to the Internet for most of its 80-plus million citizens. The United States has vigorously condemned the crackdown on peaceful protesters, who are demanding respect for their human rights and basic dignity. President Biden said in a statement on October 3, The United States stands with Iranian women and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their bravery. He noted that the United States has taken action to make it easier for Iranians to access the Internet, and sanctioned several Iranian officials and entities, including the Morality Police. President Biden also said that the United States will continue to hold Iranian officials accountable for their violent crackdown. On October 6, the U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions on seven other senior leaders in Iran for their part in the violent repression of Iranian citizens and the shutdown of Irans internet access. Those targeted include Irans interior minister, Ahmad Vahidi and minister of communications, Eisa Zarepour, for his role in shutting down Iranians access to the global Internet. The five others are senior security officials connected with Irans Law Enforcement Forces, the Iranian Cyber Police, and the IRGC. We condemn the Iranian governments crackdown on its peoples right to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly, said State Department Spokesperson Ned Price in a tweet. We will continue to use our sanctions as long as Iran continues to disregard its peoples rights. ELKO The Independent American Party is opposing Nevada ballot Question No. 3, which calls for open primaries and ranked-choice voting. In Nevada minor parties choose their candidates at their State Convention, which serves as their primary. Then their candidates go directly to the General Election. Question 3, if it passes, will dump all candidates from the Republican and Democrat parties, third parties and no party preference into one Jungle Primary, stated Janine Hansen, State Chairman of the Independent American Party. This will devastate minor party candidates as it has in California and eliminate them from the general election process, she said. If Question 3 passes, no party will have the opportunity in a party primary to determine who will represent them and promote their values. This undermines our democratic republic which flourishes in a system where party advocates promote the free flow of ideas. Elko County Commissioners are also opposing the initiative, as well as two other questions on the ballot this fall. Hansen said Question 3 would allow candidates to hijack party identities. Question 3 will require this statement, A candidates (party) preference does not imply that the candidate is nominated or endorsed by the party, or that the party approves of or associates with that candidate. In other words, a candidate can hijack the name of a party because he thinks he will have a better chance of winning the election, even if he does not believe in the platform of the party, she said. Hansen said if nonpartisan voters want to participate in the primary they should join a party and participate in the primary with that party. Proponents have lied to the public telling them that Question 3, Jungle Primaries, will help third parties. The Independent American Party rejects that erroneous idea. We believe that Question 3 will demolish our party and our opportunity to participate in a meaningful way in the election process. We encourage all voters to Vote no on Question 3, Hansen said. Europe's modernization has been ongoing for decades, even centuries. However, European modernization, like the United States' modernization, has focused on economics, economics and economics. The entire concept of the European Union is an economic market. The predecessors of the EU were based upon the principle that a sound economy will bring peace and prosperity to all. Hence, all of their energy was focused on the economy, with the expectation that citizens would do the same. In my country, the Netherlands, people are coming to realize that their leaders were more interested in pumping out natural gas in a remote province than in the safety of the simple people living there. To most people's surprise, the CEOs of giant corporations such as Shell and Exxon Mobil, as well as top Dutch politicians, including the Netherlands prime minister, were not too concerned about earthquakes in the region. The public-private joint venture company that split the profits from this natural gas 90 percent to the Dutch state and 10 percent to Shell and Exxon Mobil considerably increased the volume of gas to be extracted after the first serious earthquake. This was despite very clear warnings from experts that the volume should be reduced, not increased, to prevent quakes. The huge sums (an eye-watering363.7 billion or $357.12 billion) the Netherlands state profited from extracting gas were not used to create a sovereign wealth fund as in Norway or Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates. The cash was invested to modernize the Netherlands. Housing, roads, hospitals, industries, farming, education, state pensions for all were modernized at great cost. Incidentally, the Dutch government forgot to compensate the inhabitants of the actual region where the gas was found. The idea to invest in society is good. There was never a vote or a congress on this strategic national issue: leaders at that time boldly tried to let the whole society leapfrog forward, including pensioners and students. The lack of discussion on the topic made people unaware of our national strategy based upon the bonus gas income. Somewhere in time, it was forgotten that our position as a developed country was not a right from the Gods. The Dutch were simply lucky to find this huge deposit of fossil fuel. The Netherlands' top-tier position was not cherished or guarded, rather taken for granted. That was a mistake, because the gas income is now history. Drilling and pumping gas has become too dangerous even in that "backward" region. After criticizing southern states for spending too much in relation to their respective incomes, the Dutch may soon find themselves in similar dire straits. China is already a top-tier country and may soon be the No 1 country in many economic and financial respects. It is smart to learn from the mistakes made by others. It is also smart to publicly discuss national strategies, which in a way happened at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. People should be made aware of the direction the country is taking. A top-tier position in the world should not be taken for granted, even though in China's case this ranking is nothing new when looking back the past millennia. The most interesting circumstance for me is that Europeans carried out their modernization as developed countries. China is making the change from a developing country to a developed country at the same time as addressing modernization. Because of this, China is able to skip some in-between phases. It has been at the forefront of mobile phone development and use, because many consumers have jumped straight from no phones to smartphones, skipping land lines. Therefore, it is natural for them to use WeChat for everything, including financial transactions. Europe's in-between phase of modernization can be described as an "economic reality" phase. The economic reality phase shows that more stakeholders in society need to be considered rather than only those providing capital. This phase was probably necessary after brutal capitalist phases in the 18th and 19th centuries. At that time, Europeans even sold people into slavery to make profits. Now, slowly, Europeans are starting to think about the importance of harmony with nature and common prosperity, as well as transferring some riches from the Global North to the Global South. It can be a big leap for China if it focuses on objectives, rather than economics, in its modernization policy. The opportunity here is to skip the economic reality phase. China's history and culture are different from Europe's. Europeans today are caught in the trap of economic percentages, like a small shopkeeper unable to think bigger. Of course, economic growth is important as a means to achieve goals. But the economy is not the ultimate objective. The well-being of the people, social stability, respect for nature and Chinese traditions, good relations with other countries, rule of law as well as vigilantly safeguarding its top-tier position are the right goals that China has set. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan and Spain have discussed services and support tools for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), Azernews reports. The discussion took place during the meeting between Azerbaijani Small and Medium Business Development Agency Board Chairman Orkhan Mammadov with the Spanish embassy in Ankara Market Analyst on Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Georgia Sayeste Ekinci. "With ?ayeste Ekinci, Market analyst on #Azerbaijan, #Turkiye and #Georgia of the embassy of Spain in Ankara, discussed services and support tools for #SMEs, joint cooperation ways. Appreciate fruitful exchange of ideas," Orkhan Mammadov tweeted. Diplomatic relations between the two states were established on February 11, 1992. At the end of 2005, Azerbaijan opened its embassy in Madrid, and a diplomatic mission of Spain in Baku has been operating since 2014. During the period from 2010 to 2020, Azerbaijan and Spain signed various cooperation agreements, including memorandums of cooperation in the fields of sports, culture, education, science, information, and communication; an agreement on the cancellation of a short-term visa regime for citizens holding diplomatic passports; convention for the avoidance of double taxation; as well as memorandums of understanding between the diplomatic academies and the foreign ministries of the two countries. Additionally, in 2021, the Azerbaijani-Spanish trade turnover amounted to $645.8 million. Fernando Munoz Bernal first came to China in 2000 from his native Colombia in South America. Over the following two decades, he has run a successful language academy and is now a popular content creator through his YouTube channel FerMuBe. He posts regularly about his life, work, and travel inside China and provides insightful commentary on current world affairs. In 2011, he was officially recognized as an honorable Dongguan, Guangdong Province citizen. As the 20th National Congress approached, Fernando joined iChongqing to share his experiences and views about the rise in Chinas international status, the achievements he has witnessed, and his hopes for the future. Fernando commented that China had become a powerhouse in innovation, where new technologies are being developed and manufactured domestically. Additionally, countries worldwide are looking to china for support in the Chinese-led Belt and Road Initiative, making China a leader in the international community. This development has created many benefits for non-western countries. For example, new alliances have allowed these countries to trade on better terms. Its become an alternative to older partnerships in the past, and as we can see, this is a more positive partnership for the global south. They can see theres another way to develop and move forward. While Fernando has seen the economic growth rate slow down over the past decade, he notes the critical fact to understand is not the lower rate but the kind of growth that has occurred. In the past, the Chinese industry used to focus on labor-intensive products manufactured at the lowest possible cost. In contrast, the national GDP of today is based on knowledge, technology, and innovation. Among his many examples, Fernando discussed new cutting-edge frontiers in space exploration, precision manufacturing, telecommunications, and other hi-tech industries that have taken root in China, providing rich sources of innovation and breakthroughs applied in the world market. This is also reflected in the upward rankings for Chinese universities worldwide. As in previous decades, the country has become a top destination for overseas students rather than a traditional exporter of students. Rapid developments in new energy have also impressed Fernando greatly, and he can already see the environmental benefits produced in Chinese cities today. The advent of new energy, green transport, solar power, and electric vehicles are measures people speak much about but dont truly grasp the importance of. In some cities, every public bus and taxi are new electric vehicles, which has a huge impact on pollution, which has been reduced dramatically because of action taken at the start of the century. As the 20th National Congress progresses, Fernando hopes that China will consolidate on the achievements reaped so far. At the same time, he has been happy to witness greater inclusiveness nationwide. For instance, everyone once thought it impossible to obtain a green card in China, officially known as a foreign permanent residents card. Many applications are being granted, and the requirements have become more transparent. As a green card holder, Fernando now enjoys greater stability and equal rights to Chinese people without actually being a citizen. People visit the Book Market in the Mar Mikhael area in Beirut, Lebanon, on Oct. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) by Dana Halawi BEIRUT, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Wearing a happy smile, Lea Tibi packed a suitcase with books after she went on an hour shopping spree at an annual book fair in Mar Mikhael, northeast in Lebanon's capital Beirut. "This place is my heaven," Tibi told Xinhua while looking around for more at "Souk el Kotob," which is the Arabic word for the book market. Starting Saturday, hundreds of book lovers flocked to the two-day "Souk el Kotob" where around 40 exhibitors showcase vast collections of books, mostly second-hand ones. Visitors navigated around and between kiosks, picking their favorite books and reading their back covers with others speaking to exhibitors to ask about their preferred authors. Cheap second-hand books are particularly welcomed, as people who saw their purchasing power reduced amid the country's economic woes can still have a chance to enjoy reading. "This place is awesome as one can find good catches at prices that cannot be found elsewhere amid the current crisis and the collapse of the Lebanese pound," said Munzer Saad. Saad, a paperback lover, said he used to read two books a month when prices were still affordable, but later opted for reading online articles to save money to go through the crisis. "Nothing can replace the feeling you get when holding a real book in your hands," he said. "I have been waiting for an event like this where you can find interesting and affordable books." Exhibitors expressed their happiness to see a fair buzzing with people, hoping their good deals attract more readers. Yasmina Baroudy, a passionate reader, displays over 300 books at the fair, featuring used books priced at a modest range of 80,000 Lebanese pounds (about 2 U.S. dollars) to 200,000 pounds. "I read some of these books twice, or three times, so I figured it's better to sell them at low prices to help other people read instead of keeping them in storage," Baroudy told Xinhua. Abboud Abou Jaoude, the owner of the al-Furat bookshop, said the shop witnessed a more than 70-percent drop in book demand due to the economic crisis. "We are aware that people are no longer able to pay 10 dollars for a book, which constitutes a significant portion of the salaries in some cases, so we priced our books lower to help book lovers pursue their passion," Abou Jaoude told Xinhua. Elina Sarkissian, the owner of the "turning point books" publishing house based in Beirut, told Xinhua that she priced their books at 12,000 pounds per dollar, instead of the parallel market rate of 40,000 pounds, but demand is still meager. "Books have become luxurious items for many, unfortunately," she said. Lebanon has been going through a steep financial crisis, leading to the collapse of the local currency and the devaluation of salaries by over 90 percent, forcing people to focus their spending on necessities. People visit the Book Market in the Mar Mikhael area in Beirut, Lebanon, on Oct. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) People visit the Book Market in the Mar Mikhael area in Beirut, Lebanon, on Oct. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) People visit the Book Market in the Mar Mikhael area in Beirut, Lebanon, on Oct. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) Editor: WXL KUNMING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Li Ruxiu, 60, walks the runway wearing a cockscomb-shaped hat and black, red, yellow and green clothing, displaying traditional Yi ethnic costumes to tourists. The woman is from the Yi ethnic group and has been showcasing traditional Yi costumes featuring handmade embroidery for more than half a century in Yongren County of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. "I have been obsessed with embroidery since I was a little girl," Li said. She learned to do embroidery work at the age of eight and could make her own costumes at 12. "Yi girls here who can hold a needle can embroider. Embroidery is a skill in our genes," she said. Yunnan is home to about 5 million Yi people. With ancestral embroidery skills, Yi people needle nature designs onto their costumes, such as flowers, butterflies, birds, tigers and cats, as well as the sun, moon and stars. For more than 1,300 years, Yi people have been passing on their embroidery traditions, a form of intangible cultural heritage. However, steep mountains used to cut off the unique culture from the outside world. For a long time, the Yi embroidery art remained a mystery. Local authorities have thus taken a series of measures, including training embroiderers, holding fashion shows, and promoting Yi costumes in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Li's daughter Yu Kunyao opened a Yi embroidery studio in the county after her graduation from college, incorporating new fashion elements and winning the hearts of young consumers. "Life is like embroidery. It is in need of patience and dexterity," Li said. "Yi embroidery is amazing. People like it but have no idea how to apply it to modern life," said Fan Zhiyong, vice president of the Yi embroidery association of the Chuxiong prefecture. She has devoted herself to returning Yi embroidery to something more than just art hanging in a museum. After graduating in 2007, Fan returned to her hometown to establish the Yunnan Naxi Cultural Creative Development Co., Ltd. and registered the brand "Nasu," leading more than 300 embroiderers to participate in Yi embroidery. Concerted efforts have yielded promising results. There are now 56 Yi embroidery associations and cooperatives as well as 538 embroidery workshops in the prefecture, including 12 enterprises each with an annual output value of more than 5 million yuan (about 703,300 U.S. dollars). Yunnan has invested more than 30 million yuan to promote the Yi cultural industry, whose output value increased from 20 million yuan in 2012 to 200 million yuan in 2021. Among the 57,000 female embroiderers in Chuxiong prefecture, Li Guoxiu earns more than 6,000 yuan monthly from working at the Colorful Yi Embroidery Culture Co., Ltd. in Nanhua County. Ding Lanying, head of the company and mother to two daughters, has been dedicated to helping rural mothers work near home, enabling them to take care of their children. As a provincial inheritor of intangible cultural heritage in Yunnan, Ding has mastered over 70 Yi embroidery techniques. Last year, her company developed more than 1,000 products across over 300 categories, such as handbags and shawls, with an annual income of 15 million yuan. Now, her elder daughter has also become a county-level inheritor of Yi embroidery. "Yi embroidery is our life, and we have worked hard to make the old art brand-new," Ding said. Editor: WXL Ukraine aims to move from program monitoring to full-fledged program with IMF ASAP dialog between Zelensky and Georgieva President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva discussed the results of the IMF mission in Ukraine, the planned program monitoring and a possible future full-fledged financing program from the IMF. "Assured that Ukraine will do everything to properly pass the IMF monitoring program & move on to the new one ASAP. Emphasized the importance of the donor coordination platform for Ukraine," Zelensky wrote on Twitter, thanking the IMF for provision of $1.3 billion in emergency aid. "Excellent discussion w/ President of Ukraine Zelensky. Discussed recent IMF support of $1.3 billion, the meeting of our teams in Vienna, the upcoming int'l conference on Ukraine & the road ahead for program monitoring & an eventual full-fledged IMF program," Georgieva wrote on Twitter. Six killed, five more wounded in enemy shelling in Donetsk region local authorities In Donetsk region, six civilians were killed and five more wounded as a result of enemy shelling, Head of regional military administration Pavlo Kyrylenko has said. "On October 23, it became known about six civilians of Donetsk region killed by Russians: three in Kurdiumivka, two in Velyka Novosilka and one in Bakhmut. Another five people were injured yesterday," Kyrylenko said in his Telegram channel. He said it is currently impossible to establish the exact number of victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has invited UN and IAEA monitoring missions to Ukraine in response to Russia's nuclear blackmail. "Every day, Ukrainian Army liberates our land from rus dirt. The thought of a "dirty bomb" is repulsive to us. We invite UN, IAEA monitoring missions to visit Ukraine. The world should provide a response to rus nuclear blackmail. We demand adherence to paragraph 4 of the Budapest Memorandum," he wrote on Twitter early on Monday. Some 20 cruise missiles, over 10 Iranian drones 'Shahed' shot down in Ukraine in first half of day on Oct 20 Zelensky Only in the first half of the day on October 22, the Ukrainian Air Force shot down 20 cruise missiles, as well as more than ten Iranian drones "Shahed," President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video statement on Saturday. "Our Air Force is also showing good results. Certainly, we still do not have the technical ability to shoot down 100% of Russian missiles and attack drones. Gradually we will come to this with the help of our partners, I'm sure. But now most cruise missiles, most drones shot down," he said. According to him, "only in the first half of this day, 20 missiles were shot down 'Kaliber' and Kh-101, as well as more than ten Iranian drones "Shahed." "Once again, I want to thank our soldiers today, fighters and anti-aircraft gunners of the West, South and Center air commands, as well as mobile fire teams of all Defense Forces for saving the lives of our people and the preserved infrastructure of Ukraine," the president said. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced the provision of humanitarian aid to Ukraine in the amount of $100 million, the press service of the UAE Permanent Mission to the UN has reported. "The international community must step up its support to alleviate the suffering of civilians and ensure that their basic needs are covered. To this end, the UAE announced $100 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine earlier this week," the press service said on Saturday. As reported, on October 17, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a conversation with head of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba discussed with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Russia's claims about a "dirty bomb" and Washington's assistance in strengthening Ukrainian air defense. "I spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. We both agreed Russia's 'dirty bomb' disinformation campaign might be aimed at creating a pretext for a false flag operation," the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said on Twitter. According to Kuleba, they also discussed the strengthening of Ukraine's air defense. "We also discussed further practical steps to boost Ukraine's air defense. Secretary affirmed the U.S. spares no effort to this end," the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijans State Oil Company (SOCAR) has increased oil exports to the world market by 7.4 percent during the third quarter of 2022, Azernews reports. During the reporting period, the volume of oil exported by SOCAR reached 4.8 million tons. Moreover, the volume of natural gas exports increased by 16 percent to 5.2 billion cubic meters. SOCAR exported 174 million cubic meters of natural gas to the Georgian market, which is 56.8 percent more compared to the same period in 2021. In the third quarter of the year, the company produced about 2 million tons of oil and more than 2 billion cubic meters of gas. SOCARs gas production increased by 1.3 percent compared to the corresponding period of last year. In total, the country produced more than 8 million tons of oil and 11 billion cubic meters of gas in the third quarter of 2022. In the meantime, natural gas consumption in the country increased by 2.5 percent to 2.5 billion cubic meters during the reporting period. During July-September, SOCAR processed 1.8 million tons of oil and 898 million cubic meters of gas. Gas processing increased by 10.6 percent. Likewise, about 591,000 tons of oil, petrochemicals, and gas chemicals produced at SOCAR facilities in Azerbaijan were exported to foreign markets. Additionally, SOCAR performed more than 18,000 m of drilling operations. Officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have detained Viacheslav Bohuslayev, president of JSC Motor Sich, who is suspected of traitorous cooperation with the Russian Federation, the press center of the SBU has reported. In addition, law enforcement officers detained the head of the Foreign Economic Relations Department of this enterprise. The suspects were notified that they are suspected under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, in particular, Article 111-1 (collaboration) and Article 111-2 (complicity with the aggressor state). The SBU said that the detention took place within the framework of criminal proceedings on the illegal supply of military goods for Russian attack aircraft by Motor Sich. According to the investigation materials, the management of the plant located in Zaporizhia is involved in the deal. Officials acted in collusion with representatives of the Russian corporation Rostec, which is one of the main arms manufacturers for Russia, close to the Kremlin. "The perpetrators have established transnational channels for the illegal supply of wholesale lots of Ukrainian aircraft engines to the aggressor country. The occupiers used the products for manufacturing and repair of Russian attack helicopters of the Mi-8AMTSh-VN Sapson, KO-52 Alligator, and Mi-28N Night Hunter types," the SBU said. It has been established that the invaders massively used these types of army aviation for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This is confirmed by numerous facts of the destruction of enemy combat helicopters by our defenders. "To circumvent the established restrictions on trade with the Russian Federation, the organizers of the scheme used controlled commercial structures in three countries of the Middle East, Europe and East Asia. It was these companies that sent the order to the Ukrainian manufacturer, allegedly for the needs of the foreign side," the SBU said. At the same time, after receiving military products, "intermediaries" forwarded them to Russia. The enemy also used its foreign accomplices to repair and maintain their own aircraft using Ukrainian spare parts. During the investigation, the Security Service officers identified all the organizers of the transactions, documented their criminal actions and carried out comprehensive measures to bring the perpetrators to justice. The Foreign Ministers of the United States, France and Great Britain issued a joint statement commenting on accusations made by Russia that Ukraine was allegedly preparing to use a "dirty bomb." "Earlier today, the defense ministers of each of our countries spoke to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu at his request. Our countries made clear that we all reject Russia's transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation. We further reject any pretext for escalation by Russia," according to the text of the statement released by the U.S. State Department. The Foreign Ministers also said they discussed their shared determination to continue supporting Ukraine and the Ukrainian people with security, economic, and humanitarian assistance. "We, the Foreign Ministers of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, reiterate our steadfast support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression. We remain committed to continue supporting Ukraines efforts to defend its territory for as long as it takes," according to the statement. Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Russia said the head of the department, Sergei Shoigu, during a telephone conversation with British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace on October 23, announced the alleged use of a "dirty bomb" by Ukraine. Zelensky makes it clear that only Putin can use nuclear weapons in our part of Europe President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that only one entity can use nuclear weapons in our part of Europe, who ordered Defense Minister Shoigu to call his colleagues. "When today the Russian defense minister arranges a telephone carousel and calls foreign ministers with stories about the so-called 'dirty nuclear bomb,' everyone understands. They understand who is the source of all the dirty things that you can imagine in this war," he said in a video statement on Sunday, October 23. "Wherever Russia has brought death and degradation, we are restoring normal life. That is what is about the Ukrainians. Where Ukraine is, life is never destroyed. But where Russia comes, it leaves mass graves everywhere, tortured, destroyed cities and villages, mined land, destroyed infrastructure and natural disasters!" he said. "And if someone can use nuclear weapons in our part of Europe, then this is only one subject - and this subject just ordered Comrade Shoigu to call somewhere," Zelensky said. I believe, he said, that now the world should react as harshly as possible. "If Russia has prepared another rate hike and another escalation step, it must see now, preventively and for any new 'dirt,' that the world will not swallow it," he said. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has put three defendants in the Ukrgasbank (Kyiv) case on the wanted list, including the former governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Kyrylo Shevchenko. "NABU has put three officials of JSB Ukrgasbank involved in the theft of more than UAH 200 million on the wanted list. These are the ex-board chairman of Ukrgasbank, one of the chairman deputies of Ukrgasbank and the deputy director of the department for working with corporate VIP clients of this state-owned institution," the NABU press service reported. In addition to Kyrylo Shevchenko, the former governor of the NBU, who previously held the post of board chairman of Ukrgasbank, Denys Chernyshov, deputy board chairman of the bank, and Olena Khmelenko, deputy director of the department for working with corporate VIP clients, have been put on the wanted list. They were notified of suspicion early October, but the special procedure was applied to them, since the location of these persons was unknown. Since then, the suspects have ignored calls to the investigator that is why they were put on the wanted list. As reported, the anti-corruption authorities of Ukraine exposed the illegal activities of officials of the state-owned Ukrgasbank. Five main defendants in this crime were notified of suspicion, and among them was Shevchenko. According to the Ukraine's Special Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), it was established that the bank's management, having information about banking service agreements concluded with large customers, used it to steal money. "For this purpose, bank officials ensured the conclusion of fictitious contracts with individuals and legal entities, who allegedly, being the bank's "agents," attracted large clients to it. For such "agency services," the bank illegally paid "remuneration" to these persons on a monthly basis," the SAPO said. Investigators found that during 2014-2020, according to this scheme, funds in the amount of more than UAH 206 million were groundlessly transferred from the state-owned bank to 52 fictitious agents. On October 4, Shevchenko announced his resignation for health-related reasons. The Rada appointed him to this seven-year term on July 16, 2020, before that he headed the board of the state-owned Ukrgasbank. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) may, within a year, consider resolutions initiated by the Ukrainian delegation on holding Russian propagandists accountable and on countering the destruction of cultural identity during wars, deputy head of the parliamentary committee on humanitarian and information policy, deputy head of the Servant of the People faction Yevhenia Kravchuk said. "Within a year [the resolutions may be considered in PACE]. They have just started. Usually, work on them lasts at least a year. I think that within the framework of this we will hold hearings in PACE in committees. It is important to include as much as possible more deputies from different countries, that is, so that they not only vote for the resolution in a year, but also hear the truth. I want to invite Ukrainian journalists to these hearings, too," the parliamentarian said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine. Kravchuk said that in the resolution concerning the Russian propagandists, the Ukrainian delegation intends to emphasize that the activities of the Russian media are part of war crimes. The resolution on countering the destruction of cultural identity during wars, according to her, is not only about the destruction of certain cultural and religious values, but also about "when Ukrainian books are thrown out of libraries, from schools, depriving children of the opportunity to study in Ukrainian, on the deportation of children from Ukraine to the territory of Russia". "This has an impact and is actually part of the genocide," Kravchuk said. Ukraine intends to reach out to companies producing components for drones to stop their supplies to Iran Arakhamia Samples of Iranian drones are being studied in Ukraine in order to eventually stop the supply of components to Iran, leader of the Servant of the People faction David Arakhamia said. "Ukrainian intelligence has samples of Iranian 'kamikaze' drones. Our specialists, together with scientists, are studying them for technologies and components. Next, we will work with companies whose equipment is used to produce them to stop the supply of components to Iran," Arakhamia said in Telegram channel on Sunday, October 23. He also said in parallel, Ukraine is working with Iran's neighbors to stop or delay the supply of drones to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking via video link at the Haaretz Democratic Summit on Monday, called on Israel to decide with whom it is: with the democratic world or with those who turn a blind eye to Russian terror. "Isn't it time for your state to choose who you are with? Either you are with the democratic world, which is fighting side by side against an existential threat to its existence, or with those who turn a blind eye to Russian terror even when the price of continuing terror is the complete destruction of global security? " Zelensky asked the forum participants a question. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree appointing Serhiy Popko as head of Kyiv City Military Administration. In this position, he replaced Mykola Zhyrnov. Corresponding decree No. 733/2022 was published on the website of the head of the Ukrainian state on Monday. Zelensky is convinced that the combat experience of Serhiy Popko will contribute to strengthening the defense and security of the capital. Popko was born in Kyiv in 1961. In 1982 he graduated from the Kyiv Higher Combined Arms Command School. He served as a platoon commander, battalion commander, unit commander, chief of staff of a mechanized division. After graduating from the National Academy of Defense of Ukraine in 2002, where he was trained at the operational and strategic level, he served in senior positions. He also served in Iraq. In 2016-2019, he held the position of Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As reported, Zhyrnov was appointed head of Kyiv Military Administration by Zelensky's decree on March 1. Invaders pushed out of four villages of Luhansk and Donetsk regions in past 24 hours - General Staff On Monday, the Ukrainian military dislodged the Russian occupiers from the villages of Karmazynivka, Myasozharivka and Nevske in Svativsky district of Luhansk region, as well as from the village of Novosadove of Lymansky district of Donetsk region, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "Thanks to successful actions, our troops drove the enemy out of the settlements of Karmazynivka, Myasozharivka and Nevske in Luhansk region and Novosadove in Donetsk region," the operational information on the Russian invasion as of 18:00 on Monday, published on the Facebook page of the General Staff, reads. In addition, during the current day, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy attacks in the areas of the settlements of Spirne, Soledar, Bakhmut, Andriyivka, Maryinka and Pervomaiske. The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) has allocated $30 million to Ukraine for the implementation of a pilot project on investment insurance, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. "The government of Ukraine is determined to maximize assistance in attracting investments and, despite the war, reduces state interference in the economy," the government's press service quoted Shmyhal as saying after the opening of the V Ukrainian-German Economic Forum in Berlin. The Prime Minister noted that Ukraine is working to minimize military risks for investors, in particular, cooperation with the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) has already been established. "MIGA has successful cases in countries where terrorist actions were carried out. The Agency has allocated $30 million to Ukraine for the implementation of a pilot project on investment insurance. We will continue and will increase this work with all insurance agencies in Europe and the world," he stressed. According to the Prime Minister, Ukraine also expects that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will submit for approval by the Board of Directors of the World Bank a package of financial assistance to attract investors. Shmyhal noted that in order to promote investments, Ukraine has resumed privatization, deepens deregulation, and creates conditions for rapid investment. "According to Shmyhal, Ukraine has formed a wide investment menu more than 500 investment projects and opportunities in 10 sectors of the economy with a total potential worth more than $400 billion," the message says. By Trend Zangazur Corridor will enhance Azerbaijans global outreach and economic development, Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director of the Pakistani Center for Global & Strategic Studies told Trend. According to the expert, the opening up of the corridor will stimulate economic connectivity, regional transportation, and communication lines, as well as enhance cooperation in many other areas of mutual interest for the regional stakeholders. Even though the corridor does not cover a big area on the global map, it possesses great geopolitical importance and will have potential impact on the transport communication architecture of the region that has developed over recent decades. Thereby, the Corridor will create immense opportunities not only for Azerbaijan but also for Armenia, Iran, Georgia, Turkey, and Russia, Akram noted. As the expert rightly pointed out, the construction of second international airport in Karabakh, the Zangilan International Airport, holds significant importance as a part of reconstruction plan and fostering economic cooperation. The airport, as a part of the Zangazur Corridor initiative, has great potential to boost the transit trade, he noted. The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) will honour Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan for his "exceptional contribution to the film industry" and screen his film, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ). For the past few decades it was the talk of the town the principal talk of every town around the globe. Now there is hardly a peep about global warming. Could it be that we no longer regard it as an urgent threat that sometime later in this century or the next our planet will be a bit warmer? In fact, that is all that has been left of the global warming emergency that the UN declared in its first report on the subject in 1990. Global warming has been conveniently renamed climate change, after all, whats in a name? They both mean the same thing, the increase in Earths surface temperature due to the use of greenhouse gases. Not only does it sound better, more serious, more heavyweight, climate change is a long-term, future change in the climate, which includes global warming. It matters little, the result is the same. Bad humans are ruining our dear planet and we have to stop it. The fact is, nobody cares. After three years of Covid-19, followed by a severe economic crisis, a war between Russia and Ukraine, and a shortage of fuel for the upcoming cold winter, our plates are lavishly overloaded and global warming is a distant noise that is hard to hear. Yet the US Congress is set on their green deal, a bold plan to eliminate carbon emissions. That is impossible. What is possible is that it can eliminate our present lifestyle. With food, fuel, and commodity prices going through the roof, it has already started. The Keystone pipeline under construction was shut down as soon as Joe Biden took office. It was to transport fuel from Alberta, Canada, to the US. At present, the US as well as Europe have a shortage of fuel and the US president had to go and beg the presidents of Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, despite unfriendly terms, to increase oil production. Will that not affect global warming? Does it make any difference to Earth who or where oil is explored and extracted? Ah, the pity of it. Millions of jobs lost, businesses folded, restaurants closed and a mammoth recession looming ahead. Worse still are the billions of dollars spent daily by the US to defend Ukraine from the Russian invasion. Anyone ready to bet that Russia will lose this war? War is the talk of the town. Disregarding coronavirus, JLO and Ben Affleck, the funeral procession of the beloved queen Elisabeth II, the whining of Meghan Markle, and the future of the British Empire, war is always bad news. So is the United Nations. It was the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UNIPCC) that loudly warned the world of the ominous global warming. The temperature will rise from 0.1 to 0.5 degrees Celsius in 30 years. Woe is me. Yet, without fanfare, it later downgraded it to 0.3 degrees Celsius, but the harm was done and the trust was gone. Sceptics came out of the woodworks disclaiming the UNIPCC findings and the danger of fossil fuels. Following a long period of panic, cries were heard that there was no solid evidence of global warming, or climate change, if you like. Judith Curry, head of the Climate Science Department at Georgia Institute of Technology, admits that Climate Change is very, very complicated. Burning fossil fuels are a minor factor compared to others, such as ocean temperatures, soot, clouds, and solar radiation. Im also sceptical about our ability to do something about it. A sorry history of bio-fuels, which was supposed to green up the earth by substituting for fossil fuels, caused deforestation. Extravagant subsidies are being paid by consumers for uneconomic solar, wind, and even carrot power sources. Enthusiasts say the risk is so great that we need to act now, because doing something is better than doing nothing. No, it is not. Our primary source of energy is oil, gas, and coal. The worlds energy consumption is 84.3 per cent fossil fuels. Serious scientists had serious questions. Even Kevin Trenberth, lead climatologist for IPCCC, expressed his concerns in his 2009 book Climategate. The fact is we cannot account for the level of warming at the moment. An admission from an honest scientist and they are becoming fewer by the second. Scientists observe and report accurately; they pass no judgement except for climatologists. The issue has become politicised and that is a dangerous threshold. Why should a political body like the IPCCC tell scientists what to do and when did scientists belief translate into proof? It was one Albert Arnold Gore who rang a bell that was heard around the world. While a student at Harvard in 1970, he attended a lecture by an outstanding oceanographer, Roger Revelle in which he considered the possibility that human causes might effect climate change, but did not express any particular concern about possible negative impact of global warming. Al Gore did. He flew with the idea, enforced it globally as a senator and a vice president. Two decades later, in 1990, Robert Revelle presented a paper on ocean farming to lower CO2 from the atmosphere to the ocean. Gore had become godlike. He went from $1.7 million as VP to $330 million as author, filmmaker, Nobel Laureate, divorcee, above all questioning his mentors mental capacity. One fact all scientists acknowledge: now, not centuries from now, we cannot live without fossil fuels, confound global warming. Unfortunately, the global warming hysteria as I see it is driven by politics, not science. Freeman Dyson (1923-2020) *A version of this article appears in print in the 29 September, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt is set to host the first-of-its-kind festival for Arab cinema in Sharm El-Sheikh from 3-9 December, the Ministry of Culture announced Monday. The festival, which was approved by the Higher Committee for Festivals at the Ministry of Culture, is organised by Ebdaa Organisation for Cultures and Arts, a non-governmental organisation headed by cinematographer Samir Farag. It is sponsored by a number of Arab artistic cultural entities. Journalist Ayman El-Hakim will preside over the festival, and film professor Thanaa Hisham will serve as the artistic director. It will be a complete cultural project that combines various activities that will take place throughout the year, not only during the days of the festival, El-Hakim stated to local newspapers on Monday. Further details about the festivals inaugural edition will be revealed soon. Search Keywords: Short link: Three university students and a father of one of them have been arrested for stealing 59 artefacts from a museum affiliated with the Faculty of Archaeology at Sohag University in Upper Egypt, the Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday. On arresting the four suspects the police found the stolen antiquities with them, the ministrys statement said. The Ministry of Interior explained that one of the students had opened the museum's door using a steel chisel, whereas the second blocked the surveillance cameras and seized the pieces. The third student hid the stolen items in her car. The artefacts were later handed to the father of one the students who planned to sell them. The interior ministry said the suspects confessed that they intended to benefit financially from selling these artefacts. Egyptian law imposes both hefty fines on unauthorised dealing in antiquities, including stealing and smuggling them, and sentences of up to 25 years in prison. Search Keywords: Short link: Former MP Ziad El-Eleimy walked out of jail on Monday afternoon hours after receiving a presidential pardon, according to MP Tarek El-Khouly, member of the Presidential Pardon Committee. The pardon decision came in response to calls by political parties and forces, the Coordination Committee of Parties Youth and Politicians (CPYP) and the Presidential Pardon Committee, El-Khouly said. Presiden Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi also pardoned Amr Ragab Qotb and Mohamed Aziz El-Gohary according to the pardon decree that was published in the official gazette on Monday. In November, El-Eleimy received a final five-year prison sentence by the emergency state security misdemeanour court for spreading false news on social media, among other charges, in the case known in the media as the Hope Cell plot. El-Eleimy served as an MP representing the Egyptian Social Democratic Party in the 2012 Parliament. Earlier this year, the Presidential Pardon Committee pardoned political activist and Karama Party member Hossam Mones and journalist Hisham Fouad, who were convicted in the same case, in April and July respectively. Mones and Fouad had been sentenced to four years in prison on the same charges in November. The 13 defendants in the case were arrested in June 2019 for what the interior ministry described at the time as a hostile plot to disrupt the national economy and were placed on countrys terrorist list for five years in April 2020. The prosecution charged the defendants with crimes including cooperating with a group established in violation of the law and disseminating false news and information about the political and economic conditions in the country in order to destabilise public peace and undermine trust in state institutions. In a statement, the pardon committee thanked El-Sisi for fulfilling his promise to pardon El-Eleimy, saying they look forward to further presidential pardons to prove to everyone that Egypt is a homeland that accommodates everyone." A total of 1,040 pretrial detainees have been released and 12 prisoners have received presidential pardons since President El-Sisi reactivated the Presidential Pardon Committee and called for a national dialogue with the opposition and other political forces in April. committee member Tarek El-Awady said on Thursday. The pardon committee, which was originally formed in 2016, is an advisory body to the president which receives suggestions for names to be considered for pardon. T The final decision on eligibility for pardon rests with the president. Search Keywords: Short link: The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), led by Ambassador Moushira Khattab, hailed a decision by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to pardon lawyer Ziad El-Eleimy on Monday. The presidential pardon came in response to the calls of parties, political movements, the coordinators of youth parties and politicians, and the Presidential Pardon Committee. In a statement Monday, the council welcomed the step and said more than 1,000 prisoners have been recently released thanks to the work of the Presidential Pardon Committee. Aside from El-Eleimy, the Egyptian president also pardoned Amr Ragab Qotb and Mohamed Aziz El-Gohary according to the pardon decree issued in the official gazette on Monday. Search Keywords: Short link: The warring sides in Ethiopia were readying Monday for peace talks in South Africa aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the brutal two-year conflict. The African Union-led negotiations had been flagged to start Monday, after a surge in fighting that has triggered alarm in the international community and fears for civilians caught in the crossfire. But as evening fell, there was no word from any of those involved about whether the talks had started or exactly where they would be held. Diplomatic pressure has been mounting to bring a halt to the war in Africa's second most populous country that has left millions in need of humanitarian aid, and according to the United States, as many as half a million dead. Kindeya Gebrehiwot, a spokesman for the rebel authorities in Tigray, announced their delegation's arrival in South Africa in a tweet late Sunday. "Pressing: immediate cessation of hostilities, unfettered humanitarian access & withdrawal of Eritrean forces. There can't be a military solution!" he added. Addis Ababa said in a statement its delegation had left for South Africa on Monday morning, adding: "The government of Ethiopia views the talks as an opportunity to peacefully resolve the conflict and consolidate the improvement of the situation on the ground." But it also said its forces "have continued taking control of major urban centres in the past few days", without identifying them. Last week, the government vowed to take control of airports and other federal sites in Tigray from the rebels as Ethiopian and Eritrean troops seized towns in the region including the strategic city of Shire, sending civilians fleeing. Fighting resumed in August, shattering a five-month truce, and has seen the return of the Eritrean army in support of Ethiopian forces and their regional allies. 'Peace will prevail' Abiy first sent troops into Tigray in November 2020, promising a quick victory over the northern region's dissident leaders, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), after what he said were attacks by the group on federal army camps. The move followed long-running tensions with the TPLF, which had dominated Ethiopia's ruling coalition before Abiy came to power in 2018 and sidelined the party. In a rare comment on the conflict last week, Abiy -- who won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for his rapprochement with Eritrea -- said the war "would end and peace will prevail". But on Monday head of the rebel region Debretsion Gebremichael issued a defiant statement saying: "The Tigray army has the capacity to defeat our enemies totally. "Those joint enemy forces that entered Tigray will be buried," he warned. "Our enemies know they can't battle with our troops." International calls for a ceasefire and a withdrawal of Eritrean troops have grown since the AU failed earlier this month to bring the warring sides to the negotiating table. A Western official has confirmed that previous secret talks took place organised by the United States in the Seychelles and twice in Djibouti, but gave no further information. The August return to the battlefield halted desperately-needed aid for Tigray's six million people who lack food, medicine and basic services. Tigray has also been under a communications blackout for over a year, and independent reporting from the region heavily curtailed. 'End human suffering' The UN Security Council held a closed-doors meeting Friday to discuss the spiralling conflict, which has raised concerns about the stability of the volatile Horn of Africa region. The US envoy to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said after the talks that the scale of fighting and deaths "rival what we're seeing in Ukraine". "Over two years of conflict, as many as half a million -- half a million -- people have died, and the United States is deeply concerned about the potential for further mass atrocities." The International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank said while reliable data was scarce, it believed the fighting since August alone may have involved more than half a million combatants and killed tens of thousands of people. The IGC's Ethiopia senior analyst William Davison said the first objective for mediators was "to try and get the federal and Tigray delegations to agree to a truce despite the momentum towards continued military confrontation". The AU's mediation team for the South Africa talks was to include Horn of Africa envoy Olusegun Obasanjo, South Africa's former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta. "We count on all parties' political leadership and sense of responsibility to work together to transform commitments into action -- to end human suffering and put Ethiopia on path of reconciliation & reconstruction," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Twitter. Pope Francis admitted he viewed the conflict in the predominantly Christian country with "trepidation". "May the efforts of the parties for dialogue lead to a genuine path of reconciliation," he tweeted Sunday. Search Keywords: Short link: Hundreds of Syrian men and boys were detained, beaten and forcibly returned to their country by Turkish authorities over a six-month period, a leading human rights group said Monday. The treatment of migrants living in Turkey under temporary protection is a breach of international law, New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a report. The Turkish government has in the past rejected accusations of forcibly returning refugees to Syria. Turkey houses the world's largest refugee population, mostly 3.6 million Syrians who fled the decade-long war in their country. Human Rights Watch said deported Syrians told researchers that Turkish officials arrested them in their homes, workplaces and on the street. They were then detained in poor conditions, with most suffering beatings and abuse, and forced to sign documents agreeing to ``voluntarily'' return to Syria. After being driven in handcuffs to the Syrian border _ journeys sometimes lasting up to 21 hours _ they were forced across at gunpoint, the Syrians said. ``In violation of international law Turkish authorities have rounded up hundreds of Syrian refugees, even unaccompanied children, and forced them back to northern Syria,'' said Nadia Hardman, refugee and migrant rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. The legal principle of nonrefoulement, which Ankara is bound to by international treaty, prohibits the return of anyone to a place where they would face a real risk of persecution, torture or a threat to life. The U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Syria last month restated that Syria is not safe for returnees. Amid a dire economic crisis, sentiment toward refugees in Turkey has turned for the worse, with attacks on Syrian homes and businesses. Facing approaching elections, the government now aims to return increasing numbers of people to areas of northern Syria under the control of the Turkish military. Earlier this month a Turkish official said nearly 527,000 Syrians had returned voluntarily. Announcing a home-building project in Syria's northwest Idlib region in May, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it would facilitate the return of 1 million refugees from Turkey. Erdogan has recently signaled a change in policy toward Syria, suggesting the possibility of talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Ankara previously demanded Assad's removal as it backed opposition groups. Many Syrians living in Turkey fear warming relations could led to greater pressure on them to return. ``Although Turkey provided temporary protection to 3.6 million Syrian refugees, it now looks like Turkey is trying to make northern Syria a refugee dumping ground,'' Hardman said. Human Rights Watch interviewed 37 Syrian men and two boys between February and August, as well as relatives of those deported to Syria. They all said they were deported together with dozens or hundreds of others and were forced to sign forms they understood to be voluntary repatriation agreements. One 26-year-old from the north Syrian city of Aleppo said a Turkish official told him that anyone who tried to re-enter Turkey would be shot. Hardman said the European Union should suspend its funding of migration detention and border controls until forced deportations end. Under a 2016 deal, the EU has provided 6 billion euros in aid to Turkey in return for reducing the flow of migrants to Europe. Search Keywords: Short link: By Azernews By Fatima Hasanova Tehran is playing host to the XVIII General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) with Emin Aliyev, editor-in-chief of Azerbaijani leading news outlet Trend in the presence, Azernews reports. Editor-in-Chief of Trend news agency Emin Aliyev is attending the General Assembly being held under the topic of "New Challenges for Journalism and Issues of Trust". From 35 OANA member states, about 60 senior directors, managers, and editors will participate in the discussion, which will cover a range of subjects, including the growth and improvement of media cooperation. OANA was founded in 1961 with the goal of facilitating information dissemination in the region, supported by the United Nations cultural entity (UNESCO). The organization covering two-thirds of the world population has now 44 members from 35 countries in Asia and Oceania. Spanish fashion giant Zara is facing boycott calls in Israel after the company's local franchise head hosted extreme-right leader Itamar Ben-Gvir for a campaign event. Recent opinion polls suggest Ben-Gvir has been gaining strength ahead of the November 1 election, which could see his nationalist alliance emerge as the third-largest bloc in parliament. His meeting with Joey Schwebel, chair of Zara's Israel franchisee Trimera, sparked a backlash after local media reported it last week, with some people burning Zara items and pushing for a boycott. Fayez Abu Souhaiban, mayor of Rahat, an Arab-majority town in southern Israel, slammed Zara in a video circulated on social media. "We have to burn these clothes and I call on fellow citizens to boycott this company," he said, as he set a Zara item ablaze. Ben-Gvir, who lives in a settlement in the occupied West Bank, regularly turns up at hotspots in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has become infamous for his anti-Arab rhetoric. Arab-Israeli lawmaker Ahmad Tibi hit out on Twitter at the "ugliness" of the meeting, to which Ben-Gvir replied: "Zara, beautiful clothes, beautiful Israelis." The far-right leader had campaigned for the extremist Kach movement, which was outlawed in 1994 as a "terrorist" organisation after supporter Baruch Goldstein massacred 29 Palestinians in the West Bank city of Hebron. Asked about the reported meeting, Ben-Gvir's spokesperson described it to AFP as a "private event", declining further comment. Zara did not immediately respond to a request to comment. Schwebel also declined to comment. "We do not refer to personal issues of the family", a statement read. Search Keywords: Short link: Israel struck the vicinity of the Syrian capital Damascus on Monday, injuring one soldier, the Syrian defence ministry said, days after a similar strike. "The Israeli enemy carried out airstrikes from the north of the occupied Palestinian territories targeting sites near Damascus," the ministry said in a statement, adding that a soldier was injured during the rare daytime attack. Israel, which rarely comments on individual strikes but has acknowledged carrying out hundreds, usually launches air strikes on Syria overnight. An AFP correspondent in Damascus hear loud noises as rockets fell near the capital. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Israeli strikes targeted sites in the Dimas area of the Damascus countryside, where Iran-backed groups and the Syrian military operate. An Israeli strike on Friday targeted Syrian military sites near Damascus International Airport and in the southern countryside of the capital, according to the Britain-based war monitor. In September, five soldiers were killed in an Israeli strike around Damascus, and Israeli airstrikes in June put Damascus airport out of service for nearly two weeks. Since the civil war erupted in Syria in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes against its northern neighbour, targeting government troops as well as allied Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters. Israel has said its air campaign is necessary to stop arch-foe Iran gaining a foothold on its doorstep. Syria's war, which erupted after the brutal repression of anti-government protests, has killed nearly half a million people and forced around half of the country's pre-war population from their homes. Search Keywords: Short link: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the state's plan to exit from some economic sectors does not necessarily mean it will sell its assets. Its plan rather aims to set a framework regulating the relationship between the government and the private sector, he explained. Madbouly was speaking on Monday during a session tackling the recently announced State Ownership Policy Document on the second day of the Economic Conference. The document, still under discussion, identifies the economic sectors from which the state plans to withdraw, decrease, or increase its presence over the coming three years. The state seeks to exit from some sectors in the medium term, Madbouly noted. Several mechanisms are in hand to apply the document, Madbouly said, explaining that they include listing the asset on the Egyptian Exchange or allowing local or foreign investors to expand and boost its capital and be in charge of the management. In such cases, the state maintains the ownership of the assets while granting the rights of full management and operation to the private sector, he added. "If we eventually find it necessary to sell an asset, it will be sold under one of seven or eight mechanisms," he pointed out. The document complements the reforms adopted by the Egyptian state, as it seeks to implement the second phase of the countrys 2021 structural reform programme. Madbouly said the state wants to empower the private sector. He noted that Egypt needs new investments to increase its growth rates to overcome the challenge of population growth. Egypt's population increases by over two million annually, he said. Investments primarily come from the private sector, but if it cannot cover all the economic sectors, the state steps in to bridge the gap resulting from the population growth, he pointed out. This is why, Madbouly asserted, the state is keen to set a clear document to regulate the relationship with the private sector and guarantee the competitive neutrality. Egypt seeks, via the document, to attract $40 billion in investment by 2026. The government will run a three-month societal dialogue soon and allow all sides to comment on it, he added. In June, the government launched a digital platform for experts and members of the business community to discuss with the government the document. Senior government officials, high-profile economists, intellectuals, thinkers, specialists, businessmen, as well as representatives of more than 80 political parties and parliament members are attending the Economic Conference. The conference is the fourth of its kind in Egypt in the past four decades, the last of which was in 2015 amid the start of economic reforms and waves of terrorist attacks that hit the country, Madbouly said in the opening session of the event. The conference kicked off on Sunday in the New Administrative Capital east of Cairo in the presence of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and will run through Tuesday. Search Keywords: Short link: Raising the private sectors contribution to Egypts GDP and creating an environment for them to play a greater role in the countrys economy were the key issues on the second day of Egypts Economic Conference, held on Monday. The three-day Egypt Economic Conference kicked off on Sunday under the patronage and in presence of Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi under the theme Roadmap for a More Competitive Economy. During the second day of the conference, Head of the General Authority for Free Zones and Investment (GAFI) Mohamed Abdel-Wahab showcased the procedures GAFI had adopted to attract more investments. These procedures include reducing the time to release operating licenses for investment projects to 20 days as well as easing the stay-related procedures for foreign investors to five years with a possibility of renewal. Finance Ministry Deputy for Financial Policies Ahmed Kojok said that Egypts State Ownership Policy Document is an economic constitution meant to raise the private sectors contribution to public investments and maximise its production and export capabilities. Kojok noted that the document also aims to increase the competitiveness of the Egyptian private sector in regional and international markets, as well as boost the sectors contribution to the countrys development process. Outlined by some 10,000 economic experts, the document proposes various mechanisms for participation with the private sector to achieve the highest economic returns on state assets, said Kojok. He also stressed that the government is seeking to provide big investment opportunities in promising sectors for businesspeople to benefit from the improved infrastructure. The document aims to increase the private sectors share in local economic activity and investments from 30 percent to 65 percent over the coming three years, the official said. The government is planning to exit from 79 business sectors and to lower its investments in 45 others for the interest of the private sector, Kojok mentioned. The conference touched upon the real-estate development sector as of the key areas of the private sector business in Egypt. In this regard, Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Development Assem El-Gazzar said that the state is significantly boosting the sector and is acting to increase its supply, adding that the real-estate sector has lots of investment potential that could be tapped. The minister also pointed out that the Egyptian state plans to reduce its investments in the real-estate sector, calling on the private sector to play a greater role, including in social housing projects. For his part, Deputy of the Housing Committee in the House of Representatives Tarek Shoukry noted that the ongoing global economic crisis and the associated supply chain disruption have led to an increase in the cost of construction inputs as well as decreasing the individuals purchasing power, both of which has affected the sector negatively. In this respect, Shoukry called for easing procedures to purchase housing units for citizens as well as promoting real-estate exports, which could add $3 billion to the countrys GDP. Search Keywords: Short link: The university has been and will continue to be a knowledge-intensive environment that fosters the development of the human capital represented by its students by sharing knowledge and the sciences. Today, the university's objective must expand beyond information transmission to also encompass fostering entrepreneurial culture and business thinking, as well as promoting and strengthening entrepreneurship ecosystems. Business became an experimental environment as foreign universities realised the value of entrepreneurship education, which was pioneered in America in the late 1940s and later in Western European nations in the 1980s. The result was a global spread of entrepreneurship education courses that encouraged students' abilities to turn ideas into work, which increased their creativity and self-assurance. Egypts political leadership has focused on enhancing the activity of the Medium, Small, and Micro Enterprise Development Authority to promote a culture of entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation among youth and citizens, provide job opportunities, and foster an environment that is conducive to implementing audacious initiatives related to the development of this sector. Three years ago, at the same time, Cairo University launched its critical initiative to require entrepreneurship and critical thinking courses for all undergraduates. The Supreme Council of Universities in Egypt approved this effort in order to foster a better informed and educated generation and to improve students abilities. Other public and private institutions were encouraged to copy the model, provided that students completed the theoretical breadth of study and pursued practical experiences. A project to establish multiple entrepreneurial clubs within Egyptian universities was then initiated by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology to encourage students explore their own commercial endeavours. This programme, which was sponsored by grants, led to the creation of 65 clubs. In this article, I will discuss a recent initiative to spread creative thinking and entrepreneurship in European universities and schools known as "YES" or Youth Entrepreneurship Strategies. The initiative started in 2008 in the Swedish region of Ostergotland, but soon expanded to the rest of Europe. With the incorporation of an entrepreneurial perspective into the educational system and the development of an entrepreneurial culture, the initiative seeks to boost the number of entrepreneurs and increase European competitiveness. The strategy provided a number of crucial suggestions concerning the necessity of: 1. Strengthening students' personal attributes including creativity, accountability, risk-taking, problem-solving, and teamwork as well as relevant business competencies on how to build and operate a firm. 2. Political adherence, backing, and real, unambiguous, and forceful support provided by a public government declaration, plan, or initiative. 3. Providing sustainable activity finance. 4. Integration across every stage of education, from primary to secondary to university. As a student moves from one phase to the next, the nature and level of the assignments should change. 5. Empowering teachers with specialised training on entrepreneurship and establishing creative methods for their ongoing professional development while teaching. 6. Setting up national support services to help universities, schools, and teachers, and creating connections between them, which represents one of the crucial issues in raising the awareness of entrepreneurs. 7. Supporting a strong network of communication and exchange of experiences at the regional, national, and international levels with the search for best practices to learn from. What are we doing right now in Egypt? Cairo University currently has four organisations that help foster an entrepreneurial culture and advance its scientific environment: the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre, the Active Business Incubator at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, the Entrepreneurship Club supported by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology and the prestigious entrepreneurial programme. They must be united behind a single vision and strategic goal that has been approved by the institution's top administration and has adequate support from the faculty of the prestigious university. A strategy may be created that would serve as a model for the university. It would demonstrate the Egyptian universities capacity to hold onto elements of progress and long-term vision while also fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem that can support the desired potential effects of entrepreneurship on Egypt's future, economic expansion, and job creation for the country's youth. This is especially true of the fourth generation university, which promotes entrepreneurship as a way of thinking and living. Creativity and entrepreneurial spirit are crucial for overcoming social and economic challenges, and Egyptian colleges should concentrate on problems like unemployment, poverty, poor economic growth, and inequality. They must go beyond teaching, learning, research and engagement if they are to develop into innovators and entrepreneurs who work with all stakeholders in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. This is essential for the welfare of the nation and its citizens. * The author is a professor at Cairo University, Faculty of Science Search Keywords: Short link: As videos of the culling of baby chickens go viral on social media amid concerns about the future of the poultry industry in Egypt, al-ahram Weekly asks experts about the reasons and the way out In a move aimed at calming fears of a shortage in chicken and eggs due to the lack of feed, the government of Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli issued a statement on Sunday saying that in addition to releasing substantial amounts of soybeans and corn imports stuck in ports, it will coordinate with the Poultry Union on a weekly basis to decide on the volume of feed needed to be released in the market. The statement came after a meeting headed by Madbouli who said that some LE85 million worth of soybeans and LE40 million in corn had been released. Tons of feed imports are held in local ports with importers not able to find dollars to obtain the credit needed to pay for the imports. Feed prices witnessed unprecedented increases in July after the price of a ton jumped to LE12,000 ($614) due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, but fell with the decrease in the price of many food commodities and grains. However, it started to spike again earlier this month to reach LE13,600 ($696). The issue of feed held in ports due to limited dollars in Egyptian banks has a direct effect on the increasing cost of poultry products like eggs, deputy head of the Chamber of Importers Ahmed Etabi said. The problem also stems from the absence of local alternatives to imported feed. There are not many home-grown alternatives to cover our local needs as we import almost 80 per cent of our consumption of yellow corn and 80 per cent of wheat, Etabi said. Egypt imports feed from the US, Brazil, and Ukraine. If banks cannot provide us with the needed dollars, then we want to be allowed to pay for the imports in Egyptian pounds, Etabi said. The poultry industry might collapse if the feed is not released, he added, pointing out that what exacerbates the problem is the possibility of imported feed going bad if it stays in the ports for too long. Former vice chairman of the Poultry Producers Union Mohamed Al-Shafei told Al-Hekaya (The Story) talk show that the severe shortage in feed is forcing poultry producers and farmers to kill chicks, with around LE340 million worth of corn and soybean accumulated at ports. Videos of chicks being culled by merchants and farmers because of the lack of feed went viral on local social media networks this week. Mass chick executions on social media are not true, Etabi said. A person raising chicks treats them like his own children and cannot kill them, he said, adding that a chick costs an average of LE7 to LE8 to raise. Nobody is killing chicks but some people say they are dying because of the lack of feed. The only solution, according to Etabi, is to grow feed in Egypt. If there is feed, there is a sound poultry industry, he said. Abdel-Aziz Al-Sayed, head of the Poultry Division in the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, said all raw materials needed for poultry production, including feed, are facing shortages. This has resulted in some feed factories unable to work which in turn has made poultry merchants sell mother hens since no one wants to buy chicks and in some cases, cull them. Al-Sayed believes that in the short term, produce lying in ports should be released, pointing out that while the government decided to release 60,000 tons of soya beans from ports, merchants need to know where they will be distributed. He underscored the importance of transparency in distributing feed since some big-name dealers might get most of the feed and store it to hike prices. As for the long-term solutions, we should increase agricultural space to plant yellow corn in Egypt to meet our needs, Al-Sayed said, adding that they need solutions outside the box like a commodity exchange. *A version of this article appears in print in the 20 October, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: The Iraqi parliament met last week to elect a new president for the country as well as to appoint a new prime minister, writes Nermeen Al-Mufti in Baghdad. Baghdad woke up on 13 October to the sound of Katyusha rockets falling on the Green Zone, the location of the Iraqi parliament and an area where bridges and streets can be cut whenever parliament holds a session. The session for that day was not an ordinary one, but was one that the Iraqi people have been waiting for since the early general elections hold as a response to the October 2019 protestations, as the parliament was due to elect a new president for the country. No one has claimed responsibility for the rockets, but Hassan Al-Adhari, who was head of the resigned Sadrist bloc in the parliament, said that followers of the Sadrist Movement led by Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr had not fired rockets at the Green Zone. Anyone who uses weapons to obstruct the parliamentary session is loyal to the corrupt and wants to dominate the country and the people, he said. Almost one hour after the rockets fell, the session began with a quorum. There were 269 MPs from 325 and 20 MPs boycotting the session. The voting began for the 30 candidates standing for the post of president, all of them except Abdel-Latif Rashid and Barham Salih knowing in advance that they would lose. About 277 MPs voted through secret ballot in the first round that resulted in a slight advance for Rashid over current President Salih. Both men belong to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) that was supporting Salih. Rashid was announced as an independent. The second round showed a lead for Rashid, who won 162 votes to 99 in favour and eight invalid votes and was sworn in as the new president of Iraq. Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani was appointed by the Coordination Framework, the biggest parliamentary bloc after the resignation of the Sadrist Bloc, as the new prime minister and tasked with forming a new government. The new president is a Kurd, like the previous presidents. While this is not based on the constitution, it has become a norm in Iraq since the formation of the interim government in 2005. The president of the republic is a Kurd, the speaker of the parliament is a Sunni Muslim, and the prime minister is a Shia Muslim. The new president is 74 years old, was minister of irrigation and water resources from 2006 to 2012, and since then has been a chief adviser to the presidency. The new first lady, Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed, is the sister of former first lady Hero Ibrahim Ahmed, widow of the late former president Jalal Talbani. Al-Sudani, 52 years old, will be the first prime minister since April 2003 who has not lived outside of Iraq, or, as was described by Iraqis on social media, did not come with the American invasion on the roof of a tank. He was a member of the Misan provincial council, governor of Misan about 320 km southeast of the capital Baghdad, minister of human rights and labour, and a MP in the last three parliaments. At a ceremony at the Peace Palace in Baghdad on 17 October to inaugurate the new president, Rashid said that he would make every effort to protect the constitution and solve existing problems, adding that the previous stage was difficult for everyone. He expressed his thanks to the representatives of the Iraqi people for giving me their confidence, and I thank the supreme religious authority. We are undertaking the tasks we have worked for, and we remember the wounded and martyrs of the armed forces. Al-Sudani announced that his priorities were electricity, healthcare, municipal services, and combating corruption. He would be responsible for holding the relevant minister accountable and replacing him in case he fails or commits corruption. Although there is a period of 30 days to submit the names of the new cabinet to the parliament, media reports quoted many MPs as saying that Al-Sudani would submit them within the coming couple of weeks or earlier. It is the easiest birth of a government in Iraq since 2003, political analysts said, noting that it was one year and three days from the general elections. Al-Sudani pledged to name ministers who were not only Shias, Sunnis and Kurds, who share the sovereign ministries under the so-called muhasasa, a power-sharing policy, based on the number of their MPs. Turkmens and Christians will also be represented in the new government. One outstanding question is whether Sadrists will participate in the new government. According to many previous statements, the Sadrists are refusing to participate in the government, Mujashaa Al-Tamini, a political analyst, told Al-Ahram Weekly, adding that Salih Mohamed Al-Iraqi, described as a minister of Sadrist leader Muqtada Al-Sadr, had said that the Sadrists would not participate in the Al-Sudani government. He denied reports alleging that there are secret negotiations with the Sadrists regarding the new government. While most Iraqis are hoping that the government will draw up the budget for the coming year as soon as possible, the new government has found itself facing allegations of corruption even before the appointment of ministers. In a deal described by different Iraqi media networks as the theft of the century, Iraqs oil minister and former acting finance minister Ihsan Abdel-Jabbar revealed last Saturday that a group had taken 3.7 trillion Iraqi dinars, almost $2.5 billion, from the National Tax Authority account in the Iraqi Rafidain Bank. In response, Al-Sudani vowed that we will not allow the money of the Iraqis to be stolen, as happened with the funds of the Tax Authority in the Rafidain Bank. The Al-Sudani government will be given confidence because it has been approved internally and externally, Al-Tamimi told the Weekly. Iraq is a card that can be played by Iran and America, and then by Turkey and the other Arab countries. *A version of this article appears in print in the 20 October, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: The party also named a seven-member Standing Committee, its inner circle of power, dominated by Xi allies after Premier Li Keqiang, the No. 2 leader and an advocate of market-style reform and private enterprise, was dropped from the leadership on Saturday. That was despite Li being a year younger than the party's informal retirement age of 68. On Saturday, Xi's predecessor, 79-year-old Hu Jintao, abruptly left a meeting of the party Central Committee with an aide holding his arm. That prompted questions about whether Xi was flexing his powers by expelling other party leaders. The official Xinhua News Agency later reported Hu was in poor health and needed to rest. Xi, who took power in 2012, was awarded a third five-year term as general secretary, discarding a party custom under which his predecessors left after 10 years. The 69-year-old leader is expected by some to try to stay in power for life. President Xi Jinping, China's most powerful leader in decades, increased his dominance when he was named Sunday to another term as head of the ruling Communist Party in a break with tradition and promoted allies who support his vision of tighter control over society and the struggling economy. Xi and the other Standing Committee members appeared for the first time as a group before reporters Sunday in the Great Hall of the People, the seat of China's ceremonial legislature in central Beijing. Xi announced Li Qiang, a former Shanghai party secretary who is no relation to Li Keqiang, was the No. 2 member and Zhao Leji, a member of the previous committee, was promoted to No. 3. The No. 2 committee member since the 1990s has become premier while the No. 3 heads the legislature. Those posts are to be assigned when the legislature meets next year. Leadership changes were announced as the party wrapped up a twice-a-decade congress that was closely watched for signs of initiatives to reverse an economic slump or changes in a severe "zero-COVID" strategy that has shut down cities and disrupted business. Officials disappointed investors and the Chinese public by announcing no changes. The lineup appeared to reflect what some commentators called "Maximum Xi," valuing loyalty over ability. Some new Standing Committee members lack national-level government experience that typically is seen as a requirement for the post. The promotion of Li Qiang was especially unusual because it puts him in line to be premier despite not having experience as a Cabinet minister or vice premier. However, he is regarded as close to Xi after the two worked together early in their careers in Zhejiang province in the early 2000s. Li Keqiang is the top economic official but was sidelined over the past decade by Xi, who put himself in charge of policymaking bodies and wants a bigger state role in business and technology development. Li Keqiang was excluded Saturday from the list of the party's new 205-member Central Committee, from which the Standing Committee is picked. He is due to step down as premier next year. Climate protesters threw mashed potatoes at a Claude Monet painting in a German museum to protest fossil fuel extraction Sunday but caused no damage to the artwork. Two activists from the group Last Generation, which has called on the German government to take drastic action to protect the climate and stop using fossil fuels, approached Monet's "Les Meules" at Potsdam's Barberini Museum and threw a thick substance over the painting and its gold frame. The group later confirmed via a post on Twitter that the mixture was mashed potatoes. The two activists, both wearing orange high-visibility vests, also glued themselves to the wall below the painting. "If it takes a painting -- with #MashedPotatoes or #TomatoSoup thrown at it -- to make society remember that the fossil fuel course is killing us all: Then we'll give you #MashedPotatoes on a painting!" the group wrote on Twitter, along with a video of the incident. In total, four people were involved in the incident, according to German news agency dpa. Tourists swarmed to Mt. Seorak in Gangwon Province to enjoy the autumn foliage over the weekend, as now is the peak time to experience the colorful leaves at one of the country's best known foliage attractions. It is less than a month since the first color changes were spotted. Autumnal tints usually peak 20 days after they first appear, or when more than 80 percent of a mountainside is covered in autumn foliage. Last year's colors peaked around Oct. 26 on Mt. Seorak. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijans satellite operator Azercosmos and Pakistans Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the space sector, Azernews reports. The memorandum provides for cooperation in various directions in this sector. This includes joint actions in space science, technologies, solutions, capacity building, and exchange of experience. Azercosmoss Board Chairman Samaddin Asadov noted that the memorandum is important in terms of improving space services, and further expanding the space program, including the development of spatial information between the two countries. For his turn, SUPARCOs Chairman Amer Nadeem emphasized that the memorandum will create ample opportunities for joint activities for the benefit of the countries prosperous development and future. Azerbaijan and Pakistan cooperate in various sectors of the economy. The relations between the two countries date back to 1991. Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Azerbaijan's independence. The trade turnover between the two countries totaled $11.7 million in 2021. Some 1,900 daycare centers shut down across the country every year. According to data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, there were 31,099 daycare centers as of August this year, down 9,139 from 2017. "It's mostly private daycare centers and small kindergartens that accommodate about 20 children that have shut down," said Chi Sung-ae, a former chief of the Korea Society for Early Childhood Education. "The main reason is the low birthrate that affects all aspects of life." The number of preschoolers fell 27.3 percent from 1.45 million in 2017 to 1.05 million this August. Gyeonggi Province saw the highest decline of daycare centers with 2,330 closing down over the same period, while the number of preschoolers shrank by 75,794. Next came Seoul with a decline of 1,477 daycare centers and 71,528 preschoolers. The United Nations is accusing Australia of breaching its human rights obligations after it suspended a tour of detention facilities. UN inspectors say authorities in the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland have denied them access into various detention facilities. Australia ratified the United Nation's Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture in 2017. Inspectors from the UN subcommittee on prevention of torture arrived in Australia last week to carry out unannounced visits to state, territory and federal prison facilities over 12 days. In a June 2022 statement, the UN said the committee would visit Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador and Turkey in the second half of 2022. The committee's task is to "protect people deprived of liberty in not only prisons but police stations, psychiatric institutions, closed refugee camps and immigration detention centres." However, authorities in the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland have New South Wales corrections minister Geoff Lee told reporters Monday that people can't just "wander through at their leisure" the state's prisons and that the UN "should be off to Iran looking for human rights violations there." By Tomoyuki Tachikawa, KYODO NEWS - Oct 24, 2022 - 17:06 | All, World, Feature With Chinese President Xi Jinping securing an unprecedented third term in power, fears are mounting that Sino-U.S. tensions may escalate further over Taiwan and economic security, forcing Japan to review its Beijing-facing policies. Calls are growing in Japan for the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to reinforce the country's alliance with the United States in a bid to ensure peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region by countering China's increasing influence. But not everyone believes Japan should remain coupled with Washington in the future. The regional security environment became more complex in the eight years from around 2012 during which Japan was being led by recently assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He pursued a hawkish foreign policy platform that irritated China, some political experts believe. Kishida, a self-proclaimed dove, should pursue a well-balanced diplomatic strategy toward Beijing as a fellow Asian nation, distancing Japan from the United States and its attempts to isolate China economically through an array of high-tech restrictions, they said. Conservative politicians in Japan, like Abe, have traditionally prioritized strong security cooperation with the United States as the best way to challenge the military and economic ambition of Communist Party-run China. Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister who resigned in 2020, said late last year that any emergency surrounding the self-ruled democratic island of Taiwan would also be an emergency for the Japan-U.S. security alliance. Abe's comments triggered a harsh backlash from China. Beijing and Taipei have been governed separately since they split in 1949 as a result of a civil war. Xi has repeatedly described Taiwan as a "core interest," pledging to reunify what China regards as a renegade province with the mainland by force, if necessary. To avoid needless conflict in the region, Kishida has to take Xi's re-election to a new five-year term as a window of opportunity to move past Abe-style diplomacy, which often caused China to adopt a tougher stance toward Japan as well as fraying bilateral relations, pundits say. Yoshihide Soeya, a professor emeritus of political science at Keio University, said Japan should "pave the way to coexisting with China" instead of focusing only on strengthening its deterrence against Beijing's military threat. Over the past few years, China's ties with the United States have deteriorated sharply over Taiwan, while China and Japan have been at odds over the Tokyo-controlled, Beijing-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. In his opening speech on Oct. 16 at the Communist Party's just-concluded twice-a-decade congress, Xi said China will "never promise to renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary" to reunite Taiwan with the mainland. As a rift between Beijing and Washington has been deepening in the wake of U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in early August, Xi also warned against any interference by the United States or other nations. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced wariness over Xi's remarks, saying China had made a "fundamental decision that the status quo was no longer acceptable, and that Beijing was determined to pursue reunification on a much faster timeline." Following the visit by Pelosi, the third-highest-ranking U.S. official, Beijing conducted large-scale military drills in areas encircling Taiwan in retaliation, firing ballistic missiles, some of which fell into Japan's exclusive economic zone east of the island. Immediately after the missile launch, then Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said, "This is a grave issue that concerns our country's national security and the safety of the people," calling China's action "extremely coercive." Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University Japan, said the episode allowed Japan to subtly make clear its dissatisfaction with the Pelosi visit, with the Kishida administration signaling it "has backed away from Abe's more bellicose posturing." "Japan is eager to reduce tensions," the scholar said. Seeds of a different diplomatic approach to China had actually been sown early in Kishida's tenure as prime minister. A month after he took office in October 2021, he installed Yoshimasa Hayashi, a veteran lawmaker seen as "pro-China," as foreign minister. While claiming that Tokyo will "assert what needs to be asserted" to Beijing, Kishida has apparently extended an olive branch. Also, with this year marking the 50th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, the Kishida government had some incentive to cooperate with Chinese leaders to prevent bilateral ties from deteriorating. "There are good chances" of "improving bilateral communication on a range of issues such as supply chain resilience, nontraditional threats to security and climate change," Kingston said. But Japanese merchants trading with China are skeptical the two nations will suddenly become friendly. They say that once Xi tightens his grip on power, Tokyo is certain to be drawn deeper into the growing economic rivalry between Washington and Beijing. With the world's second-biggest economy languishing against a backdrop of the country's all-encompassing "zero-COVID" policy, which has stifled domestic spending, Xi is believed to be putting more energy into foreign trade to stimulate sluggish demand at home. In areas where businesses promoted by Beijing compete with those from the West, for example in digital currency and semiconductor production, the United States will strive to eliminate China from the markets, further intensifying competition between the two major powers, the merchants said. Takahide Kiuchi, an executive economist at the Nomura Research Institute, echoed the view, saying that in his third term, Xi is expected to "carry out an expansionary economic policy with an eye on overseas markets" to shore up China's stagnant economy. Kiuchi added it would be inevitable that China and democratic nations, including the United States and Japan, will be at loggerheads over economic and national security, if Xi pushes for deals with emerging countries in a manner the West views as heavy-handed. The situation is not helped by Kishida installing Sanae Takaichi, a parliamentarian known for sharing Abe's hawkish stance, as economic security minister in an early August Cabinet reshuffle. The move frustrated China, which has labeled her a "right-wing" nationalist. Nonetheless, a marketing official at Sony Corp., speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed hope the Kishida administration will improve its interactions with the Chinese government, whoever the minister is, so the Japanese electronics giant can concentrate on its business in China. "China is still a very attractive market for us. We want the Japanese government to understand that we do not want to be exposed to country risk in China," the official said. Related coverage: China's Xi starts rare 3rd term with allies dominating leadership Xi Jinping secures unprecedented 3rd term as China party chief KYODO NEWS - Oct 24, 2022 - 08:36 | World, All, Japan Japan and South Korea are discussing a plan for a foundation funded by contributions from Korean companies to pay compensation for wartime labor to plaintiffs on behalf of Japanese corporate defendants, diplomatic sources said Sunday. The planned compromise deal follows South Korean court orders for the liquidation of the local assets of Japanese companies to pay the damages. Japan maintains that all claims stemming from its colonial rule were settled "completely and finally" under a 1965 bilateral agreement. The countries are aiming to settle the issue of the compensation, which has contributed to the deterioration of bilateral relations to the worst level in decades, by the end of this year, according to the sources. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol are considering meeting on the sidelines of international conferences to be held next month, such as a summit of the Group of 20 major economies in Indonesia, the sources added. The plan comes as signs of a thaw in ties between the East Asian neighbors have emerged since Yoon assumed office in May with a pledge to take a future-oriented approach toward Japan. The South Korean president, who replaced left-leaning Moon Jae In, has adopted a hard-line stance on North Korea. During the period of the Moon administration, South Korean courts ordered the liquidation of local assets seized from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Nippon Steel Corp., which were sued over alleged forced labor during Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. The two companies have not complied with the compensation orders, in line with the Japanese government's response to the matter. The plan was initially discussed by a public-private consultative body set up by the South Korean government. South Korea has explained the plan to Japan several times, the sources said. Tokyo could accept, according to a Japanese government source. Seoul has proposed that Japanese companies join South Korean companies in contributing to the foundation and apologize to the South Korean plaintiffs, both of which Tokyo has refused, the sources said. Kishida could face opposition from hawkish members of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party who argue that Japan should not make easy compromises with South Korea. The plaintiffs have opposed Yoon's stance of not asking the Japanese side to pay damages in the hope of avoiding a further worsening of diplomatic relations. The idea of the South Korean government paying damages to the plaintiffs has also been discussed but is unlikely to be adopted, according to the sources. Local media reported the liquidation of the Japanese companies' assets could be finalized as early as August, but the South Korean Supreme Court has yet to make a decision, possibly taking the Yoon administration's policy toward Japan into account. In a meeting on the fringes of the U.N. General Assembly in New York late last month, Kishida and Yoon reaffirmed that they aim to restore "sound bilateral relations." The first in-person, sit-down talks between the countries' leaders since December 2019 were fully closed to the media. The meeting was described by Tokyo and Seoul as "informal," in a signal that bilateral ties remain delicate and will not drastically improve soon. Related coverage: Japan PM Kishida sends ritual offering to war-linked Yasukuni shrine Japan, South Korea confirm security cooperation over North Korea FOCUS: "Informal" Japan-South Korea summit may pave way for mended ties BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday instructed the armed forces to study, publicize and implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, and strive to achieve the goal set for the centenary of the People's Liberation Army. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when attending a meeting of leading military cadres. DAMASCUS, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Two explosions on Monday heard in the capital Damascus were caused by an Israeli strike in the daytime, state news agency SANA reported. The Israeli forces carried out a missile strike from Israeli airspace, targeting military sites around Damascus, a Syrian military source said. The Syrian air defenses intercepted some of the missiles, the report said, adding that the attack wounded one soldier and left some material damage. The two explosions were heard around 2:00 pm local time (1100 GMT), a rare occurrence as the capital has been largely calm since the defeat of armed rebels in 2018, and occasional Israeli strikes usually took place after midnight. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fresh Israeli attack targeted military sites mainly in the al-Dimas area in the western countryside of Damascus, where pro-Iran militias and Syrian military personnel were stationed. Other military sites have also been targeted with no information on the losses, the war monitor added. The attack is the 27th Israeli strike to hit Syrian sites since the beginning of 2022. The last attack took place on Friday when the Israeli forces targeted what the Observatory said was a factory for manufacturing Iranian drones in al-Dimas. Photo taken on March 7, 2019 shows giraffes walking on a grassland backdropped by Mount Kilimanjaro at Amboseli national park in Kenya. (Xinhua/Xie Han) Tanzanian authorities have mobilized more than 600 firefighters to put out a fire on Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, an official said on Sunday. DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian authorities have mobilized more than 600 firefighters to put out a fire on Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, an official said on Sunday. Nurdin Babu, the Kilimanjaro regional commissioner, told Xinhua in a telephone interview that the firefighters have been drawn from the Tanzania Fire and Rescue Force, the Tanzania National Parks, police, scouts, members of the militia and the private sector. The fire broke out on Friday night at about 4,000 meters altitude on the south side of the mountain and was quickly spread by strong winds, said Babu. "We are hoping that the fire will be contained by tonight by the 600-plus strong team of firefighters," he said, adding that the cause of the fire and the damaged caused were yet to be established. File photo taken on Oct. 12, 2020 shows firefighters battling to contain a fire on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. (Str/Xinhua) He said initially there were plans to request the Tanzania People's Defense Forces (TPDF) to help in fighting the fire but the plans were dropped after reports indicated that there was good progress in putting out the fire. On Saturday afternoon, Babu said he flew over the mountain with a team of experts for aerial survey to assess damage caused by the fire but the mission was cut short due to heavy smoke and bad weather. "We made another attempt on Saturday night and managed to see affected areas," he said, adding that there were no reported casualties. In October 2020, a fire broke out on the mountain and destroyed 95.5 square kilometers of vegetation and 12 huts, two toilets and solar equipment used by tourists climbing the mountain. Mount Kilimanjaro, with its snow-capped peak with about 5,895 meters above sea level, is one of Tanzania's leading tourist destinations. Roughly 50,000 trekkers from across the world attempt to reach the summit of the mountain annually. DAMASCUS, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Two explosions of unknown nature were heard in the capital Damascus Monday afternoon, a Xinhua witness said. State-run media outlets said the investigation is ongoing to determine what happened. Anze Logar (L) and Natasa Pirc Musar, the two best positioned candidates, congratulate each other to participate in the second round of presidential election in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Oct. 23, 2022. Slovenia is due to hold the second round of presidential election on Nov. 13 after no candidate got majority in the first round held on Sunday. The two best positioned candidates, Anze Logar, a member of parliament of the opposition center-right Slovenian Democratic Party, and independent candidate, lawyer Natasa Pirc Musar, will compete in the second round. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) LJUBLJANA, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Slovenia is due to hold the second round of presidential election on Nov. 13 after no candidate got majority in the first round held on Sunday. The two best positioned candidates, Anze Logar, a member of parliament of the opposition centre-right Slovenian Democratic Party, and independent candidate, lawyer Natasa Pirc Musar, will compete in the second round. In the first round, Logar received 33.9 percent of the votes while Musar got 26.9 percent, the State Election Commission said after counting 99 percent of all votes. The turnout stood at around 51 percent. The rest of the votes were distributed among five other candidates each of whom received 15.4 percent or less. Prime Minister Robert Golob, head of the centre-left Freedom Movement, told the national TV Slovenia after the preliminary results were released that he expects Musar to win in the second round. Although the role of the Slovenian president is mainly ceremonial, the president is the head of the Slovenian army and nominates many high officials, including the central bank governor. Most of the nominations have to be confirmed by parliament. The new president is set to start the five-year mandate on Dec. 23 and will replace the outgoing President Borut Pahor who is completing his second and final mandate. A voter casts ballot during the presidential election at a polling station in Radomlje, Slovenia, Oct. 23, 2022. Slovenia is due to hold the second round of presidential election on Nov. 13 after no candidate got majority in the first round held on Sunday. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) Presidential candidate Anze Logar casts ballot during the presidential election at a polling station in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Oct. 23, 2022. Slovenia is due to hold the second round of presidential election on Nov. 13 after no candidate got majority in the first round held on Sunday. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) Presidential candidate Natasa Pirc Musar casts ballot during the presidential election at a polling station in Radomlje, Slovenia, Oct. 23, 2022. Slovenia is due to hold the second round of presidential election on Nov. 13 after no candidate got majority in the first round held on Sunday. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) A voter casts ballot during the presidential election at a polling station in Radomlje, Slovenia, Oct. 23, 2022. Slovenia is due to hold the second round of presidential election on Nov. 13 after no candidate got majority in the first round held on Sunday. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) A voter casts ballot during the presidential election at a polling station in Radomlje, Slovenia, Oct. 23, 2022. Slovenia is due to hold the second round of presidential election on Nov. 13 after no candidate got majority in the first round held on Sunday. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The State Council, China's cabinet, on Monday announced the appointment and removal of officials. Dong Baotong was appointed deputy head of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and head of the National Nuclear Safety Administration. Dong no longer serves as deputy head of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence. Qin Haixiang was named vice minister of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. Ling Ji became vice commerce minister and deputy China international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce, while Guo Tingting was named vice commerce minister. Xuan Changneng was appointed deputy governor of the People's Bank of China. Xuan was removed from the post of deputy head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. Fei Dongbin was appointed head of the National Railway Administration. Ye Min no longer serves as deputy head of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and head of the National Nuclear Safety Administration. Qian Keming no longer serves as vice commerce minister. Wang Lujin was removed from the post of deputy auditor general of the National Audit Office. Zhang Jiwen no longer serves as deputy head of the General Administration of Customs. Wang Chengwen was removed from the post of deputy head of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. 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 and the restoration of territorial integrity. Chronicle of the 28-th day of the second Karabakh war: - President Ilham Aliyev was interviewed by French Figaro newspaper. - The stockpiles of weapons, ammunition and fuel of Armenian armed forces were destroyed, and Armenian UAVs were neutralized. - The Armenian armed forces shelled Azerbaijani settlements. - Video of the destruction of Armenian military equipment during the night was published. An Armenian fighter jet was destroyed. - Azerbaijan's Gubadly district was shelled using artillery from the territory of Armenia. - Azerbaijani artillery units continued to inflict crushing blows on the Armenian armed forces. - Armenian armed forces attempt to attack Azerbaijani units was prevented. The Azerbaijani Air Force destroyed Armenian military equipment and infrastructure, as well as combat equipment. BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Monday sent a letter of appreciation to the central committees of other political parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC). This came after the latter had extended congratulations on the 20th National Congress of the CPC. The 20th CPC National Congress took place at a critical time as the entire Party and Chinese people of all ethnic groups embark on a new journey to build China into a modern socialist country in all respects and advance toward the Second Centenary Goal, read the letter. The letter said the success of the 20th CPC National Congress is of great significance in terms of uniting and inspiring the people of all ethnic groups to strive for new victories for socialism with Chinese characteristics. Noting that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the policy on the united front, the letter said promoting the united front, which is part of the historical experience from the Party's endeavors over the past century, provides important assurance for the CPC to defeat the enemy and to govern and rejuvenate the country. The CPC will consolidate the broadest possible patriotic united front and work with other political parties, business federations, and public figures without party affiliation for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, noted the letter, calling it a policy of strategic importance that the CPC will always uphold. According to the letter, the CPC Central Committee will firmly uphold and improve the system of CPC-led multiparty cooperation and political consultation on the new journey toward the Second Centenary Goal. The CPC Central Committee said it will work with other political parties and the ACFIC to pool the strength for realizing the goals set by the 20th National Congress of the CPC and write a new chapter of promoting the united front and multiparty cooperation. The letter called upon the political parties and ACFIC to rally closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and make tireless efforts to build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful and realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. This photo taken on Oct. 22, 2022 shows the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Ming) BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Ruling party leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Vietnam, Laos and Cuba on Sunday respectively sent congratulations to Xi Jinping on his election as general secretary of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, said the 20th CPC National Congress is of epoch-making milestone significance for the Chinese party and people to unite more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core, and to promote the historic process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation under the banner of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Kim said he firmly believes that under Xi's leadership, the CPC and the Chinese people will uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics and achieve glorious victory in the new journey toward building a modern socialist country in all respects. He said he would like to work with Xi to lead DPRK-China relations to a better future, and vigorously promote the development of the great cause of socialism of the two countries. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong said that aiming at China's long-term development and the successful realization of the Second Centenary Goal, the 20th CPC National Congress has formulated a series of important strategic plans, goals and tasks, as well as promoted the continuous improvement and innovative development of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He believes that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core and under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the whole Party and the people of the whole country will surely complete the goals put forward by the 20th CPC National Congress, basically realize socialist modernization at an early date and build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful. Vietnam cherishes and highly values Xi's sincere concern and great contribution to Vietnam-China relations for the benefit of the people of the two countries, he added. In his message, Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, said since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core has united and led the Chinese people, continuously making new accomplishments and create new glories in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The major ideas and propositions put forward by Xi, Thongloun said, such as the building of a human community with a shared future, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, and the Global Security Initiative, have been widely recognized and supported by the international community, and these proposals have made and will continue to make positive contributions to world peace and development. Thongloun said he is ready to work with Xi to further strengthen strategic communication, jointly lead and promote the in-depth development of Laos-China relations in the new era and the building of a community with a shared future for them to bear fruits, so as to bring more benefits to the two countries and their people, and jointly advance the great cause of socialism. In his congratulations to Xi, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said it is believed that under Xi's leadership, the CPC and the Chinese people will surely continue to make new achievements in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era. Xi has led the CPC Central Committee in making theoretical and practical contributions to socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era, marking a milestone in the adaption of Marxism to the Chinese context and the times, he said. China and Cuba are good friends, good comrades and good brothers, Diaz-Canel said, noting that political mutual trust, friendly cooperation and closeness are the distinctive features of the relations between the two countries. The relations between the two parties, two countries and the people in Cuba and China are exemplary, he added. He reiterated that he stands ready to work with Xi to unswervingly continue strengthening the political guidance of the above-mentioned relations for their expansion and improvement, so as to promote the sustainable development of the two countries and the well-being of their people, and help make the socialism process of the world irreversible and full of vigor. TEHRAN, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iranian security forces have arrested 10 members of an espionage network linked to the Israeli Intelligence Agency Mossad, Tasnim news agency reported on Monday. The people were detained in Iran's West Azarbaijan province and the group was in "direct contact" with Mossad officers, it said. These people had received money from Israeli agents and Mossad officers on several occasions for the missions they had completed, it added. The report, however, didn't specify their nationalities and the time of the arrest. ANKARA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkish prosecutors on Monday issued an arrest warrant for 11 suspects allegedly operating within the ranks of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the umbrella group of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, the state-run TRT broadcaster reported. The Turkish police had detained nine of the suspects and continued to seek the others, the TRT reported. Designated by Turkiye as a terrorist organization in 2018, the HTS is the most powerful jihadist alliance in Idlib province in northwestern Syria, the last major rebel-controlled enclave outside the control of Syrian government. Turkiye's southern border with Syria has been a significant crossing point for Syrians and foreign fighters since the war broke out in Syria in 2011. Meanwhile, nine Islamic State (IS) members, who were allegedly preparing an attack in Turkiye, were detained in an operation in the al-Bab region in northern Syria, Turkish Interior Ministry said. Women light lamps on the eve of Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, in Bhopal, India, Oct. 23, 2022. (Str/Xinhua) BHOPAL, India, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Diwali festival, which celebrates the victory of good over evil, is one of the most popular festivals celebrated in India. The lighting forms a part of celebrations and rituals in the Hindu calendar, with many people lighting lamps and playing firecrackers on the eve of the day. Women burn firecrackers on the eve of Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, in Bhopal, India, Oct. 23, 2022. (Str/Xinhua) Women light lamps on the eve of Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, in Bhopal, India, Oct. 23, 2022. (Str/Xinhua) Women light lamps on the eve of Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, in Bhopal, India, Oct. 23, 2022. (Str/Xinhua) Women light lamps on the eve of Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, in Bhopal, India, Oct. 23, 2022. (Str/Xinhua) Women light lamps on the eve of Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, in Bhopal, India, Oct. 23, 2022. (Str/Xinhua) Women burn firecrackers on the eve of Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, in Bhopal, India, Oct. 23, 2022. (Str/Xinhua) BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers will deliberate a draft amendment to China's Legislation Law, which highlights strengthened enforcement and supervision of the Constitution, later this week. The draft amendment also aims to improve the system and mechanism for better cohesion between legislative and reform decisions, Zang Tiewei, a spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, China's top legislature, said Monday. The draft amendment will be submitted on Wednesday to a session of the NPC Standing Committee for a first reading, Zang said. It will also improve the legislative procedure and working mechanism of the NPC and its Standing Committee, supplement relevant content to meet the needs of supervision system reform, improve relevant provisions of local laws and regulations, and further improve the system for the recording and review of normative documents. A draft revision to the Administrative Reconsideration Law will also be given the first reading at this session, Zang said, adding that relevant principles, responsibilities and support will be further specified. The session will also review the third draft revision of the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests and the third draft of the Yellow River Protection Law. BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's foreign trade of goods jumped 9.9 percent year on year to 31.11 trillion yuan (about 4.75 trillion U.S. dollars) during the first nine months of the year, official data showed Monday. Exports rose 13.8 percent year on year to 17.67 trillion yuan, while imports increased 5.2 percent from a year ago to 13.44 trillion yuan, according to the General Administration of Customs. Photo taken on Oct. 4, 2022 shows wind turbines provided by China's Goldwind in Chaiyaphum, Thailand. (Xinhua/Song Yu) Thailand's Chaiyaphum wind farm hosts 32 wind turbines produced by China's Goldwind and operated by Thailand's major energy producer EGCO. EGCO is mulling further cooperation with Goldwind as the Thai government has proposed to increase the proportion of renewable energy in total energy consumption to 30 percent by 2036. by Song Yu, Guo Xinhui BANGKOK, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- In Thailand's northeastern Chaiyaphum province, about 300 km from Bangkok, several 120-meter-high wind turbines tower over picturesque hills while delivering clean energy into the local grid day and night. The Chaiyaphum wind farm hosts 32 of China's Goldwind wind turbines with a total capacity of 80 MW and is operated by EGCO, a major energy producer affiliated to the largest state utility Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. As one of the regions with the richest wind resources in Thailand, Chaiyaphum province offers great conditions for wind power investments and has drawn some of the world's leading wind turbine makers such as Vestas, Siemens Gamesa and GE. Although Goldwind's local market share is small, the company has earned a good reputation due to the quality of customized wind turbines, Wang Chunsheng, Goldwind Thailand service manager, told Xinhua. "Specifically designed for low and medium wind speeds that are common in Thailand, our flexible wind towers improve energy utilization while maximizing operation time during grid fluctuations," Wang said. Since the wind farm started operations in 2016, there hasn't been a single safety incident, and operation reliability has been high, he added. Photo taken on Oct. 4, 2022 shows wind turbines provided by China's Goldwind in Chaiyaphum, Thailand. (Xinhua/Thana Nuntavoranut) Now, it seems the company has an opportunity to play a more respectable role in Thailand, a nation that has long faced the challenges of increasing energy demand and insufficient local supplies. The Thai government has proposed to increase the proportion of renewable energy in total energy consumption to 30 percent by 2036. For wind power alone, Thailand plans to double the current capacities by the end of 2030. Based on this roadmap, EGCO has already considered further cooperation with its Chinese partner. "Goldwind has proven itself to be a reliable strategic partner in the clean energy sector with state-of-the-art technology and reliable products," said Chaiwut Saengpredekorn, general manager of EGCO's Power Plant Business 3. Goldwind is an example of Chinese companies that have been active in Thailand's renewable energy market. The well-known Sino-Thai cooperation projects also include the hydro-floating solar hybrid project at the Sirindhorn Dam, which launched its commercial operation late last year. In addition, Chinese carmakers like SAIC, Great Wall Motor and BYD have successively set up factories in Thailand, becoming strong competitors in the country's electric vehicle market. These activities exemplify how Chinese companies become important puzzle pieces in Thailand's green energy transformations. Speaking highly of Chinese technology, Chaiwut said that he believes that Chinese companies are valuable partners and offer competitive products to European and U.S. equivalents. Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (R) meets with North Macedonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani in Amman, Jordan, on Oct. 23, 2022. Jordan and North Macedonia on Sunday agreed to strengthen cooperation in various sectors. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) AMMAN, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Jordan and North Macedonia on Sunday agreed to strengthen cooperation in various sectors. Following their discussions in Amman, capital of Jordan, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and North Macedonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani signed a cooperation protocol, which will be a framework for the two countries' future cooperation, according to a statement by Jordanian Foreign Ministry. They stressed large room for economic, tourism, commercial and cultural cooperation between the two countries, the ministry statement said. The two ministers also agreed to examine the feasibility of regular flights between the two countries and facilitate the issuance of visas. They also emphasized the need to enhance cooperation to combat terrorism, which poses a common threat, and discussed a number of regional issues, mainly the Palestinian issue. People visit Tehran Auto Show 2017 in Tehran, the capital of Iran, on Feb. 16, 2017. Tehran Auto Show 2017, the biggest international event of the Iranian auto industry, opened from Feb. 14 to Feb. 18. (Xinhua) Major Iranian car manufacturers have seen sales growth over the past months despite U.S. sanctions, which is considered by local media a "positive" indicator reflecting an improved production situation and swelling producers' coffers. TEHRAN, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Major Iranian car manufacturers have seen sales growth over the past months despite U.S. sanctions. Iran Khodro (IKCO), Saipa Automotive Group and Pars Khodro, three Iranian major automakers, have sold about 536,000 units of various products during the first half of the current Iranian year, which started on March 20, Iranian Donya-e-Eqtesad daily recently reported. According to the report, the sales of these car manufacturers increased by about 26 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. A visitor takes photos during the Tehran Auto Show 2017 in Tehran, capital of Iran, on Feb. 16, 2017. Tehran Auto Show 2017, the biggest international event of the Iranian auto industry, opened from Feb. 14 to Feb. 18. (Xinhua) The growth is a "positive" indicator since it reflects an improved production situation and it swells producers' coffers, said the daily. To overcome the repercussions of the U.S. sanctions, Iranian automakers managed to launch production lines and step into the markets of other countries, including Venezuela which has experienced good relations with Iran over the past decades. An Iranian car called Runna is displayed during its mass-production ceremony in Iran Khodro car manufacturing company in Tehran, Iran, June 16, 2012. Iran Khodro, the largest carmaker in Iran, announced Saturday it has started its mass production of the third kind of home-made car called Ranna.(Xinhua) According to IKCO, during a recent exhibition in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, local consumers intended to buy a total of 30,200 Iranian auto products. The exhibition held last month gathered over 150 Iranian companies, including those in the auto sector, to showcase their businesses and technology. IKCO also announced readiness to meet the maximum demands of the Venezuelan side, including the appropriate after-sales services and training personnel. Iranian Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Reza Fatemi Amin said that the trend in the auto industry is growing in different sectors, and the products of parts makers and knowledge-based companies are also improving. "Automobile companies have started negotiations with foreign automakers, and we are moving forward with our plans regardless of sanctions," the minister was quoted by Donya-e-Eqtesad as saying on Aug. 23. Some new products including economy cars in the country's auto industry will enter the market soon, he added. An Iranian employee works on a Brilliance car at an assembly line of Iran's Pars Khodro supported by China's Brilliance Auto in Tehran, Iran, Sept. 23, 2017. (Xinhua) Last week, IKCO unveiled a new model TF21, which is equipped with a 16-valve 110-horsepower TU5P engine. According to its CEO Mehdi Khatibi, the hatchback will be available in 5-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmissions. The brand plans to manufacture 100,000 units of the TF21 in the first year of production starting September 2023, replacing its previous products of Samand and Peugeot 405 models, he noted. Also, Saipa Automotive Group unveiled the Shahin Connect car model, which is equipped with the latest automotive technologies, during the Future Cars 2 event held in Tehran on Oct. 19, according to the Iranian English daily Financial Tribune. In August, Saipa also unveiled the Saina S hatchback electric vehicle at the Automobile Industry Transformation Exhibition held in Tehran. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijani flag was raised over the ancient Khudafarin bridge, in the center of the liberated Fuzuli city, Zangilan, Aghband Armenia opened fire on the film crew of the Azerbaijani AzTV channel in Aghdam, injuring one journalist The city of Zangilan and 24 villages had been liberated from the occupation Armenia shelled Tartar and Aghdam Districts, killing two civilians The Armenian armed forces fired three ballistic missiles at Siyazan, two at Gabala and one at Kurdamir A 17-year-old civilian was wounded in an Armenian missile attack on Gabala. Azerbaijan ensured full control over the state border (bordering with Iran) Liberation of several villages & destruction of dozens of Armenian military equipment On September 27, 2020, in response to a large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline, the Azerbaijani army launched a counter-offensive operation, later dubbed Iron Fist. The 44-day war put an end to the nearly 30-year-long occupation and secured the liberation of Azerbaijani lands and the restoration of the country's territorial integrity. The Azerbaijani army declared a victory against the Armenian troops. A Moscow-brokered ceasefire deal from November 10, 2020, stipulated the return of Azerbaijan's Armenian-occupied Kalbajar, Aghdam, and Lachin Districts and obliged Armenia to withdraw its troops from the Azerbaijani lands that it has occupied since the early 1990s. Before the signing of the deal, the Azerbaijani army had liberated around 300 villages, settlements, city centers, and the historical Shusha city. Heres how the fourth week of the war played out: Chronicles of Victory: October 18 President Ilham Aliyev posted a publication, on the official Twitter page, about the Azerbaijani armed forces raising the Azerbaijani flag over the ancient Khudafarin bridge. Despite the announcement of a new humanitarian ceasefire, the Armenian armed forces once again grossly violated the agreement. Azerbaijans Defence Ministry published a list of destroyed enemy equipment and announced the capture of an Armenian military unit. In addition, the ministry announced the seizure of military equipment and ammunition of the Armenian armed forces. Azerbaijans Air Defence Units shot down another Su-25 attack aircraft of the Armenian armed forces. The Armenian armed forces attempted to attack in Aghdara, Fuzuli, Hadrut and Jabrayil directions. An Azerbaijani soldier captured positions of Armenian special forces. Another tactical UAV of Armenia was destroyed. Azerbaijani flag was raised in the center of the liberated from occupation Fuzuli city. Chronicles of Victory: October 19 President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Turkish Grand National Assembly Speaker Mustafa Sentop, and gave a video interview to the Russian TASS news agency. The president also congratulated State Border Service Chief Col-Gen Elchin Guliyev on raising the Azerbaijani flag on the Khudafarin bridge. President shared a publication on Twitter about the liberation of several villages in Jabrayil District, and a publication about Armenia's heavy artillery shelling of settlements in violation of the humanitarian ceasefire. The Armenian military equipment and weapons were destroyed. The list of the destroyed equipment was announced. The Azerbaijani army seized a certain amount of military equipment abandoned by Armenian troops. A high-ranking official of an Armenian armed forces battalion was killed. As a result of the shelling of Tartar District by the Armenian armed forces, the owner of the house was seriously injured. Armenia shelled Azerbaijani positions on the state border and opened fire on the film crew of the Azerbaijani AzTV channel in Aghdam, injuring one journalist. The Defence Ministry released a video of war trophies seized from Armenian troops in the direction of Jabrayil and Fuzuli. Chronicles of Victory: October 20 President Ilham Aliyev addressed the people of Azerbaijan and announced that the city of Zangilan and 24 villages had been liberated from the occupation. President Ilham Aliyev renamed the liberated Vang village of Khojavand District to Chinarli. Azerbaijans First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva shared a publication on her Instagram account about the liberation of Zangilan city and a number of villages of Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Khojavand and Zangilan Districts. The Azerbaijani flag was raised in Zangilan. Video footage of the destruction of Armenian armoured vehicles was released, and the list of destroyed Armenian military equipment was announced. A group of Armenian mercenaries refused to fight. Armenia shelled Tartar and Aghdam Districts, killing two civilians. Video footage of the destruction of a large number of Armenian servicemen and military equipment was released. In addition, video footage of the destruction of the Armenian military units in the direction of Gubadli was released. Armenian anti-aircraft guns were destroyed in the direction of Ganja. Chronicles of Victory: October 21 President Ilham Aliyev made a publication on the official Twitter page about the liberation from the occupation of a number of villages in the Fuzuli and Jabrayil Districts, as well as the Minjivan settlement and 13 villages of the Zangilan District. President Ilham Aliyev was interviewed by Japans Nikkei newspaper. The Ministry of Defense presents the latest data from the front and also reports on the liquidation of the chief of artillery, battalion commander and battalion commander of the Armenian Armed Forces, the destruction of the battalion of the 556th regiment of the Armenian army The Defense Ministry presents a video of night and day artillery firing of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and shows footage of the newly-liberated Chereken village. Another Armenian UAV is destroyed, and a video of military equipment abandoned by Armenian units on the battlefield is made public. Air defense units of Azerbaijan discover and destroyed 3 more tactical UAVs of the Armenian Armed Forces. Chronicles of Victory: October 22 President Ilham Aliyev made a publication on the official Twitter page on ensuring full control over the state border (bordering with Iran), and on the liberation from the occupation of three villages of Fuzuli District and four villages of Jabrayil District. President Ilham Aliyev received the Turkish ombudsman. Azerbaijani First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva gave an interview to Trend New Agency. The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry disseminated information about the latest situation at the front. Volunteers in the Armenian armed forces fled, leaving their combat positions. Information was disseminated about the wounding of the commander of the Armenian armed forces regiment, the killing of his deputy, and the battalion commander. The Armenian armed forces fired three ballistic missiles at Siyazan, two at Gabala and one at Kurdamir. A 17-year-old civilian was wounded in an Armenian missile attack on Gabala. Armenian servicemen refused to fight. Video footage of another captured military equipment of the Armenian armed forces was distributed. Another tactical UAV of the Armenian armed forces, which attempted to fly in the direction of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan, was destroyed. The Azerbaijani artillerymen continued to deliver precise strikes at the firing points of the Armenian armed forces. The Azerbaijani flag was hoisted in the village of Aghband, Zangilan District. The Defence Ministry presented video footage of the destruction of a significant number of servicemen and equipment of the Armenian armed forces. Chronicles of Victory: October 23 President Ilham Aliyev shared a publication on Twitter about the liberation of Zilanli, Kurd Mahrizli, Muganli and Alagurshag villages of Gubadli District, and about the liberation of Dolanar and Bunyadli villages of Khojavend District, Dag Tumas, Nusus, Xelefli, Minbashili and Veyselli villages of Jabrayil district, Venedli and Mirzehasanli villages of Zengilan district. President had a phone conversation with the father of the National Hero Shukur Hamidov, who became a martyr. Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry disseminated information about the latest situation at the front. Important territories and heights were liberated. The Armenian armed forces, leaving the positions, deserted. Territories of Tartar, Aghdam and Aghjabadi Districts were subjected to intensive shelling, and four UAVs of Armenian armed forces were neutralized. Video of the destruction of Armenian personnel and armoured vehicles, as well as a video from the Minbashili village of Jabrayil District, liberated from the Armenian occupation, was published. Moreover, a video of the destruction of Armenian volunteer detachments in the Khojavend and Fuzuli directions, and a video of the destruction of artillery units and the command post of the Armenian armed forces as a result of air strikes were published. Chronicles of Victory: October 24 President Ilham Aliyev was interviewed by the French Figaro newspaper. The stockpiles of weapons, ammunition and fuel of the Armenian armed forces were destroyed, and Armenian UAVs were neutralized. The Armenian armed forces shelled Azerbaijani settlements. A video of the destruction of Armenian military equipment during the night was published. An Armenian fighter jet was destroyed. Azerbaijan's Gubadli District was shelled using artillery from the territory of Armenia. Azerbaijani artillery units continued to inflict crushing blows on the Armenian armed forces. Armenian armed forces attempt to attack Azerbaijani units was prevented. The Azerbaijani Air Force destroyed Armenian military equipment and infrastructure, as well as combat equipment. LUANDA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Seven exceptional diamonds, including a rare 170-carat stone "Lulo Rose", will be set for international tender on Nov. 15 in Angola's capital Luanda, according to a statement released on the Lucapa Diamond Company's website on Monday. The tender will be conducted by Angolan state-owned diamond trading firm Sodiam and will feature seven diamonds discovered by Sociedade Mineira Do Lulo in 2022, with four of them weighing more than 100 carats, said the statement. The 170-carat pink diamond from Lulo alluvial mining is believed to be the biggest pink diamond extracted in Angola in the last 300 years. BEIRUT, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reaffirmed on Monday "its strong commitment to creating space for a political and diplomatic solution between Lebanon and Israel." "Recent events give us hope," said UNIFIL chief Aroldo Lazaro Saenz in a statement, hinting at the recent agreement between Lebanon and Israel over maritime borders. "If the two countries can find an understanding at sea, my hope is that, someday soon, they will also be able to find it on land and on the fundamental issues that divide them," Saenz said. His remarks came on the 77th United Nations Day, celebrated at its headquarters in Naqoura in the presence of peacekeepers representing 48 national contingents. Saenz said he has continually urged Lebanon and Israel to reach an agreement over another crucial point of contention -- the "Blue Line," a demarcation line to determine whether Israel has fully withdrawn from the south of Lebanon. TEHRAN, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Sunday that foreign pressures and propaganda will not disrupt the determination of the Iranian nation and government in treading the path of progress. Amir-Abdollahian made the remark in a phone call with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad, in which the two sides discussed bilateral ties and regional and international issues of common interest, according to a press release published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website. He also promised that the Iranian nation and government will continue to "support the stability and security of the regional countries (and) oppose foreign interference." For his part, Mekdad said the West seeks to create crises against independent countries including Iran, adding the West and the United States do not want to see Iran's development, progress and independence, but rather its devastation and dependence. "Everyone saw what the United States and its allies did to Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan," he noted. Protests erupted in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in a hospital in the capital Tehran days after she collapsed in a police station. The protests soon turned violent, with the Iranian government accusing Western countries, such as the United States and Britain, of meddling in Iran's internal affairs by supporting the unrest in the country. On Saturday, a senior Iranian judiciary official said a legal case will be filed in a Tehran court against the United States for having a "role in the recent riots" in Iran. "Because of the involvement and direct role of the United States in the recent riots, it was decided to file a legal case in the Tehran court to determine the damages and issue the necessary verdict against this country," the official IRNA news agency quoted Kazem Gharibabadi, the Judiciary chief's deputy for international affairs and secretary of the country's High Council for Human Rights as saying. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema (front) attends a ceremony marking the 58th Independence Day anniversary in Lusaka, Zambia, Oct. 24, 2022. Zambia on Monday marked the 58th anniversary of its independence from British colonial rule with commemorative events in various parts of the country. (Photo by Martin Mbangweta/Xinhua) LUSAKA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Zambia on Monday marked the 58th anniversary of its independence from British colonial rule with commemorative events in various parts of the country. President Hakainde Hichilema called on citizens to safeguard the peace which was attained with great sacrifice by the freedom fighters. The theme for this year's commemoration is, "Promoting Inclusiveness towards a Sustainable Social and Economic Recovery". The main event in Lusaka, the country's capital, saw the Zambian president leading dignitaries, including Namibian President Hage Geingob, the guest of honor, in laying wreaths at the Freedom Statue in commemoration of people who died during the struggle for independence. The ceremony was characterized by solemn music by the army while scores of people watched as the dignitaries laid wreaths. The two leaders later went to the Embassy Park, a burial place for the country's presidents, where they laid wreaths. The event later moved to the State House for a national honors and awards investiture ceremony where people were awarded medals in recognition of their contribution in various sectors to the country's development. In his address on the eve of independence, the Zambian president called on citizens to remember the sacrifice the forefathers made during the struggle for independence. He said the freedom fighters laid a foundation for the country, adding that the peace currently being enjoyed should not be taken for granted because people sacrificed their lives. According to him, the country was now anchored on the rule of law and the respect for fundamental freedoms because of the firm foundation laid by freedom fighters. The government, he said, was committed to continuing to provide a conducive social and economic environment in order to improve people's living standards. He further said the theme resonates well with the government's vision of having a united nation and prosperity for all. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema (C) attends a ceremony marking the 58th Independence Day anniversary in Lusaka, Zambia, Oct. 24, 2022. Zambia on Monday marked the 58th anniversary of its independence from British colonial rule with commemorative events in various parts of the country. (Photo by Martin Mbangweta/Xinhua) Decades ago, there were less than 2,000 Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys in Yunnan province; today that number has nearly doubled. Follow us as we get up close and personal with them and the forest rangers watching over them. Produced by Xinhua Global Service ISLAMABAD, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Pakistani soldier and a terrorist were killed in the exchange of fire in two separate incidents in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (KP), the military said on Sunday night. A Pakistani soldier was killed when terrorists opened fire on a military post at the border area of Hassan Khel Sector in the North Waziristan District of the province, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. The Pakistani troops retaliated the attack "in a befitting manner", the ISPR said, adding that during an exchange of fire a 32-year-old soldier was killed. Separately, a terrorist was killed in an intelligence-based operation in Shalobar area in Khyber district of KP, the ISPR said in a statement. Weapons and ammunition were seized from the killed terrorist who was actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces, according to the ISPR. DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Sunday signed a memorandum of understating to strengthen cooperation on the promotion of information and communications technology (ICT). A statement by the Directorate of Presidential Communications issued late Sunday said the agreement was signed by responsible ministers from both countries at the start of a two-day state visit by DRC President Felix Tshisekedi to Tanzania. The statement said the signing of the agreement was witnessed by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the visiting DRC President Tshisekedi at State House in Dar es Salaam. The statement said the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in ICT because the sector was one of the leading sectors in the creation of employment for the youth. President Hassan added that through the East African Community (EAC), the two countries plan to construct road infrastructure through the central corridor that will connect the two countries. Tanzania and DRC are members of the EAC together with Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda. The statement added that the two leaders also agreed to revive the joint commission on bilateral cooperation with a view to boosting trade that has been on the decline for the past 10 years. DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- A fire that broke out Friday night on Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, has been extinguished, a senior official said Monday. Eliamani Sedoyeka, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, said the fire was put out Sunday at around 5 p.m., local time, by a team of more than 600 firefighters from various institutions. "The firefighters are still monitoring in case there are some pockets of fire that could go up in flames," Sedoyeka told Xinhua in an interview over the phone. Asked to what extent the fire has caused damage, Sedoyeka said initial assessment has shown that about four square kilometers of vegetation of the mountain's 1,712 square kilometers of vegetation have been destroyed. He said the putting out of the fire will be followed by investigations to establish the cause of the fire that broke out at about 3,900 meters altitude on the south side of the mountain but he could not rule out human error. On Sunday, the Kilimanjaro regional commissioner Nurdin Babu said more than 600 firefighters were mobilized to put out the fire on the mountain. Babu told Xinhua in an interview over the phone that the firefighters were drawn from the Tanzania Fire and Rescue Force, the Tanzania National Parks, police, scouts, members of the militia, and the private sector. In October 2020, a fire broke out on the mountain and destroyed 95.5 square kilometers of vegetation and 12 huts, two toilets and solar equipment used by tourists climbing the mountain. Mount Kilimanjaro, with its snow-capped peak and about 5,895 meters above sea level, is one of Tanzania's leading tourist destinations. Roughly 50,000 trekkers from across the world attempt to reach the summit of the mountain annually. JERUSALEM, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Monday told his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov that Israel won't provide weapons to Ukraine. The two ministers talked over the phone and "held a positive discussion," the Israeli defense ministry said in a statement. Gantz said Israel will not provide weapons systems, citing "the operational limitations" faced by Israel. However, Gantz offered to help Ukraine in developing an alert system. The ministers agreed "to conduct professional dialogue in order to assist Ukraine in the development of a civilian early warning system," the ministry said. Reznikov briefed Gantz on the developments of the crisis in Ukraine and Gantz expressed his "condolences regarding the tragic loss of life, and concern regarding the humanitarian crisis as a result of the war," the ministry said. Last week, Israel offered to help Ukraine develop air strike alert systems for civilians, rejecting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba's formal request to supply Ukraine with the Israeli anti-rocket Iron Dome and other weapon systems to counter Russia's Iranian drone attacks. Israel has been using its aerial defense systems during frequent conflicts with militants in the Gaza Strip and to guard its disputed borders with Syria and Lebanon. WINDHOEK, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Namibian President Hage Geingob on Monday urged nations to speak against carbon emissions that are destroying the planet and rise against poverty and inequalities creating tensions and division. Speaking on the occasion of United Nations Day, which fell on Monday this year, Geingob in a statement said nations should speak with one voice against conflicts and diseases that are compromising global developmental progress. Namibia's commitment to multilateralism is deep-rooted and the country pledged to strengthen global governance as the most effective way to respond to current and future global challenges, Geingob said. "Namibia understands solidarity and partnership as key enablers of our developmental aspirations. On this basis, Namibia continues to implement its national development plans and Harambee Prosperity Plans, which are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals to achieve the common agenda of development, growth, and progress," he said. By Azernews By Fatima Hasanova The Azerbaijani army's Nakhchivan corps is bolstering its defense capabilities at strategic Havush and Buzgov heights, Azernews reports via the Defense Ministry. On October 20, Nakhchivan Supreme Assembly Chairman Vasif Talibov inspected the improvement of military fortifications, the organization of personnel service, and living conditions in Havush and Buzgov areas. The army-building measures are underway in Nakhchivan. Exemplary service conditions have been created for military personnel, who are stationed in mountainous terrains and at strategic heights, as well as the service conditions have been improved at defense positions in several regions. Five military points have been constructed and provided with electricity, natural gas, and all kinds of necessary furniture, while four military points have been reconstructed to improve military personnel's living conditions. The chairman of the Supreme Assembly presented the distinguished servicemen with priceless gifts, expressed his gratitude to the servicemen, showed interest in the circumstances that had been created, and familiarized himself with the topographical and tactical conditions as well as the state of our positions at the command observation post. To improve the living conditions of the personnel, five stations have been reconstructed, and they have been provided with electricity, natural gas, and all kinds of furniture. Over 20 km of interposition power lines were replaced with new ones, access roads to all positions have been improved, and an additional 6 km of access roads have been built. Increased defense capabilities by providing positions with concrete shelters. All positions were provided with food, goods, water, fuel, and firewood, and a winter reserve was created. Solar panels have been put in place at the locations in addition to industrial lights to utilize alternative and renewable energy sources. In challenging mountainous terrain, observation stations, trenches, and communication lines are weather-adapted. Positions, observation stations, and main reserve trenches have been built. A reliable defense system has been installed at positions in the Havush and Buzgov regions of Nakhchivan. For professional troops and commanders with high combat training, excellent service conditions have been developed at these levels. The solid defense of sites is ensured by strong engineering fortifications, as well as by the expertise and talents of soldiers. "The moral and psychological state of the personnel and professionalism allow us to successfully carry out any task." - the statement said. According to reports, services have been organized in secure and comfortable settings in the rebuilt dormitories, canteen, commodities, and food storage, among other facilities. For the exemplary organization of service in the coming cold winter months, the necessary reserve has been created at the forefront. The Supreme Assembly chairman also visited the posts in the Buzgov area, spoke with the troops and commanders, and gave them the necessary orders to fortify the positions and continue landscaping. He also inquired about the educational system at a remote secondary school, where he presented students with presents. BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes the decision of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to remove Pakistan from its grey list, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday. "China congratulates Pakistan on this," spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular news briefing. This has been made possible thanks to Pakistan's effort to firmly follow through on its political commitment and continuously improve and enhance its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) system over the past five years despite the difficulties, he said. This also shows international support and recognition of Pakistan's endeavor in this regard, he added. "We hope that Pakistan will continue to make positive contributions to promoting international counter-terrorism cooperation and safeguarding the security of the international financial system," he said. UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday said in his message for the United Nations Day that upholding UN values and principles is essential in a world under stress. "Now, more than ever, we need to bring to life the values and principles of the UN Charter in every corner of the world," said Guterres. He described the United Nations as "the product of hope" because it embodies the hope and resolve to move beyond global conflict, to a new era of global cooperation. "Today, our organization is being tested like never before. But the United Nations was made for moments like this," he said. Guterres said the United Nations is "giving peace a chance and ending conflicts that jeopardize lives, futures and global progress," and is working to end extreme poverty, reduce inequalities, and rescue the Sustainable Development Goals. He pointed to the United Nations' role in safeguarding the planet, including by breaking global addiction to fossil fuels and kickstarting the renewable energy revolution. He also highlighted how the United Nations is "balancing the scales of opportunity and freedom" for women and girls, while also ensuring human rights for all. "As we mark the UN Day, let us renew our hope and conviction in what humanity can achieve when we work as one, in global solidarity," said the top UN official. The United Nations Day is an annual commemorative day, reflecting the official creation of the world body on Oct. 24, 1945. In 1947, the UN General Assembly declared Oct. 24 the anniversary of the UN Charter. In 1971, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring that the United Nations Day shall be an international observance or international holiday and recommended that it should be observed as a public holiday by UN member states. BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Key members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the State Council and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) respectively held meetings on Monday to comprehend and implement the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The 20th CPC National Congress was held from Oct. 16 to 22 in Beijing. The meeting of the leading Party members group of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, was presided over by Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee and secretary of its leading Party members group. While delivering a speech at the meeting, Li urged efforts to rally closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and take the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress to guide the development of people's congress work. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the NPC and its Standing Committee should fully and accurately implement these guiding principles in legislation, oversight, work related to deputies and external affairs, among others, said Li. The meeting of the leading Party members group of the State Council was presided over by Premier Li Keqiang, also secretary of the State Council's leading Party members group. Noting the significance of the 20th CPC National Congress, the meeting said that the report adopted at the event is a political declaration and a program of action for the Party to bring together the Chinese people of all ethnic groups and lead them in securing new success for socialism with Chinese characteristics. To fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, the meeting urged efforts to accurately grasp the objectives, tasks and strategies in furthering the cause of the Party and the people in the immediate future and advance the coordinated implementation of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy. The meeting also urged further efforts by the leading Party members group of the State Council and departments under to rally closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, ensure full, rigorous self-governance of the Party and boost sustained and healthy economic and social development. The meeting of the leading Party members group of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, was presided over by Wang Yang, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and secretary of its leading Party members group. Noting the significance and the inspiring force of the report to the 20th CPC National Congress, the meeting stressed taking the study and implementation of these guiding principles as a major political task of the CPPCC, educating and guiding CPPCC members with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, focusing on the major decisions and plans adopted by the 20th CPC National Congress, and fulfilling the CPPCC's role as a specialized consultative body. NAIROBI, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- A renowned Pakistani journalist was shot dead on Sunday night by Kenyan police at a roadblock in the southeast of the capital, Nairobi, in a case of "mistaken identity", police said in a report. The police said Arshad Mohammed Sharif, 50, was killed after he and his brother Khurram Ahmed allegedly breached a roadblock that had been set up to check on motor vehicles using the route in Kajiado County. The two brothers were driving from Magadi town to Nairobi when they were flagged down at a roadblock being manned by a group of General Service Unit officers at about 10 p.m., according to the report. The roadblock was erected following a call for police to intercept a car similar to the one they were driving following a carjacking incident in Nairobi where a child was taken hostage. According to the police, Sharif's car emerged later at the roadblock and was stopped but allegedly failed to stop and drove past the roadblock. This prompted a brief chase and shooting that left Sharif dead, the police said. The car had been shot at from both the front and rear sides. The police said the brother drove off and called another Pakistani national living in the area and informed him of the incident and the latter told the brother to pass by his place. On arrival at the residence, the brother realized Sharif had died of the injury in the head. The national police said Independent Policing Oversight Authority, a civilian watchdog, will take over the case. Photo taken on Oct. 24, 2022 shows displaced people at a temporary shelter near Goma, capital of the North Kivu province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Clashes on two eastern fronts between Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) forces and rebel militias have killed civilians and uprooted thousands more, a UN spokesman said on Monday. (Photo by Zanem Nety Zaidi/Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Clashes on two eastern fronts between Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) forces and rebel militias have killed civilians and uprooted thousands more, a UN spokesman said on Monday. The UN peacekeeping mission, known as MONUSCO, reported that the most recent fighting erupted late last week and intensified over the weekend between government troops and the M23 militia in North Kivu province, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for the UN secretary-general. Dujarric said clashes intensified over the weekend, wounding at least 30 civilians reportedly trapped in combat zones. He said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, its partners, and local authorities reported that the casualties were in urgent need of health care. The office estimated that 23,000 civilians were displaced, with about 2,500 crossing into neighboring Uganda. The spokesman said the clashes along or near the road between the towns of Rutshuru and Goma threaten the delivery of aid supplies and services to Rutshuru and Kiwanja. Government forces and suspected members of the Allied Democratic Forces militia, also late last week, attacked Maboya, southwest of the town of Beni, killing seven civilians and abducting at least a dozen others. Dujarric said health centers, homes, and shops were looted and torched during the fighting. "The mission condemns the violence and is working closely with the Congolese armed forces and local police force to prevent further attacks and restore calm," the spokesman said. "We call on all of the armed groups to respect international humanitarian law and to allow aid workers to reach the people who need it the most." He said that since March this year, clashes between the armed forces of the DRC and M23 forced at least 186,000 men, women and children from their homes. Aid workers provided them with food, health care, water and hygiene. "We anticipate additional assistance will be needed due to the latest clashes," said the spokesman. Photo taken on Oct. 24, 2022 shows displaced people at a temporary shelter near Goma, capital of the North Kivu province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Clashes on two eastern fronts between Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) forces and rebel militias have killed civilians and uprooted thousands more, a UN spokesman said on Monday. (Photo by Zanem Nety Zaidi/Xinhua) Photo taken on Oct. 24, 2022 shows displaced people at a temporary shelter near Goma, capital of the North Kivu province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Clashes on two eastern fronts between Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) forces and rebel militias have killed civilians and uprooted thousands more, a UN spokesman said on Monday. (Photo by Zanem Nety Zaidi/Xinhua) Photo taken on Oct. 24, 2022 shows displaced people at a temporary shelter near Goma, capital of the North Kivu province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Clashes on two eastern fronts between Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) forces and rebel militias have killed civilians and uprooted thousands more, a UN spokesman said on Monday. (Photo by Zanem Nety Zaidi/Xinhua) ISLAMABAD, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan continues to face a growth in the number of dengue fever cases as two more deaths were reported from the disease in the South Asian country. Both deaths were reported from the country's eastern Punjab province, the provincial health authorities said on Sunday. Punjab reported 298 new cases in the last 24 hours. Its capital Lahore reported 143 new cases, followed by Rawalpindi city with 52 cases. The total number of dengue cases in Punjab this year has now gone up to 12,974. In northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, 347 more people were diagnosed with the mosquito-borne disease, the provincial health department said on Sunday evening. The number of active cases in the province currently stands at 1,453 while the total number of cases this year has reached 16,624. In the last 24 hours, the southern Sindh province reported 205 new infections, the provincial health department said on Sunday evening. The worst-hit area was Karachi, the provincial capital, which reported 136 new cases. With the newly-reported dengue cases, the October figure to date for the province has risen to 7,173, bringing the total local tally to 17,327 this year. The national capital Islamabad reported 26 new dengue cases in the last 24 hours, the health authorities said on Sunday night. The city's total tally has risen to 4,372 this year. SEOUL, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) forces returned fire in the waters near the Military Demarcation Line early Monday after a South Korean warship opened "warning fire," the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. An escort ship of the South Korean navy opened "warning fire" with the excuse of controlling a ship in the waters 20 km northwest of Paekryong (called Baengnyeong by South Korea) Island, at around 3:50 a.m. local time Monday (1850 GMT, Sunday), the KCNA quoted a spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean People's Army of DPRK as saying. The DPRK coastal defense units on the western front took a countermeasure to expel the South Korean warship by firing 10 shells of multiple rocket launchers toward the waters, as "threatening and warning fires," the spokesman said in a statement. On the South Korean side, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday that a DPRK merchant vessel violated the Northern Limit Line in waters near the front-line island of Baengnyeong at 3:42 a.m. local time (1842 GMT, Sunday) and that South Korea's navy issued warning messages and fired warning shots. The Northern Limit Line is a disputed maritime demarcation line between the DPRK and South Korea, which the DPRK has never officially recognized. SUVA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) issued on Monday a heavy rain warning for the Fijian islands. This is due to an extensive area of cloud and rain approaching the islands from the west and is expected to affect Fiji from Tuesday to Thursday. A statement issued by the weather office said that occasional rain is expected in the greater central part of the country and parts of Bua in Vanua Levu, the second largest island in Fiji, afternoon and evening showers are expected for the rest of the islands. Meteorologist Vinal Prakash said earlier that based on their forecast, the heavy rain is expected over several days. "We have a weak trough of low pressure affecting the eastern part of the country and with that, we have strong wind over waters and we expect strong wind over land areas of small islands -- the Lomaiviti islands, Kadavu, and nearby smaller islands. We have a trough of low system which is expected to approach the group from the west." Meanwhile, a strong wind warning remains in force for the land areas of the Yasawa islands, Kadavu, and nearby smaller islands, Lau and Lomaiviti islands. The weather office said that winds of this strength can break tree branches and weak and unshielded structures like temporary sheds and tents in exposed communities. The office said it will continue to monitor this weather event and update warnings and forecasts accordingly. BUCHAREST, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Romania's Defense Minister Vasile Dincu resigned on Monday, saying he could not collaborate with the country's president. "This morning, I submitted my resignation from the position of minister of national defense to the prime minister," Dincu wrote on Facebook, attaching the text of the resignation letter sent to Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca. "I justify my gesture from the perspective of the impossibility of collaborating with the president of Romania, the supreme commander of the Army," he wrote. "I consider it necessary to withdraw from this position in order not to prejudice in any way the decision-making processes and programs that require fluidity along the entire chain of command and not to block a series of projects absolutely necessary for the optimal functioning of the Ministry of National Defense and the Romanian Army." Earlier this month, Dincu said that negotiations were the only way to achieve peace in Ukraine, sparking criticism from President Klaus Iohannis and several other senior officials. Iohannis told journalists that according to Romania's official position, only Ukraine can decide when, how and what it negotiates. WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- A person was taken into custody after a U.S. military base outside Washington, D.C. reported a "barricade situation" on Sunday. According to U.S. police code, barricade situation means an incident where a person maintains a position of cover or concealment and ignores or resists law enforcement personnel, and it is reasonable to believe the subject is armed with a dangerous or deadly weapon. The incident taking place at Fort Belvoir, a U.S. Army installation in the state of Virginia, on Sunday morning, was "resolved peacefully" as of 3 p.m. (1900 GMT) with the involvement of law enforcement agencies such as Federal Bureau of Investigation, the base tweeted. Fort Belvoir is located about 30 km southwest of the U.S. capital. By Trend Armenia wants to avoid paying compensation to Chiragov and other Azerbaijani citizens in connection with 'Chiragov and Others v. Armenia' case, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan Chingiz Asgarov told Trend. He noted that in the Committee of Minister of European Council measures are being taken in connection with the payment of compensation "We believe that the Council of Europe will take measures in connection with the payment of compensation by Armenia to these persons. The next meeting will be held in December this year. Armenia evades payment of compensation. Therefore, we are taking comprehensive measures to achieve this," Agarov said. WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- A former police officer of Minneapolis in the U.S. state of Minnesota on Monday pleaded guilty in the death of African American man George Floyd. J. Alexander Kueng, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting in manslaughter after prosecutors and Kueng's defense attorney agreed to recommend a sentence of 42 months in prison. Kueng is the second to plead guilty to the state charge, following his former colleague Thomas Lane, who pleaded guilty earlier this year. A third former officer, Tou Thao, previously rejected a plea deal and agreed on Monday to go forward with a trial by stipulated evidence on one count of aiding and abetting manslaughter. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement that Kueng's guilty plea "hopefully can bring comfort to Floyd's family and bring our communities closer to a new era of accountability and justice." Floyd, 46, died on May 25, 2020, after an encounter with Minneapolis police, during which officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes. Kueng, Lane, and Thao were also present and on duty. Chauvin was sentenced in a federal court to 21 years in prison earlier this summer for violating Floyd's civil rights. The sentence is running concurrently with Chauvin's state sentence of 22.5 years after he was convicted for second and third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter. Floyd's death sparked outrage and protests across the United States in the summer of 2020 against police brutality and systemic racism. Reznikov talks with Turkish, French and British counterparts after Shoigus lies 24 October, 04:52 PM Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov (Photo:REUTERS/Yves Herman) Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov has held talks with his French, British, and Turkish counterparts after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigus false allegations about Ukraines supposed preparations of a false-flag dirty bomb attack against Russia, according to a tweet by the Ministry of Defense on Oct. 24. Reznikov spoke with the Minister of the Armed Forces of France, Sebastien Lecornu, the UK Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, and also with Hulusi Akar, the Minister of Defense of Turkey. My colleagues informed me about their talks with the Ministry of Defense of Russia, Reznikov said. Video of day "I responded to all Russian fake allegations. This is an act of nuclear blackmail from Russia. Ukraine is open to any monitoring mission. Shoigu is said to have called his French, British and Turkish counterparts the previous day, on Oct. 23. He expressed concern to all three colleagues that Ukraine was allegedly preparing provocations with the use of a dirty bomb. Shoigu is also said to have discussed this issue with the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, however, the details of the conversation were not specified. The UK confirmed that Shoigu called Wallace and discussed the alleged dirty bomb, and said that Wallace pushed back against the allegations, and warned the Russian defense minister that such accusations should not be used as a pretext for further escalation. Read also: Ukrainian interior ministry advisor explains why Putin cannot remove Shoigu The governments of the United States, France and the United Kingdom on Oct. 23 released a joint statement about their intentions to continue supporting Ukraine, discarding Russias transparently false allegations that Ukraine is allegedly preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. The Ukrainian government has denied Russias smears. Ukraine neither possesses the capability to create a dirty bomb, nor the desire to do so. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Zelenskyy appoints new head of Kyiv City Military Administration 24 October, 07:50 PM Colonel General Serhiy Popko (Photo:mil.gov.ua) President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Colonel General Serhiy Popko as the new head of the Kyiv City Military Administration on Oct. 24, according to a press release by the Presidents Office. Read also: Putin appoints new commander of occupying forces in Ukraine Zelenskyy stated that Popkos combat experience will help strengthen the defense and security of the capital. Read also: Rada appoints new human rights commissioner Popko will be replacing Mykola Zhyrnov in the role. The relevant decrees were signed on Oct. 21, the Zelenskyy administration said. The President's Office said Popko was born in Kyiv in 1961, graduated from the Kyiv Higher Combined Arms Command School, and was a platoon, battalion, unit commander, and chief of staff of a mechanized division. He also graduated from the National Defense Academy of Ukraine and held managerial positions. He has also served as part of the Ukrainian contingent in Iraq. From 2016-2019, he was the commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Video of day Help NV continue reporting on the Russian invasion Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News U.S., UK and France release joint statement on Russian Shoigus allegations against Ukraine 24 October, 12:22 PM Sergei Shoigu (Photo:Kremlin via REUTERS) The governments of the United States, France and the United Kingdom have rejected allegations made by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu that Ukraine is allegedly preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory, according to a joint statement released by all three authorities on Oct. 23. Our countries made clear that we all reject Russias transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory, reads the statement. The countries reiterated their steadfast support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russias ongoing aggression and remain committed to continue supporting Ukraines efforts to defend its territory for as long as it takes. Video of day The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation. We further reject any pretext for escalation by Russia, they added. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Oct. 23 held phone talks with his French, British and Turkish counterparts. Shoigu expressed concern to all three colleagues that Ukraine is allegedly preparing false flag attacks with the use of a dirty bomb referring to a nuclear weapon that functions more to spread radiation than to cause explosive damage. Shoigu did not reveal why Ukraine would be willing to irradiate portions of its own territory. Shoigu is also said to have discussed this issue with the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, however, the details of the conversation were not specified. The UKs Ministry of Defense also confirmed the conversation between Shoigu and the countrys defense minister, Ben Wallace. They noted that the phone call took place at the request of the Russian side. According to the ministry, Shoigu claimed that Ukraine was planning false flag operations with the help of Western countries, including the UK, to escalate the conflict. Wallace denied the claims and warned Shoigu that such accusations should not be used as a pretext for further escalation. Read also: Volodymyr Vyatrovych Nuclear Disarmament of Ukraine The Ukrainian government has denied Russias smears. Ukraine neither possesses the capability to create a dirty bomb, nor the desire to do so, and has shown no interest in nuclear weapons since its signing of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, where it traded nuclear weapons left on its territory following the collapse of the USSR for security guarantees from Russia and the United States. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News What are dirty bombs and what you should know 24 October, 06:40 PM Exclusive Dirty bomb (Photo:CC) Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the Ukrainian side was allegedly preparing false flag attacks with the use of a dirty bomb to blame Moscow. Talks about the use of such weapons in Ukraine have been going on since 2015. What should people know about them? Russia reported on Oct. 23 that Shoigu had conversations with French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, and British Defense Minister Ben Wallace. Video of day In particular, Shoigu expressed concern about possible provocations by Ukraine using a dirty bomb. The Ukrainian side, represented by presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, called these statements absurd and evidence-free. Russian lies about Ukraine allegedly planning to use a dirty bomb are as absurd as they are dangerous, Kuleba tweeted on Oct. 23. Firstly, Ukraine is a committed NPT (the Non-Proliferation Treaty) member: we neither have any dirty bombs, nor plan to acquire any. Secondly, Russians often accuse others of what they plan themselves. The foreign minister added that Russias dirty bomb disinformation campaign might be aimed at creating a pretext for a false flag operation. Kuleba confirmed that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken shares the same opinion, with whom they discussed further practical steps to boost Ukraines air defense. Back in mid-2015, the U.S.-based Newsweek and the UK-based The Times online newspapers wrote that the fighters of the sham republics LPR/DPR consulted with Russian specialists in the field of nuclear weapons to produce a dirty bomb. In February 2022, Russian propaganda accused Ukraines National Corps of creating a dirty bomb, in parallel with the statement of the Russian intelligences head about the preparation of Ukrainian jihadists for an offensive in the Donbas. NV found out what a dirty bomb actually is, who has these weapons, and whether there were recorded cases of its use in hostilities. Nuclear weapons at a minimum A dirty bomb is a type of radiological weapon of mass destruction that scatters a radioactive substance over a quite large area. A dirty bomb works completely differently (from a nuclear bomb) and cannot create an atomic blast, experts at the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention say. Instead, a dirty bomb uses dynamite or other explosives to scatter radioactive dust, smoke, or other material in order to cause radioactive contamination. The concept of radiological weapons appeared in the middle of the 20th century, after the U.S. Manhattan Project and the only combat use of nuclear weapons in history, against the Imperial Japan in World War 2. Dirty bombs work on the theory that radioactive isotopes, including iodine-131, cesium-137, strontium-89, etc. will scatter over a certain territory and cause damage to enemy manpower by ionizing radiation. In addition, long-term contamination can make the territory unfit for habitation, hostilities, or economic activity. Due to the relatively low power of the explosion (or its absence), radiological weapons are inferior in effectiveness to nuclear warheads. However, such weapons are much easier to manufacture if their developers have access to radioactive materials. As for the dirty bomb itself, in fact, it is a high-explosive munition, whose charge is supplemented with radioactive material. This material is scattered over the area during the detonation, subsequently affecting all living organisms. Despite a number of shortcomings, taking into account the low efficiency, the danger of manufacturing and the risk of the spread of radioactive substances not only on enemy territory, it is known that the United States and the Soviet Union tested various types of radiological weapons, including dirty bombs, in the second half of the 20th century. Later, this type of weapon began to attract various terrorist groups interested in causing harm in any way. The use of dirty bombs Several countries, including the United States, Russia, and Great Britain, have shells made of depleted uranium in service. Various sides claimed the use of such weapons during hostilities in Yugoslavia, Iraq and Syria. Despite the low radioactivity of depleted uranium and its use in warheads as fuel, scientists stated the severe consequences of these weapons for people, as well as the difficulties in decontaminating areas where depleted uranium weapons have been used. Dirty bombs, on the other hand, have never been officially used and are not in service with any country. However, in the early 1990s, Russian authorities announced several dozen alleged cases of theft of radioactive materials from state facilities. Read also: External power restored to Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant safety systems The threat of nuclear terrorism in Russia was primarily associated with the armed conflict in Chechnya. According to the Russian newspaper Kommersant, in late 1995, law enforcement agencies of Chelyabinsk Oblast began a probe into a criminal case regarding the theft of radioactive cesium-137 from the Bakal Iron Ore Enterprise. Around the same time, on Nov. 21, 1995, Chechen opposition leader Shamil Basayev allegedly personally indicated to Russian journalist Yelena Masyuk the location of a container with radioactive materials in Moscows Izmaylovsky Park. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said the container emitted 600 micro-X-rays per hour at a distance of one meter. It was assumed that it was a technical device for calibrating radioactive devices. In 2021, Israeli and Turkish scientists reported that they had developed a solution in the event of usage of a dirty bomb. Israeli authorities feared that such weapons could be used against their citizens by the Islamist organization Hezbollah, which controls Lebanon and supports the Assad regime in Syria. It was assumed that dirty bomb may be deployed against the Israeli parliament building or the prime ministers office. Dirty bombs in Ukraine The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission says most dirty bombs would not release enough radiation to kill people or cause severe illness, but could create panic and contaminate property. The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation, the U.S., British and French ministers said in response to Russias transparently false allegations. "We further reject any pretext for escalation by Russia. Russian Defense Minister Shoigu, as well as the Russian media, which circulated his statements, did not provide any actual evidence of the presence of radiological weapons or dirty bombs in Ukraine. Read also: Ukrainian interior ministry advisor explains why Putin cannot remove Shoigu Russia has made similar unfounded accusations about Ukraine planning to use dirty bombs and nuclear weapons since the early days of the invasion, Forbes journalist Carlie Porterfield wrote on Oct. 23. Russia has previously blamed Ukraine for shelling the occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, despite conducting the shelling themselves. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News A popularly distributed portrait of Laxmi Prasad Devkota In the history of Nepali literature, there is no one who compares with Laxmi Prasad Devkota. Known as Mahakavi (the great poet), Devkota during this life not only wrote poems but also authored books in several genres and was involved in various other activities too. Born on the auspicious day of Laxmi Puja resulting in the name Laxmi Prasad Devkota, this man has an air of mystery about him. But, on his birthday, lets look at some interesting facts about him. 1. Was a proficient English writer Many think Laxmi Prasad Devkota only wrote poems in Nepali but he was an avid reader of western literature and was influenced by poets like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He translated his own epic, Shakuntala, into English and wrote many poems, essays, plays and epics in English. One of his most famous English poems is The Lunatic, the authorial translation of his Nepali poem Pagal, which was featured in Tribhuvan Universitys several English courses for years. He also translated William Shakespeares Hamlet from English to Nepali. 2. Was a minister too Due to his work in literature and education, Laxmi Prasad Devkota was even made the countrys minister for education and autonomous governance by King Tribhuvan when Kunwar Inderjit (KI) Singh was the countrys prime minister. He was not as active in mainstream politics prior to that but was believed to have been close to the Nepali Congress as he was the editor of their newspaper Yugvani. He served for only 10 months. 3. Was a chain smoker Laxmi Prasad Devkota loved smoking cigarettes. Him writing poems on his cigarettes is well-known. But, there are also people who say he could not live without cigarettes and could not even write without smoking one. But, his same habit turned out to be his downfall as he was diagnosed with lung cancer and succumbed to it in 1959, aged 49. 4. Survived on tutoring Coming from a middle-class family with not many job opportunities around, he became a tutor and taught a lot of students over the years. This helped him sustain himself and study in India and look after his family. Laxmi Prasad Devkotas Muna Madan is one of the best-selling Nepali books of all time. Photo: Wikimedia Commons 5. His misunderstandings with his wife were notorious Laxmi Prasad Devkotas relationship with his wife is believed to have been quite poor. There is not enough proof around, but there are audio recordings in which he has scolded his wife for not understanding him or his love for art. He is once reported to have said to his wife, Tonight lets abandon the children to the care of society and youth and renounce this world at bedtime and take potassium cyanide or morphine or something like that. 6. Sent to a mental asylum When he was in his late 20s, Laxmi Prasad Devkota, who suffered from nervous breakdowns, was sent to a mental asylum in Ranchi where he spent half a year. Many then thought Devkota had gone mad, but Dr Own Berkeley-Hill is believed to have said how Devkota was perfectly fine and it was a sin for him, such a literary talent, to have been born in Nepal and that he was perfectly fine. 7. One of the best-selling Nepali writers of all time He is almost untouchable when it comes to best-selling writers in the country. There is not a person in Nepal who does not know about this short epic poem, Muna Madan. 8. Denied Madan Puraskar For someone who was so revered, Laxmi Prasad Devkota never won the Madan Puraskar, Nepals most prestigious literary prize, as many of his peers and those within the palace felt that if he won, Rani Jagadamba, the founder of Madan Puraskar, would learn about his work and be very generous and give him more than just the prize. There are people who say various plots were waved to keep him and his work out of her knowledge. DUBLIN, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Cord Blood Banking Services Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Research and Markets Logo The global cord blood banking services market reached a value of US$ 1.48 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach a value of US$ 2.83 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 11.41% 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. Cord blood banking is a procedure of collecting and storing life-saving stem cells from the umbilical cord and placenta for future use. It uses hematopoietic stem cells that are present in the cord blood of the baby to develop it into red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets. It aids in the treatment of cancer, blood diseases and immune system disorders as cord blood banking is less complicated, painful and risky for the donor compared to the collection of stem cells from bone marrow. As a result, it finds extensive applications in hospitals, research institutes, and specialty clinics. The growing prevalence of different cancers, such as lymphoma and leukemia, due to longer working hours, stressful lives, and excessive smoking and alcohol consumption represents one of the key factors driving the market. Moreover, there is an increase in the utilization of cord blood banking services for the treatment of immunodeficiency disorders across the globe. This, coupled with the increasing awareness among individuals about the benefits and wide availability of cord blood banking service providers, is propelling the growth of the market. In addition, governments of several countries are extensively investing in research and development (R&D) activities to facilitate clinical trials of cord blood stem cells. Story continues In line with this, the growing number of patients with damaged bone marrow worldwide is positively influencing the market. Besides this, the rising diagnostic screening of cord blood in private centers as per guidelines and regulations of regulatory authorities is offering lucrative growth opportunities to industry investors. Additionally, the expanding healthcare industry is strengthening the growth of the market. Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Alphacord LLC, Americord Registry LLC, ATCC, California Cryobank, Cordlife Group LImited, Cryo-Cell International Inc., Global Cord Blood Corporation, LifeBank, LifeCell International Pvt. Ltd., National Cord Blood Program, Norton Healthcare Inc., Perkinelmer Inc. and StemCyte India Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd. Key Questions Answered in This Report: How has the global cord blood banking services market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global cord blood banking services market? What are the key regional markets? What is the breakup of the market based on the component? What is the breakup of the market based on the storage services? What is the breakup of the market based on the application? What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry? What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry? What is the structure of the global cord blood banking services market and who are the key players? What is the degree of competition in the industry? Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Key Industry Trends 5 Global Cord Blood Banking Services Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Component 6.1 Cord Blood 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Cord Tissue 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Storage Services 7.1 Public Cord Blood Banks 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 Private Cord Blood Banks 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by Application 8.1 Cancer Disease 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 Diabetes 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Blood Disease 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 8.4 Immune Disorders 8.4.1 Market Trends 8.4.2 Market Forecast 8.5 Metabolic Disorders 8.5.1 Market Trends 8.5.2 Market Forecast 8.6 Others 8.6.1 Market Trends 8.6.2 Market Forecast 9 Market Breakup by Region 10 SWOT Analysis 11 Value Chain Analysis 12 Porters Five Forces Analysis 13 Price Analysis 14 Competitive Landscape 14.1 Market Structure 14.2 Key Players 14.3 Profiles of Key Players 14.3.1 Alphacord LLC 14.3.1.1 Company Overview 14.3.1.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.2 Americord Registry LLC 14.3.2.1 Company Overview 14.3.2.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.3 ATCC 14.3.3.1 Company Overview 14.3.3.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.4 California Cryobank 14.3.4.1 Company Overview 14.3.4.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.5 Cordlife Group LImited 14.3.5.1 Company Overview 14.3.5.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.5.3 Financials 14.3.6 Cryo-Cell International Inc. 14.3.6.1 Company Overview 14.3.6.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.6.3 Financials 14.3.7 Global Cord Blood Corporation 14.3.7.1 Company Overview 14.3.7.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.8 LifeBank 14.3.8.1 Company Overview 14.3.8.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.9 LifeCell International Pvt. Ltd. 14.3.9.1 Company Overview 14.3.9.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.10 National Cord Blood Program 14.3.10.1 Company Overview 14.3.10.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.11 Norton Healthcare Inc. 14.3.11.1 Company Overview 14.3.11.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.12 Perkinelmer Inc. 14.3.12.1 Company Overview 14.3.12.2 Product Portfolio 14.3.12.3 Financials 14.3.12.4 SWOT Analysis 14.3.13 StemCyte India Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd. 14.3.13.1 Company Overview 14.3.13.2 Product Portfolio For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/f2xhv Media Contact: Laura Wood | +353-1-481-1716 | press@researchandmarkets.net Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2-83-billion-worldwide-cord-blood-banking-services-industry-to-2027---featuring-alphacord-americord-registry-atcc-and-california-cryobank-among-others-301657137.html SOURCE Research and Markets TORONTO, Oct. 24, 2022 /CNW/ - This morning, Law Society of Ontario Treasurer Jaqueline Horvat launched the seventh annual Access to Justice Week (A2J) in Ontario with a sunrise ceremony led by Indigenous Elder Myeengun Henry. Law Society of Ontario bilingual logo (CNW Group/The Law Society of Ontario) Together with national partners, Access to Justice Week (October 24 to 28) includes a series of interactive virtual workshops, panels and seminars exploring the qualitative and quantitative data currently available to the justice sector, what data should be collected, and how data can be effectively used to understand and address the legal needs of Canadians. "The Law Society has a mandate to facilitate access to justice for the people of Ontario," said Treasurer Horvat. "A2J Week is very important. It brings focus to this issue and engages legal professionals, colleagues from the justice sector, academics, service providers and Ontarians in meaningful discussion about current barriers and possible solutions." Access to Justice Week 2022 features a robust schedule of programs for legal professionals, and community and justice sector workers. Highlights include sessions about career pathways for paralegals, dangerous workplaces and low pay, barriers to accessing justice for Indigenous, trans people, women, ethnic minorities and low-income populations in Canada, as well as the role of technology in the legal system. A2J Week programming also includes free educational opportunities for members of the public. It is an opportunity for the public to familiarize themselves with the justice system, and to know more about their rights. Programs for the public include the following: University of Ottawa Law Practice Program free legal clinic 2022 - October 26 & 27 Language rights and French-language services in Ontario - October 27 Answers to your everyday legal questions - October 27 Visit the TAG website for full details of the week's programming. Legal professionals from across Canada, members of the public and media are welcome to attend programming, free of charge. Space is limited, so advance registration is required. Story continues 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. 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. Photos of today's sunrise ceremony and B-roll are available for download from the Law Society's Media Room. Members of the media: please confirm your attendance at any of the sessions in advance by contacting the media contact below. Thank you. 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/October2022/24/c3150.html LAGUNA HILLS, Calif., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Adagio Medical, Inc., a leading innovator in catheter ablation technologies for atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT), announced its first pulsed field cryoablation (PFCA) procedure performed using the Adagio CryoPulse catheter system as part of the PARALELL (Pulsed Field Ablation and Pulsed Field CRyoAbLation in PErsistent AtriaL FibriLlation) clinical trial, NCT #05408754. The procedure was performed at St. Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein, Netherlands by Lucas Boersma, MD, PhD, Professor at Amsterdam UMC, and a co-principal investigator of the trial. "PFCA is a unique ablation modality consisting of a 30-second ultra-low temperature cryoablation (ULTC) cycle with pulsed field ablation (PFA) delivered at the very end of the cycle using a single catheter system," said Dr. Boersma. "The recent trial of ULTC established a new benchmark of ablation effectiveness in persistent AF with reported 85% freedom from AF after a single procedure, and the PARALELL trial will test the performance of PFCA against that benchmark, with additional benefit of shorter ablation times. In addition, the trial design allows for randomization of patients to PFCA or PFA, delivered by the same catheter to create identical sets of lesions with similar characteristics." "PFA has recently captured the attention of the EP community with the expectation of achieving safer and faster procedures based on the selective effect on the myocardium as compared to currently dominant point-by-point RF ablations, and multiple PFA systems are currently undergoing clinical evaluations," said Dr. Atul Verma, MD, Associate Professor and Director, Division of Cardiology McGill University Health Centre, PARALELL co-principal investigator and a world-renowned expert in PFA. "Physiologically, PFCA builds on the tissue selectivity of PFA by focusing electrical fields into a target myocardial tissue, pre-treated by short-duration ULTC to increase lesion depth and ensure transmurality, and by forming the isolating layer of ice between the electrodes and the blood. As a result, microbubble showers, phrenic nerve capture and muscle contractions observed in traditional PFA are effectively eliminated. So, in effect, we are taking advantage of the benefits of ULTC and PFA collectively, while minimizing their individual disadvantages." The ablation procedures in the PARALELL trial will be performed using the first generation of Adagio's CryoPulse PFCA catheter in combination with proprietary PFA and iCLAS cryoablation consoles. The iCLAS cryoablation system for treatment of paroxysmal and persistent AF as well as atrial flutter received CE Mark and is commercial in Europe. The safety and effectiveness of the iCLAS system for the treatment of persistent AF are being evaluated in an FDA IDE trial in the US (NCT # 04061603). The Adagio Medical clinical trials portfolio also includes the Cryocure-VT trial (NCT #04893317) which is evaluating safety and performance of the vCLAS ULTC catheter system for treatment of monomorphic ventricular tachycardias. "The initiation of the PARALELL trial is another step towards Adagio's goal to advance the field of clinical EP and to improve the outcomes of arrhythmia patients with catheter technologies of uncompromising durability, versatility and safety," said Olav Bergheim, President and CEO of Adagio Medical. "Our immediate goal is to use the results of the PARALELL study to obtain CE Mark for the first-generation CryoPulse catheter system, thus putting all three ablation modalities, ULTC, PFA, and PFCA at the fingertips of every electrophysiologist, first in Europe and eventually worldwide." About Adagio Medical Adagio Medical, Inc. (www.adagiomedical.com) is a privately held company located in Laguna Hills, California developing innovative cryoablation technologies that create contiguous, transmural lesions to treat cardiac arrhythmias, including paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and ventricular tachycardia. Adagio Medical, Inc. is a Fjord Ventures portfolio company. Follow Adagio Medical on: Related Links https://adagiomedical.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/adagio-medical-announces-initiation-and-first-patient-enrollment-in-paralell-trial-to-investigate-safety-and-performance-of-cryopulse-catheter-system-for-pulsed-field-ablation-and-pulsed-field-cryoablation-of-persistent-atrial-fi-301656944.html SOURCE Adagio Medical, Inc. FILE PHOTO: Pipes at the landfall facilities of the 'Nord Stream 1' gas pipline in Lubmin By Jonathan Saul and Carolyn Cohn LONDON (Reuters) - With the mystery of the blasts that destroyed undersea gas pipelines between Russia and Germany unsolved, Nord Stream 1's insurers and reinsurers are grappling with how to respond to hundreds of millions of dollars in potential claims. Munich Re and syndicates within the Lloyd's of London market are among the major underwriters for Nord Stream 1, four industry sources with knowledge of the situation said, adding that it was unclear whether they would renew its cover. If the insurance is not renewed, the prospect of the pipeline bringing gas to Europe under the Baltic Sea ever being repaired and restarted becomes more remote. Even before leaks were found, supplies via Nord Stream 1 had been halted as a result of a dispute over Western sanctions on Russia, while the newly-built Nord Stream 2 pipeline had not started commercial deliveries. While a claim has not yet been made for the damage and disruption to the pipeline, two of the sources told Reuters, Nord Stream 1's underwriters may dispute any submitted on the grounds that the damage was an act of self-sabotage, or of war, neither of which are generally covered by insurance. Amid speculation as to who was behind alleged sabotage that severed the pipelines at the centre of an energy crisis prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Danish police said on Oct. 18 that the damage to Nord Stream 1 was caused by powerful blasts. While damage itself would not necessarily affect the renewal of a property policy, insurers might ask for more premium, said Tim Shepherd, a litigation partner at Mayer Brown. For the underwriters of the pipeline system, which Nord Stream's website says was built with 7.8 billion euros ($7.6 billion) of investment, the stakes are high. Reuters was not able to identify all of its underwriters, but another of the sources said Swiss insurer Zurich also had exposure to Nord Stream 1. Munich Re, Zurich and Lloyd's all declined to comment. Story continues "Even if you are taking a small size (of cover), it is a big risk," one of the four industry sources said. "The issue is going to be what happens if you can't prove it is a state sponsor (responsible for the blasts), you end up with a massive claim for damage," the source added. Nord Stream 1's majority shareholder with a 51% stake is a subsidiary of Russian energy group Gazprom, which is subject to sanctions by the United States, Britain and Canada as well as some European Union restrictions. Two of the sources said renewal of Nord Stream 1 cover by the Lloyd's syndicates would be challenging given the risk of tighter sanctions on Gazprom, which would prevent paying claims. German energy groups Wintershall and E.ON, meanwhile, hold 15.5% each. Wintershall did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An E.ON spokesperson said Nord Stream 1's operating company was responsible for operational issues, including insurance. "Nord Stream AG remains in close contact with relevant authorities about the recent incident. Due to prevailing uncertainties, we as a shareholder continuously monitor developments and are in close contact with the other relevant stakeholders," the spokesperson said. Gazprom and Swiss-based Nord Stream AG, did not respond to requests for comment, while French energy provider ENGIE, which has a 9% stake, declined to comment. Dutch natural gas infrastructure company N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie, which also has a 9% stake, said it would assess the situation as soon as there was more clarity. "The exact extent of the damage and possible follow-up actions can only be determined after inspection of the pipelines and that is not yet possible at this moment," Gasunie said. "We are in close contact with our European partners and the relevant government authorities," it added. 'DELIBERATE ACT'? Nord Stream's insurers will have to prove that its policy does not cover the damage caused by the blasts in order to avoid paying out on any claim, lawyers said. Although property policies typically exclude malicious damage, policy holders often buy extra cover, which is likely in Nord Stream's case, legal and insurance sources said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the United States and its allies blew up the pipelines, an allegation that has been dismissed by the White House. U.S. President Joe Biden has said damage to Nord Stream was a deliberate act of sabotage. The West has not directly pointed the finger at Moscow, which has denied any involvement. French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier this month that Nordic leaders had told their European partners it was still impossible to say at this stage who was behind the damage. If a Western state actor was found to be responsible, the damage might be designated as an act of terror, which one broking source said might be covered by insurance. However, if investigations found Russia to have been involved, insurers could argue it was an act of "self-sabotage", given Gazprom is owned by the state. "If there was a deliberate act by the policyholder, you are not going to have a covered claim," said David Pryce, managing partner at Fenchurch Law, which is not involved with the policy. If there was any Russian involvement it could also mean the Nord Stream 1 damage being designated as an act of war, something that is typically excluded by insurance policies. ($1 = 1.0289 euros) (Additional reporting by Christoph Steitz and Tom Sims in Frankfurt, Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow, Toby Sterling in Amsterdam and Benjamin Mallet in Paris and Alexander Huebner in Munich; Editing by Rachel Armstrong and Alexander Smith) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has arrived in Georgia for a working visit. A guard of honor was arranged for President Ilham Aliyev at Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport decorated with the national flags of the two countries. The head of state was welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Ilia Darchiashvili and other officials. Archrock HOUSTON, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Archrock, Inc. (NYSE:AROC) (Archrock) will host a conference call on Thursday, November 3, 2022, to discuss its third quarter 2022 financial and operating results. The call will begin at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Archrock will release its third quarter 2022 earnings report prior to the conference call. To listen to the call via a live webcast, please visit Archrocks website at www.archrock.com. The call will also be available by dialing 1 (888) 440-5667 in the United States and Canada, or 1 (646) 960-0476 for international calls. The access code is 4749623. A replay of the webcast will be available for 90 days on Archrocks website shortly after the call. About Archrock Archrock is an energy infrastructure company with a primary focus on midstream natural gas compression and a commitment to helping its customers produce, compress and transport natural gas in a safe and environmentally responsible way. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Archrock is the leading provider of natural gas compression services to customers in the energy industry throughout the U.S. and a leading supplier of aftermarket services to customers that own compression equipment. For more information on how the Company embodies its purpose, WE POWER A CLEANER AMERICATM, visit www.archrock.com . SOURCE: Archrock, Inc. For information, contact: Megan Repine Vice President, Investor Relations (281) 836-8360 investor.relations@archrock.com Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty/YouTube The most dangerous politician in America is about to take the debate stage. No, not former President Donald Trumpbut Blake Masters, the GOP nominee for Senate in Arizona. When he faces off against the incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly, Masters will likely be on his very best behavior. After running to the fringes of right-wing politics in his primary, he now needs to convince skeptical voters that hes not actually as extreme as they think, and that all the crazy things they heard him say over the past year were just misrepresentations made up by Democrats and the media. But Masters is just as far outside the ideological mainstream as he let on during the primary. Trumps MAGA Heirs Want a Kinder, Gentler Authoritarianism He thinks that America is in a period of extreme societal declinea dystopian hell world, in his wordsand evil and incompetent Democrats are mostly to blame. To rescue our country from the left, Masters believes that America needs a more combative Republican Party willing to weaponize state power to pursue a hard-right nationalistic agenda, enforce socially conservative values, and punish anybody who gets in the way. Of course, far-right nationalism itself isnt all that unique within the post-Trump GOP. But Masters worldview is both more thoughtful and more extreme than those of his Republican counterparts. He hasnt arrived at this perspective merely out of political expediency: hes a true believer in hard-right nationalism and a harsh critic of small-L liberalism. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty In crafting his worldview, Masters has studied, befriended, and been mentored by a set of illiberal thinkers with discrete authoritarian streaks. The illustrious list includes Singapores late leader Lee Kuan Yew, tech billionaire Peter Thiel, domestic terrorist Ted Kaczynski (aka the Unabomber), and neo-reactionary monarchist Curtis Yarvin. If you read that and thought, does monarchist mean what I think it does? The answer is yes, and Masters has been reading and recommending Yarvins writing for over a decade. Story continues Far from being a trivial philosophical interest, Yarvin and his work have had a tangible influence on Masters. In one instance, when asked at a conference how he would drain the swamp, Masters responded that one of my friends has this acronym he calls RAGE. Retire All Government Employees. That friend, naturally, is Curtis Yarvin. Likewise, Yarvins first-ever campaign contribution was a max-out donation to Masters during the heat of the Republican primary. To be sure, we shouldnt treat Masters as guilty by association. But Masters illiberal ideology has, at the very least, been heavily influenced by his relationships with far-right extremists and authoritarians. By contrast, other right-wing Republicans like Trump or Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene wouldnt be able to expound on the flaws of classical liberalism in the same way that Masters does, and their relationships with extremist thinkers are superficial and transactional rather than philosophical and personal. But ideological extremism alone doesnt make someone the greatest threat in American politics. What makes Masters more dangerous than any of the other hard-right figures in the GOP is that his extremism is backed up by a uniquely aggressive temperament, an unrelenting hatred of the left, and an all-too-realistic path to the heights of power. Blake Masters Says Hes Avoided Chinese Investments. Untrue. When it comes to his disposition, Masters is angrier and darker than other politicians on the American right. Take Trump for example: despite his inflammatory rhetoric, he typically attempts to deliver it with a bit of irony or humor. Masters, by comparison, is grim and sinister, and has worked hard to cultivate a Dark MAGA aura around himself. Just skim the homepage of his campaign website to see for yourself. Or take a look at his ominous TV adsparticularly the one in which hes holding a gun and says, This is a short-barreled rifle. It wasnt designed for hunting. This is designed to kill people. Its this embrace of violent imagery and macho masculinity that brings Masters closer to the F-word than other Republicans. Masters aims his aggression almost exclusively at Democrats, who he thinks are evil and bent on destroying the country. Brandon Bell/Getty For instance, hes tweeted that progressivism is the most deadly virus we face and that it rots brains and nations; his website states that the Democrats are the party of lawlessness and anarchy; and hes called the left the enemy of everything that is good. Needless to say, others within the GOP have expressed anti-leftist messages before, but Masters level of fury and use of dehumanizing language represent a novel escalation of the culture wars. And if he genuinely believes what he says, then he likely also thinks that he has the license to do pretty much whatever it takes to stop the left from destroying America. What makes a potential Masters Senate victory downright scary is that hell have a clear path to even greater political power. Most important in this context is his backing from three key power brokers in right-wing politics. Take Trumps Warning of Violence for What It Isa Threat First, theres Donald Trump, the de-facto leader of the GOP who endorsed Masters in the primary and remains a dedicated supporter. Second, theres Peter Thiel, the billionaire tech investor who has mentored Masters for more than a decade and dropped over $15 million to support his campaign so far. Third, theres Tucker Carleson, the most influential voice in conservative media who calls Masters the future of the Republican Party. Together, the three Ts represent the political, financial, and media gears that turn the right-wing machine in America. With their support, Masters could quickly climb the rungs of GOP politics, andif were being really pessimisticits not hard to imagine him running for president a few years down the line. On the other hand, if were lucky, Masters political fortunes will be torpedoed next month. One downside of staking your political prospects on a hyper-machismo image is that defeat makes you look weak. Sure, he could throw a tantrum and declare a fraudulent election, but without unwavering loyalty of the sort that Trump commands, Masters will end up looking less like a martyr and more like a sore loser. A loss for Masters would likely deflate all the air out of his nationalistic balloon and send him to the dustbin of American politics. For the most dangerous politician in America, thats the best outcome any of us could possibly hope for. 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. BOUYGUES Press release Paris, 24/10/2022 BOUYGUES SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES 2.25 BILLION BOND ISSUE Bouygues has successfully completed a bond issue totalling 2.25 billion, comprising two separate tranches: 1.25 billion for 10 years, with a coupon of 4.625%. The economic cost for the Group, after factoring in pre-hedging, comes to slightly below 2.05%. 1 billion for 20 years, with a coupon of 5.375%. The economic cost for the Group, after factoring in pre-hedging, comes to slightly below 3.15%. Bouygues thus completes a major milestone in the refinancing of the two-year 4.7 billion syndicated loan used for the acquisition of Equans. The strong demand for this issue from bond investors confirms the markets confidence in the Groups creditworthiness. Bouygues' credit rating is A3/stable outlook with Moodys and A-/ CreditWatch Negative with Standard & Poors. ABOUT BOUYGUES Bouygues is a diversified services group operating in over 80 countries with 200,000 employees all working to make life better every day. Its business activities in construction (Bouygues Construction, Bouygues Immobilier, Colas), energies & services (Equans) media (TF1) and telecoms (Bouygues Telecom) are able to drive growth since they all satisfy constantly changing and essential needs. INVESTORS AND ANALYSTS CONTACT: INVESTORS@bouygues.com Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 20 10 79 PRESS CONTACT: presse@bouygues.com Tel. : +33 (0)1 44 20 12 01 BOUYGUES SA 32 avenue Hoche 75378 Paris CEDEX 08 bouygues.com Attachment /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAW./ VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 24, 2022 /CNW/ - Canada Energy Partners Inc. (NEX: CE.H) (the "Company" or "CE") today announced the execution of a Participation Agreement ("PA") and Joint Operating Agreement with Arcadia Operating, LLC ("Arcadia") and the Standard Mutual Assurance Company, LLC to drill three development wells on the Grand Slam oil and gas production leases in Matagorda County, Texas. The Grand Slam field is located 90 miles south of Houston and the three proposed well sites are in the middle of existing oil and gas infrastructure, pipelines and gathering stations. The Grand Slam field entered production in 2,000 and has a history of prolific production. The fundamental terms of the PA are as follows: (i) the Company will advance USD$13.5 million to acquire interests in the three development wells; (ii) upon commencement of production, the Company will receive first priority to 70.74% of the net production revenues; and (iii) upon repayment of the Company's capital contributions, the working interest entitlements will be adjusted to 53.06%. The Company intends to complete an equity financing to fund its capital contribution obligations under the PA and to provide for working capital. The terms of the proposed financing will be announced shortly in consultation with the Company's capital markets advisors. Completion of the proposed transaction under the PA is subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. "This agreement represents our first project in Texas and we are excited to partner with Arcadia Operating and SMAC Partners as we are aligned on the significant potential of the Grand Slam Project," said Grant Hall, President and CEO of Canada Energy Partners. "The company continues to investigate and review other investment opportunities and will be using the funds earned from the Grand Slam to pursue similar opportunities wherever they are located." Opportunity Highlights Located in one of the world's major mega basins Asset surrounded by major upstream and midstream infrastructure Up to $28 Million of NPV (10) potential Gross reserves of 21 BCF and 674 MBO associated with proposed development plan Additional unquantified contingent resources provide optionality and running room Highly experienced and proven management Project largely de-risked Grand Slam (Figure 1) offers and attractive opportunity to acquire 53.06% working interest by drilling three (3) development wells in the thickest portion of the Claughton A&B reservoirs (Frio Fm), that will recover ~21 BCF & 647,000 Bbls of gross reserves at a total capital expenditure of approximately $13.5 million. Each new well is estimated to cost ~$4.7 million to drill and complete (D&C). It is expected the new wells will produce a balance mix of gas (85%) and liquids (15%), providing a high-margin stable cashflow. Arcadia is the non-operated partner and brings nearly 100 years of operating experience in the basin. Grand Slam is a liquid-rich gas field discovered in 2000 by the completion of the Runnells Gas Unit Well No.3. The discovery well initially produced 22 MMscfpd. Located in the heart of the Frio trend wedged between several large gulf coast fields 90 miles SW of Houston in Matagorda County. Grand Slam is covered by proprietary 3D seismic, it produced ~21 BCF of gas and 665,000 Bbls of condensate, out of 7 wells within the leased acreage (704 acres). Historically, some of the wells had an initial production (IP) ~20 MMscfpd and 620 Bcpd. (Figure 1). Reserves volumes reported below (Table) are the result of a third-party reserves evaluation as of June 1, 2022, performed by Chapman Petroleum Engineering Ltd. ("Chapman") of Calgary, Alberta and was conducted in accordance with the definitions, standards and procedures contained in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluators Handbook ("COGEH") and National Instrument 51-101 - Standards for Disclosure of Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101"). The table below shows the Total Proved Undeveloped (PUD), Probable (2P) and Possible (3P) reserves in Gross and Net to CEP. Chapman's reserves evaluation only considers the proposed three (3) well development plan. Other resources could be produced with additional infill drilling locations as estimated by the Operator. Figure 1. Grand Slam location map (CNW Group/Canada Energy Partners Inc.) Table 1 (CNW Group/Canada Energy Partners Inc.) Arcadia is a 93-year-old independent Texas based oil and gas company with its antecedent founding in 1929 shortly after the discovery of the great East Texas oil field. The company which was a part of the early Texas petroleum industry pioneers was headquartered in Tyler, Texas for 61 years before moving to Dallas, Texas in 1991. The company's operational activities have been primarily focused on the Gulf Coast, Eastern, and Southern regions of Texas where it has overseen thousands of wells in all phases of development. Forward Looking Statement Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's objectives, goals or future plans. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause 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 and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; those additional risks set out in CEP's public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com; and other matters discussed in this news release. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility of the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Glossary Bbls: barrels of crude oil BCF: Billion Cubic Feet of natural gas Bcpd: barrels of condensate per day MMscfpd: Millions of standard cubic feet of natural gas per day (gas volume at 60F and 14.65 psia) MBO: Thousands of barrels of Oil. Qualified Person's Statement The technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Ricardo Chona, a consultant to CEP. Mr. Chona is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), holds a M.Sc. in Petroleum Engineering from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech) and has over 30 years' experience in the oil and gas industry. The recovery and reserve estimates provided in this news release are estimates only, and there is no guarantee that the estimated reserves will be recovered. Actual reserves may eventually prove to be greater than, or less than, the estimates provided herein. In certain of the tables set forth above, the columns may not fully reconcile due to rounding. SOURCE Canada Energy Partners Inc. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/24/c1785.html WINNIPEG, MB, Oct. 24, 2022 /CNW/ - Tomorrow is World Pasta Day and, as the world's leading exporter of durum wheat, Canada has a lot to celebrate. A field of Canadian durum against a bright blue Prairie sky. (CNW Group/Cereals Canada) Cereals Canada invites you to celebrate Canada's internationally renowned durum wheat on World Pasta Day, Oct. 25, 2022 Renowned for its quality, Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) is in demand around the world. Over the last five years over 23 million tonnes of Canadian durum were exported to 49 countries, including Morocco, Algeria, Italy, the United States, Peru, and Japan. Grown exclusively in the prairie provinces, CWAD accounts for over half of the world's durum exports. Its superior yellow pigmentation, high protein content, good gluten quality, and semolina yield make it a prized wheat for pasta. "CWAD provides the beautiful, bright yellow colour that pasta makersand pasta loverslook for," says Kasia McMillin, Cereals Canada technical specialist, end-products Asian products and pasta. "As for texture, pasta made with Canadian durum has a satisfying, firm bite quality that is inherent of its protein content and gluten strength. I think CWAD makes the best pasta in the world." Cereals Canada is encouraging all Canadians to celebrate our internationally renowned durum wheat on World Pasta Day, Oct. 25, 2022, with one or more of these activities: Eat pasta! Don't let World Pasta Day go by without digging into a plate of spaghetti, rotini, penne, or one of the other 600+ shapes of pasta. Pasta is easy to cook, economical, and a favourite of kids and adults alike. Host a pasta potluck. Invite your friends and family to bring their favourite cold or hot pasta dish, or exchange pasta recipes in a virtual get together. The pastabilities are endless. Shop for pasta made with 100% Canadian durum semolina. Check the label or ask your retailer. Show your support of Canadian durum growers, using the hashtags #CelebrateCanadianDurum and #WorldPastaDay on Twitter and Instagram. Share a photo of your pasta meal and let others know how much you love Canadian wheat. Story continues About Cereals Canada Cereals Canada is the national, not-for-profit, industry association representing the Canadian cereal grains value chain. We value relationships and work with government and stakeholders to provide timely, expert technical information and deliver best-in-class customer experience. We are dedicated to supporting the Canadian cereals value chain including farmers, exporters, developers, processors, and our customers around the world with a focus on trade, science, and sustainability. About World Pasta Day World Pasta Day was established in 1995 when 40 pasta producers from around the world gathered to hold the globe's first World Pasta Congress. Facts About Canadian Durum and Pasta Around the World Durum has the hardest kernel of the wheat varieties and its name, not surprisingly, means "hard" in Latin. Before it can be made into pasta, durum is milled into semolina, a coarsely textured flour. Pasta is typically made from durum semolina, not common wheat flour. (e.g., all-purpose enriched flour). Pasta is extruded through dies, while noodles are sheeted and cut. See attached infographic. Pasta originated in China, not Italy, with the first reports of people eating pasta going back as far as 5,000 B.C. It is estimated that there are over 600 shapes of pasta, and their names are usually Italian words that playfully describe their shape. (Penne = pens/quills, orecchiette = little ears, spaghetti = little strings, etc.) Canadians love pasta! In 2020, the per capita consumption was estimated to be 7.9 kilograms. Al dente (Italian for "to the tooth") is the preferred way of cooking pasta. When cooked al dente, pasta should be tender but still firm to the bite. Good newsal dente pasta has a lower glycemic index. Learn more at https://whataboutwheat.ca/ In Latin America countries, pasta is made from common wheat flour but also can be made from blends of durum and common flour. Pasta made from 100% durum semolina would be considered a premium product. Some countries around the world have government regulations for pasta. For example, pasta made in Italy can only be made from durum semolina and water. Attached: Differences between pasta and noodles poster Canadian durum's superior yellow pigmentation, high protein content, good gluten quality, and semolina yield make it a prized wheat for pasta. (CNW Group/Cereals Canada) The terms pasta and noodles are sometimes used interchangeably, but there are some distinct differences. This handy graphic explains what they are. (CNW Group/Cereals Canada) SOURCE Cereals Canada Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/24/c2806.html SHANGHAI Chinese President Xi Jinping secured a precedent-breaking third term in power on Sunday after the closing of the twice-a-decade Communist Party Congress, paving his way to becoming the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. Following the party congress, China released third-quarter economic data after a six-day delay. More from WWD The worlds second-largest economy grew 3.9 percent in the third quarter compared with the same time last year, a quickening from the 3.5 percent in the previous quarter, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. For the first three quarters, Chinas GDP grew 3 percent on a year-over-year basis. Retail sales grew 2.5 percent year-over-year in September, lower than Augusts 5.4 percent. Consumption grew 3.5 percent year-over-year in the third quarter to 3,2030.5 billion renminbi, or $4.42 trillion. But due to strict COVID-19-related lockdowns, consumption in the first three quarters rose merely 0.7 percent year-over-year. Despite the quarterly rebound, it remains to be seen if China will achieve its annual GDP growth of around 5.5 percent. In March, Premier Li Keqiang admitted achieving such a goal would not be easy, as China faces challenges from its dynamic zero-COVID-19 policy, a real estate crisis and an uncertain global economy. These will be the challenges Xi has to take up in his next five-year term. The unveiling of Xis new leadership team, the six-member Politburo Standing Committee, shows that he would be able to tackle these issues with his close allies. At the closing of the party congress on Sunday, Xi announced his position as general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission. He went on to introduce the other six members of the Politburo Standing Committee. Second-in-command is Shanghai Communist Party Chief Li Qiang, a longtime Xi ally. Li had extensive experience pushing economic reform in the Yangtze River Delta region and oversaw the Shanghai lockdown snafu. He is expected to succeed Li Keqiang and become Chinas premier next March. Story continues Others promoted to the new leadership team, all Xi-loyalists, include Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi. The 24-member Politburo was also unveiled at Sundays press conference. For the first time in 25 years, the second-highest decision-making body in the party wont see a woman taking up a spot in the lineup and the 25-member committee shrank to 24 members. Sun Chunlan, the only woman on the last Politburo and the countrys COVID-19 czar, retired after two terms. Xi admitted the new term will face new challenges and difficulties. Thus to achieve the Chinese-style modernization, the new team should always maintain clear-headed and be cautious as if preparing for an exam. Xi also emphasized that Chinas economy will continue to open up to the world, that China can not develop without the world and vice versa. Following the conclusion of the party congress meeting and the GDP data release, the market reacted with notable pessimism. Hong Kongs Hang Seng index dropped more than 4.7 percent in Monday morning trading, while the CSI 300 index, which tracks stocks traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, fell by as much as 1.75 percent on Monday morning. SINGAPORE, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With an aim to strengthen its GTM (Go-To-Market) cooperations in the Southeast Asian region, Cloud4C Services, the world's most trusted Managed Service Provider (MSP), has entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NAVER Cloud, South Korea's top Cloud Service Provider (CSP). The two market leaders plan to take their existing partnership up a notch by agreeing to work together to realize each other's expansion goals in the ASEAN region. Photo from left side: Sky Lee (Manager, NAVER Cloud), Hitesh Bhardwaj (Senior Vice President, Cloud4C), Andrew Ahn (Business Strategy Director, NAVER Cloud), Sridhar Pinnapureddy (Chairman, Cloud4C), Weon-Gi Park (CEO, NAVER Cloud), Peter Seo (Country Manager of Korea, Cloud4C), Ravi Shankar K (Head of Marketing, Cloud4C), Sola Nam (Marketing Manager, Cloud4C) Headquartered in Seongnam, Seoul, NAVER Cloud is a leading CSP offering global IT infrastructure management and enterprise solutions for NAVER Corporation, Korea's largest internet company, as well as its other subsidiaries and organizations in diverse industries. NAVER Cloud provides the largest services among South Korean CSPs, banking on the expertise of merging the DNA of NAVER's online services directly into cloud business and the understanding of service characteristics with the experience of stably operating it. Currently, NAVER Cloud has become a strategic partner of Cloud4C with its strength in diverse services utilizing Hyperscale AI technology and various industry-specific SaaS solutions as well as trust based on strong security features. On the other hand, Cloud4C will be the managed services partner for NAVER Cloud in Korea, Singapore, and ASEAN regions, including Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia while further extending its business model. As part of the agreement in the MoU, it mainly includes developing co-GTM models for those countries and also other partnership building, which NAVER Cloud will support Cloud4C by educating the latter's resources (presales, sales and engineers) on NAVER Cloud's services and solutions. Also, both organisations will work in tandem to co-develop sales incentives for regional markets and a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for NAVER Cloud. Cloud4C has already initiated a key project in Korea with NAVER Cloud with an involvement of SAP Korea, supporting SAP ERP managed services. Cloud4C is SAP global premium partner as well as RISE WITH SAP partner and the world's largest application-focused, high-end MSP with AIOps-driven managed cloud operations. Cloud4C also has over 4,000 global enterprise customers, including 60 of Fortune 500 companies in 26 countries and 52 regions. With this MoU, Cloud4C plans to leverage its key global customers for NAVER Cloud. Story continues Sridhar Pinnapureddy, Chairman, CtrlS & Cloud4C, stated that "With our recent cooperation in Korea, we ascertained NAVER Cloud's strong security capability in CSA, with the acquisition of CSAP certifications and Singapore Multi-Tier Cloud Security (MTCS) Level 3 certification and its huge potential for the global cloud market." He added further, "Cloud4C has already achieved successful regional partnership cases globally, such as the one in China and India. Based on our know-how for co-building the business model, Cloud4C will support NAVER Cloud to maximize its key strengths as a strategic MSP partner, potentially extending to Data Centre and co-location cooperation across the globe." Weon-gi Park, CEO of NAVER Cloud, stated, "We are aggressively working towards realizing our goal of becoming one of the top 3 CSPs in the APAC region while advancing our global expansion plans. To hold the competitive edge, it's crucial to invest in and accumulate expertise and market know-how, and Cloud4C can fulfil our ASEAN objectives. We strongly believe that Cloud4C will bring immense value to this partnership with their unmatched expertise and experience in delivering successful transformation journeys." The MoU was signed in Singapore, by Sridhar Pinnapureddy and Weon-gi Park, in the presence of the leadership teams of NAVER Cloud and Cloud4C. About NAVER Founded in 1999, NAVER is Korea's largest Internet company with hundreds of millions of users worldwide. As a global technology company, it operates the No.1 search engine in Korea, NAVER, as well as other online services, such as LINE mobile messenger, Webtoon and Webnovel publishing, SNOW video camera app and ZEPETO metaverse platform. NAVER recorded sales of KRW 6.8 trillion (USD 5.6 billion) in 2021 and is pursuing changes and innovations in technology platforms through continuous research and development of future technologies, such as AI, robotics and mobility. About NAVER Cloud NAVER Cloud operates a global IT infrastructure and provides enterprise solution services for NAVER and its subsidiaries while providing public cloud services via NAVER Cloud Platform to myriad companies and organizations in diverse industries. It also manages NAVER's data center, GAK. Having launched its public cloud services in 2017, NAVER Cloud aims to be the leader in the globalization and mobilization of internet services and strives to meet and expand upon shifting customer demands. NAVER Cloud will invest 80% of its annual revenue into technology development and manpower by 2023 to become one of the top three players in the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan. For more information, please visit NAVER Cloud: www.navercorp.com About Cloud4C Cloud4C is a preferred Cloud Evolution Partner to 4000+ enterprises, including 60 of Fortune 500 companies. Cloud4C has over 2000 certified experts and a presence spanning 26 countries, managing mission-critical workloads across public, private, and hybrid cloud platforms. Cloud4C's Cloud Security Framework comprises 40+ security controls addressing enterprise SIEM, SOAR, MDR, EDR, Threat Intelligence, VAPT, PAM, DAM requirements, and country-specific and global compliance needs such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and more. For more information, please visit Cloud4C: https://www.cloud4c.com . Contact: Ravi Shankar K +65-87190012 ravi.shankar@cloud4c.com SOURCE Cloud4C Comstock Mining Inc. VIRGINIA CITY, Nev., Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) (Comstock or the Company) today announced that it will host a conference call on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, at 1:15 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (4:15 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time) to report its Third Quarter 2022 results and business updates. The webcast will include a moderated question and answer session after the Companys prepared remarks. Please click the link below to register in advance and please join the event at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webcast. November 1, 2022, 1:15 PM Pacific Daylight Time / 4:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time (US and Canada) Topic: Comstocks Q3 2022 Results and Business Update Please click here to register in advance for this webcast About Comstock Comstock (NYSE: LODE) innovates technologies that contribute to global decarbonization and circularity by efficiently converting under-utilized natural resources into renewable fuels and electrification products that contribute to balancing global uses and emissions of carbon. The Company intends to achieve exponential growth and extraordinary financial, natural, and social gains by building, owning, and operating a fleet of advanced carbon neutral extraction and refining facilities, by selling an array of complementary process solutions and related services, and by licensing selected technologies to qualified strategic partners. To learn more, please visit www.comstock.inc. Forward-Looking Statements This press release and any related calls or discussions may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The words believe, expect, anticipate, estimate, project, plan, should, intend, may, will, would, potential and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of doing so. Forward-looking statements include statements about matters such as: future industry market conditions; future explorations or acquisitions; future changes in our exploration activities; future changes in our research and development; and future prices and sales of, and demand for, our products and services. Except as may be required by securities or other law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Story continues Neither this press release nor any related call or discussion constitutes an offer to sell, the solicitation of an offer to buy or a recommendation with respect to any securities of the Company, the fund or any other issuer. Contact information: Comstock Inc. P.O. Box 1118 Virginia City, NV 89440 www.comstock.inc Corrado De Gasperis Executive Chairman & CEO Tel (775) 847-4755 degasperis@comstockinc.com Zach Spencer Director of External Relations Tel (775) 847-5272 Ext.151 questions@comstockinc.com ReportLinker The global flowable hemostats market is projected to reach US$ 1,422. 78 million by 2028 from US$ 899. 51 million in 2021; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6. 9% from 2022 to 2028. The market growth is attributed to the increasing number of injuries and surgical procedures and the rising geriatric population. New York, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Flowable Hemostats Market Forecast to 2028 COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Material, Product, Application, and End User" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06353508/?utm_source=GNW However, a shortage of skilled professionals and poor reimbursement policies limit the market growth. Flowable hemostats have flowable consistency and contain a porcine or bovine gelatin matrix.It may add topical thrombin to form a combination hemostat. When an application is needed on a surface that is difficult to reach, flowable hemostats are helpful. The product can be used for all surgical procedures except ophthalmic type. North America accounted for the largest market share in 2021, owing to various factors such as a rise in the number of surgical procedures, upgrades in the healthcare infrastructure of the region, and technological advancements.The US flowable hemostats market is anticipated to witness significant growth during the forecast period, owing to the increasing number of surgical procedures, the launch of innovative products by the market players, and the availability of advanced healthcare facilities in the country. Flowable hemostats are used extensively in surgeries on spine, abdomen, cardiovascular, and other key surgical areas with high bleeding.Market players have been focusing on establishing their presence in the country. For instance, Medcura, Inc., a US-based company, has developed a line of advanced hemostatic and wound treatment products. The company has developed an expanding injectable hemostatLife Foam. The product rapidly provides temporary control of bleeding from non-compressible abdominal wounds that are difficult to handle in cases such as trauma and battlefield conditions. As per data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), trauma from accidents is the third leading cause of death in the US after heart disease and cancer. Almost 85% of hemorrhage-related deaths are due to non-compressible internal bleeding noticed by Life Foam. In 2018, the product received a Breakthrough Device Designation by Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which further accelerated the development and clinical application of the product, especially in the case of traumatic injuries. Based on material, the global flowable hemostats market is bifurcated into bovine gelatin and porcine gelatin.The bovine gelatin segment held a larger market share in 2021. Moreover, the same segment is anticipated to register a higher CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period. Based on product, the global flowable hemostats market is segmented into combination hemostats, active hemostats, and passive hemostats.The combination hemostats segment held the largest market share in 2021. Moreover, the same segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 7.3% during the forecast period. Based on application, the global flowable hemostats market is segmented into general surgery, cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, orthopaedic surgery, neuro & spine surgery, and others.The general surgery segment held the largest market share in 2021. Moreover, the same segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 7.9% during the forecast period. Based on end user, the global flowable hemostats market is segmented into hospitals and clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, and others.The hospitals & clinics segment held the largest market share in 2021. However, the ambulatory surgery centers segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period. COVID-19 Impact Global Flowable Hemostats Market The growing concern regarding the spread of COVID-19 led a majority of healthcare systems to postpone or cancel non-essential medical procedures.These surgical procedures included procedures such as plastic surgeries, which are not directly linked to the treatment or management of COVID-19 or are life-saving. In terms of competitive scenarios, several medical device companies either withdrew or revised their financial projections and revenue guidelines for 2020.For instance, Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson) is anticipating a significant negative impact on revenue across major markets with an estimated 65% to 85% drop in surgical procedures in the second quarter of 2020. This is expected to adversely affect the global market during the timeline.Hospitals worldwide witnessed a huge reduction in elective surgery procedures due to patient safety concerns. According to a research article published by The Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, emergency surgical productivity showed a 65% reduction during the COVID-19 lockdown in Mexico. In 2019, around 1,114 patients were treated with plastic surgery in Mexico, while only 393 cases were seen in 2020. Hence, a reduction in surgical procedures led to a decline in the demand for flowable hemostats in 2020. Various organic and inorganic strategies are adopted by companies in the global flowable hemostats market.The organic strategies mainly include product launches and product approvals. Further, inorganic growth strategies witnessed in the market are acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships.These growth strategies allow the global flowable hemostats market players to expand their businesses and enhance their geographic presence, thereby contributing to the overall market growth. Further, acquisition and partnership strategies help the market players strengthen their customer base and expand their product portfolios. A few significant developments by key players in the flowable hemostats market are listed below. In October 2020, Teleflex Incorporated announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement with privately held Z-Medica, LLC, an industry-leading manufacturer of hemostatic products. Under the terms of the agreement, Teleflex will acquire Z-Medica for an upfront cash payment of US$ 500 million at closing, and up to an additional US$ 25 million upon achieving certain commercial milestones. Teleflex acquired certain tax attributes in the transaction that are expected to result in future tax benefits. Teleflex valued these tax attributes at approximately US$ 40 million in arriving at purchase price. In October 2019, Biomup SA, which specializes in surgical hemostasis, announced that its flagship product, HEMOBLAST Bellows, to be approved for open as well as laparoscopic surgery by the Australian TGA regulatory authority for commercialization in the sizable and growing Australian market. A few major primary and secondary sources referred to while preparing the report on the global flowable hemostats market are the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), among others. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06353508/?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 MONTREAL, Oct. 24, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - The Fonds de solidarite FTQ announced today that it has acquired a minority interest in Andy Corporation North America inc. ("Andy Corp."), a Montreal-based private company operating primarily in the road transport, maintenance and service markets but with a growing footprint in the fleet management solutions and related services space. This investment will fuel the execution of Andy Corp.'s growth plan through acquisitions. "We are pleased to announce our new partnership with the Fonds de Solidarite FTQ. Throughout the process, it was very important for us to choose a partner whose values and long-term objectives align with our vision for Andy Corp.'s future. We are a young organization led by a dynamic leadership team with ambitious dreams. At our core and in our DNA, we are a team of builders. Today, we are also one of the few and one of the largest women-owned organizations in every sector we operate in. In the Fonds de Solidarite FTQ, we found a partner that believed in our potential and our vision but that also understood our industry and challenges, as well as our background and dynamics in being a second-generation-led company," said Andreea Crisan, President and CEO of Andy Corporation North America inc. "Andy Corporation is a perfect example of a company that has risen to many challenges over the past 20 years. Andreea's leadership and dynamism bring a breath of fresh air to the trucking industry because they're always thinking outside the box. The Fonds is proud to participate in the growth of a company that is determined to do things differently and that has a concrete impact on our society," said Dany Pelletier, Senior Vice-President, Private Equity and Impact Investing at the Fonds de solidarite FTQ. About Andy Corporation North America With origins dating back to 2001 as well as a combination of European and North American experience, Andy Corporation North America inc. (referred to as "Andy Corp.") prides itself on providing the highest standard of tailor-made supply chain services. Andy Corp. is known to transform customer needs into business opportunities all while integrating services that add value and simplify the customer experience. Andy Corp. is one of the largest women-owned organizations in every sector in which it operates. In the last decade, Andy Corp. grew organically from a single 60-member business unit in 2012 to four business units of more than 400 team members in 2022. Information : https://www.andycorp.com/ About the Fonds de solidarite FTQ The Fonds de solidarite FTQ invests to build a better society by channelling the savings of its 748,371 shareholders into development and risk capital investments to help Quebec transition to a green economy, to a human-centred world of work, and to a healthier society. The Fonds offers businesses unsecured financing and strategic support. With $17.4 billion in net assets as at May 31, 2022, the Fonds has supported 3,620 partner companies and 296,927 jobs. SOURCE Fonds de solidarite FTQ Cision View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/24/c3655.html By Azernews By Fatima Hasanova A UNESCO session has passed a draft decision proposed by Azerbaijan, Azernews reports. A draft decision, proposed by Azerbaijan on the agenda of the 215th session of UNESCO, entitled "Baku Process: Promoting Intercultural Dialogue and Social Inclusion for Sustainable Peace and Development" was unanimously adopted on 19 October, Azernews reports via the official statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. It was noted that although Armenia, a member of the Executive Board of UNESCO, tried to prevent the adoption of the draft decision, it was unanimously adopted with the support of 41 countries. "The Baku process", launched in 2008 at the initiative of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, is one of the most important platforms to promote intercultural dialogue in the world and is supported by the UN. Around 1,500 participants from 135 countries took part in the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, with international organizations such as UNESCO and ISESCO as partners. The World Forum is considered one of the main platforms for intercultural and interreligious dialogue worldwide. ReportLinker It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4. 3% during 20222028. Rise in the prevalence of cardiac aneurysms, increase in the incidence of cancer cases, rise in patient preference for minimally invasive procedures, and surge in the incidence of hypertension, obesity, smoking, and alcoholism are the factors fueling the global embolization coils market growth. New York, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Embolization Coils Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Type, Material, Application, and End User" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06353495/?utm_source=GNW However, factors such as numerous product recalls and high cost of embolization coils are likely to restrain the markets growth during the forecast period. Embolization coils are used to treat brain and cardiac aneurysms and other blood-related conditions.This is used as an alternative to surgical embolization to cut the blood supply to the tumor. It is used to treat various types of diseases, such as liver cancer, kidney cancer, aortic artery disorders, neuroendocrine tumors, and peripheral vascular diseases. The cardiac aneurysm is majorly caused due to blockages in the aortic artery.The disease is categorized into two diseases according to the site of blockages. The blockages in the chest are called thoracic aortic aneurysms, and those in the abdomen are called abdominal aortic aneurysms.There is a rise in the prevalence of cardiac aneurysms worldwide. For instance, the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) stated that every year in the US, 2 million people are diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm.It also stated that a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is the countrys 15th leading cause of death. It is most commonly seen in people above 55 years of age. In addition, the abdominal aortic aneurysm is majorly based on family history or inheritance. The immediate relative is more prone to getting an abdominal aortic aneurysm. According to the British Heart Foundation, every year, ~5,000 deaths in the UK are caused due to ruptured aortic aneurysms.These are most common in men 65 years of age and above and are responsible for 1 in 75 deaths of men in this age group. A similar trend is observed in other regions across the world. Therefore, the rise in the prevalence of cardiac aneurysms is likely to increase the growth of the embolization coils market during the forecast period. The increasing implementation of embolization coils in the embolotherapy for the treatment of endovascular diseases, traumatic injuries, cerebrovascular malformation, venous malformation, arteriovenous malformation, and pediatric vascular conditions is expected to offer an opportunity for the embolization coils market revenue growth in the coming years.Embolization is a minimally invasive procedure to treat an aneurysm by packing it with material that closes the injured place and decreases the risk of bleeding. Embolization is performed within the artery (endovascular) through a steerable catheter inserted into the bloodstream and guided to the brain.Further, post-traumatic bleeding embolization is performed to stop bleeding caused by traumatic injuries. The method uses materials to block the affected vessel and stops blood flow. According to a Traumatic Brain Registry Surveillance Report 2021, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a disruption in the brains normal function that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury.Further, it has also been stated that TBIs are a major cause of death and disability, making these injuries a significant public health problem across the US. In Tennessee, ~24,382 TBI-related ED visits, hospitalizations, and deaths occurred during 2019. Type-Based Insights Based on type, the global embolization coils market is bifurcated into detachable coil and pushable coil.In 2021, the detachable coil segment held a larger market share. Moreover, the same segment is expected to register a higher CAGR from 2022 to 2028. Material-Based Insights In terms of material, the global embolization coils market is segmented into platinum, platinum & hydrogel, and platinum tungsten alloy.The platinum segment held the largest share of the market in 2021. Moreover, the same segment is expected to register the highest CAGR from 2022 to 2028. Application-Based Insights Based on application, the global embolization coils market is segmented into neurology, cardiology, urology, peripheral vascular disease, and other. The neurology segment held the largest share of the market in 2021. Moreover, the same segment is expected to register the highest CAGR from 2022 to 2028 End User-Based Insights Based on end user, the global embolization coils market is segmented into hospital, cardiac center, ambulatory center, and other. The hospital segment held the largest share of the market in 2021. Moreover, the same segment is expected to register the highest CAGR from 2022 to 2028 Some major primary and secondary sources referred to while preparing the report on the embolization coils market are the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Census Bureau, and the US National Library of Medicine, among others. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06353495/?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 Golden Matrix Group Inc, LAS VEGAS, NV, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire Golden Matrix Group Inc. (NASDAQ:GMGI), a developer and licensor of online gaming platforms, systems and gaming content, today announced it will launch a licensed proprietary B2C online casino in Mexico on November 1, 2022. The company said the online casino, MEXPLAY, will feature an extensive number of table games and slots, as well as a sportsbook, and offer tournament competition prizes similar to those offered by the companys RKings subsidiary in Great Britain. MEXPLAYs content will be available in both Spanish and English. This represents the next major step by our company to expand its B2C footprint, said Golden Matrix CEO Brian Goodman. The recently acquired B2C operations of RKings now account for over 50% of our revenues and over 50% of our profits; similarly, we now expect important contributions to revenue and profit growth from our operations in Mexico. While MEXPLAY offers many traditional and popular online casino games and a sportsbook, it also incorporates the added excitement of the tournament business, which is unique to Mexican gaming and should attract considerable player interest and participation. The launching of MEXPLAY fulfills the first objective of GMGIs strategy to expand its B2C business in Latin American (LATAM), which, according to iGamingBusiness , Slots into first place for most enticing market for the gambling industry. Following the successful launch of the Mexican casino, added Mr. Goodman, the company will focus on entering additional LATAM markets where gaming is regulated. Statista recently reported that gross gaming revenue (GGR) of the LATAM betting market is estimated to grow from roughly 1.3 billion USD in 2020 to 3.4 billion USD by 2025. The online GGR in Latin America was roughly 400 million USD in 2020 and is forecast to peak at around 2.6 billion USD by 2025. About Golden Matrix Golden Matrix Group , based in Las Vegas, NV, is an established gaming technology company that develops and owns online gaming IP and builds configurable and scalable white-label B2B gaming platforms for its international customers, located primarily in the Asia Pacific region. The gaming IP includes tools for marketing, acquisition, retention and monetization of users. The Company's platform can be accessed through both desktop and mobile applications. As a result of its 80 percent controlling ownership interest in UK-based RKings Competitions Ltd ., Golden Matrix also generates revenues from RKings scalable B2C tournament platform. Story continues Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this press release contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (forward-looking statements). These forward-looking statements represent the Companys current expectations or beliefs concerning future events and can generally be identified using statements that include words such as estimate, expects, project, believe, anticipate, intend, plan, foresee, forecast, likely, will, target or similar words or phrases. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of the Companys control which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company; the need for additional financing, the terms of such financing and the availability of such financing; the ability of the Company and/or its subsidiaries to obtain additional gaming licenses; the ability of the Company to manage growth; the Companys ability to complete acquisitions and the available funding for such acquisitions; disruptions caused by acquisitions; dilution caused by fundraising, the conversion of outstanding preferred stock and/or acquisitions; the Companys ability to maintain the listing of its common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market; the Companys expectations for future growth, revenues, and profitability; the Companys expectations regarding future plans and timing thereof; the Companys reliance on its management; the fact that the Companys chief executive officer has voting control over the Company; related party relationships; the potential effect of economic downturns, recessions, increases in interest rates and inflation, and market conditions, decreases in discretionary spending and therefore demand for our products, and increases in the cost of capital, related thereto, among other affects thereof, on the Companys operations and prospects; the Company's ability to protect proprietary information; the ability of the Company to compete in its market; the Companys lack of effective internal controls; dilution caused by efforts to obtain additional financing; the effect of current and future regulation, the Companys ability to comply with regulations and potential penalties in the event it fails to comply with such regulations and changes in the enforcement and interpretation of existing laws and regulations and the adoption of new laws and regulations that may unfavorably impact our business; the risks associated with gaming fraud, user cheating and cyber-attacks; risks associated with systems failures and failures of technology and infrastructure on which the Company's programs rely; foreign exchange and currency risks; the outcome of contingencies, including legal proceedings in the normal course of business; the ability to compete against existing and new competitors; the ability to manage expenses associated with sales and marketing and necessary general and administrative and technology investments; and general consumer sentiment and economic conditions that may affect levels of discretionary customer purchases of the Company's products, including potential recessions and global economic slowdowns. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements we make in this release are reasonable, we provide no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks and uncertainties. More information on potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results is included from time to time in the "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements," "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of the Company's periodic and current filings with the SEC, including the Form 10-Qs and Form 10-Ks, including, but not limited to, the Companys Transition Report on Form 10-K for the nine month transition period ended October 31, 2021 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2022. These reports are filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov . All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any person acting on behalf of the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements referenced above. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on the Companys future results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. The Company cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Finally, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements after the date of this release, except as required by law, and takes no obligation to update or correct information prepared by third parties that are not paid for by the Company. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. Connect with us: Twitter - https://twitter.com/GMGI_Group Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/goldenmatrixgroup/ Golden Matrix Group Contact: Scott Yan info@goldenmatrix.com Trip.com Australia and New Zealand have launched a range of highly competitive campaigns; Trip.com Australia anniversary deals available over three weeks Trip.com has had average annual app order growth of 127%; from 2020-2022 average monthly hotel orders increased by 21 % YoY and average monthly flight orders grew by 154% YoY Trip.com has had average annual app install growth of 101% and was listed in the top ten most downloaded OTA apps in H1 2022 SYDNEY and WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trip.com, the global travel platform, is marking its fifth anniversary as it continues its ambitious expansion plans driven by its mission to be the trusted trip companion for travellers worldwide. Since it was acquired in 2017, Trip.com with presence in Australia and New Zealand has become the mainstay global travel brand of Trip.com Group and accelerated a step change in the companies' culture, product offering and strategy. To celebrate its fifth anniversary, Trip.com Australia and New Zealand are running local and multi-packaged campaigns to celebrate the special occasion. This is in addition to the global "Hi Five World!" campaign, offering users with highly competitive local deals, discounts and lucky draws, Trip.com Australia and New Zealand invites all to join in the fun. For the past five years, Trip.com has set itself apart by delivering an all-in-one suite of high-quality travel products through its mobile-first channels to users around the world, along with industry-leading customer service. Jane Sun, Trip.com Group CEO, said: "Trip.com has grown incredibly over the last five years. Our technology-driven approach and the innovative spirit of the team have seen the brand soar during a turbulent time for the industry. Now as we embark upon our next five year journey, we are eager to consolidate our expansion by continuing the development of what our users want, that means growing product, improving mobile experience and enhancing customer service." Story continues To celebrate its 5th birthday, Trip.com Australia is not only giving away one but FIVE flight prizes. Spread over three weeks, Australians will have the chance to win return flights to New Caledonia with Aircalin, Business class flights with REX Airlines, flights to anywhere on the Virgin Australia network and flights to Kuala Lumpur and Thailand with AirAsia! Flight, hotel and tours and tickets deals are also available. In addition, Trip.com is giving away Plaza Premium Lounge passes to 45 lucky winners on our social media channels. For Trip.com New Zealand, an epic holiday to Fiji as well as a raft of other travel deals are up for grabs. One lucky winner will win two return airfares to Fiji with Fiji Airways in addition to 3 nights at the Radisson Blu Denarau Fiji in a Deluxe Courtyard Room and 2 nights at the Outrigger Coral Coast Fiji in an Ocean View Room. For the full details of the campaigns, please visit: Trip.com Australia: https://au.trip.com/sale/w/3885/5thbirthday.html?locale=en_au Trip.com New Zealand: https://nz.trip.com/sale/w/3885/5thbirthday.html?locale=en_nz "We want to celebrate our 5th birthday with our users by offering the chance to win some incredible prizes and access unbeatable deals," commented Jake Colerio, General Manager of Oceania at Trip.com. "Over the last five years, Trip.com has steadily built up its presence and we are eager to continue offering travellers the best in product, price and platform." Joanne Heggie, Country Director of Australia and New Zealand at Trip.com, said, "Our goal is to always be there for our customers as their top travel companion. This summer as we welcome a complete travel recovery, we are excited to share top flight and hotel deals as we turn 5 down under." Across its 48 sites, Trip.com has facilitated millions of orders and from 2017 to present has seen average annual app order growth of 127% and average annual app install growth of 101% - including over 2020 and 2021 during the height of the pandemic showing the strength of its recovery as global travel continues to revive. Trip.com has seen a roaring recovery following the peak of the pandemic. As of Q2 2022, air ticket bookings were up 680% year-on-year and hotel room nights saw an increase of 151% compared to Q2 2019. Whilst in H1 2022 car rental transactions on the platform grew over 700% compared to the same period in 2021 and train orders saw 535% growth this year compared to 2021. Trip.com's highly successful app-first strategy has steadily driven installs, growing to more than 6.2 million downloads. In July 2022, Trip.com was named the 10th most downloaded online travel agent app globally in the first half of this year, by leading app analysis firm Apptopia. About Trip.com Trip.com is an international one-stop travel service provider available in 24 languages across 39 countries and regions in 29 local currencies on 48 sites. Trip.com has an extensive hotel and flight network consisting of more than 1.2 million hotels and flights from over 480 airlines covering 2,600 airports in 200 countries and regions around the globe. Trip.com's world-class 24/7 multilingual customer service as well as additional centres in Edinburgh, Tokyo and Seoul, help to 'create the best travel experience' for its millions of customers worldwide. To book your next trip, visit www.trip.com SOURCE Trip.com Elected officials and local business leaders join M&T executives EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- M&T Bank officially opened a new Multicultural Banking Center in East Hartford last week on October 18. The branch joined more than 100 existing such centers across M&T's footprint, part of the bank's ongoing efforts to provide a distinctive M&T experience shaped by the preferences and perspectives of customers in culturally diverse communities. M&T's Multicultural Banking Centers are intended to serve as community hubs where customers can receive banking services in their preferred language and with an understanding of their culture. The centers create opportunities for businesses, nonprofits and community members to attend networking events, financial literacy classes, collaborate on community projects, and more. The East Hartford branch employs bilingual, Spanish and English fluent bankers hired from within the surrounding community. M&T offers a 10% bilingual premium pay to employees who have successfully passed their fluency assessment. "It's important for our customers to not only have bankers that speak their language, but also to have bankers that look like them and understand their cultural attributes and banking behaviors," said David Femi, Head of Multicultural Banking & Diverse Market Strategy, M&T Bank. "We are a community bank through and through, and it is our mission to take every possible step to ensure we're meeting the needs of our customers. A significant element of that is to have people who live in their communities serving their friends, family, and neighbors. Our teams in our designated Multicultural branches will serve the cultural and linguistic needs of our customers and communities. We've seen this successful and differentiated multicultural model thrive elsewhere, and we're thrilled to bring this first branch to Connecticut in our new, expanded footprint." Story continues "We are thrilled to be bringing additional banking services to the East Hartford community. Our multicultural banking centers make a big difference in people's lives," said Michael Weinstock, Hartford Regional President, M&T Bank. "Our cultural understanding in banking closes divides and financially empowers diverse populations which in turn uplift communities. It is incredibly powerful for customers to be able to enter a new bank branch and be greeted by someone who not only speaks their language, but also understands their community, because they're members of that community. This is a milestone for M&T Bank to open this first of what will be more Multicultural Banking Centers across Connecticut." "East Hartford's strength is its wonderful blend of people who live here which brings with it a diversity and varied life experience. It's what makes this city so special. But residents often face difficulties caused by language barriers, so what M&T is doing is smart business, but also great for the community," said Michael P. Walsh, Mayor of East Hartford. State Representative Henry Genga, who represents East Hartford, also celebrated the ribbon cutting event by providing a citation from his office, marking the importance of the commitment by M&T Bank to the East Hartford community. The new 2,750-square-foot banking center is located at 957 Main St in East Hartford. The branch is full-service, offering the complete suite of consumer and business deposit and lending products, including residential mortgages. The East Hartford location also features a drive-up teller and ATM services. About M&T M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. Media Contact: Max Reiss mreiss1@mtb.com Equal Housing Lender. 2022 M&T Bank. Member FDIC. M&T Bank Corporation Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/icymi-mt-bank-cuts-ribbon-on-latest-multicultural-banking-center-in-east-hartford-ct-301657339.html SOURCE M&T Bank Corporation PITTSBURGH, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a new line of bandages, braces, and limb supports to better camouflage or blend in with the specific wearer," said an inventor, from Riverside, Calif., "so I invented MY SHADE. My aesthetic design would not bring attention to the wound, injury, or prosthetic." InventHelp Logo (PRNewsfoto/InventHelp) The invention provides an improved design for bandages, braces, or limb supports. In doing so, it enables the user to better match the product to their natural skin tone. As a result, it would not garner a great deal of attention and it could help to reduce embarrassment. The invention features a discreet design that is easy to use so it is ideal for the general population including African Americans, Asians, Latinos, whites, etc. Additionally, it is producible in design variations. The original design was submitted to the Orange County sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 21-OCM-1533, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inventhelp-inventor-develops-new-line-of-bandages-braces--limb-supports-ocm-1533-301655572.html SOURCE InventHelp By Kevin Buckland TOKYO, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average rose above the key 27,000 level on Monday, buoyed by speculation of a slightly less hawkish Federal Reserve, and as a weak yen boosted the outlook for earnings. The Nikkei ended the morning session up 0.99% at 27,156.95. Of the benchmark's 225 components, 167 rose versus 56 that fell, with two flat. The broader Topix rose 0.84% to 1,897.70. Chip-related companies outperformed, tracking the performance in U.S. peers, with Tokyo Electron adding 2.81% and Advantest advancing 4.21%. U.S. stock futures pointed 0.3% higher, after the S&P 500 posted a 2.4% jump on Friday, when San Francisco Fed president Mary Daly said it's time to start talking about a slower pace of rate hikes. Meanwhile, earnings season is picking up pace, with nearly 100 companies reporting domestically on Thursday and about double that on Friday. "Earnings results will support stock prices," said Kenji Abe, an equity strategist at Daiwa Securities. "Earnings are likely to top forecasts because of the reopening of the economy and the yen's depreciation," Abe said, adding that a push to a one-month high above 27,400 for the Nikkei is "quite possible" this week. The yen has been volatile following two bouts of sudden, massive appreciation in two days, with traders suspecting intervention by Japanese officials. At the same time, the Japanese government is attempting to harness the weak yen with a recent loosening of pandemic travel restrictions on foreign visitors. The currency last traded at 148.93 yen per dollar, after reaching a fresh 32-year trough at 151.94 on Friday. "I think most Japanese equity investors feel at this level (for dollar-yen), Japanese corporate earnings are likely to be robust," Daiwa's Abe said. "So even if the Bank of Japan intervenes in the market and the yen appreciates a bit against the dollar, I don't that would negatively affect the sentiment of equity investors." (Reporting by Kevin Buckland; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) ReportLinker The land survey equipment market is expected to grow from US$ 8,068. 0 million in 2022 to US$ 12,568. 4 million by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7. 7% from 2022 to 2028. The use of terrestrial laser scanners is growing steadily in land surveys. New York, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Land Survey Equipment Market Forecast to 2028 COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Solution, Industry, Application, and Hardware" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06353492/?utm_source=GNW Terrestrial laser scanners with high precision systems can work under various environmental conditions and circumstances, such as deep mines. Terrestrial laser scanners are most suitable for surveying the mining field as this industry needs accurate data to get the facilitys as-built documentation.Special attention is paid to the equipment that supports vertical transport for the safe operation of underground mines. The terrestrial laser scanning is an active imaging ground-based method that provides an accurate, 3D point cloud of the objects surface with the help of laser range finding.The number of various terrestrial laser scanner instruments in remote sensing applications is increasing. Thus, the use of terrestrial laser scanners for land surveys is one of the major factors contributing towards the land survey equipment market growth in the coming years. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Land Survey Equipment Market The COVID-19 pandemic changed the course of working and interacting.It made companies shift to more advanced methods of communication. As most of the land surveying work depends on on-site visits and in-person interaction, the surveyors went through severe problems to overcome them.Controlling workflow, troubleshooting situations, and handling projects became the biggest challenge due to the limited interaction. Another challenge that surveyors face is quality assurance and quality control for surveying projects. Also, as companies were doing remote working, printing & plotting original surveys at full scale became highly difficult, which hindered reviewing and analyzing information. Various economic activities in South America (SAM) were partially discontinued to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2.The COVID-19 outbreak adversely affected the regions oil & gas industry. During the pandemic, oil and gas activities were severely disrupted, which subsequently limited the land survey equipment market growth in the region.Social and commercial restrictions imposed by governments of SAM countries constrained activities such as manufacturing and supply chains. However, since Q4 of 2020, economies in SAM resumed slowly, and land survey equipment end-user industries and their respective companies subsequently resumed their operations. The SAM land survey equipment market is bifurcated into Peru and the Rest of SAM. In August 2021, Ivan Merino, the Minister of Energy and Mines of Peru, said in an interview with Reuters that the country is seeking help from mining companies Grupo Mexicos Southern Copper and Las Bambas of Chinas MMG Ltd. to construct a rail system from the Andean zone, which is rich in minerals, to the countrys Central Pacific coast. As the country is the worlds second-largest producer of copper, the government of Peru wants to develop the mining sector with the help of this project. This project is scheduled to start by 2023 from Cusco or Apurimac to the port of Marcona and is expected to start operations by 2028. Furthermore, due to increasing road traffic, the government of Peru has decided to widen Route 22 Central Highway by constructing two-lane roads.This 136 km highway connects Lima, the capital of Peru, with Central Peru. Along with the Route 22 Central Highway, 94 viaducts and 54 new bridges and tunnels to avoid mountain tops will also be constructed.This project is scheduled to be completed by 2025. Such projects will increase the requirement for land survey equipment, which will boost the land survey equipment market growth in SAM. Further, in the land survey equipment market, the Rest of SAM is segmented into Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia.In September 2021, the government of Brazil attended a foundation stone laying ceremony to mark the construction of the Midwest Integration Railway (Fico). This 383 km railway route will connect Mara Rosa on the North-South Railway west with Agua Boa. The US$ 519.3 million project is expected to be completed by 2026. In November 2021, Eramet announced the relaunch of its lithium production project in Argentina. The French company aims to expand itself in minerals that are required in electric vehicles. Under the partnership with Tsingshan, the Chinese steel group, the project was scheduled to be started in 2022 and commissioned by 2024. Such factors are driving the growth of land survey equipment market in rest of SAM. Hexagon AB; GUANGDONG KOLIDA INSTRUMENT CO., LTD.; Shanghai Huace Navigation Technology Ltd.; South Surveying & Mapping Technology CO., LTD.; Topcon Corporation; Trimble Inc.; Hi-Target, PENTAX Surveying; Suzhou FOIF Co., Ltd.; and Robert Bosch Tool Corporation are a few companies profiled in the land survey equipment market study. The land survey equipment market players are following organic and inorganic growth strategies to sustain the competitive edge. For instance, in 2021, Shanghai Huace Navigation Technology Ltd. launched HCE600 rugged field controller. HCE600 is a professional, lightweight, and compact field data collector that has an alphanumeric keypad specifically designed for field surveying and mapping operations. It consists of connectivity modules such as Bluetooth 5.0, dual-band 2.4G and 5G Wi-Fi, and a 4G modem. The overall land survey equipment market size has been derived using both primary and secondary sources.To begin the research process, exhaustive secondary research has been conducted using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the land survey equipment market. The process also serves the purpose of obtaining an overview and forecast of the land survey equipment market size with respect to all market segments.Also, industry participants and commentators have conducted multiple primary interviews to validate the data and gain more analytical insights. Participants typically involved in the land survey equipment market study include VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managersalong with external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leadersspecializing in the land survey equipment market. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06353492/?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 Transparency Market Research The global market is projected to be driven by the use of Li metal batteries in a variety of applications in the burgeoning solar industry Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc. - By 2025, the Li metal battery market size is projected to attain value of US$ 6.0 Bn. The global market is anticipated to expand at 24.4% CAGR during the forecast period, from 2025 to 2031. It is expected that by 2031, the global Li metal battery market is predicted to touch value of US$ 25.3 Bn. Due to its superior existing qualities, including lightweight, high-energy density, and rapid charging capacity, lithium metal batteries are predicted to surpass lithium-ion batteries, particularly in electronics and automotive industries. Li-metal batteries are anticipated to become widely commercialized soon. In order to develop high-performance, sophisticated, corrosion-free, and dendrite-free Lithium metal batteries, battery manufacturers are anticipated to invest more on R&D projects. In order to offset the high upfront cost of Li metal batteries, businesses are expected to raise knowledge about their benefits. Their reliable performance during power surges and abrupt outages and their low maintenance costs are some of the benefits, which are Li metal battery market growth factors. Request Sample Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=84865 Based on region, Asia Pacific is anticipated to represent for more than 59% of the global market in 2025. Off-grid electricity is being planned in a number of Asia-Pacific nations, particularly in the rural areas. As governments in developing countries adopt new regulations to enhance quality and dependability of power distribution facilities for residential consumers, investments in energy storage systems are anticipated to rise significantly in the area. Story continues Key Findings of Market Report Lithium-ion batteries have a high power and energy density that can even run an electrical grid. Solar energy systems, electric vehicles, and electronic devices are all using Li metal batteries more and more. Due to its light weight, efficiency, and high energy density, lithium batteries are utilized in a broad range of electric vehicles, portable consumer electronics, solar storage, power backups, and medical equipment. It is anticipated that electric vehicles will determine the future of transportation systems and automotive industry. Rise in EV usage is anticipated to come up as one of the key Li metal battery market trends. The global market for Li metal battery market is also expected to benefit from stringent laws regulating the usage of fuels and automobiles that run on gasoline. These Li metal batteries are anticipated to be very beneficial in remote places where energy is not accessible, such as small companies, hill stations, rural areas, and so on. These batteries can be utilized as a storage solution with environmentally friendly solar systems, which is expected to widen scope of the global Li metal battery market. Make an Enquiry Before Buying - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=EB&rep_id=84865 Global Li Metal Battery Market: Growth Drivers Sales of batteries with a capacity more than 50 Ah to 100 Ah are anticipated to reach US$ 2.2 Bn and the segment is expected to account for a considerable Li metal battery market share. Due to their greater adaptability and acceptability, batteries with a capacity of 50 Ah or more are frequently employed in marine, industrial, and automotive applications. Global Li Metal Battery Market: Key Competitors Sion Power Corporation Sepion Technologies, Inc. QuantumScape Corporation Li-Metal Corp. SES AI Corporation Ion Storage Systems Ask References - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=ARF&rep_id=84865 Global Li Metal Battery Market: Segmentation Operation Rechargeable Non-rechargeable Capacity Up to 10 Ah >10 Ah-50Ah >50Ah-100Ah >100Ah Application Corded Laptop Cell Phone Hybrids and Electric Vehicle Energy Storage Systems Battery-operated Power Tools Drones and Robotics Power Electronic Devices Electric Grid Cardiac Pacemaker Drug Pumps Others End Use Automotive Consumer Electronics Industrial Medical Marine Others Browse More Chemicals & Materials Market Reports by TMR: Green Silica Market - Green Silica Market is Estimated to Expand at a CAGR of 7.4% during the Forecast Period Dimethyl Sulfoxide Market - Valuation of Dimethyl Sulfoxide Market estimated at US4 258.3 Mn by 2031 Manganese Alloys Market - Manganese Alloys Market is Estimated to Progress at a CAGR of 5.9% during the Forecast Period 2022-2031 Optical Brighteners Market - Optical Brighteners Market is Estimated to Progress at a CAGR of 4.9% during the Forecast Period 2022-2031 Copper Pipes & Tubes Market - Copper Pipes & Tubes Market is Estimated to Progress at a CAGR of 3.1% during the Forecast Period 2022-2031 Sodium Cyanide Market - Sodium Cyanide Market is Estimated to Progress at a CAGR of 4.2% during the Forecast Period 2022-2031 Glycolic Acid Market - Glycolic Acid Market is Estimated to Progress at a CAGR of 7.23% during the Forecast Period 2022-2031 PET Foam Market - PET Foam Market is Estimated to Progress at a CAGR of 7.1% during the Forecast Period 2022-2031 About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. The firm scrutinizes factors shaping the dynamics of demand in various markets. The insights and perspectives on the markets evaluate opportunities in various segments. The opportunities in the segments based on source, application, demographics, sales channel, and end-use are analysed, which will determine growth in the markets over the next decade. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision-makers, made possible by experienced teams of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants. The proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques we use always reflect the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in all of its business reports. For More Research Insights on Leading Industries, Visit our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8e-z-g23-TdDMuODiL8BKQ Contact Us: Rohit Bhisey Transparency Market Research Inc. CORPORATE HEADQUARTER DOWNTOWN, 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 USA Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Website: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Blog: https://tmrblog.com Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com IT specialist GFT launches the UK's first Banking Disruption Index to assess consumer sentiment towards the digital capabilities of British banks. Research indicates: 48% of people do not trust their bank to help them manage their finances during a recession Two thirds of people would prefer to use digital channels to communicate with their bank, instead of visiting a branch Consumer sentiment towards banks in general remains upbeat, however, with a satisfaction rating of 79 Data comes from GFT's newly launched Banking Disruption Index LONDON, Oct. 24, 2022 New research reveals today that 48% of people in the UK do not trust their bank to help them manage their finances during a recession, with two thirds of banking customers also stating they would prefer to use digital channels to communicate with their bank rather than visiting a branch. GFT Logo With trust low between customers and their banks, a commitment to meaningful online banking through a transformation of digital services could go a long way to improving consumer trust, as the UK continues to face an uncertain economic landscape. The data comes from digital transformation specialist GFT's newly launched Banking Disruption Index for the UK, a quarterly Index that assesses consumer attitudes towards banks and their technology capabilities. As part of the Index, GFT also measures consumer sentiment toward their banks' digital offering, with 0 being the lowest possible score and 100 being the highest possible score. The Q3 sentiment scoring shows a 79-point satisfaction rate amongst customers towards the technology capabilities of their chosen bank. In fact, most people (67%) would now prefer to use an app for their everyday banking needs, such as transferring money and making payments. Only 17% of consumers would prefer to liaise directly with the bank and have them do it on their behalf. Despite this move towards a digital banking experience, most Gen Zs think their bank could be doing more to stay ahead of the technology curve. Only 52% of 16-24-year-olds surveyed believe their bank is keeping up with technology quickly enough. Story continues Another major concern cited in the research was the impact the likely future recession would have on people's savings, with almost half (42%) worried a market downturn would negatively impact both their bank and their personal savings. Richard Kalas, Client Solutions Director, Retail Banking at GFT UK, said: "It's clear that consumers expect greater levels of digital self-serve capability from their banking provider. Younger age groups in particular prefer channels such as WhatsApp and social media to communicate. The research shows that the banks and building societies with little or no digital service capability will find it exceptionally hard to compete and almost impossible to attract a younger audience." The GFT Banking Disruption Index will be released each quarter. For more information, visit: GFT Banking Disruption Index. 1 Censuswide research was commissioned by GFT to survey 2,000 UK respondents in August 2022 on their opinions towards the digital capabilities of British banks Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/742447/GFT_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/low-trust-amongst-banking-customers-as-recession-looms-301656761.html C$ unless otherwise stated TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945 TORONTO, Oct. 24, 2022 /CNW/ - Manulife Investment Management today announced the October 2022 cash distributions for Manulife Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) that distribute monthly. Unitholders of record of the Manulife ETFs at the close of business on October 31, 2022 will receive cash distributions payable on November 14, 2022. Manulife Investment Management Logo (CNW Group/Manulife Investment Management) (CNW Group/Manulife Investment Management) Manulife Investment Management Announces Cash Distributions for Manulife Exchange Traded Funds Details of the distribution per unit amounts are as follows: ETF Ticker Distribution Amount (per unit) Distribution Frequency Manulife Smart Short-Term Bond ETF TERM $ 0.026477 Monthly Manulife Smart Core Bond ETF BSKT $ 0.026098 Monthly Manulife Smart Corporate Bond ETF CBND $ 0.028418 Monthly Manulife ETFs are managed by Manulife Investment Management Limited. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with ETFs. Please read the ETF Facts and prospectus before investing. ETFs are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. About Manulife Investment Management Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 19 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com. Story continues SOURCE Manulife Investment Management Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/24/c9832.html By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Azerbaijani Defense Minister Col-Gen Zakir Hasanov has left for Turkiye on a working visit, Azernews reports, citing the Defense Ministry. As part of the visit, Hasanov is expected to hold meetings on bilateral military cooperation and regional security, as well as attend the Saha Expo exhibition in the fraternal country, the ministry underlined. The Saha Expo defense and aerospace exhibition, hosted by Saha Istanbul, Turkiye's and Europe's largest industrial cluster with 876 companies and 24 universities, will take place on October 25-28. The event is organized under the auspices of the Turkish Presidential Office, with the participation and support of the Foreign, Interior, Defense, Industry and Technology, and Trade Ministries, as well as the Turkish Defense Industry Agency (SSB). Many strategically essential and high-tech goods from the defense, aviation, naval, and space sectors will be showcased for the first time at Saha Expo. TORONTO , Oct. 24, 2022 /CNW/ - Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Phillippe Champagne will address his signature privacy reform legislation as the keynote speaker at CMAprivacy, the Canadian Marketing Association's annual conference on marketing and the future of privacy in Canada. Canadian Marketing Association (CNW Group/Canadian Marketing Association) What: Minister Champagne addresses privacy law reform priorities/Bill C-27 When: Tuesday November 1, 2022, 4:15 4:30 p.m. Where: Online via Zoom In addition to remarks from Minister Champagne, CMAprivacy will feature: Top marketing, research and privacy experts on where federal privacy and AI regulation is headed and how marketers can prepare. Impacts of Quebec's new privacy law (Bill 64) on organizations that handle the personal information of Quebec residents, and the provisions that have the most impact on marketing. Canadians' evolving views on privacy and data use. Speakers include: David Elder, Counsel, Stikeman Elliott LLP Eloise Gratton, Partner and National Co-Leader Privacy and Data Protection, Borden Ladner Gervais Erin Kelly, CEO, Advanced Symbolics Inc. Amanda Maltby, Chief Corporate Compliance and Privacy Officer, Canada Post Ray McIlroy, Vice President, Kaiser & Partners Sahil Razdan, Legal Counsel, Postmedia Pam Snively, Chief Data & Trust Officer at TELUS Communications About the Canadian Marketing Association The CMA's purpose is to embolden Canadian marketers to make a powerful impact on business in Canada. We provide opportunities for our members from coast to coast to develop professionally, to contribute to marketing thought leadership, to build strong networks, and to strengthen the regulatory climate for business success. Our Chartered Marketer (CM) designation signifies that recipients are highly qualified and up to date with best practices, as reflected in the Canadian Marketing Code of Ethics and Standards. We represent virtually all of Canada's major business sectors, and all marketing disciplines, channels and technologies. Our Consumer Centre helps Canadians better understand their rights and obligations. Story continues SOURCE Canadian Marketing Association Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/24/c6562.html GitOps for Spinnaker, Other New Capabilities Announced at Spinnaker Summit 2022 DETROIT, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OpsMx , the leader in intelligent continuous delivery, today announced a suite of services and product capabilities for enterprise users of the Spinnaker continuous delivery (CD) platform. The Spinnaker Center of Excellence provides custom development services to existing Spinnaker users who need to implement new features or customizations or accelerate open source community development. OpsMx also added new features to bring the GitOps model of application deployments to Spinnaker. The new OpsMx Spinnaker as a Service frees DevOps teams from the operational burdens of a CD platform. These announcements were made by Gopal Dommety, CEO and co-founder at OpsMx, during his keynote presentation at Spinnaker Summit 2022. "Spinnaker has proven to be the most robust, scalable, and open CD solution available today," said Dommety. "These new services and capabilities delivered by OpsMx will help our customers extend their Spinnaker investment forward into the future." Over the last twelve months, OpsMx has consistently been one of the top three contributors to the Spinnaker open source project, continuing to advance innovation in software delivery. The services and capabilities in this announcement include: OpsMx Spinnaker Center of Excellence As enterprises expand their use of Spinnaker, they sometimes require capabilities that are not available in open source. The OpsMx Spinnaker Center of Excellence (COE) is a dedicated team of Spinnaker and DevOps engineers who work with large Spinnaker users on a contract basis to develop new features and customizations. Some of the world's largest Spinnaker users are already working with the OpsMx Spinnaker COE to get Spinnaker tasks, large and small, off their "to do" list. Past OpsMx Spinnaker COE projects that are now available in open source Spinnaker include Google Cloud (GCP) Cloudrun support (release 1.30), GCP load balancer auto scaling (1.29), and Clouddriver sharding (1.28). The Spinnaker COE is currently accepting new customers. Open Source Stormdriver Large-scale Spinnaker deployments have been held back by the performance limitations of Spinnaker Clouddriver service. Stormdriver is a new service for Clouddriver specially developed by the OpsMx Spinnaker COE to provide global scaling and security. OpsMx will be contributing Stormdriver to the Spinnaker open source project. Michael Graff, Principal Engineer and Spinnaker Hacker at OpsMx, will be presenting Stormdriver at Spinnaker Summit 2022. Stormdriver is available to OpsMx customers today. GitOps with Spinnaker using Keel Service Keel service is an optional component of Spinnaker that enables GitOps, allowing users to declaratively define their desired infrastructure and application release. OpsMx is now offering support for Keel service and will be extending it to allow GitOps deployments in AWS to other cloud environments. Spinnaker Argo Integration Development teams are increasingly embracing Argo for GitOps in Kubernetes environments. OpsMx is integrating Argo and Spinnaker to provide a unified solution that adds the controls of Spinnaker to the developer-friendliness of Argo. This integrated solution will be generally available in Q1 2023. Spinnaker as a Service Spinnaker users who want to focus on delivering software, not running Spinnaker, can now access Spinnaker in a SaaS delivery model from OpsMx. OpsMx provides software lifecycle management, ongoing operations, and 24x7 support. A free trial of Spinnaker as a Service is available. Story continues Together, these announcements ensure that Spinnaker customers can continue to build on their past investments as their application environments evolve. About OpsMX OpsMx simplifies and intelligently automates software delivery, enabling hundreds of thousands of developers at Google, Cisco, Western Union, and other leading global enterprises to ship better software faster. Incorporating open source Argo and Spinnaker, OpsMx is the first open, unified platform for deploying applications in container, virtual machine, and multi-cloud environments. The company's 150 employees serve customers from offices in Silicon Valley, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, with funding from Dell Technologies Capital and Foundation Capital. For more information, visit www.opsmx.com . All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered own Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/opsmx-opens-center-of-excellence-to-accelerate-enterprise-adoption-of-spinnaker-301657531.html SOURCE OpsMx Inc. Permian Resources Corporation MIDLAND, Texas, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Permian Resources Corporation (Permian Resources or the Company) (NYSE: PR) announced today that it will report third quarter 2022 financial and operating results after the market closes for trading on November 8, 2022. Management will host an earnings conference call on November 9, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. Central (10:00 a.m. Eastern). Interested parties are invited to participate on the call by dialing (833) 634-2524, or (412) 902-4178 for international calls, and referencing Permian Resources at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call or via the internet at www.permianres.com. A replay of the call will be available on the Companys website or by phone at (877) 344-7529 (Access Code: 5341497) for a seven-day period following the call. About Permian Resources Headquartered in Midland, Texas, Permian Resources is an independent oil and natural gas company focused on the responsible acquisition, optimization and development of high-return oil and natural gas properties. The Companys assets and operations are located in the core of the Delaware Basin. For more information, please visit www.permianres.com. Contact: Hays Mabry Sr. Director, Investor Relations (832) 240-3265 ir@permianres.com LOS ANGELES, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Polaris Dawn, the first of the Polaris Program's three human spaceflight missions, announced today the extensive suite of science and research experiments the crew and SpaceX will conduct throughout the mission. The selected projects are designed to advance both human health on Earth and on future long-duration spaceflights. Polaris Dawn launches suite of science and research experiments to advance human health on Earth and on future long-duration spaceflights. "The mission profile of Polaris Dawn affords us some great opportunities to expand our collective knowledge about the human body in space and associated applicability here on Earth. Our science and research agenda will enhance the body of knowledge for future long-duration spaceflight which will take us back to the Moon and on to Mars; as well as progress our knowledge and understanding for humankind here on Earth. The Polaris Dawn team along with the exceptional science and research team at SpaceX cast a wide net to find the best experiments to fly with us. We greatly appreciate all of the submissions and enormous support of the work. Polaris Dawn is the first mission in the Polaris Program and our goal is to continue to find the best research out there for our future spaceflights," stated Jared Isaacman, mission commander. SpaceX is targeting no earlier than March 2023 for Falcon 9's launch of the Polaris Dawn mission from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Over the course of five days, Dragon and the Polaris Dawn crew will endeavor to travel to 1,400 km the highest Earth orbit ever flown and attempt the first-ever commercial spacewalk. Many of the selected research projects take advantage of this unique mission profile, including the relatively high-radiation levels due to the high-altitude orbit and exposure to hard-vacuum during the spacewalk. Such projects include but are not limited to: Use of ultrasound to measure changes to the eye's structure in microgravity; track organ blood flow patterns to monitor nutrient absorption, toxin filtration, and blood clot prevention; and to test innovative just-in-time training modules to allow successful use of this tool without extensive training. Wearing a contact lens embedded with microelectronics that will allow the crew to continuously monitor changes in the shape and pressure of the eye, a first for a human spaceflight mission. Collected data will contribute to the understanding of spaceflight associated Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS), a condition that can cause degraded vision and poses a risk for human performance during a mission. Investigating the effects of microgravity, magnetic, and fungal influences on root growth of low-Earth orbit germinating plants to help inform plant growth procedures for food viability and sustainability in lunar or Martian gravitational environments as well as deep-space exploration. Additionally, the research will provide actionable physical and genetic data relative to plant growth utilizing gravitropism, fungal volatiles, and magnetic fields to improve food production here on Earth. Determining how the body processes common pharmaceuticals in orbit to continue testing theoretical evidence that space changes the efficacy and potential safety of these drugs. The effects of spaceflight on the stability of pharmaceuticals will also be evaluated; Expanding on-orbit medical capabilities, including the development of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedures for use in the Dragon spacecraft, and demonstrating the use of a fiberoptic camera to image and better understand how spaceflight fluid shifts may affect airway management in a medical emergency; Brain mapping via a portable MRI within hours of splashdown, giving unique insight into how the brain is affected by microgravity and how it readapts, contributing to studies of the brain's involvement in Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS); Validation of a continuous glucose monitoring device to increase access to space for a more diverse population of future astronauts; and Measurement of the high-energy neutron radiation environment to which the crew will be exposed to help inform and improve space radiation exposure prediction models. Story continues Polaris Dawn and SpaceX will collaborate with 23 institutions on the selected experiments, such as the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), University of Texas, Houston, University of Augusta, University of Colorado Boulder, Baylor College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. For a full list and description of the selected science & research experiments and associated institutions, visit Polaris Dawn's Science and Research site. While each experiment was selected for inclusion in the mission profile, additional testing and qualification requirements are underway. A final list of approved-to-fly experiments will be published closer to launch. Media Contacts: Sarah Grover Communications Director for the Polaris Program media@polarisprogram.com About the Polaris Program and Polaris Dawn The Polaris Program is a first-of-its-kind effort to rapidly advance human spaceflight capabilities while continuing to raise funds and awareness for important causes here on Earth. The program will consist of up to three human spaceflight missions that will demonstrate new technologies, conduct extensive research, and ultimately culminate in the first flight of SpaceX's Starship with humans on board. All missions will be commanded by Jared Isaacman, an accomplished pilot and astronaut who lead Inspiration4, the world's first all-civilian mission to orbit that helped raise over $240 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Polaris Dawn is an important first mission as part of this effort, continuing to raise awareness and money for St. Jude in addition to advancing healthcare access and connectivity to disconnected communities around the world. Polaris Dawn endeavors to reach the highest Earth orbit ever flown, attempt the first-ever commercial spacewalk, conduct extensive research to further our understanding of human health on Earth and during future long-duration spaceflights, and test Starlink's laser-based communications in space. To learn more about the Polaris Program, visit www.PolarisProgram.com and follow along on Twitter (@PolarisProgram) and Instagram (@PolarisProgram). Polaris Dawn Selects 38 Science and Research Experiments to Advance Human Health and Space Exploration Polaris Dawn Selects 38 Science and Research Experiments to Advance Human Health and Space Exploration Polaris Dawn Selects 38 Science and Research Experiments to Advance Human Health and Space Exploration Polaris Dawn Selects 38 Science and Research Experiments to Advance Human Health and Space Exploration Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/polaris-dawn-selects-38-science-and-research-experiments-to-advance-human-health-and-space-exploration-301656785.html SOURCE Polaris Dawn Realkredit Danmark A/S To NASDAQ Copenhagen Executive Board Lers Parkalle 100 DK-2100 Kbenhavn www.rd.dk Telephone +45 7012 5300 Telefax +45 4514 9622 24 October 2022 Company Announcement No 93/2022 Prepayments, Realkredit Danmark A/S Pursuant to 24 of the Capital Markets Act, Realkredit Danmark A/S hereby publishes prepayments as at Friday 21 October 2022. Please find the data in the attached file. The information will also be available on www.rd.dk . Yours sincerely The Executive Board Any additional questions should be addressed to Hella Gebhardt Rnnebk, Chief Analyst, phone +45 4513 2068. Attachments React Gaming Group Inc. MONTREAL, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- React Gaming Group Inc. (React Gaming or the Corporation) (TSXV: RGG, OTCQB: ITMZF) is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement (the Private Placement) of units of the Corporation (the Units) at a price of $0.10 per Unit, for gross proceeds of up to $5,000,000. Under the first tranche, the Corporation sold 6,350,000 Units for gross proceeds of $635,000. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Corporation (each, a Share) and one common share purchase warrant (each, a Warrant). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one additional Share (each, a Warrant Share) for a period of 48 months from the date of issue of the Warrants, subject to the occurrence of an Acceleration Event (as defined below), at an exercise price of $0.12 per Warrant Share. If the daily volume weighted average trading price of the Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange, (the TSXV) (or such other Canadian stock exchange on which the Shares are listed for trading) for 10 consecutive trading days equals or exceeds $0.30, and as adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Warrant (an Acceleration Event), the Corporation may accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by issuing a press release announcing the Acceleration Event and the new expiry date which will be the 30th calendar day after the date of such press release. Pursuant to the terms of the Private Placement, the Corporation intends to issue up to 50,000,000 Shares and 50,000,000 Warrants. The Corporation issued 6,350,000 Shares and 6,350,000 Warrants under the first tranche of the Private Placement. The Corporation shall pay eligible arms length parties (each a Finder): (i) a cash fee of 6% of the aggregate value of Units sold pursuant to the Private Placement in respect of Units referred to the Corporation or directly sourced by the Finder and issued on the closing of the first tranche of the Private Placement; and (ii) a number of Finders warrants (each a Finder Warrant) equal to 8% of the Units sold that were referred to or directly sourced by the Finder to the Corporation. The Finder Warrants will be issued on the same terms as the Warrants. The Corporation will complete multiple closings of the Private Placement as the Corporation receives subscriptions. Each closing is subject to a number of conditions, including, without limitation, approval of the TSXV, and receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals. The securities issued under the Private Placement are being offered by way of private placement in such provinces and/or territories of Canada as may be determined by the Corporation, to certain subscribers in the United States and outside the United States, in each case, pursuant to applicable exemptions from the prospectus requirements under applicable securities laws. All securities issued under the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period that will expire four months and one day from the date of the applicable closing of the Private Placement. The hold period applicable to the securities issued under the first tranche of the Private Placement will expire on February 22, 2023. The Corporation intends to use the proceeds from the Private Placement for administrative and other general working capital purposes. Share Consolidation The Corporation proposes to consolidate its issued and outstanding share capital on the basis of 4 pre-consolidation Shares for 1 post-consolidation Share (the Share Consolidation). At the annual and special meeting of the holders of Shares (the Shareholders) to be held on November 17, 2022, the Shareholders will be asked to consider and, if deemed appropriate, to pass, with or without variation, a special resolution approving the Share Consolidation. The Corporation shall: (i) issue a subsequent news release containing further information with respect to the Share Consolidation; and (ii) provide to the Shareholders an information circular pertaining to such matters in due course. The Share Consolidation is also subject to approval of the TSXV. These last few months as CEO have allowed me to evaluate our assets and their market potential. We believe we can expand our esports and iGaming activities on a global scale, but it will require additional funds that we can only obtain by reorganizing our share structure. This first closing is a strong vote of confidence in our team, the growth potential of our assets and our long-term strategy. Although we will focus on growth, we will also look at how we can best operate our subsidiaries to make them more efficient and potentially EBITDA-positive, which is crucial if we are to succeed in any business model. Even though a lot of money has been invested in the esports sector, we need to remind investors that this is a young industry, with the potential to evolve into something much larger that holds a profitable future for React Gaming, said Leigh Hughes, CEO of React Gaming. About React Gaming Group React Gaming Group (TSXV: RGG) (OTCQB: ITMZF) is a publicly traded holding company that stands at the forefront of the esports and iGaming industry. By investing in innovative technologies that enhance tournaments, teams, and wagering, we provide our users with gaming platforms that produce non-stop action, exciting outcomes, and unparalleled enjoyment. Through the use of intelligent data, we also connect our sponsors to robust communities within the rapidly evolving industry, ensuring maximum engagement and substantial reward. For more information, please visit us at reactgaming.ca and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, and contingencies. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as may, should, will, could, intend, estimate, plan, anticipate, expect, believe or continue, or the negative thereof or similar variations, and include but are not limited to the statements regarding the completion of the Private Placement, payment of a finders fee in connection with the Private Placement, the securities to be issued under the Private Placement, closing the Private Placement in tranches, the offering jurisdictions of the Private Placement, effecting the Share Consolidation, mailing of the information circular, and receipt of approval from the TSXV with respect to the Private Placement and Share Consolidation. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Corporations statements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and conditions, many of which are outside of the Corporations control, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding the Corporations activities, including: that the Corporations assumptions in making forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect; general adverse market conditions and competition; the inability to finance operations and/or obtain any future strategic investment necessary to implement new technologies; the inability to build a sustainable, conscientious company with a stronger presence online through new products in esports and gaming; the inability to obtain, or maintain, gaming license(s); and that market conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic may negatively affect the outcome of the business or operations of the Corporation, including its results and financial condition. Except as required by securities law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, 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) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CONTACT INFORMATION REACT GAMING GROUP INC. Leigh Hughes 1-514-861-1881 info@reactgaming.ca Shenandoah Telecommunications Co EDINBURG, Va., Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) (NASDAQ:SHEN) will release its third quarter 2022 financial results before the market opens on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, and will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast on the same day at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss Shentels quarterly financial results and business highlights. Date: November 2, 2022 Time: 8:30 AM ET Listen via Internet: https://investor.shentel.com/ Telephone: (833) 630-1956 A replay of the call will be available for a limited time on the Investor Relations page of the Companys website. About Shenandoah Telecommunications Company Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) provides broadband services through its high speed, state-of-the-art fiber-optic and cable networks to customers in the Mid-Atlantic United States. The Company's services include: broadband internet, video, and voice; fiber-optic Ethernet, wavelength and leasing; and tower colocation leasing. The Company owns an extensive regional network with over 7,900 route miles of fiber and over 220 macro cellular towers. For more information, please visit www.shentel.com . CONTACT: Shenandoah Telecommunications Company Jim Volk Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer 540-984-5168 Source: Shenandoah Telecommunications Co Sun Communities, Inc. Diluted Earnings per Share of $1.32 Constant Currency Core FFO(1) per Diluted Share of $2.71 Exceeded Guidance Strong Demand and Accretive Investments Drive Continued Solid Performance Record Volume of Transient-to-Annual RV Conversions Propel Gains in Revenue Producing Sites Manufactured Housing & RV Same Property(2) NOI(1) in the Quarter Increased 6.4 Percent as Compared to Prior Year Marina Same Property NOI(1) in the Quarter Increased 9.6 Percent as Compared to Prior Year Increasing Full-Year Guidance for Constant Currency Core FFO(1) Providing Preliminary Guidance for 2023 Rental Rate Increases for MH, Annual RV and Marina Southfield, MI, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sun Communities, Inc. (NYSE: SUI) (the "Company" or "SUI"), a real estate investment trust ("REIT") that owns and operates, or has an interest in, manufactured housing ("MH") and recreational vehicle ("RV") communities, and marinas (collectively, the "properties"), today reported its third quarter results for 2022. Financial Results for the Quarter and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 For the quarter ended September 30, 2022, net income attributable to common shareholders was $162.6 million, or $1.32 per diluted share, compared to net income attributable to common shareholders of $231.7 million, or $2.00 per diluted share, for the same period in 2021. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net income attributable to common shareholders was $237.3 million, or $1.97 per diluted share, compared to net income attributable to common shareholders of $367.3 million, or $3.27 per diluted share, for the same period in 2021. Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Portfolio Performance Constant Currency Core Funds from Operations ("Constant Currency Core FFO") (1) for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2022, was $2.71 per common share and dilutive convertible securities ("Share") and $6.11 per Share, respectively, representing 28.4 percent and 17.5 percent increases, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods in 2021. Core Funds from Operations ("Core FFO") (1) for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2022, was $2.65 per Share and $6.04 per Share, respectively, representing 25.6 percent and 16.2 percent increases, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods in 2021. Same Property (2) Net Operating Income ("NOI") (1) for MH and RV properties increased by 6.4 percent and 5.8 percent for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods in 2021. For the Company's Marina properties, Same Property NOI (1) increased by 9.6 percent and 6.8 percent for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods in 2021. Acquisitions totaled $213.9 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2022, including one MH community in the United Kingdom ("UK") and one marina in the United States. Story continues "Our strong third quarter results highlight the sustained compelling attributes of the Sun platform, including a best-in-class portfolio of assets in high-demand locations and operational execution that is second to none," said Gary A. Shiffman, Chairman and CEO. "We delivered strong growth in each of our segments, and earnings that exceeded our expectations. With stable high occupancy in our Manufactured Housing portfolio, we are anticipating solid rental rate increases. Strong demand in RV has driven record conversions to annual sites, and over 85 percent of our marinas have wait lists to join as a member." Mr. Shiffman continued, "We have a long-term track record of execution and a business model that is positioned to perform and create value through varying economic cycles." OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS Portfolio Occupancy Total MH and annual RV occupancy (excluding UK Operations) was 97.1 percent at September 30, 2022 as compared to 97.4 percent at September 30, 2021. During the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the number of MH and annual RV revenue producing sites increased by 689 sites as compared to an increase of 576 sites during the corresponding period in 2021, a 19.6 percent increase. Transient RV site conversions to annual leases accounted for 82 percent of the increase in the quarter. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, MH and annual RV revenue producing sites increased by 2,309 sites as compared to an increase of 1,673 sites during the corresponding period in 2021, a 38.0 percent increase. Transient RV site conversions to annual leases accounted for 86 percent of the increase during the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Additionally, the 1,990 site conversions in transient RV for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 have already surpassed the record full-year volume achieved during 2021. Same Property Results MH and RV - For the 424 MH and RV properties owned and operated by the Company since at least January 1, 2021, the following table reflects the percentage increases / (decreases), both in total and by segment, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2022: Quarter Ended September 30, 2022 Total MH and RV Same Property(2) MH Same Property(2) RV Same Property(2) Revenue 4.7 % 4.6 % 4.8 % Expense 1.0 % 3.7 % (1.1) % NOI(1) 6.4 % 4.9 % 8.4 % Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 Total MH and RV Same Property(2) MH Same Property(2) RV Same Property(2) Revenue 6.0 % 4.5 % 8.3 % Expense 6.3 % 6.8 % 5.9 % NOI(1) 5.8 % 3.7 % 9.9 % Same Property(2) adjusted occupancy(3) increased to 98.5 percent at September 30, 2022 from 96.5 percent at September 30, 2021, an increase of 200 basis points. Marina - For the 101 Marina properties owned and operated by the Company since at least January 1, 2021, the following table reflects the percentage increases for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2022: Quarter Ended September 30, 2022 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 Revenue 6.5 % 6.7 % Expense % 6.3 % NOI(1) 9.6 % 6.8 % UK Operations Results UK Operations, a component of the Company's MH segment, contributed $64.5 million of NOI(1) in the quarter ended September 30, 2022, and contributed $105.0 million of NOI(1) in the period from date of acquisition to September 30, 2022. On a constant currency basis, UK Operations contributed $73.3 million of NOI(1) in the quarter ended September 30, 2022, and contributed $116.9 million of NOI(1) in the period from date of acquisition to September 30, 2022. Refer to page 13 for additional information regarding UK operating results. PORTFOLIO ACTIVITY Acquisitions and Dispositions During and subsequent to the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the Company acquired two properties totaling 612 sites, wet slips and dry storage spaces and 1,060 sites for expansion for a total purchase price of $213.9 million. During the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the Company sold an RV community located in California with 514 sites for $15.0 million, bringing year-to-date dispositions to $44.5 million. Refer to page 15 for additional detail on acquisitions and dispositions. Development and Expansion Activities During and subsequent to the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the Company acquired four land parcels located in the United States and UK for the potential development of nearly 800 sites, for an aggregate purchase price of $20.0 million. During the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company completed the construction of over 170 sites and over 300 sites, respectively, at two ground-up developments and six expansion properties. Impact of Hurricane Ian On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall on Florida's western coast. The storm primarily affected four properties in the Fort Myers area. Three RV properties, comprising approximately 2,500 sites, sustained significant flooding and wind damage from the hurricane, and the sea wall and certain docks at one marina were damaged. At other affected MH and RV properties, most of the damage was limited to trees, roofs, fences, skirting and carports. At other affected marina properties, docks, buildings, and landscaping sustained limited wind and water damage. The Company recognized $29.9 million for impaired assets. The Company expects these charges to be partially offset by insurance recoveries, currently estimated at $17.7 million. The estimated net charges of $12.2 million are classified as Catastrophic event-related charges, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company maintains property, casualty, flood and business interruption insurance for its properties, subject to customary deductibles and limits. Expected insurance recoveries for loss of income and redevelopment costs greater than the impairment charges cannot be estimated at this time. The foregoing impairment, expected insurance recovery, and net charge estimates are based on current information available, and the Company continues to assess these estimates. The actual final impairment, insurance recoveries and net charges could vary significantly from these estimates. Any changes to these estimates will be recognized in the period(s) in which they are determined. BALANCE SHEET, CAPITAL MARKETS ACTIVITY AND OTHER ITEMS Debt As of September 30, 2022, the Company had $6.7 billion in debt outstanding with a weighted average interest rate of 3.4 percent and a weighted average maturity of 8.8 years. At September 30, 2022, the Company's net debt to trailing twelve-month Recurring EBITDA(1) ratio was 5.7 times. During the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the Company repaid $318.0 million of term loans collateralized by 35 properties. These loans had a weighted average interest rate of 4.8 percent and were set to mature from December 2022 through September 2024. Additionally, the Company has negotiated fixed rate mortgages with an existing lender on certain properties with existing loans that have low loan-to-value ratios and are scheduled to mature between 2026 and 2029. The additional financings are expected to close before year-end and provide proceeds to the Company of approximately $310.0 million. The Company intends to use the proceeds to repay borrowings outstanding under its senior credit facility. Derivative Transactions As previously announced, during the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements to hedge variable rate borrowings of 400.0 million (equivalent to $445.3 million as of September 30, 2022) under its senior credit facility's term loan. The interest rate swaps locked in a total fixed rate, inclusive of spread, of 3.67 percent through the term loan's maturity date of April 2025. Equity Transactions During the quarter ended September 30, 2022, the Company settled all outstanding forward sale agreements with respect to 1.5 million shares of common stock under its at the market offering program. Net proceeds from the settlement of these forward sale agreements of $275.5 million were used to repay borrowings outstanding under the Company's senior credit facility. GUIDANCE Updating Full-Year 2022 and Establishing Fourth Quarter 2022 Guidance The Company is updating its full-year guidance for diluted EPS and Constant Currency Core FFO(1) per Share to reflect performance through September 30, 2022 and management's expectations for the remainder of the year: The Company is revising its full-year guidance for diluted EPS from the prior range of $1.91 - $2.01 to a new range of $1.96 - $2.02. The Company is revising its full-year guidance for Constant Currency Core FFO (1) per Share from $7.22 - $7.32 to a new range of $7.32 - $7.38, representing an $0.08 cent increase at the midpoint. The Company is establishing fourth quarter 2022 guidance for diluted EPS and Constant Currency Core FFO(1) per Share of $0.02 - $0.08 and $1.23 - $1.29, respectively. The table below provides a reconciliation from diluted EPS to Constant Currency Core FFO(1) per Share for the full-year and fourth quarter ending December 31, 2022, as follows: Reconciliation of Diluted EPS to Core FFO(1) per Share and Constant Currency Core FFO(1) per Share Previous Range FY 2022E Revised Range FY 2022E 4Q 2022E Diluted EPS $ 1.91 $ 2.01 $ 1.96 $ 2.02 $ 0.02 $ 0.08 Depreciation and amortization 4.94 4.94 4.85 4.85 1.25 1.25 Gain on sale of assets (0.51 ) (0.51 ) (0.51 ) (0.51 ) (0.06 ) (0.06 ) Business combination expense and other acquisition related costs 0.19 0.19 0.30 0.30 0.01 0.01 Other adjustments(a) 0.64 0.64 0.64 0.64 0.01 0.01 Core FFO(1) per Share $ 7.17 $ 7.27 $ 7.24 $ 7.30 $ 1.23 $ 1.29 Constant currency adjustment(b) 0.05 0.05 0.08 0.08 Constant Currency Core FFO(1) per Share $ 7.22 $ 7.32 $ 7.32 $ 7.38 $ 1.23 $ 1.29 (a) Other adjustments include the same categories presented in the table that reconciles Net income attributable to SUI common shareholders to FFO on page 7. (b) The Company calculates the foreign currency translation impact by comparing the foreign currency exchange rate used for guidance of 1.1133 USD per GBP in effect on September 30, 2022 with the weighted average foreign currency exchange rate of 1.330 USD per GBP used to establish guidance in April 2022. The impact of fluctuations in Canadian and Australian foreign currency rates on revised or initial guidance are not material. The Company calculates diluted EPS, Core FFO(1) per Share and Constant Currency Core FFO(1) per Share independently for each quarter; as a result, the sum of the quarters may differ from the annual calculation. Same Property NOI(1) Growth The Company is updating its expectations for Same Property NOI(1) Growth for the remainder of the year as follows: Previous Range Revised Range Guidance Range FY 2022E FY 2022E 4Q 2022E MH and RV Same Property(2) NOI(1) growth 6.0% - 6.8% 5.8% - 6.2% 6.0% - 7.2% Marina Same Property NOI(1) growth 6.0% - 6.8% 6.4% - 6.8% 5.3% - 6.8% UK Operations - Guidance The Company's UK Operations are a component of its MH reporting segment. The Company is establishing NOI(1) guidance for its UK Operations for the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2022, as shown in the table below. These expectations are incorporated into the Company's Core FFO(1) per Share and Constant Currency Core FFO(1) per Share guidance and seasonality figures. Three Months Ending ($ in millions) December 31, 2022 UK Operations NOI(1) $23.8 - $25.0 UK Operations NOI(1) - Constant Currency(a) $28.3 - $29.8 (a) For UK operations, the Company calculates the foreign currency exchange rate translation impact by comparing the foreign currency exchange rate for guidance of 1.1133 USD per GBP in effect on September 30, 2022, with the weighted average foreign currency exchange rate of 1.330 USD per GBP used to establish guidance in April 2022. Preliminary 2023 Rental Rate Growth Assumptions The Company has sent notices to MH and annual RV residents and Marina members, and expects the following rental rate increases for 2023: 2023 Average Rental Rate Increases Average Rental Increases Manufactured Housing 6.2% - 6.4% Annual RV 7.7% - 7.9% Marina 7.3% - 7.6% UK Operations 7.2% - 7.4% The estimates and assumptions presented above represent a range of possible outcomes and may differ materially from actual results. These estimates include contributions from all acquisitions and capital markets activity completed through October 24, 2022 and the approximately $310.0 million of debt financing in progress, referred to on page v. These estimates exclude all other prospective acquisitions and capital markets activity. The estimates and assumptions are forward-looking based on the Company's current assessment of economic and market conditions and are subject to the other risks outlined below under the caption Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL A conference call to discuss third quarter results will be held on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. (ET). To participate, call toll-free (877) 407-9039. Callers outside the U.S. or Canada can access the call at (201) 689-8470. A replay will be available following the call through November 8, 2022 and can be accessed toll-free by calling (844) 512-2921 or (412) 317-6671. The Conference ID number for the call and the replay is 13732466. The conference call will be available live on Sun Communities' website located at www.suncommunities.com. The replay will also be available on the website. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains various "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the Company intends that such forward-looking statements will be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. For this purpose, any statements contained in this document that relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, trends or prospective events or developments and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts are deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as "forecasts," "intends," "intend," "intended," "goal," "estimate," "estimates," "expects," "expect," "expected," "project," "projected," "projections," "plans," "predicts," "potential," "seeks," "anticipates," "anticipated," "should," "could," "may," "will," "designed to," "foreseeable future," "believe," "believes," "scheduled," "guidance," "target" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and financial performance, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific to the matters discussed in this document, some of which are beyond the Company's control. These risks and uncertainties may cause the Company's actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to the risks described under "Risk Factors" contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, such risks, uncertainties and other factors include but are not limited to: Outbreaks of disease, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and related stay-at-home orders, quarantine policies and restrictions on travel, trade and business operations; Changes in general economic conditions, including inflation, deflation, and energy costs, the real estate industry and the markets in which the Company operates; Difficulties in the Company's ability to evaluate, finance, complete and integrate acquisitions, developments and expansions successfully; The Company's liquidity and refinancing demands; The Company's ability to obtain or refinance maturing debt; The Company's ability to maintain compliance with covenants contained in its debt facilities and its unsecured notes; Availability of capital; Changes in foreign currency exchange rates, including between the U.S. dollar and each of the Canadian dollar, Australian dollar and Pounds sterling; The Company's ability to maintain rental rates and occupancy levels; The Company's ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures; Increases in interest rates and operating costs, including insurance premiums and real property taxes; The Company's ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures; Increases in interest rates and operating costs, including insurance premiums and real property taxes; Risks related to natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, droughts and wildfires; General volatility of the capital markets and the market price of shares of the Company's capital stock; The Company's ability to maintain its status as a REIT; Changes in real estate and zoning laws and regulations; Legislative or regulatory changes, including changes to laws governing the taxation of REITs; Litigation, judgments or settlements; Competitive market forces; The ability of purchasers of manufactured homes and boats to obtain financing; and The level of repossessions by manufactured home and boat lenders. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference into this document, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in the Company's expectations or otherwise, except as required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on the Company's behalf are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Company Overview and Investor Information The Company Established in 1975, Sun Communities, Inc. (the "Company" or "SUI") became a publicly owned corporation in December, 1993. The Company is a fully integrated REIT listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: SUI. As of September 30, 2022, the Company owned, operated, or had an interest in a portfolio of 662 developed MH, RV and Marina properties comprising over 180,500 developed sites and over 46,100 wet slips and dry storage spaces in 39 states, the United Kingdom, Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information about the Company, please visit www.suncommunities.com. Company Contacts Management: Investor Relations: Gary A. Shiffman, Chairman and CEO Sara Ismail, Vice President John B. McLaren, President and COO (248) 208-2500 Fernando Castro-Caratini, EVP and CFO investorrelations@suncommunities.com Bruce D. Thelen, EVP of Operations and Sales Corporate Debt Ratings Moody's S&P: Baa3 | Stable BBB | Stable Equity Research Coverage Bank of America Merrill Lynch Joshua Dennerlein joshua.dennerlein@bofa.com Barclays Anthony Powell anthony.powell@barclays.com BMO Capital Markets John Kim jp.kim@bmo.com Citi Research Nicholas Joseph nicholas.joseph@citi.com Evercore ISI Samir Khanal samir.khanal@evercoreisi.com Steve Sakwa steve.sakwa@evercoreisi.com Green Street Advisors John Pawlowski jpawlowski@greenstreetadvisors.com JMP Securities Aaron Hecht ahecht@jmpsecurities.com RBC Capital Markets Brad Heffern brad.heffern@rbccm.com Robert W. Baird & Co. Wesley Golladay wgolladay@rwbaird.com Truist Securities Anthony Hau anthony.hau@truist.com UBS Michael Goldsmith michael.goldsmith@ubs.com Wolfe Research Andrew Rosivach arosivach@wolferesearch.com Keegan Carl kcarl@wolferesearch.com Financial and Operating Highlights (amounts in millions, except for *) Quarter Ended 9/30/2022 6/30/2022 3/31/2022 12/31/2021 9/30/2021 Financial Information Basic EPS* $ 1.32 $ 0.61 $ 0.01 $ 0.11 $ 2.00 Diluted EPS* $ 1.32 $ 0.61 $ 0.01 $ 0.11 $ 2.00 Cash distributions declared per common share* $ 0.88 $ 0.88 $ 0.88 $ 0.83 $ 0.83 FFO attributable to SUI common shareholders and dilutive convertible securities(1)(4) per Share* $ 2.54 $ 1.95 $ 1.28 $ 1.28 $ 1.92 Core FFO attributable to SUI common shareholders and dilutive convertible securities(1)(4) per Share* $ 2.65 $ 2.02 $ 1.34 $ 1.31 $ 2.11 Constant Currency Core FFO Attributable to SUI common shareholders and dilutive convertible securities(1)(4) per Share* $ 2.71 $ 2.04 $ 1.34 $ 1.31 $ 2.11 Recurring EBITDA(1) $ 408.1 $ 328.4 $ 221.0 $ 208.6 $ 314.5 Recurring EBITDA(1) (TTM) / Interest 5.7x 5.9x 6.2x 6.2x 6.1x Balance Sheet Total assets $ 16,484.6 $ 16,397.8 $ 13,914.2 $ 13,494.1 $ 12,583.3 Total debt $ 6,711.0 $ 6,930.9 $ 6,076.5 $ 5,671.8 $ 4,689.4 Total liabilities $ 8,354.6 $ 8,566.3 $ 6,980.7 $ 6,474.6 $ 5,488.5 Quarter Ended 9/30/2022 6/30/2022 3/31/2022 12/31/2021 9/30/2021 Operating Information* Properties 662 661 603 602 584 United States and Canada Manufactured home sites 99,428 99,185 98,279 98,621 98,301 Annual RV sites 32,026 31,768 31,121 30,540 29,640 Transient RV sites 27,945 28,682 29,267 29,847 27,922 Total sites 159,399 159,635 158,667 159,008 155,863 Marina wet slips and dry storage spaces(a) 46,185 45,905 45,725 45,155 43,615 MH occupancy 96.2 % 96.3 % 96.7 % 96.6 % 96.6 % Annual RV occupancy 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % Blended MH and annual RV occupancy 97.1 % 97.2 % 97.5 % 97.4 % 97.4 % United Kingdom Manufactured home sites 17,952 17,330 616 N/A N/A Transient RV sites 3,246 3,349 N/A N/A Total sites 21,198 20,679 616 MH occupancy 91.7 % 91.4 % 94.8 % N/A N/A Quarter Ended 9/30/2022 6/30/2022 3/31/2022 12/31/2021 9/30/2021 MH and RV Revenue Producing Site Net Gains(5)(b)* MH net leased sites 122 132 65 321 144 RV net leased sites 567 818 605 489 432 Total net leased sites 689 950 670 810 576 (a) Total wet slips and dry storage spaces are adjusted each quarter based on site configuration and usability. (b) These figures do not include UK operations net leased sites. Portfolio Overview as of September 30, 2022 MH & RV Properties(6) Properties MH & Annual RV Sites RV Transient Sites Sites for Development(b) Total MH and RV Sites Location Sites Occupancy %(a) Florida 129 41,417 98.2 % 5,077 1,310 46,494 Michigan 84 32,465 96.2 % 755 1,448 33,220 California 37 6,864 98.5 % 1,936 942 8,800 Texas 31 8,665 94.2 % 2,408 2,266 11,073 Ontario, Canada 16 4,605 100.0 % 634 1,486 5,239 Connecticut 16 1,907 93.1 % 98 2,005 Maine 15 2,300 96.0 % 1,130 180 3,430 Arizona 13 4,453 91.5 % 1,050 6 5,503 Indiana 12 3,186 96.6 % 990 177 4,176 New Jersey 11 2,845 100.0 % 1,195 262 4,040 Colorado 10 2,553 96.1 % 987 1,739 3,540 Virginia 10 1,283 99.7 % 2,167 752 3,450 New York 10 1,496 98.3 % 1,645 778 3,141 New Hampshire 10 1,741 99.8 % 655 111 2,396 Ohio 9 2,810 97.9 % 115 53 2,925 Other 64 12,864 97.7 % 7,103 1,521 19,967 North America Total 477 131,454 97.1 % 27,945 13,031 159,399 United Kingdom 54 17,952 91.7 % 3,246 3,047 21,198 Total 531 149,406 96.5 % 31,191 16,078 180,597 (a) As of September 30, 2022, total portfolio MH occupancy was 95.5 percent inclusive of the impact of over 1,600 recently constructed but vacant MH expansion sites, and annual RV occupancy was 100.0 percent. (b) Total sites for development were comprised of 66.5 percent for expansion, 29.1 percent for greenfield development and 4.4 percent for redevelopment. Marina Properties Wet Slips and Dry Storage Spaces Location Florida 20 5,139 Rhode Island 12 3,421 Connecticut 11 3,325 California 9 4,133 New York 9 3,018 Maryland 9 2,608 Massachusetts 9 2,520 Other 52 22,021 Total 131 46,185 Properties Sites, Wet Slips and Dry Storage Spaces Total Portfolio 662 226,782 Portfolio Overview as of September 30, 2022 (continued) The map below provides an overview of our property locations worldwide: Consolidated Balance Sheets (amounts in millions) (Unaudited) September 30, 2022 December 31, 2021 Assets Land $ 4,173.1 $ 2,556.3 Land improvements and buildings 10,632.6 9,958.3 Rental homes and improvements 604.4 591.7 Furniture, fixtures and equipment 813.8 656.4 Investment property 16,223.9 13,762.7 Accumulated depreciation (2,611.8 ) (2,337.2 ) Investment property, net 13,612.1 11,425.5 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 112.0 78.2 Marketable securities 100.4 186.9 Inventory of manufactured homes 153.5 51.1 Notes and other receivables, net 511.0 469.6 Goodwill 981.5 495.4 Other intangible assets, net 403.2 306.8 Other assets, net 610.9 480.6 Total Assets $ 16,484.6 $ 13,494.1 Liabilities Secured debt $ 3,006.0 $ 3,380.7 Unsecured debt 3,705.0 2,291.1 Distributions payable 111.2 98.4 Advanced reservation deposits and rent 294.2 242.8 Accrued expenses and accounts payable 392.8 237.5 Other liabilities 845.4 224.1 Total Liabilities 8,354.6 6,474.6 Commitments and contingencies Temporary equity 206.8 288.9 Shareholders' Equity Common stock 1.2 1.2 Additional paid-in capital 9,536.4 8,175.6 Accumulated other comprehensive income / (loss) (69.9 ) 3.1 Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings (1,628.9 ) (1,556.0 ) Total SUI shareholders' equity 7,838.8 6,623.9 Noncontrolling interests Common and preferred OP units 83.8 86.8 Consolidated entities 0.6 19.9 Total noncontrolling interests 84.4 106.7 Total Shareholders' Equity 7,923.2 6,730.6 Total Liabilities, Temporary Equity and Shareholders' Equity $ 16,484.6 $ 13,494.1 Consolidated Statements of Operations (In millions, except for per share amounts) (Unaudited) Two Spotsylvania residents will be in court Thursday to request judicial review of the School Boards actions in hiring incoming Superintendent Mark Taylor. Jeffrey Glazer and Christina Ramos, who are the parents and legal guardians of children enrolled in Spotsylvania County Public Schools, are requesting a temporary and permanent injunction against the hiring of Taylor. Taylors contract with the Spotsylvania School Board takes effect Nov. 1. The petition filed by Glazer and Ramos cites Virginia Code section 22.1-87, which permits any parent, custodian or legal guardian who is aggrieved by an action of the school board to request judicial review of the action. The boards actions can be overturned if a judge finds that the board exceeded its authority, acted arbitrarily or capriciously, or abused its discretion, according to Virginia Code. The review can be based upon the petition, the minutes of the meeting at which the school boards action was taken, the orders, if any, of the school board, an attested copy of the transcript, if any, of any hearing before the school board, and any other evidence found relevant to the issues on appeal by the court, Virginia Code states. The case is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Oct. 27 in Spotsylvania Circuit Court. Glazer and Ramos will be represented by Joseph Kirchgessner, an attorney with the firm Woehrle, Dahlberg, Yao PLC who was a 2005 graduate of Courtland High School. Attorney Jeremy Capps will represent the School Board at the judicial review. Capps is also representing the board in a separate case alleging that Chair Kirk Twigg and members April Gillespie, Rabih Abuismail and Lisa Phelps violated Virginias Freedom of Information Act in actions taken during the boards Jan. 10, 2022, meeting. A new outpatient clinic specializing in mental health services opened its doors in southern Stafford County over the weekend. Weve been waiting 15 years for the church to become the place where people can get what they need, said Bishop Ron Willis, senior pastor of Vision Community Church. And we are ready. Stafford Schools Superintendent Thomas Taylor spoke at the Saturday morning event. He told the guests that ever since he and Willis first met, the pair has had frequent discussions about the mental health needs of local children affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and the challenges those children face still. Although these issues existed before the pandemic, the pandemic just definitely put them front and center and revealed these to be urgent needs, Taylor said. Bishop, thank you. Willis said over a decade ago, his plan for the Healing Station was to provide pastoral counseling for prospective brides and grooms or for families in times of grief. But his vision for the facility broadened after he married his wife, Denise, nearly three years ago. Her experiences working in the mental health field shed light on the need for more counselors like her, Willis said. We never explored going into mental health, Willis said. God changed the whole direction. The Healing Station, a biblical-based ministry of Willis church thats located at 410 Deacon Road, will be led by Denise Willis, who previously interned as a licensed graduate professional counselor in Maryland and, more recently, worked as a counselor at King George High School. She will continue her residency for Virginia licensure both at the Healing Station and with the National Counseling Group, under the direction of Dana Scott, a licensed professional counselor. We need more clinics like this, Scott said. Theres shortages across the state and across the country with mental health services as a whole, so I really do believe that this is something thats going to be the birth of more things to come for the community. After completing a nearly yearlong mentorship under Pastor Gene Willis of Fredericksburgs Spotswood Biblical Counseling Center, the couple chose to model the Healing Station in much of the same way as the Spotswood siteby using the Bible as its basis over a traditional clinical approach. Gene Willis said thats the way his center has operated since it opened in July 2012. Biblical counseling, by the way, is on the rise more than ever before, Gene Willis said. People are hurting and more open to counseling than ever before. Even our younger generation seems more willing to openness and trusting those of us dedicated to helping mend broken hearts. Through their mentorship with Gene Willis and their work with families in the community, Ron Willis said both he and his wife recognized a need for more mental health counselors in the region, especially for children. There were kids that were afraid, coming to us worried about shootings, there was a concern, Ron Willis said. In our community, theres a great need. The couple said the Healing Station will offer outpatient counseling services for those experiencing grief or loss of a loved one, depression, anxiety, trauma, stress, substance abuse, life transitions, and childhood or adolescent challenges. Services are available for residents of Planning District 16, which includes Fredericksburg and the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline and King George. Some said Saturdays grand opening of the Healing Station couldnt have come at a better time. Among our mental health providers in our Helpline, just about 50 of them are not accepting new clients because they are maxed out, said Barbara Barlow, executive director of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg. Gene Willis said his staff at the Spotswood center two licensed counselors, two lay counselors and an intern are already booked to nearly the years end. We are, all of us, are overbooked and full, he said. Once (the Healing Station) opens the doors, theyre going to find very quickly that they need more people and that they cant meet all the needs of the people that are going to be coming. Thats because there is a mental health crisis. Barlow said one of the biggest crises nationwide today is death by suicide among ages 14 to 24. Although the Healing Station will be an additional local resource to help address that crisis, she said community facilities like it usually have a waiting list that can vary from a few weeks to as long as six months. The CDC has declared that a crisis, as well as mental health in general, Barlow said. Rep. Tara Durant, RStafford, who sits on the Virginia Behavioral Health Commission, said workforce shortages in the medical field contribute to delays for those seeking care. We will solve a lot of our problems if we have a lot more people working in the health care industry, Durant said. Not just nurses and psychologists, but nurse practitioners, direct care providers. It runs the whole gamut. With its doors now open, the Healing Station is ready to take appointments for prospective new patients. Ron Willis said $40 is the suggested donation for a one-hour session, but he said the fee would not apply to those in the community facing financial hardship. That kind of model, where youre trying to make services available based on what somebody can afford as opposed to insurance based, that is rare, Barlow said. For now, the Healing Station will operate with four counselors offering outpatient services, but Ron Willis said he has plans to expand the center outside the boundaries of his church. This is just the beginning, he said. Our vision is to build a resident center somewhere in Stafford County. A resident center where people can check in and get the services they need. Counseling sessions are provided at the Healing Station by appointment only. Visit visionstafford.com for more information or call 540/681-1294. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Azerbaijani servicemen, along with Turkish and Georgian counterparts, are attending the Eternity-2022 computer-assisted command and staff drills in Turkiye, Azernews reports, citing the Defense Ministry. During the drills, tasks on coordinating the security of strategically significant regional economic projects will be fulfilled with the involvement of servicemen and representatives of the relevant government agencies, the ministry said. The international drills, which aimed at improving mutual cooperation and maintaining interoperability between the three nations' armed forces, will last until October 28, it added. The Eternity format of military exercises between the three countries has existed since 2017 when Georgia was the first host, followed up by the excise in 2018 hosted by Turkiye. The three countries signed a partnership agreement in 2018 to further enhance military cooperation among them. The three nations' armed forces have conducted multiple drills to defend trunk pipelines. Despite the fact that such experience previously existed, some analysts believe that various formats of such cooperation are not out of the question in light of the results of the second Karabakh war in 2020. A prominent Pakistani journalist who was living in Kenya was shot and killed by police after the vehicle he was in sped up instead of stopping at a roadblock near the capital, Nairobi. Police on October 24 described the fatal shooting of Arshad Sharif as a case of mistaken identity" during a search for a similar car involved in a case of child abduction. Sharif, 49, an outspoken critic of Pakistans powerful military establishment, had been living in Kenya after leaving his home country to avoid arrest on sedition charges. He was also known as a supporter of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was ousted in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April. Earlier, Sharifs wife said on Twitter that her husband had been shot dead in Kenya. Pakistans Foreign Ministry confirmed the incident. Nairobi police said Sharif was fatally shot in the head late on October 23 after the car he was traveling in with his brother, Khurram Ahmed, drove through a roadblock set up on the Nairobi-Magadi highway to check vehicles along the key route. The two ignored police orders to stop and sped up, the police said. Police opened fire and chased the vehicle, during which Sharif's car flipped over, they added. A Kenyan police watchdog has said it is investigating the incident. Pakistans President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and other prominent figures and organizations offered condolences to the journalists family. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan called for an investigation into Sharifs death, saying the journalist paid the ultimate price for speaking the truth. Washington also urged Kenya to investigate. We're deeply saddened by the death of Arshad Sharif. We encourage a full investigation by the government of Kenya into his death," U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters. In August, Pakistans ARY news channel aired Sharifs interview with opposition politician Shahbaz Gill, who said junior officers in the armed forces should not follow orders that went against "the will of the majority. The comment led to the news channel being briefly taken off the air and an arrest warrant being issued for Sharif. He left the country. The news channel later said it had "cut ties" with the journalist. Gill was detained following the interview. Criticism of the security establishment has long been seen as a red line in Pakistan, which has been ruled by the military for several decades of its 75-year history. Pakistan is ranked 157th out of 180 countries in a press freedom index by media watchdog Reporters without Borders, with journalists facing censorship and intimidation. With reporting by AFP and dawn.com Five additional voter service and polling centers opened in El Paso County on Monday, the Clerk and Recorder's Office said. All voter service and polling centers are open through the week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Only voters who need in-person services should use a voter center, Clerk and Recorder Chuck Broerman said in a news release. Voter centers are primarily for registering new voters and issuing ballots to those who did not receive one in the mail. The centers also offer ballot marking devices for people with disabilities. Broerman encouraged residents to return their mail ballots at one of 39 ballot drop box locations across the county, adding they can be confident in Colorado's voting mail-in election system. His office is available to provide additional help, he said. "We are committed to enfranchising voters in our cherished democratic process." Residents who want to vote in person may do so at a voter center, Broerman said. They will surrender the ballot they received in the mail and will receive another paper ballot to vote. "All ballots, whether mail ballot or voting in person, are processed and tabulated in the same method at our centralized facility," Broerman said in the release. Residents can also drop off completed mail ballots in person at a voter center. Seventeen more voter service and polling centers open on Nov. 4 and 5, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The final 14 voter service locations open Nov. 7. A total of 37 voter centers will be available to residents through Election Day, Nov. 8. All voter centers will be open Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For a full list of El Paso County ballot drop box and voter service and polling center locations and operating hours, visit epcvotes.com and click on the "2022 Elections" tab. 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. The two adult victims of a kayak incident Sunday afternoon have been identified as Colorado Springs residents Larry Foster, 26, and Catherine Following the acquaintance with the Heritage of Karabakh Khanate exhibition at Chateau Mukhrani, Mtskheta Municipality, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili are making a press statement. The Prime Minister of Georgia made the statement first. Statement by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili - Mr. President. Dear friends, guests. Today, I sincerely welcome the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev. Mr. President, thank you for visiting Georgia today. Good neighborly relations and strategic partnership between our countries, including our cooperation agenda, highlight the importance of your visit. I also want to emphasize your contribution to the close relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia. Our countries have incomparable friendly relations and close ties. Those relations are based on our historical ties and mutual respect. I am sure that our existing cooperation will rise to an even higher level in the interests of the well-being of our countries and peoples. Today we had a very important meeting, discussed various issues and once again emphasized the close partnership between our countries. We discussed the processes currently taking place in the world and agreed that the events taking place in Ukraine should be resolved through negotiations. We also consider that the events unfolding in the world should be resolved only through peace and stability. This is important both for our region and our peoples. In addition, we have reviewed the regional situation, contacts between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the peace process between the two countries. Our government and myself are hopeful that we will do our best to implement the policy of peace. Good neighborly relations in our region are not against any format of cooperation, we will only strengthen it, and I am sure that we can do a lot together. Mr. President, I also support the initiative you put forward in Prague to create a cooperation format in the South Caucasus. We have also reviewed economic, energy and transport issues. Georgia is an important country for Azerbaijan. At the same time, Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of Georgia. We have reviewed the important projects we have already implemented. These are historic projects the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipelines, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and Middle Corridor. The projects we have implemented will continue to be carried forward and we are determined to speed them up even more. I want to quote your father, the national leader of your country. We have deep respect for his dear memory. When he was in Tbilisi, in Georgia, he said that the Azerbaijani and Georgian peoples are lucky to be neighboring nations. Our ancestors created those contacts, and it is our duty today to carry that collaboration forward and pass it on to future generations. Mr. President, thank you again. x x x Then the President of Azerbaijan made a statement. Statement by President Ilham Aliyev - Dear Mr. Prime Minister. Dear ladies and gentlemen. Dear Prime Minister, first of all, thank you for inviting me to your country. We meet in this beautiful place of Georgia. These are spectacular places. It is also windy, as if it were the Baku wind. This shows that the wind also welcomes us here today. So I really feel at home. I am very happy to be visiting Georgia again. We have frequent meetings with Prime Minister. Last year alone, Mr. Garibashvili visited Azerbaijan twice. At the same time, we meet regularly within the framework of the events held on the sidelines of international organizations. I am sure that today's visit will give a new impetus to the friendly and brotherly relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan. These relations are based on very deep traditions. For centuries, our peoples have lived in the conditions of friendship, brotherhood and good neighborliness. Interstate relations are also built on this solid foundation. Today, our strategic partnership relations have almost risen to the level of alliance. We actively cooperate in many fields. We always support each other within the framework of international organizations and in a bilateral format. Many projects are of special importance not only for our countries, but also for the region and Europe as a whole. As Prime Minister has mentioned, many issues were discussed today. Discussions will be continued. Of course, the processes taking place in the region and issues related to security were at the center of our discussions. I have informed the Prime Minister about the situation after the second Karabakh war and the progress of peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We believe that after the Karabakh conflict, the time has come for Azerbaijan and Armenia to sign a peace treaty. At least this is our intention. We have laid down our proposals consisting of five main principles to the Armenian side. I do hope that the Armenian side will also show political will and sign the peace treaty with Azerbaijan on the basis of these fundamental principles recognized by the international community. If this happens, peace will come to the South Caucasus and, at the same time, opportunities for cooperation will emerge. Today, during the conversation, we also exchanged views on the start of Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia consultations. If the Armenian side is ready for them, we are ready too. As for our bilateral agenda, of course, we are pleased with the increase in our turnover. In nine months of this year, the turnover has approached one billion dollars. Of course, projects implemented with the investment of Azerbaijan further strengthen our cooperation. Azerbaijan has invested more than 3 billion dollars in Georgia. This investment is mutually beneficial because it meets the interests of both parties. Of course, today we had a broad exchange of views on our future energy policy. As the Prime Minister has also noted, the implemented projects are already successfully operating. We are thinking about new projects. We intend to increase gas exports to world markets. This year we will export 22 billion cubic meters and next year this figure will increase even more. The Memorandum on strategic partnership in the field of energy, signed between the European Commission and Azerbaijan in July of this year, indicates that Azerbaijan will double gas exports to Europe in the next five years. At least this is our intention and we have sufficient capabilities to do that. So we plan that Azerbaijan's gas export to Europe alone will reach 20 billion cubic meters in 2027. Of course, the work to be done in this regard was discussed in a bilateral format, and there is a need for further discussions. At the same time, exports will be increased through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline next year. We also want to use the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline, which is currently not in operation. We have also talked about this. I informed the Prime Minister about our plans. There is a great need and great potential for this. The new project to be implemented is related to electricity. Azerbaijan is trying to export its electricity to world markets. Of course, our export direction passes through Georgia. Ten Gigawatts of renewable energy can be used on liberated lands alone. In the Caspian Sea, this number reaches 157 Gigawatts. So this is a figure confirmed by international experts, and it is a very large figure. Of course, producing and exporting this energy is on our agenda in the coming years. Georgia and Azerbaijan will actively cooperate in this and other fields. In short, there are great opportunities to increase the economic potential of our region energy resources, transport corridors. I should also say that the volume of cargo transportation between Georgia and Azerbaijan has increased by 75 percent this year. I want to inform you that we intend to increase the carrying capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway to 5 million tons. For this purpose, Azerbaijan will make additional investment in this project this year and next year. All investment is ready and we have started the process because there is a great need for transport routes across the Caspian Sea through Azerbaijan, Georgia and neighboring countries. The new transport routes meet the interests of all the countries located along the route, both in relation to the geopolitical situation and as a whole. Therefore, increasing the throughput capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway to 5 million tons and increasing the volume of cargo transferred from Central Asia and Asia as a whole to the West and back using Georgian ports creates a new reality. We have to be ready for that. I must state that we want to increase the capacity of Baku International Sea Trade Port from 15 million to 25 million tons. All the instructions have already been given and the funds will be allocated. Therefore, there should be close coordination between Georgia and Azerbaijan in the field of transport. Our joint projects must be completed at the same time. To be a transit country, you must have good relations with your neighbors. Because without good relations with neighbors, no country can become a reliable transit state. Our friendly, brotherly and partnership relations with Georgia create these opportunities. Currently, as there is a great demand for energy resources in the whole world and in Europe, Georgia and Azerbaijan will act in a coordinated manner in this matter and ensure their national interests by focusing on one point. Notice how important the relations between two brotherly countries are for the region, for Europe and for the world. I want to note again that all these successes are based on our friendship, the friendship of our peoples, the friendship between our leaders and our joint activities. Therefore, I want to express my gratitude to the Prime Minister for this wonderful opportunity, for inviting me to this beautiful place. I wish prosperity, well-being and peace to the friendly and brotherly Georgian people. Thank you. Authorities have arrested a second man in connection with the death of a homeless man in Colorado Springs, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office confirmed Monday. Court records show that on Friday, Gabriel Lee Clark was arrested and booked into El Paso County jail on suspicion of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Jose Delgado-Diaz on Oct. 10, sheriff's Lt. Deborah Mynatt confirmed. Clark, 20, is the second person arrested in Delgao-Diaz's death. Gregory Paul Lee, 64, was arrested on Oct. 13 and charged with first-degree murder among five other charges in Delgado-Diaz's death. The Sheriff's Office confirmed that Delgado-Diaz matched the description of the man who allegedly started the Stratmoor Hills homeless camp fire that morning. His body was found behind the Deja Vu strip club near the location of the fire just hours after it had begun. The camp is on private property in a field near Chamberlin and Hampton streets, just north of South Academy Boulevard and B Street. Arrest records from the 4th Judicial District Court have been sealed for both Lee and Clark. During Lee's first appearance in court on Friday, Judge Robin Chittum insinuated that the arrest affidavit remains sealed because the investigation is ongoing and the release of the affidavit could compromise the investigation. Clark is scheduled to make his first appearance in court on Monday. Lee will return to court on Nov. 3 for a review hearing. Both men are being held in El Paso County jail on a no-bond hold. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili have viewed the Heritage of Karabakh Khanate exhibition at Chateau Mukhrani, Mtskheta Municipality. The event featured a presentation of the Karabakh Khanate. Historical and cultural identity" book. Photos displayed at the exhibition were selected from the book Karabakh Khanate. Historical and cultural identity on the basis of artifacts. These include the first known image of the flag belonging to the Karabakh Khanate, the shield of Shah Ismayil preserved in the Karabakh Khanate dynasty, ancient carpets, decorative tiles of the Sardar Mosque and its facade, as well as images of the 19th century Shusha, photos depicting the interior and facade of the Sardar Khan palace of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a horse saddle from the 19th century, two tars and a three-stringed kamancha, portraits of Hasan Gulu Khan Qajar and Fatali Shah Qajar authored by Mirza Gadim Iravani. The book Karabakh Khanate. Historical and cultural identity by the head of the group of authors, Professor Eldar Nadiradze, contains more than 300 artifacts belonging to the Karabakh khanate. These were collected during the military and scientific expeditions by Tsarist Russia in Karabakh in the 19th century and are currently stored in the Georgian National Museum. After being handed over to the museum's archive, the artifacts were never opened for some reason and remained uncatalogued for more than 100 years. This collection, cataloged in the form of a publication and serving is an indicator of rare cultural heritage, will contribute to increasing international interest in the Karabakh Khanate, an integral part of Azerbaijan's history, and its rich cultural heritage. The book was published in Azerbaijani, Russian, English, French and Arabic. Rush Bowls, a Colorado fast-casual franchise that specializes in acai and other types of health bowls, is making its way to Colorado Springs. Firefighters work on containing a fire in the hills just west of Pikes Peak International Raceway on Saturday. By Trend Some states and organizations are still unable to accept the new reality created by Azerbaijan in South Caucasus after the Second Karabakh War and France ranks first among them, Trend reports. France expressing open support for Armenia both during the Second Karabakh War and in the post-war period tried to put political pressure on Azerbaijan, to influence processes in South Caucasus and dictate its terms, but this plan failed. Seeing the increased role of the EU and Russia in the Azerbaijani-Armenian peace process, French authorities shifted their offensive diplomacy against Azerbaijan into a more aggressive and dynamic phase, starting to sow the seeds of discord in the negotiation process. French President Emmanuel Macron's demonstration of his anti-Azerbaijani stance a few days ago in an interview with France 2 television channel revealed the country's plans for the Azerbaijani-Armenian peace process and goals for the future in South Caucasus. During the interview Macron called Karabakh 'a disputed territory' and said 'Armenia will not be left alone'. Going even further, the French President didn't hesitate to accuse Azerbaijan of a 'terrible war' and 'occupation'. Naturally, Macron's unsubstantiated accusations cannot but arouse indignation among Azerbaijan's political leadership and public. Azerbaijan showed goodwill nonetheless and allowed the French President to participate in this meeting. As for the participation of the President of the European Council, as you know, several trilateral meetings have already been held in Brussels and, in principle, we have always supported the efforts of the European Union towards the normalization of Azerbaijan-Armenia relations. Despite the goodwill shown by Azerbaijan, just a week after the meeting in Prague, the President of France made insulting, unacceptable, false and provocative statements. They are available in the media and everyone can see them. In these statements, he accused Azerbaijan of engaging in a horrific war, thereby manipulating the facts, trying to mislead the French and world public. Azerbaijan waged war on its internationally recognized territory. Karabakh is recognized by the whole world as a part of Azerbaijan. We exercised our right to self-defense and restored our territorial integrity by force, President Ilham Aliyev said. Speaking about the anti-Azerbaijani policy of France, President Ilham Aliyev noted that French Foreign Minister had also made false anti-Azerbaijani statements. French Senate and the lower house of their parliament adopted resolutions recognizing the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh although it wasnt recognized even by Armenia. We are aware that another anti-Azerbaijan resolution is being prepared in the French Senate in mid-November," President Ilham Aliyev said. President Ilham Aliyev reminded during his speech about relations between Azerbaijan and France in previous periods. "Therefore, unfortunately, the current French leadership, unlike the previous ones I had the opportunity to communicate quite closely with President Chirac, President Sarkozy and President Hollande, and our relations were quite balanced, quite friendly, and we always perceived the activities of previous French presidents, despite, of course, a certain factor of the Armenian diaspora in France, as balanced. However, the current French leadership has effectively crossed out all this. Therefore, I wanted to inform colleagues about this situation, Head of state said. The latest processes show that Macron's government, unlike the former French presidents, insists on changing France's policy towards the South Caucasus, and in particular, burning bridges with Azerbaijan. The French political elite intends to change its policy towards Azerbaijan and to speak with dictation, while the country is silencing the opposite side with its reasoned answers against the background of this rhetoric. The response of the Azerbaijani President is in line with the policy of the French authorities towards the country. The Head of Azerbaijani state declares that regardless of France's plans in the South Caucasus, the country won't change its policy towards the region and Karabakh. What are Azerbaijan's goals regarding the region and Karabakh? - Azerbaijan strives to ensure joint co-existence, guaranteeing the security of Armenian population in Karabakh; - Azerbaijan is interested in creating the Zangazur corridor and unblocking all transport and communication lines in the region as a whole; - Azerbaijan strives for long-term peace and stability in South Caucasus and cooperates with all global players interested in stability. There are forces on the 'old continent' that support long-term peace and stability in the South Caucasus and Azerbaijan's peacekeeping policy, but France is not one of them. What are Paris's objectives regarding South Caucasus? - The current French authorities aren't interested in a complete settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, so as not to lose the opportunity to influence South Caucasus; - France wants to make the most of the 'Armenian card' in the final peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, to gain an opportunity to influence South Caucasus; - France knows that it will not be able to hinder the peace agreement at the final stage, so it seeks to keep the 'Armenian card' in Karabakh 'open', to keep the theses about the rights of Armenians there on the agenda in order not to lose the opportunity to influence the region even after the conclusion of the peace agreement. The 'Karabakh game' planned by France has been exposed since Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's speech at a meeting with Macron in France when he put forward the thesis; Azerbaijan must talk to the Karabakh Armenians'. As can be seen, the positions of Azerbaijan and France regarding South Caucasus and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations are quite different. Azerbaijan wants peace, while France wants to drag out negotiations and gain leverage in the region. France not only doesn't want peace but even plans military support to Armenia to aggravate the situation in the region and create a new hotbed of conflict. How can France be a fair mediator in the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan in this situation? Naturally, French authorities' sympathy for the Armenian lobby, games around the 700,000 Armenian voters living in the country will not allow President Macron to demonstrate a fair position regarding Azerbaijani-Armenian relations. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev commented on Macron's biased statement saying that "France has nothing to do with the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia", once again making it clear that Azerbaijan doesn't need help, mediation, "fair" position of France. France, in turn, should respect the position of Azerbaijan and not try to speak to the country with threats and pressure. The first entry in the 1880 Death Register for Cerro Gordo County, completed by the county recorder as required by the Iowa State Board of Health, is that of Charles Butler. When the Butler Family was enumerated in the 1880 census in Mason City on June 9, 1880, Charles was 4 months old. He died five weeks later on July 17, 1880, at 11:00 a.m., of Cholera Infantum. The story of Charles Butler is one that is repeated and compounded in numbers that in 2022 we cannot fathom or comprehend. In 1880, in what we know as North Iowa, of all children born that year, 34.6 percent would not live to age ten. There are seven or eight common causes of infant and children deaths in the extant records kept officially. The local physicians required to complete a death record used as many different names for the same disease or afflictions as fingers on your hand. As a result, over the years causes of death have been reviewed and consolidated into common nomenclature. You also have to remember that penicillin was not invented until 1928 and was not available to the general public in the United States until 1945. Prior to penicillin's widespread use, pneumonia and other respiratory infections were alone responsible for 18 percent of all deaths in the US in 1928. In that same year gastrointestinal infections and chronic diarrhea, including the infant Charles Butler's Cholera Infantum, accounted for 30 percent of all deaths in this country. But there is one final Victorian disease that struck panic into, and cursed equally, the rich and the poor; the famous, infamous and common; the scholarly and the unschooled; and even physicians of the day. The disease everyone in that era seemed to fear was consumption; known today as tuberculosis. Without the benefit of antibiotics to fight off tubercular bacteria, consumption was the number one killer of our pioneer ancestors in 1900. I started this peregrination back into pioneer mortality with the short and sad life of Charles Butler. Charley was one of ten children born between 1872 and 1888 to Harry Frederick Butler and Mary Ann Wambolt Butler. Seven of those kids were born in Mason City from 1876 to 1888. The Butlers were not extraordinary people for that time, and may have been inconspicuous by their ordinariness. Father Harry spent his working life as a builder of railroad bridges and trestles. He is first seen in Cerro Gordo County in 1870 at the age of 25, living in Clear Lake at the Lake House Hotel and Rooming House owned by John Chestnut, with 16 other railroad carpenters-eight to a room. Just five years earlier Frederick H. (Harry) Butler was mustered out of Company B, 6th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry after 3 years and 5 months of continuous service, surviving the Battle of Shiloh and every succeeding engagement up to and including standing watch at Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Of Harry's six brothers, five also served in various Ohio Volunteers Union battle units. Two of his brothers died in the Civil War. Rufus Alfred Butler died of dysentery 10 October 1861 near Charleston, West Virginia. Brother Edward H. Butler died on 6 October 1864 at Andersonville Confederate Prison Camp in Georgia. On January 22, 1871, Harry married Mary Ann Wambolt in Minneapolis and to the Twin Cities they relocated, expecting their first child in 1872. Willis D. Butler was born 15 January 1872 and died of Scarlett Fever 8 February 1872. Still living in Minneapolis, Harry and Mary Ann were blessed with the births of two daughters, Elama Mara Butler on 27 March 1873 and Maud Melissa Butler 11 November 1874. Elama and Maud lived full lives reaching the ages of 97 and 82 years respectively. The goliath expansion of railroads in North Iowa beckoned the Butler family to Mason City in 1875. On December 16, 1876, son Russell S Butler was born in Mason City. Russell died in Mason City of Cholera Infantum on 31 August 1877. Daughter Ila Mae was born in Mason City on 14 July 1878. She died in Alameda California 30 November 1978 living beyond 100-years. Ila Mae and her husband Arthur Dubeau had four children. Two daughters reached the age of majority. Son Harry Russell Butler was born in Mason City on 21 July 1881. He lived until 2 July 1963, just shy of 82 years; the only Butler son to survive. He married in Seattle Washington in 1911 but never had children. Myrtle Cora Butler was born in Mason City on 21 September 1883 and died in Wisconsin two days shy of reaching age 89 on 19 September 1972. Myrtle was married 3 times and had four children. Son Charles Rude Knapp died at age six from consumption. Myrtle was the last child of Harry and Mary Ann Butler to live beyond infancy. Frederick A Butler was born in River City on 30 November 1885. He died here, of Cholera Infantum on 8 July 1886. The last born Butler child was Aggie E. Butler on 27 January 1888 and she died on 5 September 1889 of Cholera Infantum. As was accepted convention of the day, Harry and Mary Ann Butler buried their infants in a common unmarked grave and in a location where a coven of close and extended relatives called home. In this case, in the oldest cemetery in Minneapolis: Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery in Block "P" lot 95. There are those today who insist that our pioneer ancestors should be canceled and by creating historical revisionism and negationism, their stories be blotted out because they were simply people of their time. American Pioneers are giants in the earth, never claimed as perfect, who lived as well as they knew, and as such cannot be gauged or reckoned by us living today. They gave their last full-measure of devotion, including their children, for the creation of this perfectly flawed Nation. There is shame in forgetting the dolor, heartache and loss pioneer families endured for us to be Americans today. Next week-Dangerous Pioneer Professions. Virginia Civil Air Patrols Danville Squadron joined pilots from Civil Air Patrol-United States Air Force in air and ground training last week. While pilots practiced in Civil Air Patrol aircraft, 20 cadets age 12-18 practiced aircraft marshaling directing aircraft on the ground as well as observing pilots planning their flights at Danville Regional Airport. Civil Air Patrol is the Auxiliary of the Air Force, and we perform search and rescue, homeland security, disaster relief, humanitarian and counter-drug missions, said Capt. David Hutch Hutcheson. We enjoy the opportunity to share time and do joint training with our Air Force counterparts. The aviation-related training is part of Civil Air Patrols aerospace education focus, along with learning to lead, hike, camp and push themselves to new limits. Moving around live aircraft at the airport, under the supervision of qualified senior members, helped cadets develop responsibility (directing pilots and passengers) and an ability to focus on what is happening all around them. This is added to their training in skills that include performing in honor and color guards, search and rescue and a curriculum that focuses on four elements: leadership, aerospace, fitness and character. The pilots included Air Force-trained fighter, bomber, transport and tanker aircraft individuals who were polishing their skills in the smaller aircraft Civil Air Patrol flies for search and rescue and airborne photography missions. The cadets marshalled the United States Air Force pilots as they landed, observed their preflight preparation and graded the pilots as they flew practice missions. We especially appreciate how the Air Force folks were very respectful and supportive as they interacted with our cadets, mentoring them and sharing stories about their experiences flying their heavy, fast aircraft in combat situations in places like Afghanistan. Hutcheson said. They also offered advice about aviation career tracks. Those interactions were very motivating to our teens. Civil Air Patrol includes area civilians with a variety of skills who engage in training, perform humanitarian missions, mentor cadets and serve the community performing public service activities. No criminal charges have been filed in a June 28 incident in which a man shot one of three men he said attacked him inside Target on Hanes Mall Boulevard. No one was killed, and Winston-Salem police said the three men were part of a group against sexual predators that had lured the fourth man to Target to confront him. Kira Boyd, a spokeswoman for the Winston-Salem Police Department, said that the criminal investigation is still active. The Target incident remains an ongoing investigation and there are no updates at this time, she said in the email on Tuesday. The gunfire at Target happened on June 28, around 8:30 p.m. Police initially said that a man told authorities that he was approached by three other men inside the store and that after they started assaulting him, he pulled a gun and fired one time in an attempt to stop the assault. Dontaye Kentrell Wade, who was 25 at the time, told authorities that the three men continued to assault him after he fired the shot, took his gun and ran out of the store. Wade told police that he drove home after the assault, then went to a local hospital to be examined. Police said Wades injuries were minor and that he was released from the hospital after getting treated. The incident prompted a rare late-night news conference 24 hours later from Police Chief Catrina Thompson, who urged citizens not to conduct their own investigations into online child predators. She declined to say that the news conference was directly in response to the Target shooting. But on July 3, Winston-Salem police sent out a news release with additional details that made it appear that the Target assault was the reason behind the unusual news conference. In the news release, Winston-Salem police identified the three men alleged to have assaulted Wade as Jay Cameron Carnicom of Freemont, Ohio; Joshua Alvin Michael Mundy of Freemont, Ohio; and Jason Doane Chipps of Marion, Ohio. Carnicom and Mundy were 28 and 29, respectively, at the time of the news release, while Chipps was 37. Police said the three men were part of a group called DAP, or Dads Against Predators, on social media. Police said the three men lured Wade to the Target using a social media app called Meet Up. Once Wade came inside the Target, the three men approached him and asked him why he was at the store. Police did not say in the news release why the three men targeted Wade. Wade has not been charged with any crime. Winston-Salem police said that one of the men was recording the interaction when Wade slapped the phone away. During the ensuing fight, Wade brandished a handgun and fired once, striking Carnicom in the lower leg. The men took Wades gun, ran out of Target and got into a vehicle with Ohio tags. Around 3:13 a.m. on June 29, police got information that led them to Wades gun on Sunderlund Road. Then at 11 a.m. June 29, Winston-Salem police were contacted by law enforcement in Ohio that confirmed Carnicom had arrived at a hospital there. He had a gunshot wound to his leg and he was treated and released from the hospital. An assistant chief of the Freemont Police Department told WGHP/Fox 8, the Winston-Salem Journals newsgathering partner, that he has dealt with DAP for years and that members have been banned from various grocery stores in the Ohio area because their meet-ups turn violent. WGHP/Fox 8 did not identify the assistant chief in the story. Mundy told WGHP/Fox 8 that he could not go into the details but said that his group is cooperating with the investigation. Mundy told the news station that he and the two other men did not do anything wrong. He and Carnicom also appeared on a YouTube show where they talked about the Winston-Salem incident. Both men said in the video that they were involved in the Target incident and would no longer meet inside stores or in public places. 336-727-7326 @mhewlettWSJ One of Madisons most storied historical buildings is once again the talk of the town and now the world courtesy of the Netflix series, 28 Days Haunted. The structure, at 104 W. Murphy St., is attached to one of the most gruesome mass murders in North Carolina history the 1929 Lawson family murders. Charlie Lawson, a 43-year-old Stokes County farmer, shot and bludgeoned his wife and six of his seven children in Germanton before taking his own life on that Christmas afternoon, the same year the nation plunged into the Great Depression. The building, which was erected in 1908 in the heart of this 2,200-resident hamlet, has been home to Madison Dry Goods and Country Store for 27 years. But in 1929, the upstairs of the building housed T.B. Knight Funeral Parlor where the victims, including a newborn, were embalmed. Proprietors of Madison Dry Goods, Richard and Kathy Miller, bought the building in 1998. And although they were aware of the buildings history, which included housing the former Penn Hardware Store, the Millers were not prepared for the stories of unexplainable activity that have garnered the attention of national paranormal investigators over the past decade. Numerous visitors to the store, as well as employees, have reported seeing a little girl wearing a white dress in the building. And pictures and objects have been moved about inexplicably, the Millers said. Add to that, the Millers and some visitors to the upstairs museum where the funeral home once operated, have described being overcome with an eerie feeling as if they are not alone. Locals and various ghostbusters who have investigated the site and the odd sightings speculate that the unexplained activities are connected to the Lawson family deaths. Word of the bizarre happenings reached Netflix producers, and in 2021, a production team contacted the Millers and invited them to participate in the show, something of a 28-day experiment in crossing over to the spirit world, the Millers said in a news release. The Netflix production team subscribes to a theory popularized by famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, authors associated with prominent cases of alleged hauntings, including the Amityville house on which the The Amityville Horror books and films were based. The Warrens say that it takes 28 days to pierce the veil between the human and spirit worlds. So Netflix show makers asked the Millers for carte blanche access to their building for 28 days between Aug. 12 and Sept. 15, 2021. The Millers obliged and closed their popular store for the month. They were not allowed access to the store during the experiment and were not told of a paranormal teams findings. 28 Days Haunting features six 40-minute episodes that chronicle investigations of the Madison site, as well as buildings in Connecticut and Colorado, which are said to be haunted. In Madison, self-described demonologist Jereme Leonard and fifth-generation psychic medium Brandy Marie Miller (no relation to the proprietors) arrived in Madison blindfolded with no knowledge of the Lawson crime or building. They were not allowed access to the internet during the course of the month-long experiment, so they had no resources for research. Medium Miller announced in Episode 1 before entering the building that she sensed two children at the top of a staircase. Spoiler alert She and Leonard record thuds, slamming sounds and flickering lights throughout the series, as well as garbled voices, including one that demands they Get out! On their first night in the Madison building, Miller and Leonard try to summon spirits for clues to the haunting. Miller lies in a casket taken from the upstairs mortuary museum and enters a trance as Leonard leads a mock funeral. Overcome by the sensation that victims are gathered around her casket and that a man is standing at the head of the wooden box, Miller breaks her trance and rushes away from the room for relief. She complains of pressure sensations to her head, as well. As the series continues, Miller deteriorates emotionally, claiming that dark forces are taking advantage of her psyche. She debates leaving the project through tears but decides over a cigarette on Murphy Street to stick it out. Madison embalmer The embalmer was selected in 1929 because Knight operated the only funeral home in the region large enough to accommodate eight bodies, plus he had elevator access, historians say. The murders and preparation of the bodies drew national attention, and old newspaper clips show that about 5,000 people gathered in Madison to see a line of hearses carry the bodies away to Germanton in Stokes County for burial. RALEIGH The results of North Carolina students on national tests of reading and math are the worst theyve been in more than 20 years showing how much achievement has declined since the pandemic. The results released on Monday by the U.S. Department of Educations National Center for Education Statistics also show that scores are the lowest theyve been for North Carolina public school students since the late 1990s. The drop in North Carolinas performance mirrored nationwide declines on the exams, which have been called The Nations Report Card. Many of the gains that had been made before in-person instruction was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic have been erased. The results in todays Nations Report Card are appalling and unacceptable, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a news briefing before the results were officially released. Theyre a reminder of the impact this pandemic had on our learners and the important work that we must do now for our students. This is a moment of truth for education. How we respond to this will determine not only our recovery but our nations standing in the world. The National Assessment of Educational Progress tests includes those of fourth- and eighth-graders that are normally given every two years to assess how U.S. students are doing. The exams were postponed in 2021, so this years data offers the first look at how the pandemic impacted the results. But its not a test of all students, except in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Guilford County, which are part of a nationwide program of 26 urban districts. In the states other districts, a representative sample of students is selected to answer test questions. Like other districts, Guilford County Schools suffered from a decline in reading and math scores. However, in a news release on Monday, officials said those scores were generally higher or at least on par when compared to school districts in similar-sized cities. The pandemic has been the most disruptive singular force in education in a century, but the challenges we face are not solely the effect of a global health crisis. The disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic exposed historical systemic gaps in our nations education systems and these data make clear that there is an urgent need to accelerate learning, Superintendent Whitney Oakley said in the release. The National Assessment results come after the heated debate over the use of remote instruction during the pandemic. Some states were faster than others to resume in-person instruction, while others stayed with online classes longer due to COVID-19 concerns. And now the national test results are reaffirming the suspicions of many. Nationwide, consider that the average fourth-grade math score dropped five points since 2019 the lowest it has been since 2003. The average eighth-grade math score was also disappointing and the lowest it has been since 2000. It showed an eight-point drop that Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, called stark. These mathematics results are historic, Carr said. This is because they are the largest decline in mathematics we have observed in the entire history of this assessment. The average reading score in both fourth- and eighth-grade dropped three points since 2019. The reading scores havent been that low since 1998 for fourth-grade and 1992 for eighth-grade. Compared to North Carolina, scores didnt go up in reading or math this year or any state for that matter. North Carolinas scores are not considered to be statistically significantly different than the national averages. There is a major setback, nonetheless, Carr said of the national results. For North Carolina students, the average fourth-grade math score dropped five points to the lowest level since 2000. The average eighth-grade math score dropped 10 points to the lowest level since 1996. In reading, the results were just as numbing. The states average fourth-grade reading score dropped five points the lowest level since 1998. The eighth-grade reading score dropped six points. The National Assessment of Educational Progress drop is reflected as well in recent declines in performance on state exams. Test results released in September show that 51.2% of students were proficient on state exams during the 2021-22 school year. That compares to the 45.4% passing rate in the 2020-21 school year and 58.8% in the 2018-19 school year. Those results translated to a sobering reality: More than a third of schools met the states definition as low performing. Schools are turning to programs such as intensive tutoring to try to help students recover. But state officials say it could take four years for students to get caught up with pandemic learning loss that left some students more than a year behind in math and reading at the end of the 2020-21 school year. The National Assessment results also show setbacks statewide and nationally in efforts to narrow achievement gaps between different student groups. In North Carolina, the average reading score for Black fourth-grade students dropped 10 points since 2019 and is now at the lowest level since 1998. In comparison, the average score for white students only fell three points. The gap that had been shrinking between the states white and Black fourth-grade students in reading is back at 30 points the same as it was in 1998. Todays results show that children who were already furthest from opportunity before March 2020 and who were most impacted by COVID need the greatest support now to make up for lost ground in reading and math, Cardona said. Multiple national and state studies have shown that the extended period where students were fully or partially remote has led to negative academic consequences. A state Department of Public Instruction analysis also found that the learning loss was less severe for students that received at least some in-person instruction compared to peers who only had online classes during the pandemic. But Carr cautioned against drawing a direct connection between time spent in remote learning and the National Assessment scores. Theres nothing in this data, she said, that tells us that there is a measurable difference in the performance between states and districts based solely on how long schools were closed. Updated 4:47 p.m. GREENSBORO Authorities have identified a person who was fatally shot early Monday as an 18-year-old man, according to a news release from Greensboro police. Farseat Calderon of Greensboro was found shot in the 1900 block of Woodside Drive, police said. Police are investigating his death as a homicide. Posted 7:45 a.m. GREENSBORO A person who was shot overnight in Greensboro has died, Greensboro police said in a news release. Officers responded at 3:16 a.m. to a shooting in the 1900 block of Woodside Drive, where they located a gunshot victim with a serious injury. Police are investigating the death as a homicide and have not released any details about the victim. Authorities ask anyone with information to contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000. Residents can also download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip, or go to P3tips.com to submit a web tip. All tips to Crime Stoppers are completely anonymous. The young Afghan couple raced to the airport in Kabul, clutching their baby girl close amid the chaotic withdrawal of American troops last year. The baby had been rescued two years earlier from the rubble of a U.S. Special Forces raid that killed her parents and five siblings. After months in a U.S. military hospital, she had gone to live with her cousin and his wife, this newlywed couple. Now, the family was bound for the United States for further medical treatment, with the aid of U.S. Marine Corps attorney Joshua Mast. When the exhausted Afghans arrived at the airport in Washington, D.C., in late August 2021, Mast pulled them out of the international arrivals line and led them to an inspecting officer, according to a lawsuit they filed last month. They were surprised when Mast presented an Afghan passport for the child, the couple said. But it was the last name printed on the document that stopped them cold: Mast. They didn't know it, but they would soon lose their baby. This is a story about how one U.S. Marine became fiercely determined to bring home an Afghan war orphan, and praised it as an act of Christian faith to save her. Letters, emails and documents submitted in federal filings show that he used his status in the U.S. Armed Forces, appealed to high-ranking Trump administration officials and turned to small-town courts to adopt the baby, unbeknownst to the Afghan couple raising her 7,000 miles (11,000 kilometers) away. The little girl, now 3 years old, is at the center of a high-stakes tangle of at least four court cases. The Afghan couple, desperate to get her back, has sued Mast and his wife, Stephanie Mast. But the Masts insist they are her legal parents and "acted admirably" to protect her. They've asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit. The ordeal has drawn in the U.S. departments of Defense, Justice and State, which have argued that the attempt to spirit away a citizen of another country could significantly harm military and foreign relations. It has also meant that a child who survived a violent raid, was hospitalized for months and escaped the fall of Afghanistan has had to split her short life between two families, both of which now claim her. Five days after the Afghans arrived in the U.S., they say Mast custody papers in hand took her away. The Afghan woman collapsed onto the floor and pleaded with the Marine to give her baby back. Her husband said Mast had called him "brother" for months; so he begged him to act like one, with compassion. Instead, the Afghan family claims in court papers, Mast shoved the man and stomped his foot. That was more than a year ago. The Afghan couple hasn't seen her since. "After they took her, our tears never stop," the woman told The Associated Press. "Right now, we are just dead bodies. Our hearts are broken. We have no plans for a future without her. Food has no taste and sleep gives us no rest." *** PULLED FROM THE RUBBLE The story of the baby unfolds in hundreds of pages of legal filings and documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, as well as interviews with those involved, pieced together in an AP investigation. In a federal lawsuit filed in September, the Afghan family accuses the Masts of false imprisonment, conspiracy, fraud and assault. The family has asked the court to shield their identity out of concerns for their relatives back in Afghanistan, and they communicated with the AP on the condition of remaining anonymous. The Masts call the Afghan family's claims "outrageous, unmerited attacks" on their integrity. They argue in court filings that they have worked "to protect the child from physical, mental or emotional harm." They say the Afghan couple are "not her lawful parents," and Mast's attorney cast doubt on whether the Afghans were even related to the baby. "Joshua and Stephanie Mast have done nothing but ensure she receives the medical care she requires, at great personal expense and sacrifice, and provide her a loving home," wrote the Masts' attorneys. The baby's identity has been kept private, listed only as Baby L or Baby Doe. The Afghan couple had given the baby an Afghan name; the Masts gave her an American one. Originally from Florida, Joshua Mast married Stephanie and attended Liberty University, an evangelical Christian college in Lynchburg, Virginia. He graduated in 2008 and got his law degree there in 2014. In 2019, they were living with their sons in Palmyra, a small rural Virginia town, when Joshua Mast was sent on a temporary assignment to Afghanistan. Mast, then a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps, was a military lawyer for the federal Center for Law and Military Operations. The U.S. Marines declined to comment publicly, along with other federal officials. That September in 2019 was one of the deadliest months of the entire U.S. occupation in Afghanistan, with more than 110 civilians killed in the first week alone. On Sept. 6, 2019, the U.S. attacked a remote compound. No details about this event are publicly available, but in court documents Mast claims that classified reports show the U.S. government "sent helicopters full of special operators to capture or kill" a foreign fighter. Mast said that rather than surrender, a man detonated a suicide vest; five of his six children in the room were killed, and their mother was shot to death while resisting arrest. Sehla Ashai and Maya Eckstein, attorneys for the Afghan couple, dispute Mast's account. They say the baby's parents were actually farmers, unaffiliated with any terrorist group. And they described the event as a tragedy that left two innocent civilians and five of their children dead. Both sides agree that when the dust settled, U.S. troops pulled the badly injured infant from the rubble. The baby had a fractured skull, broken leg and serious burns. She was about 2 months old. Mast called the baby a "victim of terrorism." His attorney said she "miraculously survived." *** 'DO THE RIGHT THING' The baby was rushed to a military hospital, where she was placed in the care of the Defense Department. The International Committee of the Red Cross told the AP that they began searching for her family with the Afghan government, often a plodding process in rural parts of the country where record-keeping is scant. At first, they didn't even know the baby's name. Meanwhile, Mast said, he was "aggressively" advocating to get her to the U.S. Over several months, he wrote to then-Vice President Mike Pence's office, according to exhibits filed in court. He said his colleagues in the military tried to talk to President Donald Trump about the baby during a Thanksgiving visit to Bagram Airfield. Mast also said he made four requests over two weeks to then-White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, asking for help to medically evacuate the baby "to be treated in a safe environment." The Masts were represented by Joshua's brother Richard Mast, an attorney with the conservative Christian legal group Liberty Counsel, which says it is not involved in this case. None of the Masts responded to repeated requests for interviews. In emails to military officials, Mast alleged that Pence told the U.S. Embassy in Kabul to "make every effort" to get her to the United States. Mast signed his emails with a Bible verse: "'Live for an Audience of one, for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ." Pence's spokesman, Marc Short, did not respond to requests for comment. The U.S. Embassy never heard from Pence's office, said a Department of State official, who requested anonymity because they did not have permission to speak publicly about the situation. But they did begin getting highly unusual inquiries about the possibility of sending the baby to the U.S. The diplomats were rattled by the suggestion that the U.S. could just take her away; they believed the baby belonged to Afghanistan. "I was aware that it may not be smooth sailing ahead, but that just made me more determined to do the right thing," the State Department official said. About six weeks after the baby was rescued, the U.S. Embassy called for a meeting, attended by representatives of the Red Cross, the Afghan government and the American military, including Mast. The State Department wanted to make sure everyone understood its position: Under international humanitarian law, the U.S. was obliged to do everything possible to reunite the baby with her next of kin. At the meeting, Mast asked about adoption, the State Department official said. Attendees from Afghanistan's Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs explained that by Afghan law and custom, they had to place the baby with her biological family. If that did not work, the Afghan Children's Court would determine a proper guardian. The American concept of adoption doesn't even exist in Afghanistan. Under Islamic law, a child's bloodline cannot be severed and their heritage is sacred. Instead of adoption, a guardianship system called kafala allows Muslims to take in orphans and raise them as family, without relinquishing the child's name or bloodline. American adoptions from Afghanistan are rare and only possible for Muslim-American families of Afghan descent. The State Department recognizes 14 American adoptions from Afghanistan over the past decade, none in the past two years. Yet two days after the embassy meeting, a letter was sent to U.S. officials in Kabul from Kimberley Motley, a near-celebrity American attorney in Afghanistan, the State Department official said. Motley wrote that she was representing an unnamed concerned American citizen who wished to adopt this baby. Motley declined to be interviewed by the AP. Mast also continued his appeals to American politicians. The U.S. Embassy began hearing from Congressional staffers about the baby, and diplomats met with a military general, the official said. The general in turn put a "gag order" on military personnel about the baby and said "no one was to advocate on her behalf," Mast wrote in a legal filing. But he wasn't ready to give up. *** HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD The Masts searched for a solution halfway around the world in rural Fluvanna County, Virginia, where they lived. They petitioned the local Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, describing the baby as a "stateless minor recovered off the battlefield." In early November 2019, a judge granted them legal custody. The name of this judge is not publicly available because juvenile records are sealed in Virginia. A few days later, a certificate of foreign birth listed Joshua and Stephanie Mast as parents. The custody order was based on the Masts' assertion that the Afghan government specifically now-deposed President Ashraf Ghani intended to waive jurisdiction over the child "in a matter of days," according to a hearing transcript. The waiver never arrived. In an email to the AP, Ghani's former deputy chief of staff Suhrob Ahmad said there is "no record of this alleged statement of waiver of Afghan jurisdiction." Ahmad said he and the head of the Administrative Office of the President do not remember any such request going through the court system as required. The U.S. Embassy heard that Mast was granted custody. Military lawyers assured them that the Marine was just preparing in case Afghanistan waived jurisdiction, but would not interfere with the search for the baby's family, according to the State Department official. Yet all along they planned to adopt the baby, according to records obtained from the state of Virginia under a Freedom of Information Act request. Richard Mast wrote the Attorney General's office in November 2019 that the Masts "will file for adoption as soon as statutorily possible." In the meantime, Joshua Mast enrolled the baby in the Defense Department health care system, made an appointment at a U.S. International Adoption Clinic and asked to have her evacuated. Then came a surprise: The Red Cross said they'd found her family. She was about five months old. In late 2019, Afghan officials told the U.S. Embassy that the baby's paternal uncle had been identified, and he decided his son and daughter-in-law were best suited to take her, according to court records. They were young, educated newlyweds with no children yet of their own, and lived in a city with access to hospitals. The young man worked in a medical office and ran a co-ed school, which is unusual in Afghanistan. His wife graduated from high school at the top of her class, and is fluent in three languages, including English. They had married for love, unlike many Afghans in arranged marriages. Mast expressed doubts about the newly-found uncle, describing him in court records as "an anonymous person of unknown nationality" and claiming that turning the baby over to him was "inherently dangerous." He asked the Red Cross to put him in touch, but they refused. In emails to a U.S. military office requesting evacuation, Mast alleged that he read more than 150 pages of classified documents, and concluded the child was a "stateless minor." Mast believed she was the daughter of transient terrorists who are citizens of no country, his attorney said. He also speculated that if reunited with her family, she could be made a child soldier or a suicide bomber, sold into sex trafficking, hit in a U.S. military strike, or stoned for being a girl. But Afghanistan did not waver: the child was a citizen of their country. Mast's attorney sent the U.S. Embassy a "cease and desist" letter warning them not to hand the baby over, according to the State Department official. But on February 26, 2020, the Masts learned that the U.S. was preparing to put the baby, now nearly 8 months old, on a plane early the following morning to join her family in another Afghan city. The Masts, represented by Richard Mast, sued the secretaries of Defense and State in a federal court in Virginia, asking for an emergency restraining order to stop them. The Masts claimed they were the baby's "lawful permanent legal guardians." Within hours, four federal attorneys two from the Justice Department and two from the U.S. Attorney's Office were on the phone, and Richard Mast was in Federal Judge Norman Moon's office. Richard Mast said the baby should not be "condemned to suffer." He complained that the Afghan government had not conducted DNA testing to confirm the family they found was truly related to the child. But the Justice Department attorneys said they had no right to mandate how the Afghan government vets the family, and that the Red Cross which has reunited relatives in war zones for more than a century had confirmed it was done properly. Further, the federal government's attorneys described the Masts' custody documents from state court as "unlawful," "deeply flawed and incorrect," and "issued on a false premise that has never happened" that Afghanistan would waive jurisdiction. Judge Moon asked Richard Mast: "Your client is not asking to adopt the child?" "No sir," Mast responded. "He wants to get her medical treatment in the United States." Justice Department attorneys argued that the United States must meet its international obligations. Attorney Alexander Haas put it simply: Taking another country's citizen to the United States "would have potentially profound implications on our military and foreign affairs interests." Judge Moon ruled against the Masts, and the baby stayed in Afghanistan. The next day, she was united with her biological family. The Afghan couple wept with joy. "We didn't think she would come back to her family alive," said the young Afghan man. "It was the best day of our lives. After a long time, she had a chance to have a family again." *** AN EXTRA MEASURE OF TENDERNESS As the months passed in her new home in Afghanistan, the girl loved getting henna painted on her hands and dressing up in new clothes, the Afghan couple said. She always wanted to do her new mother's makeup, or brush her hair. "She knew about Allah, about clothes, about the names of food," the woman wrote. The couple cared for her as if she was their own daughter, but with an extra measure of tenderness because of the unimaginable tragedy she'd already suffered. "We never wanted her to feel she couldn't have something she wanted," said the young man. Meanwhile, Mast continued to worry that the child was "in an objectively dangerous situation," Richard Mast wrote in court documents. The Masts asked Kimberley Motley, the attorney, to track down the family, saying he wanted to get the child medical treatment in the U.S, Motley said in court records. Motley contacted the Afghan family in March 2020, about a week after the baby was placed in her new home. Motley is named as a defendant in their lawsuit, but her attorney, Michael Hoernlein, told the AP the claims against her are "meritless." In court documents, Motley's attorneys describe her role as professional and above-board, and asked that the claims against her be dismissed. Motley had originally gone to Afghanistan in 2008 under an American-funded initiative to train local lawyers. She stayed, largely representing foreigners charged with crimes. She took on high-profile human rights cases, gave a TED Talk and wrote a book. Over the course of a year, Motley called for updates about the child and occasionally asked for photos. In July, around the baby's first birthday, the couple sent Motley a snapshot of the child in swim trunks, smiling and splashing in a wading pool. At the same time, the Masts' adoption case was still winding through the court system in Fluvanna County, Virginia. In December 2020, the state court granted the Masts a final adoption order based on the finding that the child "remains up to this point in time an orphaned, undocumented, stateless minor," according to a federal lawsuit. Fluvanna County Circuit Court Presiding Judge Richard E. Moore did not respond to repeated requests for clarity on how the cases progressed. International adoption lawyers were baffled. "If you have relatives there who are saying, 'no, no, no, we want our daughter, we want our little girl,' it's over," said Irene Steffas, an adoption and immigration attorney. "There is no way the U.S. is going to get into a match with another country when it comes to a child that's a citizen of that country." Karen Law, a Virginia attorney who specializes in international adoption, said state law requires an accredited agency to visit three times over six months and compile a report before an adoption can be finalized. The child must be present for the visits but this baby was thousands of miles away. On July 10, 2021, around the baby's second birthday, Motley facilitated the first phone call between the Afghan couple and Joshua Mast, with the aid of translator Ahmad Osmani, a Baptist pastor of Afghan descent. Mast told the Afghan couple that unless they sent the child to the United States for medical care, she could "be blind, brain damaged, and/or permanently physically disabled." But the Afghan man now raising her, who had worked in the medical field, did not think her burn scars, a leg injury and mysterious allergic reactions amounted to a life-altering condition in the way Mast described. The couple declined sending the baby to the United States. The woman was pregnant, and worried about the risk of such a long flight. They said they asked Mast: Could they take the baby to Pakistan or India for treatment instead? The answer was no, their lawsuit says. The conversations continued for months. Osmani, the translator, vouched for the Masts and described them as kind and trustworthy, according to the lawsuit, which names him as a defendant. Osmani did not respond to requests for comment. He asked a federal judge to throw out the lawsuit, and said he never deceived anyone. He was only a "mere translator." His attorneys wrote: "No good deed goes unpunished." *** 'LIVING IN A DARK JAIL' In late summer 2021, the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan. Mast said he contacted the family to bring the baby to the U.S. "before the country collapsed." He said he was "extremely concerned that they may not get another chance." The couple agreed. Mast applied for special visas for the Afghan family and for relatives of Osmani, the translator, according to court records. They characterized the Afghan couple as an escort for a "U.S. military dependent" the baby. In an email to U.S. officials filed in court, Mast wrote that Osmani was "very instrumental to helping a U.S. Marine adopt an Afghan child." Soon, the Afghan family began their days-long journey to the U.S. Joshua Mast told them to say he was their lawyer. "If anyone asks to talk about your documents, show them this text: I am Major Joshua Mast, USMC. I am a Judge Advocate ," Mast texted them detailed directions for how to deal with U.S. authorities, their lawsuit says. When the family arrived in Germany for a stopover, Joshua Mast and his wife greeted them at the air force base. It was the first time they had met in person. In Germany, the Masts visited the Afghan family's room three times to try to get the baby to travel separately with them, "insisting that it would be easier for the toddler to enter the United States that way," the Afghan couple recalled in their lawsuit. They refused to let the girl out of their sight. When the Afghans finally landed in the United States, they began explaining that the child was too young to have Afghan documents. That's when they claim Joshua Mast pulled out an Afghan passport. Inside was the same photo of the child in the wading pool, but altered to change the background, add a shirt and smooth her hair. Mast told the Afghans to "keep quiet" about having his name on her passport, their lawsuit alleges, so it would be easier to get medical care. The Afghan couple asked to be taken to Fort Pickett Army National Guard base, a location specified by Mast, according to the lawsuit. Thousands of Afghan refugees were temporarily housed there. Soon after, they said, soldiers came to their room and told them they were moving. A strange woman sat in the back of the van next to a car seat, according to court records, and the baby fussed as she buckled her in. The van pulled up to a building they didn't recognize, where a woman who called herself a social worker said the Masts were the girl's legal guardians. Confused and frightened, the child cried and the couple begged. But it did no good. Mast took the baby to his car, where his wife was waiting, the lawsuit says. They had lost her. In their heavily redacted response to the lawsuit, the Masts acknowledge they "took custody" of the child; they said their adoption order was valid and they did nothing wrong. Richard Mast is also named as a defendant in the Afghan family's lawsuit. He wrote in legal documents that his brother's adoption of the child was "selfless;" it saved both the child, and the Afghan family fighting to get her back, "from the evils of life under the Taliban." The Afghan couple believed that their baby was stolen, and they immediately sought help at Fort Pickett to get her back. "But the playing field was not level," their attorney, Ashai, told the AP. The couple "were forced to navigate a complex and confusing system in a foreign country in which they had just arrived, after having survived the greatest trauma of their lives." Meanwhile, the couple says in court documents, Osmani warned them not to contact a lawyer or the authorities, and suggested that Mast might give them the baby back if they dealt directly with him. And so they tried to maintain contact with Mast. They were also scared of him. If he could abduct their child in broad daylight, they worried he might hurt them too, their lawyers wrote in legal filings. The Afghan woman plunged into a deep depression and, despite being nine months pregnant, stopped eating and drinking. She could not sleep. Her husband was afraid to leave her alone. "Since we have come to America, we have not felt happiness for even one day," the Afghan man told the AP. "We feel like we are living in a dark jail." His wife gave birth to a girl on October 1, 2021. The young mother's grief became overwhelming. A month later, she considered suicide and was hospitalized. Soon the couple sought legal help; by December 2021, the Afghan couple had asked the Fluvanna judge to reverse the adoption. But those proceedings, almost one year in, have been opaque and slow. On Feb. 27, 2022, when the Afghan baby was 2 years old, the Masts traveled to the Mennonite Christian Assembly in Fredericksburg, Ohio, to share their joy during a special church service. In a video advertising the event called "Walking in Faith," the pastor apologized to congregants that it would not be online, because the Marine would share "very confidential, classified information." "Unforeseen events gave the couple an unexpected opportunity to stand up to protect innocent life," read the program flyer. "Come hear how God's mighty hand allowed for a remarkable deliverance." Pastor John Risner told the AP that the Masts had requested the service be confidential, and he didn't want to betray their trust by disclosing any details. All he would say is that their story is "amazing." *** NO HAPPINESS HERE The fate of the Afghan child is now being debated in secret proceedings in a locked courtroom in the village of Palmyra, Virginia, home to about 100 people. Earlier this month, Joshua Mast arrived at the Fluvanna County courthouse along with his wife and his brother Richard. Mast was dressed in his starched Marine uniform, holding his white and gold hat in his hand. The hearing stretched on for roughly eight hours. The proceedings have been completely shielded from public view, mandated by presiding Judge Moore. The AP was not allowed inside the courtroom. Court clerk Tristana Treadway refused to provide even the docket number, saying she could "neither confirm nor deny" the case existed at all. More than a dozen lawyers streamed into the courthouse, carting boxes of evidence, and each said they were forbidden from speaking. Mast remains an active duty Marine, and has since been promoted to major. He now lives with his family in North Carolina. The Afghan toddler has been with them for more than a year. In Texas, the Afghan couple continues to grieve the loss of the child. The baby the woman gave birth to shortly after arriving in the U.S. just turned 1. The young mother had planned to raise the girls as sisters. But they've never met. "There is nothing to celebrate without her. There is no happiness here," the Afghan man said. "We are counting the moments and days until she will come home." *** DECATUR With millions of new manufacturing jobs needing to be filled by the end of the decade, industry leaders are looking to recruit the next generation of creators. A group of local middle and high school students were brought to Richland Community College on Monday to experience the Creators Wanted Tour, a partnership between the Manufacturing Institute, the National Association of Manufacturers and the Illinois Manufacturers Association. The tour aims to promote manufacturing careers to young people, especially in manufacturing hubs like Decatur. Manufacturers and their teams have a major challenge, Manufacturing Institute President Carolyn Lee said on Monday. There are just under 800,000 new jobs manufacturing in the U.S. right now, and our research shows that the industry will need to build more than four million by the end of the decade. Students had the opportunity to hear from manufacturing leaders, meet representatives from multiple Decatur manufacturers including event partners Archer Daniels Midland Co. and Caterpillar Inc. and even take part in a manufacturing-themed escape room. A nationwide effort, the tour has stopped in just 12 communities across the country. Decatur was chosen because of how integral manufacturing is to the local economy, said Illinois Manufacturers Association President and CEO Mark Denzler. Fifty percent of Macon County's economy comes from manufacturing, he said. Half of all our economic activity in this county is directly related to manufacturing, the single highest share of any county in Illinois. Decatur students are the future of manufacturing, Denzler said. Some tour leaders also expressed their desire to recruit skilled and educated laborers from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the manufacturing sector. Not everyone has the perspective of or has heard from someone who looks like me, or is from the same place, said Veronica Braker, ADM senior vice president of Global Operations. As a woman of color, Braker said she wanted to help the group of primarily Black students see themselves in careers within manufacturing. This is an underrepresented community, Braker, who has a background in chemical engineering and over 25 years of experience in operations leadership, said after the event. These jobs are rewarding. It offers (students) the opportunity to build the lives for themselves and their families that they want. Manufacturers workforces should reflect the demographics of the communities they serve, Braker said. Preventing brain drain and encouraging students to stay in Decatur and Macon County are key to strengthening local workforces, Denzler said. One way he hopes to make local manufacturing jobs more attractive is by reshaping the publics preconceived notions of what those jobs actually look like. It could be someone on the production floor, it can be in engineering, it can be marketing communications, admin, Denzler said. We have to change that perception of belching smokestacks, that manufacturing is dark, dirty and dangerous. It's not. Manufacturers, they are clean and sustainable and high tech and diverse. While wrapping up his comments to students on Monday, Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, said manufacturers all over the world help create ways to make life better. The students in the room, he said, might one day be able to do the same. We cannot wait to see how you change the future, he said. More community members will have the chance to learn about manufacturing opportunities in Decatur as the Creators Wanted Tour will be hosted at Richland through Wednesday. By Azernews By Sabina Mammadli Azerbaijanis held a peaceful picket outside the European Union headquarters in Brussels to bring awareness to Armenian war crimes, Azernews reports per the State Committee for Work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan. According to the committee, the picket was organized by the representatives of the Federation of Azerbaijanis in Belgium. Representatives of the Federation of Azerbaijanis in Belgium, the European Azerbaijani Women's Union Ana Vatan (Motherland), Benelux Azerbaijanis Congress (BAC), as well as Azerbaijani diaspora activists living in Belgium and in the Netherlands, participated in the picket. The pickets drew city residents attention to the war crimes committed by the Armenians against Azerbaijanis, the mass grave found in the village of Edilli of Azerbaijans Khojavand District, and the missile strikes carried out by Armenia on Azerbaijani cities - Ganja, Naftalan, Barda, Mingachevir, and others in 2020. The pickets held slogans "Azerbaijan respects universal values", "We demand that the Armenian armed forces responsible for numerous war crimes be held accountable before the law!" We call on international organizations to condemn war crimes committed by Armenians!" and Stop Armenian war crime!. Azerbaijan and Armenia resumed the second Karabakh war after the latter started firing at Azerbaijani civilians and military positions starting September 27, 2020. The war ended on November 10, 2020, with the signing of a trilateral ceasefire deal by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders. The Azerbaijani army declared a victory against the Armenian troops. The signed agreement obliged Armenia to withdraw its troops from the Azerbaijani lands that it had been occupied since the early 1990s. In the war unleashed by Armenia, Azerbaijan's Ganja, Barda, Yevlakh, Beylagan, Tartar, Gabala, Goranboy, Aghjabadi, Khizi and other cities and districts far from the war zone, came under Armenia's missile and artillery fire. International human rights watchdogs Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch verified the use of banned cluster bombs and missiles by Armenia in its attacks against Azerbaijani cities. As a result, 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 died. In total, 12,292 residential and non-residential buildings and 288 vehicles were damaged. Leslie Bromberg carried a small wooden basket filled with edible mushrooms she found in her backyard. A small foraging knife, with bristles on one end, hung from a black rope draped around her neck. These are the basic tools Bromberg uses while searching for mushrooms. She picks mushrooms that are both edible and poisonous. She is careful to keep them in separate containers to avoid cross-contamination. If just the tiniest piece of green-spore parasol or a destroying angel got onto one of my honey mushrooms and I ate it, Bromberg said, it could kill me, so I definitely do not want to cross-contaminate. Bromberg said she prefers using baskets with holes, so the mushroom spores can spread as she walks around the woods. Bromberg said she prefers to cut the mushrooms at the base rather than pluck them from the ground. Cutting a mushroom at the base leaves behind the mycelium, which is similar to roots, and allows more mushrooms to grow, she said. You dont want to destroy any more of the habitat than you have to, Bromberg said. Bromberg recommends taking photos of the mushroom before picking it, because some mushrooms bruise easily and will look different once you arrive home. She also recommends using an identification book for wild mushrooms. She said she likes to use A Field Guide to Mushrooms of the Carolinas. The book was written by Alan E. Bessette, Arleen R. Bessette and Michael W. Hopping. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Becoming a mushroom forager I've been foraging for morel mushrooms since I was probably 6 years old with my dad. They're easy to identify. Morels are fun to look for because they only grow for about three weeks out of the year. They're one of the first mushrooms to come up in the spring, and they're delicious. Morels are highly sought out. They can cost around $20 a pound. It wasnt until about six years ago, when I expanded what I was looking for. I didn't even know so many edible mushrooms existed in the woods. I'd seen some mushrooms here or there, but you don't really pay attention until you're looking. I actually got into it because of my job. Ive been an environmental health specialist for 15 years. I inspect restaurants along with many other things in Catawba County. About six or seven years ago, North Carolina legalized becoming certified to hunt for wild mushrooms. People can actually sell wild mushrooms, if the people are certified, to a restaurant as long as they follow the legal guidelines. I was used to seeing what everybody else sees in the stores, like portabellas, creminis and oyster mushrooms. Since inspectors were going to be seeing wild mushrooms in restaurants, I wanted to become a decent resource for my co-workers when they were seeing wild mushrooms in our restaurants. That way we could verify the restaurants were buying what they thought they were buying. Favorite edible mushrooms I am not a vegetarian. I love eating meat so much. Thats actually part of the reason why I forage. I eat too much meat, too much commercial meat. I'm by no means a health nut, but I don't love all the additives and stuff I get from processed meats. So anytime I get to reduce that intake, I do so with mushrooms. Mainly what I hunt for are the meaty mushrooms that resemble a particular type of meat whether it's steak, shrimp, crab or chicken. I would say my favorite is lion's mane, because the texture of it resembles crab meat. You can make imitation crab cakes out of it. When the lions mane is cooked in butter, it releases this nutty flavor that I have not found with another mushroom, and I love it. I've cooked that over a campfire and my friends just tore into it. I like the mushroom called chicken of the woods, because you can make any chicken dish you desire out of it. It has the exact same texture as chicken. I like making chicken piccata with that mushroom. Theres a cauliflower mushroom. It's one of the rare edibles that I like. It grows at the base of pine trees, and it looks like an egg noodle. I actually use it instead of egg noodles for my chicken noodle soup. Morels are good to eat, and they taste delicious in just butter and white wine sauce. That is probably my favorite dish. Morels are a hollow mushroom, so they're ideal for stuffing and baking. You can put any type of stuffing you want in it, whether it be sausage and cheese or whatever your heart desires. Favorite aspect of foraging There are quite a few things I love about it, but one thing I enjoy is you never know what you're going to find when youre out in the woods. While I was foraging yesterday, I found an elevation stick that surveyors use and an old mason jar. You could find antlers that have shed. You could find other edible plants or some of the very cool insects that we have around here. I really love it, and it gets me out in nature. It's a good excuse to go out into the woods. Every place has a story, some more eerie than others. Lenoir-Rhyne University student Diego Sanjuan led a group of 20 around campus last week, regaling the group with spooky stories. One of the first stops was Mauney-Schaeffer Hall. Originally, Mauney-Schaeffer was an all-girls dormitory. Around 1975, administration began entertaining the idea of co-ed dorms. Several college officials objected, but none so vehemently as Ona Peery, Sanjuan said. Despite the objections, the college ultimately chose to make the dorms co-ed in 1976. Sanjuan said Peery died months before the shift. However, once the change was made, strange things began to happen. Students began to report hearing footsteps in the halls when no one was there and, most peculiarly, a rocking chair. There was no rocking chair in either of the dormitory buildings, Sanjuan said. Jamie Carroll, who graduated the university in 2002, was on the campus ghost tour. She said she's heard the sounds behind the story of Mauney-Schaeffer Hall. As a student, Carroll said she and her roommates spoke with a pastor at LR, concerned that no one would believe them. His advice to the students was to be at peace with the sounds and proceed with the attitude of, I wont bother you if you dont bother me. Another story Sanjuan told was of a male student returning to his dorm. An elegantly dressed woman was just ahead of him on the stairway leading up to the all-male floor. The student was puzzled but said nothing until the woman made her way down to Room 206, where she simply stood. Sanjuan said the student then addressed her, explaining this was an all-male floor, and she gave no response other than whirling round to face him with a nasty sneer before opening the door and going inside. With a sweep of his black, high-collared cape, Sanjuan finished the story, saying the student followed but found no one in Room 206. The woman is speculated to be the ghost of Peery, and this is the only reported sighting of her spectral form. One particularly unsettling story is of Highland Hall, which was demolished in 2007. On the tour, Sanjaun vividly recounts the tale of the only known violent paranormal incident, where a security guard witnessed furniture being thrown across the room. Alumna Karen Pruett said that when she was a student, Highland Hall is where she did her laundry. While Pruett never experienced inexplicable paranormal violence, she said the building always made her uneasy, and she always left as quickly as possible. Sanjuan tells these spooky stories and more on the 90-minute tour. Spearman Man Treated and Released In Deadly Sherman County Crash Cindy Barkley, SergeantTexas Department of Public SafetySafety Education / Media SHERMAN COUNTY, Texas --A man was killed in a three-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon near Stratford. Texas Department of Public Safety said 46-year-old Raymond Brahier, of Pleasanton, was pronounced dead at the scene of the wreck. Tuesday about 5:30 p.m. on U.S. 54, a 2019 Freightliner truck tractor towing a semi-trailer, driven by Brahier, was driving southwest behind a 2007 Peterbilt truck tractor towing a semi-trailer. At that time, a 2014 Freightliner truck tractor towing a semi-trailer was traveling northeast on U.S. 54. Cesar Garcia-Gorral, 38, of Spearman was the driver. Garcia-Gorral was going to turn onto County Road 11 but slowed down to wait on the 2014 Freightliner truck tractor to drive past him. Brahier, who was not wearing a seatbelt, failed to control speed and struck the trailer of the Peterbilt, TxDPS said. This caused the Peterbilt to strike the 2014 Freightliner truck. Garcia-Gorral was treated and released on scene and the other driver was not injured. TxDPS is investigating the crash. 404 404. Thats an error. The requested URL was not found on this server. Thats all we know. include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> As of this writing, Russia continues to bomb my country, my city Kyiv, and the streets, parks and central squares I used to walk with my children. The goals are far from military - Russian rockets deliberately target civilians to strike fear into the hearts of Ukrainians and doubt into the resolve of our allies. At the same time, the Russian leadership continues to threaten the world with nuclear warfare. These activities amount to terrorism - and should be dealt with as such. The international community has developed mechanisms for dealing with rogue states that support terrorism and embark on dangerous nuclear weapons programs. These are based on comprehensive economic sanctions that undermine terrorists' ability to raise funding, greatly reducing their capacity to cause harm. While ideology and naked self-interest are the causes of terrorism, money is its lifeblood. North Korea and Iran, for example, have both faced sanctions for the financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. They have been deemed high-risk jurisdictions and "blacklisted" by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global money laundering and terrorism financing watchdog set up by G7, which now includes 37 member states. This is one of the most effective tools for restricting terrorists' access to the global economy, as it forces all states to apply enhanced due diligence to any transactions involving the financial system of a blacklisted jurisdiction. Aside from being blacklisted by FATF, North Korea and Iran have something else in common. They have forged ties with Russia and, in some cases, been supported by Russian actors in their terrorist endeavors. Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here. In March 2022, the U.S. sanctioned Russian individuals and entities that allegedly supported the weapons of mass destruction and ballistic programs of North Korea. It has also been reported that Russia was buying ammunition from North Korea. Iran and Russia have drawn closer too since the full-fledged invasion of Ukraine. Russia has been buying Iranian kamikaze drones and using them to attack Ukrainian civilians and critical civilian infrastructure. Many of these have been downed in Ukraine and are proof of Russian cooperation with Iran. Again and again, Russia has failed to prevent the financing of terrorism and nuclear proliferation. It is also well known for its kleptocratic regime thriving on money laundering and illicit finance generation. Although existing sanctions have made a difference, the war continues to drag on and global threats emanating from Russia are increasing. Not since the darkest days of the Cold War has the risk of nuclear war felt so real. It is time the international community acknowledges this and addresses Russia as the terrorist state it has become. In June, FATF took an important step with the decision to suspend Russia's decision-making powers within the organization. Now more must be done. This week we have a chance to further increase pressure on Russia. Today and Friday, the FATF plenary meeting takes place in Paris. Ukraine's request is clear: Exclude Russia from FATF and blacklist it for the safety and security of not just Ukraine but the world and the global financial system. These steps would protect lives in areas far beyond Ukraine. They would necessitate immediate compliance with more robust anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing requirements when dealing with Russia. This would add another major disincentive for international business to operate in the Russian market and limit Russia's access to the global economy. At present, only a limited number of states participate in sanctioning the Russian regime for its gross violations of the international rule of law. FATF blacklisting would compel all actors from all jurisdictions around the world, besides those on the FATF blacklist such as Iran and North Korea, to comply or risk being called out for facilitating terrorism financing and money laundering. Such a step will close off some of the main loopholes for sanctions circumvention. For example, it would eliminate the safe havens provided by Russia's existing unsanctioned banks. From more than 300 Russian banks, only around 20 have been sanctioned. It would also prevent possible circumvention through those states that have not introduced sanctions against Russia. include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/templates/double_ads.asp"; ?> Together, these moves would help choke Vladimir Putin's ability to finance the war. But we should think bigger too. By designating Russia as a high-risk jurisdiction, we will strengthen the entire global financial system. While many understand the risks posed by Russia already, many others continue to covertly support the state or continue business operations there. Officially blacklisting Russia will mean those actors must comply or risk violating existing anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing regulations. Early sanctions and the scramble by Russian elites to protect their assets revealed the extent to which Russia's high level of corruption has been exported worldwide. Indeed, the invasion of Ukraine has forced Western financial centers to address risks associated with Russian money urgently. By uniting to further close Russia out of the global economic and financial system, we send a clear message that actions that threaten global security will not be tolerated - and that violators, no matter their size or importance, will be held accountable. The Mattoon Chamber is thrilled to discuss two great additions to our community. Resilience Park located in the center of downtown Mattoon and the Mattoon Community Dog Park. We now have two projects to draw visitors, new residents and improve the quality of life in our community. Mattoon in Motion was awarded a nationally competitive grant from T-Mobile's Hometown Grant Program to help with the construction of Resilience Park, which aims to develop the space on Broadway Avenue where Shores Jewelry was located before it caught fire in 2019. The design of the park itself is still in the works but is moving full speed ahead and should open by September. The entire purpose of this project is to turn a tragedy into something Mattoon residents can be proud of. This project allows us to further improve our downtown community and celebrate the resiliency of our community. According to the Center for Community Progress and their research around vacant, abandoned and deteriorated properties, 2/3rds of all damage to property values comes from the first vacant property in an area. By turning this empty space into a park, we improve downtown property values for local businesses and residents. Six Mattoon area nonprofit organizations Mattoon in Motion, Mattoon Family YMCA, Douglas-Hart Foundation, the Mattoon Chamber of Commerce, the Lumpkin Family Foundation and the city of Mattoon wrote letters of support for this project. It was with their support that Mattoon was able to be one of 25 communities across the entire United States selected as a grant recipient. The Mattoon Community Dog Park opened on Oct. 8. It is the paw print of our community providing a safe and fun space for dogs and their owners. Their mission is to provide a safe, clean, and secure environment where dog owners may exercise and train their dogs off leash. The park provides effective socialization opportunities for people and their dogs, as well as enhancing positive interaction between dog owners and the community. The benefit it provides for new members to our community and businesses when recruiting employees is invaluable. Some of the major donors include MARS Petcare, who sponsors the medium and large dog park, and the Kersten Family, who sponsors the small dog park; Carrie Young through the Mattoon Community Trust; Consolidated Communications; Kim McQueen and her Mattoon Middle School Builders Club students; Rural King; Mattoon Moose Lodge 803; Mark and Moni Sheehan at DQ on 19th Street (through their Pup Cup Program), plus the 115 individual donors who have already contributed monetarily toward this project. CHARLESTON The precautionary ban on open burning in Coles County has been lifted following the rainfall that the area received on Tuesday, Oct. 25. "Considering the amount of precipitation that has now fallen in the county, the decision has been made to lift the burn ban at this time. If in the next days the weather stays dry and the landscape dries out, a future burn ban may be put in place. So, before you burn please check with your local fire department or social media," said county Emergency Management Agency Director Jim Hilgenberg in an announcement Tuesday afternoon. All the rural fire protection districts in Coles County and the county Emergency Management Agency agreed to institute a precautionary burn ban starting Saturday evening due to windy, dry weather conditions that had increased the risk of fires rapidly spreading in farm fields and elsewhere. Hilgenberg said he had not received reports of any field or grass fires in rural Coles County as of early Monday afternoon but noted that he did need to use his personal fire extinguisher to help put out a trash fire in the country on the way to a meeting that morning in Charleston. He said conditions were already dry enough that a ban on open burning could have been instituted on Thursday or Friday. "We were hoping we might get a little rainfall late last week but that didn't happen," Hilgenberg said. The local fire risk has decreased somewhat recently because most of the soybean crop in Coles County has been harvested, Hilgenberg said. He said dry soybean plants at harvesttime tend to be more flammable than corn stalks, which contain more moisture. He said farmers also have started tillage work in harvested fields, which creates a natural fire break. Dominic Baima, public information officer with the Lincoln Fire Protection District, which has stations in Charleston, Mattoon and Lerna, said Lincoln Fire crews assisted fellow volunteer firefighters from the Ashmore and Oakland fire protection districts with a field fire on Oct. 17 between those two communities. He said crews from the Brocton and Kansas districts were also called in to assist with getting the fire under control and extinguished during windy conditions. "The wind was kind of pushing that fire a little bit," Baima said. Wind can cause embers from a bonfire, rural leaf and limb burning, and other sources to blow through the air and quickly ignite nearby fuel, Baima said. The resulting flames can work up into wooden fence rows or the siding along the foundation of a structure, he said. Baima advised those using open burning to clear away any brush ahead of time, always monitor their fires, keep large quantities of water on hand to extinguish the fire if needed, and have shovels or other tools available to toss dirt onto the flames or create a fire break. "We hope the burn ban will keep everyone mindful," Baima said. "Sometimes something innocuous can get out of control very quickly." Cameron Craig, climatologist with the Eastern Illinois University weather center, said eastern Coles County had received 4/10s of an inch of rainfall as of late afternoon Monday in comparison to the total October average of 3.11 inches. We are significantly below average, and that is why we are listed as abnormally dry, Craig said. The weather observer added that moisture in the soil cools the air and slows the wind speed above it. Anytime you have dryness, the wind speed increases, Craig said, noting that the daytime highs of 79 on Saturday and 81 on Sunday approached the record high of 85 for that timeframe in 1949. Q: I plan to take my grandchildren trick-or-treating for the first time. However, they live in a very busy neighborhood, and I have a few reservations about doing so. How can I ensure their safety? DG Answer: Kids love the magic of Halloween whether it is trick-or-treating, school parties, or trips to a pumpkin patch. For parents and grandparents there is often a fine line between Halloween fun and safety concerns, especially when it comes to busy neighborhoods at night. When picking out costumes with children, be sure to consider those that wont cause safety hazards. These include costumes that are fire-resistant, masks that do not block a childs vision, and costumes that are bright and reflective at night. You might even consider adding reflective tape or patches to costumes and/or candy bags for increased visibility. If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your grandchilds costume, be sure it is not sharp or long. If a child trips and falls, they could be hurt by such objects. A parent or adult should always chaperone young children on their neighborhood rounds and should consider carrying a flashlight with fresh batteries and a cell phone when doing so. Also be sure to go only to houses with porch lights on, and never enter a persons home or car for treats. If possible, try to go down only well-lit streets, and use sidewalks when you can. If sidewalks are not available, walk as close to the side of the road as possible and face oncoming traffic. Never cut across yards or use alleys as shortcuts and cross the street only where there is a designated crosswalk. Drivers may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters at night, so never assume the right of way. Both adults and children should put electronic devices away so that they can keep their heads up and be aware of their surroundings. This is an exciting time of year for kids; however, their safety is top priority. Use caution and good judgment, but also enjoy the festivities with your grandchildren. As always, law enforcement should be contacted immediately if any suspicious or unlawful activity occurs. Q: When the time changes, I have learned that making a few adjustments to our household schedule can help my father, who has been diagnosed with dementia, cope with how the change in daylight affects his sleep schedule and mood. Have there been any updates to whether the time will still change this November so that I know to prepare my household? TN Answer: The Sunshine Protection Act of 2021, which proposed that daylight saving time be permanent and that the semi-annual process of changing the time every spring and fall be eliminated, passed the US Senate earlier this year. The legislation has not cleared the US House of Representatives. This means that daylight saving time will end on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 2 a.m., and clocks will need to be moved back one hour. The transition to and from daylight saving time can be a minor annoyance for some, but a rather difficult transition for others, especially people living with Alzheimers or other forms of dementia. Human beings have natural circadian rhythms that respond to sunlight. Losing even one hour of it can cause many people to undergo physiological and emotional changes, which can be dramatically heightened in individuals living with dementia. For many people who have dementia, keeping to a routine is important. The fact that the days are shorter can be upsetting and lead to confusion, irritability, and tendencies toward wandering. The good news is that there are proactive steps one can take to help loved ones adjust to the time change a little easier. You might start by exposing them to as much daylight as possible, and if possible, occupy them with calming, yet enjoyable, activities, such as listening to their favorite music while the sun is setting. If youre able, try keeping the home well-lit after dark. Another helpful suggestion is to consider the persons usual routine before the time change, and then make incremental adjustments that after the time change, over time, equal one hour. This works by slowly increasing the time adjustment each day (for example, if dinner is normally served at 5 p.m., change mealtime to 4 p.m. on the first day, 4:15 on the second day, and so on). Using the same method to adjust sleep and bathroom routines is helpful as well. Keep in mind that it typically takes the average adult several days for the body and mind to adjust to the changes associated with daylight saving time. Being mindful of your loved ones challenges with the time change and remembering to take care of yourself as well will help everyone adapt to the transition more smoothly. By Trend French La Gazette online newspaper published an article about the rejection of Armenias request against Azerbaijan on October 12, 2022 by the International Court of Justice finding the new circumstances presented by Armenia on September 16, 2022 insufficient to change the measures indicated in the Order of December 7, 2021, Trend reports on October 24. Referring to the respective statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the article noted that the Order is in compliance with Azerbaijan's international and national obligations to treat every Armenian detainee in full accordance with the Court's previous Order, as well as in a humane and indiscriminate manner. The article also stressed that following the statements of September 17 and October 2, 2022, the Prosecutor Generals Office of Azerbaijan has been investigating videos spread on social media platforms, which reportedly reflect the illegal actions of Azerbaijani military servicemen. Meanwhile, Armenia, on the contrary, didn't take any steps to punish culprits of numerous war crimes and other illegal actions against Azerbaijani servicemen and civilians, the article said. Besides, according to the article, both Azerbaijani and international observers, as well as the Special Rapporteur of the Council of Europe and the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, have repeatedly called for investigating the videos showing the commission of war crimes by Armenian soldiers and bringing those responsible to justice. "Azerbaijan is committed to the ongoing peace process and negotiations, as well as to the protection of the rights of all people within international law," added the article. Forsyth County has a new, free COVID-19 testing site at Hanes CME Church, located at 819 Highland Ave. in Winston-Salem, the county Health Department said Monday. Testing hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ottendorf is the state vendor operating the site, which replaces the testing site that it had at Union Baptist Church. For a list of free COVID-19 test sites, go to covid19.ncdhhs.gov and click on the COVID-19 testing link. Forsyth has reported 902 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths during the pandemic. There were five such deaths reported for the week that ended Oct. 8, Forsyth health director Joshua Swift said Thursday. Meanwhile, Swift said Forsyth had 294 new cases reported in the most recent weekly update the lowest weekly count since April. Forsyth has had 114,777 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Until the past three weeks, the number of new COVID-19 cases had been in the 700 to 1,200 weekly range since mid-May. Swift and Novant Health Inc. infectious diseases expert Dr. David Priest have stressed that the DHHS weekly case totals include only laboratory confirmed cases and dont include most people who determine they are positive with an at-home test. Meanwhile, Forsyths COVID-19 levels are categorized as medium while the vast majority of North Carolina counties have low levels, according to the latest federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention update Thursday. Stokes County is the lone county in North Carolina where COVID-19 levels are considered high. Davie, Surry and Yadkin, like Forsyth, are among 13 counties in the medium category. In medium-level communities, residents are advised to talk to health care providers about whether they need to wear a mask and take other precautions. The COVID-19 level is determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. Forsyth reported 131 new cases per 100,000 people last week, compared with 111 and 136 in the previous two reports. The rate of new COVID-related hospital admissions per 100,000 people was at 10, compared with 11 and 12.2 in the previous two reports. Also, 2.8% of staffed inpatient beds are being used by COVID-19 patients, compared with 2.9% and 3.5% the previous weeks. Democratic Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr. will face Republican Ernie Leyba in the Nov. 8 election. Kimbrough, 61, is running for his second term as sheriff after defeating longtime Sheriff Bill Schatzman in 2018. Leyba, 58, is making his second run for the seat. Leyba lost in the Republican primary to Schatzman. Kimbrough, a retired special agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, said hes running on his record during his first term as sheriff. Everything weve said that we would do, we have delivered, Kimbrough said. Leyba said he decided to run for sheriff again because many local residents told him he would make a good sheriff. I believe with my past experience and knowledge in law enforcement that I can make a difference in Forsyth County, Leyba said. Leyba, a native of Torrance, Calif., worked as a deputy for the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office under Republican Sheriff Ron Barker from March 2000 to August 2000, and from October 2000 to June 2002, according to the Forsyth County Human Resources Department. Leyba also worked as a police officer in Kernersville and Durham as well as in Newport Beach, Calif., and Los Angeles. It (law enforcement) is really embedded in me, Leyba said. Its in my blood. The winner will lead an agency with 290 deputies, 249 detention officers, 29 telecommunicators and 67 civilian employees, the sheriffs office said. The sheriffs office has a budget for fiscal year 2022-23 of about $69.33 million. Kimbrough has a huge advantage in regard to raising money for his re-election campaign over Leybas fundraising for his campaign, according to local campaign finance reports. Kimbrough raised $22,477 during the first quarter of 2022, and has raised $54,684 during the election cycle beginning since Jan. 1, 2021, according to reports. Leyba has raised $120 for his campaign during the second quarter of 2022, according to a report. Kimbrough points to a number of programs started during his term. The agency has launched Live911, which will direct 911 calls to the deputies patrol cars and the offices communication center simultaneously, Kimbrough said. The technology will allow deputies to have quicker response times to residents 911 calls, he said. The sheriffs office also has deployed a drone to capture everything in real time intelligence, Kimbrough said. The drone is being dispatched to the scenes of the emergency calls from the Village Inn Hotel in Clemmons and will allow deputies to see whats going on before they arrive, Kimbrough said. That technology is designed to reduce the deputies response times, de-escalate confrontations between deputies and potential criminals and reduce car chases, Kimbrough said. The sheriffs office also is working with the Winston-Salem Police Department with its cameras throughout the community, and the police department is sharing the cameras footage with the sheriffs office, Kimbrough said. Its never been done before, Kimbrough said. Kimbrough and some deputies are visiting local schools to participate in their drivers education programs, he said. Kimbrough and his deputies are providing information to students to help them interact better with law enforcement officers if they are stopped while they are driving, Kimbrough said. Community involvement (is) 21st century policing, Kimbrough said. Before he was elected as sheriff, Kimbrough worked as an international security expert and a law enforcement analyst. An author, Kimbrough graduated from North Forsyth High School before receiving a bachelors degree in sociology from High Point University in 1991, according to his biography. Kimbrough then received a masters degree in leadership from Piedmont International University in 2020, and he is working on his doctorate in organizational leadership, according to his biography. Kimbrough began his law enforcement career in 1984 as a police officer for the Winston-Salem Police Department. In 1987, he became an arson investigator with the Winston-Salem Fire Department while serving in the role of assistant fire marshal. Kimbrough then worked with high-risk offenders at the N.C. Department of Probation and Parole, his biography says. From 1995 to 2016, he served as a special agent in the Drug Enforcement Administration. Make a difference Leyba drives a food transportation truck for Sheetz Inc., a convenience store company, which has a regional headquarters in Burlington. Leyba said that if he is elected as sheriff, I will be the type of person that is boots to the ground. You will see me working out there in the streets with my officers, and being in uniform. I will be doing a lot community policing, Leyba said, letting the entire residents and citizens of Forsyth County know who the sheriff is. Leyba said that Kimbrough works from behind his desk. You wont find me behind a desk, Leyba said. The whole community will know who the sheriff of Forsyth County is. Many county residents dont know that Kimbrough is the sheriff of Forsyth County, Leyba said. Leyba said his campaign platform is improving school safety, hiring and retaining qualified deputies and detention officers, and being involved in the daily operations of the sheriffs office. Regarding school safety, Leyba said he wants to ensure Forsyth County parents that their children will be safe going to school. Leyba said he wants to increase the number of deputies assigned to the local schools as school resource officers. Two or three deputies should be assigned to every elementary, middle and high school in the county, Leyba said. A group of 39 deputies currently are assigned as school resource officers at the school districts middle and high schools, said Christina Howell, a spokeswoman for the sheriffs office. No deputy is assigned to an elementary school. Leyba said he has a plan to increase the number of detention officers who work at the Forsyth County Jail. The shortage of detention officers has existed since Kimbrough began his duties as sheriff, Leyba said. I have a plan to implement that a plan that I used when I was back in LA (Los Angeles), Leyba said. Its a system that will work, considering the population in LA is four times greater than the population in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County combined. Leyba declined to reveal details of this plan. Shortage of detention officers Kimbrough acknowledged the shortage of detention officers who work inside the jail. There is a 42% shortage of detention officers in the jail, according to a county document. Most voters are aware of the dangers facing patrol deputies and detention officers in Forsyth County, Kimbrough said. There is a nationwide shortage of detention officers and patrol deputies, he said. On Aug. 12, two detention officers were seriously injured when a jail inmate attacked them, the sheriffs office said. The officers are recovering from their injuries. Matthew Logan West, 24, of Walkertown, was charged with two counts of assault on detention center employees, inflicting serious injuries and possession of a weapon as a prisoner, according to arrest warrants. At that time, West was being held in the jail on a murder charge in connection with the Jan. 10 shooting death of a Winston-Salem man. Kimbrough mentioned the salary bonuses that the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners recently provided to some detention officers. During Kimbroughs first term, John Elliott Neville, 56, of Greensboro, died on Dec. 4, 2019 at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Center. Nevilles jail-related death led to protests in the summer of 2020 in Winston-Salem. Kimbrough pointed out that no violence happened during those protests in the city. Neville had been pinned in a prone restraint position in a cell for nearly an hour while Neville told officers that he could not breathe, according to video footage. Kimbrough did not publicly acknowledge Nevilles death for six months until the Winston-Salem Journal asked questions about it. Kimbrough said he kept quiet about Nevilles death partially because of a request from attorneys for Nevilles family. I know that there was a public outcry, Kimbrough said. They wanted to know it immediately after Neville died. A nurse, Michelle Heughins, and five detention officers were charged in July 2020 with involuntary manslaughter. In April, a Forsyth County grand jury declined to indict the officers, but it did indict Heughins with involuntary manslaughter. Over the summer of 2020, Triad Abolition Project led a 49-day occupation of Bailey Park and 55 people were arrested during protests in downtown Winston-Salem. Kimbrough said he participated in the early local protests sparked by George Floyds murder in Minneapolis in late May 2020. Kimbrough said he has no regrets about how he personally handled the Neville case. My first response is with the family, Kimbrough said. Im always going to err on what the family says. If it legal and if its right, and that whats they want, and I am going to give them that. They deserve that. Sheriffs deputies on patrol As Nov. 8 election approaches, Leyba said he wants increased patrols of sheriffs deputies throughout the county. More deputies should be patrolling the countys neighborhoods, he said. Leyba also declined to provide details of this plan Leyba said he would bring back the reserve deputies program, who must be sworn officers, and the CSI (Crime Scene Investigations) unit. Leyba declined to provide details of this plan as well. The sheriffs office gave its CSI unit to the WSPD, Leyba said. Forsyth County had one of the best CSI divisions in the state, Leyba said. (Sheriff Schatzman) gave it all away. In April 2018 before the Democratic and Republican primaries, Kimbrough and Leyba criticized Schatzman for reducing the sheriffs offices vice/narcotics division and disbanding its crime scene investigation unit. At that time, Schatzman said he assigned deputies to where they were needed and based on the calls for service. Leyba said he would restore the sheriffs offices highway interdiction team, which were assigned along the countys highways and major thoroughfares. I want to conquer the drug trafficking in the county, Leyba said. Leyba would apply for state and federal grant money to pay for the highway interdiction team, he said. Leyba criticized the Forsyth County Drug Task Force, saying that agency hadnt made any really good busts during Kimbroughs tenure as sheriff. Leyba pointed to the Sept. 7 arrest of an alleged drug dealer in which the task force seized 22 pounds of fentanyl during the campaign season, he said. That all of a sudden came up. What happened in the rest of the three years that it had been in operation. Regarding that case, the task force seized the largest amount of fentanyl in the countys history, authorities say. A High Point man faces multiple drug charges in the case. The task force confiscated $2.66 million worth of Fentanyl during its investigation, the agency said. The task force began in December 2020. The sheriffs office is not implementing the task force properly, Leyba said, adding that he was criticizing Kimbrough. Hes not doing his job, Leyba said. While not directly responding to Leybas criticism, Kimbrough pointed to the statistics gathered from January 2021 through August about the amount of illegal drugs seized by the task force. The statistics show that the task force has seized a total of 2,552.34 pounds of illegal drugs, including cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamines and fentanyl. These drugs were valued at $106,857,025, the task force said. In addition, Kimbrough said the creation of the task force fulfilled one of his 2018 campaign promises. As it relates to Mr. Leybas comment about me being behind the desk and not being in the community that is simply laughable, Kimbrough said. I wont engage in silliness and back-and-forth of inaccurate claims. Kimbrough said he routinely visits North Hills Elementary to serve as a volunteer and a mentor at the school. Leyba said he hopes to attract Republican, Democratic and unaffiliated voters to his candidacy. For those paying attention, an in-person crowd pushing 200 not including teenagers likely in attendance for classroom credit the classic good news/bad news conundrum unfolded in an unlikely manner. Which do you prefer and in what order? Sugar first, medicine second? For those concerned about the unraveling of the Republic, the bright spot has it that Reynolds High students, at the urging and behest of civics/economics teacher Cristofer Wiley, put on a well-organized and informative candidate forum recently for the 15 souls standing for election to the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education. Civic education and engagement among these kids today is not lost. Nor apparently is a strong desire by a determined minority to cast informed ballots; strong turnout on a random Wednesday night tells us that. The bad news? Kooks, zealots and blind adherence to partisanship threaten to undermine and engulf yet another civic institution. Nonpartisan partisanship In theory and on paper in the N.C. General Statutes school-board races are alleged to be nonpartisan with candidates freed from association with one party or other. Still, legislators, as they do, have been free to cook up exceptions and workarounds anytime they choose by pushing local bills that change rules for individual districts. In 2015, 16 of the states 115 school-districts picked board members on a partisan basis. Now, thanks to a push for partisanship, that number has more than doubled to 39. Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, for better or worse, has almost always been an exception. Forsyth in 1947 became the first county allowed by the General Assembly to directly elect its school board; the city of Winston-Salem appointed its board. In 1963, the boards merged. Elections continued and partisan identification of candidates remained. Democrats in Raleigh forced nonpartisan elections here in 2009, but a new elected Republican majority in the legislature reversed that a few years later. For the most part, the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school board managed for years to avoid the worst of partisan politics. School-bond initiatives, the single best mechanism for meeting capital needs, passed on a bipartisan basis three times since 2000. Politics is a way of people representing other people to make decisions and they have to make compromises in order to get majorities to move forward, said former school superintendent Don Martin in 2008. The political process does that. Not anymore. A slash-and-burn, victory at all costs mentality that celebrates insult and up-is-down gaslighting has long since quashed honest debate and the search for common ground where compromise was once struck. Shedding light At the onset of the school-board candidate forum, Wiley spelled out exactly why such gatherings matter. It seems like something we should be doing with our students, he said. The first hour of the forum was dedicated to candidates answering questions written and posed by students; the second hour was reserved for questions from the audience. As you might expect, some questions dealt with campus safety having armed school-resource officers on campus, whether faculty should be allowed to carry guns and others with transportation and budgetary matters regarding the scope of programs providing free or reduced lunches on campus. You know, school-related stuff. Just when it seemed hard-edged partisanship might not surface, an innocuous discussion of accountability for behavior devolved into spats over critical race theory. Truthfully the only way things will change is if a majority of seats are filled with true conservatives, said Regina Garner, a Libertarian of all things, who made waves earlier this year by interrupting school-board meetings by referencing nutty theories and whack-a-doodle lawsuits over mask mandates. (In a moment of pure, unintended comic gold, Garner responded to a question about free/reduced lunch this way: I need to do more research Free lunch sounds good.) And another candidate, Republican Sarah Absher, has taken to Twitter at least twice to pick on a small group of kids who could use less bullying, not more. This, a retweet from a Canadian conservative, Sept. 12: Trans Kids are the new Gucci Handbag for the Upper Middle Class Wine Mommies who need attention. In April, a repost of a video from Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a Republican who describes the transgender movement as demonic and full of the spirit of the Antichrist. Maybe its just me, but regardless of party affiliation, it would seem that any candidate whod pick on any kid would be, say, unsuitable for the school board. The point here is that while affixing an R, a D or even an L to a candidates name can help shed a little light into important races, there are no shortcuts to making informed choices. If you think Leandro is a type of pottery its not; Leandro vs. North Carolina is a watershed court ruling regarding equitable school funding attending (or watching online) a candidates forum is the only way to fly. Casting a vote for a kook, an overwrought partisan or a conspiracy nut should never happen by accident. 336-727-7481 The threat of high natural gas prices spurred people to sign up for Black Hills Energy's annual fixed-price option in numbers not seen for more than a decade. Black Hills spokeswoman Brandy Johnson said 13,557 customers this year enrolled in the program, which allows them to pay a predetermined price for natural gas during the winter. That's significantly more than the 8,000 or so who signed up last year, and it's the most to sign up for the program since 2008. It's also more people than the company had intended to allow. Black Hills set the signup limit at 12,000 customers, but Johnson said closing the enrollment website is a manual process, "and a late surge in interest exceeded the limit prior to the site being closed." She said the company made the decision to honor all the signups. In anticipation of higher heating prices this winter, Black Hill's lock-in price for the coming year was 88 cents per therm, about a 65% increase from last year's price and more than double the price in 2020. It was the highest price for the program since 2009. For October, Black Hills gas prices were set at $0.67649 per therm, only slightly higher than the price of $0.66261 per therm in October 2021. Johnson said it's hard to predict how much higher heating prices could be this year for its Nebraska customers because natural gas prices for most of them are set monthly, and weather and market fluctuations can greatly affect those prices. For example, Black Hills customers in Nebraska currently have a charge on their bill called the 2021 Polar Vortex volumetric charge, which the company was authorized to charge to recoup costs from the extremely cold conditions in February 2021, which led to rolling blackouts in Lincoln and caused natural gas prices to spike to more than 100 times their normal levels. On the other hand, the company last fall forecast Lincoln customers would pay 58% more for the 2021-2022 winter, but mild conditions kept gas prices at reasonable levels. For those who want to be proactive in trying to save money on their heating bills, Black Hills is sharing tips on how to cut natural gas usage and reminding customers of available resources to help with energy bills. Tips range from easy and inexpensive like lowering the thermostat by a couple of degrees and closing curtains to keep warm air inside to more involved projects like insulating the attic or installing weather-stripping around doors and windows to keep out drafts. Customers who need help managing their bills are encouraged to enroll in budget billing, a free payment plan that averages the amount owed each month over a 12-month period. For more videos, conservation tips and safety reminders, visit blackhillsenergy.com/teamready. A judge has dismissed another party being sued by a Pennsylvania man alleging lithium ion rechargeable batteries he bought at a Lincoln truck stop for his e-cigarette exploded in his pants pocket, causing him serious burns. John Griffith II and his wife, Christina, of Sharpsville, initially sued LG Chem Ltd., LG Chem America Inc., Shoemaker's Shell Travel Center and E-Titan LLC. In the lawsuit filed in Lincoln in 2019, the Griffiths' attorneys said he had bought the two batteries from an e-cigarette kiosk inside the convenience store west of Lincoln on Southwest 48th Street on Nov. 6, 2015. Then, at home on March 12, 2016, he put them in his pocket, where he had several coins. When he sat down, the batteries exploded. Their attorney alleged the companies knew or should have known the batteries were improperly and dangerously designed and an unreasonable risk to explode or ignite while being stored in a reasonably foreseeable way, like in a pant pocket. In 2020, Lancaster County District Judge dismissed Shoemaker's and E-Titan as parties because neither had any role in the design or manufacture of the batteries. And in a decision this week, she dismissed LG Chem America Inc., an Atlanta, Georgia-based company, over jurisdictional issues. The company is a subsidiary of LG Chem Ltd., the South Korea corporation that manufactured the batteries, but didn't itself have anything to do with the design or sale of the batteries to individual customers. It leaves just one party LG Chem Ltd. left standing in the lawsuit. Widespread, wind-driven grass fires that injured two firefighters swept through southern Lancaster County on Sunday, destroying homes, closing roads and prompting evacuation orders as a thin haze of smoke settled on Lincoln. The Lincoln-Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency ordered the evacuations as two separate blazes in the southern part of the county crept north over the course of the afternoon, fueled by winds from the south and dry conditions. By the time night had descended, crews had contained the the fires to an area bordered by Southwest 86th Street to Southwest 100th Street and Panama Road to Apple Road in Gage County, the management agency said in a news release. Three houses were destroyed and two firefighters were injured in the hours-long fires, according to a news release from the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office. One of the firefighters suffered serious injuries Sunday, the sheriff's office said. Its unclear which fire departments the firefighters belonged to. Firefighters from 18 agencies responded to the blaze. Many of them remained on scene overnight into Monday, according to the emergency management agency. Lancaster County declared an emergency at about 7 p.m. and a relocation center was set up at Lincoln Southwest High School for displaced residents. Officials asked those who left their homes to not return. Several roads in the southern part of the county were blocked off, the sheriffs office said. The public was asked not to drive around barriers. The Nebraska State Patrol, Games and Parks officers and Saline County Sheriffs Office deputies assisted with traffic control and checking on the safety of residents. The first evacuation orders came around 2:44 p.m., when a fire that had started at the Lancaster-Gage County border threatened areas in Lancaster County south and west of Southwest 12th Street and Saltillo Road. The Hallam Fire Department requested deputies begin evacuating residents in the path of the fire, while a phone alert from the sheriffs office also ordered evacuations. Officials later said the order was voluntary. Around that time, another evacuation order was issued for people living in the area bound by South 38th and 54th streets and Olive Creek and Apple roads a swath of rural land roughly between Cortland and Firth due to a blaze southwest of Firth quickly advancing north. Christopher Smith was one of several people gathered at a farm near Southwest 72nd and Panama roads near Olive Creek State Recreation Area in southwestern Lancaster County, just east of one of the fires. The farm's residents and neighbors were making a plan to move cattle and other valuables to Smith's farm a few miles south. "Everybody's just trying to help out," Smith said as the farm's owner scrambled to spray down the home's back porch with water and set up sprinklers in case the fire got close. At about 4:45 p.m., the fire had burned much of the area around Olive Creek State Recreation Area in southwestern Lancaster County and was spreading rapidly to the north. A red flag warning had been in effect for central and eastern Nebraska, including Lancaster County, until 8 p.m. The National Weather Service said high winds from the south gusting as high as 55 mph combined with dry land and low humidity made for dangerous fire conditions. Temperatures were also unseasonably warm, climbing to the upper 80s and setting records for late October. As of 8 p.m., the fire that started southwest of Firth was contained while firefighters continued to battle hotspots near Southwest 100th and West Panama roads north of Olive Creek Lake and near Kramer. Additionally, the Norris School District announced that there will be a two-hour late start on Monday. The city of Lincoln was not considered to be threatened. In addition to the numerous fire departments who responded including Lincoln Fire and Rescue farmers used irrigation pivots to battle the blaze, the devastation of which will come into clearer focus Monday morning. KRAMER Though the full extent of the damage caused by a pair of Sunday wildfires in southern Lancaster County remained unclear Monday, officials emphasized that the quick actions of scores of firefighters and area farmers prevented further devastation. The fires one near Firth and the other surrounding the Olive Creek State Recreation Area threatened residents and their possessions for much of Sunday afternoon, injuring two firefighters, destroying at least three homes and prompting evacuation orders that lasted into Monday. "Farmers in the area did a great job of, on their own, getting into tractors, getting their discs out and creating firebreaks around residences in that area," Sheriff Terry Wagner said at a Monday morning news conference, where he appeared alongside representatives from the county board, the county engineers office and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency. "It speaks volumes for the volunteers, of the farmers, knowing what to do and just doing it," the sheriff added. "It wasn't organized at all. But it was well-orchestrated." Officials estimated at least 100 farmers mobilized Sunday afternoon before and after officials asked residents to turn on irrigation systems to help to slow the blaze. The worst of the damage came from the fire nearest Olive Creek Lake, which burned a 6-square-mile area between Southwest 86th and Southwest 100th streets from Gage Road to Panama Road, sheriff's Capt. Mike Scriven said. At least two of the three houses destroyed were in the same stretch of West Wendelin Road, just off Southwest 100th Street. The other fire, near Firth, was contained by 6 p.m. Two firefighters both of whom were volunteers with the Crete Fire Department were injured after the wind shifted and a strong gust blew the flames toward them as they fought the Olive Creek fire, Crete Fire Chief Tod Allen said Monday evening. Firefighter Brad Elder suffered burns on 20% of his body mainly his legs and lower back and remained hospitalized Monday evening, Allen said. Elder, who is a biology professor at Doane University and oversees the university's prescribed burn program, is well-known in the firefighting community and has nearly three decades of experience conducting controlled burns and fighting wildfires. The other firefighter suffered blisters to his face, Allen said. "We've got some worn-out firefighters," said Allen, who noted that his crews didn't get home until 3:30 a.m. Monday. "I just couldn't be more proud of them. They had a fight on their hands and they stepped up and handled it, along with all the other departments. This thing put up a hell of a fight." Officials did not offer damage estimates Monday morning, but Scriven said at least three homes and several outbuildings were burned. No civilian injuries were reported. Heather Dahlke's acreage was spared, but the 35-year-old Lancaster County woman watched as a barn burned at her nearest neighbor's acreage along Southwest 100th Street. Dahlke and her husband, a sheriff's deputy, had been traveling to Omaha on Sunday when a dispatcher called and warned that the wildfire was nearing their home, where their dogs were. Near Waverly when they got the call, the couple turned around and began to make a plan for what items they needed to grab when they arrived back home. They arrived home after the first evacuation order which came at 2:44 p.m. had already been broadcast, packing a few belongings as they watched a wall of smoke descend toward the house they'd built in 2017. "We sat, and I said, 'As soon as it hits our tree line, we're out of here," Dahlke recalled from her front porch Monday afternoon. "And then literally right when that happened, the fire department came down and they were like, 'Hey, you guys have got to get out of here.'" The Dahlkes fled to a friend's house a few miles north and waited for news. A neighboring farmer and friend disced near their property line, and firefighters hosed the treeline separating their acreage from the flames. Authorities knocked down a wall on the couple's 32-foot pool, drenching the land behind their house. "They saved this from getting much worse than it could have," Dahlke said of the area farmers, before referencing the neighbor who disced her family's land. "He literally saved our house." It's unclear how many county residents had to flee Sunday afternoon, officials said. Lincoln Southwest High School opened its doors as an evacuation center, but only one family had arrived there when Wagner stopped by the school at 8 p.m. Sunday, the sheriff said. LPS has an agreement with the Lincoln-Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency that allows the agency to use school buildings in case of emergencies. Southwest was chosen Sunday because of its proximity to the evacuation zones. The Lancaster Event Center allowed area farmers to use its northeast Lincoln facility to house livestock overnight. Scriven said at least 70 head of livestock had been relocated to the fairgrounds. And at least a dozen dogs were rescued and taken to the Capital Humane Society. The Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency declared a disaster at about 6 p.m. Sunday, director Jim Davidsaver said. The declaration allowed local authorities to request help from state and federal agencies including water drops from state aircraft but Davidsaver said those resources weren't available Sunday evening. The fire was fueled by exceptionally dry conditions, unseasonably warm temperatures and a ceaseless wind. A red flag warning had been in effect for central and eastern Nebraska, including Lancaster County, until 8 p.m. Sunday. The National Weather Service said winds from the south gusted as high as 55 mph. That same wind may have spared the area from lingering air-quality issues. Sean Flowerday, a Lancaster County commissioner, said air readings were deemed acceptable soon after the fire was contained at about 9 p.m. Sunday. He indicated the high winds played a role in the quick dispersing of air particles. At least 120 firefighters from 19 agencies responded to the fire, officials said Monday. And close to 50 law enforcement officers from Wagner's office, the Nebraska State Patrol and the Saline County Sheriff's Office were also deployed. "It came together so quick," Flowerday said. "That was really the amazing part of all this, was that everyone showed up so quickly to try to address this pretty massive issue that, frankly, could have been a lot worse." County engineers worked overnight to inspect bridges in the area, all of which were cleared for travel. The State Fire Marshal Agency will investigate the cause of both fires, which remained undetermined Monday. The sheriff cleared area residents to return to their homes at about 9:30 a.m. Monday, but the area remained restricted to nonresidents as authorities worked to clear debris from roadways, wrangle loose livestock and make sense of one of the largest wildfires in Lancaster County history. "Not in my memory," said Wagner, who has been sheriff since 1994. "I don't remember a fire of this magnitude occurring." The sheriff personally checked in on the Dahlke family as he surveyed the fire's aftermath Monday. The flames nearly made it to an outbuilding on the Dahlkes' 31-acre property and had caused minor damage. Dahlke's husband had stayed up all night to keep watch, finally falling asleep at 10 a.m. And Heather Dahlke spent her Monday morning the same way she'd spent much of her Sunday: watching droves of cars and tractors drive down Southwest 100th Street, where neighbors and strangers had come to help. "It's just a good place to live," she said. "Really good people." OMAHA A New York man has been sentenced in federal court in Omaha for transporting a minor with the intent of engaging in criminal sexual activity. Armando Daniels, 33, was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Between January and April 2021, Daniels, who was 32 at the time, communicated with a 15-year-old girl from Sarpy County via cellphone and internet apps, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. On April 6, 2021, Daniels drove from his home in New York, picked up the girl and headed east. The girl had left her cellphone at home. That evening, when her relatives became aware she was missing, they called authorities, and Sarpy County sheriffs deputies began trying to find her. Using call records, deputies obtained cellphone location data of phones that recently had called her phone. They found a phone going east across Iowa and Illinois and, on April 7, stopped in Princeton, Illinois. An investigation later found that Daniels had sexually assaulted the girl at a hotel in that city. Surveillance footage from the hotel showed the two together there. Early the next morning, the U.S. Attorneys Office said, Indiana state troopers found Daniels and the girl in Elkhart, Indiana, in Daniels parked car. The troopers arrested Daniels. After completing his prison term, Daniels will begin a five-year term of supervised release. By Trend Turkish Airlines will resume regular flights on the Istanbul-Turkmenbashi-Istanbul route from November 2, Trend reports citing Turkmenportal. Flights will be operated twice a week on Wednesdays and Thursdays. It is expected that their regularity will increase. Turkmen citizens need a visa to visit Turkiye. The cost of a single entry visa starts from $60, and a double-entry visa - $120. The minimum cost of one-way tickets is from $497. Regular flights between Istanbul (Turkiye) and Turkmenbashi (Turkmenistan) were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Turkish Airlines, along with Turkmenistan Airlines, has operated only charter flights to and from Turkmenbashi city. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers received endorsements and support from Kenosha County Democrats and union leaders Monday afternoon. Evers, the Democrat running for re-election against Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels, was flanked by supporters and addressed reporters at the Kenosha Union Club. Wisconsin voters have an important choice to make in a couple of weeks and I appreciate everything thats been said here today about my support for Kenosha and the importance of bringing our state and communities like Kenosha together thats why I focus on doing the right thing for the nation and our state, Evers said. This is why the choice in this election is so stark we can continue focusing on doing the right thing, or we can choose a radical and wrong direction for our state where our public schools and state support for police and first responders in high crime areas is cut. If re-elected, Evers said his next term would continue focusing on positive results and doing the right thing for people, just like were doing in Kenosha. Evers took office in 2019 after defeating then-Gov. Scott Walker in a close race. He said he is committed to public safety, protecting reproductive rights, tackling rising costs and investing in communities. As governor, I will always do the right thing to invest in our fire, police and first responders because by doing that, were doing the right thing for public safety, Evers said. Evers received the endorsement of the Kenosha Professional Firefighters Local 414 Monday afternoon. Evers has also been endorsed by the statewide professional firefighters union. I know that theres only one person running for governor who will stand with the firefighters when its all on the line and thats Tony Evers, said Joseph Sielski, the local unions vice-president. Ricardo Lebron, president of the local union, expressed similar sentiments and said he believes Evers supported Kenosha during and after the riots following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Gov. Evers has proposed increases in shared revenue to municipalities so that we dont have to resort to referendums to fund our fire and police departments, Lebron said. The governor signed into law a monumental bill that provides workers compensation treatment for fire and EMS personnel who were diagnosed with PTSD during civil unrest, and he ensured the National Guard was here to protect us so we could literally put out fires. We could not have done our jobs if he didnt do his job. Governor Evers has our back. Evers also received the support of former Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser, Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian, State Rep. Tod Ohnstad, D-Kenosha, and State Rep. Tip McGuire, D-Kenosha on Monday. Kreuser, who served as county executive in the summer of 2020 during the riots, praised Evers for his quick and measured response to the situation. Gov. Evers has also supported Kenosha since then, Kreuser said. I just want to say that its pretty sad when someone else runs for governor, and they dont talk about themselves, they just spin lies about the current governor. We were there. We know what people showed up. And we know our Gov. Tony Evers was there in the time we were most in need. He was there. Antaramian said he wanted tell Evers thank you for all your help, and there is no question, you were there when we needed you. The governor was there when we created the innovation center out of the Chrysler site 110 acres of land that was polluted and has been torn down with the new STEM high school and incubator facility going on there. Those types of activities helped in supporting the Uptown area where the damage was done. All of that was done by the governor and his help to make it happen. And Kenosha is going to be a stronger community than it was in the past, Antaramian said. MILWAUKEE A judge on Friday shut down the Republican Party of Wisconsins attempt to halt the City of Milwaukees involvement in a get-out-the-vote effort. The judge rejected allowing a temporary injunction, which would have forced the City of Milwaukees GOTV efforts as a case played out in court, writing that The issuance of a temporary injunction would impermissibly chill constitutionally protected speech. Conservatives nationwide have been challenging multiple facets of vote-encouragement efforts involving seats of government, including questioning whether municipalities should encourage their populations to vote at all. The GOTV effort in question is titled Milwaukee Votes 2022. The City of Milwaukees promotion and coordination of potentially illegal activities under the guise of canvassing is why Wisconsin voters have lost confidence in our elections It is inappropriate for any municipality to support a GOTV campaign, said a statement last month from leading Wisconsin Republicans Assembly Speaker Robin Vos of Rochester, Speaker Pro Tempore Tyler August of Lake Geneva, Assistant Majority Leader Kevin Petersen of Waupaca and Wisconsin Elections Commission Chair Don Millis. The case might not be over, however. Chad Doran, a spokesman for the Republican Party of Wisconsin, told WisPolitics.com that governments role is and has always been about providing opportunities to vote, not encouraging supporters of one party to vote. We will continue to pursue the case. Rejected arguments The complaint that was shut down Friday had argued that the city was associating with a progressive firm GPS Impact to increase Democrat votes through canvassing efforts in Wisconsins most-populous city. Conservatives have largely blamed Democrat-led GOTV efforts with Americans diminishing trust in elections, without putting the blame on the widespread false claims of illegally cast votes pushed by former President Donald Trump, far-right groups and conspiracy theorists. Those opposed to the argument behind the complaint saw this as another conservative attempt to tamp down liberal votes and Milwaukees impact on statewide politics. More than 16% of Wisconsin residents reside in Milwaukee County, and just shy of two-thirds of the countys population is within the City of Milwaukee itself. The judge, Gwendolyn Connolly of Milwaukee County, cited a Racine-related election case in her decision. In the Racine case, a federal judge, William C. Griesbach, ruled against the Wisconsin Voter Alliance. The WVA, a conservative group that unsuccessfully sought to have Joe Bidens 2020 presidential election win overturned, alleged the City of Racine and four other cities had undermined the integrity of the 2020 election by accepting money from a nonprofit for the purposes of supporting election efforts. That court decision, and several others, rejected the WVAs argument. There are no such laws prohibiting such grants. As Griesbach wrote: The risk of skewing an election by providing additional private funding for conducting the election in certain areas of the state may be real. The record before the court, however, does not provide the support needed for the court to make such a determination, especially in light of the fact that over 100 additional Wisconsin municipalities received grants as well. Republicans in the state Legislature passed legislation to ban communities from accepting election grants, but Gov. Tony Evers vetoed it, saying he would not approve any legislation that could possibly make it harder for Wisconsinites to vote. Claims of harm Connolly denied an argument that the Republican Party of Wisconsin will be irreparably harmed if Milwaukee Votes was allowed to go forward. In making that ruling, Connolly cited a Texas court decision that concluded Even if (election-related) grants were partisan, plaintiffs theory assumes the grants will change the electoral outcome. Given the near-infinite variables affecting a federal election, that is wholly speculative. Documents and GPS The Republican Party of Wisconsin had initially alleged in its complaint that Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson was affiliated with GPS Impact, leading to elected Republicans requesting documents from Milwaukee regarding government officials communications with the firm. But at a hearing prior to Fridays decision being issued, the GOPs attorney retracted that argument. An open records lawsuit related to communications between GPS Impact and Milwaukee officials was dismissed Oct. 10 after the Republican Party of Wisconsin said it received the documents requested. ROCHESTER A longtime Rochester Village Board member has announced his resignation, citing conflicts with his full-time job working for the City of Whitewater. Chris Bennett, who was re-elected this spring to his seventh term, is stepping down from the Village Board effective Nov. 16. Although he lives in Rochester, Bennett works full-time as neighborhood services director for the City of Whitewater, located on the border between Walworth County and Jefferson County. To accommodate Bennetts outside obligations, Rochester board meetings were moved last year from the second and fourth Mondays of every month to the first and third Mondays. Village officials, however, later found that the new schedule was difficult to manage. In his resignation letter, Bennett wrote that his elected position in Rochester and his appointed position in Whitewater do not mesh. Staff and elected officials graciously moved meetings to accommodate my commitments in Whitewater, but its clear the arrangement worked for only me, he wrote. The seven-member Village Board is scheduled Nov. 16 to discuss the process of filling Bennetts vacancy. Village Board members serve part-time as elected officials paid $4,200 a year, plus $25 a meeting. Bennetts current two-year term continues until April 2024. Village President Edward Chart said he believes Bennetts resignation is a personal matter unrelated to any current issues. He just had too much on his plate, Chart said. Bennett was elected to the Village Board in 2009 and was re-elected every two years after that. In 2015, he made an unsuccessful run for village president, losing to Chart. He worked in the private sector at the time, but later moved into the public sector, now with the City of Whitewater. Earlier this year, he also was a finalist to become the new village administrator for Union Grove. On Election Day this April, Bennett finished first in the balloting in Rochester among four candidates to fill three seats on the Village Board. In his resignation letter to Chart, Bennett indicated that the decision to step down in the middle of the term was difficult. I enjoyed a good run, but all good runs do end, he wrote. I did not reach this conclusion in haste, and will miss serving the village. A nationwide baby formula shortage that stressed families for much of 2022 is easing in Wisconsin, but questions about formula access still loom for some caregivers. Grocery store shelves still arent as full as they were before the shortage began in February, said Camen Hofer, the chair of the Wisconsin Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Association and director of the Wood County Health Departments WIC program. But Similac is on the shelves, and families have been able to find more of the formula that theyre looking for, Hofer said. The formula shortage resulted from pandemic-related supply chain issues and two shutdowns of an Abbott Nutrition plant in Sturgis, Michigan first amid an investigation into reports of bacterial infections that prompted a recall and later due to flooding. Abbott restarted production of Similac at the Sturgis facility in late August, bringing the popular brand back onto the market. Another recall on Oct. 14 impacted some 2-ounce, ready-to-feed products due to a sealing issue on less than 1% of recalled bottles. But it was not expected to crimp overall supply in the U.S. Recent photos posted to the Milwaukee Formula Parents Facebook group, which formed to help local parents navigate the shortage, show fuller shelves. But some parents are still struggling to find specialty formulas. In late August, officials within the U.S Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Service anticipated supply problems to linger for the rest of 2022 due to a shift in the varieties and sizes traditionally available in the market. As stock improves, heres what parents and caregivers especially those enrolled in the WIC program should know about formula access. How long will alternative formulas be available? Before the shortage, WIC allowed families to spend their benefits on only five of Abbotts Similac formulas, unless they requested a medical formula. State-run, federally funded WIC programs contract with only one company in each state to lower costs. Formula companies offer states significant rebates for the privilege to exclusively provide formulas to WIC programs. Abbott contracts with about two-thirds of states, including Wisconsin. But the Wisconsin Department of Health Services opened up more options early during the shortage, including different brands and container sizes, with Abbott covering the cost of substitutes. Alternative brands will remain available through at least Dec. 31, 2022, the third time that date has been pushed back. Alternate sizes and forms of Abbotts Similac products, including Total Comfort, will continue to be available through Feb. 28, 2023, the state health department said. Similac products are back. Are they safe? The state health department notes on its substitutions list that WIC participants should return to Similac products if they are available because they are safe and supply is increasing. We are letting families know that if Abbott products are on the shelf, they are safe to purchase, DHS spokesperson Elizabeth Goodsitt said. But some parents remain nervous about returning to Abbott after the recall. Camila Martin, a pediatric clinical nutritionist at UW Health Kids, said parents should know that Abbotts recall was voluntary, not mandatory. Abbott didnt reopen its Sturgis plant until it met strict cleaning procedures and requirements, she noted. Theres a lot of eyes on them right now, which helps from a safety perspective that we know that theyre going to be extra cautious, even more so than before, Martin said. Although each caregiver knows their baby best, Martin said, for most infants, it is OK just to switch from one (formula) to the other as soon as theyve exhausted that old supply. Caregivers can ease the transition by preparing separate half bottles of each formula according to the directions and mixing them together, Martin added. Will international formulas stay on the market? Although Wisconsins WIC program will stop offering international brands like Kendamil and Bubs after 2022, those products may remain available in stores even after the shortage ends. The FDA in September announced a long-term pathway for international manufacturers to remain on the market. Families should weigh multiple variables when considering whether to stick with an international formula, Martin said, especially if there are questions about shipping the formula, language used or mixing directions. Families should pay close attention to the mixing instructions, which are often in milliliters, not ounces. International scoops may be of different sizes, too, Hofer noted. The FDA has a conversion chart to help prepare international formulas. If Im working with a family, I would always recommend that they switch to a U.S.-based equivalent that they can get from a store around here, Martin said. Caregivers should speak with a pediatrician if they have other questions about international formulas including their iron content, Martin and Hofer said. What water should I use to prepare formulas? Some Wisconsin parents have reported a shortage of nursery or baby water products, some of which contain added fluoride. If a family has an infant thats immunocompromised, distilled water can be an equivalent to nursery water, Martin said. Theres actually no regulations on what nursery water is. Municipal water is generally considered safe for infants, but parents can check with their physician for specifics on water safety in their area. The World Health Organization recommends boiling water to kill bacteria and not letting it sit for more than half an hour before mixing it with formula while its still hot. Many families may not be aware of this best practice, Hofer said. But boiling does not get rid of lead, if thats a water supply concern. Those with concerns about bacteria or lead in their water could buy distilled water or find another safe source, Martin said. She and Hofer recommend that families who rely on well water test it regularly and check with their local health department. Can I use WIC to purchase formulas online? Not yet in Wisconsin, although the USDA is working toward online shopping by testing it in seven states. The lack of online ordering limited the options of Wisconsin WIC families who struggled to find certain formulas at brick-and-mortar stores. Its going to be a little bit until people can actually use their cards online, which is unfortunate, because its something that feels like should be happening as soon as possible, Hofer said. Congress may reshape WIC as it examines proposals to reauthorize child nutrition programs, but its timeline for enacting such legislation is unclear. Where else can I get information about infant formula? Families should talk with their pediatrician or local WIC office. Find contact information for each WIC office at dhs.wisconsin.gov/wic/wic-offices.htm The state health department has information for WIC families at dhs.wisconsin.gov/wic/index.htm including the current dhs.wisconsin.gov/wic/formula-substitutions.pdf The American Academy of Pediatrics also has tips, including this information (bit.ly/3F8DK2b) about imported formulas and a page about the newest recall at bit.ly/3sjzyF9 To have more of your questions on infant formula and the ongoing shortage, including a list of breastfeeding support services, go to wisconsinwatch.org/2022/07/what-you-need-to-know-to-feed-your-baby-during-the-formula-shortage Election Day is Nov. 8. Why are you the best candidate for this office? Neil Harmon (Libertarian): Not a career politician. Doug La Follette (Democrat, incumbent): I will keep partisan policies out of the administration of Wisconsins election. Amy Loudenbeck (Republican): Wisconsin wants and deserves a secretary of state who actually earns their paycheck by performing duties in a timely, transparent and professional manner. My strong work ethic and record of success as an elected official are unmatched in this race. I have a clear understanding of what needs to happen to make this constitutional office work again for the people after decades of neglect. Sharyl McFarland (Green): Wisconsin needs a leader who identifies with the people who want their government to listen and include them in the decisions that affect their daily lives. What is the most important issue in this election and how would you address it? Neil Harmon (Libertarian): Transparency. I would hold open forums weekly with the public. Doug La Follette (Democrat, incumbent): The critical issue in this campaign for secretary of state is maintaining the independence of Wisconsins elections system. My opponent in this election wishes to turn the election supervision over to the secretary of state, making it dependent on the whims of partisan politics. I strongly oppose this idea. Amy Loudenbeck (Republican): The most important issue in my race is restoring respect, credibility and purpose to this neglected constitutional office. That starts with modernizing the SOS office by implementing fast, secure, electronic processes and providing real customer service. As I travel the state, I hear stories of delays and frustration from people waiting for required action from the current secretary of state. Sharyl McFarland (Green): Some important issues in this election are election reform and election integrity. Livable wages for Wisconsin residents is important. No one who works a full-time job should live in poverty. Health care is a human right. No one should have to choose between eating and buying lifesaving medication. I support intellectual freedom. What changes, if any, would you make to the states election system? Harmon: I would have the Wisconsin Elections Commission under the secretary of state as a four-member group voted on by the people. La Follette: I would go back to the election board of retired judges. Loudenbeck: Local clerks who run elections in Wisconsin deserve better than gridlock and ambiguity. Inconsistencies with state law and WEC guidance found by the Legislative Audit Bureau must be corrected. As SOS, Ill advocate for a new model for election administration that supports clerks, provides consistent lawful guidance, and is directly accountable to voters by including the SOS in its composition. McFarland: I would implement ranked-choice voting and restore voting rights for formerly incarcerated people. I would work with the DMV to make it easier for people who are misplaced/homeless to obtain picture IDs for free. 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 By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijan's victory in the Second Karabakh War has been reflected in the local film industry products. Many patriotic films have been made since Azerbaijan liberated its territories from the Armenian occupation. Among them are documentaries such as "Shusha, you are free!", "We", "Fulya" and others. The films eventually caught public attention. All documentaries perfectly convey the realities of war and showed the national heroes, whose exceptional courage knows no boundaries. The documentary film "Shusha, you are free!" (2021) was co-produced by the Baku Media Center and Salnamafilm studio with the support of the Azerbaijani Culture Ministry. A special film crew was sent to the combat zone to film the historical moments of the Shusha liberation. The film shows real scenes of battles that have never been seen before. The film provides insight into some interesting details of Operation Shusha, one of the brightest pages of modern military history. It also contains interviews with Azerbaijani valiant soldiers and officers - participants in the operation and exclusive footage taken during the battles for the city of Shusha. The film director is Javidan Sharifov with producers Nazim Huseynov and Orman Aliyev. Another historical documentary, titled "We" tells about the bravery of the servicemen, who fought on the front for 44 days. The film reflects the patriotic spirit of Azerbaijani soldiers and ordinary citizens during the war, their emotions, experiences, and most importantly, the absolute confidence of every Azerbaijani man and woman in victory. The documentary features interviews with Azerbaijani citizens, whose videos, photos, and statuses have become the most discussed on the social network. In the film, they share their experiences and memories. In mid-October, the film was awarded a special jury prize at the 6th International Festival of Documentary Films of the Turkic World in Istanbul. The author of the idea and the director of the film is Orman Aliyev, the producer is the director of the Azerbaijanfilm studio Fariz Ahmadov. The documentary "Fulya" produced jointly by AzerbaijanFilm studio(Azerbaijan) and Dada Yap?m company (Turkiye) also aroused great interest and touched the hearts of film viewers. The film tells about military reporter Fulya Ozturk of CNN-Turk TV channel, who played a major role in conveying the truth about the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War to the world. The filming process started in June at CNN Turk headquarters in Istanbul and continued in Ganja, Tartar, Barda, and Fuzuli. The filming team includes film directors Aykut Tashkin and Tahir Tahirovich, the cameraman - Cengizhan Durmaz with producers- Ozcan Dada and Fariz Ahmadov. The documentary was shown in Turkiye and Azerbaijan. More patriotic films are coming soon to the big screen. The filming of the series "Karabakh Patriotic War" is expected to start in March 2023. The film project will consist of eight episodes. Head of the Culture Ministry's Audiovisual and Interactive Media Department Rufat Hasanov said at a press conference that the filming process will take place in Baku, Ganja, Shusha, Fuzuli, Guba, Ismayilli, Dashkasan, Shamakhi, Gabala, Khizi districts, and Hadrut settlement. The technical and creative teams for the film production have been already formed. "The implementation of projects, such as this 8-episode film, is of great importance. We have won a glorious victory in the 44-day Patriotic War, but the information war still continues. For us, the important point is that as many people as possible be informed at the international level", said Rufat Hasanov. The Culture Ministry has not decided yet which platform to use for the film screening. It can be an online platform or a TV channel. Now, the Culture Ministry also plans to broadcast the film on a large international platform. KEARNEY Hunger. Drug addiction. Immigration. Award-winning journalist Sonia Nazario spent decades reporting and writing about those and other social issues for the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and other newspapers across the United States. In November, shell visit the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where she is the keynote speaker for the Nov. 14-15 James E. Smith Conference on World Affairs. Sponsored by UNKs International Studies Program, the free public event is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 14 and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 15 at UNKs Nebraskan Student Union, 1013 W. 27th St. Nazario will speak at 9 a.m. Nov. 14. Attendees are asked to register at go.unk.edu/worldaffairs. For Better or Worse: Crossing the Line is the title of this years conference, which was first held in 1964 and connects central Nebraska to global issues and exposes participants to a variety of viewpoints. This is an opportunity to become better acquainted with countries across our border and be inspired to visit them so that we may one day become a more united world, said organizer Michelle Warren, director of international studies. Many issues that shape the quality of our lives have an international dimension, she said. Global economic interdependence is now a reality that no nation can ignore. The development of appropriate environmental strategies, the resolution of regional conflicts and the enhancement of human rights all require a global perspective. Nazario will discuss the modern-day odyssey of many child migrants some as young as 7, all of them traveling alone who cross the line from Mexico in a quest to reunite with their mothers already living in the United States. She is best known for Enriques Journey, her story of a Honduran boys struggle to find his mother in the U.S. Published as a series in the Los Angeles Times, Enriques Journey won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 2003. It was turned into a book that became a national bestseller. Nazario, who grew up in Kansas and Argentina, has written extensively from Latin America and about Latinos in the U.S. In 2020, Parade Magazine named Nazario one of the Most Influential Latin-American Women in History. In 1998, Nazario was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for a series on children of drug-addicted parents. In addition to serving on several boards that address socio-cultural issues, she currently is working on her second book and is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times. Nazario is among 21 speakers who will present at the conference. Additional featured speakers include: Margaret Jacobs, professor of history at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and director of the Center for Great Plains Studies, will share her research on government policies that demanded Indigenous children be separated from their families and sent to distant boarding schools and other institutions. Moises Park is a Korean-Chilean American associate professor of Spanish at Baylor University currently researching Latin American literature, cinema and culture. Park will show how individuals with multiple ethno-religious and gender identities are constantly crossing lines in the realm of poetry, film and music. James E. Smith Conference on World Affairs speakers Santiago Benites, Ph.D., Universidad Autonoma del Peru Alvaro Calderon, director of international cooperation, Ministry of Affairs of Colombia Chin-Sung Cheng, director general economic division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago Darja Ferlez, minister plenipotentiary and political counselor, Republic of Slovenia Maria Jesus Fernandez Garcia, trade commissioner, Trade Commission of Spain in Chicago Abel Gomez Gutierrez, professor, Universidad Autonoma de Nayarit Sue Henry, state coordinator title IC, Migrant Education Program Margaret Jacobs, professor of history at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and director of the Center for Great Plains Studies Brett Mayfield, CEO, White River Health & Education Sergey Melnitchenko, photographer and founder, MYPH Collective, Photography School & Gallery Itandewi (Ita) Mendoza, ID&R state coordinator, Title 1 Part C Migrant Education Program Sonia Nazario, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Ziteife Obi, supervisor for resettlement services, Lutheran Family Services Moises Park, associate professor Spanish, Baylor University Vladimir Polach, Ph.D. faculty Czech studies, Palacky University in Olomouc Czech Republic Mahabir Pun, teacher, social entrepreneur and activist, Nepal Roberto Razeto, head of international affairs, IULM University of Milan Yolima Rey, educator and multidisciplinary researcher, United Arab Emirates Kael Welch-Sagheer, former education coordinator, Institute for Holocaust Education, Omaha Sophia Wilson, associate professor of political science, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville SHELTON High winds helped a bean field fire spread over 2 1/2 miles Sunday in northeastern Buffalo County. At 2:45 p.m., the Shelton Volunteer Fire Department was called to a bean field fire at 27760 Sodtown Road. According to Shelton Fire Chief Taryn Hawks, the fire was started by a combine harvesting beans. Gibbon and Ravenna volunteer fire departments were called for mutual aid shortly after Shelton responded to the blaze. High south winds quickly moved the fire across the field. One structure and a large amount of farm equipment was lost in the fire, Hawks said. A house was threatened, but the firefighters were able to stop the fire before it was lost. A small rainstorm midafternoon helped the fire departments gain control of the fire. We were going to have air support come in until it started pouring on us, so that helped us out, Hawks said. It was an active fire until 7 p.m., and several departments remained on the scene mopping up and putting out hot spots until 11:30 p.m., Hawks said. Farmers with disks and excavators helped stop the spread of the fire. Kearney, Pleasanton, Amherst, Elm Creek, Minden, Wood River, Kenesaw, Cairo, Dannebrog and Boelus also responded to the fire. In his six years on the fire department, Hawks said he had not seen a fire this size in Sheltons fire district. Also on Sunday afternoon, Minden Volunteer Fire Department was called to a manure pile fire that had reignited near Highway 74 and 41 Road. Holdrege Volunteer Fire Department responded to a grass pile on fire at the Holdrege Landfill. Sunday evening multiple agencies responded to a large, fast-moving fire in southern Franklin County. According to the Hildreth Volunteer Fire Departments Facebook page, the fire was under control around 3 a.m. today, and firefighters were working to extinguish hot spots. Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun speaks to reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, Sept. 5. Yonhap Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun will visit Hungary, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic this week to discuss ways to enhance economic cooperation and to drum up support for the country's bid to host the 2030 World Expo, his office said Monday. During a six-day trip from Monday, Ahn will meet with the Hungarian foreign minister to discuss bilateral economic issues and ask for the European nation's support for Korean firms operating there amid high energy prices, according the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. In Lithuania, Ahn is scheduled to have high-level talks with senior government officials on how to boost cooperation in bio, laser and other advanced industry fields, it added. The final leg of his trip will be the Czech Republic, where he plans to meet with the prime minister and other senior officials to discuss ways to deepen relations in such fields as electric vehicles and nuclear power generation, the ministry said. "Throughout the visits, Ahn will stress Korea's capabilities and strong will to successfully host the 2030 Busan Expo, and ask for the nations' support," the ministry said in a release. (Yonhap) In July, the legislative committee of Dunn County approved a referendum question that is unprecedented in rural America. The question asked Congress and the U.S. president to nationalize health care. Its chances of success looked good ahead of the Nov. 8 referendum. Results of this referendum could make waves in Wisconsin. Climate problems, PFAS and clean water are crucial to all Wisconsinites, but especially in the 94th Assembly District. The two candidates were asked during their debate last week about their top climate issues and how they plan to prioritize clean water access. Here are the questions and answers: (On Thursday) Gov. Tony Evers announced that with the help of the EPA, Wisconsin is going to receive roughly $143 million in federal funding for drinking water and wastewater improvement projects. I would like to know, how will you prioritize that money, because it wont be enough to cover everyone. How do we prioritize that to provide clean water to most Wisconsinites? Rep. Steve Doyle: I think thats probably one of the most important issues that were dealing with in western Wisconsin right now, with the issues going on in the town of Campbell and elsewhere. The money from the federal government is a start, but it is not the full solution. What its going to take is cooperation among the state of various local governments. We have to involve our various agencies such as Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources. I was a co-sponsor of what was known as the Clear Act in the last session, which started with the idea that the first thing to do is collect information; you have to monitor and you have to set particular standards for drinking water, groundwater. I will again co-sponsor that bill because that is an issue that gives us the foundation. Secondly, we have to provide incentives for local governments and the private sector to work together. When I was county board chair, we did that all the time. We found that our greatest success building the Household Hazardous Materials Program, building the West Salem Business Park both projects that I was involved in early in my county board chair career we found that we have the best success by working together. So this is a problem that also requires all hands on deck, everybody working together, sharing our expertise, sharing our resources. Ryan Huebsch: This is one of those issues that should never be political. Unfortunately, one side has made this political. And who is for dirty water? Its absolutely absurd. No one should be for dirty water. This is about clean water. That is one of the top priorities that government should have, is making sure that people in their homes, their small businesses and everywhere in their communities have clean water. Now, unfortunately, we have a PFAS issue in French Island. I just went over there and I saw gallons of water outside of peoples homes. Thats unacceptable. That money is going to be super helpful, but its not going to solve the issue. Were going to see PFAS start exploding everywhere across the state. Unfortunately, our leadership on the county board, including my opponent, has done nothing with the ARPA funds that we received. Unfortunately, they had the opportunity to do it, but they just didnt do anything. Theyre still sitting on ARPA funds that could help go to clean water. The county of La Crosse received $22.8 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and has until 2026 to spend it. So far, they have spent approximately $9 million, none of which has been related to water or climate issues. However, the city of La Crosse has allocated $11 million of ARPA funds to be used for climate-related issues. Doyle: Well, I would say first of all, I disagree. The county board is working with the town of Campbell on that particular issue. But Id also note that my opponents father and de facto campaign manager is in fact the president of an organization, the Wisconsin Water Alliance, that on its website says, To date, there is no research to support detrimental effects on humans. Seriously? PFAS not having detrimental effects on humans? I think that is a very serious issue. Huebsch: My dads not here. Im not running with my dad, and hes not running my campaign. But lets be very clear: PFAS is a major issue. And so far, we have seen absolutely nothing at the town of Campbell. The county board says they can do stuff and that theyve been doing stuff, but we havent seen results. We need to make sure we change that. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used, long lasting chemicals that break down very slowly over time. Due to widespread use, PFAS are found in the blood of people and animals and are present at low levels in a variety of food products and in the environment, like groundwater. Exposure to certain levels of PFAS can lead to reproductive issues, developmental problems in children, increased risk of some cancers, decreased immune system and interference with natural hormones, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. More research across the world is being done to determine the health impacts of low-levels of PFAS. Mike Huebsch serves as the president of the Wisconsin Water Alliance. What are the biggest impacts to the area due to climate change, and what can the legislature do to combat those? Doyle: I think that it needs to be a priority in the state legislature, and I applaud Gov. Evers for trying to set some standards that the state can reach in the upcoming decades. Id like to go back to my role as county board chair here in La Crosse. What we proved in La Crosse County is that you can save energy and save money at the same time. It was a win-win situation. We looked at things like solar and LED lights, and we did our partnership with Gundersen to take the landfill gas and pipe that over for their heating system. So the state needs to look at those kinds of things, because there are so many opportunities out there to do that. I think the state does have a role in accomplishing that, including the money that were going to be divvying out to, hopefully, the private sector to create vehicle charging stations, because I think thats the next wave. Huebsch: I do believe its an important issue that we should be looking at, but I think there are other issues that we need to be focusing on, such as the economy and education and other things. But on my stance on energy and where it should be coming from, Im an all above approach candidate. I think that we should have a little bit of everything. I actually had the opportunity to tour Olson Solar Company in Onalaska. These guys are creating great jobs and actually, I think theyre booked out for the next three years or something like. And renewable energy is the future, dont get me wrong. But we cannot sustain the rolling blackouts that we see in California. Everyone here has lived in Wisconsin long enough to where we know we cant have blackouts in the middle of winter, because we just wont survive. Nuclear energy is by far the most important in all of this. Its not even close. It is carbon free and it is safe, and we need to make sure we get behind nuclear. A newly formed La Crosse community group is opening its arms and resources to help Ukrainians who are fleeing war come to La Crosse. The La Crosse Welcome Circle (LCW) was formed by seven community members to assist Ukrainian newcomers who want to settle in La Crosse in navigating government programs, social services, finding jobs and housing. One member of the group is a local Ukrainian woman and business owner; the organization said they feel lucky to have her guidance and knowledge. Our hope is to make the transition to a safe place as easy as possible, said Jan Gallagher, a member of the Welcome Circle. We're hoping to provide that local knowledge and also just simply a friendship circle; people who live here who can really warmly greet them and look for ways to smooth the way. La Crosse Welcome Circle is a subsidiary group of HIAS, a nonprofit group that provides humanitarian aid to refugees in the U.S. There are dozens of welcome circles across the country, initially started to assist Afghan refugees last year. Current federal policy allows Ukrainians who are leaving their country due to the war to stay for up to two years as humanitarian parolees under the Uniting for Ukraine program. Coming to the U.S. through this pathway requires support from a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or other legally-residing individual or sponsor including representatives of non-governmental organizations. This becomes very much a grassroots and personal and private community based effort in each of the cities, said Rabbi Brian Serle, member of La Crosse Welcome Circle. The La Crosse Welcome Circle is looking toward the community primarily with support for sponsorship, assistance with housing for the newcomers and monetary donations. The Welcome Circle is partnering with Couleecap, Inc. to facilitate donations that can be tax deductible and audited. The group recognizes that La Crosse is facing an affordable housing shortage so they are relying on community members and volunteers to help find available housing. Serle said that some volunteers are offering up Airbnbs that they own. So far, the LCW is expecting six Ukrainian newcomers at the beginning of November. They have already secured housing for these two families through a donor. We just want to enthusiastically involve the community and continue the tradition here in La Crosse of being a welcoming community for new groups that are in need, that are fleeing persecution or are here actually fleeing war and need a new start, said Maureen Freedland, a member of the Welcome Circle and County Board Supervisor. The organization is not relying on city or county support, according to Freedland. However they have developed a relationship with La Crosse County Human Services, who are ready to help the Ukrainian newcomers get accommodated with social services when the time comes. McIntosh Memorial Library of Viroqua celebrated the addition of an aviary center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Friday morning. The library was awarded a $10,000 national AARP Community Challenge grant earlier this year. The grant was used to redesign the reading and gathering space inside the library to make the aviary a centerpiece of the space. Trina Erickson, library director, said the project came about in a perfect storm, as she received a call from Debra Stout-Tewalt, CEO of Bethel Home & Services, asking if the library would be interested in receiving the aviary center. I said yes, if we can get a grant... Erickson learned about the national AARP Community Challenge grant and submitted an application. A public library is about making memories, Erickson said. She shared her childhood memory of always wanting to read in the cast-iron tub when the library was located on East Jefferson Street. I want to create memories here as well, she said. The aviary has been here two weeks and people have already gathered here; the reaction has been astounding. Erickson said she wants children to remember visiting the aviary at the library, just like she remembers her childhood visits reading in the bathtub. Mayor Justin Running said the library has always been on the cutting edge of creating a welcoming space and offering programs. He said the aviary is an example of the outstanding work by Erickson and the library staff. This will further enhance the library. He also noted the library was recently named the Wisconsin Library Associations 2022 Library of the Year. Courtney Anclam, a senior program specialist with AARP Wisconsin, said the grant program is part of AARPs nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live. Anclam said there were 3,600 applications and only 280 projects were funded. Having a place to gather is essential to building community; thats the heart of the project, Anclam said. Stout-Tewalt with Bethel Home & Services said when the organization was still offering skilled nursing home care, the aviary was well-loved by residents and staff alike. She said part of the organizations mission is to serve the community. We are so happy that Bethel Home & Services can be a part of this exciting program, Stout-Tewalt said. I can see it loved by all at the library. Kathy Hanson, library board president, also spoke, thanking Bethel Home & Services and AARP. Cole Zrostlik, collaborative consultant with the Winding Rivers Library System in West Salem, said libraries are for everyone. The (Viroqua library) staff go above and beyond for everyone; they are so deserving of Library of the Year. Sen. Brad Pfaff and Rep. Loren Oldenburg also spoke at the event. Fridays ribbon-cutting was a kickoff for the daylong Festival of Birds, which included a live owl presentation with River City Raptors, two bald eagle presentations with staff from the National Eagle Center, tours of the new aviary center and other bird-related activities. Ten elected officials representing diverse political outlooks came together Monday morning in La Crosse to agree on one thing: Voters should reject the School District of La Crosse's $194.7 million building referendum. Referendum opponents from the La Crosse City Council and La Crosse County Board of Supervisors joined organizers of Vote No La Crosse and Pursue a Better Plan during a news conference at Black River Beach Community Center. The group is opposed to the Nov. 8 referendum that would: Consolidate Central and Logan high schools into a new facility on Pammel Creek Road on the city's south side. Close the district's three middle school buildings. Relocate the district's 6th-8th grade students to the vacated Central and Logan buildings. "We have people here today on the left, right and center of the political spectrum," said county board supervisor David Pierce. "This is more about community than politics." The issue that most unites the group is the fate of Logan High School on the city's North Side. Yard signs distributed by the group read: "Invest in neighborhood schools, vote no." "The school consolidation plan disproportionately impacts our North Side students and families, has the potential to cause disinvestments in our neighborhoods and will increase carbon emissions due to reliance on buses and cars," said Courtney Lokken, a Pursue a Better Plan organizer. La Crosse City Council member and former Logan High School principal Doug Happel was more blunt. "It will destroy the North Side," he said. Speakers raised other objections, including longer bus rides, traffic at the Pammel Creek Road site, the referendum's cost and how local neighborhoods would be impacted by closing three middle schools. County supervisor Joe Konradt, who represents a North Side La Crosse district, said the school district is misrepresenting the fiscal impact of the plan. While taxes would rise $8 per $100,000 if the referendum passes, he said the actual cost is $151 per $100,000 since taxes would decrease next year by $143 per $100,000 if the referendum fails. Konradt said the $151 represents over $3,000 over the life of the 23-year loan. "Everybody in La Crosse would pay substantially more in taxes because of this referendum," he said. Speakers also pushed back on the argument that Logan's enrollment is too small to sustain a high school. The school once had over 1,000 students, but enrollment shrunk to 728 in 2021-22 and is expected to decline further. A combined high school, if built, will have a projected enrollment of 1,600 when it opens in the fall of 2026. Lokken said research has shown the optimum enrollment for a high school is 600-900 students. "We have to ask ourselves what is the ideal size of a high school," she said. Happel said consolidating into a single high school ignores the city's history and culture. "La Crosse isn't a one-high school city; it's a two-high school city," Happel said. "It's the identity of the city." La Crosse City Council member Mark Neumann agreed. "It's central to who we are as a city," he said. Pierce acknowledged that coming up with an alternative will be a challenge. He said if you asked the people in the room about their "dream plan, you would get a dozen answers." Lokken said the process of developing a new plan would be good for the community, provided there is sufficient citizen input. "While this may be a divisive issue, I actually see it as an opportunity to unify our community," Lokken said. "This is a chance to work across partisan lines to do the right thing for our community." The Onalaska Police Department reported it recently found a stolen Ryan Huebsch for Assembly campaign sign with large black swastikas painted on both sides. Police said they found the sign posted in an illegal location at an intersection attached to government property in the Town of Onalaska. They removed the illegally posted sign and immediately informed the campaign of the incident. I am very grateful to the Onalaska Police Department for their work and quickly reporting this to my campaign, Huebsch said. Im glad that no one was harmed but am saddened that this illegal activity is occurring. No matter which person or party you support, no one should engage in this type of highly offensive vandalism. Unfortunately, politics has become very polarizing, and passions can run very high. Fear and intimidation tactics like this should have no place in our community, he said. Instances such as this are intended to intimidate and discourage candidates from running for public office and for voters to support them, but we will not be intimidated. We will continue to fight for the law-abiding men and women in the Coulee Region and be a strong voice for law and order. Huebsch is the Republican nominee for the 94th Assembly District seat currently held by Rep. Steve Doyle, a Democrat. Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) has announced its intention to proceed with an initial public offering (IPO) and to list a portion of its ordinary shares for trading on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM). In a press conference today (October 24), Empower said that one billion shares, each with a nominal value of AED0.10 (ten fils) will be made available in the IPO, representing 10% of Empower's total existing share capital. The Emirati group said that all shares to be offered represent the sale of existing shares held in aggregate by Dewa and Emirates Power (an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of Dubai Holding) with Dewa selling 7% and Emirates Power selling 3% in the offering. The corporation added that the selling shareholders reserve the right to amend the size of the IPO (in whole and/or individual tranches) at any time before the end of the subscription period of the Second Tranche, subject to applicable laws and approval by the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). The subscription opens on October 31 and is expected to close on November 7 for the UAE retail investors and November 8 for qualified investors. The Internal Sharia Supervision Committee of Emirates NBD Bank has issued a pronouncement confirming that, in its view, the IPO is compliant with shariah principles. The company's existing share capital consists of 10 billion ordinary shares, each with a nominal value of AED0.10, which are fully paid, issued and outstanding. Following the Offering, Empower intends to adopt a semi-annual dividend distribution policy and to pay dividends twice each fiscal year after the Offering in April and October of each year. The group expects to pay a minimum dividend amount of AED850 million per annum, in the first two fiscal years following the Offering (April 2023 to October 2024). Empower expects to distribute its first dividend payment of a minimum of AED425 million after the Offering, for the second half of 2022, by April 2023. After the October 2024 distribution, the Company expects to pay a sustainable dividend in line with the growth of the business. This dividend policy is designed to reflect the Company's expectation of strong cash flows and expected long-term earnings potential, while allowing the Company to retain sufficient capital to fund ongoing operating requirements and continued investment for long-term growth. This dividend policy is subject to consideration of the Board of Directors of the cash management requirements of the Company's business for operating expenses, financing expenses and anticipated capital expenditures. In addition, the Company expects that the Board of Directors will also consider market conditions, the then current operating environment in the Company's markets, and the Board of Directors' outlook for the Company's business. Chairman Saeed Mohammed Ahmad Al Tayer said Empower's ability to continuously leverage its scale and knowledge qualifies the company to be well-positioned for growth in markets where district cooling plays an important societal role. "At the heart of our strategy is supporting Dubai's energy transition; by providing access to sustainable cooling solutions and increased energy efficiency, better water efficiency, and encouraging responsible energy consumption. Empower long-term principles ensure inclusion, empowerment, diversity and gender equality." CEO Ahmad bin Shafar said: "With a targeted market share of 80% in Dubai by the end of 2022, Empower supports and benefits from the city's fast-paced economic growth. This includes mega-trends such as expansion in infrastructure, a rising population and hot climates, which continue to accelerate the need for more efficient and sustainable cooling at scale." "As a leading player in the implementation of district cooling technology as well as the deployment of a more sustainable cooling method in Dubai, Empower provides investors with a unique opportunity to invest in a Company that operates in a market that has solid macroeconomic fundamentals for district cooling, making it a growth engine for Empower," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation are hosting public involvement meetings to gather input on design plans for rail improvements, which are needed to provide a second, daily, round-trip passenger rail service between Chicago and St. Paul. The added Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago passenger rail service will use Amtraks existing Empire Builder and Hiawatha routes. The meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 1, at Moxies Hotel, 1835 Rose St., La Crosse, and Wednesday, Nov. 2, at Sobieski Park Lodge, 965 E. Seventh St., Winona. The time for each is 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with a presentation at 5 p.m. Each meeting allows an opportunity to ask questions of MnDOT and WisDOT staff and design engineers. Design plan improvements will be presented for the cities of La Crosse, La Crescent and Winona. The TCMC project will improve railroad track, at-grade crossings and signal and communication infrastructure in La Crosse, Winona and La Crescent, allowing passenger trains to bypass freight trains. These improvements will make passenger train schedules more reliable and enhance freight train operations. Additionally, local communities will benefit from shorter delays at railroad crossings. Final design plans will be completed in the summer of 2023 with construction scheduled from 2024 into 2025, and service is anticipated to begin at the end of 2024. For questions about the meetings, contact WisDOT Project manager Tom Kratt at (608) 789-7874, or by email thomas.kratt@dot.wi.gov, or MnDOT Project manager Greg Mathis at (651) 366-4292, or by email greg.mathis@state.mn.us. Comments about the project may be submitted with this comment form. Written comments can be mailed to Thomas Kratt at Wisconsin Department of Transportation, 3550 Mormon Coulee Road La Crosse, WI 54601. For additional information about the TCMC project please visit the WisDOT and MnDOT project webpages. Presentation materials will be posted to these websites following the meeting for people who are unable to attend an in-person meeting. If you require an interpreter or translator, you may request one by calling the Telecommunications Relay System (Dial 711) at least three working days prior to the meetings. The Lake Geneva Tourism Commission has agreed to grant the city about $167,000 to help pay off debt for the Riviera renovation project. Members of the tourism commission unanimously approved, Oct. 10, to transfer $167,375 from the tourism fund to the citys debt service fund to help pay off money the city borrowed to complete renovations to the Riviera building. Its to offset some of the citys general fund costs toward the Riviera renovations, City Administrator Dave Nord said. City aldermen approved in 2020 to sell about $9.42 million in bonds to borrow money of that same amount to help pay for the Riviera renovation project, which was completed in 2021, and other future projects. The $167,375 will not be transferred to the debt service fund until next year, but Brian Waspi, chairperson for the tourism commission, said the transfer has to be approved now, so the city is able to include the funding in its 2023 budget. Technically, its on the budget for next year, but were doing it now because it affects taxes and timing, Waspi said. It actually gets transferred in 2023. Nord said city officials are in the process of working on the 2023 budget. The budget is set to be approved in November. The budget process is now and that number either needs to be confirmed or denied by the tourism commission, so we can put it in the budget, Nord said. The tourism commission approved to transfer about $200,000 from the tourism fund to the city debt service fund in October 2021 to help pay off the debt for the Riviera renovations. Waspi said granting the city money to help pay off the Riviera project debt helps reduce the citys projected property tax rate increases during the upcoming years. The tourism commission receives its funding from room taxes. We use out of town taxpayer money to keep the mill rate down, Waspi said. Najah Dubai, a leading higher education expo, that gives students and parents the opportunity to access a wealth of information and resources available from more than 80 participating universities and exhibitors from over 15 different countries is officially opened by Butti Saeed Al Ghandi, Vice-Chairman of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). According to organisers, after a successful Abu Dhabi leg last week that welcomed 14,207 unique visitors, Najah ensures students have access to the necessary tools that help them in curating their higher education journey from information on admissions, counselling, scholarship opportunities, study abroad options to alumni experiences and more. Students and parents who attended the Abu Dhabi edition last week testified how the fair was a crucial platform supporting their decision-making process when it comes to choosing the right university for their higher education. Noor Mahjoub, a student at Lycee Louis Massignon, said: I came here because I wanted to widen my perspective and widen my university choices and Najah in Abu Dhabi was the perfect opportunity to do that. Jeniffer Shaffer, a parent who also went to Najah Abu Dhabi 2022, said: It has been great. We actually got to meet multiple universities that we might not have considered. It helps you get a deeper understanding as well about whats required of a student as well as a parent to get them prepped for college. It also gives a chance to expose your children to universities from all over the world and also the country that youre from possibly and have a better understanding to how to get through the college process and what that will take. Exhibitors, on the other hand, agree that Najah is an important stop in their marketing strategy. Amy Easton, an exhibitor from Edinburgh Napier University, said: I have been able to speak to so many different students from so many different schools with so many different diverse backgrounds and interests. Its definitely been a highlight and really enjoyable to be here, Registration is still available via www.najahexpo.com for this free-to-attend event which is happening until October 25.-TradeArabia News Service Fyodor Lukyanov Writes, Saudi Interest in BRICS Is a Harbinger of New World Economic System Oct. 23, 2022 (EIRNS)The Wests gamble to split the world into two geopolitical camps has pushed the BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) grouping beyond a fuzzy discussion group and into the strategic role of building a new world economic arrangement, free of the financial constraints of the EU and of Washington. Such is the conclusion of a provocative and refreshing analysis in RT, on The Possibility of Saudi Arabia Joining the BRICS Shows the World Is Moving On from Western Dominance, by the chairman of the Presidium of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy Fyodor Lukyanov. He also serves as the Research Director for the famous Valdai Club and is the editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs. Lukyanov first cites the Oct. 16 report by South Africas Cyril Ramaphosa, during his two-day visit, of Saudi Arabias intention to join the BRICS, as told to him by his host, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Since Argentina and Iran are already applying, the excitement around BRICS is a sign of the changes taking place in the world. Lukyanov maintains that before the attempted isolation of Russia, the BRICS was an interesting forum, but not any more, as ideas to turn the group into a formalized counterbalance to the G7 did not resonate, because links to the West were crucial for all members. He continued, aside from being far apart and very different from each other, the countries were too dependent upon their individual relationship with the U.S. Yet they always had a principled commitment to sovereignty. It is increasingly clear that the West is not allowing that, by their join us against Russia or else mode. Hence: The events of 2022, initiated by Moscow, have clearly divided the world into a Western part that rallies against Russia, while others take a wait-and-see approach. The West used the entire arsenal of pressure at its disposal to punish Moscow and demonstrate how disobedience is punished. The result was quite unexpected. All the other countries, especially the big BRICS states or those claiming a role in the world of their own, not only distanced themselves from joining the Western campaign but outright rejected it, despite the fact that such a stance carries the risk of repercussions from the U.S. and its allies. Of course, this is not a matter of supporting Russias actions, but rather of rejecting forms of external pressure. And since this is systemic in nature and related to the peculiarities of the world order, ways to counter it require a change in the latter. This is where it became clear that BRICS has considerable potential. It might be a rather fuzzy grouping, but its better prepared than anything else for those interested in alternative schemes of international order. The aforementioned full sovereignty (political and economic) is a prerequisite for these options. Thus, participation in BRICS becomes a sign of belonging to a world that is emerging beyond established Western dominance. It does not necessarily have to be about confrontation. It is much more valuable to be able to bypass Western institutions and reduce the risk of interaction with them. For example, by building parallel ways of conducting financial, economic, and trade relations without relying on U.S. or EU-controlled instruments. Riyadhs desire to join is quite remarkable. Of course, a country with control over significant material resources and the ability to regulate global pricing can afford independent behavior and choose comfortable partners who do not impose a series of conditions on interaction. A centralized international system, led by a hegemon, is bound to end anyway. This will happen no matter how the Ukraine conflict ends. And, thus, a diversity of formats will be in high demand. The new circumstances will open up prospects for BRICS. Lukyanovs somewhat cynical analysis ignores the history of the BRICS, in favor of a Goldman Sachs single detail. ONeill did absolutely nothing to create the BRICS, and far from being a fuzzy entity with no formal existence, it began holding heads of state and government summits in 2009, brought in South Africa (making it the BRICS) in 2010, and formed its New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement in Fortaleza, Brazil at its 2014 summit. At its 2018 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa invited the heads of state from every African government that headed a continental agency at the time, in its Outreach: Rwanda (then chairing the African Union), Senegal, Gabon, Uganda, Ethiopia, Togo, Zambia, Namibia, Angola, and the African Union Commission Chairman. At the same time, the BRICS-Plus at that summit included: Argentina, Indonesia, Egypt, Jamaica, and Turkey, and the UN Secretary General. On June 24, 2022, the BRICS-Plus summit had expanded to heads of state and government from 13 countries, plus the 5 BRICS members: Algeria, Argentina, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Senegal, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Malaysia, and Thailand. While Lukyanov is not wrong that the breakout of BRICS organization shows the world moving on from Western dominanceor more accurately, the Western economic collapseit were more appropriate to date the idea from Yevgeny Primakovs 1998 concept for the Russia-India-China (RIC) strategic triangle, whence the BRICS developed by 2009-2010. EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR MONDAY OCTOBER 24, 2022 No World Can Long Exist Half-Slave and Half-Free Oct. 23, 2022 (EIRNS)Russias Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spent Sunday, Oct. 23 calling his counterparts in the U.S., the U.K., France and Turkey, about a quickly degrading situation in Ukraine. In particular, he warned them about the Kiev regimes involvement in an alleged plot to manufacture a dirty bomb, to create a false-flag nuclear incident in Ukraine. The plot, according to RIA Novostis sources, involves the aid of Britain in securing certain nuclear components. It will take a while for the smoke to clear over the charges and counter-charges, but the most immediate, necessary and direct action is to focus the worlds attention over the next four days, on the Schiller Institutes presciently entitled Oct. 27 conference, For World Peace: Stop the Danger of Nuclear War. One can recognize the fear of the present moment in history, but one should never give counsel to fear. Fyodor Lukyanov, the head of the Council for Foreign and Defense Policy, a Moscow-based group of top foreign affairs analysts, commented on Shoigus phone conversations: It appears that there is a shared feeling that the tensions have approached the level that could raise the real threat for all. A few days ago, Lukyanov, who is also Research Director for the Valdai Club, circulated an analysis on the strategic role of the BRICS in constructing a new world economic system. The immediate provocation for Lukyanov was the report by Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Saudi Arabia wants to join the BRICS. He remarks that the BRICS could never be a rival to the G7, as long as the BRICS members had to accommodate Washington. But Washingtons orders to countries to kiss the ring of the emperor on matters of its us or them, have made it clear that sovereignty is a joke, unless a country can stand up on its own two feet. Washingtons thuggish behavior toward the Saudis on the matter of oil sanctions and prices might have been the last straw for Riyadh. As Abraham Lincoln put it, no nation can long exist half-slave and half-free. The world is hearing that message. The clearest path forward for the next four days is the invitation and registration for the Schiller Institute conference on Oct. 27 Your loved ones and fellow citizens can usefully organize themselves by studying the Schiller Institutes previous conference on Oct. 7 with incumbent and former lawmakers. The American space agency NASA says its Curiosity vehicle has reached its next exploration target on Mars. The explorer, or rover, reached an area that NASA scientists call Mount Sharp. The area sits within the planets Gale Crater, which Curiosity has been exploring since landing on Mars in 2012. Mount Sharp contains a mix of rocky material and many large hills. In the past, researchers have found evidence that, billions of years ago, Mount Sharp contained many water systems. At some point, scientists believe the Martian climate grew more extreme and caused the water systems to dry up. NASA says the minerals still existing around Mount Sharp might provide additional evidence of the severe climate changes. Today, Mars is an extremely cold desert that cannot support any running water systems. Experiments carried out on the minerals could help researchers learn more about the kinds of life that may have existed on Mars when it had conditions more similar to Earth. NASA currently operates two rovers on Mars. The other vehicle, Perseverance, landed in February 2021. It is exploring areas around the planets Jezero Crater. The space agency estimated the landing site for Perseverance was about 3,700 kilometers away from where Curiosity touched down. NASA also operates the InSight lander on Mars. NASA said in a statement that the minerals around Mount Sharp were first discovered by the agencys Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, years before Curiosity landed. Scientists have been waiting a long time to get a closer look. Shortly after arriving in the area, Curiositys instruments discovered a wide range of different rock kinds and sizes. Among the findings were several different salt materials that suggest past signs of water in the area, NASA says. To examine rocks, Curiosity uses a drill at the end of its robotic arm to dig into the Martian surface. The rover has already drilled many holes on Mars. The latest drilling happened on October 3. The Curiosity team chose a rock it named Canaima for the operation. The rover has recently experienced problems with a braking system that permits the robotic arm to mostly stay in place. NASA said this can cause difficulties during drilling. But it reported that Curiositys 36th drill hole was a success. The team of scientists are now looking forward to examining the latest Martian dust collection. The space agency noted that Curiositys path to Mount Sharp included areas containing treacherous, or risky, areas. In August, the rover safely made its way through a sandy area situated between high hills. Sand presents a major risk for Curiosity because of the chance of getting stuck. Sharp rocks can also damage the rovers wheels. Ground-based rover drivers need to carefully navigate these areas, NASA said. The agency noted that it took Curiosity more than a month to reach its target area. After reaching its goal, however, the team was treated with some of the best images ever taken by the rover. Curiositys so-called Mastcam was able to capture extremely wide, or panoramic, views of the Martian surroundings. We would get new images every morning and just be in awe, said Elena Amador-French. She oversees work by Curiositys science and engineering teams at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. The sand ridges were gorgeous, she added. You see perfect little rover tracks on them. And the cliffs were beautiful we really got close to the walls. Last month, NASA celebrated Curiositys 10th anniversary in service. During that time, it said the rover has driven nearly 29 kilometers and climbed about 625 meters while exploring Gale Crater. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from NASA. Quiz - After Summer Trip, NASA Explorer Arrives at Mineral-Rich Area of Mars Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story crater n. a big hole in the ground created by the force of an object drill v. to make a hole in a hard substance using a special took called a drill brake n. a part of a machine that stops or slows the movement of something treacherous adj. very dangerous navigate v. to find the right direction to travel by using maps and other equipment awe n. a feeling of great respect for someone or something ridge n. a long, narrow piece of high land cliff n. an area of high, steep rocks _______________________________________________________________________ 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. Scientists have long been predicting that global warming will increase extreme weather events around the world. Recent examples of such events are floods in Pakistan, extreme heat in Europe and drought in China, East Africa, northern Mexico, and the U.S. West. With just over one degree of warming since pre-industrial times, we are already seeing more extreme weather patterns, said Elizabeth Robinson. She is director of the Grantham Research Institute in London. Kim Cobb is a climate scientist at Brown University in Rhode Island. She said researchers are now starting to get more exact details about the speed, size, and timing of climate changes. This includes details about how effects can be very different from region to region. Scientists usually compare the average global temperature today to estimates for the pre-industrial period. That is when the burning of fossil fuels first started to increase. The average global temperature has increased between 0.9 and 1.2 degrees Celsius since 1850, mostly because of human activity. Those numbers come from estimates in the most recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC. Most of that warming has happened since 1975, at a rate of 0.15 Celsius to 0.2 Celsius per decade. The average temperature in 2021 was 1.3 degrees higher than the 20th century average. But most people are living in places where the temperature has increased more than the global average. That is because more and more people are living in urban areas. These areas can trap heat because of the many roads and buildings and because they have fewer trees. Trees help make an area cooler. Climate and global temperatures have changed throughout the Earths history. But it is the speed of recent changes that worries researchers. Adapting to dangerous weather events is one big way humans can limit damage from climate change. Weather-related disaster deaths are generally going down in number globally. That is because weather predictions have improved and because people are more prepared, scientists say. Robinson, the Grantham Research Institute scientist, said, The extent to which people are harmed by an extreme weather event is strongly influenced by government policies. She added that there are limits to adaptation. Im Andrew Smith. Seth Borenstein reported this story for the Associated Press. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English. _______________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story drought n. an extended period of time of drier than normal conditions in an area region n. a geographic area fossil fuels n. carbon-based sources of energy such as oil, coal, and natural gas adapt v. change behavior or ideas in response to a new or different situation extent -n. the amount of, how much of _______________________________________________________________________ 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. A new study finds that some people attract mosquitoes much more than others, and it probably involves the way they smell. The researchers found that people who attract mosquitoes the most produce a lot of certain chemicals on their skin. These chemicals are connected to the scent that attracts the mosquitoes. Leslie Vosshall is one of the authors of the study and a neurobiologist at Rockefeller University in New York. She said, If you have high levels of this stuff on your skin, youre going to be the one at the picnic getting all the bites. For many years, there have been a lot of ideas about who is likely to get bitten more. But those ideas have not been supported by strong evidence, Vosshall said. For the study, researchers designed an experiment to have peoples scents compete against each other. They asked 64 volunteers to wear stockings around their forearms to absorb, or take in, the scent from their skin. The stockings were put in separate traps at the end of a long tube. Then, dozens of mosquitoes were released. The mosquitoes came to some traps much more than others. The scientists did the experiment several times, always changing which stockings were competing against each other. At the end, they discovered a huge difference between stockings. The most attractive stocking was around 100 times more attractive to the mosquitoes than the last-place finisher. The experiment used a kind of mosquito that spreads diseases like yellow fever, Zika and dengue. Vosshall said she would expect similar results from other kinds of mosquitoes. But additional research needs to be done to know for sure. By testing the same people for over a year, the study showed that these big differences remain, said Matt DeGennaro, a neurogeneticist at Florida International University. He was not involved in the research. Mosquito magnets seem to remain mosquito magnets, DeGennaro said. The researchers found a common factor: Mosquito magnets had high levels of certain acids on their skin. People produce them in different amounts, Vosshall said. The healthy bacteria that live on the skin eat up these acids and produce part of the way our skin smells, she said. The research could help find new ways to repel mosquitoes, said Jeff Riffell, a neurobiologist at the University of Washington who was not involved with the study. There may be ways to affect the skin bacteria and change the smell that attracts mosquitoes, he said. However, he said that would be hard to do. Researchers also did the experiment with mosquitoes whose genes were changed to damage their sense of smell. But they still flew to the same mosquito magnets. Vosshall said mosquitoes have ways to find us even if we change some conditions. They have many backup plans to be able to find us and bite us, she said. Im Andrew Smith. Maddie Burakoff wrote this story for the Associated Press. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English. Quiz - Study: Your Smell Could Attract Mosquitoes Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _____________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story attract v. to bring attention to something or make something come towards another thing scent n. an odor or smell picnic n. a meal eaten outdoors, often in a park or other natural setting stockings n. tight-fitting covering for legs, feet, or arms, usually made of nylon dozen n. a group of twelve items factor n. a thing or element that has an effect on a situation or event repel v. to force or move away something coming towards an object backup n. alternatives, other options _______________________________________________________________________ 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. As autumn sets in across the northern part of the world, Ukraine faces the winter months. Russia is targeting Ukrainian cities like Kyiv, their power plants and other infrastructure using missiles and drones. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media that over the past week Russia has destroyed 30 percent of the countrys power plants. This has caused massive blackouts across the country. As temperatures near zero Celsius, Ukrainians who have not fled the war ready themselves for winter. Artem Panchenko is nine years old. Recently, he helped his grandmother tend a fire in their temporary, outdoor kitchen near their old apartment. Just like hundreds of thousands of other Ukrainians, Artem and his grandmother are facing difficult conditions. They have been living without natural gas, water, and electricity for about three weeks since Russian missiles cut off utilities in their town, which is in the Kharkiv area of eastern Ukraine. They survive by wearing warm clothes and cooking outside. As Artem helped his grandmother cook, he said, It's really cold. I'm sleeping in my clothes in our apartment." Roman Semenukha is an official in the Kharkiv government. He said that officials are working to restore electricity to the area in the coming days but that repairs to water and gas lines will come later. Officials are giving firewood to citizens instead. He said that only after water and gas lines are repaired will we be able to begin to restore heating." Viktor Palyanitsa is 37 years old and lives in the nearby village of Kurylivka. He has gathered enough wood for the whole winter. He is not able to sleep in his home because all the windows were destroyed. He plans to sleep beside a wood-burning stove in an old building. He said that he is not waiting for the governments help. He is ready to provide for himself throughout the winter. "It's not comfortable. We spend a lot of time on gathering wood. You can see the situation we're living in. I have arms and legs. So I'm not scared of the cold, because I can find wood and heat the stove," Palyanitsa said. Like Palyanitsa there are still thousands of Ukrainians living in homes that have been partly destroyed by Russian strikes, most with damaged roofs and windows. Officials in the Ukrainian controlled areas of Donetsk have told residents to leave the area and warned that services would not be returned by winter. Even in other areas of Ukraine, the threat of a winter without heat is real. Russian President Vladimir Putin has increased attacks on civilian energy centers after Ukraines strike on an important bridge in Crimea. This has left many cities without electricity including Kyiv, Sumy in the northeast, and Vinnystsia in the west. Many in the town of Kurylivka have created basic shelters where residents live by candlelight, gather water from wells, and wear warm clothes to stay alive. Iryna Panchenko is Artems grandmother. The two have been sleeping in an abandoned apartment next to their home because a Russian strike destroyed their windows. "It's very cold living here. It's hard to cook, it's hard to run between the apartment and where we cook. My legs hurt, Iryna Panchenko said. Basic structures are a common sight along the apartment complex. Residents gather wood for fires so that they can cook outside. Anton Serukov is 47 years old and his mother is disabled. He helps her with daily tasks like heating water over the fire for tea. "No electricity, no water, no gas. We are cold. I'm making tea for my mother on the fire but she only drinks a little bit to warm up for a short time." His mother Zoya Serukova had been unable to leave her bed for seven years and most of the time she keeps seated, playing cards. "It's really cold now. If it weren't for my son, I would freeze," she said. Serukov said that he has asked a friend from Kharkiv to purchase an electric heater for them, in case the power is restored. The thought of surviving a winter in this state is almost too much to think about. "I hope we'll have electricity soon, so we can live through this winter somehow," Serukov said. Im Faith Pirlo. Justin Spike wrote this article for The Associated Press. Faith Pirlo adapted it for Learning English. ______________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story infrastructure n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) needed for a country or area to operate blackout n. a period when lights are off because of an electrical power failure tend v. to take care of; to maintain utility - n. a company that provides electricity, water, or similar services apartment n. a room or group of rooms in a building used for housing people restore v. to return (something) to an earlier or original condition by repairing it, or cleaning it roof n. the top of a house well n. a hole in the ground from which a supply of water is extracted abandoned adj. left without help or support lean-to n. a building such as a shed or garage which is attached to one wall of a larger building disabled adj. having a physical or mental disability ______________________________________________________________________ What do you think about 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. Our comment policy is here. The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has recently announced its shift to 100 per cent recycled plastic cards in partnership with Mastercard. This long-term initiative is part of the banks ongoing efforts to embed environmental sustainability within its daily operations. In addition to the banks continuous strides towards implementing ESG practices, NBB will now produce all of its credit and prepaid cards with 100 per cent recyclable material to reduce the banks environmental impact, plastic waste and pollution. The recent initiative will be implemented on all newly procured cards in line with NBBs commitment to responsible banking. Through the partnership, NBB aims to decrease its annual production of plastic after studies revealed that around 6 billion payment cards are produced annually and replaced every 3 to 5 years, resulting in an increase in harmful landfill waste across the world. Subah Abdullatif Al Zayani, Chief Executive Retail Banking at NBB, said: Billions of bank cards are produced globally on an annual basis, which has an adverse impact on our environment. Alongside Mastercard, NBBs approach to transitioning into 100% recycled cards aims to develop an effective life cycle strategy for eco-friendly products that helps minimise our impact on the environment. We have put the proper technology, processes and products in place to facilitate our shift to green cards as we aim to control our energy consumption, carbon footprint and plastic waste. Shadi Barakat, Head of Card Business at NBB, said: We are pleased to be launching our 100% recycled cards for all NBB cardholders, in partnership with Mastercard, enabling them to participate in our efforts to lower the negative effects of our products and services. NBB believes in reusing plastic waste, therefore we have ensured that our new sustainable product is made entirely out of recycled materials. This ongoing initiative is also part of our commitment to spread environmental awareness throughout the industry. Adam Jones, Country General Manager MENA Central, Mastercard, said: At Mastercard, we are passionately committed to embedding sustainability in everything we do, and have been for a long time. We have an extensive track record in creating products, services, partnerships, and experiences that enable consumers to make sustainable consumption choices that are better for the planet easily, intuitively, to their benefit. Maria Medvedeva, VP, Country Business Development Lead for Saudi Arabia & Bahrain, Mastercard said: Our collaboration with NBB will play a significant role in removing the environmental impact of plastic waste. We know our customers are looking for ways to effect positive change in the world. Our technology, expertise and approach to partnership is advancing our mission to build a more inclusive and sustainable digital economy, where both people and the planet can thrive. -TradeArabia News Service La Pollera Colombiana, a Colombian restaurant on Madisons East Side, opened Monday, its co-owner said. Yineth Herrera, 26, owns the restaurant in the former OM Indian Fusion Cuisine, 3579 E. Washington Ave., with her husband, Urbano Rivera, and her sister-in-law, Araceli Rivera. La Pollera Colombiana is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. In Spanish, La Pollera is a hencoop, chicken run or basket for chickens, and the restaurants menu has a five-item chicken section that includes grilled chicken breast with pineapple, ham and cheese; and chicken breast in mushroom sauce. It also offers a number of ways to order roasted chicken. Appetizers at La Pollera Colombiana include green plantains with guacamole, shrimp ceviche, fried calamari and empanadas. A steak section includes carne asada, steak sauteed with onions, and steak in creole sauce topped with egg. The menu also has three pork dishes, including pork chops; and nine seafood dishes including creamy seafood soup, fried red snapper and jumbo shrimp in garlic sauce. There are nine breakfast dishes. Herrera said she moved from Colombia to New York about 10 years ago. Her husband and sister-in-law are from Mexico. Herrera and her husband had a Colombian restaurant in Sunnyside, Queens, that they sold to one of their three partners. Herrera and her husband came to Madison about four months ago at the urging of her sister-in-law, who has lived in Madison for about three years. OM closed in early 2019 after almost three years. Eight years ago, the Wisconsin State Journal asked readers to help us identify 100 objects that defined Madison. From the colorful, sunburst chairs on the Memorial Union Terrace to the eye-popping Wienermobile, we explored the history and meaning behind each of these objects in a series of essays that ran for 100 days. But a lot -- and we mean a lot -- has happened since 2014. Paul Soglins mustache (No. 2 in the original series) was included because, like the former "mayor for life," his mustache always seemed to be there. But Soglin, and the city, eventually moved on. The carousel at Ellas Deli (No. 13) is gone, no longer enchanting passersby on East Washington Avenue. The red heart balloon that drifted to the top of the Capitol rotunda during the Act 10 protests in 2011 (No. 38) embodied an indelible moment in Madison's history. But the balloon, which deflated long ago, is now in the archives of the Wisconsin Historical Society. So we figured it was time to update the 100 objects list. Over the past eight years, weve endured a pandemic and experienced the largest protests for racial justice and civil rights in a generation. Weve entered a new world of TikTok, remote work, online shopping, accelerated climate change and an even more divided political landscape. Some things remain the same. Babcock ice cream (object No. 22) is still around, thank goodness. The Forward statue (No. 48) has returned to her rightful spot on Capitol Square, and electric car charging stations (No. 61) are more plentiful than ever. Still, we'd like to hear from you about what should go on the list to replace the items we're taking off. Fill out the form below or click here to vote. Well put your suggestions into the hopper and pull out a few to profile. A person suspected of committing several weapons violations in recent days was shot and killed by a Dane County Sheriffs Office deputy Sunday afternoon in the village of Oregon, authorities said. At about 11 a.m., the sheriffs office received a 911 call about a weapons violation on Jefferson Street in Oregon, and deputies and assisting agencies began actively searching for a suspect in the area, Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said. The suspect, who was alleged to have committed several weapons violations in recent days, was believed to be in the 5200 block of Highway CC, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which released more details on the incident late Sunday. Officials set up a perimeter in the area, and the suspect fled on foot, the DOJ said. A deputy made contact with the suspect at about 3:15 p.m. and fired at the person, who died at the scene. Authorities did not release the name of the person killed or the deputy, who has been placed on leave while the DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation investigates the shooting. A firearm was located at the scene, the DOJ said. Barrett took no questions at a briefing outside a nearby church just after 7 p.m., and said the DOJ would be releasing additional information. The name of the person killed will be released by the Dane County Medical Examiners Office after family is notified, Barrett said. Police were still on the scene late Sunday. Just after 4:30 p.m. Sunday, police tape and squad cars were seen blocking off the neighborhood in Oregon. The incident appeared to have occurred near a cul-de-sac just off the 200 block of Bergamont Boulevard. Police tape and squad cars were seen through the area, and police had blocked off the entrance to the neighborhood at Eagle Drive, and also had officers stationed along Jefferson Street, on the other side of the property. A white tent could be seen in the backyard of the residences. Several residents stood outside their homes on Eagle Drive while police worked to contain the scene. One family still had the Packers game playing on a TV in their garage while they observed the scene. Other neighbors in the blocks beyond the incident had emerged from their homes to see what was happening. Multiple neighbors reported seeing a medical helicopter land in the area and leave around the time of the incident. The area is mostly residential. Roberta Rusch, who lives a block away from the scene of the incident, called the incident unsettling. She had been shopping with her daughter in Fitchburg during the day and returned home around 4:15 p.m. It wasnt until then, when she saw the emergency lights which could be seen from almost all sides of the property that she learned something had happened. Its such a small town, and two events in one weekend, Rusch said, as she walked her dog, Cooper, near the scene. This incident comes two days after an explosion at a nearby duplex and after an armed robbery in the area, though it was unclear if any of the incidents were connected. On Sunday, Barrett declined to answer a question about whether the armed robbery was connected to Sundays shooting. This is also the second time this month a Dane County sheriffs deputy has shot and killed someone. On Oct. 13, Deputy Cody Woods fatally shot 46-year-old Quantaze D. Campbell during an investigation of a stolen vehicle outside a Super 8 hotel in Windsor. Woods has been placed on paid leave pending DCI's investigation. Diwali, a five-day holiday celebration of the triumph of light over darkness, starts Monday. Also known as the festival of lights, Diwali is observed by more than a billion people across the world, but most prominently in India. It is widely celebrated by Hindus and also observed by Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists. The holidays meaning and origins varies across religious communities and regions. Nanditha Mazumdar moved to Fort Atkinson last year, but before that she lived in New Delhi, Indias capital city, where she celebrated the festival with friends and family every year. Diwali represents the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance, Mazumdar explained. Observers will often light and place candles and clay lamps called daiyas throughout their homes and in some cases, in the streets and places of worship. The holiday is closely associated with family, as relatives may gather to celebrate Diwali with food and prayer. We celebrated Diwali in a very big way, Mazumdar recalled. We would put up lights in the house. We decorate our stairway with flowers and lights and we decorate the temple area in the house. The Madison chapter of the Association of Indians in America will be hosting a community Diwali event from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 19 at Verona High School, 234 Wildcat Way, where organizers expect about 700 attendees. While programs around the country took part in Lights on Afterschool parades or other events, without fanfare Sennett Middle School led by example to show the importance of keeping schools open after the regular day. The 23rd annual nationwide Lights on Afterschool event highlights the important role of after-school programs and the ways they support students by offering them opportunities to learn new things. Sennett celebrated the spirit of the event Thursday as it continues to offer a variety of clubs to appeal to students interests such as art, cooking, dance and yearbook. Eighth-grader Jam Dio was cutting out circles from the pages of an old book to make a collage in art club. I really just like creating things and it gives me a space and materials to create things that I dont necessarily have at home, Jam said about art club. For example, I dont have discarded books at home. The clubs are offered at the after-school program run by Madison School and Community Recreation. Some clubs take place more than once a week, and clubs begin at different times during the block of after-school programming Monday through Thursday so students can attend more than one. The program is free, and students can just drop in, said DeVonte Robinson, MSCR after-school site director at Sennett. A couple of the clubs will be showcased at an event starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Sennett. It will be a chance for parents to meet teachers, plan conferences and talk about academics. In addition, the dance club will perform, the cooking club will make refreshments, and the yearbook club will take photos. The school had planned to show off new playground equipment, but it likely wont be completed. Most clubs are led by staff, but guest speakers are sometimes featured. Other offerings include Black Excellence and Black Student Union, Gender Sexuality Alliance and Back on Track club, where students with a lower GPA receive one-on-one help with homework. One club provides support for students in AVID, a college-prep program. Juventud is a partnership club with Centro Hispano where students do homework and other activities. Mathlete is a math club where students take part in competitions. Students can also take part in open gym. The idea is to provide students as many opportunities and experiences as possible and give them a place to be, Robinson said. We want our program to be very diverse, he said. Some kids cant be themselves at home, so we provide that space at school. Sennett art teacher Christy Straavaldsen, who leads the art club, said it lets students explore art with those outside of their classrooms and homerooms. It is also important because not all students get art class during the school year, said Straavaldsen, who lets students choose what they want to make. I hope that the students who come to art club get a chance to make the kind of art they are interested in and to try new materials and techniques, she said. I also hope to create a safe space for students to just relax and have some fun while making art with their peers. Seventh-grader Liss Siebel said the club is fun. You get to hang out with people who want to do art who arent forced to, like in art class, and you get to do things you arent doing in art class, she said. I dont have to go home and just sit around and do nothing. The cooking club is called the FCS Club, which stands for family and consumer science. It is led by Holly Kanvik, who has been teaching family/consumer science for 25 years in the district, with all but one year at Sennett. I run it as an extension of the family and consumer science class, offering an opportunity for students to explore what it is like to work cooperatively in a kitchen, Kanvik said. Students in the class are able to attend the FCS Club to make up labs they miss. When classes start the clothing and textiles unit, there will also be an option for club members to work on a variety of sewing projects including a Quilt Block Challenge. In the past, the club has provided treats for both staff and students participating in MSCR clubs and sporting events, offered meals to go and held fundraising events. One year it even catered a wedding. Sixth-grader Dakota Wilson said she joined the club because she likes cooking and baking but didnt know a lot about it. She also liked the idea that she could quilt. Its fun because I get to meet a lot of the older kids here, she said. Eighth-grader Zionna Johnson, who is in dance club, was practicing for the performance. We all got each others back, she said about the dance club. Its a fun environment to be in. Eighth-grader Lelia Timberlake said the dance club gives her something to do after school and gives her a chance to practice dance. Because (a dancer) is what I want to be when I grow up, she said. School Spotlight: Adventures in learning, inside and outside the classroom Each Monday, the Wisconsin State Journal features a story about learning in Wisconsin. Here are School Spotlight stories from the past year. Overnight vandals did extensive damage to the Memorial Union and Alumni Park on the UW-Madison campus, in protest of conservative provocateur Matt Walshs planned visit to campus, university officials said Monday. The graffiti used explicit language to protest Walsh, who was invited to speak at the Memorial Union on Monday night by the UW-Madison student chapter of Young Americans for Freedom (YAF). A self-described theocratic fascist in his Twitter biography, Walsh planned to show his controversial documentary, What is a Woman? The tagging included spray-painted phrases such as, Trans Women are Women F*** Matt Walsh and YAF, Trans POC rights now. Other spray-painted messages also called Walsh a Nazi, and scribbles and lines were drawn on concrete walls and on top of Alumni Park displays. Monday night, as the time for Walshs speech neared, a crowd of hundreds gathered in front of the Memorial Union. Many carried signs opposing Walsh and supporting transgender lives. Im a transgender student here and it just makes me sick, said Jack Lapierre, a graduate student, who carried a transphobia kills sign. It feels like the university doesnt care about the safety of its students, it only cares about platforming people who want us to remain oppressed. Barret Corpus, a freshman, said he didnt buy a ticket for Walsh but was curious to see what Walsh had to say. If I can go, Ill go, he said. I would definitely like to go after listening to (the protesters) to see where I stand and my opinion, he said. The crowd dispersed as the time for Walshs talk neared. Much of the graffiti from the morning appeared to have been removed by then, though some spots of paint remained. In an emailed statement, UW-Madison YAF chapters leadership called the graffiti an absolutely inexplicable act of vandalism. Despite the immaturity and inconsistency of the University and the absolutely reprehensible leftists, were excited to put on a great event tonight and thank YAF and Matt Walsh for all their help and support, the statement read. UW-Madison spokesperson John Lucas said in a statement the university will seek to hold those responsible for the damage accountable under campus policies and criminal statutes. The university is deeply committed to the right to free speech. However, criminal damage to the universitys buildings and spaces for any reason or purpose is unacceptable and will not be tolerated, he said. UW-Madison Facilities Planning and Management staff were out cleaning the graffiti Monday shortly after it was reported around 7 a.m. UW-Madison police spokesperson Marc Lovicott said it would be really hard for me to pinpoint the cost to repair the damage. It is extensive damage to the area, Lovicott said. Police are investigating the incident and will be looking at security camera footage to try to identify those responsible, Lovicott said. As of early afternoon Monday, police had not identified any suspects. Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association spokesperson Tod Pritchard said crews would work as swiftly as possible to restore the exhibits that honor alumni. We are disappointed to see such destruction in a place that is meant to honor the legacy and contributions of our Badger community, he said. This isnt the first time university students have protested Walshs work. Last week, hundreds of students at the University of Houston protested Walshs film being shown on campus, as did University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students earlier this month. Critics of the film have called it transphobic, saying it attacks people who are transgender. Reporter Melissa Perry contributed to this report. A fire Sunday afternoon damaged three businesses in downtown Brodhead, which kept Highway 11 through the city in Green County closed until almost 3 p.m. Monday, authorities reported. Brodhead police dispatch received multiple 911 calls about 3:25 p.m. Sunday reporting a fire at a building in the 1000 block of 1st Center Avenue (Highway 11), Police Chief Chris Hughes said in a statement. The residents living above one of the businesses were able to get out safely, while the other businesses were unoccupied at the time of the fire, Hughes said. No injuries were reported. Ultimately, eight fire departments in Green, Lafayette and Rock counties, as well as two from Illinois, responded to fight the fire, which was contained at 4:40 p.m., Hughes said. The firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to any of the other historic buildings, and they cleared the scene at 8:18 p.m., Hughes said. Jerod Popanz posted video of fire crews battling the blaze on YouTube. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No damage estimate was available, Hughes said. A three-story business suffered the most damage from the blaze. Highway 11 remained closed until officials could examine the structures integrity, Hughes said. The state Department of Transportation reported that Highway 11 was closed at 3:50 p.m. Sunday and didnt re-open until 2:52 p.m. Monday. Traffic was detoured around the closed area. OREGON Residents of the cul-de-sac near where a Dane County Sheriffs deputy shot and killed someone Sunday afternoon said Monday that theyre trying to make sense of a sad situation. Even though were eager to understand, I dont look at this from a crime perspective, said Shelley Bauer. I take a more humanitarian perspective, and I just think about the impact that this young mans life appeared to be disrupted in some way, maybe at an early age, I dont know. Well never know his story. The shooting, which came two days after an explosion destroyed two houses just blocks away, has shaken residents, anxious to learn more from authorities about what happened or whether the incidents and an armed robbery that occurred on the same block as the explosion two days before that are in any way connected. Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett took no questions about the shooting after making a brief statement Sunday, saying that the investigation was now in the hands of the state Department of Justices Division of Criminal Investigation. Its the second time a Dane County Sheriffs deputy has shot and killed a suspect in just over two weeks. In his statement Sunday, Barrett said the Sheriffs Office received a 911 call at about 11 a.m. that day about a weapons violation on Jefferson Street, and deputies and assisting agencies began searching for a person in the area. The suspect, who was alleged to have committed several weapons violations in recent days, was believed to be in the 5200 block of Highway CC, according to the DOJ. Officials set up a perimeter in the area, and the suspect ran, the DOJ said. A deputy made contact with the suspect at about 3:15 p.m. and shot the person, who died at the scene. Authorities have not released the name of the person killed, or that of the deputy. Those who live where the shooting happened described the person as a young man. Bauer said she was saddened about the loss of life and for the way the shooting will affect the deputy. But were resilient and were a close-knit community, she said, noting that neighbors had a potluck gathering the night before the shooting. I think to help ensure that we are still human beings that are connected to one another and we care about each other and well walk through this and move forward and just give some hope to the people who were more seriously impacted. Lori Benning, whose house is in front of where the shooting took place in the 200 block of Eagle Drive, said law enforcement stayed on the scene until about 10 p.m. I think Dane County was very responsible in their process. They were very thoughtful about us as neighbors. They did the best job that they were equipped to do. We were commenting that its not like TV where its over in an hour, she said. They were here a long time. Law enforcement blocked off the entrance to the neighborhood at Eagle Drive with police tape and squad cars. Bauer said residents on the street were displaced and a little disrupted, and police made sure they were doing OK, too. Police havent said if the shooting is connected to the armed robbery or the explosion. The explosion and the armed robbery, which both happened in the 800 block of Oregon Parks Avenue, are not connected to one another, Oregon Police Chief Jennifer Pagenkopf has said. One house was destroyed immediately in Fridays explosion, while a neighboring house was set ablaze and also destroyed. Initial estimates put the total damage to the structures and surrounding area at between $1.5 million and $2 million, Oregon Fire Chief Glenn Linzmeier said Monday. No one was injured in the blast and the fire, which displaced two families. Two dogs were able to escape, while a cat that had been missing was found and reunited with its owners, Linzmeier said. The Engage Forum in Dubai has served to expand the private sector role in shaping strategic plans to boost the emirates economy. It was developed as a platform to steer public-private sector dialogue and cooperation towards the strategic priorities of Dubai Chambers and Dubais economic ambitions and expand the role of Dubai Chambers Advisory Board members in supporting the organisations advocacy agenda and decision-making process. The inaugural edition of the Forum involved its various advisory councils in shaping new initiatives that can support the implementation of the organisations strategic plans and decision-making process in line with Dubais new economic vision. Ideal platform The forum, attended by over 100 business leaders representing a wide range of economic sectors, provided an ideal platform for knowledge sharing, constructive public-private sector dialogue and brainstorming, as participants generated tangible ideas and solutions to address market challenges and drive sustainable economic growth. High-level speakers and participants included Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chambers, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Application and Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, Helal Saeed Al Marri, Vice Chairman of Dubai International Chamber, Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President & CEO of Dubai Chambers, and Ufku Akaltan, President for the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, and Africa for UPS, as well as members of Dubai Chambers boards of directors and advisory councils. Held under the theme Global Economic Shifts Trends and Implications for Local, International, and Digital Businesses, the Forum provided an interactive platform where industry leaders presented their ideas and solutions to support economic growth and enhance ease of doing business in Dubai. Roundtable discussion A roundtable discussion led by Dubai Chamber of Commerce addressed a wide variety of topics, including the sustainability of family businesses, the role of advisory councils in advancing advocacy agendas and recommendations on how Dubai Chambers can help businesses enhance the customer experience. Meanwhile, the advisory council of Dubai International Chamber discussed matters that should be prioritised for the industrial and services sectors, new ways to support manufacturing companies and expand their access to new markets, the role of talent attraction and Emiratisation in strategic priorities, business opportunities and challenges related to environment and climate change in light of COP28. In addition, the roundtable for Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy looked at the type of talent that Dubai-based companies should be targeting, how the private sector can strengthen the emirates value proposition to attract the brightest minds globally, and how businesses can capitalise on new consumer trends and opportunities emerging in the era of Web3 and the metaverse. Building bridges Addressing participations in his opening remarks, Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair said: Dubai Chambers has been building bridges amongst multiple business sectors and stakeholders in the emirate to foster public-private strategic partnerships that drive sustainable economic growth in Dubai a goal we can achieve when we offer support, guidance, and advice to the emirates business community. We are organising the Engage Forum as an interactive platform to enhance communication and partnership between us and the private companies represented in the Advisory Councils, allowing us to work together to leverage our strategic priorities at Dubai Chambers to improve the business environment in the emirate, and attract foreign business and investment into Dubai, lead Chamber members to further expansion in foreign markets, grow Dubais digital economy, and enhance efficiency across the legislative and regulatory ecosystem, Al Ghurair added. He revealed that Dubai Chamber of Commerce registered record membership growth of 15% year-on-year in October 2022 as the total number of member companies exceeded 324,000. He described 2022 as a transformative year for Dubai Chambers, marked by major structural changes and a refocusing of strategic priorities, objectives and KPIs with the aim of accelerate progress towards boosting economic growth and competitiveness in line with the goals outlined under Dubais new vision. Al Ghurair elaborated on new functions of Dubai Chambers, including a sector dedicated to supporting Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dubai International Chamber and Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy with their business advocacy efforts and activities, in addition to a department that has been tasked with enhancing the customer experience across all touchpoints. First-of-its-kind programme Dubai Chamber of Commerce recently launched a first-of-its-kind programme designed to provide specialised training to business groups with the aim of boosting their competitiveness and economic contribution, he revealed, adding that it had also expanded the representation of business groups to cover 100 sectors. In addition, he revealed that the Chamber would launch the Dubai Centre for Family Businesses before the end of this year as part of its efforts to ensure their sustainability and mobilize these companies to make a bigger contribution to the emirates economy. He concluded by highlighting the Dubai Chambers newly adopted three-year communication strategy and restructure which would streamline communication channels and stakeholder engagement initiatives to support and amplify Dubai Chambers efforts in driving the emirates economic growth, locally, regionally, and internationally. Attracting investments Dr Al Zeyoudi addressed the Forum said in a video message that Dubai continues to attract investments for new ventures and projects that are helping to accelerate the UAEs economic development and growth. The UAE is going through a phase of tremendous transformation. We have launched a bold new economic agenda based on the foundation of knowledge, innovation, technology, and talent. Through our new economic strategy, we have implemented a series of policies, programmes and initiatives that are creating new opportunities for the private sector at home and around the world. International trade is at the heart of the UAEs new economic vision, and we have signed comprehensive economic partnerships agreements with key alliances around the globe, Dr Al Zeyoudi said. The implementation and the success of these economic initiatives will require close coordination and collaboration between the UAEs local and federal governments, in addition to enhancing the ongoing engagement with UAE private sector. Dubai Chambers has an important role to play in enhancing this partnership and engaging the private sector in the decision-making process, the minister concluded. Key achievements Presentations at the forum highlighted the key achievements and activities of Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dubai International Chamber and Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, shedding light on their respective accomplishments this year, as well as their future plans and development strategies. The agenda also included roundtable discussions with members of Advisory Councils in each Chamber, as well as a special address from Ufku Akaltan, UPS president for Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, and Africa (ISMEA) district, about the role of the logistics services sector in strengthening the competitive economy. Topics of discussion for the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy revolved around the type of talent that Dubai-based digital companies should be targeting; how to enhance the business environment in Dubai so that companies can thrive and grow into attractive and sustainable market leaders; and finally, the importance of the metaverse and digital assets in creating new opportunities for business sectors. Family business Meanwhile, the discussions for the Dubai Chamber of Commerce focused on the sustainability of family businesses and the Chambers role in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as large companies, to enhance their agility and growth. Discussions also covered the role that Advisory Councils play in supporting the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and its agenda of business-friendly legislations and policies. Finally, Dubai International Chamber hosted discussions regarding the sustainable economy and its role in driving growth, seizing opportunities, and overcoming challenges related to environment and climate change in light of COP28. Discussions also explored the importance of attracting skilled workers and setting new strategies to support economic growth and the UAEs top priorities.-- TradeArabia News Service SAN JOSE, Costa Rica Authorities in Costa Rica have found two bodies in the search for six people, apparently including the German businessman behind Golds Gym, Rainer Schaller, who went missing when their small plane disappeared from radar just off the country's Caribbean coast. The Security Ministry said the bodies of one adult and one child had been found, but that the bodies had not yet been identified. The Costa Rican Ministry of Public Security posted on Facebook on Friday saying a plane heading from Mexico to Limon, Costa Rica, lost contact with the control tower at Costa Rica's Juan Santamaria International Airport at about 6 p.m. local time (8 p.m. ET) while flying over the northeastern Parismina area off the country's Caribbean coast. CNN was given access to a copy of the flight manifest by the Public Security Ministry. Schaller, a German national and business tycoon, along with four other German nationals and a pilot, were aboard the private flight on Friday, according to the manifest. Among the German nationals were Schaller's partner, Christiane Schikorsky, and two minors. According to Martin Arias, the vice president of the Ministry of Public Security, the coast guard conducted a search operation in the Caribbean Sea starting at 5 a.m. local time on Saturday, and at 5:50 a.m., the remains of an aircraft were found 28 kilometers from Costa Rica's Limon Airport. Arias said the Red Cross has been asked to assist with search and rescue operations. Costa Rica's Minister of Public Security Jorge Torres Carillo tweeted on his verified account Saturday that the private plane was carrying a "foreign crew" and that two bodies have been recovered. The German Foreign Office told CNN it is aware of the situation and that the German Embassy in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose is in contact with local authorities for further clarification. "The embassy also stands ready to provide consular assistance to the families of the persons affected," the German Foreign Office said. Schaller is the founder and CEO of the RSG Group, which includes McFit, John Reed and Gold's Gym fitness studios. *** This years partisan elections have been more difficult than usual to predict, and thats partly because of the unusual element of this summers Supreme Court decision overturning the Roe v. Wade abortion case. Outrage from many peopleled by women but including many men as wellensued around the nation (alongside cheering in opposing quarters), in Idaho as elsewhere. And Idaho is one of the places where the new ruling hit most directly, since it had laws on the books sharply restricting abortion set to go into effect as soon as Roe was reversed. (The court cases over those laws go on.) Once before, abortion played a big role in an election. In 1990, the Idaho Legislature passed, and then-Governor Cecil Andrus vetoed, a bill aimed at giving Idaho the most abortion-restrictive law in the nation. The political result later that year was a big reversal for anti-abortion forces and the best election results for Idaho Democrats, including Andrus landslide re-election, in any election in the last six decades. This isnt 1990, of course; political Idaho has changed quite a lot since then. And what impact the new abortion regime will have on voting is an unknown. Theres some polling indication nationally that its not the voting motivator now that it was a couple of months ago, and surely the issue seems less visible on mass and social media especially. Or maybe the activity, and the votes, are still there, waiting to be cast, just not as loudly proclaimed as they were in the summer. (That would resemble the 1990 pattern, when abortion didnt seem to be front-burner until it showed up in the voting results.) In fact, we dont really know, yet, and wont until the votes are counted a few weeks from now. But Terri Manweiler, the energetic Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, has some data points to offer on the subject, as she did when I talked with her a few days ago. Of abortion, Manweiler said, I think its going to have a huge impact. She is confident in her chances to win specifically against Republican Scott Bedke, now the House speaker, which would seem counter-intuitive given Idahos political history of the last three decades. She has intriguing arguments specific to her race, pointing out that Bedke lost most of northern Idaho in the primary to far-right candidate Priscilla Giddings, and his margin defeating her statewide was clear but unspectacular. She said that some conservative groups in that areaciting the Idaho Liberty Dogs and the Patriot Alliancehave been advising their supporters to vote for no one in the governor and lieutenant governor races. The Dogs Facebook page is filled with comments urging their backers to avoid the major parties and go Independent! (presumably referring to candidate Ammon Bundy); the group already has been involved in the Boise School Board election and the upcoming College of Western Idaho board election. (There is also the perennial candidate who has named himself Pro-Life on the ballot for lieutenant governor, and he could draw some anti-abortion votes.) Beyond that, Manweiler points to more general factors that, if they pan out, could improve the odds for a variety of Democratic candidates. New voter registration is up, she said, particularly in Idaho with about 60 percent of the newest registrants women, with high interest among younger voters. Ive been following the numbers, she said, and they look favorable so far for Democrats. Voting shows signs of being heavy. An Idaho Capital Sun story reported on October 17, In Canyon County, for instance, elections officials have already sent out more 13,971 absentee ballots, elections supervisor Haley Hicks said in a telephone interview. Thats more than the 13,924 absentee ballots Canyon County elections sent out for the 2018 general election the last comparable Idaho general election where the governor and all statewide officers were on the ballot. Dont misread any of this: The odds and most measures favor the usual run of Republican wins in Idaho, same as it ever was. But: The ironclad rules of politics stay iron-clad only until, you know, the election when suddenly they arent. The National Police of Angola (PNA) denied the disappearance of a five-year-old child on the outskirts of the city of Namibe, capital of the province of the same name, as denounced on Thursday, 20, by Amnesty International (AI). In a statement, the international human rights organization demanded the PNA to reveal the whereabouts of a five-year-old boy who disappeared after an operation by the corporation against a mocubal community in Ndamba on the outskirts of Namibe, the capital city of the province of the same name. The AI said that during the operation 16 houses and other personal property including blankets, clothes and water containers were set on fire. The PNA strongly condemns the publication of such information, and informs that during the police action there was no disappearance of the child in question and that the child is in his family, says the PNA, whose note adds that the intervention was requested by the Court of Mocamedes (Namibe) and conducted by a bailiff, to restore order on a farm that had been illegally occupied by a group of citizens wielding blunt objects. AI called for an impartial, independent and transparent investigation into the incident. According to the note, the child, five-year-old Mbapamuhuka Hunter disappeared after a raid on October 12 by the Rapid Intervention Police that was triggered by a land dispute. The intervention was led by the son of a former provincial police commander in Namibe province, named Cunha, on behalf of Mr. Cunhas widow, Antonia Fernanda, as part of a campaign to forcibly annex land in the Mocubal community adjacent to his commercial agricultural property. Also according to the AI, five people were arrested during the operation but were later released. Credit: Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock By now more than 70% of the UK population have received a third COVID vaccination, or a booster. Many people who are older or at higher risk from COVID have had a fourth or even a fifth dose. But for how long and how often can we expect to continue to get COVID boosters? An annual booster, as we have with flu, could be a worthwhile precaution moving forward. COVID vaccines have played a crucial role in protecting people against serious illness, hospitalization and death from infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. However, vaccine immunity, particularly against infection, begins to wane after a few months. Fortunately, booster vaccines effectively top up our immunity against SARS-CoV-2. As with the initial doses, the protection boosters afford against serious outcomes is longer-lasting than against infection. But this too is finite. By four months after a third dose of an mRNA vaccine, protection against omicron begins to wane. One study showed that after a fourth dose, protection against infection peaked at four weeks, and then began to decline gradually thereafter. Recent data has shown an increase in COVID infections in England and Wales, which is likely in part because vaccine immunity is beginning to wane for many people who had their third dose some months ago. Who should have a booster and when? Throughout the pandemic we've seen that older people and those with certain underlying health issues, among others, are at increased risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID. So should we just give boosters to the most vulnerable every four months or so to help counteract the gradual decline in immunity? Or might a longer interval between doses be just as effective? Officials in the US recently suggested that, looking ahead, most Americans are likely to receive a single annual COVID shot. While immunity against infection may wane earlier in the year, this could be a practical compromise to ensure as many as possible are protected against serious illness and hospitalization ahead of the winter. But the incidence of serious illness and death in young people has been much less, so do they really need annual boosters too? A Swiss modeling study concluded that boosting only the most vulnerable groups isn't likely to alleviate the impact of COVID on health systems. In part, this is because COVID vaccination doesn't only protect the person being vaccinated, but indirectly protects others as well by reducing onward spread of the disease. The authors propose that, while prioritizing the most vulnerable, boosting most of the population each year three to four months ahead of the winter peak is likely to be the best way to reduce infections and hospital admissions. What vaccines should we use? Until recently most of the approved COVID vaccines have targeted the spike protein on the surface of the original strain of SARS-CoV-2. But some variants have mutations in their spike proteins that help them to evade the immunity gained from previous infection or vaccination. To counteract this, updated COVID vaccines that include the spike protein from the omicron variant are now being administered in some countries around the world, including to vulnerable groups in the UK. These "bivalent" vaccines are designed to offer a broader level of protection against COVID variants than that provided by the original vaccines. But future variants might contain mutations that enable the virus to dodge the immunity even from these updated vaccines. And predicting which variant comes next is very difficult. Given this, scientists are looking at different vaccine formats to future-proof COVID vaccines against a wider range of variants, avoiding the need for regular updates. One candidate comprises nanoparticles that contain fragments of spike proteins from SARS-CoV-2 and seven other closely related viruses. In animal studies this vaccine provided good protection against infection with different coronaviruses. Vaccines that train our T cells to recognize components of the SARS-CoV-2 virus other than the spike protein might also offer wider protection against future variants. Meanwhile, since SARS-CoV-2 infects the respiratory tract, administering the vaccine via a drop or spray to the mouth or nose could help train the mucosal immune system that lines the respiratory tract to recognize and kill the virus at its point of entry. Many mucosal vaccines are in development and two are approved for use in China and India. Animal studies suggest this approach has the potential to block infection, achieving what's called sterilizing immunity. However, these studies are preprints, meaning they're yet to be peer-reviewed. And we'll need to see the results replicated in humans too. An annual shot COVID vaccines remain the most effective and safest way to protect against serious illness and death from the virus. Reports on social media have suggested that repeated vaccination burns out your immune system, but this is not true. Annual flu shots have been offered for decades with no evidence that this negatively affects immunity. For some in the highest-risk groups, a more frequent booster may be required. But an annual COVID shot for most people seems a sensible way forward. Timed as winter approaches, this will help protect the most vulnerable from serious illness and death, and reduce the strain this disease has on our health systems. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain When the COVID-19 vaccine became widely available in spring of 2021, Black and Latinx populations had a slower uptake of the vaccine. While this gap has narrowed over time, new research from DePaul University examines why people in communities of color delayed their vaccinations. The findings may inform more persuasive messages to break down vaccine hesitancy around the COVID-19 booster, flu shot and future vaccines, said lead researcher Joanna Buscemi. In a study published this month in the journal Health Psychology, participants said concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine's efficacy and safety drove their decision not to get vaccinated. This may sound familiar, but it diverges from other studies that found general medical mistrust in communities of color was the main indicator of hesitancy. In addition, a higher level of educationnot race, gender or incomewas the only significant sociodemographic factor tied to higher levels of uptake in the DePaul study. "Misinformation is harmful in people's decision-making about vaccination," said Buscemi, an associate professor of psychology in DePaul's College of Science and Health. "We must change the public's perception of what effectiveness means. There is an important difference between preventing disease altogether and preventing the worst outcomes." Black and Latinx adults are two times more likely to die of COVID-19, and the need persists to better understand vaccine hesitancy in these communities. Many other studies about COVID-19 included general population samples, but Buscemi and her coauthors collaborated with Brothers Health Collective, a clinic in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, to recruit an intentionally diverse sample of predominantly Black and Latinx people. Examining the root causes of health inequities is at the heart of Buscemi's research. "It's important for us to make sure that our samples have a large percentage of people of color represented so we can figure out how to protect the most marginalized people in our country who are facing the worst COVID-19-related outcomes," Buscemi said. Study uses validated measures, real decisions This research was funded through the Steans Center's Community-based Research Faculty Fellowship, which drives projects that benefit organizations and communities in the Chicago area. Brothers Health Collective had a robust contact tracing program in the early days of the pandemic and was a strong partner in designing and conducting research. In all, 109 people participated in the study, and about one-third were unvaccinated at the time. "Our community partner was very interested to know more about vaccine hesitancy," said Buscemi. "Working with them helped us mitigate any potential distrust of academic research and ensures that our findings return to the community." Key elements of Buscemi's COVID-19 study stand out from others conducted during this same period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team of researchers used validated measuresa scale that measured several dimensions of vaccine hesitancy that has been proven to be accurate. They also asked about actual vaccination status, instead of a hypothetical choice a participant might make in the future. Advancing a faculty member's scholarship and supporting the development of students' community-based research skills are also goals of the Steans' Center fellowship. Nadia Arteaga was an undergraduate in health sciences at DePaul when she began working with Buscemi. Arteaga drew her own research question from the larger data set and presented the findings at her first scientific conference. "This has been a really great opportunity to involve undergraduates in the research process. Nadia learned everything from how to select measures, to how to build relationships with a community partner and how to recruit participants into a study," Buscemi said. As the U.S. faces the flu season this fall and a low uptake of the COVID-19 boosters, better information about the efficacy of vaccines could help reach those most at risk. "The messaging needs to be crystal clear from physicians, news outlets and media in general that these vaccinations are safe and effective in preventing hospitalization and death," Buscemi said. More information: Joanna Buscemi et al, Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination uptake in community health center patients., Health Psychology (2022). Journal information: Health Psychology Joanna Buscemi et al, Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination uptake in community health center patients.,(2022). DOI: 10.1037/hea0001241 Unadjusted Food Insufficiency Before and After Missed Child Tax Credit (CTC) Payments Among Households With Children by Subgroup Unadjusted food insufficiency prevalence for the period before the first missed advance CTC payment (July 21, 2021 through January 10, 2022) is shown in dark blue. Unadjusted food insufficiency prevalence for the period after the first missed CTC payment (January 26 through July 11, 2022) is shown in light blue. Results are shown for the entire sample, for low-income households (defined as an annual household income JAMA Network Open (2022). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.34438 When Congress failed to renew advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) payments last year, public health experts feared that the loss of this monthly federal pandemic relief benefit would push millions of families and children in America back into poverty and hunger. Now, a new study led by researchers at Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and Boston Medical Center (BMC) reveals that in the months after this policy ended, there was a substantial increase in the percentage of U.S. households with children that could not afford enough food to eat in a seven-day perioda situation known as food insufficiency. Published in the journal JAMA Network Open, the study found that food insufficiency increased by approximately 25% among families with children from January 2022 to July 2022, after they stopped receiving monthly CTC payments on January 15, 2022. The monthly cash benefits were a cornerstone of the Biden administration's American Rescue Plan, providing an estimated 92% of U.S. households up to $3,000 per child ages 6 to 17 and up to $3,600 per child under age 6 from July 2021 to December 2021, with half of the credit amount distributed as advance monthly payments. The study is the first to measure the impact of the expired benefits on food insufficiency among households, and it follows the researchers' previous study in JAMA Network Open, which showed that the CTC expansion reduced food insufficiency by 26% in 2021, findings that President Biden cited during the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in late September. This increase in food insufficiency is an urgent problem, particularly among households with children, as poor nutrition uniquely affects the health and well-being of growing children, the researchers say. "This significant increase in food insufficiency among families with children is particularly concerning for child health equity, as child health, development, and educational outcomes are strongly linked to their family's ability to afford enough food," says study lead and corresponding author Allison Bovell-Ammon, director of policy and communications at Children's HealthWatch, headquartered at BMC. "Even brief periods of deprivation during childhood can have lasting impacts on a child." As Congress negotiates a year-end tax relief package, the researchers urge lawmakers to pass a fully refundable and inclusive advance CTC that ensures that all families with children across the U.S. are able to afford enough food to keep their children healthy. "The six short months of these Child Tax Credit advanced payments clearly made a big difference for American families, a permanent expansion would be a game-changer for reducing child poverty for good," says study senior author Paul Shafer, assistant professor of health law, policy & management at BUSPH. "There is more to do to make sure that very low-income families actually get the monthly payments, prompting efforts like GetCTC.org, but a permanent expansion allows resources and awareness to build around the policy in a way that short-term fixes don't." For the study, the researchers examined nationally representative census data on demographic characteristics, employment, social supports, and food insufficiency among nearly 600,000 household families, from July 2021 to July 2022 (the period before and after expiration of the CTC monthly payments). The findings also indicate that the expiration of the CTC exacerbates racial and economic inequities in consistent access to adequate and healthy food. The study showed that low-income households experienced the greatest increases in food insufficiency after the advance payments ended in Januaryparticularly in the spring, after many families likely depleted the second half of their CTC credits issued in a lump sum payment after tax filings. The analysis showed that single-adult, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic householdsgroups that historically have faced greater hardships around food accessalso experienced greater food insufficiency after losing their advance CTC payments. "Black, Latino, Indigenous, and immigrant families in the US consistently experience food insecuritya broader measure that assesses quantity, quality, and variety of food at higher rates than White families as a result of current and historical marginalization and systemic racism," Bovell-Ammon says. The expanded CTC in 2021 reduced racial inequities by ensuring access to the credit for predominantly Black, Latino, and Indigenous children who were previously excluded from the full benefits of the CTC, she says. Immigrant families also experienced significant barriers to CTC access, says study coauthor Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, research associate professor of health law, policy & management at BUSPH and executive director of Children's HealthWatch. "These barriers were due in part to specific eligibility exclusions, but they also occurred even when immigrant families were eligible. Following the expiration of the payments at the end of 2021, the gains in racial equity were eroded, potentially further exacerbating racial and health inequities and increasing distrust." More information: Allison Bovell-Ammon et al, Association of the Expiration of Child Tax Credit Advance Payments With Food Insufficiency in US Households, JAMA Network Open (2022). Journal information: JAMA Network Open Allison Bovell-Ammon et al, Association of the Expiration of Child Tax Credit Advance Payments With Food Insufficiency in US Households,(2022). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.34438 Non-prescription acquisition of antibiotics according to trust in health care (percent 95% confidence interval). Credit: PLOS ONE (2022). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273117 Do many Swedes obtain antibiotics without a prescription, and what drives their behavior when this happens? The answers are important when it comes to dealing with antibiotic resistance, which is a serious challenge for the entire health care sector. Practical philosophers and political scientists at the University of Gothenburg have carried out a large study examining Swedes' experiences ofand attitudes towardsobtaining antibiotics without a prescription. The researchers are affiliated with the Center for Antibiotic Resistance Research (CARe) at the University of Gothenburg, and their study has recently been published in PLOS One. In order to slow down the development of resistant bacteria it is key to limit the use of antibiotics. This is why health care services are trying to limit prescriptions for antibiotics, with doctors being encouraged to take a restrictive approach. At the same time, there are many opportunities to get hold of antibiotics without a prescription, such as when traveling abroad, via foreign contacts or from online pharmacies that circumvent national regulations. "First we conducted a smaller pilot study," says Christian Munthe, who led the study in collaboration with Erik Malmqvist and Bjorn Ronnerstrand. "Eighteen percent of respondents indicated that they had obtained antibiotics without a prescription and 16 percent would consider doing so, which was highly concerning. Their motivation was often that they were unhappy with or did not trust health care." Few research studies The researchers only found a few publications on the subject, most of which dealt with related phenomena or pharmaceuticals in general. However, no study had examined the issue specifically for antibiotics, or why some people circumvent society's rules that are intended to control antibiotic use. "We therefore went ahead with a large study using the SOM Institute's Swedish Citizen Panel, with several thousand people who make up a more representative sample of the population as a whole, enabling us to examine the hypothesis that trust in health care plays an important role in this phenomenon," explains Christian. One of their main findings was that the proportion of Swedes who have obtained or want to obtain antibiotics without a prescription is lower than the pilot study suggested. At the same time, almost twice as manyjust under 5 percent of the respondentswould be willing to do so in the future compared to those who reported having done so (2.3 percent). The other main finding is that trust in health careor lack of trustoutweighed all other potential explanatory factors, such as level of education and concerns about one's own health. Action needed "Because we know that trust in health care varies widely from country to country, our results provide a strong reason for countries with trust rates that are lower than the Nordic countries to review the situation and put measures in place if it turns out that many people are obtaining antibiotics without prescriptions." The researchers believe that Sweden also has good reason to monitor this issue in view of how many people are prepared to buy antibiotics without prescriptions in the future. "It is also important to consider the need to maintain and strengthen trust in health care when devising strategies to limit antibiotic use." More information: Christian Munthe et al, Non-prescription acquisition of antibiotics: Prevalence, motives, pathways and explanatory factors in the Swedish population, PLOS ONE (2022). Journal information: PLoS ONE Christian Munthe et al, Non-prescription acquisition of antibiotics: Prevalence, motives, pathways and explanatory factors in the Swedish population,(2022). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273117 Rishi Sunak has scripted history by becoming Britain's first Indian-origin Prime Minister after winning the Conservative Party leadership contest, said media reports. Nearly 200 Conservative MPs publicly backed the former chancellor ahead of the nomination deadline on Monday, reported BBC. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt dropped out after failing to secure enough support among MPs. Sunak - a 42-year-old practising Hindu - is expected to take office in the coming days now the result of the Tory leadership contest is known. His premiership was guaranteed after both the leading contenders - Boris Johnson and Commons leader Penny Mordaunt -considered his rivals in the race to replace Liz Truss pulled out before a single vote was cast among members of the Conservative party. Conservative Party Chairman Jake Berry said it was time for the party to "unite four-square behind Rishi" after a period of intense political turmoil under Ms Truss's premiership. As soon as news trickled in of Sunak's premiership, UK's main equity indexes hit session highs on Monday offering investors some relief after a tumultuous few weeks in UK politics, reported Reuters. The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) rose 0.6%, while the domestically focussed FTSE 250 index (.FTMC) jumped 1.3%. Both the indexes were muted in morning trade on worries about political uncertainty and growing recession risks in Europe. Sunak will be the first British Asian and also the first nonwhite to take the top job. He'll also be the youngest prime minister in more than 200 years. A British Indian - his parents, both pharmacists, had migrated from East Africa to the UK in the 1960s. Sunak's father, Yashvir Sunak, was a National Health Service general practitioner and mother, Usha Sunak, ran a chemist shop. Sunak is married to Infosys chief Narayan Murthy's daughter Akshata Murthy. They have two daughters - Krishna and Anoushka. Congratulating Sunak, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "I look forward to working closely together on global issues, and implementing Roadmap 2030. Special Diwali wishes to the 'living bridge' of UK Indians, as we transform our historic ties into a modern partnership.". Considered a centrist and pragmatic politician, he emerged in the latest leadership contest as a safe pair of hands to guide the UK, after Liz Truss' policy proposals around tax cuts and spending shook the government's credibility and spooked markets. Sunak's rise in British politics has been nothing short of meteoric. After entering Parliament in 2015 after a career in banking, Boris Johnson appointed him just five years later as finance minister a role formally known as chancellor of the Exchequer, the UK's Treasury. Immediately after being selected by Tory MPs, Sunak took to Twitter to announce: "I want to fix our economy, unite our Party and deliver for our country," after Truss' resigned as Prime Minister on Thursday as the opposition reiterated its demand for a general election." The ex-chancellor who oversaw the nation's finances during the Covid pandemic was the only contender to gain enough support from MPs and he even got endorsement from the finnacial market experts. Carla Finkielstein. Credit: Virginia Tech The virus that causes COVID-19 is continually changing and accumulating mutations in its genetic code, and those changes are becoming more evident as we move into fall. The most recent data from the CDC, released on Oct. 15, shows that while omicron BA.5 remains the dominant variant, representing 67.9% of infections, more contagious variants are spreading rapidly nationwide. "We can expect more variants to come, and probably from the genomic standpoint, they are going to look more aggressive," said Carla Finkielstein, director of the Molecular Diagnostics Lab at Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. Omicron BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 represent 11.4% of all COVID-19 infections for the week ending Oct. 15, double what they were the previous week. The next CDC data release is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 21. Finkielstein conducts research on COVID-19 mutations and is following not only BQ.1 and BQ1.1, but spinoff, immune-evasive variants. One of growing concern is XBB, which represents two different strains of omicron. The World Health Organization reports that XBB has been identified in 26 countries, including the U.S. "Genomic surveillance is critical to maintain the quality of tests available in the marketplace and to guide our response," said Finkielstein. "The advantage is that we have highly effective vaccines and a large immunized population. If needed, new vaccines will be easy to customize." Carla Finkielstein is a professor at Virginia Tech and director of the Molecular Diagnostics Lab at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC. Finkielstein improved speed and efficiency of identifying suspected COVID 19 variants through rapid mutational analysis. After quickly identifying the COVID-19 variants, Finkielstein relays the information to Department of Health personnel that same day, thereby giving the health workers an idea of the severity and transmissibility of a variant. With quick understanding of transmissibility of a particular variant, health workers are better prepared to deal with changing health risks. Later she does whole genome sequencing to confirm the initial analysis. When the pandemic first emerged, Finkielstein anticipated the limitations of existing RNA testing methods and designed testing primers that detected three genes of the virus in lieu of the single gene detected by the CDC testing kit, making it possible both to provide more accurate results and detect various mutations of COVID-19. Rebecca Trout Fryxell looks for mosquitoes in a puddle created by an above-ground tree root. Trout Fryxells Medical and Veterinary Entomology Laboratory, Univ. of Tennessee, CC BY-ND For the Laudick family of Greensburg, Indiana, life forever changed on Aug. 5, 2013. That was the day four-year-old Leah Laudick told her mom, Shelly, that she had a bad headache. Two days later, Leah was hospitalized nearby with worsening headaches and a slightly elevated white blood cell count. She slept for most of the day and by Aug. 9 was largely unresponsive. That day, during her transfer to Peyton Manning Children's Hospital in Indianapolis, Leah had her first of several seizures. Doctors were unable to identify her illnesstests for diseases like meningitis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and herpes simplex all came back negative. One day later, on Aug. 10, Leah's brain activity stopped. That evening she passed away in the arms of her grieving parents. A few months later, the Laudicks learned from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that an illness called La Crosse disease, contracted from the bite of a mosquito, had caused Leah's death. I am an entomologist at the University of Tennessee who studies how La Crosse disease spreads in the environment. I met the Laudicksthey have given me permission to tell their storywhen Leah's father, Andy, emailed me asking how he could help with my work. Such emails from parents of La Crosse-infected children are why I continue to study the virus. Together with other researchers at the University of Tennessee and Western Carolina University, I'm working to provide people and communities with effective solutions to preventing this illness. Through my research and community engagement activities, I am helping to increase awareness of what La Crosse virus is and how people catch itand can avoid catching it. What is La Crosse disease? La Crosse disease is the nation's second-most prevalent mosquito-borne virus. According to the CDC, West Nile virus makes up more than 90% of annual viral infections from mosquito or tick bites, with La Crosse the next-most prevalent at about 2% of mosquito or tickborne viral infections a yearor 50 to 150 cases a year. Both children and adults can be infected with La Crosse virus. La Crosse was first identified in the U.S. in 1960, and historically, most cases have occurred in Upper Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states. Leah's case was the only one reported in Indiana in 2013. The majority now occur in the southern Appalachia region, which stretches from northern Alabama and Georgia, across eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, and north to parts of Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia. We still do not know why this is the case, but there are many hypotheses centered around climate, land use and invasive mosquito species. How do people catch La Crosse? La Crosse virus is carried and transmitted primarily by the eastern tree-hole mosquito, Aedes triseriatus, a native species found throughout most of the Eastern U.S. This mosquito's preferred habitat is places with obvious tree holes for female mosquitoes to deposit their eggs, such as hardwood forests. However, the virus may also be transmittedalthough not as wellby two exotic and invasive mosquito species: the tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, and the bush mosquito, Aedes japonicus. Tiger and bush mosquitoes are spreading throughout the U.S. in response to changes in landscape and climate, and also by hitchhiking inside water-filled containers. Our team has found them together in the same habitats as eastern tree-hole mosquitoes, in places with hardwood trees like parks, cemeteries and residential backyards. Our team has also found these mosquitoes in close proximity to confirmed La Crosse cases. All three mosquito species develop in the same water sources and feed on mammals, including humans. Some scientists speculate that these factors have been key to the distribution of La Crosse in the Appalachian region, although there is still a lot to learn about these mosquito species and their role in spreading the virus. Diagnosing La Crosse is difficult La Crosse disease is easy to misdiagnose, in part because its symptoms can be easily confused with those of other illnesses, such as the flu. Moreover, the only way to test for La Crosse involves sending samples of blood and cerebrospinal fluid to the CDC. However, La Crosse infections tend to cluster in local communities from year to year. For example, of the 115 cases reported in Tennessee since 2011, most occurred in less than 20% of the state's 95 counties. So even a few successfully diagnosed cases can tip off local doctors and officials that the disease is present in their area. Symptoms of La Crosse Symptomatic cases of La Crosse begin with a mild illness involving fever, fatigue, vomiting and headache. This lasts for nearly two weeks. Most infected individuals recover fully. However, like West Nile, La Crosse disease is "neuroinvasive," meaning it can invade and affect the central nervous system. Research suggests that age, the development of the immune system and the strain of the virus are key factors in whether someone develops neuroinvasive La Crosse, while delays in seeking medical help also influence its severity. The most susceptible are immunocompromised individuals and childrenmore than 60 children a year are diagnosed with neuroinvasive La Crosse. Severe cases are usually discovered in the hospital after the patient experiences a seizure, coma, partial paralysis of one side or altered mental state. Severe La Crosse can result in long-term neurological damage. Deaths caused by infection are rare, but neurological and behavioral effects can occur after infection, including cognitive disorders, diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and reduced IQ scores. Can La Crosse disease be prevented? Until the scientific community understands more about the ecology and epidemiology of La Crosse, my colleagues and I will continue to recommend preventing the mosquito bite in the first place to avoid infections. One tactic is to reduce local opportunities for the mosquitoes that carry La Crosse to breed. This includes getting rid of objects outdoors that can catch and contain waterlike empty plant pots, cans or toysbecause these can emulate the conditions of a mosquito-friendly forest. Mosquitoes carrying La Crosse virus are also found developing in tires containing water, so it's a good idea to drill drainage holes in tire swings. Another strategy is to try to avoid mosquitoes, perhaps by staying inside during peak mosquito hours, which are typically in the early evening. Using area repellents such as mosquito coils, wearing light-colored clothing and applying mosquito repellent can also help prevent bites. The Environmental Protection Agency's guide to the active ingredients in insect repellents describes which are most effective at repelling mosquitoes and how many hours they last. Like sunscreen, insect repellents may need to be reapplied while spending time outdoors. Leah Laudick adored her six siblings and "enjoyed collecting rocks, chasing butterflies and picking flowers for her mom," in the words of her father. As officials and the public learn more about La Crosse, both avoiding and diagnosing the infection could become easier, and more lives like Leah's could be saved. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain New autism diagnoses in the UK tend to be clustered within specific NHS service regions, suggesting that where an individual lives may influence whether they receive an autism diagnosis and access to special education needs support. The latest findings, from researchers from the University of Cambridge in collaboration with researchers from the London School of Economics and Political Science and Newcastle University, are published today in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. After analyzing all new autism cases across England using NHS health service boundaries for possible hotspots, some areas stand out. For example, 45.5% of the NHS Rotherham catchment area had higher-than-average new autism diagnoses clusters. For NHS Heywood, this amounted to 38.8% of its catchment area and 36.9% for NHS Liverpool, pointing at a possible health service effect towards who receives an autism diagnosis. The research team used four years' worth of data from the Summer School Census, which collected data from individuals aged 1-18 years old in state-funded schools in England. Of the 32 million pupils studied, more than 102,000 new autism diagnoses were identified between 2014 and 2017. After adjusting for age and sex, the researchers found that one in 234 children were given a new autism diagnosis during that four-year period. New diagnoses tended to happen when children are transitioning to a new school, whether that was into nursery (1-3 years), primary school (4-6), and secondary school (10-12 years). Particular communities appeared to have different rates, varying by ethnicity and deprivation. Lead researcher Dr. Andres Roman-Urrestarazu from the Department of Psychiatry and Cambridge Public Health at the University of Cambridge said, "Autism diagnoses are more common among Black students and other minority ethnic groups. Why this is the case is not clear and so we need to explore the role played by social factors such as ethnicity and area deprivation as well as the nature of local services." The likelihood of receiving an autism diagnosis more than tripled among girls depending on their ethnicity and social and financial situation, compared to white girls without financial disadvantages who speak English as their first language. In contrast, boys' likelihood of receiving an autism diagnosis increased more than five-fold depending on their ethnicity and social and financial situation, compared to white boys without financial disadvantages who speak English as their first language. Boys and young men are already known to be more likely to receive autism diagnoses, but the social determinants that could affect a diagnosis remained an open question. Dr. Robin van Kessel, co-lead researcher from the Department of Health Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said, "These new findings show how social determinants interact and can combine to significantly increase the likelihood of an autism diagnosis. As a result, individuals from a minority ethnic background experiencing economic hardship may be significantly more likely to receive an autism diagnosis that their peers." Professor Carol Brayne from Cambridge Public Health said, "There are clear inequalities in an individual's likelihood of receiving an autism diagnosis, whether they are socioeconomic factors, ethnicity or even which NHS region or local authority someone lives in." More information: Autism incidence and spatial analysis in more than 7 million pupils in English schools: a retrospective, longitudinal, school registry study, The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health (2022). Autism incidence and spatial analysis in more than 7 million pupils in English schools: a retrospective, longitudinal, school registry study,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/S2352-4642(22)00247-4 The severity of children's atopic dermatitis (AD) in first grade may predict its persistence in sixth grade, according to a study published online Sept. 19 in the Journal of Dermatology. Akio Tanaka, M.D., Ph.D., from Hiroshima University in Japan, and colleagues examined primary school children during a 10-year period to determine the prevalence of skin diseases. The researchers found that AD (12.3 percent) was the most common disease among first graders, followed by eczema other than AD (9.7 percent), molluscum contagiosum (1.9 percent), and verruca vulgaris (1.1 percent). Acne vulgaris was most common among sixth graders (9.6 percent), followed by AD (8.9 percent), eczema other than AD (6.7 percent), and verruca vulgaris (3.1 percent). Over time, the prevalence of AD remained stable among first graders and increased slightly among sixth graders. Among the 87 children who had AD in first grade, more than half (58.6 percent), particularly those with mild severity, were in remission in sixth grade, while AD was diagnosed for the first time in 30 sixth graders (4.5 percent). Severity of AD symptoms in first grade increased the likelihood of a child still having AD in sixth grade. "These findings may help to formulate effective treatment strategies for school children suffering from skin diseases," the authors write. One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry. More information: Akio Tanaka et al, Prevalence of skin diseases and prognosis of atopic dermatitis in primary school children in populated areas of Japan from 2010 to 2019: The Asa Study in Hiroshima, Japan, The Journal of Dermatology (2022). Akio Tanaka et al, Prevalence of skin diseases and prognosis of atopic dermatitis in primary school children in populated areas of Japan from 2010 to 2019: The Asa Study in Hiroshima, Japan,(2022). DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.16577 Copyright 2022 HealthDay. All rights reserved. The CMU research team evaluated ICP estimator performance on NIRS-derived average cardiac waveforms (HbO and HbT) against its performance on DCS-based average cardiac waveforms (cerebral blood flow or 'CBF'). (a) Histogram of ICP distribution for both train and test sets across all three modalities. More data were available at lower ICP values, especially between 5 and 10 mmHg. (b)(d) Correlation plots for HbO, HbT, and CBF. Strong coefficient of determination (r2) for all methods indicates that the model performs well on ICP estimation. Credit: Relander et al, Neurophotonics (2022). DOI: 10.1117/1.NPh.9.4.045001. An increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) is a dangerous condition that can be caused by brain bleeds, a brain tumor, cerebral edema, traumatic brain injury, and hydrocephalus. ICP monitoring is thus a key aspect of patient care in patients with these disorders. Additionally, ICP measurements are relevant when estimating cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), an indicator of cerebral autoregulation (CA). CPP is linked to neuronal function and neurovascular coupling, and CA defines how the brain maintains a constant blood flow. Given these broad implications and applications in clinical decision making, precise ICP monitoring is a vital patient management tool. While current tools for ICP monitoring are precise, they can cause hemorrhage or infections and are time-consuming. Although noninvasive alternatives exist, they have limitations such as poor generalizability, low predictive capacity, and a lack of reliability. Thus, diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) are emerging as promising noninvasive solutions. Notably, NIRS has several advantages over other noninvasive methodslow cost, bedside compatibility for long-term and continuous monitoring, along with user independence. In a new study published in Neurophotonics, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) successfully deployed a NIRS device to continuously monitor hemoglobin concentration changes. The team built on previous research where they estimated ICP from cardiac waveform features measured using DCS, and also identified the correlation between relative changes in oxyhemoglobin concentration and ICP. But how were they able to measure ICP using the NIRS data? First author on the study, Filip Relander, explains, "We developed and trained a random forest (RF) regression algorithm to correlate the morphology of cardiac pulse waveforms obtained through NIRS with intracranial pressure." To validate their algorithm, they conducted preliminary tests in a preclinical model. They measured fluctuations in invasive ICP and arterial blood pressure while profiling the changes in hemoglobin concentrations. Following this, they examined the performance of signals derived from the hemoglobin concentration and CBF to accurately verify the precision of their algorithm. From a proof-of-concept standpoint, the results were very promising. There was a high correlation between the ICP estimated using the RF algorithm and the actual ICP measured using invasive techniques. "We showed, by validating the findings with invasive ICP data, that the trained RF algorithm applied to NIRS based cardiac waveforms can be used to estimate ICP with a high degree of precision," explains Jana Kainerstorfer, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at CMU and senior author of the study. Furthermore, the results indicated that the RF algorithm could interpret waveform features extracted from both NIRS and DCS, highlighting its usability. The parameters used in the algorithm can be obtained from NIRS measurements, combined with electrocardiograms and mean arterial blood pressure, which are regularly used for clinical evaluation. Thus, if this RF-based platform can produce robust ICP measurements in subsequent human trials, its potential for clinical use would be tremendous. According to Neurophotonics Associate Editor Rickson C. Mesquita, Professor at the University of Campinas, "Assessing ICP noninvasively is of great value for monitoring patients in a critical condition, such as those in the intensive care unit. The future of NIRS in this space is exciting." More information: Filip A. J. Relander et al, Using near-infrared spectroscopy and a random forest regressor to estimate intracranial pressure, Neurophotonics (2022). Filip A. J. Relander et al, Using near-infrared spectroscopy and a random forest regressor to estimate intracranial pressure,(2022). DOI: 10.1117/1.NPh.9.4.045001 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The Phase II results of the NRG Oncology HN004 trial indicate that radiotherapy (RT) with the PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab did not improve progression-free survival (PFS) and led to significantly higher rates of locoregional failure (LRF) when compared to RT + cetuximab in patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) that have a contraindication to cisplatin. These findings were presented during the plenary session at American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting held in San Antonio, Texas. This was one of four NRG Oncology papers presented during the 2022 ASTRO plenary session. NRG-HN004 accrued 186 eligible patients who were 18 or older with previously untreated stage III-IVB squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, hypopharynx, oral cavity, p16-oropharynx/unknown primary, or selected stage I-II p16-positive oropharynx/unknown primary with a contraindication to cisplatin. The primary phase II endpoint was PFS with a planned sample size of 234 patients and 69 PFS events (hazard ratio of 0.65, 80% power, and 1-sided alpha 0.20). "While this trial did not meet its primary aim, the results are crucial in establishing the feasibility of accrual of a trial of this size, for this unique population using the specific eligibility criteria that were established for the first time," stated Loren K. Mell, MD, Vice Chair of Clinical and Translational Research at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and the lead author of this NRG-HN004 abstract. Patients who were eligible for NRG-HN004 were randomly assigned 2:1 to receive RT at 70 Gy in 35 fractions for 7 weeks with either durvalumab or cetuximab. The durvalumab arm included 123 patients versus 63 patients on the cetuximab arm. The trial closed to accrual in July 2021 with 186 randomized patients, following an interim futility analysis. In June 2022 the study reached the required number of PFS events, which initiated the protocol-specified phase II primary endpoint analysis. At this time, 87% of patients in the durvalumab arm completed RT versus 89% of patients in the cetuximab arm. In the durvalumab arm, 89% of patients completed concurrent durvalumab and 63% completed adjuvant durvalumab. 81% of patients on the cetuximab arm completed 7 or greater cycles of cetuximab. The median follow-up was 1.2 years. Results indicated 2-year PFS rates were 51% for patients treated with durvalumab versus 66% for patients treated with cetuximab. Two-year LRF rates were 32% with durvalumab versus 15% with cetuximab. Two-year overall survival and distant metastasis rates were 70% and 9% with durvalumab and 78% and 11% with cetuximab, respectively. However, grade 3 or higher adverse events, including dysphagia, mucositis, and dermatitis, were experienced by 69% of patients in the durvalumab arm versus 79% in the cetuximab arm. Based on these findings, NRG-HN004 has been permanently closed to accrual and will not move to the phase III portion of the study. "As there is currently no well-defined standard of care for cisplatin-ineligible HNSCC patients, it is important that we continue to support randomized national trials seeking to improve outcomes in this population," Dr. Mell added. Provided by NRG Oncology Man with multiple prosthetic devices Credit: Glen Howey, Exceed Researchers from the University of Southampton are helping countries like Cambodia plan future prosthetics and orthotics (P&O) care, thanks to a new study showing how people who have experienced limb loss have changed over six decades. The research published in the Journal of Global Health shows the demographics of prosthetics users in Cambodia have changed, beyond the well understood history of people with landmine injuries. Since 2000 there has been a marked reduction in landmine and weapon injury and a considerable rise in limb loss due to disease (including type 2 diabetes) and road accidents, which have become more common in Cambodia's booming cities. The University's People Powered Prosthetics group and Exceed Worldwide, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) which trains specialist staff and provides P&O serviceslike supplying prosthetic limbs, braces, wheelchairs and providing community supportwere able to access and, for the first time, analyze routinely collected data from existing electronic patient records in an aggregated and anonymous way. The dataset is unusual as it covers over 30 years of physical rehabilitation service provided by Exceed Worldwide in Cambodia. Researchers looked for patterns in over 50,000 appointments in urban and rural Cambodia. Dr. Alex Dickinson, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering and joint author of the research, said, "Our findings are surprising. It is recognized that there is a great need for prosthetic devices, especially in lower- and middle-income countries, following conflict and natural disaster. What is less well known is how the need changes over the years. "Cambodia has a significant population of people with limb absence following decades of war and genocide in the 1970s90s. However, since 1999, the country has changed dramatically. "We can now see the effect of great programs of landmine clearance, but also the emergence of traffic accidents, work accidents and diseases related to changing lifestyles, including Type 2 diabetes and cardio-vascular conditions. "Our research also suggests people with limb loss due to disease are generally older, and those injured in road accidents typically have a higher level of amputation, needing above-knee prostheticsand both above knee amputation and older people with diabetes have much more complex rehabilitation needs than the typical young person with a below-knee amputation from Cambodia's past," explained Alex. Exceed Worldwide, with governments and funding partners, like Japan's Nippon Foundation, establishes prosthetics and orthotics services by training local clinicians and running local clinics. Despite support to cover the cost of treatment, travel and time away from work, many people in Cambodia still struggle to access services, especially in rural areas. The new research can help Exceed plan for the future. Student prosthetist-orthotists doing a gait assessment. Credit: Glen Howey, Exceed Sisary Kheng, Country Director for Exceed Cambodia, said, "There is a need for reliable and accurate disability data for strategic planning, service management, and mobilization of resources for resilient, responsive, and timely intervention for our vulnerable clients. Continuity of care is essential." Sam Simpson, Head of Research and Business Development at Exceed outlined the impact of the research: "Providing P&O services requires funding. People need life-long careprosthetic limbs are like shoes, they wear out and need regular repair or replacement. "This new information will help us with future service design. We can now better understand patient behavior and link this to service design by ensuring that evolving needs are reflected in training for P&O professionals and in the use of appropriate technologies. "P&O services restore mobility; without this people are dependent; with mobility they can access education, training and employment and become independent contributors to society, e.g., as employees, business owners and taxpayers." Another outcome of the research is how data gathering and analysis can support services to meet changing patient needs in other countries. Professor Amos Channon, Southampton's Professor of Global Health and Demography, explained: "An important point emerging from our work is that it demonstrates how to unlock existing data, and this can be applied to other databases. "Our analysis highlights the power of understanding data that is often left untouched." Sam Simpson outlined the importance of the collaboration. "The research grant, plus the resources and expertise from the University of Southampton is the 'key' that opens the box." Specialists in the NHS are also involved in the research project to see how the learning can help improve prosthetics services in the U.K.. The University of Southampton and Exceed, along with the University of Salford, have worked together in Cambodia for over five years. Other related research work includes looking at how people use prosthetics in Cambodia in community settings, how to measure the fit of their prosthetic limbs using 3D scanning and qualitative research to understand the social benefits of providing P&O servicesand the major impact on quality of life for those who cannot access services. More information: Alex Dickinson et al, Learning about the changing needs for prosthetics service provision from routinely collected digital centre management data: An exemplar study across three clinics in Cambodia, Journal of Global Health (2022). Alex Dickinson et al, Learning about the changing needs for prosthetics service provision from routinely collected digital centre management data: An exemplar study across three clinics in Cambodia,(2022). DOI: 10.7189/jogh.12.04083 Current and former smokers face worse outcomes while undergoing dialysis, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in Nephrology. Sibel G. Bek, M.D., from Kocaeli University Hospital in Turkey, and colleagues used data from 56,512 adults who began dialysis (more than three months) between 1990 and 2016. Patient demographics, initial dialysis modality, presence of comorbidities, and smoking history were predictors. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. The researchers found that former and current smokers had a higher risk for all-cause mortality (hazard ratios, 1.10 and 1.22, respectively), as well as a higher risk for cardiovascular disease mortality (hazard ratios, 1.13 and 1.23, respectively). Similarly, smoking was associated with higher mortality from respiratory failure among current (hazard ratio, 1.59) and former (hazard ratio, 1.33) smokers. "This study underlines the negative impact of smoking in [the] dialysis population. Evidence that smokers have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and cancers while on dialysis as compared to never-smokers was added to the literature," the authors write. "New guidelines and preventive measures should be designed according to different age groups." Two authors disclosed financial ties to medical and pharmaceutical companies. More information: Sibel G. Bek et al, Cigarette Smoking and Adverse Health Outcomes in Patients Treated with Maintenance Dialysis, Nephrology (2022). Sibel G. Bek et al, Cigarette Smoking and Adverse Health Outcomes in Patients Treated with Maintenance Dialysis,(2022). DOI: 10.1111/nep.14122 Copyright 2022 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Oman has set up Hydrom, a fully owned subsidiary of Energy Development Oman SAOC (EDO) to meet its goal to become one of the largest green hydrogen producers globally, targeting production of one million tonnes by 2030. Regulated by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Hydroms mandate includes the delineation of Government-owned land areas and the structuring of associated large-scale world-class green hydrogen projects, managing the process for their allocation to developers as well as facilitating the development of common infrastructure and connected ecosystem industries and hubs in close collaboration with the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (Opaz). On November 6, Hydrom will be opening a first public bid round aimed at awarding the first land blocks by 2023 to meet the 2030 production target, reported Oman News Agency (ONA). Mazin Al Lamki Chief Executive Officer of Energy Development Oman said: We are delighted to announce the new brand identity of Hydrom, a fully owned autonomous subsidiary of EDO. Working in tandem with the ambitious government plans, Hydrom will leverage the Sultanate of Omans location and abundant solar and wind resources to produce green hydrogen and support the governments drive to reduce the carbon footprint and achieve decarbonization targets. Dr Firas Al Abduwani Acting Managing Director of Hydrom said: We at Hydrom look forward to working with international partners to build the future of energy. The bid round we announced today is the first of its kind globally and we are convinced it will help accelerate the development of the green hydrogen industry in Oman and globally. These new ambitious sustainability initiatives come a few weeks before COP27 in Egypt, in which Oman is set to take part. Salim Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, unveiled the Sultanate of Omans new climate commitment and its ambitious green hydrogen strategy during a press conference in Muscat yesterday (October 23). Oman has committed to reaching Net Zero Emissions in 2050, in line with the Paris Agreements objectives of limiting global warming to 1.5C compared to pre-industrial levels. To lead its transition towards a green economy, His Majesty gave directions to set up Oman Sustainability Centre. The centre will be the leading body undertaking the supervising and follow-up plans and programmes of carbon neutrality. Al Aufi said: Oman is committed to decarbonize and help the world decarbonize. The pathway to net zero is an opportunity for Oman to create economic value, increase industrial competitiveness and attract investments to help diversify and strengthen the countrys economy. Green hydrogen presents itself as a key vector that enables Oman to pursue its decarbonisation, economic and energy security objectives. With the abundant renewable energy resources Oman is blessed with and with the appropriate structuring of the sector, Oman is positioned as one of the most attractive nations to produce green hydrogen competitively and at large-scale. A new sex education policy will get a second reading at Missoula County Public Schools' November trustees meeting to allow time for public comment. The trustees are in the process of adding the policy after Senate Bill 99 required schools to provide parents 48 hours notice before introducing instruction related to human sexuality. The 2021 law also allows parents to remove their child from class during those discussions as an excused absence. As of Monday, the district received one public comment related to the new policy. Prior to SB 99 becoming law, parents in Montana could elect to have their child removed from sexual education instruction. The main area the proposed policy would change at MCPS are restrictions of instruction from abortion providers as well as the 48-hour notice, Superintendent Russ Lodge said at a board meeting on Oct. 11. The new policy would bar the district from allowing any personnel to offer, sponsor, or furnish any course materials or instruction relating to human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases if the person or entity provides abortion services. Trustee Grace Decker motioned to simplify the language to instead read that there would be no instruction by providers of abortions in the schools. At that meeting, KaCee Ballou, president of the Missoula Education Association, said that the policy could overburden teachers. Other trustees voiced similar concerns. I support our teachers who have this additional thing on top of their daily tasks, said Board Chairperson Wilena Old Person. I want to thank them for doing their jobs. Human sexuality instruction is defined by the policy and SB 99 to be information related to human sexuality, including intimate relationships, human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexually transmitted infections, sexual acts, sexual orientation, gender identity, contraception or reproductive rights and responsibilities. Alphonso David, the now-former president of the Human Rights Campaign, said that SB 99 was discriminatory and directly targets LGBTQ kids. This bill sets a dangerous precedent in secondary education that would not only limit access to sex education, but any curriculum regarding LGBTQ people, David said in 2021 after Governor Greg Gianforte signed SB 99. All students, no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation, deserve the opportunity to learn about themselves and information critical to their health. Many school districts in the state are in the process of adopting policies related to SB 99 and several have already approved their own, including Kalispell Public Schools, Billings Public Schools and Bozeman Public Schools. In June, a librarian at an elementary school in Livingston violated the new law and showed a presentation about the queer community to third graders that did not have prior approval from district administration nor proper parent notification, which was first reported by the Livingston Enterprise. A substitute teacher replaced the librarian for the remainder of the school year following the violation. The librarian is still listed as an employee at the school, according to a staff webpage as of Monday afternoon. The MCPS board heard the new sex education policy for its first reading at its meeting in early October and is expected to hear it for its second and final reading at the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. at the district offices. The meeting will also be streamed by Missoula Community Access Television. Public comment can be submitted before the meeting by emailing publiccomment@mcpsmt.org. (Photo: Illustration:Jianan Liu/HuffPost Photo:Getty Images) (Photo: Illustration:Jianan Liu/HuffPost Photo:Getty Images) Abortion access has taken center stage this election season since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, and Americans are preparing to head to the polls to vote for the candidates they believe best represents their views on reproductive rights. But voters in five states will directly decide the future of abortion access in their communities. California, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana and Vermont have ballot initiatives to protect or restrict access to abortion care. Four initiatives are amendments to the state constitution; the fifth, Montana, is a legislative referendum, a ballot issue proposed by a minimum number of citizens in the state. Three proposals in California, Michigan and Vermont seek to protect abortion care, while the remaining two aim to restrict it. In August, Kansas became the first state to ask voters whether it should further restrict or protect abortion access. In a landmark election, Kansans rejected the anti-choice constitutional amendment a massive win for pro-choice advocates that set the tone for whats to come on abortion rights nationally. Turning up at the polls in states where abortion is on the ballot this year is critical, because as we demonstrated in Kansas, voting is one of the most powerful tools we have to secure our rights, said Nigel Morton, a Kansas state organizer at URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, who helped defeat the anti-choice amendment this summer. Our win in Kansas carried a crucial message. We everyday people will look out for each other, added Morton. Now its up to communities in states like Kentucky and Michigan to do the same. Read more below about the five states where abortion rights are on the ballot this midterm. California Californias ballot initiative, Proposition 1, is a pro-choice constitutional amendment that would codify abortion and contraceptive protections in the state constitution. It would change the California Constitution to say that the state cannot deny or interfere with a persons reproductive freedom and that people have the fundamental right to choose whether to have an abortion or use contraceptives, the proposition reads. Story continues If voters approve the amendment, a new section will be added to the states constitution: The state shall not deny or interfere with an individuals reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives. A yes vote favors abortion protections, while a no vote is against abortion protections. If the amendment fails, however, abortion will remain legal in California until the point of viability, usually around 24 to 26 weeks of pregnancy. The California proposition is likely to pass in the progressive state, and the campaign supporting the ballot initiative has raised over $9 million. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), along with Democratic California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla, have voiced support for Proposition 1. Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 2 is an anti-abortion amendment titled the No Right to Abortion in Constitution Amendment. As the title states, the amendment would codify that Kentucky does not protect the right to abortion or require funding for abortion care. The ballot question will ask voters whether they favor adding a new section to the state constitution that reads: To protect human life, nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion. A yes vote for the amendment is against abortion protections, while a no vote favors abortion rights. The amendment is nearly identical to the one Kansas voters rejected in their state this summer. The amendment is redundant because a trigger abortion ban went into effect weeks after the Supreme Court repealed Roe. The trigger law is a near-total abortion ban with narrow exceptions, including if the pregnant persons health is at serious risk. There were only two abortion clinics in Kentucky before Roe fell. Both offer other reproductive and sexual health care services, but neither offers abortion care. Pro-choice advocates have challenged the trigger ban and a state law banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy in court. Although litigation is ongoing, both bans have been allowed to stand. If the amendment fails, it could help the ACLU and other complainants in a Nov. 15 hearing on litigation against the trigger ban. The group leading the charge against the amendment includes advocates who helped pro-choice Kansans defeat an anti-abortion constitutional amendment in August. The pro-choice win in Kansas was a huge accomplishment in the typically red state. Still, Kentucky will likely be an even tougher battle with a large evangelical population likely to vote against abortion protections. Michigan Michigans Proposal 3, or the Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative, is likely the most consequential ballot initiative this election. The pro-abortion rights proposal aims to codify reproductive freedom into the Michigan Constitution. The proposal defines reproductive freedom as the right to make and effectuate decisions about all matters relating to pregnancy, including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion care, miscarriage management, and infertility care. A yes vote for the amendment favors abortion rights, while a no vote is against abortion rights. All eyes are on Michigan because Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) is the only thing standing in the way of state lawmakers seeking to severely restrict or ban abortion care. A 1931 abortion ban went into effect in Michigan after the Supreme Court overturned Roe, but a state court put the ban on hold. Whitmer, a staunch advocate for reproductive rights, filed a lawsuit against the pre-Roe ban before Roe had fallen in an attempt to block the near-total abortion ban from going into effect. The only reason Michigan continues to be a pro-choice state is because of my veto and my lawsuit, Whitmer said in September. Polls show that the proposal is likely to pass. But if Republicans win the two open state Supreme Court seats and flip control of the high court, they could limit or overturn the initiative. Montana Voters in Montana will cast their vote on the Medical Care Requirements for Born-Alive Infants Measure on Nov. 8. If passed, the anti-choice referendum would require infants born alive including after induced labor, C-section and attempted abortion to be defined as legal persons who are entitled to medically appropriate care and treatment, according to the referendum language. The measure defines a born-alive infant as one who breathes, has a beating heart, or has definite movement of voluntary muscles, after the complete expulsion or extraction from the mother. If a health care provider does not take medically appropriate and reasonable actions to preserve the life of a born-alive infant, they are vulnerable to criminal penalties, including a $50,000 fine or up to a 20-year prison sentence. Montana law allows abortion up to viability or somewhere between 24 to 26 weeks. The referendum is a poorly worded measure that is redundant because murder is already illegal. Supporters of the measure argue that the Born Alive Infant Protection Act is supposed to prevent the killing of infants after failed abortions, but that is currently illegal in all 50 states. Pro-choice advocates who oppose the measure fear it would have a chilling effect on patients and physicians and create more healthcare barriers. Vermont Proposal 5, or the Right to Personal Reproductive Autonomy Amendment, is a pro-choice ballot measure that would codify the right to abortion and other reproductive health care into the Vermont Constitution. The measure states that an individuals right to personal reproductive autonomy is central to the liberty and dignity to determine ones own life course and shall not be denied or infringed unless justified by a compelling State interest achieved by the least restrictive means. A yes vote for the amendment favors abortion rights, while a no vote is against abortion rights. There are currently no abortion restrictions in Vermont. If the amendment fails, Vermonters will continue to be able to access abortion care at any point in their pregnancy. The amendment is likely to pass and has garnered support from Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R), U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D) and Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos (D). This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... Abortion rights demonstrators march through the streets to protest the Supreme Court's decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health case on June 24 in Detroit, Mich. Credit - Emily ElconinGetty Images Laura Kruger looked skeptical as she opened her door in Wyoming, Mich. on a cold October afternoon. When the canvasser who had knocked asked her how she identified when it comes to the issue of abortion, she answered, pro-life. But when he asked about Proposal 3, the ballot measure that would enshrine the right to abortion in the states constitution, her eyes narrowed and her answer was more nuanced. Rape, incest, health, are issues that are so important for each individual, Kruger said. Its not a yes or no choice always. Kruger is the kind of voter that both anti-abortion advocates and those that support abortion rights in Michigan are hoping to win over this fall in one of the most heated votes on abortion access in the country. The U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization in June turned abortion policies back to the states for the first time in 50 years and made this years elections a test of abortion as a motivating issue. Voters around the country are now tasked with deciding on governors, state legislators, and ballot measures that will determine the legality of the procedure where they live. Michigan is at the epicenter of that fight. While five states have ballot measures related to abortion in November, Michigans will have the most direct impact by determining whether the states 1931 abortion ban can remain on the books. Michigans 1931 law prohibits abortions with no exceptions for rape, incest, or health of the pregnant patient (it only allows abortions that preserve the life of a patient). The ballot measure would explicitly establish a right to abortionas well as contraception, miscarriage management and other decisions about pregnancyin the state constitution. While the 1931 law is currently blocked by two state courts, the Michigan Supreme Court could lift those injunctions and put it back into effect if the ballot measure fails. Story continues If the amendment passes, Michigan could become the first state to permanently get rid of an abortion ban since the fall of Roe v. Wade. It would also bolster abortion rights advocates hopes of using ballot measures to fight for abortion protections in Republican-controlled states. After an unexpected victory for abortion rights in Kansas this summer, a win in Michigan would provide real momentum for activists to put more measures on the ballot in the next few years to add abortion protections into state constitutions. More from TIME But if the amendment fails, the future of the states abortion policy would depend on the courts in the short term, and on the state legislature after that. Even if the state supreme court does eventually strike down the pre-Roe ban, state lawmakers could pass new restrictions next year that could make abortion extremely difficult to access in the state. A rejection for the amendment would also provide support for anti-abortion advocates arguments that the Kansas ballot initiative was an anomaly and signal that their efforts to frame Democrats as extremists who do not want any limits on abortion are working. In the case of Kruger near Grand Rapids, she told canvassers she would vote against the amendment despite her reservations because she wants to stop abortions later in pregnancy. The fight over the amendment has put abortion center stage in political races at every level in Michigan, from Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmers and Attorney General Dana Nessels reelection campaigns, to state legislators battling for control of both chambers, which are currently controlled by Republicans. But the ballot measureknown as Proposal 3is where voters will have the most direct say on the issue. While polling in the state showed that 61% of Michiganders supported the measure in late September, both sides are expecting a tense fight. Republicans in the swing state are trying to avoid talking about abortion in favor of issues such as the economy and crime, while Democrats are linking their own races to the future of reproductive freedom in Michigan. Both sides are pouring money into advertising, holding rallies, concerts, and roundtables, and dispatching thousands of volunteers to canvas every corner of the state ahead of the midterm elections on Nov. 8. The immediate stakes extend beyond Michigan too. After the Supreme Courts decision, the state became a point of access in the Midwest as states around it, including Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana, banned abortion this summer. While Ohio and Indianas abortion laws are now blocked by the courts, access there remains precarious and some patients uncertain of their states laws are still seeking care in Michigan. Planned Parenthood of Michigan has increased abortion appointments by 30% since the Dobbs decision, with two to three times the number of out-of-state patients from before Roe was overturned. On a recent Tuesday, two patients from Indiana sought abortions in Kalamazoo, Mich. because that was where they could find appointments, and Dr. Sarah Wallett, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood of Michigan, told TIME she had also recently seen patients from Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, and Oklahoma. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks to abortion-rights protesters during a demonstration in front of the state Capitol Building in Lansing, Mich., on June 24 in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. Matthew Dae SmithLansing State Journal/Reuters Read More: Never-Ending Nightmare. An Ohio Woman Was Forced to Travel Out of State for an Abortion Even for those born and raised in Michigan, the debate is affecting the way they see their state. Grace, a 21-year-old from southwest Michigan, had a friend drop her off at the Kalamazoo clinic because she knew her parents wouldnt support her decision to get an abortion. She works two jobs to pay her college tuition on her own and says she couldnt afford a child right now. Ive always wanted to be a parent, she says. But her home states law is making her reconsider whereand ifshe will start a family, and she plans to vote yes on the ballot measure. Wherever I end up, it will be a state that allows abortion, she says, because its a form of health care. Wait a second, which way am I supposed to vote? In the final weeks of the campaign, advocates are talking to voters about the ballot initiative at churches, nightclubs, college campuses, barbecues, union halls, and fast food restaurants and both sides are making their pitch with dark visions of the states future. Our law makes it a felony to provide an abortion or to assist someone in obtaining an abortion. Its very dangerous, says Nicole Wells Stallworth, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan and one of the leaders of the Reproductive Freedom For All ballot campaign. A yes on three means that were going to be restoring the rights that we have had under Roe v. Wade for nearly 50 years, she adds. Michigan will decide for Michigan. With large donations from groups including the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, NARAL and the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Reproductive Freedom For All campaign raised more than $8 million before the ballot initiative was certified in September, according to campaign finance disclosures. They have been running ads all over the state, often featuring ob-gyns like Dr. Shari Maxwell, who campaigners say are seen as trusted messengers. Politicians should stay in their lane, Maxwell says she tells patients and neighbors who ask about the proposal. Let me do medicine and let me interact with you. Volunteers with the campaign say a large part of their job is educating voters on the details of the proposal. Even in Ann Arbor, where many voters are liberal and highly educated, volunteers found multiple voters on a recent canvassing trip who had heard about the measure but werent confident that a yes vote would support abortion rights or didnt know what the amendment would actually do. My daughter who is voting absentee was like, Wait a second, which way am I supposed to vote? Chuck Marchand, 54, told canvassers as he stepped out onto his porch covered in brightly colored fall leaves. Volunteers told Marchand and other voters that the amendment would prevent the states 1931 law from criminalizing doctors for decisions they made while treating pregnancy complications and restore Roe in the state of Michigan. But opponents of the proposed amendment argue it goes far beyond codifying Roe, and they have been increasing their advertising to get their message out. As of last week, opponents of Proposal 3 had spent $22.7 million compared with $15.9 million from the proposals supporters, according to media tracking company AdImpact. Opponents say it would wipe out all restrictions and regulations on abortion in the statea claim that abortion rights advocates and some legal experts disagree with. Anti-abortion advocates are particularly hoping to convince voters to reject the measure by arguing it would eliminate the states current parental consent requirement, which says that providers must obtain written consent from a minors parent or legal guardian before performing an abortion, unless a court has granted the minor a waiver. Even people who are fair minded, middle-of-the-road people are very concerned that this goes too far, says Christen Pollo, spokesperson for Citizens to Support Michigan Women and Children, the coalition leading the fight against the proposal. A few days after the Reproductive Freedom for All canvassers sought support in Ann Arbor, volunteers with Students for Life, a national anti-abortion group opposing the amendment, gave out flyers in Wyoming, Mich. The area has trended more liberal in recent elections, and the group found mixed success. Some residents were excited to vote no, and Linda Rusticas, a 75-year-old voter, eagerly invited the volunteers inside her home, declaring this proposal is so radical. But others closed their doors as soon as they saw an organizers sweatshirt emblazoned with the pro-life generation votes. Rev. Mike Frison leads the group in prayer at a rally of abortion opponents organized by Sidewalk Advocates for Life outside the Power Family Health Center Planned Parenthood in Ann Arbor, Mich., on June 24, 2022. Jacob HamiltonThe Ann Arbor News/AP The Catholic Church, which has a large presence in the state, has thrown its weight behind opposing the initiative, raising money, organizing volunteers, and holding prayer rallies and weekly sermons to encourage people to vote no on Proposal 3. The fervor has reached even some who werent previously involved in politics, like Father Alex Kratz, a Franciscan friar who is holding weekly Holy Hours for Life where hundreds of parishioners gather in a chapel outside Detroit to pray for the measure to fail every Wednesday until the election. He says he hadnt been focused on abortion before Roe was overturned, but once his state had the power to change its policies, he tuned in. Michigan, not only in politics, but spiritually is like a swing state. People are watching us, he says. Even if the proposed amendmentwhich he describes as evil to the corepasses, Kratz claims hes proof that Dobbs has motivated anti-abortion voters. Well regroup and do even better at getting the moderates on board to not have a total abortion culture in Michigan, he says. The other side has also seen new people motivated to vote because of abortion. Jessica Leach, 37, a lifelong Republican in Mount Pleasant, considered herself pro-life until the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision. Leach had her oldest son at 19, and once she started reading about other states abortion bans taking effect, she says she felt devastated by people not having the same choice she did, and especially by stories of child rape victims being forced to travel to obtain abortions. I couldnt sleep, I couldnt eat. I mean, it consumed me, Leach says. Now she, her friend, and their partnersall traditionally Republicansare voting for the ballot measure and plan to vote for Democrats this year because of abortion. Testing a strategy While the issue of abortion touches nearly every race in Michigan, abortion rights advocates say the vote on Proposal 3 is the one that could provide the most durable protections for access in the state. As we begin to think about a new world where the right to an abortion at a national level has been struck down by the United States Supreme Court, we have to use every single tool within our democracy to be able to protect our right to abortion, Wells Stallworth of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan says. Affirming this right into the [state] constitution means that those decisions would be free from criminal penalty regardless of whos in office, regardless of whos a sitting judge, regardless of who the governor is. Abortion rights campaigners collected a record number of signatures to put the amendment on the ballot this summer, and there are signs that the issue could again galvanize voters on the side of abortion rights in November. Newly registered voters across the country, and in Michigan, have skewed more Democratic, more female, and younger, since the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision, according to Democratic data firm TargetSmart. Ballot measures also often bring in more votes than normal political races, says Kelly Hall, executive director of the Fairness Project, which works to support ballot initiatives and has advised the abortion rights campaigners in Michigan. That happened in Kansas in August. In swing states and red states alike, Hall says, we have to assume that voters are coming to a ballot measure with a different frame of mind than any candidate choice, and keep open minds ourselves about who is on the table for a ballot measure. Four other states, including California, Vermont, Kentucky, and Montana, will also have ballot measures on abortion in November. Advocates are still waging court battles over a number of state abortion laws, arguing that state constitutions in places like Florida, Ohio, and Indiana currently protect the right to abortion, and they are also focusing on state supreme court races, which are playing an increasingly important role in determining abortion policy around the country. Read More: Am I a Felon? The Fall of Roe v. Wade Has Permanently Changed the Doctor-Patient Relationship Michigans outcome will have ripple effects for abortion access throughout the region, but it also has implications for future ballot measures. In addition to referencing abortion, the amendment includes protections for contraception and broader reproductive care. What happens in November will help set the stage for what is possible, says Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. I think theres an opportunity to look forward. Roe was the floor, it was never the ceiling of what reproductive justice truly means in the United States. But even as Figueredo and others hope to push more ballot measures in the future, they are also worried about a growing backlash to progressive wins at the ballot box that would make this strategy harder to pursue. Conservative state lawmakers have introduced dozens of bills that would restrict or change the ballot initiative process over the last few years. In 2017, the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center tracked 33 such bills, and by 2021, it counted 146 bills, more than a 300% increase. This fall, Arizona and Arkansas both have measures on the ballot that would increase the threshold that future initiatives have to meet. Some anti-abortion advocates like Dan Devine, an attorney who helped organize a prayer rally against the Michigan amendment on Oct. 15, argue the issue would be better handled by the state legislature so that they can bring the stakeholders together rather than fighting at the ballot box. For now, abortion in Michigan is legal, but its future remains uncertain. Voters will have their say in less than three weeks. Proposal 3, says Wallett, the chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood of Michigan, means making sure Michiganders have futures that they want, that they can control. Conflict periodically swirls around the status of the population of Arctic grayling living in the Big Hole River. This distinct population is said to be the last naturally-occurring, river-dwelling vestige in the Continental U.S. of a species that needs cold, clear water and freedom to migrate. For years, conservation groups have tried and failed to prod the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service into adding the Arctic grayling to its list of species protected under the Endangered Species Act. On Monday, three conservation organizations and Pat Munday, a Butte resident and professor long affiliated with Big Hole River advocacy, announced plans to sue the Fish and Wildlife Service in federal court if the agency fails to reconsider within 60 days its past denial of Endangered Species Act protections for the Arctic grayling. It shouldnt take nearly three decades to protect a fish like the grayling thats so clearly on the brink of extinction, said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity. The other participants in the notice of intent to sue were Earthjustice and Western Watersheds Project. Munday said the timing of the notice was not significant in and of itself. But there was certainly some urgency after the water conditions this year, he said. Flows were low and temperatures high in many rivers in southwest Montana as summer progressed. The Big Hole is chronically de-watered, Munday said. In years past, the Fish and Wildlife Service has described the river-dwelling population of Arctic grayling as stable, a conclusion conservation groups contend isnt warranted or supported by sound science. The campaign to list the grayling helped launch the Big Hole Watershed Committee in 1995 and encouraged participating ranchers to voluntarily leave some water in the river instead of withdrawing it for irrigation. The alternative to participation, arguably, was the potential for having the Fish and Wildlife Service be involved in irrigation decisions on ranches reliant on hay and alfalfa to feed livestock. The Big Hole Watershed Committee has been involved also in a host of projects designed to protect and restore riparian areas, keep fish out of irrigation ditches, rehabilitate tributaries and more. Participating ranchers say keeping the land in agriculture is better for the health of the river than alternative development, such as subdivisions. Pedro Marques is the executive director for the watershed committee. On Monday afternoon he shared reactions from the committee to the threat of litigation to secure a listing for the grayling. Our first comment is, Here we go again, Marques said. The threat of litigation 28 years ago was effective in mobilizing a grass-roots effort to develop a conservation strategy that has, by most accounts, been a tremendous success and continues to be a model across the West, he said. That model is based on partnerships between local people and local resource managers meeting regularly, building trust and getting work done on the ground, Marques said. He said the Big Hole Watershed Committee has been meeting every third Wednesday for 28 years, has raised more than $8 million in direct investments for the benefit of fish and people and created an unparalleled level of cooperation. Marques added, Litigation does nothing but divide people and, if successful, will quickly erode local cooperation by imposing a big government response. We're the government and we're here to help does not resonate in rural Montana. Marques said listing the grayling would force ranchers off the land, setting the stage for subdivision development for the wealthy. He said its unclear how the grayling would benefit from litigation and described the listing campaign as colonial and elitist. So, here we go again. The Big Hole Watershed Committee will continue to keep our focus on collaborative conservation and getting projects done, Marques said. We certainly have dirt under our fingernails and know our work makes a difference for the fish. Meanwhile, the group threatening to sue the Fish and Wildlife Service contends that climate change, drought and increasing temperatures in addition to population status must be adequately weighed when considering a listing for the Arctic grayling. Those factors have not been fully contemplated in years past, the group said. The agency first determined in 1994 that Montanas grayling population warranted listing as an endangered species, but the agency has continuously delayed granting the fish federal protection. In 2014, the Fish and Wildlife Service reversed its position and denied protection. The agency said there was sufficient state management and increasing population numbers and asserted that the fish could adapt to warming stream temperatures. Conservation groups challenged the 2014 denial of protection, eventually getting a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that the agencys descriptions of an increased population were not supported by evidence and that the agency had failed to consider the impacts of climate change on stream temperatures and flows. Theres really no question that the only population of grayling in the Lower 48 states is imperiled, said Emily Qiu, associate attorney with Earthjustices Northern Rockies Office. Too much water is already taken out of the Big Hole River, one of the last places the fish survive, and climate change will only make the situation worse. The group said a listing under the Endangered Species Act would require a federal recovery plan to be created to address chronic low flows in the Big Hole River, among other threats. Munday said he often fishes the Big Hole River and he described the grayling as the jewel of the river. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the Montana Arctic grayling has a large, sail-like dorsal fin and colorful body markings. The grayling comes in a wide array of colors. Their dorsal fins are typically fringed in red and dotted with large iridescent red, aqua, or purple spots and markings. These colorful markings are most dramatic on large grayling. Munday asserted that just as the Big Hole River has been chronically de-watered the Fish and Wildlife Service has been chronically under-funded. The Arctic grayling just hasnt been a priority, he said. Fish and Wildlife Service staff in Montana referred questions about Mondays announcement to Joe Szuszwalak, a public affairs spokesmen in Colorado. An automatic message reported he was out of the office. Alonzo F. Rice was born in Chilhowee County, Missouri, July 30, 1867. He began rambling around the west in 1884 when he was 17 years old, passing through Butte briefly on his way to short stints in Fort Benton and Great Falls. He returned to Missouri to complete his business education, then secured an office job with the Hecla Mining Company in Glendale, west of Melrose, in 1888. In Glendale, under the light of a kerosene lamp, Rice began his first teaching, training a handful of miners in the finer arts of penmanship. A year later he left Glendale for Butte, where he connected with a friend from business school in Missouri, E.L. Kern, with the firm plan to establish a business college for Butte. Rice & Kern started modestly, offering classes in the Central School that stood in the block between Park and Broadway and Montana and Academy (Dakota Street today). They conducted nightly classes in penmanship and pen flourishing in 48 sessions at $25 for the course beginning in August 1889. Only twenty people signed up, and then only for a few sessions, but by October they had added Arithmetic, Letter Writing, and Spelling classes, with enough attendance that they rented a place at 10 West Copper. Enrollment continued to expand, and they moved first to 104 East Granite where shorthand and typing classes were added, then to the original Thomas Block on West Park Street where the college operated for much of 1890 and 1891. With the term beginning in January 1892, the Butte Business College occupied the prestigious rooms on the top floor of the Owsley Block at Park and Main, later known as the Medical Arts Center. It soon began to have a reputation as the finest college of business in the Northwest. The college was in the Owsley Block until 1954 when they moved to 325 West Galena, and from 1962 until it closed in 1975 it was located at 220 N. Alaska Street, south of the the Murray Hospital Annex. Declining enrollments, in part due to competition with the new Vo-Tech school, led to the closure. In 1912 the Commercial Course tuition was $100 per year, including books. Classes included bookkeeping, actual business, commercial arithmetic, commercial law, business letter writing, grammar, spelling, penmanship, and rapid calculation. About 700 students were enrolled, and by 1916 the college boasted more than 10,000 graduates and 14 full-time faculty. Latin, mathematics, history, and science had been added to the curriculum. Rice retired from managing the college in 1946, and died in 1957 at his home, 814 West Park, at age 90. He had been involved with more than 35,000 students in his career. The workers, secured by ropes, wrangled steel bars to lever and pry rock from the steep slopes of Flint Creek Pass. They inflated air bags to pressure and fracture rock, sending it sliding and tumbling to the blacktop below. They installed steel drape designed to secure rock in place or attenuate the force of its descent. They removed fallen rock from the roadside ditch beneath the slopes to restore the ditchs capacity to capture rock but not passing vehicles. They reinforced or repaired previous structures meant to reduce the danger of rockfall to motorists traveling this narrow, curving stretch of Montana Highway 1 between Georgetown Lake and the Flint Creek Valley. Employees of Hi-Tech Rockfall Construction, in work supervised by the Montana Department of Transportation, have used these techniques and more to address the perennial problem of rockfall on Flint Creek Pass. The work began September 6 and will likely end in November. The goal of the nearly $1.8 million project has been to focus on troubling portions of the rock masses suspended like the sword of Damocles above the highway below. Matt Straub, an engineering project manager for the Montana Department of Transportation, said he believes the work has made the road safer. Yet the exposed rock slopes at Flint Creek Pass will always tend to slide and slough, he said. There is a lot of rockfall potential in this canyon, Straub said. We could have been here for five years. It was impossible for us to mitigate all the potential. The varied approaches to addressing rockfall threats did not include blasting, he said. Theres a fine line between mitigating a hazard and opening a can of worms, Straub said. The Department of Transportation closed the road through Flint Creek Pass from October 10 to October 14. Hi-Tech Rockfall Construction, based in Oregon, brought workers down from Alaska and essentially doubled the workforce at Flint Creek Pass during the closure. Straub said the anticipated intensity of the rock scaling during the closure required protecting the road surface from cascading rock by temporarily applying a cover layer of gravel. A sub-contractor has hauled rock from the site to fill a pit near Georgetown Lake. Aside from the closure, traffic has continued on this stretch of Montana Highway 1, restricted to one lane and alternating the direction of travel. Straub pointed out rock whose surface resembled dried, cracked mud. This ancient evidence of an interior sea is referenced in Roadside Geology of Montana, co-authored by Rob Thomas, a professor of geology at the University of Montana Western and geologist Donald Hyndman, professor emeritus at the University of Montana. A giant roadcut 3 miles east of Porters Corner on a steep highway grade exposes sloping surfaces in red Missoula Group mudstones. These spectacular exposures are full of perfectly preserved mud cracks and ripple marks that look like they just dried up yesterday but yesterday was nearly 1.5 billion years ago! In an email Sunday, Thomas offered more information. As the water receded, ripples formed in the shallowing water and retreating shorelines exposed mud that cracked as it dried up, he said. By Alex Pologruto | Oct 24, 2022 The Karen Joy Medley Memorial Scholarship Endowment was established by gifts to the Murray State University Foundation, Inc. (MSU Foundation) from family and friends of Karen Medley as a way to memorialize her loving spirit and to assist students at Murray State University in obtaining an education to prepare them for a career in the field of theatre. The recipients shall be majoring in theatre or any successor program MURRAY, Ky. The Karen Joy Medley Memorial Scholarship Endowment was established by gifts to the Murray State University Foundation, Inc. (MSU Foundation) from family and friends of Karen Medley as a way to memorialize her loving spirit and to assist students at Murray State University in obtaining an education to prepare them for a career in the field of theatre. Recipients of the scholarship will be students majoring in theatre or its successor programs, and selected by the Department of Global Languages and Theatre Scholarship Committee. The actual award amounts may vary from year to year based on growth in the scholarship fund and investment earnings. The scholarship awards each year shall be payable over the period of two semesters. Karen Joy Medley was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, moved to and began her family in Metropolis, Illinois and later moved to Paducah, Kentucky. Karen loved theatre and acting on stage. In her 20s, she traveled with a theatre production company that was based out of Atlanta, Georgia. She also performed in Market House Theater productions when she was younger. Supporting the future of theatre would put a big smile on Karen's face. Our department and students are grateful to the Mrs. Karen Joy Medley family for supporting our future students in her memory, said Brent Menchinger, chair of the Department of Global Languages and Theatre Arts. Our theatre students will benefit from the scholarship support each year. This scholarship will serve as a lasting remembrance of her and her family. Being a part-time student herself, she truly valued the opportunities provided to those who pursued a higher education degree. Although she did not attend Murray State, she was always very proud that her daughter, Whitney Medley Bechtel, who is a successful alumna from the School of Nursing and Health Professions, did. She would be pleased to know her family is honoring her memory by establishing this scholarship to help students achieve their educational goals. While we mourn the loss of any friend of the University, their long-lasting gifts that generate assistance for students allows us to remember those friends while we continue to educate students, said Dr. David Balthrop, dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. Future theatre students will be grateful and thankful for this scholarship established in memory of Mrs. Karen Joy Medley. This school year the Murray State University Theatre Arts Department will have five productions on the stage between Wilson Studio Theatre and the Robert E. Johnson Theatre. Additionally, a 10 minute film will be produced and uploaded to YouTube that was written by a faculty member and a student from the department. For more information on the Karen Joy Medley Memorial Scholarship Endowment and the Theatre Arts Department at Murray State University please visit murraystate.edu/theatre. WAPELLO A popular 3-year-old event in Wapello could face cancellation, if an insurance dispute cannot be resolved, the Wapello City Council learned Thursday. While that is one possibility, the insurance snafu would also mean a change of the citys insurance agent or its carrier; or possibly even an endorsement of the event by the current carrier. At the center of the insurance issue is a sanctioned event, the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA), which has been held up to six times a year at Wapellos North End Park arena, the site of the annual FFA Pro Rodeo. Event organizer Ed Vineyard said the riders must get within 25 or 30 feet to break balloons, using blank cartridges that fired gunpowder. He also said event rules required the course to be at least 30 feet from spectators to ensure safety. City insurance agent Steve Earnest told the council he only became aware of the event earlier this year and then notified the citys insurance carrier, EMC Insurance, as required by insurance rules. After the company learned of the event, Earnest said its reviewers agreed the city had liability exposure, despite actions taken by the CMSA. Those actions included having riders sign waivers and adding the city, FFA and Wapello School District to the CMSA insurance policy as an additional insured. During the discussion at Thursdays meeting, Wapello Mayor Shawn Maine said he was upset over what he perceived as a lack of effort by Earnest to find a solution, especially after Vineyard pointed out the same event is held in over 600 other locations nationwide, apparently with no insurance problems. Vineyard said one of those venues had been the Iowa State Fair. Maine also said the companys response to either drop the event or face the prospect of losing the citys insurance coverage smacked of being threatened or bullied; and he recommended the city find a new insurance agent. However, Earnest insisted he had suggested alternatives to the company, but each option he proposed had been rejected. Its not my decision, he told the council. Since this year events in Wapello have already been held, the council agreed to postpone any decision and gave Earnest until Dec. 1 to research the issue. City officials said they especially wanted to know how the other events were able to be held if EMC was insisting its policy with the city did not allow it. Maine said he expected Earnest to support the city. I need to know (the citys) insurance agent is going to fight for the city, he said. Well do what we can, Earnest replied. In other action, the council: Approved the September treasurers report. Accepted an Animal Housing Service agreement with the Muscatine Humane Society. Approved the mayors appointments of Paige Schnell and Richard Taylor to the Briggs Civic Center Board. Agreed to obtain bids to cut down dead or dying trees on city property, including several large cottonwoods in the North End Park; Received an ambulance report from assistant director Sam Gillip. In addition to his report on monthly ambulance responses, Gillip also requested the city purchase ballistic vests for emergency service providers and other equipment. He will provide a cost estimate at the next meeting. In final action, the council approved the appointment of former Second Ward councilmember Tony Hammer to the Third Ward seat vacated by Richard Taylor, who resigned a few weeks ago. Hammer resigned earlier, after he and his family moved to a new home in the Third Ward. The council also appointed Sarah Chaney to Hammers open Second Ward seat. Following the meeting, Maine also reported lawyers were still finalizing the paperwork to transfer the Wapello Sale Barn site to Dollar General for a new grocery store. WAPELLO Around 25 local emergency, community and government leaders and representatives of the Louisa Emergency Preparedness Committee (LEPC) met Wednesday for a two-hour meeting that included a tabletop opportunity to discuss economic recovery in Louisa County following a derecho wind storm. Sarah Eggert, recovery planner with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management (IHSEM), moderated the meeting at the Louisa County Fairgrounds Youth Center in Columbus Junction. The meeting was organized by Louisa County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hall. According to an email sent by Hall before the meeting, the workshop was intended to generate community conversation that would inspire the leaders and representatives to think of their specific organizations needs and recovery plans following a disaster. Eggert provided the details for that disaster in a three-module exercise that was intended to generate discussions, which could then be used to assist Hall and other local emergency planners create a recovery plan. Those plans, known as Recovery Support Functions (RSFs), would assist local jurisdictions to be better prepared by having a plan and process in place to facilitate a quicker path to recovery, Hall explained in a meeting summary. Eggert provided more details about the current planning effort, explaining it was a new state initiative to establish several separate RSFs over the next five years. The economic recovery RSF, the focus of Wednesdays meeting, must be completed by October 2023. Other RSFs dealing with community planning and capacity building; health and social services; housing; infrastructure; and natural and cultural resources will be developed in the following years. Before outlining the scenario the local leaders and representatives would use to discuss economic recovery issues during the meeting, Eggert asked when recovery from a disaster needed to begin. Everyone agreed with local insurance agent Ed Vineyard, who said, In my business, recovery begins before the storm. Eggert affirmed Vineyards response. It starts in the preparedness phase, which we are doing tonight, she said before outlining Louisa Countys tabletop disaster. According to the scenario developed by Eggert for the economic recovery RSF, a 100-mph derecho struck Louisa County on July 5, battering the county for 20 minutes before leaving the area. When county residents emerged from basements and shelters, their communities were unrecognizable because of the damage and destruction. Eggert asked Hall to identify his priorities as reports of the storms effects began reaching him. Hall identified opening the countys emergency operating centers and a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC); establishing life safety, including search and rescue, operations; reestablishing water and sewer systems; communicating and coordinating with state officials and vital private organizations, such as utility, telephone and other services, to stay updated on recovery efforts, as key priorities in the aftermath of the disaster. Debris clearing would be an issue during the initial recovery phase, those at the meeting agreed; and several suggested the small, rural community spirit would kick in, with neighbor helping neighbor to help clear yards and streets of debris. However, questions over insurance coverage for injured workers, documentation of debris for future disaster assistance and other issues were raised and should be addressed in the plan, group members suggested. Eggert then extended the recover scenario to Sept. 1 and eventually to Dec. 1. At each phase, the group agreed some priorities would change, but others would remain, including housing, retention of jobs and other concerns. Hall also warned as the meeting ended that people needed to be prepared to take care of themselves immediately following a disaster and perhaps for several days after because local emergency personnel would be trying to make their own recoveries. Officers were called shortly before 8:21 p.m. to a home near the intersection of Linda Vista Avenue and Redwood Road, where two people were arguing, according to police Sgt. Tommy Keener. Police were informed that one of the two, John Howard Wall, had struck the other person first with an empty bottle and then with his fist, Keener said. Kelvin, a leading collaborative control software firm, will showcase its innovative solutions such as Kelvin Carbon Maps and Kelvin Copilots at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec) 2022. The solutions demonstrate how Kelvin converges industrial automation and human understanding to convert insights into actions that reduce carbon emissions. Peter Harding, Founder and CEO of Kelvin will be flying to Abu Dhabi, UAE, to meet with customers and partners at Adipec from October 31 to November 3. Decarbonisation Conference Harding will be a part of an executive panel at the Decarbonisation Conference on day one of the event. Kelvin will also be presenting at the Innovation session on Achieving Net Zero Goals with Industrial Intelligence. Speaking about the companys participation, he said: The Gulf is home to some of the worlds most ambitious carbon emissions goals. The region is focused on the next generation of sustainability initiatives to help advance and develop its economies. Now is the time to showcase Kelvins cutting-edge industrial software that enables energy giants and industrial leaders to boost productivity, reduce operational costs and slash emissions. Harding added: The digital revolution is taking place in the energy markets right now. Kelvin is charting a new path for energy companies to achieve their sustainability goals. We plan to accelerate how companies become more sustainable and reach their net zero goals. As a company that constantly innovates, we provide the necessary tools for organisations to unlock the full potential of their teams through collaborative control. Emission goals The US-headquartered firm will demonstrate Kelvin Carbon Maps, one of the worlds first industrial solutions for optimising operations to achieve emissions goals. It is a solution that connects vital data and information about production facilities, assets, and processes to engineers and operators. Kelvin Carbon Maps provide teams with complete visualisation in a unified view of their entire operations in real-time. It seamlessly identifies bottlenecks, addresses failures, and provides the information required to take action and improve operations. The company will also present Kelvin Copilots, a solution that enables organisations to fix problems and take action through optimised applications that improve production processes, provide prescriptive recommendations, and execute control decisions. Kelvin Copilots transform ideas about improving production into actions that achieve real impact on net zero goals. Industrial intelligence Kelvin empowers world-class industrial intelligence and is focused on connecting companies to the Next Generation of Industrial Automation for carbon reduction and collaborative control. We are delighted to bring our solutions to the Middle East, to help companies prosper in the new energy age, using automation and intelligence to turn data insights into action, driving impactful decisions across organisations. Kelvin executives will be available at their booth PC7 in Hall 12 at Adipec to meet existing and potential customers and partners and share their global success stories with them.-- TradeArabia News Service According to a PR published by Naval Group on October 21, 2022, the first block of the first FDI HN frigate (Defense and Intervention Frigate) for the Hellenic Navy was laid down in dry dock at Naval Groups shipyard in Lorient. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link First block of the first FDI HN frigate, Lorient, France. (Picture source: Naval Group) On 24th March 2022, Greece chose to equip its naval forces with three defence and intervention frigates, plus one optional, and their in-service support. The FDI HN, designed and produced by Naval Group in Lorient, will quickly and sustainably enhance the capabilities of the Hellenic Navy's surface fleet as they will be delivered in a very short timeframe, starting in 2025 for the first two units and in 2026 for the third one. A major program for the Hellenic industry Thanks to a robust cooperation plan with the Hellenic industry (HIP, Hellenic Industry Participation Plan), the FDI HN program offers numerous industrial opportunities for Greece, creating jobs and added value in the country. Naval Group's teams have already established numerous partnerships with Greek industrial players and signed various contracts with the Hellenic industry. Naval Groups Hellenic Industrial Participation plan will thus contribute to the construction of the FDI HN but also to the creation of a robust naval industrial ecosystem. The structured and longterm partnership proposed by Naval Group will foster production in Greece but also the capability to address future needs. In this regard, on the 18th of October 2022, several contracts and framework agreements were signed between Naval Group and Greek companies during Euronaval, covering Platform and Combat Systems activities. FDI HN, a powerful, innovative and cyber-secure multi-role combat frigate The FDI HN features high-level capabilities in all warfare domains: anti-ship, anti-air, antisubmarine and special forces projection. Its air and surface protection are ensured by the most modern sensors, including the Thales Sea Fire, the first all-digital multifunction radar with an active antenna and fixed panels. The FDI HN is equipped with a unique integrated mast that brings together all the airborne sensors, enabling permanent 360 surveillance. As the first frigate on the market to be natively protected against cyber threat, the FDI HN is equipped with two data centers hosting almost all of the ship's applications. Technical specifications of the FDI HN: Displacement: 4,500 tons Length: approx. 122 meters Width: 18 meters Maximum speed: 27 knots Aviation facilities: 10-ton class helicopter, VTOL unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) The main armaments of the FDI HN are: 32 Aster missiles developed by MBDA 8 Exocet MM40 B3C missiles developed by MBDA RAM missiles MU 90 torpedoes developed by Naval Group 76 mm gun 4 torpedo tubes CANTO counter measures developed by Naval Group Russia could bypass the G7 plans to cap oil prices and still export 90% of its oil, a US Treasury official said. The G7 countries are working on a plan to cap Russian oil prices until the end of the year. Full details of the price cap have yet to be worked out, and the proposal has so far met with lukewarm response from Russia's allies, such as India, which have bought Russian oil at a discount. Russia has announced that it will completely stop selling oil to any country that imposes a price cap, which some experts say will hurt the country's finances. But even if Russia refuses to follow the price cap, the country still has the resources to circumvent those sanctions and export 80 to 90 percent of its oil, an anonymous US Treasury official told Reuters. This is due to the fact that Russia still has access to tankers, which is enough to bypass the price cap. In addition, current price cap rules allow shipping and insurance companies to operate under the system. Russia exported more than 7 million barrels of oil per day in September, according to Reuters, meaning 5 to 6 million barrels of crude oil per day could still flow into the spot market. That would leave most of Russia's oil revenues intact while cutting global oil supplies by another 1-2 percent, potentially pushing up oil prices. The members of the OSCE fact-finding mission were hosted Sunday at the regional administration of Armenias Syunik Province, the regional administration informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. These international experts were briefed, in detail, on the recent Azerbaijani military aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia, the resulting security problems for the borders and residents of the affected settlements of Syunik, as well as the problems that arose in the specially protected areas and sanctuaries in those places. The international experts asked about a number of security issues related to the border settlements of Syunik, including the obstacles related to the operation of the Kapan airport. Also, these OSCE representatives went to Shikahogh village, where they met with the local residents and recorded the needs and violated rights of people living a few hundred meters away from the adversary. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev may meet in Russia and hold trilateral talks with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Vedomosti daily. A diplomatic source of Vedomosti informed about the preparation for this meeting. As per this source, the respective work started right after Putin's conciliatory address in the Kazakh capital Astana on October 14, when the territorial disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan were discussed. Another source of Vedomosti noted that these negotiations may take place in the last days of October, and Moscow and Sochi are being considered as their main venue. "Most likely, Sochi will be chosen," the source added. The fact that Washington and Brussels will try to use the difficult moment and create problems for Moscow in the entire perimeter of the former Union was understandable from the very beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, writes Komsomolskaya Pravda daily of Russia. Perhaps, in this regard, the Karabakh case is the most suitable. After the 44-day warthe war stopped solely thanks to Putin's mediation effortsin 2020 and the deployment of Russian peacekeeping troops, peace has reigned in Karabakh, albeit loosely, but peace has prevailed. The skirmishes and incidents of various scales that took place on the border of Azerbaijan and Armenia are clearly proceeding in the logic of political pressure in order to achieve results in the negotiations. But judging by everything, a new turn in the history of the long-standing conflict is already seen in the foreseeable future. On October 10, the so-called Washington document on the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement was published in one of the Russian Telegram channels. The document is the result of the Western mediation mission and, according to various sources, it was considered acceptable by both Aliyev and Pashinyan after the negotiations in Brussels and Paris, as well as after the meeting of the foreign ministers and secretaries of the Security Councils, in Washington. Judging by the content of the document, if it is signed, the final delimitation of the interstate borders will be carried out, and the construction of the so-called Zangezur corridorthe highway that will connect the regions of eastern Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan through the territory of Armeniawill begin. In addition, Azerbaijan shall appoint an "official representative" who shall discuss and resolve issues related to the security and rights of the Armenians of Karabakh with such a representative of the Karabakh Armenians. No status is envisioned for the Karabakh Armenians, even more so for the unrecognized NKR. It is interesting that the publication of this document has not yet sparked any protest movement either in Armenia or Karabakh. Isn't it clear that in reality it means the complete passing of Nagorno-Karabakh under Azerbaijani jurisdiction, and the Azerbaijanis do not even hide the formality of any "official representative." Very recently, [Azerbaijani president] Ilham Aliyev again announced that the Armenians living in Karabakh are citizens of Azerbaijan, and they will be treated in accordance with the Constitution of that country. It is clear that soon there will not be any Armenians left in Karabakh. If the current Armenian authorities agree to accept this documentour sources in the Armenian government assure that [PM Nikol] Pashinyan is sure of the need to sign it as soon as possible, then it will become a catalyst for tectonic movement in Transcaucasia. Armenia signing peace with Azerbaijan and Turkey, which [i.e., Armenia] will lose Karabakh and, allegedly, thereby be freed from existential threats, will not need either the Russian military base in Gyumri or Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh. It is more than clear that this is the true goal of the western intermediaries. Will Pashinyan go for it? According to the opinion of most of the expert community in Armenia and Russia, he will do it promptly and without remorse. Before coming to power, he acted as a convinced pro-Westerner and supporter of withdrawing Armenia from EAEU. Will it cause commotion in Armenia and Karabakh? Most likely, yes. In the 2021 [snap parliamentary] elections, Pashinyan retained power with the slogans of a just world, keeping Karabakh Armenian, and strengthening the strategic alliance with Russia. The Armenian voter, whose patience and tolerance towards Pashinyan's failures seems infinite, did not give him such a mandate and can remind the prime minister of all the calamities that have happened in the past four years. In addition, Armenians have hardly forgotten the lessons of recent history and definitely remember what can happen when you are left alone with unresolved security issues under the "honest word" of Washington, Komsomolskaya Pravda added. A car had had an accident on September 27 on the Margara-Vanadzor-Tashir motorway in Armenia, as a result of which the driver and the passenger had sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. And on October 22, a report was received from the hospital that the driver of this carSamvel Davtyan, born in 1977had died, the police inform Armenian News-NEWS.am. An investigation is in progress. A foreign cyclist has died in a road accident in Armenia. On October 21, a call was received from a hospital that the dead body of an unidentified person was ambulanced to them from the Alaverdi-Vanadzor motorway, the police inform Armenian News-NEWS.am. It was found that earlier on the same day, a 38-year-old cyclist was hit by a car on the Alaverdi-Vanadzor road, and died as a result. It was also found that this cyclist was foreign citizen Anna Soledade Silva Teixeira, 38. An investigation is underway. Japan to build constellation of 50 military satellites Azerbaijan hands over to Armenian side bodies of 13 Armenian servicemen Iraqi PM announces return of part of $125 million stolen from state Inaugural Divine Liturgy served at first Armenian church in Spain Russia and Kazakhstan intend to increase CSTO potential Process of US granting market economy status to Armenia is discussed (PHOTOS) Borrell says NATO has enough threats and challenges besides China Azerbaijani government-controlled media announces change in Baku's foreign policy Reuters: Turkey ready for ground invasion in northern Syria Cavusoglu: Turkey may appoint an ambassador to Egypt in the coming months Dollar, euro go up in Armenia Indian political analyst: Pakistan supported Azerbaijan during aggression against Karabakh Belgian police officers protest after officer killed Citizens of Western countries arrested in Iran for participating in riots Seyran Ohanyan: Drawing CSTO into our region in matters of use of force may cause serious conflict in future Armenia parliament opposition leader: Its not that we, as opposition, like everything in CSTO Political analyst: Cooperation with Yerevan becomes more important amid contradictions between powers New Ecuador ambassador presents copy of credentials to Armenia deputy FM Erdogan: Realization of the grain deal showed the possibility of diplomacy in Ukraine Armenia parliament speaker to head for Qatar, to watch World Cup match from stadium Toivo Klaar: Many challenges remain; restraint, strong political will be needed by Azerbaijan, Armenia Armen Baibourtian: Armenia-India cooperation on North-South road corridor started back in 2000s Armenian envoy: India becoming more sensitive about Azerbaijan ambitions towards Armenia India MFA: Cooperation with Armenia should be further deepened Deputy FM: Armenia can make use of progress with India to increase its security level Armenia Kurdish community staging protest outside UN office Pashinyan: Armenia attaches importance to development of cooperation with Albania Azerbaijan president receives Philip Reeker MP: Tourists visiting Armenia have difficulty making purchases over 300,000 drams at duty free shops Marukyan: 2 years ago Azerbaijan president signed ceasefire agreement where Nagorno-Karabakh is mentioned 5 times US diplomatic mission reveals details of CIA head with Naryshkin Karabakh army did not open fire at Azerbaijani positions in occupied territories UK intends to maintain military assistance to Ukraine in 2023 Copper prices falling World oil prices falling Gold falls in price 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 The Hill: Will a strong dollar trigger a global recession? 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 Emerson, a global software and engineering leader,will be exhibiting at the Adipec 2022 international energy conference being held in Abu Dhabi from October 31 to November 3. Under the theme Innovation that Accelerates Sustainability, Emerson will showcase the advanced automation technologies that are helping todays energy industry execute capital projects and achieve operational excellence while reducing emissions and optimising energy use. In alignment with Adipecs vision for digitalisation in the sector, Emersons innovative solutions have been developed for operators to facilitate the transition to cleaner energy sources, promote decarbonisation, and implement actionable strategies to navigate their sustainability journeys. Solutions presented will focus on four key focus areas: energy efficiency, emissions reduction, operational excellence and decarbonisation. Vidya Ramnath, President of Emerson Middle East and Africa, said: Adipec is a very significant platform that enables companies and individuals to meet and exchange knowledge with the main objective of enabling access to digital technologies across all industries that are vital in this day and time. As the industry navigates the path to net zero, there is increasing focus on energy use, emissions reduction and operational excellence. Emerson is committed to helping our customers achieve the highest levels of efficiency and sustainability based on goals set by policymakers and governments, and our technology showcase at Adipec 2022 is a reflection of this commitment, Ramnath added. Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and hosted by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), Adipec is an influential forum for oil, gas, and energy companies and professionals. This years conference will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).-TradeArabia News Service Ukraine itself should decide when to resume negotiations with Russia, the President of the European Council has said on the air of the France Inter radio station. "No one can decide for Ukraine on what conditions to go to negotiations, what concessions to make," Charles Michel said. He added that Europe, on its part, decisively supports Kyiv financially, with the supply of weapons, and in political terms. Michel emphasized that Ukraine is "the master of its own destiny," and therefore it has a sovereign right as to when to enter into negotiations. The Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service chief, Sergey Naryshkin, has expressed concern about Western rhetoric about the possibility of using nuclear weapons. He noted that the international community must prevent Ukraine from obtaining nuclear weapons. Naryshkin claims that the desire of "the Kyiv regime to possess nuclear weapons has been seen by humanity ... since that day, when President Zelenskiy spoke at a security conference in Munich." "And its ambitions to possess nuclear weapons were already clear then. The world shouldn't allow that to happen," he added, RIA Novost reported. According to him, the Russian authorities are not discussing the use of nuclear weapons. "We are upset by the Western rhetoric about the possibility of the use of nuclear weapons. This is simply unacceptable," he said. The police detain the activists ahead of the protest action scheduled for October 24 in front of the Baku City Hall by the Popular Front party at 16 o'clock, Turan reported. The detainees include the organizers of the rally - members of the People's Front Party, as well as representatives of other opposition forces. The authorities did not sanction the rally, at which the opposition intended to demand freedom of assembly, the release of political prisoners, free elections, radical reforms and the opening of the land borders. The police received reliable information that two 39-year-old Yerevan residents were illegally storing weapons and ammunition in a house in Yeghvard town of Armenia, and criminal proceedings were launched in this regard, the police inform Armenian News-NEWS.am. On October 18, officers of a number of law enforcement agencies searched, under court order, a house in Yeghvard. As a result, two pistols with loaded bullets, one firearm with loaded bullets, an automatic rifle cartridge box with loaded bullets, bulletproof vests, marijuana, etc. were found. The two aforesaid Yerevan residents and their 33-year-old friend, who is a foreign citizen, were apprehended in the abovementioned house and handed to the investigative body. They have been arrested and taken to a penitentiary. The investigation is in progress. Israel has provided Ukraine with the intelligence it needs to fight the alleged drones supplied by Iran to Russia, The New York Times wrote, citing an unnamed Ukrainian official. According to The New York Times, the unnamed Ukrainian official told the publication off the record that Israel "has provided intelligence useful for targeting the Iranian drones." The Wall Street Journal earlier reported, citing sources, that Israel was providing Ukrainian leaders with military intelligence and analytical information needed to counter Russia's alleged use of Iranian drones. On Tuesday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said his country would send an official note to the Israeli government asking it to immediately provide Kiev with air defense systems. The next day, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that the Jewish state, along with NATO countries, supports Ukraine, but still does not intend to supply Kiev with weapons for operational reasons. Speaking at a meeting with ambassadors of European Union member states, Gantz stressed that Israel would continue to provide Kiev with humanitarian aid and non-military equipment. An artificial intelligence has led a political party in Denmark, Oddity Central reported. The party, called Synthetic, was founded in May by a collective of artists. The party is led by an AI programmed into the politics of every Danish party since the 1970s, which has never won a seat in parliament. The synthetic party, proposes a universal basic income of $13,700 a month and the creation of a joint internet and IT sector in government that is as good as other government institutions, all decisions of an artificial intelligence named Leader Lars. True, the party currently has only 11 signatures out of the 20,000 required to run in the November election, so it probably won't qualify. During his current visit to Georgia, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced his readiness to intensify the trilateral format of political consultations between Baku, Yerevan, and Tbilisi, reports Novosti Georgia. "Today we also have the opportunity to hold consultations between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia. If Armenia is ready, we will be ready to start that format today," Aliyev said at the news conference held after his meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. Moreover, the president of Azerbaijan believes that the signing of the peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan is considered a guarantee of peace in the entire South Caucasus, as well as a window of new opportunities for cooperation. "After the Karabakh war [in the fall of 2020], a new situation has been formed. We [i.e., Azerbaijan] believe that the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia is necessary for the settlement of this conflict. We have already shared five main principles with Armenia, and we hope that Armenia will show political will, start peace negotiations, and sign a peace agreement with Azerbaijan," Aliyev said. Peaceful Neighborhood Initiative initiated to maintain peace in the South Caucasus region doesn't contradict and doesn't substitute any other cooperation format, said Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili after his meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev today, Novosti-Georgia reported. Garibashvili also said that during the talks the sides came to the conclusion that what's happening in Ukraine should be regulated through negotiations. The Georgian prime minister noted that the meeting discussed the situation in the region and in the world, taking into account the war in Ukraine. "Today we had a very important meeting. We talked about many issues related to a strong partnership and cooperation between our countries. We also considered the difficult situation in the world, the current processes. Naturally, we touched upon the situation in the region and everyone agrees that what is happening in Ukraine should be regulated through negotiations. I would also like to say that in the face of rapidly changing and complex challenges in the region and the world, great importance is attached to peace and stability, which are key factors in the well-being of our region and our peoples in general. "We also touched upon the current situation in the region, the recent agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia to launch a peace negotiation process. This, of course, gives us great hope. "I would like to reiterate that Georgia, myself and my government reiterate our full readiness to continue and support the peace policy that we started together. I also want to note that this neighborhood peace initiative does not contradict or replace any other cooperation format, on the contrary it will help, and I believe that together we will do many important things," he said. More than 6,000 professionals and 400 tourism experts are expected to gather at the upcoming TIS - Tourism Innovation Summit 2022, the international summit on tourism and technological innovation, in Seville, Spain. The event, taking place from November 2 to 4, is aimed to help tourism and travel industry to face all those short and long-term challenges. Seville will host again three days of disruptive masterclasses where success stories of travel are going on stage. Digitalisation and innovation will be main discussion and plenty of solutions will be presented to the tourism industry to address these challenges. An event to find the right partners to evolve their digital strategies and implement them. A wide variety of technologies will be showcased in order to help tourism businesses become more competitive and, more importantly, restart the new ways of travel. Knowing occupancy rates in real-time, taking advantage of shared data to launch predictions or increasing efficiency in decision-making are elements that are already part of the new tourism innovation model led by smart destinations and innovative travel businesses. The industry is transforming by leaps and bounds thanks to the application of technologies such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud or Data Spaces. Tech solutions that respond to the demands of a connected tourist who uses digital services when travelling, as well as optimise the traveller's experience with tools that help in strategic decision-making in real-time. TradeArabia News Service Azerbaijan plans to increase its energy supplies through pipelines and terminals on the territory of Georgia. Baku is going to export 22 million cubic meters of gas and increase this figure even more in the coming years. The President of Azerbaijan, currently on a visit to Georgia, said. Gas from Azerbaijan is delivered to Europe via Georgia and Turkey: "This year we signed a memorandum of understanding between Azerbaijan and Europe, and over the next five years Azerbaijan plans to double the export of natural gas to Europe. We have opportunities and plans to export almost 20 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe by 2027. Naturally, we have discussed this with the prime minister of Georgia." Aliyev also said that Azerbaijan plans to increase exports through its Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) and Baku-Supsa oil pipelines, as well as to use the oil terminal, which is located in the village of Supsa in western Georgia and is currently not in operation. "The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline will increase exports, and with this pipeline, exports will increase and be even busier. We also want to use the Baku-Supsa terminal, I know it is not operating now, but we want to load this channel as well," Aliyev said. Work on Ukraine's creation of a "dirty bomb" is coming to an end, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops, said at a briefing on threats to radiation security, RIA Novosti reported. "According to the information we have, two organisations in Ukraine have specific instructions to create a so-called 'dirty bomb'. This work is in its final stage," he said. According to him, the Kiev regime wants to organize a provocation to accuse Russia of using weapons of mass destruction and launch a powerful anti-Russian campaign in the world. Kirillov added that Moscow is aware of contacts between the office of the Ukrainian president and representatives of Great Britain on the issue of possible receipt of nuclear weapons technology. According to the lieutenant general, Kiev plans to disguise the detonation of a "dirty bomb" as an abnormal detonation of a Russian low-yield nuclear warhead that uses highly enriched uranium as a charge. Radioactive isotopes in the air will be detected by International Monitoring System sensors in Europe, which Zelensky`s office expects will make it possible to accuse the Kremlin of using weapons of mass destruction. Similar methods have already been used by the West in Syria, when the White Helmets filmed propaganda videos there about the use of chemical weapons by government troops. Kirillov noted that the explosion of a low-power nuclear weapon would result in radioactive contamination of up to several thousand square kilometers. After that, Kiev expects to intimidate the local population, increase the flow of refugees across Europe and make Russia look like a nuclear terrorist. He added that the Ministry of Defense has organized work to counteract possible provocations from Ukraine: forces and means are put in readiness to carry out tasks in conditions of radioactive contamination. He noted that Ukraine has enterprises that can provide the resources necessary for a low-yield nuclear warhead: three active nuclear power plants (South Ukraine, Khmelnitsk, and Rivne) and the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The Lieutenant General stated that the newly created enterprise for processing of the radioactive waste Vektor, the Prydniprovsky chemical plant, the Buriakovka, Podlesny, Rossokha radioactive waste burial sites may hold over 50 thousand cubic meters of radioactive waste, which may also be used for the "dirty bomb", the Vostochny Mine and Processing Plant is extracting uranium ore. Ukraine also has a relevant scientific base. Scientists from the Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology participated in the Soviet nuclear program, this research institute also has experimental projects - in particular, the thermonuclear facilities Uragan. In addition, the Institute for Nuclear Research at the Academy of Sciences in Kiev works with radioactive materials at the VVR-M reactor. "The Defense Ministry has organized work to counteract possible provocations from Ukraine: forces and means are put in readiness to carry out tasks in conditions of radioactive contamination," Kirillov said. Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu voiced concern to his colleagues from the United States, France and Turkey over the possible use of a "dirty bomb" by Kiev. Oil and gas trade must be depoliticized, Saad al-Kaabi, energy minister and head of Qatar's state energy company, said this, calling on politicians to abandon sanctions and agreements against the free market, Reuters reported. Kaabi's comments came ahead of a meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Egypt and echoed the views of many industry players who fear that a G7 price cap on Russian oil could paralyze global trade. The state of Qatar and QatarEnergy call on all governments and multilateral institutions to develop policies that depoliticize the exchange of fuel commodities, Kaabi said in a statement. QatarEnergy is one of the world's largest exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Last month, the G7 countries agreed to impose a price ceiling on Russian oil by Dec. 5. The European Commission also proposed its latest set of emergency measures to combat high energy prices, but refrained from immediately capping gas prices because EU countries remain divided over the idea. Kaabi also said that governments should condemn sabotage and military attacks on energy infrastructure or electricity networks. Rishi Sunak will become Britain's prime minister after other candidates withdrew from the race for the Conservative Party leadership, Reuters reports. King Charles the Third will ask Sunak, one of Westminster's wealthiest politicians, to form the government, replacing Liz Truss, the outgoing leader who lasted only 44 days in office. Sunak defeated centrist politician Penny Mordaunt, who could not get enough support from lawmakers to get on the ballot, while his rival, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, declined to run. Sunak, a 42-year-old former finance minister, becomes the third British prime minister in less than two months charged with restoring stability to a country that has endured years of political and economic turmoil. The multimillionaire former hedge fund chief is expected to begin making drastic spending cuts to try to restore Britain's financial reputation, just as the country is sliding into a recession caused by rising energy and food prices. Britain has been in permanent crisis since it voted to leave the European Union in 2016, unleashing a battle in Westminster over the country's future that still remains unresolved. Sunak gained national attention when, at age 39, he became finance minister under Johnson just as the COVID-19 pandemic struck Britain, devising a successful firing scheme. The former Goldman Sachs analyst would become Britain's first prime minister of Indian origin. His family emigrated to Britain in the 1960s. After graduating from Oxford University, he went to Stanford University, where he met his wife, Akshata Murthy, whose father is Indian billionaire N. R. Narayana Murthy, founder of outsourcing giant Infosys Ltd. On a road in a crime-hit city in central Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu stands on a mobile stage surrounded by a glass wall through which he promises to restore law and order while the crowd chants "Bibi the king," Reuters reported. The most influential and controversial political figure of his generation is returning to the campaign trail as Israelis prepare to vote Nov. 1 in their fifth national election in less than four years. His Likud party is expected to win the largest number of seats in the Knesset. But with corruption charges hanging over Netanyahu and his ties to a fast-growing far-right party on which he can depend to form a government being criticized, polls predict that there will be no final victory. For weeks, his Bibi Bus has been shuttling between Likud offices across Israel as he tries to garner support from voters tired of the endless gridlock in the election. "Do you want to restore national pride? Reduce living costs? Restore personal safety?" a smiling Netanyahu asked the crowd. "I'm not a king. A king doesn't get elected. I need to be elected and that depends on you." Netanyahu, a close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, unleashed an unrelenting stream of criticism against centrist Prime Minister Yair Lapid. But because of several serious political differences between the parties on a wide range of issues, from the Palestinian question and Iran to the economy, the election is largely seen as a personal referendum by Netanyahu, whose hawkish image is increasingly tarnished by his legal problems. As opinion polls stagnate, Netanyahu, who was first appointed prime minister back in 1996, needs every vote he can get. Israel has been stuck in an electoral loop since 2019, the same year Netanyahu was indicted on corruption charges, which he denies. As his trial continues, the rift between his supporters and detractors deepens. "The only thing that really matters is Bibi or not Bibi, unfortunately," said Hila Shay Vazan, former Knesset member and commentator. Critics say that with the help of the far-right, Netanyahu, now head of the opposition, will push for radical judicial reforms that would allow him to delay his trial and potential imprisonment if convicted, which he denies. The trial eclipsed Netanyahu's accomplishments during his last term, when Israel signed the Abrahamic Accords, which normalized relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain through a process brokered by the Trump administration. "He is with his back to the wall. And he feels, evidently, that this for him is a political battle for life and death," said political analyst Amotz Asa-El at Shalom Hartman Institute. Polls show Netanyahu's bloc fluctuating from a narrow victory to a ruling parliamentary majority with the far-right Jewish Power party of Itamar Ben-Gvir, an ultra-nationalist once convicted of racist incitement. According to Asa-El, both outcomes would nullify the chances of radical reform. In his campaign, heavily promoted on social media, Netanyahu said little about changes to the judiciary, focusing on the high cost of living - a major issue for voters - and calling the judicial process "rigged." Netanyahu says he has fallen victim to a political witch hunt, counting on the support of voters with little interest in the legal details of the judicial process, Asa-El said. Netanyahu's fans reject this view. "They say Bibi voters are stupid and ignorant," said Ramla-raised importer Moti Karo, 56. "It's not true. How can you dismiss street-smarts? Street-smarts is just what you need in the Middle East. And the street wants Bibi." Author's New Book Receives a Warm Literary Welcome NEWS PROVIDED BY Readers' Favorite LLC Oct. 24, 2022 DOVER, Del., Oct. 24, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- Readers' Favorite announces the review of the Christian - Living book "What Do I Do Now?" by Nakia Trader, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BBJZQ7Z4. Readers' Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the "Best Websites for Authors" and "Honoring Excellence" awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies. Reviewed By Adanna Ora for Readers' Favorite For many Christian believers who have received salvation and accepted Jesus into their lives, the challenge is remaining in their faith and maintaining a relationship with God. This problem is resolved by Nakia Trader in her book, What Do I Do Now? sub-titled Building a Solid Christian Foundation, which is a manual for both new and mature believers in their walk with God. Beginning with her early conversion to Christianity, Nakia recounts how her pastor's father verbally tortured and mocked her as a result. She also discusses the difficulties she encountered when she was younger and how knowing Christ has enabled her to get through them and improve herself. The author concludes her book by outlining the various concepts in Christianity, assisting people in receiving salvation, and addressing pertinent questions in Christianity. The ideas in What Do I Do Now? have enhanced my spiritual life and growth as a Christian. It is underpinned by the fact that the Bible provides support for each premise. Nakia Trader uses quotes from seasoned Christians and preachers of the word. The book promotes forgiveness, love, and discipline. One can appreciate the author's fervent desire for people to know Christ. The wording is straightforward to comprehend. The author covers practically all the challenges that face Christians and offers workable solutions. What Do I Do Now? would be of great assistance to young and developing believers. It can also be used by church ministries for their foundational classes. It is encouraging to see books like this that would help improve one's spiritual life. Christians would find this book priceless. You can learn more about Nakia Trader and "What Do I Do Now?" at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/what-do-i-do-now where you can read reviews and the author's biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages. Readers' Favorite LLC Media Relations Louisville, KY 40202 800-RF-REVIEW support@readersfavorite.com https://readersfavorite.com SOURCE Readers' Favorite LLC CONTACT: 800-RF-REVIEW, support@readersfavorite.com Share Tweet World-renowned stand-up comedian Trevor Noah spoke to attendees at Culture Summit Abu Dhabi about a variety of topics including the nature of culture, identity, success and the pursuit of passion. The session was moderated by Tim Marlow, Chief Executive and Director of The Design Museum and was open to questions by the audience. One thing we have to accept about the world today is the boundaries and barriers about where ones culture ends and where one begins; culture exists across boundaries and borders and is defined in different ways. And it comes with many challenges; so to define where and when an idea should exist, it is very hard to do that," Noah said. When asked how his identity has shaped or impacted his career, Noah described it as both a challenge and a gift. I learnt through life that identity can evolve, like here in Abu Dhabi. I love to see it and it forces me to understand the other; it is a constant journey. Talking about the responsibilities of an artist and specifically for him as a comedian, The Daily Show host shared how hes allowed himself to grow through comedy from when he first started out. "Over time as I grew more and expanded how I see the world, I hope my comedy has evolved the same way. People shouldnt be the same at each age, we should expect them to change and I reflect that on myself; I want to look at myself and see my old ideas and not recognise them anymore, he said. Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, which runs until October 25, is organised by DCT Abu Dhabi in collaboration with global partner organisations bringing expertise in diverse fields, from culture and arts to media and technology. Partners include UNESCO, Economist Impact, Google, the Design Museum, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation and the Recording Academy. Other participating partners include Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Film Commission, Sandstorm Comics, Cultural Foundation, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Berklee Abu Dhabi, Culture Resource, Arab Fund for Arts & Culture, and the Institut Francais. TradeArabia News Service Azerbaijan sent a note in connection with the "anti-Azerbaijani statements" on Channel One, Turan reports. "On October 20-21, on the air of the program "Big Game" on Russia's First Channel, Russian political scientists and experts of Armenian origin made blatantly anti-Azerbaijani statements, questioning the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and distorting the map of the state. In this regard, the Azerbaijani Embassy in Moscow sent an official protest note to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia said in a statement. The Foreign Ministry was informed that biased statements and open political provocations on the state TV channel contradict the official position of Russia, repeatedly voiced by Russian President. The host of this talk show is Vyacheslav Nikonov, a member of the United Russia faction and first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs. "Such behavior by a representative of Russia's ruling party contradicts the spirit of Azerbaijani-Russian strategic partnership and allied cooperation, and causes significant damage to bilateral relations," the note said. In the Declaration on Mutual Cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation, dated February 22, 2022, the parties refrain from any action detrimental to the relations of strategic partnership and alliance, directed against the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of states. The Azerbaijani side demanded that Russia take immediate measures to stop the provocative actions of the Russian media and prevent their repetition in the future," the media report said. A Pakistani news anchor was shot dead by police in Kenya after he fled his country to avoid sedition charges, investigators said, AFP reported. Arshad Sharif, 49, was a critic of Pakistan's powerful military establishment and a supporter of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was ousted in a parliamentary vote of no confidence in April. In a phone call with Kenyan President William Ruto, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for a transparent investigation into Sunday's shooting. Kenya National Police spokesman said the journalist was fatally shot by an officer after his car drove through a police barrier in the Magadi district. That's when the policeman opened fire, he said. The National Police Service regrets this unfortunate incident, he said. The killing sparked concern among the media and protests in the Pakistani city of Karachi. According to a police report seen by AFP, the car carrying the two men was hit by about nine bullets, but it continued on to the home of another Pakistani national. There, Sharif was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz discussed with his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov an Israeli proposal to provide Kiev with an early warning system of approaching air threats. The Israeli Defense Ministry described the conversation as "positive." The ministers spoke by phone after Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevgeny Korniychuk told the Hebrew-language media last week that Gantz unexpectedly canceled the long-awaited conversation with Reznikov, causing "disappointment" in Kiev. Gantz's office said that Reznikov informed him of the latest developments on the battlefield in Ukraine. Gantz "expressed his condolences for the tragic loss of life and his concern about the humanitarian crisis resulting from the war." The minister reiterated Israel's commitment to the Ukrainian people and support for Ukraine through the delivery of humanitarian aid and rescue equipment, and stressed the "operational constraints" Israel faces due to Russia's presence in Syria. "As a result, Israel will not supply weapons systems to Ukraine," Gantz Resnikov said. The two sides agreed to have a professional dialogue on a civilian early warning system. Gantz and Reznikov agreed to keep an open line of communication in the coming weeks to discuss additional agenda items. Israel has a strict policy of not providing military assistance to Ukraine. The reason for this decision appears to be Israel's strategic need to maintain freedom of operations. This requires cooperation with the Russian military, which largely controls Syrian airspace, the Times of Israel wrote. Bahrains Tourism Minister has highlighted engaging young entrepreneurs and start-ups in the industry of tourism and travel and supporting innovative ideas in order to bolster Bahrain's standing as an attractive destination. Fatima bint Jaffar Al Sairafi made the statement as she held a meeting with Bahraini Chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization Board of Trustees' Chairperson Feryal Abdulla Nass to discuss joint cooperation, reported Bahrain News Agency (BNA). She stressed keenness on supporting young entrepreneurs' innovative ideas, which contributes to diversifying the Bahraini tourism product and launching more innovative quality tourism initiatives. She stressed the importance for entrepreneurs and start-ups to benefit from the great momentum achieved by the tourism sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain, with the sectors recovery rate reaching 82% compared to the pre-pandemic period. "Bahrain International Exhibition Center provides great opportunities for entrepreneurs, innovators and owners of start-ups in the tourism sector, especially", she said. She described the hub as an attractive and unique destination in the Middle East, which and will provide greater qualitative opportunities to attract quality investments to the Kingdom and generate jobs for Bahrainis upon its inauguration. Nass praised the ministry's initiatives to support the Bahraini Chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization in order to achieve effective partnership, enhance areas of cooperation between the public and private sectors, and support entrepreneurs specialized in tourism activities and its affiliated business sectors, small enterprises and productive families. Moscow cannot but be concerned by the alarming trends that are gaining momentum in the South Caucasus, where the West is clearly trying to transfer the confrontation schemes it has worked out in Ukraine, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. "We see what unprecedented pressure from the outside is subjected to the brotherly Armenia. Steps are taken to discredit Russia's policy in the region in an attempt to damage centuries-old ties between our countries and peoples. Numerous foundations, NGOs and media outlets, acting at the behest of Washington and Brussels, are redoubling their efforts to implant anti-Russian sentiments into society. We are confident that attempts of external powers to discord Moscow and Yerevan will fail. We are inclined towards the strengthening of our strategic alliance and multifaceted cooperation with Armenia, which will allow us together to overcome the current challenges. We are developing a dialogue on the military-political and military-technical lines. Our commodity turnover is growing at a record pace. Serious projects are being implemented and developed in the transport and logistics, infrastructure, mining and high-tech sectors. Dozens of major Russian companies are ready to continue investing in the Armenian economy. We are successfully resolving the problems of strengthening the republic's energy and food security. Extensive contacts are maintained in scientific, educational and cultural spheres. Yerevan also benefits greatly from its participation in the Eurasian Economic Union," Zakharova said. According to her, the West's brazen and impudent approach can also be observed with regard to the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. "Neither regional specifics, nor special sensitivity of the issue are taken into account. The real goal of Washington and Brussels is not to work out compromise and balanced solutions but to push Russia out of Transcaucasia. Our trilateral achievements are being appropriated and perverted. Western emissaries often visit Armenia under the guise of the European Union, OSCE and France. Hastily concocted initiatives are being promoted that do not take into account the interests of the entire population of the region. This is fraught with the risk of breaking the balance achieved in difficult conditions on the basis of the agreement of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia of November 9, 2020. At the same time, unfounded accusations are circulated that Moscow is allegedly not fulfilling its security commitments towards Armenia. In this connection, we would like to recall that it was our country that stopped the war in November 2020, sent peacekeepers who brought peace and stability to the region, and to this day makes a decisive contribution to the settlement of armed incidents between Baku and Yerevan. Attempts by outside forces to have the Russian peacekeeping contingent withdraw are precisely aimed at destabilizing the South Caucasus. At all levels, we continue to work with our partners for a comprehensive normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, including the unblocking of transport communications, border delimitation, agreement on a peace treaty, the resolution of humanitarian problems and the establishment of public and expert dialogue. At the same time, peace requires political will and the consent of both sides. Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Russia for the next trilateral summit, where a whole range of trilateral and bilateral issues are to be discussed," she concluded. S Korea fires warning shots at N Korea ship The maritime border is considered a flash point. Image: Shutterstock South Korea's military fired warning shots at a North Korean ship before dawn on Monday, deeming the vessel had crossed the adversaries' disputed maritime border, prompting the North to return warning fire, state and local media reported. A North Korean merchant vessel crossed what is known as the Northern Limit Line at 3.42am but retreated northwards after the South's navy fired warning shots, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, according to the Yonhap news agency. Pyongyang's Korean People's Army claimed a South Korean military vessel had "invaded" the de facto border by 2.5 to 5 kilometres a few minutes later and that the KPA fired 10 warning rounds from the country's west coast. KPA "coastal defence units on the western front... took an initial countermeasure to powerfully expel the enemy warship by firing 10 shells of multiple rocket launchers toward the territorial waters, where naval enemy movement was detected, at 5:15," a KPA General Staff spokesman said in a statement. "The KPA General Staff once again sends a grave warning to the enemies who made [a] naval intrusion in the wake of such provocations as the recent artillery firing and loudspeaker broadcasting," he added. The maritime border is considered a flash point and has been the location of several clashes between the two Koreas over the years. Tensions have soared in recent weeks, with the North conducting several missile launches and artillery barrages that have provoked South Korea and Japan and worried their Western allies. Pyongyang has dramatically ramped up its military exercises recently as Seoul and Washington say North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is close to conducting what would be his country's seventh nuclear test. Monday's exchange of warning fire comes on the same day that US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman is to hold three-way talks with allies Japan and South Korea in Tokyo in a show of unity after the North's slew of launches. Earlier this month, North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile, conducted multiple artillery barrages and flew fighter jets close to the South's border in another show of force. Pyongyang has described the exercises as "tactical nuke" drills. (AFP) Ishares Msci Australia Index EWA Technical Data Longer Term Trading Plans for EWA Buy EWA slightly over 19.87 target 21.70 stop loss @ 19.81 Details The technical summary data tells us to buy EWA near 19.87 with an upside target of 21.70. This data also tells us to set a stop loss @ 19.81 to protect against excessive loss in case the stock begins to move against the trade. 19.87 is the first level of support below 20.4 , and by rule, any test of support is a buy signal. In this case, support 19.87 would be being tested, so a buy signal would exist. Short EWA slightly under 21.70, target 19.87, stop loss @ 21.76 Details The technical summary data is suggesting a short of EWA as it gets near 21.70 with a downside target of 19.87. We should have a stop loss in place at 21.76though. 21.70 is the first level of resistance above 20.4, and by rule, any test of resistance is a short signal. In this case, if resistance 21.70 is being tested, so a short signal would exist. Swing Trading Plans for EWA Buy EWA slightly over 21.70, target 23.51, Stop Loss @ 21.64 Details If 21.70 begins to break higher, the technical summary data tells us to buy EWA just slightly over 21.70, with an upside target of 23.51. The data also tells us to set a stop loss @ 21.64 in case the stock turns against the trade. 21.70 is the first level of resistance above 20.4, and by rule, any break above resistance is a buy signal. In this case, 21.70, initial resistance, would be breaking higher, so a buy signal would exist. Because this plan is based on a break of resistance, it is referred to as a Long Resistance Plan. Short EWA slightly near 21.70, target 20.18, Stop Loss @ 21.76. Details The technical summary data is suggesting a short of EWA if it tests 21.70 with a downside target of 20.18. We should have a stop loss in place at 21.76 though in case the stock begins to move against the trade. By rule, any test of resistance is a short signal. In this case, if resistance, 21.70, is being tested a short signal would exist. Because this plan is a short plan based on a test of resistance it is referred to as a Short Resistance Plan. Day Trading Plans for EWA Buy EWA slightly over 21.70, target 23.51, Stop Loss @ 21.65 Details If 21.70 begins to break higher, the technical summary data tells us to buy EWA just slightly over 21.70, with an upside target of 23.51. The data also tells us to set a stop loss @ 21.65 in case the stock turns against the trade. 21.70 is the first level of resistance above 20.4, and by rule, any break above resistance is a buy signal. In this case, 21.70, initial resistance, would be breaking higher, so a buy signal would exist. Because this plan is based on a break of resistance, it is referred to as a Long Resistance Plan. Short EWA slightly near 21.70, target 20.25, Stop Loss @ 21.75. Details The technical summary data is suggesting a short of EWA if it tests 21.70 with a downside target of 20.25. We should have a stop loss in place at 21.75 though in case the stock begins to move against the trade. By rule, any test of resistance is a short signal. In this case, if resistance, 21.70, is being tested a short signal would exist. Because this plan is a short plan based on a test of resistance it is referred to as a Short Resistance Plan. EWA Ratings for October 24: Term Near Mid Long Rating Neutral Weak Weak P1 0 0 19.87 P2 19.93 19.49 21.70 P3 20.25 20.18 23.51 Triggers may have already come Real Time Updates for Repeat Institutional Readers: Factset: A username and password has been assigned to repeat institutional readers of our research though the Factset Portal. Use that for direct access, so you can get real time updates for EWA. Bloomberg, Reuters, Refinitiv, Zacks, or IB users can obtain these same updates by using the link below, and selecting a username and password manually. Instructions: Click the Get Real Time Updates button below. In the login prompt, select forgot username Type the email you use for Factset Use the user/pass you receive to login You will have 24/7 access to real time updates. From then on you can just click to get the real time update whenever you want. GET REAL TIME UPDATES Price Based + Macro = Get an Edge on the Competition Price matters most to making good timing decisions, and the MACRO picture defines how restrictive you need to be with entry levels. Together, these are powerful. Review our Global Liquidity Report from December 2021 to see how our Macro work can foretell future market conditions. Look for the word Volatility. Market Crash Leading Indicator Our Market Crash Leading Indicator is Evitar Corte. Evitar Corte warned of market crash risk four times since 2000. Using the FOMCs Monetary Policy as a key variable in the quant. It identified the Internet Debacle before it happened. It identified the Credit Crisis before it happened. It also offered a warning prior to that period of time in 2019 when overnight lending spiked to 8.5%, but that amounted to nothing, and the conditions to become exposed resurfaced in Oct-Nov 2019. It identified the Corona Crash too, and protected investors from 21% of that loss. See what Evitar Corte is Saying Now. Get Notified When our Ratings Change: Take a Trial Chart of EWA with Longer Term Pivots Blue = Current Price Red= Resistance Green = Support This report was produced using AI developed by Stock Traders Daily. Over the past 20 years this proprietary AI has been refined to help identify the most opportune trading strategies for both individual stocks and the stock markets themselves. This methodology is also applied to Index options, ETFs, and futures. The objective of this specific report is to optimize trading in Ishares Msci Australia Index (NYSE: EWA) while incorporating prudent risk controls. Warning: This is a static report, the data below was valid at the time of the publication, but support and resistance levels for EWA change over time, so the report should be updated regularly. Real Time updates are provided to subscribers. Unlimited Real Time Reports. Subscribers also receive market analysis, stock correlation tools, macroeconomic observations, timing tools, and protection from market crashes using Evitar Corte. Instructions: The rules that govern the data in this report are the rules of Technical Analysis. For example, if EWA is testing support buy signals surface, and resistance is the target. Conversely, if resistance is being tested, that is a sign to control risk or short, and support would be the downside target accordingly. In each case, the trigger point is designed to be both an ideal place to enter a position (avoid trading in the middle of a trading channel), and it acts as a level of risk control too. Swing Trades, Day Trades, and Longer term Trading Plans: This data is refined to differentiate trading plans for Day Trading, Swing Trading, and Long Term Investing plans for EWA too. All of these are offered below the Summary Table. Indices of the Indian markets during the auspicious hour of the Muhurat trading on Diwali went up as Sensex surged 562 points to 59,869.22 and Nifty50 rose 157 points to 17,733.40 level on Monday. Some of the most active stocks during the hour on BSE were Sasken which moved up about 15 per cent in the beginning, Borosil Renewables which surged about 5.23 per cent and Tejas Networks which rose about 5.8 per cent. The special trading window marks the beginning of Samvat 2079. It is the Hindu calendar that starts on Diwali. BSE LargeCap was up 56.50 points and Nestle India, HDFC Bank, Berger Paint, Grasim were the most active on the index. BSE MidCap was 115 points and its most active stocks were IDBI, Federal Bank, JSW Energy and Natco Pharma. The Nifty Next 50 closed 190 points up at 41967.95. Tata Motors, ICICI Bank, Asian Paints, Axis Bank and Tata Steel were the most active stocks on Nifty. While Nifty Bank performed nicely with 525 points up. Bollywood Actor Ajay Devgn rang the opening bell of the Muhurat hour. BSE Chief Financial Officer Nayan Mehta was also present in the ceremony along with Girish Joshi, head for listing business at BSE and BSE Chief Belief Officer Sameer Patil. The usual trading session of the Indian stock exchanges were closed on Monday for trading on the occasion of Diwali. Normal trading will resume tomorrow. The Indian stock exchanges open for an hour in what is called as Muhurat trading. Trading took place across various segments like equity, commodity derivatives, currency derivatives, equity futures & options, and securities lending & borrowing (SLB) in the same time slot. It is believed that this auspicious occasion of Mahurat Trading will bring more wealth and prosperity. During this one-hour window, investors place orders for stocks according to their wishes which they believe to be auspicious and bring in good returns.Stock brokers perform Lakshmi Puja at the exchange and then the Muhurat trading takes place. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi comes and resides at the place of puja which is why traders and shopkeepers stay awake with all decorative lights. In the first minutes of the session, Sensex went up 661.70 points to 59,952.11 levels, while Nifty50 went up 185.65 points to 17,761.95. (ANI) Six of the eight northeastern states on Sunday sounded a maximum alert and asked all the concerned districts, disaster management authorities and agencies to remain maximum alert with all precautionary measures to deal with the heavy to very heavy rainfall predicted in view of the cyclone 'Sitrang' on Monday to Wednesday. The state governments have asked the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) authority to deploy additional troops in the probable areas, where heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur in view of the cyclone 'Sitrang' on Monday to Wednesday. Maximum rainfall has been predicted up to 200 mm. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday said that light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over south Assam, East Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura expected to occur from Monday to Wednesday. "Extremely heavy rainfall over Tripura and Mizoram is likely to occur till October 26 (Wednesday)," the IMD said in a statement. Three southern Assam districts -- Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi, all 11 districts of Mizoram, all 8 eight districts of Tripura and most of the 16 districts of Nagaland have taken a series of measures to deal with the possible cyclonic situations. The IMD statement said that the deep depression over east central Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of 20 kmph during past six hours, and lay centered on Sunday morning over west central and adjoining east central Bay of Bengal and about 640 km northwest of Port Blair, 670 km south of Sagar Island and 820 km south-southwest of Barisal (Bangladesh). It is very likely to move northwestwards during next 12 hours and intensify into a cyclonic storm over central Bay of Bengal. Thereafter, it would re-curve and move north-northeast wards and cross Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip, close to Barisal on October 25 early morning. In Agartala, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha reviewed the situation with all departments, Army and Central para-military forces seeking their active support. Tripura Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Sushanta Chowdhury while briefing the media said that the state government cancelled the leaves of all officials for the next one week and schools and educational institutions would be closed for three days from October 24. The Tripura government has taken 30 point steps and actions. These include, regulations of movement of vehicles across the state on October 25 and 26, opening of adequate number of relief with adequate quantities of relief materials, preparing adequate number of Quick Reaction Teams and regular assessment of the situation. --IANS sc/pgh ( 441 Words) 2022-10-23-23:26:02 (IANS) Delhi Police have arrested 29 people including 7 women for gambling at Hotel City West End on Club Road Punjabi Bagh, an official said on Sunday. According to the police, they have also recovered Rs 58.57 lakh and 10 sets of playing cards. "Keeping in mind the instances of gambling on the occasion of Diwali, like every year, all the SHOs and operational teams were instructed to identify and take strict action on such activities," DCP Ghanshyam Bansal said. "A source informed that large-scale gambling is a regular affair in Hotel City West End on Club Road Punjabi Bagh. The source was further asked by the police to watch the activities being carried out at the said hotel," the police officer said. "On October 22, specific inputs were received that a large number of people were assembling at the hotel for indulging in gambling at the Banquet Hall on the first floor," the DCP said, adding that acting on the inputs, a raid was conducted and 29 people, including some women were found gambling with cards on different tables. "When they saw the raiding party, everyone threw the cards and stood up. They all were apprehended," said the DCP. The CCTV footage of the hotel of the last few days is also being analysed, the official added. The police registered an FIR under Sections 3 and 4 of the gambling act. "On questioning, it was revealed that the hotel manager used to charge an entry fee of Rs 2,500 for allowing their hotel premises for gambling activities and serving food and snacks," said the official. Further legal action is being taken against the management and staff. (ANI) Kannur University Vice-Chancellor Gopinath Ravindran on Monday said that he will not tender his resignation as sought by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, who had a day earlier sought the resignation of Vice Chancellors of nine universities in the state. Governor Arif Khan is also the Chancellor of Universities in the state. "I have received the decision of Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan but I will not submit my resignation. The resignation of the VC is based either on financial irregularities or bad behaviour and neither of this has happened here. This is a fake accusation," said Kannur University Vice-Chancellor said on Monday. Ravindran said that a case relating to his appointment as the Kannur VC is pending before the Supreme Court. "How could the Chancellor terminate the VC when there is a case in the court?, the Kannur VC asked. As per a order issued on Sunday the Governor has directed Vice Chancellors of nine universities in Kerala to tender their resignations. Vice-Chancellors of the University of Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kannur University, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, University of Calicut and Thunachath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University have been asked to resign from the post. The Governor issued the order upholding the Supreme Court order which quashed the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. According to the PRO, Kerala Raj Bhavan, letters have been sent directing the Vice Chancellors of 9 Universities to tender their resignation by 11:30 am on October 24. The letters have been emailed to the VCs and registrars of the varsities concerned, the PRO, Kerala Raj Bhavan said. "Yesterday evening I received the letter. I have been asked to submit my resignation letter on Monday by 1:30 pm. My case is in the Supreme Court and it is subjudice. I don't have any plans to resign, if he decides to terminate my services let him do it," Ravindran said. The Kannur VC said that such an action is unprecedented in the country and has not been taken against the Vice Chancellors of any state in India. "Upholding the verdict of Hon'ble Supreme Court in Civil Appeal Nos.7634-7635 of 2022(@ SLP(c)Nos.21108-21109 of 2021), Hon'ble Governor Shri Arif Mohammed Khan has directed Vice Chancellors of 9 varsities in Kerala to tender resignation," Raj Bhawan said in a tweet quoting PRO of Kerala Raj Bhavan. The Raj Bhavan said Khan also directed that the resignations reach him by 11.30 am on Monday. This comes after the Supreme Court set aside the appointment of MS Rajasree as Vice-Chancellor of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. A bench of justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar allowed the appeal filed by Professor Sreejith P.S. challenging the Kerala High Court order dated August 2, 2021. The court noted that even as per Section 13(4) of the University Act, 2015, the Committee shall recommend unanimously a panel of not less than three suitable persons from amongst the eminent persons in the field of engineering sciences, which shall be placed before the Visitor/Chancellor. As per the UGC Regulations also, the Visitor/Chancellor shall appoint the Vice Chancellor out of the panel of names recommended by the Search Committee. Therefore, when only one name was recommended and the panel of names was not recommended, the Chancellor had no option to consider the names of the other candidates, the top court observed.At a recent event, Governor Khan while pointing out the issue of the VC appointment to various universities in Kerala said the Supreme Court itself had earlier made it clear that the appointment of the vice-chancellors was the responsibility of the Governor. "Supreme Court has made it clear appointment of Vice Chancellor is the only responsibility of the Chancellor. The state government has no role in it," he said. (ANI) Leader of Opposition (LoP) of Kerala VD Satheesan has welcomed the state Governor's decision to "rectify his previous mistake of cooperating with the illegal appointments of the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan government." VD Satheesan also mentioned that the governor's decision has come as a "setback" to the appointment of the vice-chancellors "in defiance with the norms and procedures of the University Grants Commission (UGC)." "I welcome the fact that the Governor is ready to correct the mistake he made by cooperating with the illegal appointments of the Pinarayi government. The Governor's decision has come as a setback to the government's move to appoint vice-chancellors in defiance of UGC norms and procedures," LoP VD Satheesan said on the Governor Arif Mohammad Khan's order seeking the resignation of the VCs of nine universities by today. According to the Public Relations Office of Kerala, Governor AM Khan upheld the verdict of the Supreme Court, and directed Vice Chancellors of nine varsities-- Kannur Univeristy, Univesity of Kerala, Mahatama Gandhi University, APJ Abdul Kalam University, University of Calicut, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, and Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University to tender their resignations by 11.30 am today. Reacting to this order, LoP Satheesan said that it is understood that the Governor has taken the decision in the context of the top court's verdict of cancelling the appointment of the Technological University Vice Chancellor. He further claimed that Kerala's sector of higher education is in the "state of collapse" and alleged that the VCs had made appointments through back door. "The state's higher education sector is in a state of collapse and there is complete uncertainty in the higher education sector. The vice-chancellors made their own people and favorites only to make back-door appointments. The opposition had pointed this out several times," he said.He mentioned that the UGC standards for VC appointment are "very precise" and the search committee should consist of academians, he said. However, the state law minister P Rajeev hit back at the Governor and said that it is nowhere mentioned in any regulation of UGC which states that the Chancellor should be the Governor. This came while AM Khan pointed out the issue of the VC appointment to various universities in Kerala and said that the Supreme Court itself had earlier made it clear that the appointment of the vice-chancellors was the responsibility of the Governor. Meanwhile, Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu also hit back at Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and said that his order demanding the resignation of the vice-chancellors of nine universities in the state was unfortunate. Addressing the media on Sunday, R Bindu said, "The governor's action is a unilateral one. The order, which was taken without consulting the government, is regrettable." (ANI) On the occasion of Diwali, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered prayers at the Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya on Monday. The Hanuman Garhi temple was beautifully decorated with garlands and diyas, to mark the auspicious day of the festival of lights, Deepawali. "The immortal symbol of the eternal victory of 'Light' against all the darkness prevailing in the society, Greetings and eternal best wishes to everyone on the occasion of the great festival of Deepawali. On this holy festival of light, it is wished that the whole world should be 'Rammay'. May everyone's life be illuminated with the light of happiness, prosperity and harmony by the grace of Maa Lakshmi," CM Yogi tweeted in Hindi." Earlier on Sunday, a new Guinness World Record for the 'largest display of oil lamps' was set when more than 15.76 lakh earthen lamps were lit at the 'Ram ki Paidi' during the Yogi government's Deepotsav celebrations in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya on the eve of Diwali. The record was created in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Thousands of devotees, the general public, and dignitaries witnessed this historic event. The teachers and students of Awadh University, Ayodhya contributed largely to creating the record. Over 15.76 lakh earthen lamps were lit one by one with the chanting of 'Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram' as soon as the PM launched the festival. 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. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who landed in Kargil on Monday to celebrate the festival of light with soldiers said Diwali means the "festival of end of terror" and that Kargil had made it possible. Addressing soldiers Prime Minister said, "For me, all of you have been my family for years now. It is a privilege to spend Diwali with our brave jawans in Kargil." "The forces are the pillar of India's security. From this victorious land of Kargil, I wish the countrymen and the world a very happy Diwali. There has not been a single war with Pakistan where Kargil has not hoisted the flag of victory. The meaning of Diwali is end of Atank (terror) and Kargil made it possible," he said. "In Kargil, our forces crushed terror. I was fortunate enough to be a witness. I was shown my old photos here, and I am grateful for that," he added. The Prime Minister has been celebrating the festival with soldiers for several years now. In 2019, the Prime Minister celebrated Diwali with soldiers in the Rajouri district along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. He had called soldiers as his family and lauded them for guarding the borders even during festivals. He had exchanged Diwali greetings with the Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel at Pathankot Air Force Station. In 2018, Prime Minister Modi had celebrated Diwali with jawans of the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), at Harsil in Uttarakhand. Following that he had offered prayers at the Kedarnath shrine. In 2017, the Prime Minister celebrated the festival of light with army soldiers and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in the Gurez Valley of Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora District. In 2016, the PM went to Himachal Pradesh to celebrate the festival with Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel at an outpost. He visited the Punjab border to celebrate Diwali with soldiers in 2015. In 2014, Prime Minister Modi spent Diwali in Siachen with soldiers.Notably, PM Modi has been visiting soldiers on Diwali, ever since he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. (ANI) Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Saudi Arabia will take place in Riyadh in 2023, bringing together the regions industry leaders for discussions, deals and insight on the continued growth of the Kingdoms hospitality and tourism sectors. This will be the sixth industry conference organised by The Bench for the Saudi market. Host sponsors are Al Faisaliah Hotel and Al Khozama Investment. The 2023 edition of FHS Saudi Arabia will take place at the luxurious Prince Sultan Grand Hall from February 28 to March 2. Al Faisaliah Hotel is currently undergoing a guestroom and public area refurbishment, which is scheduled for completion by year-end 2023. The event will once again unite the investment communities of the Saudi Arabian Hospitality Investment Conference (SHIC) and the Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) and will bring together government leaders, hotel and F&B investors, developers and operators, to address the Kingdoms latest developments and the industrys hottest topics. Following the resounding success of FHS in Riyadh and Dubai this year, we are excited to announce the dates and host partners for next year, said Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench. This years events have further cemented the Future Hospitality Summit as the flagship hospitality investment platform in the region and we cant wait to start working on the programmes for 2023. We are delighted to welcome Al Faisaliah Hotel and Al Khozama Investment as our host sponsors for the third edition of FHS Saudi Arabia and look forward to welcoming everyone to the iconic Al Faisaliah Hotel, managed by Mandarin Oriental. FHS Saudi Arabia 2023 will focus on various conference tracks including hospitality investment, industry start-ups, sustainable development and human capital ecosystems. The FHS Advisory Board will convene November to discuss and shape the event programme and experiences. Al Faisaliah Hotel is excited to partner with The Bench and Al Khozama in delivering the next Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh, a city that is developing rapidly with vast opportunities and resources to grasp on. We are delighted to have this summit at our property and we cant wait to see you all soon, commented Richard Johnson, General Manager of Al Faisaliah Hotel. Six months after FHS Saudi Arabia concludes, the Future Hospitality Summit will be held in Abu Dhabi for the first time and will be hosted at the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island from 25-27 September 2023. TradeArabia News Service The officials informed that no casualties have been reported in the incident so far. The owner of the house, Mena said that the fire had completely burnt down as many as 15 rooms of the Kutcha house unit. Properties worth lakhs and many important documents have been lost, she said. "The fire completely burnt 15 rooms of the rented Kutcha house unit and properties worth lakhs along with several important documents of the dwelling families have been lost in the incident," House owner Mena told the mediapersons. The fire workers informed that they reached the location right after receiving the information and hence could successfully manage to control its spread with the help of the personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and locals there. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. The fire department officials also said that this fire had caused massive traffic jams which delayed the fire brigade vehicle from reaching the spot. Further details are awaited. (ANI) On Monday morning, children in Tamil Nadu's Madurai were seen dressed up and celebrating a joyful Deepawali by bursting crackers. Popularly known as the festival of lights, Diwali or Deepavali 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 and dress in new traditional attire. 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 and Ganesha, and Kubera as part of 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. Spread over 5 days, the festival begins with Dhanteras or Dhan Trayodashi on the first day with Bhai Dooj being celebrated on the last day on October 25. This year due to a solar eclipse, the day after Chhoti Diwali and Diwali will be celebrated on the same day (Monday, October 24). 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. The Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple will remain closed from 11 am to 7 pm on Tuesday, said temple officials. 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. On the second lunar day of Shukla Paksha in the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar or 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) Prime Minister Narendra Modi who landed in Kargil to celebrate Diwali with soldiers, on Monday said India never considered war as the first option but if anyone casts an evil eye on the country, the armed forces will give a befitting reply. "We have never viewed war as the first option...Be it the war in Lanka or Kurukshetra, we tried till last to postpone it. We are against war but peace cannot be there without strength. If anyone dares to look at us with evil eyes, our armed forces will give a befitting reply," PM Modi said addressing the soldiers. He said when India's strength rises, it will be beneficial for global peace and prosperity. "From this victorious land of Kargil, I wish the countrymen and the world a very happy Diwali. There has not been a single war with Pakistan where Kargil has not hoisted the flag of victory. Diwali means 'festival of end of terror' and Kargil made it possible. Our Army in Kargil crushed the fountainhead of terror and people till date remember the Diwali of victory the country celebrated," the Prime Minister said. PM Modi said self-reliance is the most important to the nation's security. He said country's dependence should be minimal on foreign weapons and systems. "I commend all the three armed forces who have decided that over 400 types of defence equipment will not be imported but rather be built in India. When our jawans fight with made-in-India weapons, they will not only feel proud but also have an element of surprise to defeat the enemy," he said. PM Modi said the way of warfare is changing in the age of technology. He said armed forces are ready, with new training, new reforms and new technology. "Over the last eight years, we have given the emphasis on implementing reforms within the armed forces. We have opened positions in the forces for women. Women's power will strengthen our armed forces. The induction of women officers into 'Permanent Commission' will result in the growth of our power." Prime Minister said the Centre is developing hi-tech infrastructure in the border areas with seamless connectivity. (ANI) As the Diwali celebrations across the nation gained pace, the Indian Army was seen patrolling at the last Army post in Poonch today. The Army took stock of the area located in Jammu and Kashmir near the LoC at 10,000 feet altitude. "Challenges increased with continuous snowfall, but surveillance is tighter than ever. Our happiness lies in prosperous celebrations across the country," said an Indian Army soldier. Earlier on Sunday, The Indian Army on Sunday paid tribute to Havaldar Darpan Pradhan who made the supreme sacrifice on October 21 while deployed on the Siachen Glacier. Earlier in August, the Northern Command of the Indian Army recovered the mortal remains of a soldier after 38 years, who went missing during 'Operation Meghdoot' in 1984. 'Operation Meghdoot', the code-name for an Indian armed forces operation, was launched 38 years ago on April 13. Launched in 1984 to capture the Siachen Glacier in Jammu and Kashmir, precipitating the Siachen conflict, this military operation was unique as the first assault was launched at the world's highest battlefield. The military action resulted in Indian troops gaining control of the entire Siachen Glacier. The Indian Army said that Lance Naik late Chander Sekhar had been missing since May 29, 1984, in Siachen. "LNk (Late) Chander Shekhar was identified with the help of the identification disk bearing his Army number which was entangled along with the mortal remains," adding that further details were recovered from official Army records. According to the Indian Army's records, the late soldier had been deployed for Operation Meghdoot at Gyongla Glacier in 1984. "A patrol of Indian Army recovered the mortal remains of LNk (Late) Chander Shekhar who was missing since 29 May 1984 while deployed at glacier due to an avalanche," the Northern Command of Indian Army said in a tweet. The Siachen Glacier is the highest battleground on earth, where India and Pakistan have fought intermittently since 1984. Both countries maintain a permanent military presence in the region at the height of over 6,000 metres (20,000 ft). More than 2,000 soldiers people have died in this inhospitable terrain, mostly due to weather extremes and the natural hazards of mountain warfare. (ANI) The Supreme Court has set aside a Gauhati High Court order which granted bail to two men, accused of possessing about 13 kgs of morphine in a motor vehicle. A bench of Chief Justice UU Lalit, along with Justice Bela M. Trivedi on Friday set aside the Gauhati High Court order granting bail to the two accused. The Gauhati High Court granted relief of bail to accused named Khalil Uddin and Md Abdul Hai alias Abdul Hai Talukdar in connection with crime registered pursuant to the Narcotics Control Bureau in respect of offences punishable under Sections 21(c) read with 29 of The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act). The High Court had released two accused on bail after they were in custody for about a year. Questioning the grant of relief to said accused, instant appeals have been preferred by NCB. "What emerges from the record is that large quantity of contraband weighing about 13 kgs of morphine was found in a car which was driven by Md. Jakir Hussain. Whether the role played by said Md. Jakir Hussain could get connected with both the accused is a question," the court said. The court further noted that going by the circumstances on record, at this stage, on the strength of the statement of Nizam Uddin, though allegedly retracted later, the matter stands on a different footing. "In our considered view, in the face of the mandate of Section 37 of the Act, the High Court could not and ought not to have released the accused on bail," the court said. "We, therefore, allow these appeals, set aside the view taken by the High Court and direct that both the appellants be taken in custody forthwith," the court said. The court also noted that the charge sheet has been filed and hence directed the Trial Court to take up the matter and conclude the proceedings as early as possible and preferably within six months from the receipt of this order. According to prosecution, contraband material weighing about 13 kgs of morphine was found in a motor vehicle which was driven by a co-accused named Md. Jakir Hussain. During the course of the investigation, it was found that the motor vehicle was registered in the name of Md. Nizam Uddin who had executed a sale letter and handed over the custody of the vehicle to accused Md. Abdul Hai and that Md. Jakir Hussain was the driver employed by Md. Abdul Hai and that contraband material in question were to be handed over to the accused -Khalil Uddin, an owner of a tea shop. (ANI) Vice Chancellors of nine Universities of Kerala have approached the high court challenging Governor Arif Mohammad Khan's order to tender their resignations. The Kerala High Court will hold a special session at 4 pm today to consider the petitions.Single Bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran will consider the petitions. As per an order issued by the Kerala Governor- Vice-Chancellors of the University of Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kannur University, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, University of Calicut and Thunachath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University have been asked to resign from their posts. The Governor issued the order upholding the Supreme Court order which quashed the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. According to the PRO, Kerala Raj Bhavan, letters have been sent directing the Vice Chancellors of 9 Universities to tender their resignation by 11:30 am on October 24. The letters have been emailed to the VCs and registrars of the varsities concerned, the PRO, Kerala Raj Bhavan said. "Upholding the verdict of Hon'ble Supreme Court in Civil Appeal Nos.7634-7635 of 2022(@ SLP(c)Nos.21108-21109 of 2021), Hon'ble Governor Shri Arif Mohammed Khan has directed Vice Chancellors of 9 varsities in Kerala to tender resignation," Raj Bhawan said in a tweet quoting PRO of Kerala Raj Bhavan. The Raj Bhavan said Khan also directed that the resignations reach him by 11.30 am on Monday. Kannur University Vice-Chancellor Gopinath Ravindran on Monday said that he will not tender his resignation. "I have received the decision of Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan but I will not submit my resignation. The resignation of the VC is based either on financial irregularities or bad behaviour and neither of these has happened here. This is a fake accusation," said Kannur University Vice-Chancellor said on Monday. This comes after the Supreme Court set aside the appointment of MS Rajasree as Vice-Chancellor of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. A bench of justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar allowed the appeal filed by Professor Sreejith P.S. challenging the Kerala High Court order dated August 2, 2021. The court noted that even as per Section 13(4) of the University Act, 2015, the Committee shall recommend unanimously a panel of not less than three suitable persons from amongst the eminent persons in the field of engineering sciences, which shall be placed before the Visitor/Chancellor. As per the UGC Regulations also, the Visitor/Chancellor shall appoint the Vice Chancellor out of the panel of names recommended by the Search Committee. Therefore, when only one name was recommended and the panel of names was not recommended, the Chancellor had no option to consider the names of the other candidates, the top court observed. At a recent event, Governor Khan while pointing out the issue of the VC appointment to various universities in Kerala said the Supreme Court itself had earlier made it clear that the appointment of the vice-chancellors was the responsibility of the Governor. "Supreme Court has made it clear appointment of Vice Chancellor is the only responsibility of the Chancellor. The state government has no role in it," he said. (ANI) According to Shahunagar Police of Mumbai, the deceased has been identified as Ronit Prabhakar Bhalerao, who was going with his friend to Matunga labor camp on Sunday evening, where he had an argument with one of the accused for allegedly staring at him. "The three accused then started thrashing Ronit with belts and kicked and punched, and then slammed him on the ground twice," stated the police. "Rohit sustained many injuries and was rushed to the hospital, where the doctor declared him dead," stated further. All the three accused have been arrested and a case under sections 302, 324, 326, 504, 506 and 34 of IPC has been registered. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a Kargil visit to celebrate Diwali with soldiers, took part in a special sing-along to the Vande Mataram song on Monday. In a video, Prime Minister was seen clapping as jawans were singing the Vande Mataram song. The PM was standing in the centre while some of the jawans were tuning guitars and other instruments. PM Modi landed in Kargil on Monday morning to celebrate Diwali with jawans. The Prime Minister has been celebrating the festival with soldiers for several years now. He distributed sweets among the Army soldiers. He also laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial and paid tribute to the army personnel who lost their lives here in 1999. Addressing soldiers, Prime Minister said, "For me, all of you have been my family for years now. It is a privilege to spend Diwali with our brave jawans in Kargil." "The forces are the pillar of India's security. From this victorious land of Kargil, I wish the countrymen and the world a very happy Diwali. There has not been a single war with Pakistan where Kargil has not hoisted the flag of victory. The meaning of Diwali is end of Atank (terror) and Kargil made it possible," he said. "In Kargil, our forces crushed terror. I was fortunate enough to be a witness. I was shown my old photos here, and I am grateful for that," he added. PM said the armed forces are the pillar of the country's safety and security. "A nation is safe when the border is secure, the economy is strong and the society is full of confidence. India wishes this festival of lights paves way for global peace," he said. Highlighting the reforms in armed forces by the Centre, Prime Minister said the induction of women officers will boost the country's strength. "For me, all of you have been my family for years now. It is a privilege to spend Diwali with our brave jawans in Kargil," Prime Minister Modi said. "Over the last eight years, we have laid emphasis on implementing reforms in the armed forces. We have opened positions in the forces for women. Women's power will strengthen our armed forces. The induction of women officers under 'permanent commission' will result in the growth of our power," he said. PM said it is because the armed forces are protecting borders that every citizen in India sleeps peacefully. "From this victorious land of Kargil, I wish the countrymen and the world a very happy Diwali. There has not been a single war with Pakistan where Kargil has not hoisted the flag of victory. Diwali means 'festival of end of terror' and Kargil made it possible. Our Army in Kargil crushed the fountainhead of terror and people till date remember the Diwali of victory the country celebrated," Prime Minister said. He said while the jawans are protecting the borders, every citizen in the country is working towards strengthening the nation. "Just like all of you are protecting us at the borders, we are working within the country to fight evils like terrorism, Naxalism, corruption. 'Naxalwad' had taken a large part of the nation in its grasp, but today that stretch is rapidly decreasing," PM Modi said. PM Modi said when India's strength rises, it is beneficial for global peace and prosperity. (ANI) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday lashed out at Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan for seeking the resignation of vice-chancellors of nine universities in the state and said that the Governor was misusing his powers as the Chancellor of varsities. "Nine vice-chancellors have been asked to resign unilaterally under the cover of the court verdict regarding the appointment of the KTU vice-chancellor. The Governor is misusing the Chancellor post to exercise more powers than he holds. It is undemocratic and encroachment on the powers of the Vice Chancellors. The Governor is acting to further the agenda of the Sangh Parivar. A war is being waged with destructive intelligence against the universities of Kerala, which are progressing to the heights of academic excellence. What is this attack for? What is behind this other than political goals?" said Vijayan at a press conference in Palakkad. Vijayan was hitting back at the directions sent by Governor Khan late on Sunday to vice-chancellors of all nine universities in the state to submit their resignations. Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court has granted a special sitting today on Diwali holiday for the government to challenge the Chancellor's order seeking the resignation of nine Vice-ChancellorsAddressing the press conference, the Chief Minister said that the powers and duties conferred on the Governor by the Constitution are to preserve the dignity of the State, the people and the Constitution. "No one who respects democracy can accept such overbearing tendencies. The Office of the Governor is not to put the state government in crisis or to take action against the government. The powers and duties conferred on the Governor by the Constitution are to preserve the dignity of the State, the people and the Constitution," he said. He further said, "According to the governor, the appointments of the VCs were made in all these nine universities without following the University Grants Commission (UGC) rules. In all nine universities, the Governor is the appointing authority. If the VC appointments were made illegally, then the primary responsibility lies with the appointing Governor himself. According to the logic of the Governor himself, should the VCs resign? It's good to think about that too." The Chief Minister said that Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) had interfered in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Hyderabad University too. "We have seen Sangh Parivar's interference in JNU and Hyderabad University. Along with that, we have to read about the attacks on the universities here. Those who do not read this together are jumping into a big political mistake," he said. The Chief Minister further said that Governor or chancellor does not have the right to remove vice-chancellors and there is no such option in the University Act. "Supreme Court verdict against Technology University's vice-chancellor is not applicable to all vice-chancellors. On the basis of that verdict, the Governor cannot demand that other vice-chancellors resign on the basis of that act. Governor or Chancellor don't have the right to remove vice-chancellors. There is no such option in the University Act," he said. As per an order issued by the Kerala Governor- Vice-Chancellors of the University of Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kannur University, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, University of Calicut and Thunachath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University have been asked to resign from their posts. The Governor issued the order upholding the Supreme Court order which quashed the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University.According to the PRO, Kerala Raj Bhavan, letters have been sent directing the Vice Chancellors of 9 Universities to tender their resignation by 11:30 am on October 24. The letters have been emailed to the VCs and registrars of the varsities concerned, the PRO, Kerala Raj Bhavan said. "Upholding the verdict of Hon'ble Supreme Court in Civil Appeal Nos.7634-7635 of 2022(@ SLP(c)Nos.21108-21109 of 2021), Hon'ble Governor Shri Arif Mohammed Khan has directed Vice Chancellors of 9 varsities in Kerala to tender resignation," Raj Bhawan said in a tweet quoting PRO of Kerala Raj Bhavan.The Raj Bhavan said Khan also directed that the resignations reach him by 11.30 am on Monday. This comes after the Supreme Court set aside the appointment of MS Rajasree as Vice-Chancellor of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.A bench of justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar allowed the appeal filed by Professor Sreejith P.S. challenging the Kerala High Court order dated August 2, 2021. The court noted that even as per Section 13(4) of the University Act, 2015, the Committee shall recommend unanimously a panel of not less than three suitable persons from amongst the eminent persons in the field of engineering sciences, which shall be placed before the Visitor/Chancellor. As per the UGC Regulations also, the Visitor/Chancellor shall appoint the Vice Chancellor out of the panel of names recommended by the Search Committee. Therefore, when only one name was recommended and the panel of names was not recommended, the Chancellor had no option to consider the names of the other candidates, the top court observed. At a recent event, Governor Khan while pointing out the issue of the VC appointment to various universities in Kerala said the Supreme Court itself had earlier made it clear that the appointment of the vice-chancellors was the responsibility of the Governor. "Supreme Court has made it clear appointment of Vice Chancellor is the only responsibility of the Chancellor. The state government has no role in it," he said. (ANI) The prime accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case, Swapna Suresh has accused former CPIM Ministers for asking sexual favors. "Former Assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan, former Devaswom Board minister Kadakampally Surendran, they have made sexual advances to me. They have approached me. They have unethically behaved to some extent over the phone, even face to face which is not appropriate or not unethical for people in such positions, people who are ministers, people who are actually ruling the state," Swapna said. "An indirect advance was made by Dr Thomas Issac, the then finance minister. That was definitely an indirect advance. He definitely invited me. According to me, he made indirect advances and the other two were very direct. Pathetic, frustrated, unethical people," Swapna further added. Swapna further stated that she has enough evidence against them but has never used any unfair means. " I drew a line, I did shout at them, I warned them. I did not have any agenda or intentions. If I had intentions, I would have definitely used the evidence to blackmail them. Because I have every evidence, Whatsapp chats, phone conversations. Some of them are still with investigative agencies as well. They can never say they haven't done all these things. I did not have any agenda, so I have not used it." "We expect these kind of people to behave responsibly. Because we ladies, young children, girls are dependent on them. When somebody approaches them for something, if they are behaving in such a manner, its very shocking," further added. Both Congress state president K Sudhakaran and Opposition Leader V D Satheesan challenged the state government to first file cases against the CPIM leaders. "The CPM and the central BJP leadership have entered into an agreement to not take any further action," Satheesan said. "Swapna's allegations against CPM leaders seem serious and the police should register a case against the former ministers and former speaker.", Sudhakaran said. (ANI) New research supported by Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has provided new insights into huge, ancient animal traps known as kites, revealing sophisticated and extensive hunting of wild animals from the Late Neolithic. The structures were named kites by aviators in the 1920s because, observed from above, their form is reminiscent of old-fashioned childrens kites with streamers. However, the origins and function of these huge, monumental structures had been a matter of debate. Dr Remy Crassard, a leading expert on desert kites, noted that they are some of the largest ancient structures of their era. The oldest kites, in southern Jordan, have been dated to 7000 BCE. The age of newly found kites in north-west Arabia is still being determined but appears to straddle the transition from the Late Neolithic to the Bronze Age (50002000 BCE). Dr Crassard, is a co-director of the Khaybar Longue Duree Archaeological Project, which is sponsored by RCU and its strategic partner Afalula (Frances Agency for the Development of AlUla) estimates that 700 to 800 kites were known 20 years ago compared to about 6,500 now, with the number still growing. Based on recent research conducted in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Armenia and Kazakhstan, Dr Crassards team affirms that kites were used for hunting and not for domestication, that they mark a profound change in human strategies for trapping animals, and that the development of these mega-traps made a spectacular human impact on the landscape. Kites may have led to hunting well beyond subsistence levels, related to an increase in symbolic behaviour related to food production and social organisation. Some wild species such as gazelles might have altered their migratory routes as a result, and other species might have been hunted to extinction. In Saudi Arabia, research led by Rebecca Repper of the University of Western Australias RCU-sponsored team, Aerial Archaeology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Al Ula, detected 207 previously unknown kites in AlUla County. These are especially concentrated on the Harrat Uwayrid, an upland area with an extinct volcano. The team found that a distinct type of V-shaped kite was the dominant form in their study area, in contrast to kites found elsewhere in the region. Kites have been described in a variety of shapes, including V, sock, hatchet and W-shaped. Regardless of form, all kites in the region have driving lines of low stone walls that converge to funnel animals towards a trap such as a pit or precipice. On average, the driving lines of the AlUla kites are approximately 200m long. However, elsewhere they can stretch for kilometres. Ms Repper says the shorter length shows the local knowledge of the hunters, who placed the traps in areas where existing landscapes naturally restricted animal movements. Kite placement also suggests that the hunters had an intimate knowledge of prey movements. While kites recorded in the AlUla region tended to funnel prey towards a sudden precipice, kites elsewhere often end in concealed pits, in which hundreds of animals could be killed during a single hunt. This difference could be an adaptation to the local geography or an evolution of trap hunting. The aerial archaeology teams research in the region complements work by Dr Crassard, who contributed data on the kites of Khaybar to a recently published study led by Dr Olivier Barge (CNRS) on the relative chronology of kite types. In Khaybar, two types of kites have been distinguished: traditionally defined desert kites and rudimentary proto-kites, which do not have a well-defined enclosure surrounded by traps or pits. The team suggests that the proto-kites might have been a precursor to desert kites. The more complex kites may reflect less opportunistic and more formalized hunting techniques. Dr Rebecca Foote, Director of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Research for RCU, said: These studies add to our growing understanding of the rich cultural heritage of the people of north-west Arabia, in this case more on prehistoric practices. The recent studies expand on our earlier discoveries of the Neolithic period in the region, including the construction of large-scale ritual structures known as mustatils. As we embark on the autumn season of RCU-supported archaeological fieldwork, with teams from KSA, France, Australia, Germany and beyond, we look forward to many more insightful findings as part of our ambitious plan to create a global hub of archaeological research and conservation in AlUla. That hub, the Kingdoms Institute, is currently active as a research organization, with plans to open a physical presence at AlUla by 2030. The RCU-sponsored research in and around AlUla is adding to the knowledge base that will inform the Kingdoms Institute. RCU expects the institute to become a prime destination by the time AlUla is receiving 2 million visitors a year in 2035. Dr Ingrid Perisse Valero, Director of Archaeology and Heritage for Afalula, said: The recording of these new kites in AlUla and Khaybar opens up important perspectives on the origins, development and diffusion of these hunting structures, which marked a significant milestone in the history of human evolution and mankinds relationship with the natural environment. The groundbreaking research from these international teams, including work by Frances expert Dr Remy Crassard, combines the results of satellite image analysis and fieldwork, which is the only way to provide precise dating and function by analysing the material associated with these structures. Without a doubt, the ongoing research will be a landmark in prehistorical studies. TradeArabia News Service Congress in Himachal Pradesh is relying on the former Chief Minister late Virbhadra Singh's legacy in the state. The state congress Chief and wife of the late Virbhadra Singh, Pratibha Singh, said on Sunday that the people of the state want to see the picture of Virbhadra Singh in the campaign and want to bring back the congress party in power. "We don't have any shortage of leaders; we shall bring all leaders for the campaign as per the need in the campaign for the Assembly elections here. We will be going without him (Virbhadra Singh) to the elections. He was the only leader who used to bring everyone together, we shall try to carry and we are carrying his legacy. People have demanded Virbhadra's face in the campaign as a big poster as they still remember his love, affection, and contribution to the state. We are definitely winning the state elections and will form the government," she said. The Congress Chief said that the BJP leadership is trying to credit those development works done by Virbhadra Singh but the people remember the development works in each and every corner of the state. "4 medical colleges were given during the Government of Manmohan Singh in the state, IIT was given for Mandi and many such developments were done in the state," she added. She slammed Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur for taking credit for the development done by Virbhadra Singh. "They (BJP) are taking credit for the development done by the others, during the past five years the Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur has completed and inaugurated those projects which were initiated with budget by Virbhadra Singh, people want to see that development back and we shall bring congress in power to resume that development," said Singh. On being asked about the infighting, and distribution of tickets and for her being in the fray for chief ministership, she said that the party will collectively fight to win the maximum seats and form the government. "As far as you talk about the distribution, it has been done after conducting surveys and also, we were able to distribute the tickets as people demanded. We wanted the winnable people to come forward. People are disappointed with the BJP government in the state. People were expecting that the double-engine government will do big work in the state. They are now comparing the BJP with the development done by Virbhadra Singh Ji, people of the state have made up their minds to elect the congress in the state. What we have assured as ten guarantees, we shall fulfil all as we have studied the financial implications. Be it the Old Pension Scheme, Start-up fund for youth, employment and many such others," said the Congress leader. Refuting the rumours of infighting in the state Congress leadership, she said, "There is no infighting in the state Congress leadership, winnability was the prime criteria and tickets were given accordingly, we are trying to put in place everything those who are unhappy, will be with us and they will be heard once the government is formed," she added. On being asked if she is in the fray to get the Chief Minister's berth, she said, "No I am not, there is no such question. We want to form the government and make maximum Congress MLAs win and it will be decided by them once the government is formed." Singh said that she does not see any impact of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the state. "There is no big impact of the AAP in the state. Those small leaders who were neither finding any place in congress nor in BJP, have joined them. But the people of the state don't want them here. People know they brought the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Delhi here and people were also brought there from Punjab and Delhi," Singh said. On being asked about the rumours of her joining before or after the elections joining BJP, she said that she can't even think about this. "I feel disheartened because people are trying to spread rumours that we may join the BJP. There is no question of doing. We can't even think about this. Virbhadra Singh Ji spent 60 years of his political career in the Congress party and today, you are talking about this, these all are rumours and I don't buy it," said Singh. Her son and young congress leader, Vikramaditya Singh, is happy that the central leadership of congress has selected candidates for Himachal Assembly elections with a mixture of young and experienced leaders. He wants to carry forward the Virbhadra Model of Development in the state and wants to fulfil his father's dreams for his constituency, he has prepared his own report card to the public for his five years of development during his period in opposition and during his father's period as legislator of Shimla Rural segment. "I am happy that the central Congress leadership has done ticket allocation with a mixture of new youth and experienced candidates. We want to carry forward the Virbhadra Model of development in the state which includes education, health care, and ration to the poor. There are 14 lakh unemployed youth in the state. We have promised a Rs 680 crore package to youth for self-employed," he said. We shall form Congress governments and fulfil all promises. There are 2.5 Lakh employees in the state, we shall implement the Old Pension Scheme for them. We shall also give 1,500 rupees to the women as assurance. On being asked about dynasty politics, he said family politics is not an issue but it is about winnability. "The BJP has a double standard for family politics; they have four candidates from the political families. We give the sole criteria to inability, the ball rests in the court of people. There are people-centric issues in the state," said Vikramaditya. Vikramaditya further said that Virbhadra Singh during his tenure as MLA in Shimla Rural seat has put Rs 1,500 crore into development works. "I have come with the report card for my assembly segment, I have put Rs 110 crore in development works with a positive attitude despite being in opposition, Virbhadra Singh Ji during his tenure as MLA in Shimla Rural seat has put Rs 1,500 crore development works. I believe in working in a transparent way. Every penny has been accounted for this and we shall win the seat and fulfil the dream of Virbhadra Singh," he added. Himachal Pradesh will go to the polls on November 12, while the counting of the votes will be done on December 8. The Congress declared its first list of 46 candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state with the party fielding senior leaders including Kaul Singh Thakur, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, Mukesh Agnihotri, Asha Kumari and Chander Kumar. Vikramaditya Singh, son of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, has again been fielded from Shimla Rural. The party has fielded sitting 19 MLAs from their traditional seats in the first list. (ANI) Adolescents who sleep less than eight hours a night are more likely to be overweight or obese compared to their peers with sufficient sleep, according to new research. Shorter sleepers were also more likely to have a combination of other unhealthy characteristics including excess fat around the middle, elevated blood pressure, and abnormal blood lipid and glucose levels. "Our study shows that most teenagers do not get enough sleep and this is connected with excess weight and characteristics that promote weight gain, potentially setting them up for future problems," said study author Mr. Jesus Martinez Gomez, a researcher in training at the Cardiovascular Health and Imaging Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC), Madrid, Spain. "We are currently investigating whether poor sleep habits are related to excessive screen time, which could explain why older adolescents get even less sleep than younger ones." This study examined the association between sleep duration and health in 1,229 adolescents in the SI! Program for Secondary Schools trial in Spain. Participants had an average age of 12 years at baseline with equal numbers of boys and girls. Sleep was measured for seven days with a wearable activity tracker three times in each participant at ages 12, 14, and 16 years. For optimal health, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine advises sleeping 9 to 12 hours a night for 6 to 12-year-olds and 8 to 10 hours for 13 to 18-year-olds. To simplify the analysis, the study used 8 hours or more as optimal. Participants were categorised as very short sleepers (less than 7 hours), short sleepers (7 to 8 hours), and optimal (8 hours or more). Overweight and obesity were determined according to body mass index. The researchers calculated a continuous metabolic syndrome score ranging from negative (healthier) to positive (unhealthier) values that included waist circumference, blood pressure, and blood glucose and lipid levels. At 12 years of age, only 34% of participants slept at least 8 hours a night, and this dropped to 23% and 19% at 14 and 16 years of age, respectively. Boys tended to get less sleep. Teenagers who got the most sleep also had better quality sleep, meaning they woke up less during the night and spent a higher proportion of the time in bed sleeping compared to those with shorter sleep. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 27%, 24%, and 21% at 12, 14, and 16 years of age, respectively. Associations between sleep duration, overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome score were analysed after adjusting for parental education, migrant status, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, smoking status, energy intake, city (Madrid or Barcelona) and school. Compared with optimal sleepers, overweight/obesity was 21% and 72% more likely in very short sleepers at 12 and 14 years, respectively. Short sleepers were 19% and 29% more likely to be overweight/obese compared with optimal sleepers at 12 and 14 years, respectively. Similarly, both very short and short sleepers had higher average metabolic syndrome scores at 12 and 14 years compared with optimal sleepers. Mr. Martinez Gomez said: "The connections between insufficient sleep and adverse health were independent of energy intake and physical activity levels, indicating that sleep itself is important. Excess weight and metabolic syndrome are ultimately associated with cardiovascular diseases, suggesting that health promotion programmes in schools should teach good sleep habits. Parents can set a good example by having a consistent bedtime and limiting screen time in the evening. Public policies are also needed to tackle this global health problem." (ANI) The raid follows reports of large-scale irregularities, manipulation, and misappropriation of the fund while implementing the Centre's flagship program, "Saubhagya" of over Rs 200 crore. The raid is still on and further details are awaited. The Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA), a scheme where the poorest of the poor can afford electricity in their homes, was launched in Manipur in November 2017 by N. Biren Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur. A total of approximately 1.75 lakh households (1.62 lakh rural and 0.13 lakh urban households) in Manipur were proposed to be included under the Scheme. (ANI) Some women social workers on Monday celebrated Diwali with the most ignored section of society, known as women prisoners, in Rajasthan's Bikaner jail. The social workers lit lamps with women prisoners in a bid to celebrate the 'light-hearted' festival with that part which has been cut off from society. The hosts were very happy after seeing the visitors as the women prisoners were gifted with sweets and new clothes. "Prisoners should also be seen as a part of society," Kavita Parik, a social worker said. "Correct your karma by reversing the mistakes made knowingly or unknowingly, so that you can come back soon and contribute to the society needed. It is necessary to rectify the mistakes made due to ignorance," Kavita added. "One should also pledge not to take law in their own hand," she said further. Leela Prajapat, a jailor in Bikaner's jail, welcomed the step by the social activists. "Some women social workers came forward and gave sweets and fruits to the women prisoners," she said. Adding that this initiative will surely bring a change in society. Deepavali, popularly known as the festival of lights, is celebrated nationwide with great fervour and enthusiasm. 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. (ANI) Disqualification petitions were filed against the five Janata Dal (United) MLAs of Manipur, who recently joined BJP in presence of BJP National President JP Nadda and Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh in Delhi, at Speaker's Tribunal on Monday. In a big jolt to the JD(U) in Manipur earlier last month, the ruling BJP had inducted five out of seven MLAs from the former ally party. The petitions were filed by the petitioner Hareshwar Goshwami, Vice President of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, in all the five disqualification petitions at the Manipur Legislative Assembly. The counsel for the petitioner, Advocate Ningombam Bupenda Meitei, in all the five disqualification petitions against the five MLAs, was present during the filing of the disqualification petitions at the Manipur Assembly. The five JD(U) MLAs who recently joined BJP include Joykishan Singh, Ngursanglur Sanate, Md. Achab Uddin, Thangjam Arunkumar and LM Khaute. The Bharatiya Janata Party secured a majority of 32 seats in the 60-member state Assembly in the recently held Assembly elections, the results of which were declared on March 10. As per the statement issued by the Legislative Assembly Secretariat, "the Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly is pleased to accept the merger of five JD(U) MLAs with the BJP under the tenth schedule of the Constitution." Following the joining of the MLAs, BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi had said that the state has become JDU-free. "Five JDU MLAs joined the BJP in Manipur, the state has become JDU-free. Those MLAs wanted to remain in NDA. Very soon, we will break the JDU-RJD alliance in Bihar and make the state JDU-free," said Modi. Meanwhile, alleging political horse trading in the merger of Janta Dal United MLAs' into BJP in Manipur, JDU chief Rajiv Ranjan Lalan Singh had said that the merger was done by BJP using money power. "Whatever happened in Manipur (merger of JDU MLAs into BJP) was done by BJP using money power. For the PM, coming together of opposition parties is corruption. They can do whatever they want but JD(U) will become a national party by 2023," the JD(U) chief said. (ANI) Twenty fire tenders have reached the spot. A rescue operation is underway. Earlier on October 13, a fire broke out at the studio of a production house in the Kudghat area of South Kolkata. Thick smoke was seen billowing out, which could be seen from far-off areas after a massive fire broke out in the studio and godown of Eskey movies Thursday morning. As many as 10 fire tenders had reached the production house- located at 27, Baburam Ghosh road in the Kudghat area, Kolkata- to extinguish the fire. The wrath of fire had turned the huge expensive equipment of the studio of Eskey movies into ashes. The fire department was seen firefighting after reaching the spot to tame the flame. "After hours of fire fighting the blaze has been contained and no casualties have been reported", the fire department had said. The cause of the fire is not clear yet. Police have arrived at the spot to investigate the matter. Earlier, the same incident was reported from Howrah, West Bengal after a fire broke out in a Howrah garage on October 4. Upon receiving the information about the blaze in the garage that falls under the Domjur Police Station area, fire tenders rushed to the spot to extinguish the fire. The blaze, which Prime Facie suggests was triggered by a short circuit, caused extensive damage to the two-wheelers and four-wheelers parked in the garage. (ANI) "We are fully prepared for the cyclone," said Disaster management official Anmol Sasmor. Under the influence of Sitrang cyclone, widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rain at isolated places is very likely to occur over Tripura on Monday and Tuesday, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday. "Under Sitrang influence, widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms/lightning/heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rain at isolated places is very likely to occur over Tripura on 24th & 25th October 2022," IMD said in a press release. "'Sitrang' lay centred at 11:30 IST near lat 19.3N and long 89.5E about 300 km southeast of Sagar Island," IMD tweeted. "Likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and cross the Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip close to Barisal around the early hours of October 25," IMD added. "The cyclonic storm "Sitrang" pronounced as "Si-Trang" over east-central & adjoining areas of west-central and northwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 21 kmph during the past six hours and lay centred at 08:30 hours IST of today, the October 24 over northwest and adjoining the central Bay of Bengal near latitude 18.30N and longitude 88.90E, about 380 km south of Sagar Island and 520 km south-southwest of Barisal (Bangladesh)," stated IMD. (ANI) Police personnel deployed at the VC's house brought the situation under control. There were clashes in some parts. Earlier, Kannur University Vice-Chancellor Gopinath Ravindran on Monday said that he will not tender his resignation as sought by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, who had a day earlier sought the resignation of Vice Chancellors of nine universities in the state. "I have received the decision of Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan but I will not submit my resignation. The resignation of the VC is based either on financial irregularities or bad behaviour and neither of this has happened here. This is a fake accusation," the Kannur University Vice-Chancellor said on Monday. Ravindran said that a case relating to his appointment as the Kannur VC is pending before the Supreme Court. "How could the Chancellor terminate the VC when there is a case in the court?, the Kannur VC asked. As per a order issued on Sunday the Governor has directed Vice Chancellors of nine universities in Kerala to tender their resignations. Vice-Chancellors of the University of Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kannur University, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, University of Calicut and Thunachath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University have been asked to resign from the post. The Governor issued the order upholding the Supreme Court order which quashed the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. (ANI) According to the police, the deceased was identified as Sunil Naidu and the accused persons were identified as juveniles. Search for the third accused who is also a minor is underway. The case was registered under section 302 IPC (punishment for murder). According to the police, some children were bursting crackers at around 2 pm in the area when Sunil asked them to do so elsewhere. Reacting to his remark, three youths (12, 15 and 14 years of age), first assaulted him. One of the accused attacked him with a knife on his throat and injured him. Sunil was immediately shifted to the hospital where he was declared dead. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI) Indian Army soldiers once again celebrated Diwali while being on call of duty. Indian frontline soldiers, posted along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Akhnoor sector, celebrated the auspicious festival by lighting oil lamps. The Army Jawan are celebrating the festival far from their homes. The Jawans performed Lakshmi pooja, singing Lakshmi-Ganesh Arti and also burst crackers on the occasion. An Army jawan said, "I want to tell the countrymen not to worry and celebrate the festival with full joy." Col Iqbal Singh wishes a happy Diwali to all. "I want to wish the countrymen a very happy Diwali and assure them that our soldiers are alert and are keeping a vigil on the border," Col Iqbal Singh said. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Kargil to celebrate Diwali with soldiers. Narendra Modi also laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial and paid tribute to the army personnel who lost their lives here in 1999. PM Modi addressed jawans as his family and said it was a privilege for him to celebrate Diwali with them. He shared sweets with the jawans during his unannounced visit to Kargil.The Prime Minister also participated in the 'Vande Mataram' singalong with Armed Forces members in Kargil. In his address, PM Modi said Diwali means the "festival of end of terror" and that Kargil had made it possible. "For me, all of you have been my family for years now. It is a privilege to spend Diwali with our brave jawans in Kargil," he said. 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 begin on October 21. 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. (ANI) Navlani, the prime accused in Vaishali Thakkar suicide case, was arrested near Indore on October 19. Indore Commissioner of Police 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." TV actress Vaishali Takkar died 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. 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 allegedly 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. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan spent Diwali eve with children who lost their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic, at the CM House on Sunday. CM Chouhan was spotted dancing along with the children on the occasion. According to Chief Minister's Office, 315 children participated in the programme and the children also presented cultural programmes on the occasion. Earlier today, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan lauded Prime Minister for spending Diwali with Jawans in Kargil. "Burning lamps have narrated this message to everyone. Live for the sake of others, have taught this great mantra to live. In the form of Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, the country has got such a national hero who is a companion of the happiness of every countryman," tweeted Chouhan. (ANI) Seven fire tenders are present at the spot, added the Delhi Fire Service. Earlier today, a massive fire broke out in a factory in the Raghubar Pura-2 area of the national capital's Gandhinagar on Monday, officials said. On being informed, as many as 10 fire tenders were pressed into service. According to officials, four persons trapped inside the factory have been rescued. The rescue operation is underway. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Earlier this month, a 19-year-old boy was charred to death in the Gandhi Nagar market fire incident. The deceased was identified as Shehnawaj, an employee at a shop that caught fire. (ANI) Police in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore on Sunday raided the house of the brother of Al Uma chief, Basha as part of the investigation related to the early morning car blast that killed a 25-year-old engineering graduate. Police had said that a gas cylinder had exploded in the car, leading to the death of Jameesha Mubin. However, on verifying the antecedents of Mubin, police found that he was questioned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2019. Police conducted raids at his house and found that raw materials for making explosives, including potassium nitrate, were stocked in his residence. Further investigation has led to the police conducting raids at the residence of Nawab Khan, the brother of Al Uma founder Basha, who was the main architect of the 1996 bomb blasts at Coimbatore in which 56 people were killed and more than 200 injured. Sources in the Coimbatore police told IANS that the team is questioning the son of Nawab Khan, Thalka. Police sources also told IANS that more than six people are in the custody of the local police and sleuths from the central agencies are also investigating the car blast and the subsequent death of Mubin. Krishnamoorthy, a wayside vendor at Ukkadam street near Easwaran Kovil where the car blast took place Sunday morning, told IANS that "God saved us. It seems to be a terror act aimed at street vendors and around 130 shops on the street. If it had happened on the Deepavali eve, it would have been a major tragedy." --IANS aal/vd ( 270 Words) 2022-10-24-20:58:06 (IANS) Scientists have puzzled over the origin of Namibia's fairy circles for nearly half a century. It boiled down to two main theories: either termite were responsible, or plants were somehow self-organizing. Now, researchers benefiting from two exceptionally good rainfall seasons in the Namib Desert, show that the grasses within the fairy circles died immediately after rainfall. Still, termite activity did not cause the bare patches. Instead, continuous soil-moisture measurements demonstrate that the grasses around the circles strongly depleted the water within the circles and thereby likely induced the death of the grasses inside the circles. About 80-140 kilometres from the coast in the Namib, there are millions of fairy circles -- circular gaps in the grassland, each a few meters wide, together forming a distinctive pattern across the whole landscape and visible for miles around. The researchers followed the sporadic rain events in several regions in this desert and examined the grasses, their roots and shoots, and potential root damage induced by termites. Termites, tiny insects that live in large colonies around the world, have often been blamed for the death of the grasses. The researchers took great care to investigate the circumstances of dying grasses within fairy circles right from straight after the rainfall, which triggered the new growth of the grasses. Additionally, they installed soil-moisture sensors in and around the fairy circles to record the soil-water content at 30-minute intervals starting in the dry season 2020 to the end of the rainy season 2022. This enabled the researchers to record precisely how the growth of the new emerging grasses around the circles affected the soil water within and around the circles. They investigated the differences in water infiltration between the inside and outside of circles at ten regions across the Namib. The data show that about ten days after rainfall, the grasses were already starting to die within the circles while most of the interior area of the circles did not have grass germination at all. Twenty days after rainfall, the struggling grasses within the circles were completely dead and yellowish in colour while the surrounding grasses were vital and green. When the researchers examined the roots of the grasses from within the circles and compared them to the green grasses on the outside, they found that the roots within the circles were as long as, or even longer than, those outside. This indicated that the grasses were putting effort into the growth of roots in search of water. However, the researchers found no evidence for termites feeding on roots. It was not until fifty to sixty days after the rainfall that root damage became more visible at the dead grasses. Dr Stephan Getzin, Department of Ecosystem Modelling at the University of Gottingen, explains: "The sudden absence of grass for most areas within the circles cannot be explained by the activity of termites because there was no biomass for these insects to feed on. But more importantly, we can show that the termites are not responsible because the grasses die immediately after rainfall without any sign of creatures feeding on the root." When the researchers analyzed the data on soil-moisture fluctuations, they found that the decline in soil water inside and outside of the circles was very slow after initial rainfall, when grasses were not yet established. However, when the surrounding grasses were well established, the decline in soil water after rainfall was very fast in all areas, even though there were almost no grasses within the circles to take the water. Getzin explains: "Under the strong heat in the Namib, the grasses are permanently transpiring and losing water. Hence, they create soil-moisture vacuums around their roots and water is drawn towards them. Our results strongly agree with those of researchers who have shown that water in soil diffuses quickly and horizontally in these sands even over distances greater than seven meters." Getzin adds: "By forming strongly patterned landscapes of evenly spaced fairy circles, the grasses act as ecosystem engineers and benefit directly from the water resource provided by the vegetation gaps. In fact, we know related self-organized vegetation structures from various other harsh drylands in the world, and in all those cases the plants have no other chance to survive except by growing exactly in such geometrical formations." This research has implications for understanding similar ecosystems, especially with regard to climate change, because the self-organization of plants buffers against negative effects induced by increasing aridification. (ANI) Nine civilians were killed in an attack on a hotel in Somalia's port city Kismayo on Sunday, media reports said. The assault began at 09:45 GMT when a car laden with explosives plunged into the hotel Tawakal's gate which led to the incident. Later, the security forces killed the gunmen. The responsibility for the attack was claimed by the al-Shabab armed group, reported Al Jazeera. The security officers killed three of the attackers and a fourth died in the bomb blast, said Yussuf Hussein Dhumal, security minister for Jubbaland, Somalia. "In the explosion, nine people including students and civilians were killed and 47 others were injured, some of them seriously," Dhumal said and added that "the hotel where the explosion happened was near a school so many students were injured." "This is not a government target," said police officer Abdullahi Ismail. "It is just an ordinary, civilian-frequented hotel." Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shabab's military operation spokesperson, said the group intended to strike Jubbaland region's administrators who work from the hotel. Earlier, nearly 30 hours after Al-Shabaab terrorists stormed Hayat Hotel in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, the siege that left dozens of people dead has ended, media reports said citing government forces. During that incident, 40 people died and over 70 were injured from the attack by al-Shabaab terrorists, the Sputnik news agency reported citing Somali Guardian. Al-Shabaab's spokesperson Abdiasis Abu Musab had said the group repelled more than 15 attacks launched by the government troops. Somalia collapsed as a unified nation in 1991 with the downfall of the Siad Barre's dictatorship. The international community recognized the federal government as the only legitimate authority, which controls the capital of Mogadishu and several other areas. Al-Shabaab, which is affiliated with al-Qaeda terrorist group, has been waging an armed struggle against the government of Somalia and is still controlling large areas in the southern and central parts of the country. Back in May, the United States decided to renew strikes against the group's positions to combat the growing threat posed by al-Shabaab to US partner forces, according to the Russian news agency. 13 al-Shabaab terrorists were killed in the recent US airstrike in Somalia on August 14, according to the US Africa Command, the report added. The international community condemned the terrorist attack on a popular hotel in Mogadishu. "The UN wishes a speedy recovery for the injured, and expresses its solidarity with all Somalis in their against terrorism," the UN in Somalia said. The EU on its part strongly condemned the cowardly attack on the Hayat Hotel and shared its heartfelt condolences with those affected by the violence. The 27-member bloc said that the attacks will not derail efforts to help and stabilize Somalia. India also condemned the attack on the Hayat Hotel in Mogadishu in the strongest words. It also expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of the victims and assured India stands with the Government and people of Somalia in their fight against terrorism. "India strongly condemns the attack on Hayat Hotel in Mogadishu and expresses heartfelt condolences to the victims and families of this cowardly act of terrorism. India stands with the Government and people of Somalia in their fight against terrorism," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had tweeted. (ANI) Britain's former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday praised the leadership of former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson as the latter pulled out of the Conservative Party leadership race. Sunak, who is now most likely to succeed Liz Truss as the first Indian-origin UK Prime Minister, said Johnson led the UK through some of the toughest challenges including Brexit, COVID vaccine rollout and the war in Ukraine. "Boris Johnson delivered Brexit and the great vaccine roll-out. He led our country through some of the toughest challenges we have ever faced, and then took on Putin and his barbaric war in Ukraine. We will always be grateful to him for that," Sunak tweeted. "Although he has decided not to run for PM again, I truly hope he continues to contribute to public life at home and abroad," he added. The United Kingdom is all set to have its first Prime Minister of Indian origin, Rishi Sunak, as former PM Boris Johnson dropped out of the race, according to UK media reports. Boris Johnson ruled himself out of the Conservative party leadership race despite claiming he had the required support. Johnson said he had come to the conclusion "this would simply not be the right thing to do" as "you can't govern effectively unless you have a united party in Parliament," reported Independent.ie. He also added that this was due to the failure to reach a deal with Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt. "I am afraid the best thing is that I do not allow my nomination to go forward and commit my support to whoever succeeds," he said. Johnson added, "I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time." "I believe I am well placed to deliver a Conservative victory in 2024 - and tonight I can confirm that I have cleared the very high hurdle of 102 nominations, including a proposer and a seconder, and I could put my nomination in tomorrow." "There is a very good chance that I would be successful in the election with Conservative Party members - and that I could indeed be back in Downing Street on Friday. "But in the course of the last days I have sadly come to the conclusion that this would simply not be the right thing to do. You can't govern effectively unless you have a united party in parliament," he continued saying, reported Independent. It is pertinent to note that Johnson's campaign team have earlier told supporters they have secured the 100 nominations needed from MPs for the former prime minister to get on the ballot paper. Johnson landed in Britain on Saturday from a Caribbean holiday which was seemed as a formal bid for the Conservative Party leadership race. Johnson was forced to step down on July 7 following a series of resignations of cabinet members, who protested against his scandal-plagued leadership. Earlier, Johnson had expressed his willingness to enter the PM race, saying he is "up for it." Meanwhile, Britain's former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday declared his candidature to contest the UK Prime Ministerial race after Liz Truss resigned as PM and left the country in a state of political turmoil. The former Chancellor of the Exchequer of Indian descent confirmed the decision through his social media and said that he wants to fix Britain's economy which is in a major crisis at present. In a tweet, Sunak tweeted and said, "The United Kingdom is a great country, but we face a profound economic crisis. That's why I am standing to be Leader of the Conservative Party and your next Prime Minister." "I want to fix our economy, unite our Party and deliver for our country," Sunak wrote. Sunak's announcement comes after Truss' resignation as Prime Minister on Thursday as the opposition reiterated its demand for a general election. On Friday, Penny Mordaunt, the Tory leader in the House of Commons too threw her hat in the ring. "I've been encouraged by support from colleagues who want a fresh start, a united party and leadership in the national interest," Mordaunt tweeted. Tory MPs will vote on Monday, and two candidates will be put forward to the Tory leadership unless one backpedals from the race. The result will be announced on Friday, October 28. Notably, Truss became the shortest-serving British PM after she stepped down just 45 days after being elected as Britain's leader, stating that she recognizes she "cannot deliver the mandate" on which she was elected. Truss said she would step aside for a new leader to be chosen within the next week. In view of Truss' resignation, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer issued a scathing statement that ripped into the Conservative Party and called for a general election. "After 12 years of Tory failure the British people deserve so much better than this revolving door of chaos. We need a general election now," he said. The resignation of Truss was preceded by the sacking of UK Finance Minister Kwasi Kwarteng and the resignation of Home Secretary Suella Braverman. (ANI) "I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist @arsched today, as per police he was shot in Kenya. Respect our privacy and in the name of breaking pls don't share our family pics, personal details and his last pictures from hospital. Remember us in ur prayers," Sharif's wife Javeria Siddique said in a Twitter post. Initial media reports had claimed that Sharif died in an accident. Pakistan Foreign Office has said that their High Commission in Kenya was gathering information from the authorities. Many prominent Pakistanis and media community members expressed condolences after the news broke about Arshad Sharif's death. Former Pakistani parliamentarian Farahnaz Ispahani expressed her deepest condolences. "What a huge & shocking loss. May he rest in eternal peace." "Heartfelt condolences. He and you are in our thoughts and prayers," said former Pakistan envoy to the US, Husain Haqqani. Ary news journalist Kashif Abbasi tweeted, "My brother, my friend my colleague arshad shareef was shot dead in Kenya..I still can't believe it. It's beyond heart breaking.this is just wrong.. this is painful.. I love u brother." Pakistan is one of the world's deadliest countries for journalists, with three to four murders each year that are often linked to corruption or illegal trafficking and go completely unpunished, according to a Paris-based media watchdog. "Any journalist who crosses the red lines dictated by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - an intelligence agency offshoot - is liable to be the target of in-depth surveillance that could lead to abduction and detention for varying lengths of time in the state's prisons or less official jails," said Reporters Without Borders. Furthermore, the watchdog said that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan's leading military intelligence agency, is prepared to silence any criticism. (ANI) The incident took place at 11:07 p.m. on Sunday (local time). Yonhap News Agency reported quoting Korean Air that its flight KE631 with 173 people on board overran the runway during landing but no injuries were reported. "A thorough investigation will be performed together with the local aviation authorities and Korean authorities to determine the cause of this event," Korean Air President Woo Kee-hong said in a statement. The A330-300 plane made two failed attempts to land in bad weather conditions and on the third attempt overshot the runway, Yonhap news agency reported. As a result of the mishap, several flights were halted in Mactan-Cebu airport. The A330 was delivered to Korean Air new in June 1998 and the twinjet has been with the carrier for 24 years. It has been busy in operations out of Seoul, spotted at Ulaanbaatar, Hong Kong, Xiamen, Manila, and Ho Chi Minh City in recent weeks. Moreover, due to ease in travel restrictions across the globe, Korean Air has been highly active in recent weeks. However, due to continuous rains, descriptions are likely to continue across the country's aviation industry. (ANI) The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a new report detailing the mistreatment of Afghan women, who were wrongfully detained with their families for protesting against Taliban abuses. The New York-based rights group last week released a report, detailing the horror that the Afghan women are experiencing, including threats, beatings, dangerous conditions of confinement, denial of due process, abusive conditions of release and other abuses. According to the HRW, the authorities assaulted and administered electric shocks to detained male relatives. The women's description of their experiences sheds light on the Taliban's treatment of women protesters in custody and the Taliban's efforts to silence the protest movement. "It's difficult to overstate the incredible bravery of these and other Afghan women who protest against Taliban abuses," said Heather Barr, associate women's rights director at Human Rights Watch. "These women's stories show how deeply threatened the Taliban feel by their activities, and the brutal lengths the Taliban go to try to silence them." The Taliban had arbitrarily arrested the three women during a single raid on a safe house in Kabul in February 2022. The Taliban authorities held them and their family members for several weeks at the Interior Ministry in apparent retaliation for their involvement in planning and participating in women's rights protests. After their release, they were able to flee the country. After the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, they immediately began rolling back the rights of women and girls. Women began to protest on the streets since Taliban's first week in power, despite the grave risks they faced in doing so. By early September, women-led protests were taking place in Herat province in western Afghanistan and quickly spread across multiple provinces. The HRW said the Taliban response was brutal from the beginning, beating protesters, disrupting protests, and detaining and torturing journalists covering the demonstrations. The Taliban also banned unauthorized protests. Over time, the Taliban's abusive responses escalated, with a particularly brutal response to a protest on January 16 in Kabul, when Taliban members threatened, intimidated, and physically assaulted protesters, using pepper spray and electric shock devices. Days later, the Taliban began conducting raids to arbitrarily detain women who had participated in protests. The Washington Post documented the Taliban's arrests of 24 women's rights activists, some taken with their families, in January and February. Tamana Paryani, one of the first protesters to be arbitrarily detained under Taliban rule, filmed herself as the Taliban broke into her home at night searching for her, and then quickly posted the video on social media. The women interviewed said that Paryani's abduction sent waves of fear through other protesters, causing many to go into hiding. "I didn't know them well, but I became afraid then," one woman said, referring to Paryani and another woman arrested that night. "I woke up at night and all my body shook.... We were so afraid. We knew we would be arrested." Another woman said family and friends repeatedly urged her to flee the country, but she refused: "I wanted to stay and fight." According to HRW, the three women described being held initially in a single cramped and stiflingly hot room with a total of 21 women and 7 children for five days, provided virtually no food or water or access to a toilet. The Taliban held them for several weeks, and abusively interrogated them, without allowing access to counsel or other due process rights, forcibly coerced confessions, and severely tortured the men. The Taliban compelled the three women's families to hand over the original deeds to their property as the price for release, with the threat that the Taliban would confiscate the property if the women got into trouble again, the rights group said. The HRW said the Taliban should immediately release everyone detained for exercising their rights to free speech and peaceful protest. "They should respect the rights of all to peaceful assembly and free expression, including journalists covering protests. They should end all arbitrary detention, ensure due process, including promptly charging suspects in custody before an independent judge, and providing immediate access to counsel," it added. The prominent rights group said the Taliban should hold lawfully detained individuals in accordance with the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. Anyone responsible for torture or other ill-treatment should be impartially investigated and appropriately prosecuted. "Afghan women and girls have faced some of the harshest consequences of Taliban rule, and they have led the difficult fight to protect rights in Afghanistan," Barr said. "Unfortunately, their pleas to the international community to stand by them have not been answered." (ANI) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese extended Diwali greetings to people celebrating the festival of lights across the country on Monday. In a statement, Albanese explained how the celebration of "Deepavali" is a testament to the strong and successful multicultural nation that modern Australia represents. "It's a demonstration of how our nation is built on the traditions, beliefs, and experiences of people from around the world." "For so many communities around the world, Deepavali is a season of reflection and renewal. It's a time for harmony and goodwill, and affirming the bonds between friends and family," Albanese said. "Such ideals could not be more powerfully heartfelt as we emerge from the difficulties of the pandemic. And just as the glowing diyas of Deepavali recall the triumph of light over darkness, may this special moment be a chance for all of us to rededicate ourselves to building a better future," he added. Australian PM said his country's "embrace of multiculturalism speaks to our deepening sense of ourselves as a nation, and shows that cultural diversity and respect can lead to a more peaceful, equitable and fulfilling life for all." "I am deeply grateful to the diverse communities in Australia that celebrate Deepavali for the contribution you have made to our country's success. May this Deepavali bring every joy and contentment to you and your loved ones," he added. Besides PM Albanese, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Google CEO Sundar Pichai also extended Diwali greetings. "My best wishes to everyone celebrating #Diwali. May this celebration bring light, joy and prosperity," Guterres tweeted. "Happy Diwali! Hope everyone celebrating has a great time with your friends and family. I celebrated by watching the last three overs again today, what a game and performance #Diwali #TeamIndia #T20WC2022," Pichai said in a tweet. In a Twitter post, former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said Diwali is a symbol of light and hope. "May this #diwali bring love, peace, joy and compassion to all. Wishing everyone celebrating here in #SriLanka and those around the world a very #HappyDiwali," said Mahinda Rajapaksa. (ANI) Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP) has been making a big splash in Asia in recent weeks, following the announcement of plans to increase its presence in the region. Last week, its president and chief executive officer Jo Taylor said that he sees India as a land of opportunity, noting that the current administration is more business-friendly. He said this in an interview with The Straits Times (Singapore) and added that the potential of the past few decades may finally be realised. OTPP is eyeing opportunities in healthcare, infrastructure and financial services in India. Also of interest are the insurance sector and technology-enabled segments, especially in the financial services industry. The CAD242.5 billion (USD177.8 billion) pension fund is certainly walking the talk as it has opened a Mumbai office and plans to have a founding team of approximately 10 people by the end of this year. It will comprise a mix of local talent and transfers from its other offices. This presence is expected to scale further as the fund's investment portfolio grows in the coming years. The local team will build on its existing Indian portfolio and support the firm in sourcing investments, nurturing long-term partnerships, and attracting strong local talent. The office is in the financial hub of the Bandra Kurla Complex and is OTPP sixth global office and third in the Asia-Pacific region. "India is an attractive investment destination and will be one of our growth markets over the next 5 to 10 years. It has a large, growing, and dynamic economy, with openness to foreign capital which makes it a strategically important market for us," said Taylor. OTPP is Canada's largest single-profession pension plan and pays pensions and invests plan assets on behalf of 333,000 working and retired teachers. Since its establishment as an independent organisation in 1990, it has built an international reputation for innovation and leadership in investment management and member services. It has over 1,100 employees (according to the World Economic Forum) with headquarters in Toronto, Canada. It also has offices in London, San Francisco, Hong Kong and Singapore. OTPP invests in a broad array of assets including public and private equities, fixed income, credit, commodities, natural resources, infrastructure, real estate and venture growth to deliver retirement income for its members Earlier this month, it announced that it was investing another CAD60 million (INR3.6 billion or USD44 million) in the National Highways Infra Trust (NHIT) which is an infrastructure Investment Trust sponsored by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Together with its earlier investment in November 2021, this brings its total investment in NHIT to approximately CAD 308 million (INR18.6 billion). Proceeds from the capital raise will be utilised to acquire three additional road concessions from NHAI, after which NHIT will own, operate and maintain a portfolio of eight toll roads in the states of Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. The roads will span a total length of 636 km and a concession period ranging between 20 to 30 years. NHAI will use the concession fees for further development of road infrastructure in India. "Our continued investment in the NHIT supports the development of high-quality roads and economic growth in India," said Bruce Crane, Senior Managing Director, Infrastructure & Natural Resources, Asia Pacific, Ontario Teachers'. "We're delighted to further our partnership with the Government of India and build our portfolio of core infrastructure assets in the country." The investments in India come at about the same time as news broke that OTPP is looking to potentially double its current staff strength in Singapore from 25 to about 50. This would make Singapore its biggest office in Asia, larger than its Hong Kong office which currently has 35 staff. OTPP joins other Canadian pension funds adding staff and deploying more capital to Asia. Bloomberg reported that president and CEO Blake Hutcheson said that his Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System plans to triple assets in the region over the next eight years from CAD13 billion (USD9.5 billion) now. The Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec plans to invest CAD15 billion (USD11 billion) over five years, the Business Times (Singapore) reported. The Singapore expansion will allow OTPP to invest in a wider range of assets as it builds on its CAD20 billion (USD14.7 billion) exposure to the region. Both the firm's real estate unit, Cadillac Fairview, and the infrastructure team already have staff in the city-state. "Singapore gives us another dimension in terms of dealing with Southeast Asia and Australia," said Taylor. "It's clearly a vibrant financial hub with lots of really helpful co-investors and financial advisers." Taylor said the fund has no hard target for its Asian assets, though it will naturally grow as it looks to deploy about half of new investments outside North America. Traditionally, the fund has held about 70 per cent of assets in Canada and the US. "Singapore with its great connectivity is an idea hub for us. It also has a strong pool of investment professionals," Taylor said in an interview with The Straits Times. "Asia is attractive. It has positive dynamics such as a rising population, a receptive environment for capital, scalability of business, and can be counter-cyclical to North American markets." (ANI) Former Pakistan Imran Khan on Monday condemned the killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif, who was reportedly shot dead in Kenya. "Shocked at the brutal murder of Arshad Sharif who paid the ultimate price for speaking the truth - his life. He had to leave the country and be in hiding abroad but he continued to speak the truth on social media, exposing the powerful. Today the entire nation mourns his death," Khan tweeted. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief has called for a proper judicial investigation in the case. "We have descended into a state of brutality, unknown in civilised society, indulged in by the powerful against those who dare to criticise and expose wrongdoings," he said in a subsequent tweet. Arshad Sharif's wife Javeria Siddique earlier today informed that his husband died in Kenya after being shot. "I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist @arsched today, as per police he was shot in Kenya. Respect our privacy and in the name of breaking pls don't share our family pics, personal details and his last pictures from hospital. Remember us in ur prayers," Sharif's wife Javeria Siddique said in a Twitter post. Pakistan Foreign Office has said the High Commissioner accordingly contacted the police authorities and senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other departments. "Pakistanis of Kenyan Origin were also mobilised. The Mission was informed that the body was in Chiromo Funeral House in Nairobi. The High Commissioner along with Mission's officers reached the location, and has identified the body of Mr. Sharif," the foreign ministry said. Pakistanis of Kenyan Origin were also mobilised. The Mission was informed that the body was in Chiromo Funeral House in Nairobi. Many prominent Pakistanis and media community members expressed condolences after the news broke about Arshad Sharif's death. Pakistan is one of the world's deadliest countries for journalists, with three to four murders each year that are often linked to corruption or illegal trafficking and go completely unpunished, according to a Paris-based media watchdog. "Any journalist who crosses the red lines dictated by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - an intelligence agency offshoot - is liable to be the target of in-depth surveillance that could lead to abduction and detention for varying lengths of time in the state's prisons or less official jails," said Reporters Without Borders. Furthermore, the watchdog said that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan's leading military intelligence agency, is prepared to silence any criticism. (ANI) The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida and his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese signed a security pact in a joint declaration to bolster trilateral security relations with the United States and to boost defence engagement. The two nations have signed the joint declaration for the first time in 15 years, according to Kyodo News. The move has come amid the growing surge in China's quest to grab hold of the Asia-Pacific region. The two leaders met with the intention to tackle issues that may affect their countries' sovereignty. As Xi Jinping got elected in a historic third term through National Party Congress that concluded on Saturday, their agreement came with concern mounting that Beijing might step up military provocations against Taiwan as the communist nation already considers its territory. Furthermore, Kishida and Albanese signed a joint declaration to work together to deter aggression and behaviour that undermines international norms. Notably, Kishida began a three-day visit to Australia on Friday, and Albanese confirmed the significance of a "free and open Indo-Pacific," Kyodo News reported. In a statement, the two leaders also discussed and reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Moreover, Xi's statement at the weeklong 20th National Congress has blown away any hope of seeing the globe rinsed off the threat and geopolitical tension very soon. He emphasized safeguarding China's core interests (read it as the country's territorial claims), strengthening military capabilities and non-abandoning the use of force for the reunification of Taiwan, reported The HK Post. This leaves little room for speculation about China's move in the next five-year, given that it continues to project its military might in the Indo-Pacific region where Taiwan's unification by force will pit it against the US, triggering a possible war between the two countries. (ANI) Former Home Secretary Priti Patel on Monday came out in support of Rishi Sunak taking over at 10 Downing Street as the Conservative Party leader after her former boss, Boris Johnson withdrew from the leadership contest. "In these difficult times for our country we must unite by putting public service first and work together. We care about our country and with the enormous challenges upon us we must put political differences aside to give @RishiSunak the best chance of succeeding," tweeted Patel. Notably, earlier she supported former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "I'm backing @BorisJohnson to return as our Prime Minister, to bring together a united team to deliver our manifesto and lead Britain to a stronger and more prosperous future," tweeted Patel. She added that Johnson has the mandate to deliver elected manifesto and a proven track record getting the big decisions right. "I am backing him in the leadership contest," she said. However, on Monday she said that the Tories must put political differences aside to give Sunak the best chance of succeeding as the new leader. It seems now that this Diwali, UK could get its first Indian origin and Hindu PM Rishi Sunak who is the favourite in the conservative leadership. Earlier, Boris Johnson ruled himself out of the Conservative party leadership race despite claiming he had the required support. Johnson said he had come to the conclusion "this would simply not be the right thing to do" as "you can't govern effectively unless you have a united party in Parliament," reported Independent.ie. He also added that this was due to the failure to reach a deal with Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt. "I am afraid the best thing is that I do not allow my nomination to go forward and commit my support to whoever succeeds," he said. It is pertinent to note that Johnson's campaign team has earlier told supporters they have secured the 100 nominations needed from MPs for the former prime minister to get on the ballot paper. The contest was triggered by outgoing leader Liz Truss's resignation on Thursday. Meanwhile, Sunak as per media reports had crossed that threshold by Friday night, ahead of declaring his candidacy on Sunday and amassing nearly 150 public nominations from Tory lawmakers. He is a wealthy Hindu descendant of immigrants from India and East Africa. Sunak is born in Southampton to parents of Indian descent who migrated to Britain from East Africa. An Oxford and Stanford University alumnus, Sunak is famously married to Akshata Murty, the daughter of NR Narayana Murthy, the billionaire businessman who founded Infosys. Earlier in April, reports of Akshata's non-domicile status and alleged tax evasion had created a furore. Rishi Sunak claimed that she has been paying all taxes. Her spokesperson said that Akshata Murthy "has always and will continue to pay UK taxes on all her UK income". (ANI) The Ministry of National Defence (MND) tracked 20 Chinese military aircraft and three naval ships around Taiwan as of 5 pm on Thursday, reported Taiwan News. In response, Taiwan sent combat patrol aircraft and naval ships, and used land-based missile systems to monitor the PLA aircraft and vessels, in addition to issuing radio warnings. Of the 20 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, one Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane and on Shaanxi Y-8 reconnaissance plane were monitored in the southwest corner of Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND, reported Taiwan News. However, no PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line on Thursday. Beijing has sent 266 Chinese military aircraft and 71 naval ships around Taiwan so far in October, reported Taiwan News. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of grey zone tactics by routinely sending aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ. Grey zone tactics are defined as "an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one's security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force." Notably, tensions across the Taiwan Strait heightened after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the self-governing island. Moreover, Chinese President Xi Jinping's statement at the weeklong 20th National Congress has blown away any hope of seeing the globe rinsed off the threat and geopolitical tension very soon. He emphasized safeguarding China's core interests (read it as the country's territorial claims), strengthening military capabilities and non-abandoning the use of force for the reunification of Taiwan, reported The HK Post. This leaves little room for speculation about China's move in the next five-year, given that it continues to project its military might in the Indo-Pacific region where Taiwan's unification by force will pit it against the US, triggering a possible war between the two countries. (ANI) Several AAC leaders like Amina Ansari (ex-candidate Skardu), Captain Sikandar (ex-member of GB assembly), Fifa Nashed (ex-speaker GB assembly) and Kacho Imtiaz (ex-member of GB assembly) were a part of the protest. The protestors alleged that the Pakistan authorities arrested the Chairman AAC, Fidah Hussain and several other AAC leaders, who were protesting "peacefully". They also accused the authorities of using force against peaceful protestors. They called it a violation of international rules and regulations. They demanded an immediate release of the Chairman and other leaders of AAC. They also demanded the restoration of State Subject rule (SSR). Earlier in August, a similar protest rally was organized against increased prices and reduced subsidies on wheat in PoK's Gilgit Baltistan. The Awami Action Committee also alleged rampant corruption by the Food Minister of GB. They claimed that the Food Minister had sold 32,000 wheat bags (100 kg each) illegally and constructed a residence worth Rs 16 crore in Islamabad. They stated that GB is a disputed region and until the status of the region is clarified, no tax of any kind is acceptable in the area. The people of Gilgit-Baltistan have shown a strong reaction to these major cuts in the subsidy which was introduced in the 1970s. The Gilgit-Baltistan region faces issues like high poverty index, lack of industry and significant agricultural land. With a population of 1.5 million, GB has no job opportunities, industry, infrastructure, fund allocations and other facilities being enjoyed by the rest of Pakistan. (ANI) While securing the third term at the China's Communist Party's (CCP) 20th congress, Chinese President Xi Jinping replaced Mao Zedong as the most influential leader of China. Xi Jinping was elected general secretary of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the committee's first plenary session held on Sunday, the state media outlet Xinhua reported. While securing an unprecedented third term as the country's top leader, Xi became one of the most influential leaders China has seen since the Chinese Communist Party was founded by Mao Zedong. The session presided over by Xi, was attended by 203 members of the 20th CPC Central Committee and 168 alternate members. Xi was also named chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission at the session. The once-in-five-year National Congress concluded after a week-long meeting. The Congress revealed the newly-formed Central Committee, the party's main leadership body, which included Xi. Of the 205 members listed, only 11 are women, CNN reported. The Chinese Premier, the second most powerful official after Xi, is not listed in the new Central Committee, which means that Li will retire from his party role. Saturday's preceding was marred by controversy surrounding former President Hu Jintao's unceremonious exit from Congress. The 79-year-old former leader, Xi Jinping's predecessor, was unexpectedly led out of the hall by two men during the closing ceremony. According to Chinese state media, Hu was "not feeling well" when he was unexpectedly removed from the closing ceremony of the 20th Congress of China's Communist Party on Saturday. "Xinhuanet reporter Liu Jiawen has learned that Hu Jintao insisted on attending the closing session... despite the fact that he has been taking time to recuperate recently," Xinhua said on Twitter. "When he was not feeling well during the session, his staff, for his health, accompanied him to a room next to the meeting venue for a rest. Now, he is much better," the state agency added. The congress took 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. At the same time, Taiwan Strait tensions are at their highest in decades, as China attempts to pummel Taipei into acquiescence. (ANI) At the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) 20th congress, President Xi Jinping received uncontrolled powers. The 20th Congress has idolised Xi as the country's greatest ever core leader and followed it up by amending the constitution to make it obligatory for all Chinese people to recognise Xi as China's core hero, reported European Times. There is nothing much left for President Xi Jinping to aspire for insofar as his relationship with the Constitution of the Chinese Communist Party is concerned. The party resolution during the recently concluded Congress which gave Xi a third term in office explains the rationale for the munificent gesture. It says: "Comrade Xi Jinping has put forward a series of new ideas, new thinking, and new strategies on national defence, the armed forces, the united front, and foreign affairs." In fact, the resolution admits that elevating Xi to the highest pedestal in China is perhaps the sole purpose of the latest Congress, reported European Times. "The establishment of both Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era represents a major political achievement for the Party in the new era and a decisive factor in the historic successes and changes in the cause of the Party and the country," read CCP's resolution. The party also endorsed implementing the "policy of One Country, Two Systems; resolutely opposing and deterring separatists seeking Taiwan independence," reported European Times. "It agrees to include in the Party Constitution statements on enhancing political loyalty in the military, strengthening the military through reform, science and technology, and personnel training, and running the military in accordance with the law; elevating the people's armed forces to world-class standards; fully, faithfully, and resolutely implementing the policy of One Country, Two Systems; resolutely opposing and deterring separatists seeking 'Taiwan independence'," added the resolution. In its zeal to enforce its policies on the country, the Party Congress decides to "steer social transformation" in the country, a euphemism for ensuring that the party shall dictate even the people's thoughts about party loyalty and ideology. The amendments to the Constitution also dictate to the party members and the people at large how to conduct themselves as model citizens in Chinese society, European Times reported. "...on making integrated efforts to ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to become corrupt; and on adhering to the Party's organizational line for the new era as a new fundamental requirement for Party building," added the resolution. The Party resolution keeps reiterating about upholding Xi Jinping's super core status. The resolution makes it clear that the people of China have no greater loyalty to the party than to follow whatever Xi Jinping says and insists that they literally have nothing else to look up to than the Party, reported European Times. (ANI) In addition to multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan and China are set to start three new corridors in November, with the aim of strengthening bilateral ties. The formal launch of the projects could take place during Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to China next month which is currently being worked out. His visit comes on the invitation of President Xi Jinping, The News International reported. The report said that these projects, which include health and digital corridors, were announced by Pakistan's Ambassador to China Moinul Haq while speaking to the China Economic Net (CEN) in Beijing. "We would be an important source of help for China in terms of software development. So, we are working together to set up training centres in Pakistan for developing software in different IT fields," said Haque. Citing unidentified sources, the Pakistan newspaper said the new corridors would become sources of strengthening Pakistan-China ties and would provide a new unshakable bond of the proximity of the two nations. Launched in 2015, the CPEC is a multi-billion dollar development project, with a planned network of roads, railways and energy projects linking China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region with Pakistan's strategic Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea. Earlier this year, India had opposed the proposed extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan. "Any such actions by any party directly infringe on India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Such activities are inherently illegal, illegitimate and unacceptable, and will be treated accordingly by India," the Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs V Muraleedharan said in a written response. India's position on CPEC has been clear and consistent. The CPEC passes through parts of the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh which are under the illegal and forcible occupation of Pakistan and hence impinges on the issue of sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. The Indian government has said it believes that connectivity initiatives must be based on universally recognized international norms. (ANI) Daishiro Yamagiwa, Japan's minister in charge of economic security, became the first minister of Fumio Kishida's government on Monday to step down over his ties with the controversial Unification Church. Yamagiwa submitted his resignation directly to the Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in a private meeting, reported Nikkei Asia. The minister's ties with the church have been under intense scrutiny. After his meeting with Kishida, Yamagiwa told reporters that it was a "last minute" decision to resign as he did not want to be a distraction during current parliamentary sessions and to deflect attention away from the formulation of economic policy during this time of turbulence, reported Nikkei Asia. "I regret giving credibility to (Unification Church) by attending gatherings, and from now on, I will be careful not to do it again," Yamagiwa said. Public criticism of the minister had grown as new information surfaced about his ties with the group. Until last week, he had repeatedly claimed that he did not remember attending the gatherings of the Unification Church. He also claimed that he was unable to dig up details on meetings as he would discard such documents and materials at the end of each year, reported Nikkei Asia. "In the past 20 years as a lawmaker, I attended thousands, or tens of thousands of gatherings, and it is hard to remember every one," Yamagiwa said. "I did not remember [attending gatherings of the Unification Church] because I didn't have a deep relationship with them." Last week, Yamagiwa admitted that in 2019 he was photographed with Hak Ja Han, who has headed the Unification Church since its founder and her late husband Sun Myung Moon died in 2012. He had previously claimed that he did not remember meeting her in person, reported Nikkei Asia. Kishida's Cabinet is fast losing popularity as ties between policymakers of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the church become clearer. The approval rate for Kishida's Cabinet has fallen to 27.4 per cent, into the "danger zone" below the 30 per cent mark, where leaders could find it hard to maintain power, according to an opinion poll conducted Oct. 7-10 by Jiji press. However, Yamagiwa will continue to serve as a lawmaker after his resignation as minister. His replacement will be announced on Tuesday, Kishida told reporters. (ANI) New UK Prime Minister-designate Rishi Sunak on Monday vowed to work day in and day out to deliver for the British people. Sunak in a statement to fellow Tory MPs at Conservative HQ in London said, "I pledge that I will serve you with integrity and humility and I will work day in and day out to deliver for the British people." He took to the podium for his first public address as Tory leader and started by paying tribute to former UK PM Liz Truss for her "dignified" leadership "under difficult circumstances abroad and at home". Sunak said that he is "humbled and honoured" to have the support of his fellow MPs and be elected leader. "Humbled and honoured to have support of my Parliamentary colleagues and to be elected as Leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party. It is the greatest privilege of my life to be able to serve the party I love and give back to the country I owe so much to," said UK PM-designate. Speaking about economic challenges head for UK he said that the UK is a great country but faces "profound" economic challenges. "UK is a great country but we face a profound economic challenge. We now need stability and unity and I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and country together as that's the only way we will overcome challenges and build a better future for our children and grandchildren," said Sunak. Immediately after being selected by Tory MPs, he ruled out an early general election and warned his party they had to "unite or die". The ex-chancellor who oversaw the nation's finances during the Covid pandemic was the only contender to gain enough support from MPs. His rival Penny Mordaunt dropped out of the race in the final minutes before nominations closed. Meanwhile, the opposition Labour Party said that Sunak will become another Tory PM chosen without a mandate from voters. The party repeated calls for a general election, echoed by the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party. Sunak becomes the first Indian-origin person to lead the UK - and at the age of 42, he is also the youngest person to take the office in more than 200 years, as well as the first PM to take oath under the new King Charles III. (ANI) The terrorists opened fire on a military post in the Hassan Khel Sector of North Waziristan district, The News International reported. The soldier was identified as Assistant Lance Daffadar Waqar Ali, who was a resident of Chota Lahore, Swabi. As per Inter-Services Public Relations, the media and PR wing of Pakistan Armed Forces, the Pakistan Army troops also responded to the attacks. As per the ISPR, Pakistan has requested Afghanistan to ensure effective border management. "Pakistan has consistently been requesting Afghanistan to ensure effective border management. Pakistan strongly condemns the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan," the ISPR said as reported by The News International. The armed forces media wing further added that Pakistan Army was determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of its brave soldiers further strengthen its resolve. Earlier on October 21, another police official was killed in a terrorist attack at a police station in the tribal district of South Waziristan. Dawn reported that the attack occurred in the Azam Warsak area of the South Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Notably, it was the third attack on the police station in the Azam Warsak area near Wana town in Pakistan. Clashes between security forces and suspected terrorists in the North Waziristan tribal district have become quite frequent in recent months. In recent months, several cases of firings and bomb attacks have been reported in Pakistan. These increased terror activities in Pakistan border areas, especially in the North Waziristan district have been claiming the lives of several Pakistani soldiers. Reportedly, these militants have their bases in Afghanistan. They enter Pakistan from Afghanistan and after launching attacks on the former, retreat to their bases in Afghanistan. (ANI) Dawn citing sources reported that the personnel of Frontier Corps were conducting a search operation in the area during which heavy exchange of fire took place in the Margat area of Quetta district. The injured security men were identified as Subedar Muhammad Aslam, Hawaldar Akhtar Jan and Sepoy Rais Khan. The security forces also claimed that the armed militants also suffered casualties during the exchange, reported Dawn citing sources. In another incident on Sunday, one Pakistani soldier was killed after suffering a terrorist attack from inside Afghanistan across the international border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Hassan Khel Sector of North Waziristan district Earlier this month, a bomb attack, targeting two vehicles in Pakistan's Mastung district, killed three people and left six more injured, local media reported. Dawn citing sources reported that an improvised explosive device (IED) planted at a roadside went off when the vehicles were passing through the area. In another incident, a former police officer was killed by unidentified gunmen in the provincial capital of Quetta, Dawn reported. According to the local police officials, the incident took place on Sunday in The Eastern Bypass area of Balochistan's capital, Dawn reported. The highest number of terror incidents in Pakistan this year was recorded in September, said an Islamabad-based think tank, as it pointed to the resumption of attacks by the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The number of terror attacks increased in September compared to August this year, the Dawn newspaper reported citing the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). September witnessed 42 militant attacks with an increase of 35 per cent compared to August. The Pakistani think tank also observed an increase of 106 per cent in violence in erstwhile FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). In August this year, the think tank said the militants carried out 31 attacks across Pakistan, where 37 people were killed and 55 others injured. (ANI) Award-winning Pakistani journalist and columnist Hamid Mir on Sunday said that the media in Pakistan continue to face "oppression", reported Dawn on Monday. While speaking at a session 'Media under Siege in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan', on the last day of the 4th Asma Jahangir Conference 2022, Mir said "The government has changed but the situation of the media remains the same." "It's a matter of regret that Pakistan has gone south in the Press Freedom Index," he said. He also called for the abolition of draconian laws such as The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 by saying "The government has no right to deny the fundamental right of freedom of expression to anyone." Malini Subramaniam from India and Dilrukshi Handunnetti (Sri Lanka) also talked about the situation in their respective countries, while speaking at the event, reported Dawn. The speakers unanimously demanded respect for the media professionals instead of subjecting them to ignominy, reported Dawn. They paid tribute to the late Asma Jahangir to whom the event was dedicated. A panel also discussed the state of education and highlighted the shortcomings in the curricula in the neighbouring countries. The panel comprised of Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy, Tapan K. Bose, Rita Manchanda, Kishwar Naheed and Peter Jacob. Dr Hoodbhoy, a scholar and activist for the promotion of secularism, while talking about Pakistan's regressive policies and neglect of education said "The only aim of ideology-driven education is to promote mediocrity by suppressing the spirit of inquiry." "The sad reality is that Pakistan has lagged far behind in the competitive world as it has not produced scientists and philosophers. No Pakistani is part of the faculty in any top university worldwide. In contrast, Indian academics have made their mark in institutions in the USA and the UK," he said. (ANI) The four personnel belonged to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), a subsidiary of the army. Two of them were critically injured in the attack. Dawn said citing reports, that a suicide bomber covering himself with a blanket came close to the FWO vehicle and detonated the explosives. The four injured personnel have been identified as Sepoy Ashiq Hussain, Sepoy Mohammad Hussain, Sepoy Mohammad Zubair and Sepoy Mohammad Aqeel. Also, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that a terrorist was also killed by the security forces during an intelligence-based operation in the Shalobar area of the Khyber district. Weapons and ammunition were also seized from the terrorist, Dawn reported. Earlier on Friday, a soldier embraced martyrdom in a terrorist attack that originated from across the Afghan border, according to ISPR. In another incident on Sunday, one Pakistani soldier was killed after suffering a terrorist attack from inside Afghanistan across the international border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Hassan Khel Sector of North Waziristan district. "Pakistan has consistently been requesting Afghanistan to ensure effective border management. Pakistan strongly condemns the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan," the ISPR said as reported by The News International. Clashes between security forces and suspected terrorists in the North Waziristan tribal district have become quite frequent in recent months. In recent months, several cases of firings and bomb attacks have been reported in Pakistan. These increased terror activities in Pakistan border areas, especially in the North Waziristan district have been claiming the lives of several Pakistani soldiers. Reportedly, these militants have their bases in Afghanistan. They enter Pakistan from Afghanistan and retreat to their bases in Afghanistan after launching attacks on the former. (ANI) The Biden administration announced a dramatic expansion of controls on the export of US semiconductor technology to China, making it 'illegal' for any American company to trade semiconductor chips with Chinese companies. The step is being taken to bring a pause in the Chinese tech sector and innovative ecosystems, as the Biden administration considers further advances in Chinese semiconductor technology, as counter to US national interests, Christopher Miller, a professor at Fletcher School wrote in Los Angeles Times. If we look at the past, several US administrators including Donald Trump tried to impose restrictions on telecommunications equipment maker Huawei. Now, President Biden is taking on China's entire computing industry. The limits aim to limit the transfer of cutting-edge graphics processing units, known as GPUs, a type of chip that is considered very crucial to running artificial intelligence applications in data centres. For a decade, the U.S. has failed to stop the flow of computing technology to the Chinese military. It is considered easy to limit technologies like missiles or radars when they solely have a military purpose, Miller said. The U.S. had tried to stop certain Chinese firms with military links from accessing advanced chips while letting tech flow to commercially oriented firms. But that policy clearly left gaps, after which the Biden administration placed new controls not merely on specific Chinese firms, but on the whole country. The reason of US being sceptical about allowing sales of chips even for civilian purposes is the fact that once chips enter China, the U.S has no control over where they end up, Miller further said. But Miller says that the US tech industry will also have to face the effect of the restrictions. U.S. citizens have often been legally engaged with Chinese chip firms, servicing their machines, selling them materials or in some cases, even working as chief executive officers. Now, Americans will have to face legal penalties for conducting business with Chinese firms, just like they are sanctioned while conducting business with companies from Iran or North Korea. Per Miller, the US companies are also feeling the heat, as several stock prices slumped after the US President announced. Although the company will be able to make revenue outside China, still the lost revenue will hurt them. Besides that, even the American buyers of Chinese chips will also be hit, and one of the prime examples of the case is Apple Inc. Earlier Apple inc. was planning to use chips from Yangtze Memory Technologies, a Chinese government-backed company at subsidized prices, but now it will have no other option to buy chips from non-Chinese companies at market prices, Miller said. "However, other than Silicon Valley, China to is expected to be facing a blow after the decision. It will take China's chip firms at least a decade to develop advanced chipmaking capabilities at home if they ever succeed," she said. The Biden administration's new restrictions on China's chip sector may finally succeed in closing this loophole, Christopher Miller wrote in LA Times. (ANI) India is in regular touch with the Kenyan government, to locate the two missing Indian nationals, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed on Monday in a press release. "We are in regular touch with the Kenyan government to locate the whereabouts of the two missing Indian nationals, Mr Mohammad Zaid Sami Kidwai and Mr Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan," the MEA informed in the release. "Our High Commissioner in Nairobi, Ms Namgya Khampa, today called on President H.E. Mr William Samoei Ruto to convey our deep concern and request the expediting of investigations into the matter," the release stated. MEA informed that the High Commissioner of Kenya in New Delhi is also in touch with the family members of the missing Indian nationals. The High Commissioner of Kenya in New Delhi was also called into the Ministry on October 23 to convey our concerns in the matter, the release stated. Our High Commission in Kenya is in touch with the family members of the two Indians and assisting them, the release further stated. MEA further said that the case is under investigation by the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) of the Kenyan Police. The case is under active investigation by the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) of the Kenyan Police. We have noted that several people have been taken into custody in this connection including officials of the recently abolished Special Service Unit of the Kenyan Police, the release stated. The specific circumstances surrounding the abduction and subsequent lack of information are very disturbing. We expect that the case will be investigated thoroughly. The Ministry continues to monitor all developments related to this case, the release stated. According to the Kenyan publication, former Balaji Telefilms COO Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan and other Indian national Mohamed Zaid Sami Kidwai went missing in mid-July after leaving a popular club in Westlands at 11.53 pm. Several hours later, two Indian nationals and their driver Nicodemus Mwania, were reported missing. The trio has since been missing for over 70 days. According to several Kenyan media reports, both Indian nationals were in Kenya to join President William Ruto's election campaign Information and Communications Technology (ICT) team. Police officers said that the CCTV footage had been retrieved from the scene of the abduction in a bid to retrace the missing people. In addition, a section of detectives based in Lang'ata was also detained to aid in investigations. The detained officers were ordered to hand over a file with their findings to a new team of sleuths, the Kenyan media said. Meanwhile, Khan's family urged the police to conclude the investigations in a bid to locate their kin. The family hired lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi who obtained orders for the trio to be produced in court. However, on August 4, the case was mentioned and the three were yet to be traced, according to a Kenya media publication. The family has since urged acting Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow to handle the matter and expedite the investigations. (ANI) Taliban have claimed the killing of four ISIS militants which includes 2 senior commanders in the northeastern Afghan province of Takhar, media reports said citing a Taliban-controlled news agency. Qari Aminullah Tayeb, a Talibani commander said they found an ISIS hideout in Takhar during a joint operation on Saturday, reported Khaama Press citing the Bakhtar news agency. The ISIS militants allegedly died in a village in Takhar province's Dashti Qala district, Aminullah added. Similarly, in a separate statement on Saturday, the Taliban government claimed to have killed six ISIS members on Friday night in Kabul. According to the Taliban, the killed militants were behind the deadly attack on the Kaaj education centre and the explosion near Wazir Muhammad Akbar Khan mosque in Kabul, reported Khaama Press. However, it is noteworthy that the Taliban's claims cannot be ascertained. ISIS-K (the k stands for Khorasan, the name of a historical region that covered parts of modern Afghanistan and Pakistan) has been operating in Afghanistan for the last few years. It is a branch of ISIS -- the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Since its formation in 2015, the terrorist outfit has carried out numerous attacks on Afghan civilians and is held responsible for thousands of deaths, CNN reported citing the Wilson Center, a non-partisan policy forum. The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, which was widely celebrated in Pakistan in August last year, has worsened the terror situation in the country. In 2021, militants, mainly belonging to the Pakistani Taliban, killed 48 policemen and injured 44 others in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Most of the violent incidents took place in the last few months of the year (after the Taliban takeover). Despite repeated attempts, Pakistan has been unable to get firm guarantees from the Afghan Taliban that they would take action against the Pakistani Taliban operating in Afghanistan. (ANI) Pakistani lawmakers from Punjab province have condemned the state for patronization of radical elements making minorities more marginalised, media reports said. Members of the Punjab Provincial Assembly highlighted the plight of the minorities during a session on 'Mainstreaming Radicalism: Legitimizing Extremists - Impact on Minorities' at the Asma Jahangir Conference on Sunday. They declared that state patronization of radical elements, exploitation of scheduled castes and poor segments of minorities by the privileged people of minorities and lack of pluralism and diversity are causing the spread of radicalism and extremism, making minorities more marginalised, reported Dawn. MPA Tahir Khalil Sandhu in a written statement pointed out that the constitutional rights which are granted to the citizens are often abused. He further noted that these cases involving minorities often end up degrading the victims. Moreover, Qamar Suleman, a representative of the Ahmadiyya Community, brought to light the issues faced by his community. Suleman noted that insight must be made into the funding, protection, and promotion of radical and extremist outfits. Bashing the state, Suleman said Pakistani society became a hopeless case when three national political parties colluded with small religious groups, often on the terms set by these outfits, and the endpoint was the persecution of non-Muslims, reported Dawn. Speaking further, he said that non-Muslims are being kept in Pakistan for target killing. Underlining the protection of the rights of the Ahmadiyya Community he said, "And why should we leave Pakistan as the country is not your property?" He gave various instances of the persecution of the Ahmadiyya community including their graves being vandalised. Meanwhile, MPA Ramesh Singh Arora said minorities were being suppressed through forced conversion, distorted curriculum, lack of personal laws and poverty. Sarwan Kumar Bhil, a representative of the Bhil community said no scheduled caste Hindu sits on any government commission or has ever become an MPA or MNA on reserve seats. Urging the National Minority Commission to have a Bheel community representative he noted that the political parties must put an end to 'pick and choose' in the matters of the minority. (ANI) Calling out the Chinese government's disregard for the rule of law, fair business practices, and international norms, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray said China continues to 'lie, cheat, and steal' in a bid for tech dominance. FBI Director highlighted that there is a coordinated effort across the "Chinese government to lie, cheat, and steal their way into unfairly dominating entire technology sectors, putting competing US companies out of business." Director Wray made these remarks at a press conference announcing actions to disrupt criminal activity by individuals associated with the Chinese government hosted by the US Justice Department, on Monday. While discussing charged individuals he said, "10 of the 13 we're discussing today are Chinese intelligence officers and Chinese government officials. They're charged in three different cases that might seem at first glance to be about unrelated issues." However, saying that this is something he has been talking about for years, he noted "each of these cases lays bare the Chinese government's flagrant violation of international laws, as they work to project their authoritarian view around the world, including within our own borders." "In all three of these cases, and in thousands of others, we've found the Chinese government threatening established democratic norms and the rule of law, as they work to undermine U.S. economic security and fundamental human rights--including those of Americans." "As I've pointed out before, their economic assault and their rights violations are part of the same problem. They both flout the rule of law. And one of the purposes of the Chinese government's repression is to make it easier to steal our innovation. They try to silence anyone who fights back against their theft--companies, politicians, individuals--just as they try to silence anyone who fights back against their other aggressions." Since he started as FBI Director, he said he has been repeatedly sounding the alarm about the Chinese government's disregard for fair business practices, for international norms, and for the rule of law. "The FBI has been reaching out to and warning--and most importantly, helping--the communities that the Chinese government targets: Businesses of every size and in almost every sector, from agriculture, to green tech, to semiconductors; The Chinese-American community; Academia, and state and local governments; and Our foreign partners around the world." Speaking further in the conference, he said, "Today, every one of those partners is awake and alert to that threat in a way that just wasn't always true five years ago." "And our success bringing more and more partners to this fight highlights something else important: Beijing may think our adherence to the rule of law is a weakness, but they're wrong. We're disrupting Chinese government criminality and aggression not just while adhering to our values, but by adhering to our values." He added, "Our democratic and legal processes arm us with weapons China doesn't have--among others, real partners and allies. And our partnerships help protect the American people every day. Today's cases are no different--we couldn't have accomplished this work without our foreign partners, and the U.S. academic community, in particular." Underlining that Beijing practises hypocrisy, he said the type of CCP hypocrisy on display in our Fox Hunt case today -- yet another case where Chinese government officials and co-conspirators mercilessly harassed a naturalized US citizen to try to force him to return to China against his will. "They accused the victim in this case of embezzling money, but two of the subjects who targeted him--two of the defendants charged today--are themselves actually involved in a scheme to launder millions of dollars. As if that weren't enough evidence that the real purpose of their operation was political, they gave their victim a deadline to return by: the 20th CCP Congress earlier this month. They're focused on repression, not law enforcement." "But our partners also see the CCP's broader hypocrisy--the fact that while the CCP claims to stand for sovereignty and non-interference in other states' affairs, what the Chinese government actually does is interfere with sovereign governments around the world whenever doing so suits Beijing." Finally, he urged any person or company being targeted or approached by the Chinese government to come to the FBI for help. "No American citizen, resident, company, or university should battle this threat alone--and you don't have to. You can report information through your local FBI field office or online at tips.fbi.gov. And know our quarrel is exclusively with the Chinese government--not the Chinese people, and certainly not Chinese-Americans." He congratulated all the FBI special agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff who have worked on these cases. (ANI) Ambassador Elizabeth Jones will be departing for New Delhi to serve as Charge d'Affaires, ad interim. She recently served as the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts. Envoy Jones previously served as Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East, and Ambassador to Kazakhstan. She carries the highest Foreign Service rank of Career Ambassador, the press release added. In India, Ambassador Jones will join the US Embassy and Consulate interagency teams in advancing and expanding the partnership between our governments and people, a partnership that US State Secretary Antony Blinken has called one of the most consequential in the world. (ANI) Jonathan Perez, 11, has gone missing a second time nearly a year after he went missing and was later found (Screengrab/Facebook) An 11-year-old boy from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who went missing last year and was found has gone missing again, according to police. Jonathan Perez, 11, was last seen near 66th and Carmen around 3pm on 23 October. Milwaukee Police have put out a call to the public for assistance finding the missing boy. The boy also disappeared last year around the same time on 30 October according to police. Jonathan disappeared from the same area and was reported missing. The then-10-year-old was later found by police, according to WISN. Police did not release further details about his whereabouts or discovery at that time. Jonathan is described as 4 feet, 7-inches tall and weighing 84 pounds. He has a light build with medium-length hair and brown eyes. WISN reports he was last seen wearing a colorful Looney Tunes lightweight jacket, a white shirt, shorts and flip-flops. He was reportedly last seen around 3pm on 23 October near 66th and Carmen, the same area he disappeared from a year prior. Law enforcement has designated Jonathan as "critically missing," meaning he is vulnerable or at risk. Critical missing: @MilwaukeePolice need help finding 15 year old Akia Hair. She was last seen Tuesday night near 24th and Roosevelt. She was wearing a white t-shirt, black leggings with white writing and purple and pink croc shoes. @tmj4 pic.twitter.com/q4LooZk4xg SUSAN KIM (@SusanKim4) August 17, 2022 Another young girl from Milwaukee, Akia Hair, was also reported as critically missing two months ago. Police are still searching for her. Akia was last seen on 16 August near 24th and Roosevelt. She was reportedly wearing a white t-shirt, black leggings, and purple and pink croc shoes. She is described as a Black female standing at 5 feet 6-inches, weighing approximately 100 pounds, and with blue-dyed hair and brown eyes, according to CBS58. Police have also asked for the publics help finding Akia and to contact Milwaukee Police Sensitive Crimes Division at 414-935-7401 with information. Stars had fun with fashion at the 2022 Wearable Art Gala. Unique Nicole / Stringer / Jerritt Clark / Contributor / Getty Images The Wearable Art Gala raises money for Tina Knowles-Lawson's WACO Theater Center in California. The 2022 event's theme was "Harlem Nights," with a focus on the 1920s to the 1950s. Stars like Halle Bailey, Lori Harvey, and Beyonce wore daring, themed looks to the event. Lori Harvey's lilac gown had three-dimensional details. Lori Harvey attends the 2022 Wearable Art Gala. Unique Nicole / Stringer / Getty Images Harvey arrived at the event in a custom Ibrahima Gueye gown with a thigh-high slit and plunging neckline. The dress also featured three-dimensional detailing on the bodice that curved around the star's neck. Harvey's stylist, Elly Karamoh, said he picked the dress because it was made entirely of fringe, nodding to the styles of Harlem in the 1920s. Beyonce stunned in a strapless Gucci dress at her mother's gala. Most of the mermaid gown was black, including the bodice and ruffled trim. But the cups of the strapless gown were made of white sequins, with silver stars in the center. Beyonce paired the statement dress with hot-pink gloves that ended in ruffles. Kelly Rowland wore a red ball gown to the event. Kelly Rowland attends the 2022 Wearable Art Gala. Jerritt Clark / Contributor / Getty Images The A-line Monsoori gown had a plunging neckline and cinched at her waist. The tiered skirt added drama to the gown. Rowland paired the dress with black gloves and a sweeping updo. A wide-brimmed hat added flair to Jurnee Smollett's look. Jurnee Smollett attends the 2022 Wearable Art Gala. Jerritt Clark / Contributor / Getty Images Smollett's black-and-red tea-length gown cinched at the waist and had an underlayer on the bodice made of red tulle. An oversized black hat and black gloves completed the themed ensemble. Corey Gamble popped in a three-piece yellow tuxedo. Corey Gamble attends the 2022 Wearable Art Gala. Unique Nicole / Stringer / Getty Images Kris Jenner's longtime partner wore a yellow jacket with black lapels, a yellow vest with black buttons, and yellow pants. A black shirt and a black bow tie brought the festive look together. Chloe Bailey's hot-pink dress had a thigh-high slit. Chloe Bailey attends the 2022 Wearable Art Gala. Jerritt Clark / Contributor / Getty Images Bailey arrived at the gala in an Aje ball gown. The dress had a V neckline, puffy sleeves, and a full skirt. The dramatic skirt was interrupted by a thigh-high slit, which showed off Bailey's sparkly shoes and a piece of thigh jewelry. Story continues Meanwhile, Halle Bailey's form-fitting dress had a daring stomach cutout. Halle Bailey attends the 2022 Wearable Art Gala. Jerritt Clark / Contributor / Getty Images Bailey's sleek Georges Hobeika dress had an embellished halter neckline that flowed into a form-fitting bodice and off-the-shoulder sleeves. A large cutout split the bodice, dipping all the way to Bailey's waist. The cutout was framed by crystal embellishments, and the tops of the sleeves were trimmed with the same details. Quinta Brunson's minidress had fringe detailing. Quinta Brunson attends the 2022 Wearable Art Gala. Jerritt Clark / Contributor / Getty Images The "Abbot Elementary" creator was styled by Bryon Javar for the gala. Her long-sleeve minidress had a high neckline made of layers of embellishments. At the top of her arms, Brunson's dress cut into a green sheer fabric that flowed into feathered material. Accessories made Tyler Perry's classic look stand out. Tyler Perry attends the 2022 Wearable Art Gala. Unique Nicole / Stringer / Getty Images Perry walked the red carpet in a traditional black tuxedo. He paired the look with a white scarf and white cuffs above his shoes, giving the ensemble a chic feel. Vivica A. Fox's dress was almost completely sheer. Vivica A. Fox attends the 2022 Wearable Art Gala. Unique Nicole / Stringer / Getty Images Fox's floor-length dress from For The Stars Fashion House had a sheer panel down the center. Black detailing lined the sides and the center of Fox's waist. A black wide-brimmed hat completed the look. Kendra G's bejeweled gown had a daring cutout. Kendra G attends the 2022 Wearable Art Gala. Jerritt Clark / Contributor / Getty Images The news anchor's form-fitting dress had a halter neckline that gave way to a bodice cutout dipping all the way to her waist. The entire dress was covered in sparkly, silver embellishments. She paired the look with a white stole and a coordinating headpiece. Tygee styled the look. Angela Bassett was a vision in green for the gala. Angela Bassett attends the 2022 Wearable Art Gala. Jerritt Clark / Contributor / Getty Images Jennifer Austin styled Bassett in a Georges Hobeika dress for the event. The lime-green midi dress was covered in playful embellishments, and a coordinating, feathered robe gave Bassett's look the 1920s feel. Read the original article on Insider A memorial outside of Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan, on Dec. 3, 2021 Scott Olson / Getty Images The 16-year-old who used a gun purchased by his parents to kill four students and injure seven other people at a Michigan high school last year has pleaded guilty. In a packed courtroom packed on Monday morning, as several victims families looked on, Ethan Crumbley pleaded guilty to 24 charges: one count of terrorism causing death, four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of assault with intent to murder, and 12 counts of possession of a firearm while committing a felony. The terrorism and murder charges carry up to life without parole or a minimum sentence of 25 to 40 years and a maximum sentence of at least 60 years. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said there was no plea bargaining. "This is really an important day for the over thousands of people in that community, for the kids in that school, for the parents," McDonald said at a press conference after the hearing. "Today is about some small closure that this is not going to be a trial." Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, opened fire on Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021. Four students Tate Myre, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; and Justin Shilling, 17 died in the shooting. Six other teenagers were injured, as was a 47-year-old teacher. Law enforcement received more than a hundred 911 calls about the shooting, authorities said. The plea deal was first announced on Friday by Oakland County chief assistant prosecutor David Williams. Williams said the county prosecutor's office had notified the victims. Ethan Crumbley in court via video for a probable cause conference on Dec. 13, 2021 Jeff Kowalsky / AFP via Getty Images In a rare move, prosecutors also filed involuntary manslaughter charges against the shooters parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, alleging they had "contributed" to the shooting, starting with the purchase of a SIG Sauer 9mm for their son just days before. Crumbley admitted in court on Monday that he gave his father money to buy the handgun for him, and he picked out which firearm he wanted. He also admitted that the gun was not locked in a container or safe when he obtained it the morning of the shooting. Story continues According to McDonald, the county prosecutor, his parents had ignored multiple attempts from teachers and school staff to reach them with concerns about Ethan Crumbleys behavior. On the morning of the shooting, they were called to the school by staff alarmed at a note on his desk that had drawings of a handgun and a bleeding person, as well as the words "thoughts won't stop help me" and "blood everywhere." They were asked to take him home with them after the meeting, but they "resisted the idea" and left school grounds without him, McDonald said. "These charges are intended to hold the individuals who contributed to this tragedy accountable, and also send the message that gun owners have a responsibility," she said at the time. "They failed to uphold that responsibility." Nearly a year after the shooting, the Oxford community, and especially the students, have struggled to recover. Several victims families are suing the shooters parents and the school district, accusing teachers and administrators of failing to keep the students safe "at virtually every turn." Their attorney, Ven Johnson, said in a statement to BuzzFeed News that the guilty plea is "one small step forward on a long path towards obtaining full justice" for the families. "We will continue to fight until the truth is revealed about what went wrong leading up to this tragedy, and who, including Crumbleys parents and multiple Oxford Community Schools employees, could have and should have prevented it," he said. More on this Kaivon Dashawn Belton, 18, is accused in a string of robberies across Charlotte that targeted several victims on the same day, according to warrants. Belton and a young man attacked, shot and tried to rob Jose Vazquez, according to warrants. ALSO READ: CMPD charges man accused of shooting, killing woman at ATM in University City Vazquez said that when he withdrew $1,600 from an ATM in late September, he didnt know at least two young men watched and followed him home. I wanted to oppose him, and I told them No money and he hit me with the handle of the pistol and hit me here (in the face), Vazquez said. Police said Belton and another suspect targeted more than two dozen people in Charlottes Hispanic community. Belton is accused of stealing thousands of dollars in cash, purses, wallets and cellphones. Police said that Vazquez was the only victim who was shot in the crime spree. However, police havent said who pulled the trigger. When they first shot me and his gun didnt work and I dont know why he shot me in front of the chest, Vazquez said. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department did not reveal any other details Monday in its investigation. Detectives have said that people in the Latino community are sometimes targeted specifically for crime because of an assumption that they carry cash rather than put it in the bank. They may also be less likely to report a crime. >> Reading this story in our app? The new Follow the Lead feature allows you to tap the blue tag indicated with a + to subscribe to alerts on the very latest breaking news updates. Vazquez is still recovering from being shot and is unable to work. However, Vazquez said he and his family will pull through. We Hispanics are here to survive and help our families, he said. CMPD refused to talk to Channel 9 Monday about the case. The department said someone would talk about it later this week. VIDEO: Two shot, others hurt after fight during Asian Doll concert at Livingstone College, police say CLEVELAND (AP) Two right-wing operatives pleaded guilty on Monday in Cleveland to single felony counts of telecommunications fraud for having placed thousands of false robocalls in Ohio that told people they could be arrested or be forced to receive vaccinations based on information they submitted in votes by mail. Jacob Wohl, 24, of Irvine, California, and Jack Burkman, 56, of Arlington, Virginia, could each receive a year in prison when they are sentenced Nov. 29 in common pleas court. They were indicted in October 2020 on numerous counts of telecommunications fraud and bribery. Wohl's attorney, Mark Wieczorek, declined to comment about the his client's plea. Burkman's attorney, Brian Joslyn, did not immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment. The two men were accused of arranging for a voice broadcast service to make about 85,000 robocalls to predominantly Black neighborhoods in Ohio, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois during the runup to the 2020 general election. Prosecutors said the pair were responsible for 3,500 calls to residents of Cleveland and East Cleveland. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley at the time the pair were charged said they "clearly infringed upon that right in a blatant attempt to suppress votes and undermine the integrity of this election. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, whose consumer protection unit assisted in the investigation, issued a statement Monday saying voter intimidation won't be tolerated in Ohio. The calls warned people that information included in their mailed ballots could be used by law enforcement agencies to enforce arrest warrants, to collect outstanding debts, and lead to tracking by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for mandatory vaccines. Wohl and Burkman have a history of staging hoaxes and spreading false smears against Democrats and public officials. The Associated Press reported in May 2019 that a 21-year-old college student from Michigan said the men recruited him to falsely claim he was raped by then-Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, and published the smear without the student's permission. Wohl denied the accusation, saying the student had reached out to him. Burkman said on Twitter that he believed the students initial account of the alleged assault was accurate and true. The men have been sued in federal court in New York City and face a $5.1 million fine levied by the Federal Communications Commission. Wohl and Burkman are appealing criminal charges filed against them in Detroit stemming from a similar bogus robocall scheme targeting Black voters. Students stand in a parking lot near the Central Visual & Performing Arts High School after a reported shooting at the school in St. Louis, on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Students stand in a parking lot near the Central Visual & Performing Arts High School after a reported shooting at the school in St. Louis, on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Credit - David CarsonSt. Louis Post-Dispatch/AP Survivors of the school shooting in St. Louis on Monday described their terror as a gunman opened fire, killing two people before being fatally shot after exchanging gunfire with police. Students barricaded themselves in classrooms and reportedly jumped out of windows to escape the shooting at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School, located on the south side of St. Louis. The victims have not been identified, but one teenage girl and one woman were killed. The victims taken to the hospital had injuries ranging from shrapnel wounds to cardiac arrest. Police officers were informed about the shooting just after 9 a.m. as hundreds of students, faculty, and staff members fled Central Visual & Performing Arts High School, located on the south side of St. Louis. Im heartbroken for these families who send their children to our schools hoping that they will be safe, said St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones at the press conference. Our children shouldnt have to experience this, they shouldnt have to go through active shooter drills in case something happens. And unfortunately that happened today. Law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis, on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Jeff RobersonAP What happened? About 9:10 a.m., a gunmanbelieved to be in his 20swas reported at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School. Onsite security guards quickly noticed that the shooter, who was reportedly armed with a long gun, was struggling to enter through the schools locked doors. The principal, using a codeword, warned students over the loudspeaker that an active shooter was on site. Its unclear how the gunman was able to enter the school. Officers arrived at the school within minutes and ran to the sound of gunshots, police said. They exchanged gunfire with the shooter on the third floor, who was killed. Story continues By 9:30 am, the school was blocked off by police, ambulances, and a SWAT van, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. One student told KMOV-TV that she and her classmates jumped out of a fourth floor window and were caught by officers to escape the shooting. Students told 5 On Your Side and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that at least four gunshots were fired. Ashley Rench, a math teacher at the high school, told local radio station KMOX that she saw students covered in blood as they attempted to escape out of the third floor. I looked at one students leg and she had blood going down, so I helped her to the ambulance. One of those students who got out before that had been shot through the hand, so they were already wrapping his hand up. The shooting happened on the third floor of the high school and some students who jumped out of windows were injured; one broke both ankles in the fall, and another broke their nose. Its traumatizing. Traumatizing for the teachers, the students, and the families that the kids have to go home to, Rench stated. Ray Parks, a dance teacher, told KMOX that he narrowly escaped the shooter. He looked directly at me, pointed the gun at me, then pointed the gun away from me toward the ground, Parks said. Its just so hard to get over. I cant understand why I didnt get hurt. Police said the threat to the school is over, though the investigation unit is on site and will conduct a more thorough examination and interview students in the coming days. What do we know about the suspect? Lt. Col. Michael Sack, St. Louis Interim Police Commissioner, says the suspect has not yet been identified. Authorities believe he is 20 years old. Though the shooters connection to the school remains unknown, Taniya Gholston, a 16-year-old student at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School, told the Post-Dispatch that the shooter said something along the lines of being sick of this damn school. The shooters gun allegedly jammed, letting her and other students run to safety. Im glad I made it out because his gun got jammed, Gholston added. We saw blood on the floor. Police believe they have located the suspects vehicle, which will be searched after bomb dogs do a check. What do we know about the victims? Eight people were transported to local hospitals, out of which one adult female has since been pronounced dead. Police also said that one teenage girl who was shot and killed remains at the crime scene in the school. Identities of the victims have not been publicly shared. Police have not shared the occupation of the adult woman who died, and are waiting for next of kin to confirm her relationship to the school. Others continue to be treated, but there are no updates on their conditions. Parents were told to reunite with their children at Gateway Stem High School. A shooting in Orlando left one person dead and another wounded early Monday morning, according to the Orlando Police Department. Officers received a call about a shooting at 3:04 a.m. just less than 10 minutes north from the Orlando International Airport, by the northeast intersection of Semoran and T.G. Lee boulevards. According to a preliminary investigation, there was a fight between the alleged shooter and one of the victims. One of the individuals involved was shot and killed, OPD said. A stray bullet also hit a bystander, according to the department. The bystander was taken to the hospital and is expected to live. The alleged suspect was detained. OPD said in a statement the case is being turned over to the States Attorneys Office. ghylton@orlandosentinel.com; arabines@orlandosentinel.com Police have charged a 20-year-old man with murder a day after a fatal shooting in North Raleigh. Kahleed Zion Blount is accused of shooting 29-year-old Zake Nati Pratt, of Raleigh on Spring Forest Road on Sunday afternoon. Officers arrived about 1:54 p.m. but did not find Pratt until 2:18 pm. He was taken to a hospital where he died, according to a news release. Police did not say what the motive for the shooting was or if the two men knew each other. Blount is in the Wake County Detention Center. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. Three people have been arrested in connection to the killing of a Chinese supermarket operator inside his store in Jamaica last week. Assistant Commissioner of Police Clifford Chambers said in a statement last week that detectives are still pursuing leads and believe there might be more people who were involved in the murder. He Jing, 36, was fatally shot inside his supermarket in Just 1 Plaza in Orange Bay, Hanover Paris, in the late afternoon on Wednesday. CCTV footage captured the gruesome moment when two armed men went inside the store and started shooting the man, known as Archie, as he stood behind the register. More from NextShark: Deported Cambodian refugee returns home to Southern California after 11 years Authorities believe the shooters' motive was robbery since they were filmed stealing money, liquor and other items from the store after shooting He multiple times. He took over the operation of the supermarket less than two weeks ago. Before taking over the Green Island store, He reportedly ran a business on Barnett Street in Montego Bay, St. James. Chambers is urging the public to share information they may have about the crime. Potential informants can call the Green Island police at 876-956-9200, the Lucea police at 876-956-2333, Crime Stop at 311 or the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) tip line at 811. More from NextShark: NJ Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Targeting Asian Woman, Children for Robbery More from NextShark: TikTok Sued By American Rival Triller For Allegedly Stealing a Popular Feature Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Singaporean man accused of cat abuse apologizes for playing with animal, says ex-girlfriend defaming him 4 Children, 2 Adults Killed in Wisconsin Apartment Fire NBC Six people have died following an apartment fire in a suburb of Milwaukee, according to officials. The Village of Hartland Police Department identified the victims of Friday's fire on Mansfield Court as four children and two adults in a news release on Sunday. Connor McKisick and Jessica McKisick were the two adult victims killed as a result of the blaze, the department said. A 14-year-old girl, a 12-year-old girl and a pair of 3-year-old boys also died from the fire. Arrowhead Union High School Superintendent Laura Myrah identified the 14-year-old victim as Natalie Kleemeier in a letter to parents obtained by FOX affiliate WITI. "This is an absolute tragedy," Hartland Village President Jeffrey Pfannerstill said after the blaze, according to CBS affiliate WDJT-TV. "It's a sad day for Hartland. It's going to take some time to sift through all of this." RELATED: Exploding Homecoming Bonfire Injures 17 Outside of Green Bay, Wisconsin Friday's fire was reported to officials just after 5 a.m., according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. First responders helped multiple individuals escape the four-family apartment building, with 15 fire departments and nine police departments responding to the scene. Hartland Fire Department chief Dave Jambretz told ABC affiliate WISN-TV that Friday's blaze was the worst he'd responded to in 29 years on the job. "It didn't really hit me until I saw my first three or four crews in the grass over there with blank stares, just they were just gone. These are heroes," Jambretz explained. "They go into buildings like this, their full jobs are in their community, so it was tough." 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. Police originally believed seven people had died in the fire, according to NBC News. Officials later determined that only six fatalities had occurred upon investigation, WDJT-TV reported. Hartland Police Chief Torin Misko suggested that the fire may have been intentionally set, per the outlet. In Sunday's release, the department said "there is no danger to the community." Story continues Hartland police are working with the Waukesha County Medical Examiner's Office to investigate the incident, according to the department's release. 4 Children, 2 Adults Killed in Wisconsin Apartment Fire NBC A small vigil was held for the victims Friday evening, per the Sentinel's report. RELATED: 2 Dead After Single-Engine Plane Crashes Into New Hampshire Apartment Building In Sunday's letter to parents, Myrah said 14-year-old Natalie was a freshman "who was known as a quiet but funny young woman who cared for those around her," according to WITI. Counseling has been made available for students and staff, Myrah added. (The superintendent did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.) "The entire Arrowhead High School community is deeply saddened by this untimely event," Myrah wrote, per the report. "Natalie was a student who was friends with and made positive connections with many Arrowhead students and staff members." The residents living the the three other units are receiving help from The Red Cross while displaced from their home, according to WISN-TV. If you want to know who really controls Heartland Media Acquisition Corp. (NYSE:HMA), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. With 46% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Heartland Media Acquisition. View our latest analysis for Heartland Media Acquisition What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Heartland Media Acquisition? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Heartland Media Acquisition. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Heartland Media Acquisition's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. It would appear that 13% of Heartland Media Acquisition shares are controlled by hedge funds. That worth noting, since hedge funds are often quite active investors, who may try to influence management. Many want to see value creation (and a higher share price) in the short term or medium term. The company's largest shareholder is Heartland Media, LLC, with ownership of 20%. With 6.7% and 5.8% of the shares outstanding respectively, Highbridge Capital Management, LLC and AQR Arbitrage, LLC are the second and third largest shareholders. Story continues We also observed that the top 9 shareholders account for more than half of the share register, with a few smaller shareholders to balance the interests of the larger ones to a certain extent. While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. As far as we can tell there isn't analyst coverage of the company, so it is probably flying under the radar. Insider Ownership Of Heartland Media Acquisition While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our data cannot confirm that board members are holding shares personally. It is unusual not to have at least some personal holdings by board members, so our data might be flawed. A good next step would be to check how much the CEO is paid. General Public Ownership With a 21% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Heartland Media Acquisition. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Private Company Ownership It seems that Private Companies own 20%, of the Heartland Media Acquisition stock. Private companies may be related parties. Sometimes insiders have an interest in a public company through a holding in a private company, rather than in their own capacity as an individual. While it's hard to draw any broad stroke conclusions, it is worth noting as an area for further research. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Heartland Media Acquisition (at least 2 which are significant) , 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 interesting companies. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. 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 man was arrested and charged in the death of a woman who was fatally shot on a deer hunting trip, Georgia officials say. State officials arrested Donald Wayne Kuni, 65, on Oct. 18, according to an Oct. 24 Georgia Bureau of Investigation news release. Kuni is charged him with felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in the death of 41-year-old Sherrie Hutto. Hutto and Kuni, both from Eastman, were deer hunting in the woods on Brown Street in Chauncey, about 70 miles southeast of Macon, early Thursday, Oct. 13, when Hutto was shot by Kuni, the GBIs investigation revealed. After she was shot, Hutto was airlifted to Atrium Health Navicent in Macon. She died Oct. 17, according to officials. Kuni is being held at the Dodge County Law Enforcement Center. The GBI says its investigation is ongoing. 12-year-old dies after uncle accidentally shoots him while hunting, Minnesota cops say Hunter accused of shooting man said he mistook him for a bear, Vermont officials say Boy shot on turkey hunting trip when gun fires as grandpa loads car, NC cops say Lance subtly references Rick's final episode on "TWD" with one line on Sunday's episode. Jace Downs/AMC, Gene Page/AMC Warning: There are spoilers ahead for season 11, episode 20 of "The Walking Dead," "What's Been Lost." Insider breaks down a few moments and lines of dialogue you may have overlooked on Sunday's episode. Lance says the name of Andrew Lincoln's final episode. Sebastian's girlfriend and Dog are mentioned. If you watched the episode with captions on, you may have realized Ezekiel was captured before Carol. You can read that Ezekiel's body made a "thud" on the ground before you realize someone has taken him. Jace Downs/AMC When Carol mentions that she left Ezekiel some sesame bagels with her back turned toward him, she doesn't get a response. Finding that odd, Carol senses something may have happened to Zeke. We later learn that he and more of their friends have been rounded up by people in the Commonwealth. However, if you had the captions on, you may have been privy to Ezekiel's capture at the start of the episode. As Carol talks, the captions mention there's a "clattering" and "thud," both of which cause her to turn around and make her cautious for her own safety. Sebastian's girlfriend, Kayla, is apparently torn up over his death. Courtney Dietz played Kayla who we first met as Sebastian took her on a picnic in a questionable part of the Commonwealth. Jace Downs/AMC You may have forgotten, but Sebastian Milton had a girlfriend named Kayla who was introduced on season 11, episode seven. On Sunday's episode, we appear to meet her mother. While visiting Sebastian's mother, Governor Milton, and offering her condolences, the woman, named Lena Brand, says that her daughter Kayla "is distraught." Yumiko is asked to prosecute Eugene for Sebastian's death. In the comics, this plays out a bit different. In the comics, Michonne defends the Commonwealth. On the show, Yumiko refuses to prosecute her friend in the name of the Commonwealth. Jace Downs/AMC Yumiko has largely taken over Michonne's comic storyline on the show. In the comics, Sebastian doesn't die. Instead, Michonne is asked to defend Commonwealth officers who beat a random civilian to death and explain it away as an accident. Michonne stands by her decision to do this, explaining to Rick that the Commonwealth is a special place, news that concerns him. The show goes against the comic as Yumiko refuses to prosecute her friend and defend the Commonwealth. Instead, she announces her intent to defend him. Viewers should feel a bit more attachment to this trial than the one in the comic since it deals with a beloved character, Eugene, instead of a random character. Story continues Dog is alive! Daryl mentions that the Commonwealth kidnappers took Dog. AMC We haven't seen Daryl's beloved canine in episodes. A small exchange between Carol and Daryl let's us know that Dog's still alive, but has also been taken by the Commonwealth. Lance asks Carol, "What comes after?" That's the title of Rick's final episode of "TWD." When Lance brings this up, he's asking Carol what comes after the unrest in the Commonwealth. But any "TWD" fan may have recognized it was the title of an important episode of the show. AMC, Gene Page/AMC Perhaps this line drop was meant as a hint that this may be Lance's last episode of "The Walking Dead;" however, maybe it's a tease of something larger. In Rick's final episode, season nine, episode five, he was taken away on a Civic Republic Military (CRM) helicopter to one of the group's undisclosed locations. We've been wondering if Lance may have some connection to the CRM. He told Pamela that if something happened to him that "certain alliances the Commonwealth has, certain stabilizing factors, are likely to become a problem." Now that Lance is dead, what comes after his death? Hopefully, it means we'll finally see the CRM appear again in the show's final episodes. Lance reveals the Commonwealth has a train, something which Eugene works on in the comics. Daryl and Carol learn that the Commonwealth have apparently kept a train quiet. How? Who knows. AMC On Sunday's episode, Lance tells a shocked Carol and Daryl that the Commonwealth has a working train. "It was part of a plan, a vision, to expand the Commonwealth's reach ... connecting communities like yours all the way to the sea," Lance explains. The assumption is that the Commonwealth is using prisoners aka the rest of the missing people from the community, including Carol and Daryl's friends to help build and finish the railroad. "TWD" is subtly pointing out that history is repeating itself. The transcontinental railroad was largely built on the backs of the poor, including Chinese immigrants, slaves, newly freed slaves, and Native Americans. In the comics, Eugene gets the idea to rebuild old train lines after the ordeal with the Commonwealth is settled. In the final issue of the comics, after 25 years have elapsed, Eugene has successfully created a working train line to connect communities and travel cross-country. The railroad is likely the other project Lance was hinting at episodes ago. It's seeming more likely that Lance was simply speaking about the railroad project here. AMC In season 11, episode 13, Lance briefly mentions he was setting some supplies aside for something. He revealed that he took some of the resources to rebuild Alexandria and directed them toward a secret project, referred to as "that other thing." We thought the show was trying to smartly link the Commonwealth to the Civic Republic Military via Lance. But that may not be the case. Looking back, he may have been discussing this secret railroad project. If that's the case, that reveal is a bummer since "TWD" had a chance to link up at least two of its shows. Lance's death only occurs on the show. Carol shoots Lance through the neck with an arrow on Sunday's episode. AMC In Sunday's episode, Carol kills Lance with an arrow through the neck before he has a chance to gun down herself and Daryl. If you were wondering how Lance dies in the comics, he doesn't, as far as readers know. In the comics, the character's fate is left open-ended. He's never seen when the comics jump forward in time for the final issue. Carol and Daryl's unexpected confrontation of Lance mirrors the scene from moments earlier. Did you get deja vu at all watching this scene? There was something tragically beautiful about Lance's demise AMC, composite by Kirsten Acuna/Insider Earlier on Sunday's episode, Lance suggests to Carol that he's a bit envious of the bond she shares with Daryl. It's clear the two friends would do anything for one another. It's a connection Lance desperately wished he shared with Pamela Milton, the leader of the Commonwealth. When Lance and Carol are later ambushed by Commonwealth soldiers, Daryl comes to the rescue. Once again, Daryl and Carol have each other backs. You can see Lance is stunned by the loyalty these two have for one another. At the same time, you get the sense he's a bit envious and saddened that he doesn't have what they do. In the next scene, when Carol and Daryl give Lance an ultimatum to leave them or be killed, it subtly mirrors the one from moments earlier. This time, instead of Carol and Lance being caught off-guard by the Commonwealth, Lance is the one taken aback. But Lance didn't have a Carol to come and save him. He bled out alone without a friend in the world in, perhaps, one of the show's most unfortunate deaths. Read the original article on Insider (KTLA) Will & Grace star Leslie Jordan has died, his agent confirmed Monday. Police said Jordans car crashed into a building in Hollywood at 9:30 a.m. Law enforcement sources told TMZ that Jordan appeared to have suffered some type of medical emergency. Jordan was declared dead at the scene. The accident scene at Cahuenga Boulevard and Romaine Street in Hollywood. Oct. 24, 2022 (KTLA) Jordan is best known for his roles as Lonnie Garr in Hearts Afire and Beverly Leslie in Will & Grace. He also had prominent roles in The Cool Kids, Call me Kat, and American Horror Story. The actor and comedian went viral during the pandemic for his hilarious videos on social media. The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan, his agent, David Shaul, said in a statement. Not only was he a mega talent and joy to work with, but he provided an emotional sanctuary to the nation at one of its most difficult times. What he lacked in height he made up for in generosity and greatness as a son, brother, artist, comedian, partner, and human being. Knowing that he has left the world at the height of both his professional and personal life is the only solace one can have today. My heart is broken, former Will & Grace castmate Sean Haynes posted to Twitter. Leslie Jordan was one of the funniest people I ever had the pleasure of working with. Everyone who ever met him loved him. There will never be anyone like him. A unique talent with an enormous, caring heart. You will be missed, my dear friend. Jordan was 67 years old. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON Justice Department officials unsealed charges Monday against 13 Chinese operatives involved in three separate influence campaigns, including two intelligence officers accused in a brazen attempt to obstruct a federal criminal investigation into the Chinese-based telecommunications company Huawei. The obstruction case, federal authorities said, represented a stunning attempted intervention in the U.S. criminal justice system in which the suspects, Dong He, also known as Guochun He, and Zheng Wang, also known as Zen Wang, allegedly led an effort to steal files and other information from the U.S. Attorneys Office in Brooklyn, New York, related to the ongoing federal criminal investigation and prosecution of Huawei. The company's identity was not included in court documents, but a person familiar the matter confirmed that it was Huawei. More: DOJ ending Trump-era 'China Initiative'; national security program fueled Asian 'intolerance, bias' More: China represents 'unparalleled,' 'severe' threat, US intelligence officials warn The suspects, who remain at large, allegedly paid a $41,000 Bitcoin bribe to a U.S. government employee, who was actually working as a double-agent for the FBI. The defendants believed they had recruited the U.S. government employee as an asset, Attorney General Merrick Garland said. "But in fact, the individual they recruited was actually a double agent, working on behalf of the FBI. The two other cases involved efforts to force the repatriation of a Chinese national living in the United States, and a long-running Chinese intelligence operation to recruit U.S. residents to act as agents for China. Attorney General Merrick Garland, F.B.I. Director Christopher Wray and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco hold a press conference at the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday in Washington, DC. The Justice Department announced it has charged 13 individuals, including members of the Chinese intelligence and their agents, for alleged efforts to unlawfully exert influence in the United States for the benefit of the government of China. "Each of these cases lays bare the Chinese governments flagrant violation of international laws, as they work to project their authoritarian view around the world," FBI Director Christopher Wray said. "They try to silence anyone who fights back against their theft companies, politicians, individuals. Just as they try to silence anyone who fights back against their other aggressions." Story continues Wray referred to the obstruction case as "yet another example... to give underhanded help to one of their companies accused of breaking our intellectual property laws and deny justice to that companys victims." In the alleged repatriation effort, an eight count indictment unsealed in Brooklyn accused seven suspects, two of whom were arrested by federal authorities Oct. 20 in New York, of conducting surveillance of a U.S. resident while engaging in a campaign of harassment to force their target to return to the PRC as part of an international extralegal repatriation effort known as Operation Fox Hunt. More: Feds charge 8 in alleged secret Chinese repatriation plot hunting fugitives in U.S. The lead defendant, Quanzhong An, the majority owner of a hotel in Queens, allegedly acted at the direction of Chinas Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, federal authorities said. In New Jersey, four Chinese nationals, including three Ministry of State Security intelligence officers were accused in a wide-ranging and systematic effort to target and recruit individuals to act on behalf of China in the United States from 2008 to 2018. The group asked college professors, former law enforcement workers and homeland security officials for information, equipment and assistance to the Chinese government in ways that would further Chinas intelligence objectives, according to the government. In exchange, the defendants allegedly offered paid trips to China, federal officials said. As these cases demonstrate, the government of China sought to interfere with the rights and freedoms of individuals in the United States and to undermine our judicial system that protects those rights. They did not succeed, Garland said. The Justice Department will not tolerate attempts by any foreign power to undermine the rule of law upon which our democracy is based. More: FBI Director Christopher Wray on China: 'No country presents a broader threat' to US In the obstruction case, the two accused Chinese operatives allegedly made contact with the FBI double-agent in September 2021, seeking information about evidence gathered in the Brooklyn federal inquiry of the Chinese telecommunications company. "The defendants said they were particularly interested in knowing which (company) employees had been interviewed by the government and in obtaining a description of the prosecutors evidence, witness list and trial strategy," according to court documents. Eastern District of New York US Attorney Breon Peace speaks during a press conference in New York City on October 18, 2022. - French cement giant Lafarge SA will pay a $778 million fine after pleading guilty to providing material support to Islamic State and other terror groups during the Syrian civil war, the US Justice Department announced. The following month, the agent allegedly sent the suspects what purported to be a classified strategy memorandum related to the company's case. The document had been prepared to advance the investigation and did not include the government's actual strategy in the case. "The double agent provided the defendants with documents that appeared to present some of the information they sought," Garland said. "In fact, the documents were prepared by the United States government for the purpose of this investigation and did not reveal actual meetings, communications, or strategies. This was an egregious attempt by PRC intelligence officers to shield a PRC-based company from accountability and to undermine the integrity of our judicial system." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Justice Department announces charges against 13 Chinese nationals Oct. 23Are you looking for a job? Well, Aiken County Public School District might just have what you're looking for. For the first time, the school district is hosting a mega hiring event on Nov. 5. Ashley Watson, certified staffing and recruitment coordinator for ACPSD, said individual hiring events are usually held, but the decision was made to host a mega event to show what the school district has open. "(We) want to increase prospects for all candidates to experience the amazing opportunities our district has to offer and showcase during a mega hiring event," Watson said. "That way all schools can be represented and all the applicants can go around and see which schools are a good fit for them and have that interaction with the staff at the table. An event on this scale has not been offered before, but we want our community to know that our students need you and your support overall in the educational experience they receive." The school district is looking to fill over 200 openings, with a majority being support staff positions, Watson said. "We have current teaching vacancies, paraprofessional roles, those roles do require 60 college credit hours or taking the paraprofessional exam," Watson said. "We have support staff positions which include custodians, school food service, maintenance, clerical roles, and then transportation vacancies." During the event, on-site interviews will be available, Watson said. She encouraged interested applicants to apply online through the online portal that can be found by going to acpsd.net, going to the employment tab, clicking job openings, clicking external applicants and clicking on the recruitment tab in the upper right corner of job list. By doing this, they will receive an interview time before the hiring event, but people can walk-in during the event, Watson said. Those who want to get an interview time prior need to apply by Nov. 2. She added that December teaching graduates are highly encouraged to attend the event. Story continues "Special education aides also have an opportunity to apply for a scholarship program through SC Create to earn their bachelor's degree for special education," Watson said. Those who attend the event will need to bring their resumes, and those applying for teacher positions will need to have valid certificates, Watson said. Hope Mullins, the classified recruitment and staffing specialist, said there will be school buses so event that people interested in a transportation position can view them and check them out. "I think this will be a good opportunity, I'm excited," Watson said. The school district also said that future teachers are invited to sign-up for an interview because they will also be hiring for the 2023-24 school year, along with the current vacancies. The mega hiring event will be held on Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Aiken High School. For questions, email Watson at ashleyw@acpsd.net or Mullins at hmullins@acpsd.net or call 803-641-2428. To see a full list of openings or to schedule your interview online visit acpsd.net. Downed Iranian drone He noted that Iranian-made drones are relatively low-priced. Russians launch them mostly at night. Read also: U.S. will help Ukraine fight off Iranian-made Russian drones, says Blinken "We cannot see them physically, he explained. Only radar can detect them. We need anti-drone guns with radars for drone tracking that can down Shahed-136s at night. Read also: US congressmen see results of Russian drone attacks on Kyiv, meet with Zelenskyy Ignat added that these anti-drone weapons would lessen the burden on Ukrainian air defense as well, allowing Ukraine to conserve resources. Read also: Iranian drone instructors spotted in Belarus, says Defense Ministry Ukrainian forces have already downed 273 Iranian Shahed-136 suicide drones since September, he noted. Russia launched a drone attack against Ukraine on Oct. 23 overnight. Ukrainian air defenses downed 16 drones in the countrys south. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The American Red Cross is looking for people of all blood types to donate blood or platelets in preparation for this holiday season, according to a press release from an American Red Cross spokesperson, Donald Hawkins. >>Coroner identifies man, woman found dead in apparent murder-suicide in Butler Co. Anyone who donates blood beginning on Nov. 1st through Nov. 22nd will receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice, the release said. Details are available on the American Red Cross website. Red Cross urges people to donate to help keep the blood supply from dropping before this upcoming holiday season, Hawkins said. >>Major delays expected on I-70 through November for concrete repairs People of all blood types are needed, especially platelet donors and those with type O blood blood products that are critical to keeping hospitals ready to help patients depending on transfusions in the weeks ahead, Hawkins said in the press release. A blood donor card, drivers license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in when donating blood, according to the release. In most states, people who are at least 17-years-old must weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health, Hawkins said. All other donors must meet certain height and weight requirements as well. >>Greene County man identified as victim of deadly crash in Clinton County Monday morning You can now book by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, call 1-800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org. By Kevin Yao BEIJING (Reuters) - China's next premier, who will take office in March, will have few options but to step up stimulus to revive an economy ravaged by COVID-19, policy insiders and analysts said on Monday, as the unveiling of Xi Jinping's new leadership team rattled markets. On Sunday, Xi was confirmed for a precedent-breaking third term as president and introduced a Politburo Standing Committee stacked with loyalists including Li Qiang, the Shanghai Communist Party chief who is now in line to succeed Li Keqiang as premier. Li Qiang will have the job of driving growth to fend off widespread job losses that could undermine social stability, at a time when Xi is putting ever more emphasis on security. He will inherit an economy, the world's second-largest, that has been dragged down by strict COVID curbs and a deepening property crisis, while hopes for any meaningful reforms have diminished as the ruling Communist Party tightens its grip on the economy. On Monday, Hong Kong stocks tumbled, Chinese stocks fell and the yuan weakened after the new line-up of China's top governing body heightened fears that Xi will double down on ideology-driven policies at the cost of growth. "The COVID curbs will not be loosened sharply anytime soon, the property sector won't pick up in the near term, the pro-reform camp has been completely wiped out, hitting the confidence of investors," a policy source said on condition of anonymity. "The new economic team will have few options but to resort to sizeable stimulus next year to support the economy, focusing on investment and big projects," the source added. China's economic tsar, Liu He, a U.S.-trained economist who is seen as the brains behind earlier reforms, will be replaced by He Lifeng, another Xi acolyte. The pro-reform central bank chief, Yi Gang, is likely to step down when he hits the mandatory retirement age in 2023, Reuters reported. Story continues Li Qiang's elevation surprised many policy insiders who pointed to the botched handling of a Shanghai COVID-19 outbreak that led to a two-month lockdown of its 25 million people, and his lack of experience in a national-level economic role. "What we should do urgently is revive the economy," Jia Kang, former head of the finance ministry's think tank who runs the China Academy of New Supply-Side Economics, told Reuters. "We face the problem of weakening expectations and confidence and it's empty talk if we cannot revitalise the economy," Jia said. MOUNTING CHALLENGES Xi's push for a state-led economic model at the cost of market reforms could jeopardise his long-standing goal of turning China into a great global power by the middle of the century, policy insiders and analysts said. China's economic miracle started in 1978 when Deng Xiaoping kicked off historic reforms, allowing more private enterprises and opening the economy to foreign investment. "With national security elevated to the highest-ever level amid rising geopolitical risks, how to strike a balance between development and security could be one of the most important questions for the leadership in coming years," Citi analysts wrote after Xi unveiled his new team. After official data on Monday showed a faster-than-expected recovery in the third quarter, investors will look for key policy agenda clues from a Politburo meeting and the annual Central Economic Work Conference, both of which are expected in December. In September, China's surveyed urban jobless rate nudged up to 5.5%, the highest since June, as COVID curbs squeezed businesses, with the unemployment rate for job seekers between 16 and 24 at 17.9%. China is on track to miss its annual growth target of around 5.5% - the latest Reuters poll forecast 2022 growth at 3.2%. The poll showed China's growth could pick up to 5.0% in 2023, helped by a lower base. Xi's Standing Committee choices disappointed investors who had been hoping he would keep some reform-minded officials, including former Guangdong party boss Wang Yang. "There is likely to be more deference to Xi Jinpings own views about how to move the country and the economy forward," Alvin Tan, head of Asia FX Strategy at RBC Capital Markets in Singapore, said. (Reporting by Kevin Yao; Editing by Tony Munroe and Andrew Heavens) The Fastop on Smoky Park Highway is where Marcus Hyatt and Brandon Pickens were held and strip searched after being pulled over for a minor traffic violation in January. Police were looking for drugs on the men but found nothing. ASHEVILLE - Another man present at a 2018 police traffic stop has sued over a strip search conducted in a gas station bathroom that resulted in no drugs or other contraband being found. That latest federal lawsuit was filed by Brandon Pickens, who was with Marcus Hyatt during the traffic stop the men said resulted in them being handcuffed and detained for hours before being searched. "The cavity searches were performed in a public gas station bathroom and were conducted in unsanitary, unreasonable and outrageous conditions such that would shock the common understanding of decency," Pickens wrote in his complaint. Filed in 2021 by Pickens, who is now in prison on unrelated charges, the lawsuit has not gone to trial and garnered no media attention, only coming to light after Pickens sent a recent letter to the Citizen Times. The latest filing was an Oct. 7 response from Pickens opposing a defense motion for relief from judgment. Pickens is representing himself and brought the suit in U.S. District Court of the Western District of North Carolina in Asheville. Read this:Strip search leads to court battle for body cam video from Buncombe County Sheriff's Office Previously:U.S. judge says no 'racial bias' in Great Smokies arrest, conviction of Black man In August, Hyatt won his lawsuit in that court after it was found Buncombe County Sheriff's Detective Jeff May falsified a drug field test and made false statements in order to get a warrant to search him. Hyatt is Black while the deputies are white. While not the central issue, race played in a role in the case, with Hyatt saying he was targeted because he is Black. Other deputies were found not to have violated Hyatt's Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable search and seizure. Hyatt's then-girlfriend Ashley Barrett was also a plaintiff, saying she was illegally detained as a part of a concerted deputy operation, but lost her part of the suit. U.S. District Court Judge Martin Reidinger awarded Hyatt $50,000. But payment of that money was delayed after May's motion for a new trial and his pushback over more than $250,000 in lawyers fees that Hyatt's attorneys said should be part of the judgment. Story continues It is not clear when a ruling will be made on payment and the motions by the defense. Adam Peoples, attorney for May, as well as two other deputies J.D. Lambert and Katherine Lewis, who were not found liable declined to comment Oct. 20 on Pickens' suit. The same year as the 2018 traffic stop, Pickens and Hyatt sought legal advice and spoke with the Citizen Times about the incident. But Pickens was convicted in 2019 as a habitual felon and did not become part of Hyatt's lawsuit. Pickens is serving a six-and-a-half-year term at Alexander Correctional Institute in Taylorsville, south of Wilkesboro. He could not be reached Oct. 20 through a prison electronic message system. In his letter to the Citizen Times, dated Sept. 11, he noted the court on July 11 allowed his case to be related to Hyatt's because of their similarity. That means Pickens case is on hold until litigation is finished with Hyatt. But in a related legal action, Pickens is seeking to bring back as a defendant Asheville Police Department Detective Steven Hendricks, whom the court dismissed as a defendant in Hyatt's case, saying his involvement was minimal. Pickens has asked the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse that decision. He said Hendricks, who applied for the search warrant, should be held accountable "for obtaining a warrant to strip search plaintiff based on a warrant application that he knew contained false and misleading information." Mays was found to have falsely said he smelled crack cocaine near the suspects. The court also found the deputy lied when he said a field test of a small bit of substance was positive for the drug. In his written response for Hendricks, Senior Assistant City Attorney Eric Edgerton said Pickens had failed to "make the minimal factual allegations to support" the idea that Hendricks knew the information was false. The briefing phase of the appeal finished Oct. 12. Reached Oct. 20, Edgerton declined to comment before a court decision, but said he anticipated a ruling on the appeal "in the near future." Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Another Black resident sues over Asheville traffic stop strip search Story at a glance An appeals court on Friday temporarily blocked the disbursement of student debt relief. The ruling came shortly after an appeal from six Republican attorneys general representing GOP-led states. The ruling does not bar borrowers from applying to the program, officials said. Student loan borrowers can still apply for debt relief despite the federal appeal that has temporarily blocked the Biden administration from giving out up to $20,000 in student loan relief per person. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit issued a stay on the program last Friday following an appeal from six attorneys general representing GOP-led states. The ruling was issued just four days after the federal Department of Education launched the application for the student loan debt relief program online. America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news. Eligible borrowers are encouraged to apply for the program despite the appeal, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement Friday. It also does not prevent us from reviewing these applications and preparing them for transmission to loan servicers, Jean-Pierre said in the statement. It is also important to note that the order does not reverse the trial courts dismissal of the case, or suggest that the case has merit. It merely prevents debt from being discharged until the court makes a decision. So far, about 22 million U.S. student loan borrowers have applied for the program. Eligible borrowers have until Dec. 31, 2023, to fill out the application online or in paper form, with the Department of Education claims will be available soon, according to CNBC. The U.S. Department of Education has not said when the paper application will be made available. Those that qualify for the program are individuals who made less than $125,000 a year in 2021 or 2020 and families that made less than $250,000 last year or the year before. Story continues Borrowers that received a Federal Pell Grant in college and meet the income requirements can have up to $20,000 worth of debt wiped from their balance. Those that did not receive a Pell Grant can have up to $10,000 worth of debt stricken from their student loan balance. Applicants should remember that the program only applies to federal student loans that were taken out prior to June 30, 2022. Before the appeal, the Department of Education estimated that applications would see their relief reflected in their student loan balance within four to six weeks. Borrowers should apply for the program by Nov. 15 if they want to receive relief before the student loan payment pause is lifted on Jan. 1., according to the Department of Education. Filling out an online application can take less than five minutes. Borrowers only need to include their name, social security number, date of birth and contact information to fill out the official application. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Aishwarya Nair (Reuters) - Archer Aviation Inc said it aims to make about 250 battery-electric air taxis in 2025 and scale up production in the following years, after setting a goal of getting its aircraft certified by the end of 2024. "In our first year, we will build 250 aircraft, our second year will build 500 aircraft, our third year will build 650 aircraft and then we scale it up to around 2,000 aircraft per year," CEO Adam Goldstein told Reuters in an interview. Archer aims to certify its pilot-plus-four-passenger aircraft, 'Midnight', by end-2024, though the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is still in the process of drawing up certification rules for these futuristic aircraft. "In terms of aircraft production, we have estimated in our Archer model ~20 units in 2025," JPM analyst Bill Peterson said. "We are not negative on the space, but think it will take a little longer to play out with the ramp not as steep as these companies had projected in their SPAC decks from over a year ago," he added. Archer shares haven fallen 54% so far this year. Once certified, the California-based start-up's electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft will compete in a crowded market with dozens of other developers such as Joby Aviation Inc and Vertical Aerospace Ltd vying to revamp urban transportation. The nascent sector, which is backed by industrial heavyweights such as Toyota Motor Corp and Delta Air Lines, still faces significant challenges relating to certification, developing a suitable air traffic management system and battery technology improvements, among others. In May, the FAA said it was modifying its regulatory approach in certifying eVTOLs by defining them as powered-lift aircraft rather than small airplanes, injecting concerns over certification delays. Goldstein anticipates the industry may see demand for a thousand eVTOL aircraft on an annual basis. (Reporting by Aishwarya Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri) I took my first long-haul train ride on the Amtrak Coast Starlight. Molly Allen I spent 16 hours on an Amtrak train traveling from Portland, Oregon, to Sacramento, California. I ate lunch and a three-course dinner in the train's dining car. Both of my meals were complimentary since I booked a roomette in the sleeping car. I took my first long-haul train ride from Portland to Sacramento aboard the Amtrak Coast Starlight. For my first long-haul train trip, I booked a roomette in the sleeping car. Molly Allen I recently took a 16-hour train ride on the Amtrak Coast Starlight from Portland, Oregon, to Sacramento, California. Because I booked a roomette for the overnight journey, I had access to complimentary meals in the dining car. I grabbed a late lunch on the train, along with a three-course dinner. Here's what it was really like to eat in an Amtrak dining car. Even though most of the tables in the dining car were empty at lunch, I sat with three other travelers. Many of the tables in the Amtrak dining car were empty, but the attendant still put me at a table with other passengers. Molly Allen Because I boarded the train just after 2 p.m., the attendant in my sleeping car said I could grab lunch if I hurried. Within minutes of putting my bags down in my roomette, I went to the dining car for the first time. As I walked in, I found tables on either side of the car. Most were empty, so I assumed I'd sit alone. Instead, the attendant seated me with three other travelers who had just boarded the train in Portland as well. Two of my lunch companions were traveling together, and the other diner next to me happened to be staying in the roomette across from mine. I was surprised that the attendant seated me with people I'd never met, but it ended up being an interesting way to chat and learn about their travels and jobs. My first Amtrak meal was a mixed-green salad topped with strawberries, walnuts, and raspberry vinaigrette. I asked my server to hold the goat cheese but kept the walnuts and strawberries. Molly Allen There were plenty of lunch options, including an Angus burger, a plant-based burger, chili, and a Monte Cristo sandwich. But because I sat down for lunch after 2 p.m. and knew dinner wasn't too far off, I chose to have a lighter meal. I ordered an iced tea and the mixed field greens and goat cheese salad. The bed of lettuce was topped with strawberries, honey-glazed walnuts, and a raspberry vinaigrette with a nice flavor that wasn't too sweet. I asked the server to leave off the goat cheese. Story continues The salad was small and simple, and the greens and strawberries were surprisingly fresh. I'd definitely eat it again. Dessert was available after lunch, but I didn't order any. Before returning to my room, the server asked what time I wanted a reservation for dinner. I asked for a seat at 6:45 p.m., and the server handed me a slip of paper with my reservation time on my way out. The dining car was notably busier during dinnertime. The dining car offered gorgeous views of the passing landscapes. Molly Allen The person staying in the roomette across from me, who I met at lunch and chatted with throughout the journey, had the same dinner reservation slot as I did. So when it was time to head to the dining car, we walked together. All of the white cloth-covered tables and the seats were filled, and the few servers attending to guests in the dining car seemed quite busy. My lunch companion and I were seated at the same time with a couple who was celebrating a birthday on the train. I ordered a ginger ale, but others at my table chose wine and cocktails, which were also complimentary. I had a Mexican-souffle appetizer that was flavorful, but it had a strange texture. The souffle dish was filled with flavor, but I wasn't a huge fan of the texture. Molly Allen For my dinner appetizer, I opted for a Mexican souffle with grilled street corn. It took a while to arrive at my table, and I was incredibly hungry by the time it was in front of me. The dish certainly didn't have the most appetizing appearance, but the flavor was pretty good. It had a bit of a spicy kick, with chunks of black beans, corn, and a poblano pepper sauce on top. The texture, however, was soft and a bit strange. Two other people at my table ordered the same appetizer, and we all seemed to enjoy it overall. The chicken-breast entree was pretty dry. The chicken breast was dry, and I only ate two bites. Molly Allen My dinner entree was a panko chicken breast served with mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables, and I was really excited to get a taste of comfort food. Unfortunately, the chicken was super crunchy, incredibly dry, and very hard to eat. It was paired with a sauce that tasted similar to pasta sauce, which helped with the flavor. But I ended up eating two bites and leaving it alone. Luckily the mashed potatoes were absolutely delicious. They were made with red potatoes, and the chef left the skin on. The meal also came with green beans on the side, which were decent but pretty plain. The piece of lemon cake I had for dessert was shockingly delicious. The Meyer lemon cake was a major highlight of my dinner. Molly Allen For dessert, there were three options: a chocolate mousse cake, white-chocolate-blueberry-cobbler cheesecake, and Meyer-lemon cake. I went with the lemon cake and was so thrilled with my choice. The slice had lemon mousseline and lemon curd between each of the cake's three different layers. It was served with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce. I didn't have high hopes for a cake being served on a train when I first dug my fork into the slice, but I was pleasantly surprised. The cake was served cold, but it was moist and had a pleasant texture. Each bite was jam-packed with lemon flavor, and I wished for more after I finished the whole slice. As a professional baker, I was impressed by how good this lemon cake was. The dining car had some of the best views on the train. I was able to admire the passing scenery from the dining car's windows. Molly Allen Just like the observation car and my private roomette, the dining car had large picture windows. I ended up seeing some of the most incredible scenery as I enjoyed dinner. Because dinner was a three-course meal and the train was quite busy, I spent almost two hours having dinner and chatting with other travelers. The food wasn't incredible, but the pleasant experience made up for it. It forced me to slow down, take in the scenery, and enjoy the moment. After all, there was no need to rush to get up from dinner. The train still had 11 hours left to go. Read the original article on Insider A 13-year-old Athens boy remained hospitalized Monday after he was shot by a child who found a firearm in the home, according to Athens-Clarke police. The teen was shot in the head by a 3-year-old boy who somehow acquired the loaded gun, police Lt. Shaun Barnett said. The shooting occurred at about 2 p.m. Saturday in a duplex apartment on Essex Court, a cul-de-sac off Gaines School Road, according to police. The wound is serious, police said. Teen shooting: Police: 2 Athens teens in gunfight, one dies, one wounded Gun issues: Gunning for voters on gun issues, Georgia election candidates talk of safe communities The 13-year-old is the uncle of the younger child and both resided at the location, according to Barnett. There was at least one adult in the home when the shooting occurred, Barnett said. Barnett did not know the caliber of the handgun, or to whom it belonged, and particularly how it came into the hand of the juvenile, but he said those details are still under investigation. Several 911 calls came in after the shooting, Barnett said, adding that investigators have not yet released the names of those involved. This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: 13-year-old boy shot by child who found loaded gun in Athens home Cambodian Senate leader starts official visit to Vietnam President of the Cambodian Senate Samdech Say Chhum and a Cambodian high-ranking delegation have arrived in Hanoi to start a three-day official visit to Vietnam from October 24-26 at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. President of the Cambodian Senate Samdech Say Chhum. (Photo: VNA) This is an important political activity between the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) and the Cambodian Senate in 2022 also the Vietnam - Cambodia, Cambodia - Vietnam Friendship Year, on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations (June 24, 1967). It aims to contribute to strengthening the close relations and political trust between the two Parties, States and legislatures. Cambodian Senate Samdech Say Chhum is currently Vice President of the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP). The Cambodian Senate leaders visit after the Vietnam one by President of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Heng Samrin is a chance for the two sides to discuss and evaluate the cooperation between the two legislative bodies over the year, contributing to reinforcing and promoting the sound neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-standing stability between the two countries. This is the first direct meeting between Samdech Say Chhum and NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue after the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent years, the relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia has developed stably. After the two countries reopened their doors following the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year, the exchange of delegations at all levels has increased, and the two countries have coordinated closely in organising a lot of activities in celebration of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. Two-way trade hit 9.54 billion USD in 2021, up 79.1% year-on-year, and 7.08 billion USD in the first seven months of this year, up 17.8% year-on-year. To date, Vietnam has 188 valid investment projects in Cambodia with a total registered capital of 2.8 billion USD, maintaining its leading position in ASEAN and in the top five countries with the largest direct investment in Cambodia. Cooperation in defence, security, border, education and training, science and technology, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges continue to be promoted. Regarding the relations between the two legislative bodies, over the years, they have been well developed at both bilateral and multilateral levels. The two sides have maintained and well implemented the cooperation agreement between the two NAs signed in May 2019. Skyharbour Resources (CVE:SYH) (OTCMKTS:SYHBF) holds an extensive portfolio of uranium and thorium exploration projects in Canada's Athabasca Basin and is well positioned to benefit from improving uranium market fundamentals with six drill-ready projects. In July 2016, Skyharbour acquired an option from Denison Mines, a large strategic shareholder of the Company, to acquire 100% of the Moore Uranium Project which is located approximately 15 kilometres east of Denison's Wheeler River project and 39 kilometres south of Cameco's McArthur River uranium mine. Moore is an advanced stage uranium exploration project with high grade uranium mineralization at the Maverick Zone. Drill results have returned up to 6.0% U3O8 over 5.9 metres, including 20.8% U3O8 over 1.5 metres at a vertical depth of 265 metres. Skyharbour has signed option agreements with Orano Canada Inc. and Azincourt Energy whereby Orano and Azincourt can earn in up to 70% of specific segments of the Preston Project through a combined $9,800,000 in total exploration expenditures, as well as $1,700,000 in total cash payments and Azincourt shares. Preston is a large, geologically prospective property proximal to Fission Uranium's Triple R deposit as well as NexGen Energy's Arrow deposit. The Company also owns a 100% interest in the Falcon Point Uranium Project which hosts a high-grade surface showing with up to 68% U3O8 in grab samples from a massive pitchblende vein, the source of which has yet to be discovered. The Company's 100% owned Mann Lake Uranium project on the east side of the Basin is strategically located adjacent to the Mann Lake Joint Venture operated by Cameco, where high-grade uranium mineralization has been identified. Skyharbour's goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions. Athens-Clarke police detectives are trying to unravel the motive behind a shooting Friday at a gas station on Gaines School Road that ended with one teenager dead and another wounded. Police on Monday identified the slain man as 19-year-old Alijah Nelson of Scandia Circle, Athens. Related: Police: 2 Athens teens in gunfight, one dies, one wounded Teen shot: Athens boy, 13, shot in the head by 3-year-old who found gun in their home, police say Police Lt. Shaun Barnett said the other man, an 18-year-old resident of Fourth Street, was wounded and transported to an Athens hospital. He has not been charged at this time, but we are still actively investigating, Barnett said. Preliminarily, we believe this could have been gang related and we do believe they were known to each other. The shooting, in which multiple rounds were fired, occurred shortly before 5 p.m. Friday near the Citco Station, according to police. Grandmother drug dealer: Athens woman convicted in federal court of selling meth while with her grandchildren Police are also investigating whether a barrage of gunfire that occurred at about 1:30 a.m. Monday at a house on East Broad Street in Athens might somehow be linked to the slaying on Gaines School Road. In that case, a 29-year-old man reported to police he was in the residence when he heard gunfire and bullets came through the windows causing him to go the floor for safety. He said another man, who no longer lives there, has had a relationship with the people involved in the shooting on Gaines School Road, according to the report. An officer on scene reported seeing multiple bullet holes in two windows and damage to furniture inside. This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens Clarke police seeking a motive in fatal gunfight in east Athens A University of Missouri banner is taken down as a storm rolls over the Phi Gamma Delta house during the fraternity's move-out day Oct. 24, 2021. Circuit Judge Jeff Harris wants several pieces of information from attorneys in the felony hazing case of former University of Missouri Phi Gamma Delta Vice President Thomas Shultz in a hearing now set for Dec. 19. Phi Gamma Delta is commonly known as Fiji. Two other hazing defendants had court hearings Monday afternoon before Judge Hasbrouck Jacobs. Harris appealed to the attorneys on both sides of the Shultz case in a hearing Monday morning. Shultz is one of 11 people charged with hazing fraternity pledge Danny Santulli, who was left with brain damage and unable to see, speak or walk because of three-fourths of a bottle of vodka he consumed at an event called "Pledge Dad Reveal Night" last October. Last week marked the one-year anniversary of the event. The fraternity is no longer at the university. Santulli has begun hyperbaric treatments to try to restore brain function. More:Danny Santulli's dad one year after University of Missouri Fiji hazing: 'Everyone wants this to stop' Shultz, defense attorney Kelly Joyce and prosecutor Nicholas Komoroski appeared by computer video for the hearing. An idea of the trial schedule is needed because he wants to give plenty of notice to court officials in Greene County, where the jury will be brought in from for the trial, Harris said. "Do you think you will have a better idea of a specific trial readiness date" by Dec. 19? Harris asked the attorneys. He said he wants a trial readiness date, an anticipated trial duration and discussion of a joint proposed scheduling order. The scheduling order is a list of items and their dates, including discovery, depositions and pre-trial motions. More:Danny Santulli's family on 'Good Morning America': Prosecute the Fiji brothers responsible Komoroski and Joyce agreed to the Dec. 19 date. "It won't be a quick turnaround," Komoroski said of the trial date. "It will be pretty far out there." Jacobs set status hearings for both Harrison Reichman and Benjamin Parres for 1:30 p.m. Dec 12. According to police statements justifying the charges, Parres allegedly texted with Shultz about Santulli's condition and was involved in planning the night. The police statements on Reichman include how he entered the room where Santulli was passed out on a sofa and carried him out of the room with another fraternity member. Story continues Parres' attorney, Christopher Slusher, didn't waive his client's arraignment and therefore didn't enter a plea. Reichman's attorney, Jay DeHardt, waived formal arraignment and entered a "not guilty" plea on his client's behalf. 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: Fiji hazing case attorneys have until December to suggest trial date Bull elks can be dangerous, but even more during the rut. The reports of wild animals attacking humans are becoming more common. People fail to realize if a wild animal is even near where they happen to be, there is a degree of potential danger involved. Reports of conflicts between humans and bears, especially black bears, is of concern as their population increases. Bears are being spotted in habitat that was devoid of bruins just a few years earlier. Man is alive after playing dead during black bear encounter In 2016, Dan Richman, age 54 and an avid hiker, was on a trail in the Sierra Madre foothills in California when he came across a black bear 50 to 100 feet away. It was standing on its hind legs at the time. (It was also the first bear he had ever observed in the wild.) He attempted to turn around and leave the area when he spotted another black bear much closer. He yelled to try to scare it off, but that proved to be ineffective. Len Lisenbee Then he attempted to run by it, but the bear attacked him. He played dead, and the bear actually put its jaws around his neck but did not bite down. Then the bear just seemed to give up, and Richman was able to run to safety. The epilogue to this incident is that Richman had a head wound and multiple cuts to his legs, feet and torso. And state wildlife officials surmised that the two bears in such close proximity probably meant that they were either in or approaching the fall breeding period. Dangerous animal encounters are often unexpected You do not have to be in the wilderness to meet dangerous animals. A 10-year old boy, playing in his grandparent's backyard in Morris, Connecticut, was badly hurt when a black bear attacked him earlier this month. He was transported to a hospital and received medical treatment for his injuries. That bear was euthanized by state authorities. A Rutgers University student was killed in a New Jersey bear attack in 2014. The 300-pound male bear mauled the hiker/student to death in northern New Jersey in what officials say was the first fatal bear attack on record in the state. Story continues The victim, 22-year-old Darsh Patel, had been hiking with friends in the Apshawa Preserve when the attack happened. When the group realized a bear was following them they ran, splitting up along the way. Outdoors:Not all those who hunt and fish run 'afowl' of the law Outdoors:Like any hunt, deer camp memories last a lifetime Later, when the friends couldn't find Patel, they called police. The student's body was found about two hours later. The bear was likely looking for food and was circling the victim's body from about 30 yards away when officials arrived. The officers tried to scare the bear away by making loud noises and throwing sticks and stones, but eventually shot the animal. It's not just bears that are 'potentially dangerous' Many species of wildlife are considered to be potentially dangerous during specific times of the year. Elk are a good example. They can be found in parts of Pennsylvania, Kentucky, North Carolina and nearly entire states such as Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and much of California. From the beginning of the rut (the breeding season) to its end, these animals (especially the bulls but also including many adult cows) must be considered potentially dangerous to humans. Yet people seem to go out of their way to endanger themselves and others as they search for another great photo or the thrill of getting close. Make no mistake about it. A bull elk defending its harem is entirely capable of driving off other bulls or harming people getting too close. Don't be stupid around wild animals And folks, I have observed stupidity from people around dangerous wildlife that would make your skin crawl. On one occasion in Yellowstone Park, I was a witness as a man from New Jersey attempted to place his toddler son on the back of a black bear sow with three young cubs begging for food along the side of the parks road. He wanted a cute photo of the scene. And yes, I made him get back in his car. He was very irate (at me), too. Estes Park, Colorado, is known for its large herds of resident elk. And every year there are occurrences of visitors getting too close to the elk as they search for the perfect photo opp. Injuries on humans are frequent, and virtually every one results in a complaint against the elk. Oh, and there are several warning signs throughout the village to not get too close. New York and other northeastern states are currently dealing with increased run-ins with moose. They are getting more populous and are posing dangers to humans in two ways. One is aimed at drivers because brown-colored moose are nearly invisible at night or in low light conditions. The other is that rutting bulls in the fall will take on all comers, including humans, as they search for cows to breed. Folks, all wild animals should be considered dangerous. And, in general, the larger they are the more dangerous they can be. You can never trust any wild animal to do what you might expect them to do, so stay very clear and enjoy their presence from a very safe distance. Len Lisenbee is the Daily Messengers Outdoor Writer. Contact him at lisenbee@frontiernet.net. This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Bear and moose populations are increasing: Keep distance to keep safe VALENTYNA ROMANENKO, OLENA ROSHCHINA MONDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2022, 12:48 The Ministry of Defence of Belarus has shown that Belarusian troops are returning to their permanent bases after "strengthening" the countrys border, while Ukrainian border guards declare that the situation has not changed. Source: The Ministry of Defence of Belarus, on Telegram; Andrii Demchenko, spokesman for State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, in a comment for Ukrainska Pravda Quote: "Belarusian military personnel who have successfully completed the task of strengthening parts of the countrys border are returning to their permanent place of deployment. The guardsmen were met by representatives of the command of the military unit, as well as relatives and friends." Details: The Belarusian Ministry of Defence didnt disclose how many servicemen were returning to their bases, and how many remained near the state border. Instead, they showed photos of military personnel being welcomed on their bases, as well as a picture of a soldier meeting with a child. Demchenkos comment: "There is no change in the situation at the border with the Republic of Belarus. The situation remains under control. We continue to record the same number of military units of the Republic of Belarus still on the border with our country, which change on a rotational basis. There is also no change in the nature of their actions." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian soldiers arrive in Belarus Read also: Iranian drone instructors spotted in Belarus, says Defense Ministry "Russian servicemen, who are part of a regional grouping of forces, are arriving in the Republic of Belarus," the message reads. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, announced on Oct. 10 that Minsk and Moscow had agreed upon this regional deployment, consisting of both Belarusian and Russian soldiers. Accordingly, he instructed the Belarusian military to receive and deploy "more than one thousand" Russian soldiers on the territory of Belarus. Read also: New invasion from Belarus more likely next spring, Ukraine says The arrival of "first echelons" of Russian servicemen was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Belarus on Oct. 15. The Ministry of Defense on the following day announced that a total of nine thousand Russian troops would be transferred to the country far greater than the thousand-plus that Lukashenko had initially requested. According to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as of Oct. 13, up to a thousand Russian soldiers, as well as Russian military equipment were already stationed in Belarus. Read also: Dictator Lukashenko announces plans to create Belarus first drone The reason for deployment was given by the dictator as alleged "aggression on the western borders of the Union State of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. What this refers to is unclear, as no such threat exists. Lukashenko warned that the joint Russian-Belarusian force would be involved "if the threat level reaches the current level, as it is now, though against whom, and what the threat level represents is unknown. None of Belarus neighbors have deployed troops to the Belarusian border, while Ukrainian maintains only defensive garrisons to guard against a possible Russian push from the north. Similar accusations of "threats" brought by Belarus against Ukraine have been heard regularly since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, including from the side of the Belarusian-Ukrainian border. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine UKRAINSKA PRAVDA MONDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2022, 18:32 Military exercises with live fire and the movement of military equipment will be held in the city of Brest in Belarus. Source: Belaruski Hajun [an independent Belarusian military monitoring media outlet] Details: Belaruski Hajun quotes Alexander Rogachuk, Head of the Brest City Executive Committee, who said that "gunfire and the movement of various types of equipment" will be heard in Brest during this week . Rogachuk said that the military exercises will be conducted by the 38th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade at the Brest training ground "in accordance with the training plan for the year." Background: On 23 October, the Ministry of Defence of Belarus reported on the arrival of Russian troops on Belarusian territory, they were met with bread and salt at the training ground. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the UK Defence Intelligence consider the risk of an offensive from Belarus for now to be low. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! President Biden in an interview that aired Sunday said its a legitimate thing for voters to be concerned about his age, but argued they should judge him on his energy and passion for the job. I think its a legitimate thing to be concerned about anyones age, including mine. I think thats totally legitimate, Biden, who is 79, told MSNBCs Jonathan Capehart. But I think the best way to make the judgment is to watch me, he continued. Im a great respecter of fate. I could get a disease tomorrow. I could drop dead tomorrow. In terms of my energy level. In terms of how much Im able to do, I think people should look and say, Does he still have the same passion for what hes doing? And if they think I do and I can do it, thats fine. If they dont, they should encourage me not to go. But thats not how I feel. Biden was the oldest president ever to take office when he was sworn in at age 78. He will turn 80 on Nov. 20, an age he joked to Capehart he couldnt bring himself to say. When asked about his age, Biden often points to his daily schedule and regular travel domestically and internationally to argue he can keep up with the demands of the job. The presidents age has been a point of contention since he first announced his candidacy for the 2020 election, with Republicans attacking his mental fitness for the job and some Democrats arguing it was time for a new generation of leadership. Republicans have seized on Bidens occasional gaffes to argue he is too old and has lost a step, such as when he called out to recognize a former congresswoman at a White House event even though she had died weeks earlier. The age question has also persisted for Biden among Democrats as polls have shown voters might prefer another candidate in 2024. An ABC News/Washington Post poll in late September found that 56 percent of Democrats want the party to choose a different nominee for president in 2024, while 35 percent said they wanted Biden to seek a second term. The president has repeatedly said he intends to run again, though he has not formally declared his intentions for 2024. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Top Biden national security officials are tracking multiple threats to the nations election security infrastructure ahead of the midterms and are set to issue warnings, including in an internal intelligence bulletin this week, according to two people familiar with the matter. The bulletin will lay out details of cyber threats posed by China and Russia, as well as other non-state actors, and potential physical threats to election officials in jurisdictions across the country, the people said. The warnings come as the midterm elections near and amid increasing reports of intimidation at ballot drop boxes. The people requested anonymity to talk freely about sensitive national security and election matters. Elsewhere on Monday, the Department of Justice addressed several malign influence schemes and alleged criminal activity by non-state actors. While those charges were unrelated to the intelligence bulletin warning, FBI Director Christopher Wray acknowledged during a press conference that foreign governments continue to pose a major threat to U.S. elections. Malign foreign influence whether it's from the Chinese government, the Russian government or other governments is not just an election-cycle issue, but a 365-day-a-year problem, Wray said. The internal administration concerns about election threats come days after a call was held between federal officials and local law enforcement personnel about the midterms, according to one of the people familiar with the matter. Those on the call discussed the potential for violence in response to the spread of false narratives regarding the election process. Officials said election workers, including those working at polling stations, are likely to face threats and harassment from extrements both online and offline, the person familiar with the matter said. We are now hearing reports of people surrounding ballot drop boxes, some even wearing tactical gear, and questioning people, said John Cohen, the former counterterrorism chief at DHS. Are the police prepared for that? They need to be. All of this is being driven by the false narrative that the 2020 election was stolen. Story continues The FBI, DHS and DOJ did not respond to requests for comment. Already, there have been incidents of armed individuals in tactical gear showing up at ballot drop boxes in Arizona, prompting the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office to be called into the area. Cyber threats to Americas election infrastructure have long been a concern of government officials. Indeed, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the intelligence community have been monitoring such threats to the midterms for months. But officials recently said foreign adversaries have not been actively targeting the election system. "At this time, we are not aware of any specific or credible threats to compromise or disrupt election infrastructure," CISA Director Jen Easterly told reporters on Oct. 13. Even so, Easterly said, this year's combination of misinformation, harassment of election workers and insider threats from rogue election administrators makes the current threat environment "more complex than it has ever been." CISA did not respond to a request for comment. Officials consider misinformation and disinformation the biggest threats to the midterms, given how easy it would be for malicious actors whether domestic partisans or foreign intelligence operatives to seize on delayed results or isolated voting-machine glitches to spread lies about the security of the process. US-POLITICS-BIDEN President Joe Biden waves as he leaves Saint Edmond Roman Catholic Church after attending Mass in Rehoboth Beach, Del., on October 22, 2022. Credit - Mandel NganAFP via Getty Images This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox. REHOBOTH BEACH, Del.Vice President Kamala Harris spent her Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis, rushing to a roundtable on reproductive rights on the campus of Metropolitan State University with little more than two weeks before voters thereand everywhere, reallywill tell us just how potent the question of abortion really is in the post-Roe world. At almost the exact moment that her motorcade arrived back at Air Force Two, President Joe Bidens entourage rolled down Laurel Street here on the Delaware shore. While Harris recorded a podcast and appeared at a fundraiser for Minnesota candidates, Biden stayed largely out of sight at his vacation home. He checked in with advisers, and celebrated Mass just a block from the waves on the Rehoboth boardwalk. As a series of answers he taped last on Tuesday went live on the social media channels of news website NowThis, he returned through stormy skies to Washington late Sunday night, a short 22-minute hop on the smaller-scale Air Force One. The split-screen moment is about as clear an illustration about how the White House sees the best use of the commander-in-chiefs time with an election imminent. The weekend marked the 56th time Biden has visited his home state of Delaware since taking office 21 months ago, and hes due back on Thursday. Hes been here a full quarter of his time in power, outpacing even former President Donald Trumps tendencies to spend his relative downtime away from the White House and at sites that were part of his businesses. And, in this environment and with Bidens polling worse than all of his predecessors since Harry Truman, it might be where Biden does the least harm to fellow Democrats. Story continues Welcome to 2022, when a compromise candidate from 2020 is now seen as an albatross almost everywhere except his home states of Delaware and Pennsylvaniaand even there, hes still underwater. And, to be fair, hes more unpopular than popular in a stinging 44 states. The White House publicly insists Biden will be engaged in the final sprint, citing an upcoming trip to Florida and this weeks and lasts drop-ins to Pennsylvania. They also point to a recent western swing that included stops in Colorado, Oregon, and California as proof that the President is working to promote Democrats agenda and to boost enthusiasm with the base. The president takes this very seriously, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said last week when reporters pressed her for an explanation for Bidens absence from the trail. But there is also this reality: a lot of the candidates in the tightest races dont much want Biden in their backyardsat least not the one named Joe. First Lady Jill Biden? Shes plenty welcome, and is a much-requested visitor. But the president is seen as a drag, and somesuch as Ohios Tim Ryan running for the open Senate seat therehave done everything they can to stiff-arm their partys leader. Ryan openly says Biden should not play in Ohio politics and maybe shouldnt run in 2024; he then announced plans for Dave Matthews to perform a show today in Columbus. Historically, the party that holds the White House loses seats in its first at-bat with voters after a new President takes office. Biden favorability is lower than every single post-World War II President, which should mean he is a drag on Democrats writ large. Still, his team isnt buying that theory, citing 10 million jobs created on his watch, historically low unemployment rates, and the price at the pump declining after a painful summer. They profess Bidenism can work everywhere, if only Democrats would give it a chance. Then why isnt Biden doing more to evangelize this idea? Well, he is following the lead set in 2010 by his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, and selectively engaging. And its merely an added bonus that Biden is ditching Washington at every chance he can find. Still, its frustrating to many Democrats who are watching their party leader seem like a drag on candidates. Its partly why (along with his age) that the speculation about his 2024 decision simply will not end. And, while no president is ever truly off the clock, the pictures of him motorcading to Dover Air Force Base on Sunday nightwhile so many of his former colleagues are fighting for political survivalleave some Democrats smarting. And on Friday, Biden will once again not be bombarding the likes of Georgia, Arizona, or Nevada. Hell be back in his backyard, helping rally the faithful at the Pennsylvania Democratic Partys headquarters in Philadelphia. At that point, Election Day will be less than two weeks away. Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the D.C. Brief newsletter. President Biden is set to receive an updated COVID-19 vaccination shot on Tuesday in an effort to encourage Americans to get their latest booster shots amid the ongoing pandemic. The President will receive his updated COVID-19 vaccine and will deliver remarks on the ongoing fight against the virus, the White House said in an email Sunday evening. Biden first tested positive for the virus in July and then, three days after being released from isolation, tested positive again in a rebound case after taking the antiviral drug Paxliod. Bidens physician said he experienced mild symptoms due to his being fully vaccinated and boosted against the virus. Health officials rolled out updated COVID-19 vaccine shots last month designed to target the latest omicron subvariants of the virus. COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have been dropping steadily since August, though uptake of the new boosters has been relatively slow. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisers have also recommended adding COVID-19 shots to the regular immunization schedule for patients over the age of six months. According to CDC data, 68 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated against the virus, with 48 percent having gotten their second booster shot. As of Oct. 12, only about 7 percent of eligible Americans over 12 years old had received the updated bivalent booster. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Getty Images) President Joe Biden slammed Republican attempts to ban gender-affirming care for transgender people when speaking at a forum with transgender TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney. Ms Mulvaney has documented her experiences on TikTok about her gender transition. Ms Mulvaney spoke with the president at a forum for NowThisNews at the White House, she asked Mr Biden whether he thought states have a right to ban gender-affirming health care. I dont think any state or anybody should have the right to do that as a moral question and as a legal question, he said. I just think its wrong. Mr Biden mentioned his late son, former Delaware attorney general Beau Biden, who passed one of the broadest protections for gender-affirming care. Sometimes, they try to block you from being able to access certain medicines, being able to access certain procedures, he said. No state should be able to do that in my view. Mr Bidens words come as many Republicans have sought to prohibit gender-affirming care. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin proposed a policy that would require parents sign off on the use of any pronoun or name different from a students assigned sex and that the use of facilities and participation in student programming should be based on their biological sex, CBS News reported. Entrepreneur Donny Harper has dedicated his G(O)OD Company Apparel brand as a daily reminder to be good company to others and to be mindful of the company you keep. Im pushing a message of positivity through fashion, Harper told Oprah Daily in an interview. As a 2022 recipient of Spectrum Reachs Pay It Forward (PIF) program, Harper reflected on his early journey and how he wanted to integrate a message of positivity after losing his mother at the age of 19 to cancer. My mom was my best friend, my everything. I started going to church and growing in my faith, Harper said. What once began as Harper rapping about things he said his mother was not proud of later transformed into messages about his values as a Christian man. That laid the foundation for the Ohio-based company, and Harper began spreading joy and positivity. View this post on Instagram A post shared by GO(O)D COMPANY APPAREL (@goodcompanyapparel) Harper earned his GED at 26a promise he made to his momafter dropping out of high school a decade before, which led to bigger and brighter things. After becoming a math teacher and putting his music career on hold, Harper began to bring forth his vision for the GO(O)D Company. I wanted a brand that everybody could relate to and connect to. In our world, there are so many things that divide us as people, he told Oprah Daily. I wanted a message that connected to all backgrounds, all different walks of life, rich and poor. The messages on his t-shirts quickly became popular among his students and fellow staff. Harper left teaching to spread his message in new ways as a pastor and business owner. I truly feel that my mom would have been really, really proud of what were doing, he told Oprah Daily. Im reminded of her every day. A Boston man is facing armed robbery charges after authorities say he stole sneakers from a DSW while holding a knife. Jason Johnson, 41, was arraigned Friday on one count of armed robbery at the Boston Municipal Court Central Division, District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement. Judge Paul Treseler ordered Johnson held on $1,000 bail and ordered him to stay away from the store. Johnson is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 15 for a probable cause hearing. On Sept. 29, officers responded to a report of a person with a knife at DSW on Washington Street, with the suspect stealing a pair of shoes from the store with a knife in his hand. At around 7:30 p.m. the suspect, later identified as Johnson, entered the store and started to rummage through boxes. When he entered, the store buzzer went off indicating that he had stolen items from another store. Staff noticed Johnson place a pair of black Adidas sneakers on his feet, leaving the box on the ground. When approached by the store manager, police allege that Johnson said, I dont have to pay for these. He then pulled a knife from his backpack and began throwing items around. While reviewing surveillance video footage, detectives observed Johnson approaching the escalator with his right arm extended to his side and a metallic instrument in his hand. Johnson left the store without paying for $269.98 worth of merchandise. On Oct. 6, employees identified Johnson via a photo array. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Stranded campers are hoisted to safety near the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument on 8 October 2022 (New Mexico State Police) A Boy Scout troop that included 16 children was airlifted to safety after becoming trapped in a forest in New Mexico by flood waters, according to officials. The New Mexico State Police said earlier this month that it had rescued 25 people who had become stranded near the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument during a week-long camping trip. The 16 children and nine adults were hoisted into helicopters on 8 October after heavy rains surrounded their campsite with water and made the nearby river unsafe to ford. "On October 8, at around 4pm, New Mexico State Police was dispatched to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument for a troop of boy scouts (16 kids and 9 adults) who were stranded due to heavy rains and rising rivers surrounding their campsite," the police force said. "New Mexico Search and Rescue was called... the stranded scouts were located and helicopters from New Mexico State Police and the New Mexico National Guard hoisted all 25 to safety." According to local radio station KCRA, two hikers were also rescued. No injuries were reported. The overall rescue took 10 hours, in part due to adverse weather conditions and terrain that turned the downdraft from the helicopters' rotor blades into a challenging wind. Hoist operator Kurtus Tenorio told KCRA: "It was pretty challenging getting in there. It took us probably double the time it normally would have." Aerial footage released by police shows the Boy Scouts' campsite next to a fast-moving river, among dense trees near a towering rock formation. One video then shows two people being lifted from beside the river into a police helicopter and brought inside. Other videos show an officers on the ground shouting over the helicopter noise, telling a group of boys how the rescue will work and later helping them don harnesses. "I am totally surprised the river didn't take them," says one officer to another while the troop prepares to leave. "Like, they are right in-between two flows." After the rescue, Mr Tenorio said, there were "lots of smiles, lots of hugs and high-fives that was pretty heartwarming." By Rodrigo Viga Gaier, Ricardo Brito and Lisandra Paraguassu RIO DE JANEIRO/BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazilian politician Roberto Jefferson surrendered early Sunday evening after wounding two policemen while resisting arrest ordered by the country's Supreme Court. President Jair Bolsonaro tried to distance himself from his ally posting a video on social media after his arrest, saying someone that fires at policemen should be treated as a criminal. Two officers were injured by shrapnel of a grenade thrown by the former congressman. Both went to the hospital and were later released, the statement said. In a video posted on social media on Sunday morning, the congressman showed an image of federal police officers arriving at his house, and later admitted in another video that he had aimed at the police car but not at the officers. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes had ordered Jefferson to be taken to jail after the former congressman and president of PTB political party released a tape offending justice Carmen Lucia, due to decisions she made related to the presidential elections. In his decision, Moraes said Jefferson did not comply to conditions to his house arrest. Jefferson was already under investigation for the alleged involvement in producing fake news, and on Friday released statements offending justice Carmen Lucia, who had decided to transfer part of Bolsonaro's air time to presidential candidate and former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva after the leftist complained about offenses in the adversary's political ads. Two opposition senators, Randolfe Rodrigues and Eliziane Gama had asked the Supreme Court to punish Jefferson for offending Lucia. Political tension has risen ahead of the presidential election runoff next Sunday. Bolsonaro had previously tweeted a condemnation of Jefferson's comments on the Justice and his resistance to prison. Lula said the issue should now be solved by the police and blamed Bolsonaro for increasing political violence. (Reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier and Alexandre Caverni, Writing by Tatiana Bautzer; editing by Diane Craft) BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's leftist presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is leading President Jair Bolsonaro by 7 percentage points with less than one week to go until a runoff vote, according to a poll published on Monday. The results mirror last week's, with Lula continuing to hold 50% voter support against Bolsonaro's 43%. The survey by pollster IPEC was conducted between Oct. 22 and 24, interviewed 3,008 people, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. IPEC was one of several polling firms criticized for underestimating support for Bolsonaro in the first-round vote. Brazil's runoff is scheduled to be held on Oct. 30. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Isabel Woodford and Jonathan Oatis) Awareness is key to preventing stroke and maternal health risk COLUMBUS World Stroke Day is Oct. 29 and the American Heart Associations Go Red for Women movement, with local sponsorship from OhioHealth, will host the free digital webinar entitled "Go Red Goes North Community Conversation: Stroke and Maternal Health" via Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. Friday. Stroke continues to be the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States, however the majority of strokes can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a leading cause of stroke and the most significant controllable risk factor. More than one in three American adults have high blood pressure and dont know it. And women are at even greater risk nearly 50% of adult women have high blood pressure, and each year stroke kills more women than men. The Community Conversation will also call attention to the unique risk factors women face that put them at higher risk for both high blood pressure and stroke. To register for the webinar, go to heart.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_807YMmrhSSaIaPaDylSo6Q. Portion of West Third Street closed West Third Street from North Benton Street to Bowman Street is closed for storm line repairs. It's expected to reopen Friday. Drivers are advised to plan an alternate route to avoid possible delays. Galion Middle School to host Spooktacular Trick-or-Treat GALION The Galion Middle School leadership team will host its fifth annual Spooktacular Trick-or-Treat event from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday at 474 Portland Way N., Galion. Galion families with children from pre-k (toddler) to fifth grade are invited to walk the halls of GMS collecting treats along the way. The entrance fee for this event will be one can of nonperishable food donation per family. Galion City Schools clubs and organizations will have tables with representatives and volunteers passing out candy to children and families. All trick-or-treaters must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Story continues Crestline library to host haunted Ohio program CRESTLINE "Ohio Spirits - Stories, Legends and Tales from Haunted Ohio Places" will be presented by storyteller James Kleefeld at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Crestline Public Library. It's an opportunity to hear captivating spooky stories, witness unexplainable phenomena, and handle eerie ghostly artifacts. Health Department closed Friday Richland Public Health will be closed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday for a scheduled staff in-service day. For more information about Richland Public Health events or services, visit richlandhealth.org, the Richland Public Health Facebook page, or call 419-774-4500. Upcoming meetings: Shelby City Council Public Works & General Operations Committee, 3:30 p.m, Tuesday, conference room, City Hall, 43 W. Main St., Shelby Madison Local Board of Education, 6 p.m., Wednesday, auditeria, Madison Middle School, 1419 Grace St., Mansfield This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: American Heart Association, OhioHealth to hold stroke webinar While Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (TSE:BAM.A) shareholders are probably generally happy, the stock hasn't had particularly good run recently, with the share price falling 16% in the last quarter. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last five years have been pleasing. It has returned a market beating 47% in that time. Unfortunately not all shareholders will have held it for the long term, so spare a thought for those caught in the 31% decline over the last twelve months. So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 5 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns. View our latest analysis for Brookfield Asset Management To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. During five years of share price growth, Brookfield Asset Management achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 22% per year. The EPS growth is more impressive than the yearly share price gain of 8% over the same period. Therefore, it seems the market has become relatively pessimistic about the company. You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). It's good to see that there was some significant insider buying in the last three months. That's a positive. That said, we think earnings and revenue growth trends are even more important factors to consider. This free interactive report on Brookfield Asset Management's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, Brookfield Asset Management's TSR for the last 5 years was 56%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective While the broader market lost about 6.6% in the twelve months, Brookfield Asset Management shareholders did even worse, losing 30% (even including dividends). 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. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 9%, each year, over five years. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Brookfield Asset Management better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Brookfield Asset Management (including 1 which shouldn't be ignored) . Brookfield Asset Management is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on CA 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 Republican gubernatorial candidate state Sen. Brian Dahle poses in the rotunda of the state Capitol in Sacramento on June 9. Gov. Gavin Newsom and his Republican challenger, state Sen. Brian Dahle, sparred Sunday over inflation, climate change, education, abortion and other issues in their only scheduled debate ahead of the Nov. 8 election. The hour-long debate, aired on KQED radio and later broadcast on TV, did not feature strict time limits, creating a feisty back-and-forth. Newsom, a Democrat, was asked to make the case for why voters should give him another term. He took credit for $9.5 billion in rebate checks going out to Californians now, efforts to fight climate change and his support for abortion rights. Dahle, though, repeatedly tried to cast the governor as out-of-touch with ordinary Golden State residents struggling with inflation. He suggested Newsom has been spending too much time traveling out of state and laying the groundwork to run for U.S. president to replace Joe Biden in 2024. What's on your ballot? Guide to California propositions for the 2022 election I want to start out by thanking the governor for taking time out [from] going forward on his dream of being president of the United States and actually coming to California and having a debate, said Dahle, whose state Senate district covers the sparsely populated far northeast corner of California. Gov. Gavin Newsom, center, stands with local and state officials at 4200 Geary Blvd., an affordable senior housing development, in San Francisco on Sept. 28. Newsom signed a legislative package to tackle California's housing crisis. The bill accelerates the construction of new housing while also creating thousands of jobs. Newsom, asked point blank if he would commit to serving a full four-year term as governor if reelected which would take him out of the 2024 presidential campaign said he would. He defended traveling out of California. I have barely been out of state. I was out of state for a few hours to take on [Dahles] party and his leader of his party, Donald Trump. They're attacking women's right to choose, how they're banning books in an unprecedented manner, how they're banning speech and rewriting history. This is a serious moment in American history, California history, Newsom said. There is demonization of the gay, lesbian, bisexual transgender community. I've had enough, so I'll proudly, happily stand up. Story continues While Newsom took credit for record budget surpluses and new spending on social problems, Dahle retorted: He throws money at everything, but what are the results? Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos, co-hosts of KQED's Political Breakdown, moderated the debate. The debate provided some much-needed visibility for Dahle's campaign. He's raised less than $1 million, which isn't enough to run statewide TV ads in the nation's most populous state, home to some of the country's most expensive media markets. Newsom has not run any ads this year, either, because he hasn't had to. Republicans threw everything they had at Newsom during last year's recall election, only to have 61% of voters say the governor should keep his job. With all of his Republican rivals so thoroughly defeated, none chose to challenge him again this year except Dahle. With more than $23 million in his campaign account, Newsom has been spending his money on ads in other states. He's paid for a TV ad in Florida and a newspaper ad in Texas. And he's paid for pro-abortion rights billboards in seven conservative states. Climate change and drought The candidates clashed repeatedly over climate change, gas taxes and drought. There's nobody that cares more about climate than myself, said Dahle. I'm a farmer. I'm in tune with the climate every day and it is changing, no doubt about it. But the policies that he's put forth, aren't actually doing anything to help the climate. He is driving up the cost of gasoline and electricity. But Newsom criticized Dahle for accepting campaign contributions from big oil and refusing to support specific pieces of legislation such as $2.7 billion for wildfire prevention, forest health and vegetation management and efforts to provide relief for gas inflation. He said while other states like Texas were doubling down on stupid, California was moving ahead creating jobs tied to renewable energy and zero-emission vehicles. But Dahle said Newsom supports policies like banning the sale of gas-powered cars but has done little to stop exporting jobs to places like China, which are still building coal-fired power plants. Dahle said Newsoms elite friends could afford Teslas at $70,000 but such vehicles were out of reach for most people. Newsom, who has called a special legislative session in December to examine the high cost of gas in California, punched back, saying he was going after big oil for price gouging. They're ripping us off, they're ripping you off. They're ripping every one of us off and we're going after these companies and we're getting serious about the stress and pain Californians are faced with, Newsom said. Dahle supports a gas tax holiday, which he claimed would be the fastest way to help drive down inflation. He didnt have a clear answer on how he would ensure the savings would go to consumers instead of companies, saying he would force companies to drop the price of gas by pushing down the taxes. Newsom retorted that this would mean more money for big oil companies. He said he wants to move forward with a price-gouging penalty. When questioned about his approach to the states drought and leaving it up to water districts to decide how to address it, Newsom said a one size fits all mandate doesnt work when each region is different. He said his office has put out a plan to invest $8.8 billion in water conservation and new strategies to create more water. He claimed there have been 11% reductions, but admitted the state has to do a little bit more. Homelessness On homelessness, moderators sought to hold Newsoms feet to the fire, noting the number of people on the streets has continued to rise during his four years in office and asking him: What do you say to voters who feel like this is not getting better? Newsom conceded that the situation was an outrage even as he sought to take credit for developing strategies and committing funding different programs such as Project Roomkey, Project Homekey and the CARE Courts. When I got here, there was no homeless strategy, no plan, no resources of any merit. Today there's $15.3 billion for a real strategy, a real plan and there's accountability for the first time, he said. It's unconscionable what's happened in the streets and sidewalks, the governor acknowledged, but he sought to place blame on local officials and said that he was introducing accountability plans. Were not going to hand out money any longer unless local governments can produce real results, he said. Bottom line, the last two years with COVID and all of the headwinds, he added, there was a laissez-faire attitude in terms of addressing what was happening on the streets and sidewalks. Dahle has supported declaring a state of emergency and banning encampments near schools. He said that on his way to Sundays debate, he had to walk past people defecating on the streets and needles on the ground. Dahle said the state needed to do more to get people off of drugs, fund county mental health services and drive down the cost of housing. This governor is really smooth at talking but in the end he delivers zero, Dahle said. Education After Newsom touted new money for public school tutoring and other programs, moderators noted there are still huge challenges teacher shortages, teacher burnout and families leaving public schools and questioned why Newsom had put his children in private schools. What do you say to parents who wonder if you have faith in our public schools, given that personal decision? they asked. I'm passionate about public education. I'm a product of public education, the governor replied. My kids are going to school right behind our house, a Waldorf School, which is about creativity and critical thinking and the kinds of things that we're advancing in our public education system. And the approach we've taken is to provide that same kind of choice and opportunity that my kids are afforded for every single one of our 6 million Californians going to public schools. Newsom also touted a new $1.9 billion program to create college savings accounts for 3.4 million incoming kindergarteners. Dahle, who said his two oldest children had been educated in public schools, said he chose to have his youngest attend a private school. I have my daughter in private education because you and I both know that a better education is a private education because our schools are failing, he told Newsom. Our education system is failing our students, and parents know it, and they're leaving theres no doubt they are, Dahle added. Dahle said under Democratic leadership of the public school system, students werent getting the curriculum they need and instead were having all kinds of other social stuff shoved on them. He claimed 50,000 students in the Los Angeles Unified School District didnt show up first day of this year because of this. He also said test scores were plummeting and 70% of students cant read grade level. Newsom criticized Dahle for identifying problems but not offering solutions. Abortion Dahle reminded voters of his pro-life stance and expressed opposition to Proposition 1, which is also on the November ballot and would enshrine a right to abortion in Californias state constitution. He said if elected, he would fund reproductive services but would seek to halt public spending for women traveling out of state for abortions. He said he would sign a budget he worked through with the legislature that includes abortion funding if thats what it takes to get the deal done. Newsom reiterated his support for abortion rights and reproductive care, criticizing Dahle for his stance. "He does not support reproductive freedom, does not support reproductive choice regardless of rape, regardless of incest. He's contributed $20,000 to defeat Proposition 1," Newsom said. Later, the governor added that "my opponent believes that if some 10-year-old is raped by her father, she should be forced to bear her brother or sister. His position is extreme." Associated Press contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California governor race: Newsom, Dahle clash in debate Rappper Kanye West, left, and lawyer Camille Vasquez. (Associated Press; Los Angeles Times) For the record: 4:04 p.m. Oct. 24, 2022: An earlier version of this article said Adidas ended its relationship with West. The company said it is under review. No billable hours here: Johnny Depp's defamation trial attorney Camille Vasquez is not representing Kanye West after all. On Friday, TMZ reported that West had hired Vasquez and her law firm, Brown Rudnick, to represent his business interests amid his brewing public-image and business crises. However, on Monday, the site reported that Vasquez had declined to work with the rapper as he doubled down on his antisemitic remarks over the weekend. The firm reportedly attempted to continue its business relationship without Vasquez on the condition that West publicly retract his antisemitic remarks. He allegedly refused and fired the law firm. A representative for Brown Rudnick did not immediately respond Monday to The Times' request for comment. The Grammy-winning artist, 45, has been weathering a personal and professional spiral as his contracts and deals evaporate following his recent provocations, including a spate of antisemitic remarks and false claims about the death of George Floyd, whose family is suing the rapper for harassment, misappropriation and defamation. Global brands Balenciaga, J.P. Morgan and the Gap have also ended their business relationships with West, and his record deal with longtime label Def Jam has reportedly come to a close as well. Adidas said in a statement earlier this month that After repeated efforts to privately resolve the situation [involving West's repeated outbursts], we have taken the decision to place the partnership under review. On Monday, The Times reported that the Hollywood talent agency CAA had cut ties with West, and the White House condemned an antisemitic demonstration on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles over the weekend that cited West. His ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, and her sister Khloe Kardashian have denounced hate speech against the Jewish community on their Instagram Stories. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Chinas proposed offshore windfarm will have more than 150-times the capacity of the UKs Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm, pictured here on 8 November, 2017 (Getty Images) A Chinese city has announced plans to build the worlds biggest offshore wind farm, capable of powering more than 13 million homes. Chaozhou in Chinas Guangdong province revealed the 43.3-gigawatt (GW) project in its five-year plan, published online on Friday. The facility will stretch more than 10km on the Taiwan Strait, where wind is reportedly strong enough to run turbines between 43-49 per cent of the time. Estimates suggest the 43.3 GW of power generating capacity is equivalent to the entire energy demand of Norway. Comparisons made by the US Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy suggest the Chinese wind farm would be able to power 4.3 billion LED lights. The five-year plan did not mention the cost of the project. Renewable energy has been a key component of President Xi Jinpings mission to transition away from carbon-emitting power sources and become a renewable energy superpower. We will work actively and prudently toward the goals of reaching peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality, he said during his opening address to the Congress on 16 October. Based on Chinas energy and resource endowments, we will advance initiatives to reach peak carbon emissions in a well-planned and phased way, in line with the principle of getting the new before discarding the old. In 2021, China added 17GW of offshore wind generation capacity more than every country in the world combined over the last five years. Despite the advances, China remains the most polluting country on the planet and has a comparatively modest net zero target of 2060. BEIJING (AP) China's economic growth picked up in the latest quarter but still was among the weakest in decades as the ruling Communist Party tries to reverse a slump while enforcing anti-virus controls and a crackdown on debt in its vast real estate industry. The world's second-largest economy grew by 3.9% over a year earlier in the three months ending in September, up from the previous quarter's 0.4%, official data showed Monday. The announcement was planned for last week but postponed while the ruling Communist Party met to award President Xi Jinping a new term as leader. Xi, the most powerful leader in decades, wants a bigger party role in business and technology development. That has prompted warnings tighter control of entrepreneurs who generate jobs and wealth will depress growth that already was in long-term decline. The party gave Xi a free hand by installing a seven-member ruling Standing Committee made up of his allies. Supporters of free enterprise including Premier Li Keqiang, the party's No. 2 until last week, were dropped from the leadership. Chinese stock markets closed lower Monday despite the unexpectedly strong data, suggesting investors still are uneasy about the countrys growth prospects. The countrys market benchmark, the Shanghai Composite Index, lost more than 2%. The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong plunged by an unusually wide daily margin of 6.4%. Tokyo and other Asian markets gained. The International Monetary Fund and private sector forecasters say the economy will expand by as little as 3% this year. That would be the second weakest since the 1980s after 2020, when growth plunged to 2.4% at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Investors and the public watched the congress for initiatives to stimulate the economy or reduce the impact of Zero COVID controls that shut down cities and disrupt business, but none were announced. The latest slide in growth that began in mid-2021 hurts Chinas trading partners by depressing demand for imported oil, food and consumer goods. Story continues The improvement is mainly a result of more flexible anti-virus controls that isolate individual buildings or neighborhoods instead of cities, said Iris Pang of ING in a report. But she said more lockdowns are still a big uncertainty." This uncertainty means the effectiveness of pro-growth policy would be undermined, Pang said. Growth slid after controls on debt that regulators worry is dangerously high caused a slump in real estate sales and construction, one of China's biggest economic engines. Economic growth fell to 4% over a year earlier in the final quarter. Beijing has eased mortgage lending and local governments have taken over some unfinished projects to make sure buyers get apartments. But regulators are sticking to debt limits have forced small developers into bankruptcy and caused some bigger competitors to miss payments to bondholders. The ruling party is enforcing Zero COVID" despite rising costs and public frustration after Shanghai and other industrial centers were temporarily shut down. That has boiled over into protests in some areas at a time when other countries are easing anti-virus controls. For the first nine months of 2022, growth was 3% over a year earlier, up from 2.5% in the first six months but barely half the ruling party's official 5.5% target. Leaders have stopped talking about that goal but promised easier lending and other measures to boost growth. Growth is highly uneven and supported by government spending on building roads and other public works while consumer spending is weakening, said Larry Hu and Yuxiao Zhang of Macquarie in a report. In September, retail sales growth fell to 2.5% over a year earlier from the previous months 5.4%. Growth in factory output accelerated to 6.3% from 4.2%. Also Monday, trade data showed export growth declined to 5.7% compared with a year earlier in September from the previous month's 7%. Imports crept up 0.3%. Most of the economy lost momentum last month, said Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics in a report. The situation looks to have worsened in October. Investment in infrastructure, mostly government money, rose 16% in September compared with the previous month's 15%. Repeated shutdowns and uncertainty about business conditions have devastated entrepreneurs. Small retailers and restaurants have closed. Others say they are struggling to stay afloat. Beijing is using cautious, targeted stimulus instead of across-the-board spending, a strategy that will take longer to show results, economists say. Chinese leaders worry too much spending might push up politically sensitive housing costs or corporate debt. ___ National Bureau of Statistics (in Chinese): www.stats.gov.cn The U.S. Coast Guard repatriated 319 Cuban migrants intercepted at sea over the weekend, according to the agency. The Coast Guard stopped 185 Cubans on Friday, 94 on Saturday and 40 on Sunday. In total, the service says it has intercepted 921 Cubans since Oct. 1. The interdictions mean the Coast Guard has started fiscal 2023 on track to outpace the 6,182 repatriations carried out the previous year. The news comes as thousands of Cubans seek to leave the island, which is going through its deepest economic crisis since the so-called special period after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. Cubans had historically traveled to the United States by boat, but economic, diplomatic and political considerations have changed migration patterns from Cuba to the United States. According to numbers from the Department of Homeland Security, more than 220,000 Cubans were encountered on the Southwest border in fiscal 2022, compared to the 6,182 encountered at sea. Still, the rise in Cubans attempting the relatively short but markedly dangerous sea voyage rose sharply with the end of the pandemic. Administration officials warned that Cubans are now treated the same as migrants from other countries, since the repeal of the wet foot, dry foot policy that gave Cubans who landed on U.S. territory a fast track to permanent residency. The policy commonly known as Wet Foot, Dry Foot, was repealed in 2017, said Lt. Matt Miller, of the Coast Guards seventh district. [Homeland Security] Secretary [Alejandro] Mayorkas stated in a press conference last year that folks illegally migrating to the U.S. by sea will not be allowed to stay. Choose a safe and legal means of coming to the U.S., added Miller. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. In her shiny maroon pantsuit, a serious Pamela Milton stands in The Commonwealth prison. Good news, Walking Dead fanser, people who have been watching the show so long that they feel compelled to watch it until the end, regardless of how much pleasure they may or may not be getting from it! Pamela Milton has finally declared war on all the people who have made her cushy life difficult since their arrival, and things may finally start to be picking up. A bit. Whats Been Lost is a fairly straightforward episode of TWD, but straightforward is a direction, which means the long-simmering hostilities finally get somewhere. Pamela has her Commontroopers and private squad of goons kidnap all of the Alexandrians, Hilltoppers, and assorted friends who have been stirring up trouble and causing unrest, although Daryl and Carol manage to elude their would-be captors. The only one Pam doesnt have seized is Yumiko, who she wants to prosecute Eugene for killing Sebastian (by pushing him into a zombie). Yumiko, unsurprisingly, isnt inclined to do this, but Pam not only threatens her friends but her brother Tomi. Read more Daryl and Carol go to see Hornsby in hopes he has some sort of information that will allow them to free the others. They find him in his cell, covered in blood, muttering to himself, as the chained zombie Sebastian writhes in a pool of more blood trying to grab another meal. After some light torture, Hornsby agrees to show them where theyve been taken and how to get out of the city, but Daryl is forced to stay behind to cover Carol and Hornsbys escape from the prison. Hornsby is actually the highlight of Whats Been Lost, because he forces one of the series main protagonists to reckon with what theyre doing in the Commonwealth and what the consequences may be. He points out, accurately, that its the civilians who always get hurt in revolutions. You and your people will hold 50,000 peoples lives in your hands, he says, when Pamela is overthrown. Will you let the Commonwealth burn? When Carol says its not her problem, he reminds her of the many kids in the Commonwealth: Are you really going to deny them the only chance for the kind of life you took for granted? But Carol has no answer for that. Story continues Photo: Jace Downs/AMC Hornsby takes her to one of the Commonwealths abandoned infrastructure repair projects, where they have a fight in the dark with some zombies whose skin seems very easy to tear off. Its just a bit of busy work until Carol and Hornsby exit, are confronted by a bunch of Commontroopers, which is itself busywork because Daryl shows up and guns them down from behind, saving the day. This is when Hornsby makes a near-fatal mistakehe mentions that all the trio needs to do is follow the train tracks to find where everyones been taken. With that, Daryl and Carol have all the information they need to go rescue their friends without the provably untrustworthy Hornsby. They seem seconds away from murdering himand tell him theyre about to murder him, repeatedlybut offer him a chance to run. And thats when Hornsby makes his fatal mistake. He grabs a rifle from the jeep of the fallen Commontroopers and Carol instantly puts a couple of arrows through him. Goodbye, Hornsby. You were weird and reasonably interesting while you lasted. Back in the Commonwealth, Yumiko is forced to hold a press conference where shell announce shell be prosecuting Eugene to the extent of whatever laws the Commonwealth still has on the books. Instead, Yumiko announces shell be defending Eugene, which surprises everyone at the press conference and no one watching the TV series. The final show is of everyone loaded into a Commonwealth bus, tied up and with sacks over their heads, going to wherever the hell Pam sticks dissidents. Photo: Jace Downs/AMC There were, as predicted, none of the new, more intelligent variant zombies that gave last weeks episode a bit of excitement, alas. Which means, although this episode made the conflict between Our People and the Commonwealth overt, and although Hornsby bit it, What We Lost is somewhat less exciting than last weeks doorknob, which is about the cruelest way I can put it, although I dont really mean it that way. Its just that The Walking Dead is still meandering to whatever its conclusion is going to be, which should be pretty epic given that the show was once the most popular drama series on TV. At the very least, youd think the showmakers would want to ramp up the excitement to hopefully inspire the remaining fans to watch the spin-offs Dead City and Daryl Dixon. Instead, The Walking Dead is just happening. But, if you want to be optimistic, there are still four more hours in the series left to go and theres no reason the show cant become more exciting in that timeframe. Is it too little too late? Probably. But Id still appreciate a little something before the finale rolls around. Photo: Jace Downs/AMC Assorted Musings: Hornsby admits bringing in Alexandria and the other communities into the Commonwealths fold was mishandled. It got a chuckle out of me. The Commontroopers also took Dog. This is ridiculous. After Pam threatens Tomi, Yumiko wisely thanks him for all of his contributions to the Commonwealth at the press conference, ensuring that people will notice if Pam spirits him away. Smart! Shes still technically doomed the rest of her friends, however, at least as far as she knows. When Daryl and Carol dragged Horsnby out of his cell, the corpse of Sebastians head was fine, minus a knife hole in it. But when Pam goes to the cell to check it out later, Sebastians head is crushed and Hornsbys Two-Face coin was stuck in the gore. Was my screener missing a scene? Or was it the same for you guys? 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. Conor McGregors UFC return is not as close as fans thought, with the former champion at least six months away from a fight in the Octagon. McGregor recently completed his recovery from a broken leg, which he sustained in his last fight a second straight defeat by Dustin Poirier in July 2021 and the Irishman was expected back in the ring by early 2023. However, UFC president Dana White confirmed at the UFC 280 post-fight press conference on Saturday (22 October) that McGregor, 34, is not in the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) testing pool. Athletes must have been in the pool for at least six months before competing in the UFC, meaning McGregor is unlikely to return to the Octagon before April next year. McGregor seems excited about his eventual return, though, and tweeted on Sunday: Im feeling crazy confident. Calm. Disattached from emotion. Aware of what I must do and making it happen. Visualizing. I see it all. Clear. The former dual-weight UFC champion then referenced his role in the upcoming remake of 1980s action film Road House. This movie wraps, Im back, he wrote ahead of his acting debut. Ill have multiple fights completed by the time this movie even releases. An exact release date for the film, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal, is as yet unknown, though it is expected to come out some time in 2023. Joe Kent is favourite to win keenly-watched contest (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Questions have been asked about a mystery account said to be supporting the campaign of Trump-backed Joe Kent triggering wild speculation and theories about the former Green Beret. A report published at the weekend claimed that a company listed by the 42-year-old Maga champion as paying his salary, did not appear to exist. The Daily Beast said Mr Kent, who is involved in a showdown with Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in Washington States third congressional district, had listed a company, American Enterprise Solutions, which he said was a tech start-up, as having paid him $122,110.36 last year as a project manager. The public filing also listed pension payments made to the former special operations soldier, and for his late wife, Shannon Kent, who was killed by an Isis bomb in Syria. The report said: One problem: Theres no record the company exists. The article added American Enterprise Solutions holds no patents or trademarks, has no licenses, no website, no social media pages, and not a single publicly announced contract with a government agency or a private wireless provider. It said: The Daily Beast phoned the owner of the only company ever formed under that name in the Commonwealth of Virginia, who said that the entitylisted as inactive in the State Corporation Commissionhas been defunct for the better part of a decade, did not work in the tech sector, and never employed Kent. Even during more sober times, Americans are not immune to creating conspiracy theories to fill in the blanks for issues that might otherwise have a simple solution. Yet in an era that some have described as being post-truth the article said the mysterious filing, along with the background in general of someone who spent two decades engaged with the CIA as part of the so-called war of terror, were creating a sub-species of theories all of their own. Polls suggest Joe Kent is starting with much higher name recognition than the Democrat (Andrew Buncombe) It said one one website had uploaded multiple videos in which audience members questioned the candidate about his employment situation. In one clip from May, Mr Kent repeated the name of his employer was American Enterprise Solutions. Story continues Mr Kent, who has been holding campaign events with former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard who has endorsed him, told The Independent that his campaign would shortly be releasing a statement about the article. Mr Kents spokesperson, Ozzie Gonzalez, told The Daily Beast: AES is a technology company registered in Delaware and operated out of Reston, VA. Mr Kent is facing off with Ms Perez, 34, after beating incumbent Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler in a primary this summer. Ms Herrera Beutler was one of 10 Republicans in the House who voted for Mr Trumps impeachment and he vowed to oust. Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez claims she beat hardline Republican Joe Kent (Andrew Buncombe) The website Five Thirty Eight gives Mr Kent a 97 per cent of winning the race. In a statement, Sandeep Kaushik, an adviser to Ms Perez said: We dont know anything more than what the Daily Beast has reported, but their story raises important unanswered questions about where exactly Joe Kent is employed and what the source of his income is. He added: There are obviously very serious ethical and public disclosure implications if it is true that, as the Daily Beast story states, Joe Kent is claiming his six-figure income comes from a company that may not exist. (Getty/iStockphoto) Ever since the British government ended all legal Covid-19 restrictions earlier this year, cases numbers have continued to fluctuate. Even as former prime minister Boris Johnson published his Living with Covid plan in February, ending mandatory masks, social distancing and self-isolation measures, the arrival of the contagious Omicron BA.2 sub-variant quickly drove the infection rate up before it fell away in spring, a pattern of ebb and flow that has continued ever since. While lockdowns and tiers may now seem a distant memory, the virus is very much still with us. Cases have begun to rise again, with warnings that Covid will once again put pressure on the NHS this winter. The Living with Covid plan brought an end to the legal requirement for employees to tell their employers when they have tested positive for the virus and need to self-isolate. But with the threat from Covid still very real, is going to work when sick really such a good idea? Can I go to work with Covid? Yes, you can go to work even after testing positive for Covid and there is no legal obligation to tell your employer if you are infected. However, workers are encouraged to follow the governments guidance for people who become infected with the virus and self-isolate for seven days. Do I have to test for Covid before going to work? No, you dont have to test for Covid before going anywhere, including to work. Most people in England are no longer advised to get tested and can no longer get free lateral flow tests from the NHS unless you are one of a small number of people who are eligible. Those who want to get tested must buy a Covid-19 test from pharmacies and other retailers. What should I do if I feel unwell? The government has set out guidance for people who have symptoms of a respiratory infection but have not taken a test for Covid-19, as well as for those who have taken a test and received a positive result. Symptoms of common respiratory infections and Covid-19 include a continuous cough; high temperature or fever; loss of, or change in normal sense of taste or smell; shortness of breath; lack of energy; lack of appetite; headache; sore throat and stuffy or runny nose. Story continues According to the Department for Health and Social Care, you should work from home if you can and avoid contact with other people if you are experiencing these symptoms. It is especially important to avoid close contact with anyone you know who may be at higher risk of becoming seriously sick if they catch Covid-19. If you must leave your home, you should wear a face covering and avoid crowded or poorly ventilated places. If you receive a positive Covid-19 test, you are also advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the day you took your test. However, you should avoid meeting people at higher risk of serious illness from Covid-19 for 10 days after the day you took your test. Refat Chubarov, Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Speaking at the first Crimean Platform parliamentary summit in Zagreb, Croatia, Chubarov noted that according to the Constitution of Ukraine, Crimea is an autonomous region, but the status of the peninsula needs to be updated. Read also: About 10,000 Ukrainian citizens leave Crimea after Russias declared mobilization He added that the source of Crimean autonomy is the inalienable right of the indigenous people of Crimea to self-determination within independent Ukraine. We should amend the Constitution of Ukraine to clearly define Crimean autonomy as an autonomy created on national and territorial grounds, as a form of self-determination of the indigenous people of Crimea the Crimean Tatars, Chubarov said. The Mejlis leader also noted that it would be necessary to consider the issue of decolonization, as hundreds of thousands of Russians have illegally settled on the peninsula. Read also: Crimea seeing sharp fall in real estate prices, increased supply Moscow realizes that sooner or later they will leave Crimea, but theyre doing everything to preserve their influence there even after leaving the peninsula, he said. The head of Ukraines Military Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, said on Sept. 30 that Ukraines army could start to liberate Russia-occupied Crimea by the end of spring 2023. Read also: Return of Crimea by diplomatic means possible, says Zelenskyy Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said he made an appearance on ABCs The View this week because he believes more conservatives need to reach audiences who dont agree with them politically. It was a bit of a circus, Cruz said during an appearance on Fox News in reference to the protesters who briefly interrupted Mondays broadcast of The View. But the reason I went on The View is I think its important that conservatives reach much more broadly than just preaching to the choir. Viewers of the hit daytime political talk show have only seen one partisan story the whole time, Cruz said before mocking the hosts for their pointed questioning of him on matters ranging from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol to Trumps disparaging comments about Cruzs wife during the 2016 presidential election. Cruz made a number of media appearances throughout the day Monday as he promotes an upcoming book. The senators comments on reaching audiences outside the GOP stands in contrast to how Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) handled an invitation to appear on The View earlier this year. I didnt know that that had been declined until I saw it in the news, because I think my staff knows better than to even bring that to me. I dont need to be involved with some of the partisan corporate media, DeSantis said in an interview after his office denied the request. Segments and commentary on The View routinely earn condemnation from Republicans and conservatives more broadly. On Monday, former President Trump called for Alyssa Farah Griffin, his former communications director, to be fired as a co-host of the ABC show for misrepresented her true feelings about me and the Trump Administration in order to get her job, in the media. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Dallas man who sold Malik Faisal Akram the gun he used to kidnap hostages in a Colleyville synagogue was sentenced on Monday to nearly eight years in prison for the federal crime, according to authorities. Henry Michael Dwight Williams, 32, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David Godbey to 95 months in federal prison. Williams had been charged in January and indicted the following month. He pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in June. Akram was shot and killed by federal authorities in January after he held four people hostage for several hours at Colleyvilles Congregation Beth Israel synagogue. He had let one hostage go and the other hostages escaped before federal agents breached the synagogue. Williams a felon previously convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and attempted possession of a controlled substance sold Akram a semiautomatic Taurus G2C pistol on Jan. 13, according to the federal complaint. In plea papers, Williams admitted to possession of that firearm despite his prior conviction. According to the complaint, on Jan. 15, agents recovered the pistol from Colleyvilles Congregation Beth Israel synagogue. FBI agents tied Williams and Akram through an analysis of Akrams cellphone records, which showed the pair exchanged a series of calls from Jan. 11 through Jan. 13. When agents first interviewed Williams on Jan. 16, Williams stated that he recalled meeting a man with a British accent, but that he could not recall the mans name. (Akram was a British citizen.) Agents interviewed the defendant again on Jan. 24, after he was arrested on an outstanding state warrant. After viewing a photo of Akram, Williams confirmed he sold Akram the handgun at an intersection in South Dallas. Analysis of both mens cellphone records showed that the two phones were in close proximity on Jan. 13. The Federal Bureau of Investigations Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Dallas Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives Dallas Field Division; Homeland Security Investigations Dallas Field Division; and the Colleyville Police Department. In this week's "It's Debatable" segment, Rick Rosen and Charles Moster debate on 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis and whether a state public-accommodation law employed to compel an artist to speak or stay silent violates the First Amendment. Rosen is the Glenn D. West Endowed Research Professor of Law at the Texas Tech University School of Law and a retired U.S. Army colonel. Moster is founder of the Moster Law Firm based in Lubbock with seven offices including Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Rosen Rosen 1: The Supreme Court will again hear a challenge to Colorados Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) prohibiting discrimination based upon sexual orientation. In 2018, the Court addressed the statute in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, where a baker refused to make a cake celebrating same-sex marriage based on his religious beliefs. The Court ruled against the Commission on procedural, not substantive, grounds. 303 Creative involves a web-designer who wants to create websites celebrating marriage, but because of her religious beliefs, she refuses to make websites for same-sex marriage, thereby contravening CADA. 303 Creative sued the state claiming (in part) that CADA violates the Free Speech Clause. 303 Creatives owner, Lorie Smith, is a graphic artist who creates custom websites reflecting her personal artwork. Rather than passively hosting customer-generated content on her online platform, Smith actively creates each website and retains final editorial control over its contents. Smith is also a Christian who declines requests to create content inconsistent with her religious beliefs. Smith wants to design wedding websites; however, because she believes marriage is only between one man and one woman, she will not make websites for same-sex marriage. CADA, however, prohibits statements on Smiths website explaining the basis for her refusal to design same-sex marriage websites and requires she design such websites. Story continues Smiths websites constitute speech: they are the medium through which she communicates her ideas. The government may not violate her freedom to express ideas by requiring her to display speech with which she disagrees or to forbid content she wants to include. The First Amendment exists to ensure the state does not use the machinery of government to compel uniformity of opinion. Indeed, the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that the government cannot compel speech, most notably in Hurley v. Irish-American Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Group, in which the Court unanimously held that a Massachusetts public accommodation law could not be used to alter the expressive content of a privately organized St. Patricks Day Parade by requiring the inclusion of a gay, lesbian, and bisexual group. Otherwise, as the dissenting judge in the lower court noted, the State could wield CADA as a sword, forcing an unwilling Muslim movie director to make a film with a Zionist message or requiring an atheist muralist to accept a commission celebrating Evangelical zeal. [CADA] does so here, making Ms. Smiths artistic talents the vehicle for a message anathema to her beliefs. Moster Moster 1: The 303 Creative Case sets up a false flag which erroneously suggests that a Colorado Public Accommodation statute is depriving the owners of a website the first amendment right to deny design services to same-sex couples based on their religious beliefs. This argument is not only incorrect from a constitutional law standpoint but accomplishes precisely the opposite result the denial of civil rights and liberties to protected groups. The Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) is a public accommodation law which prohibits businesses from denying services based on a persons protected class. In the case before the Supreme Court, Lorie Smith, the owner of a website design company, has made clear her refusal to extend services to same-sex customers predicated upon her religious beliefs and thus challenges the constitutionality of CADA. As discussed, Smith and 303 Creative are dead wrong and unfortunately many legal scholars, including my debate partner, have taken the bait. For starters, as pointed out in numerous briefs, any judicial consideration of the case at this juncture is premature as Ms. Smith has not alleged a single instance where she has denied design services to a same-sex customer. Her challenge to CADA is entirely hypothetical which should be summarily dismissed based on what lawyers refer to as a lack of ripeness. What this means is that a legitimate dispute has not been presented to any court, let alone the highest tribunal in the land the Supreme Court. This controversy is entirely manufactured and caters to the most dangerous propensity of our judicial system which has been roundly criticized by conservatives the inclination to bypass the democratic process by engaging in the creation of judge-made law. This consideration of this case is dangerous and exemplifies the current political nature of the Supreme Court which has lost credibility across the board. Moreover, as pointed out by numerous states attorneys general and in a recent brief filed by the Wisconsin DOJ, the challenges to CADA concocted by Ms. Smith fly in the face of the long and accepted tradition of public accommodation laws which safeguard protected groups from racial discrimination within the context of commercial services. Wisconsin correctly states that if businesses open to the public can exempt themselves from anti-discrimination laws based on personal objections to serving all customers many Americans would face exclusion from a host of everyday businesses, or at the very least, face the ever-present threat that any business could refuse to serve them when they walk in the door, simply because of their race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. Tragically, the 303 Creative Case if upheld by the Supreme Court, would achieve such a discriminatory result. It is a classic false flag which appears to buttress our fundamental belief in the sanctity of civil liberties but accomplishes precisely the opposite. Rosen 2: First, this case is ripe for judicial review. True, Lori Smith never denied her services for a same-sex marriage because, fearing a CADA prosecution, she refuses to create any marriage websites. The lawsuit is a pre-enforcement challenge to CADA. Such actions are justiciable if the issues are purely legal in nature and a plaintiff faces an imminent risk of prosecution. As the lower court stated, Smiths potential liability is inherent in the manner [she] intends to operateexcluding customers celebrating same-sex marriage. Indeed, Colorado aggressively prosecutes CADA cases as exemplified by its continuing crusade against the Masterpiece Cakeshop. Smith should not be forced to choose between refraining from engaging in speech on the one hand and engaging in speech and risking a costly CADA prosecution on the other. Second, Smith generally creates websites without regard to the sexual orientation of those seeking her services. She believes, however, that marriage is between one man and one woman and does not want to express views contrary to that belief. Colorado argues that Smiths personal messages represented by her art constitute a public accommodation, and it wants to dictate what Smith may or may not say regardless of her personal beliefs. The First Amendment flatly prohibits such compelled speech. Third, Charles argues that the lawsuit bypasses the democratic process. In one respect he is correct. The nation does not need a Free Speech Clause to defend popular speech; the guarantee of free speech is needed only to protect speech with which the majority of people disagree or even detest. A free society, as described by Adlai Stevenson, is one in which it is safe to be unpopular. I do not personally subscribe to Smiths beliefs, but to paraphrase Voltaire: While I may not agree with Smiths views, I will unswervingly defend her right to express them. Or as Justice Robert Jackson eloquently declared: If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. The very purpose of the First Amendment is to withdraw certain subjects from the vicissitudes of political controversy, to place them beyond the reach of majorities and officials and to establish them as legal principles to be applied by the courts. Moster 2: Lorie Smith and her company have demonstrated absolutely no evidence to establish a a credible threat of enforcement and consequently, the case is not ripe for review by the Supreme Court. Those courts which have considered whether business owners have standing to bring pre-enforcement challenges to antidiscrimination laws mandate that the state must take significant action. In a recent 2021 case out of Virginia, the court found no credible threat of enforcement in a lawsuit brought by a photographer who refused to photograph same-sex weddings based on his religious views. No one had approached the photographer to work at a same-sex wedding which is analogous to the facts in 303 Creative. See, Updegrove v. Herring (E.D. Va.). Critically, Rick fails to address my primary concern that this case would result in the deprivation of civil rights and liberties to all protected classes based on race, religion, and sexual orientation. The constitutionality of public accommodation laws such as CADA are the lifeblood of antidiscrimination statutes which prohibit businesses from illegally denying services. As the Wisconsin DOJ asserted in its legal brief, the invalidation of CADA would allow businesses to exclude services to anyone based on First Amendment considerations. Such an exception would blast open the doors to widespread abuse. The proponents of 303 Creative fail to recognize the distinction between the commission of discriminatory acts (prohibited by public accommodation laws) and the constitutionally protected speech under the First Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court has long acknowledged this critical line of constitutional demarcation. As set forth in Pittsburgh Press Co. v. Pittsburgh Commn on Human Relations (1973), antidiscrimination laws appropriately apply to prohibit commercial actors from discriminating in commercial transactions, even though those commercial actors remain free to express their view on such laws in public discourse. Rick informs that Ms. Smith believes, however, that marriage is between one man and one woman and does not want to express views contrary to that belief. Ms. Smith if free to espouse her opinion with abandon notwithstanding the recent Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) that same-sex marriages are legally protected in the U.S. What she cannot do is deny commercial goods or services to a constitutionally protected class which she is seeking to achieve via the bogus First Amendment challenge in 303 Creative. It is that obvious to me. It is not difficult to predict the exclusionary result which would arise in the event the Supreme Court rules in favor of 303 Creative. Lets say a massive company like Hobby Lobby which has advertised itself as a Christian Company decides to deny services to any customer of a different religious belief based on the identical rationale espoused by 303 Creative and Ms. Smith. Certainly, such overt and reprehensible discrimination would be opposed. However, the chances of Hobby Lobby getting another Supreme Court feather in its cap would be greatly enhanced. This is certainly not far-fetched, as comedian, Bill Maher, recently pointed out on his blog: Hobby Lobby took out a full-page ad saying that only Christians should be involved in running the country. If youre not Christian, and youre shopping at Hobby Lobby, youre paying for your own persecution. And if you are Christian and are shopping there, apparently cheap yarn means more to you than the lives of your friends. Do better. Shop at Michaels, Jo-Annes, or the internet. Michaels has higher prices, but I may be shopping there sooner than later. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: It's debatable: Does public-accommodation law violate First Amendment? The fate of three men accused of plotting to help kidnap the governor now rests in the hands of jurors, who are set to begin deliberations Tuesday. After weeks of crafting a defense for Pete Musico, Paul Bellar, and Joseph Morrison, attorneys delivered their final words before the jury in court Monday. In closing, the defense stuck to its initial sentiments that these men were talking the talk, with no means or intention to walk the walk. The three men are charged with providing material support for terrorism, a felony punishable by up to 20 years. Their participation, prosecutors said, was part of a larger scheme crafted by a militia group, the Wolverine Watchmen, to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from her vacation home. The plot was broken up by the FBI in 2020. The two men leading the plot to kidnap Whitmer Adam Fox and Barry Croft were convicted in federal court in August and face up to life in prison. In court on Monday, prosecutors summarized the states case against the defendants, pointing to the fact that each of the three men provided material knowing that it would be used to plan or prepare for an act of terrorism. Bellar provided medical training, Morrison gave advice, both Musico and Morrison provided facilities, and all three men provided personnel members for the militia group, Assistant Attorney General Sunita Doddamani argued Monday. They were all in the same book, they just had to get on the same page, Doddamani said, referring to a phone call conversation between Morrison and Fox. And whats that book about? That book is about a boogaloo civil war. And a spark started. More:Jury convicts Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr. in Whitmer kidnapping plot Prosecution outlined the mens interactions with law enforcement and ill feelings toward the government before joining forces, bonding over a resentment toward authority who they felt was encroaching on their rights and a need to prepare to take action when the time came. Story continues In their closing statements, defense attorneys downplayed the mens involvement, emphasizing a federal informants role in influencing the groups actions, and that they were Americans simply defending and acting within their rights. (Musicos) plan was to get arrest warrants and arrest politicians for violating the Constitution, that was his plan, said attorney Kareem Johnson, Musicos attorney. That plan, as unrealistic as it may be, is lawful. At one point during Johnsons closing statement, he compares an April protest at the state Capitol planned by the Wolverine Watchmen to senior skip day in high school to illustrate that Musico was among those who did what they were instructed to do by the groups leaders. More:Whitmer creates group to seek solutions to shortage of juvenile treatment beds Morrisons attorney, Leonard Ballard, also pointed to his clients powerlessness, saying Morrison was partaking in LARP live-action role-playing a role-playing activity in which participants dress the part of fictional characters complete with costumes and props. Ballard argues that while Morrison provided facilities for training, he did not have any knowledge of the details of what was happening on his property. (Fox) came and took, Morrison, didnt provide anybody, he had no ability, no authority to order people around, Ballard said. Andrew Kirkpatrick, the attorney for Bellar, who is accused of providing medical training to members of the Wolverine Watchmen, argued that the training doesnt fall within the definition of providing material and the prosecution failed to meet its burden of proof. This should be common sense to everyone in here that material means exactly what it says: material, Kirkpatrick said. There's got to be some materiality to it. There isn't here. There's nothing. There's no showing whatsoever that anything he provided was material. After a nearly eight-hour session in court Monday, the jury was sent home. On Tuesday, state attorneys general are set to deliver their rebuttal closing statements before the jury can begin its deliberation process. Contact Miriam Marini: mmarini@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Defense wraps up closing arguments in Whitmer plot trial Reports of a shooting at Stephenson High School have been circulating on social media over the weekend. NewsChopper 2 flew over Stephenson High School on Monday afternoon and saw several DeKalb County School District police vehicles surrounding the school. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Students say someone posted photos of a gun at different parts of the schools campus on Instagram. The posts said there would be a shooting at the Stone Mountain school. I just feel like the school should take this type of stuff seriously, student Makayla Rankins told Channel 2s Tyisha Fernandes. In a letter sent to parents at the high school and Stephenson Middle School, Principal Michael Jones said that administrators were aware of the threat and that police were investigating the matter. Jones said that the schools would be taking extra precautions, including increased patrol, to make sure students and staff at the school are safe. Rankins said the student continued making threats on social media throughout the school day. He was posting how were on lockdown and how the school is scary, she explained. TRENDING STORIES: School district officials told Channel 2 that the school will be on lockdown until students are dismissed at the end of the day. They say that police have not found any weapons on the schools campus. Get the latest updates online and on Channel 2 Action News throughout the afternoon. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Democratic gubernatorial candidates are leading their Republican counterparts in Michigan and Pennsylvania, while the nominees in Wisconsin are polling within the margin of error, according to new CNN polling. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) is leading Republican challenger Tudor Dixon among likely voters, 52 percent to 46 percent, according to CNN polling. Among registered voters, Whitmer widens her lead to 55-41 percent. In Pennsylvania, 56 percent of likely voters said they would back Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro, while 41 percent said the same for Republican candidate Doug Mastriano. Among registered voters, Shapiros 56 percent support still holds, while Mastrianos support decreased slightly to 39 percent. But in the Wisconsin gubernatorial race, Gov. Tony Evers (D) and Republican Tim Michels are polling neck and neck at 50 percent and 48 percent respectively. Among registered voters, Evers still stands at 50 percent support compared to Michelss 46 percent. Both results fall within the margin of error, effectively tying the two candidates. All three contests are crucial battleground states, and all three of the Republican candidates have been endorsed by former President Trump. Mastriano and Dixon have gained notoriety for their views on the 2020 election and hard-line stands on abortion. Michels has also cast doubt on the 2020 election and has backtracked on whether he supports legislation that would have had the last elections results decertified, according to NBC News. The CNN polling shows that Wisconsin respondents have a more favorable view of Evers than Michels 50 percent for the incumbent compared to 44 percent for the Republican among likely voters. The CNN poll in Michigan was conducted from Oct. 13 to Oct. 18 with 901 registered voters polled. The margin of error for likely voters is plus or minus 4.9 percentage points, with 651 likely voters surveyed; the margin of error for registered voters is plus or minus 4.2 percentage points for total registered voters. Story continues The CNN poll in Pennsylvania was conducted from Oct. 13 to Oct. 17 with 901 registered voters polled. The margin of error for likely voters is plus or minus 4.6 percentage points, with 703 likely voters surveyed; the margin of error for registered voters is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points for total registered voters. The CNN poll in Wisconsin was conducted from Oct. 13 to Oct. 17 with 905 registered voters polled. The margin of error for likely voters is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points, with 714 likely voters surveyed; the margin of error for registered voters is plus or minus 4.2 percentage points for total registered voters. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Denise Richards had some choice words for the show's longtime cast member Lisa Rinna after the season 12 reunion episode aired on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Richards shared her thoughts on Instagram about her former RHOBH co-star, posting a screenshot of her message in white text on a pink gradient background sans a caption. I watched #RHOBH last night, Richards wrote. While I have empathy for Lisa Ring losing her mom, what is her excuse all the other years on the show for being so cruel & so vindictive? Its unclear which moment from the reunion Richards was addressing specifically. However, during part two that aired Wednesday night, Rinna opened up about the death of her mother Lois Rinna. The matriarch of the family passed away in November 2021 at age 93 following a stroke. The 59-year-old apologized during the episode for how the death of her mother affected the way she acted throughout the season. The reunion episode tackled multiple instances of Rinnas drama across the season, including a moment when Andy Cohen called her out for her behavior on social media, as well as learning that Rinna was the one to throw away Garcelle Beauvais memoir Love Me As I Am not Erika Jayne. Another moment that was brought up involved the Elton John gala debacle, which according to Bravo, involved Rinna and Sutton Stracke regarding a former invitation to the legendary singers gala. Rinna seemed to respond to Richards' harsh comments when she shared on her Instagram story a "RHOBH" scene featuring Richards with the caption: She clearly needs attention, lets give it to her. The RHOBH cast appeared on a panel together at BravoCon in New York City on Friday, Oct. 14. During the panel, when reflecting on some of the worst things that they had done during the season, Rinna brought up a different moment that involved Stracke. Story continues Denise Richards and Lisa Rinna. (Anna Webber/Arturo Holmes / Getty Images/WireImage) Rinna explained how she had screamed at Sutton, adding, That was really intense. The two times I screamed at Sutton, how about that? To see it back, I was quite horrified. After an audience member yelled out Owning it! to Rinna, she agreed, responding back, Owning it, yes, baby! Over the summer, Rinna was also in hot water for comments she made on social media, which she ultimately deleted, after an exchange involving Diana Jenkins and Beauvais. Jenkins got into an online spat with a fan who is Black. During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Beauvais was asked about that exchange and she called Jenkins uneducated. It was then Rinna decided to share her thoughts on social media, writing on her Instagram story at the time, We fight on our show if we fight with Garcelle we are all of a sudden called a racist. Thats bulls---. I will not accept that. I will express myself when and how I want and I am not afraid of any of you hoes. In a second slide, she followed up with, And if you are just so triggered by our show and a lot of you p------ are Go watch Dubai Rinna was slammed on social media by several cast members of The Real Housewives of Dubai, including Chanel Ayan, Lesa Milan and Caroline Brooks. Ayan shared her thoughts about Rinnas comments about RHOD on Twitter, writing in part, Rinna Africa called and they want their lips back! Keep Dubai out of your mess and your mouth. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Attorney General Merrick Garland (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Top officials at the US Department of Justice will hold an emergency press briefing Monday afternoon to detail evidence of criminal activity by a foreign state in the US, according to a media advisory. The advisory noted that the officials would be laying out a significant national security matter; the seriousness of that tidbit was amplified by the expected attendance of multiple DoJ figures with national security experience including Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco and Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew Olsen. Its not yet clear which country or countries are involved in the departments announcement, which comes as it is undertaking a number of other high-profile investigations into Donald Trump and the attack on the US Capitol on January 6. More to come... Detroit police officers shot and killed a barricaded gunman suspect inside a home on Monday morning. Police had been on scene of the situation since Sunday, and reported that the suspect assaulted his girlfriend and gave her serious injuries. We're told the suspect had just gotten out of jail, and told police that he wasn't going back and he wanted officers to kill him. Police say he pointed a gun at officers. Disney has released an illustrated recipe of the classic Filipino dish chicken adobo to celebrate Filipino American History Month. The entertainment company posted the illustration on its various social media accounts, including Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, on Friday. Mickey and friends are here to share a special chicken adobo recipe! #FilipinoAmericanHistoryMonth, the posts captions all read. More from NextShark: K-pop star Crush denies accusations he avoided dark-skinned fans at concert In the illustrated recipe, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy can be seen smiling at a pot of adobo, a beloved staple of Filipino cuisine that typically includes ingredients such as soy sauce, bay leaves, garlic, sugar, water, vinegar and black peppercorn. Filipino artist and recent California State University graduate Bianca Austria created the illustration. In her own Instagram post about the project, she shared that it had been in the works for a few weeks now For Filipino American History Month, I had the honor of working with @disney to bring to life an illustrated chicken adobo recipe! It is now live on their feed but obviously had to post on my page for you all!!! Thank you to the team at Choreus and Disney for having me on board, although this project was short and sweet, its definitely one for the books, she continued. More from NextShark: How Spam Became a Luxury Item in South Korea Filipino American History Month, which is celebrated annually in October, became federally acknowledged in 2009. According to the Filipino American National Historical Society, it commemorates the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States in 1587. Disneys Instagram post has received over 178,000 likes, while its Facebook post has reached over 24,000 likes and more than 19,000 shares as of this writing. Featured Image via @disney (left), and Panlasang Pinoy (right) Diwali, the festival of lights, is a religious observance commemorated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists around the world. Every autumn, the observance sees millions of people attend firework displays, prayer services and festive events in celebration of the occasion. However, festivities were cancelled last year for many due to the coronavirus pandemic. With restrictions eased this year, some people are planning to hold big gatherings, while others plan to have another quiet celebration. While Diwali holds significance for a variety of reasons, one of the core themes of the festival, as symbolised by the prevalence lights, is the triumph of good over evil. Here is everything you need to know about Diwali: What is Diwali? Diwali, also known as Deepavali or Dipavali, comes from the Sanksrit word dipavali meaning row or series of lights. Rajnish Kashyap, general secretary and director of Hindu Council UK, explains that the festival, which is one of the most significant for those of the Hindu faith, can trace its origins back to ancient times when the end of the summer harvest season was celebrated with much pomp and splendour. It signifies the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil and sees millions of lamps lit at homes, temples, shops and public buildings across the world, Mr Kashyap tells The Independent. Another main theme of Diwali is the recollection of a story called Ramayan, which details how the Hindu god Rama returned to his kingdom with his wife, Sita, and his brother, Lakchman, after several years of exile. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) To illuminate the path through which they return and in order to guide them home, diyas (clay lamps) are lit everywhere and the world is bathed in golden hues of light, Mr Kashyap explains. Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity, is also celebrated in Hindu households during the festival. Diwali coincides with the Sikh celebration of Bandi Chhor Divas, a religious holiday that commemorates the release of Sikh Guru Hargobind Ji from the Gwalior Fort in India in the 17th century. Story continues The Guru, who was imprisoned by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, was standing against the emperors regimes oppression of the Indian people, says Gurmel Singh, CEO of Sikh Community and Youth Services and secretary general of the Sikh Council UK. Loosely translated, Bandi Chhor means release of incarcerated people. So to Sikhs, the festival represents freedom. Eleanor Nesbitt, professor emeritus at the Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit at the University of Warwick, adds that Buddhists and Jains have other historical reasons for celebrating Diwali. When is the festival? This year, Diwali begins on Monday 24 October on the Gregorian calendar. The festival typically lasts for four to five days and coincides with the new moon on the Hindu lunisolar calendar, called amavasya. The new moon is the first lunar phase, which is when the moon and the sun have the same ecliptic longitude. Amavasya is known as the darkest night among Hindus, and is regarded as a powerful force for both good and evil. Diwali is preceded by Navaratri, another Hindu festival that is observed every autumn over the course of nine nights. This year, Navaratri ran from 26 September to 5 October. Navaratri also symbolises the triumph of good over evil and commemorates the Hindu deity Durga, the goddess of war. How is it celebrated? As Diwali is a celebration of light triumphing over darkness, those who observe the festival typically decorate their homes with a plethora of lights. People will also routinely clean their homes in preparation for Diwali, Mr Kashyap explains. In India every year, houses are cleaned, often renovated, and always illuminated with sparkling fairy lights and oil lamps, he adds. Mr Kashyap says many doorways and foyers are decorated with rangolis, beautiful, intricate patterns on the floor that are created using materials including rice, coloured sand and flower petals. Gifts and sweets are also exchanged during Diwali, as are wishes for a Happy Diwali. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Mr Kashyap emphasises that while Diwali is "probably best experienced in India", it is a global celebration. During Diwali, a variety of traditional sweet and savoury dishes are consumed. One of the sweet dishes is called Lapsi Halwa, and is made from large-grain cracked wheat, cooked with ghee and sweetened with sugar and cardamom powder. To read more about the symbolic foods eaten during Diwali, click here. The head of voting systems company Dominion said Fox News knew allegations against the company being made by former president Trump and his associates following the 2020 election were untrue but decided to air them anyway. We told them. We told them in real time. Others told them. Government officials told them. Partisan government officials told em. People inside the Trump administration told them. Um, local election officials on both sides of the aisle told em. This is not a matter of not knowing the truth. They knew the truth, said Dominion CEO John Poulos during an interview with CBS 60 Minutes that aired Sunday evening. Dominion is suing Fox and its parent company for $1.6 billion in a defamation case stemming from false statements Trump and his top allies made against the voting systems company on the networks airwaves in the days that followed the 2020 election. A number of top Fox News hosts and staffers have reportedly been deposed by Dominions lawyers in recent months as the company looks to build its case against the cable news giant in what is widely seen as one of the most consequential defamation cases against a major media company in decades. The New York Times reported this week Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott is soon expected to be deposed in the case. Fox has moved to dismiss Dominions case on First Amendment grounds, arguing the allegations made by Trump and his allies were newsworthy and noting it issued on-air fact checks to the false claims about Dominion put forth by conservative attorney Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani and other close associates of Trump. The network denied the allegations made by Poulos to 60 minutes. We are confident we will prevail as freedom of the press is foundational to our democracy and must be protected, in addition to the damages claims being outrageous, unsupported, and not rooted in sound financial analysis, serving as nothing more than a flagrant attempt to deter our journalists from doing their jobs, Fox New said in a statement on Sunday evening. Story continues In June, a Delaware Superior Court judge ruled the case against Fox could proceed. In the days that followed the election, Powell, Giuliani and others took to Foxs airwaves to falsely argue after the election that Dominion and other voting systems companies were engaged in fraud linked to voting machines and mail-in ballots. During the 60 Minutes segment, Poulos showed corespondent Anderson Cooper how his companys technology operates and denied the fraud allegations made by Trump and others. People have been put into danger, Poulos told Cooper, all because of lies. Poulos said just last week, the companys office was locked down due to threats, while employees continue to break down in tears over the situation. Cooper asked: Do you think that you can show not only that they lied, but they knew that they were lying? I I dont even think I think thats the easiest part, Poulos responded. UPDATED: 9:24 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A man walks through a flooded street with his belongings in the Orlovista neighborhood following Hurricane Ian on October 1, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Hurricane Ian hit Florida as category 4 storm in late September, bringing torrential rains and a storm surge that left much of coastal and central Florida underwater. But while the immediate dangers involved drowning and injuries, an invisible threat would soon sicken some people who came in contact with the water: flesh-eating bacteria. After the storm, coastal Florida saw a spike in infections by Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria. People often catch it from uncooked seafood, but it can also live in warm, brackish water. According to the Florida Department of Healths website, the state has seen 64 confirmed cases of flesh-eating bacteria infections so far this year, with 11 deaths. Thats almost double the cases reported in all of 2021. Lee County, which contains hard-hit Fort Myers, alone has confirmed a whopping 28 cases and four deaths as of October 21. Read more Flesh-eating bacteria is just one of several health risks that come with floodwaters. Inundated streets, roads, and homes become covered by polluted water that threatens residents and emergency responders. Gastrointestinal illnesses and skin infections often spike after flooding events. Other floods in recent history have also yielded a spike in disease. A 2019 report that studied floods in Iran also looked at other major flooding events worldwide, including 1988 floods in Sudan that led to a spike in hepatitis A infections, caused by sewage-contaminated waters. Brian Labus, an assistant professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Nevada, explained that the pollutants in floodwater may differ depending on where you are. Urban centers may be more likely to deal with sewage, while rural areas may see animal waste, fertilizer, or pesticide runoff. The diseases we see most often occur from sewage are gastrointestinal infections, things like norovirus, or salmonella, E. coli, he said. You get sick from these things typically from swallowing. Its going to be on your handsthey could be covered in bacteria, which, you then grab a sandwich or grab something to drink and wind up swallowing [the bacteria]. Story continues The contaminants in water also depend on the level of damage to local infrastructure, such as chemical treatment plants and wastewater treatment facilities. Oil spills can also spread, and if oil-contaminated floodwater enters a home, the fumes can pollute indoor air and lead to various health effects, including harm to the nervous and respiratory systems. During Hurricane Ian, a water treatment plant just off Highway 27 reported a leak of more than 2,000 gallons of sodium hypochlorite, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The chemical is a harsh disinfectant that causes blistering and burns on skin and even eye damage. The damage also released sewage into some of the states floodwaters and waterways. In Brevard County, the flooding caused more than 357,000 gallons of waste to flow up from manholes and onto beaches, Florida Today reported. And as flooding becomes more widespread and more intense, areas that are not accustomed to floods may not know to reinforce places like gas stations, sewer systems, or chemical processing facilities. Whether its the storm surge or just the vast amounts of rain, there is not a sewer system on the planet that can take that kind of hit without having some sort of overflow, Nathan Gardner-Andrews, the chief advocacy officer for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, told Bloomberg earlier this month. As storms get more intense you are going to see unfortunately more incidents where systems get overwhelmed. Byomkesh Talukder, a public health researcher at York University, explained that many of the gastrointestinal infections and illnesses caused by flood waters tend to clear up on their own. But if someone has allergies or a weaker immune system, those small infections can turn into a life-threatening emergency. Obviously, if there is flooding, the healthcare system is disrupted. You cannot expect an ambulance at that point, he said. Drugstores will also be closed. In Canada and in the U.S., we dont always keep essential medicines that are not prescribed in the household. My suggestion is to keep this kind of primary care medicine around. Talukder especially recommended keeping pain relievers and fever reducers like acetaminophen or aspirin at home, especially if you know that a storm or potential flooding event is possible. Pharmacies also carry over-the-counter anti-nausea and antidiarrheal medications, which can help avoid dehydration. He and Labus both recommended storing as much water as possible to ensure access to clean drinking water after a storm. The extra water can also be used for hand washingthis is especially important for first responders and anyone who has no choice but to come in contact with floodwater. Anyone who has to go into floodwaters to help others should cover their skin as much as possible. If they have any cuts or scrapes, those wounds should be cleaned as best as possible and monitored for signs of infection. Any clothing that has come in contact with floodwaters should be washed with hot water and a disinfectant. Even if someone has not been injured while in contact with floodwaters, many viruses and bacterias can be ingested. Medical professionals often recommend that people who have been exposed to floodwaters should make sure theyre up to date on their shots, like tetanus and hepatitis vaccines. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. At voting centers in Fort Smith, Greenwood and Van Buren and across the state, early voting starts Monday in Arkansas for the Nov. 8 midterm elections. There are state questions on the ballots for voters in Arkansas other than Issue 4 regarding legalizing recreational marijuana. Here is a look at the other three in advance of early voting from the Arkansas Secretary of State. Issue 1 Arkansas legislators have proposed an amendment to the state constitution that would give them the authority to call special meetings of the legislature formally called the General Assembly at any time. Currently, only the governor has that authority. Issue 1 is a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the general assembly to convene in "extraordinary session." Sen. Breanne Davis of Russellville and Rep. Frances Cavenaugh of Walnut Ridge are sponsors of the proposal. Issue 2 The Arkansas legislature proposed Issue 2 which would require 60% approval on any questions on future ballots that make it from initiative petition efforts. Issue 2 is a proposed constitutional amendment to "ballot initiative reform," that would require 60% voter approval on any question on ballots from an initiative petition. The Medical marijuana question in 2016 on ballots from an initiative petition garnered 53% approval that year. Rep. David Ray of Maumelle and Sen. Bart Hester of Cave Springs are the sponsors of the proposal. Issue 3 Issue 3 is titled "The Arkansas Religious Freedom Amendment" to "provide that government may never burden a person's freedom of religion except in the rare circumstance that the government demonstrates that application of the burden to the person is in furtherance of a compelling government interest." Sen. Jason Rapert of Conway and Rep. Jimmy Gazaway of Paragould are the sponsors. Issue 4 Issue 4 is the recreational marijuana question, on the ballot after an initiative petition, states that although recreational marijuana is still federally illegal, it could be legal for those 21 and older if approved in Arkansas. Story continues How to vote early At the election centers for early voting, voters will need to show ID to vote in Arkansas including an Arkansas driver's license or photo identification card, concealed handgun carry license, United States passport, employee badge or identification document issued by an accredited postsecondary education institution in the State of Arkansas, United States military identification document, public assistance identification card if the card shows a photograph of the person to whom the document or identification card was issued, or a voter verification card. If voting for the first time in Arkansas and registered to vote by mail, and didn't submit a copy of an ID when registered will need to show your ID to vote. Acceptable forms include a driver's license, current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or another government document with your name and address. Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, you will be able to vote a provisional ballot. In order for your provisional ballot to be counted, you must return to your county board of election commissioners or county clerk by 12 p.m. on the Monday following the election and present a document or identification card meeting the requirements described above. Voting early in Sebastian County Early voting will be Monday, Oct. 24 to Monday, Nov. 7 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays at five places in Sebastian County: The Sebastian County Courthouse, room GB, 35 S 6 Street, Fort Smith. Greenwood Sebastian County Fairgrounds, 530 E. Knoxville Street. Ben Geren Park Tornado Shelter, 7200 Zero Street, Fort Smith. Creekmore Community Center, 3301 S. "M" Street, Fort Smith. Rye Hill Baptist Church, 11501 U.S. 71 South, Fort Smith. In Crawford County, early voting will be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 7 at the Emergency Operation Center, 1820 Chestnut, Van Buren and the Alma Community Center, 114 Column Lane E. Early voting in Oklahoma starts Nov. 2 Voters in Oklahoma can cast ballots early from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, through Friday, Nov. 4, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Sequoyah County Election Board, 110 E. Creek Ave. in Sallisaw. This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Monday, Oct. 24 is first day of early voting in Arkansas A teenager suspected in serial burglaries was arrested again on Sunday after police saw him running on a street carrying an ax and a black ski mask in the Upper Valley. Jacob Perez, 17, was arrested after allegedly breaking into a bakery while out of jail on a personal recognizance bond following an arrest in a burglary spree in July, police said. Two months ago, Perez was arrested on 15 burglary charges in a rash of similar retail break-ins last July in the West Side and the Upper Valley. A 16-year-old boy was charged with allegedly taking part in three of those burglaries. The teens allegedly swung skateboards to shatter windows and glass doors to enter shops and then break into cash registers to take any money left inside, as well as stealing small valuables and food, police said. Courts:Public Defender, El Paso DA's office continue to battle over dismissal of backlog cases According to jail records, Perez was booked into jail on Aug. 3 but was released by a magistrate judge two days later on a personal recognizance bond requiring no payment and only a signature with a promise to show up to court. The cases are pending in court. About 2:50 a.m. Sunday, police officers responding to a burglary found a broken glass door and the cash register damaged at the Arcoiris Bakery at 8018 N. Mesa St. near Doniphan Drive, a news release stated. Officers with the Westside Tactical Unit later found Perez running on a street carrying an ax and a black ski mask near his home on Alvarez Drive, police said. Records show Perez resides in the 200 block of Alvarez Drive near Redd Road west of Interstate 10 in the same neighborhood as a rash of burglaries in the Doniphan Drive area. After an investigation, Perez was arrested on a burglary of building charge in the Arcoiris Bakery case. A police spokesman said that an investigation continues into a similar burglary at Supreme Laundry and Cleaners at 8024 N. Mesa St. After the latest arrest, Perez is being held on a $50,000 bond at the El Paso County Jail in Downtown. Under Texas law, defendants who are 17 and older are considered adults in the criminal justice system. Story continues Burglary rash hits Upper Valley businesses Detectives continue investigating a recent plague of late-night burglaries of businesses on Doniphan Drive in the Upper Valley. Perez has not been charged in those cases. Crime beat:Man arrested in burglary of Islamic Center of El Paso A half-dozen mom-and-pop restaurants and other businesses have been burglarized along a mile-stretch of Doniphan Drive, a police spokesman said. The burglaries, which occurred Oct. 14 and Oct. 17, were: Oct. 17 Barbacoa Los Primos, 5500 Doniphan Drive Little Bit of Texas nightclub, 5500 Doniphan Drive Family Dollar store, 5300 Doniphan Drive Flautas y Paleteria Tepalca, 5198 Doniphan Drive Oct. 14 Cazares Burritos, 5362 Doniphan Drive Roadrunner Pizza, 5300 Doniphan Drive Anyone with information on burglaries and other criminal activity may anonymously call Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477 (TIPS) or leave a tip online at crimestoppersofelpaso.org. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Teen arrested again as new burglary rash hits Upper Valley, West Side When the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in June, it thrust abortion into the center of many midterm races. Many Democrats have made the right to abortion a central issue in their campaigns, casting GOP-backed restrictions as out of step with the majority of Americans, who generally support some legal access to the procedure. Most Republicans running for the House and Senate have kept a distance from proposals for a federal abortion ban while saying the issue should be left to voters at the state level. Some states will do just that in November, with direct ballot initiatives that will determine the future of abortion access in the state. But in a handful of races, the outcome in November could decide whether abortion remains legal in the state by shifting the balance of power in state governments. Pennsylvania Republicans currently hold majorities in the Pennsylvania state House and Senate and in recent years have attempted to introduce legislation that would further restrict abortion. But Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has thwarted those efforts with his veto pen. The outcome of the race to replace him could have dramatic repercussions on abortion access in the state. Democratic nominee Josh Shapiro, the outgoing attorney general, has vowed to protect abortion if elected, while Doug Mastriano, his opponent backed by former President Trump, said following the Supreme Court decision that Roe V. Wade is rightly relegated to the ash heap of history. Hes also previously said that people who have abortions should be charged with murder. And as a state senator, Mastriano was one of the lead sponsors of a bill in 2019 that would have made abortion illegal in Pennsylvania once a fetal heartbeat was detected, which usually occurs around six weeks of pregnancy. We definitely think that if Doug Mastriano wins and if the Republicans maintain control of the state legislature that they will definitely move to pass an abortion ban, said Ianthe Metzger, director of state advocacy communications at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Story continues Republicans are projected to maintain control of both chambers, while Shapiro holds a comfortable lead over Mastriano. Katie Glenn, who is the state policy director for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said if Mastriano could pull off an upset, an abortion ban at 15 weeks is definitely on the table. If Shapiro wins, she expects the status quo. Shapiro has staked himself out as being very pro-abortion, so I think it would be more of the same, she said. Wisconsin Wisconsin was among the states with a pre-Roe abortion ban on the books, and following the June decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization that overturned the abortion precedent, the ban dating back to 1849 was reinstated. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers called a special legislative session in an attempt to repeal the ban, but Republican opposition in the state legislature resulted in the session ending with the law still in place. Since then, Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul has refused to use resources from his department to prosecute abortion providers and has encouraged district attorneys in Wisconsin to follow suit. Kaul is running for reelection against Republican Eric Toney, who has promised to enforce the pre-Roe ban if elected, and even advocated for district attorneys to be able to prosecute abortion cases across county lines. So far, no one has been prosecuted under the law, as abortion providers in the state have ceased performing the procedure due to the lack of legal clarity. The ban has narrow exceptions when the life of the mother is in danger, with violators facing up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Kaul has filed a lawsuit challenging the 1849 law that is expected to eventually work its way to the Supreme Court, which could decide whether it is enforceable. In order for abortion to return to Wisconsin one of two things need to happen. One the courts need to declare that the law is unenforceable or two our state legislature needs to repeal the criminal abortion ban, said Tanya Atkinson, the CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin. If the Supreme Court were to overturn the law, the governors race would become crucial to the future of abortion in the state, with Republicans currently holding 57 of the 99 seats in the State Assembly and 21 of the 33 in the Senate. Evers is up for reelection and in a tight race against Republican challenger Tim Michels, who largely supports the pre-Roe ban If Tony Evers loses, I think that the Republican governor with the Republican legislature would move to ban, to pass a new ban, said Metzger. So even if the 1849 ban is still in litigation, and were still waiting to see if that is enforceable or not, I think that if they have full power, they will pass a new ban and not even worry about the pre-Roe ban. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) is the only major obstacle blocking Republicans in North Carolinas state legislature from restricting abortion in the state. Since the overturning of Roe, Cooper has been adamant in his defense of abortion access, even signing an executive order protecting patients who traveled to North Carolina from states where abortion was banned from being prosecuted at home. Republicans in the state legislature need to flip just five seats to gain a supermajority, which would make Coopers veto pen impotent. Three additional seats in the House and two in the Senate would give the GOP the necessary three-fifths majority. Abortion in North Carolina was previously legal up until the point of fetal viability, which is around 24 weeks of pregnancy; however, a 20-week abortion law that had been halted came into effect after the Dobbs decision. Metzger said that if Republicans achieve a veto-proof majority, she expects them to pass a ban. I think they would try to pass a ban and the governor would not be able to override it, said Metzger. I do think that thats a real possibility. Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life Committee, was hopeful, though less certain of that outcome. If weve got the votes to protect unborn children, I hope they would do that, said Tobias. State Senate leader Phil Berger (R) has said he would support restricting abortion after the first trimester, while House Speaker Tim Moore (R) has said that he would favor a fetal heartbeat bill. Metzger said that a ban in North Carolina could have reverberating effects on neighboring states where abortion is restricted, such as Tennessee, which has a total abortion ban. The chances of the GOP picking up additional seats have also been bolstered by new district maps making previously solid Democratic seats more competitive for Republicans, according to The Charlotte Observer. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A teenager accused of killing four students at a Michigan high school shooting last year has pleaded guilty. Ethan Crumbley, 16, faced four counts of first-degree murder, terrorism causing death, seven counts of attempted murder and 12 counts of use of a gun. He had previously pleaded not guilty, arguing insanity, in January. Before he pleaded guilty on Monday, his defence withdrew the insanity notice. Crumbley, then 15, opened fire at Oxford High School, where he attended, on 30 November 2021, killing four students and injuring seven others. During the hearing he claimed that the gun he used was not locked up, which may have implications for the charges against his parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, who have been charged with involuntary manslaughter over the murders. They are accused of ignoring multiple warning signs about his disturbing behaviour and poor mental health in the lead-up to the shooting. Families of the victims were in court on Monday when Crumbley entered his plea before Oakland County Circuit Judge Kwame Rowe, the Detroit Free Press reported. Crumbley appeared in court wearing jail clothes, handcuffed and in shackles. His guilty plea comes 11 months after he killed Madisyn Baldwin, 17, Hana St Juliana, 14, Justin Shilling, 17, and Tate Myre, 16 and injured six other students and a teacher. Crumbley admitted to committing the crimes deliberately and with premeditation. Judge Rowe asked Crumbley on Monday: Is it your own choice to plead guilty? Yes, sir, Crumbley answered. Crumbley faces a minimum sentence of 25 to 45 years to life without the possibility of parole for every terrorism and first-degree murder count. His sentencing date has yet to be scheduled but it will be after 9 February 2023. Families of the victims will have a chance to address Crumbley and the court during sentencing, Judge Rowe said. Meanwhile, the parents of Myre and Shilling, and other students at Oxford at the time of the massacre have also sued Oxford Community Schools for negligence, claiming the district missed Crumbleys violent tendencies months before the attack. Story continues Oxford Community Schools, as you all know, has done nothing but cover up and conceal this information from not just the public [and] to my clients obviously who have sustained losses unbearable for most of us to even think about, Ven Johnson, the attorney representing the families, said in September. On the day of the violence, James and Jennifer Crumbley, had been asked to go to the high school to talk about their sons behaviour after a teacher found his drawing of a gun pointing at the words, The thoughts wont stop. Help me. They refused to take him home and were asked to get Crumbley counselling within 48 hours, the AP reported. The day before the shooting, a teacher emailed the schools Dean of Students and Assistant Principal Nicholas Ejak and another official named Pam Fine that she found Crumbley looking at bullets on his phone. When Ms Crumbley was notified that her son was searching for ammunition online, she allegedly answered: Lol. Im not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught. Prosecutors argue that Crumbleys parents created an environment in which their sons violent tendencies flourished. The couple pleaded not guilty. Crumbley is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, terrorism causing death, seven counts of attempted murder and 12 counts of use of a gun. BANGKOK (AP) Air strikes by Myanmars military killed as many as 80 people, including singers and musicians, attending an anniversary celebration of the Kachin ethnic minoritys main political organization, members of the group and a rescue worker said Monday. The reported attack comes three days before Southeast Asian foreign ministers are to hold a special meeting in Indonesia to discuss widening violence in Myanmar. The number of casualties at Sunday nights celebration, held by the Kachin Independence Organization in the northern state of Kachin, appeared to be the most in a single air attack since the military seized power in February 2021 from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Initial reports put the death toll at around 60, but later tallies raised it to about 80. It was impossible to independently confirm details of the incident, though media sympathetic to the Kachin posted videos showing what was said to be the attack's aftermath, with splintered and flattened wooden structures. The military government's information office confirmed in a statement late Monday that there was an attack on what it described as the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army's 9th Brigade, calling it a necessary operation in response to terrorist acts carried out by the Kachin group. It called reports of a high death toll rumors, and denied the military had bombed a concert and that singers and audience members were among the dead. The United Nations' office in Myanmar said in a statement that it was deeply concerned and saddened by reports of the air strikes. What would appear to be excessive and disproportionate use of force by security forces against unarmed civilians is unacceptable and those responsible must be held to account, it said. Envoys representing Western embassies in Myanmar, including the United States, issued a joint statement saying the attack underscores the military regimes "disregard for its obligation to protect civilians and respect the principles and rules of international humanitarian law. Story continues Myanmar has been wracked for decades by rebellions by ethnic minorities seeking autonomy, but anti-government resistance increased markedly nationwide with the formation of an armed pro-democracy movement opposing last years military takeover. The Kachin are one of the stronger ethnic rebel groups and are capable of manufacturing some of their own armaments. They also have a loose alliance with the armed militias of the pro-democracy forces that were formed in 2021 in central Myanmar to fight army rule. Sundays celebration of the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the Kachin Independence Organization, which included a concert, was held at a base also used for military training by the Kachin Independence Army, the KIOs armed wing. It is located near Aung Bar Lay village in Hpakant township, a remote mountainous area 950 kilometers (600 miles) north of Myanmars biggest city, Yangon. Hpakant is the center of the worlds biggest and most lucrative jade mining industry, from which both the government and the rebels derive revenue. As many as 80 people were killed and about 100 were injured in Sundays attack on the first day of a three-day celebration of the KIO's founding, a spokesperson for the Kachin Artists Association told The Associated Press by phone. He said he first heard there had been 60 deaths, but was later told by sources close to Kachin Independence Army officials that about 80 people had died. He said military aircraft dropped four bombs on the celebration at about 8 p.m., according to members of his group who were there. Between 300 and 500 people were in attendance and a Kachin singer and keyboard player were among the dead, said the spokesperson, who asked not to be identified because he feared punishment by the authorities. Those killed also included Kachin officers and soldiers, musicians, jade mining business owners and other civilians, he said. They also included at least 10 Kachin military and business VIPs sitting in front of the stage, and cooks working backstage, he added. The Kachin News Group, a media outlet sympathetic to the KIO, reported that an initial search found 58 bodies and that government security forces had blocked the wounded from being treated at hospitals in nearby towns. It reported later that more than 20 more bodies had been recovered, bringing the death toll to about 80. Col. Naw Bu, a spokesperson for the Kachin Independence Army, said by phone that KIA soldiers, musicians, businesspeople and villagers were among the dead, but he could not confirm a casualty number due to communications problems. He said the deaths were a loss for all Kachin people, and its group would fly the Kachin flag at half-staff. An emergency services rescue worker who was in Hpakant and also asked for anonymity said he saw three military aircraft making bombing runs over the celebration ground, just a few kilometers (miles) away. He said he was barred by the KIO from entering the area but heard that more than 60 people were killed, including a KIA brigade commander. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a non-governmental organization that tracks killings and arrests, said Friday that 2,377 civilians have died in crackdowns by the security forces since the army took power. Its figure, however, does not always include people killed in military actions in the countryside. We fear this attack is part of a pattern of unlawful aerial attacks by the military which has killed and injured civilians in areas controlled by armed groups, Amnesty Internationals deputy regional director, Hana Young, said in a statement. The military has shown ruthless disregard for civilian lives in its escalating campaign against opponents. It is difficult to believe the military did not know of a significant civilian presence at the site of this attack. The military must immediately grant access to medics and humanitarian assistance to those affected by these air strikes and other civilians in need," Young said. Cambodia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations, said Sunday that the groups foreign ministers will hold a special meeting in Indonesia this week to consider the peace process for Myanmar. Myanmars generals have all but shunned the groups previous efforts. As officials and leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations prepare to host high-level meetings in the coming weeks, this attack highlights the need to overhaul the approach to the crisis in Myanmar," Amnesty International said. "ASEAN has to step up and formulate a more robust course of action so that military leaders end this escalating repression. APPLE-INDIA (AP) The European Union has given its final approval to a new rule that will ban Apples iPhone charger and force all devices to use the same plug. It is the last, mostly formal stage of bringing the common charger directive into force, which will require all devices to have the same charger from 2024. Electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets and headphones will all be required to charge up using USB-C. Most phone makers have switched to that new standard but Apples Lightning cable remains a notable exception. Publicly, Apple has opposed the rules, arguing that they will limit innovation and that the focus should have been on the other end of the wire, which plugs into the wall. But behind the scenes, Apple has been moving towards adopting USB-C more broadly, and many of its products now charge up using the cable. Apple has also integrated wireless charging into its more recent iPhones. The EU has not yet passed rules on that technology, but has said that it will be working to ensure that the various charging standards work with each other. European officials say that the new rules will make it easier for customers to charge their devices, without having to search through different options. It will also help reduce electronic waste since users can keep the same charger when they buy new devices, they claim. We all have at least three mobile phone chargers at home. Looking for the right charger, either at home or at work, can be quite annoying, said Jozef Sikela, Minister for Industry and Trade, in a statement. On top of this, these chargers amount to 11.000 tonnes of e-waste every year. Having a charger that fits multiple devices will save money and time and also helps us reduce electronic waste. The rules also require companies to offer the option of buying new devices without a charger. Four years after the new rules go into force, the EU will examine whether that should be made mandatory. The new rules also include a requirement that companies include a special informational image on their boxes, which will include details of whether the device comes with a charger and a label that shows how well it charges. Story continues The new rules will now go into effect in two years. They will only cover new devices released after that fact meaning that Apple will be able to continue selling older devices that still have the existing Lightning plug, for instance. The EU has been looking to push companies towards a common charger for years. At the start of this year, that gained traction, with member states agreeing to introduce the rules, which were signed off by the European Parliament this summer. While the rules do not apply outside of the EU including in the UK companies are expected to adopt the changes, given the expense of selling different versions of products in different countries. Teleperformance pays TikTok moderators in Colombia $10 a day, TBIJ reported. Getty Images A former TikTok moderator in Colombia was required to keep her webcam on all night while working. Moderators in Colombia are paid just $10 a day, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism reported. The moderator said the situation was "terrible" because she lived with her family. A Colombian ex-moderator for TikTok said she was required to keep her webcam on all night, according to a report by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism. TBIJ spoke to nine moderators who shared their experience but requested that their identity remained secret for fear they might lose their jobs, or risk future employment prospects. All names have been changed, according to the outlet. Carolina, a former TikTok moderator who worked remotely for Teleperformance, a Paris-based company offering moderation services and earned $10 a day, said she had to keep her camera continuously on during her night shift, TBIJ reported. The company also told her that no one should be in view of the camera and was only allowed a drink in a transparent cup on her desk. Carolina said the situation was "terrible" because she lived with her family. "So I felt very guilty telling them, 'please don't pass behind the camera because I could be fired.' Teleperformance is especially paranoid with people seeing what we do." A TikTok spokesperson told Insider in a statement: "We strive to promote a caring working environment for our employees and contractors. Our Trust and Safety team partners with third-party firms on the critical work of helping to protect the TikTok platform and community, and we continue to expand on a range of wellness services so that moderators feel supported mentally and emotionally." Neither TikTok nor Teleperformance responded to The Bureau of Investigative Journalism's detailed list of allegations. Teleperformance, which has more than 42,000 workers in Colombia, did not respond to Insider's request for comment. Current moderators shared with TBIJ that they had to clock in and out and log any breaks on an app called Timekeeper but they didn't confirm whether they had to work with their cameras on. Story continues Another former TikTok moderator, Carlos, told TBIJ it was a video of child sexual abuse that had traumatized him. The video showed a girl of five or six years old: "She was dancing, like pointing her back to the camera, it was so close." Luis, 28, worked night shifts moderating videos for TikTok. He listed to the outlet the kind of content he sees regularly: "Murder, suicide, pedophilia, pornographic content, accidents, cannibalism." He recalled seeing one video taken at a party, with two people holding what initially looked like pieces of meat. When they turned around, it appeared they were holding skin and gristle flayed off human faces. "The worst thing was that the friends were playing games and started using the human faces as masks," Luis said. Read the full story at The Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Read the original article on Business Insider ZURICH (Reuters) - With only days to go before unveiling a major strategic overhaul, Credit Suisse is racing to firm up sales of parts of its business that could reduce the amount of cash it might need from investors. The embattled Swiss lender is trying to recover from a string of scandals and lawsuits and could embark on a fundamental revamp to slim down volatile investment banking to focus on wealth management. Analysts estimate it could face a capital shortfall of up to 9 billion Swiss francs ($9.01 billion) -- depending on what it does to scale back its investment bank and how much it raises from asset sales -- to restructure, support growth and have a safety cushion. The group is aiming to reassure the market with its restructuring plan, more details of which are expected with third-quarter results on Oct. 27. WHY IS CREDIT SUISSE IN THE SPOTLIGHT? A string of losses, high-profile risk management failures and top leadership changes have put Switzerland's second-biggest bank under scrutiny. Credit Suisse had to raise capital, halt share buybacks, cut its dividend and revamp management after losing more than $5 billion from the Archegos collapse in March 2021, when it also had to suspend client funds linked to failed financier Greensill. A spying scandal forced then-CEO Tidjane Thiam to quit in 2020, and Switzerland's financial regulator said Credit Suisse had misled it about the scale of its surveillance. His successor Thomas Gottstein lasted until July 2022, when Credit Suisse turned to restructuring expert Ulrich Koerner as CEO and launched a second strategic review within a year. Chairman Axel Lehmann took over in January from Antonio Horta-Osorio, who resigned over breaking quarantine rules during the COVID-19 pandemic less than nine months after joining. Horta-Osario's predecessor, Urs Rohner, admitted when he left office last year that the bank had disappointed clients and shareholders, and not for the first time. Story continues Credit Suisse's losses have hit nearly 4 billion Swiss francs over the past three quarters alone, while its financing costs have surged amid credit ratings downgrades. WHAT ASSETS COULD IT SELL? Credit Suisse has already said it wants to strengthen its wealth management business, scale back its investment bank into a "capital-light, advisory-led" business, and evaluate strategic options for its Securitised Products business. Last week, it sold an 8.6% stake in Allfunds Group for 334 million euros ($328.4 million). It also sold a 30% stake in Energy Infrastructure Partners for an undisclosed price. Other assets reported to be up for sale include a stake in the SIX Group, which runs the Zurich stock exchange, two specialist Swiss banks, Pfandbriefbank and Bank-Now, and Swisscard, a joint venture with American Express. Credit Suisse is looking to sell the Savoy Hotel in central Zurich, which could be worth 400 million Swiss francs. The bank's U.S. asset management unit may fetch around $2 billion in a sale, sources have said, and is said to be drawing interest from money managers such as Janus, Blue Owl and others. The bank is also considering spinning off part of its advisory and investment banking business, which could bring in outside investors and be named First Boston, media have reported. WHAT OTHER MONEY RAISING OPTIONS ARE THERE? The bank had approached investors about a capital injection, sources familiar with the matter have said. Credit Suisse is reported to have hired Morgan Stanley and Royal Bank of Canada to help organise a capital increase to underpin its finances and secure funds for restructuring. A convertible bond issue is another avenue the Swiss bank is said to be considering to help finance its turnaround plans. This could allow the bank to limit the sale of shares at depressed current prices. As a last resort, Credit Suisse could seek state aid. HOW IMPORTANT IS THE BANK? Since its foundation in 1856, Credit Suisse has played a central role in the history and development of Switzerland. It was set up by Swiss politician and businessmen Alfred Escher to finance the country's railways and support industrialisation. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, it has grown to become the second-biggest bank in Switzerland and one of the biggest banks in Europe. It had just over 50,000 employees and 1.6 trillion Swiss francs in assets under management at the end of 2021. Credit Suisse has a domestic Swiss bank, plus wealth management, investment banking and asset management operations. The Swiss National Bank has designated it one of Switzerland's global systemically important banks, whose failure would cause "significant harm to the Swiss economy and financial system". ($1 = 0.9986 Swiss francs) (Reporting by Michael Shields, John Revill and Noele Illien; Editing by Alexander Smith and Jane Merriman) By Joseph Ax (Reuters) - Challenges to election results are not new in the United States. But former President Donald Trump and his allies took things to an extreme in 2020, falsely alleging widespread voter fraud and claiming the presidential contest was stolen. This year, Trump-aligned candidates such as Kari Lake, the Republican nominee for governor in Arizona, and Doug Mastriano, the Republican nominee for governor in Pennsylvania, refuse to say whether they will accept the results of November's midterm elections, citing the same conspiracy theories about 2020. That has raised fears among election experts that 2022 will see a wave of baseless rejections of vote tallies. Related video: Rolling Stone says Trump plans to challenge PA 2022 election results Here's how challenges to November's elections could play out: RECOUNTS Vote recounts are relatively common in the United States, particularly in local elections where results can often be close, but they rarely alter the outcome, according to one study. In 22 states and Washington, D.C., a recount is automatically triggered if the margin of victory is sufficiently narrow, often 0.5%, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In 41 states and Washington, a candidate or voter can request a recount, though some require the vote totals to be within a certain margin. A handful of states do not allow a recount by law; a candidate's only remedy is to file a lawsuit asking a court to order one. A study by Fair Vote, a nonpartisan group, in 2019 found there had been 31 statewide recounts between 2000 and 2019 out of nearly 6,000 contests, and that just three had changed the outcome. In 2020, Georgia recounted its votes three separate times, confirming President Joe Biden's statewide victory each time. In Arizona, a Republican-led audit criticized by experts as methodologically flawed confirmed Biden's victory nearly a year after the election. Story continues LITIGATION Post-election lawsuits are a frequent occurrence in the United States, often focusing on procedural issues such as whether mail-in ballots were missing information or arrived on time. But in 2020, Trump allies sought to weaponize the court system even when there was little factual basis undergirding their claims. Dozens of courts rejected Trump's allegations. But the sheer scope of the effort could encourage Trump-aligned candidates to attempt similar litigation in 2022. "Because this election denialism has been embraced by so many candidates running for these top state positions, I think we can expect to see a similar barrage of baseless claims of fraud and misconduct in 2022," said Bo Dul, senior counsel at the nonpartisan States United Democracy Center. Election experts all emphasized that the court system held firm in 2020; indeed, some of Trump's lawyers, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, have faced professional punishment for their role in advancing false claims. CERTIFICATION Election results are not formal until election officials have certified them, usually weeks after Election Day. Unlike many other Western countries, U.S. election administration is highly decentralized. The process of certification varies from state to state, but local authorities such as county boards or city officials certify their results first before state officials typically the secretary of state certify statewide totals. That decentralization, election experts said, is a two-edged sword. There are multiple points where a rogue official could disrupt the process by refusing to certify results, for instance. But the lack of a central authority also makes it difficult for any single actor to alter the outcome. Then, too, the court system provides a crucial check on malfeasance, the experts said. Earlier this year, New Mexico offered a preview of what could happen in November. Following the primary election, a Republican-controlled county commission refused to certify the results, citing unfounded conspiracy theories about voting machines. The commission relented only after the state Supreme Court ordered them to certify the election at the request of New Mexico's secretary of state. In Pennsylvania, three counties would not certify the May primary election when they refused to count undated ballots, despite being told to do so by the department of state. In August, a state court ordered them to certify. But litigation over the issue of undated ballots is pending before the state Supreme Court. THE FUTURE Several election experts said they are more concerned about the 2024 election than 2022, given how many Trump-inspired election deniers are running for key positions this year. A Washington Post analysis found more than half of Republican candidates for Congress and key statewide offices have questioned the 2020 results. "I'm going to be very scared in 2024 if we have a bunch of these election deniers elected to office," said Rachel Orey, associate director of the elections project at the Bipartisan Policy Center. Some Republican lawmakers have sought to increase their control of election administration. The Supreme Court is scheduled in December to hear a case in which Republican legislators in North Carolina have asked the justices to prevent state courts from reviewing any election changes made by lawmakers. While that case will not be resolved in time for the 2022 election, civil rights groups warn that a ruling in North Carolina's favor could theoretically permit state legislatures to throw out presidential results in 2024. Even if attempts to reverse legitimate election results fail once again, experts said the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and growing distrust among voters demonstrate how damaging claims about voter fraud can be to American democracy. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Ross Colvin and Daniel Wallis) KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces are piling pressure on Russian troops in the southern region of Kherson that Moscow occupied in February at the start of its invasion of Ukraine. Losing control of the region would be another big setback for President Vladimir Putin. Here is why the region is strategically important for the course of Russia's war in Ukraine. GATEWAY TO CRIMEA Kherson region borders Crimea and provides Moscow with a land bridge to the Black Sea peninsula that it seized from Kyiv in 2014. Ukraine retaking swathes of Kherson region would deprive Moscow of that land corridor. It would also bring long-range Ukrainian artillery closer to Crimea, which Moscow sees as vitally important to its interests. The peninsula, whose annexation Putin sees as a key achievement of his more than two decades in power, is home to a huge Russian military force and the Black Sea Fleet, which Moscow uses to project power into the Mediterranean and the Middle East. FRESH WATER SUPPLIES Fresh water supply to Crimea would also be imperilled if Ukraine retakes Kherson region. After Moscow seized Crimea, Kyiv blocked water supplies via a canal from the Dnipro River. When Russia seized chunks of Kherson region and neighbouring Zaporizhzhia region to the east, it immediately moved to unblock the canal to return fresh water flow. Russia needs that water for the local population, the irrigation of the peninsula's arid land and for numerous military facilities. LOGISTICS ROUTES Kherson region includes the mouth of the wide Dnipro River that bisects Ukraine, and the regional capital, Kherson city, is on the west bank, across the river from most of the rest of the province. It is the only place where Russia has a presence on the west bank of the river and Russia has heavily reinforced its troops there in recent months. Ukrainian forces have been hammering the bridges over the river to hurt Moscow's ability to resupply. If Russia were to lose its only foothold on the west side of the river, Ukraine would be better able to attack other Russian supply lines and challenge Moscow's grip on other occupied parts of the south, such as Zaporizhzhia region where Russian troops occupy a nuclear power plant, military analysts say. Story continues "The right (west) bank is important for both sides - for (Russia) in order to ensure the steadiness of the defence of the Zaporizhzhia direction, and for (Ukraine) to free this direction and cut off these three important arteries: the land corridor to Crimea, the water to Crimea and to return control of the (nuclear plant)," said Oleh Zhdanov, a military analyst. SYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE The city of Kherson is to date the only regional capital that Russian forces have captured since the Feb. 24 invasion. Losing it would therefore be a major symbolic blow to the Kremlin and indicate Russia had - for now - failed to press ahead to the cities of Mykolaiv and Odesa whose capture Moscow had sought, said Oleksander Musiyenko, a military analyst. "It's clear the loss of Kherson and the Kherson bridgehead will have consequences for Russia's image and will be viewed negatively inside Russia," he said. BLACK SEA CONTROL The Kherson region, which had a pre-war population of more than 1 million, lies on the Black Sea. Recapturing it would help Kyiv wrest back control of some of the coastline to a sea that is a critical artery for its food exports to foreign markets. (Reporting by Tom Balmforth and Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Gareth Jones) Channel 9 meteorologists are watching two potential tropical disturbances this week. Channel 9 meteorologist George Waldenberger said the first will likely become a tropical depression sometime on Monday as it forms near Bermuda. It is no threat to Florida, but the disturbance may move near the U.S. northeast coast toward the end of the week. A second disturbance will likely move out of the Caribbean and about 500 miles off the Florida coast for the weekend. Right now, the National Hurricane Center is giving this second disturbance a 30% chance of formation into a tropical or subtropical depression by the weekend. Read: Over $1 billion in federal funding put towards Hurricane Ian recovery The main impact of this system on Florida will be helping to build our wave heights at our east coast beaches. Waldenberger said hell be monitoring the system over the next seven days and keep you updated of any forecast updates. Watch: Despite record flooding, new neighborhoods may not be added to flood zone following Ian Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. The claim: Greenland ice sheet is recovering and earlier melting was caused by 'natural warming' The Greenland ice sheet has experienced significant melting in the last 20 years due to the ongoing warming of Earth's surfaces and oceans, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The melting ice has in turn contributed to sea level rise. However, some social media users are sharing an article that claims the Greenland ice sheet is recovering and that previous melting was caused by "natural warming." "Climate Bombshell: Greenland Ice Sheet Recovers as Scientists Say Earlier Loss was Due to Natural Warming Not CO2 Emissions," reads the article's headline. The article, which was published on the website The Daily Sceptic, was shared nearly 2,200 times in less than two weeks, according to the social media insights tool CrowdTangle. But it's wrong about the status of the Greenland ice sheet. The ice sheet continues to lose ice. This process is driven by warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions, according to researchers. USA TODAY reached out to the Daily Sceptic for comment. Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks Greenland ice sheet melting, not recovering The claim that the Greenland ice sheet is recovering and that earlier ice losses were due to "natural warming" is wrong, Twila Moon, deputy lead scientist at National Snow and Ice Data Center, told USA TODAY in an email. "This is completely absurd and goes against the full and substantial evidence of modern science," Moon said. "Greenland ice loss is well documented via several different types of direct observation ... and it is well known that current ice loss is a result of human pollution and climate warming." The Greenland ice sheet has lost mass every year since 1998, exposing previously covered land and contributing to global sea level rise, according to NOAA. These losses have averaged around 273 billion metric tons of ice per year since 2002, according to NASA. Story continues "There is no sign that the Greenland Ice Sheet is recovering. Instead, ongoing ice loss is certain, with the rate and amount of ice loss especially after roughly 2050 still highly dependent on what humans do," Moon said. Fact check: Cherry-picked data behind misleading claim that Arctic sea ice hasn't declined since 1989 Ice loss driven by human emissions, not natural warming Greenhouse gas emissions released by humans have been, and continue to be, the major driver of Greenland ice melt by causing global temperatures to increase, Eric Rignot, a senior research scientist at NASA and professor at the University of California Irvine, told USA TODAY. However, the article implies that a recent paper by a team of Japanese researchers contradicts this fact and supports the article's headline claim that scientists attributed earlier Greenland ice loss to natural warming and not CO2 emissions." But this is a mischaracterization of the paper's findings, Shinji Matsumura, lead author on the paper and Hokkaido University environmental researcher, told USA TODAY in an email. The paper merely ties variability in the Greenland ice sheet melting rates to the El Nino-Southern Oscillation a natural pattern of short-term climate variation. The paper does not state that the melting itself is caused by natural warming, he said. Nor does it state that melting has stopped or that the ice sheet is recovering. "The Greenland ice sheet is melting in the long run due to global warming associated with greenhouse gas emissions," Matsumura said in a press release. USA TODAY has previously debunked false claims that Greenland ice loss has "reversed" and that Arctic sea ice had reached a 30-year high. Fact check: False claim that Arctic, Antarctic ice reached record highs Our rating: False Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that the Greenland ice sheet is recovering and earlier melting was caused by "natural warming." The ice sheet continues to melt due to human-caused global climate change, according to researchers. 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: Greenland ice loss continues due to CO2 emissions India's heaviest rocket prepared ahead of the launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India. Indias heaviest rocket is prepared for launch at the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India. British company OneWeb has resumed its plans of building an internet constellation in low Earth orbit despite suffering a frustrating setback earlier this year. After having to cancel its launches aboard Russias Soyuz rocket, the British company launched 36 of its internet satellites on Saturday using Indias heaviest rocket. The Indian Space Research Organizations (ISRO) GSLV Mark III rocket took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in India at 2:37 p.m. ET. The launch marked the first commercial payload for the 143-foot-tall (43.5 meter) rocket, according to Indias Economic Times. Read more A huge thanks to the teams at @ISRO and @NSIL_India for a successful lift off! We will continue to provide updates as our 36 satellites begin to separate and start their life in space.#OneWebLaunch14 pic.twitter.com/WQacRB9Al5 OneWeb (@OneWeb) October 22, 2022 All 36 satellites are operational, bringing OneWebs total number of satellites to 462 out of its planned 648 satellite fleet, OneWeb announced on Sunday. The company is hoping to complete the full constellation by mid-2023. [Saturdays] launch is a significant milestone for OneWeb, Sunil Bharti Mittal, executive chairman of OneWeb, said in a statement. This new phase of our launch program from India brings us a step closer to not only enhancing our global coverage but also delivering connectivity in India and South Asia, particularly to the communities who need it most. Story continues OneWeb had to halt the launch of its internet satellites in March after terminating its contract with Russias space agency Roscosmos. The company had been using Russias Soyuz rocket to launch its satellites, but that relationship quickly deteriorated following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In retaliation against the Western sanctions imposed against Russia, Roscosmos refused to launch OneWebs satellites unless the company agreed to a list of demands. OneWeb declined, prompting Russia to hold on the companys 36 satellites and keep them at a storage facility in Baiknour, Kazakhstan. As a result, OneWeb was left scrambling to find alternative rides to low Earth orbit. The company signed contracts with its internet constellation rival SpaceX, as well as Indias space agency ISRO, for the six remaining launches required for its first generation satellites. Like SpaceX and its Starlink system, OneWeb is building a satellite constellation in low Earth orbit thats designed to provide internet connectivity across the world by the end of 2023. The companys recent fallout with Roscosmos delivered a major blow to its plans, with OneWeb losing $229 million due to the canceled Soyuz launches, as well as the 36 satellites that are being held by Russia. But OneWeb is seemingly back on track, with plans to send another batch of 36 satellites to orbit in January 2023. More: Europe May Hire SpaceX Now That Russian Rockets Are Unavailable More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Torrance County deputy clerk Silvia Chavez, second from right, and administrative assistant clerk Kevin Pham, right, explain the tabulation receipt to local candidates and partisan officers during a ballot-counting machines testing in Estancia, N.M., Sept. 29, 2022. ESTANCIA, N.M. Republican county commissioners in this swath of ranching country in New Mexicos high desert have tried everything they can think of to persuade voters their elections are secure. They approved hand-counting of ballots from the primary election in their rural county, encouraged the public to observe security testing of ballot machines and tasked their county manager with overseeing those efforts to make sure they ran smoothly. None of that seems enough. Here and elsewhere, Republicans as well as Democrats are paying a price for former President Donald Trump's relentless complaints and false claims about the 2020 election he lost. Many Torrance County voters still dont trust voting machines or election tallies, a conspiracy-fueled lack of faith that persists in rural areas across the U.S. Just weeks before consequential midterm elections, such widespread skepticism suggests that no matter the outcome, many Americans may not accept the results. Confidence that that vote is accurately counted and tabulated is not there, said Ryan Schwebach, a grain farmer who is chairman of the three-member, all-Republican Torrance County Board of County Commissioners. Torrance County Commission Chairman Ryan Schwebach presides over a board meeting in Estancia, N.M., Sept. 14 , 2022. After a backlash this summer over the countyas certification of its primary results, Schwebach surveyed county residents who don't attend public meetings. But even those who keep quiet told Schwebach they weren't sure if they could trust election results. After a backlash this summer over the countys certification of its primary results, Schwebach surveyed county residents who dont attend public meetings. They, too, told him they werent sure they could trust election results. Its the overall system that comes into question, he said. So how do you challenge that, how do you get your answers? The belief that voting machines are being manipulated to sway the outcome of races is being promoted by Trump and his allies, many of whom have been spreading conspiracy theories throughout the country for nearly two years. Their messages have penetrated deeply into the Republican Party, despite no evidence of manipulation or widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election. That finding has been supported by multiple reviews in battleground states, by judges who have rejected dozens of court cases, by Trumps own Department of Justice and top officials in his administration. Story continues The distrust erupted in Torrance County earlier this year, as commissioners were set to certify the results from the states June 7 primary. Torrance was among a handful of rural New Mexico counties that considered delaying certification as crowds gave voice to conspiracy theories surrounding voting equipment. Angry residents denounced the results and the commissioners certification at a meeting a vote taken after the county elections clerk reported that the local election was secure and accurate. Those in the audience hurled insults at the commissioners, calling them cowards, traitors and rubber stamp puppets. The commissioners responded to the vitriol by taking several unprecedented steps in an attempt to restore trust in voting and ballot counting. Torrance County manager Janice Barela, left, talks with Stephen Garrett, independent candidate for county commissioner, during a ballot-counting machines testing in Estancia, N.M., Sept. 29, 2022. They ordered an independent recount of primary election results by hand and assigned the county manager to recruit veteran poll workers and volunteers for two days of eye-straining efforts to sort and tally ballot images, with additional recounts. They also had her oversee testing and certification of the countys vote tabulators. Im kind of pioneering this, and Im sure Im not going to be perfect in it, but I can tell you that Im trying, said Janice Barela, the county manager overseeing the recount. How do you know if its the hand tally thats right? How do you know if its a tabulator thats right? What Id like to see in all of this is the election process work. Its not clear whether her efforts will satisfy local doubts about the accuracy of elections or add to them. Bill Mendenhall, a registered Republican nearing retirement age, said anger still smolders in the community over the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Trump won two-thirds of the vote in Torrance County. I dont think it burns that hot, but it does burn, said Mendenhall, a correctional officer at the maximum-security Penitentiary of New Mexico. He was tending to a small herd of goats beneath an old windmill on his 18-acre ranch. Of the people I work with, 90% of them is angry. A lot of people think that Trump was cheated. Bill Mendenhall, a corrections officer and registered Republican, speaks to the Associated Press at his ranch in Estancia, N.M., Sept. 29, 2022. Mendenhall said anger still smolders in the community over the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Trump won two-thirds of the vote in Torrance County. Brady Ness, a 37-year-old manager of a car dealership who grew up on a ranch in Estancia, said he does not trust Dominion Voting Systems machines that are used to tally paper ballots across New Mexico. The machines are a frequent target of conspiracy theories, and Ness hopes to see a transition to hand counting in future elections, though current state law mandates machine tallies. Even if theyre Democrats or people I dont like or get along with, I would trust them over machines, Ness said. He recently left the Republican Party amid profound frustration with the state and federal governments, which he says are not serving the needs of the people. I wouldnt be shocked if we didnt have a general election, he said. I think things in this country are falling apart very quickly. At the same time, Bill Peifer, a local treasurer for the Democratic Party, warns that not everyone who questions the elections may have the same motive. Bill Peifer, Democratic Party treasurer in Torrance County, inspects ballot-counting machines during a testing of election equipment in Estancia, N.M., Sept. 29, 2022. "Some of the people casting doubt I think honestly don't trust the machines," Peifer said. "And there are others who just want to make a mess." Some of the people casting doubt I think honestly dont trust the machines, he said. And there are others who just want to make a mess. The dour outlook in the county of 15,000 has been propelled by the same forces at work in many other states. In New Mexico, doubts about the 2020 election were fueled by a lawsuit from Trumps campaign and a fake set of electors willing to certify him. More recently, an assortment of local and out-of-state Trump allies have held forums throughout the state promoting conspiracy theories, including former White House strategist Steve Bannon, MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell and the Republican nominee for secretary of state, Audrey Trujillo. At the forefront is David Clements, a New Mexico-based former prosecutor and former college professor. At conventions, church gatherings and local forums, he advocates for eliminating electronic election equipment and exonerating many of the defendants charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. David Clements, a New Mexico-based former prosecutor and former college professor, speaks to an audience at a public library auditorium in Albuquerque, N.M., Sept. 3, 2022. At conventions, church gatherings and local forums, Clements advocates for eliminating electronic election equipment and exonerating many of the defendants charged in the violent Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. At a presentation last month to about 60 people at a public library in Albuquerque, Clements described voting equipment in New Mexico as intentionally vulnerable to fraud and painted many county officials as complicit. Were never going to stop the bleeding unless we get rid of these machines, he said. Its a foundational issue. Deep-seated distrust in elections has inspired independent challengers in the November general elections for the seats held by Schwebach and Commissioner Kevin McCall. Both of their opponents have stated that Joe Biden was not legitimately elected president. McCall is seeking re-election while working long hours at his pumpkin farm, which features a haunted house for Halloween and employs more than 400 seasonal workers. We care, he said in a recent interview. We put Janice on that to be the one sole job, to evaluate and provide trust in the election. He expressed exasperation that the efforts do not seem to have paid off so far. The Torrance County Board of Commissioners gathers in Estancia, N.M., Sept. 14 , 2022. Republican commissioners in the rural New Mexico county have tried everything they can think of to persuade voters that their elections are secure, and none of it seems to be working. They agreed to hand count ballots from the primary election, allowed the public to observe security testing of ballot machines and tasked their county manager with making sure those efforts ran smoothly. Still, many voters in Torrance County don't trust voting machines or election results. If they really want to replace me, replace me, he said. Im not doing this for the money. The county released results on Thursday from its hand count of primary ballots, showing discrepancies between those tallies and the machine count in June, though not enough to change individual races. Experts say machine tabulators have been shown to be more accurate than hand counts, which are susceptible to human error. Nevertheless, the results were greeted as vindication by doubters. While the numbers are new information, the fact that machines are untrustworthy is not new, declared Jennette Hunt of Estancia. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: False election claims overwhelm efforts in Torrance County to push back The family of a teenage girl who was sexually assaulted by a youth director at Gulf Breeze Methodist Church is suing the church, its leadership and the youth pastor. Zarzaur Law P.A. announced the lawsuit Monday against not only the church but the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, Pastor Dan Morris, Executive Pastor Kenneth York and Youth Pastor Ryan Walsh. Walsh, 29, was found guilty of lewd and lascivious behavior of a 13-year-old, distributing obscene material to a minor and obscene communication to seduce or solicit a child. He was sentenced Oct. 7 to more than 19 years in prison with 971 days of credit, according to court records. "The suit alleges that Zarzaur Law's minor client was sent explicit messages on church devices and ultimately sexually assaulted by its Youth Pastor Ryan Walsh," a press release announcing the lawsuit stated. Walsh's arrest: Gulf Breeze Methodist Church youth director arrested on child sex charges Another case: Pensacola man found guilty of sexually assaulting child, sentenced to life in prison According to the release, the lawsuit alleges that the church and conference officials "violated its own policies and procedures" when they "negligently hired, trained and supervised" Walsh. The Gulf Breeze Police Department began an investigation in February 2020 into Walsh after the church's senior pastor and executive pastor reported inappropriate contact between a minor and Walsh. The pastors were contacted a day earlier on Feb. 5, 2020, by the teenager's parents, who discovered text threads that were explicit and sexual in nature. The girl attended youth programs at the church. The church immediately put Walsh on administrative leave and had him leave the church property. "The suit alleges that these actions allowed the Youth Pastor to have access to youth in the church community and it permitted him to use all forms of social media ... to communicate with minor children," the release notes. "The suit describes the disgusting conduct of the youth pastor, including his explicit text messages between himself and the 13-year-old victim." Story continues The lawsuit was filed by firm's senior partner, Joe Zarzaur. Benjamin Johnson can be reached at bjohnson@pnj.com or 850-435-8578 This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Gulf Breeze Methodist Church sued after youth pastor sexual assault Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/Daily Beast; Manchester Police Department The father of Harmony Montgomery, the New Hampshire child who vanished without a trace almost three years ago, was charged with her murder on Monday after a lengthy investigation that pointed to a twisted pattern of abuse and deceit. And her biological mother is outragedtelling The Daily Beast that her five-year-old daughter could have been saved if anybody had listened to me in the beginning. Its a relief but at the same time, it still doesnt make anything any easier, Crystal Sorey stressed after the news of the arrest. Her life couldve been saved. The shocking update comes almost a year after the girl, who was five years old the last time she was seen, was reported missing in Dec. 2021, spurring national attention and a robust homicide investigation. The New Hampshire Attorney Generals office announced that Adam Montgomery, 32, has been arrested and charged with four offenses, including second-degree murder and falsifying physical evidence, in connection with Harmonys death. Attorney General John Formella said that prosecutors believe Harmony died after being repeatedly struck in the head with a closed fist in Dec. 2019and that her corpse was abused. Sorey, who first sounded the alarm about Harmony in 2019, stressed that if anyone had listened to her pleas about Montgomerymaybe authorities would have never given him a chance to get custody of her. She added that she and her family are taking this time to grieve together, we just ask for privacy and prayers. Since the investigation into her whereabouts began in late 2021, the childs father, Adam Montgomery, has been charged with multiple crimes, including abusing Harmony and stealing guns just weeks before she was killed. Kayla Montgomery, the childs stepmother, is also facing perjury charges after allegedly using Harmonys food-stamp benefits even though she was missing. Kayla Montgomery has not been charged in connection with Harmonys death. Prosecutors allege that her husband attempted to induce or otherwise cause Kayla Montgomery to testify or inform falsely, in Manchester between approximately Dec. 7, 2019, and Jan. 4, 2022. Story continues According to a 2021 arrest affidavit for Adam Montgomery, he gave Harmony a black eye in July 2019. That alleged abuse came just months after he was granted custody by child-protective services. I bashed her around the house, Montgomery allegedly told his uncle, indicating that it was punishment after Harmony was [left] in charge of watching her infant brother while [he] was in the bathroom and the baby began to cry. Cops Say Harmony Montgomery Was Murderedand Her Mom Is Devastated Harmony was also allegedly spanked hard on the butt, forced to stand in the corner for hours, and ordered to scrub the toilet with her toothbrush while she lived with her father, the affidavit stated. Authorities say that Harmony was last seen between Nov. 28 and Dec. 10, 2019, after her dad and stepmother were evicted from their Manchester home. Police were first made aware of Harmonys disappearance when Sorey called to say her daughter was missing and that she hadnt seen [her] in over six months. We believe Harmony was murdered in Manchester in early December 2019, Formella said in August. Court documents say that police spoke to Adam Montgomery and his new girlfriend on Dec. 31, 2021. (Montgomerys girlfriend at the time, Kelsey Small, was found dead in March, but police do not believe the death was suspicious.) The affidavit states that the father made contradictory statements about Harmony during that conversation. At first, he indicated that she was fine, before later admitting he had not seen her in two years after her biological mother had picked her up. Eventually, Montgomery refused to answer questions if he was not under arrest. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty This reporting appears as one of several scoops featured in this weeks edition of Confider, the newsletter pulling back the curtain on the media. Subscribe here and send your questions, tips, and complaints here. Rolling Stones big scoop last week, headlined FBI Raids Star ABC News Producers Home, read like a Tom Clancy thriller and raised serious concerns that the feds raided a journalist over his work. However, theres more to the story than meets the eye, ABC reporters, producers, and executives told Confider. The article opened with a dramatic retelling of the April raid on ABC News investigative producer James Gordon Meeks Arlington apartment, complete with quotes from a self-described police-vehicle historian neighbor and a claim that the feds had found classified information on his laptop. Independent observers believe the raid is among the firstand quite possibly, the firstto be carried out on a journalist by the Biden administration, the magazine reported. Anna Wintours Feud With Her Protege Is Turning Conde Nasty Inside ABC News, however, staffers were baffled by this framing, since Meek resigned from the network via email on April 27the same day as the raidciting personal reasons and told friends it was to save colleagues and the company any embarrassment, according to two people familiar with the situation. Although the FBI declined to comment on the probe, the DOJ was more forthcoming, suggesting in a statement to Confider that the raid was not actually about Meeks reporting work, despite what the Rolling Stone article seemed to indicate. 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, wrote Dena Iverson, principal deputy director in the DOJs Office of Public Affairs. Story continues ABC News sources similarly poured cold water on the idea that Meek was being probed for his journalism: If the purpose of the FBI's search is to find classified documents the first call you'd be making would be to ABC's lawyers because you want the protection of the company," one such insider told Confider. We wouldve defended him; ABCs lawyers would be right there, another network insider said. Like what youre reading? Subscribe to the Confider newsletter here and have The Daily Beast media teams stellar reporting sent straight to your inbox every Monday night. Theres plenty more about the Meek ordeal that is sure to raise eyebrows. For starters, Confider has learned that while reporters at The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NBC News have chased the story over the past few months, ABC News has not at all investigated the raid on their own ex-colleague even though network boss Kim Godwin had been briefed on the matter. Meek, who according to multiple sources has since deleted photos of firearms and ammunition from his personal Facebook page, has not been charged with any crime. Fox News Execs Hunt Down the Tucker-Kanye Video Leaker Notably, the Rolling Stone report originally stated that Meek frequently collaborated with ABC World News Tonight anchor David Muir, but that line was quietly removed from the story without any editors note, according to a cached version of the story archived in the Wayback Machine. And while the Rolling Stone storyauthored by ace investigative scribe Tatiana Siegelfurther claimed that Meek has vanished, his friends told Confider that he is living with his mother. Meek and his attorney, Eugene Gorokhov, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. ABC News 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. A rep for Rolling Stone did not respond to a request for comment. Subscribe to the Confider newsletter here and have The Daily Beast media teams stellar reporting sent straight to your inbox every Monday night. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. VALENTYNA ROMANENKO MONDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2022, 12:46 The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has posted a video appealing to Russian soldiers not to participate in the war crimes being committed by Putins regime, but to give themselves up to captivity instead. Source: video by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Quote: "You are in the territory of another country and you are accomplices in the war crimes of the Russian authorities. Every day you are being led to slaughter. To your command, you are nothing more than waste material. Nobody is counting the losses. Ask yourself this question: What am I fighting for? For your leaders fear of losing power, for their lifestyle, financed with money they stole from you and your families, for their stupidity and incompetence? Ukraine was never a threat to the Russian Federation. You are not fighting against NATO today, no matter how often the Kremlins propagandists tell you that. You are fighting against Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine are defending their people and their country against your aggression. We are ready to defend our homes, families, children and future to the end. Think about your families. Your loved ones need their fathers, husbands and sons to be alive and well; they need their homes. You were not given the gift of life just to waste it carrying out the criminal orders of Putins regime. Save your life and your future refuse to participate in Putins bloody war. Lay down your arms for the sake of your safe and peaceful future." Details: The command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine offers the occupiers the opportunity to surrender and return home alive. The General Staff guarantees that it will adhere to the Geneva Conventions on prisoners of war, ensuring the provision of medical aid and communication with families. Everyone who surrenders is registered as having been captured during combat action. This enables them to avoid persecution by the Russian secret services and to continue receiving all the payments to which they are entitled. Story continues Soldiers who fear persecution by the Russian authorities and do not want to return to Russia in a prisoner of war swap will receive protection and refuge in the territory of Ukraine. In addition, they are being offered proper remuneration for voluntarily handing their weapons, military equipment and ammunition over to Ukrainian forces. Russian soldiers can surrender by contacting the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the following phone numbers: +38 066 580 34 98; +38 093 119 29 84, or via the chat-bot Hochu zhit (I Want to Live). Members of soldiers families can do this as well. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Crews were called to the scene of a two-alarm fire in Bellingham Sunday evening that was made more dangerous by the possible presence of grenades in the basement. According to Bellingham Fire Chief Steven Gentile, the homeowner was transported to a hospital for injuries. According to the Fire Chief, someone then informed the crews that there may be hand grenades in the basement of the home. Its still a fluid situation so Im not really sure how they got there or why theyre there, said Gentile. I was just notified that they might be there. As of 8:00 p.m., the fire was knocked down but firefighters on scene were waiting for a bomb squad to arrive before they could clear the remains of the house. Gentile said that there were reports of explosions in the house fire and that he had his crew members stand back away from the fire until they could be sure it was safe to approach. According to Gentile, there is no danger to any of the surrounding houses or neighbors. Viewer photos and video sent into Boston 25 shows fire crews working on the roof of the Farm Street structure as gray smoke billowed out. Photos courtesy of Alicia Borkowski According to Gentile, the fire may have started in the kitchen. The homeowner was the only one home at the time the fire began, according to Gentile. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Prairie fires pushed by tinder-dry conditions and winds topping 60 mph (96 kph) led to evacuations in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa and destroyed homes and injured two firefighters south of Nebraskas capital city of Lincoln, officials said. At least two grassland fires were first reported Sunday afternoon south of Lincoln and spread quickly as winds began to pick up and push the fires north, the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office reported. The nearly 300 residents of Hallam, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Lincoln, were ordered to evacuate their homes, and rural residents of southern Lancaster County and northern Gage County were urged to evacuate because of the fires. Officials also asked farmers to turn on irrigation pivots or other water sources to help combat the fires, which were contained by Sunday evening, with the help of rain showers that moved into the area. Officials said three homes and several outbuildings were destroyed in Lancaster County. Two firefighters also were injured, one seriously. Officials had not released their names or updated their medical conditions by early Monday morning. In southwestern Lancaster County, residents made plans to move cattle and other valuables to Christopher Smiths farm south of the fires. Everybodys just trying to help out, Smith said. Meanwhile, one farms owner worked to spray down the homes back porch with water and set up sprinklers in case the fire got close. Fires near Wisner in northeastern Nebraska and Harrison and Montgomery counties in western Iowa also forced brief evacuations, but there were no reports of injuries or homes damaged there. Emergency management officials in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa said Monday that officials have not pinpointed the causes of the fires. Rain moving across the region Monday with a cold front from the north was expected to help lower the risk of fires in the area. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and his Democratic rival, former Rep. Charlie Crist (Fla.), are set to face off on Monday in their first and only debate of the states 2022 race for governor. While DeSantis has emerged as one of the most divisive Republicans in the country, recent polling suggests that hes got a solid path to reelection. For Crist, the debate will be one of his last chances to turn things around before Election Day. Here are five things to watch in Floridas gubernatorial debate: Will there be fireworks? While DeSantiss campaign has been more than happy to slam Crist over the airwaves, the governor himself has rarely mentioned his Democratic rival on the stump. Contrast that with Crist, who has frequently attacked DeSantis during campaign events in hopes of making the race a referendum on the governors time in office a nearly four-year period marked by intense political fights that have helped DeSantis endear himself to conservatives nationwide. The question is what route the two candidates choose to take on Monday night. Crist seems almost certain to go on the attack in hopes of undermining DeSantiss efforts to tout his record in the governors mansion. If DeSantis chooses to fire back and go after Crist directly, it could lead to a debate stage blowout between two of Floridas political heavyweights. Does DeSantis make a 2024 pitch? Over the past two-and-a-half years, DeSantis has been mentioned with increasing frequency as a prospective candidate for the GOPs 2024 presidential nomination, and polling routinely shows him as the runner-up to former President Trump. While the debate is expected to focus more on Florida-specific issues, the high-profile nature of the gubernatorial race could give DeSantis a platform to make his case for a potential 2024 run. Of course, dont expect him to address the matter directly. Hes repeatedly danced around the question, saying that for now, hes focused solely on his reelection campaign. Story continues But Crist has accused DeSantis time and again of using his office to inch himself closer to a presidential bid, and if he makes that argument again on Monday night, it could put DeSantis on the spot. Still, Republicans say that DeSantiss strongest argument for a White House run is his record as governor; he gained a loyal following of conservatives during the COVID-19 pandemic by repeatedly questioning and bucking the advice of public health officials, and hes repeatedly inserted himself into some of the most politically charged moments of the past few years. Do DeSantiss political stunts become a focal point? DeSantis is well-known for putting on a political show. When he suspended a Democratic Tampa-area elected state attorney in August, the announcement was teased by his spokesperson as the liberal media meltdown of the year. And just last month the Florida governor found himself at the center of a media firestorm after his administration flew dozens of migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard, Mass. And those are just two of many notable moments that have defined DeSantiss tumultuous tenure in the governors mansion. It may be tempting for Crist to highlight some of those debacles and remind Florida voters that another four years of DeSantis could mean another four years of political stunts and controversies. On the other hand, DeSantiss approval rating remains above water, and there are signs that many Florida voters arent all too concerned with the controversies. A new Telemundo-LX News poll released on Monday found that 50 percent of Hispanic voters in Florida side with DeSantis on the migrant flights to Marthas Vineyard, while 43 percent are opposed. Do attacks center on Biden and Trump? Its almost a given that DeSantis will use the debate to continue his criticism of the Biden administration; that line of attack has been a mainstay of the governors reelection campaign from the beginning. And thats not to mention that Biden is set to campaign with Crist in South Florida early next month. Its less clear how Trump could factor into the debate. While Democrats have continued to point to the former president as a threat to democracy throughout their midterm campaigns, Crist has chosen to focus primarily on DeSantis. That appears to be by design. Trump may draw visceral responses from both Republicans and Democrats, but its also worth noting that he carried Florida in two consecutive presidential elections first in 2016 and again in 2020 by an even bigger margin. Going on the attack against the former president could prove at least somewhat unpopular in a state that has in many ways come to epitomize Trumps influence on Republican politics. Still, Crist is trailing DeSantis in most polls and going after Trump could help him rally Democratic base voters at a critical moment in his campaign. Does Crist have a game-changing performance? With DeSantis leading Crist by nearly 8 percentage points in FiveThirtyEights polling average of the race, it would appear as if Crist is in serious trouble. So theres little doubt that hes looking to have a standout performance on Monday night that could help shift or at least ease the political winds that have been blowing against Crist for months. What, exactly, such a performance would look like remains an open question. But theres no shortage of talking points for Crist, if the past offers any hints about how Monday night could unfold. Hes hammered DeSantis relentlessly over abortion rights, warning that if DeSantis wins a second term in the governors mansion, hes likely to try to further restrict the procedure beyond the current 15-week ban. Crist has also sought to place blame on DeSantis for the states rising cost of living and worsening property insurance crisis an issue that could carry particular resonance in the wake of Hurricane Ian, which tore through Florida last month. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) A defiant Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis refused to commit to serving a full four-year term if reelected when pressed by his Democratic rival, Charlie Crist, at their only gubernatorial debate on Monday. Crist, a former congressman and one-term governor, accused DeSantis, a rising Republican star considered a likely 2024 presidential contender, of being too distracted by his national political ambitions to lead properly. DeSantis skirted several attempts by Crist to get him to say he'd serve a full second term. I know that Charlie is interested in talking about 2024 and Joe Biden, but I just want to make things very, very clear: The only worn-out old donkey Im looking to put out to pasture is Charlie Crist, DeSantis said of his 66-year-old opponent. Later, Crist slapped back, You wont even say if you want to be the governor of Florida after this election." There were several heated clashes during a raucous debate that covered the COVID-19 pandemic, abortion, crime, education and President Joe Biden. The meeting came on the first day of early voting across the state; already, more than 1.1 million votes have been cast, the most in the nation. The Florida governors race may not be the nations most competitive election this fall, but it is no less consequential for DeSantis, a 44-year-old Harvard-educated Republican who could launch a presidential bid in the coming months. He hopes to use a strong reelection victory on Nov. 8 in Florida, a state he carried by just 32,000 votes out of 8.2 million cast four years ago, to demonstrate the breadth and strength of his support. DeSantis has benefited from demographic shifts across Florida, a perennial swing state that has shifted to the right during his first term. Former President Donald Trump carried the state by more than 3 points in 2020 and Republicans now hold a registration advantage of nearly 300,000 voters. Mondays debate offered voters in Florida and beyond a rare opportunity to see DeSantis under pressure. Like many leading GOP officials across the nation this fall, he has limited unscripted moments in recent months, save for periodic interviews with friendly conservative media. Story continues The candidates faced each other from behind wooden lecterns in Fort Pierce, Florida's Sunrise Theater. Both men seemed to relish the hourlong fight, which was interrupted repeatedly by the rowdy audience. DeSantis' embrace of divisive cultural issues weighed heavily on the prime-time affair. The Republican governor specifically defended his record to bar transgender girls from competing on public school teams intended for student athletes identified as girls at birth. He also fired back against Crist's criticism of laws DeSantis signed limiting discussions of race and sexual orientation in schools and his opposition to gender transition treatments for minors. You think you know better than any physician or any doctor or any woman, Crist said. You need to lead by uniting people, not dividing them." Yet DeSantis has delighted his supporters over and over with his extraordinary willingness to fight whether facing political adversaries, the federal government or powerful Florida businesses. Crist, a former Republican governor who most recently served as a Democratic congressman, has tried to cast himself as a moderate alternative to lead the perennial swing state. DeSantis' leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ian were also charged topics. Crist noted that DeSantis closed businesses and schools across the state early on during the pandemic and then ignored science by opening them too soon, leading to tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths. We had one of the highest death rates in America, Ron, Crist said. He called for harsh shutdowns, DeSantis responded. It would have thrown millions of Floridians into turmoil. Over and over, DeSantis also sought to link Crist to Biden, whose popularity is sagging in Florida and across the nation. Charlie Crist has voted with Joe Biden 100% of the time, DeSantis said, referring to the "Crist-Biden agenda." The debate was postponed from earlier in the month because of Hurricane Ian, which left more than 100 people dead along the states southwest coast. Thousands of homes were destroyed and several schools remain closed across Lee County, a major Republican stronghold. The Category 4 storm exposed flaws in the states fragile property insurance market, which has lost more than $1 billion in each of the last two years. Hundreds of thousands of Floridians have had their policies dropped or not renewed. Crist accused DeSantis of failing to address the insurance crisis. DeSantis accused Crist of being away during the storm. He was hiding out in Puerto Rico. He wasnt helping his community, DeSantis jabbed. When the discussion turned to gun violence, both candidates said they would support the death penalty for Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz, who this month was sentenced to life in prison for murdering 17 people in the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland. DeSantis added that he would push the legislature to change state law requiring a unanimous jury for death sentences. That would put Florida in a distinct minority among the 27 states that still have the death penalty, where almost all require juror unanimity. Im going to ask the Florida legislature to amend that statute so that one juror doesnt have veto power over appropriate punishment, DeSantis said. Crist also sought to make abortion a key focus, following the playbook of Democrats across the nation in the wake of the Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v. Wade. In April, DeSantis signed a law banning abortions at 15 weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest. When asked by the moderator, DeSantis declined to say whether he supports a complete abortion ban. You deserve a better governor who cares about freedom and your right to choose, Crist said. ___ Follow APs coverage of the elections at: https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections Check out https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections to learn more about the issues and factors at play in the 2022 midterm elections. A 14-year-old student at Lake Weir Middle School in Summerfield, FL is reportedly facing grand theft charges after authorities say the teen girl swiped approximately $13,500 of her grandmothers life savings from her safe and handed $10,000 of it out to her classmates. The police report states that the middle school student distributed hundreds of dollars in cash to each of her peers. According to FOX 35, once school officials learned about the incident, principal Jason Jacobs sent a message to the parents of the students requesting their assistance locating the stolen funds. We would like to recover this money for the grandparents. If you speak with your children and if they have received money from the student, please turn it in to our school resource officers, Jacobs urged. Upon receiving the message, Michelle Spaulding, a Lake Weir Middle School parent, spoke with her daughter. Thats when she was like, Yeah, mom! The child did come up to me and ask me if I wanted $100,' Spaulding told FOX 35. And she said, No, its got to be stolen, I dont want nothing to do with it. Spaulding shared her sympathy for the grandparents in the situation, adding, I really hope it gets recovered, because thats so devastating. I feel really bad for the family. The 14-year-old student was arrested Friday and is facing charges of grand theft. She was given a $2,000 bond. According to the arrest report, she does not say why she stole the money or why she decided to give it away. At first she told deputies that a friend who had moved away asked her to hand out the money. However, students who accepted the cash said that the teen told them that it was her grandmothers money and she was given permission to give it to them. Eventually, the teen admitted to breaking into the safe using a metal pick and screw driver, then stealing a 6-inch stack of twenty dollar bills. Officials are still trying to recover all of the funds taken from the grandparents safe. By Friday, $2,500 was recovered from the girls backpack and $700 of the money that was handed out to the students had been returned. Principal Jacobs and school resource officers have said that there would not be any consequences for students who turn in any money they received. Floridas Hispanic voters back Gov. Ron DeSantis over Democrat Charlie Crist, and they even support the Republicans decision to fly migrants to Marthas Vineyard, according to a new Telemundo/LX News poll. Overall, DeSantis leads Crist by 51% to 44% statewide among those voters, and 56% approve of the job the governor is doing, compared with 41% who dont, the survey conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy, found. DeSantis lost Hispanic voters by 10 percentage points when he was elected in 2018, exit polls showed, and if he wins them Nov. 8, it would all but ensure his victory in a state where Democrats traditionally need to rely on solid support from Hispanic and Black voters to overcome Republican advantages with white voters. Florida Latinos have shifted rightward since 2018 as Republicans tied their opponents to Democratic Socialists like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a potent message for voters who fled leftist regimes or violence in Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Colombia. But attitude also matters when it comes to Latinos, and DeSantis has it, said Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker. There are lots of Hispanic voters in this state who really like the governors style, this strongman who wont back down. And Crist has no mojo, said Coker, who conducted the bilingual survey of 625 likely Hispanic voters from Oct. 17-22. The error margin is 4 percentage points. Few issues exemplify DeSantis' take-on-all-comers approach to politics than his open-for-business management of the Covid pandemic over the past two years and his decision last month to fly about 50 Venezuelan migrants from San Antonio, Texas, to the Massachusetts island of Marthas Vineyard to make a statement about President Joe Bidens border policies. The Marthas Vineyard flight resulted in widespread condemnation, lawsuits, questions about the contract and DeSantis' reported use of migrant labor to coordinate the effort, and a Texas criminal investigation over whether the migrants were criminally misled. DeSantis hasnt undertaken any more known migrant relocation flights, and Biden has changed his border policy concerning Venezuelans. Story continues Amid all the controversy, Florida Hispanics side with the governor on the Marthas Vineyard flight, with 50% in favor and 43% opposed to the relocation, according to the poll. Independents joined Republicans in lending majority support to the governor on the issue while Democrats were opposed. Support for DeSantis migrant relocation move was strongest among Hispanic immigrants. Those born outside the United States favored the policy by 52% to 41%, according to the poll. Those born in the United States were almost equally divided, with 49% in favor and 45% opposed. Helena Poleo, a Democratic strategist who immigrated to the U.S. from Venezuela two decades ago, said she wasnt surprised that so many Florida Latinos supported the Marthas Vineyard flight transporting Venezuelan migrants. She said that some fellow Venezuelan Americans backed DeSantis effort because many of them have been here for a long time, are whiter and wealthier and dont identify with the poor darker-skinned migrants. "The division of class and race was very marked in Venezuela, and they carried that here," Poleo said. "DeSantis knew what he was doing." But, she said, there were also basic concerns about immigration as well because South Florida is so crowded and housing already comes at a premium, especially in cities like Doral, which has such a large Venezuelan population that it's nicknamed "Doralzeula." "They dont want any more people," she said. "They want to close the borders of Doral. Well, thats not how it works." Giancarlo Sopo, a Republican strategist of Cuban descent from Miami, said a strain of immigration restrictionism that grew out of the 1980 Mariel boat lift from Cuba and upended Miami prevails. "Too many Democrats think Hispanics like uncontrolled mass migration and they couldn't be more wrong," Sopo said. "Those of us who remember Miami in the '80s and '90s remember the aftermath of Mariel when 120,000 people showed up in the community over a span of six months. What we're now seeing at the border is two Mariels per month." When comparing it with migrant flights, Florida Hispanics are more united in supporting DeSantis' management of the pandemic, with 64% in favor and 34% opposed, the poll found. DeSantis has faced criticism by Democrats, health experts and some in the media for opening state businesses and schools early while banning vaccine and mask mandates. For his Spanish-language broadcast TV commercials, DeSantis has spent about a fifth of his $3.7 million on two ads that, respectively, tout the reopening of schools and businesses, according to data from the firm AdImpact. The firms data shows that DeSantis has spent and reserved a total of $25 million on broadcast TV compared with Crists total ad spend of $3.1 million, meaning DeSantis has spent more on Spanish-language ads than Crist has spent in total on statewide ads in English and Spanish. DeSantis has run 10 times more TV ads in Spanish than Crist, who is trailing DeSantis overall in the polls and in total ad spending, and is at a huge financial disadvantage in the race. The governor's political and campaign committees have more than $92 million combined left in the bank; Crist has less than $1.8 million in his two accounts. Crists sole Spanish-language TV ad tracked by AdImpact features his running mate, Karla Hernandez-Mats, the president of the teachers union in Miami-Dade County, the states most populous with the highest number of Hispanic residents. DeSantis running mate, Lt. Gov. Jeannette Nunez, is also Hispanic and hails from Miami. Nunez last week made a bold prediction that DeSantis would win Miami-Dade, which was once a Democratic stronghold. Democrats fear that prediction might come true. Miami-Dade took a notable rightward turn in 2020, when Trump lost the county by 7 percentage points. Four years before, he lost Miami-Dade by 29 points. By keeping his Miami loss margin to single digits, Trump ensured he won the state by a relatively comfortable margin. As with Trump, DeSantis strongest support comes from Cuban Americans, the largest group of voters in Miami-Dade and one of the largest blocs of Hispanic voters in the state. While specific numbers are unavailable, political experts estimate Cuban Americans account for at least a third of the Latino voter rolls. The Telemundo/LX News poll shows 72% of Cuban Americans favor DeSantis over Crist, who earns 22% of their support in the poll. Voters with Puerto Rican roots -- who tend to live in Central Florida, vote more Democratic and also may account for about a third of the Latino voter rolls, according to experts back Crist over DeSantis by 59% to 37%. And other Hispanic voters from throughout Latin America also side with Crist over DeSantis by a narrower percentage, 53% to 43%. Both DeSantis and Crist receive strong support from voters registered with their respective parties, but DeSantis has slightly more intense intraparty support than Crist, and the governor is leading among independent Hispanic voters by a 22-point margin. DeSantis derived a potential benefit from Hurricane Ian, which had devastated southwest Florida but gave DeSantis weeks of unfettered TV time, including a rare bipartisan appearance when Biden visited the state. The poll showed 73% approved of DeSantis handling of the storm and 17% disapproved. In the aftermath of the storm, the state faces housing and insurance difficulties that DeSantis has vowed to address. The poll shows that, at least among Hispanic voters, hes in positive territory for now, with 52% approving and 35% percent disapproving of the way hes handled the two issues related to the storm. Coker said theres one dynamic in the race thats out of both candidates hands: the national economy. You cant ignore the 800-pound gorilla: The economy sucks for a lot of people, Coker said. And in the last stretch of the election, it comes down to a referendum on a sitting president and how is the economy? On both counts the Democrats come up short. Miami-based Democratic strategist Christian Ulvert, however, cautioned that all good politics is local when it comes to Florida Hispanic outreach, and his party often fails at it to the advantage of Republicans like DeSantis. Oftentimes, much to my frustration, he said, Democrats go with national story lines to connect with Hispanic voters in Florida. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Photo: Octavio Jones (Getty Images) In an effort to implement Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) so-called curriculum transparency agenda, the Florida State Board of Education has hastily assembled a council tasked with creating new restrictions for public school libraries and retraining its librarians, according to the Daily Beast. But how the group came to be is, ironically, a lot murkier than it has let on: Government emails obtained by the organization Democracy Forward reveal that a handful of parents appointed to the group are MAGA moms who were handpicked by right-wing activists hellbent on banning books. The Board of Education had originally put out a call in August for local school districts to nominate its own candidates for the council, but the actual outcome of the recruiting process suggests a more insidious agenda at play. Nominees with years of teaching and administrative experience were snubbed for self-nominated candidates, like Brevard Countys Michelle Beavers, who leads a local chapter of the MAGA group Moms for Liberty. Shes also been steadily compiling a growing list of targeted titles that feature topics like homosexuality and so-called crude behavior. Read more The emails reveal that another seat holder, Jennifer Pippin, was unofficially nominated by a member of the group Florida Citizens Alliance, which has fought against public schools cultural Marxism and LGBTQ values. Mamas for DeSantis member Jamie Merchant also nabbed a spot on the council. The fan club read Crimes of the Educators togther for their book club this past summera manifesto written by two conspiracy conspiracy theorists calling for the downfall of American public schools. Some non-MAGA parents whod applied to be part of the working group were never interviewed, while others simply never heard back. At a Board of Education meeting held in Orlando last Wednesday, October 19, officials voted to extend public school library censorship measures to teachers individual classroom libraries in an effort to hold some bad apples accountable, according to board member Grazie Pozo Christie. Now, all items in classroom collections must be cataloged, a time consuming process for already underpaid teachers that leaves students with no alternative reading materials in the meantime. [Students will] have less access to important material that would inspire them to read and to learn. The state has created a situation that is harming students, Clinton McCracken, the head of the Orange County teachers union, told the Daily Beast. Laws like this are created to demonize public education, he added. Story continues The Board of Education is clearly forging ahead with its increasing violations against student privacy in favor of the so-called parental rights that DeSantis signed into law this past March. In addition to these new book bans, officials decided at the meeting that parents must be notified about their childrens locker room and bathroom usage, should they stray from the spaces that align with the sex they were assigned at birth. The zealous workgroup, however, cant seem to settle on a presentation regarding mandatory librarian training, because of disagreements on how to go about it. Director of instructional materials Amber Baumbach said that they might just present two different versionsa sane version and one that caters to the crazies, per the Beastand let the DeSantis administration decide which to pursue. I have a few guesses as to how thats going to go. More from Jezebel Sign up for Jezebel's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Former Minneapolis police officer Alexander Kueng has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd in late May 2020. The plea was in exchange for a count of aiding and abetting second-degree being dismissed, according to the Associated Press. More follows... By Joseph Ax (Reuters) - A former Minneapolis police officer charged in connection with the murder of George Floyd pleaded guilty on Monday as his trial was about to begin, a court spokesperson confirmed. J. Alexander Kueng, who pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting manslaughter in state court, was one of three officers who did not intervene while Derek Chauvin, a white policeman, knelt on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes in May 2020, killing him. Kueng and Thomas Lane helped Chauvin restrain Floyd, an unarmed Black man, while another officer, Tou Thao, kept bystanders from approaching the scene. All three were previously convicted in federal court of depriving Floyd of his civil rights and sentenced in July to between 2-1/2 and 3-1/2 years in prison. Chauvin was convicted of murder in a state trial and sentenced to 22-1/2 years; he also pleaded guilty to related federal charges and is serving a federal sentence of 21 years concurrently. Floyd's death sparked months of nationwide protests over police brutality. Kueng's plea agreement includes a sentence of 3-1/2 years that will be served concurrently with his federal sentence, according to Matt Lehman, a spokesperson for Hennepin County District Court. Lane accepted a similar plea deal in May. Kueng's defense attorney and the Minnesota attorney general's office, which is prosecuting the case, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Thao, who rejected a comparable agreement in August, decided on Monday to waive his right to a jury trial, according to the Star Tribune newspaper. Instead, Thao agreed to have a state judge determine his guilt based on evidence submitted jointly by prosecutors and the defense, the newspaper reported. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; editing by Jonathan Oatis) Do you ever look up into the sky and wonder about your place in the stars? Soon, we may know more about just that. A group of 16 researchers, including retired U.S. Navy captain and astronaut Scott Kelly, will spend the next nine months on a NASA team studying unidentified aerial phenomena, also known as UFOs. Using unclassified data, the team of scientific experts will lay the groundwork for future study, according to a NASA press release. The study begins Monday. Exploring the unknown in space and the atmosphere is at the heart of who we are at NASA, Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASAs Science Mission Directorate, said in a statement. Understanding the data we have surrounding unidentified aerial phenomena is critical to helping us draw scientific conclusions about what is happening in our skies. Data is the language of scientists and makes the unexplainable, explainable. Russia says video of US astronaut abandoned in space is just a joke In the interest of national security and air safety, NASA says the group will help construct a roadmap for UAP data analysis. The move comes after renewed national interest in the existence of aliens and speculation about the lack of government transparency on the subject. NASA first announced the project in June, just a month after Congress held its first public UFO hearing in more than 50 years. It also came right before the Pentagon revealed in July that it was expanding an office to track UFOs. In June 2021, a Director of National Intelligence report found that more than 140 incidents of UAP encounters occurred between 2004 and 2021. While NASA holds there is no evidence UAPs are extra-terrestrial in origin, exactly what scientific conclusions the study will uncover remain to be seen. The budget for the project is about $100,000, according to SpaceNews.com. Kelly, who will be joined on the panel by various aerospace experts, notably served not only as a fighter pilot in the sea service but also 20 years with NASA. A full report of the teams findings is expected to be published in mid-2023. INGHAM COUNTY A former Webberville clerk treasurer has been charged with embezzling $50,000 to $100,000 after a seven-month investigation by the Ingham County Sheriffs Office. A former Webberville clerk treasurer has been charged with embezzling $50,000 to $100,000 after a seven-month investigation by the Ingham County Sheriffs Office. Jaymee Hord of Owosso, 52, was charged Friday with the 15-year felony following the investigation, which included a forensic audit by an outside firm, according to a Friday press release from the sheriffs office. Hord was arraigned in 55th District Court and given a personal recognizance bond. Her next court date is scheduled for Nov. 1. Irregularities were discovered during a routine financial audit in March 2022. Webbervilles president notified the villages attorney, who notified the sheriffs office. A criminal investigation began and the results were sent to the Ingham County Prosecutors Office for review earlier this month, according to the release. In 2020, the Lansing State Journal reported that the Michigan Department of Treasury was withholding $544,000 in Michigan Transportation Fund money and $97,000 in state revenue sharing after the village repeatedly failed to file required financial documents. Hord, who had been clerk treasurer since February 2014, said at the time village officials had already started implementing policies to correct state-identified issues. The village hired two staffers in 2018 to work with Hord. Jessica Kuch and Tammy Hamill have been deputy clerk treasurers since, according to the village's website. Webberville hired certified public accounting and business advisory firm Plante Moran at the end of January 2020 to help catch up the audit reporting, to investigate and verify numbers, and report findings to the state, according to its website. Contact Bryce Airgood at 517-267-0448 or bairgood@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @bairgood123. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Former Webberville official charged with embezzling between $50K-$100K A Georgia inmate who escaped for the third time last week has been captured walking down a Florida highway. Anthony Moret, 67, was serving a life sentence for murder at the Valdosta Transitional Center when he escaped on Friday, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Florida Highway Patrol said they found him on Saturday morning walking down I-75 in Charlotte County. According to Ga. DOC records, Moret was convicted of a 1978 murder in Tattnall County, when he was just 23. Records show he was also convicted of a 1975 DeKalb County armed robbery. TRENDING STORIES: Moret also has escape convictions dating back to 1976 and 1985, making this his third escape attempt, according to Ga. DOC records. The Charlotte County, Florida Sheriffs Office says Moret is currently being held in their custody while he waits to be extradited back to Georgia. It is unclear what new charges he will face. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - General Motors Co will launch its return-to-work plan for most salaried workers early next year after it faced employee criticism over an earlier planned start date, the largest U.S. automaker said on Monday. GM said the shift will help achieve company goals as it accelerates its transformation and enters a "rapid launch cycle" of new electric vehicle models. Last month, GM said it would not mandate that workers return to offices before 2023, just days after it told them that they would be expected to work three days on-campus each week before the end of the year. GM will ask salaried workers on hybrid work schedules to return to offices starting Jan. 30, a source told Reuters, adding that it will result in an average of three days per week in office for hybrid employees. The automaker has 53,000 U.S. salaried employees. The company said that after the change in January, the vast majority of those workers will be in the office at least part of the time. GM said last month its revised timetable was based on discussions with employees and told workers in an email it would "listen to your feedback so that we incorporate it into our implementation plans." Tens of thousands of GM workers, including hourly workers assembling vehicles and components, have continued in-person work during COVID-19. GM has hired many workers over the last two years who are not based in the Detroit area. The automaker said Monday the return-to-work policy does not affect "employees whose roles are fully onsite or designated as remote." (This story has been corrected to restore dropped word "not" in last paragraph) (Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis) JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's Google and Israel's Reichman University have set up a school to train high-tech professionals, offering courses in computer programming, sales and data analysis among other subjects, the university said on Monday. Israel has a vibrant high-tech sector but a severe shortage of skilled tech workers has led to tens of thousands of unfilled positions. The School of High Tech will subsidise students from under-represented communities "including women, the ultra-Orthodox, Arabs, members of the Ethiopian community and people from the geo-social periphery and disadvantaged socio-economic groups," the university said. "We believe that a variety of voices, opinions and perspectives enriches Israeli high-tech and its developments," said Barak Regev, managing director of Google Israel. Courses are being rolled out over the next few weeks and students completing courses at the school will earn credit towards a degree, the university said. Courses, which will be held at the Google Campus in Tel Aviv and the Reichman University in the Israeli city of Herzliya, will be offered in programming, software testing, business development, sales and data analysis and Google will provide scholarships to participants. The technology sector accounts for about 15% of Israel's economic activity and hundreds of new startups are founded each year. In the first half of 2022, Israeli tech firms raised nearly $10 billion in investments, according to the Israeli Tech Review. Google has been stepping up investment in Israel. (Reporting by Emily Rose; Editing by Steven Scheer and Susan Fenton) California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday said L.A. City Councilmembers Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo should follow Nury Martinez in resigning from their positions, two weeks after a leaked audio recording of the three participating in a racist closed-door conversation about council colleagues and the city's political redistricting process was made public. Newsom initially said it was the right move when Martinez resigned from the council on Oct. 12, after she had already stepped down as council president. But until Sunday, the governor hadnt publicly commented on whether the remaining two members should follow suit. I think they should, Newsom told reporters after he participated in a KQED election debate against Republican opponent Brian Dahle in San Francisco. Newsom said he had wanted to give the members space" to make the decision to resign. I was very clear with Nury that she did the right thing, and I think the others should do the same, he said. I wanted to provide the opportunity for them to justify what they said and the opportunity to be transparent about what they said. So were hoping and looking forward to [resignation] announcements soon. The calls for resignation stem from an October 2021 leaked conversation about the citys redistricting process among the three members and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera. The group was discussing ways to maintain Latino political power in the redrawing of the city's new maps. During their conversation, Martinez used openly racist terms to describe her white colleague Councilmember Mike Bonins young Black son, referring to the child as parece changuito, or like a monkey. She also said Bonin's son had misbehaved on a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade float and needed a beatdown." Martinez apologized repeatedly for the comments. At one point in the conversation, De Leon seemed to compare Bonins handling of his son to when Nury brings her Goyard bag or the Louis Vuitton bag. Story continues Political leaders across the state and country called for the resignations of all four involved in the conversation, including President Biden. Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta also launched an investigation into the city's redistricting process that took place last fall, saying that a probe was necessary to "restore confidence in how the maps were drawn. While Martinez and Herrera quickly resigned from their positions, Cedillo and De Leon have so far resisted calls both from their political colleagues and from the public to leave office. They've both been stripped of their committee duties. Cedillo lost his June primary reelection bid and will soon be replaced on the council by activist Eunisses Hernandez. But De Leon said last week that he has no plans to step aside. He apologized for participating in the conversation, but said his constituents deserve representation and that there were serious issues in his downtown and Eastside district he wanted to help solve. No, I will not resign, because there is a lot of work ahead, De Leon said in an interview with Noticiero Univision. In his initial Oct. 10 statement about the recording, Newsom said that words matter, and racist language can do real harm . These comments have no place in our state, or in our politics, and we must all model better behavior to live the values that so many of us fight every day to protect. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Celebrity Birthdays - April 24 - April 30 (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Leslie Jordan has died aged 67. The Will & Grace star was driving in Hollywood when he suffered a suspected medical emergency and crashed his car into the side of a building, per multiple reports. According to The LA Times, the comedian and actor was declared dead at the scene on Monday (24 October) morning. Jordan won an Emmy in 2006 for his performance as socialite Beverly Leslie in Will & Grace, and will also be remembered for his roles in American Horror Story and Hearts Afire. The TV funnyman went viral during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 due to his daily videos on Instagram. Referring to his followers as hunker downers, Jordan would share funny stories from his life in Hollywood or film short skits from his home. The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan, David Shaul, Jordans agent, told Variety in a statement. Not only was he a mega talent and joy to work with, but he provided an emotional sanctuary to the nation at one of its most difficult times. What he lacked in height he made up for in generosity and greatness as a son, brother, artist, comedian, partner and human being. Knowing that he has left the world at the height of both his professional and personal life is the only solace one can have today. This article is being updated What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. And in light of that, the trends we're seeing at Grange Resources' (ASX:GRR) look very promising so lets take a look. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It? Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. To calculate this metric for Grange Resources, this is the formula: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.35 = AU$334m (AU$1.1b - AU$115m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2022). So, Grange Resources has an ROCE of 35%. That's a fantastic return and not only that, it outpaces the average of 10% earned by companies in a similar industry. See our latest analysis for Grange Resources roce While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you'd like to look at how Grange Resources has performed in the past in other metrics, you can view this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us The trends we've noticed at Grange Resources are quite reassuring. The data shows that returns on capital have increased substantially over the last five years to 35%. Basically the business is earning more per dollar of capital invested and in addition to that, 139% more capital is being employed now too. The increasing returns on a growing amount of capital is common amongst multi-baggers and that's why we're impressed. The Bottom Line In summary, it's great to see that Grange Resources can compound returns by consistently reinvesting capital at increasing rates of return, because these are some of the key ingredients of those highly sought after multi-baggers. And a remarkable 719% total return over the last five years tells us that investors are expecting more good things to come in the future. With that being said, we still think the promising fundamentals mean the company deserves some further due diligence. Story continues On a final note, we've found 2 warning signs for Grange Resources that we think you should be aware of. High returns are a key ingredient to strong performance, so check out our free list ofstocks earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets. 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 Editors note: This blotter is compiled from recent Gig Harbor police reports. A Gig Harbor Police officer was dispatched around 3 a.m. Oct. 15 to Haven of Rest Cemetery, 8503 state Route 16 for a fight in progress. When the officer arrived, he saw a motorcycle laying on its side near the cemetery, while a man and a woman were physically fighting. The officer witnessed the man pushing away a woman who was smacking him, according to the report. The officer asked them to separate and the woman continued to scream. She said the two rode together on the mans motorcycle and that he had a gun and was threatening to kill her. The man said the woman was crazy and she attacked him. Then a German Shepard ran up from the cemetery. The man said the dog belonged to the woman, which made the officer wonder how she and the dog could have arrived on the motorcycle with him, the report said. The man told the officer he was riding back from Forks and pulled over to put on thicker gloves when the woman came running out between two tombs, demanding pills. When he denied her request she attacked him and pushed over his motorcycle, according to his account in the report. . The man described being hit by the woman, and hitting her back to get away, not knowing if she had any weapons. The man did not want to pursue criminal charges, stating the woman just needs to get help, the report said. When the officer talked to the woman, she continued to yell that she rode here with the man. She was also screaming that her baby ran off. It seemed she was talking about her second dog, which appeared later. There was no evidence discovered of an actual baby or toddler in the investigation. While the woman was in custody, the officer walked over to the tombs and saw a car parked there. The car appeared to have driven over gravestones and hit a tree before coming to a rest, the report said. In the surrounding area there was trash and torches. Inside the vehicle were womens clothes, a blue pill near the center console and burnt foil. On the front passenger floorboard was a green and tan Glock style pistol with magazine inserted, the report said. It was later discovered that the gun in the car did not belong to the woman. She was transported to St. Anthonys Hospital by Gig Harbor Medic One, after she passed out while in custody. The car was seized for a search warrant and transported to the police station. Kitsap County Animal Control took custody of the two dogs, and law enforcement cleaned up the litter the woman left. Around 9 a.m., the cemetery contacted police about vandalism. The property owner told officers around the time of the incident two stained glass windows on the chapel and an outdoor light fixture were destroyed. There was womens clothing near the window. Story continues A Volkswagen rear-ended a Tesla. Police asked for a breath test On Oct. 7, a Gig Harbor Police officer responded to a crash at Harborview Drive and Novak Street that was blocking the intersection. When the officer arrived he saw a black Volkswagen had rear-ended a Tesla, according to the report. The driver of the Tesla told the officers that he was stopped at the intersection waiting for traffic to clear so he could turn left toward his residence. When he was stopped, the Volkswagen hit him. The Volkswagen driver told the officer she did not stop in time. The officer could smell alcohol on her breath. When asked where she was coming from she told the officer she had just left her shift at a brewery and had two craft beers. The officer saw the Volkswagen drivers eyes were red and glossy, according to the report. The officer took the Volkswagen driver through field sobriety tests. She lost her balance more than once, the report said. The driver refused to take a voluntary Preliminary Breath Test. The officer decided they had probable cause to arrest the driver for DUI and transported the driver back to the police department. The officer took the driver to St. Anthonys Hospital first to get checked out after the wreck. Then the driver was transported to Kitsap County Jail and booked for DUI. The driver had one prior DUI arrest in 2017, the report said. He jumped into thick blackberry bushes to avoid officers. It didnt work On Oct. 8 a Gig Harbor Police officer was driving near Home Depot, 5120 Borgen Blvd., when he saw a man walking on the sidewalk carrying a large Milwaukee toolbox. This brand is sold at Home Depot. On top of the box was a large ax, other hand tools and merchandise still packaged. The officer believed the man most likely stole the tools and other merchandise and asked dispatch to contact Home Depot to ask if there had been a recent shoplift. The suspect appeared nervous and kept looking back toward the officer, the report said. The officer lost the suspect, but believed he ran into the woods. The officer then parked his car and entered the wooded area. This area is steep and leads to state Route 16. Its covered in trees and blackberry bushes. When the officer walked down the hill he could hear the suspect climbing through thick timber and blackberry bushes. Since the suspect was hidden the officer made the man aware of his presence and told the suspect not to scare him. The suspect had hidden the ax in some underbrush, according to the report. The suspect then told the officer he was coming out. Once he came out the officer asked the suspect to walk back to the patrol car with him. Once they arrived the suspect told the officer his friend stole the merchandise and he was walking it to an undisclosed location. The officer transported the suspect back to Home Depot, where it was discovered the suspect actually stole the products, according to the report. The officer issued the suspect a criminal citation for theft. She got rid of the potbelly pig, but the harassment continued On Oct. 10 the Gig Harbor Police Department was contacted about harassment between two neighbors. The woman who called said her neighbor continues to harass her with vulgar language. The woman recently had a potbelly pig that her neighbor was upset about. The neighbor told her she did not like the pig because of the foul smell from the feces in the yard, the report said. The woman gave the pig to another family, in hopes that the comments from her neighbor would stop. The woman reported that the vulgar language continued after the pig left the residence. Officers informed the woman how to obtain an anti-harassment order if needed. A new season of an ABC News Studios docuseries called Wild Crime, set to begin streaming Monday, follows a nearly 40-year-old murder cold case in Yosemite National Park and how investigators finally identified the victim. The second season of Wild Crime is titled Murder in Yosemite and is available on Hulu and Disney Plus. The series follows a case opened in 1983 in Yosemite Summit Meadow, where a tourist found the hand of an unidentified Jane Doe. Special agents with the National Park Systems investigative services last year finally identified the woman by using DNA to construct a digital composite photo to show how she may have looked. The victims identity wasnt widely reported, and the series will reveal who she was and what her life was like before her death. At the time the remains were found, notorious serial killer Henry Lee Lucas took credit for her murder. He had information about the crime that only the killer would know, investigators said, but some of his statements led detectives to wonder if he was lying. Lucas died in prison in 2001. Lucas told investigators at the time that the victim was a hitchhiker he picked up on Highway 41 between Fresno and Yosemite. In four one-hour episodes, the series chronicles the work of investigators Don Coelho and Kim Tucker through the decades. Tuckers son, rookie agent Cullen Tucker, played a major role in helping crack the mystery of the victims identity nearly four decades later. The series features exclusive interviews with the victims close friends and detectives, who reveal details about her involvement in an alleged cult. The detectives also name who they believe is the most likely perpetrator. ABC News Studio produces and commissions narrative nonfiction series and specials on topics such as true crime, other investigations, pop culture and news-adjacent stories. CONCORD, N.H. (AP) Harmony Montgomery's father killed the 5-year-old girl in December 2019 by repeatedly striking her in the head with a closed fist, authorities said Monday as they announced charges in a case that came to light when her mother reported she hadn't seen her in over two years. Adam Montgomery, 32, is charged with second-degree murder, falsifying physical evidence and abuse of a corpse between December 2019 and March 2020, officials said at a news conference in Manchester, where Harmony lived with her father and stepmother. He also is charged with tampering with a witness by attempting to cause his wife to provide false testimony. He is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Manchester. Authorities did not say whether the girls body had been found or provide details on what they believe Montgomery did with it. An attorney for Adam Montgomery did not immediately comment. Police first became aware that Harmony whose case unleashed public grief and anger as it highlighted cracks in the child welfare system might be missing when they received a call from her mother, Crystal Sorey, in November 2021. She had been trying to locate the girl for months, police said. Sorey said she last saw her daughter during a phone video conversation around Easter 2019. I am in shock at this point, it hasnt really hit me yet, Sorey said in a text message Monday to The Associated Press after news of the charges against Montgomery. Nobody wanted to listen to me, this couldve all been avoided, but now were faced with the biggest battle my family will ever face! she wrote. State Attorney General John Formella said at the news conference that he wanted to extend deepest sympathies to those who knew and loved Harmony. We understand that todays news, while significant for purposes of this investigation, is yet another difficult moment for those who loved Harmony and those who have followed this case, Formella said. Authorities said Aug. 11 that the case had become a homicide investigation. They said they believed Harmony was killed in Manchester, the state's largest city, in early December 2019. Story continues Police said they contacted Adam Montgomery, who had custody of Harmony, and other family members by the end of December 2021. According to court documents, police told him that Harmony had not been seen in more than two years and there was concern over whether she was still alive. Harmonys father and stepmother, who have since pleaded not guilty to charges related to her well-being, told police that Adam brought Harmony to be with Sorey in Massachusetts around Thanksgiving 2019. Adam Montgomery was in court last month as his lawyers argued that some of the statements he made to police should be suppressed. They said he told police multiple times that Ive got nothing else to say when questioned further about his daughter's whereabouts and said he didnt want to talk to them, yet police kept asking him questions. He faces a trial next month in an unrelated case on stolen weapons charges. Bail for Kayla Montgomery was recently revoked after she didnt appear at a hearing on charges against her, including that she lied to state health officials about having Harmony Montgomery in her care. Harmony was born in Massachusetts in 2014. Her parents were unmarried, were no longer together and had a history of substance use, according to a report this year by the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate. Adam Montgomery was in prison when she was born. She was blind in one eye and had behavioral needs, and went into the custody of child protective services in Massachusetts when she was 2 months old. She was moved between the homes of her mother and her foster parents multiple times, the report said, causing significant trauma and harm. Adam Montgomery was awarded custody of Harmony in February 2019. Harmony's case led to vigils and the creation of social media sites. Police offered cash rewards for information and dedicated a 24-hour tip line to the case. I ask that in memory of Harmony that we all make every effort to do something nice for a child today," Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg said at the news conference. He added, Just take a few moments out of your day to say something nice to a child, give him or her a hug, some special words of encouragement." Today in health, well discuss President Biden getting his bivalent COVID-19 booster shot this week, three months after he tested positive for coronavirus for the first time. Welcome to Overnight Health Care, where were following the latest moves on policy and news affecting your health. For The Hill, were Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi. Biden to receive updated COVID vaccine on Tuesday President Biden is set to receive an updated COVID-19 vaccination shot on Tuesday in an effort to encourage Americans to get their latest booster shots amid the ongoing pandemic. Recent COVID experience: Biden first tested positive for the virus in July and then, three days after being released from isolation, tested positive again in a rebound case after taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid. Bidens physician said he experienced mild symptoms due to him being fully vaccinated and boosted against the virus. The President will receive his updated COVID-19 vaccine and will deliver remarks on the ongoing fight against the virus, the White House said in an email Sunday evening. Health officials rolled out updated COVID-19 vaccine shots last month designed to target the latest omicron subvariants of the virus. COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have been dropping steadily since August, though uptake of the new boosters has been relatively slow. Biden, 79, is at a high risk for developing a severe case of COVID-19. The president has already received two booster doses beforehand, making this upcoming dose the fifth COVID-19 vaccine dose that he has received. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends that people wait around three months after a coronavirus infection to get the bivalent booster, putting Biden right at the sweet spot. Read more here. VIRTUAL EVENT INVITE Health Care Innovations The Next Big Breakthrough, Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT In these challenging times, how might innovation pave the way to a more equitable and sustainable health care system? What treatments and cures are on the horizon and how might new therapeutics improve quality of life? White House Cancer Moonshot Coordinator Danielle Carnival, AAMC President David Skorton, CMMI CMO Dora Hughes, Google Healths Alissa Hsu Lynch and more join The Hill to highlight and demystify the latest health care breakthroughs. RSVP today. Story continues What you need to know about surging RSV cases A virus common among young children is surging in the U.S. and sparking concerns that hospitals could become overwhelmed this year by potential winter spikes in both the flu and COVID-19. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is extremely common, with nearly everyone having been exposed to the pathogen by the time theyre 2 years old. Younger children, especially those less than 6 months old, have the highest risk of developing severe cases that could lead to hospitalization. At St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., where he is based, Diego Hijano, an infectious disease specialist, said he is seeing an equal amount of COVID-19, flu and RSV cases. Thats concerning, you know, because it will definitely overwhelm the emergency department and the health care system as these trends continue, said Hijano. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that more than 4,000 cases of RSV are being reported each week recently, similar to the last major surge, which was experienced in the summer of 2021. What can be done for RSV: There are currently no vaccines available for the virus, and the only treatment is monoclonal antibodies, usually reserved for extremely high-risk cases, including infants born prematurely or those with chronic diseases related to the heart and lungs. With no vaccines available for the virus and only one viable treatment, the infectious disease specialists who spoke with The Hill said the best way for parents to approach this season of respiratory viral spread is to limit and prevent potential exposure in general. Read more here. Fears of US twindemic of flu, RSV grow Experts have been talking about a twindemic in connection with a simultaneous surge in COVID-19 and flu cases. Those seem to be realized but its not COVID-19 driving the concern. The worry was that winter waves of COVID-19 would coincide with the regular flu season and that the combination could pose a threat to health systems. But childrens hospitals are filled with cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which comes just as the number of people with the flu also rise across the country. The Centers for Disease and Prevention has said that cases of RSV are rising in multiple regions of the country, while the nations childrens hospitals have reported being overwhelmed with RSV. The rising number of cases has set off alarm bells for parents worried about hospital space. The Seattle Childrens Emergency Department (ED) continues to see record volumes in pediatric patients in October, Tony Woodward, medical director of emergency medicine at Seattle Childrens Hospital, said in a statement obtained by Changing America. COVID-19 cases are on the rise in some parts of the country, signaled by wastewater surveillance, suggesting that we could potentially be on the verge of a tripledemic. Read more here. 2 IN 3 SUPPORT LEGALIZING MARIJUANA: SURVEY Two in 3 Americans support legalizing marijuana for recreational use, according to a new Monmouth University survey. About 68 percent of Americans support legalizing at least a small amount of the drug for personal use, including 76 percent of Democrats, 73 percent of independents and 52 percent of Republicans. The poll also found that President Bidens decision this month to pardon all those convicted federally of simple marijuana possession was met with approval by 69 percent of Americans. Patrick Murray, the director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, said, Support for marijuana legalization has been increasing consistently over the past twenty years across various polls. Bidens action is in line with how the vast majority of Americans feel about this issue, Murray said in a statement. Pot legalization for recreational use is on the ballot in five states this year: Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota. Read more here. HOSPITALS LAY OUT PRIORITIES FOR LAME-DUCK CONGRESS A U.S. trade group representing more than a thousand large hospitals issued a letter to congressional leadership on Monday listing its legislative priorities for Congress during its upcoming lame-duck session. The Federation of American Hospitals (FAH) specified several policies where it would like to see movement in a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). FAH asked that Congress waive the requirements under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act on Medicare. The 2010 Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act requires that all new legislation which creates changes to taxes, fees or other mandatory expenditures not increase projected deficits. If these requirements are not met, then programs may face across-the-board cuts. FAH said in its letter that hospitals and providers currently face a 4-percentage point, across-the-board cut from Medicare payments due to these requirements. The trade organization also asked that Congress extend a Medicare payment program that provided support to rural hospitals, asking that it be continued for an extended number of years. Read more here. WHAT WERE READING Epics overhaul of a flawed algorithm shows why AI oversight is a life-or-death issue (Stat) From wildfires to hurricanes, midwives could play a key role in disaster response (The 19th News) Uganda says 9 more Ebola cases confirmed in Kampala, urges vigilance (Reuters) STATE BY STATE Drivers in decline: A shortage of volunteers complicates access to care in rural America (Kaiser Health News) Nearly half of Virginia high school out sick due to flu-like, gastrointestinal symptoms in mystery outbreak (NBC News) Abortion is on the California ballot. But does that mean at any point in pregnancy? (NPR) THE HILL OP-ED Should we be concerned about Ebola? Thats it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hills Health Care page for the latest. See you tomorrow. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. To view past editions of The Hills 12:30 Report, click here: https://bit.ly/30ARS1U To receive The Hills 12:30 Report in your inbox, please sign up here: https://bit.ly/3qmIoS9 > A midday take on whats happening in politics and how to have a sense of humor about it.* *Ha. Haha. Hahah. Sniff. Haha. Sniff. Habreaks down crying hysterically. NEWS THIS MORNING Third trys a charm?: Rishi Sunak, 42, will become the U.K.s next prime minister following the resignation of Liz Truss just six weeks into her tenure. Yes, this is Britains third prime minister this year. Watch the announcement: From Bloomberg TV By the way: Sunak will become the first person of color and the first Hindu to serve as British prime minister. What about Boris Johnson?: The former prime minister pulled out of the race on Sunday. What to know about Sunak: From The Washington Posts Adela Suliman and Karla Adam I TOLD YOU SO: Throughout the summer, Mr. Sunak, Britains former finance minister warned against the economic policies of Liz Truss as he competed with her for the nations top job, and then lost For the past six weeks, Mr. Sunak has been lying low as his economic predictions have played out at a dizzying speed. The full story from The New York Timess Eshe Nelson TIDBIT: Sky News reporter Mark Stone, who [was] on the flight with Boris Johnson back from the Dominican Republic to Gatwick, said that Johnson was booed by passengers as he boarded. (Tweet from @NewJournals Harry Taylor) Its Monday welcome back! Im Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and whats coming up. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. On the campaign trail The gist Dems may have peaked too early and theyre not happy about it: As recently as a few weeks ago, Democrats were bullish about their chances of defying harsh historical and political headwinds, believing that voter anger over the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and lingering GOP concerns about the quality of Republican candidates might allow them to not only hold, but expand their paper-thin Senate majority. Story continues But that appears to no longer be the case: Recent polling has found Republicans regaining an edge on the so-called generic ballot, a survey question that asks voters which party they plan to vote for in November. Meanwhile, the data website FiveThirtyEights Senate forecast shows Democrats chances of holding the Senate dropping by 11 percent over the past month. What issues Republicans are hammering: The economy, inflation and crime What issues Democrats are hammering: The risk of losing abortion rights and the future of democracy A quick primer on where the key battleground races stand, via The Hills Max Greenwood HERE IS FIVETHIRTYEIGHTS LATEST SENATE FORECAST: The gist: Democrats currently have about a 2-in-3 chance of holding onto the Senate and even an outside shot at picking up enough seats to eliminate the filibuster. However, Republicans have plenty of opportunities for pick-ups. Forecast by state NEW NBC NEWS POLL VOTERS ARE ANGRY ACROSS THE BOARD: 80% of Democrats and Republicans believe the political opposition poses a threat that, if not stopped, will destroy America as we know it. Plus: Two-thirds of reliable Democratic and Republican voters say theyd still support their partys political candidate, even if that person had a moral failing that wasnt consistent with their own values. More takeaways from the poll, via NBC Newss Mark Murray MIDTERM HEADLINES: Democrats are losing Latino voters as Republicans eye opportunities these midterms: From NPRs Kai McNamee Democrats locked in close contests with election deniers for key secretary of state posts: From Politicos Zach Montellaro In Congress How would Republicans handle inflation?: Republicans are likely to win back control of the House in November. The Hills Aris Folley and Mychael Schnell explore what Republicans would do to curb inflation. For example: Pull back on spending and push for energy independence. The list of Republican policy focuses to counter inflation PELOSI TO MEET UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS IN CROATIA: What we know In the White House Biden knows his age is an issue: Greg Nash In an interview with MSNBCs Jonathan Capehart, President Biden acknowledged that voter concerns about his age are a legitimate thing. In Bidens words: I think its a legitimate thing to be concerned about anyones age, including mine. I think thats totally legitimate. But Biden then followed up: But I think the best way to make the judgment is to watch me. Im a great respecter of fate. I could get a disease tomorrow. I could drop dead tomorrow. In terms of my energy level. In terms of how much Im able to do, I think people should look and say, Does he still have the same passion for what hes doing? And if they think I do and I can do it, thats fine. If they dont, they should encourage me not to go. But thats not how I feel. More from Bidens MSNBC interview Latest with COVID The symptoms of COVID-19 have changed a bit: New research suggests that the main COVID-19 symptoms have changed. Researchers have found that for participants in all three groups fully vaccinated, those who received just one dose, and unvaccinated four of the five most commonly reported symptoms are the same: sore throat, runny nose, persistent cough, and headache. Yes, but: Their prevalences across the groups, however, vary, as does the fifth symptom. For those who are vaccinated, a blocked nose is the third-most frequently reported symptom. Among the partially vaccinated, its sneezing, and the unvaccinated, fever. The list of commonly reported symptoms by level of vaccination, via Nexstars Addy Bink TIDBIT BIDEN IS GETTING BOOSTED ON TUESDAY: President Biden will receive his updated COVID-19 booster shot on Tuesday. THE COVID-19 NUMBERS Cases to date: 97 million Death toll: 1,065,152 Current hospitalizations: 20,941 Shots administered: 632 million Fully vaccinated: 68.2 percent of Americans CDC data here. Notable tweets Nothing phases me anymore in the Columbia Heights Target: @WashProbs tweeted a video of a chicken on a leash in the Target in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of DC. See for yourself Wow: CBS News tweeted, The Indian city of Ayodhya has retained its Guinness World Record by lighting over 1.5 million oil lamps and keeping them burning for 45 minutes, as part of the celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Watch On tap The House and Senate are out. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C. 2:15 p.m.: President Biden and first lady Jill Biden participate in a tree planting ceremony. All times Eastern. What to watch 11 a.m. : First lady Jill Biden hosted a cancer moonshot event with the American Cancer Society. Watch 1 p.m. : President Biden visits the Democratic National Committee headquarters and delivers remarks. Livestream 3 p.m. : White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre holds a press briefing. Livestream 5 p.m.: The Bidens host a reception to celebrate Diwali. Harris also attends. Livestream In lighter news Today is National Bologna Day. The lottery for the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony opens on Tuesday: Getty Images Via WJLA-TV, the lottery for free tickets to Nov. 30s 100th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony runs Tuesday through Nov. 1. Details And to leave you with a smile, heres a gorilla who is ecstatic to meet a baby. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi Read also: Shoigus claims about dirty bomb intended to intimidate NATO, ISW says In my call with Rafael Grossi I officially invited IAEA to urgently send experts to peaceful facilities in Ukraine which Russia deceitfully claims to be developing a dirty bomb. He agreed, the minister tweeted. Read also: Kuleba and Grossi, in bomb shelter, discuss security zone around Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant Unlike Russia, Ukraine has always been and remains transparent. We have nothing to hide. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Oct. 23 held phone talks with his French, British and Turkish counterparts. Shoigu expressed concern to all three colleagues that Ukraine is allegedly preparing false flag attacks with the use of a dirty bomb referring to a nuclear weapon that functions more to spread radiation than to cause explosive damage. Shoigu is also said to have discussed this issue with the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, however, the details of the conversation were not specified. Read also: What are dirty bombs and what you should know The UKs Ministry of Defense also confirmed the conversation between Shoigu and the countrys defense minister, Ben Wallace. They noted that the phone call took place at the request of the Russian side. According to the ministry, Shoigu claimed that Ukraine was planning false flag operations with the help of Western countries, including the UK, to escalate the conflict. Wallace denied the claims and warned Shoigu that such accusations should not be used as a pretext for further escalation. The Ukrainian government has denied Russias smears. Ukraine neither possesses the capability to create a dirty bomb, nor the desire to do so, and has shown no interest in nuclear weapons since its signing of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, where it traded nuclear weapons left on its territory following the collapse of the USSR for security guarantees from Russia and the United States. Read also: Dirty nuclear blackmail is a reason for tough preventive steps Story continues In a joint statement released on Oct. 23, the governments of the United States, France and the United Kingdom rejected allegations made by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu that Ukraine was allegedly preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. The countries reiterated their steadfast support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russias ongoing aggression and remain committed to continue supporting Ukraines efforts to defend its territory for as long as it takes. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (TSE:CP) insiders who bought shares over the past year were rewarded handsomely last week. The stock rose 3.8%, resulting in a CA$3.3b rise in the company's market capitalisation. Put another way, the original CA$1.2m acquisition is now worth CA$1.6m. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. See our latest analysis for Canadian Pacific Railway The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Canadian Pacific Railway Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Executive Vice President of Operations Mark Redd for CA$1.1m worth of shares, at about CA$71.77 per share. Even though the purchase was made at a significantly lower price than the recent price (CA$96.66), we still think insider buying is a positive. Because it occurred at a lower valuation, it doesn't tell us much about whether insiders might find today's price attractive. In the last twelve months insiders purchased 16.69k shares for CA$1.2m. But insiders sold 2.52k shares worth CA$238k. In the last twelve months there was more buying than selling by Canadian Pacific Railway insiders. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! Canadian Pacific Railway is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Insiders At Canadian Pacific Railway Have Bought Stock Recently There was some insider buying at Canadian Pacific Railway over the last quarter. VP of Human Resources & Chief Culture Officer Chad Rolstad shelled out CA$52k for shares in that time. We like it when there are only buyers, and no sellers. But in this case the amount purchased means the recent transaction may not be very meaningful on its own. Story continues Does Canadian Pacific Railway Boast High Insider Ownership? I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. It appears that Canadian Pacific Railway insiders own 0.02% of the company, worth about CA$18m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders. What Might The Insider Transactions At Canadian Pacific Railway Tell Us? The recent insider purchase is heartening. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. Given that insiders also own a fair bit of Canadian Pacific Railway we think they are probably pretty confident of a bright future. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Canadian Pacific Railway. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Canadian Pacific Railway (1 is potentially serious) you should be aware of. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. 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 Aneka-Townsend.jpg Aneka-Townsend - Credit: Aneka Townsend/Instagram Police in Jamaica have named a person of interest in the death of Aneka Townsend, an Instagram influencer whose body was recently found in the ocean. On Saturday, Oct. 22, the Jamaica Constabulary Force issued a statement confirming Townsends identity (the influencer, who also went by Kayan or Slickianna, had over 300,000 followers). They also named Rushane Chizzie Patterson as a person of interest in the case. More from Rolling Stone Townsend, a 35-year-old mother of one, was found and retrieved from the water on Oct. 21 near the Reading area of St. James Parish (located on the northern coast of Jamaica, east of Montego Bay). According to the Jamaica Observer, no official cause of death has been given, but authorities said Townsend had wounds on her head and neck. Other reports stated that a towel, possibly covered in blood, and a wig were also recovered from the scene. Police Confirm Identity of Body Found in St James. Person of Interest named. pic.twitter.com/vUEdhFcchq Jamaica Constabulary Force (@JamaicaConstab) October 22, 2022 As for Patterson, authorities said he was named a person of interest because investigators believed he could assist them in advancing the probe into Townsends death. In their statement, they requested that he turn himself in to police by 5 p.m. on Oct. 22. The Jamaica Constabulary Force did not immediately return Rolling Stones request for comment. Speaking with The Gleaner, one of Townsends friends remembered her as somebody who lived in her truth and didnt even consider herself an influencer. Story continues Outside of what everybody saw on social media the life of the party, the fashionista, the strong person Aneka was somebody that lived in her truth, said her friend, Kareem Weathers. She was somebody that was very much open about her past and her life and her past struggles and how shes just grateful to be in the position that shes in. Weathers added, She was such a genuine soul, and I just cannot understand why, he lamented. We would always joke that wed get old and still be enjoying our lives. And I always joke and tell her that youre going to be that old woman weh look good that put themselves together, and always a dress up. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. The Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Read also: Italy provides Ukraine with fifth military aid package Many thanks to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Meloni tweeted. Italy is and will always be on the side of the brave people of Ukraine that is fighting for its freedom and for a rightful peace. You are not alone! The leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, Giorgia Meloni, 45, was officially sworn in as the head of the Italian government on Oct. 22, becoming the first female prime minister in the countrys history. She has previously been a member of a party founded by supporters of Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. Read also: Not in Ukraine but in Italy Putin won, a Radio Liberty journalist says Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine TOKYO (AP) Japans economy minister submitted his resignation Monday over ties to the Unification Church after facing mounting criticism in a widening controversy involving dozens of governing party lawmakers. Daishiro Yamagiwas resignation is a further blow to Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas government, which has been rocked by his party's close ties to the controversial South Korean-based church following the assassination of former leader Shinzo Abe in July. Yamagiwa faced opposition lawmakers' growing demands for his resignation after he repeatedly said he did not remember his past attendance at church meetings during overseas trips and posing for group photos with church leader Hak Ja Han Moon and other executives. Kishida on Tuesday appointed former Health Minister Shigeyuki Goto to take Yamagiwas place as the economy minister. Kishida said Goto is a veteran politician who is highly capable of giving explanation and has passion for economic and social reforms. Kishida said he expected him to play a central role in coordinating and achieving key policy goals, including a major economic package that Kishida plans to announce later this week. Gotos appointment is to be official after a palace ceremony later Tuesday. The Kishida government's support ratings have nosedived over his handling of the scandal and for holding a highly unusual state funeral for Abe, one of Japans most divisive leaders who is now seen as a key link between the governing Liberal Democratic Party and the church. Abe sent a video message in 2021 praising Hak Ja Han Moon at a meeting of the church affiliate the Universal Peace Federation. Since the 1980s, the church has faced accusations of devious business and recruitment tactics, including brainwashing members into turning over huge portions of their salaries to it. I just submitted my resignation" to Kishida, Yamagiwa told reporters Monday. He said he routinely discards documents and therefore could not clearly verify past contacts with the church and only provided explanations after reports of his past church ties surfaced. Story continues As a result, I ended up causing trouble to the administration, Yamagiwa said. I attended the church's meetings a number of times and that provided credibility to the group, and I deeply regret that." He pledged to stay away from the church in the future. A governing party survey in September found nearly half of its about 400 lawmakers had ties to the church, including Cabinet ministers, many of whom shared the church's conservative views and sent messages or attended church meetings, though not as followers of the church theology. Kishida has pledged to cut all such ties, and recently said he instructed the government to probe the church, with the possibility of revoking its legal status. Media surveys show many Japanese want a clearer explanation of how the church may have influenced party policies. Kishida said he accepted Yamagiwa's resignation because as prime minister, I have to prioritize our work to push forward economic measures, an extra budget and support for victims of the church problems. Yamagiwa, who was criticized for clinging to his post and stalling parliamentary sessions because of questioning by opposition lawmakers, was seen as having been forced to quit. He said he has no intention of resigning as a lawmaker because he did not break any law. Former Prime Minister Abe was shot to death during an outdoor campaign speech in July. The suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, told police he killed Abe because of his apparent link to a religious group he hated. A letter and social media postings attributed to Yamagami said his mothers large donations to the Unification Church bankrupted his family and ruined his life. The church, founded in South Korea in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon, obtained religious organization status in Japan in 1968 amid an anti-communist movement supported by Abes grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi. The group acknowledged there have been cases in which it received excessive donations. It says the problems have been mitigated since it adopted stricter compliance measures in 2009 and has pledged further reforms. The police investigation of Abes killing led to revelations of widespread ties between the church and members of the governing party, including Abe, over their shared interests in conservative causes. The case also shed light on the suffering of adherents relatives, some of whom say they were forced to join the church or were left in poverty or neglected because of their parents devotion. Many critics consider the church to be a cult because of problems with followers and their families, including financial and mental hardships. By Tetsushi Kajimoto and Yoshifumi Takemoto TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese policymakers on Monday continued efforts to tame sharp yen falls, including through two straight market days of suspected intervention, but ultimately failed to prop up the currency against persistent dollar strength. The yen's sell-off is hurting the world's third-largest economy by driving already surging import bills and challenges the Bank of Japan's commitment to ultra-low rates in the face of rapid global monetary tightening to combat rampant inflation. The Japanese currency jumped 4 yen to 145.28 per dollar in early Asia trade on Monday, suggesting authorities had stepped in for a second straight day after a similar move by Tokyo on Friday. "We won't comment," Masato Kanda, vice finance minister for international affairs, told reporters at the Ministry of Finance (MOF), when asked if they intervened again on Monday. "We are monitoring the market 24/7 while taking appropriate responses. We'll continue to do so from now on as well," said Kanda, who oversees Japan's exchange-rate policy. However, the yen failed to cling to early gains and briefly hit a low of 149.70 per dollar, as markets continued to focus on the widening divergence between the Bank of Japan's ultra-easy monetary policy and steady rate hike plans by the U.S. Federal Reserve. It last stood around 148.80. "In the past crises involving British pound and Italy's lira, authorities have ended up failing to defend their currencies. Likewise, Japan's stealth intervention only has limited effects," said Daisaku Ueno, chief FX strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities. "Strength in the dollar is the biggest factor behind the weak yen. If the United States shows signs of its rate hikes peaking out and even cutting interest rates, the yen would stop weakening even without intervention." Japan likely spent a record 5.4 trillion-5.5 trillion yen ($36.16 billion-$36.83 billion) in its yen-buying intervention last Friday, according to estimates by Tokyo money market brokerage firms. Story continues That is much bigger than the roughly 2.8 trillion yen Japan spent supporting the currency on Sept. 22, which was the first yen-buying, dollar-selling intervention since 1998. BOJ's BIND The yen's plight puts the BOJ under the spotlight as it meets for a two-day rate meeting ending on Friday, when it is widely expected to maintain ultra-loose monetary policy. With inflation relatively modest and the economy unable to move into a faster gear, the central bank is wary of raising rates and risk triggering a recession. "It's extremely undesirable" that Japan's real wages, adjusted for inflation continue to fall, BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda told parliament on Monday. "It's desirable for inflation to stably achieve our 2% target accompanied by wage rises," Kuroda said, stressing the need to keep supporting the economy with ultra-low rates. The Fed, which meets the following week, is widely expected to hike rates again as it focuses on fighting red-hot inflation. The widening U.S.-Japanese rate differential is likely to keep downward pressure on the yen, which has fallen more than 20% against the dollar this year. Japanese authorities confirmed that they stepped into the market when it intervened on Sept. 22. Since then, authorities have remained silent on whether they made any further attempts to support the currency including on Friday, when Tokyo likely conducted stealth intervention. At $1.33 trillion, Japan's foreign reserves provide it with enough fire power to intervene many more times, but traders doubt that Tokyo will be able to reverse the yen's downtrend on its own. Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki repeated that excessive currency moves were undesirable. "We absolutely cannot tolerate excessive moves in the foreign exchange market based on speculation," he told reporters at the finance ministry. "We will respond appropriately to excess volatility," he said, a view echoed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in parliament later on Monday. ($1 = 149.3200 yen) (Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto and Yoshifumi Takemoto; Additional reporting by Chang-Ran Kim, Sakura Murakami, Daiki Iga and Leika Kihara; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Sam Holmes) By Satoshi Sugiyama TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese electric motor maker Nidec Corp on Monday posted record second-quarter operating profits after it passed on higher prices to customers, reduced costs and benefited from a weaker yen. The Kyoto-based company reported 51.71 billion yen ($347.21 million) in operating profit for the three months through September, just short of a 52.3 billion yen average of five analyst estimates, according to Refinitiv data, and 16% higher than the 44.59 billion yen earned a year ago. Following management turmoil, founder Shigenobu Nagamori returned to the role of chief executive in April after demoting Jun Seki, a former Nissan Motor Co Ltd executive he hired to lead the company, due to disappointing earnings and share performance. "The results this time were not to my satisfaction yet, but the business performance is already on the way to recovery," Nagamori said, blaming past executives during the last two years or so for creating a "negative legacy" and changes in corporate culture that led to worse performance and leaks of internal information. "As for the issue of successors, I regret that I have delayed the process by 10 years," he said. "In the end, we searched for various candidates from outside the company, but I feel that was the biggest mistake I made in 50 years of running the company." Nidec's shares dipped 2.9% during the second quarter and have dropped 41.1% this year so far. They finished trading in Tokyo up 2.9% on Monday before the results were announced, outperforming the Nikkei 225 stock price average, which was up 0.3%. NEXT PRESIDENT TO BE CHOSEN IN 2024 Seki, who also held the role of president, left Nidec last month and the company plans to choose the next president from among company insiders in the spring of 2024. Nidec's automotive products unit, which had been led by Seki, has been under pressure this year as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns, a global chip shortage and high restructuring expenses and development costs. Story continues The unit booked a profit of 5.5 billion yen in the second quarter as a weak yen and cost reduction in "e-axle" electric car motors spurred a recovery from a 32 million yen loss in the second quarter. Nidec predicted it would produce 1.2 million units of "e-axle" traction motors in financial year 2023, more than double the number planned in this business year, in response to soaring demand mainly in China, executive Kazuya Hayafune said. Following heavy investment in development, Hayafune said the company would be able to make the traction motor business profitable by the financial year 2023. The company kept its full-year operating profit forecast of 210 billion yen for the year ending March 31, compared with the 211 billion yen average of 21 analyst forecasts. Separately, Nidec said it filed a lawsuit on Monday against Toyo Keizai magazine for libel. In a statement, it refuted the magazine's report alleging the company may have engaged in inappropriate handling of share buybacks, saying it was suing the publisher, editor-in-chief of Toyo Keizai online, a reporter and an author for damages, a retraction and an apology. A Toyo Keizai spokesperson told Reuters the publication stood by its story. Nagamori is Nidec's top shareholder with an 8.3% stake, according to Refinitiv data. ($1 = 148.9300 yen) (Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim, Christopher Cushing and Barbara Lewis) By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted young women hoping to make it in Hollywood, a Los Angeles prosecutor argued on Monday, while the former producer's attorney said his accusers willingly took part in a "casting couch" culture to boost their careers. Weinstein, the man who became the face of #MeToo allegations five years ago, is currently serving a 23-year prison sentence for sex crimes in New York. He is now on trial in Los Angeles on 11 charges of rape and sexual assault and has pleaded not guilty. In opening statements, Deputy District Attorney Paul Thompson offered graphic details and quotes from women who said Weinstein invited them to hotel rooms for purported business meetings between 1991 and 2015. "He was trying to keep his penis in my mouth," Thompson quoted one as saying. He quoted another as saying Weinstein undressed her and fondled her breast while masturbating. Weinstein, seated in the courtroom in a dark suit and tie, occasionally shook his head while Thompson spoke. Alleged incidents involving four of the women are the basis of the charges against Weinstein. The other four women, who had encounters outside of Los Angeles, will be presented by prosecutors to try to establish a pattern of behavior. Weinstein lawyer Mark Werksman told jurors that each allegation was a "weak and unsubstantiated trickle that will evaporate upon your close scrutiny." "Youll learn that in Hollywood, sex was a commodity,"Werksman said. "It was the casting couch. Everyone did it ... because each wanted something from another," Werksman said. "Now look at him," Werksman added. "Hes not Brad Pitt or George Clooney. Do you think those beautiful women had sex with him because hes hot? No. They did it because he was powerful. Werksman also noted that each of the women came forward only after reports about Weinstein's behavior helped fuel the #MeToo movement of women speaking out about sexual harassment and abuse in Hollywood and beyond. Story continues Thompson said none of the accusers spoke publicly at the time because they worried Weinstein "could crush their careers." He showed the jury movie posters of "Pulp Fiction," "Shakespeare in Love" and other Weinstein productions. "At this time, this was the most powerful person in the industry," Thompson quoted one of the women as saying. Another said: "He was king." Weinstein, 70, was convicted of sexual misconduct in New York in February 2020. He was extradited from New York to a Los Angeles prison in July 2021. In New York, Weinstein is appealing his conviction and 23-year prison sentence. He could face up to 140 years in prison if convicted on all of the charges in Los Angeles. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Daniel Wallis, Sandra Maler & Shri Navaratnam)